Venerated black metal specialists DARK FORTRESS return with a new album, Spectres from the Old World, on February 28th, 2020. After a six-year gap, Germany’s darkest sons continue where Venereal Dawn (2014) left off conceptually. Dark Fortress vocalist Morean states, “together with the rest of the human race, the protagonist reincarnated as a disembodied creature of pure light in ‘On Fever’s Wings’, the last song of Venereal Dawn.  

Roaring into its fourth year, MASS DESTRUCTION METAL FEST has unveiled their plans to infiltrate Atlanta, Georgia in 2020. Carrying on the two-day, single-stage, all-ages format, the festivities will take place November 6th and 7th at The Loft at Center Stage and features a host of metal luminaries including Repulsion, Nuclear Assault, Monstrosity, Massacre (FL), Cenotaph (MEX), Malignancy, Thornspawn, Estuary, and Vimur with more to be announced in the weeks ahead.  

YOSHIKI appeared as a surprise guest last week (Dec. 11) during the Tokyo Dome performance of KISS’s “End of the Road World Tour.” He shocked the audience by performing piano and drums for two songs during the encore of KISS’s only Tokyo show on the band’s “Final Tour Ever.” YOSHIKI will also perform with KISS at their Osaka performance at the Kyocera Dome on December 17, 2019.  

Following a year-long, monumental celebration of the classic, platinum selling album, “Skid Row,” acclaimed vocal powerhouse SEBASTIAN BACH has announced the bash continues in 2020 with a second leg of the tour to take place in March/April.  

After SERENITY set the world on fire with their latest addictive piece of symphonic metal, they are now ready to overwhelm your mind with their catchy second single, “Souls And Sins”, off of their upcoming album, The Last Knight, to be released via Napalm Records on January 31, 2020. Along with an artful conceptualized video, the symphonic medieval warriors capture the spirit from ancient times.  

On February 7th, God Dethroned will release their new full-length, Illuminati, via Metal Blade Records.  

Body Count, “one of the most important bands in punk rap-metal history” (Afropunk), recently announced the March 6 release of their seventh album, Carnivore (Century Media Records), have released the title track, showcasing the song with an animated video that highlights the album artwork:  

New Jersey-based melodic metallists Weapons of Anew will be releasing a new mini-album in time for the holiday season, when the ‘2019 Tour Special EP’ drops on December 13th.  

New Order announce a special Σ(No,5m,20Mia) performance to take place January 14 at The Fillmore Miami Beach at The Jackie Gleason Theater during the band’s four-night Four At The Fillmore residency. This show will include rare songs and arrangements that were featured during New Order’s 2017 Manchester International Festival set. Σ(No,5m,20Mia) is an extraordinary opportunity for the band’s fans to see them perform a number of songs that remained absent from the group’s setlists over the last 30+ years prior to the MIF event. Note: contrary to the initial Manchester performance, the January 14 concert will not include the synthesizer orchestra and art installation.  

Florida hardcore legends, BLOODLET, have released a new track titled, ‘Choking On The Peat’, from the bands upcoming EP release, Viper In Hand.  

Legendary Saxon frontman Biff Byford today launches the video for School Of Hard Knocks. the title track of his first ever solo album, School Of Hard Knocks, which is set for release on 21st February 2020 through Silver Lining Music.  

Wednesday December 11th 2019: KNOTFEST, the music and lifestyle phenomenon created by multi-platinum, genre defining metal band, SLIPKNOT, will once again make history in 2020 with the first ever KNOTFEST UK. The event will take place at legendary venue, The National Bowl, Milton Keynes on August 22nd. Members of SLIPKNOT’s official fan club, Outside The 9, will have a first access pre-sale that goes live on December 19th at 10am GMT; fans can join and get their passcode at outsidethe9.com.