Swedish melodic metal powerhouse TUNGSTEN is currently dedusting their gear to prepare for this year’s summer live activities. Presenting “The Grand Inferno” (Reigning Phoenix Music), the band is proud to surprise fans with an unheard track from the recording sessions of their most recent album to short the wait until their return to the stages. ‘Cry For The Fallen’ starts on a fragile note with strings before its intense story resonates – emotionally intonated by lead vocalist Mike Andersson. The 4-minute track continues building up while a flute wanders the melodic lands of folk, representing the wide range of influences defining TUNGSTEN’s soundscape. Ultimately going ballistic in the form of an epic final chorus, ‘Cry For The Fallen’ concludes on its peak and recalls the quartet’s fine sense for crafting emotive yet highly powerful music once again.
TUNGSTEN state: “Originally, this song was meant to be included on “The Grand Inferno,” but after discussing it, we decided to save it for a separate release. We wanted to give it the spotlight it deserves and make it truly special. The track is both dynamic and emotionally powerful. We filmed the music video in a beautiful church in Southern Sweden, a setting that we felt perfectly matches the song’s atmosphere and message. Lyrically, ‘Cry For The Fallen’ is a tribute to our loved ones who have passed away – an emotional remembrance of family and friends no longer with us. This is a song to remember – and to be played loud!”
11.07.2025 BG Cirpan – Midalidare Rock In The Wine Valley
“Hell, Fire And Steel” Tour w/ SAXON
24.07.2025 SE Eskilstuna – Lokomotivet 25.07.2025 SE Borgholm – Öland Rock 26.07.2025 SE Linköping – Garden, Konsert & Kongress 27.07.2025 SE Gävle – Furuvik
02.08.2025 SE Skuleberget – Skulerocken 09.08.2025 ES Villena – Leyendas del Rock 24.08.2025 CH Aarburg – Riverside 30.08.2025 DE Bad Wörishofen – Forest Metal Festival
TUNGSTEN are a Swedish symphonic metal band formed by ex-HAMMERFALL drummer Anders Johansson and his sons Niklas and Karl in 2016, completed by vocalist Mike Andersson. With their technical virtuosity and captivating compositions, the band have made a name in the international metal scene, and with their album “The Grand Inferno,” their first release via RPM, they undoubtedly enriched the metal landscape. The record brims with nothing but energy and innovation, and delivers a powerful fusion of dynamic instrumentation and captivating melodies with the quartet’s signature sound being apparent throughout.
TUNGSTEN are: Mike Andersson | vocals Niklas “Nick” Johansson | guitars, backing vocals Karl “Kalle” Johansson | bass, keyboards, screams Anders Johansson | drums
Norwegian Grammy winners Gaahls WYRD are returning with their long-awaited second album. Braiding the Stories journeys inward, between the riverbeds of consciousness and dreams. With each cosmic chord, each cold and haunting beat, Kristian “Gaahl” Espedal and his mystical band untell the stories, and in the process, braid the roots that cradle the unseen.
“Braiding the Stories is a paragon of craftsmanship”, New Noise wrote in a 5-star review.
Braiding the Stories is released today, Friday, June 6, and you can hear all nine haunting songs by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.
If their 2019 debut GastiR – Ghosts Invited conjured ghosts and 2021’s The Humming Mountain lingered in twilight realms, Braiding the Stories rises from beyond what Gaahl himself describes as “The White Lodge”. Drawing from the subconscious, the band’s new album threads together dream fragments and inner voices with unheard reverberations.
Guitarist Lust Kilman’s solos—melodic fragments carved like totems into each composition—carry much of the emotional weight, supported by Nekroman’s immersive bass and Spektre’s meticulous drumming. From the vulnerable grandeur of the title track to the ritualistic drive of “Time and Timeless Timeline” and the cinematic dissonance of “And the Now” the album is unbound by genre yet anchored by purpose.
“I always work with the subconscious,” Gaahl says. “This time, I wanted the listener to fall into the album.”
Norwegian Grammy-winning metal outfit Gaahls WYRD stun with their new album, Braiding the Stories, via Season of Mist. Featuring vocalist Gaahl (aka Kristian Espedal), guitarist Lust Kilman (aka Ole Walaunet), drummer Spektre (aka Kevin Kvåle), and bassist Nekroman (aka Andreas Salbu), the group’s sophomore full-length elaborates conceptually on and widens the musical gaze of Gaahls WYRD sonic aesthetic. To wit, they’ve artfully united introspective vistas and violent upheaval on singles “Braiding the Stories,” “Time and Timeless Timeline,” and “And the Now.” If The Humming Mountain (2021) resided between spaces, Braiding the Stories is the lighthouse out of it.
