Japanese power metal vocalist Saeko is set to return to the stage with two exclusive shows in Japan this May, under the banner “SAEKO LIVE IN JAPAN 2026”, while also revealing the upcoming release of her new EP, Back to Life, scheduled for July 18, 2026.
The two special events will take place in Osaka (May 12, Panhead Groove) and Tokyo (May 14, SUNRIZE) and will feature a unique format combining a talk session and an exclusive live showcase, including the performance of two songs from the upcoming EP.
These concerts represent a rare and exciting collaboration between artists from different musical traditions, bringing together European melodic power metal and the rich heritage of Japanese neoclassical metal.
The live line-up for these shows includes: SaekoKitamae on vocals, Guido Benedetti (Trick or Treat) on guitars, Masashi Okagaki on keyboards (Terra Rosa, Jill’s Project, Aphrodite) and Kaz Nakamura on bass (Kelly Simon’s Blind Faith, Rachel Mother Goose).
The presence of legendary keyboardist Masashi Okagaki, a key figure in Japan’s neoclassical metal scene and leader of Terra Rosa, adds a distinctive and historically significant element to the performances, while bassist Kaz Nakamura brings his experience and technical mastery to complete a powerful and dynamic line-up.
Saeko is widely recognized as a pioneering artist in the international metal scene. Originally from Osaka, she moved to Germany in the early 2000s to pursue her musical career, collaborating with prominent European musicians and releasing her debut album Above Heaven Below Heavenin 2004. That same year, she toured Europe with metal icon Doro Pesch, and in 2005 she made history as the first Asian female artist to perform at Wacken Open Air, the world’s largest heavy metal festival. Following her second album Life (2006), Saeko returned in 2021 with Holy Are We Alone, marking a powerful comeback after a long hiatus and reaffirming her unique artistic identity: Melodic Power Metal with emotional depth and a cross-cultural perspective.
Now, with the upcoming EP Back to Life, Saeko continues to build on her legacy, connecting past and present through a renewed creative vision.
Hamburg-based power metal veterans IRON SAVIOR return today with their brand-new album, Awesome Anthems Of The Galaxy, out now via PERCEPTION–a division Of Reigning Phoenix Music. With this release, the band led by Piet Sielck transforms iconic ’80s hits into powerful, melodic metal anthems, blending nostalgia with the unmistakable IRON SAVIOR sound.
The album is receiving strong praise: Rock Magazine writes it’s “surprisingly packed with strong hit potential!”, while Break Out Magazine confirms: “Damn powerful anthems, brilliantly executed by IRON SAVIOR!”. Stormbringer adds: “Awesome Anthems Of The Galaxy is an album that proves one thing: nostalgia can sound pretty damn heavy when you run it through the IRON SAVIOR engine!”
To celebrate the release, the band have also premiered a brand-new music video for their thunderous cover version of the Michael Sembello classic “Maniac”. The track perfectly showcases IRON SAVIOR’s ability to turn catchy pop structures into driving heavy metal, combining pulsating synth melodies with razor-sharp guitar riffs and a soaring, instantly memorable chorus. The result is an energetic reimagining that stays true to the spirit of the original while delivering a much heavier punch.
After reigniting their cosmic engines with Machine World – Reforged in 2025, IRON SAVIOR embark on their boldest mission yet. With Awesome Anthems of the Galaxy, IRON SAVIOR tap into the heart of ’80s pop culture, combining nostalgia, passion and the band’s trademark precision and fire, proving that the past can shine brighter than ever when reforged in metal.
Album Track Listing: 01. Fame 02. All I Need Is A Miracle 03. When The Rain Begins To Fall 04. Maniac 05. Take On Me 06. Relax 07. What A Feeling 08. Against All Odds 09. Separate Ways 10. Suburbia 11. Here Comes The Rain Again 12. She’s Like The Wind 13. (I Just) Died In Your Arms Tonight 14. Forever Young 15. Since You Been Gone 16. Call Me 17. Catch Me I’m Falling
“After the huge success of the 2002 Condition Red bonus track “Crazy” (SEAL), which was actually used in a HBO TV show, we have been asked by fans and medias almost constantly to do a complete cover tracks album,”Sielck recently said, and adds: “So… two decades later here we are!”quotes frontman Piet Sielck. “Awesome Anthems continues the transformation from pop-to-metal in IRON SAVIOR style as started with SEAL’s “Crazy” and EURYTHMICS’ “Sweet Dreams. We are absolutely proud of the outcome, which never loses the original vibe of the tracks but yet is 100% IRON SAVIOR. Just listen yourself… I guarantee a lot of smiles while doing so!”
From the electrifying rush of A-HA’s “Take On Me” and the thunderous drama of Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds” to the cinematic pulse of Jermaine Jackson & Pia Zadora’s “When The Rain Begins To Fall” and the adrenaline-fueled “Maniac”, IRON SAVIOR turn pop classics into heroic, melodic metal anthems. With Awesome Anthems of the Galaxy, IRON SAVIOR prove once more that great songs never age, they just get heavier!
“Here’s the cover artwork of the Leatherwitch debut album, painted by the amazing Mario Lopez. That’s right: no AI, no computers, a real painting! I hope you will like it as much as I do!
The album, titled “First Spell”, is coming out on May 29 on Listenable Records. The first pressing on splattered vinyl will be limited to 666 (!) copies, there will also be a CD edition, and each version will include different bonus track.”
LEATHERWITCHdebut 7” vinyl single out on April 23!
“Close To The Bone” Video/Single Now Playing + Preorders Available
American heavy metal icons, ARMORED SAINT, are back with their anticipated new full-length, Emotion Factory Reset, set for release on May 22nd through Metal Blade Records.
Emotion Factory Reset, the lineup’s ninth studio album since 1984’s March Of The Saint, is a resurrection of sorts, a tearing down and a rebuilding in eleven songs of diverse musicality and lyrical themes. Produced, as were the previous four albums, by bassist Joey Vera and mixed by Jay Ruston (Anthrax, Stone Sour), the record finds the quintet challenging themselves.
Songs like “Close To The Bone,” “Hit A Moonshot,” and “Every Man-Any Man” have ARMORED SAINT honoring their past as one of the most respected and recognizable bands in heavy music while making forward-thinking music rooted in the present.
“Each ARMORED SAINT record, to me, is like a new skin for the band, a different chapter. I don’t think we’ve ever repeated ourselves,” says Vera. “Every album has been pretty different from the previous one, a snapshot in time. In 2026, Emotion Factory Reset is where our heads are at.”
Emotion Factory Reset – Track Listing:
1. Close To The Bone
2. Every Man-Any Man
3. Not On Your Life
4. Hit A Moonshot
5. Buckeye
6. Compromise
7. It’s A Buzzkill
8. Throwing Caution To The Wind
9. Ladders And Slides
10. Bottom Feeder
11. Epilogue
“When we start coming up with songs, I always say we can do whatever we want,” notes vocalist John Bush. “Use all our influences through the years, diverse music that we listen to and love, and let that seep in and bring something new out of us. It leads to something more adventurous.”
Bush, one of music’s most respected vocalists, operates from a place of passion and presence in the studio and on stage. In fact, about 85% of his vocals from the last three ARMORED SAINT records are taken from the demo sessions, capturing the raw power.
While Vera is a granular and detailed writer, like Bush, the bassist says, “I try not to overthink and be right where I’m at that time. I really don’t look over my shoulder much, like, ‘what did I do in the past? What’s going on in the next lane?’ Once the ball starts rolling, I just sit back and let it happen.”
The collaborative nature of Emotion Factory Reset led to the album title, a phrase from guitarist Phil Sandoval. “To me, ‘Emotion Factory Reset’ means to reset yourself back to clarity. Take a pause and breathe before you respond or react. You can’t control outside events, but you can control your mind,” the guitarist says. “How you interpret things is what hurts you, not the event itself.”
His brother, drummer Gonzo notes, “the world is going through a technological upswing/awakening. I look at our planet as the factory and in the most positive way we need to realign, reimagine, reset for our better selves.”
In advance of the record’s release, the band presents the first single and album opener, “Close To The Bone.” Comments Bush, “The first track on the record sounds like vintage ARMORED SAINT, yet vintage that comes out in 2026! How did we do that? The title of the record, Emotion Factory Reset appears as the first line of the bridge. Killer riffs, awesome rhythms and attacking vocals gets this train rolling.”
Bush continues, “the title implies the human response to withdraw and keep things to yourself instead of being confrontational; Something I believe we all struggle with as humans. Do you just say, ‘aww, whatever man,’ or do you say, ‘hey, fuck you!’ Depends on the moment, I guess.”
Adds Vera, “Musically, this song was inspired by my love and appreciation for metal that was coming out around the time of the NWOBHM, which is right when ARMORED SAINT was formed. As always, I try to reimagine my early influences by giving them a slight modern twist.”
Guitarist Jeff Duncan agrees, “I like to think that ARMORED SAINT doesn’t keep making the same album over and over. Emotion Factory Reset is another musical chapter for the band. When the five of us play together, we have a special chemistry and our first single ‘Close To The Bone’ demonstrates this perfectly; it’s musically sophisticated but still retains the ARMORED SAINT signature sound.”
Watch ARMORED SAINT’s video for “Close To The Bone,” directed by My Good Eye: Music Visuals, HERE.
The record will be released on CD digipack (w/ 20-page booklet) and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
Amber Marble (US) Orange and Red Marble (US) Citron Smoke (US – Brutal Panda Exclusive) 180g Black (EU) Beige Gray Marbled (EU) Clear Black Gold Smoke (EU – Ltd. 500) Metallic Gold Black Dust (EU – Ltd. 300) Clear Gold Splatter (EU – Ltd. 200)
Additionally, a special European edition of the CD digipak includes the bonus track “One Chain (Don’t Make No Prison),” only available digitally until now.
A special European edition of the single gatefold LP comes w/ insert and DL card + 7” vinyl “One Chain (Don’t Make No Prison),” (only available digitally until now) w/ an etching on the B-side, a poster and slipmat.
ARMORED SAINT’s Emotion Factory Reset was recorded across several studios including 606 Studios, Secret Hand Studios, Skullseven Studios, Constantine Studios, and Bridge Recording, engineered by Oliver Roman, Bill Metoyer, Joey Vera, and Jason Constantine, and features cover art by DDKing.
Catch ARMORED SAINT live throughout the Spring and Summer months with more dates to be announced in the weeks to come.
ARMORED SAINT Live: 4/19/2026 Rainbow Bar & Grill – West Hollywood, CA w/ L.A. Guns, Pentagram, Alien Ant Farm, Boy Hits Car 5/17/2026 San Luis Metal Fest – San Luis Potosí, MX 5/22/2026 Rock Hard Festival – Gelsenkirchen, DE 6/06/2026 Milwaukee Metalfest @ The Rave/Eagles Club – Milwaukee, WI 7/30/2026 Pumpehuset – Copenhagen, DK w/ Metal Church 7/31/2026 Skogsrojet Festival – Rejmyre, SE 8/01/2026 Pustervik – Gothenburg, SE w/ Testament, Metal Church 8/02/2026 Mejeriet – Lund, SE w/ Testament, Metal Church 8/05/2026 Brutal Assault – Jaroměř, CZ 8/07/2026 Alcatraz Festival – Dessel, BE 8/08/2026 Poppodium Boerderij – Zoetermeer, NL *ARMORED SAINT headlining show 8/09/2026 Keep It True Legions – Geiselwind, DE 8/11/2026 Progresja – Warsaw, PL w/ Savatage, Nevermore 8/12/2026 Collosseum – Kosice, SK w/ Vio-Lence 8/13/2026 Klub Studio – Krakow, PL w/ Testament, Metal Church 8/29/2026 Stonedead Festival – Newark, UK
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY will head West this July for a two-week headlining tour with support provided by Whores and Crobot. The trek, which begins on July 6th in Houston, Texas and runs through July 22nd in Lincoln, Nebraska, serves as the second leg of their North American tour set to commence next month.
Tickets go on sale Friday, March 27th at 10:00am local time at coc.com/pages/tour. See all confirmed dates below.
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY w/ Whores, Crobot: 7/06/2026 Scout Bar – Houston, TX 7/07/2026 Granada Theater – Dallas, TX 7/08/2026 The Far Out Lounge – Austin, TX 7/10/2026 The Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ 7/11/2026 The Regent Theater – Los Angeles, CA 7/12/2026 The Glass House – Pomona, CA 7/13/2026 Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA 7/15/2026 Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR 7/16/2026 The Crocodile – Seattle, WA 7/17/2026 Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC 7/18/2026 Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA 7/19/2026 Shrine Social Club – Boise, ID 7/21/2026 Federal Theatre – Denver, CO 7/22/2026 Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NE
Previously announced dates:
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY: 4/07/2026 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA * 4/08/2026 The Pyrle – Greensboro, NC * 4/09/2026 Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ ^ 4/11/2026 The Palladium – Worcester, MA ^ 4/12/2026 Kodak Center Theater – Rochester, NY ^ 4/14/2026 The Factory – Chesterfield, MO ^ 4/15/2026 Manchester Music Hall – Lexington, KY ^ 4/17/2026 VooDoo at Harrah’s Kansas City – North Kansas City, MO ^ 4/18/2026 Anthem at Hard Rock Sioux City – Sioux City, IA ** 4/19/2026 The District – Sioux Falls, SD ^ 4/21/2026 Mesa Theater – Grand Junction, CO ^ 4/22/2026 Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT (COC only) 4/23/2026 Treefort Music Hall – Boise, ID ^ 4/24/2026 Cargo Concert Hall – Reno, NV ^ 4/25/2026 Sick New World – Las Vegas, NV Festival Date 4/27/2026 Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM ^ 4/28/2026 The Horseshoe – Midland, TX ^ 4/29/2026 The Aztec Theatre – San Antonio, TX ^ 5/01/2026 Vinyl Music Hall – Pensacola, FL ^ 5/02/2026 The Signal – Chattanooga, TN ^ 5/03/2026 The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC ^ 5/05/2026 Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, ON * 5/06/2026 Fairmount Theatre – Montreal, QC * 5/07/2026 Le Poisson Rouge – New York, NY *** 5/08/2026 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA *** 5/09/2026 Mr. Smalls Theatre – Millvale, PA *** 5/10/2026 The Roxy – Lakewood, OH *** 5/12/2026 The Machine Shop – Flint, MI *** 5/13/2026 The Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, MI *** 5/14/2026 Outset – Chicago, IL *** 5/15/2026 Cannery Hall – Nashville, TN *** 5/16/2026 Tipitina’s – New Orleans, LA ***
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY will be touring in support of their mammoth new double album, Good God / Baad Man, set for release next Friday, April 3rd via Nuclear Blast!
Produced by Grammy award winner Warren Riker (Fugees, Down, Cathedral) and featuring cover art by famed New Orleans artist Scott Guion, Good God / Baad Man was recorded at Blak Shak Studios in Riffissippi, USA, Dockside Studios in Maurice, Louisiana, and Bee Gee Barry Gibb’s home studio in Miami, Florida.
Watch a video for the record’s first single, “Gimme Some Moore,” HERE and “You Or Me” HERE.
Good God / Baad Man will be released on digipak CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
Gatefold 2xLP w/ Belly Strip – Black Vinyl (Retail) 2 Separate Jacket LPs w/ Belly Strip – LP 1 Blue/LP 2 Red (Mail Order + Band Exclusive)
French Heavy Metal band, Sins of Shadows, are set to release their third full-length album! The Last Frontier, which features Tasos Lazaris on vocals, will be released on May 5th. More direct and heavier than its predecessors, the album reflects the band’s evolution toward a sharper, more dynamic, yet still melodic sound, but with a renewed sense of urgency.
A music video for the album’s first single – “Tell Me Why” – is available at: youtu.be/XjetYq_v_bY
Musically, Sins of Shadows draws from the energy of the NWOBHM (Iron Maiden, Saxon), the ambition of progressive and power metal (Symphony X, Iced Earth), and heavier bands like Megadeth or Testament. Their twin-guitar harmonies, echoing Thin Lizzy, bring a touch of warmth and nostalgia to a sound that remains both personal and timeless. In short, the Sins of Shadows sound burns with modern intensity and a passion that ignites on every stage.
FFO: Iron Maiden, Iced Earth, Judas Priest, Megadeth, Testament
Track Listing:
1. The Void 2. The Last Frontier 3. Walls of Past 4. Tell me Why 5. Rise Again 6. Prologue 7. As Darkness Falls 8. The End of the Road 9. One Last Journey
Band photo by Nicolas Jacon
Line-up:
Nicolas Jacon: All Guitars Sebastien Normand: Bass Rodolphe Plachesi: Drums
Featured vocals by Tasos Lazaris
Credits:
All music and lyrics by Nicolas Jacon. Mixed and Mastered by Sebastien Normand at Aedonia Productions. Artwork by Aleh.
BIO:
After releasing two EPs, Sins of Shadows (2014) and Today’s the Day (2016), the duo was joined by bassist Sebastien Normand (Esquys, ex-Nepenthys) in 2018, leading to the recording of their first full-length album, The Master’s Way. That album set the tone for the band’s blend of heavy and progressive influences.
With drummer Rodolphe Plachesi joining soon after, the band released Imperium, featuring Eric Casteglia as guest vocalist. Entirely self-produced like all their work, Imperium took a more conceptual and introspective direction, drawing inspiration from the philosophical writings of Spinoza and Frédéric Lordon.
Following Imperium, Sins of Shadows released several singles, including one featuring Henning Basse (Metalium, ex-Firewind), further expanding their sound and collaborations.
Seattle (WA) – Heavy Metal bangers TELOMYRAS are back! Three years after releasing their self-titled debut EP, the band is primed for the release of their first full-length album, Duskfall!
The album’s first single, “Attrition,” is available on YouTube and Bandcamp.
Since the release of their debut EP, Telomyras have been hard at work honing their unique blend of classic heavy metal and extreme metal with the songs that make up Duskfall. Telomyras delivers a riff driven metallic assault with aggressive guitars in the vein of bands like Sanctuary and Megadeth, and a dual lead guitar attack inspired by classic and progressive metal.
Sammie Gorham’s classically trained opera vocal technique shines through the record with soaring highs, contrasted by her guttural screams that accentuate the brutality of the record. With the addition of the power and technique of new drummer Gavynn Peterson, Telomyras is here to define a new era of heavy metal with Duskfall.
Crown of Flies is out April 3rd, on CD and digital formats.
Milwaukee (WI) – New Blackened Death Metal entity, RELIC, has launched a stream of “Iron Sacrament,” the second single from their forthcoming debut EP, Crown of Flies!
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.
Vinyl Maxi-Single To Be Released May 1st On 20 Buck Spin + Decibel Magazine Tour Nears
Stream FULCI’s Risorsero Dalla Tomba E Fu… L’apocalisse!HERE.
Coming on the heels of the band’s most successful LP, 2024’s Duck Face Killings, FULCI return with a special 12” maxi-single serving as the soundtrack to the short film Risorsero dalla Tomba e Fu… L’Apocalisse! (“They Rose From the Tomb and It Was… The Apocalypse!”).
Created in collaboration with director Domenico Montixi, the 30-minute film merges paranormal horror with Spaghetti Western atmosphere, drawing direct inspiration from Lucio Fulci’s City Of The Living Dead and Four Of The Apocalypse. The film is set to begin its international festival run soon, with a trailer premiering at FULCICON 2 in Milan, the event organized by the band FULCI to celebrate Lucio Fulci and Italian genre cinema.
photo by Alec Basse
The maxi-single features a suite of new FULCI compositions that drift between eerie, cinematic soundscapes evoking the Lovecraftian aura of Fulci’s films, and the band’s signature gore-giallo death metal.
It also includes a special cover of Fabio Frizzi’s “Apoteosi Del Mistero” from City Of The Living Dead. Risorsero dalla Tomba e Fu… L’Apocalisse! further expands the band’s cinematic universe where extreme music and cult horror collide, serving as a uniquely atmospheric release bridging Duck Face Killings, the band’s relentless touring schedule, and the eventual arrival of their fifth full-length album.
Produced by FULCI, recorded at Spvn, mixed and mastered by Stefano Santi, and completed with cover art by Lucas Ruggieri, title card by Caterina Solinas, and layout/design by ascionemagro, the record features guest vocals on “Apoteosi Del Mistero” by Nate Garrett (Spirit Adrift, Neon Nightmare). This is a must-hear release for fans of Cannibal Corpse, Obituary, Merauder, Suffocation, Madball, Goblin, Fabio Frizzi, and Slayer.
FULCI’s Risorsero dalla Tomba e Fu… L’Apocalisse! is now streaming everywhere including YouTube HERE and Bandcamp HERE.
Risorsero dalla Tomba e Fu… L’Apocalisse! will be released as a one-sided 12” vinyl maxi-single on May 1st. Preorder options can be found at the 20 Buck Spin webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE.
Risorsero Dalla Tomba E Fu… L’apocalisse! Track Listing:
Risorsero dDlla Tomba e Fu… L’apocalisse!
Paura che Uccide
Apoteosi Del Mistero
FULCI is also preparing to return to North America as part of this year’s Decibel Magazine Tour, joining Necrot, Blood Monolith, and headliners Cryptopsy performing their seminal None So Vile album in its entirety. The tour runs from April 30th to May 28th.
FULCI Live:
The Decibel Magazine Tour 2026 w/ Cryptopsy, Necrot, Blood Monolith [tickets/info]:
4/30/2026 Palladium Upstairs – Worcester, MA 5/01/2026 Brooklyn Monarch – Brooklyn, NY 5/02/2026 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD 5/03/2026 Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest – Philadelphia, PA 5/05/2026 Masquerade (Hell) – Atlanta, GA 5/07/2026 White Oak Music Hall – Houston, TX 5/08/2026 The Studio – Dallas, TX 5/09/2026 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX 5/12/2026 The Regent – Los Angeles, CA 5/13/2026 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA 5/14/2026 Cornerstone – Berkeley, CA 5/16/2026 Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR 5/17/2026 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 5/20/2026 Oriental Theater – Denver, CO 5/22/2026 Fine Line Music Café – Minneapolis, MN 5/23/2026 Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL 5/24/2026 Crofoot Ballroom – Detroit, MI 5/25/2026 The Grog Shop – Cleveland, OH 5/26/2026 Preserving Underground – Pittsburgh, PA 5/27/2026 Lee’s Place – Toronto, ON 5/28/2026 Fairmount Theatre – Montreal, QC
FULCI: Jason Dahlke – vocals Fiore Stravino – vocals Klem Diglio – bass Edo Nicoloso – drums Dom Diego – lead guitar, synth Ando Ferraiuolo – acoustic and rhythm guitar
L-R: Max Friesen (Drums) | Chris Osterman (Lead Vocals / Lead Guitar) | Megan Merrick (Lead Guitar) | Leighton Holmes (Bass)
Headline Hometown Show in Vancouver + Cross Canada Tour! Plus Armstrong Metal Fest, Loud As Hell Open Air Fest
Vancouver, Canada’s traditional heavy metal torchbearers IRON KINGDOM proudly announce the release of “Defenders,” the first single and music video from their upcoming sixth studio album, “Shadows and Dust,” due out June 6, 2026. The album is also being released in partnership with Steel Shark Records (France), which will offer an exclusive EU edition limited to just 300 double‑CD copies.
Disc 1 will contain the full Shadows and Dust album, while Disc 2 will feature a “Best Of” collection highlighting tracks from Iron Kingdom’s previous five releases. In addition, the label will introduce a third vinyl colour (100 copies) available only to EU fans.
“Defenders” sets the tone for Shadows and Dust with a powerful blend of speed, emotion, and classic heavy metal grit. Inspired by the Battle of Gdansk, the track pays tribute to the Polish soldiers who held their ground for seven days against Nazi invasion, an act of courage that deeply resonates with vocalist/guitarist Chris Osterman, whose own family history is tied to the conflict.
“Being that my family is half Polish, this song strikes a chord for me. I imagined what my great‑grandfather experienced riding with the Polish cavalry in WWII, and I also imagined what people in Ukraine must be feeling right now. Even though the song is fast and heavy, it’s very emotional. It speaks to the courage of those who defend their families, their friends, and their way of life,” says Osterman.
Musically, “Defenders” channels the band’s signature blend of classic heavy metal, drawing influence from acts like Tyran Pace and Primal Fear, with soaring melodies, galloping riffs, and a relentless sense of urgency.
Shadows and Dust sees IRON KINGDOM exploring darker lyrical themes, death, hardship, impermanence, while maintaining the triumphant spirit and melodic fire that define their sound.
“This album plays in a dark realm of topics, but I think that’s what will make it accessible to people going through tough times. The music shows hope for a positive way out. It’s a journey from front to back,” adds Osterman.
Track Listing: 1. Defenders 2. Eternal Emperor 3. Dreamless Sea 4. Deadhouse Gates 5. Line Of Fire 6. Blood And Steel 7. Shadow Of Time 8. Dark Demands 9. Starlight 10. Sacred Fire
The album’s artwork by Alan Lathwell was inspired by the track “Blood and Steel” and the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson, depicting an army marching through a harsh, unforgiving landscape, a metaphor for perseverance through adversity.
IRON KINGDOM will celebrate the release of Shadows and Dust with a hometown headline show at the Rickshaw Theatre on June 5, delivering the high‑energy, classic‑metal stage show they’ve become known for. Info at: https://orangetickets.ca/detalles_evento.php?id_evento=2127
Following the album launch, the band will hit the road across Western Canada with confirmed festival appearances at Armstrong Metal Fest and Loud As Hell Festival.
Album pre-order (release date June 6th, 2026) available at the following links:
June 05 – Vancouver, BC – The Rickshaw July 02 – Nanaimo, BC – The Globe July 03 – Victoria, BC – Lucky Bar July 04 – Cumberland, BC – The Waverley July 05 – Powell River, BC – The Carlson Loft July 17 – Armstrong, BC – Armstrong MetalFest July 21 – Prince George, BC – Knox Performance Centre July 23 – Whitehorse, YT – Lefty’s Well July 24 – Dawson City, YT – The Pit July 25 – Dawson City, YT – The Pit July 26 – Whitehorse, YT – TBD July 28 – Yellowknife, NT – The Underground July 29 – Fort Smith, NT – Dirty O’ Fergie’s July 30 – Edmonton, AB – Starlight July 31 – Drumheller, AB – Loud As Hell Open Air Festival Aug 01 – Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre Aug 02 – Thunder Bay, ON – Bloom Bar + Lounge Aug 03 – Sudbury, ON – The Lounge 390 Aug 04 – London, ON – Supply & Demand Aug 05 – Waterloo, ON – Maxwells Aug 06 – Hamilton, ON – TBC Aug 07 – Toronto, ON – Bovine Aug 08 – Montréal, QC – Foufounes Électriques Aug 09 – TBD – TBD Aug 10 – TBD – TBD Aug 11 – Woodstock, NB – Monteith Manor Aug 12 – Halifax, NS – Gus’ Pub Aug 14 – Corner Brook, NL – TBC Aug 15 – St. John’s, NL – The Rockhouse Aug 17 – Truro, NS – Marigold Cult. Centre (Lobby) Aug 18 – Quebec City, QC – L’Anti Aug 19 – Ottawa, ON – Dominion Tavern Aug 21 – Saskatoon, SK – TBC Aug 22 – Calgary, AB – Dicken’s Aug 23 – Kelowna, BC – Jackknife Brewing
Formed in 2011, IRON KINGDOM have spent over a decade championing the classic heavy metal tradition, drawing influence from legends such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Helloween, Scorpions, and Rush. Known for their electrifying live performances, intricate musicianship, and unwavering dedication to the genre, the band has toured extensively across Canada, the USA, Europe, and Brazil, sharing stages with acts like Night Demon and Blaze Bayley.
Shadows and Dust marks the next chapter in their evolution, an album that blends old‑school metal spirit with fresh energy and emotional depth.
In a year marking the 40th anniversary of their initial formation, under the moniker Black Death, 2026 sees the return of the imperishable Norwegian duo and influential genre legends Fenriz and Nocturno Culto and their new studio album Pre-Historic Metal, set for release on May 8th via Peaceville Records.
Following swiftly on from the recently released The Fist in the Face of God boxset covering the band’s revered early Black Metal period, it is time for the Norwegian riff-meisters to emerge from their caves once more, for their new opus of high calibre old metal, under the banner of Pre-Historic Metal.
As Fenriz himself proclaims of the title’s symbolic origin, “Prehistoric is a loose term.I just figure it’s our VIBE, our take on things and it’s more a statement that we use old style to create something new”.
A continuation of 2024’s stellar ‘It Beckons Us All’, ‘Pre-Historic Metal’ is a ferocious slab of primal epics & gargantuan riffs with organic sound, graced with the ever-present permeating spirit of the 70s and 80s. This next chapter in Darkthrone’s unyielding saga presents a vast odyssey through the sonic landscapes of Thrash, Black, Heavy and Doom Metal and, adorned with a punishing and “in your face” guitar presence, Darkthrone stirs the cauldron of savage creativity with a nod to the writing methods which were indicative of their earlier works of the late 80s, but with a more refined craft.
Photo credit – Peer Olav Kittilsen
Summarizing what the album represents, Fenriz explains: “It means that we are metal. With very loud guitars. “Frightfully barbaric but not without finesse”, I call it. We collaborated in the studio more than ever, who’s playing what is still in a purple haze, but last but not least it was a sort of hardening of the arteries – we decided to tighten the tourniquet and do 8 effective songs brimming with riffs instead of the airy plodding we so much enjoy usually”.
Photo credit – Peer Olav Kittilsen
Pre-Historic Metal was recorded at Chaka Khan Studios, Oslo, with production work conducted by Ole Øvstedal, Silje Høgevold & Mads Luis. Mastering was carried out by Jack Control at Enormous Door, and Maor Appelbaum Mastering.
Pre-Historic Metal – Track listing: 1. They Found One Of My Graves (05:17) 2. Pre-Historic Metal (04:19) 3. Siberian Thaw (06:45) 4. Deeply Rooted (04:58) 5. The Dry Wells Of Hell (06:12) 6. So I Marched To The Sunken Empire (03:21) 7. Eat Eat Eat Your Pride (04:51) 8. Eon 4 (05:24)
New single “Apocalyptic Dawn” streaming everywhere now!
Intro
Apocalyptic Dawn
Cruel Face of War
Maniacal
Suffer in Silence
Radicalized
Blade of Betrayal
When the Elders Rise
Horrors Vile (featuring David Ingram of Benediction)
Legacy of the Damned
Rot Riffs
Hollow Husk
Dave Matrise (vocals, guitars) comments:
“Let’s start off by saying what an amazing accomplishment it is to hit 12 releases in my career. Never would I think I’d still be doing this 30+ years later. I guess be careful what you wish for. I’m very grateful to all of our fans that have supported us for so many years and for never giving up on us. To my bandmates for all of their hard work and dedication to me and JRot over all these years.
‘Cruel Face Of War’ will not disappoint. It’s full of crushing grooves and violent hooks that will surely break anyone’s neck.”
Tasmanian devils THE ABSOLUTION SEQUENCE have set an August 2026 release date for their highly-anticipated full-length album, Dread Cycle.
Following a string of EPs and singles, the album promises to be the band’s most incendiary work yet. Slated for release via Bleeding Art Collective, with distribution by Blood Blast Distribution, Dread Cycle is set to solidify the band’s position as a premier name in contemporary technical death metal.
THE ABSOLUTION SEQUENCE is prepping fans for what’s to come with the release of the official music video for the album’s first single, “Ghost Mantra.”
The band comments on the song’s lyrical concept: ‘“Ghost Mantra’ is all about being surrounded and taunted by the apparitions of our ancestors, and the sacrifice of the lowly in order to maintain the status quo. What comes with these haunting feelings is the overwhelming presence of guilt, as we watch the poor die horribly and step over their bodies to see out our goals. ‘Ghost Mantra’ is a solemn bow to those who have suffered. A showing of respect and gratitude.”
Track-listing: 1) Despotic Ruin (Diet of Worms) 2) Idols of Confraternity 3) Ghost Mantra 4) The Sordid Miasma 5) The Nightlight Sigil 6) Promethean Pilferage 7) A Mire Caked in Nativity 8) Grinding the Sphere 9) The Diary of the Emaciated
Dread Cycle was produced by Chris Themelco and mastered by the world-renowned Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios. The album was written by THE ABSOLUTION SEQUENCE.
Line-up:
Stephen Cusato – Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals Steven Mason – Rhythm Guitar Alastair Boon – Bass/Backing Vocals Luke Tucker – Lead Guitar Nick Machin – Drums Luke Sanderson – Drums Shawn Wells – Lead Vocals
BIO:
Emerging from the isolated, unforgiving wilderness of Tasmania, THE ABSOLUTION SEQUENCE has carved out a unique identity within the Australian extreme metal scene. Their sound is a direct reflection of their homeland’s “dark isle” reputation, a place defined by a sinister history and a cold, remote landscape that stands in stark contrast to the Australian mainland.
The band has developed a signature style of Technical Death Metal that balances high-velocity musical prowess with a deeply immersive, atmospheric undertone. The band has earned a wide array of mainland and international support slots from Nile, Archspire, Thy Art is Murder to Psycroptic, Northlane, Make them Suffer and others.
They also competed in the “GOOD THINGS 2022” Band Competition in Victoria. Their proven consistent success in the Tasmanian Metal scene has garnered them a reputation as a reliable and sought after headlining act.
Ushering in a new wave of heavy metal, New Jersey hellraisers WHO ON EARTH have announced their forthcoming album, It Takes The Village. Set for release on May 8th, the band’s second full-length features 12 headbanging tracks of unfiltered, high-octane mayhem.
Commenting on the new album, bassist Pete Rizzi says:
“It Takes The Village is a true representation of the diversity of Who On Earth, demonstrating the lack of self-imposed boundaries in our music. Our brand-new material showcases our continued growth as songwriters, and we’ve also included a few reimagined versions of earlier tracks that feel fresh and more powerful than ever. After five years of building, this release is our way of saying, ‘This is Who On Earth.”
Coinciding with the announcement, WHO ON EARTH have unveiled their second single, “Any Other Way” – an anthemic rocker primed for the stage, arriving just ahead of the band’s upcoming U.S. tour with FOZZY.
Rizziadds:
“‘Any Other Way’ is a rearranged, re-recorded, remixed, and remastered version of ‘Black Swan’ from our debut album, Blame. It’s a song about accepting the events in our lives and the choices that brought us here. Regret has no place in that process, the past is the past. Would we do things differently? Of course. But maybe everything had to unfold exactly as it did. It’s about embracing where you are, learning from it, and ultimately saying, ‘I wouldn’t have it any other way.’”
The new single follows the previously released track “Vigilance,” which also appears on It Takes The Village.
1. Vigilance 2. Any Other Way 3. Shadows 4. Good Man Down 5. Closer 6. Too Close 7. Double or Nothing 8. Monster! 9. Oh, Set Me Free 10. We Don’t Belong Here 11. Ascension 12. The Unbeaten
Lineup: Coosh – Vocals Pete Rizzi – Bass Johnny James Barone – Guitar Jimmy Kocha – Guitar Howie Fallon – Drums
WHO ON EARTH Tour Dates w/FOZZY:
May 8 – Charlotte, NC – Amos’ Southend May 9 – Waynesboro, VA – The Foundry May 12 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts May 13 – Harrisburg, PA – Capitall City Music Hall May 15 – St. Charles, IL – Arcada Theatre May 16 – Flint, MI – The Machine Shop
The relentless and legendary EXODUS have released their 13th studio album today: Goliath. I’ve streamed it on Spotify and will definitely buy a physical copy now, due to the fact it blistered my metal infested brain! Plus, vocalist Rob Dukes has returned and he sounds more pissed off than ever before! Long live EXODUS!
The MEGADETH newsletter has announced that the newest memoir from the remarkable Dave Mustaine releases on September 8th, 2026. Dave opens up about his courageous battle with cancer in his upcoming book. Yes, I’m pre-ordering a copy!
The prodigious Lamb Of God released their 10th studio album on March 13th and it can arguably be considered their best output of their existence! Not. Joking. All the metal bearings are spinning and blazing on Into Oblivion and I strongly urge you to stream, buy and get annihilated by LOGs’ auditory assault! Damn, I relish this LOG album!
Thank you for stopping by, have a safe and enjoyable weekend. Metal be thy name. – Stone
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.
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
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