FORSMÁN, one of the most promising new names to emerge from Iceland’s black metal underground, today release their new song “Drottinn Fyrirgefur Allt.” The track serves as the opener on the band’s debut album, Brenndar Rústir & Fuðrandi Fjörur, set for release on June 26th via Vesperian through Metal Blade Records worldwide.
“Drottinn Fyrirgefur Allt” opens the album with severity and intent. Vicious, cold, and extreme, the song still reveals a strong sense of detail: intricate riffing, shifting dynamics, and a dense atmosphere give FORSMÁN’s black metal a demanding, fully formed character. Rooted in Iceland’s contemporary tradition, the band already appear less like followers than a new voice within it.
Stream “Drottinn Fyrirgefur Allt” HERE. Watch the visualizer HERE.
The album’s cover artwork was created by Paolo Girardi, known for his work with Power Trip, Revocation, Sulphur Aeon, and many others.
FORSMÁN is a black metal band from Kópavogur, Iceland. After their debut EP Dönsum í logans ljóma, the members, all only in their early twenties, have been working intensively on new material. FORSMÁN (pronounced “fors-mown”) stands in the line of modern Icelandic black metal associated with Svartidauði, Sinmara, and Misþyrming, combining a dense atmosphere with focused, forward-driving songwriting.
FORSMÁN: V. – bass, vocals H. – guitar O. – guitar, vocals M. – drums
German power metal veterans MOB RULES have unveiled their brand-new single, “Above the Maelstrom,” taken from the forthcoming studio album Stories From The Verdant Vale, set for release on August 21 via ROAR – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music.
With “Above the Maelstrom,” the band presents a profound, melancholic ballad of exceptional beauty. Amid the otherwise concise and dynamic overall feel of the album, the song deliberately provides a moment of calm, creating a powerful atmospheric contrast that adds an additional emotional layer.
Their much-waited new studio offering Stories From The Verdant Valesees MOB RULES return to the narrative world introduced with their latest album Rise Of The Ruler (2025), which was widely praised and marked a major milestone in the band’s career. The material originates from songs written during the final stages of those sessions, now presented as a special standalone release.
As vocalist Klaus Dirks recently said: “During the final stages of completing the album, we discussed possible bonus material for the earbook edition with the label. We were reluctant to use demo versions or similar material. This motivated us to write a few new songs. We were well aware of what we were getting ourselves into, but we also wanted to challenge ourselves a little.”
The songs reveal a slightly more direct and compact approach compared to Rise Of The Ruler, while staying true to the band’s signature blend of melodic power metal, atmosphere and storytelling. Expanding the original concept from a different perspective, the material forms a natural extension of Rise Of The Ruler, while each track also stands strong on its own.
Originally conceived in part as exclusive material, Stories From The Verdant Vale will now receive a proper release on vinyl and digital platforms due to high demand. The record was mixed by Markus Teske, with artwork created by Stan W. Decker.
Tracklist: Side A: 1. Savage Land Reprise 2. Master Of The Black Crow 3. Masquerade Ball 4. Above The Maelstrom 5. Balance Of Power
Side B (Bonus Tracks) 6. Celebration Day (2014 Version, feat. Bernhard Weiß) 7. Insurgeria (2014 Version, feat. Udo Dirkschneider) 8. Coast To Coast (2014 Version, feat. Chity Somapala) 9. End Of All Days (2014 Version, feat. Amanda Somerville) 10. Broken
MOB RULES: Klaus Dirks – Vocals Sven Lüdke – Guitar Florian Dyszbalis – Guitar Markus Brinkmann – Bass Jan Christian Halfbrodt – Keys Sebastian Schmidt – Drums
About MOB RULES:
Formed in Northern Germany in the early 1990s, MOB RULES have established themselves as a constant force in melodic power metal. Known for their concept-driven albums, strong melodies and atmospheric depth, the band has built a loyal international following over the decades.
With ten studio albums to date, including the critically acclaimed Rise Of The Ruler, MOB RULES have continuously refined their sound while staying true to their roots. Their blend of classic heavy metal influences and modern production has secured them a lasting place within the genre.
German power metal force STORMHAMMER have released the official music video for their brand-new single“Wrath Of The Hammer”, the title track of the band’s upcoming studio offering.
With “Wrath Of The Hammer”, STORMHAMMER deliver a powerful first glimpse of their forthcoming album and once again prove why they remain one of the most consistent and exciting acts in the European power metal scene. The title track combines massive riffs, epic melodies and the band’s unmistakable energy into a modern metal anthem rooted in classic heavy metal spirit.
Phil Meyer (guitar, backing vocals) comments: “Tracks like Wrath of the Hammer perfectly represent the album’s direction, aggressive downstrokes, fast power chords and epic melodic moments coming together in a very classic yet modern Heavy Metal way.”
Drummer Ashley Guest confirms: “Wrath of the Hammer maintains the spirit of classic StormHammer while pushing the sound forward with a sharper and more aggressive edge.”
Following the acclaimed album Seven Seals,STORMHAMMER open a new chapter with Wrath Of The Hammer.The album combines traditional heavy metal roots with thrash-driven guitars, epic melodies and progressive elements while staying true to the band’s unmistakable identity.
“Wrath of the Hammer reflects all generations of Heavy Metal,”Phil Meyer says. “The old school, the melodic, the anthemic and the modern. That’s exactly who StormHammer are as a band today. We didn’t want the album to be purely melodic power metal. StormHammer has always had a more raw side, and we wanted to push that further by bringing in thrash elements, modern metal and even some ’90s punk roots without losing the band’s heavy metal identity.”
Vocalist M.Nox adds: “We went into this album with the idea that we didn’t want to play it safe. We mixed in elements of Thrash, Symphonic and Classic Metal while keeping it true to StormHammer’s Power Metal roots. With this album, you will hear StormHammer in a way you have not heard before.”
Recorded at Mastersound Studio with producer Alexander Krull, the album delivers a massive production, atmospheric arrangements and renewed creative energy throughout, showcasing a band that continues to evolve while remaining a vital force in modern power metal!
Horst Tessmann (bass, backing vocals) reveals: “Recording with Alex Krull was fantastic because we shared the same vision for how these songs should sound. He delivered a powerful and outstanding production. Wrath of the Hammer combines traditional Power Metal with Thrash Metal elements in a way that feels natural and energetic. The older I get, the faster and heavier I want the music to be.”
“This album feels honest and alive,” guitarist Christos Efstathiou states. “We challenged ourselves creatively while staying true to what StormHammer is about. There’s power, emotion and adventure in these songs.”
Track-list: 1. Beware 2. Wrath Of The Hammer 3. Ashes Of The Throne 4. Light In The Dark 5. Wheels Of Eternity 6. Guardians Of The Night 7. Veil Of Fire 8. Scars Of The Abyss 9. Shattered Dominion 10. The Dune
LEFT TO DIE has signed to Relapse Records and today announce their debut full-length, Initium Mortis, set for release on July 17th!
Death alumni Rick Rozz and Terry Butler joined forces with gore metal pioneer Matt Harvey and Gruesome drummer Gus Rios to form LEFT TO DIE. Their new album, Initium Mortis, pays homage to the brutal beginnings of Death.
Initium Mortis sees the supergroup – including original Death members Terry Butler (Obituary) and Rick Rozz (Massacre) – joining Harvey (Exhumed, Gruesome) and Gus Rios (Gruesome) to capture the morbid depths of Death‘s early catalog.
Members of LEFT TO DIE comment on the new album:
Matt Harvey: “After Gus and I performed Spiritual Healing in its entirety with Terry and James [Murphy], Rick wondered if people might want to hear something similar, but with him joining the three of us to perform Leprosy. Of course, I leapt at the chance to do it, and we quickly threw together a tour which surpassed everyone’s expectations, especially in terms of how much fun we were having playing together.”
“As we continued to tour throughout the US, Europe, Latin America, Australia, and Asia, people kept asking if we were going to record or write anything. After going back and forth on the topic, we felt that (ahem) exhuming some of these old tracks made the most sense for us, after all, we’re not gonna top Leprosy.”
“I gleefully combed through the myriad Death/Mantas demos and rehearsals looking for stuff that would make sense for a record, and we ended up going with tunes that we felt would make the most cohesive album, hence why ‘Skill To Kill’ and ‘Back From The Dead’ sadly didn’t make the cut. I look at Initium Mortis as a kind of ‘alternate-universe’ version of the Scream Bloody Gore track list, as so many of these tunes were circling around the many Death lineups and rehearsals from ’83-’87.”
“In fact, Chuck [Schuldiner] and Chris [Reifert] recorded a version of ‘Legion Of Doom’ for Scream Bloody Gore that never got completed. In revisiting these songs, it was crystal-clear to me that Rick’s fingerprints are all over the Mantas stuff and tunes like ‘Slaughterhouse,’ so with that connection, the songs where his style really shone through immediately made sense to include on Initium Mortis.”
Terry Butler: “Left To Die went from a thought to doing a full US tour in about three months! Pretty remarkable. We wanted to play the early material for the fans that couldn’t see the first albums in a live setting. There are many young fans at our shows that are hearing the foundation that Death stands on to this day live for the first time! With Matt channeling the best Chuck Schuldiner out there and Gus playing the material perfectly and respectfully, we hit the road and haven’t looked back!”
“For Initium Mortis, we wanted Death fans who never heard these demo songs to hear them with good production. Most of these early demos were recorded on a boom box, so by the time someone got their demo through tape trading it was almost inaudible!”
“We think these tracks are a good representation of the birth of Mantas/Death. This is ground zero, where it all started: three 15-year-old kids creating Death Metal history, and even within these choice cuts from the demo days you can hear the evolution of the music. ‘Archangel’ is a great way to introduce this album. It’s controlled chaos at its finest, catchy and riffy with a killer evil-sounding middle section!”
Rick Rozz: “First, I would like to thank Gus, Matt, and Terry for making LEFT TO DIE happen. It’s been an honor and pleasure working with them for the past few years and beyond. It’s really cool to be able to hear these tunes from 1984 properly! The old school Death fans are going to dig this release.”
Gus Rios: “The band started simply because Rick called me and asked if I’d be into it… Which I very promptly replied by referencing bears, shit, and woods. I then called Matt and Terry and the rest is history. Death’s Leprosy record is my favorite death metal album, let alone Death album. To be given this unbelievable opportunity to play those songs with Rick and Terry across the globe is an honor and a blessing I find hard to put in words. Matt and I are living our 14-year-old selves’ death metal fantasy!”
“And now, to make an album with the guys, is flat out surreal. I’m a pretty solid Death fan if I do say so myself, and yet these songs were all new to me. I never really gave the Mantas stuff much of a listen because I’m just not a ‘demo’ production fan. To hear these songs with clean and solid, yet classic analog style production for me is like getting new Death songs… Which rules!”
Featuring tracks like “Archangel,” “Witch Of Hell,” and “Legion Of Doom” expertly executed in the now, Initium Mortis is a must-have for Death fans and collectors alike. Ultimately, LEFT TO DIE celebrates a seminal band and the camaraderie of the genre’s most extreme corner of music.
Initium Mortis will be released on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats. Find preorders at Relapse.com HERE.
Initium Mortis – Track Listing:
1. Legion Of Doom
2. Archangel
3. Power Of Darkness
4. Zombie
5. Witch Of Hell
6. Rise Of Satan
7. Summoned To Die
8. Mantas
9. Slaughterhouse
10. Death By Metal
See LEFT TO DIE live throughout Europe this August and Latin America in September! A full list of confirmed dates is available below. Stay tuned for more tour announcements in the weeks to come.
LEFT TO DIE w/ Livlos: 7/31/2026 Rockstadt Extreme Festival – Brasov, RO 8/02/2026 Colosseum – Kosice, SK 8/03/2026 Drizzly Grizzly – Gdansk, PL 8/04/2026 Hype Park – Krakow, PL 8/05/2026 Zescianek – Berlin, DE 8/06/2026 Alcatraz Festival – Kortrijk, BE 8/07/2026 Bastard Club – Osnabrück, DE 8/08/2026 Brutal Assault Festival – Jaromer, CZ 8/09/2026 Backstage Halle (Free & Easy) – Munich, DE 8/10/2026 Colos-Saal – Aschaffenburg, DE 8/11/2026 Turock – Essen, DE 8/12/2026 Bahnhof Paul – Hamburg, DE 8/13/2026 Dynamo Metalfest Pre-Party– Eindhoven, NL End Tour 9/02/2026 São Luis, BR 9/03/2026 Teresina, BR 9/04/2026 Fortaleza, BR 9/05/2026 João Pessoa, BR 9/06/2026 Recife, BR 9/09/2026 São Paulo, BR 9/11/2026 Puerto Montt, CL 9/12/2026 Santiago, CL 9/13/2026 Concepción, CL 9/15/2026 Montevideo, UY 9/17/2026 Rosário, AR 9/18/2026 Buenos Aires, AR 9/20/2026 Córdoba, AR 9/22/2026 Lima, PE 9/24/2026 Medellín, CO 9/25/2026 Pereira, CO 9/26/2026 Bogotá, CO 9/27/2026 Cali, CO 9/29/2026 San Salvador, SV 9/30/2026 Ciudad de México, MX
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions are set to release the new EP from Lansdale Pennsylvania’s L.M.I. – V is up now for pre-order and will be released June 19th on CD and Digital formats along with merch.
L.M.I. return to Horror Pain Gore Death Productions with the new EP V! Following up on 2024’s album Failed To Feel It, Lansdale, Pennsylvania’s L.M.I. unleash five new tracks showcasing the band’s uniquely intense blend of Sludge Metal, Hardcore Punk and Math Rock.
V will leave you in a daze of riffage and pummel you with it’s ripping guttural vocals, along with experimental dynamics and song structure, which makes the listener rethink what Hardcore Punk can contort and morph itself into.
For fans of Portrayal Of Guilt, early Mastodon, Neurosis, Imperial Triumphant, Drive Like Jehu, Napalm Death and Kylesa.
Vancouver (BC) – Canadian Thrashers W.M.D. (When Minds Develop) will release Against All Warnings, the band’s second full-length album, June 5th, on vinyl, CD and digital formats.
A music video for the album’s first single, “Eyes of a Killer,” is available at:
Thematically, Against All Warnings concerns the constant human need for more, where nothing ever feels good enough, and people ignore every warning sign until everything starts to collapse. The album is also a reflection of W.M.D.‘s experience during the last few years: refusing to quit, getting angry at what the world really is, and trying to find their place in the middle of all of it. Every song comes from a different perspective on the chaos and pressure people are living through every day.
“The songs were built in the jam room first, so what you’re hearing is the exact pace, feel, and weight of what we created, while feeding off each other’s energy in the room. We wanted it to feel alive, raw, and honest. We’re proud of this record and stoked to finally share it with you.” – W.M.D.
Skyler Mills – Vocals/Guitars Jon Power – Bass Ryan Idris – Drums
Guest Guitar Solos: “Post Human Predator,” “The Thin Red Line, and “Painful Vengeance” performed by Casey Trask. “Against All Warnings” performed by Kai Sakaguchi.
In other W.M.D. news, the band will join countrymates Iron Kingdom on the True North Strong and Heavy Canadian Tour 2026 in June!
Produced by Skyler Mills. Co-Produced by W.M.D. Mixed & Mastered by Adair Daufembach. Pre-Production by Ryan Idris & Skyler Mills. Drums recorded by Dan Yakimow at Monarch Studios, Vancouver, BC. Assisted by Aaron Klassen. Guitars & Bass recorded by Skyler Mills & Adair Daufembach. Vocals recorded by Adair Daufembach @ Daufembach Studios, Los Angeles. CA & Colin Ryley @ Singularity Sound Studios, Vancouver, BC. Sound Design by Skyler Mills.
Artwork by Alex Malakmadze. W.M.D logo by The Pit Forge. Band Photography by Shimon Karmel. All songs written and performed by W.M.D. Independently released by W.M.D.
May 18, 2026, Gothenburg, Sweden – Monolord shares a final preview of their forthcoming album Neverending (May 29, Relapse Records) with today’s release of “It’s Neverending,” featuring guest vocalist Jörgen Sandström of Grave, formerly of Entombed.
“I did the growling on the demo, but it took me forever to record,” vocalist/guitarist Thomas Jäger explains. “It was more like to illustrate the idea. But Jörgen’s voice is so powerful, and his performance on the song is really great.”
The finished track is a deathly-doom epic. “When we got the vocals finally in place, I remember I just burst into laughter,” bassist Mika Häkki adds. “That was just my sincere reaction to how happy that end result made me. Jörgen must have opened some new portal of some kind with those screams!”
To create Neverending, Monolord decamped to Ashland, Oregon to record with legendary producer/engineer Sylvia Massy (Tool, System of a Down, and Johnny Cash). The collaboration began when Massy asked vocalist/guitarist Thomas Jäger to send everything the band had ever written.
“She asked me to send her everything we had, not just songs written for the album, but every stray riff and idea,” he says. “I even sent her stuff I’d written ten years ago. She listened to all of it and sent us a list of what she wanted to work on.”
The band rehearsed 12 songs, recorded 11, and ultimately selected eight for Neverending. The result captures a focused but expansive version of Monolord’s sound.
The band announced the new album with a video for “You Bastard,” which captured moments from their studio sessions with Massy. Revolver said the four-plus minute track is “glorious” and Consequence, who named it their “heavy song of the week,” described it as “a hefty and quite melodic piece of doom metal,” while simultaneously declaring Monolord the “Swedish titans of doom.”
They offered a second preview with the recently released song “Oozing Wound,” which MetalSucks noted is “a major change for the band, as it’s the first time they’ve tuned wayyy down for maximum heavy.”
*features vocals by Jörgen Sandström (Grave, ex-Entombed)
The band’s U.S. tour begins on June 11. Mizmor opens the Western U.S. dates, Khemmis opens on all Eastern U.S. dates with the exception of the Muddy Roots Festival. Tickets for all dates are on-sale now via Monolord.com.
Monolord U.S. tour dates:
Mizmor opens on all Western U.S. dates:
June 11 San Diego, CA Casbah
June 12 Santa Cruz, CA The Catalyst
June 13 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall
Copenhagen grinders MELTIFICATION have arrived with their blistering, self-titled debut album. Reminiscent of the late 80s/early 90s era of Earache Records bands, MELTIFICATION unleash a fast and aggressive breed of grindcore with shares of hardcore punk and thrash metal.
Meltification delivers 18 rapid-fire anthems of obliteration aimed right at the throats of old-school fans of extreme metal and grindcore.
Meltification will be released by Extremely Rotten Productions on all physical formats and digital on Friday May 29th 2026.
Track-list:
1) Turmoil
2) Midian
3) Assembly Line Of Horror
4) Nuclear Death Threat
5) Leech
6) River Of Torment
7) Raw Hate Inferno
8) Hellscape
9) A.I.mageddon
10) Hellscape Part 2
11) Memento Gory
12) Wargod
13) Doomsday Horde Caravan
14) Fragments
15) Mass Hypnosis
16) Lycanthropic Brutality
17) Calculated Demise
18) Final Ritual
MELTIFICATION was formed by veteran of the Copenhagen hardcore scene, Tue Sprogø (Death Token, Asbest, Deformation). Sprogø’s passion for classic grindcore lead him to team with ex-Imperious Mortality drummer Thomas Rindom. The band gives life to an absolute bulldozer of an album, marked with fast, hectic blastbeats and crushingly heavy grooves.
In addition to writing the music, and recording all of the guitars, bass and vocals, Sprogø also illustrated the album’s artwork.
Meltification was recorded, mixed and mastered by Lasse Ballade at Ballade studios in Copenhagen, Denmark.
L-R – Andres Martinez Torres (Drakar) – Voices, Lead Guitar, Bass – Michel Amyot – Rhythm Guitar / Photo Credit – Patrick Auger
Eternal Drak, the long‑running extreme metal force originally from Latin America and now based in Quebec City, Canada, known for its evolving blend of black, thrash, and death metal, announces the arrival of its sixth full‑length album, The Violence of Time, a work that reframes time itself as the enemy of human meaning and will be released on July 17th, 2026, on Canadian label FirstWave. Alongside the announcement, the band unveils the album’s first single, “We Force It To Speak.”
Born, as the band puts it, “in the middle of a drunk among friends,” Eternal Drak has spent years forging a sound defined by varied rhythm and catchy aggression, shaped by decades within the metal underground. With this new album, the band reaches its most cohesive and intense expression to date.
The Violence of Time is not a concept album in the traditional sense; it is a philosophical assault. Lyrically and musically, the record presents time as a hostile, eroding force that distorts memory, identity, and causality. The songs function as “violent theses,” each dismantling a human assumption about how time works.
The band explains:
“Time does not accompany human beings; it subdues them. It does not flow; it imposes. It does not advance; it erodes.”
Every track reflects fragments of a larger narrative inspired by a short story written for the album, an exploration of how attempts to understand time only warp it further.
Track Listing:
1. We Force It To Speak – 5:15 2. The Unborn Paths Rot – 3:51 3. Me Hice Simultaneo – 3:30 4. The Blasphemy of Time – 3:35 5. Chaos Is the Law – 3:34 6. Where Cause Is Buried – 3:55 7. Across the Watching Veils – 3:53 8. Breathing Once Again – 3:45 9. The Cosmos Rejects You – 4:09 10. No Direction Total War – 2:57 Album Length: 38:24
Serving as the album’s opening strike, “We Force It To Speak” captures the essence of Eternal Drak’s new era. Rooted in black metal yet enriched with acoustic textures and dense atmospheric layering, the track establishes the album’s emotional and conceptual tone.
Lyrically, it confronts the human obsession with explanation, how the act of observing or defining reality alters it beyond recognition. The band describes it as a reflection on “how the more we search for answers, the more certainty slips away.”
Eternal Drak’s evolution has been shaped by decades of experimentation, from analog distortion and classic pedals to modern digital textures. With The Violence of Time, the band believes it has finally crystallized its definitive sound: aggressive, cohesive, and uncompromising.
Listen to “We Force It To Speak” at the following links:
Influences such as Dimmu Borgir, Watain, Kreator, Motörhead, and Desaster echo throughout the record, yet the album stands firmly in its own identity, extreme metal sharpened by introspection and conceptual depth.
Album Band Line Up: Andres Martinez Torres (Drakar) – Voices, Lead Guitar, Bass Michel Amyot – Rhythm Guitar
One year after the release of the HERTA debut album Crossing The Illusion, we proudly present The Illusion Alive.
“The Illusion Alive” is the band’s first ever self-produced headline show in their hometown, Athens, Greece, on December 21, 2025 with special appearances by Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ), Fotis Benardo (Septicflesh, Nightrage) and George Prokopiou (Poem, Mother of Millions).
“A huge thank you to everyone who supported this show, all the bands and musicians involved, and every single person we had the pleasure of working with throughout this journey.”
Shape this world to be saved.
HERTA’s sound is characterized by groove- and rhythm-driven compositions that continually offer surprises and fresh impressions. Despite the complexity and technical prowess of their music, the songs remain accessible and catchy. The band’s keen sense of atmosphere and melody shines through, creating eventful tracks that captivate listeners from start to finish.
01. Tribal (live) 02. Eyes of Sorrow (live) 03. The Snake Devours the Wolf (live) 04. The Labyrinth feat. Fotis Benardo (live) 05. Beyond the Dead (live) 06. Monolith feat. Sakis Tolis (live) 07. My Demise (live) 08. River to the Abyss feat. George Prokopiou (live) 09. The Path (live) 10. Incarnation (live) 11. Control (live)
French heavy metal force Seven Metal Sins return with “Eternal Downfall”, the new single taken from the band’s forthcoming debut album Legacy Of Chaos, set for release in June 2026.
Following the release of “Hypocrisy” and the recent unveiling of “Wolves Of The Last Dawn”, the new track further consolidates the band’s uncompromising approach to heavy and power metal, combining razor-sharp riffing, commanding vocals, and an atmosphere fueled by tension, urgency, and raw intensity.
Formed in 2024 by former Manigance rhythm section Stéphane Lacoude and Patrick Soria, Seven Metal Sins was born from the desire to return to a more direct, personal, and aggressive vision of metal songwriting. The lineup was later completed by guitarist Antton Iriart, vocalist Claw-G. and guitarist Fred Auclerc, forging a sound rooted in classic heavy metal, power metal, and old-school speed metal traditions while embracing a sharper contemporary edge.
Lyrically, “Eternal Downfall” perfectly reflects the dystopian and socially conscious vision at the core of Legacy Of Chaos. Inspired by environmental collapse, authoritarianism, greed, and humanity’s destructive trajectory, the band channels its frustration and rage into a heavy metal framework enriched by dark futuristic imagery and apocalyptic undertones.
The band describes its sound as “powerful – strong – heavy – sharp – huge”, delivering “pure, hard-hitting metal in the vein of cult bands that have marked different eras”.
Track Listing: 1. The Fall (Intro) – 0:57 2. Scars of Injustice – 4:35 3. No Sanctuary – 4:22 4. Hypocrisy – 4:07 5. Eternal Downfall – 4:57 6. Feel the Steel – 4:20 7. Wolves of the Last Dawn – 4:36 8. Beyond the Breaking Point – 4:01 9. Sun Eaters – 5:00 10. Rise of the Phoenix – 3:55 11. King of Sorrow – 6:25
Produced by Seven Metal Sins, Legacy Of Chaos was mixed by Jérémie Garat at Reseda Prod and mastered by Simon Capony at Basalte Studio, while the album artwork and layout were created by Marco Orlando.
An explosive offering awaits from the Raleigh, NC, based ensemble CRIMSON STEEL. As the band gear up to unveil their forthcoming full length album, Show No Fear, CRIMSON STEEL present their first single release in “No Absolution“. Show No Fear is set to arrive on October 2nd, 2026, via Heaven and Hell Records.
“No Absolution” showcases the dynamic characteristics of CRIMSON STEEL‘s sound. While inspired by traditional styles, progressive metal and power metal, the single delivers a modern feel. “No Absolution” provides haunting melodic moments alongside ferocious rhythms. Throughout the track, emotional vulnerability is entwined with heavy power.
Lyrically, CRIMSON STEEL delve into themes surrounding guilt, condemnation, and spiritual isolation. The imagery evokes a sense of a being who is trapped with their own internal suffering, unable to atone or make amends for past actions. “No Absolution” explores an inability to escape from the torment that exists within oneself.
CRIMSON STEEL focus on storytelling through their music. Each track across the album contributes to the larger emotional narrative experience. At its core, Show No Fear explores the human experience often drawing on fantasy and mythical imagery to convey the central themes of fear, transformation, power, and perseverance.
Show No Fear – Track List:
As Above, So Below 1:11
Dark Rider 4:39
No Absolution 5:53
Purifier 4:18
Final Phase 5:44
Prelude to the Blade 0:45
Century Sword 5:18
Bleed into One 6:30
Show No Fear 4:52
Show No Fear was produced by Wendy Brancaccio and recorded and mixed at Vintage Noise Studio with Wendy Brancaccio and Bill Spears. The album was mastered by Anthony Focx. Cover artwork and design for Show No Fear isby Johnathan @gerardster.
Guest vocals on “Bleed into One” were provided by James Rivera, recorded at Hombre Malo Studio and engineered by Larry Barragán.
About CRIMSON STEEL:
With a style rooted firmly in classic metal, Raleigh, NC based CRIMSON STEEL combine elements from traditional metal and power metal to produce a high octane sound with a modern feel. Initially formed in 2022 by bassist Joel McGee, the quartet draws influence primarily from the likes of JUDAS PRIEST, BLACK SABBATH, IRON MAIDEN, SAVATAGE, CRIMSON GLORY, and QUEENSRŸCHE.
Alongside McGee is vocalist Tina Langevin, both of whom performed together as teenagers before unexpectedly reconnecting in this new musical endeavor. The line-up is completed with David Ryan on guitars and backing vocals, along with Will Adkins delivering percussion in addition to backing vocal duties.
Entwining story-driven songwriting with the intense energy of crowd-participation and the live stage, CRIMSON STEEL is preparing to unveil their debut album Show No Fear on October 2nd, 2026, via Heaven and Hell Records.
Marking 35 years since its original impact on the heavy metal landscape, the seminal Seattle-based technical thrashers, FORCED ENTRY, are pleased to announce the definitive reissue of their cult-classic masterpiece, As Above, So Below. In partnership with M-Theory Audio, this long-awaited celebration and sought-after classic will make its vinyl debut, as well as a Digipak edition CD, available July 31, 2026.
“Can’t thank the guys at M-Theory enough for getting our best work back out on CD and Vinyl! 35yrs later, this record still thrashes the SHIT outta ya! Crack a beer and listen up!” – Tony Benjamins (vocals, bass)
Formed in the late 1980s, FORCED ENTRY carved out a unique space within the burgeoning Seattle metal scene, blending blistering thrash speed with complex, progressive song structures. As Above, So Below remains a high-water mark for the band, celebrated by fans and critics alike for its aggressive intensity, musicianship, groove and technicality.
The anniversary reissue ensures that a new generation of metalheads and long-time devotees can experience the record in prestige formats. Fans can secure their copies now via the M-Theory Audio webstore www.m-theoryaudio.com/store or the Forced Entry Bandcamp page. (Items will ship from US or Europe based upon your location).
Microcosm Splatter Vinyl: first time on vinyl, pressed to just 300 copies.
Sludge Green Vinyl: Exclusive mail-order only variant restricted to 100 copies.
Digipak CD: includes booklet
As Above, So Below features freshened up and expanded layouts by Marc Lopes, including a new interview with vocalist/bassist Tony Benjamins and extra pics and flyers. The original album was produced by Tom Soares (Demolition Hammer, Cro-Mags, Meliah Rage) and engineered by Jamie Locke (Obituary, Prong, Leeway) with artwork by Sean Wyett (Exodus, Cyclone Temple, Devastation). The album featured two music videos – “Macrocosm, Microcosm” and “Never a Know, But The No.”
About Forced Entry:
FORCED ENTRY is a technical thrash metal band hailing from Seattle, Washington, known for their influential role in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s underground scene. The trio of Tony Benjamins on bass, Brad Hull (later of the reformed Sanctuary) on guitar and Colin Mattson on drums built a reputation for themselves within their regional scene through pounding live work and via the worldwide underground and fanzine circuit with the release of 3 classic demo tapes (which M-Theory will compile and release in early 2027).
Signed to Combat Records, FORCED ENTRY released two albums – 1989’s Uncertain Future and 1991’s As Above, So Below and toured with bands like Sacred Reich, Coroner, Atrophy, and Obituary. Their music is characterized by blistering riffs, complex arrangements, and an unrelenting, aggressive energy that helped define the “Seattle sound” of the era, along with scene mates Bitter End and Panic.
Chilean death metallers ROTTEN TOMB present today their new single “Here Lies Death”, with the exclusive premiere hosted by Mystification Zine. The track offers a new glimpse into the band’s upcoming third full-length album Vestiges of Tortured Souls, due for release on June 6th, 2026 via Nuclear Winter Records, available on LP, CD and cassette.
“Here Lies Death” showcases a more refined and focused evolution of the band’s sound, while preserving the raw intensity and underground conviction that have defined their identity. The single highlights a clearer songwriting approach and a sharpened sonic vision, pointing toward what is described as the band’s most mature and complete statement to date.
Formed in 2016 in Iquique, ROTTEN TOMB have steadily risen as one of the most compelling acts within the South American extreme metal scene, blending death metal with doom-laden atmospheres and occult undertones. Following the strong impact of Visions of a Dismal Fate (2022) and the equally praised The Relief of Death (2024), the band now returns with their most ambitious and fully realized work to date.
Vestiges of Tortured Souls stands as one of the most anticipated death metal releases of the year. On this new record, ROTTEN TOMB refine their sonic identity without sacrificing intensity or authenticity. The riffs are sharper and more cohesive, while the melodies take on a more prominent role, painting soundscapes that feel more sorrowful and evocative than ever before.
Without losing any of the crushing heaviness and sense of decay that defined their earlier material, the band now delivers songs with an immediate and lasting impact. Each track strikes a balance between overwhelming force and carefully crafted lead guitar work, resulting in compositions that are both memorable and devastating.
The album channels the oppressive weight of the genre’s darkest pioneers alongside a deeply mournful and introspective atmosphere, while still maintaining a distinct and personal voice. This duality allows ROTTEN TOMB to push their sound forward, achieving a level of songwriting maturity that marks a clear evolution from their previous efforts.
Vestiges of Tortured Souls represents a major step forward for ROTTEN TOMB, solidifying their position at the forefront of Chile’s increasingly renowned extreme metal scene and extending their reach far beyond national borders.
For fans of: Incantation, early Paradise Lost, Krypts, Sonne Adam.
Track-list:
Horror Manifestations
Condemned Reality
Lost Memories
Waiting, Dying
Mortified
Mind of Chaos
Here Lies Death
Ancestral Preservation
Human Pyre
Line-up:
Deathbringer – Guitar, vocals C. – Guitar A. Prophaner – Drums Utukku – Bass
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions are set to release the new album from Sacramento California’s Hardcore Crossover Thrashers Eyes Out. Satiate The Blade is up now for pre-order and will be released June 12th on CD and Digital formats along with merch.
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions welcome Eyes Out to the roster with the new album Satiate The Blade! Hailing from Sacramento California, Eyes Out have been contaminating the River City with their pollutant Crossover Hardcore since 2019.
Satiate The Blade delivers a barrage of fast tempos, heavy breakdowns and emotionally charged lyrics combining a sound of classic hardcore, with an infusion of modern Thrash Metal. The end result is a frenzy of mosh fueled madness that will surely leave your favorite DRI shirt stained with the remnants of your melted face! Recorded, Mixed and Mastered by Greg Wilkinson (Autopsy, Necrot, Undergang) at Earhammer Studios in Oakland California.
For fans of Leeway, Downpresser, Trapped Under Ice, Municipal Waste and Killing Time.
Watch the video for “Killicon Valley (Silicon Dust)” at this location.
Kansas City thrash masters HELLEVATE have posted the official music video for the title track off their new album, Killicon Valley. This five-minute thrash-fest aims its rage at the use of AI in today’s culture.
“This song is the result of several years of us watching the development of AI and ranting about it with each other. So many songs out there about AI have their hearts in the right place, but they always sing about it like it’s Skynet or SHODAN; some unstoppable robot overlord coming to bring the apocalypse,” comments guitarist Joshua Cole about the song.
“Then you actually use it and it’s a crappy productivity tool that only helps create more noise and BS that we all have to wade through, all because some idiot billionaires decided they liked the idea of a computer that could do all their thinking for them and replace those pesky employees. The lyrics fit the music perfectly, as it’s nasty, aggressive, relentless, and fast! If you like your thrash metal played pissed off and at warp speed, we’ve got you covered with this one!”
Vocalist Robert Browne expands on the song’s lyrical theme, “The so-called “leaders” of the tech industry have made shit more expensive, turned a multitude of careers upside-down, and gotten this moronic presidential administration to give them access to sensitive systems. And for what? It fucks up simple tasks. It fills our news feeds with garbage and lies. It gives mediocre idiots with no skill the delusions that they can make art with no effort, all at the cost of the planet that sustains our lives. Older folks who fear AI think it’ll be like a Terminator 2 thing. It’s much worse; I’d rather be blown up than starve.”
Watch the video for “Killicon Valley (Silicon Dust)” at this location.
Killicon Valley is relentless in execution. Eleven tracks of the bullshit-free, ‘thrash-or-be-thrashed’ attitude the band has cultivated over their nearly 20 years of existence. Today, that fury has escalated beyond the breaking point. The result is an album that true fans of old-school thrash can blast with pride.
Watch the video for the album’s first single, “In the Long Grass,” at youtu.be/4pvJtJcOrvo.
Robert Browne – Vocals Dan Whitmer – Guitar Joshua Cole – Guitar Zack Burke – Bass Ruben Lopez – Drums
HELLEVATE will mark the release of Killicon Valley with an album release show at Warehouse on Broadway in Kansas City, MO. Support will come from Jackson Country 5, Meat Shank, and Bloodscent. Check the event page for details.
NEW VIDEO FOR “THEY FOUND ONE OF MY GRAVES” RELEASED
“The old school never gets old” – Fenriz
In a year marking four decades since their first incarnation as Black Death, 2026 sees the return of Norwegian duo Fenriz and Nocturno Culto, better known as Darkthrone. The new studio album Pre-Historic Metal, out now via Peaceville, is fueled by a long-running obsession with invoking the spirit of old-sounding metal, and doing things in their own, uncompromising way.
Venturing out once more from their Northern cave with a new batch of timeless riffs, the band fly the Pre-Historic Metalbanner high, leaning into the raw, timeworn sound for their latest primal offering.
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”.
To coincide with the album’s release there is a new lyric video for the album opener “They Found One Of My Graves”, created by Matthew Vickerstaff (Darkwave Arts).
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
Summarising 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”.
‘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:
They Found One Of My Graves (05:17)
Pre-Historic Metal (04:19)
Siberian Thaw (06:45)
Deeply Rooted (04:58)
The Dry Wells Of Hell (06:12)
So I Marched To The Sunken Empire (03:21)
Eat Eat Eat Your Pride (04:51)
Eon 4 (05:24) Pre-Historic Metal is available on
A Deluxe box set special edition featuring:
Exclusive splatter 180gm heavyweight vinyl with gatefold sleeve & exclusive alternate cover artwork by Maciej Kamuda.
Exclusive cassette edition.
CD edition.
Booklet including an interview by Harald Fossberg on the making of ‘Pre-Historic Metal’.
2 posters
LP on black & white splatter vinyl – available exclusively at the Peaceville label stores
LP on purple marble vinyl – available at the Peaceville label stores + select stores worldwide
LP on classic black vinyl
LP on white vinyl (available exclusively in Germany)
LP on dark green vinyl (available exclusively in Norway)
LP on silver vinyl (available exclusively in Sweden)
LP on transparent orange vinyl (available exclusively in North America)
LP on coke bottle green (available at independent records stores in North America)
SEVEN KINGDOMS has announced their 6th full length record Sono Sola. The band will return to their long established crowdfunding model with a plan to release the record in the fall. The crowdfunding campaign will launch on May 26th and run until June 26th.
Guitarist Camden Cruz shares, “We are really excited for this record! We took a lot of new chances on this record and got to spend a lot more time working on it. The record contains the soul of this band. We bring the highest level and heaviest release of our career to you with this album. We worked again with Jim Morris who wrote and produced the record with us. We also worked on the record with Francesco Cavalieri who also helped produce songs with us on this album. Sabrina is at the top of her game and the band is firing on all cylinders. It will be your favorite Seven Kingdoms album. We cannot wait to share this with you!”
Producer Jim Morris comments, “This is the most melodic and heaviest Seven Kingdoms record that we have ever done. We got to spend more time than ever working on the music. I am very excited for this new music and I believe it’s going to open a lot of new doors for the band!”
Sono Sola was recorded at Morrisound Recording in April and May 2026 with Jim Morris (SAVATAGE, WARRANT, DEATH). SEVEN KINGDOMS wrote the record together with Jim Morris, who also produced the record along with co-producer Francesco Cavalieri (WIND ROSE). The album artwork for Sono Sola was done by Bo Bradshaw. The Track listing will be released at the end of the Crowdfunding Campaign along with more news.
SEVEN KINGDOMS:
Sabrina Cruz – Vocals Camden Cruz – Guitars Kevin Byrd – Guitars Keith Byrd – Drums
Swedish power metal force TUNGSTEN are ready to unleash their fifth studio album Ashes, set for release on October 9via PERCEPTION – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music, and celebrate the announcement with their brand-new video single “Joker”. The band has further revealed co-headline tour dates with INDUCTION; find all dates listed below!
About the new single, guitarist Nick Johansson remembers; “In 2015 I randomly stumbled across a clip of Franzl Lang. I was seriously impressed by how insanely good he was at yodeling, so I went through a short Franzl phase. Not long after that I was standing by a lake with a perfect echo and decided to try a little yodel myself. It sounded absolutely terrible, of course but, I immediately understood the technique. Since then I’ve only yodeled for fun now and then. Somehow, after almost 10 years of casual nonsense-yodeling, it has quietly improved on its own.”
Lead singer Mike Anderssonadds: “Joker is a real stompy banger! I’ll never forget the reactions from our friends and partners at Reigning Phoenix Music when we played them the demo over dinner in Stuttgart. The excitement around the table was amazing.
Following a strong entry into the metal scene with their 2019 debut We Will Rise and a steady rise through albums like Tundra, and Bliss, the band now return with a powerful new chapter. Between touring and live performances throughout 2025, TUNGSTEN focused on writing material for their upcoming album, aiming to create a worthy follow-up to 2024’s The Grand Inferno.
1. Joker 2. Bite My Tongue 3. Fuego Del Sol 4. Supernova 5. Happy 6. Ted The Exorcist 7. Sunshine Of Fall 8. The North Will Rise (feat. Tony Kakko of Sonata Arctica) 9. For Thee 10. Ruin 11. The Forge
TUNGSTEN are: Mike Andersson – Lead Vocals Karl Johansson – Bass, Keyboards, Vocals Nick Johansson – Guitar Anders Johansson – Drums
Ashes sees TUNGSTEN continue their crusade, delivering irresistible metal with anthemic choruses and a fresh surge of energy that pushes their signature sound even further. The album captures everything the band stands for: powerful songwriting, massive hooks, and a dynamic mix of melody and heaviness that makes it one of their strongest and most focused releases to date!
INDUCTION & TUNGSTEN LIVE – ANTHEMS OF STEEL TOUR 2026:
07.10.26 – DE – Herford @ Kulturwerk 08.10.26 – DE – München @ Backstage 09.10.26 – DE – Leipzig @ Hellraiser 10.10.26 – DE – Passau @ Zauberberg 11.10.26 – DE – Karlsruhe @ Die Stadtmitte 12.10.26 – CH – Aarburg @ Musigburg 13.10.26 – AT – Salzburg @ Rockhouse 14.10.26 – DE – Mörlenbach @ Live Music Hall 15.10.26 – DE – Hamburg @ Bahnhof Pauli 16.10.26 – DE – Lingen @ Alter Schlachthof 17.10.26 – DE – Solingen @ Laut und Hart Festival 18.10.26 – DE – Selb @ Rockclub Bayern
Originally formed in 2016 by drummer Anders Johansson together with his sons Nick and Karl Johansson, TUNGSTEN soon completed their lineup with vocalist Mike Andersson and quickly established themselves as a force in the European metal scene. With a sound rooted in classic heavy metal but sharpened by a contemporary edge, the band has built a reputation for powerful songwriting, a clear identity and relentless forward momentum, earning growing attention well beyond their Scandinavian home base.
The band has toured extensively alongside acts such as BLOODBOUND, FIREWIND, SONATA ARCTICA, and ALL FOR METAL, and appeared at major festivals including Sweden Rock Festival, Leyendas Del Rock, Midalidare Metal Fest and Riverside Rock Fest, continuously building a strong live reputation. In July 2026, TUNGSTEN is confirmed to perform at Germany’s RockHarz Festival, among many more live appearances in support of their much-awaited new albumAshes. Find all upcoming dates HERE.
USDM veterans, LECHEROUS NOCTURNE are back with a vengeance. The band has just unleashed their first new track since 2018’s Occultaclysmic.
“Fission” obliterates LECHEROUS NOCTURNE’s eight-year hiatus with extreme force, delivering one of the most aggressive assaults in the band’s nearly 30 years of existence. Marking the beginning of a new chapter for the band, the song showcases a reinvigorated form of their trademark technical death metal chaos, further intensified with the addition of new vocalist Zach Jeter (Nile) to the fold.
“Once again Lecherous Nocturne has been inspired to release a series of songs representative of life’s horrors,”saysguitaristKreishloff Lofgren.“The music is proud, ferocious, fun to play, and focused. I’m personally very happy with the end result and look forward to the albums release.”
Zach Jeter offers his thoughts on the band’s new chapter. “Alongside my brothers in Lecherous Nocturne, we’ve compiled an uncompromisingly brutal slab of music that’s finally ready to unleash. I’m stoked and honored to be a part of it. The first single takes no prisoners and wastes no time kicking you in the teeth from the start. Still just a taste of whats to come.”
LECHEROUS NOCTURNE has tapped Metal Injection for the exclusive world premiere of the lyric video for “Fission.” Watch now at this location.
2026 promises to be the comeback year for LECHEROUS NOCTURNE, one that includes a spot at the Milwaukee Metal Fest, with additional live dates in the works. LECHEROUS NOCTURNE is slated to perform on Day 3 on the fest (June 7) alongside Ministry, John Bush, Napalm Death and more.
After years of silence, LECHEROUS NOCTURNE emerge sharper, heavier and more dangerous than ever. Be warned. The war machine has re-entered the battlefield.
LECHEROUS NOCTURNE;
Zach Jeter – Vocals Kreishloff Lofgren – Guitar James O’Neal – Bass Ethan Lane – Guitar Alex Lancia – Drums
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!
Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
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