It has been nearly five years futuristic pop experimenter Arca released kiCK iiiii, her most recent album. In the time since then, Arca has released a bunch of singles, like “Puta,” “Sola,” and the Tokischa collab “Chama.” She has also done some big remixes and production jobs, including on Madonna’s new album Confessions II. Today, Arca finally announces plans for a new full-length called XXXXX, coming in just a week and a half.

The post Arca Announces New Album <em>XXXXX</em> appeared first on Stereogum.

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The Hatebreed Fatal Paradox era begins this week. The Connecticut metallic hardcore icons have confirmed their ninth studio album — their first in six years — arrives November 6 via BLKIIBLK Records, produced once again by longtime collaborator Chris “Zeuss” Harris.

Lead single and album opener “Kill Count Increase” lands tomorrow, July 21, following official teasers from Zeuss and the label. And the tracklist carries two genuine surprises: a guest appearance from Obituary frontman John Tardy and a cover of Corrosion Of Conformity’s “Poison Planet.”

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Scott Penfold covers the day’s biggest rock and metal headlines on The Metal Breakdown Daily. Download the free Loaded Radio App on Apple iOS and Google Play to stream the broadcast natively.

‘Kill Count Increase’ Drops Tomorrow

The wait for new Hatebreed music ends July 21, when “Kill Count Increase” — the album’s opening track — arrives everywhere. The song was first teased earlier this month through producer Zeuss’s Instagram and BLKIIBLK’s official channels, giving fans a taste of a band that, by its own description, has never sounded angrier or faster.

Frontman Jamey Jasta has been hyping this material for months, previously calling it the band’s <em>”most ignorant, heavy, caveman-esque record yet.” Drummer Matt Byrne went further, describing the new songs as “way more metal, fast, Slayer-esque” — which, from the band that wrote “Destroy Everything,” is saying something. Expect “Kill Count Increase” in our best new metal songs roundup the moment it detonates.

Also Recommended – SONIC TERROR: The 13 Most Insane Extreme Metal Subgenres You (Still) Haven’t Heard

‘Fatal Paradox’: The Details

Due November 6, “Fatal Paradox” is Hatebreed’s first full-length since 2020’s “Weight Of The False Self” — the longest gap between albums in the band’s three-decade career. It’s also their first release under the BLKIIBLK Records banner, the Frontiers Label Group imprint whose roster includes Megadeth, Cro-Mags and Biohazard, which Hatebreed joined in June. Jasta summed up the new partnership simply: “new label, new horizons, crushing new songs.”

The full “Fatal Paradox” tracklist:

1. “Kill Count Increase”
2. “The Carrion Choir”
3. “Decisions Become Destinies”
4. “Total Invincible”
5. “Fatal Paradox”
6. “Still A Threat”
7. “Sacrifice Season” (feat. John Tardy of Obituary)
8. “Truth Is A Lion”
9. “Make The Demons Obey”
10. “None Left To Save”
11. “Poison Planet” (Corrosion Of Conformity cover)

The Tardy collaboration on “Sacrifice Season” pairs Jasta’s drill-sergeant bark with one of death metal’s most unmistakable voices, while closing the record with a Corrosion Of Conformity cover plants Hatebreed’s flag firmly in the crossover soil they grew from. Sharp-eyed fans will also recognize “Make The Demons Obey” — a title guitarist Frank Novinec name-dropped in interviews months ago, back when the album was still under wraps.

Check This Out – Unveiling the Morbid Muse: 13 Gruesome Metal Songs About Serial Killers That Define True Crime’s Dark Allure

A New Chapter For The Juggernaut

“Fatal Paradox” marks a genuine turning point for Hatebreed. It’s the band’s first album since the 2024 departure of longtime bassist and co-songwriter Chris Beattie, with Carl Schwartz now holding down the low end alongside Jasta, guitarists Wayne Lozinak and Frank Novinec, and Byrne. Jasta has said the band had full creative control over this record for the first time — and by every account from inside the camp, they used it to get heavier.

