BLIND ILLUSION Announces “STAGE FLIGHT: Live At The UC Theatre” Featuring Original Vocalist David White - @thebeast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BLIND ILLUSION Announces “STAGE FLIGHT: Live At The UC Theatre” Featuring Original Vocalist David White

Progressive Thrash Metal Pioneers Capture Historic 2025 Performance for New Live Album Due October 16, 2026


BERKELEY, CA — Progressive thrash metal pioneers Blind Illusion are set to unleash their new live album, STAGE FLIGHT: Live At The UC Theatre , on October 16, 2026 through Hectic Records / Bleeding Priest Records . The release captures a historic 2025 performance featuring original Blind Illusion vocalist David White , recorded at the UC Theatre in Berkeley, California, during a special celebration of Exodus’ 40th anniversary of Bonded by Blood .

For fans of Coroner, Watchtower, and Exodus , STAGE FLIGHT: Live At The UC Theatre showcases Blind Illusion at full power, bringing the band’s progressive approach to thrash metal to the stage in a performance that connects the group’s legendary past with its continuing evolution.

Originally established in 1978 , Blind Illusion has spent nearly five decades carving out its own distinctive place within the underground metal landscape. Led by mastermind Mark Biedermann on lead guitar and vocals, the band’s current lineup features Phil Cosentini on drums, Avery Thurman on bass, and Martin Lacour on lead guitar.

The new live album also serves as another chapter in the remarkable history of Blind Illusion and its landmark debut, The Sane Asylum . Originally released in 1988, the album has gone on to become regarded as a classic of progressive thrash metal. The record featured Biedermann alongside guitarist Larry Lalonde , bassist Les Claypool , and drummer Mike Miner , delivering now-classic tracks including “Vengeance Is Mine,” “Death Noise,” “Kamikaze,” “Smash The Crystal,” and “Blood Shower.”

Biedermann’s musical history extends well beyond Blind Illusion. In 1987, while working with legendary producer Sandy Pearlman , he contributed rhythm guitar and guitar leads to four songs for Blue Öyster Cult’s Imaginos , working alongside musicians including Joe Satriani and Robbie Krieger of The Doors .

Blind Illusion continued to evolve throughout the following decades. The band returned in 2010 with Demon Master , shifting toward a more traditional heavy metal sound. In 2014, bassist Harald Oimoen of D.R.I. joined forces with Biedermann and helped inspire a return to the progressive thrash metal style that defined The Sane Asylum .

Further lineup changes followed, including a 2017 incarnation featuring Doug Piercy of Heathen and Anvil Chorus on lead guitar. The band released the 2018 EP and toured Europe. In 2020, legendary Death Angel drummer Andy Galeon joined Blind Illusion, contributing to the band's Wrath of the Gods album, released in 2022, followed by additional European touring and festival appearances.

In 2024, Blind Illusion introduced its current lineup and returned to the live stage. Then, in 2025, the band reunited with original vocalist David White , performing alongside Exodus, Death Angel, and Nukem at the UC Theatre in Berkeley on Paul Baloff’s birthday as part of the celebration surrounding Exodus’ 40th anniversary of Bonded by Blood .

That performance became the foundation for STAGE FLIGHT: Live At The UC Theatre .

The story didn't stop there. Blind Illusion later appeared at the Frost and Fire V Festival in Ventura, California, where the band performed The Sane Asylum in its entirety for the first time in its history, giving longtime fans the opportunity to hear the influential album performed live as a complete work.

With STAGE FLIGHT: Live At The UC Theatre , Blind Illusion once again proves that nearly five decades into its existence, the band remains a vital force in progressive thrash metal. The release captures a significant moment in the band's history while celebrating the music, musicians, and underground metal spirit that have kept Blind Illusion moving forward since 1978.

STAGE FLIGHT: Live At The UC Theatre will be released October 16, 2026 as a 12-inch vinyl LP , pressed at 33 RPM , through Hectic Records / Bleeding Priest Records .

