Italian atmospheric black metal band SVART VINTER have just inked a deal with Dutch label Non Serviam Records.
Founded in Rome in 2021 by members of the doom/death metal band Veil Of Conspiracy, they draw inspiration from the classic Norwegian black metal scene of the 90’s.
SVART VINTER’s sound is characterized by haunting melodies, cold, sharp riffs, and a powerful, relentless rhythm section. Their lyrics delve into themes of nature, isolation, and existential struggle, exploring both the beauty and the darkness of the natural world and the human condition. Their music is more than just a reflection of black metal’s harsh sound – it’s a journey through darkness, atmosphere and emotion, a tribute to the genre’s past while looking toward its future.
The band comments: “We are thrilled to officially announce our signing with Non Serviam Records. This collaboration represents a significant milestone in our artistic journey, and we are excited to bring you new music and projects under their incredible support. Stay tuned for more info.”
Non Serviam Records’ owner Ricardo Gelok enthuses: “The dark and melodic black metal sound of ‘Isvind’ was a real pleasant surprise when i hear the songs for the first time. I have listened to this album a lot, that’s how much I liked the new album.This is a band that knows how to write good music and turn it into a good production too. I’m happy to have Svart Vinter at Non Serviam Records.”
SVART VINTER will release their sophomore album “Isvind” later this year.
SVART VINTER are: Andrea Maggioni – Vocals Luca Gagnoni – Rhythm and Lead Guitars Emanuela Marino – Rhythm Guitars Jacopo Simonelli – Bass Luca Tiraterra – Drums
On March 14th, 2025, AINSOPH unveils “Affection and Vengeance” via Wolves Of Hades. This release promises to immerse listeners in melancholic post-punk soundscapes and experimental black metal outbreaks, showcasing the band’s sonic evolution and evocative artistry.
The first single “The Beaten Path Made Flesh” is now streaming HERE.
Five years ago, an entrancing piece of aural magick entitled “Ω – V” was released unto the ether, an awe-inspiring work of wonder and dreamlike gazing introducing AINSOPH into this mortal coil. Now, the time is nigh for a new offering, one which is purveyed by the elements which enthralled the heart and soul in 2020, further heading into another level of contemplation, of a feverish will to feel and disassociate, to exist and disintegrate.
“Affection and Vengeance” is deeply moving in its capacity to evoke raw emotion from profound regions thru its utterly immersive sound. Pulsing beats mimic throbbing hearts abreast gashing riffs and licks, thoroughly moving with its plethora of shades and colours, as urgent as it is bucolic, burning with life as it serenely contemplates the void. The group’s reverberations grasp a new apex, as the electric, hypnotizing wall of sound embraces the listener in a solitary pathway where variety is yet again a feature in the creations of AINSOPH. A dichotomy is not only breathing in the album’s title, but it is also felt in how the Dutch entity thrives through catchy, melancholic post-punk pastures – where the wonderous voice of I.V. sparkles and moves – or blast-beating black metal inspired outbreaks, incurring in experimental traits that enrich this audial palette, showcasing AINSOPH reaching new heights in intensity and climax.
“Affection and Vengeance” stands as a thorough experience into the nadirs of the mind, body and soul, a sorrowful, a pleasurable and certainly an unforgettable voyage over and beyond ethereal planes of ecstasy.
(Text by Mário Souto)
Tracklist:
1: Cowardice 2: The Beaten Path Made Flesh 3: Zeal like a Timeless Vacuum 4: Affection 5: Call to the Fire 6: Vengeance 7: Seven Mouths in the Neck 8: Purple Curtains
Japanese band ALPHOENIX was formed in 2015 and plays a melodic type of death metal. In their music, they combine aggression with sensational melodic guitar parts, clean vocals and growls. While influenced by the Nordic scene, they fuse it with a uniquely Japanese sensibility, pushing the boundaries of melodic death metal while staying true to their roots.
Revitalizing the global death metal scene is no small task, but ALPHOENIX is moving towards achieving it. So far, the band from Tokyo has released two studio albums: “Final Crusades” (2015) and “Evil Ways” (2022) and few singles.
Alphoenix draws inspiration from legendary bands like In Flames, Dark Tranquillity, and Soilwork, blending the melodic intricacies of the Gothenburg sound with powerful, evocative lyrics that resonate with listeners’ hearts. Their music feature are guitar harmonies that mix catchy melodies with heavy rhythms with fusion of clean vocals and growls to express a broad emotional range
Today, the Japanese band is releasing video to the brand new song titled “Tokyo Lunar” with guest vocal by Xavier from American melodic death metal band Upon Stone. Single was engineered by Thomas Johansson at The Panic Room (Blindead 23, Ereb Altor, Evergrey, Katatonia, Mayhem, Watain). The cover artwork was created by Shimpei – the vocalist and guitarist of the band.
Leader of the band about new song: “It’s our the heaviest track to date, fusing 90s Tokyo culture with a modern perspective, set during the dawn of melodic death metal. Celebrate the band’s 10th anniversary with us!“.
Italian thrash/death metallers IRREVERENCE have released a new video for ‘Black Hearts’, taken from the band’s “Forsaken” album, which was released in April 2024.
IRREVERENCE was founded in 1995 by Riccardo Paioro, which found in Davide Firinu the right person to start the project. The band took advantage of the difficult period due to the pandemic and the consequent scarcity of live shows to compose new music. This resulted in what is the combo’s eleventh official release: “FORSAKEN”. Recorded at ADSR Studios, the band’s new full-length consists of 9 tracks and can be described as a further compositional breakthrough for the Italian quartet. The new album saw the light of day on 1 April 2024 on all digital and streaming platforms, as well as in digipack version and was supported by a European tour on the second half of April 2024.
The Plague has announced his upcoming album The Divided States Of Hysteria is now available for pre-order from FiXT. The full album releases on February 28, 2025.
The Divided States Of Hysteriais a sonic manifesto diving into themes of addiction, identity, societal pressures, self-reflection, and the complex duality of human nature. Synths, guitars, bass, and drums collide to create an intense sonic palette that mirrors the album’s themes of internal and external chaos. The Plague combines raw and vulnerable lyrics, with complex soundscapes showcasing his unparalleled ability to blend emotive lyrics with powerful instrumentation. The album captures The Plague’s signature blend of rock, hard rock, and alternative influences, delivering tracks that are as energetic as they are thought-provoking. From powerful synths to driving guitars and thunderous drums, the instrumentation provides a dynamic backdrop for lyrics that tackle deeply personal and universal themes.
Featuring singles like “Man Machine or Beast” that challenges the impact of technology on our relationships, while “Predator” confronts humanity’s darker instincts. “Float Right On By” is a poignant reflection on selfishness and the search for redemption and “Clean Slate” is a heartfelt anthem of renewal and forgiveness. While “Right Back Down” is a firestorm featuring thrashing guitars, brutal vocals, as an intense exploration of a relationship that ends without warning. The Divided States Of Hysteria is a deep and honest exploration of the human condition.
Releasing with the pre-order announcement is the new single “Ugly on the Inside.” The track dives into the destructive nature of narcissism, self-reflection, and the world’s betrayal of God. Originally a pop-punk demo, it was reimagined as “modern dungeon pop-punk,” becoming one of The Plague’s creepiest and most impactful songs to date.
The Plague explains further, “This song I wrote about a famous narcissist I knew/know, and about how destructive his ego was to everyone around him. But after a bit I realized that I could see similar aspects in myself. I changed the song from pointing a finger at him to pointing a finger at myself and then eventually made it about the worlds betrayal of God. The demo was very pop punk and I wanted to make it newer. I looked at the lyrics and thought “I want to make this song modern dungeon pop punk!” After an overhaul, the song was way creepier and might be one of my favorite “The Plague” songs.”
The Plague is the brainchild of producer/engineer David Adam Monroe, a pioneer of Future Punk. The Plague’s post-apocalyptic themes portray the struggles of being human, encouraging people to break free of the superficial and to know they are not alone.
David has been playing music from an early age, highly encouraged by his parents, he received an electric guitar at age ten and took off emulating his favorite bands at the time; Greenday, Smashing Pumpkins, and other 90’s rock bands. His career took off at age 16 when a promoter got his high school band on the Van’s Warped Tour.
As a producer/engineer, David has produced records with many artists including Glen Matlock from the Sex Pistols and multi-platinum engineer Earl Cohen. As a musician, he has toured internationally–including 4 years on Van’s Warped Tour— and has played with bands such as Tony Levin, My Chemical Romance, Story of the Year, NoFx, The Used, Yellow Card, Three Days Grace, and many more. ThePlague‘s debut album Hope For the F.U.T.U.R.E. was released independently in 2017.
In 2018 The Plague remixed Circle Of Dust’s “Embracing Entropy” (feat. Celldweller), through artist-owned record label FiXT. The Plague eventually signed to FiXT in 2022, and re-released the debut album with remastered tracks, new art as well as bonus tracks throughout the 2023, ahead of a new album slated for release in 2025.
“My goal with The Plague was to make futuristic Christian rock, when I was producing bands in Boston, my assistant showed me Celldweller and said, “This guy is dope and reminds me of you!” I chased Celldweller’s blend of synths and guitars, and that exploration process helped me discover my own sound. When I finished the record I emailed James (FiXT Manager) with the spirit of a little brother and said, “Hey James, look! I self-produced a futuristic rock record that I’m releasing on my label! You guys inspired this!” By some wonderful miracle he was excited too!” – The Plague
New York trio SANHEDRIN will release their long-awaited new full-length, Heat Lightning, on March 14th via Metal Blade Records.
SANHEDRIN has spent the last decade at the forefront of the American heavy metal scene blending traditional metal and hard rock sounds with a fresh modern energy and perspective. With 2022’s critically lauded Lights On full-length, the band had created their most complete work to date. With their follow-up, Heat Lightning, the band delivers a diverse collection of songs that wholly captures their wide array of influences with an elevated level of production.
“Sonically, there’s no comparison,” notes drummer Nathan Honor when asked how Heat Lightning compares to the band’s previous efforts. “Heat Lightning is the fullest representation of the power of this band. When you take three seasoned musicians with their favorite handpicked instruments, put them in front of two brilliant producer/engineers in a studio stacked with incredible equipment and no outside distractions, this is what you get.”
Unlike the previous three albums, which were all tracked and mixed by Colin Marston, for Heat LightningSANHEDRIN opted to work with a fresh set of ears in a new environment. In doing so, the band landed at the legendary Utopia Bearsville studio in Woodstock, New York. At the helm for recording and co-producing were Matt Brown (Life of Agony, A Pale Horse Named Death) and Jerry Farley (Sick Of It All, Madball).
Heat Lightning gets its title from the second track of the same name. “‘Heat lightning’ is a flash of lightning from very far away, sometimes seen in a clear sky,” says vocalist/bassist Erica Stoltz. “It is used as a metaphor for where we see ourselves at the moment in relation to climate change. Collectively we have moved further away from our direct relationship to nature and have adopted a paternal relationship with the natural world, as if we have control.” It was one of the first songs written for the album, and one of the most dynamic tracks the band has ever written. Elsewhere, “The Fight Of Your Life” is a tribute to those we call “lifers” in the music business. “It’s about the compulsion to play music no matter what. When you get the bug and you have it for life, it is your north star, your reason to be,” says Stoltz. “Franklin County Line” is the fastest song on the record, and inspired guitarist Jeremy Sosville’s hometown and surrounding area in northern New York state. Sosville recounts, “Erica and Nathan came up to visit me and work on new music. In the process, we wrote a song inspired by the local Amish population but with a naughty twist.”
The record commences with “Blind Wolf,” a hard-rocking, heavy metal stomper and the record’s lead single. Lyrically, the song is inspired by the band’s shared fascination with cults. According to Stoltz, “The blind wolf symbolizes losing your animal instincts as a result of adopting someone else’s belief system.” The song is straightforward, pounding, and delivered with ill intent. “We knew as soon as the song was complete that it should open the record,” says Sosville. “It really sets the tone for the journey the listener is about to take with this album.”
“This album is a symbol of persistence during hard times, friendship through music, and the unwavering desire to do our best work together,” says Sosville. “After a decade of being a band, we are proud that we continue to push ourselves to new places sonically and musically. We hope the listener can hear our sincerity and our dedication when listening to this new collection of songs.”
Heat Lightning features the striking hand-painted cover art of band friend and fervent supporter Johan Prenger.
Heat Lightning Track Listing: 01. Blind Wolf 02. Heat Lightning 03. Above the Law 04. The Fight of Your Life 05. King of Tides 06. Franklin County Line 07. Let’s Spill Some Blood 08. High Threshold for Pain 09. When the Will Becomes the Chain
SANHEDRIN Live: US 20-22/03/25 US – Houston – Hell’s Heroes 30/03/25 US – Tulsa – Bangover Brunch 26/04/25 US – Pittsburgh – Mr. Small Funhouse EU 22/05/25 DE – Stuttgart – Schwarzer Keiler w/ SAVAGE MASTER 23/05/25 NL – Breda – Sonddog w/ SAVAGE MASTER 25/05/25 BE – Diest – Hell w/ SAVAGE MASTER 26/05/25 DE – Hamburg – Logo w/ SAVAGE MASTER 28/05/25 SE – Järfälla/Stockholm – Klubb Fredagsmangel w/ SAVAGE MASTER 30/05/25 SE – Gothenburg – Abyss w/ SAVAGE MASTER 31/05/25 SE – Alvesta – Muskelrock Festival 03/06/25 DE – Frankfurt – Nachtleben w/ SAVAGE MASTER 05/06/25 DE – Kassel – Goldgrube 06/06/25 DE – Gelsenkirchen – Rock Hard Festival 07/06/25 DE – Oldenburg – MTS Records 08/06/25 UK – London – Cart & Horses
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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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 