Italian computer metal project MASTER BOOT RECORD has unveiled “PLUG AND PLAY,” the latest single from its upcoming album, Computer Metal, scheduled for release on October 30, 2026, via Metal Blade Records. The track arrives alongside an official music video and a playable demo of a new racing game developed by the team behind VirtuaVerse.
Led by multi-instrumentalist and producer Vittorio D’Amore, MASTER BOOT RECORD continues to explore the intersection of heavy metal, electronic music, and vintage computing technology, combining intricate compositions with the unmistakable sounds and aesthetics of early computer hardware.
Speaking about the new single, D’Amore explains:
“Every MASTER BOOT RECORD album ships with one melodic anthem. ‘PLUG AND PLAY’ is the purest build of that code: no drivers, no setup, it just runs and its melodies will stick in your memory.”
“PLUG AND PLAY” introduces a new video game
The release goes beyond a traditional music video, serving as the official trailer for No Trace Back, a racing game currently in development at Theta Division Games, the studio responsible for the acclaimed cyberpunk adventure VirtuaVerse.
Inspired by early vector-graphics arcade classics such as Star Hawk, Tempest, and Cosmic Chasm, the game combines high-speed racing with a retro-futuristic visual style.
D’Amore explains the connection between the music and the game:
“The video for ‘Plug and Play’ is not just a music video: it is the trailer of ‘No Trace Back,’ a racing game we are developing at Theta Division Games, the team behind VirtuaVerse.”
The game is being developed in Unity by programmer Elder0010, with D’Amore handling the soundtrack and collaborating on the overall concept and game design.
Set within a virtual world where players compete for the prestige of their respective houses, No Trace Back aims to expand beyond traditional arcade racing by incorporating narrative and strategic elements. The full release is also planned to include virtual reality support.
A free playable demo is currently available through Theta Division Games.
“Computer metal has always come with code attached: crypto puzzles, ARGs, a whole server, a video game. This time the code is a racer,” D’Amore adds.
Computer Metal explores the sounds and memories of vintage technology
Following 2024’s Hardwarez, the upcoming Computer Metal features ten tracks spanning approximately 42 minutes, further expanding MASTER BOOT RECORD’s distinctive approach to electronic-driven heavy music.
Written entirely through MIDI programming in Cubase, the album places the computer at the center of the creative process while incorporating live guitars to introduce the organic characteristics that synthesizers cannot fully reproduce.
The record moves between hardcore, progressive metal, thrash, melodic death metal, industrial, and symphonic influences, reflecting D’Amore’s wide-ranging musical approach.
Unlike previous MASTER BOOT RECORD albums, many of which were composed spontaneously during livestreaming sessions, Computer Metal was developed through a more deliberate and introspective process.
“Most of my records were written live on stream quite instinctively. This time I didn’t stream, because I needed a more meditative process,” D’Amore explains.
The album revolves around the concept of sensory memory, drawing inspiration from the sounds, visuals, and physical experiences associated with personal computing during the 1980s and 1990s.
“Every title is a piece of hardware or a command that anyone who lived through that era of computing carries in their body: the sound of a dot matrix printer, the click of a turbo button, the glow of a CRT, the ritual of Ctrl+Alt+Del or the mythical Socket 7.”
From the mechanical noise of printers to the distinctive glow of cathode-ray tube monitors, each composition references an element of computing history.
The album also emphasizes a fully human creative process. According to D’Amore, every musical note was programmed manually, while the artwork was constructed character by character without generative tools.
“Everything you hear was written note by note by a human with a keyboard and a mouse controlling a machine. Everything you see in the artwork was typed character by character. No generated content, no shortcuts.”
Computer Metal tracklist
- DOT MATRIX
- COMMAND PROMPT
- PLUG AND PLAY
- FIRMWARE
- SOCKET 7
- BOOT SECTOR
- TURBO BUTTON
- VOODOO2
- CRT
- CTRL + ALT + DEL
MASTER BOOT RECORD announce extensive European tour
Following the album’s release, MASTER BOOT RECORD will embark on an extensive European and UK tour alongside death metal outfit FULCI, with AROTTENBIT also joining the lineup.
The tour begins November 5 in Lyon, France, and continues through December 12, concluding in Aarau, Switzerland.
The itinerary includes performances across France, Spain, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Switzerland.
Tickets and additional information are available through MASTER BOOT RECORD’s official website.
A decade of computer metal
Since emerging in 2016, MASTER BOOT RECORD has developed a distinctive musical identity built around the fusion of vintage computer technology and heavy metal.
With 16 albums released and a partnership with Metal Blade Records established in 2020, D’Amore has transformed what began as an experimental electronic project into a recognizable force within the modern metal underground.
Beyond music, MASTER BOOT RECORD has also expanded into video game development, contributing to the creation and soundtrack of VirtuaVerse, which was released across major gaming platforms.
The upcoming Computer Metal represents another step in that evolution, combining technical precision, nostalgia, and heavy metal songwriting with the interactive world of video games.
MASTER BOOT RECORD lineup
- Vittorio D’Amore – Music, Guitars, Computers
- Edoardo Taddei – Lead Guitar
- Giulio Galati – Drums
Computer Metal will be released on October 30, 2026, via Metal Blade Records, available on CD, digital platforms, and several limited-edition vinyl variants.
Preorders are available through Metal Blade Records