Legendary guitarist George Lynch and his band Lynch Mob are set to release their highly anticipated final studio album Dancing with the Devil via Rat Pak Records due outon November 28, 2025, marking the final chapter in their storied career. Produced by Chris Collier, the album follows the success of their previous effort “Babylon” and showcases elements of classic Lynch Mob with a modern edge, fusing hard rock, blues, and soulful grooves with an unmistakable passion and energy.
Dancing with the Devil revisits the classic Lynch Mob sound: a potent mix of blues-based hard rock, razor-sharp guitar work, and soulful vocals, delivered with the swagger and confidence of a band that has nothing left to prove. Fans of the early Wicked Sensation era will find familiar fire here with this masterful completion of their musical legacy. Additionally, George Lynch has decided to extend the bands legacy further. Due to high demand for additional performances and the upcoming release of the final studio album Dancing with the Devil, George will continue to fly the Lynch Mob banner into the future with a trek of encore performances.
Toronto’s hardest-hitting rock ’n’ roll trio DANKO JONES are back with their explosive new single “Diamond In The Rough”, the latest cut from their upcoming album Leo Rising, releasing on November 21, 2025, via Perception, a Division of Reigning Phoenix Music and Sonic Unyon (Canada)!
The track is a high-voltage homage to classic KISS, supercharged by a blazing guest solo from guitar legend Marty Friedman (MEGADETH, CACOPHONY).
The band comments: “Channeling early Kiss, this is a favorite of mine, especially with the one and only Marty Friedman on lead guitar!”
“Diamond In The Rough” channels the raw, unfiltered energy of 1970s arena rock. Friedman’s fiery fretwork ignites the song, adding his unmistakable touch of guitar heroism that takes the band’s signature power-trio sound into overdrive.
Following the adrenaline-fueled singles “What You Need,” Everyday Is Saturday Night,” and today’s release of “Diamond In The Rough,” DANKO JONES’ forthcoming studio offering Leo Rising promises to be a masterclass in sweat-soaked, no-nonsense rock, produced to perfection by longtime collaborator Eric Ratz. Packed with razor-sharp riffs, thunderous rhythms, and infectious hooks, the album reaffirms that DANKO JONES are keeping rock alive by doing it better than anyone else.
John Calabrese laid down bass tracks from Finland, Rich Knox flew to Toronto to record drums, and Danko worked with producer Eric Ratz in the same city to capture vocals and guitars. Despite recording separately once again, the band’s chemistry is unmistakable. The result is pure DANKO JONES: tight, loud, and built for the stage.
Leo Rising may be their most electrifying and uplifting record yet, a jolt of high-octane rock made for packed clubs, open highways, and everything in between!
Leo Rising – Track List: 1 – What You Need 2 – Diamond In The Rough 3 – Everyday Is Saturday Night 4 – I Love It Louder 5 – I’m Going Blind 6 – Hot Fox 7 – It’s A Celebration 8 – Pretty Stuff 9 – Gotta Let It go 10 – I Can’t Stop 11 – Too Slick For Love
To celebrate the release, the band will hit the road this winter for the “Danko Jones Is What You Need” European Tour 2025, with TUK SMITH & THE RESTLESS HEARTS supporting on most dates:
19.11.2025 FI Helsinki – Tavastia 21.11.2025 SE Stockholm – Münchenbryggeriet 22.11.2025 NO Oslo – Vulkan Arena 25.11.2025 DE Hamburg – Markthalle 26.11.2025 DE Osnabrück – Rosenhof 27.11.2025 LU Luxembourg – Den Atelier 28.11.2025 NL Amsterdam – Melkweg 29.11.2025 UK London – The Underworld Camden 30.11.2025 UK Porthcawl – Planet Rockstock * 03.12.2025 BE Antwerp – Trix (Main Hall) 04.12.2025 FR Paris – Le Trabendo 06.12.2025 IT Milan – Legend Club 08.12.2025 DE Mannheim – Alte Feuerwache 09.12.2025 AT Salzburg – Rockhouse 10.12.2025 DE Munich – Backstage (Werk) 11.12.2025 DE Cologne – Carlswerk Victoria 12.12.2025 DE Berlin – Astra 13.12.2025 DE Hamburg – Docks * DANKO JONES only
Oct. 9, 2025 – Death Cult laid the groundwork for the band we now know as The Cult, and in 2023, to mark the band’s 40th anniversary, Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy, along with John Tempesta on bass and Charlie Jones on drums, revived Death Cult for a special run of shows.
Out on Jan. 16, Paradise Live is a 16-track live album that documents this rebirth of Death Cult. Recorded at the iconic Albert Hall in Duffy’s hometown of Manchester on Nov. 18, 2023, the release, which features no overdubs, will be available on 2LP, CD, and digitally. Two editions of the vinyl will be available: a black splatter edition available exclusively from the band’s webstore, and a white splatter edition will be available everywhere else: https://deathcult.ffm.to/paradiselive.
At the center of the night’s set was the hypnotic 1982 Cult single “Resurrection Joe.” One of many high points of the evening, it is available to listen to now: https://deathcult.ffm.to/resurrectionjoe-live.
The Cult’s first incarnation was Southern Death Cult, formed in 1981, releasing their sole, self-titled album posthumously in 1983. That same year, Death Cult formed, with Ian Astbury joining forces with Billy Duffy for a musical partnership that has endured for 40+ years. Death Cult became The Cult in 1984 releasing Dreamtime that same year.
Ian and Billy initially weren’t sure how many shows they would do as Death Cult, but the post-punk gothic futurists decided to listen to the requests to keep the fervor going. The next leg of shows begins tonight in Niagara Falls and continues to Oct. 30 in Los Angeles. These truly special evenings will have Death Cult opening for The Cult.
The Cult has enjoyed numerous international and U.S. gold and platinum certifications. Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy have released 11 studio albums over The Cult’s 40-year career. The band found international renown with the 1985 album, Love, which featured the enduring rock anthem “She Sells Sanctuary,” as well as the oft-heard follow-up single “Rain.”
Paradise Live – track-listing:
1/A1 83rd Dream
2/A2 Christians
3/A3 Gods Zoo
4/A4 Brothers Grimm
5/B1 Ghost Dance
6/B2 Butterflies
7/B3 A Flower in the Desert
8/B4 Resurrection Joe
9/C1 Horse Nation
10/C2 Go West
11/C3 Hollow Man
12/C4 Dreamtime
13/D1 Spiritwalker
14/D2 Rain
15/D3 Moya
16/D4 She Sells Sanctuary
DEATH CULT/THE CULT – TOUR DATES:
Oct 9 – Niagara Falls, ONT – OLG Stage At Fallsview Casino Oct 11 – Boston, MA – Orpheum Theater Oct 12 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre Oct 14 – New York, NY – Beacon Theater Oct 15 – Washington, DC – Warner Theater Oct 17 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium Oct 18 – Atlanta, GA – Cobb Energy Center Oct 20 – Fort Worth, TX – Will Rogers Auditorium Oct 21 – San Antonio, TX – Majestic Theater Oct 24 – Las Vegas, NV – The Pearl Oct 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum Oct 27 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield Oct 29 – San Diego, CA – The Sound Oct 30 – Los Angeles, CA – Shrine Auditorium
Iron Fortress Records presents the inaugural IRON FORTRESS DEATH FEST 2025, a full day of death metal depravity featuring a sample of the Iron Fortress label roster that is taking place in just over one week.
The IRON FORTRESS DEATH FEST is a label showcase that highlights the supreme debauchery of what Iron Fortress Records has to offer and includes sets by Gored Embrace, Chorus Of Demons, Hamarr, Swampgrave, Dysmorphia, 1 Body 6 Graves, Scab Hag, Ripped Open, Coagulating, Cell Intruder, Ectospire, and Cryptual.
IRON FORTRESS DEATH FEST will take place Saturday, October 18th at The Black Circle in Indianapolis, Indiana, beginning at 2:00pm. Tickets will be $30 day-of the event, but can be acquired for $20 in advance.
Ben DePaoli, sole owner and operator of Iron Fortress Records and this event, states, “It’s time to gather into the inner sanctum of the Iron Fortress and explore its stench ridden corridors! IRON FORTRESS DEATH FEST was put together to showcase the Iron Fortress Records label roster which is chock full of young and underground death metal bands eager for bloodshed. I can’t wait to gather all these incredible bands into one cavernous day of death metal. Come hang out, watch some brutality, mingle with the bands and I, throw back some demon juice, and headbang until you need a pain pill for your newly formed spinal injury!”
View the full IRON FORTRESS DEATH FEST lineup and set times below. Tickets are available now at THIS LOCATION.
IRON FORTRESS DEATH FEST Lineup – October 18th, 2025: Doors 2:00 Ripped Open 3:00-3:25 Ectospire 3:40-4:05 Cell Intruder 4:20-4:45 1 Body 6 Graves 5:00-5:25 Cryptual 5:40-6:05 Scab Hag 6:20-6:45 Coagulating 7:00-7:25 Dysmorphia 7:40-8:05 Swampgrave 8:20-8:45 Hamarr 9:00-9:25 Chorus of Demons 9:40-10:05 Decedent 10:20-10:45
Austrian atmospheric black metal band ELLENDE has revealed their highly anticipated 6th studio album, Zerfall, will be released on January 2nd via AOP Records.
Commenting on the thematic elements of the record, the band says,”Zerfall is about the transformation of ruin into strength.”
Zerfall, which translates to being shattered, slowly and painfully rebuilding oneself, follows the band’s critically praised 2024 record Todbringerin and is another step forward for the band as they venture further into the realms of bleak and beautiful heavy music. The album artwork features an oil painting made by founding member and songwriter L.G.
Today, ELLENDE has debuted the record’s first single and title track “Zerfall” with the accompanying video below.
ELLENDE will celebrate the release of Zerfall with a European tour with FIRTAN and KARG that kicks off in Munich, DE on release day, January 2nd and will conclude in Vienna, AT on January 18th. Tickets are on sale now at: https://linktr.ee/zerfalltour2026.
Zerfall Track-list:
1. Nur 2. Wahrheit Teil I 3. Wahrheit Teil II 4. Zerfall 5. Übertritt 6. Ode ans Licht 7. Zeitenwende Teil I (feat. Norikum) 8. Zeitenwende Teil II (feat. Firtan) 9. Reise 10. Secunda (Jeremy Soule cover)* 11. Verborgenes inneres Leiden*
*Bonus Tracks
ELLENDE Tour Dates:
Jan 2 – Munich, DE – Backstage Jan 3 – Heidelberg, DE – Halle02 Jan 4 – Dresden, DE – Chemiefabrik Jan 5 – Copenhagen, DK – Stengade Jan 6 – Hamburg, DE – Logo Jan 7 – Leeuwarden, NL – Neushoom Jan 8 – Nijmegen, NL – Doornroosje Jan 9 – Wurzburg, DE – Posthalle Jan 10 – Zurich, CH – Meh Suff Winter Fest Jan 11 – Paderno Dugnano, IT – Slaughter Jan 12 – Ljubljana, SI – Orto Bar Jan 13 – Cham, DE – L.A. Jan 14 – Warsaw, PL – Hydrozagadka Jan 15 – Krakow, PL – Zascianek Jan 16 – Erfurt, DE – From Hell Jan 17 – Prague, CZ – Modra Vopice Jan 18 – Vienna, AT – Szene
AboutELLENDE: Ellende, founded multi-instrumentalist L.G. in Graz, Austria, began its journey with the debut EP Rückzug in die Innerlichkeit thirteen years ago. Originally conceived as an introverted, misanthropic, and anonymous project, Ellende has since grown into an internationally recognized live act with session musicians, firmly rooted in the atmospheric black metal genre.
While grounded in black metal, Ellendeʼs sound incorporates classical instrumentation such as strings and grand piano, often pushing beyond the boundaries of what is considered traditional within the style.
Over the years, Ellende has released six full-length albums and three EPs. They achieved four official chart positions (Austria: #14, #21; Germany: #31, #37) with recent full-lengths, while the band has performed more than 120 international shows and reached over two million Spotify streams in the past year.
The lyrical themes have evolved alongside the music. From early reflections on misanthropy, nature, and isolation to later explorations of human nature, social criticism, war, loss, despair, and dementia. The upcoming full-length album Zerfall portrays the state of being shattered into fragments and the slow, painful process of rebuilding oneself: a confrontation with the void and ultimately a triumph over it. Shaped also by a tragic event in the life of its mastermind, Ellendeʼs work continues to fuse raw intensity with profound emotional depth.
A new song and lyric video from NYC doom trio PRECIOUS BLOOD is now streaming! “El Muerte” is the third single off the band’s full-length debut album, False Prophets.
Fully formed in 2024, PRECIOUS BLOOD brings together three veterans of the NYC scene – AJ – guitar, vocals (Jesus Knevil, Snake Canyon), Dave Kramer – bass, vocals (Blood Feast, Suaka, Stanley), and Grace Perez – drums, vocals (The Wickedexorcist). The band’s shared love of doom and underground metal is expressed in an unholy concoction of rum-soaked riffs, brutal lyrics, and mystical tribal sounds.
With a signature sound best described as Blackened Caribbean Doom, PRECIOUS BLOOD delivers a unique blend of doom and thrash metal influenced tone, mixed with lyrical themes that draw profound inspiration from the enduring spirit of the Caribbean, shaped by brutal history of colonization, unwavering resilience of its people, and exploration of the darker aspects of human existence, including death, contemplation of mortality and the complexities of human suffering.
For fans of monstrous riffs, horror-inspired visuals, and genre-bending metal.
Track-list: 1) False Prophets 2) Bludgeoned & Charred [Video] 3) Footsteps of Babylon 4) Shadow of the Cross 5) Cemetery Burn 6) Old Man Abaddon [Video] 7) El Muerte [Video] 8) Whore’s Grave
False Prophets was recorded and mixed by Joe Hogan at Captain’s Cove Catskills Studios with mastering and additional engineering by AJ Tissian (The Wave Lab). The album was produced by Joe Hogan and PRECIOUS BLOOD. Album cover photo by Mia. Cover layout by PRECIOUS BLOOD.
Line-Up: AJ -Guitar, Vocals Grace Perez – Drums, Backing Vocals Dave Kramer – Bass, Backing Vocals
Following their recent US tour supporting Carcass and Brujeria, NECROT will return to European stages later this month to support High On Fire. The journey, which begins on October 25th and runs through November 8th, includes festival performances at Samhain in the Netherlands, Bruges Is Doomed in Belgium, and Damnation Festival in the United Kingdom.
Comments bassist/vocalist Luca Indrio, “This is a very sick run in Europe and England alongside our brothers in High On Fire! You really don’t want to miss this one; it’s going to be heavy AF. We are coming to obliterate everything! See you all in the pit!”
Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
NECROT w/ High On Fire: 10/25/2025 Samhain Festival – Maastricht, NL * 10/26/2025 Bruges Is Doomed – Brugge, BE * 10/28/2025 Neue Zukunft – Berlin, DE 10/29/2025 Kabinet MUL – Brno, CZ 10/30/2025 Arena Wien – Vienna, AT 10/31/2025 Hansa 39 – Munich, DE 11/01/2025 Legend Club – Milan, IT 11/02/2025 Les Caves du Manoir – Martigny, CH 11/04/2025 Kesselhaus – Wiesbaden, DE 11/05/2025 Turock – Essen, DE 11/06/2025 Electric Ballroom – London, UK 11/08/2025 Damnation Festival – Manchester, UK *
Festival date
NECROT continues to tour in support of their critically adored Lifeless Birth full-length, out now via Tankcrimes. With Lifeless Birth, NECROT continues their ascent to the forefront of American aural extremity, pushing the boundaries of style and continuing to recast metal in their image.
Founded by bassist/vocalist Luca Indrio and drummer Chad Gailey in 2011 with guitarist Sonny Reinhardt joining the following year, the Oakland, California trio offers Lifeless Birth as a culmination of their to-date efforts to encapsulate and push forward the deathly stylings of 2020’s Mortal and their 2017 debut, Blood Offerings.
NECROT’s Lifeless Birth is available now via Tankcrimes, on CD, LP, and digital formats. Find physical orders HERE and digital orders HERE.
Lifeless Birth earned the #3 spot on Billboard’s Top New Artist chart upon its first week of release. Elsewhere, the record took the #4 position on the Current Hard Music Albums chart, #6 on the Independent Record Label chart, and more. Recorded with Grammy-winning producer Greg Wilkinson who has helmed all three NECROT albums and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, Lifeless Birth pivots fluidly between technical intricacy, progressive poise and all-out brutality.
Finnish melodic death metal act Obscure Fate is about to release their debut album Shades of a Dying World. The release date will be announced later by Inverse Records. The first single “Age of Delusion” is unleashed today and it’s available here: https://push.fm/fl/obscure-fate-age-of-delusion
The band comments: “Age of Delusion is a dystopian and cynical view of the modern world. It criticizes those in power (politicians, the media, religion) who manipulate the masses with lies, fear, and illusions. The truth is lost and freedom is just an illusion. The song is both a warning and an accusation. Who benefits from all this, and why are people blind to it?”
Obscure Fate – Age of Delusion (single 2025) Single cover by Jarno Lahti
Credits:
Composed by Kaleva Kovalainen & Antti Möttönen Lyrics by Tapio Möttönen
Mixed by Tero “TeeCee” Kinnunen and Mastered by Mika Jussila, Finnvox Studiot Oy
BAND BIOGRAPHY:
Obscure Fate was originally formed in 2008 in Paltamo, Finland, as the solo project of guitarist and songwriter Kaleva Kovalainen. In 2009, drummer Jari Keränen and bassist Petri Möttönen joined, giving the songs their first real band form. Shortly after, guitarist Joni Moisanen and vocalist Tapio Möttönen became official members, and together the group arranged dozens of tracks for full band performances. From the very beginning, Tapio handled the lyrics, with Petri contributing to the song Spectral Exile.
The current lineup was completed in 2019 when bassist Antti Möttönen replaced Petri. Musically, Obscure Fate is rooted in traditional melodic death metal, though elements of thrash and classic heavy metal also find their way into the band’s sound. Kaleva’s prolific songwriting provided a strong foundation for the band, while the lyrics explore themes of social criticism, fictional storytelling, and inner struggles.
In 2021, Obscure Fate released their first EP. Recording sessions for their debut full-length album began soon after, but due to various setbacks the process turned into a long and seemingly endless project. Finally, in April 2025, the band reached the final stages of completing the album, marking an important milestone in their journey. The debut album Shades of a Dying World is set to be released later in 2026 via Inverse Records.
Edmonton instrumental rock guitarist JON HARRIS returns with a new playthrough video for his track “Wasted Entertainment”, taken from his acclaimed album Parallel Heart, released via Epictronic in December 2024.
“‘Wasted Entertainment’ takes aim at our obsession with social media, calling out the endless scroll that eats away those precious hours of our lives. It’s one of the heavier songs on the album, built on an early riff and loaded with punchy textures and layered sounds that took me a few tries to get right. Recently, I met someone who said it was their favourite track on the whole record, so crank it up!” says Harris.
Parallel Heart is a vivid showcase of Harris’ multi-instrumental skills and compositional vision. While completely instrumental, the album conveys stories of tension and release, exploring the space between connection and chaos, creative ambition and everyday demands. From the pulsing energy of Togetherness to the shimmering retro feel of 97BPM, each track builds its own emotional narrative.
Harris, who performed guitar, drums, bass, piano, and production on the record, proves himself not only a guitarist to watch but a full-scale sonic architect. His sound bridges blues-soaked rock, synth-driven textures, and funk grooves with cinematic flair, evoking a blend that’s reminiscent of Jeff Beck meeting Prince with a modern rock edge.
Track Listing: 1. If You Wouldn’t 2. Wasted Entertainment 3. Entitled 4. Mustard N Ketchup 5. Parallel Heart 6. Mehnoynoy 7. 97BPM 8. My Little Lady 9. Togetherness 10. Humpty Dumpty
“Circle The Drain” Single Posted + EU Tour With Darkest Hour Underway
Creator-Destructor Records welcomes Tacoma, Washington-based thrash/crossover crew DENIAL OF LIFE to the label’s savage roster for the release of their new EP, Witness The Power, posting the cover art, track listing, and track “Circle The Drain.”
DENIAL OF LIFE is a metallic hardcore auditory assault forged in the Pacific Northwest. Channeling the speed and venom of Slayer, the primal fury of Sepultura, and the death-soaked grime of Entombed, they deliver a sound that is merciless, unrelenting, and steeped in darkness. With Brenna Gowin’s searing vocals riding the razor-sharp guitar work of Logan Miller and Dante Zickler, the crushing bass of Brian Bernard, and the pulverizing drums of Nick Cody, the band wages war on false hope and hollow promises.
photos by Liv Margullis
DENIAL OF LIFE’s new EP, Witness The Power, is a grim testament to rage and ruin and the beginning of relentless touring that will spread their chaos far and wide. DENIAL OF LIFE is not here to save you. They are here to burn it all down. Having only formed in 2019, the band has been making waves all over the world, bringing their unique style of crossover to headbangers and hardcore fans alike.
Stream DENIAL OF LIFE’s “Circle The Drain” on YouTube HERE and Bandcamp HERE.
Following several singles, promos, and the 2022 release of their debut LP, No Reason, extensive US touring and a four-week European headlining tour, the band now sets their sights on world domination.
Witness The Power was engineered by Jason Brooks, mixed by Taylor Young at The Pit Recording Studio (Nails, Kruelty, God’s Hate), mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (Obituary, Internal Bleeding, Creeping Death), and completed with artwork by Stein Hansen.
With the EP’s lead single, the band states, “‘Circle The Drain’ is a love song about mourning a personal relationship and feeling shameful because the loss could have been avoided.”
Witness The Power will be released on 12” vinyl, CD, and digitally, via Creator-Destructor Records on November 7th. A music video, preorders and more will be issued over the coming days.
Witness The Power – Track Listing:
Witness The Power
God’s Favorite (Slave To The Blade)
Circle The Drain
Sword Of Fire
Love Sting
Not The One
The news of the new EP arrives as DENIAL OF LIFE launches a European tour, supporting Bleeding Through, Darkest Hour, and Shai Halud. Upon their return stateside, the band goes back out supporting Shai Hulud throughout the Western US in November. See all confirmed dates below and expect additional tour dates to be posted shortly.
DENIAL OF LIFE w/ Darkest Hour, Shai Hulud, Bleeding Through: 10/02/2025 Kavka Zappa – Antwerp, BE 10/03/2025 Tower – Bremen, DE 10/05/2025 Schlachthof – Wiesbaden, DE 10/06/2025 Naumanns – Leipzig, DE 10/07/2025 SO36 – Berlin, DE 10/08/2025 Futurum – Prague, CZ 10/09/2025 Dürer Kert – Budapest, HU 10/10/2025 Hirsch – Nürnberg, DE 10/11/2025 Kiff – Aarau, CH 10/12/2025 Backstage – München, DE w/ Shai Hulud: 11/05/2025 The Aggie Theater – Fort Collins, CO 11/06/2025 Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO 11/07/2025 Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT 11/08/2025 Neurolux – Boise, ID 11/09/2025 Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR 11/11/2025 924 Gilman – San Francisco, CA 11/12/2025 Fulton 55– Fresno, CA 11/13/2025 1720– Los Angeles, CA 11/14/2025 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA 11/15/2025 Garden Amphitheater – Garden Grove, CA
This says it all: the last time a Rock band performed at a Super Bowl halftime show was Coldplay, back in 2016 for Super Bowl 50. That was 9 years ago, folks. 9 years and counting. So much for inclusiveness that the mainstream media and the NFL is always lecturing about.
The Who played the halftime show for Super Bowl 44 back in 2010. That was 15 years ago. 15. Years.
There has never been a true Heavy Metal band that performed at a Super Bowl halftime. KISS did a pre-game show at Super Bowl 33, on January 31, 1999. KISS played ONE SONG. It was their signature song: “Rock and Roll All Nite”. That wasn’t halftime. Plus, that was 27 years ago.
Aerosmith did their halftime show for Super Bowl 35 way back in 2001 and still had to share the stage with a crowded field of Pop and Hip-hop artists; thus making certain that their Hard Rock was watered down as much as possible.
Bonus Sad Fact: Country Music has taken a genuine beating with Super Bowl halftime shows. The last country artist to perform one was Shania Twain for Super Bowl 37, back in 2003. 22 years ago. Sting and No Doubt also performed.
Enough with the embarrassing timeline. My point has been made. Frankly, I really don’t give a shit about the Super Bowl halftime show anymore. My only goal here is to point out the ignorance, intolerance and bias of the decision makers behind the Super Bowl halftime event. If the tables were reversed, just how would the bubble-gum Pop and Hip-hop world respond? I’m stopping there.
Thank you for visiting Metal Odyssey and reading this opinion of mine. I greatly appreciate all the visitors! Metal be thy name. – Stone
Symphonic black metal project VESSELES announces the release of its sophomore full-length album Home, arriving January 16th, alongside the unveiling of the record’s seventh track, “Scriptures Etched Into the Mind’s Pillars.”
“Scriptures Etched Into the Mind’s Pillars” is an ode to the grand tradition of classic symphonic black metal. It is a vehement composition that grapples with the inner fortresses we build to protect ourselves, only to find them transformed into prisons. As relentless as it is majestic, the song marks a lyrical turning point: moving away from searching for solace in one’s origins toward confronting the distress of internal struggle and the elusive quest for peace.
Founded as a personal vessel for Valira, a demon entity navigating existence within the human world, VESSELES fuses cinematic scale with blackened ferocity. Home expands upon the project’s identity-driven narrative, weaving a mythos of belonging, alienation, and ultimate reclamation of power. The album is as much about survival as it is about transcendence, an unflinching exploration of self through sound.
“Home is the sound of returning to a place you’ve never truly known,” says Valira.
With its blend of sweeping orchestration, blistering aggression, and emotional weight, Home establishes VESSELES as one of the most uncompromising voices in contemporary symphonic black metal.
About VESSELES: Founded in 2023, VESSELES is the sonic vessel through which Valira speaks the language of her origins. As composer, orchestrator, and architect, she crafts bleak, incantatory soundscapes that fuse serrated guitars with haunted symphonic textures. Her voice, at once seething and spectral, now rises with increasing clarity, layered across both backing and lead roles in studio and on stage.
This is not performance. It is possession. Through sound, she casts off the human shell and steps fully into her true form: demon, exile, survivor. VESSELES unveiled the debut EP I Am A Demon in 2024, a liturgy of identity dysphoria, rage, and revelation. “Eternally Within Us” follows the recently released 2025 single, “Flesh Throne”.
VESSELES Is: Valira Pietrangelo – guitar and backing vocals J Burial (Joel Ferry) – vocals Ron Graves – bass Nick Brown – drums
Credits: Composed by Valira Pietrangelo. Performed by VESSELES.
New Jersey/Washington DC-based KONTUSION will deploy their dismal death metal to humans along the U.S. East Coast this December in support of their cruel debut album, Insatiable Lust For Death, released at the end of July through Profound Lore Records. The new dates follow KONTUSION’s West Coast U.S. run including Northwest Terror Fest and EU/UK tour with Molder which culminated in a performance at Obscene Extreme Fest in Czech Republic earlier this year.
KONTUSION’s self-booked Insatiable Lust For Death – East Coast 2025 trek will launch December 3rd in Richmond and will run through the 14th, ending in Washington, DC. For these shows, the core band duo of drummer Chris Moore (Repulsion) and vocalist/guitarist Mark Bronzino (ex-Iron Reagan, Mammoth Grinder) will flesh out their lineup with two road-tested live members, bassist Paul Wright (Oxygen Destroyer) and Shar Clay (Death File Red) on second guitar.
See the confirmed dates below and watch for further updates from the band to be issued in the months ahead.
KONTUSION – Insatiable Lust For Death – East Coast 2025:
12/03/2025 Fuzzy Cactus – Richmond, VA
12/04/2025 TV Eye – New York, NY w/ Satanick Magick, Infernal Spawn
12/05/2025 Snake Pit – Philadelphia, PA w/ Cesarean, Spesimen
12/06/2025 Ralph’s Rock Diner – Worcester, MA w/ Primitive Warfare, Ancient Torment, Weird Angel, Bay Of Pigs
12/07/2025 Polish Hill Oubliette – Pittsburgh, PA w/ Death Gasp, Gutgash, Moisty
12/08/2025 Static Age Records – Asheville, NC w/ All Hell
12/09/2025 The Earl – Atlanta, GA w/ Cemetery Filth
12/10/2025 Will’s Pub – Orlando, FL
12/11/2025 Las Rosas – Miami, FL w/ Nuclear II, Antiseptic, Criminally Insane
12/11/2025 The Ox – Gainesville, FL w/ Nuclear II, Velocity Splatter, Found Dead
12/13/2025 New Brookland Tavern – Columbia, SC w/ Primitive Warfare, One Of Nine, Curse Of Flesh
12/14/2025 Pie Show – Washington, DC w/ Unholy Altar, Gorgar, Archael
KONTUSION’s Insatiable Lust For Death is out now on LP, CD, and digitally, streaming and available to purchase where the “Subjugation” video is also streaming at Profound Lore Records HERE.
KONTUSION’s riffs, blasts, and walls of feedback reflect the darkness of a world marred by chaos, where large scale atrocities run amok. Over the Summer, the band delivered the scathing, decimating, rapid-fire attack of their vile debut LP, Insatiable Lust For Death, its ten tracks immersing the listener in a cavernous, hellish tone, while the relentless riffs and percussion remain impeccably tight.
Recorded by Chris Pierce at Volume IV Studios with additional tracking done at Damaged City Studios, Insatiable Lust For Death was mixed by Kevin Bernsten at Developing Nations, mastered by Nick Townsend at Townsend Mastering, and finished with artwork by Rotting Reign and layout by Aaren Molder.
I listen to music across a wide array of mediums, both physical and streaming. With that said, I’ve found myself listening on Spotify more this year than any other before it. With the ease of use and plethora of Metal choices, Spotify has been keeping me in the know. I’ve discovered more new bands, albums and songs like never before, due to the daily recommendations I receive from Spotify.
I actually feel spoiled with such easy access to my favorite music and yet I also feel gratitude. Technology can be more than a Pandora’s box as all the digital music platforms have proven. We’ve come a long way since those Napster days. Music is to be heard, enjoyed and not hidden from being celebrated. Spotify gives music to the masses, whether a user pays a monthly subscription (free from ads) or not.
My growing up during the late 70’s and into the early 80’s as a teenager in America had limited access to music on television; with MTV eventually changing the game. Beforehand there was American Bandstand, Soul Train and USA Networks’ Night Flight. I was a fan of all three! Had to be. It’s all we had for music on TV along with tidbits of related news.
The physical media was the mainstay back then, along with radio, of course. I never in a billion years could’ve foreseen such a remarkable future of music accessibility, via a hand-held phone, back in the day. That was Science Fiction back then. Star Trek stuff.
When it comes to how much artists are compensated from Spotify for listens, I have no clue. I’ve read about the negative blowback that many artists have toward the pay scale Spotify uses. All I can say, in my opinion, is you either use it as a means to get your music heard or you don’t. Admittedly, I will at times purchase physical music media based on what I discover from Spotify. This platform affords artists to sell merch from there as well.
On a side note, I have zero clue about how YouTube compensates musicians and bands. YouTube is easily the one digital platform I use the least for music. After I watch a newly released music video, I’m done, unless the video is worth my time to revisit. That’s just me.
I do know Bandcamp is honestly a tremendous platform for artists to make money; especially with the monthly Bandcamp Friday. I do love Bandcamp! I have purchased a nice collection of digital music, physical media and other merch over the years from Bandcamp. I so highly recommend checking out this platform if you haven’t already.
Thank you for visiting and reading about my thoughts on music streaming. I greatly appreciate all of you visitors! Please feel free to comment! Metal be thy name. – Stone
After nearly a decade of silence, Montreal’s genre-defying metal band Fallstaf is back with a vengeance. Their long-awaited sophomore album, Ode to The Dead, is set for release this Fall 2025, and its first single, the title track, is streaming everywhere alongside a gripping lyric video.
Known as the pioneers of “brass metal,” Fallstaf made waves in 2011 with their debut ‘Bastard Son of a Pure Breed,’ produced by Kevin Jardine (Slaves On Dope). Their signature sound is groove-heavy and progressive metal laced, with trombone, earning them cult status in the Quebec metal scene. Yet in 2016, tragedy struck when frontman IANN suffered a near-fatal accident, leading to the band’s dissolution.
Now, after years of recovery and reflection, Fallstaf has reunited, reignited, and reimagined their sound. Ode to The Dead is a powerful, autobiographical journey through survival, grief, and rebirth. Produced once again by Jardine, the album features seven new tracks that blend sludge, thrash and hardcore influences with melodic hooks and brass-driven chaos.
“This album wasn’t made to impress; it was made out of friendship. Music is therapeutic. Metal brings people together, and we missed that energy,” says the band.
The first single and title track is a tribute to the deceased.
“They are no longer physically here, but they are always in our thoughts; that is the reason for the phrase “they walk among us”. The riff of the chorus gave rise to the rest of the song,” adds the band.
Watch the lyric video for “Ode To The Dead” and experience the rebirth of one of Montreal’s most original metal acts:
Fallstaf’s live shows remain unforgettable: suits and ties, a masked brass player, and a frontman with a robotic leg. “People think we’re a ska band, until the first chord hits,” they laugh. Stay tuned. Fallstaf will be kicking ass live soon!
Ode to the Dead will be available on all major streaming platforms on November 14th, 2025, along with an exclusive interactive collectible coffin USB drive.
Album Credits: Songs performed by: FALLSTAF Songs written by: Ian Lavoie/Kevin Jardine Produced by: Kevin Jardine Mixed by: Kevin Jardine Mastered by: Kevin Jardine Album artwork by: Ian Lavoie MAPL – Canadian Content
Italian/Swedish hard rock/heavy metal band Hell In The Club share today their new single and accompanying lyric video, “Robert the Doll”, ahead of the release of their new studio album, Joker In The Pack, out on November 7, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.
Vocalist Tezzi Persson revealed the story behind the track: “The story of Robert the Doll originates from the early 1900s, when a young boy received a seemingly innocent handmade doll as a gift. Soon after, strange things began happening in the house. The doll was said to move on its own, its expression changing when no one was looking… Watching… Waiting.”
“Whenever something went wrong, the boy had only one explanation: “Robert did it”. Over time, fear took hold. The doll was locked away but never forgotten”, she continued. “Today, the doll resides in a museum in Key West, Florida. Yet, many claim his spirit still lingers. Visitors who mock or disrespect him report accidents, misfortune, and strange occurrences shortly after. So, be on your best behavior… and beware of Robert the Doll.”
