While You Were Studying / At Work: A Heavy Metal News Update

I had my first final today of my very last finals week at The University of Iowa (and went on-air for my last edition of The Metal Show earlier tonight) and I now am ready to pass out ... but first I wanted to comment on some of the bigs news of the day in case you missed it.

1) It's Offical: Joey Belladonna Rejoins Anthrax



That's right, the crazy-haired metal vocalist with a wide vocal range, that about 50% of Anthrax fans hate and 50% love, is back in the band. Most of the day's talk has been on the topic of Belladonna being the "third choice" for the group and its new album.

If I remember right, it was Belladonna himself that wanted to leave Anthrax after the reunion (although it was probably from the encouragement of Scott Ian and Charlie Benante), so now he is ready to come back because Ian and Benante frankly have no other option.

This means the deal is on Belladonna's terms, which I think works for the band's relationship at this point. This shit is more wild than the Van Halen saga.

Anyways, Belladonna will be joining the band on the Big Four Tour with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer and is set to begin writing and recording an album for an early 2011 release with the band. Who knows, maybe all that tension will make for a hard-hitting thrash record???



2)Death digital albums and the long-rumored second Control Denied album will finally be released.



That's right, Relapse Records announced a partnership with Perseverance Holdings Inc. and Chuck Schuldiner's family to reissue digital releases of the older hard-to-find Death albums (such as Spiritual Healing), in addition to the second Control Denied record (Note: as of this time, not sure when these digital releases will be available in US).

Watch a previously unreleased recording of Death's "Crystal Mountain" below:


3) Twisted Sister's Jay Jay French says band will "never tour again"



The longtime guitarist revealed this news in a recent interview with Noisecreep. Interesting that a band is finally realizing that nostalgia tours aren't always all they are cracked up to be. Although plenty of bands have proven French wrong as well.