For more than two decades, death metal legends Cannibal Corpse have enjoyed a very rabid fan-following in the heavy metal world. The extreme nature of their music, album artwork and lyrical themes has been hugely iconic. Starting with early albums like Eaten Back To Life and Butchered At Birth, right up to the most recent releases like Kill and Evisceration Plague, they have invariably come up with music that has satisfied fans of this sub-genre.

After flying under the mainstream radar for years, Australian guitarist Tommy Emmanuel is enjoying the recognition his millions of YouTube views are bringing him. His strategy for success is simple: Tour relentlessly, and be so damn good that they can’t ignore you. And it's working.

Keith Richards moves like a shadow along a cobblestone West Village backstreet. It's a hot summer day in New York City and Keef is in earth tones -- a sandy brown bomber jacket, reddish brown headband, moccasins. For some strange reason, each passing year seems to make this quintessential English rock star look more and more like an American Indian -- a brave or a shaman, with his creased visage and prominent nose.

Dutch occult rockers The Devil's Blood are set to release their second full-length album, The Thousandfold Epicentre, in North America on January 17 via Metal Blade Records. It's one of the most intriguing musical compositions I've heard in a while, and even though we are barely starting 2012, the album throws down the gauntlet to everything else that will be released in the remainder of the year.