LOST is the debut single from LET SHADES DO, a new heavy metal project born in Italy from the collaboration between composer, guitarist, and vocalist Alex Under and lyricist and vocalist Candice Hellish, featuring contributions from renowned international musicians such as Zachary “Zak” Stevens (Savatage, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Circle II Circle), Giovanni Giuliani (Shinedirt), Neil Zaza (Neil Zaza Band), Brooke St. James (Tyketto, Lionsheart), Maestro Mistheria (Vivaldi Metal Project, Bruce Dickinson), Oliver Holzwarth (Sieges Even, Blind Guardian, Rhapsody of Fire), Andrea Ra (Andrea Ra Band), Enrico “Chan Choosy” Cianciusi (Headless, Neil Zaza Band), and John “Mac” Macaluso (TNT, Ark, Yngwie Malmsteen, Michael Romeo).
LOST is the first chapter of a four-part series featured in the band’s upcoming debut EP. The song explores themes of inner turmoil, loss of self, and the search for a guiding light in a world adrift. Its powerful sound and dark atmosphere well represented in the intense official video available on YouTube, reflect the band’s artistic identity: a distorted yet sharp vision of reality, hitting listeners with raw emotional intensity and cutting-edge sonic impact.
The track was written by Alex Under (music) and Candice Hellish (lyrics) and features:
Alex Under: guitar and vocals
Candice Hellish: vocals and lyrics
Oliver Holzwarth: bass
Enrico “Chan Choosy” Cianciusi: drums
LOST is a scream in the dark, a manifesto of resistance that paves the way for the debut EP, soon to be released by Volcano Records & Promotion.
Nordic dark metal band Monolicht unveils its new single “Frozen Child”, marking the band’s darkest and deepest musical expression to date. The track fuses the bleakest tones of melodic dark metal and black metal, creating a cold, almost paralyzing atmosphere.
“Frozen Child” is based on true events from a small town in Northern Finland during the 1990s. The narrative unfolds like the polar night – gradually deepening, stark, and emotionally raw. The song culminates in a hypnotic finale where time itself seems to stop.
Acclaimed British hard rock band, Wytch Hazel, will release its new album, ‘Wytch Hazel V: Lamentations‘, on July 4 via Bad Omen Records (Pøltergeist, Satan’s Satyrs). Recorded with longtime producer Ed Turner (The Ettes, Heavy Trash, Purson), ‘Lamentations‘ delivers uplifting, powerful heavy music, rife with a Maidenesque jubilance, that builds on the momentum of the band’s lush catalog, including the LPs ‘Prelude‘, ‘II: Sojourn‘, ‘III: Pentecost‘ and 2023’s ‘IV: Sacrament’, a record hailed as “gloriously bright heavy metal” which landed at #15 on Billboard’s Top New Artists Albums in its first week of release.
Pre-order / Pre-Save ‘Wytch Hazel V: Lamentations‘ at this location.
In advance of the the LP’s release, Wytch Hazel drops a video for its new song, “Elements“, captured by Wild Stag Studio. With concentrated shades of Blue Öyster Cult circa Fire Of Unknown Origin, “Elements” has a bright, buoyant bounce and effervescent surge to warm the coldest heart, its sweet solo blending hummable melodic ingenuity with spontaneous flair. Watch “Elements” now at this location.
“Elements is a nod to both 70’s FM radio rock and bands who experimented with interesting and progressive ideas such as BÖC and Kansas,” vocalist/guitarist Colin Hendra. “Lyrically, I really enjoyed playing around with the concept of weather and how powerful and beyond the control of man it is. It felt like a challenge at the time, and a little out of my comfort zone, but I’m extremely happy with the song as a whole. It feels cohesive now the time has been spent on it“.
Led by Hendra, Wytch Hazel is a singular source of hard rock/heavy metal dominion. The quartet have continually underscored and bolstered a signature sound rooted in heroic days of yore, finessed to an elegant apex. The fifth Wytch Hazel album is overflowing with indelible earworms the likes of which must be heard to be believed. And believe, you shall.
“I believe things have meanings and significance,” Hendra emphasizes. “Music isn’t just a self-indulgent, entertainment thing, for me it’s a huge part of my life, very special, very magical and very meaningful. I want Wytch Hazel to be a force for good, a healing power.”
The first track released from ‘Lamentations‘ is the galloping “Woven“, a shining example of Wytch Hazel‘s avant-garde songcraft. “Woven” radiates a wholesome rustic charm tempered with pensive melancholy, its scrupulous simplicity belying its ability to continue blossoming with every spin. Stream “Woven” now at this location.
“On “Woven”, in particular, you can hear us locking in and playing off each other in the room” says Hendra of this crafty singalong. “I really wanted to write a heavy rock song about sensitivity and gentleness which you don’t hear too much of really. There’s this section where it goes quiet after the lyrics “be sensitive” then a big guitar solo comes in where I try my best to shred and let it all loose“. This heavenly lead, initially improvised, then had to be slowed down and meticulously relearnt.
‘V: Lamentations‘ track listing: 01. I Lament 02. Run the Race 03. The Citadel 04. Elements (stream video) 05. The Demon Within 06. Racing Forwards 07. Elixir 08. Woven (stream visualizer) 09. Heavy Load 10. Healing Power
Over time, Wytch Hazel‘s indelible sound has caught the ear of many of today’s tastemaker indie platforms, with the quartet being hailed as “the most badass Christian metal outfit out there today” by Invisible Oranges, while the band and its music lauded as “a hard-rocking, foot-stomping good time” by MetalSucks, “powerful and emotive” by Heavy Music HQ, “one of the hookiest bands around” by Angry Metal Guy, and “excellent rock” by Nine Circles, while Metal Injection pegged Wytch Hazel as a band to watch as part of its “Lesser-Known Modern Heavy Metal Bands You Need In Your Life” hot list.
It’s these deeply personal lyrics, coming from a place of faith and conviction, which make Wytch Hazel stand out further from the modern herd; although we’ve been bombarded with the hip diabolism of the ‘occult rock‘ revival for the past two decades, no other band has dared to offer the other side of the story. Lest any heathen headbanger start to fear any kind of evangelical conversion agenda, Hendra expands on his position: “Music is created for all, it’s a common grace for everyone,” he affirms, “which is why the music that shows the glory of God the most, in my opinion, is not music created by Christians. It’s Black Sabbath, you know!“
In addition to vocalist/guitarist Colin Hendra, Wytch Hazel features Alex Haslam (guitar), Andy Shackleton (bass) and Aaron Hay (drums). Follow the band on Facebook and Instagram.
A bass, a soul that scratches and caresses: the artist returns with an intense and authentic track.
“Poco o Niente” is finally available on all digital platforms. The new single by SixBass, aka Silvia Casetta, a multifaceted bassist and artist who is capturing the attention of both the public and critics with her unique style and magnetic energy.
“Poco o Niente” is a track that hits straight to the heart: a perfect fusion of modern sounds and pulsating bass lines, with lyrics that speak openly of vulnerability, strength, and the desire for redemption. A true statement of identity, where SixBass lays bare her artistic and human essence.
“With this song, I wanted to say that even when you feel like you have little or nothing, you can still do a lot. You just need to believe in who you are, even on the hardest days.” – SixBass
The single confirms the artist’s exponential growth, already known for her powerful stage presence, refined technique, and a direct, sincere, and rock-hearted approach. “Poco o Niente” is just the beginning of a journey that promises sparks.
Listen to “Poco o Niente” on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and all major streaming platforms.
Danish power thrash force EXELERATE unleash their new official video and digital single, “The Madness”: a relentless dive into the shadowy corners of the human mind. Fueled by piercing riffs, lightning-speed solos, and blistering high vocals, the song captures the inner torment of depressive rumination, that quiet war between sanity and the pull of darkness. It’s fast, aggressive, and uncomfortably real.
Forged in the heart of Denmark’s metal underground, Exelerate blends the precision of prog with the fury of thrash and the grandeur of power metal. With a sound that channels the old-school spirit while carving out something unmistakably modern, they’ve created a sonic identity that’s both brutal and intricate, built to erupt on stage and stick in your mind long after.
After Exelerate’s self-titled debut album, out in 2023 via From The Vaults, “The Madness” kicks off a new chapter for the Danes, ahead of a new album announcement.
GRAMMY nominated extreme power metal legends DRAGONFORCE unleash a new official music video for an alternate version of their recent album track “Burning Heart”, featuring Alissa White-Gluz! Originally released as a bonus track on select editions of their celebrated 2024 album Warp Speed Warriors, the special version supported by White-Gluz’s distinctive vocals is now out as its own single.
Formed in 1999, DRAGONFORCE has earned their reputation as the world’s fastest band via their power metal anthems filled with spectacular guitar solos, including the iconic platinum-selling hit “Through the Fire and Flames”. Several of the songs on Warp Speed Warriors have already gained over a million streams on Spotify.
Check out the official music video for “Burning Heart” featuring Alissa White-Gluz below and make sure to catch DRAGONFORCE on tour this summer and fall!
Alissa White-Gluz on the collaboration: “As a long time DragonForce fan, it was such a fun experience to sing Burning Heart! This band knows no speed limits – even as a vocalist I found myself tripping over consonants trying to keep up. It was a refreshing challenge! I’m happy to be a part of such a cool song and video!”
DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li adds: “Alissa has been one of my favorite metal vocalists for a long time. I’m thrilled that the stars aligned, allowing us to collaborate on this track. I believe ‘Burning Heart’ is the perfect song for Alissa to showcase her remarkable vocal range and her stunning performance has elevated the song to another level.“
This summer DRAGONFORCE will finish the last European leg of their epic ‘Warp Speed Warriors’ tour, playing several massive festival dates and selected shows together with label mates POWERWOLF, before joining the wolfpack on a North American tour, ready to deliver breathtaking shows to their ever-growing fanbase.
DRAGONFORCE Live 2025
Warp Speed Warriors Final Round – Europe 2025 06.06.25 SE – Sölvesborg / Sweden Rock Festival 08.06.25 DE – Dortmund / FZW 10.06.25 FR – Toulouse / Zenith * 11.06.25 FR – Lyon / Halle Tony Garnier * 13.06.25 SK – Prešov / Dobry Festival 14.06.25 AT – Nickelsdorf / Nova Rock Festival 16.06.25 FR – Meisenthal / La Boite Noire 17.06.25 FR – Lille / Zenith * 18.06.25 DE – Bremen / Modernes 20.06.25 DE – Rostock / Stadthalle * 21.06.25 BE – Dessel / Graspop Metal Meeting 22.06.25 SE – Huskvarna / Folkets Park *^ 24.06.25 SE – Uppsala / Fyrishov *^ 27.06.25 FI – Helsinki / Tuska Festival 30.06.25 PL – Lodz / Atlas Arena *~ 02.07.25 HR – Zagreb / Tvornica 03.07.25 HU – Dunaújváros / Rockmaraton 05.07.25 DE – Ballenstedt / Rockharz Festival 06.07.25 NL – Utrecht / Tivoli Ronda 08.07.25 CH – Pratteln / Z7 09.07.25 DE – Nuremberg / Hirsch 10.07.25 CZ – Vizovice / Masters of Rock Festival 11.07.25 DE – Balingen / RV Bang Festival * w/ POWERWOLF ^ w/ Amaranthe ~ w/ Epica
North American Tour w/ POWERWOLF 17.09.25 CA – Toronto, ON / Rebel 18.09.25 US – Detroit, MI / Masonic Cathedral 19.09.25 US – Louisville, KY / Louder Than Life 20.09.25 US – St. Louis, MO / The Pageant 22.09.25 US – Grand Rapids, MI / GLC Live 23.09.25 US – Milwaukee, WI / The Eagles Ballroom 24.09.25 US – St. Paul, MN / Myth Live 26.09.25 CA – Edmonton, AB / Edmonton Convention Center 27.09.25 CA – Calgary, AB / Grey Eagle 29.09.25 CA – Vancouver, BC / Queen Elizabeth Theatre 30.09.25 US – Seattle, WA / Paramount Theatre 01.10.25 US – Portland, OR / The Keller Auditorium 04.10.25 US – Sacramento, CA / Aftershock Festival
Herman Li on Warp Speed Warriors: “After four years of creative incubation, we are beyond excited to release what we believe to be our most ambitious and grandiose record yet. This album showcases multiple facets of our artistic abilities, and we invite metal aficionados from every corner of the genre to discover something captivating within its layers. We can’t wait to share this chapter of our musical journey with you, it’s going to be EPIC!”
Warp Speed Warriors Tracklist: 1 Astro Warrior Anthem 2 Power of the Triforce 3 Kingdom of Steel 4 Burning Heart 5 Space Marine Corp 6 Doomsday Party 7 Prelude to Darkness 8 The Killer Queen 9 Pixel Prison 10 Wildest Dreams (DragonForce’s Version)
DRAGONFORCE is: Herman Li – Guitar, Backing Vocals Sam Totman – Guitar, Backing Vocals Marc Hudson – Vocals Alicia Vigil – Bass, Backing Vocals Gee Anzalone – Drums, Backing Vocals
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
