Photo: Jouni Valjakka, Rudolf Westerholm — Cover art: ToKMR Graphics
The legendary Finnish melodic death metal act WHISPERED makes a long-awaited return with their epic new single ‘Ikikaere’! Fast, fierce, and rich with sweeping orchestrations and the Japanese folk influences the band is known for, the track marks a powerful comeback setting the tone for their upcoming fourth album.
Earlier this year, Whispered also joined forces with Spinefarm Records founder Riku Pääkkönen’s new label Ranka Kustannus (Blind Channel, Cyan Kicks, Kalmah) for the release of their fourth album, set to arrive this fall. Ikikaere, released today, is the band’s first new material since their 2016 album Metsutan. It’s also been ten years since Whispered and Ranka last crossed paths.
”Ranka was interested in Whispered back in 2016 when the band released their previous album. At that time, things didn’t move anywhere, but when the band contacted us about a new album, it didn’t take long to make the decision. It’s a great honor to be able to release the next album from this unique and ambitious band.” says Riku Pääkkönen.
This time around, the collaboration came together effortlessly, driven by a shared enthusiasm from the start.
”Things have felt right with Ranka from the very first meeting. Despite such a long creative break, they immediately believed in what we’re doing and gave us the opportunity to take on and complete our most ambitious and biggest project to date, Whispered’s fourth album.”
The band comments and adds about the single:
”’Ikikaere’ is the first single from the upcoming record, and it only reveals a fraction of what’s to come. Our fastest track so far delivers an intense sense of rebirth, just as the name suggests, along with a massive atmosphere.”
The visually striking music video for the track, directed by the band’s driving force Jouni Valjakka, can be seen here:
With the new release, Whispered will also return to the live stage. The band will perform throughout the year both in Finland and internationally. The run begins on May 9 at On The Rocks in Helsinki, followed by a European tour in late May and a series of summer festival appearances.
10.07.2026 – Dark River Festival, Kotka 15.08.2026 – Saarihelvetti, Tampere
“Orders to all warriors: stream the new track relentlessly and march to the shows in full force to witness the return of the shogunate. Ikikaere! – Whispered
Whispered’s music represents True Finnish Samurai Metal – melodic death metal that blends influences from Japanese traditions with epic orchestration. The band was founded by Jouni Valjakka in 2004 out of a love for metal music and Japan, giving birth to Whispered. Their debut album Thousand Swords (2010) introduced this distinctive fusion to the metal scene. A darker and more mature continuation followed with their second album Shogunate Macabre (2014), and their third full-length Metsutan – Songs of the Void (2016) elevated the band’s multi-layered vision to a new level. Whispered’s music and visual identity have earned the band widespread international recognition for its cross-cultural approach to heavy music. The band has toured in Finland, across Europe, and in Japan, building a strong live reputation and a loyal fanbase. After several years on hiatus, their long-awaited next album will be released this year.
Lineup: Jouni Valjakka – Vocals, Guitar Mikko Mattila – Guitar Olli Paajanen – Bass Filip Gäddnäs – Drums
Finland’s melodic dark metal masters SOULFALLEN return with a second single from their long-awaited upcoming fourth album, set to be released later this year. ’Flesh Unearthed’ is the shortest track of the album, representing its faster and more aggressive side.
”Flesh Unearthed, or FU for short, was one of the first songs we composed for the new album. It is blasting assault that grips its listener from start to finish with its tight riffs and haunting melodies. We can’t wait to unleash this beast live,” accounts vocalist-frontman Kai Leikola.
–Composer: Aapeli Kivimäki & Jari Kinnunen –Lyricist: Kai Leikola –Arrangement: Soulfallen
We’re excited to unveil Changing Places In The Fire‘s (Venezuela) debut single ‘The Fury And The Sound‘, out 31st March via Wild Thing Records [AU].
The band elaborates on their new track below:
“A clash between identity and uprooting in a world fractured by noise and manufactured certainty. The Fury and the Sound captures the pressure to choose sides, to reshape yourself, and to survive the chaos without disappearing inside it.” – Changing Places In The Fire
Changing Places in the Fire is a band shaped by upheaval, memory, and distance. Formed by five Venezuelan musicians – Daz Medrano (vocals), Alfredo Ovalles (keyboards), Javier Landaeta (guitar), Antonio Silva (guitar), and Miguel Ángel Moliné (drums), all of whom are now scattered across Europe and South America, out of the ashes of the Caracas scene. The band is steeped in the emotional and political realities of migration. Musically, the group sit somewhere between post-metal and prog rock, blending the emotional sweep of Dredg, the heaviness of Deftones, the layered expansiveness of Oceansize, and the moody introspection of Porcupine Tree. It’s a sound built on contrasts: aggression and fragility, density and space, closeness and distance. Their unique blend of fervour and circumstances caught the interest of Wild Thing Records, an independent label from Australia.
The project grew out of their earlier bands Echoes (ProgRock Records, USA) and Triad back in Venezuela, taking shape remotely as each member moved countries, rebuilt their lives, and dealt with the ongoing collapse of their homeland. That fragmentation drives the tension and atmosphere of their songs.
Alongside the band’s work, members have continued developing their careers internationally. Alfredo maintains an active performing and recording career in Europe (in classical music), while Daz works as a singer, composer, and producer for short films, fashion films, and advertising projects in Argentina.
Changing Places in the Fire is a long-distance collaboration born out of necessity and shared history – a record of survival, displacement, and transformation.
Norwegian rock scene has long been a breeding ground for raw talent, but few acts capture the intersection of grit and grace quite like Glasgow Kiss. Since their 2020 debut, the five-piece unit has built a reputation for a “power-rock” vibe that balances heavy rhythm guitar grooves with an addictive vocal attack.
Their latest music video, “One Last Time,” directed by Bård Leite, serves as a cinematic vessel for a soul-stirring power ballad that explores the heavy architecture of grief. This is the fourth music video taken from their brand new full-length album Down In Flames which was released on December 12, 2025 via Eclipse Records.
“One Last Time” finds vocalist Charlotte Marlen Midtun at her most vulnerable. The song is a dedicated power ballad written as a poignant expression of grief over a lost friend. Set against the serene, fading light of Hagavik at sunset, the video juxtaposes the vast beauty of the Norwegian landscape with the intimate, internal weight of sorrow. Drone footage captured by Martin Borge soars over the tranquil Kalandsvatnet, providing a sense of scale to the personal tragedy described in the lyrics. While the band’s sound carries the “swag, sass, and attitude” of modern hard rock, “One Last Time” showcases their ability to handle themes of darkness and shadow with sophisticated restraint. The instrumental foundation provided by guitarists Daniel Anker Goli and Sveinung Sveen, bassist John Erik Soltvedt, and drummer Frode Andreassen supports the ballad with a heavy, melodic pulse. Drawing comparisons to contemporaries like Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless, and Dorothy, Glasgow Kiss continues to prove that they are masters of high-intensity rock that remains deeply relatable.
“The decision to shoot a music video for “One Last Time” stemmed from the song’s deeply emotional themes surrounding loss and remembrance,” explains vocalist Charlotte Marlen Midtun. “A central symbolic element in the video is the rose, which appears as a recurring piece of imagery throughout. We used it to represent something fragile but enduring—love, loss, or even a sense of self—placed in an environment that feels unstable. The shot of the rose floating in rough water, surrounded by waves, really captures that idea of trying to stay intact while everything around you is in motion or falling apart.”
The band’s debut full-length album, Down in Flames, is a burst of sweet dichotomy, altered reflections, foils, doppelgangers, and visions of the self through enchanting and fractured perspectives. First off, the lyrics are devastating portraits of loneliness, toxicity, grief and loss, desire and darkness. The contrast; however, is the rhythm guitar sound: a bold power-rock groove that launches us into the stratosphere, almost as if the band first tempts us to make love with our own misery, just to shake it off and rock ‘til we drop. In conjunction with the band’s overall theme of aesthetic duality, lead vocalist Charlotte Marlen Midtun puts on a clinic of tonal dynamics and emotional depth. From captivating soaring high range to powerful gritty belting to delicate passages in the mid-range, her remarkable range makes for a compelling emotional performance. Moreover, and more specifically, one cannot listen to this record without appreciating the mix on the vocals. Charlotte is produced sonically to be right in our ear, deep in our minds straight down through the heart, and when harmonies are added, they are produced as elegant backdrop, a whisper, like lace. This technique would, at first, seem like the natural “go-to” for most projects, but the effect is quite new compared with the latest trend in the industry to bring the harmony tracks equal in volume and tonality, creating what some might refer to as a “choral wash.” Glasgow Kiss; however, do not “wash” or dilute a darned thing. They write our stories, raw and unedited. All things considered, Glasgow Kiss offer us Down in Flames so we can relate to their sorrow and share in their joy. They prove to us that the two opposite viewpoints can live simultaneously, that both can be true, that both make a beautiful, delicate balance. The album was produced by Glasgow Kiss, and mixed/mastered by Peter Michelsen (Rat City, Madelene, Byting) at The Norwegian Sound studio, with tracking by Dan Mikal Ultang at Secret Location Studio. Vocal were tracked at Elephant Studios. Artwork for the album and singles was created by Frode Andreassen and Sveinung Sveen. Down In Flames by Glasgow Kiss was released on December 12, 2025 via Eclipse Records.
Listen to Down In Flames on all platforms at this location.
Down In Flames track listing 01. Destiny 02. Down In Flames 03. On Your Own 04. The Wall 05. One Last Time 06. Forsaken 07. Those Wasted Years 08. Put the Blame On Me
Glasgow Kiss lineup Charlotte Marlen Midtun (Vocalist), Daniel Anker-Goli (Guitarist), Frode Andreassen (Drummer), John Erik Soltvedt (Bass), Sveinung Sveen (Guitarist)
ONLY HUMAN are fresh to the prog space, but the Danish upstarts have already made a major discovery with their inventive debut album. While fueled by existential dread, Planned Obsolescence is built to last well into the future with its cutting-edge fusion of prog metal, hard rock and electronic soundscapes.
“This was an outstanding Progressive album”, Metal Temple writes in a 9/10 review, “and in many ways, it might point towards where the genre is headed for the future”.
Now, as they prepare to bring Planned Obsolescence to life at Sweden Rock Festival and other European stages, today, ONLY HUMAN are releasing a new performance video for the album’s most hopeful song. Sparked by the band’s creative synergy, “Steep Descent” stakes their claim as a vital new force that’s shaping prog metal’s future.
“‘Steep Descent’ is an invitation to stare the universe in the eyes and demand meaning and purpose even when faced with assured destruction”, ONLY HUMAN vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen says. “From the perspective of the cosmos, we are small but not so insignificant, so long as we choose not to be. We may have been granted the flame of existence, but it’s up to us to keep it alive”.
The performance video for “Steep Descent” was edited by Guillaume Blanjean and mixed and mastered by Patrick Grønbæch Christensen.
On their debut album, ONLY HUMAN’s vision for the future mirrors our approaching dystopia. Much like the improvements promised by emerging technologies, “Steep Descent” dazzles with complex drum patterns and sleek bass grooves before the chorus crashes under heavy down-tuned riffs. But while wrestling with technocracy’s increasingly hostile takeover, Planned Obsolescence isn’t void of hope. Unlike the attempts of artificial intelligence, the band’s multi-system command is the product of much care and hard work. They had to tinker with several different versions before “Steep Descent” finally reached its climactic bridge.
“Cast your flame beyond this bleak reality”, Christensen beckons as dizzying synth melodies and a stellar guitar solo propel them into the next stratosphere.
Catch ONLY HUMAN live and in the flesh during their upcoming record release show, as well as at Sweden Rock Festival and Naestved Metalfest.
ONLY HUMAN Live in 2026 May 2 – Copenhagen, DK @ Rust (Record Release Show) June 3-6 – Sölvesborg, SE @ Sweden Rock Festival August 27-29 – Næstved, DK @ Næstved Metalfest September 5 – Grindsted, DK @ Metalbox Festival November 7 – Hjortshoj, DK @ Viruphuset (with Cold Night for Alligators)
Tracklist 1. Drift (4:44) 2. The Sun and the Moon (3:54) 3. Steep Descent (5:56) 4. Death Cult (3:40) 5. Techno Fascist (6:01) [WATCH] 6. Automata (6:12) [WATCH] 7. Aspire (4:22) 8. Breach (5:41) [WATCH]
Full runtime: 40:32
Despite evolving with greater speed and scope than other corners of the metal archives, progressive metal never strays from the cutting edge. ONLY HUMAN are fresh on the scene, having signed with Season of Mist at the beginning of 2026 ahead of an appearance at this year’s Sweden Rock Festival. But the Danish band are already on the brink of a major discovery with their debut album. With Planned Obsolescence, they’ve invented an existential form of prog metal that warns of our not-too-distant dystopia.
“The album is supposed to wake people up to all the ways technocracy is encroaching on society”, says vocalist Patrick Grønbæch Christensen. “Tech companies often design their products to have an expiration date, so that we’re forced to replace them with the newest model. Through our social media and the adoption of influencer culture, we now live in a reality where humans are products to be consumed and disposed of”.
ONLY HUMAN were assembled through online and IRL connections. The band started in 2022 with Christensen on both guitar and vocals and drummer Andreas Pröll. The two were soon joined by bassist Guillaume Blanjean. As their music grew in scope and became more ambitious, they decided to recruit additional guitarists. Martin Hastrup and JaCK Kijne joined in 2024, just as Planned Obsolescence was starting to take shape.
All five members of ONLY HUMAN are brought together by a vast host of shared interests. The band’s name comes from a pivotal scene in The Matrix. Other late ‘90s totems — from drum ‘n’ bass to Linkin Park and Opeth — twisted together with the modern-day influence of TesseracT, Periphery and Bring Me The Horizon to inform their collective DNA. But from the very beginning, they were determined to deviate from the norm.
“We like a lot of bands that just play rock music, but we wanted ONLY HUMAN to be about something”, Christensen says. “We’re interested in creating a musical universe that portrays a future on the brink of collapse”.
Planned Obsolescence reckons with technology’s increasingly hostile takeover. One of the first songs that ONLY HUMAN wrote together, lead single “Automata” expands from a scrolling syncopated rhythms into mainframe-shaking grooves, as the surrounding world narrows in on itself. “We’ve offloaded critical thought”, says Christensen, who also took on all phases of the production process. “We’re not really doing things because we want to do them. It’s because an algorithm has decided that’s what we should do”. Brain rot might be the silent killer for today’s digital age, but the steady intrusion of beats, blips and synthetic patches into the album’s song wiring imitates how corporate greed and invasive technologies fight to control our day-to-day existence. Like a virus, “Techno Fascist” emerges unsuspectingly before it comes crashing down amidst a turbulent stream of low-tuned chugs.
ONLY HUMAN’s vision for the future verges on apocalyptic. “Breach” closes the album by looking past the point of no return. Amidst its crushing despair, even the song’s glowing keys appear like a comet bound for Earth. But while fueled by existential dread, Planned Obsolescence isn’t void of hope. After all, there’s nothing broken, outmoded or dated about this new band. Unlike the attempts of artificial intelligence, their fusion of prog, djent, hard rock and electronic soundscapes is the product of much care and hard work. They had to tinker with several different versions before “Steep Descent” finally reached its climactic bridge. “Cast your flame beyond this bleak reality”, Christensen beckons as dizzying melodies and a stellar guitar solo propel him and his bandmates into the next stratosphere.
“When the world is going badly, the reason is because people gave up”, Christensen concludes. “Things aren’t hopeless. We can absolutely fight back. Hopefully, this album gets people to think about valuing humanity over profit”.
Lineup Patrick Grønbæch Christensen- Vocals Martin Hastrup – Guitars JaCK Kijne – Guitars Andreas Pröll – Drums Guillaume Blanjean – Bass
Recording, Mixing and Mastering Studio Only Human Studio
Production Credits Producer & Sound Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen Mixing Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen Mastering Engineer – Patrick Grønbæch Christensen (Digital and CD), Brett Caldas-Lima (Vinyl)
‘Counting Embers’ is a statement track, announcing itself explosively. Pulsing synth sequences, distorted digital tones, and modular arpeggiations lend a futuristic edge that contrasts the organic weight of live instrumentation: thick bass tones, angular guitar chords, and drums that can move from restrained pulse to relentless propulsion. Vocals float in highly charged introspection, serving understated, but haunting melodies. Through gradual transformation, the landscape unfolds in a meticulously constructed yet emotionally resonant narrative of tension and grief.
The band comment: “Today we share new music with you for the first time in a while. A song about the fires of this world and how painfully familiar they have become. Always aware that ashes can bloom.”
Playgrounded are a rock band based in the Netherlands and Greece. Alternative metal and contemporary electronic elements form a genre-defying sound, comparable to artists as diverse as Deftones, Massive Attack, Karnivool, and The Ocean.
A band together for over a decade, Playgrounded have in their time supported Riverside, Anathema, and Nine Inch Nails. Their 2022 record The death of Death (Pelagic Records) was globally lauded, with praise from Prog, Eclipsed, Metal Injection, Metal Hammer Germany and more.
Following its release the band presented the album to packed venues in their home countries and embarked on a 36 date UK/EU tour with The Ocean and LLNN, and then festival performances at ArcTanGent, Euroblast, RADAR, and more.
‘Counting Embers’ is the first glimpse of Playgrounded‘s new album, due later this year – where the band promise to push the boundaries of their truly innovative approach to heavy music even further.
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 