Polish death metal outfit EMBRIONAL (feat. members of Azarath) unveils details of new studio album “Inherited Tendencies for Self-Destruction”, due out March 21st on Agonia Records. Listen to the album’s first single, “The World Deserves Self-Destruction”, below. The installment is coming to CD/LP/MC/Digital with pre-orders to be announced early February.
EMBRIONAL‘s fourth full-length marks a new chapter for the Gliwice-based four-piece. The compositions take on a redefined approach, from writing, recording, through self-production by vocalist Skullripper of Azarath fame. The drums and guitars give off a natural and spacious sounding, having been tracked at the atmospheric Piekło Niebo Studio in cooperation with Ataman Tolovy. Combined with crisp growls, hounding bass & tremolo arm-prone guitar solos – registered at Panzer Studios – the sonic arrangement turns out suffocating and dark, layered with punishing outbursts not impervious to more climatic moments along the album’s near 40 minute run. Production-wise, the longplay has been diversified by throwing in technical flavors and a balanced amount of samples, which smartly add up to its heaviness. Haldor Grunberg took care of mixing and mastering at Satanic Audio (Behemoth, Azarath, Pestilence). Maciej Kamuda painted the cover artwork and Maciej Mutwil portrayed the band in photography.
“We are very pleased with the album” comments the band. “Our sound signature matured and stands out from our earlier offerings. In conscious avail of our past experience, the compositions and production undergone a deliberate treatment, unheard in Embrional’s music before.”
Tracklisting: 1. Choirs of Apocalypse (intro) 2. The World Deserves Self-Destruction 3. Inspiration to Slay 4. Seduced by the Lies 5. Lies of God 6. The Shrine of Collapse 7. Suicide Journey 8. Purified by Death 9. Sadistic Desire 10. Extinction (outro) 11. Obliteration Rites
Finnish hard rock / metal monster squad LORDI increase the vehement desire for their forthcoming “Limited Deadition” with a second single today. Titled ‘Retropolis,’ the band take fans on a trip back to the 80s both musically and lyrically. Seductive guitar and synth leads conjure feelings of nostalgia, and successfully shorten the wait until the album’s release on March 21, 2025 through RPM.
“This title nearly became the name of the album as it would pretty much sum up the context of the album: Musically it’s all built around this main riff which was written by our guitar player Kone. It’s very ‘happy’ sounding and has an almost U.D.O.’s “Faceless World” album style to it. I was thinking of how to best build a vocal line around it, without making it sound totally cliché. This would be the main riff, so the song kind of wrote itself. Lyric wise, it’s painting a picture of an 80s feeling that shows like “Knight Rider,” “Battlestar Galactica” or “Masters Of The Universe” brought on. It’s a very visually inspired song, bringing back the cover art of IRON MAIDEN’s “Somewhere In Time” in my brain. It doesn’t really tell a story, it just gives off an overall 80s post-apocalyptic vision in a way. That being said, I really miss those days. Everything was better back then…everything was better in neon lights!” recalls Mr Lordi.
Like the release of LORDI‘s 19th (!) studio album, the first part of the supporting “Limited Deadition” tour, which will lead them from Finland to Poland, the Netherlands, the UK, Belgium and France, is only about two months away, too. All German and Spanish fans being disappointed that the monster squad won’t stop in their town this spring, can take a deep breath as the band have announced the continuation of their European run for next autumn. LORDI are now additionally gearing up for 13 shows in Germany and 4 stops in Iberia in September and October under the banner “Limited Tour ’25 – Second Deadition.” The updated itinerary as well as ticket info can be found below!
Known for their theatrical style and unique blend of 80s-inspired rock and heavy metal, LORDI‘s latest creation is a nostalgic celebration of retro 80s toys, infused with a fresh and powerful energy. Building on the success of their 2023 album “Screem Writers Guild,”“Limited Deadition” ventures into heavier riffs and faster tempos, creating a soundscape that is both familiar and invigorating.
Recorded at IluSound Studio and Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, “Limited Deadition” was produced by Mr Lordi, mixed by Ilkka Herkman, and mastered by Pauli Saastamoinen. As always, Mr Lordi took charge of the album’s striking artwork and layout, channeling his passion for 80s memorabilia into every detail. “It’s some kind of sibling album to its predecessor,”Mr Lordi explains. “We’re still walking the path of AOR-inspired music, but this time, with a more metal touch in terms of riffs and tempo. We’ve always written what felt right and natural, and this album is no exception.”
The thematic heart of “Limited Deadition” lies in Mr Lordi‘s lifelong obsession with collecting, inspired by the action figures and toys of his childhood. “The album topic of 80s toys is actually just a loose theme, but it’s been accompanying me since I was little. I’ve always been a collector of various stuff, and I’m even some kind of a hoarder. I can’t even remember which my first own toy was, but my obsession basically started with “Muppet Show” dolls, followed by “Star Wars” and “E.T.” figures, with the latter actually being my favourite movie of all time.”
The album opens with ‘SCG XIX The Hexecutioners,’ setting the stage for an exciting blend of cinematic and melodic heavy rock. Tracks like ‘Legends Are Made Of Clichés’ and ‘Skelephant In The Room’ highlight LORDI‘s knack for creating larger-than-life anthems. Meanwhile, the poignant ballad ‘Collectable’ reflects on the fleeting value of physical objects in a digital world, while the title track, ‘Limited Deadition,’ makes a bold statement celebrating collectors and their passion.
LORDI live:
“Limited Tour ’25” – First Deadition 21.03.2025 FI Tampere – Tavara-asema 22.03.2025 FI Helsinki – Tavastia-klubi 25.03.2025 PL Warsaw – Progresja 26.03.2025 PL Gdansk – B90 28.03.2025 NL Amstelveen – P60 29.03.2025 NL Drachten – Poppoadium Iduna 30.03.2025 NL Sittard – Poppodium Volt 02.04.2025 UK Wolverhampton – Wulfrun Hall 03.04.2025 UK Newcastle – NX 05.04.2025 UK Manchester – Academy 2 06.04.2025 UK Glasgow – Galvanizers SWG3 08.04.2025 UK London – Islington Assembly Hall 09.04.2025 UK Bristol – SWX 11.04.2025 FR Savigny-le-Temple – L’Empreinte 12.04.2025 FR Saint-Lô – Le Normandy 13.04.2025 BE Sint-Niklaas – De Casino 15.04.2025 FR Lyon (Villeurbanne) – La Rayonne 16.04.2025 FR Strasbourg (Ostwald) – Le Point d’Eau 17.04.2025 FR Montbéliard – L’Axone
02.08.2025 CZ Ostrava – Ostrava v plamenech
“Limited Tour ’25” – Second Deadition 24.09.25 DE Hamburg – Gruenspan *NEW* 26.09.25 DE Regensburg-Obertraubling – Eventhall Airport *NEW* 27.09.25 DE Nuremberg – Löwensaal *NEW* 28.09.25 DE Villingen-Schwenningen – Neckarhalle *NEW* 30.09.25 DE Munich – Backstage *NEW* 02.10.25 DE Leipzig – Felsenkeller *NEW* 03.10.25 DE Naila – Frankenhalle *NEW* 04.10.25 DE Memmingen – Kaminwerk *NEW* 05.10.25 DE Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle *NEW* 08.10.25 ES Barcelona – Sala Salamandra *NEW* 09.10.25 ES Murcia – Sala Mamba! *NEW* 10.10.25 ES Madrid – Revi Live *NEW* 11.10.25 ES Pamplona – Sala Totem *NEW* 14.10.25 DE Mannheim – Capitol *NEW* 16.10.25 DE Berlin – Columbia Theater *NEW* 17.10.25 DE Wilhelmshaven – Kulturzentrum Pumpwerk *NEW* 18.10.25 DE Osnabrück – Hyde Park *NEW*
Founded in 1992 by singer, songwriter and designer Mr Lordi, LORDI are one of the major Finnish rock/heavy metal acts of our time. Originally rooted in Rovaniemi (Northern Lapland, Finland), the band achieved their international breakthrough after winning the Eurovision Song Contest with their hit song ‘Hard Rock Hallelujah’ in 2006.
Since then, the unconventional troops have rocked their way into the spotlight of Europe with charm, unforgettable tunes and elaborate monster costumes, and have become an integral part of the line-ups of globally recognized festivals such as Wacken Open Air (DE) and Masters of Rock (CZ) among others.
LORDI are: Mr Lordi | vocals Kone | guitars Hiisi | bass Hella | keyboard Mana | drums
Occultists have screamed their praises since the early ’90s, but Mörk Gryning are setting the underground on fire with their hellacious new album.
“Fasornas Tid sounds like a big deal black metal album: monstrous, perfectly paces and radiant with fine detail”, Blabbermouthraves.
“Ripping burners like ‘Tornet’…are prime examples why this album is putting all the fun into functional with no second wasted, rupturing eardrums with tasty riffs abounding”, No Clean Singing chimes in agreement.
As these cultishly beloved Swedes gear up to bring Fasornas Tid to international stages in 2025, today, the band are releasing a guitar playthrough of the album’s lead single. Armed with his trusty Jackson guitar and amplified by Neural DSP’s mighty Quad Cortex, axeman S-L storms through the twists and turns of the towering “Tornet”.
Formed in the chilling embrace of ’90s black metal, Mörk Gryning has always carved their own path, paying homage to their forebears while relentlessly pushing forward. On their new album, Mörk Gryning refuse to yield to trends, honoring their feral countrymen by carving out raw, apocalyptic symphonies. Fasornas Tid is scrawled in the same sacred and bloody ink as their seminal debut, yet remains drenched in the visceral immediacy of the present.
Tracklist: 1. Intro (1:13) 2. The Seer (4:03) 3. Tornet (3:59) [LISTEN] 4. Fasornas Tid (3:34) [WATCH] 5. Before The Crows Have Their Feast (4:26) 6. Savage Messiah (4:37) 7. An Ancient Ancestor Of The Autumn Moon (4:11) 8. Black Angel (3:38) [LISTEN] 9. Barren Paths (1:52) 10. The Serpent’s Kiss (4:19) 11. Det Svarta (3:19) 12. Age Of Fire (4:48) Total runtime: 44:04
Mörk Gryning are ringing in the new year with an official release show for Fasornas Tid in front of their Stockholm home crowd. They’ll be joined by fellow Swedes Wormwood and AVSLUT, whose vocalist C graces “Tornet” with harrowing growls.
The band will then join forces with their labelmates …and Oceans at both the Heretic March and Eindhoven Metal Meeting. Along the way, they’ll head to Spain for three special shows celebrating the 30th anniversary of their cult classic Tusen år har gått…
Mörk Gryning 2025 Tour Dates March 14 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Kulturhuset stadsteatern March 22 – Oberhausen, DE @ Heretic March September 19 – Madrid, ES @ Sala Silikona September 20 – Valencia, ES @ Zula Klub September 21 – Barcelona, ES @ Sala Lennon’s December 12-13 – Eindhoven, NL @ Eindhoven Metal Meeting
Mörk Gryning was founded in Stockholm, Sweden in 1993 by Goth Gorgon and Draakh Kimera. Two years later they released their debut album “Tusen År Har Gått” (1995), recorded and mixed at Unisound Studios, by legendary producer Dan Swanö and released by No Fashion. The album is one of the milestones of the ‘90s Swedish Black Metal scene.
The group returned to action in November 1996, working at Sunlight Studios together with Tomas Skogsberg and Dismember’s Fred Estby to craft the “Return Fire” album. Over the following years, three more albums were released, for example “Maelstrom Chaos” with new guitarist Avathar, a scene veteran, recorded at the legendary Grieghallen Studios Bergen, Norway.
Ever since the debut album, “Tusen år har gått…”, Mörk Gryning has refused to follow in the footsteps of others and walked their own paths – something which is made very clear on the 2003 release “Pieces of Primal Expressionism”, an experimental and heavy progressive release recorded at Dug Out, produced by Daniel Bergstrand. After a couple of years of touring and festival performances, the band was put on hold.
Returning to the scene again in 2017, the band performed an exclusive live show in Stockholm playing all the songs from the debut album and some other songs from the back catalogue. This ended in releasing the 4-song live record called “Live at Kraken”. During the pandemic the comeback album “Hinsides Vrede” was released to much critical acclaim with many of the songs today being the backbone of their live shows. A new album is scheduled for release in 2024 and the band is more active than ever.
Line-up: DRAAKH KIMERA – Lead Vocals, Guitar GOTH GORGON – Bass, Backing vocals, Lead Vocals on “Det Svarta” S-L – Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals C-G – Drums AEON – Keyboards, Backing Vocals
Recording Studio: Wing Studios, Stockholm, Sweden
Production Credits: Produced by Sverker Widgren & Mörk Gryning Mixed & Mastered at Wing Studios, Stockholm by Sverker Widgren
Guest Musician: C of AVSLUT on “Tornet” & “An Ancient Ancestor Of The Autumn Moon”
The Metal Voice recently spoke to guitarist and solo artist Marty Friedman about his latest studio album DRAMA and upcoming US Tour 2025. Friedman also talked about living in Japan, learning a second language and working with Kiss’ Gene Simmons on a Movie in Japan a few years back.
When asked if knowing a second language makes you more empathetic to people Globally who struggle with another language “Where it fits into my life is, I’m very blessed and lucky to be able to tour the world playing music. And when you do that you run into a lot of people who don’t speak good English, almost all the time. So learning a second language makes you feel very empathetic to people trying to speak another language. For example if you go to Brazil you know people are going to speak a different kind of English that’s not nearly what we grew up with in America. So you try to kind of figure out what it is they’re trying to say when it’s not coming out right. And when you’ve had the experience of learning a second language you know the exact thing they’re trying to say even if they’re totally messing it up. Even if they’re totally on the wrong page on completely wrong grammar, wrong words you pick it up. Then you can get them back into it and they don’t feel intimidated. Sometimes fans will feel intimidated because maybe they’re a fan of mine and they get to meet me. They’re so nervous because they don’t speak English and I hopefully can make them feel kind of calm and less anxious when I can understand them from just a couple little phrases of what they’re saying. And that’s definitely thanks to having the experience of starting from zero and learning a language myself (Japanese). So there’s no shame in trying to speak when you’re not really fluent and actually it’s really manly to do that because that’s the only way you get better at anything. “
When asked about acting/performing with Gene Simmons in the movie Detroit Metal City in Japan a few years back “That’s not very recent though there was a movie called ‘Detroit Metal City’ based on a very famous comic in Japan and the movie was absolutely fantastic. It was a huge hit. I was in the Gene Simmons band in that movie, so it was a dream come true for a Kiss fan like myself. Another great thing was everyone there was Japanese and Gene was the only guy who didn’t speak Japanese and I was the only guy who spoke English. So Gene practically cornered me and we were chatting the entire time. When you’re making a movie it was a three days shoot. It’s all waiting around time really so I was just like my little 15-year-old self. So we’re just talking about everything. Gene is so knowledgeable about my favorite type of music which is 50s music and early 60s and he’s so knowledgeable and just a great intelligent guy to talk to. And as a Kiss fan I was a very captive audience . I remember chatting to him much more than actually filming us jamming together. It’s just one of the biggest bonuses of this profession that we have. I also met Gene in the early 90s and we did a radio program together. It was just me and him and the DJ. I was so impressed because Gene told me he says hey I know your solo album Dragon’s kiss, I’m like you don’t know that and then he says yeah I can tell you the first song called ‘Saturation Point’ the second is ‘Dragon Mistress’ and he listed off the titles of my solo album. I was just so excited. The funniest thing was his voice. You know, like he’s the God of Thunder but his voice was literally my 90-year-old grandfather from Austria. It was just the most typical Jewish grandfather voice with those same pronunciations and the same slangs.(Laughs).”
Guitarist Marty Friedman, has been living and recording music in Japan since 2003. Friedman’s autobiography, “Dreaming Japanese”, arrived on December 3, 2024 via Permuted Press.
MARTY FRIEDMAN has announced 2025 US tour dates supporting his most recent studio album ‘Drama’ out now on Frontiers Music. The tour will kick off on January 25th in Las Vegas and wraps up on February 22nd in Los Angeles. Ticket pre-sales start July 31st at 10 am local time, with general sales beginning August 2nd at 10 am local time. A full list of tour dates is below.
MARTY comments on the tour:
“My three band members from Japan, Chargeeeeee, Wakazaemon, and Naoki have created the ultimate setting to perform music from all stages of my career. If you`ve seen us live before, you know what to expect. If not, you are in for a unique treat. You will remember my band`s performances on this ‘Drama’ tour for a long time. Our last two USA tours have left an unforgettable impact on them. We are all beyond excited to cross the pond and play for my home country again!”
MARTY FRIEDMAN`s presence in the world of music, the world of guitar, and Japanese pop culture is mystifying, bizarre, and nothing short of inspiring. On his new solo album, ‘Drama,’ he only slightly revisits the atmospheric elements of his legendary 1992 release, Scenes, elevating them to a modern and exotic collection of epic, extravagant, and unapologetically emotional mini-symphonies.
Recorded in Verona, Italy, where MARTY had access to a treasure trove of extremely rare vintage guitars along with his modern signature models, he has achieved a sonic depth unlike anything else. ‘Drama’ is a pure, uplifting musical experience.
MARTY FRIEDMAN ‘Live Drama 2025’
Jan 25 – Las Vegas, NV @ Count’s Vamp’d Jan 27 – Denver, CO @ HQ Live Jan 29 – St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway Jan 30 – St. Charles, IL @ Arcada Theater Jan 31 – Westland, MI @ Token Lounge Feb 1 – Columbus, OH @ The King of Clubs Feb 2 – Cleveland, OH @ The Winchester Feb 4 – New York, NY @ The Loft at City Winery Feb 5 – Boston, MA @ City Winery Feb 6 – Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall Feb 7 – Annapolis, MD @ Ram’s Head on Stage Feb 8 – Pawling, NY @ Daryl’s House Feb 10 – Philadelphia, PA @ City Winery Feb 11 – Leesburg, VA @ Tally Ho Theater Feb 13 – Greenville, SC @ Radio Room Feb 14 – Nashville, TN @ The Basement Feb 16 – Houston, TX @ Bronze Peacock at House of Blues Feb 17 – Austin, TX @ Antone’s Feb 18 – Dallas, TX @ Granada Theater Feb 20 – Albuquerque, NM @ Launch Pad Feb 21 – Phoenix, AZ @ Rhythm Room Feb 22 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Whisky
Death-thrash metal rising force Final Siege is thrilled to unveil the lyric video for their ferocious single “Primordial Combat”. Taken from the band’s album Nuclear Doom State (out via Wormholedeath), this track delivers a visceral gut punch of raw power, primal energy, and unrelenting aggression.
“Primordial Combat” is a brutal, aggressive track that channels raw and primal emotions. It captures the savage spirit of ancient survival while rebelling against modern systems of control. Prepare for an intense dive into the dark side of human instinct.
Formed in 2018, Final Siege began as a spark of creative energy when Gil Vives, Randy Reiser, and Amir Jairazbhoy shared their musical vision over beers in New York City. Following the release of their debut album March to Your Grave in 2021 and lineup evolutions, the band forged their current powerhouse roster in 2023:
Gil Anthony Vives – Lead Vocals/Guitar Rob Maldonado – Guitar George Garcia – Bass Ameer “The Beheader” Aljallad – Drums
Known for their unflinching themes of rebellion, war, and the toll of modern chaos, Final Siege has shared stages with legends like Suffocation, Atheist, and Warbringer, proving their place in the metal arena.
This full-length album is a sonic apocalypse, blending Death, Thrash, and Groove metal to create a relentless, headbanging experience. Primordial Combat is just one example of the rage-fueled energy fans can expect from the record.
Norwegian “tundra rock” band, Slomosa, has released a live-in-studio performance and interview video centered on its new album, ‘Tundra Rock’, which was released this past September via Stickman Records in Europe and MNRK Heavy in the US, and was hailed as “a sweeping signature hybrid of revved-up stoner rock riffage, grungy hooks, and a concentrated punk wallop”. Recorded live in Bergen, Norway, the 37-minute “Making of ‘Tundra Rock'” video spotlights the undeniable energy and unquestionable catchiness that surrounds Slomosa, paired with behind-the-scenes stories about creating the album and forming the band.
Stream the full studio piece here:
Simultaneously, Slomosa drops a new play through music video for the powerful ‘Tundra Rock’ track “Monomann”. Crank it up now on:
Slomosa will support Helmet on the North American leg of its ‘Betty 30th Anniversary Tour’. The 25-city winter tour kicks off on February 19 in Ft. Worth, TX and runs through March 23 in Baltimore, MD. The tour routing is as follows:
Slomosa + Helmet ‘Betty’ 30th Anniversary US Tour 2025:
February 19 – Fort Worth, TX – Tulips FTW February 21 – San Antonio, TC – Paper Tiger (Slomosa headlining show) February 22 – Houston, TX – Scout Bar February 23 – Austin, TX – Mohawk February 25 – Mesa, AZ – Nile Theater February 27 – Pomona, CA – The Glass House February 28 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater March 1 – Oakland, CA – Crybaby March 2 – Roseville, CA – Goldfield Trading Post March 4 – Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre March 5 – Seattle, WA – The Crocodile March 6 – Boise, ID – Shrine Social Club March 8 – Denver, CO – The Oriental Theater March 9 – Lawrence, KS – The Bottleneck March 10 – Minneapolis, MN – Varsity Theater March 11 – Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre March 12 – Chicago, IL – Cobra Lounge March 14 – Columbus, OH – Skully’s March 15 – Mechanicsburg, PA – Lovedraft’s Brewing Co March 16 – Ferndale, MI – The Magic Bag March 17 – Toronto, ON – Lee’s Palace March 18 – Montreal, QC – Théâtre Fairmount March 20 – Boston, MA – The Paradise Rock Club March 21 – Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg March 22 – Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts March 23 – Baltimore, MD – Baltimore Soundstage
Boasting a brazen backbone of groove-bitten punch and silken melodic hooks heavily inspired by the Palm Desert music scene, Slomosa showcases a hibernating sound that has been reawakened for a new generation. Since the release of its self-titled debut album in 2020, Slomosa has performed upwards of 350 shows and high-profile festival appearances in over twenty countries alongside bands such as High on Fire, Alkaline Trio, Graveyard, Elder, Ufomammut, and Witch; its explosive live performances have earned the band an enthusiastic global fanbase. Slomosa‘s music has captured the attention of rock greats like Tool guitarist Adam Jones, who shared his enthusiasm for the band on his social media, and Kyuss legends Brant Bjork and Nick Oliveri, who each have expressed their love for Slomosa‘s sound.
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 ) 