Swiss metalcore powerhouse Vicious Rain aren’t slowing down — they’re sharpening the blade. With their brand new single ‘A Spotless Mind’, the band unveil another intense chapter of an album cycle that has already seen massive momentum. Watch the visualizer below.
Following the impact of ‘IKIGAI,’ ‘Spitting Blood Again,’ ‘Silent Therapy,’ and ‘Trading Hearts,’ Vicious Rain continue to prove that this era isn’t built on one strong track — it’s a statement of consistency and evolution.
‘A Spotless Mind’ dives deeper into the emotional weight that has defined this cycle so far, but it does so with a new level of urgency. Where previous singles balanced atmosphere and aggression, this one feels more immediate — sharp riffs, soaring tension, and a chorus that lingers long after the final breakdown fades. It’s heavy, but controlled. Emotional, but not fragile. The kind of track that doesn’t just hit — it stays.
All of this leads toward their upcoming full-length release, set to drop on 13th March. If the singles so far are any indication, Vicious Rain aren’t just releasing an album – they’re cementing their place as one of the most compelling forces in modern European metalcore.
‘A Spotless Mind’ is another reminder: this isn’t hype. It’s momentum.
Catch the band live: 13.03.26 – Release Show, Werkk Baden
After the massive impact of ‘Duality‘ — a single that marked a defining moment in the band’s recent chapter — German metalcore force VENUES now unveil their next strike: ‘Hollow Walls.’
This isn’t just another release. ‘Hollow Walls’ picks up where ‘Duality’ left off. Visually and emotionally. The new music video acts as a direct sequel, continuing the narrative thread and expanding the atmosphere into darker territory. What began as tension now escalates into confrontation. The cracks in the surface are no longer subtle – they’re breaking wide open.
Sonically, VENUES lean further into contrast: fragile moments collide with explosive weight, cinematic tension meets razor-sharp heaviness. ‘Hollow Walls’ feels urgent, restless, and uncomfortably honest – like standing in a room that’s slowly collapsing while you’re still inside it.
If ‘Duality’ was the warning shot, ‘Hollow Walls’ is the fallout. This isn’t a reset. It’s the next chapter.
Catch the band live: 06.06. – Holtebüttel Rockt Festival 19.06. – Harleyville Festival 20.06. – Sommer am Kiez 05.07. – Burning Pants Festival 04.09. – Pell Mell Festival
Rockshots Records proudly presents “Resurrection”, the new single from Italian power metal veterans Highlord, a track that signals a decisive new compositional chapter in the band’s long-standing career.
“Resurrection” introduces the renewed lineup featuring Andrea Racco (also known for his work with Sound Storm) as the new frontman and immediately establishes a sharper, heavier sonic direction while preserving the unmistakable epic DNA that has defined Highlord for decades.
Thematically, the song captures the fragile equilibrium of modern society, a world suspended between tension and transformation, and translates the urgent need for change into the metaphor of rebirth. “Resurrection” is conceived as a surge of energy breaking through instability: not escapism, but reaction; not nostalgia, but renewal.
Musically, the band embraces a more aggressive and compact approach. The guitar work is tighter and more percussive, built around driving riff structures and dynamic harmonic layering that reinforce the song’s sense of forward momentum. The rhythm section delivers a precise, explosive backbone balancing double-kick propulsion with controlled groove passages that heighten the track’s impact without sacrificing clarity.
Andrea Racco’s performance stands at the center of this evolution. His gritty, powerful vocal delivery, recalling the dramatic intensity associated with classic European power metal, injects a raw, assertive edge into the band’s sound. Yet despite the increased weight and attack, Highlord retain their hallmark melodic sensibility: expansive, emotionally charged choruses open the arrangement into wide harmonic landscapes, ensuring that the song’s epic character remains intact.
Production once again plays a crucial role. “Resurrection” was produced by bassist Massimiliano Flak at Evolution Recording Studios in Turin, resulting in a massive, modern mix that emphasizes punch and definition. The guitars cut with sharp articulation, the low end remains firm and controlled, and the vocal layers sit prominently without overpowering the instrumental interplay. The overall sonic architecture is polished yet forceful – contemporary in impact while rooted in traditional power metal aesthetics.
With “Resurrection”, Highlord does not simply introduce a new lineup; they redefine their expressive coordinates. Heavier, more immediate and rhythmically explosive, yet still melodic and anthemic at heart, the single represents a statement of intent, a rebirth forged in steel, melody and conviction.
Verona-based Action Rock trio TO THE MAX! has released a brand-new music video for the track “Who”, taken from their upcoming sophomore studio album “Two The Max!”, set for release on March 13 via Go Down Records. Directed by Francesco Corso and shot atFucina Culturale Macchiavelli in Verona, Italy, the video captures the band’s dynamic intensity and underlines the edgy, punk-infused spirit of the track.
Watch the video here:
“We really identify with this song – it’s edgy and the most punk-inspired on the album“, TO THE MAX! comments. “It developed spontaneously and keeps the listener engaged through dynamic shifts in atmosphere. The lyrics are open to interpretation, and the music provides the perfect canvas. Our own meaning is that things don’t always require someone else to work out, and that’s the concept behind the music video. At the end, the band performs as a trio, highlighting self-reliance and the energy of playing together with no need for a fourth member“.
Tracklist: 1. On ‘N’ On 2. Who 3. Apple Bite 4. C’mon (Move It) 5. Dying Inside 6. Sharp Breath 7. Running 8. Sunday Nite 9. Enjoy The Ride 10. Cancel
TO THE MAX! is a high-energy Heavy Rock trio known for blending diverse musical influences with a distinctive, electrifying sound. The band unites Alessandro Marchi (drums, vocals), Nicola Marchi (guitar, vocals), and Mattia Fraccaroli (bass, backing vocals), whose past projects span genres from Thrash and Black Metal to Sleaze Rock, reflecting years of collaboration and stage experience.
Formed in mid-2020 during the global lockdown, the trio reunited with a clear objective: to create music free from external constraints, driven solely by their own vision. Their aim was to craft Heavy Rock songs that explore a wide range of moods and influences, while maintaining a consistent and unmistakable sound.
After less than a year of rehearsals and a home-recorded five-track demo, TO THE MAX! began performing extensively in 2021, playing pubs, live clubs, and festivals. In 2022, they recorded their debut album Midnight Tea, which was self-released on CD and digitally in 2024. The band has since completed several Italian and European mini-tours, appearing at venues such as Bloom (Mezzago, Italy), Le Brin De Zinc (Barberaz, France), Sala Barracudas (Madrid, Spain), and G5(Vienna, Austria), as well as festivals including Rock Camp (Trieste), Metal Machine (Reggio Emilia), and Rock The Station (Austria), sharing stages with both local and international acts.
Songwriting continues to be the driving force behind the band’s evolution, and the new material culminates in their sophomore album “Two The Max!”, scheduled for release via Go Down Records in March 2026.
“Two The Max!” is available for pre-order here:Physical | Digital
Hamburg-based power metal veterans IRON SAVIOR have just released a new video clip for their latest single, “Take On Me” – the band’s electrifying metal reworking of the classic A-ha hit. The track is taken from their highly anticipated cover album “Awesome Anthems of the Galaxy”, set to arrive on March 27, 2026 via PERCEPTION – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music!
Following a series of successful singles previewing the album, including their fiery rendition of Irene Cara’s “Fame” and the powerful take on Alphaville’s “Forever Young”, the “Take On Me” video adds a fresh chapter to IRON SAVIOR’s cosmic mission of transforming beloved ’80s pop anthems into full-throttle power metal epics.
Frontman Piet Sielck reveals: „Take On Me“ for sure is one of the most successful pop songs ever. So in the beginning it was more a „must“ than a „want“… but during the process of transforming it, I started to love this version more and more. Today I am more than happy to have this classic on the album and I‘m proud of the outcome!”
