GRIMNER Unveil Video for Title Track of Upcoming Album “Stormvingar”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 29, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo: Alexandra Petersen

Swedish folk metal force Grimner returns with thunder and fury as they unveil their new album “Stormvingar” on september 4th, 2026 via Despotz Records. Today the band unveils the third single + video for the title track, watch below.

After nearly four years of silence, Grimner returns to the realm of Midgård with renewed strength. With new blood in their ranks and the iconic voice of returning member Marcus Asplund Brattberg, the band conjures the power of a storm-torn ocean, heralding a new chapter in their saga. The upcoming album Stormvingar promises a full folk metal journey inspired by Swedish folklore and Grimner’s own interpretation of Norse mythology. Their sound continues to blend the aggression of old-school melodic death metal with Nordic folk traditions, alongside elements of classic heavy and power metal — a fusion that has become Grimner’s unmistakable trademark.

The album also sees the addition of brothers Anton Elowson and Axel Elowson, who bring fresh energy and musicianship to the band’s evolving sound.

The band comments:

“Our latest album, ‘Stormvingar’, has reignited a flame in us all, burning a path toward the future while at times taking us back to our roots. We are incredibly excited to unleash this beast of a record!” “As always, we have given everything we have to bring this album to life, and working with Ulf Blomberg of HoboRec Studio for the first time, we couldn’t be happier with the result. We feel that we’ve created something truly special!”

Stormvingar was recorded and mixed by Ulf Blomberg at HoboRec Studio and mastered by Gina Wiklund. The album artwork was created by Julien Bauer, with band photography by Alexandra Petersen. 

Pre-order the new album “Stormvingar” in different bundles here: https://despotz.bigcartel.com/artist/grimner

Tracklist:
1. Stormvingar (SEXTE2500601)
2. Träldomens Far (SEXTE2500602)
3. De Kom Från Norr (SEXTE2500603)
4. Där Mjöd och Högmod Flödar (SEXTE2500604)
5. Ombergs Brud (SEXTE2500605)
6. Irrbloss (SEXTE2500606)
7. Runstenen (SEXTE2500607)
8. Nattriderskan (SEXTE2500608)
9. Völvans Spådom (SEXTE2500609)
10. Hon Gav Dem Undergång (SEXTE2500610)

Grimner members:

Ted Sjulmark – Vocals, guitars
Marcus Asplund Brattberg – Vocals, guitars 
Axel Elowson – Bass
Johan Rydberg – Flutes and whistles
Kristoffer Kullberg – Keyboards
Anton Elowson – Drums

More from Grimner
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Grimnerswe/?locale=sv_SE
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grimnerband/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/grimnersweofficial
Spotify:https://open.spotify.com/artist/3EzUgwy78fPj2HFx8hSvKR?si=pyDX4k-STXWosYx_S8KUag
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/se/artist/grimner/520764691
Bandcamp: https://grimner.bandcamp.com/music

THE OCEAN Announce New Album “Solaris” + First Video Single ‘Light Pollution’ Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 29, 2026
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Credit: Pelagic Records

A lot of bands wouldn’t have recovered. From 2022 to 2025, post-metal visionaries The Ocean lost two-thirds of their members, with the lineup that made fan-favourite albums Phanerozoic I (2018), Phanerozoic II (2020) and Holocene (2023) stripping itself away. After a victorious final bow at Hellfest last year celebrating this lineup that had lasted for over a decade, only founding guitarist, songwriter and lyricist Robin Staps, longtime bassist Mattias Hägerstrand and new drummer Jordi Farré (also of Crippled Black Phoenix) remained.

Those who stayed could easily have called it quits, but instead, they rebuilt with and re-emerged with Solaris: the most ambitious album of The Ocean’s 25-year career. A near-70-minute journey to the stars and back, it’s based on late Soviet filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky’s masterpiece of the same name.

The first single from this upcoming album, ‘Light Pollution’, begins with familiar synth textures that connect seamlessly to its predecessor, Holocene, before gradually picking up momentum and moving in a different direction. The song culminates in a towering, slow-burning finale of orchestral grandeur, suffocating heaviness, and subdued rhythmic complexity.

Solaris will be released via Pelagic Records on 25th September. Pre-order: https://orcd.co/theocean-solaris

“Orbital motion or particles and grains of sand / is there any meaning in these patterns”, new vocalist Enrico Tiberi sings at the beginning of the song. Orbital motion is not only the gravitationally curved trajectory of a celestial body; in another context — alluding to early scenes in the film Solaris — orbital motion in water refers to the circular or elliptical paths water particles follow as waves pass through, transferring energy without moving the water itself forward.

‘Light Pollution’ explores the pitfalls of 21st-century technology and humanity’s growing obsession with simulated reality. But do the many technological and social advances of recent decades truly represent progress? “We’ve witnessed several communication revolutions throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, but have we actually become any better at communicating?” comments Robin Staps. “Has there really been forward movement, or has the motion been orbital — have we merely been treading water? Light pollution symbolizes the transparency of the postmodern age, permeating everything and everyone. Everything is constantly visible; we’ve lost the darkness to hide in, and with the relentless glare of communication, we’ve also lost our privacy.”

For the music video for ‘Light Pollution’, The Ocean have enlisted the talents of filmmaker Craig Murray (Mogwai, Converge), to create a narrative arc that combines the arrival of new vocalists Lane Shi and Enrico Tiberi with the song’s lyrics. Murray’s attention to detail is a match for The Ocean; his specificity with regards to costume, design and props elevates the visual accompaniment to ‘Light Pollution’ to a cinematic level. 

With their 12th studio album, The Ocean usher in a new era in the band’s 25-year history. Emmanuel Jessua of Hypno5e and Marco Gennaro join on guitar, while vocalists Enrico Tiberi and Lane Shi (Elizabeth Colour Wheel, Otay:Onii) step in to replace Loïc Rossetti.

For the recording of Solaris, the band further expanded its creative circle with contributions from Thorsten Quaeschning of Tangerine Dream on modular synthesizers. Jens Bogren, who previously mixed the band’s landmark albums Pelagial and Phanerozoic I and II, once again handled mixing and mastering.

Solaris is arguably the boldest album to bear The Ocean‘s name so far. It’s musically intrepid, it’s conceptually fascinating and it’s got many vital things to say about the world around us. The band have well and truly resurfaced, and they’ve done so in shimmering form.

Track list:
1. 52°30’11” N, 13°26’12“ E
2. Departure Song
3. Light Pollution
4. Simulacra
5. Belligerence
6. Ultima Esperanza
7. Milk Of My Dreams
8. 51°28’30” S, 73°6’11” W

Line-up:
Robin Staps – guitar, vocals
Mattias Hägerstrand – bass
Jordi Farré – drums, percussion
Enrico Tiberi – vocals, keys
Lane Shi – vocals
Emmanuel Jessua – guitar
Marco Gennaro – guitar

In addition, the following musicians performed on this record:
Thorsten Quaeschning – keys
Orestis Zafiriou – keys
Simen Eifring – trombone
Jiawei Zhang – vibraphone

ATOM LUX Unveils New Single & Video ‘Weirdos From Teegarden B’ from Upcoming EP “Kamikaze Butterfly”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 29, 2026
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Italian psychedelic rock project Atom Lux continues the journey toward the release of the upcoming EP Kamikaze Butterfly with the release of a brand new single and video, “Weirdos From Teegarden B”, out now via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records.

Driven by a restless psych prog energy that never slows down, “Weirdos From Teegarden B” tells the bizarre story of a gang of alien outcasts arriving from the distant planet Teegarden B. Highly advanced and masters of interstellar travel, these cosmic troublemakers roam the galaxy purely for amusement during their spare time.

Across chaotic space road trips, the extraterrestrial misfits jump from planet to planet looting worlds and abducting unsuspecting victims, including the song’s narrator, who ends up becoming one of their captured “pets.”

Blending surreal storytelling with explosive psychedelic textures, heavy grooves and progressive twists, Atom Lux once again transforms imaginative sci fi themes into an unpredictable sonic experience.

Atom Lux is the solo project of Italian multi instrumentalist Lucio Filizola, whose sound merges psychedelic, garage, stoner and alternative rock influences into a dynamic and constantly evolving musical vision. Originally conceived as a one man studio project, Atom Lux has since expanded into a full live band experience.

