Beyond the Top Records has welcomed extreme progressive metal group DREAMER to its roster.
The band, featuring members of BLIGHTED EYE and THE ZENITH PASSAGE, will release its debut album, Autogenesis, later this year. Following the band’s 2021 instrumental demo, Autogenesis sees DREAMER‘s vision come to life with 9 epic tracks of melodic and boundary-pushing metallic wizardry.
Fans were given a preview of what’s to come with the 2025 single, “Hollow,” which is slated to appear on the album. Stream the song now on Spotify.
Beyond the Top is set to release Autogenesis this fall on digital, CD and two vinyl variant editions. Release date and pre-order information coming soon.
Eleven chapters. One descent. A concept album where every song becomes another step into an infernal world.
New York-based heavy/thrash metal project Quemasantos has unveiled the complete details surrounding its forthcoming second full-length album, Stranded In Hell, an ambitious concept record scheduled for release on October 9, 2026, through Digmetalworld & MVD Entertainment Group.
Conceived as an eleven-chapter journey, Stranded In Hell follows a protagonist descending through an infernal realm where fear, temptation, justice, isolation, and survival become interconnected parts of the same story.
Rather than presenting a collection of unrelated songs, the album unfolds as a continuous narrative in which every chapter reveals another layer of an unforgiving world. Musically, Stranded In Hell remains rooted in classic heavy and thrash metal, while embracing cinematic atmospheres and dynamic arrangements that give each composition its own identity.
Ignacio Orellana
For Ignacio Orellana, the album also represents an important personal milestone. Known primarily as a drummer throughout his musical career, Stranded In Hell marks the first time he steps forward as the band’s bassist while also composing, producing, recording, mixing, and mastering the entire album.
“I’ve been a drummer since I was fourteen, but I’ve always wanted to play bass and develop my own musical ideas. This album became the opportunity to finally do that. The music wasn’t written to fit a genre or follow trends; it simply reflects the records I’ve listened to throughout my life and everything I was experiencing while writing it.”
Nelson Diaz
Lyrically, the album was developed by longtime collaborator Nelson Díaz, whose storytelling transforms each composition into another chapter of the album’s descent through Hell. The only exception is “Burning The Black,” written by Orellana as a deeply personal reflection inspired by the illness and passing of his wife, Ximena Muñoz.
Adding another layer to the project, each song features a guest guitarist from across the international metal community, bringing together musicians from Chile, the United States, Brazil, and Colombia.
Track Listing:
One Foot In Hell (Juancho Gómez – Masacre, Colombia)
Burning The Black (Felipe Roa – Acaro, USA)
Succubus (Héctor Guzmán – Distraught, Chile)
Stalking Sharks (Marco Cusato, Chile)
Nameless (Joe Sims – Axemaster, USA)
Red Planet (Regisson Silva – Masterpiece, Brazil)
Vampire (Richard Pilnik, Chile)
The Oneironaut (Cristian Ira – Nimrod, Chile)
Under The Moonlight (Sebastián Osorio – Reigning, Chile)
The album was recorded at Oily Sound Studios (New York, USA), with vocal sessions taking place at Estudios Ultrasónico and Estudios Attic in Chile.
For collectors, Stranded In Hell will be available as limited deluxe digipak CDs, with vinyl editions also available through Digmetalworld.
Release Schedule:
September 1, 2026 – Digital pre-orders begin.
September 1, 2026 – Instant Grat track: “One Foot In Hell.”
September 15, 2026 – Exclusive Bandcamp Listening Party with Ignacio Orellana and Nelson Díaz, where fans will hear the complete album before its official release while interacting live with the creators.
THE FIRST SINGLE TO BE TAKEN FROM THE NEW ALBUM GOH-KA – SET FOR RELEASE ON PEACEVILLE ON SEPTEMBER 4th
Japanese metal pioneers Sigh are back with ‘Unputenpu’, the first single to be taken from their upcoming new studio album ‘Goh-ka’, alongside a stunning new music video created by Costin Chioreanu.
Speaking about the new track, frontman and Sigh mastermind Mirai Kawashima said:
“Honestly, I have no idea at all how the song sounds to other people. Shuffle is the world-widely used rhythm and Japan is no exception. I’ve been using this rhythm in the songs like “Shikigami”, “Ecstatic Transformation”, and “Midnight Sun” but I guess I have completed my own Japanese style on “Unputenpu”. The guitar lead by Mikael Åkerfeldt from Opeth definitely gives another boost to the song.”
“Unputenpu expresses the idea that whether a person is blessed with good fortune or struck by misfortune is determined by God’s will, the will of heaven, fate or something totally beyond our control and we cannot do anything to change it. Anyone could die today or lose somebody you love. Life can be cruel any time. The song is based on my personal experience but I don’t want to talk about the details…”
Goh-Ka is a new highlight of atmosphere, technical mastery, and meticulously arranged epics of metallic grandeur. Main-man Mirai Kawashima notes this as being as equally personal an album as ‘Shiki’, both musically and lyrically.
From a musical perspective, if you were to place the main ingredients of Celtic Frost, Voivod, Black Sabbath, horror movies and Japan into a cauldron and stir it, you will get ‘Goh-ka’. Numerous additional spices such as psychedelic rock, prog rock and classical music are also evident over the album’s close to one-hour duration.
The album title ‘Goh-ka’ has a triple meaning, being: 業火 infernal fire scorching sinners, 劫火 a huge fire that burns down the world at the end of time, and 業果 karma. The primary theme permeating the album is Kuso-zu; a series of Buddhist paintings or illustrations depicting the nine stages of a human body’s decomposition after death, created to encourage meditation on the impermanence of life, the inevitability of death, and the detachment from physical beauty and worldly attachment.
It openly shows the harsh reality that no matter how beautiful you are, you’ll be dead and rot sooner or later. And Kuso-shi is a poem based on these paintings. The artworks on the cover and in the booklet of ‘Goh-ka’ are therefore Kuso-zu themselves.
PRE-ORDERS OF THE ALBUM FROM THE PEACEVILLE STORE AND BAND STORE WILL COME WITH THE FREE ‘LEGACY OF HORRORS’ 10-TRACK SIGH SAMPLER.
Joining Mirai Kawashima and Dr Mikannibal along with guitarist Nozomu Wakai, are Frédéric Leclercq (Kreator) on bass, plus renowned US drummer Mike Heller.‘Goh-ka’ was recorded across multiple studios, and once again mixed and mastered by Lasse Lammert at LSD studios in Germany.
SIGH TOUR DATES:
EUROPE 09/03 PL Aleksandrow Lodzki Summer Dying Loud 09/04 PL Cracow Zaścianek 09/05 CZ Ostrava Metal III 09/07 DE Munich Hansa 39 @ Feierwerk 09/08 DE Leipzig Moritzbastei 09/09 DE Berlin Badehaus 09/10 DK Copenhagen Beta @ Amager Bio 09/11 DE Hamburg Betty 09/12 DE Oberhausen Death & Damnation Fest 09/13 NL Leeuwarden Neushoorn 09/14 NL Utrecht DB’s 09/15 FR Paris Backstage By The Mill
Japanese metal pioneers Sigh formed in 1989/1990. Their genre-classic Black Metal debut Scorn Defeat arrived in 1993, and with a subsequent journey through the strange and the psychedelic, incorporating a whole eclectic mix of genre styles & ideas throughout their career, Sigh has remained a vital creative force in the avantgarde field whilst maintaining their old school roots, as witnessed on the 2022 album (and first for Peaceville Records), Shiki. This was followed by the remaking of their Hangman’s Hymn album as part of the band’s 35th anniversary celebrations, in the shape of I Saw the World’s End: Hangman’s Hymn MMXXV (2025).
“Allocated Savagery” is the latest single from veteran German thrash legion, EXUMER. The track comes by way of the band’s latest studio album, Death Mask Messiah, set for release on August 28th through Metal Blade Records.
Death Mask Messiah is inspired conceptually by US politics of the last decade, the pandemic, the use of misinformation to stir up cultural divides, etc. Vocalist Mem V. Stein also explores the 30-year anniversary of Waco, Texas and the standoff with the Branch Davidians.
“‘Allocated Savagery’ delivers a brutal musical and lyrical account of the event,” comments Mem. “The track captures the intensity of the confrontation with the ATF, while reflecting on themes of misinformation and division that still resonate today.”
Watch EXUMER’s previously released video for “Death Mask Messiah”HERE.
Death Mask Messiah serves as EXUMER’s first new studio output in seven years and further cements the band’s legacy as a dauntless thrash metal institution. A logical and compelling progression from their three previous albums, the 11 ferocious songs, produced by Dominic Paraskevopoulos (Kreator, Caliban) and mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Soulfly, King Diamond), take a more brutal and direct musical approach.
Recorded from December 2025 through January 2026, Death Mask Messiah is also the first EXUMER LP recorded with the rhythm section of drummer Jerome Reil and bass player Alex Voss. “You can feel their young energy, coupled with our trademark aggression and experience,” says Mem. “The band sounds more focused and yet raw, thanks to their addition to the lineup.”
The sequencing of Death Mask Messiah mirrors the intended lyrical and conceptual narrative to the music guitarists Ray Mensh and Marc B. composed for the album. The result is an auditory and emotional rollercoaster ride worth repeating.
“I think we are heading toward a thrash renaissance, with legacy bands like us, Exodus and Kreator dropping new albums, and younger bands becoming very popular with younger fans,” Mem observes. While it’s been a few years since EXUMER’s last album, Death Mask Messiah is doubtless worth the wait, the band believes that, “it’s always quality over quantity for EXUMER, and we hope and believe people appreciate that approach.”
As a bonus, Death Mask Messiah includes a guest and a cover song: Nasty Ronnie Galletti from American metal legends Nasty Savage sings on EXUMER’s version of his band’s track “Unchained Angel.” EXUMER supported the band in 1988 on their first European tour.
Death Mask Messiah features front art and layout by Björn Gooßes of Killustrations (Sodom, Vomitory) and will be released on CD-Digipak and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
180g Black “Galaxy” Red/Black “Saturn” Grey/Brown Ripple (Ltd. 250) “Onyx” Black Ice w/ White Splatter (Ltd. 250)
11. Unchained Angel (Nasty Savage cover feat. Nasty Ronnie)
EXUMER Live: 10/23/2026 Nuclear Winter Festival 2026 – Hirschaid, DE 11/21/2026 Alcatraz & Pluto Festival – Deinze, BE 2/20/2027 Endzeit Festival 2027 – Essen, DE 7/26/2027 Nackenbrecher Open Air – Teuchern, DE
EXUMER: Mem V. Stein – vocals Ray Mensh – guitars Marc B. – guitars Alex Voss – bass Jerome Reil – drums
Finnish death metal/grind duo GOATBURNER will release Time of Danger on October 9th, 2026, via Time To Kill Records.
Originally released across two separate EPs, Time of Danger brings together the band’s earliest and most essential material in a single release for the first time. The six-track collection unites the 2022 Danger EP and the 2018 Time to Burn EP, tracing the origins and evolution of GOATBURNER‘s unmistakable blend of old-school death metal, sludge and powerviolence.
The first single, “Brutal Awakening”, is available now:
Formed in 2017 by Jaakko “Spider” Forsman and Keijo “Kaos” Niinimaa (ROTTEN SOUND), GOATBURNER was created to channel a raw and uncompromising vision of extreme music built on crushing riffs, primitive grooves and relentless aggression. Working as a two-piece, the band has developed a massive wall of sound that defies expectations both in the studio and on stage.
Time of Danger documents the first chapter of the band’s journey. The A-side features the tracks originally released as the Danger EP in 2022, while the B-side revisits the band’s self-released 2018 debut Time to Burn. Newly mastered in 2026 by Keijo Niinimaa, the release presents these recordings as a cohesive work while preserving their raw intensity and underground spirit.
The cover artwork, painted by drummer Jaakko “Spider” Forsman, reflects the atmosphere of uncertainty, danger and death that defines both the release and the world surrounding it.
With members also known for their work in ROTTEN SOUND, RATFACE, MORBID EVILS, SKULMAGOT and PIKAKASSA, GOATBURNER have spent years relentlessly touring the European underground. Following a summer run with Delinquentes, the band will embark on the legendary Campaign For Musical Destruction Tour 2026, joining grindcore pioneers Napalm Death, death metal legends Master and rising force Brat for an extensive European run throughout November and December.
The tour will bring GOATBURNER‘s devastating two-piece wall of sound to more than twenty cities across the continent, including stops in Germany, Scandinavia, the Baltics, Eastern Europe, Italy, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Campaign For Musical Destruction Tour 2026:
Napalm Death Master BRAT Goatburner
06.11 – Nürnberg, Germany – Löwensaal 07.11 – Flensburg, Germany – Roxy 08.11 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Pumpehuset 09.11 – Stockholm, Sweden – Kollektivet Livet 11.11 – Oslo, Norway – Vulkan 13.11 – Helsinki, Finland – Korjaamo 14.11 – Jyväskylä, Finland – Lutakko 15.11 – Tampere, Finland – Olympia 17.11 – Tallinn, Estonia – Paavli Kultuurivabrik 18.11 – Riga, Latvia – Spēlēt Concert Hall 19.11 – Vilnius, Lithuania – Loftas 20.11 – Kraków, Poland – Hype Park 21.11 – Jaroměř, Czech Republic – Nároďák Hudební Klub 24.11 – Bucharest, Romania 26.11 – Thessaloniki, Greece – WE 27.11 – Athens, Greece – Gagarin 205 28.11 – Sofia, Bulgaria – Studio Orfei 29.11 – Sofia, Bulgaria – Orfey Myuzik 01.12 – Ljubljana, Slovenia – Cvetličarna 02.12 – Bologna, Italy – Locomotiv Club 03.12 – Aarau, Switzerland – KIFF 04.12 – Lindau, Germany – Club Vaudeville 06.12 – Utrecht, Netherlands – TivoliVredenburg
In a display of utter devastation and dark grandeur, post-deathcore act BURIAL PATH have unleashed their foreboding new offering, “Lilitu” featuring guest vocals by Abigail Bexx. “Lilitu” is accompanied with a powerful performance video. The track follows the band’s previous harrowing single release “A Display of Penance”.
Abigail Bexx shares, “There’s a quiet pressure that comes with being a woman in extreme music. Before you open your mouth, people have already decided what you’ll sound like, what you’ll be capable of, or whether you belong at all. ‘Lilitu’ was born from that tension. It’s about every woman who’s ever felt reduced to someone else’s expectations and choosing to stand anyway.”
Guitarist Matthew McClure comments, “‘Lilitu’ is about rejecting imposed identity. The song progresses through several emotions, from recognizing the oppression of imposed identity to reclaiming one’s true identity and the freedom from that imposition. This is a psalm of rejecting the ‘authority’ that imposes identity and fighting the ideology that sustains it.”
In “Lilitu”, BURIAL PATH unearth obliterating intensity through crushing rhythms, deafening gutturals and ethereal orchestration. The power and anguish of this track is inescapable. The musical arrangement provides no moment of rest; the momentum is unceasing from its onset. “Lilitu” exposes the suffering and oppression of women. Lyrically, BURIAL PATH draw upon religious imagery and ideas that are often used to reinforce patriarchal inequality.
Left to right: Maya Pobst, Abigail Bexx
About BURIAL PATH:
Formed in 2023, BURIAL PATH consists of Maya Pobst (vocals) and Christian Caringer (bassist) from Missouri, Nebraskan Matthew McClure (guitar), Nola Veru (drums) from Texas and Martin Rosa III (guitar) from Florida. Their sound is a refined evolution of Deathcore, leveraging modern production to craft an atmosphere that is both entrancing and resonant, designed to evoke deep emotions and provoke thoughtful introspection through their music.
Black death metal force BELPHEGOR has finished work on its 13th studio album, scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2027 via Reigning Phoenix Music.
The forthcoming record will mark the next chapter in BELPHEGOR’s uncompromising legacy, continuing the band’s relentless exploration of black death metal and its distinctive fusion of brutality, darkness and ceremonial intensity.
As work on the album progresses, BELPHEGOR reminds their supporters to revisit the first two singles from the upcoming release:
Further details surrounding BELPHEGOR’s 13th studio album will be revealed in due course.
BELPHEGOR will also unleash its magickal processions across Europe in autumn 2026 with the “Praise The Beast” European Tour 2026.
The trek kicks off September 29 at Turock in Essen, Germany, and will storm through Belgium, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Central Europe, Poland, and the UK before reaching its final ritual on October 18 at The Underworld in London.
Joining BELPHEGOR as special guests are death metal legends KRISIUN and black metal coven ASAGRAUM. A fourth band will be announced soon. Stay tuned.
BELPHEGOR “Praise The Beast” European Tour 2026:
29.09. – GER – Essen, Turock 30.09. – BEL – Kortrijk, DVG 01.10. – NLD – Dordrecht, Bibelot 02.10. – NLD – Hengelo, Metropool 03.10. – DEN- Copenhagen, Richter 04.10. – SWE – Gothenburg, Monument 06.10. – FIN – Helsinki, On The Rocks 07.10. – SWE – Stockholm, Kollektivet Livet 08.10. – SWE – Malmö, Plan B 09.10. – GER – Berlin, Musikbrauerei 10.10. – CZE – Uherske Hradiste, Klub Mir 11.10. – CZE – Plzen, Serikovka 13.10. – POL – Krakow, Hype Park 14.10. – POL – Gdańsk, Drizzly Grizzly 15.10. – GER – Osnabrück, Bastard Club 16.10. – UK – Sheffield, Corporation 17.10. – UK – Torquay, Arena 18.10. – UK – London, The Underworld
Tickets and additional information will be available through local venues and promoters.
French progressive death metal visionaries EPITAPHE are set to release their highly anticipated third full-length album, III, on September 11, through Aesthetic Death (CD + LP) and Gurgling Gore (MC).
Following the overwhelming acclaim received by II, EPITAPHE return with their most ambitious and fully realized work to date. Rather than departing from the artistic path that established the band’s identity, III refines, expands and elevates every defining element of its predecessors into a collection of compositions that is both more immersive and more emotionally compelling.
The album pushes the band’s death metal foundation to new extremes, embracing an even harsher, darker and more unforgiving sound without sacrificing the sophistication that has become synonymous with EPITAPHE. Counterbalancing its crushing weight are exquisitely crafted acoustic passages and richly atmospheric interludes that paint vivid sonic landscapes. Once again, at times the distinctive voice of the saxophone plays a central role, adding remarkable depth, warmth and color while further reinforcing the band’s unmistakable musical identity.
Rather than relying on a predictable contrast between moments of aggression and restraint, III unfolds with an organic, narrative flow, allowing each composition to evolve naturally and reveal new layers over repeated listens. Every transition serves a purpose, every melody contributes to the wider emotional arc, and every arrangement reflects a meticulous attention to detail. The result is an album of exceptional scope and cohesion, confirming EPITAPHE as one of the most artistically significant acts in today’s extreme metal landscape.
III was recorded by James Leonard at Mémoire Mécanique Studio and Pentachrome Wave Studio, before being mixed by James Leonard and mastered by Greg Chandler at Priory Recording Studios. The album artwork features “Spring Frost”, a striking painting by acclaimed Finnish artist Petri Ala-Maunus, perfectly complementing the record’s immersive atmosphere and profound sense of scale.
MEGADETH Breakout: Hibernation Of The Nations 2027 tour dates:
Testament and Black Label Society support
March 09 – Belfast, UK @ The O2 Belfast March 11 – London, UK @ OVO Arena Wembley March 12 – Nottingham, UK @Motorpoint Arena March 13 – Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live March 15 – Cardiff, UK @ Utilita Arena March 16 – Glasgow, UK @ OVO Hydro March 18 – Birmingham, UK @ BP Pulse Live March 19 – Leeds, UK @ First Direct Bank Arena March 21 – Paris, France @ Zénith Paris – La Villette March 23 – Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National March 24 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ AFAS Live March 25 – Düsseldorf, Germany @ Mitsubishi Electric Halle March 27 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ K.B. Hallen March 28 – Oslo, Norway @ Oslo Spektrum March 30 – Hamburg, Germany @ Sporthalle April 01 – Berlin, Germany @ Velodrom April 02 – Kraków, Poland @ Tauron Arena April 04 – Munich, Germany @ Zenith April 05 – Bern, Switzerland @ Festhalle Bern April 06 – Milan, Italy @ Unipol Forum April 08 – Lyon, France @ Halle Tony Garnier April 10 – Barcelona, Spain @ Olimpic Arena April 12 – Madrid, Spain @ Movistar Arena April 13 – Lisbon, Portugal @ Sagres Campo Pequeno
Reno (NV) – U.S. Death Metal duo FOG WALL have released “The Accursed,” the second single from forthcoming debut album, Gloomweaver. Gloomweaver will be released on September 4th!
“The Accursed is a descent into madness, as the people’s champion becomes a disgusting horse-shaped amalgamation of beastly bloodlust and ironic tragedy, guided only by a whispering magic sword and holy moonlight.”
Gloomweaver collects some of Tolkien’s most harrowing tales, as well as stories of the torturous, terrifying worlds depicted in the work of FromSoftware, the Japanese video game development studio. Included therein are everything from haunted fortresses to arachnid-shaped demons whose sole purpose is to eat the world, not to mention the forceful enclosure of humans into glass jars.
Line-Up: Alex Malmquist – Bass/Vocals Zak Brady – Vocals
FOG WALL is the passion project of two lifelong friends: Zak Brady and Alex Malmquist. The duo draw inspiration from all things dark fantasy and horror. Combining their love of crushing evil riffs and heavy bass tones, they strive to conjure a new menace in a familiar genre.
20 Buck Spin has surprise-released Infinitude’s Passage, the blistering new album from progressive death metal force ÆNIGMATUM, now streaming everywhere.
Infinitude’s Passage marks the third full-length statement from Portland’s death metal seers ÆNIGMATUM. Taking the intricate mastery of previous album Deconsecrate as a point of departure, the band’s union of technical precision, dark melody, and unrelenting force draws us ever further into a world where revelation and annihilation become indistinguishable.
Sudden turns, fractured rhythms, and spiraling harmonies color a landscape of seemingly elaborate complexity, yet ÆNIGMATUM serves a larger, deeper structure with an exacting sense of purpose and focus. Frenetic eruptions of speed give way to passages of melodious clarity and dissonant turbulence allowing the compositions to remain in constant motion and expand idiosyncratically upward and outward.
Cerebral without sacrificing physical impact, majestic without surrendering menace, and progressive without loosening its vigorous command, Infinitude’s Passage rejects easy categorization within death metal’s exceedingly vast parameters. Its visceral impact, incandescent melody, and aura of perpetual discovery place ÆNIGMATUM at the threshold of the boundless.
