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THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT (Feat. Josh Rand & Casandra Carson) Unleash Cover of Blondie’s ‘Call Me’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 17, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: The L.I.F.E. Project. Leave a comment
Photo by Ryan Berrier

The L.I.F.E. Project – the dynamic collaboration between guitarist and songwriter Josh Rand (Stone Sour) and powerhouse vocalist Casandra Carson (Paralandra, Casandra’s Crossing) – unleash today a powerful rendition of Blondie’s hit, “Call Me”, out now via Frontiers Music Srl. 

Josh Rand commented: “Back in 2020 I was searching for a female vocalist to front my new project. I was connected with Casandra Carson and asked her what song she’d like to sing for the audition. “Call Me” was her choice so I quickly put it together musically for her to sing to. She crushed it and the rest is history! We never intended to release this track, but we thought it would be cool for you to hear the song that started it all.”

Casandra Carson added: “Call Me” has been one of those staple songs that I’ve been doing live since my first cover band when I was 17. This recording, specifically, was kind of my audition to be in The L.I.F.E. Project. Josh wanted me to pick a song to cover that would be comfortable, and we could use to test out how we would work together, and this felt like the perfect choice. Turns out, I got the job! It’s crazy that it’s coming out of the vault and going public after all these years.”

Stream “Call Me” HERE

Born from a shared musical vision and an undeniable creative chemistry, The L.I.F.E. Project represents a fresh and compelling artistic union. While Rand had long envisioned launching a female-fronted project, it wasn’t until 2020 – when a mutual connection introduced him to Carson – that the idea truly began to take shape. What started as an exploratory collaboration quickly evolved into something far more meaningful, laying the groundwork for a project driven by purpose and artistic synergy.

Musically, The L.I.F.E. Project fuses Rand’s signature heavy riffs and affinity for strong melodic hooks with Carson’s commanding and versatile vocal delivery. Drawing inspiration from classic metal, thrash, and progressive influences, the project channels the raw energy and spirit that first inspired Rand to pick up the guitar, while offering Carson the opportunity to explore new sonic and emotional territories.

Over time, the band has crafted a distinct sound that balances intensity with accessibility, underpinned by a natural creative partnership. Their material reflects a thoughtful and organic development process, allowing ideas to evolve freely and cohesively.

Lyrically, The L.I.F.E. Project sets itself apart by venturing beyond traditional rock themes, embracing broader narratives and concepts. Their songs often draw from history, social issues, and real-world tensions, exploring themes such as empowerment, resistance, and societal challenges. This approach adds depth and substance to their music, complementing its powerful sonic foundation.

Line Up:
Casandra Carson – Vocals 
Josh Rand – Guitar 

Follow THE L.I.F.E. PROJECT:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
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MASON to Release New Single ‘This Thing Called Love’ (Feat. Steve Overland) on 21st August

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 17, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: MASON. Leave a comment

Mason are now gearing up for the release of their third album “Edge Of Destruction” which is out on 25th September via Eonian Records, and release their first single from this, ‘This Thing Called Love‘, on 22nd August. 

Marcus comments “we were incredibly fortunate to collaborate with legendary vocalist and songwriter Steve Overland (FM, Lonerider, Kings Of Mercia, Overland), who contributed backing vocals to ‘This Thing Called Love.’
He states: “This thing called love was originally written in 1987-1988 by John McAfee. John presented the digitalized original demo to me last year and I immediately was hooked on its memorable and catchy choruses, and distinctive verses. I was sold! Once it was re-recorded, the song missed something special on backups. That is where Steve Overland was brought in who was the perfect complimentary piece to the overall feel and sound of the track.”

Preorder the album here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/mason50/edge-of-destruction

Some artists spend years chasing the sound of their youth. Marcus Mason has spent a lifetime figuring out how to push it forward. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 1988, Marcus Mason came of age at a time when the musical landscape was moving rapidly away from the sounds that fascinated him most. While rap, hip-hop, punk, and post-grunge dominated much of the late ’90s and early 2000s, Mason found himself looking backward: to the melodic hard rock, arena-sized choruses and polished AOR of the late ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s. It was not nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It was instinct.

Mason’s breakthrough came in 2024 with the release of his debut album, “I Can’t Wait”, through Lions Pride Music. The record introduced a songwriter with an unapologetic affection for classic AOR but enough personality to make the formula his own. Songs including “One Life,” “I Can’t Wait” and “My Desire” emerged as standouts, while the album drew enthusiastic reviews from outlets including Fireworks Magazine, ViriAOR and Rockposer. In Germany, Rock It! reviewer Jörg Bonszkowski ranked “I Can’t Wait” among his Top 10 albums of 2024, placing it at No. 6. For Mason, the debut established the blueprint. The next album would expand it.

In 2025, Mason signed with Eonian Records for sophomore release “Seconds to Impact”, a record that marked a noticeable leap in songwriting, performance, and production. Led by the July 2025 single “All I Ever Wanted,” and followed by “Hard to Tame” and “Waiting for You,” the album broadened Mason’s profile within the international melodic rock and AOR community. “Seconds to Impact” balanced the unmistakable DNA of classic AOR with a more contemporary edge: smooth, melodic hard rock built around muscular guitars, polished keyboards, memorable choruses, and Mason’s clear, melodic vocals. 

Now comes the record designed to push Mason further still. Mason’s third album, “Edge Of Destruction” is not about abandoning what worked. It is about making everything bigger. Across eleven songs and an instrumental, Mason moves confidently between hard-driving melodic rock, mid-tempo AOR and sweeping ballads, with a renewed emphasis on songwriting, arrangements, and production. The hooks remain immediate, but the scope has widened. The guitars are still big. The keyboards still shimmer. The choruses still arrive with the intention of staying in your head long after the record stops spinning.

But by Edge of Destruction, Mason no longer sounds like an artist searching for his identity.
He sounds like one who has found it.

Official Band Page on Facebook: www.facebook.com/mason-band
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2ZV8IEyF0o6yDg0e6ZBJjx
Marcus Mason on Facebook: www.facebook.com/marcus.frank.16

Available via Eonian Records and select US and international retail partners:
Eonian Records (US): www.eonianrecords.com 
Australia: www.electricshockmetal.com | www.soundmass.com
Brazil: www.animalrecords.com.br 
France: www.tromhell.com 
Germany: www.prideandjoy.de | www.schmankerl-records.com | www.hrrecords.de | www.underground-power.de
Italy: www.adrenaline.it
Japan: www.diskunion.net | www.metalpesado.com | www.rockstakk.shop-pro.jp | www.hmv.co.jp | www.tower.jp | www.books.rakuten.co.jp | www.rockavenuerecords.com
Netherlands: www.nodustrecords.com | www.sonicrendezvous.com | www.ebay.com/str/metalaorbv 
Norway: www.nordicmission.net
Spain: www.sunrecords.es 
UK: www.replayrecords.co.uk 
US: www.facebook.com/shandismusicandmore | www.animatedinsanityrecords.com 

STREGA Announce New Line-Up with Members of PONTE DEL DIAVOLO, HIDEOUS DIVINITY & ADVERSAM

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 17, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: STREGA. Leave a comment

Following the announcement of the project’s revitalization, the blackened heavy metal band STREGA reveals the lineup that will bring the band’s new phase to life.

The project now features a revamped lineup composed of musicians from various corners of the Italian metal scene:

Alessio Caruso “Krhura Abro” – bass (Ponte Del Diavolo)
Enrico Di Lorenzo “Erichtho the Witch” – vocals (Hideous Divinity)
Luca Costanzo “Liluth” – drums
Davide Zangari “L’Ombra” – guitar
Paolo Carrone “Korii” – guitar
Essyllt – keyboards/synth (Adversam)

Further updates ahead.

STREGA links
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/strega_officialband/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/stregaofficialband 
Bandcamp – https://stregaofficialblackened.bandcamp.com/
Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/stregaofficialband

UMUS to Release Debut Album “Voidlit” on October 13th, First Single ‘Oblivion’ Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 17, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: UMUS. Leave a comment

Remote funeral doom project UMUS will release their debut album, “Voidlit”, on October 13th, 2026, through Ksenza Records / Aesthetic Death on CD and Aesthetic Death on double LP.

Formed in 2024 through a remote collaboration between three musicians based in different cities, UMUS was born from a shared vision of funeral doom stripped down to its most immersive and atmospheric essence. Drawing inspiration from Ahab, Evoken, Esoteric and the shadowy world of dark ambient music, the project favors atmosphere, emotional weight and gradual development over technical display or unnecessary complexity.

The first single, “Oblivion”, is streaming now at THIS LOCATION.

Spanning more than an hour across five compositions, “Voidlit” is a monolithic and smoke-shrouded work, built from glacial tempos, layered guitars and cavernous vocals. Yet beneath its imposing surface, the album reveals occasional flashes of light: subtle melodic details and unexpected passages emerge from the haze, giving its long-form compositions a sense of depth and movement.

Rather than treating funeral doom as an exercise in sheer heaviness, UMUS use slowness as a means of immersion. Each composition unfolds patiently, allowing textures to accumulate and emotions to deepen, while small changes in melody and atmosphere assume greater significance within the album’s extended structures.

Conceived as a continuous narrative, “Voidlit” traces a descent through grief, isolation and spiritual decay toward the gradual disintegration of the self. Personal loss and social alienation give way to an increasingly inward journey, ultimately confronting the emptiness left behind when everything else has fallen away.

The physical editions of “Voidlit” will also include the exclusive bonus track “Voidlit II”, available only on CD and double LP.

Tracklist:

1. Ghost Of Grief
2. Harbinger Of The End
3. Oblivion
4. Voidlit
5. Voidlit II (bonus track – only available on the physical formats)

Line-up:

V – Lead and rhythm guitars & Bass
E – Growls & Clean vocals
R – Drums & Backing vocals

Mixed by Vladimir Lehtinen
Mastered by Greg Chandler (Priory Recording Studios)
Artwork by Deni Aktemirov

More info: https://umus.bandcamp.com/

Polish Thrash Metallers MORR Strike Back with New Album “Kości zostały rzucone”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 17, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: MORR. Leave a comment

MORR is a metal band from Radom, Poland, active since 2000. Over the years, the band’s sound has steadily evolved. The traditional heavy metal and keyboard-driven atmosphere of the debut album “Morr” (2005) gave way to the progressive elements of the “Medalion” single (2007). Further line-up changes contributed to another transformation of the band’s musical identity on “Popiołem i cieniem… i wspomnieniem się staniesz…” (2015).

MORR draws its lyrical and musical inspiration from fragments of dreams, reflections on the darker side of life, and moments when one surrenders completely to the present. The band’s lyrics are deeply rooted in dark visions born of sleepless nights, the consequences of decisions, and choices in which everything is put on the line.

Following an eleven-year break from studio recording, MORR return with their latest album, this time driven by a distinctly thrash metal energy. The new material combines dynamic, aggressive riffs with the melodic approach characteristic of the band’s earlier work. Its sound draws inspiration from classic Polish metal acts such as KAT, Hunter and Dragon, as well as Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Death Angel and Nevermore.

The new material was recorded, mixed and mastered by Daniel Klimczak at FFF Studio in Radom. The new album “Kości zostały rzucone” was independently released on July 1, 2026, in digital format and on CD. MORR’s latest release is promoted by two singles: “Kości zostały rzucone” and “Trupi jad”.

Band leader Daniel Klimczak comments on the new album:
“The new songs draw inspiration from classic thrash metal, but they also reflect our musical tastes and our thoughts on the darker aspects of life. We wanted to combine thrash energy with the sense of melody that was already present on MORR’s earlier releases.”

Watch the official music video for the song “Trupi jad“:

Watch the lyric video for the song “Kości zostały rzucone“: https://youtu.be/9Mb-wrmKlR8

TRACKLIST:
1. Wilczyca    
2. Łowcy głów    
3. Uśpieni    
4. Cmentarny szlak    
5. Ubrana w czerń
6. Trupi jad    
7. W płomieniach  
8. Kości zostały rzucone 

LINE-UP:
Daniel “Dracul” Klimczak (ex-Crypt, ex-Hellcult) – guitars, vocal
Bernard “Beny” Dołega (ex-Thorn) – guitar
Ernest “Ostry” Płaskociński (ex-Mortis) – bass
Marcin “Rzeczy” Rzeczycki (ex-Ahret Dev, ex-Sauron) – drums

More info: Facebook | Bandcamp | Instagram

DISTANT Release New Single & Official Video ‘Flesh and Nails (feat. Kyle Medina)’ from Upcoming Album “Into Despair”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 17, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: DISTANT. Leave a comment
Photo by Danny Nguyen

While the release day for their upcoming album, “Into Despair”, is slowly approaching, DISTANT are releasing another single that showcases the strong bonds within the deathcore community. After already appearing on fan favourite “Argent Justice”, Kyle Medina has once again lent his vocals to the latest single and video, “Flesh and Nails”. If you’ve ever wondered what deathcore in a haunted pool looks and sounds like, watch below the video, which was produced and filmed by Bart Sperling.

