The new song and lyric video from NYC doom trio PRECIOUS BLOOD is now streaming. “Old Man Abaddon” is the second single off the band’s full-length debut album, False Prophets.
False Prophets is set for release on October 29th.
Fully formed in 2024, PRECIOUS BLOOD brings together three veterans of the NYC scene: AJ – guitar, vocals (Jesus Knevil, Snake Canyon), Dave Kramer – bass, vocals (Blood Feast, Suaka, Stanley), and Grace Perez – drums, vocals (The Wickedexorcist). The band’s shared love of doom and underground metal is expressed in an unholy concoction of rum-soaked riffs, brutal lyrics, and mystical tribal sounds.
Photo Credit: Rigo Diaz
With a signature sound best described as Blackened Caribbean Doom, PRECIOUS BLOOD delivers a unique blend of doom and thrash metal influenced tone, mixed with lyrical themes that draw profound inspiration from the enduring spirit of the Caribbean, shaped by brutal history of colonization, unwavering resilience of its people, and exploration of the darker aspects of human existence, including death, contemplation of mortality and the complexities of human suffering.
For fans of monstrous riffs, horror-inspired visuals, and genre-bending metal.
Track-list:
1) False Prophets
2) Bludgeoned & Charred
3) Footsteps of Babylon
4) Shadow of the Cross
5) Cemetery Burn
6) Old Man Abaddon
7) El Muerte
8) Whore’s Grave
False Prophets was recorded and mixed by Joe Hogan at Captain’s Cove Catskills Studios with mastering and additional engineering by AJ Tissian (The Wave Lab). The album was produced by Joe Hogan and PRECIOUS BLOOD. Album cover photo by Mia. Cover layout by PRECIOUS BLOOD.
Time To Kill Records is set to unleash Zombie Chronicles Vol. 1, the highly anticipated debut album from horror-obsessed death metal collective SEASON OF THE DEAD, on November 14th, 2025.
The first single “Then We’ll Rise” is now available:
“This track is inspired by Romero’s masterpiece ‘Day of the Dead’, featuring related audio contributions. Continuing the tradition started by Killjoy, whom we take inspiration from, the lyrics are entirely dedicated to the film’s imagery extreme violence and near-realism. The invitation ‘EAT…’ recalls one of the final scenes that made the movie so iconic. Of course, this also embraces the great director’s vision of awakening consciences, a hallmark of his cinematic legacy”.
SEASON OF THE DEAD is a visceral, cinematic extreme metal project born from the twisted minds of Titta Tani (former drummer of Necrophagia and Goblin), Giacomo Anselmi (former Goblin guitarist and current member of Goblin Legacy), and Enrico Giannone, founder and owner of Time To Kill Records, acting as producer and visionary behind the entire concept.
The idea is as brutal as it is clear: to resurrect the blood-soaked legacy of horror-infused death metal, channeling the rotten spirit of bands like Necrophagia, Mortician, and Fulci, while paying tribute to the grotesque imagery and raw energy of cult underground horror films. Influences range from Killjoy to City of the Living Dead, The Beyond, and Cannibal Holocaust, creating a soundscape that feels like a soundtrack to a lost VHS splatter nightmare.
The project boasts an all-star lineup from the international extreme music scene:
2. Then We’ll Rise | J. McEntee: vocals / C. Sherwood: bass / Titta Tani: drums / Giacomo Anselmi: guitar
3. Voodoo Ritual | J. McEntee: vocals / C. Sherwood: bass / Titta Tani: drums / Giacomo Anselmi: guitar
4. Events Of Flesh | F. Stravino: vocals / D. Neabore: bass / Titta Tani: drums / Giacomo Anselmi: guitar
5. Open The Gates | F. Stravino: vocals / D. Neabore: bass / Titta Tani: drums / Giacomo Anselmi: guitar
6. The Other Side | J. McEntee: vocals / C. Sherwood: bass / Titta Tani: drums / Giacomo Anselmi: guitar
7. Burning Moon Sickness | J. McEntee: vocals / C. Sherwood: bass / Titta Tani: drums / Giacomo Anselmi: guitar
8. Bloodfreak | J. McEntee: vocals / C. Sherwood: bass / Titta Tani: drums / Giacomo Anselmi: guitar
Across its running time, the album delivers a relentless assault of death metal brutality, layered with cinematic tension and ritualistic atmospheres. Dual vocal performances, crushing basslines, and necro-sounding guitar work create a soundscape where zombies, decay and gore come to life in audio form.
Chicago (IL) – Long-running Blackened Melodic Death Metal quartet, Withering Soul, are set to release their fifth album, Passage of the Arcane, November 14 on Liminal Dread Productions!
Passage of the Arcane is a convergence of blackened atmospheres and sweeping song structures. A mystifying journey that exceeds boundaries while remaining fun and exciting. The overall theme of the album involves human experiences traversing into cursed oblivion. Each song explores its own story, ranging from unexplained disappearances to the supernatural.
While variation is abundant within the soundscapes, it is with a cohesive direction. Each chapter takes on its own “passage” through channels of cursed lore and harrowing experiences of the past. A seamless balance of crushingly heavy riffs and chilling melodies.
The album’s first single, “Attrition Horizon,” is available at: youtu.be/3PG2Ul77B_A
FFO: Dark Fortress, Windir, Hypocrisy, Dissection, God Dethroned.
Track Listing:
Intro
Attrition Horizon
Grievance Eludes the Light
The Monolith Embodied
Gallery of the End
Trajectory
Among Covetous Eyes
Burden of the Valiant
Credits:
Guest guitar solo on “Trajectory” by Nick “Exhul” Morgan. | Drums recorded and engineered by Vince Ippolito at Swift Road Studios. | Album mixed and mastered by Dennis Israel at Clintworks Audio. | Cover art by Adam Burke / Nightjar Illustration.
Photo Credit: Dark Oracle Arts
Line-up:
Christopher – Vocals, Guitar Frank G. – Guitar Joel – Bass Guitar Rick – Drums
Under the canopy of a darkening forest, the album, Diabolic Formation is preparing to manifest in its final material form on November 28, 2025, via Black Throne Productions. As it’s arrival approaches, the Canadian stoner/doom/heavy psych outfit PALE HORSE RITUAL provide a further taste of what is to come with the new single, “Bloody Demon“. Listen HERE.
PALE HORSE RITUAL evoke the occult sound of the ’70s with a seductive yet deadly twist. An enticing rock ‘n’ roll spirit lies within “Bloody Demon”. Groove rhythms are accompanied with the band’s staple offering consisting of distortion, lashings of fuzz and a memorable hook. The electric opening riff soon settles into a fully immersive, rhythmic momentum that carries throughout the song’s duration. Its guitar-driven shadowy appeal doesn’t let up.
Track Listing:
Deflowered (5:58)
Wickedness (5:03)
Holy Lies (5:46)
Save You (3:13)
Bloody Demon (5:02)
DED (6:50)
A Beautiful End (6:55)
About PALE HORSE RITUAL:
Steeped in mysticism, PALE HORSE RITUAL create an spellcasting blend of doom, occult rock and vintage metal. Based out of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, the band formed in 2024 and their sound is driven by gritty vocals, sludgy riffs, and pounding rhythms that channel the spirit of 1970s heavy music with a modern, gothic edge. Following their alluring 2024 EP titled Enchantress, the quartet are preparing to unveil the full-length, Diabolic Formation on November 28, via Black Throne Productions.
Line Up: Paco (Bass/Vocals) James Matheson (Lead Guitar) Will Adams (Rhythm Guitar/Backing Vocals) Jonah Santa-Barbara (Drums)
Guest Musicians: Dom Valela – Keys, Vocals Doom Valhalla – Italian Preacher
Album Credits: Producer: Will Adams Recording Studio: Green Mountain Ranch Engineer: Will Adams at Tell Me About It… Records Mastering: Zack Hollow at Z Hollow Studios Mixing: Will Adams
CHICAGO – Black Cross Hotel, the Chicago-based industrial post-punk outfit featuring members of The Atlas Moth and Stabbing Westward, release Songs for Switches on Oct. 31 via Someoddpilot Records.
A preview of Songs for Switches have arrived with the release of “The House God Doesn’t Visit” and its accompanying video. The track recalls Wax Trax-era industrial music; growling bass and gnarled guitars collide with icy synths and a pounding chorus, serving as the perfect introduction to the album’s dark, exhilarating sound.
“This record is not all salacious fantasy; there’s a practical side to maintaining any well-run subculture,” explains vocalist Dee DeEmme. “The album is a collection of lessons learned, from the joy of finding someone who truly gets you to the importance of asking for what you want and preserving a part of yourself in the process.”
“Some of us are horror junkies and our favorite movies often serve as the backdrop and inspiration for our songs,” Andrew Ragin (also of The Atlas Moth) shares. “Most songs start as a sort of alternate movie score and then we let all of our various influences and interests take hold without gearing towards any specific genre. With a foot planted firmly in the dark and spooky, everyone gets to play with these themes and styles, which makes for an eclectic blend of metal, dark wave, punk, ’90s alternative and even hair metal.”
Initially conceived during the pandemic as a horror-inspired industrial-metal side project from synth alchemist Andrew Ragin (The Atlas Moth) and guitarist Marcus Eliopulos (Stabbing Westward), the project quickly evolved into a full band with Mike Miczek (Earthburner, Broken Hope, The Atlas Moth) on drums, producer/engineer Sanford Parker (Minsk, Corrections House) on bass, and DeEmme (Whipped) on vocals.
Photo credit: Chris Eichenseer
Songs for Switches was recorded at Electrical Audio studio (once owned and operated by the late Steve Albini) and completed at Parker’s own Hypercube studio, both in Chicago. The album arrives via Someoddpilot Records, an offshoot of the acclaimed Chicago branding studio responsible for creative campaigns and logos for Pitchfork, Lollapalooza, Empty Bottle, and other cornerstones of the city’s music culture.
Black Cross Hotel tour dates:
October 29 Chicago, IL Empty Bottle
October 30 Indianapolis, IN Healer
October 31 Tolono, IL Loose Cobra
November 1 Athens, OH The Union
November 2 Pittsburgh, PA Spirit
November 3 Baltimore, MD Ottobar
Oct. 29 through Nov. 2 dates are with Blood Lemon. Tickets for all shows are available now.
The Chicago based quintet released HEX, a DIY-debut, in 2022, with the Chicago Reader describing the eight-song release as “a shivery delight.”
Birmingham (AL) – Ten years after its initial release and in honored celebration of the band’s fifteenth anniversary of existence, Boris Records is proud to announce today’s exclusive vinyl reissue of Ectovoid’s long out of print sophomore full-length album, Dark Abstraction. The limited reissue comes in two versions – plain black and marbled purple.
The band’s most recent full length recording and tragically the last to feature the band’s late founding guitarist Michael Stewart, Dark Abstraction, was originally released in 2015 on CD by Polish label Hellthrasher Productions and LP by Swedish label Blood Harvest Records. A massive step forward in every way from the outfit’s well regarded if unpolished debut album, Dark Abstraction represented an energetic, riff-focused, and creative spin on the cavernous blackened death metal sound that was flooding the scene in copious amounts in the mid-2010’s.
Band photo by Amber Slanders
With eight varied and memorable tracks, a greatly improved production, and an ever-advancing sense of expression and craftsmanship from all instruments, this was the sound of a young band stepping out of their formative beginnings and emerging confidently as the established and respected outfit they are known as today.
Boris Records is excited to bring this under-appreciated work of death metal darkness back to the public consciousness. Ectovoid’s exhumation from the forgotten graves is long overdue.
Track Listing:
1. Obscure Altars
2. Visions of Reflective Decay
3. Mental Netherworlds
4. Precipice of Absolute Chaos
5. Rituals of Hallucination
6. The Expanse Between Slumber and Death
7. A Prisoner of Paradox
8. Spawned from Unending Mystery
Ectovoid:
C.B. – Bass/Vocals M.S. – Guitar C.M. – Drums
Recorded in Autumn 2014 by Joshua Freemon at Dead Sound Studios. Mixed by Joshua Freemon. Mastered by Damian Herring at Subturranean Watchtower Studios. Cover art by Bartlomiej Kurzok.
The gates of the dark kingdom have swung open, and the haunting has commenced once again. CEMETERY MOON has returned with a new album, a culmination of intensive composing, rehearsing, and performing its singular style of black metal art. Apparition’s vocals have coalesced into a ghostly voice of terror, while Langeloth joins the fray on “Smoke Trails at Vespers” to display his own call from the grave.
Likewise, the two guitarists attack the sonic landscape like two dragons, one baring its teeth in a ferocious growl, the other scorching the listener in waves of fire. Meanwhile, Astoroth’s bass lines quake the earth below, reinforced by the thunderstorm of Usurper’s merciless drumming.
The album displays the band’s ability to capture a variety of moods and motifs: from the soaring and heroic melodies on “Triumphant Spirit,” to the death metal-infused brutality of “Cultus Mortem.” Fans of pure, straightforward black metal will find much to praise on “Lunar Grave,” “House of Usher,” and “Boundless Heresy,” while fans of more progressive and unorthodox approaches have room to explore on “Temporal Bloodletting” and “The Wretched City.” Finally, there is the song that brings it all together, the band’s ultimate statement of purpose: “The Black Keep.”
Track Listing: 1. The Wretched City 2. Boundless Heresy 3. House of Usher 4. Temporal Bloodletting 5. The Sorting of Souls 6. Cultus Mortem 7. Lunar Grave 8. Triumphant Spirit 9. Smoke Trails at Vespers 10. The Black Keep
About CEMETERY MOON CEMETERY MOON began as a Connecticut based one-man project, dedicated to raw, blistering black metal. Over the ensuing years of stylistic development, CEMETERY MOON would expand into a fully formed band with a self-titled debut album in 2023.
The band’s live performances are known to overwhelm audiences with the sheer ferocity and musicianship on display, from Apparition’s scorching vocal delivery and his dual guitar riff barrage with Langeloth, to Astoroth and Usurper’s expert-level displays of rhythmic punishment. Now with a second full-length on the way, the band stands to continue its conquests and expand its dark kingdom’s borders ever further!
Technical death metal architects COGNITIVE are pleased to unveil their outstanding cover of Slipknot classic, “People=Shit.”
The stand-alone single comes in conjunction with the band’s upcoming US tour supporting Nile. The Underground Awaits Tour 2025 begins on September 12th in Raleigh, North Carolina and runs through October 11th in Indianapolis, Indiana. Additional support will be provided by Cryptopsy and labelmates, The Last Ten Seconds Of Life.
In a collective statement, COGNITIVE comments, “Here we go again mother fuckers! We have been hard at work writing our next album and prepping for tour but decided to spend some time having fun and recorded a cover of ‘People=Shit’ by the almighty Slipknot! We wanted to have fun with something that wasn’t exactly death metal, but still in the extreme realm! The world is an awful place, and humanity doesn’t make it any better, so to us the Slipknot math and song title added up correctly! We hope you enjoy and see you on the road with Nile, Cryptopsy, and The Last Ten Seconds Of Life.”
The digital single will be available for purchase on Monday, September 15th at: metalblade.com/cognitive.
COGNITIVE w/ Nile, Cryptopsy, The Last Ten Seconds Of Life: 9/12/2025 Chapel of Bones – Raleigh, NC 9/13/2025 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA 9/14/2025 Tally Ho – Leesburg, VA 9/16/2025 Brooklyn Monarch – Brooklyn, NY 9/17/2025 Wally’s – Hampton, NH 9/18/2025 Webster Hall – Hartford, CT 9/19/2025 Mickey’s Black Box – Lititz, PA 9/20/2025 Dingbatz – Clifton, NJ 9/21/2025 Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY 9/22/2025 Mercury – Cleveland, OH 9/24/2025 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI 9/25/2025 Hobart Art Theatre – Hobart, IN 9/26/2025 The Annex – Madison, WI 9/27/2025 Studio B @ Skyway – Minneapolis, MN 9/28/2025 Apollo Theater – Belvidere, IL 9/29/2025 Bigs Bar – Sioux Falls, SD 10/01/2025 Pub Station – Billings, MT 10/03/2025 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 10/04/2025 Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA 10/05/2025 Knitting Factory – Boise, ID 10/06/2025 Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT 10/07/2025 Oriental Theater – Denver, CO 10/09/2025 Wooly’s – Des Moines, IA ** 10/10/2025 Reggie’s – Chicago, IL ** 10/11/2025 Hi-Fi Annex – Indianapolis, IN ** ** No The Last Ten Seconds Of Life
COGNITIVE will be touring in support of their most recent full-length, Abhorrence, released last Spring via Metal Blade Records. The record finds the New Jersey powerhouse quintet at their brutal best. Abhorrence carries on band tradition with its a maniacal fusion of relentless riffs and thoughtful, devastating lyrics making for a raging, draining, and ultimately fulfilling experience.
COGNITIVE: Rob Wharton – guitars Harry Lannon – guitars Shane Jost – vocals Tyler Capone-Vitale – bass AJ Viana – drums
“Reptile Dysfunction” is the latest single from Chicago riff conjurors MOTHERLESS. The track comes by way of the band’s Do You Feel Safe? full-length, set for release on Friday, September 12th via Prosthetic Records.
Rooted deep within the city’s longstanding tradition of doom and riff-driven metal, MOTHERLESS is comprised of StavrosGiannopoulos and Alex Klein of The Atlas Moth, with Gary Naples and Anthony Cwan of Without Waves.
Together they manifest a raw, unfiltered sound that prioritizes weight and atmosphere over theatrics, combining elements of punk and hardcore with a bleak, driving intensity that reflects both personal darkness and industrial urban weight. There’s no gimmick here, just thick tones, sharp songwriting, and a commitment to keeping heavy music honest: “No fog, no light show, just riffs.”
Comments Giannopoulos on the band’s latest single, “‘Reptile Dysfunction’ was the last track we wrote for the record and is probably the most organic and natural song I’ve ever written. It came together so easily and the lyrics really sum up everything I felt this record was about. It’s a mission statement about feeling left behind, forgotten and returning to the music scene. The song title was actually thought up by my girlfriend Dee, who coincidentally stars in the video as well, which makes it even more special to me!”
Watch MOTHERLESS’ “Reptile Dysfunction” video HERE. Stream the track HERE.
Stream the band’s previously released single, “Weaponized Goodwill,”HERE. Watch the lyric videoHERE.
Do You Feel Safe? features artwork by Rosario Scimeca and was produced by Sanford Parker with vocals produced by Stavros Giannopoulos, mixed by Sanford Parker, and mastered by Brad Boatright.
The record will be available across all streaming services. Find preorders HERE.
Do You Feel Safe? – Track Listing:
Reptile Dysfunction
Abrupt Violence
You Seem So Damn Sure
Darling, You Don’t Look Well
Weaponized Goodwill
Christian Math
Insect Politics
The New Romance
As they continue to carve out their place in Chicago’s storied metal landscape, MOTHERLESS stands as a reminder that in a city built on grit, the heaviest voices often rise from the underground. Fans of Intronaut, The Ocean, Kylesa, ISIS, High on Fire, and the like, pay heed.
The ancient, demonic rites of South American metal are resurrected as EVILCULT prepares to unleash their third full-length album, Triumph of Evil, on September 19th via Awakening Records. Forged in the fires of chaos and blasphemy, this new offering is a merciless assault on Christian morality and a hell-forged tribute to the primitive, raw energy of ’80s underground metal.
Since their formation in 2016, the Brazilian horde, composed of vocalist/guitarist Lucas From Hell, bassist Speed Lobo-Guará, drummer Filipe Stress, and guitarist Hell Bordini, have clawed their way to the forefront of the modern black-speed-thrash scene. Their previous blasphemous tomes, At theDarkest Night (2020) and The Devil is Always Looking for Souls (2023), established them as keepers of a sacred, unholy flame. On Triumph of Evil, they wield it like a burning crucifix, searing the very foundations of convention.
The album’s sound is a venomous amalgam of Teutonic thrash and first-wave black metal, heavily indebted to the savage legends who first dared to mix speed with satanic rage. Lucas From Hell’s vocals rip through the chaos with a feral aggression, shifting from guttural growls to the piercing, possessed shrieks. The raw, analog production ensures every riff, solo, and blast beat echoes with the primitive spirit of ’80s legends like Hellhammer, Sodom, and the ferocious Brazilian pioneers Sarcófago.
The concept of Triumph of Evil is a direct, blasphemous inversion of a common religious narrative. The album’s stunning, hand-painted artwork shows Satan not defeated, but victorious, humiliating the Archangel. This visual rebellion sets the stage for the title track and the album as a whole: a merciless celebration of evil and the subversion of all that is considered holy. This is not just metal worship; it’s a declaration of war.
The album’s lead single, “Midnight Ritual,” serves as a perfect introduction to this hellish journey. Penned as a “killer track” with a “catchy chorus,” it is a raw, blood-soaked anthem celebrating the fusion of heavy metal with unholy rituals. This song, and indeed the entire album, was a testament to the band’s dedication, with songs written and arranged remotely under immense pressure, just weeks before their upcoming European tour.
This isn’t an album for the faint of heart. It is a raw, uncompromising tribute to the true underground. Triumph of Evil is a sound forged in defiance and a testament to the enduring power of pure, unholy metal.
Eastern Pennsylvania-based brutal death metal faction PILE OF KNIVES presents their second EP, Driven By The Blade, confirming the record for release on Halloween and dropping the first single, “Stabbed.”
Based in the Pocono Mountains, PILE OF KNIVES may be a new name to many, but the band’s origins stretch back more than a decade to when guitarist Chett Kolakoski, Lee Messerschmidt, and drummer Dylan “Pickle” Jaludi played together in their prior band, Existence. Following nearly a decade-long hiatus, the band began jamming together again in late 2022.
It didn’t take long for them to realize they wanted to take it a step further and get a new band going. Within a few months, Messerschmidt’s friend Jay Stromeyer was recruited to play bass. Shortly thereafter, Bryan Martinez, formerly of Grimus, was enlisted as the band’s vocalist, and PILE OF KNIVES was born.
Infusing influences from their favorite bands from across the spectrum of death metal, slam, beatdown hardcore, and deathcore. PILE OF KNIVES found their footing and began laying down new demos, and recorded their debut EP, No Light, which was released in the Summer of 2024.
Their relentless groove-laden attack reflects the works of brutal death metal acts Skinless, Dying Fetus, Internal Bleeding, Origin, and Through The Eyes Of The Dead, with the more metallic hardcore-adjacent death/beatdown acts like Crawlspace, Final Resting Place, Shattered Realm, and No Zodiac. Lyrically, Martinez infuses his love of horror films and real-life experiences, reflecting themes centered around regret, self-loathing, and grappling with one’s own flaws.
photo by Tia X Slaughter
Upon the release of No Light, PILE OF KNIVES was already cultivating new material, some of which now arrives on the band’s second EP, Driven By The Blade. The EP takes the band’s calculated yet unhinged viciousness to further levels of intensity, delivering four new tracks of simply merciless, slamming death.
Driven By The Blade was recorded, mixed, mastered, and produced by Shaun Werle, with the drums recorded at Soundmine Recording Studio. The cover art and photography are by Giancarlo Bruno and the lyric videos are by Jon Lievano of Malevolent Media Videos. Additionally, the song “Kukri” features guests Anthony Bacola on acoustic guitar and Ben Karas on violin.
With the lead single from the EP, “Stabbed,” Martinez writes, “It’s tough sometimes having to deal with vulnerability, and that’s mostly where I had gained influence from when writing this song. I had to look at myself and accept that I have flaws like the rest of us, and that’s okay. This, mixed with my love for brutal horror films, inspired the single and the remaining songs on the EP.”
Watch PILE OF KNIVES’ “Stabbed” lyric video on YouTube HERE and stream the track on Bandcamp HERE and other digital services HERE.
Driven By The Blade – Track Listing:
Laceration
Shank
Kukri
Stabbed
Driven By The Blade will be released on October 31st. Digital preorders are live HERE. A CD version will be available for preorder shortly through Been There Scene That Records.
Additional lyric videos and an official video from the EP will be playing shortly.
PILE OF KNIVES plays shows throughout the East Coast scene and continues to write music, with their next release already under construction.
PILE OF KNIVES: Bryan Martinez – vocals Lee Messerschmidt – guitar Chett Kolakoski – guitar Dylan “Pickle” Jaludi – drums Jay Stromeyer – bass
Swedish metal band ELEINE simply can’t return to the stages unnoticed: embarking on a massive European tour as special guests to label mates PRIMAL FEAR, they simultaneously celebrate the release of their We Stand United EP through Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). A strong title underlining the unparalleled bond ELEINE have built with their worldwide fan legions over the years, which becomes even thicker! An unreleased song as well as live and orchestral versions of selected ELEINE classics are now available for streaming and on limited CD and vinyl editions. Get your (signed) copy & listen to We Stand United here:
Vocalist Madeleine & guitarist/vocalist Rikard comment: “We wanted to give you something in between album cycles. A feel of what’s to come, where we stand right now and a closer look at our past. This is We Stand United – an EP dedicated towards our strong and loyal fans across the world including live tracks and something brand new! On this EP, w present you with live tracks on CD and vinyl for the first time ever! We enjoy the studio, but it will always be when performing LIVE that we truly thrive as a band. This is where we connect with the crowd, where we create beautiful and empowering memories together and where we get to live out the songs on stage. We Stand United is a 5-track EP carrying new heavy riffs, thundering live performances and a rawness we feel many will appreciate.”
Introduced by “Towards The Fields”, the release’s main focus lays on its brand new title track, which highlights the group’s magic touch for vibrant songwriting while still giving space to their soaringly uplifting and symphonic trademark moments. To give the We Stand United music video the attention it deserves, ELEINE are pleased to announce that they’ll witness its unveiling together with their main driving force – their fans – on Monday, September 8 @ 6PM CEST. Subscribe here & join the watch party: https://eleine.rpm.link/youtubePR
We Stand United – Track Listing: 01. Towards The Fields (Intro) 02. We Stand United 03. Never Forget [Live at Masters of Rock 2024] 04. We Are Legion [Live at Masters of Rock 2024] 05. Promise Of Apocalypse [Symphonic Version]
Photo credit: Timo Isoaho AMORPHIS @ Sonic Pump Studios (Helsinki, Finland)
L-R: Olli-Pekka “Oppu” Laine (bass), Tomi Koivusaari (guitars), Santeri Kallio (keyboards), Jan Rechberger (drums, percussion), Tomi Joutsen (vocals), Esa Holopainen (guitars)
Invited to Helsinki’s Sonic Pump Studios under a pretext, Finnish metal icons AMORPHIS have been decorated with gold records for sales of their 2022 studio album Halo by their label partners Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). The band’s management, distribution and media partners gathered secretly earlier this week to witness the handover of the awards at the iconic Finnish recording studio, where the sextet crafted a number of much-loved albums over the years and even parts of Halo.
Still being busy with interviews to support their forthcoming offering Borderland, due out on September 26, 2025, as well as tour preparations, AMORPHIS were pleasantly surprised when the shiny vinyls were presented to them.
Guitarist Esa Holopainen states: “Achieving a gold record is far from being guaranteed in these days. We’re truly grateful to all listeners and fans who supported us along the way. ‘Halo’ wasn’t an easy album to make as the corona virus was challenging the world. Some parts of its production had to be done remotely, while at other times we were actually allowed to travel to our beloved neighbouring country Sweden. ‘Halo’ also isn’t the easiest album of the AMORPHIS catalogue, but it certainly has its special moments which will live on through people’s sound systems and our live shows.”
Originally released on February 11, 2022, AMORPHIS managed to hit the top of the official album chart in their home country for the sixth time in their eventful career with Halo. Many other notable global entries (Germany #3, Switzerland #4, Austria #7) completed this enormously successful launch under complicated circumstances.
Followed by a Finnish headline run and a European arena tour alongside ARCH ENEMY, ELUVEITIE and GATECREEPER, the group’s new album, Borderland, will become available in late September.
Pre-order Borderlandin your preferred physical format (ltd. box set & more) & stream it once out to possibly add yet another gold record to AMORPHIS’ treasure room:
Maggot Stomp is proud to announce the debut full-length album from death metal upstarts Dying Remains. Merciless Suffering is set for release on Friday, September 19th. The band has also unleashed a chilling new music video for the track “Hung and Drawn,” which can be viewed HERE.
Merciless Suffering is a masterclass in songwriting, delivering an uncompromising blend of crushing brutality and catchy, well-crafted moments that mold together into a monolithic force. This is death metal for those who appreciate the genre’s time-tested foundation. Dying Remains brings together seminal sounds reminiscent of acts like Morta Skuld, Jungle Rot, and Obituary while still keeping things fresh and exciting for a new generation of death metal to take root.
The video for “Hung and Drawn” was directed by Aron Diaz and serves as a visual companion to the album’s core lyrical themes. Drawing heavily from ’70s and ’80s B-grade gore films, the video is a short horror film that depicts one gruesome segment from the album’s over-arching story of a sprawling torture chamber. The band, all avid fans of the horror genre, wanted to bring this macabre vision to life, and the result is a truly unsettling and memorable piece of art.
DYING REMAINS TOUR DATES – Headline: 9/12 | Edmonton, AB | 99ten 9/13 | Calgary, AB | The Rock Shop 9/14 | Vancouver, BC | The Cobalt 9/15 | Seattle, WA | Belltown Yacht Club 9/16 | Olympia, WA | The Crypt 9/17 | Portland, OR | Twilight Cafe 9/19 | Sacramento, CA | The Starlet Room
w/ Gored Embrace: 9/20 | San Fernando, CA | Midnight Hour 9/21 | San Diego, CA | The Che Cafe 9/22 | Phoenix, AZ | Palo Verde Lounge 9/23 | Tuscon, AZ | 951 Calle Castile 9/25 | Houston, TX | Eighteen Ten Ojeman 9/26 | San Antonio, TX | O’Death 9/27 | Dallas, TX | Double Wide 9/28 | Kansas City, MO | Howdy 9/30 | Denver, CO | Seventh Circle 10/2 | Salt Lake City, UT | Black Lung Society 10/3 | Boise, ID | TBA 10/4 | Spokane, WA | The Big Dipper
w/ Mutilation Barbecue: 10/6 | Fargo, ND | The Aquarium 10/7 | Minneapolis, MN | Pillar Forum 10/8 | Milwaukee, WI | Cactus Club 10/9 | Chicago, IL | Reggies 10/10 | Cleveland, OH | No Class 10/11 | Fort Wayne, IN | Legion Post 241 10/12 | Louisville, KY | Magnolia Bar 10/13 | Springfield, MO | Lindbergs Tavern
Cold Flare Eternal, the new full-length from Finnish melodic death metal veterans BEFORE THE DAWN, is out now on Reaper Entertainment!
A work of stark contrasts and emotional depth, Cold Flare Eternal blends crushing heaviness with soaring melancholy, delivering a sound both devastating and deeply human. It’s an album shaped by clarity of vision, cinematic atmosphere, and the unmistakable Scandinavian sense of darkness and beauty.
Released alongside the album is the powerful new video for the track “Stronghold.” Comments the band, “It’s like a punch in the face delivered with love and powered with anvil heavy guitars, profoundly massive growls, hammering drums, and beyond epic melody. That is ‘Stronghold;’ the musical embodiment of straightforward bone bounding metal.”
Watch BEFORE THE DAWN’s video for “Stronghold” HERE.
Watch BEFORE THE DAWN’s previously released video for “Fatal Design” HERE, “As Above, So Below” HERE, “Stellar Effect” HERE, and “Shockwave” HERE.
Cold Flare Eternal weaves together massive riffs, introspective melodies, and a haunting emotional weight that lingers long after the final note fades. After the band’s celebrated return with Stormbringers and a year of intense touring, Cold Flare Eternal is more than a followup, it’s a statement of purpose. A record that doesn’t just demand to be heard but be felt.
Recorded once again at guitarist Juho Räihä’s studio, the album brings together crushing heaviness, soaring melodies, and the atmospheric beauty of Finland’s dark landscapes.
Cold Flare Eternal features core art by Gogo Melone (Wolfheart, Insomnium, Xandria, Omnium Gatherum) and is available on CD, LP, and digital formats.
BEFORE THE DAWN will join Wolfheart for an extensive European tour later this month. Tickets are available at btdmetal.com. See all confirmed dates below.
BEFORE THE DAWNw/ Wolfheart, Suotana, Full House Brew Crew: 9/20/2025 Koba Live – Abadiño, ES ** 9/21/2025 Revi Live – Madrid, ES ** 9/22/2025 Wolf, Barcelona – ES ** 9/25/2025 De Helling – Utrecht, NL 9/26/2025 Kulturwerk – Herford, DE 9/27/2025 Kubana – Siegburg, DE 9/29/2025 Backstage By The Mill – Paris, FR 9/30/2025 DVG Club – Kortrjik, BE 10/01/2025 Logo – Hamburg, DE 10/02/2025 Hellraiser – Leipzig, DE 10/03/2025 Turock – Essen, DE 10/04/2025 Café Central – Weinheim, DE 10/05/2025 Analog Music Hall – Budapest, HU 10/06/2025 Klub Zaścianek – Krakow, PL 10/07/2025 Collosseum – Košice, SK 10/08/2025 Rock Café – Prague, CZ 10/09/2025 Orto Bar – Ljubljana SI 10/10/2025 Slaughter Club – Milan, IT 10/11/2025 Chollerhalle – Zug, CH 10/12/2025 Club Vaudeville – Lindau, DE 10/13/2025 Backstage – Munich, DE ** BEFORE THE DAWN + Wolfheart only
BEFORE THE DAWN – Finnish Headlining Dates: 9/05/2025 Tavastia – Helsinki, FI 9/06/2025 Olympia – Tampere, FI 9/13/2025 Möysän Musaklubi – Lahti, FI 10/24/2025 Logomo Teatro – Turku, FI 10/25/2025 House of Rock – Kouvola, FI 11/07/2025 Monde – Rovaniemi, FI 11/08/2025 Kantakrouvi – Oulu, FI
BEFORE THE DAWN: Tuomas Saukkonen – guitar Paavo Laapotti – vocals Juho Räihä – guitar Pyry Hanski – bass
“I Am The Primal Fear” is the perfect track to mark the release of German metal force PRIMAL FEAR’s new album, Domination. Out today via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM), the 13-track record is a powerful statement of the band’s legacy and a showcase of their unmistakable sound.
