– November 6th, 2025 –

The holidays are here! Starting today (November 6th, 2025) through December 31st, 2025, fans can find deep discount vinyl, box sets, CDs, Blu-ray, merch, and more at up to 80% off at the Metal Blade USA store: metalblade.indiemerch.com

This holiday sale features artists such as Amon Amarth, Behemoth, Between The Buried And Me, The Black Dahlia Murder, Cannibal Corpse, Cattle Decapitation, Cirith Ungol, Cult Of Luna, Ensiferum, GWAR, Job For A Cowboy, King Diamond, Killswitch Engage, Powerwolf, Revocation, Six Feet Under, and more. This sale is for a limited time and while supplies last, so head over to our store to pillage your copies today.

Start your shopping early this year:
metalblade.indiemerch.com

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Legendary metal titans Megadeth have teamed with Trafalgar Releasing for “Megadeth: Behind The Mask”, a cinematic legacy event that will debut on screens worldwide Thursday, January 22—on the eve of the release of the band’s final studio album on January 23. 

The film will screen in over 1,000 cinemas across 35+ countries. Tickets go on sale Thursday, December 11 at 6am PT / 9am ET / 2pm GMT / 3pm CET, with a trailer available for viewing on the same day. For more information and to sign up for updates, fans can visit this location.

In “Megadeth: Behind The Mask,” Dave Mustaine pulls back the curtain on 40 years of Megadeth, sharing untold stories of the band’s past and the creative fire that drives them. Interwoven throughout, audiences will get to experience the world premiere of Megadeth’s new self-titled album in full, brought to life with a 40-year retrospective career-spanning interview and Mustaine’s own track-by-track reflections about the band’s final studio album.

This one-night-only listening event will provide a first listen to this landmark project. “Megadeth: Behind The Mask, is an immersive celebration of one of the most influential bands in metal history, capturing their legacy while heralding a powerful new chapter.

“This listening event is going to be amazing,” says Mustaine. “I can’t wait to share it with thousands of my closest friends around the world. I have so much gratitude for everyone who helped bring this film to life, especially you, the fans! Now let’s fire this up… and pass the popcorn!”

 “We’re thrilled to bring fans together for an exclusive first listen to Megadeth’s final studio album—that brings their career full circle,” says Kymberli Frueh, EVP Programming and Content Acquisitions at Trafalgar Releasing. “This isn’t just another Megadeth album: it features a bold reimagining. This cinema event is a celebration of the riffs, the intensity, and the uncompromising spirit that have defined Megadeth’s legacy. We can’t wait to share this moment with the fans who’ve been with them every step of the way.”

Leading up to the album and film’s debut, Megadeth — Dave Mustaine, Teemu Mäntysaari (Lead, Rhythm, and Acoustic Guitars), James LoMenzo (Bass Guitar), and Dirk Verbeuren (Drums)—have released two tracks: “I Don’t Care” and “Tipping Point,” the album’s first single. Megadeth have also announced a very special bonus track from the album: a reimagined version of “Ride The Lightning,” which Mustaine co-wrote with Metallica’s James Hetfield, Cliff Burton, and Lars Ulrich, and was the title track from the group’s 1984 album.

The post MEGADETH Announce Global Cinematic Event “Megadeth: Behind The Mask” For January 22, 2026 appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

– December 4th, 2025 –

“Servants Of Darkness, Guide My Way I” Video/Single Now Playing

Watch/stream NECROFIER’s “Servants Of Darkness, Guide My Way I” HERE

Houston, Texas-based black metal conjurors/recent Metal Blade Records signees, NECROFIER, will unleash their fiery new full-length, Transcend Into Oblivion, on February 27th, 2026.

NECROFIER are rewriting the rulebook in their own blood. Since 2018, the quartet has applied a spicy Texan intensity to the icy atmospheres of mid-’90s Norway, and Transcend Into Oblivion deploys their modus operandi with more power, conviction, and ingenuity than ever before. Here NECROFIER crafts a modern classic of the form, where tempestuous squalls of extremity are punctuated by sinister, melancholic, otherworldly melodies, twinkling in the gloom like will-o’-the-wisps on a black night.

