The Finnish death metal band Crowen’s third EP Through the Dying Mist paints a dark and mysterious journey where death and darkness walk side by side with human suffering.
The lyrics wander along the borders of shadows and twilight, where the ghosts of the past live alongside reality. The whole release combines storytelling with melancholic depth, creating a wistful and dark atmosphere. It is a journey into the beyond, where hope and destruction intertwine with metallic power and beauty.
Vocalist-songwriter Esa Uusimaa describes the finished EP as something different from what he initially envisioned. Sensitivity has entered the interpretation as a new element: “The songs transformed from relentless blast beats into something more restrained, melancholic, and mournful. Minor-key melodies run throughout the EP. Clean vocals are something new for me musically, since I’ve been a growler all my life. After a couple of listens, even my own ear got used to them. They allow for powerful choruses and make the overall sound more emotional in its minor-key atmosphere. They also gave me a fresh perspective on songwriting,” Uusimaa explains.
Crowen began as Esa Uusimaa’s solo project. In 2025, Crowen grew stronger with the addition of lead guitarist Sami Sandberg, bringing a new dimension to the songs on the forthcoming Through the Dying Mist EP. The two musicians go back years, having played together in Rain Of Acid.
Powerhouse soul singer Marc Broussard goes all in on Chance Worth Taking, his first full album of original blues songs marking a definitive creative pivot for the acclaimed Louisiana singer-songwriter, out April 17th via Joe Bonamassa’s KTBA Records.
Produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith alongside Calvin Turner, the stunning 14-track collection reunites Broussard with Bonamassa, who takes the helm to contribute master fretwork and mesmerizing guitar solos on 10 tracks, including three songs co-written with Broussard. This stellar creative circle is rounded out by Josh Smith, who features on and co-wrote four tracks, and Calvin Turner, who joined forces with Broussard to co-write 10 of the album’s original songs and contributes to the album’s lush string and horn arrangements.
Today, Broussard offers the first taste of the album with two lead singles – “No More” a sweeping cinematic blues ballad framing Broussard’s yearning vocal with stately strings and Bonamassa’s soaring guitar. “Fever” delivers a slinky, modern roadhouse groove, driven by funky rhythm guitars, punchy horns, Smith’s stinging leads, and an insistent beat. These tracks serve as a powerful introduction to the album’s range, blending blistering guitar work with Broussard’s signature vocal grit.
Though Chance Worth Taking marks a stylistic pivot, it remains unmistakably Broussard. His signature “bayou soul” vocal, equal parts grit and grace, anchors the album, tying together brawny shuffles, pleading soul-blues, horn-driven blues-rock, and Mardi Gras–infused funk.
The album’s origin began when Turner proposed an album of original blues material and sent Broussard a folder of 15 instrumentals. Broussard then wrote lyrics as if possessed. “I would wake up at 6:00 a.m. and write until 11:00 p.m. I’d be in the studio sweating like a madman,” he recalls. The songs were finished in three manic days and refined in the studio with Bonamassa.
“I’m still more versed in soul music than in blues, but I’m getting an education in the genre and its history from Joe and Josh,” Broussard explains. “When we got into the studio, Joe wasn’t fully convinced we had a blues album, so he added to the songs we already had, and we wrote three others together. In the end, we got to the promised land.”
There is a sense of free-spirited discovery on Chance Worth Taking, with Broussard exploring a wide emotion and stylistic palette – from big-band, B.B. King-style arrangements on the jaunty, swinging “Let Me Take You Out Tonight” and the horn-riff-driven “Blame,” which boasts tasty, masterful improvisational interplay among Bonamassa, Smith, and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Reese Wynans and the ‘80s-inspired ballad, “These Walls” with Bonamassa in rare form, soloing with a fire that’s both cinematic and pyrotechnic.
Fans of classic Broussard will rejoice in the soul ballads “Chance Worth Taking,” with its gospel-tinged chorus, and “Sweet Love,” a timeless ballad complete with sumptuous harmonies and sweeping strings. The album concludes on a New Orleans send-off with the brassy, booty-shaking “Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler,” a song co-written by Trombone Shorty and Broussard.
Broussard is ready to unveil Chance Worth Taking, introducing fans to both the new album and a fresh era of inspired creativity. “Man, I’m so excited about it all. It’s time for me to move into my bluesman phase. At this stage of my life, I’m all about it.”
Chance Worth Taking Track Listing
1. You’ll Be Sorry 2. Trying To Do Right feat. Joe Bonamassa 3. I’m Going Home 4. No More feat. Joe Bonamassa 5. Fever feat. Josh Smith 6. Chance Worth Taking 7. Let Me Take You Out Tonight 8. Sweet Love 9. These Walls 10. Satisfaction Guaranteed 11. Blame 12. Whispers 13. Laissez Street Parade Intro feat. Trombone Shorty 14. Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler feat. Trombone Shorty
2026 TOUR DATES
Mar 3 – Strom – Munich, DE* Mar 4 – Papiersaal- Zürich, CH* Mar 6 – Muhle H- Manchestergen, CH* + Sold Out Mar 7 – Colos-Saal – Aschaffenburg, Ee* Mar 8 – Musicktheater-Rex – Bensheim, Ee* Mar 10 – Harmonie – Bonn, DE* Mar 11 – Scala – Leverkusen, DE* Mar 12 – Musikzentrum – Hanover, DE* Mar 13 – Fabrik – Hamburg, DE Mar 14 – Lido – Berlin, DE* Mar 16 – Werk 2 (Halle D) – Leipzig, DE* Mar 17 – Ebertbad – Oberhausen, DE* Mar 19 – Maassilo – Rotterdam, NL* Mar 20 – Paradiso – Amsterdam, NL* Mar 21 – Hedon – Zwolle, NL* Mar 22 – Doornroosje – Nijmegen, NL* Mar 24 – Muziekgieterij – Maastricht, NL* Mar 25 – La Maroquinerie – Paris, FR* Mar 26 – The Blues Kitchen Manchester – Manchester, UK*+ Sold Out Mar 27 – Islington Assembly Hall – London, UK* *With Brian Mackey Support
US SPRING DATES
Apr 9 – Soundwave Beach Weekend – Miramar Bch, FL + Sold Out Apr 23 – The Dixie Carter Performing Arts Ctr – Huntington, TN* Apr 24 – The Walker Theatre – Chattanooga, TN* Apr 25 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA* Apr 26 – Neighborhood Theatre – Charlotte, NC* Apr 28 – Manchester Music Hall – Lexington, KY** Apr 29 – Bijou Theatre – Knoxville, TN** May 1 – New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Fest – New Orleans, LA May 3 – Dosey Doe – The Woodlands, TX+ May 5 – Delmar Hall – St Louis, MO** May 7 – Fitzgerald Theater – St Paul, MN* May 8 – Space – Evanston, IL** May 9 – Space – Evanston, IL** May 10 – Hi-Fi Annex (Hi-Fi Indy) – Indianapolis, IN** May 12 – Thunderbird Cafe – Pittsburgh, PA ** May 13 – The Birchmere – Alexandria, VA ** May 14 – Ardmore Music Hall – Ardmore, PA** May 15 – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY** May 16 – Narrows Center For The Arts – Fall River, MA** May 30 – Bear Shadow Festival – Highlands, NC *With Seth Walker Support **With Sway Wild Support +With Kristen Kelly Support
Karma Field Records announces the release of V_WEIRD, the fifth album by Solo1981, the solo project of Stefano Giambastiani, available from Friday, February 20, 2026, on CD and in digital format on all major platforms.
On Bandcamp, the album will be available in digital format with a 12-page PDF booklet included, featuring the complete song lyrics.
International promotion of the album is handled by Wanikiya Records & Promotion, partner of Karma Field Records for this release.
V_WEIRD is an album that moves musically between electronic, post-punk, and alternative rock, doing so in a personal, unconventional way rich in influences. The album includes 8 tracks: 6 sung in Italian and 2 in English, including two poems set to music. The sound is varied and dynamic: dark, sharp, and introspective atmospheres alternate with powerful and angry riffs and visionary keyboards.
Solo1981 lays himself bare without protection, using language that is sometimes poetic, sometimes direct, but always sincere and unfiltered.
The lyrics explore the human soul, contemporary society, and lived experiences, moving through light and shadow, mistakes and lessons, falls and comebacks.
“The goal of this album, deeply emotional and unfiltered, is to leave something behind and shake the listener. I was driven to write it by the emotional urgency to tell sensations, emotions, and thoughts, and to share what I have lived. For me, life is music and words: if I feel them inside, they have to come out. It’s a necessity I cannot give up, and I hope it can reach other people as well.” — SOLO 1981
CREDITS
Lyrics and music: Stefano Giambastiani Artistic production: Stefano Giambastiani, Rosario Magazzino Recorded at: La Tana del Lupo (Lucca) by Matteo Teani Mix and Mastering: Rosario Magazzino – Temple of Noise Studio
FORMATS & DISTRIBUTION
CD format Digital format (all platforms) Bandcamp (digital with 12-page PDF booklet included)
Florida death thrash metal outfit INTOXICATED will be unleashing their third full-length, ‘The Dome,’ on March 27, 2026 via Redefining Darkness! The band is now unleashing the latest brutalizing offering, ‘Carved in Stone’, which can be found at THIS LOCATION.
