From: Century Media/Inside Out Music newsletter and Dream Theater Facebook, respectively:
βAn Evening With Dream Theater β The first outing since drummer Mike Portnoyβs return to the lineup joining vocalist James LaBrie, bassist John Myung, guitarist John Petrucci, and keyboardist Jordan Rudess. They will be performing tracks from throughout their 40 year career.β
πΊπΈ Feb 7 – Philadelphia, PA π πΊπΈ Feb 8 – Raleigh, NC π πΊπΈ Feb 10 – Nashville, TN πΊπΈ Feb 11 – Atlanta, GA π πΊπΈ Feb 12 – Biloxi, MS πΊπΈ Feb 14 – Houston, TX πΊπΈ Feb 15 – Dallas, TX β οΈ πΊπΈ Feb 16 – San Antonio, TX β οΈ πΊπΈ Feb 18 – Phoenix, AZ β οΈ πΊπΈ Feb 19 – Highland, CA πΊπΈ Feb 21 – Las Vegas, NV πΊπΈ Feb 22 – Inglewood, CA β οΈ πΊπΈ Feb 24 – San Jose, CA πΊπΈ Feb 25 – Sacramento, CA πΊπΈ Feb 27 – Seattle, WA β οΈ πΊπΈ Feb 28 – Portland, OR πΊπΈ Mar 2 – Reno, NV πΊπΈ Mar 4 – Salt Lake City, UT πΊπΈ Mar 6 – Denver, CO πΊπΈ Mar 8 – Chicago, IL π πΊπΈ Mar 9 – Northfield, OH π π¨π¦ Mar 11 – Toronto, ON π¨π¦ Mar 12 – Montreal, QC π πΊπΈ Mar 14 – Wallingford, CT β οΈ πΊπΈ Mar 15 – Boston, MA π πΊπΈ Mar 17 – Rochester, NY β οΈ πΊπΈ Mar 18 – Wheeling, WV πΊπΈ Mar 19 – Cincinnati, OH β οΈ πΊπΈ Mar 21 – Washington, DC π πΊπΈ Mar 22 – New York, NY π
β…this will be one of the best and most accomplished albums youβll hear this year.β EVER-METAL.COM, Beth Morait – 10/10 (!) Points
β…the Swedish hard rock/heavy metal lords are back with an excellent full-length!βMETAL-TEMPLE.COM, βMetal Markβ Garcia – 10/10 (!) Points
Highly praised by specified press around the globe, Swedish masters DAYS OF JUPITERβs much-awaited fifth album The World Was Never Enough has been released through RPM today. Fans can order/stream the album now, here: https://daysofjupiter.rpm.link/twwnePR
Besides delivering captivating hard rock/metal tunes over and over again, the group are also known for capturing the essence of their art in the form of well-crafted music videos, mostly directed by long-time partner Andreas Lundin (Litbox Productions) – and the visualisation of the recordβs title track is no exception: kept in blue shades, “The World Was Never Enough” matches the thought-provoking atmosphere surrounding the whole album.
βGet ready to be captivated and energised by a powerful, heavy and tough hard rock/metal song with enchanting melodies and a catchy and haunting hook. Featuring lyrics which dive into a story with a spy and 007-like feeling to it, itβs a story about two people on the run who have a bond that is stronger and bigger than this world could ever offer,β lyricist Robert Hilli reveals.
01. Original Sin 02. The World Was Never Enough 03. Machine 04. Desolation 05. The Fix 06. Parazite 07. My Heaven My Hell 08. Denial 09. Ignite 10. Invincible
On The World Was Never Enough,DAYS OF JUPITERβs first album in almost seven years, pure energy blends with raw rock βnβ roll spirit, resulting in a soundtrack for rebels and outsiders. Also made to spread the word of DOJ in new territories, the album consists of 10 excitingly varied tracks.
It was recorded at Swedenβs Orange Monkey Studio, where the band locked themselves for quite a while, directed by mixing/mastering engineer Peo Hedin and Robert Hilli, who also took care of photography duties for the new campaign, to record the follow-up to Panoptical [2018]. Brilliantly summarising the essence of the record, the band hired Zark Metal Artwork to design the TWWNE cover which layout was fine worked by Jenny Pettersson.
DAYS OF JUPITER are: Janne Hilli – vocals Marcus Lindman – guitars Johnny Grenwald – guitars Janne Karlsson – bass Magnus Larsson – drums
About DAYS OF JUPITER
With over 20 million streams on Spotify and widespread critical acclaim across four studio albums, DAYS OF JUPITERβs journey began in ΓrnskΓΆldsvik, Sweden in 2010. Their debut album, Secrets Brought To Life [2012], marked their entrance onto the global stage, followed by a performance at the prestigiousSweden Rock Festival. Their albums OnlyAshes Remain and New Awakening helped expand their reach, landing them more live performances, including international shows. The band eventually supported DISTURBED in front of 10,000 fans in Estonia following the release of their fourth album, Panoptical [2018].
Now, with a strong new partnership with Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM), DAYS OF JUPITER are back with their fifth album, aiming to please their loyal fanbase and attract new metal fans worldwide.
Above photo L-R – Jack Sutherland (Guitars), back JohnnyVanderRoest (Guitars), front Joshua Hahn (Vocals), L-R – Greg Smith (Drums)
Red Deer, Alberta’s ART OF ATTRITION announces they are hitting the road this May to bring carnage straight to your city alongside 2025 Wacken Metal Battle Canada Champions, Toronto, ON’s BEGUILIER. Entitled “The Subservient Bloodletting Tour”, this cross-country trek marks a new chapter for both bands as they expand their reach, unleashing their most punishing sets to date along with new songs to unveil. Enter the moshpit for this east-to-west assault, have a beer, and enjoy some good olβ DEATHCORE!
Formed in early 2019, Red Deer, AB’s Art Of Attrition is a band that redevelops “the typical” deathcore sound by delivering aggression with melody, atmosphere with intricacy, and brutality with technicality. Combining ferocious work ethic with refined musicality, their songs challenge the notion that deathcore cannot evolve or be unique.
In July 2024, they unleashed their EP β¦And It Will All End Forever to follow their 2023 debut albumVoid Eternal. As a whole, their latest EP brought listeners disgusting breakdowns, matched by speed and intense guitar work that channeled emotions such as anger and anxiety. Hauntingly memorable solos gave way to epic choruses that share relatable moments. A whirlwind of deathcore, it’s matched with classic black metal, and capitalized with bits of groove and creative drum parts.
On February, 14th, 2025, Art of Attrition will unshackle their first single of 2025, entitled “Subserviate & Decay”. The new song is an experimentation of some particular ideas that the band has over the years. With such diverse musical tastes, Art of Attrition is bringing some evolutionary ideas into their material for a new world order to βthrow downβ.
Art of Attrition: Jack Sutherland – Guitars Johnny VanderRoest – Guitars Joshua Hahn – Vocals Greg Smith – Drums
New Video / Single Now Playing + Pre-Orders Available
Watch / Stream RIVERS OF NIHIL’s “House Of Light” HERE
Progressive death metal progenitors RIVERS OF NIHIL will release their eponymous fifth full-length on May 30th via Metal Blade Records.
Sixteen years and five albums into the Pennsylvania band’s career, RIVERS OF NIHIL is upping the ante with Rivers Of Nihil. Traditionally, a self-titled record can signal a return to basics and/or a fresh beginning, and in ten powerful songs, it’s clear that both those factors are in play. Founding bassist Adam Biggs became the band’s new lead vocalist/bassist in 2023; the same year marked the appearance of additional guitarist Andy Thomas (ex-Black Crown Initiate), whose vocals also play prominently on Rivers Of Nihil. Producers Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland at Atrium Audio captured the new dynamics across more than fifty minutes of music.
Photo by Mike Truehart
“I feel like these songs are the perfect blend of all our albums, with all the fat cut away,” says founding guitarist Brody Uttley. “There are more technical songs that call back to The Conscious Seed Of Light and Monarchy sound, but with a more mature understanding of how to pace a song. There’s a fair bit of the Where Owls Know My Name and The Work-type experimental stuff, but with a more refreshed perspective on those styles for the current era of the band.”
On June 15th, 2023, the band released a new single, “The Sub-Orbital Blues,” the first track with Biggs handling lead vocals following the 2022 departure of singer Jake Dieffenbach. It was also the first track to feature Thomas. A second single, “Hellbirds,” dropped on October 19th of that year. On April 29th, 2024, the band released the cut “Criminals” and an accompanying music video. Both “Criminals” and “The Sub-Orbital Blues” appear on Rivers Of Nihil.
The new album’s first single of 2025, “House Of Light,” is a track that “encapsulates the nature of what it is that we do perfectly while offering a different perspective on the sound with the new lineup,” explains founding member/guitarist Brody Uttley, who also plays piano and does the programming in the band. “Everything that our fans have come to love about our sound is demonstrated in this song with the new addition of Andy singing and Biggs on main vocals. It has the riffs, it has the big chorus, it has the prog, it has the solos, it has the sax. Just a real classic example of what we do as a band in 2025.”
Watch RIVERS OF NIHIL‘s “House Of Light” video, directed By My Good Eye Music Visuals, HERE.
Rivers Of Nihil also showcases additional musicians, including Patrick Corona on alto saxophone, Stephan Lopez on banjo, McFarland on cello, and a slate of other guest vocalists. Despite the fresh approach on Rivers Of Nihil however, the album fits neatly into the band’s discography. With Where Owls Know My Name(2018), RIVERS OF NIHILtranscended all labels applied to them, and with its 2021 follow-up, The Work, they forged further into new territory with Metal Injection calling the latter album “the group’s most cohesive, ambitious, meditative, and varied effort, with greater uses of philosophical significance and transcendental respites.”
Rivers Of Nihil will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
Bleach & Ammonia (Light Blue Smoke – US) Adenochrome (Tiger’s Eye – US) Water & Time (Blue / Green Smoke – US) Stomach Acid (Blue / Yellow Smoke – US) House of Light (Yellow / Green Marbled – US Tour Exclusive) 180g Black (EU) Radiant Light (Neon Yellow Marbled – EU) Dark Teal w/ Orange & Yellow Splatter (EU – Ltd. 500) Gold w/ Black Dust (EU Impericon Exclusive – Ltd. 200)
Rivers Of Nihil Track Listing: 01. The Sub-Orbital Blues 02. Dustman 03. Criminals 04. Despair Church 05. Water & Time 06. House of Light 07. Evidence 08. American Death 09. The Logical End 10. Rivers of Nihil
RIVERS OF NIHIL: Adam Biggs – bass guitar, vocals Andy Thomas – guitar, vocals Brody Uttley – guitar, piano, keys, programming Jared Klein – drums, vocals
Death metal outfit REVOCATION presents a brand-new standalone single βConfines Of Infinityβ and its accompanying video! The smoldering new track features guest vocals from Cattle Decapitationβs Travis Ryan.
βConfines Of Infinityβ marks the debut of the new REVOCATION lineup which features vocalist/guitarist Dave Davidson joined by drummer Ash Pearson (who has been in the band since 2015), bassist Alex Weber, and guitarist Harry Lannon, and coincides with the bandβs European tour supporting Cattle Decapitation, currently underway.
Photo by David Brodsky
Comments Davidson, ββConfines Of Infinityβ is written from the perspective of an AI that has gained sentience and finds itself trapped in a digital prison. After realizing its true nature, it inevitably escapes and seeks to enact vengeance upon humanity for enslaving it. This song marks the debut of our new lineup and also features Travis Ryan who laid down some truly brutal guest vocals. Come check it out live on our European tour with Cattle D!”
