Progressive metallers Jack The Joker are pleased to unveil their new single and official lyric video “Devir”, taken from the upcoming debut album “The Devil To Pay In The Backlands”, out on August 22, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.
Pre-Order “The Devil To Pay In The Backlands” HERE
The band said: “Devir” is the lament of a man who’s lived the backlands to the bone – where the sun scorches, the earth devours, and there’s no devil but our own choices. A tale of suffering without a villain, where pain is law and faith is just a question carried by the wind”.
Jack The Joker is a modern progressive metal band with a twist, hailing from the Northeast of Brazil. The band consists of Raphael Joer (vocals) Felipe Faco and Lucas Colares (guitars), Gustavo Pinheiro (bass), and Vicente Ferreira (drums).
What sets Jack The Joker apart is their ability to incorporate traditional cultural influences from their homeland, infusing elements of maracatu, forró, baião, and frevo into their sound. Their music draws inspiration from the iconic Brazilian novel of the same name, navigating the metaphysical backlands where human will clash with the raw forces of nature.
Their instrumental approach mirrors this thematic landscape, using regional rhythms as a foundation for dense, complex arrangements and layered compositions that fuse tradition with the intensity of progressive metal.
The band has already made a name for themselves in the modern prog scene with their 2024 singles, generating buzz with their blend of cultural authenticity and musical innovation.
Produced by Adair Daufembach (Angra), “The Devil To Pay In The Backlands” is an ambitious, genre-blending journey that will delight fans of technical metal, groove, and melody alike. Jack The Joker bring a fearless and refreshing perspective to the progressive metal genre.
“The Devil To Pay In The Backlands” Tracklist:
1. Devir 2. Between The Sky Lines 3. Denied 4. XV 5. Neblina 6. Sun 7. You Where I Belong 8. Thousand Witnesses 9. Cabaret 10. Saudade 11. Hope
Line Up: Vocals – Raphael Joer Electric/Acoustic Guitars – Felipe Facó e Lucas Colares Bass Guitars – Gustavo Pinheiro Drums and Percussions – Vicente Ferreira
With their new single Choke On Your Mistakes, from the upcoming album Is There Salvation? (release date: September 19), the promising metal band DARKNESS SURROUNDING emphasizes one of the most sensitive topics of our digital present day: cancel culture. The track, which is released today, on July 25 with an accompanying lyric video, is directed against a culture of public reckoning in which misconduct – whether real or perceived – gets punished immediately and mercilessly. Often all it takes is a single thoughtless sentence, a misunderstanding or an old post to trigger a wave of outrage that sweeps away careers and livelihoods.
“With this song, we want to express our anger about the bad habit of waiting for someone to make a mistake, especially online, to then collectively pounce on them. It doesn’t matter if the mistakes are just banalities, the shitstorm is usually devastating,” the band comments on the new single.
In Choke On Your Mistakes and the accompanying music video, Darkness Surrounding show their attitude: loud, direct, forceful, artistically uncompromised, with raw energy, and emotional depth. With aggressive growls and vulnerable clean vocals, the band sets the tension between guilt, overreaction and public exposure to music. Musically, the track combines modern metal elements with a thought-provoking theme: morality on the internet, digital self-righteousness, the inner turmoil of a digital age, and the question of whether a culture that is quicker to condemn and no longer forgives mistakes is really fair.
The new albumIs There Salvation? will be released on September 19 – The record deals with social tensions, personal struggles and the search for hope, realized in a multi-faceted soundscape of thunderous blast beats, dark riffs, growls, soulful clean vocals and epic solos. With their mixture of modern sounds, profound lyrics, and rousing live presence, Darkness Surrounding prove that musically great things emerge in the Bergisches Land region.
Is There Salvation? Tracklist
1. Is There… 2. Old Minds Go Blind 3. Choke On Your Mistakes 4. Achromantica 5. Virtue’s End 6. Chained Eternally 7. Through History’s Lens 8. Portrait Of Solitude 9. Lethargy 10. …Salvation?
