German progressive death metal masters, OBSCURA, are set to return to the U.S. this spring for the ‘Stardust Tour.’ The 18-date run begins on March 15th at the legendary Whisky-A-Go-Go in Hollywood, includes key stops in Austin, Philadelphia, and Detroit, and concludes on April 3rd in Roseville, CA. They will be joined by ALLEGAEON, COGNITIVE, and CRYPTOSIS.
Tickets for the tour will be available on Friday, December 19th at 10:00 PST.
Confirmed dates for OBSCURA‘s ‘Stardust’ US 2026 tour with ALLEGAEON, COGNITIVE, and CRYPTOSIS are:
03.13.2026 USA Los Angeles, CA @ Whisky-A-Go-Go 03.14.2026 USA Tucson, AZ @ The Rock 03.15.2026 USA El Paso, TX @ Rockhouse Bar & Grill 03.16.2026 USA Austin, TX @ Come And Take It Live 03.17.2026 USA Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street Collective 03.18.2026 USA Haltom City, TX @ Haltom Theater 03.23.2026 USA Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts 03.24.2026 USA Brooklyn, NY @ The Meadows 03.25.2026 USA Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom 03.26.2026 USA Rochester, NY @ Photo City Music All 03.27.2026 USA Lakewood, OH @ Mercury Music Lounge 03.28.2026 USA Detroit, MI @ The Sanctuary 03.29.2026 USA Joilet, IL @ The Forge 03.30.2026 USA Kansas City, MO @ Warehouse On Broadway 03.31.2026 USA Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep 04.01.2026 USA Salt Late City, UT @ Aces High Saloon 04.02.2026 USA Reno, NV @ Club Underground 04.03.2026 USA Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post
A double-dose of Blade smackin’ you ALL UP with 200 Stab Wounds and INGESTED alongside a stacked lineup with the likes of Thy Art Is Murder, Bodysnatcher, Carnifex, Gates to Hell and Bodybox!
General tickets on sale this Friday at 10AM local time.
5/2 Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren 5/3 Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theater 5/5 San Antonio, TX @ Vibes Event Center 5/6 Houston, TX @ House of Blues 5/8 Nashville, TX @ Brooklyn Bowl 5/10 Daytona Beach, FL @ Welcome To Rockville* 5/12 Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore 5/13 Baltimore, MD @ Nevermore Hall 5/14 Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple* 5/15 Reading, PA @ Reverb 5/16 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium* 5/17 Brooklyn, NY @ The Brooklyn Monarch 5/19 Chicago, IL @ Ramova Theatre 5/20 Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom 5/22 Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre 5/23 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Rockwell 5/24 Boise, ID @ Treefort Music Hall 5/26 Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo 5/27 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater 5/29 Berkeley, CA @ UC Theatre 5/30 Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern 5/31 Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues
Milwaukee Metal Festival 2026 is pleased to now reveal the headliner day splits! ACID BATH will conquer Friday, followed by KILLSWITCH ENGAGE on Saturday with newly added headliner MINISTRY to close out the weekend! In addition, the festival has announced over 20 new additions, which can be found below!
All single day, 2-day and 3-day ticketing options can be found HERE.
The festival will now take place June 5 – 7, 2026, with the pre-party kicking off on June 4! The festival will take place once again at The Rave/Eagles Ballroom.
Co-organizer Jamey Jasta comments: “2026 is shaping up to be our best year yet and we’re just getting started! More bands, more stages, more vendors, more food, more signings, it’s gonna be the best weekend EVER! See you in the good the land!”
The current lineup is now as follows with more TBA:
ACID BATH KILLSWITCH ENGAGE MINISTRY OBITUARY POWERTRIP AGALLOCH AFTER THE BURIAL ALL SHALL PERISH NAILS IRON REAGAN HAVOK NUNSLAUGHTER HIRAX INTEGRITY PRONG INTERNAL BLEEDING UADA DEADGUY MASTER WEEKEND NACHOS MORTA SKULD POLKADOT CADAVER SWORN ENEMY BELUSHI SPEEDBALL INCITE CASKET ROBBERY DUSK JEFFREY NOTHING BRICK BY BRICK DEAD BY WEDNESDAY HUMAN ARTIFACTS THANATOTIC DESIRE EYES OF THE LIVING MISERY STRIKING 13 TRIP TO THE MORGUE DARK HORSE PROPHET & OVER 40 MORE ARTISTS / BANDS TO BE ANNOUNCED!
THE AMONKLOK CONQUEST: North America 2026 co-headline tour featuring Amon Amarth and Dethklok with special guests Castle Rat.
Tickets on-sale Friday, December 12th.
04.15 – Phoenix, AZ | Arizona Federal Theatre 04.17 – San Antonio, TX | Tech Port Center + Arena 04.18 – Houston, TX | 713 Music Hall 04.20 – Oklahoma City, OK | The Criterion 04.21 – Kansas City, MO | The Midland Theatre 04.22 – Chesterfield, MO | The Factory 04.24 – Minneapolis, MN | The Armory 04.25 – Waukee, IA | Vibrant Music Hall 04.28 – New York, NY | Brooklyn Paramount 04.29 – Boston, MA | MGM Music Hall at Fenway 05.01 – Toronto, ON | The Great Canadian Casino 05.02 – Montreal, QC | Centre Bell 05.05 – National Harbor, MD | MGM National Harbor 05.09 – Atlanta, GA | Coca-Cola Roxy 05.10 – Nashville, TN | The Pinnacle 05.12 – Johnstown, PA | 1st Summit Arena 05.13 – Detroit, MI | Fox Theatre 05.14 – Bethlehem, PA | The Wind Creek Event Center 05.16 – Milwaukee, WI | Landmark Credit Union Live 05.19 – Denver, CO | The JunkYard 05.20 – Salt Lake City, UT | The Union Event Center 05.21 – Las Vegas, NV | Planet Hollywood
Belarusian Death Metal Pack, Eximperitus, are set to release the follow-up to 2021’s widely praised sophomore album, Šahrartu! Willowtip Records will unleash Meritoriousnessof Equanimity January 30th, on vinyl, cassette, CD, and digital formats.
The album’s first single, “The Untimely Fruit of the Unsaid,” is available now on all digital platforms, including: YouTube, Bandcamp, Spotify, Deezer, and Apple Music.
“In times when despair overflows human hearts… when the chasm of strife between civilizations widens… when loyalty to ideologies tears blood ties apart… when the world stands still, poised for the final leap of prolonged self-destruction… We can draw strength solely from internal sources, which are filled only by the multifaceted power of Death Metal…“
– Eximperitus
Eximperitus‘ forthcoming third album, Meritoriousness of Equanimity, contains nine independent compositions united by the idea of searching for inner support in an era of turbulence. Exposure and scourging of social dogmas and morbid tendencies on the ruins of the old world…
I. One Step Long Infinity. II. Contemplation of the Plastic Fibers of Perfection at the Second Level of Reality. III. Twelve Centuries of Triumph of the Third Kingdom… IV. Finding Consistency in the Fourth Quadrant of Eternity. V. The Untimely Fruit of the Unsaid. VI. Golden Chains for the Construction of Individual Greatness. VII. Molecular Disintegration of an Unattainable Solitary Will in a Vessel of Wisdom… VIII. Chalkionic Wandering Among the Wreckage of the Future. IX. Standing at the Skirt of the Ruins of Human Nature (…on the Other Side of Man and Time).
UK death metal band UNBURIER has returned with a vengeance on their latest single, “Survive the Vermin“. The new song introduces the band’s upcoming EP, As Time Awaits, with the appropriate blend of ferocity and spellbinding technicality. Vocalist and guitarist Ben Champion shows off a viscerally emotive vocal range, skillfully punctuating his mid-range snarls with screeching highs for maximum impact.
Bassist Stan Mitchell and drummer Kim Hughes lay the foundation for the song’s intensity with a punchy, driving rhythm section. Finally, guitarist Blake Hibberd propels the momentum forward with a relentless barrage of twisting, turning, shredding leads. The lyrics of “Survive The Vermin” develop themes of purpose and identity on the EP, through a first-person account of a cosmic, immortal warrior.
Surrendering flesh for steel, the narrator struggles to detach themselves from the sensations they thought to have discarded. The lyrics ask if, when we give ourselves wholly to one purpose, it is worth sacrificing the simplicity of everyday life. Paying homage to sci-fi author Nate Crowley and absurdist philosophy, “Survive The Vermin” provides the most direct declaration of the themes behind the EP.
About UNBURIER: Hailing from the south of England, UNBURIER stormed onto the death metal scene in the summer of 2022 with their debut EP Twisted Existence. The EP showcased the band’s undeniable technical abilities, in addition to their raw and harrowing sound. In 2024, UNBURIER returned with their follow-up EP, Nebulous, on which the band refined their songwriting and technical prowess. On this release, the band ventured even deeper into the realms of their death metal influences, among which they count DEATH, NECROPHAGIST, and REVOCATION.
Having conquered stages alongside the likes of SANGUISUGABOGG, CRYPTA, and PARTY CANNON, as well as making notable appearances at Bloodstock Open Air and Incineration Festival, UNBURIER continues to carve a path alongside giants of the death metal genre. Their upcoming third EP, As Time Awaits, sees UNBURIER blending old and new-school death metal styles with technicality, hooks, and razor-sharp songwriting. Carrying the torch of the classic death metal sound into a new age, As Time Awaits is certain to enthrall longtime fans of the genre.
Extreme metal duo Gravewitch have released their brand-new music video “Mistress Hate,” a blistering visual companion to their self-titled album, which dropped this past June via Rock Sun Records. The release marks a defining moment for the band, showcasing their evolution from raw beginnings to a fully realised professional sound.
Formed in 2013 by childhood friends Chris Fleming (guitar/vocals) and Andrew Ingraham (drums), Gravewitchwas born out of a shared passion for heavy music and a desire to carve their own path in the underground scene.
“We’ve been best friends since childhood and decided to create Gravewitch when we were sophomores in high school. This band has always been about pushing ourselves creatively and staying true to our vision,” says Fleming.