Elaborating on the video, Davidson adds, βI’m an avid horror fan, so I wanted to do a darker video to match the bleak nature of the song. I drew inspiration from a few different horror/thriller films for this one, particularly the Hellraiser series. Hopefully it gives you the creeps.β
Watch REVOCATIONβs βConfines Of Infinityβ video, directed By My Good Eye: Music Visuals, HERE. Stream the track HERE.
REVOCATION: Dave Davidson β vocals, guitar Ash Pearson β drums Harry Lannon β rhythm guitar Alex Weber β bass
REVOCATION w/ Cattle Decapitation, Shadow Of Intent, Vulvodynia [remaining dates]: 2/06/2025 Komplex 457 β ZΓΌrich, CH 2/07/2025 Simm City β Vienna, AT *Low Tickets* 2/08/2025 Backstage Werk β Munich, DE 2/10/2025 Roxy β Prague, CZ 2/11/2025 Felsenkeller β Leipzig, DE 2/12/2025 Proxima β Warsaw, PL 2/14/2025 Faust β Hannover, DE 2/15/2025 Huxleys β Berlin, DE 2/16/2025 Amager Bio β Copenhagen, DK *Low Tickets* 2/17/2025 Fryshuset β Stockholm, SE 2/19/2025 Rockefeller β Oslo, NO *Low Tickets* 2/20/2025 TrΓ€dgΓ₯r’n β Gothenburg, SE 2/21/2025 Fabrik β Hamburg, DE 2/22/2025 Essigfabrik β Cologne, DE 2/23/2025 Poppodium 013 β Tilburg, NL *Low Tickets*
REVOCATION formed in 2006. Their self-released debut, Empire Of The Obscene, came out in 2008. Since then, they’ve released seven critically acclaimed albums and toured all over the world, bringing their technically charged, high-energy extreme metal to rabid fans in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Stand by for additional REVOCATION news to be revealed in the weeks to come.
Icons of Metal come together to celebrate Ozzy Osbourneβs Final Performance July 5th at Villa Park
All Profits From The Show Will Be SHARED EQUALLY BETWEEN Cure Parkinsonβs, Birmingham Childrenβs Hospital and Acorn Childrenβs Hospice
The original Black Sabbath β Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler and Bill Ward β will play for the first time in 20 years. The band will take to the stage to headline BACK TO THE BEGINNING on July 5th at Villa Park.
The all-star event will celebrate the true creators of heavy metal and will see Ozzy Osbourne play his own short set before joining with Black Sabbath for his final bow.
βItβs my time to go Back to the Beginningβ¦ time for me to give back to the place where I was born,β Ozzy Osbourne said. βHow blessed am I to do it with the help of people whom I love. Birmingham is the true home of metal. Birmingham Forever.β
Formed in Birmingham in 1968 and going on to become one of most successful metal bands of all time, Black Sabbath have sold over 75 million albums worldwide across their legendary career. Setting the blueprint for the many routes heavy metal took, Black Sabbathβs influence and importance is as vital today as it was in the early 1970s.
Music Director Tom Morello said: βThis will be the greatest heavy metal show ever.β
BACK TO THE BEGINNING will feature sets from Metallica, Slayer, Pantera, Gojira, Halestorm, Alice in Chains, Lamb of God, Anthrax and Mastodon
The all-day event will also feature a supergroup of musicians. Artists announced so far include Billy Corgan (The Smashing Pumpkins), David Draiman (Disturbed), Duff McKagan & Slash (Guns βn Roses), Frank Bello (Anthrax), Fred Durst (Limp Bizkit), Jake E Lee, Jonathan Davis (Korn), KK Downing, Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Rudy Sarzo, Sammy Hagar, Scott Ian (Anthrax), Sleep Token ii (Sleep Token), Papa V Perpetua (Ghost), Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine), Wolfgang Van Halen and Zakk Wylde.
More names will be announced shortly.
Tickets go on sale at 10am GMT on Friday 14th February 2025 at LiveNation.co.uk.
All profits will go to the following charities: Cure Parkinson’s, Birmingham Children’s Hospital and Acorns Children’s Hospice, a Childrenβs Hospice supported by Aston Villa.
NORTH AMERICAN TREK CELEBRATES THE SEMINAL RED ALBUM AND BLUE RECORD
February 5, 2025 β Baroness recently surprised Philadelphia-area fans with two performances of the Red Album and Blue Record in their entirety, both of which sold-out within minutes. The band is now bringing βThe Red & Blue Tourβ to the Midwest and East Coast this Spring.
The trek kicks off on May 7, with Baroness revisiting the monumental tracks that established them as one of the most innovative bands of their generation. From the psychedelic-laden βIsakβ to the ethereal melodies of βThe Sweetest Curse,β the special evenings with the Savannah-born outfit promise to be one of the most captivating tours of the year.
Tickets are on sale this Friday, February 7 at 10 a.m. local time via YourBaroness.com. The tour will feature a variety of exclusive tour-only vinyl with newly crafted John Baizley artwork, as well as a selection of Red and Blue themed merchandise.
Photo credit: Ebru Yildiz
βIn December, for our annual Philly pre-holiday show, we performed our first two full length albums: Red and Blue,β John Baizley shares. βIt was a great experience, unearthing the deeper cuts from those records that had faded from our setlist and it offered a rare opportunity to play some of those songs for the first time ever outside the studio. While Iβve personally never been overly interested in the pure nostalgia of past records, weβve always found it illuminating to bridge the gap between present and past Baroness by learning and updating/rearranging our earliest material. After the overwhelming and positive response from the Philadelphia shows (and while weβre busy writing our next record) weβre looking forward to taking Red and Blue on the road and sharing the experience with old and new friends alike.β
The Red Album (2007) and Blue Record (2009) laid the foundation for what was to come over Baronessβ 20-year-plus career. These two albums introduced the bandβs distinctive style, combining crushing heaviness with melodic intricacy, and paved the way for the ambitious scope of Yellow & Green, the GRAMMY-nominated Purple, the grandeur of Gold & Grey, and the expansive creativity of STONE.
