Thrash/groove metal pioneers Exhorder will be touring across Europe this summer. Known for their ferocious live performances and foundational influence on groove metal, the band will bring their explosive energy and relentless sound to fans across in Europe. The tour follows their critically acclaimed 2024 album Defectum Omnium, hailed as a crushing return to form that blends classic aggression with modern heaviness. Featuring founding vocalist Kyle Thomas, the line-up continues to push boundaries while honouring their legacy as one of New Orleans’ heaviest exports.
Kyle Thomas commented: “We’re looking forward to our first festival season with Pat O’Brien in tow! We will also play some headlining club dates, so let’s hang out! Apologies to the Duisburg fans, as the show on August 6 has been moved to Bochum at Die Trompete. We hope to see as many of you good folks as possible.”
Sonically unrelenting, Exhorder’s latest record, Defectum Omnium, revisits the band’s early influences of punk, hardcore and thrash, with 12 merciless tracks that sound as vital as when they first carved their groove in metal in 1985. Featuring crushing songs like ‘Year of the Goat’ and ‘Forever and Beyond Despair’ and ominous cover artwork by Travis Smith (Katatonia, Opeth), Defectum Ominum finds Exhorder at the top of their game with one of the year’s most vicious records.
Thomas said of the new record: “It’s been quite a journey for Exhorder since the 2019 release of Mourn the Southern Skies. Lineup changes as well as the 2020-2021 pandemic and lockdown presented hurdles that weren’t easy to overcome. But we persevered, kept our heads down and went to work with intense focus and real goals. One of those goals was to bring our fourth full length album to our fan base. Defectum Omnium is a collaborative effort in songwriting, much as it was in the early days of Exhorder. We produced it ourselves, as we felt no need or desire to bring in anyone from the outside based upon our shared vision. It was also important to us not only to continue the natural progression this band has been in since the early 90’s, but to put a foot back into our roots. The influence punk and hardcore had on this band from getting our start in the New Orleans punk rock scene has a strong presence. We’ve also made sure to keep plenty of our thrash roots as well in our songwriting process. But we have also managed to keep our doom roots alive, which first surfaced on the song (Cadence of) the Dirge back in 1992. In fact, on one new song we have guest appearances by Rick Wartell and Bruce Franklin from Trouble, and they absolutely killed it! From the time that we began pre-production until the actual release date, we can promise you that every bit of Defectum Omnium was crafted with great care, and we are really excited about it! Our goal was to make an album that WE loved and gives the experience of a journey.”
Finnish female fronted symphonic progressive metal band Dominant Chain, formed in 2006, is set to release their debut EP ‘Wasteland Requiem’ on September 3rd 2025 via Inverse Records. The second single ‘The Moment’ is out now and music video is available below.
Juho Keränen comments: ” “The Moment” represents a bit more straightforward style of the Dominant Chain. This sturdy song has fresh soundscapes, flowing story telling, punchy riffs, sudden tempo changes and majestic chorus, which lingers with the listener for a long time.
The story tells us about “moments” that will shape drastically the future, either happened by accident, guided by fate or simply have been chosen by one’s own actions. These moments and their consequences are those that we all have to live with to the bitter end. The core thought lies in relationships, losing time and opportunities and the difficulty of letting go. “The Moment” is a part of the dystopian world of Dominant Chain’s first album, the ‘Wasteland Requiem’ ”
-Vocal recordings & engineering: Esa Uusimaa -Vocal production & Backing Growls in ”Kissed by This Life”: Mika Kankainen -Mixing: Toni Balk -Mastering: Janne Tolsa -Cover art: Antti Raatikainen -Logo: Juha Tretjakov -Kissed by This Life & The Moment vocals recorded in White Leaf Studio, Oulu. -Tears Of The Tyrant & Dirt lead vocals and all backing vocals recorded in Lemmenhotelli, Helsinki.
Dominant Chain, hailing from Northern Finland, plays progressive symphonic metal. Their music is not only about complex time signatures and technical skills, but massive, catchy choruses too, along with influences from various other music styles.
The band was originally formed in 2006 in Sonkajärvi, Northern Savo. The musicians have seasoned backgrounds in the professional musicianship. Their first official release, the EP Wasteland Requiem, consisting of five tracks, will be released in the summer of 2025. The first single, “Kissed By This Life,” is released digitally on May 20, 2025. Wasteland Requiem EP is set to be released on September 3rd 2025 via Inverse Records.
Line-up: Bass: Tuomas Korkatti Drums: Toni Balk Guitars: Jarno Keränen Keyboards & orchestrations: Juho Keränen Lead & backing vocals: Marja Kettunen
Ampicore proudly unveil the next cinematic pieces of their sweeping concept album, March Up Country, released via Wormholedeath. The band now presents the lyric video for Kurdishland and for Coming to Armenia—songs six and seven in their rock opera odyssey, based on one of history’s most harrowing survival marches.
“Kurdishland” (Lyric Video)
The relentless sun beats down as weary soldiers battle their way through mountains, rivers, and the unforgiving terrain of the Kurdish lands. This chapter embodies both grit and grandeur, marked by intense instrumentals and evocative storytelling.
“Coming to Armenia” (Lyric Video)
As hope dwindles, Coming to Armenia plunges the listener into the brutal winter winds of Armenia, where ice and despair take hold. The track captures a moment of near-collapse, yet flickers of resilience remain.
About the Album: March Up Country – The Rock Opera
Ampicore’s bold and ambitious concept album traces the perilous journey of Xenophon’s Ten Thousand—a band of Greek mercenaries stranded behind enemy lines in 401 B.C. Facing betrayal, hunger, and merciless terrain, March Up Country transforms ancient history into a cinematic, guitar-driven epic of survival and the human spirit.
Following a highly successful run on the first leg of their tour, Archers are thrilled to announce ‘The Temporary High Tour Pt. II’, bringing their electrifying live show to even more cities across the country. The tour will feature special guests Nerv, Of Virtue, and Dead Eyes, making for a stacked lineup of heavy hitters in the modern alternative and hard rock scenes.
The band’s recent performances have drawn widespread acclaim from fans and press alike. Deranged-Media.com wrote, “They stormed the stage with the fury of a band on a mission—and from the first chord, it was clear they weren’t leaving anything behind. Known for their gritty blend of alt-rock and post-hardcore, the band turned the venue into a whirlwind of sound, sweat, and raw emotion. By the time they closed, the room was pulsing with sweat, energy, and gratitude. Archers proved they’re not just a band to watch—they’re a force that knows how to leave a crowd breathless and begging for more.”
IM Music Magazine echoed the sentiment, declaring: “This crowd went crazy and ARCHERS put on one of the best shows we’ve seen this year! You definitely do not want to miss them when they roll into your town.”
The announcement follows the release of Archers’ newest single, “Crooked Smile,” now streaming on all major platforms. The track is taken from the band’s brand-new EP, Temporary High, released via SBG Records, and has already begun making waves with fans and press alike.
