Japanese modern metal powerhouse FireFlame release their single and lyric video, “Something Is Wrong”, a preview of their upcoming full-length album Force Against The End, set for release on July 31, 2026 via Wormholedeath.
“Something Is Wrong” is a descent into a world of distortion, manipulation, and mental unrest. Driven by the growing awareness that reality itself has become corrupted, the song follows the struggle of an individual who can no longer ignore the cracks in the system. What begins as intuition becomes a relentless search for truth—one that is as liberating as it is terrifying. Musically, the track delivers the unmistakable sound of FireFlame, fusing classic heavy metal craftsmanship with modern metalcore intensity to create a powerful and unsettling soundtrack to its dystopian vision.
FireFlame is a five-piece heavy metal band from Osaka, Japan, formed through a university music circle where guitarists FireRay and Fire.J first met. The lineup was completed on February 27, 2022, with bassist Connie Flames, vocalist Mr Big Fire, and drummer Show .G. Flame.
The band’s “Modern Heavy Metal” sound blends classic heavy metal, metalcore, melodic death metal, and ballads, driven by the twin-guitar interplay of FireRay and Fire.J. Their goal is to bring Japanese metal to a global stage, shaping both their songwriting and live energy.
Beyond music, FireFlame co-founded NWOJHM (New Wave of Japanese Heavy Metal) with kitsunevi to help reconnect and revitalize Osaka’s metal scene.
Fireflame’s debut full-length album, “Force Against The End”, features 15 tracks centered on an aggressive twin-lead guitar attack. Fusing classic heavy metal craftsmanship with modern metalcore intensity, their sound reflects the philosophy of “Inner Fire” — the spirit of refusing to give up
Recently, international symphonic metal legends KAMELOT announced their haunting new album Dark Asylum, arriving August 28, 2026 via Napalm Records. Today, they give fans their first peek into the twisting hallways of RavenHill Asylum with “Ashen World”, a triumphant, cinematic, and epic anthem.
From its very first note, “Ashen World” launches with unmistakable KAMELOT grandeur, propelled by founding guitarist Thomas Youngblood’s expressive lead work, soaring orchestration, and the rich symphonic arrangements that have become the band’s hallmark. The track embodies everything fans have come to love about KAMELOT; cinematic darkness, unforgettable melodies, and a towering anthemic chorus, while introducing fresh textures and unexpected twists that expand the band’s sonic landscape.
Thomas Youngblood on “Ashen World”: “‘Ashen World’ captures that moment of standing at the crossroads between darkness and hope, where the journey forward begins. It’s classic KAMELOT at its core, while opening new doors into the world of Dark Asylum.”
With countless dynamic shifts, vocalist Tommy Karevik showcases the full breadth of his remarkable range, effortlessly moving from intimate, haunting passages to his signature soaring power. Adding another layer of atmosphere, Decessus frontwoman and reigning Miss Chile Ignacia Fernández makes an ethereal vocal appearance that intertwines beautifully with the song’s haunting mood, as “Ashen World” tells the story of a world descending into darkness while never losing sight of hope, resilience, and redemption.
Tommy Karevik Adds About the Single: “It’s a deep dive into the topography of the human mind, exploring its valleys, peaks, and the void in between. It’s about breaking free from the limiting beliefs that hold us captive and creating a new reality that allows us to expand and realize our full potential.”
Set within a shadowed Neo Victorian-era world, Dark Asylum invites listeners beyond the gates of RavenHill Asylum—an imposing institution once built as a grand cathedral, now repurposed into a place where science, faith, and madness uneasily coexist.
KAMELOT pushes further into cinematic and atmospheric territory on Dark Asylum, diving deeper into theatrical darkness while preserving the signature hooks that define their sound. Candlelight trembles along towering arches and cold stone corridors as you are greeted familiar spectres: Avantasia mastermind Tobias Sammet, Eluveitie’s Lea-Sophie Fischer, Visions of Atlantis’s Clémentine Delauney, Decessus frontwoman and current reigning Miss World Chile champion Ignacia Fernández, Rannveig Sif Sigurðardóttir and Sólveig Sara Leupold, and Billy King! Identity fractures, reality bends, and control slips into unseen hands, guiding its central figure through a descent into psychological darkness that ultimately leads toward transformation… and perhaps sanctuary. From the cinematic sweep of “Ashen World” to the introspective depth of “Sanctuary”, and the layered mystique of “Ivy, My Dear”, Dark Asylum unfolds as a fully immersive journey, blending orchestral grandeur, haunting melodies, and theatrical storytelling into one cohesive vision.
