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.
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.
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.
April 30 – Worcester, MA • Palladium Upstairs May 1 – Brooklyn, NY • Brooklyn Monarch May 2 – Baltimore, MD • Baltimore Soundstage May 3 – Philadelphia, PA • Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest – Philly 2026 May 5 – Atlanta, GA • Masquerade (Hell) May 7 – Houston, TX • White Oak Music Hall May 8 – Dallas, TX • The Studio May 9 – Austin, TX • Come and Take It Live May 12 – Los Angeles, CA • The Regent May 13 – San Diego, CA • Brick By Brick May 14 – Berkeley, CA • Cornerstone May 16 – Portland, OR • Hawthorne Theater May 17 – Seattle, WA • El Corazon May 20 – Denver, CO • Oriental Theater May 22 – Minneapolis, MN • Fine Line Music Cafe May 23 – Chicago, IL • Bottom Lounge May 24 – Detroit, MI • Crofoot Ballroom May 25 – Cleveland, OH • The Grog Shop May 26 – Pittsburgh, PA • Preserving Underground May 27 – Toronto, ON • Lee’s May 28 – Montreal, QC • Fairmount Theatre
“We are stoked to be hitting the road in March to celebrate the 10th Year Anniversary of our album Evolution Of Evil. Join us and catch a special set list of old and unreleased tracks. We will have special VIP upgrades available for this tour!”
Grab advanced tix and VIP upgrades now!!
3.17 – Lincoln, NE at Witches Brew 3.20 – Reno, NV at Club Underground 3.21 – Las Vegas, NV at Vegas UnAlive Festival w/ Decrepit Birth 3.22 – Salt Lake City, UT at Aces High Saloon 3.24 – Denver, CO at The Roxy 3.26 – Cedar Rapids, IA at Black Hole 3.27 – Kansas City, MO at SK8 Bar 3.28 – Sioux Falls, SD at Club David
Boston-based progressive death metal band GRAVEBORN are set to return this spring with the release of their fifth full-length album Metempsychosis.
In the five years since the release of 2021’s Transmigrator, GRAVEBORN has been meticulously crafting their newest magnum opus – an 11-track concept album about continuity in the face of collapse.
Throughout the course of Metempsychosis, GRAVEBORN challenges themselves and the listener to stare into an internal and external abyss. Moving from inner psychological fracture to societal and species-wide decline, the album rejects narratives of tragedy or triumph, treating destruction as a necessary mechanism of transmission. Metempsychosis asks one question and refuses to soften the answer- what remains when everything else is gone?
Hear part of this journey with the album’s new single and final track, “Orthologs.” Watch the lyric video now at youtu.be/rdi995yM6pw.
Photo Credit: Totem Coast Photography
Reggie Lewis – Bass Jesse Blanchette – Guitars Chris Ramusiewicz – Guitars John LeBlanc – Vocals Marc Brennan – Drums
Vocalist John Leblanc describes the track as the album’s closing statement – a reflection on consciousness as continuity, and the nature of self-evolution.
“‘Orthologs’ is about what survives after annihilation, not as hope, but as function. It’s evolution under pressure. Forced transformation. The essential self persists, but the form changes radically. I don’t return to who I was. I don’t heal into the old shape. I become something else because survival requires it. Like orthologous genes, the structure diverges, but the core purpose remains intact. This isn’t triumphant. It’s real. It’s not a victory lap. It’s the moment after the maw, when something still stands. Not because it’s unbroken, but because it adapted.”
This song means: continuity is not comfort. Continuity is persistence. I am changed. I am not whole. But something essential still functions, still moves forward, still exists.
Not healed. Not restored. Still here.
And that is enough.”
Stream the album’s first two singles, “Ember of Existence” and “Temporal Sands” on Spotify and Apple Music.
Formed in 2013 in Boston, MA, Graveborn serves up an ethereally heavy strain of progressive death metal. Over the last decade, they have released 4 albums Samsara (2014), Seeds Of Life (2016), The Athenaeum (2018) and Transmigrator (2021). Graveborn performed throughout the Northeast US with the likes of Fallujah, Rivers of Nihil, Cognitive, Ghost Bath, Ov Sulfur, and others. Graveborn weaves the themes of self-evolution and introspection through their lyrics, and embodies this ethos in their collaborations.
