Following the success of “We Should Be Buried Like This,” Bloodred Hourglass returned last May with “After the Burial,” an EP combining two previously unreleased songs and two stunning live recordings captured during their performance with St. Michel Strings.
Fresh from their performance at Tuska, we sat down with drummer Jarkko Hyvönen to delve into the rhythmic backbone of this period. Our conversation explored the album’s creation from a drummer’s perspective, the story behind the EP, his collaboration with Erja Lyytinen, and how years of touring, recording, and personal growth have shaped his musical craft. Hyvönen also shared his evolving vision for music, the band’s future plans, and more, offering a candid look at the drive that drives Bloodred Hourglass.
Author: Crix
Nenerchy Video Interview
Nenerchy has created a sonic identity that defies classification: her music is an electrifying collision of rap, rock, and drum ‘n’ bass that bears the unmistakable imprint of her punk beginnings, when counterculture ignited her at sixteen. And that fuse has never died.
Before her show at the Tuska Festival, she spoke to us about how she shaped her debut album, Prima Bailarina, without any genre restrictions, the unconventional sources that fuel her creativity, from movies to weird noises, and her striking stage look, which amplifies her presence even before the first note is played.
Lunarsea Video Interview
Born from the remnants of Hollowearth in the early 2000s, Italy’s Lunarsea built their reputation on ambitious studio work long before stepping onto a stage. Their debut Hydrodynamic Wave (2006) became Burning Star Records’ best‑selling release, followed by Route Code Selector (2009), Hundred Light Years (2013), and the acclaimed Earthling‑Terrestre (2019). Their latest offering, ELEMENTI – Live in Tokyo (2025), showcases a band fully matured and live‑driven.
Ahead of their first ever Finnish show at Tuska, Lunarsea spoke with us about their musical evolution, the energy behind their live performances, and the mindset required before beginning work on a new album. The ideas are already flowing, now they are waiting for the right moment to ignite.
Whispered Announce Long-Awaited Fourth Album Honorbound, Out September 11th – Final Single “Battlecry” Out Now
Finnish melodic death metal band Whispered, renowned for blending Japanese musical influences and traditional themes with modern metal, will release their long-awaited fourth studio album, Honorbound, on September 11. Nearly a decade has passed since the band’s previous full-length, Metsutan (2016), making Honorbound a highly anticipated return.
The album campaign began in April with the release of the first single, “Ikikaere”, which climbed into YouTube’s Top 20 Trending Music Videos shortly after its release. The enthusiastic response confirmed that Whispered’s return had been eagerly awaited by fans both in Finland and abroad.
Honorbound is the result of years of dedicated work. During the lengthy writing and recording process, the band also became increasingly self-sufficient, taking full control of the album’s production.
“After the previous album, we had a strong feeling that we wanted to take everything into our own hands and learn how to do this entirely on our own terms. That was the beginning of a journey that definitely wasn’t supposed to last ten years, but sometimes things simply take as long as they need to.
Along the way, we also realized that chasing perfection is an excellent way to stretch deadlines into eternity and lose touch with reality one new mix at a time.
Still, we never gave up. Even when the process felt endless at times, we kept pushing the album forward with determination until it was finally finished. This record was created largely by two people, but its completion also strongly belongs to the new lineup. The energy that came from them reminded us why we do this in the first place: to get this album out into the world, return to the stage, and above all finally move on to making the next record.”
Released now, the album’s final single, “Battlecry”, captures everything that defines the Whispered sound: crushing riffs, epic melodies, and storytelling inspired by Japanese tradition.
“‘Battlecry’ was born in the midst of the album process from dire need to create something that drives forward with steady and heavy pulse while capturing many aspects what Whispered is all about. As the name might give away, the song is about going to battle with everything you got, even when the odds aren’t at all in your favour. Steel, honour and no prisoners. The battle hymn of the Shogunate!”
A lyric video featuring footage from the band’s European tour in May is also released now.
Watch the lyric video here.
Whispered will perform a selection of festival shows throughout the summer before embarking on a UK mini-tour in September. Additional live dates will be announced later this autumn.
Upcoming Live Dates are:
July 10, 2026 – Dark River Festival, Kotka, Finland
August 15, 2026 – SaariHelvetti, Tampere, Finland
September 9, 2026 – 229 Club, London, UK
September 10, 2026 – Bannerman’s, Edinburgh, UK
September 11, 2026 – Nightrain, Bradford, UK
September 12, 2026 – Gryphon, Bristol, UK
September 18, 2026 – Kuudes Linja, Helsinki, Finland
“Orders to all warriors: stream the new track relentlessly and march to the shows in full force to witness the return of the shogunate. Ikikaere! – Whispered
Lineup:
Jouni Valjakka – Vocals, Guitar
Mikko Mattila – Guitar
Olli Paajanen – Bass
Filip Gäddnäs – Drums
Whispered’s music represents True Finnish Samurai Metal – melodic death metal that blends influences from Japanese traditions with epic orchestration. The band was founded by Jouni Valjakka in 2004 out of a love for metal music and Japan, giving birth to Whispered.
Their debut album Thousand Swords (2010) introduced this distinctive fusion to the metal scene. A darker and more mature continuation followed with their second album Shogunate Macabre (2014), and their third full-length Metsutan – Songs of the Void (2016) elevated the band’s multi-layered vision to a new level.
Whispered’s music and visual identity have earned the band widespread international recognition for its cross-cultural approach to heavy music. The band has toured in Finland, across Europe, and in Japan, building a strong live reputation and a loyal fanbase. After several years on hiatus, their long-awaited next album will be released this year.
“Even the most stoned listener will wake up from their slumber and start singing along to the easily adopted chorus” -Occult Master’s Heavy Metal Madness single out now
The Finnish Heavy Doom band Occult Master are set to release their self-titled debut album on August 14th 2026 via Inverse Records. The third single and music video ‘Heavy Metal Madness’ out now on all essential streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/occult-master-heavy-metal-madness
The band comments:
“Fast, dark and heavy, this song is a relentless, raw homage to the origins of technical heavy and trash metal. The track delves into the dark recesses of the mind, the delusions of madness, and the excruciating pain of life’s finiteness. Catchy riffs and technical interludes alternate with a maddening logic. This track will get your head bobbing and your fists pumping! Even the most stoned listener will wake up from their slumber and start singing along to the easily adopted chorus ! The icing on the cake, and a real treat for guitarists, is the modern and complex hero solo. “
BIOGRAPHY:
“Occult Master was founded in 2012 in Oulu, Finland, first starting as a heavy rock/doom band. After a line‑up change in 2020, the musical style turned faster, more rhythmic and more complex. Occult Master’s music is heavy, versatile and full of nuances, ranging from full‑throttle metal blasting to quiet, subtle and beautifully eerie musical landscapes. The band’s roots lie strongly in the classic heavy metal of the 1970s and 1980s. The songs are delivered in a hardy, straightforward and no‑nonsense style. In the dark‑toned music, the lyrics deal with different matters of life and the world in general, and at times even horror stories told with a devilish grin.
LISTEN to the first single ‘Island of Leper’: https://push.fm/fl/occult-master-island
LISTEN to the second single ‘Gnarly Geezer’: https://push.fm/fl/occult-master-gnarly-geezer
Occult Master are:
Ari Eskola – guitars and vocals
Toni Mäki – bass and backing vocals
Jussi Risto – drums
https://www.facebook.com/occultmasterband
https://occultmaster.bandcamp.com
Orpheus Omega Unveil New Music Video For “Marionette”
Australian melodic death metal stalwarts Orpheus Omega have officially released the music video for “Marionette,” a track from their critically acclaimed latest album, Emberglow, out now via Wormholedeath Records.
Blending crushing riffs, soaring melodies, and the band’s trademark emotional intensity, “Marionette” serves as a fitting final statement for the Emberglow era while simultaneously marking the beginning of a new chapter for one of Australia’s most enduring metal acts.
Speaking about the video, the band states:
“‘MARIONETTE’ was filmed at OO HQ whom we say goodbye to after 15 years of rehearsals and 5 albums of writing, signaling the end of the Emberglow album cycle and the move to the NEXT phase of Orpheus Omega.
It’s with this that we also give our BIGGEST thank you and appreciation to Luke for his time in the band as he steps away from Orpheus Omega. Luke’s enigmatic presence and personality have imprinted on everyone he met during many tours and won’t go forgotten anytime soon.
So please, send him ALL your love when watching this video, his last standing contribution within the band.“
With a career spanning four acclaimed albums, three EPs, and continuous tour cycles both domestically and abroad, Orpheus Omega has built a reputation as one of the hardest-working acts in the Australian metal scene. The band started with a sound rooted in the Gothenburg melodeath tradition and has since developed into a distinct voice, shaped by each member’s individual background and experience. That evolution has put them on the same stages as Insomnium, Trivium, At The Gates, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Lacuna Coil, and many others. Emberglow, released in 2024 through Wormholedeath Records, is their most ambitious record to date.
Orpheus Omega is:
Chris Themelco – Vocals/ Lead Guitar
Leon Monaco – Bass/ Backing Vocals
Matt Themelco – Drums
Luke Ashley – Guitar
Campbell Hill – Keyboard
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Italian Symphonic Metal TALES AND LEGENDS Launch Crowdfunding Campaign For New Album
Italian symphonic power metal band Tales and Legends has launched a crowdfunding campaign dedicated to the creation of their second album.
Following the release of their debut album Struggle of the Gods, the band is now ready to open a new chapter: a darker, deeper, and more cinematic concept-driven journey, where music, orchestral elements, and storytelling come together to create a fully immersive experience.
The upcoming album expands the creative world of Tales and Legends through songs conceived as pieces of a larger narrative, inspired by myth, destiny, and inner conflict. More than just a collection of tracks, the project is designed as a universe unfolding through sound.
The campaign accompanies the band’s new chapter with Rockshots Records, which will support the international release of the album. Through this initiative, Tales and Legends want to give fans the opportunity to enter the project from its early stages and become part of the journey behind the new record.
The crowdfunding campaign will help the band bring the project to life at its full potential, supporting recording and production, mixing and mastering, artwork, video and visual concept, and merchandise.
Supporters will gain access to exclusive rewards depending on their contribution, including the digital album and booklet, a signed CD digipack, exclusive extra content such as artworks, full concept material, and behind-the-scenes content, as well as the chance to have their name included in the official supporter list.
To introduce the campaign and present the vision behind the project, Tales and Legends have also released an official presentation video, available here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-5TL5ptPjc&t=1s
Founded by songwriter Andrea Atzori, Tales and Legends were created with the aim of blending epic orchestral elements, powerful riffs, and memorable melodies, drawing inspiration from bands such as Rhapsody of Fire, Avantasia, and Stratovarius.
With their new album, the band continues to refine its epic, narrative, and cinematic identity, taking another step forward in its artistic journey.
The crowdfunding campaign is now live and will run until August 25th.
Become part of the legend.
Crowdfunding campaign: https://talesandlegends.vercel.app/
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BAND LINE-UP:
Patrik J. Selleby – Vocals
Andrea Atzori – Keyboards
Carlo Figus – Guitars
Nicola Piras – Bass
Brantley Rogers – Drums
More info:
https://rockshots.eu
Tales and Legends online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talesandlegends.metal
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/talesandlegends/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TalesandLegends
X / Twitter: https://x.com/tales_legends
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-it/artist/6MstzoqIL79ktFbeWZM9ZK
Bandcamp: https://talesandlegends.bandcamp.com
Tuska announced the first artists of 2027: Lorna Shore and Children Of Bodom as headliners
Tuska festival set a new one-day attendance record on Friday June 26 with a sold-out opening day. 23,000 metal fans gathered in Suvilahti to enjoy the heaviest heat of the summer so far, led by Megadeth, who are on their farewell tour.
Tuska has also announced the first eight performers for summer 2027. Tuska, which will still be held in Suvilahti, will be held next year from July 2-4, 2027.
One of the headliners next summer will be American deathcore big name Lorna Shore. Founded in New Jersey in 2009, Lorna Shore has had a dizzying ride in recent years. The band’s fourth studio album, and vocalist Will Ramos’ first, “Pain Remains”, released in 2022, raised the band’s value to an unimaginable level. The tours that followed the album and finally the 2025 album “I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me” cemented Lorna Shore’s place not only as an absolute top name in extreme metal, but also as a metal machine appreciated by a wider audience.
The headliner for the second day will be the returning Finnish grim reaper squad Children Of Bodom, one of the world’s most respected metal bands. Cherishing the musical legacy of guitarist legend and founding member Alexi Laiho, who tragically passed away in 2020, Children Of Bodom hired Alex as guitarist-vocalist and good friend of the band Samy Elbanna, whose incredible guitar playing honors the memory of Alexi Laiho, who was also voted the best metal guitarist in the world. Tuska is pleased and honored to have Children Of Bodom on stage in the summer of 2027.
Other Tuska performers for next summer announced at this stage are the German Heaven Shall Burn, who combines extreme metal genres, the also German Kanonenfieber, who works on blackened death metal, the American Fox Lake, who mixes nu metal, hardcore and hip hop, the Portuguese Gaerea, who performs atmospheric and melodic black metal, the German modern metalcore group Avralize, and the American Sinizter, who relies on an unlikely combination of aggressive hip hop and extreme metal.
Confirmed Tuska 2027 performers:
Lorna Shore, Children Of Bodom
Heaven Shall Burn, Kanonenfieber
Fox Lake, Gaerea, Avralize, Sinizter
Artist performance dates to be announced later.
More performers to be announced later.
Tuska’s age limit is 18 years.
TUSKA 2.–4.7.2027
Helsinki, Suvilahti
#TuskaFestival
VICTORIA K – New Single “Take It All” From Forthcoming Album “The Pleasure of Sorrow”
Australian gothic metal act Victoria K return with their new single “Take It All”, taken from the band’s forthcoming third studio album, “The Pleasure of Sorrow“.
Following the release of “Oh So Weary”, the new track opens a darker and more vulnerable chapter in the world of “The Pleasure of Sorrow“. Seductively melancholic and deeply personal, “Take It All” moves through loss, memory, and the slow process of healing, shaping an emotional journey that feels intimate, atmospheric, and direct.
For fans of Evanescence, Lacuna Coil, and Spiritbox, Victoria K continues to evolve their gothic metal foundations through modern metalcore intensity, electronic textures, heavier dynamics, and layered sound design. The result is a sound that remains melodic and emotionally charged while pushing the band further into a darker, more contemporary space.
Speaking about the single, Victoria K explains:
“The song discusses a moment in time when a piece of yourself is taken from you. It may have been a piece of your character, of your youth, but it was a moment in time where you lost something of yourself in a way that felt as though it was out of your control.”
Written as a form of catharsis, “Take It All” unfolds like a distant memory resurfacing through sound, capturing the aftermath of loss, the uncertainty that follows, and the emotional spiral of trying to make sense of something that cannot be undone. Rooted in Victoria K’s love for gothic metal, with Evanescence as a key reference point, the track lets its atmosphere, vocal melodies, and recurring main riff carry the emotional weight, turning restraint into one of its greatest strengths.
The single arrives as part of Victoria K’s upcoming third studio album, “The Pleasure Of Sorrow”, a new chapter that sees the band expanding their gothic metal roots with darker atmospheres, modern heaviness, and subtle electronic textures. Further details regarding the album, including the release date, will be revealed in the coming months. Stay tuned!
Listen to “Take It All” here: https://lnk.to/kSaVux
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWj5Sr_Wbko
For fans of: Spiritbox, Evanescence, Lacuna Coil
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VICTORIA K lineup:
Victoria Knight: Vocals
Charlie Curnow: Extreme Vocals
James Davies: Drums
Ethan Collusi: Bass
BIOGRAPHY:
Emerging from the sepulchral mists and haunted landscapes of ancient myth, Victoria K cast a lengthening shadow over Australia and beyond. Leading the Australian Gothic Metal charge with soaring vocals, expansive melodies, and bombastic songwriting that draws on the resonance of the oldest tales and fresh emotion.
Victoria K first came to the notice of listeners with their single “Lacuna,” which was distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Warner Music Group (Australia) and was an early taste of things to come with their debut album, “Essentia“.
Soon after the release of the 2019 single “Lacuna” ahead of the band’s first album, Victoria K were invited to support Swiss Folk Metal legends Eluveitie at Melbourne’s Croxton Bandroom. Though this was Victoria K’s first live outing, they took the crowd by storm and left them chanting for more. This entry into the live scene set the stage for the release of “Essentia” perfectly.
The diversity of music across the “Essentia” album is showcased across the four single/video releases – “Essentia“, “Forsaken“, “The Haunting“, and “Matrix“. While “Forsaken” reaches into the darker corners of Victoria K’s musical palette, “Matrix,” by contrast, is a fast and uplifting song guaranteed to get the blood pumping.
Just as Victoria K was about to play their first headline show, however, the world was plunged into the throes of lockdowns and the now-infamous pandemic. Even in the face of such a challenging time for the music industry, the band remained undeterred and performed a live show streamed directly from the studio, which was later released as the DVD “Essentia – Live Isolation Concert“.
By the time the world opened up again, Victoria K were ravenous for touring and embarked upon an extensive trek across the Great Southern Land that took in capital cities and regional towns alike, from their hometown of Melbourne to Whyalla.
Even as they toured, Victoria K showed no sign of slowing down in their songwriting, and 2023 saw the release of their sophomore album “Kore“. For this release, Knight drew on her own Greek heritage to weave an enchanting interpretation of the story of Persephone, including lyrics and chants sung in Ancient Greek to truly capture the epic tale.
The lineage from such luminaries of Gothic Metal as Within Temptation, Lacuna Coil, and Evanescence, as well as Prog/Power acts like Evergrey and Melbourne’s own Teramaze, to Victoria K is clear; however, with their latest release, Victoria K pays tribute to a more surprising inspiration, Madonna. In April 2024, Victoria K released their heavy rendition of the iconic 1998 ballad “Frozen“, running the gamut from heavy riffs to more dulcet moments, giving homage to the soulful and introspective nature of the song.
In addition to Knight’s majestic lead vocals, Victoria K’s current touring line-up includes Charlie Curnow tearing up the stage on harsh vocals, Ethan Colussi holding down the bottom end on bass, and the indomitable percussive machine of James Davies on drums.
Victoria K has amassed over 475,000 streams on Spotify and accumulated over 717,000 views on YouTube, averaging over 90 hours a month of watch time, with Matrix achieving over 150,000 views. They also boast over 6300 Facebook, 4000 Instagram, and 2700 TikTok followers, as well as over 6600 YouTube subscribers and 1000 monthly Spotify listeners primarily in Australia and the US.
With Victoria K leaning into epic and fantastical tales, it’s only fitting that they supported Blind Guardian at the Northcote Theatre on Friday, February 9, 2024, and Katatonia at The Croxton on Saturday, February 10, 2024.
Victoria K’s have recorded their 3rd studio album, “The Pleasure of Sorrow.” The details will be revealed in the coming weeks.
More info:
https://rockshots.eu/
https://www.instagram.com/victoria_k_official/
https://www.facebook.com/victoriakofficial/
Floor Jansen released new Run single after three years of release hiatus
Floor Jansen, who is currently the lead singer of Nightwish and solo artist, released her new single Run today, which showcases the darker and heavier side of Floor’s solo production. At the same time, the single points the way in a more straightforward and guitar-driven direction, without compromising on melody. The song’s themes deal with liberation, finding one’s own strength and, most importantly, the decision to stop shrinking yourself because of other people’s expectations.
“For me, Run is about no longer shrinking yourself to fit a mold that was never yours. It’s about taking off your mask, following your own direction and having the courage to be seen. Musically, the song is heavier and more direct than before, but still honest, melodic and completely my own,” Floor says.
The song was produced by Gordon Groothedde, with whom Jansen most recently worked on After Forever’s final studio album. After her successful solo debut Paragon and a sold-out Dutch theatre tour, her solo production has been streamed almost 150 million times on streaming services.
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