After three years of anticipation and a steady rise through the European underground, Tampere’s own Crimson Day is back. Today, the band officially kicks off their next chapter with the release of “False Prophet,” the lead single and music video from their upcoming fourth studio album, Dark Dimension, set for global release on May 22, 2026, via Wormholedeath.
“False Prophet” stands as one of the band’s most direct and powerful tracks to date. Built on heavy riffs, dark atmosphere, and a commanding vocal performance, the song addresses the abuse of faith and the figures who use belief as a tool for control. Its message is clear: question what you are told, trust your own mind, and refuse to follow blindly.
The track highlights Crimson Day’s ability to combine modern heaviness with strong melody and emotional depth. It also offers a first look into the darker and more focused direction of Dark Dimension.
Formed in Tampere, Crimson Day has built a boundary-pushing sound rooted in heavy metal and enriched with melodic depth and cross-genre influences. Since their 2013 debut and early releases through Iron Shield Records, the band has released three studio albums, multiple acclaimed singles, and high-profile covers of Led Zeppelin, Bonnie Tyler, and Shakira, earning strong international fan response and radio airplay across the USA, Brazil, Germany, France, and beyond.
Crimson Day has performed nearly 100 shows across Finland, Germany, Sweden, and the Baltic region, including tours with Herald and support for Wolf. They have also appeared at major festivals alongside leading acts such as Sonata Arctica, Turmion Kätilöt, Turisas, Reckless Love, and Korpiklaani.
Their fourth studio album, Dark Dimension, set for release in 2026, was mixed by Jussi Kulomaa and mastered by Svante Forsbäck, marking a new milestone in the band’s steady rise and expanding international presence.
Crimson Day is:
Milka Uusitalo – vocals Ari Balzar – lead guitar Janne Rantanen – guitar/screams Jesse ”Kämy” Kämäräinen – bass Janne Ollikainen – drums/percussions
Alternative metal band ODC unleash today “Welcome To My World”, a powerful new track featuring Luisa Lyon, vocalist of rising metal group Offspec, out now via BLKIIBLK.
ODC’s frontwoman Celia Do commented: “Welcome To My World” is a very personal song about breaking free from someone who tried to hold me back. It’s about finding the strength to rise from what was meant to destroy you. Having Luisa from the US metalcore band Offspec on the track felt completely natural – she immediately understood the spirit and emotion behind the song.”
ODC is a Paris-based modern alternative metal band blending the power of contemporary metal with the emotional depth of alternative rock. Fusing heavy riffs, haunting melodies, and immersive electronic textures, ODC crafts a bold and unapologetically hybrid sound. At the core of the project is a commanding female voice, carrying themes of resilience, inner conflict, and rebirth, supported by a strong and distinctive visual identity.
Their debut album Twisted Love, released on October 31, 2025, marks a key milestone in the band’s artistic and professional evolution. The record has already amassed over 520,000 streams on Spotify, positioning ODC as an emerging force within the new wave of modern metal.
Luisa Lyons is the vocalist of metal-pop outfit Offspec, along with Eric Barrera (drums), Devyn Byrd (bass), and Micheal Luce (guitar).
Blending addictive pop melodies, flickering video game inspired electronics, and a vicious assault of riffs and breakdowns, Offspec’s high energy music is a fresh combination of polish and innovation.
As well as catchy melodies and explosive sound, the band draws on an array of multimedia artforms to encourage fans to step into their world and connect through all different forms of expression and art.
Drawing on Lyons’s Brazilian roots and Barrera’s Peruvian roots, the group utilizes not only their individual musical experiences, but also their unique cultural backgrounds to appeal to a diverse international audience which they have been captivating worldwide.
