Colombian blackened melodic death metal force ESHTADUR has released their latest single, “Fire Above Mountain Below“, off of their latest album, Symphonic Crows – Live at the Santiago Londoño’s Theater.
Grandiose symphonic elements provide a powerful backdrop for ominous riffs and snarling vocals. In signature ESHTADUR fashion, “Fire Above Mountain Below” balances crushing heaviness with a catchy, cinematic earworm of a chorus.
Vocalist and guitarist Jorg August comments: “The shapes that can be explored with a symphonic orchestra reminds me of why I enjoy music so much: the character and the intensity of 40 people giving the music their all. That’s very ritualistic and powerful. This new live album is something I wanted to do for so long.”
Icelandic metal collective POWER PALADIN returns with force, steel and fire as they present their brand-new single “Sword Vigor”, the first taste of their upcoming studio album Beyond The Reach Of Enchantment, due out on March 27, 2026 via ROAR – a division of Reigning Phoenix Music!
“Sword Vigor” delivers classic heavy metal spirit wrapped in epic power metal form, driven by galloping riffs, soaring melodies and a strong sense of heroism. The track continues the band’s fantasy-driven narrative universe and serves as the next chapter in an ongoing saga of trials, destiny and triumph. Fans of GLORYHAMMER, TWILIGHT FORCE, and DRAGONFORCE will feel right at home.
The band comments: “‘Sword Vigor’ is a roaring NWOBHM-inspired power metal anthem, the blazing sequel to the saga begun in Kraven the Hunter. When all hope seems lost for our hero, salvation descends from the heavens: a warrior who has mastered the ancient and furious art of Sword Vigor.”
Accompanying the single is an official music video that captures POWER PALADIN’s love for classic heavy metal, combining a tongue-in-cheek attitude with a straightforward, no-frills approach.
And if you’ve ever wondered how power metal bands come up with these epic lyrics, POWER PALADIN have the answer and it involves a healthy dose of humor. To find out what rhymes with fire – and where hobbits come into play check out the following video the band just posted on their Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/p/DSSEYXcjKVU/
With their new offering Beyond The Reach Of Enchantment, POWER PALADIN take the next step in their musical journey. The album features eight epic tracks, each unfolding like a chapter in a sweeping saga of power, mystery and adventure.
Beyond The Reach Of Enchantment Track-list: 1. Sword Vigor 2. Glade Lords Of Athel Loren 3. The Royal Road 4. The Arcane Tower 5. Aegis Of Eternity 6. Camelot Rock City 7. Keeper Of The Crimson Dungeon 8. Valediction
Building on the success of their debut With the Magic of Windfyre Steel, the band delivers a more mature and refined sound while fully retaining the energy and spirit that defined their early days. The album was mixed by Haukur Hannes (AUÐN, DYNFARI) and mastered by Frank de Jong (BLEEDING GODS), resulting in a production that is both powerful and crystal clear.
Once again, POWER PALADIN pay homage to their influences – IRON MAIDEN, DIO and HELLOWEEN – while confidently carving out their own place in the modern power metal landscape. The album artwork, created by James Child (Astral Clock Tower Studios), perfectly captures the adventurous and fantastical essence of the record.
POWER PALADIN: Atli Guðlaugsson (vocals) Bjarni Þór Jóhannsson (guitars) Ingi Þórisson (guitars) Einar Karl Júlíusson (drums) Bjarni Egill Ögmundsson (keyboards) Kristleifur Þorsteinsson (bass)
About POWER PALADIN: Formed in Iceland, POWER PALADIN emerged from a shared passion for classic heavy metal, soaring melodies and fantasy-driven storytelling. Since their inception, the band has blended the spirit of traditional power metal with the raw edge of NWOBHM influences, forging a sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh.
Their debut album With the Magic of Windfyre Steel quickly established POWER PALADIN as a rising force in the international power metal scene. With Beyond The Reach Of Enchantment, the band further expands their musical and lyrical universe, proving their dedication to epic songwriting, strong hooks and timeless metal values.
NECRONOMICON EX MORTIS erupt with ferocious precision on their latest single, “Hungry For Brains,” taken from the forthcoming EP Zombie Blood Nightmare, arriving February 20, 2026.
A thrashy, smashy, in-your-face assault, “Hungry For Brains” showcases the band at their most unapologetically feral. Built entirely upon the half/whole diminished scale, the track spirals through symmetrical chaos and delivers a sound as unhinged and ravenous as its subject matter.
Fans of technical metal will find plenty to chew on, especially when the track erupts into a blistering guitar solo performed by James Norton, former college roommate of guitarist Mike. His shredding adds an extra layer of necrotic flair.
Lyrically, the song dives headfirst into zombie carnage and grotesque undead imagery, continuing the band’s love for cinematic horror and high-energy gore. “Hungry For Brains” embraces the spirit of classic zombie mayhem and sets the tone for the terror-laced chaos awaiting listeners on Zombie Blood Nightmare.
Zombie Blood Nightmare – Track Listing:
Left To Die (4:39)
No More Room In Hell (5:19)
Chopped Up and Burned (7:00)
Lumbering, Blood Sucking Freaks (3:42)
Hungry For Brains (4:41)
Démoni (3:15)
Produced, recorded, and mixed by Charlie Waymire at Ultimate Studios and mastered by Ernesto Homeyer, Zombie Blood Nightmare features six tracks of shred-heavy, horror-drenched chaos. Zombie Blood Nightmare arrives February 20, 2026.
HELSOTT – American pagan metal band – announce their support slot to Russia’s ARKONA for a string of US shows in February on their North America Paganist Tour.
“We are excited to announce a return to the road with our friends Arkona as part of their Paganist USA conquest, says singer Eric Dow. “We are really looking forward to delivering our brand of Pagan Metal to some cities that we haven’t played since Covid put the breaks on our U.S. touring momentum. Get ready for a mix of old songs and some recent bangers from our latest release, ‘Will and the Witch’. Come out and party with us!”
While HELSOTT have made a few trips to Europe and Mexico playing festivals and cruises overseas, it’s been some time since HELSOTT played the states and the band is proud to introduce their new line-up to American audiences. Joining the core of singer Eric Dow and guitarist Peter Truax, HELSOTT is now joined by guitarist Zachary Simsay (Mythraeum, Fadrait), bassist Alonzo Larios (Mythraeum), and drummer Alex Simsay (Fadrait).
HELSOTT’s latest, 2022’s ‘Will and the Witch,’ is a concept album exploring a fictional story about how Billy The Kid became the fastest gunfighter in the wild west. The group released a few emphasis tracks and videos from the album including “I’ll Make Ya Famous”, “Independence Night,” featuring guest vocals from Tim “Ripper” Owens (formerly of Judas Priest, Iced Earth and Yngwie Malmsteen), “Babylon: Scarlett’s Saloon”and the title track, “Will and the Witch”.
HELSOTT returned to their musical roots on “Will and The Witch” with heavier thrash overtones and less orchestral work than their prior record, while catching listeners off-guard with new influences befitting of the album’s theme. Thrash metal, power metal, and death metal converged with acoustic campfire segments, Southern banjo and fiddle, and Native American-inspired hand drums and flutes. The end result was a record that is musically ambitious while remaining melodic, heavy, and true to the band’s underlying sound.
Mixed and mastered by J-F Dagenais (Kataklysm, Misery Index, Ex Deo) and featuring artwork by Felipe Machado Franco (Blind Guardian, Rhapsody, Gamma Ray), along with additional guests including wood wind player Vladimir Reshetnikov (Arkona, Imperial Age), guitarist/bassist Freddie Vidales (Ashes of Ares, Iced Earth), violinist Lethien (Elvenking), guitarist Kevin Storm (Heidevolk, Autumn, Fleetburner), bassist Bjorn Friedrichsen (Withered Moon, Sanguineus) and Whistlin’ Rick Storey.
Available on CD, a limited-edition gold double vinyl, and digital editions.
Order it or the band’s catalog now on: M-Theory Audio webstore or Bandcamp
Upcoming HELSOTT Live Performances:
2/4 Come and Take It Live – Austin, TX
2/6 Last Exit Live – Phoenix, AZ
2/7 Constellation Room – Santa Ana, CA
2/8 Whisky – W. Hollywood, CA
2/9 DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA
2/11 Metro Music Hall – Salt Lake City, UT
2/12 The Federal – Denver, CO
2/15 – Reggie’s – Chicago w/ Ad Infinitum and Seven Spires
CHRONICLER OF ARDUL presents “To Arms!,” a powerful new single that plunges listeners into the intensity of open conflict within the dark fantasy world of Ardul. Arriving ahead of the upcoming album Sounds of Ardul, due out April 10, 2026, the track highlights the project’s most dynamic orchestral writing yet, capturing the decisive moment when tension gives way to full-scale battle.
“To Arms!” surges with commanding brass, urgent strings, and relentless percussion, creating a vivid and cinematic sense of motion. Composer David Williams channels the spirit of classic video game battle themes while shaping a narrative turning point within the album’s broader emotional landscape. The piece expands on motifs that appear earlier in the record, transforming subtle melodic hints into a triumphant and volatile climax.
Serving as a counterpart to the more intimate “To Arms! (String Quintet),” the new single presents the full battle in its largest, boldest form. Where the quintet version evokes a duel or contained skirmish, “To Arms!” unleashes the full orchestra to paint a much grander conflict.
With Sounds of Ardul, CHRONICLER OF ARDUL deepens its commitment to immersive world-building, weaving thematic motifs and emotional storytelling into every composition. “To Arms!” stands as one of the album’s defining moments, a track that invites listeners to feel the rush, fear, and determination of a hero forced to act.
Track-listing:
“Watch Over Me (feat. EXILED HOPE)”
“Watch Over Me (Village Version)”
“You’re Gone (feat. SYYN)”
“Oh Me Oh My”
“Woodlands”
“Woodlands (Alternate Version)”
“Woodlands (Battle Theme)”
“In the Mists of the Myrewood (Remastered)”
“Veiled Truth”
“Unwelcomed Guests”
“To Arms! (String Quintet)”
“Temporary Respite”
“Moments From Disaster”
“Underground”
“Underground (Alternate Version)”
“To Arms!”
“Zarek the Bloody”
About CHRONICLER OF ARDUL:
CHRONICLER OF ARDUL was started as a passion project by David Williams when he wanted to combine his love of metal music and dark fantasy to tell a story that spanned over songs and albums. After graduating from Berklee College of Music, he puts his skills to the test to create the music for a story he had been working on for 9 years.
The debut EP called Myrewood released late 2023, with its written short story partner, Myrewood Part 1, published in May 2024. The following EP, Sword Of Virné arrived in the summer of 2024.
Musically, CHRONICLER OF ARDUL draws from the likes of SHADOW OF INTENT and MENTAL CRUELTY in the metal world, while also taking inspiration from Japanese composer Nobuo Uematsu.
Marking fifteen years of the project’s existence, Wyatt Sharp returns with ‘Where Our Silence Comes To Die,’the first and final full length album under the Sidian moniker; a swan song to a body of work defined by intensity, introspection, and emotional dissection.
This release signals the beginning of the project’s final chapter, a farewell that refuses to be sentimental.
Sidian‘s debut album, ‘Where Our Silence Comes To Die,‘ sees its official release today, December 26, 2025 via Rebel Pyro Musick! The album will be available on all streaming platforms, and fans can grab a digital download or exclusive limited edition Digipak CD here: https://sidianmusic.bandcamp.com/album/where-our-silence-comes-to-die
Earlier this week, Sidian partnered with Decibel Magazine for the video visualizer premiere of the 2nd single, “Pendular | Amidst The Hysterics Of Gloom.” Check it out over at Decibel Magazine!!
The album’s first single premiere, “Elegiac, Absent Catharsis,” is currently featured on the ‘Pulse Of The Maggots (Knotfest)‘ Official Playlist, which you can check out at this location.
With their 2019 debut EP, ‘Carry My Bones,’ Sidian‘s soundscapes were immediately compared to early-era Between the Buried and Me, shades of early Rivers of Nihil, mid-to-late-era Job For A Cowboy, as well as light traces of Ulcerate. Strong comparisons for sure and well deserved, though you will find as you make your way through ‘Where Our Silence Comes To Die,’ that Sidian has definitely come into their own with establishing a unique brand of sonically scathing despondent devastation.
‘Where Our Silence Comes To Die’ Track-list: 1. Parasitic Icarus 2. Elegiac, Absent Catharsis 3. Where Our Silence Comes To Die 4. Stasis 5. Albatross 6. Manic. Crash. Flood. 7. Pendular | Amidst The Hysterics Of Gloom 8. Flickering Under A Delicate Thread 9. Finally, Home 10. Where The Sun Is Silent – Reforged
W.E.B.’s music has earned high praise for its “drama, extremity, and bloodthirst in equal parts… energetic and unhinged.” The formidable symphonic extreme metal lineup is best experienced at one of their many crushing live gigs. Enter Darkness Alive, their first-ever live album, recorded in the band’s hometown of Athens on September 22nd, 2024.
“We shared the stage that night with Dark Funeral, and since we were making changes within the band, that had us excited. We made the decision to mark this day with a special release, hence our first official live album,” says vocalist/guitaristSakis Prekas.
Choosing the nine songs for Darkness Alive was simple. “We can tell almost immediately which songs work for a concert and we always keep the audience in mind,” Prekas explains. “We want the people who come to see W.E.B. perform to have a good time, to get our message, to grasp them and make a damn memorable metal show, as it should be.”
Darkness Alive truly captures the band at the top of their game. Standout tracks include “Dragona,” blasting black metal with an epic finale that forever will be a staple in W.E.B.’s live setlist, “Into Hell Fire We Burn,” which Prekas describes as a, “thunderous marriage of black and heavy metal with a chorus that literally orders you to sing along,” and today’s single, “Dark Web,” an intense melodic death and modern metal onslaught off their 2021 Colosseum LP. “Dark Web” spits out the way people with power and money treat others: in the most brutal manner.
Darkness Alive will be released digitally on February 20th, 2026. Find preorders at: metalblade.com/web
Darkness Alive – Track Listing:
Crimson Dawn (Live)
Pentalpha (Live)
Dark Web (Live)
Into Hell Fire We Burn (Live)
Murder Of Crows (Live)
Necrology (Live)
Morphine for Saints (Live)
Dragona (Live)
Eligos (Live)
W.E.B. is currently composing material for their next full-length album that will see them hitting the road once again. “It is by far the best material we’ve ever had on a record. I intend to keep the promise to myself regarding W.E.B. that all new material must be better material, otherwise there is no reason to release it,” Prekas concludes. “Stay Dark.”
BURNING BLACK, flag bearers of Italian Heavy Metal since 2003 and known for albums such as Prisoners Of Steel, MechanicHell, Remission Of Sin and Resilience Of A Broken Heart, proudly announce the official addition of acclaimed bassist ALBERTO RIGONI to their lineup.
Rigoni, born in Montebelluna in 1981, boasts a remarkable international career. He was a member of the prog-rock band Twinspirits, currently plays with BAD AS, co-produced the first Vivaldi Metal Project and has taken part in many other projects. Since 2008 he has released 14 solo albums, collaborating with artists such as Jordan Rudess, Gavin Harrison, Marco Minnemann and Goran Edman. His latest work, Nemesis Call, is already available via Eclipse Music and RockShot Records. He is currently working on a new album together with legendary bassists Michael Manring and Stuart Hamm.
The band wishes to warmly thank Nikk Damian, bassist since 2017, for his artistic contribution, dedication and the years of shared journeys. His presence will always remain part of Burning Black’s history.
Known for a powerful and melodic sound that blends classic metal roots with modern influences, Burning Black are already writing their next album and planning new live dates to introduce the new lineup to fans and continue the promotion of their latest release.
“We only had a few rehearsals, and I immediately felt at home, both personally and musically. There’s an incredible atmosphere between us, and I’m honored to be part of this historic band! We’re ready to rock the stages!!” says Alberto Rigoni.
New singles, videos, and the official tour dates will be announced soon. Many thanks to all the fans for their constant support: a new legendary era is about to begin.
Italian melodic death metal force KARMIAN open a new and uncompromising chapter with the release of their first single, “Beastmaster of the Void”, taken from the forthcoming full-length Horror Vacui. The track arrives accompanied by an official visualizer published on the Rockshots Records YouTube channel.
“Beastmaster of the Void” stands among the album’s most direct and unrelenting compositions – a surge of sharp riffing, relentless pacing, and psychological intensity. Drawing from the real-life crimes tied to the Bestie di Satana case, the song transforms adolescent alienation, obsession, and spiritual distortion into a violent descent through the existential void that defines the entire record. Here, the band channels the chaos, confusion, and moral collapse at the heart of the narrative, turning true events into stark allegory.
The single also offers a first glimpse into the conceptual breadth of Horror Vacui: a collection of nine songs, each inspired by a different Italian murderer, revealing how psychological emptiness, social disintegration, and spiritual vacuum mutate into violence.
Rather than glorifying crime, the album examines the roots of human collapse – the internal abyss that corrodes empathy, identity, and meaning. Musically, it merges the ferocity of melodic death metal with narrative tension and introspective depth, confirming the band’s distinctive approach to extreme music.
Horror Vacui was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Luca Cocconi and Simone Sighinolfi at Audiocore Studio, with artwork and the new Karmian logo created by Sheila Franco. All songs were written by Andrea Baraldi and Nicholas Badiali, with lyrics by Andrea Bertolazzi and arranged collectively by Karmian.
Karmian Line-Up: Andrea Bertolazzi – Vocals Andrea Baraldi – Guitars Michele Perla – Guitars Luca Marmi – Bass Nicholas Badiali – Drums
With a career stretching from their early beginnings in 2005 to their present incarnation, Karmian have become one of the most distinctive voices of Italian melodic death metal, known for merging aggression, drama, and conceptual storytelling. Their upcoming full-length marks their most mature and introspective work to date, deepening the psychological and existential focus that has defined their evolution.
For fans of: The Haunted, Kataklysm, Heaven Shall Burn, At The Gates, early Dark Tranquillity, and early In Flames.
LIK, the modern-day purveyors of classic Swedish death metal, return to glorious action with a video for “They.” Taken from their latest full-length Necro, which was released last April via Metal Blade Records, the video was directed by the band’s own Joakim Antman.
LIK will return to stages next March when they kick off the Necrofeeling Over Europe Tour 2026! The band comments, “In March and April we drag Necro across European soil, a procession of stinking, rotten, and unspeakable volume. Join the march or be buried beneath it.”
LIK Live – Necrofeeling Over Europe 2026: 3/26/2026 Brewgata – Oslo, NO 3/27/2026 Östgötaslakt – Linköping, SE 3/29/2026 Monument – Gothenburg, SE 3/31/2026 Voodoo – Warsaw, PL 4/01/2026 Zascianek – Krakow, PL 4/03/2026 Kabinet Muz – Brno, CZ 4/04/2026 Modra Vopize – Prague, CZ 4/05/2026Dark Easter MetalMeeting – Munich, DE 4/07/2026 Urban Spree – Berlin, DE 4/09/2026 Stengade – Copenhagen, DK 4/11/2026 BD Riots – Borlänge, SE 4/12/2026 Kollektivet Livet – Stockholm, SE
Other festivals: 8/14-15/2026 Blasphemy Festival – Slnečné Skaly, SK
Standing loud and proud over so many imitators, LIK’s Necro is the musical equivalent of a classic shock-horror movie that’s drenched in blood and gore and packed with over-the-top extremities. Delve beyond the zombified cover art created by Stockholm-based tattooist and artist Jens Olsson (Ink Fanatics), Necro serves as a reminder of just how special and exciting the genre is: packed with blood-curdling fantasy stories about war, death, zombies, world apocalypse and murder all stacked with disgustingly-good rotten riffs.
Once again using uber-producer Lawrence Mackrory (Meshuggah, Katatonia, High Parasite, Decapitated), all music was recorded live over a three-day period, before vocalist/guitarist Tomas Åkvik headed to Uppsala to record his vocals at Mackrory’s Rorysound Studios. Mackrory has worked with LIK – whose name translates to “corpse” in Swedish, since their 2015 debut Mass Funeral Evocation and throughout their Metal Blade Records’ career that started with 2018’s Carnage.
Within Necro‘s ten tracks, LIK has created a seamless album, diverse in tempo but without losing any of their blood-soaked intensity and relentless in-your-face attitude listeners have come to expect. There are twists and turns that keep LIK on a progressive path without straying from their old-school trademark sounds inspired by the godfathers Dismember, At The Gates and of course, Entombed.
“We didn’t really want to repeat ourselves, but of course we wanted the LIK sound,” explains Åkvik on the writing trajectory of Necro.
LIK: Tomas Åkvik – vocals, guitar Niklas “Nille” Sandin – guitar Chris Barkensjö – drums Joakim Antman – bass
LOCUS NOIR “CemeteryYouth” is taken from Shadow Sun upcoming debut full lenght album out on Feb 27.
“Cemetery Youth” is the essence of Locus Noir: echoes of Type O Negative’s gloom and Paradise Lost’s epic melancholy, filtered through the stark pulse of old-school Post-Punk à la The Sisters of Mercy. Not to mention that the lead guitar and some of the backing vocals come courtesy of Ben Christo (The Sisters’ own guitarist).
Lyrically, it’s an explicit nod to the bands that shaped me during my formative years: a love letter to the darker side of 90’s rock music.
Available in Limited edition Marble vinyl & Limited Edition digipack with 2 bonus tracks.
LOCUS NOIR is the latest musical endeavor from Ben DMN, also known for his work as the frontman of Swiss Death Wave powerhouse SYBREED.
Conceived as a return to the music that shaped his formative years, the project draws its energy from late-night introspection, creative renewal, and a distinctly crepuscular sensibility. Initially conceived as a solo project, LOCUS NOIR is set to evolve into a fully-fledged band.
Musically, LOCUS NOIR blends Type O Negative gloom, The Fields of the Nephilim mysticism, and Paradise Lost melancholy, all infused with a post-punk edge. The result is a sound that feels both contemporary and timeless, a modern interpretation of what Gothic Metal can be.
On debut album ‘Shadow Sun’ , band main songwriter and vocalist Ben steps fully into a melodic, haunting vocal register, merging the theatrical delivery of Peter Murphy with subtle echoes of the late Peter Steele. The lyrics move between the esoteric and the intimate: love and death, desire and decay, nocturnal excess and the bitter aftertaste of parties stretching well past dawn.
Locus Noir‘s debut album Shadow Sun is due for release in 2026 on ListenableRecords.
Band Line up: Ben DMN – Vocals Claire Genoud – Guitar Ales – Bass Ben Marmier – Drums
Track-listing:
1. Walpurgisnacht 1996
2. Shadow Sun
3. Cemetery Youth (track featuring Ben Christo of The Sisters of Mercy )
07.03.26 DE Cologne – Gebäude 9 09.03.26 UK Bristol – Exchange 10.03.26 UK Manchester – The Star & Garter 11.03.26 UK London – Underworld 13.03.26 NL Hoofdoorp – Cpunt 15.03.26 CH Aarau – Kiff 16.03.26 DE Wiesbaden – Schlachthof 17.03.26 DE Munich – Backstage 18.03.26 DE Berlin – Cassiopeia 19.03.26 DE Hamburg – Betty 20.03.26 DK Copenhagen – Vega 21.03.26 NO Oslo – Sub Scene 22.03.26 SE Gothenburg – Monument 23.03.26 SE Stockholm – Debaser Nova
“He’s like Jekyll & Hyde, this guy…” MARC STRIGL – SiriusXM Radio, formerly with VH1/MTV
“These are songs of alienation, remorse, defiance, and a whisper of vulnerability. This is good stuff, intelligent and real. The man can write a song and pick a guitar, and he has an emotional well he knows how to tap.” SANDY LOVEJOY – KNIX 102.5 Country Spirit
RFK Media has announced the 30th anniversary remastered reissue of the album that shocked both worlds – Ronnie Lee Keel’s debut, “Western Country.”
In 1995, long before any of his 80s peers ventured into country music, Keel was the subject of the highly rated MTV program “Where Are They Now,” and the now-infamous declaration of his commitment to country music created a dust storm of dissent in the rock and metal community.
“Western Country,” the album he released that summer, was a shameless statement that reinforced that commitment in words and music. This is pure 90s radio country in the tradition of George Strait, Garth Brooks, Brooks & Dunn and other chart-topping icons; the songs were inspired by Keel’s roadhouse and rodeo experiences as he embraced a relentless schedule of over 250 shows per year during that decade, including opening slots for Chris LeDoux, Jo Dee Messina and others.
Many of these tracks found their way onto major TV shows (“X Files,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Touched By An Angel,” “King Of The Hill”), movies (“Where The Money Is” starring Paul Newman, “1000 Acres” starring Michelle Pfeiffer, “Chill Factor” starring Cuba Gooding Jr.) sports broadcasts for NASCAR and the Daytona 500, and the background music for the “CMT Insider” series.
“Western Country” won the Best Album award from the Phoenix chapter of the Country Music Clubs of America and earned the artist a Lifetime Achievement Award from the same organization.
While alienating a legion of metal fans who just didn’t understand, this album broke down many barricades between the two genres and gave birth to Keel’s modern identity as the “Metal Cowboy.” Pristine digital production compliments the traditional country instrumentation; the songs are laced with the brilliant country guitar picking of Hal Michael Monti, beautiful pedal steel guitar work by Ralph Borchert, honky-tonk piano from Wayne Holland, masterful fiddle tracks by Craig Delphia, drumming by Joe Morris, and tied together with bass lines by Mike Wood.
Ron’s 2024 album KEELWORLD includes great new rock and metal from his bands Steeler, Keel, Ron Keel Band, and Emerald Sabbath; but it also features a couple of brand-new “Ronnie Lee Keel” songs, proving that this “Jekyll & Hyde” is still proud of his redneck roots as well. Visit “Western Country” to hear where it all began.
Australian grindcore maniacs KING PARROT will return to US stages this Spring supporting intergalactic shock rock legends GWAR on their Gor-Gor Strikes Back Tour!
The onstage bedlam begins on March 19th in Richmond, Virginia and rampages through April 29th in Charlotte, North Carolina. Additional support will be provided by Soulfly. The latest stretch of Stateside dates follow KING PARROT’s epic jaunt on The Heaviest Tour Of The Summer featuring Pantera and Amon Amarth.
Comments vocalist Matt Young, “When we got the call from the Gwar crew to head back to the US in 2026, it was an offer we couldn’t refuse and to be out there again with our brothers from Soulfly too, it’s really the perfect tour package for us! I think fans of extreme music are gonna love this tour as it really has something for everyone. After our massive tour in the US alongside Pantera and Amon Amarth in 2025, this is the best possible way we could get back and tour in support of our new album. We’ve just been touring all over Australia and have a few more shows left before we pack our bags and head Stateside once more! Can’t wait to see you all again real soon!”
Tickets are on sale now! See all confirmed dates below.
KING PARROT w/ GWAR, Soulfly: 3/19/2026 The National – Richmond, VA 3/20/2026 Reverb – Reading, PA 3/21/2026 Empire Live – Albany, NY 3/22/2026 The Paramount – Huntington, NY 3/24/2026 The Webster – Hartford, CT 3/25/2026 The Queen – Wilmington, DE 3/26/2026 Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ 3/27/2026 House Of Blues – Boston, MA 3/28/2026 Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY 3/29/2026 Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH 3/31/2026 Mercury Ballroom – Louisville, KY 4/01/2026 The Pageant – St. Louis, MO 4/02/2026 Concord Music Hall – Chicago, IL 4/03/2026 Piere’s – Fort Wayne, IN 4/04/2026 The Vault – Saginaw, MI 4/05/2026 EPIC Events Center – Green Bay, WI 4/07/2026 First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN 4/08/2026 Val Air Ballroom – Des Moines, IA 4/09/2026 Cain’s Ballroom – Tulsa, OK 4/10/2026 The Granada – Lawrence, KS 4/12/2026 Mesa Theater – Grand Junction, CO 4/14/2026 Roseland Theater – Portland, OR 4/15/2026 Treefort Music Hall – Boise, ID 4/17/2026 Channel 24 – Sacramento, CA 4/18/2026 The Belasco – Los Angeles, CA 4/19/2026 House Of Blues – San Diego, CA 4/20/2026 Rialto Theater – Tucson, AZ 4/21/2026 Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM 4/23/2026 Emo’s – Austin, TX 4/24/2026 Warehouse Live – Houston, TX 4/25/2026 Soul Kitchen Music Hall – Mobile, AL 4/27/2026 The Signal – Chattanooga, TN 4/28/2026 The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC 4/29/2026 The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC
KING PARROT continues to tour in support of their critically lauded A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot full-length, released earlier this year on HousecoreRecords in North America.
Watch KING PARROT’s previously released videos for “Fuck You And The Horse You Rode In On” HERE, “Target Pig Elite” HERE, “Look Away I’m Hideous” HERE, and “Get What Ya Given” HERE.
A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot is available on CD, LP, cassette, and digital formats.
Find physical orders at the Housecore Records webshop HERE, Bandcamp HERE, and all other digital services HERE.
A Young Person’s Guide To King Parrot marks the band’s first new output in five years. A hostile and abrasive slab of sensory destroying anthems, the record features ten thoroughly crafted blasts through the psyche of this crazed Aussie quintet. Recorded at Melbourne’s Dangertone studios with engineer Luke Walton, it’s the first full-length album since 2017’s Ugly Produce offering and their first new music since 2022’s Holed Up In The Lair EP.
Charming dark cabaret metal adepts TARDIGRADE INFERNO are set to release their third studio album, Hush.
The album is a compelling result of TARDIGRADE INFERNO’s evolving signature style and the sheer power of their live performance. What truly defines the band is the experience the listener gets at their live shows, the thoughtful songwriting, the ironic lyricism, and the striking, highly aesthetic visuals.
In June 2025, TARDIGRADE INFERNO released an atmospheric and emotional live album, Made In Hell, that captures their ferocious performance and their connection with the audience. Hush blends all of these strengths with an authentic sound delivered with studio precision.
Experience your first taste of Hush with the official music video for the album’s first single, “Hide ‘n’ Seek.” Watch now at: youtu.be/fscAHuASUoo?si=MUtH3v_zxPv413fE
Hush is due out March 5th, on CD, digital and four exclusive vinyl editions. Pre-order the album at https://tr.ee/TiHush
TARDIGRADE INFERNO: Darya Rorria – vocals Alexander Pavlovich – guitars, keys Maxim Belekhov – bass Andrew Drew – drums
Track-list:
1. The Final Show
2. Hide ‘n’ Seek
3. Deadly Fairytales
4. All In your Head
5. Dead Fish Smile
6. Subatomic Heist
7. I.C.D.
8. Goor
9. Hush
10. Hypograph
11. I Am Eternal
Hush naturally picks up where 2023’s Burn the Circus left off. At the beginning you hear the crackling of a circus burning down. A surviving radio plays a mournful melody that opens a grand show amid the ashes. Like a massive blazing phoenix, TARDIGRADE INFERNO opens its wings with elemental force. It sweeps away what remains and reclaiming its place at the center of attention.
The gorgeous Darya Rorria uses her flexible contralto to tell stories that are anything but cheerful. Her expressive vocals pulse with the music. They tease sharply, flow lyrically, spread in a soft velvet hush, and fade into a tragic whisper. They soar through tense passages and then glide back down into a low, intimate tone. The lyrics are charged to the point of electric crackling, just as one expects from the TARDIGRADE INFERNO.
Their trademark keyboards sound even more retro-futuristic, paying tribute to the classic horror movies of the past. The guitar acts like the wildest creature in the prairie with it’s fury clothed in the polished frock coat of a respectable gentleman. The bass has the “AWESOME” knob turned to 100%. The drums are emotional, dynamic, and alive. Altogether it creates a familiar yet more sincere and revealing sound. The music becomes almost visible, almost tangible.
TARDIGRADE INFERNO have always paid special attention to the visual side of their art; from stage costumes and characters to their album covers. The cover for Hush was created by artist Milena Kress in a dark-aesthetic style.
This is the band’s first experience with analog painting – the piece is oil on canvas. It conveys the anxiety and emotional intensity that mirror the album’s lyrics. It’s also the first time the band’s mascot, the Tardigrade, is absent from the cover. It symbolizes a kind of coming-of-age. The toys have been left behind in the nursery.
Mixing, mastering, and production were handled by Vladimir Lehtinen, who has been working with the band continuously since the release of The Worst of Me EP. Vladimir helped the band capture their live energy without losing the studio polish of their recordings.
In 2022 Sweden’s THE SONIC OVERLORDS unleashed a magnificent opus, Last Days of Babylon, that remains an underrated gem in our opinions. A combination of powerful doom riffs and epic, melodic majesty of late ’70s/early ’80s heavy rock. One of the songs on that album “Past The End of Time” is now available as a standalone single on all digital platforms or watch the video HERE: https://youtu.be/UFGuFs1sLMc?si=zKiZDJx1Oe8-ABZm.
What makes this exclusive variant version special is it’s a duet version between THE SONIC OVERLORDS vocalist Marcus Rubin and guest Tony Martin (Black Sabbath).
“A dream come true… to have Tony Martin guest on one of our songs. The first time I heard his voice on this track, I cried with happiness. The influence of his time in Black Sabbath is immense on both me and the band. And Tony is one of my top five vocalists of all time,” says guitarist Morgan Zocek.
Last Days of Babylon is still available on ltd vinyl (300), CD and across all digital platforms.
The album is timeless gem of dark and traditional metal with with classic influences from the likes of Dio/Martin-era Black Sabbath, Rainbow, early Candlemass, Yngwie J. Malmsteen/Rising Force, Scorpions and Michael Schenker Group. This feel and quality is heard on emphasis tracks “In My Darkest Room” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOk9v2ZwCUA“Utopia”https://youtu.be/75MzM8dGHA8 and “Eternal Heroes” https://youtu.be/upPbkn95pbw
In the meantime, “Past the End of Time” works as a bridge as THE SONIC OVERLORDS have begun work recording new material. So anticipate some new music in 2026.
THE SONIC OVERLORDS were founded in 2017 by Swedish rock guitarist Morgan Zocek. He began jamming with various musicians and writing songs inspired by classic hard rock of the late 1970s and early 1980s, but with a more modern approach to the production and sonics.
The full sound of THE SONIC OVERLORDS began to solidify with the addition in 2020 of vocalist Marcus Zachrisson Rubin, who had been playing with Zocek in an Ozzy Osbourne cover band for many years, and the rumbles of new bassist Daniel Ramírez.
Silent night, ROARING night! CORELEONI loudly toll the bell for the festive season with their brand new digital offering:Live at Hallenstadion Zurich is out now via PERCEPTION – A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music, and available for streaming on several platforms.
Following two singles – “Sick & Tired” & “Like It Or Not,” both taken from their first original album III [2022] – the international lion pride’s focus lays on a classic track today. “Firedance” is one out of seven GOTTHARD songs CORELEONI performed on July 3, 2025 for this release and kick-started the final third of their energizing set with unrivalled joy of playing.
“This is one of the most important ‘first GOTTHARD era’ songs: it’s a heavy and melodic mid-tempo track recalling strong 70s and 80s vibes. ‘Firedance’ delivers great vocal and musical parts, accompanied by one the heaviest and funniest guitar solo, which was catapulted into live heaven on this recording,”adds guitaristJgor Gianola.
Photo credit: Alexandre Zveiger L-R: Jgor Gianola (guitars), Leo Leoni (guitars), Eugent Bushpepa (vocals), Mila Merker (bass), Alex Motta (drums)
Live at Hallenstadion Zurich was recorded on July 3, 2025 at their show supporting the mighty JUDAS PRIEST and comprises 9 electrifying tracks. Including both covers of the rich GOTTHARD catalogue and tracks from III, CORELEONI’s first original album which came out in early 2022, this new recording is essential rock ‘n’ roll: raw yet heavily rocking.
These history-charged 40 minutes simply had to be captured for eternity, not only for the 7,000 attending fans to relive the event but also for CORELEONI’s and hard rock fans all over the world!
Track Listing: 01. Sister Moon 02. Standing In The Light 03. Downtown 04. Like It Or Not 05. Sick & Tired 06. Mountain Mama 07. Firedance 08. She Goes Down 09. Here Comes The Heat
Dresden-based black/thrash newcomers LEAD INJECTOR present their debut album Witching Attack – an uncompromising homage to classic extreme metal, recorded over seven intensive days in August 2025 at Stereoid Studios in Schönfels, Saxony. “It was a really awesome time, we experimented a lot, racked our brains and learned a great deal,” recalls vocalist/bassist Leo about the sessions.
Founded in 2022, the trio is the first serious band for all three members after experiences in solo projects and school ensembles, and they quickly found their place in the local scene with their 2024 demo From the Crypts… of Hell. Witching Attack now combines re-recorded demo tracks with fresh material written in the meantime.
The songwriting process usually follows a proven pattern: guitarist Jason develops riffs and collects lyrical ideas which Leo further elaborates, with all three arranging together.
From the beginning, Lead Injector have demonstrated a knack for catchy song structures that sets them apart from average acts in this style. “We make sure that each of our songs is individual and unique, no two sound alike,” Leo emphasizes. This approach creates variety and memorability, qualities not taken for granted in the genre. The striking album artwork comes from SepulchralOwl.
The artist, who has accompanied the band since its early days, creates everything by hand from merchandise to flyers to stage banners, giving Lead Injector an unmistakable visual identity.
The band is deeply rooted in Dresden’s metal scene and maintains close connections with fellow groups like Sintage, Acid Blade and Mortuary Nightmare. The continuous exchange and mutual inspiration shape not only the music but also the sense of community at concerts, where familiar faces are always encountered.
LINE-UP: Justus – Drums Leo – Bass / Vocals Jason – Guitars
TRACK LISTING: 01 Siege Upon Heaven 02 Sacrifice This Bitch 03 Evil Executioner 04 Witching Attack 05 Chains 06 Angel Destructor 07 Pest Thrash 08 M.C.C.I. 09 Infinite Force 10 Nuclear Antichrist
May 07 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live* May 08 – Daytona Beach, FL – Welcome to Rockville May 10 – Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade May 11 – Knoxville, TN – The Mill & Mine May 12 – Raleigh, NC – The Ritz May 14 – Worcester, MA – Palladium May 15 – McKees Rocks, PA – Roxian Theatre May 16 – Columbus, OH – Sonic Temple* May 18 – Davenport, IA – Capitol Theatre May 19 – Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue May 20 – Chicago, IL – Romova Theatre May 22 – Baltimore, MD – Maryland Deathfest* May 23 – Huntington, NY – Paramount
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!
Metal Odyssey's Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Hall of Fame! These Are The Rock And METAL Legends Wrongfully Ignored By "The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame"
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
You must be logged in to post a comment.