Jagged City (feat. Defeater, ex-Explosions In The Sky) Reveal Debut Single + EP // Share "Imaginary Lines" Video

Post-rock trio Jagged City, featuring Jake Woodruff (Defeater) and Carlos Torres (former touring member of Explosions In The Sky) have unveiled their debut single "Imaginary Lines." They have also announced their debut EP, There Are More of Us, Always, to be released on January 30 via Pelagic Records.

Watch the "Imaginary Lines" video Below.

Stream the single here.

There Are More of Us, Always is a bold collection that moves between spacious, melodic guitar passages and raucous, swelling climbs. With heartfelt, melodious songwriting, a diverse range of eclectic touches buried within, and eruptions of dense, layered sound, this record delivers wonderfully balanced compositions through raw and personal production.

The project began as a cross-continental art experiment between Woodruff and Torres. What started as a simple exchange of ideas quickly found real shape through collaborative composition and thoughtful arrangement. Early sessions with David Haik helped refine the songs' structures and drum frameworks, setting the groundwork for what would become Jagged City's striking debut.

"We wrote with pure instinct, just tried to add something new to a genre that we love. As we traded ideas, we took some left turns and incorporated elements that may be unexpected," comments Woodruff.

When it came time to record, scheduling issues led to an inspired change of plans. Urian Hackney joined the project both behind the kit and behind the board, engineering and performing the drum parts that propel the record. In two intense days at The Box studio in Burlington, VT, Jake and Urian captured the core of the album with an immediacy and urgency that remain audible in every take. 

Carlos recorded bass in Los Angeles alongside longtime musical colleague Michael James (Explosions In The Sky), while Jake added further guitar textures from his home studio, creating layers that thread the compositions together.

This debut is both a statement of intent and an open invitation: Jagged City offer music that rewards close listening and communal experience—an instrumental journey shaped by collaboration and a fierce commitment to feeling. While still post-rock, There Are More of Us, Always utilizes a diverse range of influence, giving a freshness to each uniquely realized track.

"This record is a product of collaboration and love and creativity - we hope it inspires people to be connected and think collaboratively and creatively together. That's the only way forward." concludes Woodruff.

JAGGED CITY ARE: 
Jake Woodruff — guitar
Carlos Torres — bass
Urian Hackney — drums & production
Featuring Takaakira Goto as guest guitarist on "Deluge in a Paper Cup"

Piebald's "If It Weren't For Venetian Blinds..." to Be Released on Vinyl Via Iodine Recordings

Before PIEBALD were known for their anthemic sing-alongs and offbeat charm, there was ...Venetian Blinds, an evolution from hardcore roots into something uniquely their own with all of their trademark chaos and cleverness. 

Originally released in 1999 on Big Wheel Recreation, If It Weren't For Venetian Blinds, It Would Be Curtains For Us All brought Piebald's blend of the sincere and the satirical to the '90s emo and indie rock scene 
 
Now, Iodine Recordings proudly presents a deluxe reissue of this quintessential record. It has been completely remastered for vinyl by Jack Shirley (Joyce Manor, Quicksand) at The Atomic Garden, and has been out of print since its original release. Calling all collectors!

This remastered edition features fully updated artwork reconstructed from original source materials and photos, as well as a retrospective commentary written by the band.
 
Springing from the thriving Merrimack Valley scene that produced Converge and Cave In, Venetian Blinds bridged the gap between underground post-hardcore experimentation and the hook-driven songwriting that would soon define an era. Witty, heartfelt, and impossible to categorize, this deluxe reissue celebrates a crucial piece of Piebald's history.

Pre-order the release here

PIEBALD ARE:
Jon Sullivan
Andrew Bonner
Aaron Stuart
Travis Shettel 

Piebald are playing shows through the end of the year. All dates, including a 2026 show, are below.

PIEBALD LIVE:
12/7 — Detroit, MI — The Fillmore (With Hot Mulligan)
12/8/ — Millersville, PA — Phantom Power (With The Worst)
12/10 — Albany, NY — Lark Hall (With The Worst)
12/11 — Hamden, CT — Space Ballroom (With The Worst) 
12/12- Worcester, M  — Palladium (With Saves The Day, Glassjaw)
12/13 — Portland, ME — House of Music (With The Worst)
3/26/ — Boston, MA — Roadrunner (With The Format, Adult Mom)

Alkaloid Break with Metal Tradition on Faithful Performance of New Single "Agnus Dei"

They've already redefined the very composition of progressive death metal, but on their upcoming live album, Alkaloid conduct a one-of-a-kind experiment that only a true maestro can perform. Joined on stage by an award-winning ensemble, on Bach Out of Bounds, the supergroup bring the revered classical composer in conversation with the heaviest of underground arts.  

Today, Alkaloid are releasing the second advanced single from Bach Out of Bounds. While honoring the otherworldly power of Bach's original offering, the band's performance of "Agnus Dei" breaks from metal's traditions.  

"This is the most faithful interpretation of Bach on our new live album", vocalist, guitarist and primary composer Morean says. "It's a serene, fragile sound world hitherto unexplored by Alkaloid". 

Watch Alkaloid perform "Agnus Dei" below:

Bach Out of Bounds - Live in the Netherlands comes out January 23, 2026 on Season of Mist

Pre-order 
https://orcd.co/alkaloidbachoutofbounds

Pre-save on Spotify
https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/2pWtSI1XiPBUoM0TLenyKV?si=VX7Qw3CEQ5ec26ubrYgJiA&nd=1&dlsi=a691e08dbd9948ed

Across three studio albums, Alkaloid have experimented with worldly polyrhythms, brutally technical riffing, infectious choruses and sci-fi concepts built in honor of Lovecraftian entities. The band remain curious as ever on Bach Out Of Bounds, though even the brains behind their first-ever live album is shocked by its latest creation. "Agnus Dei" began life as a prayer back in the 5th century before Johann Sebastian Bach arranged it as the fourth movement of "Mass in B minor", his final masterpiece.    

"It's quite the departure", says Morean, who the Bachfestival in Dordrecht invited for this performance. "Bach Out of Bounds is very different from what other metal bands - or even Alkaloid - normally do". 

While it stems from a place of worship that's far removed from metal's underground crypts, Alkaloid's performance of "Agnus Dei" is a stroke of divine inspiration. The guitars wisely bow to the quiet command of the string section, ceding the spotlight to soprano Rianne Wilbers. Blessed with grace and gravitas, her voice transcends to a higher realm that's not of any genre nor this Earth.

"Like all of the guests who accompanied Alkaloid for Bach Out Of Bounds, Rianne is a true wanderer between worlds", Morean says. "After a youth in metal, she acquired an impeccable pedigree in the Netherlands as a performer of traditional and contemporary classical music. She sings 'Agnus Dei' so beautifully. She really knows how to sing Bach".   

The video for "Agnus Dei" was compiled from footage filmed live during performances at the 2024 Bachfestival in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Paard van Troject in The Hague and November Music in Den Bosch. It was created by Thomas Niehof / Creative Headroom & Lindy Balduk Photography.      

With Bach Out of Bounds, Alkaloid deliver a classically innovative performance as only a true maestro can.       

Alkaloid is
Morean - Vocals, guitar
Hannes Grossmann - Drums
Linus Klausenitzer - Bass
Justin Hombach - Guitar
Max Blok - Guitar

Guest musicians
Rianne Wilbers - Soprano
Chrysa Tsaltampasi - Soprano
Julija Hartig - Violin
Oene van Geel - 5-string violin
Marieke Hopman - Accordion
Ketevan Roinishvili - Cello

Recording credits
Recorded live in the Netherlands at Bibelot / Dordrecht and Paard van Troje / The Hague
Front of house engineer: Laurens Voois

Production credits
Produced by Alkaloid
Mixed by Hannes Grossman at Mordor Sounds, Germany
Mastered by Victor Bullok at Woodshed Studio, Germany

Songwriting credits
Music for "Allegro", "Adagio - All Is Vanity" and "Agnus Dei" written by Johann Sebastian Bach
Music for "Cthulhu" written by Morean and Hannes Grossman
Music for "Beneath the Sea" and "Haunter of the Void" written by Morean
Music for "A Fool's Desire" written by Hannes Grossman
Music for "The Fungi from Yuggoth" written by Christian Münzner
Lyrics to "Adagio - All Is Vanity" based on "Es ist alles eitel" by Andreas Gryphius and adapted by Morean
Lyrics to "Agnus Dei" taken from John 1:29
Lyrics to "Beneath the Sea", "Cthulhu", "Haunter of the Void", "A Fool's Desire" and "The Fungi from Yuggoth" written by Morean

Available Formats
CD Digipack
2x12" Vinyl Gatefold 

Pre-order & Pre-save
https://orcd.co/alkaloidbachoutofbounds 

Follow Alkaloid
Website:https://alkaloid-band.com/
Bandcamp:https://alkaloid-band.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4KMQDFaAsPEKcqKzdvkYKc
Apple Music:https://music.apple.com/us/artist/alkaloid/368935306
YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/c/Alkaloidbandmetal
Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/alkaloid.metal
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/alkaloid_metal/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlkaloidBand

REDIVIDER Unleash New Single "Bask in the Rot" Ahead of Upcoming Album Sounds of Malice

Death metal powerhouse REDIVIDER returns with a crushing new single, "Bask in the Rot", the latest preview of their forthcoming full-length album Sounds of Malice, arriving January 9, 2026 through Third House Communications.

Inspired by the iconic Dungeons & Dragons monstrosity, the Gelatinous Cube, "Bask in the Rot" paints a visceral portrait of an ever-growing mass of rotting flesh and sewage, a mindless organism that kills and consumes solely to sustain itself. The band describes the creature as a pile of rotting flesh and sewage that grows with each kill, with no motive other than to consume and stay alive. This sense of creeping inevitability informs the entire track.

From its earliest stages, "Bask in the Rot" was built around a unique vocal cadence that shaped the instrumentation. The guitars and drums were written directly to that rhythmic blueprint in order to create a sense of push and pull through each verse. The result is a combination of sludgy, punishing riffs and heavy, groove-driven percussion with vocals that cut through the mix and capture the relentless growth of the creature that inspired the song.

During the writing process, REDIVIDER were listening to a significant amount of MORBID ANGEL, particularly drawing influence from the track "Where the Slime Lives". "Bask in the Rot" stands as their interpretation of that thick and suffocating atmosphere, reshaped into something uniquely their own.

Sounds of Malice represents an evolution in REDIVIDER's sound, delivering darker themes and heavier sonic depth. With "Bask in the Rot", the band offers a powerful indication of what awaits on the full record.

About REDIVIDER:

REDIVIDER is a death metal band from Louisville, Kentucky, formed in 2021 by vocalist Jacob Spencer and guitarist Paul Nunavath. Joined by guitarist Jake Atha and bassist Alexander Farrington, the band draws influence from the early Florida death metal scene and bands like CANNIBAL CORPSE, MORBID ANGEL, DEATH, and GORGUTS. With a sound rooted in old school brutality and layered with modern aggression, REDIVIDER combines guttural vocals, dissonant riffs, and relentless groove to create music that is both violent and immersive.

The band made their live debut in 2022 and quickly gained recognition in the underground scene, sharing stages with acts such as CREEPING DEATH, CRYPTA, MASACRE, COGNITIVE, and SEE YOU NEXT TUESDAY. Their debut album Sounds of Malice is a conceptually rich, sonically punishing record that blends fantasy-driven storytelling with crushing heaviness. Written with live performance in mind, REDIVIDER’s music thrives on tension, rhythm, and unapologetic intensity, death metal built to be felt as much as heard.

REDIVIDER Lineup:
 

  • Jacob Spencer – Vocals

  • Paul Nunavath – Guitar

  • Jake Atha – Guitar

  • Alexander Farrington – Bass

  • Mike Hargrave – Drums (live)

Rotting Christ Release Live Video of "Under the Name of Legion"

After 35 years of evil existence, Rotting Christ still stand the test of time. Sakis Tolis, his brother Themis and their Greek brothers-in-arms have risen from the Athenian underground to become one of the metal world's most reliable forces, backed by a pantheon discography that has both defined and defied black metal. 

As they prepare for what's building up to be a monumental 2026, today, Rotting Christ are releasing a new live video from the upcoming Blu-Ray edition of  35 Years of Evil Existence - Live in Lycabettus. Though a familiar inclusion among the band's setlist, when performed in front of a sold-out crowd at their historic home theater, "Under the Name of Legion" raises the banner for Hellenic black metal to new heights.        

Watch Rotting Christ perform "Under the Name of Legion" Live in Lycabettus below:

The Blu-Ray edition of 35 Years of Evil Existence - Live in Lycabettus comes out this Friday, December 12, 2025 on Season of Mist. 


Pre-order

https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/RottingChrist35YearsLive

When Rotting Christ stepped onto the stage at the historic Lycabettus Hill Theater for the first time last summer, Sakis, Themis, Kostis Fouk and Kostas "Spades" Heliotis treated 7,000 devout followers to a two-hour set that spanned the band's entire career. Picking one song to close such a monumental evening is no easy feat, especially among their pantheon-level discography. But "Under the Name of Legion" gave them the perfect send-off. 

Originally, "Under the Name of Legion" appeared as the closing track on Genesis, Rotting Christ's seventh full-length album. While the song is still blessed with the band's enchanting gothic melodies, it's mighty opening chant recalls the unflinching pact they forged with metal legions during their earliest years. "Love of darkness signifies the enlightened life eternally". Beating from inside Lycabettus' ancient halls, Rotting Christ's true metal spirit echoed beyond the ages.  

"We are proud that our new live album will now be available on Blu-Ray", says Sakis. "Thanks to all our metal brothers and sisters for your attention, support and dedication over all these years. You can be sure that we will be at the frontline of the battlefield until the end. Non Serviam!"

The footage from 35 Years of Existence - Live in Lycabettus was directed by Yiannis Margetousakis & Thanos Liberopoulos.

Additional video credits

Camera operators
Thanos Liberopoulos
Giorgos Margetousakis
Manolis Rizikos
Roxani Varela
Phillip Daskas
Spirodon Flouretzou
Mike Kochiev

Drone operator
Yiannis Margetousakis

Editors
Evaggelia Tsiliakou
Yiannis Margetousakis

Coloring
Yiannis Margetousakis

Catch Rotting Christ next year during appearances at major summer festivals. More dates announcing soon!

Rotting Christ 2026 Summer Festivals
May 22 - Baltimore, Maryland @ Maryland Death Fest (Exclusive 1989-1995 Set) [TICKETS] 
June 19 - Clisson, France @ Hellfest [TICKETS]
July 19 - Bergen, Norway @ Beyond the Gates [TICKETS]

Line-up:
Sakis Tolis - Guitar, Vocals
Themis Tolis - Drums
Kostas "Spades" Heliotis - Bass
Kostis Fouk - Guitar

Video production credits

Camera operators
Thanos Liberopoulos
Giorgos Margetousakis
Manolis Rizikos
Roxani Varela
Phillip Daskas
Spirodon Flouretzou
Mike Kochiev

Drone operator
Yiannis Margetousakis

Editors
Evaggelia Tsiliakou
Yiannis Margetousakis

Coloring
Yiannis Margetousakis

Biography:
Sébastien J. Gamez

Follow Rotting Christ:
Official Website: https://www.rotting-christ.com/en
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rottingchristofficial/
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/rottingchristofficial/
Twitter (X): https://twitter.com/athanatoieste
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RottingChristOfficia
Bandcamp: https://rottingchristofficial.bandcamp.com/
Apple Music: http://itunes.apple.com/artist/rotting-christ/id28441629
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FhkwcO8Jd7BRWdllBpXBJ

ARISING EMPIRE MEDIA ALERT: New Song From Vicious Rain

Swiss metalcore force Vicious Rain return with full intensity on "Silent Therapy," marking the powerful next step toward their upcoming album The Anatomy of Surviving, set for release on March 13.

 

 Following the momentum of their previous singles "IKIGAI" and "Spitting Blood Again," both of which firmly established the band as an exciting, modern heavy act, Vicious Rain now dive even deeper.


With the release of "Silent Therapy," Vicious Rain have officially launched the pre-orders for their new album The Anatomy of Surviving. The record promises to be their most personal and dynamic work to date, capturing the struggle, resilience, and emotional weight that define both the band and their growing international fanbase.
 

From the spiritual drive of "IKIGAI" to the ferocious outburst of "Spitting Blood Again" and now the haunting depth of "Silent Therapy," Vicious Rain continue to sharpen their identity — uncompromising, emotional, and built to endure.

Kreator Release Video for Scorching New Single "Satanic Anarchy"

Metal titans KREATOR have unleashed "Satanic Anarchy," the brand new single from their highly anticipated sixteenth full-length, Krushers Of The World, which will be out on January 16 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The song bears all the hallmarks of KREATOR's best material of the last few decades — fast-paced thrash riffs, a catchy, anthemic chorus, and a masterful guitar solo — all wrapped into three-and-a-half minutes. 

After paying homage to Dario Argento's cult horror classic Suspiria with their last single "Tränenpalast" and its corresponding video, KREATOR further prove their affinity for the horror genre by referencing another classic movie in the music video for "Satanic Anarchy." Released 10 years after Suspiria, Clive Barker's Hellraiser (1987) is known for being just as influential and groundbreaking for modern horror by combining intense psychological thrills with graphic gore.

Mille Petrozza comments, "Hordes! I hope you'll like our brand new video for the song 'SATANIC ANARCHY' off our new album KRUSHERS OF THE WORLD. The lyrics speak about a divine revolt of the mind: Breaking the spell of obedience, standing together against tyranny, and igniting change where fear once ruled. The narrative part of the video takes us back to the cinematic masterpiece Hellraiser by the great Clive Barker, This isn't a remake or a sequel — it's an echo. A tribute to the raw imagination of '80s horror, where pleasure, pain, and chaos shared the same key. Enjoy!"

Pre-order/Pre-save Krushers of the World HERE.

Stream the single "Satanic Anarchy" HERE.

U.S, FESTIVALS:
5/8 — Daytona Beach, FL — Rockville 2026 
5/16 — Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple
5/21 — Baltimore, MD — Maryland Deathfest 2026

RAIBARD Unveils New Single “Still Your Name,” a Haunting Meditation on Reincarnation and Lost Memory

Progressive rock group RAIBARD announces the release of their new single “Still Your Name,” an evocative exploration of reincarnation, fragmented memory, and the quiet ache of something lost but not forgotten. The song centers on the experience of feeling a connection to a life once lived, even when the details have faded beyond reach.

“Still Your Name” asks a striking question: What if you cannot remember the specifics, but you remember the feeling? The lyrics speak from the edge of recollection, lingering in the emotional space where a previous life seems close enough to touch, yet impossible to name. Lines such as “I miss your face, are you still there somewhere?” and “Where are you now? I’ve missed me somehow”capture the sense of searching for someone, or even an earlier self, that exists only in memory’s periphery.

Musically, the track blends melancholy with a sense of mystery. Guest keyboardist Jeff Kolter adds atmospheric textures that shimmer through the arrangement, while a dual tracked ESP guitar routed through a twenty year old Soldano amplifier creates a layered harmonic richness. The production allows the song to feel at once intimate and expansive, mirroring the emotional themes at its core.

Arriving on March 6th, RAIBARD’s new album Postscript builds on the band’s progressive foundations with a wide range of stylistic influences. Despite this variety, the album remains cohesive. Each track shares a common musical DNA, rooted in melodically centered writing in which implied harmonies elevate even simple progressions and heighten their emotional impact.

The rhythmic identity of Postscript also reflects RAIBARD’s established sound. Melodies and harmonies routinely anticipate the downbeat, giving drummer Phil MacKay a dynamic canvas for inventive performance. On bass, Greg Dellaria provides a central layer of connective energy. His lines bridge harmonic, rhythmic, and melodic roles with subtle but unmistakable mastery.

Postscript was recorded across three locations. MacKay and Dellaria contributed their parts remotely, sending material to Daniel for editing, mixing, and mastering. Daniel’s own performances were captured in either his living room or an isolation booth, creating a blend of immediacy and precision that underscores the album’s emotional and musical depth.

RAIBARD is:
Daniel Gil – Guitar and vocals
Greg Dellaria – Bass
Phil MacKay – Drums and percussion

Connect with RAIBARD:
Website: https://raibard.com
Bandcamp: https://raibard.bandcamp.com
Store: https://raibard.com/collections/all
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/raibard
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raibard
X (Twitter): https://x.com/raibardband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@raibard8886

Varials Announce "Where The Light Leaves" Out 2/27 + Band Shares Video for Title Track

Philadelphia's VARIALS — Skyler Conder, vocals; Shane Lyons, guitar; Mike Foley, bass; Sean Rauchut, drums — re-entered the chat and in a metallically massive way in September. The band shared the video "I'll Find the Dark," its first new track since 2022. It's an impenetrable and intimidating wall of sound. Watch the video below. It was also the first track to feature formidable new frontman Conder.

Varials up the ante yet again by announcing their new album WHERE THE LIGHT LEAVES. It arrives February 27 via Fearless Records. Pre-order it here.

The band has also shared the video for the title track, which is another hulking slab of metal. 

Watch it below:

"'Where The Light Leaves' is the key introduction to the overall idea of the album itself," says Conder. "Through many emotions in my life, I found myself always feeling trapped within my mind, in a sense of purgatory and as if my mental state was a nightmare. The video and song are meant to elaborate, lyrically and visually, what it feels like being stuck there and unable to leave — eventually just accepting it and learning to live with it."

There's a distinct irony to "Where The Light Leaves." It sounds like a live demolition. The earth-shaking percussion and blast beats are like slabs of concrete, tumbling from the sky, while Conder spits violent verses that could've erupted from the center of the earth. It's plate-shifting collision of riffs and roars. Ultimately, what comes down goes right back up — the track is just another instance of Varials erecting a wall of metallic chaos with each new song.

Varials deliver hardcore ferocity, monstrous breakdowns, and nu-metal groove with an adventurous atmosphere and unapologetic purpose. Born in Philadelphia and the surrounding areas, Varials embody East Coast attitude and determination, pouring every ounce of struggle into their songs. Their fourth album, Where the Light Leaves, arrives with explosive energy and focus. Varials first established their place in the modern heavy landscape with Pain Again (2017) and In Darkness (2019). Tracks like "Romance," "Empire of Dirt," and "Anything to Numb" became anthems, blending metalcore strength with raw honesty that deeply resonated with audiences. Scars for You to Remember (2022) expanded that vision, further cementing their reputation as one of the most emotionally intense acts of the modern era. Produced by longtime collaborator Josh Schroeder (Lorna Shore, Dayseeker, The Plot In You), Where the Light Leaves signifies a new chapter. An often chaotic and experimental process—creating dozens of demos—resulted in 13 songs that capture Varials at their most powerful and creatively ambitious. The performances are deliberately raw, embracing imperfections to forge an immediate, human connection. Guttural heaviness paired with new melodic textures delivers a sound that is both punishing and expansive. As demonstrated on tours with Knocked Loose, Wage War, and Kublai Khan TX, among others, Varials are a fierce and formidable live band, and that energy is reflected in Where The Light Leaves.

Paleface Swiss Drop Emotionally Devastating New Single and Music Video "Everything Is Fine"

Switzerland’s heaviest export Paleface Swiss release new track Everything Is Fine today, the third and final single from their upcoming The Wilted EP, out January 2, 2026. The single differs greatly from the previously released songs from the EP so far and further displays the raw, emotional vulnerability the band are completely unafraid of tackling head on. It lands alongside one of the most emotionally charged and visually ambitious videos the band has released to date that depicts the story of two lovers grappling with heartbreakingly unfair circumstances that neither can change. Watch the official music video below and stream the new track.

Following previously released singles, Instrument of War and Let Me Sleep, this final track marks the last threshold before The Wilted EP’s full reveal. It continues the record’s core narrative: burnout, fragility, and the quiet devastation that follows explosive success. Having sold more than 35,000 tickets across the U.S. in 2025 and completed a sold-out rund through the UK, Europe and Australia, Paleface Swiss now steer into the emotional reckoning of what comes next.

“Everything Is Fine tells the story of two lovers caught in situations they cannot change,” says frontman Marc “Zelli” Zellweger. “They face unfair trials that wound them, yet they try to accept what neither wants to accept. In trying to numb the pain, it only cuts deeper because they keep asking why love fails even when they’ve done everything right.”

Musically, the track balances the band’s signature heaviness with stark melancholy. It’s one of the most cinematic and emotionally raw moments of the band's career to date. Directed by longtime collaborator Kriss Jakob, the video explores themes of love, death, and disassociation with stark theatricality. Zelli also took on co-editing duties for the first time, deepening the creative intimacy and ensuring every frame beautifully compliments the weight and impact of the track's theme.

The Wilted EP was born in the aftermath of relentless momentum. Written across months of mostly-sold-out touring through Europe, the U.S., and Australia, it traces the burnout, emotional collapse, and uneasy regrowth that comes in the wake of releasing a life-alteringly successful album and trying to learn how to navigate the aftermath. If Cursed documented the breaking point, The Wilted EP lingers in what comes after. The hollow quiet, the spiraling mind, the fragile attempts to maintain forward motion and continue to rise.

Its visual identity continues the band’s symbolic language of flowers: blooms that were once vivid when featured on the Cursed album artwork, are now curled and brittle. An unflinching depiction of decay and disintegration.

Known for their incomparable live performances and fearless approach to intense and vulnerable topics, Paleface Swiss has built a reputation as one of the most vital, unfiltered, and rapidly rising forces in the world of modern metal today. With their latest full-length album, Cursed, Paleface Swiss took listeners into their darkest, most intricate, and artistically diverse chapter yet, combining their trademark Nu-Core heaviness with raw vulnerability, a rare and special combination for a band within their genre. The album charted at #17 globally on Spotify, #3 in the U.S., and #1 in the UK, followed by an extended version - Cursed: The Complete Edition.

The album's success kicked off a year of career-defining momentum for Paleface Swiss that included back-to-back sellout tours across Europe & the UK, North America, multiple festival performances and their first ever tour of Australia. Refusing to rest on their laurels, Paleface Swiss will begin 2026 with the release of 'The Wilted EP', their biggest headline tour of Europe and the UK to date and will be heading back to the US in May to play major festivals Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple Festival. For more info and tickets head to palefaceswiss.com

ABOUT PALEFACE SWISS

Since their debut Chapter 3: The Last Selection in 2020, Paleface Swiss have risen from underground darlings to global heavyweights in the world of metal. With explosive riffs, punishing beatdowns, a brutally heavy rhythm section, and frontman Zelli’s signature vocal savagery, the band quickly gained momentum—landing four breakout tracks on Spotify’s Heavy Beatdown playlist Their 2022 follow-up Fear & Dagger pushed even further, earning praise for its emotional weight and unflinching heaviness, with standout reviews from Metal Injection, New Transcendence, and Wall of Sound. Singles like “The Orphan,” “Dead Man’s Diary” (feat. LANDMVRKS' Florent Salfati), and “My Grave / Lay with Me” solidified their place among the new wave of deathcore’s most innovative acts.

In the years that followed, Paleface Swiss took their chaos on the road—touring with Body Snatcher, Counterparts, and The Ghost Inside, and leveling festival stages from Sick New World to Hellfest. Their live reputation exploded, converting crowds with a show that fuses unrelenting brutality and raw vulnerability. Between headline tours and viral fan demand, they released standalone anthems “Best Before: Death,” “Please End Me,” and “The Gallow—each now included on their latest offering Cursed: The Complete Edition, the most ambitious and complete chapter of their journey so far. To date, the band have amassed over 180 million streams, 53 million YouTube views, with their Spotify Monthly listeners recently peaking at over 1 million. Their recent, sold-out Cursed Tour across Europe, the UK, North America and Australia sold over 70,000 tickets.

PALEFACE SWISS are: 

Vox: Marc “Zelli” Zellweger

Guitar: Yannick Lehmann

Bass: Tommy-Lee Abt

Drums: Cassiano 'Cassi' Toma

German Rock x Metal Trio The Hirsch Effekt Share "Das Nachsehen" Visualizer

German rock x metal trio The Hirsch Effekt present the video for the new single "Das Nachsehen." It's the second track to be released from their new studio album Der Brauch, which arrives January 30 via Long Branch Records.

"Tausend Male hab ich diskutiert. Kein Mal davon hab ich das mit dir."

"The song 'Das Nachsehen' is basically about how I — and some people around me — deal with conflicts," says singer Nils Wittrock. "Instead of talking to each other, interpersonal conflicts are negotiated with third parties. Many people shut themselves off behind their noise-cancelling headphones and smartphones. This stands in stark contrast to how many (especially) men walk around with a great sense of mission — be it loud engines, phone calls on speakerphone or Bluetooth speakers. Sometimes it seems to me that we are forgetting how to talk."

Watch the "Das Nachsehen" visualizer below.

Stream the new single and pre-order the album here

Since their formation, The Hirsch Effekt have carved out a unique niche in the German-speaking music scene. Yet, despite — or perhaps because of — their elusiveness, the band has captivated a devoted audience. Musically, The Hirsch Effekt have always embraced limitless possibilities. Acoustic, introspective moments —where bassist Ilja John Lappin brings out his cello or guitarist Nils Wittrock returns to his classical roots — sit naturally alongside massive progressive metal onslaughts.

While earlier works, despite their diversity, were still labeled "metal albums," this new record explores paths first hinted at on the multilayered second album, Holon: Anamnesis — the same album that fans of VISIONS magazine voted the only German-language entry among the 20 best albums of all time. Der Brauch can be seen as a return to that pivotal point — and simultaneously as a bold step forward. Drummer Moritz Schmidt doesn't entirely forgo blast beats, but the record demands a new heading. In the end, though, there is only one truth: *t unmistakably sounds like The Hirsch Effekt.

THE HIRSCH EFFEKT ARE:
Nils Wittrock — Guitar, Vocals
Ilja John Lappin — Bass, Vocals
Moritz Schmidt — Drums, Vocals

SLIK HELVETIKA RETURN WITH NEW SINGLE, "SOLAR HEAD"

One of the heaviest bands to emerge from the Philadelphia rock scene is certainly Slik Helvetika. Who, will be returning on December 5, 2025 with a brand new single, "Solar Head" – which serves as a preview concerning what to expect from the band's 2026 full-length, 'Walk Through Fire,' which will be released through Deko Entertainment.

"'Solar Head' begins with an unsettling actual recording of solar wind, then erupts into full ass kicking mode," explains the group's long-time singer/guitarist/songwriter Michael Myers. "The song is written about a mass coronal ejection large enough to engulf all in its path. A mass extinction level event."

"What if this event's energy had a consciousness?  Let's talk about that.  Better yet, let's write a full throttle heavy metal anthem around this this extinction level event with the tongue in cheek placement of some very aggressive cliches and lyrics! The Atomic Killpig rules this world!”

 

Check out the visualizer for “Solar Head” below;

 

To pre-save on Spotify or pre-add on Apple Music, visit: https://push.fm/ps/trxojc5l

 

To pre-order, visit: https://www.dekoentertainment.com/inthesquare/slik-helvetika

From the glory days of the Philadelphia and New Jersey rock scene of the 80s that spawned Cinderella, Britny Fox, Pretty Poison, John Eddie, and an entire laundry list of artists who went forward to be stars, there was a band called Destroyer.  These boys in Destroyer were *ssholes. Too young, bad attitudes, but really good, great songs, and ultra entertaining. 

 

Going wide open full throttle, it would take them some time before they were a commodity that a record company of that day would even consider. Even though their self-released EP sold out of multiple pressings. When that glorious day came, there was a flash bulletin....“Sorry, grunge ate your genre”. 

 

Led by Myers, the band had unknowingly sidestepped all the woes and pressures of being “that commodity” and unwanted influences. Taking some time to let the songs and playing develop to be the best it could resulted in that band today called Slik Helvetika. Lots of driving energy, melody, memorable chorus hooks, great playing and strong lyrics. Yes, it is a reincarnation of Destroyer with bigger balls, but incredibly tastefully done. 

 

The line up has always featured Michael Myers on lead guitar and vocals – who has had the privilege of playing alongside a variety of talented musicians, such as Kjell Benner [formerly of Quiet Riot] Vern Parsons [Greg Howe].  Slik Helvetika and Destroyer have had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Cinderella, Trixter, Savatage, EZO, Kingdom Come, Malice, Foghat, Rick Derringer, Funny Money, [Kix side project], Krokus, Manowar, John 5 and many more.

 

And on December 5th, Myers and co. will prove once again that they are one of the most ferocious rock bands to ever come out of the Philly scene, with the arrival of "Solar Head."

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: 

slikhelvetika.com

BEYOND THE BLACK - Release Video For Brand New Single 'Ravens'

Symphonic metal sensation BEYOND THE BLACK are happy to share the fifth single from their eagerly awaited upcoming studio album, Break The Silence, which is due to be released on January 9th, 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records.

The deeply emotional song 'Ravens' focuses on unity, loyalty and resilience. Rising together through darkness, bound by shared spirit and freedom, symbolized by ravens soaring high. Both the song and the video feature guest appearances & contributions by BEYOND THE BLACK fans, further underlining one of the core themes of the album: overcoming interpersonal communication barriers and connecting people.

Singer Jennifer Haben commented:
“‘Ravens’ is about belonging — about finding light in others when everything feels disconnected. Hearing our fans’ voices on this song made that message real in the most beautiful way."

"This song was created with our fans at its heart. A very special thank you to you, our RAVENS, for being part of recording this song and bringing it to life with us."

BEYOND THE BLACK's sixth full length Break The Silence is a concept album rooted in melodic metal with ethno influences, it explores themes of communication, inner strength, resilience and the urgent need to reconnect in a divided world. Tracks like 'Let There Be Rain', '(La Vie Est Un) Cinéma', 'Ravens' and 'The Flood' examine how words – and their absence – shape our reality. It’s an emotional, multi-layered experience that mirrors today’s complex world and invites fans to be part of this new chapter.

PRE-ORDER / PRE-SAVE THE NEW ALBUM BREAK THE SILENCE:
https://beyondtheblack.bfan.link/break-the-silence-album

LISTEN TO 'RAVENS': 
https://beyondtheblack.bfan.link/ravens

WATCH THE MUSIC VIDEO FOR 'RAVENS' Below;

About BEYOND THE BLACK:

German symphonic metal band BEYOND THE BLACK have become one of the most exciting forces in modern symphonic metal, carving an impressive path since their formation. It started with their debut album in 2015: Songs Of Love And Death was an instant success and stayed strong in the German Top15 for weeks, earning the Metal Hammer Award for “Best Debut.” Its successor Lost In Forever (2016) entered the German charts at #4 and paved the way for a major tour through Germany, the UK, Russia and Japan. Since their live debut in 2014, the band has played the world’s biggest metal festivals like Wacken Open Air and supported international metal acts such as AEROSMITH, KORN, SCORPIONS, SAXON, and WITHIN TEMPTATION.

With the release of their third album Heart Of The Hurricane, BEYOND THE BLACK launched their first European headline tour in fall 2019 – over 20 shows in 10 countries, most of them sold out. The band returned to the studio soon after and in June 2020 released the highly anticipated Horizons, which entered the German album charts at #3 (CH #6, AT #16, BE #53). 

After the pandemic-induced break, BEYOND THE BLACK came back stronger than ever: Following a successful European tour in fall 2022, their self-titled fifth album BEYOND THE BLACK dropped in January 2023, charting in several countries (DE #2, UK #2 Rock, CH #6, AT #12, SE #12, US #7 Top New Artist) and marking a new career high.

Following a powerful festival summer, the band toured Australia and New Zealand for the first time in late 2023, as special guests of Swedish metal act THE HALO EFFECT. In early 2024, BEYOND THE BLACK played their most successful European headline tour to date – Dancing In The Dark – followed by more celebrated shows across the continent that summer.

In early 2025, the band reached another milestone with their first-ever Latin America tour, playing headline shows in Argentina, Chile and Mexico, as well as performing at Brazil’s renowned Bangers Open Air. During the Summer of 2025, they have once again conquered the stages of Europe’s most prestigious festivals, including Wacken Open Air, Hellfest and Graspop.

The excitement continues as BEYOND THE BLACK launch their next European headline tour, Rising High, kicking off in January 2026, tied with the release of their highly anticipated sixth studio album Break The Silence.

PERMAFROST RETURNS WITH SHOEGAZE - INSPIRED DARK POP Their new EP ‘ Tears & Bullets ’ will be released on 11th December 2025


More than a year after the release of their debut album ‘The Light Coming Through’,the Nordic-British post-punk quartet Permafrost returns with a new EP ‘Tears & Bullets’,on11th December. This 3-track release is the result of an intensive writing period where new sources of inspiration have widened the palette, and set a starting point for a new albumin 2026.Formed originally in Molde, Norway in 1982 by school friends Frode Heggdal Larsenand Kåre Steinsbu, Permafrost has undergone numerous transformations over the years.Fellow Norwegians Robert Heggdal and Trond Tornes joined in 2001 and Daryl Bamonte from the UK (who worked very closely with Depeche Mode and The Cure for several years), joined in 2016. Drummer Trond Tornes left the band in 2022 to pursue other projects.Spread across Trondheim, Oslo and Margate, Permafrost's creative process is a challenge which the band have had to overcome. During the pandemic, they held weekly video meetings to plan new songs and other band-related issues, leveraging improved long-distance collaboration technology to maintain momentum. The songwriting process typically begins with one member suggesting an idea, which bassist Robert (Bob Frost) then develops in Logic Pro, programming drums and other elements. Singer Kåre creates a melody to match, and lyrics are selected from a collective vault they have accumulated over the years. The song is refined through a collaborative process, passing back and forth between all four members until everyone is satisfied.Permafrost has built an impressive discography over the years. They debuted with the 'Godtment' EP in 1983, released on a limited edition of 50 numbered cassettes. In 2019, they followed up with the 'Permafrost 'EP on vinyl, later making it available digitally in 2021. From early 2021up until the release of the album, the band released a string of highly-acclaimed singles which all ranked highly in the Deutsche Alternative Chartsand the Indie Disko Top40, where 3 of those singles reached number one. They have also earned placements on influential playlistssuch asApple Music’s ‘New In Rock’. Continuing to refine their songwriting further and to embrace new influences, the band describes the new songs as “shoegaze-inspired dark pop”, showing once again their ability to fuse dark synth-infused post-punk, layered with pop melodies.The ‘Tears & Bullets’ EP will be released on 11th December, on the band’s own Fear of Music label


FOLLOW PERMAFROSTINSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY|YOU TUBEBUY VINYL AND MERCHANDISEhttps://www.musicglue.com/permafrost

TX2 Announces Debut Album 'End Of Us'; Drops New Single Feat. Black Veil Brides

Alt-rock phenom, TX2 has announced the release of his long-awaited and highly-anticipated debut album End Of Us, arriving February 13, 2026 via Hopeless Records. The album announcement arrives alongside the release of lead single and title track "The End of Us," an epic six-minute cinematic opus featuring Black Veil Brides, live strings, and TX2's most ambitious music video to date that he self-directed alongside guitarist Cameron Rostami. Stream the new track HERE. Watch the music video Below and pre-order the upcoming album HERE.

End Of Us marks a turning point for an artist who's spent a decade building one of heavy music's most devoted, and polarizing, fanbases. With 1 million monthly Spotify listeners, 1.3 million TikTok followers, and a relentless touring schedule that's taken him from opening slots on the Summer of Loud tour and multiple tours with Ice Nine Kills, performances at the Welcome To Rockville and Sonic Temple, to Download Festival 2026, TX2 has turned online hate into undeniable, unstoppable momentum. Today, TX2 continues his meteoric rise as he heralds the beginning of a new chapter with the album’s title track which captures the weight of betrayal, the chaos of spiraling, and the courageous defiance required to keep going anyway.

Speaking on today's announcement, Evan Thomas (TX2) shares

"'The End of Us' is the darkest song I've ever written. It captures that feeling of spiraling that happens shortly after betrayal, when everything you've built slips away. I said 'fuck it' and wanted to make a 6 minute epic. Live strings captured the emotions perfectly. Then having Andy's voice brings a weight and intensity that was perfect for the emotion of the track—he played the perfect character and created cinematic chaos. This song is the lead single of our album 'The End of Us' and features our biggest music video yet. Cam and I directed the music video, and I think made a video that will live much longer than we expected. I hope this song finds its own meaning to the right person."

TX2 has spent years earning co-signs from scene veterans. Beartooth's Caleb Shomo has publicly praised his "passion, hard work, and talent", his track "MAD" featuring Ice Nine Kills' Spencer Charnas generated over 10,000 TikTok video creations and From First to Last joined him on "THIS ISN'T ABOUT DRUGS (I SWEAR)."

The 13-track album collects previously released singles alongside new material, including recent tracks "The Rain," "HOSTAGE (they will not erase us)," "Feed" featuring DeathbyRomy, and "Nice Guy" featuring Ekoh. Between them, these previously released songs have racked up a staggering 100 million streams and 42 million likes on TikTok in the last 12 months. The upcoming album also features a further collaboration with Magnolia Park and an instrumental version of TX2's track with Ice Nine Kills' Spencer Charnas, "M.A.D".

Beyond the music, TX2 has built something even more impressive: the X Movement, a Discord-based community where thousands of fans support each other through mental health struggles. He goes live on social media to answer fan questions every day and stays after every show, sometimes for hours, to meet every fan. He keeps ticket prices low and uses his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and fan safety in music spaces. It's work that's made him both a target and a lifeline, depending on who's watching.

End Of Us captures all of it. The noise, the defiance, the exhaustion, and the refusal to quit. Thomas describes the album's sound as "punk meets vampire-core with an Eminem edge," drawing from influences like My Chemical Romance, Green Day, Black Veil Brides, and Linkin Park while carving out space that's entirely his own and elevating the genre, and it’s fandom, to a new level.

TX2 is currently supporting Ice Nine Kills on their EU dates and UK arena tour in December before returning to the UK for Download Festival 2026, where he'll play alongside Linkin Park, Guns N' Roses, and Limp Bizkit.

ABOUT TX2

TX2 is the project of Los Angeles based artist Evan Thomas, known for raw, emotionally charged alt-rock that refuses to play by the rules. Since going viral on TikTok in 2023 with "I Would Hate Me Too," TX2 has amassed 1 million monthly Spotify listeners, 1.3 million TikTok followers, and a touring resume that includes opening for Beartooth, I Prevail, Killswitch Engage, Ice Nine Kills and Parkway Drive on the Summer of Loud tour.

Thomas founded the X Movement, a community dedicated to mental health awareness and creating safe spaces for fans who feel like they don't belong. He's openly queer, vocally advocates for LGBTQ+ rights and fan safety, and stays after every show to meet every fan, sometimes for hours. He's been called emo's most hated artist and its most necessary voice, often in the same breath. His debut album End Of Us arrives February 13, 2026 via Hopeless Records.

Death Thrash Metal Outfit INTOXICATED Announces New Album; Unleashes Video for Furious First Single

Florida death thrash metal outfit INTOXICATED will be unleashing their third full-length, 'The Dome,' on March 27, 2026 via Redefining Darkness! The band is celebrating this release with the vicious first single, "War Club," along with a music video that captures the band unrelenting dominance on stage. The clip can be found below.

Vocalist/guitarist Erik Payne comments, "'War Club' captures Intoxicated’s uncompromising perspective as observers of today’s fractured world. The band likens it to being dragged into fights you never asked for—pushed by forces that don’t reflect who you are or what you stand for. The track channels that frustration into a violent metaphor, exploring how even good people can feel driven to confront the malevolent forces dragging society down."

INTOXICATED is a thrash/death metal band from Altamonte Springs, Florida, originally formed in 1993. Led by vocalist and guitarist Erik Payne, the band quickly carved out a place in Florida’s extreme metal lineage, earning early mentorship from Death’s legendary Chuck Schuldiner. Rooted firmly in Florida’s storied death-thrash tradition, Intoxicated’s sound draws natural comparisons to Death, Sadus, and Obituary— as marked by unrelenting speed, sharp riffing, and concise, high-impact songwriting.

'The Dome' is now available for pre-orders in the USA HERE while it's available for the rest of the world HERE.

In addition, INTOXICATED is hitting the road tomorrow, December 5, in support of Obituary's Florida Swamp Tour 2. The trek will kick off in Destin, FL and make its way through the state until the final stops in Tampa, FL on December 13 - 14. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets can be found HERE.

GET TICKETS HERE

INTOXICATED Tour Dates (Supporting OBITUARY w/ CASTRATOR + COLD STEEL)

12/05: Destin, FL @ Club LA

12/06: Jacksonville, FL @ Albatross

12/07: Orlando, FL @ Conduit

12/12: Miami, FL @ Gramps

12/13: Tampa, FL @ The Brass Mug

12/14: Tampa, FL @ The Brass Mug

Intoxicated is a thrash/death metal band from Altamonte Springs, Florida, originally formed in 1993. Led by vocalist and guitarist Erik Payne, the band quickly carved out a place in Florida’s extreme metal lineage, earning early mentorship from Death’s legendary Chuck Schuldiner. Their first run produced a trio of EPs—.08 (1994), Scars (1995), and Metal Neck (1997)—before releasing their third EP, Drain.

Following their initial rise, Intoxicated went on hiatus as Payne, along with Obituary’s Donald Tardy and Ken Andrews, joined the touring lineup for Andrew W.K. in 1999, a role they held for nearly two decades while performing around the world.

The band reactivated in 2019, returning with the Walled EP (2020) and their long-awaited debut full-length, Watch You Burn (2022). The album showcased the band’s signature blend of ragged thrash aggression and Florida-bred death metal grit. Featuring guest appearances from Ken Andrews (Obituary, ex–Andrew W.K.) and Tony Foresta (Municipal Waste), and produced, mixed, and mastered by Ryan Boesch (Foo Fighters, Andrew W.K.) at Candor Recording—formerly Morbid Angel’s headquarters—Watch You Burn reaffirmed Intoxicated’s place among fans of classic Kreator, Death, Obituary, Protector, and Devastation.

Now, Intoxicated is preparing to unleash their second full-length album, The Dome, on Redefining Darkness Records.

Rooted firmly in Florida’s storied death-thrash tradition, Intoxicated’s sound draws natural comparisons to Death, Sadus, and Obituary— as marked by unrelenting speed, sharp riffing, and concise, high-impact songwriting.

Lineup:

Erik Payne - Guitar/Vocals

John Sutton - Guitar

Shawn Clarson - Bass/Backing Vocals

Colin Vaccaro - Drums

Album credits:

Produced by Ryan Boesch and Erik Payne @ Candor Recording in Tampa Fl

Recorded, mixed and mastered by Ryan Boesch

Cover Artist: Celeste Payne

Formats:

CD

Vinyl

Digital

Pre-orders (Worldwide excl. USA): https://shop.redefiningdarkness.com/

Preorders (USA): https://tornfromthegrave.us/collections/intoxicated

Links:

Official Website

Bandcamp

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Spotify

Apple Music

Enthroned Ascend Into the Fires of 'Ashspawn'

Belgian black metal institution Enthroned are opening a new chapter in their storied career with their upcoming twelfth album. Conceived during six years of ritualistic creation, Ashspawn now emerges as the band’s most uncompromising statement. Written in collaboration with occult author Gilles de Laval, it descends into spiritual death, only to emerge reborn amongst the flames.

Ashspawn comes out tomorrow, Friday, December 5, 2025 on Season of Mist, but you can bask in the towering flames of all nine songs by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.

Listen to Ashspawn Below;

Pre-order & Pre-save

https://orcd.co/enthronedashspawn

Ashspawn represents a total unity of vision. Enthroned channel ferocious blast beats, oppressive mid-tempos and progressive structures into an album that moves between violent catharsis and crushing introspection. Solos oscillate from Morbid Angel frenzy to sharp, ascendant phrases that recall classic heavy metal’s virtuosity.

Lead single “Raviasamin” is a chant and a curse, invoking both negation and transformation with frostbitten riffs and serpentine rhythms. The title track embodies the band’s driving ethos, blazing into spiritual destruction as a path toward transcendence. Conceived as the album’s final rite of passage, “Ashen Advocacy” rises in a slow-burning psalm of judgement. With each crack of the judge’s gavel, the song divides the self between accuser and the accused.

Ashspawn now stands darker, heavier, and more personal than anything in Enthroned’s catalogue, crafted as a transformative weapon rather than an act of reiteration.

Now, in 2025, Ashspawn stands as Enthroned’s most ambitious and personal statement to date. Musically, it embodies a total unity of vision: ferocious blast beats, oppressive mid-tempos, and progressive structures collapse into one another, laced with solos that veer from Morbid Angel-like madness to Judas Priest-inspired virtuosity. Lyrically, it operates as a metaphysical architecture, its verses designed not merely to be heard but to infect and transform. Tracks such as “Raviasamin,” “Ashspawn,” and “Ashen Advocacy” reveal its dual nature: violent catharsis intertwined with crushing introspection, a tribunal where the self is broken and reforged.

More than three decades after their inception, Enthroned remain steadfast in their purpose: not to replicate the past, but to realign with the forces that birthed them. Ashspawn is the testimony of this alignment, a ritual weapon that rejects nostalgia and compromise. It is a resurrection of spirit through suffering, a reaffirmation of Enthroned’s place among black metal’s most visionary entities.

