Slayer look forward to another bloodbath with Manson

While Ozzfest hasn't popped back out from the crypt in which it has been hiding, two major spring and summer festivals have announced the first set of acts on their lineups, and both bear striking resemblance to Ozzfests of old.

Music As a Weapon IV will be headlined by Disturbed and will also feature Killswitch Engage on the main stage and Chimaira and Lacuna Coil on the second stage. And Like past Ozzfests, the event will feature tattoo artists, extreme sports and videogames. Read more...

This week's episode of "Headbangers Ball" features no video premieres, no exclusive live footage, nothing you haven't seen before if you're a regular viewer. So why should you tune in? 'Cuz this is the show you dudes programmed all on your own. We've tallied your votes for best videos of the year, and on Saturday we'll run your top 10 choices from 2 to 3 a.m. EST, ending the show with your favorite metal vid of 2008.

Due to the diverse demographics of our viewers, your final 10 doesn't exactly mirror ours, which is why we've included a separate list of our own favorite videos of 2008. If you can't wait until tomorrow night to see who won, click "more" to read both lists and watch the top five vids on each. Read more...

We're offering a pair of free Terror undies to anyone who can guess all of the top videos for 2008 before we publish our master list. Hell, we'll offer two pairs -- one to anyone who can guess our list and one the the dude or dudette who accurately predicts the viewers' Top 10.

Starting, well, today, we'll start reminiscing over some of our favorite videos of the year to give you guys some incentive to head over to the "Headbangers Ball Best of 2008 Countdown" page on MTV2.com and vote for your top picks.

Voting runs until December 15. The winning vids as chosen by viewers will be aired December 20 on the final episode of "Headbangers Ball" this year. The show runs from 2 to 3 a.m. Winners will be announced on the Blog on December 19, at which time we will also announce our personal picks for top videos of the year.

Click more to watch a couple of vids we're considering for our list -- at least the ones with flames: Read more...

Nine days ago, Poland death/black metal band, Behemoth, released the EP Ezkaton, which contains the ripping new studio track "Quadosh," covers of The Ramones' "I'm Not Jesus" and Master Hammer's "Jama Pekel," and three live songs. Check it out for sure, but first check out frontman Nergal's guest blog about music videos, Behemoth's victory at a Polish video festival and the force that kept them from winning the grand prize:

Yesterday, I was asked by some local journalist if there’s any sense in producing music videos nowadays. I said yes. I truly think there still is a massive demand within the metal genre, and especially within the extreme metal genre where theatricals play such a huge role in the whole concept. Read more...

In case you somehow missed it, here's some great, professionally shot footage of Behemoth performing in Norway at this year's Hove Festival. The band's ten song set featured "Slaves Shall Serve," "At the Left Hand Ov God," "Prometherion," "Antichrist Phenomenon," "Demigod," "Conquer All,"Christgrinding Avenue," "Decade of Therion," "Chant For Eschaton 2000" and "I Got Erection."

Click more to catch all the blasphemous fun: Read more...

The folks at Century Media announced last week that Behemoth will join Ozzfest this summer opening for Second Stage Headliners Hatebreed.
Check out their video for "Conquer All":

If you're unsure whether or not you want to spend hard-earned money on the new Static-X record, Cannibal (which comes out April 3), the entire disc can be streamed here.

Once you hear songs like "Cannibal," "Behemoth" and "No Submission," we think you'll agree that this baby's worth the price of admission. The album features the heaviest, most abrasive music the band has released since 2001's Machine, and is both a reflection of the times and an expression of frontman Wayne Static's desire to return to his roots.

"I think it's the most metal record we've ever made, and it's arguably the heaviest record we've ever made," he says. "But with this record, I had a good time just getting back to balls-out screaming and challenging myself vocally, as well as in the songwriting. I felt like I was back working on [our first album] Wisconsin Death Trip, where I focused on stripping away the excess as much as possible to write short, simple, catchy songs."

Cannibal was produced by John Travis, who has previously worked with Buckcherry and Kid Rock), and the album track "No Submission" was featured on the soundtrack for "Saw III."

For some old-school Static-X, check out the video for "Push It":