Summer ‘26- There’s a lot of motion happening so far this summer. New releases dropping every couple of days, bands are staying on the road, the vibes are sitting right. Everyone is outside, and fortunately, in DFW, it isn’t as hot as it could be, yet. If you haven’t touch the pool or grilled some burgers & hot dogs yet, then let this be your sign, reminding you to get to it. Without further ado, there’s a couple of things I’d like to discuss, starting with Opium Den.

Tape this image to listen to Opium Den’s self titled EP

I’ve been aware of Opium Den for the past several months during my hiatus. The first time I had the chance to see the band live was at the benefit show in Haltom Theater in May. Prior to the benefit show, Opium Den was a new band making an appearance on my radar towards the later half of 2025. While I was laying dormant in my home last year, I started to notice their name on show flyers consisting of other local bands I’m familiar with. This discovery stimulated my curiosity and sprung me into action to find out who they are. After listening to their 2025 ep, Wet Blanket, I figured I will catch them live at some point, it was only a matter of time. Fast forward to spring 2026 and we ended up sharing the stage. Since then, OD has been on the move. Recently, they announced their partnership with San Antonio independent record label, Gate Six Records, alongside releasing their new self titled EP, available on major streaming platforms. Tap the above image to lend an ear.

After their first ep nearly one year ago, I had an expectation that their latest project will continue to carry its essential aggression. Sure enough, with 6 songs and a solid 12 min runtime, this body of work came correct with the style and sound I’d appreciate. Initially, my ears was able to pick up on the west coast power violence influence embedded into its hardcore punk roots. It was intriguing to me because it’s not something I would normally hear from a Texas band. My love for the classic heavy overtone in sound with the raw, nihilistic attitude pours right out of my headphones as I enjoy the tempo changes throughout the project. There’s nothing better in this genre than a band sharing its disdain for the foundation and systems built by the founding fathers. OD exhibited their message with sheer angst in front of catchy riffs and irresistible dance parts. OD’s self titled is a wild ride and a compelling listen in my book, the type of music I would fly down the street on Harley to. Check out their latest interview on No Echo here

Summer Freeze: Frozen Soul Record Release Party

It was summer 2021 COVID era- Texas didn’t care much about the pandemic. Were we wearing masks? Yeah, we were… under our noses. Anyways, summer 2021 was the year Frozen Soul decided to bring the winter in the middle of Texas summer, and achieved victory (tap here for the story). From my recollection, the event was a success. It was a lot of fun and if my memory serves me correctly, the show consisted of many familiar faces from the past and familiar faces of the present. Furthermore, it was a DFW heavy music scene class reunion, a welcoming combination of alumni and new students, if you will. There were a couple of things I witnessed on this particular night that will never escape my memory. There were a couple of snow machines used to expel powder in the physical characteristic of snow into the evening air. I thought it was awesome to see, my inner child was elated during their set. On top of their performance, they presented something I haven’t heard of until then; Frozen Soul had their own brand of beer, courtesy of Division Brewing. I remember one of the first few thoughts running through my mind was “ This is a badass rollout, when did hardcore kids start thinking about marketing?” Nonetheless, it was a cool and fun gimmick in the most awesome way possible. At the time, the IPA was called FrostHammer. For context, I’m a light beer drinker ( Miller Lite, Bud Light, Busch Light). Upon the first chug, I knew this was far from what I was used. That beer was heavy as hell, like a rank bucking bull. All in all, it was a night to remember.

Fast Forward to summer 2026- 5 years later, as I scroll through on Facebook. The flyer for the Frozen Soul record release party snags my attention from their fan page. I sat up in my bed to make sure I was reading the image correctly. Within an instant, I said to myself, “Yup, me and mini me ( my daughter) are going to this.” There was an expectation that was brewing inside. Reminiscing the show from 4 years ago, I anticipated the overall turnout to be greater in comparison.

This year is consisting of some notably differences. First of all, this is a record release show. From 2021 onward, Frozen Soul has gained an astronomical amount of attention and praise. Their May release, No Place of Warmth, is nothing short of chilling death metal bangers with a couple of legendary features. Given the fact the record release party is two months after the release, it gives no excuse for die hard and casual fans alike to not know which songs are being played from the first note. Second, the lineup on this release party is nuts to say the least. Kombat, Dysmorphia, Myth Carver and Life Cycles snatched my eyes with a quickness. I saw Cynical recently so it’s cool to see them being able to share the stage with current heavy hitters. Lastly, this is free admission show as long as you bring canned food donations for the Arlington Food Bank.

The one similarity displayed is the Texas death metal juggernauts are releasing a limited edition beer called IPA of Despair presented by Division Brewing. The beer will be on tap and in can for the show. I could only assume this is going to be another heavy one. To better prepare myself for a stout beverage, after I finish editing this article, I’m headed to QT to purchase a six pack. Once again, the lovely folks in Frozen Soul know how to cater to their crowd. Home is where the heart is and real Texans love beer and ( heavy) music. See ya there!