The drums on Infinitude’s Passage were engineered by Charlie Koryn at Elektric City, pre-production and guitar/vocal recording was handled by Pierce Williams, bass and bass clarinet recordings were engineered by Brian Rush, and the saxophone recording was engineered by Patrick Corona. The recordings were reamped, mixed, and mastered by Colin Marston at Menegroth, The Thousand Caves (Krallice, Gorguts) with additional reamping by Keith Merrow at Merrowsound Studios, and the album was completed with artwork by Daniel Hermosilla, liner art by Marcus Kempton, logo by Logan Williams/Connie Wang, and layout by Matt Oien.
If you frequent the works of Stargazer, Eucharist, The Chasm, Krallice, Death, VoidCeremony, Innana, Atheist, At The Gates, Dark Tranquillity, Necrophobic, Atrocity or Opeth, do not miss ÆNIGMATUM’s Infinitude’s Passage.
ÆNIGMATUM’s Infinitude’s Passage is out now on all streaming platforms as well as 20 Buck Spin’s Bandcamp HERE and YouTube HERE.
CD and LP editions of Infinitude’s Passage will be released on September 4th and preorders can be found on Bandcamp HERE and at the 20 Buck Spin webshop HERE.
Infinitude’s Passage – Track Listing:
Pitiless Mechanism
Inseverable
Architects Of The Fated
A Tarnished Nexus
Nocturne Of Ageless Reverie
Infinitude’s Passage
ÆNIGMATUM: Kelly McLaughlin – vocals, guitar, bass clarinet Eli Lundgren – guitar Brian Rush – bass, backing vocals Pierce Williams – drums, synths, backing vocals Patrick Corona – saxophone Danny Quetzal – backing vocals
After introducing their vision with the Utter Darkness EP, Finnish death metal outfit HEKATOXEN are ready to strike with their first full-length album, Obsidian Majesty, set for release on October 2nd, 2026 on LP and CD format via Nuclear Winter Records.
The first single “Lost Souls Epitome” is now streaming HERE.
Hailing from Tampere, HEKATOXEN return with a record that tightens every aspect of their sound, delivering a darker, sharper and more determined expression of death metal. Obsidian Majesty moves through a landscape of razor-edged riffs, where heaviness never comes at the expense of movement: the songs hit hard, but they also breathe, shift direction and reveal a band with a clear understanding of dynamics.
Rooted in the classic language of Finnish death metal, the album does not rely on mere repetition of familiar formulas. HEKATOXEN take inspiration from the genre’s foundations while shaping those elements into focused compositions built around memorable riffs, strong structures and a tangible sense of purpose. Every track feels designed to stand on its own, equally effective through headphones and on stage.
Avoiding unnecessary complexity, HEKATOXEN embrace the power of well-crafted songwriting: concrete, immediate and uncompromising. Obsidian Majesty captures a band refining its identity, balancing old school instincts with a contemporary edge and proving that tradition can still cut deep when handled with conviction.
Track-list:
01 – Lost Souls Epitome 02 – I Am Them 03 – Spawns Of Darkness 04 – Haunting Ceremony 05 – Domus Vilomaxus 06 – Grave Reveries 07 – At Hellsrivers Pathway 08 – Vanguard The Dark
Line-up:
Jussi – vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, synth Niko – rhythm guitar Risto – bass guitar Vesa – drums
For fans of: Demigod, Adramelech, early Sentenced, Funebrarum.
Central American death-doom practitioners MORBID STENCH will release their third full-length album, Doom Metástasis, on October 2nd, 2026 through Nuclear Winter Records and Putrid Cult. The album will be available on LP, CD and cassette formats.
Deeply rooted in death-doom metal, the record broadens the group’s sonic palette through a more developed approach to songwriting, without losing the weight and darkness that have always defined their sound. Conceived as a conceptual work, the album follows a process of transformation that moves from inner decay to complete propagation, blending biological imagery with reflections on identity, inevitability and the cyclical nature of existence. This narrative framework gives the album a strong sense of continuity, shaping a journey rather than a simple collection of individual tracks.
Musically, MORBID STENCH combine crushing slow-paced sections, oppressive atmospheres and carefully crafted arrangements, balancing immediacy and depth. With Doom Metástasis, the band expands its vision while remaining faithful to the raw spirit of Central American death-doom metal.
The first single “Hyperbolic” is now streaming HERE.
Track-list:
Necrotic from Within
The Morbid Waltz
Hyperbolic
Bizarre and Beyond
Narcissistic God
Crawling out of the Swamps
Formed in 2014 by veteran musicians The Master Butcher (Costa Rica), Morbid and Purulent (El Salvador), MORBID STENCH was created to explore the darkest and most putrid side of doom metal, enriched by a strong death metal influence. With all members active in the extreme metal scene since the early ’90s, the band combines crushing heaviness, oppressive atmospheres and rotten melodies, drawing inspiration from the forgotten swamps of Central America.
Their debut EP The Stench of Doom was released in 2016 on cassette through Morbid Skull Recs (El Salvador) and Till You Fukkin Bleed (Poland), quickly selling out and followed by a short tour in El Salvador and Guatemala with CONCEIVED BY HATE. In 2017, the band released the split 7” EP The Bifid Tongue of Doom & Death with Costa Rican death metal act NECROGOD.
The debut full-length Doom & Putrefaction arrived in 2019 through Putrid Cult, Morbid Skull Recs and other international labels, receiving strong feedback from the underground scene. This was followed by the split 7” EP Ghospels of Necromancy with Dutch death metal band ANARCHOS in 2020, and the second album The Rotting Ways of Doom in 2022, further establishing the band’s reputation among doom/death enthusiasts.
Despite the members now living in three different countries, the creative chemistry within MORBID STENCH remains intact. The songwriting process begins with Morbid composing and recording guitar and bass parts at his “Víspera del Demonio” studio in San Salvador, creating raw demo versions that are shared with the band for feedback and development. Purulent then works on the drum arrangements, while The Master Butcher completes the songs with his lyrics and vocal performances.
In 2026, MORBID STENCH will release their third full-length album, Doom Metástasis, a conceptual work that continues the band’s exploration of decay, darkness and the oppressive atmosphere of their signature doom/death metal.
Line-up:
The Master Butcher – Esophagus Morbid – Cosmic Chords of Doom Purulent – Barrels Full of Putrid Waste
Fresh off their successful Kickstarter campaign to fund their upcoming album Sono Sola, Florida power metal titans SEVEN KINGDOMS are pleased to announce they will embark on a US tour this fall with folk metal artist NINI MUSIC.
Vocalist Sabrina Cruz comments, “We are honored to be invited to tour alongside NINI. I personally am so excited to branch out and tour with bands of different genres, especially as unique and culturally diverse as NINI. We look forward to playing new stages, meeting new faces, and seeing familiar faces in the crowd. See you soon!!”
Sono Sola will be released via Reigning Phoenix Music in 2027. More details will be announced soon.
NINI MUSIC w/ SEVEN KINGDOMS US Fall Tour:
Oct 10 – Orlando, FL – Conduit Oct 11 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum Oct 13 – Greensboro, NC – Hanger 1819 Oct 14 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club Oct 15 – New York, NY – Woodshop Oct 16 – Buffalo, NY – Mohawk Place Oct 17 – Syracuse, NY – The Lost Horizon Oct 18 – Millersville, PA – Phantom Power Oct 20 – Pittsburgh, PA – Preserving Underground Oct 21 – Cleveland, OH – The Foundry Oct 22 – Columbus, OH – Summit Music Hall Oct 23 – Indianapolis, IN – Black Circle Oct 24 – Chicago, IL – Cobra Lounge
About SEVEN KINGDOMS:
SEVEN KINGDOMS, a power metal band hailing from Deland, FL, was formed in 2007. After solidifying their lineup in 2009, the band signed with Nightmare Records and began gaining momentum in the metal scene. Their big break came in 2010 when they were handpicked by BLIND GUARDIAN to support their North American tour, which introduced SEVEN KINGDOMS to a wider audience.
Following this, they played notable tours and festivals, including ProgPower USA and the 70,000 Tons of Metal Cruise, while releasing The Fire is Mine in 2012, which marked a pivotal moment in their career with its refined sound and strong reception.
In recent years, SEVEN KINGDOMS has continued to expand their reach with international tours alongside acts like STRATOVIRUS, AMARANTHE and EVERGREY. The band’s latest full-length album, Zenith (2022), was released through Distortion Music Group, further cementing their place in the power metal world where they were featured as the sole support for the first US Tour of POWERWOLF and then with WIND ROSE in the USA and Europe shortly after.
In 2024, they released their highly anticipated EP, The Square, under Reigning Phoenix Music which hit the stages in Europe with UNLEASH THE ARCHERS and again with BLIND GUARDIAN 15 years later in North America. With world-wide touring on the horizon, SEVEN KINGDOMS continues to elevate their status in the global metal scene.
Ferociously melodic in their approach, the quartet fuse high octane energy and intensity with compelling harmonies in their charismatic, modern take on power metal. With recording for the new album, Sono Sola, now complete, SEVEN KINGDOMS are gearing up to ignite this next chapter.
SEVEN KINGDOMS:
Sabrina Cruz – Vocals Camden Cruz – Guitars Kevin Byrd – Guitars Keith Byrd – Drums
Nuclear Winter Records proudly announces the release of DECONSEKRATED‘s sophomore album, The Inexorable Transcendence of Death, set for release on October 2, 2026 on LP, CD, and MC formats.
The first single “Under the Rotten Shroud” is now streaming HERE.
Over the past decade, Chile has established itself as one of the world’s premier breeding grounds for uncompromising death metal, and DECONSEKRATED are poised to further strengthen that reputation with an album that fully embraces the darkest corners of the genre. The Inexorable Transcendence of Death is a relentless collection of dense, hostile compositions built on crushing intensity, oppressive atmosphere and an abundance of memorable riffs.
While its roots firmly lie within the classic death metal tradition, the band’s songwriting reaches beyond mere homage, weaving intricate arrangements, unexpected tempo changes and subtle twists into every track. Rather than attempting to reinvent the style, DECONSEKRATED explore its vast creative potential, crafting songs that unfold organically and reveal new layers with each listen.
Powerful, immersive and meticulously constructed, “The Inexorable Transcendence of Death” stands as a bold new statement from one of Chile’s most promising death metal acts.
Track-list:
Purgative Procession
Drowned in the Deep Waters of Phlegethon
Terrifyng Manifestation of Malevolence
Towards the Veil of Heretic Plagues
Poisoned Flesh (Mark of the Sinister Path)
Under the Rotten Shroud
Oracula Sanguinis (Obsidian Mirrors)
Through the Graves’ Portals
DECONSEKRATED is an occult death metal band hailing from the cold, rain-soaked south of Chile. Founded in 2020 by guitarist Agorh Skullptor, the project initially began as the vision of three like-minded “black souls” before evolving into a full five-piece lineup. The band’s music explores themes of death, the desecration of Christian dogma, and spiritual transmutation, translating these concepts into a dark and uncompromising sonic identity.
Line-up:
Agorh Skullptor – Guitar and bass Gül Evokator – Vocals Padaviast – Guitar Rigor Mortis – Drums
In 2024, DECONSEKRATED released the EP Ascension in the Altar of Condemned, issued on CD by Iron Blood and Death (Mexico), on vinyl by Futhark Records (Canada), reissued on CD by Alkolik Holocaust Records (Argentina) and released on cassette by Ancient Sounds of Madness Productions (Poland) and Infernal South Productions (Chile).
The band has shared the stage with renowned acts such as Master, Malevolent Creation, and Morta Skuld, while also performing in Argentina and at the now legendary Ossum Total Death Festival in Mexico City. Drawing inspiration from the early masters of death metal, DECONSEKRATED continue to follow a path of darkness, death, and the desecration of humanity.
For fans of: Dead Congregation, Krypts, Grave Miasma, Rotten Tomb
How To Cast A ShadowFull-Length Out Now On Metal Blade Records!
Watch NORTH SEA ECHOES’ “I’ll Leave A Light On” video HERE.
NORTH SEA ECHOES – featuring progressive metal pioneers, singer Ray Alder and guitarist Jim Matheos, of Fates Warning – today deliver their video for “I’ll Leave A Light On.” The track appears on the band’s latest studio album, How To Cast A Shadow, out now on Metal Blade Records!
Comments Alder, “’I’ll Leave a Light On’ is much heavier than anything on [2024’s] Really Good Terrible Things, the first NORTH SEA ECHOES album. It has a darker, melancholic feel that fits well on this record. I loosely based the lyrics on a character from my favorite sci-fi series. I won’t say which, but they do use the quote ‘out there in the black.’”
Watch NORTH SEA ECHOES’ “I’ll Leave A Light On” video HERE.
Watch NORTH SEA ECHOES’ previously released video for “Enjoy The View”HERE.
On NORTH SEA ECHOES’ Really Good Terrible Things full-length, Alder and Matheos garnered rave reviews for songs that possessed, “liberating sonic space and emotional vulnerability… from somnambulant electro-fog to gritty, overdriven disquiet, to the quietly devastating (Blabbermouth).” With How To Cast A Shadow, the band’s identity is further expanded upon and explored.
“This record is a bit heavier,” asserts Matheos, “with several more songs featuring real drums, played by Dennis Leeflang. It wasn’t necessarily intentional or planned, just the way things shaped up and how they emerged this time.”
How To Cast A Shadow – Track Listing:
1. A Time of Innocence and Purpose
2. Enjoy the View
3. Good Enough
4. I’ll Leave a Light On
5. All Fall Away
6. Revenge
7. Villains or Saints
8. What is and What Was
10. All That Comes After
11. How to Cast a Shadow
The duo’s shared and separate histories help to forge a fresh creative opus. Alder has been the vocalist and main co-writer for prog metal heroes Fates Warning for 37 years, recording ten albums between 1988 (No Exit) and 2020 (Long Day Good Night). Rounding out his discography are seven albums with Redemption, two solo records, and the band A-Z, which debuted in 2022.
Revered guitarist and producer Matheos is a cofounder of Fates Warning, the lineup debuting with 1984’s Night On Bröcken on Metal Blade. In addition to thirteen albums with Fates Warning, Matheos launched several solo albums, four LPs alongside former Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore under the name OSI, and Kings Of Mercia, which launched in 2022.
From the radio-ready rock of “All That Comes After” and the intimate, escalating “A Time Of Innocence And Purpose” to the powerful, timeless ballad “Villains Or Saints,” How To Cast A Shadow cohesively crosses genres and challenges aural preconceptions.
How To Cast A Shadow is out now on CD and digital formats. Preview/purchase the record at: metalblade.com/northseaechoes.
If Really Good Terrible Things kickstarted NORTH SEA ECHOES’s career with “hovering subtleties, introspective thoughtful reflections” and lyrics with “wisdom and authenticity,” How To Cast A Shadow ups the promise of its predecessor. Provocative words of hope, sorrow and consciousness are paired with Matheos’ equally emotive, varied and deeply moving guitar work.
TRACK-LISTING: 01 Night Closes In 02 Legion of Fire 03 Dynasties Fall 04 Where Cauldrons Burn 05 Shadow Slave 06 Crimson Shores 07 Valhalla is Calling 08 Worlds to Conquer 09 Death’s Immortal Flame (Bonus Track)
LIVE & TOURING LINE-UP: Andrew D’Cagna – vocals Jesse Scott – guitar Quinn Lukas – guitar James Babcock – bass Noah Skiba – drums
Andrew D’Cagna performed all the music and vocals.
Live guitarists, Quinn Lukas and Jesse Scott composed and recorded their own guitar solos.
Finnish band VAAJA have released their second single Abalon on July 17. The music video will follow on July 31. The song is an epic, atmospheric gothic metal track drawing from Finnish mythology and tied to an upcoming original VAAJA dark horror-fantasy novel series.
The single is an explosive track, taking its name from a central character in the upcoming first book: Abalon, the elven ancestor of foxes. The lyrics delve into how Abalon steps in as a surprise ally to turn the tide for the story’s main protagonist, a vulnerable young vampire, and his human friends.
“All songs of Vaaja are designed to carry Finnish mythology with a unique horror-fantasy twist beyond Finland’s borders,” says Malphas Miserable, the lead singer, songwriter and author of VAAJA.
VAAJA is a fully realised concept. Music is the first chapter of a larger dark fantasy universe that spans both the band’s work and forthcoming novels set in the same world. The band and the books are one universe. “I carried the idea of VAAJA for many years, but it was not until 2025 that I started to write the first book. After that, everything happened very fast and effortlessly.“, Malphas Miserable explains.
Sonically, Abalon occupies the space between the emotional depth of Sleep Token, the atmospheric darkness of HIM, and the devotional, theatrical identity of Opeth and Ghost.
Vaaja – Abalon (Single 2026) Cover art by Malphas Miserable
Composed & lyrics by Malphas Miserable -Arranged by Malphas Miserable, Garn Eir, Fenris Fuzz, Vor, Magni -Recorded, Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Malphas Miserable
“We think the category of “Nordic gothic dark metal” fits us the best, but we are very flexible in a wide array of musical genres. However, with VAAJA, we don’t want to restrict ourselves too much musically. Instead, aiming to maintain a playful, even blasphemous spirit-just like the old gods. The old gods are dear to us, and we feel that Finnish mythology is one of the richest yet still most underrepresented mythologies in metal,” the band states.
“Vaaja is not Viking imagery borrowed from our neighbours. It is ours, ancient, magical, and largely unknown to the world – until now.“
The Band: Vocals: Malphas Miserable Guitar: Garn Eir(The Sorcerer) Guitar: Fenris Fuzz (The Berserker) Drums: Magni (The Seer) Bass: Vor (The Warrior)
July 27, 2026, Gothenburg, Sweden – Monolord, who return to the U.S. in late August, have released a live video for the song “Iodine” (https://youtu.be/ETIrrMVF5uw) from their recently released album, Neverending.
The video captures one of the band’s first performances supporting the Sylvia Massy-produced album, intercut with behind-the-scenes footage from their hometown show in Gothenburg.
“Iodine” was inspired by 70s rock epics like Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird,” The Eagles’ “Hotel California,” and Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter.” “Even though it’s maybe not musically similar, I think the vibe is similar,” Thomas Jäger says. “And the opening riff is my tribute to Yob, because I’ve always really liked Mike [Scheidt]’s guitar playing. He does all these weird chords where his fingers are all over the fretboard at the same time. It’s for sure my favorite song on the album.”
Neverending has earned widespread acclaim, with Bandcamp naming it their “Album of the Day” upon release, Consequence declaring it “magical,” Revolver dubbing it “glorious” and New Noise saying the collection is “Monolord at the height of their powers.”
To create Neverending, Monolord traveled to Ashland, Oregon to record with legendary producer Massy (Tool, System of a Down, and Johnny Cash). The collaboration began when Massy asked vocalist/guitarist Thomas Jäger to send everything the band had ever written. “She asked me to send her everything we had, not just songs written for the album, but every stray riff and idea,” he says. “I even sent her stuff I’d written ten years ago. She listened to all of it and sent us a list of what she wanted to work on.”
The band rehearsed 12 songs, recorded 11, and ultimately selected eight for Neverending. The result is an album that expands the band’s sound without sacrificing the weight and creativity that define Monolord.
August 27 Chicago, IL Thalia Hall August 28 Louisville, KY Portal August 29 Atlanta, GA Garden Club August 30 Asheville, NC Eulogy August 31 Columbia, SC New Brookland Tavern September 2 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts September 3 Brooklyn, NY Elsewhere September 4 Montague, MA RPM Fest September 5 Baltimore, MD Labor Daze September 6 Cookeville, TN Muddy Roots Festival September 8 Columbus, OH Ace of Cups September 9 Detroit, MI Sanctuary September 10 Indianapolis, IN Black Circle September 12 Austin, TX Levitation Festival
Khemmis opens on all U.S. headlining dates
European tour dates:
July 30 Ghimbav, RO Rockstadt Extreme Festival August 7 Kortrijk, BE Alcatraz Festival October 6 Hamburg, DE Bahnhof Pauli October 7 Haarlem, NL Patronaat October 8 Eindhoven, NL Effenaar October 9 Sint-Niklaas, BE De Casino October 10 Paris, FR La Maroquinerie October 11 Nantes, FR Le Ferrailleur October 12 Toulouse, FR Le Rex October 13 Lyon, FR Jack Jack October 14 Aarau, CH KIFF October 15 Munich, DE Backstage October 16 Osnabrück, DE Bastard Club October 17 Cologne, DE Gebäude 9 November 4 Copenhagen, DK Stengade November 5 Berlin, DE Columbia Theater November 6 Dresden, DE Beatpol November 7 Warsaw, PL Hydrozagadka November 8 Krakow, PL Hype Park November 9 Brno, CZ Kabinet Múz November 10 Budapest, HU Dürer Kert November 11 Vienna, AT Arena November 12 Zagreb, HR Vintage Industrial Bar November 13 Milan, IT Legend November 14 Bologna, IT FreakOut November 15 Karlsruhe, DE P8
Tickets for all dates are on-sale now via Monolord.com.
Few modern doom bands balance sheer weight and melody like Monolord. Formed in Gothenburg in 2013, the trio of guitarist/vocalist Thomas Jäger, drummer Esben Willems, and bassist Mika Häkki have become one of heavy music’s most introspective and nuanced bands. They have earned global acclaim through relentless touring, with unforgettable performances at Hellfest, Desertfest, Psycho Las Vegas, and Roadburn. Their records, Empress Rising (2014), Vænir (2015), Rust (2017), No Comfort (2019), Your Time To Shine (2021), and most recently, Neverending (2026), cemented their reputation for blending crushing fuzz with melodic undercurrents and immersive repetition.
Led by JD McGibney, L.A.’s ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD hark back to their roots with the new single release “On the Wings of Dragons“. The track began the project’s journey as its first release in 2013. Recrafted, rearranged and performed by a different line-up, “On the Wings of Dragons” initiates the next chapter for ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD.
ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD delve into the meaning behind “On the Wings of Dragons”: “This song was written as an inspirational piece to invigorate and encourage audiences to believe in themselves, to listen to their instincts and not the nay-saying of others.”
The core characteristics of ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD‘s sound are present throughout “On the Wings of Dragons”. Passionate storytelling and world building are brought to life through progressive compositional arrangements that are interjected with catchy hooks. Dynamic production and technical prowess see ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD deliver an epic sonic display.
“On the Wings of Dragons”was produced by ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD. The track was recorded at Counter Communications and engineered, mixed and mastered by Chris Wirsig. Produced by ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD, the music video was directed and edited by Tom Flynn.
ANGELS ON THE BATTLEFIELD: JD McGibney – Guitar Jason Klein – Bass Chris Wirsig – Keyboard/Orchestration Eddie Trager – Drums
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