The band comments: “On ‘Flesh & Nails’, we join forces with our longtime friend Kyle Medina for a powerful and uncompromising exploration of betrayal, deception, and broken trust. The track confronts the reality of those who hide behind false loyalty, only to turn their backs when it matters most. Channelling anger, frustration, and hard-earned clarity, ‘Flesh & Nails’ captures the emotional weight of discovering who people truly are when the façade falls away. It stands as a visceral statement on betrayal and the lasting scars left by those closest to us.”

It is the next single taken from the upcoming album, “Into Despair”, that will be released on November 6th, 2026. Click here for preorders: https://DistantBand.lnk.to/IntoDespair_AlbumPR

“Into Despair” is DISTANT’s most personal and emotional work to date, exploring real-life struggles, loss, and the shared grief that connects humanity. The album dives deep into the darker corners of human experience while finding solace in collective understanding.

DISTANT elaborate: “Driven by raw honesty and pure emotion, ‘Into Despair’ is an album born from personal battles and lived experiences. Every song carries pieces of each member’s own journey, with moments of pain, reflection, and resilience woven into a deeply intimate body of work. More than just a collection of songs, ‘Into Despair’ is a cathartic expression of vulnerability and a reminder that even in our darkest moments, grief is something we all share. It stands as the band’s most heartfelt and authentic statement yet, transforming personal suffering into something universally resonant.”

DISTANT are keeping things busy and their grim, ultra-heavy deathcore on the road after touring Europe with Sylosis, another US run including several shows with In Flames and Thrown as well as European summer festivals.

Come January of 2027, you can catch them on the “New World Killer EU/UK 2027” tour with Spite, Emmure and Mauled.

23.01.27 (BE) Antwerp – Zappa
24.01.27 (FR) Paris – La Machine du Moulin Rouge
26.01.27 (UK) London – Electric Brixton
27.01.27 (UK) Glasgow – Garage
28.01.27 (UK) Manchester – O2 Ritz
29.01.27 (UK) Leeds – Stylus
30.01.27 (UK) Bristol – Electric Bristol
01.02.27 (NL) Tilburg – 013
02.02.27 (DE) Hamburg – Gruenspan
03.02.27 (DE) Hannover – Capitol
04.02.27 (DE) Leipzig – Felsenkeller
05.02.27 (DE) Berlin – Columbia Theater
06.02.27 (PL) Warsaw – Proxima
08.02.27 (CZ) Prague – Lucerna Music Bar
09.02.27 (HUN) Budapest – Dürer Kert
10.02.27 (AT) Vienna – Flex
11.02.27 (DE) Munich – Backstage
12.02.27 (IT) Milan – Slaughter Club
13.02.27 (CH) Zürich – Dynamo
14.02.27 (DE) Cologne – Essigfabrik

Tickets: https://avocadobooking.com/avocms/item/spite-emmure-eu-uk-new-world-killer-co-headline-tour-2027

Make sure to check out the new songs and videos previously released:
“Desolation”: https://youtu.be/jOJAV6U_gPs
“Nothing Left To Hate”: https://youtu.be/4U-cKUpPkQ0
“Spirit (feat. Tyler Beam of The Last Ten Seconds Of Life)”: https://youtu.be/4PNwm0Zra6E
“Rat Torture”: https://youtu.be/cXAa2K_2eqM
“All Will Be (N)One (ft. Ricky Myers of Suffocation)”: https://youtu.be/PHZFd5mKPks

DISTANT has emerged as one of the leading forces in European deathcore. Blending brutal death metal, slam, noise, and beatdown with a hyper-dissonant soundtrack of impending doom, the band has evolved far beyond its beginnings as a group of metalcore-obsessed friends from Rotterdam and Bratislava.

DISTANT online:
https://distantofficial.com/
https://www.instagram.com/distantofficial/
https://www.facebook.com/DistantOfficial

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