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Zachary Baker has officially stepped into new territory, announcing his debut solo album Dark Horse and releasing its second single, “Lighthouse,” today. Best known to millions as Zacky Vengeance of Avenged Sevenfold, the multi-platinum guitarist is trading arena-sized distortion for something far more intimate—and far more dust-covered.

Due out April 3, Dark Horse finds Baker pivoting hard into alt-country and outlaw Americana, a stark but deliberate evolution from his hard rock pedigree. The album follows the previously released title track, “Dark Horse,” and continues to reveal a side of the songwriter few fans have heard before.

With “Lighthouse,” Baker leans into grit over gloss. “The beauty is in the imperfections,” he solemnly proclaims, framing the project’s ethos as one rooted in hard-earned truths rather than polished bravado. The result is a raw, unrefined collection of songs driven by a restless spirit and outlaw-country inspiration, a far cry from the metallic precision that defined his legacy band.

Across Dark Horse, Baker blends poignant storytelling with Americana textures, carving out a lane that feels authentic rather than opportunistic. It’s not a side project chasing trends; it’s a songwriter stepping fully into his own voice, unshielded by high gain or spectacle.

A limited-edition vinyl pressing of Dark Horse is available now in gold, pink, and black variants, alongside an exclusive handwritten and signed lyric sheet for “Lighthouse,” available through Baker’s official webstore. Fans can pre-save the album ahead of its April 3 release and stay up to date on further announcements via zacharybaker.net.

For longtime Avenged Sevenfold devotees and alt-country traditionalists alike, Dark Horse signals a compelling second act — one built not on volume, but vulnerability.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LunarScape Unleashes “Bringer” February 28th, 2026
A Dark and Decadent Descent Into Gothic Metal Seduction
DI Records proudly announces the arrival of “Bringer” , the brand new single from LunarScape, set for release on February 28th, 2026.
Blending alternative metal grit with gothic allure, LunarScape crafts a sound that feels like stepping into a velvet-draped underworld where elegance and danger sit at the same table. For fans of Spiritbox , Blackbriar , and Jinjer , “Bringer” delivers groove-heavy instrumentation wrapped in sultry, commanding vocals and cinematic production.
“Bringer” pulls listeners into a shadowed lounge atmosphere where smoky riffs coil around snapping drums and tension builds with intoxicating restraint. The track explores the unsettling space between inspiration and objectification, diving into the emotional cost of being desired for what you create rather than who you are. It is dark. It is decadent. It does not apologize.
Rooted in gothic texture yet driven by a modern alternative metal pulse, LunarScape balances aggression and elegance with precision. Their noir-inspired storytelling pushes beyond surface-level heaviness, creating immersive soundscapes that feel both intimate and explosive.
“Bringer” marks the opening chapter in LunarScape’s debut album cycle, with the band planning to release new material every one to two months as part of a steady full-length rollout. Old school consistency meets forward momentum. The grind is real.
Credits

Label: DI Records
Mixed & Mastered by: Joshua Keeling
Written by: Joshua Keeling & Tracy Stanfield
Performers:
Archai (Joshua Keeling) – Guitars
Scarlette Infinite (Tracy Stanfield) – Bass / Vocals
Trevor Marchman – Drums
For press inquiries, interviews, and coverage opportunities: zach@metaldevastationradio.com
Connect with LunarScape:
https://linktr.ee/LunarScape
Mark the date. February 28th. Step into the shadows and let “Bringer” pull you under.

Connect with the band: 
https://lunarscapeofficial.com/electronic-press-kit-epk
Contact:  lunarscapeofficial@gmail.com 

"Joe was a triple threat guy whose passion could be discerned in his delivery every time he ignited the mic," ZZ Top's Billy Gibbons tells UCR. Continue reading…

“If this bothers you, please unfollow us immediately.”

The post DRAIN Slam ICE & Donald Trump, Launch Anti-ICE Benefit Shirt: “If This Bothers You, Please Unfollow Us Immediately” appeared first on Theprp.com.

