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SLAUGHTERDAY – New Lyric Video - Fifth Full-Length "Dread Emperor" coming in February 2026 via Testimony Records
 SLAUGHTERDAY have unleashed the next single for their upcoming new album, "Dread Emperor", scheduled for February 13th 2026 via Testimony Records on all formats.
"Dethroned" is streaming here with a lyric video: https://youtu.be/hVj_fXT2fjw
SLAUGHTERDAY comment: "This track is Slaughterday at our most unusual and adventurous – an explosive collision of groove, punk energy, and death metal brutality", axeslinger Jens Finger states. "We explore new musical territory while sticking to our roots by combining heavy grooves and infectious hooks with relentless aggression." Bernd Reiners continues: "Lyrically, 'Dethroned' is a manifesto of rebellion and resistance, a clarion call against tyranny where no gods and no masters hold sway", the growler emphasises. "This song is catchy and ferocious as well as uncompromising, and we see it as a powerful statement of defiance and raw energy."
With "Dread Emperor", SLAUGHTERDAY deliver everything that they excel in, which is also precisely what their fans want from the duo: perfectly executed old school death metal with a wicked twist. From crushing doom-ridden ultra-heavy parts to calculated outbreaks of utter brutality, this record offers everything a still beating death metal heart could ask for. And of course, those cosmic horrors of the Great Old Ones, forbidden sounds, and tentacled death metal are still rising. The German band has also added more deeper meaning to their tales of cosmic terrors as a healthy antidote to stereotypes.
SLAUGHTERDAY present new horrors and more brutal madness than ever that make "Dread Emperor" essential listening for any self-respecting old school death metal afficionado!
The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Jörg Uken at Soundlodge, Rhauderfehn (DE). The cover artwork was crafted by Pär Olofsson.
Tracklist:
01. Enthroned
02. Obliteration Crusade
03. Rapture of Rot
04. Astral Carnage
05. Subconscious Pandemonium
06. Dread Emperor
07. The Forsaken Ones
08. Necrocide
09. Dethroned
10. Golem (Protector cover)
Line-up:
Jens Finger – Guitars, Bass
Bernd Reiners – Vocals, Drums
https://spkr.store/collections/slaughterday +++ https://www.slaughterday.de
KERRIGAN – New 7'' Single "The Ice Witch" via High Roller Records – Lyric Video
 Germany's up-and-coming heavy metallers KERRIGAN will release a new 7'' single, "The Ice Witch", on February 27th 2026 via High Roller Records.
The band was formed in Freiburg in 2019 by Bruno Schotten (guitars, bass) and Jonas Weber (vocals, guitars). The duo recorded a demo tape consisting of original compositions "Intruders", "Force And Will" and "Heavy Metal 2020" plus a cover version of "Rest In Peace" by Wolf (UK). "Heavy Metal 2020" was later released by Fucking Kill Records on tape and vinyl (and later re-issued by High Roller Records).
For their first full-length album "Bloodmoon", KERRIGAN inked a deal with High Roller Records. "Bloodmoon" was recorded with the help of session drummer Jonathan Döring, an old friend of the band, and received very favorable reviews in the metal press when it was released back in 2023. Together with Jakob on bass, Jonathan now is a regular member of KERRIGAN.
Three years after "Bloodmoon", it’s time for more...
As a little taster for the new album, the band has decided to issue a limited edition 7” single. The A-side “The Ice Witch” is one of the catchiest and most striking numbers off the upcoming full-length, whereas the exclusive flipside “You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby”, a breathtaking cover version of a song by The Smiths, marries the iconic 80s vibe with melodic heavy metal.
Check out the lyric video for "The Ice Witch" here: https://youtu.be/z_kdK2W3TxU
Guitarist Bruno Schotten explains: "Jonas and I have a similar taste when it comes to music of the eighties. A lot of our inspiration does not directly come from metal but from other (guitar-driven) music from the same period. Whereas last time around we covered a true NWOBHM classic – ‘Rest In Peace’ by Wolf – we now wanted to re-visit a band we both adore for their songwriting: namely The Smiths. Our interpretation of ‘You Just Haven’t Earned It Yet Baby’ will only be available as the B-Side of the ‘The Ice Witch’ single. We just wanted to do something special."
Pre-orders: https://www.hrrecords.de/KERRIGAN
Recorded, Mixed and mastered by Christoph Brandes at Iguana Studios / Germany. Artwork by Adam Burke.
Line-Up:
Jonas Weber - Vocals, Guitars
Bruno Schotten - Guitars
Jakob Zeblin – Bass
Jonathan Döring - Drums
https://www.hrrecords.de +++ https://www.facebook.com/Kerriganheavymetal
OBSCURITY – New Video Clip – Tenth Album "Ascheregen" out in January 2026 via Trollzorn Records
 German horde OBSCURITY have released another song from their upcoming tenth full-length album "Ascheregen", set for release on January 29th 2026 via Trollzorn Records.
A video clip for the track "Rúnar Víg", featuring Erik Grawsiö of Månegarm on guest vocals, is available here: https://youtu.be/NPMc_FgTBA4
On "Ascheregen" listeners can expect the powerful mix of melodic Death-/Viking Metal in the band’s usual style, but this time with a sharper Black Metal edge. That added bite lets OBSCURITY push to further enhance both melody and intensity.
Produced by Tim Schuldt and OBSCURITY at 4CN Studios. Layout and Cover by Jan Yrlund / Darkgrove Design.
Tracklist:
01. Initium Dekadentiae
02. Flammentaufe
03. Schwur
04. Blutgebet
05. Dreifaltigkeit
06. Ascheregen
07. Ketzerjagd
08. Läuterung
09. Bekehrung
10. Runenwinter
11. Rúnar Víg
12. Dystopie und Schwanengesang
https://www.trollzorn.de +++ https://www.facebook.com/obscuritybergischland
TOTAL ANNIHILATION – New Video Clip - Fourth Album "Mountains of Madness" out in January 2026 via Testimony Records
 TOTAL ANNIHILATION have revealed another song from their new album "Mountains of Madness", coming on January 16th 2026 via Testimony Records.
A video clip for "Beneath The Cross" is available here: https://youtu.be/ETGhMZRG21o
“When we wrote this song, the topic of the lyrics was very important to me. I felt an urgent need to bring this old story back to the table again. It’s about religions selling hope to their clients with the sole intention of manipulating them and filling up the good old gold chambers in the basements of their temples. This one goes out to you, my little Christian do-gooder being – there’s no paradise! In death there’s only darkness – so take care of your own life and stop telling others what’s right or wrong! Fun fact for all the music nerds: The iconic melody in the middle of the song is very old. I wrote this line at the age of twelve or thirteen and searched endlessly for the perfect match to use it. Here it is – and I’m very happy with the outcome”, says guitar player Jürgen Schmid.
TOTAL ANNIHILATION will celebrate the band's 20th anniversary year with the release of their fourth full-length "Mountains of Madness". This album delivers all the Swiss precision and trademark elements their following has come to expect of them but also with more of everything: more tempo and serious speed, more brutality, more power, more thrash, more death but also more harmonies, more melodies, and more musicality!
There are also more tentacles, more jaws, more razor-sharp teeth, more twisted mutation, and definitely more evil! Talking about tentacles, the album title points already towards the famous cosmic horror novella "At the Mountains of Madness" (1936) by American gothic author H. P. Lovecraft, who has been a constant source of inspiration for the metal scene in general and TOTAL ANNIHILATION in particular.
Yet for TOTAL ANNIHILATION all this horror is not just escapism for entertainment but it serves a meaningful purpose. The album is permeated by a deep moral disgust and burning anger towards all the evil and reckless destruction that humanity forces onto itself and all other forms of life on this planet and earth itself. "Mountains of Madness" is conceived as an echo of and a bold manifesto about the state of the world as well as an artistic sign of our time.
"Mountains of Madness" was recorded by Christoph Brandes at Iguana Studios in Freiburg (DE) and mixed & mastered by Ronnie Björnström at Björnström Sound & Production in Sundsvall (SE). The cover artwork was created by Bruno Gonzalez.
Tracklist:
01. The Art of Torture
02. Mountains of Madness
03. Illusion
04. Chokehold
05. Choose the Day
06. Age of Mental Suicide
07. Nyctophobia
08. Beneath the Cross
09. Invisible Conflagration
10. Lost Forever
11. Hate Remains
Line-up:
Daniel Altwegg – Vocals
Nicolas Stelz – Guitars
Jürgen Schmid – Guitars
Michael Lautenschläger – Drums
Niklaus Denger – Bass
Guest apperance: Additional Vocals by Luca Piazzalonga (Vígljós/Gravpel) on "Choose the Day"
https://spkr.store/collections/total-annihilation +++ hhttps://www.facebook.com/Total.Annihilation.thrash
MESSTICATOR – Second Album "Total Mastery" coming in March 2026 via Testimony Records – Video Single Premiere
 Testimony Records proudly announces the sophomore full-length of German death thrashers MESSTICATOR, entitled "Total Mastery", set for release on March 13th 2026.
A music video for the first single "The Tyrant's Scepter" can be checked out here: https://youtu.be/JWmFpGq4ubQ
MESSTICATOR comment: "You can't escape the spell of 'The Tyrant's Scepter' as our first single comes with all the elements that we love: raging speed, razor-sharp riffs, and brutal drumming, which are topped by catchy melodies and hooks", guitarist Marvin Brühl states and vocalist Thomas Thede adds: "We are proud to finally unleash this beast of a song! Creating the music video for this heroic and at the same time dark vision of an ancient tool of power was a great experience."
What if ... there really were an entity, greater than all humans that rules, judges and punishes us all? This would be the very definition of "Total Mastery", which is the title of MESSTICATOR's sophomore album as well as one of the ominous concepts that permeate its lyrics.
Sinister tales are as much a trademark as are fast, hard, and uncompromising songs for the German band from Hamburg. On "Total Mastery", MESSTICATOR are still skilfully balancing on the edge of death and thrash metal, but with more experience comes a general levelling up and more of everything: "Total Mastery" is faster, harder, and even less willing to compromise than its predecessor "Forthcoming Revelation" (2022).
Something dark was brewing in the ancient Hanseatic harbour city of Hamburg in 2019. Three men gathered to create a new death machine that combined the massive fire power of metal's most brutal genre with the whipping aggression of old school thrash. Taking the name MESSTICATOR, they honed their skills until they were ready to fire the opening salvo with their debut album. "Forthcoming Revelation" immediately hit its mark and had a massive impact on the European death metal scene. On the strength of their debut, invitations to prestigious festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Turock Fest as well as other major events followed soon.
The Germans openly revealed their polyamorous musical affairs beyond death metal with the Slayer cover EP "Seasons of the Abryss" in 2023 that underlined their love for classic thrash.
With "Total Mastery", MESSTICATOR confirm their remarkable strength regarding the writing of catchy, deadly tunes but also demonstrate their ability to learn and grow spectacularly fast.
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Timo Höcke at Die Wellenschmiede, Hamburg (DE). Cover artwork by Andreas Christanetoff (Armaada Art).
Tracklist:
1. The Pit Awaits...
2. ...The Pitslayer
3. High Ground
4. One-Shot-Kill
5. Ruins of Reason
6. Bloodsport
7. Mass Human Extinction
8. Skeletal Thorns
9. Deathtouch
10. The Tyrant's Scepter
11. Cougar Claws (Return of the Leathermilf)
Line-up:
Thomas Thede – Vocals
Marvin Brühl – Guitar
Maik Weinhardt – Drums
Thorben "Tobbo" Lohmann – Bass
https://spkr.store/collections/messticator +++ https://www.facebook.com/messticator
LONE WANDERER – New Funeral Doom Album "Exequiae" in January 2026 via High Roller Records – Lyric Video
 LONE WANDERER have announced their new and third overall full-length album, entitled "Exequiae", set for release on January 30th 2026 through High Roller Records.
With "Exequiae" (Latin for “funeral rites”), LONE WANDERER from Freiburg im Breisgau / Germany make a striking statement in the realm of Funeral Doom. The band’s High Roller debut continues the thematic line of its predecessor "The Faustian Winter" – from the end of Faustian culture to inner grief and existential despair. The five songs – including the nearly 25-minute centerpiece "To Rest Eternally" – combine majestic slowness, dense harmonies, and overwhelming heaviness.
"Exequiae" is a funeral mass in slow motion – majestic, despairing, uncompromising – and stands as the band’s most compelling statement to date, treating Funeral Doom as a true art form.
The artwork, in keeping with the quartet’s tradition, is by Romantic painter Ernst Ferdinand Oehme, whose "Procession in the Fog" captures the album’s grave stillness.
A first track, "Existence Nullified", is premiered here with a lyric video: https://youtu.be/lB3DbxKR5hA
Pre-orders: https://www.hrrecords.de/LONE-WANDERER
Tracklist:
1. To Rest Eternally
2. Existence Nullified
3. Life's Lost Vanity
4. Anhedonia
5. Epistemology of the Passed
https://www.hrrecords.de +++ http://www.facebook.com/lonewandererdoom
GREYHAWK – New Album "Warriors of Greyhawk" in February 2026 via Cruz Del Sur Music – Details & Trackstream
 Cruz Del Sur Music proudly announces the third album of Seattle's GREYHAWK, "Warriors of Greyhawk", set for release on February 13th 2026 on all formats.
Get ready for eleven tracks of marvellous Epic Heavy/Power Metal with anthemic AOR tendencies!
"Warriors of Greyhawk" marks the debut of the new singer Anthony Corso, who also took on the role of recording engineer for the entire album at Peppermill Studios.
Founding member Darin Wall states: "This album is a return to the epic metal roots that we had on our debut album 'Keepers of the Flame'. It also features some faster songs where we explore our love for power metal, as well as some of the 80s AOR vibes we had on the last album 'Thunderheart'."
The album's opening track "Ascension" is streaming here: https://greyhawkmetal.bandcamp.com/track/ascension
Cover artwork by Daniel Porta.
Tracklist:
01. Ascension
02. Land Of Ashes
03. Take A Stand
04. Endless Race
05. Warriors Of Greyhawk
06. Words Of Power
07. Chosen
08. Hyperspace
09. Embers Rise
10. Rise Above
11. Eternal Quest
Line-up:
Anthony Corso – Vocals
Jesse Berlin – Lead Guitar
Rob Steinway – Rhythm Guitar
Darin Wall – Bass
Nate Butler – Drums
https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com +++ https://www.facebook.com/greyhawkheavymetal
TEMPLAR – Debut Full-Length Album "Conquering Swords" in February 2026 via Jawbreaker Records – Track Premiere
 Sweden’s heavy metal warriors TEMPLAR return from the forge with their highly awaited debut full-length album, "Conquering Swords" – a triumph of steel, melody, and unyielding spirit.
Coming on February 27th 2026 via Jawbreaker Records, this album sees TEMPLAR fully realize the potential shown on their "Black Knight" demo and "Treacherous Beast" single, striking with the precision and might of seasoned conquerors.
The album's first single "Trident" has been premiered here: https://youtu.be/58kapJ6OB4g
Recorded under the guiding hand of Staffan Tengnér (Century), "Conquering Swords" carries that unmistakable warmth and authenticity that you’ll recognize from the "Treacherous Beast" 7″ as well as Century’s albums. The production balances raw energy with clarity, allowing every soaring guitar harmony and pounding bassline to shine through. The final blade was sharpened by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony, whose mastering lends the album its thunderous and timeless power.
Across its ten tracks, "Conquering Swords" leads listeners through a world of high adventure and medieval grandeur – a realm where valor, betrayal and destiny collide. Dual guitars blaze like clashing steel, while galloping rhythms and anthemic choruses summon visions of distant fortresses and moonlit battlefields. In short, TEMPLAR continue to tend to the flame of true Heavy Metal first ignited by Heavy Load and other golden era bands from the First Wave of Swedish Heavy Metal.
With Isak Neffling’s commanding vocals and thundering bass, Mille Lundström’s relentless drumming, and the dueling guitars of Teddy Edoff and Gustav Harrysson, Templar are raiding the banner of Heavy Metal high – pure, unfiltered heavy metal with heart, honor, and hooks to spare. So raise your swords and heed the call to arms!
Tracklist:
01. Gates of Angmar (Intro)
02. Witchking
03. Excalibur
04. Rainbow’s End
05. Exiled in Fire
06. The Sorceress
07. Trident
08. Shipwreck
09. White Wolf
10. Conquering Swords
https://www.jawbreaker.se +++ https://www.facebook.com/templarsweden
TEMPLE OF DREAD - Digital Single "Verminous Sodomy" out now on Testimony Records
 German deathers TEMPLE OF DREAD deliver an early x-mas present with their new digital 2-track single "Verminous Sodomy" as a tribute to thrash metal masters SODOM.
It contains the new track "Verminous Sodomy" and the SODOM cover "Persecution Mania" with a guitar solo from Frank Blackfire himself!
Available for streaming and download now via Testimony Records: https://youtu.be/PCciai6niBs +++ https://templeofdread.bandcamp.com/album/verminous-sodomy
TEMPLE OF DREAD comment: "Ho ho ho, we have a nice little present for you that is fitting this season's spirit by paying tribute to one of our favourite bands, Sodom!", guitarist Markus Bünnemeyer enthuses. "We are beyond stoked that Frank Blackfire himself contributed a solo to our version of 'Persecution Mania'. The title track, 'Verminous Sodomy', is rather unusual and slow-paced by our standards. It continues the sinister story of what had befallen King Minos of Crete: After his fanatical wife Pasiphae had cursed Minos, snakes, scorpions, and centipedes poured out of his body whenever he approached another woman! How fitting for a new Temple of Dread lyric! The single will be released digitally as a thank you to everyone who has accompanied and supported us along the way!"
Produced, mixed and mastered by Jörg Uken, Soundloge Studios, Rhauderfehn, Germany.
Tracklist:
1. Verminous Sodomy
2. Persecution Mania (Sodom Cover)
Line-up:
Jens Finger – Vocals
Markus Bünnemeyer – Guitars, Bass
Jörg Uken – Drums, Keys
Live:
17 JUL 2026 Magdeburg (DE) R.U.D.E. Open Air
08 AUG 2026 Obermehler (DE) Party.San Metal Open Air
11 SEP 2026 Münster (DE) Sputnik-Halle, Into the Crypts III Festival
17 OCT 2026 Nordhorn (DE) Alte Weberei, Nordhorn Deathfest
https://spkr.store/collections/temple-of-dread +++ https://www.facebook.com/TempleofDread
RAVE IN FIRE – Second Album "Square One" in January 2026 via High Roller Records – Music Video revealed
 Madrid's traditional metallers RAVE IN FIRE have announced their second full-length, "Square One", scheduled for January 30th 2026 through High Roller Records.
A video clip for the album's first single "Still Standing" can be checked out here: https://youtu.be/9UWvMBFBTeU
Musically RAVE IN FIRE have been inspired by veteran Spanish heavy metal bands Barón Rojo and Obús, but also newer homegrown acts like Witchtower, Leather Heart, Steelhorse or Hitten.
Songs like “Dark Poison”, “Knightwalker” or the high-energy “Speed And Rave” roughly sound like Leather Leone-fronted Chastain mixed with early 80s Scorpions and a bit of Dio thrown in for good measure, while the title track “Square One’ is the grand epic of the album, flirting with prog metal.
Pre-orders: https://www.hrrecords.de/RAVE-IN-FIRE
Tracklist:
1. Prologue of a Delirium
2. Dark Poison
3. Crown of Stars
4. Still Standing
5. Untiring Eagles
6. Speed and Rave
7. Knightwalker
8. Witches' Hell
9. Square One
https://www.hrrecords.de +++ https://www.facebook.com/raveinfire
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