Cleveland, Ohio based doom purveyors FRAYLE have begun their triumphant return with a brand new single, the chillingly dense “Walking Wounded”. The track impresses with a whispering wall-of-sound that crushes with spine-tingling stacks of harmonies, providing a haunting showcase of what’s to come from the band in 2025. The song arrives alongside a cinematic music video drenched in macabre aesthetics, blending both elegant and eerie imagery.
When asked to describe “Walking Wounded”, FRAYLE simply cited a profound quote by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie: “We teach girls to shrink themselves, to make themselves smaller. We say to girls, you can have ambition but not too much. You should aim to be successful but not too successful. Otherwise you would threaten the man.”
FRAYLE are widely acclaimed by fans and media alike, and are set to stun with more upcoming music soon. The next era of FRAYLE will solidify recent nods from the likes of Revolver and Knotfest, crowning the band as one to watch in the heavy music scene. Helmed by frontwoman Gwyn Strang and guitarist Sean Bilovecky, FRAYLE merge the heaviness of occult-driven doom and blackgaze with eerie vocal stylings and rich atmosphere.
FRAYLE will kick off their European headline tour – featuring several festival stops at the likes of Brutal Assault, Bloodstock, Summer Breeze and more – on August 4 in Katowice, Poland. The band has also confirmed additional USA performance dates in 2025, before and after the European tour. See below for a full listing of where you can catch FRAYLE on the road!
FRAYLE 2025 PERFORMANCE DATES: Various USA Dates: July 25 – Cleveland, OH – Grog Shop Oct 11 – Jackson, TN – Tennessee Metal Devastation Festival
European Tour: Aug 4 – Katowice, PL – MCK Aug 6 – Fortress Josefov, CZ – Brutal Assault Aug 8 – Derbyshire, UK – Bloodstock Aug 10 – Kortrijk, BE – Alcatraz Aug 11 – Cologne, DE – Helios37 Aug 12 – Frankfurt, DE – Frankfurt Am Main Aug 13 – Dinkelsbuhl, DE – Summer Breeze Aug 16 – Hamburg, DE – Turmzimmier Aug 27 – Haarlem, NL – Patronaat
FRAYLE is: Gwyn Strang: Vocals Sean Bilovecky: Guitar
The countdown is on: Black Sabbath are about to take the stage for one last time with their farewell show Back To The Beginning. But before the big night, the four founding members – Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward – received a very special honor from their hometown Birmingham: “The Freedom of the City of Birmingham” scroll and accompanying medal.
The official ceremony took place on June 28 and was presented by Birmingham’s Lord Mayor, Zafar Iqbal.
To give you some context: “The Freedom of the City” is one of the oldest civic honors in the UK, traditionally awarded to those who have made an outstanding contribution to the city. In the case of Black Sabbath, it celebrates not only their deep ties to Birmingham’s identity but also their global legacy as pioneers of heavy metal.
What the band had to say about the honor:
Speaking on receipt of the award, Terence “Geezer” Butler said: “This is a great working class city, and we’re all working class, from Aston. We weren’t given a chance when we started out, but Birmingham has always been behind us. People used to make fun of our accents, but we’re all proud Birmingham people and we love this city. It’s one of the greatest cities ever, it’s given the world so much and we’re proud to be here.”
Tony Iommi added: “It’s a great thing to receive. Birmingham is our home, and we love what Birmingham has done for us. We’ve got the bridge and the bench, things like that. We’re very grateful.”
Ozzy Osbourne said: “I first put an advert in a music store in town. If these guys hadn’t come to my door, I wouldn’t be sitting here now. It seems to have flown by so quickly. It’s amazing. I think about my dad, who went into debt to buy me a microphone. If only he could be here now. I think he would be very proud. I’m a Brummie and I always will be a Brummie. Birmingham Forever!”
Bill Ward added: “It’s completely overwhelming. I’m so proud to be an Astonian. That’s where I got my attitude. It was a blessed – and cursed! – to meet Tony when I was 15, and I’m so proud that I got to know Geezer and Ozzy. They’re my brothers. I love them very much and we love our city very much.”
We congratulate Black Sabbath on this incredible honor and wish them a powerful and unforgettable final show on July 5.
