German heavy riff force RED STONE CHAPEL are proud to renew their collaboration with Argonauta Records and unveil their brand new single “Evil Seed”, available now on all digital streaming platforms: https://tidal.com/album/531069855/u
Originally formed in Marburg, Hesse, Germany in 2009, RED STONE CHAPEL have spent years refining their unmistakable blend of Stoner Rock, Southern groove, Sludge and Doom infused heaviness. Following lineup changes and a renewed creative vision solidified in late 2023, the band now emerge darker, heavier and more intense than ever before.
“Evil Seed” perfectly captures this new direction: a crushing and riff driven track built on massive guitar tones, dark atmospheres and emotionally charged vocals. Rooted in the sludgy spirit of the NOLA scene while embracing a broader Heavy Metal identity, the single delivers a relentless sonic impact that showcases the band’s evolution and uncompromising approach.
With influences ranging from Black Sabbath and Crowbar to Cathedral, Pentagram, Down and Danzig, RED STONE CHAPEL continue to push their sound into deeper and more powerful territories, balancing aggression, melancholy and raw energy in equal measure.
The band comments:
“RED STONE CHAPEL are happy to build on their previous partnership with ARGONAUTA RECORDS and that listeners will find sorrow and joy in our new sonic onslaught. In hope that YOU, the listener, are able to tame your own demons, we want to provide the soundtrack for your journey.”
The renowned heavy metal vocalist Ian Parry proudly announces the new chapter of the acclaimed Consortium Project series, with the release of “Legacy Of Empires” scheduled for August 14, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.
To coincide with the announcement, the title track is available today, along with an official video, available below.
Parry commented on the single: “When I first heard Johann Cadot’s powerful riff, I knew immediately we had the title track for “Legacy Of Empires” and the foundation for a truly strong album.”
After years of anticipation, Ian Parry proudly returns with “Legacy Of Empires”, the powerful new chapter of the acclaimed Consortium Project series. An ambitious and cinematic work of progressive metal, the album represents a triumphant comeback for one of the genre’s most visionary and concept-driven artists.
Parry stated: “‘Legacy of Empires’ not only celebrates my 45th year as a professional singer-songwriter but also allows me to revisit and finally complete the sixth chapter of the Consortium Project saga. The challenge with every Consortium Project album is to match the quality of the previous releases while bringing something new to the music. I believe “Legacy Of Empires” achieves exactly that.” “Being able to reunite musicians who have been part of the Consortium Project journey for decades, alongside outstanding new collaborators, made this album a very special experience”, he added.
Combining epic storytelling, emotional depth and virtuosic musicianship, “Legacy Of Empires” explores themes of power, legacy, conflict and the rise and fall of civilizations through a rich and dynamic musical landscape. From majestic symphonic passages to crushing progressive metal riffs and soaring melodic arrangements, the album captures the spirit of classic concept albums while pushing the Consortium Project sound into bold new territory.
The record features an exceptional international lineup, including members of Vanden Plas, Kamelot and former members of Pain of Salvation, whose distinctive musical identities contribute to the album’s expansive and dramatic atmosphere. Their performances elevate the project into a truly immersive experience, balancing technical brilliance with raw emotional intensity.
At the center of it all stands Ian Parry, whose unmistakable voice and artistic vision continue to define the Consortium Project legacy. With “Legacy Of Empires”, Parry once again demonstrates his ability to unite world-class musicians under a singular creative direction, delivering an album that is both grandiose in scale and deeply personal in spirit.
“Legacy Of Empires” is destined to resonate with fans of sophisticated, melodic and emotionally heavy music. The album marks an exciting new era for Ian Parry’s Consortium Project, reaffirming its place among the most ambitious projects in the progressive metal scene.
“Legacy Of Empires” Tracklist:
1. The Constellation Of The Stars 2. Legacy Of Empires 3. A Declaration Of Independence 4. Gods From The Heavens Above 5. A Kingdom For Heroes 6. Pyramids Of Power 7. The Secrets Of Creation 8. Awake The Forgotten Souls 9. The Burden Of Truth 10. Nature’s Eyes
Line Up: IAN PARRY – Lead, harmony & choir vocals all songs. Midi synth strings & organ on tracks; 1 & 5. STEPHAN LILL – Rhythm, solo guitars on tracks 1, 3, 4, 5 & 8. Keyboards on tracks; 3,4 & 8. JOHANN CADOT – Rhythm, acoustic guitars & Keyboards on tracks 2, 7 & bonus 11. Backing vocals on tracks; 2,3,4,5,7, 8 & Japanese acoustic bonus track 11. LUCA SELLITTO – Rhythm, acoustic, solo guitar & strings on tracks; 6,9 &10. Backing vocals on tracks; 2,3,4,5,7 & 8. ALLAN SØRENSEN – Drums on all tracks (except track 10). ANDREAS PASSMARK – Bass guitars on tracks; 5 & 6. FRANKY RUMMLER – Bass guitars on tracks; 3,4 & 8.
