![[Heavy News]: DESPISED ICON (CA), DEAD SLEEP (SWE) & PLINI (AU).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1775018159228-M3DZ4CHK2SMAE8PJ0952/Heavy+News+01.04.26+-+cover.png)
[Heavy News]: DESPISED ICON (CA), DEAD SLEEP (SWE) & PLINI (AU).
Today’s serving of Heavy News comes with a piping hot tray of award-winning Canadian deathcore (via Despised Icon), rapturous Swedish thrash with Dead Sleep’s latest single + album reveal, and an all-Australian dessert with Plini’s delectable new single/upcoming album. Bon appetit!
![[Heavy News]: ENSLAVED (NOR), BLACK LABEL SOCIETY & AUGUST BURNS RED (US).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1774842345321-MLGCUEO6X1DVFGFPU7B1/%5BHeavy+News%5D+AUGUST+BURNS+RED+%28US%29+BLACK+LABEL+SOCIETY+%28US%29+ENSLAVED+%28US%29.png)
[Heavy News]: ENSLAVED (NOR), BLACK LABEL SOCIETY & AUGUST BURNS RED (US).
[Music Mondays/ Heavy News]: A trifecta of new-release treats from way across a big pond, from Enslaved’s sea-shantie collaboration with The Storm Weather Shanty Choir (Norway), Zakk Wylde and Co’s latest Black Label Society LP release, and that of upcoming LP/new single by fellow US metal stalwarts August Burns Red. Dig in, me hearties!
![[Podcast] Ep. 70: [Interview] w/ FERDI HANDOJO of VANTA (AU) + ‘Perpetual Selection’ [Album Review].](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1774687980154-GGZFRCUIHLMA2JZRI5N3/vantaband.jpg)
[Podcast] Ep. 70: [Interview] w/ FERDI HANDOJO of VANTA (AU) + ‘Perpetual Selection’ [Album Review].
A double-feature special for you all tonight! Presenting both the Inner-Strength Check Podcast’s 70th episode via our [Interview] with Ferdi Handojo, drummer of Perth-based melodic/tech-death outfit Vanta…. AND a bonus [Album Review] of their debut full-length LP Perpetual Selection! With thanks for both to Ferdi, Vanta and Glenn ‘Dysie’ Dyson of Cult Etiquette PR.
![[Music Monday, 9th March 2026]: HEALTH (US), BATTLE BEAST (FIN) & THE HALO EFFECT (SWE).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1773045717590-BIYNZKVCJG3Z0CO4S3PR/510630866_9788911344564812_5605674887359270816_n.jpg)
[Music Monday, 9th March 2026]: HEALTH (US), BATTLE BEAST (FIN) & THE HALO EFFECT (SWE).
Hello and welcome back to another Heavy News drop for Mon 9th March, 2026! Hop in and we’ll go hear the latest from US industrial-alt-pop act HEALTH, Finnish grandiosity-merchants Battle Beast and Swedish all-star prog/melodeath act The Halo Effect.
![[Podcast]: Ep. 66 - [Interview] w/ NICOLAI BUSSE of MØL (Denmark).](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1769134577047-58YTHXMXB0TM3OSCML85/Ep66MOLband.jpg)
[Podcast]: Ep. 66 - [Interview] w/ NICOLAI BUSSE of MØL (Denmark).
[Podcast] Ep. 66 sees myself joining Nicolai Busse from Denmark’s incredible post-black/alternative metal outfit MØL to discuss the bold new album Dreamcrush (out 30th Jan via Nuclear Blast), songwriting, influences and more. Check the link for interview (video/audio-only versions) plus ‘Young’ music video, album details, artist links and more!
![[Album Review]: REDIVIDER (US) - ‘Sounds of Malice’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1768882285306-X5J5OKLY981AIRW2PELS/616939.jpg)
[Album Review]: REDIVIDER (US) - ‘Sounds of Malice’ LP.
[Album Review]: See here for the latest stellar effort from independent Louisville, Kentucky US bruisers Redivider in the Sounds of Malice LP. Our own Hamza Siddiqi has provided a fantastic analysis of the album, plus we’ve also included artist media/streaming/social links for further headbangability!
![[Review] DEADWOOD (CA) - ‘Rituals Of A Dying Light’ EP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1767781802974-G646UNRFER3O5C4VECA5/deadwood.jpg)
[Review] DEADWOOD (CA) - ‘Rituals Of A Dying Light’ EP.
[EP Review] For our first music release review of the year, we have a snappy, narky, bludgeoning and fun EP from the tundra-coated wilds of Canada, with Deadwood’s latest EP Rituals of A Dying Light, which drops worldwide on Jan 7th via Innerstrength Records. Check the link for EP review, music videos, EP preorder, artist links and more, buddy!