EMBERS OF DAWN venture further into realms of doom and gothic metal in the new single, “The Passing“. A touching tribute to TYPE O NEGATIVE and Peter Steele, the rich atmosphere and doom-laden heaviness center the darkness of this introspective track.
EMBERS OF DAWN explain, “At its core, the lyrics reflect mortality, loneliness, and the inevitability of death. The song emphasizes emptiness, futility, and indifference… and if that wasn’t dreary enough, the nihilistic elements of the lyrics are apparent as the song suggests life and death might go unnoticed and that the universe really offers no inherent significance.”
The haunting introduction of “The Passing” soon builds into a rhythmic arrangement of chugging guitars, metallic percussion hits and industrial electronics. Somber, low vocal melody lines contribute to the song’s gothic style, while powerful bursts add further character.
“The Passing” showcases the band’s ability to craft intense sonic offerings that unveil an all-encompassing heavy sound, and was produced, mixed and mastered by Richii Wainwright.
About EMBERS OF DAWN:
Formed in 2022, EMBERS OF DAWN is a genre-defying metal project born out of Jacksonville, Florida and Santa Barbara, California. The band blends elements of industrial, gothic, melodic death metal, and cyber-metal to create a sound that is both cinematic and punishing. Known for their thematic focus on alienation, modern decay, and emotional detachment, EMBERS OF DAWN delivers music that is as introspective as it is aggressive.
Spanish melodic death metal band BLOODHUNTER have revealed new details on their highly-anticipated studio album, entitled Sons Of The Abandoned, that is set for release on June 12, 2026 via ROAR – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music. Pre-orders have started today.
Accompanying the album announcement, BLOODHUNTER step it up with the release of a music video for their latest single “Threshold Of Hell”, featuring Fernando Ribeiro of Portuguese dark metal legends MOONSPELL! Leaning on crushing riffs, a commanding groove, brutal vocals and a dense, shadowy atmosphere, the track is elevated by Ribeiro’s unmistakable voice, adding depth and gravitas.
Guitarist Dani Arcos comments: “I think it’s the most complete song on the album. We worked really hard on it, both musically and in terms of sound effects, the collaboration with Fernando Ribeiro… and it also has a great groove.”
Vocalist Diva Satanica adds: “It’s an anti-war song that dissects the mysteries of human behaviour and how it seems we didn’t evolve at all, making the same mistakes of the past. We wanted to emphasize this contradiction of being an anti-war song but using the typical sounds in this context, so we created our own military march shaking some spoons inside of a cooking pot (there is even a video of us recording it).”
1. The Devil’s Own 2. The Outspoken 3. Threshold Of Hell 4. Ephemeral Youth 5. Sons Of The Abandoned 6. No One Beats Death 7. Code Aeternam 8. The Path That Never Ends 9. The Night Is Darker Before The Dawn 10. Masters Of Deceive 11. Human Insecticide
Formed in Galicia, Spain, BLOODHUNTER have steadily carved their name into the international extreme metal scene through relentless touring, uncompromising sound and a clear artistic vision. Fronted by Diva Satanica, the band blends extreme metal aggression with melodic depth, groove and narrative ambition, forging a sound that is both ferocious and emotionally charged.
With Sons Of The Abandoned, BLOODHUNTER solidify themselves as a band unafraid to evolve, challenge expectations and expose their own scars. This is not just another extreme metal album, it is a statement of identity, resistance and survival in a world that constantly demands compromise.
AUGUST 2026 – Canada 5th • Ottawa, ON 7th • Rock La Cauze, QC FESTIVAL SHOW 8th • Toronto, ON 9th • London, ON 11th • Thunder Bay, ON 14th • Saskatoon, SK 15th • Enoch, AB 16th • Dawson Creek, BC
SEPTEMBER 2026 – USA 19th • Cleveland, OH 20th • Louder Than Life, KY FESTIVAL SHOW 21st • Moline, IL 23rd • Denver, CO 24th • Salt Lake City, UT 25th • Missoula, MT 27th • Spokane, WA 28th • Portland, OR 29th • Tacoma, WA
STREAM THE NEW SINGLE/VIDEO, “OF RADIANCE AND LEVITATION,” NOW!
New England’s revered and fast-rising melodic death metal band FIRES IN THE DISTANCE will release their eagerly awaited third full-length album, Circadian Promise, on June 12 via Prosthetic Records.
Serving as the follow-up to 2023’s acclaimed Air Not Meant For Us, Circadian Promisesees FIRES IN THE DISTANCE refining their melancholy, synth-embroidered sound to cathartic new heights. The result is a record that is both virtuosic and visceral, progressive yet authentic, further establishing the band as one of the genre’s most compelling emerging forces.
Circadian Promise also ushers in an exciting new chapter for the band, introducing vocalist/guitarist Brendan Hayter. He joins founding songwriter, lyricist, and guitarist Yegor Savonin, bassist Craig Breitsprecher, and drummer Jordan Rippe.
Commenting on the forthcoming record, Hayter states:
“I think this is the album the band was destined to make. When I heard the demos, the word ‘timeless’ continuously came to mind. All four of us pulled out all the stops to make Circadian Promise exactly what it wanted to be. For me personally, as a new member and a vocalist, I thought the music was begging for new expressions through the human element—clean vocals and different timbres of screaming to channel various stages of the emotional process. Thankfully everyone embraced the vocal diversity, and it’s been an honor to push myself to new limits on this record.”
Today, the band has unleashed the album’s lead single, “Of Radiance and Levitation,” alongside an accompanying music video directed by Jayson Cessna.
Adding about the crushing new track, Savonin says:
“As the introduction to the new record, this track encapsulates the essence of what’s to come and brings forward new elements of melodic vocals to complement a variety of themes, including loss, abandonment, healing, reprieve, and determination.”
