Posts By Asher

0 EPK – Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy – Fugue Gnawed from the Scabbed God Cerebrum (2026)

February 18, 2026
by Asher
· EPKs · Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (2024) (Gore House Productions) · Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (Gore House Productions)

EPK – Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy – Fugue Gnawed from the Scabbed God Cerebrum (2026)

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

“There’s a saying in regards to music: ‘Evolve; don’t change. With every release, we push creative boundaries both in the writing and recording process. We never want to make a drastic change that feels forced and alienating to our day one supporters, but we strive to evolve in ways that feel natural for the growth of the band, not just musically, but as people, too. We want this album to be something that you can either sit with at home, with a nice pair of headphones and marvel at the complexity and immensity of the music.” – Jesse Agiomamitis (vocals/lyrics) – Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

For fans of Deathspell Omega, Defeated Sanity, Ulcerate, Disentomb, Sanguinary Consummation

Band: Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
Album Title: Fugue Gnawed from the Scabbed God Cerebrum
Release Date: April 3, 2026
Label: Gore House Productions
Album Length: 32:32

Gorehouseproductions.com | Facebook.com/GoreHouseProductionsOfficial | Instagram.com/gorehouseproductions | X.com/GoreHouse

Tiktok.com/@gorehouseproductions | Youtube.com/c/Gorehouseproductions-Official | Spotify | Gorehouseproductions.bandcamp.com

Facebook.com/OnchoOfficial | Instagram.com/onchocerciasis_official | Youtube Music

Spotify | Officialonchocerciasis.bandcamp.com | Apple Music

“It’s brutal as fuck, but it’s also explores the entire bouquet of sick creativity extreme music has to offer. The Fallen Lament is fun. It’s violent and it loves to blur boundaries between already scummy, disgusting genres.” – Vox & Hops Metal Podcast (The Fall Lament – 2024)

“This EP is definitely for the lovers of the extreme – fans of Deathspell Omega, Defeated Sanity, and Ulcerate will dig the fuck out of this record. So will fans of Dehumanizing Itatrian Worship, whose Kiryu Zhang contributes vocals on the last track of the EP, ‘Facial Gutting’. 9/10” – Ever Metal (The Fall Lament – 2024)

“The tracks revolve around blast beats and slams with some truly impressive breakdowns on display. Lyrics are themed around many different influences including mental health issues that have plagued the bands members, anime and video games making for an interesting read. In essence this EP provides a really promising preview of things to come for this band, who have the potential based on this evidence of creating something special.” – The Razor’s Edge (The Fall Lament – 2024)

“OxE are a different beast, very heavy and extreme but different to most bands of this ilk. The best way to describe them would be like Mortician, but with slam riffs! They have that downtuned bass that trawls the depths of hell with its tone and razor-sharp guitars, frantic programmed drums and some seriously deranged vocals. The tracks are short and sweet, the whole EP only goes on for ten minutes twenty one secs but in that time, you feel so bludgeoned and battered listening to it that it feels much longer, almost like you are succumbing to some exquisite torture!| – The Razor’s Edge (The Fall Lament – 2024)

“What’s cool here is when the music slows down almost to a crawl and sounds creepy as fuck, with a horror/suspense-like feeling that’s not without reminding me of some of the most disgusting episodes of the X-Files when they had some kind of monster eating its victims or what have you, and you can probably throw in a few horror B-movies in there as well. The Fallen Lament is kind of chaotic and dissonant and certainly sets itself apart in the sea of brutal death metal releases out there. 4/5″ – The MetalCrypt (The Fall Lament – 2024)

“primal and brutal variety of dramatic and booming extreme metal ” – The Viking in the Wilderness (The Fall Lament – 2024)

“Brutal gore death grind metal with pig squeally vox” – 89.9 WORT FM – The Moshpit (Madison, WI) (The Fall Lament – 2024)

“It’s been a long time since I heard anything like this mentioned, and the truth is that I haven’t been disappointed. Those from Canada bring us the best formula to execute it. This is based on being as heavy as they are fluid, without giving up the occasional surprise in the form of extra convolutions, which, by the way, fits like a glove. I was extremely grateful that they didn’t focus on composing ultra-heavy and simplistic «ruido» with little direction twist like many others do, reminding us once again that Slam can be rich in nuances within its borders.” – Broken Tomb (The Fall Lament – 2024)

“Have you ever been sat at home on a quiet evening and thought; “you know what would be really good right now? A migraine”? Well, if the answer to that is yes, then the boys in ONCHOCERCIASIS ESOPHAGOGASTRODUODENOSCOPY have got you covered. In this, their twenty-five minute, nine-track offering that is akin to standing in a bucket of water and attaching yourself to a car battery, The Rotted Plinth of Sachiel is a full-on assault on your senses that is sure to test the endurance of even the most seasoned veteran of fringe, extreme metal sub-genres.” – Distorted Sound Mag (2021 – The Rotted Plinth Of Sachiel)

“They may come across as a novelty act trying to be extreme for the sake of extremity, but OEGD are here to subjugate you. Give them five minutes, and they’ll bludgeon you into submission. Whether you like it or not is a different matter.” – Scream Blast Repeat (2021 – The Rotted Plinth Of Sachiel)

“Each song on this EP is a testament to the band’s mastery of slamming death metal, characterized by punishing rhythms and relentless guttural growls.” – Necrozine

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Track Listing:
1. Conquering Divinity – 3:17
2. The Fallen Lament, Paralytikus Ascends – 1:21
3. Severing What Makes Me Human – 2:41
4. Apotheotic Apotemnophilia – 3:03
5. Entombed Within the Infinite Panopticon – 2:23
6. Gutted & Corpsed – 3:05
7. Heaven’s Empty Halls – 5:13
8. Hurt Beyond Healing – 2:33
9. Abyssikataplexika – 2:35
10. Vile Verses Flogged into the Wings of Angels – 1:23
11. Forged in the Blackest Reaches of Blasphemy – 4:58
Album Length: 32:32

ROLES:

Jesse Agiomamitis: Vocals, Lyrics
Alice Simard: Composition, Guitars, Lead Guitars
The Popu: Additional Songwriting, Mixing and Mastering, Guitars, Bass, Orchestration and Sound Design, Additional lyrics, Additional Vocals

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

About The Album Artwork:

We wanted something that represented all of our combined influences going into the songwriting, in one way or another, and we knew that Mei Maro would be able to deliver something incredible, as usual. There are aspects of various folklore and other things that interest us, all crafted together beautifully by the talented Mei.

The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Jesse Agiomamitis: Start-to-finish, the album is dissonant, punishing, and disorienting.

Many of the lyrical subjects are larger than life, and the songs tell a story of a single entity, a “godslayer”, essentially, on a God of War-esque rampage through the universe, all veiled in obscurity.

This character and his actions mirror the overall feeling of the album: cold, calculated, and violent.

The Popu: Musically, the LP is definitely the most experimental OxEx to date. In between the utter carnage of the main instrumentals are layers of synths and organic instrumentation that have gone through various levels of sonic destruction to give the overall soundscape an alien feel. I was highly inspired by “Nithing – Agonal Hymns” of 2023 and the classic record “Dripping – Disintegration of Thought Patterns During A Synthetic Mind Traveling Bliss”.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Track 1: Conquering Divinity

Lyrically quite fantastical, evoking certain mythological imagery.

The music itself is very chaotic; there’s something new around every corner on this track, and that’s absolutely by design, being the first track on the record. Throwing a curveball out of the gate.

Track 2: The Fallen Lament, Paralytikus Ascends

As heard on the teaser EP we released leading up to the album, this track is one that is pretty straightforward and sounds most like our older material but with better performances all around.

Track 3: Severing What Makes Me Human

A quite dark track with a lot of weird things going on, and with a lot of the lyrics on this record, they’re not meant to be taken too seriously. We want it to evoke some type of image in the listener’s mind as they read over and listen to the track.

Track 4: Apotheotic Apotemnophilia

Getting toward the middle of the record, we knew we had to throw in something a little varied. This song has more melody than most others, but it is still incredibly heavy once that introduction is over. As the title of the track ‘Apotheotic Apotemnophilia’ may suggest, the lyrics (although somewhat vaguely) deal with the idea of a deity who is dissatisfied with aspects of their being.

Track 5: Entombed Within the Infinite Panopticon

This one is a little more straightforward. Just pummeling every second of the runtime, especially towards the end when the slower section comes in. We don’t have as many “breakdown” type moments compared to our earlier EPs, but when they do come in, like on this track, they hit way harder.

Track 6: Gutted & Corpsed

Starts off strong with a lot of blasting and gurgling before making a dramatic shift toward the middle of the song, where it sounds more like a portal to the underworld has been opened. There are these unearthly shrieks and angular riffs that throw the listener for a loop and make you really pay attention to what’s going on, right before getting back into the blasting and gurgling.

Track 7: Heaven’s Empty Halls

One of my absolute favourites on the record. So much is going on texturally with this almost Dungeon Synth-esque backing instrumental that really elevates the guitars, drums, and vocals giving a somewhat creepy vibe to the song and it perfectly kicks off the final portion of the record.

Track 8: Hurt Beyond Healing

Standard ass-beater of a track, bringing everything back to gravity after the last song. Lots of guitar wizardry and chaotic vocals are going on here.

Track 9: Abyssikataplexika

One of the most gnarly vocal performances on the record, with a few new sounds that really don’t sound human, accompanied by some of the deepest chugs on the record and even blistering drumming.

Track 10: Vile Verses Flogged into the Wings of Angels

Dark and brooding atmosphere, like something from a horror soundtrack, perfectly builds tension before release with the final track.

Track 11: Forged in the Blackest Reaches of Blasphemy

Melodic, brutal, chaotic, and structured all at once. Bearing our influences on our sleeve and once again paying homage to the great Disentomb (among other bands). There’s no better way for us to cap off the record.

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

FUN FACTS – STORY ANGLES:

1. Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (shorthand: OxE) was originally a solo project by Alice, who released a split record with a friend before bringing Jesse aboard in early 2019.

