Blog
-
Okay Lindon Shares Video From “Pinto vs. Pinto”
Okay Lindon shares the first single/video from its forthcoming self-titled full-length for Lost in Ohio. Watch/listen to “Pinto vs. -
PAPA ROACH will return to Europe in late 2026
At the first summer festivals of the year, Papa Roach just played some of the biggest and most spectacular shows of their career, but the band has no plans to slow down: The “Rise Of The Roach” World Tour continues! At the end of 2026, Papa Roach will return to Europe and has now announced… Continue Reading → -
“It’s fertility, resistance, sensitivity. Something that belongs to men, too.” Rising Italian black metallers Bianca are bringing a new vision to the genre
One of the most exciting bands in the European underground are twisting black metal into new shapes without compromising its DNA -
A View From The Wreckoning: Day Of Wreckoning 2026 (Matt Bladen)
Day Of Wreckoning, Corn Exchange/Le Pub/The Pit, Newport South Wales 20.06.26The third annual Day Of Wreckoning rolled it’s way into Newport this year after two years in Swansea, going bigger than ever before with not just one stage of music but three different stages all situated within a minute walk of each other in Newport high street.With the incredible Corn Exchange being the mainstage, a big welcoming room with plenty of unobstructed seating and well stocked bar featuring the extremely popular frozen cocktails. Stage two was Le Pub a all inclusive art space with a wide array of beverages and some top notch vegan food while stage three was The Pit a basement venue in the catacombs of McCanns Ale Bar.
This turned what has always been a celebration of the South Wales metal scene into a full festival atmosphere as the sun beat down, the drinks were flowing and everyone seemed to be in very high spirits a and ready for a full day of amazing music.
As always the Day Of Wreckoning is the final of the South Wales Metal To The Masses initiative with there’s bands from the West side and three from the East side playing for a coveted place at a sold out Bloodstock Festival. It’s also a way to introduce them to bigger stages than perhaps they’re used to, spurring them on to be the best version they can be and every year they are.
The crowds packed in early for the M2TM bands as it was Excursia that kicked things off first with some brutal deathcore battery. Node to Lorna Shore and others were heard as the beatdowns, riffs and throat shredding vocals were all pumping through the PA of the Corn Exchange, puts began in earnest as the energy was high from moment number one.
Next up was House Of Hosts who blend members from all over Wales and bring a very modern melodic metal sound. Full of huge riffs, slinky solos and vocal harmonies, while not quite as aggressive, House Of Hosts still kept the energy high with plenty of crowd interaction and their slick powerful metal sound.This was going to be tough for the independent judging panel!
Following up all this modern metal melee was the thick syrupy sludge riffs of Risperidrone, a doom mob that offered a severe change of pace into some low slung heavy grooves ala the NOLA crowd. Seeing a sea of head headbang in slow unison never gets old and the doom was very much being wrought at Day Of Wreckoning.
Back to modernity, well sort of as Disrupt The Continuum brought back the ‘core’ values of many of these metal bands. This was 2000’s metalcore, in the bouncy riffs and harsh/clean vocals, while the technically of melodeath comes from the widdly guitar parts.
Full of venom and melody the disruption caused an out break of weirdness that led to the arrival of Grindhorse83, Swansea surf rock psychos who throw pretty much anything they can think of into the pot, from surf, to punk, to whistling, western, metal nursery rhymes and whatever they fancy, it’s an invitation to get weird
No such weirdness from INSCAPE though, just a mechanised assault that was right in the precipice of the modern metal scene, influences from Don Bronco and Enter Shikari can be picked out as they exploded onto the Corn Exchange stage with energy and electricity.
Synths/electronics bled into ear bending math metal which took the room by storm and convinced the judges that it had to be INSCAPE who would be representing South Wales at Bloodstock.
They will absolutely tear the New Blood Stage apart so if you’re going to Bloodstock Festival make sure you catch INSCAPE as they managed to overcome a VERY tough competition this year with all the bands giving their all on the stage of Corn Exchange.
With M2TM done and the winner chosen (though not announced until after the headliner) it was time to open up the other stages and get more music flowing. As well as The Corn Exchange, there was four bands in Le Pub and four bands in The Pit which is downstairs in McCann’s Rock & Ale Bar.The Pit
The Pit hosted the heaviest line up of the day as South Wales favourites Democratus kicked off the proceedings with their well tenured melodeath, the room was packed all day but vocalist Steve still found room to stalk the audience as they got the The Pit up and running with that sense of familiarity from a local act.
Following them was Tumanduumband a two man doom band (get it?) who brought an unholy racket to The Pit, just bass and drums…and cloaks the walls rumbled, the roof shook and ear drums ruptured, as the duo took it low and slow to menace the Newport audience.
Though you can forgive them from being slightly broken by that noise, The Pit quickly refilled as the South Wales black metal veterans Agrona returned to Newport for their second show since their rebirth this year. Playing with new members and old ones, those songs from that first record still sound brilliant on a live stage as Agrona sounded as brutal and vital as ever, with a packed house welcoming Thier unholy mass with open arms.
Closing out The Pit in only the way they can were South Wales death metal brutalists Sodomized Cadaver, this is death metal at the most gnarly, disgusting and unforgiving. Gutteral vocals and flesh ripping riffs Sodo themsleves have had a line up shift recently but sound better than ever in my opinion becoming a more vicious version of themselves.
So that was The Pit, an all day extreme metal feast for the sense that even the most hardened metal fan couldn’t turn their nose up at.
Le Pub
The Pit was for the metal maniacs, Le Pub was more eclectic for the music fan of discerning taste. Beginning with the prog/power style of Awake By Design, a band that impressed the hell out of me at Bloodstock 2024, I’d compare them to Kamelot and Evergrey as they filled Le Pub with harmonious vocals and virtuoso instrumentation, with another superior showing.
Speaking of superior, few bands in the South Wales scenes get people rocking as hard as Häxan and the heavy rocking trio made sure to pack out Le Pub with their feisty, groovy hard rock. Always a band who create a party atmosphere Häxan are well known round these parts and as such got a loud support from the Newport natives, coming in at the last minute to replace Lifer (get well soon Scriv), there still ain’t no party like a Häxan party!
Keeping the riffs flowing were Syncolima, veterans of the UK stoner scene, another trio another fist full of riffs and the volume turned up to 11, Day Of Wreckoning saw them making their way to Wales for the first time and they blew a hole in the roof of Le Pub. I’ve always said South Wales is something of a stoner rock haven and the reaction to Syncolima proved just that.
The headliner for Le Pub were another band who have a massive following here in South Wales and have been on an upward trajectory in the last 18 months. Le Pub was at capacity when Black Lakes came calling and they delivered a masterclasses in chorus driven melodic metal.
They take their sound from various genres tropes, such as alt metal, hard rock, goth, electronic and even pop and combines then into a slick stage show and a showstopping performance which was rapturously received by the crowd at DoW.
A perfect way to end the day at Le Pub and get people in the mood for our Corn Exchange headliner. Before that though there were three bands who took to our mainstage bringing with them plenty of pedigree.The Corn Exchange
Opening up Corn Ex were South Wales thrash juggernauts Helldown, who have been storming stages for a fair few years now causing chaos with their razor sharp mix of thrash and groove metal that gets the front row moving. Ferocious and focused Helldown deserve your attention and kicked off the Corn Exchange with vitriol.
Still heavy but with a more melodic edge to them Scottish prog metal act Tiberius made their South Wales debut and introduced Newport to their catchy choruses, djenty riffage, huge vocals, Goblin Pits and beach balls. With band members spending most of their time in the crowd, they’re a frenzy of virtuoso playing and prog metal infused with power metal vocals. Newport didn’t quite know what hit them but they won over the crowd with their infectious energy.
If Tiberius’ energy is infectious then Mother Vulture is like an epidemic. Possibly the wildest live band on the scene today Mother Vulture are always running on 110% power and deliver every song like it’s their last, constantly in motion, kicks fly, head bang and garage rock riffs are punched out of their instruments. If you don’t move to this you’re probably dead inside as Mother Vulture once again brought their unflappable energy to South Wales and they loved it, resulting in crowd that was ready for what was about to happen.
In a huge coo for an event that is only three years old, getting legendary, and that’s not hyperbole, band like The Wildhearts to headline, but here they were just about to hit the stage and the excitement was palpable. Especially with Ginger’s recent news this was going to be emotional and it was going to be very special. Not that you’d notice as after their triumphant Download sets, Ginger strode on to the stage every inch the rock legend and began to kick out the riffs with Failure Is The Mother Of Success, a cheer went up and we were all now under Ginger’s command as ringleader to this rock n roll circus.
Aided and abetted by his killer band, they stormed through their 15 song set of punk, pop rock n metal, blurring genre lines with every single shout of a chorus, fist in their air and cheer, visibility bringing a smile to Ginger’s face as The Wildhearts stormed though Nothing Ever Changes But The Shoes, Mazel Tov Cocktail, Cheers, and Chutzpah, blending old with new and delivering it all with a wry smile and some great banter, you could tell the band were enjoying themselves.
Poking fun at adult hide and seek that is a rock gig, the encore was Suckerpunch and My Baby Is A Headfuck and then the place erupted, an outpouring of love, respect and sheer joy as The Wildhearts closed the third edition of Day Of Wreckoning in triumphant style. Ginger is the ultimate rock god and this warm night in Newport he was worshiped as such.
So Day Of Wreckoning’s gamble to head to the far East of Wales and expand to three venues paid off, I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback so it looks like this may become a fixture going forward. Now the only thing to worry about is how don’t they top it next year!? -
Listening Now : Barney Elo – Ich gegen ICH
Barney Elo’s Ich gegen ICH is a compelling indie rock/pop-rock track that dives deep into themes of self-doubt, inner conflict, and personal struggle. Driven by honest German-language lyrics and an emotionally charged performance, the song captures the tension between control and overwhelm with striking authenticity. The arrangement balances melodic accessibility with a raw, introspective edge, allowing the emotional weight of the narrative to take center stage. Rather than offering easy answers, Ich gegen ICH embraces complexity, making its message all the more relatable. It’s a powerful and sincere release that showcases Barney Elo’s ability to transform personal battles into engaging, thought-provoking songwriting.
Connect:
-
Gateshead underground metal showcase Get Heavy Festival returns this August
The north-east heavy music community is gearing up for a major summer milestone as Get Heavy Festival officially returns this August with an intense, zero-clash lineup layout. Taking place across two days on 15th and 16th August 2026 at Downcast Studios in Gateshead, the underground gathering promises a high-octane weekend featuring sixteen bands tearing up … Continue reading Gateshead underground metal showcase Get Heavy Festival returns this August -
Twin Atlantic Announce New Album ‘Seperation From The Animals’
Twin Atlantic have revealed the details of their 8th full-length album, a collection of songs that they have stated, “Feels like our best record yet”.
The record will be called ‘Separation From The Animals’ and will be released on October 02.
The band had this to say about it, revealing, “These songs have been with us for a long time. They’re about love, loss, family, friendship and finding a way to keep going. It feels to us like a big moment creatively, maybe it even feels like our best record yet.”
Whilst vocalist Sam McTrusty had this to add about the specifics that have inspired this collection of tracks:
“I’m from a family that’s fairly divided, so I’ve always been passed about from when I was six-months-old. It’s all I’ve ever known. As you grow up, you start to view life through a different lens – especially the whole struggle of going from boy to man. My experience of that is particularly painful, emotional and confusing. But because it seemed normal at the time, it didn’t really hit me until I found my tribe, my people, my band. My entire adult life is meant to have been looking ahead but my personal life is always looking back. That baggage is basically what the whole band is about.”The artwork looks like this:
Whilst the tracklisting is a bit more like this:
1. Your, The End
2. In Your Eyes
3. I’m Not Coming Home
4. Don’t Quit It
5. Strong
6. The Risk Of Love Is Always Loss
7. Unless It Hurts
8. Confidant
9. Save Your Breath
10. Supersweetness
11. Lost
12. Feel It AllThe announcement arrives alongside new single ‘In Your Eyes’, as stirring, beautiful and sentimentally bold as Twin have ever been. Brimming with broken hearted longing and timeless emotion, it’s a sensational marker for the depths that this record is going to dive into.
Sam had this to say about it, revealing, “It’s about being at the other end of a relationship where you feel like no matter what you do, nothing is ever good enough. You take a step back and realise that in trying to appease that one person, you’ve blinded yourself to the fact that everything is great. Look outside of that window and life is much better.”The record will also feature the previously released ‘Don’t Quit It’, which sounds like this:
And if that wasn’t enough, the band have also announced the details of a headline tour, set to take place in the Autumn, with support coming from The Xcerts.
Here are all the dates:
OCTOBER
16 – LEEDS, Stylus
17 – BIRMINGHAM, O2 Institute 2
18 – NEWCASTLE, Boiler Shop
20 – LONDON, Islington Assembly Hall
21 – MANCHESTER, Gorilla
23 – GLASGOW, SWG3The post Twin Atlantic Announce New Album ‘Seperation From The Animals’ appeared first on Rock Sound.
-
Listening Now : Mackleny, Xaviezko – NuStep
Mackleny and Xaviezko’s NuStep is a vibrant jungle cut that successfully bridges old-school breakbeat energy with contemporary production finesse. Fueled by rolling amen breaks and an infectious sense of momentum, the track stands out through its use of live instrumentation, with jazz-infused trumpet, piano, and bass adding warmth and character to the fast-paced framework. Rather than relying solely on nostalgia, NuStep injects fresh ideas into the genre, creating a sound that feels both authentic and forward-looking. Dynamic, energetic, and expertly crafted, it’s a track that works equally well on headphones, in DJ sets, or as the soundtrack to a late-night drive.
-
JAYSDEAD – Don’t Think
JAYSDEAD is a pop-punk band from India with deep roots in skateboarding culture, blending the gritty energy of ’90s punk with a fresh, hard-hitting modern sound.I love the pace, mood, energy, and sound of their new song, “Don’t Think.” It’s a bold, no-nonsense track, brilliantly performed by the band, straight to the point, full of attitude, and irresistibly catchy as well. Definitely worth a listen.Give it a go on the Spotify player below and follow JAYSDEAD on social mediaif you like what you hear.https://instagram.com/jaysdead_official -
Megadeth / Can This Retirement Last Forever? Perfection At Hellfest 2026
Hellfest 2026. Clisson, France. Megadeth. Can This Retirement Last Forever? Dave Mustaine and company hit the Hellfest stage, and Tipping Point gets the until-then lethargic Hellfest crowd jumping.
This is what happens when you are in the presence of Thrash Metal and, curse me for saying it, the band that always led the Big Four when it comes to technical prowess.
Megadeth – Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk The moshpit is carnage, and it deserves to be. It might be the last time they play France. And even if it is not, that time is not far off. This is pissed off, perfect, impeccable, and going through all the important moments of a fantastic career.
Sweating Bullets is sheer riffage perfection, with the whole band sounding like the best-oiled machine ever.
Megadeth – Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk It is impossible not to sit (well, stand) grinning like an idiot. New track I Don’t Care slots perfectly into the set, and pretty much the whole duration of their recital is a massive pit. It is as if people feel that you must give as much of a tribute to these Metal gods as their retirement date draws close. It is fitting and very deserved.
And it is a very well-chosen set. À Tout Le Monde is glorious, new album track Let There Be Shred kicks way more ass than allowed, and it is all showing off what a band Mustaine has around him.
Megadeth – Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk The rhythm section is phenomenal, and Teemu Mäntysaari on guitar is the perfect foil for MegaDave. Not that Mustaine is any slouch. That picking is simply hard to fathom at times.
From where I am, this is one of the most incredible crowd reactions of the whole festival, with Mustaine never once going “open the pit”. People just feel it. And Tornado Of Souls is… no words. Symphony Of Destruction is pure perfection.
Megadeth – Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk At this point, I must make a confession. I have not been in a moshpit since much younger days (two years ago, then). During Peace Sells, I went in with all I had. I finished the show in the first couple of rows.
I cannot imagine a better concert to do that for.
The conclusion? This was pure Thrash Metal perfection. I hope they retire like Mötley Crüe. No. Like Kiss.
Megadeth – Hellfest 2026. Photo: Luke Vaughan/MetalTalk
HELLFEST 2026
Prepare to be consumed by the relentless energy of the most influential bands in Heavy Metal as they ignite the Hellfest stages with blistering performances. The immersive atmosphere of Clisson will immerse you in a dark, captivating experience like no other.
With its unparalleled lineup and unwavering commitment to the spirit of metal, Hellfest 2026 promises an unforgettable journey into the depths of sonic mayhem. Read all the Heavy Metal News at MetalTalk.
MetalTalk Hellfest 2026 coverage can be found at https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2026.
This year’s MetalTalk team is:
Photography:
For Hellfest 2025, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2025.
For Hellfest 2024, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2024.
For Hellfest 2023, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2023.
For Hellfest 2022, visit https://www.metaltalk.net/tag/hellfest-2022.
The post Megadeth / Can This Retirement Last Forever? Perfection At Hellfest 2026 first appeared on MetalTalk – Heavy Metal News, Reviews and Interviews.
