Three-day weekends? Awesome. Fall coming in early September? Not so awesome. The fact that people are already wearing sweatshirts here in Manhattan is ridiculous. The summer of 2009 came in late July, then left in early September, and we're not happy about this. But we are psyched for today's podcast taping with Shadows Fall frontman Brian Fair, fresh from his appearance last night on 'Late Night With Jimmy Fallon.' We're also looking forward to having a few days away from the office, to rest and relax. After all, we've been working all summer to bring you the biggest and baddest interviews, the hottest video premieres and the latest metal news. But before we can rest, we must work. So let's get to it.

+ Nine Inch Nails are playing their last concerts ever, but last night the band canceled its concert at Los Angeles' Henry Fonda Theater due to an unspecified illness, suffered by frontman Trent Reznor. The show would have been the second of four gigs set for L.A. There's no word yet on whether the Henry Fonda performance will be rescheduled or if it's just flat-out canceled. "We're very sorry to announce that Trent is ill, and on his doctor's orders, we will not be able to perform tonight's show at the Henry Fonda Theater," reads a statement from the band. On Wednesday, Nine Inch Nails took over Los Angeles' Palladium and welcomed special guest Gary Numan on stage, and they played two tracks from Numan's 1979 LP 'The Pleasure Principle.'

+ Slayer's Tom Araya discussed his issues with Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine in a recent interview. "He talks a lot of s---, then he apologizes for it, then he continues [talking s---]," Araya says. "Did you see [Metallica's documentary] 'Some Kind of Monster?' That should give you some kind of idea how he is!" Tell us how you really feel, Tommy.

+ Slipknot will be back out on the road in October to make up some shows and play some new ones. The band will be bringing the Deftones out with them as direct support. Slipknot is making up two previously nixed dates in Washington on Oct. 10 in Auburn and Oct. 11 in Kennewick. They'll be in Portland, Ore., on Oct. 13; Victoria, B.C., on Oct. 15 and October 16; October 18 in Edmonton, Alta.; Oct. 20 in Calgary, Alta.; Oct. 21 in Spokane, Wash.; Oct. 23 in San Jose, Calif.; Oct. 24 in San Bernardino, Calif.; Oct. 29 in Los Angeles; and on Halloween in Las Vegas.

+ So, we were a little disturbed at first by the news that Kurt Cobain would be appearing in the next 'Guitar Hero' game as a playable character. But now, it seems the late Nirvana frontman sings Bon Jovi songs and allegedly even raps in the game. Lame.

+ Priestess will issue their sophomore LP, 'Prior To The Fire,' on Oct. 20. The disc boasts 11 tracks, including 'Raccoon Eyes,' 'Communicating Via-Eyes' and 'Trapped In Space And Time.'

+ Iwrestledabearonce and Horse the Band will be touring together next month, starting in Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 2. The brief trek runs through Oct. 12 in Las Vegas.

+ Down's bassist Rex Brown has been diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and will be undergoing surgery later this week to repair the problem. While he's expected to make a full recovery, it's unlikely he'll be rejoining the band on the road any time soon.

+ Norma Jean will be heading out in November with Arsonists Get All the Girls, the Chariot and Horse the Band. Dates will be revealed in the coming weeks.

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