Upcoming Tour Dates:
Archers Headline Tour with Nerv, Of Virtue and Dead Eyes
10/1/2025 Lexington, KY – Manchester Music Hall 10/2/2025 Pittsburgh, PA – Thunderbird Cafe 10/3/2025 Rochester, NY – Montage Music Hall 10/4/2025 Albany, NY – Empire Underground 10/6/2025 Virginia Beach, VA – Scandals Live 10/7/2025 Johnson City, TN – Capone’s 10/9/2025 Jacksonville, FL – The Albatross 10/10/2025 Biloxi, MS – The Sanctuary 10/12/2025 New Orleans, LA – Southport Hall 10/13/2025 Pensacola, FL – Handlebar 10/14/2025 Birmingham, AL – Workplay 10/16/2025 Houston, TX – Scout Bar 10/18/2025 Lubbock, TX – Jakes 10/21/2025 Reno, NV – The Alpine 10/22/2025 Fresno, CA – Fulton 55 10/23/2025 Sacramento, CA – Goldfield Midtown * no Nerv 10/24/2025 Boise, ID – The Shredder 10/25/2025 Spokane, WA – District @ Knitting Factory 10/27/2025 Billings, MT – The Pub Station 10/29/2025 Sioux Falls, SD – Icon Event Hall 10/30/2025 Omaha, NE – The Waiting Room 10/31/2025 Des Moines, IA – Wooly’s
Archers with Nothing More/ Catch Your Breath
1/14/2026 – The Fillmore – Silver Spring, MD 1/16/2026 – The Ritz – Raleigh, NC 1/17/2026 – The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC 1/19/2026 – House of Blues – Lake Buena Vista, FL 1/20/2026 – Jannus Live – Tampa, FL 1/21/2026 – Buckhead Theatre – Atlanta, GA 1/23/2026 – South Side Ballroom – Dallas, TX 1/24/2026 – ACL Live – Austin, TX 2/2/2026 – REVEL – Albuquerque, NM 2/3/2026 – The Criterion – Oklahoma City, OK 2/6/2026 – Marathon Music Works – Nashville, TN 2/7/2026 – Egyptian Room – Indianapolis, IN 2/19/2026 – Wellmont Theatre – Montclair, NJ 2/20/2026 – House of Blues – Boston, MA 2/21/2026 – Wind Creek Event Center – Bethlehem, PA 2/23/2026 – L’Olympia – Montreal, QC 2/24/2026 – HISTORY – Toronto, ON 2/25/2026 – The Fillmore – Detroit, MI 2/27/2026 – GLC Live at 20 Monroe – Grand Rapids, MI 2/28/2026 – The Riviera Theatre – Chicago, IL 3/1/2026 – The Sylvee – Madison, WI 3/3/2026 – The Fillmore – Minneapolis, MN 3/4/2026 – Burton Cummings Theatre – Winnipeg, MB 3/6/2026 – Midway Music Hall – Edmonton, AB 3/7/2026 – Grey Eagle Event Centre – Calgary, AB 3/9/2026 – Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC 3/10/2026 – Moore Theatre – Seattle, WA 3/11/2026 – Crystal Ballroom – Portland, OR 3/13/2026 – Union Event Center – Salt Lake City, UT 3/14/2026 – Fillmore Auditorium – Denver, CO 3/16/2026 – The Pageant – St. Louis, MO
Tracklisting:
Better Off
Wide Awake
Safe Now
Never Enough
Crooked Smile
Produced by acclaimed producer Matt Good (Hollywood Undead, Sleeping With Sirens), Temporary High captures ARCHERS’ continued evolution, blending crushing breakdowns, atmospheric textures, and emotionally charged lyrics.
In regards to the EP, the band states, “Temporary High is all about finding catharsis. It’s about breaking free from toxic cycles and finding value in oneself apart from anyone or anything that would try to usurp one’s own identity.”
In addition, the band will be hitting the road with Nothing More and Catch Your Breath from mid January through mid March 2026. The nationwide run will introduce ARCHERS’ explosive live show to even more fans as they continue building momentum into the new year.
“We are so excited and genuinely honored to be hitting the road with Nothing More in 2026! Touring with a band of this caliber is not something we take lightly and we are very excited to learn as much as we can from such seasoned vets. It will be such a treat getting to watch the incredible show they put on every night.”
Wisconsin-based band ARCHERS is making serious waves. Formed in 2015 by Ben Koehler (guitar) and Nathanael Pulley (vocals), ARCHERS quickly became known for their raw mix of metalcore and pop-rock, tackling everything from mental health to relationships with a brutally honest edge. With Oscar Porter (bass) and Grayson Mesarosh (drums) rounding out the lineup, the band’s sound has only gotten sharper.
2020’s New Normal EP was a game-changer, with its powerful blend of heavy riffs and introspective lyrics drawing comparisons to bands like Dayseeker and Sleep Token. Singles like “Bitter” and “Say This Sober” showcase their ability to balance vulnerability with intensity, earning them a fiercely dedicated fanbase. ARCHERS’ music is a journey of strength and catharsis, turning life’s darkest moments into anthems of resilience.
