South African alt-rock band OnDisplay has released the music video for their latest single, “Loophole” — a visually striking and emotionally charged piece that dives deep into themes of identity, social pressure, and self-deception.
Blending theatrical imagery with a powerful narrative, Loophole explores the “masks” we wear to navigate societal expectations. With its haunting aesthetic and layered symbolism, the video blurs the lines between dream and reality, authenticity and illusion — echoing a growing modern dilemma: how easily we can lose ourselves trying to fit in and live up to external ideals.
“We all get drunk on society sometimes,” says drummer Greg Groothedde. “We chase what’s trending, what’s ‘acceptable,’ what people expect of us — and we lose sight of what really matters. Sometimes, we have to step back and ask: are we doing this for our own happiness, or just to please others?”
Guitarist and vocalist Ryan Kopman adds,“This track is about the fake versions of ourselves we create to impress and belong. It’s uncomfortable, but we needed to confront that. Bottom line: be yourself, be you. Don’t let society dictate who you are or who you need to be. You’ll find greater success — and peace — in every part of life by simply being real.”
Directed with a cinematic eye and filled with bold, symbolic visuals, Loophole challenges viewers to question what’s real, what’s imposed, and to reconnect with the most authentic version of themselves in a world consumed by performance.
Belgian psychedelic post-metal collective Psychonaut return with ‘Stargazer’, a sprawling, emotionally charged new single and video, taken from their forthcoming album World Maker, out 24th October via Pelagic Records. Known for weaving together towering riffs, polyrhythmic precision and deep philosophical themes, the trio now turn inward, navigating the shifting terrain of fatherhood, grief and hope.
Propelled by a hypnotic momentum, ‘Stargazer’, named after frontman Stefan De Graef’s son, born in the rare and poetic “stargazer” position, marks a bold evolution in Psychonaut’s ever-shifting sound. Marrying delicate, folk-tinged guitar passages with towering, thunderous breakdowns, the track captures the band at their most exploratory and emotionally resonant. Beneath its weight and dynamic scope lies a quiet introspection, asking urgent questions about what lies ahead. As the second track revealed from World Maker, ‘Stargazer’ offers a glimpse into an album shaped by new life, profound loss and the raw search for meaning in between.
The traditional, three-piece line up of Belgian, psychedelic post-metal collective Psychonaut has long belied the compositional prowess, captivating narrative depth and crushing live presence of a band now operating at the forefront of forward-thinking, contemporary heavy music.
A record born of insurmountable joy and simultaneous profound loss; World Maker marks a time of great change for Psychonaut, both personally and musically, as the band burn away the philosophical narrative complexities of previous offerings with a searing, panoramic clarity that implores us to savour the beauty of the now as a means of leaving a legacy for the future.
The seed of World Maker took shape just as the campaign for previous record Violate Consensus Reality came to a close, with the news that guitarist/vocalist Stefan De Graef was to become a father. This tilting of life’s axis led De Graef, like most fathers-to-be, to re-assess what was really important. As such, the music he was inspired to write felt free of the band’s previous philosophical and spiritual foundations and instead took the form of life lessons for his unborn son, a legacy of love in case something were ever to happen.
This hopeful euphoria shines keenly throughout World Maker as an uncharacteristically optimistic warmth; from the reverberating Rhodes organ on the titular opening track and the meandering, free-jazz inspired guitar solo that introduces ‘Everything Else is Just The Weather’ to elements of world music, electronica and the otherworldly voice of Dutch multi-instrumentalist and old friend Anthe Huybrechts (Anthe/Helion Creek) most notably on tracks like ‘Origins’ which also features tabla, a pair of indian hand drums, as its propulsive heartbeat.
Whilst Psychonaut’s giant riffs, punishing polyrhythms and guttural vocal rage are more resplendent than ever, there is a wider dynamic spectrum to World Maker that sees the band proudly exploring their more delicate, intimate extremes as well as their most aggressive and abrasive. Not long after the birth of De Graef’s son came the devastating news that both his own father and Psychonaut bassist/vocalist Thomas Michiels’ father had been diagnosed with advanced cancers. Living day-to-day and torn between joy and grief, the band found themselves shedding the grand scope and world-shattering agenda of Violate Consensus Reality to focus on the here and now.
Amidst such turbulent times, the band found strength and support within their post-metal community. The album was recorded and produced by the band alongside their long-time collaborator and close friend Chiaran Verheyden (Hippotraktor) with help and advice from Psychonaut’s live engineer Victor, who will no doubt make this album sound just as awesome on stage. Even the artwork for World Maker was a family affair, being designed by close friend SamCoussens of Belgian cosmic sludge metallers Pothamus.
In the face of life’s soaring highs and desolate lows, World Maker is direct and brave without sacrificing any of Psychonaut’s raw power, creative innovation or inimitable musical depth. Where their previous full-length offerings have charted grand introspective courses through time and space, World Maker is breathtaking in its uncompromising clarity: a father singing to his newborn son as a son bids his own father farewell.
Having sent a shockwave through the post-metal and prog scenes with their three times repressed Pelagic Records debut Unfold The God Man in 2020 before following it up with the transformative metaphysical complexities of 2022’s Violate Consensus Reality, Psychonaut have played prestigious Belgian open-air festivals like Alcatraz, Rock Herk and Boomtown Festival as well as boutique events such as Soulcrusher, Roadburn Redux and A Colossal Weekend whilst sharing stages across Europe with the likes of Amenra, Brutus and Pelagic labelmates The Ocean and PG.Lost.
World Maker track list:
1. World Maker 2. Endless Currents 3. You Are The Sky 4. Everything Else Is Just The Weather 5. And You Came With Searing Light 6. Origins 7. All In Time 8. Stargazer 9. All Was Quiet 10. Endless Erosion
Psychonaut are:
Stefan de Graef – Guitars/Vocals Thomas Michiels – Bass/Vocals Harm Peters – Drums
Morten Veland (SIRENIA, MORTEMIA and founder of TRISTANIA) released the twelfth Mortemia song from ‘The Covid Aftermath Sessions’ today. The track is called At Journey’s End and it’s featuring Chiara Tricarico from Moonlight Haze on guest vocals. The song is available on all digital platforms as of yesterday the 1st of August 2025.
Morten Veland:
“I’m proud and honoured to welcome Chiara Tricarico from Moonlight Haze as my special guest for ‘The Covid Aftermath Sessions’. This is the twelfth and last song that completes this album. Me and Chiara have been talking about doing a collab for some time, and now the time has finally come. The upcoming song is an original track called ‘At Journey’s End’, written and composed by yours truly. The vibe of the song feels like a nice blend of old-school and modern symphonic metal. Chiara did an amazing job, her beautiful voice makes an absolutely perfect match with this song.
I feel truly privileged and thankful to have Chiara on board this project and we can’t wait to share this song with you all. The song will be available on all digital platforms on Friday the 1st of August 2025”.
Chiara:
“Morten and I had been talking about a possible collaboration for years, since we met at a festival and he invited me to sing a track for his solo project Mortemia, so I’m very happy that this is finally happening! He did a great job writing a song which is perfect for my voice and I had a blast recording it. I’m really looking forward for everybody to finally being able to listen to “At Journey’s End!”
After 11 years of silence Norwegian multi-instrumentalist, producer and artist Morten Veland activated his solo project Mortemia during the early stages of the Covid 19 pandemic, this time with a brand new concept consisting of collaborations with multiple guest singers. ‘The Pandemic Pandemonium Sessions’ was a series of singles released on a monthly basis, each song featuring a well known and highly profiled guest singer from the metal scene. Now he is ready to endeavor on the next project entitled ‘The Covid Aftermath Sessions’, once more the project will feature multiple amazing guest singers.
So far the following singers has contributed for his collaborations:
Madeleine Liljestam (Eleine) Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion, Ayreon, MaYaN) Alessia Scolletti (Temperance, ERA) Liv Kristine (Liv Kristine, ex-Theatre of Tragedy, ex-Leaves Eyes) Melissa Bonny (Ad Infinitum, The Dark Side of the Moon) Brittney Slayes (Unleash the Archers) Maja Shining (Forever Still) Erica Ohlsson (Metalite) Heidi Parviainen (Dark Sarah, ex Amberian Dawn) Zora Cock (Blackbriar) Linda Toni Grahn (Anima Veil, ex Follow the Cipher) Caterina Nix (Chaos Magic) Federica Lanna (Volturian) Ulli Perhonen (ex-Snow White Blood) Ambre Vourvahis (Xandria) Fabienne Erni (Eluveitie, Illumishade) Lindy-Fay Hella (Wardruna) Margarita Monet (Edge of Paradise) Marina La Torraca (Exit Eden, Phantom Elite) Nicoletta Rosellini (Alterium, Walk in Darkness) Maxi Nil (Jaded Star, ex Visions of Atlantis) Capri (Amberian Dawn) Emma Zoldan (Sirenia) Dianne van Giersbergen (DIANNE, Ex Libris) Chiara Tricarico (Moonlight Haze)
FINGER ELEVEN, one of the best-selling Canadian bands of all time, are experiencing a vibrant, full circle moment. The multi-platinum Juno Award-winning group—Scott Anderson (vocals), James Black (lead guitar, backing vocals), Rick Jackett (rhythm guitar), Sean Anderson (bass), Steve Molella (drums)—criss-crossed America last summer with long-time former labelmates Creed, revisiting the summer of ‘99. “People were just smiling the whole time—it was contagious,” guitarist Rick Jackett declares. “We forgot we had so many friends in America. That was a cool feeling.”
That infectious, invigorating energy helped FINGER ELEVEN enthusiastically complete their first new studio album in a decade, LAST NIGHT ON EARTH, primed for a November 7 release via Better Noise Music, their first with the label. Pre-orders are available now HERE. Today (August 1), they’ve released the album’s second single and video, the thunderous “Blue Sky Mystery” featuring Richard Patrick from Filter. Listen to the song HERE and watch the video HERE.
Vocalist Scott Anderson notes that the chorus had a heavy Black Sabbath vibe, and the band maintained that throughout the song’s evolution even as the verses underwent a larger transformation. Changes even came in at the eleventh hour of mixing, but they got the song they wanted. He wrote lyrics for “Blue Sky Mystery” about burrowing into the rabbit hole of a deep obsession. “The more it’s in front of you, the less you understand it, the more you’re obsessed with it,” he says. “You can’t get your mind around it, or away from it.”
“‘Blue Sky Mystery’ was originally called ‘10 Ton Saber,’” as guitarist James Black recalls. “I just pictured some guy in Star Wars with an enormous, bazooka-sized lightsaber.”
“Working with Scott, James, Rick, Sean and Steve could not have gone smoother. They are good guys and total pros,” says Filter singer Richard Patrick. “Coincidentally, Filter is also celebrating its 30th Anniversary and we’ve never had the opportunity to work with FINGER ELEVEN before, save for an appearance at a festival together somewhere. Recording ‘Blue Sky Mystery’ was a lot of fun.”
Last year, fans got the first taste of LAST NIGHT ON EARTH via the high-octane “Adrenaline” (which reached the Top 20 on the Mediabase Active Rock chart) and a video that’s reached over 176k views on YouTube. The song also reached #2 on the Active Rock chart in Canada, where the song held strong in the Top 5 for over 4 months and is still inside the Top 20 one year after release. “As we were making LAST NIGHT ON EARTH, there was this feeling that we were making a big rock record,” guitarist Rick Jackett recalls. “We had done that early in our career, and then we veered away from it. But it was time to go back and embrace that bigness of the sound. Even the soft songs sound big.”
FINGER ELEVEN have always amalgamated their musical influences from the 1960s forward into their rock mix. They acknowledge that Phil Collins and Genesis were a big melodic influence on LAST NIGHT ON EARTH. And the new tunes explore time-honored FINGER ELEVEN concepts with fresh twists. While “Adrenaline” is a rousing, intense anthem about pushing forward against adversity, “Blue Sky Mystery” is another hard-hitting rocker about being beguiled by something just out of reach. Further into the album, “The Mountain” rides musical peaks and valleys in its quest to chase the song, about the creative process expressed in a fantasy setting. Then there is the acoustic number “Last Night On Earth,” which tackles relationship turmoil. It’s the most personal new track for frontman Scott Anderson.
Originally from Burlington, Ontario and now based mostly out of Toronto, FINGER ELEVEN have released a series of consecutive hit albums and become among the greatest live bands to ever emerge from the great White North. Their self-titled debut album broke the band into the international mainstream, achieving Gold status in the United States and Platinum in Canada, and smashing the first single “One Thing,” across the radio and Billboard charts. Their 2007 album, THEM VS. YOU VS. ME, launched the single “Paralyzer,” setting radio records in the U.S., peaking at #1 internationally and going 5x Platinum, the band’s second million-plus seller. They won the Juno Award for Rock Album the following year and set an incredible run at rock radio, with an unbeaten #14 weeks at the top spot. LIFE TURNS ELECTRIC, was nominated for a Juno Award for Best Rock Album of the Year. 2015’s FIVE CROOKED LINES continued to electrify audiences the world over and their 2023 GREATEST HITS includes their biggest smash hit in a decade, “Together Right,” which topped the radio charts for an amazing five-week run at #1.
After rocking a busy festival season this summer, FINGER ELEVEN will hit the U.S. with Alien Ant Farm and Brkn Love or a flurry of concerts leading up to the new album’s release. This will be followed by their biggest Canadian tour ever, with fellow native sons Headstones and Tea Party joining them. Tickets are available now on the band’s official website.
Here are the FINGER ELEVEN tour dates:
8/2 Port Colborne, ON – Canal Days Festival 8/22 Regina, SK – Shake the Lake (Conexus Arts Centre) 8/23 Mulhurst Bay, AB – Hilah Ayers Wilderness RV Park 8/30 Goderich, ON – Goderich Salt Festival 9/6 Hanmer, ON – East Valley Days Festival 9/25 Buffalo, NY – Town Ballroom 9/26 West Springfield, MA – The Big E (no Alien Ant Farm and Brkn Love) 9/27 Harrisburg, PA – Xl Live 9/28 Hampton Beach, NH – Wally’s Pub 9/30 Warrendale, PA – Jergels 10/1 Albany, NY – Empire Live 10/3 Leesburg, VA – Tally Ho Theater 10/4 Sayreville, NJ – Starland Ballroom 10/5 Philadelphia, PA – Brooklyn Bowl 10/7 Cleveland, OH – Mercury Music Lounge 10/9 Columbus, OH – The King Of Clubs 10/10 Des Plaines, IL – Des Plaines Theatre 10/11 Hobart, IN – Hobart Theatre 10/12 Flint, MI – Machine Shop 11/25 Penticton, BC – South Okanagan Event Centre 11/26 Abbotsford, BC – Abbotsford Arts Centre 11/28 Edmonton, AB – Rogers Place 11/29 Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Casino Event Centre 12/1 Winnipeg, MB – Canada Life Centre 12/3 Montreal, QC – MTELUS 12/5 Toronto, ON – The Theatre at Great Canadian Resort 12/6 Ottawa, ON – The Arena at TD Place 12/8 Peterborough, ON – Memorial Centre 12/10 Windsor, ON – The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor 12/12 Moncton, NB – Casino New Brunswick 12/13 Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre
“Domination” is within the metal world’s reach as PRIMAL FEAR premiere the official music video for ‘Tears Of Fire.’ The track is once again taken from their forthcoming record, which was already hailed as “absolutely stunning” (My Global Mind) and “the strongest PRIMAL FEAR album in recent times” (Metal Planet Music).
After ascending with clear guitar leads, the song erupts for the first time before vocalist Ralf Scheepers calls out one of the struggle-packed verses in his unmistakable tone.
He explains the intention behind ‘Tears Of Fire’: “Heroic thoughts and words to make it clear that no one has to go through anything alone, but that there are always a few people by your side to go through thick and thin with you.”
But the presence of lament is of short duration: The energising pre-chorus lifts up those in sorrow and paves the way to the track’s hymnic chorus, leaving all of us looking into the future determinedly. Simply put: ‘Tears Of Fire’ is another proof of the group’s world-class when it comes to writing ear-splitting music with a sensitive yet overall positive message.
Continuing the band’s successful collaboration with rEvolver and film maker Patric Ullaeus, PRIMAL FEAR also have shot a music video for their striking new single. The result picks up the lyrics of ‘Tears Of Fire’ and shows the band in a rather dark setting combined with a hopeful blaze what portrays the song’s essence in a stunning way.
Pre-save the album & pre-order it in your preferred physical format (ltd. CD earbook, digipak-CD, jewel case-CD & various vinyl variants): https://primalfear.rpm.link/dominationPR
Hitting the shelves on September 5, 2025 through Reigning Phoenix Music, “Domination” will also be celebrated live on stage in the form of a 21-date European tour with support coming from special guests and label mates ELEINE. All dates & ticket info can be found below!
“Domination” was recorded at Dennis Ward’s Kangaroo Studios (HELLOWEEN, ANGRA etc.) in autumn 2024, produced by Mat Sinner and co-produced by Ralf Scheepers as well as Magnus Karlsson. Rounded off by multiple PRIMAL FEAR mixing/mastering engineer Jacob Hansen (AMORPHIS, VOLBEAT etc.) at his own studios in Denmark, the album artwork was designed by Death.Milk.Designs.
“Domination” – Track Listing:
The Hunter
Destroyer
Far Away
I Am The Primal Fear
Tears Of Fire
Heroes And Gods
Hallucinations
Eden [feat. Melissa Bonny of AD INFINITUM]
Scream
The Dead Don’t Die
Crossfire
March Boy March
A Tune I Won’t Forget Bonus Track [physical only; excl. jewel case-CD]
Bridges Will Burn
PRIMAL FEAR live:
21.08.2025 DE Haddeby – Baltic Open Air 23.08.2025 UK Newark – Stonedead Festival SOLD OUT
“Domination” Tour 2025 w/ ELEINE
05.09.2025 DE Hamburg – Markthalle 06.09.2025 DE Leipzig – Anker 07.09.2025 DE Bochum – Zeche 09.09.2025 DE Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal 10.09.2025 DE Munich – Backstage 12.09.2025 DE Memmingen – Kaminwerk 13.09.2025 DE Mannheim – Capitol 14.09.2025 DE Regensburg-Obertraubling – Eventhall Airport 16.09.2025 CH Pratteln – Konzertfabrik Z7 18.09.2025 DE Berlin – Hole 44 19.09.2025 DE Naila – Frankenhalle 20.09.2025 DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann (Halle) 21.09.2025 BE Sint-Niklaas – De Casino 23.09.2025 NL Amstelveen – P60 25.09.2025 PL Warsaw – Stodola 26.09.2025 CZ Prague – MeetFactory 27.09.2025 CZ Zlín – Masters of Rock Café 30.09.2025 ES Madrid – Mon 01.10.2025 ES Murcia – Garaje 03.10.2025 ES Barcelona – Salamandra 04.10.2025 ES Pamplona – Sala Totem
Going strong for nearly three decades, the band founded and still led by Mat Sinner (bass, vocals) and Ralf Scheepers (vocals) have never let down their global fanbase. Relentless and constantly pushing their limits, PRIMAL FEAR ensure that no two albums ever sound the same. After “Code Red” [2023] hit some of the highest chart positions of their career, expectations for the next release were higher than ever. Now joined by gifted guitarist Thalìa Bellazecca and former touring drummer André Hilgers, the quintet were more than up for the challenge. And as “Domination” makes clear, no obstacle is too great for PRIMAL FEAR’s powerhouse songwriting trio – Sinner, Scheepers, and guitarist Magnus Karlsson, who also rejoins the band’s live line-up after several years away.
From the hard-hitting opener ‘The Hunter’ and first single ‘Far Away,’ to the uplifting mid-tempo anthem ‘Tears Of Fire’ and the epic ballad ‘Eden’ – featuring a surprise guest appearance by AD INFINITUM’s Melissa Bonny – “Domination” delivers on all fronts. Add in neck-breakers like ‘Scream’ and ‘Crossfire,’ and the reflective, string-and-piano-driven closer ‘A Tune I Won’t Forget,’ and it’s clear: PRIMAL FEAR aren’t here to reclaim the crown – they’re here to prove they’ve never left the throne of heavy/power metal royalty.
PRIMAL FEAR are: Ralf Scheepers | vocals Mat Sinner | bass, vocals Magnus Karlsson | guitars Thalìa Bellazecca | guitars André Hilgers | drums
Whether charging through deadly technical whirlwinds or blackened ice storms, Ragnar Sverrisson has quickly established himself as a leading drummer for extreme metal. The Reykjavík native burst onto the scene with the brutal Beneath and has performed live with symphonic stars Carach Angren. When he’s not on tour with Abyssal, Sverrisson splits time between the tech-death band and Icelandic Music Award nominees Ophidian I and his blackened death metal duo Helfró.
“Sverrisson deserves all the credit in the world for putting his whole chest into this performance”, Nine Circles wrote in praise of Helfró’s latest album Tálgröf. “It is impossible to listen to the breakneck pace of the drums or the energetic riffing and not bang your head”.
Today, Season of Mist is proud to announce that Sverrisson has signed an endorsement deal with Czarcie Kopyto. The Polish pedal company endorses many of the metal world’s most respected drummers, including Season of Mist labelmates Frost (1349), Simen Sandnes (Temic) and Diego Morenzoni (Virvum).
“I’m so happy to enter into a partnership with Czarzie Kopyto”, Sverrisson says. “The only thing that matches the ingenious design and impeccable craftsmanship of their drum pedals is the unbelievable level of customer care”.
To celebrate his endorsement, Sverrisson recorded a new drum playthrough of “Jarteikn”, the pummeling opener atop Tálgröf. His relentless blasts and long mid-tempo strokes show off the strength and durability of Czarcie Kopyto’s top-of-the-line supreme all black pedals.
Watch the drum playthrough for “Jarteikn”:
The drum playthrough for “Jarteikn” was created by Ásgeir Helgi (@asgeirhelg)
“When playing in bands like Helfró and Ophidian I, which are technical and hyper-fast, reliable and well-designed gear can change everything”, Sverrisson says. “It’s so important to be able to fully trust your gear when you’re lugging it around the world. Knowing that Czarcie Kopyto will quickly help solve any problem that might arise inspires me to hold myself to an equally high standard”.
Ragnar Sverrisson is also endorsed by Zildjian and Vic Firth.
Formed amidst the haunting landscapes of Iceland, HELFRÓ is a formidable force in the world of blackened death metal. With their relentless aggression, atmospheric soundscapes, and compelling songwriting, they have carved their own path in the metal scene.
The journey of Helfró began when guitarist and songwriter Ragnar Sverrisson sought to bring his musical visions to life, Drawing inspiration from the bleakness of Icelandic winters, the mysticism of nature, and the chaos of the human experience. Helfró’s self-titled debut album was released in 2020, marking the band’s official entry into the world of extreme metal. With a relentless barrage of blast beats, crushing riffs, and haunting melodies, the album showcased their ability to seamlessly blend aggression and atmosphere.
Evolving with the advent of the sophomore album, Tálgröf, listeners can expect even more ferocity as Helfró dives deeper into death metal territory while not straying to far from the signature ice-cold climactic tremolo riffing notable of their previous work. Characterized by its ferocity, the new album also carries introspective and thought-provoking themes, reflecting the band members’ willingness to explore the depths of the human experience. Helfró is destined to leave an impact on the realm of extreme music, captivating audiences with their unique brand of Icelandic metal.
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
