The heavy-groove/hard rock band from Sicily, JOKE ADDICTION, returns to the scene with their brand-new single “Dummy Mask”, released today via Volcano Records & Promotion.
The track delivers a bold and powerful sound, blending the energy of hard rock with influences from iconic bands such as Alice in Chains, Velvet Revolver, and Black Sabbath, creating an intense and captivating sonic experience.
“Dummy Mask” tackles profound and contemporary themes: the lyrics strongly denounce the hypocrisy and cynicism of a society often fueled by selfishness and deceit. It’s a bitter yet authentic snapshot that invites reflection on the human condition and the challenges of trusting others.
To celebrate the release of the single, Joke Addiction has announced three exclusive European shows: December 6 – Prague December 7 – Krakow December 8 – Warsaw
Finnish progressive metal band Joviac released the first single ‘Shine’ taken from the upcoming third studio album ‘Autofiction Pt. 1 – Shards’ which is set to be released via Inverse Records on May 16th 2025.
Vocalist-guitarist Viljami Jupiter Wenttola comments: ”“I wanted to write a catchy and unashamedly hopeful and positive song. There’s plenty of darkness out there, so when I have light and beauty in my heart, I try to let it shine through.”
Shine is an affirmation. It’s about reminding yourself that no matter what life throws at you, you have what it takes to make it through. Nothing is out of reach and above all, you had everything you needed inside of you all along. We all need help and support, but in the end they’re there to amplify and show you the light that was within you from the start.Like the lyrics state: “fix your gaze on any goal, the key is just do as you do.”
Music & lyrics: Viljami Jupiter Wenttola
ISRC: FI3FC2550706
Single cover by Tuomas Välimaa
Autofiction Pt. 1 – Shards Track list:
Level 1
Haven
B.O.M.B.
Burn
Canvas
Shine
Level 7
Open Eyes And Mind
Once
-All songs and lyrics written by Viljami Jupiter Wenttola -All songs arranged by Joviac -Album produced and mixed by Viljami Jupiter Wenttola -Drum engineering and mix by Rudy Fabritius -Mastered by Teemu Liekkala -Cover art by Tuomas Välimaa
Finland is known as the land of metal, but so far has yet to offer the world a breakthrough progressive metal act. Joviac has been working tirelessly since 2017 to change that. With the singular vision of combining the compositional freedom of progressive music, the full range of human emotion, addictive hooks and crafty arrangements, the end result is a versatile and deep marriage of catchy riffs and melodies with a conceptual and thoughtful twist.
Joviac is a seasoned live band with countless shows under its belt and looking to branch out globally in a BIG way.
The band has released two albums to date with the latest full-length “Here And Now” reaching the #8 spot on the official Finnish charts for physical albums!
Autofiction Pt. 1 – Shards CD Pre-Orders from HERE
Line-up: Viljami Jupiter Wenttola – vocals, guitar Johannes Leipälä – guitar Tuomas Honkkila – keys Antti Varjanne – bass Rudy Fabritius – Drums on album
“The Grand Arc of Madness”, the debut LP from Australia’s death metal act SARCOPHAGUM is out today via Nuclear Winter Records. Stream the album at THIS LOCATION.
SARCOPHAGUM spawned to life in the early half of 2021, during the time of the plague as a new project featuring Golgothan Remains members past and present. The purpose being to provide a channel to explore new ideas and sounds in a studio-only setting. The dark death metal realm remains the primary influence and a debut EP, “Conduits to the Underworld”, was released in 2022 through Nuclear Winter Records, followed swiftly by a stand alone single, “This Wrought Creation”. Now their full length debut is here, “The Grand Arc of Madness”. Poised to unleash a soundscape of disharmony and terror over the listener, the angular horror awaits…
Both a culmination of their already characteristic aesthetic and a whole new twist upon it, “The Grand Arc of Madness” sees SARCOPHAGUM fusing clanging angularity with haunting atmospherics, chaos with eerie melodicism, epic narrative with primal crush.
Mixed and mastered by Greg Chandler at Priory Recording Studios.
Cover art by Khaos Diktator.
Tracklist:
01. Ritual Pillars Burn 02. Feudal Futures 03. Vermiform 04. The Grand Arc of Madness
For fans of: Ulcerate, Immolation, Adversarial, Golgothan Remains
Greek modern metal outfit TELMA has announced their upcoming sophomore album, “Awakening”, set for release on February 28th, 2025. To fuel the anticipation, the band has shared the intense first single, “Seventeen”, accompanied by a powerful music video.
“‘Seventeen’, is a poignant and powerful tribute to women who have suffered as victims of gender-based violence,” TELMA explains. “The song draws attention to a grim reality in Greece, where a significant number of women tragically lose their lives each year at the hands of their partners. Through its haunting melody and heartfelt lyrics, ‘Seventeen’ honors the memory of these women while striving to shine a light on this pressing social issue. It is both a remembrance and a call to action, urging society to confront and combat gender violence with urgency and compassion“.
Building upon the success of their 2021 debut, “Eternal”, which delved into the inner struggles of humanity, “Awakening” takes a broader, more socially conscious approach. The album addresses pressing global issues such as the abuse of power, societal injustice, and gender-based violence.
“‘Awakening’ takes the torch from ‘Eternal’ – The thirst of power of the few that leads societies to war, people in despair and more hatred born. ‘Awakening’ talks about social injustices, gender violence, and issues that have always been around but have now come to the surface in our country and across the world. All deriving from the same root, our futile thirst for power and control of others. But in all this darkness, we do not give up and we stand and live our life the way we choose.
Despite the waves that hit us, we have to embrace reality and fight together. That is the whole point of this album, that is the point of the ‘Awakening’!“
Tracklist:
Crystal Clear
Belly of the Beast
Stray Dogs
Seventeen
Awakening
Journey of Dust
Got No Rythm
The Price of Freedom
“Awakening” was produced by George Margaritopoulos and recorded at M.S.M. Studios & Devasoundz Studios. The album was mixed by Fotis Benardo (Devasoundz Studios) and mastered by Tony Lindgren at Fascination Street Studios. Stunning artwork and design by Artaxas Design.
“Awakening” will be self-released by TELMA on February 28th, 2025. The album is now available for pre-order at THIS LOCATION
TELMA are: Mark Kotoulas – Guitars Kostas Koutsomarkos – Guitars Anthony Kyritsis – Vocals Mike Tziastoudis – Drums Filip Kotoulas – Bass
Rock and metal flagship AVANTASIA will release their thrilling 10th studio album and Napalm Records debut, Here Be Dragons, on February 28, 2025, and today the band unleashes the energizing first new single “Creepshow”! The new track is one of the catchiest songs of AVANTASIA’s career so far, and it arrives with an exciting, cinematic music video. The guaranteed future hit rings in a new era of AVANTASIA and will be an integral part of AVANTASIA’s spectacular live shows.
In their 25 years of existence, AVANTASIA has become one of the biggest leading forces in metal, boasting nine successful previous albums (such as the #1 charting Moonglow), worldwide sold-out arena tours and headline shows at all of the most important metal festivals. Here Be Dragons is sure to exceed all expectations as the most powerful AVANTASIA album so far.
Tobias Sammet on the single and video:
“Creepshow is a perfect single. It’s short and catchy, and it emphasizes a facet of my work that has taken a backseat in my music in recent years. It’s light-hearted and the opposite of melancholic. And it’s fresh, boisterous and unabashed – a straightforward kick-ass anthem. Also, even though it may seem like a reminiscence of my earlier writing, I think we managed to turn the whole thing into a trademark AVANTASIA tune, as we accentuated with the music video. We rented a haunted castle in North England and celebrated a night in the world of spectres and undead creatures. This is the most vibrant and eccentric music video I’ve ever shot in my entire career, not dead-serious, but certainly of serious quality! I can’t wait to play Creepshow live on our tour next year, I can already see the whole venue jumping up and down and screaming along!”
Featuring absolute AVANTASIA essentials such as spellbinding choirs and theatrical symphonic metal elements, multitalented mastermind and frontman Tobias Sammet also surprises fans old and new with plenty of intriguing fresh soundscapes on Here Be Dragons. The album gives the celebrated AVANTASIA sound that has been carefully crafted over a quarter of a century an exciting and powerful spin. The new album is the most consistent and concise piece of art that the band has ever crafted.
AVANTASIA is not showing any signs of slowing down – soon after the release of Here Be Dragons, the band will head out on an extensive arena tour across Europe, promising to deliver fans an immersive experience with their biggest and most epic production ever.
In grand AVANTASIA tradition, the new full-length is rich in vivid storytelling and cinematic atmospheres, not to mention the highest level of musicianship. The incredible title track “Here Be Dragons” is a classic AVANTASIA song, and at almost nine minutes, is by far the longest on the album. The cinematic dark soundscapes of “The Witch” captivate and support the song’s storyline perfectly. Emotional, multifaceted vocal performances mesmerize on “Avalon”, while the heavy metal number “Against The Wind” serves as further proof of the versatility of AVANTASIA’s sound. Remaining well-balanced and cohesive, Here Be Dragons is undeniably AVANTASIA’s most powerful album so far.
[Artwork by Rodney Matthews]
The 10-track offering was written and composed in its entirety by Tobias Sammet himself, produced and recorded by Tobias Sammet together with Sascha Paeth, mixed by Sascha Paeth and mastered by Michael Rodenberg. The stunning cover art was once again created by acclaimed British fantasy artist Rodney Matthews. Here Be Dragons marks another masterpiece in the AVANTASIA catalog, leaving both fans and critics speechless and proving the band’s standing as a main force in the world of rock and metal! The album will be available in several different editions, with bonus albums included on select limited formats.
Here Be Dragons Tracklisting: 1 Creepshow 2 Here Be Dragons 3 The Moorland At Twilight 4 The Witch 5 Phantasmagoria 6 Bring On The Night 7 Unleash The Kraken 8 Avalon 9 Against The Wind 10 Everybody’s Here Until The End
Catch AVANTASIA live on tour!
14.03.25 DE – Hamburg / Sporthalle 15.03.25 BE – Brussels / AB Box 16.03.25 FR – Paris / Olympia 18.03.25 LU – Esch-sur-Alzette / Rockhal 20.03.25 DE – Berlin / Columbiahalle 21.03.25 DE – Bamberg / Brose Arena 22.03.25 DE – Bochum / RuhrCongress 24.03.25 UK – London / The Roundhouse 26.03.25 NL – Tilburg / O13 28.03.25 DE – Stuttgart / Schleyerhalle 29.03.25 CZ – Prague / Forum Karlin 01.04.25 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra 02.04.25 AT – Vienna / Gasometer 04.04.25 DE – Munich / Zenith 05.04.25 DE – Frankfurt am Main / Jahrhunderthalle 06.04.25 DE – Cologne / Palladium 08.04.25 IT – Milan / Alcatraz 09.04.25 CH – Zurich / The Hall 11.04.25 ES – Barcelona / Razzmatazz 12.04.25 ES – Madrid / Vistalegre 23.04.25 FI – Helsinki / Black Box 25.04.25 NO – Oslo / Sentrum Scene 26.04.25 SE – Stockholm / Arenan Fryshuset
“FACE Of GOD” the fourth single from the new studio album by Babylon A.D. is being released to radio. The previous singles saw support from the likes of Alice Cooper on his nationally syndicated radio show ALICE’S ATTIC and Eddie Trunk on SiriusXM’s Hair Nation with the lead single “Wrecking Machine” hitting #2 on the Mediabase Daily Classic Rock chart and #36 on the Mediabase 7 day Classic Rock chart and the title track, “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day” reaching #3 on the Mediabase Daily Classic Rock chart and #33 on the Media-base 7 day Classic Rock chart.
Stream “FACE Of GOD” at: https://babylonad.hearnow.com/face-of-god
Lead singer Derek Davis talks about the song, “FACE Of GOD is the most inspirational song I have ever written. The band and I are Christians and as the lyricist for Babylon A.D. I have sometimes referenced my faith in my lyrical content but this song is more direct in nature. The song is about faith, hope and redemption. Sometimes a spiritual awakening is needed to help people better understand just who they are and what they are placed on this earth to do, and I hope that when people hear the song or watch the video they find peace in their hearts. I am fortunate in that aspect that I believe GOD gave me my talent and has lead me on my way to the truth! And I am thankful everyday for the blessings I have received. I have found that The FACE OF GOD is in everyone if they look for him!”
Recent praise for the Babylon A.D. album “Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day”:
“All these years later they still “Bang The Bells”. – Max Volume / 105.7 KOZZ Reno’s Classic Rock
“Derek Davis and his Babylonians deliver the cornerstone of their catalog. Rome Wasn’t Built In A Day is a gem-riddled roof of songs that sits firmly atop the Babylon A.D. empire that has been under construction for more than three decades.” – Scott Itter Dr. Music/All Music Magazine
“The new Babylon A.D. album… might just be the comeback that 80’s Rock fans have been waiting for… If you love 80’s Hard Rock this is an essential purchase.” – The Rock Pit
Babylon A.D. can’t wait to start playing the songs live and have some very exciting shows coming up.
Upcoming Babylon A.D. Tour Dates: Jan 11, 2025 – Grand Theatre Center for the Arts – Tracy, CA Sept 5-8, 2025 – Hard Rock Hell Sleaze Festival – O2 Academy – Leicester, England
Looking For A Heartbeat 4:21 D. Davis – R. Freschi
I Will Never Break Again 7:00 D. Davis – J. Matthews
White Hot Bullet 3:45 D. Davis
Crashed Into The Sun 4:52 D. Davis – R. Freschi – D. Soto – C. Pepe
Face Of GOD 6:30 D. Davis
Shut Up 4:31 D. Davis – D. Soto – C. Pepe
Super Beast 3:43 R. Freschi – J. Matthews – D. Soto
Album details: Produced, Mixed, Engineered by Derek Davis @ The BADMOFO’s Recording Studio, Pleasanton, CA. Drums recorded by Gabriel Shepard @ 25th Studios Oakland CA. Mastered By David Donnelly, DNA Mastering Los Angeles CA. Photos – Angela Probst – Studio A Vintage Artwork Concept Design – Derek Davis
Band Members Derek Davis – Vocals, Keyboard, Guitar Ron Freschi – Lead Guitar, Background vocals John Mattews – Lead Guitar Craig Pepe – Bass, Background vocals Dylan Soto – Drums / Background vocals Background vocals I Will Never Break Again Lane Borchard
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