Order Domination (excl. bundles, ltd. CD earbook, digipak-CD, jewel case-CD & various vinyl variants) & stream it here: https://primalfear.rpm.link/dominationPR
A future fan favourite and live anthem in the making, “I Am The Primal Fear” kicks off with a burst of solo drumming before the full PRIMAL FEAR engine roars to life, unleashing thunderous riffs and soaring melodic leads. The verses feel like an intense showdown, with vocalist Ralf Scheepers delivering a fierce performance, driven by the relentless rhythm section of bassist Mat Sinner and drummer André Hilger. Adding to the firepower is the band’s new guitar dream team, Thalìa Bellazecca and Magnus Karlsson, trading off with precision and power.
The intense call-and-response dynamic builds to a powerful, no-holds-barred chorus that sends a clear message: despite a few setbacks over the years, PRIMAL FEAR never considered calling it quits. The eagle was never gone, it was simply gathering strength, ready to soar once again and shake the metal world with an album that confidently claims its place among the top tier of heavy and power metal.
“Again, outta my way, I am the Primal Fear! No one can stop me and I’m gonna hunt you tonight, I’m your worst nightmare whenever you are trying to fool me!” states Scheepers.
Lyric video produced by Ingo Spörl (Omni Sensus Media)
Domination was recorded at Dennis Ward’s Kangaroo Studios (HELLOWEEN, ANGRA etc.) in autumn 2024, produced by Mat Sinner and co-produced by Ralf Scheepers as well as Magnus Karlsson. Rounded off by multiple PRIMAL FEAR mixing/mastering engineer Jacob Hansen (AMORPHIS, VOLBEAT etc.) at his own studios in Denmark, the album artwork was designed by Death.Milk.Designs.
Domination – Track Listing: 01. The Hunter 02. Destroyer 03. Far Away 04. I Am The Primal Fear 05. Tears Of Fire 06. Heroes And Gods 07. Hallucinations 08. Eden [feat. Melissa Bonny of AD INFINITUM] 09. Scream 10. The Dead Don’t Die 11. Crossfire 12. March Boy March 13. A Tune I Won’t Forget Bonus Track [physical only; excl. jewel case-CD] 14. Bridges Will Burn
L-R: André Hilgers (drums), Magnus Karlsson (guitars), Ralf Scheepers (vocals), Thalìa Bellazecca (guitars), Mat Sinner (bass, vocals)
PRIMAL FEAR live: Domination Tour 2025 w/ ELEINE Presented by Metal Hammer, musix, Rock Antenne, Rock It!, Break Out & ITM 05.09.2025 DE Hamburg – Markthalle 06.09.2025 DE Leipzig – Anker 07.09.2025 DE Bochum – Zeche 09.09.2025 DE Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal
10.09.2025 DE Munich – Backstage 12.09.2025 DE Memmingen – Kaminwerk 13.09.2025 DE Mannheim – Capitol 14.09.2025 DE Regensburg-Obertraubling – Eventhall Airport 16.09.2025 CH Pratteln – Konzertfabrik Z7 18.09.2025 DE Berlin – Hole 44 19.09.2025 DE Naila – Frankenhalle 20.09.2025 DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann (Halle) 21.09.2025 BE Sint-Niklaas – De Casino 23.09.2025 NL Amstelveen – P60 25.09.2025 PL Warsaw – Stodola 26.09.2025 CZ Prague – MeetFactory 27.09.2025 CZ Zlín – Masters of Rock Café 30.09.2025 ES Madrid – Mon 01.10.2025 ES Murcia – Garaje 03.10.2025 ES Barcelona – Salamandra 04.10.2025 ES Pamplona – Sala Totem
Raleigh (NC) – U.S. Black ‘N Rollers, Valletta, have signed to Lifeforce Records and are set to release new EP, Bitter Lucid Truth, on October 24.
There’s a palpable sense of urgency in Bitter Lucid Truth. Valletta’s second proper release embraces what guitarist and singer Keenan Carroll describes as “anger, repulsion and intolerance toward the current political landscape.” But for all its confrontational inspiration, it’s also one of the year’s most thrilling metal releases.
With Bitter Lucid Truth, the Raleigh, N.C. quartet of Carroll, drummer Justin Valletta, bassist Cody Rogers, and guitarist/backing vocalist Will Goodyear, churn negative emotions into forceful, dynamic and “just genuinely pissed-off” outbursts that are equally searing and soaring.
This should come as no surprise from the veteran troupe, whose collective resume spans a heavy spectrum from sludge to prog to black metal, in bands including Lord Almighty, Barishi, Mo’ynoq, Prayer for Cleansing, and Between the Buried And Me. And, indeed, Valletta’s 2024 debut, Summer, (Forcefield Records), defined a compelling hybrid of anthemic melody and bitter vitriol. But while Summer slung big riffs and even bigger hooks, Bitter Lucid Truth wields them like weapons.
“Aggressor” and “Cold Death” fuses the melodic impulses that have drawn comparisons to Tribulation and Kvelertak with a harsher, more belligerent approach more akin to Tragedy’s bold and defiantly melodic neo-crust. This is perhaps most apparent in the EP’s closing salvo, “Spitting the Word,” which answers “Doing Well’s” comparatively reflective tone with a vicious exclamation point. Of the song’s intent, Carroll says, “It’s time to speak your mind. No more thought paralysis.”
Managing to capture a boiling rage with a more dynamic and expansive approach to songwriting, Bitter Lucid Truth is a massive leap forward for the already ascendant band. Expect to see these vicious anthems take on a new life when Valletta brings them to the stage.
Bitter Lucid Truth will be available on limited 12″ splatter vinyl, CD Digipak, ultra-limited cassette , and digital formats. Pre-order/Pre-save the EP at: https://orcd.co/valletta_blt
U.S. tours are planned for October of this year, surrounding the EP’s October release. In 2026, Valletta will accompany a European tour with a re-release of Summer also expected through Lifeforce Records.
Line-Up:
Justin Valletta – Drums Cody Rogers – Bass Keenan Carroll – Guitar & Lead Vocals Will Goodyear – Guitar & Backing Vocals
Cascading Misery, the suffocating and ominous debut album from Pittsburgh-based death metal quartet RITUAL MASS, is now streaming ahead of its release this Friday on 20 Buck Spin.
The debut full-length album from RITUAL MASS is more than a collection of songs, it’s a series of calculated assaults on the virtue of the holy. Evolving beyond earlier EP and demo releases, Cascading Misery encapsulates the bludgeoning infliction of pain and the slow peel of skin by flame, rife with both sonic chaos and extinguished hope.
From the outset of album opener “Obsidian Mirror,” the atmosphere is oppressive, thick with a suffocating malaise. There is a sense of something ceremonial at work but not in a way that seeks communion. Rather it’s ordeal as sacrament. Riffs strangle and churn into convulsive submission, oscillating from slow agony to psychotic break, over which a guttural lament so savage it freezes the blood is wrenched through dungeon stone.
Each track unfolds like time spent in isolation, bound by chains, the mind slowly unraveling and surrounded by memories of torment both real and imagined. By the time the epic 14-minute album closer “Disquiet” dissipates into a mass of formless static, RITUAL MASS has dragged you into a world where suffering is not an end but a condition of existence. Cascading Misery is music for the dissolution of hope, the terror of being, and the long march toward death.
Cascading Misery was engineered by Greg Wilkinson at Mr. Smalls Recording Studio in Pittsburgh, with vocal tracking engineered by John Kerr, and mixed/mastered by Wilkinson at his Earhammer Studios in Oakland (Ulthar, Autopsy, Undergang, Vastum). The cover painting, logo, and layout were done by RITUAL MASS’s P. Trona with additional artwork by Bo Orr and Erik Von Bartholomaus and 35mm photography by J. Adams.
Stream RITUAL MASS’ Cascading Misery in its consuming entirety early on YouTube RIGHT HERE.
The signing of RITUAL MASS to the 20 Buck Spin roster marks the first band from the label’s current base in Pittsburgh. For fans of Vastum, Krypts, Phrenelith, Master, Incantation, Abhorrence, Funebrarum, and Disembowelment, RITUAL MASS must be heard.
photos by J. Adams
Cascading Misery will be released on LP, CD, MC, and digitally this Friday, September 5th. Find preorder options at the 20 Buck Spin webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE.
RITUAL MASS Live:
10/02/2025 Brillobox – Pittsburgh, PA *Cascading Misery record release show
RITUAL MASS is booking new dates in support of Cascading Misery, including a hometown release show for the album on October 2nd. Watch for further details and dates to be posted.
Rising Steel have released their new studio album Legion Of The Grave, out now via Frontiers Music Srl. To celebrate, they share the new single and accompanying visualizer, “Nightmare”, available now.
Watch the official visualizer for “Nightmare” HERE
Lead vocalist Emmanuelson described the new single by saying: “This third single from the new album transports us into a feeling between a sharp hard rock and the heavy of the 80’s revisited with Rising Steel sauce. This song is a perfect balance between power and melody, ultimately pure Rising Steel!”
About the album, the band commented: “Sharpened in both sound and spirit, we returned to a more old-school heavy metal approach – without losing the raw energy and intensity that have long defined our style. Every track hits with precision, driven by razor-sharp riffs, commanding vocals, and an organic production that channels the true passion of real metal.”
“The album explores darker and more introspective themes, focusing on lost identity, inner struggles, and the strength to rise again. With a mix of raw emotion and powerful imagery, we aim to take the listener on a journey through personal battles that reflect broader human experiences. It’s both a statement of resistance and a search for meaning”, they added.
Line Up: Emmanuelson – Vocals Steel Zard – Drums Tony Steel – Guitars Steff Leadmaster – Lead guitars Stone warrior – Bass
Rising Steel‘s new album, Legion Of The Grave is their fourth full-length studio effort and it sees the French metallers playing as ferociously as ever, while continuing to evolve their heavy and aggressive sound.
The album was recorded in France by Mathieu Gaud and Steel Zard at Studio de la Plaine (KNT) and Lezard Studio. Mixing duties were handled by Staffan Karlsson and Rickard Bengtsson at Sweetspot Studio in Sweden, known for their work with bands like Meshuggah and Arch Enemy. It was mastered by the renowned Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Finland, ensuring a production that’s as powerful and precise as the music itself.
Legion Of The Grave – Track-list:
1. Betrayer 2. King Of The Universe 3. Black Martin 4. Legion Of The Grave 5. Nightmare 6. Venomous 7. Messiah Of Death 8. Dead Mind 9. Trapped In A Soul’s Garden 10. Night Vision
Based in Grenoble, France, Rising Steel deliver a “not so” classical heavy metal experience, drawing strong influence from the ‘80s NWOBHM movement, as well as elements of hard rock and thrash. With nods to iconic bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, their music also appeals to fans of Metallica, Accept, Saxon, Grand Magus, Nevermore, and Slayer.
Following the release of their debut EP Warlord (2014) and the full-length album Return Of The Warlord (2016), the band gained traction by sharing stages with acts such as Jaded Heart, Sister Sin, Nightmare, ADX, Nashville Pussy, and Annihilator. This helped increase their international visibility.
Their second and third albums, Fight Them All and Beyond The Gates Of Hell, both released via Frontiers Music Srl, further cemented their reputation in the European metal scene.
Now, with Legion Of The Grave, Rising Steel return with an explosive offering full of crushing riffs, high-speed rhythms, and no-compromise heavy metal power. It’s a must listen for headbangers seeking pure, unfiltered metal mayhem.
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