Heavy metal music updates: new releases and industry trends

The heavy metal music scene is seeing several new releases and industry developments. American band KRASHKARMA has released the single ‘Welcome to the shitshow’ as a preview for their 2027 album ‘ENTER THE EXIT’, alongside upcoming tour dates in Europe. Other notable releases include the single ‘Inch by inch’ from California-based Speed of Light, ‘The end is near’ by Montreal’s Killed by Sorrow, and a 20th-anniversary edition of the album ‘Beyond Hell’ by GWAR.

In the business sector of the genre, David Gregori of Victorious Merch discussed the critical role of merchandise in the metal industry. In an interview with Metal Hammer, Gregori, who co-founded the company with Amon Amarth’s Olavi Mikkonen, noted that merchandise has become a primary revenue source for bands due to declining record sales, low streaming royalties, and rising touring costs.