THE DEFECT have released their latest searing single “Stay Away” now available across all platforms from FiXT.
Volatile. Surreal. Opposite ends of the same coin, yet equally effective in the delivery with an equally turbulent music video that illustrates the point. THE DEFECT tears into “Stay Away” with a vicious barrage of thrashing guitars, crushing beats, and dark, pulsing synthesizers. Moon McBee’s haunting vocals cut through a dense wall of hard rock and industrial metal with an unsettling intensity before switching to hard hitting screams. Relentless rhythms and jagged guitar riffs drive the song forward as layers of electronics deepen its ominous atmosphere, creating a sound that feels chaotic, raw, intense, and impossible to escape.
THE DEFECT is an electronic-rock duo founded by The Browning frontman Jonny McBee and debut singer, Moon, in 2023.
Mason Hill have released their highly anticipated new album ‘World So Wonderful’, out now. The album was recorded with Dan Weller.
The band comment: Matthew Ward (bass): “A couple of years ago this album seemed like it would be an impossible task. To be sitting here, finally discussing launching the pre order feels like we just climbed Everest and made it to the top! This album is the next step in the evolution of Mason Hill, it’s more fierce, more refined, and hungrier than ever. This one is for everyone that kept believing in Mason Hill. I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on it.”
Tom Ward (vocals): “We have poured our heart into this album and we’re all truly elated with the finished product – I feel the exciting synergy that we’ve found in this writing relationship has delivered a new and revitalised Mason Hill. Whether you’re a long-term fan, or recently converted ,there is honestly something for everyone on this album, with riffs so crunchy you’ll need a neck brace after your first listen. Coming into this as a newbie, working with Dan Weller was an amazing experience, he really helped me unlock my own style and take a new approach to writing which I’m forever grateful for. This is a dream for me and I’m super proud of the boys and can’t wait to unleash it on the world.”
Matthew Ward (bass): “A couple of years ago this album seemed like it would be an impossible task. To be sitting here, finally launching the pre order feels like we just climbed Everest and made it to the top! This album is the next step in the evolution of Mason Hill, it’s more fierce, more refined, and hungrier than ever. This one is for everyone that kept believing in Mason Hill. I can’t wait for everyone to get their hands on it.”
Mason Hill have been no strangers to adversity over their 10-year existence. They’ve endured false starts, botched record deals and a six-year gap between 2015’s eponymous debut EP and the release of ‘Against The Wall’. Even the latter landed during the height of the Covid pandemic, meaning the band weren’t initially able to tour in support of it. The departure of former singer Scott Taylor at the end of 2023 was just the latest obstacle they had to overcome.
“There have been times over the years when we weren’t even sure we’d be able to keep on being a band,” says James Bird. “Even just before Tom came in, we were so close to saying, ‘Well, we tried, but let’s call it a day.’ But there’s a stubbornness and determination and passion in us that has kept us going.The new music was obviously still Mason Hill, but we didn’t want it to be a copy of the first album”, he adds. “All the good stuff and the bad stuff, I’m glad it happened in a sense,” adds James. “Because without it we wouldn’t be in this place we’re in right now, talking about new songs, which I couldn’t be more excited about. We’re so ready to get back out there. This is who we are now. This is Mason Hill.”
Mason Hill have released their upcoming UK tour dates for November: “Mason Hill is back on tour – you heard me right! We will be touring the UK in celebration of the upcoming release of our brand-new album ‘World so Wonderful’. We are well in the groove of things now and are hungry to be hitting a stage near you. Bang in the middle of this tour we will be sharing the stage supporting none other than the mighty Skindred, and we are all beyond stoked for this opportunity! This will be a tour to remember so grab a ticket and join our World So Wonderful…“
12 November – KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton 13 November – Barrowlands, Glasgow (w/Skindred) SOLD OUT 14 November – Gorilla, Manchester 15 November – Bodega, Nottingham 17 November – The Globe, Cardiff 18 November – Boston Music Rooms, London 19 November – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes
Finnish purveyors of atmospheric black metal PAARA invite listeners into a world of northern darkness with “Laulut tulen ja jään”, their third full-length album, now streaming in its entirety through an exclusive premiere hosted by Black Metal Promotion, ahead of its official release on October 30, 2026, via Dusktone.