September 26, 2025 will see Swedish extraordinary metal collective, Curse Of Cain, release their hotly-anticipated, second studio album, “Achtung!”, via ROAR (Grave Digger, Mystic Circle, Holy Moses, Crematory a.o.). Coming on CD, Vinyl and Digital formats, you can pre-order your favorite choice of format now on: https://Curseofcain.rpm.link/achtungalbPR
Following previously-released songs, “Candy Cain Murder”, “Starry Eyes”, “Feel the Pain” and the epic album title track, today, Curse Of Cain have shared a video clip for their latest single “Tik Tok (Darkness)“!
“I’ve taken clocks apart, gear by gear, hunting for mercy in the machinery,” says drummer The Mechanic. “But there’s no escape in metal. Only echoes. Only the ticking.“
“The whispers in the night? That’s time, unraveling the lie of peace,” Rainbow (percussions/ vocals)adds. “I’ve heard them since birth — and they never stop. Not really.”
Emerging from the enigmatic depths of their unique dimension, Curse Of Cain redefines what it means to be a band. Shrouded in mystery and driven by an unrelenting force they call Movie Metal, Curse of Cain is more than music, it’s an immersive saga. Their narrative weaves together struggles, victories, and the haunting beauty of a dystopian universe, brought to life by a cast of compelling characters.
With their forthcoming sonic masterpiece, “Achtung!”, Curse Of Cain elevate their storytelling to a new level of intensity. Each track is a chapter, plunging listeners deep into the trials, transformations, and unity of the band’s personas. This album isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a declaration of resilience and individuality. Themes of defiance, survival, and self-discovery resonate through every riff, breakdown, and melody.
Curse Of Cain doesn’t just perform music; they transport audiences to another world. Their live shows blur the line between concert and theater, with elaborate costumes, immersive lighting, and gripping storytelling. Fans become part of the narrative, stepping into the Curse Of Cain dimension as the band’s characters invite them to join the journey. It’s not just a show, it’s a portal into a rich, otherworldly experience. The band’s inspiration draws from a dystopian, futuristic world scarred by the Red War of 2076. Here, Cain, a shadowy figure, navigates a shattered society teetering on collapse. His story is told through The Band, a group of misfit antiheroes who serve as both musicians and storytellers. By day, they’re a traveling cover band; by night, they’re operatives fighting against parasitic beings known as the “wrecks,” which infest and manipulate human hosts.
Curse Of Cain’s debut album delves into Cain’s past, revealing the events that shaped him and his enduring fight for survival. With “Achtung!”, the narrative unfolds further, showcasing a turning point in their universe, a battle against chaos, a rise against the darkness.
“We are the ones who walk the line between light and shadow, chaos and order,” Curse Of Cain declares. “Through “Achtung!”, we offer a glimpse into our battles and triumphs. This album is not just our story, it’s yours. Together, we defy the darkness.”
Curse Of Cain’s journey is far from over. With their forthcoming studio album as the next chapter in their epic tale, they invite you to step into their world, feel the power of their music, and embrace the story of struggle and unity. Welcome to the dimension of Curse Of Cain, prepare to be transformed!
Power metal warriors WARKINGS descend into the shadows with their final anthem from their upcoming album, Armageddon, out this Friday via Napalm Records! The haunting new track, “Hangman’s Night”, features Dr. Dead of rising horror metal act Dominum and marks a dramatic turn into the shadows.
“Hangman’s Night” tells the haunting tale of once-mighty Templar knights, betrayed and condemned as heretics. Beneath the glow of a blood-red moon, the unit awaits the gallows—not with fear, but with unyielding brotherhood and grim resolve. Underlined by sharp guitar riffs cut through thunderous drums, relentless rhythms, and empowering gothic flair, the song drags listeners into the final stand of the fallen—will they fight for glory, or embrace the noose?
Make sure not to miss WARKINGS bringing their epic new music to European stages during the 2026 co-headline Pirates & Kings tour with label mates Visions of Atlantis! The band is currently storming through Europe on their ongoing tour, which includes a very special release show in Aschaffenburg, Germany on July 5 with Hammer King! See below for all confirmed tour dates.
Check out the official music video for “Hangman´s Night” and prepare for the doom bell – your final hour has come!
The Crusader comments: “Betrayed, outnumbered, but never broken — the Templars stood until the end.”
Since their formation in 2018, WARKINGS have cemented their place in the power metal scene. They have conquered festival stages, played alongside legends like Powerwolf, Hammerfall, and Subway To Sally, and built a devoted fanbase that has chanted their anthems at Europe’s biggest stages, including Wacken Open Air.
The five warriors in WARKINGS have once again taken up their weapons to bring the legends of their past to life with mighty power metal anthems. Each of them carries the memories of great battles within, and now, the time has come to unleash these stories upon the world alongside the indomitable sorceress Morgana le Fay.
The band’s fifth album, Armageddon, is a journey through some of history’s most pivotal conquests—moments where warriors stood firm, empires crumbled, and the world was forever changed.
WARKINGS comment: “Armageddon is not just the end — it’s the moments in history that changed the world forever. This album is a tribute to the warriors and shieldmaidens who faced the battles that shaped their world.”
From the Viking raid on Lindisfarne in “Armageddon” to the thunderous legacy of “Genghis Khan”, and the tragic fall of the Knights Templar on “Hangman’s Night”, WARKINGS breathe fire into forgotten chapters of the past.
The new album features strong forces – Orden Ogan (“Genghis Khan”) and Subway to Sally (“Stahl auf Stahl”) lend their weapons to the mighty kings. Adding to the sonic arsenal, Armageddon was produced by Felix Heldt and mixed/mastered by the renowned Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Powerwolf, Amaranthe). The band teamed up with further musicians to write some battle hymns on this album: Eike Freese (Dark Age, Lord of the Lost) lends his power to “Genghis Khan”, Jan S. Mischon (Saltatio Mortis) joins on “Varangoi”, and Ken Kängström (Follow The Cypher, Sabaton) co-wrote “Kingdom Come”.
With Armageddon, WARKINGS prove that history is not only written by rulers and conquerors—it is shaped by those who fought in their name. This album offers a glimpse into the experiences of those who stood at the brink of their own end—their personal Ragnarök, their own Armageddon. Honoring these fearless warriors, WARKINGS deliver yet another epic, destined to triumph in every battle!
Armageddon Track listing: 1. To Lindisfarne… 2. Armageddon 3. Genghis Khan (feat. Orden Ogan) 4. Kingdom Come 5. Morgana’s incantation 6. Circle of witches 7. Kings of Ragnarök 8. Call to Arms 9. Troops of immortality 10. Nightfall 11. Hangman’s Night (feat. Dominum) 12. Varangoi 13. Here comes the rain 14. Stahl auf Stahl (feat. Subway to Sally)
Experience WARKINGS Live:
03.07.25 DE – Ballenstedt / Rockharz 04.07.25 DE – Mühlheim a. d. Ruhr / Castle Rock 05.07.25 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal + Hammer King (Album Release-Show) 10.-12.07.25 AT – Leoben / Area 53 – Festival 11.07.25 DE – Saarbrücken / Powerwolf SB-Open-Air 12.07.25 DE – Balingen / RV Bang-Festival 13.07.25 CZ – Vizovice / Masters of Rock 24.07.25 DE – Bremen / Seebühne 25.07.25 DE – Burg Creuzburg / Burg Creuzburg 30.07.-02.08.25 DE – Wacken / Wacken 06.-09.08.25 ES – Villena / Alicante / Leyendas del Rock 09.08.25 DE – Aach / Lake Constance / Das grosse Treffen
PIRATES & KINGS TOUR 2026 w/ Visions of Atlantis: 05.02.26 CH – Pratteln / Z7 06.02.26 DE – Saarbrücken / Garage 07.02.26 DE – Oberhausen / Turbinenhalle 08.02.26 DE – Frankfurt / Batschkapp 10.02.26 UK – Manchester / Academy 2 11.02.26 UK – London / O2 Academy Islington 12.02.26 FR – Paris / Elysée Montmartre 13.02.26 NL – Tilburg / 013 Poppodium 14.02.26 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser 15.02.26 DE – Berlin / Columbia Theater 16.02.26 PL – Warsaw / Proxima 18.02.26 CZ – Zlin / Masters of Rock Cafe 19.02.26 DE – Hanover / Capitol 20.02.26 DE – Hamburg / Markthalle 21.02.26 DE – Geiselwind / Musichall 26.02.26 FR – Lyon / La Rayonne 27.02.26 DE – Stuttgart / Im Wizemann Halle 28.02.26 DE – Munich / Backstage Werk 05.03.26 HU – Budapest / Barba Negra 06.03.26 AT – Vienna / SimmCity 07.03.26 AT – Wörgl / Komma
WARKINGS are: Tribune – War Chant Cursader – Steelwing Spartan – War Drums Viking – Battle Axe Morgana le Fay – Unholy Evocations
Finnish melodic death metal band Bloody Moon is set to release their second studio album ‘Lost & Damned’ on October 31st 2025 via Inverse Records. The first single ‘My Payoff’ is unleashed today with music video which can be seen below.
“My Payoff” came together almost effortlessly—the original demo recording is hardly any different from the final version. The song is about being abandoned, but also about proving that even from the deepest lows, you can rise again.
Drummer Toivo Aitakari shares: “I remember the writing process being very straightforward—everything just fell into place naturally. We did have to put some work into the synth sound in the pre-chorus during demoing, but we made sure to get it right, and that exact sound ended up on the album. This one has become a personal live favorite; it’s always fun to play fast-paced skank beat and belt out the chorus loud and high.”
Composed by Veeti Sukari, Nisse Nurminen, Toivo Aitakari
Lyrics by Veeti Sukari, Toivo Aitakari
ISRC-code: FI3FC2551803
Single cover picture by Henri Aitakari, layout by Toivo Aitakari
Bloody Moon is a metal band from Laitila, Finland, that has been active since 2021. The band’s music is characterized by tearing riffs and catchy choruses, accompanied by a thunderous rhythm section.
On their latest album “Lost & Damned”, these ingredients come together to create a tight and energetic whole that everyone should experience at least once in their lives.
American black metal band ABIGAIL WILLIAMS reveals a new single: the closing track of its long-awaited new studio album, “A Void Within Existence”, set for release on July 18th via Agonia Records. The monumental piece titled “No Less Than Death” clocks in at a little over 9 minutes, and is accompanied by a video featuring the song’s lyrics. Watch it, here:
The follow-up to 2019’s critically acclaimed “Walk Beyond the Dark” marks a new chapter in the band’s relentless evolution; an album that not only expands upon the atmospheric darkness and melodic brutality of its predecessor, but pushes further into extremes, both sonically and emotionally.
Produced by frontman Ken Sorceron and mixed by renowned engineer Dave Otero (Aborted,Akhlys), “A Void Within Existence” is a scorched offering of black metal transcendence: harrowing, cinematic, and utterly uncompromising. Drums are performed by the virtuosic Mike Heller (Fear Factory, Ghost Bath), whose work here blurs the line between precision and chaos.
Lyrically, the album dives deep into existential themes of loss, disintegration, and unreality. Tracks like “Still Nights” and “No Less Than Death” reflect on identity through surreal and fragmented images – distant lights, poisoned memories, dreams where “there is no pain.” Elsewhere, songs like “Embrace The Chasm” and “Life, Disconnected” summon visions of cosmic dread and personal oblivion, confronting the listener with raw emotion and esoteric vision.
The record is accompanied by striking cover art from Eliran Kantor (Testament, Bloodbath), whose visual interpretation mirrors the inner desolation and mythic scope of the music.
“This record was born in the quiet hours, when everything felt hollow,” Sorceron reflects. “«A Void Within Existence» isn’t just a title – it’s a feeling I couldn’t shake while writing. There’s a loneliness threaded through these songs that came from somewhere deeper than I expected. The world outside was falling apart, and in a way, so was the one inside. I wanted to push beyond the limits we explored on «Walk Beyond the Dark». Sonically, emotionally, spiritually – nothing was off-limits. I produced the album to stay close to that vision, and with Dave Otero on the mix and Mike Heller behind the kit, everything came to life exactly how I heard it in my head: raw, vast, and crushing. This is a record about absence. About peeling away what isn’t real – examining the void left behind. If there’s anything left after that – maybe it’s the truth. Maybe it’s just the void. Either way, this is the most honest I’ve ever been. «A Void Within Existence» is more than an album. It’s a crucible – a journey through the fire where only shadow and silence remain.”
Surpassing its 20th year of existence (having been formed in 2004), ABIGAIL WILLIAMS has upgraded its formula to a quartet, comprising Ken Sorceron (ex-Aborted, ex-The Faceless, Vale Of Pnath, Nachtmystium) on vocals and guitars, Vance Valenzuela (Vale Of Pnath) on guitars, John Porada (ex-Nachtmystium, ex-Wolvhammer) on bass and Mike Heller (Fear Factory, Malignancy) on drums. With Sorceron retaining his leading role, the band expands on its unique and intensive sound, forged throughout five studio albums, and anchored in black metal with shades of death metal & symphonic metal.
Tracklisting: 1. Life, Disconnected 2. Void Within 3. Nonexistence 4. Still Nights 5. Talk To Your Sleep 6. Embrace The Chasm 7. No Less Than Death
Line-up: Ken Sorceron – vocals, guitars Vance Valenzuela – guitars John Porada – bass Mike Heller – 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
Ads
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