STRYPER are bringing the holiday spirit early with the release of a brand-new Christmas single, “Still the Light.” Just in time for Christmas in July, the track also arrives alongside an official lyric video, available below.
Michael Sweet comments on the track:
“STRYPER fans worldwide have wanted a Christmas record for 40+ years. Now we can say that we have finally made this a reality. With the first single, ‘Still The Light’ – let’s celebrate Christmas in July and acknowledge that Jesus will always be The Reason for The Season!!”
STRYPER are: Michael Sweet – Lead Vocals/Lead & Rhythm Guitar Robert Sweet – Drums & Percussion Oz Fox – Vocals/Lead and Rhythm Guitar Perry Richardson – Vocals/Bass
Hammerheart Records is thrilled to announce the signing of Sweden’s most explosive thrash metal export, Hostilia. This partnership brings together Gothenburg’s metal legacy with an uncompromising vision for the future of extreme music. The full album will be released later this year via the label.
What started as two teenage brothers with a dream, has evolved into Sweden’s most talked-about thrash metal force, proving that age is just a number when talent burns this bright.
The band comments on the signing: “We’ve been poked by a bunch of labels the past six months, but it wasn’t until we crossed paths with Hammerheart Records that we felt a true connection. The label’s genuine passion for music and the network they bring makes this collaboration a perfect match for us. We are super stoked about exploring the future together with Hammerheart.“
In celebration, Hostilia have released one of their Top Floor Live Session videos via the bands YouTube channel. Watch ‘Atomic Thunder’ here:
The Swedish thrash metal band Hostilia was formed in Gothenburg, in the fall of 2021 by brothers William (lead guitar) and Albert Lindeblad (drums) – just 18 and 14 years old at the time. Before the year was over, the band had released their first demo, which caught the attention of the underground. Several line-up changes followed, but everything fell into place when bassist Gabriel Sepúlveda, guitarist Petter Hernroth, and dynamic frontman Tim Angelini joined the ranks. The band had finally found a lineup ready to go all the way.
Since the beginning, Hostilia was set on pouring all their energy into becoming a ferocious live act. Their reputation spread fast, and in December 2023 they were handpicked to perform at the annual party at Restaurant 2112 – the Gothenburg bar owned by members of In Flames and The Halo Effect.
Among the guests was Jakob Herrmann, producer and owner of Top Floor Studios. There to enjoy the party, he left impressed and intrigued by the band’s songwriting and tight performance. Driven by curiosity, he offered Hostilia a chance to record at his studio – free of charge.
To test his gut feeling, Herrmann insisted on recording everything live in one room: no overdubs, no click tracks, no edits. The raw session exceeded all expectations and was released in December 2024 by Portuguese label Gruesome Records as All The Blood Spilt – The Top Floor Live Sessions, the EP captured the essence of Hostilia in full force. Each track was accompanied by a live-in-the-studio video.
In the summer of 2024, KISS legend Gene Simmons was looking for a young guitarist to join him on stage during his headline show at Liseberg amusement park in Gothenburg. The Simmons team chose Hostilia lead guitarist William Lindeblad – on the very day of the concert. Just hours later, William stood on stage with his childhood hero, performing ‘I Love It Loud’ in front of 5,000 people – a song he had never played before.
Determined not to waste time, Hostilia began work on their debut album even before the EP was released. Drums were recorded and produced by Jakob Herrmann at Top Floor Studios. However, the band soon realized they wanted full creative control – and fearlessly chose to produce and record the rest of the album themselves, made possible by the band’s guitarist Petter Hernroth, at this point a certified sound engineer.
In November 2024, Hostilia joined Swedish heavy rockers Bombus as support act on a nationwide tour – an eye-opener for many unsuspecting metal fans across the country. By the tour’s end, Hostilia had been offered support slots with death metal legends Dismember and a tour supporting thrash icons The Haunted – both happening in the fall of 2025.
That same year, the band was featured with an interview and live footage in the critically acclaimed “Total Metal” exhibition in Stockholm – a tribute to Swedish metal past, present, and future. The segment was produced by world-renowned director Jonas Åkerlund. Swedish national TV also aired a piece about the future of metal in Sweden, with Hostilia as the example – including footage from their Top Floor live session videos.
What began as a simple ambition – to become a killer live band – may just have been the perfect strategy after all.
Hostilia tour dates 20 Sep – Black Nights & Heavy Nights Festival 2025 – Stavanger (NOR) 10 Oct – Dismember / Support: Impurity + Hostilia – Stockholm (SWE) 11 Oct – Dismember / Support: Hostilia + Impurity – Gothenburg (SWE) 30 Oct – The Haunted / Support: Eradikated + Hostilia – Uppsala (SWE) 31 Oct – The Haunted / Support: Eradikated + Hostilia – Örebro (SWE) 1 Nov – Vara In Rock Festival 2025 – Vara (SWE) 4 Dec – The Haunted / Support: Eradikated + Hostilia – Gothenburg (SWE) 5 Dec – The Haunted / Support: Eradikated + Hostilia – Norrköping (SWE) 6 Dec – The Haunted / Support: Eradikated + Hostilia – Gävle (SWE) 11 Dec – The Haunted / Support: Eradikated + Hostilia – Malmö (SWE) 12 Dec – The Haunted / Support: Eradikated + Hostilia – Jönköping (SWE) 13 Dec – The Haunted / Support: Eradikated + Hostilia – Karlstad (SWE)
Line Up: William Lindeblad: lead guitar Albert Lindeblad: drums Gabriel Sepúlveda: bass Petter Hernroth: guitar Tim Angelini: vocals
IN THEORY which is headed up by Mike Mostert and Tony Covino is not your average rock band; they are a powerhouse of sound, emotion, and creativity, redefining the boundaries of the genre with their unique and electrifying sound. Hailing from diverse musical backgrounds, this dynamic group of talented players has come together to forge a path that is distinctly their own. Formed in the heart of a bustling music scene, bringing together a group of talented individuals who shared a passion for pushing the limits of rock music. Their journey began in Muscle Shoals where they honed their craft, and their chemistry as a band quickly became evident.
n Theory has just released their new album Retribution with special guest Tommy Henriksen (Alice Cooper/ Hollywood Vampires/Crossbone Skully) on the title track which landed on the Apple Music New In Rock playlist and as Henriksen explains, “In Theory is a band that Mike and Tony have created and I was thrilled to be part of the track “Retribution” it’s a canvas of passion and attitude, where every chord strikes the heart of Rock n Roll.” The album also featured Black Sabbath/Dio drummer Vinny Appice who simply states, “It’s so good, I am speechless.”
The first single “Since I have been Loving You” which was released in April featured special guest Eric Gales in tribute to one the greatest Rock bands Led Zeppelin. As Mostert states, “We created a unique dark, dramatic version of a classic with tension, passion which takes the listener through an emotional journey that transcends the body and soul”.
The song landed on both the New In Rock and Breaking Hard Rock playlists on Apple Music and the Gibson Guitar Rock playlist. Covino continues his thoughts on the track, “A passionate remake of a classic song for the modern era filled with blazing guitars from two powerhouse players.10 out of 10!”, and Gales adds, “I am very proud and honored to be a guest on this rendition of such a legendary song, done by my guy Mike Mostert. Great playing all the way around. Love it.”
BUNDLE INCLUDES: 1-Retribution CD 1-CD Single w/special guest Tommy Henriksen 1-Photograph signed by Mike Mostert, Tony Covino, Tommy Henriksen 1-CD Single featuring Eric Gales 1-Melanie Watts Artwork signed by Mike Mostert & Tony Covino 2-In Theory/Mike Mostert custom signed Guitar Picks
NYOS, the lauded Finnish instrumental duo, return with news of their new album Growl, and reveal the first single ‘Get Ready’ from the record.
Growl will be released 10th October via Pelagic Records. Pre-order Growl here: https://orcd.co/nyos-growl
Since their formation in 2014, NYOS have carved out a distinctive place within Europe’s experimental and post-rock scenes, characterised by their relentless energy, polyrhythmic complexity, and hypnotic layering.
While still rooted in their signature loop-based approach, Growl is “more ambitious with song soundscapes and compositions”, says guitarist Tom Brooke, naturally embracing a denser, more textured sound with greater attention to atmosphere and tension.
Throughout their discography, NYOS have shown an emotional and tonal shift toward ambiguity — a willingness to dwell in dissonance or delay resolution in favour of sustained tension or tranquil drift. These dramatic shifts can be felt throughout the album, in which the listener is escorted from vibrance to intensity, offering a contrast not in energy, but in clarity.
“We often have a vibe or some ideas we wanna try out”, comments Brooke. “The songs though basically come from jamming – we’ll jam stuff and I record the jams, and then kinda backwards shape them into songs which we then re-record! So often the final structures will be set when doing the first guitar/loop recordings, but the ideas are always all there.”
The result is a dynamic and emotionally complex record that feels like a mature synthesis of everything that had come before. There is a joy in the interplay of Growl, even when the music veers into abrasive terrain.
“Growl is our longest record to date, and when producing it, we were very conscious to make sure it is an album that holds the listener”, states Brooke.
Throughout Growl, NYOS remain unmistakably themselves: their hallmark technical precision and sonic inventiveness are ever-present. Harnessing a vast dynamic range, the Finnish two-piece blend moments of fragile minimalism with visceral, precise, and emotionally immersive sound. “I think sonically it has all the characteristics of some of our works, but I think that we both feel like this record is the first time we’ve ever truly managed to capture everything we want”, says Brooke, “all the angles/emotions/vibes came out just as we hoped/imagined.”
Track-list 1. Get Ready 2. Superstar 3. Lézard Rouge 4. Harder Than Rain 5. Pepe-Pepe 6. Lo4 7. Walking In Moonlight 8. Be Free 9. Alright, Goodnight
As eclectic and exciting as ever, NYOS are a band in continuous motion, unafraid to challenge themselves and their listeners with ever-expanding sonic vocabularies. Growl is an album that is both coherent and seamless in its movement, walking a tightrope between meticulous structure and explosive energy.
NYOS are: Tom Brooke – guitar Tuomas Kainulainen – drums
Italian outfit MALOTA has officially announced their brand new album, “Scapegoat”, set to be released on October 10 via Go Down Records. In anticipation of the release, the band has also shared a first album teaser, which you can watch below.
“Scapegoat” marks MALOTA’s sophomore studio album, with its title evoking the imagery of a sacrificial lamb. This concept symbolizes the degradation permeating our world, the anguish born from hatred and fanaticism, and the profound fear of isolation. In this new chapter, the band takes a distinct sonic turn. Rhythms are described as slowing to a menacing crawl, melodies become darker and more foreboding, and the vocals carve out a raw, visceral space filled with screams and despair. The rock influences prominent in their earlier work are set aside in favor of a metallic, gritty, and monolithic sound, characterized by tension and an unyielding, uncompromising edge.
The album’s striking cover features a woman locking eyes with the viewer, her silent gaze heavy with judgment. She embodies all those who have suffered – and continue to suffer – at the hands of ignorance, cruelty, and a toxic culture shaped by a male-dominated world. With “Scapegoat”, MALOTA delves deep into the intricacies of human relationships and the pervasive anxiety of facing an uncertain future. The album reflects on the violence of conflicts, both past and present, channeling a profound sense of unease and disillusionment with contemporary society.
Furthermore, in support of the album, the band has shared a first album teaser, which you can watch here:
“Scapegoat” will be out on October 10 via Go Down Records and is available for pre-order at THIS LOCATION
MALOTA are: Max D’Ospina | bass, piano, didjeridoo, vocals Alberto Montagner | guitars Massimo Battistella | guitars, backing vocals Roberto ‘Mariuz’ Mariuzzo | drums, percussion, lead vocals on ‘Clemency’, backing vocals
Wanikiya Record/Promotion is proud to announce the release of the new single by MACH, entitled “Rivalsa”, available on all digital platforms starting today, July 29th, 2025. A track full of energy and meaning, it marks a new milestone in the band’s artistic journey and confirms their expressive strength in the Italian alternative rock scene.
MACH officially joined the Wanikiya Record/Promotion roster with an intense, contemporary, and authentic project, able to merge sonic power and emotional depth.
The band was formed in 2024 through the collaboration between singer-songwriter Marco Del Papa and guitarist/producer Alessandro Mammola (well known for his work with Draconicon and Alterium). They were soon joined by bassist Gabriele Paolucci and drummer Riccardo Paparozzi, forming a tight and cohesive lineup.
MACH’s sound is a captivating blend of alternative rock, metal, and post-grunge, enriched by melodic and songwriter-driven influences. Their lyrics delve into themes such as alienation, inner struggle, self-discovery, and—most notably—revenge (“rivalsa”). This new track perfectly embodies the spirit of the band: direct, powerful, and visceral.
Following their first two singles, “Perdersi” (title track accompanied by an intense lyric video) and “Indifferente”, the band continues to carve out a strong, coherent, and personal sound—gaining increasing recognition from both fans and industry professionals.
With the support of Wanikiya Record/Promotion, MACH are ready to move forward in their artistic journey, with more releases, music videos, and a series of explosive live shows soon to be announced.
Follow MACH on their official channels and don’t miss the release of “RIVALSA”! Their path is just beginning… but it’s already making an impact.
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
