Archive for metal albums 2026

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FOG WALL Unleashes “The Accursed” Single/Video

Posted in Death Metal, death metal bands, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on August 3, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Album cover – Zak Brady.

Reno (NV) – U.S. Death Metal duo FOG WALL have released “The Accursed,” the second single from forthcoming debut album, Gloomweaver. Gloomweaver will be released on September 4th!

“The Accursed is a descent into madness, as the people’s champion becomes a disgusting horse-shaped amalgamation of beastly bloodlust and ironic tragedy, guided only by a whispering magic sword and holy moonlight.”

– Zak Brady (Fog Wall)

A lyric video for “The Accursed” is available at: youtu.be/Fz3dm7h4xjY

The song is available on all digital platforms, including Bandcamp, Spotify and Apple Music.

Gloomweaver collects some of Tolkien’s most harrowing tales, as well as stories of the torturous, terrifying worlds depicted in the work of FromSoftware, the Japanese video game development studio. Included therein are everything from haunted fortresses to arachnid-shaped demons whose sole purpose is to eat the world, not to mention the forceful enclosure of humans into glass jars.

Line-Up:
Alex Malmquist – Bass/Vocals
Zak Brady – Vocals

FOG WALL is the passion project of two lifelong friends: Zak Brady and Alex Malmquist. The duo draw inspiration from all things dark fantasy and horror. Combining their love of crushing evil riffs and heavy bass tones, they strive to conjure a new menace in a familiar genre.

Pre-order Gloomweaver: fogwallnv.bandcamp.com/album/gloomweaver

FFO: Morbid Angel, Type O Negative, Deicide, The Black Dahlia Murder, The Acacia Strain

Track Listing:

1. Manor of Ensnarement

2. Knife, Sting, Tooth

3. The Accursed

4. Mazarbul (Desolation)

5. Belching Black Vapours

6. Strangling Gloom

7. Fleshpot Ritual

8. Frantic Orb Weaver

9. The Profit of Doom (Medley)*

10. Traverse

*Type O Negative cover

Album Credits:

Engineering/Mixing/Mastering: Alex Malmquist

Vocals: Zak Brady and Alex Malmquist

Guitar: Shagrat “Quincy” Gorbag

Bass: Alex Malmquist

Drums: Logan Griggs

All music by Alex Malmquist with the exception of “The Profit of Doom,” which was written by Peter Steele.

Lyrics for “Manor of Ensnarement,” “The Accursed,” “Mazarbul (Desolation)” by Zak Brady

Lyrics for “Knife, Sting, Tooth”, “Belching Black Vapours”, “Strangling Gloom,” “Frantic Orb Wielder,” “Traverse” by Alex Malmquist

Lyrics for “Fleshpot Ritual” by Zak Brady and Alex Malmquist

Lyrics for “The Profit of Doom” by Peter Steele

linktr.ee/fogwall

Source: ClawHammer PR

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ÆNIGMATUM: Portland Progressive Death Metal Band Drops Third LP, Infinitude’s Passage, Out Now Digitally On 20 Buck Spin + Physical Preorders Posted

Posted in Death Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on August 2, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

photo by Devin Tolman

Stream ÆNIGMATUM’s Infinitude’s Passage HERE.

20 Buck Spin has surprise-released Infinitude’s Passage, the blistering new album from progressive death metal force ÆNIGMATUM, now streaming everywhere.

Infinitude’s Passage marks the third full-length statement from Portland’s death metal seers ÆNIGMATUM. Taking the intricate mastery of previous album Deconsecrate as a point of departure, the band’s union of technical precision, dark melody, and unrelenting force draws us ever further into a world where revelation and annihilation become indistinguishable.

Sudden turns, fractured rhythms, and spiraling harmonies color a landscape of seemingly elaborate complexity, yet ÆNIGMATUM serves a larger, deeper structure with an exacting sense of purpose and focus. Frenetic eruptions of speed give way to passages of melodious clarity and dissonant turbulence allowing the compositions to remain in constant motion and expand idiosyncratically upward and outward.

Cerebral without sacrificing physical impact, majestic without surrendering menace, and progressive without loosening its vigorous command, Infinitude’s Passage rejects easy categorization within death metal’s exceedingly vast parameters. Its visceral impact, incandescent melody, and aura of perpetual discovery place ÆNIGMATUM at the threshold of the boundless.

The drums on Infinitude’s Passage were engineered by Charlie Koryn at Elektric City, pre-production and guitar/vocal recording was handled by Pierce Williams, bass and bass clarinet recordings were engineered by Brian Rush, and the saxophone recording was engineered by Patrick Corona. The recordings were reamped, mixed, and mastered by Colin Marston at Menegroth, The Thousand Caves (Krallice, Gorguts) with additional reamping by Keith Merrow at Merrowsound Studios, and the album was completed with artwork by Daniel Hermosilla, liner art by Marcus Kempton, logo by Logan Williams/Connie Wang, and layout by Matt Oien.

ÆNIGMATUM – Infinitude’s Passage (Full Album) 20 Buck Spin: https://youtu.be/S0nDnmfXuro

If you frequent the works of Stargazer, Eucharist, The Chasm, Krallice, Death, VoidCeremony, Innana, Atheist, At The Gates, Dark Tranquillity, Necrophobic, Atrocity or Opeth, do not miss ÆNIGMATUM’s Infinitude’s Passage.

ÆNIGMATUM’s Infinitude’s Passage is out now on all streaming platforms as well as 20 Buck Spin’s Bandcamp HERE and YouTube HERE.

CD and LP editions of Infinitude’s Passage will be released on September 4th and preorders can be found on Bandcamp HERE and at the 20 Buck Spin webshop HERE.

Infinitude’s Passage – Track Listing:

  1. Pitiless Mechanism
  2. Inseverable
  3. Architects Of The Fated
  4. A Tarnished Nexus
  5. Nocturne Of Ageless Reverie
  6. Infinitude’s Passage

ÆNIGMATUM:
Kelly McLaughlin – vocals, guitar, bass clarinet
Eli Lundgren – guitar
Brian Rush – bass, backing vocals
Pierce Williams – drums, synths, backing vocals
Patrick Corona – saxophone
Danny Quetzal – backing vocals

https://aenigmatum.bandcamp.com

https://www.instagram.com/aenigmatum_pdx

http://www.20buckspin.com

https://listen.20buckspin.com

http://www.facebook.com/20buckspin

Source: EARSPLIT PR

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HEKATOXEN – Finnish Death Metal Stalwarts Announce New Album, Obsidian Majesty, on Nuclear Winter Records

Posted in Death Metal, death metal bands, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, mystery, news with tags , , , , , , on August 1, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

After introducing their vision with the Utter Darkness EP, Finnish death metal outfit HEKATOXEN are ready to strike with their first full-length album, Obsidian Majesty, set for release on October 2nd, 2026 on LP and CD format via Nuclear Winter Records.

The first single “Lost Souls Epitome” is now streaming HERE.

Hailing from Tampere, HEKATOXEN return with a record that tightens every aspect of their sound, delivering a darker, sharper and more determined expression of death metal. Obsidian Majesty moves through a landscape of razor-edged riffs, where heaviness never comes at the expense of movement: the songs hit hard, but they also breathe, shift direction and reveal a band with a clear understanding of dynamics.

Rooted in the classic language of Finnish death metal, the album does not rely on mere repetition of familiar formulas. HEKATOXEN take inspiration from the genre’s foundations while shaping those elements into focused compositions built around memorable riffs, strong structures and a tangible sense of purpose. Every track feels designed to stand on its own, equally effective through headphones and on stage.

Avoiding unnecessary complexity, HEKATOXEN embrace the power of well-crafted songwriting: concrete, immediate and uncompromising. Obsidian Majesty captures a band refining its identity, balancing old school instincts with a contemporary edge and proving that tradition can still cut deep when handled with conviction.

Track-list:

01 – Lost Souls Epitome
02 – I Am Them
03 – Spawns Of Darkness
04 – Haunting Ceremony
05 – Domus Vilomaxus
06 – Grave Reveries
07 – At Hellsrivers Pathway
08 – Vanguard The Dark

Line-up:

Jussi – vocals, lead guitar, acoustic guitar, synth
Niko – rhythm guitar
Risto – bass guitar
Vesa – drums

For fans of: Demigod, Adramelech, early Sentenced, Funebrarum.

HEKATOXEN:

https://hekatoxen.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Hekatoxen

https://www.instagram.com/hekatoxen/

Nuclear Winter Records:

https://nuclearwinterrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://nuclearwinterrecords.com/

https://www.facebook.com/martyrdoomproductions/

https://www.instagram.com/nuclearwinterrecords/

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MORBID STENCH – Central American Death-Doom Practicioners Announce New Album Doom Metástasis

Posted in Death Metal, doom metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on August 1, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Central American death-doom practitioners MORBID STENCH will release their third full-length album, Doom Metástasis, on October 2nd, 2026 through Nuclear Winter Records and Putrid Cult. The album will be available on LP, CD and cassette formats.

Deeply rooted in death-doom metal, the record broadens the group’s sonic palette through a more developed approach to songwriting, without losing the weight and darkness that have always defined their sound. Conceived as a conceptual work, the album follows a process of transformation that moves from inner decay to complete propagation, blending biological imagery with reflections on identity, inevitability and the cyclical nature of existence. This narrative framework gives the album a strong sense of continuity, shaping a journey rather than a simple collection of individual tracks.

Musically, MORBID STENCH combine crushing slow-paced sections, oppressive atmospheres and carefully crafted arrangements, balancing immediacy and depth. With Doom Metástasis, the band expands its vision while remaining faithful to the raw spirit of Central American death-doom metal.

The first single “Hyperbolic” is now streaming HERE.

Track-list:

  1. Necrotic from Within
  2. The Morbid Waltz
  3. Hyperbolic
  4. Bizarre and Beyond
  5. Narcissistic God
  6. Crawling out of the Swamps

Formed in 2014 by veteran musicians The Master Butcher (Costa Rica), Morbid and Purulent (El Salvador), MORBID STENCH was created to explore the darkest and most putrid side of doom metal, enriched by a strong death metal influence. With all members active in the extreme metal scene since the early ’90s, the band combines crushing heaviness, oppressive atmospheres and rotten melodies, drawing inspiration from the forgotten swamps of Central America.

Their debut EP The Stench of Doom was released in 2016 on cassette through Morbid Skull Recs (El Salvador) and Till You Fukkin Bleed (Poland), quickly selling out and followed by a short tour in El Salvador and Guatemala with CONCEIVED BY HATE. In 2017, the band released the split 7” EP The Bifid Tongue of Doom & Death with Costa Rican death metal act NECROGOD.

The debut full-length Doom & Putrefaction arrived in 2019 through Putrid Cult, Morbid Skull Recs and other international labels, receiving strong feedback from the underground scene. This was followed by the split 7” EP Ghospels of Necromancy with Dutch death metal band ANARCHOS in 2020, and the second album The Rotting Ways of Doom in 2022, further establishing the band’s reputation among doom/death enthusiasts.

Despite the members now living in three different countries, the creative chemistry within MORBID STENCH remains intact. The songwriting process begins with Morbid composing and recording guitar and bass parts at his “Víspera del Demonio” studio in San Salvador, creating raw demo versions that are shared with the band for feedback and development. Purulent then works on the drum arrangements, while The Master Butcher completes the songs with his lyrics and vocal performances.

In 2026, MORBID STENCH will release their third full-length album, Doom Metástasis, a conceptual work that continues the band’s exploration of decay, darkness and the oppressive atmosphere of their signature doom/death metal.

Line-up:

The Master Butcher – Esophagus
Morbid – Cosmic Chords of Doom
Purulent – Barrels Full of Putrid Waste

MORBID STENCH:

https://morbidstench.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/morbidstench

Nuclear Winter Records:

https://nuclearwinterrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://nuclearwinterrecords.com/

https://www.facebook.com/martyrdoomproductions/

https://www.instagram.com/nuclearwinterrecords/

Putrid Cult:

https://putridcultproductions.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/putrid_cult/

https://www.facebook.com/PutridCult/

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DECONSEKRATED – Chilean Occult Death Metal Force to Release Sophomore Album: The Inexorable Transcendence of Death

Posted in Death Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on July 31, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Nuclear Winter Records proudly announces the release of DECONSEKRATED‘s sophomore album, The Inexorable Transcendence of Death, set for release on October 2, 2026 on LP, CD, and MC formats.

The first single “Under the Rotten Shroud” is now streaming HERE.

Over the past decade, Chile has established itself as one of the world’s premier breeding grounds for uncompromising death metal, and DECONSEKRATED are poised to further strengthen that reputation with an album that fully embraces the darkest corners of the genre. The Inexorable Transcendence of Death is a relentless collection of dense, hostile compositions built on crushing intensity, oppressive atmosphere and an abundance of memorable riffs.

While its roots firmly lie within the classic death metal tradition, the band’s songwriting reaches beyond mere homage, weaving intricate arrangements, unexpected tempo changes and subtle twists into every track. Rather than attempting to reinvent the style, DECONSEKRATED explore its vast creative potential, crafting songs that unfold organically and reveal new layers with each listen.

Powerful, immersive and meticulously constructed, “The Inexorable Transcendence of Death” stands as a bold new statement from one of Chile’s most promising death metal acts.

Track-list:

  1. Purgative Procession
  2. Drowned in the Deep Waters of Phlegethon
  3. Terrifyng Manifestation of Malevolence
  4. Towards the Veil of Heretic Plagues
  5. Poisoned Flesh (Mark of the Sinister Path)
  6. Under the Rotten Shroud
  7. Oracula Sanguinis (Obsidian Mirrors)
  8. Through the Graves’ Portals

DECONSEKRATED is an occult death metal band hailing from the cold, rain-soaked south of Chile. Founded in 2020 by guitarist Agorh Skullptor, the project initially began as the vision of three like-minded “black souls” before evolving into a full five-piece lineup. The band’s music explores themes of death, the desecration of Christian dogma, and spiritual transmutation, translating these concepts into a dark and uncompromising sonic identity.

Line-up:

Agorh Skullptor – Guitar and bass
Gül Evokator – Vocals
Padaviast – Guitar
Rigor Mortis – Drums

In 2024, DECONSEKRATED released the EP Ascension in the Altar of Condemned, issued on CD by Iron Blood and Death (Mexico), on vinyl by Futhark Records (Canada), reissued on CD by Alkolik Holocaust Records (Argentina) and released on cassette by Ancient Sounds of Madness Productions (Poland) and Infernal South Productions (Chile).

The band has shared the stage with renowned acts such as Master, Malevolent Creation, and Morta Skuld, while also performing in Argentina and at the now legendary Ossum Total Death Festival in Mexico City. Drawing inspiration from the early masters of death metal, DECONSEKRATED continue to follow a path of darkness, death, and the desecration of humanity.

For fans of: Dead Congregation, Krypts, Grave Miasma, Rotten Tomb

DECONSEKRATED:

https://deconsekrated1.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/deconsekrated_oficial

Nuclear Winter Records:

https://nuclearwinterrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://nuclearwinterrecords.com/

https://www.facebook.com/martyrdoomproductions/

https://www.instagram.com/nuclearwinterrecords/

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NORTH SEA ECHOES: “I’ll Leave A Light On” Video From Project Featuring Ray Alder and Jim Matheos Of Fates Warning – Now Playing

Posted in Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on July 29, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

How To Cast A ShadowFull-Length Out Now On Metal Blade Records!

Watch NORTH SEA ECHOES’ “I’ll Leave A Light On” video HERE.

NORTH SEA ECHOES – featuring progressive metal pioneers, singer Ray Alder and guitarist Jim Matheos, of Fates Warning – today deliver their video for “I’ll Leave A Light On.” The track appears on the band’s latest studio album, How To Cast A Shadow, out now on Metal Blade Records!

Comments Alder, “’I’ll Leave a Light On’ is much heavier than anything on [2024’s] Really Good Terrible Things, the first NORTH SEA ECHOES album. It has a darker, melancholic feel that fits well on this record. I loosely based the lyrics on a character from my favorite sci-fi series. I won’t say which, but they do use the quote ‘out there in the black.’”

Watch NORTH SEA ECHOES’ “I’ll Leave A Light On” video HERE. 

Watch NORTH SEA ECHOES’ previously released video for “Enjoy The View” HERE.

On NORTH SEA ECHOES’ Really Good Terrible Things full-length, Alder and Matheos garnered rave reviews for songs that possessed, “liberating sonic space and emotional vulnerability… from somnambulant electro-fog to gritty, overdriven disquiet, to the quietly devastating (Blabbermouth).” With How To Cast A Shadow, the band’s identity is further expanded upon and explored.

“This record is a bit heavier,” asserts Matheos, “with several more songs featuring real drums, played by Dennis Leeflang. It wasn’t necessarily intentional or planned, just the way things shaped up and how they emerged this time.”

How To Cast A Shadow – Track Listing:

1. A Time of Innocence and Purpose

2. Enjoy the View

3. Good Enough

4. I’ll Leave a Light On

5. All Fall Away

6. Revenge

7. Villains or Saints

8. What is and What Was

10. All That Comes After

11. How to Cast a Shadow

The duo’s shared and separate histories help to forge a fresh creative opus. Alder has been the vocalist and main co-writer for prog metal heroes Fates Warning for 37 years, recording ten albums between 1988 (No Exit) and 2020 (Long Day Good Night). Rounding out his discography are seven albums with Redemption, two solo records, and the band A-Z, which debuted in 2022.

Revered guitarist and producer Matheos is a cofounder of Fates Warning, the lineup debuting with 1984’s Night On Bröcken on Metal Blade. In addition to thirteen albums with Fates Warning, Matheos launched several solo albums, four LPs alongside former Dream Theater keyboardist Kevin Moore under the name OSI, and Kings Of Mercia, which launched in 2022.

From the radio-ready rock of “All That Comes After” and the intimate, escalating “A Time Of Innocence And Purpose” to the powerful, timeless ballad “Villains Or Saints,” How To Cast A Shadow cohesively crosses genres and challenges aural preconceptions.

How To Cast A Shadow is out now on CD and digital formats. Preview/purchase the record at: metalblade.com/northseaechoes.

If Really Good Terrible Things kickstarted NORTH SEA ECHOES’s career with “hovering subtleties, introspective thoughtful reflections” and lyrics with “wisdom and authenticity,” How To Cast A Shadow ups the promise of its predecessor. Provocative words of hope, sorrow and consciousness are paired with Matheos’ equally emotive, varied and deeply moving guitar work.

https://northseaechoes.com

https://www.metalblade.com/us/artists/north-sea-echoes

https://www.metalblade.com

Source: EARSPLIT PR

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ONLY ECHOES Present New Single And Video For “Born Adrift” Ahead Of Upcoming Full-Length

Posted in Hard Rock, Metal, Music, music news, music videos, news with tags , , , , on July 29, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Watch “Born Adrift” HERE: https://youtu.be/Kqd1QdFLebE

Denver-based instrumental post-metal band ONLY ECHOES present the title track of their forthcoming full-length Born Adrift. The album isscheduled to arrive on August 14, 2026, via Braeburn Records.

“As a whole, this song really feels like you are lost at sea and fighting for your life, but that you haven’t given up yet”. Share ONLY ECHOES. 

“That is kind of the idea behind the title and the theme of the album to an extent. It is a heavy emotion, but not a claustrophobic one. It’s the idea that this fight is difficult and it’s going to stay difficult for the rest of the journey, but that it is still worth taking”. 

ONLY ECHOES deliver “Born Adrift” with a striking impact. Wave after wave of intense heaviness brings the track’s concept to life. Rhythmic shifts, catchy lead hooks, and uplifting moments not only provide movement but also a sense of anticipation. Shadowy passages feel weighted and inescapable but they are not dwelled upon without hope for too long. 

Born Adrift Track-list:

  • Born Adrift – 5:48
  • Tempest – 8:41
  • So Tightly Bound – 6:12
  • Inter – 2:05
  • Steps Ahead Of Drowning – 7:09
  • Shimmering Death – 5:14

Alternating between light and shade, ONLY ECHOES deploy carefully curated changes in the track’s pace as well as through their instrumental layering. The structure of “Born Adrift”, while exploring periods of turmoil and relief, is emotionally complex as the music rises and falls before meeting an abrupt end. 

Watch “Born Adrift” HERE: https://youtu.be/Kqd1QdFLebE

“Born Adrift” encapsulates key aspects of the band’s sound that are also explored elsewhere across the album’s track list. With this single release, ONLY ECHOES demonstrate their darker side as this is the heaviest offering found on the forthcoming Born Adrift. 

Born Adrift was produced, engineered, and mixed by guitarist Austin Minney at All Aces Studio, with mastering handled by Brad Smalling at Evergroove.

The album artwork features an original 1876 engraving by Gustave Doré, reimagined with color and illustration work by Celeste Hayes (@chayesart). Born Adrift arrives August 14, 2026 via Braeburn Records.

ONLY ECHOES:

Austin Minney – Guitar
Dustin Yourishin – Guitar
Ben Rosenberg – Bass
Zach Sirotkin – Drums

Connect with ONLY ECHOES:

Official Website: https://www.onlyechoesmusic.com

Bandcamp: https://onlyechoes.bandcamp.com/album/sunsickness

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/onlyechoesdenver

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/only_echoes_denver/?hl=en

Source: EARSPLIT PR

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IRONFLAME Releases New Video “Dynasties” ~ New Studio Album, Worlds To Conquer, Releases on August 14th

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , on July 28, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

SINGLES/ VIDEOS:
“Dynasties” (Official Video) watch HERE

“Legion Of Fire” (Lyric Video) watch HERE

IRONFLAME- Worlds To Conquer – Order Link: https://www.hrrecords.de/IRONFLAME

TRACK-LISTING:
01 Night Closes In
02 Legion of Fire
03 Dynasties Fall
04 Where Cauldrons Burn
05 Shadow Slave
06 Crimson Shores
07 Valhalla is Calling
08 Worlds to Conquer
09 Death’s Immortal Flame (Bonus Track)

LIVE & TOURING LINE-UP:
Andrew D’Cagna – vocals
Jesse Scott – guitar
Quinn Lukas – guitar
James Babcock – bass
Noah Skiba – drums

Andrew D’Cagna performed all the music and vocals.

Live guitarists, Quinn Lukas and Jesse Scott composed and recorded their own guitar solos.

Andrew D’Cagna is based in Eastern Ohio.

Source: High Roller Records

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VAAJA Releases “Abalon” – Nordic Gothic Dark Metal Rooted In A Horror-Fantasy Book

Posted in dark metal, gothic metal, gothic rock, Hard Rock, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , on July 28, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Promo picture by VOR

Finnish band VAAJA have released their second single Abalon on July 17. The music video will follow on July 31. The song is an epic, atmospheric gothic metal track drawing from Finnish mythology and tied to an upcoming original VAAJA dark horror-fantasy novel series.

LISTEN to the Abalon single on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/vaaja-abalon 

The single is an explosive track, taking its name from a central character in the upcoming first book: Abalon, the elven ancestor of foxes. The lyrics delve into how Abalon steps in as a surprise ally to turn the tide for the story’s main protagonist, a vulnerable young vampire, and his human friends.

“All songs of Vaaja are designed to carry Finnish mythology with a unique horror-fantasy twist beyond Finland’s borders,” says Malphas Miserable, the lead singer, songwriter and author of VAAJA.

VAAJA is a fully realised concept. Music is the first chapter of a larger dark fantasy universe that spans both the band’s work and forthcoming novels set in the same world. The band and the books are one universe. “I carried the idea of VAAJA for many years, but it was not until 2025 that I started to write the first book. After that, everything happened very fast and effortlessly.“, Malphas Miserable explains.

Sonically, Abalon occupies the space between the emotional depth of Sleep Token, the atmospheric darkness of HIM, and the devotional, theatrical identity of Opeth and Ghost.

Vaaja – Abalon (Single 2026)
Cover art by Malphas Miserable

Composed & lyrics by Malphas Miserable 
-Arranged by Malphas Miserable, Garn Eir, Fenris Fuzz, Vor, Magni 
-Recorded, Produced, Mixed and Mastered by Malphas Miserable

“We think the category of “Nordic gothic dark metal” fits us the best, but we are very flexible in a wide array of musical genres. However, with VAAJA, we don’t want to restrict ourselves too much musically. Instead, aiming to maintain a playful, even blasphemous spirit-just like the old gods. The old gods are dear to us, and we feel that Finnish mythology is one of the richest yet still most underrepresented mythologies in metal,” the band states.

“Vaaja is not Viking imagery borrowed from our neighbours. It is ours, ancient, magical, and largely unknown to the world – until now.“

The Band:
Vocals: Malphas Miserable
Guitar: Garn Eir (The Sorcerer)
Guitar: Fenris Fuzz (The Berserker)
Drums: Magni (The Seer)
Bass: Vor (The Warrior)

Links: 

https://linktr.ee/vaaja

https://vaajaofficial.com

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MONOLORD Debut “Iodine” Video Featuring Behind-The-Scenes Footage From Hometown Show In Gothenburg

Posted in doom metal, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on July 27, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Photo credit: James Rexroad

U.S. TOUR RESUMES ON AUGUST 27

NEVERENDING OUT NOW VIA RELAPSE RECORDS: https://www.relapse.com/pages/monolord-neverending

July 27, 2026, Gothenburg, Sweden – Monolord, who return to the U.S. in late August, have released a live video for the song “Iodine” (https://youtu.be/ETIrrMVF5uw) from their recently released album, Neverending.

The video captures one of the band’s first performances supporting the Sylvia Massy-produced album, intercut with behind-the-scenes footage from their hometown show in Gothenburg.

 “Iodine” was inspired by 70s rock epics like Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird,” The Eagles’ “Hotel California,” and Led Zeppelin’s “No Quarter.” “Even though it’s maybe not musically similar, I think the vibe is similar,” Thomas Jäger says. “And the opening riff is my tribute to Yob, because I’ve always really liked Mike [Scheidt]’s guitar playing. He does all these weird chords where his fingers are all over the fretboard at the same time. It’s for sure my favorite song on the album.”

Neverending has earned widespread acclaim, with Bandcamp naming it their “Album of the Day” upon release, Consequence declaring it “magical,” Revolver dubbing it “glorious” and New Noise saying the collection is “Monolord at the height of their powers.”

To create Neverending, Monolord traveled to Ashland, Oregon to record with legendary producer 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 is an album that expands the band’s sound without sacrificing the weight and creativity that define Monolord.

The album is streaming now, as well as available on vinyl, CD and cassette (https://www.relapse.com/pages/monolord-neverending).

Monolord U.S. tour dates:

August 27 Chicago, IL Thalia Hall
August 28 Louisville, KY Portal
August 29 Atlanta, GA Garden Club
August 30 Asheville, NC Eulogy
August 31 Columbia, SC New Brookland Tavern
September 2 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts
September 3 Brooklyn, NY Elsewhere
September 4 Montague, MA RPM Fest
September 5 Baltimore, MD Labor Daze
September 6 Cookeville, TN Muddy Roots Festival
September 8 Columbus, OH Ace of Cups
September 9 Detroit, MI Sanctuary
September 10 Indianapolis, IN Black Circle
September 12 Austin, TX Levitation Festival

Khemmis opens on all U.S. headlining dates

European tour dates:

July 30 Ghimbav, RO Rockstadt Extreme Festival
August 7 Kortrijk, BE Alcatraz Festival
October 6 Hamburg, DE Bahnhof Pauli
October 7 Haarlem, NL Patronaat
October 8 Eindhoven, NL Effenaar
October 9 Sint-Niklaas, BE De Casino
October 10 Paris, FR La Maroquinerie
October 11 Nantes, FR Le Ferrailleur
October 12 Toulouse, FR Le Rex
October 13 Lyon, FR Jack Jack
October 14 Aarau, CH KIFF
October 15 Munich, DE Backstage
October 16 Osnabrück, DE Bastard Club
October 17 Cologne, DE Gebäude 9
November 4 Copenhagen, DK Stengade
November 5 Berlin, DE Columbia Theater
November 6 Dresden, DE Beatpol
November 7 Warsaw, PL Hydrozagadka
November 8 Krakow, PL Hype Park
November 9 Brno, CZ Kabinet Múz
November 10 Budapest, HU Dürer Kert
November 11 Vienna, AT Arena
November 12 Zagreb, HR Vintage Industrial Bar
November 13 Milan, IT Legend
November 14 Bologna, IT FreakOut
November 15 Karlsruhe, DE P8

Tickets for all dates are on-sale now via Monolord.com.

Few modern doom bands balance sheer weight and melody like Monolord. Formed in Gothenburg in 2013, the trio of guitarist/vocalist Thomas Jäger, drummer Esben Willems, and bassist Mika Häkki have become one of heavy music’s most introspective and nuanced bands. They have earned global acclaim through relentless touring, with unforgettable performances at Hellfest, Desertfest, Psycho Las Vegas, and Roadburn. Their records, Empress Rising (2014), Vænir (2015), Rust (2017), No Comfort (2019), Your Time To Shine (2021), and most recently, Neverending (2026), cemented their reputation for blending crushing fuzz with melodic undercurrents and immersive repetition.

Monolord.com

Monolord.bandcamp.com

Instagram.com/monolordofficial

Facebook.com/monolordsweden

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ESHTADUR Unveils Music Video “Into The Woods” From New Album In Darkness All Shadows Gone ~ Out Oct 2026

Posted in Black Metal, Death Metal, melodic death metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on July 25, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Listen to “Into The Woods”:
https://lnk.to/N8qobN

Watch the official video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewIYMme4L1c

Colombian melodic black/death metal band ESHTADUR announce their new full-length album, In Darkness All Shadows Gone, due for release on October 2nd, 2026 through Rockshots Records.

The announcement is accompanied by “Into The Woods”, the first single and official video introducing the musical and conceptual journey behind the record.

Developed over four years, In Darkness All Shadows Gone consists of twelve compositions combining melodic black and death metal, symphonic arrangements, layered vocals, Tuvan throat singing and atmospheric passages. Recorded with the Caldas Symphonic Orchestra, the album expands the band’s established sound while maintaining the combination of heavy riffing, dark melodies and orchestral textures that has shaped its identity.

The album follows a conceptual journey through mysticism, transformation and inner transmutation. At the centre of the narrative stands The Crow, a shamanic figure moving between existence, death, emptiness and the unknown. Acting as both master and apprentice, The Crow guides the listener through a process of isolation, self-discovery and spiritual awakening, where darkness becomes not only an oppressive force but also a path towards understanding the self.

Across the record, ESHTADUR explore the relationship between darkness and the light contained within each individual. The songs draw upon occult symbolism, cosmic philosophy, ancestral knowledge and human emotion, forming a continuous narrative rather than a collection of disconnected tracks. Musically, black and death metal alternate as leading forces throughout the album, supported by melodic writing, cinematic orchestration and folk-rooted elements.

Jorg August comments on the creation of the album:

“We worked on this material for four years. It is a long album with twelve tracks, symphonic arrangements, a real orchestra, many vocal layers and Tuvan voices. At times, it felt like a giant puzzle, but everything finally came together. We are proud of the result and grateful to everyone who helped us build it. A crow is calling.”

The first single, “Into The Woods,” represents the call to initiation and the first step into the album’s inner world. The listener is invited to leave behind external noise and enter the forest alone, confronting silence, memory, and self-delusion. Inspired by contemplative philosophies and the idea of returning to nature as a means of self-discovery, the song presents the forest as both a physical place and a metaphorical descent into consciousness.

Musically, “Into The Woods” combines fast melodic and aggressive guitar riffs, alternate-picked passages, dark orchestration, dissonant elements, ancestral chants and forceful vocals. The track establishes the balance between aggression, melody and atmosphere that continues throughout the album, while its lyrics address inner turmoil, past trauma and the need to confront fear before transformation can begin.

The accompanying official video focuses on frontman Jorg August, who is guided by the symbolic Crow into the forest and towards the first dimension of the album’s narrative. The visual interpretation reinforces the song’s themes of solitude, initiation and departure, presenting the journey as an individual mission in search of a deeper understanding of the self.

Listen to “Into The Woods”:
https://lnk.to/N8qobN

Watch the official video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewIYMme4L1c

Track Listing:​
1. Age of Antumbra – 2:00
2. Into The Woods – 4:41
3. Umbra – 6:22
4. August’s Burdens – 4:59
5. Fire Above Mountain Below – 5:08
6. Old Shaman Blind – 5:08
7. Thunderground – 3:40
8. Ruler of the Lake – 5:14
9. A Black Winged Waltz – 9:23
10. Nebulae (Virgo) – 5:09
11. Omen of Millennia – 3:56
12. Soy Real – 5:11

In Darkness All Shadows Gone will be available from October 2nd, 2026 through Rockshots Records. The album can be pre-ordered now from the Rockshots Records store at:
https://rockshots.eu/cuhb5ys9ncs1ndx

ESHTADUR are:
Jorg August – Vocals, guitars
Camilo Barbosa – Lead guitars
Andres Gonzalez – Bass
David Lopez – Drums

The album was produced by Jorg August, who also wrote the music, lyrics, compositions, and orchestral arrangements. The recordings took place at RockStar Studios Colombia, while the orchestra was recorded at Batuta’s Theater in Manizales, Colombia. The album was mixed and mastered by Tomasz “Zed” Zalewski, with additional mixing and mastering by Chris Clancy on “Fire Above Mountain Below” and “Umbra.” The cover artwork was created by Valesia Obscura.

For fans of: Septicflesh, Dissection, At The Gates.

More info:

​https://rockshots.eu/​

​https://www.facebook.com/EshtadurOfficial/​

https://www.instagram.com/eshtadur/

Source: ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

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RIPPER’s Towards Rebirth Out Now

Posted in Death Metal, death metal bands, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on July 24, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Your patience has been rewarded. Chilean death squad RIPPER returns with their first full-length since 2016’s Experiment of Existence.

Towards Rebirth contains the band’s most violent work to date. Razor sharp guitar work, intense drumming and well-crafted songs are still there… only more concise, more vicious.

Towards Rebirth is available via Dark Descent Records on CD, vinyl and digital formats.

Order and stream Towards Rebirth at:

www.darkdescentrecords.com/shop

www.ddmsuo.eu

www.darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com

The last decade has seen RIPPER refine their attack into a lethal blend of old-school death metal and thrash-or-be-thrashed aggression. The band has undeniably earned a reputation as one of South America’s premiere extreme metal exports.

Stream album track “The Source Exterminator” at: youtu.be/J_QqGRoVQ2Q?si=BafNTXKHy5hO3jOz

Towards Rebirth was recorded, mixed and mastered by Pablo Clares at DM6 Studio. Artwork by Paolo Girardi.

Stream more from RIPPER on Spotify.

RIPPER:
Patricio Spalinger – Vocals/Lead and Rhythm Guitars
Javier Buzeta – Drums
Tomas Barriga – Bass
Nicolas Young – Lead and Rhythm Guitars

facebook.com/ripperchileoficial

instagram.com/ripper.chile

ripperdeathrashchile.bandcamp.com

www.darkdescentrecords.com

darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com

Source: ClawHammer PR

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MALEFIC Unleashes Provocative New Music Video for “Blood of the Throne” From Latest Album Impermanence

Posted in Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , on July 24, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Photo by Jeri Mize IG@529jeri IG@vizions_of_mize.llc

L-R – Andy McGraw – Bass, Aaron Baumoel – Drums and Vocals, Jason Davila – Guitars, Sam Williams – Guitars

Atlanta blackened death/thrash unit Malefic has dropped the official music video for “Blood of the Throne”, the explosive opening track from their latest album Impermanence, released this past February via Terminus Hate City. The video marks a bold visual departure for the band, one that drummer/vocalist Aaron Baumoel calls “another form of artistic expression; another layer of depth to add to the media.”

“Blood of the Throne” has long been one of Malefic’s most popular tracks, a blistering blackened thrash assault built on high‑speed precision picking, ornate drumming, and a soaring melodic break. The new video juxtaposes the band’s extreme‑metal identity with Atlanta’s dominant hip‑hop cultural influence, an intentional contrast that reflects the city they call home.

Watch the “Blood of the Throne” music video at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fnnqfysxxo

Baumoel acknowledges that some viewers may misinterpret the imagery. Despite anticipating criticism, the band stands firmly behind the concept and the talented women who helped bring it to life. The track itself explores the crushing realities of capitalism and modern power structures.

“People will always judge based on their preconceived notion of things without ever digging in below the surface. This is part of the sickness in our society. We all know who the real demons of our society are; we just don’t agree on what the solution is,”adds Baumoel.

Following the video’s release, Malefic continues to push their latest album Impermanence, a 40‑minute whirlwind of thrash‑driven drumming, melodic black‑metal atmospheres, technical death‑metal precision, progressive rhythmic shifts, and lyrics rooted in personal struggle, societal pain, and existential reflection. Mixed by Alex Parra, the record rejects the sterile, overly‑compressed production dominating modern metal, instead embracing nuance, dynamics, and human imperfection.

“We wanted something that still showcased the nuances in the guitar work, the dynamics in the drumming, and allowed for mistakes. It just needed to feel human. The personal struggles, the current socio‑political issues, and the societal struggles all seemed extremely relatable… they tell the tale of the ever‑changing nature of life as a whole,” says Baumoel.

Track Listing:

  1. Blood of the Throne – [3:33]
  2. In Darkest Dreams (the Reaping) – [3:44]
  3. Of Gods and Man – [4:14]
  4. Idiocracy – [3:56]
  5. Deserter – [3:53]
  6. Disembodiment – [4:39]
  7. Obsidian Earth – [4:37]
  8. Echoes of Silence – [4:45]
  9. It Haunts – [4:01]

Formed in 2007, Malefic set out to push blackened metal into a modern direction while preserving its weight and emotional gravity. Their current lineup features Aaron Baumoel (drums/vocals), Jason Davila (guitar), Doug Rosander (bass), and Sam Williams (Guitar) (also of Cemetery Filth, Jaeger). The band’s collective experience across Atlanta’s metal scene fuels their razor‑tight live performances.

Watch the “Blood of the Throne” music video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Fnnqfysxxo

Recommended for fans of Old Man’s Child, Carcass, Testament, Dissection, and The Black Dahlia Murder, Impermanence (released Feb 13, 2026) is available at the following links:

Vinyl – https://www.terminushatecity.com/shop

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/3d9ZKsvOYoYC2gi0Jrqy6Y

Album Band Line-up:
Aaron Baumoel – Drums and Vocals
Devin Autry – Guitars
Jason Davila – Bass and Lead Guitars
Sam Williams – Lead Guitars

Live Band Line-up:
Aaron Baumoel – Drums and Vocals
Jason Davila – Guitars
Sam Williams – Guitars
Doug Rosander – Bass

More info: https://linktr.ee/malefic

Source: ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

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CLOVEN HOOF – Announce New Album Never A Prophet In Your Own Land ~ First Single “Iron Mask” Out Now!

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , on July 21, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Cloven Hoof‘s tenth full-length studio album entitled Never A Prophet In Your Own Land, will release on September 25th, 2026 via High Roller Records. Pre-sale + first single very soon! 

Watch the First Single “Iron Mask” Lyric Video 
HERE

Once again, the vocal performance of “The Tyrant” is world-class. Lee Payne smirks: “The praise is all Harry’s. We are indeed fortunate to have such a brilliant vocalist and frontman in the band.”

“Never A Prophet In Your Own Land is not in fact a direct continuation of Heathen Cross,” continues Payne. “Heathen Cross had its own darkly heavy and brooding atmosphere. Never A Prophet In Your Own Land resembles A Sultan’s Ransom more closely, yet this resemblance was not contrived or planned. It just turned out that way.”

Never A Prophet In Your Own Land is a varied album, containing mid-tempo songs, faster tunes, epic compositions and straight heavy metal rockers, a very good mixture. “Thank you for the kind words,” beams the legendary bassist. “We wanted to make this album as rich and varied as we could, to show how far the band has progressed musically. We are in a golden place right now, and the whole record-writing process happens organically. This album has everything you could wish for in the heavy metal genre. It shows our versatility in a way that A Sultan’s Ransom did eclectically. But it takes this versatility one step further in the most satisfying album we have ever done.”

TRACK-LISTING:
01 Terror from the Sky 
02 Conquistador 
03 Never a Prophet 
04 Gypsy Roller 
05 The Bigger They Are
06 Iron Mask 
07 Phantom Chaser 
08 Flying Dutchman 
09 Prodigal Son 
10 Seven Sacred Wonders

LINE-UP:
Lee Payne – bass guitar
Harry (The Tyrant) Conklin – lead vocals
Luke Hatton – lead guitar
Chris Coss – lead guitar
Chris Dando – keyboards, backing vocals
Ash Baker – drums, backing vocals

Artwork by: Dimitar Nikolov ART 
Band photo by: Marco Vexus 

ON-LINE:
https://www.facebook.com/clovenhoof1979
https://www.hrrecords.de/CLOVEN-HOOF
https://clovenhoof.net/

Source: High Roller Records

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HULDER Releases New Single “IN BLOOD AND IN EARTH” ~ Impending Third Album, VERBOLGEN, Out Aug 7th, via 20 Buck Spin

Posted in Black Metal, black metal bands, dark metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on July 20, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Photo by © Liana Rakijian

A warning, a spell, and an act of devotion – the second single from Verbolgen arrives as a short film steeped in folk horror

Dark black metal duo HULDER have released “In Blood and In Earth,” the second single from their forthcoming album Verbolgen, set for release on August 7th, 2026 via 20 Buck Spin (North America) and Season of Mist (Europe). The track is accompanied by an official music video directed by Newfoundland filmmaker Justin Oakey, arriving as the final preview before the full record drops.

Running just over seven minutes, “In Blood and In Earth” is an act of communal rite set in motion by the landscape itself. The track builds from foreboding restraint into sweeping, storm-gathered momentum, as Hulder’s vocals call out an incantation before the full weight of the arrangement bears down. The song frames endurance and bloodshed not as tragedy but as covenant: a pact between flesh and earth that the living inherit from the ancient dead. The band describe it plainly: “This second offering from the forthcoming album stands as a warning and a spell. Speak these words as the land below bellows forewarning… Shall you fall upon your knees?“

“IN BLOOD AND IN EARTH” MUSIC VIDEO: 
https://youtu.be/vG5mJaPagic

Recorded between Elektric City Recording in Portland, Oregon and at various locations by the band, themselves, the album was mixed by Ahti Kortelainen at Tico Tico Studios in Kemi, Finland and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Helsinki. It marks Hulder’s third full-length and the first to formally welcome Necreon as co-leader of the project: a status the duo’s creative process has long reflected in practice.

PRE-ORDER VERBOLGEN: https://www.20buckspin.com/hulder

Verbolgen was produced by Hulder, with both drum performances engineered in Portland, Oregon and Norway. Guitars, bass, and vocals were engineered by Necreon, with additional instrumentation engineered by Keld and Hulder. The album was mixed by Ahti Kortelainen at Tico Tico Studios (Kemi, Finland) and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios (Helsinki, Finland). Cover artwork was painted by Morrigan, with logo design by Jannicke Wiese Hansen and photography by Liana Rakijian.

The music video for “In Blood and In Earth” was directed by Justin Oakey and produced by Black River Pictures. Of the project, Oakey says: “I am beyond honoured Hulder trusted me with putting together something for the new album. Inspired by folk horror, it follows a family clinging to an inhospitable landscape and slowly reveals a dark, sinister atmosphere. The colourist of the video Clinton Homuth introduced me to Hulder in 2019 with some of the early demos. The balance between the bucolic and raw sounds felt incredibly original while staying true to the roots. I reached out and we stayed in touch, finding ways to collaborate. It’s inspiring to see the new, creative directions Hulder and Necreon take with each release.“

Verbolgen Track-list:

  1. Drie Raven (Intro) (2:18)
  2. The Crowning (6:28)
  3. Thy Binding Oath (5:38)
  4. Verbolgen (4:01)
  5. …And We Shall Sing (6:01)
  6. In Blood and In Earth (7:09)
  7. Den Nacht Zijn Lied (6:45)
  8. View From Nemeton (5:23)
  9. The Glow of Dawn (4:48)

Full runtime: 48:33

In support of the forthcoming release, HULDER will embark on a North American tour in August with DIMMU BORGIR, HYPOCRISY and SUFFOCATION. Tickets are available at: https://hulder-official.com/pages/shows.

HULDER North American Tour Dates:

Aug 7 – New York, NY @ Palladium Times Square
Aug 8 – Worcester, PA @ The Palladium
Aug 10 – Toronto, ON @ History
Aug 11 – Montreal, QC @ MTELUS
Aug 13 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater
Aug 14 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre
Aug 15 – Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore
Aug 18 – Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom
Aug 21 – San Francisco, CA @ The Warfield
Aug 23 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo

Line-up:
Hulder – Voice, Electric Guitars, Keys, Acoustic Guitars
Necreon – Bass, Voice
Keld – Hurdy Gurdy, Electric Guitars, Keys (session)
Vapula – Drums (session)
Vrolok – Drums (session)

Follow HULDER:
Website: https://www.hulder-official.com
Bandcamp: https://hulder.bandcamp.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0jTw0xPTe-9yYzXG3Tczpw
Nightshift Merch (US): https://www.nightshiftmerch.com/pages/hulder

Impericon Merch (EU): https://www.impericon.com/collections/hulder
Direct Merch: https://direct-merch.com/collections/hulder

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APOCÆLYPSE Announces Debut Album FÆNIX, Out August 28 ~ Unleashed Explosive New Single “BLACK BOX”

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on July 20, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

“BLACK BOX” Single Artwork

Mind Melting Metal Band Led By Ira Black
(Vio-Lence, Lizzy Borden, Metal Church) 

Following the breakout success of their debut single “INTELL-I-GENTS,” metal powerhouse APOCÆLYPSE returns with “BLACK BOX,” an emotionally charged new single that arrives alongside the announcement of the band’s highly anticipated debut album, FÆNIX, due August 28.

Founded by acclaimed guitarist Ira Black (Vio-Lence, Lizzy Borden, Metal Church), APOCÆLYPSE made an immediate impact with “INTELL-I-GENTS.” The song’s cinematic music video has garnered more than 1.4 million views while the single debuted on Billboard’s Radio Chart, introducing the band’s unique blend of crushing modern metal, cinematic storytelling, and thought-provoking songwriting to audiences worldwide.

Accompanying the release of “BLACK BOX” is a gripping new music video directed by Black and co-directed by Vincente Cordero (Industrialism Films), bringing the song’s deeply personal themes to life through striking cinematic visuals.

If “INTELL-I-GENTS” looked outward at humanity’s increasingly uneasy relationship with artificial intelligence, “BLACK BOX” turns inward, offering APOCÆLYPSE’s most vulnerable and personal statement yet. Driven by soaring melodies, crushing riffs, and unflinching honesty, the song explores survival, healing, and the courage required to confront one’s past.

Regarding the new single, Black explains:

“‘Black Box’ is the most personal song I’ve ever written. It’s a journey into my own mind, the Black Box. Like the device recovered from a plane crash, it holds the evidence of everything that went wrong, but also the key to understanding how I survived. Inside are the scars of a broken upbringing, addiction, loss, and decades spent chasing a dream that often felt impossible. For most of my life, I kept that box sealed shut. This song is about opening it. It’s about confronting the pain, owning the wreckage, and finding strength in the truth. ‘Black Box’ is my story of survival, a testament to the fact that no matter how many times life knocks you down, you can still rise, heal, and find your way home.”

“BLACK BOX” was produced by Black, executive produced by Andy Fetyko, mixed by Kane Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, PAPA ROACH) and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (SEPULTURA, FAITH NO MORE, LIMP BIZKIT). Along with founding frontman and guitarist Black, APOCÆLYPSE’s lineup includes his son Ira Black IV on guitar, Matt Snell on bass and Lonny Pasillas on drums.

Stream “BLACK BOX“: 

https://vyd.co/ApocaelypseBlackBox

“BLACK BOX” MUSIC VIDEO: 
https://youtu.be/9LswZW5GjEE

Set for release on August 28, FÆNIX marks the arrival of a fearless new voice in modern metal. Blending veteran musicianship with a forward-thinking creative vision, the album explores both personal and societal struggles through a collection of songs that balance crushing heaviness with cinematic scope and emotional depth. True to its title, FÆNIX is ultimately a story of resilience, transformation, and rising from adversity.

With anticipation continuing to build following the breakout success of “INTELL-I-GENTS,” “BLACK BOX” offers another compelling glimpse into FÆNIX, setting the stage for one of modern metal’s most anticipated debut albums when it arrives on August 28.

“INTELL-I-GENTS” MUSIC VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmuct_tKPgg

Follow APOCÆLYPSE: 
Instagram | Facebook 

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Progressive Power Metal Act OSYRON Launch Kickstarter Campaign For Fifth Full-Length Album

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on July 19, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

[Photo Credit: Angela Ambrose]

Support OSYRON On Kickstarter HERE!

Canada’s progressive power metal act OSYRON produce a sound fueled with intensity blending cinematic soundscapes with intricate melodies and contrasting vocal styles. Powerful lyrics are at the core of the band’s epic storytelling and creative prowess. 

As OSYRON prepare to embark on their next chapter, the band have launched a Kickstarter Campaign providing supporters with rewards and early glimpses from their forthcoming fifth studio album. 

Rewards include: 

  • Digital Download
  • CD Bundles
  • Vinyl Bundles
  • Handwritten Lyric Bundles
  • Release Show Package – incl. ticket to the album release concert in Calgary, AB, Canada
  • Deluxe Packages – including a T-shirt, hoodie, private listening party access & more
  • Musicians Bundle – including tabs and isolated tracks to learn the songs
  • Exclusive/limited options including vocal lessons, your name in the album credits or music video credits, first look at music videos, used drum gear from the studio, the Momentous tour backdrop, and more!

Support OSYRON On Kickstarter HERE!

About OSYRON:
Originally formed in 2012, the band’s current lineup is comprised of vocalist Reed Alton, guitarists Krzysztof Stalmach and Bobby Harley, bassist Tyler Corbett, and drummer Cody Anstey.

Their latest album, Momentous (2022), reached new heights gaining international praise, including the single release “The Deafening”, featuring Stu Block (ICED EARTH, ANNIHILATOR, INTO ETERNITY) and Percival Schuttenbach (The Witcher 3 OST). Achieving multiple features on Spotify’s All New Metal playlist Momentous has over 174,000 streams on Spotify alone to date. In the following year, OSYRON was nominated for the 2023 Western Canadian Music Awards “Metal Band of the Year”.

Beyond the streams, OSYRON has shared the stage with renowned groups such as NIGHTWISH, INSOMNIUM, EVERGREY, DARK TRANQUILLITY, KAMELOT, DRAGONFORCE, AMORPHIS, KREATOR, DESTRUCTION, HYPOCRISY, and many more at their performance on 70,000 Tons of Metal.

OSYRON‘s metal version of “O Canada” was licensed for a Destination Canada ski video that was shown before all screenings of Warren Miller’s 2021 movie Winter Starts Now, and the band received the prestigious FACTOR Canada “Juried Sound Recording” grant in 2021.

In summer 2023, OSYRON played their first European festival at Rock Castle in Czechia alongside HAMMERFALL, AMARANTHE, U.D.O., ALESTORM, BEAST IN BLACK, DORO, and more. The quintet brought their world-class sound on the road that same year touring North America over 16 dates supporting SEVEN KINGDOMS.

OSYRON returned to Europe in the summer of 2024 on a 6-date tour bookended by festivals where they shared the stage with JUDAS PRIEST, BRUCE DICKINSON, AVANTASIA, and ACCEPT at Masters of Rock in Czechia.

OSYRON is deep in the process of finalizing their forthcoming full length studio album, intended for release in late 2026.

Connect With OSYRON:
Official Website: https://www.osyron.com
Bandcamp: https://osyron.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/osyron
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/osyronband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/osyron
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5bBK2zUbVtvkvbtVBjchFB

Source: C Squared Music

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SERIOUS BLACK Announce New Studio Album: Keeper Of The Light ~ First Single & Video “Last Man Standing” Out Now 

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on July 18, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

[Photo credit: Markus Konetzka]

New Album Keeper Of The Light Arrives January 29, 2027 
Via PERCEPTION – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music

Stream the new single here: https://seriousblack.rpm.link/standingPR 

Power metal force SERIOUS BLACK has announced the release of their brand-new studio album, Keeper Of The Light, arriving on January 29, 2027 via PERCEPTION – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music. In support, the band will embark on an extensive tour throughout Europe with RHAPSODY OF FIRE and support bands.

Marking the band’s next chapter, the album once again showcases everything fans have come to expect from SERIOUS BLACK: massive guitar riffs, driving rhythms, soaring melodies and the unmistakable vocals of Nikola Mijic, all wrapped in a powerful, modern production by Mario Lochert and Bob Katsionis.

Bringing together energy, emotion, melody and uncompromising power metal passion, Keeper Of The Light continues the band’s impressive evolution while staying true to the sound that has earned them international success, frenetically acclaimed live shows worldwide and a loyal fanbase.

The album is now available for pre-save and pre-order: 

https://seriousblack.rpm.link/keeperPR

To celebrate the announcement, SERIOUS BLACK have released the album’s first single, “Last Man Standing,” accompanied by a brand-new official music video. The song delivers an uplifting anthem about perseverance, self-belief and refusing to give up, even when faced with doubt, ridicule and resistance.

“For me, this song is more relevant than ever when you look at today’s society”, Mario Lochert reveals. “Someone who believes in themselves, pursues their own goals and wants to achieve something is often laughed at or not taken seriously. You hear comments like: ‘You’d be better off learning a proper trade’ or are simply labelled a weirdo. It was no different for me back then. But the initial laughter later turned into envy and resentment. Last Man Standing is precisely about this journey and about staying true to your own path despite all the opposition.”

Stream the single here: https://seriousblack.rpm.link/standingPR 

Watch the official video premiering here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2IS3j2G0YE

[Artwork by Ingo Spörl]

Keeper Of The Light – Track-list:
1. Last Man Standing
2. Final Ride
3. Guardian Of Eden
4. Majestica
5. Light Up the Sky
6. Keeper Of The Light
7. Party In The Sun
8. Little Bird Fly
9. Rise Of A Hero
10. Bad Surprise
11. Lords Of Metal

Since their formation, SERIOUS BLACK have established themselves as one of the leading names in modern power metal. Combining the experience of musicians from renowned metal acts with memorable songwriting, crushing guitars, anthemic choruses and emotionally charged melodies, the band has built a strong international reputation. 

With multiple charting releases, more than 200 concerts worldwide, and acclaimed performances at major festivals and tours across Europe, Asia and beyond, SERIOUS BLACK continue to prove why they remain one of the genre’s most compelling live acts. Keeper Of The Light perfectly captures the band’s trademark blend of power, melody and passion while pushing their sound forward with renewed energy.

All of the eleven songs on the album will see SERIOUS BLACK stylistically return to its roots. Straight, classic power metal, the sound the band once became known for reigns again. “The return to what once characterized us was already indicated on “Vengeance Is Mine” and “Rise Of Akhenaton”,” Lochert explains the natural evolution of the band and adds: “Since joining five years ago, our singer Nikola Mijic has turned out to be a real jewel for us. Because of his expressive voice and his intuitive feeling for great melodies, the songs have gained more clarity and a more direct presence.”

SERIOUS BLACK:
Nikola Mijic – Vocals
Mario Lochert – Bass
Dominik Sebastian – Guitar
Maurus Mayer – Guitar, Keys
Christian Widmann – Drums

SERIOUS BLACK – 2027 Tour Dates:
07.01.27 – DE – ESSEN Turock
08.01.27 – NL – TILBURG O13
09.01.27 – DE – SIEGBURG Kubana
11.01.27 – UK – LONDON Underworld
12.01.27 – UK – MANCHESTER Rebellion
13.01.27 – UK – WOLVERHAMPTON KK’s Steel Mill
14.01.27 – FR – LILLE The Black Lab
15.01.27 – FR – VAUREAL Le Forum
16.01.27 – FR – LIMOGES CCM John Lennon
17.01.27 – FR – BORDEAUX Rocher de Palmer
19.01.27 – ES – MADRID Revi Live
20.01.27 – ES – BARCELONA Salamandra
21.01.27 – FR – MONTPELLIER Victoire 2
22.01.27 – FR – TOULOUSE Metronum
23.01.27 – FR – RIOM La Puce a L’Oreille
24.01.27 – FR – COLMAR Le Grillen
26.01.27 – DE – ERLENBACH Beavers
27.01.27 – CH – PRATTELN Z7
28.01.27 – FR – GRENOBLE L’Ilyade
29.01.27 – IT – MILANO Alcatraz
30.01.27 – DE – LINDAU Vaudeville
31.01.27 – DE – MUNICH Backstage
02.02.27 – HU – BUDAPEST Analog Music Club
03.02.27 – SK – NITRA JS Retro Bar
04.02.27 – CZ – PRAHA Futurum
05.02.27 – PL – KRAKOW Studio
06.02.27 – PL – WARSAW Stodola
07.02.27 – DE – LEIPZIG Hellraiser
08.02.27 – DE BERLIN Orwo Haus *
09.02.27 – DE HAMBURG Logo*
10.02.27 – BE KORTRIJK DVG Club*
11.02.27 – DE STUTTGART Wizemann *
12.02.27 – DE SELB Rockclub Nordbayern *

  • Headliner Shows without RHAPSODY OF FIRE

More on SERIOUS BLACK:
https://serious-black.com

https://www.facebook.com/seriousblackofficial

https://www.instagram.com/seriousblack.official

https://www.youtube.com/@seriousblackofficial4392

Source: C Squared Music

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STREET TOMBS: Santa Fe Death Metallers to Release Existence Is Corruption Full-Length on August 21st via Carbonized Records

Posted in Death Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on July 16, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Photo by Lloyd Gray
New Track Streaming + Preorders Available

Stream STREET TOMBS’ “Systematic Suffering” HERE.

Santa Fe death metallers STREET TOMBS will unleash their second full-length studio album, Existence Is Corruption, on August 21st via Carbonized Records!

STREET TOMBS was forged in the flames of the legendary underground venue, The Cave, in 2017, where the band hosted numerous shows for the DIY punk/metal community of Santa Fe and surrounding cities. Combining the death metal grit of early Sepultura and Bolt Thrower, with the rabid d-beat/street punk of Discharge and G.B.H., the collective released three demos before dropping their Reclusive Decay full-length (2023).

The critically lauded offering presented a unified vision for all that is dark, heavy, and fast. Several US tours would follow including the Reborn Dead Tour supporting Left To Die.

Metal Injection championed a record that “feels like a cross between early thrash and punk rock mixed with some serious Bolt Thrower vibes for an experience that’ll put you right into the ground. Reclusive Decay also earned the #38 spot on Decibel Magazine’s Top 40 Albums Of 2023.

2024 saw the release of a compilation LP, RIP The Abyss, which contained recordings the band had previously produced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The album was released in conjunction with the start of their North American Tour supporting Necrot across the US and Canada that June.

STREET TOMBS spent much of 2025 finalizing the writing portion of Existence Is Corruption. By December, the band entered Santa Fe, New Mexico’s Engine 70 Studios with Grammy Award winning producer and engineer, Greg Wilkinson, at the helm.

Existence Is Corruption delivers an unapologetically vitriolic and sickening take on modern society, complacency, corruption, and destruction. As greedy poisonous minds mutilate today’s world, STREET TOMBS continues to upset the grave with crusty blackened d-beats and deadly driving riffs straight from the gutter.

Existence Is Corruption digs more into STREET TOMBS’ roots and expands on its punk ethos and first wave black metal origins from influences like Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Bathory, and Amebix, while keeping an uncompromising pissed-off attitude.

Comments vocalist/guitarist Damian Jacoby on the record’s first single: “Systematic Suffering, like many of our songs on this release, echoes themes of corruption, abuse, and discrimination. Entrenched in servitude losing all desire to deny the corruption infused in our society.”

Stream STREET TOMBS’ “Systematic Suffering” HERE.

Existence Is Corruption was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Greg Wilkinson at Engine 70 Studios in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Earhammer Studio in Oakland, California with additional recording by STREET TOMBS bassist Galen Baudhuin. The record features artwork by Shane Donaldson and logo by Ben Brodsky.

Existence Is Corruption will be released on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats.

Find North American preorders HERE, European preorders HERE, all other international orders HERE, and digital orders HERE. 

Existence Is Corruption – Track Listing:

  1. Pestilent Storm
  2. Deceptor
  3. Septic Values
  4. Upset The Grave
  5. Systematic Suffering
  6. Mental Mutilation
  7. Braindead
  8. Parasitic Feast

STREET TOMBS Live:
9/01/2026 Tumbleroot – Santa Fe, NM
9/04/2026 Seventh Circle – Denver, CO
9/05/2026 Aces High – Salt Lake City, UT
9/06/2026 TBA – Boise, ID
9/07/2026 The Kraken – Seattle, WA
9/08/2026 High Water Mark – Portland, OR
9/10/2026 TBA – Sacramento, CA
9/11/2026 Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA
9/12/2026 Knucklehead – Los Angeles, CA
9/13/2026 TBA – Phoenix, AZ

STREET TOMBS:
Damian Jacoby – vocals, guitar
David McMaster – guitar, backing vocals
Ben Brodsky – drums
Galen Baudhuin – bass

https://instagram.com/streettombs

https://carbonizedrecords.merchtable.com

https://carbonizedrecords.bandcamp.com

Source: EARSPLIT PR

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STATIC ABYSS – THE DYING HUNT Releases on Peaceville, August 28th

Posted in Death Metal, death metal bands, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on July 15, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

THE THIRD STUDIO ALBUM OF UNNERVING DEATH METAL DERANGEMENT CONSISTING OF AUTOPSY’S GREG WILKINSON & CHRIS REIFERT, JOINED BY NECROT’S CHAD GAILEY ON DRUMS

WATCH THE NEW VIDEO FOR ALBUM
TITLE TRACK ‘THE DYING HUNT’

Photo by Fern Alberts

Emerging in the early 2020’s – Static Abyss is a monstrous hybrid of twisted, doom-laden brutal death, comprising of longstanding members of the US metal scene. The band consists primarily of the duo of Deathgrave’s Greg Wilkinson (Guitars/bass) & Chris Reifert (vocals), both also members of legendary American masters of sickness, Autopsy, with Chris also notably starting his career with genre pioneers, Death. The band’s debut, Labyrinth of Veins was released in 2022, and their second album Aborted From Reality followed in quick succession, surfacing in 2023.

Returning now for Static Abyss’ third studio album, and with the addition of Chad Gailey of fellow death merchants Necrot behind the drumkit for this release, The Dying Hunt plummets the listener again into the festering, psychedelic swamps of lunacy, with the spiralling melodies texturing the relentless savage riffs for an effective nightmare-inducing trip through the sonic abyss.

Photo by Fern Alberts

Continuously and relentlessly flitting between brutal passages and hypnotic otherworldly craziness, The Dying Hunt reflects the ailing world & the unravelling of the psyche of its inhabitants in this darkly dystopian landscape, for a masterful descent into sick Death Metal combined with Crust and Doom elements.

The Dying Hunt was recorded at Earhammer Studios in Oakland, CA, with engineering, mixing and mastering overseen by Greg Wilkinson himself. Cover art comes courtesy of Jon Santos.

WATCH THE NEW VIDEO FOR ‘THE DYING HUNT’
CREATED BY MATTHEW VICKERSTAFF

Static Abyss – The Dying Hunt

Skull Blasted – 01:54
Lobotomized at Last – 03:40
The Dying Hunt – 04:04
Wall of Delusion – 01:25
Once a Corpse (Always a Corpse) – 02:54
Bleeding in the Fog – 04:40
Sinew Leech – 04:07
Nowhere Forever – 05:02
Defleshed and Forlorn – 01:20
Volcanic Womb – 03:15
Darkness at the End of the Light – 04:32


‘THE DYING HUNT’ WILL BE AVAILABLE ON LIMITED ‘NEKRO FLESH’ VINYL LP, BLACK VINYL LP, CD AND DIGITALLY. PRE-ORDER HERE.

Static Abyss online: 
https://peaceville.com/bands/staticabyss/
https://www.facebook.com/staticabyss
https://www.instagram.com/static_abyss/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1Nic5iPZNEJMND9DErHwTd

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