Swedish melodic death metal veterans Imperial Domain are back with their brand-new single “Retribution”, taken from their upcoming album Portentum, due for release on November 14, 2025, through Wormholedeath.
“Retribution” is Imperial Domain’s furious statement of long-delayed justice. Fueled by sharp riffs and a venomous chorus, the track channels humiliation and betrayal into pure melodic death metal vengeance. It’s a powerful preview of what’s to come on Portentum, an album set to showcase Imperial Domain’s signature blend of aggression, atmosphere, and precision.
Founded in the mid-90s, Imperial Domain quickly made waves in the Swedish death metal underground with their debut demo The Final Chapter (1995), followed by In the Ashes of the Fallen (1996)—a release that earned them national acclaim. Their full-length debut In the Ashes of the Fallen (1998) on Pulverised Records marked the band as a rising force, followed by the critically acclaimed The Ordeal (2003) via Konqueror Records.
After a brief hiatus and the tragic loss of vocalist Tobias Heideman in 2014, the band reemerged stronger than ever with The Deluge (2016), reaffirming their place in the melodic death metal pantheon. Now, Imperial Domain return with Portentum—an album that’s as uncompromising as it is thought-provoking.
Line-Up Peter Laitinen Sundström – Guitar Philip Borg – Guitar Andreas Öman – Vocals Mattias Hansson – Bass Alvaro Svanerö – Drums
From the mountains of Madrid emerges Antinoë, the haunting one-woman project of pianist/vocalist Teresa Marraco. With the release of her new single ‘Flock’, Antinoë showcases another mesmerizing preview of her forthcoming debut album The Fold which will be out November 21, via Karisma Records.
‘Flock’ showcases Antinoë‘s ability to weave neo-classical elegance with the atmospheric weight of metal, creating soundscapes that are fragile, immersive, and profoundly melancholic.
Teresa comments on the track: “‘Flock’ incarnates the ethos of longing for what’s always beyond reach, drifting between idealizing stagnation and regretting it. A symphonic chant of yearning, both naïve and self-critical, where attachment to one’s misery and reluctance to change set a passive yet tender state of frustration.“
With her ethereal voice and piano-driven arrangements, Antinoë occupies a rare space in contemporary music where the delicate beauty of artists like Agnes Obel and Enya collides with the darkness of Chelsea Wolfe and Ulver. However, Antinoë‘s world is uniquely her own; darker and steeped in reflection, loss, and yearning, with an undeniable metal attitude coursing through her veins.
Tracklist: 1. Night Falls 2. The Devil’s Voice 3. Turn to Dust 4. Indulgence 5. Flock 6. Threshold 7. Chaos in the Sky 8. Ulven 9. Si Te Dejo Ir 10. Når Du Dør 11. Light Bringer 12. Four Things
From the mountains of Madrid comes Antinoë, the haunting one-woman project of pianist and vocalist Teresa Marraco. With her ethereal voice and stark, piano-driven arrangements, Antinoë shapes soundscapes where neoclassical elegance collides with the atmospheric weight of metal, weaving music that is at once fragile, immersive, and profoundly melancholic. Fans of artists like Agnes Obel or Enya will find resonance here, yet Antinoë’s world is darker, steeped in reflection, loss, and yearning.
Since its inception in 2021, Antinoë has embraced a uniquely personal approach to darkness, building her songs around intimate piano compositions intertwined with her rich, resonant voice. Marraco’s background in extreme music further anchors her vision: she has collaborated with acts such as Coldborn, Elffor, Balmog, and Empty, and recorded the piano/keyboard parts for Dimmu Borgir’s live performance of Det Nye Riket at Beyond the Gates Festival. Her 2023 debut, Whispers from the Dark Past, an acoustic reinterpretation of 90s Norwegian black metal classics, garnered critical attention and cemented her distinctive identity on the border between metal and neoclassical expression.
Now, Antinoë unveils her first full-length album of original material: The Fold. A conceptual journey that navigates the acceptance of death, tracing the process of “folding inward” to confront different stages of grief, one by one, inviting us to walk a deeply personal path that nonetheless exposes universal themes such as existentialism and the embracing of chaos as a necessary part of oneself. With The Fold, Antinoë transcends genre boundaries to deliver music that is delicate, symphonic, and unflinchingly dark, an invitation to step into shadows and discover their hidden beauty.
Genre: Neoclassical Folk meets melancholy Pop with a Metal attitude FFO: Chelsea Wolfe, Sade, Lana Del Rey, Ulver, Susanne Sundfør, Enya, Agnes Obel
Taiwan’s cultural association (GACC) is hosting an unforgettable night in Helsinki on November 27 to celebrate the metal scenes of Taiwan and Finland in all their diversity. F:F:F: – Formosa : Finland : Fest, held at Tiivistämö, also marks the beginning of a new chapter in cultural diplomacy, as it coincides with the arrival of Taiwan’s new ambassador to Finland – none other than Freddy Lim, a professional politician but also the driving force behind one of Taiwan’s most iconic metal bands, CHTHONIC.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to return to Finland after more than a decade – this time as Taiwan’s official representative. While Finns may recognize the historical and geopolitical parallels between Finland and Taiwan, through F:F:F: you’ll also see that both our nations are masters at producing quality Metal! Let’s strengthen our diplomacy through music and culture,” says Freddy Lim.
Founded in 1967 and led by the President of Taiwan, the GACC has organized major cultural export projects around the world – from India to the United States – over the past decade. The six-band evening in Helsinki also includes an exclusive reception for media and invited guests, featuring culinary delights by Taiwanese celebrity chef Soac, as well as cutting-edge fashion from designers Jenn Lee and INF (aka Wei Kuo). Their creations, alongside live visuals by VJ Asking Lee, will also feature on stage during the free concert event.
“While F:F:F is focused on music, we’ve fine-tuned every detail to ensure the richness and diversity of Taiwanese culture shines through. We invited two fashion designers to shape the visual identity: JENN LEE, known for her bold and experimental style, and INF, whose work fuses deconstruction with Taiwanese cultural elements. Visual artist BlackZao brings graffiti art to amplify the energy of each performance, and VJ Asking Gee – a veteran of international festivals and electronic music stages – creates a global visual language for the metal performances. F:F:F is not just a concert – it’s a celebration for the ears, eyes, and taste buds, where you can truly experience ‘The Flavor of Taiwan,’” says secretary-general, Lee Hou-ching.
F:F:F is also part of “Taiwan European Culture Connect 2025,” a year-long program launched by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Culture. So far, the GACC has organized over 70 Taiwanese cultural events across 26 European countries. In Finland, heavy metal serves as a loud and powerful voice for intercultural dialogue. The F:F:F visual identity continues the theme of the colon – a symbol of dialogue, connection, and collaboration.
Under the aurora-lit Nordic skies, the small mountainous island of Taiwan and Finland, the land of a thousand lakes, may be separated by nearly 8,000 kilometers and more than 40 degrees of latitude – yet these two nations are united by a shared belief in democracy, freedom, and human rights – universal values that transcend borders.
“This isn’t just a concert – it’s a new form of cultural export that marks the beginning of deeper exchange. Through music, we share not only melodies but also our shared values of freedom, diversity, and human rights.”
Kivisydän invites their listeners into a world where fragility and strength coexist, where the weight of sorrow is both crushing and cathartic. Melodic, symphonic metal meets powerful vocals and lyrics that delve deep into sorrow, despair, and pain – but ultimately also hope.
The band that was started in 2022, are now releasing their debut album ”Kuoleva Aurinko” (translates into “Dying Sun”). The album was mixed by Heikki Marttila / Guru Studio and mastered by Miro Kiiski / Miromastering.
