Vortex has released a haunting new music video for their latest single “Haunting the Abyss” directed by Chris Kells (The Agonist). The track is the second single from their upcoming EP “Alien Realms” scheduled for release on April 11th, 2025. This is the second single off this record and fans can hear both live when the band tours Eastern Canada in April and Europe in the fall, supporting France’s XAON. Vortex comments on the single:
“This song begins with a melancholic black metal section before transitioning into a verse that I’d describe as a modern death metal take on the main riff of Metal Church by the band of the same name. For this EP, we focused on writing memorable, epic choruses, and this one is a perfect example of that. This song showcases Vortex at its best. We put a lot of hard work into it, and we truly believe it’s the standout track on Alien Realms.”
The video, crafted by Kells’ visionary direction, perfectly captures the band’s blend of technical proficiency and atmospheric intensity. Through striking visuals and masterful cinematography, the video enhances the track’s exploration of cosmic horror and discovery.
“Haunting the Abyss” demonstrates Vortex‘s evolution, featuring their trademark combination of guttural and black metal vocals alongside fry screams. The song showcases the band’s sophisticated approach to extreme metal, with intricate guitar work and massive orchestral arrangements working in perfect harmony. They are recommended listening for fans of Shadow of Intent, Fleshgod Apocalypse, and Dimmu Borgir.
Watch and listen to “Haunting the Abyss” via its video premiere on NoCleanSinging HERE.
Track Listing: 1. When Humans Defy the Void – 5:03 2. Haunting the Abyss – 5:26 3. Ripping the threads of Reality – 4:10 4. Where Wonders Dwell – 3:00 EP Length: 17:40
First single “When Humans Defy the Void” at the following links:
Symphony For The Dead Tour – Vortex + XAON (QC, ON, NB) April 15 – Montreal, QC – Le Petit Campus *** April 16 – Edmundston, NB – Ateepic * April 17 – Saint John, NB – Haven Music Hall and Cafe * April 18 – Moncton, MB – Xeroz * April 19 – Rimouski, QC – Coop Le Paradis * April 22 – Ottawa, ON – The Rainbow April 23 – Drummondville, QC – La Ste-Paix **** April 24 – Quebec City, QC – L’Anti **** April 25 – Saguenay, QC – Microbrasserie Port-Alfred April 26 – Trois-Rivieres, QC – L’Entite **
Get ready to be blown away as Wretched Path from Finland makes a triumphant return with their highly anticipated second album, Sea Of Death! After the success of their debut album, Heavy Lies The Crown, the band took some time off to craft a masterpiece that’s faster, darker, and more intense than ever before. Now, just over two years later, they’re back and ready to unleash this beast upon the world!
Formed in 2020 by seasoned musicians from renowned bands like Pestigore, Born of Thorns, Tukkanuotta, and Warmen, Wretched Path was born out of a desire to return to their Death Metal roots. Their debut album received rave reviews from various magazines and websites, and they played several gigs around Finland including the legendary Nummirock festival 2023.
Wretched Path – Sea of Death – Track List: 01. Release Of Violence 02. Death Machine 03. Apophis 04. False God 05. Rot Alone 06. Violence Within 07. Wretched Path 08. Sea Of Death
Swedish death metal force UNDECAYED will unleash their long-awaited debut album, In Death’s Image, on May 21st, 2025, via Lethal Scissor Records.
Despite their origins, the band eschews the traditional HM-2-driven Swedish sound in favor of a raw and relentless approach deeply rooted in the ferocity of ’90s American death metal, recalling the percussive onslaught of Suffocation and the unholy aggression of Deicide. However, the album does not shy away from the merciless intensity of certain European acts, channeling the sheer force of early Sinister, Aeon and Severe Torture into a blistering assault of unfiltered death worship.
Likely the first album ever released with the word ‘death’ in the title of every song, “In Death’s Image” takes its thematic obsession to another level: in one track, the word for ‘death’ is even sung in 19 different languages. The album’s lyrics paint a grim and absolute vision of annihilation. “Death” arrives on Earth in a physical form, surpassing any concept of a god, to extinguish all existence. No one and nothing is spared: humans, animals, vegetation, water and air, everything dies. There is NO hope for life.
The first single “Death’s Only Demand”is now streamingHERE.
Track-list:
1 – The World Shall Know Only Death 2 – Death’s Only Demand 3 – The Descendants Of Death 4 – In Death’s Image 5 – Death Shall Come (Death Shall Prevail) 6 – Death’s Pallid Coat 7 – World At Death’s Door 8 – Entreating Death In Vain 9 – The Greatest Death
All music composed by Mikael Bergman. All lyrics written by Tony Richter. Cover artwork by renowned artist Jon Zig.
Biography:
UNDECAYED was formed in August 2008 by Tony Richter (vocals) and Mikael Bergman (guitars) as a result of lineup issues in their respective bands, 9th Plague and Disromance. The two had played together in several bands throughout the ’90s and early 2000s, most notably Gardens of Obscurity and The Darksend.
Initially, Richter and Bergman were joined by Disromance drummer Johnny Augustsson. Bassist Christoffer Svensson joined in 2009, and in 2014, drummer Jesper Leidbring replaced Augustsson.
Line-up:
Tony Richter – vocals Mikael Bergman – guitars Christoffer Svensson – bass Jesper Leidbring – drums
The idea that every song should include the word “death” in its title emerged in 2010, both to emphasize that this was true DEATH metal and because such a concept had never been done before. The demo The Triumph of Death was recorded in late 2010 and released in January 2011. It was then decided that no further demos would be released before the debut album.
Over the years, family matters, work commitments, health issues, the loss of two rehearsal spaces, and lineup changes all contributed to periods of forced inactivity and delays. It wasn’t until the Covid-19 pandemic that the band was finally able to complete their album “In Death’s Image”.
Our North American tour with Holy Fawn, Inter Arma and Glacial Tomb is only two months away! For the first time ever we are offering VIP meet-and-greets; dates for the tour are below, and VIP packages + tickets are available here.
Our latest single from our upcoming self-titled album, “American Death,” dropped last week, along with a video. Preorder the new album, pick up the new merch, and watch the new music video now at https://www.riversofnihil.com.
THE AGGRESSIVE PROGRESSIVE NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2025 RIVERS OF NIHIL, HOLY FAWN, INTER ARMA, GLACIAL TOMB:
5/22 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA 5/23 The Palladium (Upstairs) – Worcester, MA 5/24 Rec Room – Buffalo, NY 5/25 The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH 5/27 Pike Room @ Crofoot – Pontiac, MI 5/28 Reggies – Chicago, IL 5/29 The Cabooze – Minneapolis, MN 5/30 Bourbon Theater – Lincoln, NE 5/31 Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO 6/01 Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT 6/03 Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC 6/04 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 6/05 Dante’s – Portland, OR 6/06 Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA 6/07 Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA 6/08 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA 6/10 Nile – Mesa, AZ 6/11 Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM 6/12 Jake’s – Lubbock, TX 6/13 The Rail – Ft. Worth, TX 6/14 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX 6/15 Scout Bar – Houston, TX 6/17 Basement East – Nashville, TN 6/18 Eulogy – Asheville, NC 6/19 The Canal Club – Richmond, VA 6/20 The Meadows – Brooklyn, NY 6/21 Fairmount Theatre – Montreal, QC 6/22 Lees Palace – Toronto, ON
Our Europe + UK headline tour with Cynic, Beyond Creation and Daath has been going strong for nearly three weeks and has about 10 shows left to go. Now is the time to grab tickets if you haven’t yet. See you out on the road!
THE AGGRESSIVE PROGRESSIVE EU/UK TOUR 2025 – RIVERS OF NIHIL, CYNIC, BEYOND CREATION, DAATH:
Remaining dates: 24.03.25 Austria Wien – Flex 25.03.25 Hungary Budapest – Dürer Kert 26.03.25 Germany München – Backstage 27.03.25 Italy Milan – Slaughter Club 28.03.25 Switzerland Aarau – Kiff 29.03.25 Germany Karlsruhe – Substage
Cover art: “L’Umana Fragilità” by Salvator Rosa (1656)
Troy (NY) – “Fleshspoil,” the eponymous third single from forthcoming FLESHSPOIL debut album, The Beginning of the End, is out now and streaming on Bandcamp! Get in on it below!
A new force in Blackened Death Metal has emerged to lay waste to 2025! FLESHSPOIL, featuring veteran players from Arsis, The Final Sleep, and Illucinus, will release full-length debut album, The Beginning of the End, March 28 on digital format!
Fans of classic death, black, and doom metal take note! FLESHSPOIL delivers a haunting and aggressive soundscape, and features a lineup of seasoned musicians:
Jeff Andrews (guitar/vocals), a veteran of New York’s metal scene, known for his work with The Final Sleep, Armor Column, Hush, Ironweed, Scavengers, and Held Under. Mike Van Dyne (drums), known for his role in Arsis, where he played on acclaimed releases such as A Celebration of Guiltand A Diamond for Disease, and toured globally alongside heavyweights like Behemoth, Arch Enemy, Exodus, Cynic, Dying Fetus, Grave, Necrophagist, Napalm Death, and Six Feet Under. Dan Saltzman on bass, hails from the Bay Area, whose impressive work has been showcased in Illucinus and The Hunt, as well as recent demonstration videos for ESP bass guitars.
Produced and mixed by Brett Portzer (Skinless, Author & Punisher, Arsis), The Beginning of the End consists of six tracks clocking in at 37 minutes. It is the creative vision of Andrews and Van Dyne, who recorded two albums and performed together alongside such notable bands as At The Gates, Wolves In The Throne Room, Sanctuary, Rivers of Nihil, Fates Warning, All That Remains, and many others with their previous band, The Final Sleep.
The Beginning of the End additionally includes guest appearances by Kyle Chapman (Aethereus, Blighted Eye), John Judson (Rwake, Scott Kelly), and Petr Oplatka (Illucinus).
Line-up: (L-R) Mike Van Dyne – Drums Jeff Andrews – Guitar/Vocals Dan Saltzman – Bass
Guitar solo and additional chaos on “Bleed Through This Life” by Kyle Chapman of Aethereus and Blighted Eye. Guitar solo on “Walking Dead” by Petr Oplatka of Illucinus.
Lap steel guitar on “Bleed Through This Life” and “Skies Turn To Graves” by John Judkins of Rwake.
Drum tracking engineered by Brett Portzer at White Lake Music & Post. Guitar and vocal tracking engineered by Van Dyne/Andrews.
Produced, mixed & mastered by Brett Portzer. Music and arrangements by Andrews/Van Dyne. Lyrics by Andrews.
PATCHWORK, the Rockford-based metal band known for its fierce and provocative music, have released “Divide,” the latest single from their upcoming album Scars. Featuring the distinctive vocals of Dallas Toler-Wade (NARCOTIC WASTELAND, ex-NILE) and the intricate guitar solos of Ronnie Parmer (BLOODMESSIAH, MALEVOLENT CREATION). “Divide” is now available on all major streaming platforms.
“Divide” ventures into the darker and more intense territory of death metal, marking a significant departure from PATCHWORK‘s typical sound. The song addresses the deep fractures within contemporary society, spotlighting the insidious influence of unseen powers that manipulate and distort public perception through Orwellian tactics.
Brad Carlson, guitarist and one of the primary songwriters for PATCHWORK, crafted the music and arrangement for “Divide,” utilizing a drop C tuning to create a heavier, more aggressive sound. The collaboration with Dallas Toler-Wade brought a new dimension to the track, with his experience in death metal bringing authenticity and intensity to the vocals.
Ronnie Parmer’s guitar work complements the song’s thematic depth. Known for his dynamic playing style, Parmer’s solos add a visceral edge to the track, enhancing its emotional and sonic impact.
“Divide” serves as a poignant reminder of the cultural and social battles being waged silently in everyday life. The song’s lyrics, written by Dave Caruana, reflect on the lasting consequences of these battles, suggesting a collective memory and a reckoning to come. The proverb “the axe forgets, but the tree remembers” underscores the enduring awareness and resilience of those affected by divisive tactics.
“Divide” both challenges the listener musically but also encourages a deeper reflection on the forces that shape our world. The single sets the stage for the release of Scars, scheduled for May 15, 2025, promising an album filled with powerful narratives and relentless metal craftsmanship.
Scars – Track Listing: You Have Failed (feat. Todd Paluzzi) Scars Fallout (feat. Bobby Gustafson) Relllik (feat. Kragen Lum) Ruined Methuselah Divide (feat. Dallas Toler-Wade, Ronnie Parmer) The Vulture Skies in Flames (feat. Michael Gilbert) The Empty Buried Alive (feat. Bobby Gustafson) Bitter Truth (feat. Dallas Toler-Wade) At The End (feat. Kragen Lum)
“On No One’s Word” is taken from BARK‘s forthcoming album The Time has Come out on April 2025. Produced by Martin Furia (Destruction..). It is a death ‘n’ roll anthem for those who dare to stand on the flames of the fire stake. It may seem that you are alone, but you’re not. Times may change but the Man trying to rule you is a constant. If you sing the chorus of “On No One’s Word”you instantly grow an extra pair of balls to fight back.
For fans of: Entombed, Cro Mags, Dismember, Sepultura, Motörhead…
Recorded at their own studio Jurassic Recordings, under the guidance of guitarist Martin Furia (producer for Destruction, Nervosa, Toxik, Chemicide…) the album boasts a production that amplifies BARK’s signature sound while pushing their sonic boundaries even more to achieve their most brutal album to date.
BARK: The Time Has Come Album Track-listing: 1 Negativist 2 Shaman 3 Dodge the Bullet 4 On No One’s Word 5 Whisky Rivers 6 Faceless 7 Wanted Man 8 Seven 9 Wildheart 10 Lord Of The Skies 11 Wrath Unchained 12 The Curse From Above
LINE UP: Ron Bruynseels – Vocals Martin Furia – Guitar Toon Huet – Guitar Jorn Van der Straeten – Bass Ward Van der Straeten – Drums
DISCOGRAPHY: Bark ep (Self released – 2015) Voice of Dog (Sideburn – 2016) Like Humans Do (Sound of the Hound Records – 2017) Written in Stone (Sound of the Hound Records – 2020) Rambler of Aeons (Listenable – 2022) The Time has Come (Listenable – 2025)
After the triumphant release of their recent critically acclaimed EP Year of the Four Emperors, Canadian Death Metal gladiators EX DEO have just released a lyric video for “Galba“. The song is a ferocious opener for the EP that showcases exactly why they are considered to be at the forefront of the genre.
The band says about the track: “Galba rises from the ashes of Nero’s reign, a tyrant cloaked in the guise of savior. The track mirrors his ruthless ascent, dominated by unrelenting riffs and venomous proclamations of power. His insatiable hunger for wealth and domination sets the tone for the chaos to follow. As the walls of Rome close in, the Praetorian Guard turns against him in a violent crescendo, heralding his downfall. Galba’s story is a chilling testament to hubris and betrayal.”
The EP is currently available on both CD and as an extremely limited edition vinyl directly from Reigning Phoenix Music. Order/Listen to The Year Of The Four Emperors HERE: https://exdeo.rpm.link/yotfeP
Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur, Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme and hard music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists by offering best services and practices in the industry. RPM’s paramount goal is to help the artists amplify their music and talent to a winning formula for success. The label recently opened a new office in London, UK.
20 Buck Spin’s first release of 2025 arrives, as the harrowing eponymous debut LP from Austin, Texas-based death metal quartet CORPUS OFFAL is being prepared for release this Friday.
The unexpected demise of Cerebral Rot came swiftly after two renowned cult albums. Yet just as expediently, a malodorous new organism arose in its place, CORPUS OFFAL. Still featuring Cerebral Rot’s rancid core of guitarist/vocalist Ian Schwab (ex-Demoncy) and guitarist Clyle Lindstrom (Fetid, Caustic Wound), the CORPUS OFFAL rhythm section of bassist Jason Sachs (ex-Demoncy) and drummer Jesse Shreibman (Bell Witch) now summons intensely elevated waves of stomach-churning nausea.
photos by Chris Eaton
After last year’s demo defloration, CORPUS OFFAL presents its eponymous full-length, erupting like a festering corpse dragged from a midnight sewer; putrid, pulverizing and perversely invigorating.
A bludgeoning autopsy of death metal, gore, and deathgrind, the low-tuned grooves, discordant leads, and mid-tempo rumble of Cerebral Rot is evident in tracks like “Spinous Forms Of Mortal Abhorrence” and the title track while setting the bar for a melted transformation into more ghastly liquified forms.
The gargling slime vox of Schwab are dangerously radioactive, summoned straight from the sealed basement of a nuked morgue narrating a splatter-fest of morbid poetry, decomposing flesh, absurd experiments, and gruesome transgression. Each song plays out like a medical examiner’s case file crossed with the fevered ramblings of a psychopath, precise in its anatomical horror and repugnant in its bizarre depravity.
Consecrated with an impossibly heavy Billy Anderson production, by the time CORPUS OFFAL reaches its cataclysmic conclusion, you’re left drained, disoriented, and left wondering whether you’ve survived a masterpiece or witnessed the musical equivalent of a snuff film. So, enter the crematorium, inhale deeply and be filled with the corporeal intoxication of CORPUS OFFAL’s carnage. This is a sonic slaughterhouse and you’re the carcass. Fans of Cerebral Rot, Fetid, Disgorge, Cenotaph, Goatlord, Undergang, and Cianide should not miss this.
Corpus Offal was recorded at Jackpot! Recording Studio/Everything Hz, engineered by Billy Anderson (Melvins, Sleep, Bell Witch), mastered by Dan Lowndes Resonance Sound, and completed with art by Karina Monzon and layout by Dan Fried. The video for the LP’s title track was directed, filmed, and edited by Chris Eaton.
Stream CORPUS OFFAL’s eponymous debut early only on YouTube RIGHT HERE.
Corpus Offal wil be released this Friday, March 21st on LP, CD, and digital platforms. Preorders can be placed at the 20 Buck Spin webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE, and if you missed it, watch the terrifying video the title track HERE.
CORPUS OFFAL will launch a widespread US incursion supporting the album. The band will tour across the country alongside Mephitic Corpse from April 26th through May 29th, including a set at the Maryland Deathfest XX official pre-fest on May 21st. See all confirmed dates below and watch for additional live dates to post.
CORPUS OFFAL w/ Mephitic Corpse: 4/26/2025 Black Magic Social Club – Houston, TX 4/29/2025 Nile Underground – Phoenix, AZ 4/30/2025 Knucklehead – Los Angeles, CA 5/01/2025 Eli’s Mile High – Oakland, CA 5/02/2025 High Water Mark – Portland, OR 5/03/2025 Belltown Yacht Club – Seattle, WA 5/04/2025 The Shredder – Boise, ID 5/06/2025 Aces High – Salt Lake City, UT 5/07/2025 Hi-Dive – Denver, CO 5/09/2025 X-Ray Arcade – Milwaukee, WI 5/10/2025 Cobra Lounge – Chicago, IL 5/11/2025 Black Circle – Indianapolis, IN 5/12/2025 TBA – Detroit, MI 5/13/2025 Ace Of Cups – Columbus, OH 5/14/2025 No Class – Cleveland, OH 5/15/2025 Smiling Moose – Pittsburgh, PA 5/16/2025 Cobra Cabana – Richmond, VA 5/17/2025 TV Eye – Queens, NY 5/18/2025 Atlas Brew Works – Washington, DC 5/20/2025 Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA 5/21/2025 Maryland Deathfest Pre-Fest @ Soundstage – Baltimore, MD 5/27/2025 Chapel Of Bone – Raleigh, NC 5/28/2025 529 – Atlanta, GA 5/29/2025 Holy Diver – New Orleans, LA 5/31/2025 Hotel Vegas – Austin, TX
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.
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
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.
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.
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
New Video/Single Now Playing + Preorders Available
LIK, the modern-day purveyors of classic Swedish death metal, gloriously return to action with their fourth album, Necro, on April 18th via Metal Blade Records.
Standing loud and proud over so many imitators, Necro is the musical equivalent of a classic shock-horror movie that’s drenched in blood and gore and packed with over-the-top extremities. Delve beyond the zombified cover art created by Stockholm-based tattooist and artist Jens Olsson (Ink Fanatics), Necro serves as a reminder of just how special and exciting the genre is: packed with blood-curdling fantasy stories about war, death, zombies, world apocalypse, and murder all stacked with disgustingly good, rotten riffs.
After recording and releasing their critically acclaimed third full-length, 2020’s Misanthropic Breed, during the pandemic, this time around getting back into the studio properly was paramount. And while Misanthropic Breed was recorded at the quartet’s rehearsal space where the band produced all their demos, LIK recorded Necro at NBS Studio (AKA Necromorbus Studio) in Söderfors, two hours from their home city.
Once again using uber-producer Lawrence Mackrory (Meshuggah, Katatonia, High Parasite, Decapitated), all music was recorded live over a three-day period, before vocalist/guitarist Tomas Åkvik headed to Uppsala to record his vocals at Mackrory’s Rorysound Studios. Mackrory has worked with LIK – whose name translates to “corpse” in Swedish – since their 2015 debut Mass Funeral Evocation and throughout their Metal Blade Records career that started with 2018’s Carnage.
Within Necro’s ten tracks, LIK has created a seamless album, diverse in tempo but without losing any of their blood-soaked intensity and relentless in-your-face-attitude listeners have come to expect. There are twists and turns that keep LIK on a progressive path without straying from their old-school trademark sounds inspired by the godfathers Dismember, At The Gates and, of course, Entombed.
“We didn’t really want to repeat ourselves, but of course we wanted the LIK sound,” explains Åkvik on the writing trajectory of Necro.
In advance of the record’s release, LIK unleashes first single, “War Praise.” Åkvik elaborates, “We had to write this track before we could even start working on the new album. A LIK track that felt just like LIK but with enough new stuff to make it interesting for us. Sadly enough the world is still plagued by wars so we had to write about the horrors of it.”
Necro, which features guest appearances by Nick Holmes (Paradise Lost, Bloodbath), Linnea Landstedt (Tyranex/Ice Age), and Lawrence Mackrory (F.K.Ü.), will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
180g Black Tombstone Grey Blue Marbled Dark Sky Red Marbled (Ltd. 500) Clear Violet Blue Marbled (Ltd. 300) Lilac/Blood Red Splatter (Ltd. 300) Lilac Blackdust (Ltd. 200) Violet Purple Splatter (Ltd. 200) Coffin Purple Black Splatter (Ltd. 300)
Dissonant as well as emotive death metal from Canada
Husband-wife duo Crown of Madness impressed many with their debut full length of melancholic and atmospheric dissonant death metal which many feel is reminiscent of their heralded label mates Devenial Verdict. After only a few days of their album coming out, they have unleashed their official video via the label’s channel which can be witnessed AT THIS LINK.
Crown of Madness have put out a slew of short-form releases, improving upon their sound with each one and culminating in this full length that sees the most evolved version of their music so far. As accomplished as it is, it also happens to be unique in the style of dissonant death metal – in that, it’s deeply personal and palpably emotive, and that poignant, introspective mood pervades their entire album. The music almost has a melodic albeit melancholic quality to it that is refreshing for a style of music that usually sounds harsh and detached. At the same time the music is driven; the hypnotic riffs are invariably interspersed with bursts of blasts and there is good momentum generated in this calculated, undulating pattern which becomes addictive. Memories Fragmented is a beautifully tempered album underpinned by unforgettable melodies, an ambitious release but one completely devoid of pretence, which is bound to be regarded as one of the standout albums in the style in the years to come.
For fans of: Ulcerate, Devenial Verdict, Dysgnostic, Gorguts
Artwork by Erskine Designs
Track listing: 1. Visions From A Past Life 2. Sovereign Blood 3. Burdened 4. Ashes of Mine 5. When I Don’t Remember You 6. Deafening 7. Sea of Fangs 8. Dreamless Nights No Longer 9. Hollow Thresher 10. The Grand Design
Swedish all-female melodic death metal band FRANTIC AMBER is currently gearing up for the release of their much-awaited, third studio album, entitled Death Becomes Her, due out on April 4, 2025 via ROAR. Coming on CD, Vinyl and in Digital formats, you can now pre-order the band’s forthcoming rager right here: https://franticamber.rpm.link/deathPR
After FRANTIC AMBER just recently unleashed a first track taken offDeath Becomes Her, the furious “Jolly Jane”, now, the band is premiering a new video clip for their latest single “Hell’s Belle”
“Death Becomes Her is a concept album about female serial killers and includes different kinds of killers and categories of serial killers,”the band states. “Hell’s Belle Gunness was a particularly gruesome Black Widow type serial killer, who lured unsuspecting men to her Indiana farm with promises of love, only to poison and dismember them for their money. She also orchestrated multiple insurance frauds and many suspicious deaths, including those of her husbands and children. Her gruesome legacy, spanning from 1884 to 1908, left a trail of at least 14 confirmed victims, with estimates reaching as high as 40 murders.”
“Belle most probably faked her own death by burning down her farm, leaving behind a headless corpse and a farm full of buried body parts. The song Hell’s Belle has a lot of black metal inspiration and combines a waltz with blast beats giving it a ruthless sway. We also incorporated a lot of orchestra to set the mood and tone together with the guitar melodies and tremolo. The lyrics tell the story of Belle Gunness and her bloody activities on her farm. The writing style is brutal with a little tongue-in-cheek undertones and the vocals have a wide range going from vicious growls to a little sprinkle of clean classical vocals in a three-part-harmony.”
Hell’s Belle” is out now and available for streaming via all digital services at:
FRANTIC AMBER started in 2008 as a project in Stockholm by founding guitarist Mary Siebecke with the intention to form an all-female metal band. At first it was an experiment through various genres and with clean vocals. It wasn’t until 2010, with the recruitment of Danish ballet dancer Elizabeth Andrews on extreme/clean vocals and lyric writing, as well as Japanese vocal and guitar teacher Mio Jäger handling lead guitar and main songwriting, that the identity of FRANTIC AMBER started to take its shape into the melodic death metal beast they are known as today.
Their music can best be described as Melodic Brutal Death Metal with Thrash, Black, Progressive, Heavy Metal and Symphonic elements. The thunderous bass together with the technicality and power of the drums provide the backbone, while the guitar’s shredding and soaring melodies complete the soundscape together with the powerful and aggressive vocals.
FRANTIC AMBER’s first EP, Wrath Of Judgement was released in 2010 and landed them the opportunity to play live on national TV at the prestigious “P3 Guld” awards. Gaining momentum the band toured in Europe with SIX FEET UNDER among others, followed by releasing three videos for the songs “Wrath Of Judgement”, “Bleeding Sanity” and “Ghost”. In 2012 they won the Swedish Wacken Metal Battle and got to play a show at the huge W:O:A festival.
Death Becomes Her – track listing: 01 – El Orfanato (Intro) 02 – Bloodbath 03 – Black Widow 04 – Death Becomes Her 05 – Hell’s Belle 06 – Angel Maker 07 – Jolly Jane 08 – Gore Candy 09 – The Butcheress 10 – In The Garden Of Bones 11 – Epitaphium (Outro)
With two much-acclaimed full length records under their belt, “Burning Insight” and “Bellatrix”, several single releases and millions of streams and Youtube views, FRANTIC AMBER have played numerous festivals and toured all across Europe, Scandinavia as well as Japan, Russia and even played the largest festival in Colombia “Rock al Parque”. They have shared stages with bands like BEHEMOTH, EXODUS, SABATON, EXCITER, HAMMERFALL, CARACH ANGREN, DARK TRANQUILITY, UNLEASHED, TAAKE, INSOMNIUM, MYRKUR, AT THE GATES and TARJA to name just a few. In 2023, they were nominated by IMPALA as one of three Swedish acts to be included in the worldwide “100 Artists to watch” program that year.
Now, the time has finally come: On April 4th, FRANTIC AMBER will release their hotly-anticipated new album Death Becomes Her an incredible, unique and brutal beast, with eleven amazing tracks, that will definetly blow your speakers and minds! Pre-order the album HERE!
FRANTIC AMBER is: Mio Jäger – Guitars Elizabeth Andrews – Vocals Madeleine Gullberg Husberg – Bass Laura Hernandez – Drums
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