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VOLBEAT Return with Massive New Album “God Of Angels Trust”, Out June 6th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 7, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: volbeat. 1 Comment

Michael Poulsen (vocals, guitar), and Jon Larsen (drums), and Kaspar Boye Larsen (bass) — are thrilled to announce their ninth album God Of Angels Trust. This album arrives on June 6 via longtime label Republic/Universal. Pre-order it here.

The album will coincide with plenty of summer touring on the band’s “Greatest Of All Tours Worldwide” with further dates and details below.

Today, the band shares the first taste of new music via the video for the first single “By a Monster’s Hand.” The song is a mid-paced riff-fest with no concessions to standard meter, juxtaposing pummeling rhythms with point-counterpoint hooks.

Watch the video, which splices footage of Volbeat in their most natural state of performing, all the while following an ominously unsettling and familiar face, here.

The video was produced by Ghost Atomic and directed by Adam Rothlein, the same team that lensed videos for prior Volbeat hits “Shotgun Blues,” “Die To Live,” and “Leviathan.”

With God Of Angels Trust, The Danish band — which has scored ten #1 songs on the Billboard Mainstream Rock airplay chart, the most ever for a band based outside North America — has thrown caution to the wind, ignored comfort zones, and paid little heed to traditional songwriting in the search for something more immediate and surprising.  

The end result will thrill Volbeat’s dedicated legion of fans.

“In the past, I’ve taken a long time to write and obsessed over so many elements of the songs before finishing them,” says Poulsen. “This time, I wanted to make a Volbeat record without thinking too much about it. Instead of following any kind of structure I said, ‘Okay, there are no rules. I can do anything I want. I can start with a chorus or do songs that are just a bunch of verses stacked on top of each other. Anything goes.’ That was freeing for me and made it exciting to write this album.”

Poulsen’s excitement to thwart convention is palpable throughout God Of Angels Trust, a punchy, crunchy album that’s undeniably Volbeat, yet marches to a fresh new metallic and melodic energy. 

Poulsen started working on songs for the follow-up to 2021’s Servant of the Mind in the summer of 2024. Volbeat was taking a year-long break from touring to give Michael a chance to recover from throat surgery and to tour with his death metal band, Asinhell. Driven equally by his excitement to record a new Volbeat album and by his determination not to follow convention, Poulsen worked on songs for a mere three weeks with bandmates drummer Jon Larsen and bassist Kaspar Boye Larsen. Amazingly, they worked on a new song at every rehearsal. Three weeks into the process, Volbeat had arranged half of God Of Angels Trust. That’s when Poulsen decided that having no rules meant he could follow his muse wherever it took him, and he veered off on a different path. He and the band still wrote and rehearsed two songs a week, but they started composing more familiar rock songs that drew from traditional elements. 
  
The band entered the studio with their longtime producer Jacob Hansen in the fall of 2024. As with the songwriting, Poulsen wanted to work quickly and rely on instinct, so they just plugged in and started to play. To keep the music sounding urgent and immediate, Volbeat recorded live in the studio, playing as few takes as possible before moving from one song to the next. 

When it came time to add lead guitar, there was no question that Volbeat would tap Flemming C. Lund, who currently tours with the band and worked with Michael in Asinhell. A mere 13 days after they started working with Hansen, Volbeat were finished.   
  
As impressive as it is that Volbeat wrote and recorded an entire album in about five weeks, what’s more incredible is that God Of Angels Trust sounds as fleshed out, eclectic, and fulfilling as albums that have taken 10 times longer (or more) to create. In the end, creating such a strong album so quickly was a tremendous challenge that demanded Zen-like calm, a joy for exploration, maximal creativity, and razor-sharp concentration to pull off. 

“In some ways, it feels like we’ve come full circle,” Poulsen explains. “If you start drawing a circle over an extended period of time, eventually you’ve going to get back where you started, and that’s how I feel now. I’ve dealt with medical operations, lineup changes, and all these things, and now it feels like a rebirth. It doesn’t feel like we’re doing our ninth studio album, it feels like we’re on our first album again and there’s something really refreshing about that.”

Volbeat will return to the road on the “Greatest Of All Tours Worldwide,” beginning in June and running throughout 2025. The tour begins in June with a co-headline Canadian run with Three Days Grace and special guests Wage War, which will be followed by headline treks in the U.S. with special guests Halestorm and The Ghost Inside, and Europe and the UK with special guests Bush and Gel. All dates are below.

Fans who pre-order the album from volbeat.dk or Universal Music Group up through 5pm local time on Sunday, March 9 will receive a code to access tickets before anyone else starting Monday, March 10 at 10am local time. Regular on-sales begin Friday, March 14 at 10am local time.

The band’s official D2C store is here.

GOD OF ANGELS TRUST TRACK LISTING:
 “Devils are Awake”
“By a Monster’s Hand”
“Acid Rain”
“Demonic Depression”
“In the Barn of the Goat Giving Birth to Satan’s Spawn in a Dying World of Doom”
“Time Will Heal”
“Better Be Fueled than Tamed”
“At the End of the Sirens”
“Lonely Fields”
“Enlighten the Disorder (By a Monster’s Hand Part 2)”

VOLBEAT ON TOUR:
GREATEST OF ALL TOURS WORLDWIDE:
2025 CO-HEADLINE WITH THREE DAYS GRACE + WAGE WAR:
6/7 — Vancouver, BC — Rogers Arena
6/9 — Calgary, AB — Scotiabank Saddledome
6/10 — Edmonton, AB — Rogