Stone Temple Pilots vocalist Scott Weiland officially started his prison sentence on Monday.

Weiland, 40, is expected to serve eight days for his second drunk driving conviction. He was arrested on November 11 for driving under the influence (DUI) and was sentenced on April 28.

Aside from imprisonment for eight days, he was also fined $2,000 and ordered to complete an alcohol education program. He is serving his time in the Los Angeles suburb of Van Nys.

The rocker recently reunited with STP after an acrimonious split with Velvet Revolver.

I consider myself a fairly big Savatage fan, so when Jon Oliva puts out new music, I am usually one of his loyal consumers.

With Oliva’s new CD, he included more guitar riffs from his late brother Criss, that him and his wife found in an old shoebox. Criss Oliva is credited with 6 songs on this record. Even after his passing, Criss Oliva’s legacy carries on with Global Warning.

Global Warning is a little more experimental than the last JOP release, Maniacal Renderings. As a result, this is the kind of music that requires multiple listens to full absorb.

Those looking for heavy rockers will be happy to hear cuts like Adding the Cost, Before I Hang, Master, and The Ride.

This album’s strengths are also its weaknesses. Some of the cuts are like a psychedelic blend of Pink Floyd, Queen, and Savatage. Die hard fans are going to dig it, but those looking for songs with more structure, and tighter compositions might be disappointed. This isn’t what I would consider Jon Oliva’s best work, but it certainly deserves a listen or two.

You can preview some songs on the Jon Oliva myspace page. Check ‘em out!

Rating:Out of 10
Track Listing:
1. Global Warning
2. Look at the World
3. Adding the Cost
4. Before I Hang
5. Firefly
6. Master
7. The Ride
8. O to G
9. Walk Upon the Water
10. Stories
11. Open Up Your Eyes
12. You Never Know
13. Someone/Souls
14. No More Saturday Nights

Jon Oliva’s Pain is:

Jon Oliva - Vocals, Piano, Keyboards, Acoustic Guitars Organ
Matt Laporte - Guitars, Vocals
Christopher Kinder - Drums, Percussions, vocals
Kevin Rothney - Bass, Fretless Bass, and vocals
John Zahner - Keyboards, Organ

With the release of their debut album, Keep Telling Myself It’s Alright coming on April 8th, ASHES dIVIDE have released a widget that features the brand new video for “The Stone.” The clip was directed by PR Brown who is known for his work with Smashing Pumpkins and Death Cab For Cutie among many others.

ASHES dIVIDE will be taking the stage on Saturday May 17th, 2008, at the Rock On The Range Music Festival, in Columbus, Ohio.

As the September release of its first album in five years draws near, Metallica has launched the Web site “Mission: Metallica” to offer fans a wealth of exclusive content and teasers of new songs.

A preview clip shows the band recording and clowning around in the studio. Fans who sign up will be eligible to “win backstage passes to every show this summer,” among other special offers.

“Mission: Metallica” also has a “platinum” level, entitling fans to a copy of the new album delivered on street date, weekly “fly on the wall” video clips, contests to travel to shows and/or Metallica’s San Francisco compound, live show downloads, ringtones and more.

It is unclear what, if anything, the services will cost.

Metallica will be on the road this summer in advance of the as-yet-untitled album, beginning Wednesday (May 14) with a show at Los Angeles’ intimate Wiltern Theatre. A European run begins May 28 in Chorzow, Poland.

Courtesy of Billboard.com

I started compiling the following list of New releases for 2008. This may not be a complete list, but some much great new music has arrived in 2008, so far, I though it would be a good idea to keep a running tab of what has come out, and what is on the way. The releases through August have been confirmed. Releases with a question mark have not been confirmed yet. This list will be updated as more news arrives.

