THE NUDGE UNIT have released a new homonymous single, Feat. Hans Duynhoven & Mark Zonder, out now on all digital platforms. The track is taken from their new album.
“The Nudge Unit” asks endure question: Are we shaped… or self‑shaped?
The Nudge Unit is a visionary project led by Vito F. Mainolfi, originally conceived as a solo endeavour and a side project of Pentesilea Road. With an experimental approach to sound and storytelling, the project embraces an alternative and boundary-free framework, crafting music and lyrics that evolve organically. For the first time, Vito steps forward as a vocalist, bringing a new depth to his artistic expression.
Musical Style & Influences
The Nudge Unit thrives in a fusion of progressive rock, ambient, and alternative elements, with each track exploring new moods and sonic landscapes. Inspired by a mix of classic and modern progressive influences, the band’s sound is driven by emotion, spontaneity, and artistic freedom, ensuring every piece stands as a unique experience.
Latest Album & Highlights
The latest album embodies The Nudge Unit’s ethos — pushing musical boundaries with expressive keys, dynamic percussion, and immersive soundscapes. With contributions from keyboard maestro Hans Duynhoven, legendary drummer Mark Zonder, and guest artist Jason Dykes, the project finds its distinct rhythm and progressive energy.
Track list: 01 – Intro (Üdv a világomban) 02 – Lépned muszáj (Néha fáj) 03 – Életre ítélve 04 – Haldokló belső, halott szív (Pengékkel ágyba hív) 05 – Félelmeiddel (F.E.A.R.) 06 – A szívnek nincs akadály (Küzdj az álmodért) 07 – Most már elég (Élvezd) 08 – Miért érdemlem? 09 – Üdv a világomban 10 – Hajsza közben (Prognózis Cover)
Album cover by Mihályfi-Tóth Alex
Heartkiller is a Hungarian melodic metal band formed in 2011 in Debrecen. They began with a pop‑rock style, but gradually shifted to a heavier yet melodic metal sound, incorporating hard influences while keeping catchy melodies.
Since their inception, they have performed at numerous events, festivals, biker meetings, and club concerts across Hungary, as well as in Slovakia (Felvidék) and Romania (Erdély). They’ve shared the stage with prominent Hungarian artists such as Kowalsky meg a Vega, Road, Depresszió, Leander Kills, Bikini, Lord, Moby Dick, Akela, and Omen.
History Early years (2005–2012) The story began in autumn 2005 when Gábor Nagy “Kenny” and Sándor Kis started a band called Poisoned Tear. After several years of experimentation, Poisoned Tear disbanded in 2010. Kenny then gathered new musicians around him, forming a precursor project called Black Jack. Within two months, they wrote four original songs and played their debut performance at the Debrecen Flower Carnival main stage before an audience of over 2,000. In summer 2011, they entered the studio and recorded four songs (“Újjászülettem,” “Egyetlen szerelmem,” “Te vagy a fény,” and “Minden pillanat”), officially adopting the name Heartkiller. In 2012, after concerting and writing new material, they recorded their first release, the Mese EP.
Style change & touring (2012–2018) Initially exploring pop‑rock, they shifted in 2015 to a style best described as melodic metal with melodic death elements, combining heavy sound with catchy, near-pop choruses. Their lyrics, written in Hungarian, typically address themes of struggle, fighting life and oneself, disappointment, depression, mortality, love, the relationship between humans and God, and societal critique. In 2015, they released the Küzdj az álmodért (Fight For Your Dream) single, followed by the Érzéki csalódás (Sensual Disappointment) EP in 2016 accompanied by a nationwide concert tour and performances abroad in Dunaszerdahely (Slovakia). In 2017, they released the Élvezd (Enjoy) mini-album, performing it live in clubs and biker festivals for the first time in Transylvania
Line-up changes, studio work & “EKMO” (2019–present) 2019 brought significant changes. In April, they released the Senkit nem hagyunk hátra EP, compiling their two earlier EPs (Érzéki csalódás, Élvezd) plus two new tracks. Afterward, founding bassist Róbert Nagy left the band and was replaced by Márton Gulybán. They also returned to a dual‑guitar lineup when Lóránd Szabó joined. During the COVID‑19 pandemic (2020–2021), live performances slowed, but creative work continued. They produced covers of songs by Vad Fruttik, Ismerős Arcok, and 30Y to positive feedback. Alongside these, they remade earlier songs and released the Mélyütés EP in October 2020, which included a new track of the same name. They also created the EKMO EP; several songs were released in 2022 and 2023, with the full EP appearing on April 20, 2023 via Finland’s Inverse Records.
2023 and 2024 were all about creating the debut album, shooting new music videos, and writing fresh tracks. At the end of 2024, the band welcomed a new member behind the drum kit: László Fazekas, who’s now bringing the thunder live on stage.
Back in October 2023, they dropped a cover of “Hajsza közben”, originally by the legendary Hungarian rock band Prognózis. The track features none other than István Vörös, vocalist of Prognózis, and Máté Arany, guitarist of the iconic Akela.
In January 2024, the band released a video for “Lépned muszáj (Néha fáj)”, followed by “Haldokló belső, halott szív (Pengékkel ágyba hív)” in April, and “Életre ítélve” in June. All three videos received strong, positive feedback from both the media and the audience.
The debut album, titled “Üdv a világomban” (Welcome to My World), drops on August 15 via Finnish label Inverse Records.
Line-up: Scream, vocals and backing vocals – Nagy Gábor “Kenny” Lead guitar – Kis Sándor Rhythm guitar – Szabó Loránd Bass – Gulybán Márton Drums – Csiszár Gábor
Guest appearances on Hajsza közben: Vocals and backing vocals – Vörös István Vocals and backing vocals, solo guitar – Arany Máté (Akela)
Antonio Calanna, the powerhouse vocalist known from ALL FOR METAL and a rising force in the international metal scene, proudly announces his signing with PERCEPTION – A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music, and unveils his most personal and ambitious creation yet: A COLD PARADISE (ACP) — a bold artistic project where his vision, voice, and energy lead the charge.
Merging his signature wild and cinematic vocals with modern and a fresh wave of youthful power, A COLD PARADISE is more than just a band — it’s Antonio Calanna’s full-scale metal universe. With ACP, Antonio brings together a world-class cast of musicians, dancers, and creatives – whose names are going to be revealed soon – to deliver a genre-defying live experience that blends heavy riffs, haunting melodies, and breathtaking choreography. Fans can look forward to a thrilling ride, as ACP will keep the energy alive and your speakers rocking nonstop!
With their first, enthralling single release,“El Perdón”, A COLD PARADISE is ready to rip up the rulebook and hit the scene with a sound that shakes the ground. This bombastic track, showcasing Antonio‘s trademark untamed vocals, and a sound so explosive it’ll set every stage on fire, already delivers an unforgettable experience that will leave fans in awe and hunger for more.
Antonio rejoices: “I can finally say it – I have signed my first record deal! Since I was a kid, singing has been my safe place, my obsession, my biggest dream. I used to imagine what it would feel like to write my own music, release it into the world, and take it to stages across the globe. And now…it’s becoming real. I’m beyond proud to announce that I’ve officially signed to PERCEPTION with my new project: A COLD PARADISE! This moment is surreal: a mix of gratitude, joy, and disbelief. Years of hard work, countless sacrifices, moments I almost gave up…but something inside me kept burning and now that fire is about to explode. Massive thanks to Jochen Richert, who believed in me since the early days with ALL FOR METAL, and is now standing with me as I take this next leap. This new chapter is loud, emotional, cinematic, and unapologetically mine.”
PERCEPTION label strategist Nils Wasko adds: “I can only underline Antonio’s words: Since his meteoric arrival with ALL FOR METAL at the latest, it’s been crystal-clear that he’s a born entertainer and made for more. A COLD PARADISE is exactly what’s missing to make his voice and presence shine in an even brighter light, which we will achieve together what I’m pretty sure about. Benvenuto a PERCEPTION!”
Esteemed rock vocalist and guitarist MIKE TRAMP is pleased to launch his new single “Fight to Survive” from the upcoming album ‘Songs of White Lion — Vol. III,’ due out on September 19th via Frontiers Music Srl. “Fight to Survive” arrives accompanied by an official music video, available to view below.
Speaking about “Fight to Survive,” MIKE comments:
“It would have made more sense to name our final album ‘Fight To Survive’ instead of the first one, 41 years ago. The truth is, the story of ‘Fight To Survive,’ both the album and its title track, perfectly captures what it felt like to form a band, write songs, head to Europe to record, return to America, land a major record deal, and then watch the label refuse to release the album just four months later. We spent the next three years fighting to survive. Every time I sing this song, it takes me right back to that moment.”
MIKE TRAMP, the unmistakable voice and principal songwriter of White Lion, concludes his heartfelt trilogy with ‘Songs of White Lion — Vol. III,’ a powerful and deeply personal tribute to one of the most iconic bands of the 1980s melodic hard rock scene.
Tramp speaks on how this series of recordings came together:
“For me, the point of re-recording the old classic White Lion songs was all about letting the audience know HOW the band would sound if they come to see us live. Bringing the sound up today and away from a world no more. When I started with ‘Vol. I’ I must admit, I never thought I’d do ‘Vol. II’ and now ‘Vol. III.’ But having done it all now, makes all the more sense to me. If I have to be active playing White Lion in 2025 and onward, there’s got to be a natural progression in every way. That is exactly what this Trilogy is all about.
In this final installment, TRAMP revisits and reimagines ten more essential songs from the White Lion catalog, bringing them back to life with the passion, perspective, and authenticity that only decades of experience can deliver.
Once again backed by his trusted bandmates — Marcus Nand (guitar), Claus Langeskov (bass), and Morten Hellborn(drums) — TRAMP offers fresh but respectful renditions of these classic tracks, capturing their spirit while elevating them with a more refined, seasoned sound.
From the raw defiance of “Fight To Survive,” to the cinematic power of “Warsong,” and the infectious rhythm of “Radar Love,” this album is both a celebration and a reawakening.
Standing as more than a simple re-recording project, ‘Songs of White Lion — Vol. III’ is the emotional conclusion of a trilogy — a journey through time, memory, and music that connects the past to the present with integrity and fire.
This is not just a tribute, it’s MIKE TRAMP reclaiming and honoring his legacy.
1. Dirty Woman 2. Warsong 3. Fight To Survive 4. She’s Got Everything 5. In The City 6. If My Mind Is Evil 7. Cherokee 8. All Burn In Hell 9. Don’t Say It’s Over 10. Radar Love
MIKE TRAMP Live Dates: 8/31 – Pryor, OK @ Rocklahoma 9/19 – Las Vegas, NV @ Golden Nugget Las Vegas Hotel & Casino 9/20 – West Hollywood, CA @ Whisky A Go Go 9/23 – Millersville, PA @ Phantom Power 9/25 – Foxborough, MA @ Six String Grill & Stage 10/16 – Green Bay, WI @ EPIC Event Center 10/18 – St Charles, IL @ Arcada Theatre 11/5 – London, United Kingdom @ Underworld 11/7 – Great Yarmouth, United Kingdom @ Hard Rock Hell 11/8 – Buckley, United Kingdom @ The Tivoli 11/9 – Sheffield, United Kingdom @ Corporation 11/11 – Sirevåg, Norway @ Ogna Scene 11/12 – Trondheim, Norway @ HAVET 11/14 – Bergen, Norway @ Madam Felle 11/15 – Hamar, Norway @ Festiviteten Bar & Scene 11/16 – Oslo, Norway @ Herr Nilsen 11/20 – Helsingør, Denmark @ Karosserifabrikken 11/21 – Sønderborg, Denmark @ Sønderborghus 11/28 – Ishøj, Denmark @ Kulturium Ishøj Bibliotek 11/29 – Assens, Denmark @ Tobaksgaarden
Stoned Jesus have already made their mark as true trailblazers, but with their new album,these pilgrims of heavy progressive rock are embarking on their most expansive journey yet. The lead single from Songs to Sun opens with one of the band’s doomiest riffs. Though as revealed by frontman Igor Sydorenko, “Shadowland” gleams with surprising twists and hidden hooks.
Today, Igor is releasing a new video that shows how to play and how he wrote “Shadowland”. By taking a microdose of “big dumb riffs”, inspiration from Prince to Slipknot, and a page out of their own songbook, the band wound up with a mesmerizing chorus that fans will be shouting ahead of their upcoming shows across Europe, Australia and Latin America.
Watch Igor Sydorenko explain how to play and how he wrote “Shadowland”:
The video for “Shadowland: how to play it & how I wrote it” was written and filmed by Igor Sydorenko. It was edited by Radion Yakumenko.
Songs to Sun comes out September 19, 2025 on Season of Mist.
Songs to Sun is the first album in a forthcoming trilogy that once complete, will stand as the pinnacle of what’s been a decades-long trip for Stoned Jesus. While picking up where the band’s last album Father Light left off, Sydorenko and his new mates still nod to their earlyclassics Seven Thunders Roar and The Harvest. But by merging metal’s fiery intensity with mind-melting grooves, vintage prog and their catchiest choruses yet, they bring the many distinct phases of Stoned Jesus to a bright, burning head.
Tracklist 1. New Dawn (8:53) 2. Shadowland (4:38) [WATCH] 3. Lost in the Rain (7:49) 4. Low (4:09) 5. See You on the Road (5:45) 6. Quicksand (9:52)
Hear Stoned Jesus perform “Shadowland” and other new songs off Songs to Sun during their upcoming European festival appearances and tours of Australia and Latin America
2025 European Festivals September 13 – Crest, FR @ Bridge To Hell September 20 – Bilbao, ES @ Kristonfest November 8 – Bochum, DE @ Tombstoned Fest November 14 – Magny-Les-Hameaux, FR @ Foud Rock November 15 – Eindhoven, NL @ Helldorado
2025 XV & Debut Australian Tour September 28 – Perth @ The Rosemount October 1 – Canberra @ The Baso October 2 – Sydney @ The Underground October 3 – Brisbane @ Soapbox Beer October 4 – Melbourne @ The Leadbeater October 5 – Adelaide @ The Crown & Anchor
2025 Latin American Tour October 21 – Rio De Janeiro, Brazil @ Rock Experience October 22 – Porto Alegre, Brazil @ Gravador October 23 – Florianopolis, Brazil @ Desgosto October 24 – Curitiba, Brazil @ Beveldere October 25 – Sao Paulo, Brazil @ Jai Club October 26 – Belo Horizonte, Brazil @ Caverna October 28 – Buenos Aires, Argentina @ Uniclub October 29 – Santiago, Chile @ Club Ambar October 31 – Mexico City @ Sangriento [FIRST-EVER SHOW IN MEXICO]
Since 2009, Stoned Jesus has served as one of Europe’s leading forces in heavy rock. Igor Sydorenko, a veteran of the Ukrainian underground music scene, started it as a solo project after stumbling upon some heavy and angry riffs that would become the song “Occult.” He fed off his Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin influences and was soon turned onto Electric Wizard and Sleep, two bands who mastered the art of bold, lurching heaviness, thus creating a sonic template to abide by.
The Kyiv-based project was initially dubbed “Stoned Jesus from the Outer Space” but shortened to the much crisper Stoned Jesus. The name was trimmed down out of necessity — Sydorenko wanted to legitimize the band immediately. “I realized that this may cause some problems,” he told Psychedelic Baby in 2010. “Some people wouldn’t take our music seriously, then. I don’t mind jokes and having fun, but music is always the most serious thing for me.”
Two demos ensued before Stoned Jesus’s debut LP, 2010’s First Communion. Recorded with the first line-up in two hours, First Communion was a promising offering that dove headlong into the world of heavy stoner rock, with three songs going over the 10-minute mark for hypnotic effect. The album eventually saw a proper reissue in 2020, introducing it to a new group of fans. The first change of rhythm section brought Seven Thunders Roar in 2012, which included “I’m the Mountain,” a 13-minute epic that has since become a live staple. The album also introduced a bevy of acoustic guitar and softer vocal approaches from Sydorenko.
The Harvest came next in 2015 with a new drummer, deftly transitioning Stoned Jesus into the new terrain, with more alternative and progressive rock leanings. This is a credit to Sydorenko’s evolving songwriting style and desire to never allow Stoned Jesus to repeat itself. “It works brilliantly for the likes of Motörhead or AC/DC, but we’re not that legendary yet,” he told Outlaws of the Sun in 2015. “So, let’s experiment, shall we? Let’s play with the genres, the sound, the song structures, the melodies, the time signatures — yes, my favorite trick!”
With another change of the drummer, the fourth LP, Pilgrims, arrived in 2018. A bold and experimental record, it showed the growing maturity of both musical and lyrical sides of Igor’s ever-progressing songwriting. After a year-long The Pilgrimage Tour and yet another year on the road celebrating the band’s 10th anniversary with the greatest hits setlist, Stoned Jesus’ original plans were to record its follow-up in 2020. That, of course, was sidelined by the pandemic. The band then entered Spivaki Records in Kharkiv in July 2021 to record nine songs at 75 minutes. Two-thirds of the material was mixed and mastered before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, leaving the final run-time of six songs at 43 minutes.
The result was Father Light, the band’s first for Season of Mist, which caught Stoned Jesus in full bloom. The foundational elements of Stoned Jesus’s sound remained (fuzzed-out rock, driving bass lines and maximum groove), once again augmented by the combination of Sydorenko’s gentle clean vocals and hook-laden chorus choices, along with an array of ornamental guitar melodies. And, in true Stoned Jesus fashion, the journey is often the reward. The cuts on Father Light expand and shift — all the while, the band’s trademark heaviness serves as the guide.
Mother Dark, the gloomier introspective twin of Father Light, while partially recorded was shelved due to Igor’s dissatisfaction with the working dynamics of the latest Stoned Jesus line-up. Dissolving said line-up was a difficult decision to make, but Igor’s relocation to Europe brought a surprising reunion with his old friend Yurii, a talented drummer Igor had known even before writing the first Stoned Jesus song. Adding bassist-vocalist Andrew Rodin to this new line-up solidified its reliability, and now, after the whole year of relentless 25th Anniversary Tour schedule, the reinvigorated Stoned Jesus is more than ready for their next chapter.
Songs to Sun is the first album in a forthcoming trilogy that once complete, will stand as the pinnacle of what’s been a decades-long trip for Stoned Jesus. While picking up where Father Light left off, Sydorenko and his new mates still nod to Seven Thunders Roar and The Harvest along the way. But by merging metal’s fiery intensity with mind-melting grooves, vintage prog and their catchiest choruses yet, they bring the many distinct phases of Stoned Jesus to a bright, burning head.
Lineup Igor Sydorenko – Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards Andrew Rodin – Bass, Backing Vocals Yurii Ciel – Drums, Backing Vocals Production Credits Produced by Igor Sydorenko Recorded by Ignancy Gruzecki Mixed and Mastered by Karl Daniel Lidén at Studio Tri-Lamb, Sweden
US extreme blackened death thrash metal juggernaut Night Attack have released their unrelenting new single, “Mosh and Thrash”, the first taste of their forthcoming EP “Necromancer”, arriving September 19, 2025, via Wormholedeath.
“Mosh and Thrash” is a venomous blackened death thrash assault aimed squarely at false idols, scene tourists, and authority figures alike. Fueled by blastbeats, raw rage, and middle-finger anthems, the track calls for a hostile takeover of the underground with fists raised and amps blown. No safe spaces, no apologies—just pure sonic warfare for the true metal hordes.
Taken from the band’s upcoming EP, Necromancer, this latest release marks the third offering from the relentless four-piece. Channeling the feral spirit of early Death, Sepultura, Possessed, Kreator, and Megadeth, the EP showcases a masterclass in extreme metal songwriting—blending furious and technical guitar riffs, savage vocals, and a punishing rhythm section across every track.
Produced with a crushing mix worthy of its legacy influences, Necromancer captures the raw intensity and craft of the genre’s formative years, while carving out a space uniquely Night Attack’s own. The band features members of Vesterian and Ancestral Blood.
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 ) 