Archive for May 25, 2026

GUNDRIVER Release New Song “One Man Army” ~ New Album Coming This Fall

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , on May 25, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Modern metal unit GUNDRIVER have released the first single off of their upcoming new album, Give War a Chance

One Man Army” puts GUNDRIVER‘s no-frills, hook-heavy approach to metal at the front and center. The song is not only a preview of what the band has in store with Give War a Chance, the track is an unapologetic deceleration of intent.

Stream “One Man Army” on Spotify and YouTube.

Due out this fall, Give War a Chance – featuring Ronnie Romero on vocals, promises to be one of 2026’s most unforgettable albums.

GUNDRIVER is a hard-hitting modern metal force built on precision, power, and intensity. Led by founding members Tom Potter (Guitars) and Alex Rivas (Drums), the band features Ronnie Romero (Vocals), and Rev Jones (Bass).

The band blends elite musicianship with a raw, confrontational edge. Their sound is equal parts war cry and warning, driven by massive riffs, soaring vocals, and a relentless rhythm section. GUNDRIVER isn’t chasing trends, they’re delivering a statement.

For fans of: Metallica, Pantera, Black Label Society, Godsmack, Disturbed, Rainbow, UFO, Anthrax and A7X.

BIO:

GUNDRIVER is a modern metal project engineered for impact and built by seasoned musicians who understand both the craft and the cost of doing it right. Combining elite-level talent with a deliberate, no-compromise approach, the band is positioned to cut through an increasingly crowded heavy music landscape.

At the core of the project is founding members Tom Potter and Alex Rivas, who drive the vision, direction, and execution of GUNDRIVER as both a band and a broader creative platform.

The band’s name refers to attack helicopter pilots, drawing from Potter’s experience as a U.S. Army combat veteran who flew Apache helicopters.

The lineup features internationally recognized vocalist Ronnie Romero (Rainbow, Michael Schenker Group, Elegant Weapons), whose commanding voice brings both melody and force to the band’s sound, while bassist Rev Jones (Michael Schenker, Leslie West, Paul Gilbert) anchors the low end with decades of professional touring and recording experience.

GUNDRIVER’s music is defined by massive riffs, tight arrangements, and a tone that blends classic heavy metal influence with modern aggression. Lyrically and thematically, the band leans into confrontation, challenging listeners rather than accommodating them.

With releases like “Give War a Chance,” GUNDRIVER signals its intent clearly: this is not passive listening. It’s a direct, high-volume statement.

Operating independently through its own infrastructure, the band maintains full creative control, allowing it to move faster, push harder, and deliver music without dilution.

GUNDRIVER is a band built on chemistry, vision, and a record that speaks for itself.

gundriver.com

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Source: ClawHammer PR

AITTALA Unleash New Performance Video “Blacklisted” ~ the First to Feature New Bassist Dane Taylor | + Tour Dates (WV, VA, TN, NC)

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , on May 25, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

AITTALA Lineup – Gary ‘Smith’ Zeus (Drums), Eric Aittala (Guitar/Vox), Dane Taylor (Bass)

New EP Ill-Gotten Gains Out Now via Exitus Stratagem Records

AITTALA (pronounced EYE‑tah‑la) has released the official performance video for “Blacklisted,” the third track from their second EP of 2025, Ill‑Gotten Gains, out now on Exitus Stratagem Records.

The clip marks a milestone for the long‑running metal project; it is the first video to feature new bassist Dane Taylor, joining Eric Aittala (guitars/vocals) and Gary “Zeus” Smith (drums). The trio’s chemistry is on full display, delivering a tight, groove‑driven performance that captures the grit and weight of the track.

A groove‑ and sludge‑inspired standout, “Blacklisted” serves as the thematic counterpoint to the EP’s opening tracks “Isolation” and “Ill‑Gotten Gains.” Where those songs explore the chaos created by self‑serving actions, “Blacklisted” flips the perspective, calling out the people who manipulate, exploit, and leave destruction in their wake.

Musically, the song leans into thick riffs, a grinding mid‑tempo pulse, and the band’s signature blend of heaviness and melody. It’s a concise, punishing statement that reinforces why AITTALA’s sound remains difficult to categorize, and impossible to ignore.

Watch the video via its premiere on Metal Addicts HERE.

Released this past November, Ill‑Gotten Gains continues AITTALA’s tradition of blurring metal subgenres, pulling from traditional metal, doom, groove, progressive elements, and more to create a cohesive, emotionally charged experience.

The EP’s lyrics trace a path from chaos to consequence to the search for redemption, examining how people create disorder for personal gain, face the fallout of those choices, and grapple with whether forgiveness is still possible.

Each track sharpens that arc: “Isolation” delivers doomy heaviness and shifting time signatures as it confronts consequences; “Ill‑Gotten Gains” rides a bouncing 8‑string riff into the mindset of exploiting chaos; “Blacklisted” uses groove‑sludge grit to call out manipulative behavior; “Ever After” offers a modern metal ballad of internal struggle and uncertain redemption; and “Ashes” leans into traditional heavy metal as it follows someone spiraling downward and pulling others with them.

The EP cover features an updated version of Frank, AITTALA’s long‑running mascot, a cartoon pig head inside a pentagram, created in 2014 for the album “Effigy.” Frank represents the shady figure who helps acquire “ill‑gotten gains”…for the right price. His return on the cover ties directly into the EP’s themes of corruption, consequence, and moral decay.

Track Listing:

  1. Isolation – 4:22
  2. Ill Gotten Gains – 4:20
  3. Black Listed – 3:35
  4. Ever After – 4:29
  5. Ashes – 3:50
    EP Length: 20:37

AITTALA’s sound resists simple labels, blending classic heavy metal, doom, groove, progressive and power metal, thrash, and hard rock into a style that’s distinctly their own. Lyrically, Eric Aittala pulls from the darker edges of human experience, crafting songs that balance heaviness with introspection.

Founded in 1991 in the Netherlands, AITTALA quickly became a staple of the Dutch metal scene, even opening for The Gathering and Sadist after releasing their 1993 EP “Selling Heaven.”

After disbanding and later resurrecting the project in 2008, AITTALA released six full‑length albums between 2009 and 2022, followed by the Machines EP (2025). Each release showcases the band’s evolution while preserving their unmistakable core sound.

Recommended for fans of Mastodon, Eyehategod, Baroness, Crowbar, Katatonia, live music enthusiasts can catch AITTALA at the following show dates below.

Aittala Tour Dates (WV, VA, TN, NC):
May 21 – Tilty McFlipperz – Martinsburg, WV
May 22 – The Spot on Kirk – Roanoke, VA
May 23 – Capones – Johnson City, TN
Jun 19 – Cannonball Music Hall – Raleigh, NC
Jul 31 – The Den | Winston – Salem, NC
Aug 7- White Rabbit Pub – Fayetteville, NC
Aug 29 – Scandals Live – Virginia Beach, VA

Ill-Gotten Gains (released Nov 21, 2025) is available from Exitus Stratagem Records – https://hypeddit.com/aittala/illgottengains

Music Video “Isolation”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Y_azlkGLg

Music Video “Ill-Gotten Gains” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjlP92y_sQg

Lyric Video “Ever After”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ipo98unZUoQ

For more info: 

Exsrmusic.com | Aittala.com | Facebook.com/aittalamusic | Instagram.com/aittalamusic

Source: ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS