March 20, 2026 – OBEYER release their new EP, Pallor, on May 1st, via 3DOT Recordings. The news arrives with the release of “Nothing Exists Beyond Me” and an accompanying video: (https://youtu.be/bHz5gZOCwDE).
“The aim for Pallor was to concentrate our favourite elements from our debut album while ensuring we progressed and expanded our sound.,” the band shared, collectively. “We’re so happy with how these ideas have translated and grateful to have worked again with Sam Bloor at Lower Lane, who has helped bring our ideas to life over these four tracks. It’s a far more aggressive version of us, a natural progression from Chemical Well, lyrically a lot more vulnerable and overall a lot bleaker. We’re incredibly excited to be working once again with 3DOT Recordings for this release and can’t wait for everyone to hear these tracks on May 1st.”
The band released their debut album, Chemical Well, in the Fall of 2025. Revolver described their music as “progressively-pivoted, percussively jud-quaked rhythms with reckless abandon,” while MetalSucks said OBEYER is “sure to inspire all sorts of chaos in the pit.”
OBEYER tour dates:
March 25 Milton Keynes, UK Craufurd Arms * April 11 Bedford, UK Collison Fest June 13 Dublin, IE 3Olympia Theatre ** June 15 London, UK The Dome **
*-w/Employed To Serve **-w/Periphery
Pallor cover
Pallor track-listing:
Trauma Host
A Single Shade
Become Cold
Nothing Exists Beyond Me
OBEYER is Carl Brown (vocals), Jamie Steadman (guitar), David Bartlett (bass), and Lewis Niven (drums). The Northampton, U.K. foursome previously recorded under the name Lay Siege, releasing an EP and a full-length album that garnered praise from The Guardian and other notable British media. Re-invented as OBEYER, the group released their debut album, Chemical Well, in the Fall of 2025 via 3DOT Recordings.
All devotees to progressive, technical, and melodic death metal, tune in. Liminal Shrines, the second LP from Toronto-based quartet GUTVOID, is now streaming in its entirety, preceding its release on Profound Lore Records this Friday.
GUTVOID was formed by guitarist Daniel Bonofiglio and guitarist/vocalist Brendan Dean, followed shortly thereafter by bassist Justin Boehm and drummer D. W.Lee. Blending modern death and doom soundscapes with progressive rock and metal songwriting foundations, GUTVOID creates a monster seething with gut-wrenching riffs, cavernous vocals, and prog virtuosity. With the release of the Astral Bestiary EP in 2019, the debut album Durance Of Lightless Horizons in 2022, and the Breathing Obelisk EP in 2024, the band has continued to build on their sound, focusing on more elaborate yet intentional song structures while deepening the depth of their aggressiveness and technicality.
Now, GUTVOID delivers their incinerating second album, Liminal Shrines, which marks the first half of a two-part concept. Writhing with energy, the album showcases the band at their most intricate, aggressive, and creative thus far, further expanding and building on their cosmic horror infused atmospheres and origins through six immersive and devastating movements. Liminal Shrines was recorded at Boxcar Sound Recording, Mount Wexler Studio, and Dystonic Sounds, was mixed and mastered by Greg Dawson and BWC Studios, and features cover art by Kjell Åge Meland.
Immerse yourself in the world of GUTVOID and listen to the rapturous Liminal Shrines, now streaming at YouTube RIGHT HERE.
Liminal Shrines will be released on LP, CD, and digitally this Friday, March 20th. Preorders and presaves can be placed via Profound LoreHERE.
photos by Junaid Malik
GUTVOID will record the sister album to Liminal Shrines in the months ahead.
It Echoes In The Wild, the bizarre and unhinged second album by Vancouver-based black/death metal entity EGREGORE, will be released this Friday, through the formidable roster of 20 Buck Spin, who today unveils the entire album for advance streaming.
Here we find ourselves, among the Canadian miscreants EGREGORE – uniting members of Mitochondrion, Reversed, Ruinous Power, formerly of Auroch, and more, whereupon they return from whence the wind howls like a damned choir and the Earth knows no master, to chart a broader sonic wilderness via It Echoes In The Wild. And much as sea-rogues and freebooters sought fortune upon blackened waters, so too does EGREGORE venture musically into diabolic and ungoverned lands.
Presenting something more expansive, elemental, and untamed on It Echoes In The Wild, the early occult black death metal lunacy of EGREGORE embraces atmospheric breadth equally alongside primitive force to delve deep into not only geographic wilds, but the psychological, esoteric and spiritual hinterlands at the edges of complete madness. Dark invocations and secret tongues draw forth echoes from forest and fen, cave and cliff, tempting the temporally tethered to receive the curse, all the while driven by a primal, unknowable sardonic menace.
Though the voyage be perilous, to succumb to It Echoes In The Wild is to become ensconced in a lawless dominion of the soul in service of a higher call. Mirroring nature’s unbridled forces and the hidden echoes that dwell within, EGREGORE’s second album takes the band’s mystical insanity and magical perversion to the edge of the abyss and plunges forward.
It Echoes In The Wild was engineered and recorded by Mariessa McLeod, mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Blood Incantation, Dream Unending, Tomb Mold), and completed with cover art by Luciana Lupe Vasconcelos, illustration and layout by Dipayan Das, and logo by Karmazid. The result is an album prime for fans of Nocturnus, Morbid Angel, King Diamond, Samael, Superstition, Angelcorpse, Mortuary Drape, Necrophobic, Absu, and The Chasm.
From the EGREGORE cult: “There is no sight apart from the seen; no feeling beyond the felt; no independent capacity for knowledge outside of what is known.
“Self: a confluence of cause and condition. Consciousness: a triangulation of pre-requisite factors. When this is understood, there is no longer any boundary as to where you end and the infinite begins. Everything is connected. This is the word of the law, and it echoes in the wild.”
Sustain the malefic howl of EGREGORE’s It Echoes In The Wild early on YouTube RIGHT HERE, and view the videos for “Stair Into The Vortex” HERE and “Servants Of The Second Death” HERE.
20 Buck Spin will release It Echoes In The Wild on LP, CD, and digital platforms this Friday, March 20th. Preorders can be placed at the label webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE.
Furthermore, effective immediately, EGREGORE is pleased to announce a partnership with Waste Management Bookings for all live engagements. Stand by for updates.
Album guests: Dylan Atkinson aka Exodus To Unukalhai – additional lead guitar Cuillen aka Axis i Arcana – vocals Lillian Liu aka Jaded Castigator of the Baleful Communion – lead synth Brayden Turenne aka Oracular Phantasm – electronics, ambient interludes Mashruk Huq aka Voice of the Dweller – spoken word on “Corsairs Of The Daath Gulf”
Explosive dinosaur mayhem continues as the band unveils another track from their upcoming album, World War Dinosaur, Arriving on April 17th via PERCEPTION!
German power metal warriors VICTORIUS have released the official music video for their brand-new single “Brachio Bazooka Battalion.” The track is taken from the band’s upcoming studio album WorldWar Dinosaur, set for release on April 17, 2026 via PERCEPTION – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music.
Packed with massive hooks, pounding rhythms, and the band’s signature blend of tongue-in-cheek storytelling and thunderous power metal energy,“Brachio Bazooka Battalion”once again dives deep into VICTORIUS’ outrageous dinosaur battle universe.
Explosive power metal collides with full-scale dinosaur showdown in a blazing anthem of riffs, hooks, and chaos. Heroic, melodic, and unapologetically over the top, the track delivers pure VICTORIUS energy forged in fire and dino steel.
The band comments: “Brachio Bazooka Battalion was actually the first song we wrote for the new album. The title came first it sounded so absurdly epic that I immediately wanted to build everything around it. A catchy keyboard melody, a driving rhythm, it’s larger than life, fun and pure power metal madness. Exactly what VICTORIUS stands for!”
With its big chorus, soaring melodies, and cinematic atmosphere, the new single offers another glimpse into the high-octane world of World War Dinosaur. Brace for impact, the “Brachio Bazooka Battalion” is rolling into battle!
Album Track Listing: 01. Kingdom of the Strong 02. World War Dinosaur 03. Dino Race From Outer Space 04. Raptor Squad Attack 05. Brachio Bazooka Batalion 06. March to War 07. Evil Mean Megalodon 08. Dino Power Resistance 09. Prehistoric Panzer Power 10. Lazer Ninja Thunderstorm 11. Golden Glory 12. Lost Legacy
World War Dinosaur sees VICTORIUS unleash their most powerful and cinematic chapter yet. The mayhem between dinosaurs and ninjas enters its next stage – louder, larger, and more explosive than ever before! Across twelve new tracks, forged in cosmic steel and powered by pure imagination, the band invites you into a universe where power metal meets Saturday-morning-cartoon chaos.
“It’s the most epic and hymn-like album we’ve ever written,” the band adds.“100% Victorius, but bigger, tighter, and more intense. We’ve never worked this hard on an album before. ‘Only more is more’ and this time, we went all in!”
International Mesopotamian metal pioneers MELECHESH have unveiled their new single, “In Shadows, In Light,” taken from the band’s forthcoming digital EP Sentinels Of Shamash, scheduled for release on April 10th via Reigning Phoenix Music.
“In Shadows, In Light” continues MELECHESH’s tradition of weaving esoteric philosophy, ancient symbolism, and relentless sonic power into a singular musical experience. The track explores hidden cosmic knowledge and the subtle forces shaping perception and reality.
Speaking about the song, the band comments:
“‘In Shadows, In Light’ explores cosmic knowledge hidden in plain sight – parallel dimensions, sacred geometry, and veiled currents of existence revealed only through perception. Drawing on esoteric and Kabalistic thought, the song moves between concealment and revelation.
Structured as a journey with shifting acts and moods, it unfolds through tension, release, and transformation. Each passage reveals another layer of vision, where shadow and illumination coexist, and the unseen becomes ‘felt’ rather than explained.”
Musically, the track embodies MELECHESH’s hallmark fusion of blackened thrash, Middle Eastern scales, and hypnotic rhythmic patterns, guiding listeners through an evolving sonic landscape that mirrors the song’s philosophical themes. From atmospheric passages to ferocious riffs, “In Shadows, In Light” reflects the band’s ongoing exploration of myth, mysticism, and consciousness.
“In Shadows, In Light” was produced by Ashmedi and co-produced by Rob Caggiano and Kristian “Kohle” Kohlmannslehner. Bass lines and backing vocals on “In Shadows, In Light” were recorded by Rob Caggiano, who also contributed rearrangements. Drums were performed by Nikitas Mandolas, with engineering and mixing and mastering by Kristian “Kohle” Kohlmannslehner, and engineering and tracking by Daniel Claar.
Sentinels Of Shamash, stands as a ceremonial descent into ancient law, fire, and cosmic vigilance. Drawing from Mesopotamian myth and the solar judgment of Shamash, god of truth and justice, MELECHESH crafts an offering steeped in divine wrath and esoteric order. Each composition unfolds like a sacred inscription, invoking forgotten gods, fallen kings, and the eternal tension between chaos and balance.
Through commanding riffs, relentless rhythms, and a sonic architecture that bridges ancient cosmology with modern extremity, Sentinels Of Shamash delivers a mythological statement rooted in fire, judgment, ruin, and restoration. The sentinels stand eternal guard over fate itself.
Watch the official video for “Through The Storm” HERE
Power metal legends Masterplan have unleashed their new single and official video, “Through The Storm”, another taste of the upcoming new studio album, Metalmorphosis, set for release on June 26, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.
The band commented: “We absolutely love this one! It’s pure metal, straightforward, energetic, and fun in its own way. The song was inspired by our experience playing metal cruises last year, including one crazy show on deck during a storm with freezing wind and heavy waves. That wild energy is exactly what this track is about. The video captures that spirit perfectly – we’re just having fun, but even tough conditions can’t stop us from playing and enjoying what we do.”
Masterplan are also gearing up for their upcoming European tour, starting on April 12. For the full list of dates, go HERE.
Grapow expressed his enthusiasm for the record: the first new songs since “Novum Initium”, released in 2013: “Metalmorphosis” really captures what this album means to us: a transformation, but still true to the spirit of Masterplan. We’ve grown over the years, both as musicians and as people, and you can hear that in the new songs. Some ideas go back many years, and now they’ve finally come to life. It’s powerful, melodic, and emotional – classic Masterplan, but with a new energy”.
Masterplan stand among the most enduring and influential names in German power metal. Founded in 2001 by guitarist Roland Grapow and drummer Uli Kusch following their exit from Helloween, the band quickly established a distinctive identity built on strong melodies, technical precision, and an epic yet modern metal approach.
Their self-titled debut album, released in 2003, was met with widespread critical acclaim and immediate chart success, setting the standard for a career defined by consistency and evolution.
Over the years, Masterplan have released several highly regarded albums – including Aeronautics, MK II, Time To Be King and Novum Initium, each showcasing refined songwriting and a powerful balance between classic power metal energy and progressive elements.
Their work earned them international recognition, extensive touring across Europe and beyond, and industry accolades that confirmed their status as a leading force in the genre.
After a prolonged hiatus from studio releases, Masterplan has re-emerged with renewed creative drive. The band recently signed a new worldwide deal with Frontiers Music SRL, marking a significant milestone and the beginning of a new chapter in their career.
This partnership sets the stage for their long-awaited return with a brand-new studio album, Metalmorphosis, representing both transformation and continuity: a heavier, more aggressive edge combined with the melodic sophistication that has always defined Masterplan’s sound.
With renewed focus, sharpened songwriting, and decades of experience behind them, Masterplan are poised to reaffirm their relevance and deliver one of the most anticipated power metal releases of the year.
Metalmorphosis – Tracklist:
01. Chase The Light 02. Electric Nights 03. Shadow Man 04. Bound To Fall 05. Pain Of Yesterday 06. Metalmorphosis 07. Through The Storm 08. Ghostlight 09. The Call 10. Rise Again (Album vers.)
Line Up: Rick Altzi Roland Grapow Jari Kainulainen Axel Mackenrott Kevin Kott
METALMORPHOSIS OVER EUROPE TOUR – GET TICKETS HERE
Reptilian Records presents a remastered vinyl repress of Human Abjection, the debut LP from infamous Miami sludge metal icons, CAVITY. The reactivated band is also back on the road, playing a string of shows across Florida this week, with Desertfest London coming up.
Formed in 1992, CAVITY is one of the primary acts responsible for pioneering the early sludge metal movement alongside the likes of Melvins, Eyehategod, Noothgrush, -16-, and others in the early 1990s underground, before the genre tag was a household term for most heavy music fans.
CAVITY dealt lumbering, low-end, scathing, slug-paced crushers, delivered through massive volume and sheer glacial force, releasing records through revered labels like Rhetoric Records, Man’s Ruin, Bacteria Sour, Hydra Head, and others over the years, including splits with Daisycutter, Bongzilla, and a four-way split with Cable, Jesuit, and Overcast as part of Hydra Head’s In These Black Days tribute series to Black Sabbath.
CAVITY disbanded in 2001, and its members went on to form Black Cobra, Floor, Torche, and more. After fifteen years apart, the band reformed briefly as Cavity A.D, from 2015 until pandemic/lockdown-stricken 2020, when they parted ways once again. In 2026, CAVITY returns with new live appearances and more.
In conjunction with the band’s reformation, long-running noise rock label Reptilian Records now revives CAVITY’s long-out-of-print 1995 debut album, Human Abjection, with a proper vinyl and digital reissue, nearly three-and-a-half decades after its initial arrival. The album will be available in a limited-edition gold nugget vinyl remaster with a poster insert.
CAVITY’s limited Human Abjection vinyl remaster, out May 29th, is now available for preorder at Reptilian Records’ Bandcamp HERE, US webshop HERE, and EU shop HERE.
The reissue is announced as CAVITY returns to the stage, with a run of dates through their hometown state of Florida, playing Tampa, Orlando, Miami, and Jacksonville this week, March 19th through 22nd. The band is also set to play Desertfest London – headlining the Black Heart stage, Friday 15th May – joining Clutch, Truckfighters, -16-, Deaf Club, and many others at the festival.
CAVITY will also play Emissions From The Monolith October 8th-11th in Youngstown, Ohio, alongside Today Is The Day, Rwake, Deadbird, Solace, Weedeater, Great Falls, Kowloonn Walled City, and countless others. Additional live plans and more are already in motion for later this year.
CAVITY: Dan Gorostiaga – bass Rene Barge – vocals Ed Matus – guitar Andrew McLees – guitar Pat Forrest – drums
CAVITY Live:
3/19/2026 The Brass Mug – Tampa, FL w/ Meatwound, No Fraud, Spanish Needles, Bunaand
Polish Black Metal band VARMIA release the third single from their upcoming lauks album out later this month. The stirring and powerful song is available on all streaming/download platforms.
In Polish, the word “północ” means both “the north” and “midnight”, while “dzień” means “day,” explains singer/guitarist Lasota. “This is an anthem to our northern wilderness, to the land of wolf packs, ancient forests, and pure waters. This is the chant that resonates through every day spent here. The day of the North!”
Accompanied by a music video produced by VARMIA and featuring footage by Alan Krasuski and Lasota, it complements the song and the Polish black metal band’s aesthetic.
“dzień, pół nocy” follows previous single “der tot Adalbert” and “Zwykli Zmarli” which all preview the band’s anticipated new album ‘lauks’ out March 27th
“This album is the quintessence of our understanding of natural, raw intensity, teetering on the verge of chaos,” states Lasota. “As always, we recorded it live – this time among the ruins of one of the many castles still standing on our land. Within its empty, derelict halls, we discovered a new dimension of musical naturalism. The aura of the place is embedded into the sound, reverberating through the slower hits of the instruments. The title ‘lauks’ refers to the way our ancestors coexisted in groups of communes or settlements. In the context of this album, it signifies identity, territorial instinct, and the sharp line between us and them.“
‘lauks’ is a much more straight forward and intense VARMIA raging through a darkened journey of raw primal black metal that still clings to their Baltic roots abetted by adding in traditional instrumentation and percussion.
Available now for pre-order on limited-edition (300) “warm blood” colored vinyl (with insert and download code), jewelcase CD with 12-page booklet or digital.
VARMIA was formed in 2016 by composer Lasota with a mission of fusing black metal with musical influences that pay tribute to the ancient Baltic tribes of the historical Warmia region of northern Poland. Vocally, harsh growls shroud the band’s music and native Polish lyrics in a visceral aura, the only breaks occurring when using the traditional, ancient technique of “whitevoice” clean singing as utilized during ancient East-Central European rituals, rites of passage and festivals.
Meanwhile, the power of the band’s metal influences are enhanced by traditional ethnic instrumentation of the Baltic Rites via sounds of tagelharpa, goat horn, lyre (gęśle), tribal drums, wood tuba and krivula. The final result is a compelling mix of dark metallic sounds that channel the spirit of early Enslaved, Satyricon and Wolves in the Throne Room and folk elements that drive acts such as Wardruna and Heilung.
VARMIA have released four albums to date – 2017’s Z mar twych, 2018’s W ciele nie, 2021’s bal Lada, (their first collaborating with M-Theory Audio), and 2023’s Nie Nas Widze.
Louisville thrash metal miscreants BELUSHI SPEED BALL have announced their fourth album, Toxic Waste Was Everywhere In The ’80s, arriving June 5, just in time for the band to celebrate by terrorizing audiences the following day at Milwaukee Metal Fest.
The band’s latest shameless cash grab features artwork by Andrei Bouzikov (known for his work with Municipal Waste, Toxic Holocaust, and High on Fire) and packs 12 ball-busting tracks guaranteed to leave your jaw broken while you claw your way out of the pit at some questionably ventilated basement show.
Commenting on the record, vocalist Vinny Castellano says:
“We are so excited to drop our strongest album to date! Toxic Waste Was Everywhere in the ‘80s is guaranteed to melt faces into a plutonium level pizza pit. For context: We will have to release a blank greatest hits album prior to this drop. We ain’t had a hit yet, and this entire album will be nothing but banger hits after banger hits. In addition, we are proud to announce Belushi’s newest additions: Bassist, Justin McClure and drummer, Ben Cotton (Rose Funeral, SIDS) will be joining the chaos for their recording debut. Making this LP a must have for any crossover thrash fan.”
First revealed at Lambgoat, BELUSHI SPEED BALL has also unleashed the album’s first single and video, “I Ought Not Know.” The song serves as a deeply philosophical dissertation examining one of modern music’s most pressing questions: how exactly did Dave Coulier respond to Alanis Morissette’s immortal breakup anthem “You Oughta Know”? The band may not have the answer, but they’re more than happy to thrash about it for three minutes anyway.
Castellano adds about the song:
“Allegedly, this is the song Dave Coulier would have wrote (if he liked Pizza, Thrash, and had musical talent). At least pretty sure this is the response to Alanis writing “You Oughta Know”. Which has been the highlight of Uncle Joey’s career up until this point. We also want to congratulate Dave Coulier on his recent cancer remission. Proudly, Belushi Speed Ball, presents a music video with stop motion clay chaos, thanks to artist Adam Laughlin. And before anyone asks, No AI has been used! Enjoy.”
Toxic Waste Was Everywhere In The 80’s – Track List:
01. I Ought Not Know 02. How Tough Am I? 03. That’s a Mighty Fine Wayne Gretzky 04. What’s Funnier Than 24? 05. All Pete’s Exes 06. Kellaway’s Wife 07. D.E.N.N.I.S. System 08. It’s a Green Day (You Know… Still Like Stocks) 09. Terminator Lava Factory 10. I’m Not Your Buddy, Guy 11. Belushi Speed Ball 12. Captain Planet Still Can’t Stop Us
Fans can catch Belushi Speed Ball live this spring. Tickets available HERE.
BELUSHI SPEED BALL – Tour Dates: April 17 – Dayton, OH @ Cosmo Joe’s Atomic Lounge April 18 – Atlanta, GA @ 529 June 6 – Milwaukee, WI @ Milwaukee Metal Fest
Photo Credit: Brittenay Johnson
Belushi Speed Ball Lineup:
Vinny Castellano – Vocals Brian Desper – Additional Vocals Jamison Land – Guitar Derrek Tipton – Guitar Justin McClure – Bass Ben Cotton – Drums
About BELUSHI SPEED BALL:
Belushi Speed Ball is a Kentucky-based band founded in 2013 as a studio project amongst friends with a penchant for cliché crossover thrash. Their first live performances came soon after, enthralling a rapidly growing fanbase with a uniquely interactive brand of theatrics and unorthodox approach to releases and merch.
Dubbed “one of the funniest fucking things I have heard this year” by The Needle Drop’s Anthony Fantano, Belushi Speed Ball are inspired by bands from Toxic Holocaust and Anthrax to Gwar and Municipal Waste, to whom they simultaneously play homage and satirize a mean comment from a fan in their song “Ripping off Municipal Waste”, which was voted one of Leo Magazine’s top 20 songs of 2022. With a reputation for both trashing venues and meticulously cleaning them up after each individually themed performance, Belushi Speed Ball are masters of executing the unthinkable.
From playing out of a Mad Max-esque moving van and starting Terminator-inspired 300-person Nerf gun fights to releasing entire albums in N64… or Furby… formats, nothing is sacred as they continue evolving as, in the words of Metalsucks, “a freakshow of blistering thrash dedicated to laughing its ass off at blistering thrash.”
Chicago’s savage trio LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR will deliver their monstrous fifth album – their first in sixteen years – unveiling the merciless I HAIL I, confirmed for release through The Grind-House Records on May 1st.
Formed in 2003 and signed to Southern Lord Recordings just one month after their first show, the death-doom metal warriors LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR have released four LPs, three EPs, and an array of singles, all interconnected with concepts based on the bloodier tales of Greek mythology. The band has toured extensively across North America and Europe, crushing all in their path with their own brand of heavy fucking metal that has been likened to being beat to death with a spiked club. In the words of Maximum Metal, “If there is a [band] heavier than this, then I have simply never heard it.”
While the past several years saw the band emerging with several new singles, they’ve not released an album since 2010’s acclaimed Evil Power. That all changes this year with the incoming I HAIL I. LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR’s lineup on this merciless new record sees founding guitarist/vocalist Steven Rathbone (7000 Dying Rats) reunited with longtime drummer Chris Wozniak (Cöküs, Vanishment) and joined by new bassist Sanford Parker (Twilight, Minsk, Black Cross Hotel).
I HAIL I dispatches ten tracks in barely thirty minutes, including a monstrous reenvisioning of Ethel Cain’s “Family Tree.” The album was recorded and mixed by longtime recording engineer, and now bassist, Sanford Parker (Yob, Eyehategod, Darkthrone) in Chicago at Jamdek Studios and Hypercube, and is completed with stark cover art by Dieofsuffering666.
I HAIL I marks the second album released independently on the band’s The Grind-House Records. The label’s first release was LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR’s Evil Power, the band’s best-selling album, and features their most popular and most streamed song, “Let’s Kill These Motherfuckers,” hailed by Henry Rollins as, “One of the greatest songs I have ever heard.”
The new album’s title track arrives as the lead single, with Rathbone stating, “The title track ‘I HAIL I’ is a rebellious declaration from Prometheus to defy the Gods and bring fire to humanity. This song is what LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR is all about: A loud and proud, punch in the guts. Meant to be played at maximum volume.”
Dispatch your enemies with LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR’s “I HAIL I” as the soundtrack, the song streaming at Bandcamp HERE, Spotify HERE, and Apple Music HERE.
LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR will independently release I HAIL I digitally on May 1st, with physical versions to follow. Watch for preorders, a new video, and more to post shortly.
I HAIL I – Track Listing:
1. Emperor Of Dis
2. I HAIL I
3. Enthroned In Violence
4. Fucked Inside Out
5. Deepest Hell
6. Saturnus Reign
7. Prowler Twin Sister
8. Family Tree (Ethel Cain Cover)
9. Vulture Worship
10. Tartarus Apocalypse
The band recently joined the roster at Waste Management Booking. Agency co-founder Stavros Giannopoulos (The Atlas Moth, Motherless) explains, “When starting Waste Management Booking, the idea was to work with bands who we not only loved but felt the world would love as well. LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR was always a band we had at the top of that list. We couldn’t be more excited to be a part of their new record and their legendary history, not only in Chicago but worldwide.”
LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR is making their second appearance at Maryland Deathfest, on Thursday, May 21st, performing at Nevermore Hall with Bongzilla, Rwake, Avernus, and Black Lung. The band has also just booked a hometown record release show on July 10th with Primal Code, Inoculation, and Motherless. Additional tour dates will be announced shortly.
LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR Live:
5/21/2026 Nevermore Hall – Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest w/ Bongzilla, Rwake, Avernus, Black Lung
7/10/2026 The Hideout – Chicago, IL * Record Release Show w/ Primal Code, Inoculation, Motherless
LAIR OF THE MINOTAUR: Steven Rathbone – guitar, vocals, synth Chris Wozniak – drums Sanford Parker – bass
American death metal pioneers SIX FEET UNDER will unleash their Next To Die full-length on April 24th through Metal Blade Records.
Next To Die marks a new creative high for SIX FEET UNDER, its dozen songs marking the band’s fifteenth album since 1995’s Haunted. “It started out as an album full of death metal songs with speed and aggression,” says guitarist Jack Owen. “Then [vocalist] Chris [Barnes] had the brilliant idea to keep half of those death metal songs and add some groovier songs in the vein of the early SIX FEET UNDER material. Chris emphasized tempo, so keeping with the beats per minute for early SFU classics, I wrote a side of tasty groove-laden music with Chris doing all the lyrics.”
The creative collaborative approach sees Next To Die essentially broken down into two different sides – Death and Groove – resulting in an aural masterwork that satisfies SIX FEET UNDER as artists, while also offering something for every fan.
The record was produced by Owen and Barnes and mixed and mastered by Mark Lewis of MRL Studios in Nashville, Tennessee, and follows 2024’s Killing For Revenge. It’s the third record that Barnes and Owen have created together since reuniting in 2017. “We don’t discuss lyrical themes, we each write what we’re feeling,” explains Barnes. “We each just write what we find interesting.”
SIX FEET UNDER was initially formed as a side project for Barnes during his final years with the band that he co-founded, Cannibal Corpse. It became the frontman’s sole focus in 1995, coinciding with the release of their debut, Haunted. The current lineup of Barnes, Owen, lead guitarist Ray Suhy, bassist Jeff Hughell, and drummer Marco Pitruzzella make for a devastating unit.
Watch SIX FEET UNDER’s lyric video/visualizer for “Unmistakable Smell Of Death” HERE.
That sonic devastation shines on lead single, “Unmistakable Smell Of Death,” which sees Owen owning his blast and fast riffs with dynamic pull-offs and stop sections. “This song began musically before I had any lyrical ideas in mind,” says Owen. “I dug through my riff archive for some blast and fast riffs and updated them with some pull-offs and stop sections. The middle section riffs were also from my riff archive. I do scratch leads on my demos, but Ray always does a much better job with the leads.”
“Lyrically, I’m writing from the perspective of a killer who toys with a victim and unties them, allowing them to fight. He underestimates their ability to fight, and they get the better of the killer, ultimately impaling and beheading him. The ‘Unmistakable Smell Of Death’ is now that of the killer!”
Next To Die comes swathed in the cover art of Sandy Rezalmi and will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
180g Black (US) Red w/ Black Smoke (US) Bone Brown Marbled (EU – Ltd. 500) Blue Grey Marbled (EU – Ltd. 300) Blood Splatter (EU – Ltd. 300) Bone White Green Splatter (EU – Ltd. 200)
SIX FEET UNDER will return to stages this Summer on a North American headlining tour. Set to begin on July 8th in Detroit and run through August 11th in Chicago, the tour features support from Kataklysm and Wormhole.
Comments Barnes, “July and August are gonna get ultra brutal on our headlining tour of North America in support of our new album Next To Die, with our old friends in Kataklysm, and special guests Wormhole. Very psyched to get back on the road in the States, and really, really looking forward to playing Canada on this tour. I think it’s our first time in Canada in decades… You do not want to miss these shows! See you all this Summer!”
The North American journey will follow the band’s previously announced European headlining tour this June, with support from Embryonic Autopsy.
Presales begin Thursday, March 12th password: GRAVE. General on sale date is Friday, March 13th. See all confirmed dates below.
SIX FEET UNDER w/ Kataklysm, Wormhole: 7/08/2026 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI 7/09/2026 Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON ^ 7/10/2026 Fairmount – Montreal, QC ^ 7/11/2026 Overflow – Ottawa, ON ^ 7/12/2026 Palladium Upstairs – Worcester, MA 7/13/2026 Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT 7/14/2026 Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY 7/15/2026 Broken Goblet – Bensalem, PA 7/16/2026 Chapel of Bones – Raleigh, NC 7/17/2026 Albatross – Jacksonville, FL 7/18/2026 Culture Room – Fort Lauderdale, FL 7/19/2026 Conduit – Orlando, FL 7/21/2026 Scout Bar – Houston, TX 7/22/2026 Come and Take It Live – Austin, TX 7/23/2026 Jake’s – Lubbock, TX 7/24/2026 Lauter Haus – Farmington, NM 7/25/2026 Nile – Phoenix, AZ 7/26/2026 1720 – Los Angeles, CA 7/27/2026 Strummer’s – Fresno, CA 7/28/2026 Cornerstone – Berkeley, CA 7/29/2026 Goldfield – Roseville, CA 7/30/2026 Shredder – Boise, ID * 7/31/2026 Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR 8/01/2026 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 8/02/2026 Rickshaw – Vancouver, BC ^ 8/04/2026 Arrowhead – Calgary, AB ^ 8/05/2026 Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB ^ 8/06/2026 Black Cat – Saskatoon, SK ^ 8/07/2026 Park Theatre – Winnipeg, MB ^ 8/08/2026 Skyway Theatre – Minneapolis, MN 8/09/2026 The Annex – Madison, WI 8/10/2026 Madison Theater – Covington, KY 8/11/2026 Reggies – Chicago, IL
No Kataklysm ^ Kataklysm headlines
European Tour w/ Embryonic Autopsy: 6/03/2026 Mystic Festival – Gdańsk, PL 6/04/2026 Franz – Berlin, DE 6/05/2026 Pitfest – Maastricht, NL 6/06/2026 Gebäude 9 – Cologne, DE 6/07/2026 The Garage – Saarbrücken, DE 6/10/2026 Colosseum – Košice, SK 6/12/2026 Nova Rock- Nickelsdorf, AT 6/13/2026 A38 – Budapest, HU 6/14/2026 Orto – Bar Ljubljana, SI 6/16/2026 Kaminwerk – Memmingen, DE 6/17/2026 Backstage Halle – Munich, DE 6/19/2026 Colo-Saal – Aschaffenburg, DE 6/20/2026 Graspop Festival – Dessel, BE 6/21/2026 Hellfest – Clisson, FR 6/23/2026 Logo – Hamburg, DE 6/24/2026 Copenhell – Copenhagen, DK 6/26/2026 Basinfire Festival – Spálené Poříčí, CZ 6/27/2026 Abyss Festival – Hauteville, CH
SIX FEET UNDER: Chris Barnes – vocals Jack Owen – guitars Marco Pitruzzella – drums Jeff Hughell – bass Ray Suhy – guitars
WITH REGISTRATION OPEN NOW THROUGH MARCH 11 AT 10 P.M. ET
March 10, 2026, Philadelphia – On March 15, two days after Into Oblivion’s arrival, Lamb of God will perform at Philadelphia’s TLA (Theatre of Living Arts), with the one-off show giving fans a rare chance to see the band in an unusually intimate setting. Fit For An Autopsy will open the evening.
The celebratory event is especially meaningful because it takes place in Philadelphia, the city that helped catapult them to fame and served as the setting for their 2005 Platinum selling Killadelphia album and DVD.
Lamb Of God is asking fans to request tickets for the March 15 pop-up performance. Tickets are $15 (fees included), and fans can request now via Ticketmaster (https://bit.ly/LoG-TLA). Tickets that can be fulfilled will automatically be charged to the fan’s credit card and instructions on how to access tickets will be sent from Ticketmaster.
Submitting a request does not guarantee tickets. Request tickets on Ticketmaster (https://bit.ly/LoG-TLA) by March 11, at 10 p.m. Eastern. Lamb of God is using Ticketmaster’s Face Value Exchange to help fans get tickets at the original price. Tickets will be non-transferable and can only be resold on Ticketmaster at face value.
Photo credit: Travis Shinn
The Philadelphia event is part of a nationwide release-weekend celebration, with more than 140 independent record stores hosting Into Oblivion listening parties from March 13 to 15. Exclusive merch, including free Lamb of God swag (while supplies last), prizes, and an indie-exclusive, limited edition Poltergeist vinyl variant of the new album, will be available. A full list of participating stores is available at: https://listeningparties.into-oblivion.com.
Album pre-orders are available now (https://shop.lamb-of-god.com/collections/into-oblivion), including remaining limited-edition vinyl variants and a collectible Into Oblivion CD packaged with a companion zine featuring album art sketches, handwritten lyrics, and never-before-seen studio photos.
Lamb of God’s Spring North American tour kicks off on March 17. In what promises to be the heaviest trek of 2026, the band will be joined by Kublai Khan TX, Fit For An Autopsy, and Sanguisugabogg. Tickets and VIP packages are on-sale now via Lamb-of-god.com/tour.
Into Oblivion North American tour dates:
March 17 National Harbor, MD, The Theater MGM National Harbor March 19 Montreal, QC, Bell Centre March 20 Toronto, ON, GCT Theatre March 22 Detroit, MI, Fox Theatre March 24 Minneapolis, MN, Armory March 25 Chicago, IL, Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom March 27 Denver, CO, Fillmore Auditorium March 28 Salt Lake City, UT, The Union Event Center March 30 Portland, OR, Theater of the Clouds March 31 Seattle, WA, WAMU Theater April 1 Vancouver, BC, PNE Forum April 3 San Francisco, CA,The Masonic April 4 Inglewood, CA, YouTube Theater April 5 Phoenix, AZ, Arizona Financial Theatre April 7 Albuquerque, NM, Revel Entertainment Center April 10 Austin, TX, Moody Amphitheater April 11 Irving, TX, The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory April 12 Houston, TX, 713 Music Hall April 14 Nashville, TN, War Memorial Auditorium April 15 Atlanta, GA, Coca-Cola Roxy Theatre April 16 Raleigh, NC, Red Hat Amphitheater April 18 Reading, PA, Santander Arena April 19 Virginia Beach, VA, The Dome April 21 Buffalo, NY, Buffalo RiverWorks April 23 Brooklyn, NY, Brooklyn Paramount April 25 Uncasville, CT, Mohegan Sun Arena April 26 Boston, MA, MGM Music Hall at Fenway
Additional 2026 tour dates:
May 9 Daytona Beach, FL Welcome To Rockville May 17 Columbus, OH, Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival May 20 San Juan, PR Coliseo de Puerto Rico July 24 Istanbul, TR Bonus Parkorman July 25–27 Plovdiv, BG Hills of Rock July 27–31 Râşnov, RO Rockstadt Extreme Fest August 1 Wacken, DE Wacken Open Air August 3 Leipzig, DE Haus Auensee August 5 Lisbon, PT Vagos Open Air August 6 – 9 Kortrijk, BE Alcatraz Open Air August 7 Walton-on-Trent, UK Bloodstock Open Air August 11 Copenhagen, DK K.B. Hallen August 12 – 16 Dinkelsbühl, DE Summer Breeze August 13 – 15 Sulingen, DE Reload Festival August 14 – 16 Eindhoven, NL Dynamo Metalfest October 30 – November 3 Miami, FL Headbangers Boat
Lamb of God is Randy Blythe (vocals), John Campbell (bass), Mark Morton (guitar), Willie Adler (guitar) and Art Cruz (drums). Formed in 1994, the Richmond, Va. based band has released nine critically acclaimed albums, received five GRAMMY® Award nominations, sold over 3 million albums, packed arenas around the world, and tallied over one billion streams and counting.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential and innovative forces in modern heavy music, Lamb of God’s most recent collection, Omens, arrived in late 2022, marking their sixth consecutive album to debut in the Top 15 on the Billboard 200. Kerrang! noted that the album finds the band “as reliably heavy, violent, and pissed off as ever,” and Consequence said the “album will break you down to nihilistic pieces.”
After the successful release of their latest studio album Forever in October 2025 via PERCEPTION – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music, followed by an extensive European tour with ALL FOR METAL, metal superheroes GRAILKNIGHTS are back with a new surprise for their fans. Today, the band unleashes the album bonus track: an epic power metal version of the timeless ABBA classic “Super Trouper!”
Known for their high-energy sound, heroic storytelling, and unmistakable style, GRAILKNIGHTS transform the iconic pop anthem into a thunderous metal spectacle. Driving guitars, powerful drums, and soaring vocals give the beloved song a completely new dimension while preserving the spirit that made it a global hit. With this release, the band once again proves that even legendary pop songs can be reborn in the world of superhero metal.
“We’re paying tribute to one of the greatest pop anthems of all time with Super Trouper – the Superhero Metal way!” comments Count Cranium (guitars, vocals). “We took this ABBA classic out of the disco and turned it into a powerful metal version that keeps the melody and its unmistakable identity, but reinterprets it with heavy riffs, epic energy, and a tongue-in-cheek sense of heroic pathos. A cover that builds bridges between genres, the dancefloor, and the mosh pit.”
Packed with anthemic choruses, powerful riffs, and the band’s trademark mix of heroism and humor, the bands latest studio offering, Forever, marks the Knights’ most dynamic and unifying chapter yet. With songs made for the moshpit and the gym alike, the album delivers everything fans love about GRAILKNIGHTS: catchy power metal, epic storytelling, and a dose of tonguein-cheek self-awareness that turns every show into a celebration.
Forever is out via PERCEPTION and available on all digital platforms and in physical formats.
Forever – Track Listing: 01. Yes Sire 02. Grail Gym 03. Necronomicon 04. Weekend Ninja 05. In The Eyes Of The Enemy 06. Snow In Bordeaux 07. Grailforce One 08. Mighty Metal Maiden 09. Animated Love [excl. jewel case-CD] 10. Powerlift 11. Forever Bonus Track: 12. Super Trouper [ABBA Cover]
GRAILKNIGHTS are: Sir Optimus Prime | vocals Sovereign Storm | guitars, vocals Count Cranium | guitars, vocals Duncan MacLoud | bass, vocals Lord Drumcules | drums
GRAILKNIGHTS Live: 08/09.05.2026 DE Braunschweig – Rock in Rautheim
DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG (DATOG) have released the video for “The Law Of A Madman,” taken from their acclaimed album Babylon, released by Reigning Phoenix Music in October 2025.
“The Law Of A Madman” treads the path of up-tempo metal shuffles. A true-metal guitar riff paves the way for aggressive vocals typical of Udo Dirkschneider, soon moving into a chorus reminiscent of the good old days. Following an ingenious guitar solo packed with twists and surprising harmonies, the song culminates in powerful final choruses highlighted by Manuela’s breathtaking solo vocals.
With this latest release, DIRKSCHNEIDER & THE OLD GANG conclude their Babylon album video cycle, which has generated more than five million views across all of the individual videos, a strong testament to the project’s enduring appeal. The impressive response shows that DATOG has truly reached the hearts of the fans worldwide, resonating with listeners who continue to celebrate the band’s timeless rock and heavy metal spirit.
Photo: Eddi Bachmann Photography
Revisit Babylon on your favourite streaming platform, watch the videos, or order your physical copy if you haven’t already: https://datog.rpm.link/babylon
DATOG are:
Udo Dirkschneider | lead vocals
Peter Baltes | bass, lead & backing vocals
Manuela “Ella” Bibert | lead & backing vocals, keys
Evocatively charged, RED SANDS present a powerful offering in their new music video for “System“. The band sought to be bold in their approach to “System”, not only through their criticism of political corruption but also through the track’s musicality. Deviating from RED SANDS‘ typical sound, this offering presents the fierce edge of thrash metal with dynamic melodic and progressive components. The single is taken from the quintet’s recently released EP, Evocations.
“Lyrically, ‘System’ is a protest song to condemn the destruction of our world”. RED SANDS shares. “A song to denounce the corruption of our politicians, the hypocrisy of the clergy, and the environmental catastrophe caused by rapacious corporations. Pestilence, War, Famine, and Death, the Four Horsemen, morphed into evil political, religious, and economic powers that have shaped our lives in recent years.”
Commenting on the sonic quality of the track, the band reveals, “‘System’ is probably the most intricate song on the list. Unlike ‘My Beloved Ghost’ or ‘The Hunt’, this track demands multiple listens to really grasp all its musical convolutions. Throughout five minutes of heavy riffs, bass scales, double kicks, guitar tremolos, and synth atmospheres, the song illustrates all the chaos of a real-life dystopia”.
Evocations – Track Listing:
Mors Vincit Omnia
The Coven
The Hunt (feat. Stu Block)
My Beloved Ghost
System
The Hunt (Alternative Version)
Independent melodic metal band RED SANDS have unveiled their highly anticipated EP Evocations. The record captures the group’s evolution into a symphonic, emotionally charged sound that merges power, melody, and atmosphere into a single vision.
Evocations presents six tracks that explore mortality, memory, and transformation. From the ominous opening “Mors Vincit Omnia” to the commanding presence of “The Coven,” the ferocity of “The Hunt” featuring Stu Block, and the reflective melancholy of “My Beloved Ghost,” the EP traces a cycle of creation and decay. A new song, “System,” stands at the heart of the release, confronting the corruption and chaos of modern existence with sharp lyrical force and complex musicianship.
Produced by Daniel Novelo, the EP features contributions from acclaimed engineers and guest artists. Evocations embodies the precision and emotion that define RED SANDS. The band’s sound draws from the intensity of ICED EARTH and IRON MAIDEN, the symphonic depth of NIGHTWISH and THERION, and the introspection of OPETH and DRACONIAN, forming a unique expression of melodic and symphonic metal rooted in Mexico City’s creative scene.
The artwork, created by vocalist and visual artist Jonathan Corral, mirrors the album’s lyrical themes through surreal imagery: a creature made of memories and relics, carrying a dying bird on a blank musical score. It serves as both a metaphor for unfinished creation and a meditation on impermanence.
RED SANDS formed in Mexico City in 2012 when brothers Daniel and Eric Novelo joined forces with their cousin Juan Carlos León. What began as a family project soon developed into one of Mexico’s most distinctive melodic metal acts
Beyond the stage, members of the band remain active in Mexico’s metal culture. Eric and Daniel host the podcast Metalópolis, dedicated to promoting the national scene and connecting audiences with emerging artists. This sense of community and independence continues to define RED SANDS, whose music stands as both a personal statement and a contribution to the evolution of Latin American metal.
Milwaukee (WI) – A new Blackened Death Metal entity has formed. Featuring veterans of the Milwaukee metal scene, RELIC is set to release their debut EP, Crown of Flies, April 3rd, on CD and digital formats.
Delivering Death Metal’s dissonant punishing riffage with Black Metal’s relentless chaotic speed, RELIC builds a new monument on the foundation of those that came before. Comprised of seasoned Milwaukee metal scene veterans with a history of making tight and focused music.
Their debut EP, Crown Of Flies, is a blistering slab of Midwest 90s Blackend Death Metal worship. Delivered with malintent for its listeners. No frills, no scene drama, or gimmicks used by so many bands today. Pure underground Death Metal that is in your face and out for blood.
Band Photo Credit: K Pro Creative
RELIC:
Kevin Forsythe (Jungle Rot, Emblazoned) – Guitar / Bass
Jeff Plewa (Micawber, Emblazoned) – Vocals
Alex “Pulverizer” Pulvermacher (Decrescent, Emblazoned) – Drums
Vinny Alvarez (A Night At The Chalet, Slam Pig) – Guitar
Credits:
Recorded at Belle City Sound in Racine WI, November 2025. Produced by Chris Wisco. Mixed and Mastered by Billy Diamond.
Pittsburgh-based three-piece wrecking ball STALEMATE OF WILLS is set to drop their debut full-length album, Existence Denied.
Following a string of singles, STALEMATE OF WILLS is ready to unleash an 8-track rager that embodies the American rust belt blight that surrounds them. True to the band’s mantra of “heavy riffs for a withering world,” Existence Denied is an amalgamation of doom metal, hardcore, New Orleans-style sludge metal, with flourishes of traditional 90s death metal.
Listeners can expect down-tuned, groove inflicted “meat and potatoes” riffing and drumming, that easily pivots into creepier and mellower territory. Lyrically, STALEMATE OF WILLS concentrates on the endless frustrations created by the hopelessness experienced throughout life, and the inability to change it but still survive.
Check out the album’s first single, “Two Worlds” at this location.
FFTC Records will release Existence Denied on April 26.
Track-list: 1) Visibility 2) Maximum Amounts of Woe 3) Existence Denied 4) Two Worlds 5) Let It Be Known 6) High Above 7) Unusual Character Profile 8) Light the Way
Stream more from STALEMATE OF WILLS on Bandcamp and Spotify.
Bio:
STALEMATE OF WILLS was formed in 2023 by guitarist/ vocalist Derek Kovacs as a one man studio project releasing the singles “Corrode” followed then by “Subside”, but it soon became clear that Stalemate of Wills needed to become a full band.
Not long after, scene veterans Jake Morris (Bass) and Bob McSherry (drums) were quickly recruited to fill the voids. STALEMATE OF WILLS embraces an ethos of self-reliance, releasing and recording their own music and began working on an 8-song full length entitled Existence Denied, to be released in Spring of 2026 on FFTC Records, an independent label run by Kovacs.
STALEMATE OF WILLS: Derek Kovcas – guitar / vocals Jake Morris – bass Bob McSherry – drums
The song is also available on the usual streaming platforms, including Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music.
Four LPs deep and a slew of EPs behind them, COGNIZANCE show no signs of restraining the pace of unrelenting inventive riffs and razor-sharp grooves. In Light, No Shape is a masterful Progressive Death Metal opus, rich in texture and atmospheric detail, delivering everything long-time listeners crave while channeling the mid-90s technical extremity of Death, Extol, and Meshuggah. This time, the band deliberately fractures the conventions of modern extreme production, opting instead for a more organic and visceral mix that sharpens the defining traits of their work.
In Light, No Shape marks the first lineup shift in a decade, as the band sharpen from a quintet to a quartet with founding guitarist Alex Baillie stepping forward as vocalist while retaining guitar duties, following the 2023 departure of founding vocalist Henry “Big Mac” Pryce.
Band Photo Credit: Nadine Geuter
Line-up:
Alex Baillie – Guitar/Vocals Apostolis Karydis – Guitar Chris Binns – Bass David Diepold – Drums
“This record is a defining milestone for us. Taking on vocals has pushed us to re-engineer how we experiment with the blend of elements in our sound, unlocking new creative pathways to compliment the core identity of the band. What you will hear are four dudes all adding their flavours to the melting pot to create a body of work that felt completely natural to us.”
Mix and Master by Ronnie Björnström (AEON, BLOOD RED THRONE). Artwork by Jef Whitehead (NAILS, LEVIATHAN). Produced by Alex Baillie and Apostolis Karydis. Photography by Nadine Geuter.
NEW SINGLE/VIDEO, “FATAL PATH,” STREAMING NOW! + ON TOUR THIS SPRING W/BLEED FROM WITHIN & SYLOSIS
Texas’ incendiary crossover thrash metal band LIFE CYCLES is back with a new EP, No One Escapes Death, due out March 27th via 1126 Records. Following a string of relentless singles and EP’s and countless ferocious live shows over the last decade, the five-piece continues their warpath, showing no mercy on their latest release, comprised of 6 face-melting tracks that feature the band’s signature concoction of brutal thrash, hardcore and death metal.
Commenting on the record, drummer Xavier Rios says:
“This record is an expansion of our crossover sound with a focus on groove and detail in the riffs. We really wanted to display the journey we’ve been on as a band the last couple of years through this project. The energy is on 10 and we have a little bit of new flavor this time around.”
In late 2025, LIFE CYCLES gave fans a preview of the new EP with the massively heavy single, “The End Still Waits.” Today, the band ups the ante with another sonic assault, “Fatal Path,” accompanied by the music video below.
Vocalist Luis Lopez Jr discusses the track’s lyrics:
“‘Fatal Path’ is about the evil persuasive ways of lust. Letting it drag you to dark places, it tricks you into believing it’s more than just pleasure, ultimately pulling back the curtain and showing that it was all an illusion.“
1. Hell Beneath (ft. Josh Middleton of Sylosis) 2. Fatal Path 3. No Man’s Land 4. Mouth Of Doubt 5. Soul In Chains (ft. Matt Heafy of Trivium) 6. The End Still Awaits
LIFE CYCLES will join BLEED FROM WITHIN, SYLOSIS and GREAT AMERICAN GHOST on tour this spring, in support of the new EP, No One Escapes Death. Tickets are available now at: https://www.bleedfromwithin.com/tour-dates/.
LIFE CYCLES Tour Dates w/BLEED FROM WITHIN & SYLOSIS:
April 2 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium April 3 – Montreal, QC – Theatre Beanfield (SOLD OUT) April 4 – Toronto, ON – Opera House April 6 – Philadelphia, PA – Theatre of the Living Arts April 7 – Lakewood, OH – The Roxy April 8 – Millville, PA – Mr Smalls April 10 – Detroit, MI – St Andrew’s Hall April 11 – Grand Rapids, MI – Elevation April 12 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues April 14 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theatre April 15 – Lincoln, NE – Bourbon Theatre April 17 – Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre April 19 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club April 20 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile April 21 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre April 22 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post April 24 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theatre April 25 – Pomona, CA – The Glass House April 26 – Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom April 28 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live April 29 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater May 1 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum May 2 – Atlanta GA – The Masquerade (Hell) May 3 – Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819 May 5 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club May 6 – Baltimore, MD – Nevermore Hall May 7 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
About LIFE CYCLES: San Antonio thrash prodigies Life Cycles are doubling down on their classic Texas sound with 2026’s No One Escapes Death.
The crew’s take on classic Texas thrash is excellent, pairing mean riffs with technical precision while never losing sight of the infectious groove that dominates the sound.
“We write music that we genuinely like,” said vocalist Luis Lopez. “That we would listen to, instead of trying to be like something else. This group doesn’t operate in a box—we write the music that we like to hear.”
The record perfectly captures the energy of the group’s live shows.
“It’s a party when we play,” explained drummer Xavier Rios. “I always tell people that don’t like metal ‘come to these shows’ because you’re going to have a good time.”
North Carolina’s BLACKWATER DROWNING is pleased to present their video for “Devour.” The track comes off the band’s latest full-length, Obscure Sorrows, out today on Bleeding Art Collective and Blood Blast Distribution (Nuclear Blast Records/Believe).
Comments vocalist Morgan Riley, “I wrote the lyrics for ‘Devour’ in the midst of a breakdown of a long-term friendship. I realized this person had been taking advantage of my kindness and generosity for a long time, and when I started calling them out on certain behaviors as a friend, they got increasingly more adversarial. I realized they’d never take accountability for anything they did, instead preferring to immerse themselves in yes-men and substances. ‘Devour’ is about that feeling of realizing this person was never the friend I thought they were.”
Watch BLACKWATER DROWNING’s previously released video for “Eye Of The Storm” HERE and “The Sixth Omen” HERE.
Order Obscure Sorrows HERE. Find new merch items HERE.
BLACKWATER DROWNING recently wrapped up a short run of dates with Butcher Babies. The band will play alongside Filth in March and Infected Rain in May with more performances to be announced in the weeks to come. See all confirmed shows below.
BLACKWATER DROWNING Live w/ Filth:
3/06/2026 The Shop Live – Dunbar, WV
3/07/2026 Lurking Class Skate Shop – Salisbury, MD
3/08/2026 The Canal Club – Richmond VA
3/09/2026 Zen West – Baltimore, MD
3/10/2026 Reggie’s 42nd Street – Wilmington, NC
3/11/2026 Hangar 1819 – Greensboro, NC
w/ Infected Rain:
5/13/2026 Hangar 1819 – Greensboro, NC
5/14/2026 Scandals Live – Virginia Beach, VA
5/15/2026 Zen West – Baltimore, MD
BLACKWATER DROWNING is a five-piece US melodic death metal/metalcore band from North Carolina. Forged by singer Morgan Riley and guitarist Jeremy Bennett, the band is completed by guitarist Ron Dalton Jr, bassist Aria Novi, and drummer Aamon Dalton. Since the band’s inception, BLACKWATER DROWNING has recorded two EPs and a debut album (Sonder//Satori) and has supported iconic acts such as Soulfly, Jinjer, Crypta, and many others.
The band now unleashes Obscure Sorrows. Mixed and mastered by Cryptopsy guitarist Christian Donaldson (Shadow Of Intent, Suffocation, Ingested), the album features guest solos by Greg Burgess of Allegaeon and Japanese guitar virtuoso Yo Onityan as well as stunning album art by Giannis Nakos (Emperor, The Agonist, Aborted).
BLACKWATER DROWNING: Jeremy Bennett – guitar Morgan Riley – vocals Aamon Dalton – drums Aria Novi – bass Ron Dalton Jr. – guitar
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