Finnish extreme metal band Saasta has released the final single from their upcoming album “Cesspool” to be released on May 8th. “The Coffin” dives into the rotten core of burning out: self-loathing, feelings of inadequacy, and those deep, unspoken roots that force us to sacrifice everything to achieve nothing. This is not just a song but self-destruction on the altar of ambition.
“We build inhuman altars for ourselves, goals that tear us away from our own flesh and minds. We force ourselves into a mold we cannot fit into. We feed every drop of blood to an illusion we call ambition. When the body breaks down and the mind screams for mercy, we still do not relent. We cling tooth and nail to the lie we have woven ourselves, until it crushes us and sucks the marrow from our bones.”
Listen to the single on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube Music etc.): https://push.fm/fl/saasta-coffin – Composition & Lyrics by Janne Hietanen
Musically, “The Coffin” is an atypical track for Saasta thanks to its almost melodic chorus, but the verses and bridge are crafted in the familiar black and death metal aesthetic. The combination of these elements has added a raw, fresh, and addictive track to Saasta’s song arsenal.
The single’s cover art and music video were created in a brutal DIY spirit entirely by Saasta themselves. This marks the band’s seventh music video and continues a series in which Saasta has purposefully built a distinctive, raw, and recognizable visual identity from one opus to the following one. For the band, the visual dimension is not a side note, but a central part of the whole. It is a way to deepen the world created by Saasta and to drive the themes of the songs concretely under the viewer’s skin.
Saasta is an extreme metal band from Kotka, Finland. Formed in 2020 the band combines the mercilessness of black and death metal, with the more subtle nuances of doom. The combination is dark and groovy metal with its own distinctive sound, where strong lyrical expression meets raw energy. Saasta is known for their intense stage presence and uncompromising effort.
“Watch You Fold” is the latest single from UK technical death metal practitioners INGESTED. The track features guest vocals from John Gallagher of Dying Fetus and comes by way of the band’s Denigration full-length, set for release on May 8th via Metal Blade Records.
For nearly two decades, Manchester’s INGESTED has stood as one of the UK’s most uncompromising forces in extreme metal. Champions of a sound that fuses precision brutality with increasingly dynamic songwriting, they’ve evolved from underground slam pioneers into a globally recognized, forward-driving powerhouse. With Denigration, the band begins a bold new chapter, one defined by reinvention, sharpened purpose and the arrival of a new voice at the helm.
At the core of this evolution remain founding members Sean Hynes (guitars, co-vocals) and Lyn Jeffs (drums), the creative backbone whose vision, chemistry, and relentless drive have powered INGESTED since day one. They are joined by guitarist Andrew Virrueta, who also contributes vocals to the album and bassist Thomas O’Malley completing a lineup that delivers the band’s most dynamic and commanding work to date.
In addition to John Gallagher of Dying Fetus, Denigration includes guest appearances by Damonteal Harris of PeelingFlesh on “Merciless Reflection,” Skyler Conder of Cell on “Dragged Apart,” and Kyle Medina of Bodysnatcher on “Dredge The Dark,” further amplifying the record’s scope and intensity.
Comments the band on today’s single, “‘Watch You Fold’ is a character assassination in slow motion. Lyrically, it’s aimed at the kind of smug, greedy parasite who hides behind legacy and respectability while everyone around them suffocates. It’s about institutions and individuals who turned a once-respected space into a ‘fifty-year mockery,’ treating people like expendable fuel while they count the cash. The song is us standing in that claustrophobic room, calling out the lies, and promising that if you come for five of us, you’re actually coming for every single person we stand with.
“The music is a deliberate nod to that mid-2000s Unique Leader school of blasting brutal death metal, fused with Sean’s melodic, brooding sense of atmosphere. It’s technical without showboating, relentless without losing groove, and built around riffs that feel like concrete. Having John Gallagher from Dying Fetus on the track was about closing a circle, his gutturals are instantly recognizable and tie the whole thing back to the era that shaped our sense of heaviness. This is the sound of a once-revered statue being dragged off its plinth and smashed to dust.”
Listen to INGESTED‘s “Watch You Fold” (Feat. John Gallagher of Dying Fetus) HERE.
Produced by Nico Beninato at The Arch Studios in Southport, UK, Denigration captures INGESTED at their sharpest and most forward-thinking. The album’s visual identity is equally striking, featuring artwork by Giannis Nakos of Remedy Art Design, whose detailed, eerie imagery reflects the record’s thematic depth and ferocious tone.
Denigration Track Listing; 01. Dragged Apart (feat. Skyler Conder of Cell) 02. Merciless Reflection (feat. Damonteal Harris of PeelingFlesh) 03. Watch You Fold (feat. John Gallagher of Dying Fetus) 04. Stitch by Stitch 05. We Are All Inherently Evil 06. Dredge the Dark (feat. Kyle Medina of Bodysnatcher) 07. Oaths Betrayed 08. Beaten Beyond the Veil 09. Steel Toe Truth 10. Cold Sun
In conjunction with the release of Denigration, INGESTED will return to the US as part of the Chaos & Carnage Tour alongside Thy Art Is Murder, Carnifex, Bodysnatcher, 200 Stab Wounds, Gates To Hell, and Bodybox. Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
INGESTED: Chaos & Carnage Tour w/ Thy Art Is Murder, Carnifex, Bodysnatcher, 200 Stab Wounds, Gates To Hell, Bodybox: 5/02/2026 The Van Buren – Phoenix, AZ 5/03/2026 El Rey Theater – Albuquerque, NM 5/05/2026 Vibes Event Center – San Antonio, TX 5/06/2026 House Of Blues – Houston, TX 5/08/2026 Brooklyn Bowl – Nashville, TN 5/12/2026 The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC 5/13/2026 Nevermore Hall – Baltimore, MD 5/15/2026 Reverb – Reading, PA 5/17/2026 The Brooklyn Monarch – Brooklyn, NY 5/19/2026 Ramova Theatre – Chicago, IL 5/20/2026 Val Air Ballroom – Des Moines, IA 5/22/2026 Ogden Theatre – Denver, CO 5/23/2026 The Rockwell – Salt Lake City, UT 5/24/2026 Treefort Music Hall – Boise, ID 5/26/2026 Showbox SoDo – Seattle, WA 5/27/2026 Roseland Theater – Portland, OR 5/29/2026 UC Theatre – Berkeley, CA 5/30/2026 The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA 5/31/2026 House Of Blues – Las Vegas, NV
INGESTED: Sean Hynes: Vocals / Guitar Andrew Virrueta: Vocals / Guitar Thomas O’Malley: Bass Lyn Jeffs: Drums
Portuguese symphonic death metal band GODIVA present “Black Mirror (Live with Orchestra at Vagos Metal Fest)”, the final video of the Hubris era.
Filmed during their monumental performance at Vagos Metal Fest alongside The Purgatory Orchestra, this special performance captures one of the most ambitious moments in the band’s history, merging crushing metal with powerful orchestral arrangements in a dark and cinematic live experience.
The concert served as a special preview of the Hubris album before the pandemic, marking the second show presenting the new material, and becoming a historic milestone for the band.
With this video, Godiva close the visual chapter of Hubris and take the first step toward a new era, with a new album and a new lineup to be revealed soon.
Special thanks to former members Arcelio Sampaio (bass), Eduardo Sinatra (drums) and Pedro Faria (vocals) for their contribution during the Hubris era.
Finnish lap steel guitarist Mika Jaakkola has released a brand-new double single titled “Helping Hand“, created in collaboration with award-winning Weissenborn and lap steel guitarist Thomas Oliver, widely regarded as one of the finest players in the world. Oliver originally joined the project as a producer, but ultimately also became a featured performer on the recording, making this Jaakkola’s first major international release. The double single arrives alongside an official music video for the title track “Helping Hand.”
Behind the release lies a deeply personal story. Nearly two decades ago, Jaakkola lost his ability to play guitar after being diagnosed with focal dystonia, a neurological condition affecting fine motor control. At the time, the hope of returning to music came through slide instruments such as lap steel. During that period, Jaakkola discovered the work of Thomas Oliver while researching and immersing himself in the world of slide guitar.
Jaakkola’s discography already includes collaborations with several prominent Finnish artists, including Marko Hietala (Nightwish, Tarot), Olli Haavisto (J. Karjalainen, Kari Tapio), Janne Haavisto (J. Karjalainen), Timo Kämäräinen (Olavi Uusivirta, Ellips), and Janne Tolsa (Tarot, Turmion Kätilöt). Using his catalogue as a calling card, he reached out to Thomas Oliver with a question: would he consider producing his next release?
“The answer to my humble request was: ‘Would you like to do the recording remotely or come to my studio in Bali?’”, Jaakkola recalls: “My response was obvious and immediate.”
The songs were recorded at Oliver’s studio in Bali, with a clear focus on authenticity: organic production, genuine tone, and a natural dialogue between two guitars.
“Weissenborn players like Thomas Oliver rely on extremely clear articulation and producing a ‘perfect’ sound,” Jaakkola explains. “For me, it was a leap into something new. With focal dystonia in the background, that’s a major challenge. But the acoustic slide guitar tone achieved through this technique is unbelievably beautiful.”
However, the sessions took an unexpected turn when focal dystonia returned at the worst possible moment. A creative solution was found – one that ultimately shaped the identity of the entire release.
Around the fifth studio day, my left hand started cramping so badly that muting the strings became almost impossible. Thomas came up with an idea – he moved his own hand along the fretboard in sync with mine so we could record the parts in real time. For the rest of the sessions there were literally two hands on the guitar neck. That’s where the title Helping Hand came from. We had tons of material to record, but we chose to focus on simple things: the strongest qualities of acoustic slide guitar and the dialogue between two instruments. We succeeded unbelievably well. I’ve never achieved an acoustic guitar sound this good before.”
“This is my first international collaboration and doing it with one of the world’s most respected players of the scene feels unreal. Twenty years ago, after my diagnosis, I thought my career as a musician was over. Back then I listened to Thomas’ music and held on to a small spark of hope that I might one day play slide guitar again. Now the world has turned completely upside down – in the best possible way.”
Norwegian alternative/metal/prog/rockers PIL & BUE have shared a new lyric video for the track ‘Shadowcasters’, taken from their fifth full-length album “You Have Chosen Darkness”, released on February 27th via the band’s own label and Diger Distribution.
Comments Petter: “Shadowcasters is an intens short track about slowing things down. We’re going too fast. It’s not healthy for anyone. I like the contradiction between the topic and the speed”
PIL & BUE (eng: Arrow & Bow). Let’s head north, way above the arctic circle in Norway. Pil & Bue’s album “You Have Chosen Darkness” is set for release on February 27.
The album was recorded at Kysten Studio in Tromsø, together with co-producer, engineer and mixer Ariel Joshua Sivertsen. The album, consisting of seven tracks, is a journey through emotions. It speaks about the times we live in, and a feeling of overwhelmingness.
BIO: Pil & Bue is a two-piece, consisting of Petter Carlsen (the arrow) and Goeran Johansen (the bow).
…a two-piece vastly more than the sum of their parts, their deeply invested fusion of metal and pop-bordering melodic dynamics is given emotional rocketfuel by Petter Carlsen’s unrestrained vocals. Sia fronting Gojira is an approximation, but the result is exhilarating and uncontrived, and resonates on every level”- Jonathan Selzer, Metal Hammer UK .
With subtle, but pronounced references to artists like Metallica, Radiohead, A Perfect Circle, Anathema
In case you missed it: Watch the New Video for the Track “222” HERE!
Quick Facts & Highlights: The album is available on Vinyl, Music Cassette, CD and through digital music platforms.
Recent Success: Their previous album, Special Agents, received a nomination for a Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannprisen) in 2024.
Sound Profile: Described by Metal Hammer UK as “Sia fronting Gojira,” their style blends metal dynamics with pop-bordering melodies, drawing comparisons to Radiohead, Metallica, and Mars Volta.” a two-piece vastly more than the sum of their parts, their deeply invested fusion of metal and pop-bordering melodic dynamics is given emotional rocketfuel by Petter Carlsen’s unrestrained vocals.”
Film Credits: Director Tommy Wirkola has featured the band in major productions, including the “Dead Snow 2” soundtrack and the end credits of the Netflix blockbuster “What Happened to Monday”.
Collaborations: Vocalist Petter Carlsen has performed with Long Distance Calling as lead singer on their album Trips, and appeared on the 2024 Weather Systems album Oceans Without a Shore.
The band has toured with the german post rockers Long Distance Calling, as special guests.
Recently they opened for for the legendary norwefgan alternative rock band Seigmen at Sentrum Scene in Oslo and Støperiet in Tønsberg.
Won a voting contest to play at the largest festival in Norway; Tons of Rock. First up on the last day of the 2024 edition of the festival, in front of 10000 people.
Critically acclaimed for their live performances. Top score at the 2025 edition of Bukta Festival from the newspaper iTromsø.
Will perform at the 2026 edition of ArcTanGent
Tourdates at this point: 06.03 Alta – Iskald Festival 12.03 Tromsø – Blårock Kafé (utsolgt) 14.03 Narvik – Mørkholla (vinterfest uka) 19.03 Oslo – Parkteatret 10.04 Trondheim – Relentlessfest 11.04 Hamar – Sebs Hotel 14.05 Vadsø – Valo Rock (ikke annonsert) 05.06 Halden – Aladdin Scene 06.06 Kristiansund – Kulturfabrikken 27.06 Steinkjerfestivalen 10.07 Kristiansand – Måkeskrik 24.07 Harstad – Rockholm 20.08 Bristol – ArcTanGent 04.09 Bergen – High Voltage Rockfest 05.09 Stavanger – Checkpoint Charlie 25.09 Bodø – Sunus 26.09 Mo i Rana – Bråk / Park 22 06.11 Horten – Artilleriverkstedet 07.11 Lillestrøm – Martins Pub
Credits: Music by Petter Carlsen & Goeran Johansen / Pil & Bue Lyrics by Petter Carlsen Produced by Ariel Joshua Sivertsen & Pil & Bue Recorded at Kysten Studio, Tromsø, Norway, June 2025 Distribution: Diger Distro P&C 2025 Petter Carlsen
On their new podcast, Heilung are inviting longtime converts and newcomers into their sacred realm, where history and spirit converge into a healing ritual. Hosted by founding member, singer and shamanic practitioner Kai Uwe Faust, The Podcast journeys into the lore, traditions and primal forces that shape the world-renowned Nordic collective and their unmistakable Amplified History.
Having uncovered the mythological roots and historical references behind “Alfadhirhaiti” and “Marduk” during the two previous episodes of The Podcast, today, Heilung are releasing a new episode that is dedicated to “Traust”. Now a staple in the collective’s celebrated live ritual, this song first appeared on their second album, Futha, which debuted in 2019 at #3 on the Billboard Heatseekers chart and #4 on the Billboard World Music chart.
“This episode of the podcast offers an intense look at how belief, ritual and sound converge as Amplified History on ‘Traust’”, Faust says. “Through Merseburg charms and early ritual practice, I lead us into a realm of unbinding magic, where we reflect on sacrifice, transformation and the moments when human fear meets sacred necessity”.
The release of this episode coincides with the arrival of the Pink Moon, which brings spring and a time for rebirth.
Heilung are known around the world for transcending the boundaries of sound and history. Since forming in 2015, the Nordic collective have made their unmistakable presence felt everywhere from the Billboard charts to Glastonbury, The Game Awards and major Hollywood films. Their performance rituals draw crowds into an intimate, mystical space that threads together earth, fire and incense with throat singing, primordial rhythms, subtle electronic textures, a mesmerizing light show and instruments made from human bone.
Heilung’s full discography, including their latest release Lifa Iotungard, is available now on Season of Mist.
HEILUNG don’t play shows. They perform a ritual. Every performance begins with Kai Uwe Faust leading Christopher Juul, Maria Franz and the rest of the Nordic collective in an ancient prayer. Soon after, the audience is swept into rapture, swayed by incense and throat singing, primordial rhythms, subtle electronic textures, a mesmerizing light show, an army of warriors and bursts of fire.
Since they began in 2015, Heilung have been paving melodic paths to the past with their unique and mystifying sound. Evading all conventional genre tags and the confines of any specific labels, the group aptly self-describes their sound as “amplified history,” emphasizing their ability to connect modern society with the rudiments of humanity’s beginnings through music.
“Our ancestral Nordic civilizations did not just pop up, exist and disappear in isolation”, says Faust, a throat singer and one of Heilung’s three composers. “With singing these primordial songs we want to give tribute to these cultures, reconnect to the beginnings and remember that we all, from East to West, from past to present, are connected through the exchange of ideas and inspiring each other”.
While Heilung features authentic and archaic instrumentation that ranges from rattles and ritual bells to human bones and throat singing, their captivating brand of music is far from primitive. Producer and founding member Christopher Juul implements subtle electronic elements that elevates the musical atmosphere and provides a more in-depth and layered soundscape.
Indeed, Heilung’s success has been unprecedented, achieving milestones in its few short years of existence that many do not see in a lifetime. The collective already had rapidly been growing a buzz upon the self-release of their first full-length Ofnir in 2015, but their dizzying upward trajectory really took off from the moment they set foot on the stage at Castlefest in 2017 for the now-legendary debut of their live ritual. Luckily for those who were not fortunate enough to bare witness to this magical event, the full ceremony was captured on film, having since been viewed by tens of millions of fans across the globe.
As Heilung trekked across Europe and brought their mystifying experience to new audiences, talk of this new band and their stunning ceremony made way to Season of Mist label owner Michael Berberian, who quickly offered the band a record contract after seeing their undeniable musical impact for himself.
By 2019, Heilung launched their second full-length record, Futha, which contrasted the masculine and battle-heavy themes of their debut with a feminine counterpart that celebrated fertility and female energy. Upon the first week of the record’s release, it graced the Billboard charts with coveted numbers, debuting at #3 on the Heatseekers Charts and #4 on the Billboard World Music Chart, placing on a total of seven Billboard charts while meeting critical-acclaim from the press on a global scale.
Their music has even appeared in places that extend far beyond typical concert venues. From hit television series like Game of Thrones and Vikings to video game giants like Conqueror’s Blade VII: “Wolves of Ragnarök and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II to the blockbuster Robert Eggers film The Northman, Heilung’s music has risen far above the underground and has transcended into a greater world. Even a global pandemic couldn’t slow down Heilung’s success; it only strengthened them and gave them the gift of time to complete work on their third album. In English, Drif translates as “Gathering”. The music embodies this philosophy by tying together the beginning of civilization with today’s modern society.
Heilung now perform their rituals all over the world. They sold out their first North American tour in 72 hours. Upon returning to the United States in 2021, they were greeted by another sold-out crowd, this time at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. This performance was released as a live album on vinyl and CD in 2024. A Blu-Ray edition of Lifa Iotungard will follow, along with the release of their 2023 performance at the Apollo Theatre in Hammersmith, London.
In 2025, Heilung embarked on headlining tours of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Along the way, they cast their spell over more of the world’s biggest stages, including Roskilde Festival, Download Festival and Glastonbury. But no matter where the future takes them, Heilung always begin their performance with a humbling reminder of where we all come from.
“Remember, we are all brothers. All people, beasts, tree and stone and wind, we all descend from the one great being that was always there, before people lived and named it, before the first seed sprouted.”
Line-up: Kai Uwe Faust Christopher Juul Maria Franz
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 ) 