BAZUndergroundUpdates CCL

Another Wednesday, another Underground Updates from our writers Julia Katrin and Tom Osman!

So, let’s see what’s out there…

-(16)- After nearly 35 years, -(16)- continues to be one of the most enduring, hardest sounding rock and metal entities from North America! The San Diego band redefines heavy on their new album Guides for the Misguided, set for a release on February 7^th, but we don’t have to wait long for a sneak peak as in celebration of the album’s release -(16)- has unleashed Fortress of Hate, which you can head over here right now to give a go! Of course, if you like what you hear, don’t forget to head over here to order the new album!

HORRESQUE Not only is there a new album from Horresque up for preorder, but last Sunday Supreme Chaos Records premiered the video for the track Hermann´s End! The single is the first taken from the second chapter of the Chasms album cycle, and you can check it out right over here!

EPICA New album Aspiral has been announced from Epica plus they have shared a video for the new single Cross the Divide! Head over here right now to watch it!

AVANTGARDE MUSIC FESTIVAL After having been in the making for a very long time, last Sunday the first Avantgarde Music Festival was finally announced, being held at Legend Club Milano on September 20^th, 2025, in collaboration with Occult Booking! Two headliners have already been released; Mesarthim as well as the very special guests DHG/Dødheimsarg Official! In the coming weeks six more bands will be announced, and tickets can be pushed via DICE right over here!

MAUL North Dakota death metal faction Maul will ravenously return to the road again this week, launching a massive shedule of touring for the next five months! Some tour dates have already been confirmed so make sure you have quick hands at checking out all the info, but if you find something near you, don’t worry! Additional dates are expected to be announced, so we have no fear that everyone will find something that suits them!

UNIQUE LEADER RECORDS A pretty awesome thing is going on over at Unique Leader Records and all albums are now 7$! Head over here right now to check out the selection!

HELLDPROD RECORDS A hellish winter sale is taking place! Head over to Helldprod Records right here for selected items which will see prices to down from 10% to 80% until the 16^th of February!

CONVERGE Metalcore legends Converge have just reissued their 2009 album Axe to Fall on two new, limited vinyl pressings (gold and yellow). If you’re quick you can snap one of them up here before they’re all sold out and you cry tears of grief into your pillow.

RWAKE Returning with their first studio album in 14 years, psychedelic-sludge-doom band Rwake will release The Return of Magik (via Relapse Records) on the 14th of March. The year is young, but if you like atmospheric sludge metal, a lá Neurosis, or the mind-bending, screaming doom metal of Today Is The Day this could prove to be one of your favourite albums of the year. Check out the title track here and pre-order the album on double vinyl or CD.

RIGOROUS INSTITUTION Portland, Oregon crust punks Rigorous Institution put out a great debut full-length Cainsmarsh back in 2022. Now for your wearing pleasure (and prior to a tour of Mexico in April) the band has added a batch of t-shirt designs to their bandcamp page—which you can check out right here.

Having to pay gigantic sums for international postage is a real gear grinder. While it’s our default setting to link Bandcamp pages in the case of new and pre-releases, we thought it would be helpful to add some online stores that might provide a useful alternative.

So if you see a release you fancy, but it’s being sold in a far off land and you don’t want to fork out on exorbitant shipping, see if any of the links below can remedy the situation.

Dark Essence (Norway) Dark Essence (US)

Deathwish (EU) Deathwish (US)

Direct Merch (Australia)

eOne Heavy (EU) eOne Heavy (UK) eOne Heavy (US)

Ipecac (EU) Ipecac (US)

Metal Odyssey (EU) Metal Odyssey (US)

Napalm Records (Germany)

Prophecy Productions (Germany) Prophecy Productions (US)

Rough Trade (UK) Rough Trade (US)

Season of Mist (EU) Season of Mist (US)

Southern Lord (EU) Southern Lord (US)

Throne Records (World)