Archive for the Heavy Metal Category

TRIUMPH 50th Anniversary North America Tour | *Updated Schedule | Cities & Venues Listed

Posted in classic rock, classic rock bands, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on January 20, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

THE ROCK & ROLL MACHINE IS RELOADED!

From: Triumph Facebook:

BOSTON & CHICAGO WE HEARD YOU. We have added a second night in Boston on June 4th at Leader Bank Pavillion. Tickets are on sale now. And our Chicago show has been upgraded to the ALLSTATE ARENA. All previous tickets bought for the Rosemont Theater will be honored.

2026 TRIUMPH 50th ANNIVERSARY NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES:

CANADA:

April 22 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON @ GFL Memorial Gardens

April 24 – Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena

April 25 – Hamilton, ON @ TD Coliseum

April 28 – Halifax, NS @ Scotiabank Centre

April 29 – Moncton, NB @ Avenir Centre

May 1 – Laval, QC @ Place Bell (Montreal)

May 2 – Ottawa, ON @ Canadian Tire Centre

May 5 – Winnipeg, MB @ Canada Life Centre

May 7 – Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place

May 8 – Calgary, AB @ Scotiabank Saddledome

UNITED STATES:

May 13 – Rosemont, IL @ ALLSTATE Arena (Chicago)

May 14 – Milwaukee, WI @ Miller High Life Theatre

May 16 – Kansas City, MO @ Starlight Theatre

May 17 – St. Louis, MO @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheater

May 20 – Irving, TX @ The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory (Dallas)

May 21 – San Antonio, TX @ Frost Bank Center

May 22 – Houston, TX @ Smart Financial Center at Sugar Land

May 24 – Tampa, FL @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

May 26 – Atlanta, GA @ Synovus Bank Amphitheater at Chastain Park

May 28 – Camden, NJ @ Freedom Mortgage Pavilion (Philadelphia)

May 30 – Sterling Heights, MI @ Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre at Freedom Hill (Detroit)

June 3 – Darien Center, NY @ Darien Lake Amphitheater

June 4 – Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion

June 5 – Wantagh, NY @ Northwell at Jones Beach Theater (New York)

June 6 – Boston, MA @ Leader Bank Pavilion

Ticket info: https://www.triumphmusic.com/

MICHAEL SWEET – New Solo Album, The Master Plan, Releasing on April 3rd

Posted in christian metal, christian rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , on January 19, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

The Master Plan, the brand-new solo album from Michael Sweet, acclaimed singer, songwriter, producer, and frontman of Christian rock icons Stryper, is releasing, via Frontiers Records, on April 3, 2026!

Click here for details.

Watch the new lyric video: https://youtu.be/nYlvxAflcug

Track Listing:

  1. The Master Plan
  2. Lord
  3. Stronger
  4. Eternally
  5. You Lead I’ll Follow
  6. Desert Stream
  7. Believer
  8. Again
  9. Faith
  10. Worship You 

Source/photo: Michael Sweet Bandsintown & newsletter

LITA FORD – Tour Dates 2026 | Dates, Cities & Venues Listed

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , on January 19, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Jan 23 – Davenport, IA @ Rhythm City Casino Resort

Feb 13 – Orillia, ON @ Casino Rama Resort Entertainment Centre

Feb 14 – Calgary, AB @ Grey Eagle Resort and Casino

Feb 18 – Airways Heights, WA @ Northern Quest Casino
(w/ special guest Dee Snider)

Feb 20 – Lake Charles, LA @ Golden Nugget Lake Charles (+ encore performance w/ Dee Snider)

Mar 7 – Medina, MN @ Medina Entertainment Center (+ Lynch Mob)

Mar 27 – Shipshewana, IN @ Bluegate Theater – (w/ Steelheart)

Apr 9 – East Greenwich, RI @ The Greenwich Odeum

Apr 10 – Newton, NC @ Newton Performing Arts Center (w/ Dee Snider)

Apr 12-17 – Miami, FL @ Monsters of Rock Cruise (Miami- Puerto Plata – Great Stirrup Cay)

Apr 18 – Harpers Ferry, WV @ The Amp ( + Firehouse)

Apr 24 – Leesburg, FL @ Leesburg Bikefest

Aug 22 – Gatlinburg, TN @ Monsters On The Mountain

Ticket Info Visit: https://litafordonline.com/

Top photo from Lita Ford Facebook

FORBIDDEN – Thrash Legends Sign With BLKIIBLK Records

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on January 17, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

BLKIIBLK NEW SIGNING ALERT: FORBIDDEN

Bay Area thrash legends FORBIDDEN have officially joined forces with BLKIIBLK!

Melding classic thrash metal with melodic and progressive leanings, FORBIDDEN’s recent return to both the stage and studio is a rebirth for the Bay Area legends.

Joining founding guitarist Craig Locicero and bassist Matt Camacho are drummer Chris Kontos (formerly of Machine Head and Attitude Adjustment), guitarist Jeremy Von Epp and vocalist Norman Skinner (ex-Imagika and Niviane).

States the band: “When Forbidden was ‘reborn’ in 2023, we knew we were going to write new music. That excited us. We also knew that we were in no rush to be signed or obligated to anything that didn’t feel ideal. Well… that situation has finally revealed itself. We are elated to announce that Forbidden has joined forces with BLKIIBLK as one of their inaugural signings.”

Stay tuned for new music coming soon.

Source: BLKIIBLK Facebook

ROB ZOMBIE & MARILYN MANSON – North America Tour 2026 | Dates, Cities & Venues Listed

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on January 16, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

ROB ZOMBIE & MARILYN MANSON – With Support From THE HU & ORGY – 2026 North America Tour Dates:

Aug. 20 – West Palm Beach, Fla. @ iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre

Aug. 21 – Tampa, Fla. @ MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre

Aug. 23 – Alpharetta, Ga. @ Ameris Bank Amphitheatre

Aug. 24 – Charlotte, N.C. @ Truliant Amphitheater

Aug. 26 – Holmdel, N.J. @ PNC Bank Arts Center

Aug. 27 – Mansfield, Mass. @ Xfinity Center

Aug. 29 – Burgettstown, Pa. @ The Pavilion at Star Lake

Aug. 30 – Darien Center, N.Y. @ Darien Lake Amphitheater

Sept. 01 – Toronto, ON @ RBC Amphitheatre

Sept. 02 – Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio @ Blossom Music Center

Sept. 04 – Clarkston, Mich. @ Pine Knob Music Theatre

Sept. 05 – Tinley Park, Ill. @ Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre

Sept. 06 – Noblesville, Ind. @ Ruoff Music Center

Sept. 09 – Maryland Heights, Mo. @ Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre

Sept. 10 – Kansas City, Mo. @ MORTON Amphitheater

Sept. 12 – Greenwood Village, Colo. @ Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre

Sept. 14 – West Valley City, Utah @ Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre

Sept. 16 – Airway Heights, Wash. @ BECU Live at Northern Quest

Sept. 17 – Auburn, Wash. @ White River Amphitheatre

Sept. 18 – Ridgefield, Wash. @ Cascades Amphitheater

Sept. 20 – Concord, Calif. @ Toyota Pavilion at Concord

https://www.robzombie.com/tour

EXHORDER To Kick Off Unforeseen Circumstances US Headlining Tour This Month | Tickets On Sale Now + Live Video Playing

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news, norwegian black metal with tags , , , , , , , on January 15, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Photo by Erik Hernandez/EHP Photography

Watch EXHORDER’s live performance of “The Tale Of Unsound Minds” HERE: https://youtu.be/8GIb7vl5ph4

New Orleans thrash metal legends EXHORDER will kick off their US headlining tour later this month. The Unforeseen Circumstances Tour 2026 Winter run will commence on January 29th in Lafayette, Louisiana and close on February 22nd in Hobart, Indiana. Support will be provided by Luicidal, Ringworm, Phobia, and Slowhole on select dates.

Vocalist Kyle Thomas comments, “It’s about that time, y’all! 2026 is here, and we are back to work. Joining us will be the legends that are Luicidal, Ringworm, and Phobia! Up and comers Slowhole will also be on this tour for the entire run, and you do not want to miss them. Luicidal and Ringworm will be on select dates, so consider accordingly when you obtain your tickets. As always, we will be performing a little something from all four albums, so come on out and say hello! You know by now we don’t bite – that costs extra! We are excited to hit some markets that we have not yet performed in, so let’s have a great time together!”

Tickets are on sale now! See all confirmed dates below.

EXHORDER Unforeseen Circumstances Tour 2026 w/ Luicidal, Ringworm, Phobia, Slowhole:

1/29/2026 Freetown Boom Boom Room – Lafayette, LA *
1/30/2026 Cine El Rey – McAllen, TX **
1/31/2026 The Lost Well – Austin, TX **
2/01/2026 Trees – Dallas, TX **
2/02/2026 RockHouse – El Paso, TX **
2/03/2026 The Rock – Tucson, AZ
2/04/2026 The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
2/05/2026 The Dive Bar – Las Vegas, NV
2/06/2026 VMH – Ventura, CA
2/07/2026 Soda Bar – San Diego, CA
2/09/2026 Whisky A Go Go – Hollywood, CA
2/10/2026 DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA
2/11/2026 Dante’s – Portland, OR
2/12/2026 Tony V’s – Everett, WA
2/13/2026 Airport Tavern – Tacoma, WA
2/14/2026 The Shredder – Boise, ID
2/15/2026 Aces High – Salt Lake City, UT
2/16/2026 HQ – Denver, CO
2/18/2026 The Regency – Springfield, MO **
2/19/2026 WCSC – Lombard, IL ***

2/20/2026 Annex – Madison, WI ***
2/21/2026 Madison Live – Covington, KY ***
2/22/2026 Hobart Art Theater – Hobart, IN ***
*No Luicidal or Phobia
**No Luicidal
***Ringworm, Phobia, Slowhole

Watch the band’s fiery live performance of “The Tale Of Unsound Minds” from their Defectum Omnium full-length captured by Mike Holderbeast at the Fillmore in New Orleans, Louisiana last April at THIS LOCATION.

Preview/purchase EXHORDER’s Defectum Omnium HERE.

Forged in 1986, EXHORDER’s journey has proven exciting, yet tumultuous. After a twenty-seven-year absence following their final Roadrunner Records release in 1992, EXHORDER re-entered the game with an album considered by many to be a contender for the “Best Comeback Album” category. The band released Mourn The Southern Skies in October of 2019 through Nuclear Blast Records.

Fraught with euphoric peaks and crippling valleys throughout its existence, lineup changes, and the 2020-2021 pandemic, EXHORDER clawed back through the muck to release Defectum Omnium, the Latin phrase for “The Failure of All,” in 2024. “The world is a dumpster fire, and we are all complicit,” noted singer Kyle Thomas when elaborating on the title.

https://www.exhorder.com/

https://www.facebook.com/exhorderofficial

https://www.instagram.com/exhorderofficial

https://www.youtube.com/@ExhorderOfficial

Source: EARSPLIT PR

RAVEN – Can’t Take Away The Fire North America Tour | Dates, Cities & Venues Listed

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , on January 14, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

From RAVEN Facebook;

Satellite Touring and GLM Artists are excited to announce, the legends of NWOBHM and godfathers of Thrash, RAVEN return to the live stage with an extensive North American tour of 35+ shows from March through May this year!

Support comes from special guests SLACKJAW!

