Hellripper have premiered a new video for their new song “Hunderpest.” You can check that out below. The track is from the band’s new album, “Coronach,” which will be released on March 27.
James McBain commented on the single:
“‘Hunderprest‘, hits immediately with a chaotic deluge of dissonance, and is what I felt to be the perfect way to open the album — leaving the listener with no time to prepare. Based on the legend of Hunderprest, or ‘dog priest’ – the vampire of Melrose Abbey. The sinful chaplain inherited his nickname because of his habit of hunting on horseback with his pack of hounds. After his death, legend says he was buried in the graveyard of Melrose Abbey; and because his spirit could not find peace, he would rise from his grave when night fell to harass the villagers and his former mistress to satisfy his bloodthirst.
He was eventually defeated when a group of monks from Melrose Abbey exhumed Hunderprest’s blood-soaked body in broad daylight and set it on fire, throwing the ashes into the wind to be sure that the vampire would no longer be able to torment the town. Musically, the track primarily takes influence from a mixture of thrash (Kreator, Merciless, Metallica) and black metal (Watain, Rotting Christ, Tribulation), with a healthy dose of some more ‘atmospheric’ d-beat elements from the likes of Oathbreaker and Fall of Efrafa.”
He also added the following about the album:
“‘Coronach‘ is a personal exploration of Scottish Culture — its music, literature, history & folklore. From Pictish mysteries to Victorian Gothic literature, sinister lore, classic Scottish poetry and modern urban tales, the album tells stories of the country throughout the ages. Inspired by anything and everything from Venom and Mercyful Fate, to Watain and Opeth, to Manic Street Preachers, film scores and traditional Scottish music, the album is a good representation of myself all wrapped up in a nice speed metal package!
Quite a bit of experimentation went into this album, and I wanted each track to contain something that I had never done previously. Whether it be the inclusion of a different instrument, or how a song begins, I aimed to offer some element of surprise in each track. The album, named after the vocal lament traditionally sung at funerals in the Scottish Highlands, encompasses everything the band is about: mixing modern and old-school influences, past and present storytelling, the dark side of Scottish history and my personal interpretation of it.
As always, the writing and recording took place in my home studio, with various other people putting their stamp on a few of the tracks. The album was mixed by myself, and was mastered by Damian Herring at Subterranean Watchtower Studios, and the artwork was done by Adam Burke (Nightjar Illustration). Fàilte gu Alba – Welcome to Scotland!”
“Coronach” Track Listing:
01. “Hunderprest“
02. “Kinchyle (Goatkraft and Granite)“
03. “The Art of Resurrection“
04. “Baobhan Sith (Waltz of the Damned)“
05. “Blakk Satanik Fvkkstorm“
06. “Sculptor’s Cave“
07. “Mortercheyn“
08. “Coronach“
Tour Dates:
01/22 Helsinki, FIN – Tavastia
03/21 Aalst, BEL – Oilsjt Omploft Festival
03/27 Glasgow, UK – Garage (feat. Sarcator)
03/28 Bern, SWI – EmMetal Festival
With Schizophrenia & Sarcator:
04/03 Nottingham, UK – Saltbox
04/04 London, UK – The Dome
04/06 Utrecht, NET – De Helling
04/07 Dortmund, GER – Junkyard
04/08 Hamburg, GER – Logo
04/09 Copenhagen, DEN – Pumphuset
04/10 Berlin, GER – Lido
04/11 Warsaw, POL – Voodoo
04/12 Krakow, POL – Zascianek
04/13 Vienna, AUT – Arena
04/14 Budapest, HUN – Durer Kert
04/15 Munich, GER – Backstage
04/16 Prague, CZE – Subzero
04/17 Mannheim, GER – 7er Club
04/18 Paris, FRA – Glazart
Hellripper:
05/16-17 San Luis Potosi, MEX – San Luis Metal Fest
06/02 Athens, GRE – Kytarro (feat. Midnight)
06/03 Thessaloniki, GRE – Eightball Club (feat. Midnight)
06/05 Emmen, NET – Pitfest
06/06 Maastricht, NET – South Of Heaven Open Air
06/13 Haumptmannsgrun, GER – Chronical Moshers Open Air
06/25-27 Ukmerge, LIT – Kilkim Zaibu
06/27 Campania, ITA – Southammer Metal Festival
08/13 Carhaix-Plouguer, FRA – Motocultor Festival
09/03 Kosice, SLO – Collosseum Club
09/04 Ostrava, CZE – Metal!!! Festival
01/09 Mangualde, POR – Mangualde Hardmetalfest
Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine has announced a new memoir titled “In My Darkest Hour.” The book, which focuses on the frontman’s cancer battle, is tentatively set to be released on September 14, 2027.
Da Capo, an imprint of Grand Central Publishing, shared the following synopsis:
“From King of Metal Dave Mustaine, a powerful reflection on the harsh truths and raw realizations that can only come from confronting death.
Dave Mustaine is no stranger to pain and suffering. He battled demons all his life—including an alcoholic father, addiction, and black magic—and turned fifty-eight believing he’d survived the worst. But in 2019, Mustaine was forced to face the loss of his instantly recognizable voice and the disintegration of his musical talent. Diagnosed with squamous cell carcinoma at the back of his tongue, his entire career—and possibly his life—was about to end.
For Mustaine, it was one more opportunity to fight like hell.
‘In My Darkest Hour’ takes readers from the treatment room to the studio as Mustaine chronicles how his diagnosis inspired him to take up the pen and guitar pick, going from radiation and chemotherapy appointments straight into hours-long recording sessions, resulting in Megadeth’s sixteenth studio album, ‘The Sick, The Dying…and the Dead!’ Along the way, Mustaine details how confronting his own mortality brought him closer to his family, taught him how to ask for help, strengthened his faith, and challenged the vulnerability of his art.
Filled with perseverance, hope, and the determination to never let the bastards grind you down, ‘In My Darkest Hour’ is a masterful portrait of a Dave Mustaine that the world has yet to see, and serves as a moving reminder that even our most invincible heroes are human.”
Hollywood Vampires, the supergroup featuring Alice Cooper, Johnny Depp, Joe Perry (Aerosmith), and Tommy Henriksen (Alice Cooper, etc.), have booked a summer European/UK tour. The Jesus And Mary Chain and The Damned will open the UK shows.
Tour Dates:
With The Jesus And Mary Chain and The Damned:
08/12 London, UK- The O2
08/14 Cardiff, UK – Depot Live at Cardiff Castle
08/15 Scarborough, UK – Scarborough Open Air Theatre
08/17 Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro
08/18 Manchester, UK – AO Arena
08/19 Birmingham, UK – Utilita Arena
08/21 Colchester, UK – Colchester Castle Summer Series
08/22 Halifax, UK – Live at The Piece Hall
Hollywood Vampires:
08/25 Nuremberg, Germany – PSD Bank Nürnberg ARENA
08/26 Paris, France – Adidas Arena
08/28 Cologne, Germany – Lanxess Arena
08/30 Hamburg, Germany – Barclays Arena
09/01 Milan, Italy – Parco Della Musica Open Air
09/02 Este, Italy – Castello Carrese Open Air
The Damned have shared their cover of The Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Summer In The City.” That track is from the band’s new covers album, “Not Like Everybody Else,” which will be released on March 6.
During a recent interview with NME, Slipknot’s M. Shawn “Clown” Crahan offered an update on the band’s new music plans. The band are tentatively planning to work together later this month.
Clown said the following:
“We’re doing the biggest thing we can do right now, which is taking a much-needed break. We’re taking some real human time. Everybody is writing all the time, but we have not got into a place to work on what’s been written.”
He continued:
“It feels very positive and everyone is looking forward to getting back at it.”
Notably, Clown is also working on material that may be used for his “Minecraft” project “Vernearth.” He added the following about that:
“I’m in the studio almost every week making music without any of the usual pressures or expectations, which is very fulfilling. I’ve also gotten back into drums in a big way to make sure I’m ready for what’s up next [with Slipknot]. I’m really trying to take things to that next level. Music is dead important to gaming.”
Leprous frontman Einar Solberg has announced a new solo album titled “Vox Occulta.” The effort will be released on April 24 and it will feature contributions from guitarists John Browne (Monuments), Pierre Danel (Novelists), and Ben Levin (ex-Bent Knee) and the Norwegian Radio Orchestra.
“Vox Occulta” Track Listing:
01. “Stella Mortua” (feat. The Norwegian Radio Orchestra)
02. “Medulla“
03. “Vox Occulta” (feat. The Norwegian Radio Orchestra)
04. “Liberatio“
05. “Serenitas“
06. “Vita Fragilis” (feat. The Norwegian Radio Orchestra)
07. “Grex“
08. “Anima Lucis” (feat. The Norwegian Radio Orchestra)
The following was said about the record:
“The album sees Solberg taking a deeply personal approach, having been an avid fan of classical music and soundtracks for more than 20 years. The lyrics are personal as well, and they make ‘Vox Occulta’ something of a thematic follow-up to ‘16’. Where Solberg’s solo debut revisited the death of his father and his past struggles with anxiety, this set is a warts’n’all portrait of himself and how he views the world in 2026.”
A music video for “Medulla” can be found below. Solberg added the following about that track:
“‘Medulla‘ started with a riff. I had just picked up an 8-string plugin, and it immediately led me to that main idea. As soon as it came together, I knew it had weight.
It felt physical — like something you feel in your bones rather than just hear. That’s where the idea of marrow came in. The song is about the part of me that stayed strong through everything I’ve been through. No matter what happened around it, the core held.
There’s no full orchestra on this track, but it still has a cinematic edge. Chris Baum added real strings, and Keli [Guðjónsson], Pierre Danel, and Jed Lingat bring the song to life on drums, guitar, and bass.”
In other news, Solberg has also announced a tour in support of the album. Here’s the dates:
09/18 London, UK – The Garage
09/19 Paris, FRA – Café de la Danse
09/20 Toulouse, FRA – Le Rex
09/21 Biarritz, FRA – La Rhapsodie
09/22 Porto, POR – Mouco
09/23 Lisbon, POR – Republica da Musica
09/25 Barcelona, SPA – Be Prog! My Friend
09/26 Grenoble, FRA -L’amperage
09/29 Krakow, POL – Hype Park
09/30 Berlin, GER – Lido
10/01 Neunkirchen, NET – Gebläsehalle
10/02 Baden, SWI – Werkk Kulturlokal
Scarhaven have premiered a new song titled “Black Is Light.” A visualizer for the track can be found below. That clip was filmed at The Sultan Room in Brooklyn, NY on December 17, 2025.
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