The Lostprophets have a new drummer. He’s Ilan Rubin. The band’s new album, ‘Liberation Transmission’, is released at the end of June.

King Crimson guitarist Robert Fripp has teamed up with REM’s Peter Buck and Bill Rieflin (guitar and drums, respectively) in a new band called Slow Music. Expect an album, ‘Live At The Croc’, to be released shortly.

Isis start recording their new, as yet untitled album in June, with producer Matt Bayles. It should be released on Hallowe’en – October 31.

Gamma Ray, Dream Evil and Astral Doors are all confirmed for the Ragnarok UK Metalfest, which happens on November 4 in Perth.

In early 2007, Versailles Records will release Slip Of The Tongue: A Millennium Tribute To Whitesnake, featuring current/former members of Blue Murder, Dio, Whitesnake, Kiss, Badlands, Alice Cooper Band, King Cobra, Lillian Axe, David Coverdale Band, Quiet Riot, House Of Lords, as well as Richard Kendrick, the RadioVipers, Chris Catena, Chris Heaven, Marko Pukkila, and […]

(hed)pe are to have a 15-track compilation released in June by Jive Legacy. It’s to be called ‘The Best Of (hed) Planet Earth’.

San Francisco-based doom metallers Asunder are currently putting the finishing touches to their upcoming full-length album with legendary producer Billy Anderson (Melvins, Mr. Bungle, Cathedral). Currently, the tentative title for this monument is Works Will Come Undone. The album should enshroud the light around mid-late September.

Brutal Truth, Raging Speedhorn, Watch Them Die and Alabama Thunderpussy are all featured on ‘For The Sick – A Tribute To Eeyehategod’. This is due out later in the year on Emetic Recordings.

Slayer have now been confirmed for the Carling Weekend Festival, which happens in Reading and Leeds from August 25-27.

Euro power metalheads Firewind are to release their new album in July. It’s to be called ‘Allegiance’. A single, ‘Falling To Pieces’, precedes this in June. The latter is to include a cover of Blackfoot’s ‘Teenage Idol’.