With “Weirdos From Teegarden B”, Atom Lux reveals yet another facet of the forthcoming Kamikaze Butterfly EP, whose full details will be announced very soon.

https://www.facebook.com/atomlux.music
https://www.facebook.com/ArgonautaRecords

HÄLLAS Announce New European Tour Supporting OPETH on Selected Dates

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 29, 2026
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After their succesful Spring tour, Swedish rock quintet Hällas are pleased to announce another European tour in support of their recently released fourth full-length album, Panorama. Earth Tongue will join as support on most dates.

In addition, Hällas have confirmed four summer shows supporting prog legends Opeth. A full list of dates is available below.

Tickets are on sale now: https://hallasband.com/live

On stage, the Adventure Rock universe fully comes to life. Tread carefully, friends.

Hällas Europe 2026
+ Earth Tongue02-10    Parkhotel, Dresden (DE)
03-10    Kwadrat, Krakow (PL)
04-10    Niebo, Warsaw (PL)
06-10    Het Paard, Den Haag (NL)
07-10    Doornoosje, Nijmegen (NL)
08-10    Hall of Fame, Tilburg (NL)
09-10    Keep It Low, Munich (DE)
10-10    Schüur, Luzern (CH)
11-10    Club Volta, Köln (DE)
13-10    La Ferrailleur, Nantes (FR)
14-10    Le Rex, Toulouse (FR)
15-10    Le Dodu, Marseille (FR)
16-10    TBA*
17-10    TBA*
18-10    TBA*

*No Earth Tongue

Hällas 2026
+ Opeth
30-07    OLT Rivierenhof, Antwerp (BE)
02-08    Bord Gais Energy Theater, Dublin (IE)
05-08    Tivoli-Vredenburg, Utrecht (NL)
07-08    Amphitheater, Gelsenkirchen (DE) 

Hällas Summer Festivals 2026
06-06    Sweden Rock Festival, Norje (SE)
19-06    Azkena Rock Festival, Vitoria-Gasteiz (ES)
03-07    Golden R Festial, Nea Anchialos (GR)
01-08    Rock Im Wald, Lichtenfels (DE)
30-08    Cosmic Vibration, Sheffield (UK)

For fans of: Rush, Genesis, The Devil’s Blood, Opeth, Ghost, Graveyard
Genre: Adventure Rock

Forget about everyday life and step into an adventurous fantasy world – that’s what Hällas want for their audience to experience. The Swedish quintet craft epic fantasy-themed concept albums filled with adventurous twin guitars, vintage synths, and mystical storytelling, carving out their own genre of adventure rock.

Their album Panorama is Hällas‘ fourth full length release. While  staying true to their signature sound and lyricism, it may very well be the most varied and complex so far.

In one way, Panorama sounds familiar: an imaginative hybrid of progressive 70s rock and heavy metal with echoes of both folk and psychedelia, along with conceptual content. In another sense, you have not quite heard a record like this from Hällas before. The self-confidence has never been as evident. Influences from different directions collide, and sometimes clash, contributing to the feeling that the expected instead culminates in wonder at what it is you’re hearing.

Hällas were founded in 2011 and saw their initial breakthrough with their first full length album, Excerpts From A Future Past (2017), and its hit single ‘Star Rider’. Building on their initial success, Hällas released their sophomore album Conundrum in 2020, garnering them a Swedish Grammy nomination. The album trifecta was complete with the release of Isle of Wisdom in 2022, widening their repertoire even further. 

With each release, the band have cultivated a cult following in the modern prog and hard rock scenes around the world. With their cinematic storytelling and timeless sound, Hällas has been touring far and wide-playing sold out shows all over Europe, as well as North and Latin America. Regardless of where, Hällas capture their audience with their own adventure rock universe coming to life on stage. 

With their new album Panorama, Hällas both consolidate and expand the image of what the band is – but also what rock can be. This time, different perspectives in a scenario are explored regarding whether humanity is capable of understanding a viewpoint other than their own. It reflects our time but is, in typical Hällas fashion, staged in a fictional, distant world.

