Following the announcement of their signing with Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records and the release of their first new single “Red River”, Greek heavy psych / stoner rock outfit Paranoid Reverb now unveil the full details of their second full-length album, Red River Black Roots.
The album will be released on September 18, 2026 via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records on CD and digital. Alongside the album announcement, the band also release their second single, “0315”, available now on all major streaming platforms: https://li.sten.to/paranoidreverb_0315
Following their 2020 debut Billion Drops, Red River Black Roots marks a more deliberate and mature phase for Paranoid Reverb. The album expands their heavy psych / stoner rock foundations through denser rhythmic structures, darker tonal shades and atmospheric layers, while retaining the raw, performance-driven energy of their live sound.
Recorded in April 2025 at Shellac Recording Studios in Thessaloniki and completed the following month at producer Paris Parasidis’ studio, the album places dynamics and authenticity at its core. Organic percussion, metallic objects and ambient textures become part of a sound that moves between heavy eruptions and hypnotic passages, creating a distinctly live-oriented feel without sacrificing weight or atmosphere.
Thematically, Red River Black Roots explores pressure, introspection, renewal and the tension between decay and transformation. Its title reflects this journey: the “river” represents a descent into chaos, while the “roots” suggest a return to origin. Together, they form the central metaphor connecting the album’s narrative and sonic progression.
With new vocalist Manos Gotsis and a renewed creative direction, Paranoid Reverb enter this new chapter with their most focused and personal work to date.
Red River Black Roots tracklist
Acantha – 06:19
0315 – 04:30
Da Capo – 06:07
F.U. – 05:01
Red River – 04:51
Come Undone – 06:19
QuickSand – 07:15
Red River Black Roots will be released on September 18, 2026 via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records on CD and digital.
As they continue their aggressive 2026 release cycle, cinematic hard rock outfit Bastion Rose drop their darkest and most politically charged single to date. “Holy Wars,” is a heavy, relentless progressive rock anthem that confronts the rising tide of extremism and blind hatred head-on.
Serving as a visceral centerpiece to the band’s rapidly unfolding Blue Rising era, “Holy Wars” fuses the colossal, cinematic riffing the band is known for with an urgent, unapologetic message. The track takes direct aim at those who use ideology and dogma to justify destruction, warning that “Holy wars won’t make you whole / Holy wars won’t save your soul.”
For frontman Austin Frink, the song is a necessary reaction to a world increasingly fractured by fanaticism.
“We see extremism repeatedly as a political failing; but it is a spiritual sickness,” says Frink. “‘Holy Wars’ is about the people who are willing to burn the world down and call it salvation. It’s about confronting the monsters who use their faith or their faction to justify atrocities. You cannot heal your own brokenness by destroying everything around you.”
Musically, “Holy Wars” is a towering achievement of modern heavy rock architecture. It channels the aggressive, wide-dynamic-range progressive that is signature to the band. Building heavily on the world-class sonic foundation established with three-time Grammy-winning producer David Bottrill (Tool, Godsmack, Mastodon, Muse, Rush) on their previous records, the band’s self-produced new material finds them operating at the absolute peak of their technical and dynamic prowess.
Backed by recent acclaim from Classic Rock Magazine, Metal Hammer, and SPIN, Bastion Rose is translating immense digital leverage into a formidable global footprint ahead of an anticipated 2026 international touring cycle.
Bastion Rose is a cinematic hard rock project based in Bloomington, Indiana. Known for their sophisticated fusion of monumental 70s-era grooves and 2000s era alternative metal intensity, the band has earned international recognition for their high-caliber production and narrative-driven songwriting. Following their David Bottrill-produced debut Traces of Gold, the band is currently unveiling the next chapter of their evolution with the album Blue Rising.
Swedish kings of black metal, DARK FUNERAL, unleash their long awaited new live album, ‘A Beast To Praise,’ out now via Century Media. To celebrate the live release’s street date, the band shares a new live video for “Nail Them To The Cross (Live in Stockholm),” available below.
Recorded at Fållan in Stockholm in 2022, ‘A Beast To Praise’ captures DARK FUNERAL‘s devastating live performance in support of their acclaimed album ‘We Are The Apocalypse.’ Spanning 13 tracks and nearly 70 minutes, the release showcases the band’s relentless stage presence while celebrating an album that entered the charts across Europe upon it’s 2022 release, including #6 in Germany, #13 in Finland, #28 in Switzerland, #29 in Austria, and #31 in Sweden.
DARK FUNERAL’s Lord Ahriman comments on ‘A Beast To Praise’:
“‘A Beast To Praise’ (Live at Fållan, Stockholm) captures a very important moment in the history of DARK FUNERAL — not only the live release ritual for ‘We Are The Apocalypse,’ but also our return to the stage after years of silence during the pandemic. That night at Fållan was intense in every possible way. The energy in the room, the fire, the audience, and the atmosphere all came together into something far beyond an ordinary concert. This release is the immortal document of that night. With the release of this live album and the upcoming European touring cycle in the fall of 2026, we now close the chapter surrounding ‘We Are The Apocalypse.’ At the same time, we are already deeply focused on the next era of DARK FUNERAL and hard at work creating new material for what will become our next studio album, planned for release in 2027. And as one chapter closes, a new one is already taking shape — bigger, darker, and more epic than ever before…”
‘A Beast To Praise’ will be available in the following formats: => Jewelcase CD => Gatefold 2LP on 180g black vinyl (Europe) => Gatefold 2LP on 180g transparent red vinyl (Europe, limited to 400x copies, available from Napalm Records, EMP and all Swedish retailers) => Gatefold 2LP on 140g black vinyl (USA) => Digital Album
DARK FUNERAL will next embark on the massive “In League With Satan” tour across Europe together with Behemoth and Dimmu Borgir in October. All upcoming tour dates currently announced can be found below.
DARK FUNERAL Live:
August 28-30 – Câmpulung, Romania @ Posada Rock August 28-30 – Požega, Serbia @ Hellhammer Festival
“In League With Satan” – European Tour w/ Behemoth & Dimmu Borgir
October 9 – Zurich, Switzerland @ Halle 622 October 10 – Zwickau, Germany @ Sparkassen-Arena Zwickau October 11 – Esch sur Alzette, Luxembourg @ Rockhal October 13 – Milan, Italy @ Alcatraz October 14 – Munich, Germany @ Zenith October 16 – Paris, France @ Zenith October 18 – Den Bosch, The Netherlands @ Mainstage October 20 – Cologne, Germany @ Palladium October 22 – Hamburg, Germany @ Inselpark Arena October 23 – Berlin, Germany @ Columbiahalle October 24 – Brno, Czech Republic @ Hala Vodova October 27 – Helsinki, Finland @ Ice Hall October 29 – Stockholm, Sweden @ Hovet October 30 – Copenhagen, Denmark @ K.B. Hallen
DARK FUNERAL Live 2027
August 21 – Dinkelsbühl, Germany @ Summer Breeze Open Air August 22 – Carhaix, France @ Motocultor Festival
While the previous singles of have each revealed different sides of THE DOGS‘ album, “Reality Is a Failure” points towards the reflective corner of the Trauma Junkie universe. With its hypnotic drive, soaring melodies, and a chorus that refuses to let go, the song balances hopelessness, dark humour, and the growing feeling that reality itself has simply stopped working. The result is one of the album’s most atmospheric and distinctive tracks.
The very first thing frontman Kristopher Schau told the promo department here at Indie was that, when it came to marketing, only LIM mattered to him. This made absolutely no sense to us, and when we asked what he meant, we received nothing but this remarkably brief email in return:
“Less is more”
We haven’t heard from him since. We therefore assume this means that “Reality Is a Failure” will be the final single from the upcoming album Trauma Junkie, although we can’t say that with any real certainty. What we are fairly certain about, however, is that this is Tommy (Reite)’s song, and that it’s also him whistling at the very beginning. That man really knows how to write songs!!!
Trauma Junkie will be released on September 18.
ABOUT The Dogs are the Oslo-based band where only one member is actually from Oslo.
A punk rock band that believes they play soul and garage rock. In short, a band that has no idea who they are or what they’re doing. This confusion has however resulted in a total of 12 albums, countless Norwegian tours, unusual one-off events such as opening for Bruce Springsteen, and musical contributions to the new Harry Hole series on Netflix. In other words, they are well prepared for the Alzheimer’s they all have coming.
Confusingly enough, all signs are still pointing upward for the “Oslo band” in the autumn of their lives.
THE DOGS: Vocals – Kristopher Schau Guitar – Mads Martinsen Bass – Tommy Reite Drums – Henrik Odde Gustavsen Percussion – Kenneth Simonsen Keys – Stefan Höglin
German heavy metal torchbearers MYSTIC PROPHECY have announced their brand-new studio album, In Metal, set for release on November 27, 2026, via PERCEPTION – Powered by Reigning Phoenix Music. Marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the band, the album announcement arrives alongside the release of its first single, “Robots,” accompanied by an official music video.
With more than two decades of history behind it, MYSTIC PROPHECY has long established itself as one of the driving forces of the German and international heavy metal scene. Following the success of its acclaimed albums Metal Division and Hellriot, the quintet surrounding charismatic frontman R.D. Liapakis, also known for his work as a vocalist with Michael Schenker, now returns with renewed energy, a strengthened lineup and a record built to hit with maximum impact.
The first taste of In Metal comes in the shape of “Robots,” a hard-hitting statement that turns its attention to one of the defining questions of our time: In an age increasingly shaped by technology, how much control over our own humanity are we willing to surrender?
Vocalist R.D. Liapakis and Dan Baune (guitars) comment on “Robots”:
“In this age of technology our future seems uncertain. We must ask ourselves: How do we keep/protect our humanity? Who decides for us? Or is it too late and we are all Robots already?”
Following Hellriot, MYSTIC PROPHECY is entering its next era with three powerful new additions to the fold. Tommy Gun takes over bass duties, while guitaristDan Baune, known from NWOBHM act Monument, and drummer Christophe de Combe of Belgian metallers FireForce complete the renewed lineup. Together, they inject even more power, precision and fire into the unmistakable MYSTIC PROPHECY sound.
In Metal was produced by Dan Baune and R.D. Liapakis, with mixing and mastering handled by Henrik Udd. The album stays true to everything that has made MYSTIC PROPHECY a force for more than 20 years while pushing its sound firmly forward. Fans can expect powerful, concise hooks with instant shout-along appeal, technically brilliant riffs and a hard-hitting, monstrous sound. A modern production gives the songs weight, depth and unstoppable headbanging force without sacrificing the band’s classic heavy metal spirit.
Whether on stage or on record, MYSTIC PROPHECY has always treated heavy metal as a passionate ultimate fight: no compromises, no holding back, just pure power. With In Metal, the band is ready to prove once again why it remains at the forefront of international heavy metal. In support of their upcoming album, MYSTIC PROPHECY will hit the road in late 2026, joined by special guests IRON SAVIOR and GENERATION STEEL. Find all dates listed below!
01. Robots 02. In Metal 03. March or Die 04. Don’t Run Away 05. Warhead 06. Angels Are Falling 07. When the Hammer Will Fall 08. My Inner Innocence 09. Devil’s Son 10. Warrior of Asgard
Release weeks are always special for bands; something they have worked towards for a long time, something to celebrate! And Canadian powerhouse Famous Strangers celebrate by doing what they do best: bringing their music to the stage. After kicking things off with festival appearances and select club shows and hitting the road for an extensive Western Canadian tour throughout August, the Edmonton-based band has been building momentum toward their debut – a tour that is now brought to a big finale with release shows in their hometown, where the four will present their self-titled debut album (out August 21) on two evenings as they release “FAMOUS STRANGERS”into the world.
