Mongolian hunnu rock band The HU, who have made a big splash in the heavy music scene, have quickly become one of the most interesting phenomena on the international metal scene. By combining Mongolian traditional instruments and throat singing with modern metal, the band has created a unique style, and has grown a large fan base.
The Hu’s listeners have been waiting for new music like the rising moon, and now the wait has finally come to an end, when the single The Real You was released on streaming services.
The Mongolian warriors’ latest masterpiece represents the band’s faster and more furious production. It urges the listener not to judge others, but to focus on themselves instead, and thereby grow into a better person. The song is based on a Mongolian proverb: “Don’t worry about what others have on their heads, but worry about what you lack.”
“The Real You single sets the tone for our upcoming third album. It will feature songs that are more traditional and unique to us, but there are also some faster and more energetic tracks, like this single. When we were making the song, we were thinking about our ancestors riding fast on horseback through the landscape. Listen to this song to release the emotions buried inside you, and feel the huge rush of energy that we are sending you!”, says tovshuur player and throat singer Temka.
Symphonic black metal visionary Daidalos announces the premiere of their new single “Euphobia”, debuting exclusively through Decibel Magazine. The track appears on the project’s forthcoming full‑length, “Dante,” set for release February 20th via Rockshots Records.
Founded in 2020 by multi‑instrumentalist and composer Tobias Püschner,Daidalos has quickly carved out a distinct identity within the modern symphonic black metal landscape. The 2022 debut of “The Expedition” earned acclaim for its atmospheric storytelling and cinematic scope. Now, with Dante, Püschner presents an even more ambitious and personal work, one that transforms the descent into Hell into a psychological journey of doubt, despair, and revelation.
“Dante burns like fire. It’s darker, more focused, and more dramatic. The orchestration is stronger, the guitars more present, and the emotional arc much clearer,” explains Püschner.
“Euphobia”, the fear of joy, stands as one of the album’s emotional centerpieces. Melancholic yet cathartic, the track reflects a world where negativity often overshadows light, and even admitting one’s own well‑being can feel out of place.
“This song is about a society that pushes despair and shadows while suffocating joy. It’s melancholic, but it releases something, too,” says Püschner.
The single is introduced by the interlude “Malebolge”, where rolling stones and rising choirs foreshadow the track’s central theme. The accompanying video amplifies the song’s tension between darkness and fragile hope, aligning with the album’s overarching narrative.
On “Dante,”Püschner composed all orchestration, drums, guitars, and vocals, crafting each track from a single piano melody inspired by passages of Dante Alighieri’s Divine Comedy. The album’s powerful modern production comes from Nahuel Lozano (Mental Cruelty), who recorded guitars and handled mixing and mastering.
The visual world of “Dante” is brought to life through original abstract oil paintings and dotwork by French artist Bérénice Tulliez / Noirs Dessins, expanding the album into a unified aesthetic universe.
Daidalos’ music has been described as moving between the monumental orchestrations of Fleshgod Apocalypse, the dark theatricality of Dimmu Borgir, and the apocalyptic grandeur of Septicflesh, yet “Dante” stands firmly on its own. The album flows as a continuous black‑metal audio drama, especially on vinyl, where interludes and intros merge into a single immersive arc.
“It should feel like a journey. A descent you experience, not just listen to,” adds Püschner.
Listen to “Euphobia” via its premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.
Daidalos Line-Up:
Tobias Püschner; Vocals, Drums, Keyboards, Orchestrations, Songwriting, Production
Daidalos is the brainchild of German composer and multi-instrumentalist Tobias Püschner, founded in 2020 as a creative outlet merging black metal, orchestration and conceptual storytelling. What began during the isolation of the pandemic quickly evolved into a full artistic vision – a fusion of cinematic grandeur and the emotional depth of extreme metal.
The debut album “The Expedition” (2022, Rockshots Records / Extreme Metal Music) introduced Daidalos as a unique force in the symphonic black metal scene. Entirely written and performed by Püschner, the album reimagined the tragic story of the Franklin expedition through a vast and icy soundscape where atmosphere and aggression met in perfect tension. Critics praised its originality and ambition, calling it a “symphonic extreme metal masterpiece” (AMMO Underground) and “an album that captures imagination and balances beauty with intensity” (GBHBL).
Building upon that foundation, Püschner continued to refine his approach – weaving together cinematic orchestrations, classical influences and the raw intensity of black and death metal. Collaborating with Nahuel Lozano (Mental Cruelty) on guitars, recording, and production, Daidalos shaped its signature sound: monumental, dramatic and deeply emotional.
Across his work, Püschner treats music as a form of storytelling – each record conceived as a self-contained world. His compositions often explore historical, philosophical and spiritual themes portrayed through the lens of symphonic black metal and theatrical expression.
With “Dante” (2025), Daidalos reaches a new artistic chapter: not a retelling but a reinterpretation of the Divine Comedy, where doubt, despair and revelation intertwine. Yet the core remains the same – the search for meaning in darkness, expressed through meticulous orchestration, intense vocal delivery and the balance between aggression and melancholy that defines Daidalos.
Chilean instrumental progressive metal trio Engrupid Pipol returns with the release of their new music video “Inspireichon Burn,” a fierce insight into their latest album “Quadragenta At Finem Mundi,” released this past November 2025. The track, Act IV of the album’s seven‑part conceptual narrative, captures the apocalyptic devastation of thermonuclear war and the self‑destructive greed of those who seek power at any cost. The video amplifies the song’s intensity, offering a visceral entry point into the band’s most ambitious work to date.
Formed from a lifelong friendship between guitarist Kaztrol and bassist John Dai, later joined by drummer Nacho García, Engrupid Pipol grew out of a shared belief that music is essential nourishment for the soul. What began as intricate teenage compositions evolved into a power trio known for its energetic, soulful, and technically sharp sound. Their influences, ranging from Megadeth and Metallica to Rush, King Crimson, and Dream Theater, inform a style that blends thrash, prog rock, prog metal, and djent into something unmistakably their own.
“Quadragenta At Finem Mundi” marks a major evolution for the band. It is their first fully conceptual album, a seven‑act instrumental journey through the collapse of modern civilization. Themes of nuclear conflict, AI dependence, narcissistic ambition, and runaway technological control shape a dark, prophetic vision of humanity’s end. Each track represents a “symptom” of the approaching downfall, woven together through shifting soundscapes that include acoustic passages, synthesizers, and even the traditional Latin American bombo leguero. The band describes the album as their most challenging and demanding project in nearly 25 years together, made possible in part by funding from the Chilean Ministry of Arts, Culture, and Heritage. With only three rough demos ready when studio deadlines approached, the trio spent months composing, refining, and reworking material until every piece reached full maturity.
According to Nacho, the album’s production represents a leap forward in clarity, power, and authenticity. The band focused on preserving the essence of the trio format, avoiding layers they couldn’t reproduce live while achieving a modern, crystal‑clear sound with warm, natural tones. The result is a record that captures the identity of each member and the emotional weight of each composition. Guitar melodies and groovy riffs replace lyrics, allowing listeners to interpret the music freely and immerse themselves in an altered state of consciousness.
For the band, “Quadragenta At Finem Mundi” is both a creative triumph and a personal milestone.
“The album was born from a different place than usual, one that pushed us to our limits and presented obstacles we never expected. The finished work was an auditory delight and a reward for our souls after all the effort and sacrifice,” adds Kaztrol.
Recommended for fans of Liquid Tension, Rush, Megadeth, King Crimson, Night Verses, and Animals as Leaders, “Quadragenta At Finem Mundi,” released worldwide on November 7, 2025, is available at the following links:
CITOVITZ AND FIREFLIES OF FEBRUARY have released “You’re Not My Friend—You’re My Brother, My Friend,” the first single from the upcoming EP “My Revenge,”set to drop on February 10th, 2026 — Andrzej Citowicz’s 50th birthday.
The single’s cover features Citowicz alongside bassist Patryk Szymański, whose presence represents more than musical collaboration—it embodies over a decade of genuine friendship that evolved into brotherhood through shared creative journey and mutual survival through life’s hardest moments.
A SONG ABOUT BROTHERHOOD THAT TRANSCENDS FRIENDSHIP
“You’re Not My Friend—You’re My Brother, My Friend” explores the rare bonds that develop when friendship deepens into something words struggle to capture—when someone becomes family not through blood, but through choosing to stay when staying is hardest.
“Some relationships transcend easy categorization,” Citowicz explains. “Patryk and I didn’t plan to become brothers. Music brought us together more than a decade ago, but what built between us—the trust, the loyalty, the showing up through loss and grief—that happened because we both chose it. Every single time.”
The song carries particular weight given Citowicz’s recent years navigating the loss of his son Jonasz, documented in his deeply personal album “Living Room Rockstar Part 2.” Through that darkness, certain people proved themselves to be more than friends.
“When you go through what we’ve been through, you learn who your real brothers are,” Citowicz states simply. “Patryk stayed. Not just musically, but humanly. He stood beside me when I couldn’t stand alone. This song is about people like him—the ones who become family when you need it most.”
PATRYK SZYMAŃSKI: MORE THAN A DECADE OF MUSICAL BROTHERHOOD
Patryk Szymański’s bass work on “You’re Not My Friend—You’re My Brother, My Friend” showcases the musical intuition that develops when two players share more than a stage—when they share a life.
“Patryk’s bass playing is phenomenal, but that’s almost beside the point,” Citowicz reflects. “What makes working with him special is that he understands what I’m trying to say before I say it. We’ve been creating together for over ten years. We’ve survived together. The music reflects that connection—you can’t fake the kind of chemistry that comes from genuine brotherhood.”
Szymański’s contribution extends beyond technical proficiency. His bass lines provide the foundation that allows Citowicz’s guitar work to soar while grounding the song’s emotional weight in solid, driving rhythms. The result is a track that feels both powerful and intimate—rock music that carries the weight of lived experience.
“Patryk doesn’t just play on my records,” Citowicz emphasizes. “He makes everything complete. But more than that, he’s been there through the moments when music was the only thing keeping me alive. Through the loss of Jonasz. Through grief that had no words. He stayed when staying was hard. That’s brotherhood.”
THE MUSICAL APPROACH: MELODIC HARD ROCK WITH MODERN PRODUCTION
Musically, “You’re Not My Friend—You’re My Brother, My Friend” embodies melodic hard rock with contemporary production values—honoring the classic rock traditions that shaped Citowicz while embracing modern sonic possibilities.
“I grew up with Bon Jovi and Def Leppard posters covering my walls in Wałbrzych, Poland,” Citowicz recalls. “Those bands taught me about melodic craft, about hooks that stay with you, about guitar-driven rock that still serves the song. But they also taught me something deeper—Jon Bon Jovi showed me you can be a rockstar and still honor commitment, still build something lasting with the people in your life. That philosophy runs through everything I create.”
The song’s production balances raw emotion with polished execution. Guitars drive the track with the energy of classic hard rock, while the production techniques employ modern clarity and depth. The result bridges generations—appealing to listeners raised on 80s rock anthems while sounding current and vital.
“I wanted this song to feel timeless but sound today,” Citowicz explains. “The melodic sensibility, the song structure, the way the guitars and bass work together—that’s pure 80s hard rock influence. But the production, the sonic space, the way everything sits in the mix—that’s using everything we can do now. It’s respecting where I came from while living in the present.”
The Bon Jovi and Def Leppard influence manifests not just in sound, but in philosophy. Like his heroes, Citowicz believes rock music should be accessible without sacrificing substance, powerful without overwhelming vulnerability, anthemic while remaining personal.
“Desmond Child and Jon Bon Jovi taught me about hooks—those moments that grab you and don’t let go,” he notes. “But they also taught me that commercial appeal and emotional honesty aren’t opposites. You can write a song people want to sing along to that still means something real. That’s what I’m always chasing.”
“MY REVENGE”: A 50TH BIRTHDAY STATEMENT
“You’re Not My Friend—You’re My Brother, My Friend” serves as the opening statement for “My Revenge,” a five-song EP releasing on Citowicz’s 50th birthday, February 10th, 2026.
The EP’s title carries multiple meanings—all deeply personal.
“Fifty isn’t what it was for our parents’ generation,” Citowicz reflects. “Our 50 is different. Still unfinished. Still learning. Still proving something. ‘My Revenge’ is partly about that—about reaching this milestone after everything that tried to stop me. After loss. After grief. After being told I’d never make it as a musician. Here I am. Still playing. Still creating. Still believing music matters.”
But the title carries deeper significance beyond defying expectations.
“‘My Revenge’ is also about turning pain into creation,” he explains. “Life dealt some brutal hands. Losing Jonasz. Watching my wife be overlooked and unappreciated for 53 years. Going through darkness that should have destroyed us. My revenge isn’t about hurting anyone—it’s about refusing to let that pain have the final word. It’s about making something beautiful from what tried to break us. That’s the best revenge against suffering—surviving it and creating anyway.”
The EP title also reflects Citowicz’s journey as a self-described “living room rockstar”—someone who never achieved mainstream success but never stopped believing music matters.
“I never became the rockstar on those posters in my teenage bedroom,” he acknowledges. “I never played stadiums or signed major deals. But I’m still here. Still writing. Still recording. Still finding people who connect with what I’m trying to say. After 50 years, I’m still standing with a guitar in my hands. That feels like its own kind of revenge against everyone who said this was impossible.”
THE COVER: A VISUAL REPRESENTATION OF BROTHERHOOD
The single’s cover features Citowicz and Szymański together—a deliberate choice that honors the song’s central theme.
“I wanted people to see us,” Citowicz states. “Not just hear the music, but see the faces of two people who built something real through sound. Patryk belongs on this cover because this song doesn’t exist without him. Not just his bass playing—though that’s crucial—but his presence in my life. His brotherhood. That deserves to be visible.”
The cover image captures both musicians in a moment of genuine connection—not posed or manufactured, but authentically representing the relationship the song celebrates.
“We’ve been playing together for over a decade,” Citowicz notes. “We’ve shared stages, studios, grief, joy—everything that makes up a life in music. The cover shows two brothers. That’s not marketing. That’s truth.”
CONTINUING THE JOURNEY: FROM “MY STORY” TO “MY REVENGE”
“You’re Not My Friend—You’re My Brother, My Friend” arrives in the wake of Citowicz’s recent surprise album “My Story,” released January 1st, 2026, which featured lyrics entirely written by his wife, Shereen Shoukry Citowicz.
The progression from “My Story” to “My Revenge” represents Citowicz reclaiming his own narrative while honoring the collaborative spirit that defines his work.
“‘My Story’ was Shereen’s voice—her 53 years, her truth, her survival,” he explains. “‘My Revenge’ is mine. But they’re connected. Both albums are about refusing to stay silent. Both are about turning pain into something that might help someone else survive. Both prove that even when life tries to destroy you, you can still create.”
The thematic connection extends to the musical approach. Like “My Story,” “My Revenge” balances raw emotional honesty with solid musicianship, never sacrificing craft for confession or polish for authenticity.
“I believe you can make music that’s emotionally devastating and still well-produced,” Citowicz states. “You can write about the hardest things and still care about the guitar tone, the arrangement, the hook. Emotion and craft aren’t enemies—they support each other. That’s what I learned from Bon Jovi, from Def Leppard, from all the bands that shaped me. They never treated commercial appeal and genuine feeling as opposites.”
THE MESSAGE: FOR EVERYONE WHO FOUND THEIR BROTHER THROUGH SOUND
While deeply personal, “You’re Not My Friend—You’re My Brother, My Friend” speaks to universal experience—the discovery that sometimes the people who become most important aren’t connected by blood, but by shared passion and mutual choice.
“If you’ve ever had someone in your life who became more than a friend—who became the person you call when the world is too heavy, who stays when staying is hard, who shares your music and your silence with equal care—you know what this song means,” Citovicz offers.
He continues: “This is for everyone who found their brother through sound. Who built something real through creating together. Who knows the difference between friendship and brotherhood because they’ve lived it. Music can do this—it can bring two people together and create a bond that holds when everything else falls apart.”
The song’s message resonates particularly in an era where genuine human connection often feels increasingly rare.
“We’re living in complicated times,” Citowicz observes. “Everything feels divided, isolated, disconnected. But music still has this power to bring people together—not just as audience and performer, but as real human beings who recognize something in each other. Patryk and I found that through playing together. This song celebrates that possibility—that you can find your family through art, through creation, through showing up and staying.”
LOOKING FORWARD: THE FULL EP AND BEYOND
“My Revenge” drops in full on February 10th, 2026, featuring five tracks that collectively represent Citowicz’s statement on reaching 50 while refusing to be finished.
“These five songs are rehearsals for whatever comes next,” he explains. “Fifty doesn’t mean done—it means experienced enough to know what matters. Scarred enough to understand survival. Humble enough to keep learning. These songs reflect all of that.”
Additional singles from the EP will be revealed in the coming weeks leading up to the February 10th release.
“Each song has its own story, its own reason for existing,” Citowicz notes. “But they all connect around this idea of revenge as creation—of refusing to let pain, loss, or being overlooked have the final word. Of still standing with a guitar after everything that tried to knock you down.”
AVAILABILITY AND CONNECT
“You’re Not My Friend—You’re My Brother, My Friend” is available now on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and all major streaming platforms.
The full EP “My Revenge” releases February 10th, 2026.
“Some relationships transcend easy words. Patryk and I didn’t plan to become brothers—music brought us together, and everything else built itself through years of playing, creating, surviving together. When you go through what we’ve been through, you learn who your real brothers are. Patryk stayed. Not just musically, but humanly. He stood beside me when I couldn’t stand alone. This song is about people like him—the ones who become family when you need it most. If you’ve ever found your brother through sound, this one’s for you.”
— Andrzej Citowicz
Finnish melodic death metal powerhouse Omnium Gatherum, currently wrapping up the final dates of their Finnish tour this weekend in Jyväskylä and Helsinki, are fueling their upcoming spring live run with a brand-new surprise single, “Moongold.” The song was written and recorded during the sessions for their critically acclaimed album “May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way,“released late last year to widespread praise from the international music press, and serves as a perfect bonus track to complement the album as a whole.
“’Moongold’ follows the overall style of the album. It’s fast and full of energy, and while the song is somewhat stripped down, its layers start to reveal themselves after a few listens. ‘Moongold’ is one of my favorites from these sessions, and I really hope it will make its way into our setlist in the future – after all, this song was written specifically with live performance in mind,” says vocalist Jukka Pelkonen.
“’Moongold’ was originally released as an ‘Eastern wonder,’ meaning a Japan-exclusive around the time the album came out. In the end, we decided to leave it off the album itself, as it didn’t quite fit the overall flow and we wanted the record to be a short, sharp burst of aggression. That said, the song stands very strong on its own as a melodic death metal anthem and is pure OG – perhaps a slightly more old-school version. And now, here it is, served to you and to your loved one, for these moonlit afternoons,” guitarist Markus Vanhala muses.
Kicking off their 30th anniversary year, and widely regarded as one of Finland’s most internationally active touring metal bands, Omnium Gatherum will embark on their European headline tour on February 11, with Fallujah and In Mourning as special guests. The world tour cycle for May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way began already last year with an extensive North American headline tour.
“The calendar is full – just the way it suits us, and there’s more to come. It fits a band whose core is that of an honest, sweaty live machine,” Markus Vanhala adds with a smile.
See Omnium Gatherum live in the coming months:
May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way – Finnish Tour 2026
Support: Rabbit Cult
Jan 23 – Jyväskylä, FI – Lutakko
Jan 24 – Helsinki, FI – Tavastia
May The Bridges We Burn Light The Way – European Tour 2026
Supports: Fallujah, In Mourning
Feb 11 – Copenhagen, DK – Pumpehuset
Feb 12 – Hamburg, DE – Gruenspan
Feb 13 – Leipzig, DE – Hellraiser
Feb 14 – Berlin, DE – Lido
Feb 15 – Krakow, PL – Hype Park
Feb 17 – Budapest, HU – Barba Negra
Feb 18 – Prague, CZ – Rock Café
Feb 19 – Vienna, AT – Szene
Feb 20 – Munich, DE – Backstage Halle
Feb 21 – Aarau, CH – Kiff
Feb 22 – Stuttgart, DE – Im Wizemann
Feb 23 – Lindau, DE – Club Vaudeville
Feb 25 – Hannover, DE – Musikzentrum
Feb 26 – Aschaffenburg, DE – Colos-Saal
Feb 27 – Almelo, NL – Metropool
Feb 28 – Oberhausen, DE – Kulttempel
Mar 1 – Esch-sur-Alzette, LU – Rockhal
Mar 3 – Colmar, FR – Le Grillen
Mar 4 – Paris, FR – Petit Bain
Mar 5 – Utrecht, NL – TivoliVredenburg
Mar 6 – Kortrijk, BE – DVG
Mar 7 – London, UK – The Dome
Omnium Gatherum are:
Jukka Pelkonen – vocals
Markus Vanhala – guitar, backing vocals
Aapo Koivisto – keyboards
Mikko Kivistö – bass, clean vocals
Atte Pesonen – drums
The best-kept secret of the Finnish gothic rock scene, Rain Diary, released their new single Naive on Thursday, January 22, 2026. The band’s album Night Church, also known as never-ending project (the so-called hellishly difficult third album), will be released on March 27, 2026.
Rain Diary is a Finnish rock band that plays beautiful and twisted dark wave tunes. The band bears its roots in Finnish melancholy, the scenery of evergreen forests, nightless nights and snow-covered wilderness, though the band constantly breaks this easily labelled HIM/Nightwish-stereotype by breathing in something new. Rain Diary injects urban feel with the drumming electronics and clever pop elements making the band a must-see for the fans of Depeche Mode, Placebo and alike. Rain Diary’s music genre has been labelled as winterwave.
Finnish death metal band Saasta‘s new single The Leeches is a grittily realistic depiction of present-day and past societies, in which the world’s small, blood-sucking elite – disguised as sirs and lords – rip everything from the common person, down to their very hope and health. The story can be seen as the complete failure of a beautiful future utopia. A human being works throughout their life only to be drained dry and thrown into a pit once they are no longer considered productive enough by the ruling elite. In the end, does a civilized society differ at all from livestock farming?
Musically, the track combines black and death metal in Saasta’s characteristic way, with death metal’s brute force ensuring that the black metal message reaches the listener’s deepest core.
The single’s cover art and the music video were created with a raw DIY spirit by Saasta.
Saasta is an extreme metal band from Kotka, Finland. Formed in 2020 the band combines the mercilessness of black and death metal, with the more subtle nuances of doom. The combination is dark and groovy metal with its own distinctive sound, where strong lyrical expression meets raw energy. Saasta is known for their intense stage presence and uncompromising effort.
Vancouver Island is set to shake when Mosh the Rock Island MetalFest 2026 takes over Fred Milne Park in Sooke, BC on Sunday, August 9, 2026. This all-ages, family-friendly outdoor metal festival brings together a stacked lineup of international, national, and regional talent for a full day of crushing riffs, pit energy, and community spirit on the West Coast.
Headlining the festival are Vancouver’s Multiple Juno Award–winning metal heavyweights Anciients. Joining them as co-headliners are Arrow In The Quiver (Vancouver), The Rising Fall (Chicago, IL), and Squidhammer (Watertown, PA), delivering a powerful blend of progressive, extreme, and modern metal.
The day will also showcase a strong lineup of West Coast metal acts, including:
Wolf Venom (Sooke, BC)
The Grundles (Duncan, BC)
Dead Rights (Victoria, BC)
Overditch (Victoria, BC)
Neveranother (Vancouver, BC)
Conjure Hand (Victoria, BC)
As Ash Fell (Nanaimo, BC)
Mutual Trauma (Victoria, BC)
With a world-class headliner, international acts, and a powerful lineup of Vancouver Island talent, Mosh the Rock Island MetalFest 2026 is shaping up to be one of the most anticipated metal events of the summer.
In addition to the music, festival-goers can enjoy food trucks, local vendors, and a licensed beer garden, making it a full festival experience in a scenic coastal setting. This is an all-ages, family-friendly event.
Event Details:
Date: Sunday, August 9, 2026
Location: Fred Milne Park, Sooke, BC
Gates Open: 11:00 AM
First Band: 12:00 PM
Ticket Information:
Advance Tickets: $50
Gate Tickets: $65
Youth (12–17): $25
Children (11 & under): FREE with adult ticket
Online presale tickets available at: https://orangetickets.ca/detalles_evento.php?id_evento=2146
Hard Copy Advance Tickets Available At:
Phoenix Bar and Grill
Cavity Curiosity Shop
Long & McQuade
Sooke Forbes IDA
Sooke Pharmasave
Finnish metal band Countless Goodbyes released a new single titled Dark Matter.
Dark in tone, the song once again dives – true to the band’s style – into a world of heavy emotions, themes, and thoughts.
Much like their debut album Cycles, which reached official album charts in 2019, Dark Matter carries a warning about the future should humanity fail to change its current course. With this track, the band wants to remind listeners that it is not too late – the reins are still in our own hands.
Singer-songwriter Onni Kivikaarre describes Dark Matter as both a reminder and a wake-up call—a warning to change course before the current path leads to irreversible consequences.
The song reflects a loss of humanity’s core values, where darkness has been chosen over love. At its core, Dark Matter is a call to action and accountability, emphasizing that it is never too late to change direction. The message is clear: meaningful change begins with action and the courage to admit when we have been wrong.
The music video deepens the song’s story visually and supports the intense atmosphere that builds as the track progresses.
Dark Matter is now available on all streaming platforms.
Watch the dark and evocative music video below.
Countless Goodbyes is a metal band formed in Pori, Finland.
Following the release of the band’s first singles in 2011, Countless Goodbyes quickly gained media attention and became a hot topic in major mainstream outlets as well as youth-oriented magazines. The band’s music reached a wide audience through radio airplay and Finnish prime time television, enabling Countless Goodbyes to build a strong fan base that grew explosively into tens of thousands of followers across social media platforms.
Since then, Countless Goodbyes has toured extensively throughout Finland and performed a handful of shows abroad, including major festival appearances and sold-out club shows. The band has shared stages with international heavyweights such as Asking Alexandria and August Burns Red, as well as prominent Finnish acts Blind Channel, Lost Society, Kalmah and Rytmihäiriö.
The band’s explosive live performances have also received critical acclaim.
The band’s debut album Cycles was released in 2019. The album debuted at number two on the official Finnish physical album chart and reached number 17 on the official Finnish album chart during its release week (week 17/2019).
In 2024, Countless Goodbyes released their second full-length album Lost In Waves. The album was produced in collaboration with Joakim Karlsson (Bad Omens) and features choir performances by Choir Noir, known for their work with Bring Me the Horizon, While She Sleeps, Architects, as well as artist Ed Sheeran. The album was mixed and mastered by award-winning producer Henrik Udd (Bring Me the Horizon, Architects, Dimmu Borgir).The success of Lost In Waves was followed by a highly successful touring period, including packed club shows and major festival appearances such as Tuska Festival and Saari Helvetti.
At the turn of 2025–2026, Countless Goodbyes released their new single Dark Matter — a visually striking release with a grand, cinematic sound that received an overwhelmingly positive response from audiences.
The track offers the first glimpse into the band’s upcoming material planned for 2026 and signals a bold, more immersive new chapter for Countless Goodbyes.
“Facing the realization that I’ve been frozen, and in that moment deciding to melt — with the first teardrop fighting its way through the ice — I will, though hesitantly, invite love into my heart and see how the sky opens for my light. To unfurl my wings, breaking free from being Kept.”
Operating at the crossroads of modern metal, dark pop, and progressive music, Finnish band Rioghan have been laying the groundwork for their upcoming ‘Frozen EP’ since last autumn. The EP’s overarching narrative began with “Chapter I: Frozen”, a reimagining of Madonna’s classic that also serves as the EP’s title track, and continued with “Chapter II: Moment”. The Frozen EP will be released on April 10th.
Today, the story moves forward with the release of its third single. “Chapter III: Teardrop” raises the stakes, revealing the heavier side of the EP while maintaining Rioghan’s signature blend of darkly infectious pop melodies and emotionally charged themes.
“While Chapter II: Moment captured the second when you realize something isn’t right and that change is inevitable, Chapter III: Teardrop tells the story of what comes next — the moment when emotions begin to flow again and the heart cautiously opens itself toward light, warmth, and future possibilities,” explains vocalist Rioghan Darcy.
Each track on the Frozen EP is accompanied by a strikingly beautiful music video created in collaboration with Aarni Visuals. The music video for Chapter III: Teardrop will premiere on Rioghan’s YouTube channel on January 28 at 5:00 PM (CET).
Frozen EP tracklist:
1. Frozen
2. Moment
3. Teardrop
4. 520
5. Sky
Rioghan’s recent momentum has been notable. Their sophomore album “Kept” received glowing international reviews and debuted at #6 on the Finnish physical album chart. The band delivered special acoustic performances at Heureka’s H-18 Halloween event and at John Smith Frozen Festival featuring an expanded live lineup with dance artist Hanna Härkönen, whose choreography with Rioghan Darcy unfolded throughout the entire show. The exceptional shows were met with widespread praise and resulted in Rioghan being shortlisted for Teosto’s “Uudet Soundit” campaign.
This spring, Rioghan returns to live stages across Finland, touring alongside I Am Your God, followed by a return to festival scene in the summer with an appearance at Ankea Festival in Tampere.
Rioghan & I Am Your God upcoming gigs:
27.3. Kantakrouvi, Oulu
28.3. Bar 15, Seinäjoki
8.5. Tiivistämö, Helsinki
Rioghan is:
Vocals – Rioghan Darcy
Guitar – Teemu Liekkala
Guitar – Tero Luukkonen
Bass – Antti Varjanne
Keyboards – Aleks Toppari
Drums – Valtteri Revonkorpi
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