On April 8th, The UK’s RATTLESNAKES will proudly be releasing a cover of Saxon’s iconic track, “And The Bands Played On.”
Heavy Metal legends Saxon wrote the “And The Bands Played On” anthem (from the ‘Denim and Leather’ album, 1981) inspired by their live appearance at the first Monsters of Rock festival on August 16, 1980 at Donington Park, where the band was met with an overwhelmingly enthusiastic crowd response.
RATTLESNAKES shares:
“‘And The Bands Played On’ is a song that collectively created a plethora of joyous memories for us all in RATTLESNAKES! The reason we chose to cover this song was also because of the similarities in genre and style we both have and our love for vocal harmonies, which is something very prevalent in this song. We wanted to put our spin on this awesome track by emphasizing that! This band has never failed to inspire us in RATTLESNAKES and we hope to honor and bring light upon The Mighty Saxon for the younger generations of rockers by carrying the everlasting torch of HEAVY METAL THUNDER!”
The band is currently demoing material for their full length debut album, and with it’s wrath filled riffing and commanding vocals, will undeniably make you head bang and generate impassioned sing alongs.
Check RATTLESNAKES out live with label fellows Struck A Nerve and Devastator at London Cart and Horses on May 3rd, 2026.
DISCOGRAPHY : ‘Deeper Shades of Torment’ EP 2025 (self released)
WITCH RIPPER announce the first North American headlining tour for 2026. The US metal band will kick off the “Through the Hourglass” Tour 2026 with a warm-up show in Seattle, WA on April 3 about a month ahead of the release of their eponymous new album.
WITCH RIPPER comment: “How to sum up Witch Ripper on tour?“, frontman Curtis Parker asks rhetorically. “Big energy, big riffs, and four guys who could not be happier playing music. We can hardly wait to hit the road this spring! Nothing feels better than a long string of shows while the band is firing on all cylinders. Come hang out and see this traveling nerd circus in all its glory. We promise all the cosmic time traveling songs you can handle! Hugs free of charge!“
WITCH RIPPER “Through the Hourglass” US TOUR 2026 03 APR 2026 Seattle, WA (US) The Sunset Tavern 01 MAY 2026 Vancouver, BC (CA) The Cobalt 22 MAY 2026 Bellingham, WA (US) The Shakedown 30 MAY 2026 Missoula, MT (US) M-80 Chicken 31 MAY 2026 Boise, ID (US) The Olympic 01 JUN 2026 Salt Lake City, UT (US) Aces High Saloon 02 JUN 2026 Denver, CO (US) The Crypt 03 JUN 2026 Santa Fe, NM (US) Desert Dogs 04 JUN 2026 Phoenix, AZ (US) The Blooze Bar 05 JUN 2026 San Diego, CA (US) McGuffies 06 JUN 2026 Los Angeles, CA (US) The Escondite 08 JUN 2026 San Francisco, CA (US) Bottom of the Hill 09 JUN 2026 Chico, CA (US) Naked Lounge 10 JUN 2026 Reno, NV (US) Pizzava 11 JUN 2026 Eureka, CA (US) The Siren’s Song Tavern 12 JUN 2026 Roseburg, OR (US) The Rosebud Theater 13 JUN 2026 Portland, OR (US) Twilight Cafe and Bar 14 JUN 2026 Seattle, WA (US) Hidden Hall
The latest advance single, ‘The Clock Queen‘, is a groovy, heavy, and proggy track taken from their forthcoming third album “Through the Hourglass“, which is scheduled for release on April 10, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records. Pre-orders are available here:https://spkr.store/collections/witch-ripper
WITCH RIPPER commented: “‘The Clock Queen‘ is the best representation of Witch Ripper in its purest form: Heavy. Melodic. Progressive”, Curtis Parker wrote. “In our story, it represents the big reveal of who our antagonist meets in this world they’ve found themselves in. Throughout the album, we peppered in what we call “the clock queen’s theme,” a melody that sneaks its way into almost every song at some point. This song is the culmination of that tension and it’s when we finally meet the driving force of the album: The Clock Queen herself.“
Tracklist: 1. Odyssey in Retrograde 2. The Portal 3. Symmetry of the Hourglass 4. Echoes and Dust 5. The Clock Queen 6. Proxima Centuari 7. The Spiral Eye
On their third full-length, “Through the Hourglass”, WITCH RIPPER unleash the full potential of their stunning ability to deliver captivating melodies, catchy riffs, and merciless hooks in sheer droves.
The US metal band perfectly combines melodic heaviness with pinches of progressive, sludge, and other styles with seeming ease. WITCH RIPPER can be generally located within the wider sonic realm that is inhabited by MASTODON, BARONESS, and HIGH ON FIRE, yet they also continue to channel the rock bombast of QUEEN and DAVID BOWIE as well as the modern prog of COHEED AND CAMBRIA and MUSE.
