SAMHAIN (LONDON MAY): INTERVIEWED BY INTO THE NECROSPHERE

 LONDON MAY, drummer of SAMHAIN , was recently interviewed by INTO THE NECROSPHERE..  

FROM INTO THE NECROSPHERE: 

This week, I’m honoured to welcome London May, actor, musician and drummer for the legendary Samhain, to Into The Necrosphere. London has a fascinating story that extends well beyond music and we kick things off by exploring his early years as an aspiring actor, a troubled childhood that saw him arrested at just twelve years old, and the unlikely journey that eventually led him to become part of one of the most influential bands to emerge from the American underground. From there, we get into Samhain, the enduring legacy of November Coming Fire, the band’s 2014 reunion and some of the misconceptions surrounding Glenn Danzig. This is a candid, wide-ranging conversation with a man whose story is every bit as compelling as the music he helped bring to life.

Then it’s on to the Weekly News Rant, where I’m dissecting new tracks by Sinister, Devastator, Heathen, Tortured Demon, PANZERFAUST, Silvertomb and more. I also tackle more of your questions, including the bands that have changed their sound for the worse, my black metal desert island playlist, and some of the records currently dominating my listening rotation. And, on the Swirly Of The Week, self-righteous nitwits melting down over a benign comment by James Hetfield receive short shrift - and a double-dunk down the porcelain bowl of reckoning.

Plus: Australian death doom export, Nyctalor, join the register of legends featured on the Unsanctioned Filth segment.

Out now on all streaming platforms.

VIDEO BELOW: SAMHAIN: INTERVIEW (VIA YOU TUBE, COYRTESY OF INTO THE NECROSPHERE):  

 Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

DELAIN: VOCALIST, DIANA LEAH LEAVES THE BAND, POST NEW VIDEO FOR NEW TRACK "WE ARE FIRE" (FEATURING FABIENNE ERNI, PAOLO RIBALDINI and NOA GRUMAN)

 Netherlands based melodic symphonic metal warriors DELAIN have announced vocalist DIANA LEAH has left the band and have posted a video for "WE ARE FIRE" (FEATURING FABIENNE ERNI, PAOLO RIBALDINI and NOA GRUMAN) , a stand alone single, unleashed 10/20/2026 via NAPALM RECORDS. 

Instead of replacing vocalist  DIANA LEAH, DELAIN will collaborate with other vocalists.

 DELAIN, via SPOTIFY, are streaming the bands anticipated new EP release  "DANCE WITH THE DEVIL",  unleashed 11/8/2024 via NAPALM RECORDS,

 DELAIN unleashed  "DARK WATERS",  2/10/2023 via NAPALM RECORDS.

FROM DELAIN: 

NEW VIDEO OUT NOW!

𝑾𝒆 𝑨𝒓𝒆 𝑭𝒊𝒓𝒆 feat. Fabienne Erni, Paolo Ribaldini and Noa Gruman is just the first glimpse into a whole new universe unfolding before us.

A universe filled with stars, each bringing their own light and something extraordinary to the journey ahead:

Marko Hietala*�Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation)�Anneke van Giersbergen�Fabienne Erni* (Eluveitie)�Patty Gurdy�Noa Gruman* (Sabaton’s legendary orchestra)�Paolo Ribaldini*�Johanna Kurkela (Auri, Eye of Melian)�Ruud Jolie (Within Temptation)

* 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘴𝘦 𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘴𝘵𝘴 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘢𝘭𝘴𝘰 𝘫𝘰𝘪𝘯 𝘋𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘰𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘍𝘦𝘣𝘳𝘶𝘢𝘳𝘺 𝟤𝟢𝟤𝟩 𝘵𝘰𝘶𝘳.

Delainers, enjoy our new single and join us on this exciting journey towards our new album.

Video directed by Witzki Vision

IMPORTANT READ FULL CAPTION

Diana has decided to step away from Delain after many years with the band to pursue other things in life.

While her departure naturally brings a sense of sadness, we look back with great gratitude on everything they have shared together.

We fully respect Diana’s decision and wishe her all the best in this new chapter of her life.

She will always have a place in the Delain family, and the door will always be open to her.

We have been reflecting on our future and ultimately chose to embrace a new and exciting creative direction, bringing together a wide range of artists and musical perspectives.

At the heart of Delain remains our founder and songwriter, Martijn Westerholt.

Alongside him, Ludovico Cioffi, Ronald Landa and Sander Zoer form Delain’s core.

Rather than looking for a direct replacement for Diana, we have chosen to embrace collaboration on a much broader scale.

Different voices, personalities and musical perspectives can now come together around the band, allowing each song and performance to take on its own character.

For the upcoming album, each artist contributes their own voice, personality and musical identity, creating a record that remains unmistakably Delain while opening the door to an entirely new range of musical possibilities.

The concept extends beyond the album.

Many of the artists will also join Delain live, creating a dynamic musical collective that can take different forms from song to song and from show to show.

The timing could hardly be more fitting.

Twenty years after the debut, we are carrying forward the collaborative spirit of the beginnings while taking the idea further than ever before.

The very first album Lucidity introduced a creative formula built around bringing together different artists and musical worlds.

Now, two decades later, that spirit returns in a completely new form.

Among the artists joining Delain for the new album are two musicians who were already part of that first chapter: Marko Hietala and Sharon den Adel.

“Delain has always been about bringing different musical worlds together. Twenty years ago, Lucidity started with that idea.

Now, twenty years later, we are taking it further than ever before.”

- 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑗𝑛

𝗔 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗮𝗺𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗲.

𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗮𝗶𝗻.

𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀.

𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲:

𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗔𝗜𝗡

VIDEO BELOW: DELAIN: "WE ARE FIRE" (FEATURING FABIENNE ERNI, PAOLO RIBALDINI and NOA GRUMAN) (VIA YOU TUBE, COURTESY OF NAPALM RECORDS): Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

SHORES OF NULL: STREAMING NEW RELEASE "HOMESICK" VIA BANDCAMP

 

 

Italian melodic, blackened, doom metal warriors  SHORES OF NULL, via BANDCAMP, are streaming  the bands anticipated new release "HOMESICK" , unleashed 10/16/2026 via DUSKTONE..

 

 

 

 

  SHORES OF NULL, via SPOTIFY, are streaming   "LATITUDES OF SORROW", a split with  CONVOCATION,  unleashed 11/21/2025 via EVERLASTING SPEW RECORDS. 

SHORES OF NULL: NEW RELEASE "HOMESICK" (VIA BANDCAMP, COURTESY OF :SHORES OF NULL):

   

 Thanks-Stay Metal, stay Brytal-\m/ -l-

SILVERTOMB : ANNOUNCE RECORD RELEASE PARTY 11/14/2026 @ SAINT VITUS, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

 

New York City, New York, U.S.A. based  heavy metal, doom metal warriors SILVERTOMB (featuring KENNY HICKEY and JOHNNY KELLY of TYPE O NEGATIVE) have announced a 11/14/2026  RECORD RELEASE PARTY @ SAINT VITUS, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK.. 

SILVERTOMB (featuring KENNY HICKEY and JOHNNY KELLY of TYPE O NEGATIVE) have posted a lyric video for "BRAIN MATTER/NO GOD", a track from the bands anticipated new release  "THE INTERPRETATION OF NIGHTMARES", due to be unleashed 11/13/2026 via STEAMHAMMER. 

FROM SILVERTOMB :

LIVE AT SAINT VITUS!

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l- 

MURTAD: INTO THE NECROPSHERE POST DOCUMENTARY ON IRANIAN BLACK METAL BAND

 INTO THE NECROPSHERE have produced a documentary about SHAYAN of Iranian/British black metal warriors TRIVAX  and the Iranian black metal scene. 

Iranian black metal warriors TRIVAX have announced IRANIAN DEATH METAL ACROSS THE UK 2027 tour dates featuring TRIVAX,  CRAVEN IDOL, SWORDS OF DIS and WYRDSTAEF..

 

 TRIVAX have posted a video for "TO LIBERATION AND BEYOND", a track from the bands anticipated new release "THE GREAT SATAN",  unleashed 5/30/2025 via OSMOSE PRODUCTIONS.  

 

TRIVAX have posted  the bands anticipated new offering  "THE GREAT SATAN",  unleashed 5/30/2025 via OSMOSE PRODUCTIONS. 

 

 TRIVAX unleashed "ELOAH BURNS OUT", 9/29/2023 via CULT NEVER DIES. 

 

FROM INTO THE NECROSPHERE: 

I first came across Shayan S Trivax and his band, Trivax, after a random thought led me to their profile on Metal Archives. Were there any black metal bands in Iran, I wondered? It turned out there were, and I immediately reached out to Shayan to invite him onto Into The Necrosphere. It's safe to say we became fast friends from there.

As I got to know Shayan over the years and learned more about his story, I began to think that someone needed to make a documentary about it. Earlier this year, I decided that someone was going to be me.

And so began an endeavour I'd never attempted before. I fumbled my way through an entirely new process, learning as I went, until I arrived at the end result: MURTAD.

A documentary about resilience, the refusal to let your dreams die, and the reality of what it means to yearn for freedom when living under a religious theocracy.

I'm not a professional filmmaker, and this was very much a journey into uncharted territory for me. But I poured countless hours into this project, approaching every question, every shot and every edit with the utmost respect — not only for Shayan and TRIVAX, but for everyone living under similar circumstances.

This was never just about making a film about a band. It was about telling a story I believed deserved to be heard.

I hope I've done my friend's story justice.

MURTAD is out now on YouTube.

VIDEO BELOW: MURTAD: INTO THE NECROPSHERE (VIA YOU TUBE, COURTESY OF INTO THE NECROSPHERE):  

 Thanks-Stay Metal, stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

WINGLESS: SET TO UNLEASH "VISION BEYOND FORM", POST NEW TRACK "THE GNOSIS OF DECAY"

  Krakow, Poland based death, doom metal warriors WINGLESS  posted "THE GNOSIS OF DECAY", a track from the bands anticipated  new release "VISION BEYOND FORM", due to be unleashed 11/6/2026 via SELFMADEGOD RECORDS.  

 

 

 

 

 WINGLESS have posted a video for "NYCTOPHILIA", a track from the bands recent release "NONCONFORM", unleashed 10/1/2021 via SELFMADEGOD RECORDS. 

 

 

FROM WINGLESS: 

 

Form is just a boundary. We've just crossed it, "Vision Beyond Form" is done.

We've just completed the final mixing and mastering process for our new album

It's been a long and intense journey filled with emotion, countless hours in the studio, and endless work on every last detail of the sound.

Now the album sounds exactly as we always imagined it, and we can't wait for it to finally reach you, released through SELFMADEGOD RECORDS

Very soon, we'll be sharing the release date, along with the announcement of the music video for our first single.

Stay tuned - something big is coming !!

VIDEO BELOW:WINGLESS : NEW TRACK "THE GNOSIS OF DECAY" (VIA YOU TUBE, COURTESY OF SELF MADE GOD RECORDS):  

 Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-

SYSTEM OF A DOWN: ANNOUNCE LIVE AT THE ROSE BOWL 6/5/2027 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA

 California hard rock legends SYSTEM OF A DOWN have announced 6/5/2027 LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA show @ ROSE BOWL..

  ..

   

SYSTEM OF A DOWN have posted  "JOHNNY", an unreleased track 9/4/2026...

  ..

 SYSTEM OF A DOWN unleashed "PROTECT THE LAND", a new stand alone single, unleashed 11/6/2020.    

SYSTEM OF A DOWN unleashed "HYPNOTIZE", 11/22/2005 via COLUMBIA RECORDS. 

 

   

 SYSTEM OF A DOWN unleashed "PROTECT THE LAND", a new stand alone single, unleashed 11/6/2020.    

SYSTEM OF A DOWN unleashed "HYPNOTIZE", 11/22/2005 via COLUMBIA RECORDS. 

 

FROM SYSTEM OF A DOWN: 

LIVE AT THE ROSE BOWL

June 5, 2027 with special guest Pierce The Veil

Presale registration is open now through Wed, Oct 21 at 9PM PT at livemu.sc/systemofadown.

Please note: SOAD mailing list subscribers must still register to receive presale access. There will be no code. Registering will ensure you are notified when the presale is available to you.

Presale begins Fri, Oct 23 at 10AM PT. General on-sale is Mon, Oct 26 at 10AM PT

Thanks-Stay Metal, Stay Brutal-\m/ -l-