The following message is courtesy from RUSH fansite, Power WIndow.

On Monday (January 15th), RUSH guitarist Alex Lifeson spoke with Canada's Rock Station about the new album, which is believed to have a working title of either "Snakes and Arrows" or "Snakes and Ladders". Alex states the band came to LA on Monday, January 15th to mix album and should be done by the end of the month. The album took only 30 days to record, the shortest time they have taken to record an album since A Farewell To Kings.

Andrew MacNaughtan has been video taping the entire project, with the possibility of including a making of DVD. The band plans on launching a North American tour on June 12th or 13th, running through the end of the year, to be followed by dates in Europe and South America. When asked about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Lifeson states "I couldn't care less, look who's up for induction, its a joke". To hear the entire 15 minute interview, click on "Rock Interviews" at Therock951.com.

Source Power Window

James Lomenzo, Megadeth bassist, issued the following message in the forum of the band's official website:

"Thought I’d drop a quick one for you MEGA-friends/fans out there to let you know how stoked I am with the final songs I've just heard from [the new MEGADETH album] 'United Abominations'. This s***t slams! Dave [Mustaine, guitar/vocals] and Glen [Drover, guitar] have outdone themselves (as usual) on their last bits and now we're all waiting for [producer/mixer] Andy (Sneap) to do his mix thing and 'bring the metal.' I know he'll make it as sonically destructive as today's electronics can handle, but just to be on the safe side, I'd pick up a back-up MP3/CD player.

"Participating in the making of this, my first MEGADETH album, has been a real treat for me. Working with Dave has been wildly inspirational. His tenacity, conviction and drive serve as a total inspiration and I believe he's brought the best out in all of us. Of course, I've said it before, but Glen and Shawn [Drover, drums] are world-class in every sense of the word and it's an honor to play beside them.

"For those of you who'll be down at the NAMM show (Saturday, January 20th) stop by either the Rotosound booth (4905 @1:30), or Electro-Voice (6571 @2:30). I'll look forward to meeting, signing stuff and hanging with you.

"Dave, Glen, Shaw and I are looking forward to a kick ass year with all of you!"

Source Megadeth

LORDI and MENDEED have been confirmed for this year's installment of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 2-4, 2007 in Wacken, Germany. The billing is now shaping up as follows (in alphabetical order):

1349
AMORPHIS
BELPHEGOR
BENEDICTUM
BLACK MAJESTY
BLIND GUARDIAN
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
CANNIBAL CORPSE
CHTHONIC
COMMUNIC
DESTRUCTION
DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER
DIMMU BORGIR
DISILLUSION
ENSLAVED
FALCONER
GRAVE DIGGER
HAGGARD
HEAVEN SHALL BURN
IMMORTAL
IN FLAMES
J.B.O.
KAMPFAR
LACUNA COIL
LETZTE INSTANZ
LORDI
MENDEED
MOONSORROW
MOONSPELL
MUNICIPAL WASTE
NAPALM DEATH
NEAERA
NORTHER
RAGE & LINGUA MORTIS ORCHESTER
SACRED REICH
SAMAEL
SAXON
SCHANDMAUL
SODOM
SONIC SYNDICATE
STORMWARRIOR (feat. GAMMA RAY's Kai Hansen)
STRATOVARIUS
SWALLOW THE SUN
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
THE VISION BLEAK
THERION
TYR
UNHEILIG
VADER
VOLBEAT

Source BBM