Category: Press Releases

Progressive metal band Factory Of Art’s new album available worldwide on all streaming platforms

The progressive metal band FACTORY OF ART are back in business with their brilliant comeback album “BACK TO LIFE”. Since its release in June, the new work, which is currently available on vinyl and CD, has received great reviews from fans, the press, and radio stations all over the world.

Now the next step is being taken and FACTORY OF ART will be making the new album available for worldwide streaming on all platforms from October 20, 2024 in order to clearly increase the reach of “BACK TO LIFE”.

On October 13th the band released the video of “Walking To The Place I Love”: https://youtu.be/5u_-opT8OPw

Look forward to ten new and highly interesting tracks, which also feature illustrious guests such as amarcord and Stephanie Brill!

But if you really want to support the band and want something real like a CD, double LP, T-shirts & much more, you can order it at https://shop.factory-of-art.band/ or as a download at https://factoryofart.bandcamp.com.

All links: https://music-hub.bio/factoryofart

WACKEN METAL BATTLE USA Open Band Submissions For 2025 Battles – One Band To Conquer Them All & Play Wacken Open Air

One Band To Conquer Them All! Wacken Metal Battle USA is proud to announce its return for 2025 battles nationwide for one independent band to be crowned champion and perform at one of the world’s most prestigious and largest already sold-out metal festivals Wacken Open Air (July 30th – August 2nd) (Attendance of over 80,000 people in Wacken, Germany for over 30 years).

Unsigned bands ONLY can apply. Please fill out your information at the following link (please select USA and then the City that your band would like to perform in) – https://www.metal-battle.com​

(Band Submissions open from October 11th – December 15th, 2024)

Wacken Battle Trailer Video – https://youtu.be/fjMugRXEc5g​

The 2025 WMBU champion will receive the following:
– A slot at the 2025 Wacken Open Air Festival.
– Full professional backline provided.
– $1,000 USD towards flights to Germany.
– VIP camping at the festival.

2025 battles will be taking place in the following cities:

New York, NY
Clifton, NJ
Baltimore, MA
Tampa, FL
Portland, OR
Seattle, WA
Bay Area, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Orange County, CA
Sacramento, CA
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Dallas, TX
Corpus Christi, TX
Houston, TX
San Antonio, TX

The 2024 WMBU national final was held in San Diego at Brick By Brick with regional winners Cascade Effect (San Diego), WarTroll (NorCal), Versipul (PNW), Prime Prophecy (East Coast), and Father Wolf (Texas).

Judged by an industry panel that included Rod Kukla (Silver Lining Music), Craig Goldy (Dio), Derek Engemann (Scour, Phil Anselmo and the Illegals, ex-Cattle Decapitation), and Patrick Stone (Adler’s Appetite, Budderside), the band that reigned the stage and proved themselves worthy of gracing the holy land of metal at Wacken Open Air in Germany was crowned 2024 champion, San Diego’s Cascade Effect.

As the 2024 crowned USA champion, Cascade Effect went on to perform as the only independent American band at the International Battle at Wacken Open Air 2024 (July 31st – August 3rd).​

List of previous WMBU national winners, Cascade Effect (2024 – San Diego), Fadrait (2023 – San Diego) Mythraeum (2022 – San Diego), Monarch (2019 – San Diego), Voices of Ruin (2018 – Anaheim) and Corpse Hoarder (2017 – Philadelphia).

2024 battles were hosted in the following cities: New York, NY, Clifton, NJ, Philadelphia, PA, Portland, OR, Seattle, WA, Bay Area, CA, Los Angeles, CA, Orange County, CA, Sacramento, CA, San Diego, CA, Austin, TX, Dallas, TX, El Paso, TX, Houston, TX, San Antonio, TX.

For the last 6 years of battles (2017-2019, 2022, 2023, 2024), Wacken Metal Battle USA has hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the world’s largest metal festival Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany. 2019 saw the festival celebrate its 30th anniversary, but due to Covid, the 2020 and 2021 editions were both canceled. As the metal community regains its strength, Wacken Open Air 2025 will be the 34th edition of the festival and will be held from July 30th – August 2nd. The 2025 event is already sold out with a line-up that includes Machine Head, Saltatio Mortis, Papa Roach, Gojira, Apocalyptica, Saxon, Within Temptation, Dimmu Borgir, Ministry, and many more. Details here.

