Steve Vai issued: Hey folks, I’m very excited to announce that Joe & I will be touring together again in 2026! And this time we’re bringing Animals As Leaders.
April 1 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theatre April 2 – Portland, OR – Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall April 4 – Oakland, CA – Fox Theater April 5 – Reno, NV – Grand Sierra Resort and Casino April 7 – Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Terrace Theater April 8 – San Diego, CA – Cal Coast Credit Union Open Air Theatre April 10 – Mesa, AZ – Mesa Amphitheatre April 11 – Las Vegas, NV – The Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas April 14 – Denver, CO – Mission Ballroom April 16 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall April 17 – Dallas, TX – Music Hall at Fair Park April 18 – Austin, TX – ACL Live at the Moody Theater April 20 – Mobile, AL – Saenger Theatre April 22 – Pompano Beach, FL – Pompano Beach Amphitheater April 24 – Clearwater, FL – Baycare Sound April 25 – St. Augustine, FL – St. Augustine Amphitheatre April 26 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live April 27 – Atlanta, GA – Atlanta Symphony Hall April 29 – Charlotte, NC – Ovens Auditorium April 30 – Durham, NC – DPAC May 2 – Minneapolis, MN – State Theatre May 3 – Chicago, IL – Chicago Theatre May 5 – Milwaukee, WI – The Riverside Theater May 7 – Nashville, TN – Ryman Auditorium May 8 – Cincinnati, OH – PNC Pavillion at Riverbend Music Center May 9 – Indianapolis, IN – Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park May 10 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory May 12 – Buffalo, NY – Kleinhans Music Hall May 13 – Toronto, Ont – Meridian Hall May 15 – Northfield, OH – MGM Northfield Park May 16 – Rochester Hills, MI – Meadow Brook Amphitheatre May 17 – Syracuse, NY – Landmark Theatre May 20 – Boston, MA – Leader Bank Pavilion May 21 – Albany, NY – Palace Theatre May 22 – Waterbury, CT – Palace Theater May 23 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome May 27 – Reading, PA – Santander Performing Arts Center May 28 – New York, NY – Beacon Theatre May 29 – Atlantic City, NJ – Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa May 30 – Vienna, VA – Wolf Trap
The SatchVai Band summer Euro tour of 2025 far exceeded anything I could have imagined. Joe and I struck pure jammin’ gold night after night. Being in the same band with Joe, playing songs we actually wrote together on stage, in real time felt like watching a childhood fantasy step out of my teenage brain and stroll onto the stage. And somehow, it was even more rewarding, satisfying, and downright fulfilling than I ever thought possible.
Maltese death metallers BOUND TO PREVAIL return with new single “Tomb of The Graveless”, which serves as the second preview of their debut full-length album, “Enthroned in Torment”, set for release on January 7th, 2026 via Lethal Scissor Records.
The song highlights the band’s ability to combine tight, punishing riffs with fluid song structures, while the interplay of drums, bass, and guitars creates a commanding and intense atmosphere.
The record is a powerful rediscovery and reinterpretation of the early 2000s death metal vein, blending old-school brutality with a modern edge. Drawing on the technical ferocity of old masters like Suffocation and Monstrosity, as well as the more extreme, yet precise, pummeling approaches of Beheaded, Hour of Penance and Inveracity, the album delivers tracks that are simultaneously tense, technical and fluid, giving every riff room to breathe and strike with maximum impact.
“Enthroned in Torment” fuses the relentless aggression of classic death metal with contemporary clarity and production, creating a sound that honors the past while feeling undeniably current. Crushing drumming, thunderous bass, and razor-sharp guitars intertwine with menacing vocals to forge an unrelenting wall of sound. The album explores the morbid tension between malevolence and benevolence, set in a chaotic realm shaped by false beliefs and deceitful ambitions.
With this debut, BOUND TO PREVAIL stake their claim in European death metal, offering a masterful balance of old-school intensity and modern precision that will captivate fans of both eras.
The first single “Consecrated Perdition” is available HERE.
Tracklist:
01. The Nevergod 02. Into the Depths 03. Defier of Empires 04. Consecrated Perdition 05. Atone in Blasphemy 06. Dawn of Emptiness 07. Tomb of the Graveless 08. Enthroned in Torment
BOUND TO PREVAIL’s brand of death metal is influenced by a wide variety of extreme music subgenres, with each band member bringing their own distinct influences to the songwriting process. BOUND TO PREVAIL’s core sound fuses aggressive, frantic, pounding rhythmic passages with instantly recognizable melodic overtones.
Founded in the fall of 2014, the Maltese band hit the ground running and quickly set their sights on staking a claim on the local underground metal scene. Their well-received debut live performance at the Malta Xtreme Metal Assault Festival in the summer of 2016 was quickly followed by a number of shows, including supporting slots for renowned international acts such as Fleshgod Apocalypse, Vader, Entombed A.D., and Mayhem.
In 2017, BOUND TO PREVAIL entered XiR Studio to record their first official EP, “Omen of Iniquity”, before traveling to Sweden to have it mixed and mastered by renowned producer and engineer Ronnie Björnström at Enhanced Audio Productions, known for his work with Aeon and Beheaded. The five tracks on “Omen of Iniquity” perfectly showcase the band’s trademark sound.
BOUND TO PREVAIL performed at the Deathfeast Open Air 10th Anniversary Edition in Andernach, Germany, earning praise for both the EP and their performance alongside legendary acts such as Suffocation, Cryptopsy, and Vital Remains. Further shows that winter included supporting Dutch death metal legends Sinister.
In March 2018, the band joined the Blood Stained Earth Tour, supporting Venom Inc., Suffocation, Nervosa, and Aeternam in Manchester, UK. In May, they performed at the first edition of SinFest alongside Hecate Enthroned, Carach Angren, and Necronomicon. Later that summer, they headlined Malta’s Farsons Beer Festival Rock Stage, becoming the first death metal band to play one of the island’s largest music festivals.
In 2019, BOUND TO PREVAIL represented Malta at the first World Metal Congress in London, an international gathering endorsed by Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath) and featuring speakers and musicians including Barney Greenway (Napalm Death), Kim Kelly (Noisey), Tim Hömann (Wacken Open Air), and Dom Lawson (Metal Hammer). The year concluded with support dates for Suffocation, Belphegor, God Dethroned, and Nordjevel on the Europe Under Black Death Fire tour, as well as performances at the Antitrend and Enter The Eternal Fire festivals in the Czech Republic.
The band performed at the 2022 Obscene Extreme, MetalDays, and Deathfeast Open Air festivals, and at the 2023 editions of Farsons Beer Festival and Malta Death Fest. BOUND TO PREVAIL continue to work on securing additional local and European shows.
In 2024, the band entered SpineSplitter Studio to record, mix, and master their latest album, “Enthroned in Torment”, to be released via Lethal Scissor Records.
Album line-up:
Keith Fenech – guitars Kevin Mifsud – bass Alan Briffa – vocals Jean Vella – guitars Mark Farrugia Sant’Angelo – drums
Current band line-up:
Keith Fenech – guitars Kevin Mifsud – bass Alan Briffa – vocals Mark Farrugia Sant’Angelo – drums
Richmond, Virginia’s metal-punk trio, BAT, is thrilled to announce a spring U.S. tour alongside Canadian progressive sci-fi metal pioneers, VOIVOD. The eight-date trek begins in at Hell’s Heroes VIII in Houston on March 20th and concludes in Tulsa on March 27th. Fans can join BAT for an official afterparty immediately following the final show at 2 Minutes To Tulsa at The Whittier Bar.
Tickets for the tour go on sale this Friday, December 12th at 1pm local time via the below links.
Symphonic metal titans EPICA proudly release their explosive new single ‘Avatar – The Final Incarnation – ‘, a track that deals with the final incarnation (Avatar) to rid the world of unrighteousness and restore truth and purity. The single is accompanied by a stunning visualizer featuring artwork taken directly from the band’s forthcoming EPICA Oracle Card Set, launching worldwide on January 7th.
Mark Jansen shares insight into the inspiration behind the track:
“In Hindu philosophy, Kalki represents the final avatar who restores balance at the end of the age. That idea of breaking free from cycles—through self-realization, detachment from desires, and inner transformation—resonates deeply with me. ‘Avatar’ channels that journey toward liberation, something both powerful and universal.”
Simone Simons adds:
“We absolutely can’t wait to kick off the European tour. Sharing the stage with our incredible fans night after night is the heartbeat of what we do, and this new song will definitely warm you up for the journey we’re about to take together.”
From January till March, EPICA will embark on ‘The Arcane Dimensions‘ European Tour with Amaranthe and Charlotte Wessels’ The Obsession, that brings three of the genre’s most dynamic forces together for an unforgettable live experience. See the full list of dates below and grab your tickets now!
But more is more: On January 7th, the band will release the ‘Aspiral Oracle‘, a beautifully crafted deluxe boxset containing a 12 card oracle deck (one card per song title and one extra artist card called ‘The Map’), a handbook with an in-depth rulesheet and a stunning incense holder, all designed and sculpted by Hedi Xandt who previously created the artwork for Aspiral. This boxset is a true must have that will give you deeper insights into the meaning of all the Aspiral songs, but can also serve as a tool that can give you guidance in your personal journey.
Brutal death metal rising stars STABBING are now unleashing the pummeling title track from their upcoming sophomore album, ‘Eon Of Obscenity.’ The furious aural attack can now be found along with a music video at THIS LOCATION.
STABBING comments, “The lyrics in ‘Eon’ are mainly about the idea that someone with homicidal tendencies could hide it for years, and then one day just snap, and nobody in their life would ever see it coming. Like they decide to embrace their sickness and completely lose all morality.”
STABBING does not merely define the term “Brutal Death Metal,” they exceed it. The Houston Texas newcomers have plundered the crypts of claustrophobia and darkness, only to surface with ‘Eon of Obscenity,’ STABBING’s Century Media debut and a benchmark for modern death metal.
‘Eon of Obscenity’ is due on January 30, 2026 via Century Media Records and can now be pre-ordered HERE.
The album artwork was created by Rudi Yanto and can be found below along with the tracklisting!
Tracklisting + Running Times:
1 – Rotting Eternal (01:24) 2 – Inhuman Torture Chamber (02:58) [WATCH] 3 – Masticate the Subdued (02:41) 4 – Eon of Obscenity (02:10) [WATCH] 5 – Reborn to Kill Once More (03:16) 6 – Ruminations (01:34) 7 – Nauseating Composition (Feat. Ricky Myers) (03:09) 8 – Their Melted Remains (04:04) 9 – Sonoluminescent Hemoglobinopathy (01:52) 10 – Symphony of Absurdity (04:12) 11 – Sinking Into Catatonic Reality (03:33)
STABBING does not merely define the term, “Brutal Death Metal” – they exceed it. The Houston Texas foursome has plundered the crypts of claustrophobia and darkness, only to surface with Eon of Obscenity, STABBING’s Century Media debut and a benchmark for modern death metal. “It’s just more extreme,” says vocalist Bridget Lynch, when asked to define the band’s infernal sub-genre, Brutal Death Metal (AKA B.D.M.). “It’s everything that’s extreme about death metal, just taken a little bit further. The vocals. The drums. The riffs. It’s just faster and more boundary-pushing.”
When STABBING came together in 2021, the goals were simple. “We were really just having fun and wanted to emulate the style of the bands we really liked,” says Lynch. “Old school 90’s and early 2000’s brutal death metal bands like. Disgorge, Deeds of Flesh, stuff like that.” Coming from local bands and projects including guitarist Marvin Ruiz’s Nephilim Grinder and Dysmetria with Lynch dabbling in area grindcore outfits, from their first demo and 2021’s Ravenous Psychotic Onslaught EP, it was clear that STABBING was immediately pushing boundaries. On the road they distinguished themselves, giving tour mates including Defeated Sanity more than a run for their money. Not only was STABBING a bloody, clear-cut step above most, they wrapped it all in songs and blistering live performances that were as memorable as they were bellicose and brutal.
STABBING’s reckoning moment came in November 2023, as first band on for the “Ancient Unholy Rising Tour” with co-headliners Incantation and band favorites, Suffocation. Not only had STABBING’s lineup begun to solidify with then newly joined bassist Matt Day, but when Suffocation vocalist Ricky Meyers had fallen ill and had to miss a string of shows, it was Lynch who stepped in to save the day. STABBING’s vocalist simply took the stage with the New York death metal legends and gave the absent Meyers a run for his guttural money. “That was one of the coolest things I’ve ever gotten to do,” states Bridget. “Suffocation was one of the first death metal bands I ever got into as a fan, so jumping onstage and blasting through maybe six songs was a crazy moment. I was terrified when they asked!”
It was also on that tour that the band also caught the ear of Century Media Records who inked the band several months later. With a string of shows in 2023 and 2024 including landmark appearances at the celebrated Maryland Deathfest and Milwaukee Metalfest, as well as a U.S. tour with 200 Stab Wounds, Ruiz (who also plays with Texas Brutal Death Metal, OG’s Devourment) started putting together riffs that would serve as the foundation of Eon of Obscenity. Compared to Stabbing’s more primal origins, Eon of Obscenity. is a clearcut next step that elevates not only the band, but the genre itself. From the outset of opener, “Rotting Eternal” straight into “Inhuman Torture Chamber”, which showcases Lynch’s inhuman vocal prowess and ability to shift gears from the guttural to something chittering that barely registers as human, STABBING have taken their brutal arts to new heights. Even the album’s instrumental inclusion, “Ruminations” shows an unexpected technicality as riffs and time-signatures coalesce in unexpected ways.
