Above: Best of John Sykes -album cover – (2000) – Mercury Records Japan
Heavy Metal and Hard Rock guitarist, vocalist and songwriting legend John Sykes passed away on Monday, January 20th at the age of 65. Metal Odyssey expresses condolences to the family, friends. fans and all past bandmates of John Sykes; God Bless him and may he rest in peace.
John Sykes’ illustrious career included being a former member of 1980’s bands Tygers of Pan Tang, Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake and his very own Blue Murder, along with being a successful solo artist. John Sykes also toured Europe in 1983 with the late Phil Lynotts’ solo (live only) band named The Three Musketeers.
Above: Thin Lizzy – Thunder and Lightning – album cover – (1983) – Warner Bros.
Above: Whitesnake S/T – album cover – (1987) – Geffen Records
Above: BLUE MURDER S/T – album cover – (1989) – Geffen Records
John Sykes was born in Reading, England on July 29, 1959.
“Gevoelsmens is a song about nostalgia and living in the past. It invokes the fear of being past one’s prime while at the same time maintaining some hopeful optimism,” explained the band.
“Gevoelsmens” will be available on all streaming services on 21 January 2025. Pre-save here.
The new album “Noctambulist II: De Droom” will be released on 7 February 2025 in CD, vinyl and digital formats via These Hands Melt. Recorded in Tilburg between February and April 2023 at Catacomben Studios, De Droom sees Noctambulist diving deeper into post-punk and shoegaze influences while retaining the fierceness of their debut record Elegiëen.
What sets De Droom apart from the first record is that the writing was done with the entire band on board whereas full song ideas used to be presented by a few members. The songs this time around are just that, songs.
While De Droom is not a concept album most songs reflect on the beauty of a mediocre co-habitual existence while also struggling with the seemingly impossible dream of home ownership. The album cover features a bedroom of a derelict villa, reflecting the themes of hope, failure and heartbreak present on the album.
Noctambulist are an atmospheric post-black metal outfit from Tilburg, the Netherlands. Formed in 2015 between housemates J.D. Kaye, Sam C.A. and Mitchell Scheerder, they set out to create a hard-hitting, melancholic style of black metal that draws inspiration from other genres such as post-rock, shoegaze, new wave and post-punk.
Noctambulist stand for contrasts. Serotonin summits and strung-out canyons. The empty and the grandiose. The beautiful and the appalling.
After defining their sound and completing the lineup with guitarists Tristan Tabbers and Stef Heesakkers they released their full-length debut Noctambulist I: Elegieën via Northern Silence Productions. Their second album Noctambulist II: De Droom will be released through These Hands Melt in February 2025.
The band previously released the singles “Lichteter” and “Aderlater” in support of their upcoming album.
Colorado melodic tech metal outfit ALLEGAEON will join Warbringer on a North American co-headlining run this Spring. The Vortex Of Violence Tour will commence on March 18th in San Diego, California and close on April 12th in Los Angeles, California. Support will be provided by Skeletal Remains and Summoning The Lich.
Comments the band, “We are thrilled to join forces with thrash titans Warbringer to bring you the Vortex Of Violence Tour! With Warbringer and ALLEGAEON leading the charge, and the amazing Skeletal Remains and Summoning The Lich kicking off the evening, this lineup promises a night to remember. So, get ready — stretch, drink plenty of liquids, and dust off your riot gear. We’ll see you in the pit.”
Tickets are on sale now! See all confirmed dates below.
ALLEGAEON w/ Warbringer, Skeletal Remains, Summoning The Lich: 3/18/2025 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA 3/19/2025 Last Exit Live – Phoenix, AZ 3/20/2025 Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM 3/21/2025 89th Street Collective – Oklahoma City, OK 3/22/2025 Haltom Theater – Haltom City, TX 3/23/2025 Come And Take it Live – Austin, TX 3/24/2025 House Of Rock – Corpus Christi, TX 3/26/2025 Conduit – Orlando, FL 3/27/2025 Hooligan’s – Jacksonville, NC 3/28/2025 Broken Goblet – Bensalem, PA 3/29/2025 Woodshop – Brooklyn, NY 3/30/2025 Foufounes Electriques – Montreal, QC 3/31/2025 The Garrison – Toronto, ON 4/01/2025 The Sanctuary – Detroit, MI 4/02/2025 Reggies – Chicago, IL 4/03/2025 The Bottleneck – Lawrence, KS 4/04/2025 Bourbon Theater – Lincoln, NE 4/05/2025 HQ – Denver, CO 4/06/2025 Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT 4/08/2025 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 4/09/2025 Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC 4/10/2025 Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR 4/11/2025 DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA 4/12/2025 Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA
ALLEGAEON will release their seventh full-length album, helmed by longtime producer Dave Otero (Flatline Audio), later this year. Stay tuned for further details to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
In the meantime, watch ALLEGAEON’s previously released video for stand-alone single “Iridescent” at THIS LOCATION.
