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EMBRACE OF SOULS Release New Music Video for ‘Desolate Lands’ from Upcoming Concept Album “The Battle Of The Dead”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 20, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: EMBRACE OF SOULS. Leave a comment

Embrace Of Souls release today “Desolate Lands”, the new single and official video taken from their upcoming fantasy concept album “The Battle Of The Dead”, set for release on May 22nd, 2026.

Listen: https://lnk.to/7wfF6l

Forged in classic power-metal steel and sharpened with symphonic force, “Desolate Lands” delivers fast, militant rhythms, massive orchestral arrangements, and a relentless melodic drive rooted in the ’80s and ’90s tradition. Dark tonalities and epic tension shape the track, driven by Giacomo Rossi’s commanding vocals and reinforced by Martina Mazzeo’s operatic power – a song of devastation, sacrifice and defiance rising from the ashes of war.

Taken from the upcoming fantasy concept album “The Battle Of The Dead”, the single introduces a world torn apart by a mysterious plague that corrupts the soul, pushing kingdoms toward an inevitable clash between the living and the dead. The album unfolds as a complete narrative experience, exploring themes of power, betrayal, sacrifice, and hope.

Founded by drummer and composer Michele Olmi, Embrace Of Souls began as a studio project aimed at bringing together talented musicians from the Italian metal scene, before evolving into a full band with a strong identity and a collaborative creative approach.

This new chapter is marked by a renewed line-up. Giacomo Rossi steps forward as lead vocalist, delivering a powerful and expressive performance, while Martina Mazzeo’s soprano vocals add a theatrical dimension. Their interplay reinforces the balance between power metal intensity and symphonic elegance, a dualism of light and dark that runs throughout the album.

The songwriting process reflects the same collaborative spirit: initial ideas developed by Michele Olmi are expanded together with the band, with each member contributing to the final shape of the music and the narrative.

The album also features a special guest appearance by Morby (Domine), further strengthening the connection with the classic Italian power metal tradition.

“The Battle Of The Dead” was mixed and mastered by Alessio Garavello at Rogue Studios, London, enhancing the clarity, impact, and cinematic depth of the band’s sound.

As the band states:

“We want The Battle Of The Dead to be a complete listening experience. Each track has its own identity, but everything is connected to the story. We want listeners to dive into the world of the album and discover it step by step.”

“The Battle Of The Dead” will be released on May 22nd, 2026, in digital format and digipak CD edition, and will be available for pre-order at the following link: https://rockshots.eu/products/embrace-of-souls-the-battle-of-the-dead-cd​
​
​OFFICIAL MERCH: https://embraceofsoulsband.bigcartel.com/​

For fans of: Rhapsody Of Fire, Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, Nightwish.

Track Listing:​
1. The Battle Of The Dead
2. Eversun
3. The Plague
4. The Gathering
5. Spine
6. Who Can Save Us
7. Betrayal
8. The Dark Lord
9. The War (feat. Morby)
10. Sacrifice
11. Desolate Lands

Line-up:​
Giacomo Rossi – Vocals
Martina Mazzeo – Vocals
Edward De Rosa – Guitars
Xavier Rota – Bass
Davide Baldelli – Keyboards
Michele Olmi – Drums

More info: ​
​​https://www.rockshots.eu​
​https://www.instagram.com/embraceofsouls/​
​https://www.facebook.com/embraceofsoulsofficial/

MY INNER CHAOS Release New Single + Official Music Video ‘Neon Nights’ – When the Dark Side Finds Its Light

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 20, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: MY INNER CHAOS. Leave a comment

MY INNER CHAOS release their new single “Neon Nights”, available from February 20th, 2026 on all digital platforms via Volcano Records.

Blending dark and pulsating industrial metal tones, “Neon Nights” is an introspective journey into the depths of the human unconscious. Like a nocturnal dream surfacing into awareness, the track captures that rare moment when an individual comes face to face with themselves. There is no escape, no distraction — only a direct confrontation with one’s own shadows. The sound merges sharp electronics with powerful guitars in an intense and cinematic emotional spiral. Industrial atmospheres, supported by a solid and modern production, frame lyrics that explore themes of awareness, identity, and transformation. From the encounter with one’s deepest self, a light emerges in the darkness: a guide, a revelation, a rebirth.

“Neon Nights” is the third single released under the Volcano label and further strengthens the identity of My Inner Chaos, an Italian project formed in 2025 by musicians already active in the national and international metal scene. Their sonic aesthetic recalls bands such as Amaranthe, 3Teeth, and Delain, while carving out its own distinctive dimension through a combination of industrial groove, melodic tension, and emotional intensity.

Stream “Neon Nights” on Spotify, Apple Music, and all major digital platforms, and watch the official music video on YouTube:

Also watch the videos for earlier singles
‘My Chaos’: https://youtu.be/LzO71BT8gvc?si=yrMunXfMx7EWRTp-
‘Leaden Air’: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8-1TdMyJhk

Further info at
http://www.volcanopromotion.com
http://www.instagram.com/myinnerchaosofficial

VANDERLUST Unveil First Single ‘Humanity 2.0 – The Human Farm’ from Upcoming Sci-Fi Metal Opera

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 20, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: VANDERLUST. Leave a comment

Rockshots Records is proud to announce the release of “The Human Farm“, the ambitious new sci-fi concept album by progressive metal band Vanderlust, hitting stores worldwide on April 17th, 2025.
​
To ignite this interstellar journey, the band has unveiled the first single and opening chapter of the album today: “Humanity 2.0 – The Human Farm“.

STREAM “HUMANITY 2.0 – THE HUMAN FARM”: https://lnk.to/iEpgIm

“Humanity 2.0 – The Human Farm” is the symphonic overture that opens the gates to the band’s dystopian universe. More than a standard song, it serves as the narrative prologue, setting the atmosphere for the entire record. The track transports the listener to the year 2500 A.D. Humanity, suffering from poverty and despair, is visited by an ancient alien species known as the Coelacanth. They offer a “perfect life” inside a “Human Farm“: safety, comfort, and care, but at a terrible price -execution at the age of 40. This opening chapter poses the central dilemma of the record: if you were offered a short but perfect life in exchange for your freedom… would you accept?

Arriving April 17th, “The Human Farm” is a metal opera that blends traditional melodic power metal with technical progressive elements and thrash intensity. Inspired by Plato’s Cave allegory and classic sci-fi lore, the album tells the story of Abe and a group of rebels who discover their “perfect life” is a prison and attempt a desperate escape through the cosmos. Musically, the band describes the sound as energetic, refined, and atmospheric.
​
Drawing inspiration from the melodic grandeur of Angra and Dream Theater, the new material incorporates intricate, sci-fi riffing reminiscent of Vektor and Megadeth. Guitarist Francesco comments on the release: “To me, this album represents the band’s maturation. It is a journey; to fully enjoy it and truly understand its content, it needs to be listened to in its entirety. Just like the story tells, it unfolds as a narrative in which each track follows the previous one with a particular sense of continuity.“
​
The album features special guest appearances by Martina Barreca (Mess Excess), who provides the growls and operatic vocals representing the alien Coelacanths, and Francesco Londino (S91), who contributes keyboard solos and arrangements.

PRE-ORDER THE ALBUM: https://rockshots.eu/products/vanderlust-the-human-farm

Track Listing:
​
1. Humanity 2.0 – The Human Farm
2. Golden Shackles
3. The Turning Point
4. Connection Failed
5. Viral Escape
6. … Find Them!
7. Battlefield
8. From The Cave – Fuga
9. Drive
10. Reborn … Again
11. Humanity 3.0: The New Canaan

Line-up:​
Ricca “ZP” Morello: Vocals
Francesco “Franz” Romeggini: Guitars, Backing Vocals
David Cantina: Bass
Giacomo Mezzetti: Drums, Backing Vocals

More info:
​https://rockshots.eu/​
​https://www.facebook.com/vanderlustofficial

Exclusive Premiere for Finland: VANIR – ‘Helgrinidir’ Official Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 20, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: VANIR. Leave a comment

Photo by Elmquist foto

With “Helgrinidir”, their brand new digital single and official video, VANIR open the gates to Hel’s underworld. Sung in their native Danish, the track is a dark homage to humanity’s eternal struggle against disease – a war fought across the ages, whether plague, cholera, or countless other afflictions.

Unlike the battles waged with swords and armies, this is a fight no warrior can win. Illness strikes without mercy, claiming lives high and low, king and peasant alike. “Helgrindir” becomes a reminder of fate’s cruel hand: that in the end, all must face the gate.

Join the premiering here:

Through crushing riffs and somber melodies, Vanir channel the dread and inevitability of this unseen enemy, adding a haunting new dimension to the saga of their upcoming album “Wyrd”.

Swords, helmets and shields can be heard in the distance once more, as Danish warriors Vanir return with their new album, “Wyrd”. The record revolves around the timeless theme of fate – spun from war, from the choices of humankind, and from the consequences that have shaped our world. As a mirror of our own time, where decisions carry the weight of future destinies, “Wyrd” invites the listener into stories of downfall and triumph, of lives lost and victories won.

The visual core of the album is brought to life by artist David Troest, whose dramatic cover depicts the Winged Hussar, one of history’s most fearsome war machines. The scene is the legendary Battle of Vienna in 1683, where the Polish cavalry forced the Ottoman Empire to retreat, halting its expansion into Europe. This clash of civilizations forms the backdrop for the song “Never Surrender”, told through the eyes of those who defended Vienna from invasion.

But “Wyrd” is more than just a historical album. It is a musical journey into humanity’s struggle with power, destiny, and the eternal conflicts over survival and dominion. Vanir combine melodic death metal with epic storytelling, reminding us of that history always repeats itself, and that the choices we make today hold the seeds of tomorrow’s battles.

The album has been mixed and mastered at Demigod Recordings, ensuring a powerful and razor-sharp sound that does justice to the weight of its themes.

As one of Denmark’s most prominent melodic death metal bands, Vanir has forged its own take on epic for over a decade now, with history-themed melodic death metal, merging crushing riffs with tales of fate, battle, and myth. With “Wyrd”, the collective once again sharpen their steel and march onto the battlefields of history.

“Wyrd” will be released on LP, CD and digital formats on 03.04.2026, via Mighty Music.

Lineup:
Martin Drageholm – vocals
Kirk Backarach – guitars
Lasse Heiberg – guitars
Mikael Christensen – bass
Jon Elmquist Schmidt – drums
Stefan Dujardin - keyboards

Digital order: https://bfan.link/vnr-hel
Webshop: https://bit.ly/vanir-target

Web:
https://www.facebook.com/Vanirband
https://www.instagram.com/vanirdenmark/
https://vanir.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/artist/6DCYYeX3Iqic6GnQTXM3n4
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/vanir/427022932
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjjLRXN2ECP7fe0GSJ8eNZg
https://tidal.com/artist/3927453
https://play.qobuz.com/artist/1492316
https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/1205990
https://soundcloud.com/vanir-music

Exclusive Premiere for Finland: KISSING KAOS – ‘Yesterday’s Kids’ Official Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 20, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: KISSING KAOS. Leave a comment

After hitting the ground running with the debut song “Chaos Inside”, KISSING KAOS are back with a new single and video titled “Yesterday’s Kids”. A hard-hitting hard rock anthem that captures the raw spirit that built the scene in the first place. The track is taken from the band’s upcoming album “To Your Limit”, set for release later this year, and delivers a no-compromise return to loud, unpolished rock’n’roll.

“‘Yesterday’s Kids’ is about the teenage rebels who never let go of the fire that made them fall in love with music in the first place,” vocalist Joe Flynt comments. “It’s for everyone who helped build the scene, kept the flame alive, and refused to let rock become tame or predictable”.

Join the premiering here:

What do you get when you combine punk rock influences with heavy melodic rock? Kissing Kaos is born and is set to release their debut album “To Your Limit” via Mighty Music. The album was produced by Andy Reilly (UFO, Bruce Dickinson, Cradle of Filth) at Muse Productions in Atlanta, GA. “Our debut album, born from seeds planted in 2022 and fully realized in late 2024, began as raw punk energy but evolved into melodic hard rock under the guidance of producer Andy Reilly”, states singer Joe Flynt. “This sonic shift demanded fresh songs to match the polished, expansive production, creating a dynamic journey from upbeat anthems like “Hey Sugar” to heavy hitters like “Tear It Down” and heartfelt ballads such as “Heartache and Scars.” Every track features infectious, sing-along choruses that invite listeners to join the ride that will take you “To Your Limit””.

After parting ways with his former band Asphalt Valentine, singer Joe Flynt began crafting heavier and more powerful songs. Drawing from a wide range of influences, Joe wanted to write songs that were melodic, full of energy and that could bridge the gap between old and new school bands. He quickly recruited Asphalt Valentine drummer Brian Jung after Brian heard the new material. Guitarist Jon Langsburg was recommended by producer Andy Reilly because of his broad musical influences, stage experience and technical abilities. Rounding out the lineup is bassist Chris Taylor of the band Kickin Valentina. Initially, Chris was just going to help with a couple music videos but loved the music so much, he ended up joining the band, co-writing a few songs and playing on the rest of the album.

With gritty riffs, pounding bass and drums, and anthemic choruses, Kissing Kaos delivers chaos you can’t resist singing along to.

“To Your Limit” will be released on LP (green teal opaque vinyl, limited to 300 copies), digipack CD and digital formats on 01.05.2026, via Mighty Music

Lineup:
Joe Flynt – vocals
Brian Jung – drums
Jon Lansburg – guitars
Chris Taylor – bass

Single order link: https://bfan.link/kkaos-ykids

Web:
https://www.facebook.com/kissingkaosband
https://www.instagram.com/kissingkaosband/
https://kissingkaos.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/artist/4CEevUHco2zEZ8xB1D5nQp
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp9tnoLpmGT8p4DKlaAvvEA
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/kissing-kaos/1875466809

BELPHEGOR Release New Single + Video ‘Scarlet Beast – Leviathan’, North American Tour Starts Today

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 19, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Belphegor. Leave a comment

The gates open once more.

With the release of “Scarlet Beast – Leviathan,” BELPHEGOR return at their most menacing and deliberate, delivering a track that moves with the force of an advancing colossus. Built upon lumbering, monolithic riffs and a suffocating sense of inevitability, the single embodies a towering presence, vast, unrelenting, and absolute.

“Scarlet Beast – Leviathan” does not chase speed; it commands submission. Favoring tension, density, and sheer authority over velocity, the song fuses ritualistic black metal atmosphere with the crushing weight of death metal. The result is a sonic behemoth, oppressive, deliberate, and unstoppable, advancing through scorched terrain with death trailing in its wake.

The single arrives as BELPHEGOR kick off their North American “Praise The Beast” tour, carrying this new chapter directly onto the stage. The track’s immense weight and deliberate pacing translate into a live experience built on tension and command, setting the tone for a run that promises ritual intensity across the continent.

Accompanying the single is a stark and uncompromising music video that captures the essence of true darkness. Gritty and raw in execution, the visual counterpart strips away artifice and embraces ritualistic imagery, shadow, and decay. It is not spectacle, but invocation.

With “Scarlet Beast – Leviathan,” BELPHEGOR once again prove their mastery of controlled devastation. The beast does not rush. It advances. And nothing stands in its path.

Praise The Beast North American Tour 2026:
02/19 – Brooklyn, NY, Brooklyn Monarch  
02/20 – Lowell, MA, Taffeta Music Hall  
02/21 – Montreal, QC, Le Studio TD  
02/22 – Toronto, ON, Lee’s Palace  
02/23 – Lakewood, OH, Mercury Music Hall  
02/24 – Joliet, IL, The Forge  
02/26 – Denver, CO, HQ  
02/27 – Albuquerque, NM, Launchpad  
02/28 – Haltom City, TX, Haltom Theater  
03/01 – Houston, TX, Scout Bar  
03/02 – San Antonio, TX, Paper Tiger  
03/05 – Mesa, AZ, The Rosetta Room  
03/06 – San Diego, CA, Brick by Brick  
03/07 – San Francisco, CA, DNA Lounge  
03/08 – Roseville, CA, Goldfield Trading Post  
03/09 – Los Angeles, CA, 1720  
03/10 – Anaheim, CA, The Observatory

Purchase tickets HERE: https://www.belphegor.at/present.htm

About BELPHEGOR:


Since their formation in 1993 in Austria, BELPHEGOR have stood as one of the most brutal and transgressive forces in black death metal. Founded by vocalist and guitarist Helmuth Lehner, the band has spent over three decades refining a sound forged in fire and sacrilege, merging the violent precision of death metal with the ritualistic darkness of black metal.

Their musick is an invocation of infernal power, a soundwall of relentless blasphemy.

From the raw intensity of early releases like The Last Supper (1995), Blutsabbath (1997), and Necrodaemon Terrorsathan (2000), to the increasingly sophisticated compositions found on albums such as Lucifer Incestus, Bondage Goat Zombie, Pestapokalypse VI, and Totenritual, BELPHEGOR have continually pushed the boundaries of extreme musick. Each release marks a further descent into forbidden territory.

The band’s thematic focus with ritual magick, religious inversion, and arcane symbolism is matched by their technical mastery, multilingual lyrics, and sonic experimentation.

With their twelfth studio album The Devils (2022), BELPHEGOR delivered one of their most punishing and ambitious records to date.

Recorded at Fascination Street Studios with producer Jens Bogren, the album features nine meticulously crafted compositions that shift seamlessly between feral aggression and solemn majesty.

Tracks such as Glorifizierung des Teufels and Virtus Asinaria – Prayer incorporate choral passages and ritualistic structure, while Damnation – Höllensturz unfolds with a dynamic complexity that further amplifies the band’s compositional vision.

Lyrically, the album weaves together German, Latin, and English to cast incantations of death, desecration, and rebellion against sacred order. Accompanied by visionary artwork from Seth Siro Anton, The Devils stands as a high point in Belphegor’s canon and underscores their continued relevance in the global extreme metal landscape.

Following the success of The Devils, BELPHEGOR were honored with the 2023 Amadeus Austrian Music Award in the Hard and Heavy category, a rare moment of formal recognition in Austria for a band that has long walked a path far removed from mainstream acceptance. This accolade acknowledges their artistic legacy and highlights the contrast between their recognition and the transgressive nature of their craft.

Renowned for their intense live rituals, BELPHEGOR have toured relentlessly across Europe, the Americas, Asia, Australia, and beyond. They have appeared at Wacken Open Air, Knotfest, Bloodstock, Hellfest, Tons Of Rock, Sweden Rock, and numerous other prestigious metal festivals. Their stage presence is more than a performance, it is a ceremony of magick and infernal theatre, where sound, smoke, blood, and fire converge in a communion with darkness.

Now, as the band approaches its thirteenth studio album, a deeper and more arcane force begins to stir. The number thirteen bears ancient meaning: endings, thresholds, and the passage into the unknown. Rooted in primordial doctrine, the thirteenth seal is said to bind the final veil between worlds, the last barrier between order and chaos.

With this upcoming release, BELPHEGOR prepares to break that seal, not to follow, but to lead. To summon what lies beyond even their own previous creations: something more primal, more ritualistic, more devastating.

Early glimpses of new material point to a continuation of the dark artistic path begun with The Devils, now delving even deeper. The upcoming album takes shape as a focused ritual: precise, uncompromising, and rooted in the band’s unmistakable vision, the glorification of the Devil.

Prepare. The next chapter is imminent. 

More from BELPHEGOR:
www.belphegor.at | Facebook | Instagram | X | Youtube

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