Swiss Death Metal veterans Nihilo, reveal the stunning cover artwork for their upcoming 5th album "Abyss", made by artist Rodrigo Prerira S. (Absolute Desert) which is scheduled for its release through Xtreem Music next November 3rd on CD & Digital formats.

      After more than two decades of uninterrupted activity, Nihilo have carved their name through sheer persistence, evolution, and sonic devastation, becoming one of the most solid and relentless acts in the European scene. From their self-released beginnings with “Nyktophobia” (2008) and “Concordia Perpetua” (2010), the band has continuously expanded its arsenal through a string of EPs, splits, and full-length albums, establishing themselves as a respected force within the European underground. Releases like “Dum Spiro Spero” (2014), “Doom” (2018), and “Resolution” (2022) showcase a clear progression toward a darker, denser, and sharper sound, where classic-rooted Death Metal collides with elements of Black Metal and Hardcore without losing an ounce of brutality.


      Their live activity has been equally crushing, with constant touring across Europe, sharing the stage with legends such as Possessed and Suffocation, and appearing at festivals like Mountains of Death and Metalcamp. In recent years, the band has kept the momentum going with releases such as the compilation “Made of Lies” (2024) and the live album “Chaos Unleashed” (2025), proving they remain in top form.

      Now, with their signing to Xtreem Music, Nihilo enter a new phase with serious intent. “Abyss” promises to be their darkest, most aggressive, and ambitious work to date, marking a turning point in their career.


     Release date for "Abyss" will be November 3rd, 2026 through Xtreem Music on CD & Digital formats.Stay tuned for the upcoming advance singles that will be revealed in the coming months


Follow Nihilo here:

www.facebook.com/nihilometal
www.instagram.com/nihilometal

     Colombian melodic black / death metal band Eshtadur announce their new full-length album, "In Darkness All Shadows Gone", due for release on October 2nd, 2026 through Rockshots Records. 
The announcement is accompanied by “Into The Woods”, the first single and official video introducing the musical and conceptual journey behind the record.

     Developed over four years, "In Darkness All Shadows Gone" consists of twelve compositions combining melodic black and death metal, symphonic arrangements, layered vocals, Tuvan throat singing and atmospheric passages. Recorded with the Caldas Symphonic Orchestra, the album expands the band’s established sound while maintaining the combination of heavy riffing, dark melodies and orchestral textures that has shaped its identity.


     The album follows a conceptual journey through mysticism, transformation and inner transmutation. At the centre of the narrative stands The Crow, a shamanic figure moving between existence, death, emptiness and the unknown. Acting as both master and apprentice, The Crow guides the listener through a process of isolation, self-discovery and spiritual awakening, where darkness becomes not only an oppressive force but also a path towards understanding the self.

     Across the record, Eshtadur explore the relationship between darkness and the light contained within each individual. The songs draw upon occult symbolism, cosmic philosophy, ancestral knowledge and human emotion, forming a continuous narrative rather than a collection of disconnected tracks. Musically, black and death metal alternate as leading forces throughout the album, supported by melodic writing, cinematic orchestration and folk-rooted elements.


Jorg August comments on the creation of the album:

     “We worked on this material for four years. It is a long album with twelve tracks, symphonic arrangements, a real orchestra, many vocal layers and Tuvan voices. At times, it felt like a giant puzzle but everything finally came together. We are proud of the result and grateful to everyone who helped us build it. A crow is calling.”


     The first single, “Into The Woods” represents the call to initiation and the first step into the album’s inner world. The listener is invited to leave behind external noise and enter the forest alone, confronting silence, memory and self-delusion. Inspired by contemplative philosophies and the idea of returning to nature as a means of self-discovery, the song presents the forest as both a physical place and a metaphorical descent into consciousness.

     ​Musically, “Into The Woods” combines fast melodic and aggressive guitar riffs, alternate-picked passages, dark orchestration, dissonant elements, ancestral chants and forceful vocals. The track establishes the balance between aggression, melody and atmosphere that continues throughout the album, while its lyrics address inner turmoil, past trauma and the need to confront fear before transformation can begin.


