Author: Crix

AKANTOPHIS Unveils “Renewal” Lyric Video

Wormholedeath is pleased to announce the release of the official lyric video for “Renewal,” an impressive atmospheric black metal offering from German band Akantophis‘ latest album, Erneuerung.

Akantophis frames “Renewal” around the concept of transformation, both personal and universal. It underlines the idea that change begins within each individual, beyond any belief system. At its core, the track also reflects the band’s respect for nature, recognizing humanity as one part of a greater whole.

Founded in a small town in the Harz Mountains in 1998, Akantophis established a stable line-up by mid-2000 and made an early mark in the underground scene with their debut album Galaria: Terra@ Exitus (2001), followed by the live-plus-new-material release Live im Klima. The band went on hiatus in 2004, with members active in other projects including Hidden in the Fog, Throat Cut, and Psykra. They reunited in April 2017 with a revised line-up and released the 7-inch vinyl Wiederkehr in 2018. The MCD EXITUS XX (2020) concluded the band’s earlier chapter and set the stage for Erneuerung, their most recent full-length.

The Lineup:

Andi : vocals
Sebastian: guitar
Lars: bass guitar
Micha: drums

akantophis.bandcamp.com
www.instagram.com/akantophis
www.facebook.com/akantophis

The new “Afterlife” single by Finnish melodic metal band Blackment is a cryptic tale in which the sense of anxiety is palpable

Blackment, the Finnish masters of diverse melodic metal, have released more new material from their upcoming second studio album. Along with the release of the “Afterlife” single, the band unfortunately also has to announce that the album’s release has been delayed from the originally planned date in June.

“The production of the last five tracks took a bit longer than expected, so we’re way behind schedule. In a situation like this, it’s better to take some extra time so we can polish the album to sound exactly the way it’s supposed to,” the band says.

The newly released “Afterlife” offers a great preview of what’s to come on the upcoming album.

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

“Afterlife is a really dynamic song, and I think it really highlights the strengths of every member of Blackment. The song showcases our lighter, more atmospheric side,” says Sebastian Nyandoto.

Guitarist-composer Saalas Ruokangas set himself the challenge on “Afterlife” of creating a song built around a single chord progression without trying to make it so-called “radio-friendly” music.

“You can only find that out by trying, and Afterlife’s initial ideas seemed to have the makings of such an experiment. Personally, I’m very happy with the end result. The song’s most essential elements are exceptionally simple compared to our other material, which allowed for a structure where those elements are introduced one by one, and as the song builds to a climax, they all come together at the same time,” says Saalas Ruokangas.

Sami Vuorenheimo, who wrote the lyrics, mulled over the song’s themes several times last fall.

“The theme emerged—loneliness and the desire to protect one’s loved ones to the very end—or beyond. This formed a cryptic story in which the anxiety is palpable. It may be that the next album will feature a continuation of the story with a twist, which can be inferred from the message at the end of the song,” Vuorenheimo adds.

The duo Allan Välimaa and Hille Sadehelmi, who also directed the previous “In Motion” video, are behind the “Afterlife” music video as well, though the concept was developed by the entire team. Preparations for the shoot included blindfolds, spray paint, and roses, the station master’s desk, as well as an old-school scouting expedition in the woods to find good filming locations.

“We decided to go with symbolism that complements the song’s narrative perfectly. The identity of the man in the cloak in the video is crystal clear to everyone! Allan handled the filming and the water bowl shaking flawlessly, not to mention Akseli’s spotlight effect. There’s also an Easter egg hidden in the classic style—comment and report this on YouTube to claim your parrot sticker!” Sami Vuorenheimo hints.

Watch the music video: https://youtu.be/ZhG22CJ_Wvk

Blackment are:

Sami Vuorenheimo – vocals

Saalas Ruokangas – guitar & backing vocals

Allan Välimaa – guitar

Väinö Huhtanen – bass & backing vocals

Sebastian Nyandoto – keyboards & backing vocals

Akseli Aalto – drums

The single also features:

Hille Sadehelmi – backing vocals

Blackment is a melodic metal band that was founded in 2014 at Hyvinkää, Finland. Their debut album “Plains of Oblivion” was released in autumn 2022. The album has gotten airplay in various European countries. In addition, the band was nominated for the newcomer of the year 2022 by Kaaoszine (a Finnish music news website). In 2023-2024 Blackment released three singles “Pariah”, “Ghost in the Machine” and “Freedom Fall”. The band also competed as a semifinalist in the Wacken Metal Battle Finland competition.

Over the years Blackment has developed a recognizable sound and style including catchy melodies, tricky yet punchy guitars, groovy drums and bass, atmospheric synths and a wide range of vocals with unique voice. The six-piece band has been praised for their energetic live shows and they have performed for example at Heavy Metal Heart Festival and at Semifinal club in Helsinki.

https://www.facebook.com/blackmentofficial

https://www.instagram.com/blackmentfin

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

https://blackment.bandcamp.com/

Mathias Lillmåns, known from Finntroll, announces new solo album

Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns, one of the long-standing creators of Finnish heavy metal, is now taking the next step in his career and releasing his first solo single, In Glorious Black and White. This is the first completely new solo song, and at the same time the first cut from his upcoming full-length solo album. The song was released with music video. The publisher is Stormbound Records. Collectors are offered a very limited edition of signed Beatjaxx™ audio cards, which will be sold in the record label’s online store.

In Glorious Black and White brings a new sound palette to Lillmåns’s characteristically dark production and a different perspective on the entire writing process, which was done with an external producer. The end result is a unique combination of raw black metal and electronic sound worlds. Lyrically, the song is personal and reflective, according to Lillmåns:

“I’ve always been quite introspective as a lyricist. In Glorious Black and White is a very existential song. It was born in a kind of rift between my own perception and something unnamed in moments that eventually became real sources of inspiration.”

The collaboration with Stormbound Records began to take shape through discussions. At first, however, Lillmåns was wary of the idea of ​​an outside producer.

“The idea of ​​working with an outside producer felt contradictory to how I had worked before,” he says.

It was first agreed that the work would take place at Mathias’ own pace and with full creative control. Lillmåns says that his working method is different from the traditional way of making a metal album:

“I’ve always recorded albums traditionally, meaning that I first finish all the instruments on the album in a certain order. However, we’re building this album from start to finish, song by song, and we’re even using different session musicians depending on what the different songs need.”

The drums on the track are played by Tommi Tuhkala. Daniel Strang and Marco Luponero were in charge of production, and Grammy-winning Henkka Niemistö was in charge of mixing and mastering.

Last year, Lillmåns released a retrospective collection, Remains – a 17-track cross-section of material he’d recorded with different bands over three decades. However, the release, which was warmly received by fans, did something unexpected: while he was going through his old archives, the idea of ​​making solo material began to seem possible.

“I never really intended to start a solo project, but when I was going through old material for the Remains release, I realized that I had a lot of unfinished ideas that could really be used to build something new,” he recalls.

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY

Noumena’s New Single “Surunkehrä” Summons the Listener to a Journey into the Underworld

Hailing from Ähtäri, Finland, the masters of melodic death metal, Noumena, continue their journey towards their highly anticipated album release. The band is now releasing a brand new single, “Surunkehrä” (The Spindle of Sorrow), as a follow-up to their previously released banger “Kuolemankello”.
­

“Surunkehrä” is part of a continuum of melancholic, mid-tempo Noumena songs—a lineage that includes past tracks like “Saatto”, “Bleakest Essence” and “Sanansaattaja”. Guitarist and composer Ville Lamminaho sheds light on the song’s multifaceted origins:

“The idea sparked a couple of years ago when the band was listening to Lorna Shore’s ‘Pain Remains I’. The actual song came to life at home on the couch while strumming my daughter’s acoustic guitar. The melancholic and folk-influenced song gained dynamism through varying time signatures, and we aimed for a driving flow and pulsing rhythms in the arrangement, evoking imagery of both spinning yarn and heartbeats.”

The deep and mythological lyrical world is crafted by vocalist Suvi Uura, who came across the name “Surunkehrääjä” (“The Weaver of Sorrow”) in a book she read a few years ago. Upon hearing Ville’s composition, the name rushed back to Suvi’s mind and instantly felt like the right direction for the track:

“To me, the Weaver of Sorrow is a kind of traveler in limbo—a creature that lives off human grief and pain. She doesn’t cause sorrow; instead, she gathers it, spins it into thread, and weaves paths along which souls travel toward the underworld. She is a figure moving on the thresholds, appearing to those whose minds are broken or who have lost everything.”

Simultaneously, the band is releasing a music video for the track, directed by composer Ville Lamminaho. Inspired by the song’s lyrics, the video introduces the Weaver of Sorrow, portrayed by Suvi Uura.

The new single provides a strong foretaste of Noumena’s seventh album, which will be released in its entirety in August. While waiting for the upcoming album, Noumena invites the listener to journey deep into the underworld, where tears are spun into melancholy and heavy melodies offer the ultimate rest for a broken mind.

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

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/

Soulgrind returns with Dark Water Wide, the third single from the 10th album ‘Ad Pulchram Mortem’

The legendary Finnish metal band Soulgrind, founded in 1992, is set to release its tenth album ‘Ad Pulchram Mortem’ on August 14th 2026 via Inverse Records. The third single ‘Dark Water Wide’ is out now and iavailable here: https://push.fm/fl/soulgrind-dark-water 

The band comments:

“Dark Water Wide leads the listener deep into the shadowed currents of Tuonela — the mythic river of the underworld — where the journey drifts through the darker depths of the mind.

Heavy yet beautifully melodic, the song blends Nordic atmosphere with Finnish darkness. Its harmonic structure weaves minor seventh chords tainted by subtle twists, creating a sense of tension and melancholy. Azhemin conjured the melodies, while Lilith shaped them into form — grounded by Suntio’s relentless, pounding rhythm that resonates through the entire composition.

Dark Water Wide is a voyage across vast, dark waters — an introspective descent into death’s beauty, embodying the very essence of Ad Pulchram Mortem.” 

WATCH music video of first single ‘Jylhä Metsämies’ https://youtu.be/aoBIyV44VOY
LISTEN to the second single ‘Tears of the Earth’ https://push.fm/fl/soulgrind-tears

BIOGRAPHY:

Soulgrind is a Finnish metal band formed in 1992, known for blending gothic metal, thrash and black metal into a dark, melodic atmosphere. The band was founded by Lord Heikkinen, who has consistently contributed guitar and programming. Since 1999 Miika ‘Azhemin’ Niemelä has handled keyboards and programming, later adding harsh vocals.

Soulgrind’s music often explores themes related to the darker aspects of Finnish history and psyche, combining passion, war, and the “dark side of mind” into their lyrical content, reflecting a deep connection to Finland’s cultural and historical roots. But there has always been the bride side for the aspects as well. Classic war of love and hate.The  sound has evolved over the time, but Soulgrind has maintained a core identity rooted in metal with a dark, atmospheric edge, resisting strict genre categorization and embracing musical development freely. Freedom of metal has always been the theme. And so it shall be.

Soulgrind is recognized for their intelligent and unique approach to metal, merging melodic and dark elements to create a distinctive sound within the Finnish metal scene. Their long-standing presence since the early 90s marks them as a significant act in the gothic and black metal genres in Finland.

Line-up:

Lord Heikkinen: guitars

Azhemin: Keybords, vocals

Tanya Lilith: Vocals

Suntio: Drums

JP: Bass

Micko Hell: Guitars, Vocals

Former members: Roope Latvala ( Children of Bodom, Stone ), Juke Eräkangas, Tommi McLaunone (Gloomy Grim, Nomicon), Henrik Laine (Deepred )

https://www.facebook.com/SoulgrindFinland
https://soulgrind.bandcamp.com

French modern metal/post-hardcore trio Through The Fractures Drop 3 singles – A Raw Introduction to Debut Album ‘Beyond the Scars’

Through the Fractures : a modern metal(core) and post-hardcore project built on a clear artistic premise: even in life’s most fractured moments, light persists.

Combining sonic intensity with emotional depth, the band explores themes of inner conflict, anxiety, isolation, and loss of meaning. Their music navigates the tension between chaos and melody, aggression and vulnerability, reflecting a world on the brink while maintaining an undercurrent of resilience.

Rather than diluting pain, Through the Fractures confronts it directly—transforming struggle into forward momentum.

Their debut album, Beyond the Scars, was released on May 24, with three singles already available.

Band’s statement (and vision):

“This album was never planned, it was necessary”

In mid-2025, something shifted. We didn’t want to make music anymore, we needed to. Each of us was carrying personal battles, moments that left marks deeper than words. Coming together became the only way to process them.

There was no concept, no ambition, no ego. We wrote what came naturally and kept the songs nearly untouched, because what mattered wasn’t perfection, but honesty. In three months, ten songs emerged. Listening to them feels like moving through a timeline of our lives: anxiety and hope rising and falling, chaos and light coexisting.

Through the Fractures carries that meaning : every crack, every wound, every imperfection can let the light through. This record is proof that when you’re not alone, you can make it through anything.

Amberian Dawn releases Unchained single and video from their upcoming album, revealing Nicole’s stunning vocal range

Symphonic metal pioneers Amberian Dawn will release their new album Temptation’s Gates with their new singer, Nicole Willerton, on June 26th, and now listeners can enjoy the new single Unchained.

The tones Willerton brought with her are at their best on Unchained, as Nicole unleashes her full potential, from powerful growling vocals to angelic clean vocals. At the same time, it is the first time that Amberian Dawn’s soundscape has featured vocals on such a wide spectrum. The theme of liberation from certain chains is also present in the song itself.

“It was inspiring to write a song around a traditional guitar riff. Over the years, I haven’t really focused on a classic riff-driven approach, but this time it felt completely right. The song is very dynamic and contains many different elements, which challenged our singer on many levels. He coped with it effortlessly and gave a brilliant performance. The song also demanded a world-class guitar solo – and Emil delivered it with complete confidence and skill,” praises the band’s primus motor Tuomas Seppälä.

Willerton, who wrote the lyrics for the single, continues:

“Unchained is about breaking free from inner pain. It describes the struggle of being trapped by fear and judgment. The song challenges the tendency to put others down because of fear or insecurity and reminds us that we are all human and we need to be ourselves. The song deals with the importance of finding freedom and letting go of our own demons.”

The upcoming studio album and the two singles already released have been a clear step in a new direction for the band, one that does not shy away from more modern or rougher elements. According to Tuomas, Nicole’s arrival in the band has truly started a new era.

“Nicole brings new life, energy and inspiration to the band. She is an incredibly versatile musician, a dedicated professional and it is wonderful to work with her. Her creativity and drive have already significantly influenced our new material. When I started working with our new singer, I felt the same enthusiasm as years ago when I started making our debut album in 2007–2008. At that time, we were still newcomers in the band world, even though we were already experienced musicians. With this album, I felt the same spark to create something new again.”

“In many ways, making this album felt like a return to my roots. I also took on a bigger role as a guitarist after a long time – I focused more on creating riffs, played about half of the guitar leads on the album and even did one entire solo myself,” Seppälä smiles.

 

The following songs can be found on the Temptation’s Gates album:
Temptation’s Gates
The Vision of Dreaming
Moon
Unchained
Eternal Flame
Life is Art
This Night is Waiting for Me
Undying Colours
The Garden
Phantasmagoria

The album is available in various formats, you can also check out all the special packages here.

AMBERIAN DAWN is:
Tuomas Seppälä – keyboards, guitar
Nicole Willerton – vocals
Emil Pohjalainen – guitar
Joonas Pykälä-aho – drums
Jukka Hoffren – bass

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | NAPALM RECORDS

Bokassa ushers in a new era with single Doesn’t Matter If You Love It Here – Video celebrates 70s and 80s slasher aesthetic

Norwegian Bokassa completely blew the metal world’s minds away just under ten years ago when Metallica announced they would be taking the band on tour, and now the band is starting a new era in their career. The melodic stoner rock single Doesn’t Matter If You Love It Here, with its desert vibe, is a return to its roots and its own label, Kings of Stonerpunk Records, through which Bokassa also released its debut album Divide & Conquer in 2017, which catapulted the band to global fame.

Frontman Jørn Kaarstad is excited that the band is releasing music themselves again:

“We’ve always been a band that does a lot of things ourselves, and the DIY spirit has been there since I booked our shows for the first five years of our existence – yes, even the Metallica tour. We’ve always dreamed of doing this ourselves again, and we’re really excited to take this step with this new single.”

Recorded at Otterhead Studios in England, the single was produced, recorded and mixed by two-time Grammy winner Adrian Bushby (Foo Fighters, Muse, The Darkness) and mastered by George Perks (Don Broco, Enter Shikari).

“Doesn’t Matter If You Love It Here is about how we as a civilization have treated the Earth over a long period of time, and how everything may now end because of our indifference. It’s like a relationship that has reached its end and can no longer be saved. It’s kind of like the bond between humans and the Earth’s natural resources,” the band describes.

The new single was accompanied by a music video in which the band auditions for a bassist – with rather tragic and even bloody consequences. The video has a grindhouse-esque look and feel, and serves as an homage to the slasher B-movies of the 70s and 80s, says Kaarstad.

“I love horror movies, and the campy horror flicks from the 70s and 80s have a special place in my heart. They’re often silly and scary at the same time, so we wanted to do something similar (pun intended) – and I think we succeeded!”

With the release of the single, Bokassa will embark on a summer tour, where the band will be seen on the same stages as Clutch or Lagwagon in addition to their own festival gigs:

31.05.26 ÉLYSÉE MONTMARTRE, PARIS – FR*
02.06.26 TRANSBORDEUR, LYON – FR*
04.06.26 SALA RIVIERA, MADRID – ES*
05.06.26 SALA APOLO, BARCELONA – ES*
06.06.26 SALA SANTANA 27, BILBAO – ES*
20.06.26 TRANDALROCK, TRANDAL – NO
03.07.26 LØDDEPØNK WAKESTOCKFESTIVAL – NO
02.08.26 F-HAUS, JENA – DE^
04.08.26 HIRSCH, NUREMBERG – DE^
05.08.26 COLOS-SAAL, ASCHAFFENBURG – DE^
07.08.26 CLUB VAUDEVILLE, LINDAU – DE^
08.08.26 SUBSTAGE, KARLSRUHE – DE^
05.09.26 HIGH VOLTAGE ROCKFEST, BERGEN – NO

*Clutch
^Lagwagon

Line-Up:
Jørn Kaarstad – vocals and guitar
Olav Dowkes – drums

WEBSITE

Finnish metal band Inherited Time has released a third single from their upcoming debut album, set to be released this year

Braveheart is an energetic power metal track full of dashing guitars, bright intense vocals and intriguing synth melodies. The song is a story of courage, sacrifice, and curiosity — following a man who journeys into space to save humanity, facing fear and death for the people he loves.

The song represents a slightly lighter side of the band while still staying true to their own distinctive style and approach. Instead of orchestral soundscape Braveheart leans into traditional synths. Braveheart is the first song ever in the band’s history.

Listen to the single on major music platforms (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, Amazon Music, Qobuz, etc.): https://push.fm/fl/inheritedtime-braveheart

Inherited Time is a modern symphonic metal band from Finland with a sci-fi atmosphere. The band found its current form in 2024 after years of evolution.

Their music captivates listeners with the sound of traditional Finnish melodic metal infused with power metal elements, delivering majestic orchestral melodies, striking guitars, and powerful vocals mixed with intense growls.

With three singles released and the debut album in production, the band is stronger than ever and moving confidently toward their ultimate goal: building a full musical career.

Inherited Time is:

Alesia Savolainen – Vocals
Jani Härkönen – Bass
Tero Rannila – Drums
Olli Pölkki – Keyboards
Ville Pölkki – Guitars

Rebellix returns to the release scene with a renewed lineup – Gimme Gimme Gimme single is an explosive return to the band’s glam-influenced roots

Helsinki-based heavy metal quartet Rebellix is ​​making a comeback to new music, louder, sharper, and ready to impress the metal crowd with their new single Gimme Gimme Gimme.

After the departure of their bassist and drummer, Rebellix took a creative break to regroup and rethink their direction. Now, about a year later, the band quickly got a new wind in their sails when bassist Mandy Finne and drummer Jani Niemelä joined. It was clear from the first rehearsals that they were the perfect addition to the band. The chemistry was immediate, and the band dived straight into new material.

The first single of the new era is also a return to Rebellix’s roots – the song stylishly combines a glam-influenced rock ‘n’ roll attitude with the band’s signature take on heavy metal.

“After a year of hiatus, we’re back with a new lineup and even hungrier than before. Gimme Gimme Gimme is a return to our roots. The song captures the energy of a wild night and the moment when one spark makes everything explode in a flash. Anything feels possible, even if the flame only burns until the next morning,” the band comments.

Produced by Tuomas Yli-Jaskari and mastered by Joona Lukala, the single was recorded at Sonic Pump Studio. Rebellix aimed for a soundscape that matches the intensity of the band, and the end result is a polished yet rugged sound that successfully conveys the band’s raw energy.

The new lineup has already proven its live energy, the next time Rebellix can be seen live at Bar Loose on May 30th. The evening will feature Freedomination, Ratbreed and Roadkill. The band will also be seen at the Baseidon event, which will be held at Bar Base in Helsinki on August 21st-22nd.

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY