Finnish metalheads Arched Fire return with a new single! Following their two acclaimed albums Remote Control (2021) and Trust Betrayal (2024), âNorthbound Trainâ is a tribute to their roots and their journey⌠and also a mark for an end of an era. The single is released in cooperation with Finnish Inverse Records on November 27th 2024.
Aggressive, old school and borderline chaotic, âNorthbound Trainâ is a thrashy heavy metal song to bang your head and break your neck to.
âItâs an old song resurrected and running onward like an unstoppable train, much like Arched Fireâ, says Kristian Herkman, the singer. âA train to the north of Finland, back to where Arched Fire started.â
âAnd what a train it isâ, rejoices Ari Väntänen, the rhythm guitarist. âI love the cover art by Umar Setiawan, itâs like Thomas the Tank Engine from hell! We also have a beautiful lyric video by Jussi Hevander that fits the mood perfectly.â
Originally formed in the Finnish Lapland in 1989, the band hibernated for thirty years until reforming in the late 2019 and starting to work on new music. Now, a five-year phase seems to be nearing its end.
“Things are about to change,” says Ari. âIt may be that Northbound Train is the very last release with this Arched Fire line-up. Who knows what the future holds, but for now, it is what it is. As a song, it is a fitting conclusion to this era in the bandâs story. Itâs about the journey weâve taken while making two albums in the 2020s. For us, itâs been both a strong progression in this current time we live in, and also a return to where weâve come from. Thereâs something very beautiful and raw in it all.”
And thatâs how the song goes. âSpend a night in a northbound train⌠Spend your life in a northbound trainâ.
Line-up: Kristian Herkman (vocals) Aslak Purojärvi (drums) Mika Rytilahti (bass) Janne Särkelä (lead and rhythm guitars) Ari Väntänen (rhythm guitar)
After carving out three albums in almost as many years, even the band’s most disciplined disciples can be forgiven for believing that Defiled had reached the highest level of old school death metal. But on their new album, the Japanese samurai wield deadly lessons that only a true legend can master.Â
“‘Horror Beyond Horror’ again finds Defiled stuck on the upswing”, Decibel wrote in their 8/10 review.Â
In customary fashion, this fall, Defiled have been ushering in Horror Beyond Horror with a lengthy tour of Japan. This Friday, the band will bang heads with their fans in Bangkok alongside Batushka and Malevolent Creation.
“Malevolent Creation are death metal pioneers”, says Yusuke Sumita, who’s been Defiled’s guitarist since the band started in 1992. “In the late ’80s and early ’90s, they gave us an idea for how to smoothly transition from thrash metal to death metal. We’re excited to meet our maker soon”.
Following two added dates in Cambodia and Vietnam, Defiled will return home to Tokyo for a second round with Malevolent Creation before capping off another gloriously hellish year in their 30-year history alongside Hellchild and Satanic Hell Slaughter.
“As a Japanese death metal band, we wanted to reflect on where our scene started”, Sumita says. “Hellchild and Satanic Hell Slaughter are legends who built the Japanese death metal scene in the early ’90s. We are honored to have them return to share the stage with us. We want the young Japanese metalheads to come to this show. Donât miss it”.
Horror Beyond Horror Asia Tour 2024 November 29 – Bangkok, Thailand @ Mr. Fox Livehouse w/ Batushka + Malevolent Creation November 30 – Phnom Penh, Cambodia @ Cloud Bar December 1 – Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam @ Saigonkick Bar December 6 – Tokyo, Japan @ Garrett w/ Malevolent Creation December 8 – Tokyo, Japan @ Earthdom w/ Hellchild + Satanic Hell Slaughter
Horror Beyond Horror will ring in metalheads’ ears deep into the new year. Defiled will kick off 2025 with a rip-roaring date with their fans in Machida. Then come March, the band will host Left to Die for back-to-back sick and screaming tributes to Death’s first two classic albums.
“Of course we are inspired by the masterpiece ‘Leprosy'” says Sumita. “Rick Rozz taught us ‘evil dive bomb arming’ through this album. Because of Rick, both guitarists in Defiled worship Kahlers. We’re very honored to support Left to Die’s show in Tokyo”.
