Author: Crix

Finnish melodic death metal band Northvoid released a new Ember Remains EP

Finnish metal band Northvoid released a new EP ‘Ember Remains’ on April 25th 2025 via Inverse Records. 

LISTEN to Ember Remains EP on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/northvoid-ember

The “Ember Remains” EP continues the natural progression and presents a darker and heavier landscape that Northvoid paints with their music. After the debut EP released in 2022 and the three independent single releases that followed, the band takes another step towards the musical style that it has strived for throughout its existence.

The core of the EP is formed around a foundation created by heavy guitars and bass and
drums. The whole is united by a vocals that moves more and more towards a traditional death metal style. The album’s entirety is supported by a soundscape playing in the background, created with keyboards, depicting northern melancholy. Overall, the EP gives a picture of the band’s development and presents the band’s current style and gives guidelines for the future.

BIOGRAPHY:
Forged in North Karelia in January 2020, Northvoid delivers a musical assault rooted in the melodic death metal of the 90’s. With a bond forged in childhood, our members now channel the raw, untamed energy of the past & present into every note.

Our music is a fusion of melodic heaviness and groove, inspired by the harsh environment and wilderness of the north. Experience the power and versatility of our music, which broadly covers different elements of metal music, guided by the attitude of the frost-bitten north. Northvoid isn’t just music – it’s a journey into the heart of coldness and wilderness.

Join us and feel the fury!

Line-up:
Markus Heikkinen: guitars
Timo Korkalainen: drums
Kimmo Timonen: vocals
Risto Aittola: bass

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/northvoid
https://www.instagram.com/northvoid.band
https://northvoid.bandcamp.com

THE VALLEY Release New Single ‘Hypnagogia’ with Lyric Video

Alt-prog band THE VALLEY, a young and talented group from Liguria, Italy, release today their brand-new single ‘Hypnagogia’, now available on all major digital platforms via Volcano Records & Promotion.

 

With a sound that merges modern progressive influences with intense and evocative atmospheres, Hypnagogia is a deep and poetic reflection on that suspended moment between sleep and wakefulness, where dreams and reality blend. The track highlights the band’s ability to alternate engaging melodic passages with heavier, more unsettling sections, always maintaining a strong emotional and creative tension at the core.

“Hypnagogia is the isthmus in the mind that separates sleep from wakefulness, where everything is so vivid it might be real—or you might wake up and find yourself back in reality. Some believe that this very moment is the birthplace of creation, the true face of inspiration,” explain The Valley. Taking inspiration from bands like Tool, Porcupine Tree, and Katatonia, The Valley offer a personal vision of alternative progressive rock, avoiding clichés and impressing with intensity and originality.

Listen to Hypnagogia now and let yourself be carried away into the blurred boundary between dream and reality.

Further info at
www.volcanopromotion.com
www.facebook.com/thevalleyprog

The Speaker Wars feat. Stan Lynch (Ex-Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers) premiere new video “The Forgiveness Tree” from debut album out May 30th

Today, THE SPEAKER WARS, led by ex-Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers drummer Stan Lynch and guitarist/vocalist Jon Christopher Davis, premiere the third video from their debut self titled album scheduled for release May 30th. As with the previous videos for the songs “You Make Every Lie Come True” and “It Ain’t Easy”, the video was directed by Brad Osborne and filmed in Denton, TX.

 

Stan Lynch comments:

“This one had legs from the start –– it’s written from the heart. It’s a roadmap to healing. It’s the truth.”

Jon Christopher Davis adds:

“It was a simple chorus I had laying around. I sat at Stan’s piano and played it. He immediately knew where I was trying to go. Two hours later, the song was finished. The end result is a soul scratcher.”

‘The Speaker Wars’ album is available for preorder HERE. Stan Lynch will also be appearing on Talk Shop Live on May 28th to discuss the new album.

‘The Speaker Wars’ Track List:

1. You Make Every Lie Come True
2. It Ain’t Easy
3. Taste Of Heaven
4. Never Ready To Go
5. The Forgiveness Tree
6. When The Moon Cries Wolf
7. Trader’s South
8. Leave Him
9. Sit With My Soul
10. I Wish You Peace

STAN LYNCH, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, long-time drummer and founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, announces today the formation of THE SPEAKER WARS. After two decades of recording and touring multiple albums with The Heartbreakers, STAN moved to the other side of the recording console and shifted his focus to production and songwriting. Over the years, STAN has written and produced hits for artists in multiple genres, including the Eagles, Don Henley, Tim McGraw, The Mavericks, Ringo Starr, The Byrds, Toto, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

While writing in Nashville, a publisher introduced STAN to Texas singer-songwriter, Jon Christopher Davis, who was gathering material for a solo record on a major label. After accumulating an album’s worth of songs, Jon abandoned working on a solo record and the two decided to start a band to perform the newly created material. Adding Jay Michael Smith on guitar, Brian Patterson on bass, Steve Ritter on percussion, and Jay Brown on keyboards, THE SPEAKER WARS was born.

The band then headed into 5M Studios in Denton, TX, with co-producer Mike Pisterzi, and produced a full-length album. Upon hearing the material, Frontiers Recordsimmediately signed the band, and their debut album is scheduled for release on May 30th.

STAN LYNCH says:

“After my 20-year tenure with the Heartbreakers, I got a second act writing and producing. It was educational beyond measure to learn how to create music from the other side of the glass. Around this time, I met Jon Christopher Davis in Nashville, who casually mentioned that we should start a band – so here I am – in THE SPEAKER WARS,and it’s good to have my old job back. The guys in our new band know how to make great music, and I’m looking forward to another round.”

Pre-Order ‘The Speaker Wars’ HERE

Watch the Music Video for “You Make Every Lie Come True” HERE

Watch the Music Video for “It Ain’t Easy” HERE

THE SPEAKER WARS are:
Stan Lynch – Drums
Jon Christopher Davis – Vocals
Jay Michael Smith – Guitar
Brian Patterson – Bass
Steve Ritter – Percussion
Jay Brown – Keyboard

FOLLOW THE SPEAKER WARS:
Website
Facebook
Instagram

Norwegian Thrash TONIC BREED Teams Up w/ FLOTSAM and JETSAM’s Michael Gilbert For New Single “The Die Is Cast”

Norway’s Tonic Breed, led by one man thrash machine Patrik K. Svendsen, has teamed up with Flotsam and Jetsam guitarist Michael Gilbert for a guest solo on the new single “The Die Is Cast”. This is the second collaboration of 2025 by Tonic Breed and follows the previously released track “The Charge” with Darkroot.

Straight to the point. No fluff, no filler, “The Die Is Cast” is pure, hard-hitting thrash from start to finish, with a touch of melody woven in. The song is about a powerful war machine that lies broken and abandoned, surrounded by the wreckage of others like it. Its silence feels heavy, as if it’s aware of the destruction it once brought and the emptiness that followed.

Svendsen adds about the track:

“I think the fans are gonna dig this one. Tonic Breed never releases a song that sounds too much like the previous one. Also, with guest appearances, the unique touch on each song is there all the time. I’m super excited about the response from the fans! I went for an ’80s thrash composition on this one! Having Michael on board is an absolute honor, as he was a part of that era and genre of music.”

Gilbert comments:

“It was an honor to be asked to do a guest solo appearance with Patrik and Tonic Breed. Some killer heavy music and a pleasure to be a part of. Cheers!”

Photo Credit – Evelina Szczesik

“The Die Is Cast” was performed, written, and produced by Patrik K. Svendsen with mixing by Adrian Bjerketvedt in Sarpsborg, Norway, and mastered by Steve Kitch.

Recommended for fans of Flotsam and Jetsam, Slayer, and Metallica, listen to “The Die Is Cast” at the following links:

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/album/2AM7LfoyoTUL0VlZLYpXyE​

Video – https://youtu.be/mAC4_K0Sqko​

​

For more info:​
​https://tonicbreed.com​
​https://facebook.com/tonicbreed​
​https://instagram.com/tonicbreed​

About:
Tonic Breed is a Norwegian thrash and heavy metal one-man music project by Patrik K. Svendsen. Until 2019, Tonic Breed was originally a four-piece band, established in Sarpsborg, Norway, in 2006. As of 2022, Tonic Breed has released three albums and one EP. Today, Tonic Breed is constantly reinventing itself in songwriting and guest collaborations.

Discography:
– 2025 – The Die Is Cast (single)
(ft. guest guitar solo Michael Gilbert (Flotsam and Jetsam)
– 2025 – The Charge (single w/ Darkroot)
– 2024 – Outsold – LP – 10th Anniversary Edition
– 2022 – Fuel the Fire – EP
(ft. guests Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth), Bernt Jansen (Artch/Wig Wam),
Björn Strid (Soilwork), Martin Skriubakken (Endezzma), Oliver Palotai (Kamelot)
– 2018 – Install Memory – LP
– 2014 – Outsold – LP
– 2010 – On the Brink of Destruction

Jack The Joker reveal new video “Denied” out now

Progressive metallers Jack The Joker are excited to share their new single and accompanying video, “Denied” out now via Frontiers Music Srl.

 

Stream “Denied” HERE

The band commented on the new track by saying: “Denied brings a rare combination of a melodic “prog” tune with direct regional music influences to us here in the Northeast, more specifically the Maracatu. The song is a social examination of the inequality of opportunities that plagues our country; the abysmal difference between those who come from different realities”.

Jack The Joker is a modern progressive metal band with a twist, hailing from the Northeast of Brazil. The band consists of Raphael Joer (vocals) Felipe Faco and Lucas Colares (guitars), Gustavo Pinheiro (bass), and Vicente Ferreira (drums).

The band is notorious for incorporating traditional influences from their local culture, including musical styles such as maracatu, forró, baião and frevo.

Their sound draws inspiration from the eponymous renowned Brazilian novel and explores the metaphysical backlands, where human will prevail against the hostility of nature.

The instrumental arrangements delineate the environment by fusing regional genres with rock and metal to create a landscape that mirrors the themes in the lyrics.

This captivating musical odyssey has already garnered a significant amount of buzz in the prog scene through the first two singles released in 2024.

The musicality of “Denied” is structured in the rhythmic cells of maracatu, an Afro-Brazilian tradition that carries the marks of struggle and celebration. The pulsating beats breathe life into the song, creating an intense and emotive atmosphere.

Line Up:
Vocals – Raphael Joer
Electric/Acoustic Guitars – Felipe Facó e Lucas Colares
Bass Guitars – Gustavo Pinheiro
Drums and Percussions – Vicente Ferreira

Follow JACK THE JOKER:
Facebook
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Within Temptation: The Invisible Force documentary to be released on May 6th – The documentary takes viewers on the band’s journey to war-torn Ukraine

Within Temptation will release a documentary on May 6th that is a beautiful portrayal of perseverance, resilience and the power of music in the darkest of times. Exclusively available on YouTube, Within Temptation: The Invisible Force offers an intimate and emotional look into the life of the Dutch symphonic metal band at a defining moment in their career and the global situation.

The film stars Within Temptation founders Sharon den Adel and Robert Westerholt and how their support for the war in Ukraine grows from distant solidarity to direct action on and off stage. Deciding to take her support beyond words, Sharon travels to Kiev to meet fans and bring them a message of hope, performing with the Ukrainian GOS Orchestra and Choir at the Atlas Festival in the midst of the war.

During this visit, Sharon met young Ukrainian band BLIND8 and Within Temptation, who were seen on the same stages last year during Within Temptation’s major tour. The documentary also follows the challenges that BLIND8 and the entire tour organization have to go through due to the possible mandatory military service of Ukrainian artists. Sharon was also involved in the song “Labyrinth”, released last year, the music video for which can be watched here.

The documentary reveals how the war affects not only Ukrainians, but also how artists around the world redefine the direction of their creativity and morality. How far can the band go to stay true to their ideals, and what happens when music turns into activism?

On May 16th, Within Temptation will release the documentary’s accompanying single “Sing Like A Siren”, featuring Jerry Heil, who became internationally known as Ukraine’s Eurovision representative in Malmö last year.

WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | YOUTUBE | SPOTIFY

Bunny Anthem new single from border-breaking band Rabbit Cult

Rabbit Cult, a bunny metal duo that spices electronic pop metal with kantele, shot to fame last year as one of the most interesting new bands in the country, and the duo consisting of Salla-Marja Hätinen and Marianne Heikkinen continue to surprise with their single Bunny Anthem. It is also the first song that the Bunnys have produced themselves. The song was mixed and mastered by Oscar Nilsson at Studio Bohus, who has previously worked with The Halo Effect and the Haunted, among others.

