The early fall season will blow in come September, and there are plenty of metal and hard rock releases to fill your ears with while you head back to school or enjoy walks in the brisk, cool air. Slipknot's Corey Taylor and Jim Root return with their successful-in-its own right band, Stone Sour. It's the band's third album, and it's stacked with radio-friendly rockers with an edge. Helmet also ease their way back into our consciousness with a brand new platter. Those theatrical metalloids in Lordi are also poised to rock your face off. hardcore heroes Terror are moshing their way back into your heart, one breakdown at a time. Tommy Lee's resurrected Methods of Mayhem project, featuring contributions from fans and musicians all over the world, also drops a new album, while indie faves Black Anvil will blacken your world with 'Triumvirate.' Mushroomhead, oft compared to Slipknot, are also rearing their eight heads again, and cartoon-inspired metallers Powerglove make their E1 debut. Dream Theater vocalist James LaBrie goes a la carte with his solo project.

Did somebody say something about metal being one-note genre? With all the variety and genre subsets releasing albums in September, metal once again displays its versatility and broad scope!

Monster Magnet's rhythm section Bob Pantella (drums) and Jim Baglino (bass) have created their own alternate musical universe with Riotgod. The band will release their self-titled debut on Aug. 17 via Metalville Records, and Noisecreep is giving fans a taste of Riotgod with the brand new song, 'Crusader.' It's a sleepy, stonery, riffy, slow and low track that will elevate you to another planet!

"It's tongue-in-cheek, really," enigmatic vocalist Mark Sunshine cryptically told Noisecreep. "'Portrait of a super protestor, demonstrations and pamphlets galore. Been to every G8 demonstration. Will corner you at a party ... changing the world with rock 'n' roll one victim at a time, a la Hanoi Jane." Whatever that means.

Come years end, it will be no surprise to see 'Unsilent Death' from Nails topping most best of the year lists. With a quickness, the Southern California trio have become known for their brutal force and riffs soaked in Entombed worship. Frontman/guitarist Todd Jones told Noisecreep their first outing was all about gaining a footing. "We realized what we did that we liked and what we didn't like. For 'Unsilent Death,' we tried to maximize the aspect we liked."

Nails have recently signed to Southern Lord Records. With plans of a new full-length already in the works for early 2011, the label is going to reissue 'Unslient Death.' Originally released on Six Feet Under on CD and on the band's own Streetcleaner label, the vinyl sold over 1,000 copies before the band even took to the road for a real amount of time.

Darkest Hour have selected Soilwork guitarist -- and noted producer in his own right -- Peter Wichers to man the boards for their forthcoming, as-yet-untitled debut for E1. The band has worked with a slew of cred producers in the past. Add that to the fact that Soilwork had an influence on Darkest Hour, and it makes sense the band would choose the Swede, who currently resides in North Carolina.

"Personally, other than just being stoked to record a new record, I think that I am most stoked about the approaching guitar duel shred-a-thon that will happen once a few riffers like [Mike] Lonestar [Carrigan] and I party with Peter," guitarist and founding member Mike Schleibaum told Noisecreep. "Of course everyone in the band has their own reasons, but that's mine. I mean we learned so much from jamming with [previous producers] Devin [Townsend] and Brian [McTernan] that I just can't wait to rock with someone new."

The ultimate Led Zeppelin tribute band will come to North America this fall and will feature Zeppelin drummer John Bonham's son. Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience will perform 30 shows full of Led Zep classics accompanied by a multimedia presentation to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his father's death. Bonham died from choking on his own vomit after a drinking binge on Sept. 25, 1980.

Jason Bonham, who played with the surviving members of Led Zeppelin at the band's London O2 Arena reunion show in 2007, decided to put together his own tribute to his late dad after seeing the show 'Rain, a Tribute to the Beatles.' Bonham has joined forces with Annerin Productions -- the critically acclaimed producers of both 'Rain' and 'The Pink Floyd Experience' -- to create a visual and auditory spectacle.

One of the biggest sleeper metalcore sensations of 2008 were All That Remains, which landed at 16 on the Billboard charts with 'Overcome,' selling 240,000 copies thanks in part to the hits 'Two Days' and 'Forever in Your Hands.' The Massachusetts band will follow up the disc with their fifth album 'For We Are Many' on Oct. 12.

The album was recorded this spring at Zing Studios in Western Massachusetts and produced by Killswitch Engage guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, who also worked with the band on 2004's 'This Darkened Heart' and 2006's 'The Fall of Ideals.'

Kid Rock will once again display his respect for the troops and this great country of ours by holding a concert for the troops at Fort Jackson, S.C. on Sept. 11. The concert is dubbed 'Kid Rock Salutes the Troops Presented by Jim Beam: Patriot Day 2010.' Yes, that is a mouthful, but we have to hand it to Kid Rock for his consideration of the troops.

Service members and their families will enjoy free admission to the show, which is held on the ninth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks.