EXODUS
When we think of the phrase Bonded By Blood, we think of two things: a brotherhood that is meant to outlast the trials of war, pain, and time... and the almighty EXODUS. With a bond forged in youth and decades-old friendship, the undisputed masters of thrash metal return with their eleventh studio album: PERSONA NON GRATA due to be released early fall 2021 via Nuclear Blast Records. Literally translating to “an unwelcome” or “unacceptable” person, PERSONA NON GRATA touches on themes of modern societal disgust and degradation. “The people that disgust you - cut ‘em out like cancer,” explains guitarist Gary Holt. “Who is that person? It could be anybody. That’s up to the listener. Who is ‘Persona Non Grata’ to them?”The underlying irony for many of these songs is the need for unity. “As we were working on these songs, things started happening around the world that ended up tying into it all, and we didn’t even know it! With the general divisiveness in the country today, and everyone being entitled to their opinions; I don’t agree with a lot of them, but I’m not here to be a preacher, either. We want people to listen to the lyrics and come up with their own meanings.” For decades, EXODUS has impressed us with the ability to attract opposing factions to their music because of its intensity and versatility. A track like “The Beatings Will Continue Until Morale Improves” was inspired by the riots both in theme, and sound. “Without seeming insensitive to the riots, the song is tongue in cheek about what the people beating on the rioters were expecting to happen. Did you think you would beat a smile onto their face? At 3 minutes in length, it’s probably the shortest EXODUS song we’ve ever done. It gets in, gets out, and is just crushing,” describes Holt. While most of the songs do run on the shorter side, this album also comes equipped with crushing, epic tracks. Whether it’s the music industry gossip sites, or the big players like CNN and FOX, we’re all aware of how news outlets love to set little rat traps; “Clickbait” discusses their methods of picking things out of context to grab your attention, add to their page views, and increase their revenue all while riling up your emotions. “It’s all journalistic dishonesty,” explains Holt, “it’s a modern-day version of Al Capone’s vault, everyone tunes in, and then there’s NOTHING.“ Evenly balanced with extraordinary speed and tremendous, catchy choruses, “Clickbait” is a song that explodes with vigorous energy. “As heavy as this album is, and it’s heavy as fuck, if times were different and there was still metal radio, this song, and probably over half the album, has single capabilities.” Sitting as the second to last song on the album, “The Fires of Division” keeps PERSONA NON GRATA strong all the way through. “This album doesn’t operate on the normal parameters,” describes Holt, “we didn’t frontload this one, it’s strong right through to the end. It’s supposed to be a musical journey as the songs segway together.” For the third time in the band’s history, EXODUS returned to Swedish artist Par Olofsson to create the album artwork PERSONA NON GRATA. “After this album, I feel like we probably won’t work with anyone else again, Par just gets it,” states Holt. A three-faced, winged creature sits atop a bloody pile of diseased and rotting humans as they scream in pain and reach their hands up desperately towards the beast. Undead riot cops beat mercilessly, and senselessly upon this pile of the dying and the world is red with fresh, sopping blood. “Is it an angel, a demon? Is the world being created or destroyed,” asks Holt, “you don’t really know.” EXODUS don’t fall into the usual recording slump that most bands get stuck in. Gathering at Tom Hunting’s house up in the mountains, they avoided the need to book studio time or adhere to a certain schedule. “At first it was just Tom, myself, a half stack, and a drum kit; we call it jam camp. We lived there. We built the studio, we immersed ourselves in it. Number one, because we still enjoy each other’s company enough to do it. When we’re not actively rehearsing or recording, we’re still sitting there talking about the songs, working on them, plucking on acoustics until things really work,” explains Holt, “we’re not settling.” Working from three home-built studios, the band recorded PERSONA NON GRATA themselves with the help of Andy Sneap on mixing and mastering and with Steve Lagudi at the helm of engineering. “As a band, I’m super grateful. I’ve seen a lot of things around the world and we’re still a band that loves each other, have each other’s back, and we genuinely like to hang out with each other,” explains Holt. “Take it how you will, but I’m this band’s biggest fan. We write songs that are designed to make us feel fired up - that’s why it’s still heavy.” Exodus Website Exodus @ Deezer Exodus @ Facebook Exodus @ Instagram Exodus @ ReverbNation Exodus @ SoundCloud Exodus @ Spotify Exodus @ X Exodus @ YouTube |
ERUPTION
ERUPTION is a Slovene metal band that unites the legacy of speed, thrash and classic metal, forming it into their own unique sound. The band was formed in late 2004. They are known for menacing riffs, hard hitting beats, soaring vocals and killer live shows!Grega - Guitars Gregor - Guitars Nika - Bass Ivan - Drums Klemen - Vocals Eruption @ Bandcamp Eruption @ Facebook Eruption @ Instagram Eruption @ Twitter Eruption @ YouTube |
LINTVER
Lintver was formed in July 2004. In the beginning there were a lot of member changes until early 2007 when a steady lineup was found. They wrote 5 songs and recorded a demo »The saints are coming« which was released in May 2008. It had a very good response from the fans. They toured clubs ands festivals all over Slovenia and some parts of Italy. In October 2013 Lintver released their debut full-length album called »Snakebite« containing 10 original songs. In december 2016 the band unleashed their second studio effort entitled "Distorted perception" with 8 new songs.Lintver @ Bandcamp Lintver @ Facebook Lintver @ SoundCloud Lintver @ Spotify Lintver @ YouTube |
SIGNS OF THE SWARM
Deathcore was once dismissed as a trend, so it’s ironic that it now has trends within itself. Downtempo, slamming and now blackened variants of the style have dominated its scene at various points, with many bands jumping ship.Pittsburgh’s Signs of the Swarm aren’t just any band, though. They’re a once-a-generation beacon that radiates the sounds that surrounded them, preserving history by reframing it. On fourth LP Absolvere, they’re bleak without being blackened, smashing without being slam, and downtempo as a choice rather than a stylistic confine. And as many of their deathcore peers experiment with adding singing, often gruff in tone, they add a more ethereal style that soothes on “Dreaming Desecration” and “Death Whistle.” The band contrasts that with some of the most brutal moments in their eight-year career, with riffs more punishing than pensive and a rhythm section that frames them in creatively cacophonic ways. Above it all, they’re utilizing vocalist David Simonich monstrous range in a much fuller capacity than on his debut, 2019’s Vital Deprivation. That transitional album found the band experimenting to re-find their footing, which here lands on solid ground through the addition of guitarist Jeff Russo, a former bandmate of Simonich’s fin Improvidence. The proof is in the placing, with Absolvere landing at #15 on “Current Hard Music Albums,” #21 on “Top New Artist Albums” and #139 on “Heatseekers.” Behind the cohesive crusher is drummer-turned-bassist-turned-drummer Bobby Crow, who acted as de facto producer, arranging the riffs written across Skype to make the songs more than the sum of their parts. This gave Simonich a lofty platform from which to roar about the real (loved ones struggling with addiction, submitting one’s self wholly to art despite negativity swirling about) and the surreal; he or his characters beg for the release of death only to be denied. “Nameless” centers around a character collecting souls marked by death to receive its blessing, while “Blood Seal” follows a ritual to summon it. “Dreaming Desecration” and “Hollow Prison” are two sides of the same coin. When one finds themselves trapped in a meaningless existence, they can either attempt to escape through murderous hallucinations or succumb to the grave, respectively. “Death Whistle” is the penultimate song, closing the album and the writing sessions for Absolvere with a tale concluding in sweet release. The piercing screech of the titular whistle contrasts with a subtle serenade. Indeed, sometimes contrast can be a perfect complement, but more often that effect is achieved when paired with something more in-line. So it is when Ben Duerr (Shadow of Intent) and Alex Erian (Despised Icon) join the band for growls and shouts, where Signs of the Swarm filter their guests’ bands through their own sound. Instead of taking away from their identity, it expands it. They’re steadily expanding their global reach, too. In the few short months since Absolvere’s release, Signs of the Swarm have toured with the likes of Fit for an Autopsy, Born of Osiris and Shadow of Intent. Forthcoming domination campaigns of Europe and Australia will be added to their tenure with Aborted, Lorna Shore, Brand of Sacrifice and more. Forget the signs, the swarm is already here, and it’s growing larger and louder every day. Signs of the Swarm @ Bandcamp Signs of the Swarm @ Deezer Signs of the Swarm @ Facebook Signs of the Swarm @ Instagram Signs of the Swarm @ SoundCloud Signs of the Swarm @ Spotify Signs of the Swarm @ X Signs of the Swarm @ YouTube |
TERMINAL SLEEP
Terminal Sleep is about being a bad bitch. A heavy hardcore band from Melbourne, Australia (Naarm) formed in 2021. The five-piece write savage music with substance, backed up by fierce live shows.Terminal Sleep @ Facebook Terminal Sleep @ Instagram Terminal Sleep @ Spotify Terminal Sleep @ YouTube |
SPIRITS OF STYGIA
Spirits of Stygia is a 4-piece deathcore act hailing from the capital of Slovenia. The Spirits have been relentlessly shaking speaker diaphragms since 2020 as they take you on a march from an idyllic melancholy to a final euphoria by combining elements of hardcore and beatdown with post and death metal.Spirits of Stygia @ Bandcamp Spirits of Stygia @ Facebook Spirits of Stygia @ Instagram Spirits of Stygia @ SoundCloud Spirits of Stygia @ Spotify Spirits of Stygia @ YouTube |
ARKONA
The beginnings of ARKONA date back to 2002, when members of local pagan community “Vyatichi”, Masha “Scream” Arhipova and Alexander “Warlock” Korolyov, decided to form a band that mirrored their individual philosophy and musical tastes. The band, at the time still known as Hyperborea, comprised Masha “Scream” Arhipova (vocals), Eugene Knyazev (guitar), Eugene Borzov (bass), Ilya Bogatyryov (guitar), Alexander “Warlock” Korolyov (drums), and Olga Loginova (keyboard), but it wasn’t until February 2002 that ARKONA surfaced from the depths of Russia’s underground scene.ARKONA soon decided to record several of their pagan/folk songs for their first demo. The recording took place at CDM-Records Studio in December 2002. The demo included 3 tracks – “Kolyada”, “Solntsevorot” (Solstice)” & “Rus’” (Russia). These tracks were later included as a bonus on the live album “Zhizn’ vo slavu” (Live for the Great) released in 2006. ARKONA began performing live in early 2003. Many concert-goers experienced the band for the first time at the Yazycheskaya Rus” Festival. By the summer of 2003, ARKONA was ready to record their debut, but disinterest in the band by some of its members saw the band disappear from the scene as quickly as it had arrived. Yet Masha’s perseverance would not subside. Continuing on her own, and with the help of the members of Nargathrond, she proceeded to compose new material. Her fellow musicians readied their instruments, read through the partitions, and without ever looking back, recorded their debut album “Vozrozhdenie” (Revival) in March 2004. “Vozrozhdenie” (Revival) quickly became one of the most successful Slavic pagan metal albums of all time. As soon as the studio work was completed, Masha dedicated herself to the creation of new songs and by the end of summer 2004, the material for the second album “Lepta” (The Contribution) was completed. With the support of the same line-up, the band finished the recordings in autumn. “Lepta” was released in December 2004 and presented the listener with a darker and gloomier style. ARKONA was also supported by poet and vocalist Les’yar (Nevid’, ex-Butterfly Temple), who not only performed, but also wrote the lyrics for “Zarnitsy Nashei.Svobody”. The album’s release placed ARKONA back on the scene as a contending force. With a complete line-up, ARKONA returned to the stages in the beginning of 2005. An ever-espousing fountain of creativity, Masha continued writing new material and by the summer of 2005, ARKONA was recording their next album. “Vo Slavu Velikim” (For the Glory of Great) proved to be the most complicated and varied album thus far, as the band withdrew from the use of synthesized sounds, replacing them with authentic folk instruments. As such, the list of guest musicians grew considerably including the renowned folk musician Vladimir Cherepovskiy (Mervent, ex- Voinstvo Sidov, Veter Vody, Trio Mario), as well as members of Svarga and Alkonost. Though the arrangements for each song at times exceeded 100 recorded tracks, ARKONA was able to finally piece together the album and “Vo Slavu Velikim!” (For the Glory of Great) was finally released in September 2005. During the touring that followed in support of the album’s release, ARKONA recorded their performance for the purpose of releasing a DVD and the live album “Zhizn’ vo Slavu”. Fueled by their outstanding achievements, ARKONA opted not to rest on its laurels and made sure to return with a new album as soon as possible. Fans heard a preview of “Ot Serdca K Nebu” (From the Heart to the Sky) at the 2008 Ragnarok Festival. In addition, the band embarked on a 30-day tour throughout Europe with Brutal Assault being just one of the highlights. Back at home, ARKONA decided not to take a break, but to immediately begin working on their fifth album. In order to top their previous effort, the band aimed to create something unique. While working on “Goi, Rode, Goi!”, the band also planned their second DVD. “Noch Velesova” was released via Napalm Records in May 2009. ARKONA also performed at the German festival Winternoise, taking a well-deserved break from the arduous recording process. Upon their return, ARKONA continued to work on the new album, completing the recordings in June 2009. It was quite an enterprise, as over 40 musicians were involved in the making of “Goi, Rode, Goi!”. The band described the process as the most labor-intensive and time-consuming work in its history. ARKONA made use of a full-fledged chorus and string quintet for the first time in their career. The heart of the album is undoubtedly the 15-minute saga ‘Na Moey Zemle’ that relates the adventures of a Slav in European countries. This epic features the voices of members of Manegarm, Menhir, and Heidevolk, among others. Vladimir Cherepovsky and Vladimir “Volk!, who has recently become a full-time member of ARKONA, are responsible for the traditional instruments on the album. The artwork was again the work of the legendary Kris Verwimp. He delivered a series of conceptual illustrations for each song on the album. The result was worth the hard work, as “Goi, Rode, Goi!“ proved to be the next logical step in the band’s journey. Fans would experience the live power of the new material at numerous live performances. ARKONA also produced video clips to the title track, the anthem “Yarilo”, as well as the melancholic “Liki Bessmertnykh Bogov“. The band played numerous shows in support of the new album and also released an EP in the summer of 2011 to ease the fans’ anticipatory wait for the upcoming album. The members of Arkona have already managed to make a name for themselves within the pagan metal scene that extends way beyond the borders of their native Russia. Their new album “Slovo” acknowledges their well-earned reputation with outstanding tracks. The band revolving around lead warrior Masha Scream has managed to outshine all past efforts. “Slovo” bundles Arkona’s strengths and catapults the band to new musical heights. The foundation of blast beats, double bass attacks, and heavy riffs remain, yet it is the attention to detail that rounds off Arkona’s multi-faceted sound. Folk melodies, complex vocal lines and choruses, clean vocals and growls, orchestral passages, and authentic instruments (violins, flutes, etc.) serve to embellish “Slovo”. The diversified end result features epic ballads and heavy folk-oriented tracks bound for certain glory at upcoming live performances. Masha’s Russian lyrics add a hardened, yet melancholic touch to this latest work. Once again, Arkona has chosen master illustrator Kris Verwimp (Vintersorg, Månegarm, Thyrfing, etc.) to design the album’s artwork. “Slovo” is an album full of highlights destined for yet another impressive victory on the pagan metal battlefield. Right after the release of the album “Slovo”, Arkona was participated in the Heidenfest tour 2011 across 11 countries in Europe. After that, the band discovered the North American continent : Arkona played 36 concerts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. February 11th, 2012, in Moscow, the band was celebrated 10th anniversary with the biggest show history: a concert with the academic choir and string quartet . This performance was recorded and published a year later on a CD titled “Decade of Glory”. Arkona was played a long concert tour, dedicated to the 10th anniversary of the band , in Russia , Europe, North America (USA , Canada, Mexico ) and South America (Argentina and Brazil) , and also participated in many festivals , including 70,000 Tons of Metal. Anniversary tour included more than 100 performances. After returning from PaganFest tour in early 2013, Arkona started to prepare 7th studio album called “YAV”. Until June, musicians were in studio, working on the album. Recording was appointed for the end of month, but after performance at the festival “MetalFest” in Poland 22.06 Vlad «Artist» decided to leave the band. The group asked him to record the part of the material , which he learned before his decision and play with Arkona all upcoming concerts. The other songs were recorded by famous Russian musician Andrey Ishchenko. Later he became a permanent member of Arkona. “YAV” got the highest category of complexity of all recorded Arkona albums. Masha decided to not use choir and strings, and concentrate on her own vocal line and guitar parts. The album got a completely conceptual character and, unlike previous works, all the songs sounds in a dark and epic vein. In October 2013 Arkona took a break with the work on the album to go to the biggest tour in band’s history: first headlining tour in North America, headlining tour in South America, and finished with 11 European countries, touring as a special guest participant on tour with Therion. In the beginning of 2014 Arkona, already with their current drummer Andrey Ischenko, had a massive tour through the whole Russia: from Saint Petersburg to Vladivostok, from Murmansk to Stavropol. 25th April 2014 Arkona’s 7th album “Yav” was released at Napalm Records. The band celebrated release of “Yav” album by performance at famous Ragnarök festival in Germany and played several concerts in Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria and Hungary. In summer 2014 Arkona took part in such festivals as Out & Loud, Metalhead Meeting, Exit, Sabaton Open Air, Gossnitz Open Air etc., and in the autumn the band visited China for the first time and played in long Russian tour again from Vladivostok to Moscow together with Therion from Sweden. After that Arkona performed more than 40 shows in a big European tour with Eluveitie and Skalmöld. Next year, 2015, while working on re-recording and re-arrangement of the debut album “Vozrozhdenie”, the band performed at such festivals as Wave Gothic Treffen, Hellfest, Masters Of Rock, Rockmaraton, Moscow Metal Meeting, Ragnard Rock, Fosch Fest, etc. In the autumn Arkona surpassed their own touring records: in the massive non-stop tour until the end of the year 71 concerts were played in USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile and different European countries. In January of 2016 Arkona has returned to China with mini-tour of 7 shows and visited Japan. In February musicians performed two sets on legendary 70000 Tons of Metal festival. For six months Arkona played 84 concerts all together, and the whole tour with the album “Yav” has lasted almost two years. In the summer of 2016 fans could see Arkona at such festivals as Summer Breeze, Metal Days, Metalfest CZ, Motocultor and More than fest in Slovakia, where the band has received People’s Choice Award. In September Arkona had 2-week tour in Canada. 11th November 2016 was a release date of re-recorded debut album “Vozrozhdenie”(Napalm Records). Band decided to re-record old classic album with a fresh sound, live wind instruments and drums, and to keep the original atmosphere of the album.Kris Verwimp created the album’s artwork. In November Arkona has returned to North America for the 1-month tour with Epica, Fleshgod Apocalypse and The Agonist. Musicians were very happy about the friendly atmosphere at the shows and big crowded halls. In February 2017 Arkona celebrated its 15th birthday by tour in Russia and some neighbor countries. In 1,5 month they played more than 30 shows in different Russian cities, from Vladivostok to Saint Petersburg, and this tour has begun with a 3-hours show in Moscow, which became a good tradition. In the end of spring, together with the band Sirenia from Norway, Arkona played 17 concerts in USA and Canada. And then, in summer, the band performed at such festivals as Exit, Castle party, Brutal Assault, Leyendas del Rock, Metal on the hill etc., and also Arkona became a co-headliner on famous Folk Summer Fest in Russia. New album “Khram” was released 19th January 2018. Some musical ideas from the previous album “Yav” were developed here, such as gloomy monumentalism and difficult music parts of nine epic compositions. The album earned high scores in European magazines. In February and March Arkona went on another European tour and played more than 30 concerts, 17 of them together with Korpiklaani, Heidevolk and Trollfest. In April and May the band performed at Stockholm Slaughter and Dark Troll festivals, and in summer musicians were well received at huge festivals like Graspop, Hellfest, Bloodstock, again at Masters Of Rock and Rockmaraton, and many others. Arkona Website Arkona @ Bandcamp Arkona @ Deezer Arkona @ Facebook Arkona @ Instagram Arkona @ Last.fm Arkona @ ReverbNation Arkona @ Spotify Arkona @ X Arkona @ YouTube |
GLORYHAMMER
And lo, Planet Earth had been destroyed by the Hootsman, with an explosion so powerful it ripped a hole in the very fabric of spacetime. And yet, Zargothrax was still not defeated, for he managed to use his last shreds of power to escape through the dimensional rift. Vowing to defeat the evil sorcerer, Angus McFife XIII followed him into the portal, with no idea where it might lead…Mighty warriors of the galaxy! GLORYHAMMER has returned from an epic quest, and they come bearing their new album, "LEGENDS FROM BEYOND THE GALACTIC TERRORVORTEX". In this thrilling third chapter of the Gloryhammer saga, we follow the legendary prince Angus McFife into another dimension, where he will fight with more terrifying foes and embark on more epic adventures than ever before. Join his quest to save the Kingdom of Fife, through 10 tracks of nuclear-fueled high-velocity heroic power metal, the likes of which you've never heard in your life. FOR THE ETERNAL GLORY OF DUNDEE! Gloryhammer Website Gloryhammer @ Bandcamp Gloryhammer @ Deezer Gloryhammer @ Facebook Gloryhammer @ Instagram Gloryhammer @ SoundCloud Gloryhammer @ Spotify Gloryhammer @ X |
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS
Visions Of Atlantis is a Austrian symphonic metal band with international character since its members have their origin from three different countries: Austria, France & Italy. But not only that: VoA is also internationally well known. In their over 20 years history the band played shows on different continents like South & North America, Asia and of course in a lot of countries in Europe. Founded in 2000, the band had to face many line-up changes. Drummer Thomas Caser is the only remaining founding member, but in 2018, with the album “The Deep & The Dark”, a new era has started.With this album Clémentine Delauney and the former singer Siegfried Samer brought the band back to the roots of their origin. With their music they take us on a journey through the seven seas and on the path of mysterious legends. Dive into the wonderful world of pirates, sailors and wanderers and enjoy the epic, grandiose and magnificent tunes of Visions Of Atlantis! Visions of Atlantis Website Visions of Atlantis @ Deezer Visions of Atlantis @ Facebook Visions of Atlantis @ Instagram Visions of Atlantis @ SoundCloud Visions of Atlantis @ Spotify Visions of Atlantis @ TikTok Visions of Atlantis @ YouTube |
ANAL VOMIT
Peruvian Death Metal band!!! created the year 1992 in the city of Lima.Peru.Anal Vomit @ Deezer Anal Vomit @ Facebook Anal Vomit @ Instagram Anal Vomit @ Spotify Anal Vomit @ YouTube |
OBSCYRIA
Thrash/Death Metal from Stockholm Sweden.Obscyria @ Facebook Obscyria @ Instagram Obscyria @ Spotify Obscyria @ YouTube |
BRUJERIA
Decades before Breaking Bad, Narcos, or Mayans M.C., BRUJERIA put the world of cartels and ritualistic murder on wax with a brutal power equivalent to when Compton arrived in pop culture via NWA.BRUJERIA emerged, shrouded in mystery and infamy, in 1989. They forcefully introduced phrases like Matando Güeros, La Migra, Marijuana y Brujerizmo into the lexicon of extreme subcultures from hardcore punk to death metal. The brutal death grind band from Mexico came to represent the notoriously violent world of illegal drug trafficking, vicious retaliation, and a sinister syncretism between Afro-Caribbean sorcery like Palo Mayombe and Santeria with outright demonic possession. They brandish rifles and machetes. Most importantly, they’re armed with an arsenal of brutal riffs. Rumors abound that frontman Juan Brujo ingeniously surrounded himself over the years with members of legendary bands like NAPALM DEATH, CARCASS, and AT THE GATES and performers from beloved TV shows like Orange Is The New Black and Jackass. But nobody knows for certain. That’s because the men and women of BRUJERIA conceal themselves with bandanas, serapes, and balaclavas. Conjured like a cabal whenever society reaches a new tipping point between order and chaos, Brujeria sacrifices songs to full-length albums and singles, as decidedly apocalyptic as the Mayans, by their own calendar. Records like Raza Odiada (1995) and Brujerizmo (2000) are undeniable classics. Ripping excoriations of daily news like “Amaricon Czar” (2019) and “COVID - 666” (2020) are bitingly topical. Coco Loco (a metal mascot as iconic to many metalheads as IRON MAIDEN’s Eddie or MEGADETH’s Vic Rattlehead) returns in 2023, emblazoned on a ferocious fifth full-length album dubbed simply Esto Es Brujeria. BRUJERIA makes the metal version of the corrido, a traditional Mexican song style built on storytelling. The narratives cover everything from history to daily life for outlaws. In Brujeria’s case, the narrator’s tales range from righteous murders of oppressors and rivals to drug deals gone wrong. On Esto Es Brujeria, their blistering new platter, they growl about everything from being Party Boss to a first night in jail. Brujeria’s 1993 debut, Matando Güeros, was so extreme that record stores and distributors returned copies en masse the moment translators made English versions of the lyrics available. But it was too late to stop BRUJERIA, as word of the devastating riffs and wild tales of drugs, sex, and murder spread. The book Heavy Metal: The Music And Its Culture included it on their 100 Definitive Metal Albums list. One of the songs landed on the soundtrack to Harmony Korine’s controversial drama Gummo. Two years later, sophomore slab Raza Odiada declared war on then - California governor Pete Wilson (portrayed on the album by DEAD KENNEDYS’ frontman Jello Biafra) and his controversial immigration policies. Drug smuggling and related themes abounded, as well as a song supporting Mexico’s revolutionary Zapatistas. A music video for “La Ley De Plomo” somehow made it (briefly) to MTV. Melody Maker called 2000’s Brujerizmo “wonderfully demented thrash” and “murderous noise, absolutely bereft of anything approaching accessibility.” CMJ praised Brujo’s “growling political rants,” while NME declared, “They take a hyper-violent idea to its logical, bowel-churning, and comically thrilling end.” The title track remains one of BRUJERIA’s most streamed songs on Spotify. After a long absence, BRUJERIA returned with Pocho Aztlan in 2016. The band’s first album with Nuclear Blast Records injected fresh blood into the unstoppable crew in the form of new recruits. The songs combined the focused groove of Brujerizmo with the impenetrable death grind of the mid - 90s. Esto Es Brujeria brings BRUJERIA roaring full circle into the post-pandemic era, with the deep polarization, civil unrest, ongoing brutality, and social upheaval of the day ripe for the band’s notorious critiques. Steeped in dense myth, extreme metal’s most notorious antiheroes materialize anytime, anywhere, to spin their tales of anarchic mayhem and lawless fury . They are eternal banditos, prepared to party. Brujeria Website Brujeria @ Deezer Brujeria @ Facebook Brujeria @ Instagram Brujeria @ SoundCloud Brujeria @ Spotify Brujeria @ X Brujeria @ YouTube |
DIE KRUPPS
Critics worldwide hail them alongside KRAFTWERK and EINSTUERZENDE NEUBAUTEN as pioneers of Electronic and Industrial music, bands like FRONT 242 and NITZER EBB called them their inspiration, and their musical ideas found their way into the sound of a wide spectrum of music, from DEPECHE MODE to the innovative pioneers of Detroit Techno. Over 30 years and many internationally successful albums, DIE KRUPPS have developed an unmistakable signature sound that is meant to stay!After monumental and industrial beginnings with the album 'Stahlwerksinfonie', the foundation for Electronic Body Music was laid by the single 'Wahre Arbeit Wahrer Lohn' (both Album and Single Of The Week in the British NME), and the following albums 'Volle Kraft Voraus' and 'Entering The Arena', which created international interest in the band's characteristic synthesis of hard electronics and highly danceable beats. European wide releases secured the band a large following, that was only meant to increase in the '90s. After a 3-year break, international chart positions of a remake of their classic track 'Wahre Arbeit', now called 'The Machineries Of Joy', which was a collaboration with NITZER EBB (U.S. Billboard Dance Charts Top 10), marked the next chapter in the history of the band. The following widening of their musical spectrum, which saw the addition of a more metal inspired aggressive vocal style and guitar riffs on the album 'I', and the essential single track 'Metal Machine Music', was like a slap in the face of conservative critics and listeners alike. The mini album 'A Tribute To Metallica' underlined this daring step, gaining the attention of Lars Ulrich and Co., who helped to secure the band a deal in the U.S. The highly successful albums (european-wide chart positions, Germany Top-20) 'II - The Final Option', 'The Final Remixes', which consisted of remix interpretations of DIE KRUPPS tracks by fellow bands such as NINE INCH NAILS, THE SISTERS OF MERCY, FAITH NO MORE, CLAWFINGER and many others, and the album '..III - Odyssey Of The Mind', were again inspiration to many upcoming new bands, such as RAMMSTEIN, whose song 'Tier' was a direct adaptation and tribute to DIE KRUPPS' 'The Dawning Of Doom' from the album 'I'. After several worldwide tours, and another chart-topping album, 'Paradise Now' (Germany No.17), on which the band collaborated with Arthur Brown ('Fire'), it was decided to bring a temporary stop to the bands extraordinary career. 2005 marked the 25th anniversary of DIE KRUPPS, which was reason enough for the 2 original members Engler and Doerper to prove to the rest of the world that DIE KRUPPS are far from being dead. The reunited group played festivals across Europe and proved that their live shows are as energetic as ever. The audience response was overwhelming and proved that the band had not lost any ground during its absence. In November 2007, DIE KRUPPS' new album 'Too Much History' was released. The album included re-recordings of the greatest hits from almost every album the band had released in the past, plus several unreleased new tracks, including 'The Great Divide', '5 Millionen' and several collaborations, with Client B from the band CLIENT, and again Douglas McCarthy from NITZER EBB. The end of 2008 saw the release of a remix album of the 1982 album 'Volle Kraft Voraus', entitled 'Volle Kraft Null Acht'. KMFDM, FUNKER VOGT, PROJECT PITCHFORK, LEAETHER STRIP, SPETSNAZ and MODULATE are only a few acts who besides many others contributed to the project. The 2 singles 'Volle Kraft Voraus' and 'Ende Der Träume' topped the German Alternative Charts for weeks. In 2010 the mini-album 'Als Wären Wir Für Immer', consisting of all new material, hit the stores. It also stayed in top positions of the Deutsche Alternative Charts for many weeks, and re-entered during the NITZER EBB/DIE KRUPPS European tour in April of 2011. The tour, which was launched under the motto 'Join In The Rhythm Of Machines', was a huge success. A joint NITZER EBB/DIE KRUPPS EP, consisting of re-worked versions of each band's favorite songs, was sold exclusively at the shows. Those songs were also played live, followed by the definite highlight for many fans, the anthemic 'Machineries Of Joy', which saw both bands perform the song together for the first time. At the end of 2012, the first single from the upcoming album 'The Machinists Of Joy' was released. 'Risikofaktor' made it No.1 in the German DAC Charts again, and stayed in the pole position for a full month. 