Metal Rage has this update: According to Stuff.co.nz, the identity of the killer in the brutal murder of the lead singer of one of New Zealand's longest-running death metal bands, Backyard Burial, remains a mystery, despite an alleged confession from a man who is now dead. Police are yet to close the Matthew Hall case - which they say hinges on finding an unidentified woman who spent Valentine's Day evening with the man who reportedly confessed. more

Video footage of Hellyeah/ex-Pantera drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott performing the Pantera classic "Mouth For War" with Avenged Sevenfold at the third annual Revolver Golden Gods Awards, which took place last night (Wednesday, April 20) at Club Nokia in downtown Los Angeles, California, can be viewed more

As recent rumors have suggested, Underoath will indeed headline a summer tour with support from Times Of Grace, Stray From The Path, and Letlive. Dubbed "Illuminatour," the trek will take place in July and August more

Mot�rhead has been confirmed to perform on May 21st at the second annual Hangout Festival which takes place in Gulf Shores, Alabama more

The 2011 remastered versions of Queen's both Greatest Hits and Greatest Hits II albums are released today in Japan by e-onkyo and Universal Music Japan � for the first time as high-definition downloadable sound files more

Toxic Holocaust's new album, which has been titled 'Conjure And Command,' is set to be released on July 19th through Relapse Records and will come in various different formats. more

Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante tells Rolling Stone that their new album contains "a song called 'Judas Priest' � it may change, but we like that title, because Judas Priest has called it quits, and it's going to be the last hurrah for them. We wanted to dedicate that song to them." more

Billy Sheehan on Eat 'Em And Smile reunion - "I don't know about (David Lee Roth), but I would love it" more

Goatwhore continues to write material for their next full-length. The group has confirmed plans to enter the studio in late-July to begin tracking the effort. more

Apple has completed work on an online music storage service and is set to launch it ahead of Google, whose own music efforts have stalled, according to several people familiar with both companies' plans. more

Following the band's statement about his departure, Downing says: "It is much regret that I will not be with you this summer. But there has been an ongoing breakdown in working relationship between myself, elements of the band, and the band's management for some time.

He says: "We made a promise not to tour until the new album came out, so we can bring you a much better show with new material.

The moment fans had been waiting to see since the movement began in the early 1980s took place at Sofia in Bulgaria last year and was broadcast to cinemas across the world.

And Oliva says it's even more hard to bear because he believes his brother Criss, who died in a car crash in 1993, used LaPorte to channel his art. The brothers founded Savatage in 1978 and it didn't last long after the younger sibling's tragic death. Jon went on to form JOP, and recruited LaPorte in 2004, although the pair's friendship went back much further.

But the thrash outfit's drummer Charlie Benante reveals the two bands just couldn't find the time to get into a studio together. Benante tells Rolling Stone: "Originally the Beasties were going to do the rap on I'm the Man. But we had conflicting schedules and couldn't get it together, so we just ended doing it."

Former Marilyn Manson drummer Fish joins the band as Joey Jordison has returned to his regular drum chair with Slipknot.

The two have released a joint statement: "In a mutual decision Jeff Loomis and Van Williams have decided to leave Nevermore. The time has come to pursue our own paths from the group. Due to internal struggles and ongoing issues within the band, we feel it is our time to move on. We would like to thank all of our fans around the world for their years of love, support and enthusiasm. This was not an easy decision but a very necessary one at this point, may we all meet again someday, somewhere in time."

The tour will kick off with two special shows in the New York area. The first show is on July 20th at the Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY.

Nothing Is Wrong is the follow-up to the band's 2009 debut, North Hills (featuring their breakout anthem, "When My Time Comes")

Their conclusions: 2011 is the most successful Record Store Day yet and independent record stores sold 13% more albums in 2011 vs. 2010 for the week of Record Store Day.

The seven-inch record was produced by A&M Records in 1977, but the punk icons were dropped by the label before its release and almost all discs were destroyed.

"Adeline of the Appalachian Mountains" is a song about a twin brother and sister living in Southeast Ohio during the early 30's who find hope in their future through one another and through the change that was occurring across the country at that time.

This song was initially inspired by a local documentary called A Forest Returns, which is about the devastation of old growth forest in Southeast Ohio and the creation of the Wayne National Forest in the 30's with FDR's presidency and WPA programs. Anyone who lives in Southeast Ohio or who has ever visited the area knows that it is geographically defined by the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and an abundance of trees. Scenes from the documentary showed that in the 20's and early 30's the landscape was almost completely barren from years of logging the old growth forest for industry until FDR put young men to work through the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) in order to bring the natural landscape back to the area. Trees were planted throughout the area, and the landscape was left alone so that mother nature could return - much of the forest just regrew naturally. The documentary also chronicles the life of the ever endearing Ora Anderson throughout this period and includes his wonderful narration.

This small history lesson affected me greatly, as it determined the landscape that I currently live in at my home in Athens, Ohio. The other element of the song is the character "Adeline," who is inspired by my wife. I always liked the idea of your lover being your "twin," or your other half. Of course, "Adeline" does not suggest romantic love between the first person and and his sister Adeline, but it is a sort of inside knowledge between my wife and I, and the song is full of details that are specific to her. I always liked the idea of having little inside private references to people close to me dressed up in a song for public consumption - it allowed the song to feel social and personal simultaneously, which I'm always striving for. Although the song is set in the context of Southeast Ohio in the 30's, it ultimately became a personal tale for me about my wife and I weathering our own storms here today and how our connection helps us endure.

Gomez will be touring in support of their seventh studio album, Whatever's On Your Mind, which is due on June 21, 2011 on ATO Records

That would include surviving former Pantera members vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, bassist Rex Brown and drummer Vinnie Paul Abbott.

Included in the tour are appearances at Poland's Asymmetry Fest alongside Godflesh, Electric Wizard, Weeedeater and Yakuza, as well as Durbuy Rock Festival in Belgium with Triptykon, Septic Flesh, Leaves Eyes, The Haunted and Korpiklaani.

Devine's two new 7'' singles "Luxembourg" and "Part of the Whole" are due May 17 via Academy Fight Song Records. Recorded, produced, and mixed in Los Angeles over just two days in January by Rob Schnapf (Beck, Elliott Smith, Guided by Voices), all instrumentation on the singles was played by Devine (except for drums, performed by Ben Homola of Bad Books).

The new effort was produced by Steve Christensen (Destiny's Child, Clay Walker), who scored a Grammy last year for his work on Townes�A Tribute to Townes Van Zandt by Steve Earle.

The London show was originally scheduled for the O2 Academy, and the Berlin venue was Huxleys, but with both of those shows selling out in about 30-minutes, the show's promoters have moved the concerts to larger venues. More X Japan concerts are currently being confirmed around the globe an will be announced shortly.

The trek includes a stop in Austin, TX (on April 29) where the trio will perform amongst the featured acts at the fourth annual Austin Psych Fest and share the stage with The Black Angels, Roky Erickson and more.

At press times it looks like the trek is set to kick off on May 12th in Kearney, NE with announced dates taking them through to an appearance at the Rocklahoma festival on May 29th.