Lost in Hollywood have released their new track ‘Love Is Dying’, taken from their upcoming self-titled album which will be out on 20th March via Arising Empire.
With ‘Love Is Dying’, Lost in Hollywood tap straight into the moment where everything starts to crack and they don’t look away. Featuring Philip Strand of Normandie, the new single blends crushing metalcore weight with a haunting melodic pull, balancing raw aggression and fragile emotion in a way that feels both intimate and explosive. It’s not a polished love song or a dramatic farewell, it’s the sound of something falling apart in real time. Philip Strand’s unmistakable voice adds a fragile contrast to the band’s relentless energy, turning the track into a tense back-and-forth between vulnerability and rage. It’s heavy, melodic, uncomfortable and exactly the kind of song that sticks with you longer than expected.
Catch the band live: 20.03. Release Show, Passage Kino Hamburg
Johannesburg-based heavy outfit Lower Hollow return with their latest single, a striking and unapologetic cover of Type O Negative’s “I Don’t Wanna Be Me.” The release follows last year’s Threnody: Songs Of Perseverance and continues to showcase the band’s evolving sound with vocalist Kathryn firmly at the forefront.
Formed in 2022, Lower Hollow have steadily carved out their place within South Africa’s heavy music landscape. With two full-length albums released to date and extensive touring across the country, the band continue to push their immersive, heavy and atmospheric sound across genre boundaries.
The idea to release a cover had been circulating within the Lower Hollow camp for some time, but the choice of song came together more organically than expected. According to drummer Ashley De Beer, the band were drawn to something outside of their usual sonic associations.
“For quite some time our camp has been discussing releasing a cover version. What is usually a tough decision to get everyone to agree on, came relatively easy. Everyone threw a couple songs in the hat, where there happened to be a few ideas of more gothic / industrial tracks. Reaching a consensus with Type O Negative’s ‘I Don’t Wanna Be Me’, certainly not a band or genre you’d easily associate with Lower Hollow, which made it perfect.”
One of the most striking elements of Lower Hollow’s version lies in its vocal reinterpretation. With Kathryn’s voice occupying a very different space to Peter Steele’s unmistakable baritone, the band leaned into contrast rather than comparison.
“Vocally of course is where you hear the biggest difference to the original, where we of course have Kathryn’s vocals in a completely different world to Peter Steele,” De Beer explains. “For Type O though, this song was somewhat different to their discography — a sort of black sheep track in a way — where for us it felt more in line with our feel and sound.”
Musically, the band leaned further into their natural intensity, sharpening the aggression and attack while resisting the urge to closely mimic the original recording.
“We applied a slightly heavier, more aggressive edge to the whole feel, with a bit more attack on feel and delivery. We didn’t want to replicate the song, but rather to breathe new life into it and perhaps even help folks hear some of our musical elements in the way we approached performing the song.”
The track’s closing moments introduce an extended atmospheric lead section, a deliberate stylistic choice that ties the single closely to Threnody: Songs Of Perseverance.
“We ended up adding a whole extra atmospheric lead section on the tail-end of the song which of course is a main running theme on our recent ‘Threnody: Songs Of Perseverance’ release. Hopefully a nice touch that folks come to appreciate in our version.”
Lower Hollow’s take on “I Don’t Wanna Be Me” captures the spirit of reinvention honouring the weight and legacy of the original while confidently asserting the band’s current identity.
SYLOSIShave released their highly anticipated, career-defining record The New Flesh via Nuclear Blast. The album is a towering testament to destructive riffing, incisive melody and refined brute force. The band’s seventh full-length offering is a powerful showcase for the state of SYLOSIS in 2025: lethal, uncompromising, and avowedly metal as all hell.
The band stated:
“The New Flesh is now out in the world and we could not be happier with what we have created here. It is our heaviest, yet most diverse and collaborative record to date. We’ve already been playing a bunch of these songs live and it’s been amazing to see the crowd respond to the songs so positively.
Today, we will celebrate the release in London with a full band Q&A/signing session at The Black Heart, then play the biggest headline show of our career at O2 Forum Kentish Town. It really feels like a step up for the band. We can not wait to see everyone.
Huge thank you to our team for helping get this album out there, and to all of our fans, old and new, thank you so much for your support over the years. A new era starts today.
Josh, Ali, Ben & Conor”
The New Flesh – Tracklisting 01. Beneath The Surface 02. Erased 03. All Glory, No Valour 04. Lacerations 05. Mirror Mirror 06. Spared From The Guillotine 07. Adorn My Throne 08. The New Flesh 09. Everywhere At Once 10. Circle Of Swords 11. Seeds In The River
The New Flesh is OUT NOW and available to order in the following physical formats:
CD Jewelcase
Solid Red Vinyl (All Retail)
Sky Blue with Black Splatter Vinyl (NB/Band Variant)
Red and Sky Blue Corona with Vinyl (Band Exclusive)
SYLOSIS have also released a video for the album focus track, certified carnage catalyst ‘Spared From The Guillotine‘.
SYLOSIS have been tearing across Europe for the past month on their biggest ever tour. In London tonight, Heaven Shall Burn, The Black Dahlia Murder and Frozen Soul, will all be joining the bill at London‘s O2 Forum Kentish Town. This crushing line-up is guaranteed to be metal’s billing of the year!
SYLOSIS – UK AND EUROPE 2026 w/ Revocation (US), Distant (NL) & Life Cycles (US)
20.02 – 02 Kentish Town Forum, London, UK *** 21.02 – 02 The Ritz, Manchester, UK *SELLING FAST* 22.02 – The Academy, Dublin, IE *SELLING FAST*
*** also playing: Heaven Shall Burn, The Black Dahlia Murder, Frozen Soul
SYLOSIS will also be touring North America across April and May 2026 with Bleed From Within, Great American Ghost & Life Cycles. Full dates are here:
NORTH AMERICA 2026 w/ Bleed From Within, Great American Ghost & Life Cycles
02.04 – Worcester MA, The Palladium *SELLING FAST 03.04 – Montreal QC, Theatre Beanfield *SOLD OUT 04.04 – Toronto ON, Opera House *SELLING FAST 06.04 – Philadelphia PA, Theatre of the Living Arts 07.04 – Lakewood OH, The Roxy 08.04 – Millville PA, Mr Smalls 10.04 – Detroit MI, St Andrew’s Hall 11.04 – Grand Rapids MI, Elevation 12.04 – Chicago IL, House of Blues 14.04 – Minneapolis MN, Varsity Theatre 15.04 – Lincoln NE, Bourbon Theatre 17.04 – Englewood CO, Gothic Theatre 19.04 – Boise ID, Shrine Social Club 20.04 – Seattle WA, The Crocodile 21.04 – Portland OR, Hawthorne Theatre 22.04 – Roseville CA, Goldfield Trading Post 24.04 – Los Angeles CA, The Regent Theatre 25.04 – Pomona CA, The Glass House 26.04 – Phenoix AZ, Crescent Ballroom 28.04 – Austin TX, Come and Take It Live 29.04 – Dallas TX, Granada Theater 01.05 – Tampa FL, The Orpheum 02.05 – Atlanta GA, The Masquerade (Hell) 03.05 – Greensboro NC, Hangar 1819 05.05 – Richmond VA, Canal Club 06.05 – Baltimore MD, Nevermore Hall 07.05 – New York NY, Gramercy Theatre
When the going gets tough, metal gets heavier. SYLOSIS have always been devoted to the fine art of breaking necks, but in recent times, the urgency of their mission has grown exponentially. Still surfing on a wave of acclaim and the effusive fan response to their last album, 2023’s A Sign Of Things To Come, Josh Middleton’s virtuoso wrecking crew are poised to release their latest and best album, The New Flesh. A towering testament to destructive riffing, incisive melody and refined brute force, the band’s seventh full-length offering is a powerful showcase for the state of SYLOSIS in 2025: lethal, uncompromising, and avowedly metal as all hell.
The New Flesh is a fearsome statement of renewed intent. Harder, heavier and more ruthless than its predecessor, it is full of the kind of explosive, riff-driven anthems that guarantee carnage in the pit. But this is no exercise in mindless bludgeon: instead, Josh Middleton has penned his most evocative and thought-provoking songs to date. From the punishing grooves and breakneck viciousness of the opening ‘Beneath The Surface‘, to the epic conflagration of album closer ‘Seeds In The River‘, The New Flesh is an artful and nuanced take on the pure metal that SYLOSIS hold close to their hearts. This is brutality and catchiness in perfect symbiosis.
Dark and destructive, but dynamic and diligent, SYLOSIS are on blistering, career-best form on The New Flesh. The purposeful reset that began with The Sign Of Things To Come has evolved into something unstoppable, and the band’s latest work brims with confidence and authority. If it’s skull-shattering, 21st century heavy metal you want, The New Flesh brings it like never before.
Finnish rising forceHOKKAannounce their highly anticipated full-length album Via Miseria IV, due out on April 24 via Nuclear Blast Records. The band brings together three major names from Finland’s rock legacy: former BLIND CHANNEL frontman Joel Hokka, THE RASMUS founding member and former guitarist-songwriter Pauli Rantasalmi, and phenomenal young drummer Jimi Aslak.
Following the success of the previously released singles ‘In The Darkness‘ and ‘Death By Cupid’s Arrow‘, the band now unveil the powerful third single from the upcoming record, ‘Heart Said No‘, arriving together with another epic, cinematic video in unmistakable HOKKA style.
A beautiful, emotional anthem built around a captivating piano melody, ‘Heart Said No‘ showcases a more vulnerable yet powerful side of HOKKA, blending soaring atmospheres with the band’s signature intensity. The track offers another glimpse into the sonic depth and thematic weight that define Via Miseria IV, an album that explores themes of struggle, resilience, and inner conflict.
Frontman Joel Hokka comments on the song:
“Big boys don’t cry — except when writing songs like this. ‘Heart Said No’ was the first song I ever wrote with tears in my eyes — and I wasn’t the only one in the band. The song is a raw and authentic deep dive into self-reflection, shaped by minds steeped in melancholy. We’re incredibly proud to announce that our first album, Via Miseria IV, will be released on April 24th.”
In addition, HOKKA has just announced their first live shows for 2026 giving fans the opportunity to experience the power and storytelling of the warrior and sensai saga on stage for the first time.
The first club show: 07.05.26 FI Helsinki – Tavastia
Confirmed festival shows: 12.-13.06.26 FI Lahti – Kesämössö 27.06.26 FI Helsinki – Tuska 03.-05.07.26 FI Turku – Ruisrock 04.07.26 FI Tampere – Tuhdimmat Tahdit 17.-19.07.26 FI Joensuu – Ilosaarirock 23.-25.07.26 FI Kuopio – Kuopiorock 25.07.26 FI Oulu – QStock 14.-16.08.26 CH Cudrefin – Rock The Lakes
Image: Alissa White-Gluz – “The Room Where She Died” (Official Music Video) [YouTube]
Alissa White-Gluz has no longer been a member of the death metal giantsArch Enemy for several months and instead launched her own solo project. The first track, “The Room Where She Died”, was released in November 2025, followed by the duet “Breathing” with Cole Rolland on January 30, 2026.
Now the singer has officially unveiled her new band lineup. A new band photo shows her flanked by guitarist Alyssa Day (left) and guitarist Danielle Sophia (right). The post reads:
“Meet the band. Soon you’ll meet the music.”
It clearly hints that more new music is already on the horizon.
Here’s the video clip of the band introduction:
Most recently, the single “Breathing” by Cole Rolland in collaboration with Alissa White-Gluz was released, along with an accompanying music video on YouTube and other streaming platforms.
Do you really miss the days when heavy metal had some really big and catchy songs to offer? Are you still in search of a great combination of classic heavy metal with power metal, featuring epic vocals and an exotic touch of good old pomp / hard rock as well? Well, if the answer is yes, this is an album for you.
The Lavery / Mergler project consists of songs that vocalist Giles Lavery (Warlord, Alcatrazz, Jack Starr, Dragonsclaw) and multi-instrumentalist Thomas Mergler have been working on for the past couple of years.
Giles’s good friend Ashish Shetty offered some of his songwriting and performance magic as well, bringing life to eight magnificent epic compositions.
Arkeyn Steel Records comment:
“Some months ago the project released a digital single called “Ascendant”. We liked the song so much that we lost no time at all and approached Giles Lavery asking if there was more material available. Giles told us that there were 7 more songs in demo form. We proposed to release all eight songs on a full-length and that was it: Lavery and Mergler started to work on the final production of the songs while Angel Priest started designing the front cover.
We are very happy that we can share the amazing final result with you: an album that will take you back to a golden age of melody and top songwriting.“
Giles Lavery comments about the album:
“This album represents mostly a number of songs from our combined past existences, songs which we felt, for a long time, and for one reason or another… deserved a proper recording, presentation and release, plus some compositions that came together just this past year…feel free to check it out on my bandcamp page for free or any amount you wish to leave… also the CD is out now via the good folks at Arkeyn Steel!”
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 ) 