Lead vocalist/bassist John Gallagher gleefully states:

“After our ‘medical gap year’ of 2025 we are hungry and itching to get back to doing what we do best — cranking out the megawatts and putting on a RAVEN Metal show for the lunatics out there — we have a killer band SLACKJAW out with us as special guests on these shows and it’s gonna be a take no prisoners full out affair!”

https://ravenlunatics.com/

Dates announced so far, with more to come:

3/18 Louisville, KY @ Goodwood Whiskey Row
3/19 St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag
3/20 Kansas City, MO @ Westport Brewery
3/21 Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street Live
3/22 Dallas, TX @ RBC
3/26 West Hollywood, CA @ The Whisky
3/28 San Francisco, CA @ Above DNA
3/29 Reno, NV @ Club Underground
3/31 Portland, OR @ Dante’s
4/1 Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre
4/2 Seattle, WA @ The Funhouse
4/4 Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon
4/5 Denver, CO @ The Federal Theatre
4/7 Lincoln, NE @ 1867 Bar
4/8 Cudahy, WI @ X-Ray Arcade
4/9 Chicago,IL @ Reggie’s Rock Club
4/10 Columbus, OH @ The King of Clubs
4/11 Lakewood, OH @ Mercury Music Lounge
4/12 Hamtramck, MI @ Sanctuary
4/14 New Kensington, PA @ Preserving Underground
4/16 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern
4/17 Ottawa, ON @ Rainbow Bistro
4/18 Quebec City, QC @ L’Anti Bar & Spectacles
4/19 Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar
4/21 Albany, NY @ Empire Underground
4/22 Old Town, ME @ The Old Town Theatre
4/23 Manchester, NH @ Jewel Music Venue
4/24 Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz
4/25 Harrisburg, PA @HMAC
4/26 Richmond, VA @ Ember Music Hall
4/29 Raleigh, NC @ Chapel Of Bones
4/30 Greenville, SC @ Radio Room
5/1 Nashville, TN @ Exit/In
5/2 Atlanta, GA @ Boggs Social & Supply
5/3 Bradenton, FL @ Oscura

BEYOND THE BLACK – Rising High 2026 Tour | Dates, Cities, Venues Listed

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , on January 14, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

  • Jan 15 – UK – Manchester @ O2 Ritz
  • Jan 16 – UK – London @ O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire
  • Jan 17 – FR – Paris @ Bataclan
  • Jan 19 – CH – Zurich @ X-tra
  • Jan 20 – DE – Munich @ Tonhalle
  • Jan 22 – HU – Budapest @ Barba Negra
  • Jan 23 – AT – Vienna @ Arena
  • Jan 24 – DE – Geiselwind @ MusicHall
  • Jan 26 – DE – Stuttgart @ Wagenhallen
  • Jan 27 – DE – Wiesbaden @ Schlachthof
  • Jan 28 – DE – Hannover @ Capitol
  • Jan 30 – PL – Warsaw @ Proxima
  • Jan 31 – DE – Leipzig @ Haus Auensee
  • Feb 01 – DE – Berlin @ Huxleys
  • Feb 03 – DE – Hamburg @ Inselpark Arena
  • Feb 04 – BE – Antwerp @ Trix
  • Feb 05 – DE – Oberhausen @ Turbinenhalle
  • Feb 06 – NL – Nijmegen @ Doornroosje
  • Feb 08 – DK – Copenhagen @ Pumpehuset
  • Feb 09 – SE – Gothenburg @ Pustervik
  • Feb 11 – NO – Oslo @ Vulkan
  • Feb 12 – SE – Stockholm @ Kollektivet Livet
  • Feb 14 – FI – Helsinki @ Ääniwalli

https://beyond-the-black.com/

METAL ALLEGIANCE (Featuring TESTAMENT, ALICE IN CHAINS, and DREAM THEATER Members) Unveils Apocalyptic New Single: “Black Horizon”

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , on January 14, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Trailblazing metal collective METAL ALLEGIANCE has returned with their brooding new single, “Black Horizon”. Their first release of original music since 2018, the song features roaring opening riffs from guitarist Alex Skolnick (TESTAMENT) and vocalist William DuVall’s (ALICE IN CHAINS) ominous howls, painting an apocalyptic scene.

Mark Menghi (KING ULTRAMEGA) on bass and Mike Portnoy (DREAM THEATER) on drums keep the dread looming low in the sky, ready to explode with ferocity at any moment. Systems fail, shadows fall, and the doomed cry for salvation in this desolate world. Gloomy, minimalistic verses bookend thunderous choruses, chronicling a desperate flight for survival.

“Who would have thought we’d be here 12 years later with new MA music? Very excited to have one of my favorite vocalists from one of my favorite bands on the first new MA music in 8+ years, which opens up a new era for MA. As the saying goes, you can’t kill what doesn’t die.” – Mark Menghi

“I was pleasantly surprised and absolutely honored to be asked to contribute to this song and I’m very happy with the result.” – William DuVall

Watch the video “Black Horizon” HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYpY0tcrfmA

Listen to “Black Horizon” HERE: https://metalallegiance.rpm.link/blackhorizonPR

“This song is a gift from the ghost of MA past. It’s salvaged from a stockpile of riffs we’d started long ago but never quite finished. Now, in combination with a first time voice for the band – the great William Duvall – we are pleased to announce a brand new track, forged from what once was, here to kick off a new era. Check it out!”  – Alex Skolnick

After having recording these drum tracks some time ago, I’m stoked that they finally get to see the light of day! Thanks to William for finishing it up for us and welcome to the MA family! \m/” – Mike Portnoy

Josh Wilbur – Mixing, Mastering on “Black Horizon”

Produced by Mark Menghi.

https://www.metalallegiance.com/

https://www.instagram.com/metalallegiance/

https://www.facebook.com/metalallegiancemusic

BLACK LABEL SOCIETY – 2026 North American Tour | Dates, Cities & Venues Listed

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on January 13, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Black Label Society, Zakk Sabbath, Dark Chapel tour dates 2026:
2/27 San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port
2/28 Dallas, TX – The Bomb Factory
3/01 Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom
3/03 Chesterfield, MO – The Factory at the District
3/04 North Kansas City, MO – VooDoo at Harrah’s Kansas City
3/06 Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom
3/07 Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center
3/09 Albuquerque, NM – Revel Entertainment Center
3/10 Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre
3/12 Funner, CA – Harrah’s Resort Southern California
3/13 Inglewood, CA – YouTube Theater
3/14 San Francisco, CA – The Warfield
3/16 Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre
3/17 Vancouver, BC – Orpheum Theater
3/19 Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Event Centre
3/21 Edmonton, AB – Midway Music Hall
3/23 Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre
3/25 Prior Lake, MN – Mystic Lake Casino
3/27 Madison, WI – The Sylvee
3/28 Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit
3/29 Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre
3/31 Montreal, QC – MTELUS
4/02 Uncasville, CT – Mohegan Sun Arena
4/03 Montclair, NJ – The Wellmont Theater
4/04 Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway
4/06 Philadelphia, PA – The Fillmore Philadelphia
4/07 Norfolk, VA – The NorVa
4/09 Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle
4/10 Charlotte, NC – The Fillmore Charlotte
5/10 North Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues
5/11 Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring
5/12 Salem, VA – Salem Civic Center
5/14 Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium

Ticket info: https://blacklabelsociety.com/

RATS WILL FEAST – Finnish Post-Hardcore Stalwarts To Release New EP: An Evocation

Posted in hardcore, hardcore bands, Heavy Metal, Metal, Music, music news, news with tags , , on January 11, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

RATS WILL FEAST will release their new EP, “An Evocation”, on April 3rd 2026 via Time To Kill Records. RATS WILL FEAST is an experimental hardcore outfit from Jyväskylä, Finland, active in its current form since 2018.

The Finnish hardcore unit continues to refine and expand their signature blend of extreme aggression, hallucinatory chaos and melodic depth. Following the destructive intensity of Hellhole, the new EP promises a more focused and defined expression of the band’s evolving sound, capturing both the brutality and emotional resonance that have become their hallmark.

The first single will be unleashed in the coming weeks, as RATS WILL FEAST prepares to deliver another potent statement to the international hardcore scene.

Presave: https://ffm.to/rats-will-feast-an-evocation

An Evocation celebrates RATS WILL FEAST‘s diverse and imaginative interpretation of modern metallic hardcore. The new EP is the band’s most concise and clear articulation of what the band wants to say, and what it’s aiming for with its sound. The album’s soundscape is dense, diverse, and exudes a wide palette of tones that have accompanied the band for 10 years.

The band explores a variety of expressions on the album, as the violence and volatility of the sound is balanced with an intensely melodic approach. While the album offers a wide spectrum, it remains focused on the band’s signature sound.

Lyrically, An Evocation is a portrait of a mindscape that strives to accept life as it is. Heavy metal bands often imagine various dystopias and fantasy worlds that they sing about. An Evocation thirsts for a safe haven in the turmoil of this world and society.

The lyrics seek to portray a person who moves between different levels of acceptance and resentment. It is a snapshot of a process that touches everyone’s life. Between the lines, the lyrics also reflect on the question of what makes you get up on stage again and again, and what makes writing and performing this kind of music important to yourself and others. Playing heavy music is a valve that lets painful and difficult things flow into some kind of beautiful, manageable form.

Track-list:

  1. First Snow
  2. Burns Cold
  3. Observer
  4. Smartless
  5. Frail Bones
  6. An Evocation

For fans of: Converge, Breach, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Mastodon

RATS WILL FEAST:

https://ratswillfeast.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ratswillfeastband

https://www.instagram.com/ratswillfeastfin

Time To Kill Records

https://timetokillrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/timetokillrecords/

SCHATTENMANN Unveil Title Track From Upcoming Album Endgegner 

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on January 10, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Photo credit: Holger Fichtner (360 Grad Design)

SCHATTENMANN usher in the new year with the release of “Endgegner”, the title track from their upcoming studio album. The song signals a decisive next step for the band and sets the tone for a new chapter in their musical journey.

With “Endgegner” [German for “Final Boss”], SCHATTENMANN present themselves sharper and more focused than ever. The track blends German-language metal with pronounced core elements, driven rhythms, and an unapologetic attitude. Crushing riffs, a powerful groove, and a commanding chorus turn the song into a statement piece that reflects both intensity and confidence.

Listen to “Endgegner” here: https://schattenmann.rpm.link/endgegnersinglePR

As frontman Frank Herzig reveals:
“This song was my ultimate final boss! Never before has a track driven me so crazy, challenged me so much, and demanded so much from me. In the entire history of Schattenmann, there hasn’t been a song that required so many versions and attempts. In the end, I am incredibly proud of it, especially because the path to the finished song was so rocky and because it offers so much both musically and lyrically. It grabs you immediately and doesn’t let go until the very end: hard, loud, emotional.”

Stream / Download the new single: https://schattenmann.rpm.link/endgegnersinglePR

Endgegner Track-List:
1. Endgegner
2. Besser als der Rest
3. Kamikaze
4. Einen Scheiß muss ich
5. Wir sind das Ende der Welt
6. Kein Kommando
7. Schna-na-naps
8. Unmensch
9. Echo
10. Auf die Zunge (Schattenmann Version)
11. Alter Ego
12. Gelegenheit macht Liebe

SCHATTENMANN are:
Frank Herzig | vocals
Jan Shook | guitars
Luke Shook | bass
Rorschach | drums

“Endgegner” Tour 2026
30.01.2025 DE Nuremberg – Schattenspiele (w/ AESTHETIC PERFECTION & INDUCTION)
w/ special guests Böse Fuchs:

12.03.2026 DE Frankfurt – Das Bett
13.03.2026 DE Oberhausen – Kulttempel
14.03.2026 DE Stuttgart – LKA Longhorn
15.03.2026 DE Saarbrücken – Garage
19.03.2026 DE Hamburg – Knust
20.03.2026 DE Leipzig – Hellraiser
21.03.2026 DE Erfurt – From Hell
26.03.2026 DE Munich – Backstage (Halle)
27.03.2026 DE Cologne – Luxor
28.03.2026 DE Hanover – MusikZentrum
04.04.2026 DE Berlin – Hole 44
05.04.2026 DE Magdeburg – Factory
13.11.2026 AT Dornbirn – Conrad Sohm
14.11.2026 AT Vienna – Szene

Tickets: https://www.eventim.de/artist/schattenmann/

VIP Upgrade Bundles: https://schattenmann.rpm.link/shopPR

About SCHATTENMANN:
Founded in 2016, Nuremberg-based band SCHATTENMANN have entered the metal world by storm! Pinnacling with their top 10 album Día de muertos in 2023, the quartet – singer Frank Herzig, guitarist Jan Shook, bass player Luke Shook & drummer Rorschach paved their way with impactful songwriting and also with energizing live shows. A thrilling combination which has resonated with a wide range of (mostly) European metalheads so far. Sheer metal and continuous touring are the keys of why SCHATTENMANN have become one of the leading German ambassadors in the hard ‘n’ heavy universe within less than 10 years.

More on SCHATTENMANN:
schattenmann.band | Linktree | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Bandsintown | YouTube | Spotify 

More on PERCEPTION:
perception.music | Facebook | TikTok

Source: C Squared Music

ARMSTRONG METALFEST 2026 – Tickets On Sale Now! The Okanagan’s Ultimate Mountain Mosh Pit Returns

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on January 9, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

“It’s one of the premier festivals of its kind in Canada, showcasing the biggest names in local, national, and international heavy metal music.” – Vancouver Sun

After celebrating a milestone 15th anniversary marked by record‑breaking crowds and its most successful edition to date, ARMSTRONG METALFEST returns for its 16th chapter on July 17 and 18, 2026, at the Hassen Arena in Armstrong, BC. Fans can look forward to two full days of moshing, headbanging, and camping. Early bird tickets are now available!

Early bird weekend passes are $179.99 CAD until March 1st. Once early bird sales end, pre‑sale passes will be offered at $229.99 CAD, with gate admission priced at $274.99 CAD.

All prices apply to full weekend passes and are subject to applicable taxes. Each weekend pass grants general admission and access to the festival grounds, camping area, and arena from 9:00 AM on Friday, July 17, 2026, until 10:00 AM on Sunday, July 18, 2026. Free camping is included.

Early bird passes can be purchased at: http://www.armstrongmetalfest.ca

The 2026 lineup will be revealed in March 2026.

Please Note: Camping – RV / Non-Hookup RV / Vehicle Passes: Make sure to reserve your vehicle spot to get the best location on the grounds. A fee is required for a weekend pass per vehicle in addition to your day or weekend pass. RV hookups include water and power. If you choose to park your vehicle outside the camping area in the main parking lot, then a vehicle pass is not required.

Check out the Armstrong MetalFest 2025 Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5th8RwUH1KaYBBG6VArNfy

About:

Since its inception in 2009 (with a brief hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), West Metal Entertainment and Armstrong MetalFest have championed hundreds of local bands while welcoming renowned international acts to the quiet town of Armstrong, British Columbia.

Armstrong MetalFest has hosted legendary headliners like Kataklysm, Cattle Decapitation, Archspire, Nekrogoblikon, Origin, Warbringer, Fallujah, Striker, and Beyond Creation, alongside rising stars from across North America. And when the final riff fades, the festival vanishes without a trace, leaving the landscape as untouched as it was before.

West Metal Entertainment, a non-profit society, not only produces Armstrong MetalFest annually but also supports the regional music scene by organizing performances at various venues, including all-ages shows, to inspire musical passion in both youth and adults.

For more info:
http://www.armstrongmetalfest.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/armstrongmetalfest/

https://www.instagram.com/armstrongmetalfest/

https://x.com/amfcanada

Source: ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

HammerFall – Freedom World Crusade – January 2026 Europe | Tour Dates, Countries, Cities & Venues Listed

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

From HammerFall Facebook:

Templars, tour starts NEXT WEEK!

Make sure to grab your tickets: https://hammerfall.net/

The Hammer will fall:
14.01 🇨🇭 Pratteln, Z7
15.01 🇨🇭 Lausanne, Docks
17.01 🇪🇸 Barcelona, Razzmatazz
18.01 🇪🇸 Murcia, Mamba!
20.01 🇪🇸 Sevilla, Custom
21.01 🇵🇹 Lisboa, República da Música
22.01 🇵🇹 Porto, Hard Club
23.01 🇪🇸 Madrid, La Riviera
24.01 🇪🇸 Pamplona, Totem
26.01 🇮🇹 Milan, Alcatraz

DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG Broadcast Their Metal ‘Propaganda’ In New Video

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

Stream “Propoganda” HERE: https://youtu.be/6p3Te-BCICs

On time with their monthly rendezvous with fans since the first single release, here comes another video from Babylon: DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG have unveiled the new visual for “Propaganda“, one of the most high-energy tracks from their latest album, released on October 3rd, 2025 through Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). While the song has already made its mark on the album, the video now adds the visual dimension to its uncompromising power.

“Propaganda” is a rousing song in typical double bass drum style that barely gives you time to breathe. After an aggressive guitar intro and a sublime guitar riff, the highlights follow in rapid succession: Udo Dirkschneider and Peter Baltes shine with their polyphonic choir type vocals which alternate with two-part guitar licks, while the chorus screams the entire media-critical message of the lyrics out into the world.

Listen to Babylon on your favourite streaming platform or get your CD/LP/Earbook here: https://datog.rpm.link/babylon

Manuela “Ella” Bibert supports all this with her solo vocal interludes as well as with a harsh and intensely played Hammond organ. as if that weren’t enough, a guitar solo follows a hymn type vocal part, which culminates in a harmony battle with the organ. The seventies and eighties send their regards!

More on DATOG:

datog.de | Facebook | Instagram | Spotify | Apple Music | YouTube | RPM

Source: C Squared Music

BURNING WITCHES – Witches And Kings Tour 2026 Europe | Dates, Countries, Cities & Venues Listed

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , on January 7, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

From Burning Witches Facebook:

Europe! The time has come!Are you ready for some burning heavy metal?!
We are geared up and excited for our return to the stage in TWO days! See you all out on the road! Ready To Fight!

09.01.26 MILANO – LEGEND CLUB 🇮🇹
10.01.26 OBERTRAUBLING – AIRPORT 🇩🇪
11.01.26 ZLIN – MASTERS OF ROCK CAFE 🇨🇿
I3.01.26. RUBIGEN – MÜHLE HUNZIKEN🇨🇭
14.01.26. BRUGG – SALZHAUS🇨🇭
15.01.26. BASEL – SUDHAUS🇨🇭
I6.01.26. LANGENTHAL – OLD CAPITOL🇨🇭
17.01.26. ZUG – GALVANIK🇨🇭
18.01.26. ST.GALLEN – GRABENHALLE🇨🇭
19.01.26. GLARUS – KULTURZENTRUM HOLÄSTEI🇨🇭
20.01.26 MONTHEY – PONT ROUGE🇨🇭
21.01.26. WETZIKON – KULTURFABRIK 🇨🇭
23.01.26. LONDON – THE DOME 🇬🇧
24.01.26. BIRMINGHAM – THE ASYLUM 🇬🇧
25.01.26. MANCHESTER – ACADEMY 3 🇬🇧
27.01.26. KORTRIJK – DVG CLUB 🇧🇪
28.01.26. PARIS – BACKSTAGE BY THE MILL 🇫🇷
29.01.26 ESSEN – TUROCK 🇩🇪
30.01.26. KAISERSLAUTERN – KAMMGARN 🇩🇪
31.01.26. ASCHAFFENBURG – COLOS SAAL 🇩🇪
01.02.26. MÜNCHEN – BACKSTAGE HALLE 🇩🇪
03.02.26 NÜRNBERG – HIRSCH 🇩🇪
04.02.26 LEIPZIG – HELLRAISER 🇩🇪
05.02.26 HANNOVER – MUSIKZENTRUM 🇩🇪
06.02.26 HAMBURG – LOGO 🇩🇪
07.02.26 UDEN – DE PUL 🇳🇱
08.02.26 HEERLEN – NIEUWE NOR 🇳🇱
10.02.26 LYON – ROCK’N EAT 🇫🇷
II.02.26 BARCELONA – SALAMANDRA 🇪🇸
12.02.26 MURCIA – GARAJE 🇪🇸

https://www.burningwitches.ch/

DARSOMBRA Presents: Transmission – A Celebration For Ann Everton; Two-Day Festival Event To Take Place In Baltimore February 28th – March 1st + New Video Posted

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , on January 7, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

DARSOMBRA Presents: Transmission – A Celebration For Ann Everton is a two-day festival event set to take place at Baltimore’s Ottobar on February 28th and March 1st. 

The gathering was created to honor the life and art of DARSOMBRA’s Ann Everton, who tragically passed away in a vehicle accident in early October when the band was beginning their latest tour. Everton left an indelible impression on everyone who met her. Everton’s husband and founding DARSOMBRA member Brian Daniloski worked directly with the staff at the Ottobar and several artists to organize this special event, which sees almost thirty acts – all of whom are friends of DARSOMBRA – uniting to perform in Everton’s memory.

Preceded by a gathering for family and friends, DARSOMBRA Presents: Transmission – A Celebration For Ann Everton, will feature two full days of performances on both the upstairs and downstairs stages at the Ottobar. A large contingent of the acts are friends located across the Baltimore area, with some of the highlights including Acoustic War On Women, Curse Consumer Culture, Moth Broth, 50’ ♀ & The Worms, Quattracenta, Holy Fingers, Celebration, and many others. Approximately a third of the bill includes bands from beyond the local scene, including Cultic and Stinking Lizaveta from Pennsylvania, Ala Muerte and Gridfailure from New York, and more.

With the news of the festival, DARSOMBRA also unveils a new video for the track “Mellow Knees,” the song found on the band’s sprawling 2xLP Dumesday Book opus, on which the band was still touring. The video is one of the final pieces of visual art Ann Everton had completed at the time of her passing and captures a wide array of nature footage and more she filmed over various tours on the album over the past few years.

Daniloski reveals, “This video was completed in 2024. It is the ending sequence of what was supposed to be the Dumesday Book video album. Ann wanted to create a video for every song on the 75-minute album and have them all connect its pandemic-tymes storyline, from when we were all told to shelter in place in Spring 2020, to its conclusion about a year or so later, which, for DARSOMBRA and this video, meant being able to leave our home to go back out on the road and tour again. She had completed videos for over half of the album, including this one, before her passing in October 2025.”

Tune in and watch DARSOMBRA’s “Mellow Knees” video alongside many other videos from the album and more on the band’s YouTube channel RIGHT HERE.

While the exact future of DARSOMBRA remains uncertain, the band has a sizable surplus of unreleased material, some of which will be released in conjunction with the festival. Watch for further developments to be announced.

DARSOMBRA PRESENTS TRANSMISSION – A Celebration For Ann Everton 

The Ottobar – Baltimore, MD [TICKETS]

Saturday, February 28th:
Stinking Lizaveta
Consumer Culture
Curse
Cultic
Born of Plagues
Arkn
Lady Hatchet Quartet
Gridfailure
Cora Sone
Glorian
Fortisse
Curving Tooth
Unicorn Dogs
Ala Muerte

Sunday, March 1st:
Celebration
Holy Fingers
Quattracenta
RjVj
Twings
Height Keech
Mrs. Paintbrush (Jackson of Grand Buffet)
Acoustic War On Women
Moth Broth
Psychic Enema
50′ ♀ & The Worms
Marian McLaughlin
Heavy Letdown
Human Host

https://www.darsombra.com

https://darsombra.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/darsombra

https://www.youtube.com/darsombra

https://www.instagram.com/darsombra

https://www.tiktok.com/@darsombra

https://www.instagram.com/pnictogenrecords

Source: EARSPLIT PR

God Bless Ann Everton

Goodbye 2025 – My Metal Thoughts and Metal Favorites I’d Like to Share

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , on December 29, 2025 by Metal Odyssey

Photo credit: Stone/Metal Odyssey – Napalm Death, Bogart’s in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 15, 2025

I want to thank each visitor and loyal follower to Metal Odyssey! You have all kept my Metal faith burning this past year, as usual! Metal Odyssey celebrated its 17th consecutive year in 2025 and I have so much gratitude for all of your support over the years! Thank you, from the bottom of my Metal heart!

On a personal note, 2025 started off like a big bowl of horse shit, without getting into details. Let’s just say my family is healthy and that’s what matters most. With that out of the way, this past year did get better with each passing month for me.

Living in Dayton, Ohio, the Summer of 2025 had consistent rain forest weather and we currently have a total of 12.9” of total snowfall since November. Yesterday it hit 67 degrees Fahrenheit and today the high temp is forecasted for 26 degrees F. WTF. Bizarre, I know.

Once again, my severe arthritis never gave me an inch this past year. My knees and legs prevent me from going to Metal festivals and any outdoor festivities where lots of walking is required. Regardless, I still did get to see The Melvins, Exhumed, D.R.I., The Soap Girls and lots of local bands! I’m grateful for what I can do and experience!

My #1 favorite album of 2025, across all genres, is the unbelievably grand Alice Cooper – The Revenge Of Alice Cooper. If you haven’t checked out this album yet, my god almighty please do! This is as complete of a Hard Rock album that I’ve ever listened to!

My favorite Metal album of 2025 is a tie. I honestly cannot choose one over the other. Testament. Dream Theater. Both albums are musically pristine in every way for me; with both of their albums diving into the paranormal subject matter is a ginormous plus!!

I did, of course, continue to buy CDs and vinyl, while listening to Spotify and going down its Metal rabbit hole. I’ve found that streaming and playing physical mediums can co-exist in my Metal world.

My favorite “new” band, (although not entirely new) is Wings Of Steel. Their new album, Winds Of Time, is a masterful performance of Traditional Metal that engulfs my Metal soul with Metal euphoria! Their incredible Metal anthem, We Rise, is easily one of the best Metal songs I’ve experienced in the last 30 years!

Icons Ozzy Osbourne, Brian Wilson and Ace Frehley left us during 2025, along with many other legendary artists including Ray Davies of Supertramp and Brent Hinds of Mastodon. God Bless them all. It’s not fun getting old. Still, the memories that their music and concerts has given us all is priceless.

I tried my hardest to not watch the mainstream network and cable news, during 2025. The news headlines were awful enough. My 2 favorite MLB teams, the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees both made the playoffs and were eventually both eliminated. My Cincinnati Bengals, meanwhile, have forgotten how to make it to the playoffs, 3 years running.

I wish everyone a 2026 filled with the best of health, happiness and hopefully fortune. Ignore the haters and filter the mainstream news. Live like your life depends on it, while helping your neighbors and being kind to our fellow human beings. Spread the love and continue to defend the Metal faith. Metal be thy name. – Stone

POWER PALADIN Unleash First Single & Video “Sword Vigor” From Upcoming Album: Beyond The Reach Of Enchantment

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on December 27, 2025 by Metal Odyssey

Icelandic metal collective POWER PALADIN returns with force, steel and fire as they present their brand-new single “Sword Vigor”, the first taste of their upcoming studio album Beyond The Reach Of Enchantment, due out on March 27, 2026 via ROAR – a division of Reigning Phoenix Music!

“Sword Vigor” delivers classic heavy metal spirit wrapped in epic power metal form, driven by galloping riffs, soaring melodies and a strong sense of heroism. The track continues the band’s fantasy-driven narrative universe and serves as the next chapter in an ongoing saga of trials, destiny and triumph. Fans of GLORYHAMMER, TWILIGHT FORCE, and DRAGONFORCE will feel right at home.

The band comments“‘Sword Vigor’ is a roaring NWOBHM-inspired power metal anthem, the blazing sequel to the saga begun in Kraven the Hunter. When all hope seems lost for our hero, salvation descends from the heavens: a warrior who has mastered the ancient and furious art of Sword Vigor.”

Accompanying the single is an official music video that captures POWER PALADIN’s love for classic heavy metal, combining a tongue-in-cheek attitude with a straightforward, no-frills approach.

Stream / Download “Sword Vigor”: https://powerpaladin.rpm.link/swordvigorPR

Watch the official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1D4wXxFyE-8

And if you’ve ever wondered how power metal bands come up with these epic lyrics, POWER PALADIN have the answer and it involves a healthy dose of humor. To find out what rhymes with fire – and where hobbits come into play check out the following video the band just posted on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSSEYXcjKVU/ 

With their new offering Beyond The Reach Of Enchantment, POWER PALADIN take the next step in their musical journey. The album features eight epic tracks, each unfolding like a chapter in a sweeping saga of power, mystery and adventure. 

Pre-Save / Pre-Order Beyond The Reach Of Enchantment here:
https://powerpaladin.rpm.link/enchantmentPR

Beyond The Reach Of Enchantment Track-list:
1. Sword Vigor
2. Glade Lords Of Athel Loren
3. The Royal Road
4. The Arcane Tower
5. Aegis Of Eternity
6. Camelot Rock City
7. Keeper Of The Crimson Dungeon
8. Valediction

Building on the success of their debut With the Magic of Windfyre Steel, the band delivers a more mature and refined sound while fully retaining the energy and spirit that defined their early days. The album was mixed by Haukur Hannes (AUÐN, DYNFARI) and mastered by Frank de Jong (BLEEDING GODS), resulting in a production that is both powerful and crystal clear.

Once again, POWER PALADIN pay homage to their influences – IRON MAIDEN, DIO and HELLOWEEN – while confidently carving out their own place in the modern power metal landscape. The album artwork, created by James Child (Astral Clock Tower Studios), perfectly captures the adventurous and fantastical essence of the record.

POWER PALADIN:
Atli Guðlaugsson (vocals)
Bjarni Þór Jóhannsson (guitars)
Ingi Þórisson (guitars)
Einar Karl Júlíusson (drums)
Bjarni Egill Ögmundsson (keyboards)
Kristleifur Þorsteinsson (bass)

About POWER PALADIN:
Formed in Iceland, POWER PALADIN emerged from a shared passion for classic heavy metal, soaring melodies and fantasy-driven storytelling. Since their inception, the band has blended the spirit of traditional power metal with the raw edge of NWOBHM influences, forging a sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh.

Their debut album With the Magic of Windfyre Steel quickly established POWER PALADIN as a rising force in the international power metal scene. With Beyond The Reach Of Enchantment, the band further expands their musical and lyrical universe, proving their dedication to epic songwriting, strong hooks and timeless metal values.

More on POWER PALADIN:
Website: https://www.powerpaladin.is/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/powerpaladinice

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/powerpaladinice/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@powerpaladin

Visit ROAR online:
Homepage: https://www.roar-records.de

Source: C Squared Music

Chronicler of Ardul Announces New Single “To Arms!” From the Forthcoming Album: Sounds of Ardul

Posted in Heavy Metal, Music, music news, news, Orchestral Music with tags , , , on December 26, 2025 by Metal Odyssey

CHRONICLER OF ARDUL presents “To Arms!,” a powerful new single that plunges listeners into the intensity of open conflict within the dark fantasy world of Ardul. Arriving ahead of the upcoming album Sounds of Ardul, due out April 10, 2026, the track highlights the project’s most dynamic orchestral writing yet, capturing the decisive moment when tension gives way to full-scale battle.

“To Arms!” surges with commanding brass, urgent strings, and relentless percussion, creating a vivid and cinematic sense of motion. Composer David Williams channels the spirit of classic video game battle themes while shaping a narrative turning point within the album’s broader emotional landscape. The piece expands on motifs that appear earlier in the record, transforming subtle melodic hints into a triumphant and volatile climax.

Stream “To Arms!” Here: https://youtu.be/6Zt_Nyn35Uk

Serving as a counterpart to the more intimate “To Arms! (String Quintet),” the new single presents the full battle in its largest, boldest form. Where the quintet version evokes a duel or contained skirmish, “To Arms!” unleashes the full orchestra to paint a much grander conflict.

With Sounds of Ardul, CHRONICLER OF ARDUL deepens its commitment to immersive world-building, weaving thematic motifs and emotional storytelling into every composition. “To Arms!” stands as one of the album’s defining moments, a track that invites listeners to feel the rush, fear, and determination of a hero forced to act.

Track-listing

  1. “Watch Over Me (feat. EXILED HOPE)” 
  2. “Watch Over Me (Village Version)” 
  3. “You’re Gone (feat. SYYN)” 
  4. “Oh Me Oh My” 
  5. “Woodlands” 
  6. “Woodlands (Alternate Version)” 
  7. “Woodlands (Battle Theme)” 
  8. “In the Mists of the Myrewood (Remastered)” 
  9. “Veiled Truth” 
  10. “Unwelcomed Guests” 
  11. “To Arms! (String Quintet)” 
  12. “Temporary Respite” 
  13. “Moments From Disaster” 
  14. “Underground” 
  15. “Underground (Alternate Version)” 
  16. “To Arms!” 
  17. “Zarek the Bloody” 

About CHRONICLER OF ARDUL:

CHRONICLER OF ARDUL was started as a passion project by David Williams when he wanted to combine his love of metal music and dark fantasy to tell a story that spanned over songs and albums. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, he puts his skills to the test to create the music for a story he had been working on for 9 years.

The debut EP called Myrewood released late 2023, with its written short story partner, Myrewood Part 1, published in May 2024. The following EP, Sword Of Virné arrived in the summer of 2024. 

Musically, CHRONICLER OF ARDUL draws from the likes of SHADOW OF INTENT and MENTAL CRUELTY in the metal world, while also taking inspiration from Japanese composer Nobuo Uematsu. 

Links:
Website: https://chroniclerofardul.com/

Bandcamp: https://chroniclerofardul.bandcamp.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chronicler_of_ardul/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@chronicler_of_ardul

Source: C Squared Music