Author: Crix

Alternative band Blame Me! returns with emotional single Time by Time – new album also on the way

Finnish alternative band Blame Me! made it onto the playlists of several radio stations a few years ago with their singles Fire, Fuel and Scars and Fear’s Don’t Matter, as well as a cover of All The Things She Said. The band was signed to the German label Out of Line, but in recent years the band has been somewhat quiet. The band describes the twists and turns like this:

“Life happened, and with an unplanned two-year hiatus, Blame Me! had to reinvent itself. Over the past year, we’ve been creating new songs with new sounds and a completely new rhythm, brought to life by new drummer Maiju Mäki.”

Blame Me! is now releasing a new song, Time by Time, which was inspired by a failed relationship.

“We believe that everyone has at least one relationship in their life that they have done everything they can to build and put their whole heart into, but whose inevitable end cannot be prevented. Despite this, they try to hold on to the good memories and forget the bad ones. In the end, the only option is to let go.”

The music video for the song Time by Time showcases a renewed Blame Me! and fresh energy.

The band also reveals that a new album is on the way early this year, and more singles are expected in the near future. Blame Me! can be seen at the following gigs:

4.9. Nirvana, Turku (+ Crimson Sun, Without Warning)

5.9. Skenesali, Vantaa (+ Crimson Sun, Without Warning)

Blame Me! is:

Bini Silvennoinen – vocals

Jesse Lindstedt – guitar

Juho Jokimies – bass

Maiju Mäki – drums

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Finnish Fuzz Rock Quartet Heezer Unveils Darker Side of Upcoming Album “Stereolith” With New Single “Let It Burn”

Finnish fuzz rock quartet Heezer is preparing for the release of its sophomore full-length album Stereolith, due out on August 13. The self-released record has already been previewed with the gritty groove of “Horse” and the energetic “This Town”, which surprised listeners with melodic hooks borrowed from pop punk. Pre-orders for the album are now available through Levykauppa Äx, with both CD and vinyl editions on offer.
Now, the spotlight turns to the darker and heavier side of the album as Heezer hasreleased “Let It Burn”, accompanied by a striking animated music video.

“We originally planned to make a simple lyric video, but somehow the song felt like it deserved a proper visual story,” recalls bassist Antti Vesikko. “I came up with the idea of telling the song’s dark narrative through a comic without speech bubbles. At one point, with other work stuff piling up and no free time, I started building the project with AI. Thankfully, I came to my senses, scrapped the whole thing and decided it still wasn’t time to let artificial intelligence take the wheel. We brought in Amet Komik Studio to illustrate the story, and I edited the video to follow the dynamics and structure of the song. The result turned out beautifully and fits ‘Let It Burn’ perfectly.”

“We’ve always included slow and heavy songs on our releases, and ‘Let It Burn’ showcases that side of the new album really well,” says drummer Ville Häsä. “The demo was recorded in my home studio. Sami played through the structure on guitar while shouting cues for section changes on the fly. We had the demo together after just a couple of takes, but I didn’t yet realize the full picture. Once the bass and vocals were added, I understood what a great and wonderfully dark song it was. It ended up sounding very close to what you hear on the album. Personally, I love the Soundgarden-inspired bridge section.”
Singer-guitarist Sami Kääriäinen adds:

“The verses, written by Antti, deal with mental struggles and the twists and turns of the mind, while the choruses offer a rather straightforward solution: let it all burn. The lyrics can be interpreted in many ways, though. Once again, Heikki Pöyhiä delivered some absolutely brilliant backing vocals.”

“Stereolith” tracklist:
1.  Horse
2.  This Town
3.  Stone I Am
4.  Let It Burn
5.  Moonshine
6.  Mountain
7.  Crazy
8.  The Van
9.  Desert

Heezer stand firmly behind their professional DIY mindset and they’ve taken major steps forward in their evolution – from stronger songwriting to a higher production level. The band’s sharpened approach shines through in a powerful and distinctive result. Still, their main principle remains unchanged: making music has to stay fun, now and in the future.

Heezer have been steadily winning over audiences both on streaming platforms and on stage. See band live this summer:

17.7. Stereolith-album pre-listening party, Kuluma Pub, Imatra (+ live-stream)
7.8. Patruuna Fest, Imatra
14.8. Nirvana, Turku

Heezer line-up:
Sami Kääriäinen – vocals, guitar
Ville Räsänen – guitar
Antti Vesikko – bass
Ville Häsä – drums

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Tuska Festival 26-27-28.6.2026, Helsinki (Finland)

Tuska, the biggest metal festival in Finland and the largest in Northern Europe, returned once again to Helsinki’s Suvilahti on 26–28 June. Across four stages, 60 bands delivered a weekend of relentless energy, with major international acts such as Megadeth, Bad Omens, and Bring Me The Horizon among the most anticipated. Tuska 2026 sold out both Friday and Saturday, ultimately setting a new attendance record with 66,000 visitors over three days.

Day 1:

The festival launched with explosive energy as American death‑metal outfit Gatecreeper opened the Karhu Main Stage. Fans were already pressed against the barriers early in the day, setting the tone for a weekend defined by relentless enthusiasm.

Finnish post‑hardcore band Awake Again turned the Radio City stage into a party with hits like Saturday Night (I Am Alive), while Lost Society delivered a sharp main‑stage performance built around their latest album Hell Is a State of Mind.

Japanese heavy‑metal legends Loudness continued their 45th Anniversary World Tour with a powerful Radio City Stage set, followed by Swedish industrial metal powerhouse Pain, who unleashed crowd‑pleasers Shut Your Mouth and Party In My Head.

Finnish favorites Bloodred Hourglass delivered one of the day’s standout performances, while Italian progressive melodic death metal band Lunarsea made a historic Finland debut.

The night culminated in a monumental headline performance by Megadeth. Their set drew a single day record of 23,000 attendees, marking a deeply emotional home country debut for guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, who received thunderous chants from the Finnish crowd. Even a heavy summer downpour only amplified the intensity of the mosh pits, sealing Day 1 as a defining chapter in Tuska history.

Day 2:

Saturday ignited with Australian metalcore outfit Melrose Avenue, whose explosive Radio City Stage set translated their studio darkness into a tightly executed live assault.

One of the day’s most anticipated moments came from HOKKA, performing only their fourth live show ever, but on the Main Stage. Their set, built around debut album Via Miseria IV, included a stunning metal cover of Seal’s Kiss From a Rose.

Despiser performance marked the band’s very first outdoor festival weekend appearance in their history. The crowd packed into Tiivistämö early in the afternoon to witness the new wave of Northern metal energy. The emotional peak arrived when guest vocalist Sara Strömmer, eight months pregnant, joined them for Weakness, powering through the performance with inspiring strength.

Atlanta’s theatrical emo‑rock outfit The Funeral Portrait delivered their first Finnish “Devotion Ceremony,” while P.O.D. finally performed in Finland for the first time in their three‑decade career; an unforgettable bucket‑list moment for thousands of millennial fans like us.

Swiss deathcore titans Paleface Swiss unleashed one of the festival’s most chaotic sets, and Trivium proved once again why they are masters of the modern metal festival stage.

Late in the evening, Caskets delivered a deeply atmospheric performance, setting the emotional tone for the night’s grand finale.

Tuska Saturday closed with a long‑awaited performance: Bad Omens. After cancelling their European tour two years earlier, their 2026 appearance fueled a second consecutive sold‑out crowd of 23,000. Noah Sebastian commanded the massive audience with extraordinary vocal versatility, delivering a visually stunning and emotionally charged set. Due to restrictions, photographers were not permitted to shoot, leaving fans with memories instead of images.

Day 3:

Sunday began with Pikku‑Tuska, the festival’s beloved family concept. From 14:00 to 18:00, children aged 0–12 entered free with an adult, enjoying colorful attractions like the Kids Factory mini‑train and child‑friendly challenges hosted by Wera Tools. At 18:00, the grounds returned to 18+ as the evening’s heavy program began.

Swedish progressive metalcore outfit Allt opened the final day with a cinematic, orchestral‑infused performance that captivated early crowds. Gothenburg legends Soilwork followed with an emotionally charged set honoring the late guitarist David Andersson, whose final creative works shaped Övergivenheten.

A historic milestone arrived as Queensrÿche performed at Tuska for the first time in their four‑decade career, delivering a masterclass in progressive metal precision.

Finnish icons Amorphis anchored the evening with a stunning sub‑headline performance, embodying the atmospheric depth and cultural identity of Finnish metal.

Sheffield heavyweights Malevolence earned immense respect by performing despite frontman Alex Taylor’s emergency surgery, pressing on with fill‑in vocalists and delivering one of the weekend’s most powerful sets.

Tuska 2026 closed with a monumental headline performance by Bring Me The Horizon. Oliver Sykes and the band transformed the Karhu Main Stage into a cinematic spectacle, delivering a grand finale worthy of the festival’s historic attendance record.

Tuska 2026 will be remembered as one of the festival’s most significant editions, defined by emotional homecomings, long‑awaited debuts, theatrical surprises, and a record‑breaking 66,000 attendees. Across three days, Suvilahti became a living monument to heavy music’s power, community, and evolution.

Here the photo gallery from the 3‑day festival by Cristina Gregori.

Bloody Falls Video Interview

Bloody Falls, the metal quintet formed in 2017 in Valkeakoski, Finland, just released their fourth studio album, “IV,” via Art Gates Records. The album delves into classic metal territory, drawing on themes ranging from the horsemen of the Apocalypse to the rise of the devil and the darker sides of humanity. The band considers “IV” a decisive step in their evolution, with the final sound shaped by producer Max Morton, known for his work with Jinjer, and evocative cover art by Jesus Lhysta (The Rotted Artist). Collaborating with this creative team has helped Bloody Falls hone their identity and perfect their style.
We at The Offering had the opportunity to sit down with guitarist and founding member Stavros Mathios to discuss the making of “IV.” In this interview, we explore the album’s writing and recording process, relive their releaseshow at Bar Kotelo in Tampere on June 13, and take a look at the band’s upcoming shows around Finland.

https://artgatesrecords.com/linktree/bloody-falls

Folkrim Video Interview

After igniting the scene with Embers in 2024, Folkrim reemerge from the Finnish coast with a new offering steeped in myth and malice. Their latest EP, Näkki, named after a haunting creature from Finnish folklore, was born almost by accident: a spontaneous spark that blossomed into something powerful. Since forming in Rauma in 2020, the band has captivated the metal community with their tempestuous blend of folk melodies and uncompromising heaviness. We had the opportunity to delve into their world, retracing the band’s origins, learning more about their music and writing process, and what led to this unexpected new chapter.

Katatonia Video Interview

Before their performance at the Ankea Festival in Finland, we had the opportunity to meet Niklas Sandin, Sebastian Svalland, and Nico Elgstrand of Katatonia. What was supposed to be a chat about the band’s history turned into an engaging conversation, full of insights, humor, and reflections. From pre-show tension to career milestones, from the stress of touring to celebrating the twentieth anniversary of “The Great Cold Distance,” the band opened up about everything, including their latest album, “Nightmares as Extension of the Waking State,” and the exciting projects that await them after the festival season and their fall tour of Japan, New Zealand, and Australia.

https://linktr.ee/katatoniaofficial

Amberian Dawn, stepping into a new era, released their album Temptation’s Gates

Amberian Dawn, one of the pioneers of symphonic metal, has been dropping songs and striking videos from their new album throughout the spring, and now marks the band released their first album with the new singer Nicole Willerton,Temptation’s Gates. As the final preview, the band has released the single Moon, accompanied by a music video directed by Erkki Halkka, pulsing with dark electricity.

The studio album and the previously released singles have been a clear step in a new direction for the band — one that embraces more modern and even rougher elements. According to Tuomas, Nicole’s arrival has truly begun a new era.

“I composed this song just a few weeks after we welcomed our new vocalist into the band. From the very beginning, the track had an unusually dark and haunting atmosphere, and I wanted to preserve that feeling throughout the entire working process. It had also been a long time since I last recorded a guitar solo myself, so returning to that role made the experience even more personal. This song showcases the darker and more spectral side of our new era,” says the band’s primus motor, Tuomas Seppälä.

Nicole Willerton, who has taken a strong role in the lyric writing, describes Moon as a safe haven amid chaos.

“Moon is about finding hope, serenity, and inner peace in a world full of destruction, greed, and suffering. The moon acts as a guiding light and a symbol of beauty, reminding us that even when life feels overwhelming or filled with sorrow, it’s important to appreciate the simple beautiful things in life, like nature and the freedom of the spirit.”

The tracks on Temptation’s Gates:

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, and you can also check all special bundles 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

Enemies Everywhere releases the single My Vengeance and announces the debut album

The Helsinki-based deathcore band Enemies Everywhere have released a new single, My Vengeance, and simultaneously announced the release of their debut album. The self‑titled debut will be out on August 28, showcasing the developmental process the band has gone through over the past couple of years.

“The whole band, including everyone behind the scenes, has been waiting for the release of the debut album like the rising moon. The process behind making the album was at the same time challenging but rewarding; painful but cathartic. During the process we learned a lot about each other as people, friends, and band members. The debut album is proof of what the band has grown into over the past years – which is why the only right name for the record is Enemies Everywhere.”

The single My Vengeance points the way toward the upcoming album:

“The album’s third single, My Vengeance, is a testament to Enemies Everywhere’s career and new direction. The song condenses the sound of the previously released singles and the entire album, accompanied by a versatile and heavy arrangement. The sharp‑eared fans may recognize the track from our early‑year live shows, and now we finally get to release My Vengeance for everyone to hear!”

Enemies Everywhere’s summer shows will begin in a few weeks in Lahti, and the autumn album release will be celebrated with a Finland tour announced later.

Newly announced shows:

18.7.2026 – Lahti, Lahti Metal BB

23.7.2026 – Kaaos Fest x Raskas EI Kiusaamiselle!, Vaasa

7.8.2026 – Imatra, Patruunafest

26.9.2026 – Mäikä Klubi, Tapahtumatehdas, Hyvinkää

Enemies Everywhere:

Sasu Mikkola – vocals

Otso Saano – guitar

Ville Vesala – bass

Veikka Laru – drums

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French chaotic hardcore/mathcore non-engineers DEAD KIWIS are back and they have a T-Rex. // New album ‘EXTREME METAL’ Out now

The French chaotic hardcore / mathcore non-engineers DEAD KIWIS (featuring member of Buy Jupiter) have just unleashed ‘EXTREME METAL’ via Vollmer Industries: a furious collision of mathcore chaos, hardcore aggression, dark humor and catastrophically questionable life choices.

Built on dissonant riffs, frantic rhythms, angular guitars and explosive energy, ‘EXTREME METAL‘ dives headfirst into themes of depression, grief, isolation, manipulation and disillusionment. Rather than dwelling in melancholy, DEAD KIWIS transform emotional collapse into pure cathartic violence, channeling frustration, anxiety and burnout into an unrelenting sonic assault.

Blending destructive intensity with sarcasm, absurdity and self-awareness, ‘EXTREME METAL’ feels less like a descent into darkness than a high-speed collision between emotional damage, party chaos and complete annihilation.

Born in the Lyon area in 2008, DEAD KIWIS have steadily carved their own path through the French underground by blending hardcore chaos, mathcore precision and rock’n’roll absurdity into something both violent and unmistakably fun.

Originally rooted in punk hardcore, the band took a decisive turn toward a more singular and explosive sound with the release of ‘Karate Karnage’ (2017) and ‘Systematic Homerun’ (2019), embracing the unpredictable energy of chaotic hardcore while injecting razor-sharp riffs, dissonant textures and a heavy dose of offbeat humor.

Somewhere between controlled collapse and total nonsense, DEAD KIWIS deliver a sound built on frantic rhythms, angular guitars, futuristic tones and ferocious vocal performances — balancing technical intensity with a deliberately unhinged approach that refuses to take itself too seriously.

Renowned for their high-energy live shows and irreverent identity, the band has shared stages across France and Europe with acts such as Frontierer, Comeback Kid, A Wilhelm Scream and many others, building a reputation as one of the most entertaining and unpredictable heavy acts emerging from the French scene.

In 2026, DEAD KIWIS return with ‘EXTREME METAL’, their most ambitious and uncompromising record to date — a chaotic, tongue-in-cheek collision between mathcore brutality, hardcore urgency and cinematic stupidity.

ARTEMISIA Released New Video Single ‘Ciò che l’acqua mi ha dato’, Inspired by the Universe of Frida Kahlo

Available now on all digital platforms, “Ciò che l’acqua mi ha dato” is the brand-new single by Italian heavy rock band ARTEMISIA, released by Volcano Records.

With this new track, the long-running Italian band returns to explore intense and profound sonic territories, moving between heavy metal and progressive rock through a distinctive formula that blends power, experimentation, and storytelling. The result is a compelling piece that further strengthens ArtemisiA’s unmistakable artistic identity. Inspired by Frida Kahlo’s 1938 painting of the same name, the single transforms the artwork’s powerful symbolism into music, where water becomes a reflective surface of the unconscious — a vessel of memory, pain, and identity. Much like the Mexican artist’s vision, body and mind merge into a suspended space where obsessions, fragility, and deeper truths emerge. Musically, “Ciò che l’acqua mi ha dato” strikes a balance between heavy-driven power, dark atmospheres, and progressive structures, preserving the evocative intensity that has always been a defining element of ArtemisiA’s songwriting. The track unfolds as an introspective journey, inviting listeners to dive into the unconscious and confront whatever rises back to the surface. Alongside the release, the official music video is now available on YouTube, featuring a combination of live footage and studio sessions that captures the band’s raw energy and artistic essence. The video highlights the intensity, chemistry, and emotional depth that stand at the core of both the song and ArtemisiA’s creative vision.

Founded in 2006 by Vito Flebus and Anna Ballarin, ArtemisiA have built a recognizable identity over the years through dark atmospheres, literary influences, and a powerful live presence. After six albums and important collaborations, including one with Omar Pedrini, the band is currently working on their new full-length album, set for release this September via Volcano Records, with this single serving as a significant preview of what’s to come.

Listen to the song on all digital platforms and watch the official music video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEFnLMeXCI4

Further info at
www.volcanopromotion.com
www.artemisiaband.it