From the heart of San Francisco's legendary metal scene emerges NEFARIOUS, a powerhouse band poised to leave an indelible mark on heavy metal. This all-star lineup unites some of the most seasoned and revered musicians in the genre, delivering a sound that's as punishing as it is precise — blending melody, harmony, and crushing riffs in a way that only true thrashers can.
Leading the charge is Katon W. De Pena, the electrifying frontman known for his commanding presence and raw intensity with HIRAX. His signature vocal attack sets the stage for a sonic onslaught. On guitars, the twin-axe assault is nothing short of legendary — Rick Hunolt (EXODUS, DIEHUMANE) and Doug Piercy (HEATHEN, ANVIL CHORUS) unleash a relentless barrage of riffs and searing solos that define the essence of thrash metal's golden era while pushing its boundaries forward. Anchoring the chaos with a thunderous backbone is bassist Tom Gears (BLIND ILLUSION, ANCIENT MARINER),whose low-end power drives the band's relentless groove. Behind the kit, Will "Beastman" Carroll of DEATH ANGEL delivers a percussive assault that is both ferocious and exact, ensuring that every track hits with maximum impact.
Hunolt comments: "I'm so honored to be with this amazing group of dudes. About to release some old-school thrash on you mofos. It's long overdue, and I'm confident you guys will love it as much as we do. You, our metal brothers and sisters, deserve it. See you on the road. Let's fuckin go!!!"
De Pena adds: "We're not a band. We are a gang ready to crush skulls and make eardrums bleed ... Necks will be sore ...!!"
Piercy exclaims: "Let’s get ready to rage! We are really stoked to finally be able to release this stuff and discuss it. It's been under wraps for a while. More insane videos and shows are coming soon! We hope everybody enjoys this release as much as we had fun creating it, for you all!"
NEFARIOUS's debut album, "Addicted To Power", will be released on July 18 via Relentless "Metal" Records with the collector vinyl available through Hectic/Bleeding Priest Records.
The official music video for NEFARIOUS's first single, "One Nation Enslaved", can be seen below.
The band will make its live debut at the "Addicted To Power" album-release party on Saturday, July 19 at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco.
Together, NEFARIOUS crafts a sound that is both fierce and refined — a perfect balance of aggression and musicianship that speaks to the true spirit of thrash metal. With their explosive live performances and immersive new material on the horizon, metal fans worldwide should prepare for an unstoppable force. This is unpretentious thrash metal. This is NEFARIOUS!
Shock rock legends GWAR are back to wreak havoc once again with their new multimedia release "The Return Of Gor Gor", due on July 25 via Pit Records/Z2 Comics. This multi-format assault on the senses includes brand-new studio recordings, ferocious live performances, and an exclusive 32-page comic detailing the epic return of Gor Gor, GWAR's long-lost, three-ton Tyrannosaurus Rex. This release is a collaboration between GWAR and Z2 Comics, ensuring fans get the ultimate immersive experience.
But where has Gor Gor been all these years? How do you misplace a three-ton Tyrannosaurus Rex? The answer lies in "The Return Of Gor Gor", a multi-format experience that intertwines music and graphic storytelling. "The Return Of Gor Gor" follows the tale of an orphaned T-Rex cub, lost in a depraved world that is completely alien to him. Will he become an ally of the legendary Scumdogs Of The Universe, or will their reunion unleash an apocalyptic battle? Only time will tell.
Kicking off the carnage, GWAR premieres the NSFW video for "Lot Lizard" today. Fans can also stream the track across all digital service providers (DSPs) and pre-order "The Return Of Gor Gor" now at Pit Records (where you can also get a Gor Gor plush) and Z2Comics.com.
GWAR's Blöthar The Berserker states: "'Lot Lizard' is a blistering return to GWAR as a punk metal powerhouse with a sense of humor. What could be more charming than a song about a crack-addicted cross-dressing dinosaur prostitute that shreds weiners at truck stop pickle parks? Nuttin honey. That's what. The song rocks. Listen ya mooks…"
Watch the NSFW video for "Lot Lizard" below.
"The Return Of Gor Gor" features three brand new GWAR songs mixed by Kurt Ballou (CONVERGE, GodCity Studios) and four live tracks captured at The Masquerade in Atlanta, Georgia during GWAR's 2024 tour, mixed by Chris Ronan Murphy. All songs were produced by GWAR and mastered by Alan Douches. The release also includes a 32-page comic detailing Gor Gor's return, which is included with all versions. Vinyl editions boast an animated etching of Gor Gor on Side A, with a semi-translucent etched deep purple vinyl available exclusively at GWAR.net and semi-translucent etched green vinyl at Z2Comics.com. A deluxe hardback edition is also available via Z2Comics.com.
