Finnish rock band MOFFAT has released their eponymous debut album. The album’s central theme is the modern culture wars and the division in western societies. The songs deal with individualism, discrimination and indifference in many different ways, with the author’s own feelings and experiences as the central perspective.
MOFFAT is a rock band founded in Jyväskylä, Finland in 2020. Their music is mostly inspired by 1990s grunge, hard rock and progrock. The lyrics of the songs often deal with social themes.
KINGS NEVER DIE release “Bigger They Come, Harder They Fall”, the first pre-single taken from the upcoming studio album “The Life & Times”, out on October 25th on Metalville Records.
Dan Nastasi about the song: “Personal story about someone I know really well. Tried the Tough Guy Bullshit and realized he wasn’t all that. I’d always tell him.. The Bigger They Come, The Harder They Fall. Can’t fake tough. You either are or you aren’t.”
Following the release of their debut LP ‘All The Rats’ in 2023 and their European tour together with ‘Dog Eat Dog’, ‘Kings Never Die’ began work on their follow-up album. After drummer Danny Schuler left to return to ‘Bioharzard’, Dan Nastasi asked his long-time friend John ‘Booge’ Milnes (Mucky Pup) to help with the recordings.
Nastasi says, ‘The writing and recording process has been very different for us from the first EPs to “All The Rats” to now. And this album was no different. We basically had 10-15 new songs in the works. After we got home from tour at the end of November, we decided it was best to start working on a new album right away. I basically locked myself in my home studio for 4 weeks and got into the writing process, writing new songs and working on ideas we already had. After that me, Evan and John Milnes rehearsed with the rhythm section for 4 weeks and then immediately went to Shore Fire Studios in Long Branch NJ to start recording. 3 days later we headed to PA to Rock Hard Studios and finished the rest of the guitars and vocals. We drove back to NJ and mixed the album.’
The result is „The Life & Times“. And although it is not a concept album, the album is exactly what the title suggests. Side A, the life side, with the title track ‘The Life & Times’ and other songs based on personal stories. Side B, the time side, really reflects on the times we live in and takes a good look at the youth or younger generations and the struggles they may face in the future.
Nastasi said. „One thing I’ve learnt from working with Danny Schuler is that every word you write or every lyric in a song has to have a meaning to you or something that people can relate to. I feel like it really helped me tell a story through the lyrics that I wrote on our last album, but especially on „The Life & Times.“
Arguably the most important songs on ‘Life & Times’ are without a doubt ‘Bigger They Come, Harder They Fall’, which was originally intended for the previous album. The title track and ‘Empathy’ are also anthem-like tracks with catchy vocals and bounce. ‘Underdog’ was written by Nastasi as a thank you to his late father for his life experiences and in recognition of the drive and ambition he instilled in him.
„Most people think that this album is a return to our original hardcore and punk rock style“, says the band, and it’s obvious that vocally they have returned to a two-singer style, with Gadino and Nastasi sharing vocals.
KINGS NEVER DIE is 100% authentic and it’s obvious that the music comes from the heart, both lyrically and emotionally. ‘The Life & Times’ is clearly the band’s greatest achievement to date.
TRACK LISTING
01 The Life & Times 02 Bigger They Come, Harder They Fall 03 Never Let Go 04 Empathy 05 Can I Get A Witness 06 Underdog 07 Kill The Cowards 08 War & Youth 09 The Rights 10 Slow Crawl 11 If God Is Dead
MUSICIANS Dan Nastasi – Guitar/Vocals (original Mucky Pup/Dog Eat Dog) Dylan Gadino – Vocals Evan Ivkovich – Bass (Wisdom in Chains) Larry “The Hunter” Nieroda – Guitar Dougie Beans – Drums (originally Murphys Law)
Swedish metalcore act Awake The Dreamer have unveiled their brand new single ‘Future’, which is taken from their upcoming album Holocene, out today via Arising Empire.
Holocene showcases the band’s evolved sound, seamlessly blending haunting melodies with powerful riffs and dynamic vocals. Focus track, ‘Future’, captures the essence of the album with its post-hardcore energy and melodic intricacies, offering a compelling narrative that explores themes of inner conflict and emotional upheaval. Fans can experience ‘Future’ and the rest of Holocene across all major streaming platforms, solidifying Awake The Dreamer‘s position in the metal scene with their innovative sound and storytelling.
Formed through childhood and high school friendships in 2015, Stockholm-based quartet Awake The Dreamer released their Grow EP the following year, leading to tours in Europe and Asia alongside bands including Ice Nine Kills, Northlane, Adept and Crystal Lake.
In 2019, Awake The Dreamer released their debut album Damaged Souls via Arising Empire. The 10-track release featured guest appearances from Adept‘s Robert Ljung (‘Vigilant’) and Crystal Lake’sRyo Kinoshita in (‘Atmosphere’).
Building on their robust musical journey, Awake The Dreamer are set to elevate their artistic expression with the release of their upcoming album Holocene. This new record promises to deepen their exploration of intense emotions and complex themes, setting a new benchmark for their signature sound in the metal scene.
Live dates: Awake The Dreamer / Dead Like Juliet Co-Headline Europe Tour 2024 with special guests: Atena 30.09 Berlin, Germany @ Cassiopeia 01.10 Leipzig, Germany @ Hellraiser 02.10 Den Bosch, Netherlands @ W2 04.10 Bochum, Germany @ Die Trompete 08.10 London, UK @ New Cross Inn 10.10 Mainz, Germany @ Schon Schön 11.10 Prague, Czech Republic @ Cross Club 12.10 Vorchdorf, Austria @ Metalnight Outbreak 13.10 Vienna, Austria @ Flex 14.10 Munich, Germany @ Backstage
Awake The Dreamer are:
Max Andrén | Vocals Victor Sandberg | Guitar Johan Norsander | Guitar
ENEMY INSIDE is back with a vengeance, releasing their new single, ‘Should Have Known Better.’ The modern metal outfit delivers a track that blends fierceness and finesse, unafraid to challenge and redefine the genre. The lyrics drive this message home with a steadfast resolve, showcasing the band’s knack for blending introspective storytelling with raw emotion and heavy hitting energy, digging deep into themes of betrayal and resilience. “It’s a reminder that you cannot look into someone’s head and should watch out for those uninterested in your success and well-being,” the band explains. “It’s for all the fake friends talking behind your back or only sticking around in your best moments but not at your worst. You tried to play the wrong person – you should have known better.”
The accompanying music video mirrors the song’s fierce narrative. Frontwoman Nastassja Giulia takes on the role of a high-society icon, confidently dominating a high-stakes gambling table. The video, directed by Nastassja alongside creative collaborator and guitarist Evan K, and mixed and mastered by Christoph Wieczorek, seamlessly intertwines sophistication and defiance. It captures the essence of the song’s message — standing strong in the face of betrayal, reclaiming power, and serving a taste of karma to those who have underestimated you.
European Tour 2025 Special Guests: Letters Sent Home Presented by Seaside Entertainment 20.02.2025 DK Copenhagen – Rust 21.02.2025 DE Hamburg – headCRASH 22.02.2025 DE Berlin – Privatclub 23.02.2025 DE Hanover – Béi Chéz Heinz 27.02.2025 DE Bochum – Rockpalast 28.02.2025 DE Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal 01.03.2025 DE Munich – Backstage (Club) 06.03.2025 DE Cologne – Helios 37 07.03.2025 DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann (Studio) 08.03.2025 CH Aarburg – Musigburg 13.03.2025 DE Leipzig – Hellraiser 14.03.2025 CZ Prague – Storm Club 15.03.2025 PL Kraków – Klub Zaścianek 16.03.2025 PL Warsaw – Klub Hydrozagadka 21.03.2025 NL Utrecht – De Helling 22.03.2025 NL Maastricht – Muziekgieterij 28.03.2025 FI Tampere – Olympia-kortteli * 29.03.2025 FI Helsinki – On the Rocks * * w/o LSH
ENEMY INSIDE have quickly distinguished themselves in the metal scene with their powerful thematic content centered around combating the ‘inner enemy.’ Their energetic, melodic, and emotionally charged music has earned them a loyal fan base. With over 9 million Spotify streams and 3 million YouTube views, their albums “Phoenix” [2018] and “Seven” [2021] have solidified their status in the music industry. ENEMY INSIDE graced major stages on festivals like Wacken Open Air, Full Metal Cruise, Dynamo Metal Fest, Nummirock, M’era Luna, Rockharz Open Air and many more and have toured extensively across Europe.
ENEMY INSIDE are: Nastassja Giulia | vocals Evan K | lead guitars Dave Hadarik | rhythm guitars Dominik Stotzem | bass
Italian alternative metal group Stage Of Reality have released a new official video for the title track from their forthcoming album of the same name.
“The Digital God feeds itself with sleeping masses and it governs their behavior like the puppeteer who pulls the puppets strings. The sleeping masses attached to the cables that power up the Digital God’s world are at the same time energy and will to be governed…. Gods have always been fueled by ignorance. Nowadays the masses don’t want to find their own identity anymore and they prefer to be governed by the Digital God and live passively.”
Digital God | Released October 15th, 2024 via Sliptrick Records | Pre-order here
Stage Of Reality are: Damiano Borgi – Vocals | Andrea Neri – Guitar | Emiliano Tessitore – Guitar | Marco Polizzi – Bass | Daniele Michelacci – Drums
(0) is a Danish band that breaks down the boundaries between black, progressive, drone, and post-metal, completing its unique sound with Danish lyrics and growl vocals. All of this comes to life when (0) in a dark sphere fuses intense, raw sound with a massive use of lighting and impressive visual elements to create a spectacle of a live performance.
After a four-year release hiatus, (0) is now back with its second full-length album, KNÆK.MØRKE.MOD.LYS (Danish for BREAK.DARKNESS.AGAINST.LIGHT), adding further dimensions to the enigmatic band’s artistic work. Today sees the release of the album’s first single ‘Det Sortner’ (‘It Blackens’ in Danish), which is accompanied by a lyric video conveying the song’s dark theme, which according to the band is “..about hating yourself so much, that you don’t want to exist, and about how long time and how much strength is takes to move on from there.”
KNÆK.MØRKE.MOD.LYS will be released on vinyl and digital formats, and both are now available for pre-orders. The vinyl version comes in two editions with one being black version limited to 200 copies, which can be pre-ordered HERE, and a Green Marble version limited to 100 copies which can be pre-ordered HERE. The album can be pre-saved and pre-ordered on digital formats HERE. Also, (0) will be announcing forthcoming shows in near future.
On (0)’s self-titled debut EP, listeners are first introduced to the band’s experimental and unconventional approach to various genres and their distinctive sound, built around insistent and patient guitar constructions. The band’s vision of letting the music speak for itself was reflected in minimal promotion and an anonymous appearance. This only fueled the growing interest around the band, which soon played well-attended Danish concerts, including festivals When Copenhell Freezes Over and Royal Metal Fest.
The debut EP and subsequent shows also gained international attention, and in April 2020, (0) released its debut album, SkamHan, via Napalm Records. Here, one is met with a wall of guitars, growling vocals with Danish lyrics, and drone-based melancholy. On the album, the band continues to navigate the shadowy intersections of black, progressive, drone, and sludge metal, but SkamHan appears more organic than the EP, offering a journey through seven tracks that dive into the darkest corners of the human mind. The release coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, and (0) was only able to tour with the album the following year, embarking on a 14-day European tour and performing at several international festivals, including Mystic Festival in Poland and Gefle Metal Festival in Sweden.
Since then, (0) has remained creative, seeking new paths and crafting the music that has now become the band’s second album, KNÆK.MØRKE.MOD.LYS. The record features nine new compositions, recorded with producer Lasse Ballade (Konvent, Solbrud, Strychnos, etc.) over three weeks in the summer of 2023. As is characteristic of (0)’s sound, the album features an organic, analog feel that comes across as vibrant and alive in all its raw, untamed performance. The material is possibly elevated even further than in previous releases—the songs are sharply honed, and the production does justice to the band’s dynamic range, with the band’s amalgamation of experimental metal genres hitting with overwhelming weight.
Artwork by Sune Petersen aka MOTORSAW
The album title, KNÆK.MØRKE.MOD.LYS, is taken from a poem written by one of the band’s guitarists. While the poem is not included as part of the album’s lyrics, it is written on the album’s inner sleeve, as it resonates with the themes and vibe of the album. Melancholy is the feeling that permeates (0)’s sound and lyrics, and also the new album. The lyrics focus on the darker aspects of life, such as grief, depression, guilt and shame, frustration, and anger. The themes operate both on a deeply personal level and on a broader scale, with the title track addressing climate change and the frustration that comes with it. But light always plays a role for (0), and light becomes more evident when one has first been enveloped in darkness—light as a search, an instinct, and a will in humanity that pushes us to continue living, despite the darkness that will eventually consume us all.
Track list:
Det Sortner
Knæk Mørke Mod Lys
Dråbe
Trukket Tid
Skyldnersol
Vedhold
Vrede
Drone
Hvad Den Sorte Muld Er For Lyset
(0) is: Frederik Bjørn Jensen – Vocals Mads Mortensen – Drums Magnus Oulund Ipsen – Bass Jesper Ulrich – Guitar Martin Aakjær – Guitar
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 ) 