Archive for October 7, 2026

EMBRACE OF SOULS Unleashes “The Plague” A New Live Video For Concept Album Battle of the Dead – Out Now!

Posted in epic metal, Heavy Metal, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , on October 7, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

Italian epic/power metal band EMBRACE OF SOULS returns with a new official live video for “The Plague”, taken from their latest album The Battle Of The Dead, released on May 22nd, 2026, via Rockshots Records.

Watch “The Plague” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi7U2DgUh1g
Filmed and edited by: Simone “Morksar” D’Addazio

As the third track on the album, “The Plague” plays a central role in the story behind The Battle Of The Dead. Set in a medieval world divided into several kingdoms, the fantasy concept follows the spread of a mysterious plague that affects people’s souls, gradually pushing the continent towards a conflict between the living and the dead.

Captured during a live performance, the new video shows EMBRACE OF SOULS performing “The Plague” on stage, reflecting the direct and energetic approach of the band’s live shows, with keyboards played by Simone Fornasini.

Drawing from classic heavy and power metal of the ’80s and ’90s, as well as the epic and symphonic metal tradition of the early 2000s, “The Battle Of The Dead” combines melodic and theatrical elements with the contrast between Giacomo Rossi’s vocals and the operatic voice of Martina Mazzeo, playing a key role in the band’s sound.

The Battle Of The Dead was mixed and mastered by Alessio Garavello at Rogue Studios in London and features Morby (Domine) as a special guest vocalist on “The War”.

EMBRACE OF SOULS will return to the stage on October 24th, 2026, at Dedolor, performing alongside HEAVENFALL for the next Rockshots Night.

October 24th, 2026
ROCKSHOTS NIGHT
EMBRACE OF SOULS + HEAVENFALL
@ Dedolor

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2290473428370267/

The band is expected to play live at these 2 shows:

Saturday 14th November @ Revolver Club in S.Donà di Piave with special guest: Arcana Opera – A.W. and opening act Lenity Lake

Sunday 29th November @ Druso Bergamo at the Malpaga Winter Night

Recommended for fans of Rhapsody of Fire, Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, Nightwish, The Battle Of The Dead was released on May 22nd, 2026, in digital format and digipak CD edition, and it’s available to be ordered at the following links:

CD DIGIPAK: https://rockshots.eu/products/embrace-of-souls-the-battle-of-the-dead-cd

Listen to the entire album The Battle Of The Dead here: https://lnk.to/O3GJCQ

OFFICIAL MERCH: https://embraceofsoulsband.bigcartel.com/

Track Listing:
1. The Battle Of The Dead
2. Eversun
3. The Plague
4. The Gathering
5. Spine
6. Who Can Save Us
7. Betrayal
8. The Dark Lord
9. The War (feat. Morby)
10. Sacrifice
11. Desolate Lands

Line-up:
Giacomo Rossi – Vocals
Martina Mazzeo – Vocals
Edward De Rosa – Guitars
Xavier Rota – Bass
Davide Baldelli – Keyboards
Michele Olmi – Drums

More info: ​
​​https://www.rockshots.eu​

​https://www.instagram.com/embraceofsouls/​

https://www.facebook.com/embraceofsoulsofficial/

Source: ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

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PROGPOWER USA Announces 2027 Lineup As Long-Time Co-Promoter Takes Helm

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, music news, news with tags , , , , , , , , , on October 7, 2026 by Metal Odyssey

PROGPOWER USA will return to Atlanta, Georgia, September 9–11, 2027, ushering in a new chapter for one of North America’s longest-running and most distinctive progressive and power metal festivals.

Following the retirement of founder and longtime promoter Glenn Harveston, co-promoter Milton Mendonça will take the helm of PROGPOWER USA, carrying forward the festival and the community that has grown around it for more than two decades. 

The 2027 edition will move to a three-day format while retaining the identity and approach that have defined PROGPOWER USA throughout its history. The newly announced lineup features ELUVEITIE, WIND ROSE, NEVERMORE, H.E.A.T, UNLEASH THE ARCHERS, LYNCH MOB, MASTERPLAN, METAL CHURCH, VISION DIVINE, TRIOSPHERE, EINAR SOLBERG, SILENT SKIES, IHLO, ROYAL SORROW, POWER PALADIN and ADVENT HORIZON, with one additional band remaining to be announced. 

For Mendonça, taking over the festival is deeply personal. He first attended PROGPOWER USA 24 years ago before eventually becoming part of the team himself.

“Twenty-four years ago, I attended ProgPower USA for the first time, and I remember what it felt like the moment I walked into the venue. It was a feeling of belonging. I decided then that this was the place I needed to be every year, and I would do whatever I could to attend. Years later, as a co-promoter, I started having first-time attendees come up to me and share that same feeling. To me, that says everything about the atmosphere of this festival and why it has endured for so long,” says Mendonça.

“ProgPower has been part of most of my life. I met some of my best friends there, and I know people who met their best friends, their spouse and people who first came as teenagers and now bring their kids. It’s the one weekend our community looks forward to every year. It means that much to a lot of people, and there was no way I could let that end.”

As PROGPOWER USA enters this next era, Mendonça says preserving what Harveston built remains his priority.

“The most important thing to me is honoring Glenn’s legacy. Other than scaling the festival down to three days, my goal is to keep everything the same. The blueprint stays. Regardless of who is at the helm, ProgPower USA will always be ProgPower USA. There is nothing else like it anywhere.”

Since its inception, PROGPOWER USA has built its reputation by bringing together internationally established acts, sought-after North American appearances and emerging artists from across the progressive and power metal worlds. Just as importantly, the festival has developed a community that extends far beyond the stage, with generations of attendees returning to Atlanta year after year.

PROGPOWER USA 2027 takes place September 9–11, 2027 at Center Stage in Atlanta, Georgia continuing the almost 3-decade tradition of the festival being hosted at Center Stage. 

For festival updates, ticket information and additional announcements, visit: https://progpowerusa.com/

Source: C Squared Music

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