Finnish Rough Grind woo metal-loving hard rock fans to ride shotgun in their vintage getaway car before the night falls. The first single Shotgun Bride from the band’s upcoming third album Neverending Night was released on all digital platforms yesterday on March 12. Lean into the headrest and enjoy the ride.
–ISRC: FI3FC2699403 –Composition & lyrics by Sami Haapasalo
Founded in 2011, Rough Grind’s resumé includes three EPs – “Son of a Gun” (2014), “Four for the Road” (2017) and “Trouble or Nothing” (2018). Their debut album “Pieces of Resistance” was released in 2020 and the sophomore full length “Hardened” in 2022. The releases have been well-received around the globe, getting airtime from radio stations in USA, Canada, UK and Germany, among others.
M-Theory Audio has announced a definitive vinyl reissue for Atlanta’s unsung progressive thrashers, KINETIC DISSENT. Titled ‘Controlled Reaction,’ this massive 2LP set compiles the band’s entire demo discography, meticulously remastered to capture the technical ferocity that nearly made them household names in the early ‘90s.
A Legacy of “What Could Have Been” Emerging from the Atlanta scene in the mid-1980s, Kinetic Dissent stood apart from their peers by blending the aggressive “chugging” of thrash with thought-provoking, progressive songcraft. Their 1988 demo, Controlled Reaction, became a cult classic with much positive underground fanzine attention and college radio airplay, earning them a deal with the legendary Roadrunner Records.While the band released their landmark full-length, ‘I Will Fight No More Forever,’ in 1991, they never received the touring support necessary to break into the mainstream. Despite sharing stages with titans like Death Angel, Pantera, and Fates Warning, the group disbanded shortly after, leaving behind a legacy of “what could have been” that has only grown in stature among metal historians.
The Ultimate Demo Collection The upcoming release on April 10, 2026, brings together 17 tracks spanning the band’s four key recording sessions:
1987:The Fall of Individualism Demo
1988:Controlled Reaction Demo
1989: Roadrunner Records Sessions
1992: Channel One Sessions
Originally compiled and released on CD by Divebomb Records in 20202 and remastered by the renowned Jamie King (Cynic, Between the Buried and Me), this first-time on vinyl package is on distorted blood colored 2LP vinyl limited to 250 copies. It includes an 8-panel zine-style insert featuring lyrics, original photos, and a deep-dive interview with the band. To preview the band listen to “Choose Your Fate” here:
“In the late ‘80s underground there were a few standout demos – Sindrome, Confessor, Bitter End, Forced Entry, Arcane… and KINETIC DISSENT – bands that wowed me and I felt were destined for brighter days. And while many were signed breakthrough success alluded them all which doesn’t take away the fact that these recordings still bring back memories and shine in their innocence and potential,” states label founder Marco Barbieri. “I positively reviewed KINETIC DISSENT’s ‘Controlled Reaction’ demo and interviewed them for my fanzine, and even included them on a tape compilation. Almost 40 years later it’s an honor to reissue this collection onto a 2LP set and further the band’s legacy for old fans and intentionally new.”
Reflecting on the reissue and the band’s history, drummer Ed Reimer shared, “Our debut album came out at a time when vinyl production had just ended. So to finally get KINETIC DISSENT music on vinyl is awesome! We are so thankful to M-Theory for making this happen and to the fans out there that have kept our music alive for over 35 years. You all are the best!”
Pre-Order Information
Fans can now pre-order the ‘Controlled Reaction’ 2LP HERE: www.m-theoryaudio.com/store via the M-Theory Audio webshop or it’s available at your local retailer April 10th.
Italian Christian power-prog metal band Metatrone returns with the new single “Stato Infame”, alongside an official lyric video. The track is released together with their new album “SANGUEACQUA”, out today March 13th, from Rockshots Records, marking the group’s long-awaited return ten years after their acclaimed album “Eucharismetal“.
Following the previously released singles “Emmaus” and “Facsimile”, “Stato Infame” further reveals the musical and conceptual direction of the new record. Musically, the song combines Metatrone’s trademark blend of European power metal energy, progressive structures, and sharp thrash-driven riffing supported by the dynamic interplay between Jo Lombardo’s commanding lead vocals and the distinctive vocal contributions of keyboardist David Brown.
Lyrically, “Stato Infame” addresses the humiliation and oppression of collective identity under abusive political power. The song depicts a society where the dignity of an entire people is mocked, manipulated, and ultimately crushed by authority – a warning shaped by historical memory and moral responsibility. Within the broader concept of “SANGUEACQUA”, the track represents one of the album’s most direct and uncompromising statements about identity, freedom, and resistance. The new album “SANGUEACQUA” stands as a manifesto of identity for the band – both human and artistic. Across its eight tracks, Metatrone explores different dimensions of identity: personal, spiritual, cultural, and collective. The result is a record that merges melodic power metal roots with a sharper, more aggressive sonic approach while preserving the band’s unmistakable stylistic signature.
After years marked by lineup changes, personal challenges, and the global pandemic, “SANGUEACQUA” represents a powerful statement of resilience and rebirth for the band.
Just one day after the album’s release, Metatrone will perform at the prestigious Elements Of Rock Festival in Uster, Switzerland, on March 14th, 2026, one of the most important events in the international Christian metal scene. The appearance will mark the band’s official return to the stage with the new material.
With “Stato Infame”, Metatrone delivers a fierce and uncompromising chapter in the story of “SANGUEACQUA”, reaffirming their identity as one of the most distinctive voices in European Christian metal.
Track Listing: 1. Fuori dal tempio – 3:42 2. Stato Infame – 4:09 3. Emmaus – 4:19 4. Facsimile – 4:41 5. I Want Out (Helloween cover) – 4:44 6. Il mio dolore – 4:36 7. Un nome nuovo – 3:59 8. Anima Christi – 3:09
Metatrone Line-Up: Jo Lombardo: Lead Vocals, Keyboards Stefano “Ghigas” Calvagno: Guitars, Bass David Brown: Keyboards, Clean Vocals, Growl Simone Alberti: Drums
Cape Town’s glam-soaked punk provocateurs THE MEDICINE DOLLS return with a ferocious new single and music video, “Tip The Waitress” (out now on Just Music), a snarling slice of punk-splattered rock ’n roll that captures the band at their most unapologetic and unhinged.
Formed in 2018, The Medicine Dolls are a four-piece sonic riot hailing from Cape Town, South Africa. Founded by vocalist Gory Guttersnipe and bassist Bex Knickerless, the band later solidified its lineup with guitarist Slava Nikonov and drummer Callula Jane Clay-Smith. Together they’ve cultivated a reputation for fusing raw rock ’n roll energy with theatrical flair, delivering performances and visuals dripping in dark glamour, sleaze, and rebellious attitude.
Drawing influence from cult icons such as The Cramps, The B-52s, Nina Hagen and modern provocateur Ashnikko, the band blends punk grit with campy theatricality and biting attitude to create a unique visual and sonic cocktail. The result is music that feels both vintage and futuristic, equal parts trashy, glamorous and defiantly weird.
Accompanying the release is a striking new music video directed by internationally acclaimed South African filmmaker Ryan Kruger. Known globally for his bold, surreal and unapologetically gritty visual style, Kruger gained cult recognition through projects like the boundary-pushing feature film Fried Barry. His work blends grindhouse aesthetics, dark humour and visceral storytelling, making him the perfect collaborator to bring The Medicine Dolls’ twisted rock ’n roll universe to life.
Kruger’s direction amplifies the band’s chaotic energy, leaning into the Dolls’ signature mix of punk sleaze, theatrical glamour and subversive imagery. The result is a visually explosive video that captures the spirit of the song while pushing the band’s aesthetic into even more daring territory.
With “Tip The Waitress”, recorded at Atomic Studios in Cape Town alongside long-time collaborator and producer Matthew Fink, The Medicine Dolls once again prove why they remain one of the most exciting and visually distinctive underground rock acts to emerge from South Africa’s alternative scene.
Finnish metal band MALUMMEH, founded in 2004, have released a new single and music video entitled ‘Dethroned’. It’s been 19 years since the release of their debut album Revival via Spikefarm Records. The band is now set to release a self-titled EP on 28 May 2026 via Inverse Records.
The band comments: “The opening track of the EP was written for an authoritarian leader. The listener can decide who. This two-part composition leads the listener straight into the core of the band’s soundscape — from tense anticipation to relentless crushing force. Even though the song is old, the lyrics are more relevant than ever, and the track stays very close to its original version. It represents the band’s modern take on the best elements of early-2000s metal. Any djent that may appear here is purely coincidental.”
–Composed by Mikael Kiikka, Jaakko Eskelinen, Valtteri Kallio, Jukka Vehkamaa, Marko Niemistö –Lyrics by Mikael Kiikka –Recorded & mixed by Valtteri Kallio –Mastered by Janne Hakanen –Single cover by Mikael Kiikka –ISRC: FI3FC2699001
Malummeh -Track list:
Dethroned
Gone Too Far
Misery
October
–Recorded & mixed by Valtteri Kallio –Mastered by Janne Hakanen –EP cover by Mikael Kiikka
Malummeh is a metal band founded in 2004 and originating from the Helsinki metropolitan area. The band blends various metal subgenres into an aggressive, melodic, and explosive whole that stands firmly on its own with no apologies. The group was founded by guitarists Mikael Kiikka and Jaakko Eskelinen, with drummer Valtteri Kallio joining at a very early stage. Alongside the original trio, lineup changes eventually led to Jukka Vehkamaa becoming the band’s bassist and Marko Niemistö taking the role of vocalist. During the early 2000s, the band showed promising momentum, culminating in the release of their debut album Revival through Spinefarm (Spikefarm) in November 2007. However, internal dynamics within the band gradually began to fracture, and in 2011 the band disbanded.
The silence lasted until 2022, when old conflicts were laid to rest and the band rediscovered its drive. The idea for restarting initially came from the possibility of releasing older, unfinished songs, but working on those tracks quickly led to writing new material as well. In practice, the band continues from where it left off, but with a more focused approach and without the rigid absolutism that often comes with youth.
In its new era, Malummeh focuses on bringing the strongest elements of early 2000s metal into the present day while leaving behind the most worn-out clichés of that period. This is made possible through complete artistic independence: the band composes, records, and produces its music entirely on its own terms, maintaining a strong emphasis on musicianship and a direct yet emotionally varied style of expression.
The comeback is not built solely on nostalgia. The goal is also to push the band’s sound forward into a more versatile direction while preserving its recognizable core. With new material, Malummeh continues its story after a long hiatus, now with a clearer understanding among its members of what kind of music they want to create and why.
Line-up: Marko Niemistö – Vocals Mikael Kiikka – Guitars Jaakko Eskelinen – Guitars Valtteri Kallio – Drums Jukka Vehkamaa – Bass
Jussi Saari – Trumpet on “October” Aapo Salo – Orchestra on “Gone Too Far”
An album over a decade in the making, The Moth finally arrives on the 29th May 2026. This 24-track record began as a vague vision more than a decade ago. It existed in the back of Devin Townsend’s mind as his “life’s work”. Then, about six years ago, after an acoustic show in Amsterdam, Townsend was approached by the head of the North Netherlands’ Orchestra and Choir with an offer: bring orchestral grandeur to Devin’s extensive discography. That was the moment The Moth stopped being an idea and began to become a reality.
Devin is also pleased to reveal the first introduction to the world of The Moth, in the shape of the track ‘Enter The City’. The song is accompanied by a video created by Studio Sparks, which you can watch now here.
The Moth constitutes 3 distinct parts across its release. In addition to the main album, The Moth – The Afterlife highlights the grandeur of the orchestra & choir, in what might be considered a more pure version of The Moth experience. The Moth – The War is a recording of the live musical debut that took place in March 2025 in The Netherlands, showcasing the raw emotion of performing The Moth for the very first time.
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
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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
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