“This time the album took a little longer than planned, but it’s finally finished. It turned out to be a fairly familiar sounding Shadecrown, but there are also some more unusual elements on the album. This time I wrote all the songs and lyrics. The album turned out to be heavy, melodic and maybe a little faster paced, without forgetting the slower parts.”
Tomi Tikka continues:
“During the album making phase, I focused more on playing lead guitars and writing solos than actually listening to the compositions. Now that the album is completely finished and listening to the whole thing, it opens up to me too. The album holds me in its grip, sometimes tearing my heart open, making me think, and at other times pushing me forward with force. Reminding me that there is still guts. Perkele.”
The Finnish Shadecrown is a versatile melodic death metal band founded in Viitasaari in 2012, whose melancholic melodies and lyrics tell stories about the dark side of life. The band has released three full-length albums so far: Agonia 2016, Riven 2019, Solitarian 2021. The fourth album 0 will be released in 2025.
Line-up: Jari Hokka – Vocals Joonas Vesamäki – Guitar Tomi Tikka – Guitar Saku Tammelin – Keyboards Janne Salmelin – Bass & clean vocals Kalle Varonen – Drums
A new and ferocious voice in Irish death metal has emerged. Abyssery, the solo project of guitarist and composer Brian Doherty, have release their debut full-length album ‘Interminable End’ out now. An oppressive, concept-driven descent into psychological exile and abyssal torment, the album features contributions from James Stewart (ex-Vader, Decapitated) on drums and a guest appearance by Rafał “Rasta” Piotrowski (ex-Decapitated) on vocals.
Today, Abyssery unveils the third single, “Vortex of Oneiric Visions”, accompanied by a visually arresting video created by Miles Skarin at Crystal Spotlight. Inspired directly by the album’s lyrics and artwork, the visualiser plunges viewers into a kaleidoscopic, reality-warping freefall through cosmic terror and shifting dimensions.
“It’s a relentless, mind-altering descent through a swirling, chaotic vortex,” says Doherty. “The ‘tram blast’ sections sound like a freight train and give the sensation of hurtling through a tunnel towards some tyrannous, inescapable abyss. The riffs constantly evolve to express the disorientation and instability of that journey.”
The track features as a pivotal chapter in the album’s overarching narrative, which follows an unnamed pariah banished to an oppressive underworld, a metaphorical and metaphysical prison constructed by an unseen force. Interminable End captures this exile with suffocating intensity, weaving together elements of death-doom, dissonant black metal, and progressive death metal, layered with atmosphere and existential weight.
“This is a record born of obsession,” Doherty adds. “It’s a love letter to death metal as both catharsis and storytelling device. It’s about identity, punishment, and psychological collapse.”
Entirely written and recorded by Doherty, the album is an unflinchingly DIY effort sculpted through collaboration with some of extreme metal’s most respected names. Stewart’s commanding drumming and Piotrowski’s chilling vocal appearance elevate the record’s apocalyptic scope, while the immersive production by Zed delivers modern clarity without sacrificing weight.
Abyssery’s debut single “Sadistic Sentence” dropped in November, followed by “Entropic Enslavement” in December, both earning early praise from underground tastemakers and even a feature on BangerTV, where Blayne Smith spotlighted the project’s potential.
Interminable End’ is available now via all major digital platforms and Bandcamp.
Wanikiya Record/Promotion is thrilled to announce that the brand-new single by Joey Caracciolo, “Road to Persepolis”, is officially available on all major digital platforms!
A talented guitarist and vocalist born in Milan in 1977, Joey is an artist with a strong musical identity and a career filled with awards, festivals, and collaborations both in Italy and abroad. As the frontman of the pirate-themed band Jolly Roger, he has built a loyal fanbase over the years thanks to his powerful, technically masterful, and highly distinctive style.
Road to Persepolis is a majestic instrumental suite that blends the epic punch of ’80s hard rock with a modern, cinematic sound—atmospheric, immersive, and emotionally charged. The song aims to evoke the ancient glories of the Persian world, taking the listener on a sonic journey through battles, legends, and lost civilizations.
A perfect mix of nostalgic power and contemporary elegance, Road to Persepolis is a moving and transportive experience—like a soundtrack for an imaginary film, featuring electric gallops, evocative melodies, and cutting-edge production.
