 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
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 Promo picture by Janne Pasanen Finnish modern melodic death metal band Volucrine are set to release their fifth album via Inverse Records later in 2026. The first single, 'Golem', is released today, and its music video is available here: https://youtu.be/bb9rVOdwLwo The band's mastermind Jupe Velin comments: "After the great volcano erupted, the world was left barren and empty. The earth was covered in petrified magma and the air was heavy with ash. As if by a miracle, however, something in the grey mist moved. The boulders and cobblestones rattled and grinded as they piled up on top of each other. They climbed towards the sky, slowly twisting into a spine. The wind helped the sand draw its expression, the clay bound its limbs together. Assembled from the fragments of a bygone world, its cold shell began to resemble a human, but one without a purpose. Even though it didn’t know which way to go, two things were certain: It had a melting heart and a burning desire to live. As a composition, 'Golem' was built up from the, perhaps even a little bit folk-inspired, guitar melody heard in the chorus. When you add Volucrine’s typical riff texture and a crushing verse, the result is a surgical strike in song form that can be proudly presented as the first single from the upcoming album. The lyrics are addressed to those who sometimes feel that life takes away more than it gives. I would like to remind them that navigating through a void without a view requires guts and strength of character. Even there, you might find new life." LISTEN to Golem on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/volucrine-golem Composed & lyrics by Jupe Velin ISRC-code: FI3FC2655101 Single cover by Jupe Velin https://www.facebook.com/volucrineband https://www.instagram.com/volucrineofficial https://volucrine.bandcamp.com  Heiden, the Czech progressive black metal band, announce their tenth full-length album, "Cma", set for release on 24 April 2026 via Epidemie Records. Available in digital, CD, and vinyl formats, the album marks a continuation of the journey begun with 2022’s acclaimed "Andzjel". The first single and official music video, “Temnoplodec”, is out now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE0wO5wXZwY Three years after the acclaimed album Andzjel, Heiden return with their tenth full-length release, Cma. The album is a direct continuation of the previous chapter, yet one that dives even deeper into darkness. Once again, Heiden’s music flows through the landscape of the Carpathian Mountains — not as a backdrop, but as an inner terrain where memory, guilt, and fear merge into a single current. Across nine tracks, Cma rises from silence and ashes, from images of remote mountain villages where time has come to a standstill, and from human stories in which borders no longer began in the land itself, but within people. Clean, hypnotic riffs and an urgent vocal delivery create a sense of inescapable tension — like a nocturnal flight through a landscape that no longer offers shelter. Emerging from the black metal underground more than twenty years ago, Heiden have never allowed themselves to be confined by genre boundaries. Their music has always been rooted in place, language, and personal experience, remaining open to experimentation and silence alike. Cma continues this path with unprecedented intensity. This is not an album that offers catharsis, strength, or comfort. It is a record of brooding reflection, heavy sorrow, and quiet dread, born from stories of the borderlands of occupied Czechoslovakia, where humanity slowly eroded under the pressure of fear and hatred. It does not seek to overwhelm the listener — instead, it draws them into a state of melancholy where the past continually resurfaces. Darkness here is not an effect, but an inseparable part of the human condition. Cma stands as the darkest album in Heiden’s history — and one of their most honest.
All songs were originally composed and recorded by Heiden, all lyrics were written by Kverd. Bass parts were composed and recorded by the band’s close friend Murky. All tracks except the bass and key were tracked during spring – beginning of summer 2025 in SHAARK recording studio, engineered by Pavel Hlavica and Petr Nejezchleba. Bass was tracked in Murky’s home studio, keys were recorded in Niche home studio & engineered by Kverd, both during the same period. The album was mixed and mastered by Karl Daniel Lidén in Tri-Lamb studio during July 2025. Album cover photo was arranged and taken by Jan Škop during photo session with Jakub König. For artwork used with kind permission of the author. The band photo was taken by Tom. Ink graphics used on a cover were drawn by Kverd. Design and layout of the cover was made by Kverd. Line-up:
 Italian Thrashers Ural fire the first missile in the form of their new single, unveiling the details of their devastating fourth studio album, “Anthropic Genetic Involution”. The new record will be released on April 23rd through Xtreem Music on CD and across digital platforms, and promises= to take their explosive blend of Old School Thrash and Crossover attitude to a new level of intensity. Listen to the first advance single as a video-clip:
Xtreem Music continues its collaboration with Italian Thrash / Crossover force Ural, one of the most consistent and hard-hitting acts in today’s European old school scene. Formed in Turin in 2010, the band has steadily built its reputation since their self-titled demo (2011) and the “Wasteland” EP (2013), followed by the full-length albums “Party With the Wolves” (2016) and “Just For Fun” (2019), establishing a sharp and aggressive sound deeply rooted in ’80s Thrash with clear Voivod influences. In 2022, Ural released the “Cyber Requiem” EP, produced by Davide “BrutalDave” Billia (Antropofagus, Beheaded, Hour Of Penance) with artwork by Luca SoloMacello. The same team handled their third full-length album, “Psychoverse” (2023), which marked the band’s signing with Xtreem Music for worldwide promotion and distribution. After two years of intense live activity across Italy and Europe, URAL completed their fourth album in 2025, once again produced by Davide Billia. Titled “Anthropic Genetic Involution”, the album is scheduled for release 23rd April 2026 through Xtreem Music.
