Death metal horde UNMERCIFUL has announced they are dropping off their upcoming tour with VITRIOL and WEEPING. The band issued the following statement on leaving the Liberation Through Punishment Tour:
“Due to circumstances beyond our control, we have to cancel our tour with Vitriol and Weeping that we were so looking forward to being a part of. With such short notice, we were not able to find a drummer to fill in for the tour. We apologize to Vitriol, Weeping, the promoters and most of all to our fans. We will be back out on the road to support Devouring Darknessas soon as we possibly can. Make sure and DO NOT miss this tour! Vitriol and Weeping will crush the stage at every show!”
UNMERCIFUL is still confirmed for the 2026 Maryland Deathfest.
The band’s newest album, Devouring Darkness, marks a new era of relentless violence and sonic brutality! With ten tracks of scorching intensity and distorted vengeance, the album is filled with blistering blast beats, intricate kick drum patterns, and destructive riffing.
Devouring Darkness is out now on CD, digital, and vinyl formats on Willowtip Records.
Devouring Darkness sees the return of longtime member Jeremy Turner to guitar and introduces Josh Riley as the band’s new vocalist, further intensifying the group’s punishing sound.
The album was engineered and produced by Clinton Appelhanz at Waveworks Studio, with mastering handled by the legendary Alan Douches (Cannibal Corpse, Hate Eternal, etc.). Artwork by Santiago Francisco Jaramillo.
UNMERCIFUL: Clinton Appelhanz – Guitars/Bass Jeremy Turner – Guitars/Bass Trynt Kelly – Drums Josh Riley – Vocals
Chile’s OVERTOUN has signed with Time To Kill Records for the release of their third album, Death Drive Anthropology. The record is firmly rooted in the ’90s death-thrash tradition but features a modern edge that keeps it agile and current, bridging the gap from Carcass and Atheist to contemporary acts like Revocation. The music also incorporates a compelling Latin influence, adding a unique flavor to the band’s sound.
Further details on the album will be announced soon.
OVERTOUN is a death-thrash metal band based between Santiago, Chile, and Boston, MA, fusing the rich musical heritage of Latin America with the complexity and aggression of technical death metal. Founded by Agustín Lobo and Matías Bahamondes, the band solidified its lineup with Yoav Ruiz-Feingold (Atheist, Graviton) on vocals and Matías Salas on bass.
Their discography includes two full-length albums: Centuries of Lies (2018) and This Darkness Feels Alive (2021). The latter was mastered by Flemming Rasmussen (Metallica) and won Best Metal Artist at the 2022 Chilean Pulsar Awards (Chilean Grammys), earning strong praise from the specialized media.
OVERTOUN has performed extensively throughout Latin America, with five national tours in Chile, a tour in Brazil, and shows in Argentina, sharing the stage with Death To All, Sinister, Cryptopsy, and Atheist. In 2025, the band completed its first tour of Japan, including performances in Yokohama and Tokyo, with an appearance at the Tokyo Brutal Fest.
Produced by Martín Furia (Destruction, Bark), OVERTOUN’s third album marks a bold new chapter, introducing darker, genre-defining material that aims to amplify Chilean metal’s global presence.
Atlanta blackened thrash visionaries MALEFIC have unveiled their first single, “It Haunts” and are set to unleash their debut album, Impermanence, via Terminus Hate City on February 13th, 2026. “It Haunts” introduces the band with their signature intricate harmonies and deft guitar work, dragging the listener deep into the blackened abyss they have carved. Fierce vocals tell a fittingly haunting tale about a mystery of a supernatural nature, and an epic guitar solo commands rapt attention. The song closes with ghostly arpeggios, leaving the listener shrouded in gloom and contemplating the unknowable.
MALEFIC lineup: Jason Davila – Guitar Aaron Baumoel – Drums, Vocals Sam Williams – Guitar Andy McGraw – Bass
Track Listing: 1. Blood Of The Throne 2. In Darkest Dreams 3. Of Gods And Man 4. Idiocracy 5. Deserter 6. Disembodiment 7. Obsidian Earth 8. Echoes Of Silence 9. It Haunts
About MALEFIC: MALEFIC roared onto the Atlanta metal scene in 2007 with ambitions to modernize the black metal genre. With their tight riffs, tasty leads, and relatable lyricism, MALEFIC abandons cliches and defies traditional genre boundaries. Their special blend of black metal, drawing from thrash and death metal influences, appeals to metalheads across subgenres.
They count OLD MAN’S CHILD, CARCASS, TESTAMENT, DISSECTION, and OPETH among their most prominent influences, offering a fresh, modern take on metal that is unrivaled in the United States.
Though they are set to release their very first full-length album, Impermanence, in 2026, MALEFIC boasts an impressive live performance history, having played shows with notable bands such as 1349, CRYPTA, and PROFANATICA. After a hiatus in 2009, the band eagerly picked back up where they left off and reformed with a new lineup.
MALEFIC initially began work on Impermanence in 2018, taking their time to ensure that every detail accurately reflected their vision for their album. The band’s hard work and dedication has culminated in a powerful debut, lovingly crafted by fans of nuanced, boundary-pushing music.
Birthed in the wet grounds and grey skies of the Pacific Northwest, OLD MOON aims to bring a unique new band to tell the tales of life’s sorrows.
Depression, grief, loss of self and death are the keys that stitch these heart aching lyrics together. Accompanied to feed the image, a beautiful orchestra fills the air, meeting a breath of guitar melodies entangling melodic death and post black metal together in solidarity. Binding a tense and resonating sound that strikes the mind and embraces the heart, this is OLD MOON.
The Portland-based outfit, founded by Michael Priest (Gone In April, Idolatrous, ex-Boudica), self-released a 3-song EP last November. That EP left an impression on M-Theory Audio label founder Marco Barbieri who recognized the vision and potential of OLD MOON keeping tabs as the group built and solidified itself with a full lineup, live shows and the eventual recording of a full album that secured a release with the label for late spring 2026.
“We put a lot of time into looking for a respectable label that we could trust to properly take care of our music. Seeing the reputation and consistency of M-Theory the choice was made easy for us,” states Michael Priest.
“We’re very excited to be joining M-Theory and stand alongside the amazing roster of bands that they already have. We’re looking forward to future releases with the label and other opportunities that this partnership presents.“
The relationship begins with the release of the band’s new single “Obsidian” available on all digital streaming/download platforms, or watch the group’s music video.
‘“Obsidian’ as a title is a metaphor for the music and the lyrics. In a way of something being strong and sharp but also weak and brittle,” explains Michael Priest. “That’s something that kind of represents a major theme for the music, painting a picture of anger that developed from sadness and vice versa. The EP of course had the sound to match that but choosing to do a video for “Obsidian” I think puts a face to the music in a way that visually describes the band and music in an accurate and honest way.”
“Obsidian” is the first preview of the group’s forthcoming full-length, planned for spring 2026. More information about the album and pre-order will be announced in the coming months. In the meantime, please enjoy “Obsidian” and lend an ear to their self-titled EP available on digital platforms or via Bandcamp https://oldmoonmusic.bandcamp.com/album/old-moon-ep.
OLD MOON:
Michael Priest – Vocals Grady Pursel – Guitar Chris Lagor – Guitar Ryan Wilkerson – Bass Tim Cauley – Drums
🎃 North America – are you ready?! The 40 Years Anniversary World Tour is coming your way – with very special guest BEAST IN BLACK!
April–May 2026: 🇺🇸 Apr 7 – Dallas, TX – The Factory 🇺🇸 Apr 8 – San Antonio, TX – The Aztec 🇺🇸 Apr 10 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle 🇺🇸 Apr 12 – Orlando, FL – House Of Blues 🇺🇸 Apr 14 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore 🇺🇸 Apr 15 – Boston, MA – House Of Blues 🇺🇸 Apr 17 – New York, NY – The Palladium Times Square 🇨🇦 Apr 18 – Montreal, QC – L’Olympia 🇨🇦 Apr 19 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre 🇺🇸 Apr 21 – Milwaukee, WI – The Rave 🇺🇸 Apr 23 – Denver, CO – The Paramount Theatre 🇺🇸 Apr 25 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot 🇺🇸 Apr 28 – Seattle, WA – The Paramount Theatre 🇺🇸 Apr 30 – San Francisco, CA – The Warfield 🇺🇸 May 1 – Los Angeles, CA – YouTube Theatre 🇺🇸 May 2 – Las Vegas, NV – House Of Blues
From Dallas to Las Vegas – get ready for a massive metal celebration of 40 Years of HELLOWEEN!
Due to unfortunate circumstances Toxic Holocaust will no longer be able to take part in the upcoming Death Angel Act III American Tour. However.. We’d like to Thank our friends and Bay Area Thrash brothers Vio-lence for stepping up on such short notice and more than filling in that gap!
This will be the first time that Death Angel and Vio-lence have ever toured together! That coupled with us celebrating 35 years of Act III by playing it in its entirety every night is reason enough not to miss this tour!
11/26/25 Denver, CO – Oriental Theater 11/28/25 Joliet, IL – The Forge 11/29/25 Davenport, IA – Capitol Theater 11/30/25 Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater 12/2/25 Indianapolis, IN – Vogue 12/3/25 Pittsburgh, PA – Mr Smalls Theater 12/4/25 Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Monarch 12/5/25 Worcester, MA – The Palladium 12/6/25 Albany, NY – Empire Live 12/7/25 Reading, PA – Reverb 12/10/25 Dallas, TX – Southside Ballroom 12/11/25 Houston, TX – Warehouse Midtown 12/12/25 Corpus Christi, TX – House of Rock 12/13/25 San Antonio, TX – Vibes 12/15/25 Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater 12/16/25 Tucson, AZ – 191 Toole 12/17/25 Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco 12/18/25 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore* 12/19/25 San Francisco, CA – The Fillmore*
MEGADETH have revealed the full track listing for their self-titled final album that’s due out January 23, 2026. Pre-order the album, via DAVE MUSTAINE’s Tradecraft imprint in partnership with Frontiers Label Group’s new BLKIIBLK label, HERE: https://www.blkiiblk.com/
The album includes “Tipping Point,” the previously released first single, and a very special bonus track: a reimagined version of “Ride the Lightning,” which MUSTAINE co-wrote with Metallica’s James Hetfield, Cliff Burton, and Lars Ulrich and was the title track from the group’s 1984 album.
“As I come full circle on the career of a lifetime, the decision to include ‘Ride the Lightning,’ a song I co-wrote with James, Lars, and Cliff, was to pay my respects to where my career first started,” MUSTAINE says.
The album’s full track listing is as follows:
Tipping Point I Don’t Care Hey, God?! Let There Be Shred Puppet Parade Another Bad Day Made to Kill Obey the Call I Am War The Last Note Ride the Lightning (Bonus Track)
Megadeth’s This Was Our Life world tour is coming to Latin America in 2026, with massive shows just announced in Lima,Bogotá, Buenos Aires, São Paulo,Santiago, Mexico City and more.
Megadeth Cyber Army members get first access to tickets through exclusive presales.
Lima: Cyber Army Presale November 2 – 3 at 10am local time General On-Sale: November 6 at 10am local time
Colombia: Cyber Army Presale November 3 – 4 at 10am local time General On-Sale: November 7 at 10am local time
Argentina: Presale details coming soon
São Paulo: Cyber Army Presale November 3 – 4 at 10am local time General On-Sale: November 5 at 10am local time
Santiago, Chile: Cyber Army Presale November 2 – 3 at 10am local time General On-Sale: November 4 at 10AM local time
Mexico (all 3 shows): Cyber Army Presale November 8 – 9 at 10am local time General On-Sale: November 12 at 10am local time
VIP package upgrades including full band member Photo Ops and individual band member Meet & Greets will be available starting with presales via Megadeth.com.
The countdown is on, Latin America! Megadeth is coming for you in 2026!
NYC-based purveyors of Blackened Caribbean Doom, PRECIOUS BLOOD has released False Prophets: Visual Album, the official visualizer from the band’s newly released debut. The cinematic offering consists of three songs and visuals from their first studio album: False Prophets.
False Prophets: Visual Album features 3 short films set to their singles “Old Man Abaddon,” “El Muerte” and “Whore’s Grave,” shot by cinematographer Rigo Diaz and directed by Grace Perez, the band’s drummer. The 3 stories are presented as parts of a Halloween themed horror anthology, reminiscent of Tales from the Crypt and The Last Drive-in with Joe Bob Briggs, adding to its striking visual narrative.
False Prophets is now available on all streaming platforms. Stream the album on Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp.
Fully formed in 2024, PRECIOUS BLOOD brings together three veterans of the NYC scene: AJ on guitar, vocals (Jesus Knevil, Snake Canyon), Dave Kramer on bass, vocals (Blood Feast, Suaka, Stanley) and Grace Perez on drums, vocals (The Wickedexorcist). The band’s shared love of doom and underground metal is expressed in an unholy concoction of rum-soaked riffs, brutal lyrics, and mystical tribal sounds.
With a signature sound best described as Blackened Caribbean Doom, PRECIOUS BLOOD delivers a unique blend of doom and thrash metal influenced tone, mixed with lyrical themes that draw profound inspiration from the enduring spirit of the Caribbean, shaped by brutal history of colonization, unwavering resilience of its people, and exploration of the darker aspects of human existence, including death, contemplation of mortality and the complexities of human suffering.
Photo Credit: Rigo Diaz
False Prophets was recorded and mixed by Joe Hogan at Captain’s Cove Catskills Studios with mastering and additional engineering by AJ Tissian (The Wave Lab). The album was produced by Joe Hogan and PRECIOUS BLOOD. Album cover photo by Mia. Cover layout by PRECIOUS BLOOD.
For fans of monstrous riffs, horror-inspired visuals, and genre-bending metal.
Apr 2 / DE Berlin / Astra Apr 3 / DK Copenhagen / Amager Bio Apr 4 / SE Gothenburg / Tradgarn Apr 5 / SE Stockholm / Fryshuset Apr 7 / FI Helsinki / Tavastia Apr 8 / LV Riga / Spelet Apr 9 / PL Gdansk / B90 Apr 10 / CZ Brno / Sono Centrum Apr 11 / DE Lichtenfels / Ragnarök Festival Apr 12 / SK Bratislava / Majestic Music Club Apr 14 / BG Sofia / Joy Station Apr 15 / RO Bucharest / Arenele Romane Apr 17 / SI Ljubljana / Cvetlicarna Apr 18 / DE Geiselwind / Metal Franconia Apr 19 / CH Pratteln / Z7 Konzertfabrik Apr 21 / DE Hamburg / Gruenspan Apr 22 / DE Stuttgart / LKA Longhorn Apr 23 / DE Cologne / Essigfabrik Apr 24 / DE Leipzig / Felsenkeller Apr 25 / DE Munich / Backstage Apr 26 / NL Leiden / Stadsgehoorzaal Apr 28 / BE Antwerp / Trix Apr 29 / FR Paris / Machine du Moulin Rouge May 1 / UK Manchester / Academy 2 May 2 / UK London / Incineration Festival
The debut album from Belgian death metallers ABYSMAL DESCENT, Dismal Thoughts, is now streaming in full exclusively via Death Metal Promotion. A monolithic statement of death metal, the record stands as a jagged and menacing work: cold, unyielding and built on unshakable foundations.
From the depths of Brussels’ death metal underground rises ABYSMAL DESCENT, a new entity forged from the ashes of Dehuman and strengthened by the twisted visions of R.S., L.L. (Putrid Offal, Echo Solar Void, Terrifiant) and M.D. (Echo Solar Void). Soon joined by R.M. (Neptunian Maximalism) and A.L. (Saqra’s Cult), the band completed a sinister line-up dedicated to conjuring a harrowing requiem of death metal.
Their debut full-length, Dismal Thoughts, will be released via Nuclear Winter Records on October 31st, 2025, a suitably unholy date for this descent into sonic darkness. Drawing inspiration from legendary forces such as Immolation, Morbid Angel, and Incantation, the album weaves a tapestry of gloom and malevolence, crushing riffs and abyssal atmospheres.
Dismal Thoughts is a testament to death metal’s most oppressive traditions: a record that drips with menace, channeling both the cavernous weight of old-school brutality and the suffocating dread of modern extremity. It is a soundtrack to decay, despair, and the shadows that loom ever closer.
Prepare to be engulfed.
Track-list:
Discordant Calls
Labyrinth of Distress
Death Rope
Dismal Thoughts
Obscured Visions
Fragmented Soul
Abyss of Despair
Imaginal Horror
Line-up:
Laye Louhenapessy – Drums Martin Dozot – Guitar Rafaël Sellekaerts – Guitar Romain Martini – Bass Adrien Luxen – Vocals
In the ever changing landscape of postal bans, strikes, tariffs, fees and the rapidly rising costs of shipping anything anywhere, strategic partnerships are more crucial than ever to make the business of music make sense. And that’s exactly what Bogotá, Colombia’s Brainblast have done in securing an exclusive strategic U.S. alliance with Rebel Pyro Musick!
After years of relentless composition and extreme musical devotion and evolution, Brainblast is set to release their monumental debut full length album, Colossus Suprema, in digital format on November 11, 2025! The limited edition CD release will follow on December 20, 2025 with Brainblast releasing a special limited edition digipak version, while Rebel Pyro Musick will handle U.S. distribution of an exclusive jewel case edition.
This record marks a new era for the band and for the genre itself, where symphonic grandeur meets the most intricate extremes of death metal. Thematically rooted in deep spirituality and the afterlife, Colossus Suprema is inspired by real personal experiences and reflects the ultimate expansion and awakening of the inner self
It embodies the very essence of our vision: To fuse supreme brutality with the eternal devotion of classical art and mysticism.
As frontman and composer Edd Jimenez explains: “This album is a monument. Extreme detail and the highest musical work the band has ever achieved to date — the result of years of evolution, development, and discipline.”
“Each piece is designed meticulously in absolutely every detail: From the music and production to the artwork, concept, and lyrics which makes this a monumental debut… the best of the best and the work we are most proud to present. It’s meant to be almost like a spiritual experience through extremity, drama… something divine.”
“Ghoul Infested Mausoleum”is the latest single from blackened death thrash project MORBIKON. The harrowing new hymn comes by way of the band’s Lost Within The Astral Crypts full-length set for release on November 21st via Tankcrimes.
The creative effort of guitarist/bassist Phil “Landphil” Hall (Municipal Waste, Cannabis Corpse, Iron Reagan) with Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns (Finntroll, …And Oceans) on vocals, MORBIKON is guided by the second wave of Scandinavian black metal and melodic death metal scenes of the ‘90s. The band released their debut full-length, Ov Mournful Twilight, in 2022 via Tankcrimes.
“This album feels like some of my darkest material yet,” says Hall of Lost Within The Astral Crypts. “I filled these songs to the brim with atmosphere and riffs. There are moments during the album that truly feel soaked in classic ‘90s underground blasphemy.”
Of today’s single, Hall elaborates, “‘Ghoul Infested Mausoleum’ takes the technicality up a notch and grinds out some super-fast shredding along with the dark melodic attack.”
MORBIKON’s Lost Within The Astral Crypts was written by Phil Hall with lyrics by Quotidius, vocals by Mathias Lillmåns and Quotidius, drums by Pierce Williams (Aenigmatum, ex-Skeletal Remains), solos by Blake Hibberd (Unburier), and additional instrumentation by Adam Gilliams (guitar, Cannabis Corpse) and Thomas Saltman (synths). The record was mixed by Rob Cauldwell, mastered by Alan Douches, and features cover art by Par Oloffson.
Lost Within The Astral Crypts – Track Listing:
Heavens That Burn And Eons Divided
Unending Legions Of Ball
Flames That Bind And Shadows Cast
Numeric Portal Ascendency
Sworn To Their Beheaded King
Masters Of Eternal Night
Ghoul Infested Mausoleum
Lost Within The Astral Crypts
Lost Within The Astral Crypts will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
Liquid Filled (Ltd. 75) Crystal Clear (Ltd. 90 x Decibel Magazine Exclusive) Neon Violet w/ Black Splatter (Ltd. 250) Metallic Blue (Ltd. 500)
Find CD preorders HERE, vinyl preorders HERE and digital orders at Bandcamp HERE where first single, “Heavens That Burn And Eons Divided,” can be streamed.
And if the release of Lost Within The Astral Crypts isn’t enough cause for celebration, MORBIKON supplied Decibel Magazine’s Flexi Series with an exclusive cover of Aura Noir’s classic “Gaping Grave Awaits” off of 2008’s Hades Rise! Want to hear the track yourself? Be sure to sign up for a deluxe Decibel subscription by Friday, October 31st at noon ET HERE to secure this ripping testament to the power of black thrash. Oblivion’s pendulum is swaying, so don’t wait!
SKULLD have signed with Time To Kill Records for the release of their new album, Abyss Calls To Abyss. After a classic grind through the underground scene, the Italian band is ready to deliver the most complete and intense record of their artistic journey so far.
Their old-school Swedish death metal roots are reinforced by a strong crust punk/hardcore influence, giving the sound a raw, urgent edge. Yet, melodic deviations and dynamic shifts punctuate the album, highlighting the band’s growing maturity and stylistic range.
More details on the album and the first single will be revealed soon.
SKULLD formed in Romagna, Italy, in 2019 with the ambitious goal of blending old-school Swedish death metal with shamanic and esoteric overtones, all rooted in a strong feminist, anti-fascist, and anti-racist stance. Hailing from cities such as Cesena, Forlì, Bologna, Imola, and Milan, the members of the band have deep roots in the DIY punk and hardcore scene; a defining element of their artistic identity.
In 2020, they released their debut EP Reinventing Darkness, a DIY co-production with various Italian and international labels, distributed throughout the underground network. The lineup featured Pamela (vocals), Montiand Rappo (guitars), Ciufs (bass), and Teo (drums).
The songs, fast and razor-sharp, combine Scandinavian death metal with crust and stenchcore, evoking dark and pagan atmospheres. The EP was well received for its raw and original sound, as well as for its lyrical themes, most notably the track “Satanic Feminism”, which explicitly ties death metal to political and gender awareness.
On March 20th, 2024, the band released their first full-length album The Portal Is Open, via the French label World Eater Records. Recorded in Imola and mixed/mastered by Ulf Blomberg at Hobos Studio in Lund, Sweden, the album features eight tracks merging death and black metal with hardcore/crust influences and punk-infused vocals. The lyrics delve deeper into the concepts introduced on their debut, exploring pagan traditions, mythology, feminine archetypes, and esoteric and literary references.
In 2024, guitarist Moqi joined the band as a live replacement for Rappo, who had relocated to Berlin. He later became the sixth full-time member, contributing to the writing and recording of the band’s latest effort, Abyss Calls To Abyss.
Canadian heavy psych doomers PALE HORSE RITUAL return with “Holy Lies”, the latest single from their forthcoming album Diabolic Formation, arriving November 28 through Black Throne Productions. Bold and unflinching, the song pulls no punches as it confronts centuries of religious power structures and the human cost left in their wake.
“Holy Lies” lays bare the contradictions between immense spiritual wealth and real-world suffering. Its lyrics push against the hierarchy and fear tactics often used to enforce obedience, shining a harsh light on the ways control is cloaked in sanctity. At the heart of the track is a call for equity and liberation. It is an insistence that no one is born to kneel.
Driven by low-end groove and a wall of saturated tone, the band finds a razor-sharp balance between weight and momentum. The guitars churn through layers of fuzz, while the rhythm section carves a deliberate, relentless path forward. There’s a hypnotic pull to the song’s structure, anchored by a hook that lingers long after the final note.
Track Listing:
Deflowered (5:58)
Wickedness (5:03)
Holy Lies (5:46)
Save You (3:13)
Bloody Demon (5:02)
DED (6:50)
A Beautiful End (6:55)
With Diabolic Formation on the horizon, the band continues to sharpen their vision, crafting a record that explores the darker corners of belief, power and the struggle to reclaim autonomy in a world built to obscure it. Pre-orders are available HERE.
About PALE HORSE RITUAL Steeped in mysticism, PALE HORSE RITUAL create an spellcasting blend of doom, occult rock and vintage metal. Based out of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the band formed in 2024 and their sound is driven by gritty vocals, sludgy riffs, and pounding rhythms that channel the spirit of 1970s heavy music with a modern, gothic edge. Following their alluring 2024 EP titled Enchantress, the quartet are preparing to unveil the full-length, Diabolic Formation on November 28, via Black Throne Productions.
Line Up: Paco (Bass/Vocals) James Matheson (Lead Guitar) Will Adams (Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals) Jonah Santa-Barbara (Drums)
Album Credits: Producer: Will Adams Recording Studio: Green Mountain Ranch Engineer: Will Adams at Tell Me About It… Records Mastering: Zack Hollow at Z Hollow Studios Mixing: Will Adams
Guest Musicians: Dom Valela – Keys, Vocals Doom Valhalla – Italian Preacher
One Band To Rule Them All! and Play Wacken Open Air!
One band to rule them all! Wacken Metal Battle Canada returns for 2026 battles across the country to send one independent metal band to play at Wacken Open Air, one of the world’s most prestigious and largest metal festivals.
Band submissions for Canada are now open until November 30th.
The national final for 2026 battles will be held in Montreal, QC.
“Canadian metal bands, this is your chance once again. This is the first step to a world of opportunity waiting for you. We invite you to play some great shows, expand your audience, and ultimately have your shot at playing Wacken Open Air,” adds WMBC organizer JJ Tartaglia.
The 2026 WMBC champion will receive the following: – A slot at the 2026 Wacken Open Air Festival. – Full professional backline provided. – $1,000 CAD towards flights to Germany. – VIP camping at the festival.
Canadian Battle Cities: Vancouver, BC Vancouver Island, BC BC Interior Edmonton, AB Toronto, ON Hamilton, ON Ottawa, ON Montreal, QC Quebec City, QC
Watch – Wacken Metal Battle 2025 – Aftermovie | Have You Heard the Future of Metal? – https://youtu.be/nCulXiLlaSw
The 2025 Canadian Battle Final took place on May 31st at Vancouver’s Rickshaw Theatre, where Hamilton, Ontario’s KILLOTINE, the Ontario regional winner, delivered a standout performance that earned them the top national title. A panel of industry judges selected KILLOTINE to represent Canada at the prestigious International Wacken Battle, held during Wacken Open Air from July 30th to August 2nd in Wacken, Germany, where over 85,000 metal fans from around the globe gathered.
Joining KILLOTINE on stage at the Canadian final were fellow regional champions: SOULTHIEF (Eastern Canada Winner – Ottawa, ON), BEYOND SUFFERING(Alberta Winner – Calgary, AB), and YEGG (British Columbia Winner – Nanaimo, BC). The event also featured a special guest headliner: Vancouver’s Arrow In The Quiver, the 2024 BC Final winner.
The national judging panel included a lineup of respected figures from the Canadian metal and music industry: Brittney Slayes (Unleash The Archers), JJ Tartaglia (Canadian Organizer of Wacken Metal Battle Canada), JJ Caithcart (Founder of SCRAPE Records and Host of Different Stages Radio), Kris Schulz (Founder of Empower Through Music and Owner of Horizon School of Music), Abelardo Mayoral (Founder and Operator of The Invisible Orange and OrangeTickets), Stan Schinners (Owner of Broken Neck Radio), Justin Dobbin (Owner and President of Main Stage Rehearsal Studios).
For the last 9 years of battles (2013-2016, 2018-2019, 2023-2025), Wacken Metal Battle Canada has hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the world’s largest metal festival, Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany. 2019 saw the festival celebrate its 30th anniversary, but due to COVID, the 2020 and 2021 editions were both canceled.
As the metal community regains its strength, Wacken Open Air 2026 will be the 35th edition of the festival and will be held from July 29th to August 1st. The 2026 event is nearly sold out with a line-up that includes Def Leppard, Lamb Of God, In Flames, Savatage, Powerwolf, Emperor, Sepultura, and Running Wild, among others. Details here.
Wacken Metal Battle Canada is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance to win their spot among over 55 other countries’ champions, and represent Canada in an international battle of the bands at the world’s largest outdoor metal festival: Wacken Open Air. The battles have been hosted at the festival for over a decade and give independent bands the opportunity to showcase their talents to an international audience, along with the chance to win multiple prizes.
How it works: Participating cities will host qualifying rounds plus a city final organized by a local city concert promoter, where one band will move forward to the Canadian national final. The winner of the national final will move on to perform at the Wacken Open Air 2026 and compete against the winners of other participating countries in a final global battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.
Enveloped in shadow, German sextet DER ROTE MILAN create intense, melodic, riff-driven sounds inspired by nature, historical wars in Central Europe, anti-religion and inner conflict. The band explore a strange sense of beauty that emerges from despair through the multi-faceted nature in which loss is experienced.
The new album, Verlust, follows the2023 EP Schlund and seesDER ROTE MILAN develop further their atmospheric sound and lyrical depth. Verlustwill be released on December 12th, 2025, via Unholy Conspiracy Deathwork.
As the first single, and opening track to Verlust, “Aus der Finsternis” establishes the mood for the album. Through a sonic manifestation, DER ROTE MILAN focus on the initial shock, the first stage of loss in this track.
The powerful and heavy instrumentation reveals a sense of destruction, of desolation, as the reality of the loss hits. Through the melodic elements, there is fragility but also a very faint touch of hope hidden amongst the gloom.
Track Listing:
Aus der Finsternis
Où allez-vous
Skepsis der Existenz
Verlust
Der letzte Rubin
Full Album Running Time: 22:54
Verlust is steeped in a deep sense of humanity – of indulging in the human condition, even those parts many may wish to avoid. DER ROTE MILAN encourage us to sit with the discomfort, with the pain and acknowledge that change is certain, but it is not hopeless.
DER ROTE MILAN: I (guitar) II (synth, mix) III (vocals) V (guitar) VI (drums) VII (bass)
Credits: Produced by DER ROTE MILAN Recorded at Klangschmiede Studio E (Markus Stock) Mixed and Mastered by Klangschmiede Studio E (Markus Stock) Album Cover Artist: Matt Prison
Power metal visionaries INDUCTION continue their unstoppable rise with the release of the electrifying title track and video “Love Kills”, taken from their forthcoming studio album Love Kills!, due out February 6, 2026 via Reigning Phoenix Music.
Feel the surge: “Love Kills” is a fierce anthem pulsing with raw emotion and unstoppable energy. The track captures both the pain and power of love’s downfall, celebrating the resilience that endures even after the flame seems to die. With soaring vocals, thunderous riffs, and cinematic emotion, “Love Kills” reminds us that even in the darkest moments, love’s light never truly fades.
Guitarist and Songwriter Tim Kanoa Hansen shares:
“Love Kills… but it’s never gonna die.’ This simple motto inspired most of Induction’s upcoming third album, which is why it became the title track. It’s deeply personal, full of raw emotion, but it also delivers a message of strength: life always goes on, and we are the masters of our own fate. No matter how dark the days, love will always return. As C. Joybell once wrote, ‘Love, I’m convinced, is found in the darkness. It’s the candle in the night.’”
Tim adds: “For me, this album carries a lot of raw and personal emotion. Life always moved forward, and even in the darkest times, love always found its way back. With LOVE KILLS! we explore the beauty and cruelty of love in a futuristic power metal context. It’s Induction at our biggest, boldest, and most fun yet.”
Following a storm of milestones, including a series of live dates supporting the legendary SAVATAGE, a frenetically acclaimed debut at Wacken Open Air, and the release of fan-favorite singles “Beyond Horizons” and “Dark Temptation,” INDUCTION are firing on all cylinders.
Crafted at Chameleon Studios and Boogie Park Studios in Hamburg, the album was produced by Tim Kanoa Hansen and mixed and mastered by Eike Freese in collaboration with the guitarist. Love Kills! marks the beginning of a new era for INDUCTION, defined by musical evolution, emotional depth, and a fearless drive to push the boundaries of modern power metal!
1. Virtual Insanity 2. War Of Hearts 3. Dark Temptation 4. Steel And Thunder 5. Strangers To Love 6. Beyond Horizons 7. Gods Of Steel (physical release exclusive) 8. Love Kills 9. I Am Evil 10. The Veil of Affection 11. Empress
In support of the upcoming album, the band will join VISIONS OF ATLANTIS and WARKINGS on the 2026 “Pirates & Kings Over Europe” tour, hitting 20+ cities across the continent in February and March!
INDUCTION live: w/ VISIONS OF ATLANTIS, WARKINGS: 05.02.2026 CH Pratteln – Konzertfabrik Z7 06.02.2026 DE Saarbrücken – Garage 07.02.2026 DE Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle 08.02.2026 DE Frankfurt – Batschkapp 10.02.2026 UK Manchester – Academy 2 11.02.2026 UK London – O2 Academy Islington 12.02.2026 FR Paris – Élysée Montmarte 13.02.2026 NL Tilburg – 013 Poppodium 14.02.2026 DE Leipzig – Hellraiser 15.02.2026 DE Berlin – Columbia Theater 16.02.2026 PL Warsaw – Klub Proxima 18.02.2026 CZ Zlín – Masters of Rock Café 19.02.2026 DE Hanover – Capitol 20.02.2026 DE Hamburg – Markthalle 21.02.2026 DE Geiselwind – Musichall 26.02.2026 FR Villeurbanne (Lyon) – La Rayonne 27.02.2026 DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann (Halle) 28.02.2026 DE Munich – Backstage (Werk) 05.03.2026 HU Budapest – Barba Negra 06.03.2026 AT Vienna – SiMM City 07.03.2026 AT Wörgl – VZ Komma
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