Author: Crix

Ankea Festival 5-6.6.2026, Tampere (Finland)

Tampere has long been one of Finland’s most quietly creative cities, but on June 5 and 6, its industrial Hiedanranta district became something else entirely: the birthplace of Ankea Festival, a new gathering dedicated to progressive and alternative music.
For a festival that openly rejects the idea of becoming a mainstream giant, its debut was remarkably strong. Nearly every ticket sold, and the crowd that arrived by tram found themselves immersed in a setting where street art, abandoned factory structures, and lakeside nature collided in a way that felt perfect for this festival.
Food and drink options were solid, the atmosphere was warm and friendly. Only the weather refused to cooperate, Saturday’s intermittent rain and a biting 10°C breeze reminded everyone that Finnish summer can be unpredictable.

The honor of launching the festival fell to Demonic Death Judge, a Finnish sludge/doom/stoner quartet, who delivered a show packed with energetic riffs.
Virta followed with a rare full‑album performance of Hurmos for its tenth anniversary. Their blend of ambient electronics, Nordic jazz, and post‑rock created a engaging and thoroughly enjoyable performance.
Earthside delivered a cinematic, high‑energy set highlighted by keyboardist Frank Sacramone stepping into the crowd mid‑performance.
Then came Circle, Finland’s cult avant‑rock institution. Their show was a surreal, theatrical whirlwind, unpredictable, eccentric, and impossible to look away from.
The Irish trio God Is an Astronaut offered one of the evening’s most transcendent sets with a flawless, immersive performance.
France’s Slift pushed the power‑trio format to its limits, delivering a headbanging, psychedelic storm.
Ihsahn followed with a masterclass in genre‑bending metal. The night’s first major surprise came when Einar Solberg (Leprous) joined him for Celestial Violence.
Iceland’s Kælan Mikla transformed the stage into a dark, poetic ritual with a performance that can be define as haunting, magnetic, and deeply emotional.
Then Leprous headlined with a spectacular set. Ihsahn returned the favor by joining them on Contaminate Me, and former guitarist Øystein Landsverk appeared for a rare reunion moment that thrilled longtime fans.
The American instrumentalists This Will Destroy You closed Friday with an engaging and flawless performance.

Saturday opened with Royal Sorrow, whose hybrid of metal, pop, symphonic, and electronic elements energized early arrivals.
Rioghan followed with a visually striking performance featuring a dancer who mirrored the singer’s shadow, an artistic touch that elevated the set.
Vermilia with her blend of epic pagan metal and raw, melancholic vocal harmonies sung in her native tongue, delivered a unique and unforgettable performance.
The multi‑instrumentalist and producer Bruce Soord offered an intimate, emotional set that contrasted beautifully with the heavier acts.
One of the most compelling new voices in progressive music, A.A. Williams blended dark folk, post‑rock, dream pop, and classical influences into an evocative, captivating performance. Exploring the duality of human emotion, Sylvaine and her band delivered a delicate, atmospheric, and deeply memorable show.
Norway’s Green Carnation delivered one of the festival’s most energetic sets, forging a powerful connection with the crowd. Then Textures unleashed a tight, electrifying performance that had the entire audience headbanging.
Saturday’s headliners, Katatonia, performed The Great Cold Distance in full for its 20th anniversary. The show was masterful, though it ended earlier than expected, leaving fans wishing for a few more songs.
Closing the festival, Oranssi Pazuzu delivered a genre‑blurring, psychedelic assault of sound that kept the crowd moving despite the cold. It was an explosive, fitting end to Ankea’s first chapter.

With its carefully curated lineup, intimate scale, and atmospheric setting, Ankea Festival has already carved out a distinctive identity. It is not trying to be the next massive European festival and that may be its greatest strength.
The first artists to perform at Ankea 2027 have already been announced: Igorrr, Alcest, Kalandra, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Long Distance Calling, Vulkan and Karmanjakah.

https://ankeafestival.com/

Below is the photo gallery curated by Cristina Gregori.

Tabernaculum Released Debut Demo

Sydney, Australia based doom metal band Tabernaculum (feat. former Gallileous and Persecution members) presents their debut demo, Tabernaculum , which was  released on May 23rd, 2026.

Tabernaculum Demo 2026 is now available for streaming on Bandcamp and YouTube!

Tracklist:
01. Intro – Crypts On Nibiru
02. Son Of Sodom (Stillborn cover 1985)
03. Total Maniac (Messiah cover 1985)
04. Erupted Evil (Necro Schizma cover 1989)
05. Outro – Crypts On Nibiru

Tabernaculum is a new doom metal band from Sydney, Australia. Founded mid 2025, Tabernaculum features veterans Karl Stepien (ex-Gallileous) on guitar/bass and Scott Mullins (ex-Persecution) on drums. Their debut demo was released on May 23rd, 2026.

Recorded and mixed at Rehearsal Studio 13, Padstow, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2026.
Mixed and produced by Jack Cranney of Rehearsal Studio 13.

The band is working on a full-length that will be released after the summer.

Line-up:
Beam – Vocals
Karl Stepien – Guitars, Bass
Scott Mullins – Drums

Despiser released their debut EP Wreck

Despiser has released their debut EP “Wreck” on June 12. The group from Northern Finland is mixing rusty and rugged guitar shredding with melancholic melodies. Wreck includes the already published singles “Live for Nothing” and “Weakness” and two new songs “Shades of Hate” and “One Man Extinction”.

“It came out surprisingly OK. There has been some doubt if this is ever going to be anything. This is a good way to show, that this is our shit and fuck you. The songs are representing the band and its sound for now. We’ll make even better songs for the first album”, the vocalist-guitarist Tomi Tuomaala says.

“We managed to pull off a package that sounds good and fresh even to ourselves. We’ve played some of the songs for years”, the drummer Ville Vitikka says.

The themes include for example self-destruction and self-loath, wrath and weakness, distress and despair, anguish and anxiety and mental issues. The moments when a person’s whole life is about to collapse one way or another.

The bassist and another lyricist Antti Halonen says that the word “wreck” can be used as a noun, a verb or even as an adjective. It brings all fours songs together even if each one of them is handling the darkest sides of human life from a different angle.

“A human can wreck, destroy, trash, break and shatter things way worse than matter. Not only buildings can lie in ruins and wreck doesn’t necessarily mean crashed trains or sunken ships.”

Wreck is first out digitally in streaming services and as physical version after the festival summer of 2026. Despiser is playing in Tuska festival in Helsinki in June and start touring in Finland in the Autumn.

”Modern metal is rising rapidly. Maybe music with vibes from the 2000’s has been a bit bypassed. But people have appreciated, especially at gigs, what and how we play. They’ve said that the direction is right and there should be more stuff like this”, the guitarist Eetu Kortetjärvi says.

EP is mixed and mastered by Lauri Hämäläinen from Sonic Pump Studios. The cover art is made by the photographer Petri Sara.

Wreck:

  1. Live for Nothing, comp. Tuomaala, lyr. Tuomaala & Halonen
  2. Weakness (feat. Sara Strömmer), comp. Tuomaala, lyr. Tuomaala & Halonen
  3. Shades of Hate, comp. Tuomaala, lyr. Tuomaala & Halonen
  4. One Man Extinction, comp. ja lyr. Tuomaala

Despiser:

Tomi Tuomaala: Vocals and guitar

Eetu Kortetjärvi: Guitar

Antti Halonen: Bass

Ville Vitikka: Drums

Despiser represents the new wave of Oulu-originated metal bands from Finland. The group is mixing melancholic melodies with more aggressive riff-driven Northern anger. The songs are about life through death and death through life.

The band is publishing its first EP before the festival summer 2026. The first music video Live for Nothing saw the daydarkness 29 January. Despiser has played live shows during 2025 in Helsinki, Oulu, Lahti and Tampere and the band is heading towards new stages in 2026.

Despiser was originally formed in Oulu in 2017. The band has re-located to the Southern Finland and found its new line-up in 2023 after many years of silence.

Social media:

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@despiser

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

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

LA Symphonic Metal LEVINIA Sinks Their Teeth Into 2026 With Dracula Inspired Single “Bite”

Los Angeles cinematic‑metal outfit Levinia returns with the third installment of their 2026 four‑single cycle, releasing their heaviest and most visceral track yet: “Bite.” The single and accompanying music video arrive as the follow‑up to the band’s recent releases “Silver Tongues” and “The Thorn,” continuing the group’s evolution into a darker, sharper, and more emotionally charged era.
​
​“Bite,” like all four upcoming singles, is produced by Brandon Friesen (Halestorm, Nickelback, The Hu, Papa Roach), whose cinematic approach and modern metal sensibilities have helped elevate Levinia’s sound into its most refined form to date.
​
Drawing inspiration from Dracula, specifically the character of Mina Murray/Harker, “Bite” reimagines the classic Gothic arc of vulnerability transformed into strength. Vocalist Kourt Henson channels Mina’s evolution from prey to force of will, weaving a narrative of emotional reclamation, toxic entanglement, and the quiet power of survival.
​​
“‘Bite’ is for anyone who’s ever felt drained by something or someone that tried to control them. It’s about finding the strength to fight back and become something stronger than what tried to break you,” says Henson.
​
Musically, “Bite” is Levinia at their most aggressive, relentless riffs, cinematic tension, and a vocal performance that swings between haunting restraint and explosive catharsis. Fans of the band’s heavier material, especially tracks like “Push and Pull,” will immediately gravitate toward its intensity.
​
The single’s artwork features a single drop of blood, a minimalist but potent symbol tied directly to the song’s themes. More than a nod to vampiric imagery, the blood represents the shedding of a former self, a transformation born from pain, loss, and the reclaiming of personal power.

“Bite” continues Levinia’s 2026 collaboration with producer Brandon Friesen, who worked closely with guitarist Alon Mei‑Tal and vocalist Kourt Henson during pre‑production to refine the band’s most ambitious material yet. The partnership has resulted in a sound that is heavier, more cinematic, and more emotionally deliberate than anything in the band’s catalog.
​
This single marks the third chapter in a four‑part release cycle that showcases the full spectrum of Levinia’s identity, from groove‑driven modern metal to atmospheric balladry to the ferocity embodied in “Bite.”

Recommended for fans of Within Temptation, Amaranthe, Nightwish, Lacuna Coil, and Delain, listen to “Bite” at the following links:

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55Uw9l0cmAA​

Digital – https://hypeddit.com/levinia/bite612​

​

Previous Singles:

Silver Tongues – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vqhk6j6wzKs​

The Thorn – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30EmGiQL7ug​

Levinia:​
Vocals – Kourt Henson
Guitar – Alon Mei-Tal
Bass – Liam Alexander
Drums- Dylan Suierveld

More info:

​https://www.leviniaofficial.com/​

​https://instagram.com/leviniaofficial​

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

About: Levinia blends symphonic atmosphere, modern metal aggression, and cinematic storytelling into a sound influenced by Epica, Lacuna Coil, Sabaton, Disturbed, and Evanescence. Formed from the ashes of Los Angeles power‑metal band Aerius, the group has spent nearly a decade refining its identity into something bold, emotional, and unmistakably its own.

Grammy-Nominated Hardcore Icons Hatebreed Join Forces With BLKIIBLK Records

Grammy-nominated, Connecticut hardcore icons HATEBREED, who remain one of the most impactful and enduring bands of the modern era and who are known for their tectonic-plate shifting and lyrically poignant anthems, are thrilled to announce that they have joined forces with BLKIIBLK RECORDS. The label will release the band’s forthcoming album, produced by long-time collaborator Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Accept, Shadows Fall). The much-awaited follow up to 2020’s Weight of the False Self is due out this fall. More details will be released in due course, but fans can follow the band’s socials for teases and updates about the record.

“BLKIIBLK put together a dream team to get behind the new Hatebreed record and we couldn’t be happier — new label, new horizons, crushing new songs,” says singer Jamey Jasta. “We are beyond grateful and can’t wait to unleash these tracks on the world!”

Drummer Matt Byrne weighs in, saying, “2026 is the year of Hatebreed. This juggernaut as we know it is picking up the pace rapidly and is taking no prisoners. As if 2025 wasn’t enough of a truly busy and successful year, this summer sees multiple European festivals/headline tours for the band, two separate U.S. legs of the Summer Slaughter tour, and a powerhouse of a new record dropping this fall on an awesome new label BLKIIBLK!!! We can’t wait to see everyone on the road!”

“One of my favorite things about making this record was working with our brother-in-arms, Zeuss, once again,” continues Jasta. “His connection with Matt, Wayne, Frank, Carl, and me goes far beyond the producer’s chair, I’ve known him since the Pushbutton Warfare and Jasta 14 days, he’s been like a sixth member of this band for years. When you’re chasing something timeless, memorable, and meaningful, having that level of trust and understanding makes all the difference. We would high five, scream, pace, and celebrate every time we elevated the song or hit on something killer. From ‘I Will Be Heard’ to ‘Destroy Everything,’ ‘Looking Down The Barrel’ to now, ‘Decisions Become Destinies!’ We got another one Zeussky!”

“BlLKIIBLK Records is proud to announce the signing of HATEBREED. Not only are they a name carved into the heavy music landscape, but they are as vital and relevant a force as ever. Perhaps even more so.  We are excited to work with Jamey [Jasta], who continues to bring new energy to everything he touches. Jasta and HATEBREED aren’t merely about perseverance — they’re about bringing the sound of the extreme to a new level. We’re honored to be working together,” said Frontiers Records Global Head of A&R/BLKIIBLK Label Head Mike Gitter.

Hatebreed will spend the summer doing what they do best — touring and bringing venues across the U.S. to their knees. All upcoming dates are below. Get tickets here.

HATEBREED ON TOUR:
7/2 — Reading, PA — Reverb
7/3 — Virginia Beach, VA — Elevation 27
7/4 — Jackson, NJ — New Jersey Hardcore 2026*
7/5 — Worcester, MA — Palladium
7/7 — Cincinnati, OH — Bogart’s
7/8 — Nashville, TN — Brooklyn Bowl
7/9 — New Orleans, LA — Tipitina’s Uptown
7/10 — Houston, TX — House of Blues Houston
7/11 — Austin, TX — Emo’s
7/12 — Tulsa, OK — Cain’s Ballroom
7/14 — Denver, CO — Summit Music Hall
7/15 — Omaha, NE — The Admiral Theater
7/16 — Cadott, WI — Chippewa Valley Music Festival Grounds*
7/17 — Chicago, IL — The Rumble (Cobra Lounge)*
7/19 — Saginaw, MI — The Vault Saginaw
7/21 — Sauget, IL — Pop’s Nightclub & Concert Venue
7/22 — Fort Wayne, IN — Piere’s
7/23 — Toronto, ON — Phoenix Concert Theatre
7/24 — Buffalo, NY — Town Ballroom
*Festival

HATEBREED ARE:
Jamey Jasta — Vocals
Wayne Lozinak — Guitar
Frank Novinec — Guitar
Matt Byrne — Drums
Carl Schwartz — Bass

ABOUT HATEBREED:
With dozens of pit-stirring anthems across albums, the Grammy-nominated Hatebreed have built their reputation through decades of ruthless breakdowns and an Iron Man touring ethic, consistently selling out shows the world over. Over the course of its career, the band has gone from playing basements and backyards to being a featured, must-see attraction on countless festivals like Graspop, OzzFest, Warped, and Download, alongside massive high-profile tours.

Described by Forbes as “more relevant than ever in the metal and hardcore community,” the quintet remains one of the most definitive live acts in music today and recently celebrated a milestone with their track “Looking Down The Barrel Of Today,” which is nearing 130 million global streams, making it their single biggest career streaming track of the modern era. To date, Hatebreed have sold over 1.5 million albums in North America alone.

Hatebreed’s most recent album, 2020’s Weight of the False Self, was praised as a “return to their hardcore roots” by Brooklyn Vegan. The album was deemed “one of their most aggressive to date” by Consequence and “pummeling” by Revolver, while Psychology Today called it “a blazing combination of extreme metal and hardcore punk.” Hatebreed remain one of the most vital bands in the hard rock scene.

Their signing with BLKIIBLK and forthcoming ninth studio album find the band harder than ever, stronger than ever.

HATEBREED ONLINE:
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Idols star Stina Girs -fronted Unén Releases “Dancing in Flames” Single with a Fiery New Video

Unén, who released their debut album “Forever Winter” last year, are stepping into a new era with the powerful new single “Dancing In Flames“ as the first taste of what’s to come. Fronted by Stina Girs — who first rose to nationwide attention as part of the top five in the Idols competition and revealed her true metal heart upon joining Unén three years ago — the band wanted to launch this new chapter with a true powerhouse track.

“’Dancing In Flames’ radiates confidence. When you’ve believed someone loved you and it turns out to have been a lie, the ground falls from beneath you. But when life hits hard, every scar makes you stronger, and you rise ready for the next battle. Then all you can do is dance in the flames,” says Stina Girs, who wrote the lyrics for the song.

Written collaboratively by the entire band, the track marks a clear step forward from their debut album.

“We wanted to turn things up a notch, and ‘Dancing In Flames’ is the perfect example of that. It showcases many sides of us: rock-driven intensity, rhythmic atmosphere, a catchy chorus, and, as the cherry on top, a truly heavy mid-section complete with growls,” the band explains.

The name “Unén” originally stemmed from the band’s idea that their lyrics would revolve around the world of dreams. While the concept later evolved in another direction, the name remained. In the “Dancing In Flames” music video, directed by Elsa Wellamo, reality is firmly rooted in the here and now.

“With a high-energy song like this, the traditional performance video format really does it justice. As a counterbalance, dancer Laura Zaray brought a beautiful additional visual element to the video,” the band says.

Throughout the coming summer, Unén will focus on preparing their second studio album, while also performing one live show in Helsinki on August 14. See all tour dates here.

Unén is:
Stina Girs – vocals
Kimmo Pitkänen – guitar
Petteri Sinervä – keyboards
Harri Moilanen – guitar
Tomi Kallava – bass
Timo Larjo – drums

FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | WEBSITE | YOUTUBE

Rough Grind’s Third Album Shakes Foundations of Heavy Rock

Finnish heavy rock powerhouse Rough Grind has released their third album, Neverending Night, on June 11, 2026. With this bold new work, the band dives deeper into the shadows than ever before, tearing a multifaceted and cinematic epic from the depths of darkness – a release that defies genre boundaries and proves that heavy rock can be anything but predictable.

While Rough Grind’s signature sound still pulses with raw power and relentless intensity, Neverending Night introduces a new level of deliberate nuance, soulful atmosphere and carefully woven soundscapes. The album serves as a compelling testament to a band whose melodic backbone is stronger than ever. Once you venture into this nocturnal journey, you won’t be longing for the morning light.

Listen to the album on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube Music etc.): https://push.fm/fl/roughgrind-neverendingnight

Neverending Night will is available on all major digital streaming platforms. The album has been preceded by the powerful singles Shotgun Bride and The Great Divide. Since their formation in 2011, Rough Grind has released two full-length albums, Hardened (2022) and Pieces of Resistance (2020), as well as three EPs, Trouble or Nothing (2018), Four for the Road (2017) and Son of a Gun (2014).

Web page: https://roughgrindband.wixsite.com/rock

Facebook: RoughGrindBand

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

Twitter: @RoughGrind

TAMPA DEATH FEST Announces 2026 Lineup w/ VIOGRESSION, NASTY SAVAGE, LEPROSY, GANGRENESIA and more

Tampa Death Fest returns to the legendary Brass Mug for its 8th annual edition on September 4th and 5th, 2026, delivering one of the strongest underground death‑metal weekends in Florida.

This year’s lineup fuses rising underground brutality with veteran icons. Friday, September 4th will erupt with Syndicate, Eroguro Phantasmagore, Homicyde, Unholy Disciple, Leprosy, Sacrilous, Viogression, and Foreverless. While Saturday, Sept 5th crushes with Grave Filth, Ramtha, Gouted Corpse, Coathanger Abortion, Sapraemia, Gangrenesia (Puerto Rico), Must Not Kill, and Tampa legends Nasty Savage closing out the night.

As one of the bands that helped ignite Florida’s extreme‑metal movement in the mid‑80s, Nasty Savage remains a cornerstone of the scene and a perfect headliner for a weekend built on pure aggression. If you crave real death metal, raw, heavy, and unfiltered, the kind Tampa helped define, this is one of 2026’s essential weekends. Two nights. Zero filler. Maximum brutality. See you in the pit.

Event Details:

Date: September 4th and 5th

Venue: Brass Mug, 1450 Skipper Road, Tampa, FL

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/1261714482664268​

Ticket Links:

Fri, Sept 4 – https://ticketbud.com/events/25a37be2-3998-11f1-af02-42010a71700b

Sat, Sept 5 – https://ticketbud.com/events/3510b89e-39a0-11f1-ac5f-42010a71700b

Get a preview of the lineup wth the TDF Spotify Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0xXgzAxsCqGvjraz6l8YNh​

TDF Promo Video – https://www.instagram.com/p/DYwwzZXR8qK/?hl=en​

Tampa Death Fest 2026 Lineup:

Friday, September 4th: ​
Foreverless (Florida)
Viogression (Wisconsin)
Sacrilous (Florida)
Leprosy (Pennsylvania)
Unholy Disciple (Florida)
Homicyde (South Carolina)
Eroguro Phantasmagore (Florida)
Syndicate (Florida)
​
​Saturday, September 5th: ​
Nasty Savage (Florida)
Must Not Kill (Florida)
Gangrenesia (Puerto Rico)
Sapraemia (Florida)
Coathanger Abortion (Tennessee)
Gouted Corpse (Ohio)
Ramtha (Florida)
Grave Filth (Florida)

About the Headliners:

(Viogression)

Viogression – https://viogression.info/​

Music Video – Light Harvester – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_cEP5Ed26E​

Formed in 1988, Viogression rose from the Midwest underground with early demos that led to their acclaimed debut, Expound & Exhort (1991), earning them a world tour with Death and Pestilence. After Passage (1994) and a long hiatus, the band returned with A Pure Formality (2014), reigniting their momentum and live presence. They pushed forward with 3rd Stage of Decay (2022) before crafting their fourth album, Thaumaturgic Veil (2025), praised for blending old‑school brutality with cerebral, metaphysical themes. The record marks a bold new chapter in Viogression’s evolving legacy.

(Nasty Savage)

Nasty Savage – https://www.nastysavage.com/​

Live at Legions of Metal (Chicago) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HT1V85ZQR64​

Nasty Savage is a thrash metal band from Brandon, Florida, that became well known for the wild and theatrical stage antics of frontman “Nasty” Ronnie Galetti. During the band’s early years, Galetti gained a reputation for his high-energy performances, which famously included smashing television sets over his head onstage. The group’s debut album, featuring the standout track “XXX,” was recorded at Progressive Music in Tampa and helped secure a deal with the influential metal label Metal Blade Records. Nasty Savage released four albums between 1983 and 1989 before disbanding. Following years of reunion rumors, the band returned with the album “Psycho Psycho” in 2004, marking their comeback with a collection of new material. Since then, Nasty Savage has continued to perform select live shows while maintaining its legacy as a cult favorite in the thrash metal scene. In October 2024, the band released its latest studio album, “Jeopardy Room”.

(Leprosy)

Leprosy – https://leprosy.cc/home​

Impulse to Kill – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ji2og7WzJS0​

Imagine horror, blood, and gore splattered across a heaping dose of true old‑school death metal, shoved into a meatgrinder and served with a smile. This is Leprosy. Exhumed in 1988, Leprosy is a Death/Splatter Gore metal force hailing from the Pittsburgh “Steel City” underground. Over the decades, they’ve shared the stage with giants including Napalm Death, Cannibal Corpse, Malevolent Creation, Forbidden, Entombed, Venom Inc, Exodus, Deicide, and many more, earning their reputation as one of Pennsylvania’s most enduring and blood‑soaked extreme‑metal acts.

(Gangrenesia)

Gangrenesia – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61561028699841​

Music Video – Disemboweling Motherfc*kers Like You! – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNJOdx4-Hus​

Gangrenesia is an active, slamming brutal death metal band from Caguas, Puerto Rico, formed in 2022 and known for their ultra‑violent gore themes, hyper‑percussive slam riffs, and extreme vocal brutality. They’ve quickly become one of Puerto Rico’s most vicious new extreme‑metal exports, releasing multiple singles, demos, and EPs that have circulated heavily in the slam/brutal‑death underground.

(Ramtha)

A band to watch! RAMTHA – https://linktr.ee/ramthabandfl​

Music Video – Infinite Energy – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yXxBbuLLsI​

Recent WACKEN METAL BATTLE USA 2026 National Finalists! ​Ramtha is an extreme‑metal band from St. Petersburg/Tampa, Florida, known for fusing death metal, thrash, grind, and hardcore into a high‑intensity hybrid sound. Active since 2022, the band has carved out a distinct identity within Florida’s extreme‑metal scene. They’ve released two EPs, Void Tyrant (2023) and Through Eyes of Death (2024), and are currently developing a third EP slated for 2026. Ramtha has earned a reputation for explosive live performances, frequently hitting Tampa’s Brass Mug and sharing stages with major acts such as Exhorder, Crypta, Worm, Gruesome, Artillery, Killing Addiction, Bandit, Gillian Carter, Dayglo Abortions, and Hong Kong Fck You. With momentum continuing to build, the band remains a rising force in the underground.

More info:

​https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61577052471967

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

Aussie deathcore titans To The Grave announce signing to BLKIIBLK and unleash new single “Eyestalk Ablations”

TO THE GRAVE, the world’s preeminent vegan deathcore band, officially announce their signing to BLKIIBLK. To mark the new chapter, the band unleash “EYESTALK ABLATIONS,” their first new music since mid-2025, alongside a shocking music video, available below.

The track marks their first release for BLKIIBLK, while their recently announced North American tour (tickets on sale Friday, June 12 HERE) sees the band return to the continent for the first time since 2024, when they toured with Oceano.

On their signing, Mike Gitter, Global Head of A&R for Frontiers Label Group andBLKIIBLK Label Head, shares:

“BLKIIBLK is proud to be working with Australia’s TO THE GRAVE. From ethic to execution, they are hard-working and completely uncompromising. TO THE GRAVEmusically assaults, but they also inform with a message that fights for pro-human and pro-animal rights in a desensitized world. A call for direct action, brutal sounds, and a key addition to the BLKIIBLK roster.”

Vocalist Dane Evans comments on the signing:

“Being signed to BLKIIBLK is another clean, exciting gear in the meatgrinder and we couldn’t be more stoked to be working with the team there. Can’t overstate how cool it is to be locked in with the legends there, alongside some bands and names we’ve looked up to most of our lives. Lots of big bullets loaded into this thing, very excited to see the damage they’re capable of.”

Watch the Music Video for “EYESTALK ABLATIONS” HERE

About “EYESTALK ABLATIONS” and it’s accompanying video, Dane Evans chimes:

“‘EYESTALK ABLATIONS’ is a shotgun blast to the face: claustrophobic, heavy from front to back and not a second wasted on room to breathe. This track feels like the old version of TTG got dragged out the back and shot, then someone bagged up the bits and made a monster out of it with some parts of Lamb Of God and Cerebral Bore to make up what’s missing.”

He continues, “The video might be the most fun we’ve ever had filming and it’s the first one I wasn’t the one covered in fake blood, for once everyone else got to be that guy. It was a blast. Massive thank you to Colin Jeffs for pulling no punches on a really cool concept and QLD police for not being able to find the place.”

Stream / Listen to “EYESTALK ABLATIONS” HERE

Like with the new music, the tour lineup ramps up the intensity; Crown Magnetar will co-headline the run, supported on the whole thing by Face Yourself and on select dates by the likes of I Declare War, Tracheotomy, Backbiter, Squelching and Ameonna (the new band featuring former Chelsea Grin members Alex Koehler, Jake Harmond and Pablo Viveros, making their live debut). For a full list of dates, please see below.

On their upcoming tours, bassist Matt Clarke exclaims:

“These are the heaviest lineups we’ve ever put together, and we can’t wait for these shows across North America and at home in Aus. For North America, all these bands have a different approach but the one thing that brings it all together is intensity! We’re stoked to be teaming up with Crown Magnetar for this run, and having Face Yourself on the package just makes it more crushing. We’re very excited that we get to play with OG Chelsea Grin members back on-stage for the first time in Ameonna, and I Declare Warhopping on for some shows is awesome! Backbiter, Tracheotomy and Squelching will all be bring their own brands of brutality to the tour. No matter what show you’re hitting, you’re in for a treat.”

TO THE GRAVE Live:

Australia w/ No Cure, Algor Mortis, Bloodmouth

Sept 2 – Perth, AU @ Amplifier Bar *
Sept 3 – Adelaide, AU @ Lion Arts Factory *
Sept 4 – Frankston, AU @ Singing Bird
Sept 5 – Melbourne, AU @ Max Watts
Sept 6 – Canberra, AU @ The Baso ^
Sept 10 – Sydney, AU @ Crowbar
Sept 11 – Newcastle, AU @ Hamilton Station
Sept 12 – Brisbane, AU @ The Triffid

