Photo Credit: Jens Koch — Artwork by Eliran Kantor
HEAVEN SHALL BURN have released “My Revocation of Compliance,” the first song and video from their upcoming album “Heimat,” set to release on June 27, 2025. The album, produced at their own studio, The Dude Ranch , features artwork by Eliran Kantor and mixing by Tue Madsen.
“Heimat,” meaning “home” in German, explores the concept of homeland in a broad and inclusive sense. Guitarist Maik Weichert explains that the album addresses various interpretations of “Heimat,” including spiritual and emotional connections.
The band has previously released two singles, “Keinen Schritt zurück” (feat. Donots) and “Schweineherbst” (feat. Dÿse). The new song, “My Revocation of Compliance,” reflects the band’s stance against political and social complacency.
“Heimat” will be available in multiple formats, including limited edition vinyl and CDs.
Track Listing: Ad Arma War Is The Father Of All My Revocation Of Compliance Confounder Empowerment A Whisper From Above Imminence Those Left Behind Ten Days In May Numbered Days (feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage) Dora A Silent Guard Inter Arma
Don’t miss their exclusive release shows and festival appearances this summer!
06-08.06.25 (DE) Rock Am Ring – Nuerburg 06-08.06.25 (DE) Rock Im Park – Nuernberg 06-08.06.25 (CZ) Metalfest Pilsen – Pilsen 10.06.25 (SLO) Ljubljana – Media Center 11.06.25 (AT) Kufstein – Festung 13.06.25 (CH) Greenfield – Interlaken 14.06.25 (AT) Nova Rock – Nickelsdorf 21.06.25 (DK) Copenhell – Copenhagen 22.06.25 (BE) Graspop Metal Meeting – Dessel 26.06.25 (NL) Jera On Air – Ysselsteyn 27.06.25 (DE) Impericon Festival – Leipzig 28.06.25 (DE) Vainstream Rockfest – Muenster 03.07.25 (DE) Rockharz Festival – Ballenstedt
Polish Death Metal Legends VADER have released a music video for a brand new single called ‘Unbending’, which will be the official anthem of Poland’s renowned Mystic Festival this year. It’s also the closing track of VADER’s upcoming new EP Humanihility, set to be released on May 30th, via Nuclear Blast. Pre-order here: https://vader.bfan.link/humanihility
Five years after the much-lauded 12th studio album Solitude In Madness, VADER return with 3 brand-new tracks once again produced by Scott Atkins at Grindstone Studio, UK. Featuring excellent artwork by Marcelo Vasco (Slayer, Testament, Dark Funeral), this EP marks the first recording as a quintet with guitarist Mauser returning to the group and new drummer Michael alongside vocalist/guitarist Peter, bassist Hal and third guitarist Spider.
Watch the video for ‘Unbending’, created by Robert Gasperowicz:
Humanihility offers scorching new songs that prove to be vicious, thrash-laden anthems perfectly blending old-school thrash with VADER’s unique straight-forward fury and neckbreaking tempos. Each of the songs was created by a different band member, giving them a more personal style.
The only physical edition will be a limited 12” (red vinyl, 700 copies).
VADER formed back in 1983 and besides releasing classics such as The Ultimate Incantation, De Profundis, Litany (which has its 25th anniversary in 2025) and many more, are the longest active extreme metal band to ever emerge from Europe!
Humanihility Tracklist
Genocide Designed
Rampage
Unbending (Mystic Festival Anthem 2025)
Artwork by Marcelo Vasco Arts
Just recently VADER announced Summer Festival in 2025:
04 May – Sao Paulo, BR – Bangers Open Air 05 June – Stykkisholmur, ISL – Satan Festival 07 June – Gdansk, POL – Mystic Festival 15 June – Leeuwarden, HOL – Into The Grave Festival 19 June – Zdunska Wola, POL – Alternatywna Zdunska Wola 26 June – Spalene Borici, CZ – Basinfire Fest 28 June – Viveiro/Lugo, SP – Resurrection Fest 03 July – Friesack, DE – Under The Black Sun Fest 04 July – Ballenstedt, DE – Rockharz Festival 11 July – Torgau/Entenfang, DE – In Flammen Festival 12 July – Skepe, POL – Rockokop Festival 09 August – Kotrijk, BE – Alcatraz Festival 15 August – Slnecke Skaly (Zilina), SK – Blasphemy Festival 16 August – Dinkelsbuehl, DE – Summer Breeze Festival 22 August – Spital Am Semmering, A – Kaltenbach Open Art.Fest 29 August – Lyski, POL – Lyski Rock Festival
Currently, VADER are on the “March Of The Unbending – Europe 2025” tour, with guests Rise of Cronos and Skaphos.
Remaining tour dates:
16.04.2025 GER Bremen / Tivoli 17.04.2025 GER Trier / Forum 18.04.2025 HOL Leiden / Nobel 19.04.2025 FR Saint Omer / Brutal Swamp* 20.04.2025 UK Birmingham / The Asylum 22.04.2025 SCO Glasgow / Slay 23.04.2025 IRE Dublin / Opium 24.04.2025 UK Manchester / Club Academy 25.04.2025 UK London / Underworld 26.04.2025 GER Bochum / Ruhrcongress 27.04.2025 GER Erfurt / Club From Hell *only Vader
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VADER released their 16th studio album “Solitude In Madness” on May 1st 2020 via Nuclear Blast.
The up and coming Greek heavy metal band NIGHTSTEEL released their highly anticipated self-titled debut album, “Nightsteel”, on April 11th, 2025, via Cosmic Fire Records.
Today they drop an official video for the album’s blasting heavy metal anthem “Darkness Reigns”.
“Darkness Reigns” is a track that encapsulates the album’s heavy & powerful intensity. The lyrics dive deep into the inner struggles, blending raw emotion with a powerful, melodic punch. The video brings that energy to life, making it a real kick in the ass with a new level of intensity for the band. The video features striking visuals of vocalist Travis Wills singing with incredible passion in the studio.
Travis Wills comments:
“‘Darkness Reigns’ is straight up in your face… killer riffs, perfect example of old school in your face metal. I really enjoyed working on this song. Bill plays awesome on this, and the whole band is just in the pocket tight… really honored to be part of this cool project”!
“This song is about fighting the war inside — and not backing down. That’s what ‘Darkness Reigns’ means to me. I really pushed Travis, Mike, and Jasmin to their limits. But they nailed everything exactly how I envisioned it. Their performances are exactly what I wanted — raw, intense, and full of power”, says Bill Sam.
Jasmin elaborates:
“‘Darkness Reigns’ had probably one of the most challenging solos I’ve ever played – both technically and emotionally. Bill Sam had a clear vision for every note on this album and that really pushed me to do my best. There was already so much emotion in the solos, so my goal was to channel that energy and make it speak. Nightsteel isn’t just a heavy record – it’s inspired, focused and full of heart. I am proud to have been a part of it”.
Mike shares:
“‘Darkness Reigns’ is here! Had a killer time recording drums on this speed anthem. Pure power metal fury from start to finish. Bill’s writing hits like a hammer”!
Hailing from Athens, Greece, this rising force in the heavy metal scene is set to make waves with their explosive sound and unrelenting energy, marking a bold entry into the global metal landscape.
Released via Cosmic Fire Records, “Nightsteel” is an 11-track powerhouse that blends classic heavy & power metal influences with a modern edge, showcasing the band’s signature style — thunderous riffs, soaring vocals, and an unapologetic devotion to the genre.
NIGHTSTEEL’s debut album is a must-listen for fans of classic heavy/power metal and acts such as Judas Priest, Savatage, Helloween, Queensryche, Iron Maiden, Riot, Accept, Bonfire, Crimson Glory, and Manowar.
“Nightsteel” is available on digipak CD, a limited black vinyl edition (only 300 copies), and digital.
Nightsteel is a brand-new Greek metal band that embodies the spirit of classic 80s metal, reviving the magic of the genre in a very special way. Their music will take you back to the old glory days of the 80’s when heavy metal music was on top of the game!
It all started back in 2022 with an idea that songwriter & bassist Bill Sam had and that is how Nightsteel was born. While working on some old demo songs along with new ones, he asked his friend and drummer Mike Foudotos to join the band and take the project to the next level.
After working with some local vocalists, Bill decided to go a step further and work with some of the most notable and up-and-coming vocalists in the metal scene. He first contacted Travis Wills (Crimson Glory, Infidel Rising), who was blown away by the songs and agreed to sing on the album. Unfortunately, due to Travis’ busy recording and touring schedule, he wasn’t able to finish all of the songs, so Bill also enlisted Craig Cairns (Tailgunner, ex Induction), Rob Lundgren (Reveal, Mystery Moon), and Mauro Elias to sing on the remaining songs. In addition, the virtuoso guitar player Igor Paspalj (Guitarist of the Year 2020 by Guitar World and Guitar Player magazines), agreed to play solos on two songs. The line-up was completed with Jasmin M. on guitars and keys.
NIGHTSTEEL are: Bill Sam – Bass, songwriting, backing vocals Travis Wills – Vocals, backing vocals Igor Paspalj – Lead guitars Jasmin M. – Guitars, keys Craig Cairns – Vocals, backing vocals Rob Lundgren – Vocals, backing vocals Mauro Elias – Vocals, backing vocals Mike Foudotos – Drums
Swedish rock veterans GRAVEYARD have teamed up with their long time friends GOAT to release a double A-side collaborative 7” for record store day. While the first track ‘Light As A Feather‘ had its digital premiere earlier this month, today sees the digital release of its counter part, ‘Ship Of Fools‘.
Both bands blend their sounds into a twin toke of sweat and singe. Born out of a history of house jams at GOAT HQ, the single unwinds GRAVEYARD‘s more meticulous nature. ‘Ship of Fools‘ unleashes a tsunami of sound, guitars barreling down on the listener with ill intent. The wave crests and quenches, though, leaning into the soul-soaked direction of GRAVEYARD‘s latest album, 6. Head to head the bands dig towards a stadium sound that’s still slicked with the swagger of the ‘70s, but rolled in more of GRAVEYARD‘s grandeur than GOAT’s eclectic grit.
The flip side lights up the speakers, less dense than anything either band has hooked into for some time. The jammy approach that inspired the session pays off throughout ‘Light as a Feather‘, soaking up prime-period Stones if they’d aimed for the heart of the sun with Father Yod in the driver’s seat. Sloughing off the shackles of verse/chorus/verse structure, the song picks up mid-ecstatic peak, the listener already in thrall to the groove, simmering in the sway-along harmonies before an acid-butter burner of a solo sends the whole thing rippling out into the cosmos.
Recent Prosthetic Records signees Maryland deathcore group THUS SPOKE ZARATHUSTRA deliver the second new single ‘Santosha’, and once again demonstrates the bands ability to combine elements of melodeath and deathcore. The track also boasts a guest appearance from one of deathcore’s most revered names, Cameron Argon of Disfiguring The Goddess. The single is taken from their forthcoming album ‘I’m Done With Self Care, It’s Time For Others’ Harm’, and is set for release on May 23rd via Prosthetic Records.
THUS SPOKE ZARATHUSTRA will be releasing their forthcoming sophomore album, I’m Done With Self-Care, It’s Time For Others Harm, on May 23. Intended as an examination on the duality of the self and human existence, I’m Done With Self-Care, It’s Time For Others Harm is a conceptual horror-inspired excavation of the bipolarity of self-betterment and healing with mankind’s more malevolent inclinations towards turmoil, anxiety and vengeance.
Formed as the brainchild of primary songwriter Andy Reynold, THUS SPOKE ZARATHUSTRA draw their influence from the Myspace-era deathcore scene, with the era’s key players legacies felt throughout the album. From opener GGO’s introductory ominous rise and fall of harsh noise giving way to triple threat guitar work that intertwines melodeath leadwork with rhythmic pummel, to I Never Believed In Magic Til My Dog Turned Into A Snake’s tale of malicious revenge set to breakneck blastbeats and belligerently heavy breakdowns, THUS SPOKE ZARATHUSTA pay reverence to all that came before them whilst leaving their own confident and contemporary take on the genre.
Throughout I’m Done With Self-Care, It’s Time For Others Harm’s runtime the inclusion of three guitars adds a ferociously dynamic and punishing quality to their compositions, layering complexities with savage bludgeon. Lyrically complimenting the musicality on show, THUS SPOKE ZARATHUSTRA’s concept is presented as a fragmented world that offers no easy answers. With the album cover adorning main character, Henry Ford, serving as the sadistic antagonist slipping further into a distorted reality of satanism, existential dread, psychological decline and jealousy.
Recording production for I’m Done With Self-Care, It’s Time For Others Harm was handled exclusively by the band before being placed in the trusty hands of Mychal Soto (Peeling Flesh) for mixing and mastering duties. Visually complimenting I’m Done With Self Care, It’s Time For Others Harm’s horror-movie inspirations and aesthetic, THUS SPOKE ZARATHUSTRA recruited Morta Sustain for the album sleeve. Celebrating the arrival of I’m Done With Self Care, It’s Time For Others Harm, the group will be embarking on an extensive 35 date North American release tour.
Track listing:
1. GGO 2. I Can’t Save You 3. Gage Lanza 2: Return Of The Red Hammer 4. I Never Believed In Magic Til My Dog Turned Into A Snake 5. The Final Blow Will Bring Blood 6. Santosha 7. All I Feel Is Cold 8. The Difference Between You And Me Is I Never Got Caught 9. Mithrandir 10. Bereft Of Light
MDC, the acronym that has launched a thousand interpretations, have now added a 1001st to the list, as the Legendary Austin-based warriors unveil their latest album, The Last War – or, More Defiant Covers as they laughingly refer to it.
The much-anticipated follow-up to 2023’s incendiary War is a Racket, The Last War finds the notoriously radicalized punk rock provocateurs rampaging through 80 years of musical history, all the way back to Woody Guthrie’s 1944 composition “All You Fascists Bound To Lose.”
From there, they revisit artists as disparate as The Rolling Stones (“Doo Doo Doo Doo Doo (Heartbreaker),” from 1973’s Goat’s Head Soup) to The Staple Singers’ “Freedom Highway” – previously covered by Rhiannon Giddens, although MDC’s version could not be more different!
Berkeley hardcore legends Fang’s “Here Come The Cops” is one staggering highlight; Thatcher On Acid’s “No Fuckin War” another. Whoever’s record collection they plundered for this set, it’s a good ‘un!
Especially as it also included Stevie Wonder’s 1974 album Fulfillingness’ First Finale, and it’s his “You Haven’t Done Nothin’” that marks the album’s first single. Just leave your memories of the original at the door, please, although the song nevertheless means a lot to MDC frontman Dave Dictor. He says, “I was fortunate enough to see Little Stevie Wonder at Madison Square Garden along with Three Dog Night… This solidified my desire to fight hard to make my life in music.”
The Last War is as volatile a brew as you could hope for. Who but MDC, after all, could swing so effortlessly from a brain-charring re-envisioning of Iron Maiden’s “Asesinos,” to a take on The Angelic Upstarts’ “Police Oppression” that surpasses even the original’s violent outrage? Or lift The Heart Attacks’ “The Last War” to an entire new level of ironic anger – “We’re so bored and so are you, there’s a war, something to do.”
And then there’s Slayer’s “Americon,” faster and more fiery than even the original could muster. This is NOT an album for the faint of heart. But if you’re ready to fight for what you believe in, this is the soundtrack to all of your plans – an outspoken hardcore firestorm of Modern Day Commentary… or, if you prefer, a Magnificently Deafening Cacophony. Either way, it’s MDC. What more you could ask for?
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 ) 