Metallian Heavy

Canada-based techno-death band GOREWORM has an album entitled Miasmic Solitude through Transcending Obscurity Records on 12.06.2026.

Spain-based CAUSTIC has an album called Inner Deflagration through Horror Pain Gore Death. The band is compared to CRYPTOPSY and SEVERE TORTURE.

USA-based death metal band LAGO is offering an album called Vigil through Everlasting Spew Records on the 8th of May 2026. It follows its predecessor, 2018’s Sea Of Duress, by eight years.

Spain-based techno death metal band DIRE END has a demo called XI on March 5th, 2026. It is a digital-only release.

Founded in 2026, Australia-based female-fronted band EVILEAN has a demo called Exhumation Evilean on April 3, 2026.

Death metal band HORRIFIC VISIONS is releasing its first full-length, Remnants Of Atrophy, through Comatose Music on 22.05.2026. The band has lined up a few opening slots on the Defeated Sanity USA tour.

Finland-based HOC EST BELLUM has signed with Time To Kill Records and shall release a debut full-length album this year. The band was founded in 2022. Based on their names, the band members are in the Trump regime. They are Devouring Doommouth Of Lunar Extinction And Nuclear Propaganda (black vomit prophecies of homo sapiennihilation & aural low frequency desecration), Rituäl Vömitist (bonegrinding hellsaw sodomy) and R. Charon (morningstars of putrefaction & doom ritual chants).

East Java, Indonesia-based death metal trio VILE DESOLATION has an album called Annihilating The Consciousness through Comatose Music on May 8th, 2026. It is the follow-up to the 2024 demo, Shattered Of Sanity.

Sweden-based grindcore band GADGET has new music in the form of a new EP, called Coerced, through De:Nihil Records in May of 2026. The release features a self-cover version of a 2020 song called Funerary Rites. This mini-album features Emilia Henriksson on vocals and Kristofer Jankarls on guitar.

SIX FEET UNDER will release an album, called Next To Die, through Metal Blade Records on 24.04.2026. A lyric video for the song Unmistakable Smell Of Death is available now. The band will tour North America with KATAKLYSM and WORMHOLE this summer.

Germany-based death metal act ABROGATION has a full-length album, called Widerschein, through Massacre Records on April 10th 2026.

France-based THE SCALAR PROCESS has a video for the song A Breathing Moment, which is taken from the Agnomysticism album. Transcending Obscurity Records will issue it on 29.05.2026.

SOULBURN has an album called Quantifying Cosmic Doom through Testimony Records in June.

Spain-based black/death band LITOST has signed with Art Gates Records The music draws from the idea of ‘Litost’, as defined by Milan Kundera (a reflection on inner conflict, self-awareness and emotional collapse).

DARKTHRONE has a full-length, called Pre-Historic Metal, through Peaceville Records on the 8th of May 2026.

Art Gates Records has signed THE CURSE MADE FLESH, a new death metal band founded by bassist Joost Van Der Graaf (PESTILENCE, SINISTER, DEW-SCENTED, CREEPMIME and I CHAOS). Joined by Spanish guitarist Javier Valdi, drummer Fons van Dijk, and vocalist Morrison de Boer (INFERUM). The band has already recorded a full-length.

CROWN THE BEAST has signed with Emanzipation Productions and will release an EP called Judgement on 13.03.2026. New in the line-up are third guitarist Simon Skyrme and drummer Mikkel Øllgaard Bjelke Laursen. The band is booked for Port Of Hell 2026.

Sweden-based RAVAGED BY THE YETI has signed a multi-album deal with Testimony Records. The act is one of those fortnightly projects Rogga Johansson puts together.

Les Acteurs De L’ombre Productions will issue France-based SKAPHOS’ The Descent record in April 2026. It is a self-cover version album with tracks from the Bathyscaphe (2020) and Thooï (2022) albums rewritten and rerecorded.

China-based SCARE THE CHILDREN has a demo called Forsaken. The band’s members’ names are inspired by Japanese horror and are called Yuriko, Sadako, Vlads and Mort. The band is booked for Rock The Lakes alongside ARCH ENEMY, CLAW FINGER, BLEED FROM WITHIN, KITTIE and others.

Switzerland-based APOLAUSTIC has a debut album called No Plenitude Without Suffering. It is available through Transcending Obscurity Records now.

It apparently takes four labels to press 200 copies of an album. Finland-based hardcore-death-grind band SEWER ALTAR will release its debut full-length album, Fever Dreams Of Vengeance, on April 24th, 2026. Known labels involved are 783Label, Hecatombe Records, 7Degrees Records and Iron Corpse Productions. Metallian will update as additional labels come to light.

Deathcore band VULVODYNIA has fired singer Zion Bittenbender due to accusations of assault. He had been a member of the band since 2025. The band had been removed from a US tour with DEFEATED SANITY and replaced by INFERI. Guitarist Lwandile Prusent has again taken over the vocals temporarily. Bittenbender asserts that the allegations are untrue and not believed by the band despite his being fired. The decision, he asserts, was due to the group being boycotted by promoters and venues.

USA-based XENOSIS has an album called Hermetic Transmutation through Transcending Obscurity Records in June 2026.

Belgium-based deathgrind band GORE FORCE 5 has an album called Annus Porcus Oinkus through Rotten To The Core. The band has a respectful fascination with pigs.

Switzerland and Portugal-based thrash metal group SADISTIK WARFARE has an album called Raised In Violence. The album contains two cover versions.

Thailand-based crossover band CHAINFIGHT has an EP called E.P.II through Inhuman Assault Productions. The act was formed by bassist Twish and vocalist Pratchaya in 2023.

Vancouver, Canada-based metalcore and groove band WITHOUT MERCY has a demo called Infinite Loss on May 8th, 2026. There is a video for the song The Saint.

Finland-based CHROMA has a demo called Suphoria as of March 6th, 2026. Lyrically, Suphoria follows a character who gets pulled into a cult and pushes the search for pain-driven euphoria too far. It’s written as a warning story, about blind faith and devotion with no limits. The band began as a METALLICA cover band, but is compared to GOJIRA and MASTODON now.

VENOM has a full-length album called Into Oblivion on May 1st 2026. The news here actually is that the record is appearing through Noise Records! The label exists!

Norway-based black metal band TRELLDOM has a music video for the song By The Word, which is from the …By The Word…. album. It will be released through Prophecy Productions in late May 2026.

Greece-based black metal band YOTH IRIA will release an album called Gone With The Devil on May 8th, 2026.

Austria-based TRANSILVANIA has an album, called Magia Posthuma, through Invictus Productions. The album was announced for late 2025 initially.

“Post black metal” band AGHALMAR has an album called Ruin through Crawling Chaos Records.

Industrial death band THE MACHINIST has a demo called Towers on April 7th 2026. Like every other band on the planet, the band is called “blackened,” but has as much to do with black metal as Ronnie James Dio has with reggae.

Germany-based RISE OF KRONOS has a demo called Slaves Of Time on April 17, 2026. The deathrash band is now calling itself “Olympic death metal.”

Bocșa, Romania-based dark metal act ETERNAL DARK has a full-length album called Cugetări. The record is scheduled for release through Loud Rage Music this spring. The band had previously been on a 27-year hiatus.

Russia-based EDOMA has an album called Hymns Of The Ice Kingdom through SoundAge on June 5th 2026. The album was mixed and mastered by Konstantin Dolganov and comes in English and Russian versions.

VADER has been forced to reschedule its upcoming Australian tour “due to the conflict in the Middle East”. The band is working on new dates for late November.

Italy-based death metal band NECROGORE has released its debut album, Ectoplasmic Rape Phenomena, through Awakening Records on 20.03.2026.

Germany-based techno-death metal band ART|EST has a demo called Evil Embodiment on June 6th, 2026. The band is compared to ARCHSPIRE.

JUNGLE ROT has an album called Cruel Face Of War through Unique Leader on May 8th, 2026. The band is touring Europe this summer.

DARVAZA, MERRIMACK, HELLERUIN and DÉTRESSE are touring Europe at the end of 2026.

Germany-based deathcore act GUTRECTOMY has an EP called Slamdown Is Not A Phase, Mom with digital distribution handled by Arson Theory. It is out on the band’s 15th anniversary.

UK-based ABYSSAL is undertaking the Antikatastaseis 10th Anniversary Tour of Europe in May. CARCINOMA will open.

France-based HAEMOTH has an album called Black Dust through Agonia Records on 22.05.2026. It’s the band’s first since 2011.

WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM will be touring Europe and appearing at several festivals this summer.

Lithuania-based death metal band SISYPHEAN has an album called Divergence through Edged Circle Productions.

Austria-based solo act IRKALLA has a demo called Skyshatter. It is the follow-up to 2025’s Underworld Ablaze demo.

Wales-based solo act ISELDER is back with an album called The 38th Division. It will be released through Marwolaeth Records on June 1, 2026.

Germany-based solo act NARGAROTH has an album called Apocalyptic Steel. It is available through Season Of Mist on 26.06.2026.

Norway-based solo act VIA DOLORIS has an album called Guerre Et Paix through Season Of Mist. The sole member Gildas Le Pape was previously a concert guitarist for SATYRICON.

UK-based solo act HELGAFELL has an album called Chronicles through Naturmacht Productions. The album contains four stories relating to Anglo-Saxon history.

Finland-based solo act BLOODY VALKYRIA has an album called Requiem: Reveries Of The Dying through Northern Silence Productions. Jere Kervinen wrote the music and lyrics and also handled the recording. The man being Finnish, the music is influenced by folk rock.

Austria-based thrash metal band DEATHSTORM will issue an album called Cascophonies through Dying Victims Productions on 22.05.2026.

Poland-based thrash metal act ABUSER has an album called Blood Marks through Xtreem Music in May.

Brazil-based THE TROOPS OF DOOM has parted ways with guitarist Marcelo Vasco. To take over the guitars for an upcoming tour, the band has recruited former ex-SODOM man Frank “Blackfire” Gosdzik.

Poland-based melodic death metal band SACRIVERSUM has a full-length album entitled Before The Birth Of Light through Fireflash Records.

Switzerland-based deathrash band MINDWARP reports that its bassist Romuald Hermanowski has died.

Germany-based female-fronted thrash metal band MISSION IN BLACK has a music video for the song Rise, from the Divinity Of Lies album, which is available through El Puerto Records on 24.04.2026.

Portugal-based female-fronted thrash metal band PRIMAL WARFARE has an album called After The Flames through Firecum Records. The band was founded in 2020.

Thrash metal band VEKTOR has shared an update about the band’s next album, which will be its first since 2016. The album is scheduled for 2027. Singer David DiSanto has shared that it is a new concept album: “There is a concept, but it will be a looser concept with more room to play with individual stories. The overall idea is that it is a prequel to Terminal Redux. It’s about the star system of Alshain before it explodes.”

The band’s demo title must have awakened the gods of originality! USA-based thrash metal band ANOTHER DEMON will re-release its As Above So Below demo through Ragebreed Records, with global distribution handled by Earache Records, on April 18th, 2026. Guitarist James Murphy offers a guest solo.

Czech Republic-based crossover band CRIPPLED FINGERS has a demo called Unbroken. The band had shows all over Europe in 2026.

Colombia-based crossover band POISON THE PREACHER and Mexico-based PHANTOM will conduct the Undead Time Summer Tour of Europe this summer.

Czech Republic-based crossover band EXORCIZPHOBIA has an album called Neurosis Unbound through Doomentia Records and Japan’s DTD Records.

Italy-based death/doom band URLUK will release a full-length album, called Memories In Fade, through Pest Records in April. URLUK was formed in Lombardy, Italy in July 2020 and unfortunately blends in alternative and folk music. The band’s name refers to a nocturnal bird of prey native to its region.