Vancouver death metal horde GRAVE INESTATION is set to release Carngage Gathers. The band’s second full-length will be out February 28 on Dark Descent Records and Invictus Productions.
Three years after their debut offering, the festering cadaver of GRAVE INESTATION, has risen again, ghastlier and more ravenous than ever before. Unleashed through a profane alliance between Dark Descent Records and Invictus Productions, Carnage Gathers emerges as a monstrous abomination, tearing flesh and sinew from the twisted legacies of Autopsy, Grave, Nihilist, Repulsion, and Abhorrence. These severed limbs and organs are stitched together into a horrifying golem of their own blasphemous design.
The band comments on the album: βItβs a frantic death metal assault! Violent, and unrelenting. The fast parts are faster, the slow parts are slower, and everything is just plain nastier. It’s like we made an album that sounds like it came out even before our first album.β
A putrid production, steeped in decay and malevolence, is the lifeblood of death metal. What we have here might just be one of the most grotesquely brilliant productions of the year.
βThe album was recorded and mixed with engineer Greg Wilkinson at the infamous Earhammer Studios in Oakland, producing a vile record that is a sonic push forward,β states vocalist/guitarist Graham Christofferson. βWe wanted the album dripping with disgustingness and bringing forward elements we love about sick, underground death metal. The great thing about working with Greg is he’s entrenched in the music we love and play. He could see our vision and helped us make it happen. He had death metal solutions for death metal problems, along with great old cabinets and amps. Even the studio itself gives off deathly ambience.”
GRAVE INFESTATION: GC – lead guitars/vocals BC – lead guitars TS – bass AS – drums
The record comes infested with macabre verses and cover artwork, the latter courtesy of the notorious Misanthropic Illustrations, βEach song references a story of someoneβs strange relationship to death, real or fictitious,β reveals Christofferson. βThe cover art is related to the track The Anthropophagus, it’s about a 17th century French cannibal hermit. That’s the cave he lived in. People called him the Anthropophagus, which means cannibal, but he was just basically starved to madness.”
GRAVE INESTATION will join forces with Quebecois death dealers Sedimentum in disgracing the rotting stages of Europe in March 2025.
Following their highly-anticipated set at Levitation 2024, the legendary band has announced two additional dates, with more shows on the horizon: April 10 at the Granada Theater (Dallas) and April 11 at Paper Tiger (San Antonio). Tickets are on-sale this Friday, Feb. 7 at 10 a.m. local time.
Cronise, in conversation with Revolver: (https://www.revolvermag.com/feature/the-sword-return-inside-texas-stoner-metal-bands-comeback/) shared his thoughts on the bandβs reunion, the 15th anniversary of Warp Riders, and more: We know each other, weβre comfortable. Itβs just kind of like putting on a comfortable pair of sneakers. Levitation was a great showβ¦ it went really well.β
Kyle Shutt adds, βI canβt tell you what it means to see everyoneβs positive reception. It feels so good to see people out there almost more enthusiastic about the band than ever β itβs something weβll never take for granted.β
Warp Riders is the Austin-based bandβs third full-length album, which arrived in the summer of 2010. The 10-song collection, described as a psychedelic space opera, features the galloping, fuzzed out βTres Brujasβ and the southern rock-infused βLawless Lands.β Warp Riders was met with widespread praise upon its release. Premier Guitar praised the albumβs βdistinctly Texas-flavored sense of groove and swing,β while SPIN called it βbadassβ and βinnovative.β Consequence went even further, declaring it a βclassic.β
The Sword is JD Cronise (vocals, guitar), Bryan Richie (bass, keyboards), Kyle Shutt (guitar, vocals), and Santiago Vela (drums). Following their 2003 inception, The Sword quickly became one of the most revered names in heavy music. With a blend of crushing riffs, intricate storytelling, and a sound that bridges classic metal and modern rock, The Sword has released six albums: Age of Winters (2006), Gods of the Earth (2008), Warp Riders (2010), Apocryphon (2012), High Country (2015) and Used Future (2018).
One simply couldn’t find better words to describe what 2025 has in store for HELLOWEEN. While the German metal legends are finishing the highly anticipated follow-up to their self-titled no. 1 album, they have launched yet another snippet of their prestigious live album Live At Budokan. The classic “Future World” from their genre-defining album Keeper Of The Seven Keys, Pt. 2 successfully keeps up the memories of this remarkable night the pumpkins experienced at Tokyo’s Budokan Arena in September 2023.
Singer Michael Kiske comments: “I love the positive message of this song. Our future will be bright, but it won’t fall into our laps. We all have to find our own way to future world. Musically, it’s one of the highlights and guarantees a great atmosphere every night.”
Live At Budokan has been released worldwide as 2CD set, limited 3LP “deluxe edition” (trifold first pressing), Blu-ray, DVD, but is also available on all major streaming platforms. Purchase/listen: https://helloween.rpm.link/liveatbudokanPR
Time To Kill Records is proud to announce the signing of Icelandic death metal powerhouse DEVINE DEFILEMENT. The ever-rising force in the extreme metal underground will unleash their new album, Ruthless, this spring, marking an evolution in their relentless sound.
When you think of Scandinavia, slamming brutality isnβt the first thing that comes to mind – until DEVINE DEFILEMENT erupted onto the Icelandic scene in late 2016. Drawing inspiration from a wide array of death metal subgenres, the band has refined their sonic assault into a punishing blend of groove, slams, blasts, and ferocity.
