Following the explosive reception of his debut single “Ground Zero,” UK metal virtuoso Constantine Kanakis returns with “Solitude,” a breathtaking instrumental piece that showcases his extraordinary command of the six-string and deep reverence for the genre’s pioneering masters.
Much like his debut instrumental effort, Solitude is a personal homage to the guitar legends who shaped Kanakis’ sound—artists like Marty Friedman, Jason Becker, Joe Satriani, Vinnie Moore, and Jeff Loomis.
Guided by exceptional guitar mastery and a love for finely crafted music, Kanakis once again reveals his remarkable touch, producing instrumental pieces that are as powerful as they are moving. Each note resonates like a verse of poetry, lifting the listener beyond the ordinary.
Active in the UK metal scene and known for his work with power metal band Sorceress of Sin, Kanakis has been praised for his “absolutely fluid and beautiful shredding” and the ability to weave “spectacular Neo-Classical flourishes” into his guitar lines. With Sorceress of Sin, he has contributed to three studio albums, including the latest, Ennea (2024), and performed at Bloodstock Festival 2021 on the New Blood Stage.
Currently, Kanakis is focusing on his solo instrumental work, channeling influences from neo-classical and metal guitar greats to create music that is both technically dazzling and emotionally engaging.
–Music: Ari Väntänen / Kristian Herkman / Mika Rytilahti –Lyrics: Kristian Herkman –ISRC: FI3FC2588202 –Cover art by Kristian Herkman –Band logo by Ari-Pekka Lehtisalo –Recorded in Finland & Italy –Mixed and mastered by Marvin T / Tide Studio, London
“I went through Kristian’s demo folder and found this gem of a song that had been lying there for a while already”, says Ari Väntänen. “I thought it had a great hook and that it would be cool to release something different for a change. I mean, we aren’t really known for pretty ballads, are we?”
More mournful than pretty, the song weighs on you like a looming storm until it exploding into a thundering middle part followed by cathartic final choruses, a gem of a song indeed.
And the lyrics, you ask, what are they about? This is not a love song, that’s for sure.
“The is song about the difficulties in communication. It relates to the false consensus effect, individualism, conformism and neurodiversity”, says Kristian Herkman, the man behind the music and the lyrics.
“In some societies you have to be like the others to cope,” the singer elaborates. “Some people are neurotypical and some are not. Sometimes neither have the best social skills.”
There certainly is room for improvement. Maybe emotional intelligence and structured communication should be subjects in school.
“People like different things and usually they like familiar things,” Kristian continues. “People fear uncertainty, so they want to be in control. Money is power and conformity makes the masses easier to control. The more you know, the more you know what there is yet to understand.”
The temporary line-up on “So Far” is Kristian Herkman (vocals, lead guitar, kantele, 12 string acoustic guitar), Ari Väntänen (rhythm guitar), Mika Rytilahti (bass), Miika Niemelä (keyboards) and Fabio Alessandrini (drums).
Line-up: Kristian Herkman: vocals Ari Väntänen: guitar Mika Rytilahti: bass Miika Niemelä: Keyboards Fabio Alessandrini: drums
Italian metal squad, HyperioN, have released the official visualizer for “Yet We Still Fight,” the third single from upcoming album, Cybergenesis. Watch the visualizer here: youtu.be/j6LtOrkrBr4
HyperioN return with new LP, Cybergenesis, a dark sci-fi concept album for fans of traditional Heavy Metal. Fighter Records will release the album on January 15, 2026. Album pre-orders are available now at: hyperionbandheavy.bandcamp.com/album/cybergenesis
Cybergenesis, HyperioN’s third full-length album, is eight tracks of powerful, dynamic Heavy Metal!
The concept of Cybergenesis fits seamlessly with the fiery heavy metal therein. A daring expedition into a space-time rift ends in disaster, awakening the Choir, an ancient alien hive mind from an alternate dimension, and plunging humanity into a desperate war for survival. On an Earth enslaved by the Choir’s army of cyborgs, a former commander is reborn as the Rhizome Rider, leading a rebellion from within and sacrificing himself to free humanity.
Rooted in classic sci-fi, from Star Trek to Ghost in the Shell, Cybergenesis tells a story of resistance and sacrifice, where the human spirit defies impossible odds.
The album’s striking cover artwork was hand-painted on canvas by English artist Ryan T. Hancock, renowned for his work with bands such as Seven Sisters, Blood Star, and Stormborn. HyperioN chose a handcrafted, non-AI artwork to give Cybergenesis a tangible and authentic visual identity.
All lyrics written by Davide Cotti. All music written by Davide Cotti except track #02 (written by Davide Cotti and Francesco Madonna) and track #07 (written by Francis Dipasquale and Davide Cotti).
Production, recording, mixing and mastering by Davide Cotti.
Vocals recorded by Antonio Inserillo.
Line-up: Davide Cotti – Guitars Francesco Madonna – Drums Max Morelli – Vocals Simone “Nega” Cauli – Bass Francis Dipasquale – Guitars
HyperioN were formed in 2015 by drummer Jason Beghelli and guitarist Davide Cotti to play traditional heavy metal, drawing inspiration from bands such as Metal Church, early Queensrÿche, and Judas Priest, while adding their own personal touch.
The band quickly gained attention with their debut album Dangerous Days (2017), released via Spanish label Fighter Records. The album was warmly welcomed by critics and gave HyperioN the chance to share thestage with established Italian acts such as Tarchon Fist, Black Phantom, and Rain.
After the recording of the second album, founding drummer Jason Beghelli stepped down for personal reasons and was replaced by Francesco Madonna. In 2020, the band released Into The Maelstrom, again on Fighter Records. The album received excellent reviews worldwide, but the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of all live promotion plans. Despite the circumstances, HyperioN significantly expanded their fanbase across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe through platforms like Bandcamp, finally returning to the stage in 2021.
This first era of the band came to a turning point in 2021, when several lineup changes reshaped HyperioN’s identity. Long-time bassist Antonio Scalia left the band, and after a long search Simone Cauli joined in September 2022. Just a week earlier, guitarist Luke Fortini had
departed, but the vacant role was swiftly filled by Francis Dipasquale (from thrashers Dypron). With the lineup restored, work began on new material, only to face another setback in spring 2023 when vocalist Michelangelo Carano decided to leave.
After months of auditions, HyperioN found the missing piece in singer Max Morelli, known for his work with Signum Draconis and Ladykiller. With this new and revitalized lineup, Hyperion completed the writing and production of their third album Cybergenesis, a record that represents both continuity and rebirth. Although only guitarist Davide Cotti remains from the original formation, he has always been the main composer and driving force behind the band, making sure HyperioN’s sound stays true to its roots: driving riffs that ignite into bursts of speed, soaring yet gritty vocals, and melodic hooks that make every chorus memorable.
Metalitalia.com, in collaboration with MC² Live and Live Club, is pleased to announce the first confirmations for the thirteenth edition of the Metalitalia Festival, set to take place on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 September 2026 at the Live Club in Trezzo sull’Adda (Milan). As always, the event will be preceded by an exclusive Warm Up Party on Friday 25 September at the legendary Bloom in Mezzago, with full details to be revealed in the coming months.
Artwork by Clod The Ripper
True to tradition, the festival will once again offer a full-scale experience, featuring a rich musical programme packed with international acts and exclusive performances. Fans can also look forward to the ever-popular free meet & greets with all artists, a wide metal market, and the return of Metalitalia Ink, the area entirely dedicated to tattoo and body-art culture.
Below are the first bands confirmed for this edition:
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26
Headlining the Saturday bill will be PARADISE LOST. It is a true honour for us to welcome a band that has shaped our tastes as listeners and written a defining chapter in European metal history. The pioneers of gothic metal for this occasion will present a special “by request” show, with a setlist chosen by the fans. Additional information about the voting system will be announced later.
Also performing on Saturday are AMENRA, one of the leading forces in the post-metal landscape. The Belgian collective typically cathartic and visceral performance is set to take on an even more monumental form within the Live Club.
Completing this first announcement are the Ukrainians 1914, one of the most compelling contemporary acts in the European extreme metal scene. Known for their dynamic fusion of black, death, and doom metal and their concept entirely rooted in World War I, they promise a deeply immersive live experience.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27
Sunday’s headliners will be CORONER, the legendary Swiss techno-thrash formation now stronger than ever thanks to the widespread acclaim of their impressive comeback album “Dissonance Theory“. It will be an honour to welcome them back to the Live Club for what promises to be a masterful performance.
As co-headliners, we are equally proud to confirm Florida’s CYNIC, pioneers of all things technical and avant-garde within the death–thrash spectrum. Paul Masvidal’s band will perform a special show focused on their first two full-length albums: the seminal “Focus” and the equally celebrated “Traced in Air” – an elegant journey into their early legacy.
Also joining Sunday’s programme are SADIST. With two headliners of such calibre, it felt natural to extend the invitation to a group that has helped shape the history of Italian death metal and is widely regarded as a cult name internationally. For the occasion, Tommy, Trevor and company will perform a set dedicated to their masterpiece “Tribe“, which celebrates its 30th anniversary in 2026.
Many more bands, exclusive shows and full details about all the additional festival features will be announced in the coming weeks!
At a time when everything seems to be getting more expensive and the cost of living keeps rising, we are proud to highlight that – despite the current situation – ticket prices for the festival have remained unchanged from last year. It’s a concrete commitment to keeping the Metalitalia Festival accessible to all fans, without compromising on the quality and ambition that have always defined the event.
DAY 1 – Saturday 26 September 2026 PARADISE LOST – Special show “by request” AMENRA Tba Tba 1914 Tba Tba Tba
DAY 2 – Sunday 27 September 2026 CORONER CYNIC – “Focus” & “Traced in Air” Special show Tba SADIST – “Tribe” Special show Tba Tba Tba Tba
Tickets:
Single-Day Ticket: Pre-sale €49 + fees | At the door €60
2-Day Pass + Warm-Up Party: Pre-sale €79 + fees | At the door €90
Tickets available from now via Vivaticket, Ticketone, Ticketmaster, and TicketSMS.
NERVE STAR has released their debut single Precious Rock (A side) / Hard Rain Fallin’ (B side), out now, new album ‘White Hot’ set for release 27th February 2026.
Precious Rock – The A-side of our first single and a cover of the 1985 US band Axtion Metal track that doesn’t slow down for one second.
Hard Rain Fallin’ – B-side of our first single and a cover of the 1970 Proto Metal track by Sir Lord Baltimore
NERVE STAR are a hard rock/heavy metal band which took form in 2021, playing a blend of 70’s hard rock, 80’s heavy metal, NWOBHM and some punk thrown in the mix, with unrelenting riffs, big drums, thumping bass and loud guitars.
Throughout the year, the line up began to solidify with Joss Thorley from Manchester on Bass and Chris Billinghurst from Maidenhead on Lead Guitar and they settled on a band name ‘Nerve Star’. It wasn’t possible to rehearse together so some cool tracks were selected and sent out, with initially ten songs home demoed.
After a couple of changes as they sought to find the ideal line up, in 2023 they brought in a great singer from the South of England, Matt Oakman, and things instantly moved into another league. With Matt on board, they searched around for a second reliable and gifted rock/metal guitarist and drummer, contacting Janne Stark, who loved all the tracks. He had done it all as both a producer and guitarist in Metal, Prog and NWOBHM bands since the 1980’s and recorded and produced his own albums and was a perfect partner for Chris on guitar, they now had their own version of the dual leads of Thin Lizzy.
With all Janne’s experience and solidity, it meant that sessions were completed in days rather than months at his studios in Sweden and everything started to take off. Janne introduced the band to Peter, a band colleague and great drummer from Karlsham in Sweden, so when Peter ‘Trumpeter’ Svensson jumped on board, the line up was complete.
In Spring 2024, with demos completed, they started full recording sessions with Janne and Peter in Sweden and Joss, Chris and Matt with Ras at Raw Studios in England. This continued through 2024/25 until all 13 tracks were completed.
For the final track on the album track that was recorded, one of their guitar heroes was asked if he would like to contribute. Tony Bourge, the heavy metal riff master from the 1970’s Welsh band ‘Budgie’ who was responsible for killer riffs on tracks such as Breadfan/Crash Course In Brain Surgery (covered by Metallica), In For The Kill (Van Halen) and many more. Tony had previously contributed on several Bandolier Kings albums with Janne and agreed to help on one of his own 80’s classic tracks ‘Richard III’, that he originally wrote and recorded with Welsh rockers ‘Tredegar’. Tony recorded all his guitar parts in Wales and sent them across. All three lead guitarists can be heard on this epic track, which is the closer on the upcoming album.
Album ‘WHITE HOT’ (HYPER04) will be released in late February 2026 on all formats: Vinyl LP (8 tracks), CD and Digital/Streaming Album (13 tracks) and distributed in the UK by RSK Entertainment via Proper Distribution. UK gigs and later European festival appearances will follow.
NERVE STAR: Janne Stark – Lead & Rhythm Guitar Chris Billinghurst – Lead & Rhythm Guitar Joss Thorley – Bass Guitar Matt Oakman – Vocals Peter ‘Trumpeter’ Svensson – Drums & Percussion Producer: Mike Dixon (Thin Lizzy-UK Tour 75 / Sensational Alex Harvey Band-British Tour 76) Recorded/Mixed by: Rasmus Bom Andersen (Diamond Head) at Raw Studios, UK Mastered by: Andy ‘Hippy’ Baldwin (Oasis/Blur) at Metropolis, London
FEUERSCHWANZ and LORD OF THE LOST are bringing live energy to the holiday season with a new version of their shared song, “Lords Of Fyre”. The powerful live rendition of the 2024 hit single was recorded at the closing show of their impressive co-headline tour, also named LORDS OF FYRE, in Düsseldorf, Germany in October of 2025. The crowd’s enthusiasm adds to the single that connected two of Germany’s biggest metal bands shortly after the releases of their successful albums, Knightclub (#2 on the Official German Album Charts) and OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 (#3 on the Official German Album Charts). Both albums were released in August and both featured the studio version of “Lords Of Fyre”. LORD OF THE LOST have even followed up with another album since: OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 was revealed just last week, again via Napalm Records.
FEUERSCHWANZ and LORD OF THE LOST on “Lords Of Fyre”: “LORDS OF FYRE – the anthem of friendship between two bands, forged on stage and now unleashed in an epic live version!
Their co-headline tour might be over, but both FEUERSCHWANZ and LORD OF THE LOST are headed for the road again soon. FEUERSCHWANZ are starting their “Knightclub Tour” in March, taking it to Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, and Poland, supported by Miracle Of Sound. In April, they will be playing shows in Latin America, igniting the medieval metal fire in Mexico, Colombia, Chile, and Argentina, before returning for the festival summer to play Europe’s biggest stages. LORD OF THE LOST are headed to North America for their “Dark Winter Tour” in January and February, and will also be playing Australia before their “TOVR NOIR” takes them all the way through Europe in the spring. After the 2026 festival season, LORD OF THE LOST will take a break from touring for at least a year to focus on new creative projects within the band and songwriting. All dates for both acts can be found below.
FEUERSCHWANZ Live 2026
KNIGHTCLUB TOUR Support: Miracle Of Sound 12.03.26 DE – Saarbrücken / Garage 13.03.26 CH – Zürich / X-TRA 14.03.26 DE – Wiesbaden / Schlachthof 15.03.26 DE – Geiselwind / Eventhalle 19.03.26 DE – Hamburg / Docks 20.03.26 DE – Oberhausen / Turbinenhalle 21.03.26 DE – Osnabrück / Hyde Park 22.03.26 FR – Paris / Elysée Montmartre 25.03.26 PL – Warsaw / Progresja 26.03.26 AT – Vienna / Gasometer 27.03.26 DE – Dresden / Alter Schlachthof 28.03.26 DE – Stuttgart / Wagenhallen
26.04.17 MX – Mexiko-Stadt / Circo Volador 26.04.19 CO – Bogotá / Ace Of Spades 26.04.21 CL – Santiago / Teatro Cariola 26.04.23 AR – Buenos Aires / El Teatrito
LADIES KNIGHT 2026 w/ Special Guest Burning Witches 08.05.26 DE – Heidelberg / Halle 02
Festivals 2026: 09.05.26 DE – Braunschweig / Rock in Rautheim 16.05.26 DE – Rastede / MPS Rastede 24.05.26 DE – Oranienburg / Pfingst Spectaculum 18.06.26 FR – Clisson / Hellfest 20.06.26 BE – Dessel / Graspop Metal Meeting 27.06.26 DE – Dischingen / Rock am Härtsfeldsee 02.06.26 ES – Viveiro / Resurrection Fest 18.07.26 CZ – Zlin / Masters Of Rock 01.08.26 DE – Bückeburg / MPS Bückeburg 04.09.26 DE – Luhmühlen / MPS Luhmühlen
LORD OF THE LOST Live 2026
DARK WINTER TOUR – USA & CANADA 2026 Co-Headliner Tour w/ The Birthday Massacre Special Guest Wednesday 13 19.01.26 US – Baltimore, MD / Baltimore Soundstage 20.01.26 US – Philadelphia, PA / Theatre of Living Arts 21.01.26 US – New Haven, CT / Toad’s Place 23.01.26 US – New York, NY / Irving Plaza 24.01.26 US – Worcester, MA / The Palladium 25.01.26 CA – Montreal, QC / Beanfield Theatre 26.01.26 CA – Toronto, ON / Danforth Music Hall 28.01.26 US – Cleveland, OH / House of Blues 29.01.26 US – Cincinnati, OH / Bogart’s 30.01.26 US – Detroit, MI / St. Andrews Hall 31.01.26 US – Chicago, IL / Concord Music Hall 02.02.26 US – Minneapolis, MN / First Avenue 04.02.26 US – Denver, CO / Summit Music Hall 05.02.26 US – Salt Lake City, UT / The Complex 07.02.26 US – Los Angeles, CA / The Fonda 08.02.26 US – San Francisco, CA / UC Theatre
Australia 2026 19.02.26 AU – Brisbane / Crowbar 20.02.26 AU – Melbourne / Max Watts 21.02.26 AU – Sydney / Crowbar 22.02.26 AU – Adelaide / Lion Arts
TOVR NOIR 2026 Special Guests: AD INFINITUM [∞] DOGMA [†] LEAGUE OF DISTORTION [x] 12.03.26 NO – Oslo [∞] 13.03.26 SE – Gothenburg [∞] 14.03.26 SE – Stockholm [∞] 16.03.26 FI – Tampere [∞] 17.03.26 FI – Helsinki [∞] 19.03.26 EE – Tallinn [∞] 20.03.26 LT – Vilnius [∞] 21.03.26 PL – Warsaw [∞] 22.03.26 PL – Kraków [∞] 24.03.26 AT – Vienna [∞] 25.03.26 HU – Budapest [∞] 27.03.26 GR – Athens [∞] 28.03.26 BG – Sofia [∞] 29.03.26 RO – Bucharest [∞] 09.04.26 NL – Amsterdam [†] [X] 10.04.26 FR – Paris [†] [X] 11.04.26 FR – La Roche-sur-Yon [†] [X] 12.04.26 FR – Toulouse [†] [X] 14.04.26 ES – Madrid [†] [X] 15.04.26 ES – Barcelona [†] [X] 17.04.26 FR – Lyon [†] [X] 25.04.26 CH – Pratteln [†] [X] 26.04.26 IT – Milan [†] [X] 06.05.26 CZ – Prague [†] [X] 07.05.26 DE – Herford [†] [X] 08.05.26 DE – Cologne [†] [X] 09.05.26 DE – Stuttgart [†] [X]
Festivals 2026: 18.04.26 BE – Durbuy / Durbuy Rock 24.04.26 DE – Thallichtenberg / Hexentanz 22.05.26 DE – Eichstätt / Open Air am Berg 14.08.26 FR – Carhaix-Plouguer / Motocultor Festival 21.08.26 DE – Oelde / Oelde Open Air
FEUERSCHWANZ are: Johanna – violin, hurdy-gurdy Hauptmann – vocals, guitar Ben – flutes, bagpipes, guitars, vocals Hans – guitar Jarne – bass Rollo – drums Yennefer – dance & performance Hela – dance & performance
LORD OF THE LOST are: Chris Harms – Vocals, Guitar Pi Stoffers – Guitar Benjamin “Benji” Mundigler – Guitar, Synths Klaas Helmecke – Bass Gerrit Heinemann – Piano, Synths, Percussion Niklas Kahl – Drums
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 ) 