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
Kansas City thrash masters HELLEVATE will unleash their sixth assault this spring!
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.
Guitarist Dan Whitmer comments on Killicon Valley, “We couldn’t be more excited about this release! It’s the result of the last few years of a concentrated effort to expand our songwriting capabilities and deliver something for every kind of metal fan there is. Sonically, we’re going to places we haven’t been to before, and we’re trying out a lot of different approaches, sounds, and songwriting angles in our mission to make heads bang worldwide! Everyone involved has pushed themselves physically and mentally in their performances, and it’s all come together in a unique blend of melody and aggression, tackling every subject from our anger at the injustices in the world, to velociraptor attacks and Japanese spider demons. Grab a brace, because this album will make you wreck your neck!”
Get your first taste of Killicon Valley with the album’s lead single, “In the Long Grass.” Check out the official video at: youtu.be/4pvJtJcOrvo.
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.
HELLEVATE is a thrash metal band from Kansas City, MO, known for their unique blend of melodic thrash, extreme metal, and power metal influences. Formed in the late 2000s by guitarist Dan Whitmer, HELLEVATE maintains a commitment to writing unforgettable music that hits hard and leaves a lasting impression.
Lyrically, the band continues to deliver powerful messages with directness and intensity. Together, they have crafted a sound that is both expansive and undeniably thrash, incorporating influences from speed metal, power metal, death metal, and hardcore to create something truly unique.
Photo credit: Kaitlyn Waggoner
Line-Up:
Robert Browne – Vocals Dan Whitmer – Guitar Joshua Cole – Guitar Zack Burke – Bass Ruben Lopez – Drums
HELLEVATE‘s discography includes their debut self-titled album (2012), Kill Confirmed (2014), Weapons Against Their Will (2016), The Purpose Is Cruelty (2023) and their newest album Killicon Valley (2026).
Since their debut in 2012, HELLEVATE has built a reputation for delivering electrifying live performances, sharing the stage with some of the biggest names in metal, including EXODUS, KREATOR, ACCEPT, OVERKILL, DESTRUCTION, HAMMERFALL, UNLEASH THE ARCHERS, GHOUL, VENOM INC., and DANZIG, among others.
Baltimore, MD’s weirdo thrash stalwarts, Nuclear Tomb, are back and as twisted and vicious as ever with their new full-length album Epoch Inhumane, out June 12th on Rotted Life Records!
The official video for the album’s first single, “Falling Out The World of Lies,” has been premiered at No Clean Singing! Check it out at:
Nuclear Tomb‘s unique fusion of tight thrash riffing, noisy punk aggression, progressive rock ambition, and classic heavy metal grandeur has brought comparisons to trailblazing metal mavericks such as Voivod, Pestilence, and Coroner.
Refusing to rest on their laurels, the band spent the last two years crafting new material, which they introduced and refined in front of audiences at gigs ranging as far as Texas to Quebec. With Epoch Inhumane, Nuclear Tomb are looking to up the ante: faster speeds, deeper hooks and even more dynamic twists than their fans have already come to expect. Songs that fearlessly rip and tear through warped tales of real world society’s impending collapse. Be prepared for the horror… Mind Thrashing Sonic Nightmares.
FFO: Voivod, Pestilence, Coroner, Atheist
Track Listing:
1. Watch The Skies
2. Falling Out The World of Lies
3. Unbowed & Averse
4. Faithless Continuum
5. Broken Promise, Barren Essence
6. Lifeless Transformation
7. Butcher’s Lament
8. Terminally Emboldened
9. The Coward’s Curse
10. Epoch Inhumane
Photo Credit: Travis Stone
Line-Up:
Michael Brown – Guitar/Vocals Matt Ibach – Guitar Amelia Morris – Bass JD Lookabill – Drums
Credits:
Album engineered and mixed by: Matt Michel at Viva Studio VA. Mastered by: Brad Boatright at Audiosiege. Additional lead guitar by Demir Soyer. Album art by Brad Moore.
“Wow! Amazing! Goliath has charted higher than anything we’ve ever done, this is just so epic on so many levels! Thanks to every single person who helped make this possible. 15 on the Billboard 200! And these other countries charts are off the hook! Squeezed our way in there with all the pop and rap and country, somehow we forced our way in! STOKED!!”
The relentless and legendary EXODUS have released their 13th studio album today: Goliath. I’ve streamed it on Spotify and will definitely buy a physical copy now, due to the fact it blistered my metal infested brain! Plus, vocalist Rob Dukes has returned and he sounds more pissed off than ever before! Long live EXODUS!
The MEGADETH newsletter has announced that the newest memoir from the remarkable Dave Mustaine releases on September 8th, 2026. Dave opens up about his courageous battle with cancer in his upcoming book. Yes, I’m pre-ordering a copy!
The prodigious Lamb Of God released their 10th studio album on March 13th and it can arguably be considered their best output of their existence! Not. Joking. All the metal bearings are spinning and blazing on Into Oblivion and I strongly urge you to stream, buy and get annihilated by LOGs’ auditory assault! Damn, I relish this LOG album!
Thank you for stopping by, have a safe and enjoyable weekend. Metal be thy name. – Stone
Debut festival edition expands to three stages as new ticket prices take effect
Szczecin, Poland; 19 March 2026: Hells Bells Festival continues its build-up toward 26-27 June 2026 with a dual band announcement and a major logistical expansion.
The festival has confirmed Northern Ireland thrashers Gama Bomb and Polish blackened punks Owls Woods Graves, while also revealing that the event will now span three distinct stages at the Plac Gryfitów site.
Gama Bomb are widely known for their speed, technicality, and fun-filled, high-octane live shows. Fans in Szczecin should prepare for a masterclass in headbanging as the band brings their signature “thrash metal bomb” to the Łasztownia waterfront. The band’s latest release is the EP “Necronomicon Automaton”.
The bill is further bolstered by Owls Woods Graves, a project conceived by The Fall & E.V.T. Their unique sound, self-described as “haunted woods hardcore”, blends black metal with raw punk energy and macabre storytelling inspired by witches and the Devil. The band is currently promoting their third album, “Strix”.
In a significant move for the festival’s scale, organisers have also confirmed that Hells Bells 2026 will now feature three stages. This expansion allows for a more diverse range of sounds and ensures that the performances are more spread out across the schedule, reducing time pressure and providing a better experience for both the artists and the audience.
Gama Bomb and Owls Woods Graves join an already stacked line-up that includes the likes of Dirkschneider, Grave Digger, Cockney Rejects, UK Subs, Vader, Possessed, Discharge, NunSlaughter, Furia, Dead Congregation, Last Resort, Dezerter, The Materia, Belzebong and Słoń.
As previously announced, the festival has entered its next pricing tier. This pool of tickets will be available only until 31 May 2026 (or until sold out): Full Weekend Pass (PLN 409), Friday Ticket (PLN 199), Saturday Ticket (PLN 229). The festival also continues to offer the discounted Youth Pass (ages 13-18) and Family Pass (adult with child under 13).
New Orleans thrash metal legends EXHORDER will return to stages next month on an Eastern US headlining tour. The Tour Of Unsound Minds begins on April 2nd in Morgantown, West Virginia and closes April 19th in Cadillac, Michigan. Support will be provided by Skinlab. The band’s latest trek follows their recent US headlining run with Luicidal, Ringworm, Phobia, and Slowhole.
Vocalist Kyle Thomas comments, “Here we go again – sleep is for rich people! We are looking forward to returning to some familiar places as well as getting out into new territory. Joining us on this run are West Coast stalwarts, Skinlab! By the time this tour begins, Spring will have sprung. Come on out while the weather is nice and let’s rage!”
Tickets are on sale now! See all confirmed dates below.
EXHORDER w/ Skinlab:
4/02/2026 – 123 Pleasant Street – Morgantown, WV
4/03/2026 – Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY
4/04/2026 – Empire – Albany, NY
4/05/2026 – Genos Rock Club – Portland, ME
4/06/2026 – Alchemy – Providence, RI
4/07/2026 – Jewell – Manchester, NH
4/08/2026 – Space Ballroom – Hamden, CT
4/09/2026 – AMH – Amityville, NY
4/10/2026 – Capital City Music Hall – Harrisburg, PA
4/11/2026 – Locals – Manalapan, NJ
4/12/2026 – Riffhouse – Chesapeake, VA
4/13/2026 – 529 – Atlanta, GA
4/14/2026 – Chapel Of Bones – Raleigh, NC
4/15/2026 – Tribbles – Piedmont, SC
4/16/2026 – BoneBar – Chattanooga, TN
4/17/2026 – Live At The Shop – Dunbar, WV
4/18/2026 – Reggie’s – Chicago, IL
4/19/2026 – The Venue – Cadillac, MI
Forged in 1986, EXHORDER’s journey has proven exciting, yet tumultuous. After a twenty-seven-year absence following their final Roadrunner Records release in 1992, EXHORDER re-entered the game with an album considered by many to be a contender for the “Best Comeback Album” category. The band released Mourn The Southern Skies in October of 2019 through Nuclear Blast Records.
Fraught with euphoric peaks and crippling valleys throughout its existence, lineup changes and the 2020-2021 pandemic, EXHORDER clawed back through the muck to release Defectum Omnium, the Latin phrase for “The Failure of All,” in 2024. “The world is a dumpster fire, and we are all complicit,” noted singer Kyle Thomas when elaborating on the title. Produced by EXHORDER and mixed by Jens Bogren, Defectum Omnium puts a foot back into the roots of the band’s inception.
My first taste of the invincible OVERKILL was their second studio album Taking Over. Released back in 1987, this masterpiece of thrash metal has stood the test of Metal time, for me. Taking Over should be filed under mandatory old-school Metal, if one is to create such a list.
I purchased this album first on vinyl at a regional record store chain called Strawberries Records & Tapes, while living in Connecticut. This retail chain no longer exists, closing its doors in 2006. Years later I bought Taking Over on CD. I never owned this gem on cassette.
My favorite song on Taking Over is the powerful thrash hym: In Union We Stand. To this very day, this song galvanizes my Metal soul and creates positive chills through my body. Electro-Violence encapsulates everything that a thrash song should be; speed, aggression, explosive and short guitar solos with a blistering rhythm section that induces moshing and head-banging madness.
Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth is still my favorite thrash vocalist of all-time. I always felt that his vocals are so unique that no other vocalist remotely sounds like him. This OVERKILL lineup, with Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth were truly pioneering and legendary, with drummer Rat Skates, bassist D. D. Verni and guitarist Bobby Gustafson.
• Taking Over is the last OVERKILL studio album that drummer Rat Skates would perform on.
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