40 years ago, the intergalactic warlords of GWAR emerged from their Antarctic tomb to conquer the Earth with their barbaric blend of metal and mayhem. Over the decades, their monstrous live shows and relentless discography have solidified them as the ultimate overlords of shock rock. Now, with BälSäc, Beefcake, JiZMak and Blothar joined by the mighty shredder Grodius of the Maximus Clan, GWAR embarks on their latest quest — to reclaim their savage pet, Gor Gor, who mysteriously disappeared following the death of their former frontman, Oderus Urungus.
Blöthar comments on "The Return Of Gor Gor": "The last time I saw Gor Gor, he was just a wee fart dragon. He had crawled on the hood of my Kia Soul and was holding on for dear life while I drove to the store to buy Clamato. I bathed him in wiper fluid and used my wipers to knock him off my sweet ride. Next thing I know, he's a 20-foot tall trans-species prostitute working a pickle park. Apparently, he's all grown up and looking for revenge. This record chronicles his struggles as a young Dino-American trying to make his way in a cruel world."
"The Return Of Gor Gor" track listing:
01. The Great Circus Train Disaster
02. Tyrant King
03. Lot Lizard
04. Crack In The Egg (Live)
05. The Founding Fathers (Live)
06. America Must Be Destroyed (Live)
07. Fishfuck (Live)
GWAR will be on the road all year as part of its 40th-anniversary celebration.
About the excursion, Blöthar says: "This tour is gonna suck. Once again we will be onstage suffering through the attacks of a giant tyrant lizard just so humans can come to the gigs and get shitfaced on White Claws and show us their tits. Please, for the love of all that is holy, show us your tits."
More than 30 years into their storied career, Montreal death metal innovators CRYPTOPSY return with their ninth studio album, "An Insatiable Violence", set for release on June 20, 2025 via Season Of Mist.
Revered in extreme metal circles for such groundbreaking classics as 1994's "Blasphemy Made Flesh" and the 1996 magnum opus "None So Vile", CRYPTOPSY find yet another gear on "An Insatiable Violence", which further solidifies the band's place in the upper echelon of death metal. Coming out of the pandemic, the band dedicated themselves to staying on top of their game more than ever before, with the intention of consistently putting out a new record every two years. That started with 2023's acclaimed "As Gomorrah Burns" and continues 21 months later with "An Insatiable Violence".
"We had to write the majority of 'An Insatiable Violence' while on the DEATH TO ALL tour, which was something we'd never done before," vocalist Matt McGachy says. "Flo [Mounier, drums] and Chris [Donaldson, guitar] really put their hats on. It was a feat."
"Ever since COVID, our focus is clearer, a lot of work gets done faster, and we push each other to get it done," Mounier says.
In addition to featuring some of the fastest passages CRYPTOPSY has ever recorded — keen listeners will even hear the odd gravity blast from Mounier, a rarity from the virtuoso drummer — the controlled chaos of their signature sound is offset by well-timed passages that ease off the gas pedal enough to allow listeners to come up for some air. That dynamic rage on "An Insatiable Violence" in turn makes the more aggressive moments hit even harder, which is immediately noticeable on the harrowing "Until There's Nothing Left" and the chugging closing track "Malicious Needs". Olivier Pinard anchors "Fools Last Acclaim" with stunning authority (keeping pace with Mounier is an unenviable task) while Donaldson offsets gnarly, atonal riffs with melodic passages throughout the record. "It's a continuation of 'As Gomorrah Burns'," McGachy says, "We really wanted to make a groovy record, and we think we've done it."
It seems as though nothing is scarier than real life right now, and "An Insatiable Violence" is a commentary on today's society as though filtered through the transgressive, countercultural perspectives of J.G. Ballard and David Cronenberg.
"It all came to me in a dream in August 2023," elaborates McGachy. "I woke up, I took my phone, and I wrote down the title of the record. It's about a person that wakes up every day and fixes a machine. Tinkers with it, tries to make it better all day long, sweating in the sun, and then at night, they strap themself into this machine and the machine tortures them, and they love it. Then they wake up the next day and fix it again to make it more efficient, to keep harnessing it, and then just keep doing it over and over again.
