It’s a sad day for the Decibel family, as one of our own has suffered a tragic loss. Many readers will recall our interview with Krieg frontman and Decibel contributor Neill Jameson, in which he detailed his wife Nikki’s long battle with cancer, his daughter’s autism diagnosis, and a tidal wave of disasters with his house and financial situation. The interview, along with Neill’s updates via Substack and social media, present a harrowing picture of a family persevering against terrible odds. Any reader with a conscience couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the compounding catastrophes, outraged at the sheer injustice of the situation, or amazed by the strength, grace, and determination that both Neill and Nikki displayed through it all.

On Wednesday, July 29, one part of that chapter came to a close, as Nikki Sansoni passed away peacefully. She was 45. Please read Neill’s wonderful tribute to her and how music was such an important part of her life. There are no words that can express the enormity of grief he must feel, along with the vertigo that comes from no longer being someone’s primary caretaker. It’s a cruel trick for life to play by taking a weight off your shoulders while also leaving a giant void in your soul. I hope Neill knows that all of us are with him, and that although he bears a burden all his own, he doesn’t have to carry it on his own.

The one time I saw Neill and Nikki together was at Maryland Deathfest back in 2017. I’d gotten to know Neill a few years earlier and it was great to have a chance to have some beers with the two of them outside of Ram’s Head. I distinctly remember Nikki jumping with excitement over getting to see October Tide and just being full of happy, bubbly and positive energy — which of course made for an amusing contrast to Neill, characteristically morose, sarcastic and cynical as always. But of course, this contrast made for a natural chemistry that was immediately evident, as was their affection for each other. I remember feeling happy for them, as there was a very clear sense that “This is a really good thing.”

Having followed the story closely in the years since, I’m very grateful to have this memory.

Those moved by the story should go to the GoFundMe page to help with final expenses and to give Neill and his daughter, Vale, a chance to move forward with peace.

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As Bright As The Stars – Celestial Ascension

Gonna be honest here and admit I was mainly drawn to this album because the cover depicts an angel petting a cat. This alone would make it a winner in my book, but I also think the music is worth a listen. At this point, more than 10 years after Sunbather and the endless fights over the validity of blackgaze and post-black metal, we’re all better off judging individual efforts on their own merits. And to that point, As Bright As The Stars is a project fully committed to making emotive, thought-provoking, thunderous music very much in line with post-black metal acts like Alcest, Lantlôs and post-rock outfits like Caspian and God Is An Astronaut. According to H., the man behind the project, Celestial Ascension explores “themes of spirituality and transcendence.” Indeed, those words perfectly describe the ideas that come to mind when listening to a song like “Void of Light,” a track that captures both a sense of power and overcoming and the great question of “What does it all mean?”

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Ceremonial Worship – Between Sleep and Death

High-quality Greek black metal from the always top-tier label Eternal Death. The band is firmly rooted in classic Hellenic black metal, but specifically calls out lesser-known bands like Kawir and Nocternity as influences on this record. Being a huge fan of Nocternity myself (especially En Oria and Onyx), I can definitely hear Ceremonial Worship invoke the same spirit of mysterious darkness on Between Sleep and Death. That said, the band is far from a simple retread of past black metal glory, carving their own path through a blend of melody, chaos and aggression that makes this album one of the year’s essential black metal listens.

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Gast – Förbannelser

Dark, energetic black metal violence from Sweden. Highly recommended listening for fans of melodic blackened death metal, but who like the emphasis to be heavier on the death metal side. The atmosphere certainly has a black metal coldness, but the riffs are “OUGH!” all the way.

Stream: Apple Music

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Hexorcist – Crucificial Imprecations

Is crucificial a word? I guess it is now! I’m willing to grant a lot of grammatical license to any band that channels early Morbid Angel so perfectly but can still keep the tunes sounding fresh. Will be music to the ears of anyone who likes Angelcorpse, Profanatica and Nunslaughter as well.

Stream: Apple Music

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Nothingness – Godslaughter

And now for something a little different, but no less brutal. In a world of interchangeable neo-OSDM also-rans, it’s always refreshing to hear a band that knows how to chop things up the right way — and understands that death metal is more than just a bunch of e-string riffs cobbled together over the same drum patterns over and over again. This is great stuff.

The post Five For Friday: July 31, 2026 appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Southern doom supergroup Down make their first Denver appearance in over 12 years to headline Saturday night (December 5), while crossover thrash metal legends Suicidal Tendencies will unleash their first Denver headline performance in over eight years on Friday night (December 4).

The already stacked artist bill, presented by BLKIIBLK Records, is rounded out by: legendary DMV grind force Pig Destroyer (performing a special 25th anniversary Prowler in the Yard set); reunited progressive psych sludge institution Kylesa; New York hardcore legends Cro-Mags (performing a special 40th anniversary The Age of Quarrel set); Denver’s own Americana gunslingers Wayfarer; freshly resurrected death/thrash/crust killers Black Breath; progressive sludge crew Intronaut (performing for the first time in over four years); masked mincecore marauders Haggus and Denver doom lords In the Company of Serpents.

But that’s just the (sober) half of it! America’s most metal breweries and meaderies will descend upon the beer capital of America to provide essential suds to the soundtrack of crushing metallic thuds! Presented by American craft beer vanguard 3 Floyds Brewing (IN), the murderous maelstrom of malts includes Featured Breweries—and Meadery—WarPigs Brewing (IN), XUL Beer Company (TN), Brimming Horn Meadery (DE), Bear Cult Brewing Co. (DE), Odell Brewing Co (CO), Zymos Brewing (CO), Mythk Brewing (FL), Surly Brewing Co (MN), Left Hand Brewing (CO), plus pours from Ratio Beerworks (CO).

Daily lineups can be found below. All ticket options for Metal & Beer Fest: Denver 2026, including single-day tickets, are ON SALE NOW!

DECEMBER 4 TICKETS
DECEMBER 5 TICKETS
TWO-DAY TICKETS
THREE-DAY TICKETS (INCLUDES PRE-FEST)

IMPORTANT: We’re already down to an extremely limited number of three-day passes that include tickets to the official Metal & Beer PRE-Fest at Ratio Beerworks (Larimer Street location) on December 3 with Clusterfux,  Axeslasher and Victim of Fire. Full daily lineups below.

DECEMBER 3 (Pre-fest at Ratio Beerworks)
Clusterfux
Axeslasher
Victim of Fire

DECEMBER 4 (at Fillmore Auditorium)
Suicidal Tendencies
Pig Destroyer (special Prowler in the Yard set)
Cro-Mags (special The Age of Quarrel set)
Black Breath
Haggus

DECEMBER 5 (at Fillmore Auditorium)
Down
Kylesa
Wayfarer
Intronaut
In the Company of Serpents

“Just Metal” Ticket (21+)

Admittance to the day’s event, but as the name suggests, you just get to see the show—no beer samples.

 “Metal & Beer” Ticket (21+)

Admittance to the day’s event plus unlimited* sampling from our diverse lineup of national breweries presented by 3 Floyds. Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Denver 2026 sampling cups provided. Limited tickets available per day.

*Please note: In extremely extreme cases, certain high-ABV pours will be ticketed, with attendees receiving a limited number of tickets available to redeem for each offering.

Hails and ales to our sponsors!

BLKIIBLK Records
3 Floyds Brewing
WarPigs Brewing
Relapse Records
Metal Blade Records
XUL Beer Company
Dunable Guitars
Nuclear Blast Records
IndieMerchStore
Brimming Horn Meadery
Bear Cult Brewing Co.
EMG Pickups
Surly Brewing Co.
Zymos Brewing
Mythk Brewing
Odell Brewing Co.
Left Hand Brewing
Prosthetic Records
Infernal Spirits
Tankcrimes
Dark Descent Records
Sauce Leopard
Ratio Beerworks

The post All Tickets Options for Decibel Metal & Beer Fest: Denver 2026 ON SALE NOW! Daily Lineups Revealed! appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

“(This is) a song about the violent apprehension of an attentive mind. What the primitive grey matter inside your head stands endlessly against—in an age where attention and the idea of self is currency,” the band say about the song.

Following up on the chaotic mental landscapes of their previous EP Sinneseld, Köttvärld forcefully breaks out into “meat space,” as the band put it. The album delivers a visceral exploration of identity, purpose, and the deconstruction of the self in an increasingly digital world Köttvärld stands as the antithesis of viewing humans as mere resources, instead reclaiming the self and committing to the raw power of a being fueled by emotion, sense, and nerve.

Preorder the album here. 

The post Video Premiere: God Mother – “Dopamine Wire” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Southern doom supergroup Down make their first Denver appearance in over 12 years to headline Saturday night (December 5), while crossover thrash metal legends Suicidal Tendencies will unleash their first Denver headline performance in over eight years on Friday night (December 4).

The already stacked artist bill, presented by BLKIIBLK Records, is rounded out by: legendary DMV grind force Pig Destroyer (performing a special 25th anniversary Prowler in the Yard set); reunited progressive psych sludge institution Kylesa; New York hardcore legends Cro-Mags (performing a special 40th anniversary The Age of Quarrel set); Denver’s own Americana gunslingers Wayfarer; freshly resurrected death/thrash/crust killers Black Breath; progressive sludge crew Intronaut (performing for the first time in over four years); masked mincecore marauders Haggus and Denver doom lords In the Company of Serpents.

But that’s just the (sober) half of it! America’s most metal breweries and meaderies will descend upon the beer capital of America to provide essential suds to the soundtrack of crushing metallic thuds! Presented by American craft beer vanguard 3 Floyds Brewing (IN), the murderous maelstrom of malts includes Featured Breweries—and Meadery—WarPigs Brewing (IN), XUL Beer Company (TN), Brimming Horn Meadery (DE), Bear Cult Brewing Co. (DE), Odell Brewing Co (CO), Zymos Brewing (CO), Mythk Brewing (FL), Surly Brewing Co (MN), Left Hand Brewing (CO), plus pours from Ratio Beerworks (CO).

Daily lineups can be found below. All ticket options for Metal & Beer Fest: Denver 2026, including single-day tickets, go on sale on Friday, July 31 at 10am MT. 

DECEMBER 4 TICKETS
DECEMBER 5 TICKETS
TWO-DAY TICKETS
THREE-DAY TICKETS (INCLUDES PRE-FEST)

IMPORTANT: We’re already down to an extremely limited number of three-day passes that include tickets to the official Metal & Beer PRE-Fest at Ratio Beerworks (Larimer Street location) on December 3 with Clusterfux,  Axeslasher and Victim of Fire. Full daily lineups below.

DECEMBER 3 (Pre-fest at Ratio Beerworks)
Clusterfux
Axeslasher
Victim of Fire

DECEMBER 4 (at Fillmore Auditorium)
Suicidal Tendencies
Pig Destroyer (special Prowler in the Yard set)
Cro-Mags (special The Age of Quarrel set)
Black Breath
Haggus

DECEMBER 5 (at Fillmore Auditorium)
Down
Kylesa
Wayfarer
Intronaut
In the Company of Serpents

“Just Metal” Ticket (21+)

Admittance to the day’s event, but as the name suggests, you just get to see the show—no beer samples.

 “Metal & Beer” Ticket (21+)

Admittance to the day’s event plus unlimited* sampling from our diverse lineup of national breweries presented by 3 Floyds. Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Denver 2026 sampling cups provided. Limited tickets available per day.

*Please note: In extremely extreme cases, certain high-ABV pours will be ticketed, with attendees receiving a limited number of tickets available to redeem for each offering.

Hails and ales to our sponsors!

BLKIIBLK Records
3 Floyds Brewing
WarPigs Brewing
Relapse Records
Metal Blade Records
XUL Beer Company
Dunable Guitars
Nuclear Blast Records
IndieMerchStore
Brimming Horn Meadery
Bear Cult Brewing Co.
EMG Pickups
Surly Brewing Co.
Zymos Brewing
Mythk Brewing
Odell Brewing Co.
Left Hand Brewing
Prosthetic Records
Infernal Spirits
Tankcrimes
Dark Descent Records
Sauce Leopard
Ratio Beerworks

The post FULL BAND LINEUP REVEALED! Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Denver 2026 Single-Day Tickets On Sale Friday! Last Chance for Discounted Early Bird Tickets! appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

During that time period, This is Hardcore ruled as the United States’ number one hardcore festival. Its 2017 edition, which happened nine years ago this week, featured numerous reunion sets, including some of the aforementioned bands. One of those sets belonged to American metallic hardcore heroes Pulling Teeth, who reunited that weekend for what remains their final show. Their performance, which you can view in full on Youtube, was a celebration of the past and future of hardcore, and a reminder of what the genre should be. 

Pulling Teeth got a lot done in their initial seven-year run as a band but 2007’s Martyr Immortal is undeniably the band’s crowning moment for most listeners. They reunited that night to celebrate the album, which is now approaching its 20th anniversary. At the time, guitarist Dominic Romeo told Decibel of the album: 

“Pulling Teeth was constantly evolving musically from its inception to its demise — and that’s probably my favorite overall aspect of the band. For us, Martyr Immortal came from a time and place where the only thing we cared about was sounding vicious and playing as many shows as possible.”

Musically, the set went off without a hitch; Pulling Teeth tore through Martyr Immortal while throwing in other songs and two Left for Dead covers. Though it had only been 10 years since Martyr and five years since Pulling Teeth broke up, the world felt much darker already, a fact that vocalist Mike Riley addressed numerous times on stage. 

Halfway through the set, before “Rains,” Riley slowed things down to praise bands that have progressive social messages. “All I’m saying is don’t shut the fuck up. You’ve got a voice: use it,” he told the audience. Numerous times, he makes direct references to the policies of the first Donald Trump administration and its attempts to target transgender people, immigrants and others. 

During “Stonethrowers,” the vocalist stopped mid-song to speak to the crowd more directly, challenging them to have a conversation with him after the show. Riley tied it back into the song’s “What are you so afraid of?” breakdown, but it led to a minor viral moment on social media. 

Nine years later and some things have changed while others haven’t. Pulling Teeth have remained inactive, the members pursuing other musical projects, and This is Hardcore didn’t happen in 2026. The message (and the riffs), however, remain vital. At worst, shows like this are a fun walk down memory lane. At best, they’re a reminder of what heavy music can be at its best.

The post Pulling Teeth Played Their Last Show Nine Years Ago Today appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Why the hype?
Both Fed Ash and HIRS find themselves on the cutting edge of modern American grindcore, so it makes perfect sense for them to collaborate on an album together. Fed Ash bring their patented brand of skronky deathgrind with strong Full of Hell vibes and the HIRS influence can mostly be felt during some of the hardcore breakdowns that are disseminated throughout the record. The results are compelling, haunting and unbelievably heavy in a sort of twisted artistic malfeasance that only the northeast corridor of the United States can apply.

Latest release?
I Am Body Horror, available for pre-order on Square of Opposition Records. Another band I’ll throw into the comparison mix is Denver’s Clinging To The Trees of a Forest Fire, most famous for being Ethan’s grindcore trio prior to forming Primative Man. Much like Clinging to the Trees, this record twists and gnashes in a sort of death dance that only the most brave listeners can stomach. What an an excellent release, now if you’ll excuse me, Im going to boof some Sudafed.

The post Blast Worship: Fed Ash & the HIRS Collective appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Burth was engineered and mixed by Shibby Poole and mastered and etched by Dan Emery at Black Matter. It’s set for release on vinyl, CD, cassette and digitally on September 18. Place your preorder here. (And don’t forget to check out the band’s upcoming hometown live dates listed below the track player.)

Vocalist/guitarist Stephen Small described the lyrics behind the track:

“It’s about watching people fold the second an authority figure shows up—the flattery, the sudden agreement, all of it. We see it all the time. This song is us calling it out, making you look inside yourself.”

Yammer Jaw live dates

8/12 — Nashville, TN at DRKMTTR  w/ Latter and Waxed

9/22 — Nashville, TN at DRKMTTR  w/ Iron Lung

The post Track Premiere: Yammer Jaw – “Cuckin’ ’Round” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Dark Waters of Night was mixed and mastered by Jari Lindholm (Enshine, Exgenesis, Seas of Years). It’s set for release on CD and digitally on September 4. Place your preorder here.

Martin Andersson described the construction of the track:

”As with several songs on this album, this one started with Vilhelm sending me an acoustic passage he had been working on at home. I picked up on his initial idea and started adding black metal elements to it, building on the original harmonies. We then continued working on it together, exploring the dynamics between the harsher parts and the atmospheric and ambient sections. The lyrics deal with grief and personal loss, trying to put words on the sensation of the world suddenly disappearing from under your feet.”

The post Track Premiere: Grey Shores – “The Withering Tree” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

This is truly an eclectic day for new releases, as we’ve got standbys like death-doom and death-thrash here alongside some New York Hardcore and classic 1970s revivalism. Perhaps you like one of these styles. Maybe you like all of them! And, well, if you like none of them, why’d you click this article?

Anyway, enjoy!

—

Eternal Mourn – Winds of Sorrow

This album is an easy win for us at Decibel, being giant fans of high-quality death/doom rooted in the classic days of Paradise Lost, Anathema, Katatonia, Eternal Darkness, Ceremonium and all the rest. There’s bits of other influences here as well, as certain parts reminded me of Gorement’s The Ending Quest. This excellent EP is the debut release from Italy’s Eternal Mourn, which hopefully holds the promise of many sad returns to come.

—

Horns of Abomination – Horns of Abomination

Think of Von but hooked up to the entire power grid of the US eastern seaboard. Oppressive, terrifying, and very, VERY LOUD.

Stream: Apple Music

—

JORDSJØ – Pestkrønikene

Man, Dying Victims really does have a little bit of everything in its roster, huh? This is a cool throwback release that summons the ghosts of the 1970s and provides a fresh take on Camel, Uriah Heap, Manilla Road and King Crimson. Although it might not be as heavy as what we usually cover here, the sonic world-building present on albums like this gives your mind an opportunity to seek and find the darkness lurking beneath the organs and rich guitar harmonies.

Stream: Apple Music

—

Madball – Not Your Kingdom

After eight long years, it’s time to demonstrate your style again at last. Madball is a NYHC institution, and songs like “Tethered,” “Stab Wounds” and “Family First” make it clear why. Aside from the melodic flourishes on “Rebel Kids” and “The Ride,” Not Your Kingdom sticks to the band’s well-established program: chord-based guitar grooves and a standard set of rhythms that lay the foundation for Freddy to deliver his sermons.

Stream: Apple Music

—

Ripper – Towards Rebirth

Speaking of bands returning after a long absence, Chile’s Ripper is back with their first album in 10 years. When it comes to thrash, the band knows where to mine for the most valuable gold: the deathy borderlands of Kreator, Sadus, Coroner, and early Sepultura. If the belt doesn’t have bullets, they don’t want it!

Stream: Apple Music

The post Five For Friday: July 24, 2026 appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

The post Old-School MY DYING BRIDE Members Reunite to Celebrate Early Material as TOWARDS THE SINISTER appeared first on Decibel Magazine.