By This Time Tomorrow (Feat. Johan Reinholdz of Dark Tranquillity)
Once the Silence Takes Your Place
Agonal Dreaming
Originally conceived in 2016 as founding guitarist Yegor Savonin’s solo project, FIRES IN THE DISTANCE quickly evolved into a full band, earning acclaim with 2020’s Echoes From Deep November and 2023’s Air Not Meant For Us. Following a high-profile 2024 North American tour, the group reunited with producer Dave Kaminsky and orchestrator Randy Slaugh, while welcoming new vocalist/guitarist Brendan Hayter. The resulting six-track album—some songs stretching beyond nine minutes, is their bleakest yet most embracing work, blending cinematic orchestration, organic production, and dynamic vocal contrasts.
Lyrically and thematically, Circadian Promiseexplores spiritual erosion, mortality, and the search for acceptance, balancing existential weight with hard-won optimism. Recorded in Connecticut and North Carolina, the album retains a resonant human warmth even in its most technical passages, pairing atmospheric strings and expansive leads with Hayter’s serrated growls and somber cleans.
Singles like “Of Radiance and Levitation,” “To You, Author of My Fade,” and “By This Time Tomorrow” reflect deeply personal meditations on depression, self-awareness, and grief, while showcasing the band’s cinematic scope and emotional intensity. With touring planned for 2026 and beyond, Circadian Promise continues FIRES IN THE DISTANCE’s decade-long pursuit of catharsis, melding Savonin’s introspective vision with powerful songwriting, immersive arrangements, and evolving musical ambition.
FIRES IN THE DISTANCE: Lineup: Yegor Savonin – guitar/lyrics/songwriting Brendan Hayter – vocals/guitar/additional lyrics Craig Breitsprecher – bass/backing vocals Jordan Rippe – drums
Chilean death metal cult icons GODLESS are set to unleash their highly anticipated new full-length, Adversus Parousia, on June 6th, 2026 via Nuclear Winter Records. The album will be available on LP, CD, and cassette, marking the return of a band whose legacy in the underground has been quietly monumental since their formation.
The first single “Omega Omnipotens: Hosanna in Nullificatio” is now streaming HERE.
Since their inception in 1997, GODLESS have operated with an unwavering devotion to the darkest corners of death metal. Long before Chile’s scene garnered international attention, the band forged their path, crafting music of uncompromising intensity. Composed of seasoned veterans, GODLESS have always approached their work with meticulous care, andAdversus Parousia is the culmination of years of patient refinement.
The new album demonstrates a rigorous adherence to traditional death metal principles, yet its execution is anything but predictable. Every riff and atmospheric detail is carefully considered, resulting in a sound where weight and nuance coexist in perfect balance.
Tracks crawl and coil with a pitch-black intensity, yet subtle dynamics emerge, revealing layers of depth beneath the surface of the oppressive, obsidian-toned compositions. The music exudes a solemnity that only true masters of the craft can orchestrate, commanding attention with its ceremonial gravity.
Following a nine-year silence since their last EP, Omega Omnipotens, GODLESS return with a work that challenges both themselves and their listeners. Adversus Parousia embodies fidelity to the ethos of death metal, eschewing pretension for a direct confrontation with darkness and dissolution. The album fuses trance-like momentum, fervent aggression and an unwavering sense of transgression, producing an experience that is as merciless as it is mesmerizing.
With Adversus ParousiaGODLESS reaffirm their position as architects of Chilean underground death metal, presenting a record that is simultaneously complete, refined and uncompromising. For those attuned to the gravest depths of the genre, this release promises a profound, immersive encounter with the essence of death metal at its most solemn and potent.
Witness the return of pure hostility.
For fans of: Immolation, Morbid Angel, Dead Congregation, Drawn And Quartered
Following shows with The Obsessed, Acid Bath, Midnight, and more over recent weeks, Akron, Ohio sludge metal crew RADIAN has announced a new tour across the Midwest US in May, the first of several tours this year in support of their newly released conceptual third LP, Subterfuge.
The newly announced ten-city tour will see RADIAN taking the album to the stage across Ohio, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Michigan, scattered across the month of May. The tour will be preceded by a set at Columbus Doomsday Fest on April 24th and will be followed by additional dates to be announced. The band is also confirmed to play Tampa Doom & Gloom Fest in November, with tour dates surrounding it as well.
RADIAN Live: 4/24/2026 Columbus Doomsday Fest @ Summit Music Hall – Columbus, OH 5/08/2026 Musica – Akron, OH 5/16/2026 Hidden Gem – Dayton, OH 5/17/2026 Comet – Cincinnati, OH 5/18/2026 Red Flag – St. Louis, MO 5/19/2026 Sk8bar – Kansas City, MO 5/20/2026 Helter Shelter – Des Moines, IA 5/21/2026 Gamma Ray – Madison, WI 5/22/2026 Cobra Lounge – Chicago, IL 5/23/2026 Outer Limits – Detroit, MI 5/29/2026 The Green Door – Lansing, MI 11/13-15/2026 Tampa Doom & Gloom Fest @ Deviant Libation – Tampa, FL
Set in a reimagined, modern-day Egypt, one that never fell to Roman conquest, RADIAN’s Subterfuge tells the story of a man willing to do whatever it takes to protect his home, his people, and his culture from a cabal of overlords bent on erasure for personal gain. While rooted in a rewritten history, the album is riddled with comparisons to contemporary society: exploitation, manufactured collapse, and rebellion in the face of systems designed to consume rather than sustain.
Musically, Subterfuge showcases RADIAN at their most focused and unrelenting; beautifully oppressive, groove-laden sludge, sharpened by a narrative arc and delivered with the weight of lived experience. It is both a continuation of the group’s sonic identity and a declaration of renewal. A record that mirrors the band’s own journey, carrying their vision deeper into the underground with uncompromising force.
Subterfuge was recorded and engineered by Mike Burns, except for the bass which was recorded by Brian “BeZo” Zorich. The record was mixed by Sanford Parker at Hypercube (Voivod, Darkthrone, YOB), mastered by Collin Jordan at Boiler Room Mastering (Ministry, Eyehategod, Spirit Adrift), and completed with artwork by RADIAN with the art concept and layout by Derek Vaive.
Subterfuge is out now digitally and on 12” vinyl as a collaboration between the band’s El Burno Records and Third House Communications HERE. Also watch the “Spiraling Ash” video HERE.
Baltimore Black Metallers, Nixil, have partnered with Invisible Oranges for the premiere of “I Am Not Here,” the second single from the forthcoming split release with Black/Death quartet, Drouth, titled Toward Dead Temples.
The bands have each released a statement concerning their respective contributions to Toward Dead Temples, as follows:
Nixil: “Our contributions to Toward Dead Temples explore the spiritual depth of death and isolation. Through the use of imagery representative of the crumbling edifice of christo-fascism, we strive to push toward the eradication of the oppressor in all its manifestations. Sonically, this album marks a point of transition for us, beginning a deep dive into darker waters on a quest for stranger, more unsettling discordance. We are thrilled to be joining forces with our friends in Drouth to present this anthem of defiance against the crushing weight of impending dictatorship – until all tyrants and their temples fall.”
Drouth: “Originally recorded during The Teeth of Time sessions in late 2023, ‘Cathartes Aura’ and ‘The Outer Church’ stand on their own by representing both the past and future of Drouth. We are proud to share this release with our friends in Nixil and join them in spreading sonic misery throughout the West Coast this May.”
FFO: Enslaved, Ludicra, Blut Aus Nord, Altar of Plagues, Dawn, Black Curse, Ulcerate, Spectral Wound, Weakling, Sacramentum, Schammasch, Watain, The Ruins of Beverast
Nixil and Drouth will embark on the Toward Dead Temples West Coast Tour 2026, in May. Tour dates are as follows:
May 7: Seattle, WA – Neumos (Northwest Terror Fest) May 8: Eugene, OR – John Henry’s May 9: Redding, CA – The Dip May 10: Sacramento, CA – Cafe Colonial May 12: Los Angeles, CA – The Moroccan Lounge May 13: San Diego, CA – Tower Bar May 14: Palmdale, CA – Transplants Brewing May 15: Santa Rosa, CA – Arlene Francis Center May 16: Eureka, CA – Savage Henry Comedy Club May 17: Portland, OR – The High Water Mark
Toward Dead Temples will be released April 24 on vinyl, cassette tape, and digital formats.
Rio de Janeiro (BR) – Progressive Post-Metal outfit, Loneshore, have joined the Willowtip roster and will release their second full-length album, Nothing Left to Deconstruct, on June 19.
Following the well received 2018 debut album, From Presence to Silence, the new record for Willowtip retains the core elements of memorable melodies, unconventional song structures and post-metal atmospheric soundscapes, yet pushes the songwriting and arrangements to a whole new level.
Bruno Farinazzo (Guitars) Luan Moura (Bass) Luiz Felipe Netto (Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards) Pedro Mercier (Drums) Renan Rubim (Guitars, Keyboards)
Credits:
Music by Loneshore. Lyrics by Luiz Felipe Netto.
Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Luiz Felipe Netto. Mastered by Magnus Lindberg. Additional Guitar Engineering by Zach Wish. Artwork by David Preissel. Band Photos by Vitor Coutinho. 35mm film Developing/Scanning by Pedro Barone (Gelatina Lab/RJ). Layout by Moornebheym.
Festival appearances confirmed for the tour include some of the most respected gatherings in the global metal community, including: Keep It True, Hyperspace Metal Fest, and Hell’s Heroes. A full list of dates is below.
SANCTUARY Live: 4/18 – Vancouver, Canada @ The Rickshaw/Hyperspace Metal Festival 4/22 – Athens, GR @ Piraeus Club Academy 4/24 – Geiselwind, DE @ Tauberfrankenhalle/Keep It True 4/25 – Drachten, NL @ Iduna 4/26 – Hamburg, DE @ Logo 4/28 – London, UK @ The Underworld 4/29 – Kortrijk, BE @ Dvg Club 5/01 – Zoetermeer, NLS @ Boerderij 5/02 – Andernach Rheinland-Pfalz, DE @ Juz Live Club/Andernach Metal Days 8/16 – Washington, USA @ Substation/Soldiers Of Steel 8/22 – Mexico City @ TBD 8/23 – Mexico City @ TBD 8/25 – Lima, Peru @ TBD 8/27 – Chile @ Concepcion 8/28 – Santiago, Chile 8/29 – Buenos Aires, Argentina 8/30 – São Paulo, Brazil 9/18 – Wisconsin, USA @ Crucible – Blades Of Steel
GREYHAWK – Call of the Hawk / Ride Out. True Metal. No Compromise.
Before they were Keepers of the Flame, Seattle’s GREYHAWK were busy forging the underground’s most infectious new anthems. Nameless Grave Records is thrilled to present a comprehensive compilation of the band’s two essential EPs, Call of the Hawk and Ride Out, appearing together for the first time on a single 12″ vinyl.
This collection captures the band at their most hungry and heroic. Side A features 2022’s Call of the Hawk, a release that elevated the band’s technicality and showcased the incredible speed of guitarist Jesse Berlin. Side B features the 2018 Ride Out debut, showcasing the band’s ability to blend world-class vocals with the soaring heroism of Manowar.
Driven by the elite baritone of Rev Taylor, whose operatic pedigree makes him one of the most capable singers in metal history and the blistering fretwork of Jesse Berlin, this compilation is the definitive way to experience the early chapters of a band that has become a cornerstone of modern heavy metal.
Track-list:
Side A: Call of the Hawk
Steelbound
Call of the Hawk
Demon Star
Shattered Heart
Take The Throne
Side B: Ride Out
Intro
The Abdication
Ride Out
Serpent King
Wisdom of the Wizard
Circle of Heroes
For Fans of: Manowar, Dio, Visigoth, Judas Priest, and Yngwie Malmsteen.
Bad Stuff, the Dallas-based quintet featuring members of True Widow (Dan Phillips and Nicole Estill) with art rock locals Jackie Dunn Smith, Gabriel Spatz, and Laura Hartman Pearl, announce their self-titled debut album, due June 5 via Relapse Records.
Bad Stuff move with mood and momentum: meditative, repetitive, and slow-burning, with dreamlike melodies drifting through something denser and more dangerous, all delivered with a cool, detached intensity.
On “Summer Girls” (https://youtu.be/Aemwnj0zOK4) a hypnotic, circular drum pattern anchors the track as it unfolds at a deliberate pace, building tension before Phillips’ unmistakable guitar cuts through, with a low, droning undercurrent humming beneath it all.
Bad Stuff began as two bands: Latent Print, an instrumental project featuring Phillips and Estill, which would showcase his rockabilly chops and Estill behind the drum kit, and Concord Kill, Dunn Smith’s synth and drum machine driven project.
“So these songs from our two bands are sitting there, one set that I wrote for Latent Print and another set that Jackie wrote on a four track recorder, and one day we decided that maybe we’d try to put it all together and see if it worked,” recalls Phillips. “And it did. When we were doing the sequence for the record, that “switching the dial“ thing became apparent– there’s not just one sound or one style. It really makes the pacing of the record work and sort of showcases each of the songs.”
Bad Stuff is Dan Phillips (Vocals, Guitar), Jackie Dunn Smith (Vocals, Synth), Nicole Estill (Vocals, Drums), Gabriel Spatz (Vocals, Maracas) and Laura Hartman Pearl (Bass). The seeds for Bad Stuff were planted when a friend asked Phillips to start a residency at a Dallas-based lounge, thereby creating an instrumental band with a true crime bent called Latent Print.
Those songs, built for a two-piece, would showcase his considerable rockabilly chops with Nicole Estill (also of True Widow) sliding into the drum throne for the first time. Latent Print created several bespoke compositions for the residency as the band was slated to play on a weekly basis, but the COVID lockdown permanently ended those gigs.
Fast forward a bit to the lockdown days and Phillips’s partner Dunn Smith revealed her work as Concord Kill– synth and drum machine driven tracks built on a four track. Once Phillips added guitar and the two began reshaping material from both projects, Bad Stuff was born.
The end has come… long revered and widely acclaimed heavy metal giants SPIRIT ADRIFT have released their sixth and final album, Infinite Illumination, today via 20 Buck Spin. Bookending a monumental decade+ long run, the band’s bittersweet swan song is marked by one of their most ambitious and crushing records to date.
SPIRIT ADRIFT mastermind Nathan Garrett’s final magnum opus is a return to the wellspring that first inspired it all and a testament to a band that in the last 10 years has crafted an impeccable signature thoroughly their own, molded from the elemental matter of more than a half century of heavy metal exaltation.
Infinite Illumination has a directness to it, a sense of urgency and raw intensity. The songs feel inevitable, like they had to be driven out from deep within during a time of great upheaval. The fatalistic ‘Born in a Bad Way’ summons a vengeful “broken relic from another age” that must “live again and make them pay” via Garrett’s swaggering snarl, while “White Death” impugns “God shined on a chosen few, we must kill the rest of you”.
These songs have a palpable sense of malaise both spiritual and terrestrial, personal and universal, inflicted via crushing traditional Doom riffs, thunderous mid-tempo marches and Garrett’s impassioned vocal delivery.
Long after the band is gone fans will continue to discover the SPIRIT ADRIFT catalog and witness the breadth of greatness they delivered in just a decade’s time. Every melodic, epic and emotionally charged thread that defines the band’s legacy honors the animating force behind pure creative ambition. And at its core Infinite Illumination carries both the weight of conclusion and the troubling realization that it is rarely painless to say farewell.
Infinite Illumination is available digitally today. Gatefold LP and CD editions will be released May 15th. Pre-order here: https://www.20buckspin.com/spiritadrift
Spirit Adrift’s music is an alchemical sonic melting pot that combines classic doom, traditional heavy metal, and the intensity of old school thrash, forging a unique and forward-thinking sound. Led by founder, multi-instrumentalist, and frontman Nate Garrett, the band built a reputation for towering riffs, anthemic songwriting, and emotionally charged performances rooted in both personal struggle and defiant perseverance.
Emerging in 2016, Spirit Adrift released a string of critically acclaimed albums: Chained to Oblivion, Curse of Conception, Divided by Darkness, Enlightened in Eternity, and Ghost at the Gallows. Earning praise from outlets such as Decibel, Revolver, Metal Hammer, and Kerrang!, who ranked the band among the best of the decade.
Spirit Adrift toured and shared stages with the likes of High on Fire, Yob, Crowbar, Corrosion of Conformity, Midnight, and has appeared at major festivals such as Download, Hellfest, and Psycho Las Vegas. Their live shows were visceral and cathartic, equal parts power and conviction.
In 2026, Spirit Adrift announced their end with the release of their 6th and final album, Infinite Illumination. While their band’s story comes to a close, their legacy and profound impact on heavy music will be felt for decades to come.
Joined by guitarist Eli Santana (IGNITE, ex-HUNTRESS, ex-HOLY GRAIL), Los Angeles’ symphonic progressive metal ensemble ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD present a hauntingly heavy and theatrical interpretation of “Phantom of the Opera“.
The instrumental offering unleashes the darkness and seductive power of the track’s narrative through the dynamic arrangement. Thundering percussion and driving rhythms provide intensity and movement, while the vocal duet between Christine and the Phantom is brought to life by JD McGibney and Eli Santana on lead guitars. The atmosphere is enveloped with Gothic allure by means of orchestral layers and tolling bells.
ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD inject their own distinctive qualities into the track including some unexpected moments. Sudden shifts in instrumental arrangements and embellished guitars entwine compelling elements and charisma into the sound.
Produced by ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD, the track was recorded at Counter Communications with engineering, mixing and mastering by Chris Wirsig. “Phantom of the Opera” cover art was created by JD McGibney.
About ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD:
Based out of Los Angeles, CA, ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD began as a side project for guitarist JD McGibney (ex-VOODOO KUNGFU) before augmenting to a full line-up in 2021. Alongside McGibney, the instrumental symphonic progressive metal band is now comprised of Jason Klein on bass (ex-BUTCHER BABIES), Eddie Trager on drums (ex-NEKROGOBLIKON) and Chris Wirsig on keyboards (award winning TV and film composer).
The ethos of the band is to empower listeners through music, to assist individuals who are fighting on their own battlefields and to help them find courage. ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD strive to improve awareness of and discourse around mental illness through the power of heavy metal. The band made their live debut at the 2022 “This Is My Brave” mental health fundraiser, where the band helped to raise around $30,000 to donate to local Los Angeles mental health charities.
2024 saw ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD open for Taiwanese folk metal artist NiNi at her debut USA headline show in November of 2024. In the following year, the quartet embarked on their debut headline West Coast tour across October/November of 2025.
In 2025, ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD‘s 2024 single release “Modern Prometheus” was long listed in the 2025 GRAMMY Awards in three categories: Best Metal Performance, Best Instrumental Composition and Best Arrangement – Instrumental or A Capella. Additionally, “Modern Prometheus” was nominated in the Hollywood Independent Music Awards in 2025.
The long-established German death metal ensemble FLESHCRAWL has signed a worldwide deal with Distortion Music Group (DMG) – Powered by Reigning Phoenix Music. The signing marks a new chapter as the band prepares to unveil their tenth studio album, Epitome of Carnage on June 12, 2026. FLESHCRAWL‘s obliterating new single “Blood Dominion” marks the first release under this collaboration, following a series of prior releases that saw select DMG roster artists issued via Reigning Phoenix Music.
On the single release, FLESHCRAWL comments:“Choosing ‘Blood Dominion’ as our first single is a statement. It is the ultimate teaser for what this album delivers: no mercy. It captures the very essence of FLESHCRAWL – fast, raw, and straight to the point. An uncompromising and pure reflection of what that band is about.” The band continue, “We didn’t want any long-winded intros or other stuff – we wanted to hit the ground running and go straight all in. From the second you put this on, you know exactly what’s coming: pure, rough chaos. That was always the plan.”
“Blood Dominion” is unforgiving in its brutal nature. Striking ferociously with untamable rhythms, thunderous percussion and bloodthirsty vocals, “Blood Dominion” offers a thrilling display of unrestrained intensity that makes a clear statement.
Track Listing: 1. Blood Dominion 2. Chapel of Guts 3. Grave Messiah 4. Embers of Wrath 5. Committed to Suffer 6. Reign Forever 7. Chronicles of Bloodshed 8. Rebuilt from Flesh 9. Orphan God 10. Path of Thorns 11. Heralds of Death 12. Of Fire and Flesh
The long-awaited Epitome of Carnage is constructed on the foundation of an expansive career. FLESHCRAWL remain devoted to the death metal genre despite having encountered loss and change along the way. As the tenth full-length release, the new album stands as testament to FLESHCRAWL‘s unwavering creativity and drive. Arriving seven years after 2019’s Into the Catacombs of Flesh, Epitome of Carnage reveals a renewed vigor and power that bleeds through the track list.
Contained within Epitome of Carnage are twelve vicious onslaughts that showcase FLESHCRAWL‘s unimpeded speed and power. Materializing alongside demonstrations of inescapable heaviness, explosive riffs, and melodic touches amongst the shadows, they leave behind no survivors.
Kansas City thrash masters HELLEVATE will unleash their sixth assault this spring!
Killicon Valley is relentless in execution. Eleven tracks of the bullshit-free, ‘thrash-or-be-thrashed’ attitude the band has cultivated over their nearly 20 years of existence. Today, that fury has escalated beyond the breaking point. The result is an album that true fans of old-school thrash can blast with pride.
Guitarist Dan Whitmer comments on Killicon Valley, “We couldn’t be more excited about this release! It’s the result of the last few years of a concentrated effort to expand our songwriting capabilities and deliver something for every kind of metal fan there is. Sonically, we’re going to places we haven’t been to before, and we’re trying out a lot of different approaches, sounds, and songwriting angles in our mission to make heads bang worldwide! Everyone involved has pushed themselves physically and mentally in their performances, and it’s all come together in a unique blend of melody and aggression, tackling every subject from our anger at the injustices in the world, to velociraptor attacks and Japanese spider demons. Grab a brace, because this album will make you wreck your neck!”
Get your first taste of Killicon Valley with the album’s lead single, “In the Long Grass.” Check out the official video at: youtu.be/4pvJtJcOrvo.
HELLEVATE will mark the release of Killicon Valley with an album release show at Warehouse on Broadway in Kansas City, MO. Support will come from Jackson Country 5, Meat Shank, and Bloodscent. Check the event page for details.
HELLEVATE is a thrash metal band from Kansas City, MO, known for their unique blend of melodic thrash, extreme metal, and power metal influences. Formed in the late 2000s by guitarist Dan Whitmer, HELLEVATE maintains a commitment to writing unforgettable music that hits hard and leaves a lasting impression.
