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If you’ve been following Thoughts Words Action for a while, or if you’ve spent a couple of decades

Goodbye .

The post Goodbye Thrill to release new album ‘Longplay’ first appeared on Sleaze Roxx.

Maybe war never changes, but Warside has. Between releasing inaugural EP The Enemy Inside, and recording their debut, three of Warside’s five members left the band. Now a quartet, the Lyon, France collective tromps into the death metal arena, brandishing Cognitive Extinction, their first long play. Down a guitarist, Warside reports Cognitive Extinction as having ‘a rawer, more direct sound.’ Though The Enemy Inside can’t be classified as polished or subtle, Cognitive Extinction embraces an even leaner, meaner aggression through twenty-eight minutes. Additionally, Warside weaves a broad theme into the album—the erosion of intelligence and critical thinking due to the proliferation of screens and dependence on technology. It’s an increasingly relevant theme in these crazy times, but is Warside’s warning enough to keep listeners’ gray matter from atrophying into pudding?

Though simply billed as ‘death metal,’ Warside skews towards the technical end of the spectrum. Dying Fetus, Misery Index, and Vomitory are cited as influences in the promo materials, and while elements of those bands exist on Cognitive Extinction,¹ I also hear the frantic immediacy of Benighted and Aborted enmeshed with the tech-heavy grooves of more recent Cryptopsy and Suffocation. Technical without falling into technical death metal territory and bruising without earning a brutal death metal tag, Warside toes the line between extreme metal subgenres without fully committing to any specific one. Rather than wavering or wandering, though, Cognitive Extinction sounds confident, direct, and ready to peel your skull back to get a look at your cognition firsthand.

Despite adding some new members and shuffling guitar duties, Warside launches a savage assault that never relents. Returning from The Enemy Within, guitarist Vincent Morelle resumes six-string duties on Cognitive Extinction while former guitarist Jérôme dons the mantle of bassist. Joining them are duo Mathieu (vocals) and Thô (drums) from deathgrind project Festering Process, and together this foursome unleashes barrage after barrage of merciless death metal thunder. Tracks “Neurocide” and “Invasive Thoughts” meld Morbid Angel’s wicked melodies with Nile’s violent velocity, frequently coaxing involuntary stank-face. “Visceral” punches with Suffocation’s might, windmilling between stutter-stop leads and kick drum cannonades, while “Thirst for Rot” dive bombs into an early solo before hitting a swarthy Cryptopsy-meets-Decapitated groove. Throughout, Mathieu discharges fierce gutturals that remind me of Benighted’s Julien Truchan,² primal and bloodthirsty without ever going full BREEE. All told, kinetic hooks, furious blast beats, and husky bass grooves carry the momentum of each track, with feverish solos offering brief detours from Warside’s otherwise unyielding onslaught.

Warside evokes death metal titans throughout Cognitive Extinction, yet clinging too tightly to these touchstones prevents them from fully realizing an identity of their own. In fairness, Cognitive Extinction works cohesively, with a consistent aural context that’s as bludgeoning as it is swift. And even though Warside sidesteps critical flaws, hooking an overcrowded niche with deathly wares can be a significant challenge. Genre greats can provide a strong template for writing compelling music, but emulation without innovation risks giving listeners an experience that drives them back to inspirations. Said simply, bands with unique sounds become reference points, while others get buried beneath the sands of time. In this regard, Cognitive Extinction feels like a half measure, where a blend of influences comes together to form a coherent album, yet lacks a wholly original voice.

Standout performances and sharp, economical songwriting distinguish Warside as an act I’ll follow closely, and help achieve a portion of the identity they need. Cognitive Extinction teems with talent and promise, and despite the abysmal dynamic range,³ the mix is well-balanced and allows listeners to appreciate what Warside does within its runtime. I’ve greatly enjoyed my time with Cognitive Extinction, and a couple of its gems have helped add some weight to my Heavy Moves Heavy ’26 playlist, but with so many killer death metal albums out this year, I’m unsure what lasting impact it’ll have. Time will tell, and in the meantime, I hope that Warside continues honing their blades to keep minds and interest sharp.

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Rating: Good!
DR: 3 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Gruesome Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: April 17th, 2026

The post Warside – Cognitive Extinction Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.

We look at the list crafted by Times music writers.

We’re still a few months out from descending on Catton Park, but the Bloodstock HQ team have just dropped a massive update to help you prep for the 25th-anniversary bash. There isn’t a single band announcement in this lot, but if you’re wondering what to pack or how to spend your late-night hours, listen up. … Continue reading Fancy dress, black ice cream, and bike rides: The latest Bloodstock 2026 update

If there is one thing that twenty-five years of navigating the underground music scene has taught me, it

Posted on April 28th 2026, 11:38a.m.

Who knew that nine masked, bodysuit-wearing, baseball bat-wielding hooligans were so synonymous with fashion?

Acres have confirmed that they will be making their way around the UK and Europe later this year for a long-overdue headline tour.

In support of their latest album ‘The Host’, released in September last year, the band will play 18 shows across eight countries, with a special array of supports joining them for the ride, including Wayside, What Lies Below and Lifespark.

So that’s a bit of this:

Then a bit of this:

Then loads of this:

Before even more of this:

It’s going to be mega.

Here are all of the dates that you need to know:

OCTOBER

14 – BRISTOL The Exchange
15 – LEEDS The Key Club
16 – MANCHESTER Rebellion
17 – LONDON Downstairs At The Dome
18 – SOUTHAMPTON The Joiners
20 – ANTWERP Kavka
21 – UTRECHT De Helling
22 – HAMBURG Monkeys
23 – BERLIN Cassiopeia
24 – LEIPZIG Naumanns
25 – POZNAŃ Pod Minoga
27 – PRAGUE Bike Jesus
28 – VIENNA Viper Room
29 – MUNICH Feierwerk
30 – AARAU KiFF
31 – COLOGNE Helios37

NOVEMBER

01 – WIESBADEN Schlachthof

The post Acres Announce UK/EU Headline Tour appeared first on Rock Sound.

The end draws nearer for SPIRIT ADRIFT. Following the release of their critically acclaimed sixth and final album Infinite Illumination, the band will make their last live appearances this spring as part of the Decibel Tour, stepping in to replace Fulci. These newly announced dates will mark the final opportunity for fans to witness the band’s towering live presence, a fitting farewell for one of modern metal’s most revered acts.

Says SPIRIT ADRIFT mastermind Nate Garrett: “We’re sorry to hear that our friends in Fulci are unable to make it to the States for the Decibel Tour.”

“But we’re honored to step in on short notice and make this happen. Since we announced the end of Spirit Adrift, a lot of y’all have been clamoring for a farewell tour, so here you go. Decibel Magazine has always been so supportive of Spirit Adrift, so this was an offer we simply could not refuse. We’re psyched to be the black sheep of the tour, old school doom/heavy metal smack in the middle of a powerhouse lineup of incredible death metal bands.”

“We’ll be playing songs from our new (and final) album Infinite Illumination, as well as highlights of the back catalog. Hopefully we’ll see some of you long time Spirit Adrift fans out there, and maybe we can even win over the more extreme metal fans. We’ll definitely be breaking our necks to ‘Slit Your Guts’ with y’all every night. Can’t wait!”

Released via 20 Buck Spin, Infinite Illumination stands as a powerful closing statement, capturing the urgency, emotional weight, and unmistakable voice that defined SPIRIT ADRIFT over the past decade. Helmed by Garrett, the album channels raw intensity and hard-earned perspective into a collection of songs that feel both deeply personal and universally resonant. From crushing doom-laden riffs to soaring, soul-stirring melodies, it’s a record that embodies both culmination and catharsis.

Track-list:

1. Infinite Illumination
2. Window Within
3. You Will Never Hold The Key
4. Born In A Bad Way
5. Buried In The Shadow of the Cross
6. White Death
7. I Am Sustained
8. Where Once There Was An Ocean

Purchase tickets for the Decibel Tour: https://www.decibelmagazine.com/events/tour/

Infinite Illumination is available digitally now. Gatefold LP and CD editions will be released May 15th. Pre-order here: https://www.20buckspin.com/spiritadrift

The album has already drawn widespread acclaim, with Blabbermouth calling it “their greatest album” and “one of the most emotionally super-charged farewells in heavy music,” while Pitchfork hailed it as “triumph of melodic, soul-stirring, profoundly heavy metal.” As their final chapter unfolds, these last performances promise to be as unforgettable as the legacy they leave behind.

Infinite Illumination is available now on all digital platforms, with gatefold LP and CD editions arriving May 15th. Don’t miss your chance to experience SPIRIT ADRIFT one last time on the Decibel Tour.

Stream Infinite Illumination: Youtube Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music

Follow SPIRIT ADRIFT:
Website | Instagram |Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music