🔥 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, ANTISAINT , 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, ANTISAINT , crushed the competition with a staggering 29,398 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, January  23rd at 9PM EST! 👇 Who Will Rise as This Week’s Champion on the MDR Battle Of The Bands? 01/19/26 - 01/23/26 Less

METAL DEVASTATION PR CLIENTS CELEBRATE MAJOR FEATURE IN ROCK HARD MAGAZINE Metal Devastation PR is proud to announce a major milestone this month as eleven of its artists were showcased in the latest issue of Rock Hard Magazine, one of the... More

METAL DEVASTATION PR CLIENTS CELEBRATE MAJOR FEATURE IN ROCK HARD MAGAZINE Metal Devastation PR is proud to announce a major milestone this month as eleven of its artists were showcased in the latest issue of Rock Hard Magazine, one of the world’s most respected and longest-running authorities in heavy music journalism. The issue also features Dave Mustaine of Megadeth on the cover and includes specials on Kreator, Therion, SOEN and more, setting the tone for a stacked edition that bridges legacy, present, and the future of heavy music. Within the magazine’s review section, artists represented by Metal Devastation PR earned standout coverage across a wide spectrum of subgenres ranging from blackened thrash to industrial metal, doom, progressive, folk-infused black metal, classic heavy metal, and technical death metal. Below is a summary of the highlights: Gravewitch – Gravewitch (8/10)Praised for expanding beyond raw blackened thrash into a sharper, more melodic and modern form while retaining their caustic edge. Rock Hard highlighted the band’s Skeletonwitch-like groove, wicked vocal delivery, and lethal riff construction. Illusions of Grandeur – Curses (7.5/10)Noted for their theatrical hybrid of classic metal and industrial textures, balanced by thoughtful songwriting and visual-driven concepts. The magazine pointed to their evolving identity and strong potential heading into future releases. Medicine Horse – Medicine Horse (6.5/10)Spotlighted for its unique fusion of Native American cultural themes, doom grit and ritualistic vocal performances. The review emphasized the album’s ancestral storytelling and raw invocation of history and identity. Vulgar Devils – Witches Wheel (6.5/10)Recognized as an unapologetic throwback to early eighties heavy metal, loaded with high-speed riffing and pure old-school adrenaline. The band’s refusal to modernize was highlighted as part of its charm. Cruentus – End Without End (7/10)Celebrated for its uncompromising black metal core blended with thrash and retro death metal elements. Rock Hard praised the album’s cohesion, sincere execution and ability to avoid clichés while staying rooted in tradition. Táltos – Országrák (8/10)Lauded for its blend of fierce black metal, Eastern European folk and political commentary. The review highlighted its ritualistic atmosphere, unconventional instrumentation and bleak social vision. Waves Without Sound – Escape (8/10)Called one of the most exciting new progressive metal projects from Australia. The magazine spotlighted its fusion of metal, electronics, folk textures and world influences backed by high musicianship and emotional resonance. Acerbic – Abhorrent Atrocities Against All Humankind (7/10)Commended for its brutal and technically charged approach to classic death metal. Reviewers noted the band’s overflowing energy, ripping vocals and mature instrumental precision. Monastery Dead – Seeds of Apostasy (7.5/10)Acknowledged for delivering relentless death metal marked by speed, chaos and unwavering conviction. The band’s two-decade legacy and resilience through lineup changes were noted as a testament to its consistency. Philippe Drouin Obvurt – Le Chemin Du Gaucher (7/10)Recognized for its bold double-guitar technique-driven death metal featuring Origin drummer John Longstreth. The review praised the technical mastery while noting its potential for deeper emotional development. The Trousers – Necessary Evil (9/10)The highest-rated title of the batch, hailed for its fresh take on vintage rock, garage energy and melodic swagger. Rock Hard emphasized the record’s personality, memorable songwriting and non-stop good vibrations. Metal Devastation PR extends congratulations to all the featured artists and sincere thanks to Rock Hard Magazine for supporting independent heavy music and showcasing the diversity and global reach within