Photo by Brian Sheehan

“This album really ended up where I always wanted us to go,” vocalist/guitarist Bakka reflects. “It also had me digging deeper into the journey, into myself and basically everything to get it here. I felt the way the record makes you sound. Sometimes surrounded in chaos and sometimes in moments of accession. I really like what we did on the previous album, but it doesn’t compare to what we have accomplished on the new one.”

While 2023′s Burning Shadows In The Southern Night was a redoubtable beast, edging NECROFIER closer to a radiant apex, as its name suggests, Transcend Into Oblivion surpasses their previous work and elevates the band to a higher plateau. Themes and lyrics are oppressively dark and conceptually linked with the number three being especially significant on this third LP, a three-act structure comprising three three-part suites, separated by three instrumentals.

“The other records have different concepts, but they weren’t drawn out in one big piece like the new one,” says Bakka. “From the creation, the record is based on a Luciferian Dark Night Of The Soul. ‘Fires Of The Apocalypse Light My Path’ is the awakening. The first three songs are experiences and dreams that were happening as this change began, and I questioned everything I was doing. It starts feeling as though a new fire has been lit, but it grows dark as we venture into the second act, ‘Servants Of Darkness Guide My Way.’ This is the struggle and torment that comes along with the awakening. Realizing things from the past are no longer true and you see the world in a different way, and it isn’t easy. This leads into Act III, ‘Horns Of Destruction Lift My Blade.’ This is the rebirth or accession. You have been transformed; you are not who you were before. Everything has changed, you see the world differently and you take what is yours.“

In advance of the record’s release, today the band presents “Servants Of Darkness, Guide My Way I.” Bakka elaborates, “The torment and struggle that comes along with awakening. The descent into darkness to be reborn. Where at first you thought everything was done, now you learn that these trials are what help shape you while they drive you mad.”

Watch NECROFIER‘s video for “Servants Of Darkness, Guide My Way I” HERE.

Transcend Into Oblivion was recorded at Southwing Studios and House Of Thorns in Houston, Texas, produced and engineered by Joel Hamilton with assistant engineering by Chris Kritikos, and mixed by Joel Hamilton at Studio G in Brooklyn, New York. The record features artwork by José Gabriel Alegría Sabogal (Whoredom Rife, Mephorash, Exhumation, Beheaded) and will be released on CD and digital formats as well as 2xLP w/ etching on Side D + four-page insert and DLC in the following color variants:

Cosmic Storm (Clear Brown Black Marbled) – (US)
180g black – (EU)
Enchantment (Cloudy Clear/Red Marbled) – (EU – Ltd. 500)
Transcend (Gold W/ Black Splatter) – (EU – Ltd. 300)
Cursed (Black Powder Splatter) – (EU – Ltd. 200; Band Exclusive)

Find all pre-orders at: metalblade.com/necrofier

Transcend Into Oblivion Track Listing:
01. Fires of the Apocalypse, Light My Path I
02. Fires of the Apocalypse, Light My Path II
03. Fires of the Apocalypse, Light My Path III
04. Behold, the Birth of Ascension
05. Servants of Darkness, Guide My Way I
06. Servants of Darkness, Guide My Way II
07. Servants of Darkness, Guide My Way III
08. Mystical Creation of Enlightenment
09. Horns of Destruction, Lift My Blade I
10. Horns of Destruction, Lift My Blade II
11. Horns of Destruction, Lift My Blade III
12. Toward the Necrofier

NECROFIER Live:
12/06/2025 Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest – Denver, CO
3/28/2026 White Oak Music Hall Lawn – Houston, TX w/ Acid Bath, Obituary, High On Fire
5/22/2026 Maryland Deathfest – Baltimore, MD

NECROFIER:
Bakka – vocals, guitar
Semir Özerkan – guitar
Mat Aleman – bass
Dobber Beverly – drums

https://www.instagram.com/necrofier
https://www.facebook.com/Necrofier
https://www.youtube.com/@necrofier1818
https://necrofier.bandcamp.com/music