Mumbai, India extreme metal force GUTSLIT return with their blistering new single “I, Berzerker”, marking the band’s first release since 2023’s Carnal and the beginning of a new chapter in their relentless evolution. Released independently, the track showcases a sharpened, ferocious sound that reaffirms GUTSLIT’s position as one of the most uncompromising bands in modern death metal.
“I, Berzerker” is a raw declaration of intent. Written as a defiant response to the notion of mellowing with age, the song captures GUTSLIT at their most primal and focused. Blistering riff work, punishing rhythms, and guttural vocals collide in a tightly constructed assault that balances precision with unrestrained aggression.
The track draws inspiration from the myth of the Berzerker, the warrior consumed by battle rage, and reinterprets it as a metaphor for creative freedom. Lyrically, the song explores instinct, release, and total immersion in the act of creation. Violence and fury become symbols of purpose, expression, and identity.
“I, Berzerker” also marks an important turning point for the band. Now operating as a five piece, GUTSLIT feature the dual guitar lineup of Ishwar Hariharan and Aditya Swaminathan, bringing a renewed melodic edge and dynamic interplay to the band’s signature brutality. The core foundation remains as vicious as ever, with Aditya Barve on vocals, Gurdip SinghNarang on bass, and Aaron Pinto on drums driving the chaos forward.
Produced by GUTSLIT, the single was recorded across Gray Spark Studio for drums and Altar Studio for guitars and bass. Engineering was handled by Saurabh Lodha, with vocals engineered by Ashwin Shriyan. Mixing and mastering were completed by Mendel Bij de Liej of EX-ABORTED, delivering a crushing yet refined sonic impact. The single artwork was created by drummer Aaron Pinto, under his visual alias Kidsquidy.
About GUTSLIT:
Formed in Mumbai, India in 2007, GUTSLIT is one of the country’s most formidable extreme metal exports. With a history spanning nearly two decades, the band blend brutal death metal and grindcore with elements of thrash and punk, delivering a sound defined by precision, intensity, and relentless aggression.
GUTSLIT have toured and performed across 25 countries worldwide, appearing at major festivals including Obscene Extreme, Brutal Assault, PartySan, Summer Breeze, and Deathfeast Open Air, and sharing stages with bands such as DYING FETUS, NILE, BENIGHTED, and ABORTED. Known for their ferocious live performances and global ambition, GUTSLIT continue to push modern death metal forward without compromise.
Death metal maniacs NECRONOMICON EX MORTIS are back in full blood-drenched form with their new single, “Left To Die,” a crushing mid-tempo bruiser taken from the forthcoming EP Zombie Blood Nightmare, arriving February 20, 2026.
“Left To Die” is a straight-ahead stomp fest rooted in classic 1990s death metal, drawing clear influence from the pit-driving grooves of OBITUARY. Built on thick riffs and head-crushing momentum, the track culminates in a ripping end-of-song guitar solo from former MEGADETH shredder Jeff Young, adding a sharp flash of old-school virtuosity to the carnage.
Lyrically, “Left To Die” keeps things simple and gloriously vile. The song tells the story of being abandoned in a gore pit, surrounded by blood and guts and facing an inevitable end. No metaphors and no apologies. Blood and guts are fun.
NECRONOMICON EX MORTIS return with a fiery vengeance on Zombie Blood Nightmare, a new EP that finds the band at their most unhinged. Across six blood-soaked songs, the band pushes hard to recapture the glory days of 1990s death metal, blending horror, violence, and undead absurdity into a relentless riff-driven assault. This is NEM fully committed to terror, stupidity, and the raw spirit of the genre.
“Left To Die” serves as a blunt and bloody introduction to what Zombie Blood Nightmare delivers in full. Heavy, grotesque, and unapologetic.
Rising extreme metal acts to compete for a slot at Offal Fest 2026, with the winner decided by fan voting
Heat 1 takes place on 8th February, Heat 2 on 22 February with the final date to be announced with a surprise headliner
Rancid Offal Promotions, the organisers behind events such as Offal Fest and Goremageddon, have launched a brand-new showcase series designed to spotlight the next generation of extreme metal talent and provide one emerging act with the opportunity to open Offal Fest 2026.
This competition invites fans to play a direct role in the festival’s curation, as attendees at each heat will be responsible for voting for their favourite bands to determine who progresses to the final stage. The showcase series is built on a commitment to supporting the local scene and rising international talent, ensuring the festival’s opening slot is earned through pure live intensity and crowd support.
The competition begins with Heat 1 on 8th February 2026, which features a heavy-hitting billing including Vast Slug,World War Three, Erectomy andMindhold.
This will be followed quickly by Heat 2 on 22nd February 2026, where Combat Evolved, Dushman, 12 Gauge Autopsy and War Bastard will take to the stage to compete for their place in the final.
Organizers have emphasised that every single vote matters and have encouraged the community to turn out in force to support these rising acts. While the dates for the preliminary rounds are now set, the date for the final will be announced in due course and is set to feature a surprise guest headliner to close out the competition.
“We are so stoked to give these bands a real shot at opening the big stage next year,” says the team at Rancid Offal Promotions. “The scene is absolutely crawling with talent right now, and letting the fans decide who gets onto the Offal Fest bill feels like the best way to keep things authentic. Make sure you get down to the heats and vote, because your voice is literally what puts these guys on the poster for July.“
Tickets for the showcase heats are available now and can be purchased through the official competition website at https://battleoftheslams.com/. Further details regarding the surprise headliner and the final date will be released via social media channels in the coming months.
Dedicated to the most extreme facets of gore, grind, slam, and brutal death metal, Offal Fest has solidified its status as a vital fixture in the international metal calendar following its sold-out 2025 edition. The 2026 festival, scheduled for 24-26 July at its new Manchester home, The Bread Shed, will be headlined by two major UK-exclusive performances from genre pioneers Devourment and Ohio powerhouse Regurgitation, the latter making their debut appearance on UK soil.
The comprehensive lineup features a global roster including New York legends Immortal Suffering, Japan’s ButcherABC, and Korea’s Fecundation, alongside a formidable domestic contingent headlined by the “wobble-box” specialists Crepitation and the official reunion of Infected Disarray.
Bolstered by further international talent such as GutturalSlug, Unbirth and DarkallSlaves, Offal Fest 2026 aims to build upon the momentum of previous years, which saw exclusive sets from acts such as Skinless and Wormed, to provide a definitive weekend of brutality for the global extreme music community.
Maltese death metallers BOUND TO PREVAIL have unveiled the title track from their upcoming debut full-length album, “Enthroned in Torment”, now available as a new single. The song offers a further insight into the band’s approach, built on compact, forceful riffing and a dynamic balance between aggression and structure. Enthroned in Torment is set for release on January 7th, 2026 via Lethal Scissor Records.
The record is a powerful rediscovery and reinterpretation of the early 2000s death metal vein, blending old-school brutality with a modern edge. Drawing on the technical ferocity of old masters like Suffocation and Monstrosity, as well as the more extreme, yet precise, pummeling approaches of Beheaded, Hour of Penance and Inveracity, the album delivers tracks that are simultaneously tense, technical and fluid, giving every riff room to breathe and strike with maximum impact.
Enthroned in Torment fuses the relentless aggression of classic death metal with contemporary clarity and production, creating a sound that honors the past while feeling undeniably current. Crushing drumming, thunderous bass, and razor-sharp guitars intertwine with menacing vocals to forge an unrelenting wall of sound. The album explores the morbid tension between malevolence and benevolence, set in a chaotic realm shaped by false beliefs and deceitful ambitions.
Track list:
01. The Nevergod 02. Into the Depths 03. Defier of Empires 04. Consecrated Perdition 05. Atone in Blasphemy 06. Dawn of Emptiness 07. Tomb of the Graveless 08. Enthroned in Torment
With this debut, BOUND TO PREVAIL stake their claim in European death metal, offering a masterful balance of old-school intensity and modern precision that will captivate fans of both eras.
Album line-up:
Keith Fenech – guitars Kevin Mifsud – bass Alan Briffa – vocals Jean Vella – guitars Mark Farrugia Sant’Angelo – drums
Current band line-up:
Keith Fenech – guitars Kevin Mifsud – bass Alan Briffa – vocals Mark Farrugia Sant’Angelo – drums
German progressive death metal masters, OBSCURA, are set to return to the U.S. this spring for the ‘Stardust Tour.’ The 18-date run begins on March 15th at the legendary Whisky-A-Go-Go in Hollywood, includes key stops in Austin, Philadelphia, and Detroit, and concludes on April 3rd in Roseville, CA. They will be joined by ALLEGAEON, COGNITIVE, and CRYPTOSIS.
