Archive for November 21, 2025

METAL CHURCH Returns With New Lineup | New Single And Music Video “F.A.F.O.” Released!

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , on November 21, 2025 by Metal Odyssey

Metal Church press release:

Watch the new video at: https://youtu.be/X23RO0LjUk8
Stream or download at: https://lnk.to/MetalChurch

West Coast heavy metal veterans Metal Church return with a revitalized lineup and a hard-hitting new single that underscores the sound that has driven their four-decade legacy. The new formation features founding member and guitarist Kurdt Vanderhoof, alongside longtime guitarist Rick Van Zandt, joined by bass icon David Ellefson, powerhouse drummer Ken Mary, and dynamic new vocalist Brian Allen.

Following the band’s recent tour and return from Australia, Metal Church found themselves at a crossroads. An unexpected spark reignited Kurdt’s creative drive, prompting him to reach out to the musicians who would ultimately shape the group’s next chapter. Their chemistry in the studio gave rise to the blistering new track “F.A.F.O.” – a song that immediately energized the band and inspired them to continue writing and recording. The new single was produced by Kurdt Vanderhoof and mixed/mastered by Zeuss at Planet Z.

Those sessions have now evolved into a brand-new Metal Church album, set for release in 2026 via Rat Pak Records. Additional details will be announced soon.

“After 45 years, the fact that we have new music coming in 2025 feels like a miracle. There was a time when I honestly didn’t think Metal Church would continue, but we’re back and this lineup is firing on all cylinders. I can’t tell you how excited I am to have a new single on the way; that alone makes this moment incredibly special. ‘F.A.F.O.’ is an aggressive thrasher, and I think the fans are really going to dig it, we certainly do. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be Metal Church,” explains Kurdt Vanderhoof.

Metal Church plan to tour extensively in 2026 and some festival dates have already been announced with more to come. All information on touring plans and links to tickets can be found at: https://www.metalchurchofficial.com

Wed, Aug 5, 2026 – Josefov, Czech – Brutal Assault Festival
Sat, Aug 8, 2026 – Kortrijik, Belgium – Alcatraz Festival
Sun, Aug 9, 2026 – Geiselwind, Germany – Keep It True Festival

With renewed energy, a legacy spanning over four decades, and a rapidly expanding worldwide fan base, Metal Church remains a driving force in modern heavy metal. Still pushing forward, still evolving and still unmistakably Metal Church.

PROFANE ELEGY Announces New Single “And Then We Are Gone” From Forthcoming Album Herezjarcha

Posted in Black Metal, doom metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on November 21, 2025 by Metal Odyssey

Independent black metal band PROFANE ELEGY has released their newest single, “And Then We Are Gone,” a haunting and doom-oriented meditation on the fleeting nature of human existence. The track represents a notable shift for the band, featuring predominantly clean singing and a somber, crushing atmosphere.

Watch “And Then We Are Gone” HERE: https://youtu.be/lTZavztyIJw

“This song was a fun switch up for us in that it is mostly clean singing and very doom oriented,” the band explains. “It’s essentially a comment on how we’re here one minute and gone the next and the world keeps turning. All we do and build in life snuffed out in a second without warning or meaning, the tragedy of existence.”

“And Then We Are Gone” is the latest preview of the upcoming album Herezjarcha, set for release on January 30, 2026. Like their previous work, the album was created through a fully remote writing and recording process that has become central to the band’s identity.

Herezjarcha Track Listing: 

  1. “Exeunt Omnes” – 4:57
  2. “Haunted” – 3:31
  3. “The Accuser” – 5:23
  4. “As My Heart Turns to Ash” – 5:24
  5. “I AM” – 3:49
  6. “Immutable” – 4:13
  7. “And Then We Are Gone” – 4:02
  8. “Herezjarcha” – 5:57

PROFANE ELEGY began as a two-man recording project before expanding into a full four-piece and debuting live in late 2023. With members located across Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the band relies on extensive file sharing and constant group communication to craft their music. This approach played a crucial role in bringing Herezjarcha to life.

With “And Then We Are Gone,” PROFANE ELEGY continues to refine their blend of bleak atmospheres, introspective themes, and evolving sonic textures, solidifying their place as a rising force in American black metal.

About PROFANE ELEGY

PROFANE ELEGY is a black metal band from Bangor, Pennsylvania, formed in late 2021 by guitarist J Gulick and vocalist Mikael L. Originally conceived as a two-man studio project, the band quickly evolved into a full lineup with the addition of bassist David G and drummer Sean M in 2023. What sets PROFANE ELEGY apart is their refusal to remain confined within genre boundaries, while rooted firmly in black metal, their sound incorporates elements of death, doom, and progressive metal, often enhanced by orchestral arrangements and clean vocals.

The band’s debut album When All Is Nothing (2023) was released independently and drew attention for its blend of atmospheric aggression and emotional vulnerability. The release earned praise for its ability to move fluidly between blistering speed and melancholic melody, with Doom Heart calling it “a massive Doom delight.” Following the album’s release, PROFANE ELEGY made their live debut and began performing across the northeastern United States, including a notable support slot for Dark Funeral in late 2024.

Lyrically, the band explores themes of nihilism, mortality, philosophy, and religious symbolism, often invoking figures like Satan not as dogmatic statements, but as metaphors in a broader spiritual and existential dialogue. Their work is poetic, introspective, and often challenges the listener to confront uncomfortable truths about life, death, and belief.

Their upcoming full-length album Herezjarcha, set for release in January 2026, represents the band’s most ambitious and expansive work to date. With a more dynamic sound, deeper orchestration, and a clear conceptual throughline, the record pushes their sonic and thematic boundaries further than ever before.

The album title, the Polish translation of the English word heresiarch (meaning arch-heretic), encapsulates the spirit of the band: rebellious, introspective, and unafraid to question the sacred.

Connect with PROFANE ELEGY:

Source: C Squared Music