Finnish metal legends AMORPHIS have shared the official video for The Lantern, a centerpiece of their critically discussed fifteenth studio album Borderland, out since September 2025 via RPM. Borderland marks a milestone in the band’s 35‑year evolution, blending melodic depth and dynamic storytelling with a refreshed creative spark borne from their first collaboration with producer Jacob Hansen.
Drawing its imagery from mythic currents and nocturnal wanderers, The Lantern captures the haunting journey along Tuonela’s black river.
“The atmosphere on The Lantern is dramatic and evocative,” says guitarist Esa Holopainen. “From sonic depth to live energy, you can hear the emotional arcs and see them on stage in every frame.” The live footage underscores that cinematic pulse, transforming raw performance into a visual odyssey.
Borderland has drawn attention from press worldwide for its melodic sensibilities and textural richness, with critics noting a potent blend of AMORPHIS’ trademark atmospherics and a renewed clarity in songwriting.
AMORPHIS will take this momentum across Europe with festival appearances in Finland (Tuska Festival, Rokki Raikaa, John Smith Rock Festival, Kuopiorock), Romania (Rockstadt Extreme Fest), Czech Republic (Brutal Assault,, France (Sylak Open Air) Germany (Party.San Metal Open Air, Summer Breeze Open Air, Reload Festival), Belgium (Alcatraz Metal Festival), and Netherlands (Dynamo Metalfest).
The band will also hit Japan later in the year with multiple club dates, followed by Australia and a full Latin America leg covering Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, and Brazil.
AMORPHIS are: Tomi Joutsen | vocals Esa Holopainen | guitars Tomi Koivusaari | guitars Olli-Pekka “Oppu” Laine | bass Santeri Kallio | keys Jan Rechberger | drums & percussion
Canadian deathcore pioneers DESPISED ICON and New York death metal legends SUFFOCATION are joining forces this fall for a massive triple co-headline tour alongside deathcore juggernauts CARNIFEX. The 20-date ‘Death Dominion Tour’ presented by IMPERICON FESTIVAL kicks off on October 29th in Munich and concludes on November 20th in Karlsruhe, featuring GATES TO HELL as special guests.
DESPISED ICON comments: “Excited to finally return to Europe after two years and hit the road with our longtime friends in Carnifex and Suffocation. We’ll be covering every era of the band, from our new record Shadow Work all the way to The Healing Process. See you this Fall.”
SUFFOCATION state, “Can’t wait to rip some stages with our old friends and brothers Despised Icon and Carnifex! This will be a hell of a slamming family reunion!! Can’t wait to see you all out there and we have some surprises planned for you guys so keep an eye out!”
Confirmed dates for the DESPISED ICON, SUFFOCATION, CARNIFEX(Co-Headlining Tour) with special guests GATES TO HELL are: 29.10.26 DE München @ Backstage 30.10.26 DE Essen @ Weststadthalle 31.10.26 NL Haarlem @ Patronaat GZ 01.11.26 BE Antwerp @ Kavka Zappa 03.11.26 UK London @ Electric Brixton 04.11.26 UK Birmingham @ O2 Institute 05.11.26 UK Manchester @ Academy 2 06.11.26 UK Sheffield @ Corporation 07.11.26 UK Bristol @ Electric Bristol 09.11.26 FR Paris @ La Machine du Moulin Rouge 10.11.26 FR Lyon @ La Rayonne 11.11.26 IT Milan @ Legend 12.11.26 AT Vienna @ Arena 13.11.26 HU Budapest @ Barba Negra 14.11.26 DE Leipzig @ Felsenkeller * 15.11.26 CZ Prague @ Meet Factory 17.11.26 PL Warsaw @ Proxima 18.11.26 DE Berlin @ Columbia Theater 19.11.26 DE Hamburg @ Gruenspan 20.11.26 DE Karlsruhe @ Substag
Shadow Work was produced by the band’s own Alex Erian and Eric Jarrin, while Christian Donaldson (CRYPTOPSY, SHADOW OF INTENT, SIGNS OF THE SWARM) handled mixing and mastering. The album marks a significant chapter for a band whose core lineup has remained largely unchanged since its inception. It’s a deeply introspective record that reflects both personal growth and the turbulence of the world around us. The artwork for the album was created by Eliran Kantor (HATEBREED, THY ART IS MURDER, CAVALERA).
DESPISED ICON’s line-up is: Alex Erian | Vocals Steve Marois | Vocals Eric Jarrin | Guitars Ben Landreville | Guitars Sébastien Piché | Bass Alex “Grind” Pelletier | Drums
“Corinthian Leatherface” is the latest single from Boston stoner/fuzz rock outfit GOZU. The track comes off their long-awaited new full-length, Gozu VI, set for release on May 15th through Blacklight Media/Metal Blade Records.
Comments GOZU singer/guitarist Marc Gaffney, “We wanted something that molded our love for Queens, Queen, and Motown harmonies. Lyrically, I needed an outlet and this was an amazing vehicle to add NOS [Nitrous Oxide] to.”
Watch GOZU‘s previously released video for “Banacek” HERE.
“We wanted something that really moved and hit a nerve,” says Gaffney on composing the band’s sixth studio album. “I was pretty roughed up emotionally while writing. I played guitar more in the past two years than ever before. I would work, go to the gym, come home, eat and then play guitar until I went to bed.”
The end result is eight action-packed tracks, produced and mixed by Benny Grotto at Boston’s Mad Oak Studios. Emotion is writ loud and large for the band that’s been praised for their “deep grooves, thick riff mechanics, soulful melodies,” and for creating a “musical stew that intoxicates the listener, sweeping them into another aural universe.”
Gaffney has spoken about the band’s, “maturity mixed with a childlike enthusiasm to play music,” and Gozu VI‘s songs are proof positive. “I think this is more of a soulful, straight forward, guitar-driven album. Lyrically, this took on a whole different feel, and it wrote itself.”
With Gozu VI, the lineup’s melding of intense, fuzzy ’70s-inspired riffs, rich, catchy, grunge-esque vocal melodies, and a touch of oldschool stoner psychedelia has reached a zenith. Categorize them how you will. “We don’t mind if people think we’re stoner, doom, heavy, easy listening with a touch of cayenne pepper. I feel we’re just a heavy soulful band,” Gaffney notes. “We play music that people can shake their ass to and lyrics that are honest and deal with human nature.”
In celebration of the release of Gozu VI, GOZU will join New York stoner/doom metallers Restless Spirit for a US co-headlining tour. The journey begins on May 24th in Providence, Rhode Island and runs through June 27th in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Tickets on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
GOZU w/ Restless Spirit: 5/24/2026 Alchemy – Providence, RI 5/26/2026 Photo City – Rochester, NY 5/27/2026 Centennial Hall – Erie, PA 5/29/2026 The Green Door – Lansing, MI 5/30/2026 Reggies Music Joint – Chicago, IL 5/31/2026 7th St Entry – Minneapolis, MN 6/02/2026 The Record Bar – Kansas City, MO 6/03/2026 HQ – Denver, CO 6/04/2026 The DLC @ Quarters Arcade Bar @ Salt Lake City, UT 6/05/2026 The Shredder – Boise, ID 6/06/2026 The Funhouse – Seattle, WA 6/07/2026 High Water Mark – Portland, OR 6/09/2026 Cafe Colonial – Sacramento, CA 6/10.2026 Humdinger Brewing – San Luis Obispo, CA 6/11/2026 Knucklehead – Los Angeles, CA 6/12/2026 PC’s Lounge – Sierra Vista, AZ 6/16/2026 The Lost Well – Austin, TX 6/17/2026 Siberia – New Orleans, LA 6/18/2026 Eastside Bowl – Nashville, TN 6/19/2026 Bogg’s Social & Supply – Atlanta, GA 6/20/2026 New Brookland Tavern – West Columbia, SC 6/21/2026 Chapel Of Bones – Raleigh, NC 6/23/2026 The Camel – Richmond, VA 6/24/2026 Metro Gallery – Baltimore, MD 6/25/2026 Gold Sounds – Brooklyn, NY 6/26/2026 Nikki Lopez – Philadelphia, PA 6/27/2026 Middle East Upstairs – Cambridge, MA
GOZU: Marc Gaffney – vocals, guitars Joseph Grotto – bass Doug Sherman – lead guitar Seth Botos – drums
Masquerage, led by Kimmo Perämäki—known from Spiritus Mortis and Celesty has released a new single, ‘The Devil To Pay’ from their upcoming sixth album Atomic Spies.
The band comments: “When nothing seems to go right, the coffee spills and the day spirals out of control again. The Devil To Pay is a heavy metal strike about those moments when setbacks swell into full-blown chaos in the depths of your mind.
This track stares the devil in the eye — and plays it into the ground.
Be careful. The devil is lurking for you too!”
The Atomic Spies album will be released on May 29, 2026. The U.S. and European versions will be released by Stormspell Records (USA) while the Scandinavian version and digital release will be handled by Inverse Records (Finland).
–All music written by Kimmo Perämäki –All lyrics written by Marko Ylä-Häkkinen –Produced, recorded, mixed, mastered by Kimmo Perämäki. –Album cover art by Saija Lehto
Masquerage is a Finnish melodic metal band founded in 1998, blending elements of AOR, heavy metal, and power metal into its distinctive sound. The band was formed by cousins Kimmo Perämäki (Spiritus Mortis, Celesty) and Marko Ylä-Häkkinen.
In its early days, the band operated under the name Unchained, and in 1999 the lineup was completed by keyboardist Mika Maunus. At their very first rehearsals as a trio, Marko introduced Mika to Kimmo with the words: “Here’s Mika, our new keyboard player. Can’t really play anything, but he learns fast.” Well, the credentials were clearly sufficient, and Mika was in. This core trio—Perämäki, Ylä-Häkkinen, and Maunus—laid the foundation for Masquerage’s early sound and released the band’s first two demos.
In 2000, the band changed its name to Masquerage, reflecting the roles and masks people wear in different situations—and what may lie beneath them. This theme has remained a strong element in the band’s lyrics ever since. That same year, bassist Mikael Kontolampi joined, and the band began moving more deliberately toward a professional direction.
The early 2000s were marked by active live performances and several demo releases.
In 2004, the lineup expanded with a second guitarist, Jukka Viitasaari, and with this formation Masquerage released its debut album Work-Holic-Fool (2005) in collaboration with Soultonics. Its follow-up, Moonlight Time (2008), was released independently.
In 2009, Viitasaari stepped aside, and the four-piece lineup released their third album Backstabber in cooperation with 57Records.
In 2014, longtime bassist Kontolampi departed, and Kimmo and Marko began collaborating with the U.S.-based Stormspell Records—a partnership that would shape Masquerage’s future releases.
Bassist Ossi Raiski joined the band in 2015, after which Masquerage reactivated and released the albums Breaking the Masks (2016) and Hangman’s Revelations (2018) through Stormspell Records.
The COVID-19 pandemic briefly slowed the band’s activity, but in 2024 Masquerage returned to working on new material. The new album entered production in 2025, resulting in the band’s sixth studio album, Atomic Spies, set for release on May 29, 2026, in collaboration with Stormspell Records and Inverse Records.
Masquerage continues its determined journey toward a firmly established position in the melodic heavy rock and metal scene—combining strong melodies, infectious hooks, and thematically rich lyrics.
Line-up: Kimmo Perämäki – Guitar & Vocals Ossi Raiski – Bass Mika Maunus – Keyboards Marko Ylä-Häkkinen – Drums
Earthblood’s new single “Hatchet in Hand” is continuing in the same footsteps as the previous EP, embracing the more melodic Heavy Metal soundscape, but still tightly holding on to the bands key characteristics like: The fuzz guitar rumbling, the dirty bass growls and the drums beating like thunder. The song tells about a man with an axe.
–Composed and lyrics by Jere Halonen, Joel Notkonen & Niko Kauhanen –Cover art by Niko Kauhanen –Mix and master by Owe Inborr of Wolfthrone Studios –ISRC: FI3FC2682002 –Label: Inverse Records
Earthblood was founded in the spring of 2023 by a group of friends, fusing elements of dirty and gritty Sludge with the fast tempos and riffing of genres such as Thrash and Death metal.
They humorously describe this sonic wall of sound as Thunder Ape metal.
Earthblood’s first EP titled “Primal Fury” was released by Inverse records in the September of 2023.
Not wasting any time, the second EP bearing the name “Witchburner” was released in April 2024.
Now after two years, the apes of the Earthblood have returned with two thunderous singles “Ape Warrior” and “Hatched in Hand” which is set to be released on April 16th 2026. They continue the mighty and powerful soundscapes of both previous EP’s.
Line-up: Vocals/Guitar: Jere Halonen Vocals/Bass: Joel Notkonen Drums/Backing Vocals: Niko Kauhanen
STEFANIA SISTU releases today her new single “Passengers of a Timeless Place”, now available on all digital platforms via Volcano Records & Promotion, accompanied by a suggestive concept visualizer video on YouTube.
With this new track, Stefania Sistu moves within a sonic landscape that blends metal and rock into an intense and evocative dimension, recalling the atmospheres of bands such as Evanescence, Within Temptation and Lacuna Coil. “Passengers of a Timeless Place” is a suspended sonic journey, an emotional crossing that transcends the boundaries of time and space, leading the listener into an inner dimension shaped by memory, identity and transformation. The voice, the central element of the composition, guides the listener through dense and layered soundscapes, where melody and power merge into a dynamic balance. The track unfolds through a progressive structure that alternates intimate moments with more powerful openings, creating a musical narrative built on contrasts and emotional tension.
Composed and produced by bassist and multi-instrumentalist Daniele Pireddu, a key figure in the project, and written by Stefania Sistu herself, the single marks a further step in the artist’s journey, confirming a strong stylistic identity and a well-defined sonic vision. The concept visualizer accompanying the release enhances the meaning of the track, translating its sense of suspension and journey into images, offering an immersive experience that strengthens the connection between music and visual imagination.
Listen to “Passengers of a Timeless Place” on Spotify, Apple Music and all major digital platforms, and watch the official concept visualizer on YouTube:
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 