Kate's Acid Hellbender CD (Slipcase, 2026, High Roller Records)

Hellbender is the first full-length studio album from Belgian heavy metal and speed metal pioneers Kate's Acid, led by legendary vocalist Kate de Lombaert. Released in 2026 through High Roller Records, the album represents a remarkable continuation of the legacy established by the original Acid, one of the earliest and most distinctive speed metal bands to emerge from the European continent.

Acid were formed in Bruges, Belgium, in 1980, originally under the name Precious Page, and quickly developed a reputation for their fast, aggressive and uncompromising approach to heavy metal. The band went on to release three now-legendary albums, Acid and Maniac in 1983 and Engine Beast in 1985, before breaking up prematurely in the mid-1980s.

Fronted by Kate de Lombaert, Acid became particularly notable within the early European metal underground, combining speed, aggression and traditional heavy metal songwriting at a time when the foundations of speed metal were still being established. Their early recordings have since become highly regarded among collectors and historians of classic European heavy metal.

Kate de Lombaert returned to the stage in 2019 under the name Kate's Acid, reigniting the legacy of the original band. High Roller Records subsequently released the live album Blowing Your Ears Off in 2024, recorded at the prestigious Keep It True Festival.

Now, Kate returns with Hellbender, the first brand-new studio album of this new chapter.

For Hellbender, Kate has written nine new songs together with exceptional guitarist Geert Annys. The current lineup is completed by drummer Ash and Colombian bassist Camilo "Thunder Screamer" Ortego, a member of Axe Steeler, who contributed the majority of the bass parts. The album was recorded between Belgium and Colombia, with Jacky Lehmann handling the mixing at his Berlin studio.

Despite the decades that separate Hellbender from Acid's classic 1980s recordings, Kate's intention was never to modernise the band's sound beyond recognition. Instead, she wanted to capture the raw spirit and character of old-school heavy metal.

The result is an album that deliberately embraces speed, melody, powerful guitar work and traditional metal songwriting. Tracks such as The Lightning Conductor deliver fast-paced speed metal energy, while Riding Out takes the form of a classic biker anthem. Do Not Burn The Witch adds another dose of dark, driving heavy metal attitude.

Hellbender is not simply an exercise in nostalgia. These are nine new compositions written specifically for the current incarnation of Kate's Acid, but they retain the unmistakable spirit that made Acid such an important name in the early European metal underground.

Kate herself considers Hellbender the legitimate successor to Maniac, her favourite Acid album, and the connection is easy to understand. The new material captures the rawness, speed and traditional heavy metal character associated with Acid while benefiting from decades of experience and a fresh lineup of musicians.

For collectors of early European speed metal, Belgian heavy metal and classic underground metal, Hellbender is a particularly significant release. Kate de Lombaert's return gives listeners the opportunity to experience a new chapter in the story of a band whose original recordings helped establish the aggressive European metal sound that would influence generations of speed and extreme metal musicians.

Recommended for fans of Kate's Acid, Acid, Maniac, Engine Beast and Blowing Your Ears Off, as well as collectors of classic Belgian and European heavy metal.

Also recommended for listeners who enjoy early speed metal, traditional heavy metal, NWOBHM, proto-thrash and underground 1980s metal, including Venom, Motörhead, Girlschool, Tank, Raven, Exciter, Warlock and other pioneers of fast and aggressive heavy metal.

Ideal for collectors of Belgian metal, European speed metal, traditional heavy metal, classic 1980s metal, underground heavy metal and High Roller Records releases.

Whether you're a longtime Acid collector or discovering Kate de Lombaert's music for the first time, Hellbender is far more than a historical footnote. It is a genuine new studio album that reconnects one of European speed metal's pioneering voices with the raw, uncompromising spirit of classic heavy metal.

Artist: Kate's Acid
Title: Hellbender 
Label: High Roller Records
Catalogue Number: HRR1061CD
UPC: 4251267723461
Release Year: 2026
Duration: Album
Format: CD 
Packaging Type: Slipcase/Jewel Case
Condition: New & factory sealed

Tracklist:

1. Hellbender
2. Taking Back My Wings
3. The Lightning Conductor
4. Riding Out
5. Do Not Burn the Witch
6. Valkyrie
7. Buccaneers
8. Stormchaser
9. Air Raid