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Posted on July 15th 2026, 6:00pm

Italian melodic death doom masters SHORES OF NULL return with their most ambitious and accomplished work to date. The band’s new album, “Homesick”, will be released on October 16, 2026 via Dusktone, marking another important milestone in the career of a group that has established itself as one of the most distinctive and respected names in the contemporary metal landscape. The […]

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Metalcore would not exist in its current form without Detroit legends, WALLS OF JERICHO.  With genre defining records like 1999’s The Bound Feed The Gagged and 2004’s All Hail The Dead captivating the underground scene and establishing the model, they went on to break through charts globally with With Devils Amongst Us All, The American Dream, and No One Can Save You From […]

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The third and final album from Canadian speed metal cult Witches Hammer is coming! With some of the material dating back 40 years, this is going to be a cult cut from one of the obscure metal universe’s strongest bands. Released by Nuclear War Now Productions.

Heavy bass lines ride in on howling winds as harmonics ring into the distance. Ferocious thrashing riffs and pummelling drums forcefully dominate with that speed metal intensity that Witches Hammer are well regarded for. The bestial vocals suit the extremity of the instruments and overall the rabid carnage is much in the same vein as before; which is a huge complement as I am a massive fan of their other works. Mixing old demo songs, new songs and unreleased songs; this is a veritable feast of the band and encompasses their long and elite history with material spanning their entire career. This mix may sound as thought it may be jarring but for such a consistent band, it all flows smoothly and everything is delivered with utmost fury. From the tightness of the percussion to the lethal guitar work and evil snarling vocals; Witches Hammer are back and this record feels as though it will be an explosive goodbye from the onset…

The production on this album is beefy. The guitars feel massive and the low end punches the gut appropriately while the drums fill things out nicely. Vocals and leads are piercing and cut through gloriously. Everything feels triumphant and like the band spared no expense in ensuring the final chapter of their legacy is up to standard. I adore the speed metal mania of the riffs with a melodic and yet violent assault that we all know Canada shaped with their 80s titans. If the riffing wasn’t powerful enough, those battering drums and scathing solos will surely have you convinced. Equally the bass is profoundly brutal and does not meekly hide behind the guitars, preferring to bulldoze with total might. This might be the most ferocious release from the band yet! Harnessing the true heavy metal power of the early 80s and injecting it with a potent dose of thrash and speed aggression; this record feels timeless and classic while the energy is as fresh as ever. Of course they are no one trick ponies, there are more blackened moments of pure macabre evil. Furthermore we get some doomy and eerie touches to add to the sense of potent dread. But most of all we get total carnage and blistering speed.

Whiplash rhythmic assaults and venomous shredding destruction will have you possessed by the metal madness right ’til the end of this hell-ride. Blasting bombshells and stringed shrapnel will rain fire and blood upon you as the Canadian horde delivers some of their most ripping tracks to date. The muscular songwriting and blasphemous desecration of its delivery is as flawless as ever and a real pleasure to hear so far into their lifespan as a band. A band that has never compromised, cut corners or given us maniacs anything short of killer music. That special spirit that records like “Endless Pain”, “Show No Mercy”, “Obsessed by Cruelty”, “None Shall Defy” and others contain is certainly present on this demonic recording. Not many bands can still authentically do this sound justice (Vomitor springs to mind though); but Witches Hammer certainly do. 

This is the proper stuff, hail the Canadian speed metal cult! No nonsense, pulverising metallic fury for the strong and elite. It’s true that the best bands prosper in the underground and Witches Hammer have been one of those obscure gems for decades. “Final Storm” is a dangerous and wild execution of total savagery mayhem. Even the artwork was done back in the 80s (originally intended for their debut LP), so that ancient aura lingers on this record without feeling like some try-hard throwback. Can you weather the final storm? Or will you be electrocuted by metallic lightning and morbid thunder? Find out now – get your copy from Nuclear War Now Productions!

Check out my interview with Witches Hammer here!

You like riffs? Big, stinky, heavy guitar riffs? Sure, you do. You probably wouldn’t be reading this website if you didn’t. Here at Stereogum, we cover lots of different kinds of music, and plenty of it isn’t riff-centric. But we believe in the riff, and we hope you do, too. If you like the riff, then please allow me to recommend “Apocalypse,” the new song from Austin four-piece Porcelain.

The post Porcelain Announce New Album <em>Today’s Minor Victories</em>: Hear “Apocalypse” appeared first on Stereogum.

It’s all so fluid. The songs on Steve Lacy’s new album Oh yeah? seem to spill out of him with ease, without regard for definition or expectation. Lacy’s interviews about the new LP — his first since 2022’s Grammy-winning Gemini Rights and its chart-topping breakout hit, “Bad Habit” — suggest he worked harder than ever on this music, that he locked in to a new degree. That sense of intense concentration doesn’t come across because the listening experience is so breezy.

The post Premature Evaluation: Steve Lacy <em>Oh yeah?</em> appeared first on Stereogum.

Following the release of the title track “Sternensegler” and “In der Hand”, SCHANDMAUL unveil their latest single, “An beiden Enden”, alongside an official music video. Offering another glimpse into their upcoming studio album, Sternensegler, arriving September 11, 2026 via Napalm Records, the track continues the band’s exciting new chapter. Marking SCHANDMAUL’s first album featuring vocalist Till Herence, Sternensegler once again showcases the band’s unmistakable blend […]

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Three more chances to catch the reunited post-metal gods this year.

The post Neurosis Announce New Shows With Acid Bath, Melvins & More appeared first on Theprp.com.

The fresh-faced young musician Joseph Scarisbrick leads the Orchestra (For Now), the proggy and ambitious seven-piece London band who released the EP Plan 76 last year. But that’s not Scarisbrick’s only project. He’s also the leader of Big Red, a trio that started off as a solo situation and came to include two other Orchestra (For Now) members, singer/bassist Millie Kirby and drummer Charlie Hancock.

The post The Orchestra (For Now)’s Joseph Scarisbrick Shares Debut Big Red Single “Isn’t He Funny?” appeared first on Stereogum.

Death Angel will return to Europe in December 2026 for a headlining tour that will take the Bay Area thrash veterans across 12 cities in Germany, Switzerland, Denmark, the Czech Republic and the Netherlands. Joining them on the run will be fellow Bay Area thrash pioneers Vio-Lence.

The European leg of the Act III anniversary tour will once again see Death Angel perform the 1990 album in its entirety as the band continues celebrating its 35th anniversary. The itinerary also includes a performance at Eindhoven Metal Meeting.

Formed in 1982 in Daly City, California, Death Angel became one of the defining acts of the Bay Area thrash movement. Guitarist Rob Cavestany, bassist Dennis Pepa, drummer Andy Galeon, vocalist Mark Osegueda, and guitarist Gus Pepa quickly gained attention for their speed, technical ability, and energetic live shows while still in their teens.

The band’s debut, The Ultra-Violence, arrived in 1987 and immediately established Death Angel as one of the scene’s most exciting young bands. Recorded when Andy Galeon was only 14 years old, the album stood out for its ambitious songwriting and musicianship. The group followed it with Frolic Through The Park in 1988, featuring the MTV favorite “Bored,” which helped land the band a hosting appearance on Headbangers Ball.

In 1990, Death Angel expanded its sound with Act III, balancing melody and aggression without losing its thrash roots. Singles including “Seemingly Endless Time” and “A Room With A View” received MTV exposure, while the album further raised the band’s profile.

After reuniting in 2001, Death Angel entered a productive new era with a series of acclaimed releases. Beginning with The Art Of Dying and continuing through Killing Season, Relentless Retribution, The Dream Calls For Blood, The Evil Divide and Humanicide, the band refined its songwriting while maintaining the intensity that defined its early years. Humanicide also earned Death Angel a Grammy nomination in the Best Metal Performance category.

The band returned with new music in 2025, releasing the standalone singles “Wrath (Bring Fire)” and “Cult Of The Used.” The tracks showcased the group’s trademark Bay Area thrash sound while addressing contemporary themes through sharp riffs, powerful rhythms and Mark Osegueda’s unmistakable vocals.

To mark the 35th anniversary of Act III, Death Angel launched a tour centered around performing the album from start to finish, alongside additional material from throughout its catalog. The U.S. run included several Bay Area dates, highlighted by two sold-out performances at the legendary Fillmore. The anniversary tour will continue through 2026 and into 2027, with more dates expected to be announced.

The current lineup of Mark Osegueda on vocals, Rob Cavestany on guitar, Ted Aguilar on guitar, Damien Sisson on bass, and Will Carroll on drums, has remained together for nearly 20 years. That stability has helped Death Angel remain one of the most consistent live acts in thrash, with regular tours across North America, Europe, South America, Asia and Australia, along with appearances at major festivals and headline shows around the world.

The post DEATH ANGEL Announces 2026 European Tour “Act III” With Support Of Vio-Lence appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.