German gothic metal pioneers CREMATORY release their much-awaited “Greatest Hits” album, “English Hymns & Deutsche Hymnen”, today via ROAR – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music. The compilation celebrates 35 years of the band’s career and brings together CREMATORY’s most iconic tracks and milestones, offering a retrospective journey through decades of their impressive history. At the same time, the band is currently on tour, performing fan favorites and new highlights live across Europe.
“English Hymns & Deutsche Hymnen” is available as an expansive three-CD edition as well as limited double-vinyl formats. The 3-CD set includes “English Hymns,” “Deutsche Hymnen,” and “Engulfed in Darkness Demo.” The vinyl editions come as a Neon Green double vinyl (English Hymns) and a Turquoise double vinyl (Deutsche Hymnen). Order your copy of this must-have gem, one that belongs into every well-sorted dark metal record collection, here: https://crematory.rpm.link/greatesthitsPR
“Greatest Hits” – Vinyl Track Listing
LP “English Hymns”:
The Eyes Of Suffering Shadows Of Mine Tears Of Time Lost In Myself For Love Fly The Fallen Greed Pray Shadowmaker Ravens Calling Rise and Fall Inglorious Darkness Destination The Future Is A Lonely Place Born (Exclusive Bonus Track) Wrong Side of the Mirror (Exclusive Bonus Track)
LP “Deutsche Hymnen”:
Ist Es Wahr Ewigkeit Tick Tack Kaltes Feuer Höllenbrand Kein Liebeslied Auf Der Flucht Haus mit Garten Falsche Tränen Kommt Näher Virus Tränen der Zeit Trümmerwelten Welt Aus Glas Das Letzte Ticket Blind (Exclusive Bonus Track) Flammenmeer (Exclusive Bonus Track)
Formed in 1991 in Mannheim, Germany, CREMATORY have become one of the most enduring and influential acts in European gothic metal. Over more than three decades, the band evolved from their early death metal roots into a distinctive style combining heavy riffs, melodic keyboards, industrial textures, and contrasting vocal approaches.
Throughout their career, CREMATORY have explored themes of life, pain, introspection, and atmosphere, often blending deep growls with clean vocals to create a sound both powerful and haunting. Their growth in the 1990s brought them recognition across Europe through relentless touring and festival appearances.
The “Greatest Hits” album reflects the band’s bilingual legacy. “English Hymns & Deutsche Hymnen” gathers key tracks from across their catalogue in both languages and also includes the band’s earliest demo recordings, offering fans a comprehensive retrospective of CREMATORY’s long and influential journey. With 35 years of history, countless tours, and a legacy that helped shape European gothic, death and industrial metal, “Greatest Hits” stands as both a celebration of CREMATORY’s past and a powerful reminder that the band remains as vital as ever!
In support of the release, the band is currently on tour. Make sure to catch CREMATORY at the following dates below, with many more to be announced soon:
May 17 – Potsdam, DE – Lindenpark May 22 – Oberhausen, DE – Kulttempel Jun 04 – Selb, DE – Rock Club Jun 05 – Salzburg, AT – Rock House Jun 07 – Pilsen, CZ – Metal Fest Jun 25 – Oschersleben, DE – Metal Dayz Festival Jun 26 – Leipzig, DE – Hellraiser Jul 04 – Mülheim / Ruhr, DE – Castle Rock Festival Jul 31 – Wacken, DE – Wacken Open Air Aug 22 – Pindelo Dos Milagres, PT – MMOA Festival Aug 28 – Barcelona, ES – Ripollet Rock Festival
CREMATORY is: Felix Stass – Vocals Rolf Munkes – Guitar Oliver Revilo – Bass Katrin Jüllich – Keyboards, Samples Markus Jüllich – Drums, Programming
Vanaheim, an international storytelling caravan, has its roots in the land of the far sight, namely the Netherlands, in the city of Tilburg. Since their founding in 2015, the quintet has been on an everlasting journey through foreign lands, to spread folktales of their own.
Today, Vanaheim release their new single and lyric video for the song “Eendracht Maakt Macht“.
“We wanted a song that grabs you right away, without a long intro, which led to „Eendracht Maakt Macht“ (English: Unity Makes Strength). It takes you through different moods, starting dark and tense, then gradually opening up into more folk-inspired, melodic parts. A strong sense of unity was central to the song, since it tells the story of villagers coming together to search for the miller. The Ijsel & Waal Choir plays an essential role, listen closely and you can hear the villagers sing”, comments the band and continue with an insight on the lyrics: “The song tells of a village where the beloved miller has vanished. Haunted by his friend’s death and after seeing spectral lights on the meadows, he desperately warned of a looming threat. To his frustration, his cries fall on deaf ears, leaving him alone with terrors no one else believes. When the familiar sound of his presence is replaced by an unsettling silence, the community unites to find him. Though by time he has become a withdrawn shadow of his former self, driven by mental isolation and haunting visions, yet the villagers decide to put their judgments about him aside. They recognize a lost friend who has been transformed by striking events and external pressure. As the village grapples with guilt and responsibility, they look at him with compassion and the message remains clear: it takes a collective effort to support those who have strayed, ensuring no one is left behind, no matter how heavy the burden.”
Already, since the first two self-released outputs, an EP in 2017 (“The House Spirit”) and an LP in 2022 (“Een Verloren Verhaal”), all eyes and ears of the scene were directed on Vanaheim. Counting as the candidate for bringing back the golden era of folk metal and for returning the genre to the glory that it once had. “Een Verloren Verhaal” struck the scene like a meteor and was often highlighted by the metal press as album of the year 2022.
2023 to 2025, the hype around the band lifted them onto stages of major festivals in Europe, like Graspop Metal Meeting (BE), Wacken Open Air (DE), Wave Gotik Treffen (DE), Milagre Metaleiro (PT) and enabled them to widen their audience while touring with genre veterans like Manntra, Heidevolk, Ensiferum and playing support shows for Alestorm and Equilibrium.
Vanaheim paved their way into the heart of the scene and are ready to take the next big step. In the continuation of their success, the band signed a record deal with Fireflash Records, teamed up with MasterMoldMusic as their management team and found a trustful partner in RTN Touring for booking endeavors.
On September 4th, 2026, Vanaheim will release their highly anticipated follow-up concept album, which carries the name “Roede voor de Borst” together with a new band design and lyrics that tell a tragic, emotional but engaging story. The new album features top musicians like Coen Janssen of Epica and Nils Fischer of Eluveitie, who enhanced the band’s sound with their performances on all new tracks. The Dutch luminary of all things symphonic and melodic metal, aka Joost van den Broek produced, recorded and mixed the album before it was mastered by Finnish mastering legend Mika Jussila in Helsinki.
“Roede voor de Borst” involves the listener in an immersive storyline about regrets, despair, hope and salvation. A musical journey full of surprises coated by a Dutch 19th century setting that pulls you deep into a book of untold legends. The Dutch vocals award these songs with an emotional honesty which leads every sung word directly under your skin. With a rousing mix of symphonic heaviness, elegant folk-inspired melodies and grounding death metal riffs, Roede voor de Borst represents the next level of Vanaheim and a new level of epic folk metal.
Italian heavy metal band Heavenfall officially releases their new studio album “Thorn” today (May 15th) via Rockshots Records, marking the culmination of a creative journey that has progressively revealed the band’s most mature, introspective, and emotionally layered work to date. To celebrate the release, the band also unveils the official stop-motion video for “The Wind Chimes Garden”, one of the album’s most atmospheric and emotionally resonant compositions.
Across its eleven tracks, “Thorn” moves beyond traditional heavy metal formulas in favor of a more fluid and emotionally connected songwriting style. The album retains a strong riff-oriented foundation, but compositions evolve through layered guitar work, carefully shaped dynamics, and continuous interplay between aggression and atmosphere. Faster songs deliver immediacy and impact, while slower and mid-tempo passages introduce darker grooves and more reflective tonalities that reinforce the album’s introspective core.
