Release Date: September 30, 2026
Record Label: Mascot Records
Publicity: Atom Splitter PR
Music Video Director: J.T. Ibanez

How does a band that has released so many great albums, delivered countless memorable songs, and helped define an entire genre continue to top itself? Well, P.O.D. just showed us how, with a tip of the hat to Cory Brandan of Norma Jean!

The nu-metal legends are back with their new single, “Outbreak,” and this longtime fan couldn’t be happier. This is easily one of the hardest-hitting songs P.O.D. has released in a long time, and I would go as far as to say it is their best release since Satellite.

P.O.D. has always been a band that could blend heavy riffs, groove, melody, and meaningful lyrics into something special. With “Outbreak,” they crank everything up a notch and bring along another legend of heavy music, Cory Brandan, frontman of Norma Jean, to help deliver the punishment.

And what a combination!

From the opening moments, the song creates a sense of urgency. The guitars are aggressive, the rhythm section hits hard, and Sonny Sandoval delivers his signature vocal style with the kind of intensity that helped make P.O.D. a household name in the nu-metal scene. Then Brandan enters the picture, adding another level of aggression with his unmistakable screams.

The combination of these two vocalists works incredibly well. Sandoval brings the familiar P.O.D. sound, while Brandan adds an extra kick that pushes this song into even heavier territory.

And then comes that breakdown!

The band slows things down just enough to set you up before delivering a crushing breakdown with screams of “OUTBREAK!” It’s like getting smacked in the face with a record thrown by Shaun and Ed! The guitars, bass, and drums come together with an impact that reminds you exactly why P.O.D. has remained relevant for more than three decades.

Lyrically, “Outbreak” takes an interesting approach. While the song and video revolve around an apocalyptic outbreak, I hear something deeper than just another zombie story.

The outbreak seems to represent moral decay, with people becoming lovers of themselves while the world around them falls into chaos. Society is unraveling, people are consumed with themselves, and everything appears to be spinning out of control.

It’s an interesting way to address the condition of the world while wrapping the message in an aggressive, apocalyptic metal song. There is plenty here to make listeners think beyond the surface.

And let’s talk about that music video!

I love seeing bands put the time, effort, and money into producing a quality music video instead of releasing just another lyric video. P.O.D. delivers exactly that with “Outbreak.”

The video opens with people sitting around receiving emergency notifications on their phones. There is an immediate sense of disbelief as everyone tries to process what is happening. Surely this can’t be real, right?

But it is.

What follows is a world descending into chaos as the outbreak spreads. The apocalyptic imagery fits the song perfectly, creating a frantic atmosphere that complements the heavy guitars, pounding drums, and aggressive vocals.

Directed by J.T. Ibanez, the video feels like a miniature horror movie, and it is exactly the kind of visual production a song like this deserves.

What makes “Outbreak” even more exciting is knowing that P.O.D. is still capable of delivering music this powerful. These guys are legends of the nu-metal movement, and they have nothing left to prove. Yet here they are, continuing to push themselves and reminding everyone why they helped put this genre on the map.

Having Cory Brandan join them was a brilliant move. His vocals don’t simply make a guest appearance. They become an essential part of what makes this song so memorable.

Released September 30, 2026, through Mascot Records, with publicity handled by Atom Splitter PR, “Outbreak” marks the band’s first new original music since their 2024 album VERITAS.

For longtime fans like myself, this is the kind of release that makes you excited about what might come next. It’s heavy, aggressive, memorable, and unmistakably P.O.D., while still bringing something fresh to the table.

P.O.D. has delivered plenty of great music over the years, but “Outbreak” stands among their strongest releases in a very long time.

This is the new single from an amazing band, and believe me, this is not a test!

Nearly 30 years into their career, Skillet continues to prove just how much staying power their music has.

The band has now reached 30 million RIAA-certified units across 21 titles, with several of its biggest songs earning new multi-Platinum certifications. Leading the way is “Monster,” which has now been certified an incredible 7x Platinum. “Hero” has reached 4x Platinum, while “Awake and Alive” and “Feel Invincible” have both climbed to 3x Platinum.

Those numbers are impressive on their own, but they also show how well Skillet’s music has carried across generations. Songs like “Monster,” “Hero,” and “Awake and Alive” are not simply tracks people remember from when they were released. New listeners continue to discover them through streaming, social media, gaming, and sports. According to the band’s press release, “Monster” alone has now surpassed 5 billion global streams.

Other certifications being recognized include “Not Gonna Die” at Platinum, along with Gold certifications for “Falling Inside the Black,” “Finish Line,” “Rise,” “Sick of It,” and “Back From the Dead.” The Unleashed album has also reached Platinum status.

I have watched Skillet change considerably over the years. I first saw them touring behind their self-titled debut with Grammatrain, when they were a three-piece grunge rock band. Since then, they have gone through several musical changes while building one of the most recognizable sounds in modern rock. Seeing songs from different eras of that career continue to grow is pretty cool.

What makes the timing even better is that Skillet is not simply celebrating the past.

Their six-song EP After the Storm arrives October 9 and finds the band returning to a heavier sound. It also reunites frontman John Cooper with producer David Cowell, also known as Sleep Theory, and marks the first time Cooper has returned to his hometown of Memphis to record since 2003’s Collide.

The newer material has already shown plenty of promise. “Scream” has surpassed 5 million global streams, while “Lift Me Up” brings the kind of hard-hitting sound I have been hoping to hear more of from Skillet. The guitars are heavy, the drums stand out, and Cooper’s voice fits the aggression of the song perfectly.

There is also a much more personal side to these songs. Cooper has described After the Storm as music written during a difficult season involving betrayal, anger, depression, faith, perseverance, and hope.

“This EP is special to me. It reignites what Skillet was always meant to be—which is music that helps lift people out of dark times.”

That has always been one of Skillet’s greatest strengths. The band can hit hard musically without losing the hopeful message that has connected with listeners throughout its career.

Thirty million certified units is a massive achievement, but what stands out even more is that Skillet still sounds hungry. With After the Storm on the way, these certifications feel less like a career retrospective and more like another milestone along the road.

Skillet has built an impressive legacy, and they clearly are not finished adding to it.

Information provided by Atom Splitter PR.

Extol are back with “The One and the Many,” the first taste of their upcoming album Aura of Decay, due November 6 through Solid State Records, with publicity handled by Atom Splitter PR.

After more than a decade without a new full length record, the Norwegian metal veterans waste no time reminding listeners what makes them different. “The One and the Many” sucker punches you square in the jaw with shifting rhythms, technical guitar work, aggressive drumming and a structure that refuses to settle into anything predictable.

For longtime Extol fans, this is exactly the kind of music we have been waiting to hear.

One of my favorite parts of the track is the vocal mixture. Peter Espevoll and Ole Børud bring different textures to the song, and those contrasting voices work extremely well against the constantly moving instrumentation. The musicianship is technical without losing the aggression that made Extol stand out in the first place.

The song also rewards repeated listens. Karl Aksel Skjæringrud, a Christian Metal Group moderator from Norway, told me that while he initially wanted a little more guitar or bass in the mix, the song continued to grow on him. He compared some of its musical direction more closely to Fleshkiller than older Extol and praised Ole Børud’s vocals, while saying he would love to hear Peter Espevoll layered over Ole in places for an even heavier effect.

“It takes some listening,” Karl said, noting that after several plays he began appreciating the track more, especially when hearing it alongside songs from Undeceived.

Lyrically, “The One and the Many” tackles modern tribalism, ideological division and the tension between individual identity and collective thinking. Christer Espevoll has explained that the song reflects a culture where truth can feel increasingly relative while tribal beliefs become stronger. The unsettled subject matter fits the music perfectly, with abrupt transitions and jarring changes reinforcing the tension behind the lyrics.

The return of Christer Espevoll alongside Peter Espevoll, Ole Børud and David Husvik makes this new chapter even more exciting. The band has hinted that Aura of Decay will contain elements reminiscent of the darker atmosphere of Burial, while still carrying forward everything Extol has developed musically over the years.

If “The One and the Many” is the introduction, Aura of Decay has my attention.

My only hope is that this ends up being one of the lighter songs on the album, because if Extol plans to go heavier from here, November cannot get here soon enough.