Line-up:

Nornagest — Vocals & Samplers

T. Kaos — Guitars & Bass

Menthor — Drums & Percussion

Production Credits:

Recorded at Ophiussa Studio, London, UK.

Produced by Menthor.

Mixed by Stefano Santi at SPVN Studio, Milan, Italy.

Mastered by Phil Bashford at The Hive, London, UK.

Cover Art:

Cover artwork by Jose Gabriel Alegria Sambogal
(https://www.instagram.com/josegabrielalegriasabogal/)

Photography:

Band photography by Emanuela Giurano

Pre-save & Pre-order: https://orcd.co/enthronedashspawn
 
Follow Enthroned:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Frater.Silurian
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/enthronedofficial/
Bandcamp: https://enthroned.bandcamp.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@enthronedofficial
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5lmT6zZl7aPNg8hv5UrJGz
Apple Music: https://itunes.apple.com/artist/enthroned/47713289
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/14611
Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3604477

MALEFIC Unleash New Single “In Darkest Dreams” from Forthcoming Album Impermanence

Atlanta blackened thrash visionaries MALEFIC have released their new single “In Darkest Dreams,” taken from the band’s long-awaited full length album Impermanence, arriving February 13, 2026 via Terminus Hate City. As one of the oldest songs in the MALEFIC catalog, originally dating back to the years before 2010, “In Darkest Dreams” has undergone a long evolution to become the fully realized version presented on the record.

The track highlights the band’s increasingly death metal driven approach while still retaining the blackened and thrashy foundation that defines their sound. It is one of the few songs on the album to feature a true chorus, yet it remains progressive in structure, moving through distinct musical chapters that each showcase a different facet of the band’s writing. The middle breakdown section emphasizes the group’s command of shifting rhythms and tight, precise playing, eventually building into a ripping guitar solo by Sam that captures his growth and confidence as a lead player.

Lyrically, “In Darkest Dreams” reflects an earlier era of MALEFIC. The words were initially written by Cory after Devin left the band, and later revised slightly by Aaron to fit the larger narrative arc of Impermanence. The imagery leans heavily into the horror influences that colored the band’s early years, telling the tale of a reaper-like figure whose presence drives the song’s bleak atmosphere. Although the lyrics occasionally veer into abstract territory, the band acknowledges that they maintain a certain cool, visceral quality that fits the track’s history. The chorus in particular remains one of the few lyrical elements to survive from the early days, believed to have been preserved even after the rest of the original lyrics were lost.

The rhythmic overhaul of the song represents an important part of its evolution. With a drum approach shaped by thrash, high speed technical metal and progressive rock, Aaron sought to avoid monotony by frequently shifting the pulse within the same riffs. The early versions of the song relied more heavily on ad-libbed vocal patterns and less structured drumming, so the updated arrangement brings a tighter and more intentional rhythmic feel. Even the chorus sparked debate during recording about whether it should remain upbeat for its entire duration, and the final version reflects a compromise that preserves the song’s energy while serving the tension and release of the overall arrangement.

MALEFIC’s history stretches back to 2007 when the original lineup first emerged in the Atlanta extreme metal scene. After a hiatus beginning in 2009, the band reconvened in 2015 and has moved forward at full speed ever since. Their sound blends technical precision, a tightly locked rhythm section and a keen sense of groove into a modern, aggressive take on melodic death metal that stands apart from their peers in the United States. The creation of Impermanence began in late 2018 and faced numerous challenges as lineup changes forced re-tracking, rewrites and complete remixes of material that had already been considered finished. Despite the setbacks, the band views the album as the culmination of years of dedication, refinement and persistence, and as a definitive statement of what MALEFIC represents.

About MALEFIC:
MALEFIC roared onto the Atlanta metal scene in 2007 with ambitions to modernize the black metal genre. With their tight riffs, tasty leads, and relatable lyricism, MALEFIC abandons cliches and defies traditional genre boundaries. Their special blend of black metal, drawing from thrash and death metal influences, appeals to metalheads across subgenres. They count OLD MAN'S CHILD, CARCASS, TESTAMENT, DISSECTION, and OPETH among their most prominent influences, offering a fresh, modern take on metal that is unrivaled in the United States.

Though they are set to release their very first full-length album, Impermanence, in 2025, MALEFIC boasts an impressive live performance history, having played shows with notable bands such as 1349, CRYPTA, and PROFANATICA. After a hiatus in 2009, the band eagerly picked back up where they left off and reformed with a new lineup. MALEFIC initially began work on Impermanence in 2018, taking their time to ensure that every detail accurately reflected their vision for their album. The band's hard work and dedication has culminated in a powerful debut, lovingly crafted by fans of nuanced, boundary-pushing music. 

MALEFIC lineup:
Jason Davila - Guitar
Aaron Baumoel - Drums, Vocals
Sam Williams - Guitar
Andy McGraw - Bass

UK Death Metal Outfit UNBURIER Unleashes New Single, "Survive the Vermin", And Announces Third EP, 'As Time Awaits'

UK death metal band UNBURIER has returned with a vengeance on their latest single, "Survive the Vermin". The new song introduces the band's upcoming EP, As Time Awaits, with the appropriate blend of ferocity and spellbinding technicality. Vocalist and guitarist Ben Champion shows off a viscerally emotive vocal range, skillfully punctuating his mid-range snarls with screeching highs for maximum impact. Bassist Stan Mitchell and drummer Kim Hughes lay the foundation for the song's intensity with a punchy, driving rhythm section. Finally, guitarist Blake Hibberd propels the momentum forward with a relentless barrage of twisting, turning, shredding leads. The lyrics of "Survive The Vermin" develop themes of purpose and identity on the EP through a first-person account of a cosmic, immortal warrior. Surrendering flesh for steel, the narrator struggles to detach themselves from the sensations they thought to have discarded. The lyrics ask if, when we give ourselves wholly to one purpose, it is worth sacrificing the simplicity of everyday life. Paying homage to sci-fi author Nate Crowley and absurdist philosophy, "Survive The Vermin" provides the most direct declaration of the themes behind the EP. 

Watch "Survive the Vermin" Below.

Pre-Order As Time Awaits HERE: https://www.unburierband.com/category/all-products

About UNBURIER:
Hailing from the south of England, UNBURIER stormed onto the death metal scene in the summer of 2022 with their debut EP Twisted Existence. The EP showcased the band's undeniable technical abilities, in addition to their raw and harrowing sound. In 2024, UNBURIER returned with their follow-up EP, Nebulous, on which the band refined their songwriting and technical prowess. On this release, the band ventured even deeper into the realms of their death metal influences, among which they count DEATH, NECROPHAGIST, and REVOCATION.

Having conquered stages alongside the likes of SANGUISUGABOGG, CRYPTA, and PARTY CANNON, as well as making notable appearances at Bloodstock Open Air and Incineration Festival, UNBURIER continues to carve a path alongside giants of the death metal genre. Their upcoming third EP, As Time Awaits, sees UNBURIER blending old- and new-school death metal styles with technicality, hooks, and razor-sharp songwriting. Carrying the torch of the classic death metal sound into a new age, As Time Awaits is certain to enthrall longtime fans of the genre.
 

UNBURIER lineup:
Ben Champion - Vocals/Guitar
Blake Hibberd - Guitar/Vocals
Stan Mitchell - Bass
Kim Hughes - Drums