Well, you probably already checked out "Hell Yeah," which I posted as Grit City Bootleg No. 17. And now here's another cut that's sure to be on Atomic Outlaws' set list when T-town's hottest band plays KISW-FM's Pain in the Grass concert Saturday at White River Amphitheatre.

Also, I had to post something on the Alice in Chains track listing announcement this week. Here's a list of the songs on "Black Gives Way to Blue," which is due in stores on Sept. 28:

All Secrets Known
Check My Brain
Last Of My Kind
Your Decision
A Looking In View
When The Sun Rose Again
Acid Bubble
Lessons Learned
Take Her Out
Private Hell
Black Gives Way To Blue

The album cover is simple and to the point, but not terribly exciting if you ask me. Here it is ...

It's due in stores on Sept. 28. Learn more on Categories: upcoming releases, metal, grunge

Mastodon will join forces with with Dethklok, from Cartoon Network's "Metalocalypse," for a tour that will drop in on Seattle's WaMu Theater on Oct. 3, the bands announced today.

Mastodon is riding high from their newest, most critically acclaim and most prog-rock influenced album to date, "Crack the Skye."

Find audio of Mastodon's Troy Sanders talking about the making of "Skye" here or check out a recap of Mastodon's set at Neumo's in April over here.

The flesh and blood version of Dethklok - the band from Cartoon Network's ultra-violent death metal satire - will feature show co-creator Brendon Small, Gene Hoglan, Bryan Beller and Mike Keneally. The band will perform live beneath a giant projection screen featuring all-new animation and music videos from Dethklok, according to today's announcement.

You can find audio from an interview with Small talking about the live show - which he equated to "a big, stupid Disney ride, but with murder" - by clicking here.

They may be Canadian and all, eh. But we can at least adopt 3 Inches of Blood as honorary Tacomans. After all, our favorite Dungeons & Dragons obsessed thrash-metal band lived here for a spell while worked on their "Fire Up the Blades," which came out in '07.

And now details have emerged on their follow up, "Here Waits Thy Doom," which is scheduled to hit stores on Sept. 8, according the band's publicist. (Yes, their post-Ozzfest reality includes having a bonafide publicist.)

And pull those plastic swords and viking helmets from the back of your closet, 'cause 3IB will kick off its North American tour the day before that on Sept. 7 at Bumbershoot. And I haven't heard anything, but I'm wonderin' if you might see them show up for a South Sound warm-up. Hmmmm? Say at Hell's Kitchen?

Alice in Chains will headline the Moore Theatre at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 24, Seattle Theatre Group announced. Tickets are set at $25, and they go on sale at 10 a.m. on Friday (July 31), according to this afternoon's announcement.

Alice in Chains recently gave away "A Looking in View," the first single from the forthcoming "Black Gives Way to Blue" album, for free. It's the first studio recording we've heard from Alice since the group re-formed with lead singer William DuVall. You can listen to a clip I previously posted here or find out more about the album and tour on Alice's fan site.

New Alice in Chains singer William DuVall at Seattle's Moore Theatre in 2006.
ERNEST JASMIN

Here's Slayer playing "War Ensemble" at White River last night.

Marilyn Manson, Slayer and company dropped in on Auburn’s White River Amphitheatre last night with Mayhem Festival, a satisfying replacement for Ozzfest, which quit coming around these parts a couple of years ago. Manson’s set kicked off with "We're From America," the best cut off his now "The High End of Low Disc," and included “Disposable Teens,” “Irresponsible Hate Anthem,” “Tourniquet,” “Beautiful People,” “Four Rusted Horses” and “Arma **** geddon.” But aside from performing “Irresponsible Hate Anthem” draped in an American flag and a few coy sex and drug references, there was surprisingly little shock and spectacle during Manson's set. What? No spider stilts, topless dancers or flaming Bibles? Chyuh! That guy's goin' soft. However, he did cop some guy’s cell phone, though, screaming the refrain of “Hate Anthem” at the guy on the other end of the line before tossing the handset out into the crowd. Ouch! Don’t think the warranty covers that.
ERNEST JASMIN

I’ve come to think of Slayer as the AC/DC of thrash metal. They’ve got a pretty specific thing they delivery – in their case, relentlessly morbid mosh anthems about Nazis, serial killers and stuff; and the only new song they played, “Psychopathy Red” (about a Russian serial killer, for the record), could have been an outtake from their mid-‘80s classic “Reign in Blood.” But like AC/DC, the fans still eat that stuff up two decades into their career. Check my interview clips with Dave Lombardo to hear what he had to say about consistency.
ERNEST JASMIN

Backstage God Forbid’s Byron Davis made a quick call before doing a few interview’s. Mayhem’s lineup Tuesday also included Killswitch Engage, Cannibal Corpse, Trivium, Behemoth and more, spread out on two stages. Ozzfest? We don’t need no steenking Ozzfest!
ERNEST JASMIN

Apologies, Slayer fans. I know you all are geeked about Slayer coming to Auburn’s White River Amphitheatre Tuesday with Mayhem Fest. And I got a little sidetracked and didn’t get to chopping up and posting clips from my interview with drummer Dave Lombardo as soon as planned. But I’m thinking these clips are worth the wait, especially if you’re planning on dropping a few ducats on the bands forthcoming “World Painted Blood” album later this year.

The first longer clip features Lombardo describing the feel of the new album, dropping a few song titles and explaining why you won’t hear his band playing power ballads anytime soon. Click here.

Lombardo mentions a couple of deep album cuts that will show up in Tuesday’s set list. Click here for that one.

After the Alice in Chains tour announcement I surfed on over to AliceinChains.com and noticed the band is giving away a "Looking in View," the first single from their forthcoming album "Black Gives Way to Blue." Sure, it's bound to be controversial since it's the first cut the band has released in the post-Layne Staley era. But it that menacing riff hooked me right away; vintage chains with William DuVall holding his own.

Listen to a sample here

If you read my post from Friday, you know I've recently become a fan of Tacoma sludge metal duo, Lozen. And last Friday, guitarist Hozoji Matheson-Margullis and drummer Justine Valdez celebrated the release of “Oona,” their new E.P., at the New Frontier Lounge. Click on the clips below to check out what you missed, and surf on over to their MySpace page for details on next week's gigs in Seattle and their next hometown show, set for June 20 date at Bob's Java Jive.

Rumbles

So Long

Neko O Kaburu

Earth People

Precious Baby Squirrels

Tacoma's Lozen is singer-guitarist Hozoji Matheson-Margullis (also the drummer for another of my new favorite local bands Helms Alee) and drummer Justine Valdez. After hearing lots of good things the dynamic duo, I downloaded Lozen's 2007 release "Enemies of Power" from the ol' iTunes, and it's just ridiculous; a full-blown Lahar of pyroclastic power chords and epic sludge that's sure to blow away any Jucifer or Melvins freak. OK, there are some pretty, melodic passages in there, too. Check out lead track "Breach" in the South Sound Mix Tape player if you haven't already.

Anyway, tonight the duo will celebrate the release of a brand, spankin' new album "New 10" at the New Frontier Lounge. Hoz tells me she doesn't scream as much on the new cuts, but "I definitely still love my distortion pedals." By all means check 'em out. Until then you can learn more here.

Oh, and a little history lesson just for fun. Lozen is named after this lady.

America's most hipster approved metal band, Mastodon, delivered an epic set last night at Neumo’s.

Troy Sanders, Brent Hinds, Brann Dailor and Bill Kelliher have strayed from their thrash roots and moved in more of a King Crimson/Pink Floyd/early Yes direction in recent years. And last night the quartet put all those proggy inclinations on display, kicking off their set by delivering new album “Crack the Skye” in its entirety. A recent trend has found numerous rock veterans - Roger Waters, Heart, Motley Crue - delivering their quintessential recordings like this in concert. So was this a statement, an assertion that “Skye” will one day be heralded as just such an essential recording? That, perhaps, it's already an instant classic? One thing's for sure. The Atlanta outfit is quite proud of where it has taken its music. Check out Sanders' enthusiasm for the new songs from the interview I did last year here.

Mastodon left the stage briefly (the touring keyboard player took off) before resuming with most of its previous critically acclaimed album, “Blood Mountain.” And the foursome eventually plunged into “Leviathan,” with only a little nod to the “Remission” album with “March of the Fire Ants” towards the end, a compelling exercise in devolution. But as much as I appreciate the new stuff, I’m actually bigger fan of the heavy, hooky rockers from the band’s first two albums. I was disappointed the cuts like “Blood & Thunder” and “Workhorse” weren’t on the agenda (not to mention that sick cover of the Melvins’ “The Bit” that Mastodon served up at El Corazon a few tours ago.) But it was a solid display from a compelling and innovative band that will be rockin' us for years to come.

I'll take it one further. Mastodon is the new Metallica. There, I said it. And by that I mean old, edgy and on the verge of a massive breakthrough Metallica. But here's hoping Mastodon never goes all "Some Kind of Monster" on us.

From top: Mastodon's Bill Kelliher shreds; a view from a crowded and sweaty balcony; Wednesday night's set list; opening band Kylesa's Corey Barhorst and Laura Pleasants.
ERNEST A. JASMIN