Iranian thall act Redvi unleashes the turmoils of war from a personal perspective with its new single “Arson”. The crushing new song is meant to reflect the experience of war from a raw and personal perspective. “Arson” reveals the personal experience of Iranians during a time of distress and ambiguity.
To put it bluntly, at a time of extreme uncertainty, Redvi wrote the song while literal missiles were exploding offer their heads at a time of extreme uncertainty.
The band elaborates; “Arson is one of our darkest tracks yet.
It’s built around the feeling of drowning in chaos when nothing makes sense, and you have to fight just to hold onto who you are. The lyrics dig into the collapse of identity and reality, blending flesh, code, and fire. It’s about facing the storm without a guide, and becoming something stronger through destruction.”
“Arson” is constructed around heavy, cold, and violent riffs complemented with low-tuned riffs, distorted synth textures, and a breakdown that’s meant to hit as hard as literal missiles exploding over one’s head. Redvi took inspiration from Thall and Deathcore but tried to push it in its own direction. To express the personal perspective of warfare the band put a specific emphasis on atmosphere and tension during the songwriting process. Redvi continues, “We wrote Arson during a time when everything felt like it was burning, both around us and inside us. This track is about that feeling. When there’s nothing left—you become the flame.”
Redvi bio: Esoteric djent riffs combined with haunting melodies, Iranian band Redvi is on a mission to showcase a distinctive take on “thall.” The group emerged from a fascination with djent, particularly the intense and atmospheric strain known as “thall” music. Redvi crafts a sound rich with dissonant, groovy riffs that evoke an immersive tension and an aura of unsettling mystery. Lyrically, the band delves into themes that resonate deeply, from the fear of the unknown and cosmic horror to the trials of human self-awareness. These themes are explored with a haunting poignancy, inviting listeners to question their identity and grapple with existential dread. For fans of complex soundscapes and thought-provoking lyrics, Redvi offers a captivating journey into the realms of darkness and introspection. The band consists of guitarist Haman “Cultist H” and Drummer Farid “Cultist F”. Redvi has yet to announce the rest of its new lineup and is planning to announce its newest additions for future releases.
Emerging alternative rock band SOLELY VEIL have unveiled their new single “Darker”, along with a music video, released exclusively through The Artery Foundation.
The band shares, “Every note in ‘Darker’ moves with intention, layered, melodic, and driven by emotion. It’s the next big step in telling our story.”
With this release, Solely Veil takes another significant step forward, building momentum with support from The Artery Foundation, whose roster includes some of the biggest names in heavy music. “Darker” is now available on all major streaming platforms, and the official video can be viewed on YouTube via The Artery Foundation channel.
Solely Veil is a rising alternative rock band from Sacramento, CA, known for their emotionally charged and introspective music. Blending various musical styles, they create a dynamic sound that resonates deeply with listeners. Their singles, “Traditions”, “Hollow Heart of Mine,” reflect the band’s ability to explore themes of self-reflection, personal struggle, and raw emotion. With a focus on honest storytelling, Solely Veil is quickly establishing themselves as a band to watch, captivating fans with their powerful lyrics and evocative soundscapes.
The band’s catalog continues to gain momentum, with over 770,000 total streams across Spotify and YouTube. Their breakout single “Fragments” has amassed 129k+ Spotify streams and 43k YouTube views, totaling over 172,000 streams. Meanwhile, “Traditions” has surpassed 121k+ Spotify and 48k YouTube streams (169,000+ total), and “Unravel” has reached 117,000+ streams (55k+ Spotify, 62k+ YouTube). The fan-favorite “Hollow Heart of Mine” sits at 172k+ Spotify streams and 140k YouTube views.
Solely Veil are: Allen Wheeler – Vocals Elliot Polokoff – Guitar Matt Scarpelli – Guitar Nay Nalupta – Drums
In a landmark collaboration to support the mental health and well-being of music creators, Reigning Phoenix Music and MusiCares have teamed up to spotlight KING ULTRAMEGA, a bold new tribute project honoring the legacy of Chris Cornell.
KING ULTRAMEGA debuts today with a powerful reimagining of Soundgarden’s ‘Rusty Cage’, released via Reigning Phoenix Music.
