US black metal purveyors Abhoria are excited to announce the signing of a new contract with Black Lion Records for the release of their third studio record.
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Grim Rhythm Eat Shit!
Hard-riffing instrumentalists Grim Rhythm release their new album in March.
Their first new music is eight years, Forever Eating Shit is released on March 11 after being completely self-recorded, produced and mixed by the band. Check out the title track below and pre-order now.
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A WILHELM SCREAM: Cheap Heat
Out 27 February, 2026 Via Creator-Destructor Records Words by: Angela Croudace I was lucky enough to tell guitarist and vocalist Trevor Reilly that Ruiner completely blew my mind as a teenager. I remember forcing friends to listen to it. Friends who immediately loved it, then turned to me and asked, ‘What genre is this?‘ I […] -
Reviews: Matthew Alexander Powell, Foreword, Spencer Mackenzie, All Seeing Eyes (Matt Bladen)
Matthew Alexander Powell – Fearless Jack (Self Released)
Originally conceived by musician and friends Matthew Richards 10 years ago, Mathew Alexander Powell (Puzzle Tree/Shadow Of The Sun/Theme From Alex) recorded his debut solo album over the course of two days with only two microphones a pocket full of songs and some good friends. Recorded live in the studio alongside long time collaborator/co-producer Lee Howells and Matthew Richards, Fearless Jack still feels intimate and involved even with a decade gone by.
It features several guests joining Powell to record, everything picked up by just those two microphones, as if you’re there in the studio with them, Richards plays guitar on a couple of tracks, while Puzzle Tree bassist Jamie Roberts adds four strings, Shadow Of The Sun bandmate Dylan Thompson adds guitar/vocals while there’s features from Lionel Thomas and Wes Packer playing Cajon and Samuel Bees on additional vocals.
It’s an album that has also taken on another significance as between now and then Matthew Richards passed away so this album is a tribute to him for and from those that loved him. With that in mind Fearless Jack then is celebration of musicians making music but also a record of deeply felt emotions, with Powell bearing his soul with that expressive voice right up front.
Capturing your heart on the intimate Glass Smooth until the bluesy What If I Am? the influence of Jeff Buckley, Elliot Smith, Chris Cornell or any of those early 90’s MTV Unplugged sessions can be felt on this excellent acoustic record. Re-released in part to commemorate one of its creators, as well as the beginning of a wider, reissue campaign leading to a full band solo record.
Whether it’s solo, Puzzle Tree, Shadow Of The Sun or Theme From Alex, Matthew Alexander Powell is an artist long established in the South Wales music scene, but one who’s work is only now being appreciated properly for how good it is. 9/10
Foreword – Exposition (Seek & Strike)Foreword are metalcore band from the USA and they combine emotionally honest lyrics with modern metalcore, where atmospheric synths, and electronic music merge with crushing breakdowns and vocals that move between melodic cleans and disgusting gutturals.
They are well aware of their influences but bring them into the 21st Century like bands such as Paleface Swiss and I Prevail. Exposition is their new EP inspired by futuristic video games such as DOOM and Cyberpunk and recorded in a collaborative atmosphere with producer Cory Brunnemann (Nonpoint, Upon A Burning Body, Zahna).
It’s a five tracker where the band bludgeon right from the beginning, picture of a band developing their style, the heaviness is pulverising but it’s balanced by the anthemic choruses and the industrial sounding electronics. Foreword are a modern metalcore band with all the trappings that entails, music to mosh to, but nothing revolutionary. 7/10
Spencer Mackenzie – Empty Chairs (Gypsy Soul Records)
When I pressed play on Canadian blues player Spencer Mackenzie’s new album, I instantly thought of those early Joe Bonamassa records when they had a rawness to them, inspired just as much by rock n roll as they were blues greats, it’s gritty and dirty, washed in the Bayou.
Recorded mainly as a four piece of guitar, organ, bass and drums, though with a few different drummers. There’s a blues rock ethos behind these songs, which is what makes me think of the early Joey Bones albums, heck there’s even a Rory Gallagher cover as Mackenzie brings his own version of Don’t Know Where I’m Going.
On the evidence of this third album Mackenzie is a soon to be superstar, his guitar skill is incendiary, cranking out the blues rock riffs with passion, which also comes through in his soulful vocals, he’s got a number of virtuoso players surrounding him. Miles Evans Branagh (piano/hammond/keys), Stacey Shopsowitz (bass) and Adam Canon (drums) with Sandra Bouza and Chantel Williams adding the backing vocals.
For two tracks, Frozen Hearts and Helping Hands they swap out the rhythm section to Steve Pelletier (bass) and Matt Burns (drums) but not much changes in terms of the style as the production job from 2X JUNO-nominated producer/Emmy Award winner/guitarist of The Commoners Ross Hayes Citrullo gives the record an honest, live feel , so you can pick out the skills on display but also it’s ensconced in a warmth that can be felt on records from bands like Rival Sons.
Soulful but gritty blues rock with great guitar playing and big organs, Empty Chairs will get the bums in seats when he plays these songs live. 8/10
All Seeing Eyes – We Are The Revolution (Self Released)
All Seeing Eyes is the project created by UK power metal veteran Ben Colton (lead guitar/vocals) and multi-instrumentalist Kenny Fraser.Formed in 2014, they released an album but after a time of hiatus they came back with their most recent record Reinventing Time in 2021, and the duo refined their approach to be a more melodic style of prog power metal where radio friendly AOR and grungy hard rock also feature.Drawing comparisons to Crimson Glory, Queensryche and Savatage, they have returned with their third record We Are The Revolution, a politically driven record, that takes it’s lyrical theming from a record such as Empire and ours it together with some brilliant performances from the two members of the band.
With Colton’s massive, Blaze Bayley-esque voice, which moves through some Matt Barlow lows on Firetribe, he takes on the frontman role well, delivering big on the lyrics about society and modern age. He’s also a great guitar playing brining the searing leads to Beyond Judgement Day and the full on power metal of The Prophecies as well as the more restrained power of Forever.
Fraser meanwhile showcases his virtuosity on every track handling pretty much every other instrument from the bass, to drum programming, through to the flittering keys and synths, on the anthemic Rise Again. He also gives the album some epic production and orchestrations on The Cure For Insanity and the two part track The Lonely Road To Redemption.
We Are The Revolution lights the beacons and calls to fans of sophisticated prog power metal to come and listen. A highly skilled duo creating excellent music that picks out all the right bits from the genre leaders. 9/10 -
Review NECROFIER “Transcend Into Oblivion”
Necrofier is a band from Houston, Texas. Founded in 2018, the outfit has already released two albums, with the third effort leaving the realm of darkness this February. The new album is called “Transcend Into Oblivion”, and it marks the next step for the band. “Transcend Into Oblivion” is the first album to be released… Continue Reading → -
HIGHGATE – Sign to Horror Pain Gore Death Productions | Prophecies Of Eternal Horror to Release on March 27th
Single & Pre-orders Live Now
Kentucky’s Doom laden Sludge lords HIGHGATE have joined the Horror Pain Gore Death Productions roster for the release of their new full-length album, Prophecies Of Eternal Horror.
Emanating from the hills of Northern Kentucky, HIGHGATE unleash a Sludge filled, Doom laden yowl that speaks of years of struggle and despair. Prophecies Of Eternal Horror finds the dead bodies stacking to the sky as HIGHGATE grapple with global war atrocities, religious fanaticism and class warfare.
HIGHGATE has shared the album’s first single, “At Paranoia’s Poison Door.” The song is described as a blackened-doom battle cry against an overreaching government that wants us too scared to think or act for ourselves. The lyrical refrain of “crawl to your masters”speaks to the song’s theme of government capability to brainwash citizens into cowering boot-lickers.
Prophecies Of Eternal Horror is set to be released on March 27.
Stream the song now at: youtu.be/_CQJ2x6vwHc.
For fans of Grief, Primitive Man, Mizmor, Eyehategod and Rwake. Stream more from HIGHGATE on Spotify.
Prophecies Of Eternal Horror – track listing:
- Terraforming Hell
- Death Comes
- At Paranoia’s Poison Door
- Deceiver
- The Writhing Dawn
Album pre-order links:
Spotify pre-save – ffm.to/highgate
CD ($10) – shop.horrorpaingoredeath.com/products/highgate-prophecies-of-eternal-horror-cd
Digital Download ($6.66) – hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/prophecies-of-eternal-horror
More on HIGHGATE:
Bandcamp: www.highgatedoom.bandcamp.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Highgatedoom
Source: ClawHammer PR
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Listening Now : Lana Leone – Isabell
Lana Leone dive deeper into shadow with Isabell, a dense and immersive shoegaze cut that swells with atmosphere and emotional weight. Surging guitars blur into thick waves of distortion while thunderous bass and drums anchor the chaos below. The Minneapolis band lean into a moodier direction here, letting tension simmer before erupting into towering, echo drenched choruses that hit with full force.
Alana Christen’s voice floats above the storm like distant light, fragile yet resolute, guiding the listener through verses steeped in haze and yearning. Around the two minute mark the track fully opens up, revealing its emotional core without losing its layered intensity. Isabell feels like standing beneath a black sky filled with noise and longing, searching for something just out of reach.
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Listening Now : Cody Anderson – Sonder
Cody Anderson’s Sonder feels like it was carved straight out of a restless night in the mountains. Blending delicate acoustic picking with subtle layers of synth and restrained percussion, the Oklahoma City songwriter captures that fragile space between anxiety and awe. There’s something cinematic in the way the song moves, like storm clouds slowly clearing to reveal first light.
Inspired by a thunder filled night spent with his dog and the calm that followed, Sonder balances tension and tranquility with quiet precision. Anderson’s indie folk sensibility never overreaches. Instead, he lets atmosphere do the heavy lifting, creating a track that breathes, reflects, and ultimately settles into a gentle sense of peace.
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Bleed From Within Drops New Live Video “Zenith” Ahead Of UK/Ireland Tour
Scottish metal heavyweights, Bleed From Within, are preparing to take their adrenaline-charged live show further across the Northern Hemisphere. Later this week, they'll be hitting the UK and Ireland for an extensive 11-show run, followed by a colossal month-long trek across North America. To set the tone, Bleed From Within have released a bl… Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com -
Listening Now : storyinsoil – Spin Glass
storyinsoil open distillation with Spin Glass, a live modular exploration that leans into hypnotic repetition and slow burning transformation. Built from pulsing sequences, swelling pads, and steady rhythmic undercurrents, the track gradually expands like circuitry finding its own logic in real time. There is no rush here. The movement is deliberate, patient, and immersive.
Layers accumulate with subtle tension, creating a sense of controlled disorder that feels both meditative and slightly disorienting. Spin Glass thrives on texture and evolution rather than melody, drawing the listener into its synthetic landscape and holding them there. A strong opening statement that sets a tone of metamorphosis and deep electronic immersion.
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