Alice Cooper has been given the keys to the town of Alice, North Dakota. However, the place (home to some 60 people) wasn’t actually named after the rock legend, but rather the daughter of a local railway worker!

The Dillinger Escape Plan are plotting to release an iTunes exclusive EP in the near future. No details yet, though, the track listing.

Lamb Of God, Clutch, Chimaira, Unearth and All That Remains are among the bands included on the DVD ‘Sounds Of The Underground Live: Volume 1’. Filmed during last year’s Sounds Of The Underground US tour, it’s released next month by DRT Entertainment.

Megaforce has set an August 8 release date for the two-disc DVD from the legendary San Francisco Bay Area thrash metal band Vio-Lence, entitled “Blood and Dirt“. The DVD is produced and directed by Jerry Allen of Metallian Productions.

Guns n’ Roses have confirmed that their new guitarist is Ron Thal, formerly with New York band Bumblefoot. He’s replaced Buckethead.

Frontiers Records has announced the European release of Shark Island‘s highly anticipated new album, “Gathering of the Faithful”, on July 7.

Leaf Hound are to headline The Metal Brew festival at the Mill Hill Rugby Club in London on July 22. Also on the bill are Firestorm, Crowning Glory, Devulfish, Aghast, Godsized, Chordless and None The Less.

Finland’s Nerlich have inked a deal with OSM Records. The band, who were formed in the fall of 2003, play “old-school skull-crushing death metal,” according to a press release. Nerlich have just finished recording their new album, which will be titled “Defabricated Process”. A December 2006 release is expected.

Skindred are to headline this year’s Uxfest, which happens at the Islington Academy and Islington Bar Academy in London on August 6. There will be 21 bands in all, on two stages. Other names confirmed so far are Bring Me The Horizon, Head-On, Biomechanical, Fireapple Red, Engel and PDHM.

Entombed drummer Peter Stjarnvind has left the band, to concentrate on his other project, Nifelheim. Temporarily, at least, his place is being taken by Olle Dahstedt.