“I call it the White Lodge,” Gaahl says, referring to Braiding the Stories’ differentia. “Maybe I’ll call it the Bright Lodge. I wanted to put focus on where I think Ole is most comfortable music-wise. There’s more things he’s connected to on this album than before. So, I jumped over the more black metal tracks, as I felt they didn’t belong to this process. For example, when we sat down in the studio, we wanted a specific energy. That energy is a ‘80s and ‘90s thing. Almost gothic rock, but it’s more about the sound than the style. It’s an aesthetic for sure. If I may, everyone should pay close attention to Ole’s fantastic solos. They’re pieces of music [inside the songs].”
Braiding the Stories doesn’t scream retro, though. As with previous releases GastiR – Ghosts Invited (2019) and The Humming Mountain, it’s also not easy to pin down. From the unbridled dissonance of “And the Now,” the first track out of Gaahl’s grimoire, and driving scenery of “Flowing Starlight” to the heavy metal-prone “And the Now” and the aching nostalgia of the title track, Gaahls WYRD cleverly stalk their influences, while also ensuring their unorthodox fingerprints and adventurous mindset remain unspoiled. Reinforced by show-stopping musicianship and Gaahl’s penchant for Peter Gabriel-esque showmanship, Braiding the Stories isn’t black metal, death metal, or any other metal. Truly and utterly, this is Gaahls WYRD.
“Musically, it’s unique,” says Gaahl. “It’s not necessarily connected to GastiR and The Humming Mountain. Those albums are connected to very earthly elements, the natural flow of things. This album is another dimension—behind the veil, if you will. I remember I wanted to release ‘And the Now’ as the first single, but there’s probably too much information to be the first track out. Throughout this album, I use a lot of different voices, and I’ve thought a lot about how all these different characters fit [into the music]. So, I wanted the listener to fall into the album, not be distracted, and I think I’ve accomplished that. It’s cinematic.”
While most artists abhorred the pandemic, Gaahl adored it. Not for its destructiveness, but for what it afforded the songmaster. The isolation was creatively energizing. Without the thrum of the record industry and all its demanding machinations, Gaahl crafted his heavily-cerebrated metals unagitated. Indeed, much meaning and purpose was imbued into the process that fueled Braiding the Stories. The last words (about sleep) uttered by Gaahl on The Humming Mountain have transited into the first words (about dreams) on “The Dream.”
“I always work with the subconscious,” Gaahl says. “And dreams are where we are at the most aware of our subconsciousness, I think. In a way, Braiding the Stories is a continuation [of ‘The Sleep’] but told from a different perspective. So, to simplify, Braiding the Storiesdeals with dreams. Not specific dreams, though. The transitions of dreams, emotions flowing from one to another without pause. Everything I do tends to end up with a melancholic flow and feel without it necessarily being an idea–it just happens, really–but I avoided that this time around. It’s less physical. I referred to the White Lodge before. This time around, I feel I visited the White Lodge not the Black Lodge.”
The old adage says, if it’s not broken, don’t fix it. Gaahls WYRD are very much the “old adage” type. For the production, the group returned to Solslottet Studio in Bergen, Norway to co-produce with ace Iver Sandøy (Enslaved, Wardruna). There, they put down and perfected “Time and Timeless Timeline,” “And the Now,” and the title track, as well as the album’s three vivid interludes “The Dream,” “Voices in My Head,” and “Through the Veil.” Though Braiding the Stories wasn’t recorded all at once, it’s audio-visually breathtaking. Sandøy also mixed and mastered the sessions.
“Me and Iver have been working together on several albums,” says Gaahl. “He’s an important part of Gaahls WYRD. He’s used to my way of working. Sometimes, I can be quite frustrating to work with. If my mind isn’t feeding me inspiration, I won’t get anything done. In that way, I’m very comfortable working with Iver. I need to spar conceptual ideas with someone, and Iver’s very good at that. I don’t annoy the rest of the band with these things. Iver and I have a lot of discussions, and the ideas naturally grow from there. This time around, it was very easy.”
