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 MeAgreement 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

IRON SAVIOR Unleash New Digital Single ‘Walls Of Fire (2025 Version)’ From Upcoming Double Album “Reforged - Machine World”

RON SAVIOR return with a powerful new take on their classic "Walls Of Fire," delivering the explosive energy of the original with modern production and renewed precision. Rigid riffs, driving rhythms and epic melodies make this re-recording a perfect fit alongside fan favourites like "Heavy Metal Never Dies" and "The Landing," proving once again why the Hamburg-based legends remain a cornerstone of the power metal scene.

Listen to "Walls Of Fire (2025 Version)" Below.

The track is taken from their upcoming double album Reforged - Machine World, the final chapter in the band’s celebrated “Reforged” series, featuring 15 reinterpreted tracks and a cover of JUDAS PRIEST’s "Starbreaker" - due out on August 22, 2025 on PERCEPTION, a division of Reigning Phoenix Music.

Album pre-orders and more info: https://ironsavior.rpm.link/machineworldPR

IRON SAVIOR are:

Piet Sielck | vocals, guitars
Joachim Küstner | guitars
Patrick Opitz | bass
Patrick Klose | drums

More on IRON SAVIOR:

iron-savior.com | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music

J.B.O. Make Fan Hearts Flutter With "Bussi"; Lyric Video For New Single Streaming

Summer, the season of love, has finally arrived! Comedy metal band J.B.O. doesn’t need to be asked twice to show their affection. Still riding high on the success of their beer-fuelled single "Ka-Fump!" and inspired by the start of the warm season, the quartet is back today, leaving plenty of... ahem... musical love bites with their new track "Bussi" (Southern German/Austrian slang for ‘Kiss’).
 
Introduced by a sweet accordion melody, the cozily seeming song starts on a romantic note before Vito, Hannes, Ralph and Wolfram pull out the big NDH guns and enter the second stage of their journey to their forthcoming album Haus Of The Rising Fun (January 9, 2026 via PERCEPTION - A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music). The single guides all friends of ‘true nonsense,’ who found their way out of the Franconian woods despite endlessly consuming "Ka-Fump!",straight into the next labyrinth, the world of Bavarian beer tents. Musically flirting with one of the most famous bands of all time, "Bussi" is nothing but an unrivalled minnesong which comes up with select mischievous quotes.
 
“‘Bussi’ is a pure love song and innocent as its title! That’s why we also wrote guiltless Bavarian lyrics although they’re not completely kosher... Well, Vito is a Bavarian-Franconian crossing anyway. Come on, don’t make a fuss!” add J.B.O.through rose-coloured glasses.
 
Watch the video below:
Stream "Bussi": https://jbo.rpm.link/bussiPR

About J.B.O.
 
Heavy guitars and German lyrics combined with Franconian sense for nonsense don’t work? Way off the mark! Since 1989, J.B.O. have multiply proven that they’re the real masters of comedy metal - over the course of 14 studio albums to be concrete. Additionally awarded with two gold records, the quartet are mostly known for covering hit songs by artists of different genres, giving them a unique twist through re-written lyrics with an extra portion of humour.
 
Their original tracks shouldn’t remain unnoticed nevertheless since they also popularise with not minor jocular lyrical content. Fan favourites such as Ein guter Tag zum Sterben" [‘A Good Day To Die’] are classics of the band’s repertoire and vital parts of each and every J.B.O. concert.
 
From die-hard old-school metalheads to families and kids and fans beyond the hard’n’heavy boundaries: Their wide range of musical inspiration has resulted in an equally varied amount of followers which sees J.B.O. unite all sorts of people under their multicoloured musical roof and especially in front of the stages, making them even more outstanding amidst the heavily crowded world of artists out there.
 
J.B.O. are:
Hannes “G. Laber” Holzmann | vocals, guitars
Veit “Vito C.” Kutzer | vocals, guitars
Ralph Bach | bass
Wolfram Kellner | drums
 
More on J.B.O.:
jbo.de | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Bluesky | Mastodon
YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | jbo-fans.de

AMONG THE BODIES Unleash Feral New Single and Harrowing Music Video Ahead Of Cathartic EP

Denver Colorado's "AMONG THE BODIES"  have returned with their new song "Meant For Each Other".

The band comments, "Our new single is about losing a close friend to a new relationship. The music video tells the story and captures the roller coaster of emotions that come along with it, while also highlighting the personalities of the band members." 

The song's brutal blend of deathcore, hardcore and metalcore is a perfect primer for their upcoming EP Making Sense of Our Decay, which is out on June 27th.

AMONG THE BODIES is:
Raye - drums
Mac - guitar
Keith - vocals
Addison - bass

About AMONG THE BODIES:

Hailing from Denver, Colorado, Among the Bodies aren’t afraid of anything—including the liminal space between hardcore, deathcore, death metal, and metalcore, which is where they’re most comfortable. While the riffs may be hard to classify, they aren’t hard to mosh to. Appealing to both the old heads who saw deathcore and metalcore storm the scene and the new generation that embraces experimentation, Among the Bodies’ number-one goal is to keep it heavy while having fun.

Making Sense of Our Decay, their second EP, is a bit of a departure from the first EP, Chaotic Intent, which focused more on technicality and melody. Now, with their revised lineup, Among the Bodies are here to make you forget about genre conventions and lose yourself in the pit. While the subject matter on the EP gets a bit serious, delving into the realities of being an aging metalhead or hardcore kid, it’s all done with a tongue-in-cheek attitude and a love for heavy music reminiscent of the genre’s forefathers. We’re all decaying slowly, so why not have fun while doing it?

Final Chapter of FERMENTOR’s Trilogy Agreement Set for August 15 Physical Release

Brutalambient instrumental duo FERMENTOR is excited to announce the physical release of their new album Agreement, landing August 15th, 2025. This 17-track release marks the third and final chapter in a bold instrumental trilogy, following 2023’s Mind Meld and 2025’s Release Me. Agreement takes listeners on an immersive ride through the crushing weight of death metal, blended with the sweeping, improvisational textures of post-rock.

It’s a sound that’s both fierce and fluid—raw, yet meticulously layered. FERMENTOR thrives in the tension between chaos and control, fusing looping grooves, sharp dynamics, and free-form intuition into something that defies easy categorization.

Drummer Dylan Marks, who also performs with legendary progressive death metal band ATHEIST, brings added firepower and recognition to the release. His reputation in the extreme metal world offers a compelling entry point for new listeners, while also underscoring the technical depth that runs throughout Agreement.

The band shares, "Agreement isn’t just another release—it’s the final step in a bigger experiment. From Mind Meld to Release Me, and now this, we’ve been exploring how far we can push instrumental music emotionally and technically. This record is the closing statement."

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 and guitarist Adam “Wally” Wollach. Relying solely on drums and guitar as contrapuntal voices, the cousins discovered their chemistry while recording their first EP, Matanzaa, within four weeks. After a brief time living on opposite coasts, they reunited to release two EPs: Fermentor (2011) and Rate of Cognition (2015), gaining a reputation for their explosive, high-energy performances alongside acts like BEHOLD!... THE ARCTOPUS AND CAPTURED BY ROBOTS. Their first full-length album, Continuance (2020), showcased progressive, intricately arranged compositions and introduced their first music videos, including the acclaimed "Seventh Circle". In 2023, Mind Meld marked a new peak in production quality and maturity, recorded live without click tracks, earning critical acclaim and expanding their fanbase. The 2024 FermenTOUR brought their unique sound to West Coast audiences, followed by the 2025 release Release Me, a 17-track fully improvised album spanning multiple genres, shared weekly with accompanying videos to great acclaim. Not slowing down, FERMENTOR announced another 17-track improvised album, Agreement, continuing their exploration of looping and genre-defying music. In 2025, they plan to tour again, committed to sharing their evolving artistic vision worldwide.

GRAILKNIGHTS Dive Into Lovecraftian Depth With New Single "Necronomicon"

As they put the finishing touches on their seventh full-length album, GRAILKNIGHTS have already unveiled its first chapter with the release of their new single, "Necronomicon." Hailing from Grailham City, these superhero-themed metallers take on none other than Cthulhu; a monstrous, kraken-like entity. The single’s title is likely to resonate with many, as it draws inspiration from H.P. Lovecraft’s infamous book of the same name.

"Necronomicon" opens with an eerie echo, as if calling from beyond, before GRAILKNIGHTS plunge headfirst into the ocean’s depths with a singular mission: to stop the resurrection of the ancient beast whose return could spell the end of the world. Armed with thunderous drums, a blazing intergalactic guitar solo, and a rallying chorus forged to summon the bravest of metalheads, the band wage an epic battle to outwit Cthulhu in the sunken city of R’lyeh once and for all.

The GRAILKNIGHTS add: “Valiant Battlechoir, with ‘Necronomicon,’ we continue a journey we started on our 'Knightfall' album in 2018. We’ve always been fascinated by the world of H.P. Lovecraft - the atmosphere, the mystery, the sense of something vast and unknowable just beneath the surface. This song is our way of diving back into that universe. It’s also a spiritual follow-up to our earlier track ‘Cthulhu.’ This time we wanted to explore a different corner of that mythos though - something darker, more haunting, and a bit more epic in sound. Producing and recording ‘Necronomicon’ along with talented Sascha Paeth was intense and creatively rewarding. We focused on capturing that eerie, otherworldly mood that Lovecraft’s stories are known for, while staying true to our heroic and uplifting sound. We’re proud of how it turned out, and we’re excited to finally share it with you!”

"Necronomicon" was recorded at GateStudio (Wolfsburg, Germany) under the watchful eyes of Sascha Paeth (AVANTASIA, KAMELOT, RHAPSODY OF FIRE etc.). Its live premiere already took place during the group’s Grailfest, where Battlechoir members from all around the world came together at MusikZentrum Hanover on May 2 and 3. Fortunately, GRAILKNIGHTS fan don’t have to wait too long until their return as their 2025 “Battle Of Metal” co-headline tour with ALL FOR METAL will kick off at the very same venue on October 16. Containing 21 shows in total, the journey will lead both band’s way across 8 European countries.

About GRAILKNIGHTS

If it’s on their 2004 debut album Across The Galaxy” its follow-ups Return To Castle Grailskul 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" heading for 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 X | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music

IRON SAVIOR To Release Final Part Of “Reforged” Double Album Series, “Machine World,” on August 22, 2025

IRON SAVIOR are one of the dinosaurs in the scene as well as pioneers of the traditional power metal genre and can proudly look back at almost 30 years of history. Founded by Piet Sielck (guitars, vocals) in 1996, the Hamburg, Germany based band quickly established themselves with their energising mix of power metal and sci-fi driven lyrics. Especially fantasy inspired metalheads have always been in love with IRON SAVIOR’s early works which are built on a story about a spaceship carrying the band’s name and their popularity is unbroken. Iron Savior [ 1997], Unification and Interlude [both 1999], Dark Assault [2001], Condition Red [2002] and Battering Ram [2004] were bestsellers - until they ran out of stock.

In order to meet the demand, IRON SAVIOR -- now consisting of Sielck, guitarist Joachim Küstner and a rhythm section powered by Patrick Klose (drums) and latest member Patrick Opitz (bass) -- didn’t only re-record the material from their Noise Records years (1997-2004), they even added an additional doze of enthusiasm to the original songs. Part 1 and 2 of these session have been received enormously well from fans, that’s why the group are even prouder to announce the release of the concluding third part of their legacy worshipping Reforged series today.

Due out on August 22, 2025, Reforged - Machine World features reinterpreted songs as well as a cover version of JUDAS PRIEST’s "Starbreaker," skillfully bridging to IRON SAVIOR’s old tradition of frequently paying tribute to the ‘metal gods.’ The new 2CD/LP marks the quartet’s debut release at their new label home PERCEPTION, the promising new division of Reigning Phoenix Music, where they (re-)unite with other well-known acts such as DANKO JONES, GRAILKNIGHTS, J.B.O., and SERIOUS BLACK among others. The 16 included tracks were recorded and produced at Powerhouse Studio Hamburg by frontman Sielck, who additionally took care of mixing, mastering and artwork/layout of the album.

Band leader Piet Sielck comments: “After collaborating with Nils Wasko and Jochen Richert [managing director] at AFM Records, I didn’t have to think twice when it came to deciding about a new partner. Continuing success, chart entries and three satisfied parties - band, fans and label - are more than enough reasons to follow the two of them to PERCEPTION and the Reigning Phoenix Music family. Onwards to at least 15 more years of this fruitful union!”

Label strategist Wasko adds: “We’re really thankful for IRON SAVIOR’s trust, and we’re equally happy to continue working with Piet and his fellow men at PERCEPTION. Having a collaborative long-term plan, IRON SAVIOR are only warming up, and we’re extremely confident to reach new extragalactic spheres together, with their final 'Reforged' chapter blasting off on the journey to their next original studio album. Power and melodic metal maniacs, go aboard!”

Pre-order/pre-save Reforged - Machine World: https://ironsavior.rpm.link/machineworldPR

Today’s announcement is supported by the first appetizer of the ‘upgraded’ album, "Eye Of The World [2025 Version]," which can originally be found on IRON SAVIOR’s 2001 effort, Dark Assault.

“I was just never happy with this song. Somehow it didn't really take off. But the new version is an absolute hit and is now even being released as the first single,” comments Sielck.

