BENEDICTION - Release Lyric Video For 'A Carrion Harvest' + "Ravage Of Empires" Album Out Now + EU Tour Starts Today!

Today, British death metal legends, BENEDICTION, are celebrating the release of their highly anticipated new album Ravage Of Empires, not only with the coinciding release of a lyric video for the album's devastating opening track 'A Carrion Harvest', but also by kicking off their European tour with guests Junge Rot & Master tonight in Hamburg.

"Brace for impact, or be blown away" - these lines from the chorus of fast-paced ripper 'A Carrion Harvest' can be regarded as a condensed instruction manual for Ravage Of Empires. The album's opening track sets the stage for a demonstration of pure old-school death metal power in eleven chapters by one of the genre's pioneers, and its torch bearers to this day and age.

You can watch the lyric video for 'A Carrion Harvest' below or stream Ravage Of Empires in full at a service of your choice.

PURCHASE / STREAM RAVAGE OF EMPIRES:
https://benediction.bfan.link/ravage-of-empires

WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO FOR 'A CARRION HARVEST' Below:

ABOUT BENEDICTION

“Sometimes They Come Back” is not just the title of a horror movie based on a macabre tale by Stephen King, it is also a summary of what happened to UK death metal veterans BENEDICTION, yet you might like to add a “better than ever before”. While never officially disbanded, 2020’s Scriptures, the group’s eighth studio album achieved what is usually not an easy feat. It connected well with classics like Transcend the Rubicon (1993) and its immediate and memorable songwriting, the heavy-as-a-brick Grind Bastard (1998), and also saw legendary vocalist Dave Ingram return with his merciless roar and knack for morbid, twisted lyrics. After two albums with Dave Hunt on vocals, Scriptures was BENEDICTION’s first record in over a decade impressing with aggressive up-tempo attacks like ‘Iterations of I’ and ‘Rabid Carnality’ or the neck-breaking mid-tempo barrage of ‘Stormcrow’, songs that became live staples alongside ‘evergreens’ such as ‘I Bow to None’, ‘Magnificat’, ‘Subconscious Terror’ or ‘Vision in the Shroud’ in no time. With Scriptures, BENEDICTION even almost cracked Germany’s top ten by entering at a phenomenal #11 of the Official German Charts showing that the death metal veterans founded 1989 in Birmingham, England, offered an extremely well received sonic catharsis when due to the pandemic, people were locked down and pissed off.

With their brilliant new record Ravage Of Empires in tow, founding members and guitarists Darren Brookes and Peter Rew, longtime vocalist Dave Ingram, drummer Giovanni Durst, and Nik Sampson (bass) will travel far and wide once more. Already confirmed are the Tales of the Triple Death Tour with Jungle Rot and Master kicking off on album release date as well as confirmed appearances at Wacken Open Air and Maryland Deathfest. More to be announced soon!

Catch BENEDICTION live on their European release tour in April 2025 with guests Jungle Rot and Master. All confirmed live dates below.

TALES OF THE TRIPLE DEATH...
BENEDICTION
W/ JUNGLE ROT & MASTER

04.04.25    DE    Hamburg  Kultur Palast 
05.04.25    DE    Bad Oeynhausen. Druckerei 
06.04.25    NL    Sittard. Volt 
07.04.25    BE    Kortrijk. DVG 
08.04.25    LU    Esch-Belval. Rockhal 
09.04.25    DE    Mannheim. 7er Club 
10.04.25    DE    Obertraubling. Event Hall Airport 
11.04.25    DE    Geiselwind. Eventzentrum Strohofer 
12.04.25    AT    Salzburg. Rockhouse 
13.04.25    DE    Jena. F-Haus 
15.04.25    DE    Berlin. Lido 
16.04.25    DE    Essen. Turock 
17.04.25    CH    Aarau. KIFF 

TICKETS HERE: https://www.we-live.agency/shows 

More confirmed dates for 2025:
21.05.25   US    Brooklyn, NY. The Meadows 
22.05.25   US    Baltimore, MD. Maryland Deathfest
21.06.25   PT    Beja. Nada Fest 
25.06.25   CZ    Spalene Porici. Basinfirefest 
26.-27.07.25   ES    Cangas De Morrazo. Kanekas Metalfest 
30.07-02.08.25   DE    Wacken. Wacken Festival 
01.08.25   DE    Loebnitz. Full Rewind Fest

ELECTRIC WIZARD Announces ‘Crystal Meth’ Pressing Of ‘Black Magic Rituals And Perversions Vol. 1' Due Out May 2nd 2025 via Spinefarm/Witchfinder Records

Today, legendary British doom outfit, ELECTRIC WIZARD, announces the release of a special limited edition ‘Crystal Meth’ pressing of their current 2 disc live-to-tape album, ‘Black Magic Rituals and Perversions Vol. 1’ set for release on May 2nd via Spinefarm/Witchfinder Records.

Originally released in December 2024 and recorded into a 16-track tape machine, capturing their essence and their malevolence, 'Black Magic Rituals and Perversions Vol. 1' is as heavy as one would expect from The WIZARD.  

“It's raw as fuck,” boasts Jus. “It’s like a lost ’70s black metal demo rehearsal session or something. It’s raw, nasty, screaming in your face. I always promised ELECTRIC WIZARD was like rats in your face. This is verging on it.”   

Watch the Video for "Black Mass" Below.

As the COVID pandemic took hold in 2020, ELECTRIC WIZARD wondered if they might ever play live again. Out in the wilds of the English Westcountry where singer/guitarist Jus Oborn and guitarist Liz Buckingham live, the band descended into their crypt-like jam space to make a live album like no other.

“We’d been gigging for two years at that point, around America three times, going to Japan and Australia, and we were sounding pretty good by the end of it,” adds Jus. “When the pandemic happened we thought, ‘F**k it, maybe we’ll never play again.’ So we went into the jam room and played the songs to get them on tape to capture how we were playing at the time.” 

Opening with the enormous "Dopethrone", and taking in signature apocalyptic doom staples like "Witchcult Today," "Satanic Rites of Drugula," and the ever-destructive "Funeralopolis," the set here shows how powerful and dominating The Wizard can be.

Jus says he wanted to capture a feeling like that of Motörhead’s classic 'No Sleep 'til Hammersmith' (1981), or the sense from 'KISS’ ALIVE!' (1975) that you were getting a window into something, a world the band created. It’s also, he says, an opportunity for a band as big and cult-like as ELECTRIC WIZARD to bring something from metal’s dirty underbelly into the light, if only to freak out the unprepared. 

“We've always been trying to drag the underground into the overground,” offers Jus. “Rather than pretending to be playing some big stadium, arena show.” 

A soundtrack to the end of the world? Come this way, my fanatics. Electric F**king Wizard awaits… 

Pre-Order the ‘Crystal Meth’ Pressing of ‘Black Magic Rituals And Perversions Vol. 1' HERE

Tarja Releases "Diva (Live in Bucharest)" Video

Originally featured on Tarja's 2016 album The Shadow Self, "Diva" is a dramatic and powerful anthem that quickly became a fan favorite and one of the classics played on tour. This rendition, recorded in Bucharest at the spectacular Circus Life concert, showcases Tarja's signature vocal mastery, theatrical presence, and the grandeur of her live shows.

"There is a lovely memory behind 'Diva.' We were in Antigua and walking around the local harbor when we saw this old boat stored outside the water and that quickly inspired me to write a pirate themed song," Tarja says. "I playfully described the last walk of the 'Diva' on the ship before being pushed out by the rats on board. Any resemblance to reality is pure coincidence."

Access "Diva (Live in Bucharest)" below.

Recorded in January 2020, in Bucharest, Romania, the Circus Life show was one of a kind when Tarja performed in this very special "in the round" format. Two hours of powerful music featuring a setlist that spans Tarja's career, including all of her greatest hits such as "I Walk Alone," "Until My Last Breath," and "Innocence," as well as fan favorites like "Victim of Ritual" and "Demons In You," showcasing her evolution as an artist.

Featuring 16 accomplished musicians, including her brother Toni, and a diverse ensemble from various stages of her career, it was an extraordinary event. All songs were provided with new arrangements just for this concert, making the show a unique experience for the long-time Tarja fan, as well as the first-time listener.

Circus Life was recorded in one take, 100% live – no re-recordings, no overdubs, no special effects. Just pure, raw music.

Pre-order Circus Life HERE.

Originally included as bonus content in the strictly limited and sold-out Mediabook and Box Set of Tarja's 2022 Best Of: Living The Dream, the Circus Life concert is now available as a stand-alone limited 2CD+Blu-ray Digipak, featuring the full two-hour live show on both audio and video. It will also be released as a limited black 3LP Gatefold edition, including an LP-sized booklet and a Blu-ray softcase.

FORMATS:
*Ltd. 2CD+Blu-ray Digipak
*Ltd. 3LP Gatefold (black, 180g, incl. Photo-Booklet)
*Blu-ray softcase 

Seattle Hardcore Band Dragged Under Snap Back Into Action With Video for "AlgoRHYTHM"

Seattle hardcore band Dragged Under have dropped their full-throttle new single "AlgoRHYTHM."

"AlgoRHYTHM" smashes together all of the elements that make Dragged Under such a formidable force and returns to their roots of their breakout debut album The World Is In Your Way — crushing riffs, whiplash hooks, raging hardcore vocals, and pinpoint social observations.

"'AlgoRHYTHM' is a commentary on the current meta of music promotion," says vocalist Tony Cappocchi.

 He adds, "Scrolling endlessly on artist accounts online only to see the same uninspired dancing and lip syncing to their newest song until inevitably it hits and goes viral or they move on. It almost feels as if artists don't have to write good music, or don't challenge themselves to create something they're actually interested in, instead they're writing FOR the algorithms, with the end goal being 'success at any cost.'" 

Talking about the social media formatted video, he continues, "We tried to make a video that captures the absurdity and chaos that is the social media algorithm — you never know what you'll see next or why, and we wanted to mirror that sentiment with the visuals."

Watch the "AlgoRHYTHM" music video below.

"AlgoRHYTHM" follows their previous single, 2023's "Mad Punks," in which the band challenged authenticity. This came hot on the heels of their 2022 album, Upright Animals, which was released on Mascot Records. The band has already clocked up an incredible 70 million streams. Since the release of that album, Dragged Under have played crushing festival sets at Louder Than Life (US), Aftershock (US),  Slam Dunk (UK), Download (UK), 2000Trees (UK), Hellfest (France),  and Full Force (Germany).

They joined Blessthefall in the U.S. in support of their Hollow Bodies 10th Anniversary Tour, as well as runs with Beartooth, Sleeping with Sirens, Pierce the Veil, The Used, 10 Years, From Ashes to New, and The Word Alive, along with several headline tours across North America. They also tore through the UK and Europe, touring with The Ghost Inside and Landmvrks, as well as their own headline tour.

Their journey so far has seen them pick up support from SiriusXM Octane, Alternative Press, Metal Injection, BBC Radio 1, Rock Sound, Kerrang! magazine, Metal Hammer, Kerrang! Radio, as well as Amazon, Apple, and Spotify playlisting.

2025's line-up —the aforementioned Cappocchi [vocals], Sean Rosario [guitar], and new drummer Dylan Roy [also of Canadian metalcore heroes Oni] — is a snarling beast ready to be let off the leash. 

Finnish Powerhouse Vocalists LAURENNE/LOUHIMO Release Album Title Track + Music Video

LAURENNE/LOUHIMO - the collaboration between powerhouse Finnish vocalists Noora Louhimo (Battle Beast) and Netta Laurenne (Smackbound) – is pleased to share their new single and accompanying music video, “Falling Through Stars,” the title track of their sophomore album set for release on April 18th, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.

LAURENNE/LOUHIMO is one of the most exciting projects on Frontiers Music Srl and, in this second chapter, deliver a full force metal assaults with the power to blow you away. 

Talking about the new single, Netta Laurenne commented:

“Being both the title track and the opening track of the album, 'Falling Through Stars' is a melodic heavy metal song that sets a strong tone to what’s coming and what can be expected of the album. The song is about taking chances and trusting yourself. To stand up to what you believe in even if no one else does."

This new album from LAURENNE/LOUHIMO offers listeners a mix of heavy metal and hard rock tracks that explore the variety of the genre while maintaining a straightforward, easy-to-enjoy appeal.

'Falling Through Stars' has shades of all eras of Rainbow here and there, as well as Judas Priest and many other 80s icons of the style. All of these influences are expertly filtered into Netta and Noora's way of composing music. 

Watch the New Music Video for “Falling Through Stars” below.

The idea of a possible collaboration between Netta and Noora became a reality once the pandemic started and cleared out calendars for both artists. It felt like a perfect time to start the project and share all the things they have in common, from the same original town to similar idols and influences.

The main highlights of the album are, naturally, the vocal melodies created and shared by Netta Laurenne and Noora Louhimo.

'Falling Through Stars' has been once again produced at the Sonic Pump studio under the guidance of Nino Laurenne (who also played the guitars and contributed to the songwriting). The production is clear and powerful and gives the deserved value to the two stars here.

Songs like “Falling Through Stars,” “Damned,” “Loud And Clear,” or “Wait” are just a few of the highlights of a great album that will please all melodic metal fans!

Commenting on the album, Netta states:

“'Falling Through Stars' is the second collaborative album with Noora, and it gave us the opportunity to step in and out of our comfort zones to meet halfway. We had a great time writing and recording the album, which I co-produced with my husband, Nino Laurenne. This album takes us on a journey through both the past and future of metal. We’ve aimed to incorporate styles, instruments, and emotions spanning from the ’70s to the present day. It’s a dynamic album that showcases both raw power and delicate moments, and we’re excited to share it with everyone.”

Pre-Order 'Falling Through Stars' HERE

LAURENNE/LOUHIMO are:

Netta Laurenne - Lead & Backing Vocals

Noora Louhimo - Lead & Backing Vocals

Sampo Haapaniemi - Drums

Pasi Heikkilä - Bass

Vili Itäpelto - Keyboards & Programming

Mikko Kosonen - Solo/Acoustic/Lead & Additional Guitars

Nino Laurenne - Rhythm & Solo Guitars

Gridiron Drop "Still Playin' For Keeps (Big Umbrella Remix)" Feat. Daniel Son, Pro Dillinger, + Jay Royale

GRIDIRON — Matthew Karll, vocals; Will Kaelin, guitar and vocals; Xavier Wilson, guitar; Lennon Livesay, bass; and Tyler Mullen, drums — recently announced their new album Poetry From Pain. The album arrives May 30 via Blue Grape Music. It will be available on vinyl in several exclusive colorways. Pre-order it here. 

The band, which has been tipped by Stereogum for their "incendiary mosh riffs," have shared the latest single "Still Playin' For Keeps" (Big Umbrella Remix) Feat. Daniel Son, Pro Dillinger, + Jay Royale. 

The track is hardcore x hip-hop hybrid that blends bounce, beats, groove, and grit — like the legends did in the '90s. The result is a rhythmic, genre-smashing Molotov cocktail.

"'Still Playin' For Keeps' is a track that I've wanted to pull off for a long time," says Karll. "Gridiron riffs and some of my favorite current hip-hop artists on the same track. Hardcore and hip-hop meshing together into one entity is what this track is all about. 

Watch the visualizer below.

Gridiron, which originally formed as a pandemic project and have since grown into a full-fledged entity, features members of Never Ending Game, Simulakra, and Scarab, and connects the Philadelphia, Delaware, and Michigan areas.

Pushing every boundary to a breaking point, Gridiron will go to any extreme and then some. They follow quite possibly the most unpredictable playbook in the game. The band might flood the zone with a corpsepaint-smearing death metal barrage only to double back around for a victory lap narrated by blinged-out and braggadocios bars. Their hybridization of metal, hardcore, and hip-hop wouldn’t be out of place at either OZZfest 1997 or Rolling Loud 2027.

It's why the quintet have bulldozed their own path as a phenomenon with millions of streams and acclaim from Stereogum, Brooklyn Vegan, NO ECHO, and more.

Gridiron were born out of a series of COVID-era marathon Call of Duty sessions, which led to writing and recording together. Their musical pedigree spoke for itself with Will also in Never Ending Game, Xavier in Simulakra, and Tyler and Lennon in Scarab. Given their individual experiences, the guys instantly locked into a creative groove. Following the Loyalty At All Costs EP [2020] and Worldwide Brotherhood EP [2021], they dropped their first full-length, No Good At Goodbyes [2022]. Along the way, they also shared stages with everyone from Missing Link to Trapped Under Ice and have plenty of upcoming touring planned for 2025.

And now, Poetry From Pain is here and it slays.

Gridiron have a bunch of live shows on deck. All upcoming confirmed dates are below.

GRIDIRON ON TOUR:
4/11 — Richmond, VA — United Blood 
5/9 — Chicago, IL — Metro#
5/11 — Columbus, OH — Sonic Temple
5/13 — Atlantic City, NJ — Anchor Rock Club
5/14 — Virginia Beach, VA — Peabody's*
5/15 — Columbia, SC — New Brookland Tavern*
5/16 — Athens, GA — Georgia Theatre*
5/17 — Pensacola, FL — The Handlebar*
5/18 — Orlando, FL — Will's Pub*
5/19 — Surfside Beach, SC — The BrickHouse Lounge
5/20 — Raleigh, NC — Lincoln Theatre*
5/31-6/1 — Detroit, MI — Tied Down Detroit
6/21 — Rutherford, NJ — The Black Box at the Williams Center
#With Power Trip
*With Sanguisugabogg + 200 Stab Wounds

ABOUT BLUE GRAPE MUSIC:
In 2022, industry veterans David Rath and Cees Wessels formed Blue Grape Music. The name will be familiar to rock music fans, as it was the merchandise company also launched by Wessels, who founded the venerable and esteemed record label Roadrunner Records in the '80s. Roadrunner earned a reputation as an iconic label that turned hard rock and metal acts into household names for several decades under Wessels' tutelage. Rath spent 21 years in the A&R department at Roadrunner, working on albums by a variety of RIAA-certified and culturally important acts, including but not limited to Slipknot, Korn, Turnstile, Gojira, Coheed and Cambria, White Reaper, Slash, Trivium, Dream Theater, and more. When the label changed management and ownership, Rath guided the company and oversaw the signings of bands like Young the Giant and Vance Joy. Ultimately, the Blue Grape executive team is powered by experience and a roll-up-your-sleeves-and-get-your-hands-dirty, by-any-means-necessary work ethic. Blue Grape's inaugural signing was the two-time Grammy nominee Code Orange and since then, the label has gone on to sign San Francisco punks Spiritual Cramp, hardcore heavyweights GEL, and Baltimore sludge slingers GASKET, with several new signing announcements expected to be announced this year. Blue Grape is distributed globally by The Orchard.

Tallah Announce Third Album; Drop New Single & Music Video "What we know"

Unpredictable, uncompromising and unrelentingly original, Tallah have never been easy to categorise. The Pennsylvania-bred unit are back with a vengeance today as they announce brand new album ‘Primeval: Obsession // Detachment’, due out September 5th via Earache Records and drop “What we know”—the first single and opening track.

Listen to "What we know" HERE and watch the accompanying music video Below.

Pre-Order 'Primeval: Obsession // Detachment" HERE.

Simultaneously maximalist, raw and unfiltered, “What we know” sets the tone for what’s to come—an album unshackled by rules or expectations. Blending acoustic guitars, trap-metal 808s, string quartets, talkbox solos and more into one furiously cohesive piece, the track is a mission statement for the chaos ahead.

“The first song that was written for the album, and easily my #1 Tallah song to date,” says bassist Max Portnoy. “The amount of experimentation on this track paved the road for the tone of the whole record. From performing the first half of the song on acoustic guitars, to layering trap-metal 808’s over a string quartet with dissonant plucks in the chorus, to a trading guitar solo with a talkbox and a slide, you can find so many fun tools we incorporated, without it feeling disjointed. To have all that experimentation, in a driving and energetic track with a massive chorus, made for my favorite piece of work yet. It was a no-brainer to start the record with this one.”

‘Primeval: Obsession // Detachment’ is a concept album rooted in narrative and boundless in scope. Set on an alien planet, it follows Ana, a nurse, and Sheelah, an assassin—two strangers pushed to the brink of their morality by the same mysterious group of beings. Their journeys spiral through tests of belief, identity, and loyalty, building toward a finale laced with twists, dualities, and mirrored consequences. Architect of the exceptional and intricate world-building Tallah have become known for on each of their albums, vocalistJustin Bonitz shares

“Primeval Obsession/Detachment is a concept album taking place on an alien planet. The story follows two characters, Ana (a nurse) and Sheelah (an assassin). Both are approached by the same group of beings, who ask the main characters to each perform a task that will test their values and push their morals to the limit before ending with twist after twist. The album explores morality, duty, personal beliefs, duality, and understanding one's place in society.”

Tracked live in Michigan with longtime producer Josh Schroeder, the record captures Tallah in their purest, most unhinged form. No click. No edits. No polish. Just instinct and execution. It also sees founding member, Max Portnoy, making a major creative shift from drums to bass and Justin recording the vocals for the whole album in one, continuous take.

Providing further context, Max Shares

“For me, this album is Tallah finding our voice. During the writing process, no boxes were in place. No rules were set. Whatever felt uniquely us, that was what made the cut. I'm not sure how to even label this record's sound beyond 'Tallah'. It's weird. It's experimental. It's driving, and energetic. It's raw. We recorded live, every instrument at the same time, with no click. That's how we play shows, so why would we record differently? This album also marks my first recording dedicated to bass. I translated my drum knowledge to a new instrument and it was a huge creative breath of fresh air for me.”

For vocalist Justin Bonitz, the experience was equally intense.

"I practiced for months and was able to record the entire album in one huge, continuous take with no edits or redos or anything! And I was recovering from pneumonia! Nobody is gonna believe me! It was honestly the highlight of my entire vocal career. I was unsure if I could pull it off, but I went into the booth, grabbed an SM57, turned off the lights, and whatever happened happened. I think it feels more intimate and naked with all the flaws and imperfections, which is perfect for the raw, organic sound of this album."

From mirrored track titles to reversed riffs, ‘Primeval: Obsession // Detachment’ is Tallah at their most deliberate and deranged. It’s a labyrinthine listen made for close listening and repeat immersion. As with everything they do, the chaos is crafted, and the madness is methodical.

‘What we know’ is streaming now. ‘Primeval: Obsession // Detachment’ arrives September 5th via Earache Records.

ABOUT TALLAH

Emerging from Pennsylvania in 2018, Tallah fuse the percussive force of second-generation drummer-turned-bassist Max Portnoy with the unpredictable dexterity of vocalist and viral phenom Justin Bonitz and the phenomenal guitarist due of Derrick Schneider and Alex Snowden to form a sound that’s part brutalist nu-metal, part theatrical meltdown, and entirely their own. What began as a raw homage to the early-2000s metal they were raised on—Slipknot, Korn, Linkin Park—has since evolved into something far stranger and far more singular.

After making waves with their 2020 debut 'Matriphagy', a twisted concept album soaked in trauma and noise, the band were hailed by Knotfest as delivering “one of the best metal releases of the year” and by Metal Hammer as “leading the charge on the new wave of nu-metal.” The follow-up, 'The Generation Of Danger' (2022), saw them push their hybrid sound further into chaos—earning millions of streams, high-profile festival slots, and nominations at both the Heavy Music Awards and AIM Independent Music Awards.

But it’s on album three, 'Primeval: Obsession // Detachment' (out September 5, 2025 via Earache Records), that Tallah truly shatter what’s left of the mould. Decamping to Michigan to record the entire project live with longtime producer Josh Schroeder, the band abandoned edits, clicks, backing tracks, and rules. What remains is pure instinct—feral, volatile, and unrelentingly human.

Conceptually, the record unfolds across a sci-fi narrative that follows Ana, a nurse, and Sheelah, an assassin—two strangers manipulated by a shadowy force and driven to the edges of their morality. The mirrored structure, warped sonic callbacks, easter eggs and ambiguous lyrical layering reflect a story full of tests, dualities, and spiraling identity shifts.

To date, Tallah have clocked up 29.7 million Spotify streams and 6 million YouTube views.

TALLAH ARE

Vocals: Justin Bonitz

Guitar: Alex Snowden

Guitar: Derrick Schneider

Bass: Max Portnoy

Drums: Joel McDonald

DJ: Ivan Little

MAD INVASION (FEATURING SPECIAL GUEST MIKKEY DEE) ANNOUNCE NEW SINGLE OUT NOW AND ALBUM “CRACK IN THE SKY” OUT APRIL 25

MAD INVASION (featuring special guest Mikkey Dee) release their second album “Crack In The Sky” on April 25 via Border Music. The band’s combination of classic 70’s/80’s hard rock with a contemporary sound, delivers a distinct and unique listening experience that makes them stand out in the musical landscape. The new album is a natural progression of the band’s trademark sound with the exciting addition of also being available in a concept version.

“Crack In The Sky” is masterfully crafted and refined mix of melody and destruction, with sing-along choruses and hooky guitar melodies being contrasted by crushingly heavy guitar riffs on a solid bedrock of drums and bass.

NEW ALBUM “CRACK IN THE SKY” OUT APRIL 25

PRE-ORDER HERE

MAD INVASION have so far released 5 singles/videos from the new album “Welcome To My Show”, “Voodoo Queen”, “Heat Of The Night”, “Flesh & Blood”and the title track “Crack In The Sky”. One more single/video is planned in connection with the album release (after the album release).

Says guitarist and co-producer Hal Marabel of the new album, “It took a while for us to produce this album, as we wanted to get the songs right and further develop our sound. We experimented quite a bit and continuously iterated sound versions until we were fully satisfied that we had exactly the sound that we wanted. It was quite important for us to nail down the balance between the more traditional elements of classic rock with utilizing available technology and our creativity.”

Check out this studio report going through the set up and sound approach. 

Regarding the participation of Mikkey Dee on the album, Hal continues, “It was great to have Mikkey on board for this album, his trademark style of playing added an extra dimension to the songs andfinal product, and he’s a great guy to hang out with as well – not to mention all his fun stories to his touring days with al the bands he has played with.” 

Check out Mikkey’s promo for the band and new album.

FIND MAD INVASION HERE:

• Website

• Linktree

• Facebook

• Instagram

• Spotify

• YouTube

FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY - RELEASE LIVE MUSIC VIDEO FOR 'LOWER PURPOSE' + 2025 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR WILL KICK OFF ON APRIL 8TH!

Metal band FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY released their latest offering, The Nothing That Is, last fall. The seventh studio album which featured the singles 'Hostage', 'Savior Of None / Ashes Of All', 'Lower Purpose', and 'Red Horizon', explores the darkest aspects of the human condition. Today, the band unveils the live music video for the track 'Lower Purpose'. Watch the video which was filmed and edited by Cameron Nunez, below.

Stream/purchase the album at https://ffaa.bfan.link/the-nothing-that-is

FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY is kicking off their 2025 North American tour on April 8th! The 31-date trek includes dates with ARCH ENEMY on their 'North American Blood Dynasty 2025 tour' with BAEST and THROWN INTO EXILE, as well as headline shows with MUGSHOT, TRACHEOTOMY, and GATES TO HELL.

Tickets for all upcoming shows are available now. For additional information, visit: https://fitforanautopsy.co/pages/tour

04.08 Louisville, KY @ Portal ^
04.09 St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag ^
04.10 Oklahoma City, OK @ Beer City Music Hall ^
04.11 Lubbock, TX @ Jake's Sports Cafe ^
04.12 Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater ^
04.14 San Diego, CA @ The Observatory North Park ~ 
04.15 Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern ~ 
04.16 San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom ~ 
04.18 Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater ~ 
04.19 Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo ~ 
04.20 Vancouver, BC @ The Pearl ~ 
04.22 Edmonton, AB @ Union Hall ~ 
04.23 Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall ~ 
04.25 Salt Lake City, UT @ The Complex ~ 
04.26 Denver, CO @ Summit ~ 
04.28 Minneapolis, MN @ The Fillmore Minneapolis ~ 
04.29 Chicago, IL @ The Vic Theatre ~ 
04.30 Detroit, MI @ The Majestic Theatre ~ 
05.02 New York, NY @ Palladium Times Square ~ 
05.03 Worcester, MA @ The Palladium ~ 
05.05 Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of The Living Arts ~ 
05.06 Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore Silver Spring ~ 
05.08 Montreal, QC @ L'Olympia ~
05.09 Toronto, ON @ Queen Elizabeth Theatre ~ 
05.10 Stroudsburg, PA @ The Sherman Theater ~ 
05.11 Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple #
05/12 Virginia Beach @Elevation 27^
05.13 Charlotte, NC @ The Underground ~ 
05/14 Madison, TN @ Eastside Bowl *
05.16 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade ^
05.18 Daytona, FL @ Welcome To Rockville #

~ - w/ ARCH ENEMY, BAEST, THROWN INTO EXILE
^ - w/- MUGSHOT, TRACHEOTOMY
*- w/- GATES TO HELL, MUGSHOT, TRACHEOTOMY
#- w/- FESTIVAL DATES

About:
FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY’s acclaimed 2022 album On What the Future Holds was the band’s highest-charting release to date, becoming the first of their six full-lengths to reach the Top 25 of the Billboard 200. But while some musicians would take such an achievement as a cue to duplicate whatever worked last time, or maybe even tailor their sound to boost its commercial appeal, the band—vocalist Joe Badolato, guitarists Will Putney, Patrick Sheridan, and Tim Howley, bassist Peter Spinazola, and drummer Josean Orta—simply continued to evolve along their own path. The Nothing That Is, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY’s seventh and latest album (and third for Nuclear Blast), bears no sign whatsoever of commercial concession or rehashed past glories. Instead, the ten-song album finds the band exploring moodier textures and deeper emotions that add new power and dynamics to their already brutal and complex music, while also completely tuning out the ambient noise of passing musical trends and the expectations of the outside world. Produced by Putney at his Graphic Nature Audio studio in Kinnelon, New Jersey, The Nothing That Is is an album filled with anger, frustration, and crushing despair. Songs like "Hostage", "Red Horizon", "Lower Purpose", and the pummeling title track grapple with the horrors that the human race has unnecessarily inflicted upon the world, while the epic, introspective closer "The Silver Sun" reflects bitterly upon our uncertain future. Built to be listened to in its entirety in a single sitting, The Nothing That Is flows like the gripping soundtrack to a documentary film of our increasingly dystopian existence. A ringing wake-up call for humanity and a thoroughly intense listening experience, The Nothing That Is brims with both aggression and melody, it's bracing music is delivered with the confidence of a band that has honed its skills and forged its sense of purpose through fifteen-plus years of all-out live shows. Sufficiently secure of their place in the metal firmament to let their music go wherever feels right for a particular song, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY have delivered what may well be the greatest album of their career.

FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY ARE:
Joseph Badolato | Vocals
Patrick Sheridan | Guitar
Timothy Howley | Guitar
Will Putney | Guitar
Peter Blue Spinazola | Bass
Josean Orta Martinez | Drums

GREYWIND Begins a New Chapter for 2025 with Emo Anthem "Acid Rain" + Music Video

The next chapter of Irish brother-sister duo GREYWIND begins now. Today, Steph and Paul O’Sullivan mark a bold new era with the release of their first single under FLG, the cinematic emo anthem "Acid Rain." A pulse-pounding, melody-driven powerhouse, this track is destined to ignite crowds while purging a few demons along the way. The new single is accompanied by a music video, available to view below.

Steph comments on "Acid Rain":

“This song is about being in a toxic situation and feeling like everything is crashing down around you, which we know all too much about.”

Paul adds:

“As soon as we finished writing ‘Acid Rain,’ we knew it had to be the first song to start the new era of GREYWIND. It’s cinematic, dramatic, and has everything we love about music in it. We wanted it to feel like a movie and you’re now in our world.” 

Watch the Music Video for "Acid Rain"

Inspired by great emo pop originators like Jimmy Eat World, Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance, GREYWIND are on a mission to bring the genre into the future with an insatiable energy and armed with a never-ending supply of hooks. The duo’s flair for the dramatic and knack for an earworm melody is seeing them build their own musical world, to which they’re inviting their dedicated following, along with any unsuspecting listener lucky enough to arrive at the doors of their universe. 

GREYWIND’s poignantly visceral ‘Antidote’ EP was released last year via Version III and acted as a stepping stone from their debut album, ‘Afterthoughts’ released in 2017 via Spinefarm, to this new era. The EP was jointly produced by Sam Guaiana (Neck Deep, Silverstein, Like Pacific, Intervals) and The Wonder Years guitarist Casey Cavaliere. It was mastered by Mike Kalajian (Saosin, New Found Glory, Circa Survive). Singles from the EP received praise from the likes of Kerrang!, Brooklyn Vegan and Hot Press, as well as spins on BBC Radio 1 and Kerrang! Radio. 

Recently seen live in the UK with the likes of The Wonder Years, Madina Lake and As December Falls, GREYWIND are also making a splash internationally, having toured the US multiple times last year with Tiny Moving Parts, 408, Boys of Fall and Telltale. 

H.E.A.T Release Video for "Running to You"

With just three weeks to go until their new album Welcome to the Future is released, hard rock sensation H.E.A.T unleash their latest powerful anthem."

Running to You" – the newest single from the upcoming record — arrives alongside an explosive music video.

Listen to the new track "Running to You" here.

Watch the new video below.

A euphoric ode to relentless passion, "Running to You" is another instant classic from a band firing on all cylinders. Once again, the band has teamed up with acclaimed director Patric Ullaeus (Europe, Arch Enemy, Children of Bodom) to deliver a music video that perfectly captures the relentless, in-your-face, '80s metal fury that's as raw and unapologetic as only H.E.A.T can deliver.

With Welcome to the Future set for release on April 25 via earMUSIC, the album is already receiving high praise.

International music press reviews have given the album a perfect 10/10, with the album being called H.E.A.T's "strongest album to date" (Hardline), described as "fresh as never before" (Classic Rock), and reassuring the world that "the future of rock music is in safe hands" (Powerplay).

Welcome to the Future is available for pre-order now in multiple formats: CD Jewelcase, black vinyl, limited-edition Neon Orange vinyl, and digital.

Access the new album here.

PHOTO CREDIT: Marcel Karlsson

OBSIDIAN TONGUE Announces New Full-Length, Shares First Single, ”Orphaned Spiritual Warrior”

Progressive black metal duo OBSIDIAN TONGUE will be releasing their fourth full-length album, 'Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn,' on May 30, 2025 via Profound Lore Records! To celebrate the forthcoming opus, the band is now sharing the devastating new single, "Orphaned Spiritual Warrior," which can be heard below.

Comprised of multi-instrumentalist Brendan Hayter (Thrawsunblat/Obsequiae live) and drummer Raymond Capizzo (Falls Of Rauros/Panopticon live), OBSIDIAN TONGUE returned to the all-analog Mystic Valley Studio, where their first two records were made, to print their Covid-era home sessions onto two-inch tape. Mixed and mastered in the analog domain as well by Alex Garcia-Rivera, 'Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn' boasts a unique and unmistakable sonic force amidst the modern digital landscape; created with a total absence of click tracks, quantization, or sound replacement of any kind. 

Hayter comments on the single, "The first track we arranged for 'Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn' practically named itself - 'Orphaned Spiritual Warrior.' It was clearly an album opener, as complex and chaotic as it is.

"It felt like being dropped into a new world you knew you didn’t belong in - and everyone and everything around you knows it too. You vaguely remember that you came from somewhere else, that you had a dignified purpose there, and that there were people way beyond this place that understood you…but the worst part is you don’t know if they’re looking for you, if they’re trying to get you back. All you know is a sense of abandon and mortal danger…every step is heavy with some sort of impostor syndrome and every movement feels uncoordinated, jagged, and bound for disaster. You once could fight, but in this place it feels like trying to fight off an attacker in a dream and you can’t make contact or move your arm fast enough no matter how hard you try. All there’s left to do is find some sort of shelter, try to find your center, try to unlock the memories, and fight off the strife. 'Set ablaze this world to pass onto the next.'"

'Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn' can now be pre-ordered HERE.

Lauded as USBM’s best kept secret, Obsidian Tongue has been on a steadfast artistic journey since their formation in 2009. They’ve never failed to retain the original mission of playing raw and cathartic melodic black metal as they journeyed further into psychedelic and progressive territories with each release following 2012’s self-released debut 'Subradiant Architecture.' While their debut won a passionate following for its perfect union of the grimy and the epic sides of black metal, it was 2013’s 'A Nest of Ravens in the Throat of Time' (Hypnotic Dirge Records) and its psychedelic dark metal that established their name more into the scene and showcased their ambitious nature even more.

2015’s 15-minute single 'The Lakeside Redemption,' with its progressive, haunting, dreamlike and triumphant elements, set the groundwork for their third full length, which took several years of tireless effort to complete. Released in Jan of 2020, 'Volume III' (Bindrune Recordings) was clearly the band’s magnum opus but all plans to support the album on the road became thwarted due to the pandemic. So all there was left to do was write even more music. This gradually led to a creation of not one, but three works: the first being 2024’s much-delayed self-released digital EP 'The Stone Heart' and the second being their fourth full-length album 'Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn' to be released via Profound Lore Records on May 30, 2025. 

In the summer of 2024, Obsidian Tongue, comprised of vocalist/guitarist/bassist Brendan Hayter (Thrawsunblat/Obsequiae live) and drummer Raymond Capizzo (Falls Of Rauros/Panopticon live) returned to the all-analog Mystic Valley Studio, where their first two records were made, to print their Covid-era home sessions onto two-inch tape. Mixed and mastered in the analog domain as well by Alex Garcia-Rivera, 'Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn' boasts a unique and unmistakable sonic force amidst the modern digital landscape; created with a total absence of click tracks, quantization, or sound replacement of any kind. 

The progressive black metal journey that is 'Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn' takes off immediately with the wrathful sounds of “Orphaned Spiritual Warrior” and “Snakeskin Tunnel Colony,” easily the band’s two heaviest tracks to date. These flow directly into the apocalyptic title track, and onto the vulnerable and surreal sounds of “To Forgive Oneself” leading into the acoustic instrumental “…And Still They Dream.” This dream ends with the triumphant “Theater of Smoke & Wind,” a true psychedelic black metal classic that still evokes some of the original feeling found on the band’s 'Subradiant Architecture' debut.

Sixteen years into the band’s existence, Obsidian Tongue clearly show no signs of running out of new ways to alter their sound - song by song, album by album.

Lineup:

Brendan Hayter - Guitar, Vocals, Bass, Synth

Raymond Capizzo - Drums

Recorded @ Mystic Valley Studio

Mixed & Mastered by Alex Garcia-Rivera

Photos by: Stephanie Sintra

Pre-Orders: https://linktr.ee/obsidiantongue

Recommended for Fans Of: Agalloch, Blut Aus Nord, Dødheimsgard, Wolves in the Throne Room

Links:

Instagram

Facebook

Apple Music

Spotify

Bandcamp

Rise Above Relics Announces An Exciting Release! Compilation Album 'Yeah Man, It’s Bloody Heavy!!"

Certain ideas in life seem great in principle, though having the time, dedication, and perseverance to bring them to fruition, often renders them left well alone.

If Rise Above Relics had subscribed to that way of thinking, then this Incredible compilation of brain-mincing, hard 'n' heavy sounds from the golden era of the late 60s/early 70s of sub-underground British rock would simply not exist.

The mission was to pull together the heaviest and nastiest sounding unreleased recordings by the most obscure UK bands they could track down after seeing their names listed in the back pages of 1970s music weeklies, old flyers, posters, fanzines, thank you lists, etc. With often just a name to go on, hundreds of hours were spent (often fruitlessly) trying to track down likely candidates.

Of course, finding the bands was often only the start, as to get a useable track relied upon a kindly band member trusting their unique artifacts to a crazy record label they barely knew. Even after this, many of the acetates required microscopic surgery to fix an annoying skip, and all the reel-to-reel tapes used required careful baking to avert the dreaded 'sticky-shed syndrome'.

However, the results speak for themselves: ‘Yeah Man, It’s Bloody Heavy’ is simply the coolest, most unique and uncompromising collection of heavy UK nuggets ever to be released.

But Rise Above Relics isn't done yet; this is just the first volume of a major new series. And remember, sons and daughters of the mighty Sabbath: always keep it BLOODY HEAVY!!

Watch a Sampler for 'Yeah Man, It's Bloody Heavy!!'

'Yeah Man, It's Bloody Heavy' is a collection of extremely obscure but equally amazing tracks from the true underground of early 70s British HEAVY Rock. A time when Black Sabbath were kings of the scene. Compiled and curated by Lee Dorrian and collector friend Austin Matthews for Rise Above Relics, only two of these tracks have been previously released (on very low-key CD releases), the rest are completely unknown.

The CD version includes a detailed booklet, and the heavyweight vinyl includes an insert as well.

Check Out Crimson Earth's "Heathen Woman" from 1972 HERE

WEDNESDAY 13 Drops Ghoulish Music Video for New Single "In Misery"

Currently hitting venues across North America on his "There's No Such Thing As Monsters" tour celebrating 20 years of Transylvania 90210, world-renowned fearsome frontman WEDNESDAY 13 returns with the second single cut from his new full-length album, Mid Death Crisis, set to drop on April 25 via Napalm Records.

Following acclaimed, ultra-catchy latest single "When The Devil Commands," brand new second single "In Misery" is a spooky rager, scratching the itch of both goth-punk and sleaze metal while deftly ebbing and flowing amid heavy genre influences and an earworm hook!

WEDNESDAY 13 comments about "In Misery":

"There are too many love songs out there about people confessing their love to one another. I wanted to do the exact opposite, and confess the misery of being in a bad relationship. Hopelessly, madly in misery with someone. I see it every day, people miserable together. I see it almost as much as I see people happily together. Some people enjoy misery, and this song is about enjoying that misery as much as someone in love."

Watch the "In Misery" Music Video

After returning in 2022 with his widely-acclaimed full-length album Horrifier (#8 US Top New Artist Albums), as well as several major tours supporting his solo work and celebrated Murderdolls reunion shows, the Duke of Spook is back with Mid Death Crisis! WEDNESDAY 13 dubs the album as a fun, campy, "leave-your-brain-at-the-door" rager and a true return to his hard-rocking roots! Produced by guitarist Alex Kane (Life, Sex & Death, Enuff Z'Nuff, Antiproduct) and mixed by Steve Evetts (The Dillinger Escape Plan, Prong, DevilDriver) the album oozes infectious 80s sleaze metal energy.

Eerie introductory track "There's No Such Thing As Monsters" vibrates with electricity before industrial-tinged "Decease and Desist" kicks in full blast.WEDNESDAY 13's trademark crooning wastes no time entering the fold as he careens through the high-octane horror anthem, before tracks like "Rotting Away" and "Blood Storm" ensnare with metallic goth-punk energy that will have crowds moving wall to wall. Featuring Faster Pussycat's Taime Downe on guest vocals, standout heavy rocker "No Apologies" is a fast-romping exorcism of toxic demons, while the triumphant mini-murder ballad "Decapitation" riles up listeners with a catchy lead riff before making a hard left into a theatrical bridge straight out of a sinister '60s sock hop! Ragers like "In Misery," "Xanaxtasy" and "Sick and Violent" explore various genres of metal, injecting the album with elements of gripping heaviness for any listener, while downtempo stunners "I Hurt You" and "My Funeral" approach a more pensive territory. 

Although its title, Mid Death Crisis, may suggest otherwise, the Duke of Spook shows zero signs of stopping on this refreshingly powerful and multi-faceted entry into the WEDNESDAY 13 hall of horrific history!

Pre-Order Mid Death Crisis here.

The North American "There's No Such Thing As Monsters" tour kicks off Friday, March 14 in Las Vegas, NV. The tour celebrates 20 years of Transylvania 90210and will include a "best of" Murderdolls set! 

See below for all tour dates, including the following UK/EU "Summer Blood Storm" headline run.

WEDNESDAY 13 ON TOUR:
WITH STITCHED UP HEART, DEAD RABBITS, + I YA TOYAH:
3/28—San Antonio, TX—Paper Tiger
3/29—Dallas, TX—Trees
3/30—Houston, TX—Warehouse Live
4/01—Birmingham, AL—Saturn
4/02—Knoxville, TN—Open Chord
4/04—Atlanta, GA—The Loft—Centerstage
4/05—Raleigh, NC—Chapel Of Bones
4/06—Greenville, SC—Radio Room
4/08—Baltimore, MD—Zen West
4/09—Leesburg, VA—Tally Ho
4/10—Sayreville, NJ—Starland Ballroom
4/12—Hampton Beach, NH—Wallys
4/13—Montreal, QC—Foufounes Electrique
4/15—Toronto, ON—Lee's Palace
4/16—Buffalo, NY—Rec Room
4/18—New York, NY—The Gramercy
4/19—Stroudsburg, PA—Sherman Theater
4/20—Lititz, PA—Mickey's Black Box
4/22—Pittsburgh, PA—Crafthouse
4/23—Cleveland, OH—Mercury
4/25—Columbus, OH—The Kings Of Clubs
4/26—Flint, MI—Machine Shop
4/27—Cadillac, MI—Venue Event Center
4/29—Joliet, IL—The Forge
4/30—Madison, WI—The Annex
5/2—Denver, CO—Oriental Theater
5/3—Colorado Springs, CO—Black Sheep

WEDNESDAY 13 IS:
Wednesday 13 — Lead Vocals + Guitar
Jack Tankersley — Guitar
Troy Doebbler — Bass
Mike Dupke — Drums
Ashes — Lead Guitar

Doom Legends CANDLEMASS Reveal Heavy Title Track From New EP "Black Star"

Grammy-nominated doom pioneers CANDLEMASS have unveiled the title track of their upcoming EP, Black Star, out May 9 via Napalm Records! The EP impressively marks the 40th anniversary of the legendary band. 

"Black Star" seamlessly merges haunting melodies with deeply introspective lyrics, brought to life by the inimitable voice of Johan Längqvist. Written by genre-defying mastermind Leif Edling, it delves into themes of existential struggle, temptation, and the allure of darkness — an intense atmosphere imbued with Candlemass' signature sound. The single arrives with a dark, atmospheric music video.

Place your pre-orders on the new EP now and check out the video below!

Candlemass comments, "'Black Star' is the big heavy track. Contains a bit of everything, Melodic verse, monolithic riff, up-tempo Sabbathy mid part, grand ending a la Rainbow!."

Watch the official music video for "Black Star".

Swedish godfathers of epic doom Candlemass honor their 40th anniversary of pioneering the genre with a four-track EP, Black Star. Packed with canyon-deep riffs, the genre-defying band unveils two brand-new songs alongside two cover versions of timeless classics.

Following the title track, the second original song, "Corridors Of Chaos," marks a true old school instrumental containing both classic metal riffing and stunning guitar playing by Lars Johansson, showcasing the band's mastery of dynamics. Adding to this tribute, Candlemass delivers a cover of Black Sabbath's iconic "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath," taking listeners back to 1973. This is followed by their rendition of Pentagram's classic "Forever My Queen," further cementing Candlemass' remarkable contribution to shaping the genre into what it is today.


Black Star will be available in the following formats:
*1LP Gatefold BLACK ORANGE SPLATTER (incl. vinyl booklet (12pp), A3 poster, tote bag) – Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive, strictly limited to 400 copies
*1LP Gatefold BLACK
*1CD Digisleeve
*Digital Album

More info about Candlemass on tour in Europe here. 

CANDLEMASS ARE:
Johan Länquist — Vocals
Lars Johansson — Lead Guitar
Mappe Björkman — Rhythm Guitar
Leif Edling — Bass
Janne Lind — Drums

CHANGELING Releases Explosive Title Track from Debut Album

Fretless guitar visionary Tom “Fountainhead” Geldschläger is known for his work in Obscura’s Akróasis era, his live work with Defeated Sanity, Belphegor and many others. Now, he's spearheading his very own project: Changeling.

Together with core band members Morean (Alkaloid, Dark Fortress), Arran McSporran (Virvum, Vipassi) & Mike Heller (ex-Fear Factory, Malignancy), Changeling stands at the forefront of a new era for progressive death metal. Following the release of their debut album’s first two singles - the impossibly heavy "Abyss" and the blistering psychadelic melodies of "Falling in Circles"  - today, they're releasing its reality-warping, seven-minute epic of a title track.
 

Watch the visualizer for "Changeling" below.

Changeling is out April 25th via Season of Mist.

Pre-order & Pre-save here

https://orcd.co/changelingchangeling
 

Can't wait for Changeling? Listen to the debut album two weeks before it comes out. Join the Bandcamp Listening Party and chat with Tom Fountainhead while listening to all 10 transformative tracks.

Changeling Bandcamp Listening Party
Thursday, April 10 @ 1 pm Eastern Time 

RSVP
https://changelingofficial.bandcamp.com/ 

The title track serves as the turning point in Changeling's psychedelic narrative. Inspired by Lovecraftian horror, existential philosophy, and the bizarre hallucinations of a consciousness torn apart, its progressive structure mirrors the chaotic beauty of the lyrics, pulling you into an unsettling yet mesmerizing new dimension through the use of microtonal synthesizers, ritualistic vocals, oriental percussion and a full choir.

“Void and vengeance shall beget
A child from below
A changeling of clandestine soul
Comes usurping the holiest of hearts
And no one shall know”

Morean sings as an intricate-but-catchy fusion of progressive death metal, avant-garde jazz, and world music weave into a surreal and immersive tapestry. The dissonant harmonies distort reality, producing an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.

“This song came from a few musical themes that I had written on the oud", Geldschläger explains. "From those few humble notes, it turned into quite the monster - a monster where I think everybody in the core band shines equally. At that point in the album's story, we're beginning to take the frame-work of tech/prog death metal into uncharted territory, so it seemed appropriate to give this song a unique, winding structure where a shorter pumping mid-tempo banger is book-ended by intensely psychedelic blast-beat driven parts that are building towards a quasi-black metal frenzy at the end. It also has some of my favorite Morean lyrics of all time. Not only does he paint a vivid picture of a strange, unfamiliar dimension through his signature wordplay. He also quite literally takes us there in the song's mid-section breakdown, were we envisioned a strange jungle ritual evoking some dark cosmic entity, somewhere between Lovecraft and Peter Jackson's King Kong.

And, as usual, the man took it to another level by adding a multitude of eery, slithering voices, which make the song feel almost like it's breathing. Oh, and this piece also has some of my favorite RIFFS (in capital letters) that I've ever written, as well as some quite extreme guitar shenanigans that I called 'layers of cosmic horror' during production. Get out your best headphones for this one!”

The visualizer for Changeling was created by Martin Matiasovic aka Shaped in Dreams (@martinmatiasovic)

Changeling blends progressive metal, death metal, jazz-fusion, world music and complex orchestration into an hour-long submersion into the subconscious. Players from around the world can follow Tom Fountainhead's lead with a new series of Changeling transcription books. Tom wrote the approx. 500 page guitar transcription book himself, while core bandmate Arran McSporran transcribed the 75 page edition for bass. 

Both the guitar and bass transcription books will come out alongside the album on April 25th. The massive complete transcription book - which includes guitar, bass, drums (transcribed by Fenix Gayed), orchestral arrangements, vocals, lyrics and detailed liner notes from Tom - will come out on May 23rd, the same day as the Dolby Atmos mix of Changeling.

Each transcription book will be available both as a physical book and digitally through Guitar Pro or as a PDF. All physical copies will be personally signed and include a free download of the digital version.

Pre-order: https://changelingmerch.bigcartel.com/

In a significant development in early 2024, Fountainhead, now branded under the name CHANGELING for his new project and album, signed with the label Season of Mist. This venture marks a new chapter in Tom’s career, amplifying his visionary approach to music. Accompanied by an all-star band featuring members from Fear Factory, Alkaloid, and Virvum, the project Changeling showcases a 60-minute concept album that takes all aspects of Tom’s artistry to new heights.

The album, sharing its name with the project, blends progressive metal, death metal, jazz/fusion, and world music, enriched with complex orchestrations by a 50-piece ensemble of guest musicians. It includes the eagerly anticipated “Part 2” to his renowned composition “Weltseele,” an orchestral metal epic from Obscura’s billboard-chart-entering “Akroasis” album, which broadly introduced Fountainhead to the metal community in 2016.

Core Lineup:
Tom Fountainhead (ex-Obscura, Amogh Symphony, Belphegor, Defeated Sanity) - Fretted & fretless electric & acoustic guitars, oud, keyboards, composition and arrangements.
Mike Heller (ex-Fear Factory, Malignancy, Raven) - Drums.
Arran McSporran (Vipassi, Virvum) -  Fretless bass.
Morean (Alkaloid, Dark Fortress) - Lead vocals & lyrics.

Guest Musicians:
Bill Hudson (Trans-siberian Orchestra, Doro, I am Morbid) - Guest guitar solo
Jason Gobel (ex-Cynic, ex-Monstrosity)- Guest guitar solo
Andy Laroque (ex-Death, King Diamond) - Guest guitar solo
Yatziv Caspi (ex-Orphaned Land) - Tabla, hangdrum, dabouka, riq & shakers
Ally Storch (Subway To Sally)- Violins, viola & cello
James Dorton (The Faceless, NeObliviscaris, Black Crown Initate) - Spoken words
Alexander Kerski (Vianova)- Backing & harmony vocals
Matthias Alexander Preisinger - Piano and glockenspiel, violins & viola
Martin Matiasovic - Horns & Wagnerian Tube
Jan Ferdinand - Vibraphone & marimba
Chris Rützel - Flutes
Ivar Ludvig Nitzler - Cello
Shiho Murano - Tuba
Juliane Erding - Wagnerian tube & horn
Eduard Cortez - Wagnerian tube & horn
Tillmann Schulz  - Wagnerian tube & horn
Ava Bonam - Female vocals
Moran Magal - Piano
Cydney McQuillan-Grace, Lauren Gill, Shannon Bedford, Sara Robalo; Tenor and Bari - Ben Francis, John Schaffer,  Alice Williams, Cyd McQuillan-Grace; Alto - Lauren Gill, Sara Robalo; Tenor and Bass - James Schouten & John Schaffer - Choir vocals
Krassimir Jossifov - Trumpet
Brandt Attema - Trombones & bass trombones
Kristian Petkov - Bassoon
Stefan Prost - Church organ
Seonghyeon Park - Clarinet
Arnfried Falk - Oboe
Rouven Haliti - Upright bass
Dalai Cellai - Cello

Recording Studio:
FountainheadHQ, Hellersounds, Saforill, Klanghafen, Landesmusikakademie Berlin, Musikhochschule Carl-Maria-Von-Weber, Muziek Studio Beeld, Sonictrain.

Production Credits:
Produced & Engineered by Tom Fountainhead.
Mixed by Tom Fountainhead at FountainheadHQ.
Mastered by Leon Schmidt at his home studio & FountainheadHQ.

Cover Art:
Aaron Pinto (Gutslit) / KidSquidy
 
Photography:
Alexander Kerski / Comicsans_ultra

Pre-save & Pre-order: https://orcd.co/changelingchangeling
 

Follow Fountainhead & Changeling:
Website:http://www.thefountainhead.de
Facebook:http://facebook.com/tomfountainheadgeldschlaeger
Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/changeling.official
Bandcamp:https://changelingofficial.bandcamp.com/
YouTube:http://www.youtube.com/fountainheadtv
Apple Music:https://music.apple.com/artist/changeling/294821510
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/4MbRUvwQcEBzryOhWMHkvV

Booking Contact:
Tom Fountainhead
thefountainhead@gmx.net

Available Formats:
Digital Download
CD Digipak
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - Crystal Clear w/ Red Splatters
2x12" Coloured Vinyl Gatefold - White w/ Red Splatters

Archetypes Collide Drop Lyric Video for New Single "The Problem"

Arizona rock band ARCHETYPES COLLIDE — Kyle Pastor (vocals), Brandon Baker and Jared Knister (guitars), Ky Sanders (bass), and Tyler Flamm(drums) — quickly established themselves as a band unafraid to blur the lines between safety and innovation in heavy music. In their songs, soaring vocals, melodies, and heavy grooves swirl with passion and precision. They closed out 2024 by releasing the single "Hollow High." Watch the visualizer here.

They have released the lyric video for the new single "The Problem."

Watch it Below.

On "The Problem," the band has cranked the knobs as far as they can go It's powered by a gnarly riff that comes roaring from the '00s heavy music heyday. But while the song takes inspo from that era, this ain't no retro banger. Archetypes Collide have crafted a contemporary hard rock anthem with furious screams, layered and emotive vocal melodies, and killer, head-nodding choruses. "The Problem" is the logical next step for Archetypes Collide, who are poised to cut their own path in this genre.

"Setting boundaries, putting up walls, cutting off relationships," says Pastor. "It's an unfortunate reality we all have to deal with. But all too often people abuse these habits in the name of 'protecting their peace,' instead of taking responsibility for their actions. I wrote 'The Problem' after having to deal with this head on."

Archetypes Collide are touring the U.S. this spring in support of Fame on Fire and Haloescene. All dates are below.

ARCHETYPES COLLIDE ON TOUR:
WITH FAME ON FIRE + HALOSCENE:
4/1 — Baltimore, MD — Baltimore Soundstage
4/2 — New York, NY — Gramercy Theatre
4/3 — Philadelphia, PA — Brooklyn Bowl
4/5 — Worcester, MA — The Palladium Upstairs
4/6 — Richmond, VA — Amos' Southend
4/7 — Atlanta, GA — The Masquerade Hell
4/11 — Jacksonville, FL — Jack Rabbits Live
4/12 — Orlando, FL — The Beacham
4/13 — Houston, TX — Scout Bar
4/14 — Dallas, TX — Gas Monkey Bar N Grill
4/18 — Phoenix, AZ — Nile Theater
4/19 — Anaheim, CA — The Parish at House of Blues
4/20 — San Diego, CA — House of Blues
4/22 — Sacramento, CA — Goldfield Trading Post
4/23 — Portland, OR — Hawthorne Theatre
4/24 — Seattle, WA — El Corazon
4/25 — Salt Lake City, UT — The Complex
4/26 — Denver, CO — The Marquis Theater
4/29 — Lawrence, KS — Granada Theatre
5/3 — Omaha, NE — The Waiting Room
5/4 — St. Paul, MN — Amsterdam Bar & Hall
5/5 — Chicago, IL — Bottom Lounge
5/8 — Flint, MI — The Machine Shop

ABOUT ARCHETYPES COLLIDE:
ARCHETYPES COLLIDE demand repeated listening, mixing everything from Linkin Park and Bring Me The Horizon to The Chainsmokers, and Stranger Things-style retro synths, into a unique musical identity. A collection of singles and EPs drew a devoted fanbase and the attention of Oshie Bichar, bassist for Beartooth. Bichar enlisted his management, and the pair took Archetypes Collide under their wing. Soon after, SiriusXM's Octane got behind songs like "Your Misery," "Becoming What I Hate," and "Above It All." The band appeared on major festivals like Aftershock, Louder Than Life, and Welcome To Rockville, toured with genre giants The Amity Affliction, and crafted an ambitious self-titled debut album for Fearless Records. Archetypes Collide spent several weeks in the first part of 2022 making their inaugural full-length, with a super team surrounding them to execute their vision. Bichar produced alongside Nick Ingram (Dayseeker, Convictions, Hawthorne Heights) at Capital House Studio in Ohio. Additional production came from Jon Eberhard (Skillet, I Prevail, Until I Wake); The Plot In You frontman Landon Tewers lent a creative hand as well. The resulting album, mixed by Jeff Dunne (Ice Nine Kills, Wage War, Make Them Suffer), captures the vibrant spirit of the 2010s-era Warped Tour with a postmodern edge. It's a diverse but singular mission statement, brimming with authenticity and hope. ARCHETYPES COLLIDE aren't bound by preconceived notions or limitations. As single Kyle Pastor explains simply: "Why not take every shot, in every direction, under the umbrella of hard rock and metal?"

W.A.S.P. Release the Lyric Video for Paint It Black. Announce Sold Out Shows Across Europe

W.A.S.P. announce the release of the lyric video for Paint It Black, taken from the digital release of Bonus Tracks & B-Sides from the W.A.S.P. The 7 Savage boxset.

Watch W.A.S.P. Paint It Black Below.

Purchase or stream the digital release of Bonus Tracks & B-Sides - https://orcd.co/wasp_bonus_listen
 
BraveWords, Sleaze Roxx, Metal Insider and The Metal Voice all picked the W.A.S.P. Album ONE Alive tour as one of the best tours in 2024. W.A.S.P. are bringing the Album ONE Alive tour to South America, Europe and the UK in 2025. Dates and tickets are available at WASPnation.com/tour

About W.A.S.P.
Few Bands in the history of Rock N’ Roll have ever incited the love, the hate, the raw emotional effect this Band has had on the world. From the very beginning, in the small venues of Los Angeles California, and later to the numerous countries worldwide that banned these Winged Assassins from performing live, the Band’s unique style of Shock and Rock caused Religious organizations, Local City Councils, Parliaments, and the Washington D.C. Senate to hold hearings in an effort to bar this group from selling records and trashing stages everywhere they played.

The band’s founding member, frontman Blackie Lawless, has led the group as its lead vocalist and primary songwriter since its beginning. His unique brand of visual, social and political comment took the group to worldwide heights and sold millions of records alongside a legacy of sold out shows across the globe for 4 decades.

https://www.waspnation.com
https://www.facebook.com/W.A.S.P.Nation
https://twitter.com/waspofficial
https://instagram.com/waspnationofficial
https://youtube.com/@WASPNationOfficial
https://www.tiktok.com/@waspnationofficial
https://www.bandsintown.com/a/7553

Chicago's Push Puppets presents 'This Whole Endeavor' + fab video for 'All Together on 3', previewing fourth album

Melodic indie pop-rock outfit Push Puppets presents 'This Whole Endeavor', the second single from their new long-play album 'Tethered Together', as well as a wonderful new video for the cinematic 'All Together On 3', produced by Scott Thiele and Sebastian Gonzales, and edited by Daniele Arcuri. Both sonic gems preview their fourth record, out on May 16 via Flowering Tree Music. 

Based in Chicago, Push Puppets is the creative outlet for singer-songwriter and guitarist Erich Specht. The five-piece creates songs with earworm melodies and shiny production that belie often bittersweet sentiments. Specht (lead vocals, guitar) is joined by a core of Steve Frisbie (backup vocals, guitar), Kyle Magnusson (keyboards), John William Lauler (bass) and Greg Essig (drums). 

Most songs on this album also involve a string quartet, with a horn section on one. We see the quartet's impeccable performance in the video for 'All Together On 3', with Stephanie “Sly” Young on violin, Katherine Andrick on viola, Molly Rife on cello and Kelly Jozwiak on violin (note: Janis Sakai performs in the audio recording).

Its timeless quality and melancholic reflection take us on a sonic trip that is as stimulating as it is emotionally resonant. A moody and musically progressive song about how we’re stronger when we work together, it builds to a cathartic reprise of live strings and harpsichord with a desperate vocal crying for a helping hand as violins punctuate the lines with elegance.

The latest single This Whole Endeavor', a rocker about a relationship that has ended, draws you in with an instantly memorable piano hook. Describing the ebb and flow of a relationship with flowing lyrics, this is sincere yet engaging, the song's reflective bridge and breakdown followed by a driving finale. With the first verse noting love at first sight at a bar - somewhat foreteling the outcome - the story takes a turn and ends in disarray, the author ultimately wishing it was she with him in bed rather than his dog.

"I get a kick out of referring to love at first sight as ‘a trainwreck just about to happen’.  My Pete Townshend fandom might be apparent in this one between the 70s synth phrases and guitar smacks,” says Erich Specht.  “As much as I hate to admit it, after reflecting on the lyrics, it seems clear that this song is somewhat about the relationship with my ex-wife".

The 'Tethered Together' album is graced with impeccable songwriting that shines with lush harmonies, angular guitars, dramatic keyboards and strings backed by a rhythm section to ensure a continually high groove factor. Erich Specht muses on relationships and loss, as well as the weight and joy of life, in a manner that is poetic and seems effortless, his lyrics fitting to the melody like pieces of a puzzle. Wearing his vulnerabilities like a badge of honor, this music takes us on a journey to unexpected places.  

"This album offers a nod to the artistic excesses of the 70s, whether it's a wall of phased vocals or a moment where guitars and strings rip a quick line together between phrases.  The tracks are widely varied yet cohesive - and within a given song, you're likely to be taken elsewhere" says Erich Specht.

'All Together on 3' and 'The Whole Endeavor' are available from fine digital platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music and Bandcamp. The 'Tethered Together' album, now available for pre-order, will be released digitally and on CD on May 16. Push Puppets will hold their album release show at Robert's Westside in Forest Park, IL on May 30.

'THIS WHOLE ENDEAVOUR' CREDITS
Lyrics and music by Erich Specht (ASCAP)
Produced by Doug McBride and Erich Specht
Mixed and mastered by Doug McBride at Gravity Studios
Erich Specht – Lead vocals and guitars
Kyle Magnusson – Keyboards
John William Lauler – Bass
Greg Essig - Drums
Tommi Zender – Backup vocals and guitar

'ALL TOGETHER ON 3' CREDITS
Erich Specht – Lead vocals, guitars, string arrangements
Steve Frisbie – Backup vocals
Kyle Magnusson – Keyboards
John William Lauler – Bass
Greg Essig - Drums
Stephanie “Sly” Young – Violin
Janis Sakai – Violin (Kelly Jozwiak appears in the video)
Katherine Andrick – Viola
Molly Rife – Cello
Video produced by Scott Thiele & Sebastian Gonzales
Video edited by Daniele Arcuri

Cover artwork by Crow Prints
Released & published by Flowering Tree Music (ASCAP)
Artist studio photos by Gintas Zaranka
Artist live photos by Gabi Bucataru
Publicity by Shameless Promotion PR 


Keep up with Push Puppets 
Website | Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | BlueSky | YouTube | TikTok | Spotify | Apple Music | Press contact

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BRKN LOVE Release Third Full-Length LP 'The Program' Out NOW via Spinefarm

Today, BRKN LOVE celebrates the release of their third LP 'The Program,' via Spinefarm. The release is heralded by a new single, "Cruel," accompanied by a new music video, available below.



Exuding bravado, mystique, and a whole lot of heart, BRKN LOVE sets the rulebook on fire by plugging in, turning up, and churning out the kind of rock ‘n’ roll that makes you feel a little freer. Their gritty riffs pack enough punch to shake any stage while the grooves quake with just the right amount of hip-swinging gusto. Led by vocalist and guitarist Justin Benlolo, the music drips swagger, soul, and spirit amplified by arena-sized hooks and intriguingly inventive musicality.

About "Cruel," Justin had this to say:

"'Cruel' is one of the most ambitious songs we’ve ever made. We leaned into our R&B influences on this one, breaking free from the boundaries we’d previously set for ourselves. This track marks a new chapter for BRKN LOVE, pushing our sound into brand-new territory. Lyrically, it’s about that moment when you’ve had enough — when someone has mistreated you for too long, and you finally decide to walk away. No second-guessing, no looking back. It is what it is.

"We recorded the song at the legendary Foo Fighters’ Studio 606, capturing the energy and spirit of the greats we’ve always admired. The entire experience brought a new dimension to our sound, and we couldn’t be more excited to share 'Cruel' with the world. Thank you so much and turn it up loud."

Watch the Video for "Cruel"

Stream "Cruel" HERE 

An impromptu 2023 trip to visit a friend in Charleston, SC gave rise to their third studio album, 'The Program.' Justin initially planned on spending a weekend in town. That weekend turned into nine weeks, and he returned to Toronto with the bulk of the album’s material.

“I didn’t have anything else to do, so I brought all of my gear and studio equipment,” he recalls. “I was so inspired by the environment and the friends I made. It’s a big city, but it’s not huge. It’s just beautiful though. The experience inspired the whole record. Instead of being so picturesque and metaphorical, I told stories.”

The album title even referenced the name of the text group for his new friends in Charleston, embedding the experience and the city in the fabric of the music. The vision had already crystallized before he left for Los Angeles where he recorded with longtime producer Anton DeLost (Cleopatrick, The Warning, State Champs, Dead Poet Society). These friends, and a variety of other characters he met, ultimately inspired the concept at the heart of "The Program."

“It was a collective of 10 people I’d never met before, and we kept using the term ‘The Program’ repeatedly like, ‘Let’s go here, because it would be good for The Program’,” he goes on. “It was cool to be surrounded by near-complete strangers, invite them to our place, and play demos. Their opinions were unfiltered and blunt—which was awesome. I was actively searching for inspiration, and I put myself out there in different situations. I was free and unchained to do anything.”

BRKN LOVE fulfilled a clear destiny to be as free as possible on their third full-length LP, 'The Program.'

On the album, BRKN LOVE shares:

"Our new album, 'The Program' started with a completely unplanned trip to Charleston, South Carolina. We had no real agenda, just a need to get away and see where the music would take us. That trip ended up shaping so much of this record, from the name to the overall vibe. More than anything, it helped us break free from the parameters we had set for this band in the past. This time, we just wanted to make the music we love, without overthinking what BRKN LOVEwas supposed to sound like.

You’ll hear elements of funk, disco, pop and R&B in ways we’ve never done before. But at the end of the day, it still sounds like us. The fact that we even get to make a third album is something we don’t take for granted. So many bands don’t get this far, and we’re beyond grateful to still be here, making music that we love. 

Lyrically, this is our most honest and direct record yet. A lot of it is about love and loss. We didn’t want to dress it up or be vague; we just wanted to be straight-up about heartbreak and more importantly, how you move on from it in a positive way.

We made this album with our frequent collaborator, Anton Delost, who absolutely killed it as a producer. A huge part of the sound comes from recording at the legendary Foo Fighters’ Studio 606. Tracking through their iconic Neve console that’s been used on so many classic records. 'The Program' is the record we’ve always wanted to make, and we can’t wait for everyone to hear it."

Order 'The Program' HERE

BRKN LOVE emerged with their self-titled debut in 2020. The group quietly generated over a quarter of a billion total streams. They notched a Top 15 entry on Active Rock radio with “Shot Down,” while their cover of “River” by Bishop Briggs hit critical mass. It inspired over 2 billion-plus views on TikTok. It piled up 28 million Spotify streams. 2022’s 'Black Box' only maintained this momentum. “Like A Drug” notched north of 8.5 million Spotify streams, made waves at Active Rock, and emerged as their third Top 5 at Canadian radio.