ANNIHILUS MUNDI Release "A Hedgehog’s Dilemma" With An Animated Music Video

Progressive extreme metal project ANNIHILUS MUNDI have unveiled their next single, "A Hedgehog's Dilemma". Accompanied by an animated music video, the track provides a further insight into the band's forthcoming sophomore album, The Dead Sea Scrolls. 

"A Hedgehog's Dilemma" takes its name from the metaphor coined by German philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer and shares the title with an episode of Neon Genesis Evangelion. For Schopenhauer, the inability for hedgehogs to cuddle for warmth without causing each other harm mirrors how individual humans crave intimacy but their own 'spines' (trauma, anxieties etc.,) can cause damage in relationships. The song is centered around the protagonist from Neon Genesis Evangelion, Shinji, and the impacts of his social masking that is used as a defensive mechanism. 

"'A Hedgehog’s Dilemma' is the most deliberately composed song on the album." Composer and lyricist Daniel Saillant shares. "Since Shinji is a cello player who often finds solace in classical music, the song is composed in the (mostly) historically accurate form of a classical sonata and features an orchestra melody reminiscent of romantic era composers like Tchaikovsky in the place of a traditional chorus." Compared with the first single release, "Absolute Terror", "A Hedgehog’s Dilemma takes far more risks with its structure and firmly points the album in a much more progressive and artistic direction."

Musically, ANNIHILUS MUNDI fuse an amalgamation of styles to produce a deeply emotive and dynamic sonic impact in "A Hedgehog's Dilemma". The brutality of ferocious death metal rhythms marries seamlessly with the uplifting melodies incorporated across orchestral arrangements and vocal lines. Segueing between symphonic textures from the orchestral strings to the deafening distortion of guitars and harsh vocals, the intense layers combine to form a highly energizing and compelling track. 

The Dead Sea Scrolls explores the personal lived experiences of composer and lyricist Daniel Saillant. In a fusion of genres and artforms, ANNIHILUS MUNDI presents the central concepts through the lens of Hideaki Anno’s notorious 1995 anime series Neon Genesis Evangelion and its subsequent 1997 film The End of Evangelion. 

"A Hedgehog's Dilemma" was produced, mixed and mastered, and engineered by Daniel Saillant at Wailing Pines Productions.

About ANNIHILUS MUNDI

Formed in 2018, ANNIHILUS MUNDI is the creation of Daniel Saillant, blending elements of death metal, shoegaze, and progressive rock. His 2019 debut album Grief and subsequent releases have positioned him as a distinctive voice in the underground metal scene. Inspired by bands such as CYNIC, DEAFHEAVEN, and DREAM THEATER, Saillant continues to push musical boundaries, combining harsh and clean vocals, complex guitar arrangements, and introspective lyrics.

Folk Metal Duo FORGOTTEN SHRINE Present "Halo"

The enchanting and charismatic folk metal ensemble FORGOTTEN SHRINE have unveiled their new single "Halo". Comprised of Josh Alexander and Sofia Frasz (EXILED HOPE), the dynamic duo embrace country and pop elements as they explore an emotive narrative of wanting to see the best in someone despite witnessing a darker reality.

Josh Alexander shares: "When Sofia brought me this song in its demo form I was both excited and surprised at the melodic and lyrical structure. It's beautiful simplicity brings a breath of fresh air after a very dark and heavy part of our upcoming album, in a way that almost gives you whiplash. On another note, folk metal bands aren't exactly commonplace in the USA where we're from - and much in the way that European bands like Eluveitie have ballads that call back to their own folk traditions, 'Halo' is a callback to the Appalachian folk tradition here in America."

Sofia Frasz comments: "Last May, I got 'If I Die Young' by The Band Perry stuck in my head at random while out on a walk. When I got back, I played around with different melodies and finally landed on the chorus. I thought it might be fun to try out a style I'd never touched before, and hilarious to put a country/folk/pop song right next to some of the heaviest songs on the album; my approach to songwriting is very playful and goofy even when the subject matter is serious. I'd had the idea for the lyrics and the song title for a while, and they finally found a home in the lighter, softer melodies you hear on this song. Lyrically, 'Halo' is about seeing the worst sides of someone, and hoping that you're wrong about what you see. Even if they show you their true colors over and over again, it can be hard to accept that and see reality."

In "Halo", an array of string and folk instruments provide a bright and textural backdrop to the lead vocal melodies. Both Frasz and Alexander perform clean vocals on this song in a delivery that feels intimate and personal, and aptly conveys the lyrical theme. The genre influences of country, folk and pop are incorporated seamlessly into FORGOTTEN SHRINE's characteristic sound. From the catchy chorus hook to the dynamic instrumental arrangement, the band showcase their more experimental side in this new release. 

FORGOTTEN SHRINE is: 
Josh Alexander (Pennsylvania, USA) - Guitar, Bass, Hurdy Gurdy, Irish Bouzouki, Additional Instruments, Backing Vocals, Composition.
Sofia Frasz (Maryland, USA) - Lead Vocals, Guitar, Lyrics, Composition.

Connect With FORGOTTEN SHRINE : 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61555238025771&mibextid=ZbWKwL
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgottenshrineband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ForgottenShrineBand
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0q7rFp0yxvWoxGWqIt21nI?si=p5jz0YOOROOHFy5jxHAW6A
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/forgotten-shrine/1734698132

BOOZEWA Announce First West Coast Tour This July

Pennsylvania noise and grunge trio BOOZEWA will make their long awaited West Coast debut this July, bringing their loud, heavy, and unmistakably strange sound across California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, and Utah.

Formed in 2020, BOOZEWA features Jessica Baker on bass and vocals, Rylan Caspar on guitar and vocals, and mRc on drums. The trio draws from a sonic lineage that includes KARP, MELVINS, SONIC YOUTH, and SWANS, delivering a sound that is both punishing and unpredictable. The band includes former members of BACKWOODS PAYBACK and a current member of ALL ELSE FAILED.

Operating fully DIY through their own DeepRest Records imprint, BOOZEWA has released five records, singles, and EPs. Their latest release, a split with NOWHERE, is available now on 12 inch vinyl. The band has also worked in the studio with TAD DOYLE of TAD.

Known for their intense live performances, BOOZEWA has previously toured with THE OBSESSED, SUPLECS, CKY, AMIGO THE DEVIL, and COMA HOLE. This upcoming run marks a major milestone as they finally bring their sound to fans who have been asking for West Coast dates for years.

The band states they are excited to finally get out west and connect with those who have been waiting. Each show will feature hand picked regional acts.

BOOZEWA July West Coast Tour

  • Thursday 16 Alexs Bar, Long Beach CA with DAWN FADES, STYGIAN CROWN

  • Friday 17 Redwood Bar, Los Angeles CA

  • Saturday 18 Scotland Yard, Los Angeles CA

  • Sunday 19 Humble Heart, San Diego CA with DEAD TENSION, NO AVAIL

  • Monday 20 Aces High Saloon, Salt Lake City UT with LUCID, SIMIAN

  • Thursday 23 Lucky Liquor, Tacoma WA with PONYBOY, GRRRIZLY

  • Friday 24 Kenton Club, Portland OR with CUE THE SUN, VACANCY FLOOR, CLAMBAIT

  • Saturday 25 The Dip, Redding CA

  • Sunday 26 MATINEE Kilowatt, San Francisco CA with GRAIN, WONDERLAND REJECTS

  • Sunday 26 NIGHT SHOW Winters, Pacifica CA with CAMGIRL

  • Wednesday 29 Yucca Taproom, Mesa AZ with LOST DUTCHMAN, GET TO THE CHOPPER

  • Thursday 30 Transplants Brewing, Palmdale CA

  • Friday 31 Til Two, San Diego CA with INSOMNIA, DOLL RIOT

  • BOOZEWA is:

    • Jessica Baker – Bass

    • Rylan Caspar – Guitar

    • mRc – Drums and Vocals

    Connect with BOOZEWA:

Ecuador's Deathcore Ensemble SARCOMA Unleash "Reinos Fallidos"

A deafening descent awaits in "Reinos Fallidos". Ecuador's SARCOMA indulge in an extreme assault on the senses in their newest single, which translates to "Failed Kingdoms". The track arrives ahead of SARCOMA's forthcoming full-length album that is set to release later in 2026. 

In "Reinos Fallidos", SARCOMA explore the theme of resilience drawing from their own hiatus taken in 2016 and the changes they encountered in their local scene at their return in 2023. The band present a powerful fusion of classic thrash and powerful modern metallic hardcore in this new offering. 

The track journeys through a devasting array of crushingly heavy sections. Opening with a dissonant lead, "Reinos Fallidos" speeds ahead into a fast-paced onslaught of intense driving guitars and Santiago Romero's fierce harsh vocals. An eerie moment of anticipation suddenly interrupts the heavy sound before the instrumentation unleashes a slower, methodical, pounding rhythm. Discordant harmonics and backing synth layers manifest a dark atmosphere. 

As "Reinos Fallidos" progresses towards its end, the musical arrangement shifts once more. The track incorporates further movement into the heavy instruments alongside technical riffs and glitches before slowing down to a deadly, abrupt end. 

The audio sample present at the beginning of the track contains a well-known quote by Ecuadorian painter Oswaldo Guayasamin (1919-1999), taken from his speech at the laying of the foundation stone of the “Capilla del Hombre”, his magnum opus. In this speech, Guayasamin strongly expressed his pride in his ethnic heritage and Latin American identity, affirming the connection to his people and his indigenous roots.

"Reinos Fallidos" was produced by Juan Pablo Flores and recorded at Valley of the Death recording studio. The single was mixed and mastered by Juan Pablo Rivas. 

CURSED AWAKENING Deliver Thrash And Neoclassical Elements In The New Single "Rest In Chains"

Chicago's CURSED AWAKENING have unleashed their latest single offering, "Rest In Chains". Taken from their upcoming concept album Path Of A Soul, which follows a fresh born soul as it navigates its new existence, this track sees the creature distraught at the realization of having damaged its own future. 

In "Rest In Chains", having dissociated from the reality of the hellscape in which it inhabits, the protagonist has seen through its delusions and subsequently fallen into destructive tendencies. The creature has begun its dark descent following a path formed of anger and hate. 

CURSED AWAKENING power into life with unceasing ferocious heavy thrash riffs. This brutal bombardment aptly mirrors the highly intense narrative focus of the track. Unrelenting in its attack, the heavy rhythms storm ahead before giving way to a slower, more emotional section performed on classical guitar by the band's former guitarist Zayd Acevedo. Segueing into a neoclassical solo, the track then delves once again into the untamed anguish of the chorus arrangement. 

About CURSED AWAKENING

Formed in Chicago, Illinois in 2021, CURSED AWAKENING (formerly known as ARRHYTHMIA) delivers a thrashy death metal sound rooted in classic influences such as DEATH, BOLT THROWER, AT THE GATES, SLAYER, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER, and SUFFOCATION. Their music combines old school riffing, melodic passages, neoclassical soloing, and introspective lyricism that goes beyond surface level extremity.

After reforming under the CURSED AWAKENING name in early 2026, the band solidified their creative identity and lineup. The current lineup consists of Abraham Verdin on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Michael Nystrom Bala on lead guitar, Brady Dukart on bass and backing vocals, and Ronnie James Keough on drums.

With 2024 bringing notable live performances in Chicago and beyond, CURSED AWAKENING continues to sharpen their sound and vision. The band's latest release of singles including "Past Newtonium" and "The Rift", alongside the newest "Rest In Chains", are further testament to the band's continuation and escalation, marking a darker and heavier chapter as the band moves toward their upcoming 2026 album.

CURSED AWAKENING is:

Abraham Verdin – Rhythm Guitar, Lead Vocals
Michael Nystrom Bala – Lead Guitar
Brady Dukart – Bass, Backing Vocals
Ronnie James Keough – Drums

ATAVISTIA Unveils New Single and Live Music Video "I skogens djup"

Melodic death metal band ATAVISTIA return with a new single, “I skogens djup,” accompanied by a live music video, offering fans a glimpse not only into the band’s evolving sound, but also their energetic live presence. "I skogens djup" lands ahead of their forthcoming album Old Gods Awaken, set for release on May 15, 2026 via Blood Blast Distribution.

Translating to “In the depths of the forest,” “I skogens djup” marks a creative step for the band as their first song written entirely in another language. Drawing inspiration from folk influenced metal acts such as FINNTROLL, ATAVISTIA chose to write the lyrics in Swedish, allowing the phrasing and timing to flow more naturally with the music.

Despite being one of the shortest tracks on the album, the song delivers a burst of energy that is fast, catchy, and punchy, while also introducing the album’s first guitar solo. The track captures a sense of mystery and ancient folklore, reflecting the themes that run throughout Old Gods Awaken.

The accompanying live music video showcases ATAVISTIA’s intensity and stage presence, bringing the song to life in a raw and immediate way.

With Old Gods Awaken on the horizon, “I skogens djup” offers a strong preview of what is to come, blending aggression, melody, and atmosphere into a focused and memorable track.

The upcoming album Old Gods Awaken showcases ATAVISTIA’s most folk-inspired material to date. Featuring shorter, catchier, and more direct compositions, the record reflects the band’s evolving creative direction while staying rooted in their signature sound. Drawing influence from folk metal, black metal, and a wide spectrum of styles in between, the album captures the band’s commitment to following inspiration wherever it leads.

Known for their fluid approach to genre and songwriting, ATAVISTIA continues to push boundaries while maintaining the essence that defines them.

ATAVISTIA lineup:

Mattias Sippola - Guitar, Vocals, Composition, Production
Max Sepulveda - Drums, Engineering
Elia Baghbaniyan - Guitar
Spencer Budworth - Bass, Vocals

Melodic Metal Act DEAD KARMA Release New Single "Settra"

Heavy melodic quartet DEAD KARMA explore tales of immortal gods, conquest and power in the new single, "Settra". The release presents a change in creative direction from the Canadian act, as the band deliver a more aggressive, technical sound. 

Lyrically, "Settra" follows an ancient and immortal desert god who seeks to reclaim a throne that is rightfully theirs. The track is situated from the perspective of Settra, with imagery around subjugation, otherworldly forces, and gold drawing in elements from the tale of King Midas. Fantasy novels and games also became a source of inspiration. 

Channeling the spirit of punk, prominent percussion centers the track's rhythmic quality though it diverts away from a more conventional punk beat. A combination of power chords, harmonized leads, and a technical solo produce a heavy yet intricate sonic texture from the guitars that are positioned alongside a more explorative bass line. Employing vocal layering and group vocal sections, the overall impact is more dynamic. 

"Settra" was recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Chris Rowan at Skaldic Studios. The cover artwork was designed by Andrew Cannell with the photo by Paola Koenig.

About THE BAND:

Based out of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada, DEAD KARMA formed in 2022 with Andrew Cannell (vocals/guitars), Raman Kambo (guitars/vocals), Sean Frankruyter (bass/vocals), and Jacob Jansen (drums). Kambo subsequently departed at the end of 2023, and 2024 brought the release of the band's debut, four-track EP The Space Camaro. 

The band draws musical inspiration from across post-hardcore, metal, prog rock and punk with primary influences taken from acts such as THRICE, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE, TOOL, and MASTODON. Melodic leads are central to DEAD KARMA's sound, with riffs predominantly crafted around memorable hooks.

2025 saw the recording of new material and DEAD KARMA welcomed Dylan Meiler (guitars/vocals) in fall of the same year. The new single, "Settra", showcases a more aggressive, stylistic shift away from their first EP release.

DEAD KARMA Is:

Andrew Cannell (Vocals/Guitars)
Dylan Meiler (Guitars/Vocals)
Sean Frankruyter (Bass/Vocals)
Jacob Jansen (Drums)


Connect With DEAD KARMA:

Bandcamp: https://deadkarmaband.bandcamp.com/
E-Shop: https://deadkarma.square.site/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deadkarmamusic
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/deadkarmaband/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@deadkarmaband
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6oku69hBJT9zSgzBUdqT3y
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/dead-karma/1746198583
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dead.karma.band

BLOOD OF ANGELS Confront Mortality In The New Single "Nevermore"

"Nevermore" is the introspective new offering from BLOOD OF ANGELS. Confronting mortality, the unknown end that awaits all creatures, the band delve into the foreboding darkness. Accompanied by a lyric video, "Nevermore" arrives ahead of the forthcoming full-length album Les Agnst ov Thanatou, due to be released on June 21, 2026.

Les Agnst ov Thanatou is a concept album centered around mortality, grief, ritual, and the psychological weight of loss. "Where earlier tracks wrestle with death, guilt, and the chaos of mortality", the band explain, "this song embodies the point of no return: the moment when hope, time, and possibility are stripped away, leaving only emptiness and remembrance." The new single is not entirely without hope which is revealed in "Nevermore" in the final lyric: “Then I rise, break free from my demise.”For after death, one's life is preserved in the memories of their loved ones. 

Musically, the arrangement of "Nevermore" grew from a riff devised by BLOOD OF ANGELS' bassist The Maggot. The song leans further into the band's alternative influences, while remaining firmly situated in plains of heavy distortion. A haunting bridge comprised of a spoken word section against low orchestral strings reiterates the album's conceptual theme. Returning to thunderous realms, the track reaches its height by building into a classic doom metal sound.

Les Agnst ov Thanatou represents a significant evolution for BLOOD OF ANGELS. Written during a period marked by widespread uncertainty and personal loss, the album presents a unified narrative that traces humanity’s response to death through resistance, ritual, memory, and acceptance. Recorded at Underground Studios in Tampa, Florida, the album was produced by Bob Noxious, Preston DiCarlo, and BLOOD OF ANGELS, with mixing by Preston DiCarlo and mastering at Soundlab in New York City.

Since forming in 2017, BLOOD OF ANGELS have earned international recognition for their songwriting, musicianship, and uncompromising vision. Their accolades include the 2023 Hollywood Independent Music Award for “Best Rock/Metal Song” and multiple Akademia Music Awards. In 2025, the band completed a sold-out headlining European tour, further establishing their presence on the global metal stage.

"Nevermore" explores the darkest corners of Les Agnst ov Thanatou. BLOOD OF ANGELS encourage listeners to sit with the unknown, to face the fear and uncertainty, through the medium of sound, story, and emotion.

BLOOD OF ANGELS is: 

Randy Reyes – Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Aaron Robinson – Guitar
Jonathan Rushford – Drums, Keyboards
The Maggot – Bass, Background Vocals

Connect with BLOOD OF ANGELS:

Official Website: http://www.bloodofangels.net
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0kq6q6hYYdNgk0ZSvgQPzF
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/bloodofangels1
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/bloodofangels
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/bloodofangels
ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/bloodofangels1
Merch / E-Shop: https://merchbooth.com/pages/blood-of-angels-battle-gear
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/blood-of-angels/1195719891

OFFICER LUCIFER Presents Video For "Swallow"

OFFICER LUCIFER's transmission continues with the new single and video, "Swallow". The track presents an uncompromising criticism of manufactured misinformation that is designed to confuse and disorientate perceptions of reality. "Swallow" follows the release of "Far From Right" featuring Page Hamilton of HELMET.

Guitarist David Coloma comments:
"'Swallow' is a direct confrontation with blind obedience.

A track about submission, manipulation, and the systems that thrive when people stop thinking for themselves."

OFFICER LUCIFER's sound is rooted in raw aggression born from a fusion of genres including metal, punk, grunge, and Latin rhythms. "Swallow" unleashes an anguished-fueled attack of gritty distortion, driving rhythms, and melodic vocal melodies performed by Yves Myr. The song exists within OFFICER LUCIFER's narrative world where engineered hybrids rise up against their human creators, mirroring real-world cycles of control, corruption, and resistance.

The lyrics for "Swallow" expose a cycle of bombardment; the continuous exposure to lies, biased perspectives and fear mongering. The song confronts the unquestioned consumption and ingestion of these fabrications that leads to a perspective of existence and selfhood that is an illusion. 

Drums and bass for "Swallow" were performed by Andrés Benavides and Pancho Tomaselli and recorded by Daniel Pasquel at La Increible Sociedad - Quito, Ecuador. The track was mixed by Jesse Gander at Rain City Recorders and mastered by Jamie King. 

DEAD REGISTER Share “Grave,” New Single from Fiber (10th Anniversary Deluxe Remaster)

DEAD REGISTER unveil “Grave,” a new single from Fiber (10th Anniversary Deluxe Remaster), arriving May 22, 2026 via AVR. The track expands into a long-form, post-rock leaning piece built on sustained tension, weight, and atmosphere. It hits with the force of the band’s live presence, stretching time and density into something immersive and physical.

“Grave” centers on the pressure to achieve and the quiet collapse of that idea in the face of death. The lyrics move through questions of purpose, memory, and disappearance. Walk through an old graveyard and the scale becomes clear. Rows of names, lives once held close, now distant. The track sits with that reality and lets it speak for itself.

Marking ten years since the band’s first full-length reshaped their trajectory, Fiber (10th Anniversary Deluxe Remaster) restores the original recordings with renewed depth and clarity while preserving the immediacy and emotional weight that carried the album far beyond its initial release.

Engineer and mastering specialist Dan Dixon revisited the material to bring forward new dimensionality within the performances. The remaster enhances sonic density and detail, allowing the interaction between rhythm, atmosphere, and voice to land with greater physical impact.

Fiber documents a band discovering its voice in real time. Sequenced as a continuous emotional arc, the album moves through isolation, intimacy, existential reflection, and controlled destruction before circling back to its origin point. The anniversary edition completes that arc with “Reverse (Live Bonus Track),” captured during the band’s original 2016 album release performance.

Since its release, DEAD REGISTER have continued to evolve through relentless touring and critically recognized work, yet Fiber remains central to the band’s identity. The anniversary edition presents the record with clarity and force for longtime listeners and new audiences alike.

DEAD REGISTER operates as an ongoing exploration of connection, collapse, desire, and survival. The band continues to refine its approach through relentless live performance, collaborative visual art, and a dedication to creating music that resonates as both personal confrontation and shared catharsis.

DEAD REGISTER is:
 

  • M. Chvasta – Vocals, Bass VI, Bass IV

  • Avril Che – Bass Synth, 88 Keys, Vocals, Visual Media

  • Greg Meisenberg – Drums (Current)

  • Chad Williams - Drums on Fiber


Connect with DEAD REGISTER:
 

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

STATE OF ILLUSION Confronts The Fear of Failure In Their New Video "Death Is Not The End"

In "Death Is Not The End", STATE OF ILLUSION consider a number of poignant themes including a literal meaning through a belief in an afterlife, that creativity prevails and the end of one chapter does not equate to the absence of meaning in ones life, and that the impact of art lives on. "Death Is Not The End" is an intense and intricate progressive metal offering, taken from the upcoming re-release of Pluto’s Ghost, arriving April 17.

On "Death Is Not The End", founder and songwriter Jacob Porter reveals the personal meaning of the track, and Pluto's Ghost: "For me, I felt almost totally alone while writing Pluto’s Ghost. I had a terrible case of writer’s block and felt abandoned by something I’d previously felt was a gift in my ability to write songs. It felt like I would never play live shows again as State of Illusion because for two years, I couldn’t find band members and I couldn’t continue State of Illusion as a studio project because I’d lost the ability to write songs."

"Death Is Not The End" concludes Pluto's Ghost, and draws together thematic and musical threads that have been carefully woven throughout the track list leading to this point. The emotional effect is heightened through ethereal moments, and greater extremes of contrast between the fierce heaviness and quieter sections. 

The accompanying music video to "Death Is Not The End" portrays a juxtaposition of reciprocal love and happiness found in everyday, often mundane moments, and an underlying darkness as shown through medication and glimpses of suffering in solitude. The narrative of video sees a couple celebrate the happy news of pregnancy while the father's health deteriorates leading to his passing. The song explores multiple interpretations through its lyrics and the video, allowing audiences to relate through their own lived experiences. 

STATE OF ILLUSION continues to evolve as a collaborative band, driven by the belief that heavy music can be emotional, introspective, and expansive without losing its intensity.

STATE OF ILLUSION is:

Jacob Porter – vocals
Shandon Fair – guitar
Cody Dabbs – guitar
Gunnar VanWingerden – bass
Bryce Chism – drums


Connect With STATE OF ILLUSION:

Official Website: www.stateofillusionmusic.com
Bandcamp: https://stateofillusion.bandcamp.com/
E-Shop: https://stateofillusionmusic.storenvy.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StateofIllusion
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stateofillusionmusic/
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/stateofIllusio1
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/stateofillusion
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1ItB6evAEFio44kFAbxYDT?si=d66224a4c2514179
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/state-of-illusion/284774718
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stateofillusionmusic

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/

LUNGBURNER Releases New Video "Adamu," Dogma Out Now!

Atlanta heavy music collective LUNGBURNER have released their new video for “Adamu” alongside their third full-length album Dogma, available now through Terminus Hate City Records HERE. 

Written throughout 2025 and recorded, produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered entirely by the band, Dogma marks a significant step forward in LUNGBURNER’s evolution. Across seven tracks and just over forty minutes, the album expands their sound by blending southern sludge weight with progressive composition, atmospheric electronics, and shifting melodic structures.

Conceptually, Dogma explores the psychological and spiritual consequences of entrenched belief systems. Drawing from mythology, philosophy, and personal reflection, the album examines how inherited ideas surrounding religion, culture, and identity shape human behavior and perception. Each track presents a different perspective, forming a continuous narrative that moves through awakening, rebellion, struggle, and eventual balance.

The album opens with “Adamu,” now accompanied by a new video. The track begins with tribal percussion samples and a call to the fallen angel Lucifer before unfolding into a driving riff anchored by deep bass and aggressive vocals. Referencing the Babylonian concept of the first man, “Adamu” centers on humanity’s emergence into self awareness and the uneasy realization of one’s place within larger systems of belief and structure. The video reflects these themes through stark and symbolic imagery.

With Dogma, LUNGBURNER deliver their most cohesive and ambitious work to date, pushing beyond genre boundaries while maintaining a focused conceptual vision.

LUNGBURNER has performed widely across the southeastern United States, appearing at festivals such as Tampa Doom & Gloom Fest, Gravitoid Heavy Music Doomfest, Seismic Fest, ATL Doom Fest, Stoned Riff Revival, and AthFest, while also touring the region in 2025 on the Fall Into Darkness Tour with FALSE GODS. Additional highlights include opening for BARONESS at their Atlanta New Year's Eve 2025 performance and headlining Doomed and Stoned Fest in Asheville, North Carolina.

Outside of music, all members work professionally in various engineering fields, and none of them originally came from traditional doom or stoner rock backgrounds. Their approach to the genre grew organically from a shared appreciation for heavy music and experimentation, which continues to shape the band's evolving sound as they move toward a more progressive direction while maintaining their doom foundation.

LUNGBURNER is:

Jens Anderberg — guitar, lead vocals
Joseph Mills — guitar, backup vocals
Joshua Broughton — bass

CONNECT WITH LUNGBURNER:

Bandcamp: https://lungburner.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lungburneratl
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lungburneratl
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lungburneratl
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0WRBgLDbYMfLSrbb3tjNzK
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/lungburner/1724598173

APOSTLE Release New Video For “Illusion of Loss”

APOSTLE has released a new video for their latest single, “Illusion of Loss,” a dynamic and emotionally charged composition that offers a glimpse into the band’s forthcoming full-length album, A Splinter in the Infinite Noumenon, arriving June 5, 2026 via Terminus Hate City.

“Illusion of Loss” begins with a sharp, brief breath before an angular and moody guitar and bass melody settles over a plodding, swinging half-time drum groove. Murice White's vocal cadence moves fluidly within the arrangement, locking into the rhythm as the song unfolds. A sudden, deliberate drop in intensity introduces an arpeggiated and introspective passage driven by a rolling snare, gradually building toward a release carried by a mid-tempo blast beat.

The track expands in scope as Murice’s tremolo-picked lead cuts through with urgency while his vocals rise in intensity. Michael’s bass provides a steady melodic anchor, shaping the mood beneath shifting textures. A discordant, arpeggiated lead slices through the mix while Evan’s drumming shifts into a driving double bass pattern that pushes the song forward before returning to a reprise of its opening movement. The closing moments feature a distorted spoken sample describing barely livable conditions in a city, extending the song’s thematic reach outward.

“Illusion of Loss” reflects on the fragility of life, the isolation that can accompany grief, and the internal changes that follow. The song draws from the experience of personal loss and the emotional weight that lingers in its wake. It considers how loss reshapes identity, how it brings forward buried parts of oneself, and how memory can guide purpose moving forward. The connection between individual grief and shared human experience remains central throughout.

The album title references Carl Jung’s description of humanity as a “splinter in the infinite deity,” framing the record as an exploration of spiritual duality, grief, and self-examination. Across six tracks and 27 minutes, the band move through themes of loss, mortality, internal conflict, and eventual healing. The record serves as both a meditation on the human condition and a deeply personal tribute shaped by grief and remembrance.

Produced, engineered, and mixed by Connor Ray at Sobek Sound and mastered by Erol Ulug at Bright Lights, A Splinter in the Infinite Noumenon presents APOSTLE in their most refined and expansive form.

Pre-order A Splinter in the Infinite Noumenon here: https://www.terminushatecity.com/product-page/preorder-apostle-a-splinter-in-the-infinite-noumenon-lp

APOSTLE is:

Murice White – vocals, guitar
Michael Thomas – bass, vocals
Evan Price – drums

Connect with APOSTLE:

Bandcamp: https://apostlesucks.bandcamp.com
Store: https://www.terminushatecity.com
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/apostlesucks
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/apostlesux
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/67cjLOrbhdb2gFmS9OJKfS
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@terminushatecity

LungBurner - Dogma - Out Now!

