Archive for October 26, 2025

PALE HORSE RITUAL Challenge Dogma With New Single “Holy Lies”

Posted in doom metal, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on October 26, 2025 by Metal Odyssey

Listen To “Holy Lies” Here: https://youtu.be/dITYjVs191g

Canadian heavy psych doomers PALE HORSE RITUAL return with “Holy Lies”, the latest single from their forthcoming album Diabolic Formation, arriving November 28 through Black Throne Productions. Bold and unflinching, the song pulls no punches as it confronts centuries of religious power structures and the human cost left in their wake.

“Holy Lies” lays bare the contradictions between immense spiritual wealth and real-world suffering. Its lyrics push against the hierarchy and fear tactics often used to enforce obedience, shining a harsh light on the ways control is cloaked in sanctity. At the heart of the track is a call for equity and liberation. It is an insistence that no one is born to kneel.

Driven by low-end groove and a wall of saturated tone, the band finds a razor-sharp balance between weight and momentum. The guitars churn through layers of fuzz, while the rhythm section carves a deliberate, relentless path forward. There’s a hypnotic pull to the song’s structure, anchored by a hook that lingers long after the final note.

Track Listing:

  1. Deflowered (5:58)
  2. Wickedness (5:03)
  3. Holy Lies (5:46)
  4. Save You (3:13)
  5. Bloody Demon (5:02)
  6. DED (6:50)
  7. A Beautiful End (6:55)

With Diabolic Formation on the horizon, the band continues to sharpen their vision, crafting a record that explores the darker corners of belief, power and the struggle to reclaim autonomy in a world built to obscure it. Pre-orders are available HERE. 

About PALE HORSE RITUAL
Steeped in mysticism, PALE HORSE RITUAL create an spellcasting blend of doom, occult rock and vintage metal. Based out of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the band formed in 2024 and their sound is driven by gritty vocals, sludgy riffs, and pounding rhythms that channel the spirit of 1970s heavy music with a modern, gothic edge. Following their alluring 2024 EP titled Enchantress, the quartet are preparing to unveil the full-length, Diabolic Formation on November 28, via Black Throne Productions. 

Line Up: 
Paco (Bass/Vocals)
James Matheson (Lead Guitar)
Will Adams (Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals)
Jonah Santa-Barbara (Drums)

Album Credits:
Producer: Will Adams
Recording Studio: Green Mountain Ranch
Engineer: Will Adams at Tell Me About It… Records
Mastering: Zack Hollow at Z Hollow Studios
Mixing: Will Adams

Guest Musicians:
Dom Valela – Keys, Vocals
Doom Valhalla – Italian Preacher

Links:
Bandcamp: https://palehorseritual.bandcamp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/palehorseritual/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaleHorseRitualBand

Source: C Squared Music

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WACKEN METAL BATTLE CANADA – Opens Band Submissions For 2026

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, Metal, metal bands, metal festivals, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , on October 26, 2025 by Metal Odyssey

One Band To Rule Them All! and Play Wacken Open Air!

One band to rule them all! Wacken Metal Battle Canada returns for 2026 battles across the country to send one independent metal band to play at Wacken Open Air, one of the world’s most prestigious and largest metal festivals.

Band submissions for Canada are now open until November 30th.

The national final for 2026 battles will be held in Montreal, QC.

“Canadian metal bands, this is your chance once again. This is the first step to a world of opportunity waiting for you. We invite you to play some great shows, expand your audience, and ultimately have your shot at playing Wacken Open Air,” adds WMBC organizer JJ Tartaglia.

Canadian bands interested in participating can apply at https://www.metal-battle.com/countries/ (please select Canada as your country)

Rules for participation: https://www.metal-battle.com/rules/

The 2026 WMBC champion will receive the following:
– A slot at the 2026 Wacken Open Air Festival.
– Full professional backline provided.
– $1,000 CAD towards flights to Germany.
– VIP camping at the festival.

Canadian Battle Cities:
Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Island, BC
BC Interior
Edmonton, AB
Toronto, ON
Hamilton, ON
Ottawa, ON
Montreal, QC
Quebec City, QC

Watch – Wacken Metal Battle 2025 – Aftermovie | Have You Heard the Future of Metal? – https://youtu.be/nCulXiLlaSw

List of previous WMBC national winners: Killotine (Hamilton, ON – 2025), Beguiler (Toronto, ON – 2024), Strigampire (Trois-Rivières, QC – 2023), The Slyde(Toronto, ON – 2019), Centuries of Decay (Toronto, ON – 2018), Profaner (Hamilton, ON – 2016), Vesperia (Toronto, ON – 2015), Mutank (Montreal, QC – 2014), Crimson Shadows(Toronto, ON – 2013).

The 2025 Canadian Battle Final took place on May 31st at Vancouver’s Rickshaw Theatre, where Hamilton, Ontario’s KILLOTINE, the Ontario regional winner, delivered a standout performance that earned them the top national title. A panel of industry judges selected KILLOTINE to represent Canada at the prestigious International Wacken Battle, held during Wacken Open Air from July 30th to August 2nd in Wacken, Germany, where over 85,000 metal fans from around the globe gathered.

Joining KILLOTINE on stage at the Canadian final were fellow regional champions: SOULTHIEF (Eastern Canada Winner – Ottawa, ON), BEYOND SUFFERING (Alberta Winner – Calgary, AB), and YEGG (British Columbia Winner – Nanaimo, BC). The event also featured a special guest headliner: Vancouver’s Arrow In The Quiver, the 2024 BC Final winner.

The national judging panel included a lineup of respected figures from the Canadian metal and music industry: Brittney Slayes (Unleash The Archers), JJ Tartaglia (Canadian Organizer of Wacken Metal Battle Canada), JJ Caithcart (Founder of SCRAPE Records and Host of Different Stages Radio), Kris Schulz (Founder of Empower Through Music and Owner of Horizon School of Music), Abelardo Mayoral (Founder and Operator of The Invisible Orange and OrangeTickets), Stan Schinners (Owner of Broken Neck Radio), Justin Dobbin (Owner and President of Main Stage Rehearsal Studios).

For the last 9 years of battles (2013-2016, 2018-2019, 2023-2025), Wacken Metal Battle Canada has hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the world’s largest metal festival, Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany. 2019 saw the festival celebrate its 30th anniversary, but due to COVID, the 2020 and 2021 editions were both canceled.

As the metal community regains its strength, Wacken Open Air 2026 will be the 35th edition of the festival and will be held from July 29th to August 1st. The 2026 event is nearly sold out with a line-up that includes Def Leppard, Lamb Of God, In Flames, Savatage, Powerwolf, Emperor, Sepultura, and Running Wild, among others. Details here.

Wacken Metal Battle Canada is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance to win their spot among over 55 other countries’ champions, and represent Canada in an international battle of the bands at the world’s largest outdoor metal festival: Wacken Open Air. The battles have been hosted at the festival for over a decade and give independent bands the opportunity to showcase their talents to an international audience, along with the chance to win multiple prizes.

How it works:
Participating cities will host qualifying rounds plus a city final organized by a local city concert promoter, where one band will move forward to the Canadian national final. The winner of the national final will move on to perform at the Wacken Open Air 2026 and compete against the winners of other participating countries in a final global battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.

Links:
Metal-Battle.com
Facebook.com/WMBCanada.official
X.com/MetalBattleCan
Instagram.com/wmbcanada.official

Source: ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

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