Even with someone as infinitely absorbent as this sponge, things slip through the cracks sometimes. In 2019, I gave a shout to Post Luctum’s debut EP After Mourning, citing its very promising funereal pall as a welcome comrade to contemporary heavy hitters like Altars of Grief and Slow. Somehow, some way, I completely missed not one, not two, but three full-lengths from the Maryland-based solo artist in the span between then and 2026’s Timor Lucis. But it couldn’t have come at a better time, with the inclement weather demanding tunes of a dour, reposed, overcast character. The only variable left is how much Post Luctum changed in the years since my last visit.

Aside from overall recording quality and songwriting polish—both of which have improved significantly over the course of seven years—Post Luctum are exactly as I remember, just more refined. Like a friend for whom time apart never creates a mire of awkwardness at the point of reunion, mastermind Ian Goetchius’ slow and steady despair rings with the same earnestness that made After Mourning such a striking proof of concept. At once, I feel comforted and warmed by Timor Lucis’ Slowed melodies, chilled by its Altars of Grief-like eulogy, and heartened by post-metallic touches that evoke hints of In Mourning or Latitudes. It’s a reliable sound that should be familiar to anyone who partakes of the funeral side of the doom spectrum, and Post Luctum applies it with poise and passion.

As the crooning cleans of “Approaching Light” give way to the lumbering march of the deadly “Shrouded by the Sea,” Timor Lucis envelops me in a kind of sorrow that pulls me into full immersion with an uncanny ease. Almost an autonomic response beyond my control, this immersion feels akin to immediacy in the context of this music, where memorability is found not so much in individual notes and compartmentalized verses, but rather in moods and moments of emotional significance. Even as songs gently coast from a desperate roar to a delicate breeze (“Sunken Fate” into “In Water”) to form notable highlights, I always recall the moment I heard it—where I was, what I felt, what visions these sonic waves summoned from my thoughts—more vividly than the music’s corporeal form. A different impression than what many artists design for their audience, this experience is its own kind of magic. Difficult to conjure and even trickier to master, Post Luctum struck the right balance of texture, timing, and feeling to invoke such magic and impose its power on my mind, revealing Timor Lucis’ greatest strength.

Curious, then, that once the final note fades into the ether, I struggle to find that pull which brings me back into Timor Lucis’ loving, tear-soaked embrace. As I continued my tenure with this record, I wondered if the root of that struggle was familiarity. Songs like “Disavowed,” “A Curse Now A Plague,” and “I Welcome In the Cold” reminded so strongly of the core of my funeral doom rotation (Slow, Un, Woebegone Obscured) that Post Luctum inadvertently guided me directly into their clutches, and I found myself forgetting about Timor Lucis. I realize now that this is the double-edged sword of the aforementioned strength this record holds. Immersive as it undoubtedly is, and as reliable as its writing is in achieving that immersion minute-to-minute, Timor Lucis simply isn’t bold enough as a distinct entity to draw me away from those acts it resembles with which I enjoy a deeper, more established relationship.

This dichotomy exposes one of the greatest challenges not just in reviewership, but also in songwriting from the perspective of the listener. A record is not made unworthy strictly because it is familiar, nor is my enjoyment of this material lessened by my personal history with the genre. Chances are good that I will return to Timor Lucis with a willing and eager heart over the course of the year. Equally, I acknowledge that it will never meaningfully challenge those records I deem the highest order in the style. On the other hand, you, the reader, might find this is your highest order. Regardless, Post Luctum deserves a chance to take you into its heart, and in the spirit of that truth, I offer my warm, albeit moderated, recommendation.

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Rating: Good!
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Meuse Music Records
Websites: postluctum.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/postluctum
Releases Worldwide: February 6th, 2026

The post Post Luctum – Timor Lucis Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ACERBIC UNLEASHES DEATH-THRASH MASTERPIECE “ABHORRENT ATROCITIES AGAINST ALL HUMANKIND” – OUT NOW
Olympia, WA – ACERBIC, the searing death-thrash powerhouse from Olympia, Washington, has officially unleashed their debut EP, Abhorrent Atrocities Against All Humankind , available now. Fusing relentless aggression with melodic darkness, ACERBIC delivers six devastating tracks built to wreck speakers and satisfy fans of Carcass , At The Gates , and Power Trip .
Founded in 2013 as a solo project by guitarist Chris Thompson, ACERBIC has evolved into a full-force unit featuring Gabriel Glandon on vocals, Xander Provencher on bass, Chris Hannan on drums, and Thompson holding down guitar duties. Drawing from old-school death metal grit and razor-sharp melodic precision, the band’s sound blends vicious riffing, menacing grooves, and dark, haunting leads into a crushing sonic assault.
The band first turned heads with their 2023 demo, featuring session drums by Dirk Verbeuren and blistering leads from Kragen Lum on “Despondent.” International features in Slowly We Rot magazine in Romania and Guts N Blood Records’ Rotten Pages #8 compilation in Peru laid the groundwork for the current lineup and the creation of this ferocious debut EP.
Recorded in August 2025 at Elektriccity Recording in Portland, Oregon, and mixed and mastered by Charlie Koryn in late 2025, Abhorrent Atrocities Against All Humankind captures ACERBIC at peak intensity. Gabriel’s guttural lows and piercing highs tear through the mix, backed by Hannan’s relentless drumming and Provencher’s six-string bass lines that weave seamlessly with Thompson’s razor-wire riffs. It is a front-to-back barrage with no filler and no apologies.
The lead single “Shallow Grave” arrives with a striking music video produced by J. Donovan Malley , while the EP’s hand-painted cover art by Matt Stikker visually embodies the record’s bleak intensity.
Abhorrent Atrocities Against All Humankind is available now in limited CD and cassette editions through the band’s Bandcamp page.
Hailing from Olympia’s thriving underground, ACERBIC continues to haunt stages along 4th Avenue, delivering uncompromising death-thrash the old-school way: loud, aggressive, and in your face.
EP Title: Abhorrent Atrocities Against All Humankind
Out Now
Genre: Death-Thrash / Melodic Death Metal
Format: Limited CD and Cassette
Recorded at: Elektriccity Recording, Portland, OR
Mixed & Mastered by: Charlie Koryn
Produced by: ACERBIC
Video for “Shallow Grave” by: J. Donovan Malley
Artwork by: Matt Stikker
Label: Independent
For interviews, review copies, or press inquiries: zach@metaldevastationradio.com
Check them out on YouTube and subscribe:


Connect:
https://www.facebook.com/AcerbicMetal
https://www.instagram.com/acerbic.metal/
https://www.youtube.com/@AcerbicMetal
https://acerbic.bandcamp.com
Contact: riffsandspliffs666@gmail.com

Cali-based hardcore dudes Drain haven’t been shy about their political beliefs and it doesn’t seem like they’ll be stopping anytime soon. And I’m saying that because earlier today, they launched charity drive that seeks to help immigrants in Santa Cruz County deal with whatever bullshit those masked thugs in ICE throw their way.

Posted up on social media this afternoon, the shirts are available over on the band’s Big Cartel page. The whole thing is in pre-order, so it’ll be a bit before you get your shirt, but you can wait easy knowing that 100% of the profits will be donated to the Supporting Immigrants In Santa Cruz County Fund – through Community Foundation Santa Cruz County (CFSCC).

And if you thought Drain wasn’t forward with their stance on everything going enough, they issued a statement sharing exactly how they feel:

“Fuck ICE

“Fuck Donald Trump.

“If this bothers you, please unfollow us immediately.

“No room for hate, racism, sexism, homophobia, or any other bullshit bigotry at a DRAIN show.”

B-B-B-B-Based.

Remember, you can get your shirt pre-order made over at the band’s Big Cartel page.

View this post on Instagram

The post Drain is Selling a Based Anti-ICE Shirt for Charity That’s Sure to Piss Off Bootlickers Everywhere appeared first on MetalSucks.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HÖWLER Unleashes New Full Length Album Beyond Mortal Control Worldwide May 8, 2026 via CDN Records
San José, Costa Rica Thrash metal powerhouse Höwler returns with their most aggressive and technically refined release to date. The band’s fifth full length studio album, Beyond Mortal Control , will see a worldwide release on May 8, 2026 on CD and vinyl via CDN Records.
Formed in 2009, Höwler has built its reputation on an uncompromising blend of old school thrash aggression and razor sharp precision. Over the years, the band has established a dominant presence throughout Latin America, sharing the stage with heavyweights such as D.R.I. , Whiplash , Angelus Apatrida , Destruction , Destroyer 666 , and Malón .
With four previous full length albums under their belt, Back to Madness 2014, Fallen But Not Forgotten 2018, No More Circus 2020, and Descendants of Evil 2022, Höwler has consistently delivered high intensity thrash rooted in tradition while pushing their sound forward.
Now operating as a streamlined and more focused three piece unit, the band has sharpened its sonic identity into a darker, tighter and more ferocious force. Beyond Mortal Control represents a new chapter. It is their most concentrated, technically aggressive and relentless work to date. Every riff hits harder. Every arrangement cuts deeper. This is thrash metal stripped of excess and locked in with purpose.
The album’s striking cover artwork was created by acclaimed artist Andrei Bouzikov, capturing the album’s darker and more punishing direction, while logo and title design were handled by MR WOLF, solidifying the visual identity of this new era.
Beyond Mortal Control will be released worldwide on May 8, 2026 via CDN Records on CD and vinyl formats.
For press inquiries, interviews, or review copies, please contact: zach@metaldevastationradio.com
About Höwler

Höwler is a Costa Rican thrash metal band forged in 2009, delivering an uncompromising blend of old school aggression and precision musicianship. With a growing international presence and a reputation for intense live performances, Höwler continues to push forward as one of Central America’s most formidable thrash acts.

Connect with the band:
https://cdnrecords.com/label-artists/howler/
Contact: höwler.cr@gmail.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Brian Moody Unleashes Brian’s Brain – A Louisville-to-Moscow Metal Journey Bridging 502 Roots With Global Firepower
Release Date: November 24, 2023
Artist: Brian Moody
Release Title: Brian’s Brain
Genre: Melodic Heavy Metal / Progressive Metal
FFO: Ozzy Osbourne , Mastodon , In Flames
Rooted in the forests of Kentucky, sharpened in the mountains of Colorado, and forged back home in Louisville, Brian Moody emerges as a one man melodic heavy metal machine with his debut album Brian’s Brain . Writing, recording, and performing every note himself, Moody delivers a riff-driven, atmospheric, and unapologetically heavy statement that blends old-school grit with modern sonic precision.
The record has already started making noise, debuting on LRS 102 , also known as The Walrus, as the “Humpday for the Locals” kickoff track. That early radio support signals what listeners are quickly discovering. This is not a casual side project. It is a fully realized metal experience built with intention, sweat, and studio obsession.
Produced by Brian Moody and mixed and mastered by Theodor Borovski at Slaughtered Studio in Moscow, Russia, Brian’s Brain represents a powerful Louisville-to-Moscow collaboration. The result bridges Bluegrass State heaviness with global production muscle, giving the album both raw authenticity and polished impact.
Sonically, the album hits like classic metal reborn through a modern lens. Think the theatrical weight of Ozzy-era heaviness colliding with the progressive stomp of Mastodon, smashed in the head by the unhinged intensity of Strapping Young Lad . It is melodic yet punishing. Expansive yet razor sharp. Apocalyptic landscapes unfold through layered vocals, riff heavy guitars, and cinematic keyboards that give the record both scale and soul.
Moody describes the release simply:
“This album is the culmination of years of studio obsession, bridging the gap between old-school 502 heavy metal roots and a modern, global production sound.”
That obsession is paying off. As the Platinum campaign launches, studio performance clips are already generating strong engagement, pulling nearly 1,000 views in the first 24 hours and building steady momentum across platforms.
Released independently under Brian Moody Music and self-managed, Brian’s Brain is a statement of creative control and artistic independence. No committee. No compromise. Just pure heavy metal vision executed at a high level.
Production Credits:
Produced by Brian Moody
Mixed and Mastered by Theodor Borovski at Slaughtered Studio, Moscow, Russia
Management: Independent / Self-Managed
Listen & Connect:
https://push.fm/fl/brians-brain-brian-moody
Media Contact: zach@metaldevastationradio.com
With Brian’s Brain , Brian Moody proves that heavy metal’s roots still matter, but evolution is mandatory. Louisville grit meets global firepower, and the result hits hard.
Check it out on YouTube and subscribe: 


Connect: 
https://push.fm/fl/brians-brain-brian-moody
https://www.instagram.com/briansbrained
Contact: fyrium@gmail.com

 

Cover artwork courtesy of Nuclear Blast Records

Words written by Anselm Anderson