Seattle (WA) – Combining Groove, Thrash, and Death Metal, Tormenta will release its debut single, “Jungle Dead,” for mass/mosh consumption on June 12! The song is taken from the band’s forthcoming debut album, the details for which will be released in the coming weeks.
Tormenta brings a cyclonic storm from the mountains of Seattle, Washington! The trio blends chaotic, intense energy with catchy choruses and groovy riffs.
Scarborough, UK, June 2026: Norwegian black metal pioneers Emperor have been confirmed as the first headlining act for the fifth anniversary of Fortress Festival set to take place on 29-30 May 2027 at the Scarborough Spa in North Yorkshire.
This will be Emperor’s only and exclusive UK performance in 2027.
Gary Stephenson, Fortress Festival founder, said: “It’s our fifth anniversary of Fortress in 2027 and we’re pulling no punches this time. Emperor, one of the biggest names in black metal, will close the festival with a headlining performance to show why this band is still such a phenomenon 20 years after their last studio album. We’ve sold out every edition of Fortress so far, and we expect no less to happen in 2027. So secure those tickets, and we will drop another dozen or so worldwide live debuts, UK exclusives and eye-watering bookings very soon for you all.”
Formed in 1991, Emperor are one of the most important and influential black metal bands. They are known for blending traditional black metal with atmospheric and symphonic elements. Landmark releases such as “In the Nightside Eclipse” and “Anthems to the Welkin at Dusk” introduced complex song structures and orchestral keyboards to the genre. Following an initial dissolution in 2001, the group’s live appearances became incredibly scarce. Their later reunion has been strictly limited to select festival slots and rare special engagements, making this upcoming Fortress Festival performance a highly anticipated UK event.
The news follows the sold-out fourth edition of the festival this weekend, which boasted a stacked line-up of exclusive and rare performances, including Old Man’s Child, Gallowbraid, Dødheimsgard, Akercocke, Whoredom Rife, Abigail Williams, Vinterland and many more.
Given the festival’s established track record of completely selling out every previous iteration, demand for the 2027 weekend tickets is anticipated to be very high.
Invictus Productions is proud to announce July 31, 2026, as the official release date for Crucificial Imprecations, the second full-length album from Miami death metal tyrants HEXORCIST.
Formed in 2019, Hexorcist immediately established themselves as a “total death” entity, channeling the spirit of the early 90s Florida scene with surgical precision. Crucified Imprecations continues this descent into the abyss, offering ten tracks of relentless, blasphemous intensity that eschews modern trends for total sonic warfare.
To coincide with the new album, Invictus will also reissue the band’s long sold-out debut, Evil Reaping Death. This definitive version features exclusive bonus demo material, providing a complete look at the band’s early path of destruction.
Two open-air stages, an indoor stage, and full details for Szczecin’s metal and punk weekend
HELLS BELLS FESTIVAL 26-27 June 2026 Plac Gryfitów, Łasztownia
Hells Bells Festival hhas unveiled the running order and stage times for its inaugural edition on 26-27 June 2026. Heavy music fans can now plan their weekend as 31 international and domestic acts prepare to descend upon Plac Gryfitów on Szczecin’s historic Łasztownia island.
Concerts will run across three distinct areas. The Main Stage and Frozen Stage will dominate the outdoor waterfront, while the Illusion Stage will find its home indoors within the atmospheric walls of the CKE Stara Rzeźnia cultural centre.
The event also has a great visual identity, with Rafał “Too Many Skulls” Wechterowicz responsible for the design and logo.
The Szczecin festival is located on Łasztownia, specifically at Plac Gryfitów—a square best known for its Paprykarz monument. This waterfront area is accessible via beautiful boulevards, and visitors will also have easy access to the Holiday Park amusement park and the beach on Grodzka Island. The festival grounds will feature a restaurant with a substantial menu (including pork chops and paprykarz) as well as food trucks. There will be plenty of additional attractions, such as a tattoo zone and a merch market.
VIP tickets are still available, which, in addition to gifts, provide access to the VIP area with a separate bar and VIP restrooms. It’s also worth noting the family pass option and discounted tickets for minors.
Hells Bells Fest boasts a line-up that covers heavy metal, punk, rock and extreme metal. Across three stages, the festival will deliver everything from the traditional heavy metal of Dirkschneider and Grave Digger to the extreme of Possessed, Vader, NunSlaughter, and Dead Congregation. The thrash metal contingent is bolstered by the technical assault of Gama Bomb and the legendary FrankBlackfire, while the fuzz-drenched riffage of Belzebong provides a stoner-doom counterpoint.
The punk and hardcore legacy of Discharge, UKSubs, Cockney Rejects, TheLastResort, and local icons TheAnalogs and Dezerter stands alongside the horrorcore energy of Słoń and the avant-garde darkness of Furia and Dola. Furthermore, the festival remains a vital platform for the new generation, showcasing the rising power of The Materia, The Stubs, Owls Woods Graves, Hamulec, My Own Abyss, Seks W Czasach Wojny, Pretensje, Drowned In Silver and Diving Stove.
Dark black metal duo Hulder and Necreon return with their most expansive work to date, a nine-track album steeped in ancient language, pagan mythology, and the weight of the land
“[…] one of the most talked-about names in contemporary black metal.” — Portland Mercury
HULDER, the dark black metal outfit from the USA, will release their new album Verbolgen on August 7th, 2026, in a co-release with 20 Buck Spin, who will handle North America exclusively, while Season of Mist will cover the World ex-North America territories. Spanning nine tracks and just over forty-eight minutes, Verbolgen is HULDER’s most fully realised statement to date, drawing on themes of ancestral memory, natural sovereignty, and ancient ritual across lyrics written in English, Flemish, and Proto-Germanic.
Rooted in the traditions of Scandinavian black metal while reaching toward something more atmospheric and ceremonial, Verbolgen moves between driving, riff-driven passages and slower, more meditative stretches, with acoustic instrumentation and hurdy gurdy woven into the fabric of the record.
The multilingual approach to the lyrics is not merely ornamental; it reflects the album’s sustained engagement with the mythological and folkloric traditions of the pre-Christian world, from the Germanic lowlands to the Celtic fringes of northwestern Europe.
The album marks a significant shift in the band’s structure. Long positioned as the solo project of HULDER, Verbolgen formally brings Necreon into the fold as a full creative partner, following several releases in which he contributed as a session musician.
The record also features contributions from Keld (Majesties, Obsequiae, Celestiial) on hurdy gurdy, electric guitars, and keys, as well as drum performances split between Vapula, the band’s touring drummer, and Vrolok (Aeternus, Gorgoroth). Session flute is performed by Ianuaria.
Verbolgen Track-list:
1. Drie Raven (Intro) (2:18) 2. The Crowning (6:28) 3. Thy Binding Oath (5:38) 4. Verbolgen (4:01) 5. …And We Shall Sing (6:01) 6. In Blood and In Earth (7:09) 7. Den Nacht Zijn Lied (6:45) 8. View From Nemeton (5:23) 9. The Glow of Dawn (4:48)
Full runtime: 48:33
In support of the forthcoming release, HULDER will embark on an extensive European summer tour, taking in headline shows and major festival appearances across Germany, France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Spain, Portugal and beyond. The run includes stops at Graspop Metal Meeting, Hellfest, Resurrection Fest and more. Full dates below.
HULDER – Europe Summer 2026 Dates:
05 June: Mulfingen, DE @ Boarstream Open Air 06 June: Gdansk, PL @ Mystic Festival 08 June: Berlin, DE @ Mikropol 09 June: Munich, DE @ Backstage Club 11 June: Wiesbaden, DE @ Kesselhaus 12 June: Munster, DE @ Zappenduster Fest 13 June: Nijmegen, NL @ Waalhalla 14 June: Neunkirchen, DE @ Gebläsehalle 17 June: Tilburg, NL @ Lucky Devil 18 June: Haarlem, NL @ Patronaat* 19 June: Dessel, BE @ Graspop Metal Meeting 20 June: Clisson, FR @ Hellfest 21 June: Aarau, CH @ Kiff** 22 June: Milan, IT @ Legend Club** 23 June: Salzburg, AT @ Rockhouse** 24 June: Vienna, AT @ Viper Room** 25 June: Kosice, SK @ Collosseum 26 June: Mártély, HU @ Lowland Festival 27 June: Spalene Porici, CZ @ BasinFireFest 29 June: Chambery, FR @ BrindeZinc 30 June: Marseille, FR @ Le Molotov 03 July: Galicia, ES @ Ressurection Fest 04 July: Lisbon, PT @ RCA Club 08 July: Stuttgart, DE @ JuHa West 09 July: Torgau, DE @ In Flammen Open Air
Nashville-based modern rock artist J NOIRE has officially signed to Vaux Records, one of the first acts to join the newly formed label created by former Rise Records founder and owner Craig Ericson.
Commenting on joining the label, J NOIRE says:
“When the owner of Vaux Records moved onto my mom’s street, I had no idea it would lead to where we are today. It’s a total dream come true, feels like a scene from a movie.“
The signing marks a major milestone for both J NOIRE and Vaux Records, sparking early excitement fueled by Ericson’s enduring impact on the rock and alternative scene and his reputation for cultivating artists into international successes.
J NOIRE introduces his sound with the debut single “Radiate,” a preview of what’s to come from his forthcoming EP, Prometheus, due out later this year.
Blending elements of modern rock, pop, metal, and industrial influences, J NOIRE crafts a sound that is both emotionally resonant and sonically commanding. Drawing inspiration from artists such as Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle, and Bad Omens, the project also appeals to fans of Bring Me The Horizon and Breaking Benjamin, while maintaining a distinct identity rooted in authenticity and intensity.
Giving context to the track, J NOIRE adds:
“It’s a song about hope, and these days I feel like we need songs to remind people that there’s ALWAYS hope, love, and purpose in life. We all deserve that spark, something that radiates.“
J NOIRE’s journey has shaped the project’s creative direction. Raised on rock music and beginning guitar at the age of five, he spent years developing his craft before relocating to Nashville, where he performed professionally as a guitarist on Broadway. While that experience sharpened his musicianship, he ultimately sought a more personal artistic outlet.
A pivotal connection with Ericson helped bring the vision to life, resulting in the launch of Vaux Records and the development of the project’s debut material. Working alongside producer Ryan Furlott, he created a collection of songs that balance vulnerability with striking production.
Now joined by bassist Stevens Stokes and drummer Danny Laverde, J NOIRE’s vision has come to fruition, ready to introduce his dynamic sound to a wider audience.
With “Radiate,” J NOIRE delivers a powerful first statement, an introduction that signals both artistic intent and a bold new chapter ahead.
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