Buy iTunes Artist Page Artist News

Friday 25^th September – The Stables, Milton Keynes, UK

Saturday 26^th September – The Asylum, Birmingham, UK

Sunday 27^th September – Komedia, Bath, UK

Monday 28^th September – The Apex, Bury St Edmunds, UK

Wednesday 30^th September – The Spirit Of 66, Verviers, Belgium

Thursday 1^st October – Colos-Saal, Aschaffenburg, Germany

Friday 2^nd October – Poppodium Boerderij, Zoetermeer, Netherlands

Saturday 3^rd October – De Pul, Uden, Netherlands

Sunday 4^th October – TBA, France

Tuesday 6^th October – La Sala, Madrid, Spain

Wednesday 7^th October – Razzmatazz 2, Barcelona, Spain

Friday 9^th October – Teatro Astra, Schio, Italy

Saturday 10^th October – Phenomenon, Fontaneto d’Agogna, Italy

Sunday 11^th October – Z7, Pratteln, Switzerland

Tuesday 13^th October – RNCM Theatre, Manchester, UK

Wednesday 14^th October – Playhouse, Whitley Bay, UK

Thursday 15^th October – Slay, Glasgow, UK

Saturday 17^th October – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London, UK

Good Day Noir Family,
“Let It Snow” arrives with a guitar riff that instantly frames the track as something bold, gritty, and mood-driven.

Let It Snow is Rakamay’s Single Out Now

 The texture of the opening chords already hints at the energy Rakamay love to chase: a mixture of alternative rock and punk-leaning shadows, shaped by sharp edges and restless intent.

Yet, as the verse unfolds, the band step into more luminous territory. There is a slight brightness hidden inside the strumming pattern, and that contrast creates an emotional tension that becomes one of the song’s strongest traits.

The vocal line follows the same dual nature. It carries a confident bite, yet it also reveals fragments of vulnerability. Furthermore, the melodic choices in the chorus add an almost eerie element. The harmonic progression leans into darker colors, which gives the hook an unexpected depth. This shift between uplifted verses and intense refrains keeps the track moving like a storm that never settles in one direction.

Additionally, the rhythm section deserves attention. The drums hit in a driving but controlled way, and the bass supports the guitar with a warm, slightly gritty presence. Together, they build a foundation that feels tight and restless at the same time. Because of this, the band manage to balance their 90s influences with a modern punch. The structure is straightforward, yet the atmosphere carries a sense of emotional turbulence that elevates the entire piece.

The chorus repetition also works incredibly well. Its hypnotic quality creates a sense of drifting into another dimension, as though the snowy imagery becomes a metaphor for disorientation, release, or even renewal. Meanwhile, the guitar work brings in small variations that keep the repetition interesting. It’s a subtle detail, but it shows how attentive the band are to dynamics.

Although “Let It Snow” borrows the rawness of grunge and the urgency of punk, Rakamay push everything into a fresh direction. Their attitude feels genuine, driven by instinct rather than formula. The track’s darker undercurrents give the song a personal edge, making it more emotional than its fast pace might suggest. Ultimately, it’s the sound of musicians who understand how to merge nostalgia with modern tension.

Let It Snow is Rakamay’s Single Out Now!

Electric!

Let It Snow is Rakamay’s Single Out Now

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The post Let It Snow is Rakamay’s Single Out Now appeared first on Edgar Allan Poets – Noir Rock Band.

Good Day Noir Family,
“The Empire Fell Down” by ELDERLY WHITE MAN feels like the kind of song that crawls out of a dusty attic trunk. Filled with old vinyl, faded photographs, and newspaper clippings from a different America.

THE EMPIRE FELL DOWN is ELDERLY WHITE MAN’s Single Out Now

 A bright yet slightly rough-edged guitar strumming introduces the track. Instantly establishing that warm analog character you’d expect from a classic ’70s songwriter record.

However, the duo doesn’t settle for imitation. Instead, they reinterpret that retro spirit through a modern lens, using sparse arrangements and expressive vocal delivery to tell a story that feels deeply current.

The first thing that stands out is the voice — weathered in tone but emotionally charged, carrying a tension between disillusionment and quiet resilience. As the lyrics begin to unfurl, you’re drawn almost immediately into their commentary. The song paints an image of a nation wrestling with its own identity, hinting at collapse yet never slipping into pure despair. There is a careful balance at play: even as the message stings, the delivery holds a flicker of hope.

As the track progresses, more instruments slip in gradually. This slow build keeps the atmosphere shifting, giving the sense of something waking up — or falling apart — in slow motion. There’s a subtle psychedelic haze in the background, one that recalls Bowie’s more introspective periods. But the duo’s touch remains understated, avoiding excess and letting each sonic detail earn its place. Because of this restraint, the chorus lands with greater impact, its emotional weight carried by melody and intention rather than sheer volume.

The production remains earthy and organic throughout. A gentle rhythm section grounds the composition, while ambient textures drift behind the vocal phrasing, creating the impression of distant memories swelling and receding. You can almost see grainy film footage rolling across the mind’s eye — protests, small towns fading, families holding on, and a culture struggling to find its future.

Yet the beauty of the song lies in how it refuses to surrender to darkness entirely. Even though the narrative addresses decay, corruption, and societal fracture, the emotional core carries an undercurrent of faith — a belief that reconstruction is possible, that people can rise again even after heavy historic weight pushes them down. The track never preaches; instead, it reflects, questions, and stands quietly firm.

“The Empire Fell Down” is a reminder that music can comment on complicated realities without losing its artistic pulse. ELDERLY WHITE MAN approach their subject matter with a clarity that feels honest and a sound that feels lived-in. The duo presents a piece that resonates as a cultural mirror and as a personal confession, making it a memorable entry in their catalog.

THE EMPIRE FELL DOWN is ELDERLY WHITE MAN’s Single Out Now!

Reflective!

THE EMPIRE FELL DOWN is ELDERLY WHITE MAN’s Single Out Now

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Discover New Bands Click Here

The post THE EMPIRE FELL DOWN is ELDERLY WHITE MAN’s Single Out Now appeared first on Edgar Allan Poets – Noir Rock Band.

The Road Runners have a Gadsden, Alabama address on their only 45, but a notice in the Alexander City Outlook on December 15, 1966, mentioned a performance at the Goodwater, AL home of Mr. & Mrs. Steve Gilliland, Jr. Both towns were east of Birmingham, but at some distance from each other. The other names on the notice are Dr. & Mrs. Joe T. Roberts, likely parents of another band member.

The A-side is a good, jaunty version of the Contours hit, with the full title “Do You Love Me Sixty Six Style”. The flip is a light instrumental credited to Gilliland, “To Be With You”.

Anyone have a photo of the group?

Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden and Richie Kotzen of The Winery Dogs, performing together as Smith/Kotzen, have released a new official lyric video for the track “Blindsided.” The song appears on their latest album, Black Light / White Noise.

The duo’s second album, Black Light / White Noise, earned widespread praise and reached No. 1 on the U.K. Official Rock & Metal chart. Building on that momentum, Adrian Smith and Richie Kotzen are preparing to tour the U.K. and Europe in February and March of 2026.

Their partnership began with the self-titled 2021 album Smith/Kotzen, which broke into the U.K. Top 20 and found strong audiences across Europe as well as North and South America. After playing well-received shows on both sides of the Atlantic, the pair reunited in 2024 to create their second full-length record. Released this past April, the album triggered heightened demand from rock listeners eager to see the two musicians return to the stage.

Reflecting on the fan response, Adrian Smith says: “We’ve been blown away by the reaction to Black Light / White Noise! We’re extremely proud of it, and to know that it’s been received so enthusiastically by fans old and new has been amazing. We can’t wait to hit the road next year with Julia (Lange – bass) and Bruno (Valverde – drums) of course, and start playing some of these songs live.”

Richie Kotzen shares similar enthusiasm: “From the moment we finished the record, we knew we had something special on our hands. It’s been a joy for us both to play together in the studio and on stage, and to write some of the most exciting music we’ve ever done. Bringing it to bigger stages and even more people in the UK & Europe next year is going to be great. We’ll see you all down the front!”

Ahead of unveiling the tour schedule, Smith/Kotzen received awards celebrating the No. 1 position of Black Light / White Noise on the U.K. Rock & Metal Album Chart—a milestone they were delighted to acknowledge.

Black Light / White Noise Tour Dates:

February 2026
3 – La Riviera – Madrid, Spain
4 – Apolo – Barcelona, Spain
6 – Le Trianon – Paris, France
7 – Zik-Zak – Ittre, Bekgium
9 – Rockhal Club – Esch-Sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
10 – Philharmonie – Haarlem, Netherlands
12 – Rock City – Nottingham, UK
13 – O2 Ritz – Manchester, UK
15 – SWG3 Galvanizers – Glasgow, UK
17 – KK’s Steel Mill – Wolverhampton, UK
18 – 1865 – Southampton, UK
20 – O2 Academy – Bristol, UK
21 – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire – London, UK
23 – Carlswerk Victoria – Köln, Germany
24 – Volkhaus – Zurich, Switzerland
26 – Live Club – Milan, Italy
27 – Backstage Werk – Munich, Germany

March 2026
1 – Lucerna Music Bar – Prague, Czechia
2 – Progresja – Warsaw, Poland
4 – Columbia Theater – Berlin, Germany
5 – Gruenspan – Hamburg, Germany
7 – Berns – Stockholm, Sweden
8 – Pustervik – Gothenburg, Sweden

Tickets for all shows are on sale now here.

The post SMITH/KOTZEN Share New Lyric Video For “Blindsided” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

I’m currently in drum mode, writing, recording, and arranging drum parts for the new Autumns Eyes album. Drums have always been the foundation of my life as a musician, and I always go to great lengths to ensure the parts I write are up to the standards my musical mentors have instilled upon me over the years. In doing so, I’m forced to reference modern drum techniques and recordings to get an idea of what todays percussive landscape looks like. What bugs me about modern drum recordings is how fluffy they sound, much like most modern metal music.  It’s all produced in such a familiar way, that it just kind of blends together into this mushy/fluffy garbage. I can’t identify one band from the next because they’re all using the same sounds and techniques. Snare drums are pillowy and over-compressed, while kick drums might as well be a completely separate instrument, and the cohesion of the entire kit seems like an afterthought. I’m not saying my catalogue of recorded drums is perfect, many of them sound like shit, but at least there is a unique variety amongst them. Perhaps this is the grumpy old man aging its way out of me, but I truly feel as though modern metal drum trends are poisoning the landscape of heavy music.

Bitching and moaning aside, I’ll dive a bit more into the foundation this new album is finding via its percussive roots. Overall, it has a feel similar to the 2017 album Ending Life Slowly, in that it’s more simplistic and driving, rather than complex or challenging. You’ll find more engaging grooves that reinforce the guitar parts in a way that makes you want to bang your head, rather than count math equations on your fingers. The sonic characteristics of the drums also find themselves fitting nicely into the entire mix, something that proved quite challenging on the last album Grimoire of Oak & Shadow. The density of those songs created a tight sonic landscape which made it difficult to sit the drums in a space that wasn’t competing with the other 900 instruments playing at the same time. So, Im quite fortunate to have found a kit that plays nicely with the guitars, bass, and keys. It makes things that much easier once it comes time to mix everything, and put the finishing touches on the album as a whole.

I should also mention that song titles are all wrapped up as well, a detail usually procrastinated until the last phases of recording are complete. To my shock and surprise, the lyrics and song titles revolve around, DEATH! What a unique perspective for an Autumns Eyes album, where almost every album revolves around the same somber reflections on ones own mortality. To be fair, there is a bit of levity in these lyrics, with many bits of uplifting thoughts to help contrast those of dread. All details any therapist would love to overanalyze, had I ever committed myself to paying someone to listen to my demented thoughts, rather than just have the world listen to them willfully. Either way, Im relieved to have gotten these thoughts out of my mind and into melodies. While the album itself doesn’t have a title yet, all bets could be placed on something morose and melancholy. Any suggestions?

You would think someone with such twisted thoughts would have to be living a life reflective of such despair, but honestly, life has been beautiful. There are always challenges, but thats what you want, isn’t it? How would we ever grow and learn if we immediately had everything we wanted in life? I’m a big believer in that phrase “the obstacle is the way”, which boils down to turning challenges into chances. Opportunities to capitalize on setbacks by learning how to manage them better, thus making it easier to navigate when those problems inevitably arise again and again throughout your life. Having the ability to channel frustration and fear into music is a gift I am always thankful for, but keeping the mind strong with motivation is a task only achieved through practice and purpose. I am surrounded by people whom I not only love, but who make me a better person day in and day out. The same goes for all of the fans of this music. The people who continue to share their support over the years who reinforce my desire to explore such an obsession with spooky songwriting. Without them, this project exists in a void that dies the moment it’s born, so to them I am forever grateful. On that note, I return to the studio where drums await my attention. For there is much noise to make, and more music waiting to be summoned.

The post Avoiding Trends to Forge a Strong Foundation appeared first on Autumns Eyes.