While WITCH RIPPER‘s songwriting has climbed to a new peak, they continue with their loving pastiche of the legendary pulp science fiction stories of old. “Through the Hourglass” extends the story that began on their sophomore full-length, “The Flight after the Fall” (2023), in which the central character’s search for peace in death by flying into a black hole proved futile. As “Through the Hourglass” begins, he awakens to a world without time and a familiar dark presence from his past…
Conceived in 2012 in the city of grey skies, lush vegetation and loud rock, Seattle, Washington’s WITCH RIPPER garnered critical acclaim and a strong buzz in the underground scene with their sludgy self-titled EP (2012) and debut full-length “Homestead” (2018). The second album, “The Flight after the Fall”, made the band’s name on a global scale, as the band dramatically expanded the range of their sound in ways both catchy and progressive.
On stage, WITCH RIPPER have performed alongside heavy rock outfits such as MONOLORD, CONAN, and CASTLE RAT as well as modern metal acts including SLIPKNOT, GOJIRA, and KHEMMIS among many others.
WITCH RIPPER are already at work planning for tour across the United States once more and hope for a first voyage to Europe in support of releasing “Through the Hourglass”. Metal is anything but dead, and this album is living proof of its vibrant present.
P.S.: Music aficionados will find a revelation hiding in the key of each song.
Line-up Chad Fox – guitar, vocals Brian Kim – bass, vocals Curtis Parker – guitar, vocals Joe Eck – drums
Guest musician Irene Barber – vocals on ‘The Spiral Eye’
Recording by Matt Bayles at Studio Litho & EXES Audio, Seattle, WA (US) Mix by Matt Bayles at Studio Litho, Seattle, WA (US) Mastering by Brad Boatright at Audio Siege Studios, Portland, OR (US)
Cover art by Chris Panatier Layout by Łukasz Jaszak
Italian rockers ROCKLUST release today their new single ‘Child Spirit’ via Volcano Records & Promotion – an epic, eight-minute suite that acts like a time machine back to the 1980s.
Following a string of hard-hitting singles anticipating the upcoming album, due April 24, Child Spirit reveals a different side of the band: a soaring, vintage-inspired ballad built on spacious atmospheres, lush reverbs, and lyrical guitar solos. A must-listen for fans of classic melodic rock, the track stands out as the album’s most reflective moment, celebrating a sense of childlike purity often lost along the path to adulthood. Through evocative, almost fairytale-like imagery, the lyrics offer a perspective capable of shedding light even on a world as corrupted and decayed as our own. Child Spirit is an invitation to hold on to wonder while growing up—to keep believing in everyday magic. A gentle yet powerful anthem that reminds us how precious innocence truly is.
A visually striking and symbol-rich video is now available on Volcano Records’ official channel, diving deep into the soul and speaking directly to the inner child within us all.
HEGEROTH is a band playing broadly understood black metal, open to influences outside the genre, diversity, a wide spectrum of means of expression, and unconventional solutions… all while maintaining energy, speed, and 100% metal in metal. Hegeroth was founded in 2010 in Upper Silesia (Poland). The band’s music has evolved from symphonic and melodic black metal in its early days, through complex, multi-layered melodic structures intertwined with disharmonies, to expressive, energetic pieces dominated by aggression, speed, and uncompromising expression. However, Hegeroth has never followed the well-trodden path of black metal, always seeking its own way and means of expression. The lyrics mock the mindlessness, dogmatism and meanness resulting from the imposition of a model of right-only thinking, religious oppression and mental backwardness.
The band has released five albums. Sixth is on the way…
Music for new album “Soaked in Rot” was recorded, mixed and mastered by Bene at HHSoundLab Studios. Cover artwork as well as whole layout was done by Maciej Kamuda (Blut aus Nord, Nunslaughter, Master). The record was released on March 25, 2026 in digital format and jewelcase CD as independent release. Pre-order is available at Bandcamp.
Stream “Soaked In Rot” at Forever Misanthropia Youtube channel:
TRACKLIST:
01. You May Call Me a Witch 02. The Act of Lust 03. Błogosławieni ślepi 04. The Nails 05. Hypocrisy Demands Blood 06. Święte szlachtowanie 07. The Degrees 08. The Swing 09. Gdybym istniał
German avantgarde death metal pioneers DARK MILLENNIUM return with their new studio album “COME”, set to be released on May 22nd, 2026 via Massacre Records.
The album will be available as Digipak CD, limited vinyl LP and digital formats, marking a new chapter in the band’s long-standing and distinctive artistic journey.
To celebrate the announcement, DARK MILLENNIUM unveil the first single and official video “Amber”, offering a first glimpse into the album’s unique sonic and conceptual world.
With “Amber”, DARK MILLENNIUM present a hypnotic and immersive track where shifting colours of sound and inner imagery merge into a fluid and dreamlike experience. The song reflects the album’s core concept: altered states of perception, where reality dissolves and new emotional and psychological landscapes emerge.
Serving as an entry point into “COME”, “Amber” captures the band’s unmistakable blend of avantgarde death metal, atmospheric depth and non-linear songwriting, where compositions flow seamlessly into one another without clear boundaries or conventional structures.
The central theme of “COME” revolves around intoxication – not only in a physical sense, but as a broader exploration of altered consciousness. The album examines the fragile line between reality and illusion, inviting listeners into a state where uncontrolled thoughts, sensations and emotions unfold freely, ranging from the beautiful to the deeply unsettling.
Produced, mixed and mastered by Hilton Theissen at Wide Noise Studio, the album embraces a deliberately organic and retro-oriented analogue sound, preserving the band’s signature identity while continuing the path established with “Acid River”.
A special highlight of the album is the interplay between drummer Andre Schaltenberg and founding member Christoph Hesse, who alternate throughout the record, adding an additional dynamic layer to the compositions.
With “COME”, DARK MILLENNIUM deliver a deeply immersive and uncompromising work that challenges perception, structure and expectation – reaffirming their status as one of the most unique voices within the avantgarde metal landscape.
DARK MILLENNIUM are: Christian Mertens – vocals Hilton Theissen – guitars Michael Burmann – guitars Gerold Kukulenz – bass Andre Schaltenberg – drums
Enigmatic dungeon synth entity WRAITH KNIGHT will be releasing a haunting new full length, ‘Of Arcane Magic & Forbidden Knowledge: The Necromantical Passage,’ on April 2 via Out Of Season (USA) and Neuropa Records (Belgium)! To celebrate the impending release, WRAITH KNIGHT is now sharing the first single from the offering, “Decrepit Wings & Rotting Bones – The Dracolich,” which can now be heard at THIS LOCATION.
WRAITH KNIGHT comments, “The new single represents the mystery and magic of ancient and otherworldly realms that only we can dream of.”
The album can be pre-ordered now in CD format via BANDCAMP or via OUT OF SEASON in the U.S. or via NEUROPA for EU. Cassette and vinyl orders will be available in April.
Additionally, WRAITH KNIGHT will be touring North America in support of MORTIIS + UADA along with Jerome Reuter’s ROME on the upcoming ‘Witches of Dystopia’ tour! MORTIIS. MORTIIS shall be performing songs from his groundbreaking 2001 full-length, ‘The Smell Of Rain,’ along with other volumes of dystopian despair, while UADA will be performing their seminal 2016 debut album ‘Devoid of Light’ in its entirety + a special CERMONIAL CASTINGS 30-year anniversary set featuring WRAITH KNIGHT. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets are available HERE.
The album cover art was created by Kris Verwimp and can be found below along with the tracklisting.
Tracklist: 1- A Kingdom Is Not Enough (8:30) 2- Rite of Ascension – The Ceremony of Endless Night (4:50) 3- Of Arcane Magic & Forbidden Knowledge (7:32) 4- Eons Beyond Mortal Destruction (1:20) 5- Decrepit Wings & Rotting Bones – The Dracolich (7:56) [LISTEN] 6- Only Through The Eyes of Undeath (9:16) 7- Even Death May Die (3:50)
THE WITCHES OF DYSTOPIA TOUR MMXXVI (UADA + MORTIIS w/ Jerome Reuter’s ROME + WRAITH KNIGHT):
04/10/26: Portland, OR @ Dante’s 04/11/26: Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw 04/13/26: Calgary, AB @ Dickens 04/14/26: Edmonton, AB @ Starlite 04/16/26: Winnipeg, MB @ Sidestage 04/17/26: Minneapolis, MN @ Skyway at Studio B 04/18/26: Madison, WI @ Annex 04/19/26: Chicago, IL @ Reggies 04/20/26: Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary 04/21/26: Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle 04/22/26: Covington, KY @ Madison Live 04/23/26: Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground 04/24/26: Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace 04/25/26: Montreal, QC @ Cafe Campus 04/26/26: Quebec City, QC @ La Source 04/27/26: Boston, MA @ Brighton Music Hall 04/28/26: Brooklyn, NY @ Meadows 04/29/26: Bensalem, PA @ Broken Goblet 04/30/26: Baltimore, MD @ Metro 05/01/26: Raleigh, NC @ Chapel Of Bones 05/02/26: Atlanta, GA @ 529 EAV 05/03/26: Orlando, FL @ Conduit 05/05/26: Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live 05/06/26: Austin, TX @ Come And Take It Live 05/07/26: Dallas, TX @ Club Dada 05/08/26: Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad 05/09/26: Denver, CO @ HQ 05/10/26: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge 05/11/26: Las Vegas, NV @ Swan Dive 05/12/26: San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick 05/13/26: Los Angeles, CA @ The Echo 05/14/26: San Jose, CA @ The Ritz 05/15/26: Eugene, OR @ John Henry’s 05/16/26: Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
WRAITH KNIGHT is an epic dungeon synth/ambient fantasy musical project that is masterminded by OldNick/Nick Superchi (Ceremonial Castings, Mysticism Black, The Great Sorcerer, etc.).
Formed in 2022 with the debut release ‘Deep in the Dungeons of the Dragonlord,’ Wraith Knight is known for a heroic, epic high fantasy style that is reminiscent of Frazetta, Tolkien & Robert E. Howard stories.
Lineup: Nick “OldNick” Superchi
For fans of: Summoning, Mortiis, & Tangerine Dream
Cover Artist: Kris Verwimp Mixed & Mastered by Nick Superchi
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 ) 