After the first two highly acclaimed singles – the electrifying “Ghosts of Men” and the heavy “As Your Leader” – already set the tone, Famous Strangers decided to make the video single for the album release day a special treat for their fans by giving them a glance behind the scenes of the band jamming together: Simple, raw and genuine, the video for “Fire Inside” makes us feel the power, pure passion and thrilling energy these four bring into their music and live shows.
And the song couldn’t be a better fit for this: It’s a hymn of self-empowerment, celebrating the flame inside all of us that makes it possible to break all chains, to realise and live up to ones full potential. The band explains: “‘Fire Inside’ is about discovering your inner light and using it to become your best self. It reflects how past mistakes don’t define you, but they do shape who you become. The music came together quickly, but the lyrics took time – in fact, we’d sometimes perform it live by asking the audience for ideas while Amanda freestyled the entire song, including one memorable version about dinosaurs at a Drumheller show.”
It’s clear that this one is for the fans; the fans that are much more to the band than that, as Famous Strangers underline in a heartfelt message to their community: “You are not fans. You are friends. You are the reason we do this. Every show, every new person we meet, every message about how a song helped someone get through their day … that is everything to us. We are building something bigger than a band. We are building a community. And we want the whole world to know how worthy and beautiful and amazing they are. Come as you are. Be yourself. We are just getting started.”
With their self-titled debut album Famous Strangers introduce a sound that refuses to be confined to a single genre. From crushing heavy metal and hard rock to stripped-back blues, the record moves effortlessly between power and vulnerability, creating a listening experience that is as dynamic as it is deeply personal. At its heart, “FAMOUS STRANGERS” is an album about resilience, self-discovery, and finding strength through life’s challenges. Every song is rooted in genuine experiences, capturing moments of doubt, perseverance, triumph, and growth. As the band puts it: “At its core, it’s a reminder that no matter what you face, you’ll be okay and come out stronger on the other side.” More than a debut, the album is a declaration of purpose: It reflects who the band is, what they stand for, and the connection they hope to build with their audience. Whether listeners find empowerment, comfort, reflection, or simply a place where they can feel understood, “FAMOUS STRANGERS” invites you to experience every emotion along the way. With a fearless first statement, Famous Strangers are ready to make their mark and leave a lasting impression wherever the road leads.
Formed in 2023, Famous Strangers are the product of years of shared history within the music scene of Edmonton, Canada. Long before the band took shape, Jeff Kittlitz (Guitar, Backing Vocals) and Brian “Beej” Beejerson (Drums, Backing Vocals) had been writing together, following the dissolution of their previous band project This Is War around 2013. Their collaboration laid the groundwork for what would eventually evolve into something much larger. As the years progressed, Braden Sustrik (Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals) joined through mutual connections, and the trio began developing instrumental material together. During the COVID era, their project shifted direction, transforming into a classic rock cover band. While this period refined their chemistry as players, the defining moment came when Amanda Kiernan (Lead Vocals) joined a rehearsal to jam. Her immediate connection to an original track marked a turning point. What had been an open-ended collaboration suddenly became a full-on band project. At that moment, Famous Strangers found their band identity. Though officially formed in 2023, the members of Famous Strangers had spent decades crossing paths, sharing stages, and building friendships. This history fuels their chemistry and sound, with each member contributing to a cohesive and dynamic lineup.
Drawing from a wide range of influences, Famous Strangers blend elements reminiscent of Judas Priest, Pink Floyd, Halestorm, Spiritbox, and Metallica, while also reflecting inspiration from Iron Maiden, Nightwish, and beyond. At the same time, their roots remain firmly grounded in the Edmonton scene, drawing influence from local bands and veteran musicians who helped shape their early careers. Today, the band continues to build on that foundation, channeling years of experience, collaboration, and shared passion into a sound that is both unpredictable and distinctly their own.
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 ) 