Release Information


Artist: Blind Illusion
Title: STAGE FLIGHT: Live At The UC Theatre
Release Type: Live Album
Genre: Progressive Thrash Metal
Release Date: October 16, 2026
Label: Hectic Records / Bleeding Priest Records
Catalog Number: Hectic 009
Format: 12" Vinyl LP
RPM: 33
UPC: 810213561508

Current Lineup


Mark Biedermann – Lead Guitar / Vocals
Martin Lacour – Lead Guitar
Avery Thurman – Bass
Phil Cosentini – Drums

Blind Illusion
Established 1978
Progressive Thrash Metal

For Fans Of: Coroner, Watchtower, Exodus, Heathen 



Connect: 


https://blindillusion.bandcamp.com/album/stage-flight-live-at-the-uc-theatre />
https://www.instagram.com/blindillusionofficial />
https://www.facebook.com/officialblindillusion />
https://ffm.to/bclink1 />
https://www.hectic.com/product/blind-illusion-live />
Contact:

David Hecht
Hectic Records
david@hectic.com


https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/29362/blind-illusion-announces-stage-flight-live-at-the-uc-theatre-featuring-original-vocalist-david-white?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

PLUSMINUSZERO RELEASES UPTEMPO NEW SINGLE “RUNNER’S HIGH” VIA DOWNFALL RECORDS - @thebeast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PLUSMINUSZERO RELEASES UPTEMPO NEW SINGLE “RUNNER’S HIGH” VIA DOWNFALL RECORDS

Finnish Hard Rock / Metal Outfit Continues Its First Run of Releases Ahead of Upcoming Album


HELSINKI, FINLAND | AUGUST 31, 2026 Finnish hard rock and metal band Plusminuszero have released their new single “Runner’s High,” available digitally now via Downfall Records . Released on August 28, 2026, the track is the third single from the band’s upcoming album , with further details surrounding the full-length still to be announced.

“Runner’s High” delivers an uptempo, melodic blend of hard rock and metal , showcasing the band’s ability to combine driving energy with strong melodies and a classic heavy-rock foundation. The new single continues the momentum established by Plusminuszero’s first releases since the band formed in Helsinki in 2025.

While the name Plusminuszero may be new, the musicians behind the band are far from strangers to one another or to the Finnish heavy music scene.

The members have a history that stretches back to the early 2000s, when several of them released three full-length albums with a previous band and spent years touring across Finland. Their experience took them everywhere from small bars and clubs to some of the major festivals of the era, building the kind of road-tested chemistry that only comes from years of playing music together.

Eventually, the desire to create and perform heavy music brought them back together.

Plusminuszero began when guitarist Toni Sundström and bassist Ilkka Rasi started working on new material. Vocalist Petri Korhonen and drummer Janne Kaartinen later completed the lineup, bringing the project into full form.

Since then, the band have taken an independent approach to their music, recording and mixing their material themselves while reconnecting with the hard rock and metal roots that originally shaped them.

That combination of experience and renewed energy is at the heart of Plusminuszero. There is no need to pretend these musicians are discovering heavy music for the first time. They have already spent years writing songs, recording albums, touring, and standing on stages across Finland. Now they are bringing that experience into a new chapter.

“Runner’s High” represents the latest step in that return.

With three singles now released, anticipation continues to build for Plusminuszero’s upcoming album. More information about the album is expected to be revealed at a later date.

“Runner’s High” is out now digitally via Downfall Records.

PLUSMINUSZERO


Band: Plusminuszero
Single: “Runner’s High”
Release Date: August 28, 2026
Label: Downfall Records
Format: Digital
Genre: Hard Rock / Metal
Country: Finland

Runner´s High by Plusminuszero



FOLLOW PLUSMINUSZERO


Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/plusminuszeromusic/ />
Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590972147464 />
DOWNFALL RECORDS

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/downfallrecords666 />
Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/downfallrecords_666/ />

https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/29361/plusminuszero-releases-uptempo-new-single-runners-high-via-downfall-records?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Who Will Rise as This Week’s Champion on the MDR Battle Of The Bands? 08/02/26 - 08/07/26 - @thebeast

🔥 Who Will Rise as This Week’s Champion on the MDR Battle Of The Bands? 🔥
And who will dominate next month as Band of the Month on Metal Devastation Radio?

Last month’s winners, OKL'S FRUITLOOPS, crushed the competition with a staggering 5,083,542 VOTES , claiming the title of Band of the Month on Metal Devastation Radio! You can check them out HERE !

This is the weekly championship edition of the Band Of The Month – Battle Of The Bands that we host every month on MDR!

How does it work?
Every Monday, we launch a new poll featuring bands that submit music each week on metaldevastationradio.com. Voting runs until Friday at 9PM EST .

Each Friday night , at the start of The Zach Moonshine Show , I’ll be spinning the Top Six weekly winners , and announcing the #1 band of the week live on air — getting thousands of listens on Mixcloud !

At the end of the month , all weekly votes are added up, and the band with the highest total votes becomes our Band of the Month !

Winning Band of the Month gets:

A featured post on our Facebook page, reaching thousands of fans

A front-page spotlight on metaldevastationradio.com , which pulls in hundreds of thousands of views every month

A free PR email blast from Metal Devastation PR, hitting 40,000+ contacts including labels, zines, stations, and more

Airplay every hour during general rotation

Tons of social media shares and exposure across our network

If you want the world to know who your band is, this is the easiest way to make it happen!

💥 Want in on the next battle?
Comment below with your band name and we’ll add you to next week’s poll — or email me at zach@metaldevastationradio.com with “Battle Submission” in the subject line.

Bands can compete as many times as they want , and if you enter multiple weeks in the same month, your votes combine toward the Band of the Month title!

👇 Click on the bands below to vote as many times as you like, or add your own! Poll closes Friday, September 4th at 9PM EST!








Who Will Rise as This Week’s Champion on the MDR Battle Of The Bands? 08/24/26 - 08/28/26


https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/29360/who-will-rise-as-this-weeks-champion-on-the-mdr-battle-of-the-bands-08-02-26-08-07-26?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

OKL'S FRUITLOOPS CROWNED SEPTEMBER 2026 BAND OF THE MONTH AFTER MASSIVE 5,083,542 VOTE VICTORY - @thebeast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

OKL'S FRUITLOOPS CROWNED SEPTEMBER 2026 BAND OF THE MONTH AFTER MASSIVE 5,083,542 VOTE VICTORY


Slovenian melodic death metal force Okl's FruitLoops have officially been crowned Battle of the Bands Champions and Band of the Month for September 2026 after dominating the competition with an incredible 5,083,542 votes , securing a massive victory in Battle of the Bands history.

The overwhelming support from metal fans across the globe propelled Okl's FruitLoops to the top of the competition, proving once again that the underground metal community has no shortage of passion when it comes to supporting the bands they believe in.

Formed in 2022 , Okl's FruitLoops have quickly established themselves as a rising force in the Slovenian metal scene. The band delivers an aggressive blend of melodic death metal , combining crushing riffs, dark melodies, intense musicianship, and high-energy live performances.

The band's sound draws influence from legendary melodic death metal acts including In Flames, Arch Enemy, Children of Bodom, and Kalmah , while Okl's FruitLoops bring their own identity and intensity to the style.

Their debut album, "Scream Of Silence," was officially released on March 30, 2026 , marking a major milestone for the band. The album features ten tracks packed with aggressive guitar work, dark atmosphere, melodic hooks, and relentless metal energy.

The full track listing includes:

1. Scream Of Silence
2. Icons Of Insanity
3. Nightmare Rhapsody
4. Mr. Grim
5. Timeless Chaos
6. Fearless Knights
7. Fallen Demon
8. At the End of This World
9. Their Time Will Fall
10. Call For Freedom

"Scream Of Silence" was mixed and mastered by Simon Jovanović at Studio Evolucija in Ljubljana , with Timotej Hrastar handling drum recording. The finished album showcases the band's ability to balance melodic songwriting with the aggression and intensity expected from modern melodic death metal.

The band's massive 5,083,542 votes in the Battle of the Bands competition represent an incredible showing of support from metal fans around the world. Their victory demonstrates the power of the underground metal community and the growing international reach of Okl's FruitLoops.

As September 2026 Band of the Month , Okl's FruitLoops now join the ranks of Battle of the Bands champions who have earned their place through the votes and support of metal fans worldwide.

Congratulations to Okl's FruitLoops on an absolutely massive victory and a well-earned place in Battle of the Bands history!

Keep your horns raised for Slovenia and get ready for more from Okl's FruitLoops!



Scream Of Silence by Okl's FruitLoops


https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/29359/okls-fruitloops-crowned-september-2026-band-of-the-month-after-massive-5083542-vote-victory?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

TRIVAN: VANJA ŠANTAK TALKS LOSS, INNER DEMONS, AND THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND ETERNAL SHORE - @thebeast

TRIVAN: VANJA ŠANTAK TALKS LOSS, INNER DEMONS, AND THE PHILOSOPHY BEHIND ETERNAL SHORE


Croatian extreme metal band TRIVAN recently joined The Zach Moonshine Show on Metal Devastation Radio for a powerful conversation about music, loss, self-discovery, the band's unique philosophy, and their upcoming debut album, Eternal Shore .

Vanja Šantak, the driving force behind TRIVAN, opened up about the deeply personal experiences that have shaped the band's music, including the recent loss of his beloved dog.

The conversation began with "Abyss of Crawling Shadows," an emotional track originally inspired by someone Vanja knew who was struggling with depression. At first, Vanja wanted to write about something he didn't personally understand. That changed after his dog suddenly became seriously ill and was diagnosed with lung cancer.

Vanja was forced to make the heartbreaking decision to put his dog to sleep.

The experience gave the song an entirely different meaning.

For Vanja, dogs aren't simply pets. They're family, companions, and beings capable of communicating through a language of pure emotion. His loss became one of the major emotional forces behind the music he is now creating.

A STRANGE NEW BEGINNING


Not long afterward, Vanja encountered another dog under circumstances he described as almost impossible to explain.

He discovered a litter of puppies born on the same day as his previous dog. Among them was a black male puppy who wasn't originally shown in the photographs.

When Vanja eventually met the puppies, that particular dog immediately ran toward him.

After bringing the puppy home, another strange thing happened. Despite being only a few months old, the dog seemed to know exactly where he was going and already understood basic commands.

The experience even caused Vanja to reconsider his previous disbelief in reincarnation.

The story has already inspired another TRIVAN song, which is currently being mixed and mastered.

WHAT DOES TRIVAN MEAN?


The name TRIVAN combines the ideas of triviality and vanquish , representing the band's desire to defeat the trivial things that can consume our lives.

The band began taking shape in 2018 after Vanja had stepped away from music for several years. Following lineup changes and the disruption caused by COVID, he eventually returned to his original goal of creating darker and more extreme music.

By around 2023, the TRIVAN lineup had come together.

But the band wasn't interested in simply repeating the usual black metal themes.

Instead, TRIVAN's philosophy is about confronting your own darkness.

Vanja describes the band's demons as the darker parts of ourselves that we often try to avoid. Rather than simply destroying those demons, he believes we should understand them, confront them, conquer them, and ultimately learn from them.

It's a philosophy that runs through the band's music.

FROM PERSONAL PRESSURE TO "BLACK AND HARD PLEDGE"


One example is "Black and Hard Pledge," which came from a period when Vanja was working toward his PhD.

The pressure to become the best student of the year began consuming him. He stopped training, gained weight, and eventually realized he had lost sight of himself.

