There’s something brewing in the underground metal scene over in Italy, and honestly butt… it sounds absolutely feral. 🤘🔥
Extreme metal wrecking crew ESCAPEINOUT have officially signed with Brutal Records, and they’re arriving armed with a brand-new concept album that sounds like the soundtrack to civilisation falling apart in slow motion.
And frankly? We are VERY here for it.
Coming out of Catania, Sicily, ESCAPEINOUT bring a savage blend of aggression, atmosphere, and sharp-edged heaviness that feels properly earned. No gimmicks. No fake internet-core nonsense. Just years of underground graft, lineup chaos, creative rebuilding, and enough riffs to level a city block.
🔥 Welcome To The Collapse
Their upcoming album, The Age Of Collapse – As Above, So Below, officially lands on 21 August 2026 through Brutal Records, with both physical and digital releases confirmed worldwide.
Now before anyone panics and assumes this is another “concept album” that disappears up its own backside after track three — don’t worry. ESCAPEINOUT actually understand restraint.
The record tackles themes of:
- Environmental destruction 🌍
- Human greed 💀
- Social collapse ⚡
- The slow decay of modern civilisation 😵💫
…but instead of force-feeding listeners a lecture, the band lets the MUSIC carry the weight.
And that’s where this thing really shines.
The riffs cut hard without becoming technical soup. The drums hammer away with purpose. The atmosphere builds naturally instead of drowning everything in overproduced studio fluff. There’s breathing room inside the chaos, which somehow makes the heavier moments hit even harder.
It feels bleak. Angry. Suffocating at times.
But controlled.
Like the soundtrack to watching the world burn while standing in the rain outside Download Festival holding a £9 pint and questioning every life decision that led you there. 🌧️🍺
🎧 The Age Of Collapse – As Above, So Below Tracklist
- Behold The River (feat. F. Burtone)
- The Wait
- No Time (feat. F. Burtone)
- Sink (feat. Andy Neri)
- The Awakening
- Out of The Shade
- As Above, So Below
- Filtered
- The End of All Things Known
Honestly? Those track titles alone sound like they belong written in flaming letters above a collapsing cathedral. 😈🔥
⚡ Italy’s Extreme Metal Scene Is Becoming Dangerous
Over the last decade, Italy’s underground heavy scene has quietly transformed into one of Europe’s most exciting breeding grounds for extreme music.
Bands are blending black metal atmosphere, death metal brutality, and thrash aggression into something that feels uniquely their own — and ESCAPEINOUT fit perfectly into that evolution.
But they don’t sound like followers.
They sound like a band who disappeared into the darkness for years, sharpened every weapon they had, and came back meaner.
Originally formed in 2011, the band slowly built their reputation through relentless persistence and underground support, earning attention from outlets like MetalItalia and Metal Hammer Italia.
After lineup changes and a period of rebuilding, ESCAPEINOUT returned in 2023 with a much clearer identity and direction.
And judging by this new material?
That reset worked an absolute treat, mun.
🤘 Guest Features Without The Ego
The album also features appearances from F. Burtone and Andy Neri, but what’s refreshing here is that the collaborations never overshadow the band itself.
Too many modern metal records treat guest spots like Pokémon cards.
“LOOK EVERYONE, WE GOT A PERSON YOU KNOW.”
ESCAPEINOUT avoid that trap entirely.
The guests add texture and depth without dragging focus away from the core sound — which says a lot about how confident this band have become in their own identity.
🔥 ESCAPEINOUT Line-Up
🎤 Elio Virtù — Vocals
🎸 Max Calleri — Guitar
🎸 R.G. Noise — Bass
🥁 Ciccio Blandini — Drums
📍 Catania, Sicily, Italy
🌍 Languages: Italian / English
🖤 The Riff Report Verdict
There’s a proper sense of intent surrounding ESCAPEINOUT right now.
Not hype. Not TikTok-core nonsense. Not fake “industry plant” energy.
Intent.
This feels like a band who’ve suffered for their sound, rebuilt themselves from the ground up, and finally found the version of ESCAPEINOUT they were always supposed to become.
The Age Of Collapse – As Above, So Below could end up being one of those underground records that spreads through the metal scene purely by word of mouth from sweaty venues, late-night playlists, and people yelling “HOW HAVE YOU NOT HEARD THIS YET?” over distorted pub jukeboxes.
And honestly?
Those are usually the best kind. 🤘🔥
ESCAPEINOUT – The Age Of Collapse – As Above, So Below
📅 Release Date: 21 August 2026
💿 Via: Brutal Records
🌍 Physical & Digital Worldwide Release Confirmed
Michael is the founder, editor, and chief riff wrangler behind The Riff Report, an independent Welsh rock and metal publication built by fans, for fans. With a lifelong passion for loud guitars, unforgettable live shows, and the incredible community that surrounds rock and metal, he created The Riff Report to celebrate everything that makes the scene special—from legendary headline acts and grassroots venues to rising bands that deserve to be heard.
A familiar face at festivals across the UK, Michael spends much of the year covering events including Download Festival, Bloodstock Open Air, Steelhouse Festival, Firevolt, Plumpton Revival, and many more. Whether he’s battling the Welsh weather on a mountainside, surviving a weekend in a muddy campsite, or squeezed against the front barrier with thousands of fellow fans, he’s always searching for the next great story to share.
As editor of The Riff Report, Michael writes festival guides, breaking news, album reviews, gig reviews, interviews, opinion pieces, nostalgia features, and behind-the-scenes stories from across the rock and metal world. His writing combines honest opinions, humour, and a genuine love for live music, bringing readers closer to the bands, festivals, venues, and people that keep the scene alive.
Michael is particularly passionate about supporting independent artists, local venues, charities, and the wider UK rock and metal community. He believes every band deserves a chance to be discovered and every festival has a story worth telling. Through The Riff Report, he aims to shine a spotlight on both the biggest names in rock and the future stars waiting to break through.
When he’s not writing or interviewing artists, you’ll probably find him exploring festival campsites, photographing live shows, chatting with fellow fans over a pint, or planning the next road trip in search of more riffs, bigger crowds, and unforgettable moments.
Above all, Michael believes rock and metal are about more than music—they’re about community, friendship, and creating memories that last a lifetime. That’s exactly what The Riff Report exists to celebrate.
Proudly Welsh. Proudly Loud. Always chasing the next great riff. 🤘
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