ANIMETAL USA / IMPELLITTERI guitarist Chris Impellitteri has checked in with the following update.

"Hello Friends,

I want to thank Young Guitar Magazine for putting me on the cover of their upcoming January 2012 issue! I am honored to be on the cover once again. I think this is like the seventh or eighth time which is really cool. Young Guitar Magazine always have fantastic coverage of many of my personal favorite guitarists like VAN HALEN, RANDY RHOADS, RITCHIE BLACKMORE, YNGWIE MALMSTEEN, MICHAEL SCHENKER, JOHNY SYKES, PAUL GILBERT, ULI JON ROTH, etc... including each players technique, live rig, and instruments. Definitely a very cool magazine.

The cover story is going to feature both Impellitteri and a new band I play guitar in called Animetal USA, which also features Rudy Sarzo on bass, Mike Vescera on vocals, and Scott Travis on drums. The Young Guitar cover is going to be split in to two sections which will feature me as Chris Impellitteri on the right side ,and then me in my Animetal character on the left side. For the Impellitteri section, Young Guitar will be covering the Impellitteri Black EP I recorded with vocalist Rob Rock and Loni Silva, and features songs like 'Burning', 'Lost In The Rain', and 'Playing With Fire'. This record was our very first recording and me and the band obviously took everything too the limit musically. I actually have fond memories of this time period, especially since we were so into pushing the boundaries of shredding, screaming, and musical aggression. I think Sony will be re-releasing this EP around April 2012.

For the Animetal USA section Sony is currently promoting our new record which just go released in October. We entered the charts at #1 for metal and #2 for international artists, which shocked all of us. So, thanks for the support friends! We also premiered the band live at Loud Park this year in front of 11,000 fans. It rocked!!! Animetal USA is definitely the strangest band I have been involved with, but it is really insane sounding especially since we are crossing original music with classic Anime themes. I am also very impressed with how well the band plays together. Definitely a lot of energy when the four of us play!

See you guys soon on tour!"

(Thanks Fullshred)