Acclaimed rockers John Diva & The Rockets Of Love unleash the new single and official visualizer, “Soundtrack Of My Life”, ahead of the release of their new album, “Your Favorite Drug”, out October 16, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.
The band commented: “With ‘Soundtrack Of My Life’, we wanted to dive headfirst into the decade of big hair, bigger dreams and even bigger anthems. From the keyboard line to the hard-hitting guitars, the whole song is packed with the sounds and references we grew up loving – ‘Sweet Dreams’, ‘Talk Dirty To Me’, ‘Flesh For Fantasy’, ‘Every Breath You Take’, ‘Dancing In The Dark’ and plenty more. At the heart of it is that chorus: ‘Welcome to the Eighties / To the soundtrack of my life’. It’s our celebration of the excess, glamour and escapism of a time when rock anthems were built to last.”
“The song is really about climbing straight back into that world rather than looking at it nostalgically from a distance. It’s sex, drugs, rock ’n’ roll, one-night stands, romance and the endless pursuit of the next thrill – all wrapped up in a big, unapologetic Eighties anthem. And when CJ steps up for the guitar solo, there’s definitely a little nod to that legendary moment when Michael Jackson met Van Halen. For us, ‘Soundtrack Of My Life’ doesn’t simply sound like the Eighties – it sounds like the Eighties refusing to die”, they added.
John Diva & The Rockets of Love make a triumphant return with their explosive new album “Your Favorite Drug”. Bursting with attitude, swagger, and unapologetic energy, the band delivers a full-throttle hard rock experience that feels both timeless and electrifyingly fresh.
The band commented: “We wanted to achieve absolute focus and intensity – and in the production, working together with Hannes, to be extremely efficient. What sounds like hard work (which it was) – this sharpening of focus – brought us a lot of joy. It can be fun to keep hammering away at a raw diamond until it sparkles and shines. This time, there’s less emphasis on experimentation (like on “American Amadeus” for example) – though the album is still experimental in the sense that everything unnecessary has been stripped away”.
John Diva added: “When I think about making this album, there’s a very personal layer to it. We recorded in southern Germany, where my family is from, and I stayed with relatives during the sessions. It brought back a lot of great memories, so I went into the studio with a double sense of joy – giving everything to the record while reconnecting with my roots”.
“Your Favorite Drug” was a trip in the cleanest sense – we stayed completely sober, but worked in a real frenzy. Writing, recording, and finishing the album happened fast, and by the fourth record you know exactly what you want – and how to get it. There’s a lot of spontaneity in it too: the title track came together in just a few hours, and songs like “Bigger Than America” evolved into something bigger and bolder than we first imagined”, he continued.
Packed with massive hooks, soaring choruses, and razor-sharp riffs, “Your Favorite Drug” showcases the band at the peak of their songwriting power. Standout tracks like “Bigger Than America” and “The Devil’s Got My Back” emerge as true anthems, destined to ignite stages and thrill every hard rock fan with their infectious energy and sing-along choruses.
Produced by Hannes Braun, the album captures a polished yet gritty sound that perfectly amplifies the band’s larger-than-life personality. This is more than a comeback – it’s a statement. John Diva & The Rockets of Love are back, louder, bolder, and more addictive than ever.
One of the best hard rock releases of the year!
“Your Favorite Drug” Tracklist:
1. The Devil’s Got My Back 2. Bigger Than America 3. No Mercy For The Teenage Heart 4. Lamborghina 5. Favorite Drug 6. S.M.I.L.E. 7. Love Is Cold 8. Girls In Overdrive 9. Spectacular 10. Soundtrack Of My Life
Line Up: John Diva Snake Rocket Remmie Martin Marcus Coolman jr. C.J. Stevens
With their forthcoming album trilogy, the heavy progressive trailblazers in Stoned Jesus are reaching a new creative peak. After topping best of 2025 lists with its scorching opener, Songs to Sun, this year, frontman Igor Sydorenko and his bandmates are cycling into the darkest, most daring and deeply moving territory of their career with Songs to Moon.
“[…] striking in its aggression and post-metal churn”, The Obelisk wrote upon hearing “Under the Skin”, which has since been revealed itself as the first song on Songs to Moon.
“[…] a doomgaze track built around one of Stoned Jesus’ biggest hooks yet”, The Metallist wrote in praise of the album’s official lead single “Velvet”.
Today, Stoned Jesus are thrilled to release the album’s mini prog opera as the second advanced single from Songs to Moon. While hounded by grim hopes for the future, the wily “Jackal” will leave progressive rockers of all stripes pleasantly surprised.
“‘Jackal’ is Stoned Jesus at our most theatrical. Even though the time signature is 4/4 through and through, it’s the proggiest song on Songs to Moon”, Sydorenko says before adding. “Bonus challenge for all the true prog nerds. See if you can find the early Marillion line that I quoted word for word”.
The video for “Jackal” was created by Phobia Artworks.
Songs to Moon comes out October 16, 2026 on Season of Mist.
The Songs trilogy spans the many phases of Stoned Jesus. While an existential shroud hung over Songs to Sun, Songs to Moon plunges the band into a dark night of the soul. Like the bogeyman, “Jackal” stalks through a house of horrors. “In the darkness of the future past”, Sydorenko whispers over drums that rattle like Alice in Chains on Jar of Flies. “Hear me walking over skulls and dust”. Behind each locked door lies a disturbing scene that one expects to find when reading Aldous Huxley or George Orwell.
“Lyrically, the question that ‘Jackal’ poses is pretty much on the nose”, says Sydorenko. “When you sell your soul for comfort, what kind of future do you get in return?”.
But even though Songs to Moon is their most melancholic album, Stoned Jesus can’t be confined to just one shade of blue. As shadows often do, “Jackal” shifts its shape in the blink of an eye. “Go to sleep”, Sydorenko commands before kicking down the doors with the album’s heaviest – and funkiest – blues riff. The facts of the matter are grim (“No money, no future, no reason to fight”), but the song’s epic symphonic coda builds a clear case that for Stoned Jesus, both the present and future are blazingly bright.
Stoned Jesus 2026 European Festival Date: October 30 – Vallet, France @ WeStill Fest [TICKETS]
Since 2009, Stoned Jesus has served as one of Europe’s leading forces in heavy rock. Igor Sydorenko, a fixture 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 this was soon 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 after the whole year of relentless 15th Anniversary Tour schedule the reinvigorated Stoned Jesus was 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, nods to 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.
Now, just one year later, following a European co-headline tour with Finnish proggers Wheel and a triumphant return to Hellfest, Stoned Jesus are taking a giant leap into the darkest, most daring and deeply moving territory of their career with Songs to Moon.
“Under The Skin” opens in the large shadows of its predecessor with a loud and heavy slab of post-metal that plunges into darkness like the setting sun. The existential shroud that hung over Songs to Sun continues to weigh on Sydorenko. “Still I’m falling down / From high above”, he sings with cool remove amidst the catchy doomgaze that’s expertly weaved into lead single “Velvet”. Mini-prog-opera “Jackal” features the band at their most theatrical. Smack in the middle of the tracklist (and falling precisely halfway through the entire trilogy), the melancholic “Syzgy” configures one melody from each Songs to…album into their first-ever instrumental track. But even on their darkest and moodiest record, Stoned Jesus can’t be confined to just one shade of blue.
Following in the steps of Led Zeppelin III, Opeth’s Damnation or Alice In Chain’s Jar of Flies, during its final lap, Songs to Moon strips down to acoustic guitar and Sydorenko’s hushed vocals. “And when the sun goes down / It brightens up my mood”. As the dreamy desperation of “Window In My Room” fades beneath the stark reminder of closer “One More Empty Day”, Stoned Jesus return to earth weary but wise beyond their years and ready to explore the next frontier.
SIGNUM REGIS stands for finest melodic Power Metal with both progressive and symphonic elements. Their upcoming new and eighth studio album „Beyond Spacetime“ will be released on October 9th through Fireflash Records.
„Beyond Spacetime“ will feature different vocalists. Among them their current singer Mayo Petranin, who just returned to the band, his successor Jota Fortinho as well as top class names, such as Ripper Owens (ex-JUDAS PRIEST), Matt Smith (THEOCRACY), Ralf Scheepers (PRIMAL FEAR), Johnny Gioeli (HARDLINE, AXEL RUDI PELL), Tasos Lazaris (STEEL ARCTUS, WHITE WIZZARD), David Åkesson (SYMPHONITY, QUANTICE), but also Victor Smolski (ALMANAC, ex-RAGE), with a guitar solo on „Throne Of Gold“.
Today, the band is happy to announce their European tour, supporting THEOCRACY (USA) and SUNBURST (GR) on the following dates:
05-03 | Nieuwe Nor – Heerlen – NL 06-03 | Estrado – Harderwijk – NL 07-03 | DVG Club – Kortrijk – BE 09-03 | Le Chinois – Paris (Montreuil) – FR 11-03 | Teck Rock – Kirchheim Unter Teck – DE 12-03 | Elements Of Rock – Uster – CH
13-03 | Fullmetal Osthessen – Niederaula – DE *without Signum Regis 14-03 | Werkhof – Hagen – DE *without Signum Regis
“When we got the offer to join Theocracy on their European tour, we immediately said yes. They are the perfect match for us. We have known and worked with Matt Smith for years and have a lot of respect for Theocracy. Fans have been asking for such a tour for a long time, and now it is finally about to happen. We are very much looking forward to it”, comments Ronnie König.
SIGNUM REGIS will play more shows in November, together with FELLOWSHIP (UK):
06-11 | Blast Of Eternity – Heilbronn – DE 07-11 | Brainstorm Festival – Apeldoorn – NL 08-11 | Cacaofabriek – Helmond – NL
Recently, SIGNUM REGIS have released their fourth single and lyric video for the song “Back to Zero“, featuring Tasos Lazaris (STEEL ARCTUS, WHITE WIZZARD).
“Our new single “Back to Zero” is a hard-rocking song about standing up after you’ve fallen to your knees – about coming back from a difficult situation stronger than ever. The lead singer on this one is Tasos Lazaris. After he finished recording it, I knew this guy was pure gold. Amazing performance on a great song written by our old friend and former Signum Regis drummer Luděk Struhař, with lyrics by Tommy König”, comments the band.
The upcoming new album “Beyond Spacetime“, will be released on a CD Jewelcase (with the exclusive bonus-track “Tell Our Fears Goodbye” feat. Johnny Gioeli on vocals) and on a limited, colored (sunny yellow) Vinyl version, incl. a signed autograph card. You can pre-order the album now.
„We are so satisfied and proud of it! Even though the last 3 years were not easy for the band, this is definitely not just a “next” Signum Regis” album, we are a band, we are always aiming to create something special – for us, and for fans“, comments guitarist Filip Koluš, who also mixed and produced the album, having a clear vision, „that it will be completely different compared to our common production and we wanted to keep it in the way we saw it as a musicians. We jumped out of our basic style, we were experimenting with new things in the studio a lot, we teleported King Rex from the ground to space – which sounds crazy, but that’s how it was supposed to be!“ The final mastering was given into the hands of Miro Kiiski (BEAST IN BLACK, HYPOCRISY a.o.), which was another perfect match.
„Beyond Spacetime“ is full of diversity. You will find uptempo power metal hymns, epic and progressive tracks, true metal fist-raisers, neo-classic inspired stuff and beautiful ballads. All the different voices fit perfectly, although this wasn’t supposed in the first place.“Originally, the entire album was supposed to be sung by Jota Fortinho, but unfortunately, in 2024 he decided to leave the band. The album was already 80% instrumentally written and recorded, ready for the vocal recordings. Afterwards, we really wrote a list of singers who, from our perspective, would be ideal for the sound and meaning of each song. We didn’t set any barricades – we also wrote down the names of top singers, in many cases our all-time favourites, on who we basically grew up. We were shocked and extremely happy that we finally approached practically all the singers and none of them turned down the offer! So in the end, we have basically the album of our dreams on the table, as collaborating with singers like Ralf Scheepers, Tim Ripper Owens, Johnny Gioeli or Matt Smith is a dream come true for us. They are all legends and big professionals“, says Filip Koluš, who is also happy that both Jota and Mayo can be heard on the album, even united in the track „Echoes Of Glory“. „Both are super-important for the band and we are like a family. Jota did an awesome performance in 2 songs, but unfortunately his personal situation is not allowing him to be a part of our band right now. Mayo is our brother, he was singing in SR during probably the most successful periods of the band until now. Nowadays, we are having live rehearsals together. We are sure that Mayo will be our lead singer for the upcoming gigs.“
SIGNUM REGIS was always connected to fantasy lyrics, legends and myths. On „Beyond Spacetime“ they even go further, right into space, but also back in time. „Just as much as with the music, on the new album we pushed the envelope with the lyrics as well. On „Beyond Spacetime“ they reflect both personal and universal experiences. You will certainly find some of the most daring, introspective lyrics ever to appear on our albums. We did not hold back! At the same time, some tracks open gates to the most intense challenges ever relevant to any human being throughout history. While the title track has indeed placed us on a star map of the universe, with another we ended up falling deep down to the bottom of the rabbit hole. Buckle up, folks“, says Tommy König, who wrote parts of the lyrics.
The songs of the album sound fresh, but few of them have a long history behind, just like „Midnight Train“, „Back To Zero“, „Throne Of Gold“ a.o. They somehow went beyond spacetime. „The diversity of the new album is also reflected in the timeline within which the individual songs were originally composed. You can find some great songs there that were recorded many years ago by the band that preceded Signum Regis, but have now been rearranged to fit our style. The first one, ‘Throne of Gold’, is a pounding anthem featuring a guitar solo by Victor Smolski and vocals by our great friend Matt Smith, well known from Theocracy. The second one, a real banger called ‘Back to Zero’, was written byour original drummer and a great friend of ours, Luděk Struhař. Then there is a whole collection of songs Filip composed in his teenage years. ‘Midnight Train’, originally an instrumental piece played on classical guitar, has now been rearranged with vocals and nostalgically tells the story of an old man waiting for his last train. ‘Into the Rabbit Hole’ and ‘A Dream or Two’ are also part of this group. On top of that, there is a whole bunch of brand-new tracks reflecting the period that more or less followed the Undivided release: ‘Time to Pay’, ‘Waterfall’, ‘Morning Dawn’ and ‘Beyond Spacetime’. Finally, there are two tracks that stand out because of the stories behind them. ‘Tell Our Fears Goodbye’ is an acoustic piece composed by Filip and dedicated to his wife, while ‘Echoes of Glory’ features a duet sung by both Mayo and Jota.”
„Beyond Spacetime“ is rounded up by an excellent artwork from Uwe Jarling, known for his work for acts like HEAVEN’S GATE,GRAVE DIGGER or recently FRONT ROW WARRIORS. „Uwe will always be special to us! With „Undivided“ he created an iconic image, bringing to life the character representing our band, King Rex. Compared to „Undivided“, where we relied heavily on his advice, „Beyond Spacetime“ resulted from intensive communication in which every detail was discussed and agreed upon. Fortunately, Uwe has been extremely supportive throughout the process, and the result is nothing short of awesome! We are definitely a band that considers the artwork a very important part of our artistic vision. Over the years this approach has only grown stronger, so having a real cover artist has become an absolute must for us“, comments Tommy.
SIGNUM REGIS will celebrate their 20th anniversary next year. „Beyond Spacetime“ already feels like kind of a best-of journey through their past, present and future. „We grew up on the values of traditional melodic metal – this focus will most probably never change“, says Filip Koluš and explains: „At the same time, we are also a group of great friends, who have a common goal – to make the best quality metal music together. We never set any barriers, as we believe that music should be an art and freedom first and foremost. Proof of this is our new album, which sounds mostly very different from our previous releases. Despite this, we are absolutely proud of it and the result was fully under control from the beginning to the end of the process, which took around 3 years. What to expect in the future? We do not know exactly, but we will stick to our values for sure.“
Signum Regis are: Mayo Petranin – Lead and backing vocals Filip Koluš – Guitars Ronnie König – Bass Ján Tupý – Keyboards, backing vocals Jaro Jančula – Drums
Finnish heavy metal pioneers Zero Nine have released new material after more than two decades. The single “Dreaming” is out on music streaming services today on September 9, 2026.
“We’d been talking for a long time about wanting to release something new. Talk of a Zero Nine book came up a year and a half ago, and with that, the idea of releasing a couple of new songs began to take shape. We came across a newspaper article about a new record label in Oulu and got in touch with them.” says the band’s drummer Mikko Korpela explaining the band’s return to the studio.
Zero Nine now has a rougher, edgier sound that connects the band’s roots to the present day. Founded in Kuusamo, Finland as early as 1978, the band has come a long way—from Oulu to England to the Jääli’s Studio Vanhatie. In addition to the single release, fans can learn about the band’s journey through the book Zero Nine (Like), written by Tero Karjalainen and set to be published on September 17, 2026.
Composers: Timo Käsmä & Kepa Salmirinne Lyrics: Edu Kettunen Arrangement: Jarkko Viinamäki, Mikko Korpela, Timo Käsmä Producer: Jarkko Viinamäki
The years show in a good way in the band’s new music. “Dreaming” is a multifaceted ballad carried by the band’s vibrant playing and singer Kepa Salmirinne’s powerful vocals. The B-side showcases the band’s edgier side, which has truly come into its own. “Shake Off The Hound” hits the listener’s ears with a convincing intensity that reflects the band’s 48-year journey.
“Zero Nine is a long-standing band that has sometimes been categorized as one thing or another, but we can’t be compared to anything else. We have our own style and sound, which has evolved over the years. There are many songwriters in the band, so we don’t get stuck in a rut. Over the years, we’ve released all kinds of music, but for us, the category has always been Zero Nine.” drummer Korpela explains.
The band continues to perform with nearly its original lineup. Korpela joined as drummer even before the release of their debut album, Visions, Scenes and Dreams, in 1982, and Jarski Jaakkola joined as bassist in 2002. The band’s albums have been produced by Deep Purple’s Ian Gillan as well as T.T. Oksala, and production is now in the hands of Jarkko Viinamäki from Oulu, whom Korpela credits.
“At some point, T.T. Oksala and I managed to find our own sound. Time brings all kinds of positive things, and our style has evolved over the years. Now we’ve managed to capture that on record in an exceptionally good way. Working in the studio was inspiring, and Jarkko and I have mutual trust.
‘Dreaming’ and ‘Shake Off The Hound’ originated from demo sessions recorded 10 years ago and were based on rough drafts by guitarist Timo Käsmä. There is more material in the works.” the drummer Korpela hints at more to come.
“Around the time the Zero Nine book is released, we’ll be playing a few shows—at least at Tavastia (Helsinki), in Oulu, and in Kuusamo. These songs were the first ones we worked on, but there’s more material to come. The vibe during the studio sessions was really great, and things went smoothly with Jarkko. So if things keep going like this, we’ll be making some pretty relentless music in the future, too.”
The single is being released by Oulu-based Palabell Records and distributed by Playground Music Finland.
The band comment: “For ‘Builder of Eden’, we joined forces with one of our biggest inspirations, Loïc Rossetti (ex-The Ocean Collective), to create one of the most monumental and heavy tracks on the album.
“The song follows our nameless protagonist as he violently defies his creator, breaking free from the empty burden of existence thrust upon him.
‘We are all hypothetical legends, regressed. Overprivileged sons trapped in a numb, mechanical dream.’”
Since emerging from Mechelen, Belgium, Hippotraktor have steadily carved out a singular artistic identity guided by an enduring commitment to exploration. Their music unfolds through carefully sculpted contrasts, where immense rhythmic force exists alongside delicate melodic detail. Moments of overwhelming intensity dissolve into passages of quiet reflection, suspended stillness erupts into visceral power and sonic chaos; their sound is a meticulously crafted interplay between movement and heaviness. Every composition feels organic, themes emerge gradually and transform unexpectedly, as deconstruction, precision and instinct are in constant negotiation. Their sound is defined by intention; every eruption, moment of restraint and subtle shift is embedded in an atmosphere of purpose.
To the joy of ear-splitters and deep-feeling appreciators of post rock, Hippotraktor will release their third studio album Annihilist on 2nd October via Pelagic Records.
Once again Annihilist showcases the band’s ability to balance crushing physicality with emotional nuance, whilst pushing further into highly cultivated experimentation. For Hippotraktor, immense sonic weight coexists with remarkable clarity and depth, and through the many shifting passages and moments Annihilist becomes a journey of awe, dissolution, melancholia and rampaging power. At the heart of this album is a sense of collective inspiration. Guitarist Chiaran Verheyden‘s compositional vision provides the framework for music that is both intricate and instinctive, yet Hippotraktor‘s identity is forged through the dialogue between all five musicians.
Although often associated with progressive metal, post-metal and sludge, Hippotraktor resist classification. Their music draws freely from multiple traditions while remaining unmistakably their own, blending rhythmic complexity, cinematic atmosphere and deeply human expression into a sound that feels both expansive and immediate. From the visceral, roaring opening of ‘Builder of Eden’, to the deconstructed finale of ‘Courageous Apathy’, this album exhibits the vast arsenal at Hippotraktor‘s disposal.
As an album Annihilist is not only gripping in every moment and turn, but their balance of the intimate and titanic feels deceptively effortless; a testament to their galvanised abilities. Technical accomplishment is never presented as spectacle; every note exists in service of atmosphere, narrative and emotional resonance. Annihilist is undeniably heavy, yet drenched in groove and bittersweet tenderness. It is progressive without becoming self-indulgent, atmospheric without sacrificing immediacy, and emotionally expansive without relying on sentimentality. Hippotraktor craft immersive sonic environments that invite complete surrender, where intricate musicianship and instinctive expression become indistinguishable.
