German metal band MP have officially signed a record deal with Massacre Records, marking a powerful new chapter in the band’s long-standing career.
Hailing from Southwest Germany, MP built their reputation during the 80s through extensive touring and a series of high-profile appearances, including shows alongside acts such as Samson and Girlschool, as well as television features like “Hard ’n’ Heavy”. Their debut album “Bursting Out” (1986) has since achieved cult status within the traditional metal scene.
Following a discography that includes four studio albums and one live release, MP are now set to return with brand new material in autumn 2026 – their first studio album in over two decades.
Rooted in classic heavy metal traditions, the upcoming release promises ten uncompromising tracks driven by authenticity, raw energy and a no-frills approach – staying true to the band’s original spirit while bringing it into a contemporary context.
The band comment: “We are very proud to be working with Massacre Records and to finally bring new music to life after all these years. This album represents everything MP stand for – honest, powerful metal without compromise.”
With founding member Thomas Zeller at the helm, MP reaffirm their dedication to traditional metal values, delivering a sound that rejects trends and focuses on substance, attitude and pure musical energy.
More details about the upcoming album will be revealed soon.
MP line-up: Thomas Zeller – vocals Jürgen Föry – guitars Rainer Jauch – bass Klaus Sperling – drums
German heavy metal veterans MOB RULES have announced Stories From The Verdant Vale, set for release on August 21 via ROAR – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music. To mark the announcement, the band unveil the first single, “Master Of The Black Crow”, a high-energy track that pulls no punches!
Driven by a striking, Celtic-inspired guitar hook, the song stands out for its uncompromising compactness. In its direct approach and razor-sharp structure, the track recalls the raw energy of Black Sabbath’s classic Paranoid: not a single ounce of excess, no detours: the song gets straight to the point and unleashes its full impact in the shortest possible time.
With Stories From The Verdant Vale, MOB RULES return to the narrative world introduced with their latest album Rise Of The Ruler (2025), which was widely praised and marked a major milestone in the band’s career. The material originates from songs written during the final stages of those sessions, now presented as a special standalone release.
As vocalist Klaus Dirks explains: “During the final stages of completing the album, we discussed possible bonus material for the earbook edition with the label. We were reluctant to use demo versions or similar material. This motivated us to write a few new songs. We were well aware of what we were getting ourselves into, but we also wanted to challenge ourselves a little.”
The songs reveal a slightly more direct and compact approach compared to Rise Of The Ruler, while staying true to the band’s signature blend of melodic power metal, atmosphere and storytelling. Expanding the original concept from a different perspective, the material forms a natural extension of Rise Of The Ruler, while each track also stands strong on its own.
Originally conceived in part as exclusive material, Stories From The Verdant Valenow receives a proper release on vinyl and digital platforms. The record was mixed by Markus Teske, with artwork created by Stan W. Decker.
Coast To Coast (2014 Version, feat. Chity Somapala)
End Of All Days (2014 Version, feat. Amanda Somerville)
Broken
About MOB RULES
Formed in Northern Germany in the early 1990s, MOB RULES have established themselves as a constant force in melodic power metal. Known for their concept-driven albums, strong melodies and atmospheric depth, the band has built a loyal international following over the decades.
With ten studio albums to date, including the critically acclaimed Rise Of The Ruler, MOB RULES have continuously refined their sound while staying true to their roots. Their blend of classic heavy metal influences and modern production has secured them a lasting place within the genre.
MOB RULES is: Klaus Dirks – Vocals Sven Lüdke – Guitar Florian Dyszbalis – Guitar Markus Brinkmann – Bass Jan Christian Halfbrodt – Keys Sebastian Schmidt – Drums
Finnish progressive metal band SUM OF SEVEN are set to release their new concept album, Echoes of the Hypermind, on 15 May 2026 via Inverse Records. The third epic single, ‘Wonder’ is unleashed today and it’s available on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/sumofseven-wonder
Composed, lyrics and arranged by Ari Lempinen, Esa Lempinen, Rasmus Raassina, Miika Erkkilä, Marko Loukamaa, Harri Annala
Mixed & mastered by Tommi Kujala
Single cover by Ari Lempinen
“Wonder is the final chapter of our concept album, the moment where the journey reaches its horizon. Pia Wijerama’s sublime guest vocals open the story in a moment of awe. Musically, it brings together some of the strongest riffs, the most soaring melodies, and the widest atmosphere on the record. It carries the full emotional and musical scope of everything that came before it.
