SWANWRITER Unveils Haunting And Heavy Single "the painted valley"

Inspired by the dark and gory historical figure, Blood Countess Elizabeth Bathory, SWANWRITER delivers a haunting and dynamic offering in the new single, "the painted valley". Hailing from Vancouver, BC, the progressive metal project is preparing to unveil the second full-length album, melodies of despair, on June 26, 2026.

In the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the Hungarian noblewoman was alleged to have killed hundreds of girls and women, and to have bathed in their blood. In "the painted valley", "The protagonist of the story is a young orphan girl who was taken in by a supposedly kind figure. At the end of the track, she found out that this was an evil witch who was secretly killing them to bathe in their blood", explains project founder Koda.

A solo piano arrangement opens "the painted valley". The music suddenly shifts into a waltz, the piano now joined by a pair of acoustic guitars. A heavy explosion manifests as drums and distorted electric guitars arrive, building the intensity of the sound. Powerful and atmospheric, the shadows descend as harsh vocals growl into life.   

The genre-fusion continues throughout the track's progressive compositional style. Falsetto vocals await in the chorus with a string trio creating an eerie layer beneath, before returning to the heavy onslaught. Followed by a minimalist arrangement of classical guitar and piano, "the painted valley" arrives at a foreboding end. SWANWRITER presents a thoroughly compelling display of light and shade through intricate, considered progressive instrumental arrangements. Across melodies of despair, SWANWRITER balances chaos and calm through explorations of dark and emotional narratives.  

melodies of despair was produced and mixed by Koda, mastered by Roland Rodas, and features cover artwork by 無た｡ / muta.

About SWANWRITER:
  SWANWRITER is a dark progressive metal project based in Vancouver, British Columbia, created and performed entirely by the anonymous multi-instrumentalist known as Koda. Formed in 2023, the project emerged from a desire to merge progressive metal songwriting with classical composition, atmospheric storytelling, and emotionally driven arrangements.

Having studied classical piano from an early age before later discovering extreme metal, Koda developed SWANWRITER as a space to explore long-form composition without stylistic limitation. The music draws influence from progressive and experimental metal alongside classical composers such as Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin, resulting in compositions that emphasize dynamics, texture, and narrative pacing.

SWANWRITER debuted with There is a darkness in June 2023, establishing a sound centered on extended song structures, melodic development, and cinematic atmosphere. Rather than focusing on technical exhibition, the project prioritizes mood, storytelling, and cohesion across full-length releases.

Themes throughout SWANWRITER’s work often intersect with psychological horror, melancholy, and introspection, shaped in part by inspiration from horror games, film soundtracks, and dark ambient music. Each release is approached as a complete artistic statement, with careful attention given to sequencing, emotional progression, and sonic detail.

Operating independently, SWANWRITER remains a studio-focused project, with future ambitions that include composing music for horror and narrative-driven media.

Connect with SWANWRITER:

Bandcamp: https://swanwriter.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swanwritermusic/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swanwritermusic/
X / Twitter: https://x.com/swanwritermusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@swanwriter
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6unE9CWOXt5c4UIiaHD5RR
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/swanwriter/1686779640
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@swanwritermusic

METALITE Unveil Discovery Album Details and Release New Single “In Case Of Emergency”

Swedish melodic metal force METALITE returns with their most ambitious and cinematic chapter yet: Discovery! Set for release on September 25, 2026 via Perception – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music, the forthcoming album sees the band pushing their futuristic vision further than ever before. Following the success of their previously released singles “Our Time Has Come” and “Starchild”, METALITE now unveils full details of the new record alongside the release of their brand new single “In Case Of Emergency”.

Driven by powerful melodies, heavy rhythms, pounding guitar riffs and METALITE’s signature fusion of futuristic soundscapes and electrifying metal energy, “In Case Of Emergency” delivers another thrilling glimpse into the sonic universe of Discovery. Accompanied by a brand new visualizer video, the track combines dynamic riffing, cinematic synth layers and the unmistakable vocal performance of Erica Ohlsson into a modern melodic metal anthem packed with energy and emotion.

Guitarist, producer, songwriter and founder Edwin Premberg comments:

“In Case Of Emergency is a true banger driven by a heavy rhythm and crushing chugging guitars. But beneath the intensity, it carries a powerful message about always being there for someone, no matter the time or place. It’s a song that hits hard both musically and emotionally, raw, melodic, and made to be felt.”
 

Stream “In Case Of Emergency” Below:

Mixed and mastered by acclaimed Danish producer Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Evergrey, Amaranthe), Discovery pushes METALITE’s futuristic vision further than ever before. Across twelve dynamic tracks, the album explores themes of human evolution, technology, survival, liberation and hope in a universe shaped by digital realities and cosmic exploration in the year of 2058, three years after humanity left a collapsing Earth in search of a new beginning.

Building upon the sonic worlds established on Heroes in Time (2017), Biomechanicals (2019), A Virtual World (2021) and Expedition One (2024), the band once again proves why they are regarded as pioneers of modern sci-fi-inspired melodic metal!

Pre-Order Discovery HERE:
https://metalite.rpm.link/discoveryPR

ABOUT METALITE
Formed in 2015 by guitarist Edwin Premberg and vocalist Emma Bensing, the band quickly gained recognition for its fresh and modern take on melodic metal and their 2017 debut album Heroes in Time set the stage for METALITE’s rise.

In 2019, the band entered a new era with Biomechanicals, marking the debut of vocalist Erica Ohlsson. With an even more refined sound, the album embraced electronic elements and pulsating rhythms, elevating METALITE’s futuristic vision, further solidifying the band’s reputation as innovators in the genre.

Their evolution continued with A Virtual World in 2021, an album that expanded on their sci-fi themes while delivering massive soundscapes and powerful melodies.

With Expedition One (2024), METALITE embarked on their most ambitious project to date. A visionary concept album set in the year 2055, it tells the story of a renegade team searching for a new world, exploring themes of human evolution, technology, and survival.

In 2024, the band welcomed drummer Erik Junttila to the lineup, bringing new energy and power to their sound. His premiere gig with the band took place in Linköping at the beginning of 2025, marking an exciting new chapter in METALITE’s journey. Since then, they completed several tours with bands like PAIN, LEAVES’ EYES and the NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA and played at several festivals, including Sweden Rock and Masters of Rock.

With millions of streams and a growing global fanbase, METALITE continues to redefine the future of melodic metal. Their fusion of cutting-edge sound design, anthemic choruses, and sci-fi-inspired storytelling has set them apart, proving that their journey is far from over. Stay tuned - a new discovery awaits!

More on METALITE:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
Spotify

SUNSWARM Unleash "Inside The Torn Apart"

An offering of sonic juxtapositions awaits in "Inside The Torn Apart". The new single release from the industrial post-metal duo, based out of Southampton, UK, explores moments of calm amidst thundering aggression. "Inside The Torn Apart" arrives ahead of the forthcoming full length release. 

On "Inside The Torn Apart" SUNSWARM shares, "The darkness of society is forever rendering us apart with symbolic and real acts of violence. But there is a cry in the dark from the individual. I am here. Alive. Inside the torn apart. It’s an act of catharsis and rebellion."

Lyrically, "Inside The Torn Apart" delves into contradictions of physical and emotional vulnerability against the cold, harsh industrialized systems that operate under the dominance of capitalism.

Soft Flesh
Rended
Alive inside the torn apart

"Inside The Torn Apart" emerges with a low, pulsing synth. Arriving into a minimalist verse, a haunting moment of stillness soon erupts into a fierce bombardment of heavy distorted rhythms, metallic textural layers and monstrous harsh vocals. The brutal heavy industrial arrangements feel inescapable as the sound is all encompassing. 

Throughout their tracks SUNSWARM construct harsh soundscapes utilizing metallic textures, intense rhythms, and black-metal inspired vocal performances. Dystopian and brutalist is the nature of the atmosphere the music evokes. SUNSWARM do not offer escape, but rather explore the darkness in full force through their compositions. 

SUNSWARM's "Inside The Torn Apart" was produced, mixed and mastered by Wayne Adams and recorded at Bear Bites Horse, London.

SUNSWARM is: 

Rich Lee-Davis - vocals, bass
Neil Sutton - vocals, guitar
Additional contributors (live and studio) - to be announced

Connect with SUNSWARM:

Website: https://sunswarm.bandcamp.com/
Bandcamp: https://sunswarm.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunswarmband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunswarmband/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SUNSWARM

GORGONAUT Explore Chaos And Disorder In The New Offering "Infinite Regress", Announces EP Ayame

As GORGONAUT prepares to unveil the forthcoming EP Ayame on October 16, 2026, "Infinite Regress" provides a further insight into the textural sonic world building by the Chicago-based solo project.

"Infinite Regress" is the opening offering on the upcoming release and encapsulates the central direction of the EP. Composed with intentional chaos, the instrumental textures and arrangements disorientate with jarring sounds and sudden rhythmic shifts. It evokes a sense of uncertainty and intrigue as to what awaits next. 

Musically, the single embodies a loss of control and escalating tension. Aggressive passages alternate with pacified sections in a desperation to make sense of an irrational realm. Opening with chromatic guitar lines, a sense of strain and panic manifests through the music and it repeats in varying forms across the track. Ferocious heavy rhythms and harsh vocals are contrasted with softer moments.

GORGONAUT and the forthcoming EP arose from a desire to continue writing, creating and producing music alongside major life changes. Ayame delves into introspective themes, obsession, loss of control but also of taking future success into one's own hands. 

Ayame was produced, mixed and mastered by Ryan Bruchert at Biffco Studios. The EP cover artwork was created by artist Darius Puia @instagram.bakaarts.

About GORGONAUT:

Created by multi-instrumentalist Ryan Bruchert, known for work with BLACK SITES, HEWHOCORRUPTS, TRIALS, CENTAURUS, GORGONAUT serves as a focused creative platform unrestricted by stylistic boundaries. The project combines heavy guitar driven songwriting with electronic textures, atmospheric layering, and digital influences drawn from both metal and contemporary electronic music.

Drawing influence from artists such as DEVIN TOWNSEND, VOLA, VOYAGER, MOON TOOTH, DREAM THEATER, and THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE, GORGONAUT continues to explore the intersection of metal, electronic composition, and immersive sound design while pursuing a distinctly personal creative direction.

STORMHAMMER Reveal Music Video for Title Track of Upcoming Studio Album Wrath Of The Hammer

German power metal force STORMHAMMER have released the official music video for their brand-new single “Wrath Of The Hammer”, the title track of the band’s upcoming studio offering. 

The album will be released on July 17 via ROAR – A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music. Pre-orders have just started at: https://stormhammer.rpm.link/wrathalbumPR 

With “Wrath Of The Hammer”, STORMHAMMER deliver a powerful first glimpse of their forthcoming album and once again prove why they remain one of the most consistent and exciting acts in the European power metal scene. The title track combines massive riffs, epic melodies and the band’s unmistakable energy into a modern metal anthem rooted in classic heavy metal spirit.

Phil Meyer (guitar, backing vocals) comments:
“Tracks like Wrath of the Hammer perfectly represent the album’s direction — aggressive downstrokes, fast power chords and epic melodic moments coming together in a very classic yet modern Heavy Metal way.”

Drummer Ashley Guest confirms: “Wrath of the Hammer maintains the spirit of classic StormHammer while pushing the sound forward with a sharper and more aggressive edge.” 

Stream “Wrath Of The Hammer” below :

Following the acclaimed album Seven Seals, STORMHAMMER open a new chapter with Wrath Of The Hammer. The album combines traditional heavy metal roots with thrash-driven guitars, epic melodies and progressive elements while staying true to the band’s unmistakable identity.

“Wrath of the Hammer reflects all generations of Heavy Metal," Phil Meyer says."The old school, the melodic, the anthemic and the modern. That’s exactly who StormHammer are as a band today. We didn’t want the album to be purely melodic power metal. StormHammer has always had a more raw side, and we wanted to push that further by bringing in thrash elements, modern metal and even some ’90s punk roots without losing the band’s heavy metal identity.”

Vocalist M.Nox adds: “We went into this album with the idea that we didn’t want to play it safe. We mixed in elements of Thrash, Symphonic and Classic Metal while keeping it true to StormHammer’s Power Metal roots. With this album, you will hear StormHammer in a way you have not heard before.”

Recorded at Mastersound Studio with producer Alexander Krull, the album delivers a massive production, atmospheric arrangements and renewed creative energy throughout, showcasing a band that continues to evolve while remaining a vital force in modern power metal! 

Horst Tessmann (bass, backing vocals) reveals:
“Recording with Alex Krull was fantastic because we shared the same vision for how these songs should sound. He delivered a powerful and outstanding production. Wrath of the Hammer combines traditional Power Metal with Thrash Metal elements in a way that feels natural and energetic. The older I get, the faster and heavier I want the music to be.”

“This album feels honest and alive," guitarist Christos Efstathiou states. "We challenged ourselves creatively while staying true to what StormHammer is about. There’s power, emotion and adventure in these songs.”

About STORMHAMMER:
German power metal band STORMHAMMER have established themselves as a powerful force within the European metal scene for many years. Combining traditional heavy metal intensity with melodic power metal energy and epic songwriting, the band has created a distinctive sound that continues to resonate with fans worldwide.

Throughout their career, STORMHAMMER have continuously evolved their sound while remaining true to their roots. Their music blends aggressive guitar work, soaring melodies and powerful rhythms with atmospheric songwriting and modern production. With “Wrath Of The Hammer”, the band once again underlines their status as one of Germany’s most important and enduring power metal acts.


STORMHAMMER is:
M.Nox - Vocals
Phil Meyer - Guitar, Backing Vocals
Christos Efstathiou - Guitar
Ashley Guest - Drums
Horst Tessmann - Bass, Backing Vocals


Connect With STORMHAMMER:
Website: https://www.stormhammer.de/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stormhammerband/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stormhammer_official/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCse2QaL9LqKOo2DMAEyUBCw
TikTok: tiktok.com/@stormhammer_band

Out Now: CREMATORY Releases Greatest Hits Album 'English Hymns & Deutsche Hymnen'

German gothic metal pioneers CREMATORY release their much-awaited Greatest Hits album, English Hymns & Deutsche Hymnen, today via ROAR - A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music. The compilation celebrates 35 years of the band’s career and brings together CREMATORY’s most iconic tracks and milestones, offering a retrospective journey through decades of their impressive history. At the same time, the band is currently on tour, performing fan favorites and new highlights live across Europe. 

English Hymns & Deutsche Hymnen is available as an expansive three-CD edition as well as limited double-vinyl formats. The 3-CD set includes “English Hymns,” “Deutsche Hymnen,” and “Engulfed in Darkness Demo.” The vinyl editions come as a Neon Green double vinyl (English Hymns) and a Turquoise double vinyl (Deutsche Hymnen). Order your copy of this must-have gem, one that belongs into every well-sorted dark metal record collection, here: https://crematory.rpm.link/greatesthitsPR

Formed in 1991 in Mannheim, Germany, CREMATORY have become one of the most enduring and influential acts in European gothic metal. Over more than three decades, the band evolved from their early death metal roots into a distinctive style combining heavy riffs, melodic keyboards, industrial textures, and contrasting vocal approaches.

Throughout their career, CREMATORY have explored themes of life, pain, introspection, and atmosphere, often blending deep growls with clean vocals to create a sound both powerful and haunting. Their growth in the 1990s brought them recognition across Europe through relentless touring and festival appearances.

The Greatest Hits album reflects the band’s bilingual legacy. English Hymns & Deutsche Hymnen gathers key tracks from across their catalogue in both languages and also includes the band’s earliest demo recordings, offering fans a comprehensive retrospective of CREMATORY’s long and influential journey. With 35 years of history, countless tours, and a legacy that helped shape European gothic, death and industrial metal, Greatest Hits stands as both a celebration of CREMATORY’s past and a powerful reminder that the band remains as vital as ever! 

In support of the release, the band is currently on tour.

CREMATORY is:
Felix Stass - Vocals
Rolf Munkes - Guitar
Oliver Revilo - Bass
Katrin Jüllich - Keyboards, Samples
Markus Jüllich - Drums, Programming
 
Visit CREMATORY online:
Website | https://www.crematory.de 
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/crematory.de 
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/crematory.de 
YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/@crematory-de 

A COLD PARADISE Release Music Video For Brand-New Single “Here I Rise”!

Modern metal act A COLD PARADISE have released a new music video for their latest single “Here I Rise”. The project is led by Antonio Calanna, known to many metal fans as the former vocalist of ALL FOR METAL. Marking a bold new chapter, the track combines modern heaviness, emotional intensity and soaring energy into a powerful statement of intent.

Driven by massive riffs, cinematic atmosphere and an uncompromising performance, “Here I Rise” perfectly captures the core identity of A COLD PARADISE. The song reflects themes of growth, resilience and transformation while channeling raw emotion into an explosive and deeply personal listening experience.

Calanna comments: “‘Here I Rise’ is a statement. After our first live shows, we felt the connection with the audience and knew this was just the beginning. This song captures exactly what A Cold Paradise stands for: the will to grow, to rise, and to turn emotion into something powerful. It’s raw, energetic, and unapologetically intense.”

Stream / Download “Here I Rise”: https://acp.rpm.link/risePR 

Watch the video clip below:

A COLD PARADISE is a modern alternative metal band founded in 2025 by Antonio Calanna, signed to Perception – A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music. The project was born from a desire to emphasize atmosphere, melody, and emotional depth within heavy music, without compromising its force.

Rooted in genuine feeling, A COLD PARADISE builds its sound from the inside out, letting emotion guide both songwriting and production. Heavy riffs collide with expressive melodies, cinematic atmospheres, and carefully woven electronic elements that shape the emotional arc of each song. The band works with a defined collective identity: music, lyrics, and visuals all feed into the same artistic world, where storytelling, contrast, and emotional weight matter as much as the breakdowns. Living in the tension between vulnerability and force, A COLD PARADISE blends modern metal and rock with immersive textures to create a dynamic, evocative, and unmistakably human sound.

A COLD PARADISE Artist Line-Up:
Antonio Calanna | vocals
Paolo Avanzini | guitars, vocals
Luca Birocco | guitars
Fortunato De Negri | bass
Daniele Motta | drums
 

More on A COLD PARADISE:
Facebook |Instagram | Tik Tok | Youtube

SWANWRITER Releases Emotive And Progressive Single, "Betrayal"

Vancouver, BC progressive metal project SWANWRITER explores broken trust and longing in the new single, "betrayal". The track arrives ahead of the second full-length album, melodies of despair, set to release independently on June 26, 2026. 

On "betrayal", project founder Koda shares, "The narrator in the song suffers a betrayal after trusting the other person with their life. Still, they continue to wait in vain, hoping that the other person will return. This single is my experiment to make a long prog metal track from the album into a 4-minute song with a more conventional structure."

Compositionally, "betrayal" is structured around a haunting piano melody that carries across the track. Koda's lead vocal melody rises and falls alongside enhancing the somber mood. A sense of longing is magnified through the lead guitar line that gently joins the steady and established instrumental arrangement. An abrupt explosion into heavy distortion and intense rhythms unveils further depth of emotion and heightening within the narrative. 

The longest track on the album, the lyrics for "betrayal" derive from a horror game called “The Witch’s House”. Following the protagonist's journey, in which she has entrusted her life to her best friend, the game's narrative leads to a path of betrayal. 

SWANWRITER leans further into dynamic contrasts both across "betrayal" and melodies of despair more widely. The music throughout aptly conveys moments of intimacy while also blending seamlessly each track's narratives and themes into the sound. 

melodies of despair was produced and mixed by Koda, mastered by Roland Rodas, and features cover artwork by 無た｡ / muta.

SWANWRITER is a dark progressive metal project based in Vancouver, British Columbia, created and performed entirely by the anonymous multi-instrumentalist known as Koda. Formed in 2023, the project emerged from a desire to merge progressive metal songwriting with classical composition, atmospheric storytelling, and emotionally driven arrangements.

Connect with SWANWRITER:

Bandcamp: https://swanwriter.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swanwritermusic/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swanwritermusic/
X / Twitter: https://x.com/swanwritermusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@swanwriter
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6unE9CWOXt5c4UIiaHD5RR
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/swanwriter/1686779640
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@swanwritermusic

ANGUS MCSIX & ORDEN OGAN Join VICTORIUS For Explosive New Lyric Video From New Album World War Dinosaur Out Now On PERCEPTION!

German power metal force VICTORIUS celebrate the release of their brand-new album World War Dinosaur, out now via PERCEPTION - A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music. Marking the occasion, the band also unveils a lyric video for the album’s explosive title track, featuring special guest appearances by ANGUS MCSIX and ORDEN OGAN!

“It’s the most epic and hymn-like album we’ve ever written," the band comments."100% Victorius, but bigger, tighter, and more intense. We’ve never worked this hard on an album before. ‘Only more is more’ and this time, we went all in!”

Watch the new lyric video for “World War Dinosaur”, featuring ANGUS MCSIX and ORDEN OGAN, now streaming below:

Packed with massive hooks, pounding rhythms, and VICTORIUS’ signature blend of tongue-in-cheek storytelling and thunderous power metal energy, World War Dinosaur dives deep into the band’s outrageous dinosaur battle universe. Across twelve new tracks, forged in cosmic steel and driven by pure imagination, the album pushes their sound to new cinematic heights.

Explosive power metal collides with a full-scale dinosaur war, delivering a blazing mix of riffs, melody, and towering intensity. Louder, bigger, and more powerful than ever, the record captures VICTORIUS at their peak, where ninjas, dinosaurs, and pure metal glory unite!

Order World War Dinosaur now at: https://victorius.rpm.link/wwdPR

VICTORIUS aren’t a retro show, but a nostalgic leap into the future. For everyone who still feels the fire of those old days, when heroes were immortal, adventures limitless, and imagination knew no bounds.

VICTORIUS are:
David Baßin - Vocals
Dirk Scharsich - Guitar
Florian Zack - Guitar
Andreas Dockhorn - Bass
Frank Koppe - Drums

For More Info Visit:
https://www.victoriusmetal.net
https://www.facebook.com/victoriusmetal
https://www.instagram.com/victorius_metal
https://bio.to/victorius
VICTORIUS on Tour: https://www.victoriusmetal.net/live/

SCHATTENMANN Release New Studio Album “Endgegner” Out Now Via PERCEPTION.

German metal act SCHATTENMANN have released their brand-new studio offering, entitled Endgegner, today via PERCEPTION. At the same time, the band has started their album release tour, bringing the new material to stages across Germany and Austria.

With Endgegner, SCHATTENMANN lean into a heavier and more metaldriven sound. International press reactions have been strong. Devolution Magazine notes that the record shows “the industrial metallers at their most focused,” adding: “You’ll bang your head, you’ll sing along and you’ll groove like nobody’s watching. It’s a fun-fuelled romp well-worth your time.”

FFM Rock writes: “The album convinces across the board, the sound is fat and pumps pure energy, so it gets 8 out of 10 points here.” Powerplay Magazine UK goes even further, awarding 9/10 and stating that a “Future classic album status [is] guaranteed!” while Metalhead.it sums it up perfectly: "An album that stings, that cuts, that annihilates, that captivates. A sinful album that creates a wonderful addiction!"

To coincide with the album’s arrival, today SCHATTENMANN have also unveiled an official music video for the track “Wir sind das Ende der Welt”, watch below:

Frontman Frank Herzig says about the track: 
"The song is an explosive declaration of love on the edge of the apocalypse - wild, unrestrained and uncompromising. Although it begins almost like a ballad, it unfolds into a modern metal track with metalcore elements. Far removed from kitsch and clichés, it tells the story of two people who break every boundary, summon storms and stubbornly give the world the middle finger. A hurricane of passion, chaos and raw intensity that sets everything on fire.”

Endgegner sets the tone for a new chapter in the musical journey of SCHATTENMANN, presenting themselves sharper and more focused than ever. Produced by Henning Verlage, the album represents a clear cut and a deliberate evolution of the band’s sound.

Following four studio albums and their first Top 10 chart entry with Día de Muertos, SCHATTENMANN continue to prove that change and progression remain at the core of their identity. Heavier, more aggressive, and unapologetically metal, Endgegner sees the band reborn in steel and fire, poised to claim their place in today’s heavy music landscape!

Order Endgegner HERE: https://schattenmann.rpm.link/endgegnerPR

About SCHATTENMANN
Founded in 2016, Nuremberg-based band SCHATTENMANN have entered the metal world by storm! Pinnacling with their top 10 album Día de Muertos in 2023, the quartet - singer Frank Herzig, guitarist Jan Shook, bass player Luke Shook & drummer Rorschach - paved their way with impactful songwriting but also with energising live shows. A thrilling combination which has resonated with a wide range of range (mostly) European metalheads so far. Sheer metal and continuous touring are the keys of why SCHATTENMANN have become one of the leading German ambassadors in the hard ‘n’ heavy universe within less than 10 years.
 

SCHATTENMANN are:
Frank Herzig | vocals
Jan Shook | guitars
Luke Shook | bass
Rorschach | drums

More on SCHATTENMANN:
schattenmann.band | Linktree | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Bandsintown | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music

SUNSWARM Announce Crushing New Single "Erasure" Ahead of Forthcoming Album

Southampton, UK industrial post-metal act SUNSWARM announce the release of their new single "Erasure."

"Erasure" is not structured as a traditional single. Across eight minutes, the track unfolds as a bleak and overwhelming piece of industrial post-metal, built from early 90s industrial sampling techniques, scorched guitar textures, and vocals shaped by black-metal intensity. Rhythms move like shifts in pressure rather than conventional song structures, creating an atmosphere of suffocation and psychological weight.

Emerging from UK South Coast underground scene, SUNSWARM draw influence from the brutal desolation of GODFLESH, the spiritual intensity of AMENRA, the sonic extremity of THE BODY, and the cosmic dread of ORANSSI PAZUZU. Their sound merges industrial noise, post-metal density, and extreme vocal expression into something immersive and deeply physical.

The band describe the track as the emotional entry point into the record: "This is the opening track from our forthcoming album. It’s not a song. It’s 8 minutes of bleak, overwhelming Industrial Post-Metal. No Light. This nihilism is not a political or philosophical position. It is waking in the middle of the night and feeling a void. The growing feeling of strangulation in this creeping dystopia that the power structures and their tech is dragging us and our children into.

When you strip back the substances and digital, what oxygen do we have left? Erasure. Erased."

With "Erasure", SUNSWARM present confrontation rather than escape, reflecting modern anxiety, technological alienation, and the erosion of identity within an increasingly mechanized world.

The single is a harbinger of a wider conceptual release, with further details on the forthcoming album to be announced soon.

About SUNSWARM:

SUNSWARM is led by vocalist and bassist Rich Lee-Davis and vocalist and guitarist Neil Sutton, joined by additional contributors who extend the band’s sonic and visual reach. Together they construct an immersive environment where sound, light, and texture collide. Their creative world is defined by sensory overload, stark monochrome imagery, disorienting strobe work, and the feeling of being enclosed within an atmosphere that is both vast and hostile. Everything they create is intended to overwhelm, to blur the line between performance and encounter.

From their earliest ideas, SUNSWARM have operated from a place of complete self-definition, shaping a language of heaviness that goes beyond impact or aggression. They approach weight and intensity as emotional terrain, a landscape shaped by pressure, absence, and the darker edges of lived experience. Their second single, “Erasure,” marks a further reveal of this landscape, a glimpse into the bleak and immersive world the band is building.

SUNSWARM is: 

Rich Lee-Davis - vocals, bass
Neil Sutton - vocals, guitar
Additional contributors (live and studio) - to be announced

Connect with SUNSWARM:

Website: https://sunswarm.bandcamp.com/
Bandcamp: https://sunswarm.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunswarmband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunswarmband/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SUNSWARM

SWANWRITER Announces New Album melodies of despair and Releases First Single "girl on the wall"

Vancouver, BC progressive metal project SWANWRITER has announced the upcoming release of its second full-length album, melodies of despair, arriving independently on June 26. Alongside the announcement, the project unveils the album’s second single, "girl on the wall", offering an early look into the record’s darker emotional and narrative themes.

Created entirely by multi-instrumentalist Koda, melodies of despair continues the dark, cinematic direction introduced on SWANWRITER’s 2023 debut There is a darkness. The new album presents a collection of interconnected horror-inspired narratives shaped by themes of isolation, grief, betrayal, and psychological unease, delivered through expansive progressive metal compositions enriched with piano, acoustic instrumentation, and orchestral textures.

Serving as the first glimpse into the album’s world, "girl on the wall" captures one of its most emotionally immediate moments. Inspired by the cult horror game Ib, the track tells the story of a girl trapped inside a painting, observing life from beyond reach while growing increasingly consumed by jealousy and longing. Musically, the song balances melodic accessibility with progressive ambition, driven by classical guitar passages, shifting vocal dynamics, and layered bass arrangements that deepen its surreal atmosphere.

While maintaining the long-form songwriting approach that defines SWANWRITER, melodies of despair expands its sonic range with greater emphasis on acoustic elements and dynamic contrast. Across its six compositions, the album moves between fragile intimacy and overwhelming heaviness, unfolding as a complete listening experience intended to be heard from beginning to end.

melodies of despair was produced and mixed by Koda, mastered by Roland Rodas, and features cover artwork by 無た｡ / muta.

About SWANWRITER:
  SWANWRITER is a dark progressive metal project based in Vancouver, British Columbia, created and performed entirely by the anonymous multi-instrumentalist known as Koda. Formed in 2023, the project emerged from a desire to merge progressive metal songwriting with classical composition, atmospheric storytelling, and emotionally driven arrangements.

Having studied classical piano from an early age before later discovering extreme metal, Koda developed SWANWRITER as a space to explore long-form composition without stylistic limitation. The music draws influence from progressive and experimental metal alongside classical composers such as Bach, Beethoven, and Chopin, resulting in compositions that emphasize dynamics, texture, and narrative pacing.

SWANWRITER debuted with There is a darkness in June 2023, establishing a sound centered on extended song structures, melodic development, and cinematic atmosphere. Rather than focusing on technical exhibition, the project prioritizes mood, storytelling, and cohesion across full-length releases.

Themes throughout SWANWRITER’s work often intersect with psychological horror, melancholy, and introspection, shaped in part by inspiration from horror games, film soundtracks, and dark ambient music. Each release is approached as a complete artistic statement, with careful attention given to sequencing, emotional progression, and sonic detail.

Operating independently, SWANWRITER remains a studio-focused project, with future ambitions that include composing music for horror and narrative-driven media.

Connect with SWANWRITER:

Bandcamp: https://swanwriter.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/swanwritermusic/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/swanwritermusic/
X / Twitter: https://x.com/swanwritermusic
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@swanwriter
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6unE9CWOXt5c4UIiaHD5RR
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/swanwriter/1686779640
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@swanwritermusic

GORGONAUT Release New Single "Vernix Caseosa", A Riff Forward Statement From Chicago’s Emerging Heavy Project

Chicago-based solo project GORGONAUT presents the new single "Vernix Caseosa". "Vernix Caseosa" leans into movement and energy, embracing a lighter and more immediate spirit within GORGONAUT’s evolving sound. Built around momentum rather than thematic weight, the track emphasizes groove, drive, and impact, allowing the music itself to carry the experience without overt narrative framing.

Guitars remain the dominant force throughout, paying tribute to classic metal traditions while locking tightly into pulse-driven rhythms supported by synthesized and textural elements. The arrangement prioritizes propulsion, with dense riff work sustaining intensity beneath the vocal lines and maintaining constant forward motion.

In its closing moments, the song expands beyond its grounded foundation, introducing layered orchestration that pushes the finale into deliberately heightened territory. The result balances heaviness with scale, reinforcing GORGONAUT’s interest in blending aggression with cinematic atmosphere.

About GORGONAUT:

Created by multi-instrumentalist Ryan Bruchert, known for work with BLACK SITES, HEWHOCORRUPTS, TRIALS, CENTAURUS, GORGONAUT serves as a focused creative platform unrestricted by stylistic boundaries. The project combines heavy guitar driven songwriting with electronic textures, atmospheric layering, and digital influences drawn from both metal and contemporary electronic music.

Drawing influence from artists such as DEVIN TOWNSEND, VOLA, VOYAGER, MOON TOOTH, DREAM THEATER, and THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE, GORGONAUT continues to explore the intersection of metal, electronic composition, and immersive sound design while pursuing a distinctly personal creative direction.

SUNSWARM Announce Crushing New Single "Erasure" Ahead of Forthcoming Album

Southampton, UK industrial post-metal act SUNSWARM announce the release of their new single "Erasure."

"Erasure" is not structured as a traditional single. Across eight minutes, the track unfolds as a bleak and overwhelming piece of industrial post-metal, built from early 90s industrial sampling techniques, scorched guitar textures, and vocals shaped by black-metal intensity. Rhythms move like shifts in pressure rather than conventional song structures, creating an atmosphere of suffocation and psychological weight.

Emerging from UK South Coast underground scene, SUNSWARM draw influence from the brutal desolation of GODFLESH, the spiritual intensity of AMENRA, the sonic extremity of THE BODY, and the cosmic dread of ORANSSI PAZUZU. Their sound merges industrial noise, post-metal density, and extreme vocal expression into something immersive and deeply physical.

The band describe the track as the emotional entry point into the record: "This is the opening track from our forthcoming album. It’s not a song. It’s 8 minutes of bleak, overwhelming Industrial Post-Metal. No Light. This nihilism is not a political or philosophical position. It is waking in the middle of the night and feeling a void. The growing feeling of strangulation in this creeping dystopia that the power structures and their tech is dragging us and our children into.

When you strip back the substances and digital, what oxygen do we have left? Erasure. Erased."

With "Erasure", SUNSWARM present confrontation rather than escape, reflecting modern anxiety, technological alienation, and the erosion of identity within an increasingly mechanized world.

The single is a harbinger of a wider conceptual release, with further details on the forthcoming album to be announced soon.

About SUNSWARM:

SUNSWARM is led by vocalist and bassist Rich Lee-Davis and vocalist and guitarist Neil Sutton, joined by additional contributors who extend the band’s sonic and visual reach. Together they construct an immersive environment where sound, light, and texture collide. Their creative world is defined by sensory overload, stark monochrome imagery, disorienting strobe work, and the feeling of being enclosed within an atmosphere that is both vast and hostile. Everything they create is intended to overwhelm, to blur the line between performance and encounter.

From their earliest ideas, SUNSWARM have operated from a place of complete self-definition, shaping a language of heaviness that goes beyond impact or aggression. They approach weight and intensity as emotional terrain, a landscape shaped by pressure, absence, and the darker edges of lived experience. Their second single, “Erasure,” marks a further reveal of this landscape, a glimpse into the bleak and immersive world the band is building.

SUNSWARM is: 

Rich Lee-Davis - vocals, bass
Neil Sutton - vocals, guitar
Additional contributors (live and studio) - to be announced

Connect with SUNSWARM:

Website: https://sunswarm.bandcamp.com/
Bandcamp: https://sunswarm.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sunswarmband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunswarmband/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@SUNSWARM

ANTIMOZDEBEAST Releases Atmospheric New Single "The Temple of Vindication"

Enter into the "The Temple of Vindication" for an atmospheric exploration of introspection. In this new single, ANTIMOZDEBEAST, through an enveloping sound driven by industrial electronics, textural white noise and dream-like spoken lyrics, contains a philosophical questioning of the human experience. 

ANTIMOZDEBEAST is the extreme industrial and electronic black metal project of multi-instrumentalist and producer Gabriel Palacio. "The Temple of Vindication" crawls through inner rebellion and spiritual interrogation, drawing lines between salvation, illusion, and the mind’s desperate attempts to interpret its suffering. This latest offering is taken from the upcoming full length album The Vagrant Unkempt Grave scheduled for release on May 15, 2026.

Seeking to make sense of the world in which we exist, both as an individual and examining the systems of power, "The Temple of Vindication" in its creation is a demonstration of how artistic expression can facilitate a means of escapism. 

ANTIMOZDEBEAST announces the release of its new full length album The Vagrant Unkempt Grave. The record will be self released on May 15, 2026 and represents the next stage in the project’s ongoing examination of spiritual conflict, psychological unrest, and the erosion of collective belief systems.

Pre-Order the album on Bandcamp HERE: https://antimozdebeast.bandcamp.com/album/the-vagrant-unkempt-grave

Active since 2019, ANTIMOZDEBEAST has developed a distinct sound built on harsh electronic structures, ritualistic pacing, and confrontational vocal expression. The Vagrant Unkempt Grave expands this approach into a cohesive meditation on the vagrant soul, the decay of creation, and the search for truth within systems shaped by myth, power, and distortion. The album spans seven tracks across fifty five minutes, including "Solitude", "The Temple of Vindication", and "Torn Mentality", and presents a continuous descent through themes of isolation, belief, manipulation, and internal collapse.

All music on The Vagrant Unkempt Grave is written, performed, recorded, mixed, mastered, and visually conceptualized by Gabriel Palacio. The album reflects a fully autonomous creative process and continues the project’s focus on exposing fractures within religion, politics, and social structures while encouraging critical thought and personal awakening.

IRON SAVIOR Conclude Reforged Album Trilogy With Spectacular Machine World Chapter

While fans of German heavy/power metal flagship IRON SAVIOR are eagerly waiting for new tunes to descend from space, the band shorten the wait with Reforged - Machine World, a 16-track opus honouring their early career steps, coming out through PERCEPTION - A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music today. Concluding the group’s three-part Reforged series, the new double album makes selected older tracks shine in new splendour and is garnished by a cover version of JUDAS PRIEST’s "Starbreaker." Get your copy [digipak-CD or vinyl including alternative artwork] & stream it here:
https://ironsavior.rpm.link/machineworldPR

Band leader Piet Sielck (vocals, guitars) states: “We’re absolutely happy to bring back these songs to your attention - all polished up and ready for the next decades. With this last “Reforged” album, almost all songs from our Noise Records era are available again physically. All aboard, see you on the road!”

IRON SAVIOR are:
Piet Sielck | vocals, guitars
Joachim Küstner | guitars
Patrick Opitz | bass
Patrick Klose | drums

IRON SAVIOR - Reforged - Machine World: Out Friday!

IRON SAVIOR proudly presents their new album Reforged - Machine World, the third chapter in their acclaimed re-recording series that ignites fresh fire into timeless anthems from their legacy. This thunderous collection features reimagined classics drawn from the band’s prolific early 2000s era, along with a turbocharged cover of JUDAS PRIEST’s “Starbreaker,” all delivered through their signature fusion of futuristic power metal and classic heavy metal intensity.

IRON SAVIOR are:
Piet Sielck | vocals, guitars
Joachim Küstner | guitars
Patrick Opitz | bass
Patrick Klose | drums

Fermentor - Agreement: Out NOW!

FERMENTOR’s latest sonic experiment, Agreement, drops August 15th, 2025. This 17-track instrumental album concludes a trilogy of improvised releases, following Mind Meld and Release Me. Agreement pushes their boundary-defying blend of blistering death metal and sprawling, freeform post-rock to new extremes, delivering cinematic brutality and storytelling without words through instinct-driven chemistry.

The album opens with "Wintry Earth," a bleak, droning descent marked by jagged time signatures, eerie guitar textures, and a brutal death metal finale that sets a tense, violent tone. "Whisper Flesh" follows, a raw improvisation where dissonant loops and jagged grooves shift between blast-heavy death metal and crushing, groove-laden choruses, spiraling into ritualistic heaviness.

"Dead Farm" and "Ceratops" offer contrasting explorations of heaviness. "Dead Farm" channels the primal force of SEPULTURA, seismic pulse of GOJIRA, and progressive sludge of MASTODON with groove-driven intensity. Meanwhile, "Ceratops" unfolds slowly from meditative calm into a cathartic, tectonic climax, showcasing the band’s dynamic range from muscular aggression to patient build.

"More Than Eight" dives into FERMENTOR’s signature improvised chaos, layering guitar loops instinctively over shifting rhythms. "Ghost Girl" ventures further into experimental territory, blurring meditative post-rock and thunderous groove metal with spiraling solos and ethereal textures.

"Roach God" captures raw vulnerability through imperfect, high-wire improvisation where mistakes become defining characteristics - an authentic snapshot of risk and discovery. "Rotted" is a relentless, riff-driven brutal death metal descent, free of loops and culminating in a monstrous breakdown forged in pure instinct.

"Deactivated" builds angular chaos with dissonant grooves, shifting time signatures, and a searing solo, exploding into a triumphant finale. The title track "Agreement" is a study in tension and release, layering palm-muted guitars over hypnotic loops, culminating in a crushing halftime outro, a seismic exhale of raw improvisation and controlled chaos.

"There With That" blends cinematic instincts and epic metal grandeur, balancing atmosphere and intensity with emotional clarity. "Human Caterpillar" immortalizes a glitching guitar pedal feedback during an improvisation, turning technical failure into a chaotic, avant-garde Easter egg and a tongue-in-cheek highlight released on April Fools’ Day.

"Transgression" blasts with thrash-rooted energy, tight cymbal chokes and groove-drenched riffs channeling the band’s early chemistry and old-school aggression. "Hides Behind Hands" offers a rare breath of melancholic reflection, trading brutality for beauty through shimmering loops and restrained percussion, inviting pause and introspection.

"Protohuman" is a kaleidoscopic hybrid of swirling loops, jagged rhythms, and pulverizing eruptions that merge FERMENTOR’s death-thrash roots with fearless experimentation. "Skybeam" unleashes a deafening blast of explosive energy, a chaotic tempest signaling the album’s climax.

Finally, "All Ashes" winds down with reflective melodies and subtle textures, a sonic exhale that gathers Agreement’s sprawling journey into a poignant, meditative farewell.

Agreement stands as a bold testament to FERMENTOR’s fearless embrace of improvisation, raw emotion, and genre-defying exploration. Through blistering death metal, expansive post-rock, and moments of beautiful imperfection, the album captures a journey of friendship, risk, and creative discovery. It invites listeners into a world where chaos and control coexist, forging a powerful, unspoken narrative that lingers long after the final note fades. This is more than an album. It is an immersive experience that challenges expectations and redefines the boundaries of instrumental music.

FERMENTOR is:

  • Dylan Marks - Drummer

  • Adam "Wally" Wollach - Guitarist

ABOUT FERMENTOR:
FERMENTOR is a San Diego-based two-piece instrumental metal band formed in 2008 by drummer Dylan Marks (ATHEIST, BEEKEEPER) and guitarist Adam “Wally” Wollach (BEEKEEPER, TRASHAXIS). Stripping away the comforts of a traditional band infrastructure, FERMENTOR relies solely on communicating through only two elements; drums and guitar. The two instruments acting more like contrapuntal voices, rather than just rhythm and melody.

Their musical chemistry was discovered in the summer of 2008 when the two cousins took advantage of an opening at Wollach’s recording studio. Having never collaborated before and with only four weeks to write and record, they created their first EP entitled Matanzaa.

GRAILKNIGHTS Unleash Unifying Title Track Of New Album Forever. New Album to Arrive on October 17, 2025 via PERCEPTION!

“Eternal guardians FOREVER!” Following their adrenaline-fuelled "Grail Gym" single, superheroic metal powerhouse GRAILKNIGHTS have unleashed the title track of their empowering new opus Forever, their first full-length release through PERCEPTION - A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music. More guitar-driven than the quintet’s previous anthem, the mission of Forever can’t be missed: The bond between the GRAILKNIGHTS and their brave followers has never been stronger and will remain until the end of the galaxy and beyond!

“’"Forever’" is more to us than just the title song of our new album - it’s our anthem to what has grown between us and the Battlechoir - our loyal supporters," they comment. "Even now, it thunders with full force from the speakers, but we firmly believe: When we play it live and the Battlechoir joins in loudly, the song will unleash a whole new energy. These moments - when everything comes together and the hall is shaking - are the essence of what we love and why we do all of this."

Stream "Forever" now at: https://grailknights.rpm.link/foreversinglePR

Listen Below.

The band's new album Forever will be released on Friday, October 17, 2025, featuring twelve new hymns that build the seventh chapter of GRAILKNIGHTS’ glorious history (incl. "Necronomicon," "Grail Gym," "Forever" & a bold "Super Trouper" cover version). Secure your copy (excl. ticket & merch bundles etc.) & pre-save Forever now at: https://grailknights.rpm.link/foreverPR

Crafted at Sascha Paeth’s Pathway Studios, their sidekick Sebastian Khayat delivered maximally heroic cover artwork for GRAILKNIGHTS’ new record, which fans can finally hold their hands on at the beginning of the quintet’s forthcoming “Battle Of Metal” co-headline tour with ALL FOR METAL.

About GRAILKNIGHTS

 

If it’s on their 2004 debut album Across The Galaxy, its follow-ups Return To Castle Grailskull and Alliance or their tales of the past 15 years (Calling The Choir, Knightfall & Muscle Bound For Glory), GRAILKNIGHTS’ goal has remained the same - the Holy Grail must be returned to Grailham City! Their mission also led their flight path to stages around the globe, which they boldly dominated as headlining act and shared with acts such as SABATON, FEUERSCHWANZ, BROTHERS OF METAL and TWILIGHT FORCE among others, always supported by their brave fan base aka the Battlechoir.

 

During the years, some of these equally brave musicians have also lent their additional vocal support to the Hanover, Germany based squad: Tracks like "Turbo Boost [feat. FEUERSCHWANZ]" but especially "Pumping Iron Power," which was graced by SABATON’s Joakim Brodén, crafted additional intergalactic bondings between the band and metalheads worldwide, and saw GRAILKNIGHTS’ success numbers go through the roof with"Pumping Iron Power" recently hitting 15 million Spotify streams only.

 

Highly experienced in both studio and live battles, the superheroic metal group have faced and overcome several evil powers over time, and now they are set to oppose Dr. Skull in full length once again with their 7th adventure, followed by yet another journey across Europe. Joining forces with label family members ALL FOR METAL in autumn 2025, the “Battle Of Metal” can actually only end in another victory against all evil.

GRAILKNIGHTS are:

Sir Optimus Prime | vocals

Sovereign Storm | guitars, vocals

Count Cranium | guitars, vocals

Duncan MacLoud | bass, vocals

Lord Drumcules | drums

 

More on GRAILKNIGHTS:

grailknights.de | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music

Fermentor - New Album Agreement

FERMENTOR’s latest sonic experiment, Agreement, drops August 15th, 2025. This 17-track instrumental album concludes a trilogy of improvised releases, following Mind Meldand Release Me. Agreement pushes their boundary-defying blend of blistering death metal and sprawling, freeform post-rock to new extremes, delivering cinematic brutality and storytelling without words through instinct-driven chemistry.

The album opens with "Wintry Earth," a bleak, droning descent marked by jagged time signatures, eerie guitar textures, and a brutal death metal finale that sets a tense, violent tone. "Whisper Flesh" follows, a raw improvisation where dissonant loops and jagged grooves shift between blast-heavy death metal and crushing, groove-laden choruses, spiraling into ritualistic heaviness.

"Dead Farm" and "Ceratops" offer contrasting explorations of heaviness. "Dead Farm" channels the primal force of SEPULTURA, seismic pulse of GOJIRA, and progressive sludge of MASTODON with groove-driven intensity. Meanwhile, "Ceratops" unfolds slowly from meditative calm into a cathartic, tectonic climax, showcasing the band’s dynamic range from muscular aggression to patient build.

"More Than Eight" dives into FERMENTOR’s signature improvised chaos, layering guitar loops instinctively over shifting rhythms. "Ghost Girl" ventures further into experimental territory, blurring meditative post-rock and thunderous groove metal with spiraling solos and ethereal textures.

"Roach God" captures raw vulnerability through imperfect, high-wire improvisation where mistakes become defining characteristics - an authentic snapshot of risk and discovery. "Rotted" is a relentless, riff-driven brutal death metal descent, free of loops and culminating in a monstrous breakdown forged in pure instinct.

"Deactivated" builds angular chaos with dissonant grooves, shifting time signatures, and a searing solo, exploding into a triumphant finale. The title track "Agreement" is a study in tension and release, layering palm-muted guitars over hypnotic loops, culminating in a crushing halftime outro, a seismic exhale of raw improvisation and controlled chaos.

"There With That" blends cinematic instincts and epic metal grandeur, balancing atmosphere and intensity with emotional clarity. "Human Caterpillar" immortalizes a glitching guitar pedal feedback during an improvisation, turning technical failure into a chaotic, avant-garde Easter egg and a tongue-in-cheek highlight released on April Fools’ Day.

"Transgression" blasts with thrash-rooted energy, tight cymbal chokes and groove-drenched riffs channeling the band’s early chemistry and old-school aggression. "Hides Behind Hands" offers a rare breath of melancholic reflection, trading brutality for beauty through shimmering loops and restrained percussion, inviting pause and introspection.

"Protohuman" is a kaleidoscopic hybrid of swirling loops, jagged rhythms, and pulverizing eruptions that merge FERMENTOR’s death-thrash roots with fearless experimentation. "Skybeam" unleashes a deafening blast of explosive energy, a chaotic tempest signaling the album’s climax.

Finally, "All Ashes" winds down with reflective melodies and subtle textures, a sonic exhale that gathers Agreement’s sprawling journey into a poignant, meditative farewell.

Agreement stands as a bold testament to FERMENTOR’s fearless embrace of improvisation, raw emotion, and genre-defying exploration. Through blistering death metal, expansive post-rock, and moments of beautiful imperfection, the album captures a journey of friendship, risk, and creative discovery. It invites listeners into a world where chaos and control coexist, forging a powerful, unspoken narrative that lingers long after the final note fades. This is more than an album. It is an immersive experience that challenges expectations and redefines the boundaries of instrumental music.

FERMENTOR is:

  • Dylan Marks - Drummer

  • Adam "Wally" Wollach - Guitarist


ABOUT FERMENTOR:
FERMENTOR is a San Diego-based two-piece instrumental metal band formed in 2008 by drummer Dylan Marks (ATHEIST, BEEKEEPER) and guitarist Adam “Wally” Wollach (BEEKEEPER, TRASHAXIS). Stripping away the comforts of a traditional band infrastructure, FERMENTOR relies solely on communicating through only two elements; drums and guitar. The two instruments acting more like contrapuntal voices, rather than just rhythm and melody.

Their musical chemistry was discovered in the summer of 2008 when the two cousins took advantage of an opening at Wollach’s recording studio. Having never collaborated before and with only four weeks to write and record, they created their first EP entitled Matanzaa.

After a brief period of living on opposite coasts, the duo regrouped and began to push their writing to a new level. With a newfound control of their unique synchronicity, they released two EPs; 2011’s self-titled album Fermentor and its follow up, Rate of Cognitionin 2015.

They quickly garnered a reputation for their explosive and unrelenting high-energy performances atypical of a duo, earning them the opportunities to share the stage with other experimental powerhouses such as BEHOLD!...THE ARCTOPUS, ATOMIC APE, and CAPTURE BY ROBOTS.

In 2020, they released their first full-length album Continuance. A highly creative and progressive album. Continuance plays with the listener’s ear by subverting expectations of tonality and song structure. This critically hailed record is bursting with intricate timings, propulsive arrangements, and unconventional riffing. It also marked the release of FERMENTOR’s first music videos, most notably the incredible video for "Seventh Circle", premiered by Decibel, which saw the duo in a high-energy pursuit of a mysterious orb.

2023 saw the band continuing to push their abilities as well as the conventions of instrumental metal with the release of their next full-length album, Mind Meld. Engineered at Singing Serpent Studios by Ben Moore (TERA MELOS, RETOX) and recorded, mixed, and mastered again by Wollach, Mind Meld showcases the growth and maturity of the duo as well as boasting the highest quality recordings of FERMENTOR’s catalog so far. Additionally, the band employed a unique approach by self-recording everything live, without click tracks or additional layers. Mind Meldreceived major critical acclaim, beloved by existing FERMENTOR fans as well as reaching many new fans through emphasis on more music videos and footage from the studio.

In 2024, FERMENTOR embarked on the FermenTOUR, traveling along the West Coast introducing new audiences to their unique brand of instrumental music.

In January 2025, FERMENTOR continued to challenge themselves and their fans with their latest album, Release Me. 17 tracks of brand new songs completely improvised in the studio, Release Me spans numerous genres, employs live looping and layering in single takes, resulting in the most diverse and innovative music of FERMENTOR’s career. To share the record with the world, FERMENTOR released a song from the album every week for 17 weeks until the date of the album release with accompanying music videos and footage from the studio, massively increasing their reach and acclaim.

Of course, FERMENTOR does not stop there! Relentless in their output, FERMENTOR is announcing yet ANOTHER 17-track, all-improvised album, entitled Agreement. The first track dropped just two weeks after Release Me.

Agreement continues FERMENTOR’s pursuit of unique and highly creative instrumental music, further cementing their use of looping and defiance of genre. Again the group will be releasing a song per week from the record along with music videos and documentation of the recording process.

FERMENTOR will hit the road again in 2025, as they remain ever dedicated to spreading their music and artistic vision to the world!