Author: Crix

The Underground Unites: WormHoleDeath Fest Australia Announced

The underground is rising. WormHoleDeath Fest Australia is set to ignite Darling Nikki’s in St Peter’s, NSW, with a brutal night showcasing some of the heaviest acts from the WormHoleDeath roster.

Prepare for raw, relentless, and uncompromising Australian metal. Headlining are KÜNTSQUÄD from Melbourne, delivering crust-infused death metal chaos that leaves no room for the faint-hearted. EVOCATUS follow with a lethal mix of melodic death and thrash, sharp hooks, and crushing intensity. DISTORTA bring their modern metalcore energy with rapid-fire riffs and earth-shaking breakdowns. Finally, DECIMATOR delivers old-school thrash precision and ferocious speed that demands attention.
During the day, DISTORTA will be filming their latest music video with the one and only John Jarratt — and you are invited to be part of it.

Event Details:
📍 Darling Nikki’s — 161 Princes Hwy, St Peter’s NSW 2044
🗓️ Doors open at 7 PM
🎟️ Tickets: Available now via Oztix
🔗 Darling Nikki’s Facebook
Event: www.facebook.com/events/825002520015035

Arrive early, be in the crowd, and become part of the footage before staying for a night of pure, uncompromising metal.

Doors open 7 pm — grab your merch, stake your spot in the pit, and experience the intensity of the Australian underground, brought to you by WormHoleDeath Records and Black Roos.

Canadian Prog PHAETON Unveils Album “Neurogenesis” ft. Album Guest Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Planet X, Sons of Apollo) + Western Canadian Show Dates (BC, AB)

Canadian instrumental progressive metal quartet PHAETON returns with their third full-length album, “Neurogenesis,” a tightly wound sonic journey through melody, muscle, and mind-expanding musicality. Following their acclaimed 2020 release “Between Two Worlds,” this new chapter marks a bold evolution in the band’s sound, more concise yet no less imaginative.
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Formed in the rugged wilderness of Kimberley, British Columbia, in 2017, PHAETON fuses neo-classical melodicism, crunching rifferama, tornado percussion, and contrapuntal basslines, making them not only a captivating listening experience on record but a thrilling and ultra-heavy live band in the flesh. Named after the mythical proto-planet believed to have collided with primordial Earth, PHAETON channels cosmic chaos into meticulously crafted soundscapes that are as cerebral as they are crushing.
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The band, Kevin Thiessen (guitars, keyboards; ex-Azsension, ex-Datura), Daniel Airth (guitars; ex-Chaos Logic), Ferdy Belland (bass; ex-Bif Naked), and Colin Righton (drums; ex-Chaos Machine), has carved out a distinct sonic identity, drawing inspiration from titans like Dream Theater, Rush, Mastodon, and King Crimson. Their music is a wordless journey through shifting time signatures, soaring melodies, and tectonic riffage, designed to ignite the imagination and challenge the ear.
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​“Neurogenesis” represents a left-field shift for PHAETON, an unexpected but thrilling change of pace. While their self-titled debut album laid the foundation for their identity as composers and musicians, and “Between Two Worlds” expanded that vision with heavier, more emotionally resonant compositions, “Neurogenesis” takes a more compact and concise approach, not by design, but by organic evolution.
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Even as an all-instrumental band, PHAETON’s arrangements follow familiar narrative arcs, verse, chorus, bridge, but instead of supporting vocals, the riffs and rhythms become scaffolding for guitar and keyboard melodies. This time, the band embraced a sideways approach, inviting listeners to interpret song titles and let their imaginations roam freely through the music’s unfolding landscapes.
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​“It’s jazz-fusion ears within prog-metal boundaries. And while Neurogenesis isn’t a concept album in the strictest sense, many of the song ideas overlap,” the band explains.
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Thematically, the album draws inspiration from modern theories of the technological singularity, the looming convergence of biological minds with robotics, cybernetic implants, and microchips. It’s a meditation on what it means to be human in an age of accelerating machine intelligence: part cold warning, part sober observation.
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Engineered and mixed by Kevin Thiessen at The Cube in Kimberley, BC, and mastered by Jamie Sitar at Outtatown Sound in Winnipeg, MB, “Neurogenesis” also features artwork by Calgary-based artist Matt Semenok, capturing the album’s cosmic themes.
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With a growing international following and a reputation for electrifying live performances, PHAETON continues to evolve, fearlessly, relentlessly, and without saying a word. The band has confidently shared stages with such notable artists as Beyond Creation, Anciients, and Bison, and is looking to open musical doorways across the nation and across the oceans.

Upcoming Show Dates:​
Nov 7 – Lethbridge, AB – The Slice w/ Pharm, S.I., Rainbow Patrol
Nov 8 – Edmonton, AB – Divebar w/ Pharm, Excerebration, Spruce Moose
Nov 21 – Cranbrook, BC – Shotties Nightclub w/ Dead Bob, Blind Marc
Nov 29 – Cranbrook BC – Shotties Nightclub w/ ANCIIENTS
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​“Neurogenesis” will be available on digital platforms on October 24 via INB Music, with vinyl editions arriving later this year and more music, including the standalone 22-minute epic “Clouds of Mercury,” coming in 2026, and a fourth full-length album, “Quartum,” slated for 2027.
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​“Neurogenesis” is available at the following links:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/46CVWFcd3u2pSRt0D9pSrV

Bandcamp – https://phaetonband.bandcamp.com/

Previous Singles:

Band playthrough – Arachnid – https://youtu.be/QxyU0U-vSOc

Isochron ft. Derek Sherinian – https://youtu.be/Ri8wXGYJcJg

Tethys Rising – https://youtu.be/mjehuUQS9G8

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Track Listing:​
1. Tethys Rising (6:25)
2. Discontinuum (6:37)
3. Isochron (4:12) ft. Derek Sherinian
4. Synethesia (6:24)
5. Arachnid (4:48)
6. Augmented (4:37)
7. Neurogenesis (6:16)
Album Length: 39:19

Band Lineup:​
– Colin Righton: Drums & Percussion
– Daniel Airth: Lead & Rhythm Guitars
– Kevin Thiessen: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Keyboards
– Ferdy Belland: Electric Bass

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

Aleksi Kii released his Varjokuvia album

Starting a new musical chapter, guitarist and singer-songwriter Aleksi Kii released his album Varjokuvia last Friday. The album reaches into the deeper side of Finnish rock, and combines rock influences from the 90s and early 2000s in a natural, fresh and unique way. The album is released by the artist’s own label Last Day of the North.

The album’s lead single is the post-punk-influenced song “Kummitustanssi”, which is about a reunion of an old friend. The song is shrouded in a ghostly but warm-hearted atmosphere similar to the works of Tim Burton.

“The song is about meeting an old friend who has passed away as a ghost. You haven’t seen each other in years, the whole night city is yours to use and you’re floating around without any mirrors or shadows. You’re dancing together and no one notices the two invisible partygoers! Sonically, I wanted to mix danceable post-punk with Finnish rock, with a relaxed Keith Richards touch and somewhat meaningful lyrics of course,” Aleksi Kii comments.

The Varjokuvia album also features familiar names from the Finnish metal scene to break genre boundaries. Grave Pleasures bandmate Rainer “Raikku” Willman guest-stars on the album on drums, recorded by Niko Lehdontie (Oranssi Pazuzu). Grave Pleasures bassist Valtteri Arino also brings his recognizable drive to a few songs. Varjo, the album’s most beautiful offering, features beautiful string use by Kimmo Helén (Hexvessel) and grand piano playing by Ville Koivula (Mot Furu). The last tracks of the album are entirely Kiiskilä’s own instrumentation and take the listener to a dark, lonely room.

“I wanted to create the most beautiful and immediate rock album possible, one that gets under the skin and connects with the listener’s emotions. During the writing process, Varjokuvia was like a friend to me, to whom you could tell anything. That’s why the feeling is at the heart of the album. I also got a bunch of wonderful people on the album, with whom I’ve had the chance to collaborate over the years. Everyone stepped in with their own creativity. Cold shivers. If one word could describe this album, it would be connection”, Aleksi says.