Marking the band’s return after several years away from the spotlight, the album brings together ferocious black metal, melancholic folk melodies and mesmeric passages, with clean vocals and choral arrangements adding depth to its more expansive moments. The tracks draw on the country’s myths, folklore and darker past, weaving tales of supernatural beings and forgotten ages into a varied journey between savage intensity and sombre beauty.
For more than a decade, PAARA have cultivated a vision of Finnish black metal that feels deeply rooted in the landscape that surrounds them. Their music evokes the bleak winds sweeping across the fells, the thousands of lakes and the endless forests of Finland, drawing on the darkness of the old world while allowing moments of unexpected beauty to emerge from within it.
Formed around fifteen years ago, PAARA have developed into an entity that thrives on contradiction: brutal yet beautiful, harsh yet strangely comforting, black as the northern night yet capable of revealing flashes of warmth beneath its frozen surface. The band’s modern manifestations began with “Yön olevainen puoli” (2015) and “Riitti” (2018), establishing a distinctive approach to atmospheric black metal that balances aggression with a strong sense of melody and place.
After seemingly disappearing from view around 2019, PAARA were never truly gone. The entity had simply retreated into the wilderness, gathering strength and tracing the roots of its inspiration through the darkest reaches of Northern nature and the distant past. Now, in 2026, it emerges once again with “Laulut tulen ja jään”, its most expansive and dynamic manifestation yet.
The album moves constantly between razor-sharp black metal assaults and more majestic passages, with clean vocals and choral arrangements often amplifying the grandeur of its most imposing moments. Yet PAARA refuse to settle into a predictable pattern. Their compositions are full of structural turns and unexpected developments, allowing delicate atmospheric passages to surface between the harsher sections.
A particularly important role is played by the guitars, with acoustic passages adding an unexpected fragility to the album and creating moments of stillness within its otherwise turbulent landscape. These quieter sections never feel ornamental: they become an integral part of the compositions, opening new perspectives before the music inevitably plunges back into darkness.
The songs on “Laulut tulen ja jään” are sharply defined and deliberately varied in their construction. Some unfold across more than ten minutes, patiently developing their ideas and allowing the atmosphere to evolve, while shorter pieces take a more concentrated approach, extracting their impact from carefully shaped moods and textures. Despite the breadth of ideas at work, the album remains remarkably fluid, with each composition finding its own path without disrupting the overall flow.
Rich in detail but never cumbersome, “Laulut tulen ja jään” finds PAARA at their most expressive. Riffs, choirs, clean voices, acoustic guitars and atmospheric passages become different facets of the same northern vision, creating an album that can be both savage and majestic, intimate and imposing.
The old entity has returned. The darkness of the North has found another voice.
Tracklist:
CD 1. Tuli 2. Kirveenkantaja 3. Vuorten varjoista 4. Kylmään kylään 5. Kutsuu M.A.N.A. 6. Lapsi päivännäkemätön 7. Pimeyteen 8. Pohjolan 9. Jää
VINYL 1. Tuli 2. Kirveenkantaja 3. Kylmään kylään 4. Kutsuu M.A.N.A. 5. Lapsi päivännäkemätön 6. Pohjolan
“Laulut tulen ja jään” produced by Zvartus & Helmouth. “Kirveenkantaja” composed by Paara & Iiro “Leper” Illman. Otherwise songs composed by Paara. Lyrics by Helmouth.
Acoustic guitars for “Kutsuu M.A.N.A.” recorded by Jussi Kraft. Drums recorded by Saku Moilanen at Deep Noise Studios. All other instruments and vocals recorded by Zvartus, Paara & Ville O. at Chef’s Room Studio, Helsinki. Album mixed by Zvartus except drums, rhythm guitars & bass mixed by S. Moilanen. Mastered by S. Moilanen. Cover art by David Thiérrée. Logo by Toni Hietomaa. Crest by Jussi Kandelin. Photo by Teppo Ristola. Layout by J.Pihlajaniemi.
Ambient folk project Happy Sad has released the music video for “Changeable,” a track from the album The World Is Grand When We See, out now via Epictronic.
Built as a post-classical piece, “Changeable” moves through Eastern-inspired scales and instrumentation, unfolding with constant variation in mood and structure. The composition reflects a clear focus on contrast and movement, with musical ideas shifting rapidly rather than settling into repetition.
The track was originally developed under the working title “NHK Taiga Drama Style”, inspired by the orchestral openings of Japanese historical dramas. These themes, known for their intricate arrangements and frequent shifts, shaped the piece’s structure. Each section was designed to evolve quickly, creating a sense of changing scenery within a short runtime.
Happy Sad describes the writing process as a long-held idea that remained unused for some time, originally envisioned for potential external projects. When no fitting context emerged, it was eventually developed independently into its final form, keeping the original concept intact: a composition built around transition, motion, and emotional variation.
The result is a focused and cinematic work that connects ambient folk sensibilities with post-classical orchestration and subtle Eastern influences.
About the Artist: The Architect of Sound
Happy Sad is the solo project of Hiroaki Kusano, a Japanese artist and sound professional based in the game industry. He began making music during his student years, playing café bar gigs and recording demos. His influences take in soul, British rock, folk, trip hop, neoclassical, world music, and film scores, alongside a strong connection to literature. His recordings balance live instrumentation with programmed elements. To date, Happy Sad has released seven albums and 19 EPs.
Outside of music, Hiroaki has around 14 years of experience as a Sound Designer and Sound Director in the games industry, having contributed to over 60 projects at companies including NetEase Games, FunPlus, NHN PlayArt, and Noisycroak Inc. His work spans music composition, sound design, audio direction, and promotional video production. In 2013, his track “Everyday” won the domestic DJ category and reached the finals of MTV and Lenovo’s CO:LAB contest.
In recent years, Hiroaki has travelled across ten countries in search of sounds and traditional instruments. Encounters along the way with displaced communities have shaped his approach to music as a form of shared human expression.
The World Is Grand When We See is out now via Epictronic.Stream here: orcd.co/twgwws
December is the time of year again when we prepare to congregate in the heart of Eindhoven to celebrate the sixteenth edition of all things heavy and extreme.
30 acts (from old-school legends to the hottest newcomers), Eindhoven Metal Meeting 2026 boasts a diverse and hard-hitting roster of bands that will sate every metal appetite.
Thus, mark your calendars for Friday 11th & Saturday 12th of December 2026
Tradionally the Warm Up party kicks off a day prior, this year on Thursday 10th of December
A Tribute to Quorthon and Bathory | At War | Dim Aura Flotsam & Jetsam | Gorerotted | Insurrection | Izegrim Legion of the Damned | Mortal Strike | Necrotted | Nexion Panzerfaust | Schammasch | Severe Torture | The Crown
Warm up – Thursday 10th of December:
Cirith Gorgor | Novelization | Schirenc Plays Pungent Stench | Ultima Necat
To get in the mood you can watch the recap of last years’ edition here:
Bad Wolves released “Jolene” (with Dolly Parton) through Better Noise Music [Stream HERE]. The new recording pairs the band’s hard-rock take on Parton’s 1974 iconic hit, this time with her own vocals included. This new version was made with the support and approval of the Estate of Dolly Parton. Like the original cover version released on August 31, proceeds will be donated to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library — committed to improving early childhood literacy around the world.
Before her passing, Bad Wolves shared their cover of “Jolene” with Dolly and her team. Since the release of the original cover, Dolly’s team helped bring her voice to the track, supplying previously recorded stems mixed for this release by Kent Wells.
