Finnish melodic death metal band Defiled Serenity is set to release their long-awaited debut album Within the Slumber of the Mind on February 21st 2025 via Inverse Records. The second single ‘Exiled to Infinity’ is released today and music video produced by Tuomas Saukkonen (Before The Dawn, Wolfheart, Dawn Of Solace) can be seen below.
Vocalist Paavo Laapotti comments: ”The song’s lyrics are about distressing and constant fear of death inside an individual’s head. He’s lost in his own mind and doesn’t know what is real and what is fake. He only has a strong feeling that he’s being chased and he’s forced to escape into the unknown.” ”This is one of the oldest songs written for this album and it has been waiting for the right moment to be released. Well, the day is finally here and I’m very glad that we got the right feel into the song that it needed.”
Defiled Serenity CD/VINYL/MERCH Pre-Orders from HERE
Within the Slumber of the Mind Track list:
Alkutaival (feat. Juha Tapio)
Voices from the Void
Exiled to Infinity
Death
Mortal
Within the Slumber of the Mind
Through the Chaos
Your Worst Enemy
Tears of Black
Unfaithful (Rihanna cover) (feat. Karisma)
Recorded & mixed by Lauri Seppälä
Mastered by Juho Räihä / SoundSpiral Audio
Album cover by Nikos Stavridakis / VisionBlack
Line-up: Paavo Laapotti – Vocals Jarkko Mäkelä – Lead guitar Lauri Seppälä – Rhythm Guitar Mikko Sormunen – Bass Arttu Airo – Drums
COFFINWOOD was formed in 2017 by Beherit (bass), Kumen (guitar) and Trommeslager (drums) in Warsaw, Poland. In 2018 joined forces with vocalist – Varulv. In April 2020 the first EP “Storm of Steel” was released, and is based on the novel of the same title by Ernst Junger. Since September 2022, the band has played live shows with the original lineup, where Beherit took over the vocal duties, supported by Kumen‘s backing vocals.
After 4 years of silence and hard working in rehearsal room, Warsovian band is ready to unleash their “the fruit” of that work which is debut studio album.
Musicians of the band comments their upcoming record as follows:
Kumen said: “The album is a kind of tribute to the tragic events surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. The lyrics allude to the events before and after the reactor explosion, describing the chaos intertwined with the elusive melancholy and horror to which those who were thrown into the fight against the growing contamination were subjected.“
Beherit add: “The idea for the album’s theme was a natural follow-up to the direction we had taken earlier. Our lyrics focus on the deadly and destructive effects of suffering on the human psyche. In creating our first EP, we decided on a concept album formula; we wanted to address a topic often overlooked in pop culture, overshadowed by other, later events (World War I, for the record). It was no different when we were looking for inspiration while creating material for a full-length album. The theme of the Chernobyl power plant disaster fits perfectly here. Human suffering, depopulated villages, propaganda.“
Music was recorded, mixed and mastered by Paweł “Janos” Grabowski at JNS Studio (Antigama, Dormant Ordeal, Hate, Hostia, Riverside, Symbolical). Cover artwork was done by Mieszko Jankowski (Morrath, Night Lord).
Debut album titled “Acolytes of Eternal Flame” will be released on December 16, 2024 digitally and as limited CD. Pre-order will be launched very soon at Bandcamp (here).
Listen to the song “Biorobots“:
Tracklist:
01. Disposition of Doom 02. Radionuclide 03. Salvation Through Radiation 04. Acolytes of Eternal Flame 05. Biorobots 06. 90s 07. Exclusion Zone 08. Sacrophagus
Julien-K adds veteran touring powerhouse drummer Galen Waling as an official band member. Waling is known for his work in Lords Of Acid, PIG, and Left Spine Down.
Singer Ryan Shuck explained, “We work with so many creatives in our Julien-K extended family, we had always thought of the band as much bigger than just Amir, Fu, and I. It’s normal for us to work with different players, writers, producers in the course of doing what we do – and that won’t change. But as the band has become such a regular touring entity, Galen just fit so solidly into our live world that we started asking him to join us in the studio as well. It just seemed natural to make him an official band member”.
The band begins an extensive 2025 tour schedule with the Colder Than Hell Tour featuring Vampires Everywhere & Priest, then joins Powerman 5000 though April, as well as, performing at the famous Rainbow Anniversary Festival on the Sunset Strip on April 13th. More tour dates TBA for Fall 2025.
The bands latest dark techno-dystopian single “Static Whispers” from their upcoming album DRK|MODE drops Friday, Dec 13th to coincide with the bands last show of the year at Whisky A Go Go in Hollywood CA. Supporting Julien-K will be Grey Daze from Phoenix AZ.
Burning Creation is a band founded in early 2022 in Żywiec (PL) by the Klimonda brothers after the suspension of the Haures band. The band’s lyrics touch on the subject of Vikings. Their music can be classified as melodic death metal, with strong vibe of Amon Amarth. In 2023, the band presented its debut release, the EP “Never Dead-Nation“, and after a year of waiting, it will show its debut album entitled “Sea Of Dead Bodies“.
The new album is an aggressive, raw, death metal sound, interwoven with melodic accents straight from the frosty North. However, it is not only the sound and graphic design that evoke Scandinavia here. The main role here is played by the lyrics, referring to, among others, to mythological events, such as the winter of Fimbul (“Fimbulvinter“), the death of Baldur (“Tears Of Mourners“) or the last battle of the warriors from Valhalla (“The Einherjers’ Return“), about mythological, Scandinavian folklore (“Eaten By Hulder“), historical events, such as the siege of Paris (“Time Of Broken Shields“), as well as the original concept of Vikings returning from beyond the grave to take final revenge for the sins of this world. In almost every case, they are marked by cruelty, stained with the blood of the enemies of the warriors from the north, and also filled with the darkest of human emotions, as well as striking ugliness, imperfection. However, there is no shortage of glory for the fallen comrades, fighting for one’s own, rising from one’s knees and remembering one’s values and who one really is. Most likely, this direction will be continued on the band’s next releases. Perhaps the scales will tip towards uncompromising death metal rather than one full of melody – towards even more bloodshed, but only the future will tell.
Klimonda brothers comments upcoming record: “Sea Of Dead Bodies consist of 9 brand new songs that take us to the world of Vikings and Norse Gods. This time, the corpses of warriors from the North have sailed on boats from across the ocean to continue the conquest begun on the “Never Dead-Nation” EP. In addition, the album will feature a bonus track in the form of a cover of Amon Amarth’s “Burning Creation”, a song that gave rise not only to the band’s name, but also to the band’s musical style and fascination with the North.“
Music for upcoming release was recorded, mixed and mastered by Marek Stefaniak. Cover artwork was done by Damian Bydliński. Debut album titled “Sea of Dead Bodies” is released today, on November 29, 2024 on digital format and CD by Polish label Via Nocturna (CD order).
Listen to “Sea of Dead Bodies” at Death Metal Promotion:
Tracklist:
01. The Calling (Intro) 02. Eaten by Hulder 03. Sea of Dead Bodies 04. Ulfhednar 05. The Einherjers’ Return 06. Snakebite 07. Under the Fading Sun 08. Tears of Mourner 09. As the Ocean Takes Us Down 10. Burning Creation (Amon Amarth cover)
Line-up:
Piotr Czopek – bass Jarosław Klimonda – drums Marek Klimonda – guitars (lead) Maciej Konior – vocals, guitars (rhythm)
Fantasy Metal titans GLORYHAMMER end 2024 by unleashing surprise single, „He Has Returned“! Expanding on the story of the fan-favourite character of the Robot Prince of Auchtertool, the song sees the band revisit a familiar theme whilst treading new sonic ground, seamlessly combining pounding heavy metal, uplifting electro-synths, and devastating dual guitars with the masterful songwriting and singalong choruses the band has made their trademark for the past decade.
The band also takes a retrospective look at their history and evolution with two bonus tracks, new versions of „The Unicorn Invasion of Dundee“ (hearkening all the way back to their first 2010 demo) and „Hootsforce“, the breakout hit from 2019’s Legends From Beyond The Galactic Terrorvortex. With a fresh production from the dream team of George Lever (Loathe, Sleep Token) and Jacob Hansen (Amaranthe, Powerwolf, Volbeat), these two classics take on a new lease of life.
„He Has Returned“ is GLORYHAMMER like you’ve never heard them before. With a calendar of shows across the globe, and a new record in the works, the stage is set for GLORYHAMMER to dominate the modern power metal scene yet again!
GLORYHAMMER is: Sozos Michael – Vocals Paul Templing – Guitars James Cartwright – Bass Michael Barber – Keyboards Ben Turk – Drums Christopher Bowes – Narration
Horrific Honorifics Number Two (2), an unapologetic declaration of reverence, sees CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX laying bare the influences that have long seared their spirits with incandescent defiance. Within Horrific Honorifics Number Two (2), the band transforms seminal tracks such as Fugazi’s Blueprint and Laura Branigan’s Self Control into haunting renditions that challenge the listener to peer into these classics through a new, unflinching lens. The intricate layers woven by founder Justin Greaves and Belinda Kordic’s haunting melodies envelop each note with authenticity and raw power.
Joined by old companions and new kindred souls, the album is a canvas of rich soundscapes echoing the tumultuous symphony of human tales. Each reinterpretation swells with the unmistakable CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX essence, striking a perfect balance between honoring the legacy of its predecessors and carving its own path of revolution.
Listen to the full new Horrific Honorifics Number Two (2) on the Season of Mist YouTube channel:
Their double album, The Wolf Changes Its Fur But Not Its Nature and Horrific Honorifics Number Two (2), commemorates two decades of relentless introspection and unyielding rebellion.
The Wolf Changes Its Fur But Not Its Nature An album which exhumes and resurrects their buried treasures, reworking and re-recording iconic tracks that have weathered the storms of time. These anthems – imbued with the rawness of old friends and new allies – surge with renewed vigor, challenging the very essence of complacency. Anthem such as We Forgotten Who We Are or the lead single Goodnight, Europe, completely re-imagined.
Horrific Honorifics Number Two (2) An albums which serves as a dark homage to the musical titans who ignited their spirit, with visceral covers that explode into life. With tracks like the searing rendition of New Model Army’s Vengeance and the haunting introspection of Laura Branigan’s Self Control, this album is a collection of CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX‘s masterful rendition of classic songs which have inspired them over the years.
Tracklist: 1. We Forgotten Who We Are (11:17) 2. You Put The Devil In Me (6:18) 3. 444 (7:23) [LISTEN] 4. Goodnight, Europe (Pt2) (8:37) [WATCH] 5. (-) (4:39) 6. Song For The Unloved (14:22) 7. Whissendine (6:58) 8. Blizzard Of Horned Cats (4:43) Total runtime: 1:04:21
Tracklist: 1. Vengeance (4:16) 2. Self Control (5:23) [LISTEN] 3. Blueprint (4:03) [LISTEN] 4. And That’s Sad (6:52) 5. Hammer Song (4:52) 6. When A Blind Man Cries (3:22) 7. My Pal (3:51) 8. Goin’ Against Your Mind (8:53) Total runtime: 41:36
The thread that binds CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX’s bold and towering discography — a dozen studio albums, a half-dozen mini-albums, a handful of compilations and swaths of bootlegs — could not be more apropos circa 2022. Since its 2004 creation by multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Justin Greaves, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX has served as the voice for the voiceless, whether it be animals, the unequal and the different. Greaves and longstanding vocalist and lyricist Belinda Kordic have often proffered that these beings cannot fend for themselves. Henceforth, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX’s mission has been to shed light on the human condition and the inequalities that befall humankind and its creatures. Their battle marches on with their latest studio album, Banefyre.