Will you find sanctuary? Or will you wander its halls for eternity?
Deepening the immersion of RavenHill, Dark Asylum will be released on a plethora of exciting platforms including standard gold, solid silver, and classic black vinyl editions, certified vinyl with the white label, white splatter, and blood filled variants, the latter of which are each paired with an official 24 page booklet! Multiple CD digipak available, with the 2 disc version including an instrumental version of the album, alongside cassette and digital options!
Dark Asylum Tracklisting: 1. Sanctorium 2. Ashen World (feat. Ignacia Fernández) 3. Dark Asylum 4. Sanctuary (feat. Clémentine Delauney & Ignacia Fernández) 5. Nocte Veritas 6. One Last Masquerade (feat. Tobias Sammet) 7. Ivy, My Dear 8. Godlike Alchemy 9. The Sleeping Mind (Orphic Paradigm) 10. Kaleidoscope 11. Enigma (Think of Me) 12. Cassandra’s Disease 13. Beneath the Moon (Tunglið) (feat. Rannveig Sif Sigurðardóttir, Sólveig Sara Leupold, Lea-Sophie Fischer) 14. The Puppet King 15. Sanctum Requiem
Produced by Sascha Paeth and Kamelot – Mixed and Mastered by Jacob Hansen
Always committed to bringing their worlds beyond the studio, KAMELOT will take RavenHill Asylum on the road this fall with the immersive Dark Asylum World Tour, spanning North America and Europe. Once you step inside RavenHill… there is no turning back.
NORTH AMERICA Pt. 1 w/ Visions of Atlantis & Frozen Crown 08/28/26 – Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL 08/29/26 – The Masquerade (Heaven) – Atlanta, GA 08/31/26 – The Studio at the Factory – Dallas, TX 09/02/26 – The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ 09/03/26 – House of Blues – Las Vegas, NV 09/04/26 – House of Blues – Anaheim, CA 09/05/26 – The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA 09/07/26 – Vogue Theatre – Vancouver, BC 09/08/26 – Neptune – Seattle, WA 09/10/26 – Rockwell at The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT 09/11/26 – Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO 09/12/26 – The Truman – Kansas City, MO 09/14/26 – First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN 09/15/26 – The Rave – Milwaukee, WI 09/17/26 – The Arcada Theatre – St. Charles, IL 09/18/26 – Globe Iron – Cleveland, OH 09/19/26 – Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, ON 09/20/26 – MTELUS – Montreal, QC 09/22/26 – Theatre Capitole – Quebec City, QC 09/24/26 – Keswick Theatre – Glenside, PA 09/25/26 – The Palladium – Worcester, MA 09/26/26 – Palladium Times Square – New York, NY 09/27/26 – The Fillmore Silver Spring – Silver Spring, MD All Tickets and VIP links for North America: https://tix.soundrink.com/tours/kamelot
EUROPE Pt. 1 w/Exit Eden & Temperance 01/11/26 – O2 Sheperd’s Bush Empire – London, UK 03/11/26 – O2 Ritz Manchester – Manchester, UK 05/11/26 – Turbinenhalle – Oberhausen, DE 06/11/26 – Z7 Konzertfabrik – Pratteln, CH 07/11/26 – La Rayonne – Lyon, FR 08/11/26 – LKA – Stuttgart, DE 10/11/26 – Klub Studio – Krakow, PL 11/11/26 – Progresja – Warsaw, PL 13/11/26 – Boogaloo – Zagreb, HR 14/11/26 – Barba Negra Red Stage – Budapest, HU 15/11/26 – Hangar – Belgrade, RS 17/11/26 – Live Club – Trezzo sull’Adda, IT 18/11/26 – Hall – Padova, IT 20/11/26 – Metronum – Toulouse, FR 21/11/26 – Razzmatazz 1 – Barcelona, ES 22/11/26 – Sala La Riviera – Madrid, ES
Under The Shadows emerges after more than thirty years spent working across the darker edges of heavy metal, goth, and neoclassic folk. The project reflects a long creative path shaped by constant experimentation, shifting influences, and the persistence required to keep making music through changing scenes, technologies, and personal eras. What began decades ago in small rehearsal spaces and makeshift studios has evolved into a body of work defined by atmosphere, weight, and a com- mitment to craft.
This new chapter brings those experiences together with a clarity that only time can create. The songs draw from the raw energy of early metal roots, the introspective depth of gothic soundscapes, and the storytelling traditions of folk. They carry the marks of the many musicians, producers, and collaborators who have contributed along the way—each adding their own tone, technique, and per- spective. Though anchored in a personal vision, Under The Shadows “Thesmophoria” stands as a collective effort built on shared history and creative trust.
The project looks back without nostalgia and forward without abandoning its foundations. It ex- plores themes that have followed the work for decades: the tension between darkness and resilience, the pull of memory, and the search for meaning in the spaces where genres overlap. The result is a sound that feels livedin rather than manufactured—heavy, reflective, and shaped by years of trial, reinvention, and quiet persistence.
Under The Shadows “Thesmophoria” is not a debut. It is a an artist returning to their core after decades of creation, ready to carve out a new space built on everything learned along the way.
Upcoming release: Under the Shadows – Thesmophoria (July 2, Lion Music)
Florida rock band Gunshine has unleashed their latest single and music video, “Shark Lounge,” the sixth track revealed from their highly anticipated forthcoming full-length album, Grand Rising, due out digitally on July 24 via vnclm_ / Create Music Group.
Packed with sleazy riffs, larger-than-life storytelling, and an unapologetic rock ‘n’ roll attitude, “Shark Lounge” draws inspiration from one of Florida’s most infamous nightlife landmarks, a notorious Daytona Beach strip club that became legendary for its outrageous atmosphere before ultimately being shut down.
Capturing the absurdity and excess of the venue, “Shark Lounge” embraces a fun, raunchy energy that perfectly complements the band’s hard-hitting sound. To elevate the track even further, Gunshine enlisted Michael Starr, frontman of Steel Panther, whose unmistakable vocals and larger-than-life personality make him a natural fit for the song’s tongue-in-cheek celebration of rock excess.
“The song is based on a famous strip club in Daytona Beach that was known for all kinds of debauchery,” Austin Ingerman explains. “There were stories of prostitution, drugs, grandma strippers, pregnant strippers, even a dancer with a peg leg and they all performed above a live shark tank with an actual shark swimming below. The lyrics have a fun, raunchy vibe and we thought it would be fitting to feature Michael Starr from Steel Panther.”
The songs guitars, bass, vocals, were tracked by Austin Ingerman in Pensacola, FL.. Chris Collier played drums (tracked at Ray Luzier’s studio in Nashville called “lose yer ear studios”). Chris also mixed and mastered the track, as well as, the whole record.
“Shark Lounge” continues to showcase the diverse sonic landscape of Grand Rising, an album that finds Gunshine pushing their sound while remaining rooted in the swagger, hooks, and high-energy spirit that have earned them a loyal following.
Grand Rising arrives July 24 on all major digital streaming platforms. Please reach out if you would like to review the record.
While the digital release of Grand Risingarrives later this summer, fans won’t have to wait long to get their hands on the record. Physical copies of the album, including CD and double vinyl editions, alongside exclusive Gunshine merchandise, are available for purchase online at https://gunshine.diggers.store/ The CD and double vinyl will also be sold through the band at upcoming live shows.
“We tracked the whole record, (except “Goth Girl” and “Single Looks Good On You”), in Las Vegas with producer/mixer Chris Collier (Korn, Mick Mars, Whitesnake, Lynchmob). I’ve been working with Chris for about 9 years now. He’s incredibly talented, has a great ear, and adds a heavy hitting production value that makes the songs sonically translate very well,” says Austin Ingerman. Hailing from Pensacola, Florida,Gunshinehave built a reputation on catchy vocal melodies, clever lyrics, blistering guitar riffs and solos, and a lethal rhythm section. Their sound blends edgy, raw Rock ’n’ Roll attitude with a melodic, Pop-forward sensibility, creating music that hits hard while remaining instantly memorable. Combined with theirhigh-energy, commanding live performances, Gunshine continue to enthrall listeners and prove themselves a force to be reckoned with.
With Grand Rising,Gunshine raise the bar yet again in an exciting evolution of the band. The album takes listeners on a dynamic journey filled with genre-bending twists and turns, shifting moods, and unexpected vibes—all while staying true to the core elements that set Gunshine apart. Featuring 13 tracks, each single-worthy in its own right, Grand Risingis poised to become a modern-day rock classic.
Tracklisting:
Grand Rising Finite Goth Girl Single Looks Good On You My Oh Miley Mystery Man Down Leave the Light On I Know You Love Me Capt’n Save a Hoe Shark Lounge (feat. Michael Starr) Valentine Table Dancing
Finnish Heavy Doom band Occult Master are set to release their self-titled debut album on August 14th 2026 via Inverse Records. The third single and music video ‘Heavy Metal Madness’ out now on all essential streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/occult-master-heavy-metal-madness
The band comments:
“Fast, dark and heavy, this song is a relentless, raw homage to the origins of technical heavy and trash metal. The track delves into the dark recesses of the mind, the delusions of madness, and the excruciating pain of life’s finiteness. Catchy riffs and technical interludes alternate with a maddening logic. This track will get your head bobbing and your fists pumping! Even the most stoned listener will wake up from their slumber and start singing along to the easily adopted chorus ! The icing on the cake, and a real treat for guitarists, is the modern and complex hero solo. “
–Composed & lyrics by Ari Eskola –ISRC: FI3FC2552703 –Cover art by Kimmo Lukkari
Recorded by Jussi Risto Mixed & mastered by Kimmo Lukkari Cover art by Jarno Vesa
“Occult Master was founded in 2012 in Oulu, Finland, first starting as a heavy rock/doom band. After a line‑up change in 2020, the musical style turned faster, more rhythmic and more complex. Occult Master’s music is heavy, versatile and full of nuances, ranging from full‑throttle metal blasting to quiet, subtle and beautifully eerie musical landscapes. The band’s roots lie strongly in the classic heavy metal of the 1970s and 1980s. The songs are delivered in a hardy, straightforward and no‑nonsense style. In the dark‑toned music, the lyrics deal with different matters of life and the world in general, and at times even horror stories told with a devilish grin.
Occult Master are: Ari Eskola – guitars and vocals Toni Mäki – bass and backing vocals Jussi Risto – drums
Australian death-doom collective REEKMIND unveil today the full stream of their new EP “Glints From The Crematorium”, now available through an exclusive premiere hosted by Death Metal Promotion. Set for release on July 24, 2026 via Night Terrors Records on CD and 12” vinyl formats, the new release expands the band’s bleak and immersive sonic identity, pushing their approach beyond the foundations established with their debut full-length.
Rooted in massive riffs, oppressive atmospheres and an overwhelming sense of emotional collapse, REEKMIND continues to channel a form of catharsis where despair and weight coexist in perfect balance. The new material preserves the raw and organic intensity that defined the band’s earlier work, while broadening its expressive scope through more fluid structures and a deeper focus on tension, contrast and immersive pacing.
The EP also features guest vocals by Daniel Butler (Vastum, Decrepisy, Acephalix) on “Flesh Draped on a Pitiful Frame”, adding an additional layer of hostility and anguish to the release. Furthermore, the track “Rehearsal in a Body of Death” will appear exclusively as a bonus track on the physical edition and will not be made available digitally.
Artwork by Lord_Serus
Tracklist:
1. Flesh Draped on a Pitiful Frame 2. Cyst Megalith 3. Rehearsal in a Body of Death (Bonus Track)
Line-up:
Dane – Vocals & Lyrics Nicholas – Guitars Lem – Bass Ned – Drums
Recorded and mixed by Lewis Noke Edwards at Black Lodge Studios in August & October 2025 Mastered by Dan Lowndes at Resonance Sound Studios Rehearsal In a Body of Death performed live at Black Lodge Studios Additional vocals on Flesh Draped on a Pitiful Frame by Daniel Butler Artwork by Lord_Serus Photography by Keegan Thomas
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 