Author: Crix

SOULS OF DIOTIMA: Surprise Release of New Single ‘Revenge’ Ahead of Upcoming Album “Arcade” Out October 2nd

Italian modern metal act SOULS OF DIOTIMA are back to shock and delight fans with the surprise release of their brand-new single “Revenge”, taken from their highly anticipated fifth studio album, “Arcade”, set for release on October 2nd via Diotima Records.

Arcade marks a major milestone for the band, representing a bold and decisive stylistic evolution toward a deeply personal and experimental modern metalcore sound. This sonic journey was kicked off by the previous single Run Away (released on June 5th and currently performing exceptionally well – watch the official video : https://youtu.be/3Y2aimEFloI), which showcased the record’s nu-metal side.

With “Revenge”, Souls of Diotima push boundaries even further, revealing the fiercest metalcore face of the album. The track is a raw cry of pain and retaliation, driven by razor-sharp riffs, powerful screams, and the signature melodic touch that defines the band’s unique identity.

Watch the official visualizer for “Revenge” on YouTube: https://youtu.be/4YZmVTgGET0

Stream “Revenge” on digital platforms: https://sod.bfan.link/revenge

But are there more surprises in store before Arcade officially drops on October 2nd? Stay tuned!

In the meantime, the band is gearing up to bring their explosive live performance to European stages right as the album hits the streets. Check out the first confirmed tour dates below :

– OCTOBER 2ND | Le Stock – Mennecy, France (with special guests: Solitude Within + Corvius)
– OCTOBER 3RD | Release Party @ Club Hell – Diest, Belgium (with special guest: Solitude Within)
– OCTOBER 4TH | Popei – Eindhoven, Netherlands (Early show, starting at 3 PM! With special guest: Solitude Within)

All tickets are available now on the band’s official website: https://soulsofdiotima.net/

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

SHORES OF NULL Explores Solitude and Fate with “Son of the Tide” From New Album “Homesick” Out on October 2026

Italian melodic death-doom Shores of Null return with “Son of the Tide,” the second single taken from their upcoming album “Homesick,” due out on October 16th, 2026 via Dusktone. Accompanied by a striking lyric video illustrated by longtime collaborator Davide Mancini (Dartworks) and animated by Davide Billia, the track showcases one of the album’s most dramatic and emotionally charged moments.
​
Built on crushing growl‑driven verses and a huge, soaring chorus, “Son of the Tide” explores solitude, fate, and belonging through imagery tied to the sea, an element that has long shaped the band’s aesthetic.

Vocalist Davide Straccione explains:

“The tide becomes a metaphor for the forces that push and pull us through life, confronting us with fear, acceptance, anguish, and peace. The protagonist eventually stops fighting the tide and learns to move with it instead. Finding a fragile sense of peace in the inevitability of his own destiny.”​
​
The single follows the album’s first offering, “Bleed to Life,” and continues to reveal the emotional depth and sonic evolution behind “Homesick”.
​
Watch and listen to the lyric video for “Son of the Tide” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7OWUN07V2w​

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/track/3T6GRvhxyd8Fw2mIhQ66xD​

​

Out October 16th, 2026 via Dusktone, “Homesick” represents the band’s most mature and focused work to date. Conceived as a complete listening experience, the album moves through longing, loss, anger, vulnerability, and the search for belonging. It captures Shores Of Null at their most confident and emotionally honest, balancing crushing moments with some of the most memorable melodies the band has written to date, enriched by guest appearances from Natalie Koskinen (Shape of Despair) with her vocals on The Numbing Void and Shaun MacGowan (My Dying Bride) on several tracks, including violin on Dreaming of a Scar and The Numbing Void.

“The record is an exploration of the deeply ambiguous nature of ‘home’, a place of comfort and identity, but also of pain, fear, and unresolved memory. It is probably the most honest representation of who Shores of Null are today. Behind this record lies a meticulous amount of writing, rewriting, and pre‑production work. At its core lies the idea of home as something deeply ambiguous: a place of comfort and belonging, but also of fear, pain, and memories we can never fully leave behind,” adds vocalist Davide Straccione.

“Homesick” marks a new milestone for Shores of Null as an immersive, emotionally charged work that expands their sonic universe to follow their acclaimed discography, which includes “Quiescence,” “Black Drapes for Tomorrow,” “Beyond the Shores,” “The Loss of Beauty,” and the 2025 split album with Convocation, “Latitudes of Sorrow”.
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Recommended for fans of Paradise Lost, Amorphis, Swallow The Sun, Katatonia, and Borknagar, “Homesick” is available for pre-order (Vinyl, CD, Digital) at the following links:

​https://www.dusktone.org/​

​https://dusktone.bandcamp.com/album/homesick​

First Single – “Bleed to Life” – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s825Pn_EOLg​

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Track Listing:​
1. Allies Before Defeat – 4:35
2. Two Mountains – 4:34
3. Bleed to Life – 4:09
4. Homesick – 5:31
5. Son of the Tide – 4:18
6. Dreaming of a Scar – 5:08
7. Society Is the Murderer – 4:30
8. The Numbing Void – 6:18
9. Another Breath – 3:52
10. Disappear – 4:33
Album Length: 47:32

Album and Live Band Line-up:​
Davide Straccione – Vocals
Gabriele Giaccari – Guitars
Raffaele Colace – Guitars
Matteo Capozucca – Bass
Emiliano Cantiano – Drums

For more info:

​https://www.shoresofnull.com/​

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

​https://www.instagram.com/shoresofnull​

About:

Shores of Null are a Rome‑based metal band known for their seamless blend of blackened intensity, gothic‑doom melancholy, and soaring melodic depth. Since forming in 2013, they’ve built a reputation for immersive, emotionally charged songwriting on acclaimed releases such as Quiescence, Black Drapes for Tomorrow, Beyond the Shores, and The Loss of Beauty, supported by major tours and festival appearances across Europe.

Following their 2025 split, Latitudes of Sorrow, the band now enters a new chapter with Homesick (Dusktone, 2026), their most mature and evocative work yet. Featuring guest contributions from Natalie Koskinen (Shape of Despair) and Shaun MacGowan (My Dying Bride), the album explores nostalgia, absence, and the complex meaning of “home,” reaffirming Shores of Null as one of the leading forces in contemporary melodic death‑doom.

Kaunis Kuolematon Video Interview

Since 2012, Kaunis Kuolematon has carried the torch of Finnish melancholy with their blend of melodic death and doom metal, a sound rooted in weight, beauty, and emotional depth. After delivering a packed and powerful set at Porispere, the band joined The Offering to discuss their 2025 release “Kun Valo Minussa Kuoli,” their upcoming tour with Insomnium, and the moments surrounding their festival performance plus what comes next.

https://kauniskuolematon.com/

Finnish groove-driven art rock band Cosmic Revival released a new single ‘No Room For Mistakes’

The Finnish atmospheric art rock band Cosmic Revival released a new single ‘No Room For Mistakes’. LISTEN to the single on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/cosmic-revival-no-room

The band comments:

“Built from the start on organic interplay between the musicians, the song reflects our belief as a band that music is at its strongest when it grows from genuine interaction, shared dynamics, and the chemistry between musicians. While our debut single, ‘Hairy Mary’, introduced more of the layered storytelling and literary influences we have, ‘No Room for Mistakes’ broadens our musical palette without losing the atmosphere that has been defining our sound. The result is a song driven by tight musicianship, expressive dynamics, and an irresistible groove. We are very happy with that result!”

BIOGRAPHY:

Cosmic Revival is a band that creates atmospheric, groove-driven art rock that moves between intensity and restraint. Their sound is built on layered instrumentation and a strong sense of narrative.

The songs unfold in an imaginative space where characters act as both symbols and stories. Drawing from literature and emotional archetypes, the music forms a world where meaning is not explained, but discovered.

Rather than aiming for immediacy, Cosmic Revival invites listeners into a sustained mood, something to return to as well as experience collectively.

Line-up:

Hannele Juhala – Vocals
Vesa Toivola – Bass
Jani Lundell – Guitar
Mikko Lehtinen – Drums

Links: 

https://linktr.ee/cosmicrevivalofficial

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575362168521
https://www.instagram.com/cosmicrevivalofficial

Tsar Stangra announced lineup change

Bulgarian Pagan Black/Folk Metal band Tsar Stangra has announced a major lineup overhaul and a fresh musical direction. After a decade of resilience and the release of their sophomore album, the lineup shift comes as members’ long-term objectives diverged. Heartfelt thanks were extended to departing members Cindy Tecca, Wayne Barr, Simon Vaillancourt-Girard, Samuel Paré, and Olivier Vaillancourt-Girard for their dedication and vital work on the recent album.

Simultaneously, Tsar Stangra unveils its new lineup featuring Alexandre Guay (also of death metal band “Rite of Decay”) on guitars, Louis-Charles Drolet (also of death metal band “Rite of Decay” and black metal band “Seventh”) on drums, and Francis Wafer on guitars. Having rehearsed together for nearly a year, the new crew already has over thirty minutes of new material written.

Tsar Stangra is a Bulgarian pagan black/folk metal project founded in 2007 in Quebec City, Canada, evolving from a solo vision into a full band in 2014. Blending extreme metal with Bulgarian mythology, the band gained underground recognition through early releases and the debut album «Небесният ковач». Having performed at events like Messe des Morts alongside Graveland, the band recently returned with their ambitious second album, «Hymns of the Broken Worlds», released via GlobMetal Promotions.

Finnish melodic death metal band Frostbite Terror released their debut album ‘Into The Frozen Depths’

Finnish Turku-based melodic death metal band Frostbite Terror released their debut album ‘Into The Frozen Depths’ on July 24th 2026 via Inverse Records. 

Into The Frozen Depths is a compilation of various real life and fictional events. A wanderer wades through the snows to take a sauna as hot as Hell itself, enters the depths and rides to battle after consuming malt beverages. The final interpretation remains with the listener.

LISTEN to the album on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/frostbite-terror-album

“We’ve been working on the record for a few years. The songs were ready around summer 2024, and naturally we wanted to publish them. Originally an EP, Into The Frozen Depths developed into an LP with the addition of “Maan Multa”. This song adds a nice ballad in the mix of blasting and grinding. Even though we may have had some setbacks, we are now finished and can introduce our debut record.” –Olli Kuure / Composition, Lead Guitar

“This is going to be a versatile metal record with topics and subgenres from A to Z. Big thanks to everyone who has helped us out with this LP, now it is here!” –Otso Turunen / Bass, Vocals

BIOGRAPHY:
Frostbite Terror is a melodic death metal band from Turku, Finland. Since 2022 Frostbite Terror has combined melodeath, thrashy riffing and symphonic arrangements. The songs subject both serious and comedic topics to dark humor. When playing live, Frostbite Terror conquers stages with their tight playing and spicy, yet melancholy riffs.

WATCH music video for second single ‘Gehenna’: https://youtu.be/d_zydWMVtGI
WATCH music  video for second single ‘Maan multa’: https://youtu.be/BvV1Zp_hO

Line-up:

Otso Turunen / Clean vocals, growl vocals, rhythm and lead guitars, acoustic guitars, bass, synth programming

Olli Kuure / Lead guitar, rhythm guitar

Kristo Rautavuori / Drums

Jukka Laaksonen / Guest vocals (clean)

Links: 

https://www.facebook.com/frostbiteterror
https://www.instagram.com/frostbiteterror
https://frostbiteterror.bandcamp.com

Chilean Groove/Thrash Metal Band Tridente Announces Its First-Ever Tour in Finland

Chilean groove/thrash metal band Tridente will make its long-awaited debut in Finland this August-September with a five-date tour, bringing its energetic live performance and uncompromising sound
to Finnish audiences for the very first time.

Formed in Santiago in 2016, Tridente has built a strong reputation within the Chilean underground metal scene thanks to its powerful blend of classic heavy rock, thrash metal and groove. Drawing inspiration from legendary acts such as Black Sabbath, Testament and Kreator, the trio has developed a raw, aggressive and honest sound that has earned recognition from both fans and the specialized metal press.

Following the release of their acclaimed debut album Apocalipsis and a successful European tour in 2022, the band continues expanding its international presence. Finland now becomes the next destination in Tridente’s journey, marking an important milestone in the band’s career.

Finland Tour 2026

– 26. 8 – Turku, Nirvana
– 27. 8 – Helsinki, Bar Loose
– 28. 8 – Kouvola, Haitaritehdas Areena – Kouvola Going to Pieces
festival
– 29. 8 – Espoo – Masis Rock Festival
– 2. 9 – Lahti, Pub Cheri

Finnish audiences can expect an intense live show featuring material
from Apocalipsis, newer songs, and the band’s unmistakable blend of
crushing riffs, powerful grooves and socially conscious lyrics.

This Finnish tour represents another step in strengthening the cultural
and musical connection between Chile and Finland, while introducing one
of Chile’s most promising modern metal acts to a new audience.

Finnish metal band Segmentia’s new single “Nuclear Sun” pays homage to the power metal era of the 2000s

Ambassador of melancholic metal, Segmentia releases “Nuclear Sun”, the second single from its upcoming debut album. The song plays with contrasts: delicate guitars give way to epic soundscapes while moods of hope and despair alternate. Almost cinematic and built on power metal foundations, the song is a tribute to songwriter Jere Luokkamäki’s years with Celesty.

“For me as a composer, Nuclear Sun was the moment I stopped being cautious about my power metal background”, says Luokkamäki.

“I laid the foundation for the song on a work trip to Kajaani. The wintry surroundings of the small town and the soldiers on the streets once again got me thinking about the state of the world and how we treat this planet. At times humanity seems determined to bring disaster upon itself, and that is the feeling I wanted to bring into the song”, Luokkamäki continues.

The band’s trademark melancholy strongly colours the universal message of Nuclear Sun.

“Jere’s song was clearly an ode to nature, and it fell to me to finish the unfinished lyrics. The melody is at times almost cheerful, but it is above all the lyrics that underline the deep despair that so often consumes me as well”, says the band’s vocalist Kansana, who took part in writing the lyrics.

The performance video for the song is the band’s first of its kind and, at the same time, the second part of an audiovisual trilogy. Visually understated yet striking, the video successfully captures the band’s look and presence on stage.

“The setting of the video continues to root the band in the atmosphere of Southern Ostrobothnia. In Before the Dawn, the first music video of the trilogy, dawn was only just breaking. Now the core of the sun blazes in the sky at full force in the Nuclear Sun video, leaving no one untouched”, comments Tomi Salminen / Tojusa Media Oy, producer of the music video

With this release, Segmentia showcases another side of its musical identity. The song is now available on all streaming platforms, and the music video can be watched on the band’s YouTube channel.

LISTEN to Nuclear Sun on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/segmentia-nuclear-sun

Line-up:

Drums – Jere Luokkamäki

Bass – Stefan Laine

Guitar – Manu Lenkkeri

Vocals – Kansana

Links: 

https://segmentia.info

https://www.facebook.com/8egmenti4

https://www.instagram.com/segmentia

Bay Area thrashers Forbidden announce self-titled album set for release on October 23rd via BLKIIBLK

Thrash metal pioneers FORBIDDEN are proud to announce their new self-titled album, set for release on October 23rd via BLKIIBLK, marking the band’s first full-length release since 2010. To celebrate the announcement and offer fans a taste of what to expect, FORBIDDEN unleashed their new single, “Psyclops,” alongside an official video, available below.

About the new single, guitarist Craig Locicero shares:

“‘Psyclops’ was the final song completed for our newest self-titled offering. It was part of the last batch of music completed with Jeremy Von Epp & myself on the home stretch of our writing sessions & it came together quickly. The song itself is a hypnotizing stomper. Heavy footed like millions of people marching against how things stand in the status quo. Norman’s lyrics for ‘Psyclops’ should be left to the interpretation of the listeners. The chorus paints a vivid picture…’Forsaken, fast asleep and trapped inside a maze, Complacent eyes securely locked in an obscure gaze.’”

Watch the Official Video for “Psyclops” HERE

FORBIDDEN’s legacy is one of being the youngest, hungriest and most ambitious of the Bay Area brethren that has launched metal paradigm-shifters from Metallica to Machine Head. With a reconstituted lineup, guitarist Craig Locicero and bassist Matt Camacho, have crafted an hour-plus masterpiece of thrashy predilection, emotive musical movements, and prog-scraping sonic ambitions. From the intensity of opening track, “Single Point Failure” to the philosophical shades of the 9-minute closer, “Flower of Life,” this is FORBIDDEN not merely stretching beyond the steely foundations of 1988’s classic ‘Forbidden Evil’ or the quantum leap of 1990’s ‘Twisted Into Form,’ but the sound of a band with a new sense of scope and purpose. Produced by Locicero, Kontos& Zach Ohren (Machine Head), ‘Forbidden’ isn’t merely a revival for quintet, but full-blown reinvigoration and purgative endpoint for this Bay Area metal institution.

Locicero comments on the album:

“Making ‘Forbidden’ felt more like an odyssey than a typical recording process. We set out to create a record that reminds people why they fell in love with thrash and heavy metal in the first place, embracing raw energy, melody, and the imperfections that give heavy music its character. Every member brought their best, and having Brann Dailor (Mastodon) join us on ‘Sycophantasy’ was an incredible addition. ‘Forbidden’ is five lifetimes of experience forged into one piece of metallic art.”

Pre-Order ‘Forbidden’ HERE

‘Forbidden’ Track List:

1. Single Point Failure
2. Burning The Lungs of Earth
3. Divided By Zero
4. DCLXVI
5. Psyclops
6. Jisei
7. Mutually Assured Dysfunction
8. Sycophantasy
9. The Burden
10. Sol Grave
11. Flower of Life (Chaos By Design)

FORBIDDEN is excited to be hitting the road in support of their upcoming self-titled album on a run of headlining tour dates supported by Heathen and Void.

FORBIDDEN Live:

10/23 – Las Vegas, NV @ The Usual Place
10/25 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge
10/26 – Denver, CO @ Federal Theatre
10/28 – Iowa City, IA @ Gabes
10/29 – Minneapolis, MN @ Turf Club
10/30 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies
10/31 – Lakewood, OH @ Mercury Music Lounge
11/01 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground
11/02 – Leesburg, VA @ Tally Ho Theater
11/04 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium (Upstairs)
11/05 – Brooklyn, NY @ TBD
11/07 – Albany, NY @ Empire Underground
11/08 – Lititz, PA @ Mickey’s Black Box
11/09 – Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819
11/10 – Greenville, SC @ Radio Room
11/12 – Orlando, FL @ Conduit
11/13 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Altar)
11/15 – Destin, FL @ Club LA
11/17 – Austin, TX @ Come And Take It Live
11/18 – Dallas, TX @ Trees
11/20 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
11/21 – Tucson, AZ @ Club Congress
11/22 – Los Angeles, CA @ Teragram Ballroom

Tickets and more information can be found HERE

About FORBIDDEN:
Formed in 1985 in Fremont, California as Forbidden Evil, FORBIDDEN quickly became one of the defining bands of the Bay Area thrash metal movement alongside the genre’s biggest names. Following lineup changes that solidified the classic lineup featuring vocalist Russ Anderson, guitarists Craig Locicero and Glen Alvelais, bassist Matt Camacho and drummer Paul Bostaph, the band released their landmark 1988 debut ‘Forbidden Evil’ before shortening their name to FORBIDDEN. Acclaimed follow-up albums ‘Twisted Into Form’ (1990), ‘Distortion’ (1994), and ‘Green’ (1997) showcased the band’s technical precision, melodic songwriting, and Anderson’s unmistakable vocals, while extensive tours with acts including Sacred Reich, Exodus, Death Angel, Testament, and Malevolent Creation helped cement their reputation as one of thrash’s most respected acts. After disbanding in 1997, FORBIDDEN reunited in 2008, released the acclaimed comeback album ‘Omega Wave’ in 2010, and toured internationally before going on hiatus once again in 2012.

FORBIDDEN returned in 2023 with founding guitarist Craig Locicero joined by longtime members Matt Camacho and Steve Smyth, alongside vocalist Norman Skinner and drummer Chris Kontos. The revitalized lineup made its live debut at Belgium’s Alcatraz Metal Festival before returning home for sold-out Bay Area performances supporting Death Angel’s annual Christmas shows. Focused on creating new music, the band entered a new creative era in 2025 with the release of its first new song in 15 years, “Divided By Zero,” with more new material set to follow in 2026 as FORBIDDENcontinues writing the next chapter of its legendary career.

FORBIDDEN are:
Norman Skinner – Vocals
Craig Locicero – Guitar
Matt Camacho – Bass
Chris Kontos – Drums
Jeremy Von Epp – Guitar

FOLLOW FORBIDDEN:
Website
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
TikTok

Finnish progressive folk/black metal band Jotungrav released the first and only single ‘Återfödd’ from their upcoming debut album

The Finnish progressive folk/black metal band Jotungrav are set to release their debut album ‘Elegi’ on August 20th 2026 via Inverse Records. The only single ‘Återfödd’ is unleashed now and it’s available here: https://push.fm/fl/jotungrav-aterfodd 

The band comments:

” “Återfödd” (Swedish for “reborn”) sees Jotungrav embrace its folk metal roots more than on any other song from the band’s forthcoming album. It is largely inspired by Finnish folk music and waltzes, with time signatures that are less common in metal. As a fast and energetic song it features both uplifting melodies and majestic passages, some of which can be surprisingly danceable. The song is a rather noticeable departure from Jotungrav’s usual style, as on “Återfödd” all black metal inspiration has been stripped down and replaced by elements found in progressive melodic death metal. During its eight minute runtime the listener can hear hints of Wilderun, early Ensiferum and Finsterforst, as well as 2000’s and 2010’s folk metal in general. For the band this has struck a balance between respecting the origins of Jotungrav and progressing as a band. The song focuses on one theme alone: the indomitable human spirit. It is a reminder that the cruelty of the universe cannot break one that is filled with purpose and remains unyielding. The cover art for the single reflects the flipside of this, where the death of someone beloved isn’t just a one–sided rebirth, but a turning point for both parties. Here change happens through tragedy; one lives on in memories, while the other is changed for life.” 

BIOGRAPHY:

Jotungrav is the brainchild of singer-songwriter Matias Stenman, which incorporates elements of black metal and folk metal within a progressive metal framework. The project got its initial start in 2015, but most of the material composed back then ended up being discarded. It was in the summer of 2022 when the single Drängen was finished when Jotungrav finally materialized, with the help of fellow Sargassus members Matias Rokio, who provided percussive arrangements to the song, as well as Teemu Leskinen, who took on the mixing and mastering duties. Initially Jotungrav was a slowly progressing musical effort, but with time the project managed to accumulate enough material for a second single, Ulven, while working on more material for future releases. Both musically and thematically Jotungrav draws inspiration from early 2000s–2010s viking/pagan metal scene and mythology. The lyrics have a philosophical and symbolic focus on humanity. The songs evolve into vast soundscapes while maintaining a raw and genuine feel to them, paying homage to the early days of folk metal. As Jotungravi has developed, the band has moved closer to progressive, melodic folk metal, with the black metal influences familiar to the band playing a smaller role in the music. On the latest album “Elegi,” the songs stretch into even longer and more dynamic epics that take the listener through wartorn landscapes of the ancient world.

Line-up:

Vocals, guitars, bass, melodica, banjo, harmonica, orchestrations, composition: Matias Stenman

Drums, drum arrangements: Matias Rokio

Mixing and mastering, guitar solo on the track “Segern”: Teemu Leskinen

Links: 

https://www.facebook.com/jotungrav

https://www.instagram.com/jotungravofficial

https://jotungrav.bandcamp.com