Earlier this month, Bad Wolves and Better Noise Music joined Dolly’s team at NOZ Studios to hear the finished track together for the first time. The session inspired the band to pay it forward. They invited students from Nashville’s School of Rock to appear alongside them in the official music video.
“Bad Wolves and the kids from The School Of Rock performed ‘Jolene’ with raw passion, heavy grit, and zero compromise. This is the same independent spirit Dolly Parton used to build The Imagination Library from the ground up. Having witnessed the challenges her own father faced with illiteracy, Dolly didn’t wait for someone else to fix the problem, she used her platform to make a difference. She found a way to start sending free books to children to promote literacy and a love of reading because it was important to her. Right now, Dolly’s foundation, The School Of Rock, and Bad Wolves are calling on every artist to honor Dolly’s legacy by using their platform to support this effort and make a difference in children’s lives. Leverage your independent strength to help give the next generation the future they deserve,” says Better Noise Music chairman Allen Kovac.
“Being able to raise money for Dolly’s charity is an honor, and being able to work with the kids from the Nashville School of Rock was an amazing experience,” states Bad Wolves’ John Boecklin.
“At School of Rock, our mission is to enrich lives through performance-based music education while building a passionate community of students and instructors. Dolly Parton has long been a favorite artist within our school—not only because of her extraordinary musical legacy, but also because of the joy she has brought to generations of fans and her enduring commitment to education. Supporting the Imagination Library through this project is a meaningful way to celebrate Dolly, give back to a cause she champions, and express our deep admiration for her legacy. Our students were thrilled to be part of creating this video, and their energy, enthusiasm, and genuine desire to support the cause made the experience especially rewarding. Dolly Parton will always be a ROCKSTAR at the Nashville School of Rock, and we are proud to honor her legacy through the power of music and the next generation of performers,” enthuses Angie McCreight, Owner of Nashville School Of Rock.
“Jolene with Dolly Parton” is available today on all major streaming and download platforms. Every stream and every download puts more books in the hands of more kids. The official music video is also available now on music video platforms.
ABOUT DOLLY PARTON’S IMAGINATION LIBRARY Launched in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is the world’s leading early childhood book-gifting program and the flagship initiative of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since its founding, the program has gifted more than 300 million free books to children across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Republic of Ireland. Each month, the Imagination Library mails over 3 million high-quality, age-appropriate books directly to children’s homes. Every enrolled child receives one book per month from birth to age five, at no cost to families.
Inspired by her father’s inability to read and write, Dolly created the Imagination Library in her hometown of Sevier County, Tennessee, to inspire a love of reading from the earliest years. In true Dolly fashion, she soon shared that dream with other communities that wanted to give their children the same opportunity to Dream More, Learn More, Care More, and Be More.
The program is made possible through the continued support of Dolly’s Estate and The Dollywood Foundation, which invest in the partnerships, resources and systems that empower thousands of Local Program Partners. These local partners build awareness and provide the funding needed to cover the wholesale cost of the books and mailing for children in their communities. Together, this unique partnership helps place books into the homes—and hearts—of millions of children around the world.
ABOUT BAD WOLVES: BAD WOLVES continue to break all of the rules, merging mind-numbing riffs and rhythms with massive, stadium-size melodies. This uncanny fusion of finesse and fire has quietly cemented the Nashville-based band as a multi-platinum powerhouse. Founded by John Boecklin in 2018, the quartet shows no signs of stopping or slowing down, either. Thus far, they have garnered a 3x-Platinum single and two Gold singles in addition to scoring 6 No. 1 entries at radio and gathering billions of streams. Beyond acclaim from Billboard, Outburn, Loudwire, and more, the group has stood out as a presence versatile enough to collaborate with either Daughtry or Ice Nine Kills. Beyond touring with Papa Roach, Volbeat, Hollywood Undead, and more, they have sold out successive headline tours. Welcoming KILLBOY on the microphone in 2026, they blow the hinges off on their next era with the new single “Paint It Red” and their haunting cover of Dolly Parton’s iconic track “Jolene”. 2027 promises to be a big year for Bad Wolves.
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
