The theme of the album revolves around the title, as it explores the mindset of a person who has been pushed to the edge mentally, with no way out. The lyrics, as usual, touch on the darker side of life, but also address the current state of the world. The compositions on the album are somewhat darker than those on the previous release, Shattered. There is also a song on the album, titled “The Creator,” which is a bit different from the band’s usual style. Falling From Grace‘s characteristic energy and aggression are also present on this release.
At The Edge combines various genres of metal, with a focus on groove metal and melodic death metal. The songwriting is once again handled by the band’s guitarist Timi Tonteri.
Nils Courbaron (Sirenia, Bloodorn, T.A.N.K.) is featured on the album’s last track “The Creator.”
“With At The Edge, we’ve taken a step forward from the last album and incorporated elements we haven’t used before. The timing of the album release is perfect, with Tuska Festival just around the corner, where we will also perform.”
Album cover by Sami Leppäaho
Falling From Grace – At The Edge – Track list:
1. At The Edge 2. Final Hour 3. Downfall 4. Egoistic 5. Poseur 6. Crawling Back To The Dark 7. The Abyss 8. Shadow 9. Revolt Unleashed 10. The Creator
Pillars Of Creation pays tribute to the elephant trunks of interstellar gas and dust in the Eagle Nebula photographed by the Hubble Telescope from NASA on April 1, 1995. The EP’s lyrical themes include space exploration, artificial intelligence, human consciousness and death. The sound of the EP blends the varied metal influences of members Damien and Simone. The music contains a mix of of influences from bands such as Aborted, All Shall Perish and Dying Fetus, while Simone’s growling vocals are largely influenced by bands like Cannibal Corpse and Suffocation.
All music and lyrics by Damien. All arrangements by Encelado. Recorded and Mixed at Umbra Studio (Italy). Band logo by Damien. Artwork layout by Damien.
BIO: ENCELADO is a project created by two old time friends sharing a passion for extreme metal. Between the end of 2023 and 2024, Simone (vocals) and Damien (guitars, bass guitars) started to work on some demo material that resulted in debut EP Pillars Of Creation.
With the dust still settling following the release of their acclaimed Volume Six LP on Cursed Blessings Records in February, Ontario thrash metal veterans SACRIFICE have sanctioned several rare live performances this year in support of the album.
Already announced earlier this year is the rapidly approaching Modified Ghost Festival in Vancouver, British Columbia May 17th, where SACRIFICE will headline with support from Anciients, Bewitcher, and more, which will serve as the official release show for Volume Six.
SACRIFICE now expands the year’s live schedule with two more performances, including the band’s first hometown show in nine years – which also serves as their Toronto album release show, headlining The Concert Hall in Toronto on October 11th. SACRIFICE has also been added to the Chile Terrorfest in Santiago, Chile on December 6th with Triptikon, E-Force, and more.
SACRIFICE Live: 5/17/2025 Modified Ghost VII Festival @ Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver BC w/ Anciients, Bewitcher, more 10/11/2025 The Concert Hall – Toronto ON [tickets] 12/06-07/2025 Chile Terrorfest @ Teatro Caupolicán – Santiago, CL w/ Triptikon, E-Force, more
SACRIFICE’s sixth album, and first in over sixteen years, Volume Six features ten new originals and a cover paying homage to the Toronto scene from which they originally emerged. The songs on Volume Six run the gamut from speedy, breakneck thrash (“Comatose,” “Explode,” “We Will Not Survive”) to more nuanced, layered, metallic compositions (“Underneath Millenia,” “Your Hunger For War”).
Two instrumental tracks on the album show yet another side of the band’s songwriting while still clearly being SACRIFICE songs: “Lunar Eclipse” is a showcase for Rico and Urbinati’s excellent twin guitar leads, while “Black Hashish” is SACRIFICE at their most psychedelic. The album’s final track, “Trapped In A World,” is a cover of ‘80s Toronto hardcore band Direct Action, a group that had a massive influence on the members of SACRIFICE during their formative years. The song features guest vocals by Youth Youth Youth vocalist and Toronto music legend Brian Taylor, who operated the Diabolic Force label in the eighties and produced the band’s first three albums, bringing everything full-circle three decades later with his appearance here.
Working once again with engineer Darius Szczepaniak – who was also at the helm for SACRIFICE’s 2009 effort The Ones I Condemn – Volume Six was recorded, mixed, and mastered at Phase One Studios.
Stream SACRIFICE’s Volume Six everywhere including Bandcamp HERE, and watch the lyric videos for “Missile” HERE and “Antidote Of Poison” HERE.
Tracked over a period of sessions between September 2023 and May 2024, the record was produced by vocalist/guitarist Rob Urbinati and features the band’s original lineup, with lead guitarist Joe Rico, bassist Scott Watts and drummer Gus Pynn. They are one of, if not the only, 1980s thrash band that still has its original lineup intact and playing together, and on Volume Six, the band hits it out of the park. The stunning front cover artwork for Volume Six was painted by Propagandhi bassist and lifelong SACRIFICE fan Todd Kowalski.
Volume Six is out now on all digital platforms including Bandcamp HERE and on CD, MC, and LP in Blue, White, and Black variants through the Cursed Blessings Records webshop HERE. The record is available in Europe, Asia, and Australia through High Roller Records.
US band playing thick, groovy, bludgeoning death metal
After offering various kinds of death metal on the label this year – blackened death, dissodeath, tech death, prog death, post-punk death – we’re happy to offer a more brutish form of death metal and Thorn doesn’t disappoint in that regard. Their corpulent grooves are sure to satiate your primal cravings. Check out two of their songs from their latest album AT THIS LINK.
Thorn – Nebulous Womb of Eternity (Death Metal)
Thorn has a knack of churning out punchy, rotten death metal hymns rife with some nasty, lurching grooves. The album will have the listener rocking back and forth in its asphyxiating grasp like a pin-pricked voodoo ragdoll. The stench of sickness is thick and pervades the entire recording.
Brennen has come up with meatier, denser, chuggier songs on this record while retaining the band’s primal essence and there is more death metal than doom found on this recording. There are still moments where gleaming leads come in and brighten up the proceedings but it remains a dark, fetid and glutinous affair through and through.
The corpulent grooves stand out the most and form the bulk of this recording. If you like the idea of death metal sounding massive, ponderous, and packed with heaving, earth-rumbling parts, this album is most certainly meant for you.
For fans of: Mortician, Fumes, Wharflurch, Fluids, Intestine Baalism, Retching
Line up info – Cover illustration by Arifullah Ali (KanvasKarat). Mixing/Mastering by Daniel Bonofiglio (Fumes, Gutvoid, Intestinal Hex, Grotesque Mass, Internal Infestation).
All music and lyrics written by Thorn*
*Guest solo written and performed by Daniel Bonofilgio on track 4 *Guest vocals performed by Ryan Fairfield on track 7
SCREENING, Q&A AND MEET & GREET TO BE HELD IN BROOKLYN, NY ON MAY 8TH – ONLY 60 TICKETS AVAILABLE
TesseracT proudly announce the premiere screening of Live at Radar — their full headline performance filmed at Radar Festival 2024, taking place at Nitehawk Williamsburg in Brooklyn, NY on Thursday, May 8th.
Following the screening, guests will be invited to a Q&A and meet-and-greet, where each attendee will receive a signed, personalized souvenir print.
Presented in collaboration with Metal Injection, this exclusive screening offers fans an early look at the show ahead of its wider release via streaming and Blu-ray in late 2025. The event coincides with TesseracT’s 2025 U.S. tour, which includes dates across North America and select performances with Devin Townsend.
TESSERACT ‘LIVE AT RADAR’ PREMIERE SCREENING VIP EVENT TICKET PRICE: $100 – LIMITED TO 60 TICKETS TIME: 18:30 – 22:30, Thursday May 8th VENUE: NITEHAWK WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN NY
Speaking on the upcoming event, TesseracT songwriter and bassist Amos Williams shared the following – “Radar was a huge event for us. It felt like the culmination of not just TesseracT’s ambition, but also Radar Festival’s vision. Drawing from not only War Of Being, but also our entire back catalogue, we had such a great time exploring and expanding upon these songs, aided by the phenomenal Choir Noir. Their involvement allowed us to bring an extra dimension to the show unlike anything we have ever experienced before.
To then have our longtime collaborator Richard Oakes from Dark Fable Media there to film and produce the resulting movie was perfect.
So we are once again privileged to bring this film to a cinema for the North American premiere, for our friends in the US to enjoy along with us. Radar is a step up for TesseracT, and a small hint at the journey that lies before us.”
North America shows with Devin Townsend: May 2 – Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works May 3 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle May 4 – Lake Buena Vista, FL – House of Blues (Orlando) May 6 – Cincinnati, OH – Bogart’s May 7 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz May 9 – New York, NY – Palladium Times Square May 10 – Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore Silver Spring May 11 – Boston, MA – House of Blues May 13 – Montreal, QC – MTELUS May 14 – Toronto, ON – Queen Elizabeth Theatre May 16 – Detroit, MI – Masonic Cathedral Theatre May 19 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theatre May 21 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre May 23 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern
The War of Being World Tour closes out in North America with a run of intimate West Coast shows this May and June. TesseracT will be joined by special guests Daedric for these shows.
To celebrate 15 years of Concealing Fate, the EP that started it all, TesseracT will be hosting a special VIP experience before each show, where they will perform Concealing Fate: Perfection, Epiphany, and Origin.
The VIP is limited to just 15 tickets per night and is a chance for fans to become part of Concealing Fate history.
May 2, 2025 – Legendary post-punk outfit Death Cult have slated two intimate club shows later this month: May 14 at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, and May 16 at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles.
Death Cult has performed in the U.S. only once before, and only a handful of times in Europe, making these appearances exceptionally rare. The dates come as Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy prepare for their inaugural outing at Cruel World Festival on May 17.
Southern Death Cult formed in 1981, releasing their self-titled debut posthumously in 1983. Death Cult followed that same year, forming a crucial bridge between the raw punk Astbury and Duffy cut their teeth on and the driving, psychedelia-laced rock that would follow. The band released two 12-inches that same year, one being the Death Cult EP, which were later combined and released as a CD. Death Cult is a vital transmission from the generation of Shamanic post-punk gothic futurists.
In 1984, Death Cult evolved into The Cult, releasing Dreamtime that same year and going on to release 11 full-length albums, earning numerous gold and platinum certifications worldwide.
Chilean death-doom cult DEVS MORTVORVM will unleash their new EP on June 6, 2025 via Apocalyptic Productions, delivering a putrid sermon steeped in the stench of traditional death metal and the mournful crawl of doomed melodies.
The first single “Love for the Dead” is now streaming HERE.
Formed in 2015 by David Briones (guitar) and Claudio Carrasco (vocals), DEVS MORTVORVM emerged with a clear mission: to play Graveyard Doom Death, inspired by legendary acts such as Goatlord, Derketa, early Cathedral and Autopsy. The band is now completed by Andrés Henríquez on drums and Felipe Vuletich on bass, bringing even more weight and rot to their already imposing sound.
This upcoming EP features five tracks, three original compositions, a crushing cover of “Acid Orgy” by U.S. cult legends Goatlord, and a raw live track that captures the band’s visceral stage presence. Every aspect of this release, the lyrics, artwork, and music, is a unified expression of DEVS MORTVORVM’s devotion to the morbid spirit of doom-death and necrolatry.
Line-up:
David Briones – Guitars Claudio Carrasco – Vocals Andrés Henríquez – Drums Felipe Vuletich – Bass
Musically, the EP offers an enticing blend of shadow-drenched, vicious death-doom, where sludgy riffs clash and intertwine with serpentine melodies, creating a dynamic tension that keeps each track unpredictable and alive. It’s a masterclass in sonic decay, where every note drips with the dampness of the tomb.
Track-list:
Orgy in the Graveyard
Love for the Dead
The Oldest Crypt
Acid Orgy (Goatlord cover)
Orgy in the Graveyard (live)
Recorded between july 2023 and september 2024 at Black Sheep Studios. All Music composed by David Briones except “Acid Orgy” by Goatlord. Lyrics and vocal lines by Claudio Carrasco except “Acid Orgy” by Goatlord. Live track recorded at MiBar 20/12/2024. Artwork by Julián Mora.
L-R – Fred Element – Guitar, Martin Demontigny – Vocals, Charles-Etienne Lafrance – Drums, Stephane Filion – Lead Guitar
Returning from their recent Japan tour this past April, Montreal, Canada’s deathcore outfit Deadwood announces their next trek with four USA tour dates this coming July, which includes a performance during this year’s Inkcarceration Festival (dates listed below).
“We’re extremely excited about this opportunity! We are going to do the after-show of one of the biggest festivals in North America, Inkcarceration Fest, and spread the metal to our metalhead family to the south!”
Other Dates: May 24 – Quebec City, QC – Quartier de Lune w/ Burning The Oppressor, Unpunished June 14 – St-Calixte, QC – VodFest
USA Tour Dates: July 16 – Albany, NY – Empire Underground July 17 – Pittsburgh, PA – The Smiling Moose July 18 – Mansfield, OH – Inkcarceration Festival (Campground Performance) July 22 – Hampton Beach, NH – Wally’s
In additional news, Deadwood unveiled their most harrowing work to date with “Heretic”, the lead single from their upcoming EP Rituals of A Dying Light slated for release later this year. The accompanying video plunges viewers into a nightmarish realm that perfectly complements the band’s brutal, fast-paced sonic assault.
The comment on the single and what the audience should expect:
“This is the first song we’ve written for the next EP and one of the ones we’re most proud of, it’s fast, heavy, and technical. We are a very intense show with a very percussive and tight guitar sound. We have a lot of samples between the songs to create a horror movie atmosphere. The fans go back home with a slap in the face. Heretic represents our darkest material yet.”
The Montreal-based collective, known for its mission to ‘Make Deathcore Angry Again,’ draws inspiration from centuries-old horror stories and myths. The track delivers the uncompromising heaviness and terrifying atmosphere that have become Deadwood‘s signature since its 2020 formation.
The band’s unique blend of death metal and hardcore elements reaches new heights of intensity with this release, promising an unforgettable auditory experience for fans who crave pure brutality. They are recommended for fans of Whitechapel, Despised Icon, and Meshuggah.
The third and potentially most destructive single off the new album from Topeka, Kansas based brutal death metal horde UNMERCIFUL is now streaming. “Miracle in Fire” is live now at Heavy Blog is Heavy. Check out the exclusive premiere for the song at this location.
Devouring Darkness marks a new era of relentless violence and sonic brutality! With ten tracks of scorching intensity and distorted vengeance, the album is filled with blistering blast beats, intricate kick drum patterns, and destructive riffing.
“Miracle in Fire” will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other streaming services on Friday, May 2. Additional selections from Devouring Darkness are now streaming on all major platforms.
Devouring Darkness is set for release on CD, digital, and vinyl formats on May 23 on Willowtip Records.
UNMERCIFUL has announced the first of many live assaults in support of Devouring Darkness. The band will host an album release show on June 20 at Warehouse on Broadway in Kansas City, MO, alongside Torn The Fuck Apart, Garoted, and Hossferatu. Details and tickets are available here.
UNMERCIFUL: Clinton Appelhanz – Guitars/Bass Jeremy Turner – Guitars/Bass Trynt Kelly – Drums Josh Riley – Vocals
Devouring Darkness sees the return of longtime member Jeremy Turner to guitar and introduces Josh Riley as the band’s new vocalist, further intensifying the group’s punishing sound.
The album was engineered and produced by Clinton Appelhanz at Waveworks Studio, with mastering handled by the legendary Alan Douches (Cannibal Corpse, Hate Eternal, etc.). Artwork by Santiago Francisco Jaramillo.
UNMERCIFUL is seeking a bassist for live performances and/or a permanent position. Serious inquiries only. Contact the band for details.
April 30, 2025, AUSTIN – Following their much-anticipated reunion, The Sword has announced their first slate of U.S. tour dates. The legendary Austin band heads west this summer, performing the epic Warp Riders album in its entirety to mark the record’s 15th anniversary.
“This is probably the only chance people will have to see us perform the entire album, so don’t miss out!” says JD Cronise.
Tickets are on-sale this Friday at 10 a.m. local time via TheSwordOfficial.com. Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol and Pink Fuzz will support on all dates.
A special, limited-edition reissue of Warp Riders was released for Record Store Day. Remastered by J. Robbins, the “Sea of Pyres” vinyl variant features an embossed mirror board jacket and sold out within hours.
Upon its 2010 release, the 10-track Warp Riders was praised by the BBC for its “level of fantastical grandeur… on par with the bands who built the power metal subgenre,” while The Quietuscalled it “brilliant,” and Pitchforkdubbed it “Camaro-ready riff-rock.”
Warp Riders 15th Anniversary Tour:
August 17 Phoenix, AZ Crescent Ballroom August 18 Albuquerque, NM Sister Bar August 19 Denver, CO Gothic Theatre August 20 Salt Lake City, UT Metro Music Hall August 22 Spokane, WA Knitting Factory August 23 Seattle, WA Neumo’s August 24 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theater August 25 Boise, ID Knitting Factory August 27 San Francisco, CA Great American Music Hall August 28 Pioneertown, CA Pappy & Harriet’s August 29 San Diego, CA Belly Up Tavern August 30 Los Angeles, CA The Bellwether
The Sword previously announced a run of European festival performances with headlining dates in the Netherlands and Sweden:
June 19 Copenhagen, DK Copenhell Festival June 21 Netphen, DE Freak Valley Festival June 22 Nijmegen, NL Doornroosje June 25 Gothenburg, SE Monument June 26 Stockholm, SE Slaktyrkan June 28 Oslo, NO Tons of Rock Festival
Photo credit: Dave Creaney The Sword is: JD Cronise (vocals, guitar), Bryan Richie (bass, keyboards), Kyle Shutt (guitar, vocals), and Santiago Vela (drums)
Following their 2003 inception, The Sword quickly became one of the most revered names in heavy music. With a blend of crushing riffs, intricate storytelling, and a sound that bridges classic metal and modern rock, The Sword has released six albums: Age of Winters (2006), Gods of the Earth (2008), Warp Riders (2010), Apocryphon (2012), High Country (2015) and Used Future (2018).
Some years ago, my Best Metal Buddy Scott Coverdale gifted me this fabulous Black Sabbath Born Again tour book. I thank him to this day!
The Black Sabbath Born Again World Tour began on August 7, 1983 and ended on March 4, 1984. The new lead vocalist for this Black Sabbath era was Ian Gillan of Deep Purple fame. Ian Gillan sang on the 1983 Born Again album as well. Of course, TonyIommi and Geezer Butler are on this tour. Geoff Nichols played keyboards on this tour.
Above: back cover
The one other band lineup change for this tour was the addition of Bev Bevan as drummer; famous for his tenure with Electric Light Orchestra. However, Bill Ward was the drummer on the Born Again album.
Above: inside back cover
Back in 1983, I was a junior in high school and very much a fan of both the Ozzy Osbourne and Ronnie James Dio eras of Black Sabbath. I did not have the opportunity to see Black Sabbath on this tour and I would’ve loved to. Can’t see them all; yet it still sucks to miss that tour. Born Again has always been a favorite metal album of mine my entire life. I believe it’s a classic.
Above: tour credits page
I just really dig the dark and sinister vibes from the songs and it’s heavy as hell! My top 3 songs from Born Again are “Trashed,” Disturbing The Priest” and “Zero The Hero.” Yes, I’ve loved the album artwork since I first saw it. It’s f’n Metal, after all.
I didn’t show band photos from this tour book due to any potential copyright issues. Thank you for checking out my tour book and visiting! Stay safe and Metal be thy name. – Stone
Legendary heavy metal supergroup DOWN – featuring vocalist Philip H. Anselmo, guitarists Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein, drummer Jimmy Bower, and bassist Pat Bruders – is pleased to announce their official signing with Nuclear Blast Records! The band is currently in the final stages of recording their long-awaited new full-length, slated for release in 2026.
In a collective statement, Nuclear Blast comments, “Nuclear Blast is proud to be in the trenches with NOLA legends DOWN as their partner in their long overdue return to the metal world. In addition, we are excited to bring some of their key past catalog releases back into the spotlight, especially on the vinyl side. There are so many longtime DOWN fans at Nuclear Blast who are excited to be working with one of their all-time favorite bands. 2026 can’t come soon enough!”
Adds the band:
“It’s good to sign with Nuclear Blast Records. It’s a good label home and we’re ready to make some awesome recordings!” – Philip H. Anselmo
“Having already been a part of the Nuclear Blast family with Corrosion Of Conformity, it is an honor and a privilege to be here as well with my brothers in DOWN. The team at Nuclear Blast is a well-oiled machine and you can definitely tell they love what they do. We are in the right place.” – Pepper Keenan
“Nuclear Blast is a great label that put out some excellent records. It’s an honor to have them work our jams!” – Jimmy Bower
Updates on new DOWN music will be unveiled in the months to come. In the meantime, don’t miss DOWN when they headline night one of this year’s edition of Milwaukee Metal Fest. For more info, visit: therave.com/metalfest. The show follows the band’s recent Western US tour with Danzig.
DOWN Live:
5/16/2025 Milwaukee Metal Fest @ The Rave/Eagles Club – Milwaukee, WI
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.
Nothing can beat the thrill of thrash at its best, and no one is keeping the spirit and sound of the genre alive quite like Berlin’s SPACE CHASER. With the release of their new single, “Ignite The Skies,” we see the beginning of a new chapter with the German thrash metallers! Guitarist Leo Schacht has taken on vocal duties in addition to guitars, which finds the band heading into a new direction; more razor-sharp, defined, and rougher than ever before. SPACE CHASER had been aiming for something darker and more brutal than on previous releases. From the ashes they will rise!
Watch SPACE CHASER’s video for “Ignite The Skies” HERE. Stream the track HERE.
SPACE CHASER is set to perform live at a series of festivals in Germany this Spring and Summer. See all confirmed dates below.
SPACE CHASER Live: 4/25/2025 Stockrock Festival – Hagen, DE 4/26/2025 Bangers & Maniacs – Schwerin, DE 5/02/2025 Goldgrube – Kassel, DE 5/03/2025 Skullcrusher Festival – Freiburg, DE 5/31/2025 Turock – Essen, DE 7/19/2025 Rude Open Air – Bertingen, DE 7/23/2025 Headbangers Open Air – Brande-hörnerkirchen, DE 8/12/2025 Summer Breeze – Dinkelsbühl, DE
SPACE CHASER: Leo Schacht – guitars, vocals Martin Hochsattel – guitars, backing vocals Matthias Scheuerer – drums Sebastian Kerlikowski – bass
Metal Blade Records is proud to announce the signing of Germany’s rising heavy metal force, THE NIGHT ETERNAL. Known for their electrifying fusion of ‘70s and ‘80s guitar-driven metal with a dark and unique edge, THE NIGHT ETERNAL has carved their name into the hearts of fans worldwide.
Formed in 2019, THE NIGHT ETERNAL quickly gained momentum with the release of their debut EP, followed by the critically acclaimed albums MoonlitCross (2021) and Fatale (2023). Their latest record not only resonated with their loyal fanbase but also secured top rankings in leading metal publications such as Deaf Forever (#1), Rock Hard (#1), and Metal Hammer (#2).
The band’s relentless passion and precision on stage have led them to major festival appearances at Wacken, Summer Breeze, and Party San Open Air, along with high-profile tours supporting legendary acts like Blind Guardian, Angel Witch, and Lucifer. In 2024 alone, they delivered an astonishing fifty-five shows, cementing their status as one of the most exciting forces in contemporary heavy metal.
Now, THE NIGHT ETERNAL is gearing up for the next thrilling chapter of their journey, joining the prestigious Metal Blade Records roster. With new material in the works and highly anticipated performances at Hellfest and Alcatraz Open Air, the band is set to unleash their most ferocious music yet.
The band comments, “It comes together what belongs together, we live for heavy metal with every fiber of our beings and are therefore very proud to announce that we signed with Metal Blade Records, a label that has been carrying heavy metal’s torch for the last forty-three years. What an honor! Expect nothing but bangers from this collaboration.”
With their signing to Metal Blade Records, THE NIGHT ETERNAL is poised to reach even greater heights, continuing to honor the legacy of heavy metal while forging a path that is uniquely their own.
THE NIGHT ETERNAL Live: 5/02/2025 A Chance for Metal – Ochtendung, DE 5/09/2025 Gazarte – Athens, GR 6/06/2025 Chronical Moshers Open Air – Hauptmannsgrün, DE 6/07/2025 Rock Hard Festival – Gelsenkirchn, DE 6/19-21/2025 Hellfest – Clisson, FR 7/18/2025 Kloster Open Air – Villingen- Schwenningen, DE 7/25/2025 Headbangers Open Air – Brande-Hörnerkirchen, DE 8/07-10/2025 Alcatraz – Kortrijk, BE 9/04/2025 Summer Dying Loud – Lodz, PL 9/06/2025 Palladium – Cologne, DE w/ Blind Guardian 11/27-11/29/2025 Metal Hammer Paradise – Weißenhäuser Strand, DE
Metalcore stalwarts, Age of Ruin, are primed and ready to release new album, Nothingman, on October 17! But first… a new single (and b-side)! “Heavy is the Crown” is the first single from the forthcoming album.
As an added bonus, the band has released a “b-side” (or non-album track) to coinicide with the new single. Have yourself a listen to “Holding on” via Spotify and Apple Music, and check out the lyric video.
Nothingman, Age of Ruin’s forthcoming album, is a collection of 10 songs that cuts a path to the heart with harmony and angst that others would be naïve not to mimic. The band sacrificed blood and sweat for two years to expel Nothingman.
Age of Ruin began the recording process in October of 2023, and after nine months of tracking on location in Richmond, VA, at the Bakery Studio, in Washington, DC, at Ivakota Studio, and at the Riff Dojo in Takoma Park, MD, (the record was produced by Mike Schleibaum of Darkest Hour), Nothingman was complete. This is the biggest, most richly woven tapestry from the band yet, and the time to unleash it is near.
In 2023 and 2024, Age of Ruin did some precursory promotion of Nothingman’s material, traveling up and down the east coast, dousing nonbelievers with their fire, with such acts as Black Flag, Madball, Jimmy’s Chicken Shack, and Anvil. Yes, that Anvil.
Photo Credit: Jason Worcester
Line-up:
Benjamin Swan – vocals Daniel Fleming – guitar Jonathan Clay – guitar Christopher Fleming – bass Hendrik Osinga – drums
Ripping guitars, unforgivably brutal drums, bass sounds that have shaken the underworld, and screeching vocals are just the beginning of this incarnation of a true headbanger’s incantation. What we saw unearthed back in 1998 has now grown. The road worn warriors of the Age of Ruin have forced enough breakdowns to overwhelm any AAA mechanic, with miles on the highway ahead.
Their punk and metal roots hold firm, and their thrash tendencies are on full display as this towering presence of a band branches out over new tonal terrain and soundscape; reminding all who fall under its shadow, that the light shining through is a new dawn in the Age of Ruin. Nothingman will be celebrated in all formats and on all streaming platforms on October 17.
Age of Ruin released the stand-alone “Dying Days” single earlier this month. A music video for the track is available at youtu.be/cgH9I3s5_jo. The single is also available on Spotify and Apple Music. “Dying Days” was reimagined with the first recording featuring Ben Swan (vocals) since 2004’s Tides of Tragedy.
Track Listing:
1. The Fixation
2. Heavy is the Crown
3. Lost in Shadows
4. The Traveler
5. Nothingman
6. An Awakening
7. The Ghosts We Carry
8. Promise Me
9. Bleed for Better Days
10. Lovesong
Credits:
Produced by Mike Schleibaum / The Riff Dojo.
Mixed and mastered by Will Beasley / The Bakery.
Original artwork, Oil on Canvas titled “Forest Mother” by Zack Dunn.
Dublin based metallers THE RISEN DREAD will release their sophomore album, Death From Above, on June 13th 2025 via Time To Kill Records.
Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Marco Mastrobuono (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Hour Of Penance) at Bloom Studios in Guidonia, Rome, Italy, “Death from Above”marks a significant shift towards a heavier and more aggressive sound. While retaining their signature blend of intensity and melody, the band has incorporated stronger thrash metal and melodic death metal influences, seeking a sharper and more relentless edge.
The first single “A Conversation With God” is now available:
1. The Day I Died 2. In Fear We Trust 3. Endgame Symphony 4. Circle of the Damned 5. Azadi 6. Death From Above 7. Burn My Angels 8. A Conversation With God 9. Slay 10. Beyond My Final Breath
Marco Feltrin – Vocals William Ribeiro – Guitars Mat Maher – Bass Marcos Batata – Drums
Bio:
THE RISEN DREAD is a metal band from Dublin, Ireland. Since forming in 2019, they have risen from the Irish underground scene to become an international touring act, earning a reputation for their intense sound and energetic live performances.
Their debut EP, Delusions (2019), introduced them to the scene and set the stage for their first full-length album, Night Hag, released in January 2022. Written and recorded during the global pandemic, the album showcased the band’s evolution and featured guest appearances, including Andreas Kisser of Sepultura on the single “White Night”.
THE RISEN DREAD has made its mark on major stages, performing at Wacken Open Air in 2022 and joining Vader and Marduk for the United Titans tour across Europe and the UK.
In 2024, with the release of the single “Betrayal” and an extensive South American tour playing in Colombia, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, the band continued to expand its reach.
I bought this Ronnie James Dio Funko Pop! Rocks a couple of weeks ago, at a store called Petez Popz located in Kettering, Ohio. This store is amazing if you are a collector of Funko collectibles. They also have a fine website & online store here: https://petezpopz.com/
My love for Ronnie James Dio has been well documented, over the years here on Metal Odyssey. I’m shocked that it took me this long to finally get a Pop! Rocks of RJD! There are other variations of a RJD Funko out there, I’m certain; for that’s pretty much the standard with how Funko produces any of their characters from across the pop culture universe.
Above: back cover of box
My first introduction to the vocals of RJD were with his first two albums with Black Sabbath: Heaven And Hell (1980), Mob Rules (1981). I quickly learned of his albums with Rainbow and I was forever hooked by RJD. This was back in the days when I thought having my own rotary phone in my bedroom was a privilege. Rotary phone, imagine that.
I later gobbled up all of RJD’s solo albums on vinyl, then to the CD versions. My biggest thrill was being able to see the iconic RJD and his band DIO in concert, during a stop on his Dream Evil tour in New Haven, Connecticut. Megadeth and Savatage were the opening bands for DIO on that magical evening of December 29th, 1987. Incredible. That old New Haven coliseum where I saw DIO perform was torn down back in January of 2007; yet the Metal memories remain!
Thank you for reading this and visiting Metal Odyssey. Stay safe out there and Metal be thy name! – Stone
Echoes of the Extinct from Jyväskylä, Finland has released their debut album Era of Darkness on April 25, 2025. The four-piece modern metal band founded in 2022 combines elements of progressive metal, metalcore and melodic death metal to create a unique, powerful and atmospheric sound.
Era of Darkness is a powerful statement on the current condition of our planet and those who inhabit it. Musically, the album is the band’s interpretation of modern melodic death metal, a blend of melody, intensity, aggression and atmosphere.
Lyrically, the album addresses the ecological collapse we are facing and the troubling direction humanity is heading driven by selfishness, intolerance, greed, and a refusal to acknowledge our place in the vastness of time and the universe. Era of Darkness holds up a dark mirror to our face, a reflection of the damage we’ve inflicted upon ourselves and the Earth we call home.
TASSI will release their new albumIdamon Novasah-Liva on May 31st 2025 via Dusktone. With this highly anticipated chapter, the project continues its introspective and spiritual journey through a soundscape that blends post-black metal soundscapes and deep emotional storytelling.
TASSI is a project born from the mind of Chinese artist Dryad, also known for his work under BLISS-ILLUSION. Through this creation, Dryad gives life to TASSI, a bard wandering between heaven and man, whose esoteric and mystical journey revolves around the search for his lost love, Uni, the embodiment of his unwavering faith.
TASSI travels through time and surreal dimensions — romantic, divine, broken, or mad. Uni has transcended the sky and humanity itself, becoming a symbol of absolute love and spiritual devotion. This metaphysical odyssey unfolds as an intimate, nearly initiatory quest, where music becomes the language of the soul.
The upcoming albumIdamon Novasah-Liva stands as a parallel branch or sister series to the Northland saga, forming what Dryad calls “The Chronicle of Strange Thoughts.” This new chapter delves into a more introspective and melancholic emotional layer of TASSI; a kind of inner double or alternate self.
Musically, Idamon Novasah-Liva embraces a depressive / blackgaze / post-black metal aesthetic, rich in sorrowful textures, meditative riffs, and deeply personal lyrics. The voice moves between prayer and lament, echoing through ethereal soundscapes and cathartic darkness.
All Western artworks for the project, including this release, are the work of Alcide Nathanaël, a visual artist from the esoteric and spiritual world, far removed from traditional metal imagery. His contribution brings an otherworldly and symbolic dimension to TASSI’s universe, perfectly aligned with its mystical essence.
Commanding, fierce, and & triumphing since 1997, there’s no better way to describe Germany’s premier power metal band, PRIMAL FEAR. The band have just unveiled details about their upcoming album Domination, set to drop on September 5, 2025 via RPM. Pre-orders are now open in a variety of physical formats and digital options here:
To celebrate this announcement, the lead single “Far Away” has officially landed on streaming platforms worldwide. Packed with all the signature elements of a classic PRIMAL FEAR anthem – soaring melodies, thunderous drums and bass, and a blistering twin-guitar solo – the track also carries a powerful sense of yearning, brought to life by Ralf Scheepers’ unmistakable vocals.
Filmed at Dennis Ward’s Kangaroo Studios in Karlsdorf-Neuthard, Germany, where the Domination recording sessions took place in late 2024, “Far Away” is also available now as a performance-style music video on YouTube.
Scheepers explains the meaning behind the single: “It’s an expression of faith and trust, no matter where or what. We all know this feeling of missing someone so much, not being able to see or hear him/her every day – especially as musicians whilst touring.”
Going strong for nearly three decades, the band founded and still led by Mat Sinner (bass, vocals) and Ralf Scheepers (vocals) have never let down their global fanbase. Relentless and constantly pushing their limits, PRIMAL FEAR ensure that no two albums ever sound the same. After Code Red [2023] hit some of the highest chart positions of their career, expectations for the next release were higher than ever.
Now joined by gifted guitarist Thalìa Bellazecca and former touring drummer André Hilgers, the quintet were more than up for the challenge. And as Domination makes clear, no obstacle is too great for PRIMAL FEAR’s powerhouse songwriting trio – Sinner, Scheepers, and guitarist Magnus Karlsson, who also rejoins the band’s live line-up after several years away.
From the hard-hitting opener “The Hunter” and first single “Far Away,” to the uplifting mid-tempo anthem “Tears Of Fire” and the epic ballad “Eden” – featuring a surprise guest appearance by AD INFINITUM’s Melissa Bonny, Domination delivers on all fronts. Add in neck-breakers like “Scream” and “Crossfire,” and the reflective, string-and-piano-driven closer “A Tune I Won’t Forget,” and it’s clear: PRIMAL FEAR aren’t here to reclaim the crown – they’re here to prove they’ve never left the throne of heavy/power metal royalty.
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
Dominationwas recorded 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 at his own studios in Denmark, the album artwork was designed by Death.Milk.Designs.
Warming up at five select summer festivals, PRIMAL FEAR will return to the live front with their longest European tour since 2018. RPM label mates ELEINE have been confirmed as special guests. All dates & tickets can be found below!
09.05.2025 DE Braunschweig – Rock in Rautheim 02.07.2025 DE Ballenstedt – Rockharz Open Air SOLD OUT 18.07.2025 IT Cremona – Luppolo in Rock 21.08.2025 DE Haddeby – Baltic Open Air 23.08.2025 UK Newark – Stonedead Festival SOLD OUT
“Domination” Tour 2025 w/ ELEINE 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
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