Tickets for the tour will be available on Friday, December 19th at 10:00 PST.
Confirmed dates for OBSCURA‘s ‘Stardust’ US 2026 tour with ALLEGAEON, COGNITIVE, and CRYPTOSIS are:
03.13.2026 USA Los Angeles, CA @ Whisky-A-Go-Go 03.14.2026 USA Tucson, AZ @ The Rock 03.15.2026 USA El Paso, TX @ Rockhouse Bar & Grill 03.16.2026 USA Austin, TX @ Come And Take It Live 03.17.2026 USA Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street Collective 03.18.2026 USA Haltom City, TX @ Haltom Theater 03.23.2026 USA Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts 03.24.2026 USA Brooklyn, NY @ The Meadows 03.25.2026 USA Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom 03.26.2026 USA Rochester, NY @ Photo City Music All 03.27.2026 USA Lakewood, OH @ Mercury Music Lounge 03.28.2026 USA Detroit, MI @ The Sanctuary 03.29.2026 USA Joilet, IL @ The Forge 03.30.2026 USA Kansas City, MO @ Warehouse On Broadway 03.31.2026 USA Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep 04.01.2026 USA Salt Late City, UT @ Aces High Saloon 04.02.2026 USA Reno, NV @ Club Underground 04.03.2026 USA Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post
THE AMONKLOK CONQUEST: North America 2026 co-headline tour featuring Amon Amarth and Dethklok with special guests Castle Rat.
Tickets on-sale Friday, December 12th.
04.15 – Phoenix, AZ | Arizona Federal Theatre 04.17 – San Antonio, TX | Tech Port Center + Arena 04.18 – Houston, TX | 713 Music Hall 04.20 – Oklahoma City, OK | The Criterion 04.21 – Kansas City, MO | The Midland Theatre 04.22 – Chesterfield, MO | The Factory 04.24 – Minneapolis, MN | The Armory 04.25 – Waukee, IA | Vibrant Music Hall 04.28 – New York, NY | Brooklyn Paramount 04.29 – Boston, MA | MGM Music Hall at Fenway 05.01 – Toronto, ON | The Great Canadian Casino 05.02 – Montreal, QC | Centre Bell 05.05 – National Harbor, MD | MGM National Harbor 05.09 – Atlanta, GA | Coca-Cola Roxy 05.10 – Nashville, TN | The Pinnacle 05.12 – Johnstown, PA | 1st Summit Arena 05.13 – Detroit, MI | Fox Theatre 05.14 – Bethlehem, PA | The Wind Creek Event Center 05.16 – Milwaukee, WI | Landmark Credit Union Live 05.19 – Denver, CO | The JunkYard 05.20 – Salt Lake City, UT | The Union Event Center 05.21 – Las Vegas, NV | Planet Hollywood
Belarusian Death Metal Pack, Eximperitus, are set to release the follow-up to 2021’s widely praised sophomore album, Šahrartu! Willowtip Records will unleash Meritoriousnessof Equanimity January 30th, on vinyl, cassette, CD, and digital formats.
The album’s first single, “The Untimely Fruit of the Unsaid,” is available now on all digital platforms, including: YouTube, Bandcamp, Spotify, Deezer, and Apple Music.
“In times when despair overflows human hearts… when the chasm of strife between civilizations widens… when loyalty to ideologies tears blood ties apart… when the world stands still, poised for the final leap of prolonged self-destruction… We can draw strength solely from internal sources, which are filled only by the multifaceted power of Death Metal…“
– Eximperitus
Eximperitus‘ forthcoming third album, Meritoriousness of Equanimity, contains nine independent compositions united by the idea of searching for inner support in an era of turbulence. Exposure and scourging of social dogmas and morbid tendencies on the ruins of the old world…
I. One Step Long Infinity. II. Contemplation of the Plastic Fibers of Perfection at the Second Level of Reality. III. Twelve Centuries of Triumph of the Third Kingdom… IV. Finding Consistency in the Fourth Quadrant of Eternity. V. The Untimely Fruit of the Unsaid. VI. Golden Chains for the Construction of Individual Greatness. VII. Molecular Disintegration of an Unattainable Solitary Will in a Vessel of Wisdom… VIII. Chalkionic Wandering Among the Wreckage of the Future. IX. Standing at the Skirt of the Ruins of Human Nature (…on the Other Side of Man and Time).
UK death metal band UNBURIER has returned with a vengeance on their latest single, “Survive the Vermin“. The new song introduces the band’s upcoming EP, As Time Awaits, with the appropriate blend of ferocity and spellbinding technicality. Vocalist and guitarist Ben Champion shows off a viscerally emotive vocal range, skillfully punctuating his mid-range snarls with screeching highs for maximum impact.
Bassist Stan Mitchell and drummer Kim Hughes lay the foundation for the song’s intensity with a punchy, driving rhythm section. Finally, guitarist Blake Hibberd propels the momentum forward with a relentless barrage of twisting, turning, shredding leads. The lyrics of “Survive The Vermin” develop themes of purpose and identity on the EP, through a first-person account of a cosmic, immortal warrior.
Surrendering flesh for steel, the narrator struggles to detach themselves from the sensations they thought to have discarded. The lyrics ask if, when we give ourselves wholly to one purpose, it is worth sacrificing the simplicity of everyday life. Paying homage to sci-fi author Nate Crowley and absurdist philosophy, “Survive The Vermin” provides the most direct declaration of the themes behind the EP.
About UNBURIER: Hailing from the south of England, UNBURIER stormed onto the death metal scene in the summer of 2022 with their debut EP Twisted Existence. The EP showcased the band’s undeniable technical abilities, in addition to their raw and harrowing sound. In 2024, UNBURIER returned with their follow-up EP, Nebulous, on which the band refined their songwriting and technical prowess. On this release, the band ventured even deeper into the realms of their death metal influences, among which they count DEATH, NECROPHAGIST, and REVOCATION.
Having conquered stages alongside the likes of SANGUISUGABOGG, CRYPTA, and PARTY CANNON, as well as making notable appearances at Bloodstock Open Air and Incineration Festival, UNBURIER continues to carve a path alongside giants of the death metal genre. Their upcoming third EP, As Time Awaits, sees UNBURIER blending old and new-school death metal styles with technicality, hooks, and razor-sharp songwriting. Carrying the torch of the classic death metal sound into a new age, As Time Awaits is certain to enthrall longtime fans of the genre.
Montréal’s PHOBOCOSM has released a new song off their forthcoming album, Gateway. “Unbound” marks the album’s second single. Stream it now at www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaA1nNAyQus
Dark Descent Records will release Gateway on CD, vinyl, cassette and digital formats on November 28.
Gateway stands as an unrelenting and eldritch death metal opus that seals one chapter while unveiling the next. The album includes material from every songwriting period of the band, some of it dating back to the Deprived and Bringer of Drought eras, as well as Foreordained, of course,” explains guitarist Samuel Dufour.
Gateway was recorded, mixed, and mastered by long-time collaborator Xavier Berthiaume (Gevurah, Sanctvs) during the same session as Foreordained, giving the two records a consistent sonic throughline while allowing Gateway to close established narratives.
“We view it as the closing of a chapter for the band,” Dufour continues. “Not that our future material will be completely different from our existing material, far from it, but we have decided to do things a little differently next time around by adding new elements that haven’t appeared in our music before, exploring different dynamics and experimenting with a new tuning.”
Thematically, Gateway grows from ideas first explored on Foreordained: “The song ‘Revival’ from Foreordained inspired the album’s theme, which is the fact that humans have been trying to live forever – or to unnaturally prolong life – since the dawn of time, often for reasons even more absurd than the pursuit of eternal life itself,” elaborates Dufour.
“We used this as the main theme and pushed the concept further, exploring the most repulsive forms of cruelty humans are capable of, even when using science as a means to prolong barbarity against their enemies.”
Visually, the album continues PHOBOCOSM’s collaboration with Lauri Laaksonen (Desolate Shrine, Convocation, Pestilent Hex). “From looking at it, one can see that it is a gateway to something ominous, but what lies beyond is up to the listener.”
UK exclusive performances from the brutal slamming death metallers Devourment and Ohio brutal death metal powerhouse Regurgitation, with their first ever UK show
New additions also include Immortal Suffering, Unbirth, Butcher ABC, Fecundation, Guttural Slug, Darkall Slaves, Kakothansy, Crepitation, Strangle Wire, Lymphoaedema, Ovulating Cadaver, Repulsed and Dissolving Entity
Offal Fest is taking place on 24-26 July 2026 at The Bread Shed, Manchester. Purchase tickets: Offal-Fest.com
Manchester, UK; 21 November 2025:Offal Fest, dedicated to the most extreme sounds in gore, grind, slam and brutal death metal, has secured two monumental UK-exclusive headlining performances and unveiled its (nearly) full 2026 line-up.
Brutal slamming death metal pioneers Devourment are confirmed to headline the Saturday night, bringing a UK-exclusive set to the Manchester stage. Joining them as the Sunday headliners, making their first-ever UK appearance for a special exclusive performance, are Ohio brutal death metal powerhouse, Regurgitation.
The all-star international roster is significantly bolstered by the addition of New York brutal death metal legends ImmortalSuffering, who will be returning to the UK next year for an exclusive performance. Anyone who caught their incredible performance earlier this year already knows the sheer ferocity they bring to the stage.
Offal Fest continues its tradition of championing outstanding international extreme talent, welcoming a substantial wave of European and Asian heavy-hitters. This includes insane Italian talent with Unbirth and Inverecund, Butcher ABC from Japan and Fecundation from Korea. Guttural Slug from Denmark will return after their crushing live debut at the first iteration of Offal Fest, and the international bill is rounded out by Darkall Slaves hailing from France and Kakothanasy from Switzerland, both performing a UK exclusive set.
The line-up is also packed with outstanding UK and Irish talent, including the “wobble-box superstars” Crepitation, who will be headlining the pre-show, alongside Irish acts StrangleWire and one-man gorenoise chaos Lymphoeadema. Completing the UK contingent are OvulatingCadaver, Repulsed and Dissolving Entity, all adding to the ferocious three-day experience.
They join the previously announced mix of established and rising acts in the extreme metal scene. Scottish brutal death metal band Laceration, London-based brutal death metal band Twitch Of The Death Nerve, Czech brutal death metal band Epicardiectomy, Greek three-piece brutal death metallers Embryectomy, Glaswegian five-piece death metal band Scordatura, veteran US brutal death metal band Lividity, the long-awaited reunion of UK brutal death metal band Infected Disarray, Manchester newcomers Disgracing, who made their live debut at this year’s Offal and Manchester four-piece Brutal Death Metal band Coprocephalic Mutation will be returning to the fest in 2026.
Fans should note that while the full line-up is confirmed, there is one TBC spot at the bottom of the poster, with more information to be announced very soon on social channels; day splits will also be announced at a later date.
Rancid Offal Promotions, the team behind Goremageddon and Offal Fest, said: “We are excited to finally drop the full line-up for Offal! We knew we had to go absolutely huge this year, building on this year’s massive success. So, locking down Devourment for a UK exclusive and getting Regurgitation over for their first-ever UK gig is just insane. We’ve managed to pull in extreme talent from all over the world – Japan, Korea, Europe – alongside the best of the UK, Irish and local scenes. Get ready for three days of utter brutality next year in the new home of extreme metal; Manchester!”
Offal Fest 2025 was a sold-out success. The event featured the likes of Foetal Juice, 357 Homicide, a UK exclusive performance by Skinless, who performed their album “Progression Towards Evil” in full, a UK exclusive set from Begging For Incest, exclusive co-headlining sets by Defeated Sanity and Wormed, as well as exclusive performances from Imperious Mortality, Plasma, Cerebral Effusion and 55Gore.
Offal Fest 2026 is taking place on 24-26 July 2026 at The Bread Shed in Manchester. Secure your entry via https://offal-fest.com/
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions are set to release the new album from Chicago’s Blackened Death Metal gods of war: Blood Of The Wolf. V: Indomitable is up now for pre-order and will be released on December 19th on CD and Digital formats along with merch.
Blood Of The Wolf return to Horror Pain Gore Death Productions with their new album V: Indomitable! Hailing from Chicago Illinois, Blood Of The Wolf retaliate with overwhelming vengeance, pulverizing the weak with eight new songs executed with barbaric cruelty. Prepare yourself for murky massive riffs, relentless blast beats and commanding vocals on V: Indomitable… all glory to the Gods of War!
For fans of Belphegor, God Dethroned, Hate, Incantation, Marduk, Morbid Angel and Vader.
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"
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