Sigh are pleased to announce that will be embark on their ‘An Inferno Over Europe 2026’ tour with special guests Devil Master.
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Vanden Plas have released a visualizer video for the second single, “Postcard To God”, from their upcoming acoustic album AcCult II which comes out on June 12.
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Experienced gothic metal formation Beseech have shared details of their next long player, first in 10 years. Dubbed Future Present Past, it will be unleashed on August 28th 2026 through Despotz Records.
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Are you prepared for new Phoebe Bridgers music? A new Phoebe Bridgers album cycle? New Phoebe Bridgers discourse? It just might be creeping up on us. Bridgers has announced her first live performance since 2023, and it’s happening soon.

The post Phoebe Bridgers Playing First Show In Three Years Tomorrow appeared first on Stereogum.

Welcome to My Church
The Making of Suffocation’s Pierced From Within

Hot off the success of their pioneering 1991 debut, Effigy of the Forgotten, Long Island, NY death metal quintet Suffocation had their hearts dead-set on returning to Tampa, FL’s Morrisound Recording and reuniting with producer Scott Burns to record 1993’s Breeding the Spawn. The ever-polite, patient and relaxed Burns had made sense of Suffocation’s sonic fracas where riffs changed on a dime, and Frank Mullen’s vocals went beyond indecipherable—they went into the crypts. It was a match that both parties reckoned was fit to continue. Instead, Roadrunner Records A&R guru Monte Conner (who, admittedly, was “burnt” on Burns’ recordings) insisted the band stay in Long Island and record with unproven producer Paul Bagin. The results, unfortunately, were disastrous.

Bagin’s digital recording setup was ill-equipped to harness Suffocation. Mike Smith’s snare drum levels fluctuate throughout to the point where “Epitaph of the Credulous” and “Prelude to Repulsion” sound as if two different sets of drums were used. (Also M.I.A.: Smith’s bass drum.) A thin, trebly, warbly guitar tone halved the festering technicality of Doug Cerrito and Terrance Hobbs. Chris Richards’ bass suddenly appears—then disappears. And the album’s final mix neutered the inherent brutality that made Suffocation the hottest death metal act outside Florida. Breeding’s sub-standard production is both part of death metal history and Suffocation’s cross to bear, a happening they’ve since attempted to rectify by re-recording a song from Breeding on each of their ensuing studio albums.

Incensed, Suffocation demanded that when it came time to cut album number three, Burns was to be behind the board. Owning up to his mistake, Conner agreed to send the band back to Morrisound in the early fall of 1994 to make Pierced From Within, where, in a once-in-a-lifetime death metal moment, Deicide were making their way through Once Upon the Cross, Morbid Angel were laying down Domination and now-former Burns client Death were putting the finishing touches across the hall on Symbolic.

Leading up to Pierced From Within, Smith split, opening up the drum stool to crossover-thrash sticksman Doug Bohn. Mullen started a family, while Cerrito and Hobbs applied the lessons learned from Breeding into an LP lavished with technical, brutal, slam-oriented extremity that, upon further inspection, outduels the cuts on Effigy. From the jump, Pierced goes for the throat, with an unrelenting yet understandable Mullen commanding the mic with rapid-fire vocal rhythms. The breakdowns, slams—whatever you want to call them—on “Thrones of Blood,” “Depths of Depravity” and “Torn Into Enthrallment” are entangled with agile, metastasizing riffs—unrivaled in their tightness and execution. To top it all off, holding down the beat was Bohn, a man who, prior to joining Suffocation, had no clue about death metal.

Pierced From Within is the rapid maturation of Suffocation into a lean, punishing death metal machine that, through no accident, launched a generation of bands seeking the heaviest “slams.” However, death metal circa 1995 was in no shape to help Suffocation take the next step when Pierced was released. By year’s end, the band was dropped by Roadrunner, Dave Culross replaced Bohn, and Mullen had to sit out select tour dates in favor of his day job. Suffocation would limp to its early demise three years later, and would lie dormant until 2002.

All things considered, no one in death metal has slammed harder than Suffocation. A lot of that is owed to Pierced From Within, which—despite being overshadowed by Effigy and released at a time when death metal was approaching its creative and commercial nadir—is worthy of the honor of being inducted into the Decibel Hall of Fame.

Need more classic Suffocation? To read the entire seven-page story, featuring interviews with all three members who performed on Pierced From Within purchase the print issue from our store, or digitally via our app for iPhone/iPad or Android.

The post Suffocation – Pierced from Within appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

The 2020s are racing by. Let's catch up on the decade with the best rock and metal songs so far. Continue reading…

DOMINUM, the rising stars of modern metal, unveil the second track cut from their upcoming full-length Night Is Calling, set for release on July 3, 2026, via Napalm Records. The infectious anthem, entitled “Doctor Doctor,” is driven by crushing riffs and irresistible hooks, showcasing the band’s signature blend of theatrical horror themes and massive sing-along choruses, destined to […]

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Just in time for ‘Welcome To Rockville’ by the looks of it.

The post Breaking Benjamin Teasing “Something Wicked” For The Weekend appeared first on Theprp.com.

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WAKEFIELD, UK — Chilling new details have emerged in the trial of two inmates accused of the prison murder of disgraced ex-Lostprophets frontman Ian Watkins. The prosecution has laid out a precise timeline of the October 11, 2025, stabbing at HMP Wakefield, revealing a calculated attack that allegedly saw the musician bleeding out from his neck in the prison wing less than an hour before being pronounced dead.

TL;DR: The Key Takeaways

• The Incident: Ian Watkins was fatally stabbed in his cell on October 11, 2025, while serving a 29-year sentence for child sex crimes.
• The Accused: Rashid Gedel (25) is accused of the murder, while Samuel Dodsworth (44) is charged with disposing of the weapon.
• The Evidence: CCTV footage allegedly shows Gedel entering Watkins’ cell for 20 seconds before handing an item to Dodsworth.
• The Motive: The court heard of threatening notes sent to Watkins regarding “nonce prisoners” and a dispute over a fellow inmate being kicked off the wing.
• The Quote: Upon his arrest, Gedel allegedly told staff, “If I’ve killed him, you could be talking to someone famous.”

A Calculated Strike: 20 Seconds in Cell 23

According to the BBC, the trial is currently moving through the British court system and has shed light on the final moments of one of the most reviled figures in rock history. According to the prosecution, Rashid Gedel entered Watkins’ cell just 20 minutes after the morning unlock. In a window of only 20 seconds, Gedel allegedly used an improvised shank to stab Watkins three times in the head and neck.

Shortly after the suspect exited, Watkins emerged from his cell covered in blood. Despite the efforts of prison paramedics, the singer could not be resuscitated and was pronounced dead within the hour. CCTV footage presented to the jury reportedly shows Gedel passing the murder weapon to Samuel Dodsworth, who was then seen discarding an item in a bin where the bloodied shank was later recovered by police.

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“Treated Like Royalty”: The Alleged Motive

The court heard that the tension leading up to the murder had been mounting for days. Watkins had reportedly received two threatening notes the day before his death, demanding money and accusing him of having another prisoner removed from the wing.

Gedel, who had only been moved into Watkins’ wing 24 hours prior to the attack, was described by authorities as being “perky” following the incident. He allegedly told police that he took issue with “nonce prisoners” being “treated like royalty” within the HMP Wakefield system. Both Gedel and Dodsworth have denied the charges as the trial continues.

The Legacy of a Disgraced Icon

Ian Watkins was sentenced in 2013 for a series of horrific child sex offenses that shocked the global music community. His incarceration at HMP Wakefield—often referred to as “Monster Mansion”—placed him alongside some of the UK’s most dangerous criminals. While Watkins’ death marks the final chapter of a dark era in Welsh rock, the ongoing trial focuses strictly on the legality of the violence carried out within the prison walls.

Check This Out – The Black Book of Metal: 13 Heavy Metal Scandals That Shook the Music World

FAQ: The Ian Watkins Murder Trial

How did Ian Watkins die? Watkins died from three stab wounds to the head and neck inflicted by an improvised weapon in his prison cell at HMP Wakefield.

Who is on trial for the murder of Ian Watkins? Inmates Rashid Gedel and Samuel Dodsworth are currently on trial. Gedel is accused of the stabbing, while Dodsworth is accused of helping hide the weapon.

When was Ian Watkins killed? The attack took place on the morning of October 11, 2025.

Band Bio: Lostprophets (Disbanded)

Formed in 1997 in Pontypridd, Wales, Lostprophets were once leaders of the UK nu-metal and alternative rock scene, achieving multi-platinum success with albums like Start Something. The band’s legacy was permanently dismantled in 2012 following the arrest of frontman Ian Watkins. The remaining members subsequently formed No Devotion with singer Geoff Rickly, distancing themselves entirely from their former vocalist.

STAY LOUD: Catch the full breakdown of today’s stories on the Loaded Radio Daily Podcast, or crank the 2026 hard rock and metal 24/7 on our digital stream at LoadedRadio.com.

The post Ian Watkins Prison Murder: Chilling Court Details Emerge in Trial of Accused Inmates appeared first on Loaded Radio.

The Hayley Williams Show is coming to a city near you. Currently, the Paramore musician is on her first-ever solo tour supporting her recent album Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party. Today, she’s announcing dates for The Hayley Williams Show, which will showcase music from across the musician’s three solo albums. The press release also hints that there will be “some exciting surprises.”

The post Hayley Williams Announces “The Hayley Williams Show” Tour Dates With Magdalena Bay & Rico Nasty appeared first on Stereogum.