Symphonic metal frontrunners EPICA are thrilled to finally release their brand-new studio album, Aspiral, today. The band invites fans to immerse themselves in the full sonic journey as it is meant to be experienced: from start to finish in one go.
“All of us in the band pushed each other to create the best possible album,” the band shares. “We’ve once again explored new musical and lyrical frontiers, and we hope Aspiral resonates with you as deeply as it does with us. The whole truly is greater than the sum of its parts—this album is meant to be experienced in full.”
In conjunction with the album release, EPICA has unveiled a sci-fi-themed music video for ‘Fight to Survive – The Overview Effect’. The track draws inspiration from the cognitive shift experienced by astronauts after observing Earth from space—a powerful moment of awe, interconnectedness, and a profound appreciation for the planet’s fragility.
“Musically, this song encapsulates the full spectrum of EPICA”, the band explains. “From heavy to soft, uplifting to melancholic—’Fight to Survive’ embodies it all.”
The visually striking video was once again brought to life by Remko Tielemans and produced by Kollektiv Kunststoff, who also directed the band’s previous singles ‘Arcana’ and ‘Cross the Divide’.
With Aspiral now released, EPICA are ready to bring their new music to life on stage. The band will embark on a North American tour next month, kicking off in the United States and Mexico, followed by a summer filled with major European festival appearances. The band will return to Europe in early 2026 for a co-headline tour with labelmates AMARANTHE.
EPICA + AMARANTHE– Arcane Dimensions Tour With special guest Charlotte Wessels’ The Obsession 16.01.26 – DE, Cologne – Palladium 17.01.26 – DE, Munich – Zenith 18.01.26 – BE, Brussels – Forest National 20.01.26 – UK, Bristol – Bristol Beacon 21.01.26 – UK, Glasgow – Barrowlands 23.01.26 – UK, Manchester – O2 Apollo 24.01.26 – UK, London – Eventim Apollo 25.01.26 – FR, Paris – Le Zenith 27.01.26 – CH, Zurich – Halle 662 28.01.26 – IT, Milan – Alcatraz 30.01.26 – ES, Barcelona – Razzmatazz 1 31.01.26 – ES, Madrid – Sala La Riviera 01.02.26 – PT, Lisbon – Coliseu dos Recreios 03.02.26 – FR, Toulouse – Bikini Toulouse 04.02.26 – FR, Lyon – Radiant-Bellevue 06.02.26 – DE, Ludwigsburg – MHP Arena 07.02.26 – NL, Amsterdam – Ziggo Dome 06.03.26 – DE, Hamburg – Inselpark Arena 07.03.26 – DE, Leipzig – Haus Auensee 08.03.26 – DE, Berlin – Columbiahalle 10.03.26 – DK, Copenhagen – Poolen 11.03.26 – SE, Stockholm – Fallan 13.03.26 – FI, Oulu – Tapahtumakeskus Tullisali 14.03.26 – FI, Helsinki – Black Box 15.03.26 – EE, Tallinn – Helitehas 22.03.26 – DE, Frankfurt am Main – Jahrhunderthalle
Finnish heavy rock juggernauts Leverage are utmost pleased to announce the release of their upcoming new album “Gravity”, out on June 20th, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.
After their latest single “All Seeing Eye”, they unveil the second single “Shooting Star”, along with an accompanying music video, available now.
Lead singer Paolo Ribaldini commented on the new single: “Shooting Star stands out as one of the album’s strongest and most surprising tracks, with Tuomas leaving storytelling aside and instead capturing deep emotions through music and lyrics. It feels like something the classic Dio-era Rainbow could have created today. The song also highlights my bandmates’ incredible performances and is set to become a live staple. I’m especially grateful to Marko and Taksu for their passionate work on the music video, which enhances the song’s depth and offers fans an unforgettable experience.”
Guitarist Tuomas Heikkinen added: “Shooting Star got started right after I had a Bigsby vibrato installed on my black Les Paul. I really like that twanging old school tone you get with it, and just started fiddling around basic chords. I really like it, I knew Paolo would nail the vocals exactly like I heard them in my head, and this song very much paved the way for the whole album, I knew we could now achieve sonic textures that were out of reach before”.
