‘Braveheart’ is an energetic power metal track full of dashing guitars, bright intense vocals and intriguing synth melodies. The song is a story of courage, sacrifice, and curiosity — following a man who journeys into space to save humanity, facing fear and death for the people he loves.
The song represents a slightly lighter side of the band while still staying true to their own distinctive style and approach. Instead of orchestral soundscape Braveheart leans into traditional synths. Braveheart is the first song ever in the band’s history.
–Lyrics by Alesia Savolainen –Composed by Olli Pölkki and Alesia Savolainen –Recorded and mixed in Electric fox studios –Mastered in Univaltakunta
Inherited Time is a modern symphonic metal band from Finland with a sci-fi atmosphere. The band found its current form in 2024 after years of evolution.
Their music captivates listeners with the sound of traditional Finnish melodic metal infused with power metal elements, delivering majestic orchestral melodies, striking guitars, and powerful vocals mixed with intense growls.
With three singles released and the debut album in production, the band is stronger than ever and moving confidently toward their ultimate goal: building a full musical career.
Inherited Time is: Alesia Savolainen – Vocals Jani Härkönen – Bass Tero Rannila – Drums Olli Pölkki – Keyboards Ville Pölkki – Guitars
Turning the page on what promises to be a bold creative chapter, Hunnu Rock pioneers THE HU — Galaa (morin khuur, throat singing); Jaya (tumur khuur, tsuur, throat singing); Enkush (morin khuur, throat singing); and Temka (tovshuur, throat singing) — proudly announce their forthcoming third full length album, HUN, out July 24 via BETTER NOISE MUSIC. Pre-order/Pre save HUN here
Alongside the album news, the band has unleashed a hypnotic new single entitled “Lost Soul” (Feat. Jonny Hawkins of NOTHING MORE). It marks the first collaboration between the Gold-certified global phenomenon and Hawkins.
Listen to “Lost Soul” (Feat. Jonny Hawkins of NOTHING MORE) here. Watch the video here.
Across the song, the percussive groove-laden soundscape resembles the extremes of Mongolia’s fickle and unforgiving climate. A head-nodding riff tosses and turns beneath propulsive verses, giving way to a melodic refrain from Hawkins who croons the infectious chorus, “Born to be a lost soul.” These English-sung affirmations lock into a seamless volley with traditional Mongolian chanting, uniting styles and cultures in one burst of boundary-breaking energy.
Resounding beyond all borders, the song trumpets a message of resiliency, fortitude, and strength that translates positively into any language and anywhere in the world.
Regarding the song, Galaa comments “We have been unpacking our surprises one by one. Hunnu Rock transcends through culture and in that respect, we have made ‘Lost Soul’ with Jonny Hawkins. To be not lost on your life journey, not losing your values, and go through life and having a courage to face the life obstacles are messages we are sending our fans through this song ‘Lost Soul’ and in our next album, HUN. “
Hawkins adds, “I am so excited to team up with a band as committed to their craft as The Hu. It’s unlike anything I’ve done before.”
HUN finds The Hu, who were first tipped by NPR back in 2019, at the peak of their powers thus far. They expand the scope of their signature Hunnu Rock with 11 tracks steeped in the lore and legend of Mongolia, yet uplifted with universal ambition. It’s as epic, enthralling, and enigmatic and it opens the gateway into their world.
“We took our time to do this right, and we’re so glad that we’re almost ready to release what we have worked on these past few years,” the band says. “Now, we are also focusing on the performances and working out a brand-new setlist. We want to play bigger venues so we can do extensive production, and bring in some amazing elements of our culture, and play these ideas to our fans. And, as well as our third album, we have some amazing ideas for another album already!”
HUN TRACK LISTING: “Warrior Chant“ “Lost Soul”* “The Men“ “Echoes of My Father” “Shadow” “Horsemen” “Greed” “The Real You“ “Grey Hun” “Universe” “Second Face” *Version of “Lost Soul” (Featuring Jonny Hawkins of NOTHING MORE) will only appear on the digital version of HUN)
The Hu have teamed up with Cello Metal standouts Apocalyptica for a run of shows this May and June. The tour kicked off on May 12 in Silver Spring, MD and will take them across the country before wrapping in Anaheim, CA on June 7. Joining The Hu and Apocalyptica is platinum-selling Finnish rock band The Rasmus.
Tickets and additional information on VIP packages available HERE.
And in other The Hu news, the band recently appeared on the song “Pray to the Sun,” featuring Declan de Barra, from the Netflix Japanese manga series One Piece. It’s another instance of the band and its music connecting with passionate fandoms, as their song “Sugaan Essena” was also prominently featured in the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order video game.
2026 TOUR DATES: THE HU + APOCALYPTICA: WITH THE RASMUS, remaining shows:
5/22 — Memphis, TN — Minglewood Hall 5/23 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory 5/24 — San Antonio, TX — Aztec Theatre 5/26 — Houston, TX — Warehouse Live 5/27 — Oklahoma City, OK — Diamond Ballroom 5/29 — Phoenix, AZ — The Van Buren 5/30 — Las Vegas, NV — The Theater at Virgin Hotels 5/31 — Valley Center, CA — Harrah’s Resort SoCal – The Events Center 6/4 — Reno, NV — Grand Theater 6/6 — Los Angeles, CA — The Wiltern 6/7 — Anaheim, CA — House Of Blues
WITH IRON MAIDEN: 7/11 — Knebworth Park — EddFest
WITH ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON, + ORGY: 8/20 — West Palm Beach, FL — iTHINK Financial Amphitheatre 8/21 — Tampa, FL — MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre 8/23 — Alpharetta, GA — Ameris Bank Amphitheatre 8/24 — Charlotte, NC — Truliant Amphitheater 8/26 — Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center 8/27 — Mansfield, MA — Xfinity Center 8/29 — Burgettstown, PA — The Pavilion at Star Lake 8/30 — Darien Center, NY — Darien Lake Amphitheater 9/1 — Toronto, ON — RBC Amphitheatre 9/2 — Cuyahoga Falls, OH — Blossom Music Center 9/4 — Clarkston, MI — Pine Knob Music Theatre 9/5 — Tinley Park, IL — Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre 9/6 — Noblesville, IN — Ruoff Music Center 9/9 — Maryland Heights, MO — Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre 9/10 — Kansas City, MO — MORTON Amphitheater 9/12 — Greenwood Village, CO — Fiddler’s Green Amphitheatre 9/14 — West Valley City, UT — Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre 9/16 — Airway Heights, WA — BECU Live at Northern Quest 9/17 — Auburn, WA — White River Amphitheatre 9/18 — Ridgefield, WA — Cascades Amphitheater 9/20 — Concord, CA — Toyota Pavilion at Concord
THE HU 2026 UK/EU TOUR WITH SKALD: 9/29 — Glasgow, Scotland — O2 Academy 10/1 — Bristol, England — Prospect Building 10/2 — Bournemouth, England — O2 Academy 10/3 — Newcastle, England — O2 City Hall 10/5 — Belfast, Northern Ireland — The Telegraph 10/6 — Dublin, Ireland — 3Olympia Theatre 10/8 — Birmingham, England — O2 Academy 10/9 — London, England — O2 Academy Brixton 10/10 — Manchester, England — O2 Apollo 10/11 — Norwich, England — UEA 10/14 — Brussels, Belgium — Ancienne Belgique 10/15 — Hamburg, Germany — Sporthalle 10/17 — Munich, Germany — Tonhalle 10/18 — Berlin, Germany — Columbiahalle 10/19 — Warsaw, Poland — Stodola 10/20 — Warsaw, Poland — Stodola 10/22 — Cologne, Germany — Palladium 10/23 — Utrecht, Netherlands — TivoliVredenburg 10/24 — Tilburg, Netherlands — 013 10/27 — Paris, France — L’Olympia 10/28 — Lyon, France — Le Radiant 10/30 — Zurich, Switzerland — X-Tra 10/31 — Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg — Rockhal
Helsinki-based rock band Split Keys return with their explosive new single “Lightning”, released worldwide on May 20th 2026.
Blending raw energy, emotional honesty and arena-sized hooks, “Lightning” tells the story of a couple drifting apart and ultimately finding their way back together. The track combines gritty modern rock with glam-soaked attitude, sounding like Kings of Leon covering “Rebel Yell” at a private Lenny Kravitz party.
–Composed by Joona Mikkilä, Jyri Mikkilä, Ville Keinonen, Jussi Keinonen –Lyrics by Joona Mikkilä –Mixed by Aleksi Wiklund –Mastered by Svante Forsbäck –Single cover by Joona Mikkilä –ISRC: FIJOO2500002
Split Keys has steadily built international momentum with their soulful, human-centered rock sound. Sweat, passion and the joy of playing are all deeply embedded in the band’s music, giving their songs both power and authenticity.
The band has already received international recognition. In January 2026, Brazilian Rolling Stone music journalist Igor Miranda featured the band’s previous single “Fake News” on his blog and Spotify playlist, helping introduce Split Keys to wider audiences outside Finland.
Split Keys’ growing global listener base now includes fans from the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil, the Netherlands, Canada and Germany, among others.
The band has also received radio support both domestically and internationally. In Finland, songs by Split Keys have been played on Radio Helsinki, while internationally their music has been featured by stations including The Sound Lab, Amazing Radio UK and Amazing Radio US.
Earlier releases from the band’s debut album were also featured on Spotify editorial playlists including “Rock ei ole kuollut”, “VOLUME SUOMI” and “Uuden suomalaisen musiikin lista”.
BIOGRAPHY:
The founder and frontman Joona started Split Keys to create music where you can hear the human touch—soul-thumping rock that sparks energy and hope.
Based in Helsinki, Finland, Split Keys is more than just a one-man project—it’s a community. On the stage and in the studio, Joona brings his friends together to shape the songs, turning every performance into a shared celebration of sound.
The debut album, Freeway Confessions, released on November 15, 2024, drew attention for its gritty edge and emotional honesty. Now, Split Keys is back in the studio, recording songs that will start a new era. At live shows, the band leaves everything on the stage. Heartfelt lyrics, soaring melodies, overdriven basslines, and flowing drums, come together to create an event that resonates long after the show ends.
Line-up:
Joona Mikkilä – Vocals & guitar Jyri Mikkilä – Bass Ville Keinonen – Guitar Jussi Keinonen – Drums
Wanikiya Record/Promotion is proud to announce that starting today, “Atzwang II”, the brand-new and highly anticipated album by Anguish Force, a historic force within the Italian underground metal scene, is finally available.
The album is available in all physical formats — LP, MC, and CD — as well as digitally, offering fans a complete experience fully faithful to the most authentic spirit of traditional metal. Worth mentioning is the presence of an exclusive bonus track included in the CD version, not available on the vinyl edition.
Ahead of the album release, the official videoclip for the track “Stones to Destroy” was released on May 11th as the first of two videos planned to accompany this new chapter by Anguish Force.
With “Atzwang II”, Anguish Force once again plunge into the dark and fascinating atmospheres of their narrative universe, continuing the journey that began years ago with the first chapter. At the center of the concept once again stands Atzwang, a place that is both real and symbolic, home to legends, tragedies, and mysteries intertwined with the band’s imagery.
The album cover further strengthens this vision, once again featuring the historic Atzwang arch in a dark and disturbing form. During the Middle Ages, this place represented a mandatory passage where travelers were forced to pay a toll: a symbol of transition, control, and destiny, now reinterpreted through the band’s dark aesthetic.
Founded in 1995 in Campodazzo (Bolzano) by guitarist Luigi Guarino D., Anguish Force have represented for more than thirty years one of the most authentic and consistent realities of the Italian metal scene. With a sound blending traditional heavy metal, speed, power, and thrash metal, the band has built over time a solid and recognizable identity, drawing inspiration from legendary ’80s acts such as Running Wild, Helloween, and Judas Priest.
From a sonic perspective, “Atzwang II” stands out as a compact, direct, and strongly conservative work, perfectly coherent with the attitude of an “old-school” band. An album that does not chase contemporary trends, but proudly embraces a raw, authentic, and uncompromising approach.
As stated by the band:
“‘Atzwang II’ is not just an album, but a statement of intent: a powerful return, faithful to our roots while at the same time capable of renewing itself through an intense and engaging narrative.”
Finnish modern melodic metal band Northern Genocide released a single ‘Epilogi’ on May 20th 2026 via Inverse Records. The track is taken from the as-yet-untitled third album which is set to be released later in 2026.
The band comments: “Renewal is the prominent theme in the newest single by Northern Genocide. The past that is tormented by pain and repentance is about to be burnt in the flames of total earthly anger. The stage is set for a new beginning.”
–Composed by Rainer Pekkinen, Pyry Pohjanpalo & Jussi Pulliainen –Lyrics by Arto Viitanen –Mixed by Rainer Pekkinen –Mastered by Juho Räihä/SoundSpiral Audio –Covert art: Petri Lampela –ISRC: FI3FC2653902
BIOGRAPHY:
Northern Genocide is a band from Finland playing melodic metal with industrial influences.
Northern Genocide was founded in 2010 in Helsinki. It all began as home demo sessions between Pyry and Rainer, old schoolmates, with the goal of combining electronic elements with melodic metal.
In 2012, when Pyry moved to Lahti for studies, it was time to look for more members to take the band to the stage. In December 2013, the band began recording a 3-track demo in the studio. After some changes in the original lineup, the demo featured Markku Tuuri on drums, Toni Jokiranta on bass, Pyry on guitars, and Tommi Salonen on vocals. The demo Atlantis was completed in October 2014. Work immediately began on a 5-track EP, Planet Asylum, which was released in 2015.
In 2019, the debut album Genesis vol. 666 saw the light of day. The release was successful, and its only Finnish-language track, Ikiruoste, gained notable attention, even making it onto Finland’s Viral 50 Spotify chart. By this time, NG’s musical style had already shifted somewhat from its early industrial influences toward a more melodic metal approach.
In 2020, lineup changes took place. Jussi Pulliainen joined on rhythm guitar, and Arto Viitanen took up bass duties as well as backing vocals. An epic addition was also found in drummer Leo Korhonen, who learned the 10 tracks for the upcoming album in just one month and delivered an impressive studio performance.
The band’s second full-length album, The Point of No Return, was released in early 2024. The album featured guest vocalists Stephanie Mazor and Tommy Tuovinen, along with several instrumentalists who added further depth to the songs. The lyrics, written by Tommi Salonen, criticize overpopulation, corruption, abuse of power, and explore the darkest corners of the human mind. The release was handled by Inverse Records.
In 2025, the band’s long-time vocalist, Tommi Salonen, parted ways with the group by mutual agreement, and was succeeded by Joensuu’s golden voice, Joni Parkkinen. The band immediately began working together on their third album, which is expected to see the light of day in 2026.
Line-up: Vocals: Joni Parkkinen Lead guitars: Pyry Pohjanpalo Rhythm guitars: Jussi Pulliainen Drums: Leo Korhonen Bass: Arto Viitanen Synths: Rainer Pekkinen
FALLEN SANCTUARY have just announced their second album, “The Gathering Of Dreams”, due for release on September 18, following the success of Terranova.
The new album from the duo Georg Neuhauser (Serenity) and Marco Pastorino (Serenity, Temperance) will be released completely independently.
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 ) 