Looking in the mirror became the breaking point.

The song became a promise to himself to stop allowing outside pressure to destroy his inner peace and to become the best version of himself.

Another track, "Dance of Death," takes a wider look at society, conformity, hypocrisy, and the constant pressure people face to follow whatever trend comes next.

The title references the medieval concept of the Dance of Death, where death dances with everyone regardless of wealth or status.

The message is simple: eventually, everything ends.

Ironically, just weeks after the song was released, Vanja had to say goodbye to his dog, making the song's themes of mortality even more personal.

ETERNAL SHORE


All of these experiences eventually became part of TRIVAN's upcoming debut album, Eternal Shore .

Originally planned as a 13-song album, the record was eventually reduced to eight tracks because of the length and depth of the songs.

The album is heavily influenced by Vanja's own life.

One of its most personal songs, "Eternal Shore," came from spreading his dog's ashes on a beach where they had spent time together.

Vanja explained that he wants the same thing for himself someday.

Rather than being buried in a casket, he wants his ashes spread on that beach so he can symbolically spend eternity there with his dogs, watching the waves, sunsets, and sunrises.

It is a surprisingly peaceful image for an extreme metal record, but it perfectly captures what TRIVAN is about.

Darkness doesn't always mean despair.

Sometimes you have to walk through the darkness to find peace.

OLD-SCHOOL METAL AND THE CROATIAN SCENE


Vanja also talked about discovering metal growing up in what was then Yugoslavia.

His uncle played in a rock band, so guitars, drums, bass, and rehearsals were part of his childhood.

Later, Alice Cooper's Trash became a major influence, followed by bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Marduk, Cradle of Filth, Satyricon, and Immortal.

In the 1990s, discovering new music meant listening to radio programs, visiting record stores, and actually hunting down physical CDs.

Vanja reflected on how different that was from today's streaming world, where virtually every band on Earth is only a few clicks away.

The Croatian metal scene itself remains active, with concerts happening regularly and international bands frequently passing through the country.

TRIVAN hopes to eventually expand beyond Croatia, with plans for shows throughout Slovenia and Austria and, eventually, the United States.

MORE THAN 10 MILLION VOTES


TRIVAN also made serious noise recently by winning a Battle of the Bands competition with more than 10 million votes .

Vanja explained that the band's massive support network stretches across the globe, including Croatia, Chile, Japan, and elsewhere.

He even mobilized people in his own apartment building and neighborhood, including a local Facebook group with tens of thousands of members.

The band's supporters didn't simply click a button once and walk away.

They went to war.

And the results were undeniable.

THE ROAD TO AMERICA


TRIVAN is currently preparing Eternal Shore for its planned February release while continuing to release singles and build its audience.

The band is also working with Blood Red Covenant Records to expand its presence in the United States.

And Vanja has one particular American goal in mind.

Tennessee Metal Devastation Music Fest.

After watching footage and a documentary about the festival, Vanja said he and the band would love to make the trip to Tennessee, experience the festival's raw energy, and eventually share a stage there.

That would be one hell of a way to bring this story full circle.

TRIVAN's Eternal Shore is shaping up to be more than a metal album. It's a musical journey through grief, pressure, darkness, self-discovery, mortality, and ultimately finding your own path.

As Vanja Šantak puts it, the goal isn't simply to run from your demons.

Conquer them. Become friends with them. And come out stronger on the other side.

Listen to the full conversation with Vanja Šantak of TRIVAN on The Zach Moonshine Show below:

Full Track List: 

Battle Of The Bands Top Six Winners:

1 - Okl's FruitLoops - Scream Of Silence
2 - Soul Of Sheol - Paradise Is Not For Us
3 - Rage of Justice - Digital Prison
4 - Heidbekka - Völva
5 - Leach - Serpent Of Time
6 - Mistress - Terrified eyes

The Zach Moonshine Intro

7 - Ozzy Osbourne - See You On The Other Side
8 - Dolly Parton - Purple Rain
9 - Heaven & Hell - Heaven And Hell

Trivan - Interview featuring Abyss Of Crawling Shadows/Dance of Death/Dark Malicious Desire

10 - Ola Englund - DOGMA PROGMA
11 - Smoulder - Water Wars
12 - DOWN - Blood Oath
13 - Superjoint Ritual - Everyone Hates Everyone/Fuck Your Enemy/Dress Like A Target
14 - Burnt Witch - We Hate You - (Electric Wizard Cover)
15 - Hellripper - Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm
16 - Starved of Light - Wander the Holler
17 - Soothsayer - Catfish
18 - THE BLEEDING - Immortal Flesh
19 - Wildfire - Sweet Sensation
20 - Megaton Communion - Echo's in Time
21 - Dread Witch - Cult
22 - Lord Gryphus - Troops of Doom (Sepultura)
23 - Netherdred - Necrodancer
24 - The Red Mountain - N.I.B.
25 - Webb Of Deceit - Hellswithin (Feat. Dave Frost & Jason Aaron Wood)/In My Wake (Feat. Raven & Jason Aaron Wood)
26 - NEMESIS - Hell's Last Kiss
27 - Stryfe - Breathe

Full show streaming on Mixcloud: 





The interview is also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple..





Check out the band on bandcamp and support: 



Abyss Of Crawling Shadows by Trivan


https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/29358/trivan-vanja-santak-talks-loss-inner-demons-and-the-philosophy-behind-eternal-shore?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

METAL FOR NEPAL Launches Emergency Appeal Following Devastating Nepal Floods - @thebeast

METAL FOR NEPAL Launches Emergency Appeal Following Devastating Nepal Floods


The organization rooted in Nepal's metal and arts community is calling on the global heavy music family to help communities devastated by catastrophic flooding


The global metal community has never exactly been known for sitting quietly on the sidelines when people need help. Now, Metal For Nepal is asking that community to once again come together following a devastating natural disaster that has torn through communities in Nepal.

On the morning of August 26, 2026 , a sudden and catastrophic flash flood surged through the Bhotekoshi River system in Nepal's Rasuwa and Nuwakot districts, after originating from the Tibetan side of the border. Villages, roads, bridges and critical infrastructure were swept away or severely damaged, leaving families displaced and communities facing an enormous humanitarian crisis.

The exact chain of events that triggered the disaster is still being investigated. Initial assessments pointed toward a possible glacial lake outburst flood, while subsequent geological assessments have examined the possibility of an ice avalanche creating a temporary debris blockage that later failed. What is beyond dispute is the scale and speed of the destruction.

The flood traveled downstream through the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems, affecting communities well beyond the initial impact zone. Search-and-rescue operations involving the Nepal Army, Armed Police Force and Nepal Police remain underway, while damaged roads, bridges and difficult mountain terrain continue to make access extremely challenging.

Communities Were Hit With Almost No Warning


According to Metal For Nepal, the disaster swept through settlements along the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli rivers, including areas around Timure and Syabrubesi in Rasuwa.

The organization reports that six major hydropower and transmission facilities were damaged, resulting in an estimated 430 MW of lost generating capacity , roughly one-eighth of Nepal's installed power capacity. Flood warnings have also been extended to downstream districts including Dhading, Gorkha and Chitwan.

For the people living in these communities, however, the statistics only tell part of the story.

Homes, belongings and food supplies have been destroyed. Families have been displaced. Children are among those facing the immediate consequences, including loss of shelter, clean water and access to basic necessities.

And that is where Metal For Nepal is stepping in.

Metal For Nepal Is Mobilizing Again


Metal For Nepal was founded in 2015 by members of Nepal's metal community , including the band Underside, following the devastating earthquakes that struck the country that year.

Working alongside international supporters and local partners, the organization helped rebuild more than 300 homes in Gorkha following the earthquakes. Since then, its work has expanded to include food distribution, vaccination campaigns, hot meals, education initiatives and other humanitarian projects.

Now, the organization is once again activating its network.

Metal For Nepal says it is working with established local NGO partners in Nepal to deliver emergency assistance to affected communities, including emergency supplies, clean water and longer-term rebuilding support.

While children are a particular priority because of their vulnerability following a disaster, the organization stresses that the response will serve affected people of all ages.




"We need to come together exactly like we did after the 2015 earthquake. The heavy metal and tattoo community has always shown up for people in need, and this moment is no different. Every donation goes straight toward getting families and children the support they need right now."
Flower KC, Director, Metal For Nepal




This Is Where The Metal Community Comes In


This isn't about a record release. It isn't about streaming numbers, chart positions or who is headlining the next festival.

It's about people.

The heavy music community is spread across virtually every corner of the planet, and Metal For Nepal has spent more than a decade proving that the connections created through music can be turned into something tangible when disaster strikes.

A donation doesn't have to be enormous to matter. Metal For Nepal is asking people to contribute whatever they can, while also encouraging musicians, promoters, media outlets, artists, tattoo communities and fans to help spread the word.

If you can't donate, share the appeal .

If you're a band, post it.

If you're a promoter, put it in your newsletter.

If you're a metal media outlet, run the story.

If you have a platform, use it.

Sometimes the most valuable thing you can give is simply helping the right message reach the right people.

How You Can Help


Metal For Nepal has established an Emergency Appeal for the August 2026 Nepal floods , with donations supporting its response alongside local partners on the ground.

Emergency Appeal:
Metal For Nepal Emergency Appeal 2026

Donate:
Metal For Nepal Donation Page

Main Website:
Metal For Nepal

The organization says the situation remains fluid and that its emergency appeal will be updated as verified information becomes available.

The Metal Family Has A Long Memory


Nepal's metal community has already shown the world what can happen when musicians and fans decide that their scene can be about more than music.

After the 2015 earthquake, the international metal community answered the call.

Now Nepal needs that same spirit again.

This is one of those moments when the metal family needs to turn the volume up for something that actually matters.

Share the appeal. Donate if you can. Get the word out.

Because when disaster strikes, the heavy metal community has always had a pretty simple rule:

We take care of our own.


https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/29354/metal-for-nepal-launches-emergency-appeal-following-devastating-nepal-floods?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

MINISTRY Unleashes New Single “We Hate” Ahead Of Final Album Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery) - @thebeast

MINISTRY Unleashes New Single “We Hate” Ahead Of Final Album Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery)


Industrial metal pioneers Ministry have released their new single “We Hate,” the second track to emerge from what is being billed as the band’s final studio album, Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery).

After more than four decades of industrial noise, political fury, controversy, experimentation and enough sonic destruction to make a busted factory sound like a recording studio, Ministry is preparing to call it a day.

The Al Jourgensen-led outfit has unleashed “We Hate,” the latest single from Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery), which is scheduled for release October 30, 2026 through Cleopatra Records.

And if the title wasn't already a pretty big clue, Jourgensen apparently isn't planning to go quietly.

The new track takes aim squarely at the current political climate, with Ministry once again using its music as a weapon against what Jourgensen sees as the increasingly absurd state of American society. The accompanying video, directed by Joshua Bradford, continues that confrontational approach.

The song follows “Burned Out,” which was released in July and served as the first preview of the forthcoming record.

Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery) will feature 10 tracks:




Crickets

Voices of Hate

Clown Car

We Hate

Delete

Grifter

The White Man Lied

Singularity

Burned Out

We're Still Here (feat. Paul Barker)



One of the most significant moments on the album comes with its closing track, “We're Still Here,” which features the return of longtime Ministry bassist and collaborator Paul Barker. Barker's involvement gives the album an especially interesting connection to Ministry's past as Jourgensen prepares to close the book on the band's studio career.

The current Ministry lineup contributing to the record includes guitarists Monte Pittman and Cesar Soto, bassist Paul D'Amour, keyboardist John Bechdel and drummer Pepe Clarke Magaña, alongside Jourgensen.

45 Years Of Ministry


Founded in Chicago in 1981, Ministry began life with a considerably different sound from the industrial-metal juggernaut that would eventually emerge.

The band's early material leaned heavily into synth-pop and the emerging electronic sounds of the era, culminating in the 1983 debut With Sympathy. Jourgensen soon began pushing Ministry into considerably darker and heavier territory, resulting in landmark releases including Twitch (1986), The Land of Rape and Honey (1988) and The Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Taste (1989).

Then came 1992's Psalm 69: The Way to Succeed and the Way to Suck Eggs, which propelled Ministry to its biggest level of mainstream recognition and earned the band its first Grammy nomination.

Over the decades, Ministry became one of the defining forces behind industrial metal, influencing countless bands while maintaining Jourgensen's reputation for saying exactly what he thinks, whether anyone asked him to or not.

The band has released 17 studio albums, eight live releases and numerous side projects, while touring across five continents. Jourgensen has also survived enough personal and professional chaos to fill several bands' worth of memoirs, documentaries and rock 'n' roll cautionary tales.

Ministry went on an indefinite hiatus in 2013 before returning in 2018 with AmeriKKKant. That record continued the band's long tradition of political commentary, something that remained central to subsequent releases including 2021's Moral Hygiene and 2024's HOPIUMFORTHEMASSES.

Last year's The Squirrely Years Revisited saw Jourgensen revisit and rework material from Ministry's early synth-pop period.

Now, with Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery), Jourgensen appears ready to put a final stamp on the Ministry legacy.

One Last Trip Around The World


Ministry will support the album with an international farewell tour, giving fans one more opportunity to experience the band's blend of industrial metal, electronic chaos and politically charged aggression in the live setting.

The European portion of the farewell campaign is currently scheduled to kick off April 2, 2027, in Utrecht, Netherlands, and will continue through May 1 in Helsinki, Finland.

The “Goodbye Europe 2027” run includes 21 shows and will feature Die Krupps as special guests.

The scheduled dates are:

April 2 – Utrecht, Netherlands – Ronda
April 3 – Saarbrücken, Germany – Garage
April 4 – Brussels, Belgium – Ancienne Belgique
April 6 – Manchester, UK – O2 Victoria Warehouse
April 7 – Dublin, Ireland – 3Olympia
April 9 – Nottingham, UK – Rock City
April 10 – London, UK – Troxy
April 12 – Paris, France – Bataclan
April 14 – Madrid, Spain – La Riviera
April 15 – Barcelona, Spain – Paral-lel
April 17 – Lausanne, Switzerland – Docks
April 18 – Munich, Germany – Tonhalle
April 19 – Vienna, Austria – Gasometer
April 21 – Prague, Czech Republic – Forum Karlín
April 22 – Warsaw, Poland – Progresja
April 24 – Berlin, Germany – Columbiahalle
April 25 – Hamburg, Germany – Grosse Freiheit 36
April 26 – Copenhagen, Denmark – Amager Bio
April 27 – Oslo, Norway – Rockefeller
April 29 – Stockholm, Sweden – Fållan
May 1 – Helsinki, Finland – House of Culture

Special meet-and-greet packages with Jourgensen will also be available for the tour, including a photo opportunity, souvenir laminate, silk-screen poster and commemorative tour coin.

Whether Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery) ultimately proves to be Ministry's final album remains something only time will tell. Rock 'n' roll has never exactly been famous for keeping retirement plans simple.

But if this really is the end of Ministry's studio journey, Jourgensen certainly seems intent on leaving the building the same way he spent the last 45 years: loud, abrasive, unapologetic and pissed off.

Hate To Go (Take Out Or Delivery) arrives October 30, 2026 via Cleopatra Records and will be released on vinyl, CD, cassette and digital formats.

Watch the video for “We Hate” below.


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