Line Up: Celia Do – Vocals Luisa Lyons – Vocals MX MNK – Bass Raphaël – Guitars Hector – Drums
Rockshots Records proudly announces the release of Horror Vacui, the new full‑length album from Italian melodic death metal force Karmian, available March 20th. A concept record rooted in true events, “Horror Vacui” marks the band’s most ambitious, introspective, and emotionally charged work to date, a descent into the psychological and existential void behind real acts of murder and moral collapse. “Horror Vacui is the darkest and most introspective chapter of our journey. A descent into the psychological and existential void that hides behind real acts of murder and madness,” says the band. Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Audiocore Studio by Luca Cocconi and Simone Sighinolfi, the nine tracks on “Horror Vacui” transform true Italian crime cases into harrowing portraits of human fragility, alienation, and the emptiness that breeds violence. Vocalist and lyricist Andrea Bertolazzi approached each story not to sensationalize, but to expose the void beneath the brutality. As he explains: “We didn’t want to glorify horror; we wanted to expose its roots. This record is about the emptiness that breeds violence, and the fragile humanity that hides beneath.” From the tragic collapse of nurse Sonya Caleffi to the cult‑like spiral of the Beasts of Satan, from the myth‑shrouded Alleghe murders to the disturbing obsessions of Marco Mariolini and Gianfranco Stevanin, each track becomes a psychological study rendered through Karmian’s signature blend of aggression, melody, and narrative depth.
With “Horror Vacui,”Karmian pushes their sound further than ever. The album fuses Swedish‑influenced melodic death metal with cinematic tension, intricate arrangements, and a raw, live‑driven production approach. Every instrument was recorded acoustically without studio trickery, preserving the band’s trademark authenticity. “It’s our most mature and intense work to date, melodic death metal meets cinematic tension, raw energy, and psychological storytelling. We wanted the album to leave a lingering sense of inner unease, a discomfort that wounds, but is also exorcised through the act of listening,” adds the band. The result is an album meant not just to be heard, but felt, a visceral experience that lingers long after the final note. The band hopes listeners will explore the layers of meaning, the connections to real events, and the emotional weight embedded in every riff and lyric. “Horror Vacui” stands as Karmian’s most profound artistic statement, a fusion of philosophy, extreme metal, and psychological exploration. It is a record that challenges, confronts, and compels reflection on the abyss within.
Recommended for fans of The Haunted, Kataklysm, Heaven Shall Burn, At The Gates, early Dark Tranquillity, and early In Flames, “Horror Vacui” is available now as of March 20th, 2026, through Rockshots Records.
Track Listing: 1. One Thousand Shining Bubbles – 06:38 2. Beastmaster of the Void – 03:21 3. Gott Mit Uns Nicht – 04:38 4. The Call of the Abyssal Bell – 06:17 5. Black Magical Soap Opera – 03:54 6. Temple of the Fleshless Goddess – 03:23 7. Libido et Mors – 03:40 8. Beyond the Dream Gate of Fear – 04:16 9. Maker of Angels – 04:43 Album Length: 40:50
Karmian Line-Up: Andrea Bertolazzi: Vocals Andrea Baraldi: Guitars Michele Perla: Guitars Luca Marmi: Bass Nicholas Badiali: Drums
More info: https://rockshots.eu/ https://www.instagram.com/karmian_official/ https://www.facebook.com/KarmianBand/
In the Old Testament, the wolf appears for the first time and exclusively as a symbol of evil – as Satan incarnate, who is contrasted with the good shepherd, the servant of God. For centuries, the wolf Isegrim was stigmatized as the incarnation of heresy, danger, and a threat to humanity and Christianity. This demonization led to relentless persecution and nearly to the extinction of the animal.
A. Blackwar reverses this view: it is not the animal that is evil, but humanity itself.
Over the past 35 years, traditional black metal has split into numerous styles. It is now rare to find artists who focus on the original essence of this genre: fast, aggressive, and anti-Christian music. A. Blackwar has been an active part of the black metal scene since 1992 and is considered a long-time co-creator of extreme metal culture. Over four decades, he has been involved in numerous bands and projects, shaping their sound with a consistent commitment to darkness, aggression, and authenticity. With ISEGRIM, A. Blackwar returned to his roots. When the band was founded in 1998, he was its sole member – a role he once again assumes today. In this original constellation, he consistently continues and further develops the traditional and occult spirit of black metal. His musical path is characterized by consistency, discipline, and an uncompromising dedication.
This attitude is also reflected in the dark message of the first album from 1999, which is now being released on vinyl for the first time via Fireflash Records (Holy Moses, Vanaheim, Sacriversum, etc.) and includes three bonus tracks. Among them is the magnificent Destruction cover of “Bestial Invasion.” The vinyl is strictly limited to 300 copies in “Witchcraft Red” and includes a 4-page insert, a signed autograph card, and an Isegrim sticker.
To mark his 35th anniversary, A. Blackwar will release another ISEGRIM album in 2027. Anyone who has served the scene with such consistency over decades is undoubtedly one of black metal’s veterans. While many have left the scene for family, professional, or personal reasons, giving up was never an option for A. Blackwar. His loyalty to the cause is a life dedicated to black metal.
HOKKA return with a powerful new chapter in their unfolding musical saga. The warrior and the sensai – Joel Hokka (ex-Blind Channel) and Pauli Rantasalmi (ex-The Rasmus) – continue their journey with the release of the gripping new single ‘Blackbird’.
Taken from the upcoming album VIA MISERIA IV, set for release on April 24 via Nuclear Blast Records, ‘Blackbird’ delivers another intense and emotionally charged installment in the project’s evolving narrative. Driven by haunting melodies and cinematic production, the track dives also a bit deeper into the heavier side of the band.
Accompanied by a striking new cinematic video, ‘Blackbird‘ continues the storyline introduced in the previous singles, expanding the visual and emotional world of HOKKA. The song builds with relentless energy before soaring into a powerful chorus that hits straight to the heart.
With ‘Blackbird‘, HOKKA once again blend storytelling, atmosphere, and raw emotion – offering a glimpse into the dramatic universe that awaits on VIA MISERIA IV.
“‘Blackbird’ is the latest single from the upcoming debut album “Via Miseria IV”. This track shows the heavier side of HOЖA. With a riff influenced by the very roots of heavy metal and melodies echoing from the Nordic darkness, this track serves as a perfect introduction to the debut album. Revenge with love, enjoy!
In addition, HOKKA hrecently announced their first live shows for 2026 giving fans the opportunity to experience the power and storytelling of the warrior and sensai saga on stage for the first time.
The first club show: 07.05.26 FI Helsinki – Tavastia
Confirmed festival shows: 12.-13.06.26 FI Lahti – Kesämössö 27.06.26 FI Helsinki – Tuska 03.-05.07.26 FI Turku – Ruisrock 04.07.26 FI Tampere – Tuhdimmat Tahdit 17.-19.07.26 FI Joensuu – Ilosaarirock 23.-25.07.26 FI Kuopio – Kuopiorock 25.07.26 FI Oulu – QStock 14.-16.08.26 CH Cudrefin – Rock The Lakes
Amazing news for old continent fans of the stoner rock underground:SOLACE will return to Europe on tour in May 2026 on their “Fading Failing Ruin” tour just ahead of releasing their new album, including two festival slots and a string of shows as direct support for HERMANO (feat. former KYUSS vocalist John Garcia).
The long-awaited overseas trek by the dirt metal icons will commence at La Maroquinerie in Paris, France on May 7 this year, with 14 shows in 5 countries including appearances atDesertfests London and Berlin that ends with a final curtain at the Stellwerk in Hamburg on May 22, 2026.
SOLACE comment: “We are all super amped to finally get back to Europe and melt the faces of old friends and hopefully bring some new converts into the dirt metal fold just ahead of our new record“, guitarist Justin Skyler Daniels announces and promises: “We plan on holding nothing back!“
Thelatest SOLACE release is the expanded and remastered edition of their milestone debut full-length “Further” (2000) which arrived on August 22, 2025, via Magnetic Eye Records in celebration of the album’s25th anniversary. You can get the album HERE
By the time of the tour, SOLACE will have also released the first advance singles in the lead up to their first new studio album since 2019’s “The Brink.”
SOLACE “Fading Failing Ruin” European Tour Dates 2026 07 MAY 2026 Paris (FR) La Maroquinerie (Supporting Hermano) 08 MAY 2026 Utrecht (NL) Tivoli (Supporting Hermano) 09 MAY 2026 Köln (DE) Luxor (Supporting Hermano) 10 MAY 2026 Dresden (DE) Chemiefabrik 11 MAY 2026 Wien (AT) Arena (Supporting Hermano) 12 MAY 2026 München (DE) Backstage (Supporting Hermano) 13 MAY 2026 Berlin (DE) Desertfest Berlin Warm Up 15 MAY 2026 London (UK) Desertfest London 16 MAY 2026 Bridgewater (UK) Cobblestones 17 MAY 2026 Bristol (UK) The Gryphon 18 MAY 2026 Bournemouth (UK) Bear Cave 20 MAY 2026 Hildesheim (DE) Club VEB 21 MAY 2026 Göttingen (DE) Vinyl-Reservat 22 MAY 2026 Hamburg (DE) Stellwerk
25 years, a quarter of a century, is a very long time in the life of any human being. And maybe even more so, in the lifespan of a recording of music. Yet “Further” by American stoner metal band SOLACE, first released at the turn of the millennium, has stood the test of time. Its tracks feel just as contemporary and relevant as in the year 2000.
A 25th anniversary is a great occasion for an enhanced, extended, and re-mastered edition of a timeless classic, but this much-deserved reissue was already decided upon when original SOLACE singer Jason L. sadly passed away in January 2025. This turns the new edition of “Further” into an unplanned but due tribute to his legacy and everything that Jason brought to the band during his formative years as their tortured and brilliant frontman.
SOLACE are celebrated veterans of the American metal scene. Hailing from Asbury Park, New Jersey at the windswept shore of the Western Atlantic, the band was founded in 1996. Built on a solid foundation of classic metal, early doom and punk ethic, the original four-piece infused a healthy dose of hardcore fury into grooving, grinding sludge.
Three years after the success of “Further” on both sides of the Atlantic, SOLACE returned with the sophomore album “13” (2003) that witnessed the Americans expanding and solidifying their style by highlighting the epic side of their songwriting. In the wake of this album, the band was invited twice to perform at the prestigious Roadburn Festival in 2006 and 2009, which further endeared them to an international audience.
SOLACE “Further”-era Lineup
Following a string of singles and EPs, the shoremen returned with the acclaimed third album “A.D.” in 2010. Although this release was again well received, a hiatus followed during which SOLACE implemented changes in their line-up. This manoeuvre got the heavy ship afloat again, and the remarkable full-length number four, “The Brink”, made landfall in 2019. This album has been described as a glorious trek through churning riffage, weighty doom power and drunken sea shanties, while the massive use of NWOBHM dual-guitar attack was also gladly noted.
SOLACE call their amalgamation of doom and heavy metal with hardcore elements dirt metal, while elsewhere it has been somewhat tongue-in-cheekily dubbed shorecore. Others file the New Jersey five-piece under stoner metal – and in truth, all these descriptions fit to an extent.
Raise a glass to Jason’s legacy and enjoy his outstanding performance on SOLACE‘s debut album “Further” that has been diligently and respectfully remastered to shine brighter than ever before!
Tracklist:
Man Dog (2025 Remaster)
Black Unholy Ground (2025 Remaster)
Followed (2025 Remaster)
Whistle Pig (2025 Remaster)
Hungry Mother (2025 Remaster)
Angels Dreaming (2025 Remaster)
Suspicious Tower (2025 Remaster)
Heavy Birth/2-Fisted (2025 Remaster)
Another Life
We Bite
On the Hunt
Heavy Birth/2-Fisted (Distanced from Reality version)
Dirt
Funk #49 (Live in Tokyo ’98)
Produced by Eric Rachel and Solace Recorded by Eric Rachel at Trax East, South River, NJ (US) Mixed by Eric Rachel at Trax East, South River NJ (US) Mastering by Alan Douches at West Westside Music, Hudson Valley, NY (US) Cover painting: “Midnight Mass 2” by Wes Benscoter Original layout by Frank Bridges 2025 layout by Łukasz Jaszak
Recording line-up: Jason – voice, lyrics Tommy Southard – guitars Bill “Bixby” Belford – drums Rob Hultz – bass
Current line-up: Justin Daniels – guitar Justin Goins – keyboard, vocals Tim Schoenleber – drums Mike Sica – bass Tommy Southard – guitar
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
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