Category: Music News

0 WACKEN METAL BATTLE USA Announces 2026 Battle Cities and Bands! One Band To Conquer Them All & Play Wacken Open Air

January 14, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · Wacken Metal Battle USA

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 14, 2026

WACKEN METAL BATTLE USA Announces 2026 Battle Cities and Bands!

One Band To Conquer Them All & Play Wacken Open Air

One Band To Conquer Them All! Wacken Metal Battle USA proudly unveils the 2026 battlegrounds across the nation, where one rising independent metal band will earn the chance to perform at Wacken Open Air, one of the globe’s most iconic and influential metal festivals.

Battles will be hosted in the following cities listed below. Please note that the national final will be held in San Diego, CA, on June 13, 2026.

The 2026 WMBU champion will receive the following:
– A slot at the 2026 Wacken Open Air Festival.
– Full professional backline provided.
– $1,000 USD towards flights to Germany.
– VIP camping at the festival.

List of previous WMBU national winners: Mourning High (2025 – Southern California / Arizona), Cascade Effect (2024 – San Diego), Fadrait (2023 – San Diego), Mythraeum (2022 – San Diego), Monarch (2019 – San Diego), Voices of Ruin (2018 – Anaheim), and Corpse Hoarder (2017 – Philadelphia).

Watch – Wacken Metal Battle 2025 – Aftermovie | Have You Heard the Future of Metal? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCulXiLlaSw

Wacken Battle Trailer Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjMugRXEc5g

Battle Cities

Atlanta
Jan 30 – Atlanta, GA – Star Bar (Round 1) – Esca, Vicki’s Dream, Death Rift, Endera, Valkyrie’s Fire, Disenthralled – https://www.freshtix.com/events/wackenmetalbattleatl
Jan 31 – Atlanta, GA – Star Bar (Round 2) – Jaeger, Red Hot Empty, Sugar Virus, Beast Mode, Dead Alive, Widow Anchor – https://www.freshtix.com/events/wackenmetalbattleatl
Feb 13 – Atlanta, GA – Star Bar (Atlanta Final)

Austin
Feb 1 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live (Round 1)
March 15 – Austin, TX – Come And Take It Live (Texas Final)

Brooklyn – https://www.facebook.com/events/880819674913930
March 13 – Brooklyn, NY – The Monarch – Wood Shop (Round 1)
March 14 – Brooklyn, NY – The Monarch – Wood Shop (Round 2)
April 11 – Brooklyn, NY – The Monarch – Wood Shop (Brooklyn Final)
May 9 – Brooklyn, NY – The Monarch – Wood Shop (East Coast Final)

Baltimore
Feb 7 – Catonsville, MD – Morsbergers Tavern (Round 1) – Tugboat, Casual Cruelty, Gods End, Corpse God, Reign, Ametropsa – https://www.facebook.com/events/2105141780021444/
Feb 28 – Catonsville, MD – Morsbergers Tavern (Round 2) – Eden of Fire, Illusion of Solace, Babies for Brunch, Diegression, Deadkind, Blood Zero – https://www.facebook.com/events/1530819171310018/
March 21 – Catonsville, MD – Morsbergers Tavern (Round 3)
April 11 – Catonsville, MD – Morsbergers Tavern (Catonsville Final)

Concord
March 14 – Concord, CA – Vinnie’s (Round 1) – Embryonic Devourment, Sonus, Thares, Cardboard Ringo -https://www.facebook.com/events/2070524426817816/
March 28 – Concord, CA – Vinnie’s (Round 2)
April 18 – Concord, CA – Vinnie’s (NorCal Final)

Dallas
Feb 7 – Dallas, TX – The Rail Club (Round 1)

Houston
Feb 7 – Houston, TX – BFE Rock Club (Round 1)

Portland
Feb 28 – Portland, OR – Dante’s (Round 1)
TBD – Portland, OR – Dante’s (Pacific Northwest Final)

Sacramento
March 6 – Sacramento, CA – Old Ironsides (Round 1)
March 20 – Sacramento, CA – Old Ironsides (Round 2)
April 3 – Sacramento, CA – Old Ironsides (Round 3)

San Antonio
Feb 6 – San Antonio, TX – Rock Box (Round 1) – Aeternal Requiem, Cheese Grater Masturbation, Voltreus, Thunder Horse, Surge Corpse Pile, Life Undone, Ariah Falls, Forever Silent, Bloodmoon, Immortal Execution, Overlay, Egregious
Glorious https://www.facebook.com/events/3331767850332917

San Diego
March 13 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick (Round 1) – https://www.facebook.com/events/1274721898034186/
March 14 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick (Round 2) – https://www.facebook.com/events/4304692073075456/
April 25 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick (San Diego Final)
May 23 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick (California Final)
June 13 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick (National Final)

Santa Ana
Feb 28 – Santa Ana, CA – Stages (Round 1)
March 7 – Santa Ana, CA – Stages (Round 2)
April 4 – Santa Ana, CA – Stages (LA/OC Final)

Seattle
Jan 16 Seattle, WA – The Funhouse (Round 1) – Trip The Wire, Ocean Ghost, Fate Defined, AC3, Serene, Wayward Shot – https://www.facebook.com/events/1182381040748946

Tampa Bay
Feb 27 – Tampa, FL – The Brass Mug (Round 1) – Ramtha, Endurus, Roads End, Mind Virus, Parallel Motion, Coralines Collapse – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wacken-metal-battle-florida-round-1-tickets-1979192270359
Feb 28 – Tampa, FL – The Brass Mug (Round 2) – Announce The Apocalypse, Failure Protocol, Nocturnal Dawn, Precipice, Livekill, Nibiru – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/wacken-metal-battle-florida-round-2-tickets-1979194475956
March 14 – Tampa, FL – The Brass Mug (Tampa Final)
April 18 – Tampa, FL – Tampa Metal Meeting (Southeast Final)

Wimington
March 7 – Wilmington, DE – Bar XIII (Round 1)
March 20 – Wilmington, DE – Bar XIII (Round 2)
April 18 – Wilmington, DE – Bar XIII (Wilmington Final)

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

Last year’s 2025 WMBU national finals were held on June 21st at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ, where Southern California and Arizona-based band MOURNING HIGH emerged as the seventh champion selected to represent the United States at the prestigious international showdown, Wacken Open Air, that took place from July 30th to August 2nd in Wacken, Germany, where over 185,000 attendees from around the world gathered.

Mourning High, crowned the West Coast Winner, competed alongside five other standout American bands: PRIME PROPHECY (New Jersey), WHAT’S WRONG (Pacific Northwest), PONTIFEX (Florida), FIREHAZE (East Coast), and BROKEN TIME (Texas). A panel of seasoned industry professionals, including Jeff Buttermark (FM Management), Shawn Quinn (Napalm Records/FM Management), and Rob Caggiano (formerly of Anthrax and Volbeat), ultimately selected Mourning High as the top U.S. act to perform at the International Wacken Battle.

Spotify – 2025 WMBU National Finalists Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5q7Or6tHAsWsAGg8zQSVgZ

For the last seven years of battles (2017-2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), Wacken Metal Battle USA has hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the world’s largest metal festival, Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany. 2019 saw the festival celebrate its 30th anniversary, but due to COVID, the 2020 and 2021 editions were both canceled. As the metal community regains its strength, Wacken Open Air 2026 will be the 35th edition of the festival and will be held from July 29th to August 1st. The 2026 event is already sold out with a line-up that includes Def Leppard, Lamb Of God, In Flames, Powerwolf, Emperor, Sepultura, and Running Wild, among others. Details here.

Wacken Metal Battle USA is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance to win their spot among over 55 other countries’ champions, and represent the USA in an international battle of the bands at the world’s largest outdoor metal festival: Wacken Open Air. The battles have been hosted at the festival for over a decade and give independent bands the opportunity to showcase their talents to an international audience, along with the chance to win multiple prizes.

How it works:
Participating cities will host qualifying rounds plus a city final organized by a local city concert promoter, where one band will move forward to the American national final (date and city to be determined). The winner of the national final will advance to perform at Wacken Open Air 2026 and compete against the winners of international bands from around the globe in a major international battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.

Links:
Metal-Battle.com
MetalBattleUSA.com
Facebook.com/metalbattleusa.official
X.com/MetalBattleUSA
Instagram.com/wmbusa.official

– 30 –

Sponsors / Partners:
Fatal Illness Management
Bravewords.com
Metal-Rules.com
V13.net
GhostCultMag.com
Come And Take It Productions
Brick By Brick
Distilled Entertainment
Piox Promotions
Tampa Bay Metal Scene
Last Light Presents
East Coast Metal Mayhem
Dean Guitars
Asher Media Relations

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0 Gore House Productions – Slam Titans INSECT INSIDE Unleashes “Carnal Ruins” From New Album “Reborn in Blight” Out March 2026

January 14, 2026
by Asher
· Insect Inside (Gore House Productions) · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 14, 2026

Slam Titans INSECT INSIDE Unleashes “Carnal Ruins”

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

Rising slam force Insect Inside are preparing to unleash their next wave of devastation with the release of “Carnal Ruins,” the newest single from their upcoming full‑length “Reborn in Blight”, arriving March 6th, 2026, via Gore House Productions. Emerging from the Eastern European underground, the band has sharpened their sound into something unmistakably their own, tight, aggressive, and drenched in the bleak atmosphere of the death metal that shaped them.

“Carnal Ruins” embodies that evolution. Described by the band as the album’s main brawler, the track delivers hardcore‑infused groove, relentless blastbeats, and a stripped‑down attack that pays homage to New York death metal icons like Soils of Fate, Internal Bleeding, and Dying Fetus. It stands as both a tribute and a declaration of the band’s place among slam’s heaviest modern acts.

The single follows the crushing momentum of “Hiveborn Abomination,” featuring Defeated Sanity’s Josh Welshman, a track that showcases the band’s ability to merge speed, groove, and suffocating atmosphere. Together, these singles set the stage for an album promising overwhelming heaviness, sharpened songwriting, and a deeper dive into the band’s dark, atmospheric tendencies.

This growth stems from a disciplined writing process shaped by distance; members living in different cities compose individually before refining ideas together. Daniel leads the songwriting, while he and Ivan craft the album’s apocalyptic lyrical vision, telling vivid stories of humanity’s extinction and the rise of an insectoid race.

Formed from a shared obsession with slamming brutality, Insect Inside evolved from casual jam sessions into a full‑fledged force featuring seasoned veterans: Bogdan (bass), Pavel (guitar), Daniel (vocals), and Ivan (drums). Their live shows are notorious for chaotic energy, relentless pits, and even fans in dinosaur costumes, a raw spirit reflected in the band’s shift toward a more visceral production style on “Reborn in Blight.”

Visually anchored by artwork the band calls gloomy and disgusting, the album delivers a grotesque fusion of groove‑based slam and dark brutal death metal across ten crushing tracks.

With “Carnal Ruins,” Insect Inside delivers another strike before the full album drops, a clear statement of intent and a promise of the brutality still to come.

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

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/album/4ZtW0SfFfeoCuA1x1zBUMy

and previous single “Hiveborn Abomination” with guest vocals from Josh Welshman of Defeated Sanity at the following links:

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhaFr5xtoEo

Drum Playthrough – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sfgjF0-JVw

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

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

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

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

More info:

https://gorehouseproductions.com/

https://www.facebook.com/insectinsideslam

https://www.instagram.com/insect_inside

-30-

“From the Russian city of Zlatoust which overlooks the river Ay, famed for its creation of swords and sabres, beautiful instruments of death, comes the decimating sonic assault of Insect Inside. Lured into the web of Gore House Productions, Insect Inside are now primed to unleash the fear infused death metal of The First Shining Of New Genus on an unsuspecting world… An intro with some impact, the squelch of footsteps through what sounds like a swamp, leading to the cries of some poor victim sets the stage for Insect Inside’s The First Shining of New Genus. Focus on the filth, because that is what this band deliver in spates across nine rough and tough death metal tracks.” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life

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

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

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0 Exitus Stratagem Records – Tech-Death Shredder MATT MILLER Unleashes Guitar Playthrough for “Maimed Paralyzed Dead” From Latest Album “Fiber Tormentum”

January 14, 2026
by Asher
· Matt Miller · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 14, 2026

Tech-Death Shredder MATT MILLER Unleashes Guitar Playthrough for “Maimed Paralyzed Dead” From Latest Album “Fiber Tormentum”

L-R – Justice Robinett (Bass), Jordan Kelso (Drums, Synth), Matt Miller (Guitars, Synth), Biko Wright (Vocals)

Photo Credit – Lilly May Everett

Technical death metal visionary Matt Miller has unveiled a new guitar playthrough video for “Maimed Paralyzed Dead,” one of the most harrowing and cinematic tracks from his latest full‑band album, “Fiber Tormentum,” released through Exitus Stratagem Records. The video captures Miller’s trademark blend of precision, intensity, and melodic ferocity, offering fans a close look at the technical prowess behind one of the album’s most monstrous compositions.

“Maimed Paralyzed Dead” occupies a pivotal place in the album’s overarching sci‑fi narrative, depicting the grotesque physical consequences of alien‑engineered DNA manipulation.

“Musically, it’s something out of a monster movie. Like a zombie crawling on the floor or lumbering toward its victim.” The playthrough highlights the track’s relentless rhythmic shifts, soaring leads, and crushing atmosphere, all of which have become defining elements of Miller’s evolving sound,” explains Miller.

The release of the “Maimed Paralyzed Dead” guitar playthrough marks another step in that progression, offering fans a visceral look into the technical and emotional core of “Fiber Tormentum.” With its blend of cinematic horror, technical mastery, and thematic depth, the track stands as a testament to Miller’s commitment to crafting music that is both overwhelming and unforgettable.

Watch the playthrough: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBIYWn7U8RI

“Fiber Tormentum” represents a major turning point in Miller’s career. Originally conceived as an instrumental record, the album transformed once he realized the material demanded a broader emotional and narrative range. The addition of vocalist Biko Wright, drummer Jordan Kelso, and bassist Justice Robinett elevated the project into a fully realized band.

“I knew it needed to be a proper album with vocals and the input of other people to make it come to life. This album features the heaviest, most melodic, and most technical music in my catalog so far,” adds Miller.

The album blends technical death metal, power metal, progressive elements, and epic vocal hooks into a sound Miller describes as relentless, soaring, crushing, intense, and epic. Lyrically, “Fiber Tormentum” forms a loose concept album centered on an advanced alien civilization subtly reshaping human DNA to enslave humanity. The story draws influence from real‑world anxieties and the societal fallout of the COVID‑19 era, giving the record a thematic weight that matches its musical aggression.

The album’s artwork, created by the late Joshua Nassaru Ward (Voraath), visually captures the torment of the narrative. The central figure’s face contorts in agony as its DNA fibers are forcibly rewritten, echoing the album’s themes of transformation, invasion, and loss of autonomy. The title itself, Fiber Tormentum, references the sound a Roman ballista makes when its ropes tighten before firing, a metaphor for tension, destruction, and the inevitability of conflict.

Miller’s journey to this moment began in 2020, when he launched his solo project during the pandemic. After touring the United States with Rings of Saturn on the Cyber Shred Tour 2022, he assembled his current lineup and soon after embarked on a European tour supporting death metal pioneers Possessed. Each member brings a diverse musical background, ranging from metal and jazz to folk and bluegrass, resulting in a dynamic and collaborative creative process.

“We strive to offer a show that grabs everyone’s attention. We play crushing technical music, but we want everyone to sing along and bang their heads,” says Miller.

The making of “Fiber Tormentum” was marked by its share of memorable moments. Vocalist Biko Wright tracked his parts between filming sessions for the Discovery Channel’s Expedition Bigfoot. The band became such regulars at a local Subway during recording that staff reserved a table for them every Tuesday and Thursday night. Their attempts to record samples using high‑end pianos and harps in music stores resulted in them being banned from multiple locations. And somewhere on the album, a hidden “One Take Willy” outburst, Biko’s triumphant shout after nailing a one‑take performance, awaits listeners with sharp ears.

Miller’s musical evolution has been steady and relentless. From his early instrumental EP in 2017 to the 2022 release of “Monument of Velocity” and his extensive catalog of covers and original material, he has consistently pushed the boundaries of extreme music. Now aligned with Extreme Management Group and backed by a full band of world‑class musicians, he continues to expand his reach and refine his sound.

Recommended for fans of Necrophagist, Symphony X, Wintersun, The Faceless, and Death, “Fiber Momentum” (released Sept 12th) is available on all major platforms through Exitus Stratagem Records.

Digital – https://hypeddit.com/mattmiller/fibertormentum

CD – https://www.exsrmusic.com/store/p/wnn3m10s6beq0pbmnot0e17ghvj629

Guitar Playthrough – Descent into Violence – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCj0AKSkSTc

Music Video – Effecively Neutralized – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJDoR9JL9b8

Band Playthrough – Summoned – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FJxxg_dd2k

Track Listing:
1. Descent into Violence (5:04)
2. Summoned (3:33)
3. Effectively Neutralized (4:53)
4. Blight and Disfigurement (3:23)
5. Maimed Paralyzed Dead (3:12)
6. Horror Beyond Comprehension (3:15)
7. Fiber Tormentum (Instrumental) (3:31)
8. Abiotic Origin (3:14)
Album Length: 30:08

Album Lineup:
Matt Miller (Guitars, Synth)
Jordan Kelso (Drums, Synth)
Justice Robinett (Bass)
Biko Wright (Vocals)

For more info:

Exsrmusic.com | Shreded1.com | Facebook.com/matt.miller.96995238 | Instagram.com/mattmiller630

– 30 –

“All in all, it’s a fascinating song (Effectively Neutralized) — head-spinning and heart-palpitating but also a heavy-hitter and a conjurer of strange, sinister, and haunting visions. In other words, in the space of just five minutes it pulls off a lot of impressive feats. And the well-filmed and well-edited video for it is a perfect complement, in that it shows us how all these talented performers executed all the impressive accomplishments.” – NoCleanSinging

“Hell yeah. Holy moly canoli. Fiverr to Fiber Momentum, and that was the album. This song is Descent into Violence. Holy moly canoli, dude. Go support, Matt Miller. That was absolutely badass. Total shredding. Jordan, also a homie of mine, your drums are incredible. The new singer, Bo, I love the harsh vocals in the clean. Total is it almost the cleans almost reminded me of Queensryche meets Cannibal Corpse. It’s pretty freaking sweet. And of course, Justice always lays down the heavy bass with the beautiful bass faces. But an absolutely incredible album….Matt Miller, you could find him everywhere. He’s an incredible guitar player, one of the best guitar players of our generation. Remember, this is Fiber Tormentum courtesy of Exitus Stratagem Records. So, a huge shout-out to them as well. Matt Miller has so many more songs. If you guys like this song (Descent into Violence), believe me, this guy is an absolute shred master. Not only does he do like a ton of his own originals, he does a ton of covers, and also he’s just a shred master of all sorts. Just exactly how they say, melodic, technical, and death. But I will definitely say the big thing that stands apart about this whole song is great structure, absolutely shredding on all levels, and the vocals are just 100% one-of-a-kind. And I totally enjoyed it. Guys, I love you guys from the bottom of my heart. This has been Matt Miller with his new song, Descent into Violence. Pick up the new album on September 12, Fiber Tormentum.” – Omar Rodriguez – The Metal Mixtape – YouTube Channel

“The songs on “Fiber Tormentum” are rather good, and make for very interesting listening sessions.” – Metal Temple

“”Fiber Tormentum” is a real killer and so refreshingly creative that you can’t help but toast this previously unknown genius in awe! Cheers! 9/10″ – PowerMetal.de

“Soaring, crushing, ferocious, emotive, and relentless, are words that strongly describe Decrepit Shed. The album has a lot to offer from various metal sub-genres and encompasses the best elements of technical guitar playing while still having well-written songs”. – Brave Words

“Monument of Velocity” initially had a different title and was not going to be a Matt Miller release and some of the songs were written with vocals in mind and were not going to be instrumental, however, it turned out to be the sixth of seven powerful albums in his discography. contains eight tracks full of technical and progressive metal eliciting feelings of suspense, and tension while being fun, melodic and brutally heavy. Miller’s melodic and relentless music has a wide range of influences and is recommended for fans of Jeff Loomis, Necrophagist, and Obscura.” – Rock’n’ Load

“Even though Miller’s music is instrumental, he likes to think of the guitar as a voice. Which in turn makes him ask what is the guitar saying? He is able to easily convey emotion, tone, and a story even without the use of vocals. Throughout his releases, his music has developed a more modern sound in both the music and the production. Musically the songs are more well written and a lot of the ideas he writes are being accurately represented. He is always trying to push himself as a musician and this is reflected in his discography. Influenced primarily by technical and progressive death metal with a dash of power metal and symphonic metal as well, Matt Miller’s music is recommended for fans of Obscura, Dragon Force, and Racer X” – Metal Sucks

“Mr. Miller can shred like his fingers are on fire” – Ever-Metal.com

“Matt shreds all over this album with guitar solos galore”. – Transcending the Mundane

“Soaring, crushing, ferocious, and emotive, Miller conveys a wide range of tones throughout his instrumental music. It is recommended for fans of Dragon Force, Racer X, and Jeff Loomis” – Metal-Rules

“For guitar enthusiasts, I guess it is a feast for the eyes and ears.” – Antichrist Magazine

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0 RAVENMOCKER Unleashes A Fierce First Step Into a New Era of Melodic Death Metal w/ Debut Single “Infallible”

January 12, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · Ravenmocker

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 12, 2026

RAVENMOCKER Unleashes A Fierce First Step Into a New Era of Melodic Death Metal w/ Debut Single “Infallible”

From L – R – Dylan Suierveld – Drums, George Patmas – Guitar, Tom Tierney – Guitar and Vocals, Will Buckley – Bass

Photo Credits – Kim Moran – Photographer

Southern California’s newest force in melodic death metal, Ravenmocker, has released their debut single, “Infallible”, accompanied by a music video to mark the band’s official arrival and the first of several tracks set to drop throughout the year. Formed in 2025 by guitarist/vocalist Tom Tierney, the band emerges from a period of personal upheaval, creative rebirth, and a desire to carve out a culturally rooted identity inspired by Native American lore.

Joined by guitarist George Patmas (ex‑Dianthus), drummer Dylan Suierveld (Levinia), and bassist Will Buckley (Levinia, Anubis), the band quickly developed a sound that is both nostalgic and fresh. Their influences span Children of Bodom, Insomnium, Amon Amarth, Kalmah, and Dark Tranquillity, while each member brings unexpected flavors, country, jazz fusion, blues, funk, and classical choral music into the mix.

Ravenmocker’s writing process is collaborative, dynamic, and rooted in emotional honesty. While Tierney currently leads much of the songwriting, every member contributes ideas, arrangements, and refinements.

“We want to write good songs, not just content. These songs were years in the making. The melodies should stick with you. We want people singing with us at shows. We want to give fans something they can feel together,” adds Tierney.

The band’s first single, “Infallible,” represents the moment everything changed for Tierney, the song that pushed him to leave behind a project he’d been part of for five years and fully commit to forging Ravenmocker’s path.

“‘Infallible’ was the turning point. It came from a place in my life that was harming me more than helping me. The guys immediately heard the potential, and it became the first song we worked on. A small clip online hit over 75,000 views, and that connection really showed us this was the right direction. This song started it all,” explains Tierney.

“Infallible” tells the story of a man who has spent too long in darkness, giving everything to an entity that never gave anything back. The track captures the moment he finally walks away, choosing growth, clarity, and self‑determination over turmoil. Musically, the song is energetic and uplifting, while lyrically, it remains cold, rigid, and emotionally raw. This contrast reflects the duality of stepping into a new future while still carrying the weight of resentment, anger, and frustration.