Leverage’s future seemed uncertain after the untimely passing of singer’s Kimmo Blom in the summer of 2022. However, founding member and main songwriter Tuomas Heikkinen decided the final hour for the band was not in sight yet. Outstanding singer Paolo Ribaldini (Delain, ex-Skiltron) and violinist Lotta-Maria Heiskanen joined with the precise task to renew and refresh the sound of the band.
The resulting album “Gravity”, the band’s sixth full-length in slightly less than twenty years, aptly showcases contemporary heavy rock sound, combining multiple influence from the genre’s golden era with the band’s own unique flair and personality. Plenty of ear-catching melodies delivered skilfully with a pristine top-of-the-line production.
Leverage is neither a power metal band, nor an AOR band, nor a nostalgic tribute to the ’80s. Instead of falling into one category, they have bent and redefined genre frontiers, thus developing their own style of heavy rock. The sonic stamp says “Leverage”, and it speaks louder than words.
Leverage’s history is carved deep into the DNA of the new album “Gravity”: the grand melodic traditions of the debut “Tides” (2007) and the sophomore “Blind Fire” (2008), the symphonic flair of “Circus Colossus” (2009), and the darker, more mature tones of “Determinus” (2019) and “Above The Beyond” (2021) all find new life here. But “Gravity” doesn’t simply revisit the past—it elevates it.
The band’s Mark 3 line-up now includes Tuomas Heikkinen (guitars), Marko Niskala (keyboards), Elias Ojutkangas (drums), Sami Norrbacka (bass), Paolo Ribaldini (vocals) and Lotta-Maria Heiskanen (violin). Watch out for Leverage playing in a town near you!
“Gravity” Tracklist:
1. Shooting Star 2. Tales Of The Night 3. Hellbound Train 4. Moon Of Madness 5. Eliza 6. All Seeing Eye 7. King Ghidorah 8. Gravity
Album Line Up: Paolo Ribaldini – all vocals Tuomas Heikkinen – guitars Marko Niskala – keyboards Valtteri Revonkorpi – drums Sami Norrbacka – bass Lotta-Maria Heiskanen – violin
WALTARI release “Higher”, the next single taken from the upcoming new studio album “Nations’ Neurosis”, released on May 16th on Metalville Records.
Waltari is back with “Higher” – a high-energy fusion of 90s disco vibes, modern house music elements, and crushing heavy guitar riffs! Channeling the spirit of “So Fine”, the track bursts with positive energy, driving us toward a better world. A tribute to old 90s colleagues and the evolution of electronic music, “Higher” blends classic techno influences with heavy rock power. Perfect for playlists like Rock Hard, Electro Metal, All New Rock, All New Metal, New Blood —let’s hit the dance floor and let Global Rock rule!
WALTARI has never been a band to follow the rules. With Nations’ Neurosis, they once again prove that their signature blend of musical freedom, bold experimentation, and unfiltered expression is more relevant than ever.
At the heart of WALTARI’s sonic journey is Kärtsy Hatakka, the band’s mastermind and driving force. Handling lead and backing vocals, bass, programming, keyboards, and percussion, Hatakka faced a personal storm while crafting this album—losing his mother, enduring a painful breakup, and witnessing a world spiraling deeper into chaos and division. The frustration and emotional turmoil of this time seep into every note of Nations’ Neurosis, making it one of WALTARI’s most charged and thought-provoking works to date. The album was recorded in three different Finnish studios and produced by countrymate Aleksanteri Kuosa and WALTARI itself (with exceptions in 2 of the 15 songs).
With a refreshed lineup, including the electrifying talents of guitarist Eero Nykänen and Jakke Setälä, alongside drummer Ville Vehviläinen, WALTARI finds new energy and a revitalized sound. The infusion of these new members has taken the band’s musical ideology to exhilarating heights, delivering an album that is both raw and sophisticated, aggressive yet melodic—a true testament to WALTARI’s spirit of innovation.
From their early days of “feeling so fine” to the present, WALTARI remains committed to diversity and boundless creativity. Nations’ Neurosis is a sonic statement against the world’s increasing obsession with conflict, urging a return to unity, understanding, and artistic liberation. It’s a call to rise from the ashes, to build instead of destroy, and to never turn a blind eye to those in need.
