Australian Prog Metal Masters TERAMAZE have released a brand new video for the new single ‘Gloom’, taken from the new album‘The Harmony Machine’, coming out April 18th.
There are challenges we face that seem insurmountable. The times we think that overcoming these difficulties are beyond us, something deep within reminds us that we are stronger then we can possibly imagine. ‘Gloom’ is our black sheep, a unique stand alone track that takes the journey of hardship, denying our strengths and trying again to believe what we knew to be impossible. Gritty, melodic and mesmerising, ‘Gloom’ is a TERAMAZE swan song for returning to faith in inner strength. – Nathan Peachey (Vocals).
Mixed / Produced By Dean Wells (Melbourne,Australia), Out Through Wells Music.
Hollow Souls (L-R): Kris Barras, Phoebe Jane, and Josiah J Manning. Photo by Blackham Images
British virtuoso blues-rock guitarist, former pro MMA fighter and hard rock frontman Kris Barras launches an exciting new musical collective that takes him back to his blues rock roots. Once the leading light of the young British blues-rock scene; is back with a new band Hollow Souls.
To celebrate, Kris is pleased to announce that Hollow Souls will embark on their first UK tour in October and November 2025. Planet Rock’s exclusive ticket pre-sale starts 10am on Thursday March 27th. Pre-sale tickets will be available via Planet Rock Tickets.
Tickets will then go on general sale at 10am on Monday March 31st at thegigcartel.com.
From humble beginnings in Torquay, Devon, to trading licks with the likes of Joe Bonamassa and Billy Gibbons on the world stage, Kris has already lived a hundred lives that defy his youth and exuberance.
Kris’ own project Kris Barras Band had a mammoth 2024. From selling out headline shows in British castles, headlining Planet Rockstock, and a Top #5 UK album with Halo Effect.
Known for the gravelly vocal tone and immense guitar playing that gifted him a rapid ascent in the British blues-rock world, it is no surprise that KBB’s music has evolved year-on-year.
KBB hit it off with acclaimed US hard rock songwriters and signed to Earache Records which set off a creative chain reaction that led to a darker, heavier, and more energetic sound. Whilst KBB is firmly intrenched in the world of heavy music, Kris is still a bluesman at heart. Whilst in-between albums with KBB, this creative lightning strike with his latest project Hollow Souls just happened to hit with something different.
Inspired by the U.S. supergroup Supersonic Blues Machine in which he also performed and energised by the wealth of British talent around him, to create Hollow Souls, Kris put together a homegrown jam band to serve as a creative sparring exercise during his downtime.
Hollow Souls is a dream project for Kris. Together with long-term collaborator, multi-instrumentalist and producer Josiah J Manning, using Josiah’s Plymouth-based MomentumStudios as their base, a studio band consisting of drummer Joe Harris (Toby Lee / Lack of Afro) and bass player Leighton Allen (Callum Scott / The Hoosiers) became more than the sum of its parts.
When Kris invited in former KBB backing singer Phoebe Jane to jam, the floodgates of creativity truly opened. In writing for her dexterous range and astonishing power, Kris and Josiah knew they had found a singer with which their musical palette could continue to evolve; the spark that ignited a whole new band into existence with Hollow Souls.
Hollow Souls’ debut single “Borderline” highlights all this and more, as Kris invited Jared James Nichols, US blues-rock rising star, to feature on lead guitar remotely from across the pond. Kris said “I have really admired Jared’s playing for some time. His contribution to this song is massive, we gave him creative license to play whatever he wanted. I am so stoked with the results.”
Recorded in one take at Momentum Studios (as showcased in the official “Borderline” music video here), and produced and mixed by Josiah J Manning, Hollow Souls set the tone that new music with further studio collaborators and perhaps even touring could well be in store
Like a one-two punch, Hollow Souls also come out the gates by announcing a twenty-date UK tour; a real statement of intent that demonstrates a clean sweep of the UK blues-rock circuit, where Kris champions some of the venues that allowed him to cut his teeth as an emerging talent.
“Borderline” is available to stream and download on all digital platforms from Friday March 28th on Hollow Souls’ own label imprint. Stream the new single HERE. Watch the official “Borderline” music video on YouTube HERE.
KRIS BARRAS’ HOLLOW SOULS OCT/NOV 2025 UK TOUR
OCTOBER Thu 16 – Bedford, Esquires Fri 17 – Chesterfield, Real Time Live Sat 18 – London, Camden Underworld Sun 19 – Stowmarket, John Peel Centre Wed 22 – Shoreham, Ropetackle Thu 23 – Cardiff, The Globe Fri 24 – Leek, Foxlowe Arts Sat 25 – Gloucester, Guildhall Sun 26 – Norwich, Waterfront Studio Wed 29 – Grimsby, Docks Academy Thu 30 – Huddersfield, Parish Fri 31 – Birmingham, Castle & Falcon
NOVEMBER Sat 1 – Stockton, Georgian Theatre Sun 2 – Carlisle, Old Fire Station Tue 4 – Glasgow, Oran Mor Wed 5 – Edinburgh, La Belle Angele Thu 6 – York, Crescent Fri 7 – Blackpool, Waterloo Sat 8 – Southampton, Suburbia Sun 9 – Tavistock, Wharf
Polish atmospheric black/epic doom metal projectDivine Sovereign, the brainchild of visionary musician Cezary Rochnowski, announces a groundbreaking record deal with Wormholedeath Records. The debut album “Dawn Of A New Age” is set to transport listeners to the mysterious planet Autaxia on May 9, 2025.
Divine Sovereign emerged in 2023 with a mission to craft monumental compositions. Inspired by luminaries such as Ethereal Shroud, Panopticon, Gallowbraid, and Atlantean Kodex, Rochnowski’s sonic landscapes combine crushing doom, soaring atmospheres, and intricate black gaze textures.
The album invites listeners to explore Autaxia, an enigmatic planet where the remnants of a tragically fallen civilization reveal a haunting tale. Dawn of a New Age delves into the dual nature of religious zeal—both as a unifying force and as a catalyst for societal collapse.
The story unfolds through a cinematic lens: a research vessel lands on a desolate world and uncovers the ruins of Autaxia. Archival fragments recount the rise and catastrophic fall of a once-great society consumed by religious extremism. Each track serves as a chilling archaeological excavation, peeling back layers of historical trauma and philosophical depth.
‘Dawn Of A New Age’ isn’t just an album – it’s an existential expedition into the heart of human belief systems. Divine Sovereign examines how spiritual passion can simultaneously inspire remarkable resilience and trigger devastating societal collapse.
Tracklist:
The Ruins Of Autaxia
Enshrined Kind
The Absolution
Essence
The Weakness Of Own Flesh
Dawn Of A New Age
Fans can preview the album’s atmospheric landscape through the audiostream video for Dawn Of A New Age:
Get ready to be blown away as Wretched Path from Finland makes a triumphant return with their highly anticipated second album, “Sea Of Death”!
After the success of their debut album, “Heavy Lies The Crown”, the band took some time off to craft a masterpiece that’s faster, darker, and more intense than ever before. Now, just over two years later, they’re back and ready to unleash this beast upon the world!
Record Label: Meara Music Release date: March 26th 2025
Formed in 2020 by seasoned musicians from renowned bands like Pestigore, Born of Thorns, Tukkanuotta, and Warmen, Wretched Path was born out of a desire to return to their Death Metal roots. Their debut album received rave reviews from various magazines and websites, and they played several gigs around Finland including the legendary Nummirock festival 2023.
Renowned singer-songwriter Jaime Kyle has released her electrifying new cover of the iconic classic “I Hear You Knockin’.” The track, originally made famous by Dave Edmunds, has been reimagined with Jaime’s signature style, blending a powerful, soulful performance with a modern, fresh sound.
Kyle, known for her soulful voice and ability to connect with listeners, brings new life to the rock’n’roll anthem, offering a blend of raw emotion and polished artistry. Her rendition features a dynamic bluesy arrangement that highlights her unique vocal range, paired with an infectious rhythm that will have listeners tapping their feet and singing along. “I’ve always loved this song,” says Jaime Kyle. “There’s something timeless about it. It speaks to the emotion of love, loss, and the lingering feeling that someone left behind. I wanted to capture that feeling while putting my own stamp on it, giving it a sound that feels current and intimate.”
Jaime Kyle’s cover of “I Hear You Knockin‘” is out now on all streaming platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube. The song is expected to gain attention from both longtime fans and newcomers to her music, showcasing her ability to breathe new life into beloved classics while staying true to her artistic roots.
Jaime’s artistry spans a variety of genres, from pop and rock to blues and Americana, and has earned her a devoted fanbase over the years. She’s built a reputation as a versatile and skilled performer, captivating audiences with her emotional depth and impeccable vocal delivery.
Fans can also expect an accompanying music video, which promises to bring the song’s passionate and poignant narrative to life with stunning visuals.
Jimmy Kay from The Metal Voice recently spoke to Epica‘s singer Simone Simons about the bands upcoming 9th studio album Aspiral which will be released April 11, 2025 via Nuclear Blast.
When asked what has Epica done differently musically on this album then the last one (Omega) “I think with Omega we already tried to write differently or have a different writing process meaning that we would get together in like a sort of writing camp. We booked a house for a week and we were all together there with our producer. We loved that so much that we did it for Aspiral and we really cleared our schedules from tours and shows so we could really focus on the music and be there under the guidance of our producer and that was a lot of fun. In between Omega and the Aspiral we had the Alchemy Project and there we did something different recording wise where we would record the drums, the guitar and bass at the same time to give it a little bit more raw feeling sound. That’s something that we also continued now on Aspiral and besides that we decided to give Epica a little bit of modern edge by adding more since but we did not abandon the choir and the orchestra and we make sure that every element gets their moment to shine.”
When asked about the continuation of the A New Age Dawns saga on this album and will it continue on next album “I think it’s the ending of this saga but who knows what Mark comes up with and does something new for the future. But since this was our ninth album and the topic of the album or topics of the album were a really great material to continue that for him. So he wrote the lyrics, we both write lyrics like 50/50 and the for the songs that he wrote the music for he then continued the A New Age Dawns for those songs with that idea in the back of his mind with lyric writing. It’s basically (meaning) in a nutshell just comes to that we are at the end of the shift in our consciousness where we all have to get together in this chaotic world in order to try to change things for the better.”
When asked about Touring highlights over the years “We played with Metallica. That was one of our highlights was, it last year or the year before that no it was 2023. We played Metallica three shows. It was amazing. I mean it was a matter of seconds where we had to immediately jump in and confirm that we could do the gigs and we couldn’t believe it ourselves but we’re very grateful for it. It was lovely to play on that round stage very different from what we’re normally used to but I decided to not think of it like the magnitude of that show but just have a good time you know run around on the stage. I was going to the gym a lot so my stamina was pretty good so I could run, jump and sing and entertain the crowd. We met the the whole band they’re very lovely and they also very hospitable they they had like welcome gifts in the backstage there was a cake and there were cards and yeah really nice and we got a warm welcome from the guys.”
Breathe in, breathe out, EPICA is back with a ground-breaking record.
The journey of growth follows a spiral, continuously widening and deepening with every cycle.
By sticking to this fundamental principle, symphonic metal innovators EPICA have again reinvented themselves on their ninth effort “Aspiral”. The new studio album shows a band brimming with a newfound joy. Make way for a masterclass in storytelling, grandeur, and timeless melodies.
The album title is derived from the eponymous bronze sculpture made by Polish sculptor and painter Stanisław Szukalski back in 1965. It stands for renewal and inspiration – keywords that define Epica in 2025. In Szukalski’s work every detail is a piece of art on its own and there’s always more to the story than you initially think. The band saw this as the perfect analogy for the creation of this album: each song stands on its own with a distinctive vibe and meaning, while together they enforce each other into a monumental effort. At the same time this symbolizes EPICA’s group dynamic throughout this process: they have encouraged, inspired, and challenged each other repeatedly. Determined to achieve something that is greater than the sum of its parts, they left no stone unturned in their search for perfection. If it’s up to creative people to push boundaries, then this sextet sure did just that.
In addition, the process of both writing and recording the album was completely revised: from multiple secluded writing camps, enabling the band to create “Aspiral” as a team, to live band recording sessions capturing the raw energy of the live gigs in a studio environment. Standing united, every single band member brought inspiration, ideas, and years of song writing experience to the table. Just like the Szukalski statue, the album lyrics create a link between chaos, suffering and the beautiful new things to be born out of it. “Aspiral” describes it all in one simple word.
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
