Author: Crix

From Ashes To New returns to new music with new single Drag Me

From Ashes To New, who have made a huge rise in the field of modern rock in recent years, are ending 2025 by releasing their new single Drag Me. The release is by Better Noise Music. The song showcases the band’s fierce sound, where heavy guitar riffs, rap rhymes and dark melodies are intertwined.

The band’s singer Matt Brandyberry says that the lyrics of the song are a gripping story about fighting inner demons:

“We wanted to make a song about what it feels like to be at war with yourself – a situation where inner demons take you away despite good intentions. Every good thought gets buried under the bad and you realize that the real battle is not against the world – it’s against the mirror image.”

Drag Me follows the single New Disease released in July. Last year, From Ashes To New released a deluxe version of their Blackout album, whose songs propelled the band to the top of several charts.

From Ashes To New is:
Danny Case – vocals
Matt Brandyberry – vocals
Lance Dowdle – guitar
Maty Madiro – drums
Jimmy Bennett – guitar

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PYTHONIC Unleash Ferocious Single “Liturgy” Ahead of SLAUGHTERFEST 2025

Canada’s death thrash force Pythonic has announced the release of their second single, “Liturgy”, following the success of their first single, “Guiltfeeder”. Both tracks pave the way for the band’s highly anticipated sophomore EP “Decomposition,” set to drop on December 19, 2025.
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Formed by guitarist Vincent Kohut, Pythonic was born out of a desire to break free from subgenre constraints and deliver metal in its purest, most aggressive form. Alongside lead guitarist Ryan Hunter, bassist Max Hiske, drummer Jayden, and new vocalist Morgan Warriner, the band has forged a sound described as aggressive, groovy, raw, thick, and dirty.
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​“Liturgy came out so good on the recordings, we couldn’t help but spotlight this track. The riffs rip, the drums rip, the bass rips, what can we say, this song rips. It’s such a classic metal song, with lyrics about summoning a demon under a blood moon. Morgan’s guttural delivery took it to another level,” says the band.

Listen to “Liturgy” via its premiere on Bravewords HERE.

The band’s second EP, “Decomposition”, represents a heavier, more death-metal-oriented chapter for Pythonic. Tracks such as “Conceit”, “Pills”, and “Collateral” showcase themes of corruption, addiction, toxic relationships, and triumph, while “Liturgy” embodies the band’s darker, more extreme influences. The EP artwork, created by Danya Lawton, visually decays the band’s debut imagery to reflect the reimagined nature of the songs.

“When we brought in Morgan as our new singer, the songs came alive again. What once felt tired now feels powerful; his vocals gave them the chance they deserved. Max’s bass adds a soul-shaking thump, especially on Collateral, while Jayden’s heavier drumming drives the tracks with ferocity and double kicks. We also worked with Reid Paraszczynec of Lucid Distortion Audio, a longtime friend of Vincent and Ryan, whose mixing and mastering made the songs sound phenomenal. Reid’s sharp ear and easygoing nature helped usher in the next chapter of Pythonic the right way,” adds the band.
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Fans can brace themselves for an all-out assault of crushing riffs, pounding bass, unrelenting drums, and guttural vocals, solidifying Pythonic as a powerhouse in Canada’s rising metal scene.

The band is set to storm Slaughterfest in Edmonton, AB, on December 6th, sharing the stage with Display of Decay, Brain Stem, Ages of Ashes, A Modern Prometheus, and Cell – info.

Recommended for fans of Lamb of God, Morbid Angel, Devildriver, and Black Dahlia Murder, “Decomposition” will be available on digital platforms on December 19, 2025.

EP pre-order – https://pythonic.bandcamp.com/album/decomposition​

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Track Listing:​
1. Guiltfeeder (4:23)
2. Conceit (4:00)
3. Pills (3:09)
4. Liturgy (3:42)
5. Collateral (3:38)
EP Length: 18:54

EP Recording Credits:​
All songs performed by Pythonic
All songs written by Pythonic with Alex Conley
Produced by Pythonic
Mixed by Reid Paraszczynec / Lucid Distortion Audio
Mastered by Reid Paraszczynec / Lucid Distortion Audio
EP Artwork by Danya Lawton

EP and Live Line-Up​
Morgan Warriner – Lead Vocals
Ryan Hunter – Lead Guitar
Vincent Kohut – Rhythm Guitar and Backing Vocals
Max Hiske – Bass
Jayden Warriner – Drums

About: Born in Saskatoon, SK, Pythonic is a death‑groove metal powerhouse that fuses the ferocity of Lamb of God, Black Dahlia Murder, and Cryptopsy with its own raw, uncompromising vision. Conceived by guitarist Vincent Kohut as a project free from subgenre boundaries, the band embraces the philosophy that “metal is metal.” Together with lead guitarist Ryan Hunter, Kohut carved out a sound that is aggressive, groovy, thick, and unapologetically dirty, a sonic identity that refuses to be confined. The addition of Morgan Warriner on vocals and Max Hiske on bass has solidified Pythonic’s most devastating lineup to date. Warriner’s guttural range, soaring highs, and earth‑shaking lows have been praised as transformative, while Hiske’s thunderous bass lines add depth and weight to every track. Anchored by Jayden’s relentless drumming, the band operates as a tightly locked unit, delivering a crushing live experience.

More info: https://www.facebook.com/pythonicband | https://instagram.com/pythonicband​

Ukrainian band Space Of Variations announces new album

Ukrainian metalcore quartet Space Of Variations delights fans of modern metalcore by announcing a new album! The Poisoned Art album, to be released via Napalm Records, is scheduled for February 13th. Twice nominated as Metal Band of the Year at the Ukrainian BUMA Awards, Space Of Variations is known as a band that is constantly developing its sound, and the band, which works with strict discipline, is making a grand effort towards the heavy metal world.

The singles TRIBE, LIES and DOPPELGÄNGER have been released from the upcoming Poisoned Art album so far, which have raised high expectations for the upcoming album. In conjunction with the album release, the band will present their new single HALO. The song, which was released with a music video, further expand Space of Variations’ musical palette.

“Halo is an abstract metaphor for the gods and demons within us – and accepting them. Time is running out. There’s no point in pretending that everyone isn’t simultaneously holy and cursed. Every light hides its shadow,” the band comments.

With a bolder and more uncompromising attitude than ever, Poisoned Art explores the boundaries of modern metal and takes the band’s career to the next level. The band says the war had a major impact on the album’s outcome:

“Our third full-length album was born during the darkest time of our lives. The war in our homeland changed everything irrevocably. All the spectrum of emotions we’ve experienced are reflected on this album. It’s aggressive, melodic, honest and fatalistic.”

Poisoned Art track listing:
1. TRIBE
2. HALO
3. MAYDAY
4. PARALLEL REALITIES
5. DOPPELGÄNGER
6. GODLIKE
7. GHOST TOWN
8. COLDHEAVEN
9. BACK TO DIRT
10. SNAKE SKIN
11. LIES
12. ECHO

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The biggest album success of Bloodred Hourglass’ career will be crowned with additional concerts and a gig with the Mikkeli City Orchestra

Finnish modern metal Bloodred Hourglass released their seventh album, We Should Be Buried Like This, in October, which has become the band’s most successful full-length album by any measure. The album, which combines explosive aggression and melodic beauty, does not question or embellish, does not console, explain or prove – it only says what had to be said – and this has sunk into the band’s audience in packed concert halls. The album tour, which included almost 30 shows and traveled through Central Europe and Finland, will continue next spring, and its significant highlight is a joint concert with the Mikkeli City Orchestra.

“The first joint concert held two years ago was excellently received, and now our collaboration will continue. In March 2026, our music will be heard in a larger-than-ever arrangement at Mikael’s Martti Talvela Hall,” the band promises.

The amazing concert will feature a full-length performance of the band’s latest album, songs that have rarely been performed live, hits from the band’s career, and a few guest artists. Saku Moilanen of Deep Noise Studios, who is making the orchestral arrangements for the concert, comments:

“Bringing together the Mikkeli City Orchestra and a turbocharged metal band like Bloodred Hourglass is a fascinating challenge, which I am happy to accept again. The previous concert was one of the highlights of the year for me, and this time they are turning the Hollywood pot a notch higher, it is definitely an evening not to be missed.”

The Mikkeli City Orchestra comments on the upcoming collaboration as follows:

“The Mikkeli City Orchestra is once again joining hands with the creators of heavy rock for a concert. The basic essence of music is the same, whether it is classical, jazz, dance music or heavy rock – all musicians always want to convey emotions and experiences to their audience. Collaboration that crosses genre boundaries is always fruitful and opens new doors for both the players and the audience. We are very happy about the collaboration that has already been made with Bloodred Hourglass and we look forward to the future.”

In the spring season, the band will be seen at numerous concerts in Finland and on the legendary 70,000 Tons of Metal cruise to the Bahamas before the summer festivals. Tickets for the concerts are now on sale.

Bloodred Hourglass live 2026

10.01.2026 PL Lublin, Winter Power Festival
29.01.2026 US Miami 70000 Tons of Metal
06.03.2026 FI Porvoo, Taidetehdas (+ Thorn)
13.03.2026 FI Joensuu, Kerubi (+ Horizon Ignited)
14.03.2026 FI Savonlinna, House of Olaf (+ Horizon Ignited)
21.03.2026 FI Mikkeli, Mikaeli (with St. Michel Strings)
27.03.2026 EE Tallinn, Tapper (+ Pridian)
28.03.2026 FI Helsinki, Korjaamo (+ Pridian, Deathropy)
03.04.2026 FI Tampere, Olympia (+ Horizon Ignited)
04.04.2026 FI Hämeenlinna, Suisto
10.04.2026 FI Kempele, ZRock
11.04.2026 FI Espoo, Louhisali
26.06.2026 FI Helsinki, Tuska Festival
12.–15.08.2025 DE Dinkelsbühl, Summer Breeze Open Air
Bloodred Hourglass is:
Jaredi Koukonen – vocals
Jarkko Hyvönen – drums
Jose Moilanen – bass
Lauri Silvonen – guitar
Joni Lahdenkauppi – guitar
Eero Silvonen – guitar

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Old School Thrash Metal Band Bloodride Unveils New Video “Kill without Hate”

Old-school thrash metal veterans Bloodride return with their new video for the song, “Kill Without Hate,” a relentless attack on the cold, emotionless face of modern warfare. The track portrays the grim reality of violence removed from human consequence, where killing becomes as impersonal and routine as a video game.

Fast, brutal, and unflinching, “Kill Without Hate” is classic Bloodride: old-school thrash intensity fused with sharp, thought-provoking commentary.

“Kill without Hate” is a track taken from the band’s album Deafening, out via Wormholedeath Worldwide. The album is a thrash metal assault that pushes boundaries and leaves no neck unthrashed.

Fierce Finnish thrash metal veterans Bloodride formed in 2000. They debuted with the EP Bloodridden Disease in 2004, followed by their first full-length album Crowned in Hell in 2011. Their fourth album, Idiocracy (2021), earned critical acclaim worldwide. Their sound blends old-school thrash with darker death metal tones and the raw edge of hardcore—pure neck-breaking intensity.
Over the years, Bloodride has torn through stages across Europe, sharing the stage with acts like Exhumed, Exodus, Nunslaughter, Toxic Holocaust, Whiplash, and Prestige. Live, they deliver nothing short of a perfect storm.

bloodride.com
www.facebook.com/bloodride
www.instagram.com/bloodride666
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The 40th Nummirock releases its first performers, including Satyricon, Rise Of The Northstar, Omnium Gatherum and Moonsorrow

The 40th Nummirock will be held next Midsummer from 17 to 20 June in the legendary scenery of Lake Nummijärvi in ​​Kauhajoki.
The area along the shores of Lake Nummijärvi, which has been the stage for unforgettable midsummer festivals for four decades, will be filled with heavy music from around the world next year, and the first performers for the upcoming Nummirock have been revealed.

The bands announced include Norwegian black metal legend Satyricon and French band Rise Of The Northstar, which brilliantly combines metal, hip hop and punk.


The lineup is rounded out by American bands UADA and Immortal Disfigurement.
Finnish acts in this first wave of releases include Omnium Gatherum, who are currently touring North America with their new album, and who will also be celebrating their 30th anniversary next year. Moonsorrow, who have rarely been seen live in Finland and are returning to Nummirock after an eight-year wait, reached this milestone this year.

The Nummirock anniversary program is completed by Swallow the Sun, who won the Metal-Emma award last year, Kaunis Kuolematon, a master of the new wave of melancholic doom, Nyrkkitappellu, a punk rock watchdog, and Ruoska, the well-known industrial metal band.

The lineup to be released now is completed by Stoned Statues, who released their new album this year, and Kneel Before the Death, who are considered one of the most interesting new acts in Finnish extreme metal.

Tickets for the four-day festival are now on sale, and tickets for the heaviest midsummer events are available at a reduced price for the rest of this year.
The four-day tickets currently on sale include camping as usual.
In addition to the basic tickets, there is a premium ticket on sale, which includes, among other things, a private VIP area with toilets and the opportunity to meet the bands in meet&greet sessions.

The ticket types currently on sale are: Four-day ticket €199 Four-day premium ticket €239

Tickets: lippu.fi and Tiketti. Ticket prices will increase on January 1, 2026.

Other ticket types will go on sale during the spring.
The recommended age limit for the age-restricted Nummirock is 16 years. 40.

The performers announced for Nummirock so far, in alphabetical order, are:

Immortal Disfigurement (USA)
Kaunis Kuolematon
Kneel Before the Death
Moonsorrow
Nyrkkitappelu
Omnium Gatherum
Rise Of The Northstar (Ranska)
Ruoska
Satyricon (Norja)
Stoned Statues
Swallow the Sun
UADA (USA)

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Gothic Metal Rock Discovery hideclose Presents Nocte Mutamur

Berlin Based Gothic Metal Rock Project hideclose proudly presents his debut EP Nocte Mutamur (By Night We Are Changed), a gothic novella in five movements.
hideclose is the creation of Lenn Vane, a composer and storyteller from Berlin whose work blends dark, doom-laden riffs with narrative precision, exploring themes of spiritual decay, dream logic, and the sacred grotesque.

Nocte Mutamur unfolds like a Gothic novella set in Victorian London, 1889. Through five interconnected tracks, the listener follows Professor Dario Valperga, a scholar of religion whose fascination with evil draws him into visions, rituals, and a reality collapsing under its own shadows.

Each track marks a chapter in Dario Valperga’s descent — from the haunting visions of A Haunted View, to the forbidden rites of Sacred Play, the obsessive doubt of The Darkness Draws Near, the shocking murder in A Fatal Meeting, and the full-moon transformation in Nocte Mutamur, where danger and salvation merge in shadow.

Blending gothic metal, doom, and alternative influences, the EP evokes the atmosphere of classic Gothic literature — obsession, revelation, and transformation. It explores the tension between reason and darkness, faith and decay.

With Nocte Mutamur, Lenn Vane invites listeners into a world where horror becomes sacred and the grotesque reveals truth, a nocturnal journey through sound and story, where every note marks another step into the shadow.

The opening chapter of Nocte Mutamur comes to life in Haunted View, where Professor Dario Valperga begins his descent. On his nightly walk, Dario finds himself in a forest where shadows stir and unseen creatures watch. Reason fails him — the whispers will not let go.
Visually haunting and sonically gripping, the lyric video introduces the dark world of Nocte Mutamur and sets the tone for the journey that follows.

Spotify: Stream Here
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LET SHADES DO Released New Single ‘No More Lies’, Feat. Zachary Stevens (Savatage) & Neil Zaz

‘No More Lies’ is the brand-new single by Let ShadeS Do, out now on all digital platforms via Volcano Records, and on YouTube with a music video full of dark and esoteric imagery.

Let ShadeS Do is a metal project born from the visionary creativity of guitarist and singer Alex Under (real name Domenico Di Girolamo), who, together with singer and songwriter Candice Hellish (aka Elisa Porcu), started from Italy and had the drive and talent to bring together a team of top-tier artists and professionals from the international scene to create a deep and multi-layered work. No More Lies, the band’s third single released through Volcano Records, features legendary vocalist Zachary “Zak” Stevens, frontman of the iconic Savatage, and showcases a stunning guitar duel between the incredible Neil Zaza and the talented Alex Under. Rounding out the lineup are bassist Oliver Holzwarth (Sieges Even, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody of Fire) and drummer Enrico “Chan Choosy” Cianciusi (Headless, Neil Zaza Band), a rhythm section that brings the song the energy and power it deserves.

The No More Lies video continues the storyline introduced in the band’s previous singles, Lost and A New Unworld—the latter featuring a guest appearance by well-known adult film actress Roberta Gemma. The narrative follows mysterious characters in a dystopian world filled with magical and occult elements—yet eerily similar to our own—as they move inevitably toward a final reckoning.

Also listen to earlier singles:
–‘Lost’: https://music.imusician.pro/a/69CEKExZ/ and: https://youtu.be/ICBpPIjamr4?si=5F-6pn4JVGi7QpTP
–‘A New Unworld’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Df4Ax4ohAo

www.volcanopromotion.com
www.facebook.com/letShadeSdo

Finnish melancholic metal band Mourning Wood has released their debut album accompanied with a new music video

The debut album of Finnish melancholic metal band Mourning Wood, Murder Of Crows paints a picture of declining sanity and hope of a painless demise. “Problems are portrayed like a murder or ‘flock’ of crows which always show up more than one at a time.” says Eino-Akseli Koski, the guitarist/songwriter of Mourning Wood. The raw, brutish, yet sensitive flow of the album goes through stages of maniacal excess, substance abuse, despair, depression and existential crisis before fadingly embracing its final resting place with a sigh of relief. Murder Of Crows comes out accompanied by a music video for the song A Grave Vacation, depicting a protagonist with the hope and intent of taking a longer break. The video is made by Heikki Sulander.
“The song and the video are both an excellent portrayal of what Mourning Wood is all about. We may have dark themes in our songs, but we never forget the humorous side of being gloomy and melancholic.”, says Koski.

Listen to the album on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, AmazonMusic etc.): https://push.fm/fl/mourningwood-moc

Founded in 2021, Mourning Wood leans heavily on northern melancholy and it’s idols such as Sentenced, Judas Priest, Ozzy Osbourne, Billy Idol and Gary Moore. This band that spreads the joy of sorrow consists of professional musicians, armed with a long history of playing together which is evident in Mourning Wood’s intense presence especially in their live shows. Even though each member of Mourning Wood lives far apart, the band’s roots were created in Kajaani, Finland in 2013.
Mourning Wood is also a familiar sight from a tribute tour surrounding the biography book publication of Sentenced lead guitarist, Miika Tenkula. The book, Melankolian Mestari (Master of Melancholy) – Miika Tenkula was written by Nefertiti Malaty who also established the book tour that also had musical tributes from three bands.

https://www.facebook.com/Mourningwoodmetal

https://www.youtube.com/@mourningwood2481

https://www.instagram.com/mourningwood_official/

Lillmåns releases retrospective album Remains

Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns, the frontman of Finntroll and …And Oceans, has released his retrospective album Remains. The album offers 17 tracks and a three-decade look into the depths of the desk drawer – raw experimentation, changes in direction and a gradually emerging sound that later became a significant part of Finnish metal.

At the same time, a sampling of bands that have been buried over the years will be heard. It includes material from bands such as Twilight Moon, Remains, Degenerate, Chthonian, Vere and Observant. The album’s lead single is Chtonian’s Sanguine Sadism, which was released with a visualizer. The album is released by Stormbound Records.

“Most people think of me primarily as a singer, but through this collection I wanted to show the kind of transformation I went through: how I grew from a musician who lived in the shadows to a singer who rose to the forefront.”

Gathering the material for the album was an adventure in itself. Material salvaged from basements, MiniDiscs, unlabeled cassettes and old hard drives, Remains is a timeline of Lillmåns’ search for a way to express himself. The journey takes him from a musician who started out on the bass to a reluctant vocalist and finally a luminous frontman.

For those listeners who crave deeper context, the physical version includes lyrics written by Lillmåns, telling memoirs and curiosities from various sessions. In them, he opens up about the adventure that began with Twilight Moon’s reel-to-reel tape days, the roughness of Remains’ garage recording, the first visits to a professional studio with Degenerate and the deliberate roughness of Chthonian. There’s also the story of the Vere project that was born in one evening and Observant’s increasingly polished self-produced expression.

The album has been remastered by Owe Inborr at Wolfthrone Studios. Remains was released on November 28th digitally and on CD via Stormbound Records.

Tracklist:
01 Twilight Moon – Wanderlust
02 Twilight Moon – Spirit Lord
03 Twilight Moon – Shattered Reflections
04 Twilight Moon – Stuck in Eternity (Live 1999)
05 Remains – Forced into Lies
06 Remains – Leaving the Path of the Blind
07 Remains – The Life That Passed (Slowly Fading)
08 Degenerate – Blinded
09 Degenerate – Displacement
10 Degenerate – Lost in Glass and Stone
11 Chthonian – Ill
12 Chthonian – Larvae, Nymph, Decay
13 Chthonian – Sanguine Sadism
14 Vere – The Silver Lining
15 Vere – Ignite, Enflame
16 Observant – As Corroded as You
17 Observant – Still Nameless

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