Category: Press Releases

BOUM PATAT Announces “Ma Belgique” Eastern European Tour 2026

Get ready for a dose of absurd energy and high-octane riffs. Following the breakout success of their latest album Ma Belgitude, the undisputed icons of Electro-Fun-Metal, BOUM PATAT, have officially announced the first leg of their 2026 European takeover.

Kicking off this April, the band will bring their signature blend of heavy metal, pulsating electronic beats, and surrealist Belgian humor to the underground clubs and festival stages of Eastern Europe.

After catching the attention of metal critics across the continent, BOUM PATAT is set to deliver their legendary “festive chaos” to fans in Slovenia, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, including a headline appearance at Future Shock Fest in Satu Mare

“We don’t just play a show; we bring a Belgian block party to the mosh pit,” says the band. “Eastern Europe has a legendary metal scene, and we can’t wait to see how they handle the BOUM PATAT energy.”

This Eastern Europe leg is the first part of the BOUM PATAT EU Tour 2026. A second leg across Western Europe, including France, Belgium, Germany, and more, is planned for November 2026, with dates to be announced soon.

BOUM PATAT is the new electro fun metal project by Belgian musician Olivier Wittenberg, former drummer-composer of Manic Movement. In the 2000s, he toured Europe with bands like Kreator, Moonspell, and Psychotic Waltz, and played major festivals such as Graspop Metal Meeting.

After a long break, he returns with Ma Belgitude, a self-produced solo debut that blends heavy metal, Belgian humor, and old-school electronic sounds. BOUM PATAT breaks metal’s usual codes—serious and absurd at once, mixing groove, industrial, and electronic punch with offbeat themes and playful visuals.

Live, the project becomes a trio with Laurent Soulasse (bass) and Maxime Demulder (drums).

www.facebook.com/BOUMPATAT
www.instagram.com/boumpatatofficial
www.tiktok.com/@boumpatat

VOV unveils dramatic new symphonic metal single: “Drunk At The Opera

Finnish symphonic metal band VOV returns with Drunk At The Opera, a theatrical and emotionally charged new single that blends operatic grandeur with darkly elegant storytelling. The song draws the listener into a decadent final performance, where tragedy, memory, and defiance take center stage beneath the glow of chandeliers and fading applause.

Musically, Drunk At The Opera unfolds as a cinematic composition, combining sweeping orchestration, melodic metal foundations, and classically inspired vocals. The arrangement moves fluidly between restraint and excess, allowing the drama to breathe while building toward moments of overwhelming intensity. Each listen reveals new details in the layered instrumentation, reinforcing the song’s operatic character and immersive atmosphere.

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

Vocalist Karoliina McLoud, classically trained in opera, delivers a commanding and expressive performance that anchors the song’s narrative. Her voice carries both elegance and fracture, embodying the role of a fallen diva facing the final curtain. Guitarist Teemu Harjunen balances melodic precision with dramatic weight, while Sami Halinen expands the sonic scope through deep bass lines and symphonic keyboard textures. Drummer Juha-Tapio Anttonen delivers a powerful and dynamic performance, providing a solid yet expressive foundation that carries the song through its shifting emotional landscapes.

Lyrically, Drunk At The Opera tells the story of an aging diva offering her last performance to death itself. The song moves through irony, bitterness, and self-awareness, blurring the line between grandeur and collapse. Humor and sorrow intertwine as the protagonist raises a glass to lost love, shattered dignity, and the theatricality of her own downfall. The opera becomes both refuge and reckoning—a place where every failure is sung as an aria, and every silence speaks louder than applause.

Commenting on the release, the band states: “Drunk At The Opera is a song about performance, pride, and letting go. It is dramatic and self-aware, tragic and theatrical at the same time. We wanted to embrace the excess of opera while allowing the human fragility beneath it to remain visible.”

VOV is a Finnish symphonic metal band known for combining classical influences with melodic metal and narrative-driven songwriting. Their music explores themes of identity, loss, dignity, and existential conflict, often framed through cinematic and mythic imagery.

Line-up on the single: 

Vocals: Karoliina McLoud

Guitar: Teemu Harjunen

Bass, Keyboards & Backing vocals: Sami Halinen

Drums: Juha-Tapio Anttonen

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vovmusic/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VovmusicOfficial

Contact: vovmusic@outlook.com

Finnish melodic death metal band Deadvoid Inc. released their debut album ‘Chapters’

Finnish melodic death metal band Deadvoid Inc. released their debut album Chapters on March 13, 2026 via Inverse Records. Operating across the Mikkeli–Jyväskylä–Helsinki region, the band was formed in early 2025.

The band’s debut album combines heavy riffs, melancholic melodies, and technical musicianship into an intense musical experience. Chapters dives into the darker layers of the human psyche while still leaving room for a glimmer of hope.

LISTEN to the album on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/deadvoid-inc-chapters

Guitarist Tuomas Torikka describes the album as follows:

“Chapters takes the listener on a journey through tragic mental landscapes and human destinies. The music evokes a wide range of emotions — aggression, deep hatred, and also moments that  may bring tears to the eyes. At the same time, a small spark of hope remains present. Each song has been carefully composed, forming a multidimensional soundscape where melancholy and beauty intertwine with aggressive power. The lyrics leave room for identification and personal interpretation.”

Vocalist Jonne “Monni” Saarinen says the lyrics are largely based on the band members’ personal experiences:

“The lyrics mainly revolve around our own life experiences. At times we deal with painful 

memories from childhood, and in the next moment we move into themes of adult self-reflection. The subjects are heavy, but we also wanted to include the small spark of hope that Tuomas mentioned.”

With Chapters, Deadvoid Inc. delivers an intense and emotional debut that combines a heavy sound with strong emotional depth.

Deadvoid Inc. – Upcoming Shows

• March 28, 2026 – Wilhelm Public House, Mikkeli (Album Release Show)

• April 18, 2026 – Bar Base, Helsinki

• June 13, 2026 – Bar Lepakkomies, Helsinki

Deadvoid Inc. is a Finnish melodic death metal band that blends elements ranging from classical music to extreme metal, creating an energetic, technically skilled, and 

completely distinctive musical entity.

D-inc was formed in early 2025 when longtime acquaintances Jonne Saarinen (vocals) and Tuomas Torikka (composition & guitar) decided to build something new in the midst of everything old. The album was completed in its entirety, and prior to its release, guitarist Jami Honkala and bassist Ville Heino—both heavily involved in the making

of the record—joined the band.

This lineup of seasoned professionals in their field brings a fresh new subgenre to the airwaves, unlike anything you’ve heard before. Energetic songs, catchy grand melodies, furious riffs, and heart-wrenching slow sections are here to show everyone what Deadvoid Inc. is all about.

The band released their debut album Chapters in March 2026.

Line-up:

Vocals: Jonne Saarinen
Guitars: Tuomas Torikka
Bass: Ville Mikkola
Drums: Tino Jäntti

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

RAVENMOCKER Deliver Second Single of 2026 with The Native American Lore of “Where The Raven Flies”

Southern California melodic death metal newcomers Ravenmocker have unleashed their second single, “Where The Raven Flies,” in 2026, following the strong reception of their debut track, “Infallible.” The new single continues building the band’s identity: soaring melody, cultural storytelling, and a modern take on the melodic death metal spirit once championed by acts like Children of Bodom, Insomnium, and Kalmah.

Formed in 2025 by guitarist/vocalist Tom Tierney after departing Thrown Into Exile, Ravenmocker was born from a desire to create music that honored Tierney’s Native American heritage while embracing the emotional depth and melodic aggression he had been writing for years.

“I wanted to forge my own path with songs that didn’t have a home yet. Ravenmocker became the vessel for that—something cultural, melodic, and meaningful,” says Tierney.

“Where The Raven Flies” is an anthemic, cinematic track that tells the origin story of the Raven Mocker, a cryptid from Adirondack and Cherokee lore. Known as a harbinger of death, the Raven Mocker feeds on the sick and dying, stealing the remaining years of its victims’ lives. The single paints vivid imagery of the creature soaring over forests and villages, acting as both reaper and omen.

The single’s artwork mirrors this mythology: a raven perched on a branch beneath a rising moon, its eyes glowing with supernatural intensity as a flock circles overhead. The visual directly reflects the music video filmed in Angeles National Forest, captured by Darkslate Media.

“Kim and Andrew took the song’s visceral, lofty feel and turned it into visual art. It’s beautiful, eerie, and exactly what the track needed,” explains Tierney.

Compared to “Infallible,” the band describes the new single as “loftier, more epic, and meant to feel like gliding over mountains and trees while still hitting hard.”

Ravenmocker’s lineup brings together musicians from across the Southern California metal scene: vocalist and guitarist Tom Tierney (formerly Thrown Into Exile), guitarist George Patmas (ex‑Dianthus), drummer Dylan Suierveld (Levinia), and bassist Will Buckley (Levinia, Anubis).

Their combined influences, melodic death metal, blues, prog, jazz, funk, and even classic country, shape a sound that is intricate yet accessible, emotional yet aggressive.

“We want to write songs people can sing with us at shows. Melodies that stick with you. Emotion you can feel,” adds Tierney.

The band’s writing process is collaborative and evolving. While Tierney brought the foundation of the first EP, the new material is shaped by all members. “Where The Raven Flies” itself features a key change and expanded structure suggested by drummer Dylan, an example of the band’s open, exploratory approach.

Ravenmocker’s first single, “Infallible,” quickly gained traction online, with early clips surpassing 75,000 views and drawing praise for its melodic hooks and nostalgic energy reminiscent of early 2000s melodic death metal. Fans have responded to the band’s blend of modern production, emotional lyricism, and classic melodic sensibilities.

“We want to give the scene something familiar enough to feel nostalgic, but unique enough to be refreshing. There’s beauty in simplicity and melody, and we’re leaning into that,” adds Tierney.

With “Where The Raven Flies” marking the second release of 2026, Ravenmocker is preparing to introduce their full debut EP later this year. The band promises a wide emotional and musical range, from thrashy aggression to ballad‑like atmosphere, crafted to resonate with fans of melodic death metal’s golden era while carving out a new identity of their own.

“We’re just getting started. These songs were years in the making. Now we finally get to share them,” comments Tierney.

“Where The Raven Flies” can be heard along with its music video premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.