USA-based sludge band WITCH RIPPER has a full-length, called Through The Hourglass, through Magnetic Eye Records on April 10th, 2026.

France-based OÏKOUMEN has a video for the song Revenge. The band mixes djent with pop vocals.

Chile-based NUCLEAR is uploading several episodes of a documentary surrounding its tour of Europe in 2014 where the band also appeared at the Aggressive Music Fest in the Czech Republic. The band is opening for IRON MAIDEN and MAMMOTH in Chile later this year.

DIMMU BORGIR has a new album, Grand Serpent Rising, through Nuclear Blast Records on 22.05.2026. It was recorded in Gothenburg, Sweden with producer Fredrik Nordström. A video for the song Ulvgjeld & Blodsodelcame is available now.

Germany-based ARCHAIC OATH has a debut album called Determined To Death And Beyond through Art Of Propaganda.

The trend of Japan on the metal scene has become so dire that we are now down to the most obscure references possible. Portugal-based CHAOSADDICTION has a debut album, entitled Kintsugi, through Mosher Records (soon changing names to Sayonara Mosher Fuji Records?). “Kintsugi is the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with precious materials, making it more valuable after being mended. That’s the theme of the album, for those trying to put their heart back together after heartbreak.”

Guitarist Ced Davis is out of SANGUISUGABOGG. The band continues touring with drummer Cody Davidson on guitar, alongside Drew Arnold, and Eric Morotti (SUFFOCATION) will drum.

Japan-based SIGH has a week-long tour surrounding the Fire In The Mountains Festival in July 2026. DREADNOUGHT will open.

Russia-based black metal group PASSÉISME has a single called Hieratic Disarray. It was mixed and mastered by Arkady Navaho.

Estonia-based black metal act KÕDU has an album called Kirjad Sõgedate Külast. It is issued through Antiq Records on April 20th 2026.

France-based sludge band VERDUN has signed with Transcending Obscurity Records. The band is issuing an album called Abyssal Womb.

Nine years following the Hegemony album, SAMAEL issues a 12″ single, Hidden Empire b/w Black Matter Manifesto through Napalm Records on 24.04.2026. The former song is also a video clip for the band.

It’s called a “full album” when it’s actually a demo. It is called “black metal” when there is as much Satanic content as there are vitamins at McDonalds. Canada-based BAGOTH has a demo called Martyrs Duplessis. Formed by members of rock band ORLOGE SIMARD, the recording featured drummer Michel Bélanger (BEYOND CREATION, GORGUTS, CYNIC, etc.) and Christopher Rannou-Poulin (BEYOND FICTION, INNER CONTROL, etc.). The Duplessis orphans were a group of children placed in nurseries, orphanages and psychiatric hospitals, in Quebec, Canada between 1935 and 1964. Many were mistreated or abused.

SYLOSIS and WHITECHAPEL will co-headline a tour of the UK and Ireland in January of 2027.

SOULFLY and CAVALERA CONSPIRACY manager Gloria Cavalera has founded Maximum Cavalera Music Publishing. This new company will bring all the Cavalera music (max Cavalera, her husband, and Iggor Cavalera her brother-in-law) under one roof, establishing a dedicated publishing home for the entire Cavalera family catalogue. She also hopes to establish an associated record company. Also joining is Mandy Salem-Aubry, Managing Director of MSA Music Services.

UK-based solo dark metal act FYRDSMAN has a demo called The Free Man on May 1st 2026. The song The Free Man is told from the perspective of a rebel grappling with the reality of post-1066 England. Main man Tim Shaw (ex-ALESTORM) worked with drummer Ian Finley (NEMOROUS, VACIVUS, ex-WODENSTHRONE) here.

Piranha Pit Fest in Montreal, Canada will feature ENTROPY, MUTANK, WARMACHINE, LIVIDITY, MACABRE, KINGS OF THRASH, GORGASM, DECEASED, PESSIMIST, ATROPHY, DBC, etc. in May of 2026.


Metallian Hard

Canada-based heavy metal group IRON KINGDOM will release a full-length demo, Shadows And Dust, on June 6, 2026. The date coincides with the group’s 15th anniversary and the 82nd anniversary of D-Day, a coincidence the band describes as “the planets aligned… but we will let the music speak for itself.” The demo was recorded at the band's newly completed home studio. IRON KINGDOM will headline a gig at Vancouver’s Rickshaw Theatre on Friday, June 5, 2026.

Canada-based hard rock band SPELL has a full-length called Wretched Heart, which will be issued through Bad Omen Records on the 1st of May 2026.

Norway-based heavy metal band SABOTØR will issue its debut album Første Aksjon through Dark Essence Records on the 8th of May 2026.

Germany-based TORIAN has an album, called The Lost Legion Rising, through Massacre Records on May 8th, 2026.

Sweden-based heavy metal group DEAD KOSMONAUT has signed a new deal with Edged Circle Productions and will release a studio album entitled Retrospectre in June.

Germany-based trio THE FALS will issue a full-length called Where Cold Steel Gleams through Undercover Records in April. The album was recorded and mixed at Journey Into Eternity Studio with Sascha Bastian.

Germany-based MIDNIGHT RIDER has a new album, entitled Limited Infinity, through Massacre Records on 22.05.2026.

Sweden-based heavy metal group MACE'N'CHAIN has a full-length called Crowned In Grey Skies shortly.

Four-fifths of KING DIAMOND's late 1980s line-up has reunited in a new band, LEX LEGION. Featuring Mikkey Dee, Andy La Rocque, Pete Blakk, and Hal Patino, alongside singer Nils K. Rue (PAGAN'S MIND), LEX LEGION's self-titled debut arrives through MNRK Music in June. A song called Sleep Eternally is available now.

Ross “The Boss” Friedman has died at the age of 72. He had ALS. MANOWAR, which had fired the guitarist from the band and feuded with him, was quick to issue a statement about the death.

Portugal-based heavy metal band TOXIKULL has a music video for the song Turbulence. It is taken from the band's full-length album Turbulence, which is out through Dying Victims Productions on 24.04.2026.

UK-based heavy metal band BATTLE BORN has signed with Frontiers.

Chile-based hard rock band DOMIC has a demo called Where Echoes End.

Finland-based CRIMSON DAY has signed a worldwide distribution deal with WormHoleDeath Records for the release of the Dark Dimension album in May.

NARNIA, 30 years old now, has a demo entitled X on May 29th, 2026.

Hamburg, Germany-based IRON AGE, which was active in the 1990s, has had its Concussion Of The Brain album reissued by Golden Core. An unreleased album is tagged on as a bonus.

"Cinematic" again lol: Greece-based power metal band VALOR has a concept demo called Ark Of Time, on May 15, 2026. The sci-fi concept is about humanity's final journey beyond Earth. VALOR is booked for the Hammers Legacy After Party and is opening for Heir Apparent in Athens, Greece. The band now features bassist Thodoris Karageorgos.

Italy-based heavy metal band KONQUEST will release an album called Dark Waters through No Remorse Records on 24.04.2026. The album was produced, recorded and mixed by the band's Alex Rossi.

CHRIS HOLMES (The Sound of W.A.S.P.) and THUNDEROR have cited health issues that require immediate attention as the reason for cancelling their May tour and will consequently not appear at the Muskelrock festival or Nordic Noise festival this year. TANK has signed on for Muskelrock instead.

Portugal-based heavy metal band SANDMIND's 13 Pragas Infernais is out through Firecum Records on 13.04.2026. It is sung in Portuguese and revolves around ancient Egypt. The band has begun work on a new record that is inspired by Portugal’s 15th-century Age of Discoveries. The band lists "dancer" Marisa de Almeida as a member.

LEATHERWITCH is a new project by former CRYSTAL VIPER singer Marta Gabriel. The act has a song called Beast Inside. It was produced and mastered by her husband Bart Gabriel. The act's First Spell album is available through Listenable Records on 29.05.2026.

Originally released on Massacre Records in 2003, white metal act SEVENTH AVENUE's Between The Worlds album has been reissued by Retroactive Records for the USA.

SEVEN METAL SINS has a debut album called Legacy Of Chaos, through Rockshots Records on June 5th, 2026. The heavy metal band was formed by former MANIGANCE members Stéphane Lacoude (bass) and Patrick Soria (drums) in 2024.

Despite reportedly working on a new album for Street Symphonies Records, Italy-based sleaze/hard rockers SPEED STROKE has signed a multi-album deal with Scarlet Records and will issue a new record on that label in the summer of 2026.

Greece-based progressive metal band HYPOSTASIS has a lyric video for the song Visions. It is taken from the band's Birth Of A Mask demo.

Because the world lacked new releases and cover versions: ELVENKING has an EP called Rites Of Disclosure through Reaper Entertainment. Rites Of Disclosure contains songs uploaded between albums and half a dozen cover versions.

France-based heavy rock band HIGHWAY has an album called Last Call For Rock N’ Roll through Rock City Music and distributed physically by FTF-Music and digitally by Virgin Music on 24.04.2026. New in the band are bassist Cerise Pouillard and second guitarist Florian Arnaud.

Doom metal band, featuring former MY DYING BRIDE members (Hamish Glencross and Shaun Taylor-Steels), has an album called Projections through Profound Lore Records on 29.05.2026.

Croatia-based hard rockers KEOPS have an album called Bitter Story For Humanity through SPV in May.

TODOMAL has signed with Season Of Mist. The band and EVOKEN are touring Europe this summer.

SUN DONT SHINE (formerly EYE AM) has an album called From Birth To Death through Back On Black. Members include CROWBAR man Kirk Windstein and former CROWBAR bassist Todd Strange.

ZZ TOP is touring Latin America in November of 2026.

PIRATE QUEEN has a full-length, called Travelling Around The World, through Despotz Records on September 4th 2026. There is an advance song called William Kidd. RUNNING WILD had a song called Ballad Of William Kidd on its 1998 album, The Rivalry.

THE QUILL has a record, called Master Of The Skies, through Metalville on May 8th 2026. The band worked with Erik Nilsson at 491 Studio again.

Denmark-based RAUNCHY has returned and announced that it has re-signed with Mighty Music. The band will release a first studio album in 12 years sometime this summer. It was recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios.

Founded in 2022, W't'M has uploaded a song called A Million Mistakes (Is All It Takes). The hard rock project began as an online collaboration between Italian singer Marica Moire and a group of Danish musicians led by bassist Ole Quist. The band was joined by vocalist Michael Bastholm Dahl (ex-ARTILLERY) in 2023.

Everyone is interchangeable and disposable. TWISTED SISTER has recruited solo artist and former SKID ROW singer Sebastian Bach to take over lead vocals for 50th anniversary shows this autumn, following the departure of singer Dee Snider due to health concerns. The band had earlier cancelled the reunion shows. Even earlier the band had given its farewell concerts. Drummer Joey Cassata (ACE FREHLEY) is a new addition as well seemingly replacing the previously announced Joe Franco.

Alberta, Canada's Decimate Metalfest is scheduled for June 26 and 27, 2026. Bands appearing include FAMOUS STRANGERS, CRIES OF BLOOD, GLYPH, THE CONVALESCENCE, SQUIDHAMMER and LET IT ROT.

Afghanistan. Iraq. Iran. American/MAGA/Republican cultists follow and worship Trump when he criticized the idea of attacking Iran, suggesting that such actions would stem from poor negotiation: “Remember that I predicted a long time ago that President Obama will attack Iran because of his inability to negotiate properly - not skilled!” Yet later
American/MAGA/Republican cultists still follow and worship Trump when he said: “I'm not happy with the fact that they're not willing to give us what we have to have.”
The definition of a cult and zombie cultists.