Metal Contraband News For June 16th, 2026:
This week in Metal Contraband:
Hatebreed has just announced their signing to BLKIIBLK Records, with a new album already on the way. Produced by Zeuss (Rob Zombie, Accept, Shadows Fall), the highly-anticipated follow up to 2020’s Weight of the False Self is set to be released this fall, with more details TBA. Frontman Jamey Jasta says, “BLKIIBLK put together a dream team to get behind the new Hatebreed record and we couldn’t be happier — new label, new horizons, crushing new songs. We are beyond grateful and can’t wait to unleash these tracks on the world!” Drummer Matt Byrne adds, “2026 is the year of Hatebreed. This juggernaut as we know it is picking up the pace rapidly and is taking no prisoners. As if 2025 wasn’t enough of a truly busy and successful year, this summer sees multiple European festivals/headline tours for the band, two separate U.S. legs of the Summer Slaughter tour, and a powerhouse of a new record dropping this fall on an awesome new label BLKIIBLK!!! We can’t wait to see everyone on the road!” Hatebreed is heading out on the road next month. Find all the dates and details at: https://www.hatebreed.com/.
Fit For A King just dropped a new single, with “Blood Pact” out now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjSHFRohymY. Frontman Ryan Kirby says of the track, “‘Blood Pact’ is a song that, unfortunately, has become more relevant as time goes on. It’s about how the decisions of people in power affect the rest of us. And how as a human race, we face the reality of destruction, even when it’s not the majority making the decision”. The band is heading out next month with Motionless In White, and you can find all the info at: https://fitforakingband.com/.
Stitched Up Heart has a new single out, with “Medusa”, featuring special guest vocalist Lyric Noel, out now alongside their highly anticipated new album, MEDUSA, via Judge & Jury Records. Check out the track here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDNsO39C2Ew. Frontwoman Mixi explains, “‘Medusa’ is about finally flipping the script on something that has tried to curse you. A battle cry for the women who were betrayed and serving justice by venom with a smile. Writing this song felt like clearly recognizing a betrayal, shedding your own skin, and spitting out the venom that was meant to poison you by claiming your power back. It’s the perfect mirror — I’m not the girl getting gaslit and nauseous anymore. I’m the one with the Medusa stare turning problems to stone unapologetically. I’m not asking for permission anymore. I am here — I’m reborn, venomous, and ready”. Find more on Stitched Up Heart via: https://stitchedupheart.org/.
Rising Insane is collaborating with Accvsed in the new music video for the track “Dark”, which you can check out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVRLV1jRP_c. The band says, “‘DARK’ was actually on the chopping block for the album for a long time before it unexpectedly transformed into a single. When Sven played the instrumental for the first time, some incredible vocal ideas immediately clicked. But as it often goes, initial ideas don’t always pan out the way you hope. As a result, the song ended up gathering dust for a while. Yet, that initial spark from the instrumental version never truly faded, which pushed us to give it a second shot — and that definitive rewrite finally brought ‘DARK’ to life. Being able to bring ACCVSED on board for a feature was an absolute blessing, and we couldn’t be happier with how it turned out”. Rising Insane’s new album Deathrace is set for August 21st via Long Branch Records. For more on the band, head to: https://www.instagram.com/rising_insane.
Destructor is heading to the release of their seventh studio album, Tales of Glory, this week via Shadow Kingdom Records. Founding vocalist Dave Overkill says, “When we started writing for this next record, we worked as a team to write the best songs we could. This process included past members Nick Annihilator and Jamie Boulder / Athenar. Jamie approached me and asked if we could write some music together for old times’ sake. [Guitarist] Mark Hellhound contributed two killer songs and co-wrote a third song with Jamie and me. [Bassist] Tim Hammer, who debuted a song on Blood, Bone, and Fire, contributed two songs for Tales of Glory, as well. And Matt Flammable came up with some of the best drum parts of his career. As I started writing lyrics for the album. I realized there was something cohesive about the flow. I wouldn’t say Tales of Glory is a concept record, but my vision of it being a book of old telling some stories was the best way to present this new album”. For more, visit: https://www.facebook.com/DestructorMetal.
Chart Editor: Munsey Ricci from Skateboard Marketing Ltd.
Editorial By Chelsea Nelson-Fernandez & Munsey Ricci
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