“We’re really satisfied with the album, it came out really great and can’t wait to share it with everyone. The album will be very versatile musically. It has fast songs with a lot of things happening, and slower songs that have very minimalistic instrumentals. It has long, complex songs and shorter and more straight-forward ones. It can be regarded as a theme album, and the theme is one person’s life story with all its gruesome and dark phases and details.
If you like dark, melancholic, symphonic and melody-filled metal, you should definitely check us out!” — Kivisydän
MASON HILL release their huge new single ‘Remember‘, the first music to feature new vocalist and frontman Tom Ward, and the first opportunity for fans to hear the path the band are now taking, one that sees a darker turn both lyrically and sonically, loaded with emotion and powered forward by an intense, brooding and contemporary edge.
‘Remember‘ sees Mason Hill return in spectacular style, adding more dynamics and depth than ever before, assisted in no small measure by the production of Dan Weller (Enter Shikari, Bury Tomorrow, Those Damn Crows)
James Bird (guitar) says: “The new tune ‘Remember’ is dark, it’s heavy and it embodies the direction we’re headed. We can’t wait to blow the roof off our sold-out London and Glasgow shows with this new track. They are both going to be nights to Remember!”
Matt Ward (bass) says: “We have loved exploring the heavier side of Mason Hill with Dan Weller on production duties. These recordings are sounding absolutely massive and are so much fun to play. We can’t wait to get back on stage with these , and I’m absolutely buzzing to reveal all the things we have planned.”
‘Remember‘ is just the first step on the road to a new album from Mason Hill, half of which has already been recorded, and the remainder of which will be captured during further sessions with Weller in November. Expect an early 2026 release for the as-yet-untitled full length. With two ‘comeback’ shows in London and Glasgow selling out in 24 hours, it’s clear that the band’s fanbase is still very much with them.
Four years after ‘Against the Wall’ made such an impact, Mason Hill is re-entering the fray with renewed intent, showcasing a freshly updated sound and presentation. New guy Tom Ward states; “Joining Mason Hill has been transformational for me – 12 months of hard graft, anticipation and gearing up to tear up the stage. Together we’ve been creating an album which is raw, powerful and pure Mason Hill.”
This line up feels like a huge step forward for the Glasgow-based band, and with good reason. While the core of Mason Hill is the same as the band that made ‘Against The Wall’ – James plus guitarist Marc Montgomery, bassist Matt Ward and drummer Craig McFetridge – their new music marks the introduction of new singer Ward, whose versatile voice brings different dimensions to Mason Hill’s signature sound as he switches from emotive whisper to arena-rattling power in a heartbeat.
“We’re still Mason Hill, but in some ways, it feels like we’re a brand-new band,” says James of their new configuration. “With Tom in the line-up, we’ve got a new energy.” “Coming into this band at this point has been a dream,” adds Tom. “We hit it off from the start, and we discovered we’ve brought new things out in each other as writers. The new songs we’ve written so far are just amazing.”
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. “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,” says James. “When Tom put his voice to some of the demos we’d sent, that was when we knew this could work.” “It feels like a turning point,” says Tom of this new chapter, of which he’s a key part. “We’re super-hungry for it.” “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 Hillkick off their new era at the following shows this November; both of which are now sold out: 27th November – London, Camden Assembly 29th November – Glasgow, The Cathouse
Tom Ward vocals James Bird guitarist Marc Montgomery guitarist Matt Ward bassist Craig McFetridge drums
The self-titled album by Khroma, their fourth, sees the Helsinki-borne quintet at their most diverse: from straight-up death and groove metal passages to full-fledged grime, electro and trip hop, the band expands the boundaries of their electronic alternative metal. From the turbocharged opener “Abattoir (Chosen)” through the relentless rap skit “NPCs” to the complex, album-closing “Carnivorous”, “Khroma” is a limitlessly heavy album not chasing mundane genre thrills.
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )