This, from Chris Harris at MTVnews.com's "Metal File."

For metal, hardcore and hard-rock fans, the last two years have brought some long-awaited, never-thought-we'd-see-'em reunions. Bands such as Carcass, Snot, Overcast, Pestilence, Living Sacrifice, At the Gates, Possessed, Rage Against the Machine and Suffokate — among others — have all been resuscitated, as members have put aside their various differences, with some groups staging rather successful comeback tours. But the thing about reunions is that they don't always stick, lasting — in some cases — just two or three gigs.

Such has been the case for Long Island hardcore hellions Vision of Disorder, who've played just a handful of reunion shows since dissolving back in 2002. Frontman Tim Williams — who didn't languish in the wreckage left by V.O.D.'s demise, instead teaming up with guitarist Mike Kennedy to launch Bloodsimple — is looking forward to the band's upcoming reunion gig in New York on November 16 (the bill will also feature Overcast, Indecision and Nassau Chainsaw) but isn't so sure V.O.D.'s return will lead to anything more than feelings of nostalgia.

"Never say never, but reunions are short-lived; everyone knows that," Williams told Metal File this week. "Who knows what's going to happen, but for the time being, this will be it. We're going to do some shows, but V.O.D. will never come back the way it was. It'll never be like a full-time, full-on reunion, but there's definitely going to be some shows. Then again, if the right opportunities presented themselves to the band, and we all agree on it, I think we'll probably do some more shows, because we were pretty happy with the success and the turnout the last couple of shows have had. We're just very skeptical, and we want to be careful." Read more...

In Boston in the late '80s, whenever a big thrash band like Slayer, Overkill or Testament played The Channel or The Paradise, local favorites Wargasm would almost always open the show -- and fans would usually show up early enough to catch their set. Indeed, Wargasm are one of the great unsung heroes of the East Coast thrash scene along with Maryland's Tension, Virginia Beach's At War and maybe New Jersey's Whiplash.

Wargasm's 1998 album Why Play Around? was ugly, aggressive and catchy as hell, filled with bludgeoning rhythms, crunchy mid-section riffs and classic chant-along vocals like "He wound up/ knee-deep/ knee-deep in blood" ("Revenge"). Alas, the band broke up after its 1995 EP Fireball and only reunited in 2004 for a single benefit show.

However, to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the release of Why Play Around? Wargasm will get back together to play one more gig on September 13 at the Middle East in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The performance will be recorded for the future live album Why Play Alive!

Click "more" to purchase tickets, read a new Wargasm Q&A on TartanDesire.com and check out a new promotional video. Read more...

In a sad commentary on their inability to be in the same room together, there were no current members of Van Halen present to accept their nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame during last night's ceremony at New York's Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Guitarist Eddie Van Halen has an excuse; he's in rehab. But his brother and drummer Alex seems to be clean and sober, so it's unclear why he pulled a disappearing act. And, original singer David Lee Roth could have shown up — since he's not doing much anything else these days — but opted not to because of a spat he had regarding what Van Halen song he would perform with award presenters Velvet Revolver.

So, everyone's second favorite Van Halen singer, Sammy Hagar (does anyone even remember the third, Gary Cherone?) took the stage with ex-bassist Michael Anthony — who was replaced in the band last year by Eddie's teenage son, Wolfgang — to accept the nomination.

"It's hard for Mike and I to be up here to do this, but you couldn't have kept me away from this with a shotgun," Hagar said. The singer added that he wished his bandmates could have joined him but "it's out of control."

In a final smack of irony, Hagar and Anthony performed "Why Can't This Be Love" with Velvet Revolver and bandleader Paul Shaffer. The debacle was televised live on VH1 Classic.

Does this mean we should stop holding out for a Van Halen summer tour?

Now, from a brighter time in Van Halen history, check out "Panama"