Week of September 11, 2026
Black Metal & Blackened Extremes
- ABBATH pulls the plug on performances after an on-stage incident — Abbath Doom Occulta left the stage just two minutes into a festival appearance because of health concerns, and all scheduled 2026 dates are now off.
- Kalt Vindur unveil a mesmerising new track, “Lost In Infinity”, highlighting Polish atmospheric black metal with collaboration from Greece.
- Efflore present their new record Elegies of the Island, merging Taiwanese ghost-story influences with “Oriental Black Metal.”
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Thrash, Speed & Blackened Thrash
- Exumer make a comeback with “Blinding Skies” and fresh material from Death Mask Messiah, marking their first studio release in seven years — a significant moment in thrash.
- Bulletbelt debut “Deathgasm 2”, a blackened power-metal song connected to the sequel of the horror-comedy film.
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Death Metal, Brutal Death, Slam & Death-Sludge
- Medical Negligence debut the disturbing new track “Rey Chivo”, drawing inspiration from a real Mexican true-crime story.
- Sea Sleeper release a full stream of Burden of Antlers, a progressive death-metal album from Portland.
- Noroth / Mörtual tease their upcoming split release with newly premiered tracks.
- Black Royal introduce “Drown the Seaweed”, the first single from their forthcoming death-sludge album Abyssian.
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Grindcore, Hardcore & Extreme Hybrids
- Moisturizer put out their chaotic grind record Second and Mystical, featured in Decibel’s Blast Worship column.
- Terror share a new video for “Erase You From My World”, continuing their hardcore onslaught.
- Killa Bastard debut the beatdown/hardcore track “Busted Up’”.
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Slam & Brutal Death Highlights
- NECRO MUTATION release the single and video “GEORGE BUSH SLAMATHON”, a new slam/brutal death offering.
- Mirrors US debut “Endless Oblivion”, a deathcore track included in Slam Worldwide’s weekly roundup.
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Doom, Stoner & Extreme Doom
- Materializer unveil “Unwind”, a noisy fusion of doom and stoner sounds.
- Bite To Break release “In Between”, combining elements of slam, hardcore, and death metal.
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Legacy & Major Announcements
- Gates of Ishtar reveal their first new album in 29 years, Murder the Light, set for release on January 21, 2027 — a major event for melodic death-metal listeners.
- Brutal Assault Festival 2027 confirms Master’s Hammer performing their cult album Ritual during the festival’s 30th anniversary, marking a historic black-metal moment.
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Andy Williams — guitarist for Every Time I Die and Atomic Rule, and known to AEW fans as The Butcher — died Saturday after collapsing mid‑match. He was 48. Williams went down suddenly during a tag‑team bout on September 5 and was rushed from the arena to a nearby hospital, where he passed away shortly after. His death sent shockwaves through both the metalcore community and the pro‑wrestling world, with tributes pouring in from bands, fans, and AEW talent.
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Hell in the Club - Italian/Swedish hard rock/heavy metal band have released their new single and official video, “Call Me At 666,” through Frontiers Music Srl. Founded by Andrea “Andy” Buratto, Dave “Damna” Moras, and Andrea “Picco” Piccardi, the band blends classic ‘80s rock with a modern touch. They have built a strong reputation with six studio albums, European tours alongside Crashdïet and others, and performances at major festivals like Sonisphere and Heineken Jammin’ Festival.
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Fear Factory - trailblazers of industrial metal, usher in a daring new chapter with their single "Roboticist." This release is the first recording to feature the band's current members: vocalist Milo Silvestro, drummer Pete Webber, and bassist Tony Campos. Combining intense mechanical force with an eerie, melodic refrain, the song delves into a dystopian world where the body deteriorates but consciousness persists.
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Darkest Hour - TO RELEASE NEW ALBUM SUFFER DIVINE ON OCTOBER 30, 2026
Suffer DevieRenowned metal giants Darkest Hour have announced their 11th studio album, Suffer Divine, set to be released on October 30, 2026. For this project, the band collaborated with producer Mark Lewis, known for his work with Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Cannibal Corpse. Spanning 11 intense tracks, Suffer Divine encapsulates everything Darkest Hour cherishes about heavy music, from its power to its spirit.Darkest Hour’s sound blends the passion, intensity, and purpose of hardcore with a strong appreciation for melodic riffs, death metal rhythms, speed, and twin-guitar harmonies. Their upcoming album, Suffer Divine, delivers an unrestrained, revitalised burst of aggression, where the urgency of hardcore and the emotional depth behind every note continue to fuel their metal passions through tone, attack, and riffs.
The album’s concept revolves around the notion that self-worth and meaning can be found through one’s own suffering. Indeed, the making of this album embodies that very process. It channels immense rage, anger, and pain, yet simultaneously contains a great deal of hope. It balances hope, fury, and empathy in equal measure.
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Triosphere - New Single "Monster's Ball" - Official Lyric Video
Norwegian heavy metal band Triosphere is thrilled to release their new single and official lyric video, “Monster’s Ball,” their first with Frontiers Music Srl. Formed in 2004 by guitarist Marius Silver Bergesen and singer/bassist Ida Haukland, the band later added guitarist Tor Ole Byberg and replaced drummer Ørjan Aare Jørgensen with Kenneth Tårneby in 2014. Their music blends hard rock, power prog, and thrash metal with strong melodies and guitar work. Their debut album “Onwards” won “Best Metal Album” at the 2009 JPF Awards. Despite delays, Triosphere has maintained a loyal global fanbase and focused on completing their fourth album after the pandemic.
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Shakra - Swiss hard rock veterans are excited to reveal their latest album, “Just Live Loud!”, which is now available through Frontiers Music Srl.
The song’s lyrics capture the special moment before a concert starts: lights dimming, the crowd growing louder, and the charged atmosphere, like before a storm. These memories recall warm summer nights, first concerts, and youthful, fearless presence. Yet, “Let The Show Begin” isn’t just nostalgia; once the music starts, that feeling comes back instantly. Vocalist Mark Fox still feels the same powerful emotion performing on stage as he did standing before it._____________________________________________________
Featured Monthly Artists
Spider Rockets Vocalist Helena Cos Metal Riffs TV Interview and "The Storm" video Wolves in the Throne Room - Ghosts Among The Obelisks - Fear Factory - Roboticist
- Darkest Hour - The title track "Suffer Divine" is intense and filled with a sense of retribution.
- Hell in the Club - "Call Me at 666" unleash today their new single and official video.
Shakra - "Let The Show Begin"
News Bits & Pieces
Week of September 7th, 2026
- Slipknot dropped a surprise new single titled "Arsenal," marking their first new track in three years.
- Neurosis announced a fresh run of US tour dates for 2026–2027.
- Soul Glo announced a new album and released their single "February Theory".
- Amon Amarth is officially ramping up for their highly anticipated next record, The Allfather Awakens, coming via Metal Blade Records.
- Dying Fetus & Sanguisugabogg are hitting the road together for a massive brutal death metal tour, alongside heavy support from Crowbar and Left to Suffer.
- Pentagram is taking the underground by storm on their 2026 'Last Rites' Tour, bringing classic, traditional doom down upon New England and major US stops.