Norwegian melodic metal newcomers HOLLOW PEAK have officially released their debut full-length album “Obsidian Cult”, out today worldwide via Massacre Records on Mediabook CD and digital.
“Obsidian Cult” marks a powerful first full-length statement from the band, combining cinematic atmosphere, melodic intensity and emotional depth into a dark yet uplifting journey. Building on the foundation laid by their 2023 self-released EP, HOLLOW PEAK present a heavier, more refined and conceptually cohesive sound that balances strength, melody and introspection.
Produced by Ragnhild Westgaard and Marius Karlsen, and mixed and mastered by Corey Bergeron, the album explores themes of alienation in the digital age, inner conflict and personal renewal. Each track unfolds as part of a wider narrative, moving between moments of darkness and clarity, tension and release.
The album features the previously released singles “Attack” and “Labyrinth”, which showcased different facets of the band’s sound: from the defiant, battle-driven intensity of “Attack” to the introspective and atmospheric depth of “Labyrinth”.
From the opening track “From Ashes Rises a Crown” to the haunting title track “Obsidian Cult”, the album flows as a unified work, driven by powerful guitar work, dynamic rhythms and commanding vocals, firmly establishing HOLLOW PEAK as one of the most promising new melodic metal acts to emerge from Norway.
Swiss force Vicious Rain unveil ‘Trading Hearts’, their new single that turns emotional conflict into a crushing metalcore statement. This is taken from their album The Anatomy of Surviving, set for release on 13th March 2026 via Arising Empire.
‘Trading Hearts’ lyrics portray a relationship spiraling into warfare, where pride outweighs connection and words become weapons. Driven by heavy verses and a huge, cathartic chorus, the track balances raw aggression with melodic weight. Known for intense live energy and a growing European following, Vicious Rain deliver a hard-hitting anthem that cuts deep and stays honest.
The single follows the massive momentum of previous singles ‘Silent Therapy’, ‘IKIGAI’ and ‘Spitting Blood Again’, which have firmly established the band as one of Europe’s most exciting modern heavy acts.
New album The Anatomy of Surviving promises to be their most personal and dynamic work to date, capturing the struggle, resilience, and emotional weight that define both the band and their growing international fanbase.
After re-emerging at the end of 2025 with her existential and baroque-tinged comeback single “Soak”, multi-disciplinary artist Snovonne “Sno” Drake now unveils her new single and official video “Bright Sides”.
With “Bright Sides”, Sno channels what she describes as “what optimism mixed with rage sounds and looks like” – a sharp, satirical and fiercely honest take on the music industry and the emotional cost of being an autonomous, self-sufficient artist in a hyper-commercialized environment.
The track fuses Sno’s theatrical dark-pop sensibility with biting lyricism, sarcasm and a modern alt-metal backbone, resulting in a sound that is abrasive yet strangely uplifting. The accompanying self-directed video expands this duality through grotesque visual metaphors and a darkly humorous finale.
“This is my interpretation of what optimism mixed with rage sounds and looks like. I wrote it thinking about the music industry and my place in it, and I’m sure I speak for millions of other artists. The level of fraud, incompetency and disrespect for genuine autonomous art is often unbearable, but we have to be creative in order to survive, that’s how we’re wired… it’s not for them, not for you and not for streaming numbers… but for ourselves. So we keep going, always looking for bright sides, in hope to not become completely consumed by bitterness and cynicism.How long can we keep this up? Who knows… but I enjoy my dark-humoured, grotesque resolution at the end of the video.So I guess the bright side here is – you can keep ‘beating’ art up, but it will always stand its ground. Like a massive stubborn unicorn.”
“Bright Sides” was mixed by Simon Johansson at SolnaSound Production in Sweden, with mastering handled by Thomas “Plec” Johansson at The Panic Room Studios. The instrumental sessions – including drums, bass, guitars and vocals – were recorded at SolnaSound Production in Stockholm, reinforcing the track’s tight and modern sonic edge.
The official music video was directed, filmed and edited by Sno herself through Sno Drake Design & Media, expanding the single’s concept into a complete visual narrative.
“Bright Sides” follows “Soak”, Sno’s first new release in seven years – a cinematic and existential piece described as a cathartic purge and a baroque-pop emancipation through self-acceptance.
If “Soak” represented the internal process of rebuilding, “Bright Sides” serves as its external confrontation – aimed at reality, the system, and the absurdity of creative survival.
Together, the two singles mark the opening chapter of a new artistic cycle, with additional releases planned for 2026.
About Snovonne “Sno” Drake
A musician, visual artist, and filmmaker active for nearly two decades, Snovonne’s work has been described as “theatrical dark pop”, “metal cabaret”, or “pop baroque.” Her artistic world merges vulnerability with intensity – a space where visual storytelling completes the message of her music.
Over the past years, she has collaborated on diverse projects, including Inner Fear (with Marthus Skaroupka of Cradle of Filth and Mike Wead of King Diamond), The Designs (electro-metal with Billy T Cooper), and Shadow Architects (with Anders Modd and Simon Johansson).
Her short film COPE [illustrations of the mind] – a dark fantasy psychological piece she wrote, directed, and scored – has won multiple awards at independent film festivals worldwide, including Best Short Film, Best Original Soundtrack, and Best Concept Art.
After living in England, Germany, and the USA, Sno is now based in Italy, continuing to explore the intersection of music, emotion, and visual art.
Forged in the Nordic underground, Doedsvangr have carved a singular path through the black metal landscape since their inception in 2014. Conceived by frontman Doedsadmiral as an outlet for uncompromising brutality and creative vision, the band quickly assembled a formidable lineup, drawing members from the ranks of Nordjevel and other storied acts.
The name Doedsvangr, meaning both “fields of death” and “dead womb”, serves as a fitting harbinger of the band’s sonic and thematic intent; to explore the bleakest corners of existence with unflinching honesty and raw power.
Doedsvangr’s journey began with the critically acclaimed debut Satan Ov Suns (2017), a record that seamlessly fused the atmospheres of Finnish and Norwegian black metal. In 2019, a new line-up was established, ushering in a new era of creative exploration. The following year saw the release of Serpents Ov Old, an album that deepened the band’s reputation for delivering eccentric, visceral black metal. The band’s live presence grew with a powerful release show in Oslo, joined by Blood Red Throne, Svarttjern and appearances at various festivals. In October 2022, the EP Koinonia was unleashed, further cementing their legacy.
Now, in 2026, Doedsvangr enter a new chapter with their third full-length album Within The Flesh, set for release this spring via Soulseller Records. Hailed by Doedsadmiral as their “most bizarre and raw album to date”, Within The Flesh promises a relentless journey. Unusual, eccentric, and uncompromising.
The album’s first single is imminent, more details to follow.
Pennsylvania metallers THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE today confirm their Spring headlining tour! The Dead Ones Record Release trek will commence on April 2nd in Columbus, Ohio and roll through April 16th in Cleveland, Ohio. Support will be provided by Traitors and Nailed Shut as well as The Crimson Armada and Flesh Prison on select dates. The journey follows the band’s North American winter run supporting Left To Suffer, currently underway. Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed shows below.
THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE w/ Traitors, Nailed Shut: 4/2/2026 Summit Music Hall – Columbus OH 4/3/2026 Black Circle – Indianapolis, IN ^ 4/4/2026 Capital City Music Hall (Lower Level) – Harrisburg, PA ^ 4/6/2026 Photo City Music Hall – Rochester, NY 4/7/2026 Dingbatz – Clifton, NJ 4/8/2026 Wally’s – Hampton Beach, NH 4/9/2026 La Source De La Martiniere – Quebec City, QC * 4/10/2026 Foufones – Montreal, QC * 4/12/2026 Rum Runners – London, ON * 4/14/2026123 Pleasant Street – Morgantown, WV 4/15/2026 Music Factory – Battle Creek, MI ^ 4/16/2026 Foundry – Cleveland, OH ^ % ^ w/ The Crimson Armada * w/ Flesh Prison % No Nailed Shut
THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE w/ Left To Suffer, Fr3ak, Your Spirit Dies [remaining dates]: 1/26/2026 Radio Room – Greenville, SC 1/28/2026 Local 506 – Chapel Hill, NC 1/29/2026 Metro Music Hall – Baltimore, MD 1/30/2026 Meadows – New York, NY 1/31/2026 Palladium – Worcester, MA 2/01/2026 Empire Live Underground – Albany, NY 2/03/2026 Preserving Underground – Pittsburgh, PA 2/04/2026 Garrison – Toronto, ON w/ Left To Suffer, Fr3ak, LarcɆnia RoɆ: 2/05/2026 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI 2/06/2026 Reggie’s – Chicago, IL 2/07/2026 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN 2/08/2026 X-Ray Arcade – Cudahy, WI 2/10/2026 Marquis – Denver, CO 2/11/2026 Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM 2/12/2026 Launchpad – Mesa, AZ 2/13/2026 Glass House – Pomona, CA 2/14/2026 Cornerstone – Berkeley, CA 2/15/2026 Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA 2/17/2026 Eagle Hall – Las Vegas, NV 2/19/2026 Vibes Underground – San Antonio, TX 2/20/2026 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX 2/21/2026 The Secret Group – Houston, TX 2/22/2026 Puzzles Deep Ellum – Dallas, TX
THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE will unleash their pulverizing eighth full-length, The Dead Ones, on April 17th. Intense and intensely personal, The Dead Ones marks the band’s Metal Blade Records debut. Produced by Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland of Pennsylvania’s Atrium Audio, with their latest offering the band focused on the guitar, bass, and drum tones as well as the mix/master to achieve what guitarist Wyatt McLaughlin calls, “a super-thick sonic output and ‘rolling-tank’-like feel.”
The Dead Ones was recorded with a six-string baritone Viper from ESP-LTD tuned to Drop F, the same tuning used on the band’s 2012 Warpath EP. To elevate the intensity, the band also used an Earthquaker Devices Sunn O))) and Keeley Octa Psi drop tune pedal on certain sections. The record also includes four stellar guests: “Make It To Heaven” includes David Simonich of Signs Of The Swarm, Nate Johnson (ex-Fit For An Autopsy) appears on “Rat Trap,” “Dollar To A Dime” has Alan Grnja of Distant, and “XXXXXXXXXX” features original THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE vocalist Storm Strope.
Watch THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE‘s recently released video for the record’s title track HERE.
The Dead Ones Track Listing: 01. The Dead Ones 02. Make It to Heaven (feat. David Simonich of Signs Of The Swarm) 03. Rat Trap (feat. Nate Johnson) 04. Freak Reflection 05.1-800-DO YOU WANT TO DIE? 06. Stiletto 07. Stereo 08. Dollar to a Dime (feat. Alan Grnja of Distant) 09. Corruption Concerto 10. XXXXXXXXXX (feat. Storm Strope)
THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE: Wyatt McLaughlin – guitars Tyler Beam – vocals Andrew Petway – bass Dylan Potts – drums
Norwegian black metallers MALUM are set to release their next chapter, From the Voids, on the 27th of March. While firmly rooted in Malum’s established sonic foundation, the album is more aggressive, continuing the confrontational path introduced on Towards Nothingness. It is driven by anger and stands as a ruthless observation of the world as it appears — dark, broken, and hollow.
The first taste of the album is the track “In Gloom II”, is released today and it can be hear here: https://orcd.co/ingloomii
The band has this to say about the song: A sharpened strike of existential black metal — shaped by futility, the void, and the weight of wasted potential. In Gloom II marks the first descent into Malum’s second full-length. The single confronts the listener with a bleak truth and explores the crossroads between resignation and will. The question is no longer whether existence is futile, but whether we choose to shape it in spite of the inevitable decay. The track moves into a more hypnotic and immersive territory, binding Malum’s earliest cold aggression to a darker, more atmospheric sound. Within the collapse lies a renewed willingness to embrace the void with clarity rather than fear.
The forthcoming full length consists of six tracks and does not abandon the band’s core identity but drives it forward with greater force and clarity. Having refined its expression into a cold and faceless descent toward inner collapse and existential void, Malum directs that vision beyond introspection. The music is sharpened to its core, carrying Malum’s bleak vision without compromise. Once again with cover art by Den Unge Herr Holm.
Tracklist:
Stare Into Darkness
Ignorance Made Bliss
In Gloom II
Deranged and Depraved
Hollow
From the Voids
Malum rose from the ashes as a brand-new entity in the Norwegian underground scene. Their prime directive is raw, atmospheric and melodic black metal — with a sound rooted in the bleak traditions of the second wave of black metal and shaped by modern existentialism and nihilism. Malum delivers music that is both oppressive and cathartic and has carved a path through Norway’s underground with raw intensity and philosophical depth.
Malum is not merely a band — it is a confrontation. With the self. With silence. With nothingness.
“From the Voids” will be available on CD, Black Vinyl and Limited Edition Black Marble Vinyl (100 copies) and can be pre-ordered here:
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
Ads
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 ) 