The single artwork mirrors this theme: A lone figure stands in the ruins of a devastated city, surrounded by collapsed towers and shattered structures. Amid the destruction, a statue of a raven remains standing, wings spread, defiant, symbolizing resilience, rebirth, and the courage to rise from ruin.

Watch and listen to the music video for “Infallible” via its premiere on NoCleanSinging HERE.

Spotify pre-save – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ravenmocker/infallible/

More info:

http://www.ravenmocker.net/

http://www.instagram.com/ravenmockerofficial

http://www.facebook.com/ravenmockerofficial

http://www.tiktok.com/ravenmockerofficial

About:

Formed in Southern California in 2025, Ravenmocker is a melodic death metal band founded by guitarist/vocalist Tom Tierney (formerly of Thrown Into Exile). Joined by George Patmas (guitar), Dylan Suierveld (drums), and Will Buckley (bass), the band blends soaring melody with raw aggression, drawing influence from melodic death metal giants while infusing elements of country, jazz, blues, funk, and classical orchestration.

Their music explores personal struggle, emotional catharsis, cultural identity, and the resilience found in confronting darkness head‑on.

In 2026, Ravenmocker will introduce themselves to the global metal community with their debut singles “Infallible” and “Where the Raven Flies,” leading into their first EP.

-30-

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0 Rockshots Records – Finnish Prog CANVAS OF SILENCE Unveils New Vocalist w/ Video “The Great Unknown” From Debut Album “As The World Tree Fell” Out Now!

January 9, 2026
by Asher
· Canvas of Silence (Rockshots Records) · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 9, 2026

Finnish Prog CANVAS OF SILENCE Unveils New Vocalist Aino Vuorenmaa w/ Video “The Great Unknown”

Debut Album “As The World Tree Fell” Out Now!

Photo Credit – Mikko Parkkonen/Aarni Visuals

Rockshots Records is proud to announce the release of “The Great Unknown”, the new official video by Finnish progressive metal act Canvas Of Silence. Featured on the band’s debut full-length album “As The World Tree Fell,” the song is now presented in a new version introducing Aino Vuorenmaa as the new lead singer of the band, marking an important step in Canvas Of Silence’s ongoing evolution.

Following the previously released singles “Drown”, “One With The Wind” and “Humanimal”, the latter having been featured in Spotify’s editorial playlist Metallia Suomesta, alongside the album focus track “Wayfarer”, this new version of “The Great Unknown” represents a pivotal moment within the record’s conceptual and emotional journey, while also signaling a renewed artistic direction.

Musically, “The Great Unknown” stands as one of the album’s most direct and immediate compositions, while remaining unmistakably true to the band’s sonic identity. Progressive metal foundations are enriched by expansive melodic lines, atmospheric textures, and dynamic arrangements that balance intensity and accessibility. With the introduction of the new vocal line, the song unfolds with renewed momentum, allowing its emotional weight to emerge with even greater clarity and purpose.

With “As The World Tree Fell,” Canvas Of Silence delivered a cohesive and emotionally charged debut album exploring themes of collapse, transformation, and renewal. Within this broader arc, the new version of “The Great Unknown” functions both as a moment of focus and as a statement of renewal, reflecting the band’s evolving identity and the beginning of a new chapter.

Watch the music video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVxBFYd0_ZM

For fans of Pain of Salvation, Nightwish, In Flames, and all those drawn to music that challenges, moves, and transforms, will find much to explore in the world of Canvas Of Silence’s debut album, “As The World Tree Fell,” released on October 31, 2025.

Album Order – https://www.rockshots.eu/CanvasOfSilence

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://lnk.to/YFjpYgMB

Track Listing:
1. Watching the World Tree Fall – 6:20
2. Humanimal – 4:02
3. Anthem for Ashes – 4:54
4. Drown – 5:41
5. One With the Wind – 4:33
6. Wayfarer – 8:32
7. The Great Unknown – 4:38
8. Garden of the Fallen – 4:46

ALBUM LINE UP:

Hanna Uimonen: Vocals
Tatu Hanhikoski: Guitars, programming
Jaakko Puusaari: Guitars, backing vocals
Mikael Minkkinen: Bass
Iiro Vuori: Drums

CURRENT LINE UP:

Aino Vuorenmaa: Vocals
Tatu Hanhikoski: Guitars, programming
Jaakko Puusaari: Guitars, backing vocals
Mikael Minkkinen: Bass
Iiro Vuori: Drums

For more info:
Rockshots.eu | https://www.facebook.com/canvasofsilence | https://www.instagram.com/canvasofsilenceband/

ABOUT:

Canvas of Silence is a catchy prog-influenced female vocal-driven metal band from Finland. Starting as a solo project by Tatu Hanhikoski (guitars, programming, songwriting), Canvas of Silence has since formed into a full band, including Aino Vuorenmaa (vocals), Jaakko Puusaari (guitars, vocals), Mikael Minkkinen (bass), and Iiro Vuori (drums). The music of Canvas of Silence paints its pictures on silence with complementary colours. It’s heavy but melodic, occasionally complex yet at the same time somewhat simple and catchy, glued together with female vocals and symphonic elements. Or, as the drummer Iiro Vuori put it, the music can be described as ”Prog-influenced Chorus Metal”.

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0 BORN DIVIDED Unleashes Ferocious Lyric Video “The Dead Inside Ourselves” From New Album “Chronicle of a Shipwreck” (Mixed & Mastered by Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy))

January 8, 2026
by Asher
· Born Divided · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 8, 2026

BORN DIVIDED Unleashes Ferocious Lyric Video “The Dead Inside Ourselves”

New Album “Chronicle of a Shipwreck” Out Now!

(Mixed and Mastered by Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy)

L-R – Michael Beaudoin – Guitar, Fred Bedard – Guitar, Maxim Levesque – Vocals, Lucas Biron – Drums, Tommy Demers – Bass

Photo Credit – Paul Giacomo

Québec City melodic death metal force Born Divided continue the momentum of their acclaimed sophomore album “Chronicle of a Shipwreck” with the release of a brand‑new lyric video for one of the record’s most visceral tracks, “The Dead Inside Ourselves.”

A standout moment on the album, “The Dead Inside Ourselves,” captures the band at their most raw and unfiltered. The track erupts with stripped‑down, hard‑hitting guitar riffs, no ornamentation, no restraint, just pure, unrelenting aggression. As the song unfolds, it plunges into a brooding, symphonic bridge that channels the dark theatricality of Cradle of Filth before launching into a climactic finale. Vocalist Maxim Levesque delivers one of his most striking performances to date, with clean vocals that rise above the chaos in a haunting, unforgettable close.

“The Dead Inside Ourselves is one of the most cathartic pieces on the album. It’s raw emotion without a filter, anger, despair, resilience, all colliding in one place. The lyric video gives fans a deeper look into that emotional core,” says the band.

Released this past October, “Chronicle of a Shipwreck” marked a major creative milestone for Born Divided. Mixed and mastered by Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy), the album pushes further into the band’s signature blend of orchestral intensity, progressive ambition, and melodic ferocity. Since forming in 2020, following the end of Blinded by Faith, founding members Tommy Demers and Michael Beaudoin have built Born Divided into a powerhouse alongside Levesque, drummer Lucas Biron, and guitarist Fred Bedard, all veterans of Québec’s metal scene.

With “Chronicle of a Shipwreck,” the band adopted a more personal and emotionally charged direction. Fast, intricate riffs collide with soaring melodies, brutal screams, and cinematic arrangements, exploring themes of collapse, inner conflict, and the fight toward redemption. The album has been praised for its dynamic songwriting and its ability to balance heaviness with haunting atmosphere.

The new lyric video for “The Dead Inside Ourselves” provides fans with another glimpse into the album’s emotional landscape, one characterized by intensity, vulnerability, and the band’s unmistakable blend of melodic death metal and symphonic drama.

Watch the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTWx3fnx-B4

Recommended for fans of Ne Obliviscaris, Symphony X, Scar Symmetry, Persefone, and Dimmu Borgir, Born Divided continue to carve out a distinct identity in the modern metal scene, delivering music that is as technically sharp as it is emotionally resonant.

“Chronicle of a Shipwreck”, released October 24th, 2025, is available at the following links:

Album Order (CD, Digital) – https://borndividedofficial.bandcamp.com/

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/album/2F9dcstQgn1At9fHyfJdum

Music Video – “Chronicle of a Shipwreck” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LtUFyeaC-M

Music Video – “Everything Comes to an End” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVkHsg6vkk0

Track Listing:
1. Everything Comes to an End – 5:09
2. Chronicle of a Shipwreck – 4:10
3. Illusion Factories – 7:38
4. The Dead Inside Ourselves – 5:54
5. Run, Burn, Die! – 7:52
6. Subterranean Corridors – 4:48
7. Anxiety – 7:57
Album Length: 43:31

Born Divided is:
Tommy Demers – Bass
Maxim Levesque – Vocals
Michael Beaudoin – Guitars
Fred Bedard – Guitars
Lucas Biron – Drums

For more info: https://linktr.ee/borndivided

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“It doesn’t matter whether BORN DIVIDED plays fast and furious, slow and deliberate or is hovering somewhere in between, everything on “Chronicle Of A Shipwreck” is as it should be. 9/10” – Metal-Temple

“Weaknesses? Not a single one! Craft? Everything is great! The vocals? A celebration in all respects. Would AMON AMARTH suddenly jump on the prog metal bandwagon, adapting a bit of modern death lead and at the same time adding traditional melodic metal to the gallery, would the Northmen possibly sound similar to BORN DIVIDED – but this is just a clue. Musically, the band is completely independent and combines several genres into a rousing, always gripping symbiosis that we can’t get enough of, even in the long term. Check out the boys’ band camp page, familiarize yourself with the previous material and place a collective order immediately – because this band more than deserves the support! 9.5/10” – PowerMetal.de

“”“Chronicle of a Shipwreck” is an excellent album in balance between softness, reinforced concrete riffs and violence. A record to discover urgently ! ” 4/5 – Music Waves

““Chronicle of a Shipwreck” est un excellent album en équilibre entre douceur, riffs en béton armé et violence. Un disque à découvrir d’urgence ! ” 4/5 – Music Waves

“If it wasn’t obvious, Born Divided’s Chronicles of a Shipwreck was a very good experience for me. This one netted me about 8–10 listens (I stopped counting around 6) and I never felt like there was a song that didn’t fit. Nothing was skipped, and I remain entirely impressed this one was self-released. So, here’s one for us Canadians!” – Dire Notes

“Like the waves the ship on the cover of Chronicle Of A Shipwreck traverses through, Born Divided keep their music in constant motion. There isn’t any smooth sailing to be found in this endless body of choppy melodic death metal that’s supplemented by progressive/black metal. They try to make each song its own event, whether that be the frenzied hop of “The Dead Inside Ourselves” or the orchestral elevation of the title track. Opener “Everything Comes To An End” has an Opeth tribute in the middle with singing that could be a doppelganger for Mikael Åkerfeldt. It’s a bit distracting, especially since it’s never used again on Chronicle Of A Shipwreck. That’s the most blatant nod Born Divided make to another band directly. Though the ship on the cover meets a woeful end, the band avoids such a fate.” – Head Music Headquarters

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0 Gore House Productions – Blast Beats Unleashed INSECT INSIDE Posts Drum Carnage w/ Playthrough “Hiveborn Abomination” From New Album “Reborn in Blight” Out March 2026

January 8, 2026
by Asher
· Insect Inside (Gore House Productions) · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 8, 2026

Blast Beats Unleashed INSECT INSIDE Posts Drum Carnage w/ Playthrough “Hiveborn Abomination”

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

Gore House Productions has released a brand‑new drum playthrough for “Hiveborn Abomination” from brutal death metal unit Insect Inside, showcasing drummer Daniel Sementsov performing the track with the band’s signature blend of precision, speed, and crushing heaviness. The video arrives in the lead-up to the band’s highly anticipated new album, “Reborn in Blight,” set for release on March 6, 2026.

The playthrough offers an up‑close look at Sementsov’s blistering technique, capturing the relentless blast beats, punishing double‑kick work, and intricate rhythmic shifts that define Insect Inside’s sound. Shot in a clean, focused studio setting, the video highlights the physical intensity and technical mastery behind the band’s latest material.

Watch the drum playthrough at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sfgjF0-JVw

Listen to the blistering track “Hiveborn Abomination” with guest vocals from Josh Welshman of Defeated Sanity at the following links:

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhaFr5xtoEo

Add to Spotify Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/track/5m0cWWNqF9DdVqamY0i1AY

Emerging from Chelyabinsk’s underground scene, Insect Inside have carved a reputation for their tight, aggressive sound, an unholy fusion of groove‑heavy slam and oppressive atmospherics. “Reborn in Blight” marks the band’s second full‑length album and showcases a shift toward a rawer, more visceral tone. Lyrically, the record continues their apocalyptic narrative, chronicling humanity’s collapse and the rise of an insectoid race.

The album unfolds as a relentless journey through death metal’s most punishing elements. Fragments erupts with chaotic groove and sinister atmosphere, distilling the band’s love for the genre into a concentrated assault. At the album’s core lies “Hiveborn Abomination,” elevated by Defeated Sanity vocalist Josh Welshman’s ferocious guest performance and serving as one of the band’s most commanding creations to date. “Carnal Ruins” pays homage to the New York death metal tradition with a hardcore‑infused, groove‑driven tribute to pioneers like Soils of Fate, Internal Bleeding, and Dying Fetus. The brutality continues with “Abhorrent Landscape,” featuring Mr. Ochoa of Cephalotripsy, whose gutturals reinforce the album’s slam‑heavy foundation. Meanwhile, “Echoes of the Swallowed Sinners” plunges into the darkest lyrical territory, exploring the abyss of humanity’s disfigured souls. The album closes with its towering title track, “Reborn in Blight,” weaving groove, speed, and soaring guitar solos into a monolithic finale.

Formed from a shared obsession with slamming brutality, Insect Inside began as friends jamming covers before evolving into a full‑fledged force within the brutal death metal realm. Their lineup features seasoned Eastern European veterans: Bogdan (bass – Cold Blooded Murder, Traumatomy), Pavel (guitar – Ocean In My Bath), Daniel (vocals – Nauseating, Morphogenetic Malformation), and Ivan (drums – Nauseating). Writing collaboratively across different cities, the band crafts a sound that is both meticulously constructed and relentlessly heavy. Onstage, they are notorious for chaotic, high‑energy performances filled with mosh pits, slams, and even fans dressed as dinosaurs.

Drawing influence from brutal death and black metal, Insect Inside cite Disentomb, Relics of Humanity, Cryptopsy, Defeated Sanity, and Vulvectomy among their top inspirations. The album’s artwork mirrors the music’s grotesque vision, gloom‑soaked, apocalyptic, and steeped in visceral disgust.

“Reborn in Blight” will be available March 6, 2026, via Gore House Productions.

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

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

More info:

https://gorehouseproductions.com/

https://www.facebook.com/insectinsideslam

https://www.instagram.com/insect_inside

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0 Rockshots Records – Italian Symphonic Death NEFASTIS Apocalyptic Single “Shadow Spell” From New Dark Concept Album “Shadows At The Light Of Dawn” Out March 2026

January 7, 2026
by Asher
· Music News · Nefastis (Rockshots Records)

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 7, 2026

Italian Symphonic Death NEFASTIS Apocalyptic Single “Shadow Spell”

New Dark Concept Album “Shadows At The Light Of Dawn” Out March 2026

Rockshots Records is proud to announce the release of “Shadow Spell”, the brand new single by Italian symphonic death metal act NEFASTIS.

“Shadow Spell” marks the opening chapter of “Shadows At The Light Of Dawn“, an ambitious four-act concept album conceived as a continuous and engaging listening experience. The track follows an instrumental introduction and immediately sets the emotional and narrative tone of the record, plunging the listener into a post-apocalyptic scenario shaped by loss, anguish, and spiritual disorientation.

Musically, “Shadow Spell” showcases NEFASTIS evolved identity, blending aggressive death metal foundations with layered orchestral arrangements, progressive structures, and haunting melodic themes. Intense piano passages and sweeping symphonic textures coexist with sharp riffs, dynamic drumming, and commanding vocals, creating a dark yet story-driven atmosphere that unfolds with dramatic tension and depth.

Lyrically, the song portrays the journey of survivors in the aftermath of a nuclear catastrophe, accompanied by restless spirits that haunt the devastated world around them. This dual presence – physical and spectral – becomes a key narrative element, reinforcing the album’s overarching theme of humanity facing extinction, memory, and decay.

Founded in 2008, NEFASTIS debuted in 2014 with the concept album “De Diebus Fastis, Nefastis, Infaustis“, before reshaping their sound into a more expansive and orchestral form of symphonic death metal. With “Shadow Spell”, the band opens a new and decisive chapter, setting the foundations for their most ambitious work to date.

Recommended for fans of Wintersun, Hypocrisy, Fleshgod Apocalypse, “Shadow Spell”, can be heard at the following links:

Visualizer – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxonu0RIApA

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://lnk.to/nfstsf

New album “Shadows At The Light Of Dawn” out March 6th, 2026.

PRE ORDER “Shadows At The Light Of Dawn”
https://rockshots.eu/products/nefastis-shadows-at-the-light-of-dawn-cd

Track Listing:
1. Cosmic Silence at the Edge of the New World – 2:50
2. Shadow Spell – 4:30
3. Seduced by the Beauty of the Darkness – 5:05
4. Absence of Illumination – 2:52
5. Tears of the Past – 4:29
6. Vortex of Light – 5:09
7. Lights of Dawn – 3:43
8. Alone Again – 5:57
9. Stardust – 5:05
10. Blackened Vision – 2:45
11. Collapsing Dream – 8:01
12. Flowers Swept Away by the Autumn – 5:33
Album Length: 55:58

Nefastis Line-Up:
Simone Colombo: Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitars
Andrea Lenzi: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Acoustic Guitars, Backing Vocals, Orchestrations
Fulvio Manganini: Bass
Claudio Invidia: Drums

More info:

https://rockshots.eu/

https://www.instagram.com/nefastis.italy/

https://www.facebook.com/nefastis.italy

BIOGRAPHY:
Formed in 2008, Nefastis is an Italian Symphonic Death Metal band known for its strong conceptual approach and continuously evolving musical identity. From the very beginning, the band focused on original compositions, gradually shaping a sound that blends extreme metal intensity with orchestral depth and progressive structures.

Nefastis made their recording debut in 2014 with “De Diebus Fastis, Nefastis, Infaustis”, a thrash/death metal concept album divided into four acts and conceived as a narrative work. The release earned the band recognition within the underground scene and led them to share the stage with internationally renowned acts such as Toxik, Leprous, Hirax, Onkel Tom Angelripper, and Bonded By Blood.

Following the debut, lineup changes forced the band into a hiatus. During this period, Nefastis underwent a significant artistic transformation, redefining their sound and expanding their compositional vision. Moving away from a more direct thrash-oriented approach, the band embraced a broader and more cinematic form of symphonic death metal, characterized by orchestral arrangements, progressive songwriting, and a strong narrative dimension.

This evolution fully materializes in “Shadows At The Light Of Dawn”, a four-act concept album set in a post-apocalyptic world and conceived as a continuous and immersive listening experience. Each act is introduced by an instrumental piece that establishes the atmosphere of the chapter, guiding the listener through a cohesive musical and emotional journey. The album was produced by the band, mixed by Frank Altare, and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios (Angra, Amorphis, Kreator, Dimmu Borgir, Opeth, Powerwolf).

With “Shadows At The Light Of Dawn”, Nefastis reaffirm their commitment to ambitious songwriting and genre-crossing composition, merging death metal, orchestral music, and progressive influences into a unified and expressive soundscape.

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0 HYPERSPACE METALFEST (Vancouver, BC) Reveals First Batch of Bands for 2026 Lineup w/ SANCTUARY, OWLBEAR, ATAVISTIA, VOIDCHASER, LYCANTHRO and more!

January 6, 2026
by Asher
· Hyperspace Metal Festival · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 6, 2026

HYPERSPACE METALFEST (Vancouver, BC) Reveals First Batch of Bands for 2026 Lineup

w/ SANCTUARY, OWLBEAR, ATAVISTIA, VOIDCHASER, LYCANTHRO, and more!

Vancouver – April 16-17 (The Cobalt), April 18 (Rickshaw Theatre)

Vancouver, B.C.’s leading melodic and power metal festival, HYPERSPACE METAL FEST, is gearing up for its 7th edition after another year packed with unforgettable, high‑energy performances. Taking place at The Cobalt on April 16 and 17, and at the Rickshaw Theatre on April 18, the festival has unveiled its first wave of 2026 performers, including SANCTUARY, OWLBEAR, ATAVISTIA, VOIDCHASER, ARTIFICIAL LANGUAGE, WITCH KILLER, OPHELIA FALLING, LYCANTHRO, THORSGUARD, VALLEY OF DESPAIR, with more bands to be announced soon.

“We are beyond stoked to finally announce the first wave of bands for Hyperspace Metal Festival VII! Sanctuary will be performing a Canadian exclusive performance of Into The Mirror Black in its entirety! Atavistia will be headlining night 1, which will have a heavy emphasis on melodic death metal. After this year, the festival will be going on indefinite hiatus, so if you’ve been wanting to make it to Hyperspace, this could be your last chance. Let’s rage together at the Rickshaw and the Cobalt one last time!” adds festival organizer Joey Hockin of Journeyman Productions.

Hyperspace Metal Festival VI – April 16th – 18th.
Three-day passes are available at http://hyperspace-vii.eventbrite.ca/

Facebook Event – https://www.facebook.com/events/858534116963447

HMF 2026 Lineup Spotify Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/29rcYoWLyYXPFyN7OKdPDB?si=7Kke2MVVSyS6v_Lxe5-KSg

This year’s headliner, Sanctuary, is making their exclusive Canadian HMF appearance a very special one as they will be performing their highly praised 1990 album “Into The Mirror Black” in its entirety.

The American heavy metal band Sanctuary was founded in Seattle, Washington, in 1985, and quickly became a key part of the city’s influential heavy metal scene. The band’s sound, centered on the distinctive high-pitched vocals of the late Warrel Dane and established them as a prominent force. Their debut album, Refuge Denied (1988), was notably produced by Megadeth frontman Dave Mustaine, helping to launch the band into the global metal consciousness. Sanctuary gathered supporters all around the globe, upping the ante considerably when unleashing the darker, more refined masterpiece that is “Into the Mirror Black” in 1990. While the grunge style brought the band’s commercial career to an unfortunate halt, the end of the band’s first phase meant the rise of Nevermore, who released several much-acclaimed albums via Century Media Records between 1995 and 2010. In 2011, Sanctuary reformed and celebrated their live comeback, performing at high-profile festivals such as Wacken, Metalcamp, Bloodstock, and 70K Tons Of Metal cruise. In 2014, they released “The Year The Sun Died” and landed at #39 in the German charts. In 2017, the restored and remixed 1986 demo recordings were released as the historical “Inception” release, which charted at #53 in Germany. On December 13^th, 2017, vocalist Warrel Dane tragically passed away. The band initially embarked on a tribute tour, recruiting Witherfall singer Joseph Michael to fill the vocal spot. The reaction to Michael’s performances was very positive, and the band chose to continue with the focus shifting to new material. The band is aiming to deliver a unique sound that remains familiar to die-hard fans. The current lineup of Sanctuary includes Joseph Michael on vocals, alongside original members Lenny Rutledge (guitars) and Dave Budbill (drums), and George Hernandez on bass. Sanctuary has, and always will be, a two-guitar band and will have a second guitar player for all upcoming live shows. You can catch the band performing special sets of Refuge Denied or Into The Mirror Black at festivals in 2026.

The band is actively working on a new full-length album, tentatively titled Transmutation. Sanctuary is eager to bring a new show and new music to Europe and the rest of the globe once again! See you on the road!

https://www.sanctuaryofficial.com/

Video – Future Tense – https://youtu.be/v5NCBaPE3k0

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Forced to cancel their 2025 performance at HMF, Owlbear has its sights set to take the stage at the 2026 edition. Formed in 2020 during a time in which plague stalked the land and time lost all meaning, the core of Owlbear is comprised of North American scene veterans Katheryn Scary (vocals), Jeff Taft (guitars), and Leona Hayward (bass), all of whom hail from different corners of the continent. A rapid exchange of demos led to the creation of their debut album Chaos to the Realm, and the runaway success of that release in 2023 transformed the band from a remote project to a full-fledged outfit, with their debut live performance occurring at the sold-out Legions of Metal festival in Chicago in 2024. Musically, Owlbear draws influence from classic heavy and speed metal and roots their lyrics in the media its members love, from the famous role-playing game that inspired the band’s namesake to the Final Fantasy franchise. Dynamic vocals, frenetic riffing, and bass that is equal parts pummeling and acrobatic drive the band’s relentless approach, and with the release of their widely praised sophomore album Feather & Claw, Owlbear aims to continue to carve out its niche within the heavy metal community with a savage swipe of a plumed talon.

https://www.facebook.com/OwlbearMetal

Lyric Video – Hawkriders Of The Waste – https://youtu.be/1AXFZ3ZmF5o

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Atavistia (HMF Alumni) is a Canadian symphonic melodic death metal band that blends aggressive riffs, cinematic orchestrations, and melancholic atmospheres. The band has built a strong international following, particularly across Europe, through consistent releases and extensive touring alongside established acts. Known for their powerful live performances and polished production, Atavistia continues to push their sound forward while remaining rooted in melodic death metal.

https://linktr.ee/atavistia

Video – Eternal Oceans (Reforged) – https://youtu.be/vthxzis6lzs

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From Montreal and Stockholm, Voidchaser is a progressive metal band. Since their inception in 2023, the band has quickly gained momentum with standout, high-caliber singles that have resonated across North America, South America, and Europe, earning widespread attention from influential outlets such as Prog Magazine, Decibel Magazine, The Progspace, Prog-Sphere, Metal Universe, and others.

In 2024, they released Solace, their 30-minute debut concept album written as a single continuous piece. Fusing crushing riffs, intricate arrangements, and evocative storytelling, the record ranges from the explosive Only Human (featuring Ashbreather) to the haunting acoustic ballad Alien. The album quickly amassed over 250,000 streams on Spotify, charted on Apple Music and iTunes top metal albums in multiple countries across Europe, North America, and South America, and solidified their status as one of prog metal’s most promising new voices.

Their follow-up EP, Trust (2025), features collaborations with Jim Grey (Caligula’s Horse), members of The Anchoret and Universe Effects, and over 10 contributors from around the world.

Voidchaser will embark on their debut international tour in summer and fall 2025, including performances at ProgPower Europe (25th Anniversary), the inaugural ProgStorm Festival in Montreal, and shows alongside Threshold, Kingcrow, Vulkan, Nospūn, Omnivide, Ok Goodnight, and Lux Terminus.

https://www.voidchaser.net/

Video – Time (feat. Universe Effects) – https://youtu.be/nnxaEiAmBv4

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Artificial Language is a progressive rock/metal band from Fresno, California, crafting music that blends technical precision with cinematic atmosphere. Since emerging in 2017, the group has built a reputation for intricate songwriting, dynamic arrangements, and emotionally charged performances that push the boundaries of modern prog.

Their sound fuses soaring melodies with complex rhythmic interplay, creating immersive sonic landscapes that reward both casual listeners and devoted prog fans. With a style that bridges the intensity of metal and the expansiveness of progressive rock, Artificial Language has carved out a distinct identity in the genre.

The band continues to evolve through ambitious studio work and compelling visual storytelling, including striking releases like their “Skinwalker” music video.

https://www.artificiallanguagemusic.com/

Video – Skinwalker – https://youtu.be/nyHudUCLQIM

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Forged in Ottawa’s early‑’80s metal underground, Witchkiller emerged as one of Canada’s most compelling contributions to the era’s heavy metal surge. Blending the power and theatricality of classic heavy metal with the melodic intensity of the NWOBHM movement, the band quickly carved out a cult following with their commanding musicianship and dramatic songwriting.

Formed in 1981 by drummer Steve Batky and guitarist Kurt Phillips, Witchkiller solidified their place in metal history with their iconic 1984 EP Day of the Saxons, released through Metal Blade Records. The record’s soaring vocals, galloping riffs, and apocalyptic themes cemented its status as a collector’s favourite and a defining release of Canadian metal’s formative years.

Despite lineup changes and an initial split in 1985, the band’s legacy only grew. Witchkiller re‑emerged in 2012 with renewed fire, reuniting key members and introducing their sound to a new generation of fans. Their return has been marked by a resurgence of interest in their early work, new recordings, and a revitalized presence in the metal underground.

Today, Witchkiller stands as a testament to the enduring power of true heavy metal spirit, a band whose influence continues to echo through collectors, die‑hard fans, and the modern revival of traditional metal.

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100064302991214

“Day of the Saxons” LIVE Headbangers Open Air 2025 – https://youtu.be/zcVtxUuhRmk

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Emerging from Vancouver’s rain‑soaked streets, Ophelia Falling (HMF Alumni) delivers symphonic metal at its most powerful, soaring vocals layered over driving power metal, orchestra, and choir. Formed in 2013 by guitarist Mark Anthony Richardson, the band found its voice when powerhouse singer Chelsea Rose joined in 2015, leading to the creation of early fan favourites like “Savage Love” and “Anybody’s Daughter.” With James Meyer on board, their explosive 2018 debut made them one of Vancouver’s most talked‑about metal acts, quickly landing them on the stage of the Rickshaw Theatre for Hyperspace Metal Festival.

Bassist Sylvain Maltais joined in 2018, helping propel the band through a breakout period that included their 2019 EP Savage Love, soundtrack placements in Karen Lam’s The Curse of Willow Song and Kevin Schultz’s Guiltless, and performances at Wacken Battle Canada (BC Finals) and Calgary’s Decimate 2.0 Festival. Drummer Chris Pallot completed the lineup in 2020.

Their debut album, “Destroyed in Delight,” arrived in October 2020, featuring the single “Tangled” and the track “Save Me,” selected for gameplay by Hipsterbait. Songs from the album continue to receive college and internet radio play worldwide. With multiple music videos released and more in production, Ophelia Falling is now writing new material and gearing up for their return to the stage.

https://www.opheliafalling.com/

Music Video – Destroyed in Delight – https://youtu.be/ksRUe2mCS5I

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Lycanthro – Photo Credit – Dana Zuk

Lycanthro (HMF Alumni) is an enigmatic power metal band hailing from Ottawa, Canada. Their unique fusion of power, thrash, and traditional metal delivers an epic soundscape that’s as bold as it is unforgettable. Drawing inspiration from the likes of Savatage, W.A.S.P., Blind Guardian, and more, Lycanthro proudly hunts in the world of true metal. Calling out to the realms of classic horror, pop culture, and mythology, their music is a journey through the imagination via tales of personal struggle and howling victory. After an early demo and EP, their critically acclaimed full-length album, Mark of the Wolf (2021), showcased powerful storytelling, dynamic arrangements, and even collaborations with a chamber choir. Lycanthro has hunted on stages such as Power Metal Quest Fest in the UK, Legions of Metal in Chicago, and is fast inviting a worldwide audience to join the pack. Now, after joining US-based metal label Psychomanteum Records, the wolven-metal outlanders are hard at work crafting their highly anticipated second album for release in 2025. With every note, Lycanthro proves that the howl never dies, the hunt never ends, and the night is never quiet. IN METAL WE TRUST!

https://lycanthrometal.com/

Video – Far Beyond The Walls – https://youtu.be/g5ImX4EEwjk

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Thorsguard is an epic Viking metal project forged in the cold winds of Alberta, Canada. Founded in early 2022 by multi‑instrumentalist and vocalist Damien Hicks, known artistically as The Skald, the band was created with a singular purpose: to revive the ancient sagas through thunderous riffs, sweeping melodies, and battle‑hardened storytelling. According to public listings, Thorsguard is based in the Edmonton/Sherwood Park region and is driven by a passion for Norse myth, warrior culture, and cinematic metal soundscapes.

Drawing inspiration from genre giants such as Amon Amarth, Sabaton, Ensiferum, Equilibrium, and Brothers of Metal, Thorsguard blends melodic death metal, folk elements, and symphonic textures into a sound that feels both mythic and modern. The project’s lyrical themes revolve around Viking exploits, legendary battles, and the enduring spirit of the North, all delivered with the dramatic flair of a wandering skald recounting heroic deeds by firelight.

With its roots planted firmly in epic metal tradition and its eyes set on the horizon, Thorsguard stands ready to carve its name into the modern Viking metal landscape one saga at a time.

https://www.facebook.com/THORSGUARDofficial

Stream – Danelaw – https://youtu.be/A1Hmt5TBLJs

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Valley of Despair is an independent Canadian metal band blending together elements of modern rock, power metal, and thrash. The Edmonton, AB-based group released their debut EP “Burn At The Stake” on November 29th, 2024. The EP charted #1 at college radio stations across Canada and landed a spot on the Earshot National Loud Chart.

Valley of Despair toured with their EP across Western Canada in 2025 with festival stops in Armstrong, BC, and Yellowknife, NT. VoD is preparing to write their full-length debut with plans to release new music in 2026.

The band consists of Cheryl Leia (vocals & rhythm guitar), TJ Buggins (lead guitar), Joel Croft (Bass), and Preston Lehoux (drums).

https://valleyofdespair.ca/

Video – Burn At The Stake – https://youtu.be/vJcccWhNpUs

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To follow updates for Hyperspace Metal Festival 2026, please visit the following links:
Facebook.com/HyperspaceMetalFestival
Instagram.com/HyperspaceMetalFestival

Festival Press Materials Dropbox HERE.

Over the six editions of Hyperspace Metal Festival, bands from all over the world have come to play power, prog, melodic death, and speed metal on the Canadian West Coast. The festival has presented lineups that have included performances by Týr, Flotsam and Jetsam, Skelator, Enforcer, Psyhostick, Trollfest, Aether Realm, Exmortus, Striker, Riot City, Into Eternity, Witherfall, Lunar, Planeswalker, Iron Kingdom, Helion Prime, Crimson Shadows, West of Hell, Judicator, Odinfist, Tanagra, Scythia, Greyhawk, The Order of Chaos, Red Cain, and many more.

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“It’s Western Canada’s premier melodic and power metal festival with a lineup of local, national, and international acts ranging from Sweden’s Enforcer and Toronto’s Crimson Shadows to local faves Crüzer. All told, 15 acts will turn amps to 11 and bring the noize to headbanging fans.” – Stuart Derdyn, Vancouver Sun (2025)

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0 Start Off 2026 with Norwegian Rock Maiden LILY LÖWE’s New Single “Love Like This” From New Album “Beautiful Disaster” Out February

January 6, 2026
by Asher
· Lily Löwe · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – January 6, 2026

Start Off 2026 with Norwegian Rock Maiden LILY LÖWE’s New Single “Love Like This” From New Album “Beautiful Disaster” Out February

L-R – Stian Hansen, Patrik K. Svendsen, Lill Sofie Wilsberg, Adrian Sunde Bjerketvedt, Eiliv Sagrusten

Photo Credit – Jarle Nyttingnes

Norwegian melodic hard‑rock band Lily Löwe unveils “Love Like This”, the final single before the release of their upcoming sophomore album “Beautiful Disaster,” due out on February 6, 2026. A soaring, emotional power ballad, “Love Like This” closes the album with intensity, vulnerability, and the kind of unforgettable hook that lingers long after the last note.

“Love Like This is the end. It’s a strong power ballad that sticks to your head for a long time,” adds the band.

“Love Like This” arrives as the ninth and final track on “Beautiful Disaster”, a record built on contrasts: strength and fragility, chaos and clarity, darkness and release. The single showcases Lily Löwe’s signature blend of big riffs, emotional storytelling, and commanding vocals, but with a more cinematic, heartfelt edge.

“This album is all killer, no filler, every track hits different. We want to give fans a real experience, that feeling of power, emotion, and release you get when music truly hits. Each single represents a different side of who we are as a band,” adds the band.

“Love Like This” embodies that mission. It’s the emotional exhale after a record full of fire, a final moment of catharsis that ties the album’s themes of desire, transformation, and inner conflict together.

Listen to “Love Like This” at the following links:

YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcHP4C9MwvI

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/track/1JMj25qB8oisfjfg40XU6n

“Beautiful Disaster” explores the tension between vulnerability and power, both lyrically and musically. The album moves between raw emotion and high energy, blending modern production with the heart of classic hard rock.

Across its nine tracks, listeners are taken through a world of dark atmospheres, heavy guitars, and dramatic storytelling, from the haunting introspection of “Haunted House” to the glam‑punk chaos of “Glitter & Gore”, the explosive rebellion of “Wild”, and the emotional storm of the title track “Beautiful Disaster.”

The album’s writing process begins with vocalist Lily, who crafts toplines, hooks, and lyrics before the rest of the band builds the songs into full‑scale rock anthems.

“It starts with Lily’s ideas, but we build everything together; it’s 100% a team effort,” the band explains.

Formed after Lily’s solo debut at Melodi Grand Prix 2022, Lily Löwe quickly grew into a full band featuring some of Norway’s top heavy rock talent: Adrian Sunde Bjerketvedt (Jorn), Patrik Svendsen (Tonic Breed), Stian Hansen (Suicide Bombers), and Eiliv Sagrusten (Invasion). Their debut album LÖWE earned critical acclaim, and their upcoming release promises to push boundaries even further.

With “Beautiful Disaster” arriving February 6, 2026, Lily Löwe is gearing up for a year of new music, live shows, and expanding their international footprint.

Previous Videos:

Haunted House – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_5AF-owxPc
Glitter & Gore – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6BbJj1HISHI
Puppet Master – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Xs3dLGsyk4
Wild – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_cX8I3PDkao

Track Listing:
1. Demons – 2:49
2. Haunted House – 3:26
3. Puppet Master – 2:43
4. Beg For Your Life – 2:54
5. Beautiful Disaster – 2:54
6. Glitter & Gore – 2:36
7. Our Secret – 3:36
8. Wild – 2:48
9. Love Like This – 3:15
Album Length: 27:06

Album Band Lineup:
Lily Löwe / Lill Sofie Wilsberg: Vocal
Adrian Sunde Bjerketvedt: Guitar
Eiliv Sagrusten: Drums
Patrik Svendsen: Bass
Stian Hansen: Guitar

Album Credits:
Album Cover Photo: Jarle Nyttingnes
Mixed and Mastered: Jonas Holteberg Jensen (The Woods Norway)
Mastered for Vinyl: Steve Kitch
Demons – Producers: Ola Frøyen, Oscar Immanuel Mathisen, Jonas Holteberg Jensen
Co-producer: Adrian Sunde Bjerketvedt
Songwriters: Elsbeth Rehder, Ola Frøyen, Lill Sofie Wilsberg, Oscar Immanuel Mathisen, Adrian Sunde Bjerketvedt

More info: https://www.lilylowe.com | Facebook.com/iam.lilylowe | Instagram.com/iam_lilylowe

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“Löwe has a voice with power, punch, and attitude.” – Norway Rock Magazine

“The Löwe album is one of those examples [of music that just sounds right].” – Metalhead Community

Norwegian newspaper Nettavisen gave Lily Löwe´s song “Bad Baby” a 9/10 rating

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jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
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