Category: EPKs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Novaspei.bandcamp.com | Apple Music | Spotify

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About The Album Artwork:

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

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

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

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

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

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

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

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

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

Photo Credit –Étienne Dionne (Mute Drummer)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Music Placements: Montreal Canadiens games at the Bell Centre

Artist endorsements: Charbonneau Guitars

0 Protected: EPK – EDventureD (Eddie Kravov’s Project) – Symmetry In Chaos (2026)

September 7, 2026
by Asher
· EDventureD · EPKs

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0 EPK – Boneyard – Black Static (2026)

September 7, 2026
by Asher
· Boneyard · EPKs

EPK – Boneyard – Black Static (2026)

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

For fans of Halestorm, Saxon, Doro, The Pretty Reckless, Iron Maiden

Album Title: Black Static
Release Date: October 23, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Genre: Heavy Rock
Location of Band: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Linktr.ee/boneyardrocks | Boneyardrocks.ca | Facebook.com/boneyardyeg | X.com/@boneyardyeg

Youtube.com/@boneyardyeg | Instagram.com/boneyardyeg | Tiktok.com/@boneyardrocks

Ffm.bio/boneyard (All Digital Streaming)

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

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

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

“Rock music from Canada still guarantees quality”- PowerMetal

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

Album Title: Black Static
Release Date: October 23, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Genre: Heavy Rock
Location of Band: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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

Album Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Boneyard
• All songs written by: Boneyard
EXCEPT* *Compass Points to War, *Hanging Tree (Written by Boneyard and Dennis Cooke)
• Produced by: Boneyard
• Mixed by: Stew Kirkwood
EXCEPT* *Before the Fall, *Hanging Tree, *Compass Points to War (Mixed by Glen Kelton and Boneyard)
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)
• Mastered by: Nik Kozub
• Album Artwork by: Tom Bagley

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

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

About Album Artwork:
We are so grateful to have had Tom Bagley do the covers on both of our albums. He is a one-of-a-kind artist from Calgary, Alberta, who’s been doing album covers for decades. We give him a concept involving our mascot Misty Bone, and he always hits it out of the park. – Jefftimus (drums)

The album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
Musically, it’s an extension of the first album “Oathbreaker”, having a diverse collection of songs. At the same time, it features different elements through Lezzy and Garhardt’s unique contributions. – Jefftimus (drums)

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

1. Met You in a Dream: The song starts with quick shots of heavy guitar and an intro that explains a dream that seemed so real that, once awoken, the dreamer felt like they were in a trance or a dream hangover, where their brain struggled to separate the emotional weight of the dream from their waking reality. In this dream, the sleeper remembers all of the things she tried to become to capture the love of another. All throughout the relationship, the lover’s wandering eyes were never on the dreamer but on other random people. The Chorus brings you through a dream state where she is condemned to live out the romance and rejection over again. This fast song powers through the emotions and leaves the dreamer wondering when they will visit again. – Pamtera (lead vocals, guitar)

2. Left Me to Drown: This is Lezzy’s most significant contribution to the album – her “baby”. She wrote all the lyrics from personal experiences of toxic/abusive relationships, using a pirate ship metaphor that mimics the experience of loving someone with all your heart, only to get your gold stolen, your body tied in chains, and then thrown overboard, carelessly left to die. However, the most profound message is when her shackles break by hitting the bottom of the sea while on the brink of death, freeing her to float up and rise above it all, stronger than ever. “Meet the new me” are the ending words – the ultimate comeback.

Musically, the song is probably the heaviest of the whole album, portraying the anger and sorrow felt. Lezzy arranged the track with a bassline and finished the vocals, including all the backing vocals and harmonies. It is also the only song that Lezzy sings lead on, but she also gave alternating leads to Pamtera in the verses to keep her distinct voice on the track so that it remains within the realm of what Boneyard fans are used to hearing, but with a whole other twist.

Jefftimus then wrote very fitting drums that took the song to the next level, while Garhardt followed suit with captivating leads and one of my favourite solos I’ve ever heard! – Lezzy (bass)

3. Ready for a Change: The song starts with guitar swells giving it a moving and swaying feel. It’s a foggy morning, and someone is thinking about life. The lesson of the song is that if you are ready to change yourself, habits, or behaviours, once you think about it, it’s easy to talk about, as awareness leads to expression, and repetition leads to lasting change. The middle bridge is a rigid guitar riff, perhaps showing the repetition of a thought pattern. Returning to its poppy beat, the song’s positive message gives you the exact formula to change. – Pamtera (lead vocals, guitar)

4. Not this Way (Joel’s Song): Joel, diagnosed with schizophrenia, had a hard time dealing with life and used drugs to help him navigate. Due to his paranoia, he was usually homeless and unable to let police and healthcare workers help him, as he was scared they were there to hurt him. Sadly, this is a true story, and Joel passed away from a drug overdose, his Mother finding him days later. The lyrics are in his Mother’s words as she explains how she wants to remember him, and how she never wanted this outcome for him, and never wanted to “find him this way”. The song opens with haunting, melancholic guitars, slowly building in weight and intensity as the anguish begins to take hold. As the music grows heavier, the choruses become a reflection on those living on the streets, forgotten and struggling to survive, and on the loved ones we’ve lost to the devastating grip of drug addiction and overdose. It’s a song about grief, desperation, and the people we wish we could have saved. – Pamtera (lead vocals, guitar)

5. Blood in the Bond: Lezzy wrote a fast and upbeat bassline and brought it to the band to start a new song. Even though she had thrash metal in mind, her punk roots inevitably came through, so it’s now our one-off punk tune. However, the bridge and solo section (that we changed a few times) ended up metal as fuck! It’s a really fun song with a heavy, gang-vocal chorus, and extremely interesting layered harmonies at the very end, where all 4 of us are singing different parts. The opening line often gets people clapping to the beat as Lezzy and Jefftimus kick it off before the guitars and vocals come in.

Jefftimus wrote a fascinating jungle beat that complements the bass; Garhardt wrote Egyptian-style lead guitar as he was figuring out the “fucked up” scale that Lezzy wrote the main riffs in (haha), while Pamtera wrote all of the lyrics and came up with the lead vocal melodies. It was Jefftimus’ idea to chant the repeating “Blood in the Bond” gang vocals.

Lyrically, Pamtera wrote the song about the sad reality of alcoholism and how addiction is passed down from generation to generation. The Seven Generations Principle is an ancient Indigenous philosophy requiring current decision-makers to ensure their actions build a sustainable world seven generations into the future. Pamtera’s idea is that the blood no longer remains within the bloodline, so in 7 generations there would be no Blood left in the Bond. – Lezzy (bass)

6. Before the Fall: “Before the Fall” was the first single released from Boneyard’s upcoming album, “Black Static”. Starting with a tight, catchy guitar riff, the song speaks of our leaders who think they are doing the best for their people, while inadvertently paving the way for catastrophic futures. Genocide of cultures, World Wars, AI creation. We use these lyrics to explain what we don’t want anymore. “Greed, Corruption, Inequality, Famine, War and Slavery”. This song is a song of hope. We, as human beings, need to recognize these atrocities and create a new way of thinking by joining and helping each other for the future. With the lyrics, “Let’s help each other, create a different end”.

The accompanying music video explores the dark underworld of human trafficking and missing and murdered indigenous persons, and offers a powerful blend of melody, aggression, and raw emotion. The song ends with a beautiful mix of gang and harmony vocals, which fans sing along during live performances. – Pamtera (lead vocals, guitar)

7. Hanging Tree: Hanging Tree is a hilarious Western-metal extravaganza that leans fully into camp and chaos. The fun lyrics tell a story of a wanted man who “accidentally” robs a train and shoots a man down. He is running from the law and the sheriff of the town, who is out looking for him so he can hang him from the local “Hanging Tree.” The song comes in with a country-themed harmony solo and then a riff that blends country and metal. His only regret is leaving his love, as he admits his guilt and goes down to the Hanging Tree.

The “Hanging Tree” video is a tongue-in-cheek Western Metal showdown like you’ve never seen before — packed with gunslingers, outlaws, a sultry goth cowgirl, and a hangman’s noose. It’s equal parts grit, groove, and gallows humor, showing Boneyard’s ability to blend heavy hooks with cinematic flair. The video was written and produced by Boneyard. – Pamtera (lead vocals, guitar)

8. Compass Points to War: “Compass Points to War” plunges you into a high-stakes sea battle with energetic riffs, a commanding female lead, gang vocals that echo each cannon blast, and a soaring melodic guitar solo. As the battle between ships comes into being, the guitars create mood and pacing that work together to amplify the song’s message of struggle and forward motion toward conflict. A blend of harmony guitars ensues as the ships clash, cannons are fired, and pirates board to take over the losing ship and its gold. In the end, they win the war and leave the ship downed with its crew.

The accompanying music video is a high-intensity performance music video by Boneyard that visually reflects themes of conflict, momentum, and inevitability. Through dark, cinematic imagery, dramatic lighting, and tightly edited performance shots, the video captures the raw power of the band. Boneyard and Richard Pearce wrote and produced the video. – Pamtera (lead vocals, guitar)

9. Before the Fall (Piano Rendition): Garhardt arranged a cinematic piano rendition of Before the Fall that sounds like it’s straight out of a movie soundtrack. It combines a goosebump-inducing melody, synth swells, intentionally placed drum hits, and human-feel tempo changes to create an otherworldly, epic soundscape. – Lezzy (bass)

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

BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:
1. The first 3 singles were already written and mostly recorded before Lezzy joined the band, so she added background vocals and harmonies to what was already established before the recordings were finalized. She was then able to make bigger contributions to the remaining tracks that we wrote and refined together as the new lineup, including Garhardt on lead guitar, who was involved in every song and wrote phenomenal solos! – Lezzy (bass)

2. In 2015, while we were still learning cover songs to play live, I noticed how similar our set list was to the songs on the Ozzy’s Boneyard channel on Sirius/XM satellite radio. We decided to call ourselves Boneyard, mostly for reference for show promoters.

– Jefftimus (drums)

3. We all have a good sense of humor and have created a handful of highly entertaining videos, like our “stoner circle” Shockerfest promo in 2023, our unexpected cartwheel/campfire-won’t-light Decimate Metalfest promo in 2024, and the hilarious shoot-offs and drinking contest in our official music video for Hanging Tree, amongst others! – Lezzy (bass)

4. The band’s strength isn’t just in their riffs — it’s in their representation. With a Métis drummer and a female bassist from the LGBTQ+ community, Boneyard embodies inclusion, power, and authenticity while proudly flying the flag for hard rock and melodic metal. – Jefftimus (drums)

5. Boneyard independently released the album “Oathbreaker” in 2020. It eventually attracted the attention of Italy’s WormHoleDeath Records. The label and its affiliates re-released the album in 2022 to a broader market, including Japan. Grammy-nominated and Juno-winning mastering engineer Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Annihilator, Dokken) mastered the album in Los Angeles. – Jefftimus (drums)

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

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

Photo Credit – Corrine (Wytchy) Thain

Formed in 2015 by singer/guitarist Pamtera and drummer Jefftimus, the Canadian quartet began writing material for their debut release. After the pandemic delay, Boneyard independently released the album “Oathbreaker” in 2020. It eventually attracted the attention of Italy’s WormHoleDeath Records. The label and its affiliates re-released the album in 2022 to a broader market, including Japan.

With it came singles and videos for the songs such as “Fates Warning”, “Oathbreaker”, and “Evil Ways”. Grammy-nominated and Juno-winning mastering engineer Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Annihilator, Dokken) mastered the album in Los Angeles.

Over the years, Boneyard has become a standout force in the Canadian rock and metal scene, performing across Western Canada at events like Decimate Metalfest, Pembina River Nights, and Metisfest, and sharing stages with 96 Bitter Beings, KingDoom, and Deadwolff.

The band looks to build on the momentum and success of the first album with their upcoming sophomore independent release “Black Static”, due out October 23, 2026.

The singles/videos “Pride Before The Fall”, “Compass Points To War” and “Hanging Tree”, all released in 2025, were met with tremendous response and have heightened the anticipation of the album’s release.

The band’s strength isn’t just in their riffs; it’s in their representation. With a Métis drummer and a female bassist from the LGBTQ+ community, Boneyard embodies inclusion, power, and authenticity while proudly flying the flag for hard rock and melodic metal.

Lineup:
Pamtera – Lead Vocals, Guitar
Lezzy Osbourne – Bass
Jefftimus – Drums
Garhardt – Lead Guitar

Discography:
2026 – Black Static – Album
2020 – Oathbreaker – Album

Tours and Festivals:
2026 – Metisfest – Smoky Lake, AB
2025 – Pembina River Nights – Entwistle, AB
2025 – International Women’s Day Weekend – Red Deer, AB
2024 – Decimate Metalfest – Millet, AB
2024 – Wacken Metal Battle – Edmonton, AB

0 Protected: EPK – Baby On A Rampage – Forgive My Figure (2026)

August 29, 2026
by Asher
· Baby On A Rampage · EPKs

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0 EPK- Traumatomy – Ascension Of The Ineffable (2026) (Gore House Productions)

August 26, 2026
by Asher
· EPKs · Traumatomy (Gore House Productions)

EPK- Traumatomy – Ascension Of The Ineffable (2026) (Gore House Productions)

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

“We are very happy with this new album « Ascension Of The Ineffable»; we have been working on it for 2 years. We believe that this album will be loved by fans for a long time. Konstantin Ogarkov brought a special sound to this album. The sound is raw but at the same time sharp and brutal. The album cover by Jon Zig captured our vision and atmosphere. SLAM IS THE ONLY WAY” – Traumatomy

Band: Traumatomy
Album Title: Ascension Of The Ineffable
Release Date: October 30, 2026
Label: Gore House Productions

For fans of Gorevent, Cerebral Incubation, Disgorge, Epicardiectomy, Defeated Sanity

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

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

Facebook.com/traumatomy | Instagram.com/traumatomy.slam

Spotify | Apple Music | Traumatomyslam.bandcamp.com

Pre-Save – All Digital Platforms (Bandcamp, Apple Music) – https://orcd.co/ascension-of-the-ineffable

“Brutal death metal enthusiasts rejoice!… Get in, make a s**t-ton of noise, wreck some bodies, and get out. That’s the mantra of this EP, and the mindset of Traumatomy, who deliver five of the nastiest and brutalising death metal tracks heard this year. With guitar riffs that are as thick as coagulated blood, bass hooks that rip through flesh as though they’ve emerged from a freshly opened Lament Configuration, drums that sound like a demon is hitting the skulls, ribcages, and stretched skin of its victims, and vocals that gurgle and growl like a creature driven to madness through hunger. This is Traumatomy’s sound, and it is f**king mean. There’s no refresh of the brutal death metal sound here. No suggestion that Traumatomy are about to drop a melodic one out of the blue. No attempt to do anything but deliver brain-crushing heaviness at its best. Which is what Traumatomy do here. Delivering the kind of savage and sickening heaviness that leaves you with a headache, a sore neck, aching limbs, and the strong feeling of having been well and truly violated.” – Games, Brrraaains, A Head-Banging Life

“TRAUMATOMY releases “Triumph Of Enslavement”, an EP that offers slam in its purest form, but which is attractively designed in terms of songwriting and rafinesses here and there, which reveals the many years of experience in this style, especially from guitarist Constantine Chevardin. Fans should be happy with this appetizer. 8/10″ – PowerMetal.de

“Well, this is short and sweet at just over 15 minutes. Triumph of Enslavement is a nice little (tiny?) slab of brutal death metal that opens up with a mid-paced but heavy, crushing intro before swerving in a faster, but no less heavy, death metal onslaught. They do slow down, sometimes almost to a crawl, but the crushing heaviness is omnipresent, clickety drums included (OK, that has nothing to do with heaviness, but you do get the clickety drums). The growls are deep, deeper than I usually like, but they’re a perfect fit for the music here—I wouldn’t see a different style working quite as well. It’s dark, it feels like the weight of the world going through your ears, and sometimes that’s just what you need.” – The Metal Crypt

«There is a consistent groove throughout each song which either features slow, dragging parts where the focus is on the slams, or faster parts in which the riffs and drumming get a lot more technical and intense» – Angelusmortem

«Musically, Traumatomy’s style is very similar to Abominable Putridity, Visceral Disgorge, Party Cannon and Epicardiectomy since the songs have that groovy aesthetic but this time, they’ve bring more depth in their sound since every song doesn’t feel the same as it keeps the melodics, tempos, arrangements and style feel its welcomed and for that, I truly feel this is the best Traumatomy album they’ve done to date» – Metalpurgatorymedia

«You want absolute bestial brutality? You’ve got it!» – bloodynews.ro

Band: Traumatomy
Album Title: Ascension Of The Ineffable
Release Date: October 30, 2026
Label: Gore House Productions

Track Listing:
1. Entropic Obliteration (3:34)
2. Pervigilium of the Obsolesced Xenolith (3:26)
3. Endoneural Parasitosis (3:07)
4. Repugnant Coalescence (2:55)
5. Ascension Of The Ineffable (2:54)
6. Visceral Maceration (2:34)
7. Autognathic Avulsion (2:43)
8. Xeno-Homeostasis (3:07)
Album Length: 24:15

Album Credits:
All songs performed by Traumatomy
All songs written by Constantine Chevardin
Produced by Constantine Chevardin
Mixed and Mastered by Konstantin Ogarkov
Cover artwork by Jon Zig

Album band line-up:
Constantine – Guitars
Ivan – Drums
Leonid – Bass
Haruka – Vocals
Kirill – Vocals

Live band line-up:
Constantine – Guitars
Ivan – Drums
Leonid – Bass
Kirill – Vocals

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About the album as a whole (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

The new album sounds faster, more brutal, and more raw. Lyrically, it is the same as the others.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY)

1. Entropic Obliteration – The opening song of the album shows the brutality of the album as a whole.

2. Pervigilium of the Obsolesced Xenolith – This is the fastest track on the album. It has the most blast beats.

3. Endoneural Parasitosis – A song with truly sick breakdowns

4. Repugnant Coalescence – It’s our drummer’s favourite track. The most balanced track.

5. Ascension Of The Ineffable – It’s the main track of this album. The track represents the entire album, as the lyrics and title are related to the album cover.

6. Visceral Maceration – One of our favorite songs to perform live

7. Autognathic Avulsion – It has it all: grooves, blast beats, and atmospheric riffs.

8. Xeno-Homeostasis – It has the perfect structure for the end of the album.

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Fun Facts – Story Angles:

1. A former band member once vomited and shitted at the same time after the last show of our European tour. He drank a lot of the national Czech drink, slivovitz.

2. Our bass player was smoking weed, thinking he was smoking cigarettes. Then he fell in the bathroom and hit his head. :)))
It was slammy!!!!

3. When we were on tour in Russia, in the city of Astrakhan, our bus was broken into, and our merch was stolen.

The next day we noticed that local alcoholics were wearing our T-shirts.

4. One day we were invited to an open-air event in Cheboksary. We didn’t know what awaited us since it was our first time working with this show manager. When we arrived, there was an open field, a forest, and pits in front of us. There was no equipment or stage, just bare ground.

