Second Brain will release their new album “Blackshine” on 10 December 2026, with the single “Above and Below” available now as the first preview. The Italian trio have opened pre-orders for the digital album and a limited digipak CD edition through Bandcamp. The CD pressing is limited to 40 copies and includes a four-page booklet with the lyrics and artwork.
A record built on contrast
“Blackshine” brings together dark thrash and death metal riffing, atmospheric synth arrangements, progressive rock elements and varied melodic writing. The album’s lyrics explore the contrast between opposing versions of reality, a theme reflected in “Above and Below” and its repeated idea that “what’s real’s not real”. The seven-song tracklist is: “One Spark”, “Above and Below”, “Empire”, “Return To Madness”, “Splinters”, “Black Shine” and “Astral Plane Exit”.
The digital pre-order costs $9 or more and includes immediate access to “Above and Below”, with the complete album supplied on its release date. The download is offered in MP3, FLAC and other formats at 16-bit/44.1kHz quality. The CD edition also includes the digital album, with shipping scheduled for around 10 December.
Lala Gabarth has been there since 2010
Lala Gabarth sings and plays synth in the current trio, and has been part of Second Brain since 2010. The band’s other members are Agravain, who performs vocals, rhythm and lead guitars and programming, and Anagoor, who plays bass. The album was mixed and mastered by Alex Ecker at Pearlsound Studio, while Enzo Torrano added keyboards to “Empire” and “Astral Plane Exit”. The artwork comes from Costin Chioreanu.
Second Brain formed in Rome in 2009 and previously released the EP “Into the Circle”, the albums “Synthesis” and “The Mind Awakes”, and the live album “XX XII MMXV”. “The Mind Awakes” was released in 2020. “Blackshine” is the trio’s first announced full-length since that record.
