Chicago-based groove metal act REPENTANCE has released “Among The Wolves,” the third single from their upcoming studio album “Retaliate,” set for release on November 27, 2026, via Noble Demon.
Vocalist Adam Gilley about the track: “One of my favorites off the album!This song expresses intense feelings of betrayal, anger, and disillusionment toward someone who has caused deep emotional pain.“
“Among The Wolves” is out now on all major streaming platforms, listen HERE
The release comes during a heartbreaking time for the band following the tragic and unexpected passing of founding member and driving force Shaun Glass on July 1, 2026. Out of respect for their brother, friend, and bandmate, REPENTANCE postponed the release of “Retaliate” from its originally scheduled summer date to late November.
Shaun Glass spent over four decades shaping the Chicago metal scene. In addition to REPENTANCE, he left behind a lasting musical legacy through his work with influential bands including Terminal Death, Sindrome, Broken Hope, SOiL, Dirge Within, and The Bloodline.
Produced by Alex Lackner at Accelerated Sound and mixed by Ari Mihalopoulos at Inner Light Studio, “Retaliate” marks another chapter in the band’s story – one that will now forever serve as a final musical tribute to its founder.
“Retaliate” is available for pre-save at THIS LOCATION.
Tracklist: 01. From Violence To Silence 02. What’s Done Is Done 03. Retaliate 04. Unholy Guardian 05. Fade Into Silence 06. Among The Wolves 07. Annihilate 08. Concrete Coffin 09. Bleeding Out 10. Blood Of The Earth
REPENTANCE are: Adam Gilley – Vocals Shaun Glass – Guitar Eric Burns – Guitar Eric Karol – Bass Brandon White – Drums
Osaka’s modern heavy metal band FireFlame have released the official music video for “The Omen,” taken from their critically acclaimed album Force Against The End, and announce a three-date Japanese album release tour for early 2027.
Built on the melodic backbone of classic heavy metal and driven by the weight of modern metalcore, “The Omen” is carried by the twin-guitar interplay at the heart of FireFlame’s sound.” Lyrically, it is about staying with grief without being swallowed by it. Faith, devotion, and obsession run through the verses, and at the centre is a figure who may or may not be a savior, offered as a spell against the chaos. Midway through, the question turns outward: are we all hypnotized? The song doesn’t answer it. It returns to a demon in the spine and an omen that stays complicated.
The release of the video comes as FireFlame prepare to bring Force Against The End to the stage in Japan. To celebrate the album’s Japanese CD release on October 30, 2026, the band will embark on their official album release tour in early 2027, with three dates across the country.
The tour will kick off at Tokyo’s Antiknock on January 30, followed by Kobe Makeshift on February 6 and Osaka Hokage on February 14. The shows will give fans the opportunity to experience the album live as FireFlame continue to bring their modern heavy metal sound to audiences across Japan.
Force Against The End is available on all digital platforms and in CD format.
FireFlame is a five-piece heavy metal band from Osaka, Japan, formed through a university music circle where guitarists FireRay and Fire.J first met. The lineup was completed on February 27, 2022, with bassist Connie Flames, vocalist Mr Big Fire, and drummer Show .G. Flame.
The band’s “Modern Heavy Metal” sound blends classic heavy metal, metalcore, melodic death metal, and ballads, driven by the twin-guitar interplay of FireRay and Fire.J. Their goal is to bring Japanese metal to a global stage, shaping both their songwriting and live energy.
Beyond music, FireFlame co-founded NWOJHM (New Wave of Japanese Heavy Metal) with kitsunevi to help reconnect and revitalize Osaka’s metal scene.
Fireflame’s debut full-length album, “Force Against The End”, features 15 tracks centered on an aggressive twin-lead guitar attack. Fusing classic heavy metal craftsmanship with modern metalcore intensity, their sound reflects the philosophy of “Inner Fire” — the spirit of refusing to give up
Band 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
The latest edition of the monthly Pest Records Online Compilation features 31 tracks taken exclusively from demos and EPs released during September 2026, all included with the direct permission of the bands themselves.
