The world of heavy music is doing extremely well these days. But it’d be doing a little better if any of these bands would come back.
Angelcorpse
Angelcorpse was on-and-off active between 1996 and 2017. If you’ve never heard their 1998 record Exterminate (featuring the inhuman drumming of John Longstreth), you need to rectify that immediately. It’ll also answer the question of why Angelcorpse needs to reunite – because their brand of blindingly fast death metal is too damn good.
Arsis
Arsis occupies that strange space between “gone forever” and “still technically active.” The Virginia melodic death metal outfit dropped their last full-length Visitant in 2018, and their last show was January 2019. Since then it’s been all silence. Arsis was (is?) one of the best American melodic death metal bands and they need to come back.
Blotted Science
Blotted Science was Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster, Watchtower guitarist Ron Jarzombek, and Alkaloid drummer Hannes Grossmann. Blotted Science put out their only album The Machinations of Dementia in 2007, an EP called The Animation of Entomology in 2011, and that was that. Blotted Science just petered off into total silence.
Bolt Thrower
After 2005’s Those Once Loyal, Bolt Thrower‘s plans for a follow-up were officially scrapped in June 2008. The band simply wasn’t satisfied with the material. Then in 2015, drummer Martin Kearns died unexpectedly. Bolt Thrower quietly entered hiatus until one year later, on September 14, 2016 — the first anniversary of Kearns‘ passing — the band said they were no more.
We’re very likely (and understandably) never getting a Bolt Thrower reunion, but it’s still nice to dream.
Burning Inside
Burning Inside – the band featuring drummer Richard Christy (ex-Control Denied, ex-Death, etc.) – released an incredible demo in 1995 followed by two albums in 1999 and 2001. Burning Inside would eventually release a digital-only independent EP in 2007, and then broke up. If you’re into technical death metal, Burning Inside should not be missed.
Dead in the Dirt
Atlanta-based grind band Dead in the Dirt only had one album, but it was entirely too good to be without a followup. Dead in the Dirt released The Blind Hole in 2013, which was so vicious that it destroyed the band. Not really – it’s not actually clear what happened to Dead in the Dirt, but they need to come back.
Every Time I Die
Listen. You and I know this is never happening. Keith Buckley has Many Eyes; Jordan Buckley, Stephen Micciche, and Clayton Holyoak have Better Lovers; Andy Williams has Atomic Rule (and wrestling), and I’m not sure any of them speak to Keith. But man, can you imagine how insanely hard an Every Time I Die reunion show would go?
Faith No More
Faith No More‘s story is one of frustration and loss. Canceled 2021 tour dates due to Mike Patton‘s mental health struggles morphed into a full-year hiatus in 2022. Meanwhile, Mr. Bungle bounced back, playing stages around the world. Faith No More never quite recovered. As Roddy Bottum put it: “I don’t think anyone’s sort of up for it at this point.”
In Solitude
Before occult rock was a whole major thing, In Solitude was holding down the fort. In Solitude released three critically acclaimed albums between 2008 and 2013, all of which are stone cold bangers. At the time of their breakup, In Solitude said in part: “The reasons for our departure are not hostile in any sense and our love for each other and the music is stronger than ever before.” So maybe we’ll get this reunion someday?
Kyuss
Kyuss haven’t reunited since their 1995 breakup, despite occasional hints from Josh Homme. In 2020, Homme suggested a reunion might be possible, with drummer Brant Bjork later reaching out in response — but communication stalled, leaving fans in limbo. I’m guessing Kyuss probably gets offers from festivals every single year for astronomical amounts of money, so maybe it’ll all come together someday?
Necrophagist
Listen, I had to get my yearly complaint in about Necrophagist. I know it’s February. Fight me.
Repugnant
Ghost frontman Tobias Forge used to have a great death metal band called Repugnant. The band was founded by Forge under the name Mary Goore in 1998, broke up in 2004, and posthumously released their only record Epitome Of Darkness in 2006. It’s one hell of a record, and I personally would welcome some Forge-related death metal.
Skeletonwitch
Skeletonwitch never technically broke up. They just vanished. After their 2018 record Devouring Radiant Light, longtime drummer Dustin Boltjes left, vocalist Chance Garnette had already been replaced in 2015, and the band went silent. Last we heard from Skeletonwitch was a comment left in response to a fan in 2023 saying they’re “still a thing. Taking our time on the next one.”
Sleep
Sleep – active from 1990 to 1998, 2009 to 2019, and then 2022 to I’m assuming now? On October 26, 2021, the band announced a return to live shows in April 2022. In an Instagram post dated January 30, 2025, drummer Jason Roeder announced he had been fired from the band by its manager in November of the previous year, and that he had not spoken to the other members of the band in the months leading to his firing.
So who knows what that means and why – if they’re inactive – Sleep chose to fire Roeder.
Trap Them
Trap Them was one of the best American metal bands, period. Their brand of Boss HM-2 hardcore punk and death metal was incredible, and their overall melodic structures can only be described as “nausea-inducing”. Trap Them played three farewell shows in 2017, never issued a statement about it, and called it a day. Come on back!