Atlanta, Georgia heavy music collective LUNGBURNER will release their third full length album Dogma on April 17, 2026 through Terminus Hate City Records. Written throughout 2025 and recorded, produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered entirely by the band, Dogma captures LUNGBURNER expanding their sonic identity while deepening the conceptual and emotional scope of their music. Across seven tracks and just over forty minutes, the album blends southern sludge weight with progressive composition, atmospheric electronics, and evolving melodic structures.

Conceptually, Dogma explores the psychological and spiritual consequences of entrenched belief systems. Drawing from mythology, philosophy, and personal reflection, the album examines how inherited ideas about religion, culture, and identity shape human behavior and perception. Each composition approaches the subject from a different perspective, forming a continuous narrative that moves through awakening, rebellion, struggle, and eventual balance.

The album opens with "Adamu", which begins with tribal percussion samples and a call to the fallen angel Lucifer before unfolding into a driving riff anchored by deep bass and aggressive vocal delivery. The title references the Babylonian concept of the first man and frames the song’s exploration of humanity’s emergence into self awareness and the uneasy realization of one’s place within larger systems of belief and structure.

"Rapture" follows with rapid guitar work and heavy rhythmic intensity, incorporating elements of modern metal alongside the band’s established low tuned foundation. The song shifts between melodic passages and driving grooves while examining the moment of personal realization that accompanies a rejection of inherited truths.

"The Sin of Defiance" introduces a more melodic opening before transitioning between hypnotic bass movement and heavy guitar passages. The lyrics draw from experiences of discipline, hierarchy, and survival, reflecting on the tension between obedience and individuality within systems that demand absolute loyalty.

"(Bhajan) The Fall" marks a turning point in the album’s atmosphere. Beginning with the interlude "Bhajan", a piece originally conceived many years earlier, the track introduces synthesizers as a prominent element and slows the pace into a meditative and weighty progression. The composition explores the disorientation that can accompany self realization, where clarity and fear coexist.

"Apostasy" begins with a spoken sample from philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti addressing the dangers of institutionalized belief. The track channels tightly controlled aggression and rhythmic precision while expanding on the album’s central theme of breaking from inherited doctrine in pursuit of personal truth.

"Misery" continues the album’s exploration of inner conflict with one of its heaviest sonic moments. Featuring guitars tuned to an extremely low register and layered with samples and synthesizer textures, the song reflects on the necessity of confronting illusion and acknowledging reality without compromise.

The album closes with the nine minute composition "Pistus Sophia", which unfolds gradually through evolving melodic passages and ritualistic atmosphere. The title references Sophia from Gnostic tradition, a figure representing wisdom and the balance of spiritual forces. The introduction features a spoken prayer to Lilith performed in Polish by Aleksandra Anderberg, whose visual artwork also provides the cover for Dogma. The track concludes the album by reflecting on the dual nature of spiritual experience and the search for equilibrium between opposing forces.

With its combination of crushing downtuned guitars, atmospheric electronics, and layered thematic content, Dogma presents LUNGBURNER’s most focused and expansive work to date. The album stands as a meditation on belief, individuality, and the human struggle to define truth within systems that often demand unquestioning faith.

LUNGBURNER is:

Jens Anderberg — Guitar, Lead Vocals
Joseph Mills — Guitar, Backing Vocals
Joshua Broughton — Bass

Connect with LUNGBURNER:

Bandcamp: https://lungburner.bandcamp.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lungburneratl
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lungburneratl
Threads: https://www.threads.com/@lungburneratl
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0WRBgLDbYMfLSrbb3tjNzK
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/lungburner/1724598173

CREMATORY Unveil Video Single “Blind” From Greatest Hits Album English Hymns & Deutsche Hymnen

German gothic metal pioneers CREMATORY have released a brand-new music video for their latest single “Blind,” offering a dark glimpse into their upcoming greatest hits album English Hymns & Deutsche Hymnen.

The album is set for release on May 15, 2026 via ROAR – A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music and celebrates 35 years of the band’s career. English Hymns & Deutsche Hymnen will be 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 will be released as a Neon Green double vinyl (English Hymns) and a Turquoise double vinyl (Deutsche Hymnen). 

The album pre-sale is available here: https://crematory.rpm.link/greatesthitsPR

With “Blind”, the exclusive bonus track on the Deutsche Hymnen LP edition, CREMATORY present one of their darkest German-language tracks to date. Driven by themes of spiritual erosion and emotional desolation, the song unfolds a bleak, cinematic atmosphere, combining crushing heaviness with immersive depth. Lines such as “kein morgen naht, kein leben bleibt / nur kalte asche” reinforce the track’s cold, ritualistic aesthetic. 

Frontman Felix Stass states:
“‘Blind’ reflects a world where hope dissolves and only shadows remain.”

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 upcoming 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!

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 upcoming 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.

In support of the release, the band will embark on an extensive European run throughout 2026.

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 

BLACK SITES Release Personal New Single "Silent Wars"

Inspired by Robin Williams' quote, “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about,” BLACK SITES have released their new single "Silent Wars". The single lands ahead of the forthcoming full length, For Eternity. The album is set to release independently on July 17, 2026.

BLACK SITES founder Mark Sugar comments on "Silent Wars": "This track is one of my favorites. While there’s some blatant Jake E. Lee homages, a lot of the song was inspired by Americana artist Jason Isbell, of all people. The guitar bit at the very end was recorded as I wrote it — the take that’s on the record is the first time I ever played it."

Heavy driving rock 'n' roll rhythms kick off "Silent Wars" with high energy. Drawing from traditional rock and metal styles, the track delivers a powerful message through moody verse arrangements and a catchy chorus hook. 

For Eternity was produced by Mark Sugar & Chris Black, recorded at I Can’t Believe It’s Not Mace Street Studios, with mixing and mastering by Dan Swano. Drums on For Eternity were recorded by Vladimir Ružičić at Kebac Recording Studio.

About BLACK SITES:
Based out of Chicago, IL, USA, BLACK SITES was founded in 2016, initially as a studio project, by vocalist and guitarist Mark Sugar. Sugar was later joined by members John Picillo (bass), Ryan Bruchert (guitar) and Chris Avgerin (drums). BLACK SITES combines old school metal with guitar harmonies, melodic/clean vocals and progressive elements, primarily drawing inspiration from the likes of VOIVOD, BLACK SABBATH, and KING’S X.

BLACK SITES released their debut In Monochrome in 2017 (Mascot/Provogue Records), followed by Exile in 2019. 2021 saw the release of Untrue that was produced by Sanford Parker and awarded Record Of the Year by Dr. A.N. Grier at AngryMetalGuy.com. BLACK SITES ventured to The Promised Land? with their 2024 full-length that featured Tom Draper. (Ex-CARCASS/SPIRIT ADRIFT) on the track "Chasing Eternity".

Now, in 2026, Mark Sugar is joined by new members Jose Salazar (bass), Lee Smith (guitar) and Chris Black (drums). The forthcoming album For Eternity is set to release independently on July 17, 2026.

BLACK SITES Is:
Mark Sugar (vocals, guitar)
Jose Salazar (bass)
Lee Smith (guitar)
Chris Black (drums)

ANTIMOZDEBEAST Seeks To Embrace The Unknown In The New Single "Corridor Of Admiration"

"Corridor of Admiration" is the latest single to materialize from ANTIMOZDEBEAST, the extreme industrial and electronic black metal project of multi-instrumentalist and producer Gabriel Palacio. The track is taken from the forthcoming full length, The Vagrant Unkempt Grave, due for release on May 15, 2026. It is a continuation of the project’s ongoing examination of spiritual conflict, psychological unrest, and the erosion of collective belief systems.

An atmospheric enveloping of metallic synths and distorted harsh vocals throw open the doors to the "Corridor of Admiration". This intense greeting segues into a melodic guitar progression while spoken words echo and swirl around the instrumentation. The carefully constructed arrangement of spoken words and harsh vocals enhances the entrancing sonic quality of the song. Furthermore, ANTIMOZDEBEAST's highly textural layering of instruments and sounds produces a mesmerizing effect. 

In "Corridor of Admiration", Palacio engages with the notion of challenging humanity's collective and individual fear of the unknown. Lyrically, the track explores this concept and delves into the artist's own personal beliefs, and considers how this idea impacts the daily lives of our society and our own self.  

Listen Below:

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.

AMORPHIS Ignite Festival Flame With "The Lantern"

Finnish metal legends AMORPHIS have shared the official video for "The Lantern", a centerpiece of their critically discussed fifteenth studio album Borderland, out since September 2025 via RPM. Borderland marks a milestone in the band’s 35‑year evolution, blending melodic depth and dynamic storytelling with a refreshed creative spark borne from their first collaboration with producer Jacob Hansen.

Drawing its imagery from mythic currents and nocturnal wanderers, "The Lantern" captures the haunting journey along Tuonela’s black river.

“The atmosphere on The Lantern is dramatic and evocative,” says guitarist Esa Holopainen. “From sonic depth to live energy, you can hear the emotional arcs and see them on stage in every frame.” The live footage underscores that cinematic pulse—transforming raw performance into a visual odyssey.

Watch the video for "The Lantern" Below: 

Borderland has drawn attention from press worldwide for its melodic sensibilities and textural richness, with critics noting a potent blend of AMORPHIS’ trademark atmospherics and a renewed clarity in songwriting.

AMORPHIS will take this momentum across Europe with festival appearances in Finland (Tuska Festival, Rokki Raikaa, John Smith Rock Festival, Kuopiorock), Romania (Rockstadt Extreme Fest), Czech Republic (Brutal Assault, France (Sylak Open Air), Germany (Party.San Metal Open Air, Summer Breeze Open Air, Reload Festival), Belgium (Alcatraz Metal Festival), and Netherlands (Dynamo Metalfest).

The band will also hit Japan later in the year with multiple club dates, followed by Australia and a full Latin America leg covering Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil.

For dates and tickets visit: https://amorphis.net/tour

[Photo: Anne Swallow]

AMORPHIS are:

Tomi Joutsen | vocals

Esa Holopainen | guitars

Tomi Koivusaari | guitars

Olli-Pekka “Oppu” Laine | bass

Santeri Kallio | keys

Jan Rechberger | drums & percussion

 

More from AMORPHIS:

amorphis.net | Facebook | Instagram | Threads | TikTok

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