UNMERCIFUL Unleashes James “Freight Train” Lee on Vocals for Maryland Deathfest Debut - @thebeast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

UNMERCIFUL Unleashes James “Freight Train” Lee on Vocals for Maryland Deathfest Debut

Kansas death metal powerhouse UNMERCIFUL is set to make their first-ever appearance at Maryland Deathfest 2026 , and they’re bringing a very special guest along for the carnage. James “Freight Train” Lee—renowned for his monumental work with Origin on III , Echoes of Decimation , and Antithesis —will be stepping in on vocals, delivering an unforgettable performance of UNMERCIFUL’s relentless death metal assault.

The band shared the news directly:




“Our first ever performance at Maryland Death Fest is just 3 months away. With that, we want to announce a very special guest that will be performing on vocals. This man is none other than the almighty James ‘Freight Train’ Lee!!! Hearing him performing our material will be something NOT to miss!!







Also, Trynt is still dealing with some health issues, so Andy Vincent will be handling the relentless drum duties. We are in the process of booking some shows around this time (May 20th–May 28th). More information on show dates and venues coming soon.







We look forward to delivering an unforgettably crushing set! We will see you all soon.”




Following the recent tour cancellation with Vitriol and Weeping due to drummer availability, UNMERCIFUL is back stronger than ever, promising fans a blistering return to the stage. Their latest album, Devouring Darkness (Willowtip Records), has already been hailed as a brutal triumph:

“ Devouring Darkness is an unceasing beatdown of a death metal album where technicality takes a backseat to brutality.” – Angry Metal Guy

“Malicious guidance does well to hold their focus tight on bludgeoning brutal death metal here, an ideal ratio of unreal skill and severe impact.” – Mystification Zine

“Unmerciful are among us to blast our ears with Brutal Death Metal at its finest.” – The Headbanging Moose

“A swirl of riffs will wrap themselves around you like a coiled snake, and the drums will cave your head in.” – Dead Rhetoric

With longtime guitarist Jeremy Turner returning and Josh Riley debuting on vocals, UNMERCIFUL continues to define the cutting edge of American death metal. The record was engineered and produced by Clinton Appelhanz at Waveworks Studio, mastered by Alan Douches ( Cannibal Corpse, Hate Eternal ), with artwork by Santiago Francisco Jaramillo.

Fans can expect crushing new performances and select shows leading up to Maryland Deathfest. UNMERCIFUL’s blend of technical ferocity and unrelenting brutality guarantees that this set will be one for the ages.

Stay tuned for full tour dates and ticket information. Devouring Darkness is available now wherever extreme metal is consumed.
https://deathfests.com/



 Follow the band at these links:


https://www.facebook.com/officialunmerciful/ />
https://www.instagram.com/official_unmerciful />
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/unmerciful/173905522 />
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1A7qyjUuQGJTkOL8LUmmtG />
https://www.pandora.com/station/play/98443676228797847 />
https://www.iheart.com/artist/unmerciful-393849/?autoplay=true />
https://www.deezer.com/us/artist/81522 />

Contact: unmercifulbooking@gmail.com


https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/28670/unmerciful-unleashes-james-freight-train-lee-on-vocals-for-maryland-deathfest-debut?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Samurai Pizza Cats Drop New Single/Video "T-Rex(plosion)" Featuring Ankor - @thebeast

Samurai Pizza Cats Drop New Single/Video "T-Rex(plosion)" Featuring Ankor


Samurai Pizza Cats are back with a blast from the past and a modern metal twist. The Castrop-Rauxel band has just released their latest single and video, "T-Rex(plosion)" , featuring Spanish metal band Ankor , ahead of their upcoming album Press Start , out March 27, 2026 via Century Media Records .

The video captures the chaotic energy and playful chemistry between both bands, delivering dino-sized riffs and over-the-top metal theatrics. Watch it now



Press Start is available for pre-order
https://samuraipizzacats.lnk.to/PressStart-Bio in multiple formats, including CD, deluxe box set, limited vinyl, and digital.

With this release, Samurai Pizza Cats continue to blend metalcore, deathcore, and electronic influences, proving their humor, energy, and shredding chops are as sharp as ever.


https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/28666/samurai-pizza-cats-drop-new-single-video-t-rexplosion-featuring-ankor?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Worm Shepherd Return with New EP Dawn Of The Iconoclast; Single "Feast" Out Now - @thebeast

Worm Shepherd Return with New EP Dawn Of The Iconoclast ; Single "Feast" Out Now


After a two-year silence, Worm Shepherd are back and heavier than ever with their new EP, Dawn Of The Iconoclast , released via Unique Leader Records . Fans can stream and purchase the EP now
https://orcd.co/DawnOfTheIconoclast , and check out the blistering new single "Feast."

A masterclass in blackened brutality, this EP marks a major comeback for the band, now transformed into a deathcore powerhouse. Worm Shepherd ’s lineup reads like a who’s who of extreme metal, featuring current and former members of Immortal Disfigurement , Ingested , and Archaic Epidemic , alongside the return of original drummer Leo McClain (also of Psycho Frame ).

Guitarist and orchestrator Tre Perdue shared his excitement about the new lineup:

"I feel like we have the most talented members that we've had to date. Harry brings so much to the table for writing and meshes with my style perfectly. Tom is an absolute workforce on bass and adds flair to the rhythm guitars with his aggressive style. Having Leo back behind the kit gives some of that original tone from our first albums. Ian fits in perfectly with his aggressiveness and the tonality of our new music. This is the beginning of a new era for Worm Shepherd."

Since their formation, Worm Shepherd have carved out a fearsome reputation as one of deathcore’s most uncompromising forces, blending immersive soundscapes, technical ferocity, and relentless intensity. With Dawn Of The Iconoclast , they emerge sharper, heavier, and more focused than ever, ready to set a new standard for their legacy.

Fans can also revisit the EP’s previously released single "Whispers Of A Buried Land" with its official video

With this release, Worm Shepherd prove that after the silence, the storm hits harder.


https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/28665/worm-shepherd-return-with-new-ep-dawn-of-the-iconoclast-single-feast-out-now?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

At The Gates Announce Eighth Studio Album The Ghost of a Future Dead; Debut Single "The Fever Mask" Out Now - @thebeast

At The Gates Announce Eighth Studio Album The Ghost of a Future Dead ; Debut Single "The Fever Mask" Out Now


Swedish melodic death metal legends At The Gates have announced their highly anticipated eighth studio album, The Ghost of a Future Dead , set for release on April 24, 2026 via Century Media Records . Pre-orders are officially live, and fans can now get a first taste of the record with the debut single and video, "The Fever Mask."

The follow-up to 2021's adventurous The Nightmare of Being , this album carries a weight of significance as a final tribute to frontman Tomas Lindberg , who tragically passed away in September 2025. Lindberg’s vision and artistry permeate the album, cementing it as a true parting legacy.

Recorded and mixed by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden, the album showcases the band's signature blend of ferocious energy and hard-hitting melodic precision. The visual side is equally striking, with artwork by Robert Samsonowitz of rbrt.org .

Speaking about the release, the band shared:

"We are proud to finally share some news about our eighth studio album, 'The Ghost of a Future Dead.' The album will be released on April 24, 2026 – more than two years after it was completed in the studio. As you all know, Tomas Lindberg passed away last year due to complications from his cancer treatment. Over the past few years, we worked closely with Tomas, discussing and refining every detail to ensure nothing was left to chance. In accordance with Tomas' wishes – including the album title, sound mix, track order, artwork, and overall presentation – 'The Ghost of a Future Dead' remains true to form. It combines the ferocious energy and hard-hitting powerful melodies that are the essence of At The Gates. This album is Tomas' legacy."

Fans can stream the album’s opening track "The Fever Mask" now, accompanied by a deeply moving tribute video to Lindberg, assembled by longtime collaborator Patric Ullaeus . Watch it here:



With The Ghost of a Future Dead , At The Gates not only honor Lindberg’s memory but reaffirm their status as one of melodic death metal’s most influential forces, delivering an album that hits as hard emotionally as it does musically.


https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/28664/at-the-gates-announce-eighth-studio-album-the-ghost-of-a-future-dead-debut-single-the-fever-mask-out-now?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

Italian Black Metallers Calvana Premiere New Track “Summer Storm” at NoCleanSinging - @thebeast

Italian Black Metallers Calvana Premiere New Track “Summer Storm” at NoCleanSinging


Italian black metal collective Calvana have unveiled their latest track, “Summer Storm” , exclusively at the heavily trafficked portal NoCleanSinging.com. The song is the second glimpse into the band’s highly anticipated third album, Sub Janus , set for an international release on March 20th via Adirondack Black Mass . Fans can stream “Summer Storm” in full exclusively
https://www.nocleansinging.com/2026/02/23/an-ncs-video-premiere-calvana-summer-storm/ />
Formed in 2015 at the foot of the Calvana massif , Calvana are a band devoted entirely to the raw, monolithic voice of the mountain. Their members remain completely anonymous, allowing the focus to stay on the music and the elemental landscapes it evokes. Their first two releases, the cryptically titled IɅ (2020) and III┼ (2022) , carved a singular path in black metal, combining primal intensity with a defiant, trend-free approach.

With Sub Janus , Calvana strike again, channeling the unrelenting fury of nature through old-school black metal. The album balances cryogenic stillness with lava-like eruption, maintaining an all-analog sound where each instrument is vital—especially the bass, often overlooked in black metal but here grounding the elemental force of the music. The songwriting moves through hypnotic states of violence, interspersed with grim marches, evoking a stark and desolate landscape that feels both expansive and intimate. Fans of obscure, uncompromising black metal may find echoes of Altar of Perversion , but Calvana’s voice remains uniquely their own.

In addition to “Summer Storm” , the band previously shared “Death of Pan” , available
https://adirondackblackmass.bandcamp.com/. Sub Janus can also be preordered on Bandcamp,
https://adirondackblackmass.bandcamp.com/album/sub-janus />


For those seeking black metal that reverberates like the peaks themselves, Calvana’s Sub Janus promises to deliver the kind of elemental, unflinching intensity that only a mountain can inspire.

MORE INFO:
facebook.com/calvana 
calvana.bandcamp.com 


https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/28663/italian-black-metallers-calvana-premiere-new-track-summer-storm-at-nocleansinging?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

EYEHATEGOD & THUNDERCHIEF HEAT THINGS UP: NEW THUNDERCHIEF PRESSING AND “KILL YOUR SAUCE” HOT SAUCE DROP - @thebeast

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

EYEHATEGOD & THUNDERCHIEF HEAT THINGS UP: NEW THUNDERCHIEF PRESSING AND “KILL YOUR SAUCE” HOT SAUCE DROP

Richmond’s two-man sonic wrecking crew THUNDERCHIEF aren’t done wreaking havoc. After tearing up the East Coast/Midwest with Telekinetic Yeti , they’re keeping the fire alive with a 2nd pressing of their ferocious full-length No Sufferance For Thy Fools —originally unleashed May 15, 2020. The first batch vanished fast, and now it’s back for anyone who missed it.

Listen and order here:

https://thethunderchief.bandcamp.com/album/no-sufferance-for-thy-fools

Adding extra heat to the mix, THUNDERCHIEF have teamed up with EYEHATEGOD for the ultimate collab: Kill Your Sauce , a fermented firestorm of Red Savina, Moruga, and Scotch Bonnet peppers, with carrot, garlic, cilantro, and pineapple juice. It’s available now at
https://armadamerch.com/collections/eyehategod and will hit the road with EYEHATEGOD on their upcoming tour with New Orleans legends Crowbar .

Details on the tour here:
https://lambgoat.com/news/47873/crowbar-and-eyehategod-announce-co-headlining-tour/ />
Record revived. Tour fired up. Sauce that bites back. THUNDERCHIEF are back, louder, hotter, and ready to demolish everything in their path.





 Follow Thunderchief:


https://linktr.ee/thunderchief />
 Contact: riksurly@gmail.com 


https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/28662/eyehategod-thunderchief-heat-things-up-new-thunderchief-pressing-and-kill-your-sauce-hot-sauce-drop?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger

The Zach Moonshine Show: Heavy Riffs, Underground Vibes, and an Exclusive Interview with CROP - @thebeast

Photo credit: brantakespictures


The Zach Moonshine Show: Heavy Riffs, Underground Vibes, and an Exclusive Interview with CROP


If you’re a fan of metal, heavy music, and underground culture, the latest episode of The Zach Moonshine Show on Metal Devastation Radio is a must-listen. This week, we went deep into crushing riffs, fuzz pedal tone-chasing, tube amps, and the ins-and-outs of putting together a metal festival. We also had an exclusive interview with CROP , diving into their latest album, SSRI , their gear, and the inspiration behind their signature doom-stoner sound.




🎸 The Show: From Classic Metal to Modern Sludge


This episode didn’t hold back on delivering a mix of brutality and melody. Zach kicked things off with his classic intro, warming up the metal airwaves before the tracks hit. The playlist for the night included a fierce blend of modern underground heavy acts and timeless metal legends. Here’s the full tracklist:

Battle Of The Bands Top Six Winners:

1 - HETSHEADS – Brutal Exhordation - (63,036 votes)
2- NIKOLA'S CAGE – Chopped Up Jesus - (24,517 votes)
3 - Resumption – Don't Come - (8,692 votes)
4 - Blacklight Vice – BLOOD IN THE TEETH - (4,734 votes)
5 - Clingman – Started Easy - (4,509 votes)
6 - Mistress – Terrified Eyes - (3,265 votes)

The Zach Moonshine Intro


7 - Black Sabbath – Electric Funeral / Sweet Leaf
8 - Arch Enemy – To The Last Breath
9 - BELPHEGOR – Scarlet Beast
10 - Sun Dont Shine – Power To Live


CROP – Interview featuring Formaldehyde / Goddamn

11 - Nocturnal Ceremony – Carnage
12 - CREEPER – Big Bad Wolf
13 - Rob Zombie – (I'm a) Rock "N" Roller
14 - White Zombie – Welcome to Planet Motherfucker / Cosmic Monsters Inc.
15 - VULNIFICUS – The Infiltration
16 - ARCHFIEND – I Am Nightmare
17 - Philojain – Duked Prom (34)
18 - To Fight For – Holy Ground
19 - Element Of Fate – Warhorse | Fire Horse
20 - Friday Dies – I’d Rather Trust a Stranger
21 - PainDemic – PainDemic
22 - Subdivisions – Erased
23 - Banished Truth – Angel of Death (Slayer Cover)
24 - Erik Martin – Graveyard of the Gods ft. Otto Kinzel
25 - Negative Sixxx – AGONY
26 - The Crooked Skulls – Skull Bong
27 - Reflection of Flesh – Souls Reign Fire
28 - Rage Unfold – Omen
29 - Gravemass – This Is The Way

From Black Sabbath’s classic doom tones to Arch Enemy’s melodic aggression, this episode showcased a diverse spectrum of metal sounds while also giving emerging underground bands a platform to shine.




🛠 Inside the Gear Talk with CROP


During the interview, Zach and CROP got down to the nuts and bolts of tone. From SVT rigs and 810 cabinets to fuzz pedals like the Desert Rat and Chronic Titan , the discussion revealed how much thought goes into shaping their heavy, layered sound. CROP shared insights into layering bass tones, experimenting with tube amps, and chasing the perfect fuzz that pours through every track.

Whether you’re a gearhead chasing that sub-heavy grunge vibe or just love to know what makes a band’s tone unique, this segment is packed with inspiration and practical advice.




🎤 CROP: From Underground Roots to Festival Stages


The band also shared stories about their musical upbringing, how they formed CROP, and the evolution of their sound. Influences ranged from Sleep, Toke, and Monolord to grunge legends like Nirvana and Soundgarden, blending doom, stoner, and melodic elements into a unique sonic signature.

They also talked about running Legalized Lex , their hometown festival in Lexington, KY, and the challenges and joys of curating underground shows. With three days of heavy acts, from Astronaut to Doomsday Prophet, and an intimate community vibe, the festival has grown into a must-attend event for the region’s metal scene.

Check them out on Bandcamp: 

S.S.R.I by CROP




📡 Watch, Listen, and Celebrate the Fans


This episode wasn’t just a showcase for killer riffs and gear talk—it was a massive gathering of the metal community. A staggering 141,324 metal maniacs tuned in live Friday night to catch the broadcast, proving once again that the underground scene is alive, loud, and thriving.



You can relive the chaos and energy of the night with these embeds:

🎧 Full Show on Mixcloud:





🎥 Interview Segment on YouTube:


🎵 Interview Segment on Spotify:


https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/28660/the-zach-moonshine-show-heavy-riffs-underground-vibes-and-an-exclusive-interview-with-crop?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=blogger