While fantastically twisted, "An Insatiable Violence" mirrors our toxic relationship with social media. "We're continuously trying to feed this algorithm of the machine while it's totally tearing us apart socially and psychologically", McGachy continues. "'The Nimis Adoration' is about mukbang, these Korean people that eat too much food on the Internet. Piles and piles of food. A poor girl died on a live cam."
At the center of the album is the mind-boggling percussion skill of Mounier, arguably the most imposing Canadian drummer not named Peart, who dominates such standout tracks as "Dead Eyes Replete", "Fools Last Acclaim" and "Embrace The Nihility".
"I look at Flo as an Olympic athlete," says McGachy. "I want to push this guy to go a lot faster than CRYPTOPSY's previous releases. We have so much more to give, and I wanted just drain it all out of him while he's still at the top of his game, because he is. He's crushing."
"I mix up a lot of a physical activity, like resistance training into the drumming," Mounier says. "I recently developed new techniques that make it easier to go even faster, so I tried to push that on this album. My focus is now more on dynamics and the touch of the snare, a certain snap of the snare, a rim shot on the snare, the toms, a light touch or a hard touch. Live, I can really let go, you know, give the sound guy a hard time," he adds with a laugh.
For McGachy, who has always boasted a powerful, guttural death growl, the rigors of touring have enabled him to evolve as a vocalist, and he turns in a revelatory performance on "An Insatiable Violence". In addition to ear-scraping screams that rival George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher, McGachy unleashes the deepest, filthiest death growls of his career.
"'Gomorrah' was the first album that I recorded with my full false chord scream, which is something that I'd only just touched on 'The Book Of Suffering: Tome II' in little sections," he says. "We did at least 140 shows since 'Gomorrah'. I exclusively did my false chords during all the songs that we performed on 'None So Vile' and 'Blasphemy Made Flesh'. And then, when we did go into the studio for 'An Insatiable Violence', Chris would be, like, 'Deeper, you must go deeper!'"
Another fearsome vocalist from CRYPTOPSY's lore pops back into the booth on "An Insatiable Violence". "When we were recording the vocals for 'Embrace The Nihility', Chris had the idea of ending the song with the same vocal pattern as the end of '...And Then It Passes'," McGachy remembers. "We figured if we were going to rip ourselves off, then we may as well get the real thing. We were honored that Mike DiSalvo accepted. We are all huge fans of CRYPTOPSY's DiSalvo era. His vocals on this album are an ultra Easter egg for our fans."
In addition to the effusive praise "As Gomorrah Burns" received from within the metal scene, the 2023 album achieved a first for CRYPTOPSY: earning them their first-ever Juno Award in 2024 for "Metal/Hard Music Album Of The Year".
"We had little to no expectations of winning" says McGachy. "We didn't even go to the ceremonies because we were on tour in Europe with ATHEIST. On the day we found out that we won, we had a crazy 18-hour drive from Derby to Germany, plus a ferry ride. But we still partied for 48 hours. Flo bought an expensive bottle of champagne".
CRYPTOPSY recognize that not every death metal band sticks around long enough to win the equivalent of a Canadian Grammy Award 30 years into their career.
The cover art for "An Insatiable Violence" was created by the late, great vocalist Martin Lacroix.
"The album artwork has got to be one of the most important things to us," the band says. "Martin Lacroix was one of our vocalists, one of our great friends and one of the nicest people that anyone could have the privilege to meet. We really wish he was here with us to share this moment. His perfect smile would say it all! Rest in peace, brother."
CRYPTOPSY 2025 is:
Christian Donaldson: Guitars
Flo Mounier: Drums, Backing Vocals
Matt McGachy: Vocals
Oli Pinard: Bass
California rock veterans BUCKCHERRY will release their eleventh album, "Roar Like Thunder", on June 13. The official lyric video for the LP's second single, "Come On", can be seen below.
As with 2023's "Vol. 10" and 2021's "Hellbound", "Roar Like Thunder" was recorded in Nashville at Sienna Studios and helmed by producer and songwriter-for-hire Marti Frederiksen, who has previously collaborated with AEROSMITH, DEF LEPPARD, Jonny Lang and Sheryl Crow, among many others. All 10 tracks were written by BUCKCHERRY vocalist Josh Todd, BUCKCHERRY guitarist Stevie Dacanay (a.k.a. Stevie D.) and Frederiksen.
"Roar Like Thunder" will be released in North America by Round Hill Records, in Japan by Sony Japan and in the remainder of the world by Earache Records.
"Roar Like Thunder" track listing:
01. Roar Like Thunder
02. When The Sun Goes Down
03. Come On
04. Talking Bout Sex
05. Blackout
06. I Go Boom
07. Set It Free
08. Hello Goodbye
09. Machine Gun
10. Let It Burn
In a recent interview with Stefs Rock Show, Dacanay stated about the making of "Roar Like Thunder": "Josh and I usually start a year before the recording process. We start demoing here [at my home studio in Los Angeles]. And we'll do it on the road. I have a road rig that I bring with [me], and we just start documenting ideas. And then what we do, we set aside a few weeks somewhere along the way and we get with our producer, Marti Frederiksen. He's become like the sixth member of the band… And when we write with Marti, he's in Nashville, so we fly out there in between tours. And what we do is we take all these ideas and we kind of flesh them out more. So from, let's say, 20 ideas, we'll kind of whittle those down to eight, nine, and we'll have songwriting sessions and come up with 10 songs for an album."
In January, Josh told TalkShopLive about "Roar Like Thunder": "It's really great. It's a rocking record from beginning to end. You guys are gonna really love it. We labored over the songwriting for a long time, and it's a lot of fun from beginning to end."
In December, Todd told Indie Power TV about BUCKCHERRY's working relationship with Frederiksen: "Yeah, our relationship with Marti goes way back. We co-wrote 'Sorry' with Marti way back on [the] '15' [album], and then 'Black Butterfly' and 'Confessions'. Marti was all part of all that. It's just unfortunate that we didn't get to continue with him because of the politics in B.C. at the time. So, long story short, it's been great to be back with him. I don't ever wanna do a record without him, and he knows that. He understands this band for what's special about BUCKCHERRY, bringing out those elements in us. I think we bring out elements in him that he likes, and we work as a team. We do what's best for the song. We leave the egos at the door and we get to it and we always make great stuff. So it's been a lot of fun making records."
He added: "And [Marti's] got a mini-me. His son is Evan Frederiksen, and he's on this record too. And he was on the last record, and he's really so Marti-ish. And he's gonna be a big player down the line too. He's great. He's very talented. And just like Marti — Marti started on drums; that was his instrument. And then [Marti] eventually got into songwriting, and he can play guitar and he sings and he does it all. He's always writing with somebody at all times, so he's just a wealth of information. And I always learn so much doing records with him."
In November, Dacanay told Shawn Ratches of Laughingmonkeymusic about BUCKCHERRY's working relationship with Marti: "We've known him for a very long time. About 20 years ago, he co-wrote [the song] 'Sorry' and then produced the 'Black Butterfly' album after that. So we've known him since then, but we got together with him for [2021's] 'Hellbound' album. We reconnected and, in my opinion, we've done some stuff, sonically and musically, that's been really great. And I love the process. I love coming here [to his studio in Nashville] and working with him. It's such an inspiring kind of environment. And there's a lot of history here at the studio and the vibe here just is real conducive to creating. But yeah, working with Marti, and his son now is an integral part of this camp, a lot gets done pretty quickly. And, yeah, I can't say enough good stuff about this place."
Dacanay went on to speak in more detail about the BUCKCHERRY songwriting process, saying: "There's a considerable amount of preparation before we actually get in here to track the album. So we'll spend the year writing and demoing songs, and then we'll pick out the songs we wanna focus on. And then I'll make a demo of the 10 songs and give 'em to the rest of the guys — Kelly [LeMieux, bass], Francis [Ruiz, drums] and Billy [Rowe, guitar]. They'll learn the songs in kind of what they wanna do their parts. And then we'll all fly in… What happened this time is we all flew in pretty early in the morning and just started cranking it out. And these guys are — they're crackerjacks. So they can get in and do their respective parts in a day, 10 songs, and then their second day would be about just touch-ups or revisions or something like that. But each guy knocks his parts out in a couple days. So they were in and out of here in four or five days, I believe. We had two studios going. There's four studios here. So at one point we'll have two rooms going — one with, let's say Billy's in one room and Kelly's in another tracking or Francis. Francis, at one point, was the only one… When he starts it off, there's nothing else to start recording, so Francis goes first and knocks out the majority of it, and then everyone else just starts jumping in."
"Vol. 10" came out in June 2023. The 11-song LP featured 10 new BUCKCHERRY originals and, as a bonus track, a cover of the Bryan Adams classic "Summer Of 69".
In November 2023, BUCKCHERRY released a new holiday song called "Tell 'Em It's Christmas".
BUCKCHERRY previously released another holiday song, "Christmas Is Here", back in 2010.
In the summer of 2020, BUCKCHERRY recruited JETBOY's Rowe as its new guitarist. He joined the group as the replacement for Kevin Roentgen, who left BUCKCHERRY in July of that year.
