DISSENTIENCE RELEASE "KAIJU"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Dissentience

Kaiju

20 February 2026

DISSENTIENCE, the progressive death-thrash unit from Bethlehem, PA, returns with their most conceptually ambitious and sonically punishing release to date: Kaiju. Scheduled for release on February 20, 2026, Kaiju is a four-track concept EP that fuses cinematic horror, crushing riffs, and lyrical dread into a singular apocalyptic vision. Drawing inspiration from classic Japanese monster films and the unknowable terrors of Lovecraftian mythology, the record explores the narrative of a colossal, nameless beast as it decimates a city. Rather than paying tribute to kaiju lore in name alone, DISSENTIENCE builds a world where riffs, lyrics, and production align to place the listener in the path of annihilation.

The EP begins with "Obsidian Tomb", a track that captures the initial moments of catastrophe. A somber acoustic intro builds tension before the monster is unleashed. The song moves through blast-laden choruses, thrash-driven verses, and groove-heavy interludes, all while painting a picture of destruction through the eyes of a terrified populace. The band intentionally avoids naming the monster or the city to keep the setting timeless and the fear universal. This choice also reinforces the Lovecraftian tone by allowing the horror to remain undefined, inviting each listener to project their own dread into the story.

"Chaos Absolute" takes a different narrative angle by focusing on the political and social collapse that follows the attack. Opening with a syncopated, high-tension riff and shifting into a massive, deceptively catchy groove, the track evokes the panic and futility of global leaders attempting to respond to an unstoppable force. Frantic guitar harmonies, dissonant progressions, and a brief clean bridge section give way to some of the heaviest material on the record. The phrase “fall into chaos absolute” functions as both a summary of the storyline and a reflection of the listener’s experience as the music surges with desperation.

The title track "Kaiju" represents the climax of the EP, unleashing a relentless barrage of violence and devastation. The lyrics describe grotesque scenes of bloodshed and helplessness as the beast rips through the last remnants of resistance. Riffs churn beneath guttural vocals, with every passage dripping with urgency and rage. The music mirrors the scale of the narrative, building to overwhelming levels of sonic brutality. The repeated line “Kaiju will bring forth a new age of rot” serves as the thesis for the entire record, framing the monster not only as a literal destroyer but as a symbol of humanity’s self-inflicted reckoning.

The final track "Death Shroud" transitions into the aftermath. With the monster gone, what remains is a landscape of ash, grief, and existential dread. The band leans into dissonance and atmosphere, balancing crushing heaviness with bleak introspection. Survivors are left to make sense of their trauma, questioning whether the world can rebuild or if it even should. The Kaiju, now retreated, is no less present. Its legacy hangs in the smoke, a constant reminder of how fragile everything truly was. “The Kaiju may lay dormant, but the anguish remains” is the emotional core of the track and perhaps of the entire release.

Kaiju was produced by DISSENTIENCE in collaboration with Corey Pierce, recorded at Peach Pie Sound by Matt Menafro, mixed by Zeuss, and mastered by Alan Douches. The yet-to-be-revealed cover art is by Matt Stikker, known for his vivid and brutal visual storytelling. This release follows the band’s prior offerings Mask of Pretense (2018) and Empire Anatomy (2022), continuing their evolution as songwriters and sonic architects.

Refusing to imitate the past, DISSENTIENCE draws from influences like TRIVIUM, REVOCATION, SYLOSIS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, DEATH, and LAMB OF GOD, all while forging a sound that avoids the trappings of nostalgia. Their music is defined by technicality, brutality, and a refusal to be boxed into genre clichés. Critics have taken note. Decibel Magazine remarked that DISSENTIENCE channels the essence of classic thrash and death metal without creating a carbon copy. Metal Injection praised their ability to blend groove and fury in a way that hits with maximum impact.

With Kaiju, DISSENTIENCE has crafted more than just a record. It is a fully realized conceptual journey that pushes their sound further into new territory. Every song contributes to a unified narrative of destruction, dread, and reflection. It is a rare example of a metal record that is both musically blistering and thematically rich. Where others nod to monsters, DISSENTIENCE gives them voice, weight, and consequence.

About DISSENTIENCE: 

Formed in 2013 in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, DISSENTIENCE is a progressive death-thrash metal band that combines the technical precision of death metal with the relentless energy of thrash. Rejecting retro imitation and genre stagnation, the band creates forward-thinking metal that is both aggressive and dynamic. Drawing influence from bands like TRIVIUM, REVOCATION, SYLOSIS, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, DEATH, and LAMB OF GOD, DISSENTIENCE forges a sound built on sharp riffs, crushing rhythms, and inventive songwriting.

The lineup features Connor Valentin on guitar and vocals, James Vitale on guitar, Sean Langer on bass, and Nick Scherden on drums. Known for their intense live performances and refusal to be confined to a single subgenre, the band continuously pushes their sound in new directions. Their music balances chaos and melody while exploring dark themes through a modern lens.

After releasing their debut EP Mask of Pretense in 2018 and their full-length album Empire Anatomy in 2022, DISSENTIENCE returned with the concept EP Kaiju in 2026. The record blends the devastation of giant monster cinema with the dread of Lovecraftian horror, showcasing the band’s evolution in sound and narrative depth. DISSENTIENCE has earned a reputation as one of the most compelling rising forces in heavy music. Their mission is clear: to make metal that is uncompromising, inventive, and unapologetically intense.

DISSENTIENCE is:

Connor Valentin – Guitar / Vocals

James Vitale – Guitar

Sean Langer – Bass

Nick Scherden – Drums

Connect with DISSENTIENCE:

Website: https://www.dissentience.com/

Bandcamp: https://www.dissentience.bandcamp.com

E-Shop: https://www.dissentience.com/products

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dissentienceband/

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

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/_Dissentience

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

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2XzjaIrjSJWK7nNaMPoCae

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/dissentience/1438017846

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dissentienceband

PROFANE ELEGY RELEASE "HEREZJARCHA"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Profane Elegy

Herezjarcha

30 January 2026

Herezjarcha, the upcoming album from black metal outfit PROFANE ELEGY, is a harrowing, philosophical descent into sound and symbolism. Due for independent release on January 30th, 2026, Herezjarcha follows the band’s 2023 debut When All Is Nothing—an album that was praised for its blending of blackened fury and doom-laden atmosphere. With Herezjarcha, PROFANE ELEGY expands every element of their vision: heavier, more dynamic, more refined, and deeply introspective. It is a record built on contrasts—between the cosmic and the personal, defiance and decay, melody and obliteration.

The new album opens with "Exeunt Omnes", Latin for “all go out,” a phrase drawn from Shakespeare’s Richard III. The track sets the tone both musically and thematically: rich in orchestration, shifting between tragedy and violence, it meditates on fate and the cost of holding on to life in a world already retreating from you. From there, the listener is dropped into "Haunted", a tightly wound storm of existential dread. With mournful riffs and oppressive atmospheres, the song captures the terrifying clarity that comes from realizing your own mortality—how ignorance truly is bliss until that moment of awakening.

By contrast, "I AM" is anthemic in its defiance. The title, drawn from the book of Exodus, takes the phrase spoken by God—“I am that I am”—and transforms it into a proclamation of human rebellion. Blistering and furious, it's among the most direct and aggressive moments on the record. It’s followed by "As My Heart Turns to Ash", a doom-laden lament about emotional detachment and personal collapse. The instrumentation slows, opens up, and lets sorrow breathe. Here, the clean vocal passages begin to appear—haunting and human.

On "Immutable", the band turns philosophical. Lyrically, the song explores the inescapable traits and traumas we are born into. There is no comfort here—only a cold recognition of inherited darkness. Musically, it’s dynamic and shifting, a dance between melody and chaos. "And Then We Are Gone" takes this further, slowing to a funeral march and carried almost entirely by clean singing and droning instrumentation. It’s a stark meditation on impermanence—how everything we build can vanish in a heartbeat, and the world will carry on without pause.

The title track, "Herezjarcha", is the centerpiece—a sprawling, conceptual narrative about a man transformed by his own heresy. In visions and madness, he births a new ideology, becoming one with darkness in pursuit of hidden truths. It's as much spiritual journey as musical composition, with cinematic orchestration, shifting movements, and whispered incantations. And then, as the final nail, "The Accuser" closes the album with scorching intensity. Drawing from the Biblical role of Satan as prosecutor, the song is both indictment and rejection—placing judgment not on the damned, but on those who claim righteousness. It’s the moment the band fully embraces symbolic damnation and burns the sacred in fire.

Produced by J Gulick and mastered/mixed by Kevin Antreassian (Backroom Studios), Herezjarcha is more than an album—it’s a statement. It rejects genre purity in favor of vision. It fuses the atmospheric elements of black metal with the weight of doom, the precision of death metal, and the unexpected textures of orchestration and clean vocals. But above all, it is lyrically rich, thematic, and spiritually challenging.

Herezjarcha embodies an oath against complacency, a testament of defiance, and a new scripture of darkness. For fans of MAYHEM, WOODS OF YPRES, SWALLOW THE SUN, and EMPEREOR, this is not just an album. This is a new heresy.

About PROFANE ELEGY

PROFANE ELEGY is a black metal band from Bangor, Pennsylvania, formed in late 2021 by guitarist J Gulick and vocalist Mikael L. Originally conceived as a two-man studio project, the band quickly evolved into a full lineup with the addition of bassist David G and drummer Sean M in 2023. What sets PROFANE ELEGY apart is their refusal to remain confined within genre boundaries—while rooted firmly in black metal, their sound incorporates elements of death, doom, and progressive metal, often enhanced by orchestral arrangements and clean vocals.

The band’s debut album When All Is Nothing (2023) was released independently and drew attention for its blend of atmospheric aggression and emotional vulnerability. The release earned praise for its ability to move fluidly between blistering speed and melancholic melody, with Doom Heart calling it “a massive Doom delight.” Following the album’s release, PROFANE ELEGY made their live debut and began performing across the northeastern United States, including a notable support slot for Dark Funeral in late 2024.

Lyrically, the band explores themes of nihilism, mortality, philosophy, and religious symbolism—often invoking figures like Satan not as dogmatic statements, but as metaphors in a broader spiritual and existential dialogue. Their work is poetic, introspective, and often challenges the listener to confront uncomfortable truths about life, death, and belief.

Their upcoming full-length album Herezjarcha, set for release in January 2026, represents the band’s most ambitious and expansive work to date. With a more dynamic sound, deeper orchestration, and a clear conceptual throughline, the record pushes their sonic and thematic boundaries further than ever before. The album title—a made-up word meaning “arch-heretic”—encapsulates the spirit of the band: rebellious, introspective, and unafraid to question the sacred.

PROFANE ELEGY continues to forge a unique path within the underground metal scene. Blending bleak intensity with philosophical weight, they aim not just to be heard—but to be felt.

PROFANE ELEGY is:

Mikael L – Vocals, Orchestration

J Gulick – Guitars, Orchestration

David G – Bass, Orchestration

Sean M – Drums

Connect with PROFANE ELEGY:

Bandcamp: https://profaneelegy.bandcamp.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Profane-Elegy/100092367915270/

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

Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/profaneelegy666

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@profaneelegy-23?si=OGKGak-ibt4gl7vK

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/68ATD5yRmlH8jtbdZQzVFy?si=4THaO3qZRQaWLZUCvS4N1Q

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/profane-elegy/1687009599

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@profaneelegy