Netflix’s supernatural thriller, “Stranger Things” returns to “Halloween Horror Nights” 2019 at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort, debuting all-new mazes inspired by seasons 2 and 3 of the critically-acclaimed series. This year’s chilling mazes pick up where last year’s mazes left off, continuing the suspenseful storyline where a predatory entity terrorizes the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, and delving even further into the parallel universe, referred to as the Upside Down.  

Chicago’s HARM’S WAY will kick off a US tour supporting Kentucky hardcore punk unit Knocked Loose next week. The pummeling trek will commence on April 4th in Springfield, Missouri and run through May 8th in St. Louis, Missouri. Additional support will be provided by The Acacia Strain, Sanction, and Higher Power. See all confirmed dates below.  

 MEGACRUISE hosted by metal pioneers, MEGADETH, announced the addition of Queensrÿche, Suicidal Tendencies, Death Angel, Sacred Reich, Toothgrinder, and MEGADETH tribute band, MecaniX, to the lineup.  

On April 5th, legendary multinational thrash metallers Exumer will release their fifth full-length, Hostile Defiance, via Metal Blade Records. Hostile Defiance is exactly what its title suggests. A 42-minute full on attack, the thrash faction hold nothing back as they unleash hell as only they can, yet with more variety and dynamics than ever before. “We wanted to sonically progress, incorporating more melodic elements in the music as well as more rhythmic variety,” states vocalist Mem Von Stein. “We are a lot braver trying to create an up to date and relevant sound that can easily stand alone in today’s thrash landscape without sounding trite or a throwback, and we’re challenging the... 

Bay Area thrash metal legends DEATH ANGEL will release their long-awaited 9th full-length album, Humanicide, on May 31st with Nuclear Blast Records. Today, the band has unveiled the artwork, tracklisting and the record’s first new single, the title track, via visualizer. The new record will be preceded by DEATH ANGEL’s U.S. tour with OVERKILL and ACT OF DEFIANCE.  

Congratulations are due to Canadian progressive sci-fi metal innovators VOIVOD for winning a Juno Award (Canadian equivalent to the Grammy Awards) for “Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year” for their current studio effort “The Wake”, which was released via Century Media Records worldwide last September.  

The enigmatic frontman Jeffrey Nothing has teamed up with fellow former MUSHROOMHEAD guitarist Thomas Church and former Motograter, The Browning drummer Noah “Shark” Robertson; as well as vocalist Ian D Sniesak and bassist Kahler Jakee Hatrix from the band SKIN! The group will hit the road in May 2019 with support from JUNK, featuring actor Billy Blair who has appeared in films such as Rob Zombie’s upcoming horror flick 3 From Hell, as well as Alita: Battle Angel, Machete, Machete Kills, The Last Stand, Jonah Hex, and Sin City: A Dame To Kill For, among many more.  

Atlanta, GA’s metal quartet CLOAK have announced additional U.S. tour dates in support of UADA. CLOAK will be joining the tour on April 14 in Detroit, MI and will remain on the run through April 25 in Seattle, WA. After the tour concludes, the band will next be performing a one-off hometown show as support for GOATWHORE on May 17 in Atlanta, GA. Label-mates WITHERED will also be joining the band for this show.  

Sweden’s melodic death/doom metal masters OCTOBER TIDE, feat. ex-Katatonia guitarists Fredrik and Mattias Norrman, premiere the first single from their upcoming, sixth studio album, “In Splendor Below”. The album is set to be released on May 17th worldwide via Agonia Records, while the new track titled “I, The Polluter”  

On May 3rd, Amon Amarth will release their 11th full-length, Berserker, via Metal Blade Records (North America)/Sony Music (International)! For a preview of the album, the video for the first single, “Raven’s Flight”  

Adult Swim Singles have teamed with grindcore luminaries Pig Destroyer for the 31st installment of the current program. “Cameraman” is Pig Destroyer’s first release since last year’s highly acclaimed album Head Cage, which itself was the first album in six years from the prolific outfit. The new single mines a similar territory as the preceding album; an aggressive and sonically rich Venn diagram of grindcore and noise rock with touches of industrial swagger.  

Norwegian black metal titans ABBATH have announced the release of their second full length record, ‘Outstrider.’ The album is set for worldwide release on July 5, 2019. In conjunction with this announcement, ABBATH have released an album teaser.