2013 was to become the year when DIE KRUPPS machinery went back into full swing. The machines were greased, the dust shaken off, the factory gates opened again. After shift operation was restored, the long-awaited new prototype 'The Machinists Of Joy' rolled off the assembly line on 25.10.2013. With this most recent effort DIE KRUPPS seamlessly picked up the streak of their genre-defining releases in the '80s and '90s. DIE KRUPPS still deliver 'Metal MACHINE Music' - heavy, danceable, sometimes epic machine-music, adorned with well-placed guitar attacks and the ever-onward hammering of the 'steel-o-phone', paired with critical contemporary lyrics, setting themselves off from what has become the norm today. Referring to their top-10 Billboard-hit from 1989 'Machineries Of Joy', the album title already hinted at a stronger focus on electronic sounds, rather than guitars, which dominated the current outfit of DIE KRUPPS. Nevertheless, hard guitar riffs were interwoven with the pumping signature sequencers. The album also made it to No.1 in the German DAC Charts, where it was holding the pole position again for several consecutive weeks. The second single of the album 'Schmutzfabrik' peaked at No.2, staying there for 7 weeks. In mid-February 2014, the factory bell rang in the night shift on European stages, to be known as 'THE MACHINISTS OF JOY'-TOUR 2014. 12 dates on which DIE KRUPPS were going to present their first studio album of the new millennium in sweat-inducing manner! On August 28th 2015, DIE KRUPPS returned with their new release 'V - Metal Machine Music'. Back to the distinctly guitar-based sound from the late '90s, the new songs showed a much increased level of aggressiveness! DIE KRUPPS had never before combined such heavy guitars and powerful sequencers. The upcoming shows proved that this direction was well reserved by the audience Europe wide. Alongside mastermind Juergen Engler (vocals, steel-o-phone), the line-up was machinist Ralf Doerper on Korg MS-20 synthesizer, Marcel Zuercher on guitar, with Volker Borchert from former metal band Accuser on drums, and Nils Finkeisen on second guitar. The album 'V' made the official sales chart in Germany and cracked the Top 40! The singles 'Battle Extreme' and 'Kaltes Herz' both made it to No.1 in the German DAC Charts, the latter stayed in the pole position for 6 consecutive weeks! Steel, hard work, muscle strength, sweat, machines ... but also structural change, unemployment, dislocation, xenophobia and anxiety about the future: powerful words that DIE KRUPPS have always used and filled with content, that they attach visions to, that they transform into a solid base for their music - their very own, unique sound that has consistently evolved over the past four decades and that continues to be unmistakable. "Vision 2020 Vision" is their latest masterpiece, a concept album: music, artwork and lyrics are inextricably linked, they fuel and cross-fertilize each other. The world of Engler and Dörper is monochromatic and grim, but the imminent world they see through their lens, ought to, and indeed must, frighten you. In all this, DIE KRUPPS's themes are as topical and relevant as ever: "Extinction Time" and "Vision 2020 Vision" describe our world on the edge of the abyss. Chaos and violence rule the streets, governments are powerless. The great flood will come, wash everything away and leave nothing but darkness. "Alllies" and "Fuck You" are directed overseas; where egoism, borders and ruthlessness are dictated from the very top while Europe looks on passively, turning into a compliant minion. "Human" is a reckoning with the whole human race which has been regressing for several decades. Civilizations increasingly turn into hordes of wild, murderous barbarians. The title song puts in a nutshell where this development is bound to take us: "Violence will soon explode, frustration reaches overload, revolution is imminent, we're in the year of discontent" (quote: "Vision 2020 Vision"). What remains is the hope that Jürgen Engler will be proved wrong in this instance. Die Krupps Website Die Krupps @ Bandcamp Die Krupps @ Facebook Die Krupps @ Instagram Die Krupps @ Spotify Die Krupps @ Threads Die Krupps @ X Die Krupps @ YouTube |
JOHNNY TUPOLEV
Wuppertal's alternative electro rockers inspire with a perfect synthesis of hard-hitting guitar riffs, pounding machine beats and driving sequencer loops.The three surprise with their astonished international sound, which is no wonder given that they are actively supported by England's legendary producer John Fryer, known for his work with Depeche Mode, Nine Inch Nails and White Zombie. In 2021, the band was signed to the US label Cop-International, and five releases have followed to date, three of which have made it into the top ten of the German alternative charts. Also worth mentioning is the collaboration with Richard Kruspe, (Rammstein), Billy Gould, (Faith No More) and Chris Hall, (Stabbing Westward) as part of a joint aid project for victims of the Ukraine war in 2022. The three exceptional artists were last able to impressively demonstrate their special live qualities in the summer of 2023, when they were the first band in the world to sell out a 360-degree multimedia rock show with an extraordinary silent concert concept 10 times in a row. Responsible for this and for everything visual with Johnny Tupolev are two other friends and unofficial members of the band: Oscar-nominated VFX specialist Frank Petzold (All quiet on the western front, Armageddon, Starship Troopers) and Emmy Award winner and video artist Christoph Vitt. Johnny Tupolev Website Johnny Tupolev @ Bandcamp Johnny Tupolev @ Facebook Johnny Tupolev @ Instagram Johnny Tupolev @ SoundCloud Johnny Tupolev @ Spotify Johnny Tupolev @ YouTube |
JESUS ON EXTASY
Industrial rock insurgents Jesus on Extasy are back—darker, heavier, and more relentless than ever. Led by founding member Dorian Deveraux, The band has returned with an uncompromising sound that elevates their signature mix of industrial beats, searing guitars, and raw emotion to an entirely new level. “It looks like the world is going to hell. We might as well deliver the soundtrack for that”, says Deveraux about the JoE’s inevitable return.Jesus on Extasy made a lasting mark on the genre with tracks like "Assassinate Me" and "Neochrome" before stepping away from the spotlight and disappearing into the night. Now, with their upcoming album "Between Despair & Disbelief" set for release in August 2025 via Metropolis Records, they’re proving that this comeback isn’t just a fleeting return - it’s a resurgence built to last. Following the release of the singles "Wide Awake" and "Days Gone By," which gave fans a taste of the new era, the band will drop the heavy-hitting single "Soul Crusher" ahead of the album, offering a brutal preview of what’s to come: heavier, more intense, and unapologetically aggressive. To mark their return, Jesus on Extasy will be hitting the road as the support act for Die Krupps on their upcoming European tour. Fans can expect an unrelenting live set packed with crushing new material and reimagined classics, proving that the band’s resurgence isn’t just a return - it’s here to stay. With a harder edge and a fire that refuses to burn out, Jesus on Extasy are ready to leave their mark on the industrial rock landscape once more. Jesus on Extasy Website Jesus on Extasy @ Bandcamp Jesus on Extasy @ Facebook Jesus on Extasy @ Instagram Jesus on Extasy @ Spotify Jesus on Extasy @ TikTok Jesus on Extasy @ X Jesus on Extasy @ YouTube |
BATUSHKA
Embrace the essence of musical ecstasy, fascina tion,passion and the urge to create… the substitute of modernity and classical perfection,a road to free dom…It’s a distinct world of so unds lavishing us with all their divine glory, sounds of liberation, sounds of spiritual spheres, sounds of harmony… Pronounced „Batjushka”,the band’s Cyrillic name Батюшка means „father” and is used to address an Eastern Orthodox priest. Despite their themes and imagery, they are not a Christian band. Batushka @ Bandcamp Deezer @ Facebook Batushka @ Facebook Batushka @ Instagram Batushka @ Spotify Batushka @ X Batushka @ YouTube |
HOULE
Birthed from the wrath of the Seas, Houle has wreaked havoc since releasing its debut EP in 2022.Houle @ Bandcamp Houle @ Facebook Houle @ Facebook Houle @ Instagram Houle @ Facebook Houle @ YouTube |
NENA
NENA remains one of the most authentic singers of our time and a significant piece of pop culture made in Germany. Following the overwhelming success of her WIR GEHÖREN ZUSAMMEN tour in 2024, which attracted150,000 visitors across 45 shows in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands, pop icon NENA is now announcing the first open-air dates for 2025.This is fantastic news, as experiencing NENA live is a must! Her energetic stage presence is as distinctive and captivating as her voice. Audiences can look forward to a live show lasting over two hours, featuring hits and gems from NENA's vast repertoire. Music spanning over four decades will be brought to life by her 10-piece band. Each live concert is a unique rock 'n' roll experience filled with emotion and heart. The tour title, WIR GEHÖREN ZUSAMMEN, represents more than just a motto; it embodies the deeply felt and lived sense of connection that makes each concert a heartfelt affair for NENA. NENA states, “It’s a wave of love that builds and grows stronger. I feel this with a new powerful intensity. It comes from us, the people who are here, in front of, behind, and on stage. People who love to spend a wonderful time together. Those who know that music builds bridges. We sing, dance, laugh, and celebrate life. 'We belong together' is a simple message that we carry out into the world together.” With 25 million records sold worldwide, NENA is one of the most successful German artists of all time. Her music has shaped several generations of music fans and continues to represent a way of life that resonates with everyone, somewhere. The current album, “Licht,” is an energetic pop album full of brilliance and the soundtrack for new beginnings. With every note and in every line, “Licht” offers hope, lightness, and depth of heart. Whether it’s folk-inspired acoustic guitar or electronically dancing synthesizer beats, “Licht” inspires us to celebrate life. Nena Website Nena @ Facebook Nena @ Instagram Nena @ TikTok Nena @ YouTube |
WOLFHEART
The most overworked and undervalued busy bee on the Finnish metal scene, Tuomas Saukkonen shocked everyone in 2012 with his announcement that he will bury all of his metal music projects at the same time to start a new. Before The Dawn, Black Sun Aeon, Dawn Of Solace and RoutaSielu received their coup de grâce February 23rd 2013 with one last show. After years of pouring his creative juices to projects too numerous to count, Saukkonen decided to focus mainly on just one labour of love, Wolfheart.Saukkonen recorded and released the first Wolfheart album “Winterborn” entirely by himself playing all the instruments and doing all the vocals, with Mika Lammassaari (Eternal Tears Of Sorrow, Mors Subita) as his only guest, playing guitar solos. Such confidence Saukkonen showed in his new material that he self-financed the album release. This bold leap of faith was rewarded with sales placing the album to #7 on the Official Finnish Album Chart and to the Pole Position on the alternative indie chart “Rumban Lista” (which tracks the sales in specialized record stores not eligible for the official chart). Yet, probably even more rewardingly for Saukkonen, “Winterborn” proved a roaring critical success scoring high ratings in reviews left and right. To cap off a great year for his project, “Winterborn” was elected the best debut album of 2013 in the annual Record Store Äx customers’ poll. Wolfheart deserved to be a fully operating band so Saukkonen called to arms solo guitarist Mika Lammassaari, drummer Joonas Kauppinen (ex-Before the Dawn, Disease of the Nation) and bassist Lauri Silvonen (Bloodred Hourglass), and since the spring of 2014 Wolfheart has been a fully operating, touring band. The same year also took the pack on the road to the national stages with Shade Empire and showcased them to metal fans abroad for first time at big European metal festivals (e.g. RockHarz Open Air, Summer Breeze Open Air). Wolfheart started 2015 by touring Finland (with Finntroll) but had already been busy with writing successor for the debut “Winterborn”. The climax of the year was the release of the 2nd album “Shadow World” which was recorded as a full band and was the first product from the co-operation with the distinguished record label Spinefarm Records. The album commanded critical praises and placed #6 on the Official Finnish Album Chart. Music video for the first single “Aeon of Cold” was captured from the band’s live performance in front of a full tent at Summer Breeze Open Air festival, and the video for the second single “Zero Gravity” was shot in the breathtaking and mountainous nature of northern Norway. Another highlight for 2015 was Wolfheart’s first full-scale European tour (with Swallow The Sun) and get to perform in Tokyo, Japan (with Sonata Arctica etc.) also. After a rapid ride since the release of the debut album the band cleared their calender in the beginning of 2016, started the pre-production of their 3rd album. The legendary Petrax studios in Finland (CoB, HIM, Nightwish etc.) were booked for the recordings and only a few selected festival shows broke the studio cycle. The album was mastered in fall and the first single, bombastic “Boneyard” saw daylight in December. The album preparations also marked co-operation with Nikos Stavridakis / Vision Black – a talented Greek artist and graphic designer who has answered from the graphics of the band ever since. Wolfheart returned to Europe immediately in January 2016 for a full tour (with Insomnium and Barren Earth), and thanks to their solid performances, took another significant step forward by singing a booking deal with Continental Concerts & Management in March 2017. Before the actual album release, Wolfheart showed their calmer side with the release of clean-sung acoustic song “The Black Light” as a standalone single. “The Black Light” immediately hit Finland Viral 50 list in Spotify. Wolfheart then had a busy spring as they toured Finland as headliner and did their own mini-tour in Spain. The pack also did a short tour in Scandinavia (with Insomnium) before hitting multiple European metal festivals during the summertime. In November 2017 the band released their 3rd album “Tyhjyys” (“Emptiness”), again via Spinefarm Records. Single/video tracks like the “World on Fire” and “The Flood” alongside “Boneyeard” had cleared the path for the album and it stayed two weeks in the top ten of the official Finnish album charts. “Tyhjyys” also continued the path of critical praises of the previous albums and was well received with the ever-growing fanbase. Before the end of the year Wolfheart toured Europe again, this time with Ensiferum, and played in Russia as well. It’s safe to say that the band had concreted their place as top-tiers with their winter metal. Early 2018 took Wolfheart to the international waters when they joined the line-up of the epic 70 000 tons of Metal cruise and performed also at Nordic Metal Cruise. Wolfheart then took two significant steps forward as they announced they had joined the roster of Hard Impact Music Management and signed a recording deal with the mighty Napalm Records. The pack also once again entered studio, this time to record their 4th album. During the spring and summer of 2018 Wolfheart did shows in Finland, two weeks tour in Canada, and again performed in multiple summer metal festivals in Europe. The first single “Breakwater” from the upcoming album “Constellation of the Black Light” was released with a music video that was shot both in Finland and in Iceland. The video depichered the song and DNA of the band perfectly: aggression and beauty, harshness and fragileness combined with a close connection to the nature – a great example of what Wolfheart is about. “Constellation of the Black Light” was released in fall 2018 and the new album was again received with anticipation and praises from medias and fans all-around. The album again charted not only in Finland but also in North America where it hit #53 in US “Top New Artist Albums”, #89 in US “Top Hard Artist Albums” and #38 in Canada “Top Hard Music Albums”. All this was followed by intense touring: Wolfheart toured Europe extensively with Omnium Gatherum and right after headed to the United States for the first time (with Carach Angren) for a full tour. The band also covered Finland with several shows before the end of the year. Even if 2018 was busy, it proved to be just a warm-up for 2019: The year started with a mini tour in Japan (with Ne Obliviscaris) which was followed by extensive new North American tour (with Children of Bodom and Swallow the Sun). Wolfpack then had a short pitstop at home, visited Russia for a couple of shows and continued to conquered another new continent by touring Latin America (with Fleshgod Apocalypse). 2019 also brought a line-up change: during spring Mika Lammassaari decided to step aside from Wolfheart. Line-up changes could be difficult for bands to tackle but instead the pack found new strength when Vageliss Karzis (ex-Rotting Christ) stepped in to handle the lead guitar duties for the upcoming summer tour. The six weeks long summer tour “Black Light Constellation over Europe” was the seventh tour within ten months period and the longest tour Wolfheart had ever made. It marked shows all around Europe and UK as well as hitting many festivals such as legendary HellFest and Full Force. After completing the tour Wolfheart had played over 140 shows in less than a year. 2019 took Wolfheart to Dubai for the first time and tied Vageliss to the band as an official member. Unable to settle down, despite being constantly on the road the pack headed for the studio before the end of the year to deliver another new album. In January 2020 Wolfheart joined the roster of Decibel Touring booking agency and a month later released “Ashes” – the first single from the upcoming 5th album “Wolves of Karelia”. Tuomas was inspired to write “Wolves of Karelia” by the personal stories of local veterans, conveying the tales of what they experienced and survived from during the Winter War that waged between Russia and Finland during the winter of November 1939 – March 1940. Hence “Wolves of Karelia” could be described as Wolfheart’s first theme album. With singles like “Hail of Steel” and “The Hammer”, “Wolves of Karelia” commanded great reviews and charted also in new territories: #8 Finnish Official Chart and #3 Finnish Physical Album Chart, #73 German Official Chart, #45 Switzerland, #48 iTunes Albums Italy, multiple rock album charts in North America (e.g. #16 Current Hard Music Albums in the US and #13 Hard Music Albums in Canada). Wolfheart had extensive touring plans in support of the album: the band was supposed to return to US as a part of “Devastation of the Nation” package, and also announced their first own full headliner tour in Europe (for 2021) but unfortunately global pandemia put all this on hold. Despite the uncertain times Wolfheart didn’t hesitate and were among the first bands to deliver an exclusive virtual gig to reach their fans and support the album release in April 2020. Music video for the song “Reaper” was also shot during the virtual gig. Despite the pandemia, Tuomas’ music gathered over 6 million Spotify plays and 3 million YouTube views during 2020. During 2021 world still suffered from covid, and gigs and tours were announced, rescheduled and cancelled. Wolfheart used the time to finish their first EP “Skull Soldiers”. Before the release of the EP the pack played another virtual gig, this time playing the debut album “Winterborn” in full. “Skull Soldiers” was released in March 2021 and the EP contained two completely new songs, an eerie acoustic version of “Aeon of Cold” and a live version of “Reaper”. The EP also marked the first time Wolfheart had guest vocals on a release when Petro Solovey (Wolfanger) delivered his lines in Ukrainian for the title track. A couple of Finnish shows happened in the later year and a one-off show in Switzerland – which gave a slight light that world might actually be opening up. Wolfheart also reached over 100.000 followers on Facebook while their official music videos had gathered over 15 million views in YouTube and songs 14 million plays in Spotify before the end of 2021. If things started to look brighter at the end of 2022, the next year took the band to another level: after so many setbacks, Wolfheart got back to the USA (with Fleshgod Apocalypse and Obscura) for a tour that proved to be by far the most successful tour the band had ever done. The winning streak continued with a decent festival run throughout Europe, and Wolfheart could be seen on the big stages of A-list metal festivals such as Rockharz, Metaldays, Brutal Assault, Summer Breeze, etc. The year then ended with a home run when Wolfheart released a massive stand-alone single, "Iku-Turso," toured Finland with their brothers Before the Dawn, and then did their first full-length headliner European tour (with Before the Dawn and Hinayana). The tour was a success and left the Pack hungry for more. Wolfheart Website Wolfheart @ Deezer Wolfheart @ Facebook Wolfheart @ Instagram Wolfheart @ Last.fm Wolfheart @ Spotify Wolfheart @ X Wolfheart @ YouTube |
BEFORE THE DAWN
The band was founded in 1999 by Tuomas Saukkonen and during the 1st chapter of BTD existence the band released 6 full length albums and toured Europe, Asia and Scandinavia with metal legends Amorphis, Katatonia, Insmonium, Moonspell etc and built a big following and solid fanbase all around the world.On 10 January 2013 through a press statement, Tuomas Saukkonen announced that he was putting Before the Dawn to rest along with his other active bands (Black Sun Aeon and RoutaSielu), ending them in order to create new project called "Wolfheart", which he has been pushing higher and higher in the metal scene ladders with 6 albums and heavy touring in Asia, North America, South America and Europe. Since the burial of BTD in 2013 a lot has happened and during the years that slowly the idea of bringing the band back from the dead started to grow to a firm decision. Pandemic that provided 2 years of empty calendar was the biggest sole reason to release vinyl version from "Deadlight" album (2006) and writing a brand new song was the best that happened during 2020 musically to the core members of BTD and as a cherry on top of a cake the album opened #1 in Finnish album chart. Needles to say a huge boost of motivation and creativity followed. Still the biggest reason for the comeback is that even when buried in 2013 the band and specially the music never died. The past 9 years BTD Spotify has grown with tens of thousands of followers and hundred thousands of monthly plays with no promotion, no label working for, no social media marketing or constant posting. Did the music found the people or people found the music...we don't know but after being dead for almost a decade BTD is stronger and bigger than ever. Instead of riding on the wave of nostalgia and looking back to the old releases BTD crew wanted to look far into the future and continue where we left 2013 with reinforced line-up that could jump into festival stages and tour buss with a brand new album. Voice of Finland 2022 brought so far the biggest change into BTD line-up when the finalist Paavo Laapotti took over all vocalist duties in the band. His majestic version of "Deadsong" made a huge impact to BTD members and specially to the song written Tuomas who immediately started planning a project with Paavo. After the first song for Paavo was ready and mixed the first idea that came into Tuomas head was: "This sounds like BTD but upgraded version". And there was no coming back from that thought. "Downhearted" was the first single from what we like to call Before The Dawn 4.0 and BTD is currently in the studio recording a new album scheduled to come out in early summer 2023 through Napalm Records. Before the Dawn Website Before the Dawn @ Bandcamp Before the Dawn @ Deezer Before the Dawn @ Facebook Before the Dawn @ Instagram Before the Dawn @ Spotify Before the Dawn @ X Before the Dawn @ YouTube |
