Author: Crix

ALEYA Share ‘Old Friends’ Single & UK Tour Dates

As momentum continues to build towards the launch of their ‘How It Ends’ EP this winter, ALEYA announce news of a fresh single titled ‘Old Friends‘.
Marking their third single release of 2026, ‘Old Friends‘ captures ALEYA delving into a deeper atmospheric direction, whilst retaining their propensity for intense outbursts of modern metal aggression, melodic sensitivity and genre-fluid exploration. Frontman and lyricist Tom Evans offers an insight into the heartrending new track: “Old Friends is about remembering those that have passed away and how they will never know the person that you have become. The song touches upon how experiencing death can fundamentally change your perspective of life itself. The old friends that you have lost will never see how your life has been changed by their passing.”
This enduring theme of ‘loss’ underpins the relatable narratives, engrained within the six tracks that shape their upcoming ‘How It Ends‘ EP.  The  N.W England based Alt-Metal force, confirm the follow up to 2023’s debut EP ‘Idle Minds‘ has now been completed under the guiding wing of producer Dan Fox at Treehouse Studio (UK). Full details of its official release are expected very soon.
ALEYA embark on a short headlining tour this November. A trilogy of UK shows in support of their ‘How It Ends’ EP release.
Thurs 12th Nov – Subside Bar, Birmingham
Fri 13th Nov – Live Rooms, Chester (with special guests 7eventh Sea and Noiseless)
Sat 14th Nov – The Old Salutation, Nottingham
‘Old Friends’ was independently released on 2nd October 2026,and available on all major digital platforms.

Aussie deathcore titans To The Grave release new album ‘Liberation Front’ out now via BLKIIBLK

TO THE GRAVE, the world’s preeminent vegan deathcore band, proudly unleash their new album, ‘LIBERATION FRONT,’ out now via BLKIIBLK. Celebrating the release, the band also launches their new single, “LIMB FROM LAMB,” alongside a music video, available to view below. 

On the new single, bassist Matt Clarke comments:

“LIMB FROM LAMB was the song that probably changed the most in the recording process. Until it was done, I wasn’t sure it would even make the cut for the album. It really took Dane’s lyric arrangement and vocal delivery to make it shine. It’s a bit of a change of pace from the previous singles, this one is slow (for us), brooding and heavy”

“For the video we leaned heavily into the horror movie imagery. Our music and visuals have always been inspired by horror and this was a chance to be really obvious with one of our favourites. It’s always made sense for us to connect this kind of inspiration to the real-life horror we address in the lyrics.”

Watch the Official Music Video for “LIMB FROM LAMB” HERE 

Since forming in 2010, TO THE GRAVE have become one of Australia’s most uncompromising heavy exports, earning acclaim for crushing releases including ‘Global Warning,’ ‘Epilogue,’ ‘Director’s Cuts,’ and 2024’s ‘Everyone’s a Murderer.’ Armed with a singular mission to confront animal cruelty and environmental destruction through some of modern metal’s most punishing deathcore, the Sydney outfit have forged a reputation for pairing unrelenting heaviness with fearless activism. Their live assault has taken them around the globe alongside Lorna Shore, Thy Art Is Murder, Shadow of Intent, Carnifex, Oceano, and more, with Revolver hailing them as “one of the country’s heaviest exports” and Distorted Sound calling them “one of the most intense, enthralling bands the genre can offer.”

Now, the band returns with ‘LIBERATION FRONT,’ their fifth album and BLKIIBLK debut, a statement of pure intent. Brutal and uncompromising in both sound and message, TO THE GRAVE transform their death metal-infused assault into a vehicle for activism, raging against animal cruelty and environmental destruction while delivering their most direct and fully realized work to date. From the breakdown-laden opener “MEAT THE HUMANS,” ‘Liberation Front’ marks a ferocious return to the band’s deathcore roots. While recent releases leaned further into hardcore, the new album embraces deathcore at its most savage and relentless.

Evans comments about the album:

“‘LIBERATION FRONT’ was born as a concept on tour last year in Australia after we decided we wanted to make the sequel to ‘Director’s Cuts.’ What came out was something between that and a more pissed off brother to ‘Everyone’s A Murderer.’ It’s got so many things I love about the band and a bit of everything pushed to 100 with a really bleak kind of aggression that’s just reaching for your throat the entire time. Very keen to play some of these songs live and it’s an exciting chapter to add.”

Order ‘Liberation Front’ HERE

‘LIBERATION FRONT’ Track List:

1. MEAT THE HUMANS
2. NAIL MARY
3. TORTURE PORN
4. EYESTALK ABLATIONS
5. LIFE AMONG THE SEPTICS
6. CALF SLICER
7. LIMB FROM LAMB
8. YOU KNOW THE DRILL
9. TERRORFIRE
10. THE WORLD IS A SLAUGHTERHOUSE

TO THE GRAVE is currently on “The Sawed Off Suffering Tour” with co-headlinerCrown Magnetar. The entire run is supported by Face Yourself and on select dates by the likes of I Declare War, Tracheotomy, Backbiter, Squelching and Ameonna (the new band featuring former Chelsea Grin members Alex Koehler, Jake Harmond and Pablo Viveros, making their live debut). For a full list of remaining dates, please see below.

Bassist Matt Clarke exclaims:

“These are the heaviest lineups we’ve ever put together, and we can’t wait for these shows across North America and at home in Aus. For North America, all these bands have a different approach, but the one thing that brings it all together is intensity! We’re stoked to be teaming up with Crown Magnetar for this run, and having Face Yourself on the package just makes it more crushing. We’re very excited that we get to play with OG Chelsea Grin members back on-stage for the first time in Ameonna, and I Declare Warhopping on for some shows is awesome! Backbiter, Tracheotomy, and Squelching will all bring their own brands of brutality to the tour. No matter what show you’re hitting, you’re in for a treat.”

‘LIBERATION FRONT’ is more than an album; it is a musical and lyrical call to arms, designed not only to rage against the machine but to educate, provoke, and challenge listeners on every level. Combining their most savage deathcore material to date with an unwavering commitment to animal liberation and environmental activism, ‘LIBERATION FRONT’ stands as TO THE GRAVE’s definitive statement: fierce, unapologetic, and impossible to ignore.

As Evans puts it, “this is our way of establishing order. The band is built around our way of doing things and to me this title is just waving that flag. These songs are about direct action, open rescue, abolition and liberation by any means necessary.”

TO THE GRAVE are:
Dane Evans – Vocals
Jack Simioni – Guitar
Nic Webb – Guitar
Matt Clarke – Bass
Connor Kingdom – Drums

Band Bio HERE

FOLLOW TO THE GRAVE:
Website
Instagram
Facebook 

NAGUAL Release New EP “How We Kept The Night Away” with New Lyric Video ‘Gilgamesh’

NAGUAL release their new EP “How We Kept The Night Away” via Volcano Records & Promotion, a four-track work marking the Piacenza-based band’s return with entirely new material following the album ‘And Once The Storm Is Over’, released in March 2024. The release is accompanied by a new official lyric video for the song “Gilgamesh”.

Recorded during the first months of 2026 at Alberto Callegari’s Elfo Studio, with Callegari co-producing the project alongside the band, How We Kept The Night Away features four tracks and approximately twenty minutes of music: “Gilgamesh”, “Hollow”, “If Only” and “Amalgam”. Two of them, “If Only” and “Hollow”, were released in the previous months as previews of the project, paving the way for a work that further expands Nagual’s sonic and narrative dimension.
The EP takes its title from the closing line of “Amalgam” – “We will travel towards the day, telling the story of how we sang to keep the night away” – which becomes a key to interpreting the entire work. The night evoked throughout the record is not only a personal condition, but also a symbolic space shaped by fear, loss, fragility and the need to endure. Opening the record is “Gilgamesh”, loosely inspired by the epic of the King of Uruk and his confrontation with the limits of the human condition, death, friendship and the impossibility of immortality. It is precisely the awareness of defeat that becomes the starting point for a new understanding, opening the way to a broader reflection on what remains of human beings through their actions and through memory. “Hollow”, meanwhile, moves between presence and absence, closeness and disorientation, building a more immediate and spacious sound around the sense of emptiness suggested by its title, with echoes of The Sisters of Mercy, The Cure and early U2. “If Only” addresses human fragility and the difficulty of moving through pain, exploring the thin line between lies, the desire for truth, disillusionment and hope. Closing the journey is “Amalgam”, the track from which the EP itself takes its title. Its final image carries the narrative towards daylight, without erasing what the night has left behind. The album artwork reinforces the same tension: a devastated landscape that turns the arrival of light into a warning about humanity’s capacity to create destruction and inhumanity.

The release of How We Kept The Night Away also comes just a few weeks after “20 Unfashionable Years”, the documentary directed and filmed by Claudio Bianchi and Davide Fortunati, retracing twenty years of Nagual’s history through images, footage and testimonies from people who have shared the band’s journey from 2006 to the present day. More than a simple retrospective, the film tells the story of how music has become, over time, the bond holding together a small community capable of turning differences, enthusiasm and misunderstandings into songs.

Active since 2006, Nagual have spent twenty years moving through rock, hard rock, progressive and grunge influences, ranging from Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath and Deep Purple to Soundgarden, Temple of the Dog and Alice in Chains. How We Kept The Night Away therefore represents a new chapter in a journey that continues to combine classic roots, sonic exploration and a strong narrative component.

Watch the new lyric video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LwnTQUT-RZE

Watch the documentary “20 Unfashionable Years”: https://youtu.be/btY6B1goaxo?si=JJCU06sWNRv9NnRv

Also watch their earlier singles:
“Hollow”: https://youtu.be/slI1to1z738
‘If Only’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr1sGwRAPcM

Further info at
www.volcanopromotion.com
www.nagual.eu

Nemo Fairlight & Soul in Sadness release “Nights Align” featuring violist Sammie Champa

Symphonic metal duo Nemo Fairlight & Soul in Sadness release their new single “Nights Align” on 2 October 2026, exclusively on Bandcamp for Bandcamp Friday, featuring guest violist Sammie Champa. Streaming platforms will follow.

Built on orchestral writing and two contrasting voices, “Nights Align” pairs Nemo Fairlight’s maximalist arrangements with Soul in Sadness’s stripped-back guitar and production instincts. Champa takes the lead viola line, while the bridge opens into a viola duet between Champa and Fairlight.

The single gives its name to Fairlight’s debut album, “Our Nights Align,” due 11 December 2026. Every track on the album carries a section in a different language. On “Nights Align,” that section is sung in Hindi.

“The night” is a metaphor for many things, a state of calm for some people, anxiety for others. I wrote this song to honour the connections that can form when you share your night with someone else.

Nemo Fairlight

The duo met through the video game music community Pixel Mixers, covering soundtracks across metal, orchestral and pop arrangements. While working together on a track from Silent Hill, they discovered that the combination worked and decided to continue collaborating. Rather than create a new band name, the two brought their existing artistic identities together.

Nemo Fairlight is a violist, pianist and singer with a background spanning classical, jazz and EDM, working as composer, orchestrator and lyricist.

Soul in Sadness comes from the goth rock scene, handling guitars, bass, songwriting, arrangement, mixing and mastering. Soul in Sadness has released several albums and EPs under that name, including the European dark scene single “Fernweh.”

Together, they write about neurodivergence, time zones and a constant longing for inner peace.

An official music video for “Nights Align” has been completed and will be released shortly.

  • Nemo Fairlight , vocals, viola, composition, orchestration, lyrics
  • Soul in Sadness , vocals, guitars, bass, songwriting, arrangement, mixing, mastering
  • Sammie Champa , featured viola

About Sammie Champa

Sammie Champa is a classically trained violist holding a BM in Applied Music from the Eastman School of Music.

As a cross-genre live and recording session musician, she is prized for her adaptability and collaborative approach, with experience across contemporary classical, jazz, tango, rock, Afro-pop and symphonic metal.

She performs regularly with Calgary orchestras including the Rocky Mountain Symphony Orchestra and the St Giles Orchestra.

SOULS OF DIOTIMA Break the Bars: New Album “Arcade” Alongside Fourth Single/Video ‘Cage’ Out Now via Diotima Records

The wait is over. After paving the way with the release of the first three singles — “Run Away”, “Revenge” and “Senza Rancore” —, “ARCADE”, the fifth, mature, and most ambitious studio album by Souls of Diotima, is released on all streaming and digital download platforms via Diotima Records.

This work represents a fundamental chapter in the band’s history, marking their historic shift from power metal roots to a powerful, experimental and boundless Modern Metalcore. Leading the charge on official release day is the fourth single and focus track “Cage”, the manifesto track chosen to accompany the album launch.

“CAGE” : THE FOURTH SINGLE BETWEEN CATHARSIS AND VOCAL DUALISM
Fourth excerpt of this new era, “Cage” is a punch to the gut and at the same time a melancholic embrace. Built on a brutal and elegant vocal dualism, the track sets the listener ablaze by alternating the fierce fury of Fabio Puddu’s male scream in the verses with high-impact emotional melodic openings led by Claudia Barsi’s female voice in the choruses.

The theme is raw and universal : the suffocating feeling of being trapped in an inner cage, stuck in one’s personal hell. Cage doesn’t just tell the story of darkness; it represents the sonic deflagration needed to break it. A visceral anthem of liberation driven by downtuned riffs, tight rhythms and uncompromising modern production.

THE ALBUM “ARCADE” : THE NEW SYNTH-CORE SOUND BETWEEN NEON AND METALCORE (DIGITAL RELEASE)
With “Arcade”, Souls of Diotima take their boldest leap yet. The band’s backbone transforms into a highly contemporary Modern Metalcore, enriched with brand-new elements: electronic arpeggiators, analog oscillators, and 80s synth retrowave atmospheres interwoven with devastating breakdowns and seismic rhythm sections.

The title Arcade plays on aesthetic and conceptual contrasts : neon fluo lights and vintage arcade gaming nostalgia act as a backdrop to dark, visceral, and introspective lyrics. The album is available starting today exclusively in digital format on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Deezer, and all major online stores.

“With ‘Arcade’, we had a single goal : to evolve and show who we are today, without fear of taking risks. Exploring this new sound with synth retrowave influences felt natural yet groundbreaking. After the first three teasers with ‘Run Away’, ‘Revenge’ and ‘Senza Rancore’, ‘Cage’ is the beating heart of this record : the exact moment you decide to break the cage and breathe again.” — Souls of Diotima

“Arcade” Tracklist:
Warning!
Revenge
Deadline
Black Rose
Run Away
Time is a Flame
A Child
Senza Rancore
Head Up, Guard Up
Cage
Nocturnal Vibe

DIRECT LINKS
Stream & Buy Album “Arcade” : https://sod.bfan.link/arcade
Official Video “Cage” : https://youtu.be/2MVN6ZewS_c
Official Linktree : https://linktr.ee/soulsofdiotimaofficial

FIRST EUROPEAN DATES
March 19 : France, Mennecy @ Le Stock
March 20 : Belgium, Diest @ Club Hell
March 21 : Netherlands, Eindhoven @ Popei

(More dates to be announced soon)

Souls of Diotima are:
Claudia Barsi: voice
Giorgio Pinna: drums
Fabio Puddu: guitars + vocals
Manuel Dettori: bass

Praise of Death released new album

German Death Metal band Praise of Death released their new album «Rivers of Gore». The release was recorded and mixed at “Morbid Arts Productions” by Mark Raziel and mastered by Ilarion Ivanenko.
Unleashed in 2024 by multi-instrumentalist Mark Raziel in Augsburg, Germany, Praise of Death is a solo death metal project featuring Finnish vocalist Topias Jokipii. Rooted in old-school brutality, crushing riffs, and relentless aggression, the project stands out through mysterious atmospheres, solos, and contemplative lyricism. On the debut album “Philanthropist”, Praise of Death moves beyond standard violence to explore nihilism, existential dread, and human self-destruction, delivering a sound that is as savagely heavy as it is deeply unsettling and philosophical.

Cosmic Metal THE ASTRAL PROPHETS Launch New Video “Invasion” ft. Jeff Black (Glyph); Debut Album “Invasion” Out October 30th

Canadian cosmic storytellers The Astral Prophets are preparing metal fans for the “Invasion” of their debut album out October 30th with the release of their latest lyric video for the title track. The song is a powerhouse featuring punchy riffs that will get your heart pumping and a dueling guitar solo between TAP’s AJ Bergin and Jeff Black from Glyph.

Bergin comments on the title track:

“I wrote the main riff for this one, intending to trade ideas back and forth with Terry. After I sent the initial riff, he quickly built out the verse, pre-chorus, and chorus. While I got sidetracked, Terry came up with a killer acoustic riff that evolved into one of the fastest and most challenging parts on the record. Terry also drew inspiration from Lazerwitch, exploring humanity’s dependence on technology and vulnerability to a more advanced race. We also have Jeff Black from Glyph featured on this song, trading some dueling guitar solos. I had the pleasure of being in Scythia briefly with Jeff, but never got a chance to work with him on a track until now. I am super proud of getting him on this song and will treasure it forever!”

Get ready for the “Invasion” at the following links:

Lyric Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBXCUZVTrqQ​

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/track/1awxr9j7MgpTz7pUv9UQDU​

​

Born from the ashes of the acclaimed folk metal act Scythia, The Astral Prophets have spent the past several years forging a sound all their own. Combining crushing groove metal, soaring power metal melodies, infectious hooks, and futuristic storytelling, the band has dubbed their unique style “Power Groove.”

Since emerging in 2019, The Astral Prophets have steadily built momentum with fan-favorite singles including “Firewall,” “USB Humanity,” and “Lazerwitch,” followed by their 2023 EP “Anywhere But Here.” Now, with a revitalized lineup featuring vocalist Staci Allen, guitarist Harley D’Orazio, drummer Kyle Summers, guitarist AJ Bergin, and bassist/songwriter Terry Savage, the band is ready to deliver its most ambitious release yet.

“Invasion” is a cinematic journey through a dystopian universe filled with alien civilizations, advanced technology, cosmic warfare, and deeply human emotions. Across eight tracks, the album explores themes of anger, retribution, love, longing, madness, and survival through a distinctly sci-fi lens.

Musically, “Invasion” represents the culmination of everything The Astral Prophets have been building toward. The band has pushed further into heavier territory while expanding their sound with layered synths, symphonic elements, immersive sound design, and unforgettable riffs.

“We wanted to bring an album that improves upon our already unique style. During our EP, we started to dial in our sound, but now we’re delivering an LP in our full form. The riffs are stronger, the leads are melodic and smooth, the drums are driving, and Staci’s vocals are more powerful than ever.” says guitarist AJ Bergin.

The album features the explosive title track, “Invasion,” a relentless metal anthem highlighted by a guest appearance from Jeff Black of Glyph, who trades blazing guitar solos with Bergin. Other standout tracks include the anthemic “Power of the Rift,” the high-energy rocker “Into Nothing,” and the epic cosmic journey “Trail of Broken Stars.”

The album’s artwork depicts Earth’s final days as a colossal alien mothership emerges from a wormhole to begin the systematic takeover and terraforming of the planet, perfectly capturing the record’s overarching narrative and apocalyptic scope.

Recommended for fans of Unleash the Archers, Amaranthe, Volbeat, and Battle Beast, “Invasion” will be available on all digital platforms on October 30th, 2026.

First Single – “Into Nothing” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPLxl6flAP8​

Show Dates:​
Oct 30 – Calgary, AB – Festival Hall (Album Release Show) w/ Victoria Lies, Cabraakan, Kyle Pullan

​

Track Listing:​
1. Target Locked – 4:24
2. Power of the Rift – 4:08
3. Invasion ft. Jeff Black – 4:06
4. Into Nothing – 4:46
5. A Trail of Broken Stars – 4:46
6. World Eater – 4:35
7. Hyperdrive – 4:47
8. Inside the Hyperdrive – 3:37

More info: https://hyperfollow.com/astralprophets​

French Modern Progressive Blackened Metalcore outfit ELICERE release first album [erased]

From the heart of France’s Tarn region, ELICERE forges a sound as complex as its philosophy: modern metal combining the fury of hardcore, the abyssal atmosphere of black metal and the precision of metalcore.

But this is more than music. It is maieutics in motion — the art of drawing forth what lies buried deep.

Their debut album [erased] follows the journey of Erased, a character trapped beneath an imaginary dome, observing the world’s vanities, idolatries and murky relationships with equal revulsion and longing. Then comes a vision: she must become the voice.

A voice against eschatological denial, illusions of omnipotence and the path towards perdition — but also a voice searching for the alternatives that may exist beyond them.

With [erased], ELICERE transforms that philosophical journey into a complete musical statement : intense, confrontational and conceived as an invitation to question what we accept, what we worship and what remains buried within us.

ELICERE’s debut album [erased] is out now and available on all major streaming platforms.

ELICERE is modern metal as catharsis. Rooted in the Tarn region of France (2023), the project wields modern–metal, hardcore and blackened metalcore to explore the duality of Erased—a character torn between withdrawal and the urge to expose the world’s corruption.

Inspired by the Latin elicere (“to draw from”) and the Socratic method of maieutics, ELICERE’s music is a journey inward and outward: a sublimation of the self (body, soul, spirit) and a mirror to society’s illusions. Their debut album chronicles Erased’s transformation—from a silent observer in her “imaginary dome” to a voice of defiance, witnessing denial, omnipotence, and perdition—and the alternatives that emerge from the struggle.

The Finnish melodic dark metal band SOULFALLEN is releasing the final single from their upcoming fourth album, accompanied by a music video

Finnish dark metal masters Soulfallen will release their long-awaited fourth studio album, Uncharted Plains, on November 20th via Inverse Records. The new album continues in the vein of Soulfallen’s signature melodic, heavy, and atmospheric metal style but steers the band’s sound in an even darker and more diverse direction. The record comprises of just seven tracks, with an average duration well exceeding six minutes.

The band is releasing a third and final taste of the upcoming album. The third single is titled “A Promise Of Storm,” and the accompanying music video can be viewed below. The track represents the calmer side of the album.

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

“Work on the new album took a long time, and the tracks evolved into long—and even longer—compositions. The songs roll forward as a heavy mass, and this unhurried album invites the listener to pause and even find a sense of calm while experiencing it. It serves as a welcome counterpoint and antithesis to the hectic pace of modern society—where boredom sets in instantly unless something spectacular is constantly happening. Unlike much contemporary music, the songs here tell a cohesive story that unfolds chronologically from track to track across the entire album. The narrative is set in the aftermath of the ‘apocalypse trilogy’ featured on the previous albums; in this chapter, the narrator brings itself to life through sheer willpower within a completely dead world. The story will conclude on the next album—which, hopefully, won’t take another ten years to arrive. In A Promise Of Storm, the entity’s consciousness has awakened, and it moves toward the threshold of existence and the storm of creation,” explains vocalist and lyricist Kai Leikola.

The album cover and tracklist are included below. The cover art was created by Jyväskylä-based artist Lilli Salminen.

SOULFALLEN is:

Kai Leikola – vocals

Aapeli Kivimäki – guitars

Jari Kinnunen – guitars

Teemu Vähäkangas – bass

Aaro Lappalainen – drums

Discography:

World Expiration (2007)

Grave New World (2009)

The Promise of Hell (2012)

https://www.soulfallen.com/

https://www.facebook.com/soulfallenofficial

https://www.instagram.com/soulfallen_official/

Solus Video Interview

Since their formation in 2020, Solus have carved out a distinctive place within Finland’s extreme music scene, blending brooding atmospheres with sharp modern influences. Their latest EP, 4, released in July, is a melancholic concept work that traces the journey from birth to the end of all things. Ahead of their show in Pori, The Offering had the opportunity to sit down with the band to discuss their origins, the EP, their approach to songwriting, their plans for 2027, and much more.

https://www.instagram.com/solus.official/