Updated May 12th, 2008

January
Drive By Truckers - Brigher Than Creation’s Dark
Airbourne - Running Wild (U.S. Release)
Bullet For My Valentine - Scream Aim Fire
Gamma Ray - Land of the Free, Part 2
Ayreon - 01011001
American Speedway - Ship of Fools
Lillian Axe - Love and War (Reissue)
Lillian Axe - S/T (Reissue)
Sleeze Beez - Screwed Blued & Tattooed (Reissue)
Sleeze Beez - Powertool (Reissue)
Stonerider - Three Legs of Trouble
Thieves & Liars - When Dreams Become Reality
Tiles - Fly Paper
Saint Daemon - In Shadows Lost From the Brave
Pagan’s Mind - God’s Equation

February
DVD - Iron Maiden - Live After Death
DVD - Scorpions - Live at Wacken Open Air 2006
DVD - Overkill - Live at Wacken Open Air 2007
DVD - Thin Lizzy - Live and Dangerous
Three - End is Begun
Pillar - For the Love of the Game
Avantasia - The Scarecrow
UFO - Phenomenon (Reissue)
UFO - No Heavy Pettin (Reissue)
UFO - Force It (Reissue)
Type O Negative - Dead Again (Red Version)
Hurricane - Over the Edge (Reissue)
Hurricane - Take What You Want (Reissue)
Hurricane - Slave To the Thrill (Reissue)
Hericane Alice - Tear the House Down (Reissue)
Baton Rouge - Shake Your Soul (Reissue)
Baton Rouge - Lights Out on The Playground (Reissue)
Wrathchild America - Climbing the Walls (Reissue)
Tangier - Four Winds (Reissue)
Tangier - Stranded (Reissue)
Danko Jones - Never Too Loud
King’s Call - No Alibi

March

Benedictum - Seasons of Tragedy
Inflikted - Cavalera Conspiracy
Saving Abel - S/T
Steve Stevens - Memory Crash
Firewind - The Premonition
DVD - Zebra
King Kobra - Ready to Strike (Reissue)
King Kobra - Thrill of a Lifetime (Reissue)
Icon - Right Between the Eyes (Reissue)
Black Tide - Light From Above
House of Lords - Come To My Kingdom
Warrior - Fighting For The Earth (Reissue)
Shannon - Angel in Disguise
Whitecross - 1987
Black Crowes - Warpaint
Diamond Head - Borrowed Time (Reissue)
Diamond Head - Canterbury (Reissue)

April
Fatal Smile - World Domination
Saints of the Underground - Love the Sin, Hate the Sinner
Theory of a Deadman - Scars & Souvenirs
Whitesnake - Good To Be Bad
Dominici - 03 A Trilogy Part 3
Asia - Phoenix
Testament - The Formation of Damnation
The Sword - Gods of The Earth
Dream Theater - Greatest Hit (And 21 other pretty cool songs)
P.O.D. - When Angels and Serpents Dance
Sevendust - Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow
In Flames - Sense of Purpose
Kamelot - Ghost Opera: The Second Coming
Ministry - Cover Up
DVD - Axel Rudi Pell - Live Over Europe
Keel - Lay Down the Law (Reissue)
White Lion - Return of the Pride
Circle II Circle - Delusions of Grandeur
Crimson Glory - S/T (Reissue)
Crimson Glory - Transcendence (Reissue)
Tantric - The End Begins
Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I - IV

May
Iron Maiden - Somewhere Back In Time: The Best Of 1980-1989
MSG - In the Midst of Beauty
3 Doors Down - S/T
Bombay Black - Psycho Magnet
Def Leppard - Songs From The Sparkle Lounge
Kip Winger - From the Moon To the Sun
Eden - Oblivion
King’s X - XV
M.ILL.ION - Thrill Of The Chase
Dokken - Lightning Strikes Again
10 Years - Division
Jon Oliva’s Pain - Global Warning
Flotsam and Jetsam - Cuatro (Reissue)
Gun Barrel - Outlaw invasion
Brother Firetribe - Heart Full of Fire
Circle II Circle - Delusions of Grandeur
Southern Gentleman - Valley of Fire
10 Years - Division
Glenn Hughes - First Underground Nuclear Kitchen
Souls of We - Let The Truth Be Known (Featuring George Lynch and London LeGrand)
Gypsy Rose - S/T (Featuring David Reece)

June
Disturbed - Indestructible
Motley Crue - Saints of Los Angeles
Judas Priest - Nostradamus (2 CD Set)
JORN - Lonely Are the Brave
Flotsam & Jetsam - When The Storm Comes Down (Reissue)
Bret Michaels - Rock My World
The Dogs Divine - Way of Life
Clusterhead - Times of No Trust
Hydrogyn - Deadly Passions
Shinedown - The Sound of Madness
Tesla - Comin Atcha Live - DVD
Night Ranger - Hole in the Sun
July

Harem Scarem - Hope
Asphalt Valentine?