Wacken Metal Battle USA is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance to win their spot among 30 other countries’ champions, and represent the USA in an international battle of the bands at the world’s largest outdoor metal festival: Wacken Open Air. The battles have been hosted at the festival for over a decade and give independent bands the opportunity to showcase their talents to an international audience along with the chance to win multiple prizes.

How it works:​
​Participating cities will host qualifying rounds plus a city final organized by a local city concert promoter where one band will move forward to the American national final (date and city to be determined). The winner of the national final will move on to perform at the Wacken Open Air 2024 and compete against the winners of 30 other countries in a final global battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.

Links:​
​Metal-Battle.com​
​MetalBattleUSA.com​
​Facebook.com/metalbattleusa​.official​
​Twitter.com/MetalBattleUSA​
​Instagram.com/metalbattleusa.official​

Stories about the weight of the world and the things pushing us down – Melodic death metal band Alias Noone from Finland releases their debut album

Finnish melodic death metal band Alias Noone‘s debut album “Weight of the World” was recorded during 2023-24 at the D-Studios in multiple sessions. The album contains 9 tracks songs that are powerful and melodic without losing the Alias Noone signature heavyness and groove. All the songs contain much more hooks than before. Every song tells you something about the weight of the world and the things that are pushing us down in modern society.

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

Guitarist Juha-Pekka Tiainen tells about the album:

“Huge feelings, shit loads of work with this album. The way we used to work, totally turned around during the sessions in The Weight of the World. We are truly honoured to release this album! I can’t even portray me feelings while I’m having the first ever album in my hands! Like having a baby. The devastating news of my beloved friend and band mate passing crushed me. I’m so honoured to released this album so the spirit of my friend carries on.”

Bass player Antti Valkama continues:

“Making the album was a long and difficult project, as they often are. Tragic things happened during the recording, which make this even more important in its own way. I am very proud of the end result. It shows the handprint and hard work of all of us.”

The production is top notch and the sound is bigger than in Alias Noone’s previous releases. “We wanted to push the sound as big as possible without losing the things that make us sound the way we do” tells the band. the synths and programming is done by Jarno Hänninen from the band Dead End Finland. Jarno is the producer and engineer as well.

When asked about who will love the album, the band tells that the sound is a mixture of Dark Tranquillity, Insomnium, In Flames, Amorphis, Sentenced and more without sounding exactly any of them. “We think our sound is ours, but if you want to put a label on it then the more melodic side of melodic death metal is the closest. There are so much different things in our songs but metal fans will love the album.”

Line-up
Teemu Ratamaa – Vocals
Janne Öysti – Guitars
Juha-Pekka Tiainen – Guitars
Antti Valkama – Bass
Matti Fagerström – Drums

All keyboards, programming and production – Jarno Hänninen
Vocals on tracks Final Salute, Shadowkeep, Left Behind – Saara Nurmela

https://www.facebook.com/aliasnoone/
https://www.instagram.com/aliasnoone/

Fixation’s highly anticipated “Speak In Tongues” EP is finally here

The band’s heaviest and most monumental compositions
weave into a conceptual mini-album.

Fixation, the hottest name in Norwegian metalcore, released their new EP “Speak In Tongues” on October 11th. However, this is not just any interim release made up of leftover songs, but a conceptual mini-album with eight tracks that explores themes such as togetherness, identity and power relations. The publisher is Indie Recordings.

“Speak In Tongues” EP is epic and experimental at the same time. The band says they drew inspiration from the soundtracks of films and TV series such as Dune and Don’t Worry Darling. They also mention the Norwegian pop star Aurora as one of their sources of inspiration. Around the massive elements, however, heavy metal tones rumble, accompanying singer Jonas Hansen’s profound lyrics. The singer, who has garnered a lot of praise for his thought-provoking and insightful lyrics, comments:

“Speak In Tongues is about an individual searching for meaning in a world that rejects him. He finds relief in a cult, but quickly realizes that it is no better option than the society he was fleeing. He decides to found his own cult, but at the same time loses touch with himself.”

Hansen says that the band has long been interested in cult movements and their psychological power. He also hints that there are hidden hints and “easter egg” surprises that can be found on the EP, which the most attentive listeners can notice.

According to Hansen, Blue Skies, which can be found in between on behalf of “Speak In Tongues” EP, is a kind of culmination point of the story that runs through the EP:

“We wanted this song to feel like a kind of ceremony or an acid trip – a whirlwind of emotions and chaos. I imagined people dancing naked around the room, speaking in tongues, and just at the right moment the main character sees the blue sky, which signifies nirvana or revelation.”

Speak In Tongues track listing:
1. {grow a flower}
2. Random Acts of Violence
3. {pick the petals}
4. Blue Skies
5. {tear it’s thorns off}
6. Tyrannical Miracle
7. {blood still on the grass}
8. Fever Dreaming

The band, which has been on the rise for the last couple of years, played more than 60 gigs all over Europe last year. Fixation also released their debut album “More Subtle Than Death” and made history by picking up the Breakthrough of the Year award at the Norwegian Publishing Awards. It was the first time that the award was given to a metal band.

Fixation is:
Jonas Hansen – vocals
Martin Stenstad Selen – guitar
Tobias Østerdal – guitar
Martin Gravdal – bass
Ola Dønnem – drums

FIXATION | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK | SPOTIFY

Finnish melodic heavy metal band Ikirouta releases new disco metal influenced single

Finnish melodic heavy metal band Ikirouta has released a new song “Uusi päivä” (A New Day). This is the 19th single by this Kajaani -based band. On this tight song the band cut to the chase immediately and the first chorus strikes in after half a minute.

Guitarist and composer Teemu Kuosmanen tells about the song: “Uusi päivä is something quite different from our band but it still got the familiar Ikirouta-sound. We wanted to try some new stuff and we used some synth-bass, electric drum fills and mixed in a little bit of disco metal twist. Really big thanks to Janne Tolsa about the soundscape. Especially on the chorus got some traditional Finnish pop touch. And the length – I have never before written a song this short. It’s actually quite a challenge to push all the important elements into a three minute song. We are really excited to see how people will react to this!”

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

Watch the lyrics video: https://youtu.be/Zz-KLPKZ-dQ?si=lH1EfGVcljN8rPHF

Ikirouta is hard working live band playing constantly all around Finland. The band is also active organizing popular Facebook -live streams from their rehearsals that have had over 10 000 viewers on most popular streams.

Ikirouta:

Jori Kärki – vocals
Teemu Kuosmanen – guitar, keyboards
Jere Pellikka – bass
Jani Partanen – drums
Mikko Niiranen – technician

https://www.facebook.com/ikiroutayhtye

Finnish progressive metal sensation Rioghan to release second album in 2025 – First single ‘Edge’ featuring Vikram Shankar on keys

Finnish progressive metal band Rioghan is set to release the second studio album ‘Kept’ on February 14th 2025 via Inverse Records. The first single ‘Edge’ was unleashed on October 10th and the stunning music video shot and edited by Aarni Visuals can be seen here: https://youtu.be/SYz0locEGn4

Rioghan comments Edge -single:
” ’Edge’ sets the directions to the new album’s scenery, describing the harsh duality of deeply cut adoration and sickening disappointment, through the eyes of a wounded muse seeking for her revenge. Instrumentally the song is a quite unexpected take. We really pondered if it should be the first single at all, but after thorough thought we understood no other song would fit better for the first taste. This is our “shovel to the face” -opening act!”

Finnish Tour with Wheel:
31.10.2024 Tampere, Olympia
01.11.2024 Kuopio, Sawohouse Underground
02.11.2024 Helsinki, On The Rocks
07.11.2024 Jyväskylä, Lutakko
08.11.2024 Lahti, Finlandia-Klubi
09.11.2024 Oulu, 45 Special

LISTEN to Edge single on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/rioghan-edge

BIOGRAPHY
Rioghan is a fresh breeze to progressive metal scene from Finland. The band consists of singer Rioghan Darcy, multi-instrumentalist Teemu Liekkala, guitarist Tero Luukkonen, bassist Antti Varjanne and drummer Valtteri Revonkorpi.

Their debut album ‘Different Kinds Of Losses’ was made in collaboration with Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), Einar Solberg (Leprous) and Teemu Koskela (ex-Celesty), and it was rolled out during 2022 sparking interest widely. The singles got airtime in Finland and also internationally, and after the album release in December, Rioghan’s monthly listeners on Spotify peaked at 40 000. The songs also got into multiple Spotify editorial playlists.

Live line-up was put into action in 2023, and this autumn Rioghan will return to stages supporting Wheel on their Charismatic Leaders -tour, bringing their stellar show to Tampere, Kuopio, Helsinki, Jyväskylä, Lahti, and Oulu.

With new full-length album well on the way, the first single ‘Edge’ opens up a completely new portal to Rioghan’s mindset with more straight forward and even aggressive approach. Astonishing range of Rioghan Darcy’s vocals, rowdy djenty guitars and guest performer Vikram Shankar’s flowing keyboards will keep you on the edge of your seat for the whole song.

Rioghan started out as a solo project by singer and poetess Rioghan Darcy, based in Lapua, Finland. After years of writing poetry and lyrics, Rioghan was founded in 2019 with an intention to fleshen up some of her words with music. After a while, it grew into a trio with Teemu Liekkala (guitars, bass, keys, production) and Valtteri Revonkorpi (drums) added as permanent stars for the band, and in 2024 guitarist Tero Luukkonen and bassist Antti Varjanne also officially joined the band from live line-up. Rooted deeply in both gothic and progressive metal scenes, they sure should bring something interesting on the table.

­Rioghan – Edge (Single 2024)

Composed by Teemu Liekkala & Jenni PerämäkiLyrics by Jenni Perämäki
Arranged by Tero Luukkonen, Antti Varjanne, Valtteri Revonkorpi, Vikram Shankar
ISRC: FI3FC2550104
Cover photo: Aarni VisualsCover
layout: Sakari Tuokkola

Line-up:
Rioghan Darcy – vocals
Teemu Liekkala – guitar
Tero Luukkonen – guitar
Antti Varjanne – bass
Valtteri Revonkorpi – drums

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/rioghandarcy
https://www.instagram.com/rioghandarcy
https://rioghan.bandcamp.com
https://spoti.fi/36nTHP7
https://www.rakkausrunot.fi/runoilijat/emma-rioghan-darcy

Newcomer metalcore band Lust For Lily released new single “Glitter”

Lust For Lily is a band that was founded in Tuusula (Finland) in the summer of 2022. The band’s music represents the subgenre of heavy metalcore, which combines the sensitivity of melancholic alternative pop with the explosive energy and expressive power of modern metalcore.

Along with hard gigging, Lust For Lily has also started working on new material, of which we got the first taste today in the form of “Glitter” single. With the song, the band’s musical expression takes a turn towards a new, darker and rawer sounding direction.

“Glitter is a bleak, dark and melancholic metal ballad about a person reaching their ultimate breaking point. In the song, sensitive and catchy lyrics are supported by impressive production and crushing electric guitars. Glitter has also established its position as an atmospheric highlight of live gigs,” the band commented

The band’s camp also hints that, in addition to “Glitter” , another song has been in the works, which will be released in the near future.

Lust For Lily, who released their “Relinquish” debut EP last spring, quickly attracted attention in Finnish music circles. The songs were selected for Spotify playlists, and the single “Pale Fondness” got its premiere on YleX. Convinced with their serious production and fresh compositions, the young band has been touring hard since the release of their EP. At the band’s debut gig, many people rubbed their eyes when the drummer, who had broken his hand, arrived to perform with, among others, Mika “Kaasu” Karppinen, known from HIM.

Upcoming gigs:
Monttu, Pori 5 October 2024
Nirvana, Turku 11.10.2024
Semifinal, Helsinki 19.12.2024
Varjobari, Tampere 11.1.2025

Lust For Lily:
Aku Olli / Vocals and guitar
Oskari Hyökyvaara / Solo guitar
Verneri Hyökyvaara / Drums
Aaro Kankaanpää / Bass

INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | TIKTOK | SPOTIFY

Hellsinki Metal Festival – Winter Edition 2024 at Helsinki Kaapelitehdas on December 14 – Dark Funeral, Belphegor, Kyy and Omnivortex

The Hellsinki Metal Festival, which sold out on its second day last August, is also expanding into a winter event. Hellsinki Metal Festival – Winter Edition 2024 roars on December 14 at Helsinki’s Kaapelitehdas, and the performers of the first indoor festival will be Dark Funeral, one of the best in Swedish black metal, Belphegor, Austria’s gift to lovers of blackened death metal, and domestic experts in the field Kyy and Omnivortex.

Kaapelitehdas was not chosen as the venue for the event by chance – metal has been celebrated in the same place during the years of the Finnish Metal Expo fair, and Hellsinki Metal Festival promoter Toni Törrönen also remembers those events fondly.

“Ever since FME ended, I’ve wanted to bring a metal event to Kaapelitehdas that would have a somewhat similar atmosphere. I and many others have been missing that mood and I hope this event will now meet those wishes,” says Toni Törrönen.

Hellsinki Metal Festival – Winter Edition 2024 tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster. In addition to the basic tickets, RIP tickets are also available for the event, already familiar from Hellsinki Metal Festival, which include, in addition to admission, a private area with a direct view of the stage, private sanitary facilities, a bar and a smoking area. RIP people also get a working lanyard and wristband as an entrance ticket to the RIP area.

Hellsinki Metal Fest Winter Edition 2024
14.12.2024
Helsinki Kaapelitehdas
K18

Tickets: Ticketmaster

Basic ticket €59
RIP ticket €99

Peruslippu 59 €
RIP lippu 99 €

www.hellsinkimetalfestival.fi

Finnish guitarist Tomy Laisto has released his melancholic acoustic solo album “Penumbra”

Tomy Laisto is a guitarist known from Finnish bands as Insomnium, Pain Confessor, Mors Principium Est, Omnium Gatherum and Arc Spectra. His debut solo album “Penumbra” is released today October 4th via Inverse Records. The album features many well known artists such as Derek Sherinian (Ex-Dream Theater), Christopher Amott (Arch Enemy, Dark Tranquillity) and Rainer Nygård (Diablo). Although musically the album is something totally different than metal music. Penumbra is an ambitious package of atmospheric acoustic songs. A hint of jazz and blues twist blended with melancholic singer-songwriter material.

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

https://www.facebook.com/laistotomy

Finnish stoner rock band Rückwater have released a new album, Bored Machine, which explores and sometimes criticizes society and the world around us

Finnish Tampere-based alternative stoner rock band Rückwater released their second studio album Bored Machine on October 4th 2024.

LISTEN to the Bored Machine album on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/ruckwater-bored

The band comments:
“Musically, Bored Machine is a more progressive work than its predecessor (Supernova). The songs have been written with a deliberate risk-taking approach and an attempt to diversify the song structures. All the material was recorded live, as on the previous album, capturing the band’s strong chemistry and groove.

Bored Machine is a strongly thematic work that explores and partly criticises society and the world around us. Follow the Money is about social media influencers who have power because of their large number of followers, but who do not take responsibility for their actions/words. Mental health issues are addressed in several pieces, for example, Look at the Sky, Blue Lake Escape and Waiting for the Ride. Homo Economicus is about human greed, while No More Air is about dictators and authority. N.O.T.S.Y. is about forgiveness and Birthday Boy is a birthday rally.” 

Rückwater  – Bored Machine (Album 2024)

Track list:
1 N.O.T.S.Y.
2 Birthday Boy
3 No More Air
4 Homo Economicus
5 Follow The Money
6 Look At The Sky
7 Blue Lake Escape
8 Waiting For The Ride

Album cover by Tanja Rämö, picture taken by Juhana Kauppinen

Line-up:
Markku Makkonen: Guitar, Vocals
Jussi Vehman: Bass, Vocals
Jape Makkonen: Drums

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/ruckwater
https://www.instagram.com/ruckwater
https://ruckwater.bandcamp.com