Canada’s The Metal Voice recently interviewed Helloween singer Andi Deris. In the chat Deris talks about the bands upcoming studio album ‘Giants & Monsters which will be released August 29, 2025 (Reigning Phoenix Music).
They also spoke about on how he joined the band and the bands musical evolution.
Excerpt from the interview When asked about the Helloween’s Chameleon album prior to joining the band “Guitarist Michael Weikath gave me the (Helloween) Chameleon album to listen to. I went back to South Germany and listened to it and a day later he gave me a call and asked so what do you think ? Do you like it? I said look, I think it’s fantastic for Bonjovi and then he hung up and didn’t call for a week, (laughs). Hey I’m fan of Bon Jovi .I love a lot of Bon Jovi songs. I didn’t even mean it as a negative thing. The music is great. I like Chameleon but it’s not Halloween. I told everybody If Bon Jovi would have actually recorded this album it would have been a number one album. But fans who waited for a Halloween album I think they were shocked there was like nothing to do with Halloween anymore. Even Pink Bubbles has Halloweenish stuff on it but on the Chameleon it was eradicated. If not for the great voice of Michael (Kiske) you would have would have never realized or recognized that it’s Halloween, that’s my humble opinion.”
“Giants & Monsters” track listing:
Giants On The Run
Savior Of The World
A Little Is A Little Too Much
We Can Be Gods
Into The Sun
This Is Tokyo
Universe (Gravity For Hearts)
Hand Of God
Under The Moonlight
Majestic
HELLOWEEN is: Michael Kiske – vocals Andi Deris – vocals Kai Hansen – guitars, vocals Michael Weikath – guitars Sascha Gerstner – guitars Markus Grosskopf – bass Daniel Löble – drums
Solo black metal project BLACKBRAID is now launching pre-sales for ‘Blackbraid III,’ will be released on August 8, 2025 independently! Vinyl and cassette formats, as well as new merch designs, can now be pre-ordered via Blackbraid.US & Blackbraid.EU!
ICYMI: Blackbraid’s new single “Wardrums at Dawn on the Day of my Death” is now streaming along with a music video at Black Metal Promotions! The video was created by Moshmallows and captures the haunting and primal nature of Blackbraid’s live shows. Watch the clip at THIS LOCATION.
BLACKBRAID will also be embarking on a North American headliner later this year with support from Lamp of Murmuur and Dödsrit, with Gudsforladt replacing LoM as support for two Canadian dates. The trek will kick off on September 19 in San Diego, CA and will make its way around the U.S. + Canada until the final stop on October 11 in Los Angeles, CA. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets are available HERE.
In addition, BLACKBRAID has partnered with Fire in the Mountains Festival to curate a special pre-release event where festival attendees will get to hear ‘Blackbraid III’ ahead of its August 8 release date! During the event, there will also be a special live Q&A that will take place during the listening session with Metal Injection’s Frank Godla.
Fire in the Mountains will take place in Montana from July 25-27, 2025 at the Red Eagle Campground on the Blackfeet Nation Reserve. BLACKBRAID joins an esteemed lineup of artists including Wardruna, Old Man’s Child, Chelsea Wolfe, Converge, Blood Incantation, and more! Tickets are available HERE while the full lineup and all pertinent festival information can be found HERE.
Blackbraidis a solo indigenous black metal project from from the depths of the Adirondack wilderness creating music as raw and powerful as the mountains from whence it came…
The captivating album artwork for ‘Blackbraid III,’ was created in collaboration with Adam Burke, who handled the painting, and mainstay Blackbraid album artist Adrian Baxter, who did the illustration.
Like Wind Through The Reeds Making Waves Like Water
And He Became the Burning Stars…
Fleshbound (Lord Belial cover)
BLACKBRAID North American Tour w/ Lamp of Murmuur + Dödsrit,:
09/18: San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick 09/19: Phoenix, AZ @ Last Exit Live 09/20: Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad 09/22: Dallas, TX @ Trees 09/24: Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Purgatory) 09/25: Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819 09/26: Baltimore, MD @ Metro Gallery 09/27: Brooklyn, NY @ The Meadows 09/28: Albany, NY @ Empire Live 09/30: Boston, MA @ Middle East (Downstairs) 10/01: Montreal, QC @ Café Campus * 10/02: Toronto, ON @ Velvet Underground * 10/03: Lakewood, OH @ Mercury Music Lounge 10/04: Chicago, IL @ Reggies 10/05: St. Paul, MN @ The Turf Club 10/07: Denver, CO @ HQ 10/08: Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge 10/10: Oakland, CA @ Thee Stork Club 10/11: Los Angeles, CA @ 1720 *w/ Gudsforladt, no LoM
BLACKBRAID Upcoming Festivals:
07/27: Red Eagle Campground, MT @ Fire in the Mountains Fest 08/23: Eisfeld (DE) @ Wolfszeit Festival 12/19: Leipzig (DE) @ Black Hole Fest Germania III – Frost Edition 04/05/26: Munich (DE) @ Dark Easter Metal Meeting
Creator of Blackbraid: Sgah’gahsowáh
‘Blackbraid III’ Album Credits: Composed & performed by Sgah’gahsowáh Drums, recording, mixing & mastering by Neil Schneider Guitar solo in “God of Black Blood” performed by Randy Moore “Fleshbound” originally composed by Lord Belial Painting by Adam Burke Illustration by Adrian Baxter Visual development & graphic design by Wolf Mountain Productions
Maltese death metallers BEHEADED take a dark turn on “Għadam” – new single, foreshadowing the group’s seventh album under the same title, due out July 25th on Agonia. The song received a music video that reflects the record’s sombre inspirations embedded in Malta’s folklore, bigotry and horror stories.
Directed by Maurizio Del Piccolo, the video can be found here:
“Għadam” is an album that marks a significant evolution in the band’s journey making it the first death metal album ever written in Maltese, tying Maltese horror, literature and death metal into a cohesive concept. The album incorporates musical influences rooted in the island’s heritage, blending the band’s signature ferocity with elements of traditional religious and folklore music, creating a unique fusion that pays homage to the band’s cultural origins. With “Għadam,“BEHEADED not only pushes the boundaries of their sound but also cements their legacy as pioneers of Maltese death metal.
“Għadam” is based and inspired by the books of Maltese horror author Anton Grasso including the title itself. The work comprises nine songs that all use the title of a book by the author, which are then interpreted in a story, theme or subject different from what one finds in the book. It is also worth mentioning that on “Għadam,” one finds passages, phrases, subjects from classic works of local poetry, as well as excerpts taken from prayers and religious references.
The idea behind the choice for “Għadam” to be a work written entirely in Maltese is that it pays homage and explores the local cultural heritage in the context of everything related to horror, fear, superstitions, the occult, the macabre, folklore and how these exist hand in hand with faith and devotion.
BEHEADED comments: “Għadam, the band’s seventh album, is a dark narrative unfolding across the nocturne-esque Maltese landscape. It delves into the island’s folklore, where superstition and fervent religious devotion create a chilling atmosphere. This journey into the abyss is led by the authoritative voice of Anton Grasso’s works, the infamous Maltese horror writer, whose stories serve as a guiding light through the gloom. While retaining the essence of their signature sound, Beheaded infuses Għadam with the haunting sonorities of traditional religious harmonies and funeral marches, creating a sonic tapestry that is both brutal and profoundly unsettling.”
The album was recorded and mixed at MK2 Recording Studios (Italy) by Davide Billia (Antropofagus, Coffin Birth) with analog synth engineering done by Nicolò Brambilla at Echoes Studio (Italy) The song “Irmied” was recorded at Railway Studios (Malta) by Peter Borg and performed by Simone Brigo on a traditional hand made harp guitar courtesy of Josef Camilleri (Cross Guitar Work). “Għadam” was mastered by Wojtek Wiesławski at Hertz Studio (Poland). A photo shot by Raffaele Montepaone graces the cover artwork.
Tracklisting: 1. Għadam 2. Xtrajt l-infern 3. B’niket inħabbru l-mewt 4. Iħirsa 5. Il-Kittieb 6. Ix-xjaten ta’ moħħi 7. Iljieli bla qamar 8. Jidħaq il-lejl 9. Irmied
Upcoming shows: 29th August – Gothoom Festival – Slovakia 16th October – USA TBA 17th October – USA TBA 18th October – Mutilated Fest – NYC Brooklyn – USA
Mexican death metal force BETRAYME return with a vengeance with their brand new single “Unnamed”, out now via Lethal Scissor Records. This marks the band’s first original release since their EP “Nihil Obstat”, and it showcases them at the peak of their creative power.
With “Unnamed”, BETRAYME deliver a furious yet calculated assault, a track that highlights their trademark blend of relentless speed, surgical precision and crushing groove. The band continues to refine a sound that is both technically elaborate and unapologetically heavy, reaffirming their position in the modern death metal landscape.
This new single is not just a return, but a clear statement of intent: BETRAYME are here to push their limits and elevate their craft to new heights.
“‘Unnamed’ is the first single from our upcoming album. This track is the result of an intense production process that spanned several months, during which we collaborated with two highly skilled producers. Rubén Sánchez of Urvn Studio (Guanajuato, Mexico) was responsible for editing the recorded tracks, using his expertise to help shape our sound. Meanwhile, acclaimed U.S. producer Mike Low took care of mixing and mastering. Mike has worked with bands such as Inferi, Allegaeon, DÅÅTH, Fallujah, and Shadow of Intent, among others. He currently works as an assistant to Dave Otero and Dan Swanö, further reinforcing his experience — one of the key reasons we were eager to collaborate with him in pursuit of the sound we’ve always envisioned”.
Line-up:
Santiago Zamorategui – Drums Adib Flores – Guitar Jorge Álvarez – Vocals
Morten Veland (SIRENIA, MORTEMIA and founder of TRISTANIA) released the first Mortemia song from ‘The Cover Collab Sessions’ today. The track is a cover version of ‘Like a Hurricane’ originally recorded by Neil Young, featuring DIANNE on guest vocals. The song is available on all digital platforms as of today the 27th of June 2025.
“I’m proud and honoured to welcome Dianne van Giersbergen as my special guest for ‘The Cover Collab Sessions’. This is the first song from my upcoming album, a project that will consist of 12 cover songs featuring 12 different singers. The song that me and Dianne have done together is a cover version of Neil Young’s classic song ‘Like a Hurricane’. I am really thrilled with how the song turned out and Dianne’s beautiful voice really shines on this track. I feel that we were able to make a very cool take on this timeless classicthat I have loved since I was a kid. I feel truly privileged and thankful to have Dianne onboard this project. We are really looking forward to sharing this song with you all. The song will be available on all digital platforms on Friday the 27th of June 2025”.
DIANNE:
“One thing’s for sure: you can always count on Mortemia to metal-up a track!But I too love a challenge, especially when it means breathing new lifeinto a world-renowned classic like “Like a Hurricane”.Morten, thank you for shining a light on my solo career by joining meon “The Elders’ Call”. Now, I’m returning the favour by becoming avocal hurricane on your latest release: ready to stir the storm andleave a trail of symphonic power in our wake.”
After 2 albums featuring 24 amazing singers in total, the Norwegian multi-instrumentalist, producer and artist Morten Veland now embarks on his third MORTEMIA collaboration album ‘The Cover Collab Sessions’,a project that will consist of 12 cover songs featuring 12 different singers.
So far the following singers have contributed for his collaborations:
Madeleine Liljestam (Eleine) Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion, Ayreon, MaYaN) Alessia Scolletti (Temperance, ERA) Liv Kristine (Liv Kristine, ex-Theatre of Tragedy, ex-Leaves Eyes) Melissa Bonny (Ad Infinitum, The Dark Side of the Moon) Brittney Slayes (Unleash the Archers) Maja Shining (Forever Still) Erica Ohlsson (Metalite) Heidi Parviainen (Dark Sarah, ex Amberian Dawn) Zora Cock (Blackbriar) Linda Toni Grahn (Anima Veil, ex Follow the Cipher) Caterina Nix (Chaos Magic) Federica Lanna (Volturian) Ulli Perhonen (ex-Snow White Blood) Ambre Vourvahis (Xandria) Fabienne Erni (Eluveitie, Illumishade) Lindy-Fay Hella (Wardruna) Margarita Monet (Edge of Paradise) Marina La Torraca (Exit Eden, Phantom Elite) Nicoletta Rosellini (Alterium, Walk in Darkness) Maxi Nil (Jaded Star, ex Visions of Atlantis) Capri (Amberian Dawn) Emma Zoldan (Sirenia) Dianne van Giersbergen (DIANNE, Ex Libris)
Following last year’s sold-out performance of Live At The Acropolis, Symphonic death metallers SEPTICFLESH are proud to announce they will return to Odeon of Herodes Atticus at the Acropolis of Athens for a second ceremony on September 27th! The night will feature the band reuniting on stage with the Athens State Orchestra including the Adult and Children’s Choir under the baton of Koen Schoots.
SEPTICFLESH comments, “Children of Prometheus, we are summoning you to attend our second ceremony at the Odeon of Herodes Atticus at the Acropolis of Athens, one of the most iconic places in the world! Last year, a lot of people couldn’t join us, as the tickets were sold out shortly after the show announcement. Thankfully, and just before the closing of this ancient place for at least 3 years for necessary maintenance and restoration work, we have been allowed to return for the Classick Rock 9 on the 27th of September 2025. Once again, we will be joined by the Athens State Orchestra, Adult and Children’s Choir under the baton of Koen Schoots, as we will perform an updated setlist. See you there!”
Formed as “Septic Flesh” in Greece in the early ’90s, SEPTICFLESH has carved an indelible mark on the metal scene. With a rich history spanning decades, the band has continuously evolved their sound, incorporating symphonic elements to create a truly unique sonic experience. From their debut EP Temple of The Lost Race to their latest masterpiece SEPTICFLESH has captivated audiences with their dynamic compositions and haunting melodies. With each album, they push the boundaries of symphonic metal, weaving together intricate orchestrations with crushing riffs and powerful vocals. Don’t miss your chance to witness their monumental live performances, where the thunderous sound of SEPTICFLESH will engulf you in a whirlwind of emotion and intensity.
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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
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Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 