Long-running Italian groove thrash metallers, Extrema, will release their seventh studio album, Headbanging Forever, on May 10 via Rockshots Records. The album will be available in CD digipack deluxe or vinyl gatefold limited coloured edition. Pre-order here.

New single, “Pitch Black Eyes”, is streaming below.

Frontman Tiziano Spigno states: “The lyrics are inspired by Lovercraft’s prose poem ‘Nyarlathotep’. The poem itself is a bleak view of human civilization in decline: Nyarlathotep is a tall and swarthy man, whom wanders the Earth, demonstrating his magical powers. In every city he gets, he brings terror and destruction, announcing the world’s collapse.”

For this album, the band enlisted Gustavo Sazes to create the album artwork. Guitarist Tommy Massara commented on the cover, “We had a list of artists in mind with which we would like to work with, in the end we decided for two. With one it didn’t work, with Gustavo, after some emails and some ideas exchange, we decided to leave him blank paper to let his own vision and concept free,  and the result is awesome! A cover with a strong impact.”

Headbanging Forever was produced by Tommy Massara and Gabriele Ravaglia. Recorded and mixed by Gabriele Ravaglia and Maxx Canali at the Fear Studio in Italy, it was mastered by Alberto Cutolo at Massive Arts studios in Milan.

Headbanging Forever tracklisting:

"The Call"
"Borders Of Fire"
"For The Loved And The Lost"
"Heavens Blind"
"Pitch Black Eyes"
"Headbanging Forever"
"Believer"
"Invisible"
"Paralyzed"
"The Showdown"

"Pitch Black Eyes":

Album trailers:

Extrema’s original lineup was established between 1985 and 1986 in Milan, Italy. In a very short time, the band led by guitars player Tommy Massara achieved a huge success. Tommy is the only remaining member of the original lineup, and over the years he also played the role of artistic and executive producer.

Hundreds of concerts made the band more and more close-knit and open towards a constant growth path, capable from the beginning of welcoming influences external to heavy metal, a consistent choice within an evolutionary framework which saw Extremas tart from the rebellious attitude of Motörhead to later incorporate the style of Californian thrash metal, a scene with which the band shared the utmost care for the technical side of music and a devastating presence on stage.

The band’s reputation as musicians and performers kept growing in a perpetual live context, with extensive tours and the participation to prestigious festivals with the likes of Metallica, Slayer, Motörhead, and Korn, among many others.

Extraneous from the beginning to political and ideological implications of any kind, Extrema’s lyrics have always strived to alternate challenging and contemporary themes with lighter subjects, true to rock 'n' roll form.

In May 2017 the band welcomed the new frontman Tiziano Spigno. Thanks to his entry, Extrema can finally release all the creativity repressed in recent years: a violent, direct and engaging approach which is -at the same time- also varied, courageous and experimental, resulting in the new album Headbanging Forever.

Lineup:

Tiziano “Titian” Spigno - Vocals
Tommy Massara - Guitars
Gabri Giovanna - Bass
Francesco “Frullo” Larosa - Drums