Watch the official lyric video for “Robert the Doll” HERE
Hell In The Club, a killer hard rock band with a style rooted in the classic ‘80s sound and its own modern identity, return with their seventh studio album, the first with Swedish singer Tezzi Persson.
The band stated: “This album marks a new era for us, the first chapter of a new beginning. Nine hard rock gems, plus a moving ballad, for an album that’s anything but boring. Intense, exciting, fun… in one word: rock! The wonderful cover artwork is by Alessandro Conti Mix and the master by the always excellent Simone Mularoni of Domination Studio.”
Founded by Andrea “Andy” Buratto (Secret Sphere), Dave “Damna” Moras (Elvenking) and Andrea “Picco” Piccardi, the band has carved out a solid reputation through six acclaimed studio albums, extensive European touring with acts like Crashdïet, Jettblack, and Crucified Barbara, and appearances at major festivals including Sonisphere, Basin Fire Fest, and Heineken Jammin’ Festival.
After signing to Frontiers Records in 2017, Hell In The Club released Hell Of Fame (2020), the KamikazeEP (2020, celebrating their 10th anniversary), and their sixth album F.U.B.A.R. (2022), a straight-up hard rock record hailed as one of their strongest to date.
Following the departure of founding vocalist Dave Moras, the band faced a turning point. Instead of replacing him with a similar voice, bassist Andy proposed a bold shift: introducing a female singer. Enter Terese “Tezzi” Persson (Infinite & Divine, Venus 5), a powerhouse vocalist from Sweden with a voice perfectly suited to the band’s raw, high-energy style. After a single rehearsal, the choice was clear.
In April 2024, Tezzi officially joined the band, debuting with the single “Carolina Reaper.” Momentum quickly built toward the creation of their seventh album: Joker In The Pack.
This new album is the first with Tezzi fronting the band and it captures Hell In The Club at their fiercest. Ten tracks of pure adrenaline, from the fiery opener “The Devil Won’t Forget Me” to the emotional closer “When The Veil Of Night Falls.”
With powerful vocals, gritty guitars, and driving rhythms, Joker In The Pack doesn’t reinvent Hell In The Club, it reinvigorates them, launching a bold new era while staying true to their roots.
Joker In The Pack – Tracklist:
1. The Devil Won’t Forget Me 2. New Desire 3. Dirty Love 4. Robert The Doll 5. Fairytale 6. The Ocean 7. Magnetars 8. Pretty Little Freak Show 9. Out In The Distance 10. When The Veil Of Night Falls
Line Up: Andrea “Andy” Buratto – Bass Terese “Tezzi” Persson – Voice Andrea “Picco” Piccardi – Guitar Marco “Mark” Lazzarini – Drums
Infinity Dream continues its ascent into the grand traditions of heavy metal with the release of their powerful new single, “Freeze” The track is the second single from their highly anticipated second full-length album, Silver Lining, set for release on October 17, 2025, via Nameless Grave Records.
Following last month’s “Lost Embrace” single, “Freeze” showcases the band’s mastery of atmosphere and dynamics. Majestic keyboards, harmonized guitars, and an anthemic blending of the mystique of occult rock with the hard-hitting power of classic metal.
For fans of Tony Martin-era Black Sabbath, Dio, and Rainbow, Infinity Dream crafts songs with emotional power and cinematic scope. Silver Lining promises to be their most ambitious work yet, pushing their sound into richer and more powerful territory.
The new single “Freeze” is available now on all digital streaming platforms.
New Orleans death thrash trio HERAKLEION will unleash Live Through Eternity independently on October 16th.
The nine-track live recording was captured on April 17th of this year at Chelsea’s Live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana while supporting Obituary. The album is the entire, unedited, and un-doctored HERAKLEION performance from the evening. It was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Paul Emden. No tracks were added or altered during or after the performance. This is the band, live off the soundboard, and nothing more.
The band comments, “Live Through Eternity captures everything about our live show that we felt the studio albums lack. Every song is faster, angrier, and tighter when we’re onstage. The recording took place at one show and was one continuous take. It wasn’t staged, overdubbed, or compiled over the course of an entire tour, and it wasn’t aligned to a grid. No dead air was cut. No extra crowd noise was added. Nothing was altered. What is on tape is what went on at the show. We’d just come off a tour with Exhorder and were supporting Obituary on this night. We were primed and ready for anything and anyone.”
Live Through Eternity will be released on CD and cassette formats with digital to follow at a later date. Find preorders HERE.
Live Through Eternity – Track Listing:
Herakleion
New Song
The Tomb
Curse Of Eternity
Cryogenic Death
Blood Of Nessus
Obsidian King
Where Crows Dare Not Go
Into… Necroverse
HERAKLEION’s Live Through Eternity will be released in conjunction with a trio of live dates supporting Cavalera. The band will also support Obituary in December and Acid Bath in March with more shows to be confirmed in the weeks to come. See all confirmed dates below.
HERAKLEION Live: 10/16/2025 White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX w/ Cavalera 10/17/2025 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX w/ Cavalera 10/18/2025 Ferris Wheeler’s Backyard BBQ – Dallas, TX w/ Cavalera 12/11/2025 The Handlebar – Pensacola, FL 12/12/2025 The Bark – Tallahassee, FL 12/14/2025 The Brass Mug – Tampa, FL w/ Obituary 3/21/2026 The Caverns – Pelham, TN w/ Acid Bath, Obituary SOLD OUT
Fast rising HERAKLEION released their critically adored Necroverse EP independently last Fall. The offering boasts five tracks of living, seething death thrash that serves as the listener’s vessel from the world of mortality into the realm of the dead. Songs focus on the morbid curiosity that humanity has with the afterlife.
HERAKLEION – named after an ancient Egyptian city that was thought to be a myth but was actually discovered underwater in 2000 – was forged in 2020 when drummer Speed Wilson, met guitarist/vocalist Apollo Xydias. Bassist Christian Woerner rounded out the lineup in April of the following year. Influenced by the likes of Morbid Angel, Pestilence, and Voïvod, the band spent the Summer writing and tracked what was intended to be their first demo.
Duane Simoneaux (Crowbar, Down, Exhorder) of OCD Recording And Production was brought in to mix and master those tracks, which saw release as the band’s debut EP, Curse Of Eternity, in February 2022. Since that time, HERAKLEION has been booking itself across the Southeast US to promote their debut, including a handful of small tours with Goatwhore, Skeletal Remains, Exhorder, and more.
Dêmocide, the new full-length from Portland, Oregon’s DISPOSSESSED, is out now and streaming via Carbonized Records!
Dêmocide contains five tracks of devastating, sludgy doom. Recorded by Mike Vera at VeraTone (Juliana Hatfield, Great Falls), mastered by James Plotkin at Plotkinworks (Earth, Sunn O))), Khanate, Amarok), and completed with cover art by Abomination Hammer, the track “If I Must Die” features synthesizers by B. Pierpont and an original poem by Dr. Refaat Alareer. Dêmocide reflects the band’s ongoing commitment to challenging silence and injustice through sound; direct, unrelenting, and deeply resonant.
Dêmocide is out now on LP, CD, MC, and digitally. Find orders at the Carbonized Records webshop HEREand Bandcamp HERE.
Dêmocide – Track Listing:
Exanimate
Concrete Tomb
Opulent Doom
Watan
If I Must Die
DISPOSSESSED just kicked off their West Coast tour in support of Dêmocide’s release. The journey commenced with a hometown record release show September 27th. See all confirmed dates below.
DISPOSSESSED Live: 10/03/2025 Waterfront Skatepark – Bellingham, WA 10/04/2025 Red Gate– Vancouver, BC 10/05/2025 Slice Of Life Pizza – Tacoma, WA 10/06/2025 Jules Maes – Seattle, WA 10/07/2025 The Crypt – Olympia, WA 10/08/2025 Naked Lounge – Chico, CA 10/09/2025 Cafe Colonial – Sacramento, CA 10/10/2025 Arcata @ Moss Oak Commons– Eureka, CA 10/11/2025 Hesher’s Pizza – Oakland, CA
DISPOSSESSED infuses elements of sludge, doom, and death metal into a commanding sound rooted in anger, despair, and political resistance. Formed in 2014, the band emerged from Portland’s metal scene with a mission to confront systems of oppression through uncompromising, feedback-driven music.
Their sound combines slow-burning riffs, bleak atmospheres, and a raw, aggressive energy that draws influence from bands like Corrupted, Asunder, Winter, and Grief. Lyrically and thematically, DISPOSSESSED engages directly with issues such as systemic violence, environmental destruction, and carceral injustice, grounding their work in anti-authoritarian ideals.
Back in 2019, DISPOSSESSED released their debut full-length, Exanimate, a searing critique of societal collapse. They returned in 2022 with the “Makhnovshchina” single, continuing to explore revolutionary themes through crushing, emotionally charged compositions.
One Band To Conquer Them All! After another successful year in 2025, to send one unsigned and independent American band to play the world’s most prestigious and largest already sold-out metal festivals, Wacken Open Air, Wacken Metal Battle USA announces submissions for the 2026 battle are now open as of October 1st until December 1st
“I am beyond stoked to bring back the Wacken Metal Battle to the US. Every year we get invited to participate is an opportunity to grow. This year will be no different. We will be bringing back some cities that haven’t participated in a few years, and we will be adding at least one new city/state to the competition. Do you have what it takes to represent the US at Wacken? Sign up now!” – Eric Dow – Artist & Promoter Relations.
The 2026 WMBU champion will receive the following:
A slot at the 2025 Wacken Open Air Festival.
Full professional backline provided.
$1,000 USD towards flights to Germany.
VIP camping at the festival.
At the 2025 WMBU national finals held this past June at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ, Southern California and Arizona-based band MOURNING HIGH emerged as the seventh champion selected to represent the United States at the prestigious international showdown, Wacken Open Air, that took place from July 30th to August 2nd in Wacken, Germany, where over 185,000 attendees from around the world gathered.
Mourning High, crowned the West Coast Winner, competed alongside five other standout American bands:PRIME PROPHECY(New Jersey), WHAT’S WRONG(Pacific Northwest), PONTIFEX (Florida), FIREHAZE(East Coast), and BROKEN TIME (Texas).
A panel of seasoned industry professionals, including Jeff Buttermark (FM Management), Shawn Quinn (Napalm Records/FM Management), and Rob Caggiano (formerly of Anthrax and Volbeat), ultimately selected Mourning High as the top U.S. act to perform at the International Wacken Battle.
For the last 7 years of battles (2017-2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), Wacken Metal Battle USAhas hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the world’s largest metal festival, Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany. 2019 saw the festival celebrate its 30th anniversary, but due to COVID, the 2020 and 2021 editions were both canceled. As the metal community regains its strength, Wacken Open Air 2026 will be the 35th edition of the festival and will be held from July 29th to August 1st.
The 2026 event is already sold out with a line-up that includes Def Leppard, Lamb Of God, In Flames, Powerwolf, Emperor, Sepultura, and Running Wild, among others. Details here.
Wacken Metal Battle USA is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance to win their spot among over 55 other countries’ champions, and represent the USA in an international battle of the bands at the world’s largest outdoor metal festival: Wacken Open Air. The battles have been hosted at the festival for over a decade and give independent bands the opportunity to showcase their talents to an international audience, along with the chance to win multiple prizes.
How it works: Participating cities will host qualifying rounds plus a city final organized by a local city concert promoter, where one band will move forward to the American national final (date and city to be determined). The winner of the national final will move on to perform at the Wacken Open Air 2026 and compete against the winners of 30 other countries in a final global battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.
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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