Wolverine have brought in Per Henriksson to replace departed keyboard player Andrew ‘Bagge’ Baglien. Herinksson has been standing in for Baglien for the past few months.

Former Megadeth bassist James Macdonaugh is to play with SpeedKill/Hate when the US extreme metalheads tour America shortly, as part of the ‘Metal Crusaders’ package.

Eddie Marsh, formerly bassist with Lionsheart and Seven Deadly Sins, has joined young UK metalheads Gripshift.

A Dozen Furies have split up. The band were part of the 2005 US Ozzfest touring bill, after winning a ‘Battle Of The Bands’ contest. They released one album, ‘A Concept Of Fire’. It seems they’ve now grown apart.

The Black Dahlia Murder have a new rhythm section. Drummer Pierre Langois and bassist Bart Williams are now full-time members of the band.

Cradle Of Filth are to release their new album through Roadrunner in September. It’s to be called ‘Thornography’.

Legendary death metalheads Autopsy are to release a double disc DVD next month through Peaceville. It’s to be called ‘Dark Crusades’.

It’s official. The Smashing Pumpkins are back – and working on their first album in six years. So far, those confirmed as being involved are frontman Billy Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin.

Trivium have now posted their version of Metallica‘s classic ‘Master Of Puppets’. Hear it here.

Zao are to release their new album in June. Called ‘The Fear Is What Keeps Us Here’, it was recorded with the celebrated Steve Albini.