FIR BOLG RELEASE "TRISKELION"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

French Celtic black metal band Fir Bolg will release their new album "Triskelion" on November 27th, 2026 through Schwarzdorn Production. The album will be available digitally, on CD and LP.

Founded by Dagoth in Nice, southern France, in 2006, Fir Bolg have developed a form of black metal rooted in Celtic mythology, pagan traditions and ancestral tales. The band's name itself refers to the Fir Bolg, an ancient people associated with the earliest ages of Ireland.

"Triskelion" opens a new chapter for the band, taking the dark and visceral character of their earlier material into a more organic and immersive direction. Guitars are joined by ancient instruments, traditional percussion and tribal textures, giving the record a stronger ritualistic atmosphere.

Fir Bolg's first material appeared with the 2008 demo "Paganism", later reissued by Schwarzdorn Production in 2010. Drummer Abaddon joined that same year and later took part in the band's first full-length, "Towards Ancestral Lands", released in 2013. Written and composed by Dagoth, that album established the combination of black metal, traditional instrumentation and tribal sounds that would become central to Fir Bolg.

Following "Towards Ancestral Lands", the band played extensively in France and elsewhere in Europe, including shows alongside Negura Bunget and Otargos. Bassist Femto joined in 2019, completing the line-up that entered Drak'hard Studio in spring 2025 to record "Triskelion".

Tracklist:

Yule

Underground Chtonian Sacrifice

Vae Victis

Beltane

Famine 536

Mog Ruith

Lord of Hate

Samhain

Druid

Dowth Passage Tomb

Mabon

Drunemeton

Queen Mother Celtic Land

Line-up:

Dagoth - Vocals, guitar, bouzouki

Abaddon - Drums

Femto - Bass

Recording info:

Produced by Fir Bolg

Engineered and mixed by David Argi

Mastered by Damien Rainaud

Recorded during spring 2025 at Drak'hard Studio

For fans of: Belenos, Waylander, Primordial, Kampfar

Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063756091637

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fir_bolg_official/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/firbolgtruepagan

"Drunemeton" video: https://youtu.be/qG_Khbj7GJU

MACOCHA RELEASE "PALE HEART"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

MACOCHA – PALE HEART

LABEL: INDEPENDENT RELEASE

RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 23rd 2026

Formed in the spring of 2022 in Blansko in the Czech Republic, Macocha (pronounced ‘ma-tso-kha’ and named after the deepest abyss in central Europe) released their self-titled debut album in 2024. Right from the beginning they were focussed on following their own path, forging their own identity and not giving a damn if that made it hard for people to file them under some convenient genre definition. Their music is fierce, dark, impassioned and angry…vivid, vibrant, aflame with emotion and punishingly heavy. They draw on whatever sounds are needed to bring their songs to life – from black metal, from hardcore, from death metal, sludge, doom – there are no boundaries or limitations for Macocha. And now they have returned with their second album; another descent into darkness delivered in their inimitable style, pushing further, digging deeper – harder, heavier, more hauntingly melodic, more emotionally honest, raw and bloody. This is Pale Heart…

“Let me face the darkness, one final time…”

- ‘Till The Darkness Takes Me’ - Macocha

After a momentary held breath of feedback Pale Heart explodes into life with ‘Idiocracy’s raging power and blackened fury. But ‘Idiocracy’ is never content to remain a single faceted creation as it settles into a slow grinding, HM2 powered riff, then segues into a vein of richly melodic melancholy. There’s hammering heaviness, irresistible hooks, undeniable darkness, weight, force, grit and attitude. ‘Idiocracy’ morphs and transforms, progresses in whatever way it needs to tell its story and reveal its true self – setting the pattern for all that is yet to come. Each song has a unique character, from the rumbling darkness and insidious sense of threat that crawls through title track, ‘Pale Heart’, where the massive chords hit you like a physical blow, to the deep shadows and deeper despair of ‘Till The Darkness Takes Me’, a tale of nihilistic defiance in the burning ruins of the world, built with hardcore strength and attitude. ‘Here Be Lions’ is simply immense, with a stunning lyric from a father to his child. The honesty of emotion, that expression of desperate love, fear and self-doubt, gives the track a breathtaking raw power. Macocha bring incredible musicality to all their finely crafted songs, with that inherent sense of melody and structure never lost in the incendiary blaze of anger and intensity. When Pale Heart ends with ‘Requiem For The World’, a funeral procession that becomes an uncontrollable inferno with riff after riff erupting from the blackened soil, colliding and exploding, the impression it leaves is indelible. This is an album for these desperate times in which we live, an album that cannot, must not, be ignored. You will encounter few albums as real and vital as this in your lifetime.

“What have we done to each other and what have we done to the world?”

- Requiem For The World - Macocha

Recorded at the Kohlekeller Studio in Germany, with the band’s own Adam Rolny handling production duties, Pale Heart was then mixed by Kristian Kohlmannslehner (Aborted, Benighted, Crematory etc) and Daniel Claar (Agathodaimon, Cuttered Flesh, Cytotoxin etc), with Kohlmannslehner also taking charge of the mastering. The result of this collaborative effort is an album that sounds utterly enveloping – trapping the listener in its desolate kingdom of destruction and consuming them. Pale Heart will be released on vinyl, cassette and digital formats on October 23rd.

“We never wanted to sound like anyone else.” – Adam Rolny, Macocha

Tracklist:

1.Idiocracy 04:54  

2.Pale Heart 04:51  

3.Breathe 04:51  

4.Till The Darkness Takes Me 05:19  

5.Garden of Eyes 04:02  

6.Here Be Lions 05:10  

7.Punch the Clock 05:02  

8.Requiem for the World 07:38

Line up:

Adam Rolny – Vocals/Guitars

David Krejci – Guitars

Josef Novak – Bass

Milos Janak – Drums

Genre: Post Black/Death/Hardcore

For fans of: Oathbreaker | Harms Way | Svartkonst

Further information:

https://linktr.ee/macochametal

https://www.instagram.com/macochametal

https://www.facebook.com/macochametal

https://www.youtube.com/@macochametal

https://macocha.bandcamp.com/

OF SPITE RELEASE "RAISU"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

A distinctive "stumble-gore" metal band Of Spite from Finland, has released a new three-track ritual titled Raisu EP. The release showcases the band’s signature honest and skillful musicianship free of modern studio trickery. Though it still smacks the listener in the face like a sock full of soap on the first night at a juvenile detention center.

The EP features two original tracks and a death metal rendition of legendary Finnish singler-songwriter Juice Leskinen’s song "Outoon valoon." The release functions both as a cohesive whole and as three separate stumbles:

The release’s three tracks form a thematically and atmospherically cohesive whole:

1. The EP’s opening track, "Crown of Holes," hits you right in the marrow—from head to toe—with crushing riffs and a touch of progressive flair. Its character is at least as straightforward as a hungover doctor’s handwriting.

The lyrics depart slightly from the more narrative and esoteric path familiar from Of Spite, instead evoking the atmosphere of warfare through the lens of 'honor' propaganda.

2. Outoon Valoon. The middle track deepens the EP’s atmosphere, bringing a cover song—familiar from live shows—to the listener in a recorded version. It deviates slightly from the original arrangement while still showing enough respect to avoid committing a musical crime. Check the lyric video from here.

3. Serpent Coil. The EP’s closing track—also featured in a music video—guides a vampire tale toward its final, blood-red depths, driven by progressive metal elements and, at times, punk-infused, driving riffs. With Serpent Coil, the band continues to refine the distinctive sound established on the Raisu EP, blending the power of modern metal with a more traditional, rock-based ferocity in a way that sounds as if reality itself were stumbling over its own feet.

Listen to the EP on music services (Spotify, Qobuz, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube Music etc.): https://push.fm/fl/ofspite-raisuep

Of Spite is a metal band from Kotka, Finland known for its heavy sound and a way of polishing its work that’s almost as heavy as a deranged prison inmate smearing his own feces on the wall of his isolation cell.

The band is a five-piece group of experienced musicians with a strong background in both live performances and studio work. Their musical influences range from old-school melodic death metal to progressive rock, all the way to Kake Randelin.

Of Spite’s music blends death metal with stuttering progressive rock. This unique combination creates, through its paternal love, a perverse hybrid that doesn’t leave the listener alone with their conflicting emotions.

Of Spite:

Joonas Nieminen - Drums

Antti Lampinen - Guitar

Samu Haatainen - Guitar

Janne Hietanen - Bass

Jere Harju - Vocals

https://www.facebook.com/ofspite

https://ofspite.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/ofspite/

BEFOULED MALEDICTION RELEASE NEW SINGLE: "DELIBERATION"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

US melodic black metal act BEFOULED MALEDICTION premiere "Deliberation" via Decibel Magazine, offering a further glimpse into their debut album "Desperate Necromancy", due on October 30, 2026.

The project builds a dark narrative around grief, forbidden magic and the desperate attempt to reverse death, with melodic guitar work and spectral atmospheres shaping its sinister black metal.

Stream "Deliberation" at THIS LOCATION.

From the shadowed ranks of ORDO VAMPYR ORIENTIS comes BEFOULED MALEDICTION, a new project devoted to the darker corners of black metal and occult storytelling. Its debut record, "Desperate Necromancy", follows a warlock whose world is shattered by the sudden death of his beloved, sending him beyond the boundaries of mortal knowledge in search of a way to reverse the inevitable.