ARCHERS: Nathanael Pulley – Vocals Ben Koehler – Guitar Oscar Porter – Bass/Vocals Grayson Mesarosh – Drums
Hard Rock band A-Z released their brilliant sophomore album, A2Z², last month to critical acclaim. The band continues to celebrate the album’s release with the video for the track “Now I Walk Away,” the album’s epic closing track.
“‘Now I Walk Away’ is a modern power ballad with a distinctly nostalgic feel; a song that is relatable to anyone who’s ever experienced a toxic situation,” Mark Zonder said. “From the moment we wrote this song I always felt it could have crossover appeal to most any musical genre — much like Queensryche did with ‘Silent Lucidity’.“
Reviews of A2Z²:
“Encompasses everything that modern prog metal should be about. Brilliant!” – Metal Hammer (Germany)
“Essential, to the power of two. Not just for the Fates community – 9.5/10.” Rock Hard (Germany)
“‘A2Z² is a complete masterpiece that blends melodic hard rock with progressive metal and truly demonstrates that the band are true veterans of their craft and are showing no signs of slowing down.” – Lots of Muzik
“This album will be on repeat & leave the listener wanting more!” – The Prog Report
“Ten strong, melodic hard rock/AOR songs, with a high sing-along factor, that will continue to resonate in your memory after a few listens.” – Rock Tribune
“This new incarnation of A-Z brilliantly confirms all the potential glimpsed on the first album and takes A2Z² to a higher level” – Amarok
A2Z² Tracklist: 01. Fire Away (4:37) 02. Running in Place (4:58) 03. Nothing Is Over (4:18) 04. A Wordless Prison (6:04) 05. Reaching Out (4:16) 06. The Remedy (5:06) 07. I Am Numb (4:03) 08. This Chaotic Symphony (5:10) 09. Learning to Fly (4:38) 10. Now I Walk Away (5:39)
Spearheaded by legendary drummer Mark Zonder (Fates Warning, Warlord) and along with former Fates Warning bandmate Ray Alder on vocals, A2Z² builds on the groundwork laid on the acclaimed 2022 self-titled debut album. The writing for the album began when Zonder and guitarist Nick Van Dyk (Redemption) started working with vocalist Alder on the album’s first single and de facto statement, “Nothing Is Over,” showcasing the band’s commitment to making heavy music that’s sophisticated but hooky and accessible. Helping achieve those aural goals are bassist Philip Bynoe (Steve Vai/Ring of Fire/Warlord), Italian guitarist Simone Mularoni (A2Z² mixing/mastering, DGM) and keyboard player Jimmy Waldo (Alcatrazz/New England).
A-Z lineup: Ray Alder – Lead and Backing Vocals Philip Bynoe – Bass Guitar Nick Van Dyk – Guitars Simone Mularoni – Lead Guitars Jimmy Waldo – Keyboards Mark Zonder – Drums
After topping best of 2024 lists and breaking onto the Billboard charts, this year, Defeated Sanity have been slamming Europe and Latin America in support of their latest offering of brutally innovative, technical death metal. Now, as they prepare to level the stage next weekend at Brutal Assault, at long last, the band are announcing that they’re bringing Chronicles of Lunacy to the U.S.
This November, Defeated Sanity are touringmajor markets across the U.S. with Corpse Pile, Despised Icon and Sanguisugabogg, who featured DS vocalist Josh Welshman on their new single. During this 22 date run, the band will perform allof Chronicles of Lunacy, plus some old fan favorites.
“We are super stoked to announce our first U.S. tour since 2023!”, Defeated Sanity says. “We can’t wait to finally present our newest release Chronicles of Lunacy to our U.S. fans live and in action. Be sure to join us as we brutalize the U.S. once again”.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, August 1 at 10 am local time
Defeated Sanity 2025 U.S. Tour Dates with Sanguisugabogg, Despised Icon and Corpse Pile
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]
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) 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
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
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Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 