The band isn’t easing into the rollout, either. Hatebreed are currently steamrolling North America as headliners of this year’s Summer Slaughter Tour, with a second U.S. leg to follow and the “East Coast Assault On Europe” tour alongside Life Of Agony hitting the continent in November — meaning “Fatal Paradox” drops right in the middle of the European run. Between Hatebreed and the wave of veteran heavy acts stacking the 2026 release calendar, this fall is shaping up to be a war zone.

Six years is a long time to keep the pit waiting. Something tells us the pit is about to get paid back with interest.

TL;DR

• Hatebreed’s ninth studio album “Fatal Paradox” arrives November 6, 2026 via BLKIIBLK Records
• Lead single and opening track “Kill Count Increase” drops tomorrow, July 21
• The album was produced by longtime collaborator Chris “Zeuss” Harris and is the band’s first since 2020’s “Weight Of The False Self”
• Obituary’s John Tardy guests on “Sacrifice Season,” and the album closes with a cover of Corrosion Of Conformity’s “Poison Planet”
• It is Hatebreed’s first album since the departure of longtime bassist Chris Beattie, with Carl Schwartz now on bass
• The band headlines Summer Slaughter now and tours Europe with Life Of Agony in November

FAQ

Which classic Hatebreed anthem still hits hardest in the pit? Sound off in the comments below, and follow Loaded Radio for daily rock and metal news.

The post Hatebreed Break Six-Year Silence: ‘Fatal Paradox’ Arrives November 6 With First Single ‘Kill Count Increase’ Dropping July 21 appeared first on Loaded Radio.

“SYSTEM OF A DOWN’s DARON MALAKIAN Leads Entire Stadium in OASIS Diss.”

Maybe it’s the rise of veganism, or the fact that nowadays ordering red meat from nearly anywhere can give you explosive diarrhoea, but it’s been too long since the music industry has had a good BEEF!

Enter System of a Down, comparing Oasis to a tapeworm that needs to be “pulled out of your ass” while on stage, and then proceeding to get the entire crowd to chant it at full volume! Now, THIS is the kind of petty I can really get behind! This beef is GRADE-A ORGANIC.

Oasis frontman and all-around-bubbly-nice-guy-whos-always-in-a-good-mood Noel Gallagher (no relation to the mustached comedian who destroys waterlemons with a mallet) is actually the one who first threw this beef onto the grill. Or as Noel would say, “Put that beef on the barbie gov’na!”

In the early 2000’s, Noel was quoted as saying System of a Down was the “Shittiest Band of All Time.”

Which, first off, SOAD is one of the sickest, most original bands, who most certainly rock; I mean, have you heard “Chop Suey”?!? If not, listen to it RIGHT NOW, and then listen to my band Nekrogoblikon goblify that song RIGHT HERE!

Second, Noel has clearly never heard of Puddle of Mud, cause if he had, he’d be like, “System of a Down is much better, innit?” I think Noel should be required to come to an SOAD show and experience a WonderWALL OF DEATH! Noel, I hope you WAKE UP, grab a brush and put on a little makeup, cause when you pick a fight with a metal band, today is gonna be the day that they’re gonna throw it back to you!  

Satanic Doo-Wop Duo TWIN TEMPLE Booted From CHARLEY CROCKETT Tour

As a goblin, I love a little mischief, and more so, I love the unexpected.

Well, what if I were to tell you the most unexpected, most mischievous, MOST METAL thing a band could ever do just occurred, and it wasn’t from Slipknot, or even Metallica; it was from a doo-wop duo. “John, what’s a doo-wop duo?”

Guys, I have no fucking idea, but what I do know is this duo known as Twin Temple got booted from some country music festival because why? THEY WERE TOO SATANIC. Give us back the pentagrams, Slayer; we have new DARK LORDS to crown, and they are ready to skat their way into your black hearts.

I used to room with Lucifer back in Chicago, so of course, I texted him about this whole situation, and this is what he sent back: “Gobs! People keep texting me about this, this band rocks and should be allowed the same artistic freedom as every other band! Christian music blows so why can’t music about me also be pretty questionable?! Also, what the fuck is doo-wop? ???????????? P.S you still have my Nintendo Switch!” Straight from the scorching source, the dark lord hath spoken and Twin Temple can doo (wop) whatever they want! 

New System For Tagging AI-Generated Music Introduced

Uh-oh, it’s over AI music makers; they are introducing the scarlet letters to all of your generic-sounding songs about pee pee and poo poo in the style of Morgan Wallen. I just fear this is a slippery slope. Should we mark my band’s songs as MBG: Made by goblins?!? Soon will GWAR have to identify their music as made by galactic warriors?! Wes Borland will be notated as a makeup influencer, and/or Benson Boone as a deeply closeted religious grifter?!? Where does it stop?

Is there actually a difference between a song made entirely by AI and a song sung by Cher whose vocals are made entirely by a robot named Autotune?! If you’re worried about AI impeding on the revenue of your artists who are not AI, maybe you should just put more resources into those human beings on your label who make original music, nuke these gob damn data centers, stop with these half-ass solutions, and invest in GOB DAMN HUMANITY!!! Whoa, so I guess the edibles have kicked in. Alright then, I’m gonna go make an AI song in the style of Garth Brooks about how Taco Bell was giving me explosive diarrhoea before it was cool. – MBG

The post MONDAYSUCKS With JOHN GOBLIKON: Let’s Go Goblin Mode On This Week’s 3 Biggest Metal Headlines appeared first on MetalSucks.

(This is NCS writer Gonzo’s review of a comeback album from Boston-based There Were Wires that was released in late June by Iodine Recordings.) When you think “heavy music,” the small slab of New England known as Martha’s Vineyard almost certainly won’t be what comes to mind first. And if it is, I want to […]

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The Queens-based musician James Palko is a busy man. Until recently, Palko played bass in Taking Meds. These days, he leads the power-pop Pretty Rude, who released their debut album Ripe last year. He also releases music under the name Jimmy Montague; his album Tomorrow’s Coffee came out in 2024. And Palko has yet another project, Film Major, who dropped a new track on Sunday.

The post Film Major – “The Board” appeared first on Stereogum.

In this week’s podium of greatness, we have three English bands. Triumphing in our latest Tracks Of The Week tournament, Juliet’s Not Dead – originally from the North East – saw off a worthy challenge from Lancaster’s Massive Wagons, while Torquay-born Kris Barras and his Band took out third place, in the process consigning the entire rest of the globe to ignominy. Like a World Cup that England actually wins, if you like. So congratulations to them all.

By the time you read this, our latest competition will already be underway, with challengers from Greece, New Zealand and the Turkish precinct of Los Angeles challenging the usual Brits and Americans. Enjoy!

Villagers Of Ioannina City – Veneremos

These hard rockers from the North West of Greece combine heavy metal and stoner sensibilities with the traditional flavours and instruments of their homeland. It’s a commanding combination, not least on this title track from their upcoming album. Galloping Iron Maiden-meets-Metallica oomph comes with primal, hypnotic heat, courtesy of old-world Hellenic folk streaks – think heady woodwind screams from Greece’s rugged, mountainous Epirus region. The music video involving castles and cloaked figures also helps, natch.

HOLID4Y – Veridream

2026 is turning into the year of the Rivals Sons solo album, as guitar maverick/moustache-twirler-in-chief Scott Holiday releases this expansive, cinematic first taste of his new solo project (following Jay Buchanan’s Americana-fuelled singer/songwriter fest earlier this year). It’s *not* what you’d expect – in a good way. Opening with 70s prog synth textures, Veridream grows into a psychedelic but hooky adventure. A strange, trippy beauty, paving the way for the full album, Topology, coming later this year.

Split Dogs – Suffer

The UK punk’n’rollers veer into beefier heavy metal territory on this game-raising new single. At first it’s pure heavy-booted Sabbathian doom, but then Harry Martinez starts singing and everything kicks into a bouncier gear, creating a rough-throated, theatrical world of cobwebs and black leather that invites much dancing of the not-cool kind (i.e. the most fun kind). “The song deals with the struggle of letting the past dictate your happiness,” Martinez says, of the personal lyrics here, “but ultimately it’s about taking your power back, knowing your worth, and moving forward.”

Queens Of The Stone Age – Easy Street

Back in our lives with a beautifully weird, catchy swirl of lo-fi alternative sweetness, psychedelia and shadows, QOTSA team Josh Homme’s warmly heartbreaking croon with the countrified harmonies of singer/songwriter Nikki Lane. Built upward from gentle acoustic strumming and hand claps, Easy Street comes with a video cast of oddball characters, and it all gets…well, stuff happens. It’s probably best if you watch it. Tender, dark and ultimately kind of lovely.

Ricky Warwick – Seek Zen Destroy (feat. Phil Collen)

Almighty frontman, voice of Black Star Riders and solo artiste, among other things, Ricky Warwick has always had a way with a tune, and this one’s no exception. A bright yet dirty, strutting rock’n’roller with a touch of Prince under its skin, it features Def Leppard’s Phil Collen on guitar and backing vocals.“I wanted to make an album that captures everything I love about rock’n’roll,” Ricky says of parent album Fire & Vengeance, “its power to bring people together, to make us dance and connect with one another, even in a world that often feels consumed by fire and vengeance. At its core, this record is about finding hope and unity in the chaos.” Amen to that.

Eddie 9V – Blowin’ Up

In our experience, the best country-fried rock’n’roll has an edge to it, a little bit of a dark side, even. Such is the case with Dan Auerbach-produced Atlanta dude Eddie 9V. Yes his name sounds like a battery or piece of gear, but Blowin’ Up is swell – a deliciously greasy, easy-on-the-ear Southern groove machine with a laidback funky blues kick, its musings on breaking through as an artist flipped into an actual, explodey-explodey ‘blowing up’ situation in the video. Fine summer holiday fun.

Powder Chutes – Rivers

We somehow managed to miss this when it came out a couple of weeks back, but we’re putting that right now because Rivers is an absolute beast of a song, driven by the angriest riff you’ll hear this week, the kind of savage, lurching stomp that’ll prompt listeners to check that Godzilla isn’t rampaging through their neighbourhoods. It’s the first new song to emerge from the feisty New Zealanders since last year’s (rather excellent) debut album, and it bodes well for whatever big noise they have lined up next.

ÖLÜM – Yılan Kadın (Snake Woman)

ÖLÜM are a Los Angeles-based Turkish psychedelic rock band, so it won’t surprise you to learn that Yılan Kadın (Snake Woman) is both mysterious and exotic, with a video populated almost entirely by extras who appear to have been freighted in from an underground shisha lounge in Istanbul circa 1975. It’s beautifully crafted – melodically as well as aesthetically – with a slinky groove, excellent use of Middle Eastern melodies, and a keyboard player who wears a towering hat.

Mind Melting Metal Band Led By Ira Black
(Vio-Lence, Lizzy Borden, Metal Church) 

Following the breakout success of their debut single “INTELL-I-GENTS,” metal powerhouse APOCÆLYPSE returns with “BLACK BOX,” an emotionally charged new single that arrives alongside the announcement of the band’s highly anticipated debut album, FÆNIX, due August 28.

Founded by acclaimed guitarist Ira Black (Vio-Lence, Lizzy Borden, Metal Church), APOCÆLYPSE made an immediate impact with “INTELL-I-GENTS.” The song’s cinematic music video has garnered more than 1.4 million views while the single debuted on Billboard’s Radio Chart, introducing the band’s unique blend of crushing modern metal, cinematic storytelling, and thought-provoking songwriting to audiences worldwide.

Accompanying the release of “BLACK BOX” is a gripping new music video directed by Black and co-directed by Vincente Cordero (Industrialism Films), bringing the song’s deeply personal themes to life through striking cinematic visuals.

If “INTELL-I-GENTS” looked outward at humanity’s increasingly uneasy relationship with artificial intelligence, “BLACK BOX” turns inward, offering APOCÆLYPSE’s most vulnerable and personal statement yet. Driven by soaring melodies, crushing riffs, and unflinching honesty, the song explores survival, healing, and the courage required to confront one’s past.

Regarding the new single, Black explains:

“‘Black Box’ is the most personal song I’ve ever written. It’s a journey into my own mind, the Black Box. Like the device recovered from a plane crash, it holds the evidence of everything that went wrong, but also the key to understanding how I survived. Inside are the scars of a broken upbringing, addiction, loss, and decades spent chasing a dream that often felt impossible. For most of my life, I kept that box sealed shut. This song is about opening it. It’s about confronting the pain, owning the wreckage, and finding strength in the truth. ‘Black Box’ is my story of survival, a testament to the fact that no matter how many times life knocks you down, you can still rise, heal, and find your way home.”

“BLACK BOX” was produced by Black, executive produced by Andy Fetyko, mixed by Kane Churko (OZZY OSBOURNE, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, PAPA ROACH) and mastered by Maor Appelbaum (SEPULTURA, FAITH NO MORE, LIMP BIZKIT). Along with founding frontman and guitarist Black, APOCÆLYPSE’s lineup includes his son Ira Black IV on guitar, Matt Snell on bass and Lonny Pasillas on drums.

Stream “BLACK BOX“: 

https://vyd.co/ApocaelypseBlackBox

“BLACK BOX” MUSIC VIDEO: 
https://youtu.be/9LswZW5GjEE

Set for release on August 28, FÆNIX marks the arrival of a fearless new voice in modern metal. Blending veteran musicianship with a forward-thinking creative vision, the album explores both personal and societal struggles through a collection of songs that balance crushing heaviness with cinematic scope and emotional depth. True to its title, FÆNIX is ultimately a story of resilience, transformation, and rising from adversity.

With anticipation continuing to build following the breakout success of “INTELL-I-GENTS,” “BLACK BOX” offers another compelling glimpse into FÆNIX, setting the stage for one of modern metal’s most anticipated debut albums when it arrives on August 28.

“INTELL-I-GENTS” MUSIC VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmuct_tKPgg

Follow APOCÆLYPSE: 
Instagram | Facebook 

The Saxon Gods Of Thunder era officially has a launch date. The NWOBHM legends’ 25th studio album — now confirmed under the title “Gods Of Thunder” — arrives January 22, 2027, with pre-orders opening in early September alongside the first single, its video, and a seven-inch vinyl pressing.

Guitarist Brian Tatler let the album title slip to TotalRock’s Neil Jones at this weekend’s Maid Of Stone festival in Kent, locking in the name fans had already spotted on the band’s upcoming world tour — a tour that will see Saxon’s iconic 30-foot mechanized Eagle take flight for the first time in decades. And given what frontman Biff Byford has fought through to get here, this one means more than most.

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Scott Penfold covers the day’s biggest rock and metal headlines on The Metal Breakdown Daily. Download the free Loaded Radio App on Apple iOS and Google Play to stream the broadcast natively.

Album Number 25 Has A Name And A Date

The confirmation came in classic fashion — not through a press release, but from Tatler in a festival-grounds chat, backing up what Byford had recently revealed on France’s Last Ride podcast: the record lands Friday, January 22, 2027, with pre-orders and the lead single — including a seven-inch vinyl edition — arriving in September.

The album is the follow-up to 2024’s “Hell, Fire And Damnation” and was mixed by longtime Saxon producer Andy Sneap, the JUDAS PRIEST touring guitarist whose production pedigree also includes EXODUS and ACCEPT. Sneap wrapped the mix back in January, meaning this record has been loaded in the chamber for months while the band mapped out the rollout.

For a band we ranked among the essential pillars of the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, hitting twenty-five studio albums isn’t just a milestone — it’s nearly unmatched endurance. Roughly 23 million records sold, and the machine is still accelerating.

The Eagle Has Landed… Again

Here’s the part that has longtime fans losing their minds: the “Gods Of Thunder” world tour — whose first U.K. and Ireland leg was announced last month — will feature the return of Saxon’s legendary 30-foot mechanized Eagle at every U.K. and Ireland show except Cardiff, where venue restrictions ground the bird. The full “Castles & Eagles” stage production is coming back with it.

The Eagle’s origin story is pure heavy metal folklore. Built in the early 1980s by Midlands company LSD — constructed using actual airport runway landing lights — it debuted as Saxon prepared to tour “Denim And Leather” and quickly became the band’s towering mascot, ultimately inspiring the title of 1982’s U.K. Top 5 live album “The Eagle Has Landed.” Fans have been requesting its return ever since. Byford’s message to them was short and sweet: <em>”Get ready for take-off!”</em>

Further international dates are promised in the coming months — and if the Eagle crosses the Atlantic the way the band did on the “Hell, Fire & Chaos” U.S. run with Uriah Heep, North American fans should start manifesting now.

Also Recommended – The British Metal Invasion: 13 NWOBHM Bands That Revolutionized Heavy Music Forever

The Comeback Behind The Thunder

What makes this announcement hit differently is the road Byford took to get here. The Saxon frontman completed his final round of chemotherapy in his fight against bowel cancer last October — a battle that forced the cancellation of ten summer shows and festival appearances in 2025 — and the band went straight into the studio the following month to record this album. That’s after a 2019 heart attack and emergency triple bypass, and a 2024 procedure for a heart rhythm condition.

At 75, Byford answered all of it by making album number 25 and putting a 30-foot metal bird back in the sky. The band’s current lineup — Byford with guitarists Doug Scarratt and Tatler, drummer Nigel Glockler and bassist Nibbs Carter — has been road-tested and firing, as anyone who caught the “Hell, Fire And Steel” U.K. run with Dirkschneider can attest. Tatler stepped in for founding guitarist Paul Quinn, who retired from touring in 2023, while continuing to serve in DIAMOND HEAD.

Nearly fifty years in, Saxon isn’t coasting on “Wheels Of Steel” and “Denim And Leather” — they’re releasing new music at a pace that embarrasses bands a third their age.

TL;DR

• Saxon’s 25th studio album is titled “Gods Of Thunder” and arrives January 22, 2027
• Pre-orders open in early September, alongside the first single, video and a seven-inch vinyl pressing
• The album was mixed by longtime producer Andy Sneap and follows 2024’s “Hell, Fire And Damnation”
• The “Gods Of Thunder” world tour brings back Saxon’s legendary 30-foot mechanized Eagle and “Castles & Eagles” stage production for U.K. and Ireland dates
• Frontman Biff Byford completed chemotherapy last October and recorded the album the following month
• Guitarist Brian Tatler confirmed the album title at the Maid Of Stone festival in Kent

Check This Out – Forget the ‘Big 4’: These 13 Bands Actually Built Heavy Metal

FAQ

Which classic Saxon album needs the full Eagle treatment live? Sound off in the comments below, and follow Loaded Radio for daily rock and metal news.

The post Saxon Confirm 25th Album ‘Gods Of Thunder’ For January 22 — And Their Legendary 30-Foot Eagle Flies Again appeared first on Loaded Radio.