With Road to Persepolis, Joey Caracciolo kicks off his collaboration with Wanikiya Record/Promotion in the best possible way, laying the foundation for what promises to be an extraordinary artistic journey. Joey Caracciolo is waiting for you… the road to Persepolis has just begun!
Golden Robot Records proudly announces the second single from Kurt Frohlich’s highly anticipated sophomore album ‘1987′. A cover of the Depeche Mode track, ‘Policy of Truth,’ is now available to stream across all major platforms via Golden Robot Records.
Following the success of his first single ‘Worry’, Frohlich returns with ‘Policy of Truth’ diving headfirst into that signature sound, brooding UK-inspired synth textures collide with crunchy, forward-driving guitars, resulting in a gripping, emotional anthem.
1987 is more than just a nod to the past. It’s a fully realized, genre-blending album that digs deep into the human experience – navigating themes of anxiety, mortality, mental health, and all-consuming love. ‘Policy of Truth’ exemplifies this spirit, delivering dark lyrical undertones wrapped in a powerful, hook-driven production.
With ‘Policy of Truth,’ Frohlich continues to solidify his place in the modern alt-rock scene while honoring the iconic ’80s influences that shaped his musical identity. From the first note to the last, ‘Policy of Truth’ promises a cathartic journey through the heart of what it means to be human.
Hitting a slightly more mellow note than their usual fare, Seething Akira offer up their video for the rather fabulous ‘Sunflower Shadows‘. This single shows a much more positive perspective from the sextet, whilst still displaying that signature level of aggression.”
Seething Akira are a band built on the foundations of connection, sharing something special with a stranger and forming a bond that lasts a lifetime. Taking the most gloriously crushing parts of metalcore and joyfully triumphant elements of EDM and smashing them together with lashings of British grit, determination and cheek, they craft a uniquely vibrant experience. Delivering as many breakdowns that could cut diamonds as techno breaks that wouldn’t sound out of place in the clubs of Berlin, they strive to unite two worlds with more in common than many think.
Inspired by the swell of the pit as much as the heat of the dancefloor, movement is encouraged, but so is critical thought. Though the band’s music straddles the shoulders of the community proudly, it is when they are on stage together that it truly comes to life. They’ve shared their hopeful philosophy with everyone from Don Broco and Ingested to Skindred, Killswitch Engage and Sleep Token, as well as decimating stages at Download, Bloodstock and Victorious. And each performance they been a part of has been viewed as a blessing, a chance to change someone’s perspective with the euphoria they have forged. There is no barrier between the band and the crowd, they are one in these moments
“The band is growing in maturity with each release…. everyone will already be singing along to Resilient and Sunflower Shadows. If you’d said last decade that the party band of the 2020s was going to be an anime inspired nu metal band blending hardcore and dubstep no one would have believed you, but here we are.” – Devolution Mag
“Every track on the album is incredible and unique, and they combine perfectly. It’s 34-minutes of interesting, awesome modern metal that doesn’t hold anything back and wears its inspirations on its sleeve proudly. I’mma be spinning this a lot in the coming weeks and months and can’t wait to hear some of this live!” – Overtone Mag
“The album continues with banger after banger, dropping ten tracks that are musically clever, lyrically superb, and sonically satisfying. The elements of EDM are always present. But the use of low and heavy guitars and rumbling bass coupled with pounding drums make this an album that’s going to appeal to a huge range of people, melding together two worlds that couldn’t be further opposite if they tried!” – Ever Metal
“With their adrenaline-fuelled approach, they tore the Bloodstock arena apart, and the masses responded in kind with pits and circles aplenty.” – Bloodstock Main Stage: MetalTalk
“They are a band that need to be seen to be believed, especially in the live environment where they truly thrive, being in their element.” – Dark Arts Conspiracy
Live shows: 23rd Aug, Victorious Festival, Portsmouth 30th Aug, The Six Six Bar, Cambridge 20th Sept, Amplified, Sheffield 1st Nov, Rabidfest, Oxford
Southern California roots-rockers Robert Jon & The Wreck continue the rollout of their upcoming album Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes with the release of their latest single,
“I Wanna Give It,” out now via Joe Bonamassa’s Journeyman Records.
