Tool [ tickets ] fans anxiously awaiting a new studio album from the band can find solace this week in “Salival” (Volcano). The 2-CD box set features both unreleased studio and live material, and a DVD or VHS containing all four of the group’s music videos. A 56-page color book of performance shots and video stills is also included, according to the band’s official website.

To help launch “Salival,” Tool is scheduled to participate in an hour-long online chat hosted at its official website on Monday (12/11) at 6pm Pacific Time, according to information posted on the site.

Tool is in the studio working on the official follow up to 1996’s “Aenima.” The disc is due out on April 17, 2001, according to the band’s website. “Aenima” has sold over 2 million copies since its October 1996 release, according to the Recording Industry Association of America.

Prior to the April release of Tool’s next studio album, frontman Maynard James Keenan is scheduled to head back out on tour with his side project, A Perfect Circle. That group is touring in support of its debut, “Mer De Noms” (Virgin). The album debuted at No. 4 during its first week of release in May.

Cypress Hill [ tickets ], who released the 2-CD set “Skull & Bones” (Columbia) earlier this year, returns this week with “Live at the Fillmore,” a live performance that was taped at the famous San Francisco venue in August. The album features the group performing 17 previously released tunes backed by a full band.

A companion DVD/VHS release titled “Still Smokin’” is set for release on Jan. 9, according to Cypress Hill’s official website. The video release will feature six of the performance tracks found on “Live at the Fillmore.” The DVD version will also contain a 30-minute Cypress Hill television special titled “So You Wanna Be a Superstar.”

Epic Records, with whom Silverchair recently parted ways, will release a compilation album of material from the group this week. “Silverchair: The Best of Vol. 1” features 13 previously released tracks, as well as 10 tracks and B-sides that have never been released in the U.S., according to a Sony spokesperson. Tracks include hits such as "Tomorrow" and "Freak," as well as covers of Black Flag's "Wasted" and "Fix Me," and an acoustic remix of "Ana's Song (Open Fire)."

Silverchair recently signed a new recording contract with Eleven, a boutique label formed by the group’s manager, John Watson. The Australian rockers plan to begin work on a new album next year, according to Watson.

Kittie follows in the wake of its successful debut album, “Spit” (Artemis), with “Paperdoll,” a six-song EP that features a radio remix of the “Spit” track of the same name. In addition to “Paperdoll,” the disc also contains five live tracks--all from “Spit”--that were recorded last summer in Sweden, according to the group’s official website.

Last month, Kittie set out on a headlining club tour that is scheduled to wrap-up on Tuesday night (12/12) in Michigan, according to the group’s official website. The outing replaced a planned opening slot on Pantera’s U.S. tour, which was postponed until next year after frontman Phil Anselmo broke two ribs.

Xzibit [ tickets ] returns with “Restless” (Loud) this week, his third solo release since parting ways with the Likwit Crew. The new album features a roster of guest artists that reads like a “Who’s Who” list of hip-hop performers, including Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, KRS One and Eminem.

The rapper spent most of the fall touring with Limp Bizkit and Eminem as part of the Anger Management Tour.

Originally set for release on Dec. 5, the “Dracula 2000” (Columbia) soundtrack is now slated to hit shelves this week. The 15-track disc houses new material from a slew of hard-rock acts that includes Pantera, Powerman 5000, Monster Magnet, Slayer, Static-X, Taproot and others. The Wes Craven horror flick has a Dec. 22 release date.

Other new releases: