Progressive death metal masters FALLUJAH have released the 3rd single, ‘Step Through The Portal And Breathe,’ from their highly-anticipated new album, Xenotaph, that’s out June 13th from Nuclear Blast Records.
Commenting on the new single, ‘Step Through The Portal And Breathe,’ the band has said: “‘Step Through the Portal and Breathe’ is classic heavy Fallujah with a few new elements. It’s nearly 7-minutes of hard-hitting death metal with enough atmosphere to retain the unmistakeable sound we’ve been cultivating for over a decade. Founding guitarist Scott Carstairs shows off his flashiest playing yet, Kyle Schaefer showcases the heaviest sides of his vocal range, and new addition Sam Mooradian steals the show with his stunning guitar solo debut. This track is a great representation of our new album Xenotaph, a total ripper, and definitely not one to sleep on.”
FALLUJAH’s eagerly awaited 6th album, Xenotaph, is available for pre-order now on limited edition vinyl, CD and cassette.
Speaking about the album, vocalist Kyle Schaefer says: “We are excited to finally reveal Fallujah’s new album Xenotaph, marking the sixth chapter in our discography. This is our most ambitious record yet, and is certainly the band’s most technical, dynamic and progressive material to date. The music carried out by these eight tracks is matched with an equally ambitious concept, a lyrical story that traverses unfolding layers of time and reality in an otherworldly, post-death realm of existence. Xenotaph is also our most collaborative album, with broad input from the current lineup leading us to expand the scope of our songwriting while simultaneously highlighting the true potential of everyone involved. We hope you’ll join us in welcoming this bold new stage of the band’s evolution.”
Chapter V in LUCIFER’s history started in May 2023 with the lead single ‘A Coffin Has No Silver Lining‘ when the band joined the mighty Ghost to support Papa and his nameless ghouls on a string of arena shows in Europe and and co-headlined a US tour in late 2023 with occult rock legend Coven increasing the momentum for the release of Lucifer V.
Lucifer V was released via Nuclear Blast Records on January 26th, 2024 and met with much acclaim.
“That’s rock ‘n’ roll, folks, and LUCIFER continue to make it look and sound as cool as Hell.” – BLABBERMOUTH
“this is a band that combines several styles from the late-70s and early-80s and makes something totally their own” – METAL INJECTION
“a cauldron of oh-so wicked abandon and fun – the very essence of what rock music at its most (appropriately) Devil-may-care is meant to make you feel” – KERRANG!
“Bursting with ambition and energy from start to finish, Lucifer’s latest is a reminder that the Devil still has the best tunes.” – METAL HAMMER UK
Post release, LUCIFER presented two devilish duets, ‘I Would Follow You Babe‘ with Graveyard’s Joakim Nilsson and their rendition of Leonard Cohen’s ‘Who By Fire‘ with none other than doom legend Bobby Liebling of Pentagram joining vocalist Johanna Platow.
Now, after touring Europe with Angel Witch and The Night Eternal, and a return to South America and Japan in 2024, the band’s founder Johanna Platow is announcing exclusive headline and festival shows with a stunning new line-up consisting of Rosalie Cunningham (ex-Purson) and Coralie Baier (Atlantean Kodex) on guitars, Claudia González Díaz (Rosalie Cunningham band, Cachemira) on bass, and Kevin Kuhn from the German post punk band Die Nerven on drums.
Rosalie Cunningham commented: “I am thrilled to be moonlighting in this new incarnation of Lucifer! I shall relish this opportunity to reconnect with my darker side musically and have a ball on stage alongside Johanna and the girls (and Kevin!)“
Kevin Kuhn commented: “The question shouldn’t be “Why am I playing in a rock/metal band?” but “Why only now?” I’m extremely grateful and excited to finally have the chance to indulge my flaming passion for hard/heavy rock, which has accompanied me my entire life. And I couldn’t imagine a better band for that than Lucifer. I feel very much at home with their great songs, their unmistakable vibe, and their impeccable sense of mystery and aesthetics, and I will do everything I can to do it all justice. It’s a true honor.“
This might be your only chance to see LUCIFER this year. Don’t sleep on it!
Jun 27 Nochtspeicher, Hamburg – GER Jun 29 Lido, Berlin – GER Jun 30 Grönalund, Stockholm – SWE Jul 31 Beyond The Gates Festival, Bergen – NO Oct 25 Margate Rock Festival, Margate – UK (UK exclusive show)
German metalcore crew, THE NARRATOR announce their signing to legendary record label, Nuclear Blast Records. After a very successful time with Blood Blast Distribution, we are more than happy to welcome the band to Nuclear Blast Records. To celebrate this new partnership THE NARRATOR announce today their brand new single ‘Unbind Me‘ for May 28th.
THE NARRATOR quotes excited: “Signing with Nuclear Blast marks a true milestone for us. Throughout our journey, it’s always been important to work with partners who understand and support our vision. With Nuclear Blast, we’ve found exactly that. We’re beyond excited for what’s ahead. And it all kicks off soon: our first single of this new collaboration, Unbind Me, drops at the end of May.”
Marcus Hammer, Managing Director for Nuclear Blast Records comments: “Witnessing The Narrator’s steady growth whilst distributing their music via our in-house BloodBlast offering over the last couple of years has been a real joy. So, it gives me great pleasure to welcome the band on to a full label deal here at Nuclear Blast, where we can build the team around them and continue to grow their success internationally. Here’s to the future!”
Nuclear Blast Records A&R Manager Leoni Dowidat comments: “We are super happy and proud to welcome The Narrator into the Nuclear Blast family. Despite a still young band history, The Narrator have established themselves as one of the most exciting players in modern metalcore. We can’t wait to be a part of the next bright chapter in their career!”
About THE NARRATOR: THE NARRATOR were founded in 2017 in the Ruhr area and have been captivating audiences with their energetic songwriting and electrifying live performances from the very beginning. After successful tours and festival appearances, THE NARRATOR steadily made a name for themselves in the German metalcore scene. In September 2024, THE NARRATOR released their highly anticipated debut album Lore – 10 tracks that speak volumes, boasting an impressive 10 million streams on Spotify. Their latest single, ‘Unbind Me‘, mastered by Ted Jensen (STERLING SOUND – BRING ME THE HORIZON, GREEN DAY, KORN, and many more), and accompanied by a striking music video directed by Daniel Prieß, proves once again that THE NARRATOR is a must-have on every playlist. One thing is certain: the best is yet to come!
Indigenous black metal project BLACKBRAID will be embarking on a North American headliner later this year with support from Lamp of Murmuur and Dödsrit, with Gudsforladt replacing LoM as support for two Canadian dates. The trek will kick off on September 19 in San Diego, CA and will make its way around the U.S. + Canada until the final stop on October 11 in Los Angeles, CA. The full itinerary can be found below while ticket sales will start on Friday, May 16 @ 10:00 A.M. local time!
BLACKBRAID will be touring in support of his upcoming third full-length, ‘Blackbraid III,’ which will be released on August 8, 2025 independently! More details on ‘Blackbraid III’ will be revealed soon while album details can be found below.
In addition, BLACKBRAID has partnered with Fire in the Mountains Festival to curate a special pre-release event where festival attendees will get to hear ‘Blackbraid III’ ahead of its August 8 release date! During the event, there will also be a special live Q&A that will take place during the listening session with Metal Injection’s Frank Godla!
Fire in the Mountains will take place in Montana from July 25-27, 2025 at the Red Eagle Campground on the Blackfeet Nation Reserve. BLACKBRAID joins an esteemed lineup of artists including Wardruna, Old Man’s Child, Chelsea Wolfe, Converge, Blood Incantation, and more! Tickets are available HERE while the full lineup and all pertinent festival information can be found HERE.
‘Blackbraid II’ can now be streamed everywhere or ordered via Bandcamp or the official merch stores in USA and EU.
Blackbraidis a solo indigenous black metal project from from the depths of the Adirondack wilderness creating music as raw and powerful as the mountains from whence it came…
BLACKBRAID North American Tour w/ Lamp of Murmuur + Dödsrit,:
09/18: San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick 09/19: Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit Live 09/20: Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad 09/22: Dallas, TX @ Trees 09/24: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Purgatory) 09/25: Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819 09/26: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery 09/27: Brooklyn, NY @ The Meadows 09/28: Albany, NY @ Empire Live 09/30: Boston, MA @ Middle East (Downstairs) 10/01: Montreal, QC @ Café Campus * 10/02: Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground * 10/03: Lakewood, OH @ Mercury Music Lounge 10/04: Chicago, IL @ Reggies 10/05: St. Paul, MN @ The Turf Club 10/07: Denver, CO @ HQ 10/08: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge 10/10: Oakland, CA @ Thee Stork Club 10/11: Los Angeles, CA @ 1720 *w/ Gudsforladt, no LoM
BLACKBRAID Upcoming Festivals:
07/27: Red Eagle Campground, MT @ Fire in the Mountains Fest 08/23: Eisfeld (DE) @ Wolfszeit Festival 12/19: Leipzig (DE) @ Black Hole Fest Germania III – Frost Edition 04/05/26: Munich (DE) @ Dark Easter Metal Meeting
The captivating album artwork for ‘Blackbraid III,’ was created in collaboration with Adam Burke, who handled the painting, and mainstay Blackbraid album artist Adrian Baxter, who did the illustration. The artwork can be found below along with the tracklist!
Tracklist:
Dusk (Eulogy)
Wardrums at Dawn on the Day of my Death
The Dying Breath of a Sacred Stag
The Earth is Weeping
God of Black Blood
Traversing the Forest of Eternal Dusk
Tears of the Dawn
Like Wind Through The Reeds Making Waves Like Water
And He Became the Burning Stars…
Fleshbound (Lord Belial cover)
Creator of Blackbraid: Sgah’gahsowáh
‘Blackbraid III’ Album Credits: Composed & performed by Sgah’gahsowáh Drums, recording, mixing & mastering by Neil Schneider Guitar solo in “God of Black Blood” performed by Randy Moore “Fleshbound” originally composed by Lord Belial Painting by Adam Burke Illustration by Adrian Baxter Visual development & graphic design by Wolf Mountain Productions
Hispanic metal conquistadors IMPUREZA are cracking open the gates of their upcoming, Reconquista-themed third album with a contagious new single.
Alcázares charts medieval Spain’s struggle between Christian kingdoms and Muslim-ruled Al-Andalus through a mythical lens. The album’s lead single, “Pestilencia”, zooms in on the Black Death’s march across Hispania. Riffing tremolos and hammer-blown blast beats lock horns with bulería-tinged acoustic guitar, unforgivingly precise fretless bass runs and orchestral flourishes that flare upon castle stone. The song’s video, which was captured on historic Spanish sites, turns its apocalyptic lyrics into a torch-lit, rat‑infested tableaux.
For more than two decades, Impureza have lead the charge for Hispanic Metal. The band forge together brutal death metal, flamenco guitar and Spanish vocals. Wielding their Iberian identity like a blade, they’ve left their mark on the underground metal scene and conquered international stages. Now, with Alcázares, they are plunging into the bloody saga of the Spanish Reconquista.
Tracklist: 1. Verdiales (1:15) 2. Bajo las Tizonas de Toledo (6:25) 3. Covadonga (4:01) 4. Pestilencia (4:44) [WATCH] 5. Reconquistar Al-Ándalus (5:25) 6. Murallas (2:24) 7. La Orden del Yelmo Negro (4:57) 8. Castigos Eclesiásticos (6:06) 9. El Ejército de los Fallecidos de Alarcos (5:18) 10. Ruina del Alcázar (1:37) 11. Santa Inquisición (6:26) Full runtime: 49:02
IMPUREZA is a Franco-Spanish metal band formed in 2004 by guitarist Lionel Cano Muñoz from Orléans. Their music is distinguished by a unique fusion of extreme metal and Spanish sounds inspired by Andalusian culture and flamenco, creating an atypical style known as Hispanic Metal. Impureza remains an innovative project in the international metal scene, making it a pioneer of the genre.
The entire concept of the band revolves around the voluptuousness of Latin atmospheres, the ferocity of metal, and Spanish culture and history, explored through a fictional and esoteric aspect. Their compositions feature both clean and guttural vocals sung in the language of Cervantes, flamenco guitar, acoustic fretless bass, extreme metal, and orchestral arrangements that evoke the colors of Spain. The very essence of their music lies in the duality between two seemingly opposed musical genres, which, through clever composition, give birth to a new and avant-garde style. Their fiery music is literally the union of traditional Hispanic folklore and extreme metal. These metal warriors brandish their Iberian sounds as weapons with pride. This ingenious alliance is matched only by the singular and unprecedented creative originality of its founder Lionel Cano Muñoz and his compañero Esteban Martín, both of Spanish nationality. Impureza’s conquistadors draw inspiration from their strong identity, which defines the band’s very essence. Often nicknamed the “French Nile” due to their primary influences, combining the complex and brutal lines of death metal with the most ardent and undulating Latin flames. Impureza’s members are also influenced by many Spanish artists such as flamenco guitarist Paco de Lucía and gypsy singer Camarón de la Isla, as well as bands like Behemoth, Morbid Angel, Krisiun, and Fleshgod Apocalypse, among others.
Let the conquistadors of Impureza lead you into their realm and immerse you in Spanish culture with a groundbreaking musical concept — the one and only fierce guardians of Hispanic Metal!
Production Credits: Recorded & mixed by Sébastien Camhi at Studio Artmusic, Les Arc-sur-Argens, France. Mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, Ribe, Denmark.
Guest Musicians: Xavier Hamon – Percussion Louis Viallet – Orchestration
Long ago and far away, an aspiring young Canadian rocker named John Thor was performing at Las Vegas’s newly refurbished Aladdin Hotel, in the Bicentennial-themed Red Hot and Blue show… the Strongman Star, they called him, and with good reason.
A champion body builder, becloaked and be-glittered, exploding hot water bottles with his breath alone, wielding a hammer and bathed in pyrotechnics, even veteran rock fans (and yes, that includes the KISS army) had never seen anything like Thor.
And neither had America at large, at least until this vision in muscle and mayhem turned up on the Merv Griffin show in June 1976, to perform a cover of a recent single by UK glam rockers The Sweet that itself might have been written for him. It was called “Action,” and it was killer.
Thor recalls, “Merv saw me perform at the Aladdin Hotel and invited me to appear on his show, live from Caesars Palace.”
It was a stunning appearance, although Thor acknowledges that things did not go quite to plan. For the last few years he had been touring with fellow Canadians The Imps – so-called, he says, because they were “small characters. During the show, I would hold Frank Soda up with one hand and dance while he played his lead guitar break midway through ’Action,’ which was our signature tune.” (Another crowd pleaser was when Thor would have bricks broken on his chest with a sledgehammer.)
Although Thor performed without the band in Vegas, he requested that The Imps also appear on the Griffin show. “I would fly them out from Canada. But Merv said an emphatic ‘no,’ as he felt the band was too heavy for prime time. So the Mort Lindsey Orchestra backed me up instead.”
Another misfortune, however, proved most providential. “I was set to wear my white sequined jacket for the Griffin show, an Elvis-looking outfit which was popular in Vegas at the time. But just before the show, the jacket went missing. Possibly stolen, so I switched over to my unique stars and stripes glam superhero outfit, complete with hammer and cape. And I’m glad I did, because it established and represented the Thor character I was developing. It got showcased on national TV.”
So yes, long ago and far away. But “Action” not only retains its place in Thor’s heart, it also opens his new album Rock The Universe, and it’s his latest single as well. Which is great news for everyone because the accompanying video – you guessed it!
Clips from the Griffin show are cut throughout the video, but so is footage of today’s Thor taking another step back into the past by reuniting with Frank Soda. “It’s an opportunity to make things right, many years later. It imagines that Frank and the Imps appear in Las Vegas and join me on stage, this time to see what it might have been like had we done this back in 1976.”
As for Rock The Universe itself, the action does not end with “Action.” Eleven tracks, all covers, range across the the classic rock spectrum, from an impassioned take on Eric Burdon’s epic “Sky Pilot” and The Doors’ “Love Me Two Times,” to a spellbinding medley of Deep Purple’s “Highway Star” and “Black Night,” and a raucously riffing take on The Yardbirds’ “Heart Full Of Soul.”
“In the 1970s I toured extensively, over 300 days a year across North America, and Rock The Universe is chock-full of songs from that era. These are favorite songs of mine that we played each night, and thus enabled myself and the band to become seasoned performers.
“It also gave me the opportunity, almost 50 years later, to join forces again with Frank Soda to lay down those magical tracks we played live from yesteryear, that would fuel our tours. Songs by our heroes.” Kevin Stuart Swain (who also produced the album), Al Harlow (Prism) and Ray Roper (Stonebolt) complete the line-up, and when Thor describes their performances as “stellar,” it’s not hyperbole.
A thunderous take on The Beatles’s “Back In The USSR” is as fab as the foursome that performed the original; and, in case anyone should need a break from the mayhem,Thor also takes on one of the most underrated ballads in Ray Davies’s entire Kinky kanon, the 1966 b-side “I’m Not Like Everybody Else.”
Another one, incidentally, that could have been written for him. “Since I was a child, I was never looked at by others as being normal. I loved Superheroes and would wear a Superman costume underneath my regular clothes at school. And change into Superman at recess. I also loved monsters and I would scare my nieces and nephews as I would transform myself into Frankenstein. Through my life, I was always regarded as “different”.
“During my whole life walking the earth, I never followed the beaten path. I was always defiant, non-conforming and plainly different from the rest. I have always seemed to find my own individual identity. So “I’m Not Like Everybody Else” is my anthem.
“After all how many of those classmates from school still wear Superhero costumes and put out albums at 72 years old?”
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
