Prepare for an extraordinary sonic experience with the CD release of Voivod’s The End of Dormancy EP (Turquois color cover), presented by Brutal Planet Records as part of their exclusive Metal Icon Series. Officially licensed from Century Media, this CD brings Voivod’s boundary-pushing, progressive metal and avant-garde sound to a new format, having only been available on vinyl and CD (inverted color scheme). Includes a 6-page insert booklet with artwork and lyrics. Don’t miss your chance to own this groundbreaking CD release and celebrate The End of Dormancy in a bold new way!
Track Listing:
The End of Dormancy (Metal Section) – 8 minutes, studio version
The End of Dormancy (Live at Montreal Jazz Fest 2019) – 9 minutes
The Unknown Knows (Live at Montreal Jazz Fest 2019) – 6 minutes
With nearly 23 minutes of genre-defining music, this EP is a masterpiece of cosmic riffs, complex rhythms, and inventive arrangements that capture Voivod’s unique style. Highlights include the powerful studio version of “The End of Dormancy” and electrifying live renditions from Montreal Jazz Fest 2019, immersing listeners in Voivod’s intense and mind-bending musical exploration.
Today, traditional thrashers THE UNKNOWN proudly share the title-track from their upcoming sophomore album, ‘Graveyard of Empires,’ set for release on September 4th via Mission 84 Productions. The new single arrives alongside an official lyric video premiering on Metal Insider, available below.
“Graveyard of Empires,” the title track and second single from the forthcoming album, is a heavy, groove-laden beast with a haunting Middle Eastern undercurrent that sets it apart from anything in the band’s catalog. Lyrically, it’s a visceral reckoning with a painful pattern of history: nations swallowed whole by occupation, greed, and endless war before they ever had the chance to become what they were meant to be. The song doesn’t mourn conquerors. It mourns potential.
On the new track, guitarist Aamir Syed shares:
“‘Graveyard of Empires’ is the heart of the record, and I think it earns that title. The song is heavy and relentless, but there is an undercurrent of grief. Musically I was drawing from Ritchie Blackmore and Middle Eastern folk and classical music. That combination gave the riff its character. We looked at history and saw the same pattern over and over: nations, people, potential, all swallowed before they became what they could have been.”
Check Out the Lyric Video Premiere for “Graveyard of Empires”on Metal Insider HERE
THE UNKNOWN are a U.S.-based heavy metal band forging a powerful blend of traditional metal and thrash. Drawing influence from bands such as Jag Panzer, Manilla Road, Anthrax, and Iron Maiden, their sound combines crushing riffs and driving rhythms with soaring melodies and commanding, emotive vocals.
Their debut album, ‘Vanishing Point,’ released through ZYX/GoldenCore Records, earned strong reviews from metal publications and fans around the world, establishing the band as a rising force in the underground heavy metal scene.
Now, THE UNKNOWN return with their forthcoming album, ‘Graveyard of Empires,’ pushing their sound even further with bigger arrangements, deeper atmosphere, and an even sharper edge. Rooted in the spirit of classic heavy metal while bringing their own modern intensity, the band continues their mission to keep true metal alive while carving out their own path within the genre.
The album’s title is a conceptual statement. ‘Graveyard of Empires’ explores the fall not of nations, but of ideas, the collapse of peace, the erosion of the human spirit, the slow unraveling of everything we build and everything we believe in. From the battlefields of World War II to the death of civilizations that never got the chance to flourish, to the quiet question of what remains of humanity when humanity itself is no longer the only answer…
Featuring cover artwork by Charles Borkowski, ‘Graveyard of Empires’ arrives September 4, 2026.
About the album, Aamir Syed comments:
“As an album, it isn’t about geopolitics, but there is a running theme throughout the stories that we’re telling. The empires that fall in this record are ideas, concepts and the slow collapse of peace. The belief that we’re building toward something and then it falls part due to greed and corruption. That’s what we’re mourning.”
Stoned Jesus are true trailblazers. While often associated with the stoner crowd, the heavy progressive rockers have experimented with folk, prog, pop and alternative rock amidst familiar doses of doom. Last year, the band entered the first phase of an expansive album trilogy that promises to take them from the sun to the moon and back. Songs to Sun was named one of the best albums of 2025 by Doom Charts, Rock Hard, The Obelisk and other outlets. Now, as frontman Igor Sydorenko and his bandmates prepare to blaze through the European summer festival circuit, they’re cycling into the next phase of their evolution.
Today, Stoned Jesus are releasing a new single. Though packed with the band’s reliable dose of heaviness, the progressive post-metal contained within “Under the Skin” shows them entering the darkest, most daring and deeply moving territory of their 17-year career.
“Our upcoming album trilogy started last year with Songs to Sun, which is a loud and heavy album that’s big on choruses and meaty riffs”, Sydorenko says before turning to Stoned Jesus’ latest single. “‘Under the Skin’ begins our next phase in a somewhat similar fashion, but with a sinister twist. The fans of the very first SJ demo will recognize the influence of post-metal, which resurfaced after our tour last summer with the legendary Cult of Luna. But “Under the Skin” is not a step back. It’s darker, bolder and more introspective than anything the band has done before”.
The video for “Under the Skin” was edited by Marco Menestrina.
On the surface, “Under the Skin” picks up right where Stoned Jesus left off. The sinking anxiety that swallowed Songs to Sun gives way here to heavy breathing. And while catchy as ever, the song’s weighty riff isn’t the only dark force that’s rattling inside Sydorenko’s head. “I feel it, it’s creeping in”, he strains, backed by bassist Andrew Rodin, who adds some of the harshest vocals the band have ever pressed to wax.
The video for “Under the Skin” was filmed while Stoned Jesus were recording in Cologne, Germany at Goblin Sound Studio with sound engineer Andy Rosczyk (ex-Ultha). Despite the song’s bleary state of mind (“Promises to keep / I will never sleep”), the band never lose their glow. As drummer Yurii Ciel guides them through a proggy middle passage that leads deeper into the shadows, we catch a glimpse not only into their psyche but the shape of what’s to come. “Sky glider, gone wilder / With the setting sun”.
Catch Stoned Jesus this summer on the European festival circuit.
Stoned Jesus 2026 European Festival Dates June 19 – Clisson, France @ Hellfest [TICKETS] June 27 – Betanzos, Spain @ Fumega Fest [TICKETS] July 3 – Gisors, France @ Kave Fest [TICKETS] July 11 – Trieste, Italy @ StonerKras Fest [TICKETS] August 8 – Rome, Italy @ Roma Stone Fest [TICKETS] August 29 – Teramo, Italy @ Suburbiae Festival [TICKETS] September 25 – London, UK @ StoomFest [TICKETS]
Since 2009, Stoned Jesus has served as one of Europe’s leading forces in heavy rock. Igor Sydorenko, a veteran of the Ukrainian underground music scene, started it as a solo project after stumbling upon some heavy and angry riffs that would become the song “Occult.” He fed off his Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin influences and was soon turned onto Electric Wizard and Sleep, two bands who mastered the art of bold, lurching heaviness, thus creating a sonic template to abide by.
The Kyiv-based project was initially dubbed “Stoned Jesus from the Outer Space” but shortened to the much crisper Stoned Jesus. The name was trimmed down out of necessity — Sydorenko wanted to legitimize the band immediately. “I realized that this may cause some problems,” he told Psychedelic Baby in 2010. “Some people wouldn’t take our music seriously, then. I don’t mind jokes and having fun, but music is always the most serious thing for me.”
Two demos ensued before Stoned Jesus’s debut LP, 2010’s First Communion. Recorded with the first line-up in two hours, First Communion was a promising offering that dove headlong into the world of heavy stoner rock, with three songs going over the 10-minute mark for hypnotic effect. The album eventually saw a proper reissue in 2020, introducing it to a new group of fans. The first change of rhythm section brought Seven Thunders Roar in 2012, which included “I’m the Mountain,” a 13-minute epic that has since become a live staple. The album also introduced a bevy of acoustic guitar and softer vocal approaches from Sydorenko.
The Harvest came next in 2015 with a new drummer, deftly transitioning Stoned Jesus into the new terrain, with more alternative and progressive rock leanings. This is a credit to Sydorenko’s evolving songwriting style and desire to never allow Stoned Jesus to repeat itself. “It works brilliantly for the likes of Motörhead or AC/DC, but we’re not that legendary yet,” he told Outlaws of the Sun in 2015. “So, let’s experiment, shall we? Let’s play with the genres, the sound, the song structures, the melodies, the time signatures — yes, my favorite trick!”
With another change of the drummer, the fourth LP, Pilgrims, arrived in 2018. A bold and experimental record, it showed the growing maturity of both musical and lyrical sides of Igor’s ever-progressing songwriting. After a year-long The Pilgrimage Tour and yet another year on the road celebrating the band’s 10th anniversary with the greatest hits setlist, Stoned Jesus’ original plans were to record its follow-up in 2020. That, of course, was sidelined by the pandemic. The band then entered Spivaki Records in Kharkiv in July 2021 to record nine songs at 75 minutes. Two-thirds of the material was mixed and mastered before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, leaving the final run-time of six songs at 43 minutes.
