Auckland heavy metal veterans Forsaken Age have released the new single “Holy War, Holy Hell”, the second and final track to be lifted from their upcoming album “Blackened Steel”. The song arrived with an official video on the band’s YouTube channel, and it follows the first single “War Machine” as the album’s release date of 11 November 2026 draws closer.
According to the band, “Holy War, Holy Hell” pushes their sound into darker territory than before. The track fuses their traditional, high-speed speed metal roots with heavier, colder and more sinister elements, signalling the blackened direction that runs through “Blackened Steel”. The album is deliberately built on a sonic dichotomy: the “Steel” side pays tribute to the classic heavy and speed metal that founded the group, while the “Blackened” side descends into the weight of doom, the intensity of death metal and the cold atmospheres of underground black metal. The band described the shift in the video’s description:
With Blackened Steel, the band enters a darker era, blending traditional and classic speed metal with the weight of doom, the intensity of death metal, and the cold atmosphere of black metal.
- Forsaken Age
Lyrically, the single covers new ground for the band. It deals with blind faith, ideological influence and spiritual control, and, without promoting any doctrine, examines the destructive consequences of absolute devotion. The accompanying video uses provocative imagery that reinforces those unsettling themes. The lyrics were written by Chrissy Scarfe, and the video was produced and edited by Lee Scarfe. The track was recorded and mixed at Dynamic Rage Studios by Raj Singarajah and Cam Sinclair, and mastered by Luke Finlay at Primal Mastering.
Fifteen years of Auckland steel
Forsaken Age formed in Auckland, New Zealand in 2009 with the stated mission of keeping traditional heavy metal alive. The quartet has spent more than fifteen years treating metal as a way of life rather than a passing trend. Before “Blackened Steel”, the band released two studio albums, “Back from Extinction” (2012) and “Heavy Metal Nightmare” (2020), the EP “Vengeance of the Slain” (2016) and the single “Raven’s Cry” (2020), the latter featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens, formerly of Judas Priest. Their past releases came out through Pure Steel Records.
Chrissy Scarfe on the mic
Chrissy Scarfe has been the vocalist of Forsaken Age since the band’s formation in 2009. She wrote the lyrics for “Holy War, Holy Hell” and fronts the band on the new album. She shares the line-up with guitarist Aidan MacNaughton and bassist Lee Scarfe, who also contributes additional vocals.
Pre-orders open on Bandcamp
“Blackened Steel” is the band’s third full-length album and is due on 11 November 2026. Pre-orders are open now in physical and digital formats through the band’s official Bandcamp store. The digital pre-order includes two tracks available immediately, with the full album delivered on release day. Physical options include a digipak CD, a limited edition 12-inch vinyl pressed on heavyweight black wax with a lyric sheet insert, and several bundles that add shirts, patches and, for a limited time, a special CD single or 7-inch vinyl of “Raven’s Cry” featuring Tim “Ripper” Owens. “Holy War, Holy Hell” is available for streaming now.
