ACTIVE INTERSECTION is a creative collaboration between Finnish vocalist and songwriter Kate Nord, American composer and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Campbell, and poet Merika Campbell on lyrics, making space disco music with a progressive rock twist out of Cleveland, Ohio.
The unique sound of ACTIVE INTERSECTION: Space music, synthesizers, Progressive Rock, and Disco bass lines come together with multilayered vocals. [ … find out more HERE » ]
“Traveling Without Moving” ▶ Full-length ◀ 🗓️ November 6, 2026
TRACKS 01. The Invitation 02:40 02. The Only Way is Through 05:37 03. The Red Sun 06:02 04. Crossroads 04:00 05. Who Would Have Thunk It? 04:51 06. Panic Attack 04:55 07. Delulu 02:53 08. EDM (Every Daydream Matters) 03:49 09. Autumn Clouds 06:38 10. Find The Time 04:46
total 46:11
Album cover art photography by Jeff Campbell
Line-up: Kate Nord • Vocals Jeff Campbell • All guitars, Synths, Keyboards
More than two decades after their last studio session together, the original lineup of the Chicago-based progressive power metal band ION VEIN is making a comeback. With the video single “Static Vision” (digital release: September 16th, 2026), the band offers a first glimpse of “Beyond Tomorrow – 25th Anniversary Edition,” which will be released on November 20th, 2026, via Majesphere Records.
Even when the debut album was released in 1999, “Static Vision” was among the band’s most straightforward and energetic songs. With its powerful heavy-metal foundation, dynamic melodies, and progressive elements, the track quickly became a staple of their live shows at the time. Originally, the album “Beyond Tomorrow” was to be remixed using the analog 2-inch master tapes. However, during the digitization process, it turned out that the tapes for “Static Vision,” “Here Today Gone Tomorrow,” and the title track could no longer be located. This setback sparked the reunion of ION VEIN with its original lineup.
After just one rehearsal together, Russ Klimczak, Chris Lotesto, John Malufka, Brian Gordon, and Scott Lang re-recorded the three songs in June 2025 at Rax Trax Studios in Chicago. As with the original sessions, the basic instrumental tracks were recorded together and live. As a result, “Static Vision” preserves the energy of the original and combines it with new power and clarity. The single was mixed by Jim Morris at Morrisound Studios; his work with bands like SAVATAGE and CRIMSON GLORY was already among ION VEIN’s early musical influences. The song is accompanied by an animated music video created in collaboration with Freakshot.
“Static Vision” by ION VEIN will also release digitally on September 16th and is available for PRE-SAVE NOW
“Beyond Tomorrow” was originally released in 1999 on Majesphere Records and, with its blend of melodic power metal, classic heavy metal, and progressive arrangements, helped define ION VEIN’s signature sound. For the “Beyond Tomorrow – 25th Anniversary Edition,” the surviving original recordings were remixed by Jim Morris and remastered by BJ Ramone at Morrisound Studios.
Particularly exciting for collectors: the album is now being released on vinyl for the first time. The black double LP, limited to 250 copies, will be released in a gatefold sleeve with printed inner sleeves and new artwork. A gatefold CD edition will also be available. The special edition also includes previously unreleased live material from 1999, which captures the band’s energy from that time without any overdubs.
An accompanying online documentary that will provide insight into the reunion, the re-recordings in Chicago, and the work at Morrisound Studios is also being developed..
About ION VEIN
ION VEIN was founded in 1995 in Chicago, Illinois, by guitarist and songwriter Chris Lotesto, who had previously been a member of LATENT FURY from 1989 to 1994. It wasn’t until late 1997 that the core lineup—featuring vocalist Russ Klimczak, guitarist John Malufka, bassist Brian Gordon, and drummer Scott Lang—came together, a lineup that would have a decisive influence on the band’s early sound. This lineup made its first joint appearance in November 1997 in Chicago. With their blend of classic heavy metal, melodic power metal, and progressive arrangements, the band quickly made a name for itself on the local scene. An important early milestone was their performance at the Powermad Festival in Baltimore in August 1998. Although ION VEIN were still largely unknown there, they managed to attract attention in the American prog and power metal scene. Shortly thereafter, the band began recording their debut album. “Beyond Tomorrow” was recorded in the summer of 1998 and released in February 1999 on the band’s own label, Majesphere Records. Chris Lotesto served as the primary songwriter, while the final arrangements were developed collaboratively in the rehearsal room. In this way, spontaneous ideas and individual musical motifs evolved into increasingly complex and multi-layered compositions. In the years that followed, ION VEIN shared the stage with bands such as ARMORED SAINT, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, ICED EARTH, NEVERMORE, ANGRA, OVERKILL, METAL CHURCH, SYMPHONY X, and FATES WARNING. In addition, the band was featured on various tribute albums honoring IRON MAIDEN, DIO, OZZY OSBOURNE, KING DIAMOND, and QUEENSRŸCHE. Their debut was followed by “Reigning Memories” in 2003 and their self-titled third studio album, “Ion Vein,” in 2014. After the album’s release and promotional tour, the band went on hiatus for about ten years. Work on the anniversary edition of “Beyond Tomorrow” has now brought together, for the first time in more than two decades, the five musicians with whom the band’s history and that of their debut album began.
North Carolina’s bastions of melodic death metal AETHER REALM strike with the first single from their forthcoming blasphemous onslaught, Season of Bloodshed, out December 11 via Napalm Records. Entitled “The Blood Is Calling”, the explosive song arrives today alongside a striking animated music video, offering a first glimpse into the band’s next chapter.
From its first heartbeats, the album bares its teeth. The vampiric opening track “The Blood Is Calling” is layered with thunderous kick drums and cataclysmic string arrangements setting the stage for something truly ghastly. Propelled by blast beats from drummer Tyler Gresham, ornate guitar harmonies, and Martin Gonzalez’ enveloping orchestrations, this first single is a herald of a new era as the band transforms into something darker.
Soaked in blood and craving more, AETHER REALM have undergone a violent transformation, emerging with their ferocious new album Season of Bloodshed. Since the band’s 2020 album Redneck Vikings From Hell, AETHER REALM have held on by the skin of their teeth through a global pandemic, the historic Hurricane Helene, and a mid-record lineup change, with former guitarist Donny Burbage departing and new guitarist Chris Jones entering the fray. Season of Bloodshed clutches you in its blood-soaked claws and guides you on an intense exploration of an existential transformation fueled by rage.
About the album the band states:
“This is an album born from an anger that was allowed to fester for too long. At the confluence of the great injustices of our time and the insignificant wrongs that get under our skin every day, we can find ourselves transformed into our worst selves. It is in the expression of this feeling—through these cruel riffs, shredding solos, and crushing breakdowns—that we may find peace.”
Album tracks such as “Control” open with a triumphant harmonized guitar duel before taking off at one hundred miles per hour with virtuoso guitar duo Heinrich Arnold and Chris Jones weaving riff tapestries, embracing listeners in a dystopian dream of the future. Always looking to experiment with the form, “Broken Fist” enlists guest vocalist Taj Jewett to lend their rage to a track that fuses nu metal and prog into a showcase of infectiously bouncy grooves and unstoppable riffage.
The aptly titled “Get Fukt” is as vitriolic as the title suggests. Bassist and frontman Jake Jones delivers a venomous verbal onslaught alongside driving harmonized riffs clearly developed at the school of Bodom. “The Weight” offers the album’s first brief respite with serene synths paving the way for another hellish breakdown, tectonic drums crack the ground as flaming guitars emerge from the rubble and lash at the sky. Featuring the impeccable orchestration composer Wayne Ingram (known for his work in Wilderun and on Assassin’s Creed Valhalla: Dawn of Ragnarok), the track expands into mesmerizing grandeur. Opening with a serene folksy respite provided by departing guitarist Donny Burbage and violinist Sarah Stepanik, “Path of The Wind” emerges as an explosive blackened folk song with singalongs and blasts beats that tells the tale of how the band emerged physically unscathed from Hurricane Helene. Further honoring their southern roots, “Achilles’ Heel” opens with intimate banjo strums dancing around vocalist Jake Jones’ heartfelt croon, sung from the perspective of Patroclus, the companion of the titular mythological Greek hero Achilles. This bitter song honors the epic with guitar and string orchestrations of equally grand composition, coupled with a chorus that you can’t resist stomping your foot to.