In 2019, BUCKCHERRY enlisted Ruiz as its new drummer. He joined the group as the replacement for Sean Winchester, who exited BUCKCHERRY after laying down the drum tracks on "Warpaint".
The 20th-anniversary deluxe edition of the double-platinum BUCKCHERRY album "15" on physical and digital formats arrived on January 17 via Endurance Music Group. Originally released in 2005, the album featured the four-times-platinum single "Crazy Bitch" and the two-times-platinum single "Sorry". The deluxe edition was issued in North America on a two-vinyl-LP format featuring the album's 11 original songs as well as four bonus tracks recorded in 2005 and three newly recorded acoustic tracks by Todd and Dacanay.
BUCKCHERRY will perform the "15" album in its entirety on all 2025 tour dates which begin in March.
Fan-filmed video of Lita Ford and legendary DEEP PURPLE bassist/vocalist Glenn Hughes performing her classic ballad "Close My Eyes Forever" on April 11 during this year's "Rock Meets Classic" tour at Big Box in Kempten, Germany can be seen below.
"Rock Meets Classic" features some of the best-known songs in rock history performed by an all-star cast of classic rock artists from the 1970s and 1980s and a large classical orchestra.
Lita recorded "Close My Eyes Forever" as a duet with Ozzy Osbourne for her 1988 album "Lita". It was Ford's highest charting single, peaking at No. 8 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1989.
More than a decade ago, Lita revealed that "Close My Eyes Forever" came about by accident during a night of drinking and getting stoned when she was being managed by Ozzy's wife, Sharon. She recalled to Metal Underground: "'Close My Eyes Forever' was a mistake. It was just me and Ozzy and Sharon hanging about in the recording studio. They showed up one day and had a housewarming present for me: a life-size duplicate of Koko, the gorilla from the San Diego Zoo. It was freaking huge — I had to strap it in the front seat of my jeep to get it home. Ozzy stayed, Sharon got bored and left, and me and Ozzy had a couple of drinks and we were jamming. We started singing, messing about and we wrote 'Close My Eyes Forever'. Next thing I knew the sun was coming up. I looked at him and went, 'Uh-oh, we're in trouble.' Sharon had been waiting all night. We were a long way from where Ozzy had to go. He said, 'Can you drive me home?' I said, 'No, I can't.' We were stoned out of our minds. He got into a cab and I strapped Koko into my jeep and drove home — just barely made it. And then we had this hit song."
Lita's long-awaited new studio album is tentatively due later this year. Ford's upcoming follow-up to 2012's "Living Like A Runaway" was once again helmed by guitarist/producer Gary Hoey, who contributes some guitar playing to the disc.
In May 2022, bassist Marten Andersson (STEELHEART, LIZZY BORDEN, LYNCH MOB) officially joined Lita's touring band. Andersson replaced Marty O'Brien who became the touring bassist for DAUGHTRY.
Ford's last release was 2016's "Time Capsule", a collection of songs that were recorded by Lita in the past, but never before made available.
Nine years ago, Lita released an autobiography, "Living Like A Runaway: A Memoir", via Dey Street Books (formerly It Books),an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Pink Floyd At Pompeii – MCMLXXII, the groundbreaking 1972 film directed by Adrian Maben, returns to cinemas in spring 2025. Trafalgar Releasing and Sony Music Vision will release the concert film in select cinemas and IMAX worldwide from April 24 and tickets are on sale here.
Digitally remastered in 4K from the original 35mm footage, with enhanced audio newly mixed by Steven Wilson, the upcoming theatrical release presents the definitive version of this pioneering film.
Pink Floyd At Pompeii – MCMLXXII is accompanied by the live album, set for release by Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music, on CD, Digital Audio, and for the very first time in Dolby Atmos and on vinyl, from May 2.
Watch the official video for “One Of These Days” below:
Pink Floyd At Pompeii pre-dates the release of The Dark Side Of The Moon. The film documents what Pink Floyd did before they became giants of the album charts on both sides of the Atlantic – where their music remains celebrated to this day. Set in the hauntingly beautiful ruins of the ancient Roman Amphitheatre in Pompeii, Italy, this unique and immersive film captures Pink Floyd performing an intimate concert without an audience. Filmed in October 1971, the performance marked the very first live concert to take place at Pompeii, and features the vital “Echoes”, “A Saucerful Of Secrets”, and “One of These Days”. The breathtaking visuals of the amphitheatre, captured both day and night, amplify the magic of the performance. Additionally, the film includes rare behind-the-scenes footage of the band beginning work on The Dark Side Of The Moon at Abbey Road Studios.