Banefyre follows 2020’s Ellengæst — an effort that found CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX employ a series of notable guest vocalists alongside Kordic, prompting Metal Hammer to describe it as their “most cohesive and emotionally devastating record.” Kordic is now paired with Swedish vocalist Joel Segerstedt, who made his CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX debut last year via the “Painful Reminder/Dead is Dead” single. Piano, synth and trumpet player Helen Stanley and additional guitarist Andy Taylor complete the lineup. Greaves says Stanley and Taylor “fit so well creatively,” which has made CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX feel like a band when making plans and decisions.
Also central to this is Segerstedt. According to Kordic, the vocalist and lyricist lives a mere five minutes from her in Sweden and has quickly integrated himself into the band. “What I like about Joel is that he’s a good person,” she says. “There’s no fakeness with him; he has cajones. He’s not a bitch-talker, either. I can’t handle people who don’t have a backbone, but Joel is real and can speak his mind.”
“I like how Joel has come in and spoke for himself,” adds Greaves. “He’s in the band for the right reasons. I see him the same way as Belinda — she took an interest in the whole artistic thing behind CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX, like the vocals, lyrics, artwork and aesthetic. It’s the same with Joel. He has taken an interest in all of those things. In the past, we had people who didn’t contribute artistically and only cared about what they got out of the band. But Joel is really proactive and takes the initiative.”
Greaves assembled 13 songs (including “No Regrets,” a bonus track for his new project with Kordic, Johnny the Boy) imbued with the depth and introspection that will reinforce CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX’s standing as a band that defies genre. The album was tracked at Chapel Studios in South Thoresby, Lincolnshire, with vocals cut at Monolith Studio and Kapsylen Studio in Stockholm, Sweden. Kurt Ballou handled mixing in GodCity Studios in Salem, Massachusetts — a pivotal move in determining the album’s overall sound.
“I love the album so much because it was a different approach with the production,” says Greaves. “For my part, it was a little bit of a reaction. I didn’t want to do the same warm, safe CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX album. I’m aware that when we did [2012’s] I, Vigilante, everyone wanted I, Vigilante again. As it so often happens with this band, people complain about the next one, then grow into it. Ellengæst is like I, Vigilante. It’s a shorter album. It hit the mark and was done really well, but everyone will expect another Ellengæst. I feared that, but I care enough not to make another Ellengæst. It’s the right thing to do. That’s why we got Kurt to mix it — we wanted that analog, raw power. Even though the album has mellow moments, those are edgy as well. We just didn’t want to do the same album twice. We’re never going to be a band that people can rely on.”
Greaves’ summation of his band notwithstanding, his distinctive guitar playing and enduring knack for immersive songwriting is the propellent behind the haunting, chant-laden “Ghostland,” pensive “The Reckoning” and forlorn “Everything is Beautiful but Us,” the band’s spot-on analysis of the retreat of humankind indoors during the pandemic that revealed nature’s priceless beauty. The album is also stocked with no less than four ten-minute-plus cuts (“Rose of Jericho,” “Down the Rabbit Hole,” “I’m Okay, Just Not Alright” and “The Scene is a False Prophet”) that are intermixed with drama and melancholy.
It all ties into Banefyre’s central theme of the persecution of people who are deemed “different” by society. The album title is a play on the song “Bonefire” that Kordic named and wrote lyrics for. In classic CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX fashion, Greaves turned it into the Olde English translation to represent the bonfires that engulfed witches and politicians through the 15th and 18th centuries, hence, the name Banefyre.
The album begins with “Incantation for the Different,” which was written and orated by Chicago-based witch, artist, author and occultist Shane Bugbee, who, according to Greaves, “brought us some positive, dark energy.” Banefyre then delves into the Salem Witch Trials (“Wyches and Basterdz”), fox hunting in Great Britain (“The Reckoning”), politicians of an unscrupulous and dishonest kind (“Bonefire”) and the New York City Blackout of 1977 (“Blackout77”).
Greaves says Banefyre’s topics may have a decidedly negative and pessimistic tone, but a glimmer of hope and joy remains. “There’s always the random bits, but overall, Banefyre is about the people who have suffered because they are different. The album covers inequality and oppression, like ‘Incantation for the Different,’ which is about overcoming when you’re put down because you’re not like everyone else.”
In true CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX fashion, the Lucy Marshall-created Banefyre cover leaves plenty to the imagination, depicting four animals seated at a table — interacting and dressed like human beings. “It’s sort of like Planet of the Apes showing what animals could do to humans,” says Greaves. “The cover was specially commissioned and is unique to the album. It’s incorporating all the classic CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX elements with the love for animals and twisting the narrative around.”
CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX’s reputation was built on the back of their studio albums and live shows. The pandemic prevented the band from supporting Ellengæst, but it did provide them additional time to bring in new members to their live configuration.
“We’ve done one show since 2019,” says Greaves. “We are going to do something in Europe this year. Hopefully, we can get back on track. We’re also going to do something in the States — that’s not just talk, we’re actually going to do it. It’s well overdue. The live band is fucking amazing. We have the five of us and now we have Jordi [Farré] on drums, Paco [Fleischfresser] on synth and a really good friend of mine, Matt Crawford on bass.
“We did the Leipzig show and even though the rehearsals were better than the show itself, that lineup, our live band, is so good. Because we haven’t been under pressure to put a live band together since 2019 and spent so long talking to people, we’ve got a better band from those results. Out of disaster, we’ve got quite a good, positive thing.”
The Wolf Changes Its Fur But Not Its Nature & Horrific Honorifics Number Two(2) are a double album celebrating the 20 year existence of CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX.
Original Credits: All tracks on Horrific Honorifics Number Two(2) are covers of various artists.
Vengeance Originally recorded by New Model Army, Written by: Sullivan/Morrow
Self Control Originally recorded by Laura Branigan, Written by: Giancarlo Bigazzi, Raffaele Riefoli, Steve Piccolo
Blueprint Originally recorded by Fugazi, Written by: Canty, Lilly, MacKaye, Picciotto
And That’s Sad Originally recorded by NoMeansNo, Written by: NoMeansNo
Hammer Song Originally recorded by Sensational Alex Harvey Band, Written by Alex Harvey
When A Blind Man Cries Originally recorded by Deep Purple, Written by: Gillan, Glover, Blackmore, Lord, Paice
My Pal Originally recorded by God, Written by: God, Joel Silbersher)
Goin’ Against Your Mind Originally recorded by Built To Spill, Written by: Doug Martsch, Jim Roth, Brett Nelson, Scott Plouf
Self Control Belinda Kordic – Vocals Justin Greaves – Drums, Guitars Andy Taylor – Baritone Guitar Helen Stanley – Synth Wesley J. Wasley – Bass
Blueprint Ryan Patterson – Vocals Justin Greaves – Drums, Guitars Helen Stanley – Piano Wesley J. Wasley – Bass
And That’s Sad Justin Greaves – Drums, Guitars, Vocals Wesley Wasley – Bass, Vocals
Hammer Song Belinda Kordic – Vocals Justin Greaves – Drums, Guitars Andy Taylor – Guitar, Acoustic guitar Helen Stanley – Synth, Hammond Wesley J. Wasley – Bass
When A Blind Man Cries Belinda Kordic – Vocals Justin Greaves, Drums, Guitars Andy Taylor – Guitars Helen Stanley – Piano Kostas Panagiotou – Hammond Wesley J. Wasley – Bass
My Pal Belinda Kordic – Vocals Justin Greaves – Drums, Guitars, Backing Vocals Wesley J. Wasley – Bass
Goin’ Against Your Mind Justin Storms – Vocals Justin Greaves – Drums, Guitars Andy Taylor – Guitar Wesley J. Wasley – Bass
Recorded in 2023 at: Chapel Studios, Lincolnshire Engineered by Pieter Rietkerk
Additional Vocal Sessions at: Kapsylen Studio, Stockholm Engineered by Jörgen Jugglo Wall. House Of Foto, Louisville, KY Engineered by Ryan Patterson
Additional Production Credits: Mixed by Pieter Rietkerk Mastered by Magnus Lindberg Produced by Justin Greaves
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
