Chris Kontos (ex-Machine Head, The Boneless Ones) has stepped down from Forbidden as their drummer after three years. He played drums and co-produced their recently released new self-titled album, out now via BLKIIBLK (read the review here). Kontos had already stepped down from the bands current but now is out of the band. No permanent replacement has been named and the band has not released a statement as yet. We’ll follow this developing story at the site. Continue reading
Reece Scruggs has parted ways with the long-running Bay Area Thrash band Machine Head. The split is amicable, according to a post on his Instagram. After joining Machine Head from the ranks of fellow thrashers Havok in 2022 to replace Wacław “Vogg” Kiełtyka (Decapitated) who himself was a replacement for Phil Demmel (ex-Violence, Kerry King). Vogg returned to fill in for an entire European tour last year. Scruggs played on the acclaimed 2025 album UNATØNED (Nuclear Blast Records), but pulled back from touring over the last few years to care for his ailing father. Machine Head just closed the books on touring the last few years straight behind UNATØNED, and its companion ØF KINGDØM AND CRØWN (the Ghost Cult Album of the Year for 2022), with famous guitar YouTuber “Uncle” Ben Eller (ex-Mastodon live) on lead guitar and vocals. Guitarist and producer Zack Ohren (Darkness Everywhere) also filled in for a few shows. The band also performed as a rare three-piece for seven shows in 2026. Frontman Robb Flynn recently posted a tour recap message, speaking fondly of the last few years, thanking the band, crew, and Headcases worldwide. Reece also recently launched his own solo project. Good luck, Reece and Machine Head!
The final seal of the end times has been broken to reveal the herald of the Apocalypse, and that herald has been revealed as An Undying Love For a Burning World (Neurot Records), the surprise new album from sludge icons Neurosis. This band disappeared into an uneasy sunset following some mental health issues by founding member Scott Kelly. It was an odd goodbye that left fair-weather fans not even speaking the band’s name. However, in any serious sludge metal circles, not even the return of Acid Bath could make one forget that the sludge genre was left with a Neurosis sized hole, since they defined the genre in the Neurosis. Continue reading