Much needed Update

Aw Hell, it's been a while, hasn't it? So much to report on, so let's get cracking.

• Mastodon is prepping Blood Mountain for a summer release.
  
  
• I heard a live clip of a new Metallica song, and it was long, meandering, and boring. Blech. let's hope Rick Rubin can tighten it up.
  
  
• Tool's 10,000 Days is a good record, but it's rock-y parts are definitely less rock-y and bombastic than previous efforts. Their records are always arty experimental groove machines, but this album - even more so. May take well over a year to get to the bottom of this disc.
  
  
• New Slayer. Their new single, "Cult", can be enjoyed on their home page, or you can buy it at Hot Topic stores (don't get me started on why it's only available there). It's a decent song which grows on one with time. It's not quite the riff-a-rama of Seasons or South, and the drums don't have that cool sound I was expecting, but I'm trying to keep an open mind.
  
  
• Iron Maiden is set to release their new disc, and rumor has it that their tour will kick off in Hartford, CT in the Fall. Here's hoping The Caveman didn't screw up the production this time around.
  
  
• Judas Priest is still working on their follow-up to Angel of Retribution - a concept album based on Nostradamus. Words fail me.