When we approached this manager with a question, he replied that all his bands performed like this and did not see any problem. He invited us to play and then spend the night on the bare ground with him. (Even without beer)

5. The former live vocalist performed with us at the festival in Germany, “Death Fest Open Air”. After our return to Russia, a local newspaper wrote about him; the headline was: “The retail worker of a local alcohol store was carried on fans’ arms in Germany” lol

Traumatomy is an international slamming brutal death metal unit formed in 2012 by Constantine Chevardin (Disfigurement Of Flesh, Nauseating, Morphogenetic Malformation) and Haruka Kamiyama (ex‑Gorevent / Medic Vomiting Pus). Originally conceived as an online studio project with no intention of performing live, the band quickly became a cult favourite in the global brutal underground following the release of their 2013 debut full‑length Transcendental Evisceration of Necrogenetic Beasts. Between 2012 and 2018, Traumatomy issued two albums and three EPs, steadily sharpening their primitive, crushing, and uncompromising sonic identity.

Everything changed in 2018 when bassist Leonid (Cephalic Impurity) and a permanent drummer, Ivan, joined the lineup, transforming Traumatomy into a fully active touring band. Their coordinated, intense stage presence and relentlessly brutal delivery have since earned them a reputation for charisma, precision, and professionalism, supported by a large catalogue of live videos circulating online.

In 2026, Traumatomy enters a new era with the release of their fourth full‑length album, Ascension Of The Ineffable, out October 30, 2026 via Gore House Productions. Written entirely by Constantine, the album pushes their sound into even more savage territory, faster, rawer, and more brutal than anything in their discography. Inspired lyrically by H.P. Lovecraft and the grim absurdity of Russian criminal TV shows, the record continues the band’s tradition of grotesque storytelling while amplifying the extremity of their musical approach.

Fueled by beer, riffs, and cosmic horror, Traumatomy remains committed to creating monolithic slam until the end of time. Ascension Of The Ineffable stands as the definitive statement of that mission: a violent, gnarly, and invigorating slab of slamming brutal death metal that embodies everything the band has become.

Discography:
2026 – Ascension Of The Ineffable – LP
2024 – Triumph Of Enslavement EP
2021 – Extirpation Paradigms – LP
2017 – Embodiment of Excruciation – EP
2017 – Hysteric Decapitation Demo
2015 – Monolith of Absolute Suffering – LP
2014 – Beneficial Amputation of Excessive Limbs – EP
2014 – Promo
2013 – Transcendental Evisceration of Necrogenetic Beasts – LP
2012 – Promo

Shared Stage with: Cerebral Incubation, Epicardiectomy, Waking the Cadaver, Guttural Secrete, Pyrexia, Pathology, Within Destruction

TOURS:
2025 – Worship Of Sickness Tour w/ Insect Inside
2024 – Unsparing Cruelty Tour w/ Cephalic Impurity
2023 – Slam Violence Tour w/ Cerebral Incubation, Epicardiectomy, 357 Homicide
2023 – Slam Them All Tour w/ Visceral Disorder
2022 – United In Brutality Tour w/ Decomposition Of Entrails
2022 – Tyranny Over Russia Tour w/ Insect Inside
2022 – Summer Brutality Tour w/ Cold Blooded Murder
2019 – Desolation Europe Tour w/ Disfigurement Of Flesh and Paediatrician
2019 – Asia Tour w/ Within Destruction
2018 – Kill. Crush. Destroy Tour w/ Inopexia

0 EPK – Bat Leather – Dark Arts (2026) (No List Records)

August 26, 2026
by Asher
· EPKs · No List Records - Bat Leather

EPK – Bat Leather – Dark Arts (2026) (No List Records)

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

Nolistrecords.bandcamp.com/album/dark-arts

Facebook.com/nolistrecords | Instagram.com/nolistrecords

150 white vinyls
50 rare blacks

Instagram.com/batleathernoise

Band: Bat Leather
Album Title: Dark Arts
Label: No List Records (Vinyl), Super Crunch Records
Release Date: September 4, 2026
Genre: Brutal Minimalist Noise Rock
Location: Calgary, AB / Vancouver, BC, Canada

Track Listing:
1. Dance Craze – 2:00
2. Thursday Inn Sylvan – 1:42
3. Misguided Projects – 1:51
4. Then He Was Pulled Into A Machine – 2:26
5. Technical Aggression – 2:39

Credits:
Cory – Guitar, Bass, Drums, Noise
Luke – Vocals, Noise

Recorded January 2026 at Red Volume Audio in the Badlands, ab by Cory. Vocals recorded in Vancouver, bc by Luke.
Mixed by Cory. No master, no god.
Cover photograph and layout by Cory.

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Bat Leather 7” 2026

There are times when you drop a needle on a record, sit down to listen to it for the first time, and you’re immediately a bit puzzled. Where is this coming from? How do I place this? What genre am I going to put this in when I brag to my friends that I found it first?

Bat Leather makes that type of music. The kind that confronts you, maybe makes you a bit uneasy, on edge, but is immediately engaging. It’s punk, but not. It’s noisy garage rock, but not entirely that. Noisy and then, somehow, noisier. Then there is that nod to the plodding, sludgy sound more often associated with music to get stoned to. It’s a lot, packed into short blasts of sound and fury.

With the overdriven vocals and hyper-distorted guitars punctuated by waves of feedback, this band is heavy. Like, heavy. Puzzling over the sound isn’t the point. “Technical Aggression” captures how Bat Leather can expertly twist feedback into the core of the song, and while “restraint” is not necessarily an accurate word to describe this music, “Dance Craze” is a slow burn, with pounding drums and vocals dragging you through the smoke.

Usually, these write-ups of bands include comparisons or influences, with a tidy wind-up that puts the band into a box of a narrowly defined genre, simplifying things, or lumps them into a scene that makes things familiar. Bat Leather is not that band; their music is not that easy. In the end, you’re left with something complicated – something that rocks and is noisy. It’s heavy and then gets heavier. It’s describable; you can, but never capture everything going on. And it crawls inside you with listen after listen after listen. If “heavy rotation” counts as a genre, well, this is it.

0 Protected: EPK – Foreshadow – Here Down To Earth (2026)

August 24, 2026
by Asher
· EPKs · Foreshadow

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0 EPK – Godfall – Default (single) (2026)

August 17, 2026
by Asher
· EPKs · Godfall

EPK – Godfall – Default (single) (2026)

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

For fans of Spiritbox, Evanescence, Bring Me the Horizon, Bad Omens, Linkin Park

“I think it’ll be a pleasant surprise since we are constantly refining our sound and working on our songwriting skills. I think ultimately we want our fans to have a Godfall song for any kind of day: a day when you’re annoyed, sad, happy, motivated – you name it. We want them to be able to sing along and headbang at the same time.” – Karina Khristova – Clean Vocals – Godfall

Band: Godfall
Single Title: Default – 4:03
Release Date: August 3, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid
Genre: Metalcore
Location of Band: Calgary, AB, Canada

Linktr.ee/godfallband | Youtube.com/@GodfallMetal | Instagram.com/godfallband | Tiktok.com/@godfallyyc | Facebook.com/godfallband/

“If ever a track captures what so many of us are feeling at the moment, this is it.” – Ruby Slippers w/ carolB on CIUT 89.5FM – Toronto, ON

Single Recording Credits:
All songs performed by: Godfall
All songs written by: Godfall
Co-Produced by: Seth Shimp
Mixed by: Seth Shimp
Mastered by: Seth Shimp
Single Artwork by: Designs by HETCH

Single and Live Band Lineup:
Omer Khan – Guitar
Karina Khristova – Clean Vocals
Abel Boban – Dirty Vocals
Keith Capili – Bass
Andrew Kruschin – Drums

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About the Single Artwork:

Our “Default” artwork represents someone who lives like a machine: everything is predetermined, there are no surprises because there’s no room for them, and very little flexibility. We like to work with different artists for our artworks; it’s always a pleasant surprise, and you make new connections that way too.

About the Single (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

Default is about living a mundane life, not being able to break out of the endless groundhog day. We are always running somewhere, and we forget that life is actually happening today, not when we’re done with our countless tasks. It’s important to take a break and look at yourself sometimes.

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Band Fun Facts:1. Every band member is from a different country and speaks a different first language.

2. None of us were friends before starting the band, and we had to get used to one another.

Godfall is a Calgary‑born five‑piece forged from the desire to create music that hits hard, feels honest, and speaks directly to the human experience. Founded in 2023, the project began as guitarist Omer Khan’s vision but quickly evolved into a diverse collective of musicians, each bringing their own background, culture, and creative instincts. With every member coming from a different country and speaking a different first language, Godfall’s sound is shaped by contrast, collaboration, and the belief that the best ideas come from serving the song rather than fitting a genre.

From the earliest demo of the single Parasite (2024) to the band’s most recent releases, Godfall has embraced a style that is melodic, aggressive, catchy, emotional, and gritty. Their music explores resistance, personal conflict, toxic relationships, burnout, and the universal struggle to rise above the weight of everyday life. Whether the spark begins with a single riff, a word meant to anchor a chorus, or a shared emotional theme, the band builds each track together, cutting, refining, and reshaping until the song speaks with clarity and purpose.

Godfall’s evolution is constant. They lean into their strengths, shift through phases of anger, melancholy, and soaring melody, and refuse to be boxed in. Their discography of singles Parasite (2024), Ishkode (2024), Make Me Sick (2026), and Default (2026), plus their 2025 debut EP Parade of Rot, captures that growth, culminating in the thematic depth of Default, a reflection on living life on autopilot and the need to break free from the endless grind.

Onstage, Godfall delivers 120% every time. Their live show blends intensity, choreography, crowd engagement, and unexpected moments designed to pull fans deeper into the experience. They aim to give listeners a Godfall song for any kind of day, something to scream, something to sing, something to feel.

Godfall is more than a band; it’s a creative melting pot, a shared voice, and a testament to how strangers can become a unified force through music that comes straight from the heart.

Discography:
2026 – Default (single)
2026 – Make Me Sick (Single)
2025 – Parade of Rot (EP)
2024 – Parasite (Single)
2024 – Ishkode (Single)

Shared Stage with:
Gutter King, Our Last Crusade, Still Hollow, Bottom Feeder, Valley of Despair, Victoria Lies, The Judge and the Juror, Plague Doctor, Jisei

Tours and Festivals:
2026 – Decimate Metal Fest – Millet, AB
2026 – Death and Decay Metal Fest – Lethbridge, AB
2025 – Moments Fest – Siksika Nation, AB

0 EPK – Altersoul – Abandoned (2026) (single)

August 13, 2026
by Asher
· Altersoul · EPKs

EPK – Altersoul – Abandoned (2026) (single)

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

“This single is a re-recording of a very early track from the previous iteration of this band, under the name ‘Ominous Eclipse’. It comes from that band’s debut album more than a decade ago, when studio quality wasn’t as high. As a tribute to a member who passed away, as a treat for fans of Ominous Eclipse, and as the first time this song has been recorded with real drums and real orchestral elements, we expect fans will be happy to hear these songs finally get the treatment they deserve. With this single, we are introducing ourselves with a piece of our past to showcase where we came from and who we are now.” – James, Guitar/Vocals – Altersoul

For fans of Death, Revocation, Gojira, Children of Bodom, Opeth

Altersoulband.com | Facebook.com/altersoulband | Youtube.com/@altersoulband | Instagram.com/altersoul.band

Altersoul1.bandcamp.com | Apple Music | Spotify

Band: Altersoul
Single Title: Abandoned (Single)
Length: 5:25
Release Date: May 5th (streaming), Video August 13, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Distribution: Distrokid
Genre: Death Metal
Location of Band: Brockville, ON

Single Recording Credits:
• All songs performed by: Graham Murphy, James Close, Evan Ferguson, Andrew Poskus
• All songs written by: Graham Murphy, James Close
• Produced by: James Close
• Mixed by: James Close
• Mastered by: James Close
• Album Artwork by: Max Southwood and Altersoul
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

Band Line-up:
Graham Murphy – Guitar/Vocals
James Close – Guitar/Vocals/Additional Instruments
Evan Ferguson – Bass
Andrew Poskus – Drums

Additional Guest Recording:
Wenhao Zhou – Piano
Heather Istead – Oboe

Live Band Line-up:
Graham Murphy – Guitar/Vocals
James Close – Guitar/Vocals
Evan Ferguson – Bass
Theo Konrad – Drums

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About The Single Artwork:

[James, Guitar/Vocals] The lyrics of ‘Abandoned’ tell of a man left behind by his loved ones to freeze to death in a barren snowy landscape, and the final moments of the composition represent his last peaceful breath, when acceptance takes over. When creating the artwork for this track, we chose to focus on the serenity of the nature scene he spends his final moments in, showing the northern lights above him, the trees surrounding him, and the footsteps that led him to his final place where he will become one with nature.

About The Single (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):

[Graham, Guitar/Vocals] This single is a symbolic debut for us in that it is a re-recording of a song from our past, which also happens to be the oldest composition in our catalogue. It was created as an acoustic guitar piece I wrote around 2009-2010. I remember being heavily influenced by the Norwegian black metal band ‘Immortal’, having just picked up their album ‘All Shall Fall’, which was released around that time. Inspired by that sound, I picked up my cheap acoustic (which can be seen in the music video) and wrote the main guitar part. Years later, when ‘Ominous Eclipse’ was being formed, I arranged the other instruments and made it a full band composition, which was featured on our album ‘End of Days’. When re-branding as Altersoul, we chose this as our first single. The core composition and lyrics remain unaltered other than a slight timing adjustment at the beginning to add anticipation. James arranged additional orchestral instruments that he recorded either himself (plus some by guest musicians), and engineered the track, performing the mixing and mastering. Lyrically, I envisioned a cold and barren climate, devoid of warmth or life, which stems from its black metal influence.

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BAND STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS:

1. This single features our friend and guest Andrew Poskus on drums, who was the original drummer for Ominous Eclipse. Back then, we relied on programmed drums for our releases. His first release for the band, surprisingly, happened a decade after leaving the band.

2. The acoustic guitar seen in the music video for Abandoned was the one it was written on by Guitarist/Vocalist Graham Murphy. Originally purchased for about $75 from the now-defunct ‘Pete’s Music Exchange’ in our hometown of Brockville, ON.

3. The first release of this song was from Ominous Eclipse’s first album, ‘End of Days’, which is a masterclass in how not to record an album. The guitar parts were recorded in one day, and the vocal parts were recorded on another day. The final note in the solo of this version of ‘Abandoned’ was punched in the next day, using a Telecaster tuned to standard tuning.

4. When we were first starting as ‘Ominous Eclipse’, our rehearsal space was in the basement of James’s father’s house. Now our main rehearsal and studio space is in James’s (and Evan’s) Attic, in a studio now referred to as ‘The Crack Attic ’, full of instruments. The orchestral parts heard are real instruments recorded by the members of the band.

5. The band’s creations are (so far) 100% DIY, with all recording, mixing, artwork, and video done by ourselves.

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L-R: Theo Konrad (drums), James Close (guitar & vocals), Graham Murphy (guitar & vocals), Evan Ferguson (bass)

Altersoul is a four‑piece metal band from Brockville, Ontario, formed by longtime collaborators James Close (Guitar/Vocals) and Graham Murphy (Guitar/Vocals) after more than a decade performing together as Ominous Eclipse. Joined by Evan Ferguson (Bass) and Theo Konrad (Drums), the band carries forward the spirit of their former project while forging a new identity shaped by loss, evolution, and a renewed creative vision.

Following the passing of founding Ominous Eclipse bassist Ryan Clements in 2024, Altersoul was born as a tribute and a rebirth, its name derived from Alter Sol, “A New Sun.” Musically, the band blends death metal, tech‑death, thrash, black metal, folk/viking metal, progressive metal, and doom, creating a sound that Graham describes as Authentic, Diverse, Volatile, Inspired, and Layered. Their influences range from Opeth and Gojira to Children of Bodom and Mastodon.

Entirely self‑produced, Altersoul records real orchestral instrumentation, engineers their own mixes, and builds custom light shows for their performances. Their debut single, “Abandoned,” re‑imagines the earliest composition in their catalogue with modern production, real drums performed by original Ominous Eclipse drummer Andrew Poskus, and expanded symphonic arrangements. With multiple albums’ worth of unreleased material, Altersoul enters its new era by honouring its past while revealing the depth of what comes next.

0 EPK – Absolute Darkness – Witness To A Dying World (2026)

August 10, 2026
by Asher
· Absolute Darkness · EPKs

EPK – Absolute Darkness – Witness To A Dying World (2026)

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

For fans of Testament, Vio-lence, Exodus, At The Gates, The Crown, Amon Amarth

Band: Absolute Darkness
Witness To A Dying World
Release Date: October 23, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Genre: Death/Thrash
Location of Band: San Francisco Bay Area, USA

“Witness To A Dying World is the album I’ve wanted Absolute Darkness to make for a long time. Not because it’s heavier or faster than our previous releases, but because it finally feels like a complete band effort. Everyone contributed to the songwriting in one way or another, and I think that made every song better.

Lyrically, the album isn’t about one event or one person. It’s about the world we live in today and the things that frustrate, concern, or inspire me enough that I feel the need to write about them. There are songs about propaganda, abuse of power, war, addiction, homelessness, and standing up to tyranny. Those aren’t exactly cheerful topics, but I think music has always been a good place to explore difficult subjects.

Musically, we never set out to write the same song ten times. Some songs are straight-up thrash. Others lean more into melodic death metal. There are a lot of guitar harmonies, plenty of solos, and enough twists along the way to keep things interesting, but we always tried to make every change feel natural instead of complicated for the sake of being complicated.

At the end of the day, we’re doing this because we genuinely enjoy making music together. None of us are trying to become full-time musicians or make a living from the band. We all have careers, families, and lives outside of music, and that gives us the freedom to write the songs we want to write instead of chasing trends. If people come away remembering the songs, wanting to hear them again, and maybe even thinking about the stories they tell, then we’ve accomplished exactly what we set out to do.” – Absolute Darkness – Ron Dorn – Guitar/Lead Vocals

Facebook.com/BandAbsoluteDarkness | Youtube.com/@AbsoluteDarknessBand | Instagram.com/absolutedarkness_band

Absolutedarkness1.bandcamp.com | Spotify | Apple Music

“Combining death/thrash influences… stronger production values that hopefully will garner more buzz and attention.” – Dead Rhetoric (Failure Of State 2022)

“Part album, part call to arms… a rabble-rousing affair and a slamming indictment of modern-day society.” – The Headbanging Moose (Failure Of State 2022)

Band: Absolute Darkness
Witness To A Dying World
Release Date: October 23, 2026
Label: Self-Release
Genre: Death/Thrash
Location of Band: San Francisco Bay Area, USA

Track Listing:
1. Above The Law – 3:56
2. Attritional Warfare – 3:50
3. World Decay – 3:28
4. Snake Oil – 4:14
5. Different Illegally – 3:33
6. Loyalty To Me – 3:32
7. I Guess I Die – 3:59
8. Big Lies – 3:51
9. Extreme Accountability – 3:34
10. World In A World (Vio-lence Cover) – 4:13
Album Length: 38:21

Album Credits
All songs written by: Absolute Darkness, except World In A World
Produced by: Harry Ahlas/Absolute Darkness
Mixed and Mastered by: Harry Ahlas
Album Artwork by: Ikke Greca
Member of ASCAP

Band Lineup:
Ron Dorn – Guitar/Lead Vocals
Douglas Vetter II – Lead Guitar/Backup Vocals
Orson Sojo – Bass
Scott Russell – Drums

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About The Album or Single Artwork:
Answered by: Ron Dorn – Guitar

The artwork is meant to capture the world that the album lives in. It’s not tied to one specific song. Instead, it represents the common thread that runs throughout the record.

