OCCULT HEAVY METAL from the eerie forests of Eastern Norway – BLOOD PYTHON rise once again from the graves of witchcraft, ’80s cassette tapes, and shattered dreams.
With the new and third album, “Voidseeker,” the journey continues into even darker realms. This release combines signature occult Heavy Metal bangers and blistering Thrash tracks with experimental, synth-heavy numbers—it hits hard and makes no compromises. [ … learn more here » ]
LINE-UP M. Horn • All instruments, Vocals
TRACKS 01. 10,000 AD 01:30 02. Death On Four Wheels 03:38 03. Voidseeker 03:47 04. Cromlech 04:54 05. Divine Electronic Doom 04:06 06. Midnight Ritual 04:14 07. We Emerge 04:21 08. Entranced In Desire 05:20 09. The False Dreamer 04:49
Danish metallers GRADIENCE present their video for their latest single, “Deathwish.”
Comments guitarist/vocalist Jakob Lærke Harris, “‘Deathwish’ is our homage to the MySpace-era songs from bands we grew up listening to like Killswitch Engage, Job For A Cowboy and The Black Dahlia Murder but with our signature rap and melodic twist. We wanted to create a song with a lot of forward momentum that gets the circle pit going.”
The usually clear-cut boundary between apocalyptic, sludgy blackened death metal and dark urban trap-rap is thrillingly pulverized by GRADIENCE. Lines of musical convention are further blurred by disarmingly emotive and intimate vocal lines, and a vibrant sound picture heaving with glacial synths and hypnotic sonic details. At first it might daunt and confuse those who like their boundaries clear-cut, but at the heart of GRADIENCE‘s brash and radical new sound is an authentic and heartwarming new friendship. In 2022, guitarist Jakob Lærke Harris and vocalist Gavin Mistry struck up an immediate creative rapport at a Copenhagen show for local deathcore heroes Cabal. Although from very different backgrounds – Jakob a visual artist and musician playing in “a popcore band,” Gavin is a main player “in different hip-hop constellations” – they quickly found common ground in an area both were keen to explore.
“It just feels completely natural for us to mix everything,” notes Harris. “We’re really up for whatever label people want to put on us. We’ve actually found it difficult for ourselves to narrow it down but we like to think of ourselves as just being a metal band. We’ve used the description ‘blackened rap metal’ just to catch people’s attention. But to me, rap is just a tool we use to convey an emotion or feel, just like we use screams and melody. We’ve found different styles of rap and singing that suit Gavin really well, and when we’re writing vocals for a song, we’re only thinking about what would be the best fit with the energy and vibe. For us, there needs to be an emotional connection in order for heavy music to resonate with the listener on a deeper level.“
Stay tuned for more news on GRADIENCE to be announced in the weeks to come.
GRADIENCE: Gavin Mistry – vocals Jakob Lærke Harris – guitars, vocals Frederik Kjelstrup Hansen – drums Patrick Petersen – bass
RAUNCHY and Mighty Music proudly unveil “Frameworker”, the brand new single and lyric video taken from the Danish metal innovators’ highly-anticipated upcoming album “Prisoner”, set for release later this year. Combining crushing mechanized grooves, razor-sharp riffing and haunting electronic textures, “Frameworker” further expands the band’s unmistakable “death pop” identity into darker and more thought-provoking territory.
“”Frameworker” is about the unseen architecture of perception, tracing how language and ideology evolve from rudimentary expression into instruments that will both shape and constrain human understanding”, the band comments about the new song. “What begins as raw sound becomes a coded script, programming the lens through which reality is interpreted. This song questions the constructs that draw the lines of thought, building invisible walls that define the world while quietly imprisoning the mind”.
Join the premiering here:
Hailing from Thisted, Denmark, Raunchy have long stood as one of the most forward-thinking names in European metal. Since emerging in the mid-90s, the band has continuously pushed boundaries by merging melodic death metal with industrial soundscapes, electronic experimentation and massive modern hooks. A unique formula that helped define their self-styled “death pop” sound. Across decades of evolution and relentless live activity, Raunchy have cemented themselves as one of Denmark’s most enduring and influential heavy music exports.
With “Frameworker”, the band continues the conceptual and sonic journey leading into “Prisoner”, an album shaping up to be one of the heaviest, darkest and most ambitious releases of their career.
Lineup: Jesper Kvist – bass Morten Toft Hansen – drums Jesper Andreas Tilsted – guitars, keyboards Lars Christensen – guitars Jeppe Christensen – keyboards, vocals Mike Semesky – vocals
THORIUM dive headfirst into the darkest corners of human fragility and manipulation on their new digital single and video “Bring The Children To Me”. Driven by suffocating grooves, violent riffing and an oppressive atmosphere that never loosens its grip, the track captures the band at their most unsettling and emotionally charged.
Balancing old-school Scandinavian death metal brutality with a bleak, almost cinematic sense of tension, “Bring The Children To Me” channels fear, decay and psychological collapse into one of the most haunting songs on the upcoming album “Suburban Rot”. The performance is raw yet razor-sharp; every scream, every crushing rhythm and every eerie melodic layer pushing the listener deeper into the abyss.
Thirty years into their career, Thorium still sound dangerous, hungry, and utterly uncompromising. “Bring The Children To Me” stands as a grim reminder that the real horrors are never far from home.
Join the premiering here:
Danish death metal unit Thorium announce the release of their seventh full-length album “Suburban Rot”, set for release on June 6th, 2026 via Emanzipation Productions. Marking 30 years of the band’s uncompromising presence in the Scandinavian underground, the album stands as their darkest and most personal work to date.
Written over an extended period, “Suburban Rot” captures a band still driven by the same anger, nerve and authenticity that defined Thorium from the very beginning – now reinforced by the depth and experience of three decades in extreme metal.
“Spend a weekend around a place like Brøndby Strand Station”, vocalist Michael Hvolgaard Andersen comments. “There is something strangely beautiful about decay, addiction, alcoholism, and broken lives that has always fascinated me. You rarely read about what things are really like in suburban station environments around Copenhagen – how destroyed the buildings are, and how damaged many people living there have become. That reality forms the foundation of the album title and several of the lyrics on “Suburban Rot”. It’s a phenomenon I’m sure people will recognize in station environments all over the world, where city centers are made more attractive while Google Street View is politely kept at a distance when it reaches the suburbs”.
Musically, “Suburban Rot” reflects both the band’s roots and the history of Danish extreme metal. Guitarist JP Storm brings the legacy of his time in Dominus – the band that later evolved into Volbeat – while guitarist Jose Cruz injects a darker, groove-driven and melodic edge shaped by his Spanish background. The rhythm section consists of drummer Daniel Preisler, active since the early 1990s and also formerly of Dominus, and bassist Jesper Nielsen, known from Psy:Code.
The current lineup is the same that recorded Thorium’s critically acclaimed 2022 album “Danmark”, which entered the official Danish Vinyl Chart at #7 and received widespread praise, including a 5/6 review in GAFFA. At the same time, it represents the longest-lasting stable lineup in the band’s history.
In recent years, Thorium have appeared at festivals such as Aalborg Metalfest, Metal Magic Festival, Raise Your Horns Festival, Death Coast Festival and Næstved Metalfest, reaffirming their position as one of the most enduring forces in Danish death metal.
“Suburban Rot” was produced by guitarist JP Storm and mixed and mastered by renowned producer Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio, giving the album a crushing yet detailed sonic character. The artwork was created by Venezuelan artist John Quevedo Janssens, visually reflecting the record’s themes of urban decay and human collapse. Thirty years into their career, Thorium prove that their fire burns stronger than ever. And “Suburban Rot” may well be their most uncompromising statement yet.
“Suburban Rot” will be released on black LP, green LP (limited to 200), CD and digital formats on 06.06.2026, via Emanzipation Productions.
Lineup: JP – guitars Jose Cruz – guitars Daniel – drums Jesper – bass MHA – vokills
Reigning Phoenix Music announces collaboration with Hasbro for the release of THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE: THE SOUNDTRACK: THE REFORMATTED EDITION, a reimagined soundtrack for THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE (1986) featuring an epic line up of guest performers and lifelong Transformers fans.
Releasing July 24, 2026, on major streaming platforms and various physical formats including limited edition LPs, THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE: THE SOUNDTRACK: THE REFORMATTED EDITION brings 10 re-recorded, reimagined tracks from the iconic film, where modern production techniques meet the raw spirit of 1986 to create something that feels both reverent and revolutionary. This includes the return of Stan Bush—the original voice that defined an era—now making his return 40 years later to bring fans brand-new recordings of “The Touch” and “Dare”! Every track has been rebuilt from the ground up by KNIGHTS OF UNICRON to deliver a powerful, heavier and sharper sonic impact.
Album performances are led by KNIGHTS OF UNICRON, comprised of Matt Harvey, Gus Rios and Ross Sewage. The track list sees guest appearances by iconic original SKID ROW front man, solo artist and now lead vocals for TWISTED SISTER, Sebastian Bach for a special rendition of “Nothin’s Gonna Stand in Our Way”, power metal artist Brittney Slayes (UNLEASH THE ARCHERS) for an electrified version of “The Transformers (Theme)”, along with dynamic features by Mark Osegueda (DEATH ANGEL, KERRY KING), Francesco Cavalieri (WIND ROSE, V.B.O.), and COLD SLITHER’s own Torch. Tying it all together is composer Vince DiCola as the perfect complement to this winning formula for the most honest and true collaboration for die-hard TRANSFORMERS fans!
To begin the album’s rollout, today, Hasbro has released the first single and music video for Stan Bush’s re-recording of “The Touch” (STREAM HERE) along with full album vinyl pre-orders now available at trade wide retailers and exclusive vinyl releases at Amazon and Target.
On the forthcoming collaboration, Reigning Phoenix Music co-founder Gerardo Martinez shares, “It is an absolute honor to be able to pay tribute and work alongside Hasbro on the 40th Anniversary celebration of one of the most iconic movie soundtracks of our generation”.
After four decades the stories, memories and music still resonate deeply with fans globally. The Reformatted Edition sees worlds collide across generations though heavy music, and a return to a major moment in pop culture history.
Hasbro Music presents The Transformers: The Movie: The Soundtrack: The Reformatted Edition. Produced and engineered by Matt LaPlant (COLD SLITHER), with pre-production by KNIGHTS OF UNICRON and Matt LaPlant. The album was mixed and mastered by Zeuss (ROB ZOMBIE) and recorded at Ripper’s Lair in an undisclosed location. Cover artwork and design created by Matt Ferguson.
ABOUT THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE AND HASBRO’S “THE APOLOGY TOUR”:
Originally released in 1986, THE TRANSFORMERS: THE MOVIE marked the franchise’s first feature film and raised the stakes in ways audiences did not see coming. What started as an epic battle between Autobots and Decepticons quickly became something more, introducing the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, the planet-devouring Unicron, and a turning point that left a generation of fans emotionally unprepared for what a children’s film could deliver.
Optimus Prime’s fall in a final showdown with arch-nemesis Megatron remains one of the most controversial moments in franchise history. Four decades later, fans are still talking about it. That legacy now fuels Hasbro’s “The Apology Tour,” a year-long campaign acknowledging the emotional impact of Optimus Prime’s death and delivering special surprises for fans throughout the year.
Track List:
1. The Touch – KNIGHTS OF UNICRON ft. Stan Bush (originally recorded by Stan Bush) 2. Instruments of Destruction – KNIGHTS OF UNICRON ft. Francesco Cavalieri (originally recorded by N.R.G.) 3. Death of Optimus Prime – Vince DiCola 4. Dare – KNIGHTS OF UNICRON ft. Stan Bush and Vince DiCola (originally recorded by Stan Bush) 5. Nothin’s Gonna Stand in Our Way – KNIGHTS OF UNICRON ft. Sebastian Bach (originally recorded by Spectre General) 6. The Transformers (Theme) – KNIGHTS OF UNICRON ft. Brittney Slayes (originally recorded by Lion) 7. Escape – KNIGHTS OF UNICRON (originally recorded by Vince DiCola) 8. Hunger – KNIGHTS OF UNICRON ft. Mark Osegueda (originally recorded by Spectre General) 9. Autobot/ Decepticon Battle – KNIGHTS OF UNICRON (originally recorded by Vince DiCola) 10. Dare To Be Stupid – KNIGHTS OF UNICRON ft. Torch (originally recorded by “Weird Al” Yankovic)
About Reigning Phoenix Music
Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur, Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme and hard music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists by offering best services and practices in the industry. RPM’s paramount goal is to help the artists amplify their music and talent to a winning formula for success.
Don’t forget to subscribe to Reigning Phoenix Music on YouTube to stay updated and listen to the latest tracks in the RPM New Releases playlist on Spotify. Subscribe here: https://rpm.link/spotifynewreleasesPR.
Hasbro is a leading games, IP and toy company whose mission is to create joy and community through the magic of play. With 165 years of expertise, Hasbro delivers groundbreaking play experiences and reaches more than 1 billion fans annually around the world, through physical and digital games, video games, toys, licensed consumer products, location-based entertainment, film, TV and more.
Through its franchise-first approach, Hasbro unlocks value from both new and legacy IP, including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, MONOPOLY, HASBRO GAMES, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well as premier partner brands. Powered by its portfolio of thousands of iconic marks and a diversified network of partners and subsidiary studios, Hasbro brings fans together wherever they are, from tabletop to screen.
For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, a 2025 JUST Capital Industry Leader, one of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the U.S. by the Civic 50, and a Brand that Matters by Fast Company. For more information, visit https://corporate.hasbro.com or @Hasbro on LinkedIn.
German power metal veterans MOB RULES have unveiled their brand-new single, “Above the Maelstrom,” taken from the forthcoming studio album Stories From The Verdant Vale, set for release on August 21 via ROAR – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music.
With “Above the Maelstrom,” the band presents a profound, melancholic ballad of exceptional beauty. Amid the otherwise concise and dynamic overall feel of the album, the song deliberately provides a moment of calm, creating a powerful atmospheric contrast that adds an additional emotional layer.
Their much-waited new studio offering Stories From The Verdant Vale sees MOB RULES return to the narrative world introduced with their latest album Rise Of The Ruler (2025), which was widely praised and marked a major milestone in the band’s career. The material originates from songs written during the final stages of those sessions, now presented as a special standalone release.
As vocalist Klaus Dirks recently said: “During the final stages of completing the album, we discussed possible bonus material for the earbook edition with the label. We were reluctant to use demo versions or similar material. This motivated us to write a few new songs. We were well aware of what we were getting ourselves into, but we also wanted to challenge ourselves a little.”
The songs reveal a slightly more direct and compact approach compared to Rise Of The Ruler, while staying true to the band’s signature blend of melodic power metal, atmosphere and storytelling. Expanding the original concept from a different perspective, the material forms a natural extension of Rise Of The Ruler, while each track also stands strong on its own.
Originally conceived in part as exclusive material, Stories From The Verdant Vale will now receive a proper release on vinyl and digital platforms due to high demand. The record was mixed by Markus Teske, with artwork created by Stan W. Decker.
Side A: 1. Savage Land Reprise 2. Master Of The Black Crow 3. Masquerade Ball 4. Above The Maelstrom 5. Balance Of Power
Side B (Bonus Tracks) 6. Celebration Day (2014 Version, feat. Bernhard Weiß) 7. Insurgeria (2014 Version, feat. Udo Dirkschneider) 8. Coast To Coast (2014 Version, feat. Chity Somapala) 9. End Of All Days (2014 Version, feat. Amanda Somerville) 10. Broken
About MOB RULES
Formed in Northern Germany in the early 1990s, MOB RULES have established themselves as a constant force in melodic power metal. Known for their concept-driven albums, strong melodies and atmospheric depth, the band has built a loyal international following over the decades.
With ten studio albums to date, including the critically acclaimed Rise Of The Ruler, MOB RULES have continuously refined their sound while staying true to their roots. Their blend of classic heavy metal influences and modern production has secured them a lasting place within the genre.
MOB RULES is: Klaus Dirks – Vocals Sven Lüdke – Guitar Florian Dyszbalis – Guitar Markus Brinkmann – Bass Jan Christian Halfbrodt – Keys Sebastian Schmidt – Drums
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 ) 