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 🇪🇸
DARSOMBRAPresents: 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
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
VISUALIZER PREVIEWS FORTHCOMING PUSCIFER COMIC BOOK SERIES: “TALES FROM THE PUSCIVERSE”
“Don’t Lead, Move, or Follow. Let’s Just Dance.”
Jan. 7, 2026 – Kicking off the new year, Puscifer release “ImpetuoUs,” a third and final preview of the band’s highly-anticipated album, Normal Isn’t, arriving Feb. 6th, via Puscifer Entertainment/Alchemy Recordings/BMG.
“I’m looking forward to hearing where this song takes people,” Maynard James Keenansays. “As the writers, we forget that in a way, we are carpenters and that we’ve been with this song since it was a pile of lumber. Our Perspective may differ from the final occupant of this space we’ve constructed. Shelter, Bridge or Gallows, Coffin? Curious to find out.”
The accompanying visualizer offers a first look at the Puscifer comic book series, “Tales From The Pusciverse.” The debut issue spotlights the character Bellendia Black, originally introduced in the “Pendulum” video. Additional details about the series, launching in tandem with Normal Isn’t, will be announced soon.
Puscifer has previously released two tracks from the 11-song album: “Self Evident,” a song that Stereogum called “gnarly” while noting Keenan and Carina Round “operatically growl” on the four-minute outing, and “Pendulum,” a nod to the post-punk underground of the 1980s that Consequences said sounds like the “lovechild of Bauhaus and Sisters of Mercy.”
Written and recorded across Arizona, Los Angeles, and on the road during last year’s Sessanta tour, the album blends the dark electronics and sharp humor Puscifer is known for with a more spontaneous creative process. “From the outset, we had discussed an element of rawness and edge, which guitar brings,” shares Mat Mitchell, who co-produced the album. “We got rid of the guard rails and made the music more aggressive.”
“Normal Isn’t reflects this time we are living in,” Keenan adds. “As storytellers and artists, our job is to observe, interpret, and report. We take in our environment and share what we see, and what we see around us does not appear normal. Not by a long shot.”
Album guests include Greg Edwards (bass), Gunnar Olsen (drums), and Sarah Jones (drums) with guests Tony Levin (bass on “Normal Isn’t” and “Seven One”), Danny Carey (drums on “Seven One”) and Mr. Ian Ross (father of Atticus Ross, who narrates “Seven One”).
Normal Isn’t is available now for pre-order and pre-saves (https://Puscifer.lnk.to/NormalIsnt), including multiple limited-edition vinyl variants: standard black, indie retail orange swirl, a Zia Records tan smoke exclusive, and a Puscifer.com-only black ice and clear with black splatter. The album is also available on CD, cassette, and digitally.
Normal Isn’t cover featuring an Andrea Kowch painting
Puscifer kick off their North American tour on March 20th, with stops at New York’s Terminal 5, The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, and the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre. Tickets and VIP packages are on-sale now via Puscifer.com.
Normal Isn’t North American tour dates:
March 20 Las Vegas, NV The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
March 21 Phoenix, AZ Arizona Financial Theatre
March 24 Austin, TX Bass Concert Hall
March 25 Dallas, TX Music Hall at Fair Park
March 27 Nashville, TN The Pinnacle
March 28 Atlanta, GA Coca-Cola Roxy
March 31 Asheville, NC Thomas Wolfe Auditorium
April 1 Durham, NC DPAC – Durham Performing Arts Center
April 3 Bethlehem, PA Wind Creek Event Center
April 4 Boston, MA Boch Center – Wang Theatre
April 7 New York, NY Terminal 5
April 8 Hershey, PA Hershey Theatre
April 10 Mashantucket, CT Premier Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino
April 11 Atlantic City, NJ Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Resort
April 15 Niagara Falls, ON OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino
April 16 Akron, OH Akron Civic Theatre
April 18 Detroit, MI Fox Theatre
April 19 Cincinnati, OH Taft Theatre
April 21 Louisville, KY The Louisville Palace
April 23 Indianapolis, IN Murat Theatre
April 25 Chicago, IL The Chicago Theatre
April 26 Milwaukee, WI Landmark Credit Union Live
April 28 Madison, WI The Sylvee
April 30 St. Louis, MO The Factory
May 1 Kansas City, MO The Midland Theatre
May 3 Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre
May 5 Salt Lake City, UT Maverik Center
May 8 Portland, OR Theater of the Clouds
May 9 Seattle, WA WAMU Theater
May 11 San Francisco, CA Golden Gate Theatre
May 13 San Diego, CA San Diego Civic Theatre
May 14 Los Angeles, CA The Greek Theatre
Photo credit: Travis Shinn
Puscifer is a band of three creative confidants, namely Mat Mitchell, Carina Round, and Maynard James Keenan, who fuse music, performance, and visual art into a singular experience. Over the years, Puscifer has carved an indelible mark on the cultural landscape, releasing a series of acclaimed albums, selling out famed venues, appearing on the lineups of Coachella, Bonnaroo, and other major festivals, and even curating their own touring festival, Sessanta.
They’ve provided what was essentially the soundtrack to the first season of “Yellowstone,” and their albums regularly land on the top 30 of the Billboard Top 200. They’ve made memorable appearances on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and the “The Late Show,” bringing their signature blend of precision, wit, and theatricality to late night television.
Puscifer has also welcomed a revolving door of collaborators, from musicians like Greg Edwards, Gunnar Olsen, and Sarah Jones to remixers including Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, Phantogram, and Sir Mix-A-Lot, as well as actors Bob Odenkirk and Milla Jovovich. It’s also a universe for the (mis) adventures of original characters: Billy D, (his wife) Hildy Berger, Major Douche, and Special Agent Dick Merkin. More than a band, Puscifer is a creative ecosystem; a boundary-pushing collective where sound, story, and spectacle collide.
Best known for their destructive death metal, KATAKLYSM‘s Maurizio Iacono joins Chef Brian Tsao at Mission Sandwich Social in Brooklyn, NY, to craft the most menacing heavy metal sandwich. Drawing inspiration from Maurizio’s Italian heritage and from Salt Bae, the result is a fiery offering, best enjoyed with a beer and KATAKLYSM‘s brutal sound.
Chef Brian Tsao is best known for winning “Beat Bobby Flay” and leading the kitchen of Mission Sandwich Social, alongside his YouTube channel. Tsao has also appeared on numerous other programs including Good Day New York, CBS This Morning, Food Network’s “Chopped” & hosted Metal Injection’s “Taste of Metal”. Away from the kitchen, Tsao is the lead guitarist and bandleader of the metalcore act LOSS BECOMES.
The juggernaut from Montreal will soon be unleashing their devasting death metal on audiences across Europe, joined by VADER and BLOOD RED THRONE for the Freedom Or Death Tour 2026. The onslaught begins on February 18th, in Paris, France. Get your tickets HERE.
KATAKLYSM:
Maurizio Iacono – Vocals
Jean-François Dagenais – Guitars
James Payne – Drums
Stéphane Barbe – Bass
KATAKLYSM – FREEDOM OR DEATH TOUR 2026 w/ VADER and BLOOD RED THRONE:
🗓️ 18.02.2026 (FR) PARIS – La Machine du Moulin Rouge 🗓️ 20.02.2026 (GB) WOLVERHAMPTON – KK’s Steel Mill 🗓️ 21.02.2026 (GB) GLASGOW – Slay 🗓️ 22.02.2026 (GB) MANCHESTER – Academy 2 🗓️ 23.02.2026 (GB) LONDON – O2 Academy Islington 🗓️ 25.02.2026 (FR) RENNES – L’Etage 🗓️ 26.02.2026 (FR) TOULOUSE – Le Bikini 🗓️ 27.02.2026 (ES) MADRID – Sala Mon 🗓️ 28.02.2026 (ES) PAMPLONA – Sala Totem 🗓️ 01.03.2026 (ES) BARCELONA – Razzmatazz 2 🗓️ 03.03.2026 (CH) GENEVE – L’Usine 🗓️ 04.03.2026 (IT) MILAN – Legend Club 🗓️ 05.03.2026 (SI) LJUBLJANA – Kino Siska 🗓️ 06.03.2026 (CZ) BRNO – Fleda 🗓️ 07.03.2026 (SK) KOSICE – Colloseum 🗓️ 08.03.2026 (HU) BUDAPEST – Barba Negra Blue Stage 🗓️ 10.03.2026 (AT) VIENNA – SimmCity 🗓️ 11.03.2026 (DE) MUNICH – Backstage Werk 🗓️ 12.03.2026 (DE) HEIDELBERG – Halle 02 🗓️ 13.03.2026 (DE) MEMMINGEN – Kaminwerk 🗓️ 14.03.2026 (CH) PRATTELN – Z7 🗓️ 15.03.2026 (DE) TRIER – Forum 🗓️ 17.03.2026 (BE) ANTWERP – Trix 🗓️ 18.03.2026 (DE) HAMBURG – Markthalle 🗓️ 19.03.2026 (DK) COPENHAGEN – Pumpehuset 🗓️ 20.03.2026 (DE) BERLIN – Festsaal Kreuzberg 🗓️ 21.03.2026 (DE) LEIPZIG – Hellraiser 🗓️ 22.03.2026 (DE) BOCHUM – Zeche 🗓️ 24.03.2026 (DE) FRANKFURT – Batschkapp 🗓️ 25.03.2026 (DE) BRAUNSCHWEIG – Westand 🗓️ 26.03.2026 (NL) LEIDEN – Gebr. De Nobel 🗓️ 27.03.2026 (DE) BAMBERG – Brose Arena
OVERTOUN have unveiled “Yūrei”, the second single taken from their upcoming third full-length album Death Drive Anthropology, due out on February 13th, 2026 via Time To Kill Records.
Musically, “Yūrei” sharpens the band’s death–thrash core with an unsettling melodic tension, where tightly wound riffs, dynamic rhythmic shifts, and subtle Latin and folk-inflected nuances converge into a focused and oppressive atmosphere.
“Inspired by Japanese folklore, the title refers to the yūrei , spirits trapped between worlds, a reflection of humanity’s eternal struggle with the shadow of death. This song also embodies our deepening bond with Japan, a connection that grew even stronger during our 2025 tour. This is another step into the ritual”.
On Death Drive AnthropologyOVERTOUN expand their fierce Chilean/American identity, channelling the death drive (Thanatos) into a relentless exploration of human rituals, mortality, and cultural collapse – a true Book of Death forged in sound.
Rooted in the primal force of ’90s death–thrash yet sharpened by a modern, incisive edge, the album fuses Latin rhythms, folk-tinged guitars, and razor-tight riffs, featuring standout guest performances by Max Phelps (CYNIC, DEATH TO ALL), Enrico H. Di Lorenzo (HIDEOUS DIVINITY) and Shantanu Vyas (HAZING OVER).
Track-list:
01. What Unites All (feat. Max Phelps) 02. The Final Beat 03. Memento Mori (feat. Enrico H. Di Lorenzo) 04. Dur Khrod 05. Jade, Gold, Obsidian 06. Yūrei 07. Weeping 08. Wind And Water (feat. Shantanu Vyas) 09. The Waves Suite: Siren 10. The Waves Suite: Ocean 11. The Waves Suite: Caleuche 12. Death Drive Anthropology
Produced by acclaimed Argentinian mastermind Martín Furia (DESTRUCTION, BARK), Death Drive Anthropology further cements OVERTOUN as one of the most compelling and forward-thinking forces emerging from the Latin American metal landscape.
OVERTOUN is a death-thrash metal band based between Santiago, Chile, and Boston, MA, fusing the rich musical heritage of Latin America with the complexity and aggression of technical death metal. Founded by Agustín Lobo and Matías Bahamondes, the band solidified its lineup with Yoav Ruiz-Feingold (Atheist, Graviton) on vocals and Matías Salas on bass.
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.
Baltimore (MD) – One-man Melodic Doom Metal outfit, Orchid Throne, ring in the new year with the official video for “Ephemerality,” the third single from forthcoming debut full-length, Buried in Black.
“Ephemerality” is also available on the usual streaming platforms, including Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music.
Orchid Throne is set to release Buried in Black on January 9, 2026! The project consists solely of Nicholas Bonsanto (Lör,Empress, Helianthus, Barren) who wrote and performs the music, as well as producing, mixing and mastering the album.
After nearly 17 years of playing supporting roles in various bands, Nicholas Bonsanto (Lör, Empress, Helianthus, Barren) is proud to make his debut as a solo artist as the man behind Orchid Throne.
While not a concept album, Buried in Black weaves themes of anxiety, depression, fear of death, and the search for life’s meaning throughout its lyrics. The title describes both the music itself and the feelings that Bonsanto has kept buried within for years. It may sound bleak, but what is buried in black will be set free and brought to light on January 9th.
“This album is a long time coming for me,” said Bonsanto. “For more than a decade, I collected little recordings of ideas in the hope that one day they’d be useful. I could not be more proud of myself for how the album came out and for all of the things I have learned along the way.”
We’ll be rippin’ a few headlining shows during our spring tour, and we’re bringing Eva Under Fire & Blackwater Drowning with us.
Some of our after-parties have SOLD OUT as there are only 5 spaces available/show! Snag em’ while they’re available, AND with early bird pricing til Jan 8th.
Tickets and VIP packages for The Sleepless Empire Tour are on sale now! Grab them @ https://lacunacoil.com/
With: Escape The Fate, Vowws & AXTY
Where are we seeing you? 3.24 New York, NY – Gramercy Theater 3.25 Worcester, MA – Palladium 3.27 Cleveland, OH – Globe Iron 3.28 Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall 3.29 Chicago, IL – Concord Music Hall 3.31 Denver, CO – Summit Music Hall 4.2 Salt Lake City, UT – The Grand at The Complex 4.3 Boise, ID – Treefort Music Hall 4.4 Seattle, WA – The Crocodile 4.5 Portland, OR – McMenamins Crystal Ballroom 4.7 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore 4.8 Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades 4.10 Los Angeles, CA – The Bellwether 4.11 San Diego, CA – House of Blues 4.12 Phoenix, AZ – The Van Buren 4.13 Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater 4.15 Dallas, TX – The Echo Lounge & Music Hall 4.16 San Antonio, TX – Aztec Theater 4.17 Houston, TX – House Of Blues 4.19 New Orleans, LA – House Of Blues 4.21 Orlando, FL – House of Blues 4.22 Fort Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room 4.24 Charleston, SC – Music Farm 4.25 Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade 4.26 Charlotte, NC – The Underground 4.28 Richmond, VA – The Broadberry 4.30 Harrisburg, PA – XL Live 5.1 Albany, NY – Empire Live
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
It took nearly 10 years since THE HOLEUM’s last album Sublime Emptiness and now the Spanish progressive post-doom band is back with their third album Ensis, which is set to be released on March 20th, 2026.
And to end the year right with some cosmic tunes, THE HOLEUM is known for, we present the first single The Fermi Paradox of the forthcoming new effort.
Baptized with a name derived from astrophysical theories about dark matter and black holes, THE HOLEUM was formed in 2014 in Alicante, Spain. Founded by former members of NahemaH, Demised, quantumXperience, Hela, Neptunian Sun, and Priest of Dawn, the quintet set out to push the boundaries of heavy music and to intensify the emotional impact of darkness in sound. Their concept is both cosmic and sonic: “THE HOLEUM is related to the dark matter that forms the black holes in the universe. THE HOLEUM is not a black hole, but black holes are formed by The Holeum. That is the idea from which we extract our concept – we are a sonic and cosmic vision of the sublime.”
With their third album Ensis (2025), the band continues its journey through experimental metal, death doom, melodic metal, and post-metal. This work is more than a continuation; it is a condensation and expansion of their previous soundscape. Ensis reveals itself as finely nuanced, challenging, yet at the same time profoundly sensitive and multifaceted. The songs unfold like cosmic landscapes where heaviness and melancholy meet subtle emotionality.
The intensity remains palpable, but it is complemented by a deeper sensitivity that draws the listener into a fragile balance between harshness and delicacy. Ensis is an album that demands and touches at once, a work that makes the complexity of human existence audible in the mirror of the universe.
Hungarian speed maniacs TÜRBÖWITCH have officially signed with Time To Kill Records for the release of their third full-length album, scheduled to see the light in the first half of 2026. The agreement marks a new and decisive step forward for the Budapest-based band, whose uncompromising attitude and relentless live energy have steadily earned them a strong reputation within the European underground.
The upcoming record promises to be a concentrated blast of massive riffs and instinctive urgency, pushing TÜRBÖWITCH’s sound to its most focused and ferocious form to date. Rooted in blackened speed-thrash, the album blends the raw savagery and punk-fueled aggression of acts like Midnight, the sharp thrash precision of The Crown, and the dark, melodic drive of Hellripper, while maintaining a clearly identifiable personality. Melodic accents punctuate the chaos, adding depth and character without dulling the band’s visceral impact.
Faithful to their no-compromise ethos, TÜRBÖWITCH channel the spirit of ’80s extreme metal through a modern sense of immediacy, delivering songs that are fast, filthy, and built for maximum impact. With Time To Kill Records now backing the release, the band are poised to bring their unholy speed assault to a broader audience, while remaining firmly rooted in the reckless intensity that has defined them since day one.
Biography:
TÜRBÖWITCH was born in 2016 in Budapest, founded by vocalist Zslöd and guitarist Kommandante Klit as a raw, no-frills tribute to the sonic fury and visual madness of ’80s extreme metal. What started as a fun side project between longtime friends quickly evolved into a far more focused and dedicated band, without ever losing its unfiltered energy and love for chaos.
Over time, TÜRBÖWITCH grew into a full-fledged live five-piece. Their discography began with a demo in 2016, followed by the debut full-length “Napalm to Posers” (2017), the EP “Beyond the Last Call” (2018), and their second album “Fullmoon Liquorthropy”, released in late 2022.
Their momentum reached a new peak in June 2024, when they won the Wacken Metal Battle Hungary finals, earning a coveted slot at the legendary Wacken Open Air in August 2024, where they unleashed their sonic assault on the world’s biggest metal festival stage.
In March 2025, TÜRBÖWITCH hit the road with Swedish heavy metal titans Enforcer, taking their explosive live energy to even wider European audiences.
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
Australian-Finnish dark progressive gothic metal collective THE ETERNAL have announced their upcoming EP Celestial, set for release on January 16, 2026 via Reigning Phoenix Music, and have dropped the first video single, “It All Ends“.
Pre-save / pre-order the EP, available on all major digital platforms and as an extremely limited-edition eco-friendly recycled vinyl:https://theeternal.rpm.link/celestialPR
“It All Ends” marks the first preview of Celestial and sets the tone with a powerful mix of haunting atmosphere, melancholic weight, and progressive finesse. The track unfolds slowly and deliberately, pulling the listener into its storm of brooding riffs, somber melodies, and an emotional vocal performance that feels both intimate and colossal. The song’s dynamics build toward a towering, epic finale that showcases the band’s cinematic approach to heavy music.
Lyrically, “It All Ends” cuts deep. Vocalist and guitarist Mark Kelson, who also designed & edited the video, explains:
“The lyrics of “It All Ends” convey a stark meditation on betrayal, disillusionment, and the collapse of trust. Through the recurring imagery of “empty words” and “broken shards,” the song captures the futility of promises that have lost their meaning and the devastation left in their wake.”
“The repetition of the phrase “it all ends” underscores the inevitability and finality of this unraveling, while the storm imagery reflects the emotional turbulence beneath the surface. At its core, the song portrays the painful recognition that fractured communication and faithlessness lead to irreversible endings, leaving behind a lingering sense of loss that feels both suffocating and inescapable.”
“Celestial” Track Listing:
Absence Of Light
Celestial Veil
It All Ends
Bleeding Into Light
Casting Down Shadows
Everlasting MMXXVI
With Mark Kelson (vocals/guitars) and Richie Poate (guitars) in Melbourne, joined by Jan Rechberger (drums, Amorphis) and Niclas Etelävuori (bass, ex‑Amorphis/Flat Earth) in Helsinki, THE ETERNAL are proving themselves a genuinely international collaboration and with the forthcoming EP, fans and first-time listeners alike get a first taste of the band’s signature intensity and powerful new material.
Colombian blackened melodic death metal force ESHTADUR has released their latest single, “Fire Above Mountain Below“, off of their latest album, Symphonic Crows – Live at the Santiago Londoño’s Theater.
Grandiose symphonic elements provide a powerful backdrop for ominous riffs and snarling vocals. In signature ESHTADUR fashion, “Fire Above Mountain Below” balances crushing heaviness with a catchy, cinematic earworm of a chorus.
Vocalist and guitarist Jorg August comments: “The shapes that can be explored with a symphonic orchestra reminds me of why I enjoy music so much: the character and the intensity of 40 people giving the music their all. That’s very ritualistic and powerful. This new live album is something I wanted to do for so long.”
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.
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.
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.
NECRONOMICON EX MORTIS erupt with ferocious precision on their latest single, “Hungry For Brains,” taken from the forthcoming EP Zombie Blood Nightmare, arriving February 20, 2026.
A thrashy, smashy, in-your-face assault, “Hungry For Brains” showcases the band at their most unapologetically feral. Built entirely upon the half/whole diminished scale, the track spirals through symmetrical chaos and delivers a sound as unhinged and ravenous as its subject matter.
Fans of technical metal will find plenty to chew on, especially when the track erupts into a blistering guitar solo performed by James Norton, former college roommate of guitarist Mike. His shredding adds an extra layer of necrotic flair.
Lyrically, the song dives headfirst into zombie carnage and grotesque undead imagery, continuing the band’s love for cinematic horror and high-energy gore. “Hungry For Brains” embraces the spirit of classic zombie mayhem and sets the tone for the terror-laced chaos awaiting listeners on Zombie Blood Nightmare.
Zombie Blood Nightmare – Track Listing:
Left To Die (4:39)
No More Room In Hell (5:19)
Chopped Up and Burned (7:00)
Lumbering, Blood Sucking Freaks (3:42)
Hungry For Brains (4:41)
Démoni (3:15)
Produced, recorded, and mixed by Charlie Waymire at Ultimate Studios and mastered by Ernesto Homeyer, Zombie Blood Nightmare features six tracks of shred-heavy, horror-drenched chaos. Zombie Blood Nightmare arrives February 20, 2026.
HELSOTT – American pagan metal band – announce their support slot to Russia’s ARKONA for a string of US shows in February on their North America Paganist Tour.
“We are excited to announce a return to the road with our friends Arkona as part of their Paganist USA conquest, says singer Eric Dow. “We are really looking forward to delivering our brand of Pagan Metal to some cities that we haven’t played since Covid put the breaks on our U.S. touring momentum. Get ready for a mix of old songs and some recent bangers from our latest release, ‘Will and the Witch’. Come out and party with us!”
While HELSOTT have made a few trips to Europe and Mexico playing festivals and cruises overseas, it’s been some time since HELSOTT played the states and the band is proud to introduce their new line-up to American audiences. Joining the core of singer Eric Dow and guitarist Peter Truax, HELSOTT is now joined by guitarist Zachary Simsay (Mythraeum, Fadrait), bassist Alonzo Larios (Mythraeum), and drummer Alex Simsay (Fadrait).
HELSOTT’s latest, 2022’s ‘Will and the Witch,’ is a concept album exploring a fictional story about how Billy The Kid became the fastest gunfighter in the wild west. The group released a few emphasis tracks and videos from the album including “I’ll Make Ya Famous”, “Independence Night,” featuring guest vocals from Tim “Ripper” Owens (formerly of Judas Priest, Iced Earth and Yngwie Malmsteen), “Babylon: Scarlett’s Saloon”and the title track, “Will and the Witch”.
HELSOTT returned to their musical roots on “Will and The Witch” with heavier thrash overtones and less orchestral work than their prior record, while catching listeners off-guard with new influences befitting of the album’s theme. Thrash metal, power metal, and death metal converged with acoustic campfire segments, Southern banjo and fiddle, and Native American-inspired hand drums and flutes. The end result was a record that is musically ambitious while remaining melodic, heavy, and true to the band’s underlying sound.
Mixed and mastered by J-F Dagenais (Kataklysm, Misery Index, Ex Deo) and featuring artwork by Felipe Machado Franco (Blind Guardian, Rhapsody, Gamma Ray), along with additional guests including wood wind player Vladimir Reshetnikov (Arkona, Imperial Age), guitarist/bassist Freddie Vidales (Ashes of Ares, Iced Earth), violinist Lethien (Elvenking), guitarist Kevin Storm (Heidevolk, Autumn, Fleetburner), bassist Bjorn Friedrichsen (Withered Moon, Sanguineus) and Whistlin’ Rick Storey.
Available on CD, a limited-edition gold double vinyl, and digital editions.
Order it or the band’s catalog now on: M-Theory Audio webstore or Bandcamp
Upcoming HELSOTT Live Performances:
2/4 Come and Take It Live – Austin, TX
2/6 Last Exit Live – Phoenix, AZ
2/7 Constellation Room – Santa Ana, CA
2/8 Whisky – W. Hollywood, CA
2/9 DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA
2/11 Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT
2/12 The Federal – Denver, CO
2/15 – Reggie’s – Chicago w/ Ad Infinitum and Seven Spires
Marking fifteen years of the project’s existence, Wyatt Sharp returns with ‘Where Our Silence Comes To Die,’the first and final full length album under the Sidian moniker; a swan song to a body of work defined by intensity, introspection, and emotional dissection.
This release signals the beginning of the project’s final chapter, a farewell that refuses to be sentimental.
Sidian‘s debut album, ‘Where Our Silence Comes To Die,‘ sees its official release today, December 26, 2025 via Rebel Pyro Musick! The album will be available on all streaming platforms, and fans can grab a digital download or exclusive limited edition Digipak CD here: https://sidianmusic.bandcamp.com/album/where-our-silence-comes-to-die
Earlier this week, Sidian partnered with Decibel Magazine for the video visualizer premiere of the 2nd single, “Pendular | Amidst The Hysterics Of Gloom.” Check it out over at Decibel Magazine!!
The album’s first single premiere, “Elegiac, Absent Catharsis,” is currently featured on the ‘Pulse Of The Maggots (Knotfest)‘ Official Playlist, which you can check out at this location.
With their 2019 debut EP, ‘Carry My Bones,’ Sidian‘s soundscapes were immediately compared to early-era Between the Buried and Me, shades of early Rivers of Nihil, mid-to-late-era Job For A Cowboy, as well as light traces of Ulcerate. Strong comparisons for sure and well deserved, though you will find as you make your way through ‘Where Our Silence Comes To Die,’ that Sidian has definitely come into their own with establishing a unique brand of sonically scathing despondent devastation.
‘Where Our Silence Comes To Die’ Track-list: 1. Parasitic Icarus 2. Elegiac, Absent Catharsis 3. Where Our Silence Comes To Die 4. Stasis 5. Albatross 6. Manic. Crash. Flood. 7. Pendular | Amidst The Hysterics Of Gloom 8. Flickering Under A Delicate Thread 9. Finally, Home 10. Where The Sun Is Silent – Reforged
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!
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