Co-written during the quiet, uncertain stretch when touring had come to a halt, “I Wanna Give It” takes inspiration from long nights spent jamming with friends on a porch in San Juan Capistrano. “It was a bit of a throwback,” shares lead guitarist Henry James. “We’d play acoustic guitars into the early hours, doing whatever we could to keep our minds at ease.” Written in collaboration with longtime friends Ian Cullen and Shane Krevoy (who also co-wrote “Oh Miss Carolina”), the track was brought to life with producer Dave Cobb at the helm, capturing the warm, wistful tone of a country-leaning rock song that feels both deeply personal and instantly familiar.
Lyrically, “I Wanna Give It” tells a story of fearless love and reckless abandon – of running away with someone even when the outcome is uncertain. “It doesn’t necessarily have a happy ending,” James says, “but it’s told with no regrets. Love can blind us sometimes, but it can also inspire us to live boldly. That’s something we all deserve to feel.”
“I Wanna Give It” is the latest in a powerful string of singles leading up to Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes, following the smouldering “Keep Myself Clean,” the haunting “Dark Angel,” the swaggering “Better Of Me,” the electrifying “Highway,” and the reflective “Ashes in the Snow.” Each track builds on the album’s emotional arc and further expands the band’s range, offering a deeply felt meditation on love, loss, and finding your footing again.
Recorded in Savannah, Georgia, with Cobb, the album captures the group’s dynamic live energy and tight-knit chemistry, honed through years of touring together. Mixed by Greg Gordon (Chris Stapleton, Sturgill Simpson), Heartbreaks & Last Goodbyes will be available August 22nd on CD, digital platforms, and limited edition coloured vinyl, with special merch bundles also on offer.
Since forming in 2011, Robert Jon & The Wreck – Robert Jon Burrison (vocals, guitar), Henry James (lead guitar, vocals), Andrew Espantman (drums, vocals), Warren Murrel (bass), and Jake Abernathie (keys) – have carved out a loyal international following with their Southern-tinged rock-and-soul sound, sharp songwriting, and explosive live shows.
The band recently wrapped up a summer European tour, with dates in Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium, including standout appearances at Hookrock Festival and Melkweg in Amsterdam. Now back in the US, they’re gearing up for a packed August with headlining shows and summer festivals, including shows at Fargo Blues Festival, Stone Pier, Madison Ribberfest, and Telluride Blues and Brews Festival. A Fall U.S. tour is set to be announced next week. For tickets and the full tour schedule, visit www.robertjonandthewreck.com.
CD Track List
1. Sittin’ Pretty 2. Ashes In The Snow 3. Highway 4. Old Man 5. Dark Angel 6. Long Gone 7. Better Of Me 8. I Wanna Give It 9. Heartbreak & Last Goodbye 10. Keep Myself Clean Vinyl Track List
Side A 1. Sittin’ Pretty 2. Ashes In The Snow 3. Highway 4. Old Man 5. Dark Angel
Side B 1. Long Gone 2. Better Of Me 3. I Wanna Give It 4. Heartbreak & Last Goodbyes 5. Keep Myself Clean
Photo by Rob Bondurant
TOUR DATES:
Summer U.S. August 1 – Fargo, ND – Fargo Blues Festival August 2 – Lake View, IA – West Stone Pier Summer Concert Series August 3 – Hobart, IN – The Hobart Art Theater August 5 – Cleveland, OH – Beachland Ballroom August 6 – Homer, NY – Center For The Arts of Homer August 7 – Ridgefield, CT – Ballard Park Series August 8 – Athens, NY – Athens Riverside Park August 9 – Salisbury, MA – Blue Ocean Music Hall August 10 – St. Johnsbury, VT – Levitt AMP St. Johnsbury Music Series August 12 – Waldoboro, ME – Waldo Theatre August 13 – New York, NY – Sony Hall August 14 – Ardmore, PA – Ardmore Music Hall August 15 – South Park Township, PA – Summer Concert Series August 16 – Madison, IN – Madison Ribberfest September 13 – Telluride, CO – Telluride Blues and Brews Festival
Fall U.S. Touring Announcing Next Week
Spring 2026 February 23-27 – Fort Lauderdale, FL – Rock Legends Blues Festival April 10-12 – Miramar Beach, FL – Joe Bonamassa’s Soundwave Beach Weekend 2026 August 29 – September 1 – Long Beach, CA – Cali-Country Cruise 2026
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
Click image to watch the video
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