Varjokuvia album track listing:

1. Paranirvana
2. Kummitustanssi
3. Avain
4. Varjo
5. Vain kannet siitä kirjasta mitä olin
6. Laulu jota kukaan ei laula
7. Sun ainoo ystävä
8. Pimeässä

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY

Charlotte Wessels’ new release features VOLA’s Asger Myging

Former Delain frontwoman Charlotte Wessels delighted her fans this week with a new single, “Backup Plan,” featuring VOLA singer and guitarist Asger Mygind. Originally released as a bonus track on the vinyl version of The Obsession (2024), the song is now available in a new version, a somber dialogue between beauty and darkness.

“This song haunted me after the album’s release; it felt unfinished. During the tour with VOLA, the pieces suddenly fell into place. Asger’s voice was perfect for providing the song’s much-needed contrast. Backup Plan is about a dialogue between life and death. However, in this case, death isn’t the villain of the story, but rather a place of escape,” Charlotte comments.

“I didn’t think twice when Charlotte asked me to join her. It was an honor to be part of her colorful musical world. ‘Backup Plan’ is a challenging song to sing, but it was fun to use my voice in a slightly different way than usual. This made this collaboration particularly rewarding,” rejoices Asgar Myging.

‘Backup Plan’ (feat. Asger Myging) is included on The Obsession (Deluxe Edition), released by Napalm Records. The release celebrates the album’s first anniversary and also serves as a prelude to next year’s Arcane Dimensions tour, which will see Wessels tour Europe with Epica and Amaranthe.

The Deluxe Edition expands the album’s universe, offering, in addition to “Backup Plan,” three live recordings from Dynamo Metal Fest, an extended version of “Breathe,” and a new, dreamlike version of the single “Dopamine” (feat. Simone Simons / Epica), arranged by Vikram Shankar.

“It’s hard to believe The Obsession is already a year old, but it’s still alive and evolving. The Deluxe Edition breathes new life into these stories and serves as a bridge to the future,” concludes Wessels.

The Obsession (Deluxe Edition) Tracks:

1. Chasing Sunsets
2. Dopamine (feat. Simone Simons)
3. The Exorcism
4. Soulstice
5. The Crying Room
6. Ode To The West Wind (feat. Alissa White-Gluz)
7. Serpentine
8. Praise
9. All You Are
10. Vigor And Valor
11. Breathe; Extended
12. Soft Revolution (2024)
13. Backup Plan (feat. Asger Mygind/VOLA)
14. Dopamine (Dreamscape Version / feat. Simone Simons)
15. The Crying Room (Live At Dynamo Metalfest)
16. Soft Revolution (Live At Dynamo Metalfest)
17. The Exorcism (Live At Dynamo Metalfest)

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

The new master of melodic gloom, Marianas Rest, will release their new album in January – The Colour Of You single accidentally became a love song

Marianas Rest, who draw their heavy melancholy from the beautiful landscapes of Kymenlaakso (Finland), will release their fifth studio album The Bereaved on January 16th, and now listeners can dive into its atmosphere with the tune of the single The Colour Of You. The single that starts a new era for Marianas Rest is also accompanied by a music video directed by the band’s trusted partner Jari Heino, which was filmed this spring in the beautiful winter weather of Kotka.

“It was cold again, but against all odds, we avoided the mole fever,” the band says with satisfaction.

Founded in Kotka in 2013, Marianas Rest has quickly become one of the country’s most interesting messengers of melancholic and melodic death metal, also abroad, and their palette is now complemented by a collaboration with the Noble Demon record label.

The band, who flavor their music with doom and post metal, is very comfortable in their dark and even disturbing musical landscapes. However, it is a place that is both warm and comforting at the same time. The single The Colour Of You also has its own twist.

“We didn’t originally think that Colour would end up as a love song, but here it is,” comments singer Jaakko Mäntymaa and continues: “Like the whole album, The Colour of You deals with personal loss. Sometimes it can be healthier to just forget than to hang on to memories – no matter how dear they are.”

“At first we had an acoustic demo with some string arrangements, but we didn’t really know which direction to go with it. We even went back and forth on different ideas, but nothing really caught on. Then, when Jaakko came up with the theme of the lyrics, it was an immediate ‘that’s how it goes’ moment, and a light bulb started to flash over my head. In the end, the arrangement came about in maybe half an hour,” adds guitarist Nico Mänttäri.

The upcoming album The Bereaved, like the single just released, takes listeners to the brink of loss, inevitably reflecting on what was left undone or unsaid. Who is ultimately more blessed – the departed or the grieving?

“Like the entire album, this song is about personal loss. Sometimes it can be healthier to forget than to cling to memories, no matter how dear they are.”

Tracklist:
Thank You For The Dance
Rat In The Wall
Divided
Again Into The Night
Burden
Diamonds In The Rough
Pity The Living
Goodbyes And Good Intentions
The Colour Of You

The album is now available for pre-order here.

The band will celebrate the release of the new album by touring Finland and Europe during the winter and spring of 2026. The dates announced so far are:
29.11.2025 – John Smith Frozen, Jyväskylä
23.01.2026 – House Of Rock, Kouvola
24.01.2026 – Apollo, Turku
30.01.2026 – Sawohouse / Finland Underground, Kuopio
14.02.2026 – Kadotus Metal Fest, Jyväskylä

Marianas Rest is:
Vocals | Jaakko Mäntymaa
Guitar | Nico Mänttäri
Guitar | Harri Sunila
Bass | Niko Lindman
Keyboards | Aapo Koivisto
Drums | Nico Heininen

Facebook | Spotify | Apple Music | Deezer | Instagram | Tiktok | Youtube | Website

WACKEN METAL BATTLE CANADA Opens Band Submissions For 2026

One band to rule them all! Wacken Metal Battle Canada returns for 2026 battles across the country to send one independent metal band to play at Wacken Open Air, one of the world’s most prestigious and largest metal festivals.

Band submissions for Canada are now open until November 30th.

“Canadian metal bands, this is your chance once again. This is the first step to a world of opportunity waiting for you. We invite you to play some great shows, expand your audience, and ultimately have your shot at playing Wacken Open Air,” adds WMBC organizer JJ Tartaglia.

Canadian bands interested in participating can apply at https://www.metal-battle.com/countries/ (please select Canada as your country)

The national final for 2026 battles will be held in Montreal, QC.

Canadian Battle Cities:​
Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Island, BC
BC Interior
Edmonton, AB
Toronto, ON
Hamilton, ON
Ottawa, ON
Montreal, QC
Quebec City, QC

Watch – Wacken Metal Battle 2025 – Aftermovie | Have You Heard the Future of Metal? – https://youtu.be/nCulXiLlaSw

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

List of previous WMBC national winners: Killotine (Hamilton, ON – 2025), Beguiler (Toronto, ON – 2024), Strigampire (Trois-Rivières, QC – 2023), The Slyde (Toronto, ON – 2019), Centuries of Decay (Toronto, ON – 2018), Profaner (Hamilton, ON – 2016), Vesperia (Toronto, ON – 2015), Mutank (Montreal, QC – 2014), Crimson Shadows (Toronto, ON – 2013).

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The 2025 Canadian Battle Final took place on May 31st at Vancouver’s Rickshaw Theatre, where Hamilton, Ontario’s KILLOTINE, the Ontario regional winner, delivered a standout performance that earned them the top national title. A panel of industry judges selected KILLOTINE to represent Canada at the prestigious International Wacken Battle, held during Wacken Open Air from July 30th to August 2nd in Wacken, Germany, where over 85,000 metal fans from around the globe gathered.
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Joining KILLOTINE on stage at the Canadian final were fellow regional champions: SOULTHIEF (Eastern Canada Winner – Ottawa, ON), BEYOND SUFFERING (Alberta Winner – Calgary, AB), and YEGG (British Columbia Winner – Nanaimo, BC). The event also featured a special guest headliner: Vancouver’s Arrow In The Quiver, the 2024 BC Final winner.
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The national judging panel included a lineup of respected figures from the Canadian metal and music industry: Brittney Slayes (Unleash The Archers), JJ Tartaglia (Canadian Organizer of Wacken Metal Battle Canada), JJ Caithcart (Founder of SCRAPE Records and Host of Different Stages Radio), Kris Schulz (Founder of Empower Through Music and Owner of Horizon School of Music), Abelardo Mayoral (Founder and Operator of The Invisible Orange and OrangeTickets), Stan Schinners (Owner of Broken Neck Radio), Justin Dobbin (Owner and President of Main Stage Rehearsal Studios).

For the last 9 years of battles (2013-2016, 2018-2019, 2023-2025), Wacken Metal Battle Canada has hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the world’s largest metal festival, Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany. 2019 saw the festival celebrate its 30th anniversary, but due to COVID, the 2020 and 2021 editions were both canceled. As the metal community regains its strength, Wacken Open Air 2026 will be the 35th edition of the festival and will be held from July 29th to August 1st. The 2026 event is nearly sold out with a line-up that includes Def Leppard, Lamb Of God, In Flames, Savatage, Powerwolf, Emperor, Sepultura, and Running Wild, among others. Details here.

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

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

Rules for participation: https://www.metal-battle.com/rules/

Links:​
​Metal-Battle.com​​
​Facebook.com/WMBCanada.official​
​X.com/MetalBattleCan​
​Instagram.com/wmbcanada.official

Bastion Rose Drops Final Single, “Wild Honey,” Before Full-Length Album Traces of Gold Drops November 7th

Hard rock band Bastion Rose is proud to announce the release of their last single, “Wild Honey”. The track is the final offering before the highly anticipated release of their full-length debut album, Traces of Gold, available everywhere on Friday, November 7th. Both the single and the album were produced by three-time Grammy-winner David Bottrill (Tool, Rush, Godsmack).

“Wild Honey” is a massive, groove-driven track that delivers on the band’s promise of powerful, authentic hard rock. The song is heavy and fiercely riff-oriented, hitting a compelling sweet spot between Black Sabbath’s dark, foundational textures and Soundgarden’s primal intensity. It is a testament to the band’s songwriting maturity and their refusal to compromise on sonic depth or emotional weight.

Traces of Gold has been built on a foundation of critical acclaim, following the successful Fade To Blue EP and singles like “Humble Me,” “Cinnamon Fire,” “Garden of Stone,” and “Atlas Slumbers.” The album is a powerful statement on resilience and transformation, forged from personal hardship and sculpted by Bottrill’s meticulous production. The album is an essential journey for listeners, described by SPIN Magazine as “an appealing combination of A Perfect Circle and Bad Company” and praised by Metal Hammer Magazine for its undeniable credibility.

Bastion Rose continues to support its music with a series of professional, conceptual short films for every release, visualizing core themes of love and fear, chaos and seduction, and life and death. With significant momentum building across international press and streaming platforms, “Wild Honey” is positioned as the perfect gateway to the complete Traces of Gold experience.

Bastion Rose is a hard rock band whose sound blends the darker side of classic rock legends like Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd with the modern edge of post-grunge and metal acts such as Soundgarden and Tool. The band is a creative force on the rise, known for their soaring vocals, powerful riffs, dynamic musicality, and impressive music video productions.

bastionrose.com
facebook.com/bastionrosemusic
instagram/bastionrosemusic
youtube.com/@bastionrosemusic
www.tiktok.com/@bastion.rose
Spotify –tinyurl.com/SpotifyBastionRose

 

THE RETICENT Confronts Mental Health with New Video “The Scorn” Off Upcoming Album “please” Out November 2025

Progressive metal act The Reticent has unveiled the lyric video for “The Scorn (Those Who Don’t Understand),” the latest single from their upcoming album “please,” due out on Generation Prog Records on November 13th. Known for their emotionally intense concept albums, The Reticent continues their tradition of soul-baring storytelling with “please,” a harrowing journey through the many battlefields of mental illness.
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​“The Scorn (Those Who Don’t Understand)” takes on the voice of those who dismiss mental health struggles, echoing phrases like “just get over it” and “it’s all in your head.” Musically, the track leans into groove-oriented rhythms and major chords to reflect the detached worldview of those who don’t understand. The addition of exotic instrumentation like the oud and hand percussion further separates the song from the rest of the album’s sonic palette.
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But “please” is more than just an album; it’s a survival mechanism. Written in just six months, the album was recorded under extreme conditions. Drums for “please” and its follow-up were tracked in a single day, while guitars, bass, and keys were completed in two. The vocals, however, took two grueling weeks, during which founder Chris Hathcock injured his larynx so severely that doctors feared permanent damage. Hathcock was forced into six weeks of total silence, even teaching his classes entirely nonverbally. Thankfully, he recovered, mostly.
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The pain didn’t stop there. While filming the video for “The Concealment,” Hathcock broke two toes, sprained three others, and partially tore his rotator cuff during a scene that required him to violently destroy a room. Just six days later, he performed at ProgStorm Festival in Montreal with those injuries, doubled over in pain by the end of the set. Fans, immersed in the emotional intensity of the performance, had no idea.
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​“please” is the first album by The Reticent to be almost entirely engineered by Chris Hathcock himself. While drums were tracked at The Basement Studios with longtime producer Jamie King (Between The Buried And Me, The Contortionist), all other elements were recorded at Hathcock’s Silent Muse Studio. The album was also mixed and mastered by King, adding his signature polish to the final product. The isolation of self-recording introduced an additional layer of emotional strain, especially during the vocal sessions.
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Lyrically, the album is rich with references to the work of clinical psychologist Kay Redfield Jamison. Lines like “Night falls fast…” in “The Concealment” and “an unquiet mind” in “The Night River” nod to Jamison’s seminal works on suicide and bipolar disorder. Her voice even appears in samples throughout “Discharge.”
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Musically, “please” marks a return to 6-string guitars, a first since 2016’s “On The Eve Of A Goodbye,” except for “The Bed of Wasps.” The five-year gap between “please” and 2020’s “The Oubliette” is the longest in the band’s history, a reflection of the emotional toll and life events that shaped its creation.
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​The Reticent, led by Grammy-nominated music educator Chris Hathcock, has built a reputation for devastatingly autobiographical concept albums. Joined by James Nelson (Nospūn) and Paul McBride (Voraath), the band delivers performances that blur the line between metal show and performance art. Their appearance at ProgPower USA was hailed by Metal Injection as “one of the most heart-wrenching performances in ProgPower history.”​
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In addition to their recent performance at ProgStorm Festival in Montreal this past summer, The Reticent is slated to appear at the 2026 editions of ProgPower USA in September and ProgPower Europe in October, marking another major milestone for the band’s growing international presence.
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The lyric video for “The Scorn (Those Who Don’t Understand)” is now available on YouTube and streaming platforms.

Watch at https://youtu.be/CR-6wCIpasI

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Fans of Opeth, Cynic, The Contortionist, Wilderun, and Devin Townsend will find much to resonate with in “please,” which arrives November 13, 2025, via Generation Prog Records. A follow-up album is already underway, shaped by the profound loss of Chris Hathcock’s father during the creation of “please.”

CD pre-order (North America) – https://thereticent.net/please-pre-order

CD pre-order (EU) – http://www.generation-prog.com/shop/

Digital Album pre-save – https://show.co/MoPdl8W

Music Video – “The Concealment (Those Who Don’t Want To Wake)” – https://youtu.be/1cIKQcJLKtc

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Track Listing:​
1. Intake – 1:45
2. The Concealment (Those Who Don’t Want To Wake) – 6:06
3. The Night River (Those Who Can’t Rest) – 6:55
4. Diagnosis 1 – 2:18
5. The Bed of Wasps (Those Consumed With Panic) – 5:47
6. The Scorn (Those Who Don’t Understand) – 8:12
7. Diagnosis 2 – 2:39
8. The Riptide (Those Without Hope) – 6:09
9. The Chance (Those Who Let Go) – 6:52
10. Discharge – 2:56
Album Length: 49:45

Album Recording Credits:​
All instruments and vocals performed by Chris Hathcock except
– Lead Guitar and Additional Acoustic Guitar by James Nelson
– Guest Vocals on “The Bed of Wasps” by Brian Kingsland
– Narration by Vienna Gloom
All songs written by Chris Hathcock
Produced by Chris Hathcock
Engineered by Chris Hathcock
Drums engineered by Jamie King
Mixed and Mastered by Jamie King
Album Artwork by Joscelyne Hauserman

Band Line Up:​
Chris Hathcock – Vocals, Guitar
James Nelson – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
Paul McBride – Bass, Backing Vocals

For more info: Thereticent.net | Facebook.com/thereticentmusic | Instagram.com/The.reticent.band

The 69 Eyes’ Classic Track Lost Boys Gets An Updated 20th Anniversary Version Featuring Steve Stevens On Lead Guitar

It is twenty years since, inspired by director Joel Schumacher epochal vampire movie Lost Boys, The 69 Eyes recorded their homage to the 1987 classic.
”The movie came out in the best 80’s hard rock and glam times,” says The 69 Eyes singer Jyrki 69, “and that’s what we wanted to capture –  like dreaming what would have happened if Billy Idol, Guns N’ Roses and Mötley Crüe had come together to make music for it.”
Clearly it was a potent image.  Across the decades that followed, “Lost Boys”has become the band’s undisputed anthem, topping 20 million streams. As Jyrki continues, “It is the main song The 69 Eyes is known for around the world. We always end our show with it. It is impossible to play anymore after that.”
And it was impossible to allow the song’s birthday to pass by unmarked.
Or was it?  At first, admits Jyrki, “We really did think that there is no reason to re-record the song.”  Unless they could add something very, very special to the brew.
“The only way we would do it was if Steve Stevens was playing guitar on it.” Long time sideman, collaborator and unique foil for Billy Idol, Stevens epitomizes the image of the 80s rock guitarist, both visually and musically – it was Stevens’s devastating licks that underpinned such Idol classics as “White Wedding” and “Rebel Yell,” while he was already long-established as a key element in another deathless 80s movie, the theme to Top Gun.”
No wonder, then, that Jyrki describes him as, “The mythical rock’n’roll lead guitarist that you saw on the coolest MTV music videos, continuing the same dark and glamorous style like Link Wray and Johnny Thunders but in the video age. He is a legend.” 
“So if we were going to celebrate the song’s 20th anniversary and re-record it, we’d also have to make our original fantasy come true by having Steve on lead guitar.  And  It’s still feels unreal and dreamy that Cleopatra Records were able to make it happen.”
Produced by Jyrki, and mixed by Cameron Webb – best known from his decade-long production of Motörhead, “Lost Boys (20th Anniversary Version)” is released today on all platforms. Also available now is an exclusive 69 Eyes video interview, introduced by label head Brian Perera and featuring Webb and the band recalling both the original single (and its still beloved video) and discussing its new incarnation.
“We wanted it to be a Halloween surprise for our fans,” says Jyrki. And hopefully, too, “Maybe there’s still rock fans out there who do not know the song… maybe we can reach their Halloween parties as well?”
It will certainly be heard at the band’s own spooky-time festivities.  “We’re currently on the road with Disneyland After Dark in Europe, and we’ll be playing a special Halloween show on the cruise ship as well.”
Lost Boys at sea. Can the season get any better?

SHORES OF NULL “An Easy Way” Prelude to Upcoming Split “Latitudes of Sorrow” with CONVOCATION Out November 2025

Italian doom metal outfit Shores of Null have released their new single “An Easy Way,” a devastatingly poignant track that opens their upcoming split album “Latitudes of Sorrow” with Finnish funeral doom masters Convocation. The split arrives on November 21st via Everlasting Spew Records.
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​“An Easy Way” was chosen for its immediacy and emotional impact, a rare blend of haunting darkness and melodic catchiness. Lyrically, it confronts depression, inner struggle, and the fragile line between perseverance and surrender. It’s a reflection on human frailty, wrapped in a soundscape that’s both oppressive and unforgettable.
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​“It’s the most straightforward track on the split. Catchy, yes, but it leaves very little room for hope,” says the band.
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The split album “Latitudes of Sorrow” is a collaboration born from shared artistic vision. When Everlasting Spew Records approached Shores of Null mid-way through writing their next full-length, the band seized the opportunity to finish and record three exclusive tracks that might have otherwise remained in the shadows. The result is a darker, more hopeless sonic offering, a perfect complement to Convocation’s funeral doom intensity.
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​“Two sides of the same coin. Opposite latitudes, but a shared desire to explore sorrow in all its forms,” the band explains.
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The album’s artwork, created by LL of Convocation, features a spectral figure and an empty chair, a haunting symbol of presence in absence. Musically and lyrically, Latitudes of Sorrow is a journey through grief, solitude, and the inescapable weight of mortality.
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For fans of Katatonia, Paradise Lost, Evoken, and Esoteric, “Latitudes of Sorrow” offers one of the most grievous and heavy splits in recent memory, a sonic reckoning that will finally make all your summers end.
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​“An Easy Way” is streaming now on all major platforms. “Latitudes of Sorrow” drops digitally and on CD and Cassette physical format on November 21st via Everlasting Spew Records. The vinyl edition of the split will be issued in Spring 2026.

Listen to “An Easy Way” at https://youtu.be/uGf-jUJwZDE

Digital single (Spotify) – https://ps.tribly.fm/86aq6de

Album countdown and pre-save: https://open.spotify.com/prerelease/79oGZH6MpwHGsTTmnLKo8D

Pre-Order:

Physical: https://bit.ly/42PbNY8

Digital: https://everlastingspew.bandcamp.com/album/latitudes-of-sorrow

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Track Listing:​
1. Shores Of Null – An Easy Way
2. Shores Of Null – The White Wound
3. Shores Of Null – The Year Without Summer
4. Convocation – Abaddon’s Shadow
5. Convocation – Empty Room
Split Album Length:

For more info: Shoresofnull.com | Facebook.com/shoresofnull | Instagram.com/shoresofnull

About:

Shores of Null stand out from their contemporaries with their ability to blend seemingly disparate elements into their sound, overwhelmingly heavy and soothing at the same time: blackened aggression stands alongside gothic-doom sections without either sounding out of place. Their music can be both melancholic and majestic, made of chorale-like guitar textures across the instrument’s entire range, sustained by a powerful rhythmic section and punctuated by a refined mixture of clean and growled vocals, along with extensive use of pleasing vocal harmonies which have become the band’s trademark through the years.
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The Rome-based metal band has been an unwavering presence within the metal underground since their musical outset in 2013, churning out a series of impressive records: the melodic and somber Quiescence (Candlelight, 2014), the darker and more complex Black Drapes For Tomorrow (Candlelight/Spinefarm, 2017), and the ambitious Beyond The Shores (On Death And Dying) (Spikerot Records, 2020), a 38-minute long doom manifesto that sees guest appearances of the doom-titans Mikko Kotamäki (Swallow The Sun) and Thomas A.G. Jensen (Saturnus), along with the angelic voice of Elisabetta Marchetti (Inno).
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Shores Of Null’s fourth album, The Loss Of Beauty, released in March 2023, was hailed as one of the best albums of the year within the genre. The band supported the release with an extensive EU/UK tour alongside Swallow The Sun, Draconian, and Avatarium, followed by standout performances at major festivals like Hellfest, Rock Imperium, and 70000 Tons Of Metal, among others, further solidifying their status as one of the rising forces in the metal scene.
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In 2025, Shores of Null released Beauty over Europe, a powerful live album capturing the raw energy and emotional depth of their performances across the continent. The release serves as a testament to the band’s commanding stage presence and the resonance of their music with audiences worldwide. Looking ahead, the band is set to unveil Latitudes of Sorrow, a highly anticipated split album with Finnish funeral doom masters Convocation, promising a profound exploration of grief, atmosphere, and sonic weight.