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Tag: news

0 Calgary’s GODFALL’s New Single “Default” Confronts Modern Burnout and Your Life On Autopilot!

  • August 19, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · Godfall · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – August 19, 2026

Calgary’s GODFALL’s New Single “Default” Confronts Modern Burnout and Your Life On Autopilot!

Calgary’s genre‑defying five‑piece Godfall return with their most introspective and hard‑hitting release, the single “Default”. A track that captures the suffocating repetition of living life on autopilot, the endless cycle of tasks, obligations, and burnout that leaves no room for surprise, growth, or self‑reflection. The band describes the song as a wake‑up call: a reminder that life is happening now, not after the to‑do list is finished.
​
As with all Godfall releases, “Default” was shaped through full‑band collaboration. Guitarist Omer Khan sparked the foundation of the track, bringing the initial riff and vibe that guided the vocal direction. Vocalists Karina Khristova and Abel Boban crafted lyrics that complement the music’s tension, choosing words, syllables, and melodies that highlight the emotional peaks of the instrumentation.
​
The band’s writing process remains fluid and democratic as their ideas are refined, reworked, and sometimes cut entirely if they don’t serve the song. This commitment to quality over quantity continues to define Godfall’s evolution.
​
Every member of Godfall comes from a different country and speaks a different first language, creating a melting pot of influences that shape their unique sound. Their music blends heaviness, melody, emotional storytelling, and raw grit, a mix fans often compare to Bad Omens and Evanescence, though the band prefers to let their own identity lead the way.
​
​“Default” marks another step in Godfall’s ongoing refinement of their sonic identity, shifting between phases of anger, melancholy, and soaring melody while staying true to the heart‑first approach that defines their catalog.

“I think Default will be a pleasant surprise since we are constantly refining our sound and working on our songwriting skills. I think ultimately we want our fans to have a Godfall song for any kind of day: a day when you’re annoyed, sad, happy, motivated – you name it. We want them to be able to sing along and headbang at the same time,” says Karina Khristova (Clean Vocals).

Recommended for fans of Spiritbox, Evanescence, Bring Me the Horizon, Bad Omens, and Linkin Park, listen to “Default” at the following links:

Lyric Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWSqYEDvjb0

​Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/track/23PvFFwfFYQWtyugbsDXua

​

More info: https://linktr.ee/godfallband​

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0 SF Bay Area Thrashers ABSOLUTE DARKNESS Unveils New Banger “Attritional Warfare” From Sophomore Album “Witness To A Dying World” Out Oct 2026

  • August 18, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · Absolute Darkness · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – August 18, 2026

SF Bay Area Thrashers ABSOLUTE DARKNESS Unveils New Banger “Attritional Warfare”

Sophomore Album “Witness To A Dying World” Out Oct 2026

L-R- Orson Sojo – Bass, Ron Dorn – Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocals, Scott Russell – Drums, Douglas Vetter II – Lead Guitar/Backup Vocals

Photo Credit by Eddie Granillo

San Francisco Bay Area death/thrash metal force Absolute Darkness unleashes their first single, “Attritional Warfare”, marking the beginning of the rollout for their highly anticipated sophomore album, “Witness To A Dying World,” due out on October 23, 2026. The album also features a faithful, modernized tribute to Bay Area legends Vio‑lence with a cover of their classic track “World In A World.”​
​
Formed in 2015, Absolute Darkness blends the ferocity of Death, Cannibal Corpse, and Amon Amarth with the thrash roots of Testament, Vio‑lence, and Exodus. Their sound is defined by aggressive riffs, layered harmonies, memorable solos, and socially conscious storytelling that confronts corruption, war, propaganda, addiction, homelessness, and the decay of modern society.
​
The first single sets the tone for the album’s thematic weight and musical intensity. Written collaboratively by the full lineup, “Attritional Warfare” showcases Absolute Darkness at their most focused and explosive, fast, sharp, and unrelenting.
​
The track continues the band’s tradition of story‑driven lyricism, exploring the human cost of conflict through the eyes of those caught in the machinery of war. It’s a brutal, high‑energy introduction to the world the album inhabits.

“The war theme of this song is brought home by high-quality 2D traditional animation interjected with a live performance from the band. Be warned, the war footage can be very graphic and was inspired by anime such as Attack on Titan and Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade,” adds Ron Dorn (Guitar/Lead Vocals).

Listen and watch the animated video for “Attritional Warfare” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbh5jvhBQtQ

​Bandcamp – https://absolutedarkness1.bandcamp.com/track/attritional-warfare

​
​
The new record marks a major milestone for Absolute Darkness; it’s the first album written entirely by the current lineup from the ground up, with every member contributing meaningfully to the songwriting process. Musically, the album expands on the death/thrash foundation of their 2021 release “Failure Of State,” delivering aggressive riffs, fast, energetic structures, melodic guitar harmonies, layered solos, and story‑driven vocals. A standout moment on the album is Absolute Darkness’ tribute to Bay Area thrash icons Vio‑lence. Guitarist/vocalist Ron Dorn, who grew up attending their shows, approached the cover with deep respect, preserving the original’s raw energy while delivering vocals in his own death/thrash style. The band intentionally avoided a click track to maintain the natural tempo shifts of the original recording, resulting in a version that feels both nostalgic and freshly intense.
​
Lyrically, “Witness To A Dying World” explores unchecked power, propaganda, authoritarianism, war, addiction, homelessness, and societal collapse, told through characters and narratives rather than direct commentary.

“Witness To A Dying World is the album I’ve wanted Absolute Darkness to make for a long time. Not because it’s heavier or faster than our previous releases, but because it finally feels like a complete band effort. Everyone contributed to the songwriting in one way or another, and I think that made every song better. Some songs are straight-up thrash. Others lean more into melodic death metal. There are a lot of guitar harmonies, plenty of solos, and enough twists along the way to keep things interesting, but we always tried to make every change feel natural instead of complicated for the sake of being complicated.

At the end of the day, we’re doing this because we genuinely enjoy making music together. None of us are trying to become full-time musicians or make a living from the band. We all have careers, families, and lives outside of music, and that gives us the freedom to write the songs we want to write instead of chasing trends. If people come away remembering the songs, wanting to hear them again, and maybe even thinking about the stories they tell, then we’ve accomplished exactly what we set out to do,” adds Dorn.​
​
Recommended for fans of Testament, Vio-lence, Exodus, At The Gates, The Crown, and Amon Amarth, “Witness To A Dying World” will be available on October 23rd, 2026. Album pre-sale will begin on October 1st.

Track Listing:​
1. Above The Law – 3:56
2. Attritional Warfare – 3:50
3. World Decay – 3:28
4. Snake Oil – 4:14
5. Different Illegally – 3:33
6. Loyalty To Me – 3:32
7. I Guess I Die – 3:59
8. Big Lies – 3:51
9. Extreme Accountability – 3:34
10. World In A World (Vio-lence Cover) – 4:13
Album Length: 38:21

Band Lineup:​
Ron Dorn – Guitar/Lead Vocals
Douglas Vetter II – Lead Guitar/Backup Vocals
Orson Sojo – Bass
Scott Russell – Drums

More info:

​https://www.facebook.com/BandAbsoluteDarkness​

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

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“Combining death/thrash influences… stronger production values that hopefully will garner more buzz and attention.” – Dead Rhetoric (Failure Of State 2022)​
​
“Part album, part call to arms… a rabble-rousing affair and a slamming indictment of modern-day society.” – The Headbanging Moose (Failure Of State 2022)

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0 Montreal’s OMBRA Detonate Cinematic Thrash Fury w/ “Hysteria” Off Debut EP “Night Terror” Out Sept 2026

  • August 5, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · Music News · Ombra

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – August 5, 2026

Montreal’s OMBRA Detonate Cinematic Thrash Fury w/ “Hysteria” Off Debut EP “Night Terror” Out Sept 2026

Rising metal trio OMBRA will release their debut EP, “Night Terror,” on September 14th, 2026, delivering a raw, conceptual, front‑to‑back exploration of fear, control, and the darker corners of the human psyche. The band has also unveiled the EP’s first single, “Hysteria,” which features explosive energy, fusing cinematic atmosphere, thrash‑driven aggression, and unapologetic lyrical honesty. The track confronts themes of government control, media influence, and societal panic, setting the stage for the EP’s descent into obsession, chemical collapse, and full mental freefall.
​
​“Hysteria” was initially mixed by JF Dagenais (Kataklysm), adding an extra layer of intensity to the band’s already powerful sound.

Listen to “Hysteria” at the following links:

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7mDZ-4uXrY

​Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/track/408K5TQAOB9ZRHnJKzxC4t

​
​
Formed by lifelong friends Giuseppe “G” Criniti (vocals/guitar), Marco Sisti (guitar/bass), and Nico‑Angelo Sisti (drums), OMBRA emerged in late 2020 after G and Marco departed their previous hard‑rock/progressive project NRTH to pursue a heavier, more aggressive sound. Nico, Marco’s cousin and a well‑known drummer in the Montreal scene, joined shortly after leaving Hidden Pride. With all three members having grown up together in Lachine, the band’s formation felt natural, inevitable, and rooted in decades of shared history.
​
Written between 2021 and 2026, OMBRA’s debut record “Night Terror” channels the band’s lived experiences and observations of a world defined by upheaval, media distortion, obsession, chemical escape, and psychological unraveling. Designed as a continuous front‑to‑back journey, the EP builds toward the intense emotional peak of its title track. Across its five songs, “Night Terror” traces a rising arc of mental tension. Opening track “Hysteria” confronts societal panic and media‑driven chaos; “Stitches” plunges into obsession and the painful pursuit of transformation; “Blue Dream” captures chemical escapism collapsing into paranoia and possession; “Night Terror” delivers a visceral mental freefall where everything goes wrong; and “So It Goes” closes the experience with an instrumental moment of acceptance, peace, and forward motion.
​​
“Our goal was to create something honest. The world has gone through so much turmoil in the last decade. Night Terror is our commentary on fear, control, and the human condition. We want listeners to explore their own minds, think for themselves, and express freely,” 
says the band.

The band’s writing process begins with the rhythm section, the “heartbeat”, before expanding through long jam sessions, layered melodies, and extended solos. Every member contributes to the songwriting, though G and Marco handle the majority of the core composition.

Loud, energetic, groovy, and exciting, OMBRA blends old‑school thrash and sludge with modern groove and a touch of psychedelic rock/ They are recommended for fans of Power Trip, High On Fire, Motörhead, Mastodon, Testament, and Rammstein.

“Night Terror” will be available on all digital platforms on September 14, 2026.

EP Pre-Save – https://too.fm/eab92od

Track Listing:​
1. Hysteria (4:15)
2. Stitches (4:43)
3. Blue Dream (3:46)
4. Night Terror (5:44)
5. So It Goes (3:06)
​
​Album and Live Band Lineup:​
Giuseppe Criniti – Vocals / Lead Guitar
Marco Sisti – Rhythm Guitar / Bass
Nico-Angelo Sisti – Drums

More info:

​https://ombra.band/​

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

​https://www.facebook.com/people/OMBRA/61582909783052/​

About: ​
​
OMBRA is a Montreal metal trio formed by lifelong friends Giuseppe “G” Criniti, Marco Sisti, and Nico‑Angelo Sisti. Rooted in old‑school thrash, sludge, groove metal, and psychedelic rock, the band blends heavy riffs with emotional honesty and modern storytelling. Their mission is to encourage listeners to think freely, explore their own minds, and express themselves without compromise.

-30-​

“OMBRA emerges in ‘Hysteria’ as a force that transforms social chaos into high-impact art. Advancing with the brutality of thrash metal and the structure of hard rock, the track shapes a sound that feels like both a siren and a sentence at the same time. Sharp and relentless, the riffs dialogue with drums that tear through the silence, while the vocals echo indignation and lucidity, a manifesto in the form of distortion. The band builds tension with precision: there is weight, but also clarity; fury, but control.” – Roadie Metal

“Delivering high-quality extreme metal that blends elements of thrash metal with other influences full of raw aggressiveness, a cinematic atmosphere with no soft edges, like a punch to the gut!” – Metal Junkbox

“From the moment we hear the sound of sirens, gunshots, and helicopters flying overhead, we know we’re going to encounter a strong track both in sound and lyrics, because the soundscape they create from the very first seconds already feels dense… the drums and guitar move between agility and the creation of a track full of suspense and tension.” – Poppunkers

‘STITCHES’, the new single from the Canadian trio OMBRA, arrives like an open cut: direct, intense, and impossible to ignore. The song crosses the border between hard rock and thrash metal with aggressiveness, transforming psychological tension into dense and precise sound.” – Roadie Music

“OMBRA is an incredible discovery! A band that shows us metal is more alive than ever… it is the perfect soundtrack to start a mosh and let out all our anger. It maintains brutal riffs worthy of any Metallica fan, an imposing guttural voice… it is 100% recommended!” – End Sessions

“I really felt it wasn’t a song made to sound pretty. It’s dark, heavy, and direct… The story it tells ,a woman who keeps reconstructing herself to fit in, hit me hard… It’s not a song that accompanies you in the background; it’s one that confronts you. It ends and leaves you with that knot in your chest.” – Rockola Indie

“Stitches’ hits hard with a dark and visceral vision of the oversexualization of women and the price of chasing perfection… It is raw, uncomfortable, and impossible to ignore.” – Poppunkers

“Stitches’ explores the limits between obsession, beauty, and self-destruction. The track dives into the mind of someone who seeks perfection at any cost… Musically, it combines aggressiveness and atmosphere, with a fast, dense, and confrontational sound… a sharp and suffocating sonority that amplifies the emotional tension. ‘Stitches’ transforms psychological horror into sonic impact.” – Metal Never Die

“The band delivers one of their darkest and most intense compositions to date. The last single before the release of the EP Night Terror, the track dives deeply into themes such as dependency, paranoia, and the destructive consequences of escaping reality. Combining dense and melodic passages with explosions of weight and aggressiveness, creating a sound experience that is as engaging as it is disturbing.” – Metal Junkbox

‘Blue Dream’ delivers suffocating, volatile metal with heavy riffs depicting psychological terror, chemical dependency, and mental collapse in a dense, cinematic sound.” – Whiplash

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0 SHORES OF NULL Unveils First Single “Bleed to Life” From New Album “Homesick” Out October 2026

  • July 14, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · Music News · Shores of Null (Spikerot Records)

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – July 14, 2026

SHORES OF NULL Unveils First Single “Bleed to Life” From New Album “Homesick” Out October 2026

Album Out October 16th, 2026 via Dusktone

Album Guests – Natalie Koskinen (Shape of Despair) and Shaun MacGowan (My Dying Bride)

Rome, Italy’s melodic death doom collective Shores of Null open a new chapter with the launch of “Bleed to Life,” the first single and music video taken from their forthcoming album “Homesick,” set for release October 16th, 2026 through label Dusktone.
​
The track marks the beginning of the band’s next era, one defined by sharpened songwriting, emotional depth, and the unmistakable blend of doom, gothic, blackened, and melodic death metal that has become their signature.
​
​“Bleed to Life” stands among the most aggressive yet melodic compositions in the band’s catalogue. Davide Straccione (vocals) explains that the song’s core theme is the paradox of finding life through pain, an inversion of the familiar phrase bleed to death that instead celebrates growth through suffering.
​
The track’s shadows represent traumas, memories, and scars that cannot be outrun. Instead, the band embraces them, returning to those emotional spaces in search of understanding and acceptance. The result is a song that feels both punishing and uplifting, a defining statement for the album ahead.
​
The single arrives accompanied by a striking new music video, offering fans their first visual immersion into the world of “Homesick.” The imagery amplifies the song’s emotional tension, its collision of vulnerability, heaviness, and catharsis.
​
Watch and listen to the music video for “Bleed to Life” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s825Pn_EOLg

​Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/track/2xHwEaceWZAmKJDK0ANDhO?si=1878359078354a7e

​

Out October 16th, 2026 via Dusktone, “Homesick” represents the band’s most mature and focused work to date. Conceived as a complete listening experience, the album moves through longing, loss, anger, vulnerability, and the search for belonging. It captures Shores Of Null at their most confident and emotionally honest, balancing crushing moments with some of the most memorable melodies the band has written to date, enriched by guest appearances from Natalie Koskinen (Shape of Despair) with her vocals on The Numbing Void and Shaun MacGowan (My Dying Bride) on several tracks, including violin on Dreaming of a Scar and The Numbing Void.

“The record is an exploration of the deeply ambiguous nature of ‘home’, a place of comfort and identity, but also of pain, fear, and unresolved memory. It is probably the most honest representation of who Shores of Null are today. Behind this record lies a meticulous amount of writing, rewriting, and pre‑production work. At its core lies the idea of home as something deeply ambiguous: a place of comfort and belonging, but also of fear, pain, and memories we can never fully leave behind,” adds vocalist Davide Straccione.

“Homesick” marks a new milestone for Shores of Null as an immersive, emotionally charged work that expands their sonic universe to follow their acclaimed discography, which includes “Quiescence,” “Black Drapes for Tomorrow,” “Beyond the Shores,” “The Loss of Beauty,” and the 2025 split album with Convocation, “Latitudes of Sorrow”.
​
Recommended for fans of Paradise Lost, Amorphis, Swallow The Sun, Katatonia, and Borknagar, “Homesick” will be available for pre-order (Vinyl, CD, Digital) in the coming weeks.

Track Listing:​
1. Allies Before Defeat – 4:35
2. Two Mountains – 4:34
3. Bleed to Life – 4:09
4. Homesick – 5:31
5. Son of the Tide – 4:18
6. Dreaming of a Scar – 5:08
7. Society Is the Murderer – 4:30
8. The Numbing Void – 6:18
9. Another Breath – 3:52
10. Disappear – 4:33
Album Length: 47:32

For more info:

​https://www.shoresofnull.com/​

​https://www.facebook.com/shoresofnull​

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

About:

Shores of Null are a Rome‑based metal band known for their seamless blend of blackened intensity, gothic‑doom melancholy, and soaring melodic depth. Since forming in 2013, they’ve built a reputation for immersive, emotionally charged songwriting across acclaimed releases like Quiescence, Black Drapes for Tomorrow, Beyond the Shores, and The Loss of Beauty, supported by major tours and festival appearances across Europe.

Following their 2025 split, Latitudes of Sorrow, the band now enters a new chapter with Homesick (Dusktone, 2026), their most mature and evocative work yet. Featuring guest contributions from Natalie Koskinen (Shape of Despair) and Shaun MacGowan (My Dying Bride), the album explores nostalgia, absence, and the complex meaning of “home,” reaffirming Shores of Null as one of the leading forces in contemporary melodic death‑doom.

Album and Live Band Line-up:​
Davide Straccione – Vocals
Gabriele Giaccari – Guitars
Raffaele Colace – Guitars
Matteo Capozucca – Bass
Emiliano Cantiano – Drums

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​
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0 WACKEN METAL BATTLE CANADA Crowns BORNBROKEN 2026 National Final Champion! Band To Play Wacken Open Air!

  • May 13, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · Music News · Wacken Metal Battle Canada

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – May 13, 2026

WACKEN METAL BATTLE CANADA Crowns BORNBROKEN 2026 National Final Champion!

Band To Play Wacken Open Air! at International Wacken Metal Battle

Photo Credit – Ryan Rumpel – @rumpelstillcam ​

Let’s get ready to rumble! Canada has spoken. After months of fierce battles from coast to coast, WACKEN METAL BATTLE CANADA has revealed the 2026 national finalist, showcasing the strongest underground metal emerging from the scene today.
​
Following intense regional clashes, four bands rose above the rest to earn their place at the national final on May 9th in Montreal, QC, taking over Piranha Bar (680 Ste‑Catherine Ouest). There, they unleashed their might before a crowd of die‑hard metal fans and a judging panel of industry veterans, including Luc Laine (CFLX 95.5 FM – Alerte Metallique), Pierre Beaubien (CIBL 101.5 FM – Décibel Métal), Andrew Wieler (CJLO 1690 AM – Metal Director), Kaje Annihilatrix (Promoter, Freelance Metal Writer, Asher Media), Dany Soucy (Nova Spei, Bam&Co‑Heavy Label, Trois‑Rivières Metalfest), and Patrick Loisel (Augury).
​
Only one band could claim the crown, and BornBroken emerged victorious as Canada’s 2026 national champion, earning the honour of representing the nation at the 35th anniversary of Wacken Open Air and competing in the international Wacken Metal Battle, where bands from over 30 countries collide in a global showdown.

WMBC organizer JJ Tartaglia comments:

“Congrats to BornBroken, they are sure to tear it up at Wacken this summer and do Canada proud!”

BornBroken‘s guitarist and vocalist, Mike Decker, comments on their crowning:

“Winning the Canadian Wacken Metal Battle still hasn’t fully sunk in. We’ve spent years grinding through clubs, hauling gear through snowstorms, playing to half-empty rooms, and fighting for every inch as a band, so this means more to us than we can really put into words. To now represent Canada at Wacken Open Air is something we will never take for granted.

This win belongs to everyone who’s supported BornBroken over the years. Our families, our friends, the promoters who gave us chances, the people who bought merch when we were struggling to keep moving, and every single person who ever stood in front of the stage and gave us their energy. You carried us here as much as we carried ourselves.

We also want to give respect to every band that was part of this year’s battle. The level of talent, passion, and heart we saw was incredible. We may be the band getting on the plane, but we honestly feel like we’re carrying a piece of every one of those bands with us onto that stage in Germany. In our eyes, everyone who stepped into this battle and gave it everything they had is a winner.

We’re proud, we’re grateful, and we’re ready to give Wacken everything we’ve got…”

The final four who clashed at this year’s national final were:

BORNBROKEN (Montreal, QC) – 2026 National Winner

Music Video – Am I Invisible – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3JXTHX0svI​

​https://linktr.ee/bornbroken​
​
​ASHES OF YGGDRASIL (Lloydminster, AB/SK)

Music Video – Razed to the Ground – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzehFwdqY4I​

​https://ashesofyggdrasilba.wixsite.com/ashesofyggdrasil​

EMPALEMENT (Victoria, BC)

Music Video – Blood Dance Of The Dionysian Covenstead – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Mp6H2vRqx8​

​https://www.facebook.com/Empalement​

GRAVEARTH (Oshawa, ON)

Visualizer – Altered Reality – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0Id6miy7cs​

​https://linktr.ee/Gravearth​

======

WMBC 2026 National Final Playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1Yizi851LwbShAduRaqHf3​

About Metal Battle:

The Wacken Metal Battle is an international metal music contest that culminates at the famous Wacken Open Air festival. It features the top bands from each nation, showcasing fresh and young metal music directly from the underground. The contest is open to unsigned metal bands and has become a significant platform for breaking through the local circuit. The 2026 edition of Wacken Metal Battle Canada is currently underway. The winner will have the opportunity to perform at Wacken Open Air, one of the world’s largest metal festivals, attracting tens of thousands of metal fans from around the globe. For more information and updates, you can visit the official Wacken Metal Battle website – https://www.metal-battle.com/​

About Wacken Open Air:​
Wacken Open Air is the largest heavy metal festival in the world. Starting with 800 visitors in 1990, nowadays 85,000 fans from all over the world travel to Wacken every year, turning the small village in Schleswig-Holstein into the center of the festival scene for several days. The organizing WOA Festival GmbH is connected to a broad network, including band management, the Wacken Foundation, tour booking, music publishing, Travel & Stay, merchandising distribution, and ticketing. In cooperation with partners, these results in creative solutions and ideas that revolutionize the festival experience, enable technical innovations, and produce extraordinary event concepts. Wacken Open Air 2026 will take place from July 29 to August 1, 2026.

More info:

​https://www.facebook.com/WMBCanada.official​

​https://www.instagram.com/wmbcanada.official/​

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Media Partners:​
Bravewords.com
Metal-Rules.com
Absolute Underground Magazine
BrokenNeckRadio.com
V13.net
Rich Embury (internationally syndicated DJ)
GhostCultMag.com
Rocknroam.ca
Vox & Hops Podcast
The Metal Voice
Décibel Métal (CIBL 101.5 FM)
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0 Streaming Now! Vancouver Extreme Groove Metallers WITHOUT MERCY New EP “Infinite Loss” + Title Track Video

  • May 7, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · Music News · Uncategorized · Without Mercy

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – May 7, 2026

Streaming Now! Vancouver Extreme Groove Metallers WITHOUT MERCY New EP “Infinite Loss” + Title Track Video

L-R – Ryan Loewen – Bass, Alex Friis – Vocals, DJ Temple – Guitars, Matt Helie – Drums

Photo Credit: Shimon Photo – http://www.shimonphoto.com

Canadian extreme metal band Without Mercy will unleash their new EP, “Infinite Loss,” on May 8th, delivering one of the most intentional, intense, and creatively defining statements of their nearly two‑decade career. To mark the release, the band has partnered with Metal Insider for the exclusive premiere of the full EP stream, alongside the debut of the lyric video for the title track, “Infinite Loss.”

The EP arrives following the rollout of previously released singles “Glass” and “The Saint,” each offering a distinct glimpse into the record’s emotional weight, sonic restraint, and thematic depth.

Guitarist DJ Temple describes “Infinite Loss” as the result of a transformative and deliberately uncomfortable creative process:
​
​“This was the first time we left home to make a record. We crossed borders, uprooted our routines, and committed fully to the process by living inside it for ten days. There was no comfort, no distance, and no way to step away.”​
​
The band built the EP around three songs that genuinely excited them, not as singles, but as statements. Every decision had to earn its place.
​
​“The result is something we are proud of, not because it represents a direction we chased, but because it reflects who we were in that moment and what we were willing to commit to,” adds Temple.
​
For the first time, Without Mercy worked with a producer at a deep structural level, embracing tension, disagreement, and collaboration as essential parts of the process.
​
​“This record exists because we chose to be uncomfortable, to argue honestly, and to stay in the room until it felt right,” says Temple.
​
Lyrically, “Infinite Loss” is about being hunted, not once, but repeatedly. The threats shift, but they never disappear. Economic pressure, identity, time, survival, and expectation all close in at once. The record speaks to the modern experience across the Americas: not victimhood, but endurance under relentless pursuit.
​
Musically, the EP mirrors that pressure through repetition, density, and restraint. Riffs sit heavy and suffocating. Rhythms feel physical and deliberate. The aggression is controlled rather than chaotic, creating a sense of inevitability rather than release.
​
Opening title track, “Infinite Loss,” with its repetition, density, and deliberate pacing, creates a suffocating sense of inevitability. Middle song, “The Saint”, is the EP’s biggest stylistic departure, leaning into space, tension, and unfamiliar structure. EP closer, “Glass”, interconnects riffs inspired by Meshuggah and Alluvial, tightening inward until the outro opens with scale and finality.

Without Mercy was formed in 2007, blending groove, extreme metal, and technical precision into a sound described as “heavy and insightful at the same time.” The band has shared stages with Cattle Decapitation, Aborted, and Death Angel, and has appeared as downloadable content in Rock Band 3, bridging gaming culture and heavy music.

Their discography includes “All Else Fails” (2007), “Without Mercy” (2009), “Reborn” (2014), rereleased as “Mouichido” (2016), and “Seismic” (2020). “Infinite Loss” marks their most focused and intentional work to date, a release built from collapse, rebuilt through discipline, and finished with absolute conviction.

Listen to the full EP “Infinite Loss” and the lyric video for the title track via its premiere on Metal Insider HERE.

EP “Infinite Loss” is available for pre-save at https://ffm.to/infiniteloss​

Music Video – The Saint – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Le9wnFk5vzM

​

Track Listing:​
1. Infinite Loss – (4:15)
2. The Saint – (3:39)
3. Glass – (3:16)
EP Length: 11:11

EP and Live Band Line Up:​
Alex Friis – Vocals
DJ Temple – Guitars
Ryan Loewen – Bass
Matt Helie – Drums

More info:

​https://www.withoutmercyband.com/

​https://www.facebook.com/withoutmercyband​

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

-30-

““The Saint” is somehow both maniacal and controlled. In its opening couple of minutes it seems to be a carefully calibrated convulsion, discharging its myriad sensations in quick stop-start bursts of seemingly off-kilter but tightly executed mayhem. Those sensations include sledgehammer rhythmic brutishness, shrill and spidery fretwork-delirium, and napalm-strength vocals. The grooves are there — grooves of differing kinds — but they quickly jackhammer listeners in the midst of harrowing howls, scorching screams, and a multitude of fleet-fingered but berserk and discordant string contortions. Moreover, at the 2:18 mark the song suddenly and dramatically changes — indeed, it’s difficult to overstate just how dramatic the change is. In place of all the frenetically bursting frequencies the lead guitar gently rings and seductively warps above gravel-toned bass-lines and steady beats, an interlude that brings hints of jazz fusion to mind. That’s just a quick breather before the song’s intensity blazes again, and yet the segue back into the finale of bludgeoning grooves and squirming guitars is a smooth and near-seamless one.” – No Clean Singing

“Without Mercy’s New Album Is A Whirlwind of Sonic Punishment” – The Pit (Seismic – 2020)

“Right from the start (Uprooted), Without Mercy set the bar high for their extremity, aiming for something far more chaotic. The opening is a mix between the pure grind-death akin to that of Cattle Decapitation, and the math metal sound of Protest the Hero.”- Metal Injection (Seismic – 2020)

“pay witness (I Break The Chain) to their thrashy death metal a la Cattle Decapitation, Meshuggah and Decapitated and watch as they adorn the blast beats and breakdowns with beer guts and brogues.” – Decibel Magazine (Seismic – 2020)

“…To put it simply: the band does an incredible job of blending their grooves with their growls. Between segments of death, doom, and shreddy guitar solos that absolutely slay, there are moments of satisfying melodic breakdowns, and cutting riffs to die for… Seismic is full of lyrics that hold true and poignant meaning while using powerful imagery to evoke epic scenes of turbulent life and painful decay in the minds eye… ground-shaking album. 4/5” – Metal-Rules (Seismic – 2020)
​
​
​“Overall, two elements really struck me here…one was the level of intensity, and the other the level of musicianship from the band. How they can remain unsigned is a mystery to me. They play with such a tight synergy that it’s almost like they can finish each other’s sentences before they even open their mouth.” – Metal Temple (Seismic – 2020)

“While the heavy metal name generator might have had something to do with what this meaty metal unit called themselves, you can’t say it doesn’t fit. Without Mercy are pretty damn *ahem* merciless and to cap that off, their new album is so aptly titled. Seismic…a relentless powerhouse that is akin to tectonic plates smashing into each other. There is no fucking mercy and it’s fucking glorious. Excuse the swearing but that’s how this album makes you feel. It makes you feel like a beast. It makes you feel capable of taking on the world. It’s chunky, it’s thick, it’s chokingly devastating and undoubtedly one to be remembered.” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life (Seismic – 2020)

“The thrash-stomp modes on “Worthless” ring like a head-on collision between DECAPITATED and BIOHAZARD with a dash of power metal thrown into the solo section. Alex Friis wrings his throat to huge extremes, hopefully leaving tissue intact as he hits agonizing squeals while throwing indictments against former band members — guess on your own who that might entail. DJ Temple’s guitar work on “Worthless” is terrific..” (Mouchido EP 2016) – Blabbermouth

“Vancouver’s Without Mercy is a prime example of how putting in a little bit of elbow grease can result in advantageous outcomes. The quartet play their brand of melodic, groove-laden death metal independently, but refuse to remain held back by a lack in the promotional and money machine backing departments. Over the course of a decade or so, the band has experienced the same highs and lows as most others, but their successes – which include a small handful of recordings, a bigger handful of tours, and appearances in video games – have been felt at a deeper clip because they’ve essentially managed everything themselves.” (Mouchido EP 2016) – Decibel Magazine

“In a word, the music rips. And it also thunders, and punches so fast and hard that it’s like a jackhammer-sized nail gun ramming bolts into concrete at high speed while the operator howls and shrieks for all he’s worth, segmented by a start-stop breakdown that will give your skull a good rattling and lit up by swarming guitar flurries that are as fiery as the torches in the video (Burn).” (Mouchido EP 2016) – No Clean Singing

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0 Prog Metal Newcomers ENTROPIST Introduces Its Concept Album “The Vision” Through “Creation”; Produced by Jamie King (BTBAM, The Contortionist)

  • May 5, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · Entropist · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – May 5, 2026

Prog Metal Newcomers ENTROPIST Introduces Its Concept Album “The Vision” Through “Creation”

Produced, Mixed, and Mastered by Jamie King (BTBAM, The Contortionist)

Debut Album “The Vision” Out June 26th, 2026

Clockwise from Top Right: Solomon Smith – Guitars/Backup Vocals, Will Vinson – Guitars, Parker Kitching – Lead Vocals, Jeremy Smith – Bass, Matt Gleason – Drums

Photo Credit – Entropist

Colorado progressive metal outfit Entropist has officially announced their debut full‑length album, “The Vision,” accompanied by the release of their first single and lyric video, “Creation.” The track marks the band’s first official introduction to the metal world, offering a powerful glimpse into the album’s sweeping concept and genre‑spanning sound.
​
Formed through a decade‑long bond between guitarist/vocalist Solomon Smith, vocalist Parker Kitching, bassist Jeremy Smith, and drummer Matt Gleason, Entropist began in 2013 when the members met as college roommates and neighbors in Greeley, Colorado. After years of jamming, drifting apart, and reconnecting during the COVID era, the band solidified its lineup with the addition of guitarist Will Vinson, whose creativity helped elevate the project into its fully realized form.
​
​“The Vision” is a bold, cinematic progressive metal odyssey built on a dual‑concept narrative: one story set in a fantastical world of demons, celestial beings, and the void, and another grounded in real‑life themes of mental struggle, nihilism, and the search for meaning. Written largely from the perspectives of characters within the story, the album is designed to be experienced from start to finish, with recurring motifs, callbacks, and evolving themes woven throughout.
​
Musically, the record spans progressive metal, djent, deathcore, metalcore, and post‑hardcore influences, while maintaining a cohesive identity. Fans of Between the Buried and Me, Meshuggah, Opeth, and The Contortionist will find familiar touchpoints, yet Entropist’s voice remains distinctly their own.
​
To bring the album’s massive sound to life, the band partnered with acclaimed producer Jamie King, whose work with BTBAM and The Contortionist helped define modern progressive metal. His mixing and mastering elevated the album’s intricate compositions into a unified, powerful whole.

The album’s artwork, an impressionist painting by Solomon’s wife, Shannon Bortfeldt, captures the emotional and narrative weight of the album’s opening arcs.
​
​“This album is the culmination of over a decade of work. It contains a personal story that many can relate to, while also containing a crazy esoteric concept for those who are into that sort of thing. It gets really heavy, but has so many unexpected and even victorious moments that truly set it apart,” says guitarist/vocalist Solomon Smith.
​
Vocalist Parker Kitching adds, “This album is our love letter to metal. When it gets heavy, it gets very heavy, but it also has moments that let you breathe. We want listeners to feel like they’re going on a journey.”

The band’s first single, “Creation,” introduces listeners to the album’s final narrative arc. The track blends bright, triumphant chords, intricate rhythms, soaring vocals, and one of the heaviest breakdowns on the record. Lyrically, it explores themes of building something new, forging meaning, and shaping the world one wants to see.
​
The lyric video showcases the song’s emotional intensity and conceptual depth, offering fans their first immersive step into the universe of “The Vision.”

Watch and listen to the lyric video for “Creation” via its premiere on TheProgSpace HERE.

Spotify pre-save – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/entropist1/creation​

“The Vision” is due out on June 26th, 2026, and available for pre-save at the following links:

Album pre-order – https://entropistcolorado.bandcamp.com/​

Track Listing:​
1. Intense Warmth (4:00)
2. Devour Us (6:34)
3. I Hunger (5:34)
4. The Ritual (8:36)
5. Desert of Limbo (6:04)
6. The Wandering (6:47)
7. Creation (8:49)
8. Revelation (14:12)
Album Length: 1:00:40

Album Recording Credits:​
• All songs performed by: Entropist
• All songs written by: Entropist
• Produced by: Jamie King
• Mixed by: Jamie King
• Mastered by: Jamie King
• Album Artwork by: Shannon Bortfeldt

Album Band Line Up:​
Solomon Smith – Guitar
Will Vinson – Guitar
Jeremy Smith – Bass
Matt Gleason – Drums
Parker Kitching – Vocals
Cecily Meade – Violin

Live Band Line Up:​
Solomon Smith – Guitar
Will Vinson – Guitar
Jeremy Smith – Bass
Matt Gleason – Drums
Parker Kitching – Vocals

More info:

​https://entropistband.com/​

​https://www.facebook.com/EntropistBand​

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

About: Entropist is a Denver‑based progressive metal band blending technical musicianship, emotional storytelling, and genre‑spanning heaviness. After reconnecting during the pandemic and completing their lineup with guitarist Will Vinson, the band has crafted a sound that is ambitious, immersive, and unapologetically metal. They have shared the stage with Nightwraith, So This Is Suffering, Eternal Bloom, The Dawn Chose Orion, WOR, and Fused by Defiance.

-30-

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0 Feel The Destructive Onslaught of Pompeii’s End w/ ASHEN HORDE’s New Single “Voids in the Ash” From Upcoming Album “The Harvest” Out May 2026

  • April 9, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · ASHEN HORDE · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – April 9, 2026

Feel The Destructive Onslaught of Pompeii’s End w/ ASHEN HORDE’s New Single “Voids in the Ash” From Upcoming Album “The Harvest” Out May 2026

Photos by @still.squill (Trevor); Photo Dun Right (Karl); unknown (Robin)

Extreme metal shapeshifters Ashen Horde will release their highly anticipated fifth full‑length album, “The Harvest,” on May 1st, 2026. Following the unveiling of the first single and video, “Entropy and Ecstasy,” the band now returns with the album’s second single, “Voids in the Ash,” a haunting and dynamic track inspired by the final days of Pompeii.
​
​“The Harvest” (mixed by Ricardo Borges and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios) marks a new era for Ashen Horde, one defined by expanded vocal range, sharpened contrasts, and a thematic focus on endings. While not a concept album, the record threads together stories of collapse, decay, and transformation, each approached from a different angle. It is also the band’s first full‑length to feature vocalist Karl Chamberlain (Autolatry, Skala, Alcyone), whose performance pushes the group into its most melodic and emotionally varied territory yet.
​
Originally founded as a solo project by guitarist and primary songwriter Trevor Portz, Ashen Horde has evolved into a full lineup featuring vocalist Karl Chamberlain and Australian-based drummer Robin Stone (The Amenta, Convulsing). Ashen Horde has long been known for its refusal to be confined to a single extreme‑metal subgenre. “The Harvest” continues that tradition, weaving together black metal, death metal, progressive elements, and even shades of 90s alternative.
​
The album’s first single, “Entropy and Ecstasy,” introduced listeners to this expanded palette. The track, described by Portz as “Voivod‑with‑blastbeats energy,” follows a couple who find exhilaration in the chaos of a collapsing world. The song also served as Chamberlain’s “audition,” with his chilling delivery of the line “how can we thrive if we expect to survive?” immediately cementing him as the band’s new voice.
​
The newly released second single, “Voids in the Ash,” shifts into darker, moodier territory. Musically, the track blends grunge‑inspired vocal harmonies with sudden bursts of black‑metal ferocity. Lyrically, Chamberlain tells the story of Pompeii from the perspective of both its doomed inhabitants and the gods who buried them.

“It was the last song I recorded vocals for, and it became one of the most special to me,” adds Chamberlain.

Watch and listen to the video for “Voids in the Ash” via its premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.

While each song on “The Harvest” stands alone, all share a connection to the record’s overarching theme of endings. “Autumnal” is inspired by the Sensorio light installation in Paso Robles; the track explores Pagan harvest‑season rituals and builds from quiet ambience into full black‑metal intensity. “Entropy and Ecstasy” is a chaotic, melodic exploration of passion amid catastrophe, influenced by Voivod and early pandemic anxieties. “Backward Momentum” is a genre‑bending blend of Opeth‑style clean vocals, unconventional riffs, and 90s‑inspired rock breaks, paired with lyrics condemning society’s slide into superstition and conspiracy. “Remnant” is a tale of a hunter lost in a storm, taken in by a stranger, only for nature to claim them both. “A Place in the Rot” is inspired by Swamp Thing; the track meditates on mortality and the inevitability of returning to the soil. “The Apparition”, the heaviest track on the album, is told from the perspective of a ghost condemned to watch humanity’s cruelty without the power to intervene. The album closer and title track, “The Harvest,” imagines a hidden entity judging humanity’s self‑destruction, waiting to emerge and devour everything once hope is gone.
​
For over 10 years, Ashen Horde has crafted extreme metal that defies easy categorization. Rooted in black and death metal but unafraid to incorporate progressive, melodic, and alternative influences, the band appeals to fans of Opeth, Enslaved, Amorphis, Ihsahn, and other genre‑bending heavyweights.

Album pre-order (release date May 1, 2026) available on limited splatter vinyl and CD (along with t-shirt bundles) on Bandcamp, as well as everywhere digitally – https://ashenhorde.bandcamp.com/album/the-harvest​

Music Video – Ecstasy and Entropy – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zud62AXzvsw​

Tour Dates:​
May 14 – Montclair, NJ – The Meatlocker
May 15 – Wallingford, CT – Cherry Street Station
May 16 – Brattleboro, VT – Midnight’s

Track Listing:​
1. Autumnal (6:12)
2. Entropy and Ecstasy (5:47)
3. Backward Momentum (5:21)
4. Voids in the Ash (5:41)
5. Remnant (4:37)
6. A Place in the Rot (4:38)
7. Apparition (4:57)
8. The Harvest (5:46)
Album Length: 43:03

Credits:​
Mixed by Ricardo Borges and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios
Artwork by Venus Kohana (venuskohana.com)

Lineup:​
Trevor Portz: Guitar, Bass, Harmony Vocals
Karl Chamberlain: Vocals
Robin Stone: Drums

More Info:

​https://www.facebook.com/AshenHorde/

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

-30-

“The harvest is coming! The new Ashen Horde album is a multi-faceted journey into every nook and cranny of extreme metal. “The Harvest” is challenging and quirky, but unlike a lot of other progressive/experimental releases, it never loses track of the key ingredient in music – good songwriting. All tracks are well-crafted and interesting in their own right, and the skillful instrumental performances are more like the icing on the cake and not the main focus. Highly recommended!” – Nik Sundin (Dark Tranquillity)

“The song (Entropy and Ectasy) captures this dichotomy of collapse and exhilaration — of entropy and ecstasy — through a fast-spinning (and head-spinning) kaleidoscope of sound. The moods of the music change along the way, but even the relatively slower and more desolate passages include inventive and intriguing nuances. Karl Chamberlain’s remarkably multi-faceted voice is a perfect match for the remarkably multi-faceted nature of the music. He expels brutal death metal gutturals and ripping black metal screams, but he also sends his singing voice in ravishing upward arcs that are spine-tingling to hear, and down into gloomy troughs. As for the surrounding music, it’s intricate and exhilarating, especially when the band are in full flight, discharging rapidly darting and maniacally swirling notes, incendiary bursts of tremolo’d delirium, or riffing that feverishly slashes with vicious, serrated edges. In less frantic phases, the music dismally groans and throbs, creating a pall of desolation, even when Chamberlain’s voice might be reaching for the clouds. The fretwork also includes angular progressions that generate moods of disorientation and fearfulness, and the song further includes an astonishing guitar solo that all by itself seems to capture the song’s thematic dichotomy of collapse and jubilation. Perhaps needless to say, Robin Stone’s drumming is as constantly changing as everything else, and surgically crafted to match all the other head-spinning, pulse-pounding, and heart-sinking twists in this shapeshifter of a song.” – No Clean Singing

“Antimony; 3/5 rating; “the sound Ashen Horde has developed over three albums is pretty much theirs alone. It’s a dense but accessible approach that rewards both casual listens and sustained attention.” – Angry Metal Guy (2023 – Antimony)

“Equal parts blackened madness, death metal riffing, and clean vocals, “The Neophyte” should get just about anyone stoked for Antimony.” – Metal Injection (2023 – Antimony)

“an amazing odyssey all around and the amount of remarkable coherency as well as the instrumentation work and musicianship is just top notch.” – Metal Purgatory (2023 – Antimony)

“Progression like what Ashen Horde has undergone over the years is what the best tales in the underground are made out of.” – Head-Banger Reviews (2023 – Antimony)

“Fallen Cathedrals; 4.0 rating; “I can’t recommend this enough for fans of black and death metals being combined in unique ways.” – Angry Metal Guy (2019 – Fallen Cathedrals)

—
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0 Gore House Prod. – Streaming Now! ONCHOCERCIASIS ESOPHAGOGASTRODUODENOSCOPY’s New Album “Fugue Gnawed from the Scabbed God Cerebrum”

  • April 2, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · Music News · Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (Gore House Productions)

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – April 2, 2026

Streaming Now! ONCHOCERCIASIS ESOPHAGOGASTRODUODENOSCOPY’s New Album “Fugue Gnawed from the Scabbed God Cerebrum”

L – R – The Popuko – Guitars, Drums, Bass, Backing Vocals, Alice Simard – Guitars, Drums, Jesse Agiomamitis – Vocals

Apocalyptic brutal slamming death metal entity Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (OxE) has partnered with Decibel Magazine for the exclusive stream premiere of their long‑awaited full‑length album, “Fugue Gnawed from the Scabbed God Cerebrum,” ahead of its official release on April 3, 2026, through Stillbirth Records / Gore House Productions.

The Decibel stream marks the first opportunity for fans to experience the album in its entirety, an eleven‑track descent into dissonant barbarity, cosmic violence, and experimental extremity. The LP represents OxE’s most ambitious and punishing work to date, expanding their sonic identity far beyond the foundations laid on their previous EP, “The Fallen Lament.”

Listen to the album in full on Decibel Magazine HERE.

OxE’s lineup spans three countries: Quebec City, Canada (Alice), Australia (Jesse), and Germany (Popu), yet their creative synergy is seamless. Originally a solo project by guitarist Alice Simard, OxE evolved into a collaborative force after Jesse joined in 2019. Popu, a longtime fan, later connected with Alice through their shared love of the obscure bullet‑hell game Touhou Project, completing the trio. Their influences range from Disentomb, Artificial Brain, and Deathspell Omega to video games (Dark Souls, NieR), anime (Berserk, Evangelion), and global folklore.
​
​“Fugue Gnawed from the Scabbed God Cerebrum” is a meticulously crafted sonic nightmare. Musically, the album pushes OxE into their most experimental territory yet, layering warped synths, organic instrumentation, and alien sound design between the carnage of their signature riffs and gutturals.
​
​“Start‑to‑finish, the album is dissonant, punishing, and disorienting. Many of the lyrical subjects are larger-than-life. The songs tell the story of a single entity, a godslayer, on a God‑of‑War‑esque rampage through the universe, all veiled in obscurity,” says vocalist Jesse Agiomamitis.
​
German multi‑instrumentalist The Popu adds:

“This is the most experimental OxE release to date. The synths and organic layers were destroyed and reshaped to give the soundscape an alien feel. I was heavily inspired by Nithing’s ‘Agonal Hymns and Dripping’s ‘Disintegration of Thought Patterns During A Synthetic Mind Traveling Bliss.’”​
​
The album’s artwork, created by Mei Maro, reflects the band’s fascination with folklore, mythology, and surreal horror, an amalgamation of the influences that shaped the record’s writing.
​
From the chaotic opener “Conquering Divinity” to the melodic yet brutal closer “Forged in the Blackest Reaches of Blasphemy,” the album traverses a wide spectrum of textures and emotional weight. “Heaven’s Empty Halls” introduces dungeon‑synth‑esque atmospheres. “Entombed Within the Infinite Panopticon” delivers one of the album’s heaviest breakdowns. “Abyssikataplexika” showcases some of the most inhuman vocal performances OxE has ever recorded. “Apotheotic Apotemnophilia” explores melodic territory while maintaining crushing heaviness. Every track contributes to the overarching narrative of cosmic annihilation and psychological descent.

Recommended for fans of Deathspell Omega, Disentomb, Artificial Brain, First Fragment, Disgorge, and Ulcerate, OxE‘s “Fugue Gnawed from the Scabbed God Cerebrum” is their longest and most refined release yet: no filler, no restraint, and no compromise.

Album pre-order for CD, Cassette, and digitally from Stillbirth Records / Gore House Productions at https://orcd.co/scabbed-god-cerebrum​

Track Listing:​
1. Conquering Divinity – 3:17
2. The Fallen Lament, Paralytikus Ascends – 1:21
3. Severing What Makes Me Human – 2:41
4. Apotheotic Apotemnophilia – 3:03
5. Entombed Within the Infinite Panopticon – 2:23
6. Gutted & Corpsed – 3:05
7. Heaven’s Empty Halls – 5:13
8. Hurt Beyond Healing – 2:33
9. Abyssikataplexika – 2:35
10. Vile Verses Flogged into the Wings of Angels – 1:23
11. Forged in the Blackest Reaches of Blasphemy – 4:58
Album Length: 32:32
​
​ROLES:​
Jesse Agiomamitis: Vocals, Lyrics
Alice Simard: Composition, Guitars, Lead Guitars
The Popu: Additional Songwriting, Mixing and Mastering, Guitars, Bass, Orchestration and Sound Design, Additional lyrics, Additional Vocals

More info: ​​

​https://gorehouseproductions.com/​

​https://www.facebook.com/OnchoOfficial​

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

-30-

“First of all besides the insane moniker and album title, I don’t even know how to label this shit. If you know, you know… It sounds like an army of angry lawnmowers rolling over cliffs and boulders, LOL! Fuck it… four tacos out of five!” – Micha Kite – Metal Underground​
​
​“A complex and bizarre name reflects the complex and bizarre nature of this band. Mixing Slam, Brutal Death Metal, hints of prog metal and other influences makes for a heady brew of extreme music…. This eclectic approach never lets up for the whole of the album, with so many familiar yet alien sounds emerging, riffs that sound like they were written by a thrash band, or slow dirgey sections that come straight from doom metal’s playbook. Does this approach work? Incredibly, yes! The album stays fresh and interesting; there is always something you draw your attention to and keep you listening. Combine this with the band’s art and lyrical efforts and it makes for a crazy, heady mixture of the heavy and the ridiculous, but at least it’s never boring!” – The Razor’s Edge​
​
​“Because the band varies quite a lot within the framework and smuggles in unwholesome elements, ‘Fugue Gnawed from the Scabbed God Cerebrum’ remains captivating from start to finish. Every listen reveals new details, and the craftsmanship and tight compositions make this album a delightful cocktail of proggy avant-garde brutal tech death slam jazz. Or something like that. Surprising, unexpected, and constantly memorable: this is a top record of brutality.” – Musika​
​
​“Victims of brutal death metal will recognize the trauma inflicted by the song’s (Gutted and Corpsed) opening, a combination of furiously rattling snare-drums, sewer-gurgling riffage, and equally grotesque sewer-dwelling vocals, but even there the band also discharge shrill and weirdly squirming frequencies and shotgun blasts, as well as slamming hammer blows and bursts of viciously darting and insanely screaming fretwork. But the song shifts, opening a portal to an even more macabre cavalcade of screeching and bizarrely contorting tonalities (some of which are ejected from a contorting throat), accompanied by sudden and equally crazed percussive contortions and thudding bass-level throbs. Ghosts might be wailing and screaming, and there’s a guitar solo in the mix too, but it too has lost its mind. Near the end, when the drumming has become heavily medicated and slumbers, the music changes even more dramatically. Something like a flute enticingly whispers, and something like an oboe woozily wanders against a backdrop of gentling shimmering strings — a little caress to help you begin unscrambling your brain.” – No Clean Singing
​
​
​“The speed of the drums, the ferocity of the vocals, the intensity of the guitars and how all of that blends together in the most diabolical way… Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy are pushing boundaries here.. what they have created here is fascinating and admirable.. it is an unforgettable listen…” – Games Brrraaains and Head-Banging Life

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
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0 ASHEN HORDE Announces New Album “The Harvest” Out May 2026; Unveil Music Video “Entropy and Ecstasy”

  • March 17, 2026
  • by Asher
  • · ASHEN HORDE · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – March 17, 2026

ASHEN HORDE Announces New Album “The Harvest” Out May 2026; Unveil Music Video “Entropy and Ecstasy”

Photos by @still.squill (Trevor); Photo Dun Right (Karl); unknown (Robin)

Los Angeles extreme‑metal shapeshifters Ashen Horde return on May 1st, 2026, with “The Harvest”, their fifth full‑length album and the first to feature new vocalist Karl Chamberlain (Putrefier, Alcyone, Necrotic Remains). Known for weaving black metal, death metal, prog, and 90s‑inspired grit into something unmistakably their own, Ashen Horde push their sound further than ever, embracing melody, chaos, and sharp contrasts across eight thematically linked tracks.
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Alongside the album announcement, Ashen Horde have unveiled the first single, “Entropy and Ecstasy”, a whirlwind of jagged riffs, angular Voivod‑like progressions, and Chamberlain’s soaring, chilling vocal hooks. The accompanying video represents a major milestone for the band: despite recording the entire album remotely, this is the first time the members have appeared together on camera.

The first preview to the album, “Entropy and Ecstasy,” captures the album’s core idea: finding exhilaration in collapse. The song follows a couple who thrive on the chaos of a world falling apart, a concept Portz admits was likely sparked by the early COVID lockdowns.

Guitarist and primary songwriter Trevor Portz recalls being floored by Chamberlain’s audition:
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​“I sent him a demo of ‘Entropy and Ecstasy’ with unfinished lyrics, and he sent back his take. His vocals on the line ‘how can we thrive if we expect to survive?’ still give me chills.”

Listen and watch the music video for “The Harvest” via its premiere on NoCleanSinging HERE.

Add to your Spotify playlist – pre-save – https://show.co/z0ZVdF9​
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​“The Harvest” marks a turning point for Ashen Horde. After a decade as a studio‑driven project, the band is preparing to play its first‑ever live shows in May, coinciding with the album’s release. It’s also the first full‑length to feature Chamberlain, whose dynamic range helped reshape the band’s sonic identity.
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While Ashen Horde’s previous four albums were tightly constructed concept records, “The Harvest” takes a different approach. Each track stands alone, yet all orbit the idea of endings, personal, societal, historical, and cosmic.
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​“I didn’t have a single story this time, but the lyrics kept circling reactions to things ending. From societal collapse to ancient rituals to the last days of Pompeii, everything tied together naturally,” explains Portz.
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Musically, the album is a showcase of the band’s eclectic influences. From the opening track, “Autumnal”, a slow-burning ascent into full black‑metal fury, inspired by the Sensorio light installation in Paso Robles. “Backward Momentum” blends Opeth‑style clean‑vocal layering with 90s‑rock riffing and one of Portz’s favorite solos on the album. “Voids in the Ash” pairs grunge‑inflected vocal harmonies with hyperspeed black‑metal bursts, telling the story of Pompeii from both mortal and divine perspectives. “The Apparition” channels early death metal before spiraling into odd‑meter prog weirdness. The title track, “The Harvest,” closes the album with an apocalyptic vision inspired by Iceland’s stark landscapes and the album’s striking cover art.
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The album’s cover, featuring two red skeletons locked in an eerie, autumnal tableau, was created by artist Venus Kohana, whose work Portz discovered at an art show. The imagery’s blend of beauty, decay, and ritual perfectly mirrors the album’s themes.
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​“I bought a print and couldn’t stop staring at it. Eventually, I realized it had to be the cover. It even inspired the lyrics to the title track.”​
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For over a decade, Ashen Horde has carved out a unique place in extreme metal, refusing to be confined to any single subgenre. Rooted in black and death metal but unafraid to explore melodic prog, 90s alternative, and avant‑garde experimentation, the band appeals to fans of Opeth, Enslaved, Amorphis, Ihsahn, and metal’s more adventurous corners.
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Originally founded as a solo project by guitarist and primary songwriter Trevor Portz, Ashen Horde has evolved into a full lineup featuring vocalist Karl Chamberlain and Australian-based drummer Robin Stone (The Amenta, Convulsing).

“The Harvest” represents the band’s most dynamic, collaborative, and ambitious work to date.

Album pre-order (release date May 1, 2026) available on limited splatter vinyl and CD (along with t-shirt bundles) on Bandcamp, as well as everywhere digitally – https://ashenhorde.bandcamp.com/album/the-harvest​

Tour Dates:​
May 14 – Montclair, NJ – The Meatlocker
May 15 – Wallingford, CT – Cherry Street Station
May 16 – Brattleboro, VT – Midnight’s

Track Listing:​
1. Autumnal (6:12)
2. Entropy and Ecstasy (5:47)
3. Backward Momentum (5:21)
4. Voids in the Ash (5:41)
5. Remnant (4:37)
6. A Place in the Rot (4:38)
7. Apparition (4:57)
8. The Harvest (5:46)
Album Length: 43:03

Credits:​
Mixed by Ricardo Borges and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios
Artwork by Venus Kohana (venuskohana.com)

Lineup:​
Trevor Portz: Guitar, Bass, Harmony Vocals
Karl Chamberlain: Vocals
Robin Stone: Drums

More Info:

​https://www.facebook.com/AshenHorde/

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

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“The harvest is coming! The new Ashen Horde album is a multi-faceted journey into every nook and cranny of extreme metal. “The Harvest” is challenging and quirky, but unlike a lot of other progressive/experimental releases, it never loses track of the key ingredient in music – good songwriting. All tracks are well-crafted and interesting in their own right, and the skillful instrumental performances are more like the icing on the cake and not the main focus. Highly recommended!” – Nik Sundin (Dark Tranquillity)

“Antimony; 3/5 rating; “the sound Ashen Horde has developed over three albums is pretty much theirs alone. It’s a dense but accessible approach that rewards both casual listens and sustained attention.” – Angry Metal Guy (2023 – Antimony)

“Equal parts blackened madness, death metal riffing, and clean vocals, “The Neophyte” should get just about anyone stoked for Antimony.” – Metal Injection (2023 – Antimony)

“an amazing odyssey all around and the amount of remarkable coherency as well as the instrumentation work and musicianship is just top notch.” – Metal Purgatory (2023 – Antimony)

“Progression like what Ashen Horde has undergone over the years is what the best tales in the underground are made out of.” – Head-Banger Reviews (2023 – Antimony)

“Fallen Cathedrals; 4.0 rating; “I can’t recommend this enough for fans of black and death metals being combined in unique ways.” – Angry Metal Guy (2019 – Fallen Cathedrals)

—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
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