This month’s selection features:
Acid Fog, Adversaria, Amanuensis, Ancient Malice, antididact, Aovum, Aphotic Paths, Apocryphes, Augurium, Black Jaguara, Blasphegenocidic Sadowar, Born With Worms Inside, Caduceus, Cursed to Occult, Dungeons, Dwayyo, Elda’S RequieM, Gargor, Gathering, Hellebore, Invult, Les Misérables, Lifeswallower, Maorte, Sysi, Tungsind, Vallananastaja, Vargr Nocthyrr, Vordossa, Wintering Grounds, Zvindiyar
From frostbitten Black Metal and devastating Death Metal to crushing Doom, savage Grind and darker experimental territories, Vol. 31 brings together another dose of raw, unfiltered Metal from the farthest corners of the underground.
Available as a digipak CD and on all major digital streaming platforms, with a vinyl edition also planned, the ten-track album marks another chapter in the band’s uncompromising artistic journey, bringing together world-weariness, despair, overwhelming rage and dreamlike melancholy within an ambitious musical and conceptual framework.
ORDER SPHÄRENSCHÄNDER: ECHOES OF AN OLD BELIEF – PART I:
To introduce the album, HEIMDALLS WACHT previously unveiled two singles, both accompanied by official lyric videos.
The first single, “Schwarze Wacht Westfalia”, offered an initial glimpse into the album’s dark and atmospheric world, showcasing the band’s distinctive combination of raw black metal, melancholic melodies and intense musical expression.
The second single, “Runes To Heal – Weapons To Cure”, further explored the musical diversity of the record, reflecting the band’s ability to incorporate elements of folk, doom, progressive and melodic metal into their black metal foundations.
With Sphärenschänder: Echoes Of An Old Belief – Part I, HEIMDALLS WACHT continue to develop a musical identity that defies conventional genre boundaries. While remaining firmly rooted in raw, melancholic and melodic black metal, the album incorporates influences ranging from traditional folk and doom metal to progressive, thrash and death metal, creating a distinctive and emotionally charged atmosphere.
At the heart of the album lies the image of Heimdall awakening from a long and troubled slumber. Cast into a world he no longer recognises, the ragged guardian observes his surroundings with incomprehension, melancholy and fury. His journey becomes a confrontation with the spiritual emptiness of contemporary society and a search for the surviving traces of an older wisdom.
Nature, lost cultures, paganism, cross-cultural spirituality and the conflict between individuality and a modern world dominated by materialism and intellectual conformity remain central to the band’s artistic vision.
The album also reflects HEIMDALLS WACHT‘s neo-Romantic approach, drawing inspiration from German Romanticism, including the philosophy of nature found in Ludwig Tieck’s writings, the darker aspects of human existence explored by E.T.A. Hoffmann and the literary nihilism of Ernst August Friedrich Klingemann.
Rather than merely looking back at the past, the band transforms these influences into an artistic statement that is simultaneously contemporary, anachronistic and timeless.
All concepts, music and lyrics were created by Saruman, with pre-production recordings completed by Teja and Saruman. The album was recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by Mario at Liquid Aether Studio together with Saruman. Guest vocalist Córka appears on “Echo Eines Alten Glaubens”.
TRACKLIST
01 Urgrund 02 Flight Eternal – Der Flug über das Nirgendmeer 03 Schwarze Wacht Westfalia 04 Flames Of Awakening 05 In der Seelenmühle 06 Runes To Heal – Weapons To Cure 07 Widukind – Thema 08 Echo eines alten Glaubens 09 Das Horn – Gebrochen 10 Forlorn
ALBUM LINE-UP Sarolf – Vocals Wiborg – Vocals Saruman – Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Keyboards Teja – Guitar Winterheart – Drums Córka – Guest vocals on “Echo Eines Alten Glaubens”
ABOUT HEIMDALLS WACHT
Throughout their career, German black metal band HEIMDALLS WACHT have developed an artistic identity that resists easy classification. Beginning with raw, melancholic and melodic black metal, they have gradually incorporated influences from folk, doom, progressive, melodic, thrash and death metal, establishing a distinctive sound and attracting a loyal international following.