Spotify pre-save – https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ravenmocker/where-the-raven-flies/​

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Formed in Southern California in 2025, Ravenmocker is a melodic death metal band founded by guitarist/vocalist Tom Tierney (formerly of Thrown Into Exile). Joined by George Patmas (guitar), Dylan Suierveld (drums), and Will Buckley (bass), the band blends soaring melody with raw aggression, drawing influence from melodic death metal giants while infusing elements of country, jazz, blues, funk, and classical orchestration.
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Their music explores personal struggle, emotional catharsis, cultural identity, and the resilience found in confronting darkness head‑on.
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In 2026, Ravenmocker will introduce themselves to the global metal community with their debut singles “Infallible” and “Where the Raven Flies,” leading into their first EP.

​https://www.ravenmocker.net/​

​https://www.instagram.com/ravenmockerofficial​

​https://www.facebook.com/ravenmockerofficial​

​https://www.tiktok.com/ravenmockerofficial​

Frontiers Records announce 30th Anniversary Compilation out May 22

Frontiers Music Srl is proud to announce the upcoming release of the “XXX Anniversary Compilation”, a special project celebrating 30 years of passion, creativity, and unforgettable music. The record is set for release on May 22, 2026, and will be only available on CD, on the label’s webstore.

To coincide with the announcement, Frontiers shares the new single “Down From The Mountain”, featuring Nicklas Sonne (Defecto, Aries Descendant). Originally recorded by Allen/Lande, the song is reborn through Sonne’s powerful vocal performance, delivering a dynamic reinterpretation of the melodic rock classic.

The single follows the previously released anniversary renditions of “Little Drops Of Heaven” featuring Robin McAuley and “Viva La Victoria” featuring Dyan Mair, both offering fresh takes on beloved songs from the Frontiers catalogue.

Nicklas Sonne said: “Allen & Lande have both always been a huge inspiration. Recording ‘Down From the Mountain’ was a real honour, and I tried to bring my own voice to a song I’ve admired for years.”

Watch the official visualizer for “Down From The Mountain” HERE

Pre-Order “XXX Anniversary Compilation” HERE

Starting from an Idea of Serafino Perugino, the “XXX Anniversary Compilation” brings together some of the greatest melodies and voices from the world of melodic rock. This special release celebrates the label’s rich legacy by revisiting iconic tracks from the Frontiers catalogue, reimagined with dynamic new performances from an extraordinary lineup of guest vocalists.

Each track has been recorded exclusively for this anniversary project and showcases the powerful reinterpretation of beloved Frontiers classics through the voices of today’s standout rock artists.

Aldo Lonobile, Head Of A&R Europe at Frontiers Label Group and producer of the record, commented:

“Producing the 30th anniversary record for Frontiers Records has been both a honour and a responsibility. This label has built a legacy on passion and vision and, with this album, we wanted to celebrate that history in a meaningful way, having a mix of established and new generation of Frontiers artists reinterpret the iconic tracks that shaped our identity is more than a tribute – it’s a bridge between eras”. 

“With a tracklist discussed together with the Frontiers President Serafino Perugino, this record is a celebration of where we come from, and a powerful statement of where we’re headed”, he continued.

Under the expert production of Lonobile – who also performs part of the guitars on the album – the performances are backed by a stellar lineup of musicians: Alessandro Mammola (guitar), Andrea Arcangeli (bass), Cristian Timpanaro (bass), the keyboards team – Alessio Lucatti & Antonio Agate, Alfonso Mocerino and  Fortunato Grillo  on drums, delivering powerful new arrangements that bring renewed energy to these fan-favorite tracks.

The “XXX Anniversary Compilation” isn’t just a compilation – it’s a tribute to 30 years of rock excellence, a heartfelt thank you to the artists, fans, and collaborators who have been part of the Frontiers Records story.

Whether you’re a lifelong supporter or discovering these songs for the first time, this album delivers powerful performances, soaring melodies, and the unmistakable spirit of Frontiers.

“XXX Anniversary Compilation” Tracklist:

1.    Separate Ways (Feat James Robledo)
2.    Watch The Fire (Feat Cassidy Paris)
3.    Weight Of The World (Feat Karmen Klinc)
4.    Viva La Victoria (Feat Dyan Mair)
5.    Hypocrisy (Feat Stina Girs)
6.    Edge Of Tomorrow (Feat Ronnie Romero)
7.    Love Will Set You Free (Feat Santiago Ramonda)
8.    Songs That Night Sings (Feat Tezzi Persson)
9.    My Guardian Angel (Feat Fabio Caldeira)
10.    When The Heartache Has Gone (Feat Mattias Olofsson)
11.    No More Hell To Pay (Feat Giorgia Colleluori)
12.    Down From The Mountain (Feat Nicklas Sonne)
13.    Little Drops Of Heaven (Feat Robin McAuley)

“Down From The Mountain” Line Up:
Nicklas Sonne – vocals
Alessandro Mammola – guitar
Andrea Arcangeli – bass
Alessio Lucatti – keyboards
Alfonso Mocerino – drums

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CITOVITZ AND FIREFLIES OF FEBRUARY Release ‘The Demon Was Once an Angel’ — Final Lyric Video from “My Revenge” EP

CITOVITZ AND FIREFLIES OF FEBRUARY have released the official lyric video for “The Demon Was Once an Angel” — the fifth and final track from the “My Revenge” EP, released on Andrzej Citowicz’s 50th birthday, February 10th, 2026. With this release, the EP’s lyric video cycle is complete: five songs documented, five chapters closed, five truths placed permanently on record.

THE PHILOSOPHY OF THE FALLEN

The song was written by Shereen Citowicz — the same lyricist behind “My Revenge”, the EP’s title track. Where that song burns with defiance, “The Demon Was Once an Angel” asks a harder, quieter question: not how did we survive, but what did surviving cost us?
“Demons weren’t born demons. They were angels who fell. Good things that got broken. Innocent souls who learned the world doesn’t reward innocence. My wife Shereen wrote these words about transformation we never asked for. About how pain changes you into something different — not necessarily worse, just harder, less trusting, more guarded.”

The song’s central thesis — that the fallen were once innocent — carries enormous compassion within what could easily become a statement of despair. Shereen’s words refuse to judge the changed. They seek instead to remember what was there before the breaking. To acknowledge that the hardness people carry was once softness that the world refused to protect.

Watch the lyric video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPa5Fn9MQek

MEMORY AS SALVATION

The lyric video presents the song’s most profound insight plainly: if you have become something harder, something more guarded, something the world might call a demon — you were likely an angel once. And that memory, however faint, is not defeat. It is a thread. It is what keeps a person from losing themselves entirely.

“If you’ve become a demon, maybe you were an angel once. And remembering where you came from — that’s what keeps you from being completely lost.”
This is grief literature written as rock music. It is the kind of truth that doesn’t announce itself loudly but settles slowly — in the chest, in the memory, in the quiet moments when a person sits with what they have become and tries to find the version of themselves that existed before the damage.

MUSICAL APPROACH: WINGER’S LEGACY, CARRIED FORWARD

Musically, “The Demon Was Once an Angel” draws from the tradition established by Winger and Kip Winger — technical without being cold, intricate without losing emotion. It is rock that thinks as it feels, that constructs carefully even as it speaks from an unguarded place.

Bassist Patryk Szymański — Andrzej’s collaborator of over a decade, a brother in every meaningful sense of the word — delivers bass work that does more than anchor the rhythm. It speaks. It carries its own narrative thread through the song, responding to and deepening the lyrical content rather than simply supporting it.

“Patryk’s bass doesn’t just support — it speaks its own truth. When you’ve been creating with someone for over ten years, there’s a musical intelligence that develops between you that can’t be faked. On this track especially, he understood exactly what these words needed.”

THE END OF MY REVENGE: FIVE SONGS FOR FIFTY YEARS

The “My Revenge” EP was conceived as a statement of survival — five tracks for fifty years of living, released as a 50th birthday declaration. Each song carries a different dimension of that survival: defiance, brotherhood, the theft of time, grief transformed into dignity, and now — the memory of innocence in the face of everything that has hardened.

The five tracks span two lyricists and one sustained emotional vision: Andrzej wrote “You’re Not My Friend — You’re My Brother, My Friend,” “Time Is a Thief,” and “I Am a Gentleman Tempered by Grief.” Shereen wrote “My Revenge” and “The Demon Was Once an Angel.” Together, they form a complete arc — not a tidy resolution, but an honest accounting.

“This is the final song from ‘My Revenge.’ Five songs for fifty years. Five pieces of survival turned into sound. Thank you for walking this journey with us. From the first song to this last one. You made my revenge complete.”

THE LYRIC VIDEO SERIES: WORDS MADE VISIBLE

The decision to document each track from “My Revenge” with its own lyric video reflects a consistent artistic philosophy: words this personal deserve to be seen, not just heard. Lyrics that emerge from lived experience — from grief, from loss, from the long work of remaining human — carry meaning that the ear alone cannot always hold. The lyric video format allows listeners to sit with the words, return to specific lines, and find themselves in the text.
With this final release, that documentation is complete. Every word Shereen and Andrzej put into this EP now has a visual home. The record is permanent.

STREAM & WATCH

YouTube lyric video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pPa5Fn9MQek
The complete “My Revenge” EP is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube Music, and all major streaming platforms.

Andrzej Citowicz is an acclaimed Polish guitarist and songwriter currently based in Cairo, Egypt. As a former recording artist for DownBoys Records, he has built a reputation for emotionally resonant songwriting and distinctive guitar work. His music combines classic rock influences with contemporary production, creating a sound that bridges generational and cultural gaps while maintaining artistic authenticity. His YouTube channel has garnered over 70,000 views from an international audience.

Connect with Andrzej Citowicz:
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7aIeg5DyI7xwkYLsBgJNWf
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AndrzejCitowicz
Instagram: https://instagram.com/citovitz
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citovitz/

Finnish Dark Metal TORCHIA Unveils New Video “Nekromanteion” From Upcoming Album “They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness” Out May 2026

Finnish extreme metal force Torchia unveil the official video for “Nekromanteion”, premiering today via Metal Insider. The single has been released worldwide on all digital platforms today.

Following the first single “Stygian Waters”, which introduced listeners to the darker sonic direction of the band’s upcoming album “They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness“, “Nekromanteion” pushes further into the occult themes and shadowed mythology that define Torchia’s evolving artistic vision.

Hailing from Tampere, Finland, Torchia have steadily refined a distinctive style rooted in thrash-infused melodic death metal while expanding their sound with darker tonal layers and a stronger emphasis on atmosphere and narrative depth. Across their discography, the band has gradually shaped a fictional realm inhabited by old gods, arcane rituals and practitioners of forbidden arts, blending extreme metal intensity with the imagery of gothic horror.

Musically, “Nekromanteion” reveals another dimension of that evolution. Driven by ominous arrangements and a growing sense of tension, the track places greater weight on mood and atmosphere while retaining the band’s trademark guitar-driven aggression. The title refers to the ancient Greek Nekromanteion, a temple believed to serve as an oracle of the dead. In the song’s narrative, a necromancer attempts to cross into the realm of the dead, risking the perilous passage across the waters of Styx.
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As the opening track of the album, “Nekromanteion” sets the tone for the record’s overall direction: a synthesis of memorable songwriting, technical intensity, and darker sonic textures supporting the album’s gothic horror narrative.

With “They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness“, Torchia further expands the cursed world introduced throughout their previous releases, pushing their sound toward a darker and more blackened dimension while preserving the melodic sensibility and guitar-driven foundations that have defined the band since their early years.

Fans of Behemoth, Cradle of Filth, and Children of Bodom will find in Torchia a band capable of merging extreme metal ferocity with dark storytelling and memorable melodic hooks.

The official video for “Nekromanteion” is now streaming via Metal Insider HERE.

The single is available on all digital platforms from March 11th.

 https://lnk.to/uRuBjc​

For fans of: Behemoth, Cradle of Filth, Children of Bodom

New album “They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness” out on May 8th, 2026.

PRE ORDER “They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness” as CD: https://rockshots.eu/products/torchia-they-are-born-under-rules-of-the-darkness-cd​
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​PRE ORDER “They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness” as LP: https://rockshots.eu/products/torchia-they-are-born-under-rules-of-the-darkness-lp​

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Track Listing:​
1. Nekromanteion – 4:23
2. Hellmouth – 4:08
3. Into Hell – 3:38
4. Hellstorm – 3:55
5. Die Amour – 4:12
6. The Tiamat Machine – 5:39
7. Black Cat – 3:19
8. Stygian Waters – 4:05
9. Sanguine Masquerade – 4:46
Album Length: 38:05
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​Torchia Line-Up:​
Nox: Vocals
Villemorte: Lead guitar, Vocals
Henri von Hardy: Guitar
Vulkan: Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
Vincent Oscar Mill: Drums

Formed in Tampere, Finland, Torchia has steadily carved out a distinctive identity within the extreme metal scene by blending thrash-infused melodic death metal with dark fantasy, gothic horror, and cinematic atmospheres. Since their early years, the band has continuously evolved both musically and conceptually, expanding a cursed narrative universe populated by ancient gods, occult practices, and grim mythological visions.

With each release, Torchia has pushed further into darker and more theatrical territory. While their core remains firmly rooted in guitar-driven extreme metal, their sound has grown increasingly cinematic and blackened, incorporating dramatic arrangements and a heightened sense of atmosphere without sacrificing aggression or immediacy. Elements of classic heavy and power metal melody remain a key influence shaping their songwriting approach and reinforcing their dynamic, memorable structures.

Their fourth full-length album, “They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness“, represents a defining chapter in the band’s artistic journey. Set against a bleak, 19th-century-inspired gothic backdrop, the album brings Torchia’s storytelling to life through vivid tales of horror, superstition, and doom, uniting narrative depth with relentless musical force.

Renowned for their intense and visceral live performances, Torchia have built a strong reputation as a formidable stage act. At the center of the spectacle stands masked frontman Nox, a commanding and symbolic figure who embodies the dark curse at the heart of the band’s identity, guiding audiences deep into Torchia’s shadowed world.

​https://www.rockshots.eu/​

​https://www.instagram.com/curseoftorchia/​

​https://www.facebook.com/TorchiaOfficial/

Canada’s IRON KINGDOM Announces 6th Studio Album “Shadows and Dust”; Reveal Album Artwork and Teaser

Canadian traditional heavy metal torchbearers Iron Kingdom will release their sixth studio album, “Shadows and Dust,” on June 6, 2026, marking a powerful milestone in the band’s history. The date aligns with the group’s 15th anniversary when they formed in June 2011, and the 82nd anniversary of D‑Day, a coincidence the band describes as “the planets aligned… but we will let the music speak for itself.”​
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Alongside the announcement, Iron Kingdom has revealed the album’s striking cover artwork by Alan Lathwell and a first-look teaser, offering fans a glimpse into their darkest and most ambitious record yet.

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Recorded entirely in the band’s newly completed home studio, another first in their career, “Shadows and Dust” explores themes of death, hardship, impermanence, and resilience, wrapped in the band’s signature blend of classic heavy metal, power metal, and NWOBHM influences.
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​“A fantastic collection of songs that will really open up our live sets… it comes from a little bit more of a rock n’ roll edge overall, but there are so many elements hidden within, and I think it will be a real journey to experience it front to back. Lyrically, the album plays in quite a dark realm of topics… but I also think that’s exactly what will make this album accessible to people going through tougher times, and hopefully a place of hope, and to help them see that they are not alone,”​ adds frontman Chris Osterman (Lead Vocals / Lead Guitar).
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Bassist Leighton Holmes also comments:

“The newly unveiled cover art draws directly from the song “Blood and Steel”, depicting an army marching across a brutal, unforgiving landscape, some soldiers falling to the elements as others push forward. The imagery was inspired by the Malazan Book of the Fallen series by Steven Erikson. Many die, many lose hope, and many don’t understand why they do what they do… Life is often like this: we have to go through things that are uncomfortable, even dangerous, to reach the position we need to be to accomplish what it is we are trying to do.” ​
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To celebrate the release, Iron Kingdom will headline their biggest hometown show to date at Vancouver’s iconic Rickshaw Theatre on Friday, June 5, 2026, a significant milestone for the band. For more info, please visit https://orangetickets.ca/detalles_evento.php?id_evento=2127​
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​“It is the same venue we got to open for headlining bands such as HammerFall, Angra, Sanctuary… and to feel in some way that we have worked our way up to headline a venue of that size is very exciting.”

In addition to the album launch festivities, Iron Kingdom will also appear at the 2026 editions of Armstrong Metal Fest and Loud As Hell Open Air Festival, bringing their new material to one of Western Canada’s premier heavy metal gatherings. These performances will mark some incredible highlights for the year to come.

Formed in Vancouver in 2011, Iron Kingdom has spent 15 years championing the classic heavy metal spirit of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Helloween, and the Scorpions. Known for their high-energy stage presence, intricate melodies, and raw, no‑backing‑tracks live performances, the band has toured across Canada, the U.S., Europe, and Brazil, sharing stages with Night Demon, Blaze Bayley, HammerFall, Angra, and more.
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Their discography includes Curse of the Voodoo Queen (2011), Gates of Eternity (2013), Ride for Glory (2015), On the Hunt (2019), and The Blood of Creation (2022). “Shadows and Dust” marks their sixth full-length album.

Album pre-order (release date June 6th, 2026) available at the following links:

Official Merch store: https://www.iron-kingdom.com/shop​
Bandcamp: https://iron-kingdom.bandcamp.com/music​

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​https://www.iron-kingdom.com​
​https://www.facebook.com/ironkingdomofficial​
​https://www.instagram.com/iron_kingdom​

IKON Box Set Reissues Four Of Goth’s Greatest Albums

Four of the most influential Goth albums of the late 1990s/early 2000s  are set for reissue in a new box set, as IKON unveil the aptly-titled Resonance – An Anthology 1998-2009.
The second in the Australian band’s series of career-spanning box sets, the set begins with their third album. This Quiet Earth (1998) was written, says frontman Chris McCarter, as a reaction to “the constant comparison to Joy Division” that the band had hitherto received. “l wanted to move away from guitar based tracks, he continues, and “as soon as ‘Subversion’, was written, l knew it had to be the first single from the album.”
A Top 5 hit in the German alternative charts (a second single, “Ghost In My Head,” quicky followed it) “Subversion” also helped This Quiet Earth, too, into the upper echelons of those charts.  The album’s unexpected popularity also prompted McCarter to put together a new live band, and begin work, too, on a new album.
“I was always fascinated with Egypt from a young age and decided on the title On the Edge of Forever,” says McCarter, recalling how new songs entered the band’s live repertoire long before recording commenced – which in turn gave the album an electrifying cohesion and a surprising outlook. “Going back to the band format, it was clear that doing a rock album was the right path to follow, after going down the electronic route.”
Released in 2001, In The Edge of Forever spun off three singles, “The Shallow Sea,” “Blue Snow Red Rain” and “Afterlife,” and is often described as the band’s finest release yet. It was not, however, to retain that title for long.
Buoyed, again, by three singles, “Psychic Vampire,” “Rome” and “Without Shadows,” 2005’s Destroying The World To Save It was heavily flavored by McCarter’s vision of the ways in which the world had changed post 9/11. “My experience from all the [touring], seeing peoples’ true faces, was something I was able to express in the songwriting.
“l had really developed my singing and a new confidence there. I also got to see first hand the fans all over Europe and knew the direction I wanted to go in.”  In concert, “Psychic Vampire’” was to remain Ikon’s closing number for the next 18 years!
The final album in this collection, 2009’s Love, Hate & Sorrow, continued in the same vein as its predecessor – indeed, McCarter admits he started recording it in 2006, intending an immediate follow-up.  “However, the creativity was flowing so well, l kept recording through out that year. l was trying to make the perfect album, or what was perfect to me.”
Two singles teased the album, “A Line on a Dark Day,” “which continued the 9/11 theme of Destroying The World To Save It,” and “Amongst The Runes.” Two further singles followed the album’s eventual release, “Torn Apart” and “Driftwood,” and McCarter happily recalls the reviews which described the CD as “ the most complete IKON album to date.”
Reflecting upon this entire period, McCarter acknowledges, “l grew so much as a person. Getting to travel around the world, meeting fans first hand, was inspiring in continuing on with writing and recording for so long. I also got to be able to do everything the way l wanted to, which a lot of artists aren’t able to do. I’m so happy with the way my writing had progressed and the things we were able to achieve, with different people coming in for parts of the journey on the way.”
He is proud, too, of Resonance – An Anthology 1998-2009. The box set, he continues, “shows just how much the band has grown from that period and how different each release is. I do feel there is a constant redline though, connecting them as I constantly explore and express the emotions and experiences in life, through the lens of the band IKON!”
Resonance – An Anthology 1998-2009 is released on March 13. That same day also sees the first US and European vinyl pressing of This Quiet Earth.
Not content to merely revisit the past. though, McCarter is also simultaneously deploying a powerful new EP, Marian, mapping out the ways in which he has transformed his past muse into a forward-looking vision. The EP all acts as a sort of tribute to Wayne Hussey (who Chris says is “a huge influence on my life”); featuring one Sisters Of Mercy track (“Marian”) and one Mission track (“Stay With Me”) as well as two new interpretations of IKON classics.
RESONANCE TRACK LISTING
DISC 1
1. Departure
2. Subversion
3. Loving The Enemy
4. Temple Of Light
5. Ghost In My Head
6. In Faith
7. My Shadow Of Selfishness
8. The Shattered Mirror
9. A Day That Passed
10. Voice Of The Sun
11. Beginning Of The End
12. This Quiet Earth
13. Overcome
14. Communion
15. Time And Illusion
16. In Too Deep

DISC 2
1. King Of Terror
2. The Shallow Sea
3. Wheels In Motion
4. Stone Frailty
5. Fine Line
6. Apparition
7. The Wish
8. An Act Of Fate
9. Blue Snow Red Rain
10. Distance
11. Afterlife
12. World Beneath The Sand
13. On The Edge Of Forever
14. As I Recall
15. Elohim
16. Anxiety

DISC 3
1. Never Forgive! Never Forget!
2. The Dying Crown
3. Without Shadows
4. God Has Fallen From The Sky
5. Psychic Vampire
6. Father Of Lies
7. Ashes Of Blue
8. Rome
9. My Crucible
10. Heresy
11. Slaughter (For The Glory Of Christ And The King)
12. Path Of The Unknown
13. The Black Goat Of Judas
14. Hiding In Waiting
15. Understanding
16. Confused Dreams
17. Seconds

DISC 4
1. A Line on a Dark Day
2. Before the Dawn
3. Torn Apart
4. Memoirs of a Butterfly
5. Winter Mourning
6. Beautiful Sadness
7. Amongst the Runes
8. Love, Hate and Sorrow
9. Dead Man Tomorrow
10. All Depths of Despair
11. Point Of No Return
12. Driftwood
13. Broken Windows To The Soul
14. Nowhere To Turn
15. Hindsight
16. Disenchanted Lullaby

ARMSTRONG METALFEST Announces 2026 Lineup w/ RIVERS OF NIHIL, DYING FETUS, CYBORG OCTOPUS, INTO ETERNITY, FERVENCE, VINTERSEA and more

ARMSTRONG METALFEST is proud to announce their most devastating lineup to date for 2026 with co-headliners RIVERS OF NIHIL and DYING FETUS, along with CYBORG OCTOPUS, INTO ETERNITY, FERVENCE, VINTERSEA, LYCANTHRO, IRON KINGDOM, ODINFIST, ART OF ATTRITION and many more!

The loudest and most extreme music festival returns for its 16th year of delivering British Columbia, Canada’s ultimate mountain mosh pit on July 17 and 18, 2026, at the Hassen Arena in the Okanagan town of Armstrong. Fans can look forward to two full days of moshing, headbanging, thrash wrestling, and camping.

AMF 2026 Promo Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5swgrnrVExs

Check out the festival Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0jvJmitxkamWl1FaGxcUmr​

Early bird tickets have already sold out, with advance pre-sale tickets now available until midnight (PST) on July 9th.

Festival passes are available at: https://www.armstrongmetalfest.ca/tickets/​

All prices apply to full weekend passes and are subject to applicable taxes. Each weekend pass grants general admission and access to the festival grounds, camping area, and arena from 9:00 AM on Friday, July 17, 2026, until 10:00 AM on Sunday, July 18, 2026. Free camping is included.

​(Tickets will be mailed starting after March 9th if you have chosen the “Ticket Mailed” option.)

Headlining opening night, Friday, July 17th, Reading, PA progressive/technical death metal juggernauts Rivers of Nihil bring their blend of crushing heaviness with atmospheric and experimental elements to the Okanagan. They’ve become one of the most forward‑thinking acts in modern extreme metal. Their breakthrough album, Where Owls Know My Name, charted on the Billboard 200, cementing their reputation for pushing genre boundaries. The band has released five studio albums, including their most recent self‑titled record, Rivers of Nihil (2025), which marks a new era with a refreshed lineup and an evolution of their sound.

Music Video – Water & Time – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MZC2hfkdf2A​

Joining them on opening night is San Francisco’s Cyborg Octopus, a genre‑bending force blending progressive metalcore with jazz, funk, electronic music, and experimental rock. Known for high‑energy performances and boundary‑pushing musicianship, they’ve become a standout act in the Bay Area metal scene. Their acclaimed releases Between the Light and Air (2022) and Bottom Feeder (2024) showcase their mix of technical precision, sci‑fi themes, and adventurous songwriting, making them one of the most exciting and eclectic bands in modern progressive metal.

Music Video – Defective Immediately – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fjrAfa5lVU​

A highlight for Friday night is up-and-comers Fervence, a progressive metalcore band originally from Reno, NV, now based in Austin, TX. Their sound blends atmospheric ambience with heavy, emotionally charged intensity, drawing on influences like Deftones and Architects. After lineup changes and the addition of vocalist Stevie B, the band entered a new creative era, leading to their signing with Metal Blade Records in 2025. Their debut album, Ghost (2020), established their cinematic, immersive style, and they continue to build momentum through dynamic live performances and evolving songwriting. Fervence stand out for their mix of technical precision, lush soundscapes, and raw emotional weight.

Music Video – Age of Aquarius – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsBAkPwXIb0​

Headlining Saturday, July 18th, and closing night is legendary Dying Fetus, considered one of the most defining acts of American extreme metal. They bring decades of legacy, unmatched heaviness and nine studio albums under their belt. Their performances are known for precision, intensity, and crowd‑moving power, making them a cornerstone act for any extreme‑metal‑focused event.

