Hailing from the withering depths of the UK, Vacuous make their Relapse Records debut with their new album, In His Blood, out February 28. Today, Vacuous shares the official video for the album’s title track, “In His Blood”. Watch the clip below, and find the track on all streaming services here.
Vacuous guitarist Michael Brodsky comments: "We put alot of ourselves into In His Blood. Our goal was to pull in our personal influences from different genres of music, blending everything together and pushing it all to the extreme in a very bold way. It's raw, organic, unhinged and at times very imperfect, but feels like our most personal and honest music to date, which is what death metal is all about ultimately (to us, anyway). We can't wait for everyone to hear it and couldn't be more excited for the legendary Relapse Records to be releasing it."
An overdose of death metal, In His Blood is a compelling mix of blazing speeds, chilling atmospherics, and angular riffing that bring the band into their own unique space.
“We’ve talked about having different influences, and it felt like a bit of a dare to push things further,” Michael Brodsky says. “Back in death metal’s formative days, with bands like Autopsy, Obituary, Incantation, none of those bands sounded like each other: they were just pushing their collective influences together to the extreme. I think we’re still doing the same thing, just from the point of view of people who grew up in the 2000s.”
Finnish deathgrind band, Cannibal Accident, is set to release their fifth studio album, Disgust, on February 28th via Inverse Records. The video for "Darken The Attic" is released today and it's available here.
Vocalist Kurwa Doktor comments: "'Darken The Attic' tells about the horrors of delirium tremens after sacrificing your mind, body and soul to excessive amounts of alcohol for so many years you have already lost the count."
Bassist Jondom: "Musically, 'Darken The Attic' is quite far from our comfort zone with dissonant riffs which are like made to create feelings of pure anxiety for the listener. Song is one of 'weirdos' off the coming Disgust album, and the goal was to highlight how guitar and bass has own place and space in our music even these two instruments aren't necessarily always playing same kind of riff, part or even notes in a song. This 'chaotic harmony' can be heard particularly in this song. The idea for the video came also partly because of the nature of the song. Quick clips of grotesque and graphic content forced to listeners eye receptors are just like made to underline the musical feeling and lyrical theme of the song."
Michigan rockers POP EVIL will release their eighth album, "What Remains", on March 21 via MNRK.
The vinyl pre-order on the band's web site begins this Friday, January 10.
To celebrate the news, the band has shared the video for the third single, "Wishful Thinking". Watch it below.
"'Wishful Thinking' pushes us into a realm that's deeper, darker, and more intense than ever before," says vocalist Leigh Kakaty.
For two decades, Kataky has needed to mine the deepest of reserves in order to drag POP EVIL up from the blue-collar grassroots of his local Michigan scene to stand proud at the top of the modern rock game. Soaring successes, bitter defeats… Kakaty has survived it all.
"What Remains" is the culmination and story of this journey with POP EVIL, laid bare like never before. Continuing in the recent vein of 2023's acclaimed "Skeletons", the new opus is both sonically and thematically POP EVIL's heaviest ever offering; a thundering collection of arena-ready modern rock and metal hits in which Kakaty opens heart, mind, and soul.
"There are a lot of issues and things that I've dealt with in this journey of POP EVIL that I've buried for a long time," the frontman explains of this document of resilience, perseverance, and accountability.
POP EVIL were born in North Muskegon, Michigan in 2001, Kakaty drawing on the lessons of a youth first shaped not by music, but by high school basketball — leadership, team work, the drive to improve in the lonely hours put in at the gym at 5 a.m., the will to win suppressing any fear — in order to fight tooth and nail for their break-out moment.
"I was hustling and learning every day to make my dreams come true," Kakaty recalls of his time playing local bars and slinging early EPs out of the back of his truck. "Studying never interested me. Neither did getting a regular job. A knee injury wrecked my shot at playing sports. Music was all I wanted to do from that moment, and I didn't give myself a backup plan. POP EVIL gave me a purpose, and a reason to get up every day. It became a crusade."
"Lipstick On The Mirror", POP EVIL's 2008 debut, and its follow-up, "War Of Angels", brought acclaim and global attention; 2013's "Onyx" delivered the first of the band's nine No. 1 singles and six RIAA-certified gold and platinum plaques, but also a period of darkness brought on by the grief of Kakaty losing his father. "I was completely lost … I had just missed the last five years with my dad, chasing this dream when I could have been with him. I didn't know if I wanted or could do POP EVIL anymore," he says. The band's 2017 self-titled album, opened by the smash-hit "Waking Lions" was written "pretty much to save my life" – but in turn "reminded me of the fire I have inside, and that God put me here to make music that could help people."
It's a mission statement enshrined in POP EVIL to this day — and which provided the spark for the genesis of "What Remains".
"You're always chasing that one song that can connect with that one person," Kakaty says. "And that process has to start with yourself. There's a lot of personal healing on this record, a lot of things I wanted to get out for my own mental well-being. I'm finally at a place where I can confront my demons."
Sonically, the album is a riotous explosion of life-affirming noise; a vortex of scything riffs and gut-punch drum beats that regularly give way to POP EVIL's hallmark anthemic choruses.
"We set out to push boundaries," nods Kakaty. "Metal has always been a part of our DNA, but we've never made it such a focal point before. A lot of writing on this record has been about listening to what my soul is saying and letting the songs find their own path, rather than chasing a sound that might fit in on the radio. I think you can really hear the mood and emotion of the album's themes in the music."
"What Remains" track listing:
01. The Bullet That Missed
02. Deathwalk
03. What Remains
04. Wishful Thinking
05. Side Effects
06. Criminal
07. Enough Is Enough
08. Zero To None
09. Knife For The Butcher
10. Overkill
While 2025 has barely started, Italian metal legends LACUNA COIL are already going on full force with the release of their newest single "Gravity". The track, which comes with a striking new music video, marks the fifth single from their upcoming record "Sleepless Empire", which is set to be released February 14, 2025 via Century Media Records. Exploring themes of the inevitability of fate as well as the constant cycle of falling and rising, "Gravity" delivers an important message on resilience.
LACUNA COIL shares about the single: "Balance is so difficult to keep as we navigate through desperate times, feeling lost and gasping as we ask for help. How do we deal with tough times? Do we ask for a hand? Or do we isolate ourselves from everything else to recollect in our own misanthropic golden cage?
"I hope you will love 'Gravity' as much as we do and that it will make you reflect on the time we have left and how to use it wisely."
In a recent interview with Luke Morton of Kerrang! In Conversation, LACUNA COIL vocalist Cristina Scabbia spoke about the "Sleepless Empire" title. She said: "We chose that title because it was representing the times that we are living today. We're always awake, constantly trying to be productive, super connected with the rest of the world, but at the same time, we've never been so disconnected and anxious and feeling that we need to prove something, that we need to be present all the time, because if not, we are forgotten by the rest of the world.
"I am putting myself in the sleepless empire as well, so it's not a criticism," she explained. "It's just a realization, because I am part of that generation that saw it all and saw it coming and saw how fast the technology developed and how big the changes were, so I am trying to take the best out of the past to bring it in the future and the present, because I think that we should take advantage of technology. I mean, the fact that we are talking right now through a screen, it's one of the most beautiful things of technology, because if not, you would have to come to my place or me at yours, or we would have to travel somewhere to meet in person, which would be amazing. But this way, you save time, you can save four hours so you can go spend time with your family and I can go to watch [Italian professionally football club] AC Milan tonight with Andrea [Ferro, LACUNA COIL co-vocalist] at the stadium instead of traveling. So technology is good if used wisely. And I love progress — I love technology and I love to evolve with times — but I think it's cool to remember what the important things really are, because at the end of the day, all the time that we waste in stuff that doesn't really enrich us as persons, it's going to be wasted. So sometimes I try to think about this, even if realistically the first thing that I do when I wake up in the morning is to grab the phone and see the messages and watch the messages and maybe scroll through stories of other people."
Cristina added: "We just need to pay attention. I think that especially with the new generations that never saw it coming and never saw how it was before, they tend to compare to each other. They see beautiful lives in other people's social medias, and they think that that's reality. So sometimes they feel less than they are and they feel depressed and frustrated because they don't feel enough. So at least, just like the fact that I was born earlier kind of gave me a sort of a shelter that it's a sort of a filter that it's, like, okay, I don't need to compare myself to another person because, of course, this is my life. That's their life. And maybe not everything they're showing [is] true. Most probably not everything they're showing [is] 100 percent true. Maybe it is, but who cares? I should look at my life. I should look at what I'm building. I should look at what I'm living. I should look at the people, the real people around me and real life around me. It should be a balance. As everything, you just have to keep the right balance."
Asked if she is guilty of waking up in the morning and picking up her phone immediately and then wasting hours and hours every day just scrolling through social media, Cristina said: "Oh, totally. Totally. I'm guilty, especially in the morning. Not just wasting time, just looking at socials because I also do it as a sort of a study 'cause I wanna see what happens. I'm curious — I'm genuinely curious — so maybe that's not a complete waste of time, 'cause it's still entertaining. What I'm guilty of is that I feel guilty when I want to take time for myself. Now, when [I] get a message, I have the tendency of wanting to reply immediately or I feel guilty. And maybe I should wait. Maybe I shouldn't have so much anxiety if I answer 10 minutes after and I don't reply as soon as I open my eyes. Maybe I should just open my eyes, go in the kitchen, prepare myself a breakfast and then start my day and dedicate it to the work and my mails and everything. Instead, I just grab my phone. I'm just, like, 'Okay, I got a mail. Okay, I've gotta answer. My eyes are still closed, but I'm gonna answer.'
"There is this weird cycle for all of us that we're working hard because we have so many inputs," she continued. "Then we try to detach ourselves and relax watching other stuff on other social medias, thinking that they're entertaining. And they create even more anxiety. So it's a cycle that could be dangerous… But it's not all bad. So the sleepless empire, it's basically an empire with people that never sleep, that [are] always doing stuff, which could be good and could be bad as well."
Inspiration to create "Sleepless Empire" came during the sessions for "Comalies XX" (2022),the acclaimed remake of LACUNA COIL's breakthrough third record "Comalies". Writing and recording took place in northern Italy between Milano (the band's hometown) and Como, where SPVN Studios are located. As with their previous albums, production was done in house with Marco "Maki" Coti Zelati at the helm, and artwork was hand curated by the talented Italian artist Roberto Toderico. Two other very special talents enrich the album, namely the guest vocalists: LAMB OF GOD's Randy Blythe on the song "Hosting The Shadow" and NEW YEARS DAY's Ash Costello on "In The Mean Time".
As a token of the band's love for the gaming world (which we've seen in past endeavors such as their card game "Horns Up" and their collaboration with Zombicide for which they wrote the track "Never Dawn"),the band have created an oracle "game" to be played with custom made dice available only in the box set version of "Sleepless Empire".
The new album is comprised of 11 tracks; each one is a richly textured soundtrack to a specific time and place. With "Sleepless Empire", that place is dark, cinematic, and unmistakably true to the unique characteristics that have given LACUNA COIL such a celebrated entry in the annals of heavy music.
The band previously shared: "'Sleepless Empire' captures, through our eyes, the chaos of a generation trapped in a digital world that never stops, where social media consumes identity and every day pushes us one step closer to becoming soulless zombies. We find ourselves in between, having witnessed a full analogic world and the modern one, confronting the evolution and searching for a true meaning of it all. Throughout every song, the journey is an undercurrent of rebellion, a desperate cry to reclaim oneself in an era that seems to have lost its sense of time and reality."
"Sleepless Empire" track listing
01. The Siege
02. Oxygen
03. Scarecrow
04. Gravity
05. I Wish You Were Dead
06. Hosting The Shadow (feat. Randy Blythe)
07. In Nomine Patris
08. Sleepless Empire
09. Sleep Paralysis
10. In The Mean Time (feat. Ash Costello)
11. Never Dawn
This past October, Italian guitarist/producer Daniele Salomone confirmed that he has joined LACUNA COIL as the replacement for the band's longtime guitarist Diego Cavallotti.
Salomone made his live debut with LACUNA COIL on August 4, 2024 at the Rockstadt Extreme Fest in Râșnov, Romania.
In June 2024, LACUNA COIL announced Cavallotti's departure. Diego, who joined LACUNA COIL in 2016, initially as a fill-in guitarist following the exit of Marco "Maus" Biazzi, later said in a social media post that "this decision is not the result of my dissatisfaction or desire to explore new opportunities."
Cavallotti and Salomone played together in the Italian metal band INVERNO, which released its debut album, "Stasis", in December 2023.
On December 28, 2024, all-Canadian rock band Toque, featuring Todd Kerns and Brent Fitz - both of whom play in Slash Featuring Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators - along with Cory Churko (Shania Twain) and Shane Gaalaas (Michael Schneker Group), played to a sold-out audience at the Club Regent Event Centre in Winnipeg, Manitoba on their Frozen Not Broken Tour.
Fan-filmed video, courtesy of Jimmy D's Rock Talk can be enjoyed below. Toque's setlist was comprised of the following 20 songs:
"Never Enough For You"
"Fantasy" (Aldo Nova cover)
"Sunglasses At Night" (Corey Hart cover)
"Forever In A Day"
"Up To You"
"Ironic" (Alanis Morissette cover)
"Broken"
"Turn Me Loose" (Loverboy cover)
"When I'm With You" (Sheriff cover)
"Mama Let Him Play" (Jerry Doucette cover with Dallas Smith)
"Something For The Pain"
"Can't Stop It"
"Tom Sawyer" (Rush cover)
"Ugly" (The Age Of Electric cover)
"Dance" (Queen City Kids cover)
"What Kind Of Love Is This" (Streetheart cover)
"The Boys In The Bright White Sports Car" (Trooper cover)
"Working For The Weekend" (Loverboy cover)
"Roller" (April Wine cover)
"O Canada"
VENAMORIS, the project featuring legendary extreme metal drummer Dave Lombardo (SLAYER, FANTÔMAS, TESTAMENT, MR. BUNGLE, MISFITS, DEAD CROSS) and his wife Paula, will release its sophomore album, "To Cross Or To Burn", on February 28 via Ipecac Recordings.
Alongside the album announcement, VENAMORIS has unveiled "Animal Magnetism", a striking cover of SCORPIONS' 1980 love song. The haunting rendition features a guest appearance from Dave's former bandmate, Gary Holt (EXODUS, SLAYER). The song is accompanied by a Displaced/Replaced-created video.
Dave reflects on the personal significance of including "Animal Magnetism" on "To Cross or To Burn": "The first rock concert I ever attended was on May 25, 1980, with SCORPIONS opening for Ted Nugent's 'Scream Dream' tour. We (SLAYER) had covered a couple SCORPIONS songs in the early years, but I never would have thought of re-imagining one of their songs at that time. Now it seems like the most natural thing to do. I could hear Paula's sultry voice, the song taking on a slightly industrial feel… and I could fully hear Gary Holt play this insane lead. It's been incredible to see this idea come to life. To release this at the same time this iconic band celebrates 60 years is a perfect way for me to thank them for an inspiring first show in 1980 and for all that they have contributed since."
