This summer saw the release of “In Fabulis,” the new album from German folk metal band Mandragora Titania. This was followed by an extensive album tour, which will come to an end on January 24, 2026, at Hühnermanhattan in Halle. The tour kicked off in June with the record release show at Rosenkeller in Jena, which was recorded with several cameras. The material for today’s video release of the song “Sasuke” comes from this show and is now available on YouTube. Raise your mugs! The current album is available in stores everywhere and as a limited edition DigiPak, as well as in a limited edition box set in the band’s shop.
The French dark and melodic heavy metal band The Losts, formed in 2010, are set to release their third studio album. Titled Venom Within, the album will be released via Finnish record label Inverse Records on 19 December 2025.
–Music by The Losts, lyrics by YGC, arrangements by The Losts & Phil Reinhalter –Cover illustration by Alek Vladski –Drums and bass recorded by Phil Reinhalter at Psykron Studio – WaveLight Factory –Guitars and vocals recorded by The Losts at Lambs Studio –Editing, mixing and production by Phil Reinhalter at Psykron Studio – WaveLight Factory –Mastering by Mobo at Conkrete Studio –ISRC-code: FI3FC2553207
Vocalist/guitarist YGC comments: “Exponential Law, the second single from “Venom Within,” reflects the urgency in which mankind has placed itself—through its existence, its creativity, and even more so, the urgency it faces in confronting challenges and potential outcomes. Beyond the lyrics, we’ve also placed this urgency at the heart of the music, expressed through the band’s signature style. A speedy track, like saying: “We’ve got the pedal to the metal—buckle up, we’re on our way!”
–Music by The Losts, Concept & lyrics by YGC, arrangements by The Losts & Phil Reinhalter –Indian percussion and beats on “Mellem Verdenerne” by OfRo and Piano by Gabrielle Bonenfant –Vocals on “Here Comes Tragedy” by Valérie Chantraine (Penumbra) –Illustrations and booklet by Alek Vladski –Drums and bass recorded by Phil Reinhalter at Psykron Studio – WaveLight Factory –Guitars, acoustic instruments and vocals recorded by The Losts at Lambs Studio –Editing, mixing and production by Phil Reinhalter at Psykron Studio – WaveLight Factory –Mastering by Mobo at Conkrete Studio –Reproduction, promotion and distribution by Inverse Records
THE LOSTS is a Dark & Melodic Heavy Metal band from the North of France, touring since 2010 in France, Belgium and the Netherlands. It has shared stages with bands such as SERENITY (Austria), DIRTY SHIRT (Romania), ZORNHEYM (Sweden), LONEWOLF (France), WIZARD (Germany), KING HEAVY (Chile), CAPILLA ARDIENTE (Chile), DRAKKAR (Belgium), FIREFORCE (Belgium), DOOMOCRACY (Greece), LOUDBLAST (France), and many more.
The music of THE LOSTS, always led by a melodic side, reflects the tastes of each member. Thus, Hard, Dark, Black, Doom, Thrash, Oriental, even Rock, enrich the Heavy Metal which represents the roots of the band. The band cites MEGADETH as well as ARCTURUS, MERCYFUL FATE, JINJER, THERION or even IMMORTAL for major influences.
All the lyrics and designs are linked by the same concept: the mythology of the “Losts”, a fictional story and a pretext to portray a satire of our societies. Born from nowhere and driven by a thirst for humanity, these characters draw closer to human civilizations. As their story unfolds through the songs, they embody and then question the essence of human nature, its power, and the meaning of existence.
Formed by DGC (guitars), JCR (drums), YGC (vocals/guitars) and GGV (bass), this line-up released its first self-produced EP, “No God, No Devil”, in 2013. This EP received a warm welcome from the musical media (reviews in Metallian and Rock Hard France for example). In 2016, its debut full-length album “…Of Shades & Deadlands” was released in partnership with Ellie Promotion. The artwork was designed by the renowned Stan W. Decker. Thanks to sales and media coverage, the album reached audiences beyond Europe, gaining traction in Asia and South America, with enthusiastic feedback from both the press and fans.
In 2020, during the recording of the second album, GGV left the band. This marked the first lineup change, welcoming PPG on bass — a new member who brought fresh energy and direction to the band. This new formation completed “Mystery Of Depths”, produced by Phil Reinhalter at WaveLight Studio (PUTRID OFFAL, MERCYLESS, NOISE EMISSION CONTROL, HYLDR…) and mastered by Frédéric Motte at Conkrete Studio (LOUDBLAST, ETHS, GOROD, TGOO,…). The cover art was created by American artist Chadwick St John, known for his work with DARKTHRONE. Released in 2021 in collaboration with Ellie Promotion and distributed by Season of Mist, the album received critical acclaim and was included in several “Best of 2021” lists across the international metal press. The band has also appeared on numerous compilations (Howl, Pavillon 666 sampler, Ultraje Portugal sampler, French Metal, etc.).
“Venom Within”, the third album, is once again mixed and mastered by the duo Phil Reinhalter and Frédéric Motte. The 11 new tracks continue the musical exploration that defines THE LOSTS, pushing boundaries while offering a wide playing field where a multitude of vocal “characters” come to life. Released under Inverse Records, the Finnish label that has placed its trust in the band, this new creation is eager to claim its place in today’s musical landscape.
Line-up: DGC – Lead & rhythm guitars, thrash & backing vocals JCR – Drums, extreme & backing vocals PPG – Bass guitars, backing vocals YGC – Lead & backing vocals, lead & rhythm guitars
ONE OF NINE will emerge from the shadowed vales of Brethil to embark on their very first European quest in support of their brethren, LAMP OF MURMUUR. The journey will start on April 24 in Utrecht (NL) and will come to an epic conclusion in Berlin (DE) on May 1. The full itinerary can be found below. Tickets will be made available HERE.
Moreover, ONE OF NINE will also perform an album release show in Columbia, SC on December 13 and have been confirmed to appear at a number of festivals in 2026, including Hell’s Heroes, Heart of Winter Fest, and Incineration Festival, with more TBD.
ONE OF NINE is supporting their sophomore opus, ‘Dawn of the Iron Shadow,’ which was recently released on October 31 via Profound Lore Records andcan be ordered HERE.
One of Nine U.S. Tour Dates:
12/13: Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern (Album Release Show) 01/09: Richmond, VA @ Heart of Winter Fest 03/19: Houston, TX @ Hell’s Heroes
The cover artwork (below) was carefully wrought by the hand of Ted Nasmith, a craftsman of no small renown who is the illustrator of J. R. R. Tolkien‘s works ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ ‘Unfinished Tales,’ and ‘The Silmarillion.’
Long have I listened to the songs of the Southron tongues, and low have I seen flung the banners of empires now unmoored in the tide of history.
I have traced the bloodlines of kings to the very marrow, weighed every rune that once lit the high towers.
And yet, this I cannot name.
They are the Nine. Shrouded, innominate, but ever present,
they descend across these lands like grave mist over the battle strewn dead.
Their song is the unmaking of the world. All hear the black melody dimly in the silence of Night’s shadow, as if faint voices behind the heavy door were singing to thee, beckoning to thee…
They are as crawling thunder before the Iron Shadow, Warlords and Heralds of the Hungering King.
A piercing chorus of rusted shrieking, a cloying dread of which none can find refuge, they carry not banners but the grim auspices of Doom.
Do not seek them.Do not name them. The Nine have risen.Their song is heard through the door.
ONE OF NINE Lineup: Fellrider of Northern Unlight – Guitars, vocals Pharazon the Golden – Drums Gurthang the Black Sword – Guitars Urmaiar the Rope – Bass Langon – Keyboards
Guest Musicians: Hulder as The Tear Maiden (on “Dreadful Leap”) M. of Lamp of Murmuur as Morgoth (on “Behold the Shadow of My Thoughts”)
Cover artist: Ted Nasmith
RIYL: Dimmu Borgir, Summoning, Gehenna, Emperor, Old Man’s Child
Swiss gothic/dark rock provocateurs STONEMAN celebrate 20 years of stirring the pot with the release of music video “Helene”, a song which proves once again why they remain the most controversial and beloved band in Switzerland.
Over the past two decades, the band led by charismatic frontman Mikki Chixx has become an untouchable force in the dark scene. With smash hits like “Mord ist Kunst” (over 5 million Spotify streams), multiple appearances at Wacken Open Air, Eurorock, Wave-Gotik-Treffen, Rock the Ring and countless other major festivals, STONEMAN have long escaped the shadows of generic conformity.
Recent singles such as “Heimatdiebe” and “Korrekt”, and now “Helene” have taken their trademark provocation to a whole new level.
“Helene” is a breathtakingly beautiful ballad that initially feels like the ultimate cuddle song… until you actually listen to the chorus lyrics. Yes, STONEMAN are still the masters of elegant shock – and that’s exactly why the dark scene loves them.
