After skyrocketing out of nowhere to the public eye as teenagers with the Finnish Eurovision qualification program UMK and now three full-length, critically acclaimed studio albums under their belt, Finland’s melodic metal frontrunners ARION have released a brand new single entitled “Wings of Twilight”! The track is featuring a guest appearance of AD INFINITUM singer Melissa Bonny, and was produced by Matias Kupiainen (Stratovarius) and Jacob Hansen (Volbeat).
“Wings of Twilight” ( now available on all digital services viahttps://arion.bfan.link/wings-of-twilight) celebrated its live debut at the band’s recent 70.000 Tons of Metal show, an incredible lyric video, which is almost reminiscent of a short film, is now streaming here:
Since their formation in 2011, ARION stood out due to their incredible musicianship and songwriting craft. After their headstart, they released three studio albums which gained impressive streaming numbers and toured with bands like Dream Theater, Gloryhammer, Battle Beast or Sonata Arctica to name just a few. Their new single, “Wings of Twilight” feat.Melissa Bonny, marks a new chapter in the exciting story of ARION, so better watch out for more news to follow soon!
ARION Live: 07.06.2024 (NL) Into The Grace Festival, Leeuwarden 14.06.2024 (PT) BelaVista Open Air 2024, São Pedro do Sul 17.08.2024 (CZ) Rock Castle Festival, Moravský Krumlov
ARION is: Lassi Vääränen (Vocals) Iivo Kaipainen (Guitars) Arttu Vauhkonen (Keyboards) Georgi Velinov (Bass) Topias Kupianen (Drums)
LOST IN GREY release their second single “Hailuoto” from the upcoming album “Odyssey into the Grey”, an acoustic masterpiece with finnish lyrics.
Composer Harri Koskela ”‘Hailuoto’ is an acoustic song which was composed and the lyrics were written on the island of Hailuoto located in the Bothnian Bay, Finland. Musically it was inspired by the beautiful nature of the island, Northern Finland and Norway. Despite the beauty, for me, Hailuoto island had this feeling of somewhat being haunted by spirits or ghosts from the past, as some 800 people were killed there during one night approximately 300 years ago, which in my opinion also brings a unique melancholic touch to the song. Also the guitars in the song are actually recorded in the “smallest studio in the world” on the island when me and Anne Lill were visiting an Artists-in-residence in Hailuoto back in 2022.”
Anne Lill Rajala (Lyrics) “Hailuoto is a song about trying to find hope. In this song I guess hope is found, and it saddens me that not everyone is able to find it. We recently lost a dear friend who was very touched by this song. So even if I didn’t write this with him in mind specifically, afterwards it sort of became a song for him. Like the song “Varjo” on our previous album, I felt a need to write the lyrics in Finnish to express certain emotions which I am unable to express in a foreign language. We shot the music video in Bromarv on a cold day in October in a hard storm wind. Despite being unintended, the peaceful pace of the song contrasting with the storm turned out to be an interesting visualisation of the inner struggles people might be dealing with. And I hope that the song and video could remind people that together, we can help each other to get through anything.”
01 – The Entourage 02 – The Bottomless Pit 03 – Time 04 – Two Wolves 05 – A New Dawn 06 – Vem Kan Segla Förutan Vind 07 – Hailuoto 08 – Odyssey into the Grey
The Finnish theatrical metal band LOST IN GREY was founded in 2013 by composer, vocalist and keyboardist Harri Koskela, and lyricist and vocalist Anne Lill Rajala. What originally was planned to be simply a short-term project, soon grew into a full band. Inspired by a large variety of musical genres, literature, philosophy, and the world itself, Lost in Grey creates multifaceted music and brings elements of drama to their songs as well as live performances. Followed by the previous album releases, THE GREY REALMS (2017), THE WASTE LAND (2019), and UNDER THE SURFACE (2021), which all claimed great responses from audiences and media, Lost in Grey’s upcoming 4th album takes another giant leap towards even greater musical adventures. The vocalists Emily Leone, Anne Lill Rajala and Harri Koskela play the main characters within the overarching story of all the albums, bringing a very own touch to it through their diverse voice talents. In recent years these theatrical metal pioneers have proven to be one of the most promising and inspiring acts coming from the Finnish metal scene, electrifying their audiences through their versatile musical storytelling and tremendous sound. Now Lost in Grey invites you to dive with them on new adventures where the music and stories dance hand in hand, and everything is possible…
Line-up: Harri Koskela – Keyboards, vocals and composer Anne Lill Rajala – Vocals and lyrics Emily Leone – Vocals and violin Aapo Lindberg – Bass Miika Haavisto – Guitar Jarno Suodenjoki – Guitar Teppo Ristola – Drums
The groundbreaking new voice in black metallers JORDSJUK drop an intense new track after their phenomenal single debut earlier this year! The trio consists of the seasoned veterans from esteemed bands such as Djevel, Nordjevel, Urgehal and Koldbrann, and February 8th 2024, their latest offering “Viva la Apocalypse” will unleash.
Jordsjuk plays fierce, deliciously primitive and groovy black metal with their feet planted in both death and corruption. Their first single “Siste Skanse” premiered January of this year, and the band immediately grabbed the attention of both fans and media with predictions like;
“This could quickly become one of the year’s hardest sensations, a trio playing dirty, sneaky, and devilishly obsessed black metal”. – Dagsavisen
Their upcoming single “Viva la Apocalypse” brings you down in the dirt, and the band states:
“Crank up the ugliness! Let ‘Viva La Apocalypse’ shatter the vision of a hopeful future!”
Jordsjuk is: Sagstad – Guitar Mannevond – Vocals Renton – Drums and bass
About Jordsjuk:
Jordsjuk are embodying the future of Norwegian black metal, and you can expect catchy and effective songs combined with introverted lyrics about mental burdens, doomsday, and the general discomfort plagues the human mind.
Their extreme and raw sound immediately grabbed the attention from the renowned metal label Indie Recordings, known for working with bands like Gaahls WYRD, Kampfar, 1349 and Carpathian Forest.Erlend Gjerde, Managing Director at Indie Recordings states:
“Finally! I`ve been waiting for this sound and feeling for years now. Cold and blackened rock-metal at its finest giving you that thumbs-down feeling we all love”.
Besides landing a recording deal with Indie Recodings, Metal Injection also recognized Jordsjuk as one of Norway’s most promising new groups, solidifying their potential as torchbearers for the future black metal scene. The band states:
“Nekro times needs nekro music..! We’re here to bring you death and doom with a groove!”
WADE BLACK’S ASTRONOMICA have released their new video for second single ‘Destiny’. The track is taken from the band’s upcoming album “The Awakening” that will be released on March 8, 2024 as Digipack CD, Curacao Transparent Vinyl limited to 300 copies worldwide and digital streaming/download format.
The band comments on the song: “Everyone creates their own destiny. As we travel through the wastelands of life, we come upon many people. Some stay and share your life with you while others fade away in the distance and are forgotten. Taking care of yourself first is key, then all will fall into place. You can think of the chorus as a love song, but I think the song is about a higher power that gives you the faith and the strength to conquer evil.”
BENIGHTED weave a writhing tale of psychological horror on their new album, which was recorded at Kohlekeller Studio. Famous for working with bands like Aborted and Powerwolf, producer Kristian Kohlmannslehner helped Benighted twist their brutal brand of death metal into something truly tormenting.
Ekbom refers to delusional parasitosis, a real-life phenomenon that makes people believe their skin is infested with bugs. Just try not to shiver while watching the creepy-crawly music video for lead single “Scars”.
“Scars” will make the hairs on the back of your neck jump. The song blasts straight into Julien Truchan’s signature pig squeal. The riffs are as fast as they are nimble, but Benighted compliment their grinding technicality with clever drum breaks and harmonic passages. Creepy, gruesome and still absolutely brutal, the French band are back to crack open the deepest, darkest recesses of our skulls.
Video created by Kick Your Eye Productions.
Tracklist 1. Prodrome (1:19) 2. Scars (3:15) [WATCH] 3. Morgue (3:22) 4. Le Vice des Entrailles (3:06) 5. Nothing Left to Fear (2:44) 6. Ekbom (3:42) 7. Metastasis (3:33) 8. A Reason for Treason (3:18) 9. Fame of the Grotesque (2:20) 10. Scapegoat (2:22) 11. Flesh against Flesh (3:18) 12. Mother Earth, Mother Whore (4:28) Total runtime: 36:48
Cover art: Grindesign (Rob Borbas)
Benighted are hitting the road in April for the Hellfest Warm-up Tour. Along with their signature style of brutal death metal, the French band are bringing along the support of Ten56 for these 13 lucky shows. Rise of the North Star, Stinky & KAMIZOL K will also join them on select dates.
Hellfest Warm-Up Tour 2024: April 19: Clermont Ferrand, FR @ La Cooperative de Mai April 20: Bordeaux, FR @ Rock School Barbey April 21: Biarritz, FR @ Atabal April 22: Cahors, FR @ Les Docks April 23: Montpellier, FR @ Victorie 2 April 25: Nice, FR @ Stockfish April 26: Crest, FR @ Bridge to Hell April 27: Lausanne, CH @ Docks April 28: Montbeliard, FR @ L’Axone April 30: Oignies, FR @ La Metaphone May 2: Paris, FR @ Cité de la Musique May 3: Cherbourg, FR @ La Breche May 4: Nantes, FR @ Warehouse
Dive into the darkest realms of the human psyche as Benighted, the French purveyors of brutal death metal & grindcore, unleash their tenth full-length album Ekbom in April 2024. The madness that has defined their discography continues with this radical soundtrack to the twisted times we inhabit.
Born from French Death and Black metal bands Dishumanized, Darkness Fire, and Osgiliath, Benighted emerged in 1998 with a mission to explore a more brutal, heavy, and modern form of musical expression. The impact of their first self-produced and self-titled full-length album in 2000 transformed BENIGHTED from a side-project into a main act, quickly amassing a devoted fan base. Subsequent albums like Psychose (2002), Insane Cephalic Production (2004), Identisick (2006), and Icon (2007) further cemented their visceral, skull-breaking sound into extreme death metal history.
After a detour into the realms of Necrobreed in 2017, Benightedcelebrated their 20th anniversary by capturing the live madness with Dogs Always Bite Harder Than Their Master in 2018.
With Obscene Repressed, they once again took sadistic pleasure in pushing the boundaries of brutality, delving into the disturbed mind of little Michael. His relentless battle against demons, fueled by unresolved oedipal issues with his mother, provided a grotesque tableau for Benighted’s sonic butchery. Not content with merely slaughtering everything in their auditory path, Benightedcrafted thematically explorative pieces, each turn in their music revealing new layers of horror and despair.
As the relentless journey continues, Benighted is set to unleash Ekbom in April 2024, an album that draws inspiration from the nightmarish ‘Ekbom syndrome.’ This rare neurological disorder, also known as Delusional Parasitosis, forms the thematic core of the upcoming release. A feeling of having a vile concoction of parasites, worms, and insects crawling under your skin is an apt description of what BENIGHTED have to offer on this newest release. The auditory assault mirrors the repulsive sensations of the syndrome, a visceral and unsettling journey into the abyss of the human mind.
Madness reigns yet again, this time intertwining with the haunting echoes of Ekbom syndrome. Brace yourselves for another mind-shattering chapter in the Benighted saga as they continue to carve their niche in the putrid annals of extreme metal, leaving a trail of sonic disgust in their wake.
Line-up Julien Truchan – Vocals Emmanuel Dalle – Guitars Pierre Arnoux – Bass Kevin Paradis – Drums
Recording studio Kohlekeller Studios, Germany (Powerwolf, Aborted, Crematory)
Producer, Sound, Mixing & Mastering engineer Kristian Kohlmannslehner
Guest musicians Oliver Peters (Archspire) on “Nothing Left to Fear” Xavier Chevalier (Blockheads) on “Fame of the Grotesque”
New Orleans’ BRAT has today revealed the full details for their forthcoming debut album, Social Grace, due for release via Prosthetic Records on March 15. Alongside the album announcement, the death grind / hardcore band has shared the album’s third single and an accompanying music video, Hesitation Wound. Social Grace follows BRAT‘s blistering ascension both on the road and in-studio with relentless US touring and two head turning EP’s already under their belt since their 2021 inception.
Speaking on the album announcement, BRAT comments: “Hesitation Wound is the third single from our first album Social Grace, debuting on March 15. In true BRAT form the music video is in keeping with our campy lighthearted approach to the otherwise grim music and lyrics. You can catch us on tour now until Feb 20th with Escuela Grind with Take Offense and Bonginator!”
Between an intense live schedule over the last three years, which saw BRAT share the stage with the likes of Eyehategod, Cro-Mags and contemporaries in grind such as ACxDC and No/Mas, the band recorded Social Grace over the course of a year and a half at HighTower Recording studio (Thou, A Wilhelm Scream, Eyehategod). Recording songs in batches helped BRAT finetune and focus their songcraft in condensed bursts, resulting in a coalescence of death metal, thrash, and powerviolence brutality.
Social Grace follows extreme music’s well trodden themes of futility and rage throughout it’s 10 tracks, with the band’s reverence for psychological horror fiction and admiration for Stephen King genre classics evident on songs such as Hesitation Wound and Truncheon, as well as the title-track’s scathing rebuttal of aristocracy.
BRAT’s self-described barbiegrind / bimboviolence aesthetic is one of intentional dichotomy to their sound, with a keen focus to allow space and inclusivity for outsiders that shirks the traditional in favor of jubilant authenticity. Feral and ferocious in content and anti-purist in nature, BRAT’s Social Grace is a cataclysmically heavy party that everyone’s invited to.
BRAT – Social Grace tracklist 1. Ego Death 2. Hesitation Wound 3. Slow Heat 4. Truncheon 5. Human Offense 6. Rope Drag 7. Blood Diamond 8. Snifter 9. Sugar Bastard 10. Social Grace
Upcoming BRAT tour dates, remaining shows w/ Escuela Grind, Take Offense and Bonginator
February 09 – Sanctuary – Detroit, MI February 10 – Atomic Bowling – Indianapolis, IN February 11 – Ace of Cups – Columbus, OH February 12 – No Class – Cleveland, OH February 13 – The Shred Shed – Pittsburgh, PA February 14 – Skid Row Garage – York, PA February 15 – Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA February 16 – TV Eye – Brooklyn, NY February 17 – Sonia – Boston, MA February 18 – Geno’s – Portland ME* February 20 – Snug Harbor – Charlotte NC* *BRAT only
BRAT is: Brenner Moate – Guitar Liz Selfish – Vocals Dustin Eagan – Drums Ian Hennessey – Bass
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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
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Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 