What begins in grief gradually turns toward forbidden rites, necromancy and the dangerous conviction that death itself can be defied. "Desperate Necromancy" gives this descent a suitably spectral setting, combining aggressive yet melodic black metal with an atmosphere that recalls the dim chambers, ancient manuscripts and solitary wanderings of dungeon synth. The music remains sharp and purposeful, allowing the narrative to emerge through melody, tension and shifting shades of darkness rather than excessive theatrics.

As part of the ever-changing ORDO VAMPYR ORIENTIS collective, BEFOULED MALEDICTION features associates also active in BAT MAGIC, BAD MANOR, BENEATH MOONLIGHT and other related projects.

"Desperate Necromancy" will be available digitally through Bandcamp and Ampwall on October 30, followed by a limited LP edition via Ixiol Productions and Dawnbreed Records on November 13.

For fans of: Arckanum, Sacramentum, Dissection

Tracklist:

01. The Dark Time

02. Ritual

03. The Dwindling Hours

04. To Lift the Shroud and Find Misery

05. Deliberation

06. Finis Tragœdia

07. The Silenced Hymn

Credits:

Voix de Velours Empoisonnée - Incantations

The Haunted Strigoi - Hell-Axe

Blood Drinker - Stringed Spear & Cursed Ivory

Winged Necromancer - Subterranean Rumbling

The Impaler - Inverted Crucifix Battery

Guitar solo on "The Silenced Hymn" by Countess Vesperia

Mixed by Sanguine

Mastered by Jacob Buczarski

Incantations captured by Evan Michael Williams

Logo by Ikonostasis

Illustration and layout by Dylan Garrett Smith

Streaming & preorders:

https://ordovampyrorientis.bandcamp.com/album/desperate-necromancy

https://ampwall.com/a/ovo/album/desperate-necromancy

Dawnbreed Records

https://www.dawnbreed.com/

Ixiol Productions

https://www.ixiol.com/

TURBO RELEASE "LISTEN... SHUT UP!"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Fueled by speed, swagger, and enough greasy energy to leave tire marks across the heavy music underground, Halifax's self-described "Nitro-Rock" maniacs Turbo are set to release their third full-length album, "Listen... Shut Up!", on October 23, 2026.

​Ahead of the release, the band is now streaming the album's latest single, "Formula One," a high-octane speed metal ripper that perfectly captures the hard-driving spirit at the heart of the new record. The album follows the band's acclaimed previous releases "Fast as Fvck" (2020) and "Broke and Ugly" (2024), further cementing Turbo's reputation for relentless songwriting, explosive live performances, and unapologetically loud rock and roll.

​​"We like our music hard, fast, and raw, and that's the kind of experience we're trying to give other people. We want to give people the same kind of punch-in-the-gut, 'this rollercoaster is more than a bit too fast' feeling that we crave," says Evan Frizzle (lead vocalist and lead guitarist).

As one of the record's most adrenaline-fueled offerings, "Formula One" charges forward with blazing riffs, hook-laden guitar work, and relentless momentum.

​​"It's another speedy locomotive of a track with great guitar work and a bunch of ear hooks. The middle train-beat comedown section might be one of my favorite parts on the whole album," says Frizzle.

​Lyrically, the track draws directly from Frizzle's turbulent past and real-life run-ins with the law, continuing the band's commitment to brutally honest storytelling and lived experience.

Listen to "Formula One" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sronecf6Dh0​

​

On "Listen... Shut Up!," Turbo takes listeners beyond the reckless highs of its earlier releases and into the fallout that follows. Still fueled by fist-pumping anthems, razor-sharp riffs, and the band's trademark swagger, the album explores the hard-earned lessons, scars, and consequences of a life lived at full speed.

Across eight explosive tracks, "Listen... Shut Up!" captures every facet of Turbo's unmistakable Nitro-Rock sound. From the breakneck intensity of "Kamikaze" and the self-reflective edge of "Don't Know Me" to the darker themes of "Deathwish Labyrinth," the album balances raw aggression with brutally honest storytelling. Tracks like "Slut Island" and "Best Wishes" deliver attitude, chaos, and infectious energy, while "Tell Your Daughter" and "Black Wings of Revenge" showcase a more nuanced side of the band's songwriting. Closing with the adrenaline-charged "Formula One," the album leaves listeners in a cloud of smoke, speed, and unforgettable hooks.

​​"Our first album, Fast as Fvck, felt like it was all about living in squalor, while Broke and Ugly had this invincible feeling like the party was never going to die. We're kind of thinking about this album as the hangover from all that. It's still hard, fast, heavy, and packed full of fun, still undeniably classic Turbo, but it feels more mature and refined in a lot of regards. We're incredibly proud of it," adds Frizzle.

Since forming in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Turbo has operated with a singular mission: create music that pushes harder, plays louder, and aims higher than anything they had previously experienced in their respective projects.

​​"The members of Turbo were already in heavy-hitting bands in Halifax's scene, but felt like their respective bands weren't living the lifestyle and pushing their music quite to the magnitude we desired. So we quickly quilted together a project under the banner of that desire, a plan to take over the world, and wanted to create a sound to match that drive," adds Frizzle. "

​That vision has evolved into a distinctive sound influenced by Motörhead, W.A.S.P., Judas Priest, Pantera, and Kill Cheerleader, blending speed metal, NWOBHM, sleaze rock, punk, and glam metal into what the band proudly calls Nitro-Rock.

​​"Everything is for the good of the song. If it doesn't work, it's scrapped. We have no personal stake or ego when we write. The songs are 100% a collaborative effort," commented Frizzle.

​​Turbo's reputation has grown through relentless touring and a live show that balances rock-and-roll spectacle with genuine authenticity. They walk the line between being a very down-to-earth group and being an absolute spectacle in how they present themselves, giving fans a fair dose of flash while still coming off as real people. Expect them to be wasted, twisted, nasty, and greasy. Just the way they like it as they head off to Europe for the first time in October for the "Canadian Invasion Tour" with Monteith (dates listed below).

For fans of Motörhead, Judas Priest, W.A.S.P., Pantera, Kill Cheerleader, speed metal, sleaze rock, NWOBHM, and high-octane rock and roll, "Listen... Shut Up!" will be available on all digital platforms on October 23, 2026.

Album pre-save - https://turboasfvck.bandcamp.com/​

Canadian Invasion Euro Tour - Turbo w/ Monteith​

22.10 - Hradec, CZ — AC Klub

23.10 - Bratislava, SK — Koncerty na Garážach (cancelled)

24.10 - Louny, CZ — Sféra Louny

25.10 - Bohuslavice, CZ — NOISE Bar

26.10 - Košice, SK — Collosseum Klub

27.10 - Budapest, HU — S8 Underground

28.10 - Krakow, PL — SNY

29.10 - Prague, CZ — Klub FAMU

30.10 - Nuremberg, DE — Blackbox

31.10 - Hamburg, DE — Stellwerk

Track Listing:​

1. Kamikaze - 3:53

2. Don't Know Me - 3:16

3. Deathwish Labyrinth - 3:42

4. Slut Island - 4:11

5. Best Wishes - 3:07

6. Tell Your Daughter - 3:49

7. Black Wings of Revenge - 4:14

8. Formula One - 4.33

Album Length: 29:50

Lineup:​

Evan Frizzle: Vox, Lead & Rhythm Guitar

Lindsey Dicks: Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Back Up Vocals

Donovan Saulnier: Bass, Backing Vocals

Sylvian Coderre: Drums

For more info:

​https://www.facebook.com/TURBOFAF​

​https://www.instagram.com/turboasfvck/​

URNA RELEASE "THE GREAT JIHAD"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Italian esoteric extreme metal act URNA now present their new album "The Great Jihad" in full through an exclusive premiere hosted by Invisible Oranges, ahead of its October 16, 2026 release via ATMF.

Thirteen years after "Mors Principium Est", the band return with a darker and more volatile blend of funeral doom and black metal, enriched by vast, otherworldly melodies and occult atmospheres. The six-track album marks a new chapter for URNA, while continuing the spiritual and esoteric exploration that has defined their music since the early 2000s.

Stream "The Great Jihad" at THIS LOCATION.

More poisonous and tense than its predecessors, "The Great Jihad" retains the crushing atmosphere and funeral doom connection that have long defined URNA, while pushing their faster passages towards a harsher, more abrasive form of black metal. Amid the weight and aggression, vast, sideral melodies emerge from the darkness, adding a solemn dimension to an album steeped in occult and esoteric atmospheres. The result is a work that feels both familiar and renewed, balancing oppressive density with moments of stark, otherworldly beauty.

For the first time, URNA present an album with lyrics entirely in English. With the exception of their 2003 debut "Justa Funebria", originally performed in Italian, the band's releases have traditionally employed Latin. The conceptual framework once again expands RM's personal spiritual journey through Hermetism, approaching the notion of duality from an esoteric perspective and exploring its many manifestations.

"The Great Jihad" also introduces new collaborators to the lineup, with Sibilans (Anamnesi, Simulacro) on drums and T (Sangue Nero) on bass. The album was recorded through multiple sessions between 2014 and 2025, across Italy and the United Kingdom, before being mixed and mastered at MZ's 322 Studio in early 2026. The artwork was created by Francesco Gemelli.

Tracklist:

Creator

01. First of Three

02. Second of Three

03. Third of Three

Created

04. The Great Jihad

05. Dream Death, Towards Rebirth

06. Four Levels of Infinite Splendour

Active in the extreme metal underground for more than two decades, URNA emerged in 2003 with "Justa Funebria" before attracting the attention of ATMF, which released "Sepulcrum" as its first label release. Their sound soon expanded from abrasive black metal into funeral doom, electronics and increasingly esoteric atmospheres. "Iter ad Lucem" (2009) and "Mors Principium Est" (2013) further developed this uncompromising vision, with the latter closing a cycle that had begun with their debut.

Early demos for "The Great Jihad" were already taking shape after "Mors Principium Est", but the project subsequently entered a prolonged hiatus. Recording resumed years later before the pandemic forced another interruption. In 2025, URNA finally completed the album, bringing a journey that began more than a decade ago to its intended conclusion.

Much has changed since 2003. URNA have not.

Preorder:

https://tornfromthegrave.com/collections/metal-odyssey-pre-order-now/products/urna-the-great-jihad-cd-pre-order

Line-up:

MZ – Guitars, Synths

RM – Vocals

Sibilans - Drums

T – Bass

URNA

https://urna.bandcamp.com/

ATMF

https://atmf.net/

https://atmfsssdtp.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/aeternitas.tenebrarum

https://www.instagram.com/atmf.official/

GORGATRON ANNOUNCE NEW ALBUM "TURMOIL"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

North Dakota death metal crew GORGATRON will return with their new album "Turmoil", set for release on December 11, 2026 via Time To Kill Records.

Built around a pronounced devotion to the riff, the Fargo-based band continue to draw from the muscular tradition of American death metal while leaving room for intricate guitar work, shifting rhythms and unexpected turns. "Turmoil" follows 2024's "Sentience Revoked" and marks the next stage in a catalogue that has steadily expanded the group's take on death metal. The album was mixed and mastered by Marco Mastrobuono (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Hour Of Penance), whose work further sharpens the definition and impact of the band's sound. 

The album's first single, "Cleansed", is now available, offering the first glimpse of what GORGATRON have been shaping for their new chapter.

YouTube: https://youtu.be/k5epuj7Z3eI

Streaming: https://ffm.to/gorgatron-cleansed

Bassist Cameron Dewald comments:

"I wrote this song out of frustration with old management, ex band members, the music biz, and the day to day scum you’re forced to tolerate… I was surrounded by usurpers and wrote the lyrics as a way to mentally purge myself of human parasites. Two years later they’re all gone, the band is healthy/happy and you’re reading the background story to Cleansed. Thanks!

I dedicate this song to Mark, Karl, Chelsea, Matt, and Fargo…".

Preorders:

https://timetokillrecords.com/collections/gorgatron

https://gorgatron.bandcamp.com/album/turmoil

A band that has never been particularly interested in rushing its creative process, GORGATRON have always taken their time to consider their next moves and make sure every return is worth the wait. That patience is reflected in a death metal approach that refuses to settle comfortably within any specific current or subgenre. The Fargo, North Dakota outfit instead builds its identity around the riff, allowing the guitars to dictate the direction of each composition and providing a natural point of contact with bands such as Suffocation, Origin and Hate Eternal.

Yet those comparisons only tell part of the story. GORGATRON have developed a distinctly personal way of arranging their material, paying close attention to dynamics and introducing melodic ideas without ever allowing them to overshadow the sheer weight and severity of the music. Their songs can move from intricate guitar work to blunt, punishing passages without losing their sense of direction, creating a sound that feels both carefully constructed and fundamentally physical.

At its core, this remains uncompromising American death metal: sharp-edged, disciplined and built on the enduring power of the riff. Two decades of experience have only sharpened the band's understanding of how to make that formula work, while "Turmoil" promises to push their established language into another chapter.

Tracklist:

01. Recalling Of Errors

02. Turmoil

03. Lucid Misery

04. Cleansed

05. Infinite Collapse

06. Fastidious

07. Contrived Interloper

08. Irrevelance

09. World Denied

10. Tithes To An Alter

Formed around 2006 in Fargo, North Dakota, GORGATRON released their debut full-length "Torturetorium" independently in 2010, followed by "Inner Supremacy" in 2015. The band expanded its reach considerably with 2020's "Pathogenic Automation", released through Nuclear Blast/BloodBlast Distribution, and the "Agony Reborn" EP in 2022, supporting the latter with a tour spanning 18 countries. In 2024, "Sentience Revoked" arrived through Redefining Darkness Records, followed by extensive touring across the US and Canada and an appearance in Iceland.

With a renewed lineup featuring Billy Zahn on lead guitar, Henri Jourdan on rhythm guitar and Colin Richardson on vocals alongside longtime members Cameron Dewald and Matt Johnson, GORGATRON have further refined the precision, intensity and riff-driven foundation that has defined the band for nearly two decades. Years of relentless touring across North America, Europe, the UK and Mexico have established the group as a seasoned live force, sharing stages with acts including Anthrax, Testament, Carcass, The Black Dahlia Murder, Origin, Defeated Sanity, Malevolent Creation, Misery Index, Goatwhore, Jungle Rot, Beyond Creation and many more.

Line-up:

Colin Richardson - Vocals

Billy Zahn - Lead Guitar

Henri Jourdan - Rhythm Guitar

Cameron Dewald - Bass/Vocals

Matt Johnson - Drums

GORGATRON

https://gorgatron.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/gorgatron/

https://www.facebook.com/gorgatronband/

Time To Kill Records

https://timetokillrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/timetokillrecords/

https://www.facebook.com/timetokillrecords/

https://www.youtube.com/c/TIMETOKILLRECORDS

https://timetokillrecords.com/

VIROLOGIST RELEASE "SUBJUGATION OF ANTROPOID FORMS"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Southern California brutal death metal band VIROLOGIST is set to release their debut full-length album, Subjugation of Anthropoid Forms. The band was formed in 2023 as the brainchild of then-17-year old Emrys Mellinger.

Subjugation of Anthropoid Forms showcases VIROLOGIST taking their music to a whole new level. Mellinger and fellow mainstay members Ethan Shadman (drums) and Daniel Esquivel (vocals) forged an album like no other in the current brutal death metal scene. To complete the album lineup, bassist Sam Little was welcomed back to the fold and added his unique sound and chops to the mix. 

Subjugation of Anthropoid Forms is wholly original while also displaying the band wearing their influences proudly on their sleeves, delivering a frenetic 27 minutes of barely controlled chaos.

The band recently shared the album's first single, "Opium-Induced Extrasensory Entrancement." The song features guest vocals by Ayato Yabuki (Gyakuki). Stream the song at this location.

New Standard Elite will release Subjugation of Anthropoid Forms on November 13. The album's release will coincide with the SoCal Brutal Death Fest on November 13 -14 in El Monte, CA. Get tickets and details at newstandardelite.com/socalbdfest.

Pushing themselves to the limit in all ways, VIROLOGIST made the audacious decision to completely self-produce Subjugation of Anthropoid Forms, taking control of the recording process from beginning to end. Written, recorded and mixed in a frenzied three-month period this summer, the band endured epic levels of burn out, from which they somehow summoned the will to create something beyond themselves. Reaching an almost trance-like state while writing, Shadman and Mellinger dug deep into the creative process during marathon sessions at their rehearsal space in Oxnard, CA.

“Though this album was conceptualized over the course of two years, it was mainly written, recorded, and produced in the span of only about three months," states the band about the creative process behind the album. "We set out not to create brutal death metal but rather to use it as a medium through which to convey all of our many other ideas and influences. The material came to us naturally jamming together in our rehearsal space. We tried to create something that goes beyond the genre in a way that can be appreciated by music listeners of different backgrounds. The state of music today is very contrived and image-dependent and we strive to write songs that come from a sincere place to contrast with that. We truly put our heart and soul into the music and hope that it inspires other musicians to do the same.”

For fans of Deeds of Flesh, Enmity, Inherit Disease, Orchidectomy, Pustulated, Mortal Decay, and Defeated Sanity.

Stream more from VIROLOGIST on Spotify and Apple Music.

VIROLOGIST merch and copies of Ameliorating Vicissitudes are available at newstandardelite.myshopify.com/collections/virologist

Track Listing:

1) Effectuating Surfeited Mandication

2) Gavaging Acidulous Discharge

3) Opium-Induced Extrasensory Entrancement (feat. Ayato Yabuki)

4) Maimed by the Therianthrope

5) Plethora of Inanimate Residuum

6) Reanimation of Mechanical Flesh Through Cybernetic Enslavement (feat. Logan Calvaresi)

7) Concentrated Lethal Subsisting

8) Irrational Omnicide by a Maniacal Egregodynamic Horde

VIROLOGIST, a brutal death metal band from Southern California, originally formed in 2023 as the brainchild of then-17-year old Emrys Mellinger.  

He released a solo EP, Promo 2023, to garner interest in the project and quickly attracted an accomplished four-man lineup. Brutal Mind Records re-released the EP under the title Neurodegeneration. 

2024 brought the release of their second EP, Ameliorating Vicissitudes (New Standard Elite), introducing Daniel Esquivel on vocals, Mellinger on guitar and backup vocals, Zach Klain on guitar, Sam Little on bass and Ethan Shadman on drums. 

After performing at Los Angeles Extermination Fest, Texas Domination Fest, NSE Fest (Texas) and Slam Dominate 2025 in Tokyo, Japan, the band self-released a live album, On My Way to Texas - Live at TDF in 2025. 

VIROLOGIST returns in 2026 to release their debut full length album, Subjugation of Anthropoid Forms.

Album Credits:

Subjugation of Anthropoid Forms was produced by VIROLOGIST, and mixed by Mike Mellinger and VIROLOGIST. Assistant mix engineering by Mike McLaughlin. Bass, vocals, and guitars for the album were recorded at Mellinger Studios, with drums recorded by Armand John Anthony at The Captains Quarters Studio in Ventura, CA. The album was mastered by Jamie King. Artwork for Subjugation of Anthropoid Forms by Andy Dicochea. Band logo by Emrys Mellinger.

Photo credit: James Yaymayan

VIROLOGIST is:

Daniel Esquivel - vocals

Emrys Mellinger - guitars, vocals

Ethan Shadman - drums, vocals

Sam Little - bass 

Ayato Yabuki - guest vocals on "Opium-Induced Extrasensory Entrancement"

Logan Calvaresi - guest vocals on "Reanimation of Mechanical Flesh Through Cybernetic Enslavement"

facebook.com/virologistband

instagram.com/virologist.bdm

virologist.bandcamp.com

newstandardelite.com

METHANE RELEASE "DEMOLATE"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

METHANE

Demolate

Release date: Friday, October 2nd 2026

Fireflash Records

"Demolate" isn’t just an album; it’s a declaration of war on the mundane. Get ready for a wild ride where intensity reigns and the spirit of thrash explodes in a furious sonic onslaught.

The album is available on CD and a ltd. colored (neon yellow) vinyl. If you order on Bandcamp, you get a free signed poster on top; you also find an exclusive sexy shirt there.

Order here: https://save-it.cc/fireflash/demolate

Get it on Bandcamp: https://ff-methane.bandcamp.com/album/demolate

To celebrate the album release, METHANE reveal a new video clip for the album smash hit "I Fuck For Beer".

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/H_XBB3mEzHg

„‘I Fuck For Beer‘ is exactly what it sounds like. No shame, no filter, just the truth about what people will do when they’re desperate. All three are funny until you realize its not. The lyrics were writen by all 4 of us on tour, in a cabin in Finland somewhere between Helsinki and Turku. We all wrote a couple of lines and I pit them together", comments Tim Scott.

Born in 2012, METHANE quickly combusted, reverting to the pure, unadulterated thrash metal roots of its founders, Tim Scott (formerly of Death Metal cult act REVENANT, with John McEntee of INCANTATION) and Jimi Mästerbo. A relentless touring machine, METHANE has left a trail of destruction across countless stages in Europe and the U.S. through headline runs, support slots with bands like WHIPLASH, WARBRINGER, NERVOSA, MASSACRE, and festival appearances such as „Sabaton Open Air“, „Speed Metal Party“, „In Flammen“ and others.

Their sound is a blistering, high-speed assault designed for the pit.

The crowd yelled, “Play faster!” They did! METHANE is ready to unleash their explosive new album, “Demolate”, which will be released on their new label Fireflash Records (HOLY MOSES, MEZZROW, SAVAGE MANIA a.o.).

Colliding NYHC punk with a blistering Bay Area thrash assault, METHANE delivers a relentless barrage of razor-sharp riffs, thunderous drumming, and commanding vocals that demand your attention. As a fierce contender in the New Wave of Old-School Thrash Metal scene, “Demolate” promises a chaotic journey through apocalyptic themes and raw, beer-fueled madness.

METHANE is:

Tim Scott - Bass and vocals

Jimi Mästerbo - Guitar

Markus Grundström - Guitar

Richard Fredriksson – Drums

METHANE online:

Home: https://methanemetal.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/methaneband

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/methanemetal

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@methanemetal

DREAMS OF GRAY RELEASE "IN THE SHADOW OF THE STORM"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Dreams Of Gray

In The Shadow Of The Storm

Independent

4 December 2026

DREAMS OF GRAY provides introspection and reflection through storm imagery and metaphors in the forthcoming EP, In The Shadow Of The Storm. Balancing extreme metal with captivating melodic elements, the tracks delve through tumultuous restless energy, personal grief and widespread injustice. In The Shadow Of The Storm will be released independently on December 4, 2026.

In The Shadow Of The Storm begins with "Edges of Thought." Lyrically, the track explores the mental turmoil that can be driven by our own fears. It focuses on how anxiety can overcome rational thought leading to a fractured state of mind despite there being no tangible threat. 

Musically, "Edges of Thought" brings a collision of thrash and melodic death metal, and brief touches of melodic black metal, create a thunderous contrast against melodic hooks, cleaner vocals, and a soaring guitar solo. Project founder Luis Rivera comments on the musical arrangement: "The contrast between the aggressive vocals and more melodic passages reflects that internal struggle: the conflict between knowing that the fear may be irrational and still being unable to escape its grip."

The title track embodies the EP's melodic death metal identity, drawing from thrash, death, black, and doom metal. "At its core, Shadow of the Storm is about grief, loss, and the struggle to find meaning after life has been fundamentally changed." Rivera continues, "But the song is ultimately not about remaining trapped in that shadow. It is about learning to live with it. Recovery does not mean forgetting what happened or returning to the person we were before. It means finding a way to carry what we've lost while continuing forward."

"Shadow of the Storm" segues between frantic intensity and mid-tempo passages that provide moments of breathing room. The track's explosive introduction, thrashy foundation and driving main riff carry aggression while layered vocals and two melodic guitar solos give the song a broader, more emotional character. 

The final track shifts from an introspective focus to an outward view. "Venas Abiertas," which translates to "Open Veins," is the heaviest offering on In The Shadow Of The Storm situated in the realms of classic death metal while retaining the melodic sensibility that is core to DREAMS OF GRAY's sound. Up- and mid-tempo rhythms are driven forward by death metal vocals which juxtapose against doomy melodies and an atmospheric darkness. 

The lyrics in "Venas Abiertas" center around "injustice, exploitation, and the experience of vulnerable communities forced to endure circumstances that should never have become normal. Venas Abiertas—“Open Veins”—draws on the imagery of wounds that have never been allowed to heal." In this track, the storm is not an individual experience but a collective force fed through untenable circumstances. It reveals suffering and anger that manifests through visible tension when communities are pushed to the edge. 

Written by Luis Rivera (guitar and vocals) and Jess Lai Mieritz (lead guitar), bass on In The Shadow Of The Storm was performed by Maria Kosma, with drums and percussion performed by Juan Cardenas.

Produced by DREAMS OF GRAY, In The Shadow Of The Storm was recorded at Bricktop Recording Chicago, IL. The album was mixed and mastered by Pete Grossman. Cover artwork for In The Shadow Of The Storm is by Athina Efthimiopoulou (@athena.ef). 

About DREAMS OF GRAY:

DREAMS OF GRAY was devised by Chicago, IL, based musician and composer Luis Rivera (ABOLISHER) in 2022. In the following year, the project released their critically acclaimed debut EP The World After. DREAMS OF GRAY seeks to draw from the wealth and breadth of metal subgenres to create something distinctive and memorable. The project enables exploration of often dark themes notably, of loss, grief, personal struggles and the shadowy aspects of wider society. 

The release of A Beginning in late 2025 saw DREAMS OF GRAY hone their sound further through a developed compositional style that doesn't restrict or confine their creativity. Inspiration is found in the likes of PARADISE LOST, AMORPHIS, IN FLAMES and DARK TRANQUILITY. DREAMS OF GRAY's music intentionally ebbs and flows dynamically, containing fierce riffs and high energy, as well as a deep focus on melodies and vocal delivery to produce something truly engaging and immersive. 

Now preparing to unveil the EP In The Shadow Of The Storm on December 4, 2026, Luis Rivera is joined by guitarist Jess Lai Mieritz on compositional duties, bringing a further collaborative element to the project's sonic style. Revolving around developing imagery of storms and shadows, Rivera explains, "together, the songs explore different kinds of storms—those we experience within ourselves, those that life brings upon us, and those created by the world around us—and the shadows they leave behind."

Guest Musicians:

The lead guitar work on the new DREAMS OF GRAY EP is delivered by Berklee College of Music alumna Jess Lai Mieritz. With over 10 years of experience, Jess also lent her sharp composition skills to the music writing and tracked a series of blistering, memorable guitar solos for the project. In addition, she also produces her own boundary-pushing solo music: an innovative blend of lo-fi pop and heavy alternative textures. Her technical precision adds an extra layer of sophisticated intensity to the band's studio lineup for this release. Jess also commands a strong online following through her popular guitar videos, showcasing her skills as a guitarist and songwriter.

Behind the drums for DREAMS OF GRAY is veteran percussionist Juan Cardenas, a master of his craft with more than three decades of experience under his belt. Renowned for his technical precision and creative flair, Juan’s drumming is the backbone of multiple Chicago metal acts, including ABOLISHER (progressive/thrash/death metal), LEGACY BLACK, and ACRACY. Having frequently shared the stage and studio together in ABOLISHER, his innate chemistry with the project shines through on this melodic death metal EP, delivering an unrelenting and sophisticated rhythmic assault.

Maria Kosma is an accomplished UK-based session bassist, multi-instrumentalist, and the creative force behind the progressive metal project EMITY TRAP. Known for her technical precision and creative bass lines, Maria returns to anchor the rhythm section for DREAMS OF GRAY. Having performed on every single release to date, her distinct bass lines add a layer of depth to each song. 

In The Shadow Of The Storm Track Listing: 

1. Edges of Thought 4:14

2. Shadow of the Storm 5:08

3. Venas Abiertas 4:31

https://dreamsofgray.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/dreamsofgray/