Believe it or not, NWOBHM stalwarts Saxon are reportedly back in the studio working on a follow-up to 2007's The Inner Sanctum, according to Blabbermouth. This is especially surprising because it took the band three years to release The Inner Sanctum after 2004's Lionheart. The forthcoming album will be the band's 18th. Yea, that's absurd. Big respect to some of the grandfathers of metal.

Judas Priest, the second indisputably metal band burst onto the scene in 1974... although it was with little fanfare.

While Black Sabbath took a short break from recording amid turmoil between band members, their fellow Birmingham natives stepped up to the plate with their first full-length, Rocka Rolla. Judas Priest had finally managed to put a together a stable lineup in 1973 with the addition of Rob Halford on vocals and Glenn Tipton on guitar. Along with guitarist K.K. Downing, bassist Ian Hill and drummer John Hinch, the band entered the studio

An all-star tribute to heavy-metal pioneer and all-around rock legend, Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead fame, is being prepared by directors/producers Greg Olliver and Wes Orshoski for a release in 2009. The documentary, which will be callled simply "Lemmy," will feature interviews with band-mates past and present, as well as famous fans like Slash, Dave Grohl, Mick Jones of The Clash, Alice Cooper, Steve Vai and WWE superstar Triple H.

Iron Maiden kicked off the second portion of their ridiculously epic "Somewhere Back in Time" world tour last night in San Antonio, Texas. Their (incredible) set list was revealed on Metalsetlists.com as being the following:

While preparing to hit the road with Judas Priest, Motörhead and Testament for the Metal Masters tour this August, Heaven and Hell - a.k.a. Ronnie James Dio-era Black Sabbath - are busily preparing two upcoming releases. Most tantalizing is a brand-new studio album to be released in early 2009 via Rhino Records.