With ‘TELL ME I’M NOT ALONE’, Leipzig-based metalcore act blacktoothed dive into the fear of change, the weight of self-doubt and the painful comfort of staying stuck in familiar darkness.
Blending ethereal vocals, restless drum & bass-inspired energy and crushing modern heaviness, the band transform inner turmoil into an emotionally charged anthem that feels both deeply vulnerable and explosively cathartic.
Driven by haunting melodies and an irresistibly massive chorus, the track captures the emotional contradiction of trying to move forward while feeling terrified of what lies ahead. Lyrics like “Every step feels like losing while I’m winning” and “I’m afraid of what I create” reflect the uncertainty of growth and the struggle of leaving old versions of yourself behind. Rather than offering easy answers, blacktoothed channel those emotions into a desperate plea for connection: “Tell me I’m not alone.”
Following tours alongside The Amity Affliction, Emmure and Bad Omens, blacktoothed continue to establish themselves as one of Germany’s most compelling modern heavy acts, combining cinematic atmosphere, raw emotion and crushing intensity into a sound that resonates far beyond genre boundaries.
Catch the band live:
30.07.2026 I Full Rewind Festival I Löbnitz, DE 15.08.2026 I Summer Breeze I Dinkelsbühl, DE
Austrian deathcore collective Castiel continue the descent into psychological collapse with new single ‘Act II: A Festering Wound’, the second chapter from their forthcoming EP All Returns to Hollow and Silence, due for release on 24th July via Seek and Strike. Expanding on the conceptual framework introduced in the devastating opening salvo ‘Act I: Defile // Denounce’, the new track explores the slow erosion of identity within a relationship, where silence replaces connection and emotional absence lingers long after physical presence remains.
The band commented: “‘Act II’ focuses heavily on the gradual loss of a person within a relationship. The lyrics describe emotional distance, a sense of speechlessness, and the feeling of watching someone mentally disappear even though they are still physically present. Recurring themes include silence, emptiness, coldness, and the breakdown of a shared reality. The song itself is still somewhat calm in the first half and then becomes faster and more aggressive with the breakdown. This is also shown very well in the video with effects.
“The video itself also has a darker colour palette. We wore black makeup and used “black blood” pills to visually illustrate just how dark this song is. In the video, you see two actors who helped us bring the lyrics to life visually. The setting is a forest, which is usually associated with tranquility; we wanted to use that very contrast to frame the scene.”
All Returns to Hollow and Silence is a genuine step forward for the band. Drawing from a diverse range of influences, Castiel have crafted a sound that is pulled together with purpose. Firmly rooted in deathcore, the EP pushes beyond the genre confines, embracing contrast and atmosphere alongside its more destructive elements.
Speaking on the release, the band said: “This EP is heavier, more brutal but also more emotional than anything we’ve done before as a band. We’ve pushed ourselves creatively while staying true to who we are, this feels like the most complete version of Castiel yet.”
The new EP is built as a continuous story with each track acting as a chapter in a wider narrative. That idea carries through visually too, with every song set to receive its own video.
At its core, All Returns to Hollow and Silence explores the shifting relationship between two central protagonists, tracing a journey shaped by tension, transformation and emotional conflict. Subtle inspiration has been drawn from the lore of World of Warcraft, particularly the arcs of Arthas Menethil and Jaina Proudmoore.
Musically, the release channels the oppressive weight and atmosphere of Black Tongue and Humanity’s Last Breath, while incorporating the raw aggression of Bodysnatcher and The Acacia Strain. The result is a record that moves seamlessly between suffocating heaviness and explosive intensity.
Emerging from Klagenfurt, Austria in 2014, Castiel quickly made their mark with their bleak atmospheres and downtempo heaviness. Early releases including their debut single ‘Human Scum’ and the Exitium EP (2015) set the tone, followed by Blasphemy in 2017, before lineup changes forced the band into a hiatus.
They returned in 2023 with Shadowlands, signalling a clear step up in both sound and ambition. That momentum carried into 2025’s Khaos EP, a darker, more introspective release that pushed further into themes of psychological collapse and existential weight.
Now, with their signing to Seek and Strike, Castiel enter a new chapter. All Returns to Hollow and Silence not only marks their first release under the label, but their most ambitious work to date.
Having already shared stages with the likes of Distant, Carnifex, Born of Osiris and more, the band have built a reputation for intense, no frills live shows. Stay tuned for live dates to follow.
Einherjer release the second single “Dei Så Ser” from their upcoming 10th studio album Lifeblood that is out the 19th of June. The song is a powerful ballad in Norwegian that reflects a Norse way of thinking, where life and death are part of the same cycle. Nothing truly disappears – it continues in the land, in the sea, and in us.
At its core, the song is about inheritance and connection. We are not separate from those who came before us – we are extensions of them. What we are today grows directly from what lies beneath us. There is also a sense that the past is not silent. It burns beneath the surface, alive in memory, instinct, and place. The dead are not gone – they remain present, aware, and even joyful. Founder Frode Glesnes says:
– The song is about the connection between the living and those who came before us, and how that connection is carried by the land itself. The burial mounds are not just remnants of the past – they are watchful presences. Standing on the mound, facing the strait, the narrator feels that boundary between worlds. The water becomes more than a landscape – it is a passage between past and present, life and death. The voices of those who once lived and sailed these shores are still there, not as echoes, but as something alive.
The album Lifeblood will be the 10th studio album and it representsa reflection around belonging, heritage and roots – both as individuals and as a band. After over thirty years of making music, the four-piece look back toward what shaped them and the forces that have followed through all these years.
19.06.2026 – Hellfest, Clisson, FR 29.07 – 01.08.2026 – Wacken Open Air, Wacken, DE 15.08.2026 – Midgardsblot, Borre, NO 20 – 22.08.2026 . Kaltenbach Open Air, AT 29.08.2026 – Månegarm Open Air, Norrtälje, SE 18 – 20.09.2026 – Cosmic Void Festival, London, UK
More dates TBA
Einherjer was forged in 1993, on the western shores of Norway – where the North Sea meets the land, and where the Viking kings once ruled the passage that gave Norway its name. From this inheritance, Einherjer rose. Not as followers of a movement, but as part of its own creation.
In the early years of Norwegian extreme metal in the 90s, Einherjer stood among those who gave voice to a distinctly Norse expression within metal. Their early recordings did not imitate tradition – they helped establish it. What later became known as Viking Metal was not conceived as a genre, but as a natural extension of identity, history, and place and Einherjer became one of its defining forces.
Through classic albums such as Dragons of the North, Odin Owns Ye All and Blot, and later works including Av Oss, For Oss and North Star, both nominated for a Norwegian Grammy, the band has continually evolved without losing its core. Their sound remains unmistakable – resolute, atmospheric, and grounded in the weight of heritage, yet never bound by the past. Their music does not seek to recreate a lost age. It stands as proof that its spirit endures. The same horizon that called the seafarers westward still lies open. The same impulse to create, to endure, and to leave a mark remains unchanged.
For more than three decades, Einherjer has stood as one of the defining voices of Norse heavy metal, and with their 10th album Lifeblood the band prooves why they still are distinct and defining in the genre – not as an echo, but as a presence.
Time has not diminished Einherjer. It has refined them. Hammers raised. Fire alive. Lifeblood unbroken.
Following from an extremely successful 2025 and a very busy 2026, 6x Platinum and 8x Gold-certified, record-breaking Finnish rock outfit The Rasmus are thrilled to announce an extensive headline European and UK tour in 2027, with Skarlett Riot as special guest on all the UK shows.
With a global touring experience spanning decades, the 23-date tour will allow the band to further showcase key tracks from the new record Weirdo, as well as classic hymns and hidden gems taken from their catalogue.
Frontman Lauri Ylönen comments: “‘Weirdo’ album has resonated deeply in our fanbase. It’s about being accepted the way you are. This has also been visible at the live shows as the fans have been dressed up to show their inner weirdos. It’s been a very fun and uniting feeling!” Lauri also adds: “We can’t wait to see all our dear friends who me missed the last time we toured Europe!”
Over the past year and throughout the current one, The Rasmus have brought and will continue to bring their latest record Weirdo on the road, talking their unforgettable stage show to audiences worldwide. Last summer The Rasmus played a charity concert in Ukraine not only as the headliner of the Atlas Festival, but also as the only foreign artist at the event. Over 110,000 people were in attendance, and there was a comprehensive security system and evacuation plan for the audience and performers in just a few minutes if it was necessary. Thankfully the festival went off without any issues and they were able to raise over $2.5 million Ukraine’s air defenses. Here is a short documentary about the experience.
