Japan's Dir En Grey's seventh full-length effort, "Uroboros," hit stores last week. The disc, which follows last year's "The Marrow of a Bone," has already spawned a pair of singles: last year's "Dozing Green" and the recent "Glass Skin." Both songs can be heard streaming at the band's website.

Los Angeles-based The Human Abstract weathered the departure of lead guitarist and founding member A.J. Minette during the recording of the band's third studio album, "Midheaven." Minette, who left to pursue musical goals outside of the heavy metal genre, according to the band, was replaced by Andrew Tapley.

The album, which dropped into stores in August, was originally recorded with producer Toby Wright (Alice in Chains, Korn), but Wright was later "wiped off all credits," according to drummer Brett Powell, and the set re-worked and finished by Leonard Simone and Jesse E. String.