Their music, lyrics and visual concepts reflect a profound sense of alienation from contemporary society, questioning cultural decline, materialism, conformity and the pursuit of superficial satisfaction.
Considering themselves a neo-Romantic art project, HEIMDALLS WACHT remain committed to their underground principles and maintain a deliberate distance from the mechanisms of modern media culture.
Art for art’s sake – not for attention or success.
STRYPER is proud to share the new lyric video for “Go Tell It On The Mountain,” from last year’s Christmas album, ‘The Greatest Gift of All,’ now available via Frontiers Music Srl. Since the album’s release, it has only been available for physical purchase. Now, for the first time, the single “Go Tell It On The Mountain” will be available for streaming and download.
Speaking about the single, Michael Sweet comments:
“’Go Tell It On The Mountain’ is a traditional hymn that tells the story of the birth of Jesus. Not many people have covered this song, so it seemed like a perfect opportunity to heavy it up and do our own version. Merry Christmas and God Bless you all.”
With ‘The Greatest Gift of All,’ STRYPER answered decades of fan requests crafting a holiday record that blends festive classics, brand-new compositions, and their unmistakable mix of faith, power, and metal energy.
In a move that made the release even more special, ‘The Greatest Gift of All’ is available exclusively in physical formats.
STRYPER’s lineup remains as strong as ever, with founding members Michael Sweet, Robert Sweet, and Oz Fox joined by bassist Perry Richardson. Together, the band continues to deliver at the highest level both in the studio and on stage.
With over 10 million albums sold worldwide, multiple Billboard Top 40 hits, and a legacy spanning four decades, STRYPER continue to inspire generations of fans. ‘The Greatest Gift of All’ marked a powerful new chapter in that legacy, a heartfelt and celebratory album that channels the band’s hard rock fire into the timeless spirit of Christmas.
On the album, Michael Sweet shares: “We have wanted to record a Christmas album for many years. Ever since we released our first single (‘Reason for the Season’) back in 1985, the fans have been asking for a full-length Christmas album. Well, the time has finally come. We wanted to make an album of five traditional songs and five original songs. To put our own spin on our own Christmas album and not follow the pack, so to speak. We could not be more pleased with how it turned out!”
‘The Greatest Gift of All’ Track List: 1. The Greatest Gift Of All 2. Go Tell It On The Mountain 3. Heaven Came (On Christmas Day) 4. Little Drummer Boy 5. Still The Light 6. Silent Night 7. On This Holy Night 8. Joy To The World 9. Reason For The Season 10. Winter Wonderland
Produced by: Michael Sweet
STRYPER are: Michael Sweet – Lead Vocals/Lead & Rhythm Guitar Robert Sweet – Drums & Percussion Oz Fox – Vocals/Lead and Rhythm Guitar Perry Richardson – Vocals/Bass
Washington, D.C. metal veterans DARKEST HOUR have unleashed their latest full-length album, Suffer Divine, marking another milestone in the band’s decades-long career. Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder, Cannibal Corpse) produced the album, which distills everything Darkest Hour loves about heavy music, from force to spirit.
Guitarist Mike Schleibaum says, “‘Suffer Divine is a love letter to melodic death metal. While it stays true to our core sound, it also pushes the sound of our band forward with precision focus. It has so many dense layers; we’re very excited for listeners to get to know it and really dig into it. It’s a guitar-focused record for sure, and you really hear the heightened guitar approach Nico and I have been developing over the past few records. But I also love the lyrics, John’s vocal performance, Deal’s thunderous sound, and the insanity that is Travis Orbin’s drumming. Can’t believe it is finally out, jam it now, and make sure you crank it up loud!”
“Salvation” serves as the record’s focus track and latest music video, highlighting the band’s continued commitment to their signature blend of melodic aggression and hardcore intensity.
Emerging from Washington, D.C.’s underground punk and hardcore scene in the mid-’90s, DARKEST HOUR forged a distinctive identity by combining the raw energy of hardcore with the speed and ferocity of thrash and melodic death metal. Their pioneering approach helped shape modern metalcore and established them as a key force in the New Wave of American Metal.
Over the years, DARKEST HOUR have continued to push forward while retaining the intensity that first defined their music. Their catalog has earned both critical recognition and a dedicated fan base, with Deliver Us (2007), Eternal Return (2009), and Godless Prophets & the Migrant Flora (2017) all appearing on the Billboard charts. The band released its tenth studio album, Perpetual Terminal, in 2024.
That relentless approach remains central to the band’s identity. New Noise Magazine has praised DARKEST HOUR for maneuvering “with an unrivaled level of dedication” as they continue developing their distinctive melodic fusion of heavy metal and hardcore. The publication also noted that, while remaining true to their punk-rock mentality, the band continues to embrace new methods of expression with each album.
For vocalist John Henry, that longevity is rooted in something deeper than simply making music.
“This has been such a constant in my life that I can’t live without,” Henry told New Noise. “Any time we ever felt dragged down, something would happen where we would write a song, or we would do a tour, and it’d be, like, okay, we can’t stop. This is what we know. This is what we love, and we love doing it too much.”
With Suffer Divine, DARKEST HOUR continue their decades-long journey, delivering a new chapter in a career built on intensity, perseverance, and an unwillingness to stand still. “Salvation,” the album’s focus track, offers listeners a point of entry into the band’s latest full-length effort, which continues their commitment to the uncompromising blend of melody, aggression, and hardcore intensity that has defined their sound.
SUFFER DIVINE TRACKLISTING:
1 All Cruelty Springs from Weakness 2 Gods of Decay 3 No Conquered Hearts 4 Salvation 5 Suffer Divine 6 Warrior 7 Vile Angel 8 The Unforgiving Hand 9 Tribalist 10 Everyday Horrors 11 A Story of Redemption
November 10th at No Class in Cleveland, OH November 11th at Hoosier Dome in Indianapolis, IN
Darkest Hour & Fear Factory Tour:
November 12th at The Regency Live in Springfield, MO November 13th at Wave in Wichita, KS November 14th at Oriental Theater in Denver, CO November 15th at Black Sheep in Co. Springs, CO November 17th at Pub Station in Billings, MT November 18th at The Newberry in Great Falls, MT November 20th at El Corazon in Seattle, WA November 21st at The Hawthorne Theatre in Portland, OR November 22nd at Shrine Social Club in Boise, ID November 24th at Strummers in Fresno, CA November 25th at House of Blues in San Diego, CA November 27th at The Glass House in Pomona, CA November 28th at The Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles, CA November 29th at The Whisky A Go Go in Los Angeles, CA
Darkest Hour W Judiciary, & Eternal:
December 1st in Austin TX @ Come And Take It Live December 2nd in Dallas TX @ Trees December 3rd in Lawrence KS @ Bottleneck December 4th in Chicago, IL @ Reggies Rock Club December 5th in Pontiac, MI @ Pike Room December 6th in Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground December 7th in Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace December 8th in Montreal, QC @ Foufounes
Darkest Hour W Judiciary, Nehemiah, Justifications:
December 9th in Albany, NY @ Empire Underground December 10th in Worcester, MA @ The Palladium (Upstairs) December 11th in Brooklyn, NY @ St. Vitus December 12th in Millersville, PA @ Phantom Power December 13th in Washington, DC @ Atlantis
DARKEST HOUR is:
John Henry – vocals Mike Schleibaum – guitar Nico Santora – guitar Aaron Deal – bass Travis Orbin – 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
Acid Fog, 
Adversaria, 
Ancient Malice, 
antididact, 
Aovum, 
Aphotic Paths, 
Black Jaguara, 
Blasphegenocidic Sadowar, 
Born With Worms Inside, 
Caduceus, 
Cursed to Occult, 
Elda’S RequieM, 
Gargor, 
Les Misérables, 
Tungsind, 
Vordossa, 
Zvindiyar
