Der Weg einer Freiheit Mesmerize on New Drum Playthrough

Since their formation in 2009, Der Weg einer Freiheit have carved out a singular place in modern black metal. While rooted in the genre’s foundations, these Germans are constantly evolving. Having mined the liminal space between wakefulness and dreams on their last critically-acclaimed album, the band are now tunneling even further inward — into collapse, silence and ultimately, transformation.

Today, Der Weg einer Freiheit are releasing a drum playthrough for “Eos”, the visceral lead single from Innern. In one single take, the band’s drummer Tobias Schuler navigates from tribal rhythmic meditations to relentless blast-beat-driven climaxes.

Watch the drum playthrough for “Eos” below.

Innern comes out September 12th on Season of Mist

Pre-order

https://orcd.co/derwegeinerfreiheitinnern

Pre-save

https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/46CJu30XN9wGChOsoHEJCm

“Preparing for the studio was quite a journey!” says Schuler.  “After Noktvrn, we knew we wanted to record Innern in full takes again. I really loved the pre-written drum parts from the demo, composed by Nikita, so over the course of more than one and a half years, I learned them note by note using sheet music. During that process, I carefully adjusted a few details here and there to bring Nikita’s vision together with my own musical identity”.

“A quick note on perfectionism in music”, Schuler adds. “I’m super proud to share my personal musical voice — with all its flaws and all its beauty — and I hope you enjoy it, too! Making music is about so much more than just playing without mistakes!”

Tobias Schuler uses a TAMA Star Maple drum kit that features a full spread of toms (8", 10", 12", and 16"), dual 22" kick drums and a 14" S.L.P. Sonic Stainless Steel snare, which are all outfitted with Evans drum heads. His cymbal array, provided by Meinl, spans a broad tonal palette: from the biting attack of the MB20 Heavy Soundwave Hi-Hats and 18" Heavy China to the shimmering wash of Byzance Brilliant Medium Thin Crashes. A 22" Heavy Bell Ride anchors his set with both weight and definition.

DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT stand now at the peak of a fifteen-year evolution.Their music is as concerned with silence as it is with sound, as shaped by introspection as by fury. As they prepare to bring Innern to European stages in autumn 2025, they do so not as provocateurs of extremity, but as artists navigating the fragile space between collapse and clarity. In a genre often defined by spectacle, DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT remain committed to vulnerability, transformation, and truth.

Lineup:

Nikita Kamprad — Vocals, Guitars

Nicolas Rausch — Guitars

Alan Noruspur — Bass

Tobias Schuler — Drums

Production Credits:
Recorded, mixed & mastered in Würzburg, Germany by Nikita Kamprad.
Drums recorded separately at Studio Weißmann, Würzburg, Germany.

Cover Art:
Design & layout by Max Löffler (https://maxloeffler.com/)

Photography:
Mario Schmitt

Follow Der Weg Einer Freiheit:

Official Website: https://derwegeinerfreiheit.de/

Bandcamp: https://derwegeinerfreiheit.bandcamp.com/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/derwegeinerfreiheit

Instagram: http://instagram.com/derwegeinerfreiheit

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/derwegeinerfreiheit

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7e823b0KQoVtLG86Ui5xGD

Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/der-weg-einer-freiheit/363526020

Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/1386896

Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/4479035

Ragnar Sverrisson Signs Endorsement Deal with Czarcie Kopyto

Whether charging through deadly technical whirlwinds or blackened ice storms, Ragnar Sverrisson has quickly established himself as a leading drummer for extreme metal. The Reykjavík native burst onto the scene with the brutal Beneath and has performed live with symphonic stars Carach Angren. When he's not on tour with Abyssal, Sverrisson splits time between the tech-death band and Icelandic Music Award nominees Ophidian I and his blackened death metal duo Helfró.

"Sverrisson deserves all the credit in the world for putting his whole chest into this performance", Nine Circles wrote in praise of Helfró's latest album Tálgröf. "It is impossible to listen to the breakneck pace of the drums or the energetic riffing and not bang your head".    

Today, Season of Mist is proud to announce that Sverrisson has signed an endorsement deal with Czarcie Kopyto. The Polish pedal company endorses many of the metal world's most respected drummers, including Season of Mist labelmates Frost (1349), Simen Sandnes (Temic) and Diego Morenzoni (Virvum). 

"I'm so happy to enter into a partnership with Czarzie Kopyto", Sverrisson says. "The only thing that matches the ingenious design and impeccable craftsmanship of their drum pedals is the unbelievable level of customer care". 

To celebrate his endorsement, Sverrisson recorded a new drum playthrough of "Jarteikn", the pummeling opener atop Tálgröf.  His relentless blasts and long mid-tempo strokes show off the strength and durability of Czarcie Kopyto's top-of-the-line supreme all black pedals.  

Watch the drum playthrough for "Jarteikn" below.

Tálgröf is available now on Season of Mist.

Order
https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/helfro-talgrof

"When playing in bands like Helfró and Ophidian I, which are technical and hyper-fast, reliable and well-designed gear can change everything", Sverrisson says. "It's so important to be able to fully trust your gear when you're lugging it around the world. Knowing that Czarcie Kopyto will quickly help solve any problem that might arise inspires me to hold myself to an equally high standard".

Ragnar Sverrisson is also endorsed by Zildjian and Vic Firth. 

More information about Czarcie Kopyto's custom drum pedals is available at http://www.czarciekopyto.com. To place an order, e-mail kontakt@czarciekopyto.com

The drum playthrough for "Jarteikn" was created by Ásgeir Helgi (@asgeirhelg)

Formed amidst the haunting landscapes of Iceland, HELFRÓ is a formidable force in the world of blackened death metal. With their relentless aggression, atmospheric soundscapes, and compelling songwriting, they have carved their own path in the metal scene.

The journey of Helfró began when guitarist and songwriter Ragnar Sverrisson sought to bring his musical visions to life, Drawing inspiration from the bleakness of Icelandic winters, the mysticism of nature, and the chaos of the human experience. Helfró's self-titled debut album was released in 2020, marking the band's official entry into the world of extreme metal. With a relentless barrage of blast beats, crushing riffs, and haunting melodies, the album showcased their ability to seamlessly blend aggression and atmosphere.

Evolving with the advent of the sophomore album, Tálgröf, listeners can expect even more ferocity as Helfró dives deeper into death metal territory while not straying to far from the signature ice-cold climactic tremolo riffing notable of their previous work. Characterized by its ferocity, the new album also carries introspective and thought-provoking themes, reflecting the band members' willingness to explore the depths of the human experience. Helfró is destined to leave an impact on the realm of extreme music, captivating audiences with their unique brand of Icelandic metal.

Line-up
Ragnar Sverrisson: Drums, Vocals, Songwriting
Simon Thorolfsson: Guitars, Bass, Vocals, Arrangements

Recording Studio            
Dominion Recordings

Sound Engineer
Simon Thorolfsson

Mixing Engineer              
Mark Lewis

Mastering Engineer        
Mark Lewis

Cover art
Grindesign

Order
https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/helfro-talgrof

Follow Helfró
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelfroIce            
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/helfromusic/   
Bandcamp: https://helfroofficial.bandcamp.com/           
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3LNnSSzoPPdyJT437coBFn       
Booking
Ragnar Sverrisson ragginar@gmail.com 

Ne Obliviscaris Release Marathon Drum Playthrough

2025 is lining up as another memorable year for Ne Obliviscaris. Next month, the maestros of progressive, extreme and melodic metal are returning to North America in support of their latest album. Only this time, the band will be joined by their new harsh vocalist James Dorton and original drummer Dan Presland. 

As they tighten their strings in heavy anticipation for the Chaos & Carnage tour, today, Ne Obliviscaris are sharing a drum playthrough of "Suspyre", the blasting, crashing, rumbling, double bass-filled 10-minute centerpiece from Exul.

Watch Dan Presland master "Suspyre". Below:

Get tickets to see Ne Obliviscaris with Dying Fetus, Cradle of Filth, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Undeath, Vomit Forth and Corpse Pile on this year's Chaos & Carnage Tour. 

http://chaosandcarnage.com

"We are excited to come back to North America next month as part of this year's epic Chaos & Carnage tour package", says violinist and clean vocalist Tim Charles. "These shows are going to be incredible. We can't wait to see you there!"

CHAOS & CARNAGE 2025
April 17 - Berkeley, CA @ UC Theatre
April 19 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Wiltern
April 20 - Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren
April 22 - Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theater
April 24 - Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater
April 26 - San Antonio, TX @ Vibes Event Center
April 27 - Houston, TX @ House of Blues
April 29 - Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl
May 1 - New York, NY @ Palladium Times Square
May 2 - Richmond, VA @ The National
May 3 - Reading, PA @ Reverb
May 4 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium
May 6 - Montreal, QC @ L'Olympia
May 7 - Toronto, ON @ Rebel
May 8 - Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot
May 9  - Chicago, IL @ Radius
May 10 - Des Moines, IA @ Val Air Ballroom
May 12 - Wichita, KS @ Temple Live
May 14 - Denver, CO @ Fillmore Auditorium

Exul and the 10th anniversary remastered version of Ne Obliviscaris' monumental second album Citadel are now available on Season of Mist.

Order & Stream Exul
https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/NeO-exul

https://orcd.co/neoexul

Order & Stream Citadel 
https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/NeOCitadelRemaster 

https://neobliviscaris.fanlink.tv/Citadel

Even after this tour ends, Ne Obliviscaris aren't done bringing chaos and carnage to the Americas. Come May, the band are performing three special shows in Mexico. This sprint includes a stop at Guadalajar's The Metal Fest, plus two headlining dates in Monterrey and Mexico City, where they'll perform Exul and Citadel in full. 

"We had such a great time in Mexico this past November at MXMF", Charles says. "We really wanted to make it to more cities in Mexico. We can't wait to share The Metal Fest and these two special headline shows with you!"

Touring factored heavily into Ne Obliviscaris' 2023 plans. The band embarked on headlining tours worldwide that hit new territories. As luck would have it, the return to live show activity coincided with the release of Exul and the band’s 20th anniversary. As one of Australia’s leading extreme metal exports, there is a distinct sense of gratitude from Charles and his bandmates. They’re looking forward to sharing it with fans when they resume touring. 

“Simply getting the opportunity to perform music that we’ve written on stages around the world to people that genuinely love and connect with it,” finishes Charles when talking about Ne Obliviscaris' 20-year journey. “There is something incredibly special about the energy that exists between an artist and audience at a concert and it was an honor to get the opportunity to spend 2023 connecting with people in that way once more.”

Lineup:
Xenoyr - Harsh Vocals
James Dorton - Harsh Vocals (Live)
Tim Charles - Violin & Clean Vocals
Benjamin Baret - Lead Guitar
Matt Klavins - Guitar
Martino Garattoni - Bass
Dan Presland - Drums (Live)

Biography:
David E. Gehlke

Follow Ne Obliviscaris
www.facebook.com/NeObliviscarisBand
www.instagram.com/neobliviscarisofficial
www.twitter.com/neobliviscaris3
www.youtube.com/NeObliviscaris
www.neobliviscarissom.bandcamp.com
www.patreon.com/neobliviscaris
https://www.neobliviscaris.com.au/

Order 
https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/NeOCitadelRemaster 

Stream
https://neobliviscaris.fanlink.tv/Citadel

Available Formats forExul
Digital
CD Digipak
CD Digibox
12" Vinyl Gatefold in various colours
Cassette

BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE Shares Drum Play-Through for "The Raven"

Drummer Billy Freedom of progressive rock trio BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE is now sharing a brand new drum play-through for "The Raven!" The song is taken from the band's new album, 'Tempus Veritas,' which is out now via Season of Mist! The clip can be seen below.

The band comments, "'The Raven' is one of our favourite songs from 'Tempus Veritas.' It has such a satisfying blend of progressive technical styles with huge melodies, and it’s super fun to play. Billy came up with some incredible parts for this song, including some beautifully detailed ride work that really speaks to his jazz and soul inspirations as well as those from heavy music. We hope you enjoy this amazing drum play through from him!"

"Lyrically this song is written from the point of view of the first human in space - Yuri Gagarin. In his final moments aboard the test flight on which he would ultimately lose his life, he contemplates the stars above him - realizing he will never reach them again."

'Tempus Veritas' was released on April 14, 2023 and can be streamed, ordered, and downloaded HERE.

BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE create huge, memorable rock music that combines heavy-hitting savagery with intense melodic beauty. Their technical, fearlessly complex grooves and gigantic sing-along choruses have already earned them a widespread fanbase.
 
A ferociously tight live band, BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE have toured Europe and the UK extensively, supporting Skunk Anansie, HED p.e, INME and Black Map as well as festival slots at Download, Standon Calling and Planet Rockstock. Black Orchid Empire have sealed the bands reputation as a force to be reckoned with.
 
Having released their debut album ‘Archetype’ (2016) to universal acclaim, BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE signed with German label Long Branch Records to release the follow up albums ‘Yugen’ (2018) and ‘Semaphore’ (2020). Both albums received stellar reviews and over 3,000,000+ combined streams.
 
“Tempus Veritas” is a collection of stories that seeks to find compelling imaginary narratives hidden away in what we all think of as history.  Behind every milestone or major event in humanity’s long, complex past lies a treasure trove of possibilities for invention - how did Pope Urban VIII feel when confronted by his friend Galileo about the true nature of the sun?  What really happened during an almost triumphant but ultimately doomed Everest attempt? What was it like to be a Norse settler amongst the Saxons; did the omens of the ancient gods begin to disappear?
 
In approaching “Tempus Veritas”, BLACK ORCHID EMPIRE sought collectively to push themselves both musically and thematically. Their pursuit of heaviness, melody, emotional power and rhythmic complexity has pushed them to create something they‘re immensely proud of. “Semaphore” was an album of Sci-Fi, this is an album of Hi-Fi. Tempus Veritas.                 

Recording studio:
The Recording Studio London
 
Producer / sound engineer:
Produced by Black Orchid Empire
Paul Visser (engineer)
Dobromir Vasilev (assistant engineer)
 
Mixing studio and engineer:
The Recording Studio London
Paul Visser (mix engineer)
 
Mastering studio and engineer:
Systematic Productions
Ermin Hamidovic (mastering engineer)
 
Line-up:
Paul Visser: Vocals | Guitar
Dave Ferguson: Bass | Vocals
Billy Freedom: Drums

Cover artwork: Black Orchid Empire & Ines Hernandez
 

Links:
www.blackorchidempire.com
www.fb.com/blackorchidempire
www.instagram.com/blackorchidempire
www.tiktok.com/@blackorchidempire
www.youtube.com/blackorchidempire
https://spoti.fi/3HqEfEh
https://blackorchidempiresom.bandcamp.com

Shop: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/BOETV

Formats:
Digital
Digipak
Vinyl in various colours

DAGON DESTROYER Featured in Cinematic Drum Playthrough of "The Fight Within" by SOCIETY 1!

Last week, SOCIETY 1's new single and music video for “The Fight Within” was released, and they've just shared a cinematic drum playthrough video featuring DAGON DESTROYER!

The music video is directed by LORD ZANE and produced by Dagon Destroyer.

Dagon had this to say about the drum play though video, “This was an interesting composition. I go from straight-ahead, four-on-the-floor, industrial type playing to some tribal-fusion flavor. I really enjoyed this song. The drums are subtle and there's some great nuance going on. I hope you enjoy the video.”

LORD ZANE (SOCIETY 1 Front-man) shared his thoughts about reuniting with Dagon again after 20 years, “Working with Dagon after all these years has been the kick in the ass Society 1 music has needed to get to yet another level. His approach to rhythm isn't just about keeping the beat but enhancing the songs musically. The way he approaches riffs and weaves in and out of them just transforms the sound and feel into something truly unique.”

Tour Dates:
02/22 @ Whisky A Go Go - Los Angeles, CA
02/24 @ TBA - Fresno, CA
02/25 @ The Fillmore - San Francisco, CA
02/27 @ Roseland - Portland, OR
02/28 @ Showbox - Seattle, WA
03/01 @ Rickshaw Theater - Vancouver, B.C.
03/02 @ Knitting Factory - Spokane, WA
03/03 @ Revolution Music Hall - Boise, ID
03/04 @ Virginia Street Brewhouse - Reno, NV
03/05 @ Ace Of Spades - Sacramento, CA
03/07 @ Van Buren - Phoenix, AZ
03/08 @ El Rey Theater - Albuquerque, NM
03/09 @ Diamond Ballroom - Oklahoma City, OK
03/10 @ House of Blues - Dallas, TX
03/11 @ The Aztec Theater - San Antonio, TX
03/12 @ House Of Blues - Houston, TX
03/14 @ Buckhead Theater - Atlanta, GA
03/15 @ Plaza Live - Orlando, FL
03/16 @ Underground - Charlotte, NC
03/17 @ Soundstage - Baltimore, MD
03/18 @ T.L.A. - Philadelphia, PA

Click for Additional Dates & Ticketing Information.