The global farewell of Sepultura, titled Celebrating Life Through Death, has become more than a final run of shows. It is slowly transforming into a high-stakes negotiation about legacy, memory, and the long shadow of the Cavalera brothers.

Few extreme metal bands have carried their name through as many storms as Cradle of Filth. But the latest turbulence is proving harder to contain, as the band faces a wave of public controversy sparked by the sudden exit of two members and the release of explosive claims about contracts, pay, and management.

The drama erupted in August during the group’s ongoing South American tour, when keyboardist Zoë Marie Federoff abruptly quit mid-run. Her initial post was restrained, asking for privacy and encouraging fans to be kind to whoever would step into her role. Behind the scenes, however, the story was far more volatile. In the days that followed, Federoff published parts of her contract, revealing shockingly low earnings and detailing what she described as an unsustainable arrangement.

The extreme metal community bids farewell to Jürgen Bartsch, bassist, principal composer, and sole constant member of Bethlehem since 1991. The news was confirmed by the band’s current vocalist, Yvonne “Onielar” Wilczynska, who announced that Bartsch passed away on August 27, 2025, following an illness. Her statement appeared on Instagram and was later picked up by the international metal press.

Few names in the underground black metal world carry as much mystique and weight as Satanic Warmaster, the Finnish project created and led by Werwolf. After years of selective appearances, the band has now confirmed a series of monumental live dates that will define its resurgence: Metal Threat Fest 2025 in the United States, the Black Metal Armageddon Latin America Tour 2026, and Steelfest 2026 in Finland. These announcements represent not only rare live manifestations but also an affirmation of the project’s status as one of the most uncompromising forces in black metal.

The global metal community is mourning the loss of Nisse Karlén, founding member and enduring voice of Sacramentum, who passed away on August 25, 2025. The band confirmed the news in an official statement, clarifying that Karlén’s death was the result of suicide after a long and private struggle with mental health. The message asked for respect for his family and close circle, while underlining a vital reminder: “Suicide should never be glorified.”

The metal world has been dealt a devastating blow. Brent Hinds, co-founder, guitarist, vocalist, and creative spark of Mastodon, died on August 20, 2025, in Atlanta following a motorcycle accident. He was 51.

The rising force of blackened death metal, Visitant, have unveiled the mesmerizing video for their new single “Briars”, the third and final preview from their long-awaited debut album Rubidium, set for release on August 22, 2025. With this track, the band continue to cement their reputation as one of the most intriguing new entities in the extreme metal underground.

Lorna Shore, the American titans of symphonic deathcore, continue to raise the stakes in 2025. After months of anticipation surrounding their upcoming fifth studio album, the band has now dropped their third single, “Prison of Flesh”, released yesterday, August 14, via Century Media Records. It marks one of the most emotionally raw and musically devastating works in their catalog, adding further momentum to what is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated extreme metal records of the year.

Saxon frontman Biff Byford has revealed that he is undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, a diagnosis that has forced the legendary British heavy metal band to cancel and postpone several shows scheduled for 2025. The announcement, delivered directly to fans, carried both difficult news and a message of resilience: “We never like cancelling shows or postponing shows, it’s absolutely rubbish. But we’ll see you all in November. Keep the faith.”

Bogotá is about to become the epicenter of unrelenting darkness once again. On August 29 and 30, 2025, the Ace of Spades Club will host the second edition of Bogotá Subterránea Fest, a two-day gathering devoted entirely to the raw, uncompromising spirit of extreme underground metal. After its triumphant 2024 debut, the festival returns with a lineup that reads like a hymn to chaos, obscurity, and sonic violence.

Swedish sonic architects of chaos, Humanity’s Last Breath, have returned with “Anthracite”, a track that pushes the boundaries of heaviness and atmosphere. Known for forging the now infamous “thall” sound—a brutal hybrid of djent, doom, and deathcore wrapped in suffocating, apocalyptic textures—the band once again delivers music that feels less like a song and more like an extinction-level event.

Decibel Books has officially unveiled Born Human: The Life and Music of Death’s Chuck Schuldiner, the fully authorized and definitive biography of one of metal’s most transformative figures. Arriving this November, the volume promises an unparalleled exploration of Schuldiner’s life and art, enriched by exclusive interviews, never-before-seen photographs, and a striking cover by iconic metal artist Ed Repka. For the first time, fans will have a comprehensive, inside look at the mind that rewrote the rules of extreme music.

Austrian blackened death metal veterans Belphegor have returned with a new infernal hymn, Sanctus Diaboli Confidimus, released on August 6, 2025. The single marks the band’s first offering under their newly inked deal with Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM), a reunion with industry ally Gerardo Martinez nearly two decades after their first collaboration.

American technical death metal titans Revocation have officially returned with a blistering new single titled “Sarcophagi of the Soul”, the first taste of their upcoming full-length album New Gods, New Masters, set for release on September 26, 2025 via Metal Blade Records.

Swedish groove-death powerhouse Orbit Culture have returned with a vengeance, premiering their ferocious new single “Hydra” on July 29, along with a blistering music video that has ignited fan speculation and critical anticipation ahead of their upcoming full-length, Death Above Life, slated for release on October 4 via Seek & Strike.

Two giants from the darker ends of the metal spectrum are joining forces for what promises to be one of the most intense tours of the winter season. UK legends Cradle of Filth and US death metal pioneers Suffocation have officially announced a co-headlining European tour set to take place in late 2025 and early 2026, bringing together the theatrical ferocity of symphonic black metal and the uncompromising brutality of technical death metal.

The world of heavy metal prepares to say farewell to one of its founding titans. Ozzy Osbourne, the indomitable voice of Black Sabbath and the unrepentant face of metal’s wildest excesses, will be honored this Wednesday, July 30, in a public funeral procession through his hometown of Birmingham, England. The legendary vocalist passed away on July 22, 2025, at the age of 76, just weeks after his emotional final performance with Black Sabbath at the Back to the Beginning festival.

In recent days, viral posts have circulated on social media platforms claiming that Russian authorities have begun persecuting goths, metalheads, and other members of alternative subcultures, accusing them of involvement with satanic or terrorist organizations. While the headlines are alarming, the facts behind these claims are far more complex — and far less sensational.

Swedish warlords Sabaton have officially unveiled their 11th studio album, Legends, due out on October 17, 2025, via Nuclear Blast. This time, the band turns its heavy artillery from the 20th-century battlefields to the myth-soaked past, dedicating each of the 11 tracks to a different legendary figure from ancient and medieval history. The result is an epic, globe-spanning concept record that promises to be as cinematic as it is crushing.