A very young band with surprisingly clear ideas about where they want to go. RecUp return with “Miss U”, their new single released today on August 28th via Volcano Records and produced in Los Angeles by Fabrizio Grossi. The band will present the song live on September 18 at Rome’s Traffic Live Club as part of Volcano Rock Night.
Young in age, but decidedly more mature when it comes to music, RecUp release their new single “Miss U” on Friday, August 28, via Volcano Records, marking another important chapter in a journey that began almost for fun and quickly developed into a project with clearly defined ambitions.
Formed in 2021, RecUp have already released the five-track EP UNION, and with “Miss U” they reveal an increasingly distinctive artistic direction. The new single moves within a contemporary pop-rock sound that is immediate yet far from predictable, combining energy, melodic sensitivity and carefully crafted arrangements with songwriting that speaks the language of their generation without relying on established formulas. “Miss U” captures the moment when, after the end of a complicated relationship, there is no choice but to face what has been left behind. The conflict between knowing what we deserve and continuing to feel something entirely different lies at the heart of a song that explores emotional dependence, loneliness and the need to rebuild one’s relationship with oneself. Adding further depth and an international dimension to the project is the production of Fabrizio Grossi, the Italian-American producer, musician and songwriter who has been based in Los Angeles for many years. Throughout his career, Grossi has worked with artists including Steve Vai, Alice Cooper, ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons, Slash, Joe Bonamassa, Steve Lukather, Glenn Hughes, George Clinton, Eric Gales and Leslie West. His career speaks for itself in terms of the experience brought to the production of “Miss U”: a work that enhances RecUp’s still-evolving identity without compromising their freshness, shaping a modern and solid sound that already reaches beyond the boundaries of the emerging scene.
The RecUp will perform “Miss U” live on September 18 at Rome’s Traffic Live Club, one of the capital’s landmark rock venues, as part of Volcano Rock Night, Volcano Records’ own festival showcasing a selection of projects from the new rock scene connected to the label.
Today, legendary symphonic metal unit KAMELOT unveil the final single from their new epic album Dark Asylum, out today via Napalm Records. “Sanctuary” is built upon pulsating riffs and cinematic swells. Iconic frontman Tommy Karevik is joined by labelmates and upcoming tour partners Visions of Atlantis’s Clémentine Delauney and Decessus frontwoman and current Miss World Chile Ignacia Fernández for an exhilaratingly dynamic vocal trio. With all of its bombast and bravado, “Sanctuary” sees the band firmly planting their feet before leaping into their triumphant, intercontinental victory lap.
Guitarist and founding member Thomas Youngblood on “Sanctuary”: “’Sanctuary’ represents the moment when the darkness of RavenHill is finally left behind. The song is about hope, freedom and finding your way back to yourself after everything you’ve endured. The video takes the story beyond the walls of RavenHill and gives us a glimpse of life after the escape, a new beginning, but one still shaped by the memories and scars of the past. With Tommy, Clémentine and Ignacia bringing three distinct voices to the song, it gives ‘Sanctuary’ an emotional depth that perfectly reflects the journey from darkness into light.”
Today, alongside the album’s release, the band kicks off their extensive Dark Asylum World Tour in Orlando, FL, bringing audiences throughout into the spirit breaking halls of RavenHill Asylum cities like in New York, NY, Seattle, WA, and Dallas, TX for North America, and Tilburg, NL at Kamfest, London, UK, Warsaw, PL, and Barcelona, ES across the pond. This is a spectacle that should not be missed.
Set within a shadowed Neo Victorian-era world, Dark Asylum invites listeners beyond the gates of RavenHill Asylum—an imposing institution once built as a grand cathedral, now repurposed into a place where science, faith, and madness uneasily coexist.
KAMELOT pushes further into cinematic and atmospheric territory on Dark Asylum, diving deeper into theatrical darkness while preserving the signature hooks that define their sound. Candlelight trembles along towering arches and cold stone corridors as you are greeted familiar spectres: Avantasia mastermind Tobias Sammet, Eluveitie’s Lea-Sophie Fischer, Visions of Atlantis’s Clémentine Delauney, Decessus frontwoman and current reigning Miss World Chile champion Ignacia Fernández, Rannveig Sif Sigurðardóttir and Sólveig Sara Leupold, and Billy King! Identity fractures, reality bends, and control slips into unseen hands, guiding its central figure through a descent into psychological darkness that ultimately leads toward transformation… and perhaps sanctuary. From the cinematic sweep of “Ashen World” to the introspective depth of “Sanctuary”, and the layered mystique of “Ivy, My Dear”, Dark Asylum unfolds as a fully immersive journey, blending orchestral grandeur, haunting melodies, and theatrical storytelling into one cohesive vision.
Will you find sanctuary? Or will you wander its halls for eternity?
Deepening the immersion of RavenHill, Dark Asylum will be released on a plethora of exciting platforms including standard gold, solid silver, and classic black vinyl editions, certified vinyl with the white label, white splatter, and blood filled variants, the latter of which are each paired with an official 24 page booklet! Multiple CD digipak available, with the 2 disc version including an instrumental version of the album, alongside cassette and digital options!
Dark Asylum Tracklisting: 1. Sanctorium 2. Ashen World (feat. Ignacia Fernández) 3. Dark Asylum 4. Sanctuary (feat. Clémentine Delauney & Ignacia Fernández) 5. Nocte Veritas 6. One Last Masquerade (feat. Tobias Sammet) 7. Ivy, My Dear 8. Godlike Alchemy 9. The Sleeping Mind (Orphic Paradigm) 10. Kaleidoscope 11. Enigma (Think of Me) 12. Cassandra’s Disease 13. Beneath the Moon (Tunglið) (feat. Rannveig Sif Sigurðardóttir, Sólveig Sara Leupold, Lea-Sophie Fischer) 14. The Puppet King 15. Sanctum Requiem
Produced by Sascha Paeth and Kamelot – Mixed and Mastered by Jacob Hansen.
Always committed to bringing their worlds beyond the studio, KAMELOT will take RavenHill Asylum on the road this fall with the immersive Dark Asylum World Tour, spanning North America and Europe. Once you step inside RavenHill… there is no turning back.
North America Pt. 1 w/ Visions of Atlantis & Frozen Crown 28.08.26 US – Orlando, FL / Hard Rock Live 29.08.26 US – Atlanta, GA / The Masquerade (Heaven) 31.08.26 US – Dallas, TX / The Studio at the Factory 02.09.26 US – Phoenix, AZ / The Van Buren 03.09.26 US – Las Vegas, NV / House of Blues 04.09.26 US – Anaheim, CA / House of Blues 05.09.26 US – San Francisco, CA / The Fillmore 07.09.26 CA – Vancouver, BC / Vogue Theatre 08.09.26 US – Seattle, WA / Neptune 10.09.26 US – Salt Lake City, UT / Rockwell at The Complex 11.09.26 US – Denver, CO / Summit Music Hall 12.09.26 US – Kansas City, MO / The Truman 14.09.26 US – Minneapolis, MN / First Avenue 15.09.26 US – Milwaukee, WI / The Rave 17.09.26 US – St. Charles, IL / The Arcada Theatre 18.09.26 US – Cleveland, OH / Globe Iron 19.09.26 CA – Toronto, ON / Phoenix Concert Theatre 20.09.26 CA – Montreal, QC / MTELUS 22.09.26 CA – Quebec City, QC / Theatre Capitole 24.09.26 US – Glenside, PA / Keswick Theatre 25.09.26 US – Worcester, MA / The Palladium 26.09.26 US – New York, NY / Palladium Times Square 27.09.26 US – Silver Spring, MD / The Fillmore Silver Spring All Tickets and VIP links for North America: https://tix.soundrink.com/tours/kamelot
EUROPE Pt. 1 w/ Exit Eden & Temperance 01.11.26 UK – London / O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire 03.11.26 UK – Manchester / O2 Ritz Manchester 05.11.26 DE – Oberhausen / Turbinenhalle 06.11.26 CH – Pratteln / Z7 Konzertfabrik 07.11.26 FR – Lyon / La Rayonne 08.11.26 DE – Stuttgart / LKA 10.11.26 PL – Krakow / Klub Studio 11.11.26 PL – Warsaw / Progresja 13.11.26 HR – Zagreb / Boogaloo 14.11.26 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra Red Stage 15.11.26 RS – Belgrade / Hangar 17.11.26 IT – Trezzo sull’Adda / Live Club 18.11.26 IT – Padova / Hall 20.11.26 FR – Toulouse / Metronum 21.11.26 ES – Barcelona / Razzmatazz 1 22.11.26 ES – Madrid / Sala La Riviera
Today, dread rock superstar WEDNESDAY 13 gives us another glimpse into his forthcoming incendiary live album, Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025 out September 25, 2026 via Napalm Records. The Duke of Spook, hot off the 2025 smash hit album Mid Death Crisis took the stage in front of over 700,000 adoring festival goers at that year’s Pol’and’Rock festival in Poland, and today shares the truly incendiary rendition of that albums smash hit single, “In Misery”.
WEDNESDAY comments: “The new album really connected with the fans and the new songs seemed like instant classics with them. The track ‘In Misery’ in particular has become a live staple in our show over the last year and really stood out from the others. The track always gets the audience going with their hands held high and singing along to every word.”
A career spanning set of both WEDNESDAY 13 and Murderdolls hits, the band journeys through Mr. Motherfucker’s extensive catalogue on Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025. With Murderdolls classics like “Summertime Suicide” and “197666”, Weds takes us from the beginning through his solo catalog, featuring Transylvania 90210 hits “Look What The Bats Dragged In” and “Bad Things”, The Dixie Dead’s “Too Fast For Blood”, Horrifier’s “Good Day To Be A Bad Guy”, and a plethora of bangers from Mid Death Crisis including “In Misery”, “When The Devil Commands”, and “Rotting Away”. A bloody good time from beginning to end, this album is meant to be heard with the windows down, your accelerator through the floor, and bats on the moonlit horizon.
Pre-order your copy of Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025HERE
Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025 tracklisting: 1 Blood Fades To Black (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 2 Look What The Bats Dragged In (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 3 Too Fast For Blood (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 4 Rotting Away (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 5 I Want You Dead (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 6 When The Devil Commands (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 7 Summertime Suicide (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 8 197666 (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 9 There’s No Such Thing As Monsters (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 10 In Misery (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 11 Good Day To Be A Bad Guy (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 12 Nowhere (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 13 I Walked With A Zombie (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 14 Bad Things (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025) 15 I Love To Say Fuck (Un-Alive from Pol’and’Rock 2025)
WEDNESDAY 13 LIVE 2026:
WEDNESDAY 13 will be touring extensively this fall, the band sets out across North America for the Shocktober Blood tour, joined by Dead on Sunday and Above Snakes, before traveling back across the pond to Europe for the Cursed Blessings co-headliner with The Birthday Massacre. See below for a complete list of dates:
Shocktober Blood North American Tour w/ Dead On A Sunday 23.09.26 US – San Jose, CA / The Ritz 25.09.26 US – Seattle, WA / El Corazon 26.09.26 US – Portland, OR / Dante’s 27.09.26 US – Boise, ID / Shrine Social Club 28.09.26 US – Salt Lake City, UT / Urban Lounge 30.09.26 US – Las Vegas, NV / Backstage Bar 01.10.26 US – Anaheim, CA / Parish @ House of Blues 02.10.26 US – Pomona, CA / Glass House 03.10.26 US – Palmdale, CA / Transplant Brewing Co 04.10.26 US – Los Angeles, CA / Teragram Ballroom 05.10.26 US – Mesa, AZ / Rosetta Room 06.10.26 US – Albuquerque, NM / Sunshine Theater 08.10.26 US – Lincoln, NE / Bourbon Theater 09.10.26 US – McHenry, IL / The Vixen 10.10.26 US – Flint, MI / Machine Shop 11.10.26 US – Lakewood, OH / Mercury 13.10.26 US – Hamden, CT / Space Ballroom 14.10.26 US – Lowell, MA / Taffeta Music Hall 15.10.26 US – Mechanicsburg, PA / Lovedraft’s Brewing Co 16.10.26 US – Syracuse, NY / The Song & Dance 17.10.26 US – Bensalem, PA / Broken Goblet 18.10.26 US – Clifton, NJ / Dingbatz 20.10.26 US – Leesburg, VA / Tally Ho 22.10.26 US – Raleigh, NC / Chapel of Bones 23.10.26 US – Richmond, VA / Canal Club 24.10.26 US – Columbus, OH / The Kings of Clubs 26.10.26 US – Nashville, TN / Basement East 27.10.26 US – Sauget, IL / Pop’s Nightclub 28.10.26 US – Lawrence, KS / The Bottleneck 30.10.26 US – Colorado Springs, CO / Black Sheep 31.10.26 US – Denver, CO / The Federal
Cursed Blessings European Tour Coheadliner with The Birthday Massacre Direct support from Killus 23.11.26 CZ – Prague / Futurum 24.11.26 DE – Leipzig / Conne Island 25.11.26 DE – Cologne / Volta 26.11.26 BE – Liège / Reflektor 28.11.26 FR – Paris / Les Étoiles Chavaux 29.11.26 NL – Rotterdam / Baroeg 30.11.26 DE – Bochum / Matrix 01.12.26 DE – Hamburg / Knust 02.12.26 DE – Berlin / Lido 04.12.26 DE – Dresden / Beatpol 05.12.26 HU – Budapest / Dürer Kert 06.12.25 IT – Venice / Revolver Club 07.12.26 CH – Zurich / Dynamo Saal 08.12.26 DE – Munich / Backstage 09.12.26 DE – Mannheim / MS Connexion Complex 11.12.26 UK – Norwich / Waterfront Studio — NEWLY ADDED 12.12. 26 UK – London / Electric Cinema — NEWLY ADDED 13.12.26 UK – Wolverhampton / KK’s Steel Mill — NEWLY ADDED
WEDNESDAY 13 is: Wednesday 13 – Vocals Jack Tankersely – Guitar Ashes – Lead Guitar Troy Doebbler – Bass Mike Dupke – Drums
Finnish melodic death metallers BRYMIR unleash the second track from their upcoming album, What We Leave Behind, coming October 2, 2026 via Napalm Records! “Tempestbound” surges forward with speedy riffs and a wuthering message. The new single wraps the overarching theme of the band’s darkest album to date in a cloak of mythology. No matter the belief system, the Gods are all the same—and none of them is worth dying for at the hands of moribund mankind. Constituting war as the death of progress, “Tempestbound” solidifies BRYMIR’s epic plea for humanity.
BRYMIR about “Tempestbound”: “Speed and insanity! Mankind is supposed to be starbound, yet here we are fighting over the same old stupid stuff. Our progress has been immense, technological marvels created, yet we mostly seem to use these to just destroy each other and ourselves—just faster and more completely. Instead of reaching the stars, instead of being starbound, we remain ‘Tempestbound.’”
Helsinki-based BRYMIR make a strong case for melodic death metal with What We Leave Behind, coming October 2, 2026 via Napalm Records! In a darkening world full of existential dread, the Finnish band—singer Viktor Storm Gullichsen, guitarist Joona Björkroth, bassist Jarkko Niemi, and drummer Patrik Fält—takes a stand with their most sinister album yet. Again heavily influenced by their singer’s main job as a movie sound designer, BRYMIR create vast cinematic soundscapes around their sometimes bleak, sometimes hopeful, but always honest messages.
Strongly tied to current societal developments, BRYMIR deliver an equally raw and fantastical album. Their darkest output yet, the band’s fifth album hits especially hard—and leaves absolutely no open questions behind. As introspective as it is outspoken, What We Leave Behind is an epic plea for humanity.
BRYMIR about What We Leave Behind: “Since our previous album, the world certainly hasn’t gotten any lighter—and as art reflects life, our fifth album, What We Leave Behind, is the darkest creation we’ve made so far. Both musically as well as thematically… ‘What We Leave Behind?’ is the core question explored from many perspectives: from personal hopes, dreams, and fears to societal developments to dark sci-fi and existential despair. Join us on this dark emotional journey, at times violent, at times beautiful, and always honest in baring the soul of what is BRYMIR – no compromise, everything raw and real.”
The atmospheric instrumental intro, “Slaying Star”, moves right into its faster counterpart, “Sleipnir”, opening up the album with the speed and fury of the eight-hooved horse companion to Allfather Odin it is named after. Keyboards and choirs carry BRYMIR’s epic death metal to new heights. Following “Tempestbound” shifts the focus to speedy guitar work while unveiling the overarching theme of What We Leave Behind. Wrapped in the cloak of mythology, BRYMIR deliver a message clearly translatable into our society: No matter the belief system, the Gods are all the same—and none of them is worth dying for at the hands of moribund mankind. The keys-driven title track, “What We Leave Behind”, hammers in the pacifist message: “Midgard lies in flames”, the four-piece exclaims regretfully about the realm of people, the reason following right behind in the ever-so-catchy chorus, whose calmness serves as a stark contrast to the high-speed verses: “Vanity paves the road to Hel”, the meaning of which is clear even without knowledge of the Edda. “True Darkness” moves down a gloomier path, taking a particularly creative approach to BRYMIR’s signature orchestral sound: following the stages of grief, it offers its chorus only in melody to keep up with the progression of the lyrics. After dismal passages, it closes with hopeful clean vocals and a bittersweet spoken word outro—truly cinematic. Aptly named instrumental breather “Moment Of Silence” beautifully prepares for “Buried Legion”, a contrastingly sweeping song powered by choirs that paint a martial image. Inspired by German composer Johann Sebastian Bach, “Thy Self The Highest Love” serves as a liturgical prelude to “The Roaring King”, in which BRYMIR turn down the speed while losing none of their vigor. The lengthy epic “Broken Dawn” picks up right where the preceding track left off: a waltz, this track closes the album majestically, showcasing the band’s knack for film-like build-ups. For everyone wanting to end on a lighter note, the band adds an out-of-the-box bonus cover to What We Leave Behind. Scooter’s eurodance classic “How Much Is The Fish” is reworked into a rousing melodeath track—an additional nod to BRYMIR’s stance against ocean pollution, “Herald of Aegir”, from the previous album, Voices In The Sky (2022), live performances of which regularly see salmon plushies in the audience.
What We Leave Behind Tour 2026 Special Guests: Horizon Ignited + Omnivortex 18.09.26 FI – Vantaa / Skenesali 25.09.26 FI – Seinäjoki / Rytmikorjaamo 26.09.26 FI – Oulu / 45 Special 02.10.26 FI – Tampere / Olympia 03.10.26 FI – Lahti / VNUE 08.10.26 FI – Jyväskylä / Lutakko 09.10.26 FI – Turku / Apollo 16.10.26 FI – Kouvola / House of Rock 17.10.26 FI – Kuopio / Circus 24.10.26 FI – Vaasa / Fanny 30.10.26 FI – Hämeenlinna / Suisto 31.10.26 FI – Helsinki / Korjaamo
European Spring Tour 2027 19.02.27 DK – Copenhagen / BETA 20.02.27 NO – Oslo / John Dee 21.02.27 SE – Stockholm / Kollektivet Livet 23.02.27 DE – Hamburg / Knust 24.02.27 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal 25.02.27 DE – Berlin / Bi Nuu 26.02.27 DE – Stuttgart / Proton 27.02.27 CH – Pratteln / Z7 28.02.27 DE – Munich / Backstage 01.03.27 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser 02.03.27 DE – Neunkirchen / S. Reithalle 03.03.27 DE – Cologne / Club Volta 04.03.27 NL – Sittard / Volt 05.03.27 NL – Utrecht / De Helling 06.03.27 DE – Bochum / Gleis 9
BRYMIR are: Viktor Storm Gullichsen – Vocals Joona Björkroth – Guitars Jarkko Niemi – Bass Patrik Fält – Drums
Progressive rockers SUBMASQ (formerly known as Subterranean Masquerade) have partnered with Decibel Magazine for the video premiere of “Anger.” The song is the third single from Spirit Animal, their upcoming album on Willowtip.
“Anger” will be available everywhere on August 28.
“At the center of it all is Submasq’s knack for making a lot of seemingly disparate pieces work together: heavy guitars, progressive arrangements, handpan, oud, bouzouki, strings, percussion, and big melodic hooks. Spirit Animal pushes that approach further while retaining the adventurous spirit that has carried the band through six previous full-lengths.” – Decibel
“This truly is progressive music at its most accessible.” – Sentinel Daily
SUBMASQ’s new album is an autobiographical journey through trauma, addiction, bipolar disorder, and collective memory. At its core lies a constant search for identity and belonging, expressed through nine new songs that embrace bold, accessible songwriting while seamlessly blending ethnic instruments with forward-thinking progressive rock. The album also features a special guest appearance by Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal.
This release marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the band through its partnership with American label Willowtip Records, with worldwide distribution through Universal Music Group, opening the door to a broader international audience. Alongside the album, SUBMASQ is actively expanding its global presence with festival appearances and touring across Europe, North America, and beyond, continuing to establish itself as one of progressive rock’s most compelling and unpredictable live acts.
To date, SUBMASQ has released six full-length albums. Spirit Animal stands as the band’s most ambitious and personal work to date, serving as a defining statement as they enter this new era.
In January 2027, SUBMASQ will embark on a European tour alongside Rhapsody of Fire in support of Spirit Animal, with additional international tour dates and festival appearances to be announced.
Willowtip will release Spirit Animal September 18 on gatefold vinyl LP, CD, and digital formats. Pre-order at:
Produced by Tomer Pink. All music by Tomer Pink except 4, 5 by Or Shalev. All lyrics by Davidavi Dolev.
String arrangements by Shai Yallin (1, 2, 5, 9) and Idan Amsalem (3). Editing, guitar therapy and general support by Arie Aranovich. Drums recorded by Alexander Backlund at Fascination Street Studios. Vocals, lead guitars and cello recorded by Arie Aranovich at Polar Studio. Oud, Bouzouki & percussion recorded by Idan Amsalem at Black Knob Studio. Keyboards and handpan recorded by Shai Yallin at Synth-O-Rama Studio.
Art by Yalon Schori and Shay Darvish. Mask by Moran Gross.
Soaked in blood and craving more, North Carolina’s melodic death metal masters AETHER REALM have undergone a violent transformation, emerging with their ferocious new album Season of Bloodshed, to be unleashed December 11th, 2026 via Napalm Records.
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.”
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, the first track is a herald of a new era as the band transforms into something darker. “Control” opens 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 Omnium,” 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.
Season of Bloodshed Tracklist:
The Blood Is Calling
Control
Broken Fist (Feat. Taj Jewett)
Get Fukt
The Weight
Path of the Wind
Achilles’ Heel
Terminus Omnium
AETHER REALM Are: Jake Jones – Bass, Vocals Heinrich Arnold – Guitar Tyler Gresham – Drums Chris Jones – Guitar
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
