BlackSabbath

On their next album, Austin, Texas stoner doomsters the Sword will be ditching the lyrical themes of old (sorcerers, mythology, ravens) for something a little more 2010: They're going sci-fi, building the entire album around a story that takes place not in the future but some otherworldly dominion with spaceships and robots...

Due to Dio frontman and namesake vocalist Ronnie James Dio becoming ill, the band has canceled their upcoming European tour. Set to kick off this weekend in Scotland and run throughout December, as of now the canceled dates will not be rescheduled...

By March, former Guns N' Roses and current Velvet Revolver axeman Slash will have his first solo album in stores, and according to one person who has heard material from the LP, "this album is going to be huge." When Slash initially revealed his plans to release a solo album, the first question fans wondered was who'd handle vocals on the disc...

Montreal's riff-fueled stoner metal quartet Barn Burner have just inked a deal with Metal Blade Records, who will give the band's debut album, 'Bangers,' a proper worldwide release early next year. Frontman Kevin Keegan comments on the news, exclaiming, "It's a total honor to be working with such a ruling label; it is one of those crucial goals that you strive for as a band...

"I came up with most of the lists in bars, to tell you the truth," Eric Danville, author of 'The Official Heavy Metal Book of Lists: The Heaviest Book of All Time' told Noisecreep about his aforementioned book, which includes lists like '108 Sub-Genres' or 'Bands With the Words Dead/Dying' in their names...

"We have no political message or anything," Satyricon frontman Satyr said shortly after a scorching set by Taiwanese black metal freedom fighters Chthonic. "We just have the message of black metal." And that was all it took. Satyricon may not wear corpse paint or spiked shin guards anymore, and they've mostly forsaken blast beats for thundering double-bass rolls and trad rock

Calling all shower and car singers! Starting Jan. 12, 2010, Hollywood's first real Heavy Metal Karaoke gives the average metal fan a chance at super stardom. The event, which will be hosted by Phil Varone of Skid Row and Saigon Kick fame, operates like normal karaoke...

While many in heavy metal circles have maligned games like 'Guitar Hero' and 'Rock Band' as potential impediments to rock and roll's evolution, Nile's Karl Sanders, who was once named the fourth greatest guitarist of all time by Decibel magazine, has no problem with 'Guitar Hero...

"I think the band wanted a name that was evocative, visual," Flying Machines guitarist John Wlaysewski explains to Noisecreep. "Flying Machines has that effect. People picture what they will when they hear the name, and I hope they get a sense of our music ambitions, our desire to 'take off,' both creatively and otherwise...

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has opened its doors to more hard rock acts in recent years, with Metallica just this year joining previous entrants like Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Van Halen and, of course, the mighty Led Zeppelin. But despite a 40-year career that has seen him craft such enduring rock anthems -- such as 'Schools Out,' 'Elected,' 'Eighteen,' 'No More Mr...