With this release, WALTARI doesn’t just wash its face—it raises its voice against the madness. The same recipe for today’s world leaders, please!
TRACK LISTING
01 Nature Rules 02 Open The Gate 03 Do You Accept 04 Breakfast In Eiffel Tower 05 Diversity 06 Murder Plot 07 Sun 08 Kill For Sport 09 Flowin’ 10 Major Mistake 11 Step Back 12 Higher 13 EST 14 7th Heaven 15 Last Chance
LINE UP
Kärtsy Hatakka: Lead + backing Vocals, Bass, Programming, Keyboards and Percussions Eero Nykänen: Guitars Jakke Setälä: Guitars Ville Vehviläinen: Drums
Distorted Reflection are now recording their second album at Fragile Studio in Athens, Greece. The album will be out early 2026 via German Iron Shield Records and will feature the mighty guitarist Jack Starr as a special guest. The legendary founding member of Virgin Steele who is also widely known from his solo works will perform the solo for the opening song “3000 A.D.”
Jack Starr’s new solo album “Out Of The Darkness Part II” will be released on April 25 via Bravewords Records.
In August 2022, Kostas Sal (ex-Sorrows Path) formed Distorted Reflection. They are totally dedicated to his unique doom vision, but even more heavy.
The famous Tomas Arfert (Candlemass, Krux) created the logo and also took care of all the artwork for the first album of the band. This was titled “Doom Rules Eternally” and was recorded, mixed and mastered at Fragile Studio by Vangelis Yal. The album was released via German Iron Shield Records on February 9, 2024. Although Distorted Reflection kept a low-profile attitude (no lives/signings, no audio/video interviews), the sales and feedback about this album were awesome with great reviews and multiple radio airplay worldwide.
On February 2025, the band entered Fragile Studio again to record the sophomore album. Same about artwork and label, Tomas Arfert and Iron Shield Records will do the work and all together aim for another successful release.
The band will also present again some popular special guest. The mighty guitarist Jack Starr will perform the solo for the opening song “3000 A.D.” of the album that will be out early 2026…
They’re freaking fast, brutal to the bone, loud as hell and finally back: Almost a year after their successful album New Model Of Disbelief, the four-piece LEACHare striking again with a powerful sonic attack and an energetic music video to go with it.
In Ominous One, the experimental and versatile Swedes present their death-thrashy side and once again bow their heads to the Great Old Ones of the scene, without forgetting to add a good shot of their very own DNA, for which their fans love them so much. Starting out like a black-tinged throwback to good, classic Gothenburg death, Ominous One immediately develops into a genuine socio-cultural pressure relief valve for the paralyzing stress, which a political landscape that yells and rumbles far too loudly is increasingly triggering in more and more people.
LEACH are known for making no secret of their reverence for the sound of our thrashy founding fathers, and openly express this, for instance with regard to the bridge that introduces a shimmering, crisp solo: “When it comes to the stick, it’s strongly Slayer-influenced with the slow pace but signature right hand ride pounding that doubles when the vocals kick in. The chanting here is also reminiscent of Slayer from the Seasons In The Abyss era. A solo that’s just over the top and blends well musically and floats seamlessly into the ending chorus that’s double in length and brings the song to a close.”
All of this is underlined by the little ironic reference to Emma Lazarus’ both immortal and hopeful poem The New Colossus, which opens the chorus, albeit with a typical LEACH spin.
The production of the song is, as you would expect from LEACH by now, not to be taken lightly either – with Christian Silver and Manne Engström from Studiomega in Varberg, where the works of Kreator, Arch Enemy and Soilwork have already been perfectly refined, it’s the same top team behind everything that already helped New Model Of Disbelief to achieve its killer sound.
