Gojira's Mario Duplantier has spoken out in defence of Metallica icon, Lars Ulrich during an appearance on Craig Reynolds' podcast 'The Downbeat'.

Kentucky metalcore/hardcore force Knocked Loose will bring their pummeling live show to Australia in March as part of the lineup for the debut outing of Knotfest Australia. When we were offered the chance to catch up with them prior to their visit down under, we decided to ask them to curate a playlist of the harshest and heaviest songs they love and why. These are the songs that'll knock you loose. 

Five songs we're feeling this week from Cradle Of Filth, Extreme, Goodnight Nurse, Drug Church and R.U.B

James Hetfield has been cast in an upcoming western film, 'The Thicket'. An adaptation of the Joe R. Lansdale novel, The Thicket will feature some Hollywood heavy-hitters, with Peter Dinklage producing and starring in the film, alongside Juliette Lewis, Esmé Creed-Miles, Levon Hawke and many more. 

The new dates will see The World Is A Vampire Festival hit Brisbane's Eaton Hill Hotel on April 15th and Sydney's Horden Pavillion on April 19th. The show planned for Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula has been moved to PICA in Port Melbourne on April 22nd. That venue switch was made due to a change in council policy, which has left the event uninsurable. Patrons with tickets for the Hastings date have been assured those tickets will be valid at the Port Melbourne date on the 22nd of April, with no action required to be taken. 

apa Roach have been joined onstage by Jacoby Shaddix's own son, Jagger who teamed up with his papa to absolutely smash a duet on Infest fave Dead Cell. 

Metallica have shared the video for their new single If Darkness Had A Son.  The third track released from the highly anticipated new album 72 Seasons, If Darkness Had A Son is a classic Metallica mid-tempo stomper, in the vein of Harvester of Sorrow or The Thing That Should Not Be.

Type O Negative have shared a brand new live video for their 2007 song 'Love You To Death'. 

Genre-bending English metal act Svalbard have released a tribute to all the metal legends that have passed away. Inspired primarily by the passing of Slipknot drummer and Murderdolls guitarist Joey Jordison, the emotionally and sonically heavy Eternal Spirits Issued via Nuclear Blast is a fitting way to pay respect to our fallen metal icons. 

Uploaded to the band's YouTube channel over the weekend, LPTV: Meteora Season 1 takes you behind the scenes with Linkin Park in 2002, as they piece together the songs, artwork, videos and live show that will go on to make Meteora a multi-platinum landmark.