Finnish melodic metal outfit Stormbreaker has stormed back into the spotlight with the release of their powerful new single, “Stormageddon.” The track naturally continues the band’s musical direction established on last year’s Enlightning album, while raising the stakes with an even catchier and more explosive chorus.
Known for their dual-vocalist approach, Stormbreaker has stood out from the very beginning thanks to both their musical ambition and striking visual identity. “Stormageddon” is a prime example of what the band does best: blending infectious melodies, heavy riffs, and epic scale into a cohesive sonic experience that resonates with modern metal fans.
Formed in 2021, the band has been steadily building its distinct sound and identity, maintaining a high standard in both songwriting and live performance. Stormbreaker offers a fresh take on a genre shaped by acts such as Battle Beast, Amaranthe, and Children Of Bodom.
“Stormageddon” serves as a strong continuation of the band’s growing catalog—while also signaling that Stormbreaker’s journey is only just beginning.
Fans can catch Stormbreaker live next at Ilovaarirock Festival in Joensuu, Finland.
Stormbreaker: Anni Kokkonen – Vocals Petri Tarvainen – Vocals Tomi Virtanen – Guiter Anssi Kinnunen – Bass Sami Ratilainen – Drums
Norwegian punk rock band BLOMST release their new single “Ta det som det kommer (når det går)”, ahead of their biggest headline show to date at Rockefeller in Oslo this autumn.
The song explores living with anxiety, both confronting it and avoiding it. It reflects on the everyday decisions shaped by fear, while also celebrating the moments when we find the courage to face it head-on.
A recurring theme throughout the song is resilience. The lyric “Tunga smaker ikke lenger som den gjorde før” (“My tongue no longer tastes the way it used to”) was inspired by a line from Borderlands 4, where a character speaks after being resurrected. For BLOMST, it became a metaphor for getting back up after setbacks and continuing despite uncertainty.
The song began as an idea from guitarist Lasse Febakke Straum and was developed during a period when the band members were juggling parental leave, newborn children, pregnancies and family life. Despite limited preparation time, more than 15 years of playing together helped turn the sessions into what the band describes as one of their most energetic recordings to date.
Recorded between Taakeheimen Studio and Globus Studio, the single was produced with the help of Morten Øby, Preben Sælid and mastering engineer Magnus Guldbrandsen.”Ta det som det kommer (når det går)” is released on June 12.
BLOMST hope the song gives listeners as much energy as it gave them while making it.
Southern California’s favorite sons, the RIAA Platinum Certified band DIRTY HEADS, are pleased to release their ninth full-length album, 7 Seas, today, June 12 via Better Noise Music. Listen to 7 Seashere.
Today, they serve up “2 YOUNG,” which features a duet between singer Duddy and his daughter Sophia Lynn, proving that music is indeed the tie that binds.
“I remember Sophia sitting in a high chair while we were writing ‘Lay Me Down,’ so to now have her featuring on our album is very special. Her voice was meant for this song,” states Duddy.
Sophia Lynn weighs in about the track’s heft, saying, “Getting to work with Dirty Heads was such a full circle moment for me. This track is so meaningful, and I’m so grateful to be a part of it. As someone who’s just stepping into a new chapter of life after graduating high school, these lyrics really resonate with me. Growing up is exciting, but it can also be confusing, overwhelming, and messy. I hope this song reminds people that at whatever stage in life they’re at, it’s okay to not have everything figured out.”
Earlier this week, DIRTY HEADS gave fans a sneak peek of the album with an intimate Q&A and listening party event at the Honda Lounge at the iHeartRadio Studios in L.A. The listening party and Q&A will be available for fans to watch on VEEPS in celebration of the release.
DIRTY HEADS will hit the road this summer for a co-headline trek with 311. They also have headline dates and festival appearances on deck. All forthcoming dates are below.
DIRTY HEADS’ signature brew of sun-kissed reggae, breezy hip-hop, boundary-breaking alternative, and hazy pop is as intoxicating as ever on 7 Seas. Overall, the album represents yet another evolution for the beloved outfit.
Last month, DIRTY HEADS launched a collaboration with 4ocean — a global organization on a mission to end the ocean plastic crisis. Frontman Jared Watson embarked on an excursion alongside the 4ocean team. Together, they picked up trash from the shoreline of Key Largo at the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. The trash collected on the excursion has been recycled into a Dirty Heads 4ocean bracelet. Fans can help 4ocean pull even more plastic out of the ocean with purchase of the bracelets — either individually or as part of a very special and very limited, premium vinyl edition of the new album, which is now available for pre-order on the band’s store. Get it here.
DIRTY HEADS introduced this era with the title track “Seven Seas.” Beyond clocking 3.1 million total streams to date, it landed looks from Kill The Music, Frontview Magazine, antiMusic, and more, with Daily Reggae dubbing the track as “Song of the Week,” going on to assure, “Things can get rough but this track brings us a sense of calm and belief to stay together and fight through.” The band followed with the upbeat jam “One of Those Days,” which is currently a Top 10 hit at Alternative Radio and closing in on the Top 5. Fueled by optimism for the future, forward-thinking sonic experimentation, and genre-busting bangers without comparison, get ready to set sail into new territory with DIRTY HEADS once more.
Formed in 2000, DIRTY HEADS have built a dedicated global following by seamlessly fusing reggae, hip-hop, alternative rock, and pop. Their reach expanded significantly when the platinum-certified single “Vacation“found renewed popularity through viral culture, introducing the band to a new generation of listeners. The group later earned a No. 1 Alternative Radio hit with “Rescue Me,” further solidifying their place in the genre and scene.
With over 3 billion career streams worldwide and collaborations spanning artists such as Travis Barker, Nick Hexum, Slightly Stooped, ROME, Maroon 5, Slash, and more, DIRTY HEADS continue to evolve — while staying true to the spirit that defines their music.
7 SEAS TRACK LISTING: “Seven Seas“ “Soundboy Killa“ “2 Young” (Feat. Sophia Lynn) “Future Self” “Better“ “BADMAN” (Feat. IRAH) “Stranded” “Come My Way” “Old Beach Town” “One of Those Days“
DIRTY HEADS ON TOUR: 6/13 — Bend, OR — Reggae Rise Up Oregon * 6/19 — Swanzey, NH — Northlands Festival * 6/21 — Virginia Beach, VA — Point Break Festival * 6/25 — Morrison, CO — Red Rocks Amphitheater 6/26 — Dillon, CO — Dillon Amphitheater 6/27 — Albuquerque, NM — Sandia Casino Amphitheater 7/11 — Shakopee, MN — Mystic Lake Amphitheater #^ 7/12 — Chicago, IL — Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island #^ 7/15 — Grantville, PA — Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course #^ 7/16 — Wantagh, NY — Northwell at Jones Beach Theater #^ 7/18 — Atlantic City, NJ — Ovation Hall at Ocean Casino Resort #^ 7/19 — Syracuse, NY — Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview #^ 7/22 — Columbia, MD — Merriweather Post Pavilion #^ 7/23 — Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center # 7/25 — Pittsburgh, PA — Stage AE Outdoor #^ 7/26 — Toronto, ON — RBC Amphitheatre #^ 7/28 — Grand Rapids, MI — Acrisure Amphitheater #^ 7/30 — Clarkston, MI — Pine Knob Music Theatre #^ 7/31 — Thornville, OH — Everwild Music Festival * 8/1 — Nashville, TN — Pinnacle #^ 8/2 — Indianapolis, IN — Everwise Amphitheater at White River State Park #^ 8/4 — Kansas City, MO — Morton Amphitheater #^ 8/5 — Council Bluffs, IA — Harrah’s Stir Cove #^ 8/7 — Casper, WY — The Gaslight ^ 8/8 — West Valley City, UT — Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre #^ 8/10 — Bonner, MT — Kettlehouse ^ 8/11 — Nampa, ID — Ford Idaho Center Amphitheater #^ 8/12 — Airway Heights, WA — BECU Live at Northern Quest #^ 8/13 — Auburn, WA — White River Amphitheatre #^ 8/15 — Concord, CA — Toyota Pavilion at Concord #^ 8/16 — Santa Barbara, CA — Santa Barbara Bowl $^ 8/18 — Long Beach, CA — Long Beach Amphitheater $^ 8/19 — Chula Vista, CA — North Island Credit Union Amphitheatre $^ 8/22 — Austin, TX — Germania Insurance Amphitheater $^ 8/23 — Houston, TX — The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion $^ 8/25 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory $^ 8/26 — Rogers, AR — Walmart AMP $^ 8/28 — Alpharetta, GA — Ameris Bank Amphitheatre $^ 8/29 — Tampa, FL — MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre $^ 8/30 — West Palm Beach, FL — iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre $^
#Ocean Alley $Atmosphere ^ROME *Festival
DIRTY HEADS ARE: Jared Watson — Vocals Dustin “Duddy B” Bushnell — Vocals + Guitar Jon Olazabal — Percussion Matt Ochoa — Drums David Foral — Bass
Prepare for an extraordinary sonic experience with the CD release of Voivod’s The End of Dormancy EP (Turquois color cover), presented by Brutal Planet Records as part of their exclusive Metal Icon Series. Officially licensed from Century Media, this CD brings Voivod’s boundary-pushing, progressive metal and avant-garde sound to a new format, having only been available on vinyl and CD (inverted color scheme). Includes a 6-page insert booklet with artwork and lyrics. Don’t miss your chance to own this groundbreaking CD release and celebrate The End of Dormancy in a bold new way!
Track Listing:
The End of Dormancy (Metal Section) – 8 minutes, studio version
The End of Dormancy (Live at Montreal Jazz Fest 2019) – 9 minutes
The Unknown Knows (Live at Montreal Jazz Fest 2019) – 6 minutes
With nearly 23 minutes of genre-defining music, this EP is a masterpiece of cosmic riffs, complex rhythms, and inventive arrangements that capture Voivod’s unique style. Highlights include the powerful studio version of “The End of Dormancy” and electrifying live renditions from Montreal Jazz Fest 2019, immersing listeners in Voivod’s intense and mind-bending musical exploration.
Today, traditional thrashers THE UNKNOWN proudly share the title-track from their upcoming sophomore album, ‘Graveyard of Empires,’ set for release on September 4th via Mission 84 Productions. The new single arrives alongside an official lyric video premiering on Metal Insider, available below.
“Graveyard of Empires,” the title track and second single from the forthcoming album, is a heavy, groove-laden beast with a haunting Middle Eastern undercurrent that sets it apart from anything in the band’s catalog. Lyrically, it’s a visceral reckoning with a painful pattern of history: nations swallowed whole by occupation, greed, and endless war before they ever had the chance to become what they were meant to be. The song doesn’t mourn conquerors. It mourns potential.
On the new track, guitarist Aamir Syed shares:
“‘Graveyard of Empires’ is the heart of the record, and I think it earns that title. The song is heavy and relentless, but there is an undercurrent of grief. Musically I was drawing from Ritchie Blackmore and Middle Eastern folk and classical music. That combination gave the riff its character. We looked at history and saw the same pattern over and over: nations, people, potential, all swallowed before they became what they could have been.”
Check Out the Lyric Video Premiere for “Graveyard of Empires”on Metal Insider HERE
THE UNKNOWN are a U.S.-based heavy metal band forging a powerful blend of traditional metal and thrash. Drawing influence from bands such as Jag Panzer, Manilla Road, Anthrax, and Iron Maiden, their sound combines crushing riffs and driving rhythms with soaring melodies and commanding, emotive vocals.
Their debut album, ‘Vanishing Point,’ released through ZYX/GoldenCore Records, earned strong reviews from metal publications and fans around the world, establishing the band as a rising force in the underground heavy metal scene.
Now, THE UNKNOWN return with their forthcoming album, ‘Graveyard of Empires,’ pushing their sound even further with bigger arrangements, deeper atmosphere, and an even sharper edge. Rooted in the spirit of classic heavy metal while bringing their own modern intensity, the band continues their mission to keep true metal alive while carving out their own path within the genre.