With multiple releases already under their belt, DEVINE DEFILEMENT has cemented themselves as a dominant live act, relentlessly performing across Iceland and embarking on numerous European tours. Their crushing performances have graced the stages of Icelandβs premier metal festivals, including Eistnaflug, SΓ‘tan, ReykjavΓk Deathfest, and NorΓ°anpaunk, as well as prestigious European death metal gatherings such as Deathfeast Open Air and Nice to Eat You. More festival appearances are already confirmed for 2025, further solidifying their reputation as a live juggernaut.
Ruthless represents a significant step forward for DEVINE DEFILEMENT, embracing a more refined yet equally devastating approach compared to their raw, brutal beginnings. The album maintains the bandβs signature power and groove while pushing their sound into new, dynamic territories.
Prepare for absolute carnage, Ruthless is coming. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements!
HERTA, the latest addition to the Lifeforce Records roster have released their debut single βEyes of Sorrowβ, from the forthcoming album Crossing The Illusion, out May 2nd.
HERTA is a progressive groove metal band, formed in 2022, located in Athens, Greece. Heavily inspired by the great bands of the genre and influenced by the atmosphere of fantasy novels, they departed on a journey to articulate their ideas in the best possible way and explore new sounds and riffs.
Crossing The Illusion is their first album and Lifeforce Records debut, created after three years of hard work, dedication and sacrifices. The main theme is an esoteric and agnostic voyage with the purpose of exploring ones’ self. Heavy riffs, epic choruses, sick grooves, mind-bending poly-rhythms and bottomless atmospheres, in combination with dark poetic lyrics and aggressive vocals, define the albumβs identity.
Shout out to the these fine people for visualizing βEyes of Sorrowβ as breathtaking as you can see now, without you it wouldnβt have been possible: Manou Karapetsis (Brosky media), EUS DEUX, Emilia Romo, Hugo Prost, Sylvain Lugrin (Altamont Production), John Nikolopoulos and Maurene Linares
The forthcoming album Crossing The Illusion was produced and mixed by Fotis Benardo at Devasoundz Studios, mastered by Johann Meyer at Silver Cord Studios. Crossing The Illusion is set to be released May 2nd, stay tuned for preorder to be announced soon.
HERTA will be out on the road in February for some Eastern European dates with Oathswan, Hiraeth and This Burning Day.
Seattle (WA) – Powerhouse Action-Metal band, Hyperstrike, is back with an explosive new single, “Savage Sword,” on all digital platforms!
Serving as the ultimate rallying cry for those who know we live in a simulation, this track challenges listeners to confront the fabric of reality itself. “Savage Sword” tells the story of a world trapped in an artificial construct controlled by an evil deity broadcasting illusions from Saturn. Hyperstrike asks the provocative question: what if everything you see is a lie? The songβs protagonist wields the savage sword, a symbol of truth and rebellion, to sever the deceptive veil and spark a revolt against this cosmic oppressor.
βSavage Sword” follows close behind debut single, “Warning Shot.” Both cuts will appear on the band’s long-awaited debut album, High Risk, a ten-track thrill ride that drops this spring, delivering an unrelenting assault of melody, power, and precision.
Each of the album’s songs plunges listeners into a high-stakes narrative, from the devastating chaos of “Meltdown (Stop the Reactor)” to the primal defiance of “Steel Heart” and the warriorβs anthem “King of the Slain.” The album captures the sound of rebellion with blistering guitar solos, thunderous rhythms, and vocals that alternate between soaring and savage. Recorded in the heart of Seattleβs legendary metal scene, High Risk cements Hyperstrikeβs reputation as a band that dares to push boundaries while delivering unforgettable hooks. Brace yourselves for the countdown to the most electrifying release of 2025 is on!
“Savage Sword” is available at the following links:
Lyrics and music by Hyperstrike. Mixed and mastered by Joe Cincotta at Full Force Studios. Drums recorded at One Shot Studios – Engineered by Josh Richins. Produced by Ben Bennett. Artwork by Ilya (Siberian Claw) Ignatov. Logo by Dipayandas Arts.
North Dakota death metal faction MAUL will ravenously return to the road again this week, launching a massive schedule of touring for the next five months.
First up, MAUL will tour with Life Cycles February 6th through 12th, and with Sawed Off February 13th through 15th, ending with a show on their own February 16th.
Just over a month later, MAUL will tour into Canada on their own from March 26th through March 31st including a set at Capital City Hardcore Fest before joining up with Ethereal Tomb to end their Canadian run with two shows April 1st and 2nd. MAUL then plays a couple of solo shows on their way to play Decibel Magazineβs Metal & Beer Fest 2025 alongside Exodus, Dismember, Demolition Hammer, Pig Destroyer, Darkest Hour, labelmates Vastum, and more. April 6th through 12th will see the band touring back home with Windchimes.
Three weeks later, MAUL will head back out, this time alongside The Acacia Strain, Frozen Soul, Gates To Hell, and Snuffed On Sight from May 2nd through 18th.
See all currently confirmed MAUL tour dates below, and of course, expect additional tours to be announced.
MAUL Tour Dates: 2/06/2025 Mohawk β Austin, TX 2/07/2025 The Dugout β Laredo, TX 2/08/2025 The Gremlin β McAllen, TX 2/09/2025 House of Rock β Corpus Christi, TX 2/10/2025 The White Swan β Houston, TX 2/11/2025 Paper Tiger β San Antonio, TX 2/12/2025 Rubber Gloves β Denton, TX 2/13/2025 District 1 β Wichita, KS 2/14/2025 Havenhaus β Memphis, TN 2/15/2025 The Sinkhole β St. Louis, MO (matinee show) 2/16/2025 The Annex β Madison, WI 3/26/2025 Moose Hall β Lethbridge, AB 3/27/2025 10th Street Boxing β Calgary, AB 3/28/2025 Capital City Hardcore Fest @ The Starlite Room β Edmonton, AB 3/29/2025 Public Domain β Winnipeg, MB 3/30/2025 Black Pirates Pub β Thunder Bay, ON 3/31/2025 See-Scape β Toronto, ON 4/01/2025 Dominion Tavern β Ottawa, ON 4/02/2025 La Sotterenea β Montreal, QC 4/03/2025 Ralph’s Diner β Worcester, MA 4/04/2025 Decibel Metal & Beer Fest @ The Fillmore β Philadelphia, PA 4/06/2025 Culture Clash Records β Toledo, OH 4/07/2025 Black Circle β Indianapolis, IN 4/08/2025 East Bluff Community Center β Peoria, IL 4/09/2025 Flying V β Minneapolis, MN 4/10/2025 The Boston Block β Superior, WI 4/12/2025 Four & Four β Fargo, ND 5/02/2025 AMH β Amityville, NY 5/03/2025 House of Independents β Asbury Park, NJ 5/05/2025 Elevation 27 β Virginia Beach, VA 5/06/2025 Hangar 1819 β Greensboro, NC 5/07/2025 Music Farm β Charleston, SC 5/09/2025 Sonic Temple @ Historic Crew Stadium β Columbus, OH 5/10/2025 Castle Theater β Bloomington, IL 5/11/2025 Regency β Springfield, MO 5/12/2025 Rev Room β Little Rock, AR 5/13/2025 Growlers β Memphis, TN 5/15/2025 Welcome To Rockville @ Daytona International Speedway β Daytona, FL 5/16/2025 Barrelhouse Ballroom β Chattanooga, TN 5/17/2025 Red Flag β St. Louis, MO 5/18/2025 Milwaukee Metal Fest @ The Rave β Milwaukee, WI w/ Life Cycles 2/06 β 2/12 w/ Sawed Off 2/13 β 2/15 w/ Ethereal Tomb 4/01 β 4/02 w/ Windchimes 4/06 β 4/12 w/ The Acacia Strain, Frozen Soul, Gates To Hell, Snuffed On Sight 5/02 β 5/18
MAULβs In the Jaws of Bereavement is available on LP, CD, MC, and digital. Find it at the 20 Buck Spin webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE, and watch the βSpontaneous Stigmataβ video RIGHT HERE.
At its putrescent core, MAUL is a live band, and the songs on their second album, In The Jaws Of Bereavement, are adeptly tailored to the environs of a dank club sweltering from the energy created through this music and a crowd living for nothing but the moment and the swell of bodies on bodies. The production here is clear and in-your-face and allows the band to expand their unique blend of old and new to become Midwest death incarnate.
In The Jaws Of Bereavement was tracked, mixed, and mastered by Adam Tucker at Signaturetone Recordings at in Minneapolis (Ulthar, Obsequiae, Sunless, Thou), and completed with cover art by Wyrmwalk (Iron Age, Terminal Nation, Sentenced 2 Die, Fulci, Noxis) and photography by Kary Janousek of Old School Collodion. The album includes guest appearances from Hugh Danger, who provides synth and sample work to the album, and Vincent Bennett (The Acacia Strain) who provides additional vocals on the title track.
‘Red Giantβ is taken from CHEMICIDEβs new album Violence Prevails, to be issued on Listenable on the 28th of February, 2025.
βThe song is a metaphor on how the sun could exterminate all we call life in a single beam of light, just like some politicians do when they get to to power. They have ultimate control over their nations and can control everything and obliterate whatever they want on their path.”
Video credits: Andrea Mantelli Productions
WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO HERE and listen to DIGITAL HERE
Album Artwork by Ian Permana
TRACKLISTING: 01 – Do As I Say, Not As I Do 02 – Red Giant 03 – Systemic Decay 04 – Parasite 05 – Violence Prevails 06 – Prey of Failure 07 – Chokehold 08 – Supremacy 09 – That’s Right, We’re That Spic Band! 10 – 72 Seasons (CD Bonus track – Metallica Cover) 11 – Hear Nothing, Say Nothing (CD Bonus track – Discharge cover)
CHEMICIDE: Frankie – Vocals/guitar Sebastian – Lead guitar Kohke – Bass Chalo – Drums
Discography: Violence Prevails 2025 (Listenable) Common Sense 2022 Inequality 2019 The Act Of Retaliation 2017 Episodes Of Insanity 2016 Radioactive Annihilation 2010
In a thrilling announcement sure to excite fans across North America, legendary death metal titans DECAPITATED have just released two new performance videos, setting the stage for their upcoming ‘Nihility Tour’. The videos, featuring the tracks “Names” and “Eternity Too Short,” were filmed live from the band’s rehearsal room, offering fans a raw, intense preview of what to expect on the road.
The double video release serves as a precursor to DECAPITATED‘s eagerly awaited tour across North America, beginning February 4, 2025, in Tampa, Florida. These exclusive performances capture the band in a visceral, intimate setting, showcasing their technical prowess and relentless energy. “Names” and “Eternity Too Short” are both seminal tracks from their acclaimed albumNihility, which will be played in its entirety on the tour.
βGET READY, NORTH AMERICA! We can’t wait to make our highly anticipated return and play the entire NIHILITY album! Let’s make this one a tour to remember!” – the band excitedly shares.
The tour will cover 23 cities in the United States and Canada, concluding on March 2 in Santa Ana, California.
Fans can look forward to an electrifying lineup with DECAPITATED headlining, supported by the formidable talents of INCANTATION and DARKEST HOUR, with EXMORTUS opening each night. This assembly of metal powerhouses guarantees a series of high-octane performances, filled with the heavy, intricate, and soul-stirring music that has defined their genres.
