North America, we’re coming for you, too! We will headline a North American tour of epic proportions, beginningAugust 28 in Orlando, FL and hitting a month of dates before ending in Silver Spring, MD on September 27.
Each night will feature very special guests Visions of Atlantis as direct support, with Frozen Crown opening each show.
My first taste of the invincible OVERKILL was their second studio album Taking Over. Released back in 1987, this masterpiece of thrash metal has stood the test of Metal time, for me. Taking Over should be filed under mandatory old-school Metal, if one is to create such a list.
I purchased this album first on vinyl at a regional record store chain called Strawberries Records & Tapes, while living in Connecticut. This retail chain no longer exists, closing its doors in 2006. Years later I bought Taking Over on CD. I never owned this gem on cassette.
My favorite song on Taking Over is the powerful thrash hym: In Union We Stand. To this very day, this song galvanizes my Metal soul and creates positive chills through my body. Electro-Violence encapsulates everything that a thrash song should be; speed, aggression, explosive and short guitar solos with a blistering rhythm section that induces moshing and head-banging madness.
Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth is still my favorite thrash vocalist of all-time. I always felt that his vocals are so unique that no other vocalist remotely sounds like him. This OVERKILL lineup, with Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth were truly pioneering and legendary, with drummer Rat Skates, bassist D. D. Verni and guitarist Bobby Gustafson.
• Taking Over is the last OVERKILL studio album that drummer Rat Skates would perform on.
Participating retailers to donate 1% of March 8 sales to support mentorship, scholarships, and education in the vinyl industry
March 2, 2026 — This International Women’s Day (March 8), record stores across the country are coming together in support of Women in Vinyl through a one-day national fundraising initiative aimed at creating more access and opportunity within the vinyl and recorded music industries.
On Saturday, participating retailers will donate one percent of their in-store and online sales to Women in Vinyl, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to supporting women and underrepresented communities working across vinyl production and the broader music ecosystem.
The Women in Vinyl 1% Drive is designed as a nationwide, virtual record store “block party,” giving independent retailers a simple way to make a tangible impact with funds raised directly supporting mentorship programs, scholarships, and educational initiatives that help create pathways into careers across the vinyl supply chain.
“Every opportunity starts with someone opening a door,” said Women in Vinyl founder Jenn D’Eugenio. “The Women in Vinyl 1% Drive helps us open more of those doors, creating clear pathways into the vinyl industry through community, education, mentorship, and support for people who may not otherwise see a place for themselves.”
Participating stores include Bull Moose, Vinyl Street Co., Musicology Co., Queen B Vinyl Café, Indie Earth, Streetlight Records (San Jose and Santa Cruz), Monster Music & Movies, and The Record Exchange, among others.
Throughout the day, stores will be celebrating in their own ways, from spotlighting women artists, running themed promotions, to sharing posts across social media in support of Women in Vinyl’s mission.
Women in Vinyl is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization working to support women and gender-expansive individuals in the vinyl record industry through mentorship, education, and advocacy.
We’re excited to announce our Legacy of Fire tour, celebrating 30 years of Kittie with special guests Kingdom Of Giants and Gore. The Band! Tickets on sale Friday, March 6th, at 10am local.
6/06 – St Louis, MO @ The Pageant 6/08 – Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre 6/09 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot 6/12 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues 6/13 – Phoenix, AZ @ Nile Theater 6/15 – San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre 6/16 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues 6/18 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl 6/19 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade 6/20 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore 6/21 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage 6/23 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza 6/24 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium 6/26 – Toronto, ON @ Danforth Music Hall 6/27 – Montreal, QC @ Théâtre Beanfield
Yes, on March 1st, 2009, Metal Odyssey was launched. 17 years later, we’re still here! I want to thank EACH and EVERY human being that has subscribed and/or visited Metal Odyssey over these years! Without you, there’s no reason for this blog.
I also want to thank ALL the PR agencies, contributors, musicians and bands for your press releases, written articles, music and input. I live for Metal. Metal is a driving force in my life. Metal Odyssey will continue to spread the Metal word on underground and mainstream Metal for hopefully many more years to come. Metal be thy name – Stone.
Finnish power metal pioneers SONATA ARCTICA have unleashed a brand-new single titled “Freedom Concept.” The track arrives as a powerful statement in the band’s 30th anniversary year, followed by an extensive touring schedule, and delivers the melodic intensity and energy fans have come to expect.
“Freedom Concept” captures the signature blend of soaring melodies, driving rhythms and emotional depth that has defined SONATA ARCTICA for three decades. At the same time, the song explores a thoughtful and timely subject: the complex idea of freedom and the responsibility that comes with it.
Frontman Tony Kakko comments: ”Freedom Concept”, a song about understanding and misunderstanding the concept of freedom, often forgetting it comes paired with responsibility, and how what ever values and thoughts you may have are not automatically transferred to your offspring and how in most cases that’s an effin great thing…(breath in) has been sitting on my desk for a while and we figured this kind of melodic power metal blast we’re known of would be a good way to celebrate the 30th anniversary ”tourette” we’ve started at the end of January 2026 WHILST also working on our next studio album. This song’s NOT gonna be on it. So…extra special snack in between meals. Enjoy!”
SONATA ARCTICA: Tony Kakko (vocals) Elias Viljanen (guitars) Tommy Portimo (drums) Henrik “Henkka” Klingenberg (keyboards) Pasi Kauppinen (bass)
SONATA ARCTICA 30th Anniversary Tour: 28.02.2026 (FI) – Kemi – Kemi Areena 09.04.2026 (SE) – Johanneshov – Slaktkyrkan 10.04.2026 (SE) – Göteborg – Pustervik 11.04.2026 (DK) – Roskilde – Gimle – Epic Fest 23.04.2026 (IT) – Ciampino – Orion Live Club 24.04.2026 (IT) – Trezzo Sull’adda – Trezzo Sull’adda 12.06.2026 (FI) – Hyvinkää – Hyvinkään Vilatehdas – Hyvinkää Rock 13.06.2026 (FI) – Vaasa – Moottorikatu Vasikiluoto – Lisää Löylyä Festival 18.06.2026 (BE) – Dessel – Graspop Metal Meeting 19.06.2026 (HU) – Székesfehérvár – FEZEN Fesztivál 25.06.2026 (SK) – Snina – Rock Pod Kamenom 03.07.2026 (FI) – Oulu – Rokki Raikaa 09.07.2026 (DE) – Balingen – RV Bang Open Air Festival 10.07.2026 (FI) – Turku – Vauhti Kiihtyy! – Festivaali 24.07.2026 (FI) – Tampere – Rokki Raikaa 07.08.2026 (FI) – Vantaa – Vauhti Kiihtyy! – Festivaali, Vantaa 13.08.2026 (CZ) – Moravsky Krumlov – Rock Castle Open Air 14.08.2026 (FI) – Lahti – Vauhti Kiihtyy! – Festivaali, Lahti 28.08.2026 (FI) – Jyväskylä – Vauhti Kiihtyy! – Festivaali, Jyväskylä 29.08.2026 (FI) – Valkeakoski – Waltikan Venetsialaiset 09.09.2026 (MX) – Chihuahua – Pistoleros House Of Show 10.09.2026 (MX) – Torreón – Centro de Convenciones de Torreón 11.09.2026 (MX) – Monterrey – Cafe Iguana 12.09.2026 (MX) – Ciudad Obregón – Centro Magno 14.09.2026 (MX) – Ciudad de México – FORO TEAMBRO 16.09.2026 (MX) – Santiago de Querétaro – Foro Arpa 17.09.2026 (MX) – León – Teatro Manuel Doblado 18.09.2026 (MX) – Guadalajara – C3 Stage 20.09.2026 (CR) – Zapote – Pepper Disco Club 22.09.2026 (CO) – Bogotá – Ace Of Spades – Club 23.09.2026 (EC) – Quito – Teatro San Gabriel 24.09.2026 (EC) – Guayaquil – Auditorio Simón Bolivar – MAAC Cine 25.09.2026 (PE) – Lima – Centro de Convenciones Teatro Leguia 27.09.2026 (CL) – Santiago – Teatro Coliseo 29.09.2026 (AR) – Buenos Aires – El Teatro Flores 30.09.2026 (UY) – Montevideo – Live Era 02.10.2026 (BR) – Limeira – Studio Mirage Eventos 03.10.2026 (BR) – São Paulo – Audio 26.10.2026 (UK) – London – O2 Forum Kentish Town – w/ Beast In Black 27.10.2026 (BE) – Bruxelles – Ancienne Belgique – w/ Beast In Black 28.10.2026 (NE) – Tilburg – Poppodium 013 – w/ Beast In Black 29.10.2026 (DE) – Leipzig – Haus Auensee – w/ Beast In Black 31.10.2026 (AT) – Wien – Gasometer – w/ Beast In Black 01.11.2026 (HU) – Budapest – Barba Negra – w/ Beast In Black 02.11.2026 (CZ) – Zlín – NOVESTA SPORT, Ltd., Sports Hall Euronics – w/ Beast In Black 03.11.2026 (PL) – Gliwice – Prezero Arena Gliwice – w/ Beast In Black 05.11.2026 (DE) – Berlin – Columbiahalle – w/ Beast In Black 06.11.2026 (DE) – Hannover – Swiss Life Hall – w/ Beast In Black 07.11.2026 (DE) – Ludwigsburg – MHP Arena – w/ Beast In Black 08.11.2026 (DE) – Offenbach – Stadthalle Offenbach – w/ Beast In Black 09.11.2026 (FR) – Paris – L’Olympia – w/ Beast In Black 11.11.2026 (ES) – Barcelona – Razzmatazz 1 – w/ Beast In Black 12.11.2026 (ES) – Madrid – Sala Riviera – w/ Beast In Black 13.11.2026 (ES) – Bilbao – Sala Santana 27 – w/ Beast In Black 14.11.2026 (FR) – Ramonville-St-Agne – Le Bikini – w/ Beast In Black 15.11.2026 (FR) – Villeurbanne – Transbordeur – w/ Beast In Black 17.11.2026 (CH) – Zürich – Komplex AG – w/ Beast In Black 18.11.2026 (IT) – Milan – Alcatraz – w/ Beast In Black 20.11.2026 (DE) – München – Zenith – w/ Beast In Black 21.11.2026 (LU) – Esch-sur-Alzette – Rockhal – w/ Beast In Black 22.11.2026 (DE) – Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle – w/ Beast In Black 23.11.2026 (DE) – Hamburg – Inselparkhalle – w/ Beast In Black 24.11.2026 (SE) – Göteborg – Eriksbergshallen – w/ Beast In Black 25.11.2026 (SE) – Stockholm – Fryshuset – w/ Beast In Black
North Carolina’s BLACKWATER DROWNING is pleased to present their video for “Devour.” The track comes off the band’s latest full-length, Obscure Sorrows, out today on Bleeding Art Collective and Blood Blast Distribution (Nuclear Blast Records/Believe).
Comments vocalist Morgan Riley, “I wrote the lyrics for ‘Devour’ in the midst of a breakdown of a long-term friendship. I realized this person had been taking advantage of my kindness and generosity for a long time, and when I started calling them out on certain behaviors as a friend, they got increasingly more adversarial. I realized they’d never take accountability for anything they did, instead preferring to immerse themselves in yes-men and substances. ‘Devour’ is about that feeling of realizing this person was never the friend I thought they were.”
Watch BLACKWATER DROWNING’s previously released video for “Eye Of The Storm” HERE and “The Sixth Omen” HERE.
Order Obscure Sorrows HERE. Find new merch items HERE.
BLACKWATER DROWNING recently wrapped up a short run of dates with Butcher Babies. The band will play alongside Filth in March and Infected Rain in May with more performances to be announced in the weeks to come. See all confirmed shows below.
BLACKWATER DROWNING Live w/ Filth:
3/06/2026 The Shop Live – Dunbar, WV
3/07/2026 Lurking Class Skate Shop – Salisbury, MD
3/08/2026 The Canal Club – Richmond VA
3/09/2026 Zen West – Baltimore, MD
3/10/2026 Reggie’s 42nd Street – Wilmington, NC
3/11/2026 Hangar 1819 – Greensboro, NC
w/ Infected Rain:
5/13/2026 Hangar 1819 – Greensboro, NC
5/14/2026 Scandals Live – Virginia Beach, VA
5/15/2026 Zen West – Baltimore, MD
BLACKWATER DROWNING is a five-piece US melodic death metal/metalcore band from North Carolina. Forged by singer Morgan Riley and guitarist Jeremy Bennett, the band is completed by guitarist Ron Dalton Jr, bassist Aria Novi, and drummer Aamon Dalton. Since the band’s inception, BLACKWATER DROWNING has recorded two EPs and a debut album (Sonder//Satori) and has supported iconic acts such as Soulfly, Jinjer, Crypta, and many others.
The band now unleashes Obscure Sorrows. Mixed and mastered by Cryptopsy guitarist Christian Donaldson (Shadow Of Intent, Suffocation, Ingested), the album features guest solos by Greg Burgess of Allegaeon and Japanese guitar virtuoso Yo Onityan as well as stunning album art by Giannis Nakos (Emperor, The Agonist, Aborted).
BLACKWATER DROWNING: Jeremy Bennett – guitar Morgan Riley – vocals Aamon Dalton – drums Aria Novi – bass Ron Dalton Jr. – guitar
ØVI unveil “Absolve,” the closing track from their new EP Hedera Helix, available today on all streaming platforms. Serving as the final statement of the four-track release, “Absolve” channels confrontation into clarity, presenting metal as a force of transformation rather than collapse.
Named after the ivy plant Hedera helix, a species known for relentless expansion and endurance, the EP reflects themes of growth through pressure and renewal through destruction. Across the record, ØVI examines toxic relationships, parasitic dynamics, and the reclamation of personal will. The music moves with intention, tracing the moment when survival becomes self-definition.
“Absolve” stands as the EP’s culmination. Anger becomes a refining element, burning away stagnation and sharpening purpose. The track mirrors ivy’s persistence. Structures that no longer sustain life are dismantled so growth can take hold. The recurring refrain, “Absolve, Rectify, Solidify,” functions as ritual language, a mantra aimed at severing attachment to decay and reinforcing forward motion.
The song closes Hedera Helix with momentum and resolve. Rather than yielding to exhaustion, ØVI push toward transcendence, choosing action, renewal, and evolution. The record ends in motion, advancing with deliberate force and unbroken focus.
Hedera Helix is out now.
OVI:
Michael Nolasco – Vocals/Guitar
Zed Amarin – Drums
Kevin McCombs – Bass
Brendan Collins – Guitar
About ØVI:
Influenced by NEOBLIVISCARIS, GOJIRA, DIMMU BORGIR, and NINE INCH NAILS, ØVI builds a sound that blends cinematic heaviness with electronic elements, evolving harmonic layers, and dynamic rhythmic structures. The result is an immersive, modern metal experience that balances aggression with emotion, density with clarity.
At its core, ØVI approaches metal as a narrative medium, using sound to explore power, guilt, and identity. Hedera Helix stands as both confrontation and metamorphosis, music that refuses to fade quietly, instead clawing toward self-definition and growth.
Experience the electrifying documentary charting the band’s rise from small pubs to the world’s largest stadiums in IRON MAIDEN: BURNING AMBITION!
Exclusively in theaters May 7th for a limited time only. Tickets on sale March 18th. Sign up for more info at: http://www.ironmaidenfilm.com
With unprecedented access to official band archives, Iron Maiden: Burning Ambition charts five decades of one of the most iconic journeys in music history.
Featuring interviews with the band and contributors such as Javier Bardem, Lars Ulrich and Chuck D, this electrifying film offers an intimate look at their uncompromising vision and unwavering connection with their global army of fans.
Inspired by classic Japanese monster films and Lovecraftian mythology, DISSENTIENCE are left to fend for themselves and escape a destructive, nameless beast in their latest release Kaiju. Based out of Bethlehem, PA, the progressive death-thrash unit unleash a devastatingly brutal onslaught accompanied with their humorous take on a B-movie video style, available HERE.
“While we take the music side of DISSENTIENCE very seriously, the Kaiju video was a great excuse to have some fun with the whole concept.” The band shares. “The last thing the world needs is another ‘band in a warehouse’ or ‘live on stage’ music video, so we wanted to do things a little differently. Keeping the monster off-screen, we leaned into the B-Movie aspect of our inspiration as it seemingly picks us off one by one. Running around on a freezing day in northeast PA was absolutely brutal, but Sarah from Novro Studios absolutely nailed the edit and made all the frostbite worth it!”
“Kaiju” is the title track and narrative climax of their newly released four-track concept EP. The song’s lyrics describe grotesque scenes of bloodshed and helplessness, as the unseen terror rips through the last remnants of resistance. Sonically, brutal gutturals, riffs and rhythmic fury build with intensity throughout as the sense of urgency and impending doom escalates.
Kaiju was produced by the band alongside Corey Pierce, the record was engineered by Matt Menafro at Peach Pie Sound, mixed by Zeuss, and mastered by Alan Douches. The music video for “Kaiju” was shot and edited by Sarah Novroski & Novro Studios. The full EP is released independently and available on digital and CD formats.
Kaiju – Track-list:
Obsidian Tomb
Chaos Absolute
Kaiju
Death Shroud
About DISSENTIENCE:
Formed in 2013 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, DISSENTIENCE is a progressive death-thrash metal band that combines the technical precision of death metal with the relentless energy of thrash.
The lineup features Connor Valentin on guitar and vocals, James Vitale on guitar, Sean Langer on bass, and Nick Scherden on drums. Known for their intense live performances and refusal to be confined to a single subgenre, the band continuously pushes their sound in new directions. Their music balances chaos and melody while exploring dark themes through a modern lens.
After releasing their debut EP Mask of Pretense in 2018 and their full-length album Empire Anatomy in 2022, DISSENTIENCE returned with the concept EP Kaiju in 2026.
Swedish modern power metal force METALITE have officially signed a worldwide contract with PERCEPTION – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music, marking a major new milestone in the band’s rapidly ascending career!
Following the signing, the band have unleashed their brand-new single, “Our Time Has Come”, a high-energy anthem that showcases everything fans have come to expect from METALITE: massive melodies, driving riffs, and a futuristic edge wrapped in razor-sharp production.
Guitarist, producer, songwriter and founder Edwin Premberg comments: “We’re beyond excited to finally share our new single Our Time Has Come with you. This song kicks off a powerful new chapter for METALITE and marks the beginning of our upcoming concept album ‘Discovery’ where the story continues on a new planet and humanity begins a new life. It’s a classic METALITE track – full of high energy, soaring melodies, and that unmistakable METALITE sound. This is only the beginning, and we can’t wait to take this journey together with you”.
With its soaring vocal lines, pounding rhythm section, and cinematic synth layers, “Our Time Has Come” captures METALITE at full throttle. The track blends melodic precision with modern production punch, delivering an arena ready chorus that’s impossible to ignore.
Formed in 2015 by guitarist Edwin Premberg and vocalist Emma Bensing, the band quickly gained recognition for its fresh and modern take on melodic metal and their 2017 debut album Heroes in Time set the stage for METALITE’s rise.
In 2019, the band entered a new era with Biomechanicals, marking the debut of vocalist Erica Ohlsson. Their evolution continued with A Virtual World in 2021, an album that expanded on their sci-fi themes while delivering massive soundscapes and powerful melodies.
With Expedition One (2024), METALITE embarked on their most ambitious project to date. A visionary concept album set in the year 2055, it tells the story of a renegade team searching for a new world, exploring themes of human evolution, technology, and survival.
In 2024, the band welcomed drummer Erik Junttila to the lineup, bringing new energy and power to their sound. His premiere gig with the band took place in Linköping at the beginning of 2025, marking an exciting new chapter in METALITE’s journey.
With just three months to go until their first-ever appearance at Maryland Deathfest, Kansas-based death metal horde UNMERCIFUL has announced a very special guest for this monumental performance.
Joining the band on vocals will be none other than James “Freight Train” Lee, widely recognized for his crushing performances on Origin’s landmark albums III, Echoes of Decimation, and Antithesis. Lee’s unmistakable intensity and legacy within extreme metal make this collaboration a historic moment for both the band and fans alike.
With Lee on stage, fans can expect a set of unmitigated ferocity and precision. One that won’t soon be forgotten.
In addition, drummer Andy Vincent (Morgue Defilement) will be stepping in behind the kit while UNMERCIFUL skin-basher Trynt Kelly continues to navigate health issues.
UNMERCIFUL is currently booking additional performances surrounding Maryland Deathfest. The band is slated to appear on MDF’s Marketplace & Power Plant Live stage on Sunday, May 24. More dates to be announced soon.
The band’s newest album, Devouring Darkness, marks a new era of relentless violence and sonic brutality! With ten tracks of scorching intensity and distorted vengeance, the album is filled with blistering blast beats, intricate kick drum patterns, and destructive riffing.
Devouring Darkness is out now on CD, digital, and vinyl formats on Willowtip Records.
Cult icons of the late-80s/early-90s NYC goth scene return with first original recording in 32 years
New album The Visible Heaven produced by Doc Hammer at Goat of Brass Studios
Pre-orders now available via The Circle Music
New York, NY & Athens, Greece; 26 February 2026: After three decades of silence, the “last original band” of the American gothic movement, Requiem in White, has returned. The band is set to release The Visible Heaven, their first new album since disbanding in 1994, via The Circle Music on 21 May 2026.
Ahead of the album’s release, the band has unveiled the first single “Reckless in Misery”.
Originally formed in Boston in 1985 before becoming fixtures of the New York City underground, Requiem in White achieved legendary status through their refusal to grant interviews and their “grass roots” fame at venues like CBGB and The Limelight.
Known for an eclectic, romantic sound that influenced a generation of acts, they shared stages with the likes of Type O Negative, Christian Death and Biohazard. Following their 1994 split (the same year Marilyn Manson’s debut album came out), the Requiem in White members went on to form influential projects including Mors Syphilitica, Judith and WEΕΡ.
The new record sees original vocalist Lisa Stockton-Wilson (ex-Hammer) reunite with guitarist and songwriter Doc Hammer to finally capture the “elegant power” that defined their live shows but was often lost in the muddy, self-funded recordings of their youth.
The catalyst for the reunion was a 2024 vinyl reissue of the band’s early material by The Circle Music. Upon hearing the “thin and tiny” production of the original 8-track recordings, Doc Hammer, known to many as the co-creator of the animated series The Venture Bros, felt a responsibility to secure the band’s legacy.
The Visible Heaven eschews modern production tricks, relying on the classic arrangement of guitar, drums, bass, vocals, and organ. Stockton-Wilson’s “glassy and soaring” vocals, which Hammer describes as having pushed through “30 years of dust and doubt”, remain the centrepiece of the band’s signature dark, romantic sound.
“Requiem in White returned not to take back her throne, but to show people that her chair was beautiful,” says Doc Hammer. “To right the wrongs of her past and give her an album that sounds like what she truly was. To show her fans that they backed a beautiful horse! A horse that won’t win a race, but she’ll look good racing, and you will never see a horse like that again.”
He continued: “I wanted it to sound like we went into a great studio in 1994, recorded great tracks, and mixed a great album… the album we always wanted to make. It’s Guitar, Drums, Bass, Vocals and a little Organ, just like Requiem was back in the day.
“When some bands reunite and make new music, they don’t really pick up where they left off. They’re thinking as a creator, and not really respecting the band as a fan does. They bring into the new stuff all the baggage of the contemporary idiom. That, as a fan, is kinda gross. I don’t wanna hear my favourite niche-Goth-band come back and sound like fucking Doja Cat. I want them to sound like they used to. That’s what I would want as a fan. So I decided to just get back to the artistic place I was in the 90s.”
“I wasn’t trying to make a new record sound old, I was truly back in my old band writing like I used to. It’s real. The band never left, it simply fell asleep for a bit.”
Lisa Stockton-Wilson said: “I couldn’t have dreamt that Requiem in White would ever make another recording, but when Doc sent me the music, I was blown away. It’s haunting and powerful, symphonic and driving. My parts were complex and difficult to record, but I got a lot of encouragement. I think this album is very unique and I hope it makes our fans happy. Thanks to The Circle Music for inviting us to release our albums, old and new.”
The Visible Heaven tracklist: 1. The Visible Heaven 2. Ursuline Sister 3. True Lovers and Whores 4. Cold or Divine 5. Missa Brevis 6. Solus Sum 7. Suffer and Sleep 8. Reckless in Misery
Chicago (IL) – Progressive Tech-Death stalwarts, GIGAN, have announced the West Coast Sonic Invasion Tour 2026! The tour launches April 30 in San Diego and includes an appearance at Northwest Terror Fest on May 9.
Willowtip Records label mates, Barren Path, will perform on four dates.
Tour Dates are as follows:
April 30 – San Diego, CA (Banshee) with Barren Path/Cave Bastard/Genestealer/Cataract Stare
May 1 – Long Beach, CA (Que Sera) w/ Barren Path/Teeth/Morgue Breath
May 2 – Bakersfield, CA (Jerry’s Pizza) with Cave Bastard/tba
May 3 – Los Angeles, CA (Slipper Clutch) w/ Cave Bastard/tba
May 4 – Sacramento, CA (Cafe Colonial) w/ Barren Path/Oceans of Ash/tba
May 5 – Oakland, CA (Thee Stork Club) w/ Barren Path/Horse Butcher/tba
May 6 – Palmdale, CA (Transplants Brewing) w/ tba
May 9 – Seattle, WA (Northwest Terror Fest)
May 10 – Vancouver, Canada (Astoria) w/ tba
Anomalous Abstractigate Infinitessimus, GIGAN‘s first album in seven years, was released October 25, 2024 on CD, Ltd edition CD long box, vinyl, cassette, Ltd edition four-album cassette boxset, and digital formats via Willowtip Records.
Since 2005, GIGAN has been an unsung vanguard of abstract and creatively dissonant extreme metal. Pushing boundaries and never compromising the artistic vision throughout the debut EP and subsequent four full-length albums has led GIGAN to be considered an unwavering force of both innovation and extremity.
It has been almost seven years since GIGAN has released new music and the time spent away has only honed and sharpened the still-deadly blades of creativity for which GIGAN has always been known; while also infusing fresh elements not yet heard within the GIGAN Universe. The results of GIGAN’s current hard work is the new beast of an album entitled AnomalousAbstractigate Infinitessimus.
On September 19th, the LOVE.NOISE.FREEDOM FESTIVAL lands in the UK for the very first time, featuring sets from Might, Bulbul, Confusion Master, Noisepicker, and Endure.
LOVE.NOISE.FREEDOM, the beating heart behind every gathering curated by Exile On Mainstream has always been a statement. A celebration of heavy music, stubborn independence, and the deep bonds that hold this scene together. And now, that legendary, road-worn, heart-driven vibe finally takes over Downstairs at the Dome in London for one intense, unifying day. This is not a random lineup. This is family.
Might brings their uncompromising blend of crushing heaviness and raw melody, a band forged in volume and conviction, known for turning every stage into a cathartic release. Their sound balances massive riffs with emotional weight, the kind that lingers long after the amps cool down. Their sound is massive, yes, towering riffs and crushing low end, yet beneath the volume lies vulnerability. When they hit, it feels like standing in a storm that somehow holds you upright.
Bulbul, underground lifers from Austria, have built their legacy the hard way, through decades of stubborn independence and fearless experimentation. Hypnotic, abrasive, uncompromising, they prove that repetition can become ritual, and noise can become transcendence. They are a reminder that art survives because people refuse to let it die.
With sparse need for words, Confusion Master speaks through colossal instrumental passages that blur the line between doom, sludge and psychedelic drift. Their music feels like a slow-burning horizon; meditative, heavy, and deeply human. It’s the sound of patience meeting power.
UK powerhouse Noisepicker brings grit, groove and heart. Road-worn, hook-laden, and unapologetically loud, they channel the raw pulse of heavy rock ’n’ roll into something immediate and communal. Sweat on the walls. Smiles in the crowd. Riffs that feel like old friends.
And then there’s Endure – a new chapter written by members of Hands Of Omega. Born from experience, loss, growth and persistence, Endure embodies an evolving spirit: heavy, honest, and driven by connection.
LOVE.NOISE.FREEDOM isn’t about hype. It’s about shared vans, shared stages, shared stories. It’s about a label that built its reputation on loyalty and artistic freedom, finally bringing its community across the Channel. This is about showing up. For the music. For each other. For the idea that independent art still matters, not as nostalgia, yet as necessity. One day. One stage. One circle of trust. A gathering.
London, get ready to feel what Exile On Mainstream has always stood for: LOVE. NOISE. FREEDOM.
Tickets for LOVE.NOISE.FREEDOM FESTIVAL are available RIGHT HERE, and more info is posted HERE.
Exile On Mainstream Presents:
LOVE.NOISE.FREEDOM FESTIVAL – w/ Might, Bulbul, Confusion Master, Endure, Noisepicker
9/19/2026 Downstairs At The Dome – London, UK [info]
Kentucky’s Doom laden Sludge lords HIGHGATE have joined the Horror Pain Gore Death Productions roster for the release of their new full-length album, Prophecies Of Eternal Horror.
Emanating from the hills of Northern Kentucky, HIGHGATE unleash a Sludge filled, Doom laden yowl that speaks of years of struggle and despair. Prophecies Of Eternal Horror finds the dead bodies stacking to the sky as HIGHGATE grapple with global war atrocities, religious fanaticism and class warfare.
HIGHGATE has shared the album’s first single, “At Paranoia’s Poison Door.” The song is described as a blackened-doom battle cry against an overreaching government that wants us too scared to think or act for ourselves. The lyrical refrain of “crawl to your masters”speaks to the song’s theme of government capability to brainwash citizens into cowering boot-lickers.
HIGHGATE: Greg Brown – vocals Steve Porter – battery & vocals Jamie Porter – guitar, bass & vocals
Prophecies Of Eternal Horror is set to be released on March 27.
We’re proud to welcome Tesla to the Frontiers Music family.
More than 40 years on from their early days as a California club band, Tesla continue to do what great bands are meant to do: make music that matters.
Drawing inspiration from icons like Elvis Presley, Freddie Mercury, Sam Cooke, David Ruffin, Etta James, and James Brown, their new music showcases the musical dynamics Tesla have built over decades and puts a deserved spotlight on Jeff Keith’s remarkable vocal range and expression.
To Tesla, to the songs that shaped them, and to the fans who’ve been there all along — welcome to Frontiers Music!
North America! Are you ready!? We are beyond excited to finally be returning across the pond in less than three weeks! Grab your tickets and VIP upgrades now before they are gone ! See you all very soon! Ready To Fight!
03/14/26 – West Palm Beach • FL 03/15/26 – Tampa • FL 03/17/26 – Atlanta • GA 03/19/26 – Covington • KY 03/20/26 – Westland • MI 03/21/26 – McHenry • IL 03/22/26 – Cleveland • OH 03/24/26 – Pittsburgh • PA 03/25/26 – Harrisburg • PA 03/26/26 – Sellersville • PA 03/27/26 – Teaneck • NJ 03/28/26 – New Bedford • MA 03/29/26 – Hampton Beach • NH 04/01/26 – Annapolis • MD 04/02/26 – Virginia Beach • VA 04/04/26 – Sanford • FL 04/10/26 – Katy • TX 04/11/26 – San Antonio • TX 04/12/26 – Dallas • TX 04/16/26 – Hollywood • CA 04/17/26 – Glendale • AZ 04/18/26 – Las Vegas • NV 04/20/26 – Montreal • CAN 04/21/26 – QUEBEC CITY • CAN 04/22/26 – Ottawa • CAN Ontario 04/23/26 – Toronto • CAN Ontario
ACT III U.S. Tour 2026 ~ Performing the album ACT III in its entirety:
5/1/26 – Phoenix, AZ – Marquee Theater 5/3/26 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom 5/5/26 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues 5/7/26 – Daytona, FL – Welcome to Rockville 5/10/26 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground 5/11/26 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel 5/12/26 – Hobart, IN – Hobart Theater 5/14/26 – Detroit, MI – St Andrews Hall 5/15/26 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom 5/16/26 – Norwalk, CT – District Music Hall 5/19/26 – Wilmington, DE – The Queen 5/20/26 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theater 5/21/26 – Buffalo, NY – Electric City 5/22/26 – Allentown, PA – Archer Music Hall 5/24/26 – Baltimore, MD – Maryland Deathfest 5/27/26 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade Hell 5/28/26 – Orlando, FL – The Abbey 5/29/26 – Ft Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room 5/30/26 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum 6/2/26 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl 6/3/26 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom 6/5/26 – Milwaukee, WI – MKE Metal Fest 6/6/26 – St Louis, MO – Red Flag 6/8/26 – Wichita, KS – Wave 6/9/26 – Greeley, CO – Moxi Theater 6/10/26 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep 6/11/26 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex 6/12/26 – Boise, ID – Shrine Ballroom 6/14/26 – Seattle, WA – Showbox 6/16/26 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater 6/17/26 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades 6/18/26 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater 6/19/26 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory 6/20/26 – Ventura, CA – Ventura Music Hall 6/21/26 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalys
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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