Archive for February 8, 2026

CASTLE RAT Announce Special Spring Headline Shows | On Tour This Spring With AMON AMARTH & DETHKLOK

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on February 8, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

METAL HAMMER COVER FEATURE REVEALED!

Mystical metal warriors CASTLE RAT will embark on a monumental tour with AMON AMARTH and DETHKLOK this spring, and have now announced two special, headlining shows in Grand Rapids, MI at The Pyramid Scheme on April 26th (w/SACRED LEATHER) and in Anaheim, CA at House of Blues on May 24th (w/DEATH CHANT). 

Tickets are available now at: https://castlerat.com/

CASTLE RAT Tour Dates:
Apr 15 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
Apr 17 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center At Tech Port
Apr 18 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall
Apr 20 – Oklahoma City, OK – The Criterion
Apr 21 – Kansas City, MO – The Midland Theatre
Apr 22 – Chesterfield, MO – The Factory
Apr 24 – Minneapolis, MN – Armory
Apr 25 – Waukee, IA – Vibrant Music Hall
Apr 26 – Grand Rapids, MI – The Pyramid Scheme (HEADLINE SHOW)
Apr 28 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Paramount
Apr 29 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
May 1 – Toronto, ON – The Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort
May 2 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell
May 5 – Oxon Hill, MD – The Theater at MGM National Harbor
May 7 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome To Rockville Pre-Party (FESTIVAL)
May 9 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
May 10 – Nashville, TN – The Pinnacle
May 12 – Johnstown, PA – 1st Summit Arena
May 13 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre Detroit
May 16 – Milwaukee, WI – Landmark Credit Union Live
May 17 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple Art & Music (FESTIVAL)
May 19 – Denver, CO – The Junkyard
May 20 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
May 21 – Las Vegas, NV – Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino
May 24 – Anaheim, CA – House of Blues (HEADLINE SHOW)

July 29 – Bergen, NO – Beyond The Gates 2026 (FESTIVAL)
Aug 6 – Jaroměř, CZ – Brutal Assault 2026 (FESTIVAL)
Aug 8 – Kortrijk, BE – Alcatraz 2026 (FESTIVAL)
Aug 15 – Eindhoven, NL – Dynamo Metal Fest 2026 (FESTIVAL)

With the new headlining shows comes the announcement of CASTLE RAT’s first cover feature with METAL HAMMER (UK). Behold the sword wielding Rat Queen in all her glory, as they continue to slay their way to the top! Purchase a copy now at: bit.ly/buyhammer.

Photo Credit: Courtney Hall (@light_witch)

CASTLE RAT is currently on the road in support of their critically acclaimed new album, The Bestiary, that’s available now from King Volume Records (US) and Blues Funeral Recordings (UK/Europe). Named one of 2025’s best metal albums by Rolling Stone, NPR, Decibel and All Music, The Bestiary is an epic tale of mysticism, magic and maleficence set in a mythical world and told through the heavy metal offerings of band members “The Rat Queen,” “The Count,” “The Plague Doctor” and “The All-Seeing Druid.” 

PURCHASE THE BESTIARY: 
NORTH AMERICA – HERE
EUROPE – HERE

STREAM THE BESTIARY: 
lnkfi.re/thebestiary

The Bestiary – Track-list: 

1. PHOENIX I
2. WOLF I
3. WIZARD
4. SIREN
5. UNICORN
6. PATH OF MOSS
7. CRYSTAL CAVE 
8. SERPENT
9. WOLF II
10. DRAGON
11. SUMMONING SPELL
12. SUN SONG
13. PHOENIX II

“WIZARD” Music Video

“WOLF I” Music Video

“SERPENT” Audio Stream

Follow CASTLE RAT:
Facebook | Instagram | Youtube
King Volume Records | Blues Funeral

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GRAVE DIGGER, COCKNEY REJECTS, THE STUBS & HAMULEC Join HELLS BELLS FESTIVAL 2026 Line-up

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on February 8, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Debut edition set for 26-27 June 2026 in the historic port city of Szczecin, Poland

Limited Early Bird weekend tickets still available

Szczecin, Poland; 6 February 2026: Hells Bells Festival has has unveiled a further four band additions to its inaugural 2026 edition. Joining the previously announced Vader, Discharge, Furia and Dezerter, this second wave of artists brings a lethal injection of German heavy metal, British street punk, and high-energy Polish rock’n’roll to the Oder riverfront.

Leading the announcement are German heavy metal titans Grave Digger. With a career spanning over four decades, the German heavy metal legends remain one of the most prolific and respected forces in the genre. Known for their iconic concept albums and the unmistakable grit of Chris Boltendahl’s vocals, the band continues to prove their relevance; their recent studio effort, Bone Collector (2025), saw them revisiting the crusader themes that made them household names in the 80s. 

Joining them are the originators of street punk, Cockney Rejects. Emerging from the East End of London in the late 70s, the band famously gave the “Oi!” subgenre its name and provided the soundtrack for generations of underground fans. Still possessing the same pugnacious energy that defined their early years, the Rejects bring a legacy of anthems that bridge the gap between terrace culture and raw punk rock.

The addition of two Polish acts also bolsters the line-up. The Stubs will bring their self-described “low-budget rock’n’roll” to the stage. Widely considered one of the finest garage-rock bands Poland has produced, they deliver a raw, high-octane sound that will perfectly counterpoint the festival’s metal offerings.

Rounding out the announcement is Hamulec, a band currently riding a massive wave of popularity in the Polish underground. Blending thrash metal aggression with a punk spirit, Hamulec has quickly become one of the most sought-after live acts in the country.

Hells Bells Festival will take place in the heart of Szczecin, Poland, on 26-27 June 2026. The venue is the scenic Plac Gryfitów on Łasztownia, a historic island district in Szczecin known for its iconic “Craneosaurs” (historic port cranes) and stunning views of the Oder River. The festival will deliver a mix of international legends, top domestic acts and younger new bands.

Early bird weekend tickets are available via the official festival website until 9 February or until they sell out.

In addition to standard passes, the festival offers reduced rates for minors (ages 13-18) and special family tickets (for children under 13 with a guardian). 

Secure your entry now: https://hellsbells.pl/

Hells Bells online:

FB: https://www.facebook.com/hellsbellsfestival
FB Event: https://fb.me/e/7cujCjrCo
IG: https://www.instagram.com/hellsbellsfestival

Source: 3nation

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New Jersey Hellraisers WHO ON EARTH Are Back With New Single “Vigilance” | New Tour With FOZZY Announced

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock bands, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , on February 8, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

New Jersey rock/metal torchbearers WHO ON EARTH return with a vengeance, unleashing their blistering new single “Vigilance,” accompanied by an incendiary official music video. The release follows the momentum of the band’s critically praised 2025 EP Smoke & Mirrors and signals the next chapter in their quest for world domination!

Commenting on the single, bassist Pete Rizzi says:

“Vigilance’ was written for one reason and one reason only: to deliver both a warning and a call to unity. As we become more divided as a country, the elite continue to gain wealth and power at our expense, unabated. This is a “we’ve had enough” cry from the urban streets of Trenton, NJ!“

“Vigilance” delivers a crushing preview of what WHO ON EARTH have in store for 2026: sharp riffs, thunderous rhythms, and unflinching intensity. The single arrives ahead of the band’s upcoming spring tour supporting FOZZY, where fans can experience the new material live. Tour dates and tickets are available now at: whoonearththeband.com/shows.

Stream “Vigilance“: 

https://found.ee/WhoOnEarthVIGILANCE

“VIGILANCE” MUSIC VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O6bcU4PPcEM

Follow the band for additional updates in the coming weeks!

WHO ON EARTH Tour Dates w/FOZZY:

May 8 – Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend
May 9 – Waynesboro, VA – The Foundry
May 12 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
May 13 – Harrisburg, PA – Capitall City Music Hall
May 15 – St. Charles, IL – Arcada Theatre
May 16 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop

Lineup:
Coosh – Vocals
Pete Rizzi – Bass
Johnny James Barone – Guitar
Jimmy Kocha – Guitar
Howie Fallon – Drums

Follow WHO ON EARTH:
Website | Facebook |Instagram | TikTok | Youtube | Spotify | Apple Music

Source: Secret Service Publicity

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