SUOTANA
Melodic death/black metal from the Arctic Circle.Suotana @ Bandcamp Suotana @ Deezer Suotana @ Facebook Suotana @ Instagram Suotana @ SoundCloud Suotana @ Spotify Suotana @ YouTube |
FULL HOUSE BREW CREW
Full House Brew Crew is a dynamic and energetic metal band hailing from Athens, Greece. Formed in 2009, the band has cultivated a unique sound that fuses elements of heavy, groove, and metalocore. Known for their powerful live performances, Full House Brew Crew has built a strong reputation in the metal scene, captivating audiences with their intense and melodic compositions.Full House Brew Crew @ Bandcamp Full House Brew Crew @ Facebook Full House Brew Crew @ Instagram Full House Brew Crew @ Spotify |
BETTER LOVERS
By challenging each other to progress, Better Lovers challenge heavy music to move forward along with them.Driven by the same restless spirit and clear intention, this cohort of longtime musicians have rallied around a shared vision of creative fearlessness and relentless energy. Playing with a chemistry bordering on magic, the musicians—Greg Puciato [vocals], Jordan Buckley [guitar], Will Putney [guitar, producer], Steve Micciche [bass], and Clayton “Goose” Holyoak [drums]—naturally evolve on their 2024 full-length debut album, Highly Irresponsible [Sharptone Records]. Puciato keeps it simple, “New album. First full-length. It’s a typical thing to say, but we’re excited to start getting this thing out there. Everyone really brought their best to this and brought out the best in each other.” It’s been that way since the winter of 2022 when longtime friends Jordan, Steve, and Goose congregated in a cold Buffalo, NY basement to jam, sowing the seeds for early song ideas. They initially tapped Will to produce (he also jumped at the chance to play guitar), while Greg officially joined the fold upon hearing demos. Without warning in 2023, the group made their presence known with “30 Under 13” followed by the God Made Me An Animal EP. Metal Hammer christened the latter “one of the finest examples of savage modern hardcore you’ll hear in 2023.” Inciting further critical applause, Revolver raved, “they attack like a fresh, hungry band out for blood. Which is what they are,” and KERRANG! profiled them with a cover story. Not to mention, they sold out the bulk of dates on their very first tour. They capitalized upon and catalyzed this momentum into Highly Irresponsible. Putney resumed his role as producer, and the bandmates ignited ten tracks with calculated intensity. Putney notes, “Being a member of the band and the producer is actually a real advantage for Better Lovers. We’re so dialed in to exactly what we want to do, and our creative process is so in sync and natural that we rarely hit a wall when we work on music.” “Writing and recording our first full length was slightly more surgical than the EP, but had a similar lack of restraint. I feel more pressure writing this press release than I felt all winter in Will’s studio. I got to wake up everyday and watch the masters perfect their craft. I was a student. It was a playground. Everything was funny. We were reading each other’s minds. Even creating our own language at some points. I didn’t know if I was watching my closest friends write music, or if I was watching music use us to exist. The voice in my head warning me how highly irresponsible it was to hop on this bull again was gone. Replaced by bad ideas, inside jokes, and a rejuvenated love for helping to write songs that don’t sound like anything else. That brings us to the first single “A White Horse Covered In Blood.” Gritty guitar rolls in tandem with a punchy drumbeat, and Puciato teasingly warns, “Oh, there’s nowhere to run to buddy.” He delivers manic taunts with insidious charisma matched only by the wild dueling riffing across the bridge. “I’m honestly just over here happy that I fit the word ‘buddy’ into a song,” the frontman grins. Elsewhere, high-pitched squeals drain into a rollicking riff on “Future Myopia.” The melodic chant on the chorus belies menace in the lyrics as Puciato proclaims, “Hard to look up when you’re down. No perspective from the ground.” Eerie guitar echoes over a loose bass groove on the spacey “At All Times.” Simultaneously, an arresting vocal performance takes hold, “We corrected the lines we drew. Didn’t we?” Opener “Lie Between The Lines” leans into a sinister melodic lead before culminating on a realization, “I can’t believe I’m just like you.” The finale “Love As An Act of Rebellion” might just be the perfect clarion call for the quintet. The breakneck beatdown and tense ticking clock give way to Puciato’s last word, “In a world where we’re the only. I’d still take life without you. I’d still be lost without you.” Better Lovers found each other, and they’re going to keep pushing each other and heavy music forward. “This is a band firing on all cylinders that is both dynamic and destructive,” Putney leaves off. “That translates through the speakers on this LP, and I can’t wait for people to experience the whole record.” Buckley smiles, “Humans and animals alike are programmed to do wild things for what they love—Highly Irresponsible things. And we love what we’ve created. We know you will too.” Better Lovers Website Better Lovers @ Facebook Better Lovers @ Instagram Better Lovers @ TikTok Better Lovers @ X |
'68
The greatest rock duo on both sides of the Mississippi.'68 Website '68 @ Facebook '68 @ Instagram '68 @ X |
GREYHAVEN
Greyhaven, a four-piece progressive post-hardcore group from Louisvile, Kentucky are back and ready shed light on life’s darkest areas with the announcement of their new record, ‘This Bright and Beautiful World’. But first, Brent Mills (vocals), Nick Spencer (guitar), Johnny Muench (bass) and Ethan Spray (drums) are ready to have some fun with the drop of the newest single, “ALL CANDY”.With two records under their belt (‘Cult America’ and ‘Empty Black’), the band began writing their third record utilizing classic Greyhaven chaotic energy. Having written this record in 5 different locations, the band wanted to make sure that all of their ideas were able to present themselves once they entered the studio with producer Will Putney. Taking pride in simply being “4 guys who like to play music”, Greyhaven was confident that they would be able to sort through the 18 demos that they entered the studio with and pick out the best new songs of the batch. The guys endured a very organic process and like to ensure that this record sounds like it was meant to be played live. Compared to ‘Empty Black’, Mills had a hard time distinguishing a clear path for ‘This Bright and Beautiful World’. His desire to express topics in a more poetic light left Mills feeling like his lyrics weren’t doing them justice. Wanting to really flow with the emotions of the songs, Mills even stated that some of his favorite parts of this record were written on a whim. The lyrics dive into the themes of frustration, depression, the inability to fully express yourself and appreciating the darker parts of life even though that may seem impossible at times. ‘This Bright and Beautiful World’ is an extremely personal record for Mills and is mainly “a record about someone who is really frustrated at how they operate in the world.” The first single off of their new record, “ALL CANDY”, is a bit of a different sound than what Greyhaven has released in the past. Not following their usual pattern of spastic riffs laced with sarcastic lyrics, the band really wanted to not shy away from the poppier route that surprisingly unfolded with this song. While it may sound lighter than their typical work, the lyrics and meaning behind the song are actually very dark. Written while Mills was struggling with his own mental health, this song demonstrates one’s ability to completely block out any negative thoughts and pretend like everything is fine. Mills personified the worst parts of himself as ghost that follows him no matter where he goes. He wanted to shed light on the realization that “you might go out in the world and pretend that you’re happy, but the depression is still there and you will never see life the same way as long as it’s around.” This may be the “fun” song on the album, but it sure does not skimp out on Greyhaven’s darker persona. While “ALL CANDY” invokes a “bittersweet” emotion, the remainder of the album touches on the darker side of mental health. For example, “AND IT’S STILL TOO LOUD” indulges the listener in what it feels like to feel empowered by self destructive behavior. While writing, Mills reflected on the emotion stating, “I have the power to really lean into this and destroy everything if I wanted to”. Accompanied with fast-paced melodies and intricate riffs, it takes the listener on the wild ride that destructive behavior can lead someone down. Mills hopes listeners develop a “gratitude for life” after listening to ‘This Bright and Beautiful World’ and wants to help people come to terms with who they are. Even if things seem dark, this record has an important takeaway – “Find joy in small things. It’s worth putting in the work to find what you think is beautiful in the world.” Greyhaven Website Greyhaven @ Facebook Greyhaven @ Instagram Greyhaven @ TikTok Greyhaven @ X |
CONAN
Hear the roar of battle. Smell the stench of spilled blood. A thousand heads piled high like a grim mound of suffering. England’s doom metal masters CONAN strike back again! Following their much acclaimed 2018 full-length, Existential Void Guardian, and their Live at Freak Valley record released just last year, the trio is gearing up for the release of their fifth studio album, entitled Evidence of Immortality, due out on August 19, 2022 via Napalm Records.From colossal opening track 'A Cleaved Head No Longer Plots', CONAN’s upcoming magnum opus will overrun you like a steamroller. The British kings of brutally heavy slowness put their down-tuned pedals to the limit, crushing ears and minds when huge, rumbling chords and riff beasts muscle their way in over lances of infinite distortion. On tracks such as 'Levitation Hoax', CONAN showcases their trademark sound combined with uptempo, fierce riffage, and a pounding, impulsive groove in epic Caveman battle doom grandeur, before the song drags you into a safe, deep black hole. Second album single, 'Righteous Alliance', emphasizes that CONAN are the masters of their craft, while Jon Davis spits his lyrics over the uber-synchronized power chord changes and tempo shifts of the anti-holy trio of bass, drums and guitar. Evidence of Immortality was recorded and mixed by Chris Fielding, was mastered by James Plotkin, and also sees former band member Dave Perry performing on 'Grief Sequence'. Bow down and hail CONAN, as their sound will live immortal on the battlefield of doom, and their new album will be the ultimate Evidence of Immortality! Conan Website Conan @ Bandcamp Conan @ Deezer Conan @ Facebook Conan @ Instagram Conan @ SoundCloud Conan @ Spotify |
THRA
For seven years, Arizona’s Thra have performed tirelessly, transforming the arid desert landscape into an corrupted bog of eternal suffering for the duration of every one of their absorbing, transcendent, and ear-punishing shows. Possessing more creative talents, stage presence, and musical curiosity than many active metal bands of the moment, the band has built on the strong root system its established in the southwest, and its artistic fruit are beautiful, dark, and deadly. While death, doom, and sludge are all in vogue at the moment, it is clear to any discerning listener that Thra’s music is the product of a group of masterful musicians who are also aficionados, dedicated not only to doing right by the forbears of their varied genre influences but also to intertwining diverse creative sources to further develop the overall metal sound.Thra @ Bandcamp Thra @ Deezer Thra @ Facebook Thra @ Instagram Thra @ Spotify |
GUTALAX
Do you like dancing? In that case gore grind GUTALAX are here for you. Come to have a dance in the moshpit, because this Czech band know very well how to pump it up on the stage.The Shitty River boys will tour South America before our anniversary to improve their movements in the samba rhythm which they will then, in a brownish connection with their disco, release into your bodies. Band members: Martin MATY Matousek - vox Tomas KOJAS Anderle - guitar Petr FREE Svoboda - drums Pavel KEBAB Troup - bass Gutalax @ Bandcamp Gutalax @ Deezer Gutalax @ Facebook Gutalax @ Instagram Gutalax @ Spotify Gutalax @ X Gutalax @ YouTube |
SPASM
The Epoch of Spasm started at the beginning of winter month January in 2000. At that time the band was intended as a side-project of the hordes Psychopathia and Romantic Love, but everything completely changed. When Psychopathia (up to that time a regular and running band) was laid to rest, nothing prevented us from leading the band as a full featured group. Our aim was evident – we wanted to play extreme music with an extraordinary concept. The first line-up was formed with the help of another member of Psychopathia – Mira - guitar, but after a short engagement, the line – up slowly crystallized to the three – members’ band. At that point in time line – up was: Sam – bass grind inferno, Lukáš – drums and cymbals and Máňa- vocals. During the next year, Spasm composed and rehearsed songs for the debut demo CD - “ Spasmatic Secretion”, which was released in May 2001, but it wasn’t released nor spread among audience. Then Spasm made a progression, we tried to form our original style of playing (the band refuses using guitars) and participated in various actions and gigs. In 2004 Spasm experienced the turning point in its career – we recorded a promo CD for an eventual label release, what finally happened.Copremesis prod. released the debut album of Spasm in May 2005. Later on, when ideal and conceptual disputes appeared, Máňa left the band and his post was taken by owner of the releasing label Copremesis- Radim (Copretina). So, the line – up was: Sam – bass guitar, Lukáš – drums and Radim – vocals. After releasing our debut album “Lust For Feculent Orgasm”, the band started playing in different fests and gigs, Obscene extreme 2006 was the most important performance in our career. In next tree years our horde intensively played dozens of shows in Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Germany and Austria, we participated in several compilations and we were hardly working on another CD. As a result of our effort, we met with growing warm reception of fans and with growing interest and popularity as well. At the beginning of 2008 Spasm entered the studio to record new material for the second full – length CD. We succeed in realizing it, recorded a big amount of songs, so some of them were put on Split EP with our grinding Slovakian friends Mizar. This Split Ep was released by a friend of our band - Bohdan and his Rarach Katus rec. in March 2008. In October 2008 another glorious period of our history was started, when our second CD called “Paraphilic Elegies“ was released on German label Rotten Roll Rex. after some major technical inconveniences. Firstly, we unobtrusively had a few shows supporting our actual release, but we decided to play intense and maximal shows all around for the next year 2009. Between 2009 - 2010 the band participated in many gigs and festivals throughout Europe (Ukraine, Portugal, The Netherlands) and also in their homeland. Moreover, Spasm filmed their first music video. That was the time for preparing another CD as well. In summer 2011 Spasm released the third full-lenght album "Taboo Tales" and the whole crazy carousel starts up again. In the same year Spasm shot another official video, which awarded amazing 4th place in Czech music survey Břitva in "Video of the year". The year of 2012 brings the first real European tour with friends Gutalax. We played 10 gigs in 10 days in 5 countries. The whole venue was really successful and also the new merchandise has been maximally promoting the band. We appeared on great summer festivals – awesome Obscene Extreme and also Extreme Fest in Austria, Germany and Switzerland. Afterwards we played gigs in the Netherlands, Poland or Switzerland and Germany again. In 2013 we experienced playing in Russia for the first time and we took part in some great small Czech festivals like Antitrend Fest and also in famous Rape The Escape Fest in Austria. January 2014 brought us the golden opportunity to play headlining and successful tour which took place in different parts of Mexico. In May we played twice in the Netherlands, two awesome fests like Grindhoven and the biggest European indoor extreme festival Neurotic Death Fest. March 2014 Luke decided to leave the band but promised us that he played all booked gigs. Sam and Radim looked around the scene and after great gig on Brutal Assault they found new drummer Rudy from Slovak republic. After that we fixed new drummer Sam and Rudy Worked on live play list and practise for gigs. 2015 after some rehealsals we entered the studio in April and recorded new CD called PUSSY –DE LUXE- With the new concept of new cd helped us our old friend David and his girlfriend Romca. They found for us pretty model girl Pavla and we made small photosession and we recorded new videoclip. Cd + LP and other merch were out in November under Rotten Roll Rex again. This year we are hard working for promote our new album and spread our beauty bodies… Spasm @ Facebook Spasm @ Instagram Spasm @ Spotify Spasm @ YouTube |
GUINEAPIG
Guineapig is an Italian Goregrind unit formed in 2013, fascinated by splatter movies, medical experiments and rare diseases, fueled by ultra-massive riffs and guttural vocals.Conceived by an idea of guitarist/vocalist Fra, soon after composing 2 demo tracks he involved drummer Cristiano and bassist/vocalist Alessio. Right after the release of their debut album, Gina joins the band as drummer. Their 2014 debut album ‘Bacteria’ was a clear statement, a Goregrind ensemble built to destroy, an operation that led the three-piece to be recognized as one of the most interesting and original names in the over-saturated extreme music world. With this release alone, along with a split with Rompeprop in 2017 – both via Rotten Roll Rex – the band has treaded the stages of some of the most important European festivals around, including Brutal Assault, Party.San and Obscene Extreme, and also shared the Gorecrusher European Tour with fellows Gutalax and Spasm on multiple occasions. Eight long years after ‘Bacteria’, Guineapig finally make their comeback in June 2022 via Spikerot Records with the crisp and blistering sophomore work ‘Parasite’, praised all around the globe by fans and critics alike. An album that redefines the very concept of Goregrind with a cutting-edge and forward-thinking vision, without ever losing sight of the roots, with a songwriting fluctuating between abysmal tunings, Death Metal mid-tempos and ripping breakdowns. Expect nothing but The Heaviest Goregrind. Guineapig Website Guineapig @ Bandcamp Guineapig @ Facebook Guineapig @ Instagram Guineapig @ ReverbNation Guineapig @ Spotify Guineapig @ X Guineapig @ YouTube |
PERTURBATOR
James “Perturbator” Kent has never been one for half measures. From the moment he emerged, he embodied the raw, visceral spirit of a resurrected retro-electronic sound, reconfiguring its codes with the ferocity of a revolutionary. But where others wallowed in the sugar-coated nostalgia of synthwave, Kent obliterated those clichés, leaving a scorched-earth legacy in his wake.Perturbator’s genesis dates back to 2012, when releases like “Night Driving Avenger”, “TERROR 404”, and “I Am the Night”propelled him to the forefront of the retro- electronic scene. Critics eagerly likened him to giants such as John Carpenter, Tangerine Dream, and Goblin, but Kent already had a vision that went beyond easy comparisons. His restless ambition led to a pivotal moment in 2014 with “Dangerous Days”, a magnetic and shadow-drenched masterpiece. By 2016, “The Uncanny Valley” had cemented his status, climbing the Billboard charts while plunging into even darker sonic depths. But for Kent, it still wasn’t enough. In 2017, “New Model” signaled a bold shift. Gone were the pop culture references and neon nostalgia. In their place, Kent channeled the icy austerity of Kraftwerk, the visceral intensity of Nine Inch Nails, and the claustrophobic textures of Lorn, determined to defy the expectations of a fanbase hungry for retro comfort. With “Lustful Sacraments”, Perturbator further solidifies his reputation as a visionary artist, unflinchingly exploring humanity’s inevitable decline. “This album is about bad habits, chronic dissatisfaction, and addiction,” Kent explains. “It’s an overall look at how we, as a species, lean toward self-destruction.” Musically, the album delves into the shadowy aesthetics of the 1980s and 1990s, blending gothic atmospheres with suffocating electronic textures and precision-cut production. After two years of relentless touring across the globe – sharing stages with HEALTH in the U.S. and joining forces with Carpenter Brut in Europe – Perturbator is poised to make 2025 a year to remember. He's joining forces for the first time with the well-known metal label Nuclear Blast Records, and as good news never comes alone, he's also announcing a European headline tour for November 2025, featuring Gost and Kaelan Mikla as support acts. 2025 won’t just be a year where you hear about Perturbator. It will be the year he once again redefines what it means to push the boundaries of music. Perturbator Website Perturbator @ Bandcamp Perturbator @ Facebook Perturbator @ Instagram Perturbator @ Spotify Perturbator @ X |
KÆLAN MIKLA
Kælan Mikla soars through the worlds of legends, fairy tales, magic and mysticism. Extraordinary soundscapes conjured by synths, dreamy vocals, screams and droning bass lines dominate and pull the listener ever deeper into their mythical world.The band, consisting of Sólveig Matthildur, Margrét Rósa, and Laufey Soffía, lets the complex interplay of musical and visual experience play a key role in their stagings, captivating audiences with a unique blend of post-punk, goth, and dream-pop influences, evoking a moody, otherworldly atmosphere inspired by the darkened landscapes of their native Reykjavík. The band first gained attention after winning a poetry slam competition, which led to them transforming their literary explorations into music. Their debut album, "Mánadans" (2014), introduced their signature atmospheric sound, and their subsequent albums, “Kælan Mikla” (2016), "Nótt eftir nótt" (2018), and "Undir Köldum Norðurljósum" (2021), showcased their progression into a darker, more refined sonic space. Kælan Mikla’s ethereal live performances have earned them a dedicated international following, and they have embarked on several major tours with artists such as Ville Valo, Alcest, and Chelsea Wolfe, whose audiences resonated deeply with Kælan Mikla's atmospheric and intense stage presence. Their tour with Ville Valo was particularly significant, as it introduced them to a wider audience of gothic and rock enthusiasts whilst touring with Chelsea Wolfe also aligned them with similarly dark, evocative acts, creating a synergy that made for unforgettable live experiences. A key milestone in their career was the BBC Radio 1 Maida Vale session in 2023, which served to showcase their evocative sound to a broader audience and highlighted their growing international appeal. This milestone underscored their position as a key force in the darkwave movement, bringing Icelandic gothic soundscapes to the global stage. On their upcoming album, the forces of nature will play a key role and the personification of their powers will shine through, “We look at Iceland's nature in the form of female figures who dominate the rugged landscape of lava, fog and cliffs. A powerful feminine energy ties the stories together in a balanced yet provocative way”. The elegant lyricism of their poetry builds mountain peaks shrouded in mist and mystery. Kælan Mikla’s otherworldly force continues to profoundly inspire audiences through a cathartic realm of emotional exploration. Kælan Mikla Website Kælan Mikla @ Bandcamp Kælan Mikla @ Facebook Kælan Mikla @ Instagram Kælan Mikla @ Spotify Kælan Mikla @ X Kælan Mikla @ YouTube |
GOST
Gost exist in the dark crack between black metal and the most shadowy end of electronic music. Since the release of the Radio Macabre EP at the start of 2013, and the remorseless digital nightmare of their Skull debut album six months later, Texas-based multi-instrumentalist, producer and main-brain James Lollar has become an increasingly singular force in music. Far more aggressive and sinister than the synthwave he’s often grouped with, Gost is a harsh and unique digital nightmare that takes the listener right into the heart of the abyss.Now Gost return with their sixth album, and their most exhilarating and dangerous-sounding work to date, Prophecy. It’s a record that perfectly reflects the horror and grim anxieties of a world beset with religious and political overreach, and progress “being rolled back to the fucking 1950s“. “It’s about an imaginative fall of the Western civilization, the biblical end of the world – the rise of Satan and Armageddon,” says James. “In America, there’s been a big rise of scared, reactive Christianity again, and almost like a re-emergence of the Satanic Panic. So it felt like an appropriate time to bring Satan back into things.“ Recorded alone in Texas during a burst of creativity at the end of 2022 (“I can’t put a song down once I start it, I’m too OCD, I have to finish it“), Prophecy is the perfect vessel for such things. Following the experimentation and more melodic touches of 2019′s Valediction, James says it also acts as something of a return to older roots, to recapture the spirit of Gost. “When Valediction came out, COVID hit, and I guess people weren’t so into art while the world was on its knees,” he says. “I also wanted to reconnect with some of my older fans who maybe didn’t feel that album so much. I wanted to go back in time and bring some of the older shit back, some of the older sounds.“ Indeed, on tracks like the industrial scrape of Death In Bloom, the doomy Decadent Decay and Golgotha‘s demonic pulse, it’s clear what he means. Throughout, he welds together elements of pulsing synthwave, the otherworldly nastiness of black metal, and the pound and snarl of Ministry at their most unhinged to create a whole that sounds genuinely dangerous, somewhere between metal and a rave in Hell. “If people listened to my music at a rave they would have a bad fucking trip,” laughs James. “But it’s a fun challenge to try to make metal with digital noises. I love processing on a computer and electronic equipment, and trying to make it sound raw. It’s a unique challenge, because everything in there is clean, and you’re using plug in distortion and things like that. It’s just a whole different realm than using pedals and amps and shit.” For an artist who drinks so heavily from the world of electronic and dance music – albeit at its most extreme edges – James says Gost hasn’t been taken in by that world at all. Instead, he’s built a home in metal, as seen when he was invited to tour with black metal legends Mayhem. “On the Mayhem tour, I ended up one night in a hotel bar talking to [bassist] Necrobutcher. I was thanking them for having me on the tour, and he’s like, ‘That was me, I wanted you on this tour.’ That’s fucking bizarre. But it’s cool, man,” says James. “It’s weird to be accepted by the metal community, it’s humbling, it’s honourable. It’s where I come from.” Whatever you call it, Gost have made something intense, cathartic, creatively rich and not quite like anything else out there. Watch them fulfil their Prophecy… Gost Website Gost @ Facebook Gost @ Instagram |
BATTLE BEAST
Famous for their energetic shows, incredibly catchy choruses and odd sense of humour, Battle Beast are destined for glory. Topping the Finnish charts for the fourth consecutive time and hitting #tt in Germany with their 2022 album “Circus of Doom”, the Helsinki-based sextet is looking and sounding stronger than ever.Ever since winning two major band competitons in 2010, Battle Beast have been busy on the road. Throughout the years, fans around the globe have grown to love the explosive combinating of shredding guitars, symphonic keyboards and the unique voice of frontwoman Noora Louhimo. Battle Beast were awarded the “Metal Album of the Year” award at Emma Gaala (Finnish Grammys) for both “Bringer of Pain” (2017) and “No More Hollywood Endings” (2019). Battle Beast Website Battle Beast @ Deezer Battle Beast @ Facebook Battle Beast @ Instagram Battle Beast @ SoundCloud Battle Beast @ Spotify Battle Beast @ X Battle Beast @ YouTube |
DOMINUM
And just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, it always can. The living dead are ready to emerge. Emerging seemingly out of nowhere, they give us a taste of what we all fear: a redefinition of what it means to be alive. But to be honest, with DOMINUM, that new life has already begun.DOMINUM deliver an epic metal show that takes the living on a journey into a world of the undead. The band combines the energy of metal with the drama and intensity of a horror movie, creating an intense and captivating reality. With songs that tell stories of zombies, survival, and an insatiable hunger for more, they bring their undead characters to life and provide a live experience that couldn't be more alive. Frankenstein is yesterday. Dominum Website Dominum @ Bandcamp Dominum @ Deezer Dominum @ Facebook Dominum @ Instagram Dominum @ Spotify Dominum @ TikTok Dominum @ YouTube |
MAJESTICA
MAJESTICA, the symphonic and power metal band from Sweden, is set to embark on an exciting new journey with their upcoming album Power Train, scheduled for release in February 2025. This spellbinding experience awakens sleeping dreams with powerful riffs and epic choruses in singles such as "Power Train," "Battle Cry," and "A Story in the Night." The enchantment rises like a breath of stars, propelling listeners into the heart of a fairytale world.Back in 2019, MAJESTICA made a significant impact in the metal community with their debut album, Above The Sky. This album showcased their signature blend of soaring melodies and powerful instrumentation, quickly gaining acclaim and amassing over 17 million streams. It established them as prominent players in the power metal scene, setting high expectations for their future work. In 2020 then, the band delighted fans with a unique release: a Christmas musical power metal album titled A Christmas Carol. This project beautifully intertwines the classic tale of Ebenezer Scrooge with their symphonic power metal style, drawing inspiration from artists like RHAPSODY and film composers such as Alan Silvestri and Danny Elfman. The album not only highlighted their musical versatility but also offered listeners a captivating retelling of the beloved story, complete with orchestral elements and theatrical storytelling. Musically, fans can expect real power metal with an even more symphonic and epic sound in Power Train. Tommy Johansson describes: "You can expect to hear an explosive and very melodic Power Metal album with alot of catchy melodies, epic guitars solos, strong power metal vocals with fast, but also heavy drums!”. The album features ten brand new tracks, which showcase especially musically a natural evolution and growth in style and skill compared to the previous albums, giving their fanbase exactly what MAJESTICA are known for and doing the logical next step in their career. "We’ve taken the melodies and the Power Metal elements from our first album and mixed it with some of the choir and orchestral arrangements from the last one - perfect mix!” adds Tommy. When it came to the process of recording and putting all the pieces together, the band did not change a lot compared to the last projects. Again the music was written, recorded, and produced by MAJESTICA themselves. "Like our previous albums this one is also produced by ourselves, and we recorded most parts in our new place ”Majestic Studios”. For mixing we went back to Jonas Kjellgren as we have been very happy with the sound of ’A Christmas Carol’ and ’Metal United’“ says bassist Chris Davidsson. Regarding the amazing artwork for Power Train, Chris explains: "For the artwork we teamed up with Jan Yrlund / Darkgrove design. It invites you to join this majepic ride of the Power Train, imagine standing there on the platform eagerly waiting, and you hear ”all aboard”!“. With Power Train launching on February 7th 2025, MAJESTICA continues to evolve their sound and connect with their ever-growing fanbase. Fans can catch MAJESTICA on tour in Europe in December 2024, and look forward to appearances at notable festivals in 2025, including Epic Fest, Metalfest and Time to Rock. They will also perform in the USA at 70,000 Tons of Metal and ProgPower, where fans can have legitimate hopes that MAJESTICA will also play a few new tracks live from Power Train. Majestica Website Majestica @ Deezer Majestica @ Facebook Majestica @ Instagram Majestica @ Spotify Majestica @ X Majestica @ YouTube |