Metal Blade Records – the fiercely independent label that launched Metallica, Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, Armored Saint, and dozens more genre-defining icons, and is the longtime home of King Diamond, Killswitch Engage, Whitechapel, Cattle Decapitation and many more – proudly celebrates its 45th Anniversary in 2027. Founded in 1982 by Brian Slagel with little more than an unwavering belief in underground heavy music and the drive to get it heard, Metal Blade has grown from a grassroots passion project into one of the most influential independent labels in metal history. To mark this milestone, Slagel announces a brand-new podcast series: Metal Blade Records’ 45th Anniversary Podcast.
Beginning in JANUARY 2027, Slagel will release one new episode per week throughout the entire year, available on all major podcast platforms. Each episode will feature an in-depth conversation with past and present Metal Blade Records artists and others involved in the making of some of the label’s most celebrated releases – a deep dive into the stories, struggles, and creative visions behind 25 landmark albums that helped shape the course of heavy music. Episodes will drop weekly, branded as the Metal Blade Records’ 45th Anniversary Podcast.
Comments Metal Blade Records founder, owner, and CEO Brian Slagel: “I’m super excited to host this new podcast celebrating 45 years of Metal Blade Records! Following my podcast 100 songs that define heavy metal, the concept is basically the same! Going to be fun to talk to everyone each episode!“
Pantheon Media CEO, Christian Swain added, “Brian Slagel didn’t just witness the rise of heavy music-he built the platform that launched it. Partnering with Brian on 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal showed us how passionate this community is for authentic, deep-dive storytelling. We’re thrilled to host the Metal Blade Records’ 45th Anniversary Podcast on Pantheon as Brian opens the vault on 25 landmark albums that reshaped the musical landscape. Nobody tells these stories better.“
The weekly podcast will include bands like Amon Amarth, Armored Saint, Bitch, Bolt Thrower, Cannibal Corpse, D.R.I., Fates Warning, GWAR, Lizzy Borden, Omen, Six Feet Under, The Black Dahlia Murder, Unearth, and more! Check in each week to see who Slagel speaks to and which albums will be discussed.
The Metal Blade Records’ 45th Anniversary Podcast will be available on all major podcast platforms beginning JANUARY 2027. New episodes drop weekly throughout the year. Keep an eye on Metal Blade‘s site HERE for updates and links.
Metal Blade Records‘ greatest achievement is not simply the catalog it built, but the philosophy that constructed it. From the very beginning, the label has prioritized music over the mainstream, careers over trends, and long-term partnerships over short-term gain. That commitment to artist development has remained the label’s foundation for 45 years. Today, its roster reflects metal’s extraordinary diversity – death metal, black metal, thrash, progressive metal, metalcore, darkwave, doom, and countless styles in between – all sharing the same home because they embody the passion, creativity, and individuality that have always defined Metal Blade Records.
About Pantheon Media: Where fans belong. Pantheon Media connects audiences with music, sports, and pop culture through podcasts, interactive audio games, and livestream experiences where fans connect, participate, and shop. With a network featuring The Metallica Report and Rock N Roll Archaeology, Pantheon helps artists, creators, and brands turn compelling storytelling into engaged communities, deeper fan relationships, and new revenue opportunities. Learn more at: pantheonpodcasts.com
About Metal Blade Records: For 45 years, Metal Blade Records has stood at the forefront of heavy music, discovering, developing, and championing artists that define generations of metal. From underground trailblazers to genre-defining icons, the label’s unwavering commitment to authenticity, innovation, and uncompromising music has remained unchanged. Forty-five years later, the same philosophy that launched the classics continues to introduce the next generation of metal.
Metal Blade Records launched Metallica, Slayer, Armored Saint, Fates Warning, GWAR, Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder, Cattle Decapitation, 200 Stab Wounds, and dozens more genre giants, and has been the longtime home of King Diamond and Killswitch Engage, shaping four decades and counting of hard rock, metal, and extreme music culture. Brian Slagel worked as a record store clerk when he founded Metal Blade in 1982, reserving a spot for a young Lars Ulrich on his Metal Massacre compilation series. Metal Blade grew from humble beginnings in Los Angeles to become an international powerhouse, selling millions of albums while remaining fiercely independent. In 2017, Slayer‘s Kerry King inducted the label into the Hall of Heavy Metal History. Slagel‘s first memoir, For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records, arrived the same year, with its follow-up, Swing of the Blade: More Stories from Metal Blade Records, in 2023. He launched the podcast 100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal in late 2024 and the weekly interactive audio trivia game, Metal Mondays, the following year.
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