I wanted it to portray a society that has completely come apart. The buildings are in ruins, the streets are dangerous, and violence has become part of everyday life. The people on the cover aren’t superheroes or villains—they’re just trying to survive in a world that’s forgotten what normal used to look like.

I also wanted the artwork to have a cinematic feel. Instead of showing one dramatic moment, it captures an ordinary day in an extraordinary world—one where fear, corruption, and violence have become so commonplace that people simply keep walking.

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

Musically, Witness To A Dying World continues building on the death/thrash foundation established on Failure Of State, but with stronger songwriting, more collaborative arrangements, and a greater emphasis on memorable guitar harmonies and solos. It’s an aggressive album from beginning to end, but we worked hard to make every song stand on its own rather than simply being fast for the sake of being fast.

Lyrically, the album explores what happens when power goes unchecked. Corruption, propaganda, authoritarianism, war, exploitation, addiction, and social decay all appear throughout the record, usually told through individual stories rather than direct commentary. The songs aren’t meant to lecture the listener. They’re meant to tell stories that hopefully make people think while still delivering a fun, high-energy metal album.

Track by Track (LYRICALLY & MUSICALLY):
Answered by: Ron Dorn – Guitar

1. Above The Law – This is probably the most collaborative song on the album. Everyone contributed ideas that found their way into the final version, making it one of the most enjoyable songs to write.

Musically, it comes out of the gate fast but eventually opens up into one of my favorite sections on the album. The middle of the song slows things down just enough to let the guitar harmonies and Doug’s solo breathe before driving back into the final chorus.

Lyrically, it’s told from the perspective of someone who believes they’re completely untouchable. They abuse their power, blame everyone else for their actions, and don’t even bother trying to hide what they’re doing because they don’t believe there will ever be consequences. It’s a mindset we’ve all seen play out in the real world, and I thought it made for an interesting character to write from.

2. Attritional Warfare – This is probably my favorite song on the album.

The lyrics tell the story from both sides of a war. There isn’t a hero or a villain. It’s about ordinary soldiers waiting for their turn to charge, likely to die. Eventually the roles reverse, and the other side is waiting for their turn to charge, likely to die. That’s the tragedy of attritional warfare. Everyone loses.

The song was inspired by a combination of things. The war in Ukraine certainly influenced it, but so did watching The Pacific and its depiction of the brutal Pacific campaign during World War II. I was also inspired by the trench warfare of World War I. Different wars, different places, but the same reality of people being fed into battles where human lives become just another resource to be spent.

When we created the animated video, we intentionally kept the setting vague. We didn’t want it to be identifiable as any particular war or country because that wasn’t the point. The song isn’t about one conflict—it’s about the human cost of wars where victory comes through simply outlasting the other side.

3. World Decay – This song has a lot of Doug in it. It started with a riff I came up with, but Doug really took it and ran with it, writing most of the music from there. Orson and Scott also contributed riffs and ideas, so it ended up being another very collaborative song.

The lyrics went through a complete rewrite. My original idea was about worker exploitation, and while I liked the concept, I just couldn’t get it to say what I wanted it to say. I lived with those lyrics for a few months, but they never really clicked.

Then I watched two separate incidents where unarmed people were killed by law enforcement while standing up for what they believed in. That completely changed how I looked at the song. I threw away the original lyrics and started over.

The finished song is about standing up to tyranny, no matter the personal cost. History has shown that people who peacefully stand up to those in power are sometimes met with violence instead. That’s a difficult reality, but it’s also why those stories need to be told and remembered.

4. Snake Oil – This was Doug’s first full song contribution to the band, and I think it’s a great track. It has more room to breathe than some of the other songs on the album, with a few mellower sections, but when it picks up it has plenty of fast thrash to keep the energy up.

Lyrically, the song tells the story of the opioid epidemic through the eyes of one person. It starts with someone simply trying to deal with the pain from an injury. They become addicted, lose control of their life, and ultimately die from that addiction before being discovered by their family.

Unfortunately, that’s a story that’s played out far too many times over the last couple of decades. Rather than trying to tell the story from a broad perspective, I wanted to show how devastating it can be through the life of a single person. I think that makes the ending hit a lot harder.

5. Different Illegally – Musically, the song is built around layered guitar harmonies that run throughout almost the entire track. The middle section has a lot going on, with multiple guitar parts and melodies working together before driving back into the final chorus.

Lyrically, it’s about using the law to justify treating people differently simply because they’re viewed as “other.” Throughout history, we’ve seen governments and societies decide that certain groups are the problem, then pass laws or policies that make it easier to marginalize them. The specific group changes over time, but the pattern repeats itself.

The title is meant to reflect that idea. Being different isn’t illegal, but throughout history there have been plenty of attempts to make it feel that way. It’s also about distraction. While people are busy arguing over one group of people, the real issues often go unaddressed.

6. Loyalty To Me – Musically, this song opens with a driving mid-tempo march that sets the tone before exploding into one of the faster sections on the album. After all that energy, it comes full circle by returning to the opening theme to close the song. I always like it when a song feels like it has a real beginning and ending instead of just stopping.

Lyrically, it’s about people in positions of power who demand absolute personal loyalty from everyone around them while having no intention of returning that loyalty themselves. To them, loyalty isn’t something that’s earned—it’s simply expected. Anyone who questions them or refuses to fall in line is quickly discarded and replaced.

It’s another example of how power can corrupt people, but it’s also a reminder that loyalty only has value when it goes both ways

7. I Guess I Die – Musically, this is one of the thrashiest songs on the album and one of my favorites to play live. It has a lot of energy from start to finish, and Doug absolutely knocked it out of the park with the guitar solo. It’s just a fun song to play.

This was also one of the first songs written for the album, along with Attritional Warfare, so it helped establish the direction the rest of the record would take.

Lyrically, it’s about the hopelessness that can come with homelessness. It’s easy to think it could never happen to you, but sometimes all it takes is a few bad breaks and not much of a safety net. Once someone ends up on the street, climbing back out can be incredibly difficult.

The song isn’t meant to judge people or pretend there’s a simple solution. It’s about recognizing how quickly someone’s life can unravel and how easy it is for society to look the other way.

8. Big Lies – This song has a lot going on musically. There are layered guitar harmonies, overlapping left and right guitar parts, and multiple vocal layers that all work together to create a much bigger sound than a typical thrash song.

Lyrically, it’s about propaganda and the power of repeating lies often enough that people begin accepting them as truth. A false claim can dominate the headlines, while the eventual court ruling, retraction, or consequences for the people spreading those lies receive far less attention. By then, the damage has already been done because many people believed what they wanted to believe in the first place.

The quote in the middle of the song reinforces that idea. It’s a reminder that propaganda isn’t a new concept. The tactics have been around for a long time, and they’re just as effective today as they’ve ever been

9. Extreme Accountability

This song started as a collaboration between Doug and Scott. They brought the musical ideas to the table, and I wrote the lyrics around what they had created. It ended up being one of the heavier songs on the album, and I think the music fits the subject matter perfectly.

Lyrically, it’s very much inspired by Jeffrey Epstein. That’s not something we tried to hide. More broadly, though, it’s about the idea that wealth and influence can allow people to escape accountability for years, surrounding themselves with people who are either bought off or too afraid to speak up.

Regardless of what people believe happened at the end of his life, I think just about everyone can agree that he was a monster. The song isn’t really about his death—it’s about everything that came before it, how long he was able to operate, and the damage caused by the people and institutions that enabled him.

10. World In A World (Vio-lence cover) – This song is very personal to me. I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and spent a lot of time going to shows when Vio-lence, Death Angel, and Forbidden were all local bands on the rise. I was at the record release show for Oppressing the Masses, and World In A World has always been one of my favorite Vio-lence songs.

When we decided to record it, my goal wasn’t to reinvent it. I wanted to stay as faithful to the original as possible while taking advantage of modern recording technology. The one place I intentionally made it our own was the vocals. Sean Killian’s voice is so unique that trying to imitate it would have been doing both him and myself a disservice. Instead, I leaned into my own deeper death/thrash vocal style. I think it gives listeners a different perspective on a classic song while still respecting what made the original so special.

One thing that was really important to me was not recording it to a click track. The original performance speeds up and slows down naturally, and I didn’t want to lose that feel. We followed the original performance closely so those natural tempo changes would carry through into our version.

I’m really proud of how it turned out. I hope longtime Vio-lence fans hear it as the tribute it was intended to be. The goal was never to improve on the original—just to celebrate a song that meant a lot to me growing up in the Bay Area while putting our own stamp on it.

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STORY ANGLES / FUN FACTS ABOUT THE BAND

1. Bay Area Thrash Roots
Ron grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during the rise of the thrash movement and attended shows by many of the bands that helped define the genre. He was present for the Oppressing the Masses record release show and has long been a fan of bands like Vio-lence, Death Angel, and Forbidden. That connection ultimately led to the band’s cover of World In A World as a tribute to one of the songs that helped shape his musical direction.

2. The Most Collaborative Absolute Darkness Album Yet
Witness To A Dying World is the first Absolute Darkness album where every member made significant songwriting contributions. While Ron and Doug remain the primary songwriters, ideas from every member helped shape the finished record, resulting in a much more collaborative writing process than previous releases.

3. An ambitious independent music video
The video for Attritional Warfare was the band’s most ambitious production to date. It combines live-action footage with over two minutes of original animation that was created over many months. Every scene was storyboarded in advance to create a visual companion that tells the story of the song rather than simply showing the band performing.

4. Success on Our Own Terms
Absolute Darkness isn’t trying to become a full-time touring band or make a living from music. The members all have careers and families, which gives them the freedom to focus on what they enjoy most: writing songs they’re proud of and playing shows because they’re fun. Without the pressure to chase trends or commercial success, the band is free to make the music they want to make and let the songs speak for themselves.

5. Giving Back Through Open Metal Fest Suite
Outside of Absolute Darkness, Ron Dorn is the creator and lead developer of Open Metal Fest Suite, a non-profit, open-source project that develops mobile apps for metal festivals. The software currently powers the unofficial apps for festivals including 70,000 Tons of Metal and Maryland Deathfest, helping thousands of fans plan their festival experience.

The project is entirely volunteer-driven and exists to give something back to the metal community rather than generate a profit. One of the core goals of Open Metal Fest Suite is that every improvement made for one festival benefits every other festival built on the platform, making it practical to support additional events over time.

While there is no goal of supporting a specific number of festivals, the platform was designed to make adding new festivals straightforward whenever the right opportunity comes along. Ron welcomes conversations with promoters, organizers, and festival communities about ways the platform can help improve the fan experience.

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Left to Right – Orson Sojo – Bass, Ron Dorn – Rhythm Guitar/Lead Vocals, Scott Russell – Drums, Douglas Vetter II – Lead Guitar/Backup Vocals

Photo Credit by Eddie Granillo

Absolute Darkness is a death/thrash metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area, formed in 2015. The band’s sound blends the aggression of bands like Death, Cannibal Corpse, and Amon Amarth with the Bay Area thrash roots of Testament, Vio-lence, and Exodus.

Lyrically, Absolute Darkness explores themes of corruption, abuse of power, war, propaganda, addiction, homelessness, and social decay through story-driven songs that are often told from the perspective of the people caught in those events.

Current lineup:

Ron Dorn – Guitar / Lead Vocals
Douglas Vetter II – Lead Guitar / Backing Vocals
Orson Sojo – Bass
Scott Russell – Drums

Since forming, the band has steadily evolved both musically and in production. Their 2022 debut full-length, Failure Of State, marked a significant step forward in songwriting and production quality. Their upcoming sophomore album, Witness To A Dying World, continues that progression and is the first Absolute Darkness album where every member made meaningful contributions to the songwriting process.

Discography:
2026 – Witness To A Dying World – LP
2022 – Failure of State – LP

Shared Stage with:
Profanatica, Stormruler, Hellhunter, Oak Ash & Thorn, Phantasmal Abyss

Tours and Festivals:
2025 – Kilowatt – San Francisco, CA Direct – support for Hellhunter with Phantasmal Abyss.
2025 – Heavy Metal Beach Party – Hollywood, FL – Community-organized pre-party event held before the 2025 70,000 Tons of Metal sailing.
2024 – DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA – Opened for Stormruler and Profanatica.
Absolute Darkness has earned support slots with nationally and internationally touring acts while steadily building its reputation throughout the San Francisco Bay Area metal scene.

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