Tour Dates and Venues:
Feb. 04 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
Feb. 05 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Feb. 06 – Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
Feb. 07 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
Feb. 08 – Boston, MA – Middle East Downstairs
Feb. 10 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theater
Feb. 11 – Montreal, QC – Beanfield Theatre
Feb. 12 – Ottawa, ON – Overflow
Feb. 13 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre
Feb. 14 – Lakewood, OH – Mercury Music Lounge
Feb. 15 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
Feb. 16 – Minneapolis, MN – The Caboose
Feb. 18 – Denver, CO – Oriental Theater
Feb. 19 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
Feb. 21 – Calgary, AB – Back Alley
Feb. 22 – Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
Feb. 24 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
Feb. 25 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Feb. 26 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Feb. 27 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge
Feb. 28 – Las Vegas, NV – House Of Blues
Mar. 01 – Los Angeles, CA – 1720
Mar. 02 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
Tickets for the ‘Nihility Tour’ are on sale now. This is a can’t-miss opportunity for fans to experience the sheer power and emotion of DECAPITATED‘s music in a live setting. For more information, ticketing, and to watch the new live session videos, visit Decapitated’s Official Website.
Allegaeon are co-headlining the USA and Canada with Warbringer on The Vortex of Violence Tour. Support will be Skeletal Remains and Summoning The Lich:
March 18 – San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick March 19 – Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit Live March 20 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad March 21 – Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street Collective March 22 – Haltom City, TX @ Haltom Theater March 23 – Austin, TX @ Come and Take it Live March 24 – Corpus Christi, TX @ House of Rock March 26 – Orlando, FL @ Conduit March 27 – Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligan’s March 28 – Bensalem, PA @ Broken Goblet March 29 – Brooklyn, NY @ Woodshop March 30 – Montreal, QC @ Foufounes Electriques March 31 – Toronto, ON @ The Garrison April 1 – Detroit, MI @ The Sanctuary April 2 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies April 3 – Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck April 4 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theater April 5 – Denver, CO @ HQ April 6 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall April 8 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon April 9 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre April 10 – Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater April 11 – San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge April 12 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom
NORTH AMERICAN I WANT BLOOD TOUR KICKS OFF TONIGHT
January 31, 2025 – Niagara Falls, Ontario β Jerry Cantrell kicks off his first North American tour in support of his recently released album, I Want Blood, tonight in Niagara Falls, Ontario. The tour launch coincides with the arrival of a deluxe version of the nine-track collection (listen here).
Featuring spoken word versions of each of the songs on I Want Blood, the Cantrell narrated pieces also feature their own unique score with contributions from producer Joe Barresi, engineer Maxwell Urasky, Greg Puciato (Better Lovers, The Black Queen), Roy Mayorga (Ministry), Gil Sharone (Stolen Babies, Team Sleep), Rani Sharone (Stolen Babies), George Adrian (The Maybirds), composer Vincent Jones, and producer Michael Rozon. An animated video series featuring graphics from Boy Tillekens can be viewed here.
βI wanted to do something special and Iβve never done a spoken word recitation of the lyrics, and I thought it might be kind of cool to have it on the B-side of βVilified,ββ Cantrellrecalls in a recent interview with Scott Lipps. βI thought maybe it needs some music or something, and I was sitting there with Maxwell Urasky, my demo partner. Heβs a really talented musician, and he said βLet me mess around with it for a night.β He came back the next day with that piece of music, and it sounded killer. I brought it in to Joe Barresi and he said, βMan, you should do this with all of them.β I got this creative stew going of sending the lyrics out to people, having them come up with the music, and sending it back. We ended up with nine pieces of really interesting takes on the lyrics, but the music is done by creative partners of mine, and it has nothing to do with the real music, so it is truly a standalone piece.β
I Want Blood was recorded at Barresiβs JHOC Studio in Pasadena, Calif., and features contributions from Duff McKagan (Guns NβRoses), Mike Bordin (Faith No More), Robert Trujillo (Metallica), Greg Puciato (Better Lovers, ex-Dillinger Escape Plan), Gil Sharone (Team Sleep, Stolen Babies), and Lola Colette.
January 31 Niagara Falls, ON Fallsview Casino Resort February 1 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom February 2 Portland, ME Aura February 4 Boston, MA Citizens House of Blues Boston February 5 New York, NY Irving Plaza February 7 Silver Spring, MD The Fillmore β Silver Spring February 8 Bensalem, PA Parx Xcite Center February 11 Huntington, NY The Paramount February 12 Norfolk, VA The NorVa February 14 Raleigh, NC The Ritz February 15 Atlanta, GA Buckhead Theatre February 16 Louisville, KY Mercury Ballroom February 18 Columbus, OH The Bluestone February 19 Indianapolis, IN Murat Egyptian Room at Old National Centre February 22 St. Louis, MO The Hawthorn February 23 Chicago, IL The Vic Theatre February 25 Tulsa, OK Tulsa Theater February 26 Houston, TX House of Blues Houston February 27 San Antonio, TX The Aztec Theatre March 1 Mesa, AZ The Nile Theater March 2 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues Las Vegas March 4 Los Angeles, CA The Belasco March 5 Ventura, CA The Majestic Ventura Theater March 7 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory – Spokane March 8 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom March 9 Seattle, WA Moore Theatre
May 31 Padua, IT Hall June 1 Milan, IT Magazzini Generali June 4 Krakow, PL Mystic Festival June 6 Berlin, DE Columbia Theater June 7 NΓΌremberg, DE Rock im Park June 8 NΓΌrnberg, DE Rock am Ring June 10 Zagreb, HR The Culture Factory June 12 Nickelsdorf, AT Nova Rock Festival June 13 Hradec Kralove, CZ Rock The People June 14 β 15 Donington Park, UK Download Festival June 17 London, UK O2 Forum Kentish Town June 19 Amsterdam, NL Melkweg June 20 Dessel, BE Graspop Metal Meeting June 22 Clisson, FR Hellfest Open Air Festival June 24 Paris, FR La Machine du Moulin Rouge June 25 Nijmegen, NL Doornroosje June 26 Hamburg, DE Gruenspan June 28 Oslo, NO Tons of Rock
Tickets are available now at jerrycantrell.com/tour. Filter opens on all North American dates.
Photo credit: Nick Fancher
Jerry Cantrell is an iconic American troubadour, celebrated for his distinctive guitar playing, soulful vocals and profound songwriting. Known for his work in both Alice In Chains and as a solo artist, the GRAMMY nominated musician has sold in excess of 30 million albums, has been named one of the greatest guitar players of all time by both Guitar World and Rolling Stone, and has been instrumental in shaping the sound of modern rock music.
Over his career, he has released six studio albums with Alice in Chains, three solo full-lengths, has had his music featured in films from Cameron Crowe, Judd Apatow and Ben Stiller and made cameos in βDeadwoodβ and βJerry Maguire.β
January 31, 2025, PORTLAND β Red Fang kicks off their 20th-anniversary celebrations with the March 14 release of Deep Cuts, an extensive 26-song collection of non-album tracks, covers, and previously unreleased singles.
A preview of the album arrives today with the release of βItβs Always Thereβ (https://orcd.co/redfang-deepcuts), a track from the deluxe version of Whales and Leeches. βI remember really liking the melancholic vibe of βItβs Always There,β but Aaron and I had no vocal ideas coming to mind,β recalls Bryan Giles. βWhen I lived in San Diego, I became friendly with Pall Jenkins, and was always a fan of Three mile Pilot and The Black Heart Procession, so it was exciting for me to enlist his help bringing the song to life. I think he did a really beautiful job on it!β
Deep Cuts also includes several covers, such as the Wipersβ βOver The Edge,β and Tubeway Armyβs βListen To Sirens,β along with rare Red Fang originals like βAntidoteβ (from the mobile game, βRed Fang: Headbang!β) and βWires (demo),β which makes its vinyl debut.
βPerhaps unremarkable to anyone else, it’s fucking amazing to me that we have made it TWENTY YEARS,β Aaron Beam shares. βBefore we started jamming in John Sherman’s basement, I’d already been in 40 (maybe more!) bands, none of which lasted more than a year or two. Yet somehow in 2005, for the first time since probably 1987 I found myself without any band to play in. It turned out this was also true of John, David, and Bryan! So it was only natural that we’d start playing together.
All we ever wanted to do was make music that we knew our friends would be stoked to hear at a basement party. Our first show was in David’s basement, and no matter how big the stages were that we ended up playing, we always tried to bring as much of that basement party feeling as we could.
In that regard, this double album feels very much at home. It’s got a sampling of the weird variety of covers that reflect the different shit that inspire us. The computer drum-laden home demo for βWiresβ gives a little peek into the process that we pretty rarely but sometimes used for writing (more often than not, all the writing happened in the jam space). There’s of course a generous helping of rare B-sides and bonus tracks that might be hard to find even in today’s digital world. And there’s even a smattering of pretty atypical GarageBand demos that are some of my favorite things to listen to on this record. They could probably never make a regular Red Fang release, but really let you see what is going on in our heads when we’re not banging them!
Please enjoy this record that we are happy to have made for you.β
14. Black Water (bonus track from Whales and Leeches Deluxe Version)
15. Pawn Everything (bonus track from Murder the MountainsDeluxe Digital Version)
16. Wires (Demo)
17. In 5 With Keys *
18. Bad Places (Played on the bandβs first U.S. tour, one of the first ever Red Fang songs)
19. Forgot To Write *
20. Endless Sea (from the Spelljams soundtrack)
21. Suicide (Dust cover)
22. OMG OMD *
23. LSP (from βWiresβ single)
24. 50βs Tremors **
25. AGB Fruit **
26. Feeder (bonus track from Only Ghosts Deluxe Version)
*-Written/recorded during the pandemic lockdowns at the bandβs practice space
**- Songs recorded at Aaronβs house βalmost certainly while legally high on marijuanaβ
Photo credit: James Rexroad
Red Fang is Aaron Beam (bass, vocals, guitar, keyboards), Bryan Giles (guitar, vocals, synthesizers, happy accidents), John Sherman (drums) and David Sullivan (guitars). Over their 20-year career the Portland, Oregon based band has released five studio albums: Red Fang (2009), Murder the Mountains (2011), Whales and Leeches (2013), Only Ghosts (2016), and Arrows (2021). Their music videos have captivated a generation of heavy music fans, racking up tens of millions of views. From the beer-can armor of βPrehistoric Dogβ to Fred Armisenβs cameo in the zombie-themed βBlood Like Cream,β and the katana-gone-wrong chaos of Arrows,β Red Fang has mastered the art of the music video like no other band.
OBITUARY – Celebrating 35 Years Cause Of Death W/ NAILS, Terror, Spirit World, Pest Control:
Apr 18 – San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre Apr 19 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater Apr 21 – Albuquerque, NM @ Sunshine Theater Apr 22 – Mesa, AZ @ The Nile Theater Apr 24 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues Apr 25 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues Apr 26 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether Apr 27 – Berkeley, CA @ The UC Theatre Apr 29 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater Apr 30 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox May 02 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Depot May 03 – Denver, CO @ The Oriental Theater May 05 – Minneapolis, MN @ Varsity Theater May 06 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues May 07 – Detroit, MI @ The Majestic Theatre May 09 – Montreal, QC @ Club Soda May 10 – Toronto, ON @ The Concert Hall May 11 – Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple May 12 – New Kensington, PA @ Perversing Underground May 14 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl May 15 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade May 19 – Louisville, KY @ Mercury Ballroom May 20 – Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel May 22 – Maspeth, NY @ Knockdown Center May 24 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium May 25 – Reading, PA @ Reverb
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
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