Italian death metal act GORGE has officially signed with Time To Kill Records for the release of their forthcoming debut full-length album, marking a decisive step forward for one of the most exciting new names to emerge from the Italian underground.
Formed in 2025, GORGE was born from an idea by Edoardo Nicoloso (Fulci, Jorelia, TV-Crimes) and Roberto Sava (Jorelia), with a clear intent to strip death metal down to its most essential and violent form. The project pays tribute to raw two-piece acts such as Retch, Mortician and Christ Denied, as well as solo assaults in the vein of Putrid Pile, while channeling the spirit of ’90s American death metal.
The band’s approach is rooted in a direct, riff-driven philosophy that draws heavily from the foundational era of Suffocation, Dying Fetus, Gorguts and Malevolent Creation, updated with just the right amount of modern weight without compromising its original identity. GORGE blends death metal with a gritty hardcore sensibility, resulting in a groovy yet ferocious sound that avoids overused slam dynamics in favour of tighter songwriting and internal rhythmic variation. At the centre of everything lies the riff, treated as the primary narrative force across all compositions, supported by a constant attention to structural tension and release.
Further details regarding the album, tracklist and first single will be revealed in the coming months as GORGE prepare to fully introduce their debut statement.
Finally, the time has come, the first look into thrash legends FLOTSAM AND JETSAM’s new album Rats In The Temple, out August 28, 2026 via Napalm Records. The album’s title track is a ghoulish hit packing sweeping guitarmonies, thunderous drums, and exalted frontman Eric A.K. Knutson’s haunting wail. After four trailblazing decades, countless world tours, and 15 groundbreaking studio albums, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM remain refined and revered.
Eric A.K.Knutson says about the track: “We’re super excited to release the first single from the album, which is very fittingly the title track, ‘Rats In The Temple’! This song has a lot to say, and we hope the fans love the song as much as we do. This is possibly one of the most technically challenging songs FLOTSAM has ever recorded, and we look forward to delivering this song live as well!”
Thrash metal icons FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, known for their trailblazing blend of blistering thrash and soaring power metal—established on breakthrough records like the Kerrang! championed classic Doomsday for the Deceiver, (1986), No Place for Disgrace, (1988), and Cuatro, (1992) and refined in their current renaissance with the German chart climbing The End of Chaos, (2019), Blood in the Water, (2021), and I Am the Weapon, (2024)—are back with their newest diamond, and Napalm Records debut, Rats In The Temple, out August 28, 2026. With nearly four decades on the scene, countless world tours, and appearances at prestigious festivals like Wacken, Graspop, Bloodstock, Alcatraz, and Rockhard, they’ve carved their sound down to a fine point, piercing listeners with earth-shattering blast beats, scorching guitars, epic string arrangements, and exalted frontman A.K. Knutson’s unmistakably haunting wail.
Frontman Eric A.K. Knutson about the album: “This record is a BEAST, truly our best effort to date!! Do yourself a favor. Dim the lights, grab a drink, put the headphones on, and crank this up. You will not be sorry you did!!!”
Rats In The Temple opens strong with the stadium-ready hooks and dizzyingly precise performances of “Harvesting The Hate” and “Damnation”, before delving into thrash virtuosity on “Absolution”. The iconic guitar duo of Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley paint vividly ghoulish images on tracks like “Blame The Knife” and “Rats In the Temple”, then continue to flex their metal muscle on “The Ghost Behind My Door” and “First on the Spike”, invoking pure first-wave excellence with a pummeling modern menace. “The Edge of Nowhere” builds inescapable suspense before firing listeners out of a gun, full throttle into “Last Rites”, another standout track for the band. The legendary rhythm duo of drummer Ken Mary and bassist Bill Bodily take center stage on the anti-war anthem “A Taste For War”, their methodical syncopation invoking images of tanks and boots on the ground. “Her Blood Your Pain” brings ornate, medieval guitarmonies before “Anthem For The Broken” goes full balls to the wall, and “Going Down That Way” hits listeners with heavy riffs and even heavier truths. Rats In The Temple remains enthralling throughout, giving listeners entry to numerous of the band’s metal chambers, sampling a refined and eclectic serving of influences.
Churning like magma beneath the Earth, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have only been growing more and more fiery with time, and Rats In The Temple sees the band exploding to the surface in a magnificent and awe-inspiring blaze. For fans new and longstanding, you cannot escape them; they’re through the walls.
Rats In The Temple Tracklist: 1. Harvesting the Hate 2. Damnation 3. Absolution 4. Blame the Knife 5. Rats in the Temple 6. The Ghost behind my Door 7. First on the Spike 8. The Edge of Nowhere 9. Last Rites 10. A Taste for War 11. Her Blood your Pain 12. Anthem for the Broken 13. Not Going down that Way
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM LIVE 2026 28.05.26 DE – Schönenberg / Iron Fest 30.05.26 DE – Essen / Turock 31.05.26 DE – Osnabrück / Bastard Club 03.06.26 BE – Kortrijk / DVG Club 04.06.26 DE – Siegburg / Kubana 05.06.26 NL – Zoetermeet / Boerderij 06.06.26 NL – Leeuwarden / Neushoorn 07.06.26 NL – Maastricht / South of Heaven Festival 28.–30.08.26 DK – Næstved / Næstved Metal Fest 30.09.26 AUS – Brisbane / Crowbar 1.10.26 AUS – Adelaide / Lion Arts 2.10.26 AUS – Melbourne / Max Watt’s 3.10.26 AUS – Sydney / Crowbar 27.–28.11.26 DE – Wangels / Metal Hammer Paradise 11.–12.12.26 NL – Eindhoven / Einhoven Metal Meeting
FLOTSAM AND JETSAM Are: Eric A.K. Knutson – Vocals Michael Gilbert – Guitars Steve Conley – Guitars William Bodily – Bass Ken Mary – Drums
On July 31st, Swedish progressive metalcore outfit Allt will release their new full-length, Ataraxia, via Century Media Records – featuring 9 tracks of “third album energy”, even though it’s only their sophomore record.
For a first preview of Ataraxia, listen to the new single “Snowblind” here; watch the video here:
Allt comments: “With ‘Ataraxia‘, we wanted to write from the place we actually live in, not an ideal version of it. The album is about the search for peace, but also about the parts of you that resist it.
We’ve all experienced moments where you know what would be better for you, butsomething in you pulls in the opposite direction. That tension became a central part of thewriting.”
Around Ataraxia‘s release, Allt will appear at some of the biggest festivals this summer before embarking on a European headlining tour in November/December:
Allt EU festival dates 2026
June 4, 2026 – Mystic Festival (PL) June 6, 2026 – Sweden Rock Festival (SE) June 26, 2026 – Jera On Air (NL) June 28, 2026 – Tuska (FI) July 18, 2026 – Helltown Festival (SE) July 29, 2026 – Rockstadt Extreme Fest (RO) July 31, 2026 – Full Rewind Festival (DE) Aug. 1, 2026 – Wacken Open Air (DE) Aug. 6, 2026 – Brutal Assault (CZ) Aug. 13, 2026 – Reload Festival (DE) Aug. 14, 2026 – Rock The Lakes (CH)
Allt European Tour 2026
w/ special guests Avralize, Bite Down
Nov. 7, 2026 – Nottingham (UK) – The Rescue Rooms Nov. 8, 2026 – London (UK) – The Garage Nov. 10, 2026 – Paris (FR) – La Maroquinerie Nov. 11, 2026 – Saarbrücken (DE) – Garage Nov. 13, 2026 – Stuttgart (DE) – Im Wizemann Club Nov. 14, 2026 – Munich (DE) – Technikum Nov. 15, 2026 – Dornbirn (AT) – Conrad Sohm Nov. 17, 2026 – Vienna (AT) – Szene Wien Nov. 18, 2026 – Budapest (HU) – Dürer Kert Nov. 19, 2026 – Prague (CZ) – Meet Factory Nov. 20, 2026 – Leipzig (DE) – Conne Island Nov. 21, 2026 – Berlin (DE) – Lido Nov. 22, 2026 – Poznań (PL) – 2progi Nov. 24, 2026 – Frankfurt (DE) – Das Bett Nov. 25, 2026 – Münster (DE) – Sputnikhalle Nov. 26, 2026 – Cologne (DE) – Essigfabrik Nov. 28, 2026 – Hanover (DE) – Bei Chez Heinz Nov. 29, 2026 – Hamburg (DE) – Übel & Gefährlich Dec. 1, 2026 – Copenhagen (DK) – Pumpehuset Dec. 2, 2026 – Oslo (NO) – John Dee Dec. 4, 2026 – Helsinki (FI) – On The Rocks Dec. 6, 2026 – Stockholm (SE) – Debaser
DISTANT’s new single and video, “Rat Torture”, is a critical reflection on our daily digital lives. “‘Rat Torture ’ is about a suffocating descend into a world where the illusion of freedom is maintained by the glowing screens and empty validation. The song paints humanity as willing prisoners, rats in a cage they worship. Every scroll is a mechanized ritual where identity is performed instead of lived. While there might be still human beneath the glow, it’s too numb to break free”, says the band.
DISTANT are keeping things busy and their grim, ultra-heavy Deathcore on the road. After already touring Europe with Sylosis they just finished another US run including several shows with In Flames and Thrown.
The band is also due to play multiple festivals this summer:
Jun. 18–21, 26 (BE) Dessel – Graspop Metal Meeting Jun. 24, 26 (CZ) Pilsen – Basinfire Festival Jun. 26–27, 26 (DE) Leipzig – Impericon Festival Jun. 27, 26 (NL) Ysselsteyn – Jera On Air Jul. 4, 26 (ES) Viveiro – Resurrection Fest Oct. 31, 26 (DE) Göppingen – Core Fest
Crimson Glory and BraveWords Records announce a free listening party on Bandcamp to celebrate the new album Chasing The Hydra on June 5th at 1pm EST. Come along to listen to the music with Ben Jackson and Travis Wills from the band and chat with them about the making of the album. Ben and Travis will be sharing stories and answer your questions about Chasing The Hydra.