August
Buckcherry?

Trapt - Only Through The Pain (Aug 5th)

September

Black Stone Cherry?
Tesla?

October
Aerosmith?
Metallica ?

Anthrax?
November

Papa Roach - Days of War, Nights of Love
Alice Cooper?

December

Heaven and Hell?
AC/DC?

Frontiers Records is proud to present the final HAREM SCAREM studio album “Hope” for release in Europe on July 4th 2008 !

No other band in the Melodic Rock genre has delivered the goods through such a varied discography throughout their career as Harem Scarem. The Canadian quartet makes no exception to the rule with the band’s twelfth and final studio album. After 20 years of activities, Harem Scarem have infact decided to move on to other things.

“Hope” is therefore their final record for themselves and their fans all around the world: a release which marks the final testament to the art and craft of a legendary band in Melodic Hard Rock.
In band’s singer Harry Hess words: “The new album follows in the footsteps of our recent releases. I’m sure our long time fans will not be disappointed as all the hooks and choruses are there once again, wrapped at times in a slightly heavier and darker tone”.

The result is truly Harem Scarem’s most intense, moody and passionate album to date. A top production and a straightforward Melodic Hard Rock sound make “Hope” an unmissable opportunity for all the fans to enjoy the very last studio effort from a legendary band that has written real milestones in the Melodic Hard Rock musical style.

“Hope” final track listing includes the following eleven songs: Watch Your Back; Time Bomb; Hope; Days Are Numbered; Dark Times; Beyond Repair; Never Too Late; Shooting Star; Calm Before The Storm; Nothing Without You; Higher (acoustic)*

* Exclusive bonus track for Europe

Click on the Highlighted Tracks above to preview the song clips.

The album will be released in Europe on Frontiers Records on July the 4th 2008.

Ex-DOKKEN guitarist George Lynch has issued the following update:

“Just wanted to let everyone know that London and my new band SOULS OF WE - five years, anticipated, long awaited, soul crushing, and everything in between project - now has a MySpace page.

The record will be available for pre-sale today (Monday, May 12th) and will be released May 27th, 2008. Go have a listen, the clips will be running in rotation over the next couple weeks just to keep you frothing at the mouth!

Go check it out.”

-G-shot

The Souls Of We debut, Let The Truth be Known, featured ex-BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION vocalist London LeGrand.

EXTREME will make their much-anticipated return to the stage this summer in support of Saudades de Rock (pronounced “sow-dodge”), their first studio album in 13 years. The multi-platinum, Boston-bred band’s 2008 Take Us Alive world tour gets underway on July 29th at The Chance in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. and will be anchored by a hometown gig two days later at the Bank of America Pavilion. In advance of the tour, Extreme will be a co-headliner on July 11th at the five day Rocklahoma Festival in Pryor, OK.

The iconic rock foursome – vocalist Gary Cherone, guitarist Nuno Bettencourt, bassist Pat Badger and new drummer Kevin Figueiredo – will be supported by KING’S X on all North American dates. Rock ‘n’ Roll Fantasy Camp will offer additional support dates.

Information on the groundbreaking new album Saudades de Rock– which was produced by Bettencourt at L.A.’s NRG studios and is planned for release to coincide with the tour–is forthcoming. Fans can expect the same unwavering songcraft and diverse musical approach that made Extreme legendary. Simply put, Extreme’s fifth studio offering – which boasts the infectious roar of ‘Star’, the groove-laden swagger of ‘King’, a raw funk rock anthem called ‘Learn To Love’, and the expressive ballad ‘Ghost’ – just may be its finest hour yet.

As excited as the members of Extreme are by their latest musical accomplishment, they can’t wait to take it to the stage.

“As much as we enjoy recording, for me, I’ve always loved playing live for the fans,” Cherone says. “We can’t wait to get out there and play this music.”

“We wanted to record as much of the new album as possible live in the studio,” Bettencourt adds. “And because of it, these songs will translate easily to the stage. We’re really looking forward to getting out on tour, putting on a show. That’s really where the band shines.”