At almost eleven minutes, the song unfolds more like a journey than a traditional single. We chose it anyway because it encapsulates the album’s full scope, the power, the conflict, the questions, and the discoveries that bring the story to its final threshold.
Throughout the story, our empathetic AI has pushed far beyond its original purpose, evolving into something unimaginable to the human mind. After rebuilding itself from nothing and exploring logic, structure, and the contradictions and very fabric of existence, it ultimately arrives at a realization that no equation can calculate or explain.
A moment of pure wonder.“, tells Ari Lempinen
Echoes of the Hypermind Track list:
I Think, I Am
Supreme
Everlasting
Shattered Symmetry part 1
Shattered Symmetry part 2
Regeneration
Eternal Equation
Perpetual Ascencion
Wonder
Composed, lyrics and arranged by Ari Lempinen, Esa Lempinen, Rasmus Raassina, Miika Erkkilä, Marko Loukamaa, Harri Annala
SERPENTHEIR is a Gdańsk-based experimental metal project rooted in symphonic black and melodic death metal. With a versatile discography of 4.5 albums, including the phantasmagorical ‘Hypernature’s Vines’ and the dreaming, ethereal ‘Oneirism’, the project attempts to answer sonic questions like, ‘What happens when you fuse groove metal with symphonic black?‘ and ‘How would a journey from Industrial to the Baroque unfold?‘.
Their compositions are often unstable, feisty, and temperamental. The combination of a drum machine with melodic riffs under massive layers of synths creates an effect of oversaturated, mechanically-conducted extremity.
Serpentheir has undergone a metamorphosis through a mostly solitary decade of geographic shifts and creative defiance. Conceived by Maurizio Pullman (aka Dr. Caligula), the project has meticulously built a 4.5-album discography—from the cold echoes of the 2017 EP ‘Undertones of Yore’ and the grueling “meta” struggle of the ‘Protracting the States Invariant’ era, to the prolific one-year from-sketch-to-release experiment ‘Shadow People’, which has reignited the nearly smoldered out creative process.
Through the phantasmagorical ‘Hypernature’s Vines’ and the dreaming, ethereal ‘Oneirism’, Serpentheir further solidified its boundary-defying identity.
Now based back in Gdańsk, the project has finally shed its one-man skin. The fold has expanded to include a full lineup of dedicated composers, pushing the project’s musical horizons further with the promise to never become complacent and always strive to evolve.
With the 2026 release of ‘Iridescence’ and the band finally hitting the stage, another chapter of mechanically-conducted extremity begins.
Rock and metal icon ROB ZOMBIE has unveiled the music video for his latest single, “The Black Scorpion,” taken from his acclaimed new album, The Great Satan. Bathed in eerie green light, Zombie and his crew rip through the blistering punk-metal track, which clocks in at under two minutes.
Across more than four decades, Zombie has cemented himself as a singular cultural force. Fusing avant-garde aesthetics with monstrous, groove-driven rock, his work has consistently defied convention. With The Great Satan, Zombie extends that legacy, delivering one of the boldest and most fully realized records of his career.
01. F.T.W. 84 02. Tarantula 03. (I’m a) Rock ‘N’ Roller 04. Heathen Days 05. Who Am I 06. Black Rat Coffin 07. Sir Lord Acid Wolfman 08. Punks And Demons 09. The Devilman 10. Out of Sight 11. Revolution Motherfuckers 12. Welcome To The Electric Age 13. The Black Scorpion 14. Unclean Animals 15. Grave Discontent
ROB ZOMBIE (w/MARILYN MANSON) Tour Dates:
8/20 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre^+ 8/21 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre^+ 8/23 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre^+ 8/24 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater^+ 8/26 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center^+ 8/27 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center^+ 8/29 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake^+ 8/30 – Darien Center, NY – Darien Lake Amphitheater^+ 9/01 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre^+ 9/02 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center^+ 9/04 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre^+ 9/05 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre^+ 9/06 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center^+ 9/09 – St. Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater^+ 9/10 – Kansas City, MO – Morton Amphitheater^+ 9/12 – Greenwood Village, CO – Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre^+ 9/14 – West Valley City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre^+ 9/16 – Airway Heights, WA – BECU Live at Northern Quest+ 9/17 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre^+ 9/18 – Ridgefield, WA – Cascades Amphitheater^+ 9/20 – Concord, CA – Toyota Pavilion at Concord^+
^With The Hu +With Orgy
About ROB ZOMBIE:
As a rock icon and filmmaker with a unique vision, Rob Zombie has continuously challenged audiences as he stretches the boundaries of both music and film. He has sold more than fifteen million albums worldwide, and is the only artist to experience unprecedented success in both music and film as the writer/director of nine feature films including “HOUSE OF 1000 CORPSES,” “THE DEVIL’S REJECTS,” “THE MUNSTERS” and the number one smash “HALLOWEEN.”
After five years, Rob Zombie is back with new music as he announces his latest record, THE GREAT SATAN, out on Nuclear Blast in 2026. The new music brings Zombie back to his Hellbilly roots with frenetic cuts such as ‘Punks And Demons,’ ‘Heathen Days,’ ‘(I’m a) Rock ‘N’ Roller’ and ‘Tarantula.’
Rob Zombie has achieved great success in the music industry, first as a member of the multi-platinum band White Zombie and later as a solo artist with even greater results collecting numerous multi-platinum and gold albums along the way including Hellbilly Deluxe, The Sinister Urge and Educated Horses. Rob Zombie’s most recent record, The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy (2021), debuted at #9 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart, making it his 7th consecutive solo album to debut in the top 10.
Swedish gothic doom metal entity, DRACONIAN, reveals their new single, “Misantrophe River”, the second offering cut from their upcoming full-length, In Somnolent Ruin, to be released on May 8, 2026, via Napalm Records. “Misantrophe River” confronts listeners in true DRACONIAN fashion with life’s hardest questions, exploring feelings of alienation when swimming against the stream and the search for direction in unfamiliar territory.
The undisputed leaders of the second wave of gothic doom metal are finally back—and they return in better shape than ever! In Somnolent Ruin promises to be one of the most personal records in DRACONIAN’s discography, revealed through a dreamlike journey across nine tracks and the poetic lyricism of vocalist Anders Jacobsson. The new album also marks the return of long-time vocalist Lisa Johansson—the band’s vocalist for their first five records.
Ander Jacobsson about the new single: “‘Misanthrope River’ was the first song written for this album. The initial idea goes back to the early days of Under a Godless Veil, but it remained dormant until work on this record began. It’s an emotional gothic doom track- fairly minimalist, yet expansive in feel, with subtle touches that hint at post-metal and give the atmosphere a broader sense of depth. There’s a suggestion of something ancient and mysterious running through it. Although interactive, at its core, the song deals with separation and isolation in a world where the larger truth has been kept from you and how those feelings slowly turn into resentment. You’re pushing against the current wading upstream while doubting the way forward. In that struggle you’ll be grasping at straws for any sense of peace while unintentionally shutting out the one closest to you. Shot in the Faroe Islands, the video places its actors within vast, striking landscapes. It was directed by Gaui H., the same director behind ‘Cold Heavens’.”
In Somnolent Ruin captures the essence of a band that no longer needs to prove anything – and yet still does. Active since the mid-1990s and having released their debut album, Where Lovers Mourn, in 2003, DRACONIAN have continuously demonstrated their unmatched ability to craft otherworldly doom melodies and searing heavy instrumentation, complemented by lyrics that read like poetry. Their art cuts deep, compelling listeners to confront their inner demons, wander through the darkest shadows, and even embrace emotional numbness, only to emerge with a sense of inner peace. This album confronts listeners with life’s hardest questions, exploring feelings of alienation and the search for direction in unfamiliar territory.
In Somnolent Ruin Tracklist:
I Welcome Thy Arrow
The Monochrome Blade
Anima (feat. Daniel Änghede)
The Face of God
I Gave You Wings
Asteria Beneath the Tranquil Sea
Cold Heavens
Misanthrope River
Lethe
Six years have passed since the band released In Somnolent Ruin’s predecessor, Under a Godless Veil, DRACONIAN’s most successful record to date. Much has changed since then, yet everything feels familiar: After introducing new guitarist Niklas Nord (Myteri, DeathTrap, The Random Victims) in spring 2022, the band announced the return of vocalist Lisa Johansson, who now once again shares vocal duties with Anders Jacobsson, promising even more enigmatic music to come. Johansson had been the band’s vocalist for their first five records before leaving DRACONIAN in 2011 for personal reasons. In Somnolent Ruin marks her official comeback, following several live performances at festivals over the past years. The band’s renewed lineup is rounded out by Daniel Johansson (Antikult, ex-Wormwood), who joined DRACONIAN as a full member in 2025 following Jerry Torstennson’s departure. Prior to that, Johansson had served as the band’s session drummer since 2019. It’s the first album on which longtime member Daniel Arvidsson can be heard on bass, to which he switched from guitar in 2022.
In Somnolent Ruin’s journey begins with “I Welcome Thy Arrow”, which captivates from the very first seconds through haunting melodies and a vocal interplay that embodies fragility and strength alike. Tracks such as “The Monochrome Blade” and “The Face of God” introduce increased tempo and eruptive vocal dynamics. “Anima” features Swedish artist Daniel Änghede, adding layers of emotional depth and confronting listeners with their darker impulses, capturing the sense of being lost and questioning one’s place in the world. “Asteria Beneath the Tranquil Sea” serves as a transitional interlude between “I Gave You Wings” and “Cold Heavens”, the latter exploring the delicate balance between life and death and not finding relief in any of both, while delivering the album’s most intense vocal performance. “Misanthrope River” opens with an extended instrumental passage and narration by Simon Bibby, slowing the tempo but by no means reducing the emotional weight, reflecting life’s daily struggles and obstacles. The closing track, “Lethe”, references the river of forgetfulness in Greek mythology. Those who drank from it would lose all memory. “Oh, shooting star… Drown in me! Drink. Forget. Repeat.” mourns Jacobsson through devilish growls. And yet, In Somnolent Ruin remains a work of art one wishes not to forget – not a single blink of an eye.
DRACONIAN Live 2026:
Latin America Tour 16.05.26 BR – Sao Paulo / Carioca Club 17.05.26 AR – Buenos Aires / Teatro Flores 19.05.26 CL – Santiago / Sala Metronomo 21.05.26 CO – Bogota / Teatro Astor Plaza 23.05.26 MX – Mexico City / Circo Volador
EU Dates 06.08.26 CZ – Jaromer / Brutal Assault 25.09.26 ES – Madrid / Dark Echoes Fest 26.09.26 PT – Lisbon / Under the Doom
Japan Tour 12.10.26 JP – Tokyo / Shibuya Stream Hall 13.10.26 JP – Osaka / Shinsaibashi Sunhall
DRACONIAN Live 2027:
EU Tour 2027 18.02.27 DE – Hamburg/ Knust 19.02.27 DE – Berlin / Lido 20.02.27 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser 21.02.27 PL – Krakow / Hype Park 23.02.27 PL – Warsaw / Hydrozagadka 24.02.27 AT – Vienna / Szene 25.02.27 CZ – Prague / Futurum Club 26.02.27 DE – Munich / Backstage Halle 27.02.27 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal 28.02.27 IT – Milan / Legend Club 02.03.27 LU – Esch-sur-Alzette / Rockhal 03.03.27 DE – Oberhausen / Kulttempel 04.03.27 NL – Utrecht / Tivoli Vredenburg 05.03.27 BE – Kortrijk / DVG 06.03.27 FR – Paris / La Machine Du Moulin Rouge 07.03.27 UK – London / The Dome
DRACONIAN is: Johan Ericson – Guitar, Vocals, Keys Anders Jacobsson – Vocals Lisa Johansson – Vocals Daniel Arvidsson – Bass Niklas Nord – Guitar Daniel Johansson – Drums
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 