ALLEGAEON: Greg Burgess – lead guitar Michael Stancel – lead guitar Jeff Saltzman – drums Ezra Haynes – vocals Brandon Michael – bass
Swiss hard rock legends GOTTHARD have kicked off the new year with the release of their second single, “Thunder & Lightning,” from their upcoming 12-track studio album Stereo Crush. As the world remains blanketed in snow, this new track spreads spring fever with its uplifting leads and emotionally charged storyline about love, quickly capturing the hearts of fans and heightening anticipation for the band’s eagerly awaited new album.
Today, alongside the worldwide launch of pre-orders, GOTTHARD are also excited to reveal the cover artwork for Stereo Crush, set to hit the shelves on March 21, 2025 via RPM. The artwork, designed by Thomas Ewerhard, who has previously collaborated with the band, perfectly encapsulates the album’s themes of honesty, rawness, and a broad spectrum of emotions.
Freddy [Scherer; guitars] came to my house with the musical idea for this song. We started there and came up with the structure and the vocal melodies together and recorded the demo there. I then spent quite some time figuring out lyrics. The sound of the chorus riff somehow sounded electric to me, and I was thinking of words like ‘lightning’ and thunder’ etc…and then I thought of the concept of how lightning never strikes twice but in this case it does, using this as a metaphor for love. Also in French, which I’m fluent in, you can say that ‘love at first sight’ is like getting hit by a bolt of lightning,” singer Nic Maeder sheds light on the track’s creation.
After releasing two singles, there’s no real doubt that GOTTHARD are more than ready for the future with Stereo Crush! Decorated with a powerful and contemporary production, the album delivers a series of big anthems but also a few surprises which help the Swiss icons to improve their DNA fresh and to spice up the essence of their trademark sound in an exciting way. It’s clear like Swiss glacier water: 2025 belongs to GOTTHARD!
Stereo Crush – Track Listing:
01. AI & I 02. Thunder & Lightning 03. Rusty Rose 04. Burning Bridges 05. Drive My Car 06. Boom Boom 07. Life 08. Liverpool 09. Shake Shake 10. Devil In The Moonlight 11. Dig A Little Deeper 12. These Are The Days
Photo credit: Manuel Schütz L-R: Freddy Scherer (guitars), Marc Lynn (bass), Nic Maeder (vocals), Flavio Mezzodi (drums), Leo Leoni (guitars)
Produced and mixed by long-time partner Charlie Bauerfeind, who’s known for his work with the likes of HELLOWEEN and BLIND GUARDIAN, alongside founding member Leo Leoni at Yellowhouse Studio, and mastered by Sascha “Busy” Bühren (TrueBusyness), with artwork once again provided by Thomas Ewerhard (AVANTASIA etc.), Stereo Crush promises to set new standards which will additionally come to shine on the band’s forthcoming touring cycle: GOTTHARD will be touring in May, accompanied by special guests Y&T, rounded off by select festival and headline dates during the course of the year. The band’s current live schedule and ticket info can be found below!
21.05.2025 DE Saarbücken – Garage (w/ ECLIPSE) NEW
Special Guests: Y&T Presented by Metal Hammer, Classic Rock, musix, Rock Antenne, powermetal.de & Bottom Row 23.05.2025 DE Bochum – RuhrCongress 24.05.2025 DE Geiselwind – Music Hall 25.05.2025 DE Frankfurt – Batschkapp 27.05.2025 DE Hamburg – Große Freiheit 36 29.05.2025 DE Munich – Circus Krone 30.05.2025 DE Filderstadt – FILharmonie 31.05.2025 AT Telfs – Rathaussaal
14.06.2025 ES Zamora – Z! Live Rock 27.06.2025 CH Basel – Summerstage (w/ KROKUS) 28.06.2025 DE Ehingen – Martkplatz (w/ KROKUS) NEW 20.07.2025 CH Locarno – Moon&Stars (“Steve Lee – The Show”) NEW 22.07.2025 DE Regensburg – Piazza im Gewerbepark 06.08.2025 CH Zofingen – Heitere (w/ Orchestra) NEW 10.08.2025 DE Tettnang – Schlossgarten (w/ KROKUS) NEW 19.12.2025 CH Bern – Festhalle (w/ KROKUS) 20.12.2025 CH Zurich – The Hall (w/ KROKUS)
Check it out! That’s my Ozzy Osbourne Funko POP! ROCKS mint-in-box! It’s also a Funko.com exclusive, whatever that means. Sounds important though. The date on the lower back cover is 2023. Thanks for visiting and looking, I appreciate it!
Back cover gives date at bottom, in teeny tiny type. Above: side panel
RIVERS OF NIHIL will return to North American stages this Spring on a month-long headlining tour! The Aggressive Progressive Tour runs from May 22nd in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania through June 22nd in Toronto, Ontario. Support will be provided by Holy Fawn, Inter Arma, and Glacial Tomb.
The band comments, “We are stoked to bring The Aggressive Progressive tour to North America. We are also honored to have Holy Fawn, Inter Arma, and Glacial Tomb along with us. Can’t wait to see you all.“
RIVERS OF NIHIL will release their fifth full-length album later this year. The record will feature two previously released songs – “The Sub-Orbital Blues” (2023) and “Criminals” (2024) – plus eight new tracks. Stay tuned for a new single to be unveiled in the coming weeks.
Tickets and VIP packages are available now at: ron.soundrink.com. See all confirmed dates below.
RIVERS OF NIHIL w/ Holy Fawn, Inter Arma, Glacial Tomb: 5/22/2025 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA 5/23/2025 The Palladium (Upstairs) – Worcester, MA 5/24/2025 Rec Room – Buffalo, NY 5/25/2025 The King Of Clubs – Columbus, OH 5/27/2025 Pike Room @ Crofoot – Pontiac, MI 5/28/2025 Reggies – Chicago, IL 5/29/2025 The Cabooze – Minneapolis, MN 5/30/2025 Bourbon Theater – Lincoln, NE 5/31/2025 Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO 6/01/2025 Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT 6/03/2025 Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC 6/04/2025 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 6/05/2025 Dante’s – Portland, OR 6/06/2025 Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA 6/07/2025 Teragram Ballroom – Los Angeles, CA 6/08/2025 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA 6/10/2025 Nile – Mesa, AZ 6/11/2025 Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM 6/12/2025 Jake’s – Lubbock, TX 6/13/2025 The Rail – Ft. Worth, TX 6/14/2025 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX 6/15/2025 Scout Bar – Houston, TX 6/17/2025 Basement East – Nashville, TN 6/18/2025 Eulogy – Asheville, NC 6/19/2025 The Canal Club – Richmond, VA 6/20/2025 The Meadows – Brooklyn, NY 6/21/2025 Fairmount Theatre – Montreal, QC 6/22/2025 Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON
Legendary death metal ensemble DECAPITATED is set to embark on their eagerly anticipated North American “Nihility Tour,” starting February 4, 2025, in Tampa, Florida. Fans will experience the landmark album Nihility performed live in its entirety across a 23-date trek.
Joining DECAPITATED as direct support on this monumental tour are renowned acts INCANTATION and DARKEST HOUR, with EXMORTUS slated to open each show. This lineup promises to deliver an unforgettable series of performances, combining intense energy and musical prowess.
Tour Dates and Venues:
Feb. 04 – Tampa, FL – The Orpheum
Feb. 05 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
Feb. 06 – Greensboro, NC – Hangar 1819
Feb. 07 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
Feb. 08 – Boston, MA – Middle East Downstairs
Feb. 10 – New York, NY – Gramercy Theater
Feb. 11 – Montreal, QC – Beanfield Theatre
Feb. 12 – Ottawa, ON – Overflow
Feb. 13 – Toronto, ON – Phoenix Concert Theatre
Feb. 14 – Lakewood, OH – Mercury Music Lounge
Feb. 15 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
Feb. 16 – Minneapolis, MN – The Caboose
Feb. 18 – Denver, CO – Oriental Theater
Feb. 19 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Music Hall
Feb. 21 – Calgary, AB – Back Alley
Feb. 22 – Edmonton, AB – Starlite Room
Feb. 24 – Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
Feb. 25 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon
Feb. 26 – Portland, OR – Roseland Theater
Feb. 27 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge
Feb. 28 – Las Vegas, NV – House Of Blues
Mar. 01 – Los Angeles, CA – 1720
Mar. 02 – Santa Ana, CA – The Observatory
The tour announcement follows the recent addition of Eemeli Bodde, formerly of Finnish metallers MORS SUBITA, as DECAPITATED‘s new frontman. Bodde’s compelling debut at Damnation Festival’s “A Night Of Salvation” at BEC Arena in Manchester has set high expectations for his performance throughout the tour.
Tickets for all tour dates will go on sale this Friday, with special fan packages available. For more information, tour updates, and ticket sales, please visit Decapitated’s Official Website.
WHITECHAPEL will release their long-awaited new full-length, Hymns In Dissonance, on March 7th via Metal Blade Records.
“There is nothing nice about Hymns In Dissonance, from the riffs, to the lyrics, to the overall vibe of the album,” says guitarist Alex Wade of the band’s latest output. “We attempted to write our heaviest album to date. We wanted to put out something that was shockingly menacing and brutal.”
“The album follows the story of a cultist who is gathering worthy people to join his cult,” Wade further elaborates, “and there are moments in the storyline where the cult followers are singing an evil hymn to open a portal for the head cultist to enter.”
The band’s dynamic, brutal musicality serves as a soundtrack to the compelling lyrical story that vocalist Phil Bozeman vividly imagines. “Hymns In Dissonance is a mockery of the true nature of what hymns are,” Bozeman explains. “Hymns are melodious and harmonious. Dissonance is the opposite of melody and harmony. Dissonance represents evil. The tracks on the record are the hymns, which represent the seven deadly sins, beginning from track three to track ten. Tracks one and two are the introduction.”
The lineup’s timely and terrifying vision was first unveiled in the Fall of 2024 with the single “A Visceral Retch” inciting frenzied fans to call the song “a version of WHITECHAPEL we have never heard before. Can’t explain how absolutely goddamn brutal this song is. This is a total dream come true.” The title track is the LP’s second single.
WHITECHAPEL, who formed in Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2006, has seen the core lineup — vocalist Phil Bozeman, guitarists Ben Savage, Zach Householder, and Alex Wade, and bassist Gabe Crisp — intact since 2007, with the exception of drummer Brandon Zackey, who has been playing with the band since 2022. While Hymns In Dissonance follows 2021’s Kin chronologically, the new album is actually somewhat of a sequel to This Is Exile thematically, the three-word title Hymns In Dissonancerepresenting that correlation.
The band started composing the new album at Householder’s studio in June of 2023, following their headlining tour for The Valley. The collective stuck to a strict weekday schedule, the structure allowing for maximum creativity and minimum burnout. Householder produced Hymns In Dissonance, which allowed the musicians to seamlessly switch gears from preproduction to recording the full album without skipping a beat.
The guitarist shadowed producer Mark Lewis a lot over the last five WHITECHAPEL albums and bringing that influence inside the band is a full circle moment for Householder and WHITECHAPEL. “It’s cool that we can be self-sufficient and produce a record of this magnitude ourselves; not a lot of bands can say that.”
In advance of the release, today the band unleashes a video for the title track. Notes Bozeman, “It’s about [the storyline’s cultist] building his cult of followers: Only the most heinous and vile people on the planet showing their devotion to their lord, committing horrible acts, and the leader showcasing his power and his purpose to commit the seven cardinal sins to resurrect their lord, and to replace divinity with evil.”
Adds Wade, “Mostly written by Phil on guitar, ‘Hymns In Dissonance’ has a few riffs and tweaks thrown in by the rest of us. He can churn out some pummeling riffs and it’s one of the best songs on the album because he had a vision for the whole song with the riffs and vocals. It’s tuned to Drop G which we have been using since the self-titled LP, but the ending breakdown shifts down one whole step to Drop F, which we have never done before. Having the final breakdown shift lower than the rest of the song really helped the end have the crushing feeling it needed.”
Watch WHITECHAPEL’s video for “Hymns In Dissonance,” directed by My Good Eye Visuals, HERE.
Watch the band’s previously released video for “A Visceral Retch” HERE.
Hymns In Dissonance, which features cover art by European tattoo artist Rob Borbas (Grind Design), will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
Eviscerate – Orange/Yellow Marbled (US) Eternal Eclipse – Black + White Marbled (US) Mangled Innards – Red Smoke (US) Visceral Retch – Iridescent Green (US) Infested Soul – Neon Green Yellow Marble (US – Band Exclusive) Red w/ Black Smoke (Tour Exclusive) 180g Black (EU) Crimson Red w/ Black Swirls (EU) Beige Brown Marbled (EU – Ltd. 500) Golden Dawn Marbled (EU – Ltd. 500) Bone White Splatter (EU – Ltd. 500) Clear With Black, Red + Gold Splatter (EU – Ltd. 300) Scarlet Red w/ Cloudy Black Splatter (EU – Ltd. 200) Scarlet Red + Bone White “Melt” (UK – Ltd. 300)
Hymns In Dissonance Track Listing:
Prisoner 666
Hymns In Dissonance
Diabolic Slumber
A Visceral Retch
Ex Infernis
Hate Cult Ritual
The Abysmal Gospel
Bedlam
Mammoth God
Nothing Is Coming For Any Of Us
WHITECHAPEL will return to North American stages this Spring on a month-long headlining tour. The Hymns In Dissonance Tour runs from March 18th in Raleigh, North Carolina through April 19th in Atlanta, Georgia. Support will be provided by Brand Of Sacrifice, 200 Stab Wounds, and Alluvial. Tickets are on sale now. Find VIP upgrades at tix.soundrink.com/tours/whitechapel. See confirmed dates below.
WHITECHAPEL w/ Brand Of Sacrifice, 200 Stab Wounds, Alluvial: 3/18/2025 The Ritz – Raleigh, NC 3/19/2025 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD 3/20/2025 Theatre Of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA 3/21/2025 The Palladium – Worcester, MA 3/22/2025 Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ 3/24/2025 L’Olympia – Montreal, QC 3/25/2025 Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON 3/26/2025 Saint Andrew’s Hall – Detroit, MI 3/28/2025 House Of Blues – Chicago, IL 3/29/2025 Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN 3/30/2025 Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NE 4/01/2025 Summit – Denver, CO 4/02/2025 The Grand @ The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT 4/04/2025 The Palace Theatre – Calgary, AB 4/05/2025 Union Hall – Edmonton, AB 4/07/2025 The Pearl – Vancouver, BC 4/08/2025 Roseland Theater – Portland, OR 4/09/2025 The Showbox – Seattle, WA 4/11/2025 Ace Of Spades – Sacramento, CA 4/12/2025 The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA 4/13/2025 Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ 4/15/2025 The Studio @ The Factory – Dallas, TX 4/16/2025 Aztec Theatre – San Antonio, TX 4/18/2025 The Orpheum – Tampa, FL 4/19/2025 The Masquerade (Heaven) – Atlanta, GA
“EXODUS have parted ways with Steve “Zetro” Souza. We thank Steve for his years fronting the band and all the killer music we made during that time. We wish him only the best in the future and much success with anything he does.
And please help us welcome Rob Dukes back to EXODUS! We are beyond stoked to have Rob back ripping up the stage with us and he’s looking forward to crushing everything like only he can.
Next chapter begins, new record rolls along as planned and the beatings will continue.”
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions are set to release the new album from Tokyo Japan’s Grinding Death/Thrash guitarist Kosuke Hashida. Outrage is up now for pre-order and will be released February 14th on CD and Digital formats along with merch.
Hailing from Tokyo Japan, Kosuke Hashida previously played guitar for the Japanese band World End Man, as well as performing live guitar duties in Abysmal Dawn. Outragepresents 11 brutal tracks blending Death Metal, Thrash Metal and Grindcore, showcasing skillful extreme aggression and vicious calculated speed on this monstrous album of hatefilled anger and brutality.
For fans of Brutal Truth, Lock Up, Napalm Death, Nasum, No/Más, Pig Destroyer, Repulsion, Rotten Sound, Slayer, Terrorizer and Wormrot.
January 14, 2025 – A fierce new voice emerging from the intersection of punk and metal, French musician Lucie Sue and her eponymous band make their U.S. debut with the single “Battlestation.” The track arrives alongside a bold, high-energy video that captures Lucie’s rebellious spirit and unbridled charisma.
Joined by bandmates Mitch, Laura and Enzo, “Battlestation” is a perfect showcase for Lucie’s signature sound – dark, heavy riffs overlaid with Lucie’s vocals – part spoken word, part infection chorus. A powerful fusion of ’90s grunge and modern metal, “Battlestation” hits hard both sonically and lyrically, serving as a manifesto of female empowerment.
Rolling Stone France said of the track: “Direct and powerful, it mixes modern and vintage influences without forgetting the musician’s signature style…”
“Battlestation” digital single cover
A child of the MTV generation, Lucie escaped to the sounds of L7, Metallica and PJ Harvey after her cello lessons at the Lyon National Conservatory. An accomplished visual artist, she pivoted to music during the COVID lockdowns; her stylish, DIY releases quickly gaining a devout following via social media.
Already booked for Hellfest 2025, a full-length album and tour dates will come later this year (more details to be announced soon). With her distinctive style and boundless energy, Lucie Sue is poised to become one of the most exciting musical breakthroughs of 2025.
Los Angeles (CA) – Doom/Thrash trio THE CIMMERIAN set a crushing tone for the new year with today’s release of An Age Undreamed Of…, the band’s first full-length album! This rogue set conjures images of high adventure and mayhem with an aggressive mix of sludgy-based rumblings, caustic fuzz-filled riffs, and sonorous war drumming that recalls High on Fire, among others.
THE CIMMERIAN: Bass/vocals: Nicolas Rocha Guitars: David Gein Drums: David Morales
The groundwork for THE CIMMERIAN was laid in 2021 by guitarist David Gein and bassist Nicholas Rocha, two-thirds of crossover thrash group Septik Onslaught. The two were writing what would become the band’s first EP when a Craigslist ad brought drummer David Morales – armed with unyielding energy and a bag of Halloween candy to the fold.
THE CIMMERIAN delivers a wall of sound that draws inspiration from the likes of Motörhead, Black Sabbath, Venom, and Gates of Slumber. Lyrical themes informed by a deep understanding of world history, mythology, and historical literature weave throughout this chainmail tapestry.
The band released their debut EP, Thrice Majestic, in the summer of 2022. By early 2023, they returned to Robert Frank’s Minor Chord Studio to record the two-track cassette/digital release, Sword & Sorcery Vol. I.
Follow THE CIMMERIAN, for it is Crom’s will. If you don’t – to hell with you!
Track Listing:
1) Shadow Kingdom 2) Neck Breaker of The Mountain 3) Silver and Gold 4) Darkwolf 5) Mournblade 6) Black Coast Tigris 7) Deathstalker 8) Monarch
Death metal gladiators EXDEO, the Juno-nominated project of KATAKYLSM frontman Maurizio Iacono, have unleashed their highly anticipated new EP Year Of the Four Emperorson Reigning Phoenix Music, via its partnership with Distortion Music Group. The album is out now digitally and on CD, with a limited edition vinyl to follow on March 14th, 2025. To celebrate, the band has also unveiled a stunning lyric video for the EP’s penultimate track “Vitellius”. The lyrics reveal a man driven by bloodlust, yet powerless to escape his fate. Vitellius’ violent end is portrayed with haunting finality, a reminder of Rome’s volatile power.
The band is also currently on tour in Europe in support of DARK FUNERAL and FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE. They will follow this up with a North American tour in the spring in support of SEPTICFLESH and VLTIMAS.
1/10 Burgos, SPA Sala Anden 1/11 Madrid, SPA Sala del Wizink 1/12 Barcelona, SPA Razzmatazz 2 1/14 Lyon, FRA La Ryaonne 1/15 Trezzo sull’Adda, ITA Live Club 1/16 Zurich, SWI Komplex 457 1/17 Munich, GER Backstage Werk 1/18 Budapest, HUN Barba Negra 1/19 Zagreb, CRO Boogaloo 1/21 Vienna, AUT Simm City 1/22 Kosice, SLO Colloseum 1/23 Wroclaw, POL A2 1/24 Prague, CZE Meet Factory 1/25 Leipzig, GER Hellraiser 26.01.2025 NL Utrecht – TivoliVredenburg * * w/ FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE only
NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES
2/10 Houston, TX White Oak Music Hall 2/11 Dallas, TX Granada Theater 2/12 Albuquerque, NM Sunshine Theater 2/13 Mesa, AZ Nile Theater 2/14 San Diego, CA Brick by Brick 2/15 San Francisco, CA DNA Lounge 2/16 Los Angeles, CA 1720 2/17 Las Vegas, NV Sinwave 2/19 Denver, CO The Oriental Theater 2/20 Lawrence, KS Granada Theater 2/21 St. Paul, MN Amsterdam Bar & Hall 2/22 Joliet, IL The Forge 2/23 Cleveland, OH TempleLive Cleveland @ Asylum 2/24 Toronto, ON Concert Hall 2/26 Ottawa, ON Overflow 2/27 Montreal, QC Le Studio TD 2/28 Worcester, MA The Palladium (upstairs) 3/1 Albany, NY Empire Live 3/2 New York, NY Gramercy Theater
Photographer Credit – Lisa Thompson (Dark Moon Productions) L-R – Adam Hansen (Guitar), Dylan Gunnell (Vocals), Paulo Ferraz (Bass), Jer Renaud (Drums)
Sophomore EP “The Greatest Divide” Out April 2025
Marble Ghosts, the Canadian boundary pushing ensemble known for their distinctive blend of metal, grunge, and punk influences, has announced their highly anticipated second EP “The Greatest Divide” set for release on April 4, 2025. The band comments on the first, explosive single “Distance Between”:
“From the opening lyric of the EP, “Here we are in the greatest divide”, the songs explore the ever-growing rift between almost every part of modern-day society. From the rich and the shrinking middle class to widening gaps in political and religious ideologies, the EP was inspired by our reality.”
Musically, the single shows off its punk-metal roots, never relenting from beginning to end. The biting rapid-fire verses meet the band’s characteristic soaring choruses. The band shows off its guitar chops with a blistering solo that perfectly matches the song’s energy. The song crescendos with another feverish solo over top desperate screams.
The EP and the single are recommended for fans of Alter Bridge, Shinedown, and Saint Asonia.
Belgium’s most ferocious metal band BARK returns to the spotlight with their highly anticipated fifth studio album, The Time Has Come, set to be released on The 25th of April, 2025. This marks the band’s second collaboration with renowned French Metal label Listenable Records, solidifying their presence in the global scene.
The Time Has Come encapsulates BARK’s relentless energy and raw power, delivering an unapologetic onslaught of heavy riffs, thunderous drums, and guttural vocals. The album showcases the band’s evolution while staying true to the no-holds-barred sound that has earned them a devoted following. With a mix of blistering anthems and dark, groove-laden tracks, ‘The Time Has Com’e cements BARK’s reputation as one of Europe’s most formidable forces in modern metal.
“This album is a statement,” says singer Ron Bruynseels. “We’ve poured all our passion into these songs. It’s about living the moment, confronting challenges head-on. We are telling stories that resonate with the listener because we have lived them first hand. We’re excited to unleash this beast with Listenable Records by our side again.”
Line up: Ron Bruynseels – Vocals Martin Furia – Guitar Toon Huet – Guitar Jorn Van der Straeten – Bass Ward Van der Straeten – Drums
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.
Debut single “Negativist” out on the 12th of February, 2025 offers a glimpse into the diverse yet cohesive journey that awaits listeners.
The band describes it as “A brutal fast-paced plea to stop making bullshit excuses, living lies and embracing the mirror as your friend. BARK understands the very definition of rock bottom because they lived by the devil’s hand. Extreme situations call for extreme actions. This song is a reflection of that mentality.”
BARK will be hitting the road shortly after the release, bringing their explosive live performances to fans across Europe.
30.04:30 years Kid’s, Antwerp 31.05 Skallyfest, Halle 10.08 Alcatraz Metal Festival, Kortrijk
BARK – The Time Has Come AlbumTrack 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
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)
Haunt hits the road this spring with the mighty Hitten from Spain. March and April of 2025 will feature Haunt’s return to both Hell’s Heroes in Houston, 2 Minutes To Tulsa in Oklahoma, as well as several other cities throughout the U.S. Tickets available through venue websites. GET STOKED⚡️
⛓️Spring Break 25 w/ Hitten⛓️ 3/14 LOS ANGELES, CA – KNUCKLEHEAD 3/15 OCEANSIDE, CA – POUR HOUSE 3/16 LAS VEGAS, NV – SINWAVE 3/17 ALBUQUERQUE, NM – LAUNCHPAD 3/19 AUSTIN, TX • MOHAWK 3/20 SAN ANTONIO, TX – 502 BAR 3/21 HOUSTON, TX – HELL’S HEROES 3/23 NEW ORLEANS, LA • SIBERIA 3/24 PENSACOLA, FL • HANDLEBAR 3/25 ORLANDO, FL • CONDUIT 3/27 ATLANTA, GA – ALTAR AT MASQUERADE 3/28 LITTLE ROCK, AR • STICKYZ 3/29 TULSA, OK • 2 MINUTES TO TULSA 3/31 MILWAUKEE, WI – X-RAY ARCADE 4/1 CHICAGO, IL • LIVE WIRE 4/2 LAWRENCE, KS • BOTTLENECK 4/3 DENVER, CO – HQ 4/4 SALT LAKE CITY, UT • ACES HIGH 4/5 RENO, NV • CELLAR STAGE 4/6 SAN FRANCISCO, CA – BOTTOM OF THE HILL
On April 11th, Italian pagan/folk metal masters ELVENKING will release their new full-length, Reader Of The Runes – Luna, via Reaper Entertainment. The album marks the spectacular conclusion to the Reader Of The Runes trilogy and promises to close the saga with epic melodies, dark mysticism, and untamed energy in an unforgettable way. In advance of the record’s release, today the band unveils latest single, “Luna,” along with a spectacular music video directed by Matteo Ermeti.
“Luna” serves as the emotional centerpiece of the album and perfectly embodies ELVENKING’s essence. Guitarist and songwriter Aydan describes the song as “a piece that shows ELVENKING in its purest form – epic, powerful, and filled with deep emotion.”
Watch ELVENKING‘s “Luna” video HERE. Stream the track HERE.
Watch ELVENKING‘s official visualizer for the album’s first single, “Throes Of Atonement,”HERE.
Additionally, ELVENKING‘s brand new online shop is now live at shop.elvenking.net. Fans can find preorders for Reader Of The Runes – Luna in various formats, including CD, vinyl (with limited Splatter and Glow-In-The-Dark editions), and a luxurious boxset, available in both CD-only and CD + Marbled vinyl versions, limited to 500 copies worldwide.
With Reader Of The Runes – Luna, ELVENKING not only closes their most ambitious musical journey but also sets a new benchmark in their impressive career. Frontman Damna sums it up perfectly, “This album is the culmination of all our previous work, a project we are incredibly proud of.” Dive into the world of ELVENKING and let their unique magic enchant you!
Reader Of The Runes – Luna Track Listing:
Season Of The Owl
Luna
Gone Epoch
Stormcarrier
Starbath
On These Haunted Shores
The Ghosting
Throes Of Atonement
The Weeping
Reader Of The Runes – Book II
ELVENKING is currently part of the legendary Paganfest Tour in Europe and has a special treat: a limited CD single featuring the tracks “Luna” and “Throes Of Atonement.” This exclusive release is limited to 500 copies and includes a voucher, redeemable in the new shop when purchasing the album — a gift for their loyal fans.
If you’re a band or musician and would like your music reviewed or be interviewed by Stone, please click the link under the “ALBUM REVIEWS ARCHIVES” section below!
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