Image: Metallica [Official Press Photo]
The holiday spirit is coming in - one way or another. It’s Black Friday, the best time to get your gift shopping done before the festive season. The simultaneous Record Store Day provides the perfect inspiration, and on top of that, there are new releases today from Kraftklub and other acts. Killswitch Engage even enjoyed themselves at the Leipzig Christmas Market already. Read all the news below!
Metallica: Kirk Hammett’s Guitar Auctioned
Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett has auctioned one of his guitars for a sum of $76,800. The proceeds go to the Gibson Gives organization, which donates to non-profit groups such as schools, music education programs, and music health initiatives.
Kirk played this specific guitar during the final Black Sabbath concert Back To The Beginning this year.
Killswitch Engage at a German Christmas Market
Last night, Killswitch Engage shared a series of pre-holiday photos: clearly the band enjoyed a lovely evening at the Leipzig Christmas Market. They also wished everyone a “Happy Thanksgiving.” You can check out their festive mood between mulled wine and Christmas ornaments on Instagram here:
My Chemical Romance: Guests on the European Tour
For The Black Parade 2026 European tour, My Chemical Romance have now announced their special guests. Six dates and six support acts await fans in the UK, Spain, and Italy. In order of show dates, the line-up includes Echo & The Bunnymen, Idlewild, Skunk Anansie, Joan Jett, Sunny Day Real Estate, Interpol, and Mogwai.
“We can’t wait to see all of you.”
Today’s Release Highlights
Right on time for Friday and for today’s Record Store Day, there are several new releases. Some highlights include:
- Kraftklub – Sterben in Karl-Marx-Stadt
- Architects – new picture vinyls of The Here And Now, Hollow Crown, Ruin
- Equilibrium – Equinox
Get your discount on selected media in our Record Store Deals - today only!
Wacken Open Air Announces Over 50 New Bands
W:O:A 2026 is continuing to fill out its line-up. Yesterday, the metal festival announced mroe than 50 new acts at once, including a third headliner for its 35th anniversary: Judas Priest, who will perform alongside Def Leppard and Powerwolf. Among the 49 others are highlights from every imaginable subgenre, including Arch Enemy, Electric Bassboy, Hatebreed, Kim Dracula, The Butcher Sisters, Thy Art Is Murder, and many more.
Here is the full list of all newly announced bands:
- Ad Infinitum
- Alestorm
- Alfahanne
- Angelus Apatrida
- Arch Enemy
- Black Label Society
- Bleed From Within
- Brunhilde
- Castle Rat
- Chaosbay
- Corrosion Of Conformity
- Crimson Glory
- Danko Jones
- Divlje Jagode
- Dritte Wahl
- Dubioza Kolektiv
- Eläkeläiset
- Electric Bassboy
- Employed To Serve
- Focus
- Guilt Trip
- Hackneyed
- Hämatom
- Hardline
- Hatebreed
- Heavysaurus
- Judas Priest
- Katerfahrt
- Kim Dracula
- Kittie
- Lagwagon
- Life of Agony
- Mr. Hurley und die Pulveraffen
- Municipal Waste
- Nita Strauss
- Nothing More
- Our Promise
- P.O.D.
- Paradise Lost
- President
- Ricky Warwick
- Rose Tattoo
- Saxon
- Skynd
- Storm Seeker
- The Butcher Sisters
- The Haunted
- Therapy?
- Thy Art Is Murder
- Turbonegro
- Uli Jon Roth
- Vanir
- Vended
- Vogelfrey
- Yngwie Malmsteen
