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He tells UCR about it in an exclusive conversation, as well as some of the other artwork being used on the 2026 trek. Continue reading…

Slowhole and Ordh will be out with them on select dates.

The post Pallbearer To Celebrate “Foundations Of Burden” On Summer North American Tour appeared first on Theprp.com.

When I happened upon New York brutal tech troupe Thætas back in 2020, I likened their particular brand of brutalist, sprawling death metal to an alternate universe where Afterbirth were raised in a Brooklyn gutter. It was a sound I didn’t realize would resonate as strongly with me as it did, but it seemed as time passed that I wasn’t going to get another hit. Then, out of nowhere, an announcement for The Irredeemable Age graced me with a seedy cover and a nasty single to hook me in once more. Armed with one fewer member and enough angular songwriting to make AMG Himself spontaneously explode, can Thætas build an even grander structure atop their Shrines to Absurdity?

Thætas still makes a great gritty companion to the more spiritually inclined Afterbirth, but The Irredeemable Age further develops and diversifies that sound. Boasting new twangs and bends that heavily recall Veilburner (“Daytime Lantern”) and a city-dwelling skew that echoes Imperial Triumphant (“Digital Locusts”)—working in concert with familiar gnarled twists that puts them in a similar space as Defeated Sanity—Thætas subverts my penchant for accessibility and lures me ‘neath the sewer grate. At one with the slime that writhes underfoot, The Irredeemable Age is a monstrous creature composed of ugly riffs, screeching scrapes and pinches, and enough stomping rhythms to level a mountain. It brooks no quarter as it tosses me through concrete walls, with very little in the way of telegraphing or transition in between pummels (“DHUKHA,” “Summers of Hate”). With such rapid shifting and relentless violence, I’d expect the experience to feel disjointed and scattered. Thætas are smarter songwriters than that. Somehow, they crafted these 31 minutes with such intricate and intentional technicality that no piece or portion can be excised from the whole without causing a major disruption to its form and flow.

Despite its mangled anatomy, The Irredeemable Age is effortlessly enjoyable. This is in no small part due to its warm, natural, and full-bodied engineering, but its deceptively hooky songwriting too makes an airtight case. High-energy romps “Summers of Hate,” “The End of History,” and “For the Hope Devoid” invigorate The Irredeemable Age’s first half, moving with a springy agility that belies their brutal musculature. Those Veilburner twangs come in clutch at the center of the record—evoking imagery of skulls bashed against I-beams under the train tracks—and imbue stomping slams like “The Irredeemable Age” with huge personality. A delightfully clanky bass tone deepens this robust character as the record progresses, too. Additional nuance and texture develops in this meaty core before late album bangers “Stretched Paradox” and “Pillars of Fault” dress me down once more. None of that prepares for the white-hot branding that awaits with stunning closer “Digital Locusts.” A vast improvement in editing compared to Shrines’ closing track, this five-minute send off embodies all of the skills displayed up to that point and coagulates them into one final tear that makes it impossible to deny the replay button’s allure.

That replay button turned out to be a critical piece of The Irredeemable Age’s success. Despite its more aggressive and propulsive attack, The Irredeemable Age is in some ways less immediate than Shrines. Shrines to Absurdity was so weird, darkly whimsical, and tricky that it made an instant impression. Here, however, I find refinement, sophistication, and maturity. A method informs madness. The whimsical aspects of Thætas’ sound acclimate better to their surroundings, and the unhinged nature of their songwriting settles into a smoother groove. Opening track “DUKHKA” is the only exception, posing a small introductory speed bump in pacing with its staggered slams. On the other hand, it tempers expectations just enough to make the subsequent obliteration all that much more impactful. All in all, though, The Irredeemable Age houses a greater density of details and ideas that reveal themselves with multiple spins, which in turn creates deeper memorability. But it comes at a price. Listeners must invest a small measure more time with The Irredeemable Age to see its magic unfurl.

Unfurl The Irredeemable Age inevitably does. Thætas found a striking balance of memorability, technical precision, and filth that makes The Irredeemable Age an absolute joy of grotesque sounds. And thanks to tightened editing, diversified sonic elements, and refined songwriting, it only gets better the more often you spin it. So the next time you wander into sketchy back alleys sniffing for prime brutal tech death, ask for Thætas.

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Rating: Great!
DR: 9 | Format Reviewed: 320 kb/s mp3
Label: Profound Lore Records
Websites: Bandcamp | Facebook
Releases Worldwide: June 26th, 2026

The post Thætas – The Irredeemable Age Review appeared first on Angry Metal Guy.

Bad Wolves have announced Sara “Killboy” Skinner as their new vocalist and released her debut single with the band, “Paint It Red,” out now via Better Noise Music. It is the Nashville-based band’s first release of 2026 and marks the opening of a new chapter following a period of transition.

Founder, drummer and songwriter John Boecklin said of the search that led to Skinner: “When we started looking for the next voice of Bad Wolves, we weren’t looking for someone to fill a spot; we were looking for someone who could help push this band into its next chapter. The first time I heard Sara sing, I knew she was different. She has an incredible voice, undeniable presence, and the kind of versatility that allows us to take our songwriting to places we’ve never gone before. Beyond the talent, she’s brought a renewed energy and excitement into this band. Sara isn’t here to recreate the past; she’s here to help us build the future.”

Skinner described the song’s themes: “‘Paint It Red’ is about being unafraid to tear everything down and start over — again and again if that’s what it takes. To live authentically and follow your heart, you have to be willing to rebuild when something no longer serves who you are. Sometimes growth means letting go of what you’ve built so you can create something even better. ‘Paint It Red’ is about having the courage to burn away what’s holding you back and the strength to begin again.” Boecklin added that the track is a metaphor for moments when diplomacy no longer serves: “There comes a point when it’s time to stop asking for permission and start making decisions for yourself. Burn it down. Tear it apart. There’s something freeing about reaching that point. ‘Paint It Red’ is about taking control, owning your choices, and refusing to let anyone else dictate your path.”

Propelled by pummeling drums and a polyrhythmic riff, the track pairs Skinner’s dynamic vocal range with the crushing sonic architecture Bad Wolves have built their reputation on, culminating in a chorus that chants: “And watch the blood flow down like a river from my mouth… ‘Cause they won’t miss you when you’re dead, so paint it red.”

Bad Wolves was founded by Boecklin in 2018 and has since accumulated a three-times-platinum single, two gold singles, six No. 1 entries at radio and billions of streams. The band has toured alongside Papa Roach, Volbeat and Hollywood Undead, and has collaborated with both Daughtry and Ice Nine Kills. The current lineup consists of Boecklin (drums), Sara “Killboy” Skinner (vocals), AJ Rebollo (guitar) and Derek Bolman (bass).

The post BAD WOLVES Introduce New Singer SARA “KILLBOY” SKINNER With Debut Single “Paint It Red” appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

Tickets and lineups will be available Wednesday, July 1 at 12pm EST

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Hitting Oklahoma City in November.

The post Have Heart, Drug Church, Pain Of Truth, Comeback Kid, Etc. Set For 2026 ‘Flyover Fest’ appeared first on Theprp.com.

The tour supports their 2025 album ‘Dungeon Vision,’ released via In The Red Records

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Lizzo is doing her best. Following an underwhelming performance of her latest album Bitch, which did not chart at all on the Billboard 200 despite its predecessor Special debuting at #2 with 69,000 album-equivalent units, the “About Damn Time” singer is making the best of a disappointing situation. In a new interview — the first episode of Zachary Hourihane aka the Swiftologist’s new podcast Proto Pop — she dives into how she’s doing following Bitch‘s release and the world perceiving her as a flop.

The post Lizzo Responds To New Album Flopping, Denies She’s Been Committed To The Khia Asylum appeared first on Stereogum.

All Within My Hands (AWMH), the charitable foundation established by the members and management of Metallica, has announced the eighth year of its Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI), committing its biggest investment so far with more than $3.3 million in funding.

This year’s expansion brings 18 additional schools in the United States into the program. Fifteen institutions will each receive $75,000 to strengthen their career and technical education programs, while three schools will receive $50,000 grants for new equipment. Beyond the U.S., AWMH is also taking the initiative overseas for the first time, awarding $250,000 (£186,000) to launch the Metallica Scholars Initiative in the United Kingdom through a partnership with Capital City College Group.

Metallica frontman James Hetfield reflected on how far the program has come: “This thing started as a dream. Now our program is changing lives. To expand our impact on a global scale and support even more students is so rewarding. We’re so proud of all the Metallica Scholars who have come through it and all the ones who will participate in it. It’s humbling to know we’ve been part of the journey of thousands of trade professionals doing good, hard work in the world.”

Since launching in 2019, the Metallica Scholars Initiative has partnered with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) to help students enter skilled trades. While the program initially focused on careers such as welding, plumbing, and electrical work, it has steadily broadened its reach to include industries facing growing workforce demand.

The eighth year of the initiative supports students training in nursing and healthcare, optical systems technology, automotive repair, maritime manufacturing, firefighting and EMT programs, pipefitting and agricultural careers, among other vocational fields.

Dr. DeRionne P. Pollard, president and CEO of AACC, highlighted the program’s continued growth: “The continued growth of the Metallica Scholars Initiative is a powerful testament to what’s possible when visionary philanthropy and community colleges come together around a shared mission. Through this partnership, 13,000 community college students have already been supported across the country, earning the skills needed for in-demand careers with family-sustaining wages. This latest, generous investment by Metallica‘s foundation will reach more learners while strengthening the workforce pipelines that power local economies. We are proud to partner with All Within My Hands to scale this impact, ensuring even more students have access to life-changing opportunities in the skilled trades and beyond.”

With demand for skilled trades extending well beyond the United States and Metallica‘s worldwide audience, the foundation has worked toward bringing the initiative to other countries. The first international program will launch this fall in partnership with Capital City College Group, a London-based institution with roots dating back to 1828 and more than 30,000 students across 12 campuses. The program will support students preparing for careers through vocational education.

Peter Delgrosso, executive director of AWMH, said the expansion marks a major step forward: “Metallica Scholars Year 8 will see our largest-scale growth yet, as we anticipate supporting close to 4,000 new students in the United States and more than 1,000 learners in the U.K. for a total of 5,000 across the program! This represents an approximate 40% increase in our student body, something we are incredibly excited about. Supporting people of all ages entering and ascending through trades is the right thing to do, not just domestically, but also abroad. Our Metallica Scholars have demonstrated resilience and a strong determination to succeed, which in turn motivates us to match their ambition.”

Year eight also renews partnerships with Carhartt, Wolverine, CNH Construction and Upstaging, Inc., while welcoming ServiceTitan as a new corporate partner. Together with AWMH’s leadership and the extended Metallica family, these organizations continue to support the foundation’s workforce education efforts.

Founded in 2017, All Within My Hands focuses on workforce education, hunger relief and community support. Because Metallica covers all of the foundation’s operating expenses, every donation goes directly toward supported programs. To date, AWMH has distributed $19 million through the Metallica Scholars Initiative, $8.8 million to fight food insecurity, and $6.2 million for disaster relief and other community services around the world.

The American Association of Community Colleges, based in Washington, D.C., represents community colleges serving more than 10 million students. The organization works to expand educational opportunities, strengthen career pathways and advocate for the resources needed to help students build long-term careers.

Newly added Metallica Scholar colleges:

Barton Community College – Great Bend, KS
Berkshire Community College – Pittsfield, MA
Central Maine Community College – Auburn, ME
Delaware County Community College – Media, PA
Dutchess Community College – Poughkeepsie, NY
Fletcher Technical Community College – Schriever, LA
Lake Region State College – Devils Lake, ND
Metropolitan Community College – Kansas City, MO
Monroe Community College – Rochester, NY
Moraine Valley Community College – Palos Hills, IL
North Central State College – Mansfield, OH
Northeast State Community College – Blountville, TN
Northwest Mississippi Community College – Senatobia, MS
Raritan Valley Community College – Branchburg, NJ
Riverside City College – Riverside, CA
South Texas College – McAllen, TX
Trident Technical College – North Charleston, SC
William Rainey Harper College – Palatine, IL

For a complete list of all 93 colleges currently supported by AWMH, visit here.

The post METALLICA’s “All Within My Hands” Expands “Metallica Scholars Initiative” With $3.3 Million Investment appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

They’ve also been booked for a 2027 European festival.

The post Have Heart Announce Fall “The Things We Carry” 20th Anniversary Tour appeared first on Theprp.com.