Black metal outfit VISERION return with their ferocious new single “Mad King,” the latest track from their forthcoming album Fire and Blood, set for release on January 16th, 2026. The band, known for merging raw black metal with atmospheric and melodic elements, have elevated their sound to new heights with this record.
Formed in Queens, NY in 2020 and solidifying their current four-piece lineup in 2022, VISERION have crafted Fire and Blood as a concept album rooted in the mythos of George R.R. Martin’s Game of Thrones universe. Centered around the rise and fall of the Targaryen dynasty, the album takes its name from the family’s house words and explores the dark history and whispered legends surrounding their bloodline.
“Mad King” specifically delves into the madness and cruelty of Aerys Targaryen II. “Mad King musically captures the insanity of Aerys Targaryen II. We wrote the mood of the song almost as his thoughts. Sporadic and unstable,” the band explains. “This song features our ability to change time signatures and tempos.” Lyrically, it channels the delusions and brutal reign of Aerys II, culminating in his eventual demise. The writing process was sparked when Cris brought in the chorus riff, which was later developed with Tasso contributing the closing melody that inspired a full writing session.
The single exemplifies the conceptual depth and musical evolution VISERION have cultivated since their formation, marking Fire and Blood as their most focused and ambitious release to date.
About VISERION:
Located in Queens, NY, VISERION blend brutal and aggressive black metal with atmospheric and melodic passages in their own distinctive take on the genre. Storytelling is embedded in their musical creativity, highly influenced by the writings of George R.R. Martin and the World of Westeros. The band initially formed as a three-piece in 2020 by Ben Marvilli taking on bass and vocals, Matt Marvilli on drums and John Magnani performing guitars. Subsequently, in 2022, Magnani left and Ben Marvilli swapped out bass for guitar. Cris Valentine also joined on guitar and Tasso Diakov took on the bass. The debut album Natural Selection dropped in 2021, followed by a split EP release with TELOCH VOVIN titled The Iron Age of Kali Yuga in 2023. Now, Fire and Blood is set to emerge on January 16, 2026.
VISERION Is:
Benedetto Marvilli -Guitar/Vocals
Matthew Marvilli – Drums
Cris Valentine – Guitar
Tasso Diakov – Bass
Album Credits:
Producer: Billy Pfister
Recording Studio: Westfall Recording
Engineer: Billy Pfister
Mastering: Jacob Buczarski
Mixing: Chris Grigg
Cover art: “Fire in Rome” by Hubert Robert
Links:
Bandcamp: https://viserion.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/viserion_official/
Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/ViserionOfficial/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@viserion9676
Fire and Blood Track Listing:
- Fire and Blood (3:09)
- Mad King (3:33)
- Reign of Fire (4:51)
- Blackfyre (5:31)
- Harrenhal (6:33)