The married duo teased "To Cross or To Burn"'s 2025 arrival with the 2024 singles "In The Shadows" and "Spiderweb", which were praised for their unique sound — described by Consequence as "trip-hop style" fused with "the dark/folk metal of Emma Ruth Rundle and Chelsea Wolfe", while Revolver has described the pair as "spellbinding."
Paula, who wrote the album's nine-original songs, offers insight into the album: "'To Cross Or To Burn' has taken us down a darker, very different path than our first album. There's a confidence in this body of work. An overall vibe of heaviness that was unexpected. Verses of hard truths now bound in acceptance. The soul-searching continues."
"To Cross Or To Burn" is available for pre-order now with the collection available digitally, on CD and on both white and limited-edition red vinyl.
"To Cross Or To Burn" track listing:
01. Stay With Me
02. In The Shadows
03. Truth
04. Stain of Pain
05. Spiderweb
06. Burnt Paper
07. Holding On To Nothing
08. Animal Magnetism
09. Numb
10. To Cross Or To Burn
Guests include:
Roberto "Ra" Díaz - bass on "Stain Of Pain"
Trevor Dunn - contrabass on "Stay With Me"
Gary Holt - guitar on "Animal Magnetism"
Alex Skolnick - guitar on "Stain Of Pain" and "Burnt Paper"
The indefatigable Dave Lombardo's bona fides as a world-class drummer are well-known. While he drafted the blueprint that would define thrash-metal drumming, he's also applied his finesse to solo percussion (2023's "Rites Of Percussion"),hip-hop and classical music, as well as boundary-pushing recordings and performances with everyone from John Zorn's ensembles to punk icons MISFITS and MR. BUNGLE. "To Cross Or To Burn" is another milestone in his storied career, where he's added guitar, bass and considerable production techniques to his sonic skill-set.
Canadian-born Paula Lombardo began her musical career at 18 as a backing singer for Las Vegas icon Wayne Newton, performing multiple shows in the demanding Vegas circuit before relocating to Nashville to further her musical career. A dynamic musical force, she combines impressive vocal prowess, a deftness on piano and synthesizers with a natural instinct for crafting alluring lyrics, melodies and arrangements.
Finnish folk metal icons ENSIFERUM have unveiled the official music video for "The Howl". The track is taken from the band's "Winter Storm" full-length album, out now on Metal Blade Records.
Much of the material for "Winter Storm" emerged during the COVID lockdown, when ENSIFERUM's founding guitarist Markus Toivonen set himself the challenge of finding new ways to make music — eventually composing every song except the rousing, anthemic "Fatherland", written by bassist Sami Hinkka. The addition of singer/organist Pekka Montin's crystal-clear melodic high notes provided a tremendous boost on "Thalassic". But on "Winter Storm" — a fantasy concept narrative penned by Hinkka — Montin's super-strong voice finds its optimal place in ENSIFERUM's sound. Bringing to life such grandiose, heroic material, the singer emerges as one of the greatest vocal discoveries of the decade.
"The Howl" follows the band's "Fatherland" video which told of a remote tribe who had been fighting against the Winter Storm Vigilantes.
ENSIFERUM bassist/vocalist Sami Hinkka comments: "In 'The Howl', we leap ahead many years from the battle of 'Fatherland'. The young boy grew up and became a shaman. His people are losing the war and as his last deed he calls the Old Spirits one last time. He sacrifices his mortal form and becomes a spirit wolf and starts his journey to find The One to avenge for his people's fate. This song is very ENSIFERUM-ish to the core: catchy melodies, powerful harsh vocals and singalong chorus. We've already played it on a few gigs; it's obviously a great live song!"
ENSIFERUM will join their comrades in KORPIKLAANI for a 2025 North American co-headlining tour. The journey runs from February 27 in Boston, Massachusetts through March 30 in Brooklyn, New York. Additional support will be provided by TROLLFEST and NINI.
ENSIFERUM's "Winter Storm" was produced by Janne Joutsenniemi, mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren, and includes guest appearances by Lassi Logrén on nyckelharpa and violin and Mikko Mustonen on orchestration as well as ELEINE's Madeleine Liljestam who provides all vocals on "Scars In My Heart".
"Winter Storm" was made available on jewel case CD, special edition CD featuring two additional bonus tracks, and digitally as well as vinyl.
ENSIFERUM is:
Petri Lindroos - vocals, guitars
Markus Toivonen - guitars, vocals
Sami Hinkka - bass, vocals
Janne Parviainen - drums
Pekka Montin - keyboards, vocals
CYHRA, the band featuring vocalist Jake E (ex-AMARANTHE),guitarist Jesper Strömblad (THE HALO EFFECT, ex-IN FLAMES), guitarist Euge Valovirta (ex-SHINING), drummer Alex Landenburg (KAMELOT) and guitarist Marcus Sunesson (ENGEL, THE CROWN), has released a new single, "Superman". The track explodes with headbang-inducing riffs, as Jake teases its epic, melody-rich chorus against a backdrop of sharp instrumentals. The almost-spoken verses escalate to a larger-than-life chorus, culminating in irresistible, sing-along choirs that emphatically signal CYHRA's trajectory is set to soar above and beyond at breakneck speed.
