Author: Crix

Finnish prog metallers Oddland unveil new single “Unilluminate” from upcoming album “Unilluminate To Illuminate” out August 21st

Finnish progressive metal band Oddland unveil today their new single and official lyric video, “Unilluminate”, taken from the upcoming studio album, “Unilluminate To Illuminate”, out on August 21, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.

The band stated: “Unilluminate” is a song that speaks of hope, light, and resilience. It tells a collective story of children growing up in broken families while carrying the weight of generational burdens. The “shards of glass” on the floor – both actual and metaphorical – leave room for hope and strength if there is something or someone protective and good. The song reminds us of the value of providing hope and kindness, even when everything seems hopeless and lost.”

Oddland are also set to embark on a handful of tour dates across Europe, the full list of shows can be found below.

Watch the official lyric video for “Unilluminate” HERE

Pre-Order “Unilluminate To Illuminate” HERE

Oddland return with their highly anticipated new album “Unilluminate To Illuminate”, reaffirming their status as one of the most innovative and compelling forces in modern progressive metal.

Talking about the record, the band stated: “Unilluminate To Illuminate” reflects the need for polarity in life, the need for darkness in order to find joy in light, and the dance of these qualities that deepen the human experience. In the modern age there is a constant chase for dopamine rushes and shortcuts to euphoria. A constant state of happiness is not only impossible but an unfulfilling and untruthful way to live. There is darkness in all of us like there is light in all of us. And, in order to find your light, you must sometimes deeply explore your darkness. This is what the album aims to reflect in the songs and atmospheres we have created.”

Known for their intricate compositions and fearless approach to songwriting, the band continues to push boundaries while refining their already distinctive sonic identity.

The experience gained while supporting Soen on tour has clearly elevated the band to an even higher level, sharpening their performance edge and strengthening their sense of dynamics and impact. That growth is fully reflected in this new record, which feels more focused, confident, and mature than ever before.

This new album expands Oddland’s complex musical universe with heightened intensity, atmospheric depth, and razor-sharp precision. Shifting seamlessly between crushing heaviness and cinematic expanses, “Unilluminate To Illuminate” showcases a band operating at the peak of their creative powers, delivering a listening experience that is both technically impressive and emotionally resonant.

With a bold sense of dynamics and a strong conceptual undercurrent, the album captures the essence of a band that refuses to stand still. Each track reveals new layers upon repeated listens, blending progressive complexity with memorable themes and a powerful sense of direction.

“Unilluminate To Illuminate” stands as a striking statement from one of the finest names in modern progressive metal – a record that challenges, captivates, and ultimately elevates the listener.

“Unilluminate To Illuminate” Tracklist:

1.    Amokinus
2.    Eternal Erode
3.    Soar
4.    Ascent
5.    Freefall
6.    Unilluminate
7.    Illuminate
8.    Act Of Solace
9.    Red Canvas
10.    Unbound In Time
11.    Waterdrops

Line Up:
Sakari Ojanen – Vocals, guitars
Joni Palmroth – Bass
Ville Viitanen – Drums
Jussi Poikonen – guitars

UPCOMING TOUR DATES:

29.08: DK – Næstved @ Næstved Metalfest
04.09: FI – Turku @ Logomo

Split headliner EU tour with Mother Of Millions:
17.09: DE – München @ Feierwerk
18.09: DE – Stuttgart @ Klub Zentral
19.09: NL – Zoetermeer @ Boerderij
20.09: BE – Diest @ Hell
22.09: PL – Krakow @ Garage Pub
23.09: HU – Budapest @ A38
24.09: SK – Bratislava @ Randal Club
25.09: RO – Cluj @ Machines Venue
26.09: RO – Bucharest @ Quantic

Follow ODDLAND:
Website
Facebook
YouTube

CITOVITZ AND THE FIREFLIES OF FEBRUARY Release First Single & Lyric Video ‘By The Time You Die, You’re Barely Human’ from Upcoming Album “Acoustism”

In the middle of summer 2026 — while the world outside grew louder and hotter and less certain of itself — Andrzej Citowicz sat down in his home studio in Cairo and finished a song that had been pressing against the inside of his chest for a very long time.

The result is By The Time You Die, You’re Barely Human — the first official single from Acoustism, the forthcoming album from Citovitz and The Fireflies of February, scheduled for release in autumn 2026. The single is available now on all major streaming platforms An official lyric video is available on YouTube.

Youtube link: https://youtu.be/698xSMmEbCk?si=FoJlcBkMDw4PWqpM

It is one of the most direct, most unflinching, and most necessary pieces of music Andrzej has ever released.

THE WORLD THAT MADE THIS SONG

There are songs that arrive from craft. And there are songs that arrive from necessity — from the specific pressure of living through a moment in history that demands a response. By The Time You Die, You’re Barely Human is the second kind entirely.

The lyric does not soften its diagnosis. It looks at what modern civilisation has done to itself — the trading of truth for comfort, love for pride, humanity for the kind of progress that turns out to be organised sinking — and it refuses to look away. Every generation reaches farther, the second verse observes, finding less within its reach. It is the most concise summary of the modern condition Andrzej has ever compressed into a single line.

“The mirror never lied to us — we simply learned to celebrate.”
— from By The Time You Die, You’re Barely Human

But the song is not nihilism. It is grief — which is an entirely different thing. Grief implies that something worth mourning was lost. That the person doing the grieving once knew what it felt like to be more than what they have become. The chorus does not condemn so much as mourn. And the outro — perhaps the most quietly devastating lines Andrzej has ever written — does not end in accusation but in hope worn thin:

“If tomorrow still remembers us — let it remember we tried.”
— from By The Time You Die, You’re Barely Human

That line, Andrzej says, arrived last. And when it did, he knew the song was complete.

“I did not write this song to point fingers. I wrote it because I looked around at the summer of 2026 — at everything the world was carrying, at everything my own life had been through in the past year — and I needed to say something true. Something that did not flinch. This is that song.”
— Andrzej Citowicz

THE SOUND: WHERE ALTER BRIDGE MEETS UNPLUGGED BON JOVI

Musically, By The Time You Die, You’re Barely Human exists in a space that Andrzej has been approaching his entire career but has never quite occupied so completely until now. The acoustic version carries the intimacy and emotional weight of the great unplugged rock tradition — Bon Jovi’s MTV Unplugged performances, the raw confessional energy of a guitar placed directly against a lyric with nowhere to hide. Clean, wide open, and devastating in its simplicity.

“The acoustic version asks you to sit with the words .Some people need the quiet to hear clearly…”
— Andrzej Citowicz

ACOUSTISM: THE ALBUM THAT IS COMING

By The Time You Die, You’re Barely Human is the first window into Acoustism — the most ambitious and most personal album Andrzej Citowicz has ever announced. Due for release in autumn 2026, the album is built around the intersection of Andrzej’s acoustic guitar work and his identity as a person on the autism spectrum — his ICD-11 diagnostic code, 6A02, has already given its name to one of the album’s tracks — alongside songs that document the extraordinary personal journey of the past twelve months.

A life-changing year. The loss of a beloved friend and mentor — H — whose memory lives inside the For The Hawk album released earlier in 2026. The discovery of an adult daughter, Esther, whose arrival Andrzej describes simply as a miracle beyond imagination. The grief. The gratitude. The bittersweet, overwhelming experience of finding that life, in its fifties, still has the capacity to rearrange everything you thought you understood about yourself.

All of that is inside Acoustism. By The Time You Die, You’re Barely Human is its opening declaration — the song that sets the emotional and philosophical stakes for everything that follows.

“This album is unlike anything I have made before. Not because I planned it that way. Because life made it that way. I am a different person than I was twelve months ago. The music had no choice but to reflect that.”
— Andrzej Citowicz

ANDRZEJ CITOWICZ: THE LIVING ROOM ROCKSTAR

Born in Wałbrzych, Poland, and now based in Cairo, Egypt, guitarist ad songwriter, Andrzej Citowicz has spent his career building one of the most quietly determined independent music projects in contemporary rock. Recording under the name Citovitz and The Fireflies of February, he operates entirely without label support — writing, performing, producing, mixing, and mastering from his home studio, with Suno AI serving as his virtual band alongside his own guitar work and the lyrical contributions of his wife, Shereen Shoukry Citowicz.

His musical DNA runs deep in the classic rock and power ballad tradition — Bon Jovi’s New Jersey and Blaze of Glory eras, Def Leppard’s Hysteria and Adrenalize, Desmond Child’s songwriting architecture, the neo-classical guitar vocabulary of Joe Satriani’s The Extremist. These are not influences he has moved on from. They are the foundation everything else is built on — and By The Time You Die, You’re Barely Human demonstrates exactly what that foundation looks like when it is carrying the full weight of a life examined honestly.

2026 has been Andrzej’s most prolific and most personal year to date. Beautiful Damage: 1990–1996 — released April 13th — completed songs written between the ages of 14 and 20, discovered on old tape cassettes. For The Hawk — released May 4th, Star Wars Day — honoured the memory of a beloved friend and mentor. And now Acoustism arrives in autumn, carrying everything the year has taught him about loss, identity, love, and what it means to still be here.

“The guitar is always first. It has always been first. Modern technology helps me build what I hear around it. But what I hear — I have been hearing since the early 1990s. That has never changed. And it never will.”
— Andrzej Citowicz

SINGLE & ALBUM DETAILS

Single: By The Time You Die, You’re Barely Human
Versions: Acoustic Version
Music, Guitars & Lyrics: Andrzej Citowicz
Available: All major streaming platforms — now
Lyric Video: YouTube — now
Album: Acoustism — Autumn 2026
Artist: Citovitz and The Fireflies of February

STREAM & WATCH
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AndrzejCitowicz
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7aIeg5DyI7xwkYLsBgJNWf
Instagram: https://instagram.com/citovitz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citovitz/

Iceland’s Sorcerous Folk Metal HRAFNABLÓT Unleashes Debut Music Video “Svartigaldur”; The First Chapter of Forthcoming Album “Guðlaugar Saga”

Iceland’s sorcerous folk‑metal conjurers Hrafnablót (pronounced rahv-nah‑blote) have released their first official single, “Svartigaldur,” alongside an atmospheric music video. The track marks the opening strike from the band’s forthcoming debut album, “Guðlaugar Saga,” arriving in fall 2026.
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A metallized Icelandic sea‑shanty rooted in ancient folk melody, “Svartigaldur” tells a pivotal moment in the album’s narrative. The kidnapping of Guðlaug, the record’s time‑travelling protagonist, is bound to the mast of a Viking longship after being mistaken for a witch. The song’s main riff, adapted from the Icelandic folk tune Að bíða þess sem búið er, anchors a storm of rowboat rhythms, black‑metal‑tinged chord work, and soaring clean‑vocal hooks.
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The accompanying video, directed and edited by bassist Þórgnýr Einar Albertsson with creative direction by singer Hugrún Hanna Stefánsdóttir, was filmed across Iceland’s unforgiving winter landscapes and captures the band’s ritualistic energy and the stark contrasts that define their sound. During the shoot, members endured temperatures as low as –15°C, relocating mid‑day from a wind‑blasted lighthouse in Selvogur to the sheltering woods of Þrastarskógur to complete the performance scenes.
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​“Svartigaldur was the last song we wrote for the album, and it came together at lightning speed. We’re extremely proud to finally release it as we invite every listener on this journey through the Icelandic settlement age along with us,” adds the band.

Hrafnablót’s debut full‑length is a fully realized Icelandic epic, both musically and lyrically. The album follows Guðlaug, a modern‑day woman thrust back into the settlement age with nothing but her clothes and a taser. Across battles, celebrations, kidnapping, and existential crossroads, the record explores whether she will return to her mundane present or embrace a new destiny in the past.
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Sonically, “Guðlaugar Saga” contrasts darkness and light, ugliness and beauty, past and present, weaving together Icelandic folk music, Nordic folk metal, NWOBHM, gothic influences, and extreme metal to create a sound that is sorcerous, folky, dramatic, melodic, and contrasting.
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The album will feature seven full songs plus two spoken‑word pieces, including the seer’s prophecy in Spádómurinn and the chieftain’s post‑battle reflection in Kappar, meyjar, and komendur. Each track contributes to the overarching Saga, from the celebratory folk‑metal revelry of Fögnuður to the 11‑minute multi‑movement finale Örlagavegur.
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Formed in Reykjavík in fall 2024, Hrafnablót draws deeply from Icelandic magick, folklore, and the Sagas. Their sound blends heavy riffs, folk instrumentation, haunting melodies, and both clean and harsh vocals, creating a distinct brand of sorcerous folk metal rooted in Icelandic myth and landscape.
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Since forming, the band has become a rising force in Iceland’s live scene, performing at Íslenski rokkbarinn, Lemmy, BIRD, and the Icelandic Sorcery Festival, where drummer Andri famously performed despite a severe back injury, lying flat until the moment he took the stage.
​
Their performances channel ritual intensity, dramatic storytelling, and strong visual elements, aiming to feel less like a concert and more like a magickal rite.
​
The single artwork for “Svartigaldur,” illustrated by Ana Nikitina with layout by guitarist Mara Birna Jóhannsdóttir, depicts Guðlaug bound to the mast of a Viking longship. The frame features Icelandic magick staves used historically to ward against black magick, tying the visual world directly into the album’s themes.
​
​Hrafnablót’s writing is highly collaborative. Bassist Þórgnýr Einar Albertsson often brings initial demos, which the band collectively reshapes during rehearsal, adding symphonic elements, vocal lines, and structural changes. Lyrics, primarily written by vocalist Hugrún Hanna Stefánsdóttir and drummer Andri Pétur Dalmar with contributions from the rest of the band, draw heavily from Icelandic folklore, Skaldic poetry, and historical magick traditions.​
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The band’s influences span Cradle of Filth, Bathory, Iron Maiden, Ensiferum, Nightwish, Wintersun, and a wide spectrum of folk, gothic, and extreme metal.
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With “Svartigaldur” now unveiled, Hrafnablót opens the gateway into their Saga, inviting listeners into a world of Icelandic myth, magick, and metal.
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Watch and listen to “Svartigaldur” at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDPpHb_Qf1s​

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/hrafnablt/svartigaldur​

Bandcamp – https://hrafnablot.bandcamp.com/​

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For more info:

​https://hrafnablot.is/​

​https://www.facebook.com/hrafnablot/​

​https://www.instagram.com/hrafnablot​
​
​About:​
Hrafnablót is a sorcerous folk metal band, formed in Iceland in the fall of 2024. Drawing from the contrasting light and darkness of Icelandic magick, Sagas, and folklore, the band weaves together heavy riffs, folk influences, haunting melodies, and clean and harsh vocals. The outcome is a sound rooted in Icelandic myth and landscape.

Since forming, Hrafnablót has built a strong presence in the live music scene in Iceland, performing at venues such as Íslenski rokkbarinn, Lemmy, and BIRD, as well as the Icelandic Sorcery Festival in 2025.

Hrafnablót’s live shows channel ritual intensity and pure metal energy, carried by meticulous Icelandic lyrics, storytelling, and a distinct sense of drama.

Hrafnablót is releasing their debut album, Guðlaugar Saga, in the fall of 2026.

New Sun Release New Single & Lyric Video “Creating My Empire”

Italian melodic death metal force New Sun have unveiled their new single and lyric video, “Creating My Empire,” taken from their upcoming debut album Hanged’s Fate, set for release on August 7, 2026, via Wormholedeath Records.

“Creating My Empire” is a statement of resilience and personal transformation, where soaring melodies and crushing riffs accompany a journey through darkness, inner conflict, and rebirth. The empire becomes a metaphor for identity: our convictions can turn into the walls that separate us from the world. It’s the character himself who builds those barriers: with his own beliefs, he raises the “wall of his empire,” cutting ties with everyone and everything to defend what he believes in. In the pursuit of certainty, those walls keep growing higher, and what emerges is loneliness — a self-imposed exile, brick by brick. From there begins the real battle: confronting the prison we’ve built for ourselves, breaking free from our own chains — or our own wall — and rebuilding, step by step, until strength rises from the shadows.

Pre-save Hanged’s Fate: orcd.co/hfalbum

Born in the Italian underground, New Sun delivers a crushing blend of Death, Groove, and Black Metal. Their debut album, Hanged’s Fate, is a heavy journey through the human condition, exploring what happens when control collapses, and the road to rebirth begins. Driven by the standout single “Drag Me Down,” the record is a furious, liberating anthem about hitting rock bottom and breaking your own chains.

www.instagram.com/newsun_band

www.facebook.com/newsunmetal

newsn.bandcamp.com/track/create-my-empire

MANU PES BAND Unveil First Single & Video ‘Flying In The Dark’ from Upcoming Album

Available now on all major digital platforms via Volcano Records, “Flying In The Dark” is the brand-new single from MANU PES BAND and the first taste of the trio’s upcoming album, scheduled for release this September.

Entirely instrumental, the track perfectly captures the band’s musical identity, blending hard rock, blues and heavy metal into a dynamic balance of technical prowess, infectious grooves and memorable melodies. With “Flying In The Dark”, Manu Pes Band invites listeners on an immersive journey through consciousness, allowing the music alone to tell the story. Without the need for lyrics, the guitar becomes the voice of the composition, leading the listener through shifting moods of tension, energy and introspection, alternating explosive rock-driven passages with more melodic and atmospheric moments. The band’s sound is rooted in the meeting point between blues expression and heavy metal power, enriched by subtle touches of funk and fusion while remaining firmly anchored in hard rock. Catchy riffs, expressive guitar work and a strong sense of groove define a style that pays tribute to iconic artists such as Joe Satriani, Van Halen and Led Zeppelin, while maintaining a fresh and contemporary personality. The release is accompanied by the official music video, now available on YouTube, offering a visual interpretation of the track’s atmosphere and cinematic spirit, adding another dimension to this instrumental journey.

Formed in 2023 by guitarist Emanuele Pes together with Mattia Murtas and Maurizio Serreli, Manu Pes Band embraces a free and uncompromising approach to songwriting, effortlessly blending blues, hard rock, heavy metal, funk and fusion into a distinctive musical language. “Flying In The Dark” marks the opening chapter of a new creative journey that will culminate with the release of the band’s new album this September.

Listen to “Flying In The Dark” on all digital platforms and watch the official music video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zcBGYshpEyA

www.volcanopromotion.com
www.instagram.com/manu_pes_band

Finnish progressive metal band End Of Abyss has released the first single from their upcoming debut album, set for release later this year

End Of Abyss, a rising name in Finland’s progressive metal scene, will unveil their debut album in October. While the band may be new to international audiences, its lineup features familiar faces from the Finnish metal world — including vocalist Mikko Herranen, known for his work across multiple bands and as a producer, and bassist Janne Koskenkorva, recognized from Baulta and Portrait of Beyond.

The first single, Astral Dreams, offers a strong glimpse into the album’s overall atmosphere. The nearly seven‑minute track tells a story set in a historical fantasy world, where summer slowly turns to autumn. Its lyrics introduce the album’s overarching concept, presenting the dream‑realm‑fighting “Platoon of Shadows” and exploring the connection between dream and reality — and how that connection becomes a weapon in the fight for a better world.

“We wanted the song to feel cinematic and epic, shifting from soft to heavy, from the eye of the storm to the beauty of a symphonic orchestra. The chorus intentionally contrasts a beautiful athmosphere with more ominous lyrical themes,” explains the band’s main songwriter Petrus Syvänperä.

“Astral Dreams is unusual metal track because it carries so much dynamic range. Those emotional shifts make the music interesting. It’s my favorite song on the album for that reason — the entire emotional spectrum is in use,” adds vocalist Mikko Herranen.

Listen to the single on streaming platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube Music, etc.): https://push.fm/fl/endofabyss-astraldreams

End Of Abyss began in Jyväskylä, Finland in the early 2000s as Petrus Syvänperä’s one‑man project. The first self‑recorded demo appeared in 2010, slowly planting the idea of creating a full progressive metal album. A key part of the band’s musical evolution was the development of Petrus’s home studio, where years of demos shaped both the band’s sound and the album’s narrative. During this period, the project worked with several artists but did not yet settle on permanent members.

When the debut album entered the production phase in 2024, guitarist Alpo Pöytäkangas joined and contributed also to the songwriting. Shortly after, bassist Janne Koskenkorva became part of the lineup.

The band’s sound took a major leap forward when vocalist Mikko Herranen joined. His strong melodic sense, professional experience, and human‑centered working style helped shape the album’s sweeping, symphonic atmosphere.

In addition to Pöytäkangas and Syvänperä few tracks include solos by Antti Koivistoinen, who was involved also during the demo years, and rhythm guitars by Juha‑Matti “Masa” Berg (Remastered).

https://www.facebook.com/endofabyss

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

https://www.instagram.com/endofabyssproject/

 

King Satan reimagines Britney Spears’ hit (You Drive Me) Crazy – Autumn gigs announced, including a special gig with Erja Lyytinen

King Satan, one of the top industrial metal bands in Finland, released a real party song based on a summer hit, after all it is Britney Spears‘s huge hit (You Drive Me) Crazy, which fits perfectly into King Satan’s “death metal disco” style.

“There is more than one person in this band who has a very high regard for the early production of pop icon Britney Spears. For all of us, there was something about the pop music of the late 90s and early 2000s, and (You Drive Me) Crazy is one of those songs that perfectly encapsulates that era!”, King Aleister Satan summarizes and continues:

“Its energetic and uplifting atmosphere, with a touch of melancholy, catchy rhythms and great melodies, has still not disappeared from our collective consciousness! All of this turned into industrial metal and King Satan’s style surprisingly effortlessly on top of that.”

King Satan will release their new album Black Magick Abraxas on November 6th, but this song won’t be featured on it. Understandably, the legal ramifications of one of the world’s biggest hits have also turned out to be quite a jungle, but the band is happy that the single is released with a music video.

“This is our tribute to the eternal return of pop culture, which programs our subconscious to understand that a good song is a good song regardless of genre.”

King Satan has previously released the single Light of Darkness from his upcoming album and the single Black Magick Rock ‘N’ Roll, made with blues guitarist Erja Lyytinen. Those songs will also be heard live at the first shows of the release tour, which have now been announced:

01/10/2026 – Tampere, Lost In Music Festival 2026
14/11/2026 – Turku, Fuusio (Support: Bloody Falls, Black Totem)
20-21/11/2026 – Helsinki, Hellsinki Industrial Festival 2026 (King Satan feat. Erja Lyytinen Special Show)
28/11/2026 – Kouvola, Haitaritehdas (Support: Deathropy, Kollectivist)
19/12/2026 – Mikkeli, Dinosaurock Club / Kulttuuritalo Tempo (Support: Deathropy)

The upcoming Black Magick Abraxas album includes the following songs:
1. Black Magick Rock ‘N ‘ Roll (feat. Erja Lyytinen)
2. Light of Darkness
3. Fire in the Hole
4. Hate Me Baby
5. Abraxas Rising
6. Far Beyond Good and Evil
7. The Devil Made Me Do It
8. Down by the Sins
9. Ride the Lion (CD/LP Bonus) 

www.kingsatan.net

French Modern Progressive Blackened Metalcore outfit ELICERE unveiled new single “Erased I: The Dome” on YouTube & Bandcamp

From the heart of France’s Tarn region, ELICERE forges a sound as complex as its philosophy: a modern metal fusion of modern-metal/hardcore’s fury, black metal’s abyss, and metalcore’s precision. But this is more than music : it’s maieutics in motion, the art of drawing forth what lies buried deep.

Their debut album traces the journey of Erased, a character trapped in her imaginary dome, watching the world’s vanities, idolatries, and murky relationships with a mix of revulsion and longing. Until the vision comes: she must become the voice. A voice against eschatological denial, illusions of omnipotence, and the path to perdition ; and the alternatives that lurk beyond.

ELICERE unveiled a first glimpse from their debut album with the single “Erased I : The Dome” available with a music video on YouTube and Bandcamp.

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.

France’s KINGCROWN Shares New Video “Nothing” From Upcoming Album “Moonfall” Out September 2026

French melodic heavy/power metal band KINGCROWN return with “Nothing“, the second single taken from their forthcoming album “Moonfall” due for release on September 4th, 2026. Supported by an official music video, the new track further develops the album’s conceptual direction while showcasing the band’s blend of melodic heavy metal and European power metal.

After introducing the time-travel narrative of “Lost Horizon“, KINGCROWN now turn their attention to another central theme of “Moonfall” with “Nothing“. Conceived as a direct sequel to “Utopia Metropolis” from “Nova Atlantis“, the song explores the growing influence of artificial intelligence and the gradual replacement of genuine human relationships by increasingly sophisticated machines designed to replicate emotion without truly experiencing it.

Rather than presenting technology as either salvation or threat, “Nothing” reflects on the emotional consequences of a society where authentic human connections become progressively less frequent. The lyrics question whether convenience and technological progress may ultimately come at the expense of empathy, identity, and personal relationships, continuing KINGCROWN‘s interest in combining speculative themes with contemporary social reflections.

Musically, “Nothing” combines driving guitar riffs, twin-guitar harmonies, melodic vocal lines, and a memorable chorus supported by a modern and balanced production. The track reinforces the band’s melodic identity without losing the energy and precision that have characterized its most recent releases.

Produced by KINGCROWN and mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio, the single reflects the consistency of a lineup that continues to refine its musical identity with each release. Alongside Jo Amore (vocals) and David Amore (drums), former members of Nightmare, the current lineup features Ced Legger and Bob Saliba on guitars and Sébastien Chabot on bass.

With “Nothing“, KINGCROWN continue to reveal new facets of “Moonfall“, an album built around interconnected stories exploring technological evolution, artificial intelligence and the future of humanity. While each song stands on its own, together they contribute to a broader narrative that continues to unfold ahead of the album’s release.

For Fans of: Iron Maiden, Helloween, Gamma Ray, Symphony X, Powerwolf

LISTEN – https://lnk.to/TxF5ca​
​VIDEO – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-EbQJn32Mo​

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ALBUM PRE-ORDER – https://rockshots.eu/products/kingcrown-moonfall-cd​

Previous Single – Lost Horizon

LISTEN – https://lnk.to/4mhjvC​
​VIDEO – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJjlw2AZuPs​

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Kingcrown Line-up:

Joe Amore: Vocals
​Ced Legger: Guitars
​Bob Saliba: Guitars
​Seb Chabot: Bass, Guitars
​David Amore: Drums

About:

Kingcrown is a French melodic heavy/power metal band founded by brothers Jo Amore (vocals) and David Amore (drums), both former members of Nightmare.

The project traces its origins back to 2015 with the band Öblivïon, formed following their departure from Nightmare. After the release of Resilience, the group adopted the name Kingcrown in 2018, marking the beginning of a more defined artistic direction rooted in the European heavy/power metal tradition.

From the outset, Kingcrown established a sound built on strong melodic structures, dynamic riffing, and a clear emphasis on songwriting effectiveness. Drawing from the legacy of bands such as Iron Maiden, Helloween, and Gamma Ray, the band combines classic influences with a modern production approach, resulting in a sound that is both accessible and structurally solid.

Following the release of “A Perfect World” (2019) and “Wake Up Call” (2022), Kingcrown entered a new phase with “Nova Atlantis” (2024), released via Rockshots Records. The album marked a clear step forward in terms of cohesion, production quality, and conceptual direction, receiving strong feedback from both audiences and specialized media.

Building on this momentum, the band continues its collaboration with Rockshots Records for “Moonfall“, scheduled for release in 2026. The new album further develops Kingcrown’s identity through a more focused songwriting approach and a broader conceptual framework centered on dystopian themes, technological evolution, and temporal dislocation.

The first single, “Lost Horizon“, expands the narrative universe introduced in “Nova Atlantis“, acting as a direct sequel to “Endless Journey” and introducing a time-travel storyline in which a WWII B-17 pilot is propelled into the year 2045. This approach reflects the band’s growing interest in combining structured songwriting with narrative continuity.

Kingcrown’s current lineup – Jo Amore (vocals), David Amore (drums), Sébastien Chabot (bass), Bob Saliba (guitars), and Ced Legger (guitars) – has remained stable across recent releases, contributing to a consistent and cohesive musical direction.

With a steadily evolving discography and a clear artistic vision, Kingcrown has established itself as a credible presence within the European metal scene, balancing melodic immediacy, conceptual depth, and production precision.

https://rockshots.eu/
https://linktr.ee/kingcrown_off​

The Funeral Portrait Video Interview

The Funeral Portrait emerged from Atlanta in 2014, forging a world where theatricality, sharp visual style, and an uncompromising creative attitude collide with intensely hard‑hitting songs. Their sound, an evocative blend of emotional hardcore, punk rock, and musical theater, has drawn comparisons to My Chemical Romance, Ghost, and Motionless In White while remaining unmistakably their own. In 2024, the band released Greetings from Suffocate City, a darkly cinematic and meticulously crafted album that quickly became a defining milestone. A year later, they expanded that universe with a deluxe edition featuring several guest appearances, further enriching the album’s narrative and sonic depth.
Onstage, The Funeral Portrait transform performance into ritual. Their live shows, known as Devotion Ceremonies, immerse audiences in elaborate, visually captivating stage worlds inhabited by symbolic characters called The Icons. These ceremonies have become central to the band’s identity and the profound connection they share with their fanbase.
After The Funeral Portrait’s first‑ever Finnish Devotion Ceremony at Tuska Festival, we sat down with frontman Lee Jennings to discuss Greetings from Suffocate City, life on tour, the band’s relationship with their devoted followers, the evolution of their songwriting, and their plans for the future. Jennings spoke with disarming openness, offering heartfelt reflections while also leaving room for lighter moments, including conversations about food, that revealed the warmth and humor behind the band’s theatrical facade.

 

https://linktr.ee/tfp_insta