Congratulations to Pixies mainman Frank Black and his wife Violet, on the birth of a girl. She’s been called Lucy Berlin Thompson.

Norwegian prog metalheads Green Carnation are going to London.В This will be on August 24 at the Camden Underworld.

Jucifer, a duo from Athens, Georgia, have signed a deal with Relapse. The band – who’s influences take in Minor Threat, The Carpenters, Slayer, Jimi Hendrix and My Bloody Valentine – are to release an album in the Autumn. It’s to be called ‘At The Hands Of Our Intercessors’.

The re-united Lemonheads have signed to Vagrant. The band are to shortly start recording their new album with producer Bill Stevenson.

In Flames and Lauren Harris (daughter of Iron Maiden bassist Steve Harris) are the latest acts confirmed for this year’s Download Festival, which happens from June 9-11 at Donington.

A new website has just been started to celebrate Slayer. Called www.nationaldayofslayer.org, it’s urging everyone to turn June 6, 2006 into ‘Slayer Day’, by listening to the band veryВ l-o-u-d-l-y wherever you may be.

Former Led Zeppelin pair Robert Plant and Jimmy Page at to get back together onstage for a performance at the Montreaux Jazz Festival. They play on June 30.

Norwegian trio Communic are to release a new album through Nuclear Blast on May 22. It’s called ‘Waves Of Visceral Decay’.

AFI have now confirmed the full track listing for their new album, ‘Decemberunderground‘, which is due out in June. It is: ‘Prelude 12/21’, ‘Kill Caustic’, ‘Miss Murder’, ‘Summer Shudder’, ‘The Interview’, ‘Love Like Winter’, ‘Affliction’, ‘The Missing Frame’, ‘Kiss And Control’, ‘The Killing Lights’, ‘7mm’, ‘Endlessly, She Said’.

Nevermore bassist Jim Sheppard has been forced to pull out of the band’s upcoming US tour with In Flames. This is because he’s receiving treatment for Crohn’s Disease. His place is to be taken by ex-Megadeth man James Macdonaugh.