French Melodic Death Doom one-man band WURMIAN proudly presents the release of its highly anticipated debut album, “Immemorial Shrine“, out now via Pest Records and available at this location.
Crafted with painstaking care and emotional depth by multi-instrumentalist Antoine Scholtes, “Immemorial Shrine” is a brooding and immersive journey through sorrow, introspection, and existential desolation. The album’s seven tracks channel the spirit of 90s Melodic Death Doom evoking the raw emotional weight of Katatonia, October Tide, and Edge of Sanity, while embracing a distinctly personal and contemporary vision.
Following the previously released singles “Aeon Afterglows” and “Where Crimson Shadows Dwell“, the full album now unveils its complete sonic and lyrical narrative: a descent into forgotten memories, ancestral echoes, and the quiet majesty of grief. Melancholic melodies, cavernous growls, and crushing doom-laden riffs are interwoven with Scholtes‘ introspective lyricism and haunting atmospheres, making “Immemorial Shrine” a compelling listen for fans of both classic and modern Death Doom.
“Immemorial Shrine” is available now on CD via Pest Records featuring evocative artwork and packaging that complements the album’s lyrical themes and sonic depth.
Enter the shrine. Let the echoes guide you. For fans of: Katatonia, October Tide, Amorphis, Edge of Sanity, early In Flames
American metalcore band WOE, IS ME is set to make a powerful return with the release of their new single, “Here’s to Me (A Story to Tell Pt. 2),” available everywhere April 11th via SBG Records.
Produced by Scott Seigel and Corey Bautista, the new track serves as the first official glimpse into the band’s upcoming full-length effort.
The band states, “As far as ‘Here’s to me(a story to tell pt.2)’ we feel like this is the perfect first single. It pretty much has a little of everything that you can expect from this album and the direction we are going. We’re excited about the future and stoked to finally release new music.”
The official music video is set to premiere on Metal Injection and the audio will premiere on Idobi Howl this coming Thursday, April 10th.
Woe, Is Me has officially addressed lineup change:
“First and foremost, we want to state officially that the band has parted ways with the Ferris brothers. Despite what you may or may not have read before now, decisions like this are never easy. We have no ill-will towards Ben and Cory and wish them the best, but we do want to explain things from our perspective. We have worked extremely hard over the last year on this new album. The amount of dedication and passion for the music has been our driving force, because that’s what brought us here to begin with; the love of music. Without going into detail about their involvement in the creation of this album, we’ll simply say that the album would’ve sounded the same whether they were in the band during the writing process or not. The lack of interest and participation in something the rest of us sacrificed so much for ultimately led to deciding to continue on as just the five of us.”
The band also addressed recent rumors regarding canceled shows in Japan:
“In addition to this, we’d like to clear up some things we’ve seen circulating about our canceled dates in Japan. Most importantly, we absolutely hated canceling the shows and apologize emphatically to everyone who was negatively impacted. But to dispel any rumors, from the time these shows were booked up to now, the band has had no direct contact with the promoter of the shows. Furthermore, the narrative that the band stole/kept money from the promoter is 100% false, as we never actually received any money, including any form of a deposit. This lie has unfortunately been perpetuated by individuals who know it isn’t true, and it is extremely disappointing. Again, we apologize for canceling.”
Woe, Is Me is confirmed to perform at Louder Than Life in Louisville, KY on Saturday, September 20th.
Stay tuned for more announcements surrounding the upcoming album and future tour dates.
Woe, Is Me is a powerful force in the American metalcore scene, hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. Formed in 2009, the band quickly gained attention for their dynamic sound, blending crushing breakdowns with melodic hooks. Their debut album, Numbers, was unleashed on August 31, 2010, and instantly made an impact, debuting at an impressive #16 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart.
Known for their high-energy performances and emotionally charged lyrics, Woe, Is Me solidified their place in the metalcore landscape, capturing the hearts of fans across the globe. Their signature mix of raw intensity and refined musicianship has made them a standout force within the genre, with a legacy that continues to resonate.
Woe, Is Me are: Michael Bohn – Vocals Hance Alligood – Vocals Kevin Hanson – Guitar Andrew Paiano – Guitar Matthew Whyde – Drums
On April 25, 2025, epic metal band LET THEM FALL will release their new single, ‘Nine Worlds’, under the Wanikiya Record label. This track marks another bold step in their musical journey, adding folk metal vibes to their distinctive blend of metalcore and orchestral elements.
Active since 2012 and hailing from Grosseto, Tuscany, Let Them Fall have built a solid reputation in the international metal scene. Their 2015 EP Of Kings & Heroes was a turning point, moving away from the hardcore punk roots of their debut No More Silence (2013) toward a more melodic, at times symphonic sound—while still maintaining the intensity of powerful guitar riffs and tight rhythms.
Over the years, they have played extensively throughout Italy and beyond. In 2016, they embarked on a headlining tour across Eastern Europe, performing in Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Serbia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia—gaining acclaim and expanding their fanbase.
After an intense live season, the band returned to the studio to work on their first full-length album. The singles Fenrir, Wintersun, and Midgard paved the way for the release of Wolftales in March 2018 via Antigony Records.
In 2023, Let Them Fall made a significant leap forward with the release of Evening Star, a single that introduced even more orchestral and symphonic elements into their sound. This evolution continued with Valor, released on October 18, further solidifying their place in the epic metal scene.
Now, in 2025, Let Them Fall return with Nine Worlds—a track that embraces the narrative essence of RPG-style adventures. It takes listeners on a perilous journey through the nine realms of Norse mythology, where a group of heroes discovers their true purpose by overcoming the shadows of the past. A metaphor for personal growth, healing from trauma, and emerging stronger than before—Nine Worlds is a pact with the stars, a path to walk, and a mission to fulfill.
Get ready for an epic adventure—Nine Worlds drops April 25, 2025!
WASTE CULT’s debut full-length album, “Blame”, will be released on June 6th, 2025, via Aesthetic Death.
Emerging from Bologna’s underground scene, WASTE CULT was formed in late 2021 by musicians with roots in punk and thrash metal, yet a desire to explore a darker, doom-laden sound.
“Blame” is the culmination of this journey—a raw, introspective work that merges classic doom influences with modern post-metal atmospheres. Following their self-released 2022 EP, this album solidifies their identity, delivering immersive and emotionally charged soundscapes.
1 – Ad Astra 2 – Delirium Of Manners 3 – Blame 4 – Blended As One 5 – Kerberos 6 – Pictures 7 – The Warmest Shelter 8 – Maze
WASTE CULT started in Bologna – Italy in late 2021, with all members having experience with other punk/thrash metal projects, including Rake-Off, Hyle, Siege Stompers, Call The Cops…
The aim for WASTE CULT has been to create different sounds and atmospheres to those other projects – exploring a slower doomier approach to their sound. In mid 2022 they self-released an eponymous 4-track EP on tape, and on the back of that started playing shows across Italy.
The first full length – “Blame” – is the characterisation of all their different influences, with a more defined identity – taking inspiration from the doom classics to the more modern post-metal sounds. This reality took shape after years experimenting in the practice room, with “Blame” bearing witness to a more introspective and personal approach within both the music and lyrics.
Aesthetic Death has always been a fan of stoner doom sounds and, like many, was schooled on the likes of Kyuss, Monster Magnet and Black Sabbath. Yet, Aesthetic Death has rarely had opportunity to work on any release with bands from these lands of sound.
When first listening to WASTE CULT it instantly resonated. Albums can become a soundtrack to a period of our lives, as an immersive escape alongside all the positive or negative things happening.
Line-up:
Frank – Guitar and vocals Pilvia – Guitar Noise – Bass Claudio – Drums and backing vocals
A one-off charity campaign during the pandemic grew into an all-star heavy metal project: Dirkschneider & The Old Gang – DATOG for short – united six seasoned musicians, many of whom have helped shape the metal genre’s legacy over the past four decades.
At the core: iconic vocalist Udo Dirkschneider, founder and longtime frontman of Accept, and leader of U.D.O. and Dirkschneider. He’s joined by Peter Baltes (bass, vocals; Accept, Dirkschneider), Stefan Kaufmann (guitar; Accept, U.D.O.), Mathias “Don” Dieth (guitar; Sinner, U.D.O.), Udo’s son Sven Dirkschneider (drums, U.D.O., Dirkschneider), and powerhouse vocalist Manuela “Ella” Bibert, whose standout performances on the U.D.O. orchestra album We Are One (2019) solidified her place in the lineup.
Together, they released three singles between 2020 and 2021—‘Where The Angels Fly,’‘Face Of A Stranger,’ and ‘Every Heart Is Burning’ followed up by a special charity EP, called “Arising”, to help support artists, crews and musicians affected by the coronavirus lockdown. The immense success of their recordings and music videos surpassed every expectation, with more than 23 million streams and views in total to date. “The whole thing developed a momentum of its own that we hadn’t expected,” recalls Kaufmann. “Fans and labels immediately wanted to know: is there more to come?”
The answer has arrived.
After four years, DATOG return with ‘It Takes Two To Tango’, a powerful new single and the first taste of their much-anticipated 2025 debut album “Babylon”, released via Reigning Phoenix Music – a trusted partner of both U.D.O. and Dirkschneider. The track kicks off the next chapter in DATOG’s journey, proving that the chemistry, passion, and fire between these six musicians is as strong as ever.
DATOG comment: “We’re very happy about being part of the RPM family and continuing our work with Jochen Richert. We secretly started this joint campaign a while ago, and our mutual experiences behind the scenes have so far shown us that we are all definitely on the same page and driven by the same musical mutual factors: passion, loyalty, and the love for heavy music.”
Managing director Jochen Richert (Reigning Phoenix Music) adds: “Grabbing the chance of releasing DATOG’s much-anticipated debut album was a no-brainer, of course. After their first steps exceeded, by far, several hopes and dreams, their new material is nothing short of a continuation, if not now on a higher level. Thank you to the whole GANG for your trust, let’s rock this together!”
Musically, ‘It Takes Two to Tango’ literally puts the pedal to the metal, supported by a lyric underlining the aforementioned idea behind DATOG: the common joy of playing music! A virtue that surely will also infect all the viewers of the supporting music video, which was filmed by RCN TV at the legendary Dierks Studios (Stommeln, Germany), where actually the full record was tracked. The concluding mastering was handled by guitarist Kaufmann at ROXX Studio (Solingen, Germany).
“‘It Takes Two To Tango’ is strictly speaking only half of the song title, as the lyrics go on to say ‘(But) It Takes Six To Rock’. “This motto says it all”, the group states and adds: “An absolute joint effort!”
Veteran progressive rock fusion trio Cosmosquad has announced a highly anticipated Midwest tour for April 2025, marking the band’s first live performances in over five years. The tour will feature the group’s classic lineup, including guitarist Jeff Kollman, drummer Shane Gaalaas, and bassist Kevin Chown.
Formed in 1997, Cosmosquad pioneered a distinctive blend of metal and jazz fusion, drawing from the worlds of shredding metal riffs, intricate jazz chord structures, and improvisation. Over the years, the band has released five acclaimed albums, including Cosmosquad (1998), Squadrophenia (2001), Acid Test (2003), Live at the Baked Potato (2010), and their 2017 concept album The Morbid Tango, which received critical praise for its innovative fusion of genres. “Born from the vibrant Los Angeles music scene of the ‘90s, Cosmosquad has always been a project that allows us to break free from the musical confines of our other high-profile session and touring work,” said Kollman. “We’re excited to reconnect with our fans and bring some fresh energy to our live performances after such a long break.”
Cosmosquad has remained a musical outlet where the trio merges their roots in classic rock with their shared love for jazz fusion. Despite each member’s extensive touring careers, the band has maintained their unique chemistry and a commitment to pushing musical boundaries.
Guitarist Jeff Kollman is known for his signature tone and fearless guitar work. His recent solo album, 2023 A.D. (released in 2024), features a guest appearance from Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith on the single “Tongs & Thongs.” Kollman continues to tour with Alan Parsons, alongside performances with legends like Chris Isaak, Lou Gramm (Foreigner), and many others.
Drummer Shane Gaalaas, originally from Canada, has built a legendary career through his long association with Japanese rock superstars B’z and has worked with notable artists including Glenn Hughes, Billy Idol, Slash feat. Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators, and Uli Jon Roth. Gaalaas’s ability to blend rock attitude with jazz sophistication has earned him recognition as one of the world’s finest drummers.
Bassist Kevin Chown is a prominent member of 90s rock band Steelheart and has previously toured with artists such as Sebastian Bach, Paul Gilbert, Tony MacAlpine, and Tarja Turunen. Chown has also contributed to multiple solo and collaborative projects, including The Bombastic Meatbats, alongside Jeff Kollman and Chad Smith.
Cosmosquad’s music continues to resonate with fans and critics alike, with glowing praise from industry legends such as Steve Lukather of Toto, who said, “Some of the best, most inspiring stuff I have heard in a long time! Incredible playing and just gorgeous melodic composition. This band is killer!” and British record producer Terry Brown (Rush, Fates Warning, Voivod) who said “This album is so cool I cannot pick my favorite cut. Just so much great material and killer execution.”
TOUR DATES: April 11, 2025: Sweetwater (Fort Wayne, IN) April 13, 2025: Howard’s (Bowling Green, OH) April 18, 2025: Reggie’s (Chicago, IL) April 19, 2025: Leroy’s (Porter, IN)
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 ) 