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For those unaware, in an unprecedented gathering of rock and metal royalty, Cleopatra Records proudly announces the April 24th, 2026 release of Black Flame (out April 24th, 2026 via Cleopatra Records), NUCLEAR MESSIAH’s thunderous, all-star concept album.

Built around the visionary guitar mastery of Chris Poland, the legendary former Megadeth guitarist whose emotive phrasing and fusion-driven technique helped redefine modern metal, BLACK FLAME is a sonic prophecy uniting 36 of the most iconic musicians in rock and metal history across five decades.

Produced by Cleopatra founder Brian Perera, Derek Hughes, and Jürgen Engler, with A&R direction by long-term Cleopatra Records consultant John Lappen, NUCLEAR MESSIAH stands as both resurrection and revelation — a celebration of musicianship, legacy, and unrelenting fire.

And keeping its seat warm while we await the main attraction, a new single peels off the full-length masterpiece, and it’s a monster!

The heart of NUCLEAR MESSIAH, Chris Poland’s melodic fluidity, experimental phrasing, and sheer command of tone have inspired generations. From Megadeth’s PEACE SELLS… BUT WHO’S BUYING? to his work in OHM and Damn the Machine, Poland’s guitar sound remains one of the most distinctive in modern music. “Chris isn’t just a guitarist — he’s a spirit of sound,” says Perera. “NUCLEAR MESSIAH was built around his brilliance and brought to life by an army of legends who share his passion and precision.”

1. The Prophet Of Fallout [feat. Chris Poland & William Shatner]
2. Devil Won’t Let Go [feat. Chris Poland, Ronnie Romero, Vinnie Moore, Vinny Appice, Don Airey, Steve Di Giorgio]
3. Death Or Glory [feat. Chris Poland, Thor, Bob Daisley, Glen Drover, Fred Aching]
4. Ride The Sky [feat. Chris Poland, Arthur Brown, Vinny Appice, Alan Davey]
5. Dice And Thunder [feat. Chris Poland, Rick Wakeman, Ronnie Romero, Bumblefoot, Steve Di Giorgio, Fred Aching]
6. For Mad Men Only [feat. Chris Poland, Pat Travers, Joe Lynn Turner, Alan Davey, Shawn Drover]
7. Nuclear Messiah [feat. Chris Poland, Lance Lopez, Greg Walker, Tim “Ripper” Owens, Vinny Appice, Don Airey]
8. Look At Yourself [feat. Chris Poland, Sebastian Bach, Derek Sherinian, Bob Daisley, Mick Box, Carmine Appice]
9. She’s So Evil [feat. Chris Poland, Joel Hoekstra, David Ellefson, Don Airey, Andrew Freeman, Simon Wright]
10. Black Flame [feat. Chris Poland, Ronnie Romero, Jonathan Cain, Phil Soussan, Glen Drover, Chris Adler]
11. Electric Burn [feat. Chris Poland, Marty Friedman, Joe Bouchard, Marc Lopes, Chris Adler]

More than a collaboration, more like a metal summit, due to featuring this mega multi-generational union of the artists who shaped the evolution of heavy music itself, the recording opens on the great William Shatner’s commanding spoken introduction into The Prophet Of Fallout and then we get the ___________ of Devil Won’t Let Go, the ___________ of Death Or Glory, the melodically pounding Ride The Sky, before the guitar and drum-led mastery of Dice And Thunder is brought forth.

Along next is the _________________ of For Mad Men Only and the ____________ of Nuclear Messiah and they are in turn followed by the __________ of Look At Yourself, the __________ of She’s So Evil, the set rounding out on the heavy fare of the titular Black Flame, coming to a close on the Judas Priest-esque Electric Burn.

A staggering lineup represents every era of heavy music here, from Vanilla Fudge to the Kings of Thrash, via Guns N’ Roses, Uriah Heep, Whitesnake, Black Sabbath, UFO, Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Deep Purple, Yngwie Malmsteen, Thor, Testament, Night Ranger, the Michael Schenker Group, Yes, and more.

Eye-opening covers rip open your ears - Lucifer’s Friend, May Blitz, NWOBHM (New Wave of British Heavy Metal) heroes Holocaust and the immortal Uriah Heep (a killer take on “Look At Yourself”); and, while the remainder of the album is all new material, each song composed by the line-up that performs on it, reflecting, too, upon the history of hard rock, prog and metal - a living timeline of rock and metal, from the pioneers of the past to the trailblazers of today.

Official Purchase Link

Nuclear Messiah - Electric Burn [feat. Chris Poland and Chris Adler] (Official Music Video)