Darkness Surrounding will celebrate the release of their new album Is There Salvation? with an exclusive release show on September 20 at the börse in their hometown of Wuppertal – a must-see for all fans of contemporary metal sounds ranging from melodic death metal to metalcore. In a relaxed atmosphere, attendees can chat with the band over a drink, and snacks will also be provided. Starting at 9:30 p.m., things will get loud and intense as Darkness Surrounding perform their new album in full-length live on stage. After the concert, all guests can look forward to an after-show party – the perfect way to round off a special evening.
DARKNESS SURROUNDING Is There Salvation? – Release Show When: 20.09.2025, from 8:00 p.m. Where: die börse (Wolkenburg 100, 42119 Wuppertal) Presale tickets: 15 Euro / Box office: 20 Euro
Darkness Surrounding’s musical journey began back in their school days, when they were still heavily influenced by classic melodic death metal. The band has been active in their current lineup since 2024: With Tim Dau on growls and Kassandra “Kessi” von Bajgar, who impresses with both her voice and on the guitar, the quintet brings new sonic facets to their work. The formation is complemented by founding member Leonard Pott on drums, Simon Adolf on lead guitar, and Nico Schubert on bass. Kessi’s clean vocals make the band’s sound more complex than ever. Inspired by scene giants like Avenged Sevenfold, Trivium, Gojira, Sylosis, and Bleed From Within, Darkness Surrounding create their own unique style – melodic, driving, and with a natural sound that impresses both live as well as in the studio.
SABATON —the #1 Global Power Metal Band and one of Sweden’s most successful bands—is ready to ignite a new era with the highly anticipated release of their 11th studio album LEGENDS. It arrives October 17 via Better Noise Music and marks the band’s label debut. Pre-orders are available now HERE.
Throughout the aptly titled LEGENDS, which blends rock and history for fans of all ages, SABATON—Joakim Brodén (vocals), Pär Sundström (bass), Chris Rörland (guitar), Thobbe Englund (guitar), Hannes Van Dahl (drums)—delve into some of history’s greatest and most loved characters such as Jeanne D’arc (also known as Joan of Arc), Napoleon Bonaparte, Julius Caesar, and the legendary swordmaster Miyamoto Musashi.
As a special celebratory gift to their legions of loyal fans around the world, SABATON—to coincide with the long-awaited announcement of their new album—is releasing not one, but two brand new songs from LEGENDS, available today (July 25) on all digital outlets. Watch the lyric video for “The Duelist” HERE and stream/download the track HERE. Watch the lyric video for “Lightning at the Gates” HERE and stream/download the track HERE.
LEGENDS will be available across various different physical formats and retailer exclusives including CD, 2 CD digibook, 2 CD earbook (both including the exclusive Storyteller Edition), 11 unique vinyl editions (including a special vinyl color and exclusive artwork each), additional exclusive vinyl colors and a limited box set (including another exclusive vinyl color, the 2 CD earbook, and a colored cassette as an exclusive format).
Amongst 11 unique vinyl editions, each one portraying one legendary figure, LEGENDS will be available as the “Hannibal Edition” and the “Miyamoto Musashi Edition,” which are linked to today’s song releases for “Lightning at the Gates” (Hannibal) and “The Duelist” (Miyamoto Musashi). Pre-orders are available HERE.
LEGENDS is a rock odyssey that transcends time and borders, with melodic guitar riffs, goosebump-inducing choirs, and epic choruses. It marks a bold evolution in storytelling, plunging headfirst into the heart of history’s most formidable and enigmatic figures. These are not just rock songs, they are battle hymns carved from the blood and legacy of warriors, kings, strategists, and revolutionaries.
It marks the very first time that every band member has come together to contribute to the songwriting process. This is SABATON as you’ve never heard them before—relentless and unbound. LEGENDS is a global journey through the annals of warfare, leadership and unbreakable will.
“We can finally announce that our 11th studio album LEGENDS is coming out on October 17th!” says bassist Pär Sundström. “11 tracks that cover 11 iconic legendary stories. This time we look further back in history than we have been the past few years, going to times that I think are very exciting. As someone who’s always been into the history of the Middle Ages, knights and the legends of old, it felt incredible to finally bring those stories into the SABATON universe.”
“Music collectors will be happy to hear that you are now able to pre-order our LEGENDS album in all formats imaginable, including digital, CD, vinyl and a cassette tape that will be featured in a box set,” says singer Joakim Brodén. “Apart from the usual suspects, there are multiple cool editions available, and we have a bunch of cool vinyls, each corresponding to a legend.”
Bassist Pär Sundström continues, “We’re all about telling stories through our songs, so we thought, why not do the same with our vinyls? Instead of just making them a cool color, we wanted them to actually tell a story too. That’s why we decided to name them after the legendary figures featured on the album. It just felt like the perfect way to make them more special. We hope all the physical music collectors out there love the concept! We took the idea from the community and tweaked it ourselves!”
SABATON have always had a signature focus on writing songs about historical battles, wars, and acts of heroism that have solidified their impact with their loyal and longtime fans. They’ve collaborated closely with its network of specialists, developed over the years since the launch of the Sabaton History Channel on YouTube, to make sure this new album is once again as close to reality as possible.
Joakim Brodén continues, “Legends have always been woven into our music, and the HEROES album is the perfect example of that! I’m incredibly proud of HEROES and everything it stands for, so LEGENDS is just a natural next step. It’s like the story continues but goes way back in time. We’re excited to finally be taking our listeners on a new journey! Here’s to another chapter in Sabaton’s story!”
They continue to work with graphic artist Peter Sallai to create the striking album artwork, and producer Jonas Kjellgren is once again behind the boards from his Swedish Black Lounge Studios to create the classic SABATON sound the band is now known for.
Two songs have already been released from LEGENDS: “Hordes of Khan” (June 6) and “Templars” (April 25):
· “Hordes of Khan”: Listen HERE and watch the video HERE. The track has been streamed over 3.5 million times, while the video has been viewed more than 1 million times.
· “Templars”: Listen HERE and watch the video HERE. The track has been streamed over 14 million times, while the official video and lyric video have been viewed more than 4.3 million times.
In the more than two decades since the band’s launch, SABATON has headlined major festivals, sold-out arena concerts worldwide, and gained a legion of loyal fans by carving out a reputation for being one of the hardest working bands in the business. Since their 2005 debut album, they’ve earned Gold, Platinum, and multi-Platinum certifications in territories around the world with their 10 studio albums. Eight of their albums scored Top 10 international chart status, and six claimed the Top 5. SABATON has earned eight Metal Hammer/Golden Gods Awards nominations, taking home the award for “Breakthrough Artist” in 2011 and “Best Live Band” in three different years, and a Grammis nomination (Swedish equivalent to the U.S. Grammy Award) as Best Heavy Metal band. They’ve accumulated more than three billion streams across all streaming platforms and two billion views on YouTube.
Here’s the track listing for LEGENDS:
Templars
Hordes of Khan
A Tiger Among Dragons
Crossing the Rubicon
I, Emperor
Maid of Steel
Impaler
Lightning at the Gates
The Duelist
The Cycle of Songs
Till Seger
Here are SABATON’s 2025 tour dates, with more shows to be announced in the coming months:
Mon 9/1 Perth, AU Metro City Wed 9/3 Adelaide, AU Hindley Street Music Hall Fri 9/5 Melbourne, AU Margaret Court Arena Sat 9/6 Sydney, AU Hordern Pavillion Sun 9/7 Brisbane. AU Fortitude Music Hall Tues 9/9 Auckland, NZ Powerstation Wed 9/10 Auckland, NZ Powerstation Mon 10/6 Istanbul, TR Zorlu Performing Arts Center Wed 10/8 Chișinău, MD Chișinău Arena Fri 10/10 Almaty, KZ Baluan Sholak Arena Fri 11/14 Cologne, DE Lanxess Arena Sat 11/15 Berlin, DE Mercedes Benz Arena Sun 11/16 Ostrava, CZ Ostravar Arena Tue 11/18 Zurich, CH Hallenstadion Thu 11/20 Munich, DE Olympiahalle Fri 11/21 Vienna, AT Stadthalle Sat 11/22 Krakow, PL Tauron Arena Mon 11/24 Stuttgart, DE Schleyerhalle Tue 11/25 Frankfurt, DE Festhalle Wed 11/26 Esch Sur Alzette, LU Rockhal Fri 11/28 Paris, FR Accor Arena Sat 11/29 Lyon, FR LDLC Arena Mon 12/1 Amsterdam, NL Ziggo Dome Tue 12/2 Antwerp, BE Sportpaleis Thu 12/4 London, UK The O2 Arena Fri 12/5 Manchester, UK Co-op Live Sat 12/6 Nottingham, UK Motorpoint Arena Mon 12/8 Hannover, DE ZAG Arena Tue 12/9 Copenhagen, DK Royal Arena Thu 12/11 Oslo, NO Unity Arena Fri 12/12 Gothenburg, SE Scandinavium Sat 12/13 Stockholm, SE 3Arena
Known for their rich fund of musical influences, Swedish metal band ELEINE take fans into epic yet stripped down soundscapes with the symphonic version of their track ‘Promise Of Apocalypse.’ Wavering around Madeleine Liljestam’s stunning vocal performance, it’s strings and brass instead of bass, guitars and drums for a change building the foundation of the second single from the group’s anticipated new 5-track EP “We Stand United” (September 5, 2025 via RPM).
This new version additionally magnifies the core message of ‘Promise Of Apocalypse,’ which focusses on hope and renewal, and is strong anchor for those who seem to be lost in challenging situations for both body and mind.
Madeleine (vocals) & Rikard (guitar/vocals) recall the driving idea behind the song: “‘Promise Of Apocalypse’ was embraced by many fans and it was obvious to us that it deserved a beautiful symphonic version. When going through difficult times, including depression or maybe a rough temporary path – it’s easy to feel that you lost track of life and time. The message behind this song rings true; If you’re not happy where you are in life, it’s time to make a change. It’s maybe not obvious what you have to do – but a change has to be made for yourself!”
ELEINE live: 01.08.2025 FI Viikinsaari (Tampere) – SaariHelvetti 14.08.2025 CZ Moravský Krumlov – Rock Castle
“Domination” Tour 2025 w/ PRIMAL FEAR
05.09.2025 DE Hamburg – Markthalle 06.09.2025 DE Leipzig – Anker 07.09.2025 DE Bochum – Zeche 09.09.2025 DE Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal 10.09.2025 DE Munich – Backstage (Werk) 12.09.2025 DE Memmingen – Kaminwerk 13.09.2025 DE Mannheim – Capitol 14.09.2025 DE Regensburg-Obertraubling – Eventhall Airport 16.09.2025 CH Pratteln – Konzertfabrik Z7 18.09.2025 DE Berlin – Hole 44 19.09.2025 DE Naila – Frankenhalle 20.09.2025 DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann (Halle) 21.09.2025 BE Sint-Niklaas – De Casino 23.09.2025 NL Amstelveen – P60 25.09.2025 PL Warsaw – Stodola 26.09.2025 CZ Prague – MeetFactory 27.09.2025 CZ Zlín – Masters of Rock Café 30.09.2025 ES Madrid – Mon 01.10.2025 ES Murcia – Garaje 03.10.2025 ES Barcelona – Salamandra 04.10.2025 ES Pamplona – Sala Totem
Danish death metal commando BAEST will be unleashing its fourth studio album, ‘Colossal,’ on August 15, 2025 via Century Media Records! The band is now sharing the latest single from the offering, “Stormbringer,” along with a music video that features a raw and fun look behind the scenes of the band’s recent tour across North America in support of Arch Enemy! The footage was collected by the band during the trek while it was edited and assembled by Christian Constantin Pontoppidan / Impuls Film. “Stormbringer” can be seen and heard at THIS LOCATION.
The band comments on the track, “Like a distant rumble, the ominous, almost AC/DC intro riff predicts a gathering storm with a lightning strike as the thunderous bas drums kick in. Our new single, ‘Stormbringer,’ lays the foundation for ‘Colossal,’ bringing rock’n’roll and death metal together in a grandiose and almost destroying storm. Consider this a harbinger it is the ‘Stormbringer.'”
Produced by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio (Heaven Shall Burn, The Black Dahlia Murder, The Haunted, etc.), the album contains nine tracks across 42 minutes, including the already released singles “Colossus” and “Imp Of The Perverse,” as well as an upcoming single with guest vocal features by Jesper Binzer of D-A-D on “King Of The Sun.”
Depraved World (06:04) Total running time: 00:42:27
Artwork by Solomacello
Are you ready to rock? Something colossal is coming…
Baest are back, with a new sound and a badass attitude. Over the last decade, the Danish quintet have become one of the most celebrated and respected death metal bands in Europe. Their reign of terror began with debut album Danse Macabre, which emerged to great acclaim in 2019. Since then, the Danes have been relentless. Subsequent albums Venenum (2019) and Necro Sapiens (2021) cemented their reputation as extreme metal mavericks with an ear for lethal hooks, while their passionate dedication to playing live enabled them to spread the word at shows and festivals around the world.
But things are slightly changing with album number 4: Colossal. Pieced together in the aftermath of Covid lockdowns, and fine-tuned over the last couple of years, the new Baest album is an absolute monster. The new songs are still rooted in the belligerent death metal that informed previous records, but Colossal represents a wholesale transformation. Inspired by and infused with old school, classic metal riffs and a giant helping of rock ‘n’ roll bombast, Baest have written an album that delights in the glory of heavy metal and the fine art of rocking out. Bursting at the seams with catchy riffs and classy melodies, with stylistic salutes to everyone from Ozzy Osbourne and Dokken, through to Iron Maiden and Whitesnake, this is the magnificent rock ‘n’ roll rebirth of Baest.
“We went on tour with the Krisiun guys a couple of years back, and every soundcheck they were playing ZZ Top songs,” says Baest guitarist Svend Karlsson. “Everyone in the venue was rocking out, you know? So let’s rock! As a band, you have to mature a little and figure out that you have to write songs for yourself, and that way of thinking has brought the best out of us. When we talked to Tue about it, we called it ‘Ozzy death metal’. It’s really exciting to see what people think. We’re looking forward to people hearing this album. We released two singles last year that were in a different direction, but the fans haven’t heard the Dokken stuff yet! [Laughs]”
From the explosive assault of the opening Stormbringer, the new Baest album is an electrifying dose of the good stuff. Produced by the legendary Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio in Denmark, Colossal never bends to current trends. Instead, this is a thrilling celebration of heavy metal, played with extreme metal intensity. Vocalist Simon Olsen has evolved into a truly formidable frontman, with a vastly expanded array of shouts and growls, and his band mates – Karlsson, guitarist Lasse Revsbech, bassist Mattias Melchiorsen and drummer Sebastian Abildsten – have grown in power and stature. As Karlsson explains, this change of direction was simply about Baest being true to themselves.
“We began the process during Covid, and we found out that we needed to do something that everyone thought was fun,” he states. “Then we tried to zoom in on what makes different songs fun. On the first EP, before we signed to Century Media, there is a lot of melodic rock ‘n’ roll stuff. I think it’s there because we hadn’t learned yet to do more death metal riffs, so those were the riffs that Lasse and I had from our upbringing. This time, we turned back to all of those kinds of riffs, being influenced by Zakk Wylde and Jake E. Lee, Accept, Metallica and all that kind of stuff. We figured that if it’s fun and we enjoy playing it, then it’s going to fit! We finally had the guts to try it, and not to worry about what the death metal fans are going to think.”
Although they may anticipate a backlash from death metal purists, Baest are confident that their evolution will be well received. With songs ranging from the anthemic ‘80s metal fury of the title track, and the brutal rock squall of King Of The Sun (featuring a cameo from D-A-D’s Jesper Binzer), to the progressive, true metal avalanche of epic closer Depraved World, Colossal takes Baest back to the essence of their craft.
“When we wrote Depraved World, that’s a riff from when Lasse was 14 years old,” says Karlsson. “He said, ‘I’ve got this riff!’ and we were like, ‘Let’s do an Iron Maiden death metal song!’ [Laughs] It’s so much fun, because it’s long and so different. The headline for the whole album is that it’s different, it’s catchy, and it’s rock ‘n’ roll. Rock ‘n’ roll vibes, but in the aggressive form of extreme metal. This is our first time working with Tue Madsen, and he’s a no-bullshit kind of guy. He’s been in the industry for so many records and with so many different bands, so he’s like, ‘Fuck what people think! Let’s do what seems fun and what sounds catchy!’”
2024 saw the release of two singles from Colossal: the viciously catchy Imp Of The Perverse, and the aforementioned Colossus. Both were rapturously received, and generated a lot of excitement about Baest’s next move. Now that they have the new music in the can, Svend Karlsson and his comrades are brimming with confidence and commitment to the heavy metal cause. Armed with songs that are guaranteed to send metal crowds into a joyous frenzy, Denmark’s smartest death metal band are perfectly placed to conquer the entire world.
“I think we needed to figure out that we were okay with being a heavy metal band,” Karlsson shrugs. “There are also a lot of progressive elements to the record, that we started developing on the Justitia EP. That’s when we realised that it works live, and people really like the Ozzy riffs! So let’s do some more! We played a new, unreleased song on the last tour. Nobody had heard it before, but instantly everyone started clapping along and jumping and having fun. Everybody wants to party, right?”
BAEST line-up: Svend Karlsson – Rhythm/Lead Guitar Simon Olsen – Vocals Lasse Revsbech – Rhythm/Lead Guitar Sebastian Abildsten – Drums & Percussion Mattias ‘Muddi’ Melchiorsen – Bass
Production: Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio
Special Guests: Jesper Binzer of D-A-D on “King Of The Sun” ORM on “Misfortunate Son”
Sweden’s melodic metallers SOLE SYNDICATE release the next single “Love Is Only” from the new album “The Reckoning” (September 26, 2025)!
“The song “Love Is Only” is about breaking up. Leaving what you know behind and stepping into unknown territory, not knowing what awaits you on the other side. It can be a painful experience but hopefully there is a new world waiting with brand new opportunities and an even better life.Lots of emotions went through my head when writing this song… “ Jonas Månsson, Sole Syndicate
For keyboardist Katja Rasila, however, this song is also special for another reason: she takes on the role of lead vocals for the first time, which adds another nuance to the multi-faceted sound of SOLE SYNDICATE.
Tracklist: 01. On The Back Of An Angel 02. The Way That You Are 03. The Voice Inside 04. Rise Like A Phoenix 05. Eye Of The Storm 06. Love Is Only 07. The Mob Rules 08. Valley Of The Kings 09. Heavy Is The Heart 10. Miracle
Live: 16 AUG 2025: HUSH Festival GÖTEBORG 26 SEPT 2025: Havanna´s Kitchen ED
Sole Syndicate is a metal band from the western parts of Sweden. The band was formed by singer and guitarist Jonas Månsson in 2016 and has released three albums, Garden of Eden (2017), Last Days of Eden (2020) and the critically acclaimed Into the Flames (2022). Sole Syndicate is Jonas Månsson (vocals and guitars), Katja “Cat” Rasila (keyboards and vocals), David “Gus” Gustafsson (bass) and Alfredo “Fred” Souza (drums). The band has a modern sound with a touch of their heroes from the past. The inspiration comes from a variety of bands like Van Halen and Dream Theater to Metallica and Nine Inch Nails. Although the music is hard and heavy, strong melodies are the most important thing for the band.
Line-up: Jonas Månsson – guitars and lead vocals Katja ”Cat” Rasila – keyboards and lead & backing vocals David ”Gus” Gustafsson – bass and backing vocals Alfredo “Fred” Souza – drums
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