With just three months to go until their first-ever appearance at Maryland Deathfest, Kansas-based death metal horde UNMERCIFUL has announced a very special guest for this monumental performance.
Joining the band on vocals will be none other than James “Freight Train” Lee, widely recognized for his crushing performances on Origin’s landmark albums III, Echoes of Decimation, and Antithesis. Lee’s unmistakable intensity and legacy within extreme metal make this collaboration a historic moment for both the band and fans alike.
With Lee on stage, fans can expect a set of unmitigated ferocity and precision. One that won’t soon be forgotten.
In addition, drummer Andy Vincent (Morgue Defilement) will be stepping in behind the kit while UNMERCIFUL skin-basher Trynt Kelly continues to navigate health issues.
UNMERCIFUL is currently booking additional performances surrounding Maryland Deathfest. The band is slated to appear on MDF’s Marketplace & Power Plant Live stage on Sunday, May 24. More dates to be announced soon.
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.
Cult icons of the late-80s/early-90s NYC goth scene return with first original recording in 32 years
New album The Visible Heaven produced by Doc Hammer at Goat of Brass Studios
Pre-orders now available via The Circle Music
New York, NY & Athens, Greece; 26 February 2026: After three decades of silence, the “last original band” of the American gothic movement, Requiem in White, has returned. The band is set to release The Visible Heaven, their first new album since disbanding in 1994, via The Circle Music on 21 May 2026.
Ahead of the album’s release, the band has unveiled the first single “Reckless in Misery”.
Originally formed in Boston in 1985 before becoming fixtures of the New York City underground, Requiem in White achieved legendary status through their refusal to grant interviews and their “grass roots” fame at venues like CBGB and The Limelight.
Known for an eclectic, romantic sound that influenced a generation of acts, they shared stages with the likes of Type O Negative, Christian Death and Biohazard. Following their 1994 split (the same year Marilyn Manson’s debut album came out), the Requiem in White members went on to form influential projects including Mors Syphilitica, Judith and WEΕΡ.
The new record sees original vocalist Lisa Stockton-Wilson (ex-Hammer) reunite with guitarist and songwriter Doc Hammer to finally capture the “elegant power” that defined their live shows but was often lost in the muddy, self-funded recordings of their youth.
The catalyst for the reunion was a 2024 vinyl reissue of the band’s early material by The Circle Music. Upon hearing the “thin and tiny” production of the original 8-track recordings, Doc Hammer, known to many as the co-creator of the animated series The Venture Bros, felt a responsibility to secure the band’s legacy.
The Visible Heaven eschews modern production tricks, relying on the classic arrangement of guitar, drums, bass, vocals, and organ. Stockton-Wilson’s “glassy and soaring” vocals, which Hammer describes as having pushed through “30 years of dust and doubt”, remain the centrepiece of the band’s signature dark, romantic sound.
“Requiem in White returned not to take back her throne, but to show people that her chair was beautiful,” says Doc Hammer. “To right the wrongs of her past and give her an album that sounds like what she truly was. To show her fans that they backed a beautiful horse! A horse that won’t win a race, but she’ll look good racing, and you will never see a horse like that again.”
He continued: “I wanted it to sound like we went into a great studio in 1994, recorded great tracks, and mixed a great album… the album we always wanted to make. It’s Guitar, Drums, Bass, Vocals and a little Organ, just like Requiem was back in the day.
“When some bands reunite and make new music, they don’t really pick up where they left off. They’re thinking as a creator, and not really respecting the band as a fan does. They bring into the new stuff all the baggage of the contemporary idiom. That, as a fan, is kinda gross. I don’t wanna hear my favourite niche-Goth-band come back and sound like fucking Doja Cat. I want them to sound like they used to. That’s what I would want as a fan. So I decided to just get back to the artistic place I was in the 90s.”
“I wasn’t trying to make a new record sound old, I was truly back in my old band writing like I used to. It’s real. The band never left, it simply fell asleep for a bit.”
Lisa Stockton-Wilson said: “I couldn’t have dreamt that Requiem in White would ever make another recording, but when Doc sent me the music, I was blown away. It’s haunting and powerful, symphonic and driving. My parts were complex and difficult to record, but I got a lot of encouragement. I think this album is very unique and I hope it makes our fans happy. Thanks to The Circle Music for inviting us to release our albums, old and new.”
The Visible Heaven tracklist: 1. The Visible Heaven 2. Ursuline Sister 3. True Lovers and Whores 4. Cold or Divine 5. Missa Brevis 6. Solus Sum 7. Suffer and Sleep 8. Reckless in Misery
Chicago (IL) – Progressive Tech-Death stalwarts, GIGAN, have announced the West Coast Sonic Invasion Tour 2026! The tour launches April 30 in San Diego and includes an appearance at Northwest Terror Fest on May 9.
Willowtip Records label mates, Barren Path, will perform on four dates.
Tour Dates are as follows:
April 30 – San Diego, CA (Banshee) with Barren Path/Cave Bastard/Genestealer/Cataract Stare
May 1 – Long Beach, CA (Que Sera) w/ Barren Path/Teeth/Morgue Breath
May 2 – Bakersfield, CA (Jerry’s Pizza) with Cave Bastard/tba
May 3 – Los Angeles, CA (Slipper Clutch) w/ Cave Bastard/tba
May 4 – Sacramento, CA (Cafe Colonial) w/ Barren Path/Oceans of Ash/tba
May 5 – Oakland, CA (Thee Stork Club) w/ Barren Path/Horse Butcher/tba
May 6 – Palmdale, CA (Transplants Brewing) w/ tba
May 9 – Seattle, WA (Northwest Terror Fest)
May 10 – Vancouver, Canada (Astoria) w/ tba
Anomalous Abstractigate Infinitessimus, GIGAN‘s first album in seven years, was released October 25, 2024 on CD, Ltd edition CD long box, vinyl, cassette, Ltd edition four-album cassette boxset, and digital formats via Willowtip Records.
Since 2005, GIGAN has been an unsung vanguard of abstract and creatively dissonant extreme metal. Pushing boundaries and never compromising the artistic vision throughout the debut EP and subsequent four full-length albums has led GIGAN to be considered an unwavering force of both innovation and extremity.
It has been almost seven years since GIGAN has released new music and the time spent away has only honed and sharpened the still-deadly blades of creativity for which GIGAN has always been known; while also infusing fresh elements not yet heard within the GIGAN Universe. The results of GIGAN’s current hard work is the new beast of an album entitled AnomalousAbstractigate Infinitessimus.
On September 19th, the LOVE.NOISE.FREEDOM FESTIVAL lands in the UK for the very first time, featuring sets from Might, Bulbul, Confusion Master, Noisepicker, and Endure.
LOVE.NOISE.FREEDOM, the beating heart behind every gathering curated by Exile On Mainstream has always been a statement. A celebration of heavy music, stubborn independence, and the deep bonds that hold this scene together. And now, that legendary, road-worn, heart-driven vibe finally takes over Downstairs at the Dome in London for one intense, unifying day. This is not a random lineup. This is family.
Might brings their uncompromising blend of crushing heaviness and raw melody, a band forged in volume and conviction, known for turning every stage into a cathartic release. Their sound balances massive riffs with emotional weight, the kind that lingers long after the amps cool down. Their sound is massive, yes, towering riffs and crushing low end, yet beneath the volume lies vulnerability. When they hit, it feels like standing in a storm that somehow holds you upright.
Bulbul, underground lifers from Austria, have built their legacy the hard way, through decades of stubborn independence and fearless experimentation. Hypnotic, abrasive, uncompromising, they prove that repetition can become ritual, and noise can become transcendence. They are a reminder that art survives because people refuse to let it die.
