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Phil Campbell's sons will keep their family band going in the aftermath of the guitarist's death earlier this year. Continue reading…

One week ago, the reunited Manchester indie rockers WU LYF released their long-awaited sophomore album A Wave That Will Never Break. It came out 15 years after their debut, and it’s fucking awesome. One week from today, WU LYF were scheduled to kick off their first North American tour in more than a decade. People were psyched for it. I’ve never seen WU LYF live, but people have said rapturous things about their show, and the new LP is full of songs that seem guaranteed to go off in person. Unfortunately, visa issues have forced WU LYF to reschedule their touring plans.

The post WU LYF Rescheduling US Reunion Tour appeared first on Stereogum.

Italian blackened crust band laCasta return with their new full-length album Olibanvm, arriving May 8, 2026 via Argonauta Records. Blending crust hardcore urgency with black metal austerity, the record presents a more focused and oppressive direction built on dense riffs and driving rhythms. Track list:ManqafMelmaFeast For ParasitesGallows ThroneA Grave Makes No DistinctionDogmaOverdoseHarrowing SilenceEradication laCasta also share a new single, “MELMA”, streaming […]

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The first taste of the pop star’s third album isn’t a bloodthirsty kiss-off, but a dreamy ode to losing herself in love.

Seeking revenge for her son’s death, Grendel’s mother thrusts her sword at Beowulf. ‘Him on eaxle læg / breostnet broden,’ the Beowulf poet pens,¹ ‘þæt gebearh feore, / wið ord ond wið ecge ingang forstod.’ For those unfluent in Old English: Beowulf’s chainmail saved his life, withstanding both the edge and ‘ord’ (tip/spear) of the vengeful matriarch’s sword. From this archaic term for the spear of a sword, Ordh derives its appellation, which may suggest to readers an Anglo-Saxon-themed war metal outfit. That (killer) Paolo Girardi artwork, however, screams cosmic-prog death,² with Blind in Abyssal Realms being the Vermont quartet’s first full-length lunge at the metal community. Ordh will need to be sharper than the sword of Grendel’s mother, though, for the generic chainmail of progressive death metal is more tightly braided than that adorned by the King of the Geats.³

The cosmic-prog death of Blind in Abyssal Realms claims roots in an earthier subgenre. After the dissolution of progressive sludgers Barishi, guitarist Graham Brooks joined forces with vocalist Jonathan Hébert of sludge-doomers Come to Grief to form a new band. In shifting from the slurry of sludge to the heft of death metal while retaining progressive and doom elements, Ordh ends up sounding like an atmospheric Mortiferum. Brooks’s riffs, whether on low or high strings, always possess grandeur, and his solos splotch like Jackson Pollock splashing paint across a canvas. Brooks also engineered the album’s synths, which are noticeable but never overpower the guitarwork. Hébert’s gutturals keep things terrestrial, hollering at the heavens from his earth-bound cave. Joining Brooks and Hébert are rhythm section Josh Smith (bass) and Dylan Blake (drums, ex-Barishi). Blake especially shines, mixing typical death-metal pounding with jazzy roving and glorious rototom runs. Given Ordh’s previous experience in sludge, it’s impressive how sharp their first attempt at cosmic-prog death is, standing toe to toe with the likes of Cosmic Putrefaction and Blood Incantation.

What makes Blind in Abyssal Realms cut deep is its balancing of atmosphere with instantly memorable riffs. Opener “Apis Bull” perfectly demonstrates this dichotomy; its big, bendy Oldpeth figure alternates with a spacey, higher-register version of itself before exploring new terrain. Similarly, “Moon of Urd” rises with a delightfully demented earworm that reveals a lush blanket of pure psych twilight. “Phlegraean Fields,” the most adventurous song on here, builds an ever-morphing, synth-laden melody, capturing a stranger surveying a mythical landscape with terror-tinged curiosity.⁴ Right out the gate, Ordh understands that the ‘cosmic’ in ‘cosmic-prog death’ should not be cosmetic. Indeed, the synths support consistently superb riffs on this debut, imbuing them with enriching depth.

Some aspects of Blind in Abyssal Realms dull its attack. Production-wise, the record sounds good but lacks a bit of low end. The caveman parts don’t hit as hard as they should; Blake’s kick drum could use more oomph, and Smith’s bass is frequently hard to detect in anything other than clean sections. Concerning the album’s pacing, the last two tracks don’t quite measure up to the ascending quality of the opening trio. “Blind in Abyssal Realms” is a strong song that, at over 12 minutes, could use editing. “Hierothesion” refreshingly closes out the record as its most straightforward pummeler, but similarly, some concision would amplify its effect. And as for originality, Ordh mostly sounds like itself, though occasionally, combinations of blast beats, dive bombs, and ‘aaaghs!’ are a bit too on the Blood Incantation nose.

Nitpicks aside, Ordh drives home its point with Blind in Abyssal Realms. This is an impressive debut that makes a mark on progressive death metal. Comprised of five tracks at just under 45 minutes, Blind in Abyssal Realms advances as a filler-free affair, trading violent slashes with chilled-out parries in a manner inviting repeat engagements. Fans of the genre should definitely spar with this sonic sword. Swīðe gōd weorc, Ordh!

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Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 6 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Pulverised Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Instagram | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: April 17th, 2026

The post Ordh – Blind in Abyssal Realms Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.

Los Angeles alt-rockers Return to Dust are back with a bit of a surprise, dropping an explosive cover of the OutKast classic “Hey Ya!”. While the 2003 original is a feel-good pop anthem, the quartet – Matty Bielawski, Graham Stanush, Sebastian Gonzalez, and London Hudson – have given it a proper rock ‘n’ roll makeover. … Continue reading Classic Cover: Return to Dust – “Hey Ya!” (original by OutKast, tour dates also included!)

The post THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE Drops “Rat Trap” Video; The Dead Ones Full-Length Out Today On Metal Blade Records! appeared first on INFRARED MAGAZINE.

If your speakers aren’t smoking by the end of this list, you’re doing it wrong. This week has been an absolute gauntlet of new releases, ranging from the foundational black metal of Venom to the electronicore madness of Electric Callboy. Whether you’re looking for a pit-starter or a melodic anthem to scream in your car, we have you covered.

Here are the six essential tracks that defined the week of April 17, 2026.

1. DevilDriver — “Dig Your Own Grave”

Dez Fafara is clearly not slowing down. DevilDriver just announced their 11th studio album, Strike and Kill (out July 10 via Napalm Records), and they’ve given us the opening track as a peace offering. “Dig Your Own Grave” is quintessential groove metal—thick, driving riffs and Dez’s unmistakable bark. To make it even sweeter, they’ve just announced a massive Australian tour for this coming July. If you’ve missed that California groove, this is your wake-up call.

2. Evanescence — “Who Will You Follow”

Amy Lee has never sounded more empowered. “Who Will You Follow” is the standout single from the newly announced album Sanctuary (coming June 5). Produced by Jordan Fish (ex-Bring Me The Horizon) and Zakk Cervini, the track has a modern, cinematic edge while retaining the haunting melodicism that made Evanescence a household name. (This song technically came out at the end of last week but we felt it deserved to be included in this list nonetheless)

We Also Recommend – BEYOND THE FALLEN: Evanescence Announces New Album ‘Sanctuary’ and the Jordan Fish Era

3. Venom — “Kicked Outta Hell”

The godfather of black metal, Conrad “Cronos” Lant, is back under the official Venom banner. While original members Mantas and Abaddon are currently touring a “45 Years of Welcome To Hell” set with guest musicians, Cronos is proving that the flagship band still has teeth.

“Kicked Outta Hell” is the second single from the sixteenth studio album, Into Oblivion (due May 1 via BMG). Featuring the long-standing lineup of Rage (guitars) and Danté (drums)—a trio that has now been together for a record-breaking 17 years—the track is a blistering return to form that balances classic 80s grit with a modern, heavy production.

4. Electric Callboy — “Hypercharged”

The German party-starters are back with “Hypercharged,” and it’s a total adrenaline spike. Released in collaboration with the mobile game Brawl Stars, the track serves as the fifth single from their upcoming album TANZNEID (dropping August 7 via Century Media). It’s 100% chaos, blending electronicore hooks with a breakdown designed to level stadiums. Catch them on their North American arena run this May.

5. From Ashes To New — “Forever”

Coinciding with the release of their fifth studio album Reflections, From Ashes To New have dropped a cinematic video for “Forever,” directed by Orie McGinness (Bad Omens). This track perfectly captures their hybrid Nu-Metal/Alternative sound. It’s catchy as hell but doesn’t sacrifice the grit. Co-vocalist Matt Brandyberry is firing on all cylinders here—this is the center-cut of the new record.

6. Wage War — “Blindfold”

Coming off the newly released album IT CALLS ME BY NAME, Wage War continues their reign as the kings of modern metalcore. “Blindfold” balances technical precision with a massive, arena-ready chorus. It’s aggressive, polished, and exactly what we’ve come to expect from the Florida quintet.

Check This Out – Wage War’s Cody Quistad Picks the BEST METAL BREAKDOWN of All Time

TL;DR

This week in metal was a clash of eras. Venom and DevilDriver returned to their roots with blistering new singles, while Evanescence and Electric Callboy pushed the boundaries of modern rock and electronicore with massive production. Wage War and From Ashes To New rounded out the week with high-energy anthems that prove the genre is evolving at breakneck speed in 2026.

Loaded Radio: Tune In & Subscribe

Hear all six of these tracks in high-rotation right now on the Loaded Radio stream. We are the primary source for the newest metal on the planet.

Want the deep dive into the new DevilDriver album or the Venom legacy? Subscribe to the Loaded Radio Podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for exclusive artist interviews.

The post THIS WEEK IN METAL: New Music From EVANESCENCE, DEVILDRIVER, VENOM, and ELECTRIC CALLBOY appeared first on Loaded Radio.

The singer looks like Walter White. That’s my big takeaway from the Joel Wilson-directed video for Australian band the Jungle Giants’ new single “A Moment Like That.” To be clear: Lead Jungle Giant Sam Hales doesn’t need to look like Bryan Cranston’s Breaking Bad antihero. He doesn’t have that craggy face or that cold stare.…

The post The Jungle Giants – “A Moment Like That” appeared first on Stereogum.

The Norse year wheel returns: Faber Horbach’s acoustic pagan folk landmark finds a new home “Pagan folk meets chamber music” — CeltCast SOWULO, the musical project of Dutch composer Faber Horbach, will release a CD reissue of the 2016 album “Sol” through Season of Mist on June 19th, 2025. The album’s thirteen tracks trace the eight festivals […]

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