Posts By Asher

0 DECIMATE METALFEST (Millet, AB) Opens Band Submissions For 2027 Lineup!

September 15, 2026
by Asher
· Decimate MetalFest · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 15, 2026

DECIMATE METALFEST (Millet, AB) Opens Band Submissions For 2027 Lineup!

Performer submissions open September 15 for Alberta’s grassroots, all-ages heavy music festival

June 25 and 26, 2027: Bringing Heavy Music, Independent Arts, and Community Together in Alberta

The amps might be silent after Decimate Metalfest 2026, but the heart behind the festival is anything but. Work has already begun to bring the noise back even louder.

Performer submissions for Decimate Metalfest 2027 open September 15, 2026, kicking off the search for the bands, artists, and creators who will help shape another weekend of heavy music, art, connection, and community in Alberta. All submissions must be made through the official Decimate Metalfest performer application on the festival website. Applications sent through any other channel will not be reviewed or considered. Submissions close October 15, 2026.

Last year’s call for performers reached farther than ever, with applications for Decimate Metalfest 2026 coming in from 15 countries, 8 Canadian provinces, and 25 U.S. states!

For festival founder Sloan Voxx, seeing DMF reach artists across borders is an incredible reminder of just how far this grassroots Alberta festival has come and how much the family surrounding it continues to grow. At the heart of it all are the experiences and memories created when everyone finally comes together.

“What started here in Alberta is reaching people thousands of kilometres away, and that’s pretty incredible to see! Every year we get to welcome back familiar faces while meeting people experiencing Decimate for the first time. Artists, attendees, volunteers, vendors, families, and crew all come together for the weekend. We watch people support each other, make new connections and friendships, share some ridiculous moments, and create memories that continue long after Decimate is over. We’re obviously here because we love heavy music, but Decimate has always been about family and community. Seeing familiar faces come back year after year, welcoming new ones into the family, and watching this community continue to grow is what makes all the work behind Decimate worth it. You can see the photos, watch the videos, and hear the stories, but there’s something about actually being there that you can’t really explain. You have to experience it for yourself,” says Voxx.

Heavy music is the heartbeat of Decimate Metalfest, with submissions encouraged from across the spectrum of metal, rock, punk, hardcore, alternative, and everything heavy in between. But DMF isn’t limited to bands. The festival also welcomes youth performers, solo artists, and other entertainers who have something they love to share, including drag performers, dancers, DJs, comedians, magicians, and more.

Local, national, and international performers are encouraged to apply!

Youth performers are especially encouraged to put their names forward. Giving young musicians a place to share what they love alongside established and touring artists has become one of the most rewarding parts of Decimate Metalfest.

“Some of my favourite moments are watching younger performers step onto that stage and absolutely own it,” says Voxx. “They get to share the same stage and be part of the same festival community as artists who have been doing this for years. You can see the nerves, the excitement, and then that moment where it clicks and they’re just up there doing what they love. There’s something pretty incredible about getting to witness that. They’re part of Decimate, just like everyone else,” adds Voxx.

With hundreds of applications received each year, every submission represents someone putting a piece of themselves out there. DMF wants to know the people and stories behind the music, not just what’s written in a bio.

“Tell us why we should book YOU! What makes you different? What do you bring to the stage? What have you been working toward? Why do you want to be part of Decimate? Most importantly, be yourself. Every artist brings something different to the Decimate stage, and that’s exactly what makes it interesting. We want to see what makes you uniquely you. Show us who you are. Tell us your story. Let your personality come through. Whether it’s your sound, your live show, your story, or something completely unexpected, show us what makes your band or performance yours.”

And one particularly important piece of advice for applicants: SEND MUSIC AND LIVE PERFORMANCE LINKS!

“Yes, we have received submissions without them. We’re pretty good, but we haven’t unlocked the ability to hear your band telepathically just yet! We want to hear what you sound like, but we also want to see what happens when you step onto a stage. Show us your energy. Show us your connection with the crowd. Show us the moments when you forget about everything else and just get lost in what you’re doing. That’s what live music is all about.”

SUBMISSION DETAILS:

Apply at https://www.decimatemetalfest.com/performer-submission
Submissions Open: September 15, 2026
Submission Deadline: October 15, 2026
Festival Dates: June 25 – 26, 2027
Location: Millet Agriplex Arena – Millet, Alberta, Canada
All performer applications will be reviewed by the DMF team following the October 15th deadline.

Decimate Metalfest has never been about simply putting bands on a stage. It’s about what happens around that stage, too.

Somewhere between the riffs, the pit, the laughter, and the chaos, there are moments when the music and the love behind this community seem to collide. The kind of moments that stop you in your tracks. A crowd singing together. An artist watching another artist from the floor. A kid seeing someone on stage and realizing that could be them one day. Friends finding each other in the pit. Strangers throwing their arms around one another. Sometimes, those moments hit hard enough to bring tears right there in the middle of the crowd. And DMF isn’t afraid to admit that. It’s loud. It’s heavy. It’s a little chaotic. There will be riffs, pits, sore necks, ridiculous stories, and probably a few things nobody will ever fully be able to explain. But underneath all of it, there’s a hell of a lot of heart.

“Decimate has grown, but I never want to lose sight of what made it special in the first place. We can grow the stage, the lineup and the crowd, but that heart has to stay. That’s Decimate, and that’s what we’re building again for 2027,” says Voxx.

As preparations for 2027 get underway, Decimate Metalfest is also welcoming conversations with businesses, organizations, and community partners interested in supporting the festival. From helping create opportunities for artists and youth performers to supporting the festival experience itself, partnerships play an important role in helping an independent, grassroots event like DMF continue to grow.

Sponsorship and partnership opportunities are available for Decimate Metalfest 2027.

Interested businesses and organizations can connect with the Decimate Metalfest team at www.decimatemetalfest.com/partnership.

For the latest updates, lineup announcements, and ticket purchases, visit the official Decimate Metalfest website. Follow us on social media to stay in the loop:

More info: https://linktr.ee/decimatemf

About Decimate Metalfest:

Decimate Metalfest is an independent, grassroots, all-ages heavy music and arts festival based in Alberta, Canada.

Built by members of the heavy music community, for the heavy music community, DMF brings together touring artists, underground and emerging bands, youth performers, independent creators, entertainers, families and fans.

At its core, Decimate is about giving people a place to share what they love, discover something new, support one another and experience heavy music together.

The woman-led festival continues to create opportunities for artists while building a space where longtime metalheads, young families and first-time festivalgoers can all feel like they belong.

Because Decimate isn’t just about who plays the stage.

It’s about every person who becomes part of the story.

Partners and Sponsors include:
The Town of Millet, Millet Agriplex, Millet Lions Memorial Campground, Leduc Brewing, Best Copy Shop, Asher Media Relations, Prairie Fire Productions Ltd., Absolute Underground Magazine, 387 Entertainment, Fire Lotus Creative, Rendezvous Pub, Queer YEG, Seeing Red Podcast, Pinecase Mental Health, Broken Neck Radio, Edmonton’s Alternative Music Magazine, Alberta Music, CJSW 90.9FM.

Decimate Metalfest is also a proud member of the Western Canadian Metal Festival Alliance (WCMFA) and is honored to work alongside fellow independent festivals and music organizations that help strengthen the Canadian metal scene, including:
Loud As Hell Open Air Festival
Armstrong MetalFest
Hyperspace Metal Festival
Glacial Mutilation Metal Festival

For press inquiries, interviews, or additional information, please contact us at: info[@]decimetalfest[.]com

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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0 Canadian Cosmic Metal THE ASTRAL PROPHETS Unleash “Into Nothing” From New Album “Invasion” Out Oct 2026

September 15, 2026
by Asher
· Astral Prophets · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 15, 2026

Canadian Cosmic Metal THE ASTRAL PROPHETS Unleash “Into Nothing” From New Album “Invasion” Out Oct 2026

Top L-R: Kyle Summers (Drums) | Harley D’Orazio (Guitars/Vocals) | Terry Savage (Bass/Vocals)
Bottom L-R: Staci Stardust (Lead Vocals) | AJ Bergin (Guitars/Vocals)
Photography Credit: Brad, YYC Visual Media

Calgary, AB’s cosmic metal force The Astral Prophets are set to unleash their long‑awaited full‑length album “Invasion,” due out on October 30th, 2026. Alongside the announcement, the band drops the first single and music video, “Into Nothing,” a wild, danceable, riff‑driven blast that introduces fans to the next evolution of their self‑coined genre “Power Groove.”

Formed in 2019 by former Scythia members AJ Bergin, Terry Savage, and Celine Derval, The Astral Prophets emerged from a desire to create something heavier, rawer, and more grounded than their folk‑metal origins.

“The concept and theme of the band is designed around the idea of a not‑so‑distant, roboto‑cratic dystopian future. Space, aliens, techno-organic viruses, the works!” adds Bergin.

Over the years, the lineup evolved into its final 2026 form with Staci Stardust (vocals), AJ Bergin (guitars), Harley D’Orazio (guitars), Terry Savage (bass), and Kyle Summers (drums). Together, they refined their sound through early singles like “Firewall,” “USB Humanity,” and “Lazerwitch,” followed by their 2023 EP “Anywhere But Here.”

A sci‑fi metal epic built on cosmic storytelling, massive riffs, and layered symphonic textures, their first full-length, “Invasion,” represents the band at full power.

“Invasion is a roller coaster of an album… themes of anger, retribution, causality, and madness, but also love and longing, conveyed with sci-fi and cosmic overtones,” says Bergin.

The album artwork depicts Earth on the brink of collapse as an alien mothership tears through a wormhole to terraform the planet, a visual centerpiece for the album’s dystopian universe.

Musically, “Invasion” pushes the band’s heavier roots to the forefront, with stronger, more memorable riffs, melodic, smooth leads, driving, high‑energy drumming, and Allen’s most powerful vocal performances to date.

“We wanted to bring an album that improves upon our already unique style. During our EP, we started to dial in our sound, but now we are delivering an LP in our full form. We brought the music back to our heavier roots. The riffs are stronger. The leads are melodic and smooth. The drums are driving, and Staci’s singing is more ballsy! Every song is amazing in its own right, and we couldn’t be prouder of them,” adds the band.

The lead single “Into Nothing” erupts with high‑energy swagger, fusing 80s‑glam attitude with the band’s signature swing‑driven Power Groove. Packed with sassy guitar lines, bold vocal delivery, and an irresistible rhythmic bounce, it’s a track built to move. Lyrically, the song blurs the boundary between dreams and reality, inspired by a vivid moment where Allen dreamed of throwing a punch and felt it land in real life, a surreal spark that shaped the song’s thematic core.

Its musical roots stretch back to a tongue‑in‑cheek Scythia track called Fort Make Money, a satirical nod to rig life in Fort McMurray. Savage hammered out the chorus riff within hours, and the band quickly recognized its glam‑rock DNA, echoing the swing and attitude of earlier The Astral Prophets cuts like “Cybernetic Doom” and “Firewall.” When the band first played it live, the bridge, solo, and final chorus were so addictive they looped them repeatedly just for the joy of it.

Bergin calls “Into Nothing” his favorite song to perform, a wild, danceable ride that captures everything fun, flashy, and unrestrained about the band’s heavier new era.

Listen to “Into Nothing”:

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPLxl6flAP8

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/track/6mFNCS1mHzwOJ4T8l0i2dd

Delivering cosmic, melodic, riff‑driven sci‑fi rock that blends power metal, groove metal, and high‑energy performances, “Invasion” will be available on October 30th, 2026.

Show Dates:
Oct 30 – Calgary, AB – Festival Hall (Album Release Show) w/ Victoria Lies, Cabraakan, Kyle Pullan

Track Listing:
1. Target Locked – 4:24
2. Power of the Rift – 4:08
3. Invasion ft. Jeff Black – 4:06
4. Into Nothing – 4:46
5. A Trail of Broken Stars – 4:46
6. World Eater – 4:35
7. Hyperdrive – 4:47
8. Inside the Hyperdrive – 3:37

More info: https://hyperfollow.com/astralprophets

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Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
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0 Finland’s AFTER INFINITY Shares New Single “Whisper In The Air” ft. Mika Tauriainen (Entwine, Shamrain) From New Album “Beyond Eternity” Out Oct 2026

September 15, 2026
by Asher
· After Infinity (Rockshots Records)

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 15, 2026

Finland’s AFTER INFINITY Shares New Single “Whisper In The Air” ft. Mika Tauriainen (Entwine, Shamrain)

New Album “Beyond Eternity” Out October 23rd, 2026 via Rockshots Records

Featuring Album Guests Paolo Ribaldini (Delain, Leverage, Seraphiel), Aitor Arrastia (Metal de Facto),
Nitte Valo (Dreamtale, ex-Battle Beast), Mika Tauriainen (Entwine, Shamrain),
Sara Strömmer (Shereign, ex-Fear of Domination), Leonard F. Guillan (ex-King Company)

Pre-Order Available Now!

Finnish melodic metal act AFTER INFINITY releases their new single “Whisper in the Air”, offering one of the most intimate and emotionally charged moments from their upcoming sophomore album “Beyond Eternity”, due out October 23rd, 2026 via Rockshots Records.

Featuring guest vocals from Mika Tauriainen (Entwine, Shamrain), “Whisper in the Air” marks his first release in over a decade.

Following the heavier approach of the previously released singles, After Infinity now reveals a very different side of the forthcoming album. Built entirely around piano, orchestral arrangements, and vocals, with no guitars or drums, “Whisper in the Air” provides a deliberate moment of contrast within the record.

The song was originally conceived by After Infinity founder, guitarist, and songwriter Zsolt Szilagyi as a short interlude. During the collaboration with Tauriainen, however, the piece gradually developed into a complete four-minute composition, with the vocalist contributing not only his performance but also helping shape the song into its final form.

Zsolt Szilagyi comments:

“Between a fast song and a 12-minute prog metal epic, this simple piano ballad allows the listener to catch their breath. What an honor it was to have Mika Tauriainen from Entwine collaborate on this song, making it his first release in over a decade. Not only did he deliver the most emotional vocals; he helped me shape the song from a small interlude into an independent masterpiece.”

Due out on October 23rd, 2026, “Beyond Eternity” follows After Infinity’s 2024 self-titled debut and further explores the heavier and more progressive sides of the band’s sound. Across nine tracks, the album moves through power metal, heavy metal, and progressive influences while combining heavy riffs and melodic hooks with piano passages and orchestral arrangements.

The album continues After Infinity’s collaborative approach, with different guest vocalists bringing their own character to individual songs while remaining connected by Szilagyi’s songwriting. “Whisper in the Air” stands apart as one of the record’s most stripped-back compositions, placing the focus entirely on melody, atmosphere and Tauriainen’s vocal performance.

Produced by Zsolt Szilagyi, “Beyond Eternity” features orchestrations by Gideon Ricardo and bass by Ville Koskinen. “Whisper in the Air” was mixed by Ari Laurila, while the album was mastered by Jasse Kesti at Kesthouse.

Watch the official lyric video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A98rAMr7fUk
Video by Jarkko Felin / FFC Studios

Spotify – https://lnk.to/6QJ2sfsa

For fans of: Entwine, A Great Big World, X Japan

“Beyond Eternity” will be released on October 23rd, 2026 via Rockshots Records.
Pre-Order:
https://rockshots.eu/products/after-infinity-beyond-infinity-cd

Track Listing:
1. Crooked Carnival feat. Aitor Arrastia (6:52)
2. Infinite Feeling feat. Leonard F. Guillan & Nitte Valo (5:02)
3. King with no Crown feat. Paolo Ribaldini (6:21)
4. Maybe She’s Crying feat. Paolo Ribaldini (5:21)
5. Mortal Vessel (1:58)
6. Everlasting Mark feat. Sara Strömmer (4:58)
7. Eternal Resentment feat. Nitte Valo (3:43)
8. Whisper in the Air feat. Mika Tauriainen (4:03)
9. Hands of Time feat. Aitor Arrastia (11:53)

After Infinity Line-up:
Zsolt Szilagyi: Guitars, Synths, Drum Programming, Backing Vocals
Gideon Ricardo: Orchestrations, Synths
Ville Koskinen: Bass

Guest Vocalists:
Paolo Ribaldini (Delain, Leverage, Seraphiel)
Aitor Arrastia (Metal de Facto)
Nitte Valo (Dreamtale, ex-Battle Beast)
Mika Tauriainen (Entwine, Shamrain)
Sara Strömmer (Shereign, ex-Fear of Domination)
Leonard F. Guillan (ex-King Company)

More info:

https://www.rockshots.eu

https://www.instagram.com/afterinfinityofficial

https://www.facebook.com/afterinfinityofficial

ABOUT:

After Infinity is a Finnish melodic power and heavy metal project founded in 2022 by guitarist and songwriter Zsolt Szilagyi, known for his work with Dreamtale and Frozen Factory. Built around a flexible and collaborative structure, the band emerged from Szilagyi’s desire to move beyond a purely solo approach and create a dynamic musical environment involving multiple performers.

Rather than relying on a fixed line-up of vocalists, After Infinity developed a distinctive identity by working with a wide range of guest singers, allowing each track to take on its own character while maintaining a cohesive artistic vision.

This approach quickly became a defining element of the project, turning it into a platform where different voices and influences converge.

The band’s sound blends heavy guitar riffs, rich orchestrations, and strong melodic hooks, moving seamlessly between powerful metal compositions and more introspective passages driven by piano and atmospheric textures. Drawing from power metal, heavy metal, and progressive influences, After Infinity aims to deliver a diverse listening experience shaped by contrast, emotion, and compositional depth.

Their self-titled debut album, released in 2024, received positive feedback for its songwriting and musicianship, establishing the project within the contemporary Finnish metal scene. Building on that foundation, the sophomore album “Beyond Eternity” further expands the band’s sonic palette, introducing new guest vocalists and pushing the balance between heaviness, melody, and progressive elements while preserving the core identity that defines After Infinity.

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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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0 EPK – The Astral Prophets – Invasion (2026)

September 15, 2026
by Asher
· Astral Prophets · EPKs

EPK – The Astral Prophets – Invasion (2026)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

For fans of Amaranthe, Clutch

Band Name: The Astral Prophets
Album Title: Invasion
Release Date: October 30, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Genre: Power Groove
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada

Theastralprophets.com | Facebook.com/theastralprophets | Instagram.com/astralprophets | Youtube.com/@theastralprophets3308/videos

Apple Music | Spotify | Theastralprophets.bandcamp.com

All Links – https://hyperfollow.com/astralprophets

Band Name: The Astral Prophets
Album Title: Invasion
Release Date: October 30, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Genre: Power Groove
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada

Track Listing:
1. Target Locked – 4:24
2. Power of the Rift – 4:08
3. Invasion ft. Jeff Black – 4:06
4. Into Nothing – 4:46
5. A Trail of Broken Stars – 4:46
6. World Eater – 4:35
7. Hyperdrive – 4:47
8. Inside the Hyperdrive – 3:37

Album Recording Credits:
All songs performed by: The Astral Prophets
All songs written by: Terry Savage, AJ Bergin, Staci Stardust, Kyle Summers, Harley D’Orazio
Produced by: Savage Studios & Nick The Music Dude
Mixed and Mastered by: Blacknote Music
Album Artwork by: Disturbing Grace Design
Member of SOCAN
Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album & Live Band Lineup:
Staci Stardust – Lead Vocals
AJ Bergin – Lead Guitar & Vocals
Harley D’Orazio – Guitar & Vocals
Terry Savage – Bass & Vocals
Kyle Summers – Drums

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Describe the Album Artwork:

Earth. We have squandered it for far too long. For too long have we drained its rivers and pilfered its minerals. It’s dying now. One of the most special planets in the universe, Earth stands alone. Even in its dilapidated and over-populated state, it still exists as a prize to the other civilizations of the known universe.
The artwork depicts a mysterious alien mothership arriving to terraform the planet out of a massive wormhole. The first battalions of the alien fleet hover around looking for specimens to beam back up for probing. The ground dries and cracks underneath the immense power of the ion beam stemming from the ship. The end is here. It is…INVASION

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Invasion is a roller coaster of an album. It kicks off with a bang, slows down in the middle, but then also goes out with a bang. Some of these songs materialized out of nowhere and became beasts in their own right.
Throughout the album, there are themes of anger, retribution, causality, and madness. But there are also themes of love and longing mixed in between. These aspects are conveyed with sci-fi and cosmic overtones.

Track By Track:

Describe each song track by track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Target Locked – Target Locked was born out of boredom during the COVID lockdown in 2020. It’s our most straightforward, thrashiest song, and it doesn’t even have a solo. The problem with working from home for Terry was that his guitar was right there in his office, so between meetings he’d pick it up and mess around with riffs. One day, Target Locked was born. It was originally about Boba Fett and had a lot more guitar licks, but it got refined, chopped up, and lengthened. The bridge, aptly named “Dogfight,” was only played once in the original demo, but the band workshopped it until it became the monster it is now. Terry’s original lyrics were bad, straightforwardly bad, so Staci put her own spin on them and dumped some anger in, making it more personal. The song sends a message of “Don’t mess with me!”

Power of the Rift – Like Target Locked, Power of the Rift was born during the Covid lockdown. Terry wanted to write a song based purely on chord structure. It started that way… complete with really, really cheesy lyrics (embarrassing to listen to now). Between the chord changes, a catchy riff popped into existence and became the hook of the song. The intro got modified, the bridge got cut, an epic dueling guitar solo with a workshopped ending was added. Once the structure locked in, Terry went overboard with synths and sound effects, thinking the rest of the band would laugh at how ridiculous it was, but they ended up loving it! When it came time for Staci to write lyrics, she drew on some of her happier memories and layered them on top, that “loving at the speed of light” kind of feeling.

Invasion – I came up with the main riff on this one. It is heavy and metal as hell. My initial plan was to experiment with Terry and write a few bars at a time and bounce it back and forth with each other. I sent him the initial riff; he then added a verse…and a pre-chorus…and a chorus. He then sent it back to me to start adding to it. I got super busy with work and family, and kind of forgot about it. I guess while he was waiting for me to add to it, Terry took to the beach with his acoustic and randomly came back with a really cool riff, one that ended up being twice as fast as he’d originally imagined. It became arguably the most difficult riff he has ever written. He worked for hours trying to nail the harmonies on the demo, and it’s the most loved/hated riff on the whole record. He just naturally writes music at such a high level, I can’t keep up with the guy! Staci had a hard time coming up with lyrics for this one, so Terry took over and went back to our old song Lazerwitch for inspiration, the idea that humanity could easily be taken over by a more technologically superior race since we are already so reliant on technology today. We also have Jeff Black from Glyph featured on this song, trading some dueling guitar solos. I had the pleasure of being in Scythia briefly with Jeff (flag: confirm this detail, not mentioned elsewhere in the bio), but never got a chance to work with him on a track until now. I am super proud of getting him on this song and will treasure it forever!

Into Nothing – The inspiration for this song traces back to an old joke song in Scythia called Fort Make Money. A satirical retelling of rig life up in Fort McMurray. Terry started playing the chorus riff and had the song nailed out within a few hours, as he does. It’s easily our most 80s glam rock influenced song, and it fits the same swing feel as our older songs Cybernetic Doom and Firewall. The first time the band played it live, we ran the bridge, solo, and last chorus over and over because it was too fun to stop. It is actually my favorite song to play. When it came time for Staci to apply lyrics, she had a dream about trying to punch someone in the face and actually felt it connect in real life. It has the theme of not being able to differentiate dreams from reality.

Trail of Broken Stars – This song was originally called Maelstrom and was one of the first songs Celine, Terry, and I wrote together at the beginning of The Astral Prophets. Most of the riffs were mine, but the original version just didn’t quite slap as hard as we wanted it to. It got shelved for a long time until I breathed new life into it last year. For this album, Terry really started getting into backing tracks and made a mark on this one. He also came up with the lyrical scheme for the vocals in the intro. He had each person in the band write one stanza with lyrical themes based on The Astral Prophets. They all ended up flowing together beautifully. The lyrics took a while to materialize, until Terry was driving and “I am alive again” came to him, snowballing into a full set of lyrics. He sang them roughly to the band one jam, and they loved it. Bam, we had the last puzzle piece to the album. The song is about an Eternal being searching the cosmos for her soulmate who has gone mad. This song embodies themes of madness, pain, and loneliness.

World Eater – Terry wrote the main riff of this song back in Grade 12. He originally called it “A Bar at the End of the Universe.” It sat in the memory riff bank forever until he tabbed and recorded a quick demo. Again, it sat on Google Drive/Dropbox until I dug it up, chopped it up, and refined it. We workshopped it about six times back and forth until it became a damn good song. It’s anthemic and bombastic, and the bridge is always super fun to play. We named the song World Eater as a reference to Galactus from Marvel Comics and then used that for inspiration for lyrics. The song is more about the Silver Surfer actually and his longing to go back home to his love.

Hyperdrive – I had a riff that was a combination of Clutch and Mötley Crüe, and I turned it into a hootin’ rock & roll song that I was just over the moon about. Then our old drummer Jordan told me that it sounded like some kid’s Bandcamp final rock & roll songwriting recital song, and that the best part of it was when it was over. I was a sad boy that day. I took that criticism with my head hung low and went back to the drawing board. This song had a riff I had been working on for years, trying to fit it into a song. The “Inside the Hyperdrive” riff, and I was for damn sure going to get it onto this next album somehow. I sat down at my computer and just riffed, riffed, and riffed over and over again until it morphed into this groovy, thrashy, all-over-the-neck song. I listened back to the old demo and thought, “Yeah…how do you like me now?!” Thus, “Hyperdrive” was born. Staci asked what she should write the lyrics about, and the answer was simple. “Some dude is in love with the engine in his spaceship. Take that and run with it!” She came up with the idea of a woman trying to love a man who is too in love with his spaceship. All he needs is that hyperspeed.

Inside the Hyperdrive – When Jordan said that the best part of the song was when it was over, he meant this part. I love when bands do the “bring it back but slower” move. It’s usually a death metal trick, but I tried my hand at it here because that riff is just too damn catchy. I didn’t stop recording, kept playing that riff, and just left it at the end of the demo. I spruced it up and figured I’d come back to it one day and turn it into a full song. But all it needed was some polish and an end, which showcases Harley, our new guitarist. What you hear is 95% close to the original demo, where I just messed around with the riff.

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STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BAND

1. We wanted to be just a straight-up doom metal band. But we all have such eccentric personalities and can’t stand playing that slow.

2. We synchronize a lot of our stage movements that bring a lot of smiles to our fans.

3. AJ forgets to bring gear to jam almost weekly! Poor guy. One time his kids borrowed his pedal power supply for their Easy Bake oven and fried the circuit.

4. Kyle is sponsored by Los Cabos drumsticks because he has been in 1000 bands!

5. Staci always takes 4 hours to get ready at gigs so she doesn’t have to help with load-in. Sneaky!

6. Kyle disassociates and still thinks he’s playing Rock Band or Guitar Hero on stage

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The Astral Prophets rose out of the ashes of Scythia, the Calgary-based folk/progressive metal act, when guitarist AJ Bergin, bassist Terry Savage, and drummer Celine Derval joined forces in 2019 to chart a course in a new, heavier direction.

Trading the folk-metal storytelling of their previous project for something rawer, more grounded, and more accessible for all, the trio built The Astral Prophets and formed it into what they call “Power Groove.” They added guitarist Brandon Macneill and then released three consecutive singles, “Firewall,” “USB Humanity,” and “Lazerwitch,” in October 2021.

Shortly after, Celine moved out to the coast, being replaced by Jordan Tworek on drums. The band then found Staci Allen to take on lead vocal duties. With a fresh, new, and improved sound, they then followed the three singles with their first EP release. “Anywhere But Here” came out in March 2023, featuring five tracks including a fan-favorite cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Immigrant Song.”

Now, in 2026, with the final form of the band featuring Kyle Summers on drums and Harley D’Orazio on guitars, The Astral Prophets prepare to deliver the masterpiece. The full-length LP “Invasion” will be delivered to the masses in Fall 2026!

Discography:
LP: Invasion – October 2026
EP: Anywhere But Here – March 2023
Single: Lazerwitch – October 2021
Single: USB Humanity – October 2021
Single: Firewall – October 2021

SHARED STAGE WITH:
Enforcer, Psychostick, Crimson Shadows, Greyhawk, Lunar, Owlbear, Solarus, Tyrants Demise, Aggression, Vaegon, SYRYN, Boneyard, Under the Mountain, Luminator, Tylor Dory Trio, Glyph, Tower Hill, Red Cain, Serpent Rider, and Crüzer.

TOURS AND FESTIVALS YOU HAVE PERFORMED ON.
Hyperspace Metalfest 2025 (Vancouver, BC)
The Electric Highway 2023/2025 (Calgary, AB)
Decimate Metalfest 2024 (Millet, AB)
Ampfest 2024 (Canmore, AB)
Moments Fest 2024 (Siksika, AB)

Artist Endorsements:
Kyle Summers is sponsored by Los Cabos Drumsticks

0 Out Now! Montreal’s OMBRA’s Debut EP “Night Terror” Explores Fear, Collapse, and The Human Condition

September 14, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · Ombra

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 14, 2026

Out Now! Montreal’s OMBRA’s Debut EP “Night Terror” Explores Fear, Collapse, and The Human Condition

Emerging Montreal metal trio OMBRA has officially released their debut EP “Night Terror,” out now as of September 14th, 2026. Rooted in old‑school thrash, sludge, groove metal, and psychedelic rock, the five‑track conceptual project delivers a visceral, front‑to‑back descent into fear, obsession, chemical collapse, and the psychological weight of modern life, blending raw emotion, razor‑sharp riffs, and the band’s signature fusion of horror and real‑world chaos.

Formed by lifelong friends Giuseppe “G” Criniti (vocals/guitar), Marco Sisti (guitar/bass), and Nico‑Angelo Sisti (drums), OMBRA evolved naturally from their previous cult acts NRTH and Hidden Pride. The trio grew up together in Lachine, attended the same schools, and came from families who immigrated from Italy together, making the band’s formation feel less like a decision and more like destiny. In late 2020, G and Marco left NRTH to pursue heavier music, and Nico, Marco’s cousin and a respected drummer in the Montreal scene, joined shortly after departing Hidden Pride.

A true concept EP about fear, collapse, and the human condition, “Night Terror” was written between 2021 and 2026. The EP reflects the band’s lived experiences and observations of a decade marked by upheaval, media distortion, obsession, war, and emotional collapse. The EP is intentionally designed as a continuous experience from Track 1 “Hysteria” through Track 5 “So It Goes”, each chapter deepening the psychological descent:

“We wrote this EP as a reflection of our own experiences, feelings, and emotions throughout the last few years. The world has gone through so much change, turmoil, and war; this EP is our commentary on some of the major events of the last decade. Our objective is to encourage others to explore their own minds, make their own opinions, and live true to themselves. This EP reflects our thoughts and observations. We encourage all individuals to express themselves freely through art, speech, and any medium they see fit.” – Ombra.

Recommended for fans of Power Trip, High On Fire, Motörhead, Mastodon, Testament, and Rammstein, “Night Terror” is now available on all digital platforms at https://too.fm/eab92od.

Single Streams:

“Blue Dream” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5UmQA60mlM

“Stitches” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FimmvegfZ_M

“Hysteria” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7mDZ-4uXrY

Track Listing:
1. Hysteria (4:15)
2. Stitches (4:43)
3. Blue Dream (3:46)
4. Night Terror (5:44)
5. So It Goes (3:06)

Album and Live Band Lineup:
Giuseppe Criniti – Vocals / Lead Guitar
Marco Sisti – Rhythm Guitar / Bass
Nico-Angelo Sisti – Drums

More info:

https://ombra.band/

https://www.instagram.com/@abandcalledombra

https://www.facebook.com/people/OMBRA/61582909783052/

-30-

“Night Terror is a debut EP that knows exactly what it wants to do. OMBRA take Thrash Metal, pass it through Groove, Sludge and psychedelic rock and use it to tell a story that begins with social unrest and ends deep within the human mind. It’s not an album that tries to impress you with technique. It wins you over with intensity, riffs, groove and atmosphere. And most importantly: It’s not five random songs. It’s a journey. From Hysteria to Night Terror. From the outside world to the inside. From control to loss of control. And finally, to acceptance. OMBRA are just taking their first step. But it’s a step that sounds heavy, mature and determined. Darkness doesn’t reside outside the mind. Sometimes it resides within it. And OMBRA have just given it a soundtrack.” – Rock N Roll Town

“OMBRA emerges in ‘Hysteria’ as a force that transforms social chaos into high-impact art. Advancing with the brutality of thrash metal and the structure of hard rock, the track shapes a sound that feels like both a siren and a sentence at the same time. Sharp and relentless, the riffs dialogue with drums that tear through the silence, while the vocals echo indignation and lucidity, a manifesto in the form of distortion. The band builds tension with precision: there is weight, but also clarity; fury, but control.” – Roadie Metal

“Delivering high-quality extreme metal that blends elements of thrash metal with other influences full of raw aggressiveness, a cinematic atmosphere with no soft edges, like a punch to the gut!” – Metal Junkbox

“From the moment we hear the sound of sirens, gunshots, and helicopters flying overhead, we know we’re going to encounter a strong track both in sound and lyrics, because the soundscape they create from the very first seconds already feels dense… the drums and guitar move between agility and the creation of a track full of suspense and tension.” – Poppunkers

‘STITCHES’, the new single from the Canadian trio OMBRA, arrives like an open cut: direct, intense, and impossible to ignore. The song crosses the border between hard rock and thrash metal with aggressiveness, transforming psychological tension into dense and precise sound.” – Roadie Music

“OMBRA is an incredible discovery! A band that shows us metal is more alive than ever… it is the perfect soundtrack to start a mosh and let out all our anger. It maintains brutal riffs worthy of any Metallica fan, an imposing guttural voice… it is 100% recommended!” – End Sessions

“I really felt it wasn’t a song made to sound pretty. It’s dark, heavy, and direct… The story it tells ,a woman who keeps reconstructing herself to fit in, hit me hard… It’s not a song that accompanies you in the background; it’s one that confronts you. It ends and leaves you with that knot in your chest.” – Rockola Indie

“Stitches’ hits hard with a dark and visceral vision of the oversexualization of women and the price of chasing perfection… It is raw, uncomfortable, and impossible to ignore.” – Poppunkers

“Stitches’ explores the limits between obsession, beauty, and self-destruction. The track dives into the mind of someone who seeks perfection at any cost… Musically, it combines aggressiveness and atmosphere, with a fast, dense, and confrontational sound… a sharp and suffocating sonority that amplifies the emotional tension. ‘Stitches’ transforms psychological horror into sonic impact.” – Metal Never Die

“The band delivers one of their darkest and most intense compositions to date. The last single before the release of the EP Night Terror, the track dives deeply into themes such as dependency, paranoia, and the destructive consequences of escaping reality. Combining dense and melodic passages with explosions of weight and aggressiveness, creating a sound experience that is as engaging as it is disturbing.” – Metal Junkbox

‘Blue Dream’ delivers suffocating, volatile metal with heavy riffs depicting psychological terror, chemical dependency, and mental collapse in a dense, cinematic sound.” – Whiplash

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0 Out Now! Icelandic Sorcerous Folk Metal HRAFNABLÓT Debut Album “Guðlaugar Saga”

September 11, 2026
by Asher
· Hrafnablót

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 11, 2026

Out Now! Icelandic Sorcerous Folk Metal HRAFNABLÓT Debut Album “Guðlaugar Saga”

Photo Credit: Þórgnýr Einar Albertsson

Icelandic sorcerous folk‑metal band Hrafnablót proudly announces the release of their debut full‑length album, “Guðlaugar Saga,” available everywhere today, September 11, 2026. The album marks a major milestone for one of Iceland’s most compelling new metal acts, an ensemble known for ritualistic live performances, dramatic storytelling, and a sound forged from the contrasting light and darkness of Icelandic magick.

Formed in late 2024, Hrafnablót has quickly become a rising force in Iceland’s metal scene, performing at Íslenski rokkbarinn, Lemmy, BIRD, and the Icelandic Sorcery Festival. Their music blends heavy riffs, folk instrumentation, haunting melodies, and both clean and harsh vocals, creating what the band calls their own brand of sorcerous folk metal.

Giving listeners a sweeping sonic journey inspired by Icelandic nature and folklore, Hrafnablót’s debut concept album “Guðlaugar Saga” follows Guðlaug, a modern‑day woman pulled back into Iceland’s settlement age with nothing but her clothes and a taser. Across seven full songs and two spoken‑word pieces, the album traces her vivid, time‑bending saga, from Spádómurinn, a seer’s whispered prophecy over Icelandic winds, into “Dísablót,” where a driving ritual‑bound riff launches her story. “Heljarhlíð” delivers melodic death‑metal intensity and dual vocals as she’s forced into battle, while “Fögnuður” bursts into a celebratory folk‑metal anthem. Darkness rises in “Nornarheimt,” the album’s harshest track, as brigands kidnap her, followed by “Svartigaldur,” a metallized sea‑shanty built on an old Icelandic folk melody. “Heimþrá” offers a melodic, keyboard‑led moment of homesickness and dark magick, before the saga reaches its climax in “Örlagavegur,” an 11‑minute epic of shifting meters and fate as Guðlaug confronts her final choice.

“When writing the album, we knew right away we wanted to create a strong and cohesive narrative and to feature the stark contrasts present in Icelandic folklore and Sagas. The album features seven songs, along with a spoken word interlude and intro, weaving together influences from Icelandic magick, history, and culture. The sound can most aptly be described as sorcerous folk metal, drawing influence from the contrasting darkness and light of Icelandic folk culture as well as sonic influences from Nordic folk metal, NWOBHM, various gothic and miscellaneous extreme metal genres,” adds the band.

Recommended for fans of Ensiferum, Nightwish, Wintersun, Skálmöld, and Eluveitie, “Guðlaugar Saga” is now available on all digital platforms, CD, and Vinyl.

CD, Vinyl – https://elasticstage.com/hrafnablot/releases/gudlaugar-saga-album

Bandcamp – https://hrafnablot.bandcamp.com/album/gu-laugar-saga-2

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/74tlHFVXjDeUJ8OUUcIHOK

Previous Singles:

Music Video – “Svartigaldur” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDPpHb_Qf1s

Music Video – “Dísablót” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tI34l6OrGc

Music Video – “Heljarhlíð” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4mEwniTdVA

Track Listing:
1. Spádómurinn – 1:49
2. Dísablót – 5:44
3. Heljarhlíð – 6:22
4. Kappar, Meyjar, Komendur – 1:22
5. Fögnuður – 5:41
6. Nornarheimt – 5:21
7. Svartigaldur – 5:17
8. Heimþrá – 4:59
9. Örlagavegur – 11:23
Album Length: 48:02

Band Line-up:
Hugrún Hanna Stefánsdóttir – Vocals
Þórgnýr Einar Albertsson – Bass & Backing Vocals
Ólafur Daði Jónsson – Keyboards & Backing Vocals
Steingrímur Viðar Karlsson – Guitar & Backing Vocals
Andri Pétur Dalmar – Drums & Backing Vocals
Mara Birna Jóhannsdóttir – Guitar

For more info:

https://hrafnablot.is/

https://www.facebook.com/hrafnablot/

https://www.instagram.com/hrafnablot

-30-

“A band from Iceland may have delivered the best Folk Metal of the year. Hrafnablot is not afraid to do things on an album that other artist would not dare to do. This is an exceptional album that catch your attention from start to finish. I rate this album the perfect 10.” – Project Metal Music

“Guðlaugar Saga is a debut with great ambition. Hrafnablót take Icelandic folklore, Sagas and magic and transport them into a modern Folk Metal framework, adding NWOBHM, Gothic, Melodic Death and Extreme Metal elements. But the real power lies elsewhere. In the story. In the contrast. In the fact that a woman from modern Reykjavík suddenly finds herself in a world where she shouldn’t exist. And instead of just waiting to be saved…she learns to survive. Guðlaugar Saga has everything a good concept album needs: a world, a hero, a conflict, a mythology and a road of no return. And if the first singles are any indication of what’s to come, Hrafnablót have created a debut that could put their name on the map of modern Nordic Folk Metal. The Sagas were never finished. They were just waiting for the next voice to tell them. And this time…the voice comes from Reykjavík.” – Rock N Roll Town

“The idea of combining retro-heavy, proto-doom and then classic Viking metal with the Icelandic language is nothing short of brilliant – and honestly – incredibly obvious. Hrafnablót has definitely got something going and is a name to keep an eye on, because they could very well become something big.9/10” – HeavyMetal.dk

“What makes “Guðlaugar Saga” work is its refusal to treat folk metal’s contrasts both brutal and beautiful, cold and warm as gimmicks, instead using them as narrative tools that build toward something. For listeners already invested in the genre’s melodic, story-driven corner, this is a record built for a full, uninterrupted listen.” – Female Fronted Power

“Iceland’s Hrafnablót and debut single ‘Svartigaldur’ a heavy piece of pagan folk metal; for the tale of a time traveller lashed to Viking mast accused of being a witch. With symphonic metal richness, black metal energy, traditional melodies, theatrical vocal harmonies and soaring, clean female vocals, it’s quite a ride!” – Loud Enough Magazine

—
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0 Quebec’s NOVA SPEI Returns with a Fierce New Single “Enterré Vivant” and a Revitalized Lineup + Upcoming Album “Trinitas”

September 11, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · Nova Spei (Bam&Co. Heavy) · Uncategorized

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 11, 2026

Quebec’s NOVA SPEI Returns with a Fierce New Single “Enterré Vivant” and a Revitalized Lineup + Upcoming Album “Trinitas”

L-R – Cédrick Charland (Lead Guitarist) | Julien De Carufel (Drums) | Emmanuelle Desbiens-Dubois (Vocal) | Nicolas Dumais-Brouillette (Bass, Vocal) | Dany Soucy (Founder, Rhythm Guitarist)

Photo Credit – Étienne Dionne (Mute Drummer)

Québec modern‑metal powerhouse NOVA SPEI launches a fierce new era with the release of their brand‑new single and video “Enterré Vivant”, a groovy, djent‑driven assault that will be featured on the band’s forthcoming album “Trinitas” due out on November 6, 2026, via Bam&Co-Heavy.

Built around a gripping, Fear‑Factory‑esque guitar groove, “Enterré Vivant” delivers a raw emotional punch, introducing fans to Nova Spei’s revitalized sound and the powerful arrival of vocalist Emmanuelle Desbiens‑Dubois.

“Enterré Vivant” tells the story of someone trapped in a situation they refuse but cannot escape, an emotional metaphor inspired by watching someone close struggle with illness. What began as a personal reflection evolved into a visceral “buried alive” narrative, expressed through pounding rhythms, modern industrial textures, and a vocal performance that transforms the entire structure of the song.

The track was born from a single irresistible guitar riff crafted by Dany Soucy, whose groove set the tone for everything that followed. Lyrics were shaped collaboratively by Emmanuelle, Nicolas, and Dany, blending urgency, fear, and the will to survive. Fans will immediately feel the shift of the band’s rebirth with the introduction of female lead vocals, bringing new intensity and emotional depth to Nova Spei’s sound. The band is confident listeners will embrace this transformation and the renewed energy it brings to their music, marking a powerful new chapter in their evolution.

The single’s artwork by Filip Ivanovic visually captures the suffocating tension at the heart of the song, an image of someone trapped with no escape.

Recommended for fans of Gojira, Tesseract, Killswitch Engage, Spiritbox, and Architects, watch and listen to “Enterré Vivant”.

Music Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJB1wzRomFg

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/album/5eU0Cs7qNVxeaZHLDZR27i

NOVA SPEI is a Francophone modern metal band from Québec, known for their groovy, djenty, loud, modern, and unmistakable sound. Formed in 2012 by guitarist Dany Soucy (Legion, Dook), the band has evolved through multiple lineups while performing over 100 shows across Québec and Ontario.

Their debut self-titled album (2017) earned strong traction, with singles like “L’homme aux 1000 Sourires” spinning on RadioX 98.1FM, and tracks such as “Ma Muse” blasting through the Bell Centre during Montreal Canadiens games. Their second album “SEQUENTIS” was released in 2021 after pandemic delays, expanding their reach across the province.

In 2026, Nova Spei returns fully recharged with a new lineup that features Dany Soucy (Guitar), Nicolas Dumais (Bass), Julien De Carufel (Drums), Cédrick Charland (Lead Guitar), and Emmanuelle Desbiens‑Dubois (Vocals).

The band is currently preparing their upcoming album “TRINITAS”, a record that embraces a more organic, raw, and less sequenced approach while staying true to the band’s modern metal roots. The album is produced with Francis Perron (Voivod, Martyr), and mastered by world‑renowned engineer Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Halford, Yes).

Previous Singles:

Lyric video “Déraciné” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xn2xKYt0pc

Music video “Renaissance” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FagxvgWJTes

Track Listing:
1. Trinitas – 1:38
2. Renaissance – 2:37
3. M’entends-tu!? – 2:16
4. Déraciné – 4:07
5. Hypnose Collective – 3:23
6. Sentence – 3:39
7. Bourreau – 2:53
8. Résonance – 2:03
9. Enterré Vivant – 3:19
10. Aucun Regret – 4:15
11. Traitre – 3:40
12. Vautours – 3:38
13. Draps Blancs – 2:52
Album Length: 40:27

Album and Live Band Lineup:
Cédrick Charland – Lead Guitarist
Dany Soucy – Founder, Rhythm Guitarist
Emmanuelle Desbiens-Dubois – Vocals
Julien De Carufel – Drum
Nicolas Dumais-Brouillette – Bass, Vocals

For more info:

https://www.novaspei.com/

https://www.facebook.com/NovaSpei

https://www.instagram.com/novaspei

– 30 –

“Une pièce qui a tout ce qui faut pour devenir un classique du métal québécois. Des phrases percutantes et pleine de sens sur une musique lourde à souhait.” – Ondes Chocs

“Nova Spei : Nouvel espoir sur la scène métallique au Québec” – Voir

“Bref un excellent album à se mettre sous la dent ou sous le sapin pour le temps des fêtes ! Supportez notre belle scène du Québec ! ” – Metal Universe (2021 – Sequentis – LP)

“so there they were, twelve times groovy metal in French – from Canada. “Sequentis” by NOVA SPEI offers many an entertaining song. A lot of it certainly ignites live in the mosh pit and causes the crowd to freak out because they know how to get their limbs moving with their riffs and fat grooves… an album that is fun and fans of the good old groove metal should like.” – Stormbringer (2021 – Sequentis – LP)

“”Along with a meticulous display of proficient musicianship, this entire album is not only a credit to its makers, but the multifaceted collection of influences that has firmly planted a seed deep within them over the years, and brings New Hope to both the listener and the band as you peel away the cellophane so to speak. As a result, this album won’t gather dust in any collection, and will keep heads bouncing and feet tapping from sofa to stage.”” – Stargazer Music Magazine (2021 – Sequentis – LP)

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0 EPK – Nova Spei – Trinitas (Bam&Co-Heavy) (2026)

September 11, 2026
by Asher
· EPKs · Nova Spei (Bam&Co. Heavy)

EPK – Nova Spei – Trinitas (Bam&Co-Heavy) (2026)

Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com

“Writing Trinitas was both a challenge and a burden. There was the fear of not being able to compose an album that would do justice to its predecessor, both musically and lyrically, and in terms of the energy we all wanted to share with the audience. Although the majority of the music had always been composed by Dany, the departure of the previous lead singer had a significant emotional impact, and having to continue and rebuild a new dynamic with Cédrick was somewhat daunting. The shift in vocals from male to female was also, in itself, a considerable challenge, but one that was relatively easy to achieve. In the end, it was the change Nova Spei needed to get back on its feet and move forward into another chapter of its life. Fortunately, the joy of playing together as a band quickly resurfaced. Working with Francis Perron in the studio also greatly helped to rediscover the pleasure of playing and composing.” – Nova Spei

For fans of Make Them Suffer, Jinjer, Spiritbox, Architects, Kittie

Band: Nova Spei
Album Title: Trinitas
Release Date: November 6, 2026
Label: Bam&Co-Heavy
Distribution: Believe Digital (Digital) / Propagande (Physical)
Genre: Modern Groove Metal
Location of Band: Trois-Rivières, Québec, Canada

NovaSpei.com | Facebook.com/NovaSpei | X.com/NovaSpeiBand | Instagram.com/novaspei | Youtube

Novaspei.bandcamp.com | Apple Music | Spotify

Online Store – www.novaspei.com/marchandise | Bam&Co. Heavy

“Sequentis is an album that will appeal to fans of thoughtful, committed metal and to fans of heavy djent-style sound.”- OndesChocs webzine

“I haven’t heard metal this groovy and catchy since ‘Ashes of the Wake’ era Lamb of God” – Spark Bean webzine

“Clearly superior to the previous offering, this Sequentis production presents a solid collection of rather muscular djent material that pays homage to the past while reveling in a modern, groovy sound.” – ArsMedia webzine

“Une pièce qui a tout ce qui faut pour devenir un classique du métal québécois. Des phrases percutantes et pleine de sens sur une musique lourde à souhait.” – Ondes Chocs

“Nova Spei : Nouvel espoir sur la scène métallique au Québec” – Voir

“Bref un excellent album à se mettre sous la dent ou sous le sapin pour le temps des fêtes ! Supportez notre belle scène du Québec ! ” – Metal Universe (2021 – Sequentis – LP)

Track Listing:
1. Trinitas – 1:38
2. Renaissance – 2:37
3. M’entends-tu!? – 2:16
4. Déraciné – 4:07
5. Hypnose Collective – 3:23
6. Sentence – 3:39
7. Bourreau – 2:53
8. Résonance – 2:03
9. Enterré Vivant – 3:19
10. Aucun Regret – 4:15
11. Traitre – 3:40
12. Vautours – 3:38
13. Draps Blancs – 2:52
Album Length: 40:27

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Nova Spei
• All songs written by: Nova Spei
• Produced by: Nova Spei
• Mixed by: Francis Perron – Radicart Studio (Voivod, Martyr, etc)
• Mastered by: Maor Appelbaum at Maor Appelbaum Mastering – California – U.S.A (Faith No More, Voivod, Halford, Yes, etc)
• Album Artwork by: Flat Bathtub: Filip Ivanović personal playground
• Member of SOCAN and SOPROQ
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album and Live Band Lineup:
Cédrick Charland – Lead Guitarist
Dany Soucy – Founder, Rhythm Guitarist
Emmanuelle Desbiens-Dubois – Vocals
Julien De Carufel – Drum
Nicolas Dumais-Brouillette – Bass, Vocals

==============================================

About The Album Artwork:

Filip Ivanovic has worked on the idea that you can spot the character from the Sequentis cover art. He is holding a new book, from which he draws his power. Two other books lie on the ground, referencing the two previous albums..

About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Trinitas is the third album, but above all, it marks the rebirth of a band that suffered the loss of members and had to take a hard look at itself in order to bounce back stronger and charge once more into its passion with power and intensity!

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Trinitas: is the track that introduces you to, and heralds, through a poetic text, the dawn of this new chapter!

2. Renaissance: is an energetic song that demonstrates our overflowing energy. It speaks of the obstacles we’ve encountered, our desire to get back up and start again stronger than ever.

3. M’entends-tu!?: is about someone in our lives whom we cherish above all else, but who, despite our best efforts, sinks deeper into a world of drugs, no matter what we try to do to save them.

4. Déraciné: This song speaks of what the First Nations experienced with the arrival of white people and their governments, of the uprooting and the strength they lost. The subject was important to Emmanuelle, given her background. It’s a topic that is still often silenced by governments, and she wanted to denounce it.

5. Hypnose Collective: A topic often used but which remains relevant nonetheless: having ideas imposed upon oneself and directing the mentalities of a society to ensure that people follow without questioning too much.

6. Sentence: That feeling of shame and betrayal when you are a victim of incest as a child. A heavy subject too often silenced.

7. Bourreau: We remain on the subject of heavy themes, and in this one, we are talking about pimping seen from the perspective of the victim.

8. Résonance: When you lose someone close, a friend, a family member, they always leave a resonance in your life till the end. Instrumental this one did not need any lyrics.

9. Enterré Vivant: Someone about to die but who would like to escape and survive no matter what.

10. Aucun Regret Despair: depression, the desire to escape this pain without looking back, and without any regrets.

11. Traître: Experiencing a situation of betrayal, feeling like the person is trying to bring you down in order to lift themselves up. We’re not fooled; we see through your game.

12. Vautours: No matter what obstacles we may face, nothing is ever truly lost. Even when we watch vultures circling overhead, waiting for our final failure to devour us.

13. Draps Blancs: One day, you go to the hospital for a minor procedure… but… a medical error, and it’s simply the end.

==============================================

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. We started imagining the next album with an approach as modern as Sequentis’s. But Francis Perron showed us how it could all sound much more organic, more raw, the way he worked with Voivod, and our focus completely shifted when we heard his first rough mix.2. We didn’t know who to contact for mastering the songs, and when we were offered the chance to work with Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Yes, etc.), we thought it would never happen, and yet… he said yes and seems to have really liked what he heard! We’re not worthy! Hahaha

3. This was the first time Nova Spei had recorded in a professional studio. We had recorded the two previous albums in our own facilities.

4. Filming the music video for “Enterré Vivant” was insane! Pretending to be buried alive in a box, screaming, and reacting like it was real led to some hilarious moments/bloopers and quotes we have to keep to ourselves, hahaha

5. The gravedigger in the video for “Enterré Vivant” is wearing the shirt of his own band, which is called Anal Dislocator, and we let him wear his shirt so we could showcase this impactful “name”!

==============================================

Photo Credit –Étienne Dionne (Mute Drummer)

NOVA SPEI, a French-language metal band from Quebec, launched/presented their first album, “Self-Titled,” as the opening act for Anonymus on their December 2017 tour across Quebec. In 2019, they toured most of Quebec’s major cities during the band’s 30th-anniversary tour. By 2025, Nova Spei will have performed over 100 shows to promote the band in Quebec and Ontario.

NOVA SPEI was formed in 2012 by Dany Soucy (guitar) (Dook, Legion). Nicolas Dumais (bass) joined the band in 2014. Julien De Carufel (drums) arrived in August 2021, and it was finally in 2025 that Cédrick Charland (lead guitar) as well as Emmanuelle Desbiens-Dubois (vocals) joined the new version of Nova Spei.

In 2017, their first album was recorded in their home studio in Champlain and mixed, produced, and mastered in France by Anthony Chognard (Smash Hit Combo, CHSprod). Their single “L’homme aux 1000 Sourires” (The Man with 1000 Smiles) is in constant rotation on Quebec City’s RadioX 98.1FM, and their songs “Ma Muse” (My Muse) and a few more can be heard during Montreal Canadiens games at the Bell Centre.

2019 marked the beginning of recording for their second album titled SEQUENTIS. The first single, “Qui Sème Le Vent” (Who Sows the Wind), was released in November 2019, but due to the pandemic, the album’s release was delayed by two years, until November 12, 2021.

After some lineup changes, 2026 heralded the return of the full band and the desire to hit the road again. An album titled TRINITAS is therefore in preparation for autumn 2026, to restart the party on stage that is Nova Spei.

Discography:
2026 – Trinitas – LP
2021 – Sequentis – LP
2017 – Self-Titled LP

Music Placements: Montreal Canadiens games at the Bell Centre

Artist endorsements: Charbonneau Guitars

0 Edmonton’s BONEYARD Announces Sophomore Album “Black Static” Out Oct 2026 + Music Video “Before The Fall”

September 10, 2026
by Asher
· Boneyard · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 10, 2026

Edmonton’s BONEYARD Announces Sophomore Album “Black Static” Out Oct 2026 + Music Video “Before The Fall”

L-R: Jefftimus (Drums), Lezzy Osbourne (Bass Guitar), Garhardt (Lead Guitars), Pamtera (Lead Vocals and Guitars)

Photo Credit – Corrine (Wytchy) Thain

Canadian hard‑rock/metal quartet Boneyard will release their long‑awaited sophomore album, “Black Static,” on October 23rd, 2026, marking a bold new chapter for the band’s evolving sound and lineup.

Built on melodic female‑fronted hard rock, traditional heavy metal roots, and the band’s signature storytelling, “Black Static” expands the world Boneyard established on their 2020 debut “Oathbreaker”, a record later re‑released internationally through WormHoleDeath Records and mastered by Grammy‑nominated engineer Maor Appelbaum. Featuring nine dynamic songs ranging from classic metal heaviness to punk‑infused chaos to cinematic Western‑metal storytelling, the new album showcases the creative chemistry of the refreshed lineup, featuring powerful contributions from bassist Lezzy and lead guitarist Garhardt, whose arrival has sparked major anticipation among fans.

“An extension of Oathbreaker, but shaped heavily by the new members involved, Black Static is quite different more diverse, more melodic, and more emotionally charged,” says drummer Jefftimus.

Lyrically, “Black Static” dives into personal trauma, mental health, human trafficking, generational addiction, and grief, while still weaving in hope, resilience, and empowerment. The album’s artwork was once again created by legendary Calgary artist Tom Bagley, who brought their mascot Misty Bone to life on the record’s cover.

The album’s first single, “Before the Fall,” is a melodic‑metal anthem confronting the destructive patterns of global leadership, war, corruption, inequality, and urging unity and change. The video dives into the dark realities of human trafficking and missing and murdered Indigenous persons, blending cinematic grit with emotional weight.

“A song of hope… recognizing atrocities and creating a new way of thinking by helping each other for the future,” adds Pamtera.

Listen to “Before The Fall”

Music Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPOEcMLX5Xc

Spotify – https://ffm.bio/boneyard

Beyond the riffs, Boneyard stands out for its representation: a Métis drummer, a female LGBTQ+ bassist, and a commitment to authenticity and inclusion within the rock and metal scene. Since forming in 2015, Edmonton, AB’s Boneyard has performed across Western Canada at Decimate Metalfest, Pembina River Nights, Metisfest, and more.

Recommended for fans of Halestorm, Saxon, Doro, The Pretty Reckless, and Iron Maiden, “Black Static” will be available on October 23, 2026, digitally and on CD, with a vinyl release to be announced at a later date.

Show Dates:
Oct 23 – Edmonton, AB – The Rec Room (Album Release Show) w/ Daniel Martin & The Infamous

Track Listing:
1. Met You in a Dream
2. Left Me to Drown
3. Ready for a Change
4. Not this Way (Joel’s Song)
5. Blood in the Bond
6. Before the Fall
7. Hanging Tree
8. Compass Points to War
9. Before the Fall (Piano Rendition)

Album and Live Band Lineup:
Pamtera – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Lezzy Osbourne – Bass
Jefftimus – Drums
Garhardt – Lead Guitar

More info: https://linktr.ee/boneyardrocks

– 30 –

“Boneyard‘s debut record Oathbreaker is the kind of album that gets a little better each time that you listen” – Sleaze Roxx’s Top 10 Albums of 2020

“Solid, enjoyable debut, support the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal” – Bravewords

“Boneyard lean a bit more towards the hard rock side of the spectrum but the metal is all there as well” – Metal-Rules

“Rock music from Canada still guarantees quality”- PowerMetal

“What we have here is a female-fronted metal outfit that bathes in the crimson glory of traditional heavy rock and heavy metal”- Metal Roos

—-

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0 Out Now! FEN’s Doug Harrison’s Solo Project SLUG COMPARISON’s New EP “Cold in Cold out”

September 10, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · Slug Comparison

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – September 10, 2026

Out Now! FEN’s Doug Harrison’s Solo Project SLUG COMPARISON’s New EP “Cold in Cold out”

Doug Harrison – Photo Credit – Peter Wiholm

Canadian (Victoria, BC) songwriter Doug Harrison, best known as the vocalist for progressive rock/metal band Fen, unveils his solo project Slug Comparison’s new EP, “Cold in Cold out,” available everywhere now. The six‑track collection marks a deliberate shift back toward the project’s introspective, atmospheric roots, trading electric urgency for slow‑burn emotional weight.

Moving away from the upfront rock production of his 2025 album “A Battle to the End Fought on the Edge of a Knife”, this new offering of “Cold in Cold out” leans into the spacious, layered acoustic textures reminiscent of Fen’s “Trails Out of Gloom” that was released on Ripple Music. Across its six tracks, the EP dwells in a depressive, reflective territory, an environment Harrison admits he’s glad to return to. Harrison encourages listeners to experience the EP in full.

“These songs rely more on mood than hooks. The instant gratification isn’t there. The songs are a slow release. For best results, they should be listened to all in a row, privately, and in headphones,” adds Harrison.

The EP’s writing process was an experiment in speed, an attempt to break the long gaps between Fen and Slug Comparison releases. Harrison set out to write and record several songs within a year, ultimately overshooting by only a few months. For the EP, he also collaborated with drummer Randall Stoll (Boulevard, KD Lang, Tom Cochrane), who brought the songs to life in the studio, while Sheldon Zaharko added depth and character through mixing. Harrison handled all writing, arrangement, and instrumentation before drums were added.

The EP unfolds as a sequence of stark, emotionally charged vignettes. “Tongue of the Hollow” opens the record with an acoustic homage shaped by a verse riff echoing Nirvana’s “Something in the Way,” lyrically telling the story of a dying man surrounded by bewildered cats and soothed only by the upstairs neighbour’s nightly singing. “To Whom Would You Answer” relives a spiraling closed-door encounter with gatekeepers bent on extracting an assurance of loyalty. “Back to the World” reflects on reconnecting with an old friend who has survived a dark chapter, stirring guilt, hope, and a confrontation with one’s own neglected demons. “Burden of Life” deepens the EP’s somber emotional terrain, while the title track “Cold in Cold out” meditates on the lonely trial of human existence, its pain, exhaustion, fleeting wonder, and the recurring question of how long it all must continue. The closing piece “No Healer” follows a fevered final journey beneath a jungle canopy, surrendering to whatever forces guide the end of one’s existence.

Recommended for fans of Nirvana, Katatonia, Porcupine Tree, The Pineapple Thief, Fen, and Mark Lanegan, “Cold in Cold Out” offers a brooding, introspective journey into Harrison’s most personal and imaginary songwriting yet.

“Cold in Cold Out” is now on all major streaming platforms.

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/6lN49YhB6T8TzH5R7IpBJD

Bandcamp – https://slugcomparison.bandcamp.com/album/cold-in-cold-out

Single Stream – Tongue of the Hollow – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUziXxuV0uY

Track Listing:
1. Tongue of the Hollow (4:01)
2. To Whom Would You Answer (3:47)
3. Back to the World (4:03)
4. Burden of Life (4:44)
5. Cold in Cold out (5:31)
6. No Healer (4:36)
EP Length: 26:42

EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by Slug Comparison
• All songs written by Doug Harrison
• Produced by Doug Harrison
• Mixed by Sheldon Zaharko
• Mastered by Brock McFarlane at CPS Mastering
• Album Artwork by Inkantation
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

EP Lineup:
Doug Harrison: vocals, guitar, bass, programming, songwriting, production
Randall Stoll: drums

More info:

https://www.instagram.com/slugcomparison

https://www.facebook.com/slugcomparison

-30-

“A moment with SLUG COMPARISON has always been an emotional and musical exploration from the heart of one of rock’s finest songwriters and Cold in Cold out continues that particular seduction to offer one seriously thrilling and inspiring proposal.” – The Ring Master Review

“so much emotion, so much to ponder, so much complexity even while on the surface seeming so simple.” –Stephen Conrad, Prog Archives

“a mix of Pink Floyd and Simon & Garfunkel.” –Melodic.net

“un superbe album.” –Prog Et +

“The album takes us through the self-doubt, denial, and defiance of the artist and is another mini-masterpiece delivered under the Slug Comparison banner. 10/10” –SonicAbuse

“In no way “progressive” in the traditional sense, there is a depth to each composition, and a variation in styles across the album, that rewards careful listening.” –DPRP

“Harrison’s voice tends to have a grungy quality, but it also unfolds in epic, theatrical, or simply beautifully melodic ways.” –Musikreviews (translated from German)

“modern, emotionally rich, and laced with just enough grunge to hit us right in the feels.” –Mandatory Music

“The highlight is a twisted power ballad about having much too much of a good thing (Too Much Love).” –Here Comes the Flood

“progressive and alternative inclinations align with dark rock, punk and other rich hues. It makes for a palette of surprise and unpredictable adventure” –The RingMaster Review

“One of my favourite songs of the year” (about “Bringer of Doom”) –Dutch Progressive Rock Radio

“Simply engulfs the imagination and emotions” -The Ringmaster Reviews

—
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jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
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