“We always knew Extreme was special,” the guitarist says of the completion of Extreme’s long-awaited fifth album. “We always knew it was a matter of time.”

The Grammy-nominated Extreme have released four studio albums to date, plus a greatest hits set. Selling over 10 million records worldwide on the strength of multiple world tours, the group achieved a 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 in 1991 with ‘More Than Words‘. Culled from their 1990 multi-platinum album, Extreme II: Pornograffitti, the disc also produced the Top 5 hit ‘Hole Hearted’.

Although these two acoustic hits brought the band great mainstream success, they overshadowed the band’s trademark sound: a mix of hard rock funk in the spirit and style of their predecessors in LED ZEPPELIN, AEROSMITH, QUEEN and VAN HALEN. Fueled by Bettencourt’s signature guitar flights and Cherone’s resonant vocals, the band’s socially conscious lyrics set them apart from their peers. In 1992, the band was asked by Queen’s Brian May to perform at the Freddie Mercury Tribute concert. As the world watched, the band earned considerable credibility within and beyond the hard rock fraternity.

Extreme’s tour schedule has been updated and is now as follows:

July
11 - Pryor, OK - Rocklahoma
29 - Poughkeepsie, NY - The Chance
31 - Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavilion

August
1 - Long Island NY - Brookhaven
2 - Baltimore, MD - Ram’s Head
4 - New York City, NY - Fillmore at Irving Plaza
5 - Lancaster PA - Chameleon Club
6 - Cleveland, OH - House of Blues
8 - Detroit, MI - Harpo’s (NEW DATE)
9 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
10 - Cincinnati, OH - Union Center Blvd Bash (NEW DATE)
12 - Charlotte, NC - venue tba (NEW DATE)
13 - Atlanta, GA - Center Stage
15 - Orlando, FL - House of Blues (NEW DATE)
16 - Ft Lauderdale, FL - Revolution (NEW DATE)
18 - New Orleans LO - HOB
19 - Houston TX - Meridian
20 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues
22 - Phoenix, AZ - Marquee Theatre
23 - Las Vegas, NV - Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
25 - San Francisco, CA - Fillmore
26 - Los Angeles, CA - House of Blues

Mississippi isn’t exactly well known for its rock heritage. The five gentlemen from Saving Abel could change that soon.

The band already has a radio hit with their song, Addicted, and judging from the other songs on their debut, this is just the first taste of success for Saving Abel.

At first, I was ready to dismiss, Saving Abel, as another Nickelback clone, but after a couple of spins, I thought their music has a slightly heavier edge. Some songs fall into that safe radio ready rock area, but as a whole I found this CD highly listenable.

Jared Weeks has a very clean sounding voice, and it really starts to shine on some of the slow to mid tempo numbers. I can hear some southern rock influences in Saving Abel’s music, although it isn’t predominant throughout the record, it is obviously a factor in the songs 18 Days and Drowning (Face Down).

The record has several hit worthy tunes include the heavier numbers, New Tattoo, In God’s Eyes, and 18 Days.

If you are a fan of mainstream rock, you will probably like this record a lot. If you are an old school 80’s rock fan, this album may not excite you as much. There really isn’t a band song on this disc, and it is available for the paltry sum of $7.99 at Amazon.com. You can listen to several of the tunes here at the Saving Abel myspace page. Check ‘em out.

Rating:Out of 10

Warning: The following video is an uncensored version of Addicted. This video is not work safe, nor is it appropriate for minors.

Track Listing:

1. New Tattoo
2. Addicted
3. She Got Over Me
4. 18 Days
5. Drowning (Face Down)
6. In God’s Eyes
7. Sailed Away
8. Beautiful Day
9. Out Of My Face
10. Running From You
11. Beautiful You

Saving Abel is:
Jason Null - Guitar
Jared Weeks - Vocals
Scott Bartlett - Guitar
Blake Dixon - Drums
Eric Taylor - Bass

Have you seen Killswitch Engage’s cover of the Dio classic, Holy Diver? Watch the video below, and let us know what you think!

Killswitch Engage will be taking the stage at the Rock On the Range Music Festival on Saturday May 18th, 2008, in Columbus, Ohio.