Long established thrash metal band, HIRAX is going back to Shiva Industries Studio in Santa Ana, California to start recording their new 4 tracks on October 13.

The tracks "Lucifer's Inferno" and "City of the Dead" for the compilation "Speed Kills…Again", will be released on the new label Heavy Artillery, a subsidiary of Punk Core Records. The other two tracks, "Summon the Death Dealers" and "Crown of Thorns", will tentatively be released on limited edition vinyl through Black Devil Records.

Katon W. De Pena, leadman/vocalist, said "HIRAX has never been a conventional metal band,""We realize the importance of the younger bands and we have always reached out to them the same as the older metalheads. Punk Core Records started this subsidiary label so that they could release thrash metal bands. They really support underground music. Their Punk Core division has released great acts such as THE CAUSALITIES, THE VIRUS, and LOWER CLASS BRATS."

This will be the first studio recording with recent additions Lance Harrison (lead guitar), Steve Harrison (bass), and Fabrico Ravelli (drums) - joining HIRAX founding member vocalist Katon W. De Pena and lead guitarist Glenn Rogers, who has just received an endorsement from Jackson Guitars.

"Assassins of War" is the band full length record which scheduled to be recored early 2007. The band recently sold out of the first pressing of its first DVD, "Thrash Till Death".

The band also follows by the a four-date tour of Mexico and first-ever U.S. tour will begin in Philadelphia on November 10. De Pena also states that "a four-date tour of Mexico, HIRAX's first-ever U.S. tour will begin in Philadelphia on November 10. This is the first time in HIRAX history that we will be doing an extended tour. We have played New York and Boston before and the fans TOTALLY KICK ASS! They are very loud. We are looking forward to playing for them again. We will be playing some new songs from our upcoming album, 'Assassins of War', for the first time live as well as HIRAX classics. The band is looking forward to tear it up for the East Coast thrashers."

Hirax Tour Date:

Oct. 29 - Circo Volador, Mexico City, DF
Nov. 10 - The Boiler Room Philadelphia, PA
Nov. 11 - North Six, Brooklyn, NY
Nov. 12 - Middle East, Boston, MA
Nov. 13 - TBA, Albany, NY
Nov. 14 - Bug Jar, Rochester, NY
Nov. 15 - Jigsaw, Cleveland, OH
Nov. 16 - Lawrenceville Moose, Pittsburgh, PA
Nov. 17 - The Sterling Hotel, Allentown, PA
Nov. 18 - The Ottobar, Baltimore, MD
Nov. 19 - Legion Hall, Wallingford, CT
Dec. 09 - Bulldogz, Phoenix, AZ (all ages)
Dec. 15 - Annie's Social Club, San Francisco, CA (21 and up)
Dec. 16 - Safari Sam's, Hollywood, CA (all ages)

Source Hirax

Eddie Van Halen will co-host a launching party of porn movie "Sacred Sin" which has 2 of his songs featured in the film. This party will be held as private invitation-only party at 5150 estate which is Van Halen's house. Check out exclusive photos of this party at "The Feed".

Halen also explained his relationship with Ninn through adult website AVN.com that " 'm working with a friend — very simple. I like his work. Michael Ninn is like a Spielberg to me: the imagery, the way he makes things look, just... sensual."

Two new songs composed by Halen are "Rise", and a remixed of track "Catherine" used to be the theme music from 2005 Ninn movie. He also claims that "If 'Catherine' doesn't move you, you're brain-dead."

Sacred Sin was released last month. You can watch the trailer at ninnworx.com/sacredsin. However, this is the adult genre, viewer advisory is recommended.

Source Ninn

Shaun Steels, drummer from legendary metal band, My Dying Bride, annonced the unfortunate news to leave the MDB because his continuing illness shows no sign of slowing down.

He says that " I would just like to salute MDB for the good times and wish them all well in the future, I feel I am not ready to fulfill the duties in a manner befitting MDB at this time and have decided to stand down. I am sad to be leaving but at this time I feel it is for the greater good of the band. Tak! The Winter."

MDB also announced that "MDB would like to thank to Shaun and to say we are sorry to see him part, but fully understand his position. Good luck Shaun."

Source MDB