Author: Crix

Finnish metal rising star Artkills released a new single featuring a surprising star guest

Rising Finnish metal star ARTKILLS has released a new single called Tightrope. The song is the band’s second single for 2025, preceded by a successful cover of Robbie Williams’ hit Angels.

Tightrope combines the energy of modern metal and rap in a way that has never been heard before in Finland. The single features a guest appearance by the Emma-awarded and highly regarded rapper Redrama. ARTKILLS’ heavy riffs and catchy chorus blend seamlessly with Redrama’s powerful flow.

Founded in 2020, Artkills, a Helsinki-based band, is a modern metal band whose music combines heavy riffs, danceable grooves and memorable vocal melodies. The band members are passionate musicians, all of whom share a touch of old-school attitude. Together with the lineup that has developed a recognizable sound, these elements create the perfect addition to the modern metal scene.

Artkills signed a gig sales contract with GramoPop in the spring of 2025. Artkills has already performed with, for example, the band Kilpi, Merta, Awake Again and Ikinä. In 2023–2024, Artkills did a major “Modern Metal Wave” tour, for which the band has toured extensively around Finland, creating a nice buzz.

The band’s music has also been played on the radio. Radio City noted the band’s single Don’t Follow, which received rave reviews. You & I, released in February 2024, has also been played commendably on Radio Rock, and the previous single Angels is played on the YLEX3M channel.

Facebookissa / Instagramissa / artkills.fi

Sparzanza releases darkly grooving single Fear The Night with lyric video

Swedish heavy rockers Sparzanza are approaching the long-awaited release of their album From Dust To Darkness. The album is due out on October 3rd via Despotz Records.

The final single from the upcoming album, the hard-hitting “Fear The Night”, was released last friday, accompanied by a lyric video that fits the dark theme.

The song is a dark and melodic masterpiece, where Sparzanza takes the listener into the worlds of darkness, loneliness and primal fears.

Vocalist Fredrik Weileby proves that he is in the best shape of his career, and bassist Johan Carlsson gives credit to the band’s guitarist for this:

“Our guitarist Magnus Eronen has now been working as a recording engineer, and he has developed the whole band, especially when it comes to the songs. He knows exactly when and how to push the best possible performance out of Fredrik.”

From the album From Dust To Darkness, we got a taste of the singles Bad Motherfucker, Twitch of the Death Nerve, The Blinding Absence of a Light and the latest split Bloodborne.

Sparzanza is:
Calle Johannesson – Guitar
Anders Åberg – Drums
Johan Carlsson – Bass
Fredrik Weileby – Vocals
Magnus Eronen – Guitar

SPARZANZA | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY

Five Finger Death Punch releases song with Babymetal

Multi-platinum selling modern metal giants Five Finger Death Punch are celebrating their 20th anniversary with two compilation albums – Best Of – Volume 1 was released in May, and the band has just announced that Best Of – Volume 2 will be released on October 24, 2025, via Better Noise Music.

The first single from the upcoming compilation is a new version of the hit song The End, featuring Babymetal singer Su-Metal, who comments on the collaboration:
“I got to sing part of the song in Japanese, and I tried a lot of different vocal styles that would fit such a powerful song. My favorite part is when my own voice gradually gets drowned out by Ivan’s roar. It gave me chills, and I hope the listeners experience the same!”

So the new compilation albums are not just remasters, but the band has re-recorded their biggest hits from the beginning. The releases mark the band’s response to their former label, which had sold the rights to the masters of Five Finger Death Punch’s previous albums without informing the band.

The album features reinterpretations of classics such as Sham Pain, Blue On Black, Trouble and Burn MF. The band emphasises that this is a tribute to both the songs and the fans who have stood by the band for two decades.

With over 13 billion streams, countless number one hits and numerous gold and platinum albums, Five Finger Death Punch has become one of the most successful rock bands of the millennium. Best Of – Volume 2 features 16 re-recorded classics and three previously unreleased live versions of the songs Wash It All Away, Wrong Side Of Heaven and Jekyll And Hyde.

Best Of Volume 2 track listing:
1. Hell To Pay (2025 Version)
2. The End (feat. BABYMETAL) (2025 Version)
3. M.I.N.E (End This Way) (2025 Version)
4. Hard To See (2025 Version)
5. Got Your Six (2025 Version)
6. Cold (2025 Version)
7. Burn MF (2025 Version)
8. Never Enough (2025 Version)
9. Sham Pain (2025 Version)
10. Blue On Black (2025 Version)
11. I Apologize (2025 Version)
12. Trouble (2025 Version)
13. When The Seasons Change (2025 Version)
14. Cradle To The Grave (2025 Version)
15. My Nemesis (2025 Version)
16. Walk Away (2025 Version)
17. Wash It All Away (Live)
18. Wrong Side Of Heaven (Live)
19. Jekyll And Hyde (Live)

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY

The Vantages, the number one newcomer in modern rock, release their EP, inspired by the sparkling Automata single

The Vantages, who have been making the music business and fans around the world buzz since their first releases, released their eponymous second EP on September 5th, The Vantages II. The band’s frontman Tim Mikkola’s tunes were finalized at the legendary Abbey Road with Stefan Brown, who has already become a friend of the band. The mixing was done by Mauri Syrjälä and Patrik Tuominen at Suomenlinna Studio.

Tim ended up working with the Abbey Road gang after Stefan spotted The Vantages on Instagram.

“I happened to be in London with my girlfriend at the time, so we ended up visiting the studio and discussing the mastering of the upcoming EP. Stefan did a really great job, we will continue to collaborate in the future,” says Mikkola.

The band, who opened the mood of the new EP with the single Darker released earlier this year, continues the themes of the band’s debut EP, and the now released album also serves as a conclusion to a certain period.

“The Vantages II is a transitional piece that continues the theme of the previous EP, but instead of passively self-destructive, it rejects it. I struggled with severe depression while making the EP, and I feel that some of that was definitely reflected in the lyrics. It was a bit of a letdown, because I ended up writing some of the most hopeful lyrics I’ve ever written, for example in the song Love/Loss, which I dedicated to my girlfriend,” Tim recalls.

The single Automata, released from the EP, has drawn inspiration from 90s cyberpunk anime, and the band has also experimented with a variety of other things along the way, some of which will certainly live on into the future.

“Vocaloid is a central element in the chorus of Automata, and the fourth track Vanishing Point is again an instrumental over five minutes long, with dialogue in Japanese and English, and instrumentally, the whole range is covered, from drum n’ bass to Arctic Monkeys.”

“We were chasing something brighter and more modern. Tape machines changed to bitcrushers and vox continentals to the digital sins of the past. I wanted a certain kind of anime for the EP’s soundscape, I listened to a lot of Japanese bands like L’Arc~En~Ciel and the soundtracks of old Japanese Playstation 1 games,” Mikkola adds.

The Vantages are:
Tim Mikkola, vocals
Anton Froloff, guitar
Aleksi Larkovuo, bass
Henri Schröter, drums

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

The second album ‘Prophets of the Void’ by Finnish blackened death metal band Progeny of Sun out now

Finnish blackened death metal band Progeny of Sun released their second album ‘Prophets of the Void’ on September 5th 2025 via Inverse Records. The album contains 12 tracks that have taken on more aggressive, darker, and more beautiful forms compared to the previous album. The genre binding the album’s tracks together is Death Metal, but true to the band’s style, the album will feature nuanced and surprising cross-genre atmospherics.

LISTEN to the album: https://push.fm/fl/progeny-of-sun-prophets

BIOGRAPHY:
In the beginning, Progeny of Sun was a two-man band formed by Jaakko Hautamäki and Niko Aromaa. Jaakko was responsible for the instrumentals, mixing, and mastering, while Niko handled the vocals, lyrics, visuals, etc.

The songs Jaakko introduced were very versatile. Some had speed, some were slow, some painted a picture with their atmosphere, and some were more straightforward bangers. Despite the diversity in style, everything worked exceptionally well in tandem, and from this premise, the band started to develop and pave its own way forward.

To start with, Progeny of Sun created a 6-song self-titled EP and discovered that their music was met with great reception. The duo behind the band did all the mixing, mastering, videos, and artwork themselves. The project as a whole was very fun and rewarding to work on.

After the EP release, Jaakko and Niko began to think that something more was still needed. They still had a burning desire to spread their music around the world, but with just two people, it would have been impossible.

Subsequently, Jaakko found two local musicians from the Seinäjoki area: Joni Kiviniemi (guitar) and Juha Peura (drums). Joni and Juha were initially brought on board just to offer their vision and play their assigned instruments for new material. Soon, however, it began to feel like they were part of the family, and so it was decided that they would become full-fledged members of the squad and a part of the band’s story. Not long after, Tuomo Tolkki (bass) was also welcomed to join, and in a matter of a few months, the full lineup was formed.

The first release with the full lineup, a 3-track EP ‘Dark Wanderer’, was released in 2021. Next in line were the single releases ‘Worthless’ and ‘Anguish’, which were released in 2022. Thanks to the aforementioned experimental phase, Progeny of Sun has gained self-confidence and started to understand its own identity. The band worked hard on the debut album ‘Throne of Desolation’, which was released at the end of 2023. Progeny of Sun’s second album ‘Prophets of the Void’ is released on September 5th 2025. Following their debut album, the band has identified their strengths, which are utilized and showcased even more prominently on the second album.

WATCH Penance music video: https://youtu.be/RYQIPCZ1Q-8

WATCH Decimation music video: https://youtu.be/wkHkjAk8a3E

WATCH Forsaken Brigade music video: https://youtu.be/3j5SU5A9DWk

WATCH Swarmspawn lyric video: https://youtu.be/gZ4tDF3vT7M

Line-up:
Niko Aromaa – Vocals
Jaakko Hautamäki – Guitar
Joni Kiviniemi – Guitar
Tuomo Tolkki – Bass
Juha Peura – Drums

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/Progenyofsun
https://www.instagram.com/progenyofsun
https://progenyofsun.bandcamp.com

 

Finnish metal band Withered Petunia has released a new single – a dark story about a person suffering from post-traumatic schizophrenia

Finnish metal band Withered Petunia from the gloominess of Äänekoski, Central Finland has released a new single ‘Fragility of a Mind’. The band likes to experiment a lot with death metal, melodic metal & hardcore. They released their debut EP ‘Withered Petunia’ in January of 2025 and now the band continue the havoc with a new single. The song is a dark story about a person suffering from post-traumatic schizophrenia in awareness of mental health. The song showcases a progressive approach, technical riffs & dark ambience. Something familiar but also something new compared to band’s previous releases.

Listen to the single on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, AmazonMusic etc.): https://push.fm/fl/witheredpetunia-fragilityofamind

https://www.instagram.com/witheredpetuniaband/

https://www.facebook.com/WitheredPetuniaBand

https://www.tiktok.com/@witheredpetuniaband

Nineteen years of waiting are over as Dominant Chain finally released their debut EP, Wasteland Requiem

Finnish female fronted symphonic progressive metal band Dominant Chain, formed in 2006, released their long-awaited debut EP ‘Wasteland Requiem’ on September 3rd 2025 via Inverse Records. 

LISTEN to Wasteland Requiem EP: https://push.fm/fl/dominant-chain-ep 

Wasteland Requiem -EP is Dominant Chain’s first official release. The EP consists of five tracks and is a thematic release. It explores the individual’s experiences within a post-apocalyptic and dystopian future society, a theme familiar from fantasy and sci-fi films and literature. The debut single, “Kissed By This Life,” embodies the EP’s central theme and message both musically and lyrically, showcasing the band’s musical style at its purest form.

The EP was produced by Dominant Chain, mixed by Toni Balk and mastered by Janne Tolsa.

‘Kissed by This Life’ music video can be seen here: https://youtu.be/I7ytSZ_klNM

‘The Moment’ music video can be seen here: https://youtu.be/n2lOJ2alsVM

BIOGRAPHY:
Dominant Chain, hailing from Northern Finland, plays progressive symphonic metal. Their music is not only about complex time signatures and technical skills, but massive, catchy choruses too, along with influences from various other music styles.
The band was originally formed in 2006 in Sonkajärvi, Northern Savo. The musicians have seasoned backgrounds in the professional musicianship. The first single, “Kissed By This Life,” is released digitally on May 20th, 2025. Wasteland Requiem EP is released on September 3rd 2025 via Inverse Records.

Line-up:
Bass: Tuomas Korkatti
Drums: Toni Balk
Guitars: Jarno Keränen
Keyboards & orchestrations: Juho Keränen
Lead & backing vocals: Marja Kettunen

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/dominantchainband
https://www.instagram.com/dominantchainband
https://dominantchain.bandcamp.com

Heavy Metal Force Spiral Fracture Signs Worldwide Deal With Wormholedeath For Upcoming Album Grace In Decay

Wormholedeath is proud to announce the signing of U.S. metal powerhouse Spiral Fracture for the global release of their upcoming full-length album, Grace in Decay, set to drop on 23 January 2026.

Emerging from the underground with a genre-defying blend of progressive metal, blackened edge, and rock-rooted intensity, Spiral Fracture delivers a sound as cerebral as it is cathartic. Their sonic vision is a force of technical precision, emotional depth, and unapologetic power—now aligned with Wormholedeath to bring their bold new chapter to the global stage.

“Spiral Fracture’s journey has been one of dedicated musicians seeking to reach a global audience. We came together to create ‘Grace in Decay,’ our upcoming album, which we felt was the right kind of musical and lyrical reflection of the world around us. We allowed the music to organically come together by focusing on our inner moments in our lives to let loose in a musical format. Our metal roots laced with prog meant that we could expand our musical language into a more cohesive sound that we knew was the right direction for us. Once we were able to master our work, we came together with management to find the audience we needed. Extreme Management Group became the next intricate part in making that happen for us. Wormholedeath Records has agreed to partner with us and take the next steps to bring our accomplishments to the masses. We are truly grateful that we are partnering with a record label that is as excited as we are about getting this music out for the world to hear,” said the band in a joint statement.

Sonically rooted in chaos yet guided by precision, Spiral Fracture takes influence from the Fibonacci spiral—mirroring nature’s perfect balance through a maelstrom of thunderous drums, cinematic guitar work, and a soaring alto vocal presence that cuts through with lyrical purpose.

Meet the band:

David Givens – a guitar virtuoso whose melodic phrasing and theoretical command create harmonic landscapes.
Brian Fisher – a rhythmic architect, whose percussive force blurs the line between brutality and complexity.
Brian Tanner – anchoring the low end with dynamic, evolving basslines that pulse with power.
Javier Ramos – a classically trained jazz vocalist bringing ethereal tone, range, and emotive clarity to metal’s raw edge.

Now signed to Wormholedeath and proudly part of the Extreme Management Group roster, Spiral Fracture is poised to expand their reach across continents. The band’s mission is clear: to bring connection, catharsis, and sonic truth to a fractured world.

https://www.spiralfracturemetal.com
https://www.youtube.com/@spiralfracture
https://www.facebook.com/spiralfracturemusic
https://www.instagram.com/spiralfracture

Ex-Nile’s Dallas Toler-Wade Shares New Playthrough “Lashed to the Slave Stick” To Kick Off NARCOTIC WASTELAND’s Fall Tour “Annihilation of The Wasteland” + EU Tour Dates

As Narcotic Wasteland will be hitting the road for the “Annihilation of Wasteland Tour” this week (dates listed below). Fans familiar with vocalist/guitarist Dallas Toler-Wade and his time in Nile will be pleased to hear that on this tour, he will be performing two of the songs, “Lashed to the Slave Stick” and “The Burning Pits of the Duat”, that he wrote for the album “Annihilation of the Wicked.”, which is celebrating it’s 20th anniversay. Fans will get to experience these songs from the original composer himself, making this run one of the most anticipated moments in extreme metal this year along with Narcotic Wasteland fan favorites and new material, including such tracks as “Barbarian”, “Sex, Lies and DNA”, “Introspective Nightmares”, “Coastal Killings”, “The Best Times Have Passed”, and more!

In additional news, fans have been asking for years for Dallas Toler-Wade to share a guitar playthrough for “Lashed to the Slave Stick” along with official tablature that is now available at DallasTolerWade.com.

Dallas Toler-Wade adds:​
​“Fans have been asking me for years to release the playthrough and tablature for these songs, and I’m excited to finally make it happen. With the 20th anniversary of Annihilation of the Wicked, it feels like the perfect time to revisit the songs I wrote the music for, ‘Lashed to the Slave Stick’ and ‘The Burning Pits of Duat.’ Playing these compositions live again brings it full circle for me, and I can’t wait to share that energy with the fans on this tour.”

Watch the playthrough for “Lashed to the Slave Stick” at https://youtu.be/L9xp0sS1BWQ​

and previous playthrough for “The Burning Pits of Duat” at https://youtu.be/nQG9tS0za-I​

Music Video – Introspective Nightmares – https://youtu.be/jOBq_a4bFGs​

Tour Promo Video – https://www.youtube.com/shorts/TWkkfmZNz_0​

Narcotic Wasteland is a relentless force in the metal scene, delivering a crushing blend of technical precision, unyielding aggression, and raw energy. Fronted by Dallas Toler-Wade, renowned vocalist and guitarist best known for his work with Nile, he brings his signature technical prowess and intense energy to the band.

On drums, Joseph Howard unleashes a torrent of precision and power, driving the band’s pummeling rhythms with thunderous intensity. His dynamic performance creates the perfect foundation for the band’s heavy and often dark sonic atmosphere.

Kenji Tsunami commands the low end with inventive, hard-hitting bass lines that add both depth and texture, solidifying the band’s signature wall of sound. His stage presence and musicianship bring an extra dimension to Narcotic Wasteland’s live assault.

Together, Dallas, Joseph, and Kenji forge an unstoppable musical unit—one that captivates audiences with high-octane performances and uncompromising compositions. With unmatched technical skill and a shared vision for pushing metal’s boundaries, Narcotic Wasteland stands as a true powerhouse in today’s extreme music landscape.

Merch Stores:
Narcotic Wasteland – https://shopusa.season-of-mist.com/band/narcotic-wasteland​
Dallas Toler-Wade – https://shopusa.season-of-mist.com/band/dallas-toler-wade​

​

Tickets & Tour Info:​
​https://tr.ee/rZ3dOvB3TC​

Headlining Shows:​
9/03 – Madison, WI – The Annex
9/04 – West Chicago, IL – WC Social Club
9/05 – Flint, MI – Flint Local 432
9/06 – New Haven, IN – Carl’s Tavern
9/07 – Cleveland, OH – The Foundry
9/08 – Rochester, NY – Photo City Music Hall
9/09 – New Bedford, MA – The Vault
9/10 – Raleigh, NC – Chapel of Bones
9/11 – Spartanburg, SC – GroundZero (Special Guest to Crypta)
9/12 – Chattanooga, TN – JJ’s Bohemia
9/13 – Wallingford, CT – Cherry St. Station
9/14 – Dunbar, WV – Live at the Shop
9/15 – Charleston, SC – Tin Roof
9/17 – Orlando, FL – Conduit
9/18 – Fort Pierce, FL – Tipsy Tiki
9/19 – Tampa, FL – Brass Mug
9/20 – Long Beach, MS – Trax Bar & Grill
​
​Special Guest to Filth:​
9/21 – Atlanta, GA – Boggs Social & Supply
9/22 – Pensacola, FL – Handlebar
9/23 – Shreveport, LA – Strange Brew
9/24 – Amarillo, TX – The Atomic Yellow
9/25 – Denver, CO – Black Buzzard at Oskar Blues
9/26 – Greeley, CO – Moxi Theater
9/27 – Casper, WY – Wyoming Hardcore Festival
9/28 – Colorado Springs, CO – Vultures
9/29 – Lincoln, NE – Witches’ Brew
9/30 – Nashville, TN – The End

​

NARCOTIC WASTELAND – EUROPEAN TOUR 2025​
13.11.25 – Oslo, Norway – Brewgata
14.11.25 – Lublin, Poland – Fabryka Kultury Zgrzyt
17.11.25 – Ostritz, Germany – AZ Meva
18.11.25 – Lübbenau, Germany – Kulturhof
19.11.25 – Kassel, Germany – Goldgrube
20.11.25 – Kortrijk, Belgium – DVG Club
21.11.25 – Alkmaar, Netherlands – Herrie Metal Fest
24.11.25 – Dublin, Ireland – Fibber Magees
26.11.25 – London, England – Underworld
27.11.25 – Newcastle upon Tyne, England – The Lubber Fiend
29.11.25 – Rennes, France – Ty Anna Tavarn
01.12.25 – Basel, Switzerland – Valhalla Bar
02.12.25 – Lonata Ceppino, Italy – Black Inside
04.12.25 – Trodica Di Morrovalle, Italy – Drunk in Public
05.12.25 – Pordenone, Italy – Tune Music Lab
09.12.25 – Sofia, Bulgaria – Grindhouse
12.12.25 – Olomouc, Czech Republic – Sklub
13.12.25 – Krakow, Poland – Confession Club

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

Rock Metal Act epoimóriròmiope Unveils New Single & Video “vertigine”

Alt-rock discovery epoimóriròmiope has released the single and official video for “vertigine”, the first track from the band’s upcoming album “ricordi di un tempo mai esistito”, set for release on 10 October 2025 via Epictronic Worldwide.

“vertigine”—Italian for vertigo—is a plunge into disorientation, memory, and absence. The track twists through emotional turbulence, capturing the dizzying feeling of losing balance in love, identity, and time itself. With haunting melodies and raw, atmospheric instrumentation, the song feels like a freefall where every note echoes both longing and defiance.

Stream vertigine: orcd.co/vertiginesingle

Pre-save “ricordi di un tempo mai esistito”: orcd.co/rdtme

Emerging in 2021 from Bologna, Italy, epoimóriròmiope fuses Metalcore, EDM, and Alternative Rock into a genre-defying sound. Originally a one-man project, it has evolved in both style and lineup—from the dark trap influences of Vincoli (2021) to the electronic experiments of kabukimono (2023). Singles from these albums remain on YouTube but have been withdrawn from streaming platforms to mark a fresh start with the definitive lineup and sound.

Lyrically, the project has shifted from social observations to exploring the darkest corners of the human soul. The latest album, “ricordi di un tempo mai esistito”, delves into separation, loss, regret, anger, anxiety, and reflections on death and life’s fleeting nature. Its first single, “vertigine”, captures the dizzying weight of absence and memory, offering atmospheric, raw alt-rock where love, identity, and time seem to unravel.

epoimóriròmiope is:
Erik Storari – Vocals, Guitar, Composition, Production
Sara Fioravanti – Bass
Giulio Barranca – Drums

www.youtube.com/@epoimoriromiope
www.instagram.com/epmm_official
www.tiktok.com/@epoimoriromiope