🔥 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, ANTIPOPE , crushed the... More

🔥 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, ANTIPOPE , crushed the competition with a staggering 721,717 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, May 15th at 9PM EST! Who Will Rise as This Week’s Champion on the MDR Battle Of The Bands?? 05/11/26 - 05/15/26 Less

BraveWords Records Opens the Gates for “KnuckleTracks Volume One” Submissions TORONTO, CANADA (May 8, 2026) — BraveWords Records is officially calling it wide open. No velvet rope, no soft landing, just pure heavy metal impact. The label is now... More

BraveWords Records Opens the Gates for “KnuckleTracks Volume One” Submissions TORONTO, CANADA (May 8, 2026) — BraveWords Records is officially calling it wide open. No velvet rope, no soft landing, just pure heavy metal impact. The label is now accepting worldwide submissions for “KnuckleTracks Volume One”, a brand new compilation built around one simple mission: the hardest, heaviest, loudest, most unrelenting tracks in modern metal. If your band hits like a sledgehammer and leaves dents in the speakers, this is your shot. A Legacy Reignited For those who remember the golden days, “KnuckleTracks” was originally the legendary Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles CD sampler that shipped free with the magazine starting back in 1997. It became a launchpad for underground and rising bands, helping push real metal into the hands of real fans. Now, nearly 30 years later, it is back in a new form. “KnuckleTracks helped launch and propel bands to the next level,” says BraveWords Founder/CEO “Metal” Tim Henderson. “And here we are doing it again to a new wave of exciting bands that want to be heard around the world!” No hype machine needed. Just volume, attitude, and songs that refuse to sit quietly in the background. What They Want This is not a background playlist situation. BraveWords Records is looking for tracks that belong in the pit, not on easy listening rotation. Big riffs, sharp edges, zero apologies. If your music hits hard enough to shake loose paint, it might just belong on this release. How to Submit Bands can submit directly through the official BraveWords Records submission form. Make sure to clearly note that the submission is for KnuckleTracks Volume One. Go to this link:https://bravewordsrecords.com/bravewords-records-is-seeking-submissions-for-knuckletracks/ About BraveWords Records BraveWords Records has built a roster rooted deep in classic and modern heavy music, working with artists such as Crimson Glory, Alcatrazz, Bangalore Choir, Paul Di’Anno’s Warhorse, ASKA, Jack Starr, and more, with future releases featuring Phil Soussan, Lillian Axe, and additional Alcatrazz material. Backed by nearly a century of combined industry experience, the team is focused on global distribution, press, media coverage, streaming strategy, and long-term artist development. The goal is simple, get great metal heard everywhere it deserves to be. For nearly three decades, BraveWords has kept its boots planted in the underground and its ears tuned to anything loud enough to matter. “KnuckleTracks Volume One” looks like the next chapter in that same loud, proud tradition. Bottom line: if it doesn’t hit hard, it doesn’t belong here. Less

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Haunted North Go Deep On Tone, Riffs, and Real Heavy Music On The Zach Moonshine Show The Haunted North returned to The Zach Moonshine Show for Part II this week on Metal Devastation Radio, and this round went straight... More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Haunted North Go Deep On Tone, Riffs, and Real Heavy Music On The Zach Moonshine Show The Haunted North returned to The Zach Moonshine Show for Part II this week on Metal Devastation Radio, and this round went straight down the gearhead rabbit hole. Guitarist Sean Francis joined the show for a laid back but seriously deep conversation covering everything from the making of the crushing new single “Savage Ghost” to vintage gear, gain stacking, classic metal influences, Black Label Society connections, and the spirit of authentic heavy music. Right out of the gate, Sean revealed that the main riff behind “Savage Ghost” had actually been sitting around unfinished for nearly five or six years before finally clicking into place. “We didn’t know what in the hell to do with it. Then me and Randy got together last summer and the whole song was done in about ten minutes.” The discussion quickly shifted into guitar tone territory, where Sean proudly embraced his reputation as a full blown tone nerd. For recording, Sean relies heavily on his prized 2001 Gibson Zakk Wylde Bullseye Les Paul loaded with older EMG pickups, paired with a Friedman BE100 amp and a J Rockett Archer IKON overdrive pedal. Instead of maxing out amp distortion, Sean explained that his signature sound comes from carefully stacking overdrive tones together. “I’ve never wanted to go full distortion from the amp because it gets too fizzy. I’m always about stacking overdrive and keeping both under half gain. The sustain and warmth you get out of it is just slamming.” The conversation naturally turned toward gear collecting and Sean dropped another bombshell by revealing he owns one of the ultra rare limited edition Randy Rhoads Les Paul relic guitars. Meanwhile, Zach shared his own excitement over recently getting his hands on one of Zakk Wylde’s Wylde Audio guitars, leading into a larger conversation about modern guitar manufacturing, setup quality, and why Wylde Audio instruments have become some of the best bang-for-the-buck guitars on the market. Beyond the gear talk, the interview dug deep into Sean’s longtime friendship with legendary guitarist Zakk Wylde. What started as a chance meeting during an Ozzy Osbourne tour stop in Canada back in 2007 eventually grew into a real friendship that opened doors to collaborations with members of Black Label Society including John “JD” DeServio and Jeff Fabb. Sean explained how those relationships eventually helped shape The Haunted North’s recordings. “Sometimes you just throw it out there and see what happens.” That simple mindset eventually led to JD and Jeff becoming heavily involved in the project after hearing early material. The interview also explored classic metal memories, with Sean and Zach bonding over discovering bands like Metallica, Pantera, Kiss, Alice In Chains, Cinderella, and Ozzy Osbourne during their younger years. Sean even credited Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” as one of the first riffs that truly hooked him into guitar music as a kid. “Nobody talks about Prince as a guitar player enough. That guy could absolutely play.” The conversation stayed rooted in a shared appreciation for all forms of authentic music, whether it was metal, country, glam, grunge, or classic rock. As Sean put it: “If it’s good music, you dig it. Who gives a crap what kind of music it is?” Toward the end of the interview, Sean hinted that The Haunted North already has six or seven new songs completed along with major announcements potentially arriving in the near future. The band is currently focusing heavily on preparing live performances while continuing work on future material. “It’s going to be never ending. More new music for the next forever.” The episode wrapped with Sean encouraging fans to follow The Haunted North online, support underground music, and continue backing independent outlets like Metal Devastation Radio that keep heavy music alive outside the mainstream machine. For fans of real amps, real riffs, and real heavy music, this interview hit exactly where it needed to. Track List from the show:  Battle Of The Bands Top Six Winners: 1 - Trivan - Abyss Of Crawling Shadows -  (269,086 votes)2 - NIKOLA'S CAGE - RASCAL - (39,787 votes)3 - Severed Sun - Complex - (39,787 votes)4 - Heidbekka - Völva - (39,787 votes)5 - Another Demon - Drawn and Quartered feat. James Murphy (Testament, Death, Obituary) - (6,002 votes)6 - Mistress - Terrified eyes - (4,070 votes) The Zach Moonshine Intro 7 - Ozzy Osbourne - Rock 'n' Roll Rebel8 - Black Label Society - Lord Humungus/Suffering Overdue The Haunted North - Interview featuring The Beast/Savage Ghost/BLEED 9 - The Red Mountain - Cosmic Guns10 - The Prodigal Son - Silence Of Kaos11 - Archfiend - Life Of Decay12 - Tito Thomvs - spiraling13 - Violence System - Endmother14 - Enigmatical - Alien Abduction (Re-Abducted Version)15 - PROCESS OF SUFFOCATION - Mephisthopheles16 - Burnt Witch - Bastard17 - THE RED MOUNTAIN - Babble On18 - Triptykon - Abyss Within My Soul/Circle Of the Tyrants/Dethroned Emperor [Live]19 - Metallica - So What/Am I Evil- (Live at Tushino Airfield, Moscow, Russia - September 28th, 1991)20 - NetherDred - Spellbound21 - Pentagram - petrified/Forever My Queen/Be Forewarned22 - Disassemble - The Abyss23 - Lecherous Nocturne - Fission24 - Royal Hunt - Last Goodbye (Posada Rock Festival, 2023)25 - Indominus - Black Lake26 - MATANZICK - The End Is Just the Beginning27 - The Proxima Design - Tongues Carved From Glass28 - IATT - Walk Amongst Streaming now on Mixcloud: The interview segment is also available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple etc [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="xG_H7G9E_tM"] Super massive shout out to the 303,372 metal maniacs from around the world that tuned in to the live devastation Friday!  Follow the band:  https://www.thehauntednorth.com/ Less

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SOOTHSAYER Unleash New Single “Kick Throat” From Upcoming Album Chapter IV on CDN Records Streaming: https://cdnrecords.com/label-artists/soothsayer/ Quebec City’s old-school thrash war machine SOOTHSAYER are back and... More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SOOTHSAYER Unleash New Single “Kick Throat” From Upcoming Album Chapter IV on CDN Records Streaming: https://cdnrecords.com/label-artists/soothsayer/ Quebec City’s old-school thrash war machine SOOTHSAYER are back and swinging harder than ever with their new single and video “Kick Throat,” now out via CDN Records. This is not a comeback. It’s a continuation of a 40-year brawl that never really stopped. Formed in 1985, SOOTHSAYER carved their name into the foundations of Canadian thrash during the genre’s most violent and defining era. Built on raw aggression, speed, and zero compromise, the band first detonated onto the underground with their infamous 1986 demo To Be a Real Terrorist, a tape that quickly spread through tape-trading circles like a controlled explosion. From there, tracks like “Death Radiation,” “Troops of Hate,” and “Kill Oppression” cemented their reputation as one of the most unfiltered voices in the crossover thrash underground. Blending Bay Area velocity with punk ferocity, SOOTHSAYER never polished the edges. They sharpened them. Their classic era release Have a Good Time and subsequent underground catalog helped define a distinctly Canadian strain of thrash in the late 80s, one built on grit instead of gloss and attitude instead of trend chasing. After stepping back for a time, the original lineup, including members present since that first demo era, reunited in 2007 and picked right back up where the chaos left off. Now in 2026, SOOTHSAYER return with “Kick Throat,” the first strike from their upcoming full length Chapter IV, also set for release on CDN Records. The track delivers exactly what longtime followers expect, razor wire riffs, breakneck pacing, and that venom soaked vocal delivery that sounds like it was dragged straight out of the pit and set on fire. “Kick Throat” is available now alongside its official video, premiering April 24, 2026, setting the tone for what is shaping up to be another unrelenting chapter in the band’s long running legacy of destruction. Chapter IV promises more of the same uncompromising philosophy SOOTHSAYER have always stood on. No trends. No reinvention for approval. Just pure thrash delivered the way it was meant to be heard, loud, fast, and dangerous. They don’t follow the times. They drag the past forward and make it bite again. Thrash or be thrashed. [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="OvmKP4dGS-M"] Connect: https://cdnrecords.com/label-artists/soothsayer/https://www.facebook.com/troopsofhate Contact: troopsofhate@gmail.com Less

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 23, 2026 ENIGMATICAL UNLEASHES “TOTAL ENTROPY AGENDA”A MERGE OF INDUSTRIAL BLACK AND DEATH METAL CHAOS, OUT NOW The underground keeps mutating, and Enigmatical is right there twisting the knife with a new full-length... More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEApril 23, 2026 ENIGMATICAL UNLEASHES “TOTAL ENTROPY AGENDA”A MERGE OF INDUSTRIAL BLACK AND DEATH METAL CHAOS, OUT NOW The underground keeps mutating, and Enigmatical is right there twisting the knife with a new full-length statement, Total Entropy Agenda, released April 23, 2026 via independent release. Built from industrial weight and extreme metal precision, the record pushes mechanical intensity straight into blackened death territory without blinking. Drawing influence from the hypnotic industrial force of Rammstein, the icy aggression and melodic darkness of Dissection, and the relentless brutality of Hypocrisy, the album lands like a system overload. Structured, chaotic, and unapologetically harsh, it feels engineered as much as it feels unleashed. This time around, the project is a duo at its core, with a few carefully chosen guest appearances woven into the chaos. The creative framework is tight, deliberate, and fully internal, with no outside production teams shaping the final vision. The lineup breaks down like this: The EntityAll instruments, lyrics (tracks 2–8) The VoiceVocals, additional lyrics (track 2), additional guitars (track 8) A.o.S HeirdrainGuest vocals on “Into The Vortex Of Cosmic Obliteration” DuskGuest vocals on “Towards Entropy And The End Of Time” Total Entropy Agenda continues Enigmatical’s evolution into mechanized extremity, where atmosphere, distortion, and rhythmic punishment all collide into one controlled descent into instability. No fluff, no compromise, just signal breaking through noise. RELEASE INFORMATION Artist: EnigmaticalRelease Title: Total Entropy AgendaRelease Date: April 23, 2026Genre: Industrial Black / Death MetalLabel: Independent Production: The Entity and The Voice LISTEN & PURCHASE Bandcamp: https://enigmaticalofficial.bandcamp.com/album/total-entropy-agendaSpotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6FyKv8RvGlyUHesNaYUN3ZApple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/enigmatical/1477860025 [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="feC04fO4ncc"] CONNECT Website: https://enigmatical.webnode.se/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JoinTheAgendaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/enigmaticalofficial/ CONTACT enigmaticalofficial@gmail.com Total Entropy Agenda is available now on all major platforms. Less

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SACRED SWORD ANNOUNCES DEBUT RELEASE “THE ETERNAL REALM CALLS…” OUT MAY 13, 2026 A new force rises from the shadows of atmospheric black metal as Sacred Sword unveils the first transmission from its dark medieval vision,... More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SACRED SWORD ANNOUNCES DEBUT RELEASE “THE ETERNAL REALM CALLS…” OUT MAY 13, 2026 A new force rises from the shadows of atmospheric black metal as Sacred Sword unveils the first transmission from its dark medieval vision, “The Eternal Realm Calls…”, arriving May 13, 2026. Forged in solitude and steeped in mythic despair, Sacred Sword is the creation of a lone artist known only as Xol. Built as both music and worldbuilding, the project channels a narrative of a wandering warrior bound to an ancient blade, one that carries the souls of the dead and carves a fragile path between ruin and redemption. Each release expands this forgotten realm where hope is rare, but not entirely gone. Musically, Sacred Sword moves like a storm rolling across a dead kingdom. Guitars shift between aggression and sorrow, while layered keys and strings form an atmosphere thick with dread and faded grandeur. The result is a cinematic descent into a world that feels both ancient and inevitable. Fans of atmospheric and storytelling-driven black metal will find themselves at home alongside the works of Summoning, Winterfylleth, and Ultar, though Sacred Sword pushes deeper into narrative immersion, where each composition feels like a chapter in an ongoing collapse and rebirth. Artist Statement “I am proud to present the first offering from Sacred Sword, ‘The Eternal Realm Calls…’, which serves as an introduction to not only the music but to the world behind the idea of Sacred Sword. This track showcases the style that Sacred Sword will be known for, haunting keys and strings along with atmospheric guitars and aggressive vocals and storytelling. Welcome to the eternal realm.” Production Notes Written and recorded by Xol Mixed and mastered by Ben Karas at Frost Gauntlet Recording Release Details Title: The Eternal Realm Calls…Release Date: May 13, 2026Genre: Atmospheric Black MetalLabel: Independent Listen / Follow Bandcamp: https://sacredsword.bandcamp.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sacredsword_bm/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SacredswordbmStreaming & Purchase: https://show.co/6NLbBBU Contact Management: UndisclosedMain Contact: Sacredsword.bm@gmail.com No public identity. No spotlight beyond the music. Just the signal. Sacred Sword stands as both reflection and warning, a reminder that even in the deepest dark, something still swings back toward the light. Prepare to be consumed. Less

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HELLFROST IGNITES FLORIDA METAL SCENE WITH “BESTIAL RAGE” AND TEASES TWO NEW BRUTAL TRACKS Florida, USA — May 2026 — Florida heavy metal veterans Hellfrost are back in full force, delivering a wave of raw aggression that... More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE HELLFROST IGNITES FLORIDA METAL SCENE WITH “BESTIAL RAGE” AND TEASES TWO NEW BRUTAL TRACKS Florida, USA — May 2026 — Florida heavy metal veterans Hellfrost are back in full force, delivering a wave of raw aggression that refuses to cool down. The band continues to push their signature blend of melodic metal fury and swamp-born brutality with their latest single “Bestial Rage,” now streaming everywhere: https://linktr.ee/Hellfrost The track is a full-on assault of crushing riffs, pounding drums, and soaring intensity, locking in Hellfrost’s place as one of the most relentless forces to come out of the Florida metal underground. Recorded at No Metaphor Recordings in Punta Gorda, FL with Mike Joseph, “Bestial Rage” channels pure instinct and controlled chaos, built for fans of Trivium, Lamb of God, and Shadows Fall. A MESSAGE FROM THE BAND “We are back with no filter. ‘Bestial Rage’ is just the beginning,” says frontman Dave Vainer. “We’ve got more music coming that pushes even harder. This is the next evolution of Hellfrost.” TWO NEW TRACKS IN THE PIPELINE Hellfrost is currently in the studio working on two brand new brutal tracks, continuing their long-running reputation for delivering frostbitten, aggressive metal straight from the Florida swamp. “These new songs are raw with no filter,” adds Vainer. The upcoming material is set for release on all major streaming platforms, with more details coming soon. MERCH DROP To celebrate the release, Hellfrost has launched an exclusive “Bestial Rage” T-shirt, available now for pre-order:https://hellfroststore.bigcartel.com/product/bestial-rage-t-pre-order JOIN THE MOVEMENT Become a Hellion and stay locked in for first access to new releases, studio updates, merch drops, and shows:https://hellfrostband.com FOR MEDIA, INTERVIEWS, AND PROMO zach@metaldevastationradio.com Hellfrost isn’t slowing down. If anything, they’re just getting louder, heavier, and meaner. The swamp is stirring again. WATCH CURRENT SINGLE [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="UopCweXiL4U"] Less