The new album “Anastasja” by SVANZICA is out now on all digital platforms, released by Volcano Records & Promotion and preceded a few days ago by the single ‘Ultramarina’.
“Anastasja is an emblem of rebirth to a new life. This album, conceived during the darkness of the pandemic, represents a sprout emerging from the cold earth, an ember still burning under the ashes, water flowing beneath the desert sand.” (Svanzica)
Composed of nine intense and evocative tracks, Anastasja explores the theme of rebirth through rock and metal sounds, blending emotional melodies with powerful riffs. Following the success of the single Limegar, Svanzica affirm their artistic evolution with an album that merges melodic death metal, progressive, and alternative influences. Anastasja marks a new chapter in the band’s career, solidifying their path with a mature and captivating sound.
Listen to Anastasja now on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major digital platforms, and watch the Ultramarina music video here:
ROTTING CHRIST have stood the test of time. Over the past 35 years, Sakis Tolis, his brother Themis and their brothers-in-arms have risen from Greece’s blackened catacombs to become one of metal’s most formidably reliable forces.
Backed by a legacy that has both defined and defied black metal, last year, the Greek legends carved out a new set of dark, melodic scriptures with fresh rebellion on the unbreakable Pro Xristou.
“…this is the most arena-worthy Rotting Christ have been in some time”, No Clean Singingwrote about their latest album.
Now, as they continue to tour the world, Rotting Christ are celebrating 35 years of evil existence with a new live album. This two-hour set was recorded at the Lycabettus Hill Theater in the band’s hometown of Athens. Like a Greek pantheon, it spans the band’s entire career, from early evil classics to the pillars of their Hellenic legacy, including “Δαιμόνων Βρώσης (Demonon Vrosis)”, the horns-raising anthem from the bloody and triumphant Aealo.
Watch Rotting Christ perform “Δαιμόνων Βρώσης (Demonon Vrosis)” Live in Lycabettus:
The formidable bond between brothers Sakis and Themic Tolis is not only felt across their mighty discography but also live and in the flesh. Having played more than a hundred shows all across the world in 2024, Rotting Christ continue to keep the true metal spirit alive time and time again.
Track-list:
1. 666 (5:45) 2. P’Unchaw Kachun- Tuta Kachun (4:54) 3. Fire God and Fear (4:44) 4. Kata Ton Demona Eaytoy (4:50) [WATCH] 5. Apage Satana (4:40) 6. Dies Irae (4:37) 7. Demonon Vrosis (5:00) [WATCH] 8. Aealo (3:42) 9. Like Father, Like Son (4:41) 10.King of a Stellar War (6:22) 11. Shadows Follow (2:07) 12. Archon (4:25) 1. The Sign of Evil Existence (1:51) 2. Fgmenth Thy Gift (4:16) 3. Societas Satanas (4:07) 4. Forest of N’gai (4:19) 5. Sorrowful Farewell (4:29) 6. Among Two Storms (3:54) 7. After Dark I Feel (4:08) 8. Athanatoi Este (5:32) 9.Nemecic (4:17) 10. In Yumen Xibalba (6:27) 11. Grandis Spiritus Diavolos (6:05) 12. The Raven (5:28) 13. Under the Name of Legion (5:51) Full runtime: 1:56:31
Earlier this week, Rotting Christ finished touring Brazil, but the band aren’t done hitting the road. This weekend, they’re performing “Like Father, Like Son” and other instant classics from Pro Xristou for the very first time in Columbia and Mexico.
“Dear brothers and sisters”, Rotting Christ write to their Latin American legion. “We are proud to return to your land for a special setlist just for you to celebrate our 35 years as a band. Keep the true Metal Spirit alive!”.
Pro Xristou Over Columbia & Mexico February 2025 February 21 – Colombia, Bogota @ Ace of Spades February 22 – Mexico City, Mexico @ Pabellon del Palacio de los Deportes
Pro Xristou is bound to hold a revered place in the Rotting Christ’s heretical history. Always true to their name, the band’s fourteenth album – which, in English, means “Before Christ” – pays tribute to the last of the Pagan kings by offering up more towering, gothic, melodic black metal.
“Our new album was inspired by the might of ancient pagan wisdom”, says frontman Sakis Tolis. “It’s a tribute to those who resisted the coming of Christianity, which destroyed all the values, traditions and knowledge of the ancient world”.
Later this spring, Rotting Christ are blessing Europe on The Unholy Trinity Tour with Behemoth and Satyricon. Then this summer, the band will return stateside for an exclusive performance at Milwaukee Metalfest.
The Unholy Trinity 2025: April 4: Vienna, AT @ Gasometer April 5: Munich, DE @ Zenith April 6: Berlin, DE @ Columbiahalle April 8: Zurich, CH @ Halle 622 April 9: Milan, IT @ Alcatraz April 11: Paris, FR @ Olympia April 12: London, UK @ O2 Brixton Academy April 13: Tilburg, NL @ 013 Poppodium April 15: Cologne, DE @ E-Werk April 16: Wiesbaden, DE @ Schlachthof April 18: Stockholm, SE @ B-K April 22: Helsinki, FI @ Ice Hall April 23: Riga, LV @ Palladium April 26: Lichtenfels, DE @ Ragnaroek Fest April 27: Prague, CZ @ 02 Universum
Rotting Christ @ Milwaukee Metal Fest Friday, May 16 – Milwaukee, Wi @ The Rave/Eagles Club [TICKETS]
In the dimly lit catacombs of extreme metal, one name stands as a monolith: ROTTING CHRIST. Sakis Tholis and his brother Themis started this band together back in 1987. In the three decades since, these Greek titans have left their blackened imprint all over the metal world. They’ve released 13 studio albums and played more than 1,300 concerts around the globe. Underneath all this hard work, Rotting Christ have but one vision – an urge to not only push the boundaries of extreme metal, but to keep reinventing themselves along the way.
Rotting Christ’s evolution has unfolded across several distinct chapters. After starting out closer to the barely controlled chaos of grindcore, they went on to establish the iconic sound of Hellenic black metal. Their albums often embrace refined gothic soundscapes, only to plunge back into the depths of blasphemous fervour. Each chapter marked another, further exploration, and an unwavering commitment to push boundaries.
But the real turning point came in 2007, when Rotting Christ signed a pact with Season of Mist. They unleashed a series of albums for the French label that defied any and all expectations. From the piercing Theogonia and the symphonic grandeur of Aelo to the ritualistic intensity of Κατά Τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού, the cinematic experiences created by Rotting Christ became a spectacle of bombastic atmospheres, mesmerizing choirs, and neo-classical arrangements. The unexpected is their modus operandi, with the use of various languages (Latin, Arabic, Greek, English) as well as the extensive use of famous poetry woven into their music, like Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven’ on The Heretics.
In 2019, Rotting Christ’s epic journey continued with The Apocryphal Spell compilation, which offers fans an intimate glimpse into unreleased and rare material. This allowed them to gather strength, preparing for the release of their next, highly anticipated, 14th full-length studio album: Pro Xristou. Pro Xristou (‘Before Christ’ in Greek), serves as a fervent tribute to the last Pagan kings who resisted the onslaught of Christianity, guarding their ancient values and knowledge. In this thematic odyssey, intricately woven through tracks such as ‘The Apostate’ and ‘Ygdrassil’, Rotting Christ delves into the legacies of historical figures such as Flavius Claudius Julianus and Nordic mythological kings, embodying the might of Pagan wisdom in the face of Christian adversity. The album encapsulates the essence of Rotting Christ’s signature style – melodic, yet harsh at times – reinventing themselves yet again, while remaining rooted in their 35-year legacy.
Swedish gothic metal maestros TRIBULATION will be casting their spell on North America this spring! The band will embark on a full tour of the continent this May, for which they will first co-headline from May 1 through May 12 with UNTO OTHERS. Then, TRIBULATION will headline the second leg from May 14 until the final stop on May 25, in which they will be joined by EARLY MOODS as support. FINAL GASP + UNREQVITED will support the entire run.
The full itinerary can be found below! Tickets are available today on February 21 @ 10:00 A.M. local time at THIS LOCATION.
ICYMI: TRIBULATION recently unveiled a cinematic music video for the haunting single, “Murder in Red,” which pays homage to vintage Italian horror cinema. The video was created by Brandon McGowan with additional footage from Damón Zurawski and can be found at THIS LOCATION.
The track is taken from TRIBULATION‘s latest full-length, ‘Sub Rosa in Æternum,’ which was released on November 1, 2024 via Century Media Records, which was named among the best records of 2024 by Decibel Magazine (#5), A&P Reacts (#4), Invisible Oranges (#3), Heavy Music HQ (#23) + more!
The offering follows up the band’s award-winning 2021 album, ‘Where the Gloom Becomes Sound.’ On ‘Sub Rosa in Æternum,’ Tribulation conjure new beast: Part psychological horror of Italian cinema, part gaunt British goth, and part Art Deco opulence, ‘Sub Rosa In Æternum’ is a blazing torch upon a cloudy, skeleton sky. Orders can be found HERE.
TRIBULATION North American Tour Dates:
Co-headlining with UNTO OTHERS, with support from FINAL GASP + UNREQVITED): 05/01: Chicago, IL @ Reggies 05/02: Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar 05/03: Denver, CO @ Bluebird 05/04: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge 05/06: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon 05/07: Portland, OR @ Star Theater 05/09: San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge 05/10: Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent 05/11: San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick 05/12: Phoenix, AZ @ The Rebel Lounge
Headlining w/ direct support from EARLY MODS + FINAL GASP, support from UNREQVITED) 05/14: Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live 05/15: Ft. Worth, TX @ The Rail^ 05/16: New Orleans, LA @ Southport Hall^ 05/17: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Hell)^ 05/18: Raleigh, NC @ Chapel of Bones^ 05/20: Gastonia, NC @ The Rooster^ 05/21: Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest 05/22: Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving 05/23: Brooklyn, NY @ Meadows 05/24: Montreal, QC @ Foufounes 05/25: Toronto, ON @ Lees Palace
Bonus Track: I takt med otiden* *Bonus track on Ltd. CD Mediabook + Ltd. Deluxe LPs only
Tribulation is known for their unique blend of gothic and death metal. Formed in 2005, the band consists of Johannes Andersson (Vocals/Bass), Adam Zaars (Guitar), Joseph Tholl (Guitar) and Oscar Leander (Drums). They have released several captivating albums during their career and are renowned for their theatrical live performances. ‘Sub Rosa in Æternum’ marks the first release of the band after their 2023 EP ‘Hamartia,’ which has achieved critical acclaim after Tribulation’s award-winning last studio album, ‘Where the Gloom Becomes Sound’ in 2021.
Lineup: Johannes Andersson (Vocals/Bass) Adam Zaars (Guitar) Joseph Tholl (Guitar) Oscar Leander (Drums)
Italian crust / grindcore squad HORRID HUMAN CONDITION will release their debut album “Perpetual Imbalance” on April 18th 2025 via Time To Kill Records.
The first single, “Abused by Life”, is now streaming HERE.
The band commented:
“‘Abused by Life’ was the first track composed by the band, shortly after the formation in the summer of 2022. Musically, it is a synthesis of the influences found throughout the album, ranging from neocrust to more traditionally crust punk sounds, with some black metal elements. The song deals with the theme of human exploitation in the workplace. In an increasingly fast-paced and cynical society, the ones who suffer the consequences are the workers, forced to give up their rights just to survive, spending a part of their existence in a state of alienation. The lyrics are inspired by two major films: ‘Metropolis’ by Fritz Lang and ‘The Working Class Goes to Heaven’ by Elio Petri”.
Tracklist:
01 – Prelude to Failure 02 – Man is Overrated 03 – Heavy Burden 04 – The Great Decay 05 – Endless Nightmare 06 – Scorn 07 – A New Famine 08 – Price to Pay 09 – Nowhere to Hide 10 – Abused by Life 11 – Disguise 12 – Total Indifference 13 – The Last Era 14 – Black Lungs
Formed in the summer of 2022, the band emerged when Alessandro (vocals), Claudio (guitar), and Marino (bass) joined forces with Carlo (drums). Drawing from their parallel experiences in projects like laCasta and Nigredo, their synergy was undeniable. Within months, the band had written 14 powerful tracks, debuted live in March 2023, and recorded their material by December of the same year.
The name HORRID HUMAN CONDITION reflects the band’s visceral critique of modern society. Their music captures the existential and social despair of a world where systems designed to govern and sustain instead serve the wealthy and powerful—leaving the majority to bear the consequences. Themes of disillusionment with money, religion, morals, and politics dominate their lyrical landscape, exposing these as mere instruments of control.
Musically, the band channels this intense message through a raw fusion of crust punk and grindcore, genres perfectly suited to convey feelings of chaos and urgency. Expect a sonic assault of sharp, high-pitched guitars, sludgy, acidic basslines, machine-gun-like drumming, and vocals that scream with desperate energy. Their live performances are a cathartic and visceral experience, where the band forges an unbreakable bond with their audience.
With a debut full of fury and conviction, HORRID HUMAN CONDITION is poised to leave their mark on the extreme music scene. Time To Kill Records is proud to support their vision and looks forward to bringing their raw energy to a wider audience.
With the Dead Boys’ first all-new album in over 40 years drawing closer every day, Cleopatra Records continue preparing for its release with the latest in a series of deep dives inside the Cleveland punks’ archive… the night that the Dead Boys became, for one show only, the Dead Dolls.
With regular drummer Johnny Blitz hospitalized following a murderous street attack, and in desperate need of funds for his medical costs, guitarist Cheetah Chrome conceived a benefit show at the band’s regular hang-out, CBGBs.
Swiftly, one concert became a full weekend, as the great and good of the New York punk scene turned out to perform. Blondie, Suicide, the Ramones, the Dictators, Sic Fucks, the Erasers, James Chance and the Contortions, the Student Teachers, the Fleshtones, the Mumps, Helen Robbins, Shrapnel, the Dots, the Rudies, the Senders and Divine and the Neon Women all stepped forward.
Even more excitingly, Blitz’s place at the drum kit was filled not only by New York Doll Jerry Nolan, but also Saturday Night Live regular John Belushi, a long time friend of the band’s.
“He was really concerned about Blitz,” recalls Cheetah. “In fact. the doctor who worked on Blitz was one of Belushi’s.” He was also, the guitarist continues, “into really good meat and potatoes, like a blues drummer. He was high on the blues from Chicago. He had a studio in his basement, with a full kit set up. We used to go down there and bang around.
“He could hold a beat very well, he was very straightforward. For a blues drummer, he was good.”
The Dead Boys’ set tonight was split almost equally between their own material and, in tribute to Nolan’s past, the Dolls’.
“Me and Blitz grew up on the Dolls,” says Cheetah. “We played a lot of Dolls music while we were fucking around at rehearsals, and the Dead Boys did as well, just jamming on them.
“It was a labor of love. We were rehearsing with Jerry the week before the show, and I remember I was really looking forward to doing the Dolls stuff.”
Even Dolls vocalist David Johansen’s love of the harmonica did not prove an obstacle. Dead Boys frontman Stiv Bators, says Cheetah, could already sing anything. It turned out he could play anything as well, or at least make it look that way.
“He would do the harmonica parts with his hands. Like on ‘Pills,’ he didn’t have a harmonica to play. He’d just put his hands up to his mouth and make the noise, and it sounded just like the real thing.”
Night of the Living Dead Boys is released on both CD and green and black spattered vinyl.
Night of the Living Dead Boys is the sixth installment of Cleopatra’s Dead Boys archive collection, following on from the out-takes and live Ignorance In Action (The Rarities), the 1977 concert recording Live in San Francisco, the Halloween 1986 reunion show Return of the Living Dead Boys, the out-takes collection Younger, Louder And Snottyer and the lost sessions collection Third Generation Nation.
Much like their Bloodborne namesake, Wrath of Logarius are impossible to predict. But no matter what skeletal form they assume, their upcoming debut album, Crown of Mortis, pronounces them as the unflinching kings of black metal’s formless new realm.
Watch the mind-melding playthrough for new single “Of the Void”:
Can’t wait to hear Crown of Mortis? RSVP for Wrath of Logarius’ upcoming Bandcamp Listening Party and hear their debut album two weeks before it comes out.
Wrath of Logarius Crown of Mortis Bandcamp Listening Party – RSVP March 12 @ 7 pm Pacific Time
After emerging from the misty forests of Northern California four years ago, Wrath of Logarius spread through the world of underground metal like a bloodborne virus. “…a ferocious display of intent which signifies the band’s potential to become a powerhouse”, New Noise wrote about the band’s burning introduction.
Many hunters would’ve reaped their rewards while resting their bones, but Crown of Mortis only builds on the band’s growing lore. The album’s first single summoned all the bloody runes from the band’s formless spellbook. Now armed with newly minted Strega guitars, Wrath of Logarius cycle through the many moonlit phases of black metal on “Of the Void”.
New bassist Xolotl opens the icy procession with dissonant bass chugs, as if marching toward death. Like a howling wind, Vastator whips across a darkened stretch of classic tremolo picking, only to climb like mist through a solo that drips with despair.
“Open the gates and let revision in“, Noctifier screams before being engulfed by the blistering flames from Lord Marco’s blast beats. “Slowly dismantle every part of you“.
On “Of the Void”, Wrath of Logarius usher black metal into a boundless new realm.
For this playthrough, Wrath of Logarius used Strega Master Elite series Lamia 7s loaded with custom Arcana Glaive Pickups.
Cover art by Sant V. Schreiber
Tracklist 1. Unfathomable (1:05) 2. Keeper of the Spectral Legion (4:37) [WATCH] 3. Erosion (4:26) 4. Of the Void (5:35) [WATCH] 5. Long Dead the King (4:30) 6. Crypt (1:03) 7. The Ethereal Mist (Feat. Vilhelm of Grima) (4:45) 8. Lurker’s Tomb (6:22) 9. Dread (4:49) Full runtime: 37:12
Despite its contentious spirit, black metal can be awfully rigid. But Wrath of Logarius aren’t bound by the scene’s strict traditions. Their first album officially coronates a new realm for the subgenre: formless black metal. Much like their namesake, the band’s next move is impossible to predict. Yet no matter what skeletal form they assume, Crown of Mortis pronounces Wrath of Logarius as unflinching kings of this new realm.
Though they hail from the misty forests of Northern California, it’s fitting that whispers of Wrath of Logarius began amongst the digital realm. After all, the band are named after a notoriously difficult video game dungeon master. When their cryptic debut “1897” dropped out of thin air during the pandemic, the song burned up message boards so quickly that the flames could be seen from the South of France. After signing with Season of Mist in 2023, they formally introduced formless black metal with an EP that spread through the world of extreme metal like a bloodborne virus.
“Creating a new subgenre label and having it work? *Chef’s Kiss*”, New Noise gushed over Necrotic Assimilation. Meanwhile, Teeth of the Divine were nearly knocked unconscious by its brutal assault on the senses. “Lord Marco’s drum work is ridiculous here and is almost making my vision vibrate”.
Many hunters would’ve reaped those rewards while resting their bones, but the lore behind Wrath of Logarius continues to grow. This band of skeletons were already busy fleshing out their first full-length before Necrotic Assimilation had even swarmed streaming services. Crown of Mortis follows the immediate aftermath of their viral takeover. Each song twists into a uniquely horrific tale that serves the larger plot of its accursed king. “Unfathomable” opens as if trapped in another nightmarish dimension, though its narrator’s ominous transmission can’t stop “Keeper of the Spectral Legion” from summoning an army of the undead.
“Ancient — Power — Cosmic — Legion“, Noctifer growls. As his gutturals climb into throat-scraping agony, axemen Urath and Vastator switch the blade of their Stregas from merciless death metal chug to tremolo pickings that are pierced with gloom.
With Crown of Mortis, Wrath of Logarius build on their throne of formless black metal. Though possessed by a mournful melody, “Long Dead the King” marches to Lord Marco’s blistering blasts. The flays from his flying fingers are so precise in their pounding that they erode the mind. But while the band have leveled up in brute strength, the album also ups their chilling sense for atmosphere with hair-raising skill. With the curl of each blackened tendril, “Of the Void” embraces transfiguration by fire and ice. “Open the gates and let revision in“, Noctifier beckons amidst swirling dissonance. “Slowly dismantle every part of you“.
Wrath of Logarius also encrust Crown of Mortis with deadly new jewels. Another woodland specter comes to join their ranks on “The Ethereal Mist”. Beneath its slithering stomp emerges Vilhelm of Grima with freshly rotten snarls. “Lurker’s Tomb” crashes down with knuckle-dragging riffs and brutal double bass kicks, but its trap is sprung by a solo that’s treachery lies in its maze-like technicality. “The fear subsides for now I breathe again“, Noctifier shrieks as the album’s dread-inducing closer ascends into the astral plane.
On Crown of Mortis, Wrath of Logarius bend black metal to fit their formless rule.
Line-up Noctifer – Vocals Urath – Lead Guitar Vastador – Guitar Lord Marco – Drums
Recording Studio Rapture Recordings, Hayward, CA, USA
Production Credits Produced, Engineered, Mixed & Mastered by Cody Fuentes at Rapture Recordings Studio
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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