The 18 news items published in the morning and evening of Friday, August 21, 2026.
The two-day festival runs March 13-14, 2027 at Aichi Sky Expo halls A-D in Aichi, Japan. The first wave of the lineup is ENTH, envy, FIVE STATE DRIVE, KUZIRA, SHANK, TIVE and HANABIE.; doors are at 10:00 and the show starts at 11:00, with each act playing one of the two days.
The last studio album from the band led by Mat Sinner arrives in Japan as GQCS-91782 (3,300 yen incl. tax) with Japanese liner notes and translated lyrics. Its eleven tracks feature guest vocalists including Ronnie Romero, Björn “Speed” Strid (Soilwork), Erik Mårtensson (Eclipse) and Michael Sadler (Saga).
The Norwegian progressive extreme metal band will release “Mið” on October 30 via Nuclear Blast Records, and have shared a music video for the new song “Solar Will”.
Play MVThe American black metal band’s eighth full-length is due on October 23 via Relapse Records in North America. A music video for the advance track “Ghosts Among The Obelisks” is out now.
Play MVThe new film for the IRON MAIDEN singer’s solo track from “More Balls To Picasso” was shot in São Paulo, Brazil in September 2025 with directors Leo Liberti and Antoine de Montremy. It is a companion piece to the reimagined “Tears Of The Dragon” video released earlier this year.
Play MVThe Spanish thrash metal band, formed in 2000, have signed with Napalm Records. The three-track EP holds “Cycle Of Ruin”, “Burn It Down” and a cover of SEPULTURA’s “Propaganda”, and a video for the first single “Cycle Of Ruin” is out now.
Play MVThe Flint, Michigan band’s fourth full-length holds eight tracks and marks ten years since their 2016 album “La Petite Mort Or A Conversation With God”. Longtime collaborator Josh Schroeder produced it.
Play MVDARKTHRONE’s Ted “Nocturno Culto” Skjellum formed AVRAK in November 2023 with guitarist Anders Hegna, joined on drums by Terje Kråbøl. The nine-track self-titled debut arrives via Peaceville, recorded, mixed and mastered by Knut Magne Valle at Mølla Studio in February 2026.
Play MVTaking a one-off detour from their “Take Cover” global stadium tour, the band will fill in for THE PRETTY RECKLESS as special guests of AC/DC on September 8 at The Dome at America’s Center.
“Neil Peart: No One’s Disciple”, about the late RUSH drummer, is directed by Scot McFadyen and Sam Dunn, who previously made “Rush: Beyond The Lighted Stage”.
The guitarist and vocalist, also known for his work in MR. BIG and The Winery Dogs, has released a new solo song alongside an official lyric video.
Play MVThe three shows run January 13 at NHK Hall in Tokyo, January 14 at Okaya Koki Nagoya Civic Hall and January 15 at Grand Cube Osaka. Tickets are ¥16,000 for S seats and ¥15,000 for A seats, on general sale from 10:00 on September 12.
Play videoThe final show of the METAL QUEST EP release tour, at EX Theater Roppongi in Tokyo, will be streamed from 17:00 on Saturday, August 29. Online tickets are ¥3,500 including tax plus a ¥350 service fee, and the archive stays up through 23:59 on September 5.
Timed to the cities on the OUTSTANDING TOUR - JAPAN 2026 itinerary, ESP Direct Shop and BIGBOSS Group stores will display the EDWARDS E-HORIZON-FR Midori Custom that Midori plays. The run opens in Fukuoka and Hiroshima on August 28 and closes in Tokyo at ESP Craft House on September 27.
The birthday event for guitarist Moe takes place at Kichijoji Bar SHUWA-WA in two sets on the day, the first at 14:50 doors and 15:00 start, the second at 17:50 and 18:00. Tickets are ¥11,000 including tax and come with a buffet meal and two hours of free drinks.
The ballad appears on the band’s eleventh studio album, due October 30, and an official visualizer for it arrived on August 20.
Play MVThe Japanese metalcore band, who had been touring with fill-in singers since parting ways with John Robert Centorrino, have confirmed PK as a full member. He joins them on Fear Factory’s European and UK tour, which opens in Vilnius on September 2.
Responding to the suit filed on August 18 in the Central District of California over the “KPop Demon Hunters” name, a Netflix spokesperson said the allegations are without merit and that the company looks forward to vigorously defending the matter. The defendants are Netflix, Netflix Studios and AEG Presents.