!earshot
The National Loud Chart
For the Week Ending: Tuesday, July 21, 2026
CJSW 90.9 MHz – Calgary
Loud – #5 Metaladian, #8 Conflux Collective
https://earshot-online.com/charts/cjsw.cfm?intChartTypeID=6&dWeekOfID=2026-07-21
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CFMU 93.3 MHz – Hamilton
Top 30 – #27 Metaladian
https://earshot-online.com/charts/cfmu.cfm?dWeekOfID=2026-07-21
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – August 6, 2026
QUEMASANTOS Reveals The Complete Vision Behind Upcoming Concept Album “Stranded Hell” Out October 2026
Eleven chapters. One descent. A concept album where every song becomes another step into an infernal world.
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New York-based heavy/thrash metal project Quemasantos has unveiled the complete details surrounding its forthcoming second full-length album, Stranded In Hell, an ambitious concept record scheduled for release on October 9, 2026 through Digmetalworld & MVD Entertainment Group.
Conceived as an eleven-chapter journey, Stranded In Hell follows a protagonist descending through an infernal realm where fear, temptation, justice, isolation, and survival become interconnected parts of the same story. Rather than presenting a collection of unrelated songs, the album unfolds as a continuous narrative in which every chapter reveals another layer of an unforgiving world. Musically, Stranded In Hell remains rooted in classic heavy and thrash metal while embracing cinematic atmospheres and dynamic arrangements that give each composition its own identity.
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For Ignacio Orellana, the album also represents an important personal milestone. Known primarily as a drummer throughout his musical career, Stranded In Hell marks the first time he steps forward as the band’s bassist while also composing, producing, recording, mixing, and mastering the entire album.
“I’ve been a drummer since I was fourteen, but I’ve always wanted to play bass and develop my own musical ideas. This album became the opportunity to finally do that. The music wasn’t written to fit a genre or follow trends; it simply reflects the records I’ve listened to throughout my life and everything I was experiencing while writing it.”
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Lyrically, the album was developed by longtime collaborator Nelson Díaz, whose storytelling transforms each composition into another chapter of the album’s descent through Hell. The only exception is “Burning The Black,” written by Orellana as a deeply personal reflection inspired by the illness and passing of his wife, Ximena Muñoz.
Adding another layer to the project, each song features a guest guitarist from across the international metal community, bringing together musicians from Chile, the United States, Brazil, and Colombia.
Track Listing
The album was recorded at Oily Sound Studios (New York, USA), with vocal sessions taking place at Estudios Ultrasónico and Estudios Attic in Chile.
For collectors, Stranded In Hell will be available as limited deluxe digipak CDs, with vinyl editions also available through Digmetalworld.
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Release Schedule
Media Information
Artist: Quemasantos
Album: Stranded In Hell
Genre: Heavy / Thrash Metal
Label: Digmetalworld
Digital Pre-orders: September 1, 2026
Bandcamp Listening Party: September 15, 2026
Physical Release: October 9, 2026
The descent begins September 1.
Listening Party at Bandcamp
More info:
https://instagram.com/quemasantos1
https://www.facebook.com/quemasantos
https://www.x.com/quemasantos1
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—
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NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – August 6, 2026
Canadian Doom/Sludge Filthlords DESTROY MY BRAINS Unleashes Video “Downgrade”
New Album “WILT” Out Aug 14th, 2026
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Destroy My Brains – L-R – Rob – Bass, Jarret – Vocals, Guitar, Chase – Guitar, Jadan – Drums
Lloydminster, Canada doom/sludge cult Destroy My Brains have unleashed the official music video for their new single “Downgrade”. The track arrives in support of the band’s upcoming album “WILT,” set for release on August 14th, 2026, marking the final chapter of their long‑running five‑album conceptual saga.
“Downgrade” drags listeners into one of the bleakest narratives on WILT: a punk‑rooted sludge assault that tells the story of a sadistic manipulator leading a supposed friend into addiction, ruin, and overdose.
“Downgrade unfolds a story of two people… ultimately ruining their lives on drugs and overdosing. The manipulator claims to be doing this work of ruin for Satan, and believes the Devil himself is working through him,” adds vocalist/guitarist Jarret.
Musically, the track is a filthy hybrid of DMB’s sludge foundation and their early punk instincts.
“We really wanted something that reminded us of a Misfits song… the song absolutely came together effortlessly and quickly and absolutely is one of our favorite songs on the album,” says Jarret.
The music video, directed by Logan and Phillip of ShadowScape Pictures, brings the song’s themes of degradation and suffering to life with grim, physical intensity. “
“They brought our ideas to life in masterclass fashion… we shot the video in a dirt‑floored unfinished house and even drowned me in a bathtub of completely freezing water, just to add to the pain of the song,” comments Jarrett.
“Downgrade” follows the band’s previous singles “Decontribute” and “OCI”, continuing the rollout toward “WILT”, a record that is an ode to pain, trauma, and hate so thick you can touch it. Riffs on top of riffs, and songs about ruin and degradation.
Destroy My Brains remain one of Canada’s most uncompromising sludge acts, known for corrosive tones, emotionally violent lyrics, and live performances where “people in the front are often pelted by throat chunks, spit, or worse.”
With “WILT,” the band completes the conceptual arc that began with “Worthless” (2018), “InsignifiCan’t” (2020), “Lifeless” (2020), and “Tormented” (2022), a five‑album descent conceived from the very beginning.
“We already picked the titles so the first letters would spell WILT… here we are with the best sounding DMB album to date hands down,” says the band.
Watch the video for “Downgrade” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ul8Zku8Z4Y
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/67kJ5QtfRsT22WZpIZ2NKu
Recommended for fans of Eyehategod, Crowbar, Buzz-oven, Acid Bath, and Electric Wizard, the album pre-order for “WILT” (release date August 14th, 2026) is available at https://destroymybrains.bandcamp.com/
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Track Listing:
1. OCI (Obsessive Compulsive Imploder) – 4:32
2. Burn The Virgin – 10:30
3. Decontribute – 7:28
4. Avulsion – 7:08
5. Downgrade – 5:14
6. Spill – 9:30
7. Wilt – 11:40
Album Length: 56:03
More info: https://linktr.ee/destroymybrains
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““Downgrade,” a five-minute crawl through manipulation, intoxication and deliberate ruin. The track reconnects Destroy My Brains with their punkier instincts without sacrificing the suffocating riffs, corrosive tones and full-throated hostility at the center of their sludge attack.” – Decibel Magazine (Downgrade Premiere)
“My take on the album: The tracks on the album are hard hitting Doom/Sludge Metal at the next level. The band doesn’t fool around and they let the music do the talking. Brilliantly composed and performed songs that combine to create a special album. I am hugely impressed by the album. A massive yes from me.” – Project Metal Music
“Lyrically, this is a hateful and hopeless screed, the vicious and fatalistic thoughts of someone falling apart and drowning in intoxicants.” No Clean Singing (Decontribute single off Wilt – 2026)
“The riffing swarms like carnivorous insects; the bass brutally thunders; the drums cut like a dismembering ax; and the vocals sound like a screaming person being strangled, in arms with a growling pit bull.” No Clean Singing
“Catharsis has been defined as “the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.” DESTROY MY BRAINS is a vehicle created to do just that.” – Doomed & Stoned (Tormented – 2022)
“a coup de grace of sludgy Crowbar riffs and throat shredding screams of hate” Those Once Loyal (Tormented – 2022)
—
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Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – August 5, 2026
Alive and Kicking! Toronto’s DAWN VALLY Unleash Punishing “Kneecapper” Video For New EP “Near Death Experience” Out Now!
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Recently coming off a crushing performance at Loud As Hell Open Air Festival in Drumheller, AB, where they tore through the stage alongside Fallujah, Crimson Shadows, Divinity, and more, Toronto’s Dawn Vally has dropped a ferocious new lyric video for “Kneecapper”, in support of the band’s brand‑new and third EP “Near Death Experience,” released July 31st, 2026, a milestone marking the rebirth of one of Canada’s most relentless metalcore acts.
Formed in 2007 by brothers Jeff and Joe Bartolo, Dawn Vally has spent nearly two decades forging a sound that’s raw, ferocious, intense, heavy, and brutal. What began as a DIY project burning CDs in their early days has evolved into a fully realized force, now rounded out by guitarist Antonio and new vocalist Zac Emmons, formerly of Pound Of Flesh.
“Kneecapper” is a blistering statement of betrayal, an explosive track aimed at a once‑trusted friend whose indecision and backstabbing cost everything. Musically, it’s one of Dawn Vally’s most punishing offerings to date, with high‑octane riffs, savage breakdowns, and Zac’s emotionally charged vocal delivery.
The lyric video amplifies the intensity, pairing the band’s signature brutality with stark, confrontational visuals that mirror the song’s themes of anger, loss, and retaliation.
Watch the lyric video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lzZC9FWBTjE
The EP’s title reflects the band’s turbulent years from 2022–2024, an era of internal turmoil that nearly ended Dawn Vally entirely. Instead, the band emerged stronger, channeling the chaos into a record that blends every era of their sound, from the early “Just Please Her” EP’s hard‑rock roots to the ferocious metalcore/hardcore hybrid they’re known for today.
Lyrically, “Near Death Experience” is drenched in betrayal, emotional pain, and the psychological fallout of broken trust. Musically, it’s a full‑throttle assault, high‑octane intensity from start to finish.
“This EP is to signify that it was only a near-death experience and not a full-on death of the band,” adds vocalist Zac Emmons.
The band has already begun writing the follow‑up to “Near Death Experience”. Fans can expect even more music, more intensity, and more emotional depth as Dawn Vally continues to evolve.
Recommended for fans of Parkway Drive, Lamb Of God, Cancer Bats, and Suicide Silence, “Near Death Experience” is available at the following links:
Bandcamp – https://dawnvallyto.bandcamp.com/album/near-death-experience
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/7r4Y6txMc7q2IFCFouMKWR
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Track Listing:
1. Orange – (2:30)
2. Pray For Me (2:39)
3. Kneecapper (2:50)
4. Second Hand Smoke (2:41)
5. Graves (2:44)
Band Lineup:
Vocals – Zac Emmons
Bass – Jeff Bartolo
Guitar – Antonio Bratta
Drums – Joe Bartolo
EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Dawn Vally
• All songs written by: Dawn Vally
• Lyrics written by: Zac Emmons
• Produced by: Eli Heineman
• Mixed by: Eli Heineman
• Mastered by: Eli Heineman
• EP Artwork by: Zac Emmons
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)
More info: https://linktr.ee/Dawn_Vally
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“Dawn Vally is bringing absolutely punishing music to the forefront of the Canadian music scene” – Kroniknoise Promotions
“Near Death Experience is gonna have audiences on the verge of death themselves with the mosh pits this music creates” – Pitborn Promotions
—
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NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – August 5, 2026
Montreal’s OMBRA Detonate Cinematic Thrash Fury w/ “Hysteria” Off Debut EP “Night Terror” Out Sept 2026
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Rising metal trio OMBRA will release their debut EP, “Night Terror,” on September 14th, 2026, delivering a raw, conceptual, front‑to‑back exploration of fear, control, and the darker corners of the human psyche. The band has also unveiled the EP’s first single, “Hysteria,” which features explosive energy, fusing cinematic atmosphere, thrash‑driven aggression, and unapologetic lyrical honesty. The track confronts themes of government control, media influence, and societal panic, setting the stage for the EP’s descent into obsession, chemical collapse, and full mental freefall.
“Hysteria” was initially mixed by JF Dagenais (Kataklysm), adding an extra layer of intensity to the band’s already powerful sound.
Listen to “Hysteria” at the following links:
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7mDZ-4uXrY
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/track/408K5TQAOB9ZRHnJKzxC4t
Formed by lifelong friends Giuseppe “G” Criniti (vocals/guitar), Marco Sisti (guitar/bass), and Nico‑Angelo Sisti (drums), OMBRA emerged in late 2020 after G and Marco departed their previous hard‑rock/progressive project NRTH to pursue a heavier, more aggressive sound. Nico, Marco’s cousin and a well‑known drummer in the Montreal scene, joined shortly after leaving Hidden Pride. With all three members having grown up together in Lachine, the band’s formation felt natural, inevitable, and rooted in decades of shared history.
Written between 2021 and 2026, OMBRA’s debut record “Night Terror” channels the band’s lived experiences and observations of a world defined by upheaval, media distortion, obsession, chemical escape, and psychological unraveling. Designed as a continuous front‑to‑back journey, the EP builds toward the intense emotional peak of its title track. Across its five songs, “Night Terror” traces a rising arc of mental tension. Opening track “Hysteria” confronts societal panic and media‑driven chaos; “Stitches” plunges into obsession and the painful pursuit of transformation; “Blue Dream” captures chemical escapism collapsing into paranoia and possession; “Night Terror” delivers a visceral mental freefall where everything goes wrong; and “So It Goes” closes the experience with an instrumental moment of acceptance, peace, and forward motion.
“Our goal was to create something honest. The world has gone through so much turmoil in the last decade. Night Terror is our commentary on fear, control, and the human condition. We want listeners to explore their own minds, think for themselves, and express freely,” says the band.
The band’s writing process begins with the rhythm section, the “heartbeat”, before expanding through long jam sessions, layered melodies, and extended solos. Every member contributes to the songwriting, though G and Marco handle the majority of the core composition.
Loud, energetic, groovy, and exciting, OMBRA blends old‑school thrash and sludge with modern groove and a touch of psychedelic rock/ They are recommended for fans of Power Trip, High On Fire, Motörhead, Mastodon, Testament, and Rammstein.
“Night Terror” will be available on all digital platforms on September 14, 2026.
EP Pre-Save – https://too.fm/eab92od
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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://www.instagram.com/abandcalledombra
https://www.facebook.com/people/OMBRA/61582909783052/
About:
OMBRA is a Montreal metal trio formed by lifelong friends Giuseppe “G” Criniti, Marco Sisti, and Nico‑Angelo Sisti. Rooted in old‑school thrash, sludge, groove metal, and psychedelic rock, the band blends heavy riffs with emotional honesty and modern storytelling. Their mission is to encourage listeners to think freely, explore their own minds, and express themselves without compromise.
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“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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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
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EPK – Dawn Vally – Near Death Experience (2026)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
“Near Death Experience the title that came from the idea that the years 2022-2024 were an almost near-death experience of the band, as there was internal turmoil. This album is to signify that it was only a NEAR death experience and not a full-on death of the band.” – Dawn Vally
For fans of Parkway Drive, Lamb Of God, Cancer Bats, Volumes, Suicide Silence
All Links: https://linktr.ee/Dawn_Vally
Dawnvally.ca | Facebook.com/DawnVally | Instagram.com/dawnvally | Tiktok.com/@dawn.vally | Youtube.com/@DawnVally | X.com/DawnVally
“Dawn Vally is bringing absolutely punishing music to the forefront of the Canadian music scene” – Kroniknoise Promotions
“Near Death Experience is gonna have audiences on the verge of death themselves with the mosh pits this music creates” – Pitborn Promotions
Band: Dawn Vally
Single Title: Near Death Experience
Release Date: July 31, 2026
Distribution: IndiePool
Genres: Metalcore
Location: Toronto, ON, Canada
Track Listing:
1. Orange – (2:30)
2. Pray For Me (2:39)
3. Kneecapper (2:50)
4. Second Hand Smoke (2:41)
5. Graves (2:44)
EP Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Dawn Vally
• All songs written by: Dawn Vally
• Lyrics written by: Zac Emmons
• Produced by: Eli Heineman
• Mixed by: Eli Heineman
• Mastered by: Eli Heineman
• EP Artwork by: Zac Emmons
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)
Band Lineup:
Vocals – Zac Emmons
Bass – Jeff Bartolo
Guitar – Antonio Bratta
Drums – Joe Bartolo
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About the EP Artwork:
It’s a heart monitor screen showing a low heart rate of “Near death” with the band’s name as the patient name at the top.
About the EP as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
This record lyrically is all about betrayal from those closest to you and the feelings and thoughts that accompany that experience.
Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
1. Orange: A friend had their ego blow up to the point they weren’t even recognizable anymore.
2. Pray For Me: your close friend abuses your trust to steal your spouse from you behind your back.
3. Kneecapper: a friend costs you everything you worked for based on their indecisive nature and blames all their issues after the fact on you.
4. Second Hand Smoke: uses smoking as a metaphor for a partner that abused you mentally and destroyed you, only to be angry when you persevered and overcame it all.
5. Graves: a goodbye to love that once was.
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FUN FACTS – STORY ANGLES:
1. A lot of Zac’s lyrics are based on personal experiences. He goes into and relives those emotions to convey the aggression he feels, which complements metal music so well.
2. With the music, we have been on a mission to challenge ourselves as musicians to take our performances to the next level.
3. Jeff (bass) and Joe (drums) are twins who started the band together.
4. All of Dawn Vally’s music has been produced by Eli Heinamen, the bassist of hardcore band HEAT.
5. Anton is a classically trained guitarist with heavy jazz influence. He also teaches guitar.
6. Zac (vocals) was the guitarist for popular hardcore band Pound Of Flesh
7. Dawn Vally’s first album, “The DVP,” was only available on burned CDs; they wouldn’t drop music online until the Just Please Her album in 2013.
Formed in 2007 by twin brothers Jeff (bass) and Joe Bartolo (drums), Dawn Vally erupted from the underground with a mission to deliver metalcore that’s unapologetically aggressive, emotionally raw, and sonically punishing. What began as a DIY project. burning CDs of their debut album The DVP before releasing music online in 2013 with Just Please Her—has evolved into one of Canada’s most relentless metalcore acts.
The band’s sound is a collaborative effort, shaped by the diverse musical backgrounds of its members. While metalcore and deathcore are the backbone, influences range from Anton’s jazz guitar finesse to Zac and Joe’s love for classic rock and Jeff’s hardcore roots. This fusion creates a sonic identity that’s both familiar and fearlessly unique.
In early 2025, Dawn Vally welcomed Zac Emmons as their new lead vocalist. Formerly the guitarist of hardcore outfit Pound Of Flesh, Zac left the band in February to pursue vocals. Already close with the group, he joined for a jam session—and things clicked instantly. His emotionally charged lyrics, often drawn from personal experiences, dive into the darker corners of the psyche, giving fans something visceral to connect with.
Their third EP, “Near Death Experience,” out July 31st, 2026, marks the first release with Zac on vocals. Featuring tracks like “Graves” and “Orange,” the record promises 5–6 songs of refined brutality. “Graves,” the second single, is a standout, lyrically drenched in betrayal and musically ferocious. Zac describes writing it by tapping into a dark place in his mind, and the result is the heaviest Dawn Vally song to date. It channels the intensity of their previous album Blueprints of the 416 while pushing their sound to new extremes.
Live, Dawn Vally is a full-throttle experience: punishing breakdowns, wild leads, and a wall of sound that leaves no one standing still. With plans to expand their brand Canada-wide, the band is gearing up for tours both out west and east in the coming year.
Influenced by heavyweights like Whitechapel, Parkway Drive, BMTH, Get The Shot, and Hatebreed, Dawn Vally continues to challenge themselves as musicians, pushing their performances and songwriting to the next level.
Discography:
2026 – Near Death Experience (EP)
2025 – Graves (single)
2025 – Orange (single)
2024 – Blueprints Of The 416 (EP)
2017 – Still Bleeding (EP)
2015 – Bleed Through Your Ears (single)
2013 – Just Pleaser (Album)
Shared Stage with: Fallujah, Allegaeon, Summoning The Lich, Signs Of The Swarm, Bodysnatcher, BrokeNCYDE, The Bunny The Bear, Autumn Lies Buried, MyChildrenMyBride, BrokeNCYDE, The Bunny The Bear, Cryptopsy, Bodysnatcher
TOURS AND FESTIVALS YOU HAVE PERFORMED ON.
2026- Panda Fest – Ottawa, ON
2026 – Rye Fest – Brantford, ON
2026 – Loud As Hell Fest – Drumheller, AB
2026 – Heavy Fest – Toronto, ON
2026 – Alternative Waves Music Festival – Medicine Hat, AB
Carter Brown Memorial Fest(Newmarket, ON) 2025
Laura-Palooza 2025 (Toronto, ON)
WalterFest 2024 & 2025 (Toronto, ON)
Road To Arby’s Tour (2023)
Weekend Slaughter Tour (2025)
Artist endorsements:
Collision Drumsticks. Soultone Cymbals. InTune Guitar Picks.
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – August 4, 2026
Finland’s AFTER INFINITY Unveils Single “Everlasting Mark” ft. Guest Vocals Sara Strömmer (Shereign)
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!
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Finnish melodic metal act After Infinity release their new single “Everlasting Mark”, featuring guest vocalist Sara Strömmer of Shereign.
The track offers a heavier, more intense perspective on the band’s upcoming sophomore album, “Beyond Eternity,” due for release on October 23rd, 2026, via Rockshots Records.
Following the bright, synth-driven energy of previous single “Infinite Feeling”, “Everlasting Mark” balances driving melodies with a heavier edge, further expanding the musical spectrum explored across “Beyond Eternity“.
Sara Strömmer‘s performance plays a central role in shaping the track’s character. Her vocals shift from soft and clean passages to aggressive and brutal delivery, emphasizing the contrasts within the composition and reinforcing its balance between melodic accessibility and heavier expression.