The result was Father Light, the band’s first for Season of Mist, which caught Stoned Jesus in full bloom. The foundational elements of Stoned Jesus’s sound remained (fuzzed-out rock, driving bass lines and maximum groove), once again augmented by the combination of Sydorenko’s gentle clean vocals and hook-laden chorus choices, along with an array of ornamental guitar melodies. And, in true Stoned Jesus fashion, the journey is often the reward. The cuts on Father Light expand and shift — all the while, the band’s trademark heaviness serves as the guide.
Mother Dark, the gloomier introspective twin of Father Light, while partially recorded was shelved due to Igor’s dissatisfaction with the working dynamics of the latest Stoned Jesus line-up. Dissolving said line-up was a difficult decision to make, but Igor’s relocation to Europe brought a surprising reunion with his old friend Yurii, a talented drummer Igor had known even before writing the first Stoned Jesus song. Adding bassist-vocalist Andrew Rodin to this new line-up solidified its reliability, and now, after the whole year of relentless 25th Anniversary Tour schedule, the reinvigorated Stoned Jesus is more than ready for their next chapter.
Songs to Sun arrived in 2025 as the first album in a forthcoming trilogy that once complete, will stand as the pinnacle of what’s been a decades-long trip for Stoned Jesus. While picking up where Father Light left off, Sydorenko and his new mates nodded to Seven Thunders Roar and The Harvest along the way. But by merging metal’s fiery intensity with mind-melting grooves, vintage prog and their catchiest choruses yet, they brought the many distinct phases of Stoned Jesus to a bright, burning head. The album was named one of the best the year by Doom Charts, Rock Hard, The Obelisk, Weedian, Metal Lair and other outlets.
In 2026, Stoned Jesus are moving into the darkest, most daring and deeply moving phase of their career, starting with the band’s latest single “Under the Skin”.
ONLY SONS was formed in Krakow in 2018 by Daniel Kesler and Andrzej Nowak (who remained in the lineup until 2022). The group has operated since the beginning as a quintet of musicians involved in various projects across the broader metal scene, including: Redemptor, Moanaa, Ketha, Deivos, Outre, Ulcer, Taraban, and Post Profession.
On April 17, 2026, the band released their new album “Through the Night Again“. The record was self-released in both digital format and as a physical CD which could be purchased via Bandcamp.
On June 11, the band unveiled a music video for the track “Siren’s Song” from the “Woodland Sessions“, serving as a companion piece to their recently released studio album “Through the Night Again“. The material was recorded in October 2025. The video was produced by Reedy Media Group, while the audio was handled by Lateral Studio, with final mixing and mastering done by Tomasz Zalewski.
Watch the video for “Siren’s song” from “Woodland Sessions“:
Swedish sleaze metallers Smoking Snakes are pleased to share the new single, “Trick Or Treat”, along with an official video, ahead of the release of their new studio album, “All Lights On”, out on July 10, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.
The band commented: “With ‘Trick Or Treat’, we tried to capture the energy and excitement of a night when anything can happen. It’s about temptation, desire, and that thin line between fantasy and reality. We wanted it to feel like a late-night adventure wrapped in music.”
Describing the new album, Smoking Snakes stated: “NOTHING STAYS HIDDEN WHEN THE LIGHTS COME ON. The shadows run, secrets surface, and every flaw, fear, and fire inside us is exposed. This album is a raw flash of truth, like the blinding light in a horror flick when the killer is revealed, or the stage lights right before the first scream of feedback”.
“There’s no place to hide. No mask to wear. No safe darkness”, they continued. “All Lights On” is where neon nightmares meet rock ‘n’ roll redemption. Electric, intense, and unfiltered, just the way it’s meant to be”.
Hailing from Gothenburg, Smoking Snakes are steadily carving out their place in the sleaze metal scene with a sound that blends attitude, melody, and raw energy. Inspired by the great arena rock bands of the 1980s, their music has evolved beyond its roots to develop a distinct and recognizable identity of its own.
A key part of their identity lies in their strong commitment to live performances. Smoking Snakes are a highly active touring band, hitting the road, playing shows, and building a direct connection with their audience. This dedication to the live circuit has allowed them to grow organically, sharpening their performance skills and expanding their fanbase step by step.
At the same time, the band continues to invest serious effort into their artistic development, working consistently to refine their songwriting and define a clear sonic direction. Their evolution reflects both persistence and a genuine passion for their craft.
Their new album, produced by Jack Stroem, captures this moment of growth perfectly. It delivers a collection of songs that balance grit and melody, showcasing a band that is becoming more confident, focused, and mature without losing its edge.
With a strong work ethic, an increasing presence on stage, and a clear vision for the future, Smoking Snakes prove themselves to be more than just an emerging act – they are a band on a steady rise, and one that fans of sleaze metal should keep a close eye on.
“All Lights On” deliver a band in perfect shape ready to take its place in the sleaze scene.
“All Lights On” Tracklist:
1. 103.1 The Scream – The 80’s Late Night Radio Broadcast 2. Don’t Touch 3. Trick Or Treat 4. All I Need 5. Look In Your Eyes 6. Last Man Standing 7. Screaming For More 8. Broken Heart 9. Nasty & Wild 10. Turn On The Lights 11. Pleasure & Pain 12. The Last Nightmare
Line Up: Brett Martin – Lead vocals, rhythm guitar Andy Delarge – Bass, backing vocals Mackey Gee – Drums, backing vocals Rob Raw – Lead guitar, backing vocals
SOLACE offer a doom-laden glimpse of vintage heavy metal with the final advance track, ‘Malengine (The Scaffold)‘, taken from their highly anticipated fifth full-length “Fading Failing Ruin” that is set for release on July 3, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records.
SOLACE comment: “When I came up with the opening riff to ‘Malengine’, I really liked it“, guitarist Tommy Southard declares and explains: “The song felt moody and doomy with a certain sorrowful tone, but when I brought it to the band they had a hard time wrapping their heads around it. I guess it was in an odd time signature. Our other guitarist Justin presented it to some friends with deep formal knowledge of music, and they analysed that the first half of the riff is in 9/8 and the second half is 11/8! Once everyone had figured out the groove of the riff, the song really started taking shape. I really love all the twists and turns. It’s got doom. It’s got some metal flourishes and a killer kinda psych section. It went from maybe a song that wasn’t going to work to the final composition turning out as one of my faves songs on ‘Fading Falling Ruin’. This track comes with almost every element that makes Solace who we are. I sincerely hope people find it as interesting as we do.“
Tracklist
Spiral Will
Fettered to a Stone
A God Changes His Plans
Wrath’s Object (The Big Fall)
Culling the Herd
Beyond Below
Malengine (The Scaffold)
Every Day Is a Loaded Gun
Ridden
SOLACE deliver their fifth studio album “Fading Failing Ruin” just in time to celebrate the anniversary of their 30th year as a band. And all the heaviness, experience, and obvious maturity of their songwriting across three decades is perfectly reflected in the seeming ease with which these master craftsmen hammer out one captivating and crushing track after the other.
Revolving around apocalyptic, infernal, and end time themes that easily fit this day and age, “Fading Failing Ruin” nails the current global mood by taking a strong dose of inspiration from the earliest days of metal and blending it with contemporary heaviness.
A direct link goes back to 1996, when SOLACE rose from the ashes of GODSPEED, who made their name on Headbanger’s Ball and Beavis & Butthead, appeared on the “Nativity in Black” tribute backing Bruce Dickinson, and toured with CATHEDRAL and BLACK SABBATH. Emerging at the dawn of the internet and the burgeoning stoner rock scene, SOLACE were driven by hardcore-infused metal, captivating vocals, and a dark doom underbelly.
The New Jersey band hit the scene with their ferocious debut “Further” in 2000. Its tracks remain as contemporary and relevant as in those early days, and an extended and re-mastered 25th anniversary edition became an unplanned but much deserved tribute to brilliant yet tortured original SOLACE vocalist Jason L., who had sadly passed away in January 2025.
SOLACE continued to build on a solid foundation of classic metal, early doom, and punk ethic into which the four-piece infused a healthy dose of hardcore fury and groovy, grinding sludge.
Three years after the worldwide success of “Further”, SOLACE returned with the sophomore album “13” (2003), which highlighted the epic side of their songwriting. In the wake of this album, the band was invited twice to perform at the prestigious Roadburn Festival in 2006 and 2009.
The shoremen returned with their highly praised third album “A.D.” in 2010. Despite the band’s growing acclaim, SOLACE took an informal hiatus to revamp their lineup, returning even stronger with full-length number four, “The Brink”, in 2019.
SOLACE have called their amalgamation of doom and heavy metal with hardcore elements dirt metal, while elsewhere it has been somewhat tongue-in-cheekily dubbed shorecore. Others file the New Jersey five-piece under stoner metal – and in truth, all these descriptions have and still fit the band to an extent.
With “Fading Failing Ruin”, SOLACE erect a new milestone of US heavy metal that respects traditions from both sides of the Atlantic while churning toward a chaotic future. Time to bang those heads!
Line-up Justin Skyler Daniels – guitar Justin Goins – keyboard, vocals Tim Schoenleber – drums Mike Sica – bass Tommy Southard – guitar
Guest musicians Pelle Andersson (LOWRIDER) – various keyboards Eric Rachel – additional keyboards Duane Hutter – slide guitar
Recording by Eric Rachel at Bulletproof Music Studio, Hazlet, NJ (US) & The Pussycat Club, Milford, NJ (US) Produced by Eric Rachel & Solace Mix & mastering by Eric Rachel at Trax East, South River, NJ (US) Cover art & layout by Paul Vismara
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