Metallica - 5 Most Popular News Stories of 2008

Without a doubt, the return of Guns N' Roses -- even if only the "Rose" part resembles the original band of hooligans who once welcomed us to the jungle -- was the most popular news story of the year on SPIN.com. Metallica's back-to-basics new album and tour wasn't far behind. Read on to find out about those two monsters of rock, plus the other three most popular stories of the year according to SPIN.com readers.

1. GUNS N' ROSESAs an April Fool's joke in 2006, SPIN published a fake review of Chinese Democracy, the decade-in-the-making new album from Axl Rose,...

ROB ZOMBIE - JOHN 5 Schedules NAMM Appearances

ROB ZOMBIE/ex-MARILYN MANSON guitarist John 5 has scheduled the following appearances at this year's NAMM (National Association Of Music Merchants) show, which is being held January 15-18 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California:

John 5 recently posted a track from his upcoming remix CD, "Remixploitation", on his MySpace page. Check out the song "Dorsia" at this location. The cover artwork for the album, which was designed by Matt "Piggy D" Montgomery (ROB ZOMBIE), can be viewed below. The CD is due out in early 2009. More information will be made available soon.

John 5 recently released the IMV...

STATIC-X - STATIC-X Frontman: We Put 'Everything We Had' Into Recording New CD

Guitarist/vocalist Wayne Static of the Los Angeles-based metal quartet STATIC-X has issued the following update:

"I am excited to announce our new CD, entitled 'Cult of Static', will be released on March 17.

"I started writing a year ago in January 2008 after coming home from the long tour for 'Cannibal'.

"The past year has been quite a blur; between writing and recording the new CD and releasing the 'Cannibal Killers Live' DVD, I've kept very busy.

"I know you are all going to love this new record. It has everything you have come to expect from STATIC-X... and more. This is the most...

DARKEST HOUR - DARKEST HOUR Added to DC Inauguration Show

Via MySpace Bulletin:DARKEST HOUR Announces Surprise DC Inauguration Day Appearance with ANTI-FLAG!That's right we're so excited that George Bush's reign of terror is coming to an end that we decided to celebrate DH style! So if you're in town for this crazy day make sure to come out and party down! We couldn't be more stoked to play with good friends Anti-Flag, United Nations, The AKA's, and Ruiner at the punkest club in DC - The Black Cat! Come celebrate the empowerment of people through art, film and music. See you all there drinks on JH!January 20, 2008Anti-FlagDarkest HourUnited NationsThe...

The Prodigy - The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die

The Prodigy return with their fifth album 'Invaders Must Die' on 2nd March.

The title track comes with a video directed by Paul Dougdale and starring actor and director Noel Clarke. Watch it here.

The Prodigy recently showcased the new material with UK dates and are set to head out on a full arena tour in April. The dates are:

UNEARTH - UNEARTH: Audio Interview Available

Guitarists Buz McGrath and Ken Susi of Massachusetts metallers UNEARTH were the featured guest on the October 19, 2008 edition of Indie 103.1 FM's specialty metal program "Chaos with Full Metal Jackie". The interview is now available for streaming at this location.

UNEARTH will headline the Massachusetts Winter Meltdown Fest on January 31, 2009 with guests EVERY TIME I DIE, SICK OF IT ALL, EMMURE, SINCE THE FLOOD (original lineup), IMPENDING DOOM and BORN OF OSIRIS.

Commented UNEARTH frontman Trevor Phipps: "We wanted our first home state show in a year and a half to be a rager, so we...

SLIPKNOT - SHAWN CRAHAN's DIRTY LITTLE RABBITS To Release New EP This Month

"DIRTY LITTLE RABBITS is my new SLIPKNOT," Crahan recently told HeadbangersBlog.com. "I'm playin' drums, and I'm a songwriter and this is the band I've been waiting to be in my whole life. And it's more of an alternative band than a metal band. It's everything I've ever been into. And it's a thought process, it's a mindset. And this will be the band I end my life with.

"A lot of people don't know I'm more or less an alternative person in art and music. I didn't grow up obsessed with metal. But that's most of the beauty behind SLIPKNOT. You've...

TRIVIUM - Trivium’s Matt Heafy Sits Down with PETA2

PETA2 caught up backstage with Matt Heafy, guitarist and vocalist for TRIVIUM, to talk about everything from his beloved canine companion to factory farming and the environment. According to Matt, the band was founded on acceptance, noting that their band is “about protecting those who need or want to be protected,” and adding that it’s “the same concept that people need to treat humans with, and people need to treat all living things with.”

To check out the full video interview, and to win some gear, click here.

APOCALYPTICA - APOCALYPTICA: New Video Interview Available

René Ackermann of Contraband Candy conducted an interview with the Finnish rock cello quartet APOCALYPTICA when the group played the Astoria in London, England on December 12, 2008. Watch the chat below.

APOCALYPTICA scored its first No. 1 rock radio hit in November with "I Don't Care", the latest single from the band's sixth studio album, "Worlds Collide". The disc has sold 172,000 copies in the U.S. and marks the group's first significant success in this country in APOCALYPTICA's 15-year career. Paavo Lotjonen told The Pulse of Radio that their newfound recognition has been worth all the effort. "It's been really...

Rammstein - Rammstein Issues Recording Update On Upcoming Album

German industrial metal band Rammstein has issued the following recording update for their upcoming album:

The first part of the recordings was finished on December 21st, 2008 after 7 weeks of intensive work. Drums, guitars, and bass, as well as most of the vocal tracks, have now been recorded. Musicians and producers have bid their adieux for the holidays. And so, until the next chapter, we wish everyone involved �" and all the Rammstein fans out there! �" a very Merry Christmas and a long and lively New Year.

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