Horror Beyond Horror Japan Tour 2025 January, 26 – Machida, Japan @ Classixx March 13 – Tokyo, Japan @ Space Odd w/ Left to Die + The Convalescence March 14 – Tokyo, Japan @ Space Odd w/ Left to Die + The ConvalescenceÂ
Tracklist1. Smoke and Mirrors (2:35) [WATCH] 2. Horror Beyond Horror (4:01) [WATCH] 3. Syndicate (3:59) 4. The Alchemy (2:47) 5. Demagogue (2:13) 6. The Terminal Phase (2:18) 7. Trojan Horse (2:35) 8. Spectrum of Fear (2:30) 9. The Crook and Flail (3:08) 10. Replicator Dynamics (2:42) 11. Equinox (3:04) 12. The Chains (3:16) 13. Psychopomp (3:14) 14. To See Behind The Wall (2:45) [WATCH]
Cover Art by Wes Benscoter
After they first took to the stage in 1995, Defiled needed nearly a decade before finally erupting with wrath on their debut album. But ever since the bandâs lineup solidified around original member Yusuke Sumita, they havenât stopped to look back and admire all the ugliness they’ve revealed. Horror Beyond Horror comes hot on the heels of the album they released just last year, which Metal Injection listed as one of the canât-miss releases of 2023.
Like a poisonous dart, Defiled come shooting out of the shadows on Horror Beyond Horror. Blast beats pummel at unforeseen angles amidst “Smoke and Mirrors”. âEvery lie has been revealedâ, fearless frontman Shinichiro Hamada shouts, taking aim at perpetual frauds and tyrannical technocrats. The band charges into the pit behind bassist Takachika Nakajima’s greasy groove, which is snapping plenty of necks on their current Japanese tour.Â
“We wanted this album to be natural and realistic”, Sumita told New Noise. “We did not use any editing or artificial techniques in the recording process”.Â
With 30 years and eight albums under their belt, Defiled know where to stick the blade on Horror Beyond Horror. The album’s title track shreds through the corrupted torment of mind control with riffs that are honed from the jagged influence of â80s thrash and hardcore. âThe time has comeâ, the band spit at their captors with utter disgust. âDeath strikes you with derisionâ.Â
Defiled aren’t afraid to crack open people’s skulls, either. Horror Beyond Horror descends deeper and deeper into the psychological shadows the further you go down the track list. “Syndicate” conspires around a greasy, pit-dwelling breakdown but drummer Keisuke Hamada never stops chopping up the tempo. âThe path to your eliminationâ, Shinichiro Hamada cries, digging in amidst a flurry of blast beats during the album’s final boss “To See Behind the Wall”. Whether theyâre slicing, dicing or leaping into a furiously fast solo, the band’s riffs take no prisoners.
“We still love death metal and are very proud to be recognized as a death metal band”, Sumita tells Antichrist Magazine. “At the same time, it’s clear from our songs that we do not follow trends. Who would be interested in a Japanese bands that follows Western trends? We have our own perspective, and we have been going our own way for many years now, and we are convinced that we are on the right path”.  Â
On Horror Beyond Horror, Defiled unleash the kind of old-school ass-kicking that only true masters can deliver.
More praise for Horror Beyond Horror
âThe one-two punch of tight musicianship and an inclination to pummel into submission without the need for flashy antics makes for a dazzling experienceâ â Ghost Cult
âIt’s phenomenal what they’ve done and can do in the realm of death metalâ â Distorted Sound
âEncapsulates both the oldschool familiarity and the modern aesthetics of death metalâ â Metal Trenches
“By the time you’ve become deep within the album, you’ll be wondering just what else they can possibly jut up when they’ve already hit you ten or eleven times already with completely unique songwriting” – Razors Edge
From the depths of Tokyo’s darkest alleys, Defiled have emerged once again, claws sharpened, eyes bloodshot, ready to unleash a fresh dose of unadulterated savagery with their latest full-length studio album, Horror Beyond Horror. Marrying the grotesque with technical prowess, these samurais of sickness are poised to carve another notch into the archives of death metal’s sordid history.
Since crawling from the primordial soup of the underground scene in the early ’90s, Defiled have forged a path littered with broken souls. Their journey of destruction first sank its teeth into the international jugular with Erupted Wrath, mixed by the masterful Jim Morris in Tampa, Florida. This brutal assault opened gates to a global bloodletting, from leveling stages in South Korea to crushing skulls at the Milwaukee Metalfest, and not even the November to Dismember fest could foresee the carnage they’d bring.
Commandeering the technical tightrope between anarchy and precision, Defiled evolved, much like an aberrant spawn isolated on the Galapagos, grotesque yet ultimately superior. Their subsequent onslaughts â Ugliness Revealed, Divination, and the sheer violence of In Crisis â built a monument to atrocity that ascends to new heights with Horror Beyond Horror.
Taking no prisoners in their three-decades-long campaign of terror, Defiled have become the indestructible behemoth of Asia’s death metal scene, powered by the relentless engine of their oldschool roots and the twisted wreckage of technical thrash and progressive rock innovation.
But enough with the history lesson, you came here for the carnage, didn’t you? Horror Beyond Horror is a 14-track massacre, riddled with riffs sharp enough to slit your throat and a rhythmic onslaught that’ll pulverize your pathetic bones. Each track, from the visceral “Smoke and Mirrors” to the haunting “To See Behind the Wall”, is a calculated strike, precision-engineered to leave no survivors. Let’s not forget the eponymous “Horror Beyond Horror”, a track that cements Defiled’s legacy as harbingers of the apocalypse.
With a sound as raw as exposed nerve endings and as unrefined as a mass grave, Defiled stands defiantly apart from the polished poseurs and shameless sellouts. They donât peddle in cheap gimmickry or nostalgia; they deal in the currency of pure, unfiltered destruction. As they look out upon the charred landscape of the genre theyâve helped to define, Defiled is not content to rest on their laurels. Horror Beyond Horror sees them, once again, ascending to the blood-soaked throne of death metal sovereignty.
Production Credits Sound Engineers – Shinichiro Hamada & Keisuke Hamada Produced by Yusuke Sumita Mixed & Mastered by Kenji Kikuchi at Studio Nest, Chiba, Japan
The Wring – Album Lineup – L-R – Kyle Brian Abbott – Drums, Don Dewulf â Guitars, Reggie Hache â Bass, Vocals & Keyboards
Progressive rock titans The Wring are thrilled to unveil the lyric video for the single “Badlands”, taken from the critically acclaimed album “Nemesis”, out via Wormholedeath.
Badlands drops us into a digital wasteland where hollow displays and hidden dangers lurk under the guise of “progress.” This track nails the feeling of being stuckâcaught between the echoes of our past and an uncertain future that we can’t seem to outrun.
“Nemesis” represents the band’s fourth studio effort, weaving together a tapestry of influences ranging from hard rock to jazz, metal, and echoes of both ’80s and ’70s rock. This genre-bending album promises an exhilarating sonic journey, appealing to a diverse audience with its eclectic mix of musical styles.
The Wring’s journey began in 2015 as Don Dewulf’s solo project. The vision continues to push boundaries over nine years and four albums later. Rooted in Northern Ontario, Canada, The Wring has morphed from a solo endeavor into a full-fledged hard rock band with a deep love for progressive exploration.
The band’s story is one of constant evolution. From their self-titled debut in 2017, which saw them sharing stages with legendary acts like Diamond Head and Anvil, to lineup changes that yielded the powerful single “48 oz.,” The Wring has consistently defied expectations. During the pandemic, Don launched the globally recognized “Project Cipher,” collaborating with drumming titan Thomas Lang, the renowned bass player Bryan Beller from Aristocrats/Joe Satriani, and acclaimed vocalist Marc Bonilla. This project paved the way for “SPECTRA,” released in December 2022, which featured contributions from a stellar cast of musicians and the masterful mixing talents of Francis Perron. With the unwavering support of industry veterans like Jon Asher and Erin Buell, Don is now laser-focused on unleashing the power of “Nemesis” upon the world.
Album Performers: Don Dewulf â Guitars & Keyboards Kyle Brian â Drums Reggie Hache â Bass & Vocals
âDislocatedâ is the first full length album by South African Piano Doom / Experimental artist and singer-songwriter CHARLES EAST and it will be released on December 17th, 2024 on digital and a special slipcase CD edition also containing a 14-pages booklet.
The single “Resting in my blood”, featuring Eva O, is now streaming HERE.
Phenomenally powerful, both visceral and funereal, and elegantly combining Charles East fantastically nuanced piano music with a mix of Post-Punk, Goth Rock and Doom Metal.
8 months after the release of the EP âI am your consequenceâ, here is another fantastic showcase of talent and personality from CHARLES EAST – simultaneously gloomy and assaulting, spasmodically shifting from tender to desperate to furious, and again evoking all sorts of shadows to rise between the sparse and desperate chords of a lamenting piano, to then explode in fits of rage and anger.
The album sees the special collaboration of Eva O (Christian Death, Shadow Project, Super Heroines) as guest vocalist in one song.
Thematically, CHARLES EAST‘s music addresses darker themes ranging from intolerance, isolation, and obsession to self-loathing and the agony of life.
Profoundly meditative and introspective piano / Doom music for fans of Chelsea Wolfe, Diamanda Galas, Eva O.
Tracklist:
1 It holds my viscera (6:45) 2 Venom (4:00) 3 I am the plague (4:57) 4 Is this my doom? (3:33) 5 Diseased (2:57) 6 I am your consequence (3:50) 7 Resting in my blood (Feat. Eva O) (2:57) 8 Inside my pestilence and rage oblectation vibrates (2:21) 9 The mouth (4:31) 10 Damnation (4:49)
CHARLES EAST is a classically trained pianist and singer-songwriter from South Africa. His debut EP âGhoulsâ was self-released in 2015. In 2022 he released a new single called âVenomâ, followed in 2023 by a well received cover version of âDead Beat Danceâ by the Damned, in collaboration with multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter Marisca Rain. In March 2024 Brucia Records released âI Am Your Consequenceâ, CHARLES EAST‘s first on-label EP. âDislocatedâ is CHARLES EAST‘s first full length album, will be released by Brucia Records on December 17th, 2024.
Leading rock and metal force AVANTASIA is set to unleash their bombastic 10th studio album and Napalm Records debut, Here Be Dragons, on February 28, 2025! 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. Here Be Dragons 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.
The bandâs impressive success story has seen nine previous studio albums (including the 2019 offering Moonglow that charted at #1 in Germany), gold awards, hundreds of millions of streams as well as headline shows at all important metal festivals and worldwide sold-out arena tours with tens of thousands of devoted fans. 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.
Tobias Sammet comments: âThis new album carries the most adventurous and bold spirit my music has had in decades. And it’s rather reckless, fearless, powerful, and uplifting and not introverted at all. While my previous albums allowed me to get a lot off my chest, this time I dove headfirst into the creative flood, crafting ten discrete, musical pictures, that miraculously merged into what I believe is the tightest chapter in AVANTASIAâs history. I did everything exactly how I wanted it, approaching the album with unrelenting determination and a carefree attitude, that was reminiscent of my early days way before the Metal Opera thing, when I felt unstoppable and let instinct just write songs. Right now Iâm bursting with energy and canât wait to unleash Here Be Dragons and then kick off the big tour with our new stage. Weâll present the new material alongside our classics and some rarities in the most spectacular stage show AVANTASIA has ever delivered. An early Merry Christmas, everyone!â
In grand AVANTASIA tradition, the new full-length is rich in vivid storytelling and cinematic atmospheres, not to mention the highest level of musicianship. Opening track âCreepshowâ is without a doubt one of the catchiest songs in their career. The energizing future hit truly welcomes the listener into the new era of AVANTASIA and will be an integral part of the bandâs spectacular live shows. In contrast, the incredible title track âHere Be Dragonsâ is a classic AVANTASIA song, and at almost nine minutes, is by far the longest on the album. The cinematic dark soundscapes of âThe Witchâ captivate and support the songâs storyline perfectly. Emotional, multifaceted vocal performances mesmerize on âAvalonâ, while the heavy metal number âAgainst The Windâ serves as further proof of the versatility of AVANTASIAâs sound. Remaining well-balanced and cohesive, Here Be Dragons is undeniably AVANTASIAâs most powerful album so far.  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 bandâs standing as a main force in the world of rock and metal!  Here Be Dragons is now available for pre-order in several exciting physical editions, with bonus albums included in select limited formats, like a 3CD hardcover artbook with 96 pages, over 160 pictures, drawings of Rodney Matthews and extensive stories to accompany the music and pictures.  Make sure to secure yours and stay tuned for the first single that will be released very soon!