2. The majority of the lyrics for OxE tracks pertain, in some way, to mental health struggles that I and people around me have dealt with throughout life, but with a cryptic shadow realm he keeps slipping into becomes reality, and he is now trapped there for all eternity. This song is actually about Hyperion’s friend who has dealt with this mental illness every day for his whole life.

3. OxE members hail from various countries. Popu is German, Alice is Canadian, and Jesse is Australian.

4. When it comes to the artistic and lyrical thematics, OxE is inspired by various forms of media. We love incorporating ideas from video games (Dark Souls, NieR, etc.), anime (Berserk, Evangelion, Angel’s Egg), and many areas of real-world mythology and folklore into our music.

5. The Popu has been a fan of the band since the first EP, but has never gotten in contact with Alice or Jesse until two years later, when – by sheer coincidence – Alice and Popu bonded online through the obscure interest of the Danmaku Game “Touhou Project”. Inseparable since then.

L-R – The Popu (Guitar, Drums, Bass) | Alice Simard (Guitar, Drums) | Jesse Agiomamitis (Vocals)

Photo Credit: Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy

Emerging from the depths of Quebec City’s underground, Onchocerciasis Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (OxE) is a brutal death metal force that defies genre boundaries with its calculated chaos and apocalyptic soundscapes. Originally conceived as a solo project by guitarist Alice Simard, OxE quickly evolved into a collaborative powerhouse with the addition of Australian vocalist Jesse Agiomamitis and German multi-instrumentalist Popu. Together, they’ve forged a sound that’s grotesque, dissonant, and deeply cerebral—equal parts slam, blackened death, and avant-garde experimentation.

Following the blistering EP The Fallen Lament, OxE returns with their most ambitious and punishing release to date: Fugue Gnawed from the Scabbed God Cerebrum. This LP marks a significant evolution in the band’s sonic identity, pushing further into experimental territory while retaining the visceral brutality fans have come to expect. Musically, the album is a labyrinth of dissonant riffs, guttural vocals, and alien soundscapes. Synths and organic instrumentation are warped and mangled into textures that feel both ancient and futuristic. Popu cites Nithing – Agonal Hymns and Dripping – Disintegration of Thought Patterns During A Synthetic Mind Traveling Bliss as key inspirations for the LP’s sonic architecture. Lyrically, Jesse crafts cryptic narratives that explore mental illness, mythological annihilation, and existential dread. At the heart of the album is a conceptual arc following a “godslayer” on a cosmic rampage—an allegory for inner turmoil and transformation. The lyrics are intentionally veiled, allowing listeners to imprint their own interpretations.

Planning to release Singles like “Hurt Beyond Healing” and “Gutted & Corpsed” offers a glimpse into the album’s duality: straightforward brutality laced with surreal, introspective undertones. The juxtaposition of characters—those who embrace life versus those who recklessly flirt with death—reflects the band’s ongoing exploration of human fragility.

Recommended for fans of Deathspell Omega, Defeated Sanity, Ulcerate, Disentomb, and Sanguinary Consummation, Fugue Gnawed from the Scabbed God Cerebrum will be released on April 3, 2026, via Gore House Productions and is available for pre-order at https://orcd.co/scabbed-god-cerebrum

Discography:
2025 – Fugue Gnawed from the Scabbed God Cerebrum LP
2024 – The Fallen Lament LP
2021 – The Rotted Plinth of Sachiel LP
2019 – Adoration of Decaying Innocence EP
2018 – Interspecies Defloration EP

0 Rockshots Records – Visit The “Desolate Lands” With EMBRACE OF SOULS’ New Music Video From Concept Album “The Battle Of The Dead” Out May 2026

February 18, 2026
by Asher
· Embrace of Souls (Rockshots Records) · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 18, 2026

Visit The “Desolate Lands” With EMBRACE OF SOULS’ New Music Video

Concept Album “The Battle Of The Dead” Out May 2026

Embrace Of Souls release today “Desolate Lands”, the new single and official video taken from their upcoming fantasy concept album “The Battle Of The Dead”, set for release on May 22nd, 2026.

Watch the official video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TS0sF6CQ2s

Listen: https://lnk.to/7wfF6l

Forged in classic power-metal steel and sharpened with symphonic force, “Desolate Lands” delivers fast, militant rhythms, massive orchestral arrangements, and a relentless melodic drive rooted in the ’80s and ’90s tradition. Dark tonalities and epic tension shape the track, driven by Giacomo Rossi’s commanding vocals and reinforced by Martina Mazzeo’s operatic power – a song of devastation, sacrifice, and defiance rising from the ashes of war.

Taken from the upcoming fantasy concept album “The Battle Of The Dead”, the single introduces a world torn apart by a mysterious plague that corrupts the soul, pushing kingdoms toward an inevitable clash between the living and the dead. The album unfolds as a complete narrative experience, exploring themes of power, betrayal, sacrifice, and hope.

Founded by drummer and composer Michele Olmi, Embrace Of Souls began as a studio project aimed at bringing together talented musicians from the Italian metal scene, before evolving into a full band with a strong identity and a collaborative creative approach.

This new chapter is marked by a renewed line-up. Giacomo Rossi steps forward as lead vocalist, delivering a powerful and expressive performance, while Martina Mazzeo’s soprano vocals add a theatrical dimension. Their interplay reinforces the balance between power metal intensity and symphonic elegance, a dualism of light and dark that runs throughout the album.

The songwriting process reflects the same collaborative spirit: initial ideas developed by Michele Olmi are expanded together with the band, with each member contributing to the final shape of the music and the narrative.

The album also features a special guest appearance by Morby (Domine), further strengthening the connection with the classic Italian power metal tradition.

“The Battle Of The Dead” was mixed and mastered by Alessio Garavello at Rogue Studios, London, enhancing the clarity, impact, and cinematic depth of the band’s sound.

As the band states:

“We want The Battle Of The Dead to be a complete listening experience. Each track has its own identity, but everything is connected to the story. We want listeners to dive into the world of the album and discover it step by step.”

“The Battle Of The Dead” will be released on May 22nd, 2026, in digital format and digipak CD edition, and will be available for pre-order at the following link: https://rockshots.eu/products/embrace-of-souls-the-battle-of-the-dead-cd

OFFICIAL MERCH: https://embraceofsoulsband.bigcartel.com/

For fans of: Rhapsody Of Fire, Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, Nightwish.

Track Listing:
1. The Battle Of The Dead
2. Eversun
3. The Plague
4. The Gathering
5. Spine
6. Who Can Save Us
7. Betrayal
8. The Dark Lord
9. The War (feat. Morby)
10. Sacrifice
11. Desolate Lands

Line-up:
Giacomo Rossi – Vocals
Martina Mazzeo – Vocals
Edward De Rosa – Guitars
Xavier Rota – Bass
Davide Baldelli – Keyboards
Michele Olmi – Drums

More info:
https://www.rockshots.eu

https://www.instagram.com/embraceofsouls/

https://www.facebook.com/embraceofsoulsofficial/

BIOGRAPHY:

Embrace Of Souls is an Italian power metal band founded by drummer and composer Michele Olmi, conceived with the aim of bringing together talented musicians around a shared vision rooted in collaboration, brotherhood, and a deep passion for classic metal. Initially born as a studio project, the band took shape with the release of their debut album “The Number Of Destiny” in 2021, receiving positive feedback on an international level and notable acclaim in Japan.

Drawing inspiration from ’80s and ’90s heavy and power metal, as well as the epic and symphonic metal of the early 2000s, Embrace Of Souls developed a sound characterized by powerful riffs, epic atmospheres, and strong melodic sensibility. Over time, the project evolved into a full live band, allowing the group to further consolidate its artistic identity and deepen its expressive range.

In 2024, Embrace Of Souls returned with their second full-length album, “Forever Part Of Me,” marking a significant step forward in terms of maturity and songwriting. This phase also introduced important changes within the line-up, bringing renewed energy and a broader musical perspective to the band’s sound.

A key element of this evolution is the current vocal pairing. Giacomo Rossi, already involved in previous releases, now takes on a central role as lead vocalist while Martina Mazzeo, an accomplished soprano vocalist, adds a symphonic and operatic dimension to the band’s music. Together, their voices embody the duality that defines Embrace Of Souls: light and darkness, power and elegance, intensity and emotion.

Having shared the stage with renowned acts such as Domine, Vision Divine, Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, and Rhapsody Of Fire, Embrace Of Souls continue to refine their identity while looking toward the future. The band is now working on new material, further developing their epic and narrative-driven approach to solidify their presence on the international power metal scene.

-30-

—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook – Asher Media Relations
Instagram – AsherMedia
Tweet – AsherMedia

0 Rockshots Records – Cosmic Prog Metal VANDERLUST Unveils First Single “Humanity 2.0 – The Human Farm” From New Sci-Fi Metal Opera “The Human Farm” Out April 2026

February 18, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · Vanderlust (Rockshots Records)

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 18, 2026

Cosmic Prog Metal VANDERLUST Unveils First Single “Humanity 2.0 – The Human Farm” From New Sci-Fi Metal Opera “The Human Farm” Out April 2026

Rockshots Records is proud to announce the release of “The Human Farm“, the ambitious new sci-fi concept album by progressive metal band Vanderlust, hitting stores worldwide on April 17th, 2025.

To ignite this interstellar journey, the band has unveiled the first single and opening chapter of the album today: “Humanity 2.0 – The Human Farm“.

STREAM “HUMANITY 2.0 – THE HUMAN FARM”: https://lnk.to/iEpgIm

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OUPFUoBm1Tc

“Humanity 2.0 – The Human Farm” is the symphonic overture that opens the gates to the band’s dystopian universe. More than a standard song, it serves as the narrative prologue, setting the atmosphere for the entire record. The track transports the listener to the year 2500 A.D. Humanity, suffering from poverty and despair, is visited by an ancient alien species known as the Coelacanth. They offer a “perfect life” inside a “Human Farm“: safety, comfort, and care, but at a terrible price -execution at the age of 40. This opening chapter poses the central dilemma of the record: if you were offered a short but perfect life in exchange for your freedom… would you accept?

Arriving April 17th, “The Human Farm” is a metal opera that blends traditional melodic power metal with technical progressive elements and thrash intensity. Inspired by Plato’s Cave allegory and classic sci-fi lore, the album tells the story of Abe and a group of rebels who discover their “perfect life” is a prison and attempt a desperate escape through the cosmos. Musically, the band describes the sound as energetic, refined, and atmospheric.

Drawing inspiration from the melodic grandeur of Angra and Dream Theater, the new material incorporates intricate, sci-fi riffing reminiscent of Vektor and Megadeth. Guitarist Francesco comments on the release: “To me, this album represents the band’s maturation. It is a journey; to fully enjoy it and truly understand its content, it needs to be listened to in its entirety. Just like the story tells, it unfolds as a narrative in which each track follows the previous one with a particular sense of continuity.”

The album features special guest appearances by Martina Barreca (Mess Excess), who provides the growls and operatic vocals representing the alien Coelacanths, and Francesco Londino (S91), who contributes keyboard solos and arrangements.

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM: https://rockshots.eu/products/vanderlust-the-human-farm

Track Listing:
1. Humanity 2.0 – The Human Farm
2. Golden Shackles
3. The Turning Point
4. Connection Failed
5. Viral Escape
6. … Find Them!
7. Battlefield
8. From The Cave – Fuga
9. Drive
10. Reborn … Again
11. Humanity 3.0: The New Canaan

Line-up:
Ricca “ZP” Morello: Vocals
Francesco “Franz” Romeggini: Guitars, Backing Vocals
David Cantina: Bass
Giacomo Mezzetti: Drums, Backing Vocals

More info:
https://rockshots.eu/

https://www.facebook.com/vanderlustofficial/

BIOGRAPHY:

Vanderlust was born from a precise artistic vision: to tell science fiction stories through the language of melodic/progressive metal. What began as an ambitious concept soon evolved into a fully developed identity, where traditional heavy and power metal foundations merge with progressive structures, intricate riffing, and atmospheric textures shaped by a futuristic imagination.

At the creative core stands guitarist Francesco Romeggini, whose compositional direction defines the band’s sonic architecture. His ideas, later refined collectively by the band, result in a dynamic balance between technical detail and emotional depth. The members bring experience from previous acts such as S91, Dreal, and Speed Kills, combining classic metal roots with a forward-looking approach.

Vanderlust’s sound can be described as energetic, refined, and intricate, yet always driven by narrative purpose. Melodic power metal emerges strongly in the vocal phrasing, while progressive elements influence structures and rhythmic patterns rather than sheer song length. Sci-fi atmospheres surface not only through thematic choices but also through electronic layers and occasional orchestral arrangements, reinforcing the cinematic scale of their storytelling without losing the grit of traditional metal.

With “The Human Farm“, the band reaches a clear stage of maturation. Expanding beyond the more traditional framework of their debut, Vanderlust intensifies their progressive edge and strengthens the conceptual dimension of their work. The album unfolds as a cohesive narrative journey, exploring themes of freedom, control, and existential choice delivered through high-energy tracks, dynamic contrasts, and emotionally charged moments.

On stage, the band translates complexity into impact. Rather than focusing solely on instrumental execution, Vanderlust aims for a powerful, engaging live presence, ensuring that the emotional force of their music connects directly with the audience.

Vanderlust stands at the intersection of classic melodic metal and progressive sci-fi – a band committed to building worlds, not just songs.

– 30 –

—

ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia

0 CAERRIAN Drummer Shares Performance Video “Fathomless Ruin” For Sabian Cymbals Endorsement

February 18, 2026
by Asher
· Caerrian · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 18, 2026

CAERRIAN Drummer Shares Performance Video “Fathomless Ruin” For Sabian Cymbals Endorsement

L-R – Justin Marcil – Bass, Justin Gordon – Guitar, Ken Rothe – Guitar, Aaron Graham – Drums, Tyler Parsons – Vocals

Vancouver progressive melodic death metal band Caerrian is celebrating a major milestone as drummer Aaron Graham, a respected Drumeo instructor and Doctor of Percussion from the University of British Columbia, officially joins the roster of Sabian Cymbals artists. The announcement arrives alongside the release of Graham’s new drum performance video for the band’s debut single “Fathomless Ruin,” taken from their forthcoming introductory EP due out in spring 2026.

The performance video, featured in a new Drumeo and Sabian advertisement for the Redlight and Spotlight cymbal lines, showcases Graham’s dynamic playing and the band’s signature blend of heaviness, melody, and progressive technicality.

Graham says the timing couldn’t be better:

“I’m so stoked Drumeo and Sabian asked us to feature ‘Fathomless Ruin’ in this ad for the new Redlight & Spotlight cymbal lines. It coincides perfectly with the launch of the single and me being picked up as a Sabian Artist. The Sabian sound is one I’ve known and loved all my life. And I can’t wait to showcase that in our live shows.”

Watch the drum video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILgGLVyUTWs

Caerrian emerged from the dissolution of the band Warrborn, evolving into a more technical, refined, and progressive force. Lead guitarist and primary songwriter Ken Rothe explains that the transformation was natural and necessary:

“The band started from the ashes of Warrborn. My playing evolved a lot during COVID, and with the new sound, new members, and new direction, renaming the band was the best solution.”

Rothe describes Caerrian’s sound in five words: Heavy, melodic, progressive, familiar, and catchy.

The band’s upcoming EP features four long-form tracks, chosen from a pool of more than 15 completed songs. The remaining material is slated for a full-length album planned for recording in late 2026.

“Fathomless Ruin” is a sweeping, cinematic track that moves between uplifting, epic passages and darker, more sinister sections. The song’s origins stretch back nearly eight years to a riff idea that never found a home, until now.

Rothe explains the concept:

“It started as a Top Gun–style theme, jet fighters in the clouds, but later became the death of a Viking fleet at the mercy of the kraken. The moral: set out to pillage and kill, face your demise. If you live, expect no glory, only sorrow.”

The single artwork reflects this “death from above” and oceanic devastation, tying directly into the lyrical themes.

Musically, the band’s forthcoming EP promises a heavy, melodic journey with massive guitar tones, progressive structures, stompy, mosh‑ready riffs, melodic, mood‑driven solos, dynamic shifts reminiscent of Opeth, and live, untriggered drum performances.

“We want each track to be a journey, with a range of feels and emotions. We hope people are drawn in and follow us into the EP,” adds Rothe.

The band recorded the EP at Rain City Recorders with engineer Matt Roach, using a blend of high‑end gear including a Mesa Boogie Mark IV (Rev A), Diesel VH4, a modded 5150 block letter, and Quad Cortex profiling. All guitars feature Evertune bridges and Fishman Fluence or EMG pickups.

Caerrian’s members bring deep roots in the Vancouver metal scene, Ken Rothe on lead guitar (formerly Warrborn), Justin Gordon on bass/rhythm guitar (Plague Doctor, Assorted Meats, Thirteen Goats), Justin Marcil on vocals (Knocking at the Gates), and Aaron Graham on drums (Drumeo instructor, Sabian Cymbals Artist, UBC Doctorate in Percussion).

Recommended for fans of Lamb of God, Dissection, Iron Maiden, Megadeth, and Opeth, listen to “Fathomless Ruin” at the following links:

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/track/0PjQSykqxWdlAZufqXQv1I

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlAxEbX_sZI

Recording Line Up:
Ken Rothe – Lead Guitar
Justin Gordon – Rhythm Guitar
Josh Erhart – Bass
Aaron Graham – Drums
Tyler Parsons – Vocals

Live Band Line Up:
Ken Rothe – Lead Guitar
Justin Gordon – Rhythm Guitar
Justin Marcil – Bass
Aaron Graham – Drums
Tyler Parsons – Vocals

Show Dates:
Feb 21 – Chillhouse Studio – Chilliwack, BC – info – w/ Torrefy, Yegg, Cryptic Enslavement

More Info: https://linktr.ee/caerrian

-30-

—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook – Asher Media Relations
Instagram – AsherMedia
Tweet – AsherMedia

0 Reminder – NARCOTIC WASTELAND Kicks Off “Praise the Beast North American Tour 2026” w/ BELPHEGOR, INCANTATION, HATE

February 18, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · Narcotic Wasteland

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 18, 2026

NARCOTIC WASTELAND Kicks Off “Praise the Beast North American Tour 2026” w/ BELPHEGOR, INCANTATION, HATE

Extreme metal juggernaut NARCOTIC WASTELAND kicks off the “Praise the Beast North American Tour” with BELPHEGOR, INCANTATION, and HATE for February and March 2026, continuing their relentless assault on stages worldwide. This marks the band’s third major run in less than a year, following the “Annihilation of Wasteland Tour” across the U.S. in September 2025 and their headlining “Annihilation of Europe Tour” in November and December 2025.

Fronted by guitarist/vocalist Dallas Toler-Wade (ex-Nile), Narcotic Wasteland has built a reputation for uncompromising brutality, technical precision, and lyrical themes that confront addiction, corruption, and societal decay. Their recent tours have drawn packed venues and critical acclaim, cementing their place as one of the most ferocious acts in modern death metal.

“The energy we felt from fans in both North America and Europe has been incredible. We’re coming back harder than ever in 2026. Expect a setlist that spans our catalog, new material, and the kind of intensity that defines Narcotic Wasteland,” says Toler-Wade.

The tour will see the band storm through major cities across the U.S. and Canada, dates and venues listed below. The tour is a crushing lineup, making this one of the most anticipated metal tours of early 2026.

Tickets for the “Praise the Beast North American Tour” with BELPHEGOR, INCANTATION, HATE, and NARCOTIC WASTELAND are available at https://www.narcoticwasteland.com/tour

Music Video – Introspective Nightmares – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jOBq_a4bFGs

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5IQ8MRD09PzTIzldUag7rD

Narcotic Wasteland has carved out its place as a dominant force in the modern metal scene, unleashing a punishing fusion of razor-sharp technicality, feral aggression, and raw intensity. At the helm is guitarist and vocalist Dallas Toler-Wade, celebrated for his tenure with Nile, whose unmatched precision and commanding stage presence drive the band’s sonic assault.

Behind the kit, newly added drummer Austin Vicars (also of Casket Robbery) delivers high‑octane precision, combining razor‑sharp blast beats with a commanding, theatrical stage presence. His blend of technical finesse and showmanship makes him a standout force in today’s extreme‑metal landscape.

Anchoring the low end, Kenji Tsunami injects depth and texture with inventive, hard-hitting bass lines. His formidable musicianship and commanding presence add another layer to the band’s overwhelming wall of sound, amplifying the ferocity of their live performances.

Together, Dallas, Austin, and Kenji form a unit that is both unstoppable and uncompromising, captivating audiences with explosive performances and boundary-pushing compositions. With their collective skill and vision, Narcotic Wasteland stands tall as one of the most formidable powerhouses in extreme music today.

Praise the Beast North American Tour 2026
w/ BELPHEGOR, Incantation, Hate, Narcotic Wasteland

Feb-19 – Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Monarch
Feb-20 – Lowell, MA – Taffeta Music Hall
Feb-21 – Montreal, QC – Le Studio TD
Feb-22 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace
Feb-23 – Lakewood, OH – Mercury Music Hall
Feb-24 – Joliet, IL – The Forge
Feb-26 – Denver, CO – HQ
Feb-27 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad
Feb-28 – Haltom City, TX – Haltom Theater
Mar-1 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar
Mar-2 – San Antonio, TX – Paper Tiger
Mar-5 – Mesa, AZ – The Rosetta Room
Mar-6 – San Diego, CA – Brick by Brick
Mar-7 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge
Mar-8 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post
Mar-9 – Los Angeles, CA – 1720
Mar-10 – Anaheim, CA – The Observatory

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

– 30 –

“”Narcotic Wasteland dropped a caustic, pissed off new single titled “Barbarian” off their forthcoming album Digital Cordyceps. Though we don’t know too much about said album, Toler-Wade explained that the new track was essentially one big middle finger to the ruling class.” – Metal Sucks

“We’ve got the latest and greatest from drug-themed death dealers Narcotic Wasteland, the new video for “Victims of the Algorithm.” The song takes on lightning-fast and heavy riffs, in the tradition of the band, and the lyrics tackle our dependence on social media in the modern age.” – Decibel Magazine

“Narcotic Wasteland have hit us with another dark, campy gem in the form of “Sex, Lies & DNA.” The thrashy, aggressive new single is the latest from the band led by Dallas Toler-Wade of Nile fame. This track features guest vocals from Andrea_N_Black and takes on the beloved death metal fodder of true crime.” – Decibel Magazine

“Narcotic Wasteland showcases Toler-Wade’s penchant for writing killer riffs, which he did for a decade as a member of Nile, in a manner that’s reminiscent of early 1990s metal — when the lines between the “thrash” and “death” tags weren’t as rigidly defined, and everything just sounded fast and heavy as all hell.” – Denver Westword (NW Headlines Denver DeathFest 2023)

“Delirium Tremens is just pummeling, non-stop death metal that covers a ton of ground.” – Metal Injection

“More often than not, death metal bands have a tendency to stick to the familiar topics. Death, gore, killing – that sort of thing. There’s always exceptions, or bands that have a different take on the subject, but as they say, dark music demands dark themes. Narcotic Wasteland does, for one of its lyrical slants, face a slightly different (yet still suiting) take – that of addiction. Plenty of grim to still go around with such a concept, and Narcotic Wasteland hits just as hard sonically as any other death metal act to come through the pipeline.” – Dead Rhetoric

“another incredible death metal album that has the potential to end itself up on the year end top album lists.” – Metal Nexus (2017 – Delirium Tremens)

“On the track, Toler-Wade furiously rails against “expectations,” “silly rules,” and “fucking filters,” and victoriously celebrates being “totally free” with a repeated battle cry of “Let the music flow!” In case there was still any remaining doubt as to the meaning of the song, the track is as magnificently brutal an old school death metal song as you’re likely to hear this season. It gallops, it lacerates, it uses the listener’s skull as a battering ram. There can be no doubt that this truly is Toler-Wade, undiluted and free of limitations. We hope he lets this music flow for a long time to come.” – Metal Sucks (single Return to the Underground off 2017 album Delirium Tremens)

“Narcotic Wasteland have released a fantastic album in ‘Delirium Tremens’. It is not easy to thrust the listener consistently into an aural landscape orchestrated by the band and make them stay put for the entire length of the album. Narcotic Wasteland does it brilliantly as they take you through the nightmarish journey of Delirium Tremens.” – Metal Wani (2017 – Delirium Tremens)

—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia

0 Gore House Productions – Slamming Death Metal INSECT INSIDE Unshackle The Savage Single “Fragments” From New Album “Reborn in Blight” Out March 2026

February 17, 2026
by Asher
· Insect Inside (Gore House Productions) · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 17, 2026

Slamming Death Metal INSECT INSIDE Unshackle The Savage Single “Fragments”

New Album “Reborn in Blight” Out March 2026 via Gore House Productions

Slamming death metal force Insect Inside has announced the next single from their upcoming full‑length “Reborn in Blight,” set for release March 6th, 2026, through Gore House Productions. The new track, “Fragments,” arrives as the band’s most concise and chaotic offering yet, an explosive preview of the raw, atmospheric brutality that defines the album.

Short, savage, and deliberately unrelenting, “Fragments” distills everything Insect Inside loves about death metal into one violent burst: chaos, groove, and a sinister, suffocating atmosphere. Though brief, the track serves as a mission statement for the band’s evolved sound, leaner, darker, and more visceral than ever.

“It’s one of the short tracks, but that’s for the better. Here we organically fit everything we like in death metal—chaos, groove, and a sinister atmosphere,” the band explains.

Listen to “Fragments” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAFogrHeAtk

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/album/7d8Bz11aiZNYq83KOVL8Iy

“Reborn in Blight” marks the band’s second full‑length album and their most ambitious work to date. Written remotely across multiple cities, the record is the result of a highly collaborative process, with nearly every member contributing to its creation. The band describes the album as a symbiosis of groove‑driven slam and dark brutal death metal, wrapped in a gloomy, oppressive atmosphere.

Lyrically, the album continues Insect Inside’s signature world‑building: short, apocalyptic stories about humanity’s extinction and the rise of an insectoid race. The tone shifts with the music; more atmospheric tracks draw out more poetic, abyss‑gazing imagery.

The album also features standout guest appearances, including Mr. Ochoa (Cephalotripsy) on the crushing single “Abhorrent Landscape” and Josh Welshman (Defeated Sanity) on the devastating “Hiveborn Abomination”.

Alongside “Fragments,” the album’s previously released singles showcase the range of brutality fans can expect: “Hiveborn Abomination,” one of the album’s most powerful tracks, is fast, atmospheric, and sharpened by Josh Welshman’s (Defeated Sanity) unmistakable guest-vocal assault. “Carnal Ruins”, a tribute to the New York death metal lineage, Soils of Fate, Internal Bleeding, Dying Fetus, built on hardcore groove and no‑frills violence.

Formed out of the Eastern European underground, Insect Inside emerged from the Chelyabinsk death metal scene with a simple goal: play tight, aggressive slam. What began as cover sessions quickly evolved into original material, shaped by influences like Disentomb, Relics of Humanity, Cryptopsy, Defeated Sanity, and Vulvectomy.

The lineup includes several veterans of the brutal death metal circuit: Bogdan (bass) (Cold Blooded Murder, Traumatomy), Pavel (guitar) (Ocean In My Bath), Daniel (vocals) (Nauseating, Morphogenetic Malformation), and Ivan (drums) (Nauseating).

With “Reborn in Blight,” Insect Inside pushes deeper into darkness, delivering a record built for mosh pits, gym sessions, and anyone craving oppressive, atmospheric brutality. And with more material already in the works, the swarm is only beginning.

Recommended for fans of Internal Bleeding, Stabbing, Devourment, and Disfigurement of Flesh, “Reborn in Blight” will be available March 6, 2026, via Gore House Productions.

Pre‑orders are now live on Digital, Vinyl, CD, and Cassette: https://orcd.co/reborn-in-blight

Previous Singles:

“Hiveborn Abomination” with guest vocals from Josh Welshman of Defeated Sanity – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhaFr5xtoEo

“Carnal Ruins” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3wB_kSpCzY

Track Listing:
1. Echoes Of The Swallowed Sinners – 3:31
2. Abhorrent Landscape (feat. Cephalotripsy) – 2:54
3. Fragments – 2:18
4. Putrid Lament – 3:35
5. Hiveborn Abomination (feat. Defeated Sanity) – 2:51
6. Flesh Cathedral – 3:00
7. Obscuration Worship – 1:20
8. Carnal Ruins – 2:45
9. Parasite Messiah (feat. Pestilectomy) – 3:29
10. Reborn In Blight – 5:22

Album and Live Band Line Up:
Daniel Sementsov – Drums
Bogdan Pisavnin – Bass
Pavel Pleshkov – Guitar
Ivan Tyulkin – Vocals

More info:

https://gorehouseproductions.com/

https://www.facebook.com/insectinsideslam

https://www.instagram.com/insect_inside

-30-

“Insect Inside relies on unpredictability to elevate beyond the brutal stereotype. Shifting tempos, groovy rhythms, technical leads, pinch harmonics, and flashes of dissonance keep its grinding slams and beatdown sections from growing too stagnant… Insect Inside’s The First Shining of New Genus offers concussive slam that will get you buzzing.” – Angry Metal Guy

“A surprisingly level of hookiness invades Insect Inside, while they still deliver on all of the body-crippling violence you would expect from such an act. The First Shining of New Genus is a release that you can groove along with in addition to getting your daily dose of utter brutality.” – Dead Rhetoric

—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook – Asher Media Relations
Instagram – AsherMedia
Tweet – AsherMedia

0 THE DIVINE PROJECT Unleash Video “Don’t Startle The Murder” Off New “Rebirth” EP + Ontario March Mayhem 2026 Tour w/ SELIAS

February 17, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · The Divine Project

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 17, 2026

THE DIVINE PROJECT Unleash Video “Don’t Startle The Murder” Off New “Rebirth” EP

Ontario March Mayhem 2026 Tour w/ SELIAS

TDP – L-R – Mitch Greenham (Drums) | Eric Divine (Guitar) | Ro Stevens (vocals) | Derek ‘DRock’ Boshkov (Bass) | David T.Anselmo (Guitar)

Photo by: Ivan Gaitan-Ruiz (IG: @pato.feoart)

Canadian metal act The Divine Project has officially re‑emerged with “Rebirth,” a ferocious and emotionally charged EP that marks the beginning of a new chapter for the band. Faster, heavier, and more complex than anything in their catalogue, “Rebirth” is a declaration of intent, a sharpened, revitalized version of The Divine Project that refuses to be ignored.

The band is sharing their latest music video for “Don’t Startle The Murder”, as well as a run of March tour dates across Ontario with SELIAS, bringing their high‑energy, pit‑starting live show to fans new and old (dates listed below).

“Rebirth” is a four‑track journey through resistance, collapse, danger, and endurance. Written as the band’s official relaunch, the EP blends modern metal, groove, djent, metalcore, and cinematic aggression into a sound that fans struggle to categorize, but instantly recognize.

The EP was built on a strict philosophy: If the five of them can’t play it live, it doesn’t go on the record. Every sound on “Rebirth” is performed live without essential backing tracks.

Pre‑production was done entirely in‑house, with demos so polished that Eardrum Valley Records used the original guitar and bass tracks in the final mix. Only drums and vocals were re‑recorded in the studio.

The band has released a new music video for “Don’t Startle The Murder”, the EP’s most volatile and cinematic track. The song’s title is intentional wordplay; a “murder” is a group of crows, and the lyrics explore the predatory nature of self‑righteous authority figures. A fun fact about the track is that the Latin‑inspired bridge features percussion recorded using children’s toys, a plastic maraca, and a clapper, after the band realized they had no Latin instruments on hand during vocal tracking.

The video amplifies the song’s tension, psychological pressure, and explosive energy, capturing the essence of The Divine Project’s new era.

Watch and listen to the music video “Don’t Startle The Murder” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQ3fpbeu_f8

Hailing from the Greater Toronto Area, The Divine Project blends hard rock and metal into a sound that is raw, emotive, and aggressively modern. Their electrifying live performances have earned them direct support slots for Eyes Set To Kill, Black Satellite, Awake At Last, Sumo Cyco, and Escape The Fate.

Each member brings a distinct musical background, from djent and deathcore to nu‑metal, funk, prog, and 80s metal, creating a signature sound that fans say reminds them of Trivium, Linkin Park, Killswitch Engage, Static‑X, and All That Remains, while still being unmistakably TDP.

The band is already deep into their next EP, heading into the studio this April. While “Rebirth” is fueled by anger, speed, and defiance, the next release explores darker emotional territory, a lonesome story with a faint glimmer of light.

“Rebirth,” released November 28, 2025, is available at the following links:

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/album/1ROxx7e7BhrPDtZizNhsNk

Bandcamp – https://thedivineproject.bandcamp.com/album/rebirth

Track Listing:
1. The Revolt (3:46)
2. Ruins Of Truth (3:27)
3. Don’t Startle The Murder (4:18)
4. The Longest Night (5:53)
EP Length: 17:24

The Divine Project will bring “Rebirth” to the stage this March with a series of Ontario shows featuring their signature high‑energy, crowd‑driven performance. Known for jumping into the pit, starting mosh circles, and feeding off fan energy, the band promises a live experience that is intense, immersive, and unforgettable.

March Mayhem 2026 Tour w/ Selias, The Divine Project
Ticket info – https://www.tdp-official.com/event-list
March 13 – The Richmond Tavern – London, ON
March 14 – The Atria – Oshawa, ON
March 27 – See Scape – Toronto, ON

More info:

https://www.tdp-official.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thedivineproject/

https://www.instagram.com/TheDivineProject

-30-

“… I’m simply left wanting more. Not from the track itself, but from an EP whose tracks each bring their own texturally layered elements, all melded together in an extraordinary Extended Play recording.” – Jay Broderick, LoudTO, 2025

“You know a band is special when they have a truly unique sound. Those were my thoughts when I gave this EP a listen.” – “Metal” Mike, @black_kross_zine, 2026)

—–
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook – Asher Media Relations
Instagram – AsherMedia
Tweet – AsherMedia

0 THUNDEROR Shares New Video “One Chance” From Rock‑Opera Album “Bleed For It” Out April 2026 + Canada Tour w/ BURNING WITCHES + EU Tour w/ CHRIS HOLMES (W.A.S.P.)

February 17, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · Thunderor

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – February 17, 2026

THUNDEROR Shares New Video “One Chance” From Rock‑Opera Album “Bleed For It” Out April 2026

+ Canada Tour w/ BURNING WITCHES + EU Tour w/ CHRIS HOLMES (W.A.S.P.)

Thunderor L-R: Brycen Gunn (Bass) | JJ Tartaglia (Vocals, Drums, Keys) | Jonny Nesta (Guitar)
Photo Credit – Rae Chatten

Canadian arena‑rock heavy metal power trio THUNDEROR ignites the next chapter of their high‑flying saga with the release of their brand‑new single “One Chance”, accompanied by an official music video. The track serves as the next glimpse into their upcoming concept album, “Bleed For It,” arriving April 17, 2026, via Boonsdale Records.

The band will support the release with a full Canadian tour alongside Swiss heavy metal titans Burning Witches, followed by a European run with Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.), bringing THUNDEROR’s arena‑sized energy and rock‑opera theatrics to stages across two continents (dates listed below).

“One Chance” leans into the band’s heavier roots while keeping their unmistakable melodic punch. Frontman JJ Tartaglia explains:

“Feeling good about announcing the album with this track. It’s showing a little more of our Skull Fist roots, leaning more on the heavy metal side, while still having that big hook chorus. This one’s about romance, wanting that one chance with the one you want.”

The single’s video ties directly into the album’s overarching narrative, expanding the world of THUNDEROR’s rock‑opera universe.

Watch and listen to the music video for “One Chance” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnajB7jTY_Q

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/track/0WGK25nDTYwLRd6ZKvfNrH

“Bleed For It” serves as the official soundtrack to Thunderor The Musical, the band’s ambitious rock‑opera production that debuted at the Toronto Fringe Festival in 2025. Its artwork captures scenes from the stage show, setting the mood for a sweeping tale of adventure, danger, and heart. Set in an alternate 1992, the story follows Bowen, a washed‑up musician and biker, who finds renewed purpose through romance and one last grasp at glory. Joined by best friends Kenzie and Sheenah, along with a local friar, he’s pulled into a whirlwind of rival biker gangs, love triangles, and life‑or‑death choices, all told with the wild, youthful spirit of classic arena rock. Across its nine tracks, the album blends heavy metal, hair metal, and rock‑opera flair, from the explosive opener “Pump Up The Volume” and the anthemic title track “Bleed For It,” to the road‑trip escapades of “Take Me To The Show” and the pro‑wrestling‑fueled “Get ’Em Counted.” Emotional depth comes through in the heartfelt tribute “Cape Breton Home” and the Springsteen‑inspired “Streets of Fire,” while the heavy‑metal romance single “One Chance” adds longing to the journey. The instrumental “DreamQuest” builds toward the dramatic finale, “In The Fire O’ The Heat,” a powerful closer exploring heartbreak, betrayal, and resilience.

Tartaglia adds:

“The vocals are a vast improvement from the first album, and the songwriting has matured with more big anthem choruses. I hope this album inspires listeners to follow their dreams, let it be a soundtrack to your unbridled life adventures.”

THUNDEROR was formed in 2020 by multi‑JUNO‑nominated musicians JJ Tartaglia and Jonny Nesta (both known for their work in Skull Fist) to deliver hook‑driven anthems inspired by the golden age of arena rock. Their debut album, “Fire It Up” (2022), hit #1 on Earshot’s National Loud Chart, propelling the band onto international tours across Europe, Canada, Mexico, and South America alongside acts such as Airbourne, U.D.O., Enforcer, and Night Demon.

Their 2024 single “Get ’Em Counted” surpassed 230K YouTube views, building momentum toward their next evolution: a full‑scale rock opera. The 2025 debut of Thunderor The Musical introduced fans to a new narrative universe, one now fully realized on “Bleed For It.”

With improved vocals, bigger choruses, and a cinematic concept, “Bleed For It” promises to be THUNDEROR’s most ambitious and emotionally charged release yet. If you crave escape, adventure, romance, and danger, the band invites you to ride with them into the storm.

Recommended for fans of The Darkness, Skull Fist, Ghost, and Night Flight Orchestra.

Due out on April 17th, 2026, via Boonsdale Records, “Bleed For It” is available for Vinyl pre-order and digital pre-save at the following links:

CAN/ Worldwide – https://boonsdale.bigcartel.com/

Europe – LP/CD – https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/

Track Listing:
1. Pump Up The Volume (3:42)
2. Bleed For It (4:06)
3. Take Me To The Show (4:09)
4. Get ‘Em Counted (3:19)
5. Cape Breton Home (3:33)
6. Streets Of Fire (4:16)
7. One Chance (3:40)
8. DreamQuest (1:29)
9. In The Fire O’ The Heat (4:19)
Total: 33:11

Album and Live Band Line Up:
JJ Tartaglia – Vocals, Drums, Keys
Jonny Nesta – Guitar
Brycen Gunn – Bass

Canada Tour 2026 with Burning Witches
April 20 – Piranha Bar – Montreal, QC
April 21 – La Source De La Martiniere – Quebec City, QC
April 22 – Rainbow Bistro – Ottawa, ON
April 23 – The Garrison – Toronto, ON

Scandinavia Tour 2026 with HOLMES (The Sound of WASP)
May 15 – Nordic Noise – Copenhagen, Denmark
May 16 – Godset – Kolding, Denmark
May 21 – Willemeen – Arnhem, Netherlands
May 22 – Iduna – Drachten, Netherlands
May 23 – South of Heaven – Bilzen, Belgium
May 27 – The Abyss – Gothenburg, Sweden
May 28 – Muskelrock – Blädinge, Sweden
May 29 – Lokstallet – Skövde, Sweden
May 30 – Gjerdrum Rock Club – Gjerdrum, Norway
May 31 – Sjøboden Live Scene – Mandal, Norway

For more info:

https://boonsdalerecords.com/thunderor/

https://www.facebook.com/ThunderorOfficial

https://www.instagram.com/thunderor_official/

– 30 –

“There must be room somewhere between Steel Panther, The Darkness and The Night Flight Orchestra!” – Metal Hammer

“Thunderor are back with a new fist pumping anthem, the single ‘Pump Up The Volume’ is here and it’s the first track from their forthcoming album “Bleed For It” coming in March. Speedy riffs with plenty of energy to match, ‘Pump Up The Volume’ also pulls in those classic metal vibes and you can almost smell the studded leather. Mix in a blistering 6-string solo and what more could you ask for? Catch it right here on your Home for the Best New Rock… W-J-O-EEEE” – WJOE – Findlay’s Home for Rock & Roll

“The bottom line for THUNDEROR is that a listen is urgently required. Those who like the singing will have a lot of fun with the CD” – Vampster

“If you’re looking for a solid rock record that’s equal parts pop and metal, Fire It Up could be your jam. The songs are well crafted, catchy and fun road companions. Take it on your next drive or spin it at Saturday’s kegger. Thunderor takes not being serious very seriously. They recaptured the spirit of 80s rock staples like Ozzy to Journey but also managed to put their own stamp on it. Not many throwback NWOTHM acts succeed in putting this much character in their sound.” – Angry Metal Guy

“The moment I first heard “How We Roll,” I knew I was in trouble…and instantly hooked. Other numbers like “All or Nothing,” “On the Run,” “We Can Make It,” and the epic title track, infuse multiple sub-genres like thrash, power, and synth metal, and are the type of adventurous anthems that make life still feel like it’s worth living even on its darkest of days.” – Rewind It Magazine

“The spirit of the glorious 80’s is omnipresent on the debut, those who like authentic 80’s sound should definitely check out.” 8/10” – Rock It!

“The good mood album of the season comes from Canada. Crisp, consistently catchy songs with excellent guitar work, sometimes enhanced with appropriate keyboard sounds.” 8,5/10” – Deaf Forever

“There must be room somewhere between Steel Panther, The Darkness and The Night Flight Orchestra!” – Metal Hammer

“Thunderor the Musical is infectious, hard-rocking comic book fun that blows the roof off the place – I smiled my way through the whole show – I bet you will, too.” – Sesaya Arts Magazine

“Thunderor the Musical is raucous fun with shredding guitars and driving drums… filled with catchy anthems, flawlessly performed by powerhouse musicians.” – Grind Mag

“I’m always impressed when a drummer handles lead vocals, especially in metal, where the physical demands of drumming are intense. JJ Tartaglia nailed it, delivering flawless vocals without missing a drum beat.” – Allfather Metal

—

ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook – Asher Media Relations
Instagram – AsherMedia
Tweet – AsherMedia

0 EPK – Thunderor – Bleed For It (2026) (Boonsdale Records)

February 17, 2026
by Asher
· EPKs · Thunderor

EPK – Thunderor – Bleed For It (2026) (Boonsdale Records)

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

“I hope that this album will inspire listeners to follow their dreams, let it be a soundtrack to your unbridled life adventures.” – JJ Tartaglia – Thunderor

For fans of The Darkness, Skull Fist, Ghost, Night Flight Orchestra

Band: Thunderor
Album Title: Bleed For It
Release Date: April 17, 2026
Label: Boonsdale Records
Genre: Heavy Metal
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

Boonsdalerecords.com/thunderor | Facebook.com/ThunderorOfficial | Instagram.com/thunderor_official | Youtube.com/@BOONSDALE | Musicnovascotia.ca/artist/thunderor/

Thunderor.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music

Canada Tour 2026 with Burning Witches
April 20 – Piranha Bar – Montreal, QC
April 21 – La Source De La Martiniere – Quebec City, QC
April 22 – Rainbow Bistro – Ottawa, ON
April 23 – The Garrison – Toronto, ON

Scandinavia Tour 2026 with HOLMES (The Sound of WASP)
May 15 – Nordic Noise – Copenhagen, Denmark
May 16 – Godset – Kolding, Denmark
May 21 – Willemeen – Arnhem, Netherlands
May 22 – Iduna – Drachten, Netherlands
May 23 – South of Heaven – Bilzen, Belgium
May 27 – The Abyss – Gothenburg, Sweden
May 28 – Muskelrock – Blädinge, Sweden
May 29 – Lokstallet – Skövde, Sweden
May 30 – Gjerdrum Rock Club – Gjerdrum, Norway
May 31 – Sjøboden Live Scene – Mandal, Norway

“The spirit of the glorious 80’s is omnipresent on the debut, those who like authentic 80’s sound should definitely check out.” 8/10” – Rock It!

“There must be room somewhere between Steel Panther, The Darkness and The Night Flight Orchestra!” – Metal Hammer

“Thunderor the Musical is infectious, hard-rocking comic book fun that blows the roof off the place – I smiled my way through the whole show – I bet you will, too.” – Sesaya Arts Magazine

“Thunderor the Musical is raucous fun with shredding guitars and driving drums… filled with catchy anthems, flawlessly performed by powerhouse musicians.” – Grind Mag

[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]

Band: Thunderor
Album Title: Bleed For It
Release Date: April 17, 2026
Label: Boonsdale Records
Genre: Heavy Metal
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada

Track Listing:
1. Pump Up The Volume (3:42)
2. Bleed For It (4:06)
3. Take Me To The Show (4:09)
4. Get ‘Em Counted (3:19)
5. Cape Breton Home (3:33)
6. Streets Of Fire (4:16)
7. One Chance (3:40)
8. DreamQuest (1:29)
9. In The Fire O’ The Heat (4:19)
Total: 33:11

Album Recording Credits:
• Songs written by: JJ Tartaglia, Jonny Nesta
• Vocals, Drums, Keys: JJ Tartaglia
• Guitars: Jonny Nesta
• Bass (tracks 1,2): Brycen Gunn
• Bass (tracks 3-7,9): Oscar Anesetti
• Additional Keys (tracks 3,4,7): Anthony Pannozzo
• Fiddle (track 5): Colin Grant
• Produced by: JJ Tartaglia
• Mixed by: Chris Snow
• Mastered by: Kristian Montano
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Album and Live Band Line Up:
JJ Tartaglia – Vocals, Drums, Keys
Jonny Nesta – Guitar
Brycen Gunn – Bass

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

About The Album Artwork:

The album art shows different scenes of the story of ‘Thunderor The Musical’

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

The whole album is somewhat of a concept album as it tells the story of ‘Thunderor The Musical’: a tale of adventure and romance in the face of mortality, hearkening back to the glory days of arena rock, wild and restless, as a young group of would-be rockers head out on an impromptu adventure in a time of danger and hope.

The year is 1992, in a tumultuous alternate universe, Bowen, a has-been musician and biker, finds himself inspired by romance and gives one more shot at glory. Joined by love-hungry best friends Kenzie and Sheenah, and a local friar, they find themselves in the face of a rival biker leader, and thrown into an unexpected journey. Through danger, good times, and love triangles, the troupe are thrown into the trials of life, riding against the wind and never looking back.Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Pump Up The Volume – This one is a fun track, a good pump-up song before a night out or a big event. The middle section is really meant for live, to get the audience pumping.

2. Bleed For It – This song is the essence of the album; it all revolves and comes back to this theme of bleeding for something. It’s a real anthem with some Twisted Sister vibes.

3. Take Me To The Show – Simply about friends travelling to go to a rock/metal show and all of the adventures that come with that.

4. Get ‘Em Counted – This one’s about pro wrestling! Mainly written for my brother Remy, aka Clash Kincade, who also stars in the music video.

5. Cape Breton Home – Wrote this one as a tribute to back home, Cape Breton Island. Features the great Colin Grant on the fiddle.

6. Streets Of Fire – A soundtrack for revolution. Danger, chaos, clashes in the streets, the people rallying together. Some Bruce Springsteen influence shining through here.

7. One Chance – Leaning more on the heavy metal side here, lyrically, it’s about romance, wanting that one chance with the one you want.

8. DreamQuest – Instrumental bit meant as an epic intro leading to the final song, the climax.

9. In The Fire O’ The Heat – This final opus is about being in Hell. Not physically, but mentally. Love gone wrong, choices gone wrong, betrayal, left alone with the pieces. Albeit still with a glimmer of hope, resilience.

Thunderor L-R: Brycen Gunn (Bass) | JJ Tartaglia (Vocals, Drums, Keys) | Jonny Nesta (Guitar)
Photo Credit – Rae Chatten

Formed in 2020 by multi-JUNO-nominated musicians JJ Tartaglia and Jonny Nesta (also known for their work in Skull Fist), THUNDEROR delivers hook-driven anthems to the caliber set by their arena-rock predecessors, infused with elements of heavy metal, hair metal, and rock opera.

Their debut album, FIRE IT UP (2022), charted at #1 on Earshot’s National Loud Chart in Canada, quickly establishing the band as a rising force in the global metal scene. Extensive tours across Europe, Canada, Mexico, and South America followed, with Thunderor sharing stages alongside major acts such as Airbourne, U.D.O., Enforcer, and Night Demon.

In May 2024, the single “Get ‘Em Counted” amassed over 230K views on YouTube, further fueling anticipation for the band’s next chapter. In the summer of 2025, Thunderor unveiled Thunderor the Musical at the Toronto Fringe Festival—a bold rock opera production featuring a full cast and unreleased material that now forms the backbone of their forthcoming sophomore album.

Set for release in April 2026, the new album will feature the high-energy singles such as “Pump Up The Volume” and “One Chance” that embody the band’s uplifting spirit and theatrical flair. With improved vocals, bigger anthem choruses, and a concept-driven narrative, the record promises to be both a soundtrack to the musical and a standalone heavy metal experience.

If you’ve ever felt a longing for escape, a thirst for adventure, wrapped in romance and danger, allow THUNDEROR to be your soundtrack!

Discography:
2026 – Bleed For It – LP
2022 – Fire It Up – LP

Artits Endorsements: Pearl Drums, Ahead Drumsticks

Shared Stage with: Airbourne, Enforcer, Night Demon

Upcoming Festivals:
May 15, 2026 – Nordic Noise, DK
May 28, 2026 – Muskelrock, SE
June 2026 – NXNE – Toronto, ONUpcoming Tours:Canada Tour w/ Burning Witches
April 20 – Piranha Bar – Montreal, QC
April 21 – La Source De La Martiniere – Quebec City
April 22 – The Brass Monkey – Ottawa, ON
April 23 – The Garrison – Toronto, ONEurope Tour w/ HOLMES (The Sound of WASP)
May 15, 2026 – Nordic Noise, DK
May 16, 2026 – Godset – Kolding, DK
May 21, 2026 – Willemeen – Arnhem, NL)
May 22, 2026 – Iduna – Drachten,
May 23, 2026 – South Of Heaven – Bilzen, BE
May 27, 2026 – The Abyss – Gothenburg, SE
May 28, 2026 – Muskelrock – Bladinge, SE
May 29, 2026 – Lokstallet – Skovde, SE
May 30, 2026 – Gjerdrum Rock Club – Gjerdrum, NO
May 31, 2026 – Sjoboden – Mandal, NOPast Festivals:
July 3-12, 2025 – Toronto Fringe Festival, ON
May 8-9, 2025 – ECMA, St. John’s, NL
May 4, 2024 – Gladbeck Metal Bash, DE
Jun 9, 2023 – NADA Fest, PT
July 31, 2022 – Loud As Hell, AB
June 5, 2022 – Muskelrock, SE
May 27, 2022 – Metalheadz Open Air, DEPast Tours:Canada Dates 2025 w/ Wildstreet
20.11.25 Bovine, Toronto
21.11.25 Piranha Bar, MontrealEurope Tour 2024 w/ Tytus
01.05.24 Putzer Bikerfest – Natz-Schabs, IT
02.05.24 Schwarzer Keiler – Stuttgart, DE
03.05.24 South of Heaven – Bilzen, BE
04.05.24 Gladbeck Metal Bash Open Air, DE
05.05.24 Sound Dog – Breda, NL
06.05.24 Logo – Hamburg, DE
07.05.24 Reset Club – Berlin, DE
08.05.24 Black Label – Leipzig, DE
09.05.24 Paunchy Cats – Lichtenfels, DE
10.05.24 Escape – Vienna, AT
11.05.24 Gustaf Pekarna- Maribor, SI
12.05.24 Meskio Bar – Caneva, ITEurope Tour 2023 w/ Kryptos
04.06.23 Fredagsmangel – Stockholm, SE
05.06.23 HM Army Rockclub – Sandviken, SE
06.06.23 Oceanen – Gothenburg, SE
07.06.23 Bastard Club – Osnabrück, DE
08.06.23 Bambi Galore – Hamburg, DE
09.06.23 NADA Fest – Beja, PT
10.06.23 Sala Silikona – Madrid, ES
11.06.23 Razzmatazz 3 – Barcelona, ES

South America 2023 w/ Enforcer
22.02.2023 – Midas Music, Montevideo
25.02.2023 – Hangar 110, Sao Paulo

Canada Tour 2022 w/ Night Demon
20.09.22 – Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar
21.09.22 – Ottawa , ON @ Brass Monkey
22.09.22 – Toronto, ON @ Rockpile
23.09.22 – St. John’s, NL @ Columbus Hall

Mexico Tour 2022 w/ Airbourne
03.09.2022 – C3 Stage, Guadalajara
04.09.2022 – Café Iguana, Monterrey
06.09.2022 – Circo Volador, Mexico City

Europe Tour 2022 w/ Traveler
27.05.22 – Metalheadz Open Air [DE]
28.05.22 – MKNZ – Ilirska Bistrica [SI]
05.06.22 – Muskelrock Festival [SE]
07.06.22 – Copenhagen – Stengade [DK]
08.06.22 – Weimar – Kasseturm [DE]
09.06.22 – Kassel – Goldgrube [DE]
10.06.22 – Oberhausen – Emscherdamm [DE]
11.06.22 – De Verlichte Geest – Roeselare [BE]
12.06.22 – Hamburg – Bambi Galore [DE]
13.06.22 – Pisek – Divadlo Pod Carou [CZ]
14.06.22 – Vienna – Escape [AT]
15.06.22 – Selb – Rockclub Nordbayern [DE]

0 EPK – The Divine Project – Rebirth (2025)

February 15, 2026
by Asher
· EPKs · The Divine Project

EPK – The Divine Project – Rebirth (2025)

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

“We set the goals to reintroduce The Divine Project to the world as a faster, heavier, and more complex band. We made sure we came out swinging and wrote music intended to punch everyone in the face. We were determined, focused, and angry when we made this EP, and we didn’t give a damn what people thought of us. It’s a blend of the music we love, while telling stories of the life we hate. Rebirth is our new beginning and our way of saying The Divine Project is here to stay.” – The Divine Project

For fans of Trivium, Linkin Park, Killswitch Engage, Static-X, All That Remains

Band: The Divine Project
EP Title: Rebirth
Release Date: November 28, 2025
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: DECM Records
Genre: Modern/Alternative Metal
Location of Band: Toronto, ON, Canada

TDP-Official.com | Facebook.com/TheDivineProject | Youtube.com/@TheDivineProject | Instagram.com/TheDivineProject

Thedivineproject.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music | Tidal

“You know a band is special when they have a truly unique sound. Those were my thoughts when I gave this EP a listen.” – “Metal” Mike, @black_kross_zine, 2026)

March Mayhem 2026 Tour w/ Selias, The Divine Project
Ticket info – https://www.tdp-official.com/event-list
March 13 – The Richmond Tavern – London, ON
March 14 – The Atria – Oshawa, ON
March 27 – See Scape – Toronto, ON

[Download EP Cover | Download EP Lyrics]

Track Listing:
1. The Revolt (3:46)
2. Ruins Of Truth (3:27)
3. Don’t Startle The Murder (4:18)
4. The Longest Night (5:53)
EP Length: 17:24

EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: The Divine Project
• All songs written by: The Divine Project
• All lyrics written by: Eric Rivera, Roman Petryga
• Produced by: David T. Anselmo, Mitchell Greenham
• Mixed by: David T. Anselmo, Caleb Hyde
• Mastered by: Caleb Hyde
• Album Artwork by: David T. Anselmo, Roman Petryga
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

EP and Live Band Line Up:
Ro Stevens – Vocals
Eric Divine – Founder/Guitar
David T. Anselmo – Guitar
Derek ‘DRock’ Boshkov – Bass
Mitch Greenham – Drums

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

About The EP Artwork:

(David – Guitar)
The name “Rebirth” is inspired by our new line-up and era for The Divine Project. We wanted to avoid the cliche of “reincarnation of a phoenix from the ashes”-style imagery, but still have this sort of fantastical, “Final Fantasy-esque” element to the artwork for our first EP. That’s when Ro brought us the idea of the angel, which checks the boxes and also aligns more closely with the theme of our band. (Divine, ergo Angel, you get it.) This is why the angel is forming up from dust, holding up the staff, kind of breaking through the void. We’ve yet to start working on the design or title for our follow-up EP, but based on the feelings we get from the music itself, you can expect it to be dark, lonesome, and a bit uncomfortable.

Another fun fact: for Rebirth, the staff that the angel is holding is somewhat a 3D rendering of an idea that we had for a band emblem. We figured that’s what it would look like in ‘real life’. About the EP as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Rebirth is a heavy, emotionally-charged EP that moves through resistance, disillusionment, danger, and ultimately endurance. Across the four tracks, we blend our love for all genres of metal while trying to create music that hits with real weight but still feels built for connection and release. The EP’s emotional thread is transformation through conflict. It begins with defiance and uprising (“The Revolt”), descends into fractured belief and emotional ruin (“Ruins of Truth”), spikes into volatile psychological tension (“Don’t Startle The Murder”), and closes with a long-form survival anthem that tells a story of a final turning point (“The Longest Night”). For us, Rebirth ultimately lives up to its name. Not as a clean reset, but as a hard-earned return for The Divine Project; fighting our way through the collapse of old truths, and emerging with something stronger, sharper, and more alive.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. The Revolt
Musically – The Revolt launches the EP with urgency and a kick in the ass. It’s a modern metal track driven by tight, punchy drums and aggressive guitar work that feels both militant and anthemic. With a balance of heaviness with clarity and a chorus that is made to hit live – big, propulsive, and emotionally direct. The Revolt is made to please the crowd and to incite an epic mosh pit.

Lyrically – The Revolt is a song about the powers to be trying to hold us down. It’s about the hypocrisy of violent, ‘self-justified’ power structures that bring the cyclical nature of revolution. It sounds like a battle cry on the surface, but it is more about being self-aware and uncomfortable, forcing us to open our eyes and see what’s happening around us. It’s not a simple ‘rise up’ anthem; it’s a warning. If we don’t take action now to prevent this life cycle from repeating, we will fall into a state of “us versus them.” When this happens, we must fight for a change, knowing that change may bring destruction. We must talk about The Revolt now, to prevent it from occurring.

2. Ruins of Truth
Musically, Ruins of Truth shifts into a darker, more atmospheric space. It is less about pure momentum and more about tension, weight, and emotional gravity. The guitars, bass, and drums lock into a heavier groove and create a sense of collapse and aftermath while the vocals carry a haunted intensity. We would call this our “nu-groove metal” type of song, which will help get the heads nodding.

Lyrically, Ruins of Truth is about false leaders and their imposing their beliefs onto us. It’s about a society in moral, psychological, and ideological collapse. We are trapped between extremes, manipulated to slowly surrender our humanity through division; yet somehow, there are people out there who follow. Even today, as a country, we are forced to cooperate with our neighbours while their leader only shows us tyranny.

3. Don’t Startle The Murder
Musically, Don’t Startle The Murder is the EP’s most volatile and striking track. It is sharp, unpredictable, and charged with menace. It leans into a more aggressive and cinematic edge, with riffs and rhythmic turns that feel like they are constantly tightening the screws, and a bridge that takes the listener in a totally new direction and genre. The vocals are meant to move between restraint and explosion, giving the song a sense of danger and psychological pressure. It’s djent, it’s trash, it’s fucking heavy!

Lyrically, Don’t Startle The Murder is a story from the perspective of someone who has been attacked by those who call themselves righteous. They watch as these people prey on the weak and vulnerable, as they are ‘easy’ targets – like a crow that only feeds on what’s already dead or dying. This person sees what the righteous are capable of doing, but also watches as their way of life slowly destroys them from the inside. For them, greed, not God, is the real driving force, but every action has a reaction, and consequences are inevitable. It is the moment when you realize the situation is not just broken; it is actively threatening. This is an angry song, but not a reckless one. The anger is controlled, aimed, and ethical. It speaks for the victim, not the executioner, and refuses to let the righteous ones hide.

4. The Longest Night
Musically, The Longest Night was designed to close out the EP. It is our most expansive and emotionally sweeping song. It takes its time, building from a tense, introspective mood into something larger and more anthemic, blending heaviness with a sense of endurance and calmness. We wanted to create something that leads into a wide, cinematic arc, that feels like that moment when you let go of that breath you’ve been holding on for so long. The vocals are less confrontational and more like survival; raw, exhausted, and determined. With a drum rhythm that’s designed to make you dance and guitars that showcase our love for 2000’s metalcore, The Longest Night is a collective favourite of all of us.

Lyrically, The Longest Night is a war-type story told from the perspective of ‘a soldier’. The song is about being used by their ‘leader’ (a higher power) and realizing too late that the cause that they fought for was a lie. This story is to help paint a picture that sometimes we do things we are told are right but end up being wrong. We are told to fight for what is just, but in fact is just a ploy. It shows that we are all human, all vulnerable, and sometimes can fall on the wrong side of history. It is a call back to yourself when you are disappearing inside the weight of everything. This isn’t a pro-war song, or a simple anti-war song – it’s a post-war reckoning. It honours the instinct we all have to protect each other, while telling the story of someone who fell for the system that exploits this instinct.

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

STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS ABOUT THE EP “Rebirth”:

1. All the pre-production/demo for Rebirth was done internally. We all have some sort of ‘home studio’ to make music, and David and Mitch are graduates from Metalworks Institute (Mississauga, Ontario) with diplomas as audio engineers. This allowed us to put together high-quality demos, which, in fact, were so well done that our engineer, who helped mix and master the EP (Eardrum Valley Records), was able to use the guitars and bass from the demos in the final production. Only drums and vocals were re-recorded in a live studio session.

2. Everything heard on the EP is performed live. Right now, we aren’t keen on making music that couldn’t be expressed properly with only the 5 of us on stage, so we avoided writing music for Rebirth that needs essential backing tracks to play live. Our motto was ‘if it can’t be played on our instruments, then we don’t do it’.

3. For the track ‘Don’t Startle The Murder’, during the bridge, you will hear additional percussion being played in the background. We decided during the vocal recording sessions that we wanted to add something to build the ‘Latin’ vibe that the bridge had. Unfortunately, we didn’t have access to any Latin instruments of sorts, so Derek brought in toys that his kids use for the percussion. This included a toy maraca and a clapper of sorts. We used these to make the background percussion sounds that you hear in the recording.

4. A lot of people have approached us asking if DSTM is actually supposed to be ‘Don’t Startle The Murderer’. The title is intentional as it’s a play on words. A group of crows is called a murder, and the chorus of the song screams out, ‘the crows will carve you out’. The title ‘Don’t Startle The Murder’ is a warning not to provoke these people (the crows), who tend to be in a higher place of authority.

5. The Longest Night wasn’t called that until the day before we submitted the EP for release. For the longest time (heh), it was called Wake Up, but we felt it didn’t properly express what we wanted to convey in a title. It’s definitely the favorite track in the EP amongst all the band members, so we wanted to find a really meaningful and profound name for it. After some hemming and hawing, we finally bit the bullet and finally settled on the tried and true “Name-the-song-after-the-significant-words-in-the-chorus” method and called it The Longest Night.

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:
1. Our mission is to bring music that’s considered ‘underground’ or ‘too heavy’ to the forefront of the industry.
2. Started as a solo project by Eric Divine, The Divine Project is now a staple in the Toronto music scene.
3. David T. Anselmo and Mitch Greenham are both graduates of Metalworks Institute.

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

L-R – Mitch Greenham (Drums) | Eric Divine (Guitar) | Ro Stevens (vocals) | Derek ‘DRock’ Boshkov (Bass) | David T.Anselmo (Guitar)

Photo by: Ivan Gaitan-Ruiz (IG: @pato.feoart)

Hailing from the Greater Toronto Area, The Divine Project is a powerful fusion of talent spanning the spectrum of hard rock to metal, igniting your ears with a sound that’s raw, emotive, and aggressive in style. With a mission to bring music that’s considered ‘underground’ or ‘too heavy’ to the forefront of the industry, The Divine Project is a force to be reckoned with. Energetic and charismatic, their one-of-a-kind live performance has found them as the direct city support for the likes of Eyes Set To Kill, Black Satellite, Awake At Last, Sumo Cyco, and Escape The Fate.

The Divine Project is recognized as a staple in the Ontario music scene. In 2025, TDP re- emerges to reach even greater heights, as founding guitarist Eric Divine leads the band with an all-new roster composed of frontman Ro Stevens, fellow guitarist David T. Anselmo, bassist Derek “DRock” Boshkov, and drummer Mitch Greenham.

Meet The Band

The Voice
Rø Stevens – Frontman
With nearly two decades of experience and 17 years commanding the frontlines, Ro Stevens is a powerhouse vocalist known for his undeniable stage presence and relentless energy. A true passion for metal fuels his music, but Ro’s versatile voice has led him through almost every genre, always with one goal in mind: to make the crowd lose themselves in the moment.

Ro’s dynamic performances are more than just music—they’re an experience. With the ability to ignite raw emotion and power from the first note, he creates a connection with his audience that’s felt deep in the soul. His voice is both fierce and captivating, demanding attention and giving back nothing less than pure energy in return.

The Divine Project stands as the embodiment of that energy, blending hard-hitting sound with an intense passion that only Ro can lead. This is no ordinary performance—this is the kind of show that leaves an imprint, every time.

The Founder
Eric Divine – Rhythm Guitar
As the founder of The Divine Project, Eric is “The Man with the Plan” and the driving force that has kept TDP alive year after year. A love-hate relation with his art, he leaves every ounce of emotion in the music he creates. Born to 80’s metal and raised in the nu-metal era, Eric brings his love of melodic, hard-hitting, intricate guitar playing to his own sound. With more stories to tell, he will not stop until The Divine Project is a name found in every household music collection.

The Engine
Mitch Greenham – Drums
With over fifteen years of drumming experience, Mitch is the rhythmic backline for The Divine Project. Evolving from the instrumental entity known as 1. O.M with lead guitarist David Anselmo, Mitch brings his expertise as a trained audio engineer alongside his musicianship, stemming from personal inspirations of Travis Orbin, Dan Presland, and Sebastian Lanser. Influenced by progressive metal, tech/ symphonic death metal, and avant-garde metal, Mitch aims to find an optimal blend of technicality and groove to create a unique but memorable musical experience.

The Muscle
Derek “DRock” Boshkov – Bass
As a child of the MuchMusic era, Derek draws inspiration from metal, pop-punk, nu-metal, grunge, and industrial, infused with Latin and Balkan influences from his own cultural upbringing. His unique bass tone blends deep, pulsing grooves with a high-energy edge, laying a powerful rhythmic foundation for The Divine Project. With over a decade of experience performing in the Toronto area with Swixblade, Zen in Chaos, and Be Kind, Rewind, he now channels his passion into creating music that is both crushingly heavy and beautifully intense, pushing sonic boundaries with raw energy, depth, and unfiltered power.

The Wings
David T. Anselmo – Lead Guitar
The Lead Guitarist for The Divine Project, and the brain behind the musical entity known as 1.O.M., whether on a fretboard or in a DAW, David is a font of creativity who strives to inject a wide variety of influences into his craft. A lover of heavy riffs and sonorous leads, but an avid fan of all things catchy, David favours synergizing the slick stylings of neo-soul and funk with a foundation of post-hardcore, metal-core, and instrumental rock to create music that’s compelling yet fun.
The Divine Project enters the next chapter of its story; More ferocious, more passionate, more determined. The Divine Project is coming.

…Will you be ready?

Discography:
2025 – Rebirth – EP
2017 – In The Eyes Of Chaos – LP (physical copies only)

Shared Stage with: Jupiter Hollow, Night of The Snakes, Vulpecula, Lubbock Lights, Dog Whistle, Operus, Devil Witch, Solarus, Killotine, Dead Beyond Fear, Polarity, Cevilain, I See Aura, Dawn Vally, Duskwalker, Drop Top Alibi, Stuck In Neutral, Sewn, Mind Swell, Constrain, Falstaff, Napoleon

Local Support for Bands touring through Toronto: Escape The Fate, Sumo Cyco (Initiation Tour), Black Satellite, Eyes Set To Kill (The Attention Tour), Awake At Last. All The Time Everywhere.

Tours and Festivals:
2026 – March Mayhem 2026 Tour – London, Oshawa, Toronto, ON.
2026 – Wacken Metal Battle Toronto Round 1 – Toronto, ON.
2025 – Music Day In Canada – Mississauga, ON.

Page 3 of 1854

1
2
3
4
5
…
1,854

Asher Media Relations Tweets

Tweets by AsherMedia

Asher Media Email Subscription

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Email Address:

Join 2,177 other subscribers