Author: Crix

Lavina to represent Serbia in Eurovision 2026

Modern metal band Lavina won the Serbian pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “Kraj Mene,” chosen by a combination of public and jury votes.
“Kraj Mene” was a popular choice, winning both the public and jury votes. In the public vote, it received 29,759 votes, more than double the number of votes received by the second-place song in that section.
The band will perform in the first semifinal in Vienna on May 12th, during the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest.

Lavina is a six-member powerhouse from Niš, Serbia, formed in the middle of 2020 that redefines the boundaries of modern metal. After forming, the members spent most of the time writing and recording the songs for the band’s debut album—ODYSSEY, which was released in November 2022.

Blending heavy guitar riffs with cold electronic textures and raw, introspective lyrics, the band has toured extensively across Europe, performing at festivals like Sziget and Eurosonic.

Lavina is best described as a mix of wide range of metal and rock influences with a dramatic and poetic sensibility. A truly unresting group of musicians, Lavina challenges their perception of metal by ever-changing influences and energetic, larger-than-life live performances.

Line-Up:
Luka Aranđelović (vocals)
Pavle Samardžić (guitar)
Andrija Cvetanović (guitar)
Nikola Petrović (bass)
Pavle Aranđelović (keys)
Bojan Ilić (drums).

https://www.facebook.com/lavinabandpage/
https://www.instagram.com/lavinametal
https://lavinaband.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2a1W5RyJCm4GugnlqckLw3?si=6TREf7guSTKZgnmwwhIDAw

French post-metal architects Sick Sad World shared new music video “Bargaining”- New album ‘Deuil’ out now

Following the release of their new album ‘Deuil‘, French post-metal architects Sick Sad World has just unveiled a stunning new music video illustrating the track “Bargaining” — a cinematic exploration of the soul’s desperate attempt to negotiate with loss.

Extracted from a concept album that spans 41 minutes across only five tracks, the “Bargaining” video serves as the atmospheric centerpiece of the record’s narrative. It mirrors the track’s slow-burn tension and crushing emotional weight, utilizing cinematic imagery to navigate the “inner collapse” that defines the grieving process.

This visual journey functions as a visceral soundtrack to profound loss, charting a slow, deliberate ascent where every movement is given the space to breathe, collapse, and eventually, heal.

The sonic odyssey of ‘Deuil’ begins with “Denial”, a nine-minute descent into a suffocating atmosphere of hypnotic guitars and pained, primal cries, before transitioning into the melodic clarity and rising intensity of Bargaining, which acts as a desperate plea for hope against fate.

The descent continues through the dark, leaden weight of Depression and its heartbreaking interlude, leading directly into the crushing riffs and raw agony of Anger—a moment of pure power that evokes the atmospheric titans of the genre, from Memories Of A Dead Man to Cult Of Luna. Finally, the cycle breaks with Acceptance, where relentless double-pedal percussion eventually gives way to luminous melodies, closing the album on a defiant note of hope.

Boasting a production that is massive, powerful, and pristine, Deuil captures a band at the height of their technical and emotional prowess. It is more than an album; it is a conceptual immersion that demands the listener take the time to truly feel every shadow and every spark of light.

http://www.sicksadworldband.fr/

Resumption Video Interview

Resumption is the new doom metal project from Wilhelm Lindh (The Gardnerz, ex-Tristitia, ex-Pandemonium, ex-Allameda). This project bridges the gap between the crushing groove of Bolt Thrower, Broken Hope, Pyrexia, Acheron (US) and the suffocating slow atmosphere of Funeral (Nor).
Resumption’s lyrics address the harrowing realities of mental health and anti-religious sentiment.
The debut album, “The Respite,” out digitally on April 17th, is dedicated to Wilhelm’s father, who hated metal music but always supported his son’s musical aspirations.
We had the opportunity to speak with Wilhelm the mastermind behind the project and learn more about his music, the upcoming album, and the future.

youtube.com/@resumptiondeathdoom
facebook.com/profile.php?id=61586606459561
instagram.com/resumptiondeathdoom
resumptiondeathdoom.bandcamp.com

Terravia Video Interview

With the debut album A New World, Norwegian act Terravia is positioning themselves as a new comet in the prog sky. After several shows around their hometown of Trondheim throughout the past year – which culminated in a support gig with Conception at their show in Trondheim last October – the focus has been on completing their debut album. With the album out, the band is now ready to address a larger audience.
We had the chance to talk with Øystein and Anders about the origin of the band, their influences, the debut album and live shows.

https://linktr.ee/terraviaofficial

Metal Pizza Night: Artkills, Eartheria, What Awaits Us, Lust For Lily & Memoria live at Annis, Pori 7.2.2026

A free music event called Metal Pizza Night to celebrate my 40th birthday, was held at Annis Cultural Center in Pori on February 7.
Five metal bands performed; Artkills, What Awaits Us, Eartheria, Lust For Lily, and Memoira.
The event was live-streamed and can be watched on YouTube.
The evening was a success. Aside from a technical issue during one band’s performance, everything went smoothly. The bands delivered excellent performances, showcasing their talent.
Here some photos from the night.

Australia’s GREYSTONE CANYON Animated Video For Neil Young Cover “Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)” From New Album “Something Borrowed…Something New”

Australian rockers Greystone Canyon return with a powerful take on “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)”, the iconic track by Neil Young, reimagined with the band’s raw and unfiltered rock ’n’ roll attitude.

Taken from their new album “Something Borrowed…Something New”, this version captures everything Greystone Canyon stands for: real amps, real performance, no tricks. Recorded live in one room without click tracks or edits, the song delivers a warm, punchy, and authentic sound that brings back the true spirit of rock music. With respect to the original and the grit of their own identity, the band transforms this timeless classic into a heavy, driving anthem, loud, honest, and unapologetic.

“Neil Young and this song need no introduction, and we are hopeful that Neil Young fans, even Neil himself, perhaps will approve of this rendition. This song has been transformed from a folk acoustic guitar strum along to a very dark arpeggiated piece that is rounded out by a spooky bass guitar solo and a beautiful acoustic guitar solo. This might be the furthest we have taken a cover from its original, but the lyrics and meaning of the song really work in this context. We hope you enjoy the animated video for the single,” adds the band.

Watch and listen to Greystone Canyon‘s animated cover video for Neil Young’s “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRqbJTGu5KQ​

Formed by vocalist/guitarist Darren Cherry, whose lifelong passion for music was inspired by AC/DC, KISS, and his father’s career as a professional musician, Greystone Canyon has built a reputation for tone, feel, fire, honesty, and organic sound. With drummer Sham (also of Nothing Sacred), guitarist Richard Vella, and bassist David Poulter, the band brings decades of experience, including Cherry’s tenure with Paul Di’Anno’s final Australian tour in 2024.
​
​Greystone Canyon’s new album “Something Borrowed… Something New” pays homage to rock legends like UFO, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, and Neil Young, while introducing powerful originals such as Drives Us, Friend of the Fox, and Stealing Our Freedom. Inspired by Van Halen’s Diver Down, the record blends covers and originals into a dynamic listening experience. From the faithful tribute of UFO’s Doctor, Doctor and the smoky swing of ZZ Top’s Just Got Paid, to the road-trip energy of Drives Us and the heavier, metalized punch of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song, the album showcases both reverence and reinvention. Originals like the acoustic, eerie Friend of the Fox and the protest anthem Stealing Our Freedom stand proudly alongside covers such as Thin Lizzy’s Suicide and Neil Young’s haunting Hey Hey, My My. With creative flourishes like “AAF,” a Hendrix-style guitar homage to the Australian National Anthem, the album captures Greystone Canyon’s ability to honour rock’s greatest while carving out its own identity.
​
Unlike their previous album, “Iron & Oak,” which took six years to complete, “Something Borrowed… Something New” was tracked, mixed, and mastered in just five months. Recorded at Black Lodge Studio under the guidance of Joel Taylor, the band embraced a raw, live recording method that captures the warmth, punch, and energy of musicians playing together in real time.
​
​“This album has been the most fun we’ve had recording. Albums can be hard work and tedious, but this was a joy to make, and we think you can hear that in the recording,” adds Cherry.
​
​Greystone Canyon is an Australian hard rock band blending classic rock, heavy metal, blues, and folk influences. Known for their organic sound and passionate performances, the band continues to evolve while staying true to their roots. Their music is inspired by life, history, and the future, with lyrics that reflect both personal experiences and broader social themes.
​
​“Something Borrowed… Something New” was released on December 5th, 2025, from Rockshots Records and is available on all major streaming platforms and physical formats.

CD – https://rockshots.eu/products/greystone-canyon-something-borrowed-something-new-cd​

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/album/1ZyEq4kWkhDg6RnzCbGKJj​

Music Video – Suicide (Thin Lizzy cover) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLNaHClXKc0​

Music Video – Stealing Our Freedom – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SSd6fzgwhU​

​

Track Listing:
​1. Doctor, Doctor (UFO cover) – 04:16
2. Just Got Paid (ZZ Top cover) – 03:35
3. Drives Us – 05:06
4. Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin cover) – 02:21
5. Friend of the Fox – 03:57
6. Suicide (Thin Lizzy cover) – 05:14
7. Hey, Hey, My, My (Into the Black) (Neil Young cover) – 03:22
8. AAF – 1:47
9. Stealing Our Freedom – 04:26
Album Length: 33:54

More info: Rockshots.eu | Facebook.com/greystonecanyon | Instagram.com/greystonecanyon_official​

THE VALLEY Release New Single ‘Like I Never Lived (Without You)’, Produced in California by Fabrizio Grossi

Available from today, February 27th on all digital platforms, THE VALLEY’s new single “Like I Never Lived (Without You)” is released via Volcano Records & Promotion and produced in Los Angeles by Fabrizio Grossi (Alice Cooper, Steve Vai, Slash).

With this new track, the Ligurian alt-prog band takes a significant step forward, expanding its artistic path into an international dimension while preserving its distinctive sonic identity. “Like I Never Lived (Without You)” is an intense and straightforward song, built on constantly evolving emotional dynamics, where enveloping guitars and atmospheric tension merge with a deeply expressive vocal performance. The song explores themes of absence and emotional dependency, transforming loss into awareness.

The band’s alternative soul intertwines with progressive influences in a mature balance that recalls acts such as Incubus, Alice In Chains, and Faith No More, without ever losing its own personality. The production plays a crucial role in the project: Fabrizio Grossi coordinated the work from Los Angeles, bringing an international vision to the band’s sound. The mastering was handled by legendary American sound engineer Pete Doell (Miles Davis, Toto, Marilyn Manson), while all recordings were entirely carried out by The Valley in their own studio in Liguria, confirming an independent yet ambitious artistic journey.

“Like I Never Lived (Without You)” is available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major streaming platforms. The official music video is now streaming on Volcano Records’ YouTube channel at the following link: https://youtu.be/c_fsbDpIGdU

Also watch the video for the earlier singles
‘Magpie’s Eyelid’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c_C_xZunnN8
‘Eons’: https://youtu.be/3VbvAbrbQkw
‘Hypnagogia’: https://youtu.be/0zhsSfs6at4

Further info at
www.volcanopromotion.com
www.facebook.com/thevalleyprog

Divine Sovereign Unveils Lyric Video “Enshrined Kind” as Autaxia Chronicles Hits Shelves Worldwide

Polish atmospheric black/epic doom metal solo project Divine Sovereign has released the lyric video for “Enshrined Kind,” a defining track from the album Autaxia Chronicles: Dawn Of A New Age, out in digital format and on CD.

“Enshrined Kind” marks the moment where Divine Sovereign fully shaped the narrative core of the project. What began as a distant vision of galactic conflict shifted toward a more grounded and human question: why do uprisings fail, and what force is strong enough to unite people when shared culture and history are not?

“The Lyric video for that song is like a milestone in my musical endeavors, sort of cementing this first chapter,” says Divine Sovereign, “beginning of, hopefully, a long journey that’s ahead of me.”

The inspiration came from the revolt of Spartacus, the largest slave uprising in ancient Rome. Nearly 100,000 rebels rose together, only to fall apart from internal division. Their defeat sparked a key idea behind Autaxia Chronicles: what would it take for such a rebellion to succeed?

The answer was belief.

Centuries after Spartacus, Christianity spread through the Roman Empire and became its state religion. “Enshrined Kind” reflects this turning point—not as an account of an organized faith, but as its earliest formation. Under oppression, faith emerges in fragments: shared stories, half-remembered parables, and the idea of a chosen people. Slowly, belief becomes a bond stronger than blood or origin.

The track captures unity at its rawest stage. Not doctrine. Not structure. Just belief beginning to take shape—and already powerful enough to change history.

Video by: www.instagram.com/inhale_tea

Founded in 2023 by multi-instrumentalist and vocalist Cezary Rochnowski, Divine Sovereign draws inspiration from the likes of Ethereal Shroud, Panopticon, and Atlantean Kodex. The project crafts epic, narrative-driven compositions set in the world of Autaxia, a planet where advanced beings unearth the remnants of a once-thriving civilization. Through intricate songwriting and atmospheric intensity, Divine Sovereign explores the duality of faith—its power to liberate and its potential to enslave.

divinesovereign.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/DivineSovereign

The remaining cornerstones of the Hellsinki Metal Festival 2026 lineup are now in place – including Paradise Lost, Carcass, Cryptopsy and Unleashed

Taking place on August 7–8 at the Helsinki Ice Hall festival area, the Hellsinki Metal Festival today unveils the second wave of artists for this year’s event. Among the new additions are the British band Paradise Lost, who released their acclaimed Ascension album last year, and the truly legendary Carcass. Rarer visitors to Finland at the upcoming festival include Cryptopsy, Canada’s nearly 40-year force in technical death metal, and Sweden’s Unleashed, widely regarded as one of the most essential Scandinavian death metal bands of all time.

The fourth edition of Hellsinki Metal Festival will also feature the event’s most geographically distant booking to date: Mawiza, founded in Wallmapu, South America. The band performs in the endangered Mapuzungun language and released their Ül album last July. U.S. death metal powerhouse Sanguisugabogg also put out a new album, Hideous Aftermath, last year.

Representing Finland, Omnium Gatherum will celebrate their 30th anniversary alongside their new album May The Bridges Burn Light The Way, while Kalmah—known for making only select live appearances outside their hometown of Pudasjärvi—will also take the stage. Other new additions announced today include Assemble the Chariots, Cyan Kicks, Tungsten, Sepulchral Curse, Orly, Horizon Ignited, Misþyrming, and VREID.

Previously announced performers at Hellsinki Metal Festival include Black Label Society, Accept, Opeth, Misþyrming & Nergal performing Behemoth’s Sventevith, and Carpenter Brut.

Last year, festivalgoers experienced an upgraded festival area, and development continues this year. In response to audience requests, HMF will place special emphasis on expanding its craft brewery selection. The festival drew 16,000 attendees over two days last year, and VIP (RIP) tickets sold out in advance of the event.

“The amount of blood, sweat, and tears that our amazing team has poured into this summer’s Hellsinki Metal Festival is once again mind-blowing. This final major announcement is a testament to that teamwork. The lineup features extremely carefully selected bands to ensure that every festivalgoer finds something for themselves,” says Toni Törrönen, promoter of Hellsinki Metal Festival.

Hellsinki Metal Festival artists in alphabetical order are:
Accept
Assemble the Chariots
Black Label Society
Blackbraid
Bloodbath
Brymir
Carcass
Carpenter Brut
Cryptopsy
Cyan Kicks
Horizon Ignited
Horna
Ikinä & The Choir Of Hecate
Ill Niño
Iotunn
Kalmah
Mawiza
Misþyrming
Misþyrming & Nergal perform Behemoth’s Sventevith
Omnium Gatherum
Opeth
Orly
Paradise Lost
Sanguisugabogg
Sepulchral Curse
The Kovenant
Triptykon performing Celtic Frost
Tungsten
Unleashed
VREID
Wormwood
Two-day festival tickets are now on sale.

Tickets are available via Ticketmaster, Tiketti and Lippu.fi

HELLSINKI METAL FESTIVAL | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

Finnish Melodic Death Metal Powerhouse Noumena Returns – New Single “Kuolemankello” is an Epic Journey into Finland’s Dark History

After a period of silence dedicated to honing their craft, Noumena has returned with a refined sound that captures the band’s core essence: a unique blend of Northern melancholy and relentless energy. Composer and guitarist Tuukka Tuomela is thrilled with the result:

“It’s a classic Noumena track with catchy melodies, striking riffs, and a hook-filled chorus. Growing into epic proportions, the song is a perfect choice for the first single from our upcoming full-length album.”

“Kuolemankello” continues Noumena’s tradition of powerful storytelling. The track dives deep into 18th-century Finland, specifically the era known as The Great Wrath (isoviha in Finnish) – a brutal period of Russian occupation marked by widespread atrocities and historical suffering. The song’s title refers to the “Deathwatch Beetle,” a wood-boring insect whose ticking sound was historically seen as an omen of impending death. Lyricist Hannu Savolainen sheds light on the dark theme:

“In folklore, the ‘Kuolemankello’ has been seen as an omen of death. In this story, the beetle ticking inside the wooden walls warns of a grim fate. The song is set during the savage era of The Great Wrath in 1700s Finland. However, even in this mournful tale, there is a small glimmer of hope, as is often the case in Noumena’s songs.”

The single offers a first taste of Noumena’s seventh album, scheduled for release in August. The long-standing veterans of the Finnish metal scene prove they are as formidable as ever – the clock is ticking, and Noumena’s time is now.

Listen to the single on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, tidal etc.): https://push.fm/fl/noumena-kuolemankello

Noumena is a Finnish melodic death metal band formed in 1998 in Ähtäri, Finland. Known for combining melancholic melodies, heavy riffs and atmospheric soundscapes, Noumena draws from the Scandinavian death metal tradition while adding touches of Nordic melancholy and emotion.

Over their more than 25-year career, Noumena has released six full-length albums — including Pride/Fall (2002), Absence (2005), Anatomy of Life (2006), Death Walks With Me (2013), Myrrys (2017) and Anima (2020) — steadily evolving their sound while retaining their core identity.

Noumena has over 130 live shows history, the band has toured in Finland, Central  Europe, Japan and China. They have shared the stages with acts like Insomnium, Beast in Black, Moonsorrow and many others.

Line-up

Antti Haapanen – growls

Suvi Uura – vocals

Markus Hirvonen – guitars, vocals

Ville Lamminaho – guitars, mandolin, vocals

Tuukka Tuomela – guitars

Hannu Savolainen – bass

Ilkka Unnbom – drums

https://www.youtube.com/@noumenaofficial

https://www.facebook.com/Noumenaband

https://www.instagram.com/noumenaofficial/

https://www.noumena.info/