Lyrically, the band continues to deliver powerful messages with directness and intensity. Together, they have crafted a sound that is both expansive and undeniably thrash, incorporating influences from speed metal, power metal, death metal, and hardcore to create something truly unique.
Photo credit: Kaitlyn Waggoner
Line-Up:
Robert Browne – Vocals Dan Whitmer – Guitar Joshua Cole – Guitar Zack Burke – Bass Ruben Lopez – Drums
HELLEVATE‘s discography includes their debut self-titled album (2012), Kill Confirmed (2014), Weapons Against Their Will (2016), The Purpose Is Cruelty (2023) and their newest album Killicon Valley (2026).
Since their debut in 2012, HELLEVATE has built a reputation for delivering electrifying live performances, sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in metal, including EXODUS, KREATOR, ACCEPT, OVERKILL, DESTRUCTION, HAMMERFALL, UNLEASH THE ARCHERS, GHOUL, VENOM INC., and DANZIG, among others.
ENTHEOS will join Jinjer on their North American tour later this Spring. The journey begins on June 5th in Ottawa, Ontario and runs through July 24th in Las Vegas, Nevada. Additional support will be provided by Crystal Lake. As an added bonus, ENTHEOS has announced several co-headlining shows with Crystal Lake scattered throughout the tour featuring performances in Detroit, Montreal, Harrisburg, Salt Lake City, and Indianapolis.
Comments vocalist Chaney Crabb, “We’re honored to be supporting Jinjer across the US and parts of Canada alongside Crystal Lake. In addition, we’ve announced a few exclusive co-headlining shows alongside Crystal Lake. We look forward to seeing you all on the road.”
Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
ENTHEOS w/ Crystal Lake Co-Headlining Shows: 6/04/2026 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI ** 6/06/2026 Piranha Bar (Upstairs) – Montreal, QC ** 6/13/2026 Capital City Music Hall – Harrisburg, PA 7/11/2026 Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT 7/16/2026 Black Circle – Indianapolis, IN
ENTHEOS w/ Jinjer, Crystal Lake: 6/05/2026 Bronson Centre – Ottawa, ON ** 6/07/2026 Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON ** 6/09/2026 Big Night Live – Boston, MA 6/10/2026 Dome At Oakdale – Wallingford, CT 6/12/2026 Paramount Times Square – New York, NY 6/14/2026 The Fillmore – Philadelphia, PA 6/16/2026 Roxian – Pittsburgh, PA 6/17/2026 The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC 6/18/2026 Buckhead Theater – Atlanta, GA 6/19/2026 Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN 6/21/2026 House Of Blues – Orlando, FL 6/23/2026 House Of Blues – Houston, TX 6/24/2026 House Of Blues – Dallas, TX 6/25/2026 Aztec Theatre – San Antonio, TX 6/27/2026 Emo’s – Austin, TX 6/28/2026 Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK 6/30/2026 Marquee – Tempe, AZ 7/01/2026 House Of Blues – San Diego, CA 7/02/2026 The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA 7/03/2026 The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA 7/05/2026 Ace Of Spades – Sacramento, CA 7/07/2026 Roseland Ballroom – Portland, OR 7/08/2026 Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC 7/09/2026 Temple Theatre – Tacoma, WA 7/10/2026 Revolution – Boise, ID 7/13/2026 Val Air Ballroom – Des Moines, IA 7/14/2026 The Sylvee – Madison, WI 7/15/2026 The Pageant – St. Louis, MO 7/17/2026 INKarceration – Mansfield, OH ^ 7/19/2026 House of Blues – Chicago, IL 7/21/2026 Summit – Denver, CO ** 7/22/2026 Revel – Albuquerque, NM ** 7/24/2026 House of Blues – Las Vegas, NV ** ** No Crystal Lake ^ Festival date
ENTHEOS released their “Empty On The Inside” standalone single last Fall with an accompanying video directed by Malcolm Pugh. Said Crabb, “’Empty On The Inside’ is a raw, cathartic song about pouring your entire soul into something that you thought would bring fulfillment to your life, but it only makes you feel empty in return. It is ENTHEOS in our purest form, expanding on our grunge and alternative metal sound. This track truly marks the beginning of a new era for our band.”
PIONEERING DOOM BAND’S FIRST NEW MUSIC SINCE 2006’S WATCHING FROM A DISTANCE
Warning return with Rituals of Shame, their first new album in 20 years, due June 19 via Relapse Records. The band’s 2006 album, Watching from a Distance, has become one of the most revered releases in doom metal, with Pitchfork noting it “stands among the high water marks of the genre,” and Stereogum declaring it the “greatest doom record of all time.”
“It’s my privilege to be able to present to you the first track released from Rituals of Shame,” Patrick Walker shares as “Stations” (https://youtu.be/x49aT-WREO0) is now available. “Whether you’re among those who have been waiting for this for twenty years, or whether you’re new to my music, it is with great pleasure and some relief, that I can finally give you a taste of the album that will follow later in the year. I wrote and recorded the entire record throughout 2025. This is the year I shall have the honour of sharing it with you.”
Walker, who also leads 40 Watt Sun, began work on Rituals of Shame in January 2025, writing seven days a week over three months as he turned his full focus back to Warning. The album was recorded at The Arch Studio, a 140-year-old former church in Southport, U.K., with recording and mixing handled by Chris Fullard (Idles, Sunn O))), Ulver).
The decision to make a new Warning album emerged from a transformative period in Walker’s life. Reluctant to explain his lyrics, he acknowledges only that the work reflects a deeply personal present moment, with the collection echoing the themes that have long defined his writing: longing, separation, and most of all, love.
