In Metal

In Metal, Mystic Prophecy's thirteenth studio album, is out on 27 November 2026 via Perception, part of Reigning Phoenix Music, and Ward Records in Japan. Ward's CD (GQCS-91798, JPY 3,300 including tax) comes with a Japanese booklet and translated lyrics and has the same ten songs as the international CD. The German band, formed in 2000 by R.D. Liapakis and Martin Albrecht, has three new members here: bassist Tommy Gun, guitarist Dan Baune, known from the NWOBHM band Monument, and drummer Christophe de Combe of Belgium's Fireforce, alongside Liapakis on vocals and guitarist Markus Pohl. Baune and Liapakis produced the album, the "Robots" video credits add that the song was recorded at Noise Foundry Productions, and Henrik Udd mixed and mastered the album. "Robots" came first, on 21 August 2026, with a music video directed by Jonas Sommer; Liapakis wrote the words and shares the music credit with Baune, and the band present the song as asking whether people can keep their humanity in a technological age, and who gets to make the choices. Away from the band, Liapakis has sung with Michael Schenker, and in 2025, BURRN! points out, he fronted Schenker's My Years with UFO tour of the United States. Gus G of Firewind was a member in the band's early years. The album follows Hellriot after three years, and its release was paired with a European tour, the Heavy Metal Mania Tour '26, with Iron Savior and Generation Steel as guests. The international release comes the same day as a jewel-case CD (EAN 4251981720036) and on vinyl, including a limited Armor Marbled pressing.