Swedish modern melodic metal frontrunners METALITE have unleashed a visualizer video for their brand-new single “The Metal Elite,” another electrifying taste of their highly anticipated studio album Discovery, set for release on September 25 via PERCEPTION – Powered by Reigning Phoenix Music.
The new single captures METALITE at full intensity: Powerful, energetic and made to connect with a crowd, the track channels the adrenaline of a live show into an unapologetic celebration of metal and the bond between band and fans.
Guitarist, producer, songwriter and founder Edwin Premberg comments:
“The Metal Elite is all about stepping on stage and giving everything you’ve got, like it’s the last day of your life. It’s about that raw energy, the connection with the crowd, and delivering every note with full intensity. No holding back, just pure, unstoppable metal.”
Mixed and mastered by acclaimed Danish producer Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Evergrey, Amaranthe), their new album Discovery pushes METALITE’s futuristic vision further than ever before. Across twelve dynamic tracks, the album explores themes of human evolution, technology, survival, liberation and hope in a universe shaped by digital realities and cosmic exploration in the year of 2058, three years after humanity left a collapsing Earth in search of a new beginning.
Building upon the sonic worlds established on Heroes in Time (2017), Biomechanicals (2019), A Virtual World (2021) and Expedition One (2024), the band once again proves why they are regarded as pioneers of modern sci-fi-inspired melodic metal!
Founded in 2015 by guitarist Edwin Premberg, METALITE quickly gained recognition with their debut album Heroes in Time, establishing a fresh and modern approach to melodic metal. In 2019, vocalist Erica Ohlsson joined the band for Biomechanicals, helping elevate the group’s futuristic identity through an even more refined blend of electronic textures and melodic power metal. Their evolution continued with A Virtual World and reached new conceptual heights with Expedition One, a visionary sci-fi journey set in the year 2055.
In 2024, drummer Erik Junttila joined METALITE, bringing renewed energy and precision to the band’s explosive live and studio performances. Following his debut live appearance in Linköping in early 2025, the band continued touring extensively alongside acts such as Pain, Leaves’ Eyes, and The Night Flight Orchestra, while also appearing at major festivals including Sweden Rock Festival and Masters of Rock.
With millions of streams worldwide and a rapidly growing international fanbase, METALITE continues redefining the future of melodic metal. Discovery is bold, emotional, futuristic, and unapologetically ambitious: a powerful statement of innovation, exploration, and the limitless possibilities of modern power metal!
METALITE is: Erica Ohlsson – Vocals Edwin Premberg – Guitar / Additional Vocals / Programming Robert Örnesved – Guitar Erik Junttila Johansson – Drums Robert Majd – Bass
Today is the release of the highly acclaimed new album “Roede voor de Borst” by the Dutch quintet VANAHEIM. This album represents the next level of VANAHEIM and a new level of epic folk metal.
“It’s an international-calibre release“, tells White Room Reviews (NL), adding: “There are moments in music when you can win people over to a genre. This can be achieved simply through a great piece of music, a great production and a compelling theme. With ‘Roede Voor De Borst’, Vanaheim effortlessly ticks all of those boxes.”
Metalhead New Stuff (GER) say: “Vanaheim have created an exceptionally mature, narratively cohesive folk/melodic death metal album that cements their position among the top folk metal bands.”ROCK TRIBUNE (BE) sums it up: “A must-have for pagan/folk metal fans!”
To celebrate the album release, VANAHEIM created a very special video visualizer for the song “Kroos en Slijk”.
“”Kroos en Slijk” (English: Duckweed and Muck) tells the haunting tale of a person dealing with a sudden, agonizing loss. The death of a good, old friend, though inexplicable, aligns with the eerie events plaguing the village. Lured by a will-o’-the-wisp, the loved one was drawn into the lake and drowned by spirits. As the miller struggles to bear the weight of these escalating horrors, grief begins to warp his reality. His friend, consumed by the depths, is reshaped into a flickering flame. It’s a grim warning to the living: do not follow the lights. Burdened by death, alluring whispers and sinister phenomena in and around the mill, he starts questioning if he isn’t drowning in his own delusions. Faced with a choice between hollow isolation and a lethal hunt for the truth, the miller’s decision is easily made: since no one is born to live forever, he refuses to wait for death’s embrace”, explains the band and adds:
“”Kroos en Slijk” is special to us because it brings together a lot of what we’ve learned on stage over the years. While performing “Een Verloren Verhaal”, we discovered our love for slower, heavier tracks, but also grew attached to high energy party songs like “The Dwarven Chant” and “Onbevangen”. This song feels like the place where those worlds meet. With this combination, we aim to move rooms and festival crowds in a way we haven’t before. The contrast between dark lyrics and melodic music feels natural to us, a reminder that light and shadow move together. Even in heaviness there is joy, and in chaos there is rhythm. This song is an invitation to let everything go and move as one.”
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.
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.
In September 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.
Valhalla Calling European tour dates: 24.11 | SE | Malmö | Babel 25.11 | DK | Aarhus | Voxhall 26.11 | DE | Bochum | Matrix 27.11 | DE | Regensburg | Eventhall Airport 28.11 | CZ | Zlin | Masters Of Rock Café 29.11 | DE | Leipzig | Hellraiser 01.12 | DE | Saarbrücken | Garage 02.12 | AT | Wörgl | Komma 03.12 | DE | Berlin | Musik Brauerei 04.12 | NL | Drachten | Iduna 05.12 | BE | Brugge | Het Entrepot 06.12 | NL | Uden | De Pul 07.12 | DE | Stuttgart | Im Wizemann 09.12 | AT | Vienna | Viper Room 10.12 | DE | Weinheim | Cafe Central 11.12 | DE | Geiselwind | Strohofer 12.12 | CH | Pratteln | Z7 13.12 | IT | Milan | Legend Club 14.12 | HR | Zagreb | Boogaloo 15.12 | HU | Budapest | Barba Negra 16.12 | PL | Krakow | Hype Park 17.12 | PL | Warsaw | Proxima 18.12 | LV | Riga | Melna Piektdiena 19.12 | EE | Tallinn | Helitehas 20.12 | FI | Helsinki | Ääniwalli
VANAHEIM is: Zino van Leerdam – Vocals Michael van Eck – Guitar Mike Seidel – Bass Rikke Linssen – Violin Bram Trommelen – Drums
Epictronic is proud to present the new music video from modern rock band Muddshovel for “Third Time Today,” taken from their latest album Little White Hair, out now via Epictronic.
“Third Time Today” tells a story where folklore, disbelief, and real-life experience collide. Inspired by songwriter Shawn Hicks’ move to Ireland, the song recalls a series of unsettling events that began after the trimming of a solitary tree — a “lone tree” believed to carry a significance rooted in local folklore.
What followed was difficult to explain. Crows began attacking the house, and the strange events continued until a friend suggested that the only way forward was to make peace with them.
“The story is true. Crows really did start attacking our house, and it was only when a friend suggested that making peace with the crows was the only way to get them to move on. Good thing I didn’t cut that lone tree down.”
Muddshovel are a three-piece alternative rock band hailing from the heart of Cavan, Ireland. Blending raw guitar-driven energy with haunting melodies and intense lyricism, they craft a sound that feels both deeply familiar and completely their own. With influences ranging from grunge and post-punk to modern alt-rock, mudd·shovel deliver songs that hit hard and stay with you.
Formed out of a shared obsession with the dirtier side of rock and an instinct for storytelling, mudd·shovel isn’t just a name-it’s a reflection of their sound: heavy, honest, and unapologetically grounded. Whether on stage or in the studio, the trio brings an intensity that punches above their weight. With their debut album “Little White Hair”, mudd·shovel are carving out their space in Ireland’s underground rock scene, one riff at a time.
Muddshovel’s unique “alchemy” is driven by the tight-knit synergy of Shawn Hicks (Guitar/Vocals), Garreth Tackney (Bass/Production), and David Mulligan (Drums). Together, they have crafted a sound that feels both nostalgic for the golden era of alt-rock and fiercely contemporary.
“Little White Hair” album is available to stream and purchase now: orcd.co/lwhalbum
German hard rock titans MAD MAX celebrate the record release of “Stories Of Destiny” with a brand-new music video for “Dulces Falsos.” The song marks a special first in the band’s history: it is the first MAD MAX track ever recorded with Spanish lyrics and presents their classic “Piece Of Candy” in a powerful new version.
With “Dulces Falsos,”MAD MAX pay tribute to their loyal fanbase in Latin America. New lyrics by Andreas Baesler and the Spanish vocals give the song a fresh character while preserving the energy and spirit of the original.
Band mastermind Jürgen Breforth comments:
“Dulces Falsos” is the first song we ever recorded with Spanish lyrics. With this version of our classic “Piece Of Candy” we would like to say a very special thank you to all our fans in Latin America who have always stayed loyal to us and who have helped make the Mad Max comic a great success, especially in Colombia and Mexico.
Andreas Baesler has written a new and very up-to-date set of lyrics. The Spanish vocals give the song even more power, presence and raw energy. Many journalists see in “Dulces Falsos” an attitude and charisma reminiscent of bands such as HEROES DEL SILENCIO for example. That makes us very proud.”
Stories Of Destiny finds MAD MAX celebrating 45 years of history while continuing to push forward with new material. Packed with powerful guitar-driven anthems, memorable melodies and timeless hard rock spirit, it combines newly recorded material, long-awaited hidden gems and collaborations with some of the most respected names in the rock and metal world. The album also introduces UK vocalist Alan Clark while welcoming original MAD MAX singer Andreas Baesler as a special guest for his first MAD MAX appearance in 45 years, creating a direct link between the band’s earliest days and its present.
Founded in Münster, Germany in 1981 by guitarist, songwriter and bandleader Jürgen Breforth, MAD MAX have remained one of Europe’s most enduring melodic hard rock and heavy metal acts for more than four decades. Renowned for their unmistakable guitar-driven sound, strong melodies and classic hard rock attitude, the band have built a loyal international following through countless albums, tours and festival appearances.
Reflecting on an extraordinary career while embracing the future,Stories Of Destiny is built around songs Breforth had the honor to co-write with acclaimed musicians including Sascha Gerstner (Helloween), David Readman (Pink Cream 69), Andreas Broon (The Sisters Of Mercy) and Michael Voss, known from his work with Michael Schenker. Reimagined and newly recorded in unmistakable MAD MAX fashion, the album captures both the band’s musical roots and their continued evolution.
The visual world of Stories Of Destiny connects to the MAD MAX comic, created by Mexican comic artist Maestro Arturo Said. The comic tells the story of the band from its founding days in 1981 through the 1980s and up to MAD MAX’s first shows in Colombia in 2023, making the album both a musical and visual celebration of the band’s legacy.
Stories Of Destiny is out today via ROAR – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music. Order your album copy now at this location: https://madmax.rpm.link/storiesPR
Stories Of Destiny Tracklist: 1. Silver 2. Weapons Of Love 3. Keep You Alive 4. Far Behind 5. Piece Of Candy 6. ‘Til The End Of Time 7. Bullet 8. Mad Gone Blind 9. She Was Mine 10. Wings Of Freedom 11. Dulces Falsos
Artist Line-Up: Alan Clark – Vocals Andreas Baesler – Vocals On “Dulces Falsos” & Duet Vocals On “Piece Of Candy” Jürgen Breforth – Guitar Dethy Borchardt – Guitar Fabian Watermann – Bass Axel Kruse – Drums
GRASP OF SOLITUDE is a Polish band combining death metal with elements of metalcore. Initially conceived as Mateusz’s solo project, it evolved into a duo with vocalist Michał, leading to the creation of the “Luminara” EP.
The material was written primarily by Mateusz, while Michał was responsible for most of the lyrics. Mateusz also recorded the guitars and handled the full production, mixing and mastering of the EP. The cover artwork was created by Hungarian artist Holo Dreamz, who has also worked with Enter the Vortex, Kocytus and Worm Shepherd.
Commenting on the release, the duo explains:
“We initially planned to record a full-length album, but ultimately decided to select the strongest songs and condense the material into an EP. A major influence on its sound was the Squier Bass VI, a six-string instrument combining characteristics of a guitar and bass. Its 30-inch scale allowed us to use E standard tuning an octave below while retaining clarity, giving the riffs their distinctive weight. The opening track was recorded with an eight-string guitar, while ‘Intolerance’ features a standard six-string guitar.“
The “Luminara” EP was released digitally on July 22, 2026 and is available for listening at all major streaming platforms (smart link).
The legendary Heavy Metal band CIRITH UNGOL returns with the new full-length, “All The Shadows”! This is a classic Cirith Ungol album in every sense of the word. This album was the culmination of their desire to keep forging their unique brand of true metal.
Silent Future Distribution is proud to partner with No Remorse Records to unleash this monumental new album on 7 formats:
EXCLUSIVE: Silent Future Transparent Red Vinyl Edition, Limited to 100 copies (only available in the US store!)
Limited Edition Transparent Green Vinyl (Only 200)
Limited Edition Picture Disc Vinyl (Only 300)
Standard Black Vinyl
Limited Edition CD Boxset including: Jewel case CD with a 3D card cover, nickel sticker, guitar pick. (Only 500)
Limited Edition Digipack
Standard Jewel Case
In addition to this, No Remorse has also launched a limited edition vinyl for THE SCEPTER’s new album, Shadows in the Kingdom which is also out on October 30, 2026!
These limited edition versions will sell out this weekend so don’t sleep! Get yours now, HERE!
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
