German heavy metal band BLACK & DAMNED have released a brand-new music video for their latest single: a powerful cover of Falco’s legendary hit “Jeanny”, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the song’s original release in 1985.
Guitarist Micha Vetter recalls his first encounter with the track:
“Back then, as a 17-year-old, this song immediately grabbed me by the balls! The story and the emotions of the song completely captivated me. I had been a fan of Falco for a few years, but this song burned itself directly into my brain! Falco was an outstanding artist for me. I didn’t just see him as a singer – he was simply the epitome of a true artist. Jeanny wasn’t just a song, it was a monument he had created! And now, for the 40th anniversary, we wanted to pay homage to this song, a tribute so to speak. Of course, the song had to remain as original as possible, but we also wanted to create a version that sounds like BLACK & DAMNED. As a metal band, we naturally had to include a little guitar solo, and we wanted the song to sound bombastic. That’s why we made it “big” with a full orchestra. And since everything about the original was perfect, we even designed our video as close to the original as possible, so Falco fans can relive those days through our version.”
The story of BLACK & DAMNED began in 2020, when guitarist & bassist Michael Vetter (ex-Pump) and vocalist Roland Seidel (ex-Wasteland) decided to break out of the global lockdown paralysis and form a new band. Their sound fuses the energy of Iron Maiden, the darkness of Black Sabbath, and the playfulness of Helloween.
Their first two albums, Heavenly Creatures (2021) and Servants of the Devil (2023), both produced by Achim Köhler (Brainstorm, Primal Fear, a.o.), gained strong attention in the metal scene. After touring with acts like Vicious Rumors, Rage, and Tankard, BLACK & DAMNED released their third opus Resurrection in March 2025 via ROAR here, produced by ex-Primal Fear guitarist Stefan Leibing. The result: a profound, melodic, and melancholic heavy metal album filled with lasting anthems.
With “Jeanny”, BLACK & DAMNED now bridge worlds – paying tribute to one of pop’s greatest icons while stamping the track with their unmistakable heavy metal signature!
BLACK & DAMNED is: Roland “Bobbes” Seidel – Vocals Michael Vetter – Guitar Aki Reissmann – Guitar Pappe Lee – Bass Axel Winkler – Drums
Following the triumphant return with their sophomore full-length “Tales Of Tragedy”, German death metal act CALL OF CHARON have unleashed the official music video for their track “They Come At Night.”
The video features exclusive live footage from the band’s performance at this year’s Wacken Open Air, where the new record was presented to the audience for the very first time. Adding even more intensity, the track includes a guest appearance by Dane Evans of To The Grave, who also makes an appearance in several scenes of the video.
“Playing the new songs for the first time at Wacken was an unforgettable experience. And having Dane performing in the music video is quite amazing for us,” the band states.
“Tales Of Tragedy” has already received excellent feedback from the international press and is quickly establishing itself as one of the most remarkable death metal releases of 2025.
The album was born in dark times. In the aftermath of the global pandemic, each member faced personal hardships — loss of loved ones, broken relationships, health struggles, and job insecurity. At the same time, the world itself seemed to grow colder and more hostile. These experiences shaped lyrics that are heavy, bleak, and emotionally charged, leaving little space for happy endings.
Musically, the record expands on the band’s 2022 EP “The Sound Of Silence”. While breakdowns remain a staple, “Tales Of Tragedy” adds a stronger death metal foundation, with black metal-inspired tremolo riffs and more melodic arrangements, resulting in a darker, more dynamic evolution of the band’s sound.
Produced, mixed, and mastered by Stephan Hawkes (Attila, Chelsea Grin), the album also features guest appearances by Dane Evans (To The Grave), Hagen Petschat (Ruins Of Perception), and Damien Moyal (As Friends Rust). “Tales Of Tragedy” marks CALL OF CHARON’s most powerful and refined work to date.
German grindcore unit CONSTRICT have premiered their new EP “Kadavergehorsam” on Mystification Zine, giving fans an exclusive first listen to the ferocious and uncompromising material.
True to the band’s signature intensity, the tracks confront systemic exploitation, alienation, and social injustice with relentless aggression and razor-sharp lyrical clarity.
The premiere offers a glimpse into the raw power and thematic depth of the upcoming EP, released today, on October 3rd, 2025 via 7Degrees Records (GER), Loner Cult Records (BE) and 783Label (UK), showcasing CONSTRICT’s place among Europe’s most urgent grindcore acts.
A furious and uncompromising new chapter, the record will be available on vinyl and digital platforms, further cementing the band’s commitment to DIY ethics and raw sonic intensity.
The vinyl edition is a onesided 12“ on black vinyl – white marbled 12×12“ inlay, sleeve printed inside out.
With “Kadavergehorsam”, CONSTRICT deliver a ferocious statement against exploitation, alienation, and the empty promises of neoliberalism. Through poetically dystopian lyrics, the band confronts themes such as forced labor, capitalism, self-optimization pressure, and systemic inequality. Tracks like “Rats,” “Bloom,” and “Cattle” paint a bleak portrait of a society in which individuals are reduced to disposable cogs. Yet songs like “Fight Back” cut through the despair, offering resistance and solidarity as answers to collective powerlessness.
Musically, CONSTRICT sharpen their sound with a handful of new tracks that are fast, abrasive, and direct, yet never lose sight of engaging dynamics, infectious groove and instantly memorable riffs. The band’s trademark is now enriched by more deliberate shifts in tempo, tension-building breaks and riff-driven hooks designed to grab the listener from the first note. While maintaining their raw, no-frills approach, CONSTRICT introduce subtle nuances, giving each song a distinct identity while contributing to an overall sense of urgency and cohesion. The result is a record that hits hard on first impact, but also rewards repeated listens with layers of detail and energy.
All music and lyrics written by Constrict. DIY recorded, mixed & mastered between 2023 and 2024 in Potsdam (Germany). Artwork & layout by Hagiophobic.
Formed in April 2015 in Potsdam, Germany, CONSTRICT set out to play fast and aggressive grindcore, without abandoning the metal roots shared by some of its members. The result is a hybrid of blistering blast beats, classic d-beats, and rolling double bass rhythms more commonly heard in death metal.
Their first release was a raw demo, followed by the debut album “Ultima Ratio” in 2018. After lineup changes (Willy and Nicole departed, replaced by Robert and Fabian), the band wrote and self-released the “Saturation” EP in 2020, staying true to their DIY ethic.
Following the departure of founding member Härry, CONSTRICT continued as a four-piece: leaner, more focused, and creatively energized, a shift that quickly became evident in their songwriting.
In 2022, the “Devourer” EP arrived on cassette, with each copy featuring one-of-a-kind artwork. Musically, it delved into darker and more atmospheric territory, tied together by a conceptual theme of the world’s tragic destruction at human hands.
Relentless as ever, CONSTRICT began writing again, this time aiming for even faster, more aggressive material. Once again, the band took full control of the process, handling recording, mixing, and mastering themselves. Plans to release the new EP on vinyl were temporarily delayed – until now. With the support of three like-minded underground labels, CONSTRICT proudly present their latest work: “Kadavergehorsam”.
Line-up:
Fabian – Vocals Sebastian – Guitars Robert – Bass Matze – Drums
Guitar icon OLA ENGLUND of Swedish thrash pioneers THE HAUNTED is now sharing a guitar play-through for the song “Collateral Carnage,” which is taken from the band’s critically-acclaimed new album, ‘Songs of Last Resort,’ which is out now via Century Media Records! The clip and accompanying tabs can be seen at THIS LOCATION.
With music recorded by Oscar Nilsson at Studio Bohus, main vocals recorded by Björn Strid at The Cellar Studio, ‘Songs of Last Resort’ was then mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (Kreator, Arch Enemy, Sepultura, etc). Artwork was once again provided by longtime visual collaborator Andreas “Diaz” Pettersson. Stream, download, and order it HERE.
THE HAUNTED will also be embarking on an extensive European run, which includes stops in Japan and the UK! The trek kicks off on October 4 in Athens (GR). The full itinerary and tickets can be found HERE with more TBA!
Upon its release, ‘Songs of Last Resort’ entered several international sales charts, including #7 on the Current Hard Rock Albums Chart (USA) and #77 Current Album Sales Chart (USA). The full list of placements and media accolades can be found below:
Letters of Last Resort (04:06) Album running time: (00:40:33)
THE HAUNTED – Live:
04.10.2025 Athens (Greece) – Gagarin 205 13.10.2025 Tokyo (Japan) – Loud Park 30.10.2025 Uppsala (Sweden) – Katalin 31.10.2025 Örebro (Sweden) – Frimis Salonger 01.11.2025 Vara (Sweden) – Vara in Rock 07.11.2025 Umeå (Sweden) – House of Metal Festival 09.11.2025 Manchester (UK) – Damnation Festival 04.12.2025 Gothenburg (Sweden) – Valand 05.12.2025 Norrköping (Sweden) – Arbis 06.12.2025 Gävle (Sweden) – Musikhuset 11.12.2025 Malmö (Sweden) – Babel 12.12.2025 Jönköping (Sweden) – Lick It Up @ Fabriken Bar 13.12.2025 Karlstad (Sweden) – Nöjesfabriken 12.02.2026 Tampere (Finland) – Olympia 13.02.2026 Helsinki (Finland) – On The Rocks 14.02.2026 Jyväskylä (Finland) – Lutakko / Kadotus Metal Meeting 19.02.2026 Stockholm (Sweden) – Debaser 21.02.2026 Sundsvall (Sweden) – Pipeline 3-6.07.2026 Knislinge (Sweden) – Time to Rock
And more shows are to be announced soon…
Lineup: Ola Englund – rhythm & lead guitar Jonas Björler – bass, backing vocals Marco Aro – lead vocals Adrian Erlandsson – drums Jensen – rhythm guitar
Cover Artwork: Andreas “Diaz” Pettersson Music recorded by Oscar Nilsson at Studio Bohus Main vocals recorded by Björn Strid at The Cellar Studio Mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios
Having dedicated this year to leveling Europe and Latin America behind the sheer brutality of the band’s latest Billboard-busting offering, Defeated Sanity are capping off 2025 with their first U.S. tour for Chronicles of Lunacy.
The long-standing innovators of brutal technical death metal are kicking off this mad-dash run with a special headlining show in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Defeated Sanity will then conjoin with their fellow lunatics in Corpse Pile, Despised Icon and Sanguisugabogg – who featured the band’s vocalist Josh Welshman on their new single – for 22 dates covering both coasts. Along the way, Skinless, Bayway, Ringworm, Upon Stone and other guests will appear during select shows.
“We can’t wait to finally present our new album Chronicles of Lunacy to our U.S. fans live and in action”, Defeated Sanity says. “Be sure to join us as we brutalize the U.S. once again”.
As they prepare to slam America with the critically-acclaimed Chronicles of Lunacy, today, Defeated Sanity are releasing a new drum playthrough for the album’s most punishing song. “Condemned to Vascular Famine” will have heads banging, bodies flying and brains exploding when the band spills its bloodlust all over the stage.
“‘Condemned to Vascular Famine’ was voted by our fans as their favorite song off Chronicles of Lunacy, so we decided to open our set with it on the last tour”, says Defeated Sanity’s drummer, primary songwriter and co-founding member Lille Gruber. “‘The song is a very epic and varied composition. It’s quite funny to start out a big Euro fest with this weird drum beat, but we like to fuck with our audience, as everyone knows”.
Watch Defeated Sanity drummer Lille Gruber crush “Condemned to Vascular Famine”:
Defeated Sanity 2025 U.S. Tour Dates with Sanguisugabogg, Despised Icon and Corpse Pile + special guests
November 2 – Cambridge, MA @ Sonia Live Music Venue [HEADLINE SHOW] [TICKETS]~ November 4 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall [TICKETS]* November 5 – Chicago, IL @ Metro [TICKETS]** November 6 – Indianapolis, IN @ Deluxe (Old National Centre) [TICKETS]*** November 7 – Lawrence, KS @ The Granada [TICKETS] November 8 – Denver, CO @ Summit Music Hall [TICKETS] November 9 – Albuquerque, NM @ El Rey Theater [TICKETS] November 11 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Nile Theater [TICKETS]# November 12 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory [TICKETS]# November 13 – Berkeley, CA @ UC Theatre [TICKETS]# November 14 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Regent Theater [TICKETS]# November 15 – Las Vegas, NV @ Fremont Country Club [TICKETS]# November 17 – Dallas, TX @ Echo Lounge & Music Hall [TICKETS] November 18 – Austin, TX @ Mohawk [TICKETS]## November 19 – Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall (Downstairs) [TICKETS]## November 21 – Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum [TICKETS]## November 22 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade [TICKETS]## November 23 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground [TICKETS]## November 25 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Roxian Theatre [TICKETS] November 26 – Baltimore, MD @ Baltimore Soundstage [TICKETS]### November 28 – New York, NY @ Irving Plaza [TICKETS]^ November 29 – Philadelphia, PA @ Union Transfer [TICKETS]^ November 30 – Columbus, OH @ The King of Clubs [TICKETS]^^
~only Defeated Sanity *with Everybody Dies **with Everybody Dies + Gorgasm ***with Volcano + Ran Thru #with Upon Stone ##with Bayway ###with Bludgeoned by Deformity ^with Skinless ^^with Ringworm + Anatomize
Tracklist 1. Amputationsdrang (2:30) [WATCH] 2. The Odour Of Sanctity (3:36) [WATCH] 3. Accelerating The Rot (3:22) [WATCH] 4. Temporal Disintegration (5:52) [WATCH] 5. Extrinsically Enraged (4:09) [WATCH] 6. A Patriarchy Perverse (4:16) 7. Condemned to Vascular Famine (6:00) [WATCH] 8. Heredity Violated (3:48) Total runtime: 33:35
DEFEATED SANITY is unequivocally one of the most unique, boundary-pushing and crucial bands in the history of extreme death metal. Their music is as technically coherent as it is mind-bending and memorable. Endlessly replay-able and full of discovery, their maze of riffs and musical passages is inspired by infamous classic bands in the extreme metal genre, while also heavily steeped in jazz and progressive classical elements.