* no Bloodmouth
^ no Algor Mortis

North America w/ Crown Magnetar, Face Yourself

Sept 17 – Chicago, IL @ Subterranean *
Sept 18 – Detroit, MI @ Catacombs at The Sanctuary *
Sept 19 – Cleveland, OH @ Mahall’s *
Sept 20 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground *
Sept 22 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace *
Sept 23 – Montreal, QC @ Foufounes Électriques *
Sept 24 – Hartford, CT @ Webster Underground *
Sept 25 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Meadows *
Sept 26 – Harrisburg, PA @ Capital City Music Hall *
Sept 27 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium *
Sept 28 – Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery ^
Sept 30 – Asheville, NC @ Revival ^
Oct 1 – Nashville, TN @ The End ^
Oct 2 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Purgatory) ^
Oct 3 – Jacksonville, FL @ The Albatross ^
Oct 4 – West Palm Beach, FL @ The Banyan Live ^
Oct 6 – Dallas, TX @ Club Dada $
Oct 7 – Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live $
Oct 9 – Mesa, AZ @ Rosetta Room
Oct 10 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex +
Oct 11 – Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post +
Oct 13 – Portland, OR @ The Hawthorne Theatre +
Oct 14 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon +
Oct 16 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell ~
Oct 17 – Denver, CO @ HQ ~

* w/ Backbiter
^ w/ Tracheotomy
$ w/ Squelching
+ w/ I Declare War
~ w/ Ameonna

More Dates TBA!

Militant vegan deathcore crew TO THE GRAVE are one of Australia’s most uncompromising bands, going so far in their convictions to declare ‘Everyone’s a Murderer’ with their 2024 album of the same name.

It’s a proclamation they’ve been making since 2010, albeit less directly, with anti-human slabs like 2023’s ‘Director’s Cuts’ (and the companion EP, ‘Offcuts’) and 2021’s ‘Epilogue,’ itself an expansion of 2019’s ‘Global Warning’ with now-classic ragers added.

And rage they do, with Revolver declaring them “one of the country’s heaviest exports.”They make good on that both back home and the world over, via relentless tours with the likes of Lorna Shore, Thy Art Is Murder, Shadow of Intent, Signs of the Swarm, Carnifex, I Killed the Prom Queen and Oceano.

Through all that globe trotting, the band have earned positive media attention, described in the press as “one of the most intense, enthralling bands the genre can offer” by Distorted Sound.

Aussie tastemakers Wall of Sound take it one step further with a declaration that TO THE GRAVE “are destined for greatness. The future of Australian deathcore is here.”

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Wormholedeath Signs Osaka Modern Metal Band Fireflame

Wormholedeath proudly announces the signing of FireFlame, a five-piece heavy metal band from Japan. The label will release their debut full-length album, Force Against The End, a 15-track record built around twin-lead guitar work and a sound the band describes as “Modern Heavy Metal.”

Hailing from Osaka, FireFlame arrive with a powerful debut full-length built around razor-sharp twin guitars, massive hooks, and relentless energy. Force Against The End features 15 tracks that blend classic heavy metal foundations with the aggression and intensity of modern metalcore, while staying rooted in the band’s core philosophy of “Inner Fire” — the determination to keep moving forward no matter the odds.
The album marks FireFlame’s worldwide debut through Wormholedeath and introduces a band determined to push Japanese metal onto the international stage.

FireFlame’s story began in a university music circle, where guitarists FireRay and Fire. J first connected through a shared passion for heavy music. As the project evolved, bassist Connie Flames and vocalist Mr. Big Fire joined the fold, before drummer Show .G. Flame — a childhood friend of FireRay — completed the line-up in 2022.

Since then, the band has focused on developing what they describe as Modern Heavy Metal: a sound that respects traditional metal while staying open to heavier, more contemporary influences. The dual-guitar work of FireRay and Fire.J sits at the heart of the band, creating a balance between technical precision, melody, and impact.

Outside of recording and performing, FireFlame are also actively involved in supporting their local scene. Together with fellow Osaka artists kitsunevi, they helped launch NWOJHM (New Wave of Japanese Heavy Metal) — an initiative created to reconnect and energise one of Japan’s historic metal communities.

With Force Against The End, FireFlame are introducing themselves to a global audience — and they arrive with something to prove. The album will be available on digital platforms on July 31, 2026.

Lineup:

FireRay (Fire ‘The Shred’ Ray) – Guitar / Leader
Fire. J (Fire ‘The Burning’ J) – Guitar
Mr. Big Fire – Vocals
Connie Flames – Bass
Show. G. Flame – Drums

Official Website: fireflameofficial.com

YouTube: @fireflamech

Instagram: @fireflame_metal

X (Twitter): @FireFlame_metal

Bluesky: @fireflame-metal-jp

Facebook: FireFlame Official

Bandcamp: fireflame-jp.bandcamp.com