Visualizer – Into The Cesspool – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKcxI6qaZh8​

Supporting day two of AMF is Into Eternity, the Canadian (Regina, SK) progressive/melodic death‑metal veterans whose nearly three‑decade career is defined by technical precision, soaring clean vocals, fierce growls, and dramatic, forward-driven songwriting. Currently, they are finishing their long‑awaited new studio album, their first with vocalist Stu Block (ex-Iced Earth) since his return to the band. Fans will feel the emotional intensity and a powerful blend of old‑school roots and modern, boundary‑pushing metal energy that this band projects to the masses.

Stream – Suicide Drone – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH4bB76VpUY​

Also featured on day two of the festival is Vintersea, a band whose identity is shaped by the Pacific Northwest and a blend of extreme and atmospheric metal elements. They bring a distinctive mix of melodic death metal, blackened textures, post‑metal atmosphere, and intricate musicianship, rooted in their origins in Portland and Corvallis, Oregon.

Music Video – Become The Wave – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2R9Rcat6GOM​

Other standout attractions at this year’s AMF include a return from festival alumni and Vancouver heavy‑metal champions Iron Kingdom, performing in support of their upcoming sixth studio album “Shadows and Dust,” arriving in June. The Okanagan’s own Odinfist will mark their 20th anniversary with a special set featuring fan favourites from across their catalogue. Also on the bill are Nott, the Seattle‑based deathcore/sludge duo known for their bleak atmosphere and Alaska‑to‑Washington roots, and Edmonton’s genre‑defying force The Judge The Juror, whose sound blends elements of PsyDeathTechProg into something entirely their own.

Armstrong MetalFest 2026 Lineup:
​
​Friday, July 17th​
Rivers of Nihil (Reading, PA)
Cyborg Octopus (San Francisco, CA)
Fervence (Austin, TX)
Nott (Seattle, WA)
Iron Kingdom (Vancouver, BC)
Lycanthro (Ottawa, ON)
W.M.D. (Vancouver, BC)
Syryn (Calgary, AB)
Nameless King (Vancouver, BC
Frosthymn (Calgary, AB)
Die Another Day (Calgary, AB)
Pharm (Kelowna, BC)
Storm the Empire (Kelowna, BC)
Shotgun Divine (Nelson, BC)
Skeksis (Vernon, BC)
​
​Saturday, July 18th​
Dying Fetus (Baltimore, MD)
Into Eternity (Regina, SK)
Vintersea (Portland, OR)
Odinfist (Okanagan, BC)
Wych (Calgary, AB)
Art of Attrition (Red Deer, AB)
Fallen Sun (Prince George, BC)
The Judge The Juror (Edmonton, AB)
Brain Stem (Edmonton, AB)
Gregorious (Kamloops, BC)
Empalement (Victoria, BC)
Broken Crow (Kamloops, BC)
Daniel Martin & The Infamous (Edmonton, AB)
The Collapse (Kelowna, BC)

In addition to the performing bands, Armstrong Metal Fest will have the following on-site activities: Yeti Games, Metal Madness Market, and Thrash Wrestling.

Please Note: Camping – RV / Non-Hookup RV / Vehicle Passes: Make sure to reserve your vehicle spot to get the best location on the grounds. A fee is required for a weekend pass per vehicle in addition to your day or weekend pass. RV hookups include water and power. If you park your vehicle outside the camping area in the main parking lot, a vehicle pass is not required.

For more info:​
​https://www.armstrongmetalfest.ca/​

​https://www.facebook.com/armstrongmetalfest/​

​https://www.instagram.com/armstrongmetalfest/​
​
​https://x.com/amfcanada​

About:

Since its inception in 2009 (with a brief hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), West Metal Entertainment and Armstrong MetalFest have championed hundreds of local bands while welcoming renowned international acts to the quiet town of Armstrong, British Columbia.
​
Every year, metalheads from across Canada and the U.S. converge on the scenic Okanagan Valley for three days of camping and two days packed with heavy metal mayhem. Under the blazing summer sun, fans revel in live performances, wrestling spectacles, scavenger hunts, and reconnecting with their extended metal family.
​
Armstrong MetalFest has hosted legendary headliners such as Kataklysm, Cattle Decapitation, Archspire, Nekrogoblikon, Origin, Warbringer, Fallujah, Striker, Beyond Creation, Born of Osiris, Havok, The Browning, Virvum, and rising stars from across North America and Europe. And when the final riff fades, the festival vanishes without a trace, leaving the landscape as untouched as it was before.
​
West Metal Entertainment, a non-profit society, not only produces Armstrong MetalFest annually but also supports the regional music scene by organizing performances at various venues, including all-ages shows, to inspire musical passion in both youth and adults.

Partners:​
PABST BLUE RIBBON
WCMFA
Askews Foods
Rancho Vignola
Staggs Head
AlumaPro Welding & Fabrication Ltd
Shepherds Hardware
Sunbelt Rentals
E B Horseman and Son
Mastodon Equipment Repair
The Higher Path
Asher Media Relations
Monashees Outdoor Armstrong
ACE Containers
Bravewords
V13
Metal-Rules
Absolute Underground Mag
Broken Neck Radio
Ghost Cult Magazine
This Day In Metal
Valstar Electric
Voets Coffee
Brazen Magazine