Between thrash and death metal, I always get a sinking feeling in my gut when a new album comes my way. It’s no secret, but those two genres are filled to the brim with artists who aren’t doing anything new with the genre and create music that aspires to echo their influences. I’m guilty of this, too, but it’s not a crime if it’s intended to be made for the love of music. Scaphism is that band, in which the Boston death metal act set forth to write good death metal because they obviously love the genre. Yet among all the other death metal-worshiping bands out there, Scaphism get something right about death metal that most bands don’t, and that is what sets them apart from the rest of the pack.  

French metal opera collective, MELTED SPACE, will release the epic new Darkening Light full-length on March 23rd worldwide, this week announcing the all-star cast of guest vocalists and musicians and a visual trailer for the album.  

Act of Defiance, the heavy metal group featuring the talents of Chris Broderick on guitar, Henry Derek on vocals, Shawn Drover on drums and Matt Bachand on bass, released their latest full-length album, Old Scars, New Wounds, via Metal Blade Records in September of 2017. Now, in 2018, the band are back on the road in support of their sophomore effort.  

The buzz surrounding legendary metal band Judas Priest’s forthcoming album, ‘Firepower,’ is undeniably growing louder – on the strength of the video clip for the track “Lightning Strike,” as well as many of the attractive/limited edition purchasing options made available for fans via PledgeMusic already being sold out.  

A Perfect Circle release Eat The Elephant, the band’s fourth full-length album and first since 2004’s eMOTIVe, on April 20 via BMG.  

Armored Saint will be heading down to South America for the first time ever! The shows are scheduled for June and include performances in Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and Colombia. The band is currently at work on a set list full of songs from throughout their entire catalog – it’s an event not to miss for South American fans!  

Since its launch in 2012, the annual Decibel Magazine Tour’s ambitious curation has unified artists from around the extreme universe who would otherwise never have the opportunity to tour North America together. The lineup for the 2018 Decibel Magazine Tour continues that proud tradition, as Norwegian progressive metal legends Enslaved join forces with Pacific Northwest black metal heroes Wolves in the Throne Room, Danish post-black siren Myrkur and doomed rock ‘n’ crushers Khemmis (with regional openers in select markets to be announced next year).  

Few rock guitarists have proven to be as influential and enduring as the great Michael Schenker. And March will be a busy month for Schenker, as he will be issuing his latest album on the 2nd, ‘Resurrection,’ as well as launching a North American tour in support of it – kicking off on the 6th at the Fillmore in Silver Springs, MD, and wrapping up on April 3rd at the Ritz in Tampa, FL.  

-Rock band From Ashes To New have released their single and lyric video for “Crazy,” premiering the song on SiriusXM Octane today. “Crazy” is the first single off of their upcoming LP, The Future, releasing April 20th via Better Noise Records / Eleven Seven Music.  

Eye of Solitude and Marche Funèbre, who previously announced their joint “March of Solitude” North American tour this March, have also partnered for a two-song, 30-minute split, arriving Feb. 22 via Hynoptic Dirge/Cimmerian Shades Recordings.  

Influenced by bands like Iron Maiden and Dream Theater to Dragonforce and Angra, NOVAREIGN are the next generation of Progressive Power Metal telling stories in musical literature speaking to a generation influenced by epic fantasy tales, comic books and video games.  Having made a reputation for themselves through energy-abounding live shows filled with nonstop shredding guitar interplay and powerful traditional metal vocals NOVAREIGN will debut their album on Feb. 16th via M-Theory Audio. Legends is an hour-plus of over-the-top, shred-tastic epic, yet melodic, power and progressive metal.  

KING WOMAN announce a Spring 2018 North American tour with Russian Circles. The tour begins March 27th in Los Angeles, travels through 18 cities and ends April 22nd in Chicago, IL. A full list of confirmed tour dates is available below.