THE BLACK THUNDER launch video for new track “Verification of Wounds”
New album “Time Obliteration” to be released via Pagan Records on 16 October
Polish doom and alternative metal act The Black Thunder have released a music video for “Verification of Wounds“, the first single from their upcoming third full-length album “Time Obliteration“. The album is set for release on 16 October 2026 via PaganRecords.
Watch “Verification of Wounds”, which was premiered today via No Clean Singing: https://www.nocleansinging.com/2026/08/12/an-ncs-video-premiere-the-black-thunder-verification-of-wounds/
The Black Thunder bassist, vocalist and founder, Marcin Szczepański, commented on the background and musical shifts behind the track: “Verification of Wounds” is the first track from the new album that we wanted to share. It is the opening track and was among the first ones written for the record, so everything fits together perfectly. This song marks the first time, both on the album and in the band’s history, that we’ve used growled vocals. The intro reveals a strong influence from Sepultura and their song “Arise”, a track that, like the album itself, made a massive impression on us during our teenage years. That impression was so profound that the lyrics contain numerous references to song titles from the “Arise” album. There is also a subtle nod to Mastodon’s “Oblivion”, an album that had a major impact on me when it was released and continues to leave its mark on me to this day.”
With artists from Polish underground bands such as Calm Hatchery, Tyran and Deathinition, The Black Thunder moved from the stoner and groovy sounds that characterise their previous albums “Visions in Black” (2017) and “Into the Darkness We All Fall” (2021). The album takes the band to darker tones with a mixture of black metal elements, sludge elements, technical elements and crust punk elements. The music is DIY-inspired, where the group did not go for polished studio production but went with feeling: The entire album was recorded in a live recording session at Dobra 12 Studio, Białystok, with production done by Piotr Polak, with mixing and mastering handled by Haldor Grunberg at Satanic Audio.
Lyrically, the album focuses on themes of existential anxiety, internal conflict, and distorted perception. The vocals are performed mainly in English, with select Polish passages added for emphasis. Visuals for the album feature hand-painted cover artwork by Australian artist Rok (Sadistik Exekution), with graphic layouts handled by Łukasz “Pachu” Pach (Hostia).
Those interested in the new record will have an exclusive opportunity to experience “Time Obliteration” performed live in its entirety at the upcoming Thunder Fest held in Poland on 12 September 2026, ahead of the album’s official release on 16 October.
“Time Obliteration” tracklist:
1. Verification of Wounds
2. Ash in My Marrow
3. Nothing Remains
4. Turn into Absence
5. The Eternal Search for Inner Balance-Consciousness
6. Fractured Time
7. To Live, To Suffer, To Die
8. Revelation of Times to Follow
The Black Thunder are:
Marcin Szczepański – Vocal, Bass
Grzegorz Malinowski – Guitar
Jacek Kiełpiński – Guitar
Witek Kozak – Drums
The Black Thunder online
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theblackthunderpl
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theblackthunderpl/
Bandcamp: https://theblackthunder.bandcamp.com/music
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3MqudwAl1AfhMtagR2b8Aj?si=ZVexL6zLR9mOk7EKKQxjAQ
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheBlackThunderpl
Pagan Records online
Website / Shop: https://www.pagan-records.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/paganrecords
Bandcamp: https://paganrecords.bandcamp.com
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/paganrecords
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pagan.records/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/knxur7q2nz7w1he6qqq60ssq5?si=439870fe0b3d4918
