When Alissa White-Gluz first joined Swedish melodic death metal group Arch Enemy in 2014, she was stepping into some big shoes – her predecessor Angela Gossow had raised the bar incredibly high for female death metal vocals. White-Gluz in turn lifted the bar higher, bringing both guttural screams and powerful clean singing in one package, providing the band a new edge to their sound across 11 years and 4 studio albums. Upon leaving Arch Enemy in November last year, White-Gluz directed her attention to her solo efforts under the simple moniker ‘Alissa’, as well as founding all-female group Blue Medusa.

DragonForce meanwhile have continued to release technical power metal albums packed with their frantic guitar noodling since breaking into the mainstream with 2006 hit ‘Through The Fire And Flames’. The song gained cult status, especially following its inclusion as one of the most difficult tracks on 2007 video game ‘Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock’, and the 2005 album ‘Inhuman Rampage’, of which it was the lead single, has been acclaimed as one of the most important power metal albums by both Metal Hammer and Loudwire. With ‘Inhuman Rampage’ marking its 20th anniversary last year, the group have been gearing up to celebrate the milestone in style.

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DragonForce announced White-Gluz’s arrival today, posting that they welcome her as “the band’s newest member and first frontwoman”. Both acts have worked together in the past, with Alissa providing guest vocals on a remixed version of DragonForce’s track ‘Burning Heart’ in 2025. She will slot in alongside their continuing lead singer Marc Hudson, her harsh growls and low singing voice complimenting his soaring melodic wails, with the post also revealing she will join them for live duties starting this week. White-Gluz’s tenure with the band begins with US shows at Welcome To Rocksville on Saturday the 9th of May, and Sonic Temple on the 17th.

In a statement, DragonForce guitarist Herman Li remarked “Alissa joining the band is an expansion of everything we’ve done up to this point. 20 years is a long time to do anything, let alone survive the music industry and still be so inspired to continue doing what we love. Together we will honour what made Inhuman Rampage matter, while showing people exactly where we’re going next. Having Alissa in the room changes everything. She doesn’t just sing, she makes all aspects of our music better. And she sounds incredible live! I can’t wait for the fans to see her and hear what we have been working on.” White-Gluz also added “I am beyond excited to be bringing such iconic music to life with these amazingly skilled musicians in such a fun and inspiring environment. It feels great to showcase all the colours of my voice and utilise all my singing styles in technically challenging, deeply energising, highly addictive songs.”

DragonForce have confirmed plans for more shows in support of ‘Inhuman Rampage’’s 20th birthday, as well as new music to be announced soon. For Alissa White-Gluz, the year is already phenomenally busy – Blue Medusa released debut single ‘Checkmate’ in March, and her first solo album is rumoured to release later this year after she dropped her debut Alissa track ‘The Room Where She Died’ last November.

Loathe formed in Liverpool in 2014, and were put on the radar of many after debut album ‘The Cold Sun’ earned them best new band nominations at both the Metal Hammer Golden Gods and Heavy Music Awards in 2018. From there, they perfected their adventurous spin on metalcore, nu metal and djent on ‘I Let It In and It Took Everything’, an album which shot Loathe straight to the upper echelons of the UK’s alternative music scene. Inspired by bands like Deftones, Korn and Slipknot, whose unorthodox approach to heavy music led the nu metal culture in the 2000s, the album has already inspired droves of new bands in the 2020s.

Since the release of ‘I Let It In and It Took Everything’, the band followed it up with ambient companion LP ‘The Things They Believe’ in 2021, and concert recording ‘Audiotree from Nothing’ in 2023 which showcased the energy of their live performances. The last studio update came when they cancelled their 2022 tour dates to concentrate on writing their fourth album, leaving fans rabid for updates. In 2024, Loathe confirmed the album would be out in 2025, and when single ‘Gifted Every Strength’ dropped last May alongside live performances of a then-unknown song, speculation became rife that the album was just around the corner – however a solid announcement didn’t come until this Monday, the 27th of April 2026.

New single ‘Revenant’ was the first thing to be revealed, confirmed to be the mystery song the band was playing live last year. Featuring Eric Balderose and Jami Morgan of US alt-metallers Code Orange, performing here under their new side project NOWHERE2RUN, ‘Revenant’ is a harsh, noisy blast of overdriven bassy grooves, a blistering attack on the ears. While other Loathe tracks ease up the pace with atmospheric interludes and melodic clean vocals, this one revels in being as brutal and dissonant as it can be.

After the release of the single Loathe wasted little time in presenting ‘A Stranger To You’ to the fans. According to news site Lambgoat, the album has been produced and engineered by the band alongside Ed Al-Shakarchi, who has previously worked with acts like Action Bronson and Imogen Heap. The full track listing including ‘Revenant’, ‘Gifted Every Strength’ and another unreleased track they’ve played live named ‘اثينا’, looks like this:
 
1. Entrance
2. Block Of Flats
3. Fortress Down
4. Gemini
5. Nothing Like The Knife
6. Harder To Pretend
7. اثينا
8. Revenant
9. The Way It Breaks
10. Meet My Maker
11. Fangs
12. The Ladder
13. Gifted Every Strength
14. No Stranger To You…

‘A Stranger To You’ releases via Sharptone Records on the 17th of July, with streaming pre-save links here and official pre-orders here. Loathe are playing live across Australia through May, before returning to Europe for a festival tour in June including Manchester’s Outbreak Fest. Earlier today, they announced a run of US dates for this September and October, with tickets for that on sale on Friday the 1st of May.

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UK heavy metal heavyweights Sylosis have released their latest track ‘Erased’, from upcoming studio album ‘The New Flesh’.

The band, formed in Reading in 2000, have thus far released 6 studio albums, with their last major output being 2024’s EP ‘The Path’. After their fourth LP, 2015’s ‘Dormant Heart’ , the band’s future was in limbo. Frontman Josh Middleton was drafted in as UK scene cohorts Architects’ new guitarist, in the wake of the tragic passing of their lead guitarist and head songwriter Tom Searle. Since leaving Architects and directing his focus back to Sylosis full time in 2023, the music from Middleton and co. has come thick and fast, always exceedingly heavy. So far this is the second single from the new album, following on from title track ‘The New Flesh’, which came out in November.

Sylosis have long been a pillar of the British metal scene, a benchmark of how complex and creative extreme music can aspire to be. Their sound tends to fall somewhere on the heavier end of thrash metal, though as time has passed they have adopted punky rhythmic elements, and their last two singles show traces of slowed-down groove akin to Pantera. With ‘Erased’, they channel this sound into a crushing 4 minutes and 6 seconds of pummeling beats, chugging guitars and anthemic vocals, building up to a sludgy, satisfying ending.

The hallmark of their sound has typically been vocalist, lead guitarist and chief songwriter Josh Middleton’s harsh screams, pounding riffs, and wailing guitar leads, coupled with the brutally precise drumming of Ali Richardson, also of Scottish band Bleed From Within fame. However, following the departure of long-time rhythm guitarist Alex Bailey last year, they underwent a reshuffle, with bassist Conor Marshall moving to rhythm guitar and touring guitarist Ben Thomas taking on permanent bass duties.

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Middleton, who as sole founding member, has typically been the creative director of the band, appears to be loosening the reins somewhat for ‘The New Flesh’. In an Instagram Q&A post with all of the band members, he expresses that it is “the most collaborative album that we’ve done” and describes the recording process as being “super fun”, with all 4 members tracking it together.

One major focus of ‘The New Flesh’ is an emphasis on taking it from the studio to the stage. In a statement published by the band’s record label, Nuclear Blast, the band wrote “The New Flesh, and the songs that will follow from the album, have been written with the live environment in mind. There is an energy running through these songs that we’ve never felt on a Sylosis album, until now. We’ll see you all in 2026.”

 

 

 

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To that end, they will be touring Europe and the UK in support of the album. The album’s release coincides with the first British date of the tour, both falling on the 20th of February this year. They will be playing the O2 Kentish Town Forum in London on the 20th, O2 The Ritz in Manchester on the 21st, and The Academy in Dublin on the 22nd of February. ‘Erased’ is available now on streaming, with physical and digital versions of album ‘The New Flesh,’ available for preorder through Nuclear Blast’s store and the band’s own website.

The news comes just after the Steel City rockers announced that their fourth album will be dropping on June 20. In a press release, frontman Alex Taylor shared his enthusiasm for the Malevolence tour: “We are very excited to announce the biggest headline tour of career yet,”

“It’s absolutely insane to us that we are booked in these huge, historic and legendary venues, and we need all of your support to prove to the world of metal that we are capable to smash them as a headliner.”

BIGGEST MALEV SHOWS OF ALL TIME

INSANE LINE UP COMING SOON

Tickets on sale 10am Friday
02 Priority 10am Wednesdayhttps://t.co/2cd9uM4r95 pic.twitter.com/4QnMG2VePk

— MALEVOLENCE (@MalevolenceRiff) March 24, 2025

Supporting acts are yet to be announced, but Taylor has promised fans “the sickest support bill we could possibly find, featuring some of the coolest current bands from across the world – with the goal of creating the biggest and baddest Malev show of all time.”

Malevolence recently gave a release date for their new album, ‘Where Only The Truth Is Spoken’, due to drop on June 20 via MLVLTD/Nuclear Blast. In an interview with Kerrang, the group called it a “level up in every sense – musically, lyrically and visually.”

The new album was recorded in California at Dave Grohl’s renowned Studio 606, and tracked through the legendary Neve 8079 – the same desk that produced classic records such as Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ and Fleetwod Mac’s ‘Rumours’. They also recruited Grammy-winning producer Josh Wilbur, who has worked before with bands like Lamb Of God, Gojira and Trivium.

The band have currently released one single from the album, called ‘It’s All The Same To You’. The video for it features actor Alan Ford, who’s known for his roles in films and shows such as Snatch and Eastenders.

They added: “This was our first time recording outside the UK, and doing it in LA with Josh Wilbur was fun and refreshing. He’s worked with some of the biggest names in metal, and his approach pushed us to challenge new heights. The production, the songwriting, the videos – everything about this record is bigger, heavier and more refined.

“Everything in Malevolence is, and always has been, a team effort and I feel like everyone really delivered on this record. To everyone who supports what we do, thank you. It goes without saying that we wouldn’t be in this position if it wasn’t for your overwhelming support. I’m excited to see where the journey goes next!”

A press release promises that ‘Where Only The Truth Is Spoken” will be an anthemic, grand affair that reflects the principles of honesty, loyalty and integrity that they’ve held on to since their formation.

Malevolence are currently touring the U.S. supporting Counterparts, and will be supporting Alpha Wolf in Australia afterwards. Malevolence UK tour tickets will go on sale Friday, March 28 – you can view those here.

Oh you’re in for a treat this November. @ITHACABAND will be performing ‘They Fear Us’ in its entirety!

Tickets on sale 9am Friday. I know, it’s early so set those alarms, grab your coffee and make sure you get in there ASAP. pic.twitter.com/xO34O2lbzm

— The Dome (@DomeTufnellPark) May 11, 2023

Described by the band as a theatrical spectacular, the band promises a night to remember for hardcore fans as they perform They Fear Us in its entirety along with featured special guests. Among the guests already announced are Susie Wedderburn, Hannah Ashman, Calum Muir and Yansé Cooper. Further guests are yet to be announced by the band.

The band’s second full length studio album, They Fear Us made Ithaca a hardcore household name and announced a new, formidable voice onto the scene. Fronted by bold, self-assured singer Djamila Boden Azzouz, the band invites the listener to come to terms with social issues that plague society, such as racism and sexism while reminding that it is really a sense of community that allows healing and self discovery to thrive. Mixed in with an aggression that is palpable to any fervent fan of the genre and you have the recipe for a potentially era defining act that is sure to take metalcore to new heights.

Critics have also taken note, as the band’s sophomore effort has received glowing reviews- most singling out Azzouz’s deft handling of vocal duties, trading between clean melodic singing and gut punching screams that are woven seamlessly together amid soaring guitars and pummelling drums.

Chatting with the Guardian shortly after They Fear Us‘ release, Azzouz said of the album, “there’s a wide range of influences that went into the look of the album, from 70s retro to queer fashion. The objective was to be disruptive and make people go: ‘that’s a metal band?!”

Indeed, They Fear Us is about confronting demons and, most importantly for the band, getting back up again. “It’s about going down to the deepest place, but then rebuilding,” Sam Chetan-Welsh said in an interview. “And actually, although it’s at times an extremely dark album, I think there is actually quite a lot of optimism, particularly as it crests towards the end.”

This summer, Ithaca will be playing two UK based festivals, including 2000Trees in Cheltenham and Right To Roam in Bolton as well as the famous Roskilde Festival in Denmark.

The one night only They Fear Us show will take place on 25th November 2023 but tickets will go on sale at 9am tomorrow, Friday 12th May.

Find Ithaca UK Festival tickets here. For Roskilde Festival tickets here.

Ithaca UK Festival Tour:

05-09/07/2023 – 2000Trees 2023 – Upcote Farm, Cheltenham
07-08/07/2023 – Right To Roam 2023 – Town Centre Bolton

Ithaca Roskilde Festival

29/06/2023 – Roskilde Festival – Roskilde, Denmark