CYHRA comments on the song's meaning: "Sometimes life tests our limits, but when we choose to rise, to dream and to believe, we find the strength to be unstoppable. Because deep down, we all have a 'Superman' within us."
"Superman" not only marks CYHRA's latest single but also the band's debut release with the burgeoning label Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). This track was mastered by renowned audio engineer Maor Appelbaum, known for his work with HALFORD, SABATON and EQUILIBRIUM, among others. The artwork for "Superman" was crafted by Gustavo Sazes, a longtime collaborator who has designed for SOILWORK, DYNAZTY and VLTIMAS. Sazes has been instrumental in shaping the visual identity of CYHRA's previous three studio albums as well.
Jake states: "We are thrilled to announce that we have officially signed with Reigning Phoenix Music! This marks an exciting new chapter in our journey, and we couldn't be prouder to join a family that shares our passion for music and artistry.
"Reigning Phoenix Music is home to a roster of incredible talent and a team of dedicated professionals, many of whom we've had the pleasure of working with earlier in our career. Reuniting with such familiar faces feels like coming home, and we're confident that this partnership will allow us to reach new heights together.
"We're already hard at work with new music, and with Reigning Phoenix Music by our side, we're more inspired than ever to create something truly unforgettable for our fans. Thank you for your continued support — it means the world to us!"
The Reigning Phoenix Music team says: "We are are excited to welcome CYHRA to our family and for the opportunity to work with them again. Their talent, passion, and energy align perfectly with our vision of elevating artistry to new heights. Together, we're setting the stage for an incredible journey!"
As they approach their 10th anniversary next year, CYHRA have carved out a notable place in the metal scene since their founding in 2016 by Jake and Jesper. They were soon joined by Alex and bassist Peter Iwers (THE HALO EFFECT, formerly IN FLAMES). Their debut album, "Letters To Myself", was released in 2017 to glowing reviews, catapulting the group to global stages, crowned with a massive North American tour supporting SABATON and KREATOR.
Following Iwers's departure, Euge Valovirta (guitars, bass) joined the CYHRA lineup, and the band released its second album, "No Halos In Hell", in 2019, which blended groovy metal with a poppy flair and featured the hit single "Out Of My Life", amassing about 11 million streams on Spotify. Their success continued with a European tour with BATTLE BEAST, U.K. dates alongside DELAIN, headline shows in select countries including Finland and Japan, and performances at major festivals like Masters Of Rock, Bloodstock Open Air, Sabaton Open Air and 70000 Tons of Metal.
In 2020, guitarist Marcus Sunesson (RONNIE ATKINS, THE CROWN) joined, expanding the lineup. The pandemic pause allowed the band to craft their third album "The Vertigo Trigger", released in 2023. The album's tour brought them back to Finland to open for SMASH INTO PIECES and to headline shows in early 2024. Quietly beginning their fourth album, CYHRA ended the cycle with a Scandinavian tour with EVERGREY, leading into 2025 with the standalone single "Superman".
Following the success of their first single "Silver Linings", German metal act OBSCURA returns with the second single, "Evenfall", from the highly anticipated album "A Sonication", due on February 7, 2025 via Nuclear Blast Records.
This standout track showcases OBSCURA's ongoing evolution, masterfully blending their signature technical prowess with a more melodic approach. The result is a fresh yet unmistakably OBSCURA sound that promises to both surprise longtime fans and captivate new listeners.
Accompanying the release is a visually striking music video, bringing the song's intensity and emotion to life. Once again, the video has been directed by Mirko Witzki (ARCH ENEMY, POWERWOLF, ESKIMO CALLBOY). Fans can expect an immersive audiovisual experience that underscores OBSCURA's artistic depth.
Mastermind Steffen Kummerer comments: "With 'Evenfall', we look into the most anticipated song by the band to perform in a live setting on our upcoming tours. The dynamics, groove and pace falls perfectly into place. One of my personal highlights of the new album, showcasing a rather cinematic sound scape within the OBSCURA universe."
The group's second (seventh overall) album for Nuclear Blast, "A Sonication" pivots on many fronts. Advanced, elegant, and yet refreshing, "A Sonication" sums up past endeavors effortlessly as it gazes with purpose and conviction into the future. OBSCURA are fan-renowned and critically acclaimed for challenging and then expanding upon norms. From "Retribution" (2004) through "A Valediction" (2021),the band flourished and made significant progress in a musical genre unprepared for a creative shot of German invention. "A Sonication" spearheads OBSCURA into a new era of extreme metal.
"A Sonication" track listing:
01. Silver Linings
02. Evenfall
03. In Solitude
04. The Prolonging
05. Beyond The Seventh Sun
06. Stardust
07. The Sun Eater
08. A Sonication
A European tour is set to kick off in February 2025. Joining OBSCURA on tour will be American progressive deathcore outfit RINGS OF SATURN and GOROD, the technical death metal force from France. With this international lineup, fans can expect a night of diverse and electrifying performances.
Original Journey bassist, Ross Valory, has released a video for "No One Wins A War", featured on his debut solo album, All Of The Above, available via OID Music. Watch the clip below:
Produced by Valory and co-produced by Eric Levy and Jacob Stowe, the nine tracks on the All Of The Above album represent the full maturity of Valory’s musical gifts, cutting a broad swath through the instrumental territory the music travels. He plays keyboards, guitar, and, of course, many basses in a display of cultivated virtuosity across a palette far broader than could be found in his work with Journey.
Tracklisting:
"Wild Kingdom"
"Tomland"
"Nightflower"
"Touched, Pt. II"
"Windmill"
"Incident At Neshabur"
"Senor Blue"
"Low Rider"
"No One Wins A War"
Melodic metal powerhouse The Ferrymen (Magnus Karlsson, Ronnie Romero, and Mike Terrana) are pleased to share “Mother Unholy”, the next single from their new studio album, Iron Will, set for release on January 24 via Frontiers Music Srl. The release of the single is accompanied by a music video, available to view below.
About the track, vocalist Ronnie Romero says: “The most epic song of the album! Just loved how Magnus is capable to create such an atmosphere for a song. Loved to sing in this epic and yet heavy tune!! I believe The Ferrymen fans are going to love this one!!”
Guitarist Magnus Karlsson adds: “I love to write and produce epic stuff and this song is a really good example of that! The great lyrics are written by Jane Gillard and are about a nun who was pure of heart, but her heart was turned black by the hypocrisy of the people in the order around her, and ultimately, she became evil. Where there is light there, must also be dark”.
Magnus Karlsson expresses his excitement for the upcoming release: “It’s pure fire creating metal with legends like Ronnie and Mike! These tracks hit hard with unrelenting power, but there’s this raw, emotional edge woven into the heaviness that I can’t get enough of. Heavy, honest, and straight from the soul—that’s the vibe we’re bringing”.
“As usual, I just loved singing over Magnus/The Ferrymen songs!! As a singer there is nothing better to work on melodies and lyrics that inspire your performance, but also in real life day by day, and that’s something I strongly believe the fans of the band like the most of this project. Can’t wait for everybody to listen what, once again, is a strong melodic yet heavy album that I am very proud of,” adds vocalist Ronnie Romero.
With acclaimed albums like Universe (2019), The Unknown (2021) and Hologram (2023), as well as blockbuster tours with the likes of Lacuna Coil, DragonForce and Amaranthe, Los Angeles based cinematic hard rockers, Edge Of Paradise, have strongly established themselves on the heavy music scene. Today they are pleased to unveil their epic sixth studio album and Napalm Records debut, Prophecy, arriving March 7.
On Prophecy, Edge Of Paradise rage against the existential crisis of what is commonly known as “The Singularity,” the prophesized moment in time in which humanity loses control of artificial intelligence, leading to potentially cataclysmic shifts to life as we know it. Band mastermind and enigmatic frontwoman Margarita Monet combats this grim prediction with her vulnerable, self-effacing lyricism, and striking artwork featured on the cover and accompanying earbook. Co-produced with Mike Plotnikoff (Nita Strauss, Apocalyptica, Daughtry, Three Days Grace), mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Amaranthe, Arch Enemy, Katatonia, Delain, Evergrey), and incorporated for the first time, 8-string guitars, Prophecy packs extreme firepower for Edge Of Paradise’s most intense voyage yet.
Alongside the album announcement, the band unleashes the melodically soaring “Death Note”, a thunderous anthem built on big riffs and harmonious hooks, urging listeners to escape their technological confines and reconnect with humanity. The official music video, directed by Monet, features high quality special effects and deeply immersive sets and costumes, transporting viewers into the band’s rich narrative universe at the Edge Of Paradise.
Monet says about the single: “Death Note’ is an intense battle for identity and connection, powered by soaring melodies and an aggressive sound. In a world where digital forces aim to seize control, and greed and conquest have dehumanized existence and stripped away individuality, two souls stand in defiance. Together, they fight to preserve the essence of being alive. Bound by loyalty, determination and human spirit, they risk everything to stand united against the rising tide of control to reclaim what it means to be truly human.”
Check out the official music video for “Death Note” below.
Prophecy kicks off in explosive fashion with opening track “Death Note”, a bombastic crash through apathetic walls encouraging listeners to break free from their technological isolation, and embrace connection with others over numb comfort alone. “Give It To Me (Mind Assassin)”, cranks up the intensity with an irresistible driving pulse propelled even further by an infectiously dancy chorus. A raucous fight for authenticity and self-realization, “Prophecy Unbound” careens through claustrophobically tight riffage, blossoming into a lush and cathartic belt-along chorus. The winding serpentine melodies of “Falling Light” explode with Monet’s venomous soaring vocals, dancing around ethereal synth textures, enveloping listeners in a sonic gothic cathedral. Released earlier this year, lead single “Rogue (Aim For The Kill)”, is a full throttle industrial rock track about perseverance in the face of seeming unbeatable adversity. “The Other Side Of Fear” is an energized rager built on pulsating dance beats and features a standout guitar solo from composer and commander in shred Dave Bates. Prophecy takes a stand against indifference, encouraging listeners to go outside, cry, and embrace all the uncomfortable parts of life that make us human, before comfort driven apathy driven by addictive algorithms bring about our demise.
Prophecy will be available in the following formats:
- 1LP Gatefold AV Translucent (Napalm Records mail order only - limited to 200)
- 1CD Digisleeve
- Digital Album
Always looking for new and innovative ways to engage with fans, Prophecy will release alongside the highly anticipated follow up to the band’s graphic novel Hologram and Slaves to Forever.
"Death Note"
"Give It To Me (Mind Assassin)" ( feat. Ben V. from Ludovico)
"Prophecy Unbound"
"Sad Life Of A Rose"
"Rogue (Aim For The Kill)"
"Hear Me"
"The Other Side Of Fear"
"Martyr (Monster)"
"Relive Again"
"Falling Light"
Former NIGHTWISH bassist/vocalist Marko Hietala makes a triumphant return with his powerful new single "Rebel Of The North". This high-energy classic rock anthem is a perfect showcase of Marko's talent for crafting timeless, hard-hitting music. The single serves as another taste of his upcoming album, "Roses From The Deep", which is set for release on February 7, 2025.
Accompanying the release is a unique and visually striking music video. Filmed against the breathtaking backdrop of a picturesque Spanish village, the video captures the band's electrifying performance, seamlessly blended with the song's bold and inspiring lyrics. The stunning contrast between the rugged rock sound and the tranquil Mediterranean setting makes this release a feast for the senses.
Hietala comments: "This one is a rocker. The main riff will put you into the Nordics with a slam. And the story is about reimagining, reinventing, and then gathering yourself into a better new being. We should never take ourselves for granted. It leads to becoming jaded and boring. Your inner kid wants to learn and apply anything and everything. Just don't get in the way of yourself."
"Roses From The Deep" marks Hietala's first major project since his critically acclaimed "Pyre Of The Black Heart" captivated fans worldwide in 2020.
"Roses From The Deep" promises to deliver a unique blend of dark, introspective lyricism and soaring, cinematic soundscapes. Drawing inspiration from myth, nature, and the human experience, Hietala has crafted an album that transcends genres, with elements of progressive rock, folk, and symphonic metal seamlessly intertwined.
"Roses From The Deep" represents a journey into the hidden layers of our emotions and the beauty we often overlook in darker times. It's an album about fragility, resilience, and finding light even in the depths of shadow.
The album's previous single, "Impatient Zero", arrived with a visually stunning music video. Featuring a stomping, groovy beat and a grand, anthemic chorus, the track captivated listeners and perfectly set the tone for the rest of "Roses From The Deep".
"Impatient Zero" followed the huge success of the album's first two singles. "Left On Mars", a haunting duet with ex-NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen, quickly became a fan favorite, showcasing the vocal chemistry between the two icons. The second single, "Frankenstein's Wife", with its dark storytelling and intricate composition, further heightened anticipation for Hietala's upcoming release.
"Roses From The Deep" track listing:
01. Frankenstein's Wife
02. Left On Mars
03. Proud Whore
04. Two Soldiers
05. The Dragon Must Die
06. The Devil You Know
07. Rebel Of The North
08. Impatient Zero
09. Tammikuu
10. Roses From The Deep
To mark the album release, Hietala will embark on a tour across Finland.
Feb. 07 - FI Lahti - Finlandia Klubi
Feb. 08 - FI Kuopio - Sawohouse Underground
Feb. 12 - FI Helsinki - Tavastia
Feb. 13 - FI Savonlinna - House Of Olaf
Feb. 14 - FI Tampere - Olympia-kortteli
Feb. 15 - FI Turku - Logomo
Lineup:
Marko Hietala - Bass, Vocals
Tuomas Wäinölä - Guitar
Vili Ollila / Bob Engstrand - Keyboards
Anssi Nykänen - Drums
Hietala announced his departure from NIGHTWISH in January 2021, explaining in a statement that he hadn't "been able to feel validated by this life for a quite a few years now." He has since been replaced by bassist Jukka Koskinen (WINTERSUN),who made his live debut with NIGHTWISH in May 2021 at the band's two interactive experiences.
This past March, Hietala was asked by Brazil's Ibagenscast if he would consider taking part in a reunion of the band's classic lineup, either for a tour or fresh material. He responded: "Hmm, I would consider it. But I think that the organization there would have to be looked very carefully into it and some of it would have to be dismantled. Because the business side and how the people there work, they are one of the big reasons why I left."
He continued: "In all the bands that I've been [in], I found out that I'm probably the most kind of courageous person there is and therefore also I have the inner strength to be the most honest and most fair and the one who upholds the justice between the people and taking care of everyone most. And that is something that I saw, the last years, were lacking. So, these kind of things would have to be taken care of. But I mean, [NIGHTWISH] was a big part of my life and I always, always backed up the music that we did because I love to do music that is versatile and ambitious with a lot of all kinds of atmospheres of all the world, from sensitive and soft into the big and pounding metal and all that. So, musically, I have no regrets at all. I'm happy and proud to have been a part of it. But, yeah, the organizational situation and the attitudes and who talks to whom and about what, those are things that I would totally dismantle and make into a transparent situation."
In an August 2022 interview with Finland's Chaoszine, Hietala revealed that he went through a dark period in his life, which included depression, insomnia, anxiety and an eventual attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis. Speaking about how he eventually came to the realization that exiting NIGHTWISH was the right thing to do, Marko said: "It was a long process. Of course, the COVID year that was there, where I had a lot of time for soul searching, it obviously gave me the last incentive that I need something else, that if I just continue with this I'm just gonna get sicker and sicker. But, of course, it's a process.
"I've been chronic depressive since 2010 [or] 2011, so I've been on a permanent medication ever since," he revealed. "Sometimes you get used to the meds [and] you will need more. We did raise [the dosage] during the years also, but it just didn't work. And now that I started to do… I had psychotherapy for over four years now, and then I also talked to psychiatrists and some doctors and did that also in Spain. Then my psychiatrist here in Finland said that I should do these ADHD neuropsychological tests, which I then did in Spain. And, okay, I got it."
Hietala reiterated that he "had been thinking about" leaving NIGHTWISH "for a while" before making the final decision. "Because I had a lot of weight. And I tend to… With the attention disorder, it tells me that when there are lots of trouble, then the disorder makes it into a real chaos," he explained. "There's a shitload of stuff coming and going and no peace anywhere. And for a year or two, I was already waking up every night at three o'clock to bad dreams and anxiety. So I'd say that the whole process probably started already with my former divorce [in 2016]. That was a very sad time when you think about your kids and your broken homes and all that. And then, when I started to get clear from that, then there were, well, all kinds of things. I don't really wanna go any deeper to what kind of things I'd gone through, but I'd gone through enough."
Acknowledging that making NIGHTWISH's 2020' album "Human. :II: Nature." was a "difficult" experience for him, Marko denied that his mental state at the time resulted in a diminished role for him on the final LP. "I think the original idea was to have that… we'll do a couple of [solo vocal appearances], or one solo for me and Troy [Donockley], and the rest Floor [Jansen], and then the harmonies; that was the idea originally for that," he said. "So I don't know if it affected. I think it was sort of as planned. But at that time I already had serious trouble with concentrating and serious trouble with a constant black cloud over my head."
In July 2022, Hietala told Finland's Iltalehti that he had not kept in touch with NIGHTWISH since his departure or followed the activities of his former band.
In December 2020, Hietala was crowned the winner of the fall 2020 season of "Masked Singer Suomi" — the Finnish edition of the popular masked singing contest. He was disguised as Tohtori — the Doctor.
Tarja has released the official video for "Never Enough", from her recently released Rocking Heels: Live At Hellfest, available via earMUSIC. Watch below:
On June 19, 2016, Tarja delivered a captivating performance at Hellfest, one of Europe's largest and most prestigious metal festivals held in Clisson, France. Her powerful blend of operatic vocals and heavy metal instrumentation enthralled the audience, making her performance one of the festival's highlights. The setlist featured a carefully curated mix of her solo work and iconic Nightwish songs.
Opening with “No Bitter End” from her 2016 album, The Shadow Self, Tarja set the tone for an evening of intensity and emotion. Her dynamic stage presence and dramatic musical arrangements created an unforgettable experience, solidifying her status as one of metal's greatest female singers.
Experience the raw energy and powerful emotion of Tarja Turunen's unforgettable performance at Hellfest 2016. Rocking Heels: Live At Hellfest is available as a Ltd. 1LP Gatefold Vinyl Edition, CD Digipak in LP-replica design and on Digital. Order here.
Tracklisting:
"No Bitter End"
"Never Enough"
"Ciaran's Well"
"Calling From The Wild"
"Supremacy"
"Victim Of Ritual"
"Tutankhamen / Ever"
"Tutankhamen" / "Ever Dream" / "The Riddler" / "Slaying The Dreamer" (Nightwish Medley)
"Die Alive"
"Until My Last Breath"
Swedish rockers, Degreed, are pleased to share their new single and accompanying visualizer video, “Good Enough”, out now via Frontiers Music Srl. Stream/download the single here, and watch the clip below.
Vocalist Robin Eriksson comments on the new single: “'Good Enough' is one heavy and fast track with a sing along chorus. You won’t be disappointed.”
The fully restored official video for Dokken's 1987 single / video "Dream Warriors" can be viewed below courtesy of Bunker HeavyRock.
The song was written for the movie A Nightmare On Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors. It charted at #22 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart, and was also released on Dokken's fourth album, Back For The Attack, as the closing track.
Gibson TV recently shared the video below, along with the following introduction:
"Check out this EXCLUSIVE clip from Metal And Monsters on Gibson TV as horror icon Robert Englund (the original Freddy Krueger) and rock legend Don Dokken, who wrote the hit song 'Dream Warriors' for A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors talk about their childhood and how music shaped their lives.
"Watch as they share stories of growing up surrounded by music and how music would eventually influence their careers as well as placing them in horror and heavy metal stardom.
"Watch as Robert Englund talks about his father’s friend, a B-29 pilot, whose son introduced him to early rock ‘n’ roll, and how this “cool kid” whose bedroom sound system blasted Duane Eddy’s 'Rebel Rouser' and Link Wray’s 'Rumble'—hit Robert like a lightning bolt, eventually fuelling his appreciation of heavy music which would later blend perfectly with the dark intensity he would bring to the screen as the iconic Freddy Krueger.
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