Ominous Onewill be available world-wide from April 11th as a single on all digital platforms and is ready for pre-save here:https://orcd.co/ominousone
But that’s not the end of it, because Ominous One is just one of three planned brand new singles, which LEACH want to celebrate their fans with. And because celebrating is best done together, each one comes with a fresh batch of tour dates, starting in Eastern Europe:
APRIL 23rd – GDANSK, Poland – Pub Torpeda APRIL 24th – CZĘSTOCHOWA, Poland – Muzyczna Meta APRIL 25th – BUDAPEST, Hungary – Analog Music Hall APRIL 26th – ZALAU, Romania – Rock’n’Roll Center APRIL 27th – KRAKOW, Poland – Pub Pod Ziemią – Rock Pub
LEACH are justifiably proud of having the best fans in the world and they tell us why: “We’re so stoked to be hitting the road again and meeting up with friends! This will be a first for us in Hungary and Romania, so we are a bit extra excited for those dates. It was a bit of a struggle to find a date and venue in Budapest, so that was actually a fan reaching out and making all the right connections in order to make it happen. Such an awesome community effort, so well done – thank you so much!”
So it remains exciting to see what’s next for the wild Swedes – more new songs and tour dates can be expected very soon.
About LEACH
With four full-length releases and one EP already under their belts, the guys have certainly established LEACH as a household name in the Scandi music scene. They’ve redefined the internationally cherished Swedish sound by merging elements of the iconic Gothenburg scene with that special aggressiveness of northern hardcore, while mixing in a good measure of old-school Stockholm death. Defining attributes of their work are electrifying and exciting smash songs with groovy twists – picture a blood-thirsty, melody-hungry bastard child of Entombed and Exodus, two of the band’s biggest, long-lasting influences.
With Markus Wikander on vocals and guitars, Robert Karlsson on guitars, Tobias Oja on bass and Joachim Dahlström on drums, they know exactly how to work their blend of styles, and many of the most relevant playlist editors around the world have proven them right numerous times over the years. The vocals bite, the riffs burst to mosh and the melodies open up to passionate, huge life questions. The tense thematic run between revolution, social injustice and inner struggles in the band’s lyrics offers a superbly dynamic pressure vent for piled up emotions of all sorts.
And the Swedes aren’t a slouch in the touring department either: Through their wide-ranging live history, LEACH have shared the stage with prominent bands, such as Unearth, Misery Index, Belphegor and Kampfar.
Struggle. Vulnerability. Pain. Resilience. Love. It’s been a hell of a journey that Dinosaur Pile-Up have been on, and they’ve bravely laid it out bare on their new album I’ve Felt Better. Their first record in six years will be released on 22 August via Mascot Records. They will also be hitting the road in the UK in September. You can get tickets HERE.
It’s easy to recognise why they are tightly coiled and ready to go because overcoming life-threatening illness and finding a fresh perspective on life will do that to you. Before they pack back up in their van they’ve dropped their new single, which sees them take back control of their future on the raucous, My Way. The incredible video sees the band in various scenarios taking a light stab at the song’s meaning—with added Aliens. Watch the video HERE.
“I wrote “My Way” because I’m gonna do what I want, how I want, my way,” singer-guitarist Matt Bigland reflects. “I made peace with the fact that I’m never going to be recognised as ‘cool’, and that I will never be in the “what’s hot” of the rock scene, and that my talents as a songwriter will seemingly never be worthy of mainstream acclaim. As a younger artist, that still held some weight or value in my mind. But that’s OK. I will do my thing my way because I dig what I do. Doing my thing, my way. I love My Way because it’s this crazy mix of an Eminem-type vibe with a big rock song that even has this kind of ‘Amish farm breakdown ‘ and a hardcore breakdown in the same song. That sounds fun, right!? Sign me the fuck up!!”
There is a reason that Bigland has reappraised his view on life. He opened up about how his life has changed and what he has been through when the band dropped their recent single, ‘‘Bout to Lose It,‘ in March. Five years of pent-up emotion—hope, despair, resignation, and colossal bravery—let loose into a blistering 3:40 minutes of Dinosaur Pile-Up at their absolute best.
When it was released it was met with a wave of support by the likes of BBC Radio 1 Rock Show – “It’s good to have them back.” said Daniel P Carter – Kerrang Radio, Primordial Radio, Kerrang Magazine, NME, Dork and a host of playlisting across Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Deezer and YouTube – the response was, DPU ARE BACK!
As so much time has passed since their last studio album. “People need clarity about what happened,” he explained. “It’s been so cathartic to lay it out.” He began documenting his story on the band’s Instagram account in December 2024 – You can see it in his own words here: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4.
There were six people in the ward the second time that Matt Bigland admitted himself to hospital. Three of them didn’t make it out alive. “You think you’re halfway through life, then you realise you might be right at the end,” he smiles today. “Being in that room was scary. I felt incredibly vulnerable. I had no control. But hearing people in the final hours of their lives forced me to think about what would happen if I were to die. What was I leaving behind? What really mattered while I was here?”
Flash back to 2018. Ten years of chasing opportunity and betting big, on every chance had built Dinosaur Pile-Up into one of the UK’s most beloved alt. rock bands. It had also left them flat broke, physically and mentally drained, and without a label to release their imminent fourth album, Celebrity Mansions. It became their make-or-break record. Between Matt, bassist Jim Cratchley and drummer Mike Sheils, it was agreed that failure would mean calling it quits. However, the rock gods were smiling on them, and the album was a hit. On the back of their US Top 5 Rock Radio runaway hit “Back Foot” they went on the road with Shinedown in the US and lined up major summer festival dates, along with a North American tour with The Offspring and Sum 41 in North America through to the end of the year. They were soaring. 2020 was going to be massive – then everything changed.
‘I’ve felt better…’ started as a makeshift mantra. Unwilling to sift through the layers of trauma with every friend who checked in to see how he was doing – indeed, often unable to speak through a mouth filled with centimetre-wide sores – Matt found himself defaulting to that wry, understated three-word response. After four years of repetition and rattling around his head, those words are reclaimed as the title to Dinosaur Pile-Up’s defiant fifth album: 12 songs to draw a line under a half-decade of sickness and struggle, a distillation of his agonising uncertainty and self-analysis.
“This record is about triumph over adversity through perseverance and resilience,” he explains. “I’m so proud that it actually got made, as its journey was rough, and I’m so proud that it’s going to be out there in the world. I think it will serve as an epitaph to an intensely challenging and defining part of my adult life. But I’m just really stoked that I’m on the other side of it, and it’s now memorialised in solid rock.”
At his worst, he suffered rapid weight loss, internal bleeding, and proliferation of sores in his mouth and over his body, which continued to grow worse. Sections of his tongue were removed for investigation – while he was conscious. Most unnervingly, the doctors seemed to be panicking, unable to stop his throat collapsing in on itself.
“People don’t relate things like health crises with being a dude in a band,” he stresses the sense of isolation that came with the ordeal. “We’re more associated with rocking out and having a great time.”
Striking up a relationship online with Karen Dió was a shard of gold in a sea of grey. Her UK visit in October 2020 was one of the few moments of real relief. Maddeningly, Matt’s trip to her South American homeland at New Year’s 2021 would be cut short: worsening health forcing a return to the UK and setting him on a lonely spiral towards some of the darkest days of his entire life.
In the end, real love shines through. Motivating himself to get out of the hospital, Matt kept a photo of a wedding ring on his phone and promised himself that marrying Karen would be his reward for pulling through. That promise was fulfilled in April 2022, and a thread of romance runs from their partnership through the heart of the record.
Ultimately, this album’s seeing the light of day is a huge part of Matt’s happily ever after. He’s more focused on work, home, and life’s simple pleasures than he’s ever been. All that has underlined why music matters, which is why the album runs the full gamut of emotions—exhaustion, mental health, empowerment, celebrity, vulnerability, and, at the heart of the album, love.
“Nah, quitting ain’t my style, so fuck it!” My Way
Track listing
1. ‘Bout to Lose It 2. I’ve Felt Better 3. Punk Kiss 4. Sick of Being Down 5. My Way 6. Big Dog 7. Big You And Me 8. Love’s the Worst 9. Quasimodo Melonheart 10. Sunflower 11. Unfamiliar 12. I Don’t Know Nothing And Nothing Loves me
UK Tour Dates:
Fri 5 Sep – XOYO, Birmingham – Tickets Sat 6 Sep – SWX, Bristol – Tickets Weds 9 Sep – Garage, Glasgow – Tickets Thurs 11 Sep – New Century Hall, Manchester – Tickets Sat 13 Sep – Electric Ballroom, London – Tickets
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 ) 