The guitar work remains central throughout the entire record, alternating between incisive rhythmic patterns and expressive melodic phrasing. Rather than functioning as mere embellishment, lead guitars actively reinforce the emotional direction of each composition. Tracks such as “Midnightingale” reveal a more fragile and melancholic side of the band through bittersweet harmonic development and nuanced arrangements. At the same time, the closing suite “Stramonium” expands the album’s progressive scope without sacrificing cohesion or narrative flow.
Lyrically, “Thorn” explores emotional fragmentation, self-confrontation, and the lingering psychological weight carried through life experiences. The album title itself symbolizes the emotional splinter that remains embedded within the individual, continuously shaping perception, memory, and identity. Rather than relying on abstract symbolism alone, Heavenfall maintains a direct yet poetic lyrical approach, allowing themes of disillusionment, emotional isolation, and self-deception to emerge with both personal intimacy and universal resonance.
Coinciding with the album release, Heavenfall now premieres the official stop-motion video for “The Wind Chimes Garden”. One of the album’s most evocative moments, the song explores emotional withdrawal and the fragile balance between protection and freedom. Built around ethereal melodies, melancholic atmospheres, and a deeply introspective lyrical perspective, the track perfectly embodies the emotional depth and artistic direction that define “Thorn”.
Watch the official music video – Video by Stefania Balzarotti:
Wanikiya Record/Promotion announces that “I Live For Your Love”, the first official single by the Italian hard rock band SHARP N’ LOUD, is finally available on all major digital platforms.
A highly anticipated and meaningful debut, marking the band’s official entry into the music scene with a track that immediately makes their identity, intentions, and artistic vision clear.
Formed in 2024 in the Marche region, in the province of Macerata, Sharp n’ Loud are five musicians united by their passion for classic hard rock — visceral, direct, and uncompromising — inspired by the energy of the ’80s and ’90s, yet shaped with a modern and personal attitude.
With “I Live For Your Love”, the band chooses to introduce themselves not through an aggressive or purely high-impact track, but through an intense and emotionally charged ballad, immediately showcasing strong songwriting maturity and a clear expressive vision.
The single tells a story of emotional rebirth — a journey that begins with emptiness and loneliness and transforms into a declaration of inner strength. At the heart of the song lies love in all its forms: as salvation, as energy, and as the driving force capable of rebuilding what once seemed lost.
“I Live For Your Love” is not just a debut, but a statement of identity: Sharp n’ Loud choose to start from genuine emotions while maintaining a solid rock sound deeply rooted in their nature.
The track anticipates the band’s first album, “Room 2080”, currently in production with Wanikiya Record/Promotion. An ambitious project that will blend classic hard rock with modern production, unfolding within a sci-fi narrative designed to make the listening experience immersive and cinematic.
With this first official step, Sharp n’ Loud begin their journey with determination and vision, after already gaining important live experience, including participation in “Fatti Scoprire” by RockerTV and sharing the stage with acts such as Chris Catena’s Rock City Tribe and Lost Reflection.
Today, the band presents itself to the audience with a clear identity and a precise direction, further strengthened by the evolution of the lineup and constant studio work.
The message is direct, unfiltered, and full of energy: “Sharp n’ Loud bring Rock where it’s needed!!”
Swedish black metal outfit Flykt have previously unveiled the details of their forthcoming album Sinister Strain, due for release Hammerheart Records on 19th June. The band have now unveiled ‘The Release and Descent’, the second offering from the record, which is streaming now via the link below.
Flykt comment on the track: “‘The Release and Descent’ slows the pulse while carrying forward the album’s thread of death and rebirth. As Sinister Strain draws near — each heartbeat a call to sermon…”
Track-list: 1. You Will Know Them by the Reek of Defeat 2. Transcendent Rebellion 3. An Uncarved Block 4. The Release and Descent 5. Armed With Countless Daimons Seeking Abode 6. Rebirth in the Name of Reprisal 7. Unswerving Strife, Unyielding Will 8. A Furnace for the Stars 9. There Comes the Light
Formed in Stockholm in 2016, Flykt emerged as an essential creative outlet for those involved and as a sign of defiance amid decay, operating from the periphery rather than the center.
In 2019, the band released their debut full-length album Charnel Heart, through Folter Records. Later the same year, Flykt followed up with the two-track EP Through the Earth and Through the Sun. Since then, Flykt has continued its work away from view, shaping the material for their second full-length album.
Multi-platinum hard rock powerhouse FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH announced the release of their brand-new single “Eye Of The Storm”, the first new song from their forthcoming 10th studio album, currently being recorded in Los Angeles. Following last week’s announcement of their 2027 Europe dates – the third leg of their 2026–2028 World Tour – the band posted various snippets of new music on social media, which detonated amongst fans and industry alike, sparking worldwide speculation and excitement. Twenty years in, the band shows no signs of slowing down – they are entering a new era, simultaneously embracing the best of their past while reinventing themselves. After an astonishing 30 top ten hit singles, “Eye Of The Storm” is poised to be the next — with even the pre-release snippets going viral and earning immediate embrace from fans and industry alike. The band’s forthcoming 10th studio album is expected to be released this year.
Listen to the new single “Eye Of The Storm” HERE and watch the lyric video below.
Zoltan Bathory, Founder & Guitarist, Five Finger Death Punch – “The new music has been turning out heavier than anything we’ve done in years, with a cinematic undertone running beneath it. We had three years to write this record and really live with it. We started with nearly 30 songs and carved it down to 14 or 15, we even considered a double album at one point. This is our 10th studio album and our 20th anniversary as a band, we knew we had to hit it hard. What excites me most is that I’m hearing the early era again, that grit, that bite, that aggression, while simultaneously exploring completely new territories. I wrote the music for the entire first album and most of the second, so that energy isn’t nostalgia for me, it’s where I come from. Those are my roots. It feels like coming home at full speed, while my brother Ivan is bringing some incredible lyrics and melodies, and his voice sounds absolutely huge on this record. I am really looking forward to the next decade.”
This Summer, Five Finger Death Punch, will embark on the 1st leg of the 20th Anniversary World Tour which will take them all across North America with special guest Cody Jinks, and Eva Under Fire before hitting arenas in the UK/EU with Lamb Of God and Bleed From Within in early 2027.
The 20th Anniversary World Tour is both a celebration and a statement, honoring the band’s journey from their 2005 formation and release of their debut album, The Way Of The Fist, in 2007 to global arena headliners. The tour will showcase material from the new album, alongside classic anthems and #1 hits that defined the past two decades.
Produced by Live Nation, the 48-city North American tour kicks off on Monday, July 20th at Freedom Mortgage Pavilion in Camden, NJ, and wraps up in Bristow, VA at Jiffy Lube Live on Friday, October 23rd. The North American tour lineup will be rounded out by Eva Under Fire, whose current single “Villainous” (featuring Maria Brink of “In This Moment”) from the forthcoming album of the same name, is currently climbing the Rock Charts, sitting at #15 this week.
In addition to celebrating two decades of music, the band is once again using its platform to give back. Long recognized as one of the most charitable bands in rock, Five Finger Death Punch has spent decades giving back to various causes, including U.S. military veterans and first responders and their families. In 2026, the band is continuing that tradition by supporting Team USA and aligning with the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games being held on American soil in Los Angeles in 2028. As part of the tour’s commitment to championing America’s next generation of athletes, a portion of the ticket sales from the 2026 North American Tour will benefit high-performance programs for U.S. Olympic and Paralympic athletes as they prepare for international competition
5FDP’s 2027 UK/EUROPEAN tour leg with Lamb Of God and Bleed From Within will kick off in the UK in Manchester on Saturday, January 16th, 2027 and will see the band perform in 21 cities across the continent, ending in Helsinki on February 22nd, 2027.
For more information on Five Finger Death Punch, all 2026 North America & 2027 European tour dates, and VIP offerings visit fivefingerdeathpunch.com.
The band’s most current albums, Best Of – Volume 1 and Best Of – Volume 2, feature newly re-recorded versions of Five Finger Death Punch’s biggest hits and are available HERE.
20TH ANNIVERSARY WORLD TOUR
N.A. TOUR DATES
Thurs Jun 18 – Mescalero, NM – Inn Of The Mountain Gods Resort ^* Mon Jul 20 – Camden, NJ – Freedom Mortgage Pavilion Wed Jul 22 – Bangor, ME – Maine Savings Amphitheater Thu Jul 23 – Saratoga Springs, NY – Saratoga Performing Arts Center Sat Jul 25 – Hershey, PA – Hersheypark Stadium Sun Jul 26 – Syracuse, NY – Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater at Lakeview Tue Jul 28 – Gilford, NH – BankNH Pavilion Thu Jul 30 – Mansfield, MA – Xfinity Center Sat Aug 01 – Montreal, QC – Centre Bell Sun Aug 02 – Toronto, ON – RBC Amphitheatre Tue Aug 04 – Wantagh, NY – Northwell at Jones Beach Theater Wed Aug 05 – Holmdel, NJ – PNC Bank Arts Center Fri Aug 07 – Burgettstown, PA – The Pavilion at Star Lake Sat Aug 08 – Noblesville, IN – Ruoff Music Center Mon Aug 10 – Cincinnati, OH – Riverbend Music Center Tue Aug 11 – Cuyahoga Falls, OH – Blossom Music Center Thu Aug 13 – Milwaukee, WI – American Family Insurance Amphitheater Sat Aug 15 – Grand Rapids, MI – Acrisure Amphitheater Sun Aug 16 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre Tue Aug 18 – Shakopee, MN – Mystic Lake Amphitheater Wed Aug 19 – Tinley Park, IL – Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Fri Aug 21 – Saint Louis, MO – Hollywood Casino Amphitheater Tue Sep 08 – Morrison, CO – Red Rocks Amphitheatre Fri Sep 11 – Auburn, WA – White River Amphitheatre Sat Sep 12 – Ridgefield, WA – Cascades Amphitheater Mon Sep 14 – Wheatland, CA – Toyota Amphitheatre Wed Sep 16 – Mountain View, CA – Shoreline Amphitheatre Fri Sep 18 – Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Amphitheater Sat Sep 19 – Las Vegas, NV – Michelob ULTRA Arena Tue Sep 22 – Salt Lake City, UT – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre Thu Sep 24 – Phoenix, AZ – Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre* Fri Sep 25 – Albuquerque, NM – Isleta Amphitheater* Sun Sep 27 – Houston, TX – Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion Mon Sep 28 – Austin, TX – Germania Insurance Amphitheater Wed Sep 30 – Fort Worth, TX – Dickies Arena Fri Oct 02 – Rogers, AR – Walmart AMP Sat Oct 03 – Kansas City, MO – Morton Amphitheater Mon Oct 05 – Biloxi, MS – Mississippi Coast Coliseum Wed Oct 07 – Huntsville, AL – Orion Amphitheater Thu Oct 08 – Franklin, TN – FirstBank Amphitheater Sat Oct 10 – Tampa, FL – MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre Sun Oct 11 – West Palm Beach, FL – iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre Tue Oct 13 – Alpharetta, GA – Ameris Bank Amphitheatre Wed Oct 14 – Raleigh, NC – Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek Fri Oct 16 – Charlotte, NC – Truliant Amphitheater Sat Oct 17 – Virginia Beach, VA – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater at Virginia Beach Mon Oct 19 – Greenville, SC – Bon Secours Wellness Arena Wed Oct 21 – Columbus, OH – Nationwide Arena Fri Oct 23 – Bristow, VA – Jiffy Lube Live ^Casino Date / *Without Cody Jinks
UK & EUROPE TOUR DATES 2027
Sat Jan 16 – Manchester, UK – AO Arena Sun Jan 17 – Glasgow, UK – OVO Hydro Arena Tue Jan 19 – Dublin, IE – 3Arena Fri Jan 22 – Birmingham, UK – BP Pulse Arena Sat Jan 23 – London, UK – O2 Arena Tue Jan 26 – Düsseldorf, DE – PSD Arena Wed Jan 27 – Hamburg, DE – Barclays Arena Fri Jan 29 – Lodz, PL – Atlas Arena Sun Jan 31 – Prague, CZ – O2 Arena ^* Tue Feb 02 – Munich, DE – Olympiahalle Thu Feb 04 – Stuttgart, DE – Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle Sun Feb 07 – Amsterdam, NL – AFAS Arena Mon Feb 08 – Brussels, BE – Vorst National Wed Feb 10 – Paris, FR – Accor Arena Fri Feb 12 – Zurich, CH – Hallenstadion Sun Feb 14 – Vienna, AT – Stadthalle Tue Feb 16 – Berlin, DE – Uber Arena Wed Feb 17 – Copenhagen, DK – Royal Arena* Fri Feb 19 – Oslo, NO – Unity Arena Sat Feb 20 – Stockholm, SE – Avicii Arena Mon Feb 22 – Helsinki, FI – Veikkaus Arena *Without Lamb Of God / ^with Dymytry
ABOUT FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH Five Finger Death Punch is a multi-platinum, chart-topping hard rock band from Las Vegas, NV known for their high-energy performances and impactful music (over 15 billion streams globally). The band has held firmly to a top 3 position on the Billboard Hard Rock charts for the last 6 years and amassed a record-setting 13 Billboard Mainstream Rock Airplay #1s in a row, the longest run of leading consecutive entries in the history of Mainstream Rock Airplay. 5FDP has 30 top 10 hit singles and 18 Active Rock #1 singles to their name, and the band has released nine consecutive studio albums since 2007, seven of which were certified Gold or Platinum by the RIAA, as well as two chart-topping Greatest Hits albums. Five Finger Death Punch is known not just for teaming up with established artists like Rob Halford, Rob Zombie, Jamey Jasta, Steve Aoki and Max Cavalera, but also for elevating newcomers by exposing them to their worldwide audience. Founding guitarist Zoltan Bathory in 2023 was added as a playable character in the iconic “Call of Duty” video game series adding another major achievement to the band’s growing legacy. In addition, 5FDP has earned numerous national and international awards and honors, such as the prestigious Soldier Appreciation Award by the Association of the United States Army, an honor bestowed only upon Elvis Presley before. 5FDP has donated over a million dollars from ticket sales, record royalties and streaming revenue to philanthropic causes, and the band has released several videos of some of their biggest hits partnering with leading organizations in the fight against suicide prevention, youth homelessness, cancer, veterans suffering from PTSD and to bring relief to the families of fallen first responders. The City of Las Vegas, NV recognized 5FDP’s relentless charitable efforts by officially declaring November 1st as “Five Finger Death Punch Day”. In addition, Ivan Moody was awarded the key to The City of Cheyenne, WY honoring the betterment of the city through his philanthropic endeavors. Having become one of the most recognizable names in music, 5FDP frequently plays major festivals and sells out arenas around the world. 5FDP concluded a two-year-long stadium tour across the globe with Metallica at the end of 2024. The band’s latest releases, Best Of – Volume 1 and Best Of – Volume 2, feature re-recorded versions of their biggest hits, including #1 singles “I Refuse” feat. Maria Brink and “The End” feat. BABYMETAL. In the U.S., “The End” made history as the first track featuring Japanese lyrics to chart at Rock Radio. Both albums were created in response to the sale of the band’s original masters without their knowledge. The band’s forthcoming tenth studio album is expected later this year, with the first single, “Eye Of The Storm”, out now.
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