Currently on tour in the US, The Rasmus will come back to the old continent to join the European summer festival circuit, performing at: Nova Rock (AT), Resurrection Fest (ES), Masters Of Rock (CZ) to name a few. Later in 2026 the band will embark on a full South American tour playing iconic venues in 11 cities, including: Bogotá, Panamá, Lima, Santiago, São Paolo and Buenos Aires.
The Rasmus current single “Break These Chains” ft. Niko Vilhelm of Blind Channel, is a toxic love-themed and emotionally gripping track, driven by the band’s signature blend of dark atmospheres and anthemic melodies. Listen to “Break These Chains” HERE and watch the video, directed by Aleksei Kulikov, HERE on the band’s official YouTube page.
“‘Break These Chains’ is about a toxic relationship,” says singer Lauri Ylönen, who digs his teeth into such lethal lyrics as “You made me believe/That true passion makes you bleed/So I stayed too long/To play your twisted games.” Lauri wrote the song with revered hit songwriters/producers Marti Frederiksen and Desmond Child. “It’s about letting go of something that you know is bad for you, but you’re obsessed with.”
EU AND UK NEW DATES
JANUARY 2027 28/01/27 Helitehas, Tallinn -Estonia 29/01/27 Palladium, Riga – Latvia 30/01/27 Loftlas Club, Vilnius – Lithuania FEBRUARY 2027 05/02/27 Barba Negra, Budapest – Hungary 10/02/27 New Age, Treviso – Italy 11/02/27 Muhle Hunziken, Rubigen – Switzerland 12/02/27 La Rayonne, Villeurbanne – France 13/02/27 Le Moloco, Audincourt – France 14/02/27 Alte Feuerwache, Mannheim – Germany 16/02/27 Zakk, Dusseldorf – Germany 19/02/27 Beatpol, Dresden – Germany 20/02/27 Roxy, Ulm – Germany 22/02/27 E-Werk, Erlangen – Germany 23/02/27 Doornroosje, Nijmegen – Netherlands 24/02/27 Blacklab, Lille – France 26/02/27 Epic, Norwich – England * 27/02/27 Oxford Academy, Oxford – England * 28/02/27 Stylus, Leeds – England * MARCH 2027 02/03/27 Northumbria Uni, Newcastle – England * 03/03/27 KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton – England * 04/03/27 Electric Bristol, Bristol – England * 05/03/27 Phoenix, Exeter – England * 06/03/27 Chalk, Brighton – England * *Skarlett Riot special guest on UK shows
Canadian hard rock band Dali Van Gogh are set to release an electrifying new live album, “Roadkill”, a six-track collection capturing the band at their most visceral across stages in Eastern and Central Canada.
Rolling out in a waterfall release format beginning May 22, Roadkill documents three years of relentless touring, distilling the sweat, grit, and chaos of the band’s live show into a definitive closing statement on their current era.
Tracklist & Release Dates:
Wicked Way (Live at Overtime Sports Bar, Kingston) — May 22
Boneyard (Live at Tide & Boar, Moncton) — June 12
Bury The Lead (Live at The Scotiabank Centre, Halifax) — July 3
Savanna (Live at Bovine Sex Club, Toronto) — July 24
Out For Blood (Live at The House of Targ, Ottawa) — August 14
Little Hell (Live at The Eastlink Centre, Charlottetown) — September 4
Stream the first single Wicked Way (Live at Overtime Sportsbar, Kingston) on your platform of choice here:https://orcd.co/wwlosk
Roadkill serves as a deliberate bookend to the band’s breakout chapter, which includes their critically recognized EP “New Blood, Old Wounds” and the single “Wicked Way.” That release cycle saw the band earn two nominations at the East Coast Music Awards in 2023, taking home Loud Recording of the Year. The studio version of “Wicked Way” continues that momentum with a 2026 nomination for Loud Release of the Year.
“This record is DVG in its natural habitat,” shares band frontwoman Rocky Moreau. “No polish, no safety net, just us at our most vulnerable.”
To celebrate the release, Dali Van Gogh will host a one-night-only hometown performance at Monte’s Showbar on May 29, following which they will head out on a full summer of touring in support of the album.
With new material looming in the near future, Roadkill captures a band in motion—looking back only long enough to slam the door behind them.
Dali van Gogh Roadkill Summer Tour dates:
09.06.26 – Brantford, On – Live From The Tour Bus 12.06.26 – Toronto, On – Bmo Field 13.06.26 – Oshawa, On – The Atria Diezel Room 14.06.26 – Penetanguishene, On – Rendezvous Bistro 16.06.26 – Vaughn, On – Live From The Tour Bus 17.06.26 – Toronto, On – Horseshoe Tavern 19.06.26 – Hamilton, On – Corktown Pub 20.06.26 – Guelph, On – Kronic Summer Slam^ 23.06.26 – Toronto, On – Bmo Field 26.06.26 – Toronto, On – Bmo Field 27.06.26 – Kingston, On – Daft Brewing 30.06.26 – Cornwall, On – Live From The Tour Bus 26.07.26 – Truro, Ns – Rock The Hub 05.09.26 – Tidnish, Ns – Giv’r On The Riv’r
About Dali Van Gogh
Dali Van Gogh are a Canadian hard rock band known for their high-energy live performances, blending aggressive riffs with anthemic songwriting. With multiple award nominations and a growing national presence, the band continues to carve out their place in Canada’s heavy music landscape.
In the Old Testament, the wolf appears for the first time and exclusively as a symbol of evil – as Satan incarnate, set against the good shepherd, the servant of God. For centuries, the wolf Isegrim was stigmatised as the incarnation of heresy, danger and a threat to humanity and Christianity. This demonisation led to relentless persecution and the near-extinction of the animal.
A. Blackwar turns this perspective on its head: it is not the animal that is evil – but humanity itself.
Over the past 35 years, traditional black metal has branched out into numerous subgenres. It is now rare to find artists who focus on the original essence of this genre: fast, aggressive and anti-Christian music.
A. Blackwar has been an active part of the black metal scene since 1992 and is regarded as a long-standing contributor to extreme metal culture. Over four decades, he has been involved in numerous bands and projects, shaping their sound with a consistent commitment to darkness, aggression and authenticity.
With ISEGRIM, A. Blackwar returned to his roots. He was the sole member when the band was founded in 1998 – a role he now assumes once again. In this original line-up, he consistently carries on and further develops the traditional and occult spirit of black metal. His musical journey is characterised by consistency, discipline and an uncompromising dedication to extreme music.
This attitude is also reflected in the dark message of the first album from 1999, which is now being released on vinyl for the first time via Fireflash Records (Holy Moses, Vanaheim, Sacriversum, etc.) and supplemented with three bonus tracks. These include the magnificent Destruction cover of “Bestial Invasion”. The vinyl edition is strictly limited to 300 copies in “Witchcraft Red” and, in addition to a 4-page insert, includes a signed autograph card and an Isegrim sticker.
To mark the re-release, ISEGRIM are today releasing the music video for the epic black metal anthem “Angel With Fire And Sword”, filmed in 2000 by Van Wingerden Filmproduktion. The song features on the 2001 EP “Gloria Deo, Domino Inferi”.
The song and video were remastered by Nils Lesser in 2025.
In doing so, A. Blackwar deliberately distanced himself from conventional production standards, opting instead for a raw atmosphere and uncompromising aesthetics. The video was shot in a single night at two castles – an intense yet challenging setting that significantly shapes the visual character.
The weather conditions could hardly have been more fitting: wet, cool and shrouded in light mist. This natural atmosphere lends the images a sombre, almost tangible authenticity that harmonises perfectly with the musical direction.
Instead of a conventional video production with elaborate camera movements and technical perfection, a different approach was deliberately chosen. Inspired by the raw visual style of “The Blair Witch Project”, the entire footage was shot handheld. This decision creates an immediate intimacy that draws the viewer straight into the action.
The result is not a typical music video, but rather a visual statement: Stay Black, stay Metal!
To mark his 35th anniversary, A. Blackwar will release another ISEGRIM album in 2027. Anyone who has served the scene with such consistency over decades undoubtedly belongs among the veterans of black metal. Whilst many leave the scene for family, professional or personal reasons, giving up was never an option for A. Blackwar. His loyalty to the cause is a life dedicated to black metal.
A. Blackwar: all instruments and vocals.
Isegrim (Vinyl) – Tracklist
In Nomine (Intro)
Diabolical Witchcraft
Rape Jesus Christ
Seven Legions
Hear the Screams of Hell
Ave Luciferi (Intro) *
Hail Emperor Caesar *
Bestial Invasion **/* *Bonus Track **written by Destruction
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 ) 