Paradise Lost formed in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1988 and are known for being the founders of the Gothic Death/Doom Metal genre; a style fully brought into existence with their genre-defining second album, the highly influential Gothic.
Having released 2 albums, including Gothic for the UK’s Peaceville Records and later helping to establish Peaceville as home to the finest trio of UK doom bands (alongside My Dying Bride and Anathema), Paradise Lost then signed with fellow UK label, Music For Nations which eventually led to the band breaking through to mainstream rock and metal audiences as their style evolved, becoming one of the UK’s most essential metal exports around the globe in the process.
Lost Paradise was the band’s debut album, released in 1990 and one of the early highlights in the formative years of Peaceville. Featuring more death metal influences, Paradise Lost created a dark and atmospheric style of death metal as opposed to one based on speed, with the sombre guitar leads of Gregor Mackintosh permeating through the compositions.
Lost Paradise was recorded at the famous Academy Studios (My Dying Bride, Anathema, Cradle of Filth) in Yorkshire, England, and stands as an undeniable classic of UK death/doom metal.
Haarlem (NL) – Thorndale, the Netherlands based stoner/doom metal powerhouse, Thorndale, is thrilled to announce the September 12release of their sophomore album, Spiritual Chains. A music video for the album’s first single, “Veins of the Phoenix“, is available at youtu.be/jQvSLVMMjv8.
“Veins of the Phoenix” is also available on Bandcamp. The single will be available on all other digital platforms soon.
This highly anticipated follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2024 debut, Lightning Spawn, promises a darker and more mature sound, showcasing the band’s evolving artistry and the addition of a second guitar player to their lineup.
Comprised of seasoned musicians from notable acts such as Adarrak, Killing Darlings, Embers of Oblivion, Epinikion, and Primal Charge, their unique blend of heavy, stoner, and doom metal has resonated with fans worldwide, setting the stage for Spiritual Chains to be a significant release.
Spiritual Chains was recorded across various studios in North America and Europe, a testament to Thorndale’s commitment to sonic excellence. Jeff Henson (Duel) lends his talent to the album, featuring a guest solo on the track “Exiles and Masters”. The album was mixed and mastered by Rickard Bengtsson and Stafan Karlsson at Sweetspot Studiosin Halmstad, Sweden (Arch Enemy, Spiritual Beggars).
Track Listing:
1 – Veins of the Phoenix 2 – Battles Fought in Vain 3 – Gods of Pain 4 – Twenty Thousand Souls 5 – Spiritual Chains 6 – Exiles and Masters
Album Credits:
Cover Art – Costin Chioreanu.
Jeff Henson – guest guitar on “Exiles and Masters”.
All music by Thorndale.
Photo credit: Gustavo Valderrama
All lyrics by Gustavo Valderrama and Zigor Munoz.
Produced by Thorndale.
Recorded locally in Austin, Texas; Scarborough, Ontario and Haarlem and Den Haag, Netherlands across 2024 and 2025.
Mixed and mastered by Rickard Bengtsson and Stafan Karlsson at Sweetspot Studios in Halmstad, Sweden.
“Hardening of the Heart” is about the emotional aftermath after a devastating loss. All that remains are shattered dreams and emptiness. The song represents the darker and personal side of GRACELESS.
Watch “Hardening Of The Heart ” (Official Video) HERE
Relentless powerhouse GRACELESS’ new album Icons Of Ruin out May 30th is the band’s most groundbreaking release to date! Massively produced, it boats crushing, unrelenting, large-scale, bombastic sonic destruction!
“Icons of Ruins is exactly what GRACELESS should sound like. This is us”, says drummer Marc Verhaar. The songs are destined to be more than just tracks; they are anthems, rallying cries for those who are also witnessing the world around them crumble and burn. “GRACELESS has become much more than a regular death metal band”, says Jasper. “We couldn’t be more proud of this album”, concludes frontman & founder David Kreft.
Listen to “Hardening Of The Heart” now available on all major digital platforms HERE
Graceless Icons Of Ruin – for fans of Bolt Thrower, Asphyx, Gorguts, Paradise Lost, Death, Bloodbath
GRACELESS – Icons Of Ruin Album Track-listing: 01 God Shines In Absence 4:11 02 Sanctified Slaughter 4:02 03 Lash Me To My Painful Death 4:50 04 Night Of The Slain 5:19 05 Hardening Of The Heart 5:17 06 Ungodliness 4:09 07 Rise Of The Blackest Sun 4:51 08 A King In The Filth 3:59 09 Beneath Starless Skies 5:47 10 Resurrection Of The Graveless 3:41
Band pics: Eus Straver
GRACELESS line up: Remco Kreft: Guitar, Vocals Marc Verhaar: Drums Jasper Aptroot: Bass Björn Brusse: Lead Guitar
Discography: Endless Spiral of Terror – split with Grond (Raw Skull – 2019) Deathbound – split with Revel in Flesh (War Anthem 2021) Shadowlands (Listenable reissue 2023) Where Vultures know your Name (Listenable reissue 2023) Chants of Purgatory (Listenable reissue 2023) Icons of Ruin (Listenable 2025)
Chilean death-doom cult DEVS MORTVORVM have unveiled the second taste of their upcoming EP with the brand new single “Orgy in the Graveyard”, now streaming exclusively via a premiere at Mystification Zine. Drenched in decay and driven by the band’s signature blend of cavernous doom and old-school death metal, this track sets the tone for what promises to be a truly morbid release.
From its lumbering riffs to its sepulchral growls, “Orgy in the Graveyard” drags listeners deep into the crypt, offering a glimpse of the rotting majesty that awaits on June 6, 2025, when the full EP drops via Apocalyptic Productions.
Formed in 2015 by David Briones (guitar) and Claudio Carrasco (vocals), DEVS MORTVORVM emerged with a clear mission: to play Graveyard Doom Death, inspired by legendary acts such as Goatlord, Derketa, early Cathedral and Autopsy. The band is now completed by Andrés Henríquez on drums and Felipe Vuletich on bass, bringing even more weight and rot to their already imposing sound.
This upcoming EP features five tracks, three original compositions, a crushing cover of “Acid Orgy” by U.S. cult legends Goatlord, and a raw live track that captures the band’s visceral stage presence. Every aspect of this release, the lyrics, artwork, and music is a unified expression of DEVS MORTVORVM’s devotion to the morbid spirit of doom-death and necrolatry.
Musically, the EP offers an enticing blend of shadow-drenched, vicious death-doom, where sludgy riffs clash and intertwine with serpentine melodies, creating a dynamic tension that keeps each track unpredictable and alive. It’s a masterclass in sonic decay, where every note drips with the dampness of the tomb.
Track-list:
Orgy in the Graveyard
Love for the Dead
The Oldest Crypt
Acid Orgy (Goatlord cover)
Orgy in the Graveyard (live)
Recorded between july 2023 and september 2024 at Black Sheep Studios. All Music composed by David Briones except “Acid Orgy” by Goatlord. Lyrics and vocal lines by Claudio Carrasco except “Acid Orgy” by Goatlord. Live track recorded at MiBar 20/12/2024 Artwork by Julián Mora.
Italy’s WASTE CULT have unleashed their new single “The Warmest Shelter”, the third preview from their upcoming debut album Blame, out June 6th, 2025 via Aesthetic Death. Marking a shift in tone from the darker, more introspective cuts previously released, this new track channels a warmer, groovier energy, without sacrificing the band’s signature weight and grit.
Built around hypnotic riffs and a swaggering rhythmic pulse, “The Warmest Shelter” brings a dynamic sense of movement to the album’s overarching atmosphere of tension and collapse.
Emerging from Bologna’s underground scene in 2021, WASTE CULT continue to refine their blend of doom, stoner and post-metal with each release. “The Warmest Shelter” adds yet another layer to the rich and punishing soundscape of their forthcoming full-length.
Track-list:
1 – Ad Astra 2 – Delirium Of Manners 3 – Blame 4 – Blended As One 5 – Kerberos 6 – Pictures 7 – The Warmest Shelter 8 – Maze
All the members have experience with other punk/thrash metal projects, including Rake-Off, Hyle, Siege Stompers and Call The Cops.
The aim for WASTE CULT has been to create different sounds and atmospheres to those other projects, exploring a slower doomier approach to their sound. In mid 2022 they self-released an eponymous 4-track EP on tape, and on the back of that started playing shows across Italy.
The first full length, Blame, is the characterisation of all their different influences, with a more defined identity – taking inspiration from the doom classics to the more modern post-metal sounds. This reality took shape after years experimenting in the practice room, with Blame bearing witness to a more introspective and personal approach within both the music and lyrics.
Line-up:
Frank – Guitar and vocals Pilvia – Guitar Noise – Bass Claudio – Drums and backing vocals
Aesthetic Death has always been a fan of stoner doom sounds and like many, was schooled on the likes of Kyuss, Monster Magnet and Black Sabbath. Yet, Aesthetic Death has rarely had opportunity to work on any release with bands from these lands of sound.
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions are set to release the new collection from Spain’s old school Death/Doom Metal destroyers BOCC. Obrint El Taüt is up now for pre-order and will be released June 13th on CD and Digital formats, along with merch.
BOCC make their Horror Pain Gore Death Productions debut with the compilation Obrint El Taüt! Formed in 2019, BOCC hail straight from the sewers of Barcelona, Spain and perform Death/Doom Metal in the ways of the old. Obrint El Taut, which translates to Opening The Coffin, presents the band’s three EPs: Al La Forca, Santa Eulàlia, and La Forja Dels Cranis… twelve tracks totaling 75+ minutes of bone-crushing brutality!
For fans of Autopsy, Bolt Thrower, Coffins, Cianide, Disma, Hooded Menace, Undergang and Winter.
Chilean death-doom cult DEVS MORTVORVM will unleash their new EP on June 6, 2025 via Apocalyptic Productions, delivering a putrid sermon steeped in the stench of traditional death metal and the mournful crawl of doomed melodies.
The first single “Love for the Dead” is now streaming HERE.
Formed in 2015 by David Briones (guitar) and Claudio Carrasco (vocals), DEVS MORTVORVM emerged with a clear mission: to play Graveyard Doom Death, inspired by legendary acts such as Goatlord, Derketa, early Cathedral and Autopsy. The band is now completed by Andrés Henríquez on drums and Felipe Vuletich on bass, bringing even more weight and rot to their already imposing sound.
This upcoming EP features five tracks, three original compositions, a crushing cover of “Acid Orgy” by U.S. cult legends Goatlord, and a raw live track that captures the band’s visceral stage presence. Every aspect of this release, the lyrics, artwork, and music, is a unified expression of DEVS MORTVORVM’s devotion to the morbid spirit of doom-death and necrolatry.
Line-up:
David Briones – Guitars Claudio Carrasco – Vocals Andrés Henríquez – Drums Felipe Vuletich – Bass
Musically, the EP offers an enticing blend of shadow-drenched, vicious death-doom, where sludgy riffs clash and intertwine with serpentine melodies, creating a dynamic tension that keeps each track unpredictable and alive. It’s a masterclass in sonic decay, where every note drips with the dampness of the tomb.
Track-list:
Orgy in the Graveyard
Love for the Dead
The Oldest Crypt
Acid Orgy (Goatlord cover)
Orgy in the Graveyard (live)
Recorded between july 2023 and september 2024 at Black Sheep Studios. All Music composed by David Briones except “Acid Orgy” by Goatlord. Lyrics and vocal lines by Claudio Carrasco except “Acid Orgy” by Goatlord. Live track recorded at MiBar 20/12/2024. Artwork by Julián Mora.
Polish funeral death doom entity POSTMORTAL will unveil its debut album Profundis Omnis on May 9th 2025, via Aesthetic Death.
Meticulously crafted with an unwavering passion for the genre, this release sees the band channel the bleak, monolithic essence of funeral doom’s greats. With a deep understanding of the style’s fundamental elements, POSTMORTAL shape their sound into a crushing and immersive experience, delivering an interpretation that is both hauntingly atmospheric and devastatingly heavy.
Track-list:
1. Fallen 2. Darkest Desire 3. Decay of Paradise 4. Prophecy of the Endless 5. Queen of Woe 6. The Masterpiece of the Thing That Once Was but Will Never Be
The idea to create a funeral doom band was born in 2015 during the Czech metal music festival Brutal Assault, where most original members of the band were present: Michał (guitar), Karol (guitar), Sludge (bass) and Kamila (drums). In those days POSTMORTAL was officially created, joined soon by Dawid (vocals), and Sludge later replaced by Paweł.
Rehearsals and writing of the first songs began and by late 2017 and early 2018, the band were able to do two gigs in their hometown of Krakow, the only gigs to date. In April 2018, Karol was replaced by Kamil and the band recorded the EP Soil. Shortly after these recordings, the drummer left the band. Despite a lenghty search, it was not possible to find her successor and as a result the band went into hiatus.
Line-up: Michał Skupień – music Dawid Dunikowski – vocals, lyrics
In 2024 two original members, Dawid and Michał decided to reactivate POSTMORTAL as a two-person project with ideas and focus on creating a debut studio album. In the same year, Profundis Omnis was recorded, adapting tracks that were mostly written during the band’s early period.
Monolithic, bleak and primal, POSTMORTAL embraces the atmosphere of funeral doom overlords such as Thergothon, Tyranny, The Funeral Orchestra, Catacombs, Evoken.
Helsinki-based doom metal band Denigrate released their fourth full length album titled To the Goddess Unknown on November 29th 2024. In the beginning of March 2025 their founding member, guitarist and main composer of Denigrate Seppo Nummela passed away suddenly. Their new music video was filmed earlier and now it’s finished and released to honor the memory of Seppo.
Denigrate’s Singer Galzi tells about the Song and the music video:
“In The Light was one of the first compositions for the album “To The Goddess Unknown” -the last individual of the album release as a music video. Also the song was the only one from the album that kept its’ work name from the beginning until completion. We wanted to make this a proper art-and-headbanging-video to underline the sheer joy of doing what we do. Huge thanks goes to Markus Saarela for capturing the moments.
Though the song tells about taking and giving nothing in return, there dwells a glimpse of hope for a change at the end. This we will dedicate to the memory of our key-member, the founder of Denigrate, Seppo Nummela. We’ll keep carrying the torch, don’t you worry brother!”
Track-list:
Crystal Rest
The Ethics of Loss
Under Ether
The Apparition of One
One who holds the balance
Sesame and Lilies
In the Light
Semidiapente
DENIGRATE: Galzi Kallio – Vocals Pekka Pyrhönen – Bass Seppo Nummela – Guitar Teemu Riekki – Guitar Tipi Toivanen – Drums
Chicago, Illinois-based doom metal outfit ÇÖKÜŞ presents a new video for “Never Gone,” found on their debut record, An Hour Of Lies.
Influenced by the likes of Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Trouble, Dio, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, and Kyuss, ÇÖKÜŞ – pronounced cho-koosh, which is Turkish for “decline” or “collapse” – was formed by several members of Earthen Grave upon its demise, carrying that band’s sound forward with a refocused energy. Following nearly a decade of creating songs remotely, the band put everything into the creation of An Hour Of Lies, which saw release in 2024 through Qumran Records.
An Hour Of Lies was recorded in three different states, the drums and vocals recorded by John E. Bohmher, Jr. at Berwyn Recording, the bass recorded by Patrick Green, and the guitars recorded by Jason Muxlow. The tracks were mixed by Chris Wozniak and mastered by Chris Hanzsek (Melvins, Soundgarden, Helms Alee), and the cover art/visuals were handled by Tom Denney (Soilent Green, Weedeater, Rwake).
ÇÖKÜŞ’ new video for “Never Gone” comes alongside the announcement of a lineup shift, which sees new bassist Paul DiPego (Salt Of The Earth, Maiden ’81) and new lead guitarist Mick Stone (Scare Machine, Sunset Empire) joining drummer Chris Wozniak (Vanishment, Earthen Grave, Lair Of The Minotaur), guitarist Steve Ligeza (Torg, Makahiya), and vocalist Mark Weiner (Earthen Grave).
The band writes, “Losing someone special to you, that you never knew in person, could make you lose yourself.”
Watch ÇÖKÜŞ’ video for “Never Gone” at THIS LOCATION.
An Hour Of Lies is out now on CD and digital via the Qumran Records webshop HERE and Bandcamp HEREand through all streaming apps. Watch the visualizers for “Wolf Moon,” “Midnight Sun,” and “Hit The Mattresses” HERE.
Having performed several Chicago-area shows last year in support of the album, ÇÖKÜŞ will take the tunes out to a wider live audience this year. The band confirmed a hometown show in Chicago on March 22nd, which will be livestreamed on the Reggies YouTube channel. They’ve also just announced a short eastward run late this Spring leading with a livestream from Stone Studios in Chicago June 18th – to be broadcast on the band’s YouTube channel with a limited live audience – followed by a set at Maryland Doom Fest 2025 on June 20th and a show in Pittsburgh June 21st. Additional performances are expected to be announced for later in the year as well.
ÇÖKÜŞ Live:
3/22/2025 Reggies Music Joint – Chicago, IL w/ Pale Horseman, Deepspacepilots
6/18/2025 Livestream from Stone Studios – Chicago, IL
Set for release on March 28th, 2025, via Aesthetic Death, the fourth album by US doom noise entity THE SLUMBERING reaches an inevitable convergence, where the sinister, drone and hypnotic sound has merged with doomsday scenarios and an endtime conclusion.
The only glimmer of hope within their music is found in the prospect that humankind is quickly reaching its (un)natural end; that it can exact no further harm. There is an ultimate calm in the knowledge any clock will tick no more and that all we will see is what the next realm brings forth.
The track “Chapel Of The Damned” is now streaming at THIS LOCATION.
Italian funeral death doom entity TETRAMORPHE IMPURE will unveil its debut album The Sunset of Being on April 18th 2025 via Aesthetic Death.
The album track “Night Chants” is now streaming HERE.
Hailing from the Alpine north of Italy, TETRAMORPHE IMPURE is the creation of Damien, an experienced musician and former member of Mortuary Drape. After a series of underground releases, TETRAMORPHE IMPURE emerge from years of dormancy to bring forth its first full-length creation.
Melding the profound weight of funeral doom, old school death metal and early doom-death. Monolithic and crushing in it’s sonic core,The Sunset of Being brings forth vast soundscapes draped in despondent, shuddering riffwork.
Both nostalgic and reflective in its essence, TETRAMORPHE IMPURE create a brooding, despondent atmosphere, evoking the spirit of the early 90’s through the lens of funeral death doom and old school death metal.
As Damien explains, “…this album is a procession through darker corners of human experience. We intend to submerge the listener in a meditative state where they can reflect on the transient nature of existence, its desolation and dread. Work on these songs has taken over two years, with a focus on intentionally capturing the right feel and atmosphere in each moment. I would spend days experimenting with sounds until every passage had the raw intensity that I was aiming for. Bands like Decomposed, Disembowelment, Dusk, Evoken, Mournful Congregation, and Esoteric have left a big mark on my way of making music. Yet the inspiration of bands such as Dead Can Dance (especially ‘Within the Realm of a Dying Sun’) and Swans, plus being a huge fan of early Swedish and Finnish death metal – Demigod, Demilich, Convulse, Abhorrence, Gorement, Crematory, etc – are quite evident in our new album, adding a contrasting and primal edge to the sound.”
Track-list:
1 – Forsaken Light 2 – Night Chants 3 – Spirit Of Gravity 4 – The Sunset Of Being
The Sunset of Being was co-produced, mixed and mastered by Alex Sedin.
For fans of: Evoken, early My Dying Bride, Decomposed
The Electric Highway Festival is excited to announce the full lineup for the 2025 edition of the Festival being held inCalgary, AB on April 4 & 5 at Dickens (1000 9 Ave SW).
Canadian veteran sludge metal band BISON headlines the whole festival while doom metal band CASTLE headlines Friday night. They will be joined by Southern California band FEVER DOG, and various Western Canadian bands including LA CHINGA, BUFFALO BUD BUSTER, THE GETMINES, 88 MILE TRIP, and more.
The Final Full Line Up by Day:
Friday, April 4, 2025 Castle (San Francisco/ Vancouver) Buffalo Bud Buster (Calgary) Blacksmith and Brewer (Vancouver)) CHÛNK (Vancouver) Hydracat (Edmonton) The Astral Prophets (Calgary) BUNS (Calgary) Doors 5pm – Show 6pm
Saturday, April 5, 2025 Bison (Vancouver) La Chinga (Vancouver) Fever Dog (Southern California) The Getmines (Vancouver) 88 Mile Trip (Vancouver) Lover (Calgary) GEOFF (Calgary) Doors 5pm – Show 6pm
Advance 2-day passes are available for $75. Advance single-day tickets are $40 for Friday and $45 for Saturday
The Electric Highway Festival hosts various genres that range from Desert Rock, Stoner Metal, Doom, Sludge, Trippy Psychedelic, Surf Rock, Acid Rock, Noise Rock, Fuzz Rock, Space Rock, Blues Rock, Heavy Psych, Heavy Blues, Southern Rock, Fuzzy Punk, Sludgy Hardcore bands and variations of any of the previously mentioned styles. The festival includes a vendor area with interesting goods for attendees to take home with them.
Previous editions of the festival featured one of the event’s past favorites Californian headliners Sasquatch, Juno Award-winning Canadian band ANCIIENTS, Vancouver’s La Chinga, Space Queen, Dead Quiet, and more, Gnarwhal from Yellowknife, NWT, Calgary’s Gone Cosmic, Hombre, Flashback among many more, and a whole host of other great bands.
Ontario’s premiere doom/stoner rock gathering Rhüne Mountain Festival are pleased to announce ECSTATIC VISION, ACID MAMMOTH, THE DEATH WHEELERS and SONS OF OTIS are confirmed to play the festival.
Set to take place on June 26-28th in Stoney Creek Ontario, this year’s edition of Rhüne Mountain Festival is one for the history books with legendary bands DOPETHRONE, INDIAN HANDCRAFTS and SONS OF ARRAKIS previously confirmed to play.
CAREER-SPANNING SETLIST TO FEATURE TRACKS FROM TO BE CRUEL
January 21, 2025, NEW YORK – Khanate play their first North American shows in 20 years this spring, with a trio of rare live dates, including headlining performances in Chicago and New York, as well as a featured spot at the Prepare The Ground festival in Toronto.
Khanate tour dates:
May 30 – Chicago, IL Thalia Hall (Jon Mueller opens) June 1 – Toronto, ON Prepare The Ground June 3 – New York, NY (Le) Poisson Rouge (Mick Barr opens)
Tickets are on-sale this Friday, Jan. 24, at 10 am CT/11 am ET via this link: https://bnds.us/lcb8ux.
Photo credit: Ebru Yildiz Khanate: Alan Dubin (vocals), Stephen O’Malley (guitar), James Plotkin (bass) and Tim Wyskida (drums).
In the lead up to the band’s Roadburn 2024 appearance, Khanate shared: “As a collective, Khanate has been silent during our dormancy, but now we will get loud; very loud. We’ll be returning to the stage to explore tension and the elasticity of time. Get dead.”
Reviews from the event noted the band’s “powerful doom intensity” (Louder), their “glacial riffs and unyielding venomous tide of deconstructed doom” (Metal Hammer), and their “immaculate” sound with “new highs and lows of sonic extremism” (Invisible Oranges).
To Be Cruel, the band’s fifth album and first in 14 years, arrived in 2023 via Sacred Bones Records. Stereogum praised the three-song, sixty-plus minute album as “just as uncompromising as their past work,” while SPIN declared the band “more relevant than ever.” In a sprawling Q&A with Decibel, the magazine reflected on the band’s sound: “Even calling them a doom band sells them short. The cramped corner of hell that Khanate takes the listener to, sonically and psychologically, is way beyond doom. It’s doom as a forgone conclusion…”
Canadian heavy psychedelic rock ensemble AAWKS has announced the release of their latest single, “Death Trip (Naglfar)“, a preview of their eagerly anticipated album On Through The Sky Maze scheduled for release on March 21, 2025. This new track is available now for fans who appreciate a blend of intense rock dynamics and mystical lyrical themes.
“Death Trip (Naglfar)” sets a bold tone for the upcoming album with its powerful lyrics and immersive soundscapes. The single reflects AAWKS‘ continued evolution, incorporating heavier riffs, grooves, and a compelling narrative of otherworldly voyages and cosmic battles. The band encourages listeners to delve into the track, whether they think they’re cool or not, with a tongue-in-cheek nod to their laid-back ethos.
Lyrics from the single paint a vivid picture: “Beware of these towering sails, This death ship is heavy with nails. Now is the time of the storm, These angry spirits begin to transform.”
AAWKS continues to captivate with their unique blend of stoner, doom, fuzz rock, and sludge, all while exploring fantastical themes. The upcoming album On Through The Sky Maze promises to take listeners on a darker journey through themes of the occult, life and death, and demonology. With the addition of new bassist and vocalist Ryan “Grimepup” Mailman, the album showcases a heavier and more intense version of AAWKS, perfect for those late-night hours spent in the shadows of forests and swamps.
About AAWKS: Hailing from the mysterious foothills of Kempenfelt Bay in Barrie Ontario Canada, AAWKS make heavy-psych, stoner-doom music. They mix melodic songwriting with pummeling riffs and grooves and their music is as influenced by newer bands such as MEPHISTOFELES, MONOLORD, WINDHAND and the MELVINS as it is by classic rock bands like BLACK SABBATH, PINK FLOYD and DEEP PURPLE.
