Wolves have reported “abhorrent and unlawful” racist abuse against striker Tolu Arokodare, who has become the latest Premier League player to be subjected to discriminatory social media attacks.
Arokodare missed a penalty in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat at Crystal Palace and subsequently received racist abuse from several accounts, according to a club statement.
Sunderland later revealed that Romaine Mundle was the victim of similar attacks after his substitute appearance in the 3-1 loss to Fulham.
“Wolves are disgusted by numerous instances of racist abuse, from multiple perpetrators, directed at Tolu Arokodare on social media following today’s fixture against Crystal Palace,” the Midlands club said.
“There is no place for racism — in football, online, or anywhere in society. We condemn this abhorrent and unlawful behaviour in the strongest possible terms. Tolu has our full and unwavering support.
“No player should be subjected to such hatred simply for doing their job,” the team said. “We stand firmly alongside him, and alongside all footballers who are forced to endure this abuse from anonymous accounts acting with apparent impunity.
“The club has reported the posts to the relevant platforms and will work with the Premier League and the authorities to help identify those responsible and ensure appropriate action is taken. We will continue to take a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of discrimination.”
Arokodare said in an Instagram story: “It’s still unbelievable to me that we’re playing in a time where people have so much freedom to communicate such racism without any consequences.
“These individuals should have no place in our game and collectively we have to take action to punish everyone who taints the sport like this, no matter who they are.”
Sunderland said: “The abhorrent behaviour displayed by multiple individuals is unacceptable and will not be tolerated by the club under any circumstances.
“The club is actively working with the relevant authorities and online platforms to identify those responsible, and we will take the strongest possible action available to us.
“These individuals do not represent Sunderland AFC, our values, or our community — and they are not welcome on Wearside,” the team said.
Europe’s governing body, UEFA, last week began an investigation into claims by Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior that he was racially abused on the pitch by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni during a Champions League game in Lisbon. The Argentinian has denied the allegations.
Fofana, who shared images of messages directed to his Instagram account, had earlier offered a pessimistic take on the process.
“2026, it’s still the same thing, nothing changes. These people are never punished,” he posted.
“You create big campaigns against racism, but nobody actually does anything.”
Mejbri had earlier also shared abusive messages he had received and wrote on his Instagram story: “It’s 2026 and there are still people like that. Educate yourself and your kids, please.”
Chelsea said: “We stand unequivocally with Wes. He has our full support, as do all our players who are too often forced to endure this hatred simply for doing their job.
“We will work with the relevant authorities and platforms in identifying the perpetrators and take the strongest possible action.”
Burnley added: “There is no place for this in our society and we condemn it unreservedly.”
Anti-discrimination charity Kick It Out said in a statement Sunday: “Players are standing up to discrimination, and we’ve had record reports to Kick It Out from across football this season, but we recognise the frustration in how it continues to fester online.
“Words matter, but actions are more important. Football is working together to tackle this issue alongside the UK Football Policing Unit and Ofcom, but social media companies must do more to offer protections to players and help improve accountability when incidents occur.”
The Milan Cortina Olympics ended Sunday with a closing ceremony inside Verona Arena, an ancient Roman amphitheater that sits roughly mid-distance between the far-flung mountain, valley and city venues that made these the most spread-out Winter Games in Olympic history.
The 2½-hour ceremony celebrated Italian music and dance, both classic and contemporary, headlining internationally acclaimed ballet dancer Roberto Bolle along with popular Italian singer Achille Lauro and DJ Gabry Ponte.
Some 1,500 Olympians, a bit over half those who competed in the Games, paraded into the monument built in the first century for gladiator fights and exotic animal hunts.
The closing ceremony of the Winter Games of Milan and Cortina in the Verona Olympic Arena.
Michael Kappeler/picture alliance via Getty Images
They entered en masse behind a pair of flag bearers from each of the 92 participating nations, including biathlete Lisa Vittozzi and speedskater Davide Ghiotto for host Italy, and hockey player Hilary Knight and ice dancer Evan Bates for the United States – all gold medal winners.
The United States fielded its biggest Winter Olympics team ever for the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, with 232 athletes competing, and broke the record for Team USA’s most gold medals at a single Winter Games. The U.S. was one of only two nations to compete in all 16 sport disciplines, along with host Italy, according to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.
“These Games showcased the very best of Team USA: resilience, unity and a relentless pursuit of excellence,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said in a statement. “Our athletes delivered a truly historic performance, earning a Team USA-record 12 gold medals and creating moments that will inspire the next generation … That momentum now carries us forward as we look ahead to Los Angeles in 2028, where we’re excited to build on this legacy and welcome the world to our home soil.”
Some 12,000 spectators joined the athletes and officials for the closing ceremony. It was much more intimate than the opening ceremony, which starred Mariah Carey and Andrea Bocelli inside Milan’s San Siro soccer stadium, attended by more than 60,000 people.
Violetta, played by Carolina Lopez Moreno, performs during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics closing ceremony.
Andreas Rentz / Getty Images
The ceremony celebrated Italian lyric opera, which has been recognized by the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO as a global treasure, but also pay tribute to contemporary Italian classics. Both opera and dance are at home in the stone amphitheater, which each summer hosts a popular opera festival with lavish productions and the gala dance performance titled Roberto Bolle and Friends.
Part of the ceremony included a somber remembrance of athletes who have died, although the commemoration, filled with butterfly imagery, did not identify specific athletes.
Earlier in the 2026 Winter Games, the International Olympic Committee kept Ukrainian skeleton athlete Vladyslav Heraskevych out of competition after he refused a last-minute plea from the IOC for him not to use a helmet that honors athletes killed in Russia’s war on his country. The helmet goes against a rule about making political statements on the Olympic field of play, according to the IOC.
“No one, especially me, is disagreeing with the messaging, it’s a powerful message, it’s a message of remembrance, of memory,” IOC President Kirsty Coventry told reporters at the time, according to the Reuters news agency. The challenge was to find a solution for the field of play.”
This was the first Games for Coventry, a two-time Olympic champion in swimming, who oversaw the ceremony alongside Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
One of the key moments of the ceremony is when the Olympic flag is handed over to the next Winter Games host nation, France, and its flag is raised next to Italy’s and Greece’s.
International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry applauds as silver medallist Heidi Weng of Norway, gold medallist Ebba Andersson of Sweden and bronze medallist Nadja Kaelin of Switzerland celebrate on the podium for the women’s cross country 50km mass start final.
Piero CRUCIATTI /AFP via Getty Images
The Milan Cortina Games spanned an area of 8,500 square mile, from ice sports in Milan to biathlon in Anterselva on the Austrian border, snowboarding and men’s downhill in Valtellina on the Swiss border, cross-country skiing in the Val di Fiemme north of Verona and women’s downhill, curling and sliding sports in co-host Cortina d’Ampezzo.
It’s a model that will remain for future Games, to avoid the expense of building new facilities. The 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps will stage events in the Alps and Nice, on the Mediterranean Sea, while speedskating will be held abroad in a venue to be decided.
The closing ceremony concluded with the Olympic flames being extinguished at the unprecedented two cauldrons in Milan and Cortina, to be viewed via video link. A light show will substitute fireworks, which are not allowed in Verona, to protect animals from being disturbed.
A total of 116 medal events have been held in eight Olympic sports across 16 disciplines, including the debut of ski mountaineering this year, over the course of 17 days of competition.
The Milan Cortina Paralympics’ opening ceremony will also take place in the Verona Arena, on March 6, and the Games will run until March 15.
Rhino Records is set to release Breaking Out Of Heaven2007-2009, a career-spanning collection highlighting the final chapter of Ronnie James Dio‘s legendary reunion with Black Sabbath members under the Heaven & Hell banner. The set arrives March 27 in both 7LP and 4CD/Blu-ray boxed editions, each featuring an illustrated book with new liner notes by Hugh Gilmour, a replica tour book, and poster.
The collection covers the band’s triumphant 2007–2009 reunion, which reunited Dio with Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Vinny Appice decades after their original run. It includes performances from the Live From Radio City Music Hall show, the Top 10 studio album The Devil You Know, and the live album Neon Nights: 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell – Live At Wacken, recorded during their 2009 European tour.
Highlights of the release include:
First-ever vinyl release of the complete Live From Radio City Music Hall performance.
Eight tracks making their vinyl debut, including studio tracks from The Dio Years and select live recordings.
Blu-ray content with HD-upscaled video of Bible Black, plus additional live shows and interviews with the band.
The entire box set runs as follows:
Disc One: The Devil You Know
“Atom and Evil”
“Fear”
“Bible Black”
“Double The Pain”
“Rock And Roll Angel”
“The Turn Of The Screw”
“Eating The Cannibals”
“Follow The Tears”
“Neverwhere”
“Breaking Into Heaven”
Bonus Tracks from The Dio Years
“The Devil Cried”
“Shadow Of The Wind”
“Ear In The Wall”
Disc Two & Three: Live from Radio City Music Hall
“E5150 / After All (The Dead)”
“The Mob Rules”
“Children Of The Sea”
“Lady Evil”
“I”
“The Sign Of The Southern Cross”
“Voodoo”
“The Devil Cried”
“Computer God”
“Falling Off the Edge Of The World”
“Shadow Of The Wind”
“Die Young”
“Heaven And Hell”
“Lonely Is the Word”
“Neon Knights”
Disc Four: Neon Nights: 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell
“Mob Rules”
“Children Of The Sea”
“I”
“Bible Black”
“Time Machine”
“Fear”
“Falling Off The Edge Of The World”
“Follow The Tears”
“Die Young”
“Heaven And Hell”
“Neon Knights”
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Shortly after winning America’s first gold medal in men’s hockey in 46 years, members of Team USA honored Johnny Gaudreau, a former Team USA member who tragically died in August of 2024.
Zach Werenski, who played alongside Gaudreau during his final NHL seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets, held up Gaudreau’s Team USA jersey along with team captain Auston Matthews and assistant captain Matthew Tkachuk shortly after he fed Jack Hughes for the game-winning goal against Canada.
The gesture occurred with members of Gaudreau’s family looking on in the stands.
After receiving their gold medals, Werenski and Dylan Larkin, who played with Gaudreau at multiple world championships, brought Gaudreau’s young children out to the ice for a team photo.
“It means everything — we all know he should be here with us,” Larkin said of Gaudreau prior to the gold medal game. “He should be with us. We love him, and I like that we continue to think about him and I wouldn’t imagine it any other way.”
Getty Images
Johnny and his younger brother Matthew Gaudreau were killed after being stuck being an alleged drunk driver while cycling in New Jersey. Like his older brother, Matthew Gaudreau was also an accomplished hockey player who played professionally in the AHL and ECHL before becoming a coach.
A seven-time NHL All-Star, Johnny Gaudreau was a six-time All-Star for the Calgary Flames. He was the 2017 recipient of the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy, which is given annually to an NHL player “adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability.”
In 2022, Gaudreau shocked most of the hockey world by deciding to sign with the Blue Jackets as a free agent. He was named to his seventh and ultimately final All-Star team during his first season in Columbus, who has continued to honor his legacy following his untimely death.
Gaudreau helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2013 IIHF Junior World Championships. He most recently played on Team USA during the 2024 IIHF World Championship. He never got a chance to play in the Olympics, though, as the NHL did not participate in the previous two Olympics.
“He wanted to be on this team,” his father, Guy Gaudreau, said during the third period of the America’s win over Slovakia. “And it would’ve been nice if he’d been here.”
Members of the Gaudreau family made the trip to Italy after being invited by Team USA.
“Our two daughters, for 24 hours, they just kept at us: ‘You have to go. The boys would want you to do this. This would mean so much to John,'” said Gaudreau’s mother, Jane. “It just means so much to our family, and we’re so excited to remember what our boys meant to hockey.”
Their presence was certainly felt by Team USA.
“It’s great having them here, and it’s super special,” Werenski said prior to Sunday’s game. “We’re happy that we made it to the gold medal game so they can watch that and be a part of it. It’s on us to make them proud.”
Gaudreau served as inspiration throughout the Olympics for Team USA. His uniform was on the locker room throughout the Olympics, and it was on the ice on Sunday when the Americans made history by winning the gold medal for only the third time.
“He was one of America’s very best,” said Team USA coach Mike Sullivan. “He’s just a good person on the ice and off the ice, and I think he’s an inspiration to our players to this very day.”
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuela-based prisoners’ rights group Foro Penal said on X Sunday that it had verified the release of 16 people since an amnesty bill for people in held for political reasons was signed into law this week.
That number is far below those given by National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez a day prior. On Saturday, he said that 1,557 applications were being processed immediately and that hundreds people deprived of liberty benefiting from the amnesty law were already being released.
Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez signed the amnesty measure into law on Thursday, signaling a major shift in policy following last month’s stunning U.S. military raid in the capital, Caracas, to capture then-President Nicolás Maduro.
It is expected to benefit opposition members, activists, human rights defenders, journalists and many others detained for months or even years.
But human rights organizations have reacted with distrust to the approval of the law, calling it insufficient because it leaves out, for example, imprisoned military personnel.
The new law also excludes those convicted of homicide, drug trafficking and serious human rights violations.
Days after Maduro’s capture, Rodríguez’s government offered to release a significant number of prisoners as a gesture to consolidate peace. Since then, a total of 464 people have been released but more than 600 remain detained, according to Foro Penal.
These releases did not grant full freedom but rather are a precautionary measure substituting imprisonment. Released detainees are banned from speaking to the press, leaving the country and participating in political activities.
The opposition has demanded an amnesty law which grants full freedom to political detainees.
The Venezuelan Red Cross in a statement on Sunday that it would accept the government’s invitation to accompany the release process stemming from the amnesty law.
If there was an Olympic medal for problem solving, this group would own the podium. We got tickets for the Canada semi-final game. I didn’t have tickets to the Canada semi-finals game, but you had American tickets. Got on Facebook real quick and worked the socials to try to get some swaps going. Both sides agreed to. It this far at noon. All right, break here we go for the great Olympic ticket swap. I’m gonna hit transfer as trade agreements between the US and Canada go. This is about the most simple one ever. This is *** straight ticket exchange. We have like the hospitality ticket too, so I’ll send you info and you get *** gift. We were going to split it 4 ways, but we’d rather you just have it. No money, no other gimmicks, just ticket for ticket. It doesn’t matter where you’re sitting, trading tickets over their phones to hockey, sealing the deal with *** drink. The international language of having *** beer together, you know, it doesn’t get any better than that. I think it’s *** really once in *** lifetime experience to be at the Olympics. As well as get to do something as pure and together as *** ticket exchange like this, it would appear U.S.Canadian relations are back on track. At least until the gold medal round. No friends in the gold medal round. We’re here to win it. Go to Canada. say.
Team USA men’s hockey honors Johnny Gaudreau after winning first gold in 46 years
The U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team won gold in spectacular fashion on Sunday, the last day of the Milan Cortina Olympic Games.The U.S. scored a second goal in overtime, clinching the first gold win for the U.S. team in 46 years. The last time the team won was in 1980, during the “Miracle on Ice” game in Lake Placid, New York, exactly 46 years ago.But the moment became even more poignant when several members of the team honored Johnny Gaudreau. The NHL player died tragically in 2024, along with his brother, when they were struck by a car near their childhood home in New Jersey.Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk carried a Johnny Gaudreau No. 13 jersey around the ice following the win as the latest tribute to the beloved player.Gaudreau’s parents, Guy and Jay, his widow, Meredith, and their oldest children were in attendance. It was John Jr.’s second birthday.The team brought 3-year-old Noa and 2-year-old John Jr. onto the ice as they held up Gaudreau’s jersey for the team photo.Gaudreau would’ve likely played on the Olympic team for the U.S. He never got the chance to play on an Olympic team, despite representing Team USA in four World Championship tournaments, according to Yahoo Sports.PHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=
The U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team won gold in spectacular fashion on Sunday, the last day of the Milan Cortina Olympic Games.
The U.S. scored a second goal in overtime, clinching the first gold win for the U.S. team in 46 years. The last time the team won was in 1980, during the “Miracle on Ice” game in Lake Placid, New York, exactly 46 years ago.
But the moment became even more poignant when several members of the team honored Johnny Gaudreau. The NHL player died tragically in 2024, along with his brother, when they were struck by a car near their childhood home in New Jersey.
Auston Matthews, Zach Werenski and Matthew Tkachuk carried a Johnny Gaudreau No. 13 jersey around the ice following the win as the latest tribute to the beloved player.
Gaudreau’s parents, Guy and Jay, his widow, Meredith, and their oldest children were in attendance. It was John Jr.’s second birthday.
The team brought 3-year-old Noa and 2-year-old John Jr. onto the ice as they held up Gaudreau’s jersey for the team photo.
Gaudreau would’ve likely played on the Olympic team for the U.S. He never got the chance to play on an Olympic team, despite representing Team USA in four World Championship tournaments, according to Yahoo Sports.
There’s a deluge of great releases coming up in the next month, so we’ve devised this handy guide for our most anticipated albums!
Black Label Society – Engines Of Demolition (March 27, 2026)
With Engines Of Demolition, Black Label Society mastermind Zakk Wylde channels the turbulence of the past four years into a record that spans triumphant highs and crushing lows. Written between 2022 and 2025 during Wylde‘s time on the Pantera Celebration World Tour, the album balances hulking riffs and road-hardened grit with some of his most personal material to date, including the heartfelt tribute “Ozzy’s Song.”
San Francisco’s elusive post-black metal collective Bosse-de-Nage return after eight years with Hidden Fires Burn Hottest, their most expansive and unbound work yet. Long affiliated with The Flenser, the band has evolved in relative isolation, allowing their sound to mutate beyond categorization. Tracked by Jack Shirley at Atomic Garden East and mixed/mastered by Richard Chowenhill, the album trades the taut restraint of Further Still for sprawl and strangeness, treating emotion as something tangible and spatial.
Dan Swanö – Moontower (Reissue) (March 6, 2026)
After 27 years, Dan Swanö‘s cult solo opus Moontower returns in a newly remastered edition, complete with a 16-track bonus disc. Originally conceived as “death metal from 1972,” the album captures Swanö at his most adventurous, weaving progressive rock ambition into extreme metal frameworks. Known for his work with acts like Opeth and Katatonia, Swanö revisits pivotal tracks such as “Sun of the Night” and “Uncreation” with renewed clarity, spotlighting the record’s swirling keys, humming guitars, and introspective menace.
Egregore – It Echoes In The Wild (March 20, 2026)
Canadian occult extremists Egregore push further into sonic wilderness on It Echoes In The Wild, an elemental expansion of their blackened death metal assault. Featuring members connected to acts like Mitochondrion and Auroch, the band balances primitive force with vast, atmospheric breadth, conjuring diabolic landscapes both geographic and psychological. Engineered by Mariessa McLeod and mixed/mastered by Arthur Rizk, the album embraces esoteric madness and untamed spirituality, plunging listeners into a lawless dominion where occult fury and windswept ambience collide.
ERRA – silence outlives the earth (March 6, 2026)
On silence outlives the earth, Alabama progressive metalcore standouts ERRA sharpen both their thematic focus and sonic extremes. Opening with the liminal swirl of “stelliform,” the album navigates existential uncertainty with mystical restraint and crushing catharsis in equal measure. Produced once again by Daniel Braunstein, the record finds ERRA at their most cohesive – ethereal passages bloom into punishing crescendos, and personal reflection intertwines with commentary on a fractured world.
Exodus – Goliath (March 20, 2026)
Thrash legends Exodus return swinging with Goliath, a ferocious and collaborative statement four decades into their reign. Produced by the band and mixed/mastered by Mark Lewis, the album blends razor-wire riffing and mosh-pit savagery with dynamic flourishes–from the anthemic surge of “The Changing Me” to the colossal title track featuring ominous string arrangements. With contributions from stalwarts Gary Holt, Lee Altus, Tom Hunting, and Jack Gibson, Goliath proves Exodus remain fearless, evolving without sacrificing the explosive authenticity that defined their 1985 debut Bonded By Blood.
Fotocrime – Security (March 13, 2026)
Louisville post-punk force Fotocrime expands its sonic arsenal on Security, welcoming new members Benjamin Clark and David Cundiff into the fold. Spearheaded by Evan Patterson, the album boasts an eclectic cast of collaborators, including Jay Weinberg, Barney Greenway, and members of Sumac and Young Widows. Co-produced and engineered alongside J. Robbins, Security refines Fotocrime‘s brooding intensity with layered textures and guest-driven dynamism, marking another bold chapter for the ever-evolving project.
Gaerea – Loss (March 20, 2026)
Portuguese masked collective Gaerea shed and reshape their blackened skin on Loss, their first release with Century Media. Recorded with longtime collaborator Miguel Tereso, the album integrates their post-black metal roots with sharper production, haunting melodies, and even unexpected clean vocals and choruses. Still cloaked in anonymity and ritualistic presence, Gaerea continue to explore the frayed edges of the human psyche, inviting their “Vortex Society” into a deeply personal yet transcendent sonic experience.
Gold Pyramid – Gold Pyramid (March 5, 2026)
The instrumental duo Gold Pyramid – uniting drummer Evan Diprima and guitarist John D. Cronise – deliver a self-titled debut that fuses heavy rock muscle with sci-fi synth shimmer and Southern groove. Known respectively for their work with Moon Destroys and The Sword, the pair channel their knack for uplifting, expansive sounds into a wordless journey aimed at transcendence. The result is a cinematic, riff-driven record that feels both grounded and otherworldly, offering a restorative blast of instrumental heavy rock.
Gutvoid – Liminal Shrines (March 20, 2026)
With Liminal Shrines, Canadian death/doom explorers Gutvoid unleash the first half of an ambitious two-part concept. Across six immersive movements, the band refines their cosmic horror atmospheres with more progressive structures and melodic focus, as heard on “Spell Reliquary.” Recorded across multiple studios and mixed/mastered by Greg Dawson, the album expands their crushing foundation into intricate, transformative territory steeped in themes of metamorphosis and mysticism.
Heavy Metal Shrapnel – Heavy Metal Hairspray (March 27, 2026)
Spearheaded by Andrew Lee and featuring powerhouse vocalist Mark Boals, Heavy Metal Shrapnel inject classic US power metal with a lean, aggressive edge on Heavy Metal Hairspray. Eschewing symphonic excess, the album embraces riff-heavy directness reminiscent of Boals‘ era with Yngwie Malmsteen, bolstered by a guest appearance from keyboard virtuoso Derek Sherinian. It’s a defiant celebration of big hooks, bigger riffs, and unapologetic heavy metal thunder.
Hellripper – Coronach (March 27, 2026)
The brainchild of James McBain, Hellripper storms forward with Coronach, a black/speed metal barrage steeped in Scottish history and old-school ferocity. Recorded at McBain‘s Coronach Studios and mastered by Damien Herring, the album draws inspiration from the raw attack of early Metallica and Venom while sharpening Hellripper‘s own blood-soaked identity. As their Century Media debut, it promises high-octane riffing and fearless extremity.
Intoxicated – The Dome (March 27, 2026)
Florida death-thrash veterans Intoxicated return with The Dome, their third full-length and a reaffirmation of their place in the state’s storied extreme metal lineage. Originally formed in 1993 and mentored early on by Chuck Schuldiner of Death, the band delivers unrelenting speed, razor-sharp riffs, and concise songwriting rooted in classic death-thrash tradition. The Dome channels decades of experience into a focused, high-impact assault.
Këkht Aräkh – Morning Star (March 27, 2026)
On Morning Star, Këkht Aräkh merges 90s black metal devotion with lo-fi warmth and experimental textures. Collaborators VS–55 and Varg2TM contribute abstract sampling and grainy atmospherics, while James Ginzburg‘s mastering enhances the album’s depth. The result is a deeply personal work that honors tradition while embracing subtle sonic evolution, marking both a continuation and an arrival for the project.
Lamb Of God – Into Oblivion (March 13, 2026)
Richmond metal titans Lamb Of God confront societal fracture head-on with Into Oblivion. Vocalist Randy Blythe frames the album as a commentary on the erosion of the social contract, a theme underscored by blistering singles like “Sepsis” and “Parasocial Christ.” Produced and mixed by longtime collaborator Josh Wilbur, the record was tracked across locations deeply tied to the band’s identity, delivering a furious yet reflective statement from modern metal mainstays.
Monstrosity – Screams From Beneath The Surface (March 13, 2026)
Florida death metal titans Monstrosity return after seven years with Screams From Beneath The Surface, a ferocious reaffirmation of their genre-defining brutality. Led by drummer and founder Lee Harrison, the revitalized lineup features longtime guitarist Matt Barnes, returning original bassist Mark Van Erp, and new vocalist Ed Webb (ex-Massacre), whose guttural power injects fresh venom into the band’s sound. Tracked between Audiohammer Studios with producer Jason Suecof and Morrisound Studios alongside Jim Morris, the album fuses classic and modern production muscle, cementing Monstrosity’s enduring dominance in extreme metal.
Emerging from the depths of Chile’s extreme metal underground, MORS.VOID.DISCIPLINE unleash their debut full-length Txketh)ëké, a 20-minute obliteration of bestial war metal and 90s-inspired goregrind. Preceded by the premiere of “Sanguinem In Anum Caprae Putrescentis Eiaculans,” the album has already been hailed as “inhuman, unhinged, hideously toxic, and perversely addictive.” Drawing on influences like Blasphemy and early Carcass, the band blends mangled riffs, pitch-shifted vocals, and occultly inflected horror into a cryptic, arcane soundscape.
Poison The Well – Peace In Place (March 20, 2026)
After years of milestone tours and sustained influence, metalcore pioneers Poison The Well return with Peace In Place, their sixth full-length. Produced by Grammy-winner Will Putney, the album channels the spirit of genre-defining releases like The Opposite of December… A Season of Separation while refracting it through decades of growth and perspective. Following a lengthy hiatus, the band’s renewed creative unity signals a powerful next chapter for a group whose legacy continues to resonate.
The Silver – Looking Glass Hymnal Blue (March 20, 2026)
Philadelphia’s The Silver aim for mythic scope on Looking Glass Hymnal Blue, an ornate and emotionally excavating work that builds on the exploratory spirit of their prior release. Recorded with engineer Richie DeVon and adorned with unified artwork by Paul Romano, the album blends ambitious compositions with introspective lyricism centered on reflection, memory, and fractured identity. Each song functions as both hymn and key, inviting listeners to confront the mirror and what lies beyond.
Temple Of Void – The Crawl (March 6, 2026)
Detroit doom/death crushers Temple Of Void delve into allegory and existential dread on The Crawl. Tracked in a frigid January week at Kurt Ballou‘s GodCity Studio, the album favors a raw, human feel, with massive guitar tones and in-the-room percussion. Lyrically grappling with life, consequence, and humanity’s darker impulses, The Crawl balances psychological horror with crushing sonic weight.
Vreid – The Skies Turn Black (March 6, 2026)
Norwegian stalwarts Vreid describe The Skies Turn Black as one of their most demanding yet rewarding creations. Emerging from a turbulent writing period, the album’s eleven tracks reflect struggle, recalibration, and artistic renewal. Produced alongside Anders Nordengen and adorned with artwork by Kim Holm, the record marks a confident evolution five years after their previous release, setting the stage for a major European tour.
Winterfylleth – The Unyielding Season (March 27, 2026)
UK atmospheric black metal torchbearers Winterfylleth offer pointed social commentary on The Unyielding Season, their ninth album and first with Napalm Records. Expanding on themes introduced in The Imperious Horizon, the band confronts the manifestation of looming malevolence with meticulously crafted poetry and sweeping compositions. It’s a rebellious, reflective work that continues their legacy of blending historical consciousness with cinematic black metal grandeur.
Witchcraft – A Sinner’s Child (March 13, 2026)
Swedish heavy rock icons Witchcraft return with the intimate five-track EP A Sinner’s Child. Following the acclaim of 2025’s IDAG, founder Magnus Pelander strips the sound to its essence, moving between proto-doom weight, luminous folk passages, and soulful acoustic dirges. Deeply personal and emotionally resonant, the EP serves as both epilogue and distillation–proof of the enduring power of melody, vulnerability, and stripped-down heaviness.