With sparse need for words, Confusion Master speaks through colossal instrumental passages that blur the line between doom, sludge and psychedelic drift. Their music feels like a slow-burning horizon; meditative, heavy, and deeply human. It’s the sound of patience meeting power.
UK powerhouse Noisepicker brings grit, groove and heart. Road-worn, hook-laden, and unapologetically loud, they channel the raw pulse of heavy rock ’n’ roll into something immediate and communal. Sweat on the walls. Smiles in the crowd. Riffs that feel like old friends.
And then there’s Endure – a new chapter written by members of Hands Of Omega. Born from experience, loss, growth and persistence, Endure embodies an evolving spirit: heavy, honest, and driven by connection.
LOVE.NOISE.FREEDOM isn’t about hype. It’s about shared vans, shared stages, shared stories. It’s about a label that built its reputation on loyalty and artistic freedom, finally bringing its community across the Channel. This is about showing up. For the music. For each other. For the idea that independent art still matters, not as nostalgia, yet as necessity. One day. One stage. One circle of trust. A gathering.
London, get ready to feel what Exile On Mainstream has always stood for: LOVE. NOISE. FREEDOM.
Tickets for LOVE.NOISE.FREEDOM FESTIVAL are available RIGHT HERE, and more info is posted HERE.
Exile On Mainstream Presents:
LOVE.NOISE.FREEDOM FESTIVAL – w/ Might, Bulbul, Confusion Master, Endure, Noisepicker
9/19/2026 Downstairs At The Dome – London, UK [info]
Kentucky’s Doom laden Sludge lords HIGHGATE have joined the Horror Pain Gore Death Productions roster for the release of their new full-length album, Prophecies Of Eternal Horror.
Emanating from the hills of Northern Kentucky, HIGHGATE unleash a Sludge filled, Doom laden yowl that speaks of years of struggle and despair. Prophecies Of Eternal Horror finds the dead bodies stacking to the sky as HIGHGATE grapple with global war atrocities, religious fanaticism and class warfare.
HIGHGATE has shared the album’s first single, “At Paranoia’s Poison Door.” The song is described as a blackened-doom battle cry against an overreaching government that wants us too scared to think or act for ourselves. The lyrical refrain of “crawl to your masters”speaks to the song’s theme of government capability to brainwash citizens into cowering boot-lickers.
HIGHGATE: Greg Brown – vocals Steve Porter – battery & vocals Jamie Porter – guitar, bass & vocals
Prophecies Of Eternal Horror is set to be released on March 27.
North America! Are you ready!? We are beyond excited to finally be returning across the pond in less than three weeks! Grab your tickets and VIP upgrades now before they are gone ! See you all very soon! Ready To Fight!
03/14/26 – West Palm Beach • FL 03/15/26 – Tampa • FL 03/17/26 – Atlanta • GA 03/19/26 – Covington • KY 03/20/26 – Westland • MI 03/21/26 – McHenry • IL 03/22/26 – Cleveland • OH 03/24/26 – Pittsburgh • PA 03/25/26 – Harrisburg • PA 03/26/26 – Sellersville • PA 03/27/26 – Teaneck • NJ 03/28/26 – New Bedford • MA 03/29/26 – Hampton Beach • NH 04/01/26 – Annapolis • MD 04/02/26 – Virginia Beach • VA 04/04/26 – Sanford • FL 04/10/26 – Katy • TX 04/11/26 – San Antonio • TX 04/12/26 – Dallas • TX 04/16/26 – Hollywood • CA 04/17/26 – Glendale • AZ 04/18/26 – Las Vegas • NV 04/20/26 – Montreal • CAN 04/21/26 – QUEBEC CITY • CAN 04/22/26 – Ottawa • CAN Ontario 04/23/26 – Toronto • CAN Ontario
ACT III U.S. Tour 2026 ~ Performing the album ACT III in its entirety:
5/1/26 – Phoenix, AZ – Marquee Theater 5/3/26 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom 5/5/26 – New Orleans, LA – House of Blues 5/7/26 – Daytona, FL – Welcome to Rockville 5/10/26 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground 5/11/26 – Asheville, NC – Orange Peel 5/12/26 – Hobart, IN – Hobart Theater 5/14/26 – Detroit, MI – St Andrews Hall 5/15/26 – Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom 5/16/26 – Norwalk, CT – District Music Hall 5/19/26 – Wilmington, DE – The Queen 5/20/26 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theater 5/21/26 – Buffalo, NY – Electric City 5/22/26 – Allentown, PA – Archer Music Hall 5/24/26 – Baltimore, MD – Maryland Deathfest 5/27/26 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade Hell 5/28/26 – Orlando, FL – The Abbey 5/29/26 – Ft Lauderdale, FL – Culture Room 5/30/26 – Tampa, FL – Orpheum 6/2/26 – Nashville, TN – Brooklyn Bowl 6/3/26 – Louisville, KY – Mercury Ballroom 6/5/26 – Milwaukee, WI – MKE Metal Fest 6/6/26 – St Louis, MO – Red Flag 6/8/26 – Wichita, KS – Wave 6/9/26 – Greeley, CO – Moxi Theater 6/10/26 – Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep 6/11/26 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Complex 6/12/26 – Boise, ID – Shrine Ballroom 6/14/26 – Seattle, WA – Showbox 6/16/26 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theater 6/17/26 – Sacramento, CA – Ace of Spades 6/18/26 – San Luis Obispo, CA – Fremont Theater 6/19/26 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory 6/20/26 – Ventura, CA – Ventura Music Hall 6/21/26 – Santa Cruz, CA – The Catalys
February 24, 1995 – OVERKILL performed at Alrosa Villa in Columbus, Ohio. Their 15th studio album, W.F.O., was released in 1994.
February 24, 2006 – OVERKILL shared the stage with PRONG at Harpos Concert Theatre in Detroit, Michigan. The bands’ 13th studio album, RELIXIV, was released a year earlier in 2005.
February 24, 2009 – OVERKILL performed at Markthalle in Hamburg, Germany. Exodus, Gama Bomb and Torture Squad were also on the bill. OVERKILL were touring in-between studio albums, with 2007’s Immortalis being their most recent at the time.
February 24, 2010 – OVERKILL performed at Wulfrun Hall in Wolverhampton, England, UK. Opening bands were: Suicidal Angels, Savage Messiah and Cripper. OVERKILL were touring in support of their 15th studio album: Ironbound.
February 24, 2013 – OVERKILL performed at Wooly’s in Des Moines, Iowa. The band were continuing to support their 2012 album release: The Electric Age.
February 24, 2017 – OVERKILL performed at Slim’s in San Francisco, California. They were touring to support their 18th studio album: The Grinding Wheel.
February 23, 2007 – MANOWARGods Of War was released first in Germany. The album cover was created by (the late) fantasy artist Ken Kelly. This was the last MANOWAR studio album to include (the late) Scott Columbus.
Gods Of War – Track-List:
01. Overture To The Hymn Of The Immortal Warriors 02. The Ascension 03. King Of Kings 04. Army Of The Dead, Part I 05. Sleipnir 06. Loki God Of Fire 07. Blood Brothers 08. Overture To Odin 09. The Blood Of Odin 10. The Sons Of Odin 11. Glory, Majesty, Unity 12. Gods Of War 13. Army of the Dead Part II 14. Odin 15. Hymn Of The Immortal Warriors 16. Die For Metal (bonus track)
MANOWAR – band lineup on Gods Of War:
Eric Adams – lead vocals
Joey DeMaio –bass guitars
Karl Logan – lead & rhythm guitar, keyboards
Scott Columbus – drums & percussion
Record label: Magic Circle Music, Ltd. Distributed by SPV GmbH in Europe and USA.
Arthur Pendragon Wilshire provided narration for the song “Glory Majesty Unity”.
Joe Rozler (composer) – orchestral and choir arrangements.
Gods Of War was recorded, engineered and edited at Haus Wahnfried in New York. Produced by Joey DeMaio. Mixed by Ronald Prent at Galaxy Studios in Mol, Belgium and mastered by Darcy Proper at Galaxy Mastering in Mol, Belgium.
The 16 pages of text for the album booklet was written in the runic alphabet.
While the world remains being a restless place, metal commando PRIMAL FEAR is among the most reliable constants in these insecure times. Supporting their 2025 successful album Domination on stages worldwide, with a second European leg kicking off in London, UK on March 11, the band warm-up their engines with a new track called “One” today.
The straight-forward anthem calls upon mankind to stand together instead of feuding with each other, and was recorded during the Domination sessions. Combining hard-hitting riffs and the group’s melodic trademark approach masterfully, the single is in no way inferior to PRIMAL FEAR’s celebrated current opus!
L-R: André Hilgers (drums), Magnus Karlsson (guitars), Ralf Scheepers (vocals), Thalìa Bellazecca (guitars), Mat Sinner (bass, vocals)
Bassist/vocalist Mat Sinner states:“‘One’ is a continuation of the Domination atmosphere. A massive riff, true Primal Fear melodies, a driving groove, and Ralf’s characteristic vocals. It’s like a teaser for the second leg of our European tour as well as our upcoming South American run. Our cover artist, Death.Milk.Designs, has created a killer video clip with a collection of awesome scenes. Enjoy listening & watching the video, we’re incredibly excited for the next part of the tour!”
Domination Tour 2026 – Europe Part II w/ RONNIE ROMERO Presented by Metal Hammer, musix, Rock Antenne, Rock It!, Break Out & ITM:
11.03.2026 UK London – O2 Academy Islington 12.03.2026 UK Wolverhampton – KK’s Steel Mill 14.03.2026 DE Marsberg – Metal Diver Festival * 15.03.2026 DE Lindau – Club Vaudeville 16.03.2026 DE Augsburg – Spectrum Club 17.03.2026 IT Paderno Dugnano (MI) – Slaughter Club 20.03.2026 NO Trondheim – Byscenen 21.03.2026 NO Gjerdrum – Kulturhus 22.03.2026 SE Stockholm – Kollektivet Livet 24.03.2026 FI Helsinki – Tavastia-klubi 25.03.2026 FI Tampere – Olympia-kortteli 27.03.2026 EE Tallinn – Helitehas 28.03.2026 LV Riga – Palladium 29.03.2026 LT Vilnius – Loftas * PRIMAL FEAR only
“Domination” Tour 2026 – South America:
16.04.2026 AR Buenos Aires – Teatro Flores 24.04.2026 BR São Paulo – Bangers Open Air Pre-Party 26.04.2026 BR São Paulo – Bangers Open Air
Festivals:
20.06.2026 BE Dessel – Graspop Metal Meeting 04.07.2026 ES Barcelona – Rock Fest 18.07.2026 CZ Vizovice – Masters of Rock 25.07.2026 DE Rengsdorf – Rock the Forest 21. – 23.08.2026 PT Pindelo dos Milagres – Milagre Metaleiro Open Air 27. – 29.08.2026 ES Fuengirola – Sun & Thunder 12.09.2026 DE Sinntal – Sinner Rock
26.09.2026 CH Olten – Schützi 02.10.2026 AT Telfs – Rathaussaal 03.10.2026 DE Geiselwind – Monster Festival 04.10.2026 FR Paris – Petit Bain 06.10.2026 FR Toulouse – Le Rex 07.10.2026 ES Burgos – Sala Andén 56 08.10.2026 ES Madrid – Wagon 10.10.2026 ES Pamplona – Sala Totem Aretoa 11.10.2026 ES Valencia – Roig Arena
Australian death/thrash duo BATTLEGRAVE are set to return with their third and most devastating full-length release to date.
Enslavement delivers 10 tracks of unbridled and vitriolic, death-laden thrash metal. This relentless barrage of calculated venom, intense riffing, and punishing rhythmic precision further cements the band’s reputation for uncompromising extremity.
Lyrically tied to themes of violence and aggression, Enslavement weaves an interlocking narrative of a subterranean demon harvesting human souls to satiate its unending hunger. This conceptual core adds a sinister layer beneath the album’s sonic brutality.
Fans can experience a sample of what’s to come with the album’s first single, “Bonesaw.”
The band comments on the song: “Bonesaw’ delivers an aural assault on the listener, with all the power of a screwdriver plunged into the eardrum. Delving into the world of dismemberment, the track lyrically focuses on the evolution of medical tools in forensic pathology and features razor sharp riffage, a chaotic drum performance, two skin ripping solos and a vocal attack aimed directly for the jugular. Prepare to be taken apart piece by piece with the bonesaw.”
Watch the official music video for “Bonesaw” here.
The album was recorded by Clint Patzel of BATTLEGRAVE, mixed by Tim Shearman and mastered by Logan Mader. Session drums by Robin Stone.
Track-listing: 1) Soul Chasm
2) There Is Only Death
3) Bonesaw
4) Eyes Of Enslavement
5) Venom
6) The Grand Machine Of Despair
7) Asylum
8) Marked By Evil
9) Under The Banner We March
10) US Outpost 31
Line-up:
Rohan Buntine – Vocals, Lyrics
Clint Patzel – All Strings
BAND BIO:
BATTLEGRAVE are a two-piece death/thrash project from Melbourne, Australia, formed in 2017 following the release of their debut demo track, “Mortar Fire,” which quickly generated strong underground buzz.
The duo followed with the EP To Hellwith War (2017) and full-length albums Relics of a Dead Earth (2018) and Cavernous Depths (2022, via Bitter Loss Records), establishing a reputation for blending savage thrash intensity with punishing death metal weight. Their releases have received consistent acclaim across the global metal press and airplay on international radio platforms.
While primarily a studio-driven force, BATTLEGRAVE have also brought their music to the stage, recruiting respected musicians from Melbourne’s metal scene to deliver their blistering sound in a live setting.
Throughout their discography, the project has collaborated with world-class drummers including Kevin Talley, 66Samus, and most recently Robin Stone, further reinforcing the precision and power behind the band’s extreme sonic identity.
Swedish black metal pioneers Dark Funeral announce that their song “Open The Gates” is featured in the motion picture Psycho Killer, now in theaters.
Psycho Killer is written by acclaimed screenwriter Andrew Kevin Walker (Se7en, 8MM), directed by Gavin Polone, and stars Georgina Campbell, Dutchess Cayetano and Malcolm McDowell.
The inclusion of Dark Funeral marks a notable crossover between extreme metal and contemporary cinema, underscoring the band’s enduring cultural presence beyond the traditional boundaries of the genre.
Set against the backdrop of a relentless manhunt, the story follows a Kansas highway patrol officer drawn into the pursuit of a sadistic serial killer, uncovering a level of psychological darkness far beyond initial expectations.
Psycho Killer had its theatrical release in the United States on February 20th, 2026, with distribution handled by companies including 20th Century Studios.
European release dates are expected to follow closely via international partners.
For more than three decades, Dark Funeral has stood as a defining force within extreme metal. This feature further reinforces the band’s continued relevance and expanding presence beyond the boundaries of the genre.
Lord Ahriman comments: “Everyone knows how big of a horror movie fan I am, and I’m a huge fan of Se7en and 8MM, so to finally have one of our songs — even an older one — find its way into a major horror film connected to Andrew Kevin Walker feels truly amazing. This is something I’ve hoped for for a long time, and I look forward to seeing more of our music on the silver screen in the years to come. I can’t wait to watch Psycho Killer myself.”
Dark Funeral are published by Reservoir and recorded under Century Media Records/Sony Music.
Baltimore Black Metallers, Nixil, and Portland Black/Death quartet, Drouth, will hit the road in May for the Toward Dead Temples West Coast Tour 2026.
The bands will be touring in support of their forthcoming split LP, Toward Dead Temples, which is set for an April 24th release on vinyl, cassette tape, and digital formats. Stay tuned, album details coming soon!
Tour dates are as follows:
May 7: Seattle, WA – Neumos (Northwest Terror Fest) May 8: Eugene, OR – John Henry’s May 9: Redding, CA – The Dip May 10: Sacramento, CA – Cafe Colonial May 12: Los Angeles, CA – The Moroccan Lounge May 13: San Diego, CA – Tower Bar May 14: Palmdale, CA – Transplants Brewing May 15: Santa Rosa, CA – Arlene Francis Center May 16: Eureka, CA – Savage Henry Comedy Club May 17: Portland, OR – The High Water Mark
Iron Maiden Announce EddFest! – July 10th & 11th 2026, Knebworth – UK
This is not just a Maiden show – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience packed with live music, themed areas, immersive attractions, and much more to discover!
50 years of Iron Maiden… Curated by Eddie – This is EddFest
February 21, 1994 – SCORPIONS performed at McNichols Sports Arena, in Denver, Colorado. Kings X opened the show. This was SCORPIONS’ Face The Heat Tour, supporting their 12th studio album: Face The Heat.
February 21, 2026 – Tickets go on sale for: Scorpions – Coming Home to Las Vegas. This residency will take place at PH Live at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, from Thursday, Sept. 17th through Saturday, Oct. 3rd, 2026. Special guest Buckcherry will perform.
LEATHERWITCH, new Heavy Metal band formed by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Marta Gabriel, signed a multiple record deal with Listenable Records. The very first video and single, “Beast Inside”, will have its premiere on March 5, 2026. It has been mixed by Olof Wikstrand (ENFORCER), and features special guest, guitarist Giuseppe Taormina (ELLENDE, ex-CRYSTAL VIPER).
Marta Gabriel disbanded her band CRYSTAL VIPER in the fall of 2025. The band toured in more than 20 countries, conquered the stages of major festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Hellfest and Keep It True, and left a legacy of 9 studio albums. CRYSTAL VIPER’s farewell live album titled “The Live Quest”, came out last June.
In the Spring of 2025 Gabriel toured with the Japanese Heavy Metal act METALUCIFER, as a bassist on their “Heavy Metal Anniversary” Tour in Europe, and flew to Tokyo, Japan, for two exclusive live shows as a solo artist.
February 20, 1996 – SEPULTURA released in Europe, their sixth studio album,viaRoadrunner Records: Roots. Album artwork by Michael Whelan.
February 20, 1996 – IN FLAMES released their second studio album: The Jester Race. Album artwork by Andreas Marschall.
February 20, 2006 – Swedish death metal warriors DISMEMBER released their seventh studio album, The God That Never Was, via Candlelight Records. Album cover artwork is by Dan Seagrave.
February 20, 2008 – LOUDNESS had their 21st studio album, Metal Mad, released only in their home country of Japan. Album cover artwork by Katz-Miyake.
February 20, 2012 – The menacing AUTOPSY saw their EP compilation album, AllTomorrow’s Funerals, released via Peaceville Records. Album cover artwork by Matt Cavotta.
February 20, 2026 – SYLOSIS have their seventh studio album, The New Flesh, released today via Nuclear Blast. Artwork & layout by Snakehed.
By no means is this list complete! There are many, many more Metal albums that have been released on February 20th. Feel free to comment your addition to this list!
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