Your patience has been rewarded. Chilean death squad RIPPER returns with their first full-length since 2016’s Experiment of Existence.
Towards Rebirth contains the band’s most violent work to date. Razor sharp guitar work, intense drumming and well-crafted songs are still there… only more concise, more vicious.
Towards Rebirth is available via Dark Descent Records on CD, vinyl and digital formats.
The last decade has seen RIPPER refine their attack into a lethal blend of old-school death metal and thrash-or-be-thrashed aggression. The band has undeniably earned a reputation as one of South America’s premiere extreme metal exports.
Beartooth will release its new album, Pure Ecstasy, on August 28 through Fearless Records. Written, recorded, and largely produced by frontman Caleb Shomo, the record sees the band expanding its sound while keeping the heavy riffs, massive choruses, and emotional intensity that have defined its career.
Although Caleb Shomo remains the main creative force behind Beartooth, the album includes several collaborations with Jordan Fish of Bring Me The Horizon, Halsey, and Good Charlotte, adding new layers and textures to the band’s latest material.
The band has also released a new single, “Eyes Closed”, a track focused on the feeling of being overwhelmed by sudden change and uncertainty. Built around crushing guitar work, Shomo‘s powerful screams, and a more vulnerable vocal performance, the song explores fear while capturing the drive to keep moving forward.
Shomo said: “There are so many fun riffs to play on ‘Eyes Closed’. It felt incredible to scream it out and let go. The song was written from the ground up with Jordan, and the moment it was a demo, we knew we had something special.”
“Eyes Closed” follows the previously released tracks “Free” and the title track, giving fans another preview of an album that balances the band’s arena-sized sound with more personal songwriting. Beartooth has also shared the song “Bullshit”.
The band will support Pure Ecstasy with a worldwide tour beginning September 17 in Europe. The North American leg launches November 11 in Boston, with stops including New York City’s Hammerstein Ballroom on November 12 and the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles on December 18. Don Broco, Magnolia Park, and Windwaker will provide support on all dates.
Following the success of 2023’s The Surface, which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Alternative and Hard Music charts and delivered the No. 1 rock radio singles “Might Love Myself” and “I Was Alive”, Beartooth enters a new phase with Pure Ecstasy. The album continues that momentum while pushing into more ambitious territory, with Shomo examining both the darker and brighter sides of his life.
The title track sets the tone for the record, while Shomo describes “Free” as “the most honest depiction of my soul I will most likely ever make.”
That level of honesty has remained central to Beartooth since the project’s beginnings in Shomo‘s Ohio basement in 2013. The band has turned themes of anxiety, depression, anger, and self-destruction into songs that have connected with listeners around the world, leading to gold and platinum certifications, more than 1.3 billion streams, sold-out tours, and a recent arena run supporting Bad Omens.
With Pure Ecstasy, Beartooth takes a more collaborative approach than on previous releases. Early songwriting work with Skyler Accord of Issues, Twenty One Pilots, and Bilmuri helped shape some of the album’s early ideas, while working with Jordan Fish pushed Shomo toward a deeper and more exposed style of songwriting.
The recording process also involved a greater role from the rest of the band, including bassist Oshie Bichar, guitarists Zach Huston and Will Deely, and drummer Connor Denis. The album marks the first Beartooth release where Shomo did not handle every instrument himself, with Denis recording drums during sessions at NRG Recording Studios.
After years of turning personal struggles into heavy anthems, Pure Ecstasy explores what comes after that battle. The album focuses on the possibility of freedom, embracing growth without ignoring the challenges that came before.
“…impressive technical chops and adrenaline-fueled inventiveness, the song becomes a truly mind-bending spectacle… – No Clean Singing Portland, Maine-based black/death metal collective SHABTI – uniting members of Obsidian Tongue, Falls Of Rauros, Fires In The Distance, Panopticon, and more – presents the latest preview of their Haze, Cacophony, And White Light album, with a premiere of “Sojourner” hosted by […]
Ministry have announced dates for the European leg of their farewell world tour.
Earlier today Al Jourgensen’s band shared an eye-catching video for new single Burned Out, the first preview of their 17th and final studio album, Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery).
A typically scathing indictment of corrupt governments, global wars and corporate greed, the single references the Epstein files, America’s “shredded constitution”, ICE and the on-going genoicide in Gaza, as well as humanitarian crises in Sudan, Yemen, Iran, Haiti, Venezuela and more.
The band’s Goodbye Europe tour.in support of the record will kick off in Holland on April 2, 2027.
Ministry – Goodbye Europe tour dates 2027
Apr 02 Utrecht Ronda, HOL Apr 03 Saarbrücken Garage, GER Apr 04 Brussels Ancienne Belgique,BEL Apr 06 Manchester O2 Victoria Warehouse, UK Apr 07 Dublin 3Olympia, IRL Apr 09 Nottingham Rock City,UK Apr 10 London Troxy, UK Apr 12 Paris Bataclan, FRA Apr 14 Madrid La Riviera, SPA Apr 15 Barcelona Paral-lel, SPA Apr 17 Lausanne Docks, SWI Apr 18 Munich Tonhalle, GER Apr 19 Vienna Gasometer, AUT Apr 21 Prague Forum Karlín, CZE Apr 22 Warsaw Progresja, POL Apr 24 Berlin Columbiahalle,GER Apr 25 Hamburg Grosse Freiheit 36, GER Apr 26 Copenhagen Amager Bio, DEN Apr 27 Oslo Rockefeller, NOR Apr 29 Stockholm Fållan, SWE
May 01: Helsinki House of Culture, FIN
Ministry have confirmed that Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery) will feature a final collaboration between bandleader Jourgensen and his long-time songwriting partner and former bandmate Paul Barker. The bassist will appear on the album’s closing track, on the final album track, ironically titled We’re Still Here.
Cekebrating the end of an era, Jourgensen says: “I’m fucking done. I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished. I’m amazed at the path that it’s taken, from With Sympathy to where we’re at today, and all points in between. It’s been quite a ride, but I’m completely at peace with the fact that it’s tdone. It’s time to herd goats.”
Heavy rock band AUDREY HORNE continue to deliver absolute hit material with their new single “God Damn Beautiful,” cut from the new 8th studio album Achilles (out September 4, 2026, via Napalm Records)! This groovy, Thin Lizzy -inspired track brings bass player Espen Lien to center stage on lead vocals, and arrives with a playful official music video. The follow-up to […]
ABYSSUS stand as one of the most significant forces within the Greek Death Metal scene, having forged their path since 2011. Drawing profound inspiration from genre-defining pioneers such as DEATH, OBITUARY and BOLT THROWER, the band preserves the unadulterated spirit of old school death metal while imprinting their own distinct identity. Today, ABYSSUS are proud to announce their signing with Fireflash Records, who […]
Has it really already been a year since Ozzy Osbourne left us? This week has seen some commemorations of heavy metal’s original icon, the metal world still reeling from his loss. Yet, metal continues to evolve – as this week’s collection of brilliant new songs shows.
First, the results of last week’s vote! The all-star team-up between Mastodon and Queens Of The Stone Age clearly got a few people excited, as they’ve bagged themselves third place in the poll, while In This Moment’s industrial thumper Crawl took second. Our overall winners for the week however were nu metal revivalists Red Method, whose single Detonate sweeped the poll.
This week has been an absolute rush on new releases, but we’ve still whittled it down to 12 brilliant new metal songs you need to hear. Whether that’s the latest from Amon Amarth, Hatebreed or Halestorm, or rising talents like Black Spikes, Kim Dracula and Imminence, we’ve got you covered – so don’t forget to cast your vote in the poll below and have an excellent weekend!
Amon Amarth – Gjallarhorn
Amon Amarth never fail to deliver an epic. Even so, Gjallarorn feels properly anthemic, befitting a band who’ve played arenas and bigger festival slots in recent years. Taken from new album The Allfather Awakens, due October 2, its another mighty tune for the band to add to their live arsenal. We’ll look forward to hopefully hearing it when the band return to the UK in October.
Imminence – False Light
Imminence look ready to blow up. After selling out London’s Roundhouse last year, they’ve lined up a Brixton Academy appearance for January next year. But that doesn’t mean they’re suddenly softening their edges. If anything, new single False Light feels like a demonstration of how furious and stark the band can be, mournful violin standing out against Eddie Berg’s larynx-shredding howls. New album Axis Mundi is coming October 2.
Wormwood – Yra|Extras
Scabrous black metal from Sweden, Wormwood are indulging their most grandiose songwriting tendencies on new single Yra|Extras. Taken from the new Å EP, due out in a couple of weeks on August 7, the track melds explosive BM blasts with surprising elegant moments of melody, even ducking into some Leprous-style undulating gentleness around three-and-a-half minutes, all contributing a sense of being sent on a sonic odyssey.
Kim Dracula – Molecular Conversion
With their 2023 debut, Kim Dracula emerged as one of metal’s wildest new bands, with a madcap sense of throwing together everything from jazz and nu metal to Mr. Bungle style avant garde to make something properly fascinating. New single Molecular Conversion is a surprise change of pace in the same way Faith No More’s take on Easy was to anyone who knew the band from Epic and Surprise You’re Dead. The song’s core melodies feel like something only Maynard James Keenan could invoke in A Perfect Circle, giving way to a surprise horn section that somehow doesn’t feel a million miles out of place. Freshly signed to Rise Records, we reckon album 2 can’t be too far away.
Black Spikes – Zelvar
Lithuania’s Black Spikes have an insane look – and a sound to match. New single Zelvar starts out in clanging, snarling metal, only to contrast it with a gentle, Swan-Lake like melody. Which promptly gets stomped under a colossal boot. It’s a killer contrast as the song switches between the two extremes, and has us plenty excited for new album Ydos, due outon August 28.
Showing Teeth – Bad Exchanges
There’s something delightfully unhinged and feral about Showing Teeth’s latest new single, Bad Exchanges. Maybe it’s the frequent blast-beats, or the shrieking, grindcore like screeches, but the Nashville artist really nails a sense of frenzied mania. New EP A Fate Worse Than Loneliness is coming on September 4.
Hatebreed – Kill Count Increase
Hatebreed have been comfortably clattering skulls for coming on 30 years, so why stop now? Six years since their last album, Kill Count Increase comes with the announcement that new album Fatal Paradox will be out November 6. Short, sharp and delightfully thrashy, its a reminder that Hatebreed are masters of their own distinct brand of thumping metallic hardcore.
Rattlesnakes – Shadows In The Night
Classic heavy metal is enjoying a glorious, triumphant revival. Joining the ranks of Asomvel and Tailgunner are Nottingham-based newcomers Rattlesnakes, freshly signed to Listenable Records they’ve put out the killer Shadows In The Night to show what they’re all about. Sat somewhere between the thrash of Nervosa and the classic speed chops of early Venom or Diamond Head, Shadows… is also the title track of their debut album, due October 30.
Micah Martin – Burn Them All (ft. OddKidOut)
The fusion between metalcore and EDM is nothing new at this point, but newcomer Micah Martin is offering a fresh new spin on the meeting-of-worlds. Chuggy riffs give way to some proper drum’n’bass electro that somehow feels like a throwback to early rave rock pioneers Enter Shikari whilst also feeling fresh and exciting. His full debut All I Need is out November 20.
Ripper – The Source Exterminator
How’s about a bit of Chilean death metal to take you into the weekend? Ripper’s The Source Exterminator is a high speed assault on the senses, all wailing guitars and machine-gun drums as they race towards annihilation, slipping in some great half-pace switches to nail some crossover energy amdist it all. The band’s new album – aptly titled Towards Rebirth, considering it comes ten years since their last – is out today.
Broken By The Scream – Hanakabura
Sometimes only the most frenzied noise will do. Japan’s Broken By The Scream have been putting out music for almost a decade now, but will be making their way over to Europe this summer with gigs lined up across the continent including an appearance in London and at Wacken Festival. To celebrate the fact, they’ve put out an absolute mania-inducing headfuck of a track in Hanakabura, a song which swings from manic goblin extremity to Babymetal-like kawaii melody with frequent infusions of distinct Japanese folk flourishes.
Hypno5e – Lost Fires
If you’ve made your way through all the feral and frenzied songs we’ve offered above, we figure you’ve earned some respite. Of a sort. Hypno5e aren’t lacking for heft, but the French post-metallers are offering up at least a few moments of delicate respite with new single Lost Fires, the first single taken from their new album Trame Noire, due November 6. And when it gets heavy, it goes.
Swedish Melodic Death Metal act Beyond Defiance just released their single "Cry" on July 24th, 2026. The band was founded in 2025 by members Lars Karlsen, Torbjörn Andersson, and Sven Erik Fritiofsson.
Beyond Defiance draws their inspiration from the classic "Gothenburg" style, thrash, and black metal, with some of their favorite bands being Dark Tranquility, Arch Enemy, and Amon Amarth. In addition to the release of "Cry" and its accompanying music video (see below), Beyond Defiance has also announced the release of their debut album "Utopia" on August 14th, 2026.
"Cry" starts with a sludgy bass tone before introducing grooving drum beats and dark guitar riffs that remind me of doom metal. Soon, explosive screamed vocals build a death metal sound before the song's chorus kicks in with singing vocals and an upbeat, thrash-like tempo. The band's mix of death metal vocals, doom instrumentals, and melodic choruses with singing creates a sound that is interesting and blends a distinct sound while paying homage to a nostalgic feeling of classic metal.
The song's bridge introduces more clean vocals as slamming chugs and drum impacts soon lead back into growling and hard-hitting guitar before eventually launching into a soaring guitar solo that showcases the band's instrumental prowess. In an unexpected touch, during the song's final chorus, Beyond Defiance layer the original singing vocals underneath screaming vocals, building a sense of change and dynamics for the last section of the track.
Overall, "Cry" showcases a sound that, to me, blends influences of death metal, thrash, doom metal, and melodic metal into a cohesive sound. You can stream Beyond Defiance's music on streaming platforms now!
Apex Bear is a new project that has just released their debut single, "Child of the Night," on July 24th, which was mixed by Simone Mularoni of Domination Studios.
The project features an outstanding lineup of guest musicians:
Rob Lundgren – Lead Vocals (Mentalist)
Joel Hoekstra – Guitar (Whitesnake, Trans-Siberian Orchestra)
Laura Scarborough – Keyboard (Live Keyboards, Ghost)
Rich Gray – Bass (Annihilator)
Fabio Alessandrini – Drums (Annihilator, Bonfire)
As the first introduction to Apex Bear's music, "Child of the Night" starts off with distant strings and slamming drums, with thrashing guitar riffage that quickly builds an instrumental sound that lands somewhere between power metal and symphonic metal. As the song progresses, thumping bass lines and melodic synth/orchestral elements are met by singing vocals that range from soft and impactful to soaring, operatic vocals that cut through the ceiling of the mix.
Apex Bear quickly showcases that they have a highly polished sound that is upbeat and filled with dynamic changes. The project's classic heavy metal sound is matched by heavy melodic elements to create a wildly catchy but equally groovy sound that fans of acts like Sabaton are sure to enjoy. At just under 3 and a half minutes, "Child of the Night" keeps interesting throughout its runtime, filled with shredding solos, impressive vocals, slamming drum lines, and symphonic elements that build an anthemic sound.
"This track represents the core philosophy of Apex Bear: blending powerful melodic hooks with a massive sound, brought to life by some of the finest musicians in the international rock and metal scene." – Apex Bear
As far as debut releases go, Apex Bear is starting with a very strong song that shows the members' clear experience in the music industry prior to this release. The mix sounds professional, the song runtime is ideal, and the instrumental and vocal melodies are strong.