Convince yourselves and stream it here: https://ironsavior.rpm.link/eyePR

IRON SAVIOR are:
Piet Sielck | vocals, guitars
Joachim Küstner | guitars
Patrick Opitz | bass
Patrick Klose | drums
 
More on IRON SAVIOR:
iron-savior.com | Facebook | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music

J.B.O. Embark On Adventurous Hike Through Franconian Woods In "Ka-Fump!" Music Video

J.B.O. the self-proclaimed ‘defenders of nonsense,’ serve the first slug from their upcoming album Haus Of The Rising Fun today. Living in a world turning faster than you can even follow, the Franconians look back on the ‘good ol’ times’ with their single "Ka-Fump!," which invites fans to the band’s new record, due out on January 9, 2026 through new label partner PERCEPTION. The song originates in Shania Twain’s world-wide known track "Ka-Ching!" but comes along in a unique pink wrapping as it can only be created by J.B.O.
 
They rejoice: “‘Ka-Fump!’ In neo-German, the opening sound of a beer bottle would be described as ‘satisfying.’ We’ve reflected on why it is like that and which emotions it provokes, resulting in the lyrics of this song. Or as we’re used to say in Franconia: ‘Let’s go and have a party!’”
 
The accompanying music video guides the audience deep into Franconian undergrowth where the group -- Veit, Hannes, Ralph & Wolfram -- have embarked on an almost endless quest for well-deserved after-work beers. At the end of this adventurous trip, J.B.O. are finally rewarded by the Holy Hop Grail - presented by a very special guest. Who that is? Find out below:
 
Stream the single: https://jbo.rpm.link/kafumpPR
 
The creational period of J.B.O.’s ‘pink light district’ opus is almost over, and more details can be expected very soon. Until then: cheers!

About J.B.O.
 
Heavy guitars and German lyrics combined with Franconian sense for nonsense don’t work? Way off the mark! Since 1989, J.B.O. have multiply proven that they’re the real masters of comedy metal - over the course of 14 studio albums to be concrete. Additionally awarded with two gold records, the quartet are mostly known for covering hit songs by artists of different genres, giving them a unique twist through re-written lyrics with an extra portion of humour.
 
Their original tracks shouldn’t remain unnoticed nevertheless since they also popularise with not minor jocular lyrical content. Fan favourites such as "Ein guter Tag zum Sterben"[‘A Good Day To Die’] are classics of the band’s repertoire and vital parts of each and every J.B.O. concert.
 
From die-hard old-school metalheads to families and kids and fans beyond the hard’n’heavy boundaries: Their wide range of musical inspiration has resulted in an equally varied amount of followers which sees J.B.O. unite all sorts of people under their multicoloured musical roof and especially in front of the stages, making them even more outstanding amidst the heavily crowded world of artists out there.
 
J.B.O. are:
Hannes “G. Laber” Holzmann | vocals, guitars
Veit “Vito C.” Kutzer | vocals, guitars
Ralph Bach | bass
Wolfram Kellner | drums
 
More on J.B.O.:
jbo.de | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok | Bluesky | Mastodon
YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music | jbo-fans.de

About PERCEPTION
 
PERCEPTION is the latest label imprint of Reigning Phoenix Music. Following the successful addition of ROAR, a sub-label dedicated to emerging talents and artists, PERCEPTION is set to provide a strong foundation for regionally and stylistically leading bands with high growth potential.
 
Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur, Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme and hard music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists by offering best services and practices in the industry. Reigning Phoenix Music’s paramount goal is to help the artists amplify their music and talent to a winning formula for success. The label recently opened a new office in London, UK.
 
More on PERCEPTION:
perception.music | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

ATOLL Premieres Visceral Live Video for Fan-Favorite “Gay for God”

Ferocious extreme metal outfit ATOLL has unveiled a blistering live performance video for their track "Gay for God," captured during their 2024 tour. Showcasing the band's unrelenting energy and technical precision, the footage captures ATOLL at their most visceral, fusing guttural vocals, pummeling breakdowns, and uncompromising stage presence into a relentless assault on the senses. The track, already a fan favorite for its unapologetic intensity and provocative edge, gains new life in this raw, in-your-face live rendition.


The band comments on the release, stating "Gay for a God is a glimpse into the feelings of a choir boy who got violated by the person appointed by God himself to lead the flock. Is that irony?! We're not sure. You be the judge..."


Watch the video Below:

About ATOLL:

Since forming in 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona, ATOLL has built a reputation as one of the most uncompromising forces in extreme metal, sharing the stage with giants like SKINLESS, GORGASM, and ABORTED, while decimating festivals like Full Terror Assault Open Air, Denver Death Fest, and Sonoran Slam Fest. Known for their conceptually driven themes of nuclear fallout, mutations, animal aggression, aliens, and crime, ATOLL continues to push boundaries with their unapologetic approach to sonic destruction.


ATOLL is:

Wade Taylor – Vocals 

Cameron Broomfield – Bass 

Spencer Ferguson – Guitar 

Matt Markle – Guitar 

Mike Thomas – Drums 


Connect with ATOLL: