Category: news

German heavy metal torchbearers Mystic Prophecy have announced their brand-new studio album, In Metal, set for release on November 27, 2026, via Perception – Powered by Reigning Phoenix Music. Marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the band, the album announcement arrives alongside the release of its first single, “Robots,” accompanied by an official music video.

With more than two decades of history behind it, Mystic Prophecy has long established itself as one of the driving forces of the German and international heavy metal scene. Following the success of its acclaimed albums Metal Division and Hellriot, the quintet surrounding charismatic frontman R.D. Liapakis, also known for his work as a vocalist with Michael Schenker, now returns with renewed energy, a strengthened lineup, and a record built to hit with maximum impact.

The first taste of In Metal comes in the shape of “Robots,” a hard-hitting statement that turns its attention to one of the defining questions of our time: In an age increasingly shaped by technology, how much control over our own humanity are we willing to surrender?

Vocalist R.D. Liapakis and Dan Baune (guitars) comment on “Robots”: “In this age of technology, our future seems uncertain. We must ask ourselves: How do we keep/protect our humanity? Who decides for us? Or is it too late and we are all Robots already?”

Following Hellriot, Mystic Prophecy is entering its next era with three powerful new additions to the fold. Tommy Gun takes over bass duties, while guitarist Dan Baune, known from NWOBHM act Monument, and drummer Christophe de Combe of Belgian metallers FireForce complete the renewed lineup. Together, they inject even more power, precision and fire into the unmistakable Mystic Prophecy sound.

In Metal was produced by Dan Baune and R.D. Liapakis, with mixing and mastering handled by Henrik Udd. The album stays true to everything that has made Mystic Prophecy a force for more than 20 years while pushing its sound firmly forward. Fans can expect powerful, concise hooks with instant shout-along appeal, technically brilliant riffs and a hard-hitting, monstrous sound. A modern production gives the songs weight, depth and unstoppable headbanging force without sacrificing the band’s classic heavy metal spirit.

In Metal is available to pre-order here.

Whether on stage or on record, Mystic Prophecy has always treated heavy metal as a passionate, ultimate fight: no compromises, no holding back, just pure power. With In Metal, the band is ready to prove once again why it remains at the forefront of international heavy metal. In support of their upcoming album, Mystic Prophecy will hit the road in late 2026, joined by special guests Iron Savior and Generation Steel. Find all dates listed below!

The post MYSTIC PROPHECY Announce New Album “In Metal”, Share Music Video For First Single “Robots” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Finnish melodic black metal veterans AUTUMNFALL will return on September 25th, 2026 with their new album, The Archaic Sins, to be released by Ardua Music. Continuing the path established by their previous work, the album revisits material originally composed decades ago, yet demonstrates how naturally these songs can still impose themselves in the present day.

The first single “Lightless Depths” is now streaming HERE

Formed in Finland in 2019 by Jussi Hänninen, best known as the primary songwriter of Fall of the Leafe between 1996 and 2007, AUTUMNFALL emerged as a continuation of the musical sensibility that characterized the earlier years of that influential band. Joined by vocalist Tero Ruohonen, Hänninen has developed the project into a vehicle for revisiting old ideas while giving them renewed shape and purpose.

Following Ghosts of Light (2021), Bleak (2022) and The Archaic Shadows (2024), The Archaic Sins once again draws heavily from the past. With just one completely new composition, the album is primarily built around songs written between 1998 and 2001, now brought into the present through fresh arrangements and performances.

The result is fluid, finely arranged melodic black metal that never needs grand gestures to make its impact. AUTUMNFALL weave melodies together continuously, allowing guitars and rhythms to move with a natural, unforced sense of progression. The music can evoke wonder one moment and bitterness the next, shifting between emotional shades without ever disrupting its graceful flow.

Carefully considered rhythmic patterns provide a solid foundation for compositions that remain loose and organic, while the constant interplay of melodies gives the album its distinctive character. There is an unmistakable sense of musicians who have spent decades understanding how songs work, knowing when to add detail and, just as importantly, when to let an idea breathe.

Whether described as melodic extreme metal, dark metal or simply AUTUMNFALL, The Archaic Sins offers a sound rooted in experience, melody and atmosphere: material from another era that finds an unexpectedly natural home in the present.

Track-list:

1. Halo In Utopia
2. Lightless Depths
3. Dark Goddess
4. Mists of Eternity
5. Crystal Skies
6. Pulse
7. The Blind Brother
8. The Timeless Kin

Credits:

Jussi Hänninen: All Music
Tero Ruohonen: All Vocals/Lyrics

Mastered by Jasse Kesti at Kesthouse Studio

AUTUMNFALL:

https://autumnfall19.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/stormoftheautumnfall/

https://www.facebook.com/autumnfallband/

Ardua Music:

https://www.arduamusic.com/

https://arduamusic.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/arduamusiclabel/

https://www.facebook.com/ArduaMusicLabel

The prolific Los Angeles underground rap staple Rhys Langston was a Stereogum Artist To Watch in 2022, and he has made a whole lot of playful, verbose, layered music since then. Langston released the album Pale Black Negative last year, and he teamed up with R.A.P. Ferreira and nahhphet on “Sound Of Horns” earlier this summer. Now, he’s preparing to release a new LP called to live and die in E.U.L.A., and he’s got two more songs out in the world.

The post Rhys Langston Announces New Album <em>to live and die in E.U.L.A.</em>: Hear Two Songs appeared first on Stereogum.

Posted on August 21st 2026, 5:15pm

The title track from their forthcoming new album

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Santa Fe death metal band STREET TOMBS have released their second full-length album, Existence Is Corruption, through Carbonized Records. The eight-track record is available in physical and digital formats and can now be streamed in its entirety. Stream Existence Is Corruption in full Existence Is Corruption presents a furious response to modern society, complacency, greed […]

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(written by Islander) On Juneteenth (June 19) Texas-based Haintgrove released “Starless Passage“, the project’s debut single and first track from a forthcoming album. I paid attention in part because I’m originally from Texas and spent nearly half my life there before moving to the Pacific Northwest, but mainly because of the song’s inspiration and lyrical […]

The post AN NCS VIDEO PREMIERE: HAINTGROVE — “I DREAM IN A TONGUE I CANNOT SPEAK” appeared first on NO CLEAN SINGING.

To promote their upcoming album release Among The Seeds Of Death, death metal veterans Master now stream the first single called “Twas Always A Plan”.
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First appearing on these pages back in 2016 with sophomore record Forsaken, progressive power outfit Noveria have made a habit of getting in their own way. After Forsaken failed to match its Evergreyed ambition with clumsy execution, the quintet bounced back in a big way with Aequilibrium (2019), a record packed with heaviness, melody and virtuosity that hinted at huge things for these Italians. Then regression reared its ugly head with 2024’s The Gates of the Underworld. Although Noveria cleverly reframed their emotional themes through mythological imagery, the album once again collapsed under the weakness of its songwriting, disappointing GardensTale enough to question whether he would ever review them again. Indeed, consistency has been elusive for Noveria, making their on-again, off-again pattern of releases particularly frustrating. But fret not, dear reader. If history is any guide, the pendulum should swing back toward the positive with fifth LP Becoming After, assuming the metal gods smile on us.

And smile they have. Striking a sweet spot between Symphony X and Dream Theater, with touches of Pagan’s Mind, Becoming After finds Noveria sounding like a band reborn. Talent has never been in short supply here, and their cup now runneth over, with drummer Paolo Conte and keyboardist Paolo Campitelli (ScreaMachine) replacing longtime members Davide Calabretta and Julien Spreutels, respectively, alongside the addition of vocalist Frank Marino (Dreamscape). These guys can flat-out play, and Becoming After reaps the benefits, delivering everything existing fans could hope for, only harder, faster and stronger. The aggressive riffs of Aequilibrium are pervasive, synched tightly with Conte’s kinetic rhythms and Campitelli’s synth embellishments, all bolstered by string arrangements by violinist Abigail Stahlschmidt and cellist Luca Basile on cuts like “Through Your Light”¹ and “Convicted to Rise.” There’s even a few surprises thrown in for good measure, including djent-focused tracks (“Radiance,” “Heavenfall”) and serene ballads (“Through Your Light”) that help keep things fresh. Although the stylistic departures of “Heavenfall” and “Radiance” seem somewhat out of place within the broader context, they are executed well enough to keep momentum while still feeling fun and adventurous.

Losing most of your roster can hamstring even the best bands, but in Noveria’s case, the shakeup has proven transformative. Francesco Corigliano’s departure left a massive void, but Frank Marino is quick to quell any fears he can’t fill those shoes. The downfall of Gates was its lack of hooks and Mariano ensures that problem doesn’t persist on Becoming After, stuffing Noveria’s songs to the brim with hooks and towering choruses. Possessing James LaBrie’s (Dream Theater) buttery tone and multi-octave range, Marino tears through tracks like “Cold Flames,” “Convicted to Rise,” “Echoes From the Abyss,” and “Infinite Horizons” with a command that is increasingly rare these days. While his voice occasionally loses a bit of power when venturing into higher registers, it still more than holds its own against the record’s dense instrumentation.

As impressive as the vocal performance on Becoming After is, the rest of Noveria deserve equal recognition. Longtime guitarist Francesco Mattei drives the group’s sound with a barrage of muscular riffs that span progressive, power, and djent, setting his fretboard ablaze with virtuosic solos and rapid-fire scales that form the record’s ambitious foundation. When paired with Campitelli’s fleet-fingered keyboard solos, the two put on an absolute show that rivals the best in the business. Likewise, bassist Andrea Arcangeli’s (DGM) dynamic bass lines and Conte’s battering drum work provide a low-end backbone that underpins Noveria’s grandiose arrangements, resulting in songwriting that remains interesting throughout the record’s substantial 55-minute runtime. However, though not drastically overlong, Becoming After does periodically lose steam, most notably during the self-titled closing interlude, “Heavenfall” and “Viper’s Nest,” which are far from bad but feel overshadowed by the stronger material surrounding them.

Lineup changes be damned, Noveria have roared back with Becoming After, crafting an album with tremendous replay value and one that has beamed its way into my psyche with its memorable hooks and consistently strong songwriting. Progressive power metal can often veer into territory that is far too cheesy for my tastes, yet Becoming After strikes the ideal balance between over-the-top spectacle and tasteful restraint in a way that is both charming and difficult to stop listening to. Time will tell whether Becoming After finally breaks Noveria’s streak of inconsistent releases, but they now have my full attention.

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Rating: Very Good
DR: 7 | Format Reviewed: 256 kbps mp3
Label: Scarlet Records
Websites: scarletrecords.bandcamp.com/album/becoming-after | noveriaofficial.com/home.html | facebook.com/NoveriaOfficial
Releases Worldwide: August 21st, 2026

The post Noveria – Becoming After Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.

US thrashers Havok have confirmed a month-long headlining tour across the United States. Hellripper, Slackjaw and Xoth will be joining them as support on all dates, which are booked in October and November.
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