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! Â 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
Dutch/Slovakian downtempo/deathcore band DISTANT have released âAcolytes Of Damnationâ featuring the unique vocals of Alex Erian of the genre defining Despised Icon. The track is taken from âTsukuyomi: The Originâ, which was released on November 22nd. This reimagined track from DISTANT’s debut EP, “Tsukuyomi”, showcases the band’s evolution, blending their raw origins with their current, refined sonic assault. The video was directed by Pavel Trebukhin who already brought you the visuals for âThe Undyingâ, check out âAcolytes Of Damnationâ below.
The band comments: “âAcolytes of Damnationâ stands as a cornerstone of âTsukuyomi: Originsâ, offering fans a tantalizing glimpse into our most ambitious work to date.â
In honor of their 10-year anniversary as a band DISTANT are presenting “Tsukuyomi: The Origin”, an expanded and reimagined version of their debut EP, “Tsukuyomi.” The release features seven brand new tracks alongside six revamped versions of songs, weaving a comprehensive tale that predates Tyrannt’s conquest through the universe. âTsukuyomi: The Origin” not only delves into DISTANT’s origins but also explores the lore behind their lyrics. It isn’t a standard remaster or simple rerecording, but the band overhauled the original songs to reflect their current sound and vision, ensuring the tracks get the attention they deserve. Expect new features (Matthew K Heafy, Alex Erian of Despised Icon, David Simonich of Signs Of The Swarm and Travis Worland of Enterprise Earth) and a seamless blend of fresh and re-recorded tracks.
DISTANT just wrapped up a North American tour with Fit For An Autopsy, Bodysnatcher, Sylosis and Judiciary. They will kick off the new year with Enterprise Earth, The Last Ten Seconds Of Life and Harbinger.
DISTANT & Enterprise Earth
The Origin Of Madness Tour 2025 With Special Guests: The Last Ten Seconds Of Life, Harbinger
30.01.25 (DE) Oberhausen – Kulttempel 31.01.25 (NL) Tilburg – Poppodium 013 01.02.25 (NL) Leeuwarden – Neushoorn 02.02.25 (DE) Hamburg – Logo 03.02.25 (SE) Gothenburg – Kulterlagret 04.02.25 (NO) Oslo – Parkteatret 07.02.25 (FIN) Tampere – Olympia 08.02.25 (FIN) Helsinki – Korjaamo 10.02.25 (DK) Copenhagen – Beta 11.02.25 (DE) Berlin – Cassiopeia 12.02.25 (DE) Dresden – Blauer Salon 13.02.25 (PL) Warsaw – Hydrozagadka 14.02.25 (CZ) Prague – Rock Cafe 15.02.25 (DE) Munich – Feierwerk 16.02.25 (AT) Vienna – Viper Room 17.02.25 (HUN) Budapest – Analog Music Hall 19.02.25 (IT) Venice – Revolver Club 20.02.25 (FR) Lyon – Rock N Eat 21.02.25 (CH) Aarau – KiFF 22.02.25 (DE) Karlsruhe – Die Stadtmitte 23.02.25 (FR) Paris – Glazart 24.02.25 (UK) Southampton – The Joiners 25.02.25 (UK) London – The Underworld 26.02.25 (UK) Bristol – The Fleece 27.02.25 (UK) Manchester – Rebellion 28.02.25 (UK) Glasgow – Cathouse 01.03.25 (UK) Birmingham – Asylum 02.03.25 (BE) Antwerp – Trix Club
DISTANT has become one of the prominent faces of European Deathcore. Melding together brutal death metal, slam, noise and beatdown with a hyper-dissonant orchestra of impending doom, they’ve come eons since their origins as metalcore obsessed friends in Rotterdam and Bratislava.
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST â Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemiâs SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
