AARON STAINTHORPE Returns to Perform MY DYING BRIDE Material at PROPHECY FEST 2026 With DEEKS & QUAIL

AARON STAINTHORPE, one of the defining voices of British doom, is preparing to revisit a repertoire that influenced generations — now in a renewed, singular artistic context. And the place chosen for this return is none other than the legendary PROPHECY FEST 2026, where Stainthorpe will perform material associated with MY DYING BRIDE despite the recent and official separation between both parties. Announced under the banner STAINTHORPE, DEEKS & QUAIL, the performance promises to be a rare and emotionally charged moment within the aesthetic universe that has long defined the German festival.

For this special appearance, Stainthorpe will be joined by MARK DEEKS, a musician whose work in ARÐ has become synonymous with atmospheric soundscapes and historical depth, and by the acclaimed cellist JO QUAIL, renowned for her expansive, cinematic approach that blends classical, drone, and contemporary sonic textures. According to the official announcement, the setlist will include classics from MY DYING BRIDE, compositions from ARÐ, and original pieces by JO QUAIL, shaping a performance expected to be as intimate as it is emotionally dense. The timing of the announcement is striking, as it follows one of the most sensitive periods in MY DYING BRIDE’s history.

In a public statement, MY DYING BRIDE confirmed the departure of Stainthorpe, ending one of the longest and most identity-defining partnerships in European extreme metal. The band wrote: “Please understand this decision was not made lightly… we needed time to organize our thoughts and consider our response to the detached and strangely abandoned situation we suddenly found ourselves in.” Even so, the group emphasized that they remain active: “Our collective decision to continue without him is not one we ever expected to face, but to maintain a legacy we hold dear, we simply must move forward.” Meanwhile, recent live appearances featuring MIKKO KOTAMÄKI of SWALLOW THE SUN have sparked speculation about a potential long-term collaboration, though nothing has been officially confirmed.

Within the context of PROPHECY FEST, Stainthorpe's performance gains an even deeper resonance: in a year defined by ruptures and reformation, this appearance feels like both a continuation and a reinvention. The festival — founded by Martin Koller — has built a reputation as a haven for singular artistic expressions, immersive atmospheres, and performances that often happen only once. The newly announced lineup updates include MAUNAH, SIMONE SALVATORI, and NEUN WELTEN, celebrating 20 years of Vergessene Pfade. Also confirmed are highly anticipated sets by THE 3RD AND THE MORTAL, EMPYRIUM, DORNENREICH, TIAMAT performing Wildhoney in full, and the unique collaboration between MISÞYRMING & NERGAL. Additional names like SECRETS OF THE MOON, SUN OF THE SLEEPLESS, KLIMT 1918, and SPIRITUAL FRONT broaden the festival’s already rich aesthetic scope.

The 2026 edition of PROPHECY FEST will take place in the iconic Balve Cave in Germany from September 3rd to 5th. Three-day passes are priced at 149€ plus service fees. With all the internal shifts, reunions, and reimaginings happening across the doom and atmospheric metal world, this performance stands out as one of the most symbolically potent events of the year — a moment of closure, transformation, and deep artistic reflection.


MY DYING BRIDE – Items Available at Pulse Records

Item Format Price Condition Order
My Dying Bride – Meisterwerk 1 (2000 CD, Compilation, Enhanced, Reissue) CD 8.00€ VG Order
My Dying Bride – Introducing My Dying Bride (2013 Double CD, Compilation) 2xCD 7.00€ VG+ Order
My Dying Bride – Songs Of Darkness, Words Of Light (2004 CD, Album, Digipak) CD 12.00€ VG+ Order


⛤ More from Pulse Records

• All CDs
• All Vinyl LPs
• All Tapes
• Other Formats

Comments

Post a Comment

More Posts

20 Metal & Rock Album Reviews & Collector Buying Guide 2025

Image
Alright, let’s get into it! We're ripping through a killer stack of albums that totally pump us up and shake us to our core. These records ain’t just music; they’re experiences that challenge our souls, tear us apart, or drag us deep into the underground abyss. These quick reviews are our gut reactions to how these albums hit us today, leaving echoes of metal in our bones. Take a read into them one by one, or thrash around through the chaos; each album has its own crazy universe just waiting for you to get lost in. So crank it up, and let the metal take over! \m/ ...
Read more

LUCIFER’S FALL Announce Reunion, New Drummer & New Material in 2026

Image
Australian doom hammer strikes again — after more than two years of silence, LUCIFER’S FALL have officially reunited. One of the most uncompromising doom forces from the southern hemisphere, the band announced their resurrection through a series of raw, old-school updates that sent longtime followers into a frenzy. And in pure underground fashion, they’re not easing into it — the group is already preparing for studio action with a brand-new drummer whose identity remains shrouded in mystery. The first strike came on December 9th, when the band declared themselves “back as a recording entity,” signalling the return of core members Deceiver, Invocator, Heretic and Cursed Priestess. For collectors and doom lifers who’ve been spinning their earlier releases on repeat, this was the moment many hoped for — a promise that the bleak fire of traditional doom still burns in Adelaide. Then, on December 12th, the band doubled down: rehearsals are set for early next year, starting with...
Read more

Vital Remains – Dechristianize (2024 2xLP Reissue) Review

Image
⛤ Death Metal | 40.50€ (Mint) ⛤ Pulse Rating: 9.5 / 10 🛒 Check this item in stock 📧 Order Now When it comes to blasphemous, larger-than-life death metal, Vital Remains stands like a titan, and their masterwork "Dechristianize" is nothing short of colossal. As a die-hard metalhead and the proud curator of Pulse Records, my heart races every time I drop the needle on this iconic album. Finally, with the 2024 2xLP orange/black marble reissue from Listenable Records , "Dechristianize" gets the reverence it has always deserved. Let’s not kid ourselves; Dave Suzuki is the heart and soul of this record. It’s almost unbelievable to think about how much of this album he single-handedly crafted. The drumming, guitar leads, bass lines, and relentless lyrics shout out his obsessive commitment at every turn. Songs that stretch into epics of nine minutes or more — this is what Vital Remains does best. You’ll find yourself humming these riffs in...
Read more

MÜTIILATION Announces New Album “Pandemonium of Egregores” for December 2025

Image
Some announcements hit harder than others — and this one shakes the very bones of the underground. After decades of silence broken only by scattered manifestations, the unholy French Black Metal pioneer MÜTIILATION has returned with a new full-length: PANDEMONIUM OF EGREGORES , arriving December 26th, 2025. For those who have walked alongside MEYHNACH since the cursed dawn of the 1990s — through the Black Legions era, the darkness of MAJESTAS LEPROSUS , the deranged introspection of RATTENKÖNIG , the atmospheric death haze of SORROW GALAXIES — this moment feels surreal. The myth was supposed to remain buried. The stench of death was supposed to be final. Yet here we stand, welcoming the seventh son of a band that defined an entire underground ethos. In his own words, MEYHNACH writes: “This entity, buried but not dead, whose return you hoped for but no longer expected, has just given birth to its seventh son… The black metal cult is alive, keep an eye opened.” ...
Read more