The striking cover art by visual artist Øivind Myksvoll (Wardruna, Trelldom) is just as mysterious and arresting as his work for The Humming Mountain. Look closely and you’ll find what appears to be hair (aka the veil) and the cosmos (crystallized wine from Gaahl’s collection). Indeed, the group’s signature horned figure lurks between the layers. For Gaahls WYRD, music, lyrics, concept, and art are synonymous. They’re designed to be experienced in their entirety and in unison. Braiding the Stories isn’t an obvious listen, but it gently (and sometimes maniacally) pulls at the listener. The sensation of the journey from opener “The Dream” to closing epic “Flowing Starlight” is quite unlike anything before. All hail Braiding the Stories!
Lineup: Kristian Espedal «Gaahl» – All Voices Ole Walaunet «Lust Kilman» – All Guitars Andreas Salbu «Nekroman» – Bass Kevin Kvåle «Spektre» – Drums
Production Credits: Recorded at Solslottet Studio, Bergen, Norway. Produced by Iver Sandøy & Gaahls WYRD. Mixed & mastered by Iver Sandøy at Solslottet Studio, Bergen, Norway.
DESPIZER was formed in the spring of 2013 by Wilk and Rasz – musicians previously associated with black and death metal projects such as Deathlust and Persecutor. Their new goal was clear: to create uncompromising, raw material inspired by the sounds of the Swedish Wolfpack and British Doom. After writing a few intense songs, vocalist Tomasz Piotrowski and drummer Paweł Drozd joined to the band. From that moment on, the band’s sound began to evolve. The aggression and directness remained, but new elements appeared: influences of thrash and black metal, intertwining d-beat blast beats and more complex song structures.
The band from Pabianice released the albums “Joyride of Despair” (2014) and “Pogarda” (2017), while work on the third album began in 2020. However, their pace was disrupted by the pandemic, geopolitical turmoil and changes in the line-up. Eventually, Radek from Desolate Empyrean took over the bassist position, and the band began recording their third album in the spring of 2024.
The new album “Krew” is a continuation and development of the stylistic language known from “Pogarda“, which is even more sultry and merciless on the new release.
This is how the band talks about the album “Krew“: “This album is about dying – not by choice, but by necessity. About physical, spiritual and social death. About a world without God, without purpose, without meaning. About the moment when a person becomes a shadow. About souls burned to the core and bodies that still move out of habit“.
Music for new album was recorded and mixed by Paweł Drozd (Doomster Reich, Architect of Disease). Audio mastering was done by Marcin Sosnowski (Nameless, Serpent Seed). Cover artwork created by Martyna Ciupka, while CD layout was designed by Fabian Filiks (Saltus, Sauron, Naumachia).
DESPIZER third studio album will be released on CD with cooperation of Polish label Via Nocturna on June 27, 2025. Pre-order is avilable on official webstore (here).
Listen to the song “Krzyk udręczonych“:
“Krew” Tracklist:
1. Trzeba umrzeć 2. Ślepiec 3. Zaciśnięte pięści 4. Krzyk udręczonych 5. Przypadkowy samobójca 6. Strużka krwi 7. Megalomania
Hammerheart Records have announced the reissue of Wargasm‘s ciminally overlooked thrash metal masterpiece Why Play Around?. The re-issue, remastered by Ted Tringo (Mysto Dysto, Absu, Nuclear Death), is set for worldwide release on 25th July and will be available on various limited edition vinyl.
Originally unleashed in 1988, this cult classic rips with razor sharp riffing, frenetic solos and vitriolic energy that easily rivals the Big Four. From the neck snapping opener ‘Wasteland’ to the molten assault of ‘Revenge’ and the epic nine minute track ‘Wargasm,’ the Spillberg brothers (Rich & Barry) and Bob Mayo crafted a record that’s ferocious, technical and ahead of its time.
Rising Steel announce the release of their upcoming new studio album “Legion Of The Grave”, set for release on August 29th, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.
The first single and official video, “King Of The Universe”, are available now, offering a taste of the sound of the new record.
Talking about the first single, the band stated: “King Of The Universe” stands as a powerful anthem of freedom. Inspired by the Silver Surfer breaking free from Galactus, the song parallels humanity’s struggle to break free from societal and psychological constraints. With cosmic storytelling, dramatic tension, classic heavy riffs, and a chorus that lodges itself in your memory, the track captures the heart of the album: epic, introspective, and unmistakably heavy metal.”
About the album, they commented: “Sharpened in both sound and spirit, we returned to a more old-school heavy metal approach – without losing the raw energy and intensity that have long defined our style. Every track hits with precision, driven by razor-sharp riffs, commanding vocals, and an organic production that channels the true passion of real metal.”
