Dutch blackened death metal architects Misanthropia have released a harrowing new lyric video for their track “Malediction And Laughter.” The track is taken from their critically acclaimed album Envy The Dead, which is out now via Wormholedeath.
Drenched in blood-soaked imagery and sinister storytelling, “Malediction And Laughter” delivers an intense narrative of violence and psychological horror. With its relentless seventeen strikes motif and cinematic execution, the track immerses listeners in a raw, visceral experience. Inspired by the infamous Lizzie Borden case—one of the most notorious unsolved murders in American history—the song fuses historical reality with extreme metal’s macabre imagination, making it a haunting and unforgettable listen.
For those unfamiliar with the legend, Lizzie Borden was accused of hacking her father and stepmother to death with an axe in 1892, yet was controversially acquitted in a sensational trial. The eerie nursery rhyme, “Lizzie Borden took an axe…” still echoes through pop culture today, feeding the fascination with the case’s unsolved mystery.
A dark odyssey into historical horrors, Envy The Dead is a concept album dripping with themes of necromancy, murder, and madness, drawing inspiration from infamous figures like Jack the Ripper. Stripping away their previous symphonic influences, Misanthropia forge a path through progressive Death/Thrash aggression, with sonic nods to Dimmu Borgir, Cradle of Filth, Necrophobic, Mayhem, and Death.
The legendary Mike Wead engineered, mixed, and mastered the album (Mercyful Fate, King Diamond), ensuring its crushing impact and eerie atmosphere remain unmatched.
MISANTHROPIA is no stranger to sonic devastation. For over 20 years, they’ve carved a path through the metal scene with their unique blend of Blackened fury and Death Metal aggression. Their longstanding partnership with legendary producer/engineer MIKE WEAD (Mercyful Fate, King Diamond) continues on ‘ENVY THE DEAD’, ensuring a potent and punishing listening experience.
Line up: Bram Koller-Rythm Guitars and Vocals Dennis Schoenmaker-Rythm And Lead Guitars Pepijn Heilbron-Bass Hugo de Waal-Drums
Hoist the sails, sharpen your cutlasses, and fill your tankards—ALESTORM is back with their brand-new album, The Thunderfist Chronicles, set for release on June 20, 2025 via Napalm Records! The Scottish party pirates return with their eight album, containing eight new anthems packed with blistering riffs, wild shanty-driven riffs, and utterly ridiculous lyrics—taking the high seas of metal to new depths.
The Thunderfist Chronicles arrives as the successor to ALESTORM’s epic seventh studio album, Seventh Rum of a Seventh Rum, which peaked at #5 on both the US Current Hard Music and Top New Artist Albums charts, #7 on the German Album charts, and many more. After the release of last year’s Voyage of the Dead Marauder EP and extensive touring, the band returns for more! With The Thunderfist Chronicles, ALESTORM proves once again why they are the undisputed rulers of the Seven Metal Seas. So, grab your nearest jug of rum—this is going to be loud, chaotic, and absolutely legendary!
Christopher Bowes on the new album: “This album is weird and full of difficult riffs that I already regret. There’s a bunch of fun things to discover on the record though – we’ve got a cover of a song by our friends in Nekrogoblikon, a whole lot of other heavy stuff, plus the longest song I’ve ever written (over 17 minutes long) which features guest vocals from Patty Gurdy (everyone’s favorite hurdy gurdy player) and Sir Russel Allen (Symphony X singer and my favorite vocalist of all time).”
The Thunderfist Chronicles track listing: 1. Hyperion Omniriff 2. Killed to Death by Piracy 3. Banana 4. Frozen Piss 2 5. The Storm 6. Mountains of the Deep 7. Goblins Ahoy! 8. Mega-Supreme Treasure of the Eternal Thunderfist
Experience ALESTORM live: 18.04.25 NL – Schijndel / Paaspop 04.05.25 JP – Tokyo / Shibuya WWWX 05.05.25 JP – Tokyo / Shibuya WWWX 06.05.25 JP – Osaka / Ruido 07.06.25 CZ – Plzeň / Metalfest 13.06.25 ES – Zamora / Z! Live Rock Fest 19.06.25 BE – Dessel / Graspop 21.06.25 FI – Nummijärvi / Nummirock 25.06.25 NO – Oslo / Tons of Rock 27.06.25 CH – Grenchen / Summerside 29.06.25 ES – Barcelona / Rockfest 01.08.25 RO – Rasnov / Rockstadt Extreme 22.08.25 PT – Pindelo dos Milagres / Milagre Metaleiro 24.08.25 FR – Chateau Gontier / V & B Festival 19.09.25 US – Louisville / Louder than Life 19.10.25 NL – Den Bosch / The Rock Circus
ALESTORM are: Christopher Bowes – Vocals, Keytar Gareth Murdock – Bass Máté Bodor – Guitar Peter Alcorn – Drums Elliot Vernon – Keyboard
UNFOLD will release the new album “The Throne of Sumeru” on March 7th 2025.
UNFOLD is a new project of Adam R. Bryant – which runs alongside his work for the last decade with numerous projects; those familiar with Aesthetic Death will recognise his music from both Pando and Cave Dweller.
All these projects are unique, innovative, thought-provoking and inspired by the natural beauty he finds in his environment.
UNFOLD continues this creative direction but from a slightly different angle.
“The Throne of Sumeru” is best described as a guided meditation through frequency and noise.
As Bryant describes: “Unfold is a study on the contrasting principles of yin and yang. Its intention is to enhance meditation practices by subjecting the listener to the extreme pulses of nature and allowing for periods of reflection. The material is best experienced in its entirety to be utilized as a guide through various awakened states of consciousness and to promote the discovery of other forms of meditation”.
With that said, give yourself some space, kick back, open your mind and let it unfold…
Tracklist:
01. The Swaying Of The Spine (guided meditation in A) 16:45 02. Flow 5:53 03. Om Mani Padme Hum 5:20 04. Mount Sumeru (blowing of The Kangling) 10:24 05. Between Two Worlds 17:52
Though her new album was inspired by the dark and heavy winters of her homeland, Eivør is hot on the heels of the most successful North American tour in her long, celebrated career. Last month, the Faroese superstar sold out half of the dates on her headlining tour of North America in support of ENN with fellow Nordic luminary and Season of Mist labelmate Sylvaine.
“Every note, every story, every emotion conveyed was a testament to why she is one of the most compelling voices in music today”, mxdwn wrote after her sold-out show in Los Angeles.
“stunning, thick with mysticism” The Vinyl District wrote in praise of her sold-out show in Silver Springs, Maryland. “The fans at the Fillmore – many of whom arrived in Nordic costume – loved it and I did too”.
Eivør isn’t slowing down anytime soon. Starting this week, she’s once again joining Heilung as the world-renowned Nordic collective tour the UK, Ireland and Europe. Then this fall, she will embark on another headline tour of Europe behind ENN, this time with her friend, special guest and iconic Icelandic artist Ásgeir, along with her sister Elinborg.
“I am so honored to be sharing the stage with my incredible friend Ásgeir on my upcoming European headline tour”, Eivør says. “He’s one of the most talented artists of the Nordics and I have always loved his music dearly. And I am equally thrilled and excited to have my talented sister Elinborg along on this tour as well. I can’t wait for these special shows”.
“I’m very much looking forward to being a part of this tour” says Ásgeir. “Me and Eivør have become good friends through the years and I’ve admired her talent for a long time. I sure we’re going to have a lot of fun touring Europe together playing at some of my favorite venues in the world.”
March 7 – Helsinki, FI @ Ice Hall – TICKETS March 9 – Stockholm, SE @ Hovet – TICKETS March 12 – Oslo, NO @ Spektrum – TICKETS March 14 – Aarhus, DK @ ACC – TICKETS March 16 – Copenhagen, DK @ Black Box – TICKETS March 19 – Oberhausen, DE @ Turbinehalle – TICKETS March 21 – Zurich, CH @ Hallenstadion – TICKETS March 23 – Esch-Sur-Alzette, LU @ Rockhal – TICKETS April 15 – London, UK @ O2 Brixton Academy – TICKETS April 17 – Dublin, IE @ 3 Arena – TICKETS April 19 – Edinburgh, UK @ O2 Academy – TICKETS April 21 – Manchester, UK @ O2 Apollo – TICKETS April 23 – Lille, FR @ Zenith Aerna – TICKETS April 25 – Lyon, FR @ Halle Tony Garnier – TICKETS April 27 – Milan, IT @ Teatro Arcimboldi – TICKETS
Eivør European Headlining Tour with Special Guest Ásgeir + support from Elinborg
September 19 – Ghent, De Vooruit, BE – TICKETS September 25 – Amsterdam, NL @ Paradiso TICKETS September 27 – Frankfurt, ZOOM, DE – TICKETS September 28 – Paris, Casino de Paris, FR – TICKETS September 30 – Metz, La BAM, FR – TICKETS October 1 – Rouen, Le 106, FR – TICKETS October 2 – Marseille, Espace Julien, FR – TICKETS October 3 – Toulouse, Interference, FR – TICKETS October 7 – Madrid, Mon Live, ES – TICKETS October 8 – Barcelona, Razzmatazz 2, ES – TICKETS October 11 – Vienna, Ottakringer Brauerei, AT – TICKETS October 12 – Stuttgart, LKA Longhorn, DE – TICKETS October 14 – Krakow, Klub Studio, PL – TICKETS October 15 – Prague, ROXY, CZ – TICKETS October 16 – Berlin, Huxleys Neue Welt, DE – TICKETS October 17 – Hamburg, DOCKS, DE – TICKETS
Eivør performs on the world’s largest stages. She’s serenaded crowds at the UEFA Champions League, bowled over The Game Awards with her songs from God of War:Ragnarök and starred in the Netflix series The Last Kingdom.
Still, Eivør’s new album stands out amidst her two-decades long discography as a bold new venture. ENN ties back to the traditional folk music that she grew up with in the Faroe Islands, while also branching out into dark electronics and cosmic orchestration.
“ENN is the most nuanced and experimental album that I’ve created to date”, Eivør says. “There is an unyielding tide of destruction at the core of the album’s journey, but there’s also hope and comfort to be found in its blue embrace”.
The album’s gently pulsating first single “Jarðartrá / Dust to Dust” recently won a USA Songwriting Competition Award in the Best World Music category.
“When I wrote this song, I envisioned the earth in its rawest elements: oceans, volcanoes, storms, soil”, Eivør remembers. “We all have echoes of these elements within us, but maybe we tend to forget that we are part of nature and its endless circle of decay and growth”.
Tracklist 1. Ein Klóta (5:44) 2. Jarðartrá (4:47) [WATCH] 3. Hugsi Bert Um Teg (3:25) [WATCH] 4. Purpurhjarta (4:27) 5. ENN (7:11) 6. Lívsandin (4:35) 7. Upp Úr Øskuni (5:01) [WATCH] 8. Gaia (5:10) Total runtime: 40:25
Of course, fans can support Eivør by buying merchandise at any stop along her tour. But you don’t have to wait! Her new line of ENN-themed apparel is now available to order online, here.
Eivør calls her Nordic home in the remote Faroe Islands a landscape of extremes. Sitting in the North Atlantic Ocean just above Scotland and southeast of Iceland, with a total population of about 50,000, the climate is “full of contrasts—very dark, heavy winters and bright summers.” Growing up in a small village there, of about 400 people, it’s those contrasts that have inspired Eivør’s music throughout her career.
Often considered to be one of the most prolific and unique Nordic artists of her generation, Eivør has released 11 studio albums to date, crossing musical genres and always pushing the envelope of the expected. Awarded with the Nordic Council Music Price in 2021, Eivør’s musical journey continues to fascinate and has seen her perform across the globe; from Europe’s biggest festival stages to providing the soundtrack to Netflix’s hit series The Last Kingdom and the video game God of War: Ragnarök.
Her new album ENN ties back to Eivør’s Nordic roots. Most of the lyrics, sung entirely in Faroese, were penned in collaboration with the Faroese poet Marjun Syderbø Kjelnæs. Eivør calls the lyrics to the title track especially “hardcore.” The song is about war—“the wars that are going on in the world especially lately, but that have always been going on,” Eivør says, “and how to find a glimpse of light in this overwhelming darkness.” The guttural penultimate track, “UPP ÚR ØSKUNI / RISE FROM THE ASHES,” is a thrilling outlier mixing growling beatboxing with visceral throat singing (it’s certainly Eivør’s most metal moment).
ENN stands out among Eivør’s discography as a bold new venture. Her debut for Season of Mist, the album leans heavier into dark electronics. Her new Prophet-5 synthesizer hardly made it out of the box before she keyed up “HUGSI BERT UM TEG/STILL JUST YOU”, a swooning bit of dream-pop that dances like the colors of the milky way.
On a grand scale, ENN follows a cosmic arc. The title track is a symphonic, war-torn space odyssey. But the album also dwells on more earthly concerns. Lead single “JARÐARTRÁ/DUST TO DUST” is told from the perspective of a wounded mother earth, who calls to us with a steadily thumping bassline that’s as dark and warm as our planet’s molten core. “Come lie down in my blue embrace”, Eivør sings, reaching into her operatic register, as if beckoning us toward the light.
With a catalog that stretches back more than three decades, Cleopatra Records has established itself among the most tenacious and versatile independent record labels around.
Punk, industrial, metal, jazz, folk, country, rockabilly, space rock, prog… Cleopatra acknowledges the importance of them all. For many fans, however, the label is best associated with gothic rock, and no surprise. The label’s earliest release, back in 1992, was a now super-rare 45 featuring Christian Death and Sex Gang Children, and over the next few years, Cleopatra’s unmistakable logo decorated both new releases and archive offerings as the label established itself at the very forefront of the movement.
That accolade remains true to this day. When UK magazine Uncut published its Top 200 goth albums list earlier this year, no less than seven of its inclusions had graced the Cleopatra catalog.
Now the label itself unveils its personal Top 100, to be broadcast over four weeks in March by its own Pirate Radio Cleopatra – available to listen free of charge on Mixcloud, YouTube, Facebook, X and the Cleorecs.com website.
The exact contents of the Top 100 are, for obvious reasons, being kept tightly under wraps, to be revealed 25 albums at a time beginning March 7. One can expect, however, chart rankings for such Cleopatra stalwarts as Christian Death, Sex Gang Children, Rosetta Stone, Switchblade Symphony, the Electric Hellfire Club, IKON, James Ray, Gene Loves Jezebel, Screams For Tina and The Wake; plus nods in the direction of The Cure, Joy Division, Siouxsie & The Banshees and Bauhaus. And all painted on a truly worldwide palette, with performers from as far afield as France, Germany, Finland, Australia and beyond.
All four shows will be hosted by Pirate Radio Cleopatra regular Lady Crow, who says: “It was important to showcase the sheer depth of the catalog. The oldest recording on the Top 100 predates the First World War; the most recent won’t even be released until the summer. In between those, there’s the LA death rock scene, the early 80s Batcave crowd, the 1990s second wave and maybe a lot more from the 21st century than people might expect.”
A number of artists have also recorded exclusive station IDs for inclusion in the shows.
As a climax to the broadcasts themselves, Cleopatra will be offering discounts on every album in the Top 100, with further promotions also in store. Further details will be announced shortly.
Get ready for a firestorm of hard rock fury! Fierce Austrian hard rockers VULVARINE are set to shake things up with their new single and album opener, “The Drugs, the Love and the Pain”, taken from their upcoming studio album, Fast Lane, out on March 28, 2025 via Napalm Records!
“The Drugs, the Love and the Pain” kicks off VULVARINE’s album with an electrifying fusion of punk attitude, hard rock grit, and heavy metal intensity. Bursting with raw energy and rebellious spirit, the track delivers soaring melodies and hard-hitting riffs that embody the highs and lows of euphoria, chaos, and resilience. With its anthemic hooks and relentless drive, this powerhouse sets the tone for an adrenaline-fueled ride through the band’s bold and unapologetic sound.
The track debuts just in time for VULVARINE to bring their signature rock’n’roll to cities across Europe on the second leg of Thundermother’s Dirty & Divine tour, also featuring Napalm Records label mates Cobra Spell.
VULVARINE on their new single “The Drugs, the Love and the Pain”: “The song takes you on a ‘rock ‘n’ roller coaster ride’ between euphoria and chaos, exploring where these emotions come from – be it substance abuse, heartbreak, or inner struggles. It resolves with a message of hope, reminding us that all feelings are temporary and will eventually lead to a brighter, clearer state of mind.”
Influenced by bands such as Girlschool, The Runaways and The Donnas, VULVARINE defines their own sound as “vulvarock”: a unique fusion of high energy rock’n’roll, heavy metal and glam, topped up with punk and blues elements. Following their debut album, Unleashed (2020), and the 2023’s Witches Brew EP, on Fast Lane, VULVARINE head full speed into a new adventure filled with adrenaline and authenticity.
VULVARINE on the new album: “Fast Lane captures the whirlwind of creativity and energy that has driven us as a band. The album came together in an intense but exciting process, where we pushed our limits, worked with incredible people, and poured everything we had into the music. Signing with Napalm Records is a huge milestone, and we’re ready to hit the fast lane and dive headfirst into this new adventure.”
While remaining uncompromising and real, VULVARINE impresses with a variety of soundscapes on Fast Lane. The explosive opening track “The Drugs, the Love and the Pain” sets the scene for the rest of the album: rebellious, action-packed, raw, punky – and irresistibly catchy. “Ancient Soul” shows the softer side of VULVARINE while “Demons” dives into darker waters. VULVARINE’s strong rhythm section shines especially bright on “Alright Tonight”, and “Equal, Not the Same” is particularly refreshing and empowering. “Fool”, co-written with German producer Felix Heldt (Dominum, Feuerschwanz, Visions Of Atlantis), surprises with a different tone while remaining true to the sound and spirit of the band. “Polly the Trucker” is an ode to the highway, a classic rock’n’roll anthem with a modern touch, featuring raspy vocals and incredible guitars. VULVARINE brings in yet another highlight with an electrifying cover of Modern Talking’s “Cheri Cheri Lady”, featuring a powerful guitar solo from Thundermother’s Filippa Nässil, before wrapping the album up with pensive track “She’ll Come Around”.
On Fast Lane, VULVARINE soars to the next level with both songwriting and high-quality production without losing their edge. The album was produced in Vienna and Wiener Neustadt as a collaboration of three different producers: Thomas Zwanzger of Stressstudio, Dietmar Baumgartner of Sonar Music Productions and Engel Mayr (formerly of Russkaja) of Studio Mäusepalast, resulting in a cohesive work and VULVARINE’s strongest album yet. Fast Lane is a multifaceted and honest high-octane rock’n’roll extravaganza with no filler: the 11-track offering is packed with the very best of one of the most promising bands in the scene.
Fast Lane tracklisting: 1. The Drugs, the Love and the Pain 2. Ancient Soul 3. Heads Held High 4. Demons 5. Alright Tonight 6. Equal, Not the Same 7. Fool 8. Polly the Trucker 9. Dark Red 10. Cheri Cheri Lady (feat. Filippa Nässil) 11. She’ll Come Around
Dirty & Divine Tour EU/UK – Supporting Thundermother w/ Cobra Spell 21.03.25 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser 22.03.25 DE – Berlin / Festsaal Kreuzberg 23.03.25 PL – Warsaw / Niebo 25.03.25 CZ – Prague / Strom Club 26.03.25 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra Blue Stage 28.03.25 AT – Vienna / Szene Wien 29.03.25 DE – Munich / Backstage 30.03.25 CH – Pratteln / Z7 Konzertfabrik 01.04.25 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal 02.04.25 DE – Bochum / Zeche 04.04.25 DE – Obertraubling / Airport-Eventhall 05.04.25 DE – Hanover / Capitol 06.04.25 NL – Utrecht / Tivoli Vredenburg – Pandora
Festivals 2025: 21.06.24 AT – Ried im Innkreis / KiK Open Air Festival 23.07.24 SI – Tolmin / Tolminator Festival
VULVARINE are: Bea Heartbeat – Drums Robin Redbreast – Bass Sandy Dee – Guitar Suzy Q – Vocals
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )