“What if, back then, the slaves had denied the religion of their oppressors? What if they had become Satanists? That was the basis of a few songs, and I released Devil Is Fine on Bandcamp, without any great expectations.” (Manuel Gagneux)
As new addition to its list of programs, THE PIT VOD platform presents ‘Playing with the Devil : Becoming Zeal & Ardor’, a documentary exploring exploring the rise of Swiss-American musician Manuel Gagneux and his groundbreaking band, Zeal & Ardor. Blending Black Metal with African-American spirituals—a concept born from a response to online racism—the project propelled Gagneux from obscurity to global fame after the release of Devil Is Fine (2016).
Through pivotal moments like their early tours, albums Stranger Fruit (2018) and Zeal & Ardor (2022), and the protest-driven Wake of a Nation EP, the documentary tackles themes of religion, racism, and cultural appropriation. While fans see him as a leader breaking taboos, Gagneux struggles with the weight of their expectations, offering an intimate look at his creative process and personal challenges.
French philosophic post-black metallers DECLINE OF THE I will emerge with their fifth studio album titled “Wilhelm” on February 14th, 2025 via Agonia Records. The band unveils music video for the album’s first single, “L’ Alliance Des Rats”, featuring guest vocals from T.C. (Regarde les hommes tomber) and Vestal (Merrimack):
DECLINE OF THE I is a combination of multifaceted, post-black metal and exploratory lyrics, that dwell on topics of existential philosophy. Originating from France (Paris, Île-de-France), the band was created by AK, who descends from a rich portfolio of past and on-going acts (including Vorkreist, Merrimack, The Order Of Apollyon, Neo Inferno 262, Malhkebre and Diapsiquir). DECLINE OF THE I is his most personal endeavor yet. The band’s first three albums were inspired by the works of French surgeon and neurologist, Henri Laborit. “Wilhelm” pursues a different approach, based on the output of Danish philosopher Søren Kierkegaard,andmarks the second installment of a new trilogy, started by “Johannes” in 2021.
“Wilhelm” builds on the foundation of “Johannes” and adds a more framed dimension; a rigor, a backbone. “Ethics demand an internal code. Loops, repetitions, the relentless nature of a law, all run through its five tracks, spanning over 45 minutes,” comments AK. “It blends abrasive, avant-garde black metal with numerous samples, as well as elements of electro and industrial music. A constrained dive into the angst of ethics.”
The drums for the new album were recorded, mixed and mastered by Francis Caste at Studio Sainte Marthe in 2024. Other instruments were recorded ta the band’s personal studios. T.C. (Regarde Les Hommes Tomber) sang guest vocals on the song “L’Alliance Des Rats”, while Vestal (Merrimack) is the author of spoken words on “L’ Alliance Des Rats” and “The Renouncer”. The artwork was designed by Dehn Sora (Blut Aus Nord, Deathspell Omega). New band photos were shot by William Lacalmontie. The music video for the lead single “L’ Alliance Des Rats” was recorded by Laura-Lee Soleman.
Tracklisting: 1. L’ Alliance Des Rats 2. Entwined Conundrum 3. Diapsalmata 4. Éros N 5. The Renouncer
Summer Breeze Open Air drops another bombshell: 13 new bands have been confirmed for 2025! From epic melodies to relentless riffs, these additions make the lineup even more powerful. The newcomers include:
Wardruna, Die Apokalyptischen Reiter, Sólstafir, Agnostic Front, Borknagar, Coldrain, Suffocation, Harakiri For The Sky, Warmen, Kupfergold, Crystal Lake, Hellripper, and Baest.
So far, 81 out of over 130 bands for this year’s lineup have been announced. You can find the full list of confirmed acts on the official festival poster!
High-energy rock’n’roll royalty,THE HELLACOPTERS, are pleased to present a brand new single from their much anticipated new studio album Overdriver today.
‘(I Don’t Wanna Be) Just A Memory‘ sees the band take on the (post)modern preoccupation with nostalgia.
Forgoing influences like the MC5 or KISS, ‘(I Don’t Wanna Be) Just A Memory‘ nods more to powerpop pioneers THE WHO, THE RASPBERRIES, or even BADFINGER with its major/minor shifts, offering up hidden harmonic treasures while still beating to the ‘Copters’ signature driving pulse.
Like past favourites ‘No Song Unheard‘ or ‘Carry Me Home‘, ‘(I Don’t Wanna Be) Just A Memory‘ reminds us of the band’s unique capacity to temper their furious paced action rock with a songwriting sensibility that transcends their genre.
Play it loud!
Of course there’s also an audio-visual treat in the form of a brand new music video for the track by director Emil Klinta, which includes behind-the-scenes footage from the recording sessions. You can watch it below.
Please scroll to the bottom for all confirmed live dates for THE HELLACOPTERS.
THE HELLACOPTERS LIVE 2025 31.01. SE Stockholm – Vasateatern – SOLD OUT 01.02. SE Stockholm – Vasateatern – SOLD OUT 02.02. SE Stockholm – Vasateatern 06.02. FI Tampere – Tavara-asema 07.02. FI Helsinki – House of Culture 12.02. NO Oslo – Rockefeller 13.02. SE Gothenburg – Pustervik 14.02. SE Gothenburg – Pustervik 15.02. SE Lund – Mejeriet 14.04. DE Cologne, Carlswerk 15.04. DE Munich – Muffathalle 16.04. DE Frankfurt – Batschkapp 17.04. DE Hamburg – Docks 18.04. DK Copenhagen – Pumpehuset 19.04. SE Helsingborg – The Tivoloi 09.05.-13.05. US Miami,FL – Little Steven’s Underground Garage Cruise 23.05.-25.05. DE Berlin – Desertfest 19.06.-21.06. ES Vitoria-Gasteiz – Azkena Rock Festival 19.06.-22.06. FR Clisson – Hellfest
King Diamond will embark on a major European tour in the summer of 2025, with Myrkur (additonal vocals), Paradise Lost,Angel Witch, and Unto Others joining as special guests. In addition to numerous concert dates, the band will perform at some of the largest festivals across Europe.
The tour kicks off on June 4th at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg, Sweden, and concludes with a spectacular show at the Helsinki Metal Fest on August 8th.
Following on from the release of their first singles “Treading Water”, “All Changed”, “First Light”, “Don’t Give Up on Your Dreams”, “Hearts and Minds” and “Revolution”, The Nomadic has released two new singles.“The Absolution”and “Marie Antoinette” from their sophomore albumNew Horizons out now all all major platforms!
Singer Songwriter Rob Gaylard relocated home to Sydney Australia in February 2022 after 5 years as a regular feature of the New York City indie rock scene and recorded New Horizons with Dan Frizza in Sydney at Forbes Studios.
“The Absolution is a song about love, loss, forgiveness and recovery.. It is for sure a nod to The Boss himself, aka Bruce Springsteen, and is heavily influenced by my time in Afghanistan, and in particular the mental health issues caused by America’s troop surge in 2009. It was and is a time of great personal loss, and for many Afghan and US families. It is also heavily inspired by the case of Beau Bergdahl who was held captive from 2009-2014,” says Rob Gaylard.
About the new release “Marie Antoinette”, Rob adds, “It’s incredibly exciting to be releasing Marie Antoinette today! It feels like the culmination of a long journey, from the initial conception of the songs to the development and creation of the final product in the studio, mixing and mastering! Combine that with the emotional experience of going through some rough times and coming out the other side to see some New Horizons – overall It’s been a bit of a marathon!”
The Nomadic is the best of Aussie rock talent, with Miles Thomas (Lior, Ronan Keating, Montaigne) on drums, Oliver Thorpe (The Whitlams, Matt Corby, Meg Mac) on guitar, and Brendan Clark (Meg Mac, Montaigne, Jack River) on bass. Dan Frizza as producer lends the kind of magic touch that has seen him enrich the work of the likes of Tones & I, King Princess, and Gurrumul.
Australian guitarist and singer/songwriter Robert Gaylard brings a unique perspective and vision when it comes to creating music. His inspiration and passion for starting The Nomadic began early on as a child after traveling to many countries like Myanmar (formerly Burma), Singapore and the Solomon Islands. His “nomadic” lifestyle continued on into his adulthood when he began to work for the United Nations in various countries such as: Kenya, Somalia, the Sudan, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Israel and Palestine. His travels eventually brought him to New York in September of 2012 and motivated him to pursue his songwriting by establishing an indie rock band.
Influenced by artists like Oasis, Radiohead, The Verve, Bruce Springsteen, Phosphorescent, The War on Drugs, Arizona and The 1975, The Nomadic produces a sound genre like no other as alternative rock meets blues with hints of Americana and pop.
Having been originally influenced by numerous cultures and ways of life, The Nomadic promotes and advocates for issues of social action and innovation, human rights, support for minorities, as well as doing the next right thing, including the idea that it is never too late, including for people to follow their dreams and passions.
The Nomadic is: Rob Gaylard/Singer songwriter Dan Frizza/ producer/ keyboards Miles Thomas/ Drums Oli Thorpe/ lead guitar Brendan Clark/ Bass
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
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