     The accompanying official video focuses on frontman Jorg August, who is guided by the symbolic Crow into the forest and towards the first dimension of the album’s narrative. The visual interpretation reinforces the song’s themes of solitude, initiation and departure, presenting the journey as an individual mission in search of a deeper understanding of the self.

     "In Darkness All Shadows Gone" will be available from October 2nd, 2026 through Rockshots Records. The album can be pre-ordered now from the Rockshots Records store at:
https://rockshots.eu/cuhb5ys9ncs1ndx

   The album was produced by Jorg August, who also wrote the music, lyrics, compositions and orchestral arrangements. The recordings took place at RockStar Studios Colombia, while the orchestra was recorded at Batuta’s Theater in Manizales, Colombia. The album was mixed and mastered by Tomasz “Zed” Zalewski, with additional mixing and mastering by Chris Clancy on “Fire Above Mountain Below” and “Umbra.” The cover artwork was created by Valesia Obscura.

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​Follow Eshtadur:

• Instagram: Eshtadur
• Facebook: Eshtadur

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• Roc​kshots.eu

     Rotting Christ announce a reissue of "Sanctus Diavolos," their eighth full-length, on vinyl through Season of Mist, set for release on September 11th. Originally released via Century Media in September 2004, the album is the closing chapter of the band's pre-Season of Mist, Vasilakopoulos-less line-up era, and one of the most extreme, cohesive records the group made in that stretch.

     "Sanctus Diavolos" was the first album Sakis Tolis wrote after the departures of long-time guitarist Costas Vasilakopoulos and keyboardist Georgios Tolias, and he absorbed both roles himself, handling guitars, keys, and vocals alongside only his brother Themis Tolis on drums and Andreas Lagios on bass. Across ten tracks the record moves from the aggression of opener "Visions of a Blind Order" through mid-tempo, riff-driven black and gothic metal, pausing at the string-and-choir interlude "Sanctimonious," before closing on the sprawling, choir-drenched title track.


     Thematically, it reframes its central figure as Lucifer the light-bearer, a seductive, welcoming presence, a distinction that set it apart from the band's earlier work and from most of the genre's stock devil-worship posturing. Symphonic and choral writing plays a larger role here than on any Rotting Christ record before it.

     The album features a guest solo from Gus G on "Visions of a Blind Order," and choir arrangements by Christos Antoniou of Septicflesh, performed by a live eight-person choir rather than a synthesized approximation. Sanctus Diavolos was recorded at SCA Studios in Athens and mixed by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman in Sweden.


​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/

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• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RottingChristOfficia/
• Bandcamp: https://rottingchristofficial.bandcamp.com/
• Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/rotting-christ/28441629/
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FhkwcO8Jd7BRWdllBpXBJ/

     Melodic death maestros collectively known as Avatar are elated to announce a monumental evening of music, pipe organs, dancers and theatrics at London’s historic Royal Albert Hall on March 30, 2027. The band will present ‘10 Years of Feathers & Flesh’, a one night only performance celebrating the tenth anniversary of their landmark concept album.
 
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Vocalist Johannes Eckerström exclaims:-

     “Feathers & Flesh changed the entire trajectory of how we work. Once you’ve started to think of the big picture in your work, you can’t put that genie back in the bottle. We’ve done all kinds of albums since then, and we will continue to do whatever the muses tell us to do. The thing they have in common, whether they’re comedy concept albums or satanic sock hops, is that we view them as paintings. They are cohesive pieces of work with a point."
 

     Following the acclaim of their latest studio album, "Don't Go In The Forest", a triumphant summer supporting Metallica across Europe on the M72 World Tour, and a blistering run of headline shows across the world on their Don't Go In The Forest 2025-2027 Headline Tours, Avatar intend to mark their territory by taking over one of the world's most iconic stages.

     On March 30, 2027 the band will celebrate the 10th anniversary of "Feathers & Flesh", the landmark album that defined their cinematic vision, with an exclusive, one night only performance at the Royal Albert Hall. Fans can expect the album to be performed in its exclusive entirety, augmented by orchestral arrangements, dancers, a live choir and the members signature visual storytelling.
 

​John Allfreddson, the band’s dream weaving drummer and founding member states:-

     “I end up in a rollercoaster ride, emotions run through every bone of my body,” while reminiscing on the recording process of this record. "Half my mind ends up in another time and life in Dresden with this crazy lady laughing, painting owls, playing with microphones and water, hysterically and joyfully clapping her hands. The other half is in this dreamlike forest that only exists in my own mind… I ask myself, did we really create this?”


​And so the anticipation and expectation builds of what we will come to witness on March 30, 2027. 
 
​
Standard Tickets for this exclusive event go on sale via the band's official website,  AvatarMetal.com - Wednesday, July 8 at 13:00 BST.

Limited VIP “Parliament Packages” and, “Talon Tickets” are available now through the band's official fan club website, AvatarCountry.com

     As one millennium died and another hateful, enraged age emerged from its rapidly decaying corpse, one band set about reshaping the outer limits of extreme metal. An unholy cyborg, a welding of circuitry and flesh, of tooth, claw and titanic hi-tech firepower, The Berzerker’s violence beyond reason left gaping wounds in a music scene that thought it understood where its boundaries lay. Safe spaces were set ablaze and the arbiters of genre definition put to the sword as the brute force of albums like 'Dissimulate' and 'Animosity' ran riot. Then, after four albums with Earache Records, The Berzerker independently released their definitive fifth album; a sanity shredding scream of industrial death metal, hyper speed programming and total sonic hostility, a final defiant, self-immolating explosion of fury – 'The Reawakening'.

     Despite being hailed as a resounding triumph, The Reawakening blazed fiercely but briefly. Increasingly frustrated and disillusioned with the music industry, The Berzerker’s creator, Luke Kenny, pulled the album from sale and streaming shortly after its release. Over the years that followed The Reawakening took on near-mythic status amongst fans – the ultimate expression of The Berzerker’s uncompromising passion becoming a cult obsession surviving in the collective consciousness of the underground through word of mouth, file sharing and hard-won copies passed between diehard devotees.


     But The Reawakening always deserved more than a shadow existence as a fabled ‘lost album’, a mysterious foot note in the annals of The Berzerker’s legend…and now the time has finally come for it to claim its rightful, unassailable place in the pantheon of extreme music. The Reawakening has found its natural home with Apocalyptic Witchcraft, a label with an unimpeachable reputation for supporting the most creative and unique works of black, death and experimental metal; a label led by Conor Droney, a man with a deep connection to the music of The Berzerker…

     “Discovering The Berzerker on a compilation at 15 was a life-changing moment that set me on the path I’m on today. It is only right that The Berzerker would end up working with Apocalyptic Witchcraft. The kings of extreme metal have returned.”
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     For those who have kept the name of The Reawakening alive throughout the years this reissue is a validation of their support. For those about to discover the album’s obliterating, unhinged chaos for the first time, an experience like no other awaits. Eighteen years on from its infernal birth The Reawakening remains a formidable creation. Abrasive, mechanistic, yet imbued with a burning, violent soul, from the precision riffing and pitiless programming of opener ‘Wisdom And Corruption’ to the rampaging off the rails, machine madness of ‘An Unforgettable Force’, The Reawakening is a whirlwind of razor blades. Be it the lurching mayhem of ‘Disassembly Line’ or the imperious aura of ‘Evolution Of Aggression’, radiating a supreme confidence in its ability to destroy utterly, every song is incendiary and dangerous. The years in the darkness have done nothing to dull the impact of this industrial savagery. It is time to welcome back a true apex predator.

     The Reawakening will be released on limited edition splatter vinyl, digipak CD and cassette on October 30th, ahead of the band’s performance at Damnation Festival in Leeds, alongside the likes of Carcass, Crowbar and Satyricon. The album will also reassume its rightful place on all digital platforms on July 17th.

• ALBUM PRESALE LINK HERE.

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• Follow The Berzerker on Facebook
• Explore The Berzerker world on Linktree
• Visit Apocalyptic Witchcraft here
• Follow Apocalyptic Witchcraft on Facebook

     Hailing from Ireland, Sink bring to the table a heady mix of nu metal, industrial, hardcore. As a result the quintet's first single strikes an impressively confident level of swagger - belying the young band's entry into the scene.

     'One Mind' was Mixed by Connor Sweeney (Loathe):- you can

• Stream here: https://sndo.ffm.to/k4yd15r
  
• Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/0rIsILYoqK4

The band comments:

     "As our debut single, 'One Mind' is the perfect example of Sink's combined song writing abilities to create something unapologetically passionate, catchy, and emotive. The track plays with different potential meanings, and works around the idea of learning how to speak, even when you feel as if you can't. 'One mind' is a subjective term - for example, being stubborn and in one mind about something; the world holding one collective mind; that all humans are the same and connected; or one mind meaning one person."


     With distinctive riffs and catchy vocal hooks, matched with intense live performances, Sink formed in Dublin, Ireland in late 2025, forming from the ashes of local bands - each respectively making waves within the alternative scene.

     Sink's philosophy is refreshingly no-limits - and their passion shows in every note, lyric, and live show. Sink is a project from the heart, born purely from the desire to reach people, moving their primal instincts with powerful songs and energetic performance.


     The band's inspirations are broad, and shine through. Each of the five members bring unique influences to the table from classic hip-hop (Nas, MF DOOM) to a wide range of alternative (Twenty-One Pilots, Turnstile, Bring Me The Horizon) - never boxing themselves into one specific sound. 


Catch them live:-

• 4th Jul Dublin, The Soundhouse (supporting Venom Inc.)
• 23rd Oct Dublin, SinE (supporting Brake Loose)
• 24th Oct Drogheda, The Watchtower - McHughs (supporting Brake Loose)
• 25th Oct Belfast, Voodoo (supporting Brake Loose)

https://www.instagram.com/sink_ire
https://www.youtube.com/@SINKire_TV
https://www.tiktok.com/@sink_ire

     Groundbreaking dark alt-metal visionaries Plague of Angels explore the fragmentation of human connection in the modern world on new single 'Pangea'. The band's fifth single is a dark and immersive journey, elevated by a guest solo from metal guitar virtuoso Josh Middleton of Sylosis and accompanied by a powerful, cinematic music video.

• Watch the video to 'Pangea' here: https://youtu.be/qdkxGU27MRw

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The band comment:-

     "'Pangea' represents everything we love about Plague of Angels: atmosphere and emotion blended with aggression and heaviness - but for this release, with a much slower and more brooding focus. At its core, the song explores humanity's increasing disconnection from one another despite living in a more connected world than ever before. Musically, we wanted to capture the tragedy of this theme through dark, haunting melodies, cinematic orchestration, and moments of explosive intensity, constantly shifting between intimacy and power.

    Rather than simply performance-based, we approached the video as an artistic extension of the music, creating something evocative and darkly immersive. We're also honoured to feature an incredible guest guitar solo from Josh Middleton of Sylosis, whose dynamics and phrasing adds another dimension to the track as it moves towards its emotional climax."

     Plague of Angels first turned heads in 2024 with their debut single, 'What Lies Beneath', and becoming the first metal band ever to perform on BBC’s The One Show. Their breathtaking live performance inside a church, complete with pipe organ accompaniment, earned critical acclaim from The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph, whilst solidifying their reputation as pioneers of “organic metal,” blending classical grandeur with contemporary heaviness. 

Their follow-up singles ‘Beyond Salvation’ and 'Lazarene' deepened that vision, showcasing a remarkable range of musical and emotional dynamics.


     The band made history once again with a sold-out performance at York Minster, one of the UK’s most iconic cathedrals. The monumental show saw their sound rise through the vast gothic arches of the Minster, merging the sacred and the extreme in a spellbinding display of light, sound and emotion. The event drew widespread national media attention, with coverage across BBC Look North, ITV News and BBC Radio 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6, underscoring Plague of Angels’ reputation as one of the most ambitious and visionary forces in contemporary metal.

     The concept of Organic Metal was born from guitarist Mark Mynett’s collaboration with Leeds Cathedral organist David Pipe, an experiment that bridged the sacred and the extreme. The project’s success, covered by local, national and international media, laid the foundations for Plague of Angels, a band devoted to exploring beauty, darkness and transcendence in sound.


Plague of Angels are: 
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• Vocals - Emilie Nox (Gravity)
• Guitar - Mark Mynett (Kill II This)
• Guitar - Oz Wright (Pythia)
• Drums - Jeff Singer (Kill II This, Paradise Lost & My Dying Bride)
• Bass / Piano - Caroline Campbell (formerly Cradle of Filth)
• Guitar - Richard Shaw (formerly Cradle of Filth) - writing member (non-touring)

  
     Following the release of their debut single “Anqa | عنقاء”, Bahraini death metal project Zvindiyar continue the build-up to their forthcoming debut full-length album with the release of a new single, “Fell”, while also revealing further details of the record.

     "Fell sits at the centre of the story; not a beginning or an end, but a breaking point.
It embodies collapse: a force that doesn’t arrive, it unfolds. A figure of ruin, where form gives way and something darker takes hold." - says the band

• Watch “Fell” here: https://youtu.be/m50Yq_WfUOk

     Zvindiyar blends dark, cinematic atmosphere with ambient death metal, rooted in Persian and Arabic mythological themes. Built around a strong visual identity and concept, the project aims for both sonic and aesthetic impact beyond typical releases. Members bring extensive live and recording experience, including major international stage performances.

https://www.instagram.com/zvindiyar/
https://www.youtube.com/@zvindiyar
https://www.tiktok.com/@zvindiyar

     Italian Christian power-prog metal veterans Metatrone announce their fifth studio album  “Sangueacqua”, set for release on March 13, 2026 via Rockshots Records.

     Following a period of silence that deeply challenged the band’s path, “Sangueacqua” emerges not simply as a comeback but as a statement of survival, identity and artistic consolidation.
Blending the drive of European power metal with progressive structures and modern rhythmic precision, the album showcases Metatrone at their most focused, aggressive and cohesive. Riffs are tighter and more assertive, grooves more grounded and impactful while melodic lines retain the crystalline character that defines the band’s sound. The production balances analogue warmth with contemporary clarity, pushing the band toward a more direct and powerful sonic identity.


     The line-up marks a highly anticipated reunion with historic frontman Jo Lombardo returning on lead vocals, alongside founding members Stefano “Ghigas” Calvagno (guitars, bass) and David Brown (keyboards, vocals), joined by drummer Simone Alberti, whose performance combines technical precision with visceral energy. At its core, “Sangueacqua” explores the concept of identity and belonging - artistic, personal and spiritual.

     The album confronts imitation and conformity in “Facsimile”, reflects on collective oppression in “Stato Infame” and challenges the idolatry of power and wealth in “Fuori dal Tempio”. Spiritual identity remains central, expressed as a call to action as well as a mystical root in “Anima Christi”  based on an ancient Latin prayer.


     The title itself evokes endurance through suffering: blood and water as symbols of struggle, resilience and rebirth. The album artwork, created by Nello Dell’Omo (ArtForMusic Studio) based on a concept by Ghigas and David Brown, visually translates these themes into a powerful and evocative imagery.

Guitarist Stefano “Ghigas” Calvagno comments:

     “There are very few words that can explain how much I love this album. One of them is ‘resistance.’ There were moments when we thought we had reached our endpoint. But the flame was still burning. ‘Sangueacqua’ is our blood, our life, our legacy.”


Keyboardist David Brown adds:

     “This album is filled with energy and soul. Jo’s return and Simone’s entrance were crucial. It sounds more direct and aggressive, yet completely true to who we are.”


Frontman Jo Lombardo states:

     “I’m excited for this album because I came back to my beloved place, among old friends and with incredible songs to sing. Metal music is still flowing in my veins.”


Drummer Simone Alberti concludes:

     “It’s not a new beginning nor an ending point but a continuous line drawn by passion, blood and sweat. I can’t wait to play this album live.”


     Produced by the band, recorded and mixed by Luigi Scuderi at DigiVintage Studios (Italy) and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Hansen Studios, Denmark), “Sangueacqua” stands as Metatrone’s most defined and cohesive work to date. “Sangueacqua” will be available in physical format as CD digipak starting March 13th, 2026.

The band will present the album live with a special release show on March 15th at the Elements Of Rock Festival (Switzerland).


Pre-orders are now available via the Rockshots Records official store  https://rockshots.eu/products/metatrone-sangueacqua-cd