Finnish melodic metal veterans Masquerage, led by Kimmo Perämäki (Spiritus Mortis, Celesty) released their their sixth studio album Atomic Spies on May 29, 2026.
The album skillfully blends elements of heavy metal, rock, AOR, and power metal, delivering a diverse and above all, truly welcome musical experience.
The lyrics take listeners from nuclear armament to personal inertia, from vigor to madness, from dreams to oblivion, and into the worlds of deep attachment and letting go, all without losing a sense of humor.
The album is available on CD and in digital formats. The US and European edition is released by Stormspell Records (US), while the Scandinavian edition and digital release is handled by Inverse Records (FIN).
Track list:
On The Edge Of Beliefs
Atomic Spies
The Devil To Pay
In The Vault
By Design
Everfrost
The Healthiest Man To Die
Pain Of Punishment
Waves
–All music written by Kimmo Perämäki –All lyrics written by Marko Ylä-Häkkinen –Produced, recorded, mixed, mastered by Kimmo Perämäki. –Album cover art by Saija Lehto
The band also released a new music video ‘On the Edge of Beliefs’ and it’s available here:
Masquerage is a Finnish melodic metal band founded in 1998, blending elements of AOR, heavy metal, and power metal into its distinctive sound. The band was formed by cousins Kimmo Perämäki (Spiritus Mortis, Celesty) and Marko Ylä-Häkkinen.
In its early days, the band operated under the name Unchained, and in 1999 the lineup was completed by keyboardist Mika Maunus. At their very first rehearsals as a trio, Marko introduced Mika to Kimmo with the words: “Here’s Mika, our new keyboard player. Can’t really play anything, but he learns fast.” Well, the credentials were clearly sufficient, and Mika was in. This core trio—Perämäki, Ylä-Häkkinen, and Maunus—laid the foundation for Masquerage’s early sound and released the band’s first two demos.
In 2000, the band changed its name to Masquerage, reflecting the roles and masks people wear in different situations—and what may lie beneath them. This theme has remained a strong element in the band’s lyrics ever since. That same year, bassist Mikael Kontolampi joined, and the band began moving more deliberately toward a professional direction.
The early 2000s were marked by active live performances and several demo releases.
In 2004, the lineup expanded with a second guitarist, Jukka Viitasaari, and with this formation Masquerage released its debut album Work-Holic-Fool (2005) in collaboration with Soultonics. Its follow-up, Moonlight Time (2008), was released independently.
In 2009, Viitasaari stepped aside, and the four-piece lineup released their third album Backstabber in cooperation with 57Records.
In 2014, longtime bassist Kontolampi departed, and Kimmo and Marko began collaborating with the U.S.-based Stormspell Records—a partnership that would shape Masquerage’s future releases.
Bassist Ossi Raiski joined the band in 2015, after which Masquerage reactivated and released the albums Breaking the Masks (2016) and Hangman’s Revelations (2018) through Stormspell Records.
The COVID-19 pandemic briefly slowed the band’s activity, but in 2024 Masquerage returned to working on new material. The new album entered production in 2025, resulting in the band’s sixth studio album, Atomic Spies, set for release on May 29, 2026, in collaboration with Stormspell Records and Inverse Records.
Masquerage continues its determined journey toward a firmly established position in the melodic heavy rock and metal scene—combining strong melodies, infectious hooks, and thematically rich lyrics.
Line-up: Kimmo Perämäki – Guitar & Vocals Ossi Raiski – Bass Mika Maunus – Keyboards Marko Ylä-Häkkinen – Drums
Finnish melodic death/black metal band Se, Josta Ei Puhuta released their fourth album, Syvyyden portit on saatava auki, on 29 May 2026 via Inverse Records.
The band comments: ” ”The wisdom can only be found, if you throw yourself into rapids of madness”. “Syvyyden portit on saatava auki” (“The gates to the depths must be opened”) is simultaneously the most melodic, violent, lingering, fastest, warm-hearted, darkest, spiritual, illogical and consistent album that Se, josta ei puhuta has ever accomplished. The musical shade took a step into megalomania and couple of notches to a more darker vibe. The production values were chosen accordingly. The lyrics are tightly connected to the music, creating a chaotic, but soulful apocalyptic-spiritual creation. Blood, sweat, tears were shed, call bell’s were ringing and the unknown was guiding. Everything else issecondary when the gates to the depths must be opened…”
Track list:
Tulkoon valkeus
Myrsky
Varis
Kuolemaa ei ole
Pahuuden palavat nuolet
Syvyyden portit on saatava auki
Muinaiset jumalat kuuntelevat
Rituaali
Pimeys ja ikuinen yö
–Composed & lyrics by Samu Männikkö –Mixed & mastered by Tore Stjerna (Necromorbus Studio) –Album cover art by Nicolas O
Se, josta ei puhuta is a metal band from Iisalmi. The band was founded in 2007.
That same year, the band recorded a four-track demo titled Se, josta ei puhuta and signed a recording contract with the Sound of Finland label in the spring of 2010. The album Ne, joista ei puhuta was released in May 2010.
In the spring of 2011, the band recorded their second studio album, Musta, kylmä, syvä ja samea (Black, cold, deep and murky), which was released by Spinefarm Records in November 2011.
In 2010 and 2011, Se, josta ei puhuta toured actively across Finnish venues. The band began preparations for a third album, which was, however, put on hold during the production phase in late 2012.
In 2022, as a result of the band’s rebirth, the third album Gehenna was completed and released through Inverse Records. The lineup, which had remained unchanged until then, saw its first change when Jimi Myöhänen was chosen as the drummer following the release of the new album.
The band finished recording their fourth album Syvyyden portit on saatava auki- in the fall of 2025, and the album is scheduled to be released during 2026.
Over the years, the rawness of the band’s early HC punk and death metal has evolved into a more complex, black metal-influenced death metal, while still proudly maintaining the edginess of their early days.
Wormholedeath is thrilled to announce the official signing of 7Keys, the formidable instrumental metal project hailing from Portugal. This exciting new partnership will see the global release of their upcoming studio album, ‘Gæa’.
7Keys build their sound around strong melodic writing, precise musicianship, and a modern heavy metal identity shaped without vocals. The result is music that leans on atmosphere and structure, while still carrying weight and momentum throughout each track. Their style sits in a space that will feel familiar to fans of Trivium, Avenged Sevenfold, and Iron Maiden, while staying firmly rooted in their own instrumental approach.
The project was initiated by guitarist Márcio Teixeira, whose relationship with heavy metal started in early childhood. After picking up the guitar at a young age and developing his skills independently, he later studied under renowned guitarist Paulo Barros, refining both technique and musical direction. During a live music production in Portugal, he met bassist Igor Rodrigues, marking the beginning of what would become 7Keys.
The lineup is completed by Gabriel Pereira on rhythm guitar and Igor Rodrigues on bass, bringing a solid and cohesive foundation to the band’s layered sound.
With “Gæa”, 7Keys present a collection of tracks focused on melody, progression, and emotional weight. Each piece stands on its own, yet contributes to a wider narrative shaped entirely through instrumentation. It’s a record built to engage both technically and emotionally, without relying on vocals to lead the story.
Tracklist:
Divinum Ruina
Echoes Of Renewal
Gates Of Glory
Æther
The Weight of Atlas
Voidwalkers
When Gods Dream
Chaos et Divinitas
To experience the first chapter of this odyssey, watch the official video for the single ‘Æther’ here:
With Part II of their forthcoming album trilogy, Green Carnation have descended into the deepest, darkest and most personal depths of the prog metal band’s storied career. A Dark Poem, Part II: Sanguis has received an outpouring of praise from Blabbermouth, Loudwire and other major publications.
“A Dark Poem, Part II: Sanguis is a radically personal, unfiltered and moving album” Metal Hammerwrites.
“[…]simply breathtaking for the band and the genre”, says Angry Metal Guy. “For those who need something in these trying times to bolster their spirits or tear them apart (if only for a moment to reset), Sanguis is here for you”.
Now, as they prepare to turn the page to the bold and resounding final chapter of A Dark Poem, today, Green Carnation are releasing a new video for the most raw and aching ballad from Part II. In a rare appearance, the band’s bassist and primary lyricist Stein Roger Sordal steps in front of the mic on “Loneliness Untold, Loneliness Unfold” with hopes of reaching a long-lost friend.
“Obviously, this song is about loneliness, but more specifically, it’s about watching a very good and close friend gradually shut himself off from the rest of the world”, Sordal says. “It’s about sitting on the sidelines, watching it happen and not being able to do anything about it”.
The video for “Loneliness Untold, Loneliness Unfold” was directed and edited by Rikard Amodei.
Additional video credits Camera – Stian Foss
Green Carnation would like to extend a big thanks to Krafverk.
After reaching crushing new highs during its grand and gloomy opener, A Dark Poem, Part II: Sanguis reveals Green Carnation at their deepest, darkest and most vulnerable depths. Two decades have past since bassist and lyricist Stein Roger Sordal last took the lead on vocals, but he alone carries the burden of “Loneliness Untold, Loneliness Unfold”. Accompanied by little more than a somber guitar melody that unwinds like the slow passage of time, he delivers one of the most chilling ballads that the prog bards have ever penned. “Do you want to die?” he asks a reclusive friend. That his voice doesn’t waver in posing the question confirms his fear of already knowing the answer.
“The songs on Part II come as they are, with no filter”, Sordal says. “I needed to set these stories free and let them out”.
Catch Green Carnation during their upcoming hometown shows and European summer festival dates.
During their headlining show in September at the Kilden Performing Arts Centre, the band will perform A Dark Poem in its entirety for the first and final time – including the as-of-yet unannounced Part III. Already, fans from 18 different countries have purchased tickets for this once-in-a-lifetime event.
Green Carnation 2026 Show Dates June 6 – Tampere, Finland @ Ankea Festival [TICKETS] June 14 – Kristiansand, Norway @ Odderøya [Tickets]* August 1 – Ungarn, Hungary @ Feke Zaj Festival [TICKETS] September 12 – Kristiansand, Norway @ Kilden Performing Arts Centre [TICKETS]# September 25 – Bucuresti, Romania @ Bucharest Prog Day II [TICKETS] *Deep Purple, Turbonegro + Slomosa #Performing A Dark Poem, Part I-III
Tracklist 1. Sanguis (9:05) [WATCH] 2. Loneliness Untold, Loneliness Unfold (4:04) 3. Sweet to the Point of Bitter (5:58) 4. I Am Time (5:39) [LISTEN] 5. Fire in Ice (7:03) 6. Lunar Tale (5:25) Full runtime: 37:16
No matter how long or where the journey has taken them, Green Carnation have never been afraid of a challenge. After reaching crushing new highs during the grand and gloomy opening chapter to their long-awaited album trilogy, the Norwegian prog bards are descending into deeper, darker and more personal depths with Part II of A Dark Poem.
“We wanted A Dark Poem to start off with guns blazing. Judging by the reaction, The Shores of Melancholia was successful in doing that”, the band’s vocalist Kjetil Nordhus says. “But for Part II, we have some very personal stories that we want people to hear. Sanguis invites listeners into our darkest inner rooms with some of the most raw and vulnerable songs that we’ve ever written”.
“The second part of A Dark Poem holds some of the most personal lyrics that I’ve ever written”, says Stein Roger Sordal, the band’s bassist and primary lyricist. “The lyrics are so personal that I had to go many rounds with myself over whether or not to tone them down. In the end, I chose to keep them as honest as possible. I mean, am getting older and I do have some life experience to back them up”.
Founded in the early ‘90s by Emperor’s original bassist Tchort, Green Carnation amassed a cult following behind critical acclaim for Light of Day, Day of Darkness, an album containing a single hour-long song that still resonates as one of the most ambitious epics in metal’s archives. Current members Bjørn Harstad (guitar), Stein Roger Sordal (bass) and Endre Kirkesola (keyboard, producer) along with Nordhus, were already in place by 2001. But whether it was the gothic crush of A Blessing in Disguise or pitch-black hard rock of The Quest Offspring, Green Carnation continued branching out through the mid-2000s. Even before going on hiatus in 2007, they still flashed a flare for the dramatic by performing their acoustic verses underneath a mountain dam.
“Green Carnation use Leaves of Yesteryear to prove once again they are titans of the craft”, Metal Injectionwrote about the band’s 2020 comeback album, which welcomed drummer Jonathan Pérez.
However, there was one tale – or three, to be exact – that eluded them for more than three decades. The idea for an album trilogy penned after Shakespeare’s tragic Ophelia stems all the way back to their earliest reflections of life and death, but when the first part of A Dark Poem was unfurled in 2025, right away, it was clear that Green Carnation had completed their masterpiece. The Shores of Melancholia washed onto year-end lists atLoudwire , Angry Metal Guyand other major publications.
“Epic in both scope and sound, the latter being the band’s rich, melodic take on the genre best described as Rainbow’s Rising if it were a prog album”, PROG wrote. “Part I works as an entity in its own right while also leaving the listener desperate to hear the next installments”.
If Green Carnation set sail from a familiar place of melancholy on The Shores of Melancholia, then Sanguis finds the band far out at sea, fighting to stay afloat against the storm that’s raging in their minds. Whereas Part I only scratched at the surface, the epic title track that opens Part II vows to forgive and forget old bloodied wounds. Over the course of nine minutes, cresting cleans and swells of organ from long-time producer and newest member Endre Kirkesola try and wash away the familial wreckage — only for a traumatic childhood memory to come flooding back during the song’s doomy coda.
“Father was boiling, mother was crying / The children left scared in their beds”. A fiery shiver of a riff slowly spirals downward, as if trapped inside a mental hell.
“It paints a pretty grim picture of my childhood”, Sordal says about “Sanguis”. “I do have great memories from that time, too, but parts were very dark. I had some tough issues with my father, but I now know that he had it worse. I didn’t think about that when I was younger, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that there is usually more to the story”.
“It took Stein Roger almost 50 years to understand why his father treated him the way he did”, Nordhus says about his dear bandmate. “He didn’t understand until he had kids of his own and was watching them grow up”.
The heaviness that launched Green Carnation during Part I of A Dark Poem has aged like a fine wine on Sanguis. “Sweet to the Point of Bitter” balances meaty riffs with a pleasing melody and underlying notes of resentment. “You will acknowledge I was broken / Before you came around”. With a guitar solo that winds like the winds of change, “I Am Time” demands immediate recognition. “In your mind, I’m tomorrow / For your sake, I should be today”.
But while “Fire In Ice” stokes the political flames viewed from The Shores of Melancholia with pounding windchills of double bass, Part II reveals Green Carnation at their most raw and vulnerable. As was the case for most of Part I, Sordal penned all the lyrics to Sanguis. However, in a rare appearance not seen since the burden was his alone, he steps to the mic on “Loneliness Untold, Loneliness Unfold”. With an arrangement that’s plucked like the petals of a wilted flower, the song now stands as one of the more barren and stirring in their discography. “Do you want to die?” Sordal poses to a distant familiar of the band. His delicate delivery confirms his fear of already knowing the answer.
“These songs come as they are, with no filter”, Sordal says. “I needed to set these stories free and let them out”.
“Part II deal with personal loss and sadness”, shares Nordhus, though as he’s quick to explain, Sanguis isn’t all gloom and doom. “Those feelings can be almost comforting, like stories you hear about the calm that people experience before they die”. Indeed, if A Dark Poem contains a silver lining, it’s in the creative partnership that’s helped Green Carnation endure for more than three decades. “It would be different if I had only known Stein Roger for two months”, Nordhus continues in explaining how he gives voice to the words of his dear friend. “It’s easy for me to understand and relate to all of his struggles, all of his pleasures and joys, because I’ve been a part of them as well”.
Part II introduces more peaks and valleys into the overarching narrative of A Dark Poem, but nowhere does the album’s bleeding-heart core shine through more achingly than its closing ballad. Graced by Ingrid Ose’s soothing flute, “Lunar Tale” positively sparkles, even as it casts a rather grim beacon into the future. “The end justifies the means, you’ll see”, Nordhus sings with eerily quiet confidence. As the piano seeps beneath the moonlight, Sanguis leaves fans hanging in suspense over where this trilogy will end.
Recording lineup Kjetil Nordhus – Vocals Stein Roger Sordal – Bass, Rhythm Guitars, Lead Guitars, Keyboards, Lead Vocals on “Loneliness Untold, Loneliness Unfold” Bjørn Harstad – Lead Guitars, Effects Endre Kirkesola – Keyboards, Synthesizers, Organs, Effects, Backing Vocals on “Lunar Tale” Jonathan Alejandro Perez – Drums
Guest musicians Ingrid Ose – Flute on “Lunar Tale”
Live lineup Kjetil Nordhus – Vocals Stein Roger Sordal – Bass Tchort – Guitars Bjørn Harstad – Guitars Trond Breen – Guitars Endre Kirkesola – Keyboards
Recording, Mixing & Mastering Studio dUb Studio
Production Credits Producers – Endre Kirkesola, Stein Roger Sordal, Kjetil Nordhus Sound Engineers – Endre Kirkesola, Bjørn Harstad Mixing engineer — Endre Kirkesola Mixing assistant — Bjørn Harstad Mastering Engineer — Lawrence Mackrory
STRYPER returns with a powerful new single, ‘I’m Alright (I’m Okay),’ reaffirming why they remain one of the most influential and enduring bands in Christian metal. Decades into their career, the band continues to balance their unmistakable message with a sound that is every bit as commanding, melodic, and relevant as ever.
