Photo Credit: Freakshot

Since their formation The Hirsch Effekt have carved out a unique niche in heavy music, embracing limitless possibilities. Yet, despite - or perhaps because of - their elusiveness, the band has captivated a devoted audience.

Today, the trio from Hanover, Germany, announced their seventh studio album, Der Brauch, due 30th January 2026, via Long Branch Records. In conjunction with the album news, the band are giving fans a taste of the new work with the release of the title track. 

Watch the visualizer to 'Der Brauch' here: https://youtu.be/J2HpL73RrEg

Stream the new single and pre-order the album here: https://thehirscheffekt.lnk.to/derbrauch

While earlier works, despite their diversity, were still labelled “metal albums,” this new record explores paths first hinted at on the multi-layered second album, Holon : Anamnesis - the same album regarded as one of the best German-language records of all time. Der Brauch can be seen as a return to that pivotal point - and simultaneously as a bold step forward. Drummer Moritz Schmidt doesn’t entirely forgo blast beats, but the record demands a new heading. In the end, though, there is only one truth: it unmistakably sounds like The Hirsch Effekt.

The Hirsch Effekt are:
Nils Wittrock - Guitar, Vocals
Ilja John Lappin - Bass, Vocals
Moritz Schmidt - Drums

For more information:
http://www.thehirscheffekt.de/
https://www.facebook.com/thehirscheffekt
https://www.instagram.com/thehirscheffekt
https://www.youtube.com/thehirscheffekt

Tracklisting:

1 Der Brauch
2 Der Faden
3 Das Seil
4 Brauch Reprise
5 Der Doppelgänger
6 Die Lüge
7 Die Brücke
8 Das Nachsehen
9 Die Heimkehr
---
Vinyl Exclusive - Bonus Tracks
1 Agitation (acoustic)
2 Die Brücke (acoustic)
3 Stegodon (acoustic)

Photo Credit: Rolf Meldgaard

MØL have announced their forthcoming album, DREAMCRUSH, set for release on 30th January 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records. On their third studio record, the Danish alt-metal visionaries push the boundaries of creative expression even further. DREAMCRUSH tempers the band’s sharpest, most jagged edges with soaring alt-rock hooks, while exploring the tension between dreams and reality, the ways aspiration can sustain or overwhelm. By steeping even their most aggressive moments in melody, MØL deliver their most explosive and affecting work to date.

Ahead of the album, MØL have unveiled their first single ‘Garland’, accompanied by a cinematic video directed by longtime collaborator John Bradburn and filmed on location in Denmark. Starring acclaimed actor Kim Sønderholm alongside the band, the video unfolds as a stark and haunting reflection of the album’s central themes. 

Check out the video for ‘Garland’ here: https://youtu.be/Jq94LUIUJws

Listen to 'Garland' here: https://moel.bfan.link/garland

Pre-order and listen to DREAMCRUSH here: https://moel.bfan.link/dreamcrush

Drummer Ken Lund Klejs comments on the new single, "’Garland’ emerges as the first single from DREAMCRUSH. The song represents the broader scope of the album, yet only hints at the full journey, its shape and texture revealing fragments of the evolving sound and lyrical depth that define the record.
 
“With each release, MØL are seeking to weave powerful imagery into both sound and vision, forging a sense of coherence across the singles while expanding the themes of DREAMCRUSH. To bring this vision into focus, MØL once again worked with filmmaker John Bradburn, whose eye and creative spirit we fully trust to illuminate the album’s core ideas.” 

Following on from the critically acclaimed Jord (2019) and Diorama (2021), MØL’s latest opus sees their sound continue to evolve as they embrace new horizons - as a band and as individuals. Drawing on influences including My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins and Smashing Pumpkins the album explores recurring themes of belonging, resilience and finding home within oneself. DREAMCRUSH arrives with a renewed sense of confidence, acceptance and vigour.

Guitarist Nicolai Busse adds: “DREAMCRUSH is an album about our hopes and aspirations being both a source of comfort and dismay. It’s about finding home within yourself and coming to terms with reality when the pillars of our lives are shook. The album is deeply personal to us and inspired by events from our lives that we are certain also resonates with other people." 

Recording took place over several months in Frederik Uglebjerg’s Aarhus studio, allowing the band to shape the album gradually. Vocalist Kim Song Sternkopf explores his baritone register, delivering lyrics in Danish and English that reflect personal introspection and a revisitation of past events. Guitar solos by Nicolai Busse elevate the emotional journey, while abstract, Emil Nolde-inspired artwork by Daniel Owen at Nemesis Design (Sleep Token, Architects, BFMV, TesseracT) and photography by Rolf Meldgaard visually complement the album’s exploration of dreams, reality and emotional reconciliation.

Amid clouds of loss, grief and existential reflection, DREAMCRUSH offers moments of hope, a reminder that the capacity to keep dreaming endures.

Fans can experience the album live as MØL embark on a headline tour across Europe and the UK throughout February 2026 with support from Tayne and Cold Night For Alligators, promising shows that translate the album’s intensity into a visceral, unforgettable performance.

Tickets are available here: https://ffm.live/moeldk-tour

Feb 6 – Berlin, DE – Hole 44
Feb 7 – Prague, CZ – Futurum
Feb 8 – Leipzig, DE – Naummans
Feb 9 – München, DE – Feierwerk
Feb 10 – Wiesbaden, DE – Kesselhaus
Feb 11 – Eindhoven, NL – Effenaar KZ
Feb 12 – London, UK – Underworld
Feb 13 – Manchester, UK – Rebellion 
Feb 14 – Glasgow, UK – Classic Grand Lounge Bar 
Feb 15 – Leeds, UK – Key Club
Feb 16 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute2
Feb17 – Bristol, UK – Exchange
Feb 18 – Paris, FR – Petit Bain
Feb 20 – Koln, DE – Club Volta
Feb 21 – Hamburg, DE – Betty 

MØL are:

Ken Lund Klejs - drums
Holger Rumph Frost - bass
Kim Song Sternkopf - vocals 
Sigurd Kehlet - guitars 
Nicolai Busse - guitars

MØLonline: 
Facebook | Instagram |Linktree|Nuclear Blast  

DREAMCRUSH Tracklisting:

1. DREAM
2. Små Forlis
3. Young
4. Hud
5. Garland 
6. Favour
7. A Former Blueprint
8. ∞
9. Dissonance
10. Mimic
11. CRUSH

Photo Credit: Martin Droste

German metalcore masters Rising Insane return with new single 'Error' featuring Steven Jones from Bleed From Within. The single is a relentless look in the mirror of one's own inner turmoil. A song that transforms self-doubt, inner emptiness and longing for healing into pure energy. While Rising Insane remain true to their post-hardcore and metalcore roots the band has evolved both collectively and individually, which is clearly reflected in their fresh new sound.

Watch the video to 'Error' here: https://youtu.be/QlTQdmL2G1w

Stream the single here: https://risinginsane.lnk.to/error

With over 25 million streams worldwide and top placements on some of the most influential playlists, including Kickass Metal, The Core and All New Metal, Rising Insane have recently created quite a buzz. On the back of the single release, Rising Insane will tour with CALLEJON throughout Europe before closing the year with a sold-out hometown show.

"...plenty of reasons why Rising Insane will continue to be at the forefront of the German hardcore and metalcore scene in the future." MoreCore

"Rising Insane do not need to hide behind their supposedly overpowering competitors from North America." Rock Hard

“passionate and all encompassing” Powerplay

“Utterly superb.” Metal Mance

Rising Insane are:
Aaron Steineker - Vocals
Sven Polizuk - Guitar
Ulf Hedenkamp - Bass
Florian Köchy - Guitar
Robert Kühling - Drums

Rising Insane are:
https://risinginsane.de
https://www.tiktok.com/@rising_insane
https://www.instagram.com/rising_insane
https://www.facebook.com/risinginsaneband

Defocus, one of Germany’s most exciting progressive metalcore acts, return with their crushing new single 'COMA'. Packed with razor-sharp riffs, atmospheric melodies and a chorus that refuses to leave your head, the track showcases the band’s unique ability to capture today’s spirit.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/EUoq687nY3c

Stream the single here: https://arisingempire.com/defocus

Lyrically, 'COMA' dives into the struggle of being consumed by trauma and despair, yearning for cryosleep as an artificial escape from suffering without giving in to death.

For more information:
https://www.instagram.com/defocus.band
https://www.facebook.com/defocus
https://defocusband.com/

German metalcore outfit Annisokay close their Abyss saga with Abyss - The Final Chapter which will be out 21st November. After Pt. I (2023) and Pt. II (2025), this release completes the journey with raw emotion and power. The new single 'Splinters' launches the pre-order, blending heartbreak and defiance.

Watch the video here:  https://youtu.be/18w1W0FPGxE

Pre-order: https://arisingempire.com/annisokay

Annisokay are about to kick off their massive Abyss Pt. II Europe Tour, this Friday 10th October. 

UK dates:

15.01.2026 The Garage, London
16.01.2026 Key Club, Leeds
17.01.2026 Thekla, Bristol
18.01.2026 Rescue Rooms, Nottingham

Canadian progressive metal band Omnivide return with their most ambitious work to date; the stunning new EP Arise, out today, 10th October, via Seek & Strike. To mark the release, the band have unveiled an official animated video for the EP’s title track, available to watch below.

Watch the video for 'Arise' here: https://youtu.be/2f9a2klv7Cw

Order Arise EP here: https://orcd.co/omnividearise

Arise showcases Omnivide at their most confident and creative, blending precision, power and melody in equal measure. The band’s signature technicality meets soaring orchestral arrangements and dynamic songwriting, pushing the boundaries of progressive metal while remaining deeply engaging and accessible. 

Omnivide state: "Our second single, ‘Arise,’ is the concluding track of the EP and it fits that role well, being a longer, more progressive piece. It focuses on the orchestral and melodic sides of our sound while maintaining intensity and technicality throughout. It also features the most clean vocals of any song we’ve done, making it the most emotional track and a fitting conclusion to the record. We chose to feature it as a single because it displays our more progressive and melodic sides, in contrast with ‘Void' that is more brutal and in-your-face."

Watch the video for previous single 'Void' here. 

With Arise, Omnivide elevate the sonic palette laid out in their 2024 debut album A Tale of Fire. That record, self-produced and refined over years, fused progressive, melodic, death and symphonic metal to critical acclaim and launched the band’s rise, featuring an extensive tour across Canada and resulting in nominations for Music NB Awards in 'Breakthrough Artist' and 'Song of the Year' categories. Their signing with Seek & Strike later that year signalled their growing international momentum.

Now with Arise, the group raise the stakes, pushing deeper into progressive and symphonic territory while maintaining the technical edge that has become their signature. Drawing influence from acts such as Between The Buried and Me, Opeth and TesseracT, Omnivide fuse brutality and beauty in equal measure.

The band add: “Arise is a major evolution from our debut album A Tale of Fire. We took the elements we loved most from that first release and cranked them up another level. We really wanted to outdo ourselves on this one and we all felt ready to make something better in a shorter time frame. People can expect more techy riffs, bigger orchestral arrangements, more progressive song structures and more clean singing to complement the harsh vocals. The EP also has a lot of ups and downs in intensity, going from all-out brutal riffs to chilled-out, subdued clean sections throughout each song."

With Arise, Omnivide push themselves further than ever, delivering a thrilling balance of technicality, melody and emotional depth. The EP cements their reputation as one of the most exciting rising forces in modern progressive metal.

For more:
Facebook || Instagram | Spotify

Track-list:

1. Prelude
2. Void
3. Tyrannical Saviour
4. Omnipotent
5. Arise

Photo Credit: Andy Ford

UK prog metal titans TesseracT have today, 9th October, announced their forthcoming live album and concert film. RADAR is the culmination of a fifteen-year journey that has seen TesseracT rise from underground beginnings to one of the most vital forces in modern metal music. Set for release on 5th December via Kscope, RADAR and the accompanying soundtrack RADAR O.S.T. will be available on a variety of video and audio formats including Blu-ray, CD and vinyl LP.

Filmed at Radar Festival 2024 in Manchester, the new concert film captures the band at a peak moment in their career, performing to a sold-out crowd and delivering a performance for the ages.

Watch the trailer here: https://youtu.be/eVncgruq4Oo
Pre-order here: https://tesseractkscope.lnk.to/Radar_OST

RADAR and RADAR O.S.T. will be released on Blu-ray, Blu-ray + 2CD, black vinyl 2LP, Lagoon vinyl 2LP, transparent orange vinyl 2LP and 2CD.

In their own words, “The 90 minutes, or so, on stage, were proceeded by two full years of talks. Wild creative chats about ideas, and an ever increasingly ridiculous level of  ambition from both Joe at Radar, and Mos in TesseracT. Venue changes, schedule changes, album touring, none of these impeded the momentum once the ball was rolling”. The performance soars even higher with the addition of Choir Noir, led by the indomitable Kat Marsh, whose imprint was vital in shaping the vocals on 2023’s landmark War Of Being album.

TesseracT online:

https://www.tesseractband.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/tesseractband
https://www.instagram.com/tesseractband
https://twitter.com/tesseractband
https://open.spotify.com/artist/23ytwhG1pzX6DIVWRWvW1r
https://kscopemusic.com/artists/tesseract

TesseracT are:

Daniel Tompkins (vocals)
Acle Kahney (guitar)
James Monteith (guitar)
Amos Williams (bass) 
Jay Postones (drums)

TesseracT – RADAR
1. Natural Disaster [07:59]
2. Echoes [04:21]
3. Nocturne [06:17]
4. Tourniquet [05:54]
5. Concealing Fate Part One: Acceptance [08:06]
6. The Grey [05:39]
7. Legion [06:26]
8. Tender [04:51]
9. King [07:11]
10. Juno [06:16]
11. Sacrifice [10:22]
12. War Of Being [12:23]

Photo Credit: Justin Reich

Black Label Society have dropped their newest single ‘Broken and Blind’ via MNRK Heavy / Spinefarm Records. This is the band’s third single release, pre-dated by ‘Lord Humungus' (2025) and ‘The Gallows’ (2024), leading up to the much-anticipated new Black Label Society album scheduled for early 2026. ‘Broken and Blind’ is available across all major digital streaming platforms, and the official music video directed by long-time collaborator Justin Reich can be seen on YouTube.

Watch the video for 'Broken and Blind' here: https://youtu.be/OdNhhCWPA7g

Stream and purchase 'Broken and Blind' here: https://blacklabelsociety.ffm.to/brokenandblind
 
“What’s going on gang? This is Zakk Wylde of Black Label Society. This is a new song called 'Broken and Blind'. The song is about peanut butter and chocolate and what happens when you don’t have any of it. My soul is broken and I’m blind with rage if I don’t have any peanut butter and chocolate, so there you go, it’s a new song called 'Broken and Blind'. Thank you, have a great day.”

Black Label Society were founded in Los Angeles, CA., in 1998 by Zakk Wylde, the legendary guitarist, singer, and songwriter. Zakk is also known for performing and writing for Ozzy Osbourne, Zakk Sabbath, and has played guitar in honor of the Abbott brothers in Pantera’s Legacy Celebration tour since 2022. Black Label Society’s debut album, Sonic Brew, was released in 1998 and was followed by the 2005 release of fan-favorite, Mafia and Doom Crew Inc. in 2021. The band have released eleven studio albums, two live albums, and one EP to date, with the twelfth full-length studio album set for release in 2026.

Black Label Society are:
Zakk Wylde – Vocals, Lead Guitar 
John DeServio – Bass, Backing Vocals
Jeff Fabb – Drums
Dario Lorina – Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals

Black Label Society oOnline:
OFFICIAL WEBSITE
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOK
YOUTUBE

Photo Credit: Jennifer McCord

Acclaimed British metalcore band Shields have announced their new album, Death & Connection, to be released 30th January, 2026, via Long Branch Records. 

"Death & Connection is a body of work born from the absence of the people who no longer hold space in our lives", comment Shields. "This record was created from a necessity to express and soothe our deepest losses; however, that was never the intention — we simply set out to make an album we wanted to hear."

In conjunction with today's album announcement, Shields have also released their new single ‘Wolfskin’, featuring Left To Suffer's Taylor Barber, who contributed guest vocals.

Watch the video to 'Wolfskin (ft. Taylor Barber, Left To Suffer)' here:
https://youtu.be/bEFAJHvryR4

Stream 'Wolfskin' and pre-order the album here: 
https://shields.lnk.to/deathconnection

Founded in 2012 by primary songwriters Joe Edwards (vocals) and Samuel Kubrick Finney (guitar/vocals), Shields quickly made an impact in the heavy music scene with their viral single I Just Feel Hate - a track they re-released in a newly reimagined version in April 2025.

Their EP GUILT cemented their refined sound, blending brutal instrumentation with poignant, emotionally driven lyrics. With this release, they demonstrated an aggressive adaptability to the ever-evolving alternative music landscape, winning over fans from across adjacent genres. The momentum of their powerful breakthrough led to tour cycles alongside acts such as Loathe, Ice Nine Kills, and Escape the Fate.

Shields’ debut full-length album Life in Exile (2018) received critical acclaim for its raw honesty and musical maturity. However, the album cycle was tragically cut short by the sudden passing of guitarist George Christie - an event that ultimately led to the band’s untimely and abrupt disbandment.

Now, several years later, Shields are back - a bold decision, given the tragic circumstances surrounding their 2018 split. Yet, Shields re-emerged with the powerful single 'Abuser' (released via Long Branch Records), inviting audiences to witness the next evolution of their sound - matured, refined, and fearless. This new chapter is supported by a fortified lineup, featuring founding members Joe Edwards and Samuel Kubrick Finney, now joined by Alastair Wain (drums) and Krishan Pujara (bass).

If Shields’ discography is any indication of what lies ahead, audiences can expect a torrent of unrelentingly bold strides into new sonic territories.

Shields are:

Joe Edwards - Vocals
Samuel Kubrick Finney - Guitar, Vocals
Alastair Wain - Drums
Krishan Pujara - Bass

For more:
https://www.tiktok.com/@shieldsuk
https://www.instagram.com/shieldsuk
https://www.facebook.com/Shieldsuk

Tracklisting:

1 This Is Not A Dream
2 Abuser
3 Kill
4 Parasites
5 Lacerate (ft. Harvey Freeman from Graphic Nature)
6 Womb
7 Brother's Lament
8 Red & Green
9 Wolfskin (ft. Taylor Barber from Left To Suffer)
10 Loser
11 Death & Connection (ft. Jonathan Finney)
12 Miss Me