“Bunny Anthem is the first song that Marianne composed for Rabbit Cult. I had just broken my collarbone in a car crash, and when I went into surgery I said that Marianne could write us a song in the meantime. Marianne introduced the song to me by saying, ‘This will never be released,’ and I had no idea what to expect, as I had never heard Marianne’s demos before. But I was immediately on fire with this,” says Salla.

So Marianne had to change her mind – fortunately so. The strong contrast between the melody and the lyrics was created quickly, and it was that ironic sense of danger and contradiction that took the song to a new level.

“In retrospect, Bunny Anthem perfectly encapsulates everything that Rabbit Cult and bunny metal represent to us, but when I made this song, I was both excited and a little ashamed at the same time. I wondered if it was possible to make a song like this. And I remember how big a threshold I had to play the demo of the song to Salla, I guess to alleviate my shame I said ‘this is a joke then’”.

Rabbit Cult’s already released singles Cute AF and Pink Rifle have already taken the duo to, among other things, warm up Lordi at the monster shows in Finland, and in May Rabbit Cult will be seen at the new Capital Of Metal export event for Finnish metal music in Tavastia, Helsinki. The summer’s shows also include a performance at the Hellsinki Metal Festival.

Rabbit Cult is:
Salla-Marja – Vocals, kantele and whatever else is needed at any given time
Marianne – Drums, percussion, bass, guitar, keyboards and backing vocals

RABBIT CULT | INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK | SPOTIFY

Finnish heavy rock band I.F.A released the second single and music video Intiaani from their forthcoming album

Finnish heavy rock band I.F.A released the second single Intiaani from their forthcoming second studio album Tiimalasi which is set to be released on August 8th 2025 via Inverse Records.

 

The band comments:
“Right from the beginning, the chorus immediately brought to mind the Indian theme. A chocolate bar commercial started to come to mind, where an old Indian goes to his deathbed on a cliff ledge, but after tasting the bar, he starts laughing. The idea was refined to honor the Indians’ appreciation for nature and add some old Indian wisdom. 

Since “Tiimalasi” is a darker and heavier album in terms of themes, “Intiaani” counterbalances that arc with a slightly more major-key song.”

LISTEN to ‘Intiaani” on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/ifa-intiaani

BIOGRAPHY:
I.F.A was founded in 1985 in Vihti. Aapo McMillan and Timo Supperi were the founding members, and Jouni Kaunisto was brought in as a singer. The band’s name was derived from the East German Industriverband Fahrzeugbau (IFA) car brand, whose cars were manufactured between 1948 and 1956.

The music of the early days of I.F.A was punk-influenced. Over the years, the sound took shape into the current heavier form without forgetting the band’s roots. The band’s activities took a break in 1989, until it was reactivated in 1999. The current line-up took shape when guitarist Tom Heskell joined in 2019 and drummer Herra Koivuniemi in 2023.

The band released their first album of their long career, which was named Ifandia, self-published for streaming in 2021. Albums 17 songs have been collected over the band’s long career.

Kumarra, Panssarimorsian, Pimeää and Taiteilija singles released in 2023 – 2024 gathered promising streaming numbers as a self-published artist and received airtime on Radio Rock, among others. In 2024, the band signed a recording contract with Inverse Records. The new album is scheduled to be released in 2025.

WATCH music video of first single Kalervo: https://youtu.be/PyXkYnMAxr8

Line-up:Aapo McMillan – Vocals & bass
Tom HeskELL – Guitars
Herra Koivuniemi – DrumsLinks:
https://www.facebook.com/rockifa
https://www.instagram.com/rockifa
https://www.tiktok.com/@rockifa
https://rockifa.bandcamp.com

“Disfigurement” gives a hefty and harsh preview of the new I, Cursed EP set to be released later this fall

Finland’s I, Cursed, who combine angry and furious death metal and grindcore, will release a new as yet unnamed EP later this year. Both the single and the EP will once again be released in cooperation with Finnish record labels Inverse Records & Meara Music which is also an agency and event producer based in Ulvila.

The band comments:
” “Disfigurement” gives a hefty and harsh preview of the new I, Cursed EP set to be released later this fall. I, Cursed has updated its production to be more dynamic and organic, closer to how I, Cursed sounds live. “Disfigurement” reflects the mood of the upcoming EP, offering doses of fierce death metal and grindcore. The “Disfigurement” single is accompanied by a rather aggressive and pulsating music video, produced by Soft Neon Audiovisual.”  

Listen to Disfigurement single on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/icursed-disfigurement

BIOGRAPHY: 
Combining angry and furious death metal and grindcore, I, Cursed, from the Pori / Ulvila area, is a brutal dredging of Ville-Veikko Laaksonen and Eero Haula, known from Atlases, Marto and Oceanwake, among others, which is fed to the Finnish metal scene in an atonal coldness. I, Cursed’s music is a mix of something old and familiar, the HM-2 sound of Swedish grind, and somewhat more modern and crushing production. The line-up of the band in July 2024 is completed by guitarist Nico Brander from Marto and drummer Arttu Leppänen from Atlases and Marto. FFO Coldworker, Gadget, Nasum & Rotten Sound.

LISTEN to previous EP Death Holograms: https://push.fm/fl/icursed-death

Line-up:
Eero Haula – Vocals (Oceanwake)
Ville-Veikko Laaksonen – Bass & guitar (Atlases, Marto)
Nico Brander – Guitar (Blood Service, Marto)
Arttu Leppänen – Drums (Atlases, Marto)

Discography:
I, Cursed / Blood Service S/T Split EP 2023 (Meara Music)
Bloodsoaked / Storm Parade Double Single 2023 (Meara Music)
Blades Single 2024 (Inverse Records / Meara Music)
Sorrower Single 2024 (Inverse Records / Meara Music)
Death Holograms Single & EP 2024 (Inverse Records / Meara Music)
Disfigurement Single 2025 (Inverse Records / Meara Music)

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/I.Cursed.Grind
https://www.instagram.com/i.cursed.grind
https://icursed.bandcamp.com

Sargassus released the second single ‘The Lone Idunn Grows in Shade’ from their upcoming debut album – ‘Spirit of Gravity’ drum playthrough also out

Finnish progressive death metal band Sargassus is set to release their debut album ‘Vitruvian Rays’, out in June 13th 2025 via Inverse Records. The second single ‘The Lone Idunn Grows in Shade’ is out now with a lyric video.


LISTEN to the single on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/sargassus-idunn

‘The Lone Idunn Grows in Shade’ is one of the earliest songs written for the upcoming album. It displays the meditative side of Sargassus’ music, with droning riffs and repetitive motifs with an underlying sense of angst and unease. The song deals with themes of change, rationality and spiritual growth amidst life-changing revelations.

The song’s lyrics tell a story of a priest finding a religion outside of his own faith. While  confronting this new, opposing yet strangely similar worldview, he remains unmoved, but his rationality ends up poisoning his faith, leaving him spiraling. The song is a critique of those individuals who turn to wrath in the face of opposition rather than examining their own shortcomings.

The Band Comments:
“‘The Lone Idunn Grows in Shade’ is one of those songs that underwent barely any changes since its inception. We are very pleased with the song, as it has it all: dissonance, atmosphere and aggression, all being carried by a dynamic flow throughout the song. Halfway to the song, there’s also Rokio’s brainchild for all the prog fans out there. This one’s bound to be one of Sargassus’ most impactful live songs!”

The band also released an official DRUM playthrough video of their first single Spirit of Gravity. “Let us introduce to you: not gravity blast but “spirit of gravity”-blast! Real take with real audio, of course. The drum playthrough filmed, edited and mixed by Joona Muistola at HAW Studios.”

Spirit of Gravity Drum Playthrough video available here: https://youtu.be/_aOGjFOo1vY

Line-up:
Matias Rokio – Drums
Teemu Leskinen – Guitar
Matias Stenman – Vocals
Mertta Halonen – Bass

Links:
https://sargassus.com
https://www.facebook.com/sargassusband
https://www.instagram.com/sargassusband
https://sargassus.bandcamp.com
https://www.tiktok.com/@sargassusband