Album closer “Terminus Ominum,” a Latin phrase translating roughly to “The End of All Things”, opens with cinematic, Game Of Thrones level pounding drums—courtesy of orchestrator and mix engineer Rob Carson—beating a cataclysmic opening for the record’s most expensive track. Enlisting the Western North Carolina Pagan Choir there is a level of finality in the arrangement akin to a Elden Ring boss battle.
Despite the obstacles put in their path, AETHER REALM emerges revitalized, determined, and simmering with anger while maintaining their trademark complex melodies and ferocious guitar attack.
Scotland’s ibex-obsessed blackened thrash bastard of Hades, otherwise known as HELLRIPPER, is now unleashing two digital singles ahead of his upcoming worldwide live assault, which kicks off this Thursday in Europe before laying waste to North America for the first time ever in support of HAVOK! To celebrate, the Goat Kvlt mastermind is now offering two cover versions of legendary Seattle speed metal punks, Zeke.
Listen now to the black thrash versions of the tracks “Let’s Get Drugs” and “Mainline” at THIS LOCATION.
HELLRIPPER guitarist/vocalist/songwriter James McBain comments, “ZEKE has been a favourite band of mine for many years now, and I sure have gotten a lot of mileage out of that shirt of mine as a lot of people have pointed out! The influence they have had on the sound of Hellripper cannot be overstated – 100mph balls to the wall metalpunk with endless guitar solos? Count me in! These two tracks were released as part of the Decibel Magazine Flexi series earlier this year, and I’m happy to now have them out there for everyone to listen to. ZEKE YOU!”
The extensive U.S. trek will kick off on October 21 in Salt Lake City, UT and will decimate everything in its path until the final stop on November 20 in Denver, CO. The full itinerary can be found below and tickets to all upcoming live performances are available HERE.
HELLRIPPER will be supporting its critically-acclaimed new album, ‘Coronach,’ which was released worldwide on March 27, 2026 via Century Media Records, making it his debut to the label! ‘Coronach’ can be streamed, downloaded, or ordered HERE.
10/21: Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Music Hall 10/22: Boise, ID @ Shrine Social Club Ballroom 10/23: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon 10/24: Portland, OR @ Dante’s 10/26: Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post 10/27: Berkeley, CA @ Cornerstone Berkeley 10/28: Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent Theater 10/29:Fresno, CA@ Strummer’s 10/30: Las Vegas, NV @ Backstage Bar Billiards 10/31: Mesa. AZ @ Nile Theater 11/02: Dallas, TX @ AM/FM 11/03: Austin, TX @ Come and Take it Live 11/04: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live Midtown 11/06: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Hell) 11/07: Nashville, TN @ Basement East 11/08: Asheville, NC @ Eulogy 11/09: Richmond, VA @ Canal Club 11/11: Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage 11/12: Harrisburg, PA @ Capital City Music Hall 11/13: Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall 11/14: New York, NY @ Racket 11/15: Lakewood, OH @ Mercury Music Lounge 11/17: Detroit, MI @ Catacombs at the Sanctuary 11/18: Chicago, IL @ Reggies 11/19: Kansas City, MO @ Recordbar 11/20: Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre 11/25: Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar 11/26: Quebec, QC @ La Source De La Martinière 11/27: Ottawa, ON @ Dominion Tavern 11/28: Toronto, ON @ Supermarket Bar & Variety
Hellripper EU Live Dates (w/ NECROFIER):
TH 17.09.2026 Hannover (Germany) – Cafe Glocksee * / Sold out! FR 18.09.2026 Esbjerg (Denmark) – Tobakken * SA 19.09.2026 Aarhus (Denmark) – VoxHall * SU 20.09.2026 Gothenburg (Sweden) – Monument * MO 21.09.2026 Oslo (Norway) – Vaterland * / Sold out! TU 22.09.2026 Norrköping (Sweden) – Dynamo * WE 23.09.2026 Stockholm (Sweden) – Kollektivet Livet * TH 24.09.2026 Malmö (Sweden) – Plan B * FR 25.09.2026 Lübeck (Germany) – Treibsand * SA 26.09.2026 Hinte (Germany) – Coast Rock Festival * SU 27.09.2026 Namur (Belgium) – Le Belvedere *
HELLRIPPER Latin American Dates:
SA 09.01.2027 Mangualde (Portugal) – Mangualde Hardmetalfest TH 14.01.2027 Rio De Janeiro (Brazil) – Experience Music FR 15.01 2027 Curitiba (Brazil) – Basement Cultural SA 16.01.2027 Sao Paulo (Brazil) – Burning House SU 17.01.2027 Belo Horizonte (Brazil) – Caverna TU 19.01.2027 Buenos Aires (Argentina) – Uniclub WE 20.01.2027 Santiago (Chile) – Sala RBX TH 21.01.2027 Lima (Peru) – Vichama Conciertos SA 23.01.2027 Bogota (Colombia) – Ace of Spades SU 24.01.2027 Quito (Ecuador) – Necronik TU 26.01.2027 San Jose (Costa Rica) – Amon Solar TH 28.01.2027 Monterrey (Mexico) – Cafe Iguana FR 29.01.2027 Hermosillo (Mexico) – London Pub SA 30.01.2027 Tijuana (Mexico) – Dragón Rojo SU 31.01.2027 Mexico City (Mexico) – Circo Volador
HELLRIPPER 2027 DATES (+ more TBA):
SA 13.03.2027 Eindhoven (The Netherlands) – Dynamo / Welcome To Hell Festival TH-SU 25-28.03.2027 Oslo (Norway) – Inferno Festival FR-SA 28-29.05.2027 Buchenbach (Germany) – Boarstream Open Air Festival TH-SA 03-05.06.2027 Stykkisholmur (Iceland) – Satan Festival FR-SU 11-13.06.2027 Leeuwarden (The Netherlands) – Into the Grave Festival
Coronach (08:48) [WATCH] Full Running Time: 00:44:09
The brainchild of guitarist/vocalist/solitary force, James McBain, Hellripper has been running like a denim-vested, backpatch-encrusted William Wallace, bravehearting his way through metal’s bloodiest battlefields since first coagulating his personal darkness in 2014. Taking armaments from “Kill ‘Em All” era Hetfield and “Welcome to Hell” era Mantas, McBain has immersed his fascination with darkness and speed with Scottish history and come with bloody masterpieces like 2023’s “Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags” that Metal Injection stated: “Bursts with growth and a mature exploration of darkness and eeriness while maintaining that original high-octane burning”. McBain is presently sharpening his blades and casting new spells that will transmogrify into Hellripper’s Century Media debut “Coronach”.
Hellripper Lineup: James McBain – All Instruments & Vocals
Hellripper live and video performance line-up: James McBain – Guitar & Vocals Joseph Quinlan – Guitar Andy Milburn – Bass Max Southall – Drums
Album credits: Recorded and mixed by Hellripper’s James McBain at Coronach Studios in Scotland, UK Mastered by Damien Herring at Subterranean Watchtower Studios in the USA.
Swedish hard-rock risers Velveteen Queen’s ‘Talk or Walk’ is the fourth single from their eagerly anticipated sophomore album, The Greater Good, due for release this Friday, September 18th via Silver Lining Music. Pre-orders are available at this location.
‘Talk or Walk’ is a snarling rock ‘n’ roll track packed with attitude, grit and zero interest in pulling its punches. Driven by scuzzy guitar riffs and a roaring chorus, it captures the chaos of a relationship on the edge. It’s about frustration and demanding honesty when the excuses have run dry. Speak your mind, face the music, or hit the road!