THE RASMUS (@therasmusofficial) have always been a band merging their signature blend of dark atmospheres and anthemic melodies with lyrically relevant songs about the world around them and the misfits they proudly identify with. Today (November 19), the Finnish 6x Platinum and 8x Gold-certified, record-breaking rockers have shared “Banksy,” the latest single and video from their 11th studio album WEIRDO via Better Noise Music. The hard-charging song tips its hat to Banksy, the controversial British street artist and political activist whose stencil graffiti work is found in public spaces. Watch the live video HERE, directed by the band’s bassist Eero Heinonen and filmed at a recent tour stop in Helsinki, Finland at the legendary venue, Tavastia.
Banksy is one of THE RASMUS’ biggest inspirations, especially his most recent work which has commented on the war in Ukraine as well as environmental issues. “Banksy has been a big favorite of ours for a long time,” says band frontman Lauri Ylönen. “We’ve gone on tour spotting Banksy’s graffiti around the U.K., and I have my own background in graffiti painting. The fans have reacted really well to this song at our shows—it’s a lift-up song in our set. It’s fast and full of energy, which fits the live set extremely well. With seeing the fans’ energy every evening, it gave us the idea that this song deserves a music video. Specifically, a video that shows the audience, the uplifting energy and feel of our live show. This song has became a fan-favorite.”
“I wanted to direct a video for us, with an insanely fast visual tempo, so that too much is happening on the screen all the time,” explains Eero Heinonen. “I believe we achieved that. It’s really cool that it includes street graffiti we’ve seen all over Europe, throughout the ‘Weirdo’ tour.”
With WEIRDO, THE RASMUS once again proves why they remain a force to be reckoned with in the rock world. In their native Finland, where they are the reigning #1 rock band, THE RASMUS stands at #1 on Spotify (with over 941M global streams), YouTube, Instagram and Deezer as far as followers, views, likes and streams. It is often said that the best bands are the ones which keep surprising you time and time again, in the most thrilling of ways. This is something that the band have been doing since their major label debut and a creative responsibility they take great pride in. If you’ve listened to any of their albums, you’ll be able to hear a kaleidoscopic collage of heavy guitars against futuristic electronics, as well as pop hooks that can find their way into the heart of any kind of music fan. As a direct result, they’ve become one of Finland’s greatest musical exports, selling millions of records worldwide and winning award after award.
Earlier this summer (on July 19), THE RASMUS performed as the headliner—and only foreign artist—of the Atlas Festival in war-torn Ukraine. They became an ambassador for the Good Donations charity fund, and along with the Atlas Festival and Blockbuster Mall (where the festival was held), they ultimately raised over 3.5 million hryvnias ($84,000) which was turned into a donation of special surgical instruments for the Okhmatdyt National Children’s Specialized Hospital. The band—Lauri Ylönen (vocals), Emppu Suhonen (guitars), Eero Heinonen (bass), and Aki Hakala (drums)—released a short documentary film, “The Rasmus in Ukraine,” on September 26 about their time in the country that Heinonen directed. Watch it HERE.
THE RASMUS are bringing their unforgettable stage show to audiences worldwide throughout 2025 on the “Weirdo Tour” with support from The Funeral Portrait, while shows for 2026 are starting to be confirmed. Tickets are on sale now on their official website.
THE RASMUS “WEIRDO TOUR” 2025 DATES: With The Funeral Portrait: 11/21 Karlsruhe, DE – Substage 11/22 Saarbrucken, DE – Garage 11/23 Frankfurt, DE – Batschkapp 11/25 Cologne, DE – Live Music Hall 11/26 Utrecht, NL – Tivoli 11/27 Antwerp, BE – Trix 11/28 Paris, FR – La Cigale 11/30 Glasgow, GB – SWG3 Galvanizers 12/1 Manchester, GB – O2 Ritz 12/2 Cardiff, GB – Great Hall 12/4 London, GB – O2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire 12/5 Southampton, GB – 1865 12/6 Nottingham, GB – Rock City 12/10 Guadalajara, MX – Auditorio Telmex 12/12 Monterrey, MX – Auditorio Banamex 12/13 Mexico City, MX – Velodromo Olimpico
2026:
1/30/26 Brisbane, AU – The Triffid 1/31/26 Sydney, AU – Manning Bar 2/1/26 Melbourne, AU – Max Watt 6/13/26 Nickelsdorf, AT – Nova Rock 6/16/26 Krakow, PL – Lost Generation Festival 7/1-4/26 Viveiro, Lugo, Galicia, Spain – Resurrection Fest
Einar Solberg of Leprous has recently completed work on his upcoming second solo album, the follow-up to 2023’s ‘16’. Today he is pleased to reveal his first new piece of solo music since that release, in the shape of the bold & dynamic ‘Stella Mortua’, recorded alongside The Norwegian Radio Orchestra. Watch the video here:
The first live dates in support of his upcoming second solo album have also been announced, and 2026 will see him playing the following headline dates across Europe.
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 