Line-up: Thomas Girardello – Vocals, Bass Mirko Marchesini – Guitars Francesco Tresca – drums
Italian death metallers SONUM are now premiering their new single, “In This Void We Dwell”. The track is taken from their upcoming second album, The Obscure Light Awaits, set for release on April 11th, 2025, via Dusktone. With this song, SONUM open the gates to a dark and relentless sonic journey, blending sharp riffs and oppressive atmospheres into an uncompromising assault.
Following the critical acclaim of their debut, Visceral Void Entropy (2022), SONUM delve deeper into the labyrinthine realms of dissonance and atmosphere. The Obscure Light Awaits is an ambitious work that simultaneously pushes boundaries and honours the roots of the genre.
The album eschews unnecessary complexity in favour of a tight focus on songwriting, weaving together intricate, sibylline passages with a raw, unrelenting power that shows the influence of the pioneering works of old and contemporary death metal legends such as Gorguts, Morbid Angel, Execration and Artificial Brain.
A true testament to SONUM’s evolution, The Obscure Light Awaits presents a sonic journey defined by dark, otherworldly textures and relentless energy. The band’s ability to merge atmospheric depth with crushing riffs showcases their commitment to creating music that is both immersive and uncompromising. It’s an exploration of contrasts, between the abstract and the visceral, the chaotic and the structured.
Fans of progressive and atmospheric death metal will find The Obscure Light Awaits to be a landmark release that stands tall amidst this year’s most formidable works.
Stay tuned for more singles and further announcements as we approach the release date.
Track-list:
01. Due To Inner Mess… 02. In This Void We Dwell 03. Famine 04. Trapped In The Labyrinth of Aberration 05. Ad Mortem (Iter Est) 06. Beyond The Gate… 07. The Obscure Light Awaits 08. Nobody Is Innocent 09. Messenger Of Cosmic Dread 10. Deliver Us (Final Trip)
All songs produced by SONUM and Mixed & Mastered by Luca Dal Lago.
Cosmic blackened death metal trio ULTHAR is preparing to launch their North Eastern Campaign 2025 tour this week. The tour begins this Thursday, March 20th in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and will crush its way across the East Coast and into the Midwest and back, ending in Baltimore, Maryland on March 31st where they’ll share the stage with Undergang and Torture Rack. See all confirmed dates below.
ULTHAR North Eastern Campaign 2025: 3/20/2025 The Golden Pony – Harrisonburg, VA 3/21/2025 Bonk’s Bar – Philadelphia, PA 3/22/2025 Gold Sounds – Brooklyn, NY 3/23/2025 Ralph’s Rock Diner – Worcester, MA 3/24/2025 Cabaret Foufounes – Montreal, QC 3/25/2025 The Baby G – Toronto, ON 3/26/2025 Psychic Garden – Rochester, NY 3/27/2025 Reggies – Chicago, IL 3/28/2025 Bug House – Fort Wayne, IN 3/29/2025 Shred Shed – Pittsburgh, PA 3/30/2025 West Edge Factory – Huntington, WV 3/31/2025 Metro Baltimore – Baltimore, MD
ULTHAR will be touring in support of their critically praised Anthronomicon and Helionomicon LPs released together in early 2023 via 20 Buck Spin.
Anthronomicon album cover
Anthronomicon embodies the continued progression of ULTHAR’s mastery over its art. From the opening blasts and twisting mania of “Cephalophore,” ULTHAR baffles with angular warped riffage, dipping in and out of various dimensional spheres. Each of Anthronomicon’s eight tracks represents a fractious piece of a larger puzzle, each a maze unto itself that when taken together allows one to traverse this inverted surrealist conundrum.
Where its sister album Anthronomicon presents an eight-piece puzzle of labyrinthine tumult, Helionomicon takes those elements and creates two towering twenty-minute monoliths of radiant avant-garde immensity. Each track, appropriately titled “Helionomicon” and “Anthronomicon,” transports the listener on a vast journey of psycho-cerebral spectacle where hitherto unimagined landscapes take shape and strange intangible structures pierce the disintegrating firmament.
Helionomicon album cover
Anthronomicon andHelionomicon are available on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats. Find physical orders at THIS LOCATION.
Find digital orders for AnthronomiconHERE and HelionomiconHERE.
Anthronomicon and Helionomicon were each recorded in April 2022 at Developing Nations in Baltimore, Maryland by Kevin Bernsten and mastered at Signaturetone in Minneapolis, Minnesota by Adam Tucker. Each album cover is half of a larger original piece created for ULTHAR by Ian Miller (Stormkeep, Bolt Thrower, Games Workshop). Additional artwork was created by the bad’s Steve Peacock.
On May 16, 2025, powerhouse label ROAR will proudly reissue the first three, iconic records by Swedish thrash and speed metal legends Hexenhaus: A Tribute To Insanity (1988),The Edge Of Eternity (1990), and Awakening (1991)!
Available on CD, colored vinyl and digitally, the physical products will also come with new liner notes and an exclusive history text. All formats got remastered by Ronnie Björnström (Mezzrow a.o.). Find pre-order options listed below!
Depending on the path you chose, one could say that the story of Sweden’s best kept thrash metal secret starts all the way up in the northern parts of Sweden. In a city called Boden to be more precise. That’s where the metal force Maninnya Blade took it’s form during the middle of the 80:s. Their take on speed metal caught the interest of the young guitarist Mickael Vikström, better known as Mike Wead and later on the guitarist in both Mercyful Fate and King Diamond. He would start out as a fan of the band, but it didn’t take long until’ he was their new guitarist and the talk of the town.
