Seattle (WA) – Power-infused death-thrash futurists Xoth will join Havok, Hellripper, and Slackjaw for a full U.S. tour this October! This run follows Xoth’ssuccessful tour across the Midwest and East Coast last fall.
The conquest begins October 21st in the high desert of Salt Lake City, and culminates October 20th in the ominous shadow of the Rockies in Denver, CO.
Armed with the otherworldly arsenal of their acclaimed opus, Exogalactic, a record hailed for its labyrinthine precision and galactic vision, Xoth beckons all mortals to assist them in praising the ancient ones on this most monumental journey.
Full Itinerary:
Wed 10/21 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall Thu 10/22 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club Ballroom Fri 10/23 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon Sat 10/24 – Portland, OR – Dante’s Mon 10/26 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post Tue 10/27 – Berkeley, CA – Cornerstone Berkeley Wed 10/28 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater Thu 10/29 – Fresno, CA – Strummer’s Fri 10/30 – Las Vegas, NV – Backstage Bar & Billiards Sat 10/31 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater Mon 11/2 – Dallas, TX – AM/FM Tue 11/3 – Austin, TX – Come and Take It Live Wed 11/4 – Houston, TX – Warehouse Live Midtown Fri 11/6 – Atlanta, GA – Masquerade (Hell) Sat 11/7 – Nashville, TN – Basement East Sun 11/8 – Asheville, NC – Eulogy Mon 11/9 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club Wed 11/11 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage Thu 11/12 – Harrisburg, PA – Capital City Music Hall Fri 11/13 – Boston, MA – Brighton Music Hall Sat 11/14 – New York, NY – Racket Sun 11/15 – Lakewood, OH – Mercury Music Lounge Tue 11/17 – Detroit, MI – Catacombs at the Sanctuary Wed 11/18 – Chicago, IL – Reggies Thu 11/19 – Kansas City, MO – Recordbar Fri 11/20 – Denver, CO – Gothic Theatre
For ticketing information, updates, and additional live dates, visit: beholdxoth.com.
Dawnbreed Records released Exogalactic on November 3, 2023.
Time To Kill Records is proud to announce the signing of WHIPLASH, welcoming one of American thrash metal’s most enduring underground forces to its roster. Led by true underground warrior Tony Portaro, the New Jersey veterans have spent more than four decades keeping the raw spirit of thrash metal alive, inspiring generations of musicians and fans who still believe in the power of riffs, sweat and genuine passion.
The partnership will see WHIPLASH release their new album, ROAR, on November 27th, 2026. Recorded at Studio Mozart and Concrete Island Studio, produced by Tony Portaro and mixed by Jamie King Audio, the album delivers ten explosive tracks that capture the raw energy of the band’s live performances while reflecting Portaro‘s continued evolution as a songwriter and musician.
Songs such as “Sonic Asylum”, “Bullet Train” and “Who Stole My Whiskey” hit with full-force precision: this is thrash crafted for the mosh pit, not the algorithm. ROAR offers exactly what one should expect from WHIPLASH: real metal built around riffs, songs and attitude, with no interest in unnecessary embellishment or whatever fashionable nonsense happens to be circulating outside the pit.
The album was initially made available in a strictly limited form during WHIPLASH‘s European “Campaign for Musical Destruction Tour” with Napalm Death. A small number of CD promos were distributed independently during the tour under the original title THRASHQUAKE.
The album now receives its official worldwide release through Time To Kill Records, with a new title, brand-new artwork by legendary illustrator Ed Repka, and a global campaign befitting its status.
Tony Portaro comments:
“THRASHQUAKE was the original title, and we made a limited number of copies available independently while we were touring earlier this year. As things developed and we started looking at the bigger picture for the worldwide release, ROAR just felt like a stronger title and a better representation of the album as a whole.
Partnering with Time To Kill Records gives us the opportunity to take this record far beyond that initial tour release and give it the international campaign and worldwide distribution it deserves. With the new title, the new Ed Repka artwork and TTK behind the official release, ROAR represents the definitive version of this album and the beginning of its real worldwide campaign.”
For Time To Kill Records, bringing WHIPLASH into the fold is a genuine pleasure: few bands embody the idea of uncompromising underground metal quite like Portaro’s long-running institution.
Track-list:
1. Thrashquake 2. Bullet Train 3. Can’t Take Back a Bullet 4. Sword Meet Skull 5. Who Stole My Whiskey 6. When the Deadman Calls 7. Red Tape Riot 8. Mother’s Kill Club 9. Sonic Asylum 10. Graveyard of Good and Evil
Current touring lineup:
Tony Portaro | vocals, guitar William Winton | bass Mitch Hull | drums
Formed in Passaic, New Jersey, in 1984, WHIPLASH quickly established themselves as one of the defining forces of the 1980s East Coast thrash metal scene. Led by guitarist and vocalist Tony Portaro, their combination of melodic speed metal, vicious riffs and raw energy produced the cult classic Power and Pain (1985), released through Roadrunner’s Road Racer imprint.
Followed by Ticket to Mayhem (1987) and Insult to Injury (1989), the band’s early records helped establish a distinctive identity within a New York scene dominated by punk and hardcore. After further releases, lineup changes and a period of inactivity, WHIPLASH returned with Thrashback (1998) before a long hiatus.
The band re-emerged with Unborn Again in 2009, reconnecting with both old-school devotees and a new generation of thrash fans. Through every incarnation, Tony Portaro has remained the band’s constant driving force, preserving the power-trio spirit at the heart of WHIPLASH.
In 2026, that uncompromising approach continues with ROAR, the band’s eighth studio album and their new worldwide release through Time To Kill Records.
Italian Thrash/Death Metal band HELLMETALL has released the official video for “Mgła“, the title track of their forthcoming album, due out on September 4th, 2026 via Rockshots Records.
Originally released as a single on January 31st, 2026, “Mgła” introduced the darker direction of the band’s new material. Now, the song takes on a visual dimension through a video created and directed by Chiara Bettiga, translating its sombre atmosphere and historical subject into images. To date, “Mgła” is the only official video made for the record.
Meaning “fog”, “Mgła” draws inspiration from one of the darkest episodes of the First World War on the Italian-Austro-Hungarian front. The song recalls the gas attacks carried out by Austro-Hungarian and German forces against Italian soldiers during the battle near Plezzo, today Bovec in Slovenia.
The subject reflects the wider concept behind “Mgła“, an album built around events connected to the First and Second World Wars, including stories rooted in Val Resia and the surrounding borderlands, as well as memories handed down through generations. This historical dimension is closely tied to HELLMETALL‘s geographical and cultural background and to the band’s use of Resian, the local Slavic language.
Musically, “Mgła” represents the band’s move towards a darker blend of Thrash and Death Metal with elements drawn from Black Metal while retaining melodic references to the traditional music of Val Resia.
The new video brings the album campaign back to where it began with its title track. Since the release of “Mgła“, HELLMETALL has continued to reveal the record through “Gemona Btg. Doesn’t Exist Anymore” on May 18th and “Afrika” on July 3rd. Each track has offered a different perspective on the album and its historical narrative, with the focus now returning to “Mgła” as the full record approaches.
“Mgła” was written by HELLMETALL founder and vocalist Daniele Micelli, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Davide Zago, with drum engineering by Pablo De Biasi and cover artwork by Manuel Scapinello.
Eleven chapters. One descent. A concept album where every song becomes another step into an infernal world.
New York-based heavy/thrash metal project Quemasantos has unveiled the complete details surrounding its forthcoming second full-length album, Stranded In Hell, an ambitious concept record scheduled for release on October 9, 2026, through Digmetalworld & MVD Entertainment Group.
Conceived as an eleven-chapter journey, Stranded In Hell follows a protagonist descending through an infernal realm where fear, temptation, justice, isolation, and survival become interconnected parts of the same story.
Rather than presenting a collection of unrelated songs, the album unfolds as a continuous narrative in which every chapter reveals another layer of an unforgiving world. Musically, Stranded In Hell remains rooted in classic heavy and thrash metal, while embracing cinematic atmospheres and dynamic arrangements that give each composition its own identity.
Ignacio Orellana
For Ignacio Orellana, the album also represents an important personal milestone. Known primarily as a drummer throughout his musical career, Stranded In Hell marks the first time he steps forward as the band’s bassist while also composing, producing, recording, mixing, and mastering the entire album.
“I’ve been a drummer since I was fourteen, but I’ve always wanted to play bass and develop my own musical ideas. This album became the opportunity to finally do that. The music wasn’t written to fit a genre or follow trends; it simply reflects the records I’ve listened to throughout my life and everything I was experiencing while writing it.”
Nelson Diaz
Lyrically, the album was developed by longtime collaborator Nelson Díaz, whose storytelling transforms each composition into another chapter of the album’s descent through Hell. The only exception is “Burning The Black,” written by Orellana as a deeply personal reflection inspired by the illness and passing of his wife, Ximena Muñoz.
Adding another layer to the project, each song features a guest guitarist from across the international metal community, bringing together musicians from Chile, the United States, Brazil, and Colombia.
Track Listing:
One Foot In Hell (Juancho Gómez – Masacre, Colombia)
Burning The Black (Felipe Roa – Acaro, USA)
Succubus (Héctor Guzmán – Distraught, Chile)
Stalking Sharks (Marco Cusato, Chile)
Nameless (Joe Sims – Axemaster, USA)
Red Planet (Regisson Silva – Masterpiece, Brazil)
Vampire (Richard Pilnik, Chile)
The Oneironaut (Cristian Ira – Nimrod, Chile)
Under The Moonlight (Sebastián Osorio – Reigning, Chile)
The album was recorded at Oily Sound Studios (New York, USA), with vocal sessions taking place at Estudios Ultrasónico and Estudios Attic in Chile.
For collectors, Stranded In Hell will be available as limited deluxe digipak CDs, with vinyl editions also available through Digmetalworld.
Release Schedule:
September 1, 2026 – Digital pre-orders begin.
September 1, 2026 – Instant Grat track: “One Foot In Hell.”
September 15, 2026 – Exclusive Bandcamp Listening Party with Ignacio Orellana and Nelson Díaz, where fans will hear the complete album before its official release while interacting live with the creators.
MEGADETH Breakout: Hibernation Of The Nations 2027 tour dates:
Testament and Black Label Society support
March 09 – Belfast, UK @ The O2 Belfast March 11 – London, UK @ OVO Arena Wembley March 12 – Nottingham, UK @Motorpoint Arena March 13 – Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live March 15 – Cardiff, UK @ Utilita Arena March 16 – Glasgow, UK @ OVO Hydro March 18 – Birmingham, UK @ BP Pulse Live March 19 – Leeds, UK @ First Direct Bank Arena March 21 – Paris, France @ Zénith Paris – La Villette March 23 – Brussels, Belgium @ Forest National March 24 – Amsterdam, Netherlands @ AFAS Live March 25 – Düsseldorf, Germany @ Mitsubishi Electric Halle March 27 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ K.B. Hallen March 28 – Oslo, Norway @ Oslo Spektrum March 30 – Hamburg, Germany @ Sporthalle April 01 – Berlin, Germany @ Velodrom April 02 – Kraków, Poland @ Tauron Arena April 04 – Munich, Germany @ Zenith April 05 – Bern, Switzerland @ Festhalle Bern April 06 – Milan, Italy @ Unipol Forum April 08 – Lyon, France @ Halle Tony Garnier April 10 – Barcelona, Spain @ Olimpic Arena April 12 – Madrid, Spain @ Movistar Arena April 13 – Lisbon, Portugal @ Sagres Campo Pequeno
NERVOSA is returning to North America in 2027 with the SLAVE MACHINE TOUR, a relentless run of shows packed with pure thrash and death metal fury.
Joining us on this devastating campaign are the death metal warriors Castrator making every night even heavier and more brutal. Selected dates will also feature the incredible Embryonic Autopsy and Anger Within.
This is more than a tour, it’s a metal assault.
Tickets will be on sale Friday at 10am EDT.
Flyer by Alcides Burn
NERVOSA North America Slave Machine Tour 2027:
FEBRUARY 2027:
02 Mesa, AZ @ Rosetta Room 03 Albuquerque, NM @ Launch Pad 05 Dallas, TX @ Trees 06 Austin, TX @ Come and take it live 07 Corpus Christi, TX @ House of Rock 08 Houston, TX @ Scout Bar 10 Pensacola, FL @ The Handlebar 11 Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum 12 Miami, FL @ Churchill’s Pub 13 Orlando, FL @ Conduit 16 Raleigh, NC @ Chapel of Bones 17 Leesburg, VA @ Tally Ho Theatre 18 Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery 19 Brooklyn, NY @ The Meadows 20 Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz 21 Philadelphia, PA @ Johnny Brenda’s 23 Lowell, MA @ Taffeta 24 Hamden, CT @ Space Ballroom 25 Quebec City, QC @ L’Anti Bar & Spectacles 26 Montreal, QC @ Foufounes 27 Ottawa, ON @ 27 Club 28 Toronto, ON @ On Lee’s Palace
MARCH 2027:
02 Lakewood, OH @ Mercury 03 Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop 04 Joliet, IL @ The Forge 05 Ringle, WI @ Q&Z Expo Center 06 Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
We’re hitting the road with good friends & thrash compadres in Heathen and Void this Fall! Chaos By Design US Tour 2026. Tickets and VIP packages are on sale now.
10/23 – Las Vegas, NV | The Usual Place 10/25 – Salt Lake City, UT | Urban Lounge 10/26 – Denver, CO | Federal Theatre 10/28 – Iowa City, IA | Gabes 10/29 – Minneapolis, MN | Turf Club 10/30 – Chicago, IL | Reggies 10/31 – Lakewood, OH | Mercury Music Lounge 11/01 – Pittsburgh, PA | Preserving Underground 11/02 – Leesburg, VA | Tally Ho Theater 11/04 – Worcester, MA | The Palladium (Upstairs) 11/05 – Brooklyn, NY | TBD 11/07 – Albany, NY | Empire Live 11/08 – Lititz, PA | Mickey’s Black Box 11/09 – Greensboro, NC | Hangar 1819 11/10 – Greenville, SC | Radio Room 11/12 – Orlando, FL | Conduit 11/13 – Atlanta, GA | Masquerade (Altar) 11/15 – Destin, FL | Club LA 11/17 – Austin, TX | Come and Take It Live 11/18 – Dallas, TX | Trees 11/20 – Albuquerque, NM | Launchpad 11/21 – Tucson, AZ | Club Congress 11/22 – Los Angeles, CA | Teragram Ballroom
New Video/Single Now Playing + Preorders Available
Long-running German thrash outfit EXUMER will release their new full-length, Death Mask Messiah, on August 28th through Metal Blade Records.
Death Mask Messiah, which marks the band’s first new studio output in seven years, further cements EXUMER’s legacy as a dauntless thrash metal institution. A logical and compelling progression from the German legend’s three previous albums, the 11 ferocious songs, produced by Dominic Paraskevopoulos (Kreator, Caliban) and mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Soulfly, King Diamond), take a more brutal and direct musical approach.
“We are a lot more aggressive than on Hostile Defiance and are returning to a more ‘in your face’ style on Death Mask Messiah,” confirms co-founding vocalist Mem V. Stein. “We’re furthering the process that began with our first offering for Metal Blade, 2012’s Fire & Damnation, where we wanted to sound like a contemporary band while maintaining the spirit and our musical heritage of the 1980s.”
Recorded from December 2025 through January 2026, Death Mask Messiah is EXUMER’s sixth album and fourth for Metal Blade. It’s also the first EXUMER LP recorded with the rhythm section of drummer Jerome Reil and bass player Alex Voss. “They have formidably integrated themselves as musicians and friends into the EXUMER tapestry,” Mem says. “You can feel their young energy, coupled with our trademark aggression and experience. The band sounds more focused and yet raw, thanks to their addition to the lineup.”
Death Mask Messiah also surprises: There’s a guest and a cover song: Nasty Ronnie from American metal legends Nasty Savage sings on EXUMER’s version of his band’s track “Unchained Angel.” EXUMER supported the band in 1988 on their first European tour.
The record is inspired conceptually by US politics of the last decade, the pandemic, the use of misinformation to stir up cultural divides, and the like. Mem also mused on the 30-year anniversary of Waco, Texas and the standoff with the Branch Davidians. “David Koresh was a false prophet and wore a death mask, manipulating and leading his followers to certain death,” Mem says. “Each song on Death Mask Messiah picks up an individual theme of these two strains of thought.”
For instance, the title track and lead single brings everything together with the Waco raid/siege and Koresh as the main character but also paints a universal picture of charlatans who lead the United States to hell with their lust for power.
Mem further elaborates, “We deliberately chose this track as the first single, as the sonic assault of its main riff and the lyrical concept represent the totality of our intentions for this album. It marks a clear step toward elevating the band to the next level of our career, leaving nothing to the imagination and reinforcing our place as one of the most powerful forces in the entire genre.”
Death Mask Messiah, which features front art and layout by Björn Gooßes of Killustrations (Sodom, Vomitory), will be released on CD-Digipak and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
180g Black “Galaxy” Red/Black “Saturn” Grey/Brown Ripple (Ltd. 250) “Onyx” Black Ice w/ White Splatter (Ltd. 250)
EXUMER Live: 10/23/2026 Nuclear Winter Festival 2026 – Hirschaid, DE 11/21/2026 Alcatraz & Pluto Festival – Deinze, BE 2/20/2027 Endzeit Festival 2027 – Essen, DE
EXUMER: Mem V. Stein – vocals Ray Mensh – guitars Marc B. – guitars Alex Voss – bass Jerome Reil – drums
Your patience will be rewarded. Chile’s RIPPER returns with their first full-length since 2016’s Experiment of Existence.
The last decade has seen RIPPER refine their attack into a lethal blend of old-school death metal and thrash-or-be-thrashed aggression. The band has undeniably earned a reputation as one of South America’s premiere extreme metal exports.
Witness the band’s triumphant return with the first single offTowards Rebirth, “The Source Exterminator.” Stream the track at: youtu.be/J_QqGRoVQ2Q?si=BafNTXKHy5hO3jOz
Towards Rebirth contains the band’s most violent work to date. Razor sharp guitar work, intense drumming and well-crafted songs are still there…only more concise, more vicious.
Dark Descent Records will release Towards Rebirth on July 24th on CD, vinyl and digital formats.
Seattle (WA) – Combining Groove, Thrash, and Death Metal, Tormenta has released their debut single, “Jungle Dead”! The song is taken from the band’s forthcoming debut album (details coming soon).
Tormenta brings a cyclonic storm from the mountains of Seattle, Washington! The trio blends chaotic, intense energy with catchy choruses and groovy riffs.
Tech Hell Cyber Thrash, the incinerating debut from Texas and Alaska-based thrash metal trio SCATTER, is out now and can be streamed in its shredding entirety.
Born out of pandemic hacker movie marathons and late nights soldering together guitar pedal clones, SCATTER is the brainchild of Spenser Hodge and a love letter to 90s cyberpunk and hacker culture. Spenser enlisted Texas guitar wizard Ruben Cantu and longtime Alaskan collaborator Justin Rodda to help realize this vision.
The first material born of this collaboration now arrives with SCATTER’s debut EP, Tech Hell Cyber Thrash, a ripping and diverse collection of songs that run the gamut from classic death metal brutality to throwback speed metal harmonized leads, wrapped up in a paranoid, bloodsoaked thrash metal treatise on the interconnected hell world we call Earth. Deploying five incinerating tracks in under nineteen minutes, Tech Hell Cyber Thrash was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Greg Wilkinson at Earhammer Studios in Oakland, California (Autopsy, Vastum, Necrot) and completed with artwork by Matt Stikker (Metallica, Power Trip, Billy Strings).
Tech Hell Cyber Thrash is out now digitally through SCATTER and on cassette via Immortal Jaw Recordings limited to 50 copies. Unleash hell HERE.
Vancouver (BC) – Canadian Thrashers W.M.D. (When Minds Develop) will release Against All Warnings, the band’s second full-length album, June 5th, on vinyl, CD and digital formats.
A music video for the album’s first single, “Eyes of a Killer,” is available at:
Thematically, Against All Warnings concerns the constant human need for more, where nothing ever feels good enough, and people ignore every warning sign until everything starts to collapse. The album is also a reflection of W.M.D.‘s experience during the last few years: refusing to quit, getting angry at what the world really is, and trying to find their place in the middle of all of it. Every song comes from a different perspective on the chaos and pressure people are living through every day.
“The songs were built in the jam room first, so what you’re hearing is the exact pace, feel, and weight of what we created, while feeding off each other’s energy in the room. We wanted it to feel alive, raw, and honest. We’re proud of this record and stoked to finally share it with you.” – W.M.D.
Skyler Mills – Vocals/Guitars Jon Power – Bass Ryan Idris – Drums
Guest Guitar Solos: “Post Human Predator,” “The Thin Red Line, and “Painful Vengeance” performed by Casey Trask. “Against All Warnings” performed by Kai Sakaguchi.
In other W.M.D. news, the band will join countrymates Iron Kingdom on the True North Strong and Heavy Canadian Tour 2026 in June!
Produced by Skyler Mills. Co-Produced by W.M.D. Mixed & Mastered by Adair Daufembach. Pre-Production by Ryan Idris & Skyler Mills. Drums recorded by Dan Yakimow at Monarch Studios, Vancouver, BC. Assisted by Aaron Klassen. Guitars & Bass recorded by Skyler Mills & Adair Daufembach. Vocals recorded by Adair Daufembach @ Daufembach Studios, Los Angeles. CA & Colin Ryley @ Singularity Sound Studios, Vancouver, BC. Sound Design by Skyler Mills.
Artwork by Alex Malakmadze. W.M.D logo by The Pit Forge. Band Photography by Shimon Karmel. All songs written and performed by W.M.D. Independently released by W.M.D.
Marking 35 years since its original impact on the heavy metal landscape, the seminal Seattle-based technical thrashers, FORCED ENTRY, are pleased to announce the definitive reissue of their cult-classic masterpiece, As Above, So Below. In partnership with M-Theory Audio, this long-awaited celebration and sought-after classic will make its vinyl debut, as well as a Digipak edition CD, available July 31, 2026.
“Can’t thank the guys at M-Theory enough for getting our best work back out on CD and Vinyl! 35yrs later, this record still thrashes the SHIT outta ya! Crack a beer and listen up!” – Tony Benjamins (vocals, bass)
Formed in the late 1980s, FORCED ENTRY carved out a unique space within the burgeoning Seattle metal scene, blending blistering thrash speed with complex, progressive song structures. As Above, So Below remains a high-water mark for the band, celebrated by fans and critics alike for its aggressive intensity, musicianship, groove and technicality.
The anniversary reissue ensures that a new generation of metalheads and long-time devotees can experience the record in prestige formats. Fans can secure their copies now via the M-Theory Audio webstore www.m-theoryaudio.com/store or the Forced Entry Bandcamp page. (Items will ship from US or Europe based upon your location).
Microcosm Splatter Vinyl: first time on vinyl, pressed to just 300 copies.
Sludge Green Vinyl: Exclusive mail-order only variant restricted to 100 copies.
Digipak CD: includes booklet
As Above, So Below features freshened up and expanded layouts by Marc Lopes, including a new interview with vocalist/bassist Tony Benjamins and extra pics and flyers. The original album was produced by Tom Soares (Demolition Hammer, Cro-Mags, Meliah Rage) and engineered by Jamie Locke (Obituary, Prong, Leeway) with artwork by Sean Wyett (Exodus, Cyclone Temple, Devastation). The album featured two music videos – “Macrocosm, Microcosm” and “Never a Know, But The No.”
About Forced Entry:
FORCED ENTRY is a technical thrash metal band hailing from Seattle, Washington, known for their influential role in the late ‘80s/early ‘90s underground scene. The trio of Tony Benjamins on bass, Brad Hull (later of the reformed Sanctuary) on guitar and Colin Mattson on drums built a reputation for themselves within their regional scene through pounding live work and via the worldwide underground and fanzine circuit with the release of 3 classic demo tapes (which M-Theory will compile and release in early 2027).
Signed to Combat Records, FORCED ENTRY released two albums – 1989’s Uncertain Future and 1991’s As Above, So Below and toured with bands like Sacred Reich, Coroner, Atrophy, and Obituary. Their music is characterized by blistering riffs, complex arrangements, and an unrelenting, aggressive energy that helped define the “Seattle sound” of the era, along with scene mates Bitter End and Panic.
Watch the video for “Killicon Valley (Silicon Dust)” at this location.
Kansas City thrash masters HELLEVATE have posted the official music video for the title track off their new album, Killicon Valley. This five-minute thrash-fest aims its rage at the use of AI in today’s culture.
“This song is the result of several years of us watching the development of AI and ranting about it with each other. So many songs out there about AI have their hearts in the right place, but they always sing about it like it’s Skynet or SHODAN; some unstoppable robot overlord coming to bring the apocalypse,” comments guitarist Joshua Cole about the song.
“Then you actually use it and it’s a crappy productivity tool that only helps create more noise and BS that we all have to wade through, all because some idiot billionaires decided they liked the idea of a computer that could do all their thinking for them and replace those pesky employees. The lyrics fit the music perfectly, as it’s nasty, aggressive, relentless, and fast! If you like your thrash metal played pissed off and at warp speed, we’ve got you covered with this one!”
Vocalist Robert Browne expands on the song’s lyrical theme, “The so-called “leaders” of the tech industry have made shit more expensive, turned a multitude of careers upside-down, and gotten this moronic presidential administration to give them access to sensitive systems. And for what? It fucks up simple tasks. It fills our news feeds with garbage and lies. It gives mediocre idiots with no skill the delusions that they can make art with no effort, all at the cost of the planet that sustains our lives. Older folks who fear AI think it’ll be like a Terminator 2 thing. It’s much worse; I’d rather be blown up than starve.”
Watch the video for “Killicon Valley (Silicon Dust)” at this location.
Killicon Valley is relentless in execution. Eleven tracks of the bullshit-free, ‘thrash-or-be-thrashed’ attitude the band has cultivated over their nearly 20 years of existence. Today, that fury has escalated beyond the breaking point. The result is an album that true fans of old-school thrash can blast with pride.
Watch the video for the album’s first single, “In the Long Grass,” at youtu.be/4pvJtJcOrvo.
Robert Browne – Vocals Dan Whitmer – Guitar Joshua Cole – Guitar Zack Burke – Bass Ruben Lopez – Drums
HELLEVATE will mark the release of Killicon Valley with an album release show at Warehouse on Broadway in Kansas City, MO. Support will come from Jackson Country 5, Meat Shank, and Bloodscent. Check the event page for details.
Italian thrash metal pioneers EXTREMA are set to release Thrashing ‘Till The End – Live at Slaughter Club – a high-impact live document celebrating the 30th anniversary of their legendary debut Tension At The Seams. The performance was recorded at Slaughter Club in Paderno Dugnano (Milan) on October 7th, 2023 – exactly three decades after the album that helped redefine the sonic and cultural framework of Italian metal.
The full show will be rolled out as an episodic live video series on the band’s official YouTube channel, alongside a digital release across all major streaming platforms.
Released in 1993, Tension At The Seams stands as a cornerstone of European thrash: a record built on razor-sharp riffing, percussive precision, and an uncompromising compositional approach that pushed beyond genre orthodoxy. Its impact extended well beyond the Italian scene, setting new benchmarks in terms of arrangement density, production clarity, and expressive aggression.
To mark its 30th anniversary, EXTREMA returned to the stage with a purpose-built show engineered for maximum impact – conceived as a full-contact, no-compromise live assault. The setlist moves with surgical intent: a dominant portion of the debut album performed with renewed intensity, seamlessly integrated with key tracks from across the band’s catalog, culminating in material from their latest release, Headbanging Forever.
Thrashing ‘Till The End – Live at Slaughter Club captures that performance in its entirety, preserving the raw kinetic energy of the band’s live delivery while enhancing it through a modern visual production pipeline.
Beginning April 29th, all 16 tracks from the show will be released on a weekly schedule via the band’s official YouTube channel, with three videos dropping per week, structuring the release as a sustained content cycle designed to maintain engagement and narrative continuity.
Filming and direction were handled by Daniele Farina, with the production delivered in 4K. The visual language combines tight shot sequencing, dynamic camera movement, and performance-focused editing, resulting in a final product that translates the physical intensity of the live set into a sharp, high-definition audiovisual experience.
Line-up: Tommy Massara – Guitars Tiziano “Titian” Spigno – Vocals Marco Cassone – Guitars Gabri Giovanna – Bass Francesco “Frullo” La Rosa – Drums
Vio-lence is set to return to the global stage with their Summer 2026 tour, “Eruption of Screams.” Kicking off on July 20 in Gdańsk and July 21 in Warsaw, Poland, opening for Biohazard. As a pioneering Bay Area thrash band that emerged in the late 1980s, Vio-lence built a reputation for their aggressive sound and influential releases, helping define the genre’s intensity and edge.
The tour marks another chapter in the band’s legacy as they bring their high-energy performances across Europe, the United Kingdom, Russia and Asia, including a return to Brutal Assault, where they previously performed in 2022.
“We’re excited to get back to Europe and the UK, and visit Russia, China, Japan, Taipei and South Korea for the first time.” — Sean Killian
The run will include select dates alongside fellow FM Music Management artists, including Armored Saint, Cutthroat, and Angelus Apatrida. Following the European and UK leg, the tour will continue through Russia and multiple stops across Asia, ultimately concluding on August 28 in Seoul, South Korea.
The current lineup features founding frontman Sean Killian, guitarists Ira Black (Dio Disciples, Metal Church, Lizzy Borden) and Claudeous Creamer (Possessed), bassist Jeff Salgado (Psychosomatic), and drummer Nick Souza (Hatriot), all of who have been performing with Vio-lence across multiple recent tours.
Vio-lence is set to release new music in 2027.
Tour Dates: 20/07/26 – Gdańsk, PL – B90 21/07/26 – Warsaw, PL – Progresja 24/07/26 – Porto, PT – Hard Club 25/07/26 – Lisbon, PT – República de Música 28/07/26 – Antwerp, BE – Kid’s 29/07/26 – Plymouth, UK – The Depo 30/07/26 – London, UK – The Underworld 31/07/26 – Bridgwater, UK – The Cobblestones 01/08/26 – Preston, UK – Blitz 02/08/26 – Dublin, IE – Grand Social 03/08/26 – Belfast, NI – The Limelight 04/08/26 – Glasgow, UK – Audio 05/08/26 – Cardiff, UK – The Globe 07/08/26 – Jaroměř, CZ – Brutal Assault (Festival) 08/08/26 – Vienna, AT – Viper Room 09/08/26 – Munich, DE – Backstage 12/08/26 – Košice, SK – Colosseum 13/08/26 – Salzburg, AT – Rockhouse 14/08/26 – Zabok, HR – Cuk Regenerator
Russia & Asia: 16/08/26 – Moscow, RU – Pravda Club 17/08/26 – Saint Petersburg, RU – Kosmonavt 20/08/26 – Shanghai – Cave Art Venue 21/08/26 – Wuhan – Three Live 22/08/26 – Tianjin – Liu Li Space 23/08/26 – Taipei – Pipe Live House 24/08/26 – Tokyo – Koenji High 25/08/26 – Tokyo – Koenji High 28/08/26 – Seoul – JS Art Hall
More dates TBA.
For more information, visit Vio-lence’s official social media pages: Instagram (@vio_lence_official) and Facebook (Vio-lence).
ANVILplay songs from their first 3 albums only: Hard N Heavy, Metal On Metal, and Forged In Fire.
ANVIL Pounding The Past 2026 – North America Tour Dates With Midnite Hellion As Support:
June 03 – Syracuse, NY – The Song & Dance June 04 – Lakewood, OH – The Foundry June 05 – Chicago, IL – WC Social Club June 06 – St Louis, MO – Off Broadway June 07 – Lawrence, KS – Bottleneck June 10 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live June 12 – El Paso, TX – Rockhouse June 13 – Tucson, AZ – Club Congress June 14 – Las Vegas, NV – The Tuscanny June 17 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick June 18 – Los Angeles, CA – The Moroccan Lounge June 19 – Palmdale, CA – Transplants Brewing June 20 – Santa Rosa, CA – Arlene Francis Center June 21 – Sacramento, CA – Cafe Colonial June 24 – Portland, OR – Dante’s June 25 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon June 26 – Chilliwack, BC – The Chill House June 27 – Vancouver, BC – Astoria June 28 – Victoria, BC – The Phoenix July 01 – Calgary, AB – Palomino July 02 – Edmonton, AB – The Dive Bar July 03 – Saskatoon, SK – Black Cat Tavern July 05 – Winnipeg, MB – The Park Theatre July 08 – Minneapolis, MN – 7th St Entry July 09 – Madison, WI – Crucible July 10 – Indianapolis, IN – Black Circle July 11 – Toledo, OH – Frankies Inner-City
A cult chapter of Italian extreme metal history returns in its most complete form, as F.O.A.D. Records present the definitive archival collection of early material from LORD CRUCIFIER, Cataclism, now available as a gatefold 2xLP edition.
Cataclism – Gatefold 2xLP:
An 18-track descent into pure psychotic thrash metal, self-described by the band as “psychic metal,” capturing the unhinged vision of these Italian maniacs who relocated to England during the 1980s in search of total sonic extremity.
This comprehensive release brings together the band’s early demo legacy and unreleased material, fully remastered at Toxic Basement Studio:
Cataclism Demo (1985)
Myra’s Tape (1987)
Who Do You Trust (1989)
Unreleased 3-track rehearsal/demo (1990)
Across these recordings, LORD CRUCIFIER’s evolution is laid bare, from raw, dark thrash steeped in Venom and Celtic Frost influences to a more personal and deranged style defined by speed, fractured structures and psychotic riffing intensity.
Packaging:
The release comes as a deluxe gatefold 2xLP edition accompanied by a 24-page full-color booklet, designed by Rich M. Walker (The Metalchemist). The booklet includes rare photographs, flyers, scans of original demo tapes, and archival excerpts from underground magazines and fanzines.
A vital document of a band that turned chaos into identity, now unearthed and preserved by F.O.A.D. Records. Essential listening for devotees of extreme, unfiltered thrash in its most disturbed form.
L-R – Frank Tosi – Lead Guitars, Dave English – Drums, Max Capshaw – Vocals, Jun Takeshita – Lead Guitars | Photo Credit: Another Demon
NYC’s rising thrash force Another Demon has announced the official re‑release of their debut EP As Above So Below, out now as of April 18th, 2026, via Ragebreed Records, with global digital distribution through Earache Records. Originally issued independently, the EP now returns with expanded reach and renewed momentum, cementing the band’s fast‑growing presence in the modern thrash landscape.
The re‑release also spotlights a major highlight from the original EP: a guest appearance by legendary guitarist James Murphy (Testament, Death, Obituary) on the track “Drawn and Quartered.” Murphy’s contribution adds a historic stamp of extreme metal pedigree to the band’s already razor‑sharp sound.
Another Demon describes their sonic identity in five words: Powerful, Fast, Aggressive, Thrashing, Evil. The band believes the EP’s wider release will resonate strongly with new listeners:
“Those who haven’t heard it yet will feel instantly familiar with what we do, and instantly want more,” commentsguitaristFrank Tosi.
Crafted through years of dormant ideas and revived creative drive, As Above So Below blends classic thrash roots with atmospheric tension, horror‑driven storytelling, and a modern edge. The band’s goal is to give fans a listening experience that connects both on the surface and on a deeper, more cathartic level.
The six tracks on As Above So Below form a cohesive descent into horror, dystopia, and spiritual unraveling, each offering a different facet of the band’s dark, aggressive vision. From the frantic Evil Dead inspired chaos of “Reduced to Ash” to the crushing crisis‑of‑faith intensity of “Deaf Gods,” the EP moves through relentless riff‑driven aggression with “Skull Vessel” before hitting its standout moment, “Drawn and Quartered,” featuring a blistering guest performance from metal icon James Murphy.
Track Listing: 1. Reduced To Ash – 3:13 2. Deaf Gods – 3:05 3. Skull Vessel – 1:49 4. Drawn and Quartered ft. James Murphy (Testament, Death, Obituary) – 5:42 5. War March – 5:44 6. As Above So Below – 5:45 EP Length: 25:20
The atmosphere shifts into ominous, cinematic territory with “War March,” a ritualistic march into looming destruction, before the title track As Above So Below ties the record together through themes of duality, chaos, and spiritual inversion.
Formed in 2023, Another Demon is built from decades of collective experience across the NY/NJ/CT heavy‑music scene. Max Capshaw (Bass/Vocals) is known for his work with Sick of It All, H2O, Murphy’s Law, Burn, and more.
Max brings a hardcore pedigree and commanding vocal presence. Frank Tosi (Lead Guitar) is the primary songwriter for the EP, shaping the band’s tight, riff‑forward thrash identity. Jun Takeshita (Lead Guitar) blends 80s thrash with Japanese punk/metal intensity, expanding the band’s melodic and technical range. Dave English (Drums), the engine of the band, delivers precision, power, and dynamic rhythmic control.
“The more we’ve played together, the deeper our musical bond has grown. We’ve become a unit that knows how to read each other extremely well,” adds Tosi.
With the EP’s global re‑release, Another Demon is preparing to push further into the U.S. metal circuit. Their next full‑length album is already in development, promising an even broader and more collaborative expression of the band’s identity.
“We write these songs to satisfy our personal tastes and hope the fans appreciate that. The full‑length will show even more of our mutual personality and the best of our brand,” says Tosi.
Recommended for fans of Slayer, Testament, Exodus, Overkill, and Immortal, As Above So Below is available on the following platforms.
EP Band Line Up: Max Capshaw – Vocals / Bass Frank Tosi – Lead Guitars Jun Takeshita – Lead Guitars Frank Vaturina – Session Drums
Live Band Line Up: Max Capshaw – Vocals Frank Tosi – Lead Guitars Jun Takeshita – Lead Guitars Fred Romer – Bass Guitar Dave English – Drums
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