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Tag: metal

0 Streaming Now! Blast Beats to Blood Rituals KRATORNAS Redefines Extreme Metal w/ New Album “God Of The Tribes”

  • August 21, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Kratornas · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – August 21, 2025

Streaming Now! Blast Beats to Blood Rituals KRATORNAS Redefines Extreme Metal w/ New Album “God Of The Tribes”

Mastered by Dan Swanö (Dissection, Bloodbath, Marduk, Incantation)

“God of the Tribes”, the highly anticipated new full-length from Kratornas, will be available worldwide through Grathila Records as of this Friday, August 22nd. Before its official release, the full stream album premiere can be checked out on Decibel Magazine HERE.

This landmark release represents the most significant evolution yet for the pioneering one-man extreme metal project, originally founded in the Philippines and now residing in Saskatoon, Canada.

Breaking from the hyper-fast brutality that defined earlier Kratornas releases, “God of the Tribes”, mastered by Dan Swanö (Dissection, Bloodbath, Marduk, Incantation), showcases a more methodical approach, focusing on atmosphere, tension, and ritualistic elements. The album introduces previously unexplored instrumentation, including 7-string guitars for L/R channels and 6-string fretless bass, moving away from blast beats and heavily distorted guitars toward a more nuanced sonic palette. Kratornas comments:

“This album isn’t about being ‘advanced’ or ‘innovative’. It’s a return to roots, distilled into something raw and real. I’ve had firsthand experience with this kind of ‘indigenous music’. I was one of the drummers at festivals from fifth grade through my first year of high school. I didn’t copy those rhythms, but wrote my own, taking that foundation and fusing it with Kratornas. This album is the most natural and honest album I’ve ever done.”

The lyrics on “God of the Tribes” draw from the apocalyptic themes that have defined Kratornas since 1999, when the project shifted from its early Satanic themes to ‘doomsday predictions’. The album incorporates ritualistic chants throughout, with the creator noting that ‘the words are a bit ‘dangerous’ to chant along’.

Recommended for fans of Marduk, Beherit, Archgoat, Blasphemy, and Dark Funeral, Kratornas‘ “God of the Tribes” is available for album pre-order (CD) (Out Aug 22nd) – https://kratornas.bandcamp.com/album/god-of-the-tribes-gcd-2025​

Lyric Video – Evil and Plunder – https://youtu.be/6cIDMbs-rA4

​Lyric Video – Ravaged by Hurakaan – https://youtu.be/WcQVU7bvLx8

​

Album Artwork (non-explicit) – Kratornas – God of the Tribes

Track Listing:​
1. Cursed Sky Serpent (15:00)
2. Evil and Plunder (3:00)
3. Ravaged by Hurakaan (7:00)
4. Novena para Guerra (11:00)

For more info: https://www.facebook.com/officialkratornas

​
– 30 –

“I think it’s a good thing that it is a bit darker for music this intense and with so much “action” in the upper midrange – Dan Swano (on mastering God of the Tribes)

“The new music IS unquestionably different from what you might expect based on the last album, though if you caught the album’s first single “Ravaged by Hurakaan” you already know that, and you’ll get a further idea from the lyric video for another album track we’re premiering today, “Evil and Plunder“, which is the album’s shortest song… Now, to the music, which is surreal. In line with the raging words, the vocals are blistering in their incendiary screaming intensity, but what goes on around them is dazzling and also a bit bewildering. There are indeed no blast-beats, but the sharp clatter of the snare and crash of the cymbals are still attention-seizing, in part because the timing and nature of the outbursts is unpredictable. The fretwork is also unpredictable. Above bubbling bass upheavals the shrill guitars play off of each other. They vividly swirl and glitter, spiral and dive, squirm and spasm, dart about and blaze. Other strange sounds speckle the song with their own odd textures. The experience is exuberantly demented and exhilarating to hear, like a bizarre but still mesmerizing sonic hallucination and rightly described in a forthcoming press release as a “3-minute descent into ritualistic chaos and psychological warfare.” – No Clean Singing

“With the upcoming release of God of the Tribes, extreme metal entity Kratornas returns from the abyss with a devastating new record that leans into ritualism, atmosphere, and unapologetic chaos. For over two decades, Kratornas has operated as a one-man war machine, who has consistently rejected conformity, trends, and convention.” – Crannk

“My take on the album: It is unique and unconventional. The album is brilliantly performed and crafted. If you looking for something different with cutting edge performance this album is for you. The longer songs in the album is pure magic.” – Project Metal Music​
​
​“It’s this progressive sense of composition that separates “God of the Tribes” from many of its peers in the extreme metal scene. Even in its most chaotic moments, there’s a weird sense of direction, a dark, strange logic that guides the madness. Of course, this is not easy listening. It’s demanding, violent and uncompromising. But for those willing to give it time, attention and an open mind, “God of the Tribes” delivers the essence of underground black metal. It’s not about catchy hooks or accessible melodies—it’s about raw spirit, musical extremity and vision. And Zamora has plenty of all three. Active since 1995, Kratornas has always lurked in the shadows of the black metal underground, but this album has the potential to push the project into a more prominent position—not through trend-chasing, but by sheer force of artistic will. “God of the Tribes” is a a declaration that Kratornas is still here, still raging, and still deadly serious. Black metal fans, take note—this is an album that deserves your ears. 8/10” – Myths of Rock ​
​
​“The music was energetic, and hyper… Call this album unique, that’s for sure, and If you can deal with chaos and dissonance, this album is for you.” – Metal Temple

​
—–
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0 Exitus Stratagem Records – Streaming Now! VISITANT’s Visceral Debut Album ”Rubidium” + Michigan Metal Fest + “In the Wake of Flame Tour” (FL/GA/TN/SC/NC) w/ IATT

  • August 21, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Music News · Visitant

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – August 21, 2025

Album Download HERE (for media use only)

Streaming Now! VISITANT’s Visceral Debut Album ”Rubidium”

+ Michigan Metal Fest + “In the Wake of Flame Tour” (FL/GA/TN/SC/NC) w/ IATT

Debut Album “Rubidium” Out Aug 2025 via Exitus Stratagem Records

The wait is over. Blackened death metal collective Visitant unleashes their highly anticipated debut album “Rubidium” via Exitus Stratagem Records, delivering seven tracks of ritualistic, unrelenting music that weaves ethereal elements into haunting soundscapes. The album represents what the band calls ‘shadow work’, a visceral exploration of the bleakest parts of being human.

“Rubidium” showcases the full collaborative power of Visitant‘s seasoned lineup across 32 minutes of immersive music. Taylor Tidwell (Unaligned) serves as the primary architect of the band’s crushing riffs, while Anthony Lusk-Simone’s (Abiotic, Lattermath) orchestral passages and thunderous drumming build the cinematic worlds that define each composition. Kilian Duarte’s (Abiotic, Scale the Summit) monstrous bass work drives the album’s forward momentum, even contributing a guitar solo on “Envies Lament”. Chelsea Marrow’s (Voraath, Video Games: DOOM ETERNAL, Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II) commanding vocals tie everything together, transforming personal experiences into ghost stories that channel the essence of restless, vengeful spirits. Thomas Weidick, on guitar, recently joined their live lineup this past June.

The album explores themes of grief, loss, betrayal, vengeance, time lost, and regret through seven carefully constructed tracks that showcase Visitant‘s ability to transcend genre boundaries.

The band shares their thoughts on the record:

Tony: “Imagine Dimmu and UADA being smashed together like action figures during recess.”​
​
Kilian: “This record, I think, threads the needle, blending a lot of different genres. But yes, imagine a bunch of metal bands as action figures in the best Super Smash bros type of way.”

Taylor: “While the genre-bending is ever-present, the release as a whole works cohesively, every part making up a piece of the puzzle.”​
​
Chelsea: “I really do think it’s genre-bending as well. I didn’t actively approach it with that in mind, but I went for what I felt each part needed or made me feel. It was a freeing experience. I was hoping we could create something that was impactful. I think we did that. After you listen to the album from beginning to end, you feel like you were just on the biggest journey. It evokes all sorts of feels. Like damn.. I feel like I was audibly hit by a big ol’ bus. In a good way… if there was a good way!”

The album was produced and mixed by Anthony Lusk-Simone and mastered by Jason Fisher, with striking artwork created by Chelsea Marrow in collaboration with Maxwell Aston for layout and logo design. Every element of “Rubidium” has been crafted to create what the band describes as ‘epic, moving, bleak, beautiful, and uncompromising’ music.

For fans of Gojira, Opeth, Naglfar, and Between the Buried and Me, ‘Rubidium’ offers a visceral experience that promises to resonate for years to come. Visitant celebrates the album release with their live debut at Michigan Metal Fest, bringing their haunting world to audiences with an intense live experience that matches the cinematic scope of their recorded work.

Watch and listen to the album full stream premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.

Visitant‘s “Rubidium” is available for album pre-order (out Aug 22nd) via Exitus Stratagem Records at https://hypeddit.com/visitant/rubidium​

Music Videos:

Briars – https://youtu.be/XMr5E2DGX2E​

Fodder – https://youtu.be/UCfxSpoPf60​

Starless – https://youtu.be/quktaBXaeVM​

Other Dates:​
Aug 23 – Michigan Metal Fest – Leila Arboretum – Battle Creek, MI w/ Dying Fetus, Within Ruins, Ov Sulfur, The Convalescence
​
​“On The Wake of Flame Tour” – IATT, VISITANT:
Oct 3 – Pensacola, FL – Pacific Kava
Oct 4 – Jensen Beach, FL – Dark Riff Records
Oct 5 – Duluth, GA – Sweetwater
Oct 7 – Nashville, TN – Cobra
Oct 8 – Piedmont, SC – Tribbles
Oct 9 – Raleigh, NC – Chapel Of Bones
Oct 10 – Knoxville, TN – The Pilot Light
Oct 11 – Jackson, TN – TN Metal Devastation Fest (Visitant only)

Track Listing:​
1. Unworldly – 4:48
2. Briars – 5:20
3. Starless – 5:07
4. Rubidium – 5:24
5. Fodder – 4:37
6. Envies Lament – 4:56
7. Moon Bathe – 2:38
Album Length: 32:50

Album Band Line Up:​
Chelsea Marrow Vocals
Kilian Duarte Bass
Taylor Tidwell Guitars
Anthony Lusk-Simone Drums / Orchestration

Live Band Line Up:​
Chelsea Marrow – Vocals
Taylor Tidwell – Guitar & Backing Vocals
Kilian Duarte or Anthony Wheeler – Bass
Charles Webber or Anthony Lusk-Simone – Drums
Thomas Weidick – Guitar

For more info:

​Exsrmusic.com | Facebook.com/ExSRecords | Instagram.com/exsrmusic | X.com/exsrmusic​

​Facebook.com/visitantband | Instagram.com/Visitantband | Tiktok.com/@_visitant_​

– 30 –

“Visitant is here to utterly wreck your morning thanks to their brand new single “Fodder”, the first offering from their upcoming album Rubidium due out on August 23 via Exitus Stratagem Records. Visitant is vocalist Chelsea Marrow (Voraath, The Monster Factory, Doom Eternal, Hellblade 2, etc.), guitarist Taylor Tidwell, drummer Anthony Lusk-Simone (Abiotic, Lattermath & ex-Pathogenic), and bassist Kilian Duarte (Abiotic, Lattermath, Felix Martin & Scale The Summit). So a real powerhouse of a band that brings some savage energy to the metal world.” – Metal Injection
​
“Visitant introduce the song (Starless) with subdued classical strings and rippling piano keys which together create a sorrowful but entrancing mood. The gentle nature of that overture makes the sudden crash that follows it even more startling — a sudden attack of slashing and sizzling fretwork, gargantuan bass-moans, neck-cracking beats, savage roars, and scorching screams. The song continues to bring in classically influenced piano melodies coupled with vividly dancing guitars, creating an almost diabolical kind of elegance, but the song also ignites a blackened firestorm of blasting drums, delirious fretwork, and sweeping symphonics. The notes vibrantly dart and blaze as the rhythm section thunder, and the music both elevates to heights of daunting, haughty grandeur and sweeps like wildfire. The torrid and tormented vocals seem to hold nothing back, howling and screaming out on the bleeding edge of intensity, and as if the song couldn’t get any more extravagant, the band make room for a head-spinning guitar solo at the end, in the midst of lots of other equally head-spinning fretwork and rhythm-section spectacles.” – No Clean Singing
​
““Fodder“, presents different warps and wefts in its weave. Also presented through a video (this time we get to see the band perform), it was inspired by a very dark dream in which Chelsea attempted to bring a murdered friend back to life and lost her own life in the process, leaving the friend trapped in a hellish limbo, bound to a body over which their control had been lost to dark spirits. To be sure, this song is also musically extravagant. It features a lot of borderline deranged and technically demanding high-speed maneuvers (a tour de force that would make lots of tech-death bands jealous) but it’s also hallucinatory, and unhinged in many other respects. It further demonstrates that Chelsea Marrow can really sing, as well as howl like a wolf and scream like a goblin. It’s a highly theatrical experience, but also instrumentally kaleidoscopic and viscerally frightening, and the singing makes the song stand out as much as every other demented and dazzling aspect of it.” – No Clean Singing
​
“Emerging from the shadowy fringes of the metal scene, blackened death metal outfit Visitant has unleashed their riveting debut single, “Fodder.” Released as a precursor to their eagerly anticipated first full-length album, “Rubidium,” the track invites listeners into a deeply atmospheric yet punishing sonic landscape.” – See Rock Live Magazine
​
“Uniting seasoned musicians from the Extreme Metal underground scene with members known for their previous works in Abiotic, Scale the Summit, Unaligned and Voraath, Blackened Death Metal quartet Visitant have spent the better part of three years crafting a debut album. The promise is of something dark, beautiful, visceral and compelling with single “Fodder” an almost ritualistic journey that weaves ethereal elements into an unrelentingly aggressive soundscape. Turning personal experiences into ghost stories for the half an hour of power that is “Rubidium” caught the attention of Exitus Stratagem Records who will distribute the affair on 29th August.” – Metal Noise

—
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0 Prepare For A 260 BPM Descent into Chaos w/ ANCIENT THRONES New Music Video “Melancholia” Off Upcoming Album “Melancholia” Out Sept 2025

  • August 20, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Ancient Thrones · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – August 20, 2025

Prepare For A 260 BPM Descent into Chaos w/ ANCIENT THRONES New Music Video “Melancholia” Off Upcoming Album Out Sept 2025

+ Launch Vinyl Pre-Order

Ancient Thrones Current Line Up

Top L-R: Dylan Wallace (Guitar) | Nick Leslie (Guitar)

Bottom L-R: Matt LeBlanc (Bass) | Sean Hickey (Drums & Vocals)

Photo Credit – Matt Leblanc

Set to unleash their sophomore album “Melancholia” on September 19, 2025, to follow their 2020 breakout debut “The Veil”, Halifax, Canada’s progressive death metal titans Ancient Thrones are sharing their second single and title track, accompanied by a new music video.

At 260 beats per minute, Ancient Thrones introduce the protagonist of their concept record, his condition, and how he describes feeling out of place, plunging listeners headfirst into his psyche.

“With unrelenting intensity from the opening second, the title track Melancholia is simply a demonstration of what we set out to do with this album. Not one instrument stands out more than the other on this track, as it storms through a plethora of chaotic riffs, rapid blast beats, and lightning-quick vocals at 260 beats per minute, before reaching a breaking point where we flip the script to welcome change both musically and lyrically. If you like to invite some emotion to go with your extreme metal, then this is the song for you,” adds bassist Matt LeBlanc.

Watch and listen to the music video for “Melancholia” via Slam Worldwide at https://youtu.be/_LvSTJ78kd8

​

Formed in 2011 and reborn in 2018 with the arrival of guitarist and composer Dylan Wallace, Ancient Thrones carved out a new identity rooted in fast, extreme, progressive, cinematic, and existential soundscapes. With “Melancholia”, the band introduces a 42-minute descent into existential exhaustion, delivering an unapologetic extreme metal concept album that fuses blistering speed, cinematic storytelling, and emotional brutality.

From the chaotic opener “A Moon Fused Key” to the doom-laden closer “Vacant,” the band exposes raw intensity and jagged vulnerability. The narrative follows a colorblind protagonist navigating hallucinogenic visions in search of meaning, an unsettling journey through idealism, dread, and transformation. After five years of creation, Ancient Thrones proudly bring to light this new chapter, inviting listeners to embrace the chaos and feel something truly unnatural.

“For this album, a big focus for us was on the production. We meticulously, painstakingly spent several hours dialing every tone, note, layer, vocal, etc. We were fortunate to have time and a slower world on our side during production. Everything on this album was thought out and brought to life in a fully fleshed-out way. It took us 5 years to make this album, with 1 of those years used just levelling up our musicianship and techniques in order to play the material. We’re faster, more technical, and have a singular focus to make sure this album was beating you down from head to toe,” says Leblanc.

Drawing from the raw ferocity of black metal, the brutal edge of 2000s death metal, and the precision of modern tech death, “Melancholia” is a must-listen for fans of Archspire, The Red Chord, Deafheaven, and The Faceless.

Album pre-order (Vinyl, Digital) (out Sept 19th, 2025) – https://ancientthrones.bandcamp.com​

Lyric Video – “A Moon Fused Key” https://youtu.be/IfDBNhlJ0sI​

Track Listing:​
1. A Moon Fused Key (5:12)
2. Achromatopsia (1:19)
3. Melancholia (6:17)
4. A Turning Point (5:46)
5. A Pellucid Prism (4:26)
6. Sacred Swollen Glass (6:16)
7. Blight (2:18)
8. A Pale Palace (4:55)
9. Vacant (5:31)
Album Length: 42:00

Band Lineup:​
Dylan Wallace – Guitar
Nick Leslie – Guitar
Matt LeBlanc – Bass
Sean Hickey – Drums & Vocals

More info: Facebook.com/Ancientthrones | Instagram.com/ancientthrones​

-30-

“The music is indeed violent, and immediately so, exploding in a blast of turbulent riffing, heavily undulating bass tones, and furious beats. The guitars wildly writhe and rapidly spear off in crazed angles, kaleidoscopic in effect, and the words spit forth in caustic screams that are equally deranged. Dissonant and dismal tones intrude, along with guttural roars, blast-beat outbursts, and pulverizing blows, and the riffing also seems to swarm in agony, adding further dimensions of darkness to the song’s overarching manifestation of delirium. Backed by a pulse-pounding and highly headbangable groove, the song also introduces yet another dimension, an eerie guitar solo that slowly slithers, brightly swirls, and evolves into an entrancing harmony, very much like a beckoning and seductive presence that manifests within the mayhem.” – No Clean Singing (single – A Moon Fused Key – 2025)

What the press has said about 2020’s “The Veil”:

“A full-throttle attack, the song (The Sight of Oblivion) delivers bludgeoning rhythms, vicious darting and slashing guitar-work, scorching blackened shrieks, and cold-hearted roars. There’s a brazen, borderline-unhinged quality to the barrage, generated by screaming, rapidly whirling leads, magma-like bass notes, and fast-changing, bone-cracking drums. But within the assault there are also fluid, sinuous melodic leads whose mellifluous, reverberating tones give the music a mysterious, mesmerizing, and mournful quality. And near the end one of those leads morphs into a fret-burning dual-guitar extravaganza that really gets the blood rushing.” – No Clean Singing (2020 – The Veil)

“Nearly an hour in length, The Veil earns that run-time with crisply-written compositions and an arsenal of sky-ripping riffs. The acoustic reprieve of “Sentient” and melodic grief of “Permanent” reveal the album’s heavy heart. But the album conjures strength from those pensive moments. Rife with nimble axe-work from Dylan Wallace and Nick Leslie, The Veil never succumbs to the solemnity of its subject. The Veil remains an impactful listen down to its final dying note.” – Decibel Magazine (2020 – The Veil)

“Trailer Park Boys and Hobo With a Shotgun aren’t the only pieces of media that have emerged from Nova Scotia that you should get excited over.” – MetalSucks

“From the massive tremolo sections and bludgeoning riffs to the surprisingly melodic harmonies between guitarists Dylan Wallace and Nick Leslie, Ancient Thrones have definitely honed in on something special with this track.” – GearGods

“From earth crushing riffs and face-melting guitar solos to the overarching theme of grief and devastation that the record encompasses, this single really ramps up the intensity” – Bravewords

“Canadian band Ancient Thrones perform a combination of black, death and thrash metal with some progressive tendencies on The Veil. They have similarities to Skeletonwitch, but have an even more dynamic sound. The songs are both aggressive and intelligent in equal measure and run through a variety of different emotional tangents. There is a vile and harsh aspect to the band, but there is also a forward thinking one. It all results in a creative and dynamic listen.” – Heavy Music Headquarters (2020 – The Veil)

“The prize for most ambitious album of 2020 already has the name of Ancient Thrones carved in marble. Who among you fancies a 56-minute blackened death metal saga with an epic meditation on one man’s descent into the afterlife? No band thought it conceivable to write the metal version of Ingmar Bergman’s The Seventh Seal, but this Nova Scotia quartet are not just any band. This is a remarkable journey for the contemplative mind.” – Scream Blast Repeat (2020 – The Veil)
​
​
​“The Sight of Oblivion and The Millionth Grave are steeped in ferociousness and savagery as only a band well versed in blackened death metal are capable of producing.8.5/10” – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life (2020 – The Veil)

“With this new incarnation, Ancient Thrones has moved into strict Black/Death territory, producing an album filled with pummeling riffs, intricate song structures, and technical musicianship that’s leavened by atmospheric segments and epic, sometimes audacious melodies that border on Cascadian. The production matches this style perfectly, being heavy and abrasive while allowing the songs enough room to stretch out… fans of more epic and melodic Black/Death will want to give The Veil a listen. 4/5” – The Metal Crypt (2020 – The Veil)

“It is fast, thrashing extreme metal with shrieked/growled vocals, and a headbanging attitude. They have elements of thrash, black and death but their method of delivery won’t confuse anyone. It is metal to make the fans move. It is pretty thrashy, pretty brutal but also melodic, and the guitar work has plenty to offer both in the riffs and the melodies.” – Metal Bulletin (2020 – The Veil)

—
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0 A Metal Odyssey of Self and Survival – NIGHT’S EDGE Unveils New Video “Shapes in Grey Space II : Soaring” Ahead of New Album Out Aug 21st

  • August 20, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Music News · Night's Edge

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – August 20, 2025

A Metal Odyssey of Self and Survival – NIGHT’S EDGE Unveils New Video “Shapes in Grey Space II: Soaring” Ahead of New Album “The World That Never Was” Out Aug 21st

With their fourth full-length album, “The World That Never Was,” set to drop on August 21st, 2025, Baltimore-based trio NIGHT’S EDGE is unveiling one last visual offering ahead of release day. In collaboration with Ghost Cult Magazine, the band premieres the music video for “Shapes in Grey Space II: Soaring”, the second installment in a three-part suite that closes the album. The two-and-a-half-minute ballad of symphonic alternative metal track unfolds a Twilight Zone-inspired narrative, exploring themes of isolation and the transformative journey of self-discovery it can spark.

“Soaring is a hardcore banger in ¾, as fancy as it is intense. The sudden pauses and shifts in direction of the music catch you off guard, while the vocals make you feel like you are ascending into the chorus, with mixed feelings of freedom while remaining tethered to reality. The words reflect our inner turmoil of free will versus the outside forces that control us. When writing Soaring, Damian constantly referred to the movie “Chronicle,” a found-footage thriller about teenagers who get superpowers. Not sure how that connects, that is for you to figure out!” adds Brian Haran – Vocals, Bass, Keys, Programming.

Watch and listen to “Shapes in Grey Space II: Soaring” via Ghost Cult Magazine HERE.

Since forming in 2018, Night’s Edge has undergone several lineup shifts and sonic evolutions, making notable strides since their 2019 debut. Rooted in the Alternative Metal realm yet defying easy classification, their sound blends gothic metal, progressive rock, and nu-metal influences into a heady mix of heaviness and pop sensibility, wrapped in layers of synths and theatrical flair. Their upcoming album, “The World That Never Was,” delves into themes of lost identity and the voids we fall into—obsession, rage, and uncertainty. In its closing arc, the album tells a parable: the protagonist wakes in a world where humanity has vanished and is forced to confront their reflection in the silence… or so it appears.

“We are immensely proud of this album. The World That Never Was has the strongest songwriting that Night’s Edge has ever brought forward, and these powerful songs elevate the three of us as musicians and as a band. It has presented challenges to all of us, as Performers and as writers, and has resulted in a genuine expression of music that is uniquely us. The album flows dramatically from piece to piece, with each song offering something different and contributing a different part from which the whole is built. No two songs sound the same, but every second of the album is unmistakably Night’s Edge. The recording and production process challenged all of us but allowed us to become even more intimate with each song. The lyrical themes that wrap through the album have become hooks in each of our brains, and we feel like each of us left a part of ourselves in this record. The World That Never Was is dense but digestible, complex but immediate, grim but beautiful. It is an album of contrasts, an album of ambition, and Night’s Edge’s most definitive musical statement,” says Haran

“The World That Never Was” follows releases Strangers – LP (2023), Night’s Edge – EP (2022), The Darkest Side of Dreams – LP (2020), and Shades of Dusk – LP (2019) and is recommended for fans of Coheed and Cambria, Avantasia, System of a Down, HIM, and Deftones.

Album pre-order (out Aug 21st) – https://nightsedge.bandcamp.com

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/5YEhprmAqIyaGmzH1qQInZ​

Night Drive Visualizer – Love Fiction – https://youtu.be/MoRXlrnX6aQ​

Music Video – If You Loved Me – https://youtu.be/0Fj6gIMd6dA​

YouTube Stream – Someone To Stay – https://youtu.be/fg-P90AQvrA​

Lyric Video – Smite – https://youtu.be/pMg-S0fn-Nk​

Upcoming Show Dates:​
Aug 23 – Roachfest – Hollywood, MD
Sept 12 – Zen West – Baltimore, MD – ALBUM RELEASE PARTY
Sept 20 – Asbury Park Brewery – Asbury Park, NJ
Oct 10 – The Depot – Baltimore, MD

Album Artwork by Eden Wormwood

Track Listing:​
1. Someone To Stay (4:11)
2. If You Loved Me (3:51)
3. Man of Many Faces (4:23)
4. Love Fiction (4:14)
5. Wish You Wouldn’t (4:09)
6. Overdue For Destruction (2:50)
7. Smite (3:46)
8. Ataecina (5:08)
9. Shapes In Grey Space I: Reaching (7:43)
10. Shapes In Grey Space II: Soaring (2:41)
11. Shapes In Grey Space III: Separating (5:23)
Total Length: 48:32

Recording and Live Line Up:​
Brian Haran – Vocals, Bass, Keys, Programming
Damian Remmell – Guitars
Dan Hunt – Drums

More info: Nightsedgeband.com | Facebook.com/nightsedgeband | Instagram.com/nights_edge_band

-30-

““Smite” offers a taste of the band’s ever-evolving sound, merging gothic, progressive, and nu metal influences.” – Metal Insider
​
“You’re going for a ride today with the premiere of the music video for “Love Fiction,” the latest single from Night’s Edge. A cool visual accompaniment, the premise of the video, a sped-up night drive of the city and the freeway, complements the song’s intensity well. The single is from the band’s latest record, The World That Never Was. Featuring eleven new tracks, the album is set to be released on August 21st. “Love Fiction” is an introduction to this era of Night’s Edge, their third full-length since first emerging in 2018. The song is a profound reflection on depression and mental health. It romanticizes depression, likening it to a partner who is always there for someone as if the condition itself has become a security blanket.” – V13
​
“Night’s Edge is a dynamic three-piece pushing the boundaries of alternative metal with a sound that straddles gothic melodrama, modern heaviness, and synth-drenched theatrics…. a collection of tracks that fuse headbanging weight with danceable grooves, rich atmospherics, and introspective lyricism. With influences ranging from HIM, System of a Down, Deftones, to Coheed and Cambria, Night’s Edge has carved a uniquely immersive and cinematic sound that evokes both the personal and the fantastical.” – Crannk
​
​
​
“The best part was how they fused a heavy sense of emotion in the music. You can hear it, and feel it, and they don’t hold back.” – Metal Temple

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0 Quebec’s UNPUNISHED’s New Video “Shattered in Disarray” Marks Their Fierce Evolution + Quebec Tour Dates + New EP “Echoes of History” Out Sept 2025

  • August 19, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Music News · Unpunished

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – August 19, 2025

Quebec’s UNPUNISHED’s New Video “Shattered in Disarray” Marks Their Fierce Evolution

Sophomore EP “Echoes of History” Out Sept 2025

Quebec Tour Dates (Quebec City, Trois-Rivieres, Montreal)

L-R – Pierre-Luc Defoy (Guitar, Back Vocals), Jean-Christophe Magnan (Vocals), Alex Brochu-Meloche (Bass, Back Vocals), Justin Lefebvre (Drums), Dean Pavicic (Guitar)

Photo Credit – Julien Bouffard

Quebec City’s rising metalcore force Unpunished returns with a gripping new single and music video, “Shattered in Disarray,” premiering exclusively on TheCirclepit. This marks the band’s third single in support of their upcoming sophomore EP, “Echoes of History,” set for release on September 5th, 2025.
​
Slower, darker, and emotionally raw, “Shattered in Disarray” dives deep into the psyche of someone confronting the wreckage of their own life. The song explores themes of regret, failure, and the haunting question: Is redemption still possible, or is it too late? With a melodic chorus riff and three distinct guitar solo sections, the track captures the emotional turbulence of its lyrics, inviting listeners to reflect on their own missteps and the hope of healing.
​
​“It’s a song about realizing you’ve failed the ones you love. It’s about facing the consequences and wondering if there’s still a way out,” adds the band.

Watch and listen to “Shattered in Disarray” via TheCirclePit at https://youtu.be/Yr5pD6tPuas

​Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/2V8YKy50wVSJ6e5B9SPwrx​

​Written over two years during a period of personal upheaval for each band member, “Echoes of History”, produced by drummer Justin Lefebvre, is a testament to Unpunished’s resilience and creative evolution. The five-track EP showcases a diverse sonic palette, blending 2000s metalcore roots with melodic death metal riffs, deathcore breakdowns, and melodic choruses. Each track delivers a unique blend of emotion and musical identity, making the record a deeply immersive experience. Lyrically, the band explores human flaws, mental health, and social injustice, crafting songs that are both personal and powerful.
​
​“We wanted each song to have its own flavor. No formulas, no repetition, just raw emotion and musical diversity,” says the band.

Drawing inspiration from metal giants like As I Lay Dying, Parkway Drive, Trivium, and The Black Dahlia Murder, Unpunished blends melodic, intense, aggressive, and diverse elements into a sound that’s unmistakably their own.

Pre-order “Echoes of History” (out Sept 5th) at https://unpunished.bandcamp.com.

Previous Singles:

Lyric Video – “Burn the Traitors” ft. Alex Leblanc (ex-Fracturus, ex-Neuraxis, ex-Mass Murder Messiah) – https://youtu.be/uJO4s8QDxng

​“As Water Fills My Lungs” – https://youtu.be/HvyJu1Mo3uk

​In additional news, Unpunished will be performing a series of show dates in the province of Quebec, listed below. Fans can anticipate a tight, high-energy live performance, with a dynamic setlist that mirrors the EP’s emotional and musical range.

Unpunished – Echoes of History EP Launch Tour w/ Concessions, Deadwood, In Disarray, Observants, Terror Symphony:

Sept 20 – Quebec City, QC – L’Anti Bar – info​

Sept 27 – Trois Rivieres, QC – Taverne Royale – info​

Oct 10 – Montreal, QC – Piranha Bar – info​

Track Listing:​
1. As Water Fills My Lungs – 4:49
2. Plague of Our Race – 4:39
3. Shattered in Disarray – 5:06
4. Echoes of History – 4:52
5. Burn the Traitors ft. Alex Leblanc – 4:38
EP Length: 24:06

Recording Credits:​
• All songs performed by: Unpunished
• All songs written by: Unpunished
• Produced, mixed, and mastered by: Justin Lefebvre
• Album Artwork by: I And I Art
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)

EP Recording and Live Line Up:​
Jean-Christophe Magnan (vocals)
Justin Lefebvre (drums)
Alex Brochu-Meloche (bass, back vocals)
Pierre-Luc Defoy (guitar, backing vocals)
Dean Pavicic (guitar)

More info: Facebook.com/Unpunishedband | Instagram.com/unpunished_band​

-30-

“UNPUNISHED Ignites Metalcore Scene with New Single “Burn the Traitors”… “Burn the Traitors” showcases guest vocalist Alex Leblanc, enhancing the track with his formidable experience. UNPUNISHED describes this single as their most brutal offering yet, leaning heavily into melodic death metal territory, devoid of clean vocals. The relentless intensity is punctuated by a captivating, melodic chorus and a strategically paced guitar solo, offering listeners a brief respite before plunging into the explosive climax.” – See Rock Live

“Le groupe de metalcore qui contient des sonorités de deathcore et death metal, Unpunished, a dévoilé une couleur plus agressive avec son nouvel extrait ¨Burn The Traitors¨, titre qui est collaboré au niveau vocal par Alex Leblanc de Fracturus (Ancien Mass Murder Messiah / Neuraxis).” – Grizzly Media

“It’s all this musical baggage that Alex Leblanc (Fracturus, ex-Mass Murder Messiah, ex-Neuraxis) brings to this new song UNPUNISHED. As a collaborator, of course, but he allows us to give another dimension to their sound which leans more towards melodic death this time. The intensity of the song growl from Jean-Christophe Magnan takes up much more space and gives new weapons to UNPUNISHED. At times we feel like we have a mix between Amon Amarth, Soilwork and Killswitch Engage. To discover!” – Metal Universe (2023 – Burn the Traitors – single)

“Unpunished comes to us with an EP that will please fans of metalcore from the good years combined with the more modern melodic side. The vocal playing between clear and « growl » is effective, especially on the title track « Shadows And Dust ». The guitar riffs are eye-catching and that’s one of the things that introduced me to metalcore in the mid-2000s, and we’re well served with this EP. They knew how to bring their personal touch to their influences, and that is what makes « Shadows And Dust» so effective.” – Metal Universe (2022 – Shadows and Dust EP)

—
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0 Vancouver Veteran Punks KILL MATILDA Reunite For Benefit Show For Goldie – Aug 15th @ The Waldorf

  • July 28, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – July 28, 2025

Vancouver Veteran Punks KILL MATILDA Reunite For Benefit Show For Goldie – Aug 15th @ The Waldorf

Vancouver veteran punk band Kill Matilda is reuniting after 10 years for one special night to help friends and their young daughter named Goldie, in raising funds to help with costs for her rare, undiagnosed genetic disorder.

Watch this reel the family put together – https://www.facebook.com/reel/733528915896470​

“HI EVERYONE! Long time no see …. Hope y’all have been hanging in there! We are pleased to announce that for ONE NIGHT ONLY, Dusty, Dave, and Marcus (plus Lina from Dusty Pines on bass!) will reanimate the band from the grave for a good cause! Our pal Jeff has a daughter named Goldie with complex medical needs, and their family needs support from our community. Get yer tix at The Invisible Orange, buy merch (all KM merch will be on sale by donation with proceeds going to Goldie’s family), and rock out with us and the other excellent bands.” – Dusty Chipura, Kill Matilda.

The benefit show is being held on August 15th at The Waldorf (1489 E Hastings St) and will be supported by the one-time 10-year reunion of Kill Matilda (https://killmatilda.bandcamp.com) with Lina the Machina on bass. The benefit lineup also features Kill Matilda‘s singer, Dusty Chipura’s current band, Dusty Pines (https://www.facebook.com/dustypinesvancouver), along with local support from Vultures at Dawn (https://www.facebook.com/VulturesAtDawn) and The Judys (https://www.facebook.com/thejudysgotabigmouth).

Tickets Link – https://orangetickets.ca/detalles_evento.php?id_evento=1989​

Event info – https://www.facebook.com/events/2544554485887540/​

About Kill Matilda:

Kill Matilda is a female-fronted punk/rock/metal band formed in 2008 in Vancouver, British Columbia. Led by the fierce and charismatic Dusty Chipura, the group is known for its explosive live performances, horror punk aesthetics, and unapologetic DIY spirit. Their sound fuses punk rock, metal, and garage thrash, often wrapped in zombie apocalypse themes.
​
The band gained early attention with their single She’s A Killer, which aired on MuchLoud, and went on to release several records, including Zombie Apocalypse (2011), #PUNK#ZOMBIE#ROCKNROLL (2014), and Songs of Survival (2015), produced by GGGarth Richardson. Kill Matilda toured extensively across Canada, the U.S., and Mexico, playing over 180 shows and sharing stages with acts like Guttermouth, Die Mannequin, and Powerman 5000.
​
Despite personal challenges—including health issues and lineup changes—the band remained resilient and continued to perform until going on hiatus in 2015. Dusty Chipura is also a published writer and advocate, adding depth to the band’s punk ethos and cultural impact

– 30 –

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—
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0 NYC’s CHAKA Unleashes Ferocious Music Video “It’s Not Human” Ahead of First Full-Length Album “Amplifying the Past”

  • July 9, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · CHAKA · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – July 9, 2025

NYC’s CHAKA Unleashes Ferocious Music Video “It’s Not Human” Ahead of First Full-Length Album “Amplifying the Past”

NYC heavy trio CHAKA has dropped their thunderous new single “It’s Not Human”, a primal assault of groove and aggression that marks the first release from their upcoming debut full-length album, “Amplifying the Past”, due out later this year.

Formed as a studio project and now evolved into a live sonic force, CHAKA has deep roots in Queens’ metal and hardcore scene. Founding bassist and vocalist Mark Sokoll, a veteran of bands like Darkside NYC and Terminal Confusion, is joined by longtime friends Mike C. (ex-White Trash) on drums and Frank P. (Lost Cause) on guitar. The band also collaborates remotely with Ireland-based guitarist Ty Canon, a childhood friend whose riffs continue to shape their recordings.

Lyrically, “It’s Not Human” presents a sonic excavation. The song delves into the real-life discovery of a Neanderthal tooth, a pivotal moment in tracing the human genome.

“It’s about evolution, science, and ancient ancestry,” says Sokoll. “We’ve always drawn inspiration from human origins, military history, and authors like Arthur C. Clarke and Carl Sagan.”

Musically, the track is a relentless juggernaut—starting abruptly, rushing forward with thrash intensity, then shifting to a dreamy tone before returning to a pummeling close.

The single’s artwork visually echoes this evolutionary theme, featuring crossed primitive weapons behind a grotesque DNA helix, flanked by dueling skulls—one ancient, one modern.

Listen to “It’s Not Human” now on all major streaming platforms.

Music Video – https://youtu.be/mAHodHd773o

​Spotify – https://bit.ly/46AwqtL​

Set for release later this year, “Amplifying the Past” represents CHAKA‘s most dynamic and collaborative work to date.

“This record expands on our earlier sound but lets the songs breathe more. We want listeners to feel like they’ve been on a cathartic, headbanging ride,” adds Sokoll.

The band’s style is best described in five words: Primal. Loud. Heavy. Aggressive. Groovy. Drawing on influences like Black Sabbath, Carnivore, Motorhead, and Celtic Frost, CHAKA delivers raw, no-frills metal with a scientific twist.

On stage, CHAKA amplifies their sound even further. Fans can expect not just volume, but presence.

“We’re a loud trio—maybe even louder than four or five-piece bands. We’re all in our 50s, but we don’t hold back.”

Despite geographical distance—band members live in New York, New Jersey, and Ireland—CHAKA thrives on modern file-sharing and old-school chemistry as the trio has known each other for over 40 years. That connection fuels their sound.

More singles and videos will follow as the band finalizes the LP. CHAKA also promises future EPs and extended releases, all staying true to their mission: creating music that’s as thoughtful as it’s heavy.

More Info: Chakametalband.com | Facebook.com/NEANDERTHALTALES | Instagram.com/chakametalband | X.com/ChakaMetalBand​

-30-

“CHAKA unleashes the primal force of the past with a single “It’s Not Human.”… Hardly any other underground thrash formation from New York has fought for its place in the metal underground as uncompromisingly as CHAKA. Since the rough debut EP „Neanderthal Tales“ (2019) the quartet plows constantly through the clubs of Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island. Creative Motor is bassist and singer Mark Sokoll, flanked by guitar heavy workers Frank Principe, Drum Berserker Mike Caldarella and studio all-rounders Ty Canon from Ireland. Their trademark: guitars like volcanic rock, drums like thunderous avalanches and a bass that makes every heater vibrate.” – Blattturbo

“If “Musth” and “Mister Brink” are any indication, ‘Amplifying the Past’ will not only stand alongside the genre’s greats — it may very well cast a shadow over them. It’s a work born of memory but aimed at the future, one boot planted in the blood-soaked soil of history, the other crashing down with glorious defiance. CHAKA isn’t just amplifying the past — they’re weaponizing it! – Jam Sphere

Neanderthal Tales EP Reviews 2020:

“To my understanding, this is a side project of Darkside (NYC) bassist Mark Sokoll , and it is quite the shock to the system. While elements of Doom and Hardcore rear their heads throughout this rather short 4 song EP, the main strain showing glaring prominance is the sludgy, speaker fraying, super amped metal that raises the eyebrows & the adreneline for sure.” – Guillotine Zine

“The sludgy bass sounds of “Flak” give it a dirty raw sound that combines the sounds of Motorhead with Crowbar and Cro-Mags to create a blood-and-thunder affair, with Sokoll playing the Cave Man throughout and it is beer-drinking good fun. The uptempo drive of the track keeps the fires burning and the sonics are less primitive than meet the eye (ear)… A couple of neat tempo shifts move from a slower Doom-laden sound to a raw, Hardcore-Punk one with a fuzzy bass sound that is abrasive enough to be on a Black Metal album.” – Metal Noise

“I read the lyrics to the songs before I actually listened to the music, and was astonished at just how well-written the content was on that end… Mark Sokoll’s lyrics are witty, thoughtful, and clever… CHAKA has several strong components going for them beyond the theme. Mark Sokoll’s vocal performance is passionate and vibrant…The bass-heavy tones are refreshing for the genre. CHAKA rinsed away my skepticism and misgivings. Neanderthal Tales is more than anything else, proof that originality can still be found in the foundational Metal genres.” – Contaminated Tones

“Ladies and gentlemen the year is 2020 and with the new year comes the birth of the latest rock sub-genre…. CAVE METAL! Mark Sokoll… bassist of Darkside NYC (as well as the highly-underrated Terminal Confusion from way back in the day) is the main brain behind this four0song, ten minute debut which has its share of backstories… “Flak” leads off (check out the video) with a fuzzy bass and some straight outta da cave styled vocals. With so many styles of metal out there to be had cave metal is not that bad of a self-description to be honest with you. What I like about “Neanderthal Tales”is that these songs mix shit up… there is no singular pattern that they stick to. Just for that this EP gets some bonus points.” – In Effect Hardcore Magazine

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0 Reminder – July 11-12 – ARMSTRONG METALFEST 2025 w/ BORN OF OSIRIS, HAVOK, GLYPH, RIOT CITY, THE BROWNING, VIRVUM and more!

  • July 7, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Armstrong Metal Fest · Music News

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – July 7, 2025

Reminder – July 11-12 – ARMSTRONG METALFEST 2025

w/ BORN OF OSIRIS, HAVOK, GLYPH, RIOT CITY, THE BROWNING, VIRVUM and more!

Armstrong, BC, Canada – 15 Years of Mountain Moshing In The Okanagan!

“It’s one of the premier festivals of its kind in Canada, showcasing the biggest names in local, national, and international heavy metal music.” – Vancouver Sun

Celebrating 15 Years of mountain moshing in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, Armstrong MetalFest’s conquering 2025 lineup with BORN OF OSIRIS, HAVOK, GLYPH, RIOT CITY, THE BROWNING, VIRVUM, and lots more from across Canada and beyond will descend on Armstrong, BC on July 11th and 12th at the Hassen Arena, for two days of moshing, headbanging, and camping.

Video – Celebrating 15 Years of Armstrong MetalFest 2025 – ​https://youtu.be/47QjFrOHLv8​

Armstrong MetalFest 2025 Spotify playlist – ​https://spoti.fi/4i4u2OV

AMF Weekend Passes are available at https://armstrongmetalfest.ca/tickets​

All tickets provide general admission and grant access to the festival grounds, camping area, and arena from 9:00 AM on Friday, July 11, 2025, until 10:00 AM on Sunday, July 13, 2025. Free camping is included.

Armstrong MetalFest 2025 Schedule

Headlining opening night, Friday, July 11th, Denver thrashers HAVOK are no strangers to the mosh pits, these veterans have unleashed five studio albums – Burn (2009), Time Is Up (2011), Unnatural Selection (2013), Conformicide (2017), V (2020) – and recently surprised fans this past November with the EP “New Eyes”. Music Video – Death Is An Illusion – https://youtu.be/hkUgz-DeFAo

​

Also supporting the Friday night stage, the Pacific Northwest’s Glyph (ft. members from Gatekeeper, Greyhawk, Hjelvik), which is not just a heavy metal band, they are a crew of intergalactic mercenaries escaping a dying planet in their spaceship, the VSS Dragonlord. Clearly, Glyph isn’t just writing songs, they’re building worlds and they bring it forth in their latest album “Honor, Power, Glory” released in March 2024. Lyric Video – March of the Northern Clan (feat. Nathan Harrison) – https://youtu.be/htSyUb25wD4

​

Another highlight for Friday is the screaming heavy metal from Calgary’s speed demons Riot City, who bring forth their steel, spikes, and leather! A youthful band that represents the new face of Canadian metal. An amalgam of ripping and hot heavy metal, created in pure and youthful madness, their bullet belts feature two full-length albums, “Electric Elite” (2022), “Burn The Night” (2019), and their latest live album, “Live in Newcastle” (2023). Album Stream – Electric Elite – https://youtu.be/j3hA1nrG7M0

​

Saturday, July 12th will be headlined by international tour de force, progressive deathcore titans, Chicago’s BORN OF OSIRIS. The group is signed to Sumerian Records and has released seven full-length albums and two EPs. Their album, A Higher Place, reached number 73 on the Billboard 200. Their second full-length album, The Discovery, debuted at 87 on the Billboard 200. The band unveiled their latest single “In Desolation” this past August. Visualizer – In Desolation – https://youtu.be/9OyMRRAq9fI

​

Also featured on Saturday is AMF alumni Kansas City’s THE BROWNING who will be unleashing their unique eclectic blend of electronicore and deathcore. This past November, they released their sixth album, “OMNI,” which features 10 powerful tracks, including collaborations with Nik Nocturnal and the eponymous song with THE DEFECT. Music Video – OMNI (feat. THE DEFECT) – https://youtu.be/VhyuduP3MdY

​

Performing for the first time at AMF and adding to the nostalgia of Saturday night, VIRVUM, progressive/technical death metal all the way from Zürich, Switzerland, that many in Canada have been waiting a long time to witness. There’s no better place to see them along with the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies than at AMF 2025. The Cypher Supreme – https://youtu.be/9W9Kp38I9yY

​

Other treasured highlights of this year’s fest not to miss are Montreal, QC up-and-coming thrashers DROWNING IN BLOOD, who are notorious pit mongers and have made quite a name for themselves in Eastern Canada. Vancouver’s GRAVEMASS might be a new band, but they feature some seriously experienced metalheads from Zimmers Hole, The Golers, Punch Drunk, 3 Inches of Blood, and Revocation. Switzerland’s technical death/black metal Stortregn delivers a mix of charging riffs, blast beats, and brutality that leaves the listener begging for more. The Defect is an electronic rock/metal project created by husband and wife duo – Jonny McBee (The Browning) and Moon McBee. Their debut album “Death X Destiny” was released on February 7, 2025, under the record label FiXT. From the Salish lands of Spokane, WA, Hísemtuks Hími•n introduces their Indigenous melodic black metal of hard-hitting riffs, fast-paced drumming, and a lot of melody. This project has strong roots in the Spokane Tribe/Nez Perce. Most songs are about Native American mythology, history, and folklore.

AMF 2025 Lineup:​
Havok (Denver, CO)
Born of Osiris (Chicago, IL)
Glyph (Seattle, WA)
Riot City (Calgary, AB)
The Browning (Kansas City, KS)
Virvum (Zürich, Switzerland)
Atavistia (Vancouver, BC)
Drowning In Blood (Montreal, QC)
Convictions (Fremont, OH)
Scalding (Vancouver, BC)
Syryn (Calgary, AB)
Stortregn (Geneva, Switzerland)
The Defect (Kansas City, KS)
Gravemass (Vancouver, BC)
Lover (Calgary, AB)
Yegg (Vancouver Island, BC)
Hísemtuks Hími•n (Spokane, WA)
The Spruce Moose (Edmonton, AB)
Volt (Fort McMurray, AB)
Jisei (Vancouver, BC)
Nomad (Okanagan Valley, BC)
Planetkiller (Kelowna, BC)
Shackled To The Throne (Edmonton, AB)
The Cadavor Dog (High River, AB)
Famous Strangers (Edmonton, AB)
Valley of Despair (Edmonton, AB)
Naitaka (Kelowna, BC)
FloodGate (Kelowna, BC)

In addition to the performing bands, Armstrong Metal Fest is bringing back the following on-site activities: Yeti Games, Metal Madness Market, and Thrash Wrestling.

Please Note: Camping – RV / Non-Hookup RV / Vehicle Passes: Make sure to reserve your vehicle spot to get the best location on the grounds. A fee is required for a weekend pass per vehicle in addition to your day or weekend pass. RV hookups include water and power. If you choose to park your vehicle outside the camping area in the main parking lot, then a vehicle pass is not required.

For more info:​
​Armstrongmetalfest.ca
​
​Facebook​
​Instagram​
​Twitter​

About: Since 2009 (minus pause years 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic), West Metal Entertainment and Armstrong Metalfest have not only fostered the talent of hundreds of local bands, but have imported well-known, international acts to the quiet, little Canadian town of Armstrong, British Columbia.

Each year hundreds of metal music fans from Canada and the USA descend into the picturesque Okanagan Valley and under the blistering sun, they spend three days camping, taking in a tonne of heavy metal fun over two days, spectating wrestling events, participating in scavenger hunts, and catching up with their extended metal family.

The festival has seen such renowned headliners as Kataklysm, Cattle Decapitation, Archspire, Nekrogoblikon, Origin, Rivers of Nihil, Warbinger, Fallujah, Striker, and Beyond Creation as well as emerging artists from across North America. At the end of the revelry, the festival disappears without a trace, leaving the landscape as pristine as it has always been.

West Metal Entertainment is a non-profit society that not only puts on the Armstrong Metal Festival every year in Armstrong, B.C. but also gives bands opportunities to play at different venues throughout the region including all-ages shows, to encourage musical passion in kids as well as adults.

Partners:​
WCMFA
AlumaPro Welding & Fabrication Ltd
Vox and Hops
Rancho Vignola
Creative BC
Province of BC
Shepherds Hardware
Askews Foods
ACE Containers
Asher Media Relations
Staggs Head
Sunbelt Rentals
Bravewords
V13
Metal-Rules
Absolute Underground Mag
Broken Neck Radio
Ghost Cult Magazine
This Day In Metal
Valstar Electric
Voets

What the press is saying:

“Armstrong Metalfest brings aggressive music to the North Okanagan” – Global BC News

Kelowna Now: Armstrong Metal Festival Co-founder reflects on a decade of metal – Video Interview here.

CHBC – Global Okanagan: Metalheads celebrate a decade of gathering in Armstrong – Video Interview here.

Global Okanagan – Armstrong Metalfest brings aggressive music to the North Okanagan – Video here.

“In the past, metalheads had to travel to Germany to experience the rush of a big festival, such as Wacken Open Air. But local headbangers decided to bring that feeling home with Armstrong Metalfest.” – Vernon Morning Star

“Go Big or Stay at Home: Armstrong has that welcoming feeling for a rock show.” – The Valley Voice

“To witness such a gathering of talent is an absolute privilege, and for that fact alone, I will certainly be returning to Armstrong Metal Fest.” – Beatroute BC

“This festival is now going to be my yearly must-go-to event and if you’re a metal head that hasn’t attended or a curious metal voyeur, do yourself a favour and check it out, you will not regret it.” – Abort Mag

“The Armstrong Metalfest is one such event and has grown from its initial, humble beginnings seven years ago to be a regular mainstay, with its south-central BC location making for a popular summertime destination for fans and bands alike.” – Decibel Mag

Named one of the out-of-town music festivals worth the trip by The Vancouver Sun
​
​
​“For metalheads, this is a great vacation where groups of all sizes can enjoy their favourite musical genre in a fun, energized environment. Not to mention, the camping!” – The Permanent Rain Press

“From farm to stadium: Armstrong Metal Fest’s humble beginnings” – Info News

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​

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0 Chris Adler (Lamb of God) Teams Up w/ TONIC BREED For Explosive New Single “Anew”

  • June 19, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Music News · Tonic Breed

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – June 19, 2025

Norwegian Thrash TONIC BREED Drops Explosive New Single “Anew” Featuring Chris Adler of Lamb of God

Tonic Breed’s new single “Anew” features Grammy-winning drummer Chris Adler — in what frontman Patrik K. Svendsen calls the most Lamb of God-style drumming he’s heard from Adler since his days in the band.

Tonic Breed, the metal project led by Norwegian musician Patrik K. Svendsen, is set to release its highly anticipated new single, “Anew,” on June 19, 2025. This high-octane track features Chris Adler, the iconic drummer of Lamb of God, lending his blistering rhythms to the song. The collaboration is expected to set the metal world on fire as Tonic Breed blends its signature thrash sound with Adler‘s unmatched drumming prowess. The song was also mixed and mastered by acclaimed producer Machine, who also handled Lamb of God’s “Ashes of the Wake” and “Sacrament”.

Chris Adler comments:

“I was quite curious when I got an email — and some riffs — from Patrik. He’s done some cool shit and I was flattered to be on his radar… I researched it for a minute and agreed. We did have to take a minute to both feel good about what this would be — meaning I beat up his song like a fucking Rocky movie — but I knew it had the parts and strength. It’s been a privilege to work with Patrik. Humbling. You’ll know what I mean when you hear it.”

Svendensen adds:

“I originally sent over a rough demo of the song, a storm of riffs strung together with placeholder drums and a suggested structure. We worked together on a new structure for the song, and Chris took the lead on shaping it into something far more unique and effective than my original draft. To me, this is the most Lamb of God-style drumming I’ve heard from Chris since he was in Lamb of God. I’m sure some metal guitarists would kill to hear Chris Adler’s drumming behind their riffs — I’ve been lucky enough to experience that firsthand.”

“Anew” will be available for streaming across all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube, on June 19th, 2025. The release of “Anew” marks a new milestone in the band’s career, as they prepare for their upcoming album, which promises more collaborations and even more explosive metal tracks to follow past high-profile collaborations, which already include Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth), Björn Strid (Soilwork), Michael Gilbert (Flotsam and Jetsam).

Listen to “Anew” at the following links:

YouTube – https://youtu.be/wx-8n9qs5cY

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/track/3EfUNCw79sf52xSX4KwbU4

​

For more info:​
​https://tonicbreed.com​
​https://facebook.com/tonicbreed​
​https://instagram.com/tonicbreed​

About Tonic Breed:​
Tonic Breed is a Norwegian thrash and heavy metal one-man music project by Patrik K. Svendsen. Until 2019, Tonic Breed was originally a four-piece band, established in Sarpsborg, Norway, in 2006. As of 2022, Tonic Breed has released three albums and one EP. Today, Tonic Breed is constantly reinventing itself in songwriting and guest collaborations.

About Chris Adler:​
Chris Adler is a world-renowned drummer and founding member of the legendary American heavy metal band Lamb of God. With a career spanning decades, Adler is recognized for his technical precision, groundbreaking style, and massive influence on the heavy metal genre.

Discography:​
– 2025 – Anew (single)
– 2025 – The Die Is Cast (single) (ft. guest guitar solo Michael Gilbert (Flotsam and Jetsam)
– 2025 – The Charge (single w/ Darkroot)
– 2024 – Outsold – LP – 10th Anniversary Edition
– 2022 – Fuel the Fire – EP (ft. guests Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth), Bernt Jansen (Artch/Wig Wam), Björn Strid (Soilwork), Martin Skriubakken (Endezzma), Oliver Palotai (Kamelot)
– 2018 – Install Memory – LP
– 2014 – Outsold – LP
– 2010 – On the Brink of Destruction

– 30 –

“This is a collection of songs you need to hear, so what are you waiting for? [8/10]” – Metal Noise (2022 – Fuel The Fire)

“The guest musicians really came together on this EP, it’s real luxury material. In short, it is a great return of Patrick as he has been throughout his career with Tonic Breed. If you are fans of Metallica, Testament, Pantera or Slayer, listening to «Fuel the Fire» it is essential this year. Without a doubt I will follow the career of this One Man Band with great interest.” – Broken Tomb (2022 – Fuel The Fire)

“Tonic Breed show that the embers have not gone out and this EP gives them a good old poking, tossing them around and letting the heat build-up. ” – Metal Digest (2022 – Fuel The Fire)

“Tonic Breed reinforces my growing belief that music, and particularly metal, can one day survive and even thrive without need of the corporate machine.” – Metal Disciple (2014 – Outsold – LP)​
​
​“For an unsigned act Outsold has one of the best productions I have heard in a long time. Simply put it’s a fantastic album.” – Teeth of the Divine (2014 – Outsold – LP)​
​
​“TONIC BREED could easily advance up the ranks thanks to this impressive release.” – Metal Temple (2014 – Outsold – LP)​
​
​“10/10. Album of the year 2014.” – The Metal Review (2014 – Outsold – LP)​
​
​“For an unsigned act Outsold has one of the best productions I have heard in a long time. Simply put it’s a fantastic album.” – Teeth of the Divine (2014 – Outsold – LP)​
​
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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS

Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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jon[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
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0 Out Now! OPHIOLATRY’s Brazilian Brutal Death Album “Serpent’s Verdict”

  • June 6, 2025
  • by Asher
  • · Music News · Ophiolatry

NEWS RELEASE

Montreal, QC – June 6, 2025

Out Now! OPHIOLATRY’s Brazilian Brutal Death Album “Serpent’s Verdict”

Top – L-R – Jaime Veron (Lead Vocals), Jhorge “Dog” Duarte (Drums)

Bottom – L-R – Fred Barros (Guitar), Diego Santiago (Bass)

Photography: Kevin Eisenlord, Anderson Hildebrando

​

After seventeen years of anticipation, Brazilian death metal stalwarts Ophiolatry have officially released their new album “Serpent’s Verdict” today (June 6th, 2025) through WormHoleDeath Records. Available now on all major digital platforms and in physical formats, this landmark release represents both a triumphant return and an evolutionary leap forward for one of extreme metal’s most brutal underground acts.

“Serpent’s Verdict” stands as a complete sonic ritual—a brutal, immersive descent into cycles of destruction, revenge, and rebirth. Rooted in themes of ancestral pain, war defiance, and spiritual reckoning, the album fuses relentless death metal with primal energy drawn from indigenous Amazonian spiritual traditions. Each track functions as a chapter in a larger narrative, combining aggressive riffs, guttural vocals, and tribal rhythms that pay homage to ancient warrior cultures. The band comments:

“This album pushes our technical and compositional limits while maintaining the speed and aggression that defines Ophiolatry. The riffs are intricate but wild, combining relentless blast rhythms with haunting atmospheric passages. The drums are faster and more precise than ever, while the guitars weave a mix of crisp precision and crushing heaviness. The vocals convey pure ferocity, from guttural growls to visceral screams that echo the intensity of the lyrics. While we pursue a new approach, the essence of Ophiolatry remains intact: ruthless, dark, and unapologetically extreme.”

Citing a brutal process in the creation of the album, the band describes it as ‘a communion between the band and the artist, a shared trance where sound and image feed each other’. The result is an album that honors the band’s brutal death metal roots while expanding their sonic palette into more atmospheric and thematically rich territory. It is recommended for fans of Suffocation, Morbid Angel, and Death.

Listen to “Serpent’s Verdict” on all digital platforms – https://orcd.co/serpentsverdict​

Music Video – “Jesus Complex” – https://youtu.be/CLN1jAZthS8

​Music Video – “Death Tour” – https://youtu.be/9Fr3TqFyF5Q

Track Listing:​
1 – Jesus Complex – 3:48
2 – Revenge – 4:21
3 – Generation Curse – 3:09
4 – Death Tour – 3:35
5 – Serpent’s Spits – 4:31
6 – Atheris – 1:32
7 – Apophis – 5:01
8 – Midia Bible – 3:34
9 – Manipulations Guilt – 4:03
10 – Heaven Jails – 3:26
11 – Narcissistic Victim Syndrome – 4:06
12 – Human Factory – 3:18
13 – Ecdysis – 2:34
Album Length: 47:03

Album Recording Credits:​
All songs performed and composed by Ophiolatry.
Mastering: Dan Swanö – http://www.unisound.se
Artwork: LouLou – http://www.louloufineart.com
Pre-Production: Steve Rumpli & Ophiolatry
Production, Recording & Mixing: Diego Santiago
Studio: Satori Estudio
Photography: Kevin Eisenlord, Anderson Hildebrando
Graphic Layout: Beto Mustafa

Album Band Line Up:​
Jaime Veron – Lead Vocals
Diego Santiago – Bass
George “Dog” Duarte – Drums
Fred Barros – Guitars

More info: Ophiolatry.com.br | Facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063556233508 | Instagram.com/ophiolatry​

-30-

“On this new record, the band bring their traditonal Brazilian influence and their heavy, atmospheric approach together to create something new. All the songs on the record come together to tell a story. ” – Decibel Magazine (2025 – Seprent’s Verdict)

“Blending technical brutality with tribal rhythms and ritualistic atmosphere, “Jesus Complex” tackles themes of religious indoctrination and spiritual hypocrisy. Serpent’s Verdict marks Ophiolatry’s long-awaited return following 2008’s Transmutation.” – Metal Insider (2025 – Seprent’s Verdict)

“One good turn deserves another and so having punched us full in the face with first single “Death Tour“, Brazilian Death Metal force Ophiolatry kick us in the guts with “Jesus Complex“. Both tracks take pride of place on the bands upcoming new album “Serpent’s Verdict“, a 6th June release via WormHoleDeath Records. Introducing views to the ritualistic atmosphere that is said to run through the album, the track explores themes of religious manipulation and spiritual corruption with tribal rhythms adding to the bands signature technical brutality.” – Metal Noise (2025 – Seprent’s Verdict)

“Each song adds something unique or subtly deviates from the previous one, underscoring the band’s versatility and craftsmanship. With ‘Serpent’s Verdict’, Ophiolatry proves that they are completely back – stronger, deeper, and more creative than ever. 9/10” – Arrow Lords of Metal (2025 – Seprent’s Verdict)

““Serpent’s Verdict” of Ophiolatry it’s the new face of the band, it’s unlike any of their past albums, and that’s best of all, Death Metal with a 90s flavor, but it has all the power of our times in style, and with that you are already guaranteed many pogo and monstrous parts on your speakers. Very good. 8.7/10” – Hardsounds.it (2025 – Seprent’s Verdict)

“the new guitarist smokes and shreds with a fury and the new vocalist is perfectly suited for this style.” – Mystification Zine (2025 – Seprent’s Verdict)

“Brutal death metal, a smidge of a blackened death too” – WORT 89.9 FM – The Mosh Pit (Madison, WI) (2025 – Seprent’s Verdict)

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

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