“When I joined them they already had four great songs more or less done already. It was; “Requiem”, “The Dead Are Restless”, “Delirious” and “Eaten Alive”,“ Wead reveals. “The style was much heavier than the music we had done before and to mark the fresh start of the band, at least that’s how we saw it, we also decided to change the name from Maninnya to Hexenhaus. The name is German for witch’s house and is a reference to the Malefizhaus in Bamberg, Germany. A frightful place where hundreds of suspected witches were tortured and executed during the early 17:th century.”
To call the material “heavier than before” is an understatement. The music on the four songs that ended up on the today highly sought after demo cassette “Demo 1988” drew its inspiration from bands like Metallica, Slayer and Mercyful Fate. A stellar testimony of what was going around in the early thrash metal scene around that time. The lucky ones that possess the “Demo 1988” cassette got a true gem on their hands.
After signing with Axis Records, the band entered the studio to record their stellar debut album A Tribute To Insanity. Half of the album contains the four songs that made up the demo, as well as four more songs that seen the band combine ideas and trading riffs like never heard before on a Swedish metal album. A Tribute To Insanity was originally released on vinyl on the 17th of October 1988. Pre-order the ROAR reissue, a must-have that belongs into every well-sorted speed and thrash metal record collection, now on https://Hexenhaus.rpm.link/tributePR
The follow-up album, The Edge Of Eternity, was released on November 1st 1990. To pre-order this reissue from ROAR, visit: https://Hexenhaus.rpm.link/eternityPR
During the same time asThe Edge Of Eternity was released in the early 90’s, Megadeth released their classic album Rust In Peace, Exodus came out with “Impact Is Imminent” and Germany’s Mekong Delta (who also was a big influence on The Edge Of Eternity) came out with their most popular album Dances Of Death (And Other Walking Shadows). To say that the thrash scene was looking good is an understatement, it was boiling hot!
In the midst of it stood Hexenhaus just waiting for the big breakthrough. “We thought that we would get approached by different management and offered tours that would take us all over Europe but that never happened”, Mike Weadsighs. “We were amateurs when it came to promote ourselves and how could we be anything else? We didn’t know that we needed to do more than creating albums to get a breakthrough!”
When the offers didn’t come as expected, Mike and the band started to work on new material. But just like the last time it was with a new line-up who was more than ready to give their all for the band. Besides the broken bones, the blood and the gated reverbs, the recordings of Awakening went smooth. The album was released in August 1991 and much to the bands dismay nothing happened for them this time either.
“Once again we got great reviews from abroad”, Mike recalls. “Big and important magazines like Metal Hammer, Kerrang, Metal Forces and Aardschok gave us fantastic reviews! Even better than the ones we’ve received before, but we just couldn’t break through. We were still stuck in Sweden doing small shows put together by fans.” The band called it a quits in 1992.
The Circle Music has signed the influential Swedish melodic death metal band, Gates of Ishtar. Revered as one of the genre’s most underrated acts, Gates of Ishtar are poised to triumphantly return with their first new album in nearly three decades.
Formed in Luleå, Sweden, Gates of Ishtar burst onto the scene with their seminal 1996 debut album, A Bloodred Path, which quickly cemented their place in the pantheon of melodic death metal. Two more critically acclaimed albums followed, The Dawn of Flames (1997) and At Dusk and Forever (1998), showcasing their signature blend of razor-sharp riffs, thunderous drums, and the unmistakable growls of vocalist Mikael Sandorf. Despite their early success and promising trajectory, the band went on hiatus, leaving a void in the metal scene that their dedicated fanbase keenly felt.
After a 17-year silence, the anticipation for a reunion grew, and while a planned comeback in 2015 was sadly derailed by the passing of drummer Oscar Karlsson, Gates of Ishtar finally resurrected in November 2023 with a powerful performance at House of Metal. The overwhelming response from fans at this show ignited the spark for new music, leading to the decision to record a new album.
The Circle Music is ecstatic to welcome Gates of Ishtar to their roster. “If there was a list of the most underrated bands in metal, Gates of Ishtar would hold a prominent place,” states the record label. “It’s been almost 30 years since their legendary debut ‘A Bloodred Path’ appeared, and still remains in the pantheon of melodic death metal. Life often plays strange games. One thing is certain: Gates of Ishtar is owed a lot and they are coming back determined to claim it all, one by one. It is our great joy to be on this journey together! Stay tuned, the Gates are open again…“
Gates of Ishtar themselves are equally enthusiastic about this new chapter. “The gates are open once more!!! We are super excited to work together with Maria and The Circle Music to bring you our new album! It will be the first new release in almost 3 decades and we have put all our hearts and souls into this beast of an album,” the band comments. “The process of writing this new material has been a joyful experience and it didn’t take more than a minute to realise that we still had that magic flow between us all in the band. We can’t wait to hear your response to it and hopefully we meet you all out there in 2026! Hail Inanna!”
Fans who have been eagerly awaiting new material will be thrilled to hear that Gates of Ishtar’s signature sound remains potent, delivering Swedish melodic death metal at its finest.
Adding to the significance of their return, Gates of Ishtar recently performed a devastating live show in their hometown of Luleå. This performance coincided with the 30th anniversary of their very first concert in the same location, marking a powerful full-circle moment for the band.
Norwegian death metallers CELESTIAL SCOURGE are back with a bang, unveiling their brand-new music video for “Wandering Waste of Oxygen,” a track from their debut albumObservers ofThe Inevitable, out now via Time To Kill Records.
‘“Wandering Waste of Oxygen’ pays homage to all the people out there who are rotten from the inside and out. To all living beings that refuse to contribute and only exist to live as parasites in our lives. To pollute the air we breathe with their wretched words and false tongues. These creatures deserve no room for solace or refuge when the inevitable strikes upon them. The track itself is a more old-school paced, riff based song to guide you on the journey of total disgust”.
Observers of The Inevitable – track-list:
The Advent of Deities
Vessels
Exterminated
Wandering Waste of Oxygen
Insectoid Evisceration
The Optic Chiasm
Assembling Deformities
Ancient Forms
Line-up:
Stian Gundersen: bass Kristoffer Lunden: drums Eirik Waadeland: vocals Hans Jakob Bjørheim: guitar Sindre Wathne Johnsen: guitar
Founded in 2021 by bassist Stian Gundersen, CELESTIAL SCOURGE has already carved out a name for themselves with their relentless energy and unparalleled musicianship. Their sound is a brilliant blend of haunting growls, guitars wielded with malicious precision, thunderous bass lines, and drumming so fast it challenges the speed of light. It’s a musical onslaught inspired by the vast mysteries of space and the terrifying beauty of its dark corners.
The band’s line-up features members with a pedigree in some of the most revered names in underground extreme metal, including Blood Red Throne, Deception, Ruun, Vorbid, and Todesking. Drawing inspiration from titans like Suffocation, The Faceless, The Zenith Passage, Cattle Decapitation and Cannibal Corpse, CELESTIAL SCOURGE crafts a sound that’s both ferociously modern and rooted in the genre’s brutal legacy.
This release expands on the themes and sonic landscapes introduced in their debut, catapulting listeners further into the boundless chaos of the universe.
For fans of: Suffocation, Deeds Of Flesh, Beyond Creation, The Faceless
The rise of darkness has finally come! Today, darkened power metal force BLACK & DAMNED celebrates the release of their epic new studio album, Resurrection that is out now on ROAR!
Available on CD, vinyl and in digital formats. You can order your favorite choice of format right here:
The band writes: “Hello metalheads! Today we are releasing our third album! We can proudly say that we have done everything possible to produce a great album for all our fans! That’s why we are very relieved that the pressure of the preparations can now fall off and we leave it up to you how the album will be received!”
A music video for their latest single, the furious “Injustice”, is now premiering below! Says the band: “With “Injustice” the fourth video from the new album is released today. This song is a little different from the first three singles. Here we show you the drama in our world! If you like it, we’d be happy if you bought the album on CD or vinyl! Cheers B&D!”
“In the four years since their much-acclaimed debut, BLACK & DAMNED have made a first-class name for themselves, sharing the stage with Vicious Rumors, Rage and Tankard, among others, and earning great reviews in the local magazines. “Black & Damned manage the balancing act between heaven and hell with flying colors”, attests Metal Hammer, while Breakout Magazine indulges: ”best stuff for all power metallers with heart.”
It is now clear that the band from the Stuttgart area can be described as a real enrichment of the heavy metal world and so they took no prisoners, used the energy of past live shows and composed ten new neckbreakers, which they recorded in the fall of 2024 under the aegis of ex-Primal Fear guitarist Stefan Leibing. Once again, this gripping melancholy hovers over the entire work, which is incredibly captivating and addictive.
Resurrection – track listing: 01. Silence Breaker 02. Ruthless Wrath 03. Red Heavens 04. Bound By The Moon 05. Circle Of Amnesia 06. Injustice 07. Searing Flames 08. Shadows 09. Reborn In Solitude 10. Navigate Me To The Sun
BLACK & DAMNED: Roland “Bobbes” Seidel – Vocals Michael Vetter – Guitar Aki Reissmann – Guitar Pappe Lee – Bass Axel Winkler – Drums
Nuclear Blast Records is proud to welcome Missouri’s burgeoning extreme metal wrecking crew DISEMBODIED TYRANT to the label’s thriving roster. With one of the most distinct new sounds in heavy music, the volatile four-piece have already amassed a global cult following with their intense amalgam of blackened deathcore and progressive symphonic metal.
In the span of only a few short years, DISEMBODIED TYRANT has released a handful of singles and an EP that have garnered millions of streams, while performing a mind-blowing set at New England Metal & Hardcore Festival and North American tour with FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE and SHADOW OF INTENT that have sparked a firestorm of anticipation for what’s next for the band.
Commenting on the signing to Nuclear Blast, founding songwriter, guitarist and vocalist Blake Mullens says:
“It’s an honor to be joining the Nuclear Blast roster, alongside some of my all time favorite bands/artists. Disembodied Tyrant has only ever been supported by myself internally, and to now have an entire team behind us is a dream come true, I’m very eager for what the future holds!”
Nuclear Blast America’s label manager and head of A&R, Tommy Jones adds:
“I’ve never signed an artist that never played a show live, until Disembodied Tyrant. I just felt so solid on their music and their team, that I rolled the dice. I saw the band’s 8th show ever at New England Metal and Hardcore Fest while they were supporting Fleshgod Apocalypse. After the performance, I hugged Blake and said in his ear ‘thank you for confirming my decision’.
The world is not ready for the insanity of Disembodied Tyrant, but you don’t have a choice. It’s about to get disgusting.”
Along with the signing announcement, comes the brand new single ‘8.6 BLACKOUT’; an unrelenting track of raging chaos.
Mullens says of the song: “This song was one of those rarities where the vision stayed consistent throughout the entire process, it became exactly what I imaged it would from day one. This is a huge pivot thematically from the previous material, coupled with the video I think it’s quite the statement.”
Fans can catch DISEMBODIED TYRANT on their North American tour with CHELSEA GRIN, SHADOW OF INTENT and SIGNS OF THE SWARM this spring.
DISEMBODIEDTYRANT Tour Dates:
Mar 21 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post Mar 22 – San Diego, CA – SOMA Mar 23 – Santa Ana, CA – Observatory Mar 24 – Las Vegas, NV – Area 15 Mar 26 – Mesa, AZ – The Nile Theater Mar 27 – Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater Mar 28 – Lubbock, TX – The Garden Mar 29 – Fort Worth, TX – The Rail Club Mar 30 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live Apr 1 – Atlanta, GA – Center Stage Apr 2 – Charlotte, NC – The Underground Apr 3 – Virginia Beach, VA – Peabody’s Apr 4 – Richmond, VA – Canal Club Apr 5 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage Apr 6 – Millvale, PA – Mr. Smalls Apr 8 – Montreal, QC – Beanfield Theater Apr 9 – Toronto, ON – Danforth Music Hall Apr 10 – Syracuse, NY – The Song and Dance Apr 11 – Worcester, MA – Palladium Apr 12 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza Apr 13 – Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl Apr 15 – Detroit, MI – Majestic Theater Apr 16 – Chicago, IL – House of Blues Apr 18 – Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater Apr 19 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Depot
Disembodied Tyrant: Blake Mullens – Guitar / Vocals Dominic Petrocelli – Guitar / Backing Vocals Lucas Koughan – Bass Kevin Alexander – Drums
AboutDISEMBODIED TYRANT: Disembodied Tyrant merges symphonic grandeur with crushing deathcore to create a cinematic, immersive experience. An unrelenting blend of brutality and orchestral depth, layered with apocalyptic imagery and themes of corruption, reckoning, and self-deification. With thunderous riffs, haunting melodies, and thought-provoking lyricism, Disembodied Tyrant is a force of pure, calculated chaos.
Finnish thrash veterans BLOODRIDE are back in the studio, forging their fifth album into a relentless sonic onslaught. Fueled by raw energy and precision, the band promises a thrash metal assault that will push boundaries and leave no neck unthrashed.
Now, BLOODRIDE unveils the album title: Deafening – a name as intense as the music itself! In their latest Studio Confessions from the Heart of the Metal Storm, guitarist Teemu Vähäkangas and bassist Esa Pennala share insights into the process:
Teemu: “The votes for the album title were bloody, but here we go, it’s Deafening! Everyone can interpret that as they wish. And as you can see from the tracklist, our songs still aren’t about kittens or sunny spring days…”
Esa: “Yeah, we’re sooo brutal! We’re also starting work on videos now. The hardest part was choosing which songs to feature. Since we try to be a democratic band, there was some voting involved.”
Teemu: “Not an easy task, because on this album, there are no fillers, only killers! Haha!”
Track-list for Deafening:
1 Sardonic Grin (Intro) 2 Kill without Hate 3 Come in Peace 4 Hindsight Einstein 5 Ashes Remain 6 Holy Simplicity 7 King of Pain 8 The Dark Triad 9 Simply Complicated 10 Death Sentinel 11 Erase and Replace 12 Fear Cage
More details, including release dates and video premieres, will be revealed soon. Stay tuned for the next wave of BLOODRIDE’s thrash fury!
Stream CARTILAGE’s Tales From The Entrails: A Necrology EP HERE.
Tales From The Entrails: A Necrology, the new EP from San Francisco-based gore dealers CARTILAGE, is out today and streaming everywhere through Everlasting Spew Records.
The dead may rest but the grind goes on. CARTILAGE is serving up another frenzied feast with Tales From The Entrails: A Necrology. The blastmasters took their studio operations to home base, enlisting Scott Evans (Kowloon Walled City, Ghoul, Thrice) for recording and mixing duties, while the genre’s perennial grindfather Leon del Muerte (Impaled, Exhumed, Nails) handled mastering, the record then completed with art by Jason V Roberts and photos by Kei Mowry.
The Bay Area gore titans continue to spill their guts across the land but with new tools in their trade: twisting harmonies and cinematic set-pieces now compliment CARTILAGE’s arsenal of blistering blasts, ripcord riffs, and deranged shrieks fans know to expect. Tales From The Entrails: A Necrology offers the biggest color palette on a CARTILAGE release to date. Now with even more shades of red.
Bathe in the gore of CARTILAGE’s Tales From The Entrails: A Necrology everywhere including Bandcamp HERE and YouTube HERE.
Tales From The Entrails: A Necrology is now available on digital, CD, MC formats at the Everlasting Spew webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE. A vinyl pressing is due this Summer. Also watch the “Globs Of Glimmering Gore” video HERE and “Frothed Vomit Slosh” playthrough HERE
In less than two weeks, CARTILAGE embarks on their brief Pacific Northwest Tour March 27th through 30th, including sets at Northwest Massacre Fest and Disemboweled God Fest with Impaled. Directly after that tour, the band will launch their US/Mexico tour with Unidad Trauma which runs from April 11th through 24th. See all confirmed dates below and watch for updates to post shortly.
CARTILAGE Pacific Northwest Tour: 3/27/2025 Savage Henry Club – Eureka, CA 3/28/2025 John Henry’s – Eugene, CA 3/29/2025 Northwest Massacre Fest @ Erebus – Kelso, WA w/ Impaled 3/30/2025 Disemboweled God Fest @ Central Saloon – Seattle, WA w/ Impaled
Surgical Strangulation Tour w/ Unidad Trauma: 4/11/2025 Eli’s Mile High Club – Oakland, CA 4/12/2025 TBA 4/13/2025 Republica de Hops – Tijuana, MX 4/14/2025 Tower Bar – San Diego, CA 4/15/2025 The Griffin – Las Vegas, NV 4/16/2025 URBNXN Tucson – Tucson, AZ 4/17/2025 Club 101 – El Paso, TX 4/18/2025 Hi Tones – San Antonio, TX 4/19/2025 Three Links – Dallas, TX 4/20/2025 TBA – Houston, TX 4/22/2025 The Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM 4/23/2025 Nile Underground – Mesa, AZ 4/24/2025 Knucklehead – Los Angeles, CA
Long-running heavy metal supergroup DOWN – featuring vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein, drummer Jimmy Bower, and bassist Pat Bruders will return to the stage for six special shows supporting Danzig. The journey begins March 21st in Las Vegas, Nevada and runs through March 30th in Phoenix, Arizona. Additional support will be provided by Abbath and Cro-Mags.
Comments Anselmo, “We’ve known Glenn Danzig for a long time and when he comes a-callin’, we always try and jump at the chance to play with our Elder Master, therefore I’m looking forward to the gigs! Plus, my man Abbath and Cro-Mags?! This should be fun!”
Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
DOWN w/ Danzig, Abbath, Cro-Mags: 3/21/2025 The Virgin Theater @ Virgin Hotels – Las Vegas, NV 3/22/2025 Thunder Valley Casino Resort – Lincoln, CA 3/25/2025 Wamu Theater – Seattle, WA 3/26/2025 Moda Center – Theatre Of The Clouds – Portland, OR 3/29/2025 Kia Forum – Los Angeles, CA 3/30/2025 Arizona Financial Theatre – Phoenix, AZ
On June 20th of last year, DOWN was scheduled to perform a special one-off show at the Inn Of The Mountain Gods in Mescalero, New Mexico, their first in nearly two years. The show was postponed due to rapidly growing wildfires which were converging on a village inside a tribal reservation in the state. Thousands of residents in southern New Mexico were ordered to evacuate their homes. As a result, DOWN played two pop-up shows in Louisiana. Portions of the proceeds from each of those shows were donated to the Mescalero Apache Nation – South Fork Fire relief fund.
The Mescalero show was rescheduled for September 27th. Prior to the performance, Blue Shendo, Tribal Administrator of the Apache Mescalero Tribe, and Councilwoman Euphrasia Platta, as well as Miss Mescalero honored the band with two gifting ceremonies where they presented blankets as a sign of The Mescalero Apache Tribe’s appreciation to DOWN for raising awareness and their contribution of funds after the fires.
Recalls Anselmo, “To play a show for the music/metal fans from Mescalero was an absolute honor. The beautiful presentation from the local Apache Tribe was humbling, surreal, and strong. I’d play there again in a heartbeat.”
Adds Bower, “When we were invited to play the Inn Of The Mountain Gods, we knew from the start it would be special. Almost canceled due to wildfires, we played two shows in Louisiana to help raise funds for the locals in Mescalero. The show was rescheduled and we flew out the next month. Before the show, we were presented with embroidered native wool blankets in appreciation for our donation which was an absolute honor. The show was amazing. It was truly a special weekend.”
A short film documenting the event, shot by Metal Dave Media, can be viewed at THIS LOCATION.
You know it’s DOWN as soon as you hear them. There’s no mistaking those gargantuan riffs, swamp blues leads, crashing drums, and hypnotic howls for absolutely anybody else under the sun. The band upholds a certain tradition that countless fans celebrate, expanding their own musical mythos as they leave its pillars intact and untouched.
Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM) is proud to announce the signing of one of the most influential and relentless forces in thrash metal: ONSLAUGHT! The UK-based band, known for their unwavering aggression and decades of iconic anthems, has joined forces with the exciting new label to embark on a thrilling new chapter in their storied career.
Founding guitarist and songwriter Nige Rockett states: “Signing with RPM is the start of an incredible new chapter for ONSLAUGHT. We’ve always pushed ourselves to create the most intense and aggressive music possible, and with RPM behind us, we’re taking things to a whole new level. ‘Origins Of Aggression’ is just the beginning, get ready for absolute carnage!”
Reigning Phoenix Music is equally excited about the new partnership: “ONSLAUGHT is a cornerstone of thrash metal history, and we are honoured to welcome them to the RPM family. Their legacy of pure aggression and unrelenting energy aligns perfectly with our vision, and we are eager to bring their music to new heights together.”
To kick off this promising new union, ONSLAUGHT will release a special double album titled Origins Of Aggression, celebrating not only the 40th anniversary of their debut album Power From Hell, but also the pivotal beginnings of the band and thrash metal itself.
Set for release on May 23, 2025, the forthcoming offering will include a staggering 22 tracks, including re-recordings of the group’s most important and defining songs from their early years as well as a collection of punk and metal covers that deeply influenced ONSLAUGHT’s conception and development. The track list includes songs that were originally jammed during the band’s early rehearsals and served as a huge inspiration for the members to pick up their instruments and to create the ferocious music that has shaped them into legends.
ONSLAUGHT’s contribution to the thrash metal genre cannot be overstated: from their debut album Power From Hell (1985), which is being honoured with this new release, to their celebrated performances across the globe, they remain an untouchable force in the world of heavy metal. With over 40 years of history, the quintet has steadily continued to evolve, delivering relentless riffs and neck-breaking anthems, and cementing their place as pioneers of the British thrash scene.
Alongside Origins Of Aggression, fans can brace themselves for an electrifying preview of what’s ahead with the release of “Iron Fist”, ONSLAUGHT’s crushing take on the MOTÖRHEAD classic, which will arrive on March 27.
The metal world can additionally look forward to their 2025 world tour, where the band will promote Origins Of Aggression and celebrate the 40th Power From Hell anniversary; including stops in Europe, the USA, Mexico, and Australia. Expect more exciting news in the near future. See you in the pit!
ONSLAUGHT are: David Garnett | vocals, guitars Nige Rockett | guitars Wayne Dorman | guitars Jeff Williams | bass James Perry | drums
ONSLAUGHT live:
21.03.2025 US Houston, TX – Hell’s Heroes 19.04.2025 PT Odemira – Mira Fest
w/ TORANAGA LUXERA: 24.04.2025 UK Aberdeen – Krakatoa 25.04.2025 UK Edinburgh – The Mash House 26.04.2025 UK Glasgow – Audio
w/ CRYPTOSIS: 29.05.2025 DE Oldenburg – MTS Records 30.05.2025 DE Wittstock – Metal Power Open Air * 31.05.2025 DE Essen – Turock 01.06.2025 BE Diest – Hell 03.06.2025 FR Dijon – La Vapeur 04.06.2025 IT Paderno Dugnano (MI) – Slaughter Club 05.06.2025 IT Bologna – Alchemica Music Club 06.06.2025 AT Vienna – Escape Metalcorner 07.06.2025 DE Hauptmannsgrün – Chronical Moshers Open Air * 08.06.2025 AT Salzburg – Rockhouse 10.06.2025 DE Stuttgart – Schwarzer Keiler 11.06.2025 DE Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal 12.06.2025 DE Leipzig – Hellraiser 13.06.2025 PL Byczyna – Black Silesia Open Air Festival * 14.06.2025 DE Selb – Rockclub Nordbayern
26.07.2025 IT Bolotana – Rock and Bol Metal Fest 23.08.2025 FR Champtoceaux – Barbeuk Metal Fest 29.08.2025 GR Rethymno – Rethymno Rocks 08./09.11.2025 UK Manchester – Damnation Festival
14.11.2025 AU Perth – Rosemount Hotel 15.11.2025 AU Adelaide – Lion Arts Factory 19.11.2025 AU Canberra – The Baso 20.11.2025 AU Sydney – The Underground 21.11.2025 AU Brisbane – Soapbox Brewery 22.11.2025 AU Melbourne – Corner Hotel
Minuutti Hulluutteen is Lasse Laihola‘s (ex-MindMirror, Hauras) solo project and a sign of his love for heavy music. In his music you are able to sense a mix of old school death metal, black metal and even more modern expression. Mathias Lillmåns (Finntroll, …And Oceans, etc.) is featured as a guest vocalist on the mini-album named ‘Uni’ which is out on March 13th 2025 via Inverse Records.
“Uni” contains eight songs and each song takes you to different levels of a nightmare. The album songs are mixed together and they create a story that takes you to the darkest place. The solo project waited for a moment before implementation, looking for its complete form of expression. The result is a delicious piece of music that moves from one mood to another.
New album from the multi-instrumentalist comes out April 11
Genre-bending one-man band SAMTAR is set to return with The Bog of Cosmic Delusions. The seventh full-length album by the multi-instrumentalist and songwriter comes fresh off the heels of the acoustic-centric A Second Chapter Made of Wood.
The Bog of Cosmic Delusions stands out as SAMTAR‘s heaviest album to date. With loud and crushing sounds, psychedelic influences, melodic guitars, and grand soaring vocals, this album is sure to satisfy rock and metal listeners alike.
SAMTAR has released three singles from the album. Stream “The Mire,” “Desert Creature” and “Refuse” on Spotify.
The Bog of Cosmic Delusions will be available on digital and limited-edition CD on April 11. Pre-order the album at samtarofficial.com
The Bog of Cosmic Delusions was written, performed, recorded, mixed, and mastered by SAMTAR.
Track-listing:
1. Desert Creature
2. Fickle Fortune
3. All You Ever Wanted
4. Speaker
5. Distant Voices
6. Refuse
7. Destiny is a Lie
8. The Whispers
9. Vicarious Voodoo
10. The Mire
11. Broken Sparrow
12. Drowning the Goddess
SAMTAR, a music-obsessed virtuoso, plies his craft with an unrepentant vigor and passion. Navigating the forests of genre, SAMTAR follows a path to sounds unknown by combining style and influence from all sources. SAMTAR chose to eschew chasing traditional mediums of promotion and instead focused on loving his life through creating music, exploring the outdoors, and translating the ethereal into song. The music SAMTAR creates is human and close, it has a momentum of its own and entreats the listener to be a traveler along the journey to their own peace.
SAMTAR grew up on System of a Down, Nine Inch Nails, The Black Dahlia Murder, Opeth, Sonata Arctica, Muse, Jimi Hendrix, Sublime, and Nirvana. Now he unites these divergent influences with driving bass lines, hook-heavy guitar melodies, powerful vocals, and a healthy dose of synthesizers. He notes some of his biggest vocal influences being from artists like Mike Patton (Mr. Bungle/Faith No More), and Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica). He also takes inspiration from sci-fi/fantasy films and literature.
Aug. 28 – Louisville, KY @ Iroquois Amphitheater Aug. 30 – Eau Claire, WI @ The Sonnentag Sep. 01 – Paw Paw, MI @ Warner Vineyards Sep. 04 – Royal Oak, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theatre Sep. 05 – Cleveland, OH @ Agora Theater & Ballroom Sep. 06 – Rockford, IL @ Coronado Performing Arts Center Sep. 12 – Airway Heights, WA @ Spokane Live Sep. 13 – Idaho Falls, ID @ Mountain America Center Sep. 14 – Boise, ID @ Morrison Center Sep. 17 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Theater at Virgin Hotels Sep. 19 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theatre Sep. 20 – Phoenix, AZ @ Celebrity Theatre Sep. 21 – Albuquerque, NM @ Revel Entertainment Center Oct. 03 – Carteret, NJ @ Carteret PAC Oct. 04 – Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater
Vocals, guitars, drums, and bass: The basic elements of all things rock is what DANKO JONES, one of Canada’s most successful hard ‘n’ heavy exports, has represented consistently since their foundation in 1996. Constant radio airplay in leading rock countries around the world, the most dedicated fan bases any band could ever ask for, both at festivals and their jam-packed club shows plus several award considerations – incl. five Juno Award nominations (the Canadian “Grammy”) – throughout their career have cemented their leading role in the rock ‘n’ roll world over and over again.
DANKO JONES manages to unite not only rockers but also music lovers of genres far beyond hard rock and punk, with their rich catalogue consisting of eleven successfully electrifying studio albums so far. Their last nine (!) full-length albums even entered the official German and Swiss album chart (along with multiple other countries).
Now signed to PERCEPTION, a division of Reigning Phoenix Music, one of the fastest growing rock labels in the world, DANKO JONES’ yet-to-be-announced 12th offering was just finished under the watchful eyes of Juno and Grammy Award winning producer Eric Ratz (BILLY TALENT, BIG SUGAR, CANCER BATS etc.), and is tentatively due out in autumn 2025. It was also Ratz who was already involved in the creation process of one of the group’s very early offerings, the EP My Love Is Bold in 1999, as well as some of their most successful studio albums over the years.
Photo credit: Jon Usual | L-R: Rich Knox (drums), Danko Jones (vocals, guitars), John Calabrese (bass)
As mentioned earlier, DANKO JONES has also built a reputation as one of the greatest live bands around. Today, Danko Jones (vocals & guitar), bassist John Calabrese, and drummer Rich Knox are pleased to announce a European tour guiding them across the pond in late 2025, where fans will have a chance to see the first live performances of some of their brand-new songs complementing the band’s already hit-packed set list. All official dates can be found below. More to come.
DANKO comments: “We are excited to be on PERCEPTION. Counting down the days for everyone to listen to our 12th album, and to start playing the new tunes live. In the meantime, enjoy the first single – ‘What You Need’!”
Managing director Jochen Richert states: “Ever since the release of Born A Lion in 2001, DANKO JONES, his management and I have been on this journey together. Wow, nearly 25 years – almost half a lifetime. And yet, DANKO JONES still sounds as fresh and exciting as on day one. But this wild ride is far from being over, and therefore I’m incredibly proud to welcome DANKO JONES to PERCEPTION. I can say with the utmost conviction that the new songs are among the best this unique artist has ever written.”
Aptly titled “What You Need,” DANKO JONES’ PERCEPTION debut single will become available on all streaming platforms on April 4 – just in time for the outfit to kick-off their 2025 festival season at Paaspop (NL). The empowering track can be pre-saved here: https://dankojones.rpm.link/whatuneedPR
Vienna, Austria-based glam metal act Mädhouse has announced their brand new studio album, entitledPlead The Fifth, for a release on July 11, 2025 via ROAR! A music video for a first album harbinger, the band’s latest smashing single “Shotgun Rider”, is now premiering below.
“Plead The Fifth“will be available on CD, limited Vinyl (incl.signed photocard) and in Digital formats, the album pre-sale has just started at:
About their first single release “Shotgun Rider”, guitarist and songwriter Mikky Stixxsays: “There are friends. There are good friends. And there are friends who will stick with you through thick and thin. No matter what happens. Even if you end up in jail. – The devil may care, we run riot lock, stock and barrel!”
Mädhouse was formed in 2017 by Mikky Stixx. Their origins trace back to a spontaneous Hard N’ Heavy show, where 18 rock musicians gathered, leading to the band’s creation. Drawing inspiration from legendary acts like Mötley Crüe, Skid Row, and Ratt, Mädhouse blends the raw energy of classic glam metal with a modern hard rock edge. Their sound is unmistakable. Gritty riffs, anthemic choruses, and an unapologetic attitude that demand attention. Since their debut, the band has continuously evolved while staying true to their wild, rebellious spirit.
Their first album Money Talks Bullshit Walks (2019), introduced their high-energy style, followed by Bad Habits (2021), a more polished and aggressive follow-up. They further refined their sound with Down ‘N’ Dirty (2022), and now, their latest release, Plead The Fifth, slated for a release on July 11th through ROAR, pushes the boundaries even further with heavier riffs, bolder lyrics, and an electrifying presence!
Known for their explosive live performances and larger-than-life stage presence, Mädhouse continues to captivate audiences worldwide. The current line-up features Tommy Lovelace on vocals, Mikky Stixx and Thommy Black on guitars and backing vocals, Rickey Dee on bass, and Bobby B Bastard on drums. Together, they keep the spirit of glam metal alive, delivering high-octane rock that never backs down. With “Plead The Fifth”, they prove once again that glam metal is far from dead — it’s louder, bolder, and wilder than ever. Turn up the volume, join the madness, and let rock ‘n’ roll reign!
Plead The Fifth – Tracklist: 01 – Midnite Fever 02 – We Run Riot 03 – Bring On The Night 04 – Shotgun Rider 05 – Wicked Hearts 06 – Get A Grip 07 – Live And Tease 08 – It’s A Monster In My Head 09 – I’ll See You In My Dreams 10 – Mad To The Bone 11 – Loveplace 12 – I Die Alone 13 – You Got The Tail Down
Tampere, Finland based thrash metal act OSIRIS REX – led by US thrasher SuperstarJoey Severance – have announced their brand new single and official video ‘Arrival Of The New Dawn‘, set to come out on March 21st. The track is taken from the band’s upcoming EP.
OSIRIS REX is a Finnish thrash metal band featuring former members of TORNADO alongside new talents. Although the name has changed, the core remains the same: high-energy, riff-driven thrash metal with a modern twist.
This release of their debut single, under the name Osiris Rex, marks the start of a new chapter, with the same raw intensity and attitude that made Tornado a household name in underground metal scenes. Fans of Testament, Megadeth and Exodus will find plenty to love: frenetic aggression, razor-sharp guitars and anthemic choruses built for the mosh pit.
With “Arrival Of The New Dawn”, Osiris Rex are ready to impress long-time fans and new listeners alike.
Band photo: Nadja Tonkoshkur
Lineup: Vocals – Superstar Joey Severance Guitar – John Creweholm Guitar – V. Grave Bass – Henry Steel
Single/video credits:
Music by: Superstar Joey Severance/Albert Hyronen Lyrics by: Superstar Joey Severance Produced by: Ben Varon Engineered by: Ben Varon Mixed by: Aleksis Pelli at Mix Studio 1101 Mastered by: Aleksis Pelli
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
Newfoundland, Canada’s black metal duo ARTACH announces the release of their latest album Morrigan…Goddess of War due out on March 21st, 2025 via Depressive Illusions Records. This third full length represents the band’s strongest material yet. It’s a relentless assault of blackened thrash metal that captures the intensity and fury the duo have always strived for. From crushing riffs to searing melodies, every track on this release is forged with raw passion.
“We’ve poured everything into this record, and we can’t wait for fans to experience the full force of Morrigan…Goddess of War.” adds Sruthán (Guitar/Bass).
Today, Artach unveils the lead single “Macha”, one of the three songs that are part of the Morrigan trilogy on the album with the songs that also includes “Badb”, and “Nemain”.
Sruthán (Guitar/Bass). explains further:
“Macha, one of the Morrígan, was known for her prophetic visions and her role as a fierce protector of warriors. She is sometimes considered one aspect of the Morrígan, a trio of war goddesses.
The three goddesses, and what elements they represent, that make up the Morrígan in Irish mythology are: Macha – War, sovereignty, horses. Badb – Battle, death, chaos. Nemain – Frenzy, panic, terror. Together, they represent different aspects of war, fate, and destruction in Celtic mythology.”
EP Credits: Cover art by: Awinita Alm Album mixed and mastered by Michael Small.
Track Listing:
Badb – 7:08
Macha – 6:06
Nemain – 5:17
Nefarious – 5:21
Nomad – 5:09
Hoarfrost – 4:29
Cloudminders – 4:46
Ride… Die… Immortality – 6:08 Album Length: 44:28
Artach is a two-man black metal band (Sruthán: Guitar/Bass, Fíochmhar: Battery/Vokills/Keys)based in St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. Being from the foggiest, snowiest, wettest, windiest, and gloomiest capital city in Canada, one should not be surprised that this fuels the creation of Black Metal. Their inspiration comes from the land, nature, the bleak weather of the Canadian North, and influential black metal bands.
Since the duo’s formation in the spring of 2019, Artach has been consistently releasing new music. The band’s debut album Chronicles of a Black Winter was released digitally during February 2020 and later unleashed on physical CD by Depressive Illusions Records.
In 2021, the band returned with their next offering Sworn To Avenge, a full-length scourge of raw and relentless bruting gloom. In 2024, Artach took an experimental direction with the EP Sgrios, which was a black metal spin on industrial metal sounds. Now in 2025, they unleash their third full length offering with Morrigan…Goddess of War for release in mid-March.
Discography: 2025 – Morrigan…Goddess of War (album) 2024 – Sgrios (EP) 2024 – From The Frozen Vault (EP) 2023 – Hell on Halloween (Single) 2021 – Countess Bathory (Single) 2021 – Sworn to Avenge (album) 2020 – Night Songs (single) 2020 – Chronicles of a Black Winter (album)
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