Fusing elements of Black Metal, Thrash, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, and Cascadian Black Metal into a sound that is both punishing and atmospheric, Gravewitch is relentless, melodic, heavy, intriguing, and old-school.
Gravewitch’s self-titled album takes listeners on a dark and diverse journey through ten tracks, each with its own distinct theme and musical identity. From the haunting portrayal of early 1900s insane asylums in Damnable Evil to the personal nightmare of sleep paralysis in Phantasm, the band blends thrash, black, and melodic elements with precision.
Track Listing: 1. Damnable Evil (4:24) 2. Phantasm (4:21) 3. Mistress of Hate (4:13) 4. Ritual Reanimation (4:35) 5. Atmospheric Alterations (4:31) 6. White City Devil (4:00) 7. Woodland Trance (5:09) 8. Systematic Fallout (4:21) 9. Operation Overlord (5:27) 10. The Once Sacred Gift of Life (3:32) Album Length: 44:38
Mistress of Hate revisits the brutality of witch trials, while Ritual Reanimation summons undead armies through thrash-driven intensity. Nature and atmosphere dominate Atmospheric Alterations, contrasting with the chilling true-crime narrative of White City Devilabout serial killer H.H. Holmes.
Woodland Trance evokes haunted forests with cascadian black metal textures, and Systematic Falloutdelivers pure thrash chaos alongside the band’s first-ever guitar solo. War themes emerge in Operation Overlord, immersing listeners in the chaos of D-Day, while The Once Sacred Gift of Lifecloses the album with grief, mortality, and the origins of Gravewitch’s sound. Together, the record showcases the duo’s ability to fuse extreme metal subgenres into a cohesive yet varied listening experience.
“Written during the chaos of 2020, our self-titled album reflects the uncertainty of the times. We had no idea if these songs were ever going to see the light of day. The chaotic energy of the world matched the diversity of the music, so we embraced different lyrical topics that had nothing to do with each other,” adds Fleming.
The new video “Mistress Hate”captures the raw energy and occult-inspired aesthetic that defines Gravewitch. Filmed in South Wales, United Kingdom by Ritual Video, the clip features the same actress who played “The Witch” in the band’s debut video “Circle of Power” from their first album The Summoning.
Recommended for fans of Gravewitch‘s self-titled album, released on June 18, 2025, via Rock Sun Records, is available on all digital platforms and CD.
Album Credits: All songs performed by: Chris Fleming & Andrew Ingraham All songs written by: Chris Fleming & Andrew Ingraham Produced by: Johnny Davis Mixed by: Johnny Davis Mastered by: Jay Maas Artwork by: Agustinsane Iryanto
Montréal’s PHOBOCOSM has released a new song off their forthcoming album, Gateway. “Unbound” marks the album’s second single. Stream it now at www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaA1nNAyQus
Dark Descent Records will release Gateway on CD, vinyl, cassette and digital formats on November 28.
Gateway stands as an unrelenting and eldritch death metal opus that seals one chapter while unveiling the next. The album includes material from every songwriting period of the band, some of it dating back to the Deprived and Bringer of Drought eras, as well as Foreordained, of course,” explains guitarist Samuel Dufour.
Gateway was recorded, mixed, and mastered by long-time collaborator Xavier Berthiaume (Gevurah, Sanctvs) during the same session as Foreordained, giving the two records a consistent sonic throughline while allowing Gateway to close established narratives.
“We view it as the closing of a chapter for the band,” Dufour continues. “Not that our future material will be completely different from our existing material, far from it, but we have decided to do things a little differently next time around by adding new elements that haven’t appeared in our music before, exploring different dynamics and experimenting with a new tuning.”
Thematically, Gateway grows from ideas first explored on Foreordained: “The song ‘Revival’ from Foreordained inspired the album’s theme, which is the fact that humans have been trying to live forever – or to unnaturally prolong life – since the dawn of time, often for reasons even more absurd than the pursuit of eternal life itself,” elaborates Dufour.
“We used this as the main theme and pushed the concept further, exploring the most repulsive forms of cruelty humans are capable of, even when using science as a means to prolong barbarity against their enemies.”
Visually, the album continues PHOBOCOSM’s collaboration with Lauri Laaksonen (Desolate Shrine, Convocation, Pestilent Hex). “From looking at it, one can see that it is a gateway to something ominous, but what lies beyond is up to the listener.”
UK exclusive performances from the brutal slamming death metallers Devourment and Ohio brutal death metal powerhouse Regurgitation, with their first ever UK show
New additions also include Immortal Suffering, Unbirth, Butcher ABC, Fecundation, Guttural Slug, Darkall Slaves, Kakothansy, Crepitation, Strangle Wire, Lymphoaedema, Ovulating Cadaver, Repulsed and Dissolving Entity
Offal Fest is taking place on 24-26 July 2026 at The Bread Shed, Manchester. Purchase tickets: Offal-Fest.com
Manchester, UK; 21 November 2025:Offal Fest, dedicated to the most extreme sounds in gore, grind, slam and brutal death metal, has secured two monumental UK-exclusive headlining performances and unveiled its (nearly) full 2026 line-up.
Brutal slamming death metal pioneers Devourment are confirmed to headline the Saturday night, bringing a UK-exclusive set to the Manchester stage. Joining them as the Sunday headliners, making their first-ever UK appearance for a special exclusive performance, are Ohio brutal death metal powerhouse, Regurgitation.
The all-star international roster is significantly bolstered by the addition of New York brutal death metal legends ImmortalSuffering, who will be returning to the UK next year for an exclusive performance. Anyone who caught their incredible performance earlier this year already knows the sheer ferocity they bring to the stage.
Offal Fest continues its tradition of championing outstanding international extreme talent, welcoming a substantial wave of European and Asian heavy-hitters. This includes insane Italian talent with Unbirth and Inverecund, Butcher ABC from Japan and Fecundation from Korea. Guttural Slug from Denmark will return after their crushing live debut at the first iteration of Offal Fest, and the international bill is rounded out by Darkall Slaves hailing from France and Kakothanasy from Switzerland, both performing a UK exclusive set.
The line-up is also packed with outstanding UK and Irish talent, including the “wobble-box superstars” Crepitation, who will be headlining the pre-show, alongside Irish acts StrangleWire and one-man gorenoise chaos Lymphoeadema. Completing the UK contingent are OvulatingCadaver, Repulsed and Dissolving Entity, all adding to the ferocious three-day experience.
They join the previously announced mix of established and rising acts in the extreme metal scene. Scottish brutal death metal band Laceration, London-based brutal death metal band Twitch Of The Death Nerve, Czech brutal death metal band Epicardiectomy, Greek three-piece brutal death metallers Embryectomy, Glaswegian five-piece death metal band Scordatura, veteran US brutal death metal band Lividity, the long-awaited reunion of UK brutal death metal band Infected Disarray, Manchester newcomers Disgracing, who made their live debut at this year’s Offal and Manchester four-piece Brutal Death Metal band Coprocephalic Mutation will be returning to the fest in 2026.
Fans should note that while the full line-up is confirmed, there is one TBC spot at the bottom of the poster, with more information to be announced very soon on social channels; day splits will also be announced at a later date.
Rancid Offal Promotions, the team behind Goremageddon and Offal Fest, said: “We are excited to finally drop the full line-up for Offal! We knew we had to go absolutely huge this year, building on this year’s massive success. So, locking down Devourment for a UK exclusive and getting Regurgitation over for their first-ever UK gig is just insane. We’ve managed to pull in extreme talent from all over the world – Japan, Korea, Europe – alongside the best of the UK, Irish and local scenes. Get ready for three days of utter brutality next year in the new home of extreme metal; Manchester!”
Offal Fest 2025 was a sold-out success. The event featured the likes of Foetal Juice, 357 Homicide, a UK exclusive performance by Skinless, who performed their album “Progression Towards Evil” in full, a UK exclusive set from Begging For Incest, exclusive co-headlining sets by Defeated Sanity and Wormed, as well as exclusive performances from Imperious Mortality, Plasma, Cerebral Effusion and 55Gore.
Offal Fest 2026 is taking place on 24-26 July 2026 at The Bread Shed in Manchester. Secure your entry via https://offal-fest.com/
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions are set to release the new album from Chicago’s Blackened Death Metal gods of war: Blood Of The Wolf. V: Indomitable is up now for pre-order and will be released on December 19th on CD and Digital formats along with merch.
Blood Of The Wolf return to Horror Pain Gore Death Productions with their new album V: Indomitable! Hailing from Chicago Illinois, Blood Of The Wolf retaliate with overwhelming vengeance, pulverizing the weak with eight new songs executed with barbaric cruelty. Prepare yourself for murky massive riffs, relentless blast beats and commanding vocals on V: Indomitable… all glory to the Gods of War!
For fans of Belphegor, God Dethroned, Hate, Incantation, Marduk, Morbid Angel and Vader.
+ Narcotic Wasteland Headlining EU Tour Dates Nov-Dec 2025
Extreme metal juggernaut NARCOTIC WASTELAND has announced they will be joining the“Praise the Beast North American Tour” with BELPHEGOR, INCANTATION, and HATE for February and March 2026, continuing their relentless assault on stages worldwide. This marks the band’s third major run in less than a year, following the “Annihilation of Wasteland Tour” across the U.S. in September 2025 and their headlining “Annihilation of Europe Tour” in November and December 2025.
Fronted by guitarist/vocalist Dallas Toler-Wade (ex-Nile), Narcotic Wasteland has built a reputation for uncompromising brutality, technical precision and lyrical themes that confront addiction, corruption, and societal decay. Their recent tours have drawn packed venues and critical acclaim, cementing their place as one of the most ferocious acts in modern death metal.
“The energy we felt from fans in both North America and Europe has been incredible. We’re coming back harder than ever in 2026. Expect a setlist that spans our catalog, new material, and the kind of intensity that defines Narcotic Wasteland,”says Toler-Wade.
The upcoming tour will see the band storm through major cities across the U.S. and Canada, dates and venues listed below. The tour is a crushing lineup, making this one of the most anticipated metal tours of early 2026.
Tickets for the “Praise the Beast North American Tour” with BELPHEGOR, INCANTATION, HATE, and NARCOTIC WASTELAND go on sale on Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2025, at 12:00 pm PST / 3:00 pm EST.
Praise the Beast North American Tour 2026 w/ BELPHEGOR, Incantation, Hate, Narcotic Wasteland: Feb-19 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Monarch Feb-20 – Lowell, MA – Taffeta Music Hall Feb-21 – Montreal, QC – Le Studio TD Feb-22 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace Feb-23 – Lakewood, OH – Mercury Music Hall Feb-24 – Joliet, IL – The Forge Feb-26 – Denver, CO – HQ Feb-27 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad Feb-28 – Haltom City, TX – Haltom Theater Mar-1 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar Mar-2 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger Mar-5 – Mesa, AZ – The Rosetta Room Mar-6 – San Diego, CA – Brick by Brick Mar-7 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge Mar-8 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post Mar-9 – Los Angeles, CA – 1720 Mar-10 – Anaheim, CA – The Observatory
Narcotic Wasteland – Annihilation of Europe Headlining Tour: 13.11 – Oslo, Norway – Brewgata 14.11 – Lublin, Poland – Fabryka Kuitury Zgrzyt 15.11 – Bratislava, Slovakia – Pink Whale 16.11 – Vienna, Austria – Escape Metal Corner 17.11 – Ostritz, Germany – AZ Meva 18.11 – Lübbenau, Germany – Kulturhof 19.11 – Kassel, Germany – Goldgrube 20.11 – Kortrijk, Belgium – DVG Club 21.11 – Alkmaar, Netherlands – Herrie Metal Fest 22.11 – Milton Keynes, England – Craufurd Arms 23.11 – Sheffield, England – Record Junkee 24.11 – Nottingham, England – Billy Bootleggers 25.11 – Manchester, England – Junior Jackson’s 26.11 – London, England – The Black Heart 27.11 – Newcastle upon Tyne, England – The Lubber Fiend 29.11 – Rennes, France – Ty Anna Tavern 30.11 – Paris, France – Le Zorba 01.12 – Basel, Switzerland – Valhalla Bar 02.12 – San Giovanni Lupatoto, Italy – Damage Inc. 03.12 – Bologna, Italy -Freakout Club 04.12 – Trodica Di Morrovalle, Italy – Drunkin public 05,12 – Pordenone, Italy – Tune Music lab 06.12 – Salzburg, Austria – Rockhouse Bar 07.12 – Graz, Austria – Explosiv 08.12 – Belgrade, Serbia – Bleed to Death Fest 09.12 – Sofia, Bulgaria – Grindhouse 10.12 – Bucharest, Romania – Encore Club 11.12 – Budapest, Hungary – Turbina 12.12 – Olomouc, Czech Republic – Sklub 13.12 – Krakow, Poland – Confession Club 14.12 – Bilbao, Spain – D8 Sorkuntza faktoria 15.12 – Madrid, Spain – Wurlitzer Ballrom 16.12 – Barcelona, Spain – Sala Deskomunal
Narcotic Wasteland has carved out its place as a dominant force in the modern metal scene. At the helm is guitarist and vocalist Dallas Toler-Wade, celebrated for his tenure with Nile, whose unmatched precision and commanding stage presence drive the band’s sonic assault.
Behind the kit, Joseph Howard delivers a relentless barrage of power and accuracy, propelling the band’s crushing rhythms with thunderous authority.
Anchoring the low end, Kenji Tsunami injects depth and texture with inventive, hard-hitting bass lines. His formidable musicianship and commanding presence add another layer to the band’s overwhelming wall of sound.
Together, Dallas, Joseph, and Kenji form a unit that is both unstoppable and uncompromising, captivating audiences with explosive performances and boundary-pushing compositions.
Metal Blade Records has teamed up with renowned artist Vince Locke to create designs for exclusive merchandise that the legendary label will sell for Erik Rutan – guitarist in Cannibal Corpse and famed Producer at MANA RECORDING STUDIOS – who suffered severe damage by Hurricane Helene in 2024.
The below items are Erik Rutan approved and available for fans at this location: metalblade.com/erikrutanwith all money collected going directly to Rutan to help him replace studio and musical gear for a new MANA RECORDING STUDIOS – gear that Rutan has used to produce a massive list of metal albums over the last two plus decades at Mana Recording.
– Erik Rutan – MANA RECORDING STUDIOS Snap Back Hat
– Erik Rutan – Vince Locke (Signed Print) 11×17: Limited edition 60 signed prints, Vince Locke created and gifted this image, signed by both Vince and Erik
– Erik Rutan – MANA RECORDING STUDIOS T-Shirt
– Erik Rutan – Vince Locke Original Design T-Shirt: Vince Locke created and gifted this image.
About Erik Rutan – Producer | Guitarist | Visionary:
Erik Rutan is one of extreme metal’s most respected and multi-dimensional forces, renowned not only for his blistering guitar work and songwriting in legendary bands Hate Eternal, Morbid Angel, and Cannibal Corpse, but also as a prolific producer and founder of Mana Recording Studios, where he’s helped shape the sound of death metal for decades.
Rutan began his career in the late ‘80s with Ripping Corpse, appearing on their influential Dreaming With The Dead (1991), then playing as a touring guitarist with Morbid Angel for Covenant (1993). Rutan then joined permanently to record the classic albums Domination (1995), Entangled In Chaos (1996), and Gateways To Annihilation (2000). In 1997, he formed Hate Eternal, taking on guitar, vocals, and full creative control.
In 2002, Rutan left Morbid Angel to focus on Hate Eternal and Mana Recording Studios. The band’s discography: Conquering The Throne, King Of All Kings, I, Monarch, The Perilous Fight, Fury & Flames, Phoenix Amongst The Ashes, Infernus, and Upon Desolate Sands – has cemented Rutan’s reputation as a technical innovator and one of death metal’s most uncompromising architects.
Equally revered behind the console, Rutan opened his recording studio in 1999 and founded Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida. The studio has since become a premiere destination for extreme music, hosting sessions for a who’s who of death metal as well as other styles of music.
His production, engineering, and mixing credits include a staggering list of landmark albums: Cannibal Corpse (Kill, Evisceration Plague, Torture, Red Before Black, Violence Unimagined, Chaos Horrific), Goatwhore (A Haunting Curse, Carving Out The Eyes Of God, Blood For The Master, Constricting Rage Of The Merciless), Krisiun (Conquerors Of Armageddon, Forged In Fury), Soilent Green (Confrontation, Inevitable Collapse In The Presence Of Conviction), Madball (Empire, Rebellion), Into The Moat (The Design, The Campaign), Tombs (Savage Gold, The Grand Annihilation). Agnostic Front, The Mountain Goats, Vital Remains, Belphegor, Through The Eyes Of The Dead, Rivers Of Nihil, Ether Coven, Aeon, Ephel Duath, Nile, Black Fast, Lizzy Borden, as well as the entire Hate Eternal catalog among many others.
In 2019, after years of collaboration, Rutan joined Cannibal Corpse as touring guitarist and then in 2021 became a full-time guitarist, making his recording debut as a member with Violence Unimagined and also Chaos Horrific. He contributed rhythm and lead guitar as well as songwriting on three tracks for each album, while also producing, engineering, and mixing the albums, earning widespread acclaim. “Erik’s influence and musical knowledge have elevated everything around us,” bassist Alex Webster said. “He brings a work ethic and vision that’s unmatched.”
Despite his commitments to Cannibal Corpse, Rutan remains devoted to Hate Eternal and Mana Recording Studios. “Hate Eternal is my life’s work,” he told Premier Guitar, “and producing – that’s where I channel a different part of my creativity. I want to help bands create the best version of themselves.” With a legacy that spans multiple roles and generations, Rutan continues to define and redefine the sound of extreme metal, both onstage and behind the scenes in the studio.
About Metal Blade Records:
Founded upon owner Brian Slagel‘s enduring drive to find great bands and get their music out to as many people as possible, since 1982 Metal Blade has brought wave after wave of powerful, innovative, and often genre-defining music to the ever-hungry metal masses. It is this ethos that has seen Metal Blade build up a stunning and diverse catalog, weather the various storms facing any independent label, and in an age of declining record sales boast the most successful years of its existence as it celebrates its fourth decade.
Metal Blade Records launched Metallica, Slayer, Armored Saint, Fates Warning, GWAR, Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder, Cattle Decapitation, and dozens more genre giants, shaping four decades and counting of hard rock, metal, and extreme music culture. Brian Slagel worked as a record store clerk when he founded Metal Blade in 1982, reserving a spot for a young Lars Ulrich on his Metal Massacre compilation series.
Please welcome Josef Beck on drums! Josef brings insane power, precision and passion and we’re beyond excited to kick off this new chapter with him.
At the same time, we want to give a massive shoutout to Tobias Schmeisser. Tobias, we’re grateful for every show, every rehearsal, every brutal and of course, hilarious moment we shared. Thank you for your dedication!
Death metal horde UNMERCIFUL has announced they are dropping off their upcoming tour with VITRIOL and WEEPING. The band issued the following statement on leaving the Liberation Through Punishment Tour:
“Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have to cancel our tour with Vitriol and Weeping that we were so looking forward to being a part of. With such short notice, we were not able to find a drummer to fill in for the tour. We apologize to Vitriol, Weeping, the promoters and most of all to our fans. We will be back out on the road to support Devouring Darknessas soon as we possibly can. Make sure and DO NOT miss this tour! Vitriol and Weeping will crush the stage at every show!”
UNMERCIFUL is still confirmed for the 2026 Maryland Deathfest.
The band’s newest album, Devouring Darkness, marks a new era of relentless violence and sonic brutality! With ten tracks of scorching intensity and distorted vengeance, the album is filled with blistering blast beats, intricate kick drum patterns, and destructive riffing.
Devouring Darkness is out now on CD, digital, and vinyl formats on Willowtip Records.
Devouring Darkness sees the return of longtime member Jeremy Turner to guitar and introduces Josh Riley as the band’s new vocalist, further intensifying the group’s punishing sound.
The album was engineered and produced by Clinton Appelhanz at Waveworks Studio, with mastering handled by the legendary Alan Douches (Cannibal Corpse, Hate Eternal, etc.). Artwork by Santiago Francisco Jaramillo.
UNMERCIFUL: Clinton Appelhanz – Guitars/Bass Jeremy Turner – Guitars/Bass Trynt Kelly – Drums Josh Riley – Vocals
Apr 2 / DE Berlin / Astra Apr 3 / DK Copenhagen / Amager Bio Apr 4 / SE Gothenburg / Tradgarn Apr 5 / SE Stockholm / Fryshuset Apr 7 / FI Helsinki / Tavastia Apr 8 / LV Riga / Spelet Apr 9 / PL Gdansk / B90 Apr 10 / CZ Brno / Sono Centrum Apr 11 / DE Lichtenfels / Ragnarök Festival Apr 12 / SK Bratislava / Majestic Music Club Apr 14 / BG Sofia / Joy Station Apr 15 / RO Bucharest / Arenele Romane Apr 17 / SI Ljubljana / Cvetlicarna Apr 18 / DE Geiselwind / Metal Franconia Apr 19 / CH Pratteln / Z7 Konzertfabrik Apr 21 / DE Hamburg / Gruenspan Apr 22 / DE Stuttgart / LKA Longhorn Apr 23 / DE Cologne / Essigfabrik Apr 24 / DE Leipzig / Felsenkeller Apr 25 / DE Munich / Backstage Apr 26 / NL Leiden / Stadsgehoorzaal Apr 28 / BE Antwerp / Trix Apr 29 / FR Paris / Machine du Moulin Rouge May 1 / UK Manchester / Academy 2 May 2 / UK London / Incineration Festival
In the ever changing landscape of postal bans, strikes, tariffs, fees and the rapidly rising costs of shipping anything anywhere, strategic partnerships are more crucial than ever to make the business of music make sense. And that’s exactly what Bogotá, Colombia’s Brainblast have done in securing an exclusive strategic U.S. alliance with Rebel Pyro Musick!
After years of relentless composition and extreme musical devotion and evolution, Brainblast is set to release their monumental debut full length album, Colossus Suprema, in digital format on November 11, 2025! The limited edition CD release will follow on December 20, 2025 with Brainblast releasing a special limited edition digipak version, while Rebel Pyro Musick will handle U.S. distribution of an exclusive jewel case edition.
This record marks a new era for the band and for the genre itself, where symphonic grandeur meets the most intricate extremes of death metal. Thematically rooted in deep spirituality and the afterlife, Colossus Suprema is inspired by real personal experiences and reflects the ultimate expansion and awakening of the inner self
It embodies the very essence of our vision: To fuse supreme brutality with the eternal devotion of classical art and mysticism.
As frontman and composer Edd Jimenez explains: “This album is a monument. Extreme detail and the highest musical work the band has ever achieved to date — the result of years of evolution, development, and discipline.”
“Each piece is designed meticulously in absolutely every detail: From the music and production to the artwork, concept, and lyrics which makes this a monumental debut… the best of the best and the work we are most proud to present. It’s meant to be almost like a spiritual experience through extremity, drama… something divine.”
Watch INGESTED’s video for “Nefarious Tongues” HERE.
UK death metal stalwarts, INGESTED, today drop their new stand-alone single: “Nefarious Tongues.”
Lyrically, the punishing track explores the decay of morality in a world consumed by vanity and self-interest. It reflects on the way society devours itself through ego and exploitation, as if we’re willingly feeding the very forces that will destroy us. It’s both a condemnation and a reminder of how easily we can lose sight of what truly matters.
Musically, it blends modern death metal riffing with hardcore-infused grooves, delivered at a measured mid-tempo that lets the riffs and drums breathe while giving space for the vocals to cut through with full impact. The structure stays tight and purposeful, building toward pointed, heavy-hitting moments that hit with absolute finality.
Watch INGESTED’s video for “Nefarious Tongues” HERE.
Alongside the release of “Nefarious Tongues,” INGESTED has launched a limited T-shirt designed around the single’s themes of moral decay and self-destruction. Featuring artwork by Rudi Gorgingsuicide, the piece captures the song’s bleak atmosphere; direct, unsettling, and grounded in the world it reflects.
It’s available now exclusively from the official INGESTEDIndiemerchstore.
INGESTED’s latest single comes in advance of the band’s North American headlining tour. Evisceratour 2025 runs from November 6th in Fresno, California through December 6th in Pomona, California. Additional support will be provided by Distant, Ov Sulfur, Cell, and Crucifiction.
INGESTED: Josh Davies – vocals Sean Hynes – guitars, backing vocals Lyn Jeffs – drums Andrew Virrueta – guitars, backing vocals Thomas O’Malley – bass
Tickets are on sale now at ingested.co.uk. See all confirmed dates below.
INGESTED w/ Distant, Ov Sulfur, Cell, Crucifiction: 11/06/2025 Full Circle Brewing Co. – Fresno, CA 11/07/2025 Goldfield – Roseville, CA 11/08/2025 Dante’s – Portland, OR 11/09/2025 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 11/11/2025 Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC 11/12/2025 Distrikt – Kelowna, BC 11/13/2025 Dickens – Calgary, AB 11/14/2025 Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB 11/15/2025 Black Cat – Saskatoon, SK 11/16/2025 Park Theatre – Winnipeg, MB 11/18/2025 Skyway Theatre (Studio B) – Minneapolis, MN 11/19/2025 X-Ray Arcade – Cudahy, WI 11/20/2025 The Stache – Grand Rapids, MI 11/21/2025 The Hub – Kitchener, ON 11/22/2025 27 Club – Ottawa, ON 11/23/2025 La Source de la Martinière – Quebec City, QC 11/25/2025 The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH 11/26/2025 Preserving Underground – Pittsburgh, PA * No Ov Sulfur 11/28/2025 Black Circle – Indianapolis, IN 11/29/2025 The End – Nashville, TN 11/30/2025 Red Flag – St. Louis, MO 12/02/2025 Wave – Wichita, KS 12/03/2025 Beer City Music Hall – Oklahoma City, OK 12/04/2025 Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM 12/05/2025 The Rosetta Room – Mesa, AZ 12/06/2025 The Glass House – Pomona, CA
Finnish Kuopio-based death metal band Funeral Home is set to release their debut album Your Funeral on January 16th, 2026, via Inverse Records. The first single “You Failed My Trust” is out now and it’s available here: https://push.fm/fl/funeral-home-trust
The band comments:
“Funeral Home is ready to shake up listeners with their new single “You Failed My Trust”, which is released on October 23rd 2025. The song tells the story of broken trust and the power that comes from it – a feeling that is at once crushing, real and relatable. The pounding beat and groove are the soul of the entire song.”
BIOGRAPHY: Founded in 2009, Funeral Home is a death metal band from Kuopio, Finland. Their musical influences range from death ‘n’ roll and old-school styles with gloomy melodies of death metal . The band writes its songs with the music first, keeping the song structures simple and the arrangements flowing.
Line-up: Ossi Maalampi – vocals Henri Ojala – lead guitar Henri Thitz – rhythm guitar Juha Korhonen – bass Jouko Poussu – drums
Single cover by Henna Pulkkinen
Funeral Home – You Failed My Trust (Single 2025)
* Composed by Henri Ojala * Lyrics by Janne Partanen
Italian death metallers TENEBRO are set to unleash their new album Una Lama D’Argento on December 12th, 2025 via Time To Kill Records.
Continuing their morbid devotion to the putrid sounds of classic horror and old school death metal, the band promises another slab of grotesque heaviness. The record features a striking cover artwork created by Julian Ibanez, perfectly capturing the nightmarish essence and macabre storytelling that have become TENEBRO’s signature traits.
“The first single, ‘Impiccata’, strikes with relentless intensity: a fast, uncompromising track that mirrors the shocking imagery of Dario Argento’s Suspiria. Inspired by the infamous hanging scene, the song channels the sense of sudden, inescapable terror that erupts without warning. With its direct, no-frills approach, ‘Impiccata’ captures the essence of Tenebro’s sound: sharp, immediate, and merciless, like a blade cutting through silence”.
With their horrific and claustrophobic death metal, TENEBRO reaffirm themselves as one of the most uncompromising and distinctive acts in the Italian extreme underground, ready to push even further with this new work.
With “Una Lama D’Argento”, TENEBRO take their most extreme and visionary step yet: an entire album conceived as a tribute to Dario Argento, the undisputed master of horror, giallo and thriller cinema. Eleven tracks that are not just songs, but episodes of a single nightmare, a journey through the dark and obsessive atmospheres of the films that shaped cinema history: Deep Red (1975), Suspiria (1977), Inferno (1980), Tenebre (1982), Phenomena (1985), and Opera (1987).
TENEBRO translate Argento’s universe into sound: riffs sharp as blades, guttural vocals emerging from the darkness, relentless drumming, and atmospheres shifting between pure violence and suffocating tension. Iconic scenes such as the mirror revealing the killer in Deep Red, the brutal mutilation in Tenebre, or the larva-filled bathtub finale in Phenomena are transformed into brutal, immersive sonic attacks, capturing the full horror and tension of the films.
Track-list:
1. Inferno 2. L’angelo Caduto Tra Le Luci Del Teatro 3. Impiccata 4. Sangue Sui Muri 5. Lo Specchio… Omicida. 6. Il Corpo Come Spartito 7. Piume Rosse 8. Appare ala Bambola, Poi La Lama 9. Larve Affamate 10. Nel Sonno Della Veggente 11. Jennifer
As with every album, TENEBRO continue to evolve, introducing new symphonies, styles, and melodies, while remaining distinctly separate from the wider underground scene. Their music explores new horizons without ever betraying the pulsating heart that has always defined their sound: extreme, theatrical, and viscerally horror-driven.
In Una Lama D’Argento, TENEBRO do not merely evoke Argento’s universe: they embody it, rewriting his obsessions in Giallo Metal. It is an album that cuts, tears, and leaves no room for respite. Una Lama D’Argento is not just an album: it is a sonic nightmare, a visceral tribute to the cinema that taught us to love fear.
Line-up:
Il Becchino – Guitars, Vocals Il Beccamorto – Bass, Drums, Guitars
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