On the new single, Michael Sweet comments:
“This one is for the old school metal heads. It’s a little 1985 mixed with a little 1991, with a little 2026 sprinkled on top. It has all the qualities that you’ve come to expect from STRYPER, yet it also blends in perfectly with the times we live in. It’s a battle cry to stand strong and persevere no matter what, while believing that you will be alright, you will be okay!”
Following the release of the new single, STRYPER is excited to be hitting the road beginning on June 5th in Anaheim, CA at the Grove of Anaheim. For a full list of dates, please see below.
STRYPER Live:
June 5th – Anaheim, CA @ Grove of Anaheim June 6th – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre June 18th – Decatur, IL @ Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater June 19th – St. Charles, IL @ Arcada Theatre June 20th – Shipshewana, IN @ Blue Gate Performing Arts Center July 17th – Arlington, TX @ Arlington Music Hall July 18th – Houston, TX @ House of Blues July 19th – San Antonio, TX @ Aztec Theatre September 19th – Wissen, GER @ Loud and Proud Festival 2026 September 29th – Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall September 30th – Wantagh, NY @ Mulcahy’s Pub and Concert Hall October 3rd – Harrisburg, PA @ XL Live October 4th – Warrendale, PA @ Jergel’s Rhythm Grille October 6th – Marion, IL @ Marion Cultural and Civic Center October 9th – Wisconsin Dells, WI @ Crystal Grand Music Theatre October 10th – Green Bay, WI @ EPIC Event Center October 12th – St. Louis, MO @ The Hawthorn October 13th – Cincinnati, OH @ Bogart’s October 15th – Nashville, TN @ The Cannery Mainstage October 16th – Newton, NC @ Newton Performing Arts Center October 19th – Jacksonville, FL @ FIVE October 20th – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues October 22nd – Atlanta, GA @ Center Stage October 23rd – Liberty, SC @ Pickens County PAC October 24th – Hopewell, VA @ Beacon Theatre October 25th – Stroudsburg, PA @ Sherman Theater December 5th – San Juan, PR @ Coca-Cola Music Hall
STRYPER are: Michael Sweet – Lead Vocals/Lead & Rhythm Guitar Robert Sweet – Drums & Percussion Oz Fox – Vocals/Lead and Rhythm Guitar Perry Richardson – Vocals/Bass
Invisible Oranges is hosting the exclusive premiere of the new EP by Spanish black-death metal punks PVRGATORII, titled “Profane Rites For Cursed Times”, released on May 29, 2026 via Night Terrors Records. The release marks a new step in the band’s evolution and will arrive as a strictly limited 100-copy edition on one-sided 12” black vinyl, complete with OBI strip, insert and an extensive 16-page fanzine entirely dedicated to the project.
The EP further refines PVRGATORII’s self-defined “Black Metal ov Death” approach, blending raw black metal ferocity, punk urgency and abrasive noise into a sound that remains tense, hostile and uncompromising. Far from stylistic compromise or modern fusion trends, the band continues to pursue a harsh, atmospheric vision rooted in extremity and shaped by their connection to the Barcelona underground.
Stream “Profane Rites For Cursed Times” at THIS LOCATION.
Formed in Barcelona in 2018, PVRGATORII have consistently defined their sound as “Black Metal ov Death,” a volatile fusion of raw black metal abrasion, punk urgency, and noise-laden hostility. Yet their approach deliberately resists contemporary trends: while rooted in aggression and immediacy, their music avoids the swagger and looseness often associated with black’n’roll. Instead, “Profane Rites For Cursed Times” remains steeped in a sinister, malevolent atmosphere, where tension is never released into levity and every element serves a darker purpose.
Following their debut album “Con Las Uñas Clavadas En La Cara De Dios” (2021) and the subsequent “Marching Through Thee Night Guided by a Black Fire” (2024), this new EP sharpens the band’s identity even further. It is a concise yet forceful statement, where the most unsettling aspects of black metal and punk converge without compromise, resulting in a sound that feels both immediate and deeply corrosive.
With “Profane Rites For Cursed Times”, PVRGATORII reaffirm their commitment to a vision that is as uncompromising as it is distinct, one that rejects dilution, embraces extremity and continues to evolve on its own terms.
Tracklist:
I. Key To Thee Temple II. Dystopian Flesh Arise III. Hermetik Axis IV. A Broken Seal For Final Capitalism Collapse
Line-up:
Darth Dvnkel: Six Strinx & Black Spells L’Ombra: War Drums & Death Bells
Recorded by L’Ombra at the infamous Dvngeon of Llull in early December 2025 Front cover by CVSPE & L’Ombra Logo by L’Ombra Layout by CVSPE
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 ) 