Cultural pride meets metal fury as Through n Through return with their heaviest anthem to date: ‘Mexican Metal Maniacs‘, set for release on June 27 via Golden Robot Records. The track is available for pre-save now across all major streaming platforms here: https://orcd.co/mexican-metal-maniacs
Blazing with thrash riffs and undeniable attitude, ‘Mexican Metal Maniacs‘ is a battle cry for identity, unity, and raw musical power. Known for their fusion of hardcore, metal, and Latino spirit, Through n Through have always worn their heritage on their sleeves – but with this release, they crank it to eleven.
Built on blistering guitars, pounding drums, and defiant vocals, the single is a sonic celebration of the band’s background and the scene that shaped them. It’s music made for the pit – and for the people. Fans of crossover thrash, hardcore, and Latin-infused metal won’t want to miss this. Whether you’re breaking barriers or just breaking necks in the circle pit, ‘Mexican Metal Maniacs‘ is your new soundtrack.
Through n Through are a band of Mexican/Latin American decent, hailing from the south-side Chicago neighborhood known as Little Village/La Villita.
The band started off as a heavy hardcore band in 2014, but always had metal influences and within recent years, they’ve decided to further steer their music in that direction. Through n Through focuses on writing about the struggles they witness in their neighborhood such as poverty, police brutality, gangs, corrupted street politics and more personal topics like domestic violence and addictions. With this new direction of more traditional heavy metal influences, the band is writing in a style that resembles story-telling, after all what’s not metal about the neighborhood that has influenced them?
The music fits well with the message and aggression that is much needed to grab the attention of people who are aching to let rage out. ThroughnThroughare proud of their Latin heritage, their community and their brand of hardcore heavy metal! This is La Villita Metal!
Swedish masters of melancholic metal, KATATONIA, have unveiled the second new single from their upcoming album, Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State, out June 6, 2025 via Napalm Records! ”Temporal” balances fragility and strength – its intense verses culminating in a soaring, emotionally charged chorus. The track arrives with a beautiful lyric video.
Even after more than 30 years, KATATONIA continues to redefine the emotional spectrum of the genre, effortlessly shifting between haunting vulnerability and commanding artistry. KATATONIA’s music is pure and heartfelt from the northern wilderness; cast in mournful dirges for a world that needs a renaissance. Secure your copy of Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State now and check out the lyric video for ”Temporal” below!
Jonas Renkse comments: ”Temporal, when the enchantment is gone. When riffing is on, the combination offers no solace other than the pleasure of the vicious circle & the colours of the night. Enjoy.”
On Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State, crystal-clear production highlights the interplay between silence and intensity, while the contrast of heavy riffs, delicate guitar harmonies, ethereal synthesizers, and atmospheric nuances create captivating tension. Tracks like “Thrice” and “Warden” pulse with dynamic energy, while “Lilac” sees Jonas Renkse’s unmistakable vocals intertwining with hypnotic rhythms and progressive elements. A near-ceremonial piece, “Wind of No Change”, merges subtle electronic textures with KATATONIA’s enigmatic soundscapes. The breathtaking “Efter Solen” (Engl. After the Sun), featuring Swedish lyrics, with minimalistic yet striking instrumentation.
Get your copy ofNightmares as Extensions of the Waking State NOW
Even after more than 30 years, KATATONIA continues to redefine the emotional spectrum of their genre, effortlessly shifting between haunting vulnerability and commanding artistry. With sonic landscapes that evoke dystopia, inner demons, purity, and beauty alike, Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking Statestands as a testament to their enduring brilliance. The album was produced by Jonas Renkse, recorded by Lawrence Mackrory at NBS Audio and The City of Glass, mixed by Adam Noble, and mastered by Robin Schmidt at 24-96 Mastering.
Nightmares as Extensionsof the Waking State tracklist: 1. Thrice 2. The Liquid Eye 3. Wind of no Change 4. Lilac 5. Temporal 6. Departure Trails 7. Warden 8. The Light Which I Bleed 9. Efter Solen 10. In the Event of
As soon as summer has shattered, KATATONIA will embark on an epic headline tour this fall across Europe and the UK together with label mates and Gothenburg’s top-notch metal export EVERGREY and Klogr from Italy. Kicking off on November 11 in Tampere, Finland, the tour will cover 31 major cities in total and culminate in a grand finale in Stockholm, Sweden on December 20. Tickets are available now. For more information, visit the official website – https://katatonia.com/
KATATONIA UK & EUROPE TOUR 2025 w/ EVERGREY & Klogr 11.11.25 FI – Tampere / Tavara-asema 12.11.25 FI – Helsinki / House of Culture 14.11.25 NO – Oslo / Rockefeller 15.11.25 SE – Gothenburg / Pustervik 16.11.25 DE – Hamburg / Gruenspan 18.11.25 PL – Warsaw / Progresja 19.11.25 DE – Berlin / Huxleys 20.11.25 DE – Leipzig / Täubchenthal 21.11.25 CZ – Prague / Palac Akropolis 22.11.25 AT – Vienna / Simm City 24.11.25 DE – Munich / Backstage Werk 25.11.25 DE – Stuttgart / LKA Longhorn 27.11.25 IT – Milan / Alcatraz 28.11.25 CH – Zurich / Komplex 29.11.25 FR – Lyon / La Rayonne 01.12.25 ES – Madrid / BUT 02.12.25 ES – Barcelona / Salamandra 03.12.25 FR – Toulouse / Le Metronum 05.12.25 UK – London / Electric Ballroom 06.12.25 UK – Glasgow / Garage 07.12.25 UK – Manchester / Academy 2 08.12.25 UK – Bristol / SWK 10.12.25 FR – Paris / Le Trabendo 11.12.25 LU – Luxembourg / Rockhal 12.12.25 DE – Frankfurt / Batschkapp 13.12.25 DE – Cologne / Live Music Hall 14.12.25 NL – Amsterdam / Melkweg Max 16.12.25 BE – Antwerp / Trix 18.12.25 DK – Copenhagen / Amager Bio 19.12.25 SE – Karlstad / Nöjesfabriken 20.12.25 SE – Stockholm / Fållan
Festivals 2025 03.05.25 BE – Izegem / Headbangers Balls Fest 22.06.25 BE – Dessel / Graspop Metal Meeting 05.07.25 DE – Mühlheim / Castle Rock 06.07.25 TR – Istanbul / Headbanger’s Weekend 26.07.25 PL – Ostrów Wielkopolski / Ostrów Rock Festival 30.07.25 RO – Braşov / Rockstadt Extreme Fest 01.08.25 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air 22.08.25 IT – Marina Di Altidona / Wondergate (Parco dei Due Ponti)
KATATONIA are: Jonas Renkse – Vocals Niklas Sandin – Bass Daniel Moilanen – Drums Nico Elgstrand – Guitar Sebastian Svalland – Guitar
Stuttgart, Germany-based melodic heavy metal act FRONT ROW WARRIORS is currently gearing up for the release of their sophomore, new studio album “Running Out Of Time”, that will be out on July 11, 2025 via ROAR. A video clip for the epic album title track is now premiering below!
“In spring 2020, time suddenly stood still, nothing was the same as before and no one could have guessed how long it would take to finally see and hug their loved one, family and friends again,” comments the band about their latest single release “Running Out Of Time”. “For many, it was an almost unbearable barrier to overcome, while others lost the race against time. Running out of time tells the story and reminds us that nothing in life should be put off……”
Founded in 2019, FRONT ROW WARRIORS has already caused quite a stir in 2023 with their debut “Wheel Of Fortune” and was showered with praise by critics. The German Rock and Pop Musicians Association even named the debut album „Hard Rock Album of the Year 2023“. The 80s hard rock, with a pinch of AOR and melodic metal from the 90s, went down fantastically straight away, which is not only due to singer Elkie Gee, who has a remarkable range and stands out from the crowd with her vocal color.
All of the band members in FRONT ROW WARRIORS are no strangers in the scene. Sorin Badin and Stef Binnig-Gollub on guitars are former musicians from Samsara and Septagon, while Richie Seibel, who is also a member of Ivanhoe and Them, plays the keys. The bass is played by Timo Michels (ex-Pump) and the drums by Jay G. (ex-Sharon). The band played a number of concerts and festivals in 2024 and performed on stage with the likes of Treat, Vicious Rumors, Riot V, Victory, Axxis and Shakra. Since March 2024, guitarist Dominik Barth (ex-Illusoria) has replaced Sorin Badin, who had to step back for family reasons, but has been working in the background on the studio and fine-tuning the songs.
Their new album “Running Out Of Time”, once again with none other than Achim Köhler (Primal Fear, Brainstorm a.o.) at the controls and co-produced by Michael Bormann, features some real bangers and impressively proves that the band also feels at home in metal. Lovers of delicate guitar and keyboard work as well as melodic hooks will get their money‘s worth, as will fans of the heavier genre. FRONT ROW WARRIORS once again skilfully play with the genres to produce a colorful bouquet of fabulous songs with guaranteed catchy tunes and surprising moments!
The band recently said: “Running Out Of Time” was created during a time when we were on the road a lot, soaking up this energy and packing it into our new songs. This has made our music a little harder, but we‘ve definitely stayed true to ourselves when it comes to catchy choruses and can‘t wait to present our new songs and bring them to the stage.”
01 – Turn The Tide 02 – Theory Of Mind 03 – The Holy 04 – Cast A Spell 05 – New Horizons 06 – Running Out Of Time 07 – Rise Against 08 – Don’t Think The Night Is Over 09 – Seems Like Paradise 10 – Heartbreaker 11 – FRW
Heavy thrash metal force DIVNI SAN returns with “The Power of Your Soul” (Remastered), the electrifying official lyric video from their upcoming album “Dreamlike Tales,” set for release via Wormholedeath.
Roaring with high-voltage riffs, punishing rhythms, and an unstoppable energy, “The Power of Your Soul” is a full-throttle declaration of inner strength and spiritual resistance. With razor-sharp precision and anthemic intensity, Divni San deliver a modern thrash classic built for both the pit and the stage.
June 6, 2025 will see the German iconic black/death metal duo MYSTIC CIRCLE release an extended new edition of “Kriegsgötter MMXXV” via ROAR, featuring 8 tracks and furious cover versions of classics such as from BATHORY, CELTIC FROST, POSSESSED, ACHERON, or the previously-released, completely re-recorded cover version of IRON MAIDEN‘s “Afraid To Shoot Strangers”.
On selected tracks, the band welcomes back British soprano Sarah Jezebel Deva on guest vocals, who has already made guest appearances with CRADLE OF FILTH, THE KOVENANT and THERION, among others. The track “Cry Little Sister” also features Karo Hafke, singer of the dark wave gothic band Umbra Et Imago. Pre-order your album copy now on: https://mysticcircle.rpm.link/krieg
Today, MYSTIC CIRCLE have unleashed a new single taken off “Kriegsgötter MMXXV”, their blistering cover version of the BATHORY classic “One Rode To Asa Bay“!
“One Rode To Asa Bay“ is a track from the fifth BATHORY album „Hammerheart“, which is a favourite of us two,”A. Blackwar reveals. “The band was a huge influence for us back then, but also today. You hear that in our early works and in general for our love of atmospheric parts. When Sarah heard the song in the studio, she went to the cabin and started to sing – which wasn’t planned at all. We looked at each other with a devilish smile in our face and said: that was the missing part! This song is pure epic!”
Let’s go back a quarter of a century to the year 2000: MYSTIC CIRCLE were at their peak at the time after the release of their third studio epic “Infernal Satanic Verses” and were rightly regarded as Germany’s leading black metal band. In the summer after the turn of the millennium, the Ludwigshafen-based band followed up with the 5-track EP “Kriegsgötter II”, a compilation of cover versions and new recordings. However, the founding line-up broke up during this phase and A. Blackwar left the band. Only his return in 2020 and the reunion with vocalist Beelzebub conjured up the spirit of that time again, resulting in the two great new records “Mystic Circle” (2022) and “Erzdämon” (2023), closing the infamous circle (or pentagram?) again.
“It was inevitable for me to end my time with MYSTIC CIRCLE with “Kriegsgötter II”. The long break was necessary, we lost the connection to each other back then – which is stronger than ever today,” summarizes A. Blackwar and looks back with a teary eye, but also with a smile, because as so often in life, everything happens for a reason.
Album Tracklist: 01 – One Rode To Asa Bay (feat. Sarah Jezebel Deva) 02 – Die Götter der Urväter 03 – Azazel’s Soulfly 04 – Cry Little Sister (Theme from “The Lost Boys”, feat. Karo Hafke of Umbra Et Imago) 05 – Afraid To Shoot Strangers (feat. Sarah Jezebel Deva) 06 – Death Metal 07 – Acheron (Medley) 08 – Circle Of The Tyrants
MYSTIC CIRCLE is: Beelzebub – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards A. Blackwar – Drums, Guitars, Keyboards
Tokyo’s death metal stalwarts, DEFILED, are set to embark on their “Smoke and Mirrors” Tour 2025 this May, delivering their signature blend of old-school brutality and technical prowess to fans across South Korea and Japan. This tour supports their latest album, Horror Beyond Horror, released through Season of Mist.
Known for their unfiltered aggression and complex compositions, DEFILED has carved a niche in the death metal scene since the early ’90s. Their latest offering, Horror Beyond Horror, continues this legacy with tracks like “Smoke and Mirrors” and “To See Behind the Wall,” showcasing their ability to merge relentless riffs with intricate song structures.
Japanese & Korean fans can catch the band during the following dates:
16 May: Anyang, KR @ Purple Hall 17 May: Suwon, KR @ Alleyway Taphouse 18 May: Seoul, KR @ Club Victim (with Massacre) 19 May: Incheon, KR @ Gong-Gam Bar 23 May: Tokyo, JP @ Holiday (with Massacre)
To See Behind The Wall (2:45) Total runtime: 41:08
Cover Art by Wes Benscoter
From the depths of Tokyo’s darkest alleys, DEFILED have emerged once again, claws sharpened, eyes bloodshot, ready to unleash a fresh dose of unadulterated savagery with their latest full-length studio album, Horror Beyond Horror. Marrying the grotesque with technical prowess, these samurais of sickness are poised to carve another notch into the archives of death metal’s sordid history.
Since crawling from the primordial soup of the underground scene in the early ’90s, Defiled have forged a path littered with broken souls. Their journey of destruction first sank its teeth into the international jugular with Erupted Wrath, mixed by the masterful Jim Morris in Tampa, Florida. This brutal assault opened gates to a global bloodletting, from leveling stages in South Korea to crushing skulls at the Milwaukee Metalfest, and not even the November to Dismember fest could foresee the carnage they’d bring.
Commandeering the technical tightrope between anarchy and precision, Defiled evolved, much like an aberrant spawn isolated on the Galapagos, grotesque yet ultimately superior. Their subsequent onslaughts — Ugliness Revealed, Divination, and the sheer violence of In Crisis — built a monument to atrocity that ascends to new heights with Horror Beyond Horror.
Taking no prisoners in their three-decades-long campaign of terror, Defiled have become the indestructible behemoth of Asia’s death metal scene, powered by the relentless engine of their old-school roots and the twisted wreckage of technical thrash and progressive rock innovation.
But enough with the history lesson, you came here for the carnage, didn’t you? Horror Beyond Horror is a 14-track massacre, riddled with riffs sharp enough to slit your throat and a rhythmic onslaught that’ll pulverize your pathetic bones. Each track, from the visceral “Smoke and Mirrors” to the haunting “To See Behind the Wall”, is a calculated strike, precision-engineered to leave no survivors. Let’s not forget the eponymous “Horror Beyond Horror”, a track that cements Defiled’s legacy as harbingers of the apocalypse.
With a sound as raw as exposed nerve endings and as unrefined as a mass grave, Defiled stands defiantly apart from the polished poseurs and shameless sellouts. They don’t peddle in cheap gimmickry or nostalgia; they deal in the currency of pure, unfiltered destruction. As they look out upon the charred landscape of the genre they’ve helped to define, Defiled is not content to rest on their laurels. Horror Beyond Horror sees them, once again, ascending to the blood-soaked throne of death metal sovereignty.
Production Credits: Sound Engineers – Shinichiro Hamada & Keisuke Hamada Produced by Yusuke Sumita Mixed & Mastered by Kenji Kikuchi at Studio Nest, Chiba, Japan
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 ) 