“It’s been nice,” guitarist Ben Jackson tells BraveWords about the band’s continued success. “People have been very open to the band coming back and everybody’s very happy and enthusiastic about it. I’ve always wanted to keep the band going on a constant; music is in my blood, it’s my life. I want to play in a band that has respect and some notoriety and can get some live gigs. Crimson Glory, we have a legacy, we have a following, and when we bring the band back the doors automatically open. We can play big festivals and put out a record. We don’t want to sit idly by anymore.”
Alongside mainstay founding members Ben, Jeff and Dana, the band announced in 2023 the addition of amazing new vocalist Travis Wills and guitarist Mark Borgmeyer.
Track Listing:
Redden The Sun Chasing The Hydra Broken Together Angel In My Nightmare Indelible Ashes Beyond The Unknown Armor Against Fate Pearls Of Dust Triskaideka
Don’t miss Crimson Glory on the road in 2026:
JUN 12 ES SANTURTZI, Kabiefest JUN 13 NL LEEUWARDEN, Into The Grave Festival JUL 3 – ES CARTAGENA, Rock Imperium Festival JUL 4 – BG SOFIA, Live & Loud JUL 5 – GR VOLOS, Golden R Festival JUL 6 – SE KNISLINGE, Time To Rock JUL 18 – IT CREMONA, Luppolo In Rock AUG 1 – DE WACKEN, Wacken Open Air AUG 2 – GR CHANIA, Chania Rock Festival AUG 5 – DE ESSEN, Turock AUG 7 – BE KORTRIJK, Alcatraz Open Air AUG 8 – DE GEISELWIND, Keep It True Legions SEP 11 – US ATLANTA, GA, Progpower SEP 17 – US MINNEAPOLIS, MN, 7th St Entry SEP 18 – US MADISON, WI, Blades Of Steel
About Crimson Glory:
Crimson Glory, an American heavy metal institution that formed in 1983 in Sarasota, Florida, USA. The classic line-up featured vocalist Midnight, guitarists Jon Drenning and Ben Jackson, bass guitarist Jeff Lords, and drummer Dana Burnell. With this line-up, they rose to international fame in the mid-1980s and were considered one of the pioneers of the American progressive metal movement, alongside bands like Queensrÿche, Dream Theater, Fates Warning, and Watchtower. With 3/5 of the classic line up still intact, and now joined by acclaimed new vocalist Travis Wills, the band have been touring heavily over the past year… making this album one of the most anticipated releases of 2026 within the Heavy Metal Scene!
Solo pagan black metal project SERPENT LORD will be releasing its debut album, ‘The Once Forgotten Ways of Old,’ on May 29, 2026 via Eisenwald Records. The project is now streaming the offering in its entirety ahead of Friday’s release via Black Metal Promotion, which can be found at THIS LOCATION.
SERPENT LORD first slithered into existence in 2003, emerging as a solitary pagan black metal vessel forged by Jake Superchi (UADA, Ceremonial Castings). Though the project’s first true album was recorded in 2005, the work was abruptly shelved and lay dormant for twenty years. Now, in the Year of the Snake, the ancient offering has been reborn and reimagined as ‘The Once Forgotten Ways of Old,’ preserving every note of its primordial conception.
The album was re-recorded in the cold heart of the Pacific Northwest between 2022 and 2025, engineered and mixed by Jake Superchi, and mastered by Arthur Rizk. The release features new artwork and the original logo created by Kris Verwimp, along with photography by Peter Beste.
Originally formed over two decades ago, SERPENT LORD existed largely in the shadows, issuing only a handful of demos before entering an extended period of dormancy. Yet, the creative force behind the project never faded. Ideas, fragments, and compositions endured across the years, shelved for the right moment, only fully taking shape and being realized in the Year of the Snake, when the vision was finally forged into its definitive form.
Early demo material already hinted at what SERPENT LORD would become: a severe balance between melodic grandeur and unrestrained aggression, with transitions between atmosphere and brutality, produced to enhance rather than obscure its intensity.
Founded by Jake Superchi (known for its creative force in UADA and CEREMONIAL CASTINGS), SERPENT LORD channels the spirit of ’90s pagan black metal. The album stands as a triumphant and immersive work – melodic, fierce, and steeped in ritualistic energy. Expansive riffing, evocative passages, and a dynamic interplay between harsh and atmospheric elements, both timeless and fully awakened.
The album was recorded and mixed by Jake Superchi, and mastered by Arthur Rizk, achieving a sound that retains raw edge while delivering clarity and depth. The cover artwork, created by Kris Verwimp, along with photography by Peter Beste, further underscoring the album’s mythical and arcane atmosphere.
With ‘The Once Forgotten Ways of Old,’ SERPENT LORD emerges from decades of silence with a work that fulfills the promise of its early recordings; it’s an album shaped by time, and driven by an uncompromising vision of black metal.
Lineup: Jake Superchi – all instruments & vocals
Mixing & Engineering: Jake Superchi Mastering: Arthur Rizk
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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 ) 