KING ULTRAMEGA is an all-star collective featuring original members of ALICE IN CHAINS, ANTHRAX, MASTODON and SOUNDGARDEN, alongside legendary artists from the hard rock and metal worlds. With each single release KING ULTRAMEGA will feature different musicians that aim to celebrate Cornell’s musical genius while raising critical funds and awareness for MusiCares, the Recording Academy’s nonprofit providing mental health, addiction recovery, and emergency services to those in the music community.
“Chris Cornell’s voice and presence meant so much to so many, including all of us at MusiCares. He and his loved ones have long championed the importance of our work, and it’s deeply meaningful to see his legacy continue through a project that brings connection, awareness, and hope to the music community.” – Theresa Wolters, Interim Executive Director and VP of Health & Human Services, MusiCares
The lineup for “Rusty Cage” includes: William DuVall (ALICE IN CHAINS) – Vocals Bill Kelliher (MASTODON) – Guitars Mark Menghi (METAL ALLEGIANCE) – Bass Charlie Benante (ANTHRAX, PANTERA) – Drums
DuVall approaches Cornell’s towering vocal legacy with reverence and restraint. “I just leaned into my love for the song and my immense respect for Chris,” he says. “Since the instrumental track Bill, Charlie, and Mark sent hewed so closely to the original, I thought it best for me to stay in that ballpark as well. Again, my reason for participating was simply taking on an interesting challenge when so much of the world was shut down. I had no thoughts or ambitions for this beyond our posting it on social media five years ago. But if this release can help further the good work done by MusiCares, then I’m all for it.”
Kelliher faithfully channels the song’s jagged, shifting riffs, while Menghi injects a dose of low-end swagger, including a bold bass-wah section in the song’s doom-laden second half. Benante captures Matt Cameron’s explosive style with precision and feel, staying true to the song’s “tight but loose” groove.
KING ULTRAMEGA is more than a tribute, it’s a movement. The collective will continue releasing new interpretations of Cornell’s work across SOUNDGARDEN, AUDIOSLAVE, TEMPLE OF THE DOG, and his solo career, each track featuring rotating guest musicians and collaborators. Proceeds from every release will benefit MusiCares.
About KING ULTRAMEGA:
KING ULTRAMEGA is a passion-driven musical project honoring the life, voice, and genius of Chris Cornell, one of the most gifted artists of our time. It launches in conjunction with SOUNDGARDEN’s long-overdue induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This project did not begin with a single, dramatic moment. Instead, it grew quietly and gradually, an organic result of years of conversations, inspiration, and deep reverence for a musician whose impact remains immeasurable.
“There is not a singular moment in time that led to this project,” says bassist and producer Mark Menghi, the driving force behind KING ULTRAMEGA. “It was a trail of events that led to the formation of KING ULTRAMEGA and the evolving creation to pay tribute to the voice of a generation.”
It started in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, when Menghi recorded a version of “Rusty Cage” with friends. What began as a creative release soon became something larger. With every step forward, the project deepened in meaning and purpose. “I kept crossing the mental roadblock of ‘you are entering uncharted waters, are you sure you wanna do this?'” Menghi reflects. “Chris is one of those dudes if you cover, you better do it justice.”
The decision to continue became clear when SOUNDGARDEN guitarist Kim Thayil joined the project and re-recorded one of his own iconic tracks. “Once Kim got involved and re-recorded one of his own songs, I knew something was brewing,” Menghi says. Thayil embraced the project wholeheartedly. “I’m super honored to record alongside all the amazing musicians appearing on the KING ULTRAMEGA project,” he says. “I’m equally proud that it celebrates SOUNDGARDEN in this tribute to the songwriting of Chris. Ultra-admirably, everyone’s participation is supporting the work of the MusiCares Foundation. Thank you Mark Menghi, Charlie Benante and Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM).”
For Menghi, this project is as personal as it is musical. “I went through some very difficult times in my life. I should not be here right now, but I am,” he shares. “I like to think my past trials and tribulations helped me understand Chris just a little, hence the formation of KING ULTRAMEGA.”
Song selection was guided by instinct. “My mood. It’s really that simple,” Menghi explains. “‘Rusty Cage’ was recorded simply because it’s one of my favorite songs featured on one of my favorite records.” Other songs came to Menghi during moments of reflection and inspiration. “There is a bunch more in the can right now, all with drums fully recorded, which are currently being worked out for future releases.”
The goal was never to reinvent Cornell’s work. It was about honoring it with the respect it deserves. “It really is only about honoring the legacy of Chris Cornell. Nothing more,” Menghi says. Each musician brought their own voice, but always in service to the song and to Cornell’s memory.
“Each musician has their own individual musical stamp,” Menghi explains. “You hear the absolute best of each one of them. You are talking about musicians who helped invent and shape musical genres and helped define their generations in popular culture, not just music, but society as a whole.”
The cast of collaborators is remarkable. Kim Thayil, Charlie Benante, Joe Satriani, William DuVall, Bill Kelliher, Alissa White-Gluz, Kenny Aronoff, Menghi himself, among many others. The mix of past friendships and new connections created a unique bond among them. “I think back and go ‘did I really ask Joe Satriani to do an instrumental reinterpretation of one of the greatest modern vocal songs ever recorded?’ or ‘what the fuck was I thinking asking the great Kim Thayil to re-record one of his own classic Soundgarden songs?'” Menghi laughs. Yet, no egos entered the room. “Each participating musician saw the vision and understood that this is about honoring the legacy of not only an inspiring musician, but an amazing husband, father and man.”
For Menghi, Cornell’s music has always been a constant presence. “Chris Cornell has been one of only a very small handful of musical constants in my life,” he says. “I never waivered, not once.”
Certain moments in the process were surreal. Recording with Thayil was one of them. “I remember thinking back saying to myself ‘holy fuck, I’m on a SOUNDGARDEN song with Kim Thayil. What planet are we on?'”
Throughout it all, Menghi served as the project’s creative director, always guided by one central question. “How would Chris like this?” Every choice, from guest musicians to mixes to artwork, was measured against that standard. “If there is even a shred of uncertainty at any point in the process, back to the drawing board we go.”
The recordings were completed remotely over several years. The final tracks were mixed with care to ensure a cohesive sound that still captured the raw emotion of the performances.
Hope is the underlying theme that runs through KING ULTRAMEGA. It is an offering to longtime fans and an invitation for younger listeners to discover the timeless brilliance of Cornell’s work. “KU is just a blip in the Chris Cornell universe,” Menghi says. “We are a subtle reminder that Chris was a true musical genius.” For Menghi and his collaborators, KING ULTRAMEGA is both a deeply personal labor of love and one of the greatest honors of their musical lives. “To be here thirty-plus years later paying tribute to whom I believe was the king of those times is one of the greatest musical honors of my life.”
West Coast deathgrind icons CATTLE DECAPITATION have confirmed a North American headlining tour this Fall. The No Fear For Tomorrow Tour begins November 16th and runs through December 20th. Support will be provided by Aborted, Frozen Soul, and Tribal Gaze. The journey will see CATTLE DECAPITATION perform their critically-lauded Death Atlas full-length in its entirety!
Additionally, the band will unleash a special tour-only Death Atlas 2xLP. The “Bring Back The Plague” variant, limited to 300 units, will only be available at the merch booth on the tour and only 10 units will be available per show, so get there early! The “Time’s Cruel Curtain” variant, limited to 700 copies, will be available at retail stores in the US and at the Metal Blade webstore.
Comments CATTLE DECAPITATION‘s Travis Ryan, “We will be performing our magnum opus Death Atlas in its entirety once and for all! Thanks to the pandemic of 2020-2022, we felt Death Atlas didn’t get enough tour love like the rest of our records received, so we’ve decided to honor it by doing the album in its entirety on tour this November/December. We’ll also be throwing in some favorites at the end and we also have some other surprises in the works. Joining us on this journey is none other than the mighty Aborted, Frozen Soul, and Tribal Gaze. We will also have a brand-new tour-specific vinyl variant available at the merch booth so get there early and see you at the show!“
CATTLE DECAPITATION w/ Aborted, Frozen Soul, Tribal Gaze: 11/16/2025 Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ 11/18/2025 Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK 11/19/2025 Granada Theater – Dallas, TX 11/20/2025 Vibes Event Center – San Antonio, TX 11/21/2025 Bad Astronaut Brewing Co. – Houston, TX 11/22/2025 Chelsea’s Live – Baton Rouge, LA 11/24/2025 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA 11/25/2025 The Orpheum – Tampa, FL 11/26/2025 Revolution Live – Fort Lauderdale, FL 11/28/2025 The Underground – Charlotte, NC 11/29/2025 The Canal Club – Richmond, VA 11/30/2025 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD 12/02/2025 Warsaw – Brooklyn, NY 12/03/2025 Palladium – Worcester, MA 12/05/2025 Club Soda – Montréal, QC 12/06/2025 The Concert Hall – Toronto, ON 12/07/2025 Saint Andrew’s Hall – Detroit, MI 12/09/2025 House Of Blues – Chicago, IL 12/10/2025 First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN 12/12/2025 Summit – Denver, CO 12/13/2025 Urban Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT 12/15/2025 Roseland Theater – Portland, OR 12/16/2025 The Showbox – Seattle, WA 12/18/2025 Ace Of Spades – Sacramento, CA 12/19/2025 The Observatory North Park – San Diego, CA 12/20/2025 The Belasco – Los Angeles, CA
“Time’s Cruel Curtain” variant (Available in retail & online)
After conquering the Caribbean with cannon-fire and swagger, Italian pirate metal act Calico Jack set sail for colder seas with their brand new EP “Jack Speak Shanties”, a wild tribute to the sea shanties that shaped their pirate souls. Marking the occasion is the new single and music video “Wellerman”, a dramatic reinterpretation of the legendary 19th-century whaling anthem. Fueled by Viking metal grit, Scandinavian flair, and original riffage, the band breathes new life into this maritime classic, now paired with a stunning video where Calico Jack sheds their Caribbean garb and embraces the rugged look of old-school whalers.
5 tracks. 5 tales of salt, rum, and myth. From the fierce cries of “The 24th of February” to the Celtic melancholy of “Spanish Ladies”, the EP “Jack Speak Shanties” is not just a record. It’s a roaring, storm-soaked homage to nautical tradition.
“This is a love letter to the songs that made us,” says guitarist Toto. And it shows.
Hoist the sails. Crank the volume. The shanties have returned — pirate metal style.
Track Listing: 1. Wellerman – 4:12 2. Don’t Forget your Old Shipmate – 4:03 3. Off to Sea Once More – 3:50 4. The 24th of February – 4:43 5. Spanish Ladies – 5:19
Wanikiya Record/Promotion is proud to announce the addition of WAXWOLF to its roster – one of the most visionary and experimental acts in today’s instrumental scene. Marking this new artistic partnership is the upcoming release of the single “Attractive Forces”, scheduled for August 1st, 2025.
THE SINGLE – “Attractive Forces” Attractive Forces is an emotional and stylistic journey rooted in a specific moment in the artist’s life — a true time capsule made of sounds, memories, and emotions. The track blends influences from bands like Unexpect and Cynic, especially in the riffs and chorus, with a unique central section: MIDI guitars mixed with chiptune sounds, paying homage to the platform video game music of the ‘90s, infused with fusion and electronic colors.
A bold and conscious stylistic choice is the use of synthetic guitars instead of real instruments, challenging the conventions of traditional metal, which often focuses on technical athleticism. The goal is not to showcase skill, but to craft a sound aesthetic aligned with Waxwolf’s artistic identity: free, personal, and uncompromising.
THE PROJECT – WAXWOLF Waxwolf was born as a creative vessel open to the most extreme and unexpected contaminations, capable of merging Death Metal, Progressive Rock, Fusion, Chiptune, and electronic music with a completely personal approach.
The project is driven by a deep and experimental musical vision and an instinctive compositional method: no revisions, no compromises, first take is the final one. Each track thus becomes a pure and authentic fragment of the moment it was written.
From a production and sound standpoint, Waxwolf is supported by Hannes Grossmann on drums (also acting as sound engineer and arranger) and Linus Klausenitzer on bass — two prominent names from the international metal scene who also contributed to the upcoming EP Magic Madness Sadness.
The single and EP artwork has been created by Helvetica Blanc, an artist who will continue to collaborate with Waxwolf on future releases.
COMING SOON – MAGIC MADNESS SADNESS Magic Madness Sadness will feature five instrumental tracks exploring unique sonic and conceptual territories, blending analog instruments, MIDI sections, and experimental soundscapes beyond traditional boundaries.
With Attractive Forces, Waxwolf gives us a first taste of what’s to come: an intense, profound, and unclassifiable work.
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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