Track list:
1. Above the Continuum
2. Face of an Angel
3. The Emissary
4. Bestiaus
5. At the Summit

Hällas are: 
Tommy Alexandersson: vocals, bass 
Rickard Swahn: guitar 
Marcus Petersson: guitar 
Nicklas Malmqvist: keyboards 
Kasper Eriksson: drums 

Follow Hällas: FACEBOOK · INSTAGRAM · WEBSITE

ONSÉGEN ENSEMBLE Release New Single & Video ‘The Word’ from Upcoming Album “A Tale”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 29, 2026
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Karisma Records is proud to announce a new album from Finnish collective ONSÉGEN ENSEMBLE. The band’s fifth album, A Tale, will be released June 26th on vinyl, CD and digital formats, and will be available on all major streaming platforms.
 
With A Tale, the band’s expression becomes more ethereal and profound than before. While Onségen Ensemble operates within a progressive mindset, they deliberately avoid traditional genre boundaries, creating music that moves forward by absorbing influences intuitively, free from stylistic dogma.
 
The band has this to say about A Tale:
On the album A Tale, we felt a strong need to explore something new. As with our previous records, we’ve always introduced new elements along the way — instruments as well as musicians — and this album is no exception.
Vilma’s contribution as a vocalist has influenced our sound far beyond that of a single instrument. In many ways, her presence is defining. We believe this significant shift expands our expression into something broader, richer, and even more nuanced.
The central theme of the album is peace. In many ways, it feels like the only value that still truly holds meaning in today’s world. Peace is diverse, what we dare not be.

The second taste from A Tale is the track The Word, which is released both as a digital single and video on the 28th of May. The song can be heard and seen here: https://orcd.co/the-word

The band has this to say about The Word:
The Word is perhaps more traditional take on OE’s Eastern-Western style. It features strong, expansive melodic lines and a tight, driving rhythm.
 
We’re eagerly looking forward to unleashing this growing psych-disco energy live.
 
Based in the north and shaped by its environment, Onségen Ensemble has built a distinctive identity through constant transformation. Rather than a fixed lineup, the band functions as a living ensemble: a stable core surrounded by ever-changing contributors. Each album introduces new voices, instruments and perspectives, allowing the music to evolve freely and remain open to the unexpected.
 
The album was produced by Niko Lehdontie, known for his work with Oranssi Pazuzu, Kairon; IRSE!, Grave Pleasures and Kaleidobolt. His involvement brings a subtle psychedelic undercurrent to the album, balanced by a strong sense of beauty and restraint.

With artwork by Merja Järvelin, the tracklist for A Tale is:
1. Garden of Celestials
2. To be Led by the Lost
3. A Thought
4. The Word
5. Oldest Father
6. The First Casualty
7. Crystal Water of Spring

A Tale will be released on the 26th of June in CD, Digital and Black and Transparent Rabbit Hole Vinyl formats, and is available to pre-order now from:
Bandcamp: https://onsegenensemble.bandcamp.com/ 
Webshop: https://shop.karismarecords.no/ 

Onségen Ensemble has previously performed across the Nordic countries, including Finland, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Their northern origin is an essential part of their sound: spacious, patient and shaped by distance, silence and landscape. With the new partnership with Karisma Records, the band hopes to bring their music to a wider audience and to expand their live activity in the coming years.

Personnel on A Tale:
Heikki Hallanoro – percussions
Tuuli Jartti – violin
Merja Järvelin – backing vocals, art work
Esa Juujärvi – bass, vocals, recording and co-production
Samuli Lindberg – drums
Joni Mäkelä – guitar
Vilma Pesola – vocals
Mikko Vuorela – flute, harmonica, soundscapes
Jarmo Väärä – trumpet

For more information on Onségen Ensemble, please visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/onsegenensemble

PSYCROPTIC to Release “The Pulse of Annihilation” Full-Length Album on July 17th , ‘Gathering a Venomous Herd’ Video Single Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 29, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Rae Chatten

For over two decades, PSYCROPTIC has operated at the vanguard of technical death metal, defined by instrumental precision, structural intelligence and an uncompromising creative ethic. From their Tasmanian origins to commanding stages worldwide, the band have built a reputation on rhythmic complexity, exacting musicianship, and a refusal to plateau.

On July 17th, PSYCROPTIC enters a decisive new chapter with The Pulse Of Annihilation, their first full-length release for Metal Blade Records. The partnership marks a strategic alignment between one of extreme metal’s most technically formidable acts and a label whose history is intertwined with the genre’s evolution.

At the core of this next phase is guitarist and principal songwriter Joe Haley. Over time, Haley’s compositional voice has evolved from pure technical density into something more architecturally deliberate. On The Pulse Of Annihilation, riff construction feels sharper, transitions more fluid, and thematic motifs more intentional. Haley’s writing demonstrates a seasoned understanding of pacing-knowing when to constrict, when to expand, and how to weaponize silence and space within otherwise relentless arrangements. Experience has not diminished intensity; it has refined its delivery.

“The Pulse Of Annihilation is the culmination of everything that has come before,” remarks Haley. “We never force anything stylistically and just let the songs manifest of their own accord – maintaining progression while remaining very much PSYCROPTIC. I feel this is our most epic, thrashing, technical while grooviest release yet.”

The record features the dual-vocal assault of Jason Peppiatt and Jason Keyser (Origin), a partnership that debuted on PSYCROPTIC‘s previous full-length, Divine Council. Peppiatt’s commanding growl intertwines with Keyser’s razor-edged articulation, creating a dynamic vocal interplay that adds dimension and contrast to the band’s dense instrumentation. This twofold approach heightens the record’s impact, featuring layered, confrontational elements that remain tightly synced with the band’s intricate foundation.

The album’s first single, “Gathering A Venomous Herd” serves as an immediate declaration of intent.

“This one’s a tricky one and total wrist splitter,” Haley notes, “It’s a mega non-stop riff fest.”

“It’s a knuckle-dragger,” agrees bassist Todd Stern, “I love when we can just cool out at this tempo. All my favorite PSYCROPTIC songs have this kind of ‘bounce’ to them that allows for just endless head-banging and leaves room for massive vocal passages, plus there’s that noodley section in the middle with the guitar ring out… Meathead Monday.”

Stream “Gathering a Venomous Herd” HERE

Produced once again by Haley at his Crawlspace Productions studio, The Pulse Of Annihilation reinforces PSYCROPTIC‘s commitment to sonic autonomy. The production balances clarity and weight. Haley’s brother and co-founder, Dave Haley pounds the drums with surgical precision, bass frequencies anchor the harmonic movement, and guitars cut through with controlled aggression. The mix allows complexity to breathe while preserving crushing force.

The Pulse Of Annihilation features cover art by Belial Necroarts (Gaerea, In Aeternum).

Find all pre-orders at: metalblade.com/psycroptic

The Pulse Of Annihilation Track Listing:
01. Ashes of a New Dawn
02. Gathering a Venomous Herd
03. A Sword of Me
04. No Time for the Weak
05. Our Pillars Fall
06. Annihilation Pulse
07. No Blade of Grass
08. To Embrace This Curse
09. Forging the Crown

PSYCROPTIC will join labelmates Rivers Of Nihil for a short run of Australian dates with support provided by Growth and Slaughtercult. From there, PSYCROPTIC and Rivers Of Nihil will unite with The Zenith Passage (also on Metal Blade) for four shows in Japan. See all confirmed dates below and stay tuned for additional live dates to be announced in the weeks to come.

PSYCROPTIC w/ Rivers Of Nihil, Growth, Slaughtercult:
8/13/2026 Magnet House – Perth, AU
8/14/2026 Lion Arts – Adelaide, AU
8/15/2026 Max Watts – Melbourne, AU
8/21/2026 Manning Bar – Sydney, AU
8/22/2026 Necrosonic Festival – Brisbane, AU
w/ Rivers Of Nihil, The Zenith Passage:
8/24/2026 Socore Factory – Osaka, JP
8/25/2026 3Star Imaike – Nagoya, JP
8/26/2026 Space Odd – Tokyo, JP
8/27/2026 Space Odd – Tokyo, JP

PSYCROPTIC:
David Haley – drums
Joe Haley – guitars
Todd Stern – bass
Jason Peppiatt – vocals
Jason Keyser – vocals

https://www.psycroptic.com
https://www.facebook.com/psycroptic
https://www.instagram.com/psycroptic_official
https://www.nightshiftmerch.com/collections/psycroptic
https://www.impericon.com/collections/psycroptic