Death metal juggernauts CASKET ROBBERY and GORGATRON have officially kicked off their co-headlining Northern Destruction tour. To mark the occasion, they’ve teamed up with metal-friendly eateries in select cities to unleash exclusive culinary creations that match the intensity of their live shows.
Toronto, ON – “The Northern Destruction Sandwich” at Slayer Burger
A beast of a bite: BBQ brisket, black and white sesame bun, pickled hot peppers, beet chutney, crispy shallots, and a fierce house-made destruction sauce. Available at Slayer Burger.
Denver, CO – “Casket Ro-Birria” at Brutal Poodle
This birria grilled cheese is a molten tribute to the pit: rich, spicy, and unapologetically heavy. Grab it while it lasts before CASKET ROBBERY and GORGATRON annihilate the stage at HQ.
These exclusive eats are part of the Northern Destruction experience, bringing brutal flavor to an already crushing lineup featuring special guests FRONTAL ASSAULT.
The full list of tour dates is as follows:
7/24 Minneapolis, MN @ Zhora Darling
7/25 Milwaukee, WI @ X Ray Arcade
7/26 Menomonie, WI @ Zymurgy Brewing
7/27 West Chicago, IL @ WC Social Club
7/28 Toronto, ON @ The Cave
7/30 Thunder Bay, ON @ Black Pirates Pub
7/31 Winnipeg, MB @ Sidestage
8/1 Saskatoon, SK @ Black Cat Tavern
8/2 Drumheller, AB @ Loud As Hell Fest
8/4 Missoula, MT @ The Show Room at the ZACC
8/5 Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon
8/6 Denver, CO @ HQ
8/7 Rapid City, SD @ Abys
8/8 Sioux Falls, SD @ Downtown Sioux Falls @ Four Winds Music and Art Fest
8/9 Cedar Rapids, IA @ Iowa Metal Underground Fest
Obey the sickness within the flesh and witness the carnage yourself…
Finnish death metal force MALFORMED have unleashed debut full-length album, Confinement of Flesh, on U.S. label Dark Descent Records and European label Extremely Rotten Productions. The album is available on LP, CD, cassette, and digital formats.
Confinement of Flesh is a violent blend of classic American death metal, characterized by the brutality and musicianship of the genre’s originators; mixed with the gloominess of their Finnish contemporaries. MALFORMED draws influence from the eerie atmosphere that early Finnish death metal bands established and made a hallmark of the national scene.
From heavy grooves to frenzied blast beats, Confinement of Flesh pushes their sound even further. It’s a more refined and mature continuation of their earlier work, sure to satisfy existing fans and attract new ones. The album was recorded by MALFORMED, produced and engineered by Felix Pennanen (Disguised Malignance), and mastered to perfection by Lasse at Ballade Studios.
MALFORMED: Eetu Hyvönen – Lead Vocals & Guitars Akseli Lindroos – Guitar Pauli Niemi – Bass & Vocals Jani Seppi – Drums
Confinement of Flesh features an ominous cover painting by Icelandic artist Skadvaldur, offering a perfect visual representation of the darkness found within the album’s sound. This highly anticipated debut cements MALFORMED as one of the most promising bands in today’s death metal scene.
Formed in 2022 in the Finnish capital of Helsinki, MALFORMED released their debut demo Uncontrollable Malformity, digitally that same year. It was later picked up for physical release by U.S. record label Rotted Life and distributed worldwide.
The demo also led to a record deal and a follow-up EP with Danish underground death metal label Extremely Rotten Productions. The Gathering of Souls, released in 2023, further expanded the band’s international reach and led to several shows outside of Finland.
Denver, Colorado, a hot bed of underground metal in recent years, has birthed it’s latest breakout band, ARSON CHARGE. Melding thrash metal and hardcore punk, the five piece are selling out shows throughout the region as word spreads like wildfire across the country, without even releasing an album yet…until now. Today, the band announces the release of their debut record, A Dying Light, set for release on October 3rd with Anxious & Angry.
Commenting on the new record, vocalist Ben Roy says:
A Dying Light started off as an impromptu creative outlet for guitarist Justin Hackl after a series of serious health issues and extended hospital stays sidelined him for months. After working with comedian and musician Ben Roy on a couple of those tracks, both decided that there was the framework for an entirely new musical project. Enlisting the talents of drummer Cody Hull, guitarist Dave Sandoval and bassist Kris Hodgell, Arson Charge was born. Bringing together all their collective influences and styles, A Dying Light is a technical, aggressive and surprisingly cohesive meld of punk rock, thrash metal and hardcore. Lyrically it’s a catharsis; it’s a raw and real expression of the loss, self sabotage, fear and ultimately hope that we all experience, day in/day out, in our increasingly complicated existences. Again: Don’t fall in love. Get a pet or a fern or something.“
Along with the album’s announcement, ARSON CHARGE has revealed A Dying Light’s gripping first single, “A New Throne.”
Adding about the single, Roy states:
“‘A New Throne’ is about finally letting go of old friendships and endeavors that have ceased to be healthy and/or satisfying and setting out on your own in new and oftentimes, uncertain new directions. It’s about starting over in hopes of building something novel and more congruent with the self you wish to be.“
1. The Feeding Grounds 2. For The Damned 3. Cleanup On Aisle 10 4. One by One 5. A New Throne 6. There Was No Dog 7. 666 BC 8. The Aftermath 9. The Lark The Wolf and The Rabbit 10. Build a Fire 11. Bloodstains 12. A Dying Light
Arson Charge – Lineup: Ben Roy – Vocals Justin Hackl – Guitar Dave Sandoval – Guitar Kris Hodgell – Bass Cody Hull – Drums
About ARSON CHARGE: Rising up from Denver, Colorado’s prolific metal scene, Arson Charge is a five-piece behemoth made up of former members from mile-high area stalwarts Native Daughters, Chieftain, and Love Me Destroyer, and fronted by stand-up comedian, actor, and SPELLS lead singer, Ben Roy. Started with no intention beyond being the sum of its parts, Arson Charge is poised to turn heads with their unique blend of hardcore, thrash metal and punk rock. Keep an eye out for Arson Charge in your neck of the woods very soon.
Strap on your astronaut helmets and say sayonara to Japan! HELLOWEEN are blasting off, leaving behind the electrifying energy of their powerful lead single “This Is Tokyo” and setting a course for something even more spectacular: outer space.
Written by guitarist Sascha Gerstner, “Universe (Gravity For Hearts)” is a stunning, cinematic journey that does more than evoke the vast mystery of the cosmos. It reminds us of the boundless possibilities that lie beyond our world. The universe is an endless expanse, a place where it’s easy to get lost in thought, but also where we can tap into unknown energy and find the strength to overcome life’s greatest challenges.
HELLOWEEN’s latest single is a wild, emotional ride and a powerful reminder of something we too often forget: never stop dreaming.
“Everything in the universe is connected, and what looks like infinite stars could in reality be moments, hearts, and choices,”explains Gerstner.
L-R: Daniel Löble (drums), Michael Weikath (guitars), Markus Grosskopf (bass), Michael Kiske (vocals), Sascha Gerstner (guitars), Andi Deris (vocals), Kai Hansen (guitars, vocals)
“Universe (Gravity For Hearts)” opens with spacey guitar work and Michael Kiske’s signature high-pitched yet deeply soulful vocals, just before a thunderstorm of guitars, bass, and drums launches the 8.5-minute epic into full motion. It’s a high-speed musical escape from everyday life, crafted in the unmistakable style only the German metal legends can deliver.
Breathing room is a rare commodity in HELLOWEEN’s world, and their new track is no exception. With relentless drumming, intergalactic guitar tapping, and a jaw-dropping solo section, “Universe (Gravity For Hearts)” confidently joins the ranks of iconic long-form tracks like “Halloween”, “Keeper Of The Seven Keys”, and 2021’s “Skyfall.”
2LP in gatefold (various colours; incl. bonus track)
picture 2LP (incl. bonus track)
digital
“Giants & Monsters” – Track Listing: 01. Giants On The Run 02. Savior Of The World 03. A Little Is A Little Too Much 04. We Can Be Gods 05. Into The Sun 06. This Is Tokyo 07. Universe (Gravity For Hearts) 08. Hand Of God 09. Under The Moonlight 10. Majestic Bonus Track: 11. Out Of Control Additional Earbook Bonus Tracks: 12. Into The Sun [Andi Solo Version] 13. Into The Sun [Michi Solo Version] 14. Into The Sun [Acoustic Version Duet]
The mighty Cattle Decapitation announces their Fall 2025 North American tour; playing ‘Death Atlas’ in its entirety!
Bringing along Aborted, Frozen Soul and Tribal Gaze!
11/16 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater 11/18 – Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom 11/19 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater * 11/20 – San Antonio, TX – Vibes Event Center 11/21 – Houston, TX – Bad Astronaut Brewing Co. 11/22 – Baton Rouge, LA – Chelsea’s Live 11/24 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade 11/25 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum 11/26 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live 11/28 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground 11/29 – Richmond, VA – The Canal Club 11/30 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage 12/02 – Brooklyn, NY – Warsaw 12/03 – Worcester, MA – The Palladium 12/05 – Montréal, QC – Club Soda 12/06 – Toronto, ON – Concert Hall 12/07 – Detroit, MI – Saint Andrew’s Hall 12/09 – Chicago, IL – House Of Blues 12/10 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue 12/12 – Denver, CO – Summit 12/13 – Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge 12/15 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater 12/16 – Seattle, WA – Showbox Market 12/18 – Sacramento, CA – Ace Of Spades 12/19 – San Diego, CA – Observatory North Park 12/20 – Los Angeles, CA – The Belasco
= No Frozen Soul
Additionally, the band will unleash a special tour-only Death Atlas 2xLP! The “Bring Back The Plague” variant, limited to 300 units, will only be available at the merch booth on the tour and only 10 units will be available per show, so get there early and get yours!
Speed Queen from Limburg in Belgium are not to be confused with the French band of the same name from the early 1980s. Founded in 2014, an initial demo was followed by two EPs, King Of The Road (Babylon Doom Cult Records, 2017) and their High RollerRecords debut, Still On The Road, in 2020. The band consists of Thomas Kenis (vocals, tambourine), Andreas Stieglitz (guitars, synths), Lander Savelkoul (bass) and Toon Driezen (drums).
“We started as a bunch of greasy teenagers discovering our dad’s record collection,”laughs bassist Lander Savelkoul talking about the early days of the band. “Like the youngsters we were, we found out we could get free entrance and beers at concerts by playing there, and when we saw people actually liked what we were doing, shit got real!”
Speed Queen have been together for more than ten years now and have played numerous festivals (from Wacken Open Air to the Alcatraz Festival) and did some tours with, amongst others, Night Demon. “We like to think that rock‘n’roll has to be fun and invigorating in the first place,” adds Lander, “and that’s what we try to bring to the stage. A fast, energetic show with no pauses. We’re bringing a whole new live show along with this new release.”
The new release we are talking about is …With a Bang!Speed Queen‘s full-length debut album (releasing on High Roller Records). “This album has been cooking for quite some time,” explains the bassist. “We started working on these songs after King Of The Road was released and in between live shows, after a pandemic and line-up change, we are finally ready to release them to the world. Also, it’s a cliché but we’ve grown as a band and you can hear that we’re more comfortable playing these songs.”
“With a Bang! is very much meant to be a powerful, ‘in-your-face record,” continues Lander. “The songs are different from our previous releases in the sense that they have more ‘oempf’, there is more variation and we don’t shy away from spicing this up with an extra layer here and there.”
Jonny Nesta of Thunderor and Skull Fist appears as a guest musician playing some guitar solos on the record. “Like Yngwie Malmsteen said: more is more,” muses Speed Queen’s bass player, “but for us it’s a heavy metal record, not a guitar record.“ – MATTHIAS MADER
Album track list: 01 5 6 7 8 02 Showdown 03 I Want It 04 Eye to Eye 05 Chasing Ghosts 06 I Walk Alone 07 Skygazers 08 The World Ends Tonight 09 Time to Go 10 Fire
Creepsylvania’s finest masked mutants, GHOUL, will return to the Earth’s surface on the Weapons Of Mosh Destruction 666 Tour later this Summer! The eight-date journey runs from August 30th through September 6th. Support will be provided by No/Mas and Spiter.
Comments Digestor, “Once again we set out across the ocean to the shores of your pathetic, crumbling nation to rob your tombs, kill your children, and sell lots and lots of merch. We are joined by the great No/Mas and Spiter, who will no doubt leave your corpses charred and blistered and ready to be devoured by our slavering jaws.”
Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
GHOUL w/ No/Mas, Spiter: 8/30/2025 RPM Fest
GHOUL w/ No/Mas, Spiter:
8/30/2025 RPM Fest – Montague, MA **
8/31/2025 Dingbatz – Clifton, NJ
9/01/2025 No Class – Cleaveland, OH
9/02/2025 Mr. Smalls – Pittsburgh, PA
9/03/2025 The Warehouse – Richmond, VA
9/04/2025 Meadows – Brooklyn, NY
9/05/2025 Metro Gallery – Baltimore, MD
9/06/2025 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA w/ Crypta
** GHOUL Only
GHOUL released their Noxious Concoctions EP last year via Tankcrimes. The EP reaped critical accolades from humans nationwide, ultimately earning placement on various Billboard charts upon its first week of release including: #2 on the Current Hard Music chart, #5 on the Top New Artist chart, and #19 on the Independent Record Label chart.
All tracks on Noxious Concoctions were digested, dissected, fermented, and cremated by the members of GHOUL, except “1-900-DTH-LINE,” originally composed by Funerot. The EP was recorded by Scott Evans at Antisleep Audio and Sharkbite Studios, mastered by Dan Randall at Mammoth Sound Mastering, and includes gang vocals by The Moron Cavern Shakled Choir and “swamp hag” vocals by Laurie Sue Shanaman.
Noxious Concoctions is available on CD, vinyl, and digital formats. Find vinyl orders HERE, CD orders HERE, and digital orders HERE where the EP can be streamed.
Canada’s SCORCHING TOMB has officially signed to Time To Kill Records for the release of their long-awaited debut album.
After sharpening their blades through a series of well-received EPs and a crushing split, the band is now ready to make a bold statement on a larger scale. Their sound is a feral fusion of raw death metal and metallic hardcore, with zero tolerance for the plastic, overproduced gloss often associated with modern deathcore.
SCORCHING TOMB keeps both feet firmly planted in the filth and fury of old-school death metal and the uncompromising aggression of hardcore at its most hostile. The result is a punishing assault that’s sure to resonate with fans of Skinless, Fulci, Xibalba and Terminal Nation. More details on the album will be revealed soon.
SCORCHING TOMB emerged from the sewers of Montreal in 2018 with one clear mission: to fuse old-school death metal with modern hardcore in a city ruled by technical death metal. It didn’t take long for the band to make a name for themselves in the underground. Their blend of blistering old-school riffs, crushing mosh parts, and explosive live energy quickly caught the attention of the hardcore scene in particular.
Originally formed by tattoo artist Vincent P.L. (vocals) and guitarist Philippe Leblanc, SCORCHING TOMB has since solidified its most formidable lineup yet with the addition of Miguel Lepage (ex–Blind Witness, ex–Obey the Brave) on bass and Émile Savard (Profane Order, ex–Malebranche) on drums. With this new blood, the band has evolved from a local standout into a fully weaponized force.
Now, the time has come to follow in the footsteps of Cryptopsy, Quo Vadis, and Despised Icon, proving once again that Montreal remains a relentless, unyielding powerhouse in the world of death metal.
After years of silence and anticipation, Brazilian thrash metal masters VIOLATOR are officially back with a vengeance. Their long-awaited new albumUnholy Retribution will be released worldwide, on September 5th, 2025, via Kill Again Records.
The video of the album’s first single, “Chapel of the Sick”, will drop on August 1st.
True to their roots yet revitalized by a long and intense creative process, Unholy Retribution captures VIOLATOR at their most inspired and ferocious. The band delivers a powerful and uncompromising collection of songs that revisit their trademark thrash metal with renewed energy and purpose. This is not a reinvention, it’s a reaffirmation of everything that made VIOLATOR a cult force in the global underground.
From the raw aggression of their breakout EP Violent Mosh (2004) and the now-classic debut full-length Chemical Assault (2006), VIOLATOR made their mark with a youthful urgency that took no prisoners. That same intensity is alive and well on Unholy Retribution, but now it comes sharpened by experience and delivered through more dynamic, tightly constructed compositions. The fire hasn’t dimmed, it’s evolved.
Line-up:
Poney Ret Crucifier – Bass,Vocals Capaça Bloody Nightmare – Guitars Cambito Chains Killer – Guitars Batera Bone Crusher – Drums
Musically, the album bursts with blistering riffs, tight rhythmic precision and an unmistakable sense of urgency. Groove-laden catchiness and flashes of technical brilliance keep the track-list flowing like a furious tide; unpredictable, violent and cathartic. The production matches this ferocity with a sonic identity that’s both organic and clear, yet unpolished in just the right way: a raw, analog-flavored mix that enhances every snare hit and guitar bite without sacrificing the band’s gritty edge. It’s a sound that feels live, alive, and undeniably VIOLATOR.
Lyrically, the band stays loyal to its mission: confronting injustice, exposing corruption and shining a harsh light on the rot festering beneath the surface of modern society. With Unholy Retribution, VIOLATOR continue to use their music as both weapon and warning.
This is the record that fans of early Vio-Lence, Kreator and Dark Angel have been waiting for, a no-holds-barred thrash assault, deeply rooted in tradition yet bursting with contemporary urgency. The wait is over. The retribution is unholy. And it starts now.
VISERION‘s forthcoming atmospheric album, Fire and Blood, is set to arrive on January 16th, 2026. The black metal outfit, who enhance their sound with atmospheric and melodic elements, provide a taste of the new offering with the release of their first single and title track.
“Our concept for this album was inspired by George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones world. It particularly focuses on the Targaryen dynasty hence the title being their house words: Fire and Blood.” The band explains. “This particular song focuses on the black magic rituals that the Targaryen family was rumored to use in order to control dragons”.
Fire and Blood Track Listing:
Fire and Blood (3:09)
Mad King (3:33)
Reign of Fire (4:51)
Blackfyre (5:31)
Harrenhal (6:33)
About VISERION: Located in Queens, NY, VISERION blend brutal and aggressive black metal with atmospheric and melodic passages in their own distinctive take on the genre. Storytelling is embedded in their musical creativity, highly influenced by the writings of George R.R. Martin and the World of Westeros. The band initially formed as a three-piece in 2020 by Ben Marvilli taking on bass and vocals, Matt Marvilli on drums and John Magnani performing guitars.
Subsequently, in 2022, Magnani left and Ben Marvilli swapped out bass for guitar. Cris Valentine also joined on guitar and Tasso Diakov took on the bass. The debut album Natural Selection dropped in 2021, followed by a split EP release with TELOCH VOVIN titled The Iron Age of Kali Yuga in 2023. Now, Fire and Blood is set to emerge on January 16, 2026.
Album Credits: Producer: Billy Pfister Recording Studio: Westfall Recording Engineer: Billy Pfister Mastering: Jacob Buczarski Mixing: Chris Grigg Cover art: “Fire in Rome” by Hubert Robert
LOS ANGELES, July 21, 2025 – TOOL returns to Honolulu’s Blaisdell Arena on December 19 for their first Hawaiian date in over a decade.
Tickets are on-sale this Friday, July 25, at 10 a.m. local time. In advance of the public on sale, TOOL Army has opened additional memberships, with pre-sale tickets available exclusively to members from July 23 at 10 a.m. through July 24 at 10 p.m. local time. Visit Toolband.com for ticketing links and additional information.
The band also announced two performances in Japan, their first shows in the country since 2013: December 11 at K-Arena Yokohama and December 13 at Glion Arena Kobe.
Following the 2019 release of TOOL’s critically-acclaimed album, Fear Inoculum, the band has won a GRAMMY Award® (Best Metal Performance for “7empest”), completed multiple, sold-out tours of the U.S., Europe, and South America, and delivered headlining sets at Bonnaroo, Power Trip, Aftershock, Welcome to Rockville, Louder Than Life, and the Sonic Temple Arts & Music Festival.
TOOL most recently appeared at the historic Back to the Beginning concert, where the band performed a three-song set, including their cover of Black Sabbath’s “Hand of Doom.”
Photo credit: Travis Shinn
TOOL formed in 1990, releasing five studio albums: Undertow (1993), Ænima (1996), Lateralus (2001), 10,000 Days (2006), and Fear Inoculum (2019); two EPs: 72826 (1991) and Opiate (1992), and the limited-edition boxset Salival (2000).
The band has won four GRAMMY Awards®: Best Metal Performance (1998, “Ænima”), Best Metal Performance (2002, “Schism”), Best Recording Package (2007, 10,000 Days) and Best Metal Performance (2020, “7empest”). TOOL is Danny Carey (drums), Justin Chancellor (bass), Adam Jones (guitar) and Maynard James Keenan (vocals).
New Single/Video, “The Ashen Falls,” Streaming Now!
Critically praised German blackgaze band HERETOIR has announced their forthcoming, fourth album, Solastalgia, will be released September 19th via AOP Records. The band’s emotionally stirring new record follows 2023’s lauded release, Nightsphere, and marks their most vulnerable and accessible album yet. Solastalgia was recorded and mixed by David Deutsch and Justin Felder at 1408 Productions. Mastered by Lasse Lammert at LSD Studio. Artwork by Rudolf Hima.
Today, HERETOIR reveals Solastalgia’sopening track and first single, “The Ashen Falls.” Watch the video linked below.
Commenting on the new song, the band states:
“We are more than excited to share this first single ‘The Ashen Falls’ of our upcoming album Solastalgia with you! This song is very close to our hearts as it deals with the struggle of isolation and alienation, existence within modern civilization and a frantic and relentless society. We hope you can find some solace within this song and we can’t wait to show you more of Solastalgia!“
Solastalgia – Track-list: 1. The Ashen Falls 2. Season of Grief 3. You are the Night 4. Inertia 5. Rain 6. Dreamgatherer 7. The Heart of December 8. Burial 9. Solastalgia 10. The Same Hell (MMXXV) 11. Metaphor
Dallas (TX) – A storm is brewing. Having just signed to Willowtip Records last year, long-running, atmospheric Blackened Doom quartet, Krigsgrav, is now ready to release Stormcaller, their first album for the label and eighth full-length overall.
Krigsgrav released the following statement about Stormcaller:
“When we started writing the songs that would make up Stormcaller, our intention was to create the most complete Krigsgrav album that took something from every era of the band, while still pushing our sound forward. A culmination of the blackest hues, doomiest of dirges, and most soaring of lead guitars. We think we achieved that, but we also wrote the best album of our career thus far. We trust that when you hear it, you’ll agree.”
The album’s first single and opening track, “Huntress of the Fire Moon,” which features vocalist Jens Rydén (Thyrfing, Naglfar), is available now! Listen at at youtu.be/d1ynS-dbF9Y, as well as on Bandcamp, Spotify, and Apple Music.
Willowtip will release Stormcaller September 19th on CD, gatefold vinyl LP and digital formats! Pre-order at the following links:
Justin Coleman – Guitar/Harsh Vocals David Sikora – Drums/Clean Vocals Wes Radvansky – Bass Cody Daniels – Lead Guitar
Album Credits:
All songs written, produced, and arranged by Krigsgrav. Drums recorded by Sam Paquette at S.A.M. Studios. Mixed and Mastered by Owe Inborr at Wolfthrone Studios. Additional Engineering by Cody Daniels. Cover Art by Adam Burke at Nightjar Illustration. Album Layout and Design by Randi Matejowsky.
Plus some special headline shows and dates with Dying Fetus
We’re coming back to Europe and the UK in August for appearances at a handful of festivals, including Bloodstock and Summer Breeze! We’re also playing a few headline shows and a couple of dates with our old friends in Dying Fetus.
Our new self-titled album is, of course, out now. Order your copy, pick up new merch, and watch our latest videos at https://www.riversofnihil.com. Get ready to hear a bunch of these tunes live next month.
For those of you in the US and Canada, we’ll have a special announcement for you soon as well!
August 02 Rasnov, ROM – Rockstadt Extreme Fest August 04 Belgrade, SER – Basta KST-A (with Dying Fetus) August 05 Kosice, SLO – Collosseum (with Dying Fetus) August 06 Jaromer, CZE – Brutal Assault August 07 Leipzig, GER – Naumanns (headline show) August 09 Kortrijk, BEL – Alcatraz August 10 Catton Park, UK – Bloodstock August 11 London, UK – The Black Heart (headline show) August 13 Saarbrucken, GER – Garage (headline show) August 14 Dinkelsbuhl, GER – Summer Breeze August 15 Sulingen, GER – Reload August 16 Cudrefin, SWI – Rock The Lakes August 17 Eindhoven, NET – Dynamo Metalfest
Canadian death metal stalwarts LAST RETCH return with their most explosive material yet: the second full-length album Abject Cruelty, set to be released on September 26th 2025 via Time To Kill Records.
Hailing from Hamilton, Ontario, LAST RETCH have been hard at work crafting a new chapter that promises to command the attention of underground death metal fans worldwide. Blending the bulldozer-like march of war masters Bolt Thrower with the bone-crushing stomp of Cannibal Corpse at their most muscular, the band has forged a sound that’s primed for the chaos of the pit and the raw aggression of the genre’s most punishing traditions.
Abject Cruelty stands as a testament to LAST RETCH’s dedication to relentless riffing and unflinching heaviness.
The first single “In the Polder They Reek” is available now:
Finlay Blakelock – Vocals Matt Fyke – Bass Spencer Robson – Drums Derek Brzozowski – Guitar John Russell – Guitar
The band commented:
“The track is about a swamp-dwelling murderer who constructs a polder in his bog to conceal the bodies of his victims. Over time, the corpses rot and break down, emitting a disgustingly potent gas that envelopes his abode. As the years pass, he begins to feel remorse for his many atrocities. Over time, guilt for his crimes begins to consume him and he turns to inhaling the putrid fumes as a means of escape. In his intoxicated state, the urge to kill resurfaces, trapping him in an endless cycle murdering for the high, again and again”.
Album Artwork: Fernando Rojas B. (Abismo Black Arts).
German/Swedish Blackened Death Metal band, Shadows, present the official video for “Delivered From Sin,” the third single from forthcoming debut album, Miseria. Get your fix at: youtu.be/Y0pmCPSXAxQ
Shadows will unleash Hell with Miseria on August 29! Featuring former members of such notable acts as Visceral Bleeding, The Berzerker, Enshrined, and Ominous, the quartet now proudly presents nine songs of unrelenting misanthropy.
“Miseria aims to explore the vast uncaring nothingness and explore the dread of our futile existence. If you are looking for release or redemption you won’t find them here.The album is unmistakably rooted in the Scandinavian black and death metal but delivers it with its own signature. It is crushing and suffocating but also melodic and solemn.”
Dejan Milenkovits – Vocals & Guitars Martin Bermheden – Guitars Andreas Holm – Bass Joél Cirera – Drums
Album Credits:
Recorded by Dejan Milenkovits & Filip Gäddnäs. Mixed and produced by Dejan Milenkovits & Mathias Lodmalm. Mastered by Dejan Milenkovits & Mathias Lodmalm. Session drums by Filip Gäddnäs. Additional vocals by Mathias Lodmalm. Guest solo on “Lamia” by Robert Ahrling. Guest solo on “Delivered From Sin” by Andreas Hedberg.
Reigning Phoenix Music, in collaboration with Hasbro, a leading games, IP and toy company, is thrilled to announce that the members of COLD SLITHER will be making a special appearance at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 for a limited in-person signing session.
Fans can meet the band at the Stern Pinball/Reigning Phoenix Music Booth (#4029) on Friday, July 25th from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM. This marks the first official signing for the reimagined heavy metal band, based on the infamous fictional rockers from the classic 1985 animated series G.I. JOE: A Real American Hero.
The signing celebrates a wave of exciting developments for COLD SLITHER, including the release of their new single “Thunder Machine”, now streaming on all major platforms. The ferocious new track, inspired by the Dreadnoks’ menacing battle rig, is a sonic onslaught of cinematic riffs and raw energy, solidifying COLD SLITHER’s place in the modern metal scene.
COLD SLITHER’s lineup has been officially revealed as:
Zartan – Gus Rios, vocals/guitars (GRUESOME, UNION BLACK, LEFT TO DIE)
Ripper – Matt Harvey, guitars (EXHUMED, GRUESOME, LEFT TO DIE)
Torch – Ross Sewage, bass (EXHUMED, IMPALED)
Buzzer – Andy Selway, drums (KMFDM)
Fans attending SDCC won’t want to miss this rare opportunity to meet the band, grab exclusive merch, and experience the world of COLD SLITHER up close.
In addition, a selection of San Diego Comic-Con exclusives will be available at the Stern/Reigning Phoenix Music booth (#4029), including:
A limited edition box set featuring a 7″ vinyl of “Cold Slither” and an exclusive ReAction Zartan figure in partnership with Super7
A limited edition COLD SLITHER print produced in partnership with Sideshow
Exclusive enamel pins created in collaboration with Yesterdays
An SDCC exclusive vinyl variant of Cold Slither
Quantities are extremely limited and fans are encouraged to arrive early to secure these collectibles celebrating the return of COLD SLITHER.
LIVE DEBUT: SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL
COLD SLITHER will also make their explosive on-stage debut during San Diego Comic-Con with a one-night-only concert experience on Thursday, July 24, at San Diego’s Brick by Brick. Presented by Hasbro and Reigning Phoenix Music, this 21+ event promises a full-force blend of original metal mayhem and ‘80s nostalgia.
Merch: Limited-edition show-only gear including an exclusive t-shirts, posters, LPs, CDs and collectible pin sets
This high-octane live experience kicks off the biggest weekend in pop culture and gives fans a first taste of COLD SLITHER’s signature metal-fueled rebellion.
Stay tuned for more product details and reveals in the lead-up to Comic-Con. For the latest information on G.I. JOE, follow the official brand social channels on: Instagram and Facebook.
Preorders are now live for Cold Slither, the band’s full-length debut album, including a limited “Dreadnok Attack Orange” marble vinyl variant available via Reigning Phoenix Music and select retailers like Amazon, Amoeba and indie record stores.
The Cold Slither album arrives July 25th, across digital and vinyl formats, including San Diego Comic Con-exclusive “Zartan Chameleon Blue” and “Blood Moon Red” vinyl variants available only at the Hasbro and RPM booths, respectively.
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
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