Metal Contraband News For March 10th, 2026:
This week in Metal Contraband:
Venom is heading to the release of their sixteenth studio album, Into Oblivion, set for May 1st via Noise/BMG. This week, you can check out the first single, “Lay Down Your Soul”, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MliONHbEBno. Cronos says, “This album has really pushed the boundaries, but if you want to make a killer album, you pay for it in blood, sweat and tears”, while Rage adds, “I’m so proud of this album, it’s astounding! It feels so different, yet so familiar. The sonics are a step up, no song sounds the same, but they all work together”. Keep up with the band via: https://www.venomslegions.com/.
Epica just kicked off The Arcane Dimensions Tour, featuring Amaranthe and Charlotte Wessels. To celebrate, the band has just dropped a new live video, for “Eye Of The Storm (Live At The Ziggo Dome)”, filmed at the sold-out show for a crowd of 10,000 in Amsterdam. You can see it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0jAKziovR9s&feature=youtu.be. Find more at: https://www.epica.nl/.
Lamb of God is kicking off the Into Oblivion Spring North American tour next week, joined by Kublai Khan TX, Fit For An Autopsy, and Sanguisugabogg. Just before they head out on the road, the band is making a special appearance in Philadelphia for a one-off intimate show set at TLA (Theatre of Living Arts), with openers Fit For An Autopsy. The celebratory event takes place in the city that helped catapult them to fame and served as the setting for their 2005 Platinum-selling Killadelphia album and DVD. The March 15th performance will only cost $15, and fans can request tickets via Ticketmaster here: https://lambofgod.request.ticketmaster.com/Splash.aspx. For all the tour dates and details, visit: https://www.lamb-of-god.com/.
The Quill has just released “Dark City”, the first single of their upcoming album Master of the Skies, set for May 8th via Metalville. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvXk_L6ILAQ. Magnus Ekwall (Ayreon, Mountain of Power) says, “We focused a lot on atmosphere. Some songs needed space and restraint, others wanted to explode — I liked letting the light and darkness decide how far to push it”. Christian Carlsson (Cirkus Prütz) adds, “This time, we didn’t force a ‘Quill sound’ onto the songs. We let each track build its own identity, even if that meant going down unfamiliar paths”. Roger Nilsson (Spiritual Beggars, Arch Enemy, Firebird) comments, “The big difference on this album is how much it came together as a band. Everyone shaped the songs, and the contrasts grew naturally from that”, and Jolle Atlagic (Hanoi Rocks, Electric Boys, Firebird) says, “We experimented more in the studio than usual. Some ideas stuck, some didn’t — but that trial-and-error is what gave the album its movement”. Keep up with the band via: https://www.thequill.se/.
More recently released Destructor, the final production by late producer Chris Tsangarides, which debuted at #2 in the NACC HEAVY 30 and Metal Contraband Adds. Bassist Baz Nicholls says, “It has been a long journey since the heady days of ‘Warhead’ and ‘Blood and Thunder’ but the entity that is MORE lives on. There have been many trials to overcome along the way including the passing of three band members. The turning point came when Chris Tsangarides joined the band, bringing a new sense of optimism and purpose. The magic Chris brought, with his wizardry recording skills and vision, are evident in this production and MORE has maintained that same integrity to have it as heavy and crushing as he intended. MORE are proud to present Chris Tsangarides’ last work Destructor”. Check out the track “Hearts on Fire” here: https://youtu.be/nJj2uB-9S9A?si=SLo8BmRTu3Zsciqu. Follow the band at: https://www.facebook.com/MOREthebandofficial/.
Chart Editor: Munsey Ricci from Skateboard Marketing Ltd.
Editorial By Chelsea Nelson-Fernandez & Munsey Ricci
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