today’s metal landscape. Bands, labels and industry partners interested in PR, media outreach and campaign strategy can contact Metal Devastation PR for upcoming release support. zach@metaldevastationradio.com Go grab a copy here: https://www.rockharditaly.com/ Check out the bands here at these links: https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/25745/new-promo-taltos-unveils-debut-full-length-album-minden-ok-nelkul-tortenik-everything-happens-for-no-reason-black-met https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/28523/metal-injection-spotlights-philippe-drouin-obvurt-as-new-album-le-chemin-du-gaucher-drops-worldwide https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/28343/the-trousers-unleash-new-album-necessary-evil-budapests-hard-rock-heavy-hitters-are-back-with-their-most-explosive-reco https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/28342/acerbic-unleashes-death-thrash-masterpiece-abhorrent-atrocities-against-all-humankind-out-february-2026 https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/26488/new-promo-illusions-of-grandeur-announces-new-single-spine-out-november-7-2024 https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/26125/press-release-medicine-horse-announces-self-titled-debut-doom-metal-album https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/28383/monastery-dead-drop-ferocious-new-guitar-playthrough-for-sick-absolution-as-their-latest-ep-seeds-of-apostasy-continues-to https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/25471/new-promo-vulgar-devils-witches-wheel-nwothm-witches-brew-records https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/28302/gravewitch-unleash-self-titled-album-out-now https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/27528/waves-without-sound-releases-debut-album-escape-a-progressive-metal-journey-from-the-shores-of-sydney https://metaldevastationradio.com/thebeast/blog/27963/cruentus-returns-with-third-album-end-without-end-out-october-3rd-2025 Less

Dimebag Darrell’s Secret Tone: How Tubes, Solid-State, and Rack Gear Made Pantera’s Sound Legendary For decades, guitar players obsessed over how Dimebag Darrell achieved that monstrous Pantera tone using only solid-state amps. Randall heads... More

Dimebag Darrell’s Secret Tone: How Tubes, Solid-State, and Rack Gear Made Pantera’s Sound Legendary For decades, guitar players obsessed over how Dimebag Darrell achieved that monstrous Pantera tone using only solid-state amps. Randall heads became almost mythical—kids spent years chasing that chainsaw grind, convinced transistor power alone was the secret. Turns out, there was more happening behind the curtain. Dimebag wasn’t just playing solid-state. He was stacking tube amps, rack gear, and solid-state heads to craft his signature tone. And nobody knew—until Vinnie Paul finally revealed some of the secrets. Wizard Tube Amps: The Hidden Ingredient Wizard Amplifiers, a boutique Canadian tube brand, were a “secret weapon” in Dimebag’s studio arsenal. According to Vinnie Paul, Wizard heads were used to layer his sound on nearly every major Pantera album, including: Cowboys From Hell Vulgar Display of Power The Great Southern Trendkill Instead of replacing the Randall solid-state heads, Dimebag blended them with the Wizard Metal series. The result? The Randall provided razor-sharp attack, while the Wizard added harmonic depth, roundness, and fullness—a tone that’s impossible to achieve with solid-state alone. Even in the video for Drag the Waters, you can spot a Wizard cab in the background, with the logo taped over to say “Richard,” because Dimebag couldn’t resist a little humor while making history. Rack Gear: The Secret Sauce Behind the Attack But tubes weren’t the whole story. Dimebag’s studio rig also relied heavily on rack gear to process his signal before it hit tape. These units weren’t for effects; they were precision tone sculpting tools that made the solid-state attack more surgical and consistent. The rack units handled: EQ shaping Noise reduction Dynamic tightening Frequency enhancement Subtle modulation and delay Blending the rack-processed signal with Wizard tubes and Randall solid-state heads gave Dimebag that signature three-dimensional, aggressive-but-full tone. This is why guitarists trying to replicate his sound with only a single amp always fell short. The 101 Proof Era: Tube Tone Front and Center If you want to hear the Wizard influence in its purest form, check out the two studio tracks on Official Live: 101 Proof: “Where You Come From” “I Can’t Hide” These tracks feature a noticeably thicker, richer guitar tone—less “chainsaw” and more full-bodied—showing exactly what the tube + solid-state + rack formula could deliver. Why the Secret Stayed Hidden Dimebag’s identity was deeply tied to Randall solid-state amps. He was the ultimate “solid-state warrior,” the middle finger to tube snobs everywhere. Revealing the Wizard layer would have undermined the legend. The truth? Randall heads gave the bite, Wizard tubes gave the body, and rack gear gave the precision. The perfect tone was a studio-crafted, multi-layered beast—and that’s why it took decades for fans to even suspect there was more to the story. The Big Takeaway The razor-sharp, gut-punching Pantera tone wasn’t just solid-state magic. It was layered, blended, and processed with Wizard tube amps and rack gear, giving Dimebag the tools to dominate metal history. For guitarists chasing that tone, the lesson is simple: it’s never just the amp, it’s the whole rig—and the studio wizardry behind it. Dimebag tricked us all, but he did it to make the music hit harder. And honestly, the legend is even cooler knowing how clever he really was. [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="4hx8TW6sYys"] Less

Buried Alive in Southern Doom: Burnt Witch Lights Up The Zach Moonshine Show There is a certain smell to real doom. It is not sandalwood incense or boutique vinyl cleaner. It is cigarettes in a practice space, pawn shop tube amps, and a little... More

Buried Alive in Southern Doom: Burnt Witch Lights Up The Zach Moonshine Show There is a certain smell to real doom. It is not sandalwood incense or boutique vinyl cleaner. It is cigarettes in a practice space, pawn shop tube amps, and a little swamp rot from the Memphis side of the state line. When it is real, it hits your chest first and your ears second. That is exactly the kind of punishment Jackson’s own Burnt Witch delivered when they rolled into The Zach Moonshine Show for a smoke soaked live interview and the world premiere of their single Bastard. The band lineup these days is Dustin Morgan on vocals, James Castellaw on guitar, Matt Page on bass, and Myk Robinson behind the kit. Four guys who did not attend the museum of doom to learn how to act like a doom band. They just made the noise that was in their heads and let it go where it needed to go. How Burnt Witch Came To Be The origin story is charmingly unpretentious. Dustin and James cooked the idea up as a studio thing. James introduced Dustin to doom, Dustin got hooked, and the next thing you know a project becomes a band. Matt was pulled in because James had known him for nearly twenty years and at some point you have to stop pretending it is casual and just start a band. The final puzzle piece showed up from an unexpected direction. Myk Robinson, a self described hermit and owner of Black Oak Productions, came to Tennessee Metal Devastation Music Fest on a press pass just to film bands. He was not a doom guy. Never had been. He caught Sun Mantra’s set, got curious, and next thing he knew he was auditioning for Burnt Witch on drums after answering a drummer wanted post online. He had learned drums years ago because every band he played in kept losing drummers. Old school problem solving at its finest. The band gives direct credit to Tennessee Metal Devastation Music Fest for bringing the parts together. Funny how scenes actually work when people show up and participate. Dialing Tone With Respect For The Ancestors One topic that kept bouncing back in the interview was gear. Burnt Witch has done their homework. They talked fuzz, tubes, and most importantly doom tone culture. The band called out the Does It Doom channel several times as a resource for tone inspiration and pedal knowledge. Any guitarist who has chased the Electric Wizard or Sleep side of the force knows that the Does It Doom channel and pedal line are practically a textbook for modern doom tone. It was nice hearing younger doom bands say it out loud instead of pretending they invented fuzz last year. That attention to tone shows up in the recordings. Bastard and Glass Eye hit heavy from two different angles. Bastard is a cinder block. Glass Eye has more motion and rotation. Both crush clean. The secret weapon is Myk’s insistence on real acoustic drums recorded live in a room. No sample libraries. No trigger grid logic. Doom needs air moving or it just sounds like sludgy MIDI. Myk has a full drum tracking room at his house and teaches Reaper workflow online. He even has a drum editing course through Pro Mix Academy. You can hear the room in the hits and it makes a massive difference. Why Doom Should Hurt One of the funniest detours during the interview came when the guys admitted that Burnt Witch used to be called Dope Glitch. They nearly titled the EP Dope Glitch and the first single Dope Glitch. That is the kind of stoner logic that built this genre in the first place and the universe would not have been mad if they kept it. In the end Burnt Witch stuck and the logo art sealed the deal. Doom is emotional music and it always circles back to Sabbath. The band talked about Sabbath like scripture and Ozzy’s final show like a funeral. That kind of reverence matters. There is no doom without Sabbath and there is no Sabbath without Tony Iommi. The classics are called classics for a reason. The World Premiere of Bastard The broadcast climax was the world premiere of Bastard before it officially dropped at midnight. Thick guitars, venom slow grooves, vocals that feel like they are being exhaled through a cloud of cigarette smoke after a long week. Jackson should be proud. Doom is not supposed to save the world. It is supposed to scorch it one riff at a time. Burnt Witch confirmed the first EP title as Evil Wizard That Smoked Too Much Weed with a release date of February 13. A Friday the 13th drop because sometimes the universe hands you a perfect setup and you would be stupid not to swing at it. Support Your Local Heavy If you missed the live broadcast you get a second chance to be crushed. Just do it loud. Doom played quiet is like whiskey cut with Sprite. Pointless. Burnt Witch proves that scenes are only scenes when real people make real noise. Jackson has something brewing and the rest of Tennessee better pay attention before the western part of the state becomes the doom belt. Crank loud or do not bother. Support your locals. Support the underground. Track List:  Battle of The bands Top Six Winners: 1 - Broken Trinity - Replicating Rebellion/Satanic Propaganda2 - Mistress - Terrified eyes3 - Memories Never Die - Karma4 - The Funeral Procession - The Whispering Dark5 - Ash To Dust - What Doesnt Kill Us6 - Frostmorner - Gorgone The Zach Moonshine Intro 7 - Ozzy Osbourne - Mr. Crowley/Guitar Solo Burnt Witch - Interview featuring Bastard/Glass Eye 8 - High on Fire - Tough Guy9 - TRUCKFIGHTERS - THE BLISS10 - Black Label Society - Name In Blood/Berserkers11 - Zach Moonshine - Barbarian12 - Brutal Death Fuck - Elizabeth...Death Camp 1313 - Moria - The Lake of Skulls14 - Ghost - It's A Sin15 - Aranda - You Don't Wanna Know16 - INFERI - The Rapture of Dead Light17 - Korbo - Sans Maintenant18 - Filth - BODIES19 - KREATOR - Krushers Of The World20 - IMMOLATION - Adversary21 - Temple Of Void - The Crawl22 - Dragsholm - I Am the Impaler23 - Pass the Ammunition - Gutter Full show streaming now at Mixcloud! Check out the interview segment also on YouTube, Spotify, Apple.  [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="xANbfaTAiYg"] Super massive shoutout and thanks to the 106,923 metal maniacs from around the world that tuned into the live broadcast Friday night! Go check them out and support: [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="g19pMLDFEzg"] https://www.facebook.com/burntwitch75 Less

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Metal Injection Spotlights Philippe Drouin Obvurt as New Album Le Chemin Du Gaucher Drops Worldwide Metal Devastation PR is proud to announce that guitar phenom Philippe Drouin Obvurt has just been featured in Metal... More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Metal Injection Spotlights Philippe Drouin Obvurt as New Album Le Chemin Du Gaucher Drops Worldwide Metal Devastation PR is proud to announce that guitar phenom Philippe Drouin Obvurt has just been featured in Metal Injection’s latest Weekly Injection of New Releases, landing alongside genre heavyweights including Kreator, Ov Sulfur, Blanket, Vesseles, Edenbridge, The Supervoid Choral Ensemble, Soen, and more. The feature arrives at the perfect moment as Philippe’s new album Le Chemin Du Gaucher is officially out now and available across all major streaming platforms. Check out the feature here: https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/heavy-new-releases/the-weekly-injection-new-releases-from-kreator-ov-sulfur-more-out-this-week-1-16 Philippe has kept his campaign in high gear with a string of high caliber playthrough premieres that continue to showcase his surgical precision and technical aggression. Recent highlights include premiering exclusives through Slam Worldwide and Brutal Mind, delivering a clear reminder of why Philippe has become one of the most compelling players in the modern extreme-metal guitar landscape. Across the new album, Philippe pushes both technique and storytelling, channeling perseverance, passion, and grit into a body of work that lands with intensity and musical maturity. The response has been fast and enthusiastic, fueled by viral-level guitar performances and a steadily growing audience of shred enthusiasts, tech-death fans, and working musicians who recognize the craft when they hear it. Le Chemin Du Gaucher is out now. Fans of technical extreme music and elite guitar work will not want to sleep on this one. Recommended for fans of: tech-death, extreme metal, virtuoso guitar, and forward-thinking heavy music. LISTEN / STREAM:Available now on all major platforms. Check out the videos below: [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="V6hqLI0DTTQ"] [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="2lORqs3siMA"] [jrEmbed module="jrYouTube" youtube_id="gAkjVrvsjzs"]  For press inquiries, interviews, or coverage opportunities, contact: zach@metaldevastationradio.com    Art by Jon Zig Follow  Philippe Drouin Obvurt : https://www.facebook.com/Philipedrouinhttps://www.instagram.com/philippedrouin_obvurt/?hl=enhttps://x.com/PhilippeDrouin3/status/1801966123916685442https://www.youtube.com/@philippedrouin_obvurthttps://brutal-mind.com/?s=Philippe+Drouin+obvurt&post_type=producthttps://philippedrouinobvurt.bandcamp.com/ Contact: Philippe.drou@gmail.com ABOUT METAL DEVASTATION PRMetal Devastation PR works directly with heavy artists at all levels to amplify releases, secure press placements, and connect them with global audiences who actually care about heavy music. Less

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cathode U.L.T Unleashes “Savagery and Salvation” January 24th, 2026 Midwest sludge unit Cathode U.L.T is about to drop their most punishing and ambitious work yet with “Savagery and Salvation”, set for release January 24th,... More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Cathode U.L.T Unleashes “Savagery and Salvation” January 24th, 2026 Midwest sludge unit Cathode U.L.T is about to drop their most punishing and ambitious work yet with “Savagery and Salvation”, set for release January 24th, 2026. Steeped in the grime and weight of true sludge while pulling influence from doom, punk, and thrash, the trio continues to carve out their sound for fans of Eye Hate God, Crowbar, and High on Fire. Formed in August 2023, Cathode U.L.T wasted zero time making noise. Their debut EP “Coal Horse” (February 2024) introduced a harsh, rust-belt sonic identity. By Halloween of the same year, the band followed up with “Orphan Source”, which quickly won favor among early supporters and helped solidify the group within the Midwest underground. Now barely two years into their existence, the band returns with their third release and most expansive effort to date. “Savagery and Salvation” pushes their songwriting further into dense atmosphere and crushing momentum, balancing raw aggression with bleak melody and dynamic tension. “Savagery and Salvation is the 3rd release from Cathode U.L.T in less than 2 years. And is the most expansive records from them to date.” Cathode U.L.T is:• Sol. E. Williams – Guitar, Vocals• Billy Price – Bass• Stephen Eifler – Drums Produced by Sol. E. Williams and co-produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Josh Ross for Ross Audio Engineering, the record captures a band moving fast and evolving even faster, refusing to wait for permission from any scene, label, or gatekeeper. With no management, no label, and a relentless Midwestern work ethic, Cathode U.L.T keeps their hands dirty and their output heavy. “Savagery and Salvation” marks a defining moment for a band that operates on grit and forward motion. Stream & Download:https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/cathodeult/savagery-and-salvation Connect with the band: https://www.facebook.com/share/16dN6HK5FT/https://www.instagram.com/cathode_u_l_thttps://youtube.com/channel/UCk-hXsE6MkMMIClEgmbnHRAhttps://cathodeult.bandcamp.com Contact: Solo516mon@gmail.com Less