LUCID DREAMING have signed a worldwide deal with El Puerto Records.
After three fantasy-themed concept albums, Till Oberboßel (also guitarist for Elvenpath) is breaking new ground with his fourth album. He is supported by major metal luminaries such as Blaze Bayley (ex-Iron Maiden), Zak Stevens (Savatage), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), and Harry Conklin (Jag Panzer), among many others.
The album will be released this summer!
Till Oberboßel:: “My band Elvenpath released their latest album on El Puerto Records and working with that label proved to be the right thing. Therefore I’m very happy that the new Lucid Dreaming album will be released by them too! I’m very proud of the forthcoming album and I’m sure that El Puerto Records is the right label to unleash this beast unto the world. Watch out!”
Torsten Ihlenfeld, co-founder of El Puerto Records, echoes this sentiment: „Following the great collaboration with Elvenpath, we’re excited to welcome Lucid Dreaming to El Puerto Records. This album is a true statement—powerful, uncompromising, and ready to make its mark. We’re proud to unleash this beast together with the band. Watch out!“
Line-up: Till Oberboßel – Guitars, Bass, Orchestration Alex Holzwarth – Drums
After returning last autumn from an extended break from releases and live shows, the Helsinki-based five-piece DIRT release their first single of the year, “Sunder”. The track offers a glimpse into the world of the upcoming second album, which they’ve been crafting carefully over the past few years. “Sunder” deals with a theme that is timelessly relevant to many: breaking free from a difficult and harmful relationship—and dealing with the aftermath.
DIRT released their debut album “Deadbeat” in 2022 and quickly emerged as one of the most interesting new names in Finnish heavy rock. After an active touring period, the circumstances within the group led to an extended break. During the past couple of years, DIRT focused on rebuilding their internal communication culture from scratch and began untangling long-standing tensions between members. Following these productive discussions, DIRT are now stronger than ever, and new material for the upcoming album has been flowing at an impressive pace.
“We had around fifty ideas sitting in the vault when we started outlining the direction for the second album. Just going through them was overwhelming. With this track, however, the choice was immediate—it stood out right away as one of the priorities thanks to its head-nodding, ’90s-inspired NYHC bounce groove,” the band says.
“We also broadened our horizons by trying co-writing for the first time. JC Halttunen (known from WOLFRAM) helped us refine the track. The idea originally came up years ago at the Music x Media conference between JC and our guitarist Kasper, and putting it into practice was absolutely worth it. With the final touch from our producer Juho Salaterä, we ended up with something we’re more than proud to present as DIRT à la 2026.”
The release of Sunder, produced by Juho Salaterä and mastered by Riku Kuikka, is celebrated this Saturday May 25th at Kuudes Linja in Helsinki, Finland. The extended set will feature DIRT’s most popular tracks from the years as well as new, yet-unreleased songs from the upcoming second album. The mood for the evening is set by promising newcomer Honey Juice.
Also listen to last year’s release “Born Again” here.
Formed in 2018 and releasing their first singles that same year, DIRT blend rock aesthetics with heavier influences—a combination that has been praised since their debut EP Low Life. Their debut album Deadbeat was released in 2022 via Ranka Kustannus and was selected among the best albums of the year by Inferno, Kaaoszine, Tuonela Magazine, and Music Finland. Since then, the Helsinki-based five-piece has amassed over 3 million streams on Spotify and has performed at festivals like Tuska as well as alongside acts such as The 69 Eyes, Shiraz Lane, One Desire, and Danko Jones. The band is particularly known for their energetic live shows, which have even been discussed on the Access All Areas podcast.
Finnish melodic metal act After Infinity return with “Beyond Eternity“, a sophomore release that consolidates and expands the project’s identity with a sharper focus on compositional depth, vocal diversity, and emotional range. Conceived and led by guitarist and songwriter Zsolt Szilagyi, the album builds on the foundation of the band’s 2024 debut, pushing further into progressive structures while retaining a strong melodic core.
The album campaign kicks off with “King With No Crown”, featuring Paolo Ribaldini on vocals and accompanied by an official lyric video. Built on heavy guitar work and dramatic orchestrations, the track channels themes of rebellion against illegitimate power. Alongside it, the band will also unveil “Hands of Time” as a standalone single, featuring Aitor Arrastia (Metal De Facto) on vocals – a 12-minute progressive composition that represents the most ambitious and conceptually expansive piece of the entire record.
Rather than relying on a fixed vocalist, “Beyond Eternity” embraces a rotating cast of performers, transforming each track into a distinct narrative space. The album features six different guest singers, each contributing a specific tonal identity while remaining anchored to a cohesive sonic framework defined by layered orchestrations, dynamic guitar work, and carefully structured arrangements.
Musically, the record operates at the intersection of power metal, heavy metal, and progressive metal, balancing immediacy and complexity. High-impact compositions driven by tight riffing and symphonic textures coexist with more restrained moments, including piano-led passages and atmospheric interludes. This contrast is structural: each track is designed to fulfill a precise role within the album’s flow, avoiding redundancy and reinforcing a continuous sense of variation.
Lyrically, “Beyond Eternity” explores a wide emotional spectrum, moving between anger, resistance, introspection, and hope. While “King With No Crown” embodies collective uprising, other tracks shift toward personal reflection and existential questioning. The closing “Hands of Time” expands this vision into a philosophical exploration of time, the origins of the universe, and the meaning of existence itself, reinforcing the album’s progressive dimension.
From a production standpoint, the album maintains a consistent sonic identity while allowing individual performances to retain their character. Produced by Zsolt Szilagyi, the record features mixing handled primarily by Benjamin Connelly with mastering by Jasse Kesti, ensuring clarity across its dense arrangements and multi-layered instrumentation.
The collaborative dimension is central to the project’s evolution. Alongside Szilagyi, the album features orchestrations by Gideon Ricardo and bass performances by Ville Koskinen, while an extensive list of guest vocalists – including Paolo Ribaldini, Mika Tauriainen, Sara Strömmer, and Aitor Arrastia – reinforces the album’s multi-faceted identity without compromising its coherence.
Following a well-received debut praised for its songwriting and musicianship, After Infinity refine their approach with “Beyond Eternity“, delivering a record that prioritizes compositional intent, variation, and emotional impact over formula. The result is a work that moves fluidly between melodic accessibility and progressive ambition, positioning the band within the contemporary European metal landscape with a clearly defined artistic direction.
“Beyond Eternity” will be released this Fall 2026 via Rockshots Records.
For fans of: Sonata Arctica, Symphony X, Helloween
Wanikiya Record/Promotion is proud to announce the official signing of Stal In Steel to its artist roster. This new collaboration marks the beginning of an extensive international promotional campaign for the album “Soy el Poder”, already available in digital format on all major platforms.
“Soy el Poder” (translated: I Am the Power) is a powerful and visionary concept album, released on January 1st, 2026, exploring profound themes related to the rebirth of humanity in the fifth dimension and the awakening of the soul. A work that blends energy, spirituality, and rebellion, perfectly embodying the most authentic essence of hard & heavy metal.
The album opens with the single “Soy el Poder”, a true war cry against religious institutions seen as instruments of division, followed by “Matrix”, a track depicting the fall of the last empire. Songs like “Despertando” explore the concept of multidimensional existence, while “Final” symbolically marks the end of an era.
With “Esclavo”, the band addresses technological dependency, while “Un Demonio” tackles addiction, comparing heroin to a demonic presence. “Forajidos” celebrates freedom and the rock lifestyle, while “Desolación” stands out as an intense and painful cry reflecting modern times.
Stal In Steel is the project led by Stalin Noriega, an artist born in Ecuador and based in Italy since 1999, specifically in Turin. His musical vision blends the sounds of 1980s hard & heavy rock with modern influences from the Northern European metal scene, while maintaining a strong linguistic identity through the use of Spanish.
Noriega’s career began at a young age in the city of Loja, later continuing in the capital Quito with various musical and media experiences, before moving to Italy, where the Stal In Steel project fully took shape.
The current lineup also features Cuban producer and guitarist Xavi Masvidal, Massimiliano Del Re on bass, Mr. Z (Marzio Francone) on drums (audio/video producer), and Fabio “Riff” Pezzuto on guitars.
Over the years, several tracks from the project have achieved significant recognition, including appearances on international compilations such as Zona del Metal (Madrid), as well as notable results in radio charts, culminating in the #1 position in 2024 for the single “Matrix” on Stereo Hits Radio in Bolivia.
With this new addition, Wanikiya Record/Promotion once again confirms its international vision and ongoing commitment to promoting high-quality artists in the global rock and metal scene.
The promotional machine has officially started: “Soy el Poder” is ready to conquer the world.
Moonlight Haze has released “Shine”, second single taken from the new EP “Interstellar Madness” to be released on May 22 by Scarlet Records.
«“Shine” is an anthemic and very direct song, led by powerful guitar riffs and synths. The upbeat lyrics tell a story of life redemption, showing that willpower and inner strength are the key to overcoming dark times and building a future filled with ʻlightʼ. I’m very fond of this song that Giulio Capone sent me late at night and whose lyrics we co-wrote.» – (Chiara Tricarico)
Stream the single below:
“Interstellar Madness”:
Brand new EP for the Italian symphonic power metal stars;
produced by Sascha Paeth (Avantasia, Angra, Kamelot, Edguy);
mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio (Wind Rose, Vision Divine, Twilight Force);
cover & artwork by Beatrice Demori/Oround;
Moonlight Haze is officially part of the Dragon Productions booking roster;
over 10 million streams accumulated on Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer and Amazon Music;
over 5 million views accumulated on YouTube;
frontwoman Chiara Tricarico is currently one of the live vocalists of Avantasia and was a special guest on the Manowar 2022’s EP “Highlights From The Revenge Of Odysseus”;
FFO: Stratovarius, Avantasia, Nightwish, Sonata Arctica, Angra, Within Temptation;
“Interstellar Madness” tracklist: 1 Moonlight Legion 2 Lost In Moonlit Symphonies 3 We Are Fire 4 Shine 5 Interstellar Madness 6 Interstellar Madness: Finale
Total running time – 21:04
artowrk by Beatrice Demori/Oround Media
Moonlight Haze and extraordinary vocalist Chiara Tricarico (Avantasia) brought symphonic power metal to the next level throughout the tracklist of their fifth studio release, indulging in extremely mighty, epic and theatrical moments.
Guided by striking instrumentals parts, catchy and epic melodies, and truly introspective lyrics, the EP once again proves the talent and boldness of the Italian unit.
“Interstellar Madness” is an invitation to take on a journey through cosmic landscapes and beyond, led by a whirlwind of emotions – madness here is to be intended as a deeper and overwhelming way of experiencing reality, investigating and going beyond what lies on the surface of things in order to be able to discover hidden parts of the inner self.
Moonlight Haze: Chiara Tricarico – vocals Marco Falanga – guitar Alberto Melinato – guitar Alessandro Jacobi – bass Giulio Capone – drums and keyboards
Rising from the heart of the UK metal underground, Beyond Salvation return with their most ambitious and uncompromising release to date, The Final Nail, which will be released on Friday 29th May 2026. To celebrate the release, the band has released the title track ‘The Final Nail’ today, on Thursday 23rd April. Watch the video below.
Hailing from Manchester, Beyond Salvation deliver a ferocious blend of thrash metal at its core, fused with groove and death metal influences, all driven by a hardcore-inspired vocal attack. Breaking away from modern trends, the band performs entirely in standard tuning. Letting songwriting, precision, and sheer aggression carry the weight. No fads. No gimmicks. Just thrash anthems played with passion and screamed with pride in the name of METAL.
The heavy metal heavyweights are built up of Jon Pedley (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar), Arun Kamath (Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals), Luke Entwistle (Bass, Backing Vocals), and Owen Ashworth (Drums), Beyond Salvation has been carving their path in the metal scene with passion and pride. Their music, characterised by thrash with strong influences of groove and death metal, sets them apart from the crowd and shows the versatility of the band.
Since their formation, the band’s reputation has been built upon relentless live performances within their local area and further afield and has rewarded them with successful performances at Bloodstock Festival, as well as support slots alongside the likes of Shrapnel, Tailgunner, Gruesome and Krysthla. Beyond Salvation pays homage to the classic metal ethos with a modern edge.
The band have a a proven track record with three EPs and several singles currently in their discography but they are yet to release a full length album…until now! The bands most recent EP ‘A Line In The Sand’ particularly caught media attention with the band sharpening their sound and showing confidence within their product, but The Final Nailrepresents the band at full force.
The Final Nail is named after one of the album’s standout tracks. The Final Nail captures everything Beyond Salvation encapsulates in their music; groove, thrash, aggression, and melody. Making it the perfect title to represent the entire record. The album was written collaboratively, with Jon Pedley and Arun Kamath presenting initial ideas before all four members shaped the material into its final form. The result is a cohesive and powerful body of work that reflects the band’s unity and shared vision.
Watch the video for ‘The Final Nail’ here, directed and edited by Forshaw Media:
While not a strict concept album, The Final Nail follows a loose narrative arc. It charts an individual’s journey of self-reflection; revisiting past decisions, confronting destructive behaviours, wrestling with addiction and consequence, and questioning whether change is still possible… or whether fate has already been sealed.
Track highlights include: “REGRESUS” – An atmospheric introduction; Latin for “return,” symbolising the beginning of reflection. “DESCENDING INTO DARKNESS” – The true start of the journey as inner demons take control. “INCARCERATE” – A self-made prison formed by one’s own actions. “THE FINAL NAIL” – The crushing realisation that destructive habits can bury everything you once loved. “THE WAITING” – A harrowing exploration of addiction and its god-like grip. “SCORNED” – A parallel fall that introduces a fragile thread of hope. “BROKEN REFLECTIONS” – The attempt to rise and confront oneself honestly. “ENDLESS CYCLE” – The fear of repeating the same mistakes forever. “THE STORM” – A sobering conclusion questioning whether true change is ever possible.
Demonstrating their DIY ethos, ‘The Final Nail’ was self-recorded and produced. Drums were tracked at Silver Lining Studios, engineered by Jon Pedley. All guitars, bass, and vocals were recorded at home, engineered by Arun Kamath. Production duties were shared between Jon and Arun, with Jon handling the final mix. The album was mastered by long-time collaborator Lee Calpee, delivering a crushing, polished finish without sacrificing raw intensity.
Beyond Salvation will bring The Final Nail to the stage with the following shows 5th July Subside, Birmingham | 18th JulyAlbum Launch Show at Holy Diver, Stockport | 5th September at Trillians, Newcastle | 14th November – Thrashchester – Rebellion, Manchester | 20th November – Tap N Tumbler, Nottingham.
With The Final Nail, Beyond Salvation proves that authenticity, dedication, and fearless songwriting still define true metal. This is not a band chasing trends, this is a band forging steel the old-fashioned way and sharpening it for the modern age. The Final Nailis a relentless statement of intent from one of Manchester’s most uncompromising metal acts.
Release Details Artist: Beyond Salvation Genre: Thrash / Harcore / Metal Title: The Final Nail Release Type: Single / Album Release Date:Single Thursday 23rd April 2026 / Album Friday 29th May 2026 Streaming: All major platforms
For fans of Hatebreed, Sylosis, Machine Head and Sepultura
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 ) 