“‘Talk or Walk’ is a raw, no-bullshit rock anthem about love at the breaking point. Say what you mean, fight for what you want — or get the hell out of the way!” – Velveteen Queen
Watch/Listen to ‘Talk or Walk’here – video directed by Patric Ullaeus.
Velveteen Queen are rapidly emerging as one of the most exhilarating young acts in the modern rock scene, channeling the swagger, and anthemic power of classic ’80s influences into a bold and contemporary sound. Having shared stages with Alice Cooper and Judas Priest, the five-piece have already built a reputation for their explosive live performances, undeniable stage presence and hook-laden rock songs.
Watch/Listen to the recently released singles ‘The Greater Good’ featuring Peter Keys (Lynyrd Skynyrd) on piano, ‘Adrenaline’ and ‘Too Far Gone’here. All videos were directed by acclaimed filmmaker Patric Ullaeus.
The new album The Greater Good is a record which channels the strut of the Sunset Strip’s glory days via Sweden, with a healthy dash of old-school Guns N’ Roses, alongside spiritual ties to Aerosmith, Velvet Revolver and Hanoi Rocks. Produced by renowned producer Sören Andersen, the album showcases Velveteen Queen’s immediate energy and vitality. From the teasing riff and maraca-shake of “Too Far Gone” to the sleazy bad boy strut of “Liar” with its low-slung, hard-hitting riffs. Yet there’s also full ballad artistry on display with the soulful “Chains”, showing that Velveteen Queen can bring it down to strands of raw emotion.
The Greater Good track listing:
Too Far Gone
The Greater Good
Talk or Walk
Adrenaline
Can’t Go Back in Time
Chains
It Ain’t Over
Liar
Best of the Best
Sorry
Try (to Believe Me)
With The Greater Good, Velveteen Queen will continue to bring their high voltage energy to the stage, delivering full throttle rock ’n’ roll shows as they power their relentless rise towards rock ’n’ roll domination. Catch Velveteen Queen live and experience their full force for yourself.
The Greater Good is out this Friday, September 18th be on vinyl, CD, digital formats and D2C bundles. Pre-order the album and stream the singles now at this location.
VELVETEEN QUEEN are: Samuel Nilsson – Lead Vocals, Keys Lukas Axx – Guitar Noah Mardh – Guitar Vilmer Fall – Bass Isac Borg – Drums
Eternity’s End has released “Ravenheart”, first single taken from the new album “Titanblood” to be released on November 6 by Scarlet Records.
“Ravenheart” is based on a character from the second book of David Gemmell’s “Rigante” series and tells the story of an anti-hero. Musically the song is dark, neoclassical and progressive, with an odd meter chorus and some interesting key changes and a long solo section with a strong Cacophony influence.
“Titanblood”:
Fourth studio-album for the masterful German power metal band led by virtuoso guitarist Christian Muenzner (former Obscura, Paradox, Necrophagist);
first record featuring the new singer and frontman Mike Livas (Silent Winter, Bloodorn);
produced, mixed and mastered by Hannes Grossmann at Mordor Sound Studios;
“Titanblood” tracklist: 1 The Gods Of Bal Sagoth 2 Sword In The Storm 3 Titanblood 4 Interstellar Transmission 5 In The Wake Of The Carrion King 6 Eternal Winter 7 Gates Of Eternity 8 The Abyss Watchers 9 Ravenheart 10 Rule The Night Total running time – 51:08
artwork by Dimitar Nikolov
“Titanblood” will captivate the listener through fast, aggressive and technical power metal songs with soaring lead vocals, big anthemic choruses, crazy solo duels and harmonies and riffs at times bordering on technical-thrash.
The new Eternity’s End album brings back some of the more progressive and symphonic elements found on the band’s first record and combining those with heavier influences.
While not being a proper concept album, every “Titanblood” song tells about dark fantasy stories inspired by writers like Robert E. Howard, Michael Moorcock and Edgar Allan Poe, and video games like “Dark Souls”.
Eternity’s End are: Mike Livas – vocals Christian Muenzner – guitar Justin Hombach – guitar Jimmy Pitts – keyboards Linus Klausenitzer – bass Hannes Grossmann – drums
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