GUEST MUSICIANS; Bass guitars – JAN BIJLSMA – performs on track 8. KRIS GILDENLÖW – performs on track 2. ROBERT FINAN – performs on track 10. CARMINE VIVO – performs on track 9.
Drums – CASEY GRILLO – performs on track 10.
Keyboards – PETER JAN KLEEVENS – performs Hammond organ on track 6. STEFAN WEISSMULLER – performs piano & strings on track 10.
Guitars – PATRICK RONDAT – performs solo guitar on track 2. MANOLO ARIAS – performs solo guitar on track 7.
Vocals – OMBELINE DUPRAT – Performs choir & harmony vocals on tracks; 2, 4, 5, 7 & Japanese acoustic bonus track 11. BRENDA DAVIS – Performs lead & harmony vocals on track 10.
Italian death-doom newcomers ETERNAL MOURN have signed with Terror From Hell Records for the release of their debut EP, “Winds of Sorrow”, scheduled for July 20th, 2026.
Born from the collaboration between drummer Debla and guitarist/vocalist Gabriel (Black Oath, The Rite, Extirpation), and later completed by guitarist Eros (Extirpation, Funest) and bassist/vocalist Santo (Araphel, Demonomancy), ETERNAL MOURN emerged from a shared desire to channel feelings of melancholy, frustration, inner decay and loss into music steeped in darkness and emotion.
Drawing heavily from the great death-doom tradition of the 1990s, the band pays homage to genre-defining acts such as Paradise Lost, Katatonia and Cemetary while avoiding mere nostalgia. Instead, ETERNAL MOURN reinterpret those influences with remarkable confidence and authenticity, crafting songs that feel complete, memorable and emotionally resonant, without sacrificing the raw and rugged edge that lies at the heart of classic doom/death metal.
Recorded at Spvn Studio in Guanzate, Italy, “Winds of Sorrow” consists of three carefully crafted tracks that capture the essence of the band’s vision: mournful melodies, somber atmospheres and a pervasive sense of desolation intertwined with powerful riffs and heartfelt performances. The result is a debut that balances melancholy and heaviness with natural ease, establishing ETERNAL MOURN as a promising new name within the contemporary death-doom scene.
Veteran French black metal band Merrimack are releasing a cover of “Wrong” by Depeche Mode. Originally appearing on the UK synth-pop band’s 2009 album Sounds of the Universe, “Wrong” reached the Top 10 in nine countries and peaked at Number #1 on the U.S. Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. While faithful to the original, Merrimack’s cover is black metal in every breath.
Merrimack’s cover of “Wrong” is rooted in long-standing devotion. Guitarist, Perversifier, who proposed the cover to his bandmates, describes Depeche Mode as having “only grown better over the years”. He singles out “Wrong” for “already carrying more darkness than even Black Metal rarely reaches.”
Merrimack recorded their cover of “Wrong” during the sessions for their 2012 album The Acausal Mass. The cover was shelved for more than a decade before the band returned to record vocals. Perversifier says their cover “highlights just how dark the original song already is”. They preserved all the notes from the original, only bringing “the level of violence that Black Metal can bring”. Where Depeche Mode channel obsessive self-negation through cold synth-pop, Merrimack strip away any distance the original might have offered.
MERRIMACK‘s acclaimed latest offer, ‘Omegaphilia’ (2017) has raised a rejuvenated interest in the French black metal pioneers’ rare debut full-length. ‘Ashes of Purification’ was originally released limited to 1000 copies in the year 2002 and the rising demand is now being met by a one-time reprint of 500 CDs. MERRIMACK can be categorised as extreme traditionalists that are driven by a burning desire to hone their skills and striving to bring their art to perfection. The band was founded by guitarist Perversifier a.k.a. Amfortas in 1994 with a clear vision to keep the black metal flame burning as an act of aesthetic terrorism – as adamantly based in the underground as opposed to any attempts to co-opt, commercialise or turn the style into a self-parody. Introduced by a number of demo recordings (‘Prologue’ – 1995, ‘Act 1’ – 1995, ‘Horns Defeat Thorns’ – 2001) and split releases (with Hirilorn in 1998 and Sargeist in 2002), the French gained respect in the scene by remaining true to their words.
Although MERRIMACK decided to reach out to a larger audience with the release of their first full-length ‘Ashes of Purification’, the Parisians did not sever their roots with the underground at any time. With the following albums, ‘Of Entropy and Life Denial’ (2006) and ‘Grey Rigorism’ (2009), MERRIMACK closed ranks with the most influential, active, and authentic acts of the French black metal scene. Their classic combination of harsh sound with epic structures appealed to critics and fans alike and put the band on their celebrated first US tour with MARDUK and NACHTMYSTIUM in 2009.
After recording ‘The Acausal Mass’ (2012) in the legendary Necromorbus Studio (WATAIN, DESTRÖYER 666) again, MERRIMACK embarked on a European tour with Norwegian icons MAYHEM and accepted invitations to prestigious festivals such as Hellfest in their native France, Germany’s Party-San Open Air and Summer Breeze as well as Montreal’s Messe des Morts in Canada. With their latest album, ‘Omegaphilia’, MERRIMACK were breathing fresh life into an exhausted genre. While ignoring epithets such as progressive, post-, and avant-garde, the French focused on razor-sharp songwriting, captivating melodies, and close to perfect arrangements.
Dutch heavy hardcore outfit TRENCHWAR have signed with Time To Kill Records, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the collective and setting the stage for the release of their debut full-length album, expected in the coming months. First details on the record, alongside the premiere of its lead single, will be revealed shortly.
Formed as an unholy alliance of seasoned veterans from the hardcore and metal underground, TRENCHWAR bring together current and former members of influential acts such as Backfire, Born From Pain, Cliteater, Herder, No Turning Back, Reaching Forward and Modern Life Is War. Built on this deep-rooted experience, the band delivers a harsh and uncompromising form of metal-influenced heavy hardcore, shaped by a darker and more introspective edge. Their sound combines raw, physical aggression with dense, ominous riffing, resulting in a style that both acknowledges its origins and pushes into more suffocating territory.
The project initially took shape with the recording of “Seismic Upheaval”, a six-track statement that established the foundation of the band’s identity. That groundwork has now evolved into “Overlords of Cold”, the first full-length written collectively by the complete lineup. The album expands and sharpens the band’s vision, fusing the crushing weight of the NOLA tradition with the unrelenting force of 1990s hardcore, evoking the spirit of bands such as Integrity, Cold as Life and Merauder.
With this signing, TRENCHWAR join the roster of Time To Kill Records, further cementing their position within the international heavy hardcore and extreme music underground.
Line-up:
Ché Snelting – Vocals (formerly of Born From Pain, Herder, Arma Gathas) Harm Haverman – Lead guitar (formerly of Reaching Forward, Modern Life Is War, Backfire!) Ivan Cuijpers – Guitar (formerly of Cliteater) Giel Blankers – Bass guitar, vocals (formerly of No Turning Back, Backfire!) Pieter Hendriks – Drums (formerly of Reaching Forward, Born From Pain)
Finnish rock band Lobster returned in April after a three-year hiatus. Having rediscovered the joy of making music, the band marked its comeback with the release of the single “Baby I’m Yours Tonight.” This time around, Lobster has taken on Don Henley’s iconic 1980s hit “The Boys of Summer.”
The same genuine, human, and approachable energy that reignited the band this spring is pushed even further on the new single. In Lobster’s hands, “The Boys of Summer” becomes an extremely energetic, hard-rocking, high-octane reinterpretation. While paying respect to the song’s classic melody, the band brings it firmly into the present day with a considerably heavier approach.
Lobster also released an action-packed video for ”The Boys of Summer,” its eventful story keeping the viewer hooked until the very last second.
The track showcases Lobster’s trademark strengths: powerful vocals, driving guitar riffs, catchy harmonies, and a solid rhythmic foundation.
“The new single was made with a spirit that is, above all, a lot of fun to play, and one that is guaranteed to put listeners in a good mood,” says the band’s drummer, Zeko Takamäki.
Once again, the band has enlisted some of the industry’s most respected professionals to ensure a high-quality and polished sound. The track was mixed by Mikko Karmila (Finnvox) and mastered by the legendary Björn Engelmann (Cutting Room), known for his work with artists such as ABBA, Roxette, and Rammstein.
Founded in 2015, Lobster has released three full-length albums during its career: Carousel (2016), Killing Silence (2018), and Love, Respect & Rock’n’Roll (2023).
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
