Alcatraz Festival just gave us an early christmas present by adding 32 more bands to the 2026 lineup, making it almost complete with another nice selection of metal icons, underground greats, up-and-coming bands and artists from its own Belgian soil!
Finnish extreme metal act Vanguardian are ready to unleash their debut full-length ‘III: Inhumanity’ (out October 22nd via Inverse Records) — a ferocious, human take on dystopian science fiction. We caught up with Markus and Mikko to talk about the album’s story, the balance between chaos and cohesion, and why imperfection makes their music truly alive.
Finnish heavy psych trio Mount Palatine joined the Argonauta Records family and shared the new single ‘The Sands’ to celebrate the signing!
Primitive Law is set to release their most crushing album to date with ‘Observance’ later this month, out via Relapse Records, but today shared another monstrous and trance-like single with ‘Natural Law’!
Finnish Sonic Rites 2026 just got heavier and darker with the newly added Russian Circles, Pelican, OvO and Helsinki’s own Vestal Climax, joining an already stacked lineup!
The 18th edition of Alcatraz is shaping up to be historic with headliners Arch Enemy and Alestorm, legends like Soulfly, Saxon, Body Count, Rose Tattoo, extreme assaults from Immolation, Internal Bleeding, 200 Stab Wounds, Sanguisugabogg, and modern favorites like Kittie, Northlane, Animals As Leaders, The Ghost Inside.
We’re especially thrilled to see the Belgian flag flying high again with Channel Zero, Amenra, Enthroned, Psychonaut and Mantah on the bill. And let’s not forget our longtime Finnish favorites Luna Kills, making a big step onto the Alcatraz stage!
On top of that, the Prison Stage opens already on the Thursday for the first time ever, and day ticket prices are lower than 2025 right now!
Last week, UK sludgers Mastiff unleashed the new single ‘Decimated Graves’ upon the world, another relentless taste of what is to come with their upcoming EP ‘For All the Dead Dreams’, out next month via Church Road Records!
Earlier this month, URNE announced their new album ‘Setting Fire To The Sky’ to be released in January 2026 with Spinefarm Records and shared the new single and video ‘Be Not Dismayed’!
Day 3 at Tolminator had it all, chaos, doom, filth, and ritual. Insanity Alert, Ahab, Dopethrone, Wolfbrigade, and Rotting Christ tore up the main stage!
Finnish sludge metal band Themata released their new single ‘Colossus’ earlier this month, a track from their upcoming EP ‘Riven’, out in a couple of weeks via Meara Music!