Rituals of Shame also reflects a range of Walker’s longstanding influences, from the expansive melodic structures of Marillion to the restraint and clarity of June Tabor. He also cites John Brenner of Revelation as a formative influence, particularly in shaping his approach to articulating emotion through heavy music.
The collection is available now for pre-order (https://orcd.co/warning-ritualsofshame) on various vinyl variants and other physical formats, as well as digital pre-saves.
Rituals of Shame track listing:
Rituals of Shame
Stations
Night Comes Down
Landing Lights
Teacher
Warning tour dates:
April 16 to 19 Tilburg, NL Roadburn Festival July 10 to 12 Pleszew, PL Red Smoke Festival July 29 to August 1 Bergen, NO Beyond The Gates August 13 to 15 Francavilla Al Mare, IT Frantic Festival August 13 to 16 Carhaix-plouger, FR Motocultor Festival September 4 Helsinki, FI KULT September 12 to 13 Leon, MX Candelabrum Metal Festival November 7 Nuremberg, DE Sonus Obscura Festival November 13 Athens, GR An Club
Warning hail from Essex, U.K., emerging from the British doom scene in 1994. The band released two albums in their initial run, The Strength to Dream (1999) and Watching from a Distance (2006). The band reunited in 2017 for a limited number of live performances including an appearance at Roadburn Festival. Warning is Patrick Walker (vocals/guitar), Wayne Taylor (guitar), Marcus Hatfield (bass), and Andrew Prestidge (drums).
German heavy metal veterans MOB RULES have announced Stories From The Verdant Vale, set for release on August 21 via ROAR – A Division Of Reigning PhoenixMusic. To mark the announcement, the band unveil the first single, “Master Of The Black Crow”, a high-energy track that pulls no punches!
Driven by a striking, Celtic-inspired guitar hook, the song stands out for its uncompromising compactness. In its direct approach and razor-sharp structure, the track recalls the raw energy of Black Sabbath’s classic Paranoid: not a single ounce of excess, no detours: the song gets straight to the point and unleashes its full impact in the shortest possible time.
With Stories From The Verdant Vale, MOB RULES return to the narrative world introduced with their latest album Rise Of The Ruler (2025), which was widely praised and marked a major milestone in the band’s career. The material originates from songs written during the final stages of those sessions, now presented as a special standalone release.
As vocalist Klaus Dirks explains: “During the final stages of completing the album, we discussed possible bonus material for the earbook edition with the label. We were reluctant to use demo versions or similar material. This motivated us to write a few new songs. We were well aware of what we were getting ourselves into, but we also wanted to challenge ourselves a little.”
The songs reveal a slightly more direct and compact approach compared to Rise Of The Ruler while staying true to the band’s signature blend of melodic power metal, atmosphere and storytelling. Expanding the original concept from a different perspective, the material forms a natural extension of Rise Of The Ruler, while each track also stands strong on its own.
Originally conceived in part as exclusive material, Stories From The Verdant Vale now receives a proper release on vinyl and digital platforms. The record was mixed by Markus Teske, with artwork created by Stan W. Decker.
Coast To Coast (2014 Version, feat. Chity Somapala)
End Of All Days (2014 Version, feat. Amanda Somerville)
Broken
MOB RULES: Klaus Dirks – Vocals Sven Lüdke – Guitar Florian Dyszbalis – Guitar Markus Brinkmann – Bass Jan Christian Halfbrodt – Keys Sebastian Schmidt – Drums
About MOB RULES Formed in Northern Germany in the early 1990s, MOB RULES have established themselves as a constant force in melodic power metal. Known for their concept-driven albums, strong melodies and atmospheric depth, the band has built a loyal international following over the decades.
With ten studio albums to date, including the critically acclaimed Rise Of The Ruler, MOB RULES have continuously refined their sound while staying true to their roots. Their blend of classic heavy metal influences and modern production has secured them a lasting place within the genre.
Ferocious post-deathcore act BURIAL PATH present their latest single “A Display of Penance”. The unfaltering brutality of this shadowy offering sees the band present a haunting sonic display of enduring struggles with mental illness.
An introspective and raw track, lyrically “A Display of Penance” draws upon parasitic imagery to illustrate the ongoing and often repeating nature of depression. BURIAL PATH craft an eerie atmosphere that bleeds through the single’s crushing instrumental arrangement.
Vocalist Maya Pobst shares, “‘A Display of Penance’ is a song about mental health and how it can latch on like a psychological parasite. Most of the song is from the parasite’s perspective, finding its new victim to latch onto and corrupt from the inside.” Pobst continues, “Over time, the host almost finds comfort in the familiarity of the Parasite despite the great deal of pain it’s causing. As we move into the interlude and verse 2, the host has decided to fight back against its mental oppressor and seeks to destroy it, only for it to eventually come back and be ever so present by the end of the song. To me this represents the cyclic journey of dealing with mental illness and experiencing the periods of mania versus depression.”
In “A Display of Penance,” BURIAL PATH deliver a monstrous onslaught comprised of intense, thundering percussion, violent rhythms and Pobst’s monstrous gutturals. Injecting melodic orchestral strings and ghostly piano notes, the band ventures further into the otherworldly as it enhances the enveloping darkness.
Encompassed in ritualistic symbolism of decay, the accompanying music video brings to life the disturbing figure of the parasite along with the harrowing pain and solitude it represents.
About BURIAL PATH:
Formed in 2023, BURIAL PATH consists of Maya Pobst (vocals) and Christian Caringer (bassist) from Missouri, and Nebraskan Matthew McClure (guitar). Their sound is a refined evolution of Deathcore, leveraging modern production to craft an atmosphere that is both entrancing and resonant, designed to evoke deep emotions and provoke thoughtful introspection through their music.
“Mutilated Corpse In The Woods” is the newest single from American death metal legends SIX FEET UNDER. The track appears on their forthcoming new full-length, Next To Die, set for release on April 24th via Metal Blade Records.
Comments guitarist Jack Owen, “This song started when my wife and I were in an antique store and she found an amber quartz pendant that had lines through the whole thing. I asked her what it was and she said it’s a Rutilated Quartz. Well, that’s all I needed for a title and some lyrical ideas. The chorus came easy. The verses were from a true crime show where a woman described being attacked by an assailant who tied her to a tree and slit her throat. She couldn’t speak or scream. In real life she survived the attack, telling her story with a giant scar across her throat. In this song, unfortunately she did not survive… My killer buried her where she will never be found. I wrote the music from scratch around the lyrical ideas.”
Watch SIX FEET UNDER’s lyric video for “Mutilated Corpse In The Woods” HERE.
Watch the lyric video for “Unmistakable Smell Of Death” HERE.
Next To Die marks a new creative high for SIX FEET UNDER, its dozen songs marking the band’s fifteenth album since 1995’s Haunted. The record is essentially broken down into two different sides – Death and Groove – resulting in an aural masterwork that satisfies SIX FEET UNDER as artists, while also offering something for every fan.
To bring the songs to brutal life, vocalist Chris Barnes recorded his vocals at the legendary Criteria Recording Studios in Miami. “I’ve recorded 90% of my vocals for SIX FEET UNDER there with my longtime friend and engineer Chris Carroll,” says Barnes. “Criteria has a long and rich history of recording some of the most famous and important albums in the history of music. I feel very comfortable working there.”
Produced by Owens and Barnes and mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis of MRL Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, Next To Die follows 2024’s Killing For Revenge and is the third record that Barnes and Owen have created together since reuniting in 2017.
Barnes titled the record after the song “Next to Die,” as it “best represents what is contained within the ideas/storylines of the lyrics of each song. We don’t discuss lyrical themes, we each write what we’re feeling and find interesting.” The frontman urges close listening, saying, “that’s the great thing about music and art and reading. It takes you on an exploration into your own imagination, and that personal experience lets you discover what you think the meaning is. Having someone tell you what it means takes away that magic.”
SIX FEET UNDER was initially formed as a side project for Barnes during his final years with the band that he co-founded, Cannibal Corpse. It became the frontman’s sole focus in 1995, coinciding with the release of their debut, Haunted. The current lineup of Barnes, Owen, lead guitarist Ray Suhy, bassist Jeff Hughell, and drummer Marco Pitruzzella make for a devastating unit.
Next To Die features the cover art of Sandy Rezalmi and will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
180g Black (US) Red w/ Black Smoke (US) Bone Brown Marbled (EU – Ltd. 500) Blue Grey Marbled (EU – Ltd. 300) Blood Splatter (EU – Ltd. 300) Bone White Green Splatter (EU – Ltd. 200)
SIX FEET UNDER will return to European stages this June with support from Embryonic Autopsy. In July, the band will kick off a North American headlining tour with support from Kataklysm and Wormhole. Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
SIX FEET UNDER w/ Embryonic Autopsy: 6/03/2026 Mystic Festival – Gdańsk, PL 6/04/2026 Franz – Berlin, DE 6/05/2026 Pitfest – Maastricht, NL 6/06/2026 Gebäude 9 – Cologne, DE 6/07/2026 The Garage – Saarbrücken, DE 6/10/2026 Colosseum – Košice, SK 6/12/2026 Nova Rock- Nickelsdorf, AT 6/13/2026 A38 – Budapest, HU 6/14/2026 Orto – Bar Ljubljana, SI 6/16/2026 Kaminwerk – Memmingen, DE 6/17/2026 Backstage Halle – Munich, DE 6/19/2026 Colo-Saal – Aschaffenburg, DE 6/20/2026 Graspop Festival – Dessel, BE 6/21/2026 Hellfest – Clisson, FR 6/23/2026 Logo – Hamburg, DE 6/24/2026 Copenhell – Copenhagen, DK 6/26/2026 Basinfire Festival – Spálené Poříčí, CZ 6/27/2026 Abyss Festival – Hauteville, CH
SIX FEET UNDER w/ Kataklysm, Wormhole: 7/08/2026 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI 7/09/2026 Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON ^ 7/10/2026 Fairmount – Montreal, QC ^ 7/11/2026 Overflow – Ottawa, ON ^ 7/12/2026 Palladium Upstairs – Worcester, MA 7/13/2026 Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT 7/14/2026 Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY 7/15/2026 Broken Goblet – Bensalem, PA 7/16/2026 Chapel of Bones – Raleigh, NC 7/17/2026 Albatross – Jacksonville, FL 7/18/2026 Culture Room – Fort Lauderdale, FL 7/19/2026 Conduit – Orlando, FL 7/21/2026 Scout Bar – Houston, TX 7/22/2026 Come and Take It Live – Austin, TX 7/23/2026 Jake’s – Lubbock, TX 7/24/2026 Lauter Haus – Farmington, NM 7/25/2026 Nile – Phoenix, AZ 7/26/2026 1720 – Los Angeles, CA 7/27/2026 Strummer’s – Fresno, CA 7/28/2026 Cornerstone – Berkeley, CA 7/29/2026 Goldfield – Roseville, CA 7/30/2026 Shredder – Boise, ID * 7/31/2026 Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR 8/01/2026 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 8/02/2026 Rickshaw – Vancouver, BC ^ 8/04/2026 Arrowhead – Calgary, AB ^ 8/05/2026 Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB ^ 8/06/2026 Black Cat – Saskatoon, SK ^ 8/07/2026 Park Theatre – Winnipeg, MB ^ 8/08/2026 Skyway Theatre – Minneapolis, MN 8/09/2026 The Annex – Madison, WI 8/10/2026 Madison Theater – Covington, KY 8/11/2026 Reggies – Chicago, IL
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