Guitarist and songwriter Zsolt Szilagyi comments:
“This song has a lot of cool musical elements: the interplay of synth & guitar in the main riff, some nice bass lines in the verses, and the extraordinary vocals of Sara Strömmer, who showcases her wide range of styles from soft and clean to aggressive and brutal.”
Founded in 2022 by Dreamtale and Frozen Factory guitarist Zsolt Szilagyi, After Infinity blend melodic power metal, heavy metal and progressive influences with layered orchestration, rich synthesizers and dynamic songwriting.
“Beyond Eternity” builds upon the foundations established by the band’s 2024 self-titled debut, moving between fast-paced power metal, heavier progressive compositions, atmospheric interludes and piano-led ballads with each song fulfilling a distinct role within the album.
The record brings together an extensive cast of guest vocalists, including Paolo Ribaldini, Aitor Arrastia, Nitte Valo, Mika Tauriainen, Leonard F. Guillan and Sara Strömmer, while maintaining a cohesive musical identity anchored by Szilagyi‘s songwriting.
Produced by Zsolt Szilagyi, “Beyond Eternity” features orchestrations and synthesizers by Gideon Ricardo and bass performances by Ville Koskinen. Most of the album, including “Everlasting Mark”, was mixed by Benjamin Connelly for Duskswitch Production, while mastering was handled by Jasse Kesti at Kesthouse.
For fans of: Europe, H.E.A.T, Van Halen
Listen / Stream: https://lnk.to/RwRZyK
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwNCInGdaUI
“Beyond Eternity” will be released on October 23rd, 2026 via Rockshots Records.
Pre-Order:
https://rockshots.eu/products/after-infinity-beyond-infinity-cd
Previous Singles:
Lyric Video – King With No Crown – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3z6pfBeDqo
Visualizer – Infinite Feeling – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ypvYh2xGFpQ
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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.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
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EPK – Killed By Sorrow – Empire of Excess (2026
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
For fans of Unearth, Killswitch Engage, Poison The Well, Trivium, Lamb of God
Band: Killed By Sorrow
Album Title: Empire of Excess
Release Date: October 23, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Genre: Hardcore / Groove / Metalcore
Location of Band: Grandby, Quebec, Canada
Killedbysorrow.com | Facebook.com/KilledbySorrow | Instagram.com/killedbysorrowband | Youtube.com/@killedbysorrowofficial | X.com/killedbysorrow
Spotify | Apple Music | Killedbysorrow.bandcamp.com
“Canadian underground hardcore punks in Killed By Sorrow’s newest single, Betrayal, definitely stays loyal to the metalcore scene by actually sounding like thrash metal tones mixed with a hardcore punk grit and attitude. Heavily distorted rhythms sound closer to your traditional hardcore, but paired with your traditional style of hardcore punk vocals, Betrayal lets you know not to cross Killed By Sorrow. Huge basslines underneath and in-the-pocket drumming made this one an interesting approach in a crowded metalcore genre, and it’s more than worth a few listens.” – Metal Institute of Thrashology (2026)
Track Listing:
1. The End is Near – 3:38
2. Empire of Excess – 3:04
3. The Burial – 3:28
4. Betrayal – 3:51
5. Never Give Up – 2:37
6. All My Brothers – 3:18
7. In The Spotlight – 3:17
8. Killed By Sorrow – 3:29
9. Unchained – 3:42
10. Stay In Line – 3:28
Album Length: 33:55
Album Credits:
Artwork by Ian Chouinard
All songs by Killed by Sorrow
All songs Recorded, Mixed and Mastered at House of Gain Studio by Maxime Lacroix.
Vocals: Sebastien Mailloux
Lead Guitar: Tommy Forand
Rhythm Guitar: Sam Ham
Bass: Martin Bersier-Carpentier
Drums: Martin Charbonneau
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About The Single and Album Artwork:
Unchained (Single): Someone is trapped in the 9-to-5 routine
Empire of Excess (Album) – A world collapsing from overconsuming
About The Album (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
There is a track for everyone in there; you’ve got some fast, some downbeat, even some punk rock. There is definitely a track that will please any kind of listener. We pride ourselves on making sure the album has a different vibe from start to finish.
Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
1- The End is Near: This is the Apocalypse; the vocals run the show, the breakdown is nasty, and the solo is mint.
Lyrics: A viral plague consumes the world, turning the infected into hunters. Civilization collapses, hope dies, and survival becomes the only instinct left.
2- Empire of Excess: Bass line starts this one, fastest song on the album, deep lyrics with easy singing along.
Lyrics: The song portrays a society addicted to constant consumption, where people chase novelty and discard anything old. This obsession with buying leads to emotional numbness and a growing mountain of waste that symbolizes the collapse of meaningful living.
3- The Burial: This is our first video clip, the slowest song on there, with great melodic vibes.
Lyrics: It’s a dark, ritual-like descent into death where silence, decay, and inevitability swallow everything. The living fade, the dead rise, and no one escapes.
4- Betrayal: Heavy punching song with a great breakdown. Great guitar riffs.
Lyrics: The song depicts the collapse of trust after a deep personal betrayal. The narrator feels poisoned by lies, wounded by someone they once fully trusted, and left emotionally bleeding from repeated backstabbing. The pain becomes overwhelming, building into a crescendo where they can no longer endure the deception.
5- Never Give Up: Punk rock vibe with melodic riffs on the guitar.
Lyrics: The song is an anthem of resilience and inner strength. It opens with a solitary figure standing beneath the moonlight, facing darkness and uncertainty alone. Despite storms, shadows, and the weight of adversity, the narrator refuses to bend. Their spirit rises from the echoes of time, fueled by an iron will and a hardened heart.
6- All my Brothers: Aggressive guitar with great drum fills and sing-along back vocals.
Lyrics: The song celebrates friendship, freedom, and living in the moment. It opens with a call to shake off negativity, ditch responsibilities, and reconnect with the people who matter most. The narrator rallies their closest friends, grabs some beers, and decides to take a spontaneous break from everyday life
7- In the Spotlight: Fast-paced song with lyrics running the show, great breakdown.
Lyrics: The song explores the intense pressure of performing under public scrutiny. It begins with the narrator standing alone in the spotlight, feeling exposed as anxiety rises and self-doubt threatens to take control. The fear of not meeting expectations becomes a central internal battle.
8- Killed by Sorrow: This is what Killed by Sorrow was to offer, with great breakdown and melodic transition.
Lyrics: The song portrays a person overwhelmed by sadness, regret, and the weight of past mistakes. Their life feels like it’s slipping away, and the constant sorrow they carry affects every decision they make. Each day becomes a struggle for survival, with haunting memories and emotional emptiness replacing the joy they once had.
9- Unchained: Slowest song of the album; vocals are insane on this track.
Lyrics: The song portrays someone trapped in a suffocating, repetitive cycle that feels like a living hell. Their life has become a prison without bars—an existence where every day strips away a little more of who they are. The narrator feels erased, controlled, and reduced to a hollow version of themselves
10- Stay in Line: Melodic track with great guitar leads and a chorus that stays in your head.
Lyrics: The song expresses the crushing weight of guilt, regret, and confinement after a life-changing event. The narrator feels permanently altered, filled with remorse, judged harshly, and trapped in a metaphorical cage where rage is the only thing left.
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Killed by Sorrow emerged from Montreal’s South Shore metal-music scene in the mid-2000s, carving out their identity with a sound heavily inspired by the emotional intensity of Poison the Well, the razor-sharp riffing of Unearth, and the melodic precision of Trivium. These influences shaped the band’s early songwriting, blending aggression with dynamic melodic structures.
During their formative years, Killed by Sorrow built a reputation through high-energy performances across local venues. A major milestone of this era was sharing the stage with renowned Swedish hardcore band Raised Fist, a moment that reinforced the band’s credibility.
Band Line-up:
Sébastien Mailloux – Vocals
Martin Bersier-Carpentier – Bass
Tommy Forand – Guitar Lead
Samuel Ham – Guitar Rhythm
Mathieu Lassonde – Drums
Discography:
2026 – Unchained – Single
2026 – The End is Near – Single
2026 – The Burial – Single
2025 – Betrayal – Single
2023 – Careless of this Sadness – EP
2022 – Time has come – EP
SHARED STAGE WITH:
Killswitch Engage
Stick to Your Guns
Despised Icon
We Came As Romans
Currents
Invent Animate
Raised Fist
Forbidden Order
Anonymus
Deadwood
Insurrection
Change my Brain with Cake
Burning Attic
Off Dead
Becoming the Bully
Scarfold
Last Dance Among Wolves
TOURS AND FESTIVALS:
2026 – Festival L’Underground – Waterloo
2024 – Festival L’Underground – Waterloo
2023 – Eastside Ground Music Festival 2023 – Rimouski
2023 – Festival au Lac – Granby
EPK – Slug Comparison – Cold in Cold Out (2026)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
“My last album was all electric, with upfront rock production. Cold in Cold out is a step away from that, towards the vibe of my previous work, which is a bit more spacious and brings in steel-string and nylon-string guitars. It’s a bit like Fen’s Trails out of Gloom, and these six new songs dwell in a similarly depressive territory to that album, if not more so. I can’t say what brought the gloom back into the music, but I’m glad it’s back. I’m more comfortable there.” – Doug Harrison – Slug Comparison
For Fans of Nirvana, Katatonia, Porcupine Tree, The Pineapple Thief, Fen
Instagram.com/slugcomparison | Facebook.com/slugcomparison
Slugcomparison.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music
“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
#30 of The Rickter Scale’s Top 100 albums of 2014
“Stirs the senses, taking the listener on a voyage of imagination and emotion.”-Sonic Abuse
#5 on DPRP’s Top Progressive Metal Albums of 2014
“Spell binding” -Your Music Blog
“Songs that are all of the highest caliber” -Power of Metal
“a true gem of prog rock” -Living Music Blog
“Ahh, the glorious beauty of the brooding and gloomy mind of Doug Harrison” (5 stars) -Sea of Tranquility
“a lot of work and effort has gone into this album, and it pays off spectacularly” -Wonderbox Metal
Band: Slug Comparison
EP Title: Cold in Cold out
Release Date: September 10, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: online
Genre: Alternative gloom
Location of Band: Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
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
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About The EP Artwork:
The artwork is based on the title track, “Cold in Cold out,” which offers the metaphor of a string for a person’s life, a linear but winding path from birth to death. Once the drawing was done, I realized the snake-like thing coming out of the cave could also be a literal interpretation of the song title “Tongue of the Hollow.” That was a nice surprise.
Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
1. Tongue of the Hollow
As I was writing this song, I realized early on that the verse riff was way too similar to Nirvana’s “Something in the Way.” I could have abandoned the idea right there, but then I added a few chord changes (I lack Kurt’s gift for writing a song with only two chords), so I decided to keep going and let it be an homage. I was huge into Nirvana for a few years, so it made sense that my appreciation was coming out this way. As far as lyrics, I had no idea what “Something in the Way” was about, and that freed me to fumble my way down a different path.
“Tongue of the Hollow” is about a bedridden apartment dweller who is nearing death and lives with a lot of cats. They don’t understand why their owner is just lying there, unable to care for them, and they wonder where their next meal will come from. The dying man’s solace, as he waits for the end, comes in the evenings when the upstairs neighbour paces the creaky floor and sings.
2. To Whom Would You Answer
The turnaround from idea to master recording for this song set a personal record for me. About 18 months. It was born out of one of those semi-traumatic encounters where for the next few days you can’t think about anything else, you run over and over in your mind what happened, what people said, what you should’ve said, what you shouldn’t have said. The whole thing spirals. It keeps you from sleeping, and when you finally do sleep, it’s right there when you wake. It was after two days of this that I sat down with my guitar and started playing the main riff to the song for the very first time. My mind cleared.
3. Back to the World
This song is about running into an old friend who took a dark turn. Seeing them, you feel guilty for not having tried to keep in touch while they faced their demons. You realize their strength, and you realize they used to add something to your life that was essential for making you whole, something that’s been gnawed away in their absence. Being with them gives you hope that you’ll face your own demons down, smaller in stature, but growing each day, each year, that you don’t deal with them.
4. Burden of Life
n/a
5. Cold in Cold out
I was sick of the kitchen-sink realism that pervaded my last album. I wanted to write something that was removed from the everyday, something grander in scope, and also desolate. “Cold in Cold out” is about the lonely trial of human existence: the physical pain, the exhaustion, the fleeting moments of wonder, and the recurring question—how long will this go on for?
6. No Healer
This song is about someone who has reached the end of their journey. Fevered and facing death, all they can do is lie under the jungle canopy and wait, at the mercy of whatever powers now guide their existence.
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BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:
1. Between Slug Comparison and Fen (6 albums), this is Doug Harrison’s tenth recording.
============================================================
Doug Harrison – Photo Credit – Peter Wiholm
Slug Comparison is the solo project of Canadian artist Doug Harrison, vocalist for progressive rock/metal band Fen. While Fen explores complex and sometimes aggressive musical territories, Slug Comparison offers a more introspective landscape, allowing Harrison to delve into songs that expand upon textural and melodic elements within Fen’s work.
Launched in 2014 with the release of the single “Bringer of Doom,” Slug Comparison quickly established its own identity. The self-titled debut album, released later that same year, further solidified this direction, revealing a sound characterized by atmospheric depth, intricate arrangements, and earnest vocal delivery. The Ringmaster Reviews said the album “simply engulfs the imagination and emotions.” This debut was followed up by the 2019 album, When You Were Living Here, released by Dutch label Rock Company. When reviewing the album, Something for the Weekend? praised Harrison’s “amazing voice and his ability to communicate a deep sense of meaning and emotion in his music.”
After a six-year hiatus, Slug Comparison returned in 2025 with the energetic A Battle to the End Fought on the Edge of a Knife, described by Mandatory Music as “modern, emotionally rich, an album with just enough grunge to hit us right in the feels.”
The upcoming EP, Cold in Cold out, due out on September 10, 2026, drops the energy to a dirge-like pace, opening with an acoustic song inspired by Nirvana’s “Something in the Way.”
Discography:
2026 – Cold in Cold out – EP
2025 – A Battle to the End Fought on the Edge of a Knife – album
2019 – When You Were Living Here – album
2014 – Self-titled – album
EPK – Ombra – Night Terror (Hysteria Entertainment) (2026)
Publicist – Jon Asher – jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
“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
For fans of Power Trip, High On Fire, Motorhead, Mastodon, Testament
Ombra.band | Facebook.com/people/OMBRA/61582909783052/ | Instagram.com/@abandcalledombra | Youtube.com/@ombraband
EP Pre-Save – https://too.fm/eab92od
“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
Band: Ombra
Album Title: Night Terror
Release Date: September 14, 2026
Label: HYSTERIA ENTERTAINMENT INC.
Distribution: TOO LOST
Genre: METAL
Location of Band: MONTREAL, QC, CANADA
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)
EP Credits:
• All songs performed by: GIUSEPPE CRINITI, MARCO SISTI, NICO-ANGELO SISTI, SASHA DA COSTA
• All songs written by: GIUSEPPE CRINITI, MARCO SISTI, NICO-ANGELO SISTI
• Produced by: GIUSEPPE CRINITI
• Mixed by: JORDAN BARRILARO and JF-DAGENAIS
• Mastered by: JORDAN BARRILARO
• Album Artwork by: OMBRA
• Are you a Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)
Album and Live Band Line Up:
GIUSEPPE CRINITI – VOCALS/LEAD GUITAR
MARCO SISTI – RHYTHM GUITAR/BASS
NICO-ANGELO SISTI – DRUMS
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About The Album Artwork:
The album’s artwork reflects phobias and fears of individuals, and how the smallest details can turn dreams into night terrors
About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
The album as a whole is intended to be listened to from track 1 through track 5, taking the listener on an experience of a range of emotions and feelings, with the climax being the intense fear of a NIGHT TERROR.
Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
1. HYSTERIA: A powerful introduction to the album, which fuses raw aggression, cinematic atmosphere, and unapologetic honesty. HYSTERIA is a reflection on the harsh realities of the modern world, discussing government control and media influence on the general population.
2. STITCHES: A haunting exploration of obsession, beauty, and the price of transformation. The track digs into the psychological spiral of chasing perfection, where flesh becomes a canvas, pain becomes currency, and identity fractures under the knife.
3. BLUE DREAM: A suffocating descent into chemical escapism and psychological collapse. The track drags listeners through a world where fleeting highs mutate into permanent hauntings and paranoia. The line between dependency and possession disappears completely. BLUE DREAM captures the feeling of losing control in slow motion. The song spirals through vivid imagery of abandoned homes, waking nightmares, and unseen forces lurking beneath intoxication, transforming substance abuse into something almost supernatural.
4. NIGHT TERROR: Is a play on Murphy’s Law: everything that can go bad will go bad. A metaphor for any force that seizes the mind, strips control, and refuses to release its grip. A visceral depiction of night terrors (and the mental freefall that can accompany them). The song tracks the progression of an episode that feels both physical and existential. The refrain turns the terror into a forced spectacle; the sufferer is both a victim and captive audience of their own mind. It does not offer resolution or comfort; the terror simply owns the speaker by the end.
5. SO IT GOES: An instrumental piece that takes the listener on a journey through the reflection. Concluding the intense feelings of a NIGHT TERROR where the final message is a reminder that no matter the experiences, good or bad, keep going, bury the hatchet, make peace and live… so it goes.
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STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BAND
1. G and Marco walked away from their hard-rock/prog project NRTH in late 2020 specifically to write heavier music. Nico (Marco’s cousin and former Hidden Pride drummer) joined them. They all grew up together in Lachine, went to the same schools, and were already family friends — making the formation feel inevitable rather than calculated. This is the cleanest “local Montreal thrash origin” story.
2. A true front-to-back conceptual EP about fear and loss of control
Night Terror is deliberately sequenced as one continuous experience. It moves from societal panic and media/government control (Hysteria), through obsessive self-destruction (Stitches) and chemical freefall (Blue Dream), into pure mental seizure (Night Terror), before resolving in the instrumental reflection So It Goes. The band wants listeners to hear the full arc, not just singles.
3. The lyrics come straight from lived experience and observation of the last decade’s turmoil. Themes include media manipulation, the price of chasing perfection, chemical escapism turning into possession, and the feeling of being trapped inside your own mind. The EP’s stated goal is to push people to think for themselves and express freely, not just headbang.
4. Night Terror treats the title track (and the EP as a whole) as a pure expression of Murphy’s Law applied to the psyche: everything that can go wrong inside your head will go wrong, and it won’t let go. It’s less about external horror and more about being both the victim and the captive audience of your own mind.
5. Marco and Nico are first cousins.
6. G and Marco have grown up together since they were toddlers; their families came to Canada from Italy together and have been best friends their entire lives.
7. JF-Dagenais of Kataklysm did the first mix of HYSTERIA
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OMBRA is a Montreal‑based metal trio forged from lifelong friendship, shared roots, and a mutual drive to create heavier, more honest music. Formed by Giuseppe “G” Criniti (vocals/guitar), Marco Sisti (guitar/bass), and Nico‑Angelo Sisti (drums), the band grew naturally out of years spent growing up together in Lachine—attending the same schools, sharing family ties, and eventually breaking away from their previous projects to carve out a new identity. In late 2020, G and Marco departed their hard‑rock/progressive group NRTH to pursue a heavier direction, while Nico, an acclaimed drummer in the local scene and Marco’s cousin, had just left Hidden Pride. Their histories made OMBRA feel less like a new band and more like an inevitable reunion.
OMBRA’s sound is loud, energetic, groovy, exciting, and fun, blending old‑school thrash, sludge, groove metal, and touches of psychedelic rock into a modern, high‑impact style. Influences such as Power Trip, High On Fire, Motörhead, Mastodon, Testament, and Rammstein shape their sonic backbone, while the band’s emotional honesty and rhythmic focus give their music a distinct personality. Every track begins with the heartbeat, the rhythm section, before evolving through long jam sessions, layered melodies, and sprawling solos that eventually crystallize into fully formed songs.
Lyrically, OMBRA draws from real‑world experiences, observations, and the emotional turbulence of the last decade. Their upcoming EP, Night Terror, is a conceptual front‑to‑back experience designed to be heard in sequence. Written between 2021 and 2026, the record reflects the band’s collective response to global turmoil, personal challenges, and the psychological weight of modern life. Each track explores a different facet of fear, control, obsession, escapism, and mental collapse, culminating in the EP’s namesake, a visceral depiction of a night terror and the loss of control that accompanies it.
The album’s artwork mirrors these themes, visualizing phobias, subconscious fears, and the small details that can turn dreams into nightmares. Musically, the EP moves from raw aggression and cinematic tension to suffocating introspection and finally toward reflection, ending with the instrumental So It Goes, a reminder to keep moving forward despite chaos.
OMBRA’s live performances are high‑energy, communal, and cathartic. The band promises that audiences will mosh, dance, and have a great time, experiencing both the physical impact of their riffs and the emotional weight behind their themes. Their sound continues to evolve with their moods—some days aggressive and loud, other days mellow and introspective, but always unapologetically honest.
With strong international reception to their first singles and a fully realized conceptual EP on the horizon, OMBRA stands poised to become one of Montreal’s most compelling modern metal acts. Their mission is simple: encourage listeners to explore their own minds, think freely, and express themselves without compromise.
Discography:
2026 – NIGHT TERROR – EP
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