Pauli Hauta-aho, one of Finland’s most successful guitarists, is celebrating his 30th career anniversary this year. Over these decades, he has built an impressive artistic path, serving as the frontman for the band The Blanko, a long-time guitarist for Apulanta, and a member of the legendary Leningrad Cowboys.
To mark this significant milestone, three concerts have been organized. The first took place on October 17th at the Pikkuteatteri in Lahti, featuring the Lumos String Quartet. This week, on October 22nd, the celebrations continue at Torvi in Lahti, where the “Pauli Oscari Experience”, the same ensemble that will also honor Pauli’s musical journey the following day at On The Rocks in Helsinki, will take the stage.
Each performance offers unique nuances and holds special meaning for Pauli.
The last 30 years spent with the guitar have been a rich and varied journey for Hauta-aho; yet, he remains firmly convinced that this is only the beginning.
The Offering had the opportunity to learn more about his long career, from the moment he first picked up a guitar to the present day, as well as his future plans, while reflecting on the lessons learned and the milestones achieved over the years.
Author: Crix
Quebec’s FORGOTTEN TALES Announce New Album “Other Times”; Unveil First Single “A Thousand Lies”
Canada’s FORGOTTEN TALES return with their new album, “Other Times,” set for release on February 12th, 2027 via Rockshots Records.
Arriving after an extended hiatus, the record reconnects the band with its melodic power metal roots while introducing a more direct, guitar-driven approach. The first glimpse into this new chapter comes with “A Thousand Lies”, a fast-paced track addressing the chaos of modern misinformation, accompanied by an official music video.
LISTEN – https://lnk.to/kmcyRF
WATCH – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSuH3rVkA7Q
Rather than following a single narrative, “Other Times” explores different sides of the human experience and the ways people respond to challenges and change. Across its ten tracks, the band touches on inner conflict, anxiety, insomnia, loyalty, loss, misinformation and missed opportunities, as well as broader reflections on humanity’s evolution. Running through these different subjects is a common thread of resilience, personal growth, and the passage of time – the idea that ultimately inspired the album’s title.
The foundations of traditional power metal remain firmly in place, from fast-paced riffing and double-kick drumming to layered choirs and melodic hooks. At the same time, subtle progressive touches bring variety to the arrangements without disrupting the album’s immediate character, while a modern production gives the performances clarity and impact.
At the center of the record is vocalist Sonia Pineault, whose performance moves naturally between its more forceful and introspective moments. Her melodic and expressive delivery gives each song its own emotional character, complemented by the guitar interplay of Martin Desharnais and Marc-Olivier Lavoie.
The first single, “A Thousand Lies”, captures many of these elements in a fast-paced symphonic power metal track driven by galloping rhythms, choir accents, dual-guitar harmonies, and a soaring chorus. Darker, rapid-fire verses and Pineault’s cynical vocal delivery give the song a sharper edge, while intricate guitar exchanges and an expressive solo from Desharnais reinforce its melodic side.
Behind that energy lies a warning about misinformation and the gradual loss of critical thinking. The lyrics question how easily unverified claims can be accepted and shared, shifting part of the responsibility back to the individual rather than portraying manipulation only as an external force. That idea is summed up in the song’s final warning: “Careful where you stand.”
Guitarist and songwriter Martin Desharnais explains:
“I wrote this song thinking about everything that was going down during COVID. The whole world was turned completely upside down, and people just didn’t know what to hold onto anymore. Even though the theme is heavy, I really wanted to keep a catchy mood – almost ironic or cynical. It’s an angry track, but delivered with a sharp touch of sarcasm. Musically, I wanted to channel that energy into fast verses, big dual-guitar harmonies, and a massive chorus that sticks in your head. It’s aggressive, it’s melodic, and it represents exactly the kind of energy we wanted to bring forward.”
With “Other Times”, FORGOTTEN TALES return after their extended absence with an album that stays connected to the band’s musical identity without simply looking back. Its ten tracks bring together the energy of classic power metal and a songwriting perspective shaped by time, experience and change.
For fans of: Stratovarius, Helloween and Nocturnal Rites.
PRE-ORDER “Other Times” here: https://rockshots.eu/products/forgotten-tales-other-times-cd
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Track Listing:
1. Echoes – 0:55
2. Pessimus Inimicus – 6:12
3. A Thousand Lies – 4:17
4. No Going Back – 5:24
5. I’ll Be Home – 5:30
6. Pain Of The Century – 7:06
7. Your Knight – 5:02
8. Morpheus – 4:55
9. Other Times – 5:40
10. The Caravan – 7:02
TOTAL: 52:03
Forgotten Tales are:
Sonia Pineault: Vocals
Martin Desharnais: Guitars & Backing Vocals / Author & Composer
Marc-Olivier Lavoie. Guitars & Backing Vocals
Xavier Gonthier-Blouin: Drums
Cédric Langlais: Bass
Forgotten Tales is a Canadian symphonic power metal band from Québec City, founded in 1999 by Martin Desharnais, guitarist and songwriter, and Sonia Pineault, lead vocalist.
From the beginning, the band had a simple goal: introduce Québec audiences to European power metal at a time when international bands from the genre were rarely seen in the province. Forgotten Tales started out playing covers and quickly built a following, selling out several early shows. In November 2000, the band reached an important milestone by opening for Nightwish in Montréal.
That experience changed everything. Forgotten Tales gradually moved away from covers and began focusing entirely on original material. With Martin Desharnais leading the musical direction, the band developed a sound built around powerful melodies, virtuosic lead and rhythm guitars, complex arrangements, and precise musicianship. At the heart of it all is Sonia Pineault, whose powerful and expressive voice quickly became one of the band’s defining characteristics. On stage, her energy, charisma and genuine connection with the audience bring the songs to life.
The band released its debut album, “The Promise“, in 2001 with distribution in Canada, Japan and Russia. Forgotten Tales went on to share the stage with major international metal acts including Edguy and Gamma Ray in 2002, followed by Kamelot and DragonForce in 2005. In 2004, the band released its second album, “All the Sinners,” which was also distributed internationally.
Over the years, Forgotten Tales collected its share of unforgettable moments. In 2006, at Québec City’s Capitole, Tony Kakko of Sonata Arctica invited Sonia on stage to perform the classic Black Sheep together. In 2007, the band performed at the Québec City Summer Festival alongside HammerFall, followed by a show with Stratovarius in 2009.
In 2010, Forgotten Tales released its third album, “We Shall See the Light“. Around this period, Pat Vir and Frédérick Desroches left the band while guitarist Marc-Olivier Lavoie, who had joined the lineup in 2009, became part of the band’s next chapter. Marc-Olivier has remained an important part of Forgotten Tales ever since.
After the release of the album, the band stepped away for a 15-year hiatus.
In 2026, Forgotten Tales is back with “Other Times“, its fourth album. The original core of Martin Desharnais and Sonia Pineault returns alongside long-time guitarist Marc-Olivier Lavoie (a member since 2009), joined by drummer Xavier Gonthier-Blouin (who came on board in 2024) and bassist Cédric Langlais (who joined in 2025).
This new lineup brings together experience, continuity and fresh energy. Xavier and Cédric bring their own personalities and musical drive while Marc-Olivier provides a strong connection to the band’s history. Together, the dual-guitar attack of Martin and Marc-Olivier gives the compositions a new dimension, creating the perfect foundation for Sonia’s powerful voice.
The connection with the past is still there as well. Frédérick Desroches returns as a guest musician on “Other Times“, composing the album’s introduction and creating a musical bridge between the band’s past and its new chapter.
After more than 25 years, Forgotten Tales returns with the same passion but with renewed energy. “Other Times” marks the beginning of a new chapter: reconnecting with longtime fans, reaching a new generation, and taking the music of Forgotten Tales beyond Canadian borders.
Red Code Release “Checkmate” Music Video
Italian prog/alternative metal band Red Code have released the official music video for “Checkmate,” taken from their debut EP “Traces of Unease and Discomfort (Episode 1)”, out via Epictronic.
“Checkmate” uses a game of chess as a framework for manipulation, control, and emotional conflict. The track pairs heavy riffs with a tense atmosphere and builds toward a point where winning and losing stop being distinct outcomes — in a game built on destruction, both sides lose.
The video is one of three chapters in An Archive of Us, a sci-fi/thriller short film that uses a dystopian setting to examine the need for control. The other two chapters are built around the tracks “Quarantine” and “Toxic Karma.” The project was produced by S@NGIORGIO 2020, with technical support from Infinity Digital.
Red Code was formed in Trieste as a live act, founded by vocalist Lenina, drummer Ivo and bassist Andrea Bossi, who later passed away. Lenina and the rest of the group decided to carry on. The sound is built around her vocals and the four instruments, with no backing tracks or studio sequencing live.
Over the years, the band have played small clubs, festivals, and motorcycle rallies, opening for Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil), Exilia, Nicola Manzan (Bologna Violenta), Pierpaolo Capovilla (Il Teatro degli Orrori), Underwaves, Tystnaden, Logical Terror, and Break Me Down. They’ve also been featured on Radio Rai.
“Traces of Unease and Discomfort” is the band’s first studio release after years of live performance. The sound combines the aggression of alternative metal — with reference points like System of a Down and Godsmack — with the structural influence of prog acts like Dream Theater and Fates Warning.
Stream Traces of Unease and Discomfort (Episode 1) here: orcd.co/touad
Website: redcode.taplink.ws
Facebook: www.facebook.com/RedCodeBandTrieste
Instagram: www.instagram.com/redcode_band
YouTube: www.youtube.com/@redcode8288
PRETTY ADDICTED AND SARAH JEZEBEL DEVA UNLEASH “HYSTERICAL”
Pretty Addicted unleash “HYSTERICAL”, the latest single (following ROT and MOCK) from their newly reinvented Blackened Rave era, featuring renowned black metal vocalist Sarah Jezebel Deva.
“HYSTERICAL” is a calling, a ritual, a battle cry.
Pretty Addicted’s Vicious Precious calls upon women to feel the rage of their ancestors, become warriors, sorceresses, and sisters.
‘Hysteria’ was a diagnosis; a label given to loud women, women who defied the status quo and refused to be silenced. Locked away in mental institutions and accused of being ‘emotional’ or ‘dramatic’, Pretty Addicted are reclaiming the word used to subjugate and diminish these women, giving it new meaning, new strength, and taking an oath to let the suffering of women of old drive us.
Their strength lives in the dirt, the earth, the ashes and the blood.
“The old hysteria calls you”.
For “HYSTERICAL”, Vicious Precious is joined by Sarah Jezebel Deva, whose career has seen her become one of the recognisable voices of extreme metal through her work with Cradle of filth, Mortiis, Therion, Angtoria, Torn Between Two World with Chris Rehn from Takida, Trym Torson of Emperor’s solo project Þrymr, Andreas Vingbäck of Dark Funeral’s solo project Heljarmadr as well as her own solo work.
The pairing brings together two radically different vocal identities that carry HYSTERIA into a new age of female rage: Sarah’s soaring, symphonic darkness mixes seamlessly with Vicious Precious’ screams, growls and raw vocals, creating a unique vocal experience that embodies the Blackened Rave sound.
Sarah Jezebel Deva says of the collaboration:
“It’s funny how other people’s struggle for justice bring people together, how it brings the seemingly ‘Voiceless’ together to create one big powerful message. We won’t shut the f**k up to accommodate your fragile sexist narcissistic ego’.”
She continues:
“There is no one like her and it’s I, that should be honoured to be part of this darkness.”
Pretty Addicted spent months in deliberate creative hibernation, emerging in June 2026 with an evolved identity.
The new chapter began with “ROT”, followed by “MOCK”, and now continues with “HYSTERICAL”.
The sound has become heavier, darker and more physical; a collision of aggressive electronica, black metal, drum & bass, industrial textures and Vicious Precious’ feral vocal delivery.
It is simply BLACKENED RAVE.
PRETTY ADDICTE IS:
Vicious Precious — vocals / songwriting / production
Loki Leviathan — drums
https://www.facebook.com/prettyaddictedcult/
https://www.instagram.com/prettyaddictedcult
Swiss Progressive Metal Rockers STEREOPHRENICS Enter a “State of Paradox” with First Single from Upcoming Debut Album ‘Paracosm 2.0’. Available right now on YouTube
Geneva-based progressive metal band Stereophrenics unveil “State of Paradox,” the first single and official lyric video from their forthcoming debut album, ‘Paracosm 2.0‘ to be released this fall.
The track moves between heavy riffs, abrupt dynamic shifts and atmospheric keyboard passages, while Elisa Colacioppo gives voice to someone conscious but imprisoned inside an unresponsive body. Movement, speech and control gradually disappear while fear remains fully present.
What begins as physical paralysis becomes a wider reflection on the invisible cages — psychological, social or self-imposed — that people eventually learn to accept as life.
For ten years, Stereophrenics have moved between progressive rock, heavy metal and increasingly dark and theatrical territory. The arrival of vocalist Elisa Colacioppo and bassist and backing vocalist Thijs Kos opened a new chapter for the band, strengthening its metallic weight while expanding the contrast between power, melancholy and atmospheric release.
Completed by Giovanni Tramparulo on guitar, Nicola Giandomenico on keyboards and samples, and Valentin Boada on drums, the current line-up brings five distinct musical voices into a sound shaped by progressive structures, gothic tension, symphonic depth and a powerful underlying groove.
Following two independently released EPs, Paracosm 2.0 will become Stereophrenics’ first full-length album. Its eight tracks explore altered states of consciousness, imaginary worlds, inner escape and the unstable boundary between perception and reality — all unfolding within a rich and dystopian reflection on the human psyche.
The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Serge Moratel at Geneva’s renowned REC Studio. Stereophrenics have been signed to Greensunlight Productions since 2024.
Depressive Black Metal band SYSI Released Debut EP
Finnish Depressive Black Metal band SYSI from Joensuu, North Karelia, released their debut EP on September 16th. Three track release was mixed and mastered by Finnish producer Hiili Hiilesmaa (Sentenced, HIM, Moonspell etc.).
The musical roots of this four-piece band lie in 1990s melodic black metal, spiced with ambient elements and spoken-word vocals.
“We haven’t really heard much DSBM-style music sung in Finnish. When sung in one’s native language, the lyrics carry a unique weight and emotional connection.”
Guitarist/composer Lauri Kivikoski wanted to start making slow, melodic black metal in Finnish and found singer Arttu Ignatius on the Muusikoiden.net website. Lauri’s attention was drawn to Arttu’s clear articulation and distorted vocals which conveyed a range of emotions. Their collaboration quickly became very natural and open. While writing songs, it felt as though they were pushing each other to new heights.
“Arttu’s expression was full of emotion and variety, it was moving. Not that kind of flat, generic performance where people just pretend their aggression. Despite the raw delivery, the lyrics came across clearly, and as a listener, I could feel the song resonating throughout my entire body. It really moved me.” Lauri says.
Lauri asked bassist Heikki Majoinen and drummer Sami Kettunen to join the band. Their chemistry had already been tested on previous projects. In addition, Heikki and Sami had played together for years and had honed a tight rhythm section between the two of them.
“Black metal is often viewed as music that promotes darkness, death, misanthropy, division, and destruction. For us, black metal is about acknowledging, confronting, and processing the darkest aspects of life. This includes the hatred one may feel toward oneself and others. These feelings are not unnatural, and we certainly cannot move forward by suppressing them or avoiding confronting them.
SYSI’s music is on the side of life and peace, but we don’t want to shy away from acknowledging that depression, anxiety, anger, and even suicidal thoughts are part of being human. Everyone experiences suffering, and everyone experiences mental health symptoms at some point, whether they admit it or not. Through our music, we want to convey what some people experience firsthand and what others are unaware of.
When someone writes lyrics about something you’ve experienced yourself, you get the feeling that you’re not alone. Someone else knows what this feels like, too. It connects people across languages and borders, offers comfort, and helps you keep going. Maybe you’ll even find ways to resolve the situation. At least for us, metal music has worked this way,” the band says.
Lauri’s guiding principle when composing was that if a melody doesn’t even bring tears to the composer’s eyes or give him chills, it’s unlikely to move anyone else either. Furthermore, the songs had to be interesting even without vocals, using only MIDI sounds. That way, the texture would likely be rich enough to serve as a foundation for the vocalist’s expression.
The album was made with DIY spirit, from building the recording studio to designing the cover art and creating the videos.
“We experimented with different setups and signal paths through trial and error, searching for our own organic sound. The distinctive guitar sound on the album came about by accident when a load box was inadvertently plugged into a tube amp the wrong way around.”
The drums, bass, and rhythm guitars were recorded in full takes to preserve the natural groove. The vocals were also recorded in one take, and the first vocal takes were left on the album. They had that fresh feeling that the band wanted to capture and convey to the listener. No pitch correction was used in the music; instead, the band wanted to leave just the right amount of human imperfection on the album.
“We wanted to sound like ourselves. Hiili understood what we were going for and helped us make it happen. We’re truly grateful for this collaboration.”
The cover was literally made by hand. The abstract artwork was painted on a piece of wood left over from a house project, using fingers and a knife instead of brushes. It was then digitized by photographing it. Everyone is free to interpret it as they wish.
“Good metal brings people together around the world when it springs from a deep sense of shared humanity. That’s why we wanted to create lyric videos on YouTube where you can follow the Finnish lyrics, line by line, with their English translations.”
A CD version of the EP is also in the works. Janne Saksa produced the master for it.
SYSI was founded in North Karelia, Finland, in 2025. Rooted in melancholic black metal, its songs reach towards the one in anguish and reveal the darkness to the unknowing. It is a vision of a distorted diary, where agony and hope are inseparable.
Lauri Kivikoski – Songwriting, guitars, poetry, backing screams, ambients
Arttu Ignatius – Lead vocals, lyrics
Heikki Majoinen – Bass, backing vocals
Sami Kettunen – Drums, backing vocals
Tracklist:
01. Kunnes hajoan
02. Päästän irti
03. Minkä tähden
Finnish-Mexican melodic death metal band Ulthima releases new music video and the final single before their sophomore album
Finnish-Mexican melodeath ambassadors Ulthima releases their sophomore album “Midnight’s Call” on November 27th. Now they put out the album’s title track as the final single before the full length’s release. The single is accompanied with a music video directed by Héctor Estrada and Ricardo Escobar.
Watch the music video: https://youtu.be/SSDs-FiY-T0
The guitarist and composer Ric tells about the song:“‘Midnight’s call’ is the last song composed for this album and as soon as it was finished we knew we had our main single for this second album. The song exemplifies perfectly the sound of the band with heavy but melodic intros, hard hitting verses and catchy choruses to create a good balance between the heavy and melodic sounds that characterize melodeath.
Lyrics wise the song is written as a metaphor for us about how we achieve success, power, fame and what are we willing to sacrifice for it, whether is losing our principles or even morals to get where we want to be or who we want to become. It is about getting lost just to achieve something but also to wonder if it is worth to loose yourself or not.“
Listen to the single on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music etc.): https://push.fm/fl/ulthima-mdngthscll
Ulthima is a band that originated back in 2010 in Monterrey Mexico, the band went on hiatus until 2018 in Helsinki Finland. Where the band finally consolidated its members and finished their first full length album Symphony of the Night. In mid 2024 the band started the recording of their second full length album Midnight’s Call.
Ulthima:
Ricardo Escobar: Guitar
Luca Guagneli: Guitar
Antonio Valdés: Bass
Niko Sutinen: Keyboards
Ville Nummisalo: Drums
Tuomas Antila: Vocals
EMBRACE OF SOULS Unleashes “The Plague” A New Live Video For Concept Album “Battle of the Dead” Out Now
Italian epic/power metal band EMBRACE OF SOULS returns with a new official live video for “The Plague”, taken from their latest album “The Battle Of The Dead”, released on May 22nd, 2026, via Rockshots Records.
Watch “The Plague” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oi7U2DgUh1g
Filmed and edited by: Simone “Morksar” D’Addazio
As the third track on the album, “The Plague” plays a central role in the story behind “The Battle Of The Dead“. Set in a medieval world divided into several kingdoms, the fantasy concept follows the spread of a mysterious plague that affects people’s souls, gradually pushing the continent towards a conflict between the living and the dead.
Captured during a live performance, the new video shows EMBRACE OF SOULS performing “The Plague” on stage, reflecting the direct and energetic approach of the band’s live shows, with keyboards played by Simone Fornasini.
Drawing from classic heavy and power metal of the ’80s and ’90s, as well as the epic and symphonic metal tradition of the early 2000s, “The Battle Of The Dead” combines melodic and theatrical elements with the contrast between Giacomo Rossi’s vocals and the operatic voice of Martina Mazzeo, playing a key role in the band’s sound.
“The Battle Of The Dead” was mixed and mastered by Alessio Garavello at Rogue Studios in London and features Morby (Domine) as a special guest vocalist on “The War”.
EMBRACE OF SOULS will return to the stage on October 24th, 2026, at Dedolor, performing alongside HEAVENFALL for the next Rockshots Night.
October 24th, 2026
ROCKSHOTS NIGHT
EMBRACE OF SOULS + HEAVENFALL
@ Dedolor
Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2290473428370267/
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The band is expected to play live at these 2 shows:
Saturday 14th November @Revolver Club in S.Donà di Piave with special guest: Arcana Opera – A.W. and opening act Lenity Lake
Sunday 29th November @Druso Bergamo at the Malpaga Winter Night
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Recommended for fans of Rhapsody of Fire, Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, Nightwish, “The Battle Of The Dead” was released on May 22nd, 2026, in digital format and digipak CD edition, and it’s available to be ordered at the following links:
CD DIGIPAK: https://rockshots.eu/products/embrace-of-souls-the-battle-of-the-dead-cd
Listen to the entire album “The Battle Of The Dead” here: https://lnk.to/O3GJCQ
OFFICIAL MERCH: https://embraceofsoulsband.bigcartel.com/
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Track Listing:
1. The Battle Of The Dead
2. Eversun
3. The Plague
4. The Gathering
5. Spine
6. Who Can Save Us
7. Betrayal
8. The Dark Lord
9. The War (feat. Morby)
10. Sacrifice
11. Desolate Lands
Line-up:
Giacomo Rossi – Vocals
Martina Mazzeo – Vocals
Edward De Rosa – Guitars
Xavier Rota – Bass
Davide Baldelli – Keyboards
Michele Olmi – Drums
Embrace Of Souls is an Italian power metal band founded by drummer and composer Michele Olmi, conceived with the aim of bringing together talented musicians around a shared vision rooted in collaboration, brotherhood, and a deep passion for classic metal. Initially born as a studio project, the band took shape with the release of their debut album “The Number Of Destiny” in 2021, receiving positive feedback on an international level and notable acclaim in Japan.
Drawing inspiration from ’80s and ’90s heavy and power metal, as well as the epic and symphonic metal of the early 2000s, Embrace Of Souls developed a sound characterized by powerful riffs, epic atmospheres, and strong melodic sensibility. Over time, the project evolved into a full live band, allowing the group to further consolidate its artistic identity and deepen its expressive range.
In 2024, Embrace Of Souls returned with their second full-length album, “Forever Part Of Me,” marking a significant step forward in terms of maturity and songwriting. This phase also introduced important changes within the line-up, bringing renewed energy and a broader musical perspective to the band’s sound.
A key element of this evolution is the current vocal pairing. Giacomo Rossi, already involved in previous releases, now takes on a central role as lead vocalist while Martina Mazzeo, an accomplished soprano vocalist, adds a symphonic and operatic dimension to the band’s music. Together, their voices embody the duality that defines Embrace Of Souls: light and darkness, power and elegance, intensity and emotion.
Having shared the stage with renowned acts such as Domine, Vision Divine, Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, and Rhapsody Of Fire, Embrace Of Souls continue to refine their identity while looking toward the future. The band is now working on new material, further developing their epic and narrative-driven approach to solidify their presence on the international power metal scene.
Phoenix Death Metal Force Eternal Officially Signs to BLKIIBLK
BLKIIBLK is proud to announce the signing of Phoenix, Arizona death metal force ETERNAL.
With 2024’s highly touted ‘Cryptic Lust’ (Carbonized Records), the four-piece drew an avalanche of praise from the death metal underground. The Resident Sound called ‘Cryptic Lust’ “incredible,” singling out its combination of old-school death metal vocals and thrash-metal crunch and recommending the album to fans of Cannibal Corpse, Testament and Gorement.
The album also caught the ear of Spirit Adrift/Neon Nightmare frontman Nate Garrett, who praised ETERNAL’s “memorable songwriting” and the band’s razor-sharp intersection of the classic early-’90s Scott Burns-era sounds of Obituary and Deicide with the thrashier old-school fire of early Entombed, Sepultura and Testament.
Spearheaded by frontman/guitarist Emilio Ortega and drummer Xander Bridge, ETERNAL have been doing things very much on their own terms since forming in 2021, self-producing and mixing their releases including 2022’s ‘Forsaken Memories’ EP, 2023’s ‘Faceless Evil’ EP and ‘Cryptic Lust.’ Still in their 20s, ETERNAL have already carved out a serious footprint for themselves and, more importantly, have the songs to distinguish them from an increasingly crowded old-school death metal underground.
They’ve backed it up live as well, touring the U.S. with fellow Arizonans Gatecreeper and sharing stages with the likes of Possessed, Vader and now-labelmates Nunslaughter.
Ortega comments on what’s to expect of ETERNAL’s newly forged alliance withBLKIIBLK:
“We looked beyond our direct influences, tracing things backwards to what inspired the bands that inspired us and finding ways to make those ideas our own. We’re pushing ourselves further than we have before. We’re incredibly proud of where it’s going. We’re excited to be sharing this with a new label partner but most importantly, our fans.”
“’Cryptic Lust’ was an undeniable record, and the band backed it up live, no question,”says BLKIIBLK and Frontiers Label Group Head of A&R Mike Gitter. “They’re worshippers of the classic Morrisound sound that is part of the foundation of death metal itself, but that’s just the beginning. ETERNAL understand riffs, they understand songs and, most importantly, they know how to write the classics like very few of their contemporaries can even approach.”
ETERNAL are currently putting the final touches on their second full-length and BLKIIBLK debut, due in 2027, but before that they’ll take another major step forward with their first European tour this October, joining New York death metal legends Suffocation alongside UK slam overlords Ingested and Undeath.
For ETERNAL, one statement is and shall always be: “Life is temporary. Death is Eternal.” Expect nothing less.
ETERNAL Live:
October 8 — Košice, Slovakia @ Collosseum
October 9 — Brașov, Romania @ Rockstadt
October 10 — Sofia, Bulgaria @ Mixtape 5
October 11 — Athens, Greece @ Gagarin
October 13 — Bucharest, Romania @ Quantic
October 14 — Belgrade, Serbia @ Zappa Barka
October 15 — Zagreb, Croatia @ Boogaloo
October 16 — Kranj, Slovenia @ Trainstation SubArt
October 18 — Audincourt, France @ Le Moloco
October 19 — Nantes, France @ Le Ferrailleur
October 20 — Biarritz, France @ Atabal
October 21 — Bilbao, Spain @ Santana 27
October 22 — Madrid, Spain @ Revi Live
October 23 — Lisbon, Portugal @ Music Station
October 24 — San Vicente del Raspeig, Spain @ Sala The One
October 25 — Barcelona, Spain @ Razzmatazz 2
October 26 — Toulouse, France @ Le Rex
October 27 — Geneva, Switzerland @ PTR/L’Usi
Norwegian stoner-punk pride Bokassa to release their album ‘Anomalies’ on March 12 – New hard-hitting track “Cop Out” arrives alongside tour news
Stoner-punk band Bokassa, who kicked off a new era earlier this year with the single “Doesn’t Matter If You Love It Here,” is starting the autumn with a bang. Now, they have announced the release date for their upcoming album, Anomalies, along with a tour that kicks off on the very same day—plus a new single, “Cop Out,” as a taste of what’s to come!
The hard-hitting, straightforward track “Cop Out” is sure to please fans of the band’s heavier material; it sees Bokassa returning to their metallic hardcore roots, seasoned with a dash of thrash metal. The song draws inspiration from sources such as protest songs with vague, “one-size-fits-all” lyrics, as well as bands that should have called it quits years ago but continue to squeeze money out of their fans.
“It’s about knowing when to quit while you’re still on top—before you turn into something you actually despise. Before you start charging for expensive VIP Meet & Greets, before you write lyrics that are nothing but empty buzzwords, and before you start making TikTok dance videos just to sell more tickets. I don’t want to spend my time dreaming up new ways to get more social media views when I know there are still different kinds of pizza out there that I haven’t tried yet,” says vocalist Jørn Kaarstad.
This may be one of the many reasons why the power trio will release music in 2026 through their own label, Kings of Stonerpunk Records. The album Anomalies, set for release on March 12th, will also be available in limited-edition vinyl and CD formats. Serving as the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2024 album All Out Of Dreams, the new record is produced by two-time Grammy winner Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse, The Darkness), with mastering handled by George Perks (Enter Shikari, Skindred).
Anomalies is a fitting title for a band that has never quite fit into any single box. Their signature “stonerpunk” style—which seamlessly blends various subgenres of punk, metal, and rock—has taken them on tours alongside acts such as Metallica, Clutch, Lagwagon, Therapy?, Zebrahead, and Mastodon. This very tendency to break down genre boundaries has made the band difficult to categorize. In a world where listeners often gravitate toward artists who sound similar to their other favorites, Bokassa sounds, above all else, like Bokassa.
On this upcoming fifth studio album, the power trio moves fluidly between groove metal, desert rock, Scandi-rock, death metal, hardcore punk, hard rock, and even power pop—all while maintaining the band’s distinctive sound and knack for infectious melodies.
“I don’t want to be a fast-food version of some older, better band. I see other bands that get a lot of credit for doing that—and from a commercial standpoint, it’s probably a smart move—but then again, we’ve never really been known for making particularly smart decisions. So, we just stick to what we personally find interesting,” Kaarstad says, adding:
“We’ve never really fit in with any particular scene, so we’ve sort of evolved into our own little entity. It’s become a bit of an ‘if you get it, you get it’ kind of thing; I’ve even seen fans at our shows connecting with one another simply because they share a love for the band. That’s really cool,” Kaarstad explains.
The album’s title also reflects the band’s origin story, which is anything but traditional.
“We didn’t have a booking agency, a record label, a manager, or any connections whatsoever—yet suddenly, we were playing on the world’s biggest stages. Given how the music industry operates in Norway—or, for that matter, anywhere in the world—we shouldn’t have stood a chance.” “So, in my opinion, we have always been an exception,” Kaarstad states.
With the release of their new album, the band is embarking on a tour covering Europe, the UK, and their home country of Norway:
March 12 – Kulturhuset, Bergen (NO)
March 13 – Blårock, Tromsø (NO)
March 20 – Rockefeller, Oslo (NO)
April 2 – Kafé Krank, Kristiansand (NO)
April 3 – Folken, Stavanger (NO)
April 9 – Byscenen, Trondheim (NO)
April 16 – The Cobblestones, Bridgewater (UK)
April 17 – The Black Heart, London (UK)
April 18 – The Old Salutation, Nottingham (UK)
April 19 – The Lodge, Manchester (UK)
April 20 – The Joiners, Southampton (UK)
May 6 – Monument 013, Gothenburg (SE)
May 7 – Stengade, Copenhagen (DK)
May 8 – Betty, Hamburg (DE)
May 9 – FRANNZ CLUB, Berlin (DE)
May 11 – Nachtleben, Frankfurt (DE)
May 12 – Luxor Live, Arnhem (NL)
May 13 – DB’s, Utrecht (NL)
May 15 – Antwerp Metal Fest, Antwerp (BE)
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