French atmospheric post metal duo CLØUDY SKIES return with a powerful new chapter, announcing a brand new album currently in the making alongside the release of their new single and video Depth Spell, out now via Argonauta Records.
Following their acclaimed 2023 debut Changes, Cløudy Skies continue to refine and expand their signature sound. Formed in 2019 on the outskirts of Paris, the duo composed of Lionel Forest and Nicolas Simon has established a distinctive identity within the modern post metal and dreamgaze landscape. Their music merges cinematic post rock dynamics, shoegaze textures, and post metal weight into immersive, slow burning compositions where tension and emotion coexist in constant transformation.
With Changes, Cløudy Skies introduced a sound defined by contrast and atmosphere, shifting between suspended calm and overwhelming intensity. The album marked the beginning of a clear artistic vision, built on emotional depth, sonic scale, and a carefully constructed balance between fragility and force.
Now, Depth Spell signals the next step in their evolution. The new single and accompanying video dive deeper into hypnotic layering and dense emotional atmospheres, expanding the band’s language into darker, more immersive territory while maintaining their signature sense of cinematic progression.
At the same time, Cløudy Skies confirm that a new album is currently in development. All details will be revealed in the coming months, ahead of a planned autumn release, marking a further expansion of their sound and vision.
The band comments:
“We’re genuinely happy to be working once again with Argonauta Records. This collaboration feels natural, like returning to a place where our music is truly understood and given the space it needs to breathe, mutate, and darken.
We pushed the work on composition and arrangement to an extreme. Every detail was questioned and reshaped. We focused on sound and texture, searching for the exact point where emotion becomes physical.
We do not write songs to fit a genre. We aim for that fragile zone where beauty and threat become the same movement. If it feels like floating and sinking at the same time, then it is doing what it was meant to do.”
Depth Spell is available now, marking the beginning of a new phase for Cløudy Skies as they continue to evolve their immersive and cinematic sonic universe.
Mawiza are pounding the drum for indigenous metal in 2026. The modern day Mapuche warriors rang in the year by visiting Gojira frontman Joe Duplantier’s Silver Cord Studio, performing with Mr. Bungle and Avenged Sevenfold, headlining Pumapu Rock Fest and packing the stands in their hometown of Santiago, Chile.
Now, as Mawiza prepare for European festival dates at Midgarsdblot, Hellsinki Metal Festival and Malmö Massacre, the band are proud to announce that their latest album, ÜL, is nominated for a 2026 Pulsar Award (Chilean Grammy) in the category for Best Metal Album. They previously won a Pulsar Award in the same category for their previous album Kollong.
“ÜL has been nominated for the 2026 Pulsar Awards in times where nature and art feel more abandoned every day”, Mawiza vocalist and guitarist Awka says. “Forests disappear, culture becomes weaker and many people forget how to listen to the earth. It feels strange to celebrate art while the spirit of the land is slowly dying. But ÜL was born against this silence. It is a chant to recover energy, to feel united with nature again, to remember where we come from, to hear the birds, the wind, the rivers, the trees. The earth still speaks. And we will keep singing with it”.
Tracklist(English Translation) 1. To Decolonize (3:38) [WATCH] 2. Hummingbird Dream (4:29) 3. Western Storm (3:50) [WATCH] 4. Become a Cougar (5:06) 5. Just Like The Tree (4:24) [WATCH] 6. The War of the Sky (6:13) 7. Dead of the Sun (4:08) 8. Let It Die (3:58) 9. The Last Harp Call (featuring Joe Duplantier from Gojira) (4:42) [WATCH]
Catch Mawiza this summer at select European shows.
Mawiza 2026 European Dates August 6 – Helsinki, Finland @ WTF – Capital of Metal [TICKETS] August 7 – Helsinki, Finland @ Hellsinki Metal Festival [TICKETS] August 12 – Borre, Norway @ Midgardsblot [Acoustic Set] [TICKETS] August 13 – Borre, Norway @ Midgardsblot [Electric Set] [TICKETS] August 15 – København, Denmark @ Stengade [TICKETS]
ÜL means “chant” in Mapuzugun. The album represents the voice of the land, the origin of feeling, the first call to connect with emotions. It is the materialization of a part of the spirit that, for a few seconds, becomes one with the wind—a force we can hear, resonate, communicate with, and return to. ÜL is Mawiza’s indigenous chant, and like smoke, it rises as a message to the skies.
Like their Mapuche ancestors, Mawiza always look back. ÜL chants to awaken the energies that have fallen asleep in the land, using the power of the great cities to resist the noise of imbalance. In this way, the album becomes another element of nature, a force defending itself, speaking in its own language to keep fighting and condemning those who continue to futilely subjugate their own strength.
With ÜL, Mawiza present themself to the world with a decolonizing and empowering mission. The album proclaims that nature possesses consciousness and spirit. Opening song “Wingkawnoam” emphasizes the importance of indigenous Mapuche thought by following dreams as precise guides for one’s path in life.
“Pinhza ñi pewma” is a dream that Mawiza’s vocalist Awka had during a time when hummingbirds were nowhere to be seen. Their chant was absent and the chilco plant was disappearing. In Awka’s dream, four hummingbirds came to feed on the blood from his fingertips, as if it were nectar flowing from the flowers of the chilco.
ÜL pays tribute to nature and Mawiza’s ancestors. “Ngulutu” recalls ancient battles between the Mapuche and the Spanish in Santiago, Chile. “Mamüll Reke”, “Wenu Weychan”, “Lhan Antü”, and “Kalli Lhayay” are filled with rhythms and sounds reminiscent of the most hermetic rituals of the Mapuche people. They were used by shamans to induce trance and heal the sick, to communicate with and greet the spirits of the mountains.
Closing song “Ti Inan Paw-pawkan” features chants from members of Mawiza’s indigenous community, as well as Gojira frontman Joe Duplantier. It is here, during the album’s finale, that the band stake their claim as both indigenous and urban. The song acknowledges the mission entrusted to Mawiza by Mapuche authorities and by the land itself: to raise awareness about balance on Earth in an empowered way and to call for greater attentiveness to Mapuche territory. Otherwise, the consequences will be dire.
Wormholedeath is pleased to announce the signing of German black metal band AKANTOPHIS. The label will handle the reissue of the band’s album Erneuerung, marking the beginning of a new chapter for the group.
“AKANTOPHIS are absolutely delighted to announce that we have signed a deal with Wormholedeath,” the band said. “This is a huge step for us as a band – and we can’t wait to share our music with the world. To you, our listeners: thank you for joining us on this journey and for continuing to support us. None of this would be possible without you! Together with Wormholedeath, we look forward to bringing even more energy, even more sound and even more AKANTOPHIS straight to you. This is just the beginning – and we can’t wait to experience this next chapter together with you!“
The album „Erneuerung“ features seven tracks with a total running time of 42 minutes, blending atmospheric intensity and aggression. Recorded live at Liquid Aether Audio and mastered under the direction of Mario Dahmen, the album captures an organic and dynamic feel. The lyrics are primarily in German, adapted to the themes of each track, and presented with more variety than before.
With “Erneuerung,” Akantophis explores a broader sound while staying true to their roots, aiming to connect with a wider audience through this release.
AKANTOPHIS is a German black metal band with a modern, atmospheric, and dissonant sound. Their approach leans progressive, with a dense dystopian atmosphere and touches of death metal, a combination that sits outside any easy genre classification. For them, black metal is less about aggression than about inner transformation and artistic renewal.
Founded in 1998, the band had a stable line-up by mid-2000. A year later, Galaria: Terra@ Exitus put them on the underground map. Live im Klima followed, featuring four live tracks that haven’t been released before. By 2004, they’d gone on hiatus — personal circumstances, and a period spent exploring other projects, including Hidden in the Fog, Throat Cut, and Psykra.
They returned in April 2017 with a slightly altered line-up. Wiederkehr, a 7-inch vinyl, came out in 2018. Exitus XX (MCD, 2020) closed out the band’s earlier chapter and pointed toward what was next. Their current album is the result, and the one they believe can bring them to a wider audience.
The band’s visual identity is reflected in the previously released “Perforation” music video, available online.
Vision Divine has released “A Clockwork Reverie”, second single & titletrack taken from the upcoming EP to be released on May 22 by Scarlet Records.
In a mythical workshop, an old man tends the clocks that govern the universe, ensuring every life follows its path. One day, he finds an hourglass frozen – stopped 18 years ago. Within its glass, echoes of unlived lives and missed encounters shimmer in the sand.
First release following the reunion with Michele Luppi (former Whitesnake backing vocalist and keyboardist) and keyboardist Oleg Smirnoff (Labyrinth, Eldritch);
produced by Olaf Thorsen & Michele Luppi; mixed by Simone Mularoni & Michele Luppi at Domination Studio (Wind Rose, Twilight Force, Michael Romeo); mastered by Michele Luppi at MiLu’s RockLab II;
cover & artwork by Augusto Silva;
Vision Divine is officially part of the Dragon Productions booking roster;
After the comeback of acclaimed frontman Michele Luppi and keyboard wizard Oleg Smirnoff, this new Vision Divine release marks a return to the iconic sound that made the band a reference point in the progressive and power metal scene, while embracing the modern edge and production of their most recent works.
A powerful blend of melody, technique, and emotion, “A Clockwork Reverie” captures the essence of Vision Divine’s classic identity re-imagined with renewed energy and contemporary attitude.
It’s not just a tribute to their legacy – it’s a bold reaffirmation of who they are today!
Vision Divine are: Michele Luppi – vocals Olaf Thorsen – guitar Oleg Smirnoff – keyboards Andrea ʻTowerʼ Torricini – bass Matt Peruzzi – drums
Today, modern metalcore wrecking crew THE NARRATOR are thrilled to finally unleash their highly anticipated sophomore album Phosphor, available now for purchase and streaming worldwide.
Serving as the powerful follow-up to their acclaimed debut Lore, the new record delivers ten crushing tracks that channel the emotional weight of a world in crisis into raw intensity and cathartic heaviness. Exploring themes of inner exhaustion, resilience, and the razor-thin line between hope and self-destruction, Phosphor captures THE NARRATOR at their most intense, honest, and uncompromising.
To celebrate the release, the band has also unveiled a brand-new music video for the hulking, groove-laden anthem ‘Iron Grip‘ — a track built for the pit and destined to satisfy breakdown worshippers and fans of modern heavy music alike.
Be sure to follow THE NARRATOR and become part of the story as the band enters an exciting new chapter.
Following several appearances at major summer festivals, THE NARRATOR will hit the road for an extensive EU & UK headline tour, bringing the crushing energy of Phosphor to stages across Europe and the United Kingdom.
22.-23.05.26 DE Camping Battleground Open Air 30.05.26 FR Artificial Waves Festival 13.06.26 NL Into The Grave Festival 11.07.26 DE Free For All Festival 12.-15.08.26 DE Summer Breeze Festival 04.-05.09.26 DE Pell Mell Festival 24.10.26 DE Rocken Hilft Festival
EUROPEAN HEADLINE TOUR 2026 Special Guest: Accvsed
26.09.26 FI Helsinki, On The Rocks 30.09.26 CH Aarau, Kiff Aarau 01.10.26 AT Wien, Flex Café 03.10.26 DE München, Backstage Club 04.10.26 DE Stuttgart, Im Wizemann 06.10.26 CZ Prag, Rock Cafe 07.10.26 DE Leipzig, WERK 2 – Kulturfabrik Leipzig e.V. 08.10.26 DE Berlin, Frannz-Club 09.10.26 DE Hamburg, Bahnhof Pauli 10.10.26 DE Köln, Club Volta 11.10.26 NL Haarlem, Patronaat 13.10.26 DE Wiesbaden, Schlachthof Wiesbaden Kesselhaus 15.10.26 UK London, The Black Heart 16.10.26 FR Paris, La Maroquinerie 17.10.26 NL Tilburg, Little Devil 18.10.26 BE Antwerp, Kavka Oudaan
THE NARRATOR were founded in 2017 in the Ruhr area of Germany and have been captivating audiences with their energetic songwriting and electrifying live performances from the very beginning. After successful tours and festival appearances, THE NARRATOR steadily made a name for themselves in the global metalcore scene.
In September 2024, THE NARRATOR released their highly anticipated debut album Lore – 10 tracks that speak volumes, boasting an impressive 12 million streams across all platforms to this day. Their latest singles, ‘Aurora‘ and ‘Pills From The Start‘ mastered by Ted Jensen (STERLING SOUND – BRING ME THE HORIZON, GREEN DAY, KORN, and many more), proved once again that THE NARRATOR is essential for every modern metal playlist. With their sophomore album ‘Phosphor‘ due out on May 8th and a European headline tour as well as festival appearances later this year, one thing is certain: the best is yet to come!
HALCYON DAYS tap into restless energy and internal chaos on “My Heart Is My Compass,” a volatile post-hardcore anthem fueled by speed, anger, and emotional honesty.
The song explores the exhaustion of always saying yes, carrying too much, and slowly drifting away from your own needs. With razor-sharp riffs, relentless drums, and a chorus that hits like a confession, the track captures the moment when pressure becomes unbearable, yet quitting is never truly an option.
“My Heart Is My Compass” showcases the band’s ability to blend hardcore urgency with melodic metalcore sensibility, creating something both aggressive and deeply human. It’s a song that moves fast, hits hard, and leaves a lasting mark.
The single marks the last step toward the release of NOTHING TO NO ONE // SOMETHING TO SOMEONEthat release via Indie Recordings on June 5th 2026.
FFO: Architects, Knocked Loose and Counterparts
ABOUT Halcyon Days have established themselves as one of Norway’s most consistent and compelling metalcore acts. Known for their immersive live presence, infectious intensity, and explosive energy, the band has earned seven-figure streams, widespread international press, and slots at major European festivals including Summer Breeze Open Air, High Five Summer Fest, Inferno Festival, and Reeperbahn Festival. Halcyon Days have balanced aggression, melody, and emotion, creating music that is heavy, deeply human, and built to resonate on stage and in headphones alike. In 2026 Halcyon Days continue to evolve while staying true to their roots, reinforcing their position as one of Norway’s leading modern metalcore bands.
Halcyon Days is: Robbe Madsen – Vocals André Sørensen – Guitar Eirik Løvås Bjerke – Drums Steffen Johansen – Bass
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 ) 