Delivering razor-sharp, uncompromising Thrash Metal that channels the spirit of the ’80s Bay Area while blending dissonant Voivod-inspired riffs with raw Crossover energy, URAL firmly establish themselves as a powerful force within the New Wave of Old School Thrash Metal. Release date for "While Everything Collapses" will be April 23rd through Xtreem Music on CD & Digital formats. www.facebook.com/uralwolfteam Peruvian Death Metallers Hell Trepanner announce debut album "The Consecration Of Eternal Impurity"11/2/2026  Hell Trepanner’s debut full-length "The Consecration Of Eternal Impurity" will be released on March 20, 2026 by Awakening Records. The album comes out on CD and digital formats. The first single, "Blaspheming in Primordial Tongues," is out now: https://youtu.be/IEJOPlnXN-8 Hell Trepanner come from the southern districts of Lima, Peru, and has been active since 2015. From the beginning, the band has stayed focused on old school death metal without compromise - no stylistic updates, no trend-hopping, no unnecessary polish. Just raw, hostile music built on heaviness, darkness, and blasphemy. The band operates as a trio, and that stripped-down formation shows in the sound. The riffs are thick and ugly, the drums push forward without restraint, and the vocals stay deep and confrontational. Whammy bar abuse, blast-heavy sections, and slower crushing parts are used where they make sense, not as decoration. The record feels aggressive by nature rather than by design. Lyrically and atmospherically, The Consecration of Eternal Impurity revolves around desecration, spiritual decay, death, and inverted ritual. There’s no narrative hand-holding here - the album leans into oppressive moods and ritualistic imagery, treating death metal as something closer to a ceremony than a performance.
The album was recorded at Dragon Verde Studios and mixed and mastered at Sounds of Perseverance Studios, keeping the sound dense and forceful rather than clean. The cover artwork, painted in oil on canvas by Artem Astaroth, fits the album’s tone without drifting into fantasy clichés. Members of Hell Trepanner have been involved in several key projects within the Peruvian underground, including Necrofagore, Evil Priest, Disinter, Ensseminis, Nefasto, Evil Spectrum, and Rito Profanatorio. The band is also known locally for intense live shows that favor pressure and volume over theatrics. The Consecration of Eternal Impurity doesn’t attempt to redefine death metal. It exists to reinforce what the genre already does best - heaviness, darkness, and confrontation - delivered with conviction and no interest in modern polish. Max Necromanza – Vocals / Bass Neil Destructor – Guitars Manolo Agressor – Drums https://www.facebook.com/helltrepannerdeath https://www.instagram.com/helltrepanner.death https://helltrepanner.bandcamp.com https://www.facebook.com/AwakeningRecordsCN/ https://www.instagram.com/awakeningrecordscn/ https://awakeningrecordscn.bandcamp.com/ https://www.youtube.com/@AwakeningRecordsCN https://awakeningrecordscn.bigcartel.com/  Promo picture by Kristian Kipinoinen The Finnish Dark Gothic Metal band Horizon Of Aeons are set to release their debut album, "Timeless Forms Of Desolation", on 29 May 2026 via Inverse Records. The single 'Kairos', is unleashed today and it's available on all essential streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/horizon-of-aeons-kairos The band comments: "The lyrics deal with the concept of deep time. The vastness of the universe challenges human perspective. Our collective cosmic history shapes the eternal harmony of our souls. We are part of the ever-flowing stream of humanity’s consciousness. Musically, this song is more up-tempo and contains unique elements compared to other Horizon of Aeons songs. It is a perfect opening track as it gives the album a good kickstart with the blasting double bass on the drums. The outro is a piece of text spoken by our technician and co-producer Kristian Kipinoinen. This text is handled more closely in the song “1846 (The Ones Beneath)”."