“The album explores darker and more introspective themes, focusing on lost identity, inner struggles, and the strength to rise again. With a mix of raw emotion and powerful imagery, we aim to take the listener on a journey through personal battles that reflect broader human experiences. It’s both a statement of resistance and a search for meaning”, they added.
Rising Steel’s new album, “Legion Of The Grave” is their fourth full-length studio effort and it sees the French metallers playing as ferociously as ever, while continuing to evolve their heavy and aggressive sound.
The album was recorded in France by Mathieu Gaud and Steel Zard at Studio de la Plaine (KNT) and Lezard Studio. Mixing duties were handled by Staffan Karlsson and Rickard Bengtsson at Sweetspot Studio in Sweden, known for their work with bands like Meshuggah and Arch Enemy. It was mastered by the renowned Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios in Finland, ensuring a production that’s as powerful and precise as the music itself.
Based in Grenoble, France, Rising Steel deliver a “not so” classical heavy metal experience, drawing strong influence from the ‘80s NWOBHM movement, as well as elements of hard rock and thrash. With nods to iconic bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden, their music also appeals to fans of Metallica, Accept, Saxon, Grand Magus, Nevermore, and Slayer.
Following the release of their debut EP “Warlord” (2014) and the full-length album “Return Of The Warlord” (2016), the band gained traction by sharing stages with acts such as Jaded Heart, Sister Sin, Nightmare, ADX, Nashville Pussy, and Annihilator. This helped increase their international visibility.
Their second and third albums, “Fight Them All” and “Beyond The Gates Of Hell”, both released via Frontiers Music Srl, further cemented their reputation in the European metal scene.
Now, with “Legion Of The Grave”, Rising Steel return with an explosive offering full of crushing riffs, high-speed rhythms, and no-compromise heavy metal power. It’s a must listen for headbangers seeking pure, unfiltered metal mayhem.
“Legion Of The Grave” Tracklist:
1. Betrayer 2. King Of The Universe 3. Black Martin 4. Legion Of The Grave 5. Nightmare 6. Venomous 7. Messiah Of Death 8. Dead Mind 9. Trapped In A Soul’s Garden 10. Night Vision
Line Up: Emmanuelson – Vocals Steel Zard – Drums Tony Steel – Guitars Steff Leadmaster – Lead guitars Stone warrior – Bass
Danish death metal commando BAEST will be unleashing its fourth studio album, ‘Colossal,’ on August 15, 2025 via Century Media Records! To celebrate the upcoming offering, the band is now sharing a raucous new single, “King Of The Sun (feat. Jesper Binzer of D-A-D),” which can be found along with an official music video that was directed by Johan Nagstrup and Christian Constantin Pontoppidan at THIS LOCATION.
BAEST comments on “King Of The Sun” and their collaboration with D-A-D’s Jesper Binzer: “Our new single ‘King Of The Sun’ carries on in the rock vein of ‘Misfortunate Son,’ but adding our signature death metal to the mix, and bringing even more rock ‘n’ roll styles to the table. We’ve been fortunate to be able to bring in Jesper Binzer (D-A-D) – a rock legend, and a dream collab for BAEST. Jesper adds a totally new flavour to the BAEST sound, and pushes us to unexplored territory.”
Produced by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio (Heaven Shall Burn, The Black Dahlia Murder, The Haunted, etc.), the album contains nine tracks across 42 minutes, including the already released singles “Colossus” and “Imp Of The Perverse,” as well as an upcoming single with guest vocal features by Jesper Binzer of D-A-D on “King Of The Sun.”
Depraved World (06:04) Total running time: 00:42:27
Artwork by Solomacello
Are you ready to rock? Something colossal is coming…
Baest are back, with a new sound and a badass attitude. Over the last decade, the Danish quintet have become one of the most celebrated and respected death metal bands in Europe. Their reign of terror began with debut album Danse Macabre, which emerged to great acclaim in 2019. Since then, the Danes have been relentless. Subsequent albums Venenum (2019) and Necro Sapiens (2021) cemented their reputation as extreme metal mavericks with an ear for lethal hooks, while their passionate dedication to playing live enabled them to spread the word at shows and festivals around the world.
But things are slightly changing with album number 4: Colossal. Pieced together in the aftermath of Covid lockdowns, and fine-tuned over the last couple of years, the new Baest album is an absolute monster. The new songs are still rooted in the belligerent death metal that informed previous records, but Colossal represents a wholesale transformation. Inspired by and infused with old school, classic metal riffs and a giant helping of rock ‘n’ roll bombast, Baest have written an album that delights in the glory of heavy metal and the fine art of rocking out. Bursting at the seams with catchy riffs and classy melodies, with stylistic salutes to everyone from Ozzy Osbourne and Dokken, through to Iron Maiden and Whitesnake, this is the magnificent rock ‘n’ roll rebirth of Baest.
“We went on tour with the Krisiun guys a couple of years back, and every soundcheck they were playing ZZ Top songs,” says Baest guitarist Svend Karlsson. “Everyone in the venue was rocking out, you know? So let’s rock! As a band, you have to mature a little and figure out that you have to write songs for yourself, and that way of thinking has brought the best out of us. When we talked to Tue about it, we called it ‘Ozzy death metal’. It’s really exciting to see what people think. We’re looking forward to people hearing this album. We released two singles last year that were in a different direction, but the fans haven’t heard the Dokken stuff yet! [Laughs]”
From the explosive assault of the opening Stormbringer, the new Baest album is an electrifying dose of the good stuff. Produced by the legendary Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio in Denmark, Colossal never bends to current trends. Instead, this is a thrilling celebration of heavy metal, played with extreme metal intensity. Vocalist Simon Olsen has evolved into a truly formidable frontman, with a vastly expanded array of shouts and growls, and his band mates – Karlsson, guitarist Lasse Revsbech, bassist Mattias Melchiorsen and drummer Sebastian Abildsten – have grown in power and stature. As Karlsson explains, this change of direction was simply about Baest being true to themselves.
“We began the process during Covid, and we found out that we needed to do something that everyone thought was fun,” he states. “Then we tried to zoom in on what makes different songs fun. On the first EP, before we signed to Century Media, there is a lot of melodic rock ‘n’ roll stuff. I think it’s there because we hadn’t learned yet to do more death metal riffs, so those were the riffs that Lasse and I had from our upbringing. This time, we turned back to all of those kinds of riffs, being influenced by Zakk Wylde and Jake E. Lee, Accept, Metallica and all that kind of stuff. We figured that if it’s fun and we enjoy playing it, then it’s going to fit! We finally had the guts to try it, and not to worry about what the death metal fans are going to think.”
Although they may anticipate a backlash from death metal purists, Baest are confident that their evolution will be well received. With songs ranging from the anthemic ‘80s metal fury of the title track, and the brutal rock squall of King Of The Sun (featuring a cameo from D-A-D’s Jesper Binzer), to the progressive, true metal avalanche of epic closer Depraved World, Colossal takes Baest back to the essence of their craft.
“When we wrote Depraved World, that’s a riff from when Lasse was 14 years old,” says Karlsson. “He said, ‘I’ve got this riff!’ and we were like, ‘Let’s do an Iron Maiden death metal song!’ [Laughs] It’s so much fun, because it’s long and so different. The headline for the whole album is that it’s different, it’s catchy, and it’s rock ‘n’ roll. Rock ‘n’ roll vibes, but in the aggressive form of extreme metal. This is our first time working with Tue Madsen, and he’s a no-bullshit kind of guy. He’s been in the industry for so many records and with so many different bands, so he’s like, ‘Fuck what people think! Let’s do what seems fun and what sounds catchy!’”
2024 saw the release of two singles from Colossal: the viciously catchy Imp Of The Perverse, and the aforementioned Colossus. Both were rapturously received, and generated a lot of excitement about Baest’s next move. Now that they have the new music in the can, Svend Karlsson and his comrades are brimming with confidence and commitment to the heavy metal cause. Armed with songs that are guaranteed to send metal crowds into a joyous frenzy, Denmark’s smartest death metal band are perfectly placed to conquer the entire world.
“I think we needed to figure out that we were okay with being a heavy metal band,” Karlsson shrugs. “There are also a lot of progressive elements to the record, that we started developing on the Justitia EP. That’s when we realised that it works live, and people really like the Ozzy riffs! So let’s do some more! We played a new, unreleased song on the last tour. Nobody had heard it before, but instantly everyone started clapping along and jumping and having fun. Everybody wants to party, right?”
BAEST line-up: Svend Karlsson – Rhythm/Lead Guitar Simon Olsen – Vocals Lasse Revsbech – Rhythm/Lead Guitar Sebastian Abildsten – Drums & Percussion Mattias ‘Muddi’ Melchiorsen – Bass
Production: Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio
Special Guests: Jesper Binzer of D-A-D on “King Of The Sun” ORM on “Misfortunate Son”
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 ) 