The band consists of four members. They’re led by drummer Lille Gruber, who’s the son of deceased co-founding member Wolfgang Teske. Gruber is joined by bandmates Jacob Schmidt (bass), Josh Welshman (vocals) and Vaughn Stoffey (guitar).
As well as being the drummer of Defeated Sanity, Gruber is the multi- instrumental, songwriting mastermind behind the band’s deep and compelling catalogue of songs and compositions. He possesses a bag of tricks seen nowhere else in the genre, and a musical prowess which is on full display throughout their new album Chronicles of Lunacy.
“We love experimenting”, explains drummer and founding member Lille Gruber. “But we realized that some of our oldest fans might have gotten lost after our last couple of albums. With the new one, we wanted to focus more on neck-snapping brutality”.
Chronicles of Lunacy punches you right in the face. Press play and “Amputationsdrang” already has you pinned to the mat beneath its non-stop blasts. Get comfortable, too, because Defeated Sanity don’t let the album up for air until the very end of Track 4. But turns out, acting like knuckle-dragging cavemen isn’t so easy for a band that has a Mensa-level maestro like Gruber at the controls.
At the tender age of six, Lille Gruber picked up heavy guitar and drums. Inspired by killer American BDM bands like Disgorge, Monstrosity and Brodequin, the German wunderkind recorded the band’s first demo alongside his father, Wolfgang Teske. Since Wolfgang’s passing in 2010, Gruber has taken on the bulk of the composing for Defeated Sanity. Whether he’s hammering his snare, pinging between cymbals or riding a colossal groove, The Chronicles of Lunacy flows like a never-ending stream of filth.
“Lille’s drumming is just ridiculous”, Jacob Schmidt says. Schmidt – who toured with Obscura behind Cosmogenesis – joined as the other half of Defeated Sanity’s chaotic rhythm section for the band’s beloved second album. His nimble, belching bass give the new album’s lead single “The Odour of Sanctity” a dizzying bounce. “He’s the face of the franchise, so we’re never going to abandon those head-scratching moments that set Defeated Sanity apart”.
Indeed, Chronicles of Lunacy isn’t Defeated Sanity for dummies. Heck, the lyrics are wrapped up in the twisted ways that delusions can rot the human psyche. This heady concept was made flesh by none other than Jon Zig. Drawn in painstaking detail by his wicked right hand, the album’s cover shows that the birth of some ideas look an awful lot like a gory and sex-crazed nativity scene.
“Each song on Chronicles deals with a different form of mental corruption”, Josh Welshman says”. “Odor” stinks of religious fanaticism. “A Patriarchy Perverse” cracks open the mind of co-ed killer Ed Kemper, while “Extrinsically Enraged” practically foams at the mouth with squealing hammer-ons. “That one’s more literal”, says Welshman with a hearty laugh. “It’s about contracting rabies”. If it weren’t for Disposal of the Dead / Dharmata, then Defeated Sanity would’ve chewed through as many vocalists as they have albums, but after a brutal showing on their last one, Welshman is back with more guttural vengeance. His growls ooze from the pit of his gut on “Temporal Disintegration”, stomped out like the innards of a cockroach by the gravity-defying slams.
While it still hits from every odd angle, Chronicles of Lunacy does draw a jagged red line back to Defeated Sanity’s brutal origins. After all, the band now share a label with their namesake. In true, DS fashion, the first song written for this album was “Heredity Violated”, a headbanging grand finale that never stops chugging. “This album isn’t as tough on the brain as the last two”, says new guitarist Vaughn Stoffey, whose chunky riffs whip “Accelerating the Rot” into the fastest song in the band’s canon. “It’s rawer and more straightforward, which gets back to what fans love about Psalms of the Moribund“.
To dig up the sheer brutality that long-time fans have come to crave, Defeated Sanity returned to Thousand Cave Studios. New York City’s most vile underground hotspot also served as the excavation site for the Billboard-charting The Sanguinary Impetus, which shoveled a fresh layer of dirt over the “polished” production of Passages into Deformity. But the band encouraged producer Colin Marston to get down and dirty with Chronicles of Lunacy. “We still wanted some of the high fidelity that you hear on modern death metal records”, Schmidt says, “but this album has the same crushing low-end as Psalms or Chapters of Repugnance“.
The band execute this two-headed approach to monstrous effect on “Condemned to Vascular Famine”. At just under six minutes, the song delivers the longest ass beating on Chronicles of Lunacy. At times, all four members sound like they’re climbing up the walls in separate asylums, but after slipping in a brief nod to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the band come slamming down into the album’s ugliest breakdown.
“That’s one of our favorites”, the band says. “It lands at a crossroad of the DS sound that we ended up with on Chronicles of Lunacy. Even though it gets pretty fucking weird at times, there’s still an emphasis on heavy, straight-up slamming”
None of their albums are ever going to follow a straight line, but on Chronicles of Lunacy, Defeated Sanity return to sheer brutality.
Lineup Josh Welshman – Vocals Vaughn Stoffey – Guitars Jacob Schmidt – Bass Lille Gruber – Drums
Guest musicians Danny Nelson and Paolo Paguntalan provide backup vocals on “Amputationsdrang” and “Accelerating the Rot”
Recording Studio Thousand Caves Studio in January 2024.
Production Recorded, mixed and mastered by Colin Marston. Produced by Colin Marston and Defeated Sanity.
Cover Art Artwork by Jon Zig Title lettering by Liz Schmidt Layout by Alex Eckman-Lawn
Following the release of their album “Liminal Spaces,” Italian progressive metal act Beriedir unveil the official music video for “As Tight As Phantoms Hold”.
First introduced live in 2024, “As Tight As Phantoms Hold” quickly became one of the band’s most energetic and impactful songs to perform on stage. Musically, the track blends tight rhythms, ambient sections, electronic drum passages, and crushing breakdowns, embodying Beriedir’s ability to merge atmosphere with sheer intensity. Lyrically, it portrays the image of an anonymous guard stationed in a desolate outpost and condemned to fleeting encounters with nameless passersby, a metaphor for loneliness, transience, and betrayal.
“An isolated box, a guardhouse at the entrance of a parking lot. Cars come and go, strangers pass by, some of them wave. Nameless, every day, no one meant to stay. That’s what some of us feel like. A keeper of nothing, only meeting ghosts. The only connection afforded was that of a stab in the back.”
The band comments:
“This song stands out as one of the most energizing to bring on stage. We wanted to push variety in composition, mixing ambient layers, electronic touches, and breakdowns to create something that constantly shifts in intensity.”
The official video visually translates this restless duality, amplifying both the haunting isolation and explosive release at the heart of the track.
With “Liminal Spaces”, Beriedir continues their stylistic evolution, moving further from their power metal roots toward a darker and more progressive identity. The record explores trauma, nostalgia, longing, and emotional fragmentation, offering an immersive experience that resonates with anyone navigating moments of solitude and transition.
Now fully embracing a modern progressive and alternative metal aesthetic, Beriedir’s sound invites comparison to Pain of Salvation, Leprous, Katatonia, Gojira, Trivium, and Dark Tranquillity. Mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni at Domination Studio, “Liminal Spaces” combines sonic depth with lyrical weight, marking a bold new chapter in the band’s journey.
Track Listing: 1. Halo 2. Neon 3. In The Corner Of My Eyes 4. As Tight As Phantoms Hold 5. F.I.V.E. 6. More Than Starlight 7. Burnout 8. Anemoia 9. Massive 10. In The Liminal Space
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 )