They explore fantastical themes of the occult and spin tales of mind expansion and spaced out exploration of the multiverse. AAWKS released their debut full length album (((((HEAVY ON THE COSMIC))))) in June of 2022 on Black Throne Productions which landed at #2 on the Doom Charts that month.
Celebrated Italian doom / black metal brigade PONTE DEL DIAVOLO unleash a powerful single from their forthcoming compilation Tre – The EP Collection. Stream “Scintilla” HERE.
The band commented: “‘Scintilla’ (transl. ‘Spark’) is a rough and violent track in which love is action, movement, Freedom. The ‘Spark’ is the Devil and the ceaseless movement of nature”.
Following on from the release of their acclaimed debut album Fire Blades from the Tomb (Season Of Mist), PONTE DEL DIAVOLO will re-issue their now hard to come by first three EPs in the form ofTre – The EP Collection. The compilation will be available in CD, LP, tape and digital formats on December 9th 2024 via Time To Kill Records.
Track-list:
01 – Mystery of Mystery 02 – I 03 – The Wickedest Woman In The World 04 – 13 05 – The Unborn 06 – Un Bacio a Mezzanotte 07 – III 08 – Scintilla 09 – AVE
PONTE DEL DIAVOLO bridges the gap between two separate worlds. The Italian band proposes a doom / black metal sound with old-school roots, adding a modern and outside the box background. The female voice – with strong dark wave influences – is the lyric cor pus of this strongly esoteric project. The solid presence of two bassists creates the massive foundation for the rhythmic guitar, everything marked by a raw and dynamic drumming.
Mystery of Mystery / Secret Live Session marked the quintet’s debut EP. It was recorded live and without editing at Dracma Studio with the producer L’Ossario in their home base of Turin in March 2020. “I” was released on the web by Iopan Records. It was soon followed by their second single, “The Wickedest Woman In the World”.
At the end of 2021, PONTE DEL DIAVOLO recorded their second EP, Sancta Menstruis at Deepest Sea Studio in Turin with Danilo Battocchio. The first single, “The Unborn”, arrived in February 2022.
The band’s third EP, Ave Scintilla! was also recorded in Turin. This time around, they reconvened at Dracma Studio with L’Ossario. Prepare to cross over into the Italian dark arts.
“Embrace The Lie” Video/Single Now Playing + Preorders Available
“I never intended to pick up with THE GATES OF SLUMBER ever again in 2014. While I did start the band and wrote most of the first album it was never intended to be a one man show.”
— Karl Simon, 2024
Indiana-based doom metal behemoths THE GATES OF SLUMBER return with their self-titled new full-length, set for release on November 29th via Svart Records. The record serves as the band’s first new output since 2011’s The Wretch and their sixth overall.
In advance of the record’s release, the band has unveiled a video for “Embrace The Lie,” an ode to lying news media outlets and political talking heads.
Watch THE GATES OF SLUMBER’s “Embrace The Lie” video at THIS LOCATION. Stream the track at THIS LOCATION.
The Gates Of Slumber will be available on CD and digitally as well as vinyl in the following color variants: Black/White Marble, Transparent Blue (limited), and Black. Find physical preorders HERE and digital preorders HERE.
THE GATES OF SLUMBER was formed by Karl Simon in 1998 and underwent various lineup incarnations between 1998 and 2001, when the Blood Encrusted Deth Axe demo was recorded with Jamie Walters aka Dr. Phibes/Athenar (Boulder, Midnight) on drums and bass. In 2003, Jason McCash took over all bass duties and was a long-time member of the band until his untimely passing in 2014, after which Simon decided it was time to call it quits.
That was until 2019 when renowned metal festival Hell Over Hammaburg wanted to bring the band back to the stage to perform at the festival’s 2020 edition. Simon reformed the band with its original drummer Chuck Brown and bassist Steve Janiak. “We’d been asked several times to play Hell Over Hammaburg. But there was no ‘we’ to play,” said Simon. “The germ of the idea started. We started re-learning songs from the first LP. It wasn’t too long into the rehearsals that we started coming up with new songs.”
Following a short reunion tour, the COVID pandemic decelerated the band’s writing process. Half of the album was written; however, the remaining half was left to stew in its juices. But they toiled on ultimately composing six wholly engrossing new hymns of true doom metal excellence. With chest quaking songs honoring such greats as Saint Vitus and Penance, straight forward bangers, lyrics inspired by the Black Death and John Carpenter’s The Fog, The Gates Of Slumber is a truly crushing work to behold.
Metal Blade Records is very pleased to welcome Italian doomsters MESSA to its worldwide roster!
MESSA plays evoking doom metal with Middle Eastern vibes. Deliciously haunting female vocals, ‘70s guitars, and Arabian Oud combine to conjure a sound that is entirely their own. With influences as diverse as Dead Can Dance, Om, Swans, Killing Joke, Electric Wizard, Thergothon, and Current 93, the band has moved from the first occult then noir-tinged doom metal of their previous works to an innovative atmospheric Mediterranean sound. The evolution is clearly showcased in their latest studio album, Close.
MESSA emerged on the first day of 2014. Guitarist/bassist Marco and vocalist Sara began to develop the basic concept while writing the first songs. Later, guitarist Alberto and drummer Rocco joined the band. The extreme diversity of their musical backgrounds immediately proved to be essential in the construction of their sound. In 2016, their first opus, Belfry, was released, and MESSA embarked on several tours across Europe and the US.
By 2018, their second work, Feast For Water, brought the band on tour even more extensively. Their latest studio work, Close, released in 2022, was lauded by critics and defined as, “the sound of a band fleshing out their place in doom metal’s past, present, and future” by Metal Injection. MESSA appeared on such illustrious festivals as Hellfest Open Air, Roadburn, and Desert Fest. The band’s latest record, Live At Roadburn, was released on April 7th, 2023, offering their main-stage triumph, joined by a unique constellation of musicians and instruments. Seeming to both embrace and defy everything it means to be a metal band, MESSA meshes Mediterranean sounds with crushing doom riffs, with an emphasis on atmosphere and an unusual use of instrumentation.
Comments MESSA, “We’re glad to announce we’ve joined forces with the legendary Metal Blade Records. We are beyond stoked to become part of the incredible legacy of this label, marking their catalog with our music. Since 1982, Metal Blade has put fundamental metal artists on the map, and being in this label’s roster is a big honor for us. We can’t wait to share some glimpses of what we are working on! In the meantime, you can catch our live shows in the following European cities.”
MESSA Live: 10/17/2024 Sunset – Martigny, CH 10/18/2024 Artik Club – Freiburg, DE 10/19/2024 Kufa Haus – Braunschweig, DE 10/20/2024 Desertfest – Antwerp, BE 10/21/2024 AZ – Aachen, DE 10/22/2024 Cassiopeia – Berlin, DE 10/23/2024 VooDoo – Warsaw, PL 10/24/2024 2Progi – Poznan, PL 10/25/2024 AJZ – Chemnitz, DE 10/26/2024 Lazy Bones – Hamburg, DE 10/27/2024 Samhain Festival – Maastricht, NL 11/09/2024 Catania Tattoo Convention – Catania, IT 12/13/2024 Kapu – Linz, AT 12/14/2024 Hellgart Festival – Stuttgart, DE
MESSA: Sara – vocals Marco – guitars, bass Alberto – guitars Rocco – drums
After two years dedicated to writing and recording, the band is ready to unveil their eagerly awaited new creation, Voices Beneath the Rubble. This monumental offering serves as a concept album, showcasing the band’s evolution as musicians and storytellers. With Voices Beneath the Rubble, DRIFTINTO BLACK delivers a sonic journey that traverses a range of emotions.
Black Lion Records will release Voices Beneath the Rubble on June 28. Pre-order/pre-save the album at orcd.co/voices-beneath-the-rubble.
Drawing inspiration from the likes of Candlemass, My Dying Bride, Paradise Lost, and Amorphis, DRIFT INTO BLACK‘s sound is a fusion of gothic doom, traditional heavy metal, and some progressive elements, all imbued with emotional depth. With Voices Beneath the Rubble, DRIFTINTOBLACK has created their most immersive album to date.
Track-list:
The Horns of Despair
In Turmoil
The Great Machine
Voices Beneath the Rubble
Last Hope
Forever King
Blood Storm
What’s Left In The Fire
Turning Of The Tide
December
Originally from Sayreville New Jersey, DRIFT INTO BLACK started their journey into doom metal in 2018 as a one-man band masterminded by Craig Rossi (ex-Grey Skies Fallen). Bassist/guitarist Paul Laplaca and drummer KlemenMarkelj joined as official members after the band’s third release. With each release, DRIFT INTO BLACK continues to evolve sonically by touching on many different metal genres while still holding on to their doom roots.
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