Finnish diverse melodic metal band Dreamferno has released new song “Ark Of Engrams”. Melodic and heavy song represents the faster progressive groove of the band with an unexpected flavor: a delicate hint of breakbeat.
The breakbeat-inspired section of the track was produced by Helsinki-based DJ/producer Eronn (Veeti Eronen), known in Finland’s underground electronic music scene and through the Joensuu-based Fiktio ry. With over a decade of production experience, he brings a fresh touch to Ark Of Engrams with breaks-driven drums and psychedelic vocal effects.
“The Ark of this song, Ouroboros, is a living psychological entity that builds and feeds upon the unpleasant memories buried deep within the psyche of the person stranded aboard it. As one sails upon Ouroboros, time and one’s sense of self become distorted, and escape feels almost impossible. Yet somewhere in the distant, mist-shrouded horizon, the light of a lighthouse can be seen…“
Dreamferno is a group of friends from Finland’s Savonia and Karelia regions, united by a shared passion for creating music where rules are nonexistent and almost nothing is forbidden.
Underground black metal legend Nargaroth are announcing the reissue of two albums from the band’s early catalogue. Both 2003’s Geliebte des Degens and 2011’s Unity (which includes Rasluka Part I and Part II) were tracked during the same recording session in June 2001. The music previously surfaced across three separate releases. Now, it all finally arrives together.
Geliebte des Regens and Unity (Rasluka Part I + Part II) come out October 23 on Season of Mist Underground Activists.
Geliebte des Regens is built from long, repeating guitar figures and a rain motif that threads through the record as both a sound effect and lyrical symbol. Unity joins Rasluka Part II (2002) and Rasluka Part I (2004) into the single sequence frontman René “Ash” Wagner always intended in dedication to a former bandmate who died by suicide in 1995. Rasluka Part I sits angrier and more open in the mix; Part II moves toward a slower, more melodic desolation.
…Vom Freien Willen Eines Schwarzen Einhorns (05:25) Full runtime: 00:48:51
Track list Geliebte des Regens:
Intro – Calling The Rain (03:59)
Manchmal Wenn Sie Schläft (17:42)
Wenn Regen Liebt (Zwiegespräch Mit Mir) (11:59)
Von Scherbengestalten Und Regenspaziergang (Vision Eines Realen Todes) (11:53)
Manchmal Wenn Sie Schläft (In Musikalisch Differenter Und Kristalliner Lebensform) (17:18)
Outro – Leb’ Wohl (10:20) Full runtime: 01:13:11
NARGAROTH is the sole vision of Rene “Ash” Wagner, forged in Saxony in 1996 and driven by nearly three decades of raw, uncompromising German black metal.
Apocalyptic Steel is a record that refused to stay buried. Tracked in a single weekend at Trident Studios in Pacheco, California, in September of 2014, the album sat forgotten on a hard drive in the United States while Era of Threnody took priority. Years later, the recordings resurfaced. Drums were re-recorded in Las Vegas, vocals and mixing completed at AMP Studios in Duisburg, and twelve years after its first sessions, the album is finally here. This is not a vault curiosity. It is Nargaroth at its most direct: nine tracks of filthy, unadorned metal built on the attitude of old Judas Priest, Accept, Deicide and Obituary. From the predatory menace of “Twisted Steel” to the band-name-studded battle cry of “Metalheart”, from the unflinching historical weight of “Dresden” to the aching Germanic longing of “Requiem Germania”, this is an album that has nothing to prove and wastes nothing on pretence. Recorded fast, recorded dirty, and finished on its own terms.
Recording Line-up: Ash — Vocals, Guitar, Bass Mike Williams (Mummification) — Guitar, Bass Phil Cancilla (Malevolent Creation, Hank Williams 3) — Drums
Current Line-up: Ash — Vocals Fernando Cortez (Hacavitz, Ash Nazg Burz, Through Torment) — Guitar Julio Rodas — (Dreamlore, Tim-Ripper-Owens) — Guitar Pavulon (Vader, Belphegor, Decapitated, VLTIMAS) — Drums
Production Credits: Instruments recorded during a weekend session in September 2014 at Trident Studios in Pacheco, CA (Juan Urteaga). Drums were re-recorded in July 2022 at Skeleton Key Studios in Las Vegas, NV, USA (Rylie Ellen Wechta from Sound Horizon Production). Vocals recorded at AMP Studios in Duisburg, Germany, between February and April 2025 (Jens Förster).
Mixing, and mastering took place at AMP Studios in Duisburg, Germany, between February and April 2025 by Jens Förster.
Cover Art: Cover artwork was hand-drawn and created by Felipe Mora. CD artwork by Anne-Kristin G. Additional artwork in the CD booklet are a homage to classic Metal album covers and was done by Jenglot Hitam.
Photography: David Perga, photography in CD booklet.
Rising Durant, Oklahoma alternative metal power trio Nova Riot has officially unveiled the captivating new music video for their single “Like I Meant It,” directed by the band’s own guitarist Orion. Bringing their signature blend of bubblegum alternative metal to a sinister setting, the band filmed the visual inside a rotten cabin set at an award-winning haunted house. The clip stars vocalist Nova Ray alongside Orion, delivering an intimate, high-impact aesthetic that perfectly matches the aggressive yet melodic energy of the track. Frontwoman Nova Ray explains that the song delves into the internal struggles of making difficult life choices, noting that walking away can often leave a lasting impression that helps a person find balance and peace, and it is the third music video from the band’s full-length album Blood, Lies & Lullabies, which was recently released on August 21, 2026 via Eclipse Records.
Nova Riot continues to disrupt the heavy music landscape with their defiant philosophy of making music with no apologies. Formed in 2024, the group consists of Nova Ray on vocals, Orion on bass, and Ares on lead guitar. The band bridges the heavy intensity of acts like Spiritbox, Bad Omens, and The Pretty Reckless with the catchy, bright pop sensibilities seen in artists like Poppy and Violent Vira. Rather than grinding through traditional local bar circuits, these seasoned musicians adopted a digital-first global strategy focused on top-tier production and cinematic visuals. Their sophisticated recorded output even features drum work from veteran musician Matt Thompson of King Diamond fame.
The concept behind “Like I Meant It” draws heavily from classic horror cinema and folklore. Orion cited the original Evil Dead films and the dark tale of Hansel and Gretel as primary visual influences. The production effortlessly weaves together authentic witchcraft motifs, traditional horror imagery, and the group’s distinct clowncore aesthetic. To heighten the unique presentation, Orion debuted a striking new toxic green and purple mask specifically for this shoot. The decision to restrict the cast to just Nova Ray and Orion created a concentrated atmosphere, allowing each camera movement and edit to carry significant weight while giving the song room to breathe. The result is a sharp visual piece that highlights the group’s knack for detailed world-building and uncompromising stylistic contrast.
Nova Riot continues to build momentum as one of the most intriguing modern acts in heavy music. Through their thematic focus on mental health, personal power, and spiritual alchemy, the trio creates an inviting atmosphere for fans seeking fresh evolution within the genre. The music video for “Like I Meant It” stands as another bold entry in their growing catalog, proving that heavy riffs and bright bubblegum flourishes can coexist seamlessly in modern metal.
Coverart by Paris Pipkin
The heavy music landscape often feels like a choice between two extremes: the jagged, unpolished chaos of the underground or the sanitized, predictable shine of the mainstream. Every so often, a band emerges that refuses to acknowledge the boundary at all. Nova Riot, a trio operating out of Durant, Oklahoma, is that disruption. With their debut full-length album, Blood, Lies & Lullabies, they have officially planted their flag in a territory they call bubblegum alternative metal. The album is a rare combination of commercial viability and uncompromising creative vision. It is a high-octane collision of grit and melody that feels both dangerously volatile and impeccably crafted. Produced by Braxton Henry and co-produced by Addison Ray and Paris Pipkin, the album boasts a cinematic depth that matches its conceptual ambition. The trio functions as a self-contained production powerhouse, prioritizing studio perfection and visual storytelling to create an immersive world for their listeners. Nova Riot is not just releasing a collection of songs; they are inviting the world into an immersive, rhythmic incantation. Altogether, the album contains seven tracks, including standouts like “The Altar (feat. The Bunny The Bear)”, “Midnight Coven Crush” and “Like I Meant It.” The album was recently released on August 21, 2026 via Eclipse Records.
Get the album Blood, Lies & Lullabies at this location.
Blood, Lies & Lullabies track listing 01. Haunting Me 02. Midnight Coven Crush 03. Casket 04. The Altar (feat. The Bunny The Bear) 05. Like I Meant It 06. Through The Storm 07. Sorry Mom
About Nova Riot In an era of predictable formulas and recycled aesthetics, NOVA RIOT emerges from Durant, Oklahoma, as a formidable disruption to the heavy music status quo. Operating under the defiant mantra of “Music with No Apologies,” the trio has rapidly carved out a niche within a self-defined sonic territory they describe as bubblegum alternative metal. Nova Riot is Nova Ray (vocals), Orion (bass guitar), Ares (lead guitar).
After years of silence and dedication, Ováte return from the abyss with their new offering Rúin, forged by Aindiachaí (Gorgoroth) on guitars/bass and Brodd (ex-Taake) on drums. Eight years have passed since the band’s self-titled debut, and Rúin now reopens the wound; deeper, colder, and more deliberate. The new album will be out on 6th November via Soulseller Records.
Pre-orders, album info and the first single ‘Kutsumus’ will drop on 4th September.
Rúin is here. Not to be understood, but to be endured, an arcane, insidiously pernicious incursion beyond the veil.
A defining hallmark of Ováte’s sound remains intact: once again, every track is a collaboration with a different guest vocalist, turning the album into a shifting procession of voices and maledictions. Each performance adds a new layer to the record’s blackened craft, while the core duo keeps the blade steady. Sharp riffs, ritualistic momentum, and a trance-like pull that feels both predatory and strangely ceremonial.
On Rúin, Ováte list an exceptional cast from the Norwegian and wider extreme metal underground: Spellgoth (Horna), H’grimmr (Helheim), Thomas S. Øvstedal (Cor Scorpii), Sanrabb (Gehenna), Ødemark (The Last Eon / The Third Attempt) and Hoest (Taake). The result is a record that moves with relentless intent, yet rich in atmosphere, with each track carrying its own curse.
Alternative rock band Earshot has released its new single “Love Left,” out now on Judge & Jury / SV Records, along with the song’s official music video. Pairing the band’s heavy, atmospheric sound with one of frontman Wil Martin’s most personal lyrical themes, “Love Left” asks a deceptively simple question: when everything feels dark, is there still love left?
For Martin, the question grew out of a period of intense fear and anxiety following the death of Chris Cornell, an artist he revered.
“Chris Cornell’s death shook me to my absolute core,” says Martin. “It wasn’t just the loss of an artist I revered; it was the terrifying realization that someone who, from the outside, seemed to have so much – talent, family, success, freedom – could still somehow be completely overwhelmed by internal pain and hopelessness. I was riddled with anxiety for weeks.”
What stayed with Martin was an unsettling question that became increasingly personal.
“I would often think to myself: if someone who has every reason to live can still be consumed by darkness, where does that leave people like me? Could any of us suddenly self-destruct without seeing it coming?”
That question ultimately found its way into “Love Left” and its central refrain: “Tell me is there love left? Any hope of us left? Before we throw it all away? Tell me is there love left?”
“I don’t pretend to have all or even any of the answers,” Martin says. “But what I came to believe for myself is that as long as I can find even just a spark of love within me, there’s something there to hold onto. That realization became the soul of this song.”
“Love Left” also reflects Martin’s frustration with a culture he believes places too much pressure on people to appear happy and okay, even when they aren’t.
“I think we’re suffocating under a culture that demands constant happiness and perfection,” he says. “I want to shatter that lie. It’s okay to have bad days, bad months or even bad years. Pain is real. Grief is real, but so is growth. Feeling down, lost or exhausted doesn’t mean you’re broken – it means you’re human. For me, ‘Love Left’ is about finding that small glimmer of love inside yourself and not throwing it away.”
The official music video gives that idea a stark visual language. Set against a dark, crumbling backdrop, a single glowing light bulb represents the fragile inner spark someone is fighting to protect as everything around them appears to fall apart. The destructive, industrial imagery mirrors the internal struggle at the center of the song.
The release comes as Earshot is experiencing renewed momentum with both longtime fans and a new generation of listeners. Over the past year, the band’s Spotify monthly listeners have more than doubled. Earshot currently reaches more than 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, while its recent album Humaning has surpassed one million streams.
Earshot will take “Love Left” on the road this fall, including a September 18 performance at Louder Than Life in Louisville, Kentucky.
Sept 18: Louisville, KY @ Louder Than Life Sept 19: Champaign, IL @ Cowboy Monkey Sept 20: Detroit, MI @ Harpos Sept 23: Cedar Rapids, IA @ The Olympic Southside Theater Sept 26: Fort Worth, TX @ The Rail Sept 27: Corpus Christi, TX @ House of Rock Oct 1: Colorado Springs, CO @ Sunshine Studios Oct 2: Richfield, UT @ Rocktober Oct 5: West Hollywood, CA @ Whisky A Go Go
ABOUT EARSHOT
Formed in Los Angeles in 1999, alternative rock band Earshot broke into the mainstream with its 2002 debut Letting Go, featuring the hit singles “Get Away” and “Not Afraid,” as well as “Headstrong” from the Queen of the Damned soundtrack. Fronted by vocalist Wil Martin, the band followed with 2004’s Two and its enduring single “Wait,” which reached the Active Rock Top 10 and appeared on the Madden NFL 2005 soundtrack.
Earshot later released The Silver Lining in 2008 and the independently released Aftermath EP in 2015, followed by its recent album Humaning. The band currently reaches more than 700,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and continues to tour.
Formed in Athens, Greece, in 2011, InPhaze established their heavy footprint in the underground scene with their 2018 debut ‘World of Lies’, blending hard rock grit with heavy metal power. However, the years that followed became a brutal, unforgiving crucible of personal transformation.
Re-emerging in 2026, InPhaze is more than a power metal project; it is an unyielding testament to human endurance. Built upon the ruins of deep personal upheaval—from a devastating, grueling battle with cancer and intense medical treatments, to the emotional wreckage of divorce and catastrophic family loss—InPhaze transforms real-world pain into high-velocity melodic metal.
Musically, the band bridges the technical brilliance, soaring hooks, and speed of Traditional Power Metal with razor-sharp, modern production standards. Lyrically, they strip away the typical fantasy tropes of the genre to reveal a raw, modern reality. Engineered under the co-production of industry veteran Bob Katsionis (ex-Firewind), driven by the powerhouse vocals of Andre Boutos, and meticulously mixed and mastered by founding guitarist Ilias Gogakis at Vowlume Productions, ‘Back Again’ represents a soul in phase with its own truth.
Each track serves as a milestone in a survivor’s journey, proving that through the most violent storms, we don’t just survive—we emerge redefined, re-aligned, and stronger.
Pre-Order ‘Back Again’ Secure Exclusive Merch on Indiegogo August 10, 2026 – September 6, 2026 – PRE-ORDER HERE
This is Power Metal with a heartbeat, a soul, and a message: Strength is forged in the fire of reality.
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 