The album’s title is a conceptual statement. ‘Graveyard of Empires’ explores the fall not of nations, but of ideas, the collapse of peace, the erosion of the human spirit, the slow unraveling of everything we build and everything we believe in. From the battlefields of World War II to the death of civilizations that never got the chance to flourish, to the quiet question of what remains of humanity when humanity itself is no longer the only answer…
Featuring cover artwork by Charles Borkowski, ‘Graveyard of Empires’ arrives September 4, 2026.
About the album, Aamir Syed comments:
“As an album, it isn’t about geopolitics, but there is a running theme throughout the stories that we’re telling. The empires that fall in this record are ideas, concepts and the slow collapse of peace. The belief that we’re building toward something and then it falls part due to greed and corruption. That’s what we’re mourning.”
Stoned Jesus are true trailblazers. While often associated with the stoner crowd, the heavy progressive rockers have experimented with folk, prog, pop and alternative rock amidst familiar doses of doom. Last year, the band entered the first phase of an expansive album trilogy that promises to take them from the sun to the moon and back. Songs to Sun was named one of the best albums of 2025 by Doom Charts, Rock Hard, The Obelisk and other outlets. Now, as frontman Igor Sydorenko and his bandmates prepare to blaze through the European summer festival circuit, they’re cycling into the next phase of their evolution.
Today, Stoned Jesus are releasing a new single. Though packed with the band’s reliable dose of heaviness, the progressive post-metal contained within “Under the Skin” shows them entering the darkest, most daring and deeply moving territory of their 17-year career.
“Our upcoming album trilogy started last year with Songs to Sun, which is a loud and heavy album that’s big on choruses and meaty riffs”, Sydorenko says before turning to Stoned Jesus’ latest single. “‘Under the Skin’ begins our next phase in a somewhat similar fashion, but with a sinister twist. The fans of the very first SJ demo will recognize the influence of post-metal, which resurfaced after our tour last summer with the legendary Cult of Luna. But “Under the Skin” is not a step back. It’s darker, bolder and more introspective than anything the band has done before”.
The video for “Under the Skin” was edited by Marco Menestrina.
On the surface, “Under the Skin” picks up right where Stoned Jesus left off. The sinking anxiety that swallowed Songs to Sun gives way here to heavy breathing. And while catchy as ever, the song’s weighty riff isn’t the only dark force that’s rattling inside Sydorenko’s head. “I feel it, it’s creeping in”, he strains, backed by bassist Andrew Rodin, who adds some of the harshest vocals the band have ever pressed to wax.
The video for “Under the Skin” was filmed while Stoned Jesus were recording in Cologne, Germany at Goblin Sound Studio with sound engineer Andy Rosczyk (ex-Ultha). Despite the song’s bleary state of mind (“Promises to keep / I will never sleep”), the band never lose their glow. As drummer Yurii Ciel guides them through a proggy middle passage that leads deeper into the shadows, we catch a glimpse not only into their psyche but the shape of what’s to come. “Sky glider, gone wilder / With the setting sun”.
Catch Stoned Jesus this summer on the European festival circuit.
Stoned Jesus 2026 European Festival Dates June 19 – Clisson, France @ Hellfest [TICKETS] June 27 – Betanzos, Spain @ Fumega Fest [TICKETS] July 3 – Gisors, France @ Kave Fest [TICKETS] July 11 – Trieste, Italy @ StonerKras Fest [TICKETS] August 8 – Rome, Italy @ Roma Stone Fest [TICKETS] August 29 – Teramo, Italy @ Suburbiae Festival [TICKETS] September 25 – London, UK @ StoomFest [TICKETS]
Since 2009, Stoned Jesus has served as one of Europe’s leading forces in heavy rock. Igor Sydorenko, a veteran of the Ukrainian underground music scene, started it as a solo project after stumbling upon some heavy and angry riffs that would become the song “Occult.” He fed off his Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin influences and was soon turned onto Electric Wizard and Sleep, two bands who mastered the art of bold, lurching heaviness, thus creating a sonic template to abide by.
The Kyiv-based project was initially dubbed “Stoned Jesus from the Outer Space” but shortened to the much crisper Stoned Jesus. The name was trimmed down out of necessity — Sydorenko wanted to legitimize the band immediately. “I realized that this may cause some problems,” he told Psychedelic Baby in 2010. “Some people wouldn’t take our music seriously, then. I don’t mind jokes and having fun, but music is always the most serious thing for me.”
Two demos ensued before Stoned Jesus’s debut LP, 2010’s First Communion. Recorded with the first line-up in two hours, First Communion was a promising offering that dove headlong into the world of heavy stoner rock, with three songs going over the 10-minute mark for hypnotic effect. The album eventually saw a proper reissue in 2020, introducing it to a new group of fans. The first change of rhythm section brought Seven Thunders Roar in 2012, which included “I’m the Mountain,” a 13-minute epic that has since become a live staple. The album also introduced a bevy of acoustic guitar and softer vocal approaches from Sydorenko.
The Harvest came next in 2015 with a new drummer, deftly transitioning Stoned Jesus into the new terrain, with more alternative and progressive rock leanings. This is a credit to Sydorenko’s evolving songwriting style and desire to never allow Stoned Jesus to repeat itself. “It works brilliantly for the likes of Motörhead or AC/DC, but we’re not that legendary yet,” he told Outlaws of the Sun in 2015. “So, let’s experiment, shall we? Let’s play with the genres, the sound, the song structures, the melodies, the time signatures — yes, my favorite trick!”
With another change of the drummer, the fourth LP, Pilgrims, arrived in 2018. A bold and experimental record, it showed the growing maturity of both musical and lyrical sides of Igor’s ever-progressing songwriting. After a year-long The Pilgrimage Tour and yet another year on the road celebrating the band’s 10th anniversary with the greatest hits setlist, Stoned Jesus’ original plans were to record its follow-up in 2020. That, of course, was sidelined by the pandemic. The band then entered Spivaki Records in Kharkiv in July 2021 to record nine songs at 75 minutes. Two-thirds of the material was mixed and mastered before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, leaving the final run-time of six songs at 43 minutes.
The result was Father Light, the band’s first for Season of Mist, which caught Stoned Jesus in full bloom. The foundational elements of Stoned Jesus’s sound remained (fuzzed-out rock, driving bass lines and maximum groove), once again augmented by the combination of Sydorenko’s gentle clean vocals and hook-laden chorus choices, along with an array of ornamental guitar melodies. And, in true Stoned Jesus fashion, the journey is often the reward. The cuts on Father Light expand and shift — all the while, the band’s trademark heaviness serves as the guide.
Mother Dark, the gloomier introspective twin of Father Light, while partially recorded was shelved due to Igor’s dissatisfaction with the working dynamics of the latest Stoned Jesus line-up. Dissolving said line-up was a difficult decision to make, but Igor’s relocation to Europe brought a surprising reunion with his old friend Yurii, a talented drummer Igor had known even before writing the first Stoned Jesus song. Adding bassist-vocalist Andrew Rodin to this new line-up solidified its reliability, and now, after the whole year of relentless 25th Anniversary Tour schedule, the reinvigorated Stoned Jesus is more than ready for their next chapter.
Songs to Sun arrived in 2025 as the first album in a forthcoming trilogy that once complete, will stand as the pinnacle of what’s been a decades-long trip for Stoned Jesus. While picking up where Father Light left off, Sydorenko and his new mates nodded to Seven Thunders Roar and The Harvest along the way. But by merging metal’s fiery intensity with mind-melting grooves, vintage prog and their catchiest choruses yet, they brought the many distinct phases of Stoned Jesus to a bright, burning head. The album was named one of the best the year by Doom Charts, Rock Hard, The Obelisk, Weedian, Metal Lair and other outlets.
In 2026, Stoned Jesus are moving into the darkest, most daring and deeply moving phase of their career, starting with the band’s latest single “Under the Skin”.
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 ) 