After reigniting their cosmic engines with “Machine World – Reforged” in 2025, IRON SAVIOR embark on their boldest mission yet. With “Awesome Anthems of the Galaxy”, IRON SAVIOR tap into the heart of ’80s pop culture and reforge it with thunderous riffs and soaring vocals, combining nostalgia, passion, and the band’s trademark precision and fire, proving that the past can shine brighter than ever when reforged in metal.
“After the huge success of the 2002 Condition Red bonus track “Crazy” (Seal), which was actually used in a HBO TV show, we have been asked by fans and medias almost constantly to do a complete cover tracks album,” Sielck explains, and adds: “So… two decades later here we are!” quotes frontman Piet Sielck. “AWESOME ANTHEMS continues the transformation from pop-to-metal in Iron Savior style as started with Seal’’s “Crazy” and Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams. We are absolutely proud of the outcome, which never looses the original vibe of the tracks but yet is 100% Iron Savior. Just listen yourself.. I guarantee a lot of smiles while doing so!”
From the electrifying rush of A-ha’s“Take On Me” and the thunderous drama of Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds” to the cinematic pulse of Jermaine Jackson & Pia Zadora’s“When The Rain Begins To Fall” and the adrenaline-fueled “Maniac” by Michael Sembello, IRON SAVIOR turn pop classics into heroic, melodic metal anthems. With “Awesome Anthems of the Galaxy”, IRON SAVIOR prove once more that great songs never age – they just get heavier!
Forged in Hamburg’s metal heart, Iron Savior have been delivering their signature brand of powerful, melodic heavy metal for nearly three decades. Led by founder, vocalist, guitarist, and producer Piet Sielck, the band has become a cornerstone of the German power metal scene with their blend of high-octane riffs, anthemic choruses, and sci-fi storytelling.
German dark rock band UNZUCHT release their new single ‘Neon Dom’. The song is also the title track from their upcoming studio album, which will be released on 15 May by Metalville.
‘Neon Dom’ is a dystopian vision of humanity on the brink of destruction, trapped in digital overkill. A dark prophecy with a desperate view of the destruction of a world that does not belong to us.
With their new studio album ‘Neon Dom’, UNZUCHT herald a new era of musical darkness – without giving up the search for redeeming light.
The work combines brutal intensity with deep black emotionality, creating a soundscape that challenges, overwhelms and fascinates at the same time.
The songs lead like a controlled fall into a world permeated by shadows: carried by powerful guitars, uncompromising rhythms and the new voice of frontman Timm, who transforms pain, anger and unshakeable strength into pure energy.
‘Neon Dom’ is more than an album – it is a liberating blow. ‘Darkness is followed by light and I burn all bridges,’ says Feuerregen. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, UNZUCHT rises anew: a musical monolith that only reveals its true power when you are ready to face your own demons.
Thematically, the album explores the boundaries of human existence: inner conflicts, a battlefield of fears and the disintegration of supposed certainties – and yet the tireless search for hope in a world that is increasingly slipping away.
Neon Dom breathes darkness in all its forms — no turning back. Or: Here begins the journey into the heart of darkness — no turning back.
Created from the shards of human fragility, reforged in the fire of an unyielding will.
TRACK LISTING
1 – Katharsis 2 – Neon Dom 3 – Feuerregen 4 – Krieger 5 – Chaos 6 – Nie mehr zurück 7 – 1000 Scherben 8 – Gegen die Zeit 9 – Koloss 10 – Apokalypsis 11 – Nachtschatten 1 12 – Nachtschatten 2
NEON DOM Release Shows (special guest Vlad In Tears)
15.05.26 DE Düsseldorf – Ratinger Hof 16.05.26 DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann
LINE UP Vocals – Timm Hindorff Guitar, Vocals, Programming, Electronics – Daniel De Clercq Bass – Don Canone
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
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 