Nick Mason said, “Pink Floyd: Live At Pompeii is a rare and unique document of the band performing live in the period prior to The Dark Side Of The Moon.”
The film has been meticulously hand restored, frame-by-frame, from the original 35mm cut negative – discovered in five dubiously labelled cans within Pink Floyd’s own archives. This momentous breakthrough unearthed the very film that rolled through the cameras during those sweltering days amidst the ruins of Pompeii over 50 years ago.
Led by Lana Topham, Director of Restoration for Pink Floyd, the team’s mission was to preserve the integrity and beauty of the original picture. The film was scanned in 4K using advanced techniques to ensure the finest, sharpest detail. Colors were enhanced, and every frame was meticulously reviewed and repaired, maintaining a natural and vivid appearance with minimal grain adjustments.
“Since 1994, I have searched for the elusive film rushes of Pink Floyd At Pompeii, so the recent discovery of the 1972 original 35mm cut negative was a very special moment. The newly restored version presents the first full 90-minute cut, combining the 60-minute source edit of the performance with the additional Abbey Road Studios documentary segments filmed shortly after,” said Lana Topham, Director of Restoration for Pink Floyd.
The film also features stunning sound quality with a new theatrical and home entertainment mix by Steven Wilson in 5.1 and Dolby Atmos that enhances the film’s depth and clarity, preserving the authenticity and spirit of the original 1972 release. Wilson’s aim was to remain faithful to how the band would have sounded on those scorching hot days in 1971.
Wilson added, “Ever since my dad brainwashed me as a kid by playing The Dark Side Of The Moon on repeat, Pink Floyd has been my favourite band. They are my “Beatles”, deeply ingrained in my musical DNA. I first saw Pompeii from a grainy print at a local cinema. It made an incredible impression on me with its untethered and exploratory rock music made by four musicians that seemed to epitomise the notion of intellectual cool. It was an honour to remix the soundtrack to accompany Lana Topham’s incredible restoration of the film, which looks like it could’ve been filmed yesterday.”
The accompanying album release Pink Floyd At Pompeii – MCMLXXII will see the performance presented as a full-length live record for the very first time. The 2025 remix by Steven Wilson is newly available on CD/LP/Blu-Ray/DVD/Digital Audio/Dolby Atmos from May 2.
Pink Floyd At Pompeii – MCMLXXII is presented by RM Productions and directed by Adrian Maben. It is executive produced by Reiner Moritz and Michelle Arnaud. Sony Music Vision is the distributor.
Tickets are on sale at pinkfloyd.film. Visit the event website for more information and ticketing details for IMAX® and standard format cinemas.
Album tracklisting:
Side A
Pompeii Intro
“Echoes – Part 1”
“Careful With That Axe, Eugene”
Side B
“A Saucerful of Secrets”
“Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun”
Side C
“One Of These Days”
“Mademoiselle Nobs”
“Echoes – Part 2”
Side D
“Careful With That Axe, Eugene” – Alternate take
“A Saucerful Of Secrets” – Unedited
Charleston, West Virginia metal veterans BYZANTINE will release their long-awaited new full-length, "Harbingers", on June 13 via Metal Blade Records.
Produced by Peter Wichers (SOILWORK, ALL THAT REMAINS, NEVERMORE),"Harbingers" offers nine tracks totaling forty-five minutes of deep lyrical wisdom alongside equally hefty riffs delivered seamlessly by one of the most commanding and unsung lineups to emerge from the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal movement of the early 2000s. Now a five-piece for the first time ever featuring founding frontman Chris "OJ" Ojeda, alongside former guitarist Tony Rohrbough, bassist Ryan Postlethwait, veteran guitarist Brian Henderson, and drummer Matt Bowles, with "Harbingers", BYZANTINE is a crown jewel in their impressive seven-album discography. Notes Ojeda, "After twenty-five years of riding the struggle bus, we're ready to show the rock and metal world what we're truly about."
The album cover, designed by mixed-media artist Ashley Hoey, beautifully depicts Irene of Athens — the mother of Emperor Constantine and the first female empress of the Byzantine Empire. This focus on a maternal ruler eloquently ties into the album's title, "Harbingers", which means "ones who usher in great change."
The record's first single, "Floating Chrysanthema", envisions a bleak dystopian future where artificial intelligence becomes sentient and overpowers mankind, essentially enslaving us all.
"Our bassist Ryan brought this song to the band," says Ojeda, "and we thought it hit like a sledgehammer making it the perfect introduction to our new music. Peter Wichers had a big hand in helping craft this song into its final iteration."
"Harbingers" will be released on CD and digital formats. Find preorders at metalblade.com/byzantine.
"Harbingers" track listing:
01. Consequentia
02. A Place We Cannot Go
03. Floating Chrysanthema
04. The Clockmaker's Intention
05. Riddance
06. Harbinger
07. The Unobtainable Sleep
08. Kobayashi Maru
09. Irene
It has taken years of ups and downs for BYZANTINE to reach the point of creating "Harbingers". Discovered early on by LAMB OF GOD's Chris Adler, the band quickly released their debut full-length, "The Fundamental Component", in 2004. The record boasted a raw fusion of Bay Area thrash and Southern-tinged groove metal and set the tone for their future sound. Their 2005-released "…And They Shall Take Up Serpents" offering marked an even more blistering evolution. However, turmoil ultimately led to BYZANTINE's breakup, announced just one day after the release of their third album, 2007's prophetic "Oblivion Beckons".
Reforming to release the independent albums "Byzantine" (2013) and "To Release Is To Resolve" (2015),the band saw the latter dominate SiriusXM's Hard Attack Devil's Dozen for weeks, also earning them the No. 1 spot on CMJ's Loud Rock chart. Notably, BYZANTINE became only the second independent band to achieve this feat following CLUTCH's indie release "Earth Rocker".
In 2017, BYZANTINE made their Metal Blade debut with "The Cicada Tree", faultlessly merging multiple genres into their progressive groove sound, a signature blend now synonymous with the band. With "Harbingers" raising the stakes and a revitalized lineup in place, Ojeda confidently states, "If you've slept on BYZANTINE for the past twenty-five years, 'Harbingers' will awaken you."
BYZANTINE is:
Chris Ojeda - vocals
Brian Henderson - guitar, vocals
Tony Rohrbough - guitar
Ryan Postlethwait - bass, vocals
Matt Bowles - drums
Fan-filmed video of BEHEMOTH's entire April 6 concert at Columbiahalle in Berlin, Germany can be seen below.
The band's setlist was as follows:
01:00 The Shadow Elite
05:55 Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer
11:45 Demigod
15:49 The Shit Ov God
21:52 Conquer All
25:45 Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel
30:53 Ov Fire And The Void
36:23 Christgrinding Avenue
40:20 Bartzabel
47:31 Wolves Ov Siberia
51:03 Once Upon A Pale Horse
56:18 Christians To The Lions
1:00:48 Cursed Angel Of Doom
1:05:12 Chant For Eschaton 2000
1:11:38 O Father O Satan O Sun!
BEHEMOTH's "The Unholy Trinity 2025" features legendary Norwegian black metal pioneers SATYRICON as special guest. From the ancient lands of Greece, the ever-epic ROTTING CHRIST completes the trek
The tour launched on April 4 in Vienna, Austria and descends across major cities, including Berlin, Paris, London, and Stockholm, before culminating in Prague, Czech Republic on April 27.
BEHEMOTH will release its new album, "The Shit Ov God", on May 9 via Nuclear Blast Records.
BEHEMOTH have always been known for not shying away from controversy, and they most certainly remain true to this approach with their 13th full-length. Here's a band that, 34 years in, is releasing its most inflammatory and extreme record to date. Eight songs that go into the fathoms of humanity, divinity, and what defiance means in an age where individuality is prized but everyone is clinging to their saviors — musically, politically, or otherwise. The title of the album is in line with those sensibilities.
Intentionally polarizing, BEHEMOTH founder and frontman Adam "Nergal" Darski said of the title: "We chose this provocative title deliberately, rejecting subtlety in favor of a direct and polarizing statement. It's a defiant plunge into the depths, daring to seek the absolute even in the gutter."
But make no mistake, despite its apparent insubtlety, the album title gets a touch of genius when seen in combination with the strikingly clever artwork, which depicts an upside-down version of the most common Christogram "IHS."
Nergal commented: "I've reached a point in BEHEMOTH's journey and my own creativity where words and statements mean less and less. The true essence of who we are and what we stand for lies in our music, our art, our visuals, our sounds, our performances, and the ways we connect with you. I deeply believe BEHEMOTH represents transcendent, timeless art.
"The number thirteen — so magical and significant. If this were to be our final album, I could say I die a proud man. Without a shadow of a doubt, this is the most refined, purest representation of BEHEMOTH. No filler, no excess — just the very best we have to offer, handed to you.
"Hail Satan."
BEHEMOTH meticulously chose the audiovisual artists involved on the album. Production on the album was helmed by the inimitable Jens Bogren of Fascination Street Studios (EMPEROR, ENSLAVED, KREATOR, ROTTING CHRIST et al.). Working closely with the band, Bogren's deft hand underscored the band's natural sound while sacrificing none of the mayhem and ferocity which permeates the band's essence. As is always the case with BEHEMOTH, the visuals were as carefully constructed as the sound. The band tapped long-time collaborator and partner in crime Bartek Rogalewicz (BLACK.LODGE.IS.NOW) as well as Dark Sigil Workshop to make the beautifully ominous and unique cover art.
BEHEMOTH's 12th studio album, "Opvs Contra Natvram", was released in September 2022. The LP was previously described in a press release as "a stark reminder of the rebellion, individuality, and unflinching self-expression that BEHEMOTH's phenomenal work imbues, shaped by a literary worldview."
Legions! The Unholy Trinity tour with Satyricon and Rotting Christ begins tearing through Europe this April! 🔥
Finnish heavy rockers LEVERAGE will release their new album, "Gravity", on June 20 via Frontiers Music Srl.
After the arrival of the LP's first single, "All Seeing Eye", in early March, LEVERAGE has shared the second single, "Shooting Star", along with an accompanying music video, available below.
"Shooting Star" is a soaring, cinematic anthem of escape, defiance, and transcendence. The unexpected initial twist paves the way for a barrage of galloping riffs, thunderous rhythms, and towering vocals that echo the golden age of metal. This bold single blends mythic storytelling and melodic power into a new LEVERAGE sound that bridges past and future.
LEVERAGE lead singer Paolo Ribaldini commented on the new single: "'Shooting Star' stands out as one of the album's strongest and most surprising tracks, with Tuomas leaving storytelling aside and instead capturing deep emotions through music and lyrics. It feels like something the classic [Ronnie James] Dio-era RAINBOW could have created today. The song also highlights my bandmates' incredible performances and is set to become a live staple. I'm especially grateful to Marko and Taksu for their passionate work on the music video, which enhances the song's depth and offers fans an unforgettable experience."
LEVERAGE guitarist Tuomas Heikkinen added: "'Shooting Star' got started right after I had a Bigsby vibrato installed on my black Les Paul. I really like that twanging old school tone you get with it, and just started fiddling around basic chords. I really like it, I knew Paolo would nail the vocals exactly like I heard them in my head, and this song very much paved the way for the whole album, I knew we could now achieve sonic textures that were out of reach before".
LEVERAGE's future seemed uncertain after the untimely passing of singer's Kimmo Blom in the summer of 2022. However, founding member and main songwriter Tuomas Heikkinen decided the final hour for the band was not in sight yet. Outstanding singer Paolo Ribaldini (DELAIN, ex-SKILTRON) and violinist Lotta-Maria Heiskanen joined with the precise task to renew and refresh the sound of the band.
The resulting album, "Gravity", the band's sixth full-length in slightly less than 20 years, aptly showcases contemporary heavy rock sound, combining multiple influence from the genre's golden era with the band's own unique flair and personality. Plenty of ear-catching melodies delivered skillfully with a pristine top-of-the-line production.
LEVERAGE is neither a power metal band, nor an AOR band, nor a nostalgic tribute to the '80s. Instead of falling into one category, they have bent and redefined genre frontiers, thus developing their own style of heavy rock. The sonic stamp says "LEVERAGE", and it speaks louder than words.
LEVERAGE's history is carved deep into the DNA of the new album "Gravity": the grand melodic traditions of the debut "Tides" (2007) and the sophomore "Blind Fire" (2008),the symphonic flair of "Circus Colossus" (2009),and the darker, more mature tones of "Determinus" (2019) and "Above The Beyond" (2021) all find new life here. But "Gravity" doesn't simply revisit the past — it elevates it.
LEVERAGE's lineup now includes Tuomas Heikkinen (guitars),Marko Niskala (keyboards),Elias Ojutkangas (drums),Sami Norrbacka (bass),Paolo Ribaldini (vocals) and Lotta-Maria Heiskanen (violin).
"Gravity" track listing:
01. Shooting Star
02. Tales Of The Night
03. Hellbound Train
04. Moon Of Madness
05. Eliza
06. All Seeing Eye
07. King Ghidorah
08. Gravity
ÑØÀ
Nefarious
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