Black Sites announce new full-length album »For Eternity« and unveil first single »Aquarius Betrayed«!
Chicago, Illinois based heavy metal traditionalists Black Sites return with their fifth full-length album, »For Eternity«, which will be released on July 17th, 2026.
Watch a lyric video for the first single »Aquarius Betrayed« below!
Tracklist:
01. When It Calls
02. Aquarius Betrayed
03. Above Soil, Beneath Sky
04. Giving Up The Ghost
05. Blades (For The Chosen Ones)
06. Silent Wars
07. When Prophecy Fails
08. Unanswered For Eternity
Courtesy of C Squared Music:
Drawing from old school metal, heavy quartet Black Sites present their new single »Aquarius Betrayed«, the first offering taken from the upcoming album, »For Eternity«. The album will be released independently on July 17, 2026.
The approaching full-length marks a new chapter for Black Sites as Mark Sugar is joined with an updated line-up. »For Eternity« showcases a development in the band’s sound and sees the members’ contributions enhance the music’s sonic quality.
»Aquarius Betrayed« reflects frustration at the contradiction towards previous generations who “reaped the benefits of the most socially liberated and progressive era in history, and then quickly turned their back on those values when they became inconvenient.”
On the recording process for »Aquarius Betrayed«, band founder Mark Sugar shares, “This was also the first song that Lee (Smith, new guitarist) recorded guitar for. He’s the only member of the band I hadn’t worked with before, so I wasn’t sure what to expect, but his solo here is more than impressive.”
»For Eternity« was produced by Mark Sugar & Chris Black, recorded at I Can’t Believe It’s Not Mace Street Studios, with mixing and mastering by Dan Swano. Drums on »For Eternity« were recorded by Vladimir Ružičić at Kebac Recording Studio.
About Black Sites:
Based out of Chicago, IL, USA, Black Sites was founded in 2016, initially as a studio project, by vocalist and guitarist Mark Sugar. Sugar was later joined by members John Picillo (bass), Ryan Bruchert (guitar) and Chris Avgerin (drums). Black Sites combines old school metal with guitar harmonies, melodic/clean vocals and progressive elements, primarily drawing inspiration from the likes of Voivod, Black Sabbath, and King’s X.
Black Sites released their debut In Monochrome in 2017 (Mascot/Provogue Records), followed by Exile in 2019. 2021 saw the release of Untrue that was produced by Sanford Parker and awarded Record Of the Year by Dr. A.N. Grier at AngryMetalGuy.com. Black Sites ventured to »The Promised Land?« with their 2024 full-length that featured Tom Draper (ex-Carcass/Spirit Adrift) on the track »Chasing Eternity«.
Now, in 2026, Mark Sugar is joined by new members Jose Salazar (bass), Lee Smith (guitar) and Chris Black (drums). The forthcoming album »For Eternity« is set to release independently on July 17, 2026.
Pre-order here: blacksites.bandcamp.com/album/for-eternity
Black Sites is:
Mark Sugar – Vocals, Guitar
Jose Salazar – Bass
Lee Smith – Guitar
Chris Black – Drums
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well