Recorded at Houston’s Southwing Audio by engineer Ben Gott with Chris Kritikos mixing and mastering, the production of Eon of Obscenity is as strident as the music itself. It’s eleven tracks that are as raw as they are extreme. “It feels more refined,” says the vocalist. “The album shows the potential of what the band started as. It’s not overly produced. There’s not a lot of effects or over-editing. We wanted to keep the raw sound that the classic bands had. We wanted to go for that, for something very honest and very us.” The album title itself also ties into Eon of Obscenity being not merely a second album from STABBING but a massive step forward.
“It’s representative of this being a new era for the band,” Lynch states. “An improvement of the STABBING sound and us as musicians. On the last album [2022’s Extirpated Mortal Process], I wasn’t really happy with what I did vocally,” she admits, “And I really wanted to really improve. One of my favorite songs on the album is called ‘Reborn to Kill Once More’, which sums up how good and how strong we feel about the band and the album now.”
Being one of the rare female voices in modern death metal isn’t lost on Bridget. She’s quick to admit that she approaches lyrics and delivery in a way that differs from most. “When I was in high school, first getting into brutal death metal, I discovered the band, Cerebral Bore” she recounts. “When I saw that they had a female singer, I was like, ‘What the hell?’ I was like, I have to be that! I had to emulate her. I was so inspired. My hope is that when people, particularly younger girls hear STABBING for the first time, we have that same effect on them.
“It’s pretty obvious that metal, in general, has been pretty male dominated,” Lynch states. “I won’t really entertain the misogyny of brutal death metal in what we do, for obvious reasons. I try to turn it around. One of our older songs is about the first female serial killer I ever read about, Aileen Wournos. If you look at other female-led death metal bands like Castrator or Emasculator, they also try to turn the tables and present things from a different perspective.”
With Eon of Obscenity, the Texas four-piece have delivered on everything their earlier releases and live shows have hinted at. B.D.M. has an unmistakably brutal new voice and it is STABBING. “I never expected it, there is a new wave of slam bands and brutal death metal bands,” says Bridget. “But I never thought people would think of us as an important band to that or any other scene! We have younger bands come up to us all the time and say, ‘Your first demo really inspired us,’ and that blows my mind. I never thought my brutal death metal band would have that kind of impact.”
Line-Up: Matt Day – Bass Guitar Aron Hetsko – Drums Bridget Lynch – Lead Vocalist Marvin Ruiz – Guitar
Special Guests: Guest vocals by Ricky Myers (SUFFOCATION) on “Nauseating Composition”
Cover Artist: Rudi Yanto
Credits: Recorded at Houston’s Southwing Audio by engineer Ben Gott Mixed and mastered by Chris Kritikos
Back in 1980, Twisted Sister were still a few years from superstardom. They’d already been around since 1972, growing out of a band called Silver Star, who styled themselves as New Jersey’s New York Dolls. A year later, though, they changed their name and shifted their direction as well.
Constantly gigging, forever sharpening their sound, and undergoing a veritable plethora of line-up changes, Twisted Sister as we know them best would not emerge until 1982. But already they’d made appearances on major label comps, and they’d recorded, too, the first couple of live shows featured on 2016’s so-aptly titled box set Rock ‘N’ Roll Saviors – The Early Years.
Now the most ferocious of those performances, from West Islip NY in1980, makes its stand-alone debut as Hammerheads – and what a show it is. Opening with a positively roof-raising rampage through “What You Don’t Know (Sure Can Hurt You),” the 12 song concert sees these legends of crazed, cross-dressing hard rock mayhem absolutely slaying on stage, with – among so many more – future smash “Rock’n’Roll Saviors,” a fiery “Johnny B Goode,” and one of the all-time great “Born To Be Wild”s.
It’s a devastating concert – the sound of a band that, still awaiting their first major break, have already put all the pieces in place. Now all they need do is wait for the world to catch up with them.
Which, of course, it would. Around 18 months later, two of the songs featured here, “What You Don’t Know” and “Under The Blade”, would feature on the band’s first ever release, the UK-only Ruff Cuts EP, and hit #2 on the UK metal charts. Others – “Bad Boys (Of Rock’N’Roll)” and “Destroyer” – would make it onto their debut album, Under The Blade; one more, “I’ll Never Grow Up,” would be added to the album when the band was picked by Atlantic Records.
All adding up, then, to one of the most explosive live shows of the era, and now one of the most dynamic discs you’ll have heard in years. And, for vinyl lovers, this is Hammerheads’ first ever appearance in that format. Make sure you listen on maximum volume.
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 