Vocalist/guitarist Erik Payne comments, “‘Carved in Stone’ is written for the sickening ‘elites;’ The ones that have gone unchecked and how they should be petrified of their demise.”
INTOXICATED is a thrash/death metal band from Altamonte Springs, Florida, originally formed in 1993. Led by vocalist and guitarist Erik Payne, the band quickly carved out a place in Florida’s extreme metal lineage, earning early mentorship from Death’s legendary Chuck Schuldiner. Rooted firmly in Florida’s storied death-thrash tradition, Intoxicated’s sound draws natural comparisons to Death, Sadus, and Obituary— as marked by unrelenting speed, sharp riffing, and concise, high-impact songwriting.
‘The Dome’ is now available for pre-orders in the USA HERE while it’s available for the rest of the world HERE.
In addition, INTOXICATED will be supporting OBITUARY along with CASTRATOR on the band’s upcoming “Out of the Swamp” East Coast run, which takes place from March 19 in Gainesville, FL through March 29 in New Orleans, LA. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets are available HERE.
The cover artwork for ‘The Dome’ was created by Celeste Payne.
INTOXICATED Tour Dates (supporting OBITUARY w/ CASTRATOR): 03/19 Gainesville, FL @ The Wooly (No Castrator) 03/20 Birmingham, AL @ The Canteen 03/21 Pelham, TN @ The Caverns (w/ Acid Bath) 03/22 Memphis, TN @ 1884 Lounge 03/24 Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street 03/25 Columbia, MO @ The Blue Note 03/27 Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves 03/28 Houston, TX @ White Oak Music Hall (w/ Acid Bath & High on Fire) 03/29 New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina’s
Intoxicated is a thrash/death metal band from Altamonte Springs, Florida, originally formed in 1993. Led by vocalist and guitarist Erik Payne, the band quickly carved out a place in Florida’s extreme metal lineage, earning early mentorship from Death’s legendary Chuck Schuldiner. Their first run produced a trio of EPs—.08 (1994), Scars (1995), and Metal Neck (1997)—before releasing their third EP, Drain.
Following their initial rise, Intoxicated went on hiatus as Payne, along with Obituary’s Donald Tardy and Ken Andrews, joined the touring lineup for Andrew W.K. in 1999, a role they held for nearly two decades while performing around the world.
The band reactivated in 2019, returning with the Walled EP (2020) and their long-awaited debut full-length, Watch You Burn (2022). The album showcased the band’s signature blend of ragged thrash aggression and Florida-bred death metal grit. Featuring guest appearances from Ken Andrews (Obituary, ex–Andrew W.K.) and Tony Foresta (Municipal Waste), and produced, mixed, and mastered by Ryan Boesch (Foo Fighters, Andrew W.K.) at Candor Recording—formerly Morbid Angel’s headquarters—Watch You Burn reaffirmed Intoxicated’s place among fans of classic Kreator, Death, Obituary, Protector, and Devastation.
Now, Intoxicated is preparing to unleash their second full-length album, The Dome, on Redefining Darkness Records.
Rooted firmly in Florida’s storied death-thrash tradition, Intoxicated’s sound draws natural comparisons to Death, Sadus, and Obituary— as marked by unrelenting speed, sharp riffing, and concise, high-impact songwriting.
Lineup: Erik Payne – Guitar/Vocals John Sutton – Guitar Shawn Clarson – Bass/Backing Vocals Colin Vaccaro – Drums
Album credits: Produced by Ryan Boesch and Erik Payne @ Candor Recording in Tampa Fl Recorded, mixed and mastered by Ryan Boesch
Finland’s death/doom seven-piece HANGING GARDEN previews upcoming studio album “Isle Of Bliss” – due out March 20th on Agonia Records – with a lyric video for the album’s title song.
On their ninth album “Isle of Bliss”, HANGING GARDEN takes a different approach to their signature somber melancholy: the new full-length presents perhaps a darker, more sinister rendition of the oftentimes dreamlike tones of the past releases. Synths and sweet and airy vocal layers – albeit still present – give more room for a heavier aesthetic in the drum and guitar work.
The album was recorded in various studios in southern Finland by the band, along with the drums recorded at Klaukkala’s renowned D-Studio by master Jarno Hänninen. Mixing and mastering was performed by none other than the legendary Jaime Gomez Arellano, known for his work with names such as Opeth, Moonspell, Ghost and many others. The album artwork was created by Kalle Pyyhtinen (Children of Bodom).
The album’s themes revolve around the spiritual aspects of life, death and the liminality in between. The landscapes shift from the introspection of one’s core self, travelling past dense forests and deathless isles – all the way to the vast and distant infinities of the dying stars and the vast and eternal voids spun between.
The band comments on the album: “This time we decided to take a more conscious step towards a more bare-bones composition on the new songs, supporting the perhaps darker and maybe even more ferocious side of our music. We happened to meet with Gomez during a live show of ours a few summers back, and he was an obvious choice for the sound we had in mind. And as we see it, he really delivered.”
“To complement the rawer sound, we also decided to make more use of Riikka’s capability to scream – a stark contrast to her aetheric cleans – and this can be witnessed in the death metal duets between her and Toni that can be found a-plenty along the tracks.”
Mason Hill release new video for single ‘Twisted’, out now on 7Hz Productions.
“’Twisted’ started with James’ straight-killer riff that you hear at the start of the track, and I wanted to write something that would really do it justice. The song is about a relationship that’s so wrong that it’s right – toxic love that’s so addictive, you can never leave it. It’s a mix of grit and melody, a poppy chorus and a balls-to-the-wall breakdown section. 10/10 would recommend to a friend.”
Mason Hill’s new vocalist Tom Ward is understandably enthusiastic about the new music he and his bandmates are creating, and with good reason. The material recorded so far for the band’s second album is already raising eyebrows from those lucky enough to have heard it. “I’m absolutely made up that we can finally get another track out there and “Twisted” is a band favourite for sure – with plenty of time for fans to get learning those lyrics before our UK tour kicks off in March!”
‘Twisted’ sees the band take a step towards a darker, heavier sound, the song being one of crushing yearning, the effects of a so-good-even though-it’s so bad relationship and the toll it takes. Huge riffs and thundering drums propel the song whilst keeping the melodies forefront, capped by a stand-out vocal performance by Ward.
The singles ‘Twisted’, and its predecessor ‘Remember’, are just the first step on the road to a new album from Mason Hill, all of which has now been recorded under the watchful eyes and ears of producer Dan Weller (Enter Shikari, Bury Tomorrow, Those Damn Crows).
Four years after ‘Against the Wall’ made such an impact, Mason Hill is re-entering the fray with renewed intent, showcasing a freshly updated sound and presentation.
This line up feels like a huge step forward for the Glasgow-based band, and with good reason. While the core of Mason Hillis the same as the band that made ‘Against The Wall’ – James plus guitarist Marc Montgomery, bassist Matt Ward and drummer Craig McFetridge – their new music marks the introduction of new singer Ward, whose versatile voice offers new dimensions to Mason Hill’s signature sound as he switches from emotive whisper to arena-rattling power in a heartbeat.
Mason Hill are bringing their incendiary live show to more UK venues in the spring. Tickets are already flying out the door and these shows will also be sell-outs, so get them here while you still can!: https://www.gigantic.com/mason-hill-tickets
James Bird (guitar): “We’re hitting the road and bringing the show to a city near you in March 2026! New music, loud nights – come and be a part of it.“
Matt Ward (bass): “We were on such a high after returning to the stage for a couple of teaser shows back in November. We will be firing on all cylinders in March around the UK bringing everyone their favourite Mason Hill songs and playing a whole bunch of new songs (one of which you might just get a sneak peek at soon!). Tickets are already running low, so grab one while you still can and we’ll see you out there!“
UK Tour March2026 17 March – Manchester Academy 3 18 March – Bristol Exchange (low tickets) 19 March – London Underworld 20 March – Wolverhampton KK’s Steel Mill (SOLD OUT) 22 March – Glasgow Garage (low tickets)
Mason Hill have been no strangers to adversity. They’ve endured false starts, botched record deals and a six-year gap between 2015’s eponymous debut EP and the release of ‘Against The Wall’. Even the latter landed during the height of the Covid pandemic, meaning the band weren’t initially able to tour in support of it. The departure of former singer Scott Taylor at the end of 2023 was just the latest obstacle they had to overcome.
“There have been times over the years when we weren’t even sure we’d be able to keep on being a band,” says James. “Even just before Tom came in, we were so close to saying, ‘Well, we tried, but let’s call it a day.’ But there’s a stubbornness and determination and passion in us that has kept us going.The new music was obviously still Mason Hill, but we didn’t want it to be a copy of the first album,” says James. “When Tom put his voice to some of the demos we’d sent, that was when we knew this could work.”
“It feels like a turning point,” says Tom of this new chapter, of which he’s a key part. “We’re super-hungry for it.”
“All the good stuff and the bad stuff, I’m glad it happened in a sense,” adds James. “Because without it we wouldn’t be in this place we’re in right now, talking about new songs, which I couldn’t be more excited about. We’re so ready to get back out there. This is who we are now. This is Mason Hill.”
Tom Ward vocals James Bird guitarist Marc Montgomery guitarist Matt Ward bassist Craig McFetridge drums
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
Ads
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