VISERION‘s forthcoming atmospheric album, Fire and Blood, is set to arrive on January 16th, 2026. The black metal outfit, who enhance their sound with atmospheric and melodic elements, provide a taste of the new offering with the release of their first single and title track.
“Our concept for this album was inspired by George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones world. It particularly focuses on the Targaryen dynasty hence the title being their house words: Fire and Blood.” The band explains. “This particular song focuses on the black magic rituals that the Targaryen family was rumored to use in order to control dragons”.
Fire and Blood Track Listing:
Fire and Blood (3:09)
Mad King (3:33)
Reign of Fire (4:51)
Blackfyre (5:31)
Harrenhal (6:33)
About VISERION: Located in Queens, NY, VISERION blend brutal and aggressive black metal with atmospheric and melodic passages in their own distinctive take on the genre. Storytelling is embedded in their musical creativity, highly influenced by the writings of George R.R. Martin and the World of Westeros. The band initially formed as a three-piece in 2020 by Ben Marvilli taking on bass and vocals, Matt Marvilli on drums and John Magnani performing guitars.
Subsequently, in 2022, Magnani left and Ben Marvilli swapped out bass for guitar. Cris Valentine also joined on guitar and Tasso Diakov took on the bass. The debut album Natural Selection dropped in 2021, followed by a split EP release with TELOCH VOVIN titled The Iron Age of Kali Yuga in 2023. Now, Fire and Blood is set to emerge on January 16, 2026.
Album Credits: Producer: Billy Pfister Recording Studio: Westfall Recording Engineer: Billy Pfister Mastering: Jacob Buczarski Mixing: Chris Grigg Cover art: “Fire in Rome” by Hubert Robert
New Single/Video, “The Ashen Falls,” Streaming Now!
Critically praised German blackgaze band HERETOIR has announced their forthcoming, fourth album, Solastalgia, will be released September 19th via AOP Records. The band’s emotionally stirring new record follows 2023’s lauded release, Nightsphere, and marks their most vulnerable and accessible album yet. Solastalgia was recorded and mixed by David Deutsch and Justin Felder at 1408 Productions. Mastered by Lasse Lammert at LSD Studio. Artwork by Rudolf Hima.
Today, HERETOIR reveals Solastalgia’sopening track and first single, “The Ashen Falls.” Watch the video linked below.
Commenting on the new song, the band states:
“We are more than excited to share this first single ‘The Ashen Falls’ of our upcoming album Solastalgia with you! This song is very close to our hearts as it deals with the struggle of isolation and alienation, existence within modern civilization and a frantic and relentless society. We hope you can find some solace within this song and we can’t wait to show you more of Solastalgia!“
Solastalgia – Track-list: 1. The Ashen Falls 2. Season of Grief 3. You are the Night 4. Inertia 5. Rain 6. Dreamgatherer 7. The Heart of December 8. Burial 9. Solastalgia 10. The Same Hell (MMXXV) 11. Metaphor
Dallas (TX) – A storm is brewing. Having just signed to Willowtip Records last year, long-running, atmospheric Blackened Doom quartet, Krigsgrav, is now ready to release Stormcaller, their first album for the label and eighth full-length overall.
Krigsgrav released the following statement about Stormcaller:
“When we started writing the songs that would make up Stormcaller, our intention was to create the most complete Krigsgrav album that took something from every era of the band, while still pushing our sound forward. A culmination of the blackest hues, doomiest of dirges, and most soaring of lead guitars. We think we achieved that, but we also wrote the best album of our career thus far. We trust that when you hear it, you’ll agree.”
The album’s first single and opening track, “Huntress of the Fire Moon,” which features vocalist Jens Rydén (Thyrfing, Naglfar), is available now! Listen at at youtu.be/d1ynS-dbF9Y, as well as on Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music.
Willowtip will release Stormcaller September 19th on CD, gatefold vinyl LP and digital formats! Pre-order at the following links:
Justin Coleman – Guitar/Harsh Vocals David Sikora – Drums/Clean Vocals Wes Radvansky – Bass Cody Daniels – Lead Guitar
Album Credits:
All songs written, produced, and arranged by Krigsgrav. Drums recorded by Sam Paquette at S.A.M. Studios. Mixed and Mastered by Owe Inborr at Wolfthrone Studios. Additional Engineering by Cody Daniels. Cover Art by Adam Burke at Nightjar Illustration. Album Layout and Design by Randi Matejowsky.
Canadian death metal stalwarts LAST RETCH return with their most explosive material yet: the second full-length album Abject Cruelty, set to be released on September 26th 2025 via Time To Kill Records.
Hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, LAST RETCH have been hard at work crafting a new chapter that promises to command the attention of underground death metal fans worldwide. Blending the bulldozer-like march of war masters Bolt Thrower with the bone-crushing stomp of Cannibal Corpse at their most muscular, the band has forged a sound that’s primed for the chaos of the pit and the raw aggression of the genre’s most punishing traditions.
Abject Cruelty stands as a testament to LAST RETCH’s dedication to relentless riffing and unflinching heaviness.
The first single “In the Polder They Reek” is available now:
Finlay Blakelock – Vocals Matt Fyke – Bass Spencer Robson – Drums Derek Brzozowski – Guitar John Russell – Guitar
The band commented:
“The track is about a swamp-dwelling murderer who constructs a polder in his bog to conceal the bodies of his victims. Over time, the corpses rot and break down, emitting a disgustingly potent gas that envelopes his abode. As the years pass, he begins to feel remorse for his many atrocities. Over time, guilt for his crimes begins to consume him and he turns to inhaling the putrid fumes as a means of escape. In his intoxicated state, the urge to kill resurfaces, trapping him in an endless cycle murdering for the high, again and again”.
Album Artwork: Fernando Rojas B. (Abismo Black Arts).
German/Swedish Blackened Death Metal band, Shadows, present the official video for “Delivered From Sin,” the third single from forthcoming debut album, Miseria. Get your fix at: youtu.be/Y0pmCPSXAxQ
Shadows will unleash Hell with Miseria on August 29! Featuring former members of such notable acts as Visceral Bleeding, The Berzerker, Enshrined, and Ominous, the quartet now proudly presents nine songs of unrelenting misanthropy.
“Miseria aims to explore the vast uncaring nothingness and explore the dread of our futile existence. If you are looking for release or redemption you won’t find them here.The album is unmistakably rooted in the Scandinavian black and death metal but delivers it with its own signature. It is crushing and suffocating but also melodic and solemn.”
Dejan Milenkovits – Vocals & Guitars Martin Bermheden – Guitars Andreas Holm – Bass Joél Cirera – Drums
Album Credits:
Recorded by Dejan Milenkovits & Filip Gäddnäs. Mixed and produced by Dejan Milenkovits & Mathias Lodmalm. Mastered by Dejan Milenkovits & Mathias Lodmalm. Session drums by Filip Gäddnäs. Additional vocals by Mathias Lodmalm. Guest solo on “Lamia” by Robert Ahrling. Guest solo on “Delivered From Sin” by Andreas Hedberg.
Blackened metal trio ALL HELL has released “The Bleeding,” the first single from their upcoming album Sunsetter, due out October 10, 2025 on Terminus Hate City.
A blistering, high-speed descent into vampiric hunger and ritualistic violence, “The Bleeding” offers the first glimpse into the apocalyptic narrative of Sunsetter, a concept album spanning millennia of exile, resurrection, and mythic doom. The track also features a scorching guest guitar solo by Nate Garnette of SKELETONWITCH, a longtime friend and collaborator of the band.
Lyrically, “The Bleeding” places listeners in the mind of a predator, one of the cursed children of Cain, seeking blood offerings for a long-slumbering sire. The result is pure sonic ferocity, blending d-beat punk energy with the band’s signature blackened edge and occult atmosphere.
Sunsetter is the fifth full-length from ALL HELL, following a string of acclaimed releases including The Grave Alchemist and The Witch’s Grail. Known for their punishing live shows and genre-defying sound, the band has toured with RINGWORM, BLACK TUSK, and PROFANATICA, and has performed at Decibel Metal and Beer Fest, RPM Fest, and more.
ALL HELL:
Jacob Curwen – Guitar and Vocals Erik Ballantyne – Bass Elanti – Drums
Sunsetter – Track Listing:
Exiled Into Nod
Dominus Sanguis, Domina Nox
The Violent Brood
The Bleeding
Sunsetter
The Flood and the Death
Behold the Night
Path of Cain
Sacrifice to Shadow
The Ancients Rise
The Outer Night
About ALL HELL:
ALL HELL is a blackened metal trio from Asheville, North Carolina, known for their relentless fusion of first wave black metal, deathrock, punk, and horror-driven storytelling. Since forming in 2013, the band has carved out a distinct identity rooted in occult themes, razor-sharp riffs, and a fierce DIY ethos. Their sound is aggressive, stripped-down, and deeply atmospheric; a raw, unfiltered descent into myth, violence, and the supernatural.
Dublin-based death metallers MALTHUSIAN are pleased to share their “Eroded Into Superstition” single. The track is taken from their impending deathly opus, The Summoning Bell, set for release August 8th via Relapse Records.
On their highly anticipated new album, MALTHUSIAN‘s fetid hallmarks are ever present: truly unforgiving, unrelenting death metal. Swirling chords and ominous cymbal swells give way to the band’s opener “Red, Waiting.” What follows is a flurry of murk and madness – blastbeats pummel against churns of distortion.
The sonic atmosphere cultivated by MALTHUSIAN‘s palpable fury is suffocating; each riff carefully crafted to push and pull on the momentum behind their music. The Summoning Bell is undeniably a pitch-black take on the genre.
The Summoning Bell is a lighting of the pyre – each of the album’s tracks explore themes of true nothingness, condemnations of superstition, and a profound descent into darkness and time. The end result is a record that seemingly reconciles with a dimming – internal and external, a true end of everything.
Listen to “Eroded Into Superstition” on YouTube HERE or all streaming services HERE.
Watch MALTHUSIAN’s previously released video for “The Summoning Bell,” directed by Ray K Media, HERE.
The Summoning Bell will be released on 2xLP, CD, and digital formats. Find preorders at Relapse.com HERE.
Vancouver, British Columbia-based orchestral death/doom metal quintet TRIBUNAL continues to book new tour dates across the continent in support of their acclaimed second LP, In Penitence And Ruin, released earlier this year on 20 Buck Spin.
From August 21st through 24th, TRIBUNAL will perform in Portland, Seattle, Vancouver, and Kelowna, a co-headlining run with New Skeletal Faces. The following week, TRIBUNAL will play two shows on Vancouver Island – in Victoria September 5th and Nanaimo September 6th – with support from Kayas and Empress. The band will play In Penitence And Ruin in its entirety at both the Vancouver and Victoria shows.
TRIBUNAL Tour Dates: 8/21/2025 Dante’s – Portland, OR w/ New Skeletal Faces 8/22/2025 Funhouse – Seattle, WA w/ New Skeletal Faces 8/23/2025 The Cobalt – Vancouver, BC w/ New Skeletal Faces 8/24/2025 Jackknife Brewing – Kelowna, BC w/ New Skeletal Faces 9/05/2025 The Phoenix – Victoria, BC w/ Kayas, Empress 9/06/2025 The Terminal – Nanaimo, BC w/ Kayas, Empress
TRIBUNAL’s 2023 debut The Weight Of Remembrance set a high bar for becoming one of the year’s most notable and praised doom releases, leading Decibel Magazine to include the incoming record in their annual list of most anticipated releases for 2025. The band has taken their time and crafted an opus of enormous scope to echo evermore through halls long abandoned.
Conjured by TRIBUNAL’s new form as a fully fleshed-out quintet – with founding bassist/cellist/vocalist Soren Mourne and guitarist/vocalist Etienne Flinn joined by guitarist Jessica Yang, drummer Julia Geaman, and keyboardist Dallas Alice – In Penitence And Ruin has a wider lens of cohesion and maturity weaving together the widow’s wail of doleful strings, chilling keys, and percussion that tolls like the iron bell of fate
With additional vocals performed by Rory Say, In Penitence And Ruin was produced by TRIBUNAL and Jesse Gander at Rain City Recorders who also recorded the drums and mixed the album. The songs were then mastered by Greg Chandler at Priory Recording Studios. The cover painting and lettering were crafted by the band’s own Soren Mourne, and the album is completed with layout by Chimere Noire and photography by Sav Bagshaw.
In Penitence And Ruin is out now on LP, CD, MC, and digital formats at the 20 Buck Spin webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE, and the video for “Incarnadine” is playing HERE.
Australian grindcore maniacs KING PARROT will return to North American stages later this month for a two-and-a-half-month-long Summer trek. The epic journey commences on July 25th at Brooklyn Paramount Theatre in Brooklyn, New York with a special performance supporting Acid Bath and Pentagram followed by several shows alongside Weedeater. On July 31st, KING PARROT will join The Heaviest Tour Of The Summer featuring Pantera and Amon Amarth, with one-off gigs with Squid Pisser and Bonginator scattered throughout, making for over three dozen shows of marauding mayhem! For tickets, visit kingparrot.net. See all confirmed dates below.
KING PARROT Live: 7/25/2025 Brooklyn Paramount Theatre – Brooklyn, NY w/ Acid Bath, Pentagram 7/27/2025 Eulogy – Asheville, NC w/ Weedeater 7/28/2025 Kings – Raleigh, NC w/ Weedeater 7/29/2025 Cobra Cabana – Richmond, VA w/ Weedeater 7/30/2025 Metro Gallery – Baltimore, MD w/ Weedeater 7/31/2025 PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, NJ w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 8/01/2025 Stone Church – Brattleboro, VT 8/02/2025 Xfinity Center – Mansfield, MA w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 8/03/2025 Xfinity Theatre – Hartford, CT w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 8/04/2025 Alchemy – Providence, RI 8/06/2025 American Family Insurance Amphitheater – Milwaukee, WI w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 8/07/2025 Target Center – Minneapolis, MN w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 8/08/2025 Black Circle – Indianapolis, IN w/ Squid Pisser, Bonginator 8/09/2025 West Side Bowl – Youngstown, OH w/ Squid Pisser, Bonginator 8/10/2025 Song And Dance– Syracuse, NY w/ Squid Pisser, Bonginator 8/11/2025 Piranha – Montreal, QC w/ Squid Pisser, Bonginator 8/12/2025 L’Anti – Quebec City, QC w/ Squid Pisser, Bonginator 8/13/2025 Dominion Tavern – Ottawa, ON w/ Squid Pisser, Bonginator 8/14/2025 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI w/ Squid Pisser, Bonginator 8/16/2025 Live Wire Lounge – Chicago, IL w/ Squid Pisser, Bonginator 8/17/2025 Bigs – Sioux Falls, SD w/ Squid Pisser, Bonginator 8/18/2025 Waiting Room Lounge – Omaha, NE w/ Squid Pisser, Bonginator 8/19/2025 Atrium – Ft. Collins, CO w/ Squid Pisser, Bonginator 8/20/2025 Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre – Salt Lake City, UT w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 8/21/2025 Shredder – Boise, ID w/ Squid Pisser, Bonginator 8/22/2025 White River Amphitheatre – Auburn, WA w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 8/23/2025 Cascades Amphitheatre – Ridgefield, WA w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 8/24/2025 El Corazon – Seattle, WA w/ Squid Pisser, Bonginator 8/26/2025 Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre – Phoenix, AZ w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 8/27/2025 Kia Forum – Inglewood, CA w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 8/28/2025 Eli’s Mile High Club – Oakland, CA w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 8/29/2025 T-Mobile Arena – Las Vegas NV w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 8/31/2025 Isleta Amphitheater – Albuquerque, NM w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 9/02/2025 Germania Insurance Amphitheater – Austin, TX w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 9/03/2025 Dos Equis Pavilion – Dallas, TX w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 9/05/2025 Ruoff Music Center – Noblesville, IN w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 9/06/2025 Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – St. Louis, MO w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 9/08/2025 Coca-Cola Amphitheater – Birmingham, AL w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 9/10/2025 Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater – Virginia Beach, VA w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 9/11/2025 Coastal Credit Union Park at Walnut Creek – Raleigh, NC w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth 9/12/2025 529 – Atlanta, GA 9/13/2025 iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre – West Palm Beach, FL w/ Pantera, Amon Amarth
KING PARROT is touring in support of their critically lauded A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot full-length, released last month on Housecore Records in North America.
A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot marks the band’s first new output in five years. A hostile and abrasive slab of sensory destroying anthems, the record features ten thoroughly crafted blasts through the psyche of this crazed Aussie quintet. Recorded at Melbourne’s Dangertone studios with engineer Luke Walton, it’s the first full-length album since 2017’s critically adored Ugly Produce offering and their first new music since 2022’s Holed Up In The Lair EP.
Applying a similar approach to the writing process of their previous records, which has been historically organic and old-school, KING PARROT adopted a new approach to the studio process. Pulling the new record together was a meticulously creative endeavour and the final product is the most complete, aggressive, and urgent the band has ever sounded.
Watch KING PARROT’s “Fuck You And The Horse You Rode In On” live on Volume Dealer Live Sessions HERE. Watch the band’s previously released videos for “Fuck You And The Horse You Rode In On” HERE, “Target Pig Elite” HERE, “Look Away I’m Hideous” HERE, and “Get What Ya Given” HERE.
A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot is available on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats.
Find physical orders at the Housecore Records webshop HERE, Bandcamp HERE, and all other digital services HERE.
Haarlem (NL) – Thorndale, the Netherlands-based stoner/doom metal powerhouse, have released the official video for “Battles Fought in Vain,” the second single from forthcoming sophomore album, Spiritual Chains.
Comprised of seasoned musicians from notable acts such as Adarrak, Killing Darlings, Embers of Oblivion, Epinikion, and Primal Charge, their unique blend of heavy, stoner, and doom metal has resonated with fans worldwide, setting the stage for Spiritual Chains to be a significant release.
Today marks the official release of ‘The Moral Chokehold.’ New England’s DEATH RATTLE has been making some noise and drawing attention to themselves for this release building up anticipation through four previous singles/music videos and touring the US, Japan and Europe, garnering radio support including SiriusXM’s Liquid Metal, all leading up to this moment.
‘The Morale Chokehold’ has a powerful, large sound courtesy of the production work of Kevin Billingslea (Lamb of God, Trivium) with mix/mastering by Jens Bogren (Amon Amarth, Kreator) and stunning artwork from Tamer Azab of The Dark Art in Dubai. Available on jewel case CD and limited edition (300) philosopher’s moon colored vinyl, in addition to digital.
Recently, DEATH RATTLE have announced their next European tour opening for Atheist and Origin this Sept/Oct (tour dates below). This is the quartet’s second trip to Europe after supporting Gorgoroth and Aeturnus earlier this year. Watch for more US shows soon.
DEATH RATTLE have built quite a nice arsenal of tracks showcasing different elements of the group’s sound blending groove, melody and aggression as evidenced by emphasis songs like “Malthusian Dependency,” “Immersed in Black,” “The Darkness” and “Nietzsche, and the Fall” the latter featuring vocal contributions from Bjorn “Speed” Strid of SOILWORK/THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA fame.
“We are beyond stoked to release ‘The Moral Chokehold.’ For us, this album has been almost four years in the making. We had a blast writing and recording it, but for the last year we have been in the trenches making content and releasing things to hype up the release. It is the grind of the music business. It feels so good to finally get back to what we are passionate about – the music. Releasing these songs to the world and touring to support them is what this whole venture is all about. Creatively, this was a giant step forward for us. We experimented with writing more in the studio environment and playing with different melody structures. It has brought out a new energy in our live show. When a group of songs inspires the band to begin writing the next album before the music is even released, you know you have made something special. That is how we feel about ‘…Chokehold.’ We cannot wait for you all to hear this thing all the way through.”
DEATH RATTLE: Trey Holton (vocals) Ryan Vanderwolk (guitar) Justin Brown (bass) Chris Morin (drums)
Hailing from the New England area, a spot which has a long history of producing some of the most influential metal acts in modern metal, DEATH RATTLE hope to follow in the footsteps of those that came before them. DEATH RATTLE have already released two albums independently, toured the US four times including a run supporting The Convalescence and went to Japan twice previously in support of such luminaries as Cattle Decapitation, Revocation, Ne Obliviscaris and Wolfheart. All this in addition to regional plays supporting Hatebreed, Soulfly, Unearth, Crowbar, Allegaeon, Philip H Anselmo and the Illegals, Let Us Prey plus appearing at local festival plays on Mayhem Fest, Summer Slaughter, New England Metal and Hardcore Fest and the Tattoo & Music Festival.
UPCOMING LIVE SHOWS DEATH RATTLE EU tour with Atheist/Origin 04.09.2025: Warszawa, Poland @ Proxima 05.09.2025: Kraków, Poland @ Kwadrat 06.09.2025: Ostrava, Czech Republic @ Barrak Music Club 07.09.2025: Wien, Austria @ Viper Room 09.09.2025: Ljubljana, Slovenia @ Orto Bar 10.09.2025: Munich, Germany @ Backstage 11.09.2025: Trier, Germany @ Forum 12.09.2025: Amstelveen, The Netherlands @ P60 13.09.2025: Essen, Germany @ Turock 14.09.2025: Bristol, UK @ The Fleece 16.09.2025: London, UK @ Underworld 17.09.2025: Paris, France @ Glazart 18.09.2025: Kotrijk, Belgium @ DVG Club 19.09.2025: Helmond, The Netherlands @ Cacaofabriek 20.09.2025: Drachten, The Netherlands @ Iduna 21.09.2025: Hamburg, Germany @ Logo 23.09.2025: Erfurt, Germany @ Club From Hell 24.09.2025: Mannheim, Germany @ MS Connexion Complex 25.09.2025: Luzern, Switzerland @ Shuur 26.09.2025: Milan, Italy @ Legend 27.09.2025: San Dona di Piave, Italy @ Revolver 28.09.2025: Graz, Austria @ Explosiv
PUSTULANT FLESH is about to make the sewer seem scenic with their first major release – Gurgling Pustulence. This raw and rotten debut drops August 8th, via Extremely Rotten Productions.
Formed in 2022 and strengthened with an additional guitarist in 2024, this Copenhagen-based death grind outfit delivers a sickening and uncompromising sound live. Raw, rotten, and relentlessly filthy, Gurgling Pustulence is an auditory dissection with clear roots in classic grind and death metal, ranging from Blood Duster to Exhumed and Carcass.
The band has unleashed the first single off of Gurgling Pustulence, a ravenous cadaver march titled “March of the Ravenous Dead.” Stream this brutal procession of blast beats, flesh-eating riffs, and cemetery atmosphere now at: pustulant-flesh.bandcamp.com/album/gurgling-pustulence
Track-listing: 1) Beyond Lobotomy 2) Cadaver Creation 3) March of the Ravenous Dead 4) Dødsangst 5) A Single Muscle Twitches as I Wrest my Blade from your Gut to your Throat and Leave you Dying, Helpless and Alone 6) Carrion Offspring 7) Gurgling Pustulence
The EP was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Benjamin “Polle” Radtleff at Radtleff Recordings, who captured the band’s raw and putrid expression with sharp precision and maximum foulness.
PUSTULANT FLESH: Mike Dalsgaard – guitar & vocals Daniel Bror Ditlevsen – guitar Peter Jacobsen – bass & vocals Filip Dursun – drums
Gurgling Pustulence will be released on cassette, CD, and vinyl in three different color variants, marking a putrid new chapter in Danish death metal.
This is not just a debut, it’s a declaration. A vile, slimy, and violent introduction to PUSTULANT FLESH and the decay they bring with them.
Emerging from the festering depths of the Finnish underground, GRAVE HEX are set to unleash their debut album, Vermian Death, on August 22nd, 2025 via Night Terrors Records (cassette) and Cavernous Records (CD).
Fueled by a raw punk spirit and forged in the shadow of decay, GRAVE HEX deliver blistering death metal soaked in tension, rot and filth. Their tracks erupt with scathing, unpolished energy, conjuring a foul stench that lingers long after the music stops. With a sound that channels the putrid legacy of bands like Autopsy, Undergang and Morbific, Vermian Death is an uncompromising slab of bestial rage.
GRAVE HEX are poised to make a mark among the ranks of the most unrelenting and primitive purveyors of death metal, drawing in maniacs from both the punk and metal underworlds.
The first single “Vultural Scourge” is now streaming on Death Madness YouTube channel HERE.
Track-list:
I. Steeping Master Worm Flesh (3:25) II. Vultural Scourge (2:23) III. Den Of Evil (4:13) IV. Endless Impossible Constructs (5:13) V. Vermian Death (3:59) VI. Pungent Pulsating Pools Of Blood (2:33) VII. Halls Beneath The Primal Mere (5:34)
GRAVE HEX was (de)formed in Helsinki in March 2024 by Matti (of hardcore band Vainoa), Miikka (Vainoa), and Martti (ex-Loka, ex-Radien), united by a shared vision of primal, worm-ridden death metal.
Songwriting took off like a spontaneous blaze, and the material for the debut release came together quickly – written and rehearsed in short order, then recorded over three sessions during the summer of 2024.
The result, Vermian Death, is a crushing torrent of metal, steeped in cavernous soundscapes and feral lyrical themes.
Recording and mixing were handled by the band’s own Matti Vainionpää, while mastering was completed by Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer Studios. The cover art is an original piece commissioned from Slimeweaver.
Shortly after completing the album, the band welcomed Hanna on bass and is now preparing to unleash their bestial death worship live in 2025.
Line-up:
H. – Bass M. – Vocals, guitars M. – Vocals, guitars M. – Drums, vocals
After setting the tone with “It Takes Two To Tango”,“Time To Listen” and “Hellbreaker”,DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG (DATOG) unveil their most heartfelt release yet: “Strangers In Paradise”.
“Strangers In Paradise” is a true goosebump-inducing rock ballad that gets under your skin, an extraordinary song in every respect. Manuela’s soulful voice opens the track as she accompanies her own vocals on piano, with a haunting beauty, before Peter joins in with a longing and emotional vocal delivery. The song then rises into a powerful chorus where Udo sings more clearly, deeply, and emphatically than ever before, a true vocal highlight for all fans.
Mathias’ virtuoso guitar solo in flamenco style adds a stunning twist before leading into the grand finale, complete with the signature DATOG harmonic choruses. “Strangers In Paradise” is not only a standout track on the upcoming album Babylon, but is also a love letter to life’s journey itself. Even in moments of doubt about the future, it reminds us that being alive is a miracle and is worth every struggle.
Anything but strangers to the rock and metal world, Udo Dirkschneider, Peter Baltes, Stefan Kaufmann, Mathias Dieth, Sven Dirkschneider and Manuela Bibert deliver a tight, dynamic, and passionately crafted performance throughout the album Babylon, that was superbly captured within the walls of the legendary Dierks Studios.
Set for release on October 3, 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music, Babylon is now available for pre-order in a variety of stunning formats:
Limited Red, Gold & Black Marbled Gatefold Double Vinyl
Limited Red Opaque & Black Marbled Gatefold Double Vinyl
Gold Opaque Double Vinyl
Deluxe Earbook Edition with CD and enhanced 36-page booklet
Digipak CD featuring a 24-page booklet
Jewelcase CD featuring a 24-page booklet
Pre-orders are available now – secure your copy of this powerful statement from one of metal’s most iconic voices and this extraordinary band: https://datog.rpm.link/babylonPR
Babylon – Track Listing: 01. It Takes Two To Tango 02. Babylon 03. Hellbreaker 04. Time To Listen 05. Strangers In Paradise 06. Dead Man’s Hand 07. The Law Of A Madman 08. Metal Sons 09. Propaganda 10. Blindfold 11. Batter The Power 12. Beyond The End Of Time
Profound Lore Records is preparing to drop Pain Effulgence, the third LP from INNUMERABLE FORMS – formed by members of Dream Unending, Sumerlands, Iron Lung, Power Trip, Mammoth Grinder, Genocide Pact, and more.
Pain Effulgence sees INNUMERABLE FORMS founding vocalist Justin DeTore and crew – bassist/guitarist Chris Ulsh, guitarist Jensen Ward, and drummer Connor Donegan, deliver their most powerful tectonic-shifting release yet. Pain Effulgence sees the band elevate the trajectory, initially brought forth with their Punishment In Flesh debut and 2022’s Philosophical Collapse, to a new plateau of megalithic death/doom artistry.
Old-school early ‘90s Finnish death metal coalescing with early ‘90s UK death/doom (citing early-Paradise Lost and Anathema) continues to be the blueprint upon which INNUMERABLE FORMS contrives their sound from, and with Pain Effulgence, it continues to become that much more towering and imposing.
DeTore reveals, “Pain Effulgencechannels raw violence into a deeper meditation. It’s bleak—full of resentment, repression, and spiritual exile, yet there’s a constant refusal to submit. Whether clawing through inner torment (‘Blotted Inside’) or rejecting moral weakness (‘Ressentiment’), the lyrics embody a brutal, unflinching defense of personal dignity.”
photos by Ed Newton
The opening song from Pain Effulgence, “Impulse,” arrives as the album’s lead single. With it, DeTore states, “‘Impulse’ represents what INNUMERABLE FORMS has been about since the beginning: angry, dark, death/doom.”
Stream INNUMERABLE FORMS’ “Impulse” everywhere now atTHIS LOCATION.
Pain Effulgence will be released August 22nd on CD, LP, MC, and digital formats. Preorders and merch can be found HERE.
Pain Effulgence Track Listing:
Impulse
Indignation
Blotted Inside
Dissonant Drift
Ressentiment
Overwhelming Subjugation
Pain Effulgence
Austerity And Attrition
Pain Effulgence was produced by Arthur Rizk (Power Trip, Cavalera Conspiracy, Tomb Mold) and features art by Katie Muller.
Six years after Sacrifice Your Future, Bavarian thrash metal force White Mantis return with their second album Arrows at the Sun. Many things happened in the years after their critically acclaimed debut full-length, not least significant changes within the group’s line-up.
After having parted with guitarist Andre Krimbacher on friendly terms, Matthias Mizera stepped into the fold and was eventually replaced by Enrico Pertoso, “a killer lead guitarist who already played on the The Iron Curse EP in 2022” according to bass player Jan Strobl.
Watch new video “Nekrotornado” HERE Order new album Arrows at the SunHERE
Putting more complex material into focus, Arrows at the Sun continues on the path the band has followed ever since drummer Thomas Taube and bassplayer Jan Strobl joined in 2016 and 2018 respectively. “Based on a traditional thrash metal foundation, the new songs also display some weird, chaotic and progressive influences,” the bassist explains. “Given the members’ different musical backgrounds, we are always open to diverse songwriting.”
As a consequence, White Mantis have refined their sophisticated style of lyric writing even further. The album deals with sociopolitical issues, technocriticism and scepticism towards progress but also spirituality and death as a mystery of life. “Our interpretation of the title describes the struggle between mind and matter, with the sun symbolizing the destruction of causality and the withdrawal of all life.” This is captured in the artwork by Velio Josto, which also sees the return of the mantis as the band’s mascot.
Track-listing: 01 Nekrotornado 02 Arrows at the Sun 03 Pass the Torche 04 Divide and Kill 05 Atavistic Power 06 Over Your Pale Bones 07 Toxic Sniper 08 Roboticator 09 Reality Exists 10 Altar of Technology
It’s easy to hear influences from Voivod or early Megadeth on “Arrows at the Sun,” yet for the most part, White Mantis are very much themselves, with songs such as ‘Reality Exists” or the title track encapsulating their own brand of thrash: crushing melodies, frantic rhythms and multiple turns, all without sacrificing their catchiness.
Given the huge potential of the band, Jan’s final words seem almost too modest: “Self-assessment is always a double-edged sword,” he says. “We know our strengths and therefore prefer to let others assess our significance within the current thrash scene.”
Line-Up: Matthias Pletz – Vocals, Guitar Enrico Pertoso – Guitar Jan Strobl – Bass Thomas Taube – Drums
Finnish melodic death metal outfit WARMEN are pleased to unveil their latest single, “Nine Lives.” The track comes by way of their upcoming album Band Of Brothers, due out on August 15th via Reaper Entertainment.
Following the melodic and anthemic title track, “Nine Lives” takes things to a heavier and more aggressive level blending razor-sharp riffs, blistering drums, and Petri Lindroos’ unmistakable growls into a relentless sonic assault. The song demonstrates WARMEN’s ability to push their sound into darker, more extreme territory without losing the signature melodies that define them.
The single once again proves that Band Of Brothers is shaping up to be the most intense and cohesive album in WARMEN’s career; a record that blends cinematic atmosphere with raw aggression and precision.
Watch WARMEN’s “Nine Lives” video HERE. Stream the track HERE.
Watch the band’s previously released video for “Band Of Brothers” HERE.
WARMEN’s Band Of Brothers was recorded at various locations across Finland and refined by Mikko Karmila (mixing) and Mika Jussila (mastering) at the legendary Finnvox Studios. Frontman Petri Lindroos (Ensiferum) delivers aggressive vocals and distinctive guitar solos, adding new energy and helping to define the band’s modern sound. The cover artwork was once again created by Aleh Zieliankievic, who also worked on Here For None.
WARMEN’s Band Of Brothers will be released on CD, LP (including Splatter and limited Crystal Yellow Vinyl), and digital formats. Find exclusive bundles featuring brand new WARMEN merch and more at warmen-band.com/products.
Band Of Brothers – Track Listing:
1. Band Of Brothers
2. One More Year
3. Nine Lives
4. When Doves Cry Blood
5. Out For Blood
6. Kingdom Of Rust
7. March Or Die
8. Untouched
9. Coup De Grâce
10. Dethroned
11. The Kiss Of Judas (Stratovarius Cover)
WARMEN: Janne “Warman” Wirman – keyboards Petri Lindroos – vocals Antti “Warman” Wirman – guitar Jyri Helko – bass Seppo Tarvainen – drums
Paradise Lost formed in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1988 and are known for being the founders of the Gothic Death/Doom Metal genre; a style fully brought into existence with their genre-defining second album, the highly influential Gothic.
Having released 2 albums, including Gothic for the UK’s Peaceville Records and later helping to establish Peaceville as home to the finest trio of UK doom bands (alongside My Dying Bride and Anathema), Paradise Lost then signed with fellow UK label, Music For Nations which eventually led to the band breaking through to mainstream rock and metal audiences as their style evolved, becoming one of the UK’s most essential metal exports around the globe in the process.
Lost Paradise was the band’s debut album, released in 1990 and one of the early highlights in the formative years of Peaceville. Featuring more death metal influences, Paradise Lost created a dark and atmospheric style of death metal as opposed to one based on speed, with the sombre guitar leads of Gregor Mackintosh permeating through the compositions.
Lost Paradise was recorded at the famous Academy Studios (My Dying Bride, Anathema, Cradle of Filth) in Yorkshire, England, and stands as an undeniable classic of UK death/doom metal.
Giles Lavery is best known as the vocalist of Warlord, Alcatrazz and Jack Starr. On top of that, he is also a highly prolific band manager, record producer and label co-owner.
DRAGONSCLAW is the name one of the first bands Giles Lavery co-formed with Ben Thomas in 2010, while still residing in Sydney, Australia. Their debut album Prophecy was quickly recorded in 2011, followed by Judgement Day (2013). And now, a record breaking twelve years later, it’s time for the follow-up.
Apart from Giles Lavery on vocals, Moving Target features Australian citizens Ben Thomas (guitars) and Aaron Thomas (bass) as well Warlord members Mark Zonder (drums) and Jimmy Waldo (keyboards).
“For me the direction on Moving Target was intended to be if Judas Priest had made an album somewhere in 1985 between Defenders Of The Faith and Turbo,” describes the vocalist on the sound of the new DRAGONSCLAW album, “with some of the second Fifth Angel album in there too.”
Keyboards are prominently featured on Moving Target, which was actually the original plan of the band: “I think for this album the keyboards are very important, they create the needed atmosphere and drama. I would say that we used them in a similar way that Virgin Steele did on Age Of Consent, namely to build atmosphere. I really like that haunting effect keyboards can have when used right. Like Tony Banks from Genesis does, or Tony Carey on his Planet P Project albums. Jimmy Waldo is one of those guys too.”
Probably the fastest and most upbeat number on Moving Target is called “Shadowfire”. And it comes with a surprise: “’Shadowfire’ reminded me of a current-day Riot song, so I asked Todd Michael Hall to sing on it with me and he was kind enough to do so!”
TRACKLISTING: 01 The Road Beneath Your Wheels 02 Survival 03 Cry Wolf 04 Don’t Break the Silence again 05 Back on the Streets 06 Ghost Soldiers 07 Shadowfire 08 (Tell me) All Your Lies 09 Raise Your Fist
LINE-UP: Giles Lavery – Vocals Ben Thomas – Guitar Aaron Thomas – Bass Jimmy Waldo – Keys Mark Zonder – Drums
Produced by Giles Lavery & Ben Thomas with Thomas Mergler Mixed and Mastered by Thomas Mergler at Tom’s Soundranch Artwork: All Things Rotten
After the chart-smashing success of their latest album, Bone Collector, followed by an extensive touring schedule, German iconic heavy metal force Grave Digger returns with a brand new, stand-alone banger that bites hard and howls louder! “Bark to Hell”, the band’s latest single, is a fiery descent into chaos, crowned by the king of torment himself.
Obey the call… or be dragged under, Grave Digger’s new track is out now on all digital services at this location: https://gravedigger.rpm.link/bthPR
Grave Digger frontman Chris Boltendahlcomments: “Hey folks, we’re back! And we’ve brought you our brand-new single: “Bark to Hell”! For us, this track is the final exclamation mark to close out our celebrated Bone Collector session with a bang. With “Bark to Hell,” we’ve packed in everything that defines Grave Digger, raw energy, dark atmosphere, and no-compromise power.
Hellish guitar riffs, pounding drums, and my unmistakable vocals are driving this beast forward. This one’s a true headbanger, no playlist should be without it! But let me make one thing clear: this isn’t a farewell. “Bark to Hell” is a triumphant afterburner, dark, loud, and gripping to the very last note. To all our die-hard fans: this one’s for you. Grave Digger still bites – hard.”
This year does not only see German iconic metal institution Grave Digger celebrate its 45th anniversary, but also their 23rd, chart success album Bone Collector, released in January 2025 via ROARhere).
Founded in 1980 in Gladbeck, they set out to conquer the world; who would have thought that 45 years later Grave Digger would be one of the most important, consistent and influential metal bands from Germany. With the release of their ground-breaking debut Heavy Metal Breakdown in 1984, an unprecedented career began that will find its logical continuation more than four decades later with their latest, new masterpiece Bone Collector, an album that sees the band going back to their old school roots.
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