Swedish power-metallers HammerFall have never been particularly shy about their private lives. The band has chronicled most of its 15-year career on DVD: 1999's "The First Crusade" and 2002's "The Templar/Renegade Crusades" covered everything up to 2002, providing hours of entertaining live and behind-the-scenes footage. On June 27, the band will release the next chapter in its history. Check out the trailer, then come in and read all about the new DVD:

Nerds like metal ... and that's a good thing! Because really, what couldn't be improved by a liberal use of face paint, sword-and-sorcery motifs and hurdy gurdys? The Paganfest tour is proving once and for all that unusual facets of European culture are really popular in the U.S. - and way cooler than anything we have anyway. As Turisas frontman Warlord Nygard pointed out at the fest's SoCal stop on Thursday night, "We expected to have 50 people at every show, and look at all you crazy people!" I was lucky enough to be there to catch all the action. Here are my thoughts on the eye-opening experience ...