Horizon Of Aeons is a Dark Gothic metal band founded in 2024, bringing together seasoned musicians from the Finnish metal scene. The band consists of Miska Lehtivuori (vocals,guitar), Ville Pekkala (guitar), Pekka Venho (bass), and Pekka Jokela (drums). These members have a rich history of playing together in various bands (Fall Of The Leafe, Ablaze In Hatred, Searing Meadow, Mormânt De Snagov, Leaflet, Jackie’s Land), which laid the foundation for their cohesive and powerful sound. Horizon Of Aeons’ musical influences are as diverse as the members’ extensive backgrounds in the metal scene. Each member brings a wealth of experience from their previous bands, contributing to the band’s unique sound. Together, these musicians create a sound that is both intense and melodic, drawing from a wide array of metal subgenres. Their influences span across various styles, allowing them to craft a distinctive musical identity that is uniquely their own. This blend of experience and inspiration results in a sound that is both familiar and innovative, pushing the boundaries of Dark Gothic Metal. Horizon Of Aeons’ lyrics delve deeply into the dark and complex concept of time and its relentless progression. Their songs often explore the infinite future contrasted with the finite past, creating a haunting and introspective atmosphere. The band masterfully weaves themes of existence and memory into their music, painting vivid pictures of a world where time is both a creator and a destroyer. In addition, Horizon of Aeons touches on themes of cosmic forces, often using esoteric and mystical imagery. They explore the inherent inclinations of humanity, the seductive nature of sin, and the purifying power of darkness. This adds a layer of depth to their music, as they challenge conventional beliefs and embrace the darker aspects of existence. Overall, the band’s lyrics are a profound exploration of time, existence, and the human condition, offering listeners a journey through the infinite and the ephemeral. https://www.facebook.com/horizonofaeons https://www.instagram.com/horizonofaeons https://horizonofaeons.bandcamp.com  More than thirty years on from their "Melancholy" debut album, Spain’s premier exponents of gargantuan, emotive, melodic doom / death metal are still forging ahead, redefining their style and creating albums of remarkable power, passion and depth. After the resounding triumph of 2024's "Spreading The Wings Of Hope", the band’s onward and upward trajectory shows no signs of slowing as they are already set to release their new, seventh full length album – "Hubris". Far from a carbon copy of its illustrious predecessor, Hubris is made of rawer, darker stuff. Drawing on the personal struggles and intimate tragedies of everyday lives Hubris is unflinching in its presentation. The past is gone and the band have described Hubris as ‘a very important chapter that truly reflects who we are today’… Beginning with the first single, ‘A Simple Life’, Hubris opens the floodgates of emotion and after a fragile vocal introduction the weight of despair crashes down upon the listener. The melodic chorus leads you with deceptive beauty into a deeper darkness and this desolate journey begins in earnest. ‘The Weight Of The Weak’ lifts the tempo, driving onwards with passages of genuine pace and some quality lead guitar work – something that also lights up the oppressive gloom of ‘Broken Toy’ and ‘Too Late’ – while ‘Blind’ is breath-taking in its overwhelming power, a majestic procession of sorrow. Before the emotionally punishing conclusion of ‘Intolerance’, we find one of Hubris’ many highlights in the atmospheric form of ‘Fire In The Shadows’. This song enfolds you in its black wings, encloses you in surging walls of emotion, sealing you away from the world, isolating you within its austere judgement. Hubris will accept nothing but total honesty and will offer the same in return. There are no flights of fantasy here, just a courageous confrontation with the reality of the world and the reality of our own failings. As the band puts it – “These are not fictional stories, but fragments of real life turned into music”.  To find the ‘rawer, more direct’ sound that they were looking for, to bring out the rugged textures of Hubris, Golgotha turned to producer Davide Billia (Antropofagus, Beheaded, Posthuman Abomination etc) – and together they have sculpted the unique sonic character that this album demanded. A brave album, a demanding album and an ultimately rewarding album, Hubris will emerge from the shadows under the banner of Abstract Emotions on April 24th. Be prepared to lay your heart before its gaze. Follow Golgotha on Facebook Visit Abstract Emotions here Follow Abstract Emotions on Facebook  Promo picture by Christian Koitla The Finnish melodic death / black metal band Se, Josta Ei Puhuta are set to release their new album, "Syvyyden Portit On Saatava Auki", on 29 May 2026 via Inverse Records. The first single 'Kuolemaa Ei Ole', accompanied by a music video, is released today and can be seen here: https://youtu.be/T7tHrBma1YU The band comments: "Kuolemaa ei ole is a declaration of rebirth and the fracture of consciousness. That which remains unspoken opens a gateway to unseen realms, where the end is not an ending but a transition. The song simmers beneath the surface, shifting in intensity as if an ancient force were awakening within a body long believed to be dead. Interwoven guitar harmonies guide the listener from one layer to another, creating a tense yet unexpectedly warm atmosphere. Resurrection does not occur through light, but through darkness, where the old self is abandoned and a new form is born. For this reason, Kuolemaa ei ole is a natural choice as the album’s first release. It is a beginning, but also a reminder of eternity. The song functions as a ritual in which the concept of death is stripped of its meaning. What remains is movement, continuation, and an endless cycle. We have seen the light, we have risen from the dead, this eternity is but a blink of an eye in the vastness of eternities." LISTEN to the single on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/sjep-kuolemaa
CD PRE-ORDERS from Inverse Store.
 Photo by Tom Brown Embracing a new chapter of artistry as a band, The Amity Affliction announce their long-awaited new studio album, "House Of Cards. Releasing via Pure Noise Records on 24th April 2026, House Of Cards is the first full-length from the band to feature clean vocalist Jonny Reeves, who became a permanent addition to the line-up in 2025. Bolstering Joel Birch’s signature fusion of intense and open lyricism, the arrangements and vocal duality provided by the band throughout the DNA of this new album is set to reaffirm their status as one of heavy music’s most dynamic groups. Now, the band shares the first taste of the new album - the impactful title track, ‘House Of Cards’. A song penned by Birch for his brother and sister (and himself), taking stock of the relationship shared with their mother; a central figure at the heart of the album. Open about the difficult nature of the relationship shared between mother and children, Birch unpacks the thematic nature of ‘House Of Cards’- “Our mother died in 2024 and none of us had a healthy relationship with her. She was very self-involved, aggressive and abusive in our early years and in her later years, spent a good amount of time trying to put a wedge between the three of us.Thankfully, once she passed, the three of us actually became closer as we realised we had individual but shared trauma related to her.” With lyricism directly related to experiences Birch and his siblings experienced during their formative years, ‘House Of Cards’ is a song that matches its sonic intensity with emotional weight threaded through its poignant words. The single, both as an individual entry and as part of House Of Cards’ broader tapestry, is a strong moment of acknowledging trauma but in doing so, navigating it with a redefined perspective on life and human relationships. Released alongside the track, is the music video for ‘House Of Cards’, directed by Daniel Daly. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq_x8bO3wSE&feature=youtu.be  As demonstrated throughout 2025 with both music (‘All That I Remember’) and a huge return to touring across North America, Europe and the UK, the hunger The Amity Affliction shares with their global audience when it comes to new material remains fervent. Across a two-decade strong career, the band has continued to take strides forward in delivering music that has brought them countless accolades including 5 ARIA #1 albums, over `1 billion streams and numerous sold out tours in both domestic and international markets. The release of "House Of Cards" in 2026 is set to be a powerful addition to a catalogue that remains one of Australia’s best. Australian fans won’t be waiting long to see the band back in action, with the band’s 21 date regional tour with favourites In Hearts Wake and Redhook starting in Queensland this week. The extensive tour will have The Amity Affliction on the road through into March, a perfect primer for the band leading into the album release and their return to North America in April. PRE-ORDER HERE  Promotional photo: Joonas Marjo Finnish Industrial Metal band Ruoska, will release their sixth studio album "Kade" February 27th. Now they have released the final single 'Ikirouta' from the upcoming album. When the mood darkens and despair rears its head, Ikirouta hits you in the face with memories, biting into your bones and core like a freezing winter wind. Based on audience reactions at recent gigs, Ikirouta proved that there is demand among Ruoska fans for heavy, slow-tempo tracks. The feedback on the song surprised the band members themselves, even though Ikirouta breaks the traditional boundaries of Ruoska. For the first time, Ruoska combines powerful distorted guitars with stunning orchestral arrangements in a way that reveals new nuances with each listen. Ikirouta keeps its listeners in its strong grip, creating a chilling and gloomy mental landscape that only a Finn can understand. Listen to the single on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal etc.): https://push.fm/fl/ruoska-ikirouta The band, which hails from Juva, Eastern Finland, and has already racked up nearly 25 million plays on Spotify alone, will also be heading out on an album release tour, which will be starting right after album release. https://www.facebook.com/ruoskaband https://www.instagram.com/ruoskaband/ https://ruoska.bandcamp.com/ |
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