NataliezWorld

You might be quick to think the band is "back" with the explosive "Your Name in Red Ink" — but then again, have they ever really gone away? No, they haven't, at least not in the hearts and minds of the disciple-like fanbase that may have grown up but retains a burning hot passion for the band and its music.

While FFTL's lineup and activity levels have shifted over the years, they prove they are here to stay with the definitive and dynamic "Your Name in Red Ink," featuring new singer Lil Lotus, who certainly knows his way around a microphone, having performed in both scene and hip-hop acts in his career. Clattering, tinny riffs, melodic bluster, and volcanic breakdowns abound throughout this dangerously raw track. This is no nostalgia play; this is your new millenium favorite band coming back with a vengerance unrivaled. Look (and listen) a little more closely and you'll see that the red ink your name is written in may very well be blood...

"We are excited to drop our first song off the EP and announce we are working with Fearless," states singer Lil Lotus. "'Your Name in Red Ink' is a good blend of all the different stuff I love about FFTL — plus new and old screamo/emo. I am really excited to see how everyone receives it."

Just after the turn of the century, band co-founders Travis Richter and Matt Good connected through the local Florida scene. Seeing beyond the boundaries of the zeitgeist's pervasive pop-punk movement at the time, the musicians rallied around a shared vision for what post-hardcore could be without sonic or emotional guardrails. The group turned heads with the Aesthetic EP in 2003 and landed their first proper deal. Long before it was commonplace, they hit the internet hard and built a presence on social media. Searching for a guitarist, Matt linked up with Sonny Moore on MySpace, flew him out for an audition, and the collective welcomed him as a vocalist. 

This seminal lineup quietly left an indelible imprint on alternative music and culture with Dear Diary, My Teen Angst Has a Bodycount [2004] and Heroine [2006]. Throughout the ensuing years, they toured with everyone from Fall Out Boy and The All-American Rejects to Pierce The Veil, Hawthorne Heights, and Every Time I Die, performed on late-night television, and landed high-profile syncs in Madden, FIFA, and Need For Speed. They leapt headlong into another decade, tapping Periphery frontman Spencer Sotelo and fellow innovator as vocalist for 2015's Dead Trees. Coming full circle, Sonny lent his voice to the 2017 fan favorite "Make War," and Kellin Quinn of Sleeping with Sirens handled vocal duties for Mirror Soul in 2025.  Now, From First To Last are joined by Lil Lotus on the microphone, the band picks up where it left off.

Check out the new video HERE.

Exploding out of Japan's heavy music underground with a sound that seamlessly collides idol-style vocals, blistering metalcore precision and unrelenting extreme metal intensity, BROKEN BY THE SCREAM continues their rapid ascent with the release of their new single, "花鏑 [HANAKABURA]."

The track marks their first offering for Metal Blade Records. Featuring the dynamic four-vocalist lineup of Tsubaki Nanaougi, Shizuku Mikogami, Yayoi Takayashiki, and Io Nozukidaira, "花鏑[HANAKABURA]"captures the band's signature contrast of soaring melodies, vicious screams, and punishing metallic aggression while pushing their sound to even greater heights.

The band found inspiration for the track after their signing to Metal Blade, which they viewed as a new beginning for the group. "Everyone in BROKEN BY THE SCREAM is truly excited and honored to release music through Metal Blade Records," the band comments. "In ancient Japan, there was a special type of arrow called a 'Kaburaya' which was traditionally used to signal the beginning of a battle. The title 'HANAKABURA' is our own original word, inspired by the image of a Kaburaya arrow cutting through falling cherry blossom petals. We feel it is the perfect song to mark the beginning of our own battle and a new chapter for the band."

Stream BROKEN BY THE SCREAM's "花鏑[HANAKABURA]" HERE.

Seattle punk rockers The Drowns have shared "Have A Heart" from their upcoming full length album Harsh Reality, which releases September 18 via Pirates Press Records. Watch the video HERE.

(Midsummer Scream 2027 announcement poster by Creepy Duck Design.)

Midsummer Scream, the world's largest Halloween and horror convention, concluded its most successful year to date, welcoming more than 50,000 fans to the Long Beach Convention Center for another sold-out weekend of haunted attractions, celebrity guests, panels, and Halloween spectacle. The record-breaking attendance marks a landmark milestone for the event, which has grown into the premier destination for horror enthusiasts, creators, and fans worldwide.

Midsummer Scream will move to the Anaheim Convention Center for its 2027 show, scheduled for August 6–8. The expanded venue offers greater space to accommodate the event's growing community of fans, haunters, vendors, artists, and celebrities.

However, Midsummer Scream won't be leaving Long Beach behind entirely. Organizers also announced that their fan-favorite holiday horror event, Season's Screamings, will return December 5–6, 2027 at the Long Beach Convention Center. The winter event will feature the Hall of Yuletide Spirits, spooky vendors, and other surprises to celebrate the holidays with a healthy dose of scares.

“The amazing community of Halloween and horror fans continues to grow, and we’re excited to be able to grow with it,” said David Markland, executive director and co-founder of Midsummer Scream. “It’s bittersweet to leave a venue as amazing as the Long Beach Convention Center, but we look forward to all the new opportunities awaiting us in Anaheim.”

From the CATHEDRAL Listening Party on Friday evening to the standing-room-only 30th Anniversary Scream panel hosted by Matthew Lillard (produced in partnership with Paramount Scares), to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights closing panel with Creative Director and Executive Producer John Murdy, the weekend was packed wall-to-wall with unmissable moments.

More than 350 vendors filled the convention floor, offering an unrivaled shopping experience featuring rare collectibles, original artwork, and costumes. The Hall of Shadows drew massive crowds across all three days, with fans packing nearly two indoor acres of attractions from Lionsgate Studios, Universal Studios Horror Unleashed, and independent creators from open to close.

The floor also gave haunted attraction fans an exciting preview of the upcoming Southern California scare season, featuring displays and photo ops from Knott’s Scary Farm, Queen Mary's Dark Harbor, Los Angeles Haunted Hayride, and Six Flags Magic Mountain.

Celebrity meet-and-greets kept lines buzzing throughout the weekend, while a full slate of kid-friendly activities kept young horror fans entertained—proving that Midsummer Scream truly offers something for everyone.

Tickets for both Midsummer Scream and Season’s Screaming will go on sale in early 2027. For up-to-date information, follow them on Instagram and Facebook @midsummerscream or signup for their mailing list at midsummerscream.org.

Check out the announcement video HERE.

About Midsummer Scream

Midsummer Scream is the world's largest Halloween and horror convention, held annually at the Long Beach Convention Center. Presented by David Markland (Co-Founder/Executive Director), Gary Baker (Co-Founder/Executive Producer), Claire Dunlap (Co-Founder/Producer), and Rick West (Co-Founder/Creative Director), the event showcases the diversity of Southern California’s haunt and horror community, welcoming fans from around the world for a weekend

At Noble Demon, we have always believed that music is ultimately about people. While Shaun Glass's legacy as a guitarist, songwriter, and pioneer of Chicago metal will continue to inspire generations, the greatest legacy he leaves behind is the countless lives he touched with his generosity, kindness, and unwavering belief in others.

The tribute below was written by Troy Dixler on behalf of Shaun's family. We hope you'll take a moment to read it, remember the remarkable man behind the music, and, if you're able, help honor the legacy he cared about most: his son, Maddux.

On July 1, 2026, the world lost Shaun Glass, a legendary musician who spent over four decades shaping the Chicago metal scene through Terminal Death, Sindrome, Broken Hope, SOiL, Dirge Within, The Bloodline, and most recently Repentance. He shared stages with some of the biggest names in the genre and left behind music that fans still play on repeat.

But if you ask anyone who actually knew Shaun, the music was never the most impressive thing about him.

Shaun's wealth was never in a bank account; it was in every room he ever walked into. You could know him for five minutes and walk away feeling like you'd known him your whole life. He introduced bands, friends, and strangers to chances they never would have found on their own, not because it benefited him, but because that's just who he was, and he never once asked for anything back. Ask around the metal scene and you won't find one person who claims to be his best friend. You'll find fifty. That's not an exaggeration. That was just Shaun.

On May 31, 2026, Shaun suffered a stroke brought on by undiagnosed high blood pressure. He spent nearly a month in the hospital on life support, surrounded the entire time by people who truly loved him, before passing peacefully on hospice care. Shaun's insurance is pending, and anyone who has ever dealt with a hospital bill knows what even a few days in intensive care can cost. A month on life support has left behind an overwhelming amount of medical debt and final expenses.

A fundraiser has been set up for Shaun's family by Troy Dixler. 

https://www.gofundme.com/f/a-life-in-metal-a-future-for-his-son-shaun-glass

Every donation goes into the Maddux Glass Irrevocable Trust. Shaun's medical and final expenses are paid from it first, but the heart of this fund is Maddux, giving him the education, stability, and future his father always wanted for him. That future is protected in this trust, permanent, and something no one can ever take from him.

If Shaun ever made you feel like family, connected you to someone, or picked up the phone when you needed him, this is the moment to give back a fraction of what he gave so many of us for free.

Shaun Glass made thousands of people feel like they mattered. Now it's our turn to make sure his son knows he mattered too.

Check out the interview below I had done with him in person way back in 2009 when he was in DIRGE WITHIN! - 

Madness of Sorrow have released a new video on their YouTube channel for the track "Infernal Ascension", the third single taken from their latest studio effort, "The Silent Sovereign", which was released in late 2025 via Ad Noctem Records. Check it out HERE.

Vampires Everywhere have released a new single and accompanying video of the track titled "Your Black Heart". Check it HERE.

Platinum-selling, Scranton, PA powerhouse MOTIONLESS IN WHITE have just announced their new album DECADES. It arrives July 17 via Roadrunner Records. Pre-order it HERE. 

Motionless In White are at home in the dark. For over 20 years, the quintet — Chris Motionless [vocals], Ricky Olson [guitar], Ryan Sitkowski [guitar], Vinny Mauro [drums], and Justin Morrow [bass] — have resided in their own shadowy corner of alternative music and culture. The group's uncanny alchemy of metal, hardcore, goth, industrial, and electronic has magnetically attracted an ardent audience, fueling a quiet rise out of the Rust Belt and into arenas as a headlining force of nature.  Their D.I.Y. work ethic drives the evolution of an immersive world where stunning visuals match the scope of the sound.

The collective come full circle on their seventh full-length offering Decades. For as much as it conjures their signature style, the LP sees them continue to confidently cut a path through uncharted territory, spreading a little darkness in their wake.

Today, the band has also dropped the lyric video for the ferocious new single "Playing God" (Featuring Corey Taylor).

"I can't believe how aggressive Corey sounds," Chris Motionless declares. "It's an observational commentary on toxic internet culture and the people who perpetuate it. The internet has gotten worse and worse to the point where only negativity, hatred, and lies are at the forefront of everything you see. It's very frustrating because I thought social media was supposed to be a mechanism to connect, but all it does is divide."

Decades feature several high-profile and eclectic guest appearances. In addition to Taylor, Sklyar Grey, and Dark Divine's Anthony Martinez also feature on the album. The band recorded Decades in Upstate New York and Los Angeles with co-producers Drew Fulk and Justin "JD" deBlieck and ultimately incorporated their past, present, and future sounds into one cohesive sound. This is Motionless at their very best.

"We were never afraid to take risks," observes Chris. "This band has not only lasted two decades, but we've also outlasted all of the obstacles we've faced. We're still grinding. No matter how far we expand the universe that is Motionless In White, we're going to preserve the heart, soul, and roots of where we came from. We are never going to abandon heartfelt, emotional, and heavy songs. We are never going to abandon what mattered to us the most when we started. We're finding new ways to emphasize those stories with exciting sounds and looks, but the vision is the same. It's always been this grand, dramatic, and theatrical entity. I'm proud we haven't gotten comfortable."

He finishes, "Decades is definitely heavier than some of our past albums. Our current world bred more aggressive energy, anger, and resistance."

Check out the new single HERE.

Today, the world's fastest band speeds up and into its biggest, boldest, and most electrifying era to date: DRAGONFORCE have announced Alissa White-Gluz as their newest member and first frontwoman. In a momentous union of two storied and unstoppable forces, the preeminent pioneers of extreme power metal will now be joined by one of metal's legendary vocalists, unleashing both an intrepid evolution of the genre and the start of a seismic year ahead.

Beginning this Saturday, May 9, at Welcome To Rockville, and Sunday, May 17 at Sonic Temple, DRAGONFORCE's debut live performances with Alissa White-Gluz will also kick off the 20th Anniversary of Inhuman Rampage. As the 2006 album that birthed the Platinum-selling global phenomenon of "Through the Fire and Flames," which spent 23 consecutive weeks on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold, Inhuman Rampage introduced the band and their music to tens of millions of new fans and counting. With extensive touring plans to be revealed, and a 10th studio album currently in the works, DRAGONFORCE are bringing more listeners than ever into this next chapter of their eternally joyous, adrenaline-filled journey.

Herman Li on their lineup addition:

"Alissa joining the band is an expansion of everything we've done up to this point. Twenty years is a long time to do anything, let alone survive the music industry and still be so inspired to continue doing what we love. Together we will honor what made Inhuman Rampage matter, while showing people exactly where we're going next. Having Alissa in the room changes everything. She doesn't just sing, she makes all aspects of our music better. And she sounds incredible live! I can't wait for the fans to see her and hear what we have been working on."

Through her work with everyone from The Agonist to Kamelot, Arch Enemy and her newly-launched Blue Medusa, Alissa White-Gluz has become an icon synonymous with strength, independence, versatility and creative fearlessness, representing a new standard for women at the highest levels of heavy music. Over two decades spent on the stage, blending ferocious and melodic theatricality with lyrical themes of philosophy, psychology, ethics and the human experience, she has built a history spanning 15+ hours of recorded music, 60+ music videos, 40+ collaborations and 2,000+ concerts across a myriad of subgenres.

Alissa White-Gluz on joining DRAGONFORCE:

"I am beyond excited to be bringing such iconic music to life with these amazingly skilled musicians in such a fun and inspiring environment. It feels great to showcase all the colors of my voice and utilize all my singing styles in technically challenging, deeply energizing, highly addictive songs. I am so thankful for the amazing support I have been lucky enough to receive from the metal world over this wild career I've built; I want to keep pushing my boundaries and delivering exceptional music and live experiences to the fans that I cherish so much."

Check Out the Official Music Video For "Burning Heart" NOW right HERE.

Their impressive show at the legendary Budokan in Tokyo just behind them, Japanese power metal quintet LOVEBITES are ready for the worldwide physical release of their new album, Outstanding Power, with a new video for "Reaper's Lullaby." The song ventures into rougher territory: Not only do LOVEBITES harshen their sound to be reminiscent of thrash metal, but they also add gang shouts to enhance the stirring character. Delightfully fast, "Reaper's Lullaby" repeats its lyrics to burn in their meaning, giving the words significant weight and turning the song into another standout showing LOVEBITES' versatile skills. The accompanying album, Outstanding Power, is out now via Napalm Records. Check it HERE.

Metal icon ALISSA WHITE-GLUZ returns this Friday with “Flying Monkey,” the highly anticipated second single from BLUE MEDUSA.

“Flying Monkey” is an explosive, dark, layered, and emotionally charged release that further establishes BLUE MEDUSA as one of the most compelling new forces in modern heavy music.

“Flying Monkey” is available on all digital streaming platforms now, along with the official music video at WHITE-GLUZ’s Youtube channel right HERE.

Today, Los Angeles' THROWN INTO EXILE proudly unleash their new single, "Behind the Veil," marking their official BLKIIBLK debut. The new track (which premiered Wednesday on Matt Heafy's "Chaos Hour" on Sirius XM's Liquid Metal) showcases the addition of the band's new singer, Joshua Santos. "Behind the Veil" arrives alongside an official music video, available to view below.

THROWN INTO EXILE comments:

"The addition of Joshua Santos brings a whole new dynamic to THROWN INTO EXILE that showcases a more extreme side to us that has not really been done in the band's history. This is only a taste of what's to come from our new album and we can't wait to play this live in a city near you this year."

Watch the Music Video for "Behind the Veil" HERE.

Today, thrash metal powerhouse HAVOK are proud to announce they have officially signed to BLKIIBLK. Bringing in a new era to their prolific career and marking their BLKIIBLK debut, the band shares their new single, "Fifth Generation Warfare," alongside an official lyric video, available below.

On signing to BLKIIBLK, the band comments:

"We’re excited to sign with a new label that is hungry and eager to make a name for themselves, while still being led by a seasoned veteran. The music we’re releasing with BLKIIBLK is a continuation of HAVOK’s history of fast and tight heavy metal and we can’t wait for everyone to hear what we’ve been working on."

On the new single, they add:

"'Fifth Generation Warfare' is the first release with our new guitarist, Brett Rechtfertig. The song showcases a wide variety of HAVOK sounds; incorporating guitar harmonies, punk attitude, pummeling drums, bass lines that deviate from the guitar parts, and a message about a gnarly topic, while still leaning into optimism. A lot of HAVOK lyrics discuss negative topics, but we always try to put a positive spin on things."

Watch the Lyric Video for "Fifth Generation Warfare" HERE.

Cyprus Melodic Death Metal band Ka'aper released their new single "Eternity in Stone" from the band's upcoming new album “When Gods Walked the Earth”. The release was recorded in the band's home studio and mixed/mastered by Max Barishnikov.

Check out the new single linked below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-e0ltS2Qgp0

Formed in April 2024 on the southern shores of Cyprus, Ka'aper blends dark and melodic metal, drawing inspiration from ancient Egyptian mythology. With crushing riffs, atmospheric arrangements, and haunting melodies, their music takes listeners on a journey into the depths of antiquity. The band—Evgeny Pcheliakov (vocals), Timur Glushan (guitar), Igor Kurzin (bass), and Alexey Boychuk (drums)—delivers intense and evocative soundscapes. Their debut album is set for release in 2025. Embracing darkness, Ka'aper invites fans to scream, feel, and face their fears. 

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561403806389

https://www.instagram.com/kaaper_official

Multi-GRAMMY® Award-nominated New York hard rock titans ANTHRAX—Scott Ian (guitar), Charlie Benante (drums), Frank Bello (bass), Joey Belladonna (vocals), and Jonathan Donais (guitar)—will unleash their long-awaited 12th full-length studio album CURSUM PERFICIO September 18 via Megaforce Records. It marks the band’s first record in ten years since 2016’s For All Kings, which debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. The phrase Cursum Perficio is Latin for “My journey has come to an end,” “My journey is over,” or “I complete my journey.” It proves apropos for such a complete body of work.

CURSUM PERFICIO will be available as a standard CD; Target exclusive CD with a fabric patch of the album cover; standard black double LP with pop-up gatefold; Target exclusive double LP, red zoetrope with pop up gatefold; Amazon exclusive double LP, purple zoetrope LP with pop-up gatefold; merch exclusive  lilac vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Metal Injection exclusive white vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Talk Shop Live exclusive signed with red ripple vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold; Indie exclusive - red, orange yellow vinyl double LP with pop-up gatefold. To pre-order/pre-save, click HERE.

For CURSUM PERFICIO’s first single and video, “It’s For The Kids,” the quintet bulldoze the way for the album’s impact. It’s a classic ANTHRAX ripper locked and loaded with buzzsaw-sharp riffs, explosive drumming, and a howling and head-banging hook. It undoubtedly has all the makings of a future live staple. Listen HERE and watch the official music video HERE. See the quotes below from the band about the single and album.

Bulgarian Pagan Black/Folk Metal band Tsar Stangra released their new single "Black Song (Черна Песен)" from the band's upcoming album "Hymns of the Broken Worlds". The release is recorded at "Holywaves Studios", mixed by Stanislav Stefanovski, and mastered by Olivier Vaillancourt-Girard.

Check out the new single linked below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNS5Rz_F7-I

Tsar Stangra (Цар Стангра) is a Bulgarian pagan black/folk metal project founded in 2007 in Quebec City, Canada, evolving from a solo vision into a full band in 2014. Blending extreme metal with Bulgarian mythology and tradition, the band gained underground recognition through early releases and the debut album "Небесният ковач" (The Heavenly Blacksmith). Tsar Stangra has performed at events like Messe des Morts and Skogen Fest alongside Graveland and Tormentor, and opened for Arkona in their hometown. The band returns with the ambitious second album "Химните на разрушените светове" (Hymns of the Broken Worlds).

German Black/Death Metal band HKSPK released their new single "Rot In Despair". The release was recorded in "Room 013", and mixed/mastered by Jim Tonik.

Check out the single linked below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htUoKQzFixQ

https://open.spotify.com/album/4JIMvlYAYny3GSRiczBQ0M

HKSPK is a Black/Death Metal band formed in 2023 in Frankfurt (Oder), Germany. The trio features Jim Tonik (vocals, guitars), Leon Sabiers (guitars), and Arne (drums). Blending aggressive riffing with dark atmospheres rooted in classic Black and Death Metal, the band explores themes of human darkness and social tension. HKSPK gained growing international attention through their debut album Holy Scum (2024) and the follow-up EP The Human Butcher (2025).

AIRBOURNE is announcing their new self-titled album in a truly original manner. See below the band's heartfelt letter to Lemmy, sharing their journey through this album's process and paying homage to their mentor and friend.

Dear Lemmy,

Well, mate, it’s been a long time since we’ve said “g’day” or shared a stage together. We’ve never forgotten one of the things you said to us, which was: “No matter what, stay true to yourselves. Don’t worry about all the other bullshit in the music industry.

Make music that your roadies will like. Because they’ve heard your shit more than anyone else, if they like it, everyone will love it.”

Mate, we did it.

Six years ago, we shut the roller doors to everyone and got to work writing songs for this record, spending many, many hours, many, many days, weeks, months, and yearsnwriting and writing, throwing things out, starting again, and always sifting for gold.

After about five years of this, we felt that we had a solid bunch of Rock’n’Roll songs happening. Then, Mutt Lange and Bryan Adams brought in their big guns, and a couple of those songs we wrote with them have made the record. We wrote a lot with Bryan, and he was incredibly inspiring, and we learned a lot from him - a true rock ‘n’ roll gentleman. At that point, a long-time mate of ours, Vick Wright, flew out to Australia, and we wrote and wrote and wrote some more with him. He’s a rock ‘n’ roll street poet, and he taught us a lot as well. We ended up with some real good rockers with him.

We sent everything to Brian Howes, and he said we have a solid record now, and he was pumped to work his magic. Dante from Spinefarm, who has been a real champion all along the way on this record, gave us the green light to make 'Airbourne.'

We shipped out a ton of gear from our Manchester compound and from all over the world, loaded it into a semi-tonne truck, and drove it up the Eastern guts of Australia from Melbourne to Music Farm Studios, hidden in a jungle on the surf coast of Australia. This place is surrounded by snakes, Sydney funnel-web spiders, rats, and cane toads—plenty of stuff that can kill ya. We know you would have loved it there because that which doesn’t kill you only makes you louder!

We coped with hurricane weather, flash flooding rains, and palm trees that were torn out of the ground. One of them almost killed Streety, our bass player. That was a very near miss. The tape machine was a fucker. It wouldn’t stop blowing up, but she sounded great, so she was worth dealing with and waiting on.

Every day we would wake up, jump over a brown snake or python, feed the pigs, say “g’day” to the goats, watch the one male rooster with a harem of hens swooning around him whilst he’s strutting around the place like he was King Dick. Who knew that fowl could be so inspiring?

We’d make our way down the hill to the studio, jumping over “old mate,” the resident snake that lived at the front doors of the studio. When we entered the studio, we’d make some heart-starting coffees, put some pies in the pie warmer, VB’s on ice, then Brian Howes, Mike Fraser, and Karl Dicaire would show up. A few cigarettes, laughs, and caffeine later, we’d talk some bullshit, and then we’d get rocking. For about 12-16 hours, we would go. Time ceased to exist for us, and it was the best fun we’ve ever had making an album.

The last batch of songs we wrote with Brian around the Studio Kitchen table, often whilst hurricanes had killed the power. While they were smashing the Studio together, we brought this album home. The main console was the original Neve desk from Albert Studios 1 here in Australia, (AC/DC, Rose Tattoo, The Angels, Billy Thorpe and more), there’s an unmistakable Raw Oz rock tone in this desk, and you’d love it.

We didn’t finish the record in time, as we had to go back out on tour, which actually worked out really well because lyrics that weren’t written in that studio needed to come from being on the road, and that’s exactly what happened with the song “Alive After Death.”

We came back after the tour to our Melbourne studio home, down in St Kilda, the famous Hothouse Studios, where we recorded our first EP. We’ve always had a love affair with Hothouse—it has the Neve console from Albert’s Studio 2, so it was gutsy to go back there and finish this record off.

Craig Harnath, who we’ve been mates with forever, joined the team, and after another tour, and another few months and trips down to Hothouse, we finally finished the record. Zakk Cervini joined the team and mixed up a Rock’n’Roll storm of a record. He’s a real weapon! Ted Jensen—aka “the great one”— gave Zakk’s atomic mixes a real supercharged spit and polish and brought it all home with his classic trademark Sterling master print that only he can do.

So, we finally ripped off the Band-Aid and mustered up the balls to play it to the roadies…. And guess what? They love this one! Thank fuck! Only took us 20 years!

Thanks again for all of your words back then, mate. We’ve never forgotten them, and we wouldn’t be here without ya. We’ll always keep you "Alive After Death."

Rock on, Lem.

Much Love,

Joel O’Keeffe

The announcement is accompanied by the album's first single, "Alive After Death (Last Plane Out)." The track's new music video is also out now!

Watch the Music Video for "Alive After Death (Last Plane Out)" HERE

Norwegian extreme metal titans DIMMU BORGIR have officially announced their long-awaited new studio album, Grand Serpent Rising, set for release on May 22nd, 2026, via Nuclear Blast Records.

Returning to the studio in Gothenburg, the band once again joined forces with acclaimed producer Fredrik Nordström, the mastermind behind some of DIMMU BORGIR’s most revered works, including Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropia and Death Cult Armageddon. The result is a record that captures the band’s signature blend of symphonic grandeur and unrelenting aggression, while pushing their sound into darker, more commanding territory.

Today, DIMMU BORGIR unveil the second single from the album: 'Ascent'. Striking like lightning across a frozen northern sky, the song is a ferocious statement of intent—aggressive, vicious, and twistedly beautiful. 'Ascent' delivers a chilling reminder that DIMMU BORGIR remain at the height of their powers, embodying the intensity, menace, and authenticity that have defined their legacy.

The track arrives alongside a visually arresting, “in your face” music video that amplifies the song’s raw energy and atmospheric darkness.

Watch die video for 'Ascent': 

https://youtu.be/klJcOWTNedA

With their seventh studio album VINDICATE available in two weeks, Black Veil Brides are back with a collaboration the metal world never saw coming. 

"Revenger" featuring Machine Head is the latest song (the seventh if you are keeping score) from the Spinefarm debut out on May 8. The track frames vengeance as fantasy and delusion, following a self-styled avenger convinced that retribution could deliver justice. "Revenger" featuring Machine Head further showcases the versatility of the band comprised of vocalist Andy Biersack, guitarists Jake Pitts and Jinxx, bassist Lonny Eagleton, and drummer Christian Coma. 

"I have always been interested in the sort of ethical dilemma that we have culturally of cheering for justice. I thought it would be an interesting exercise to write lyrics from the perspective of someone who is trying to seek out the ultimate form of justice.  Because I was writing from someone else's voice, this felt like the kind of song that would be best served by having someone else's voice on the song. So, we brought in Robb Flynn of Machine Head. The reason he came to mind first was of course his voice, tonality and style I thought was perfect for this. He is also someone who was one of the first real defenders of Black Veil Brides. In the early days when we were getting absolutely shit on by every other metal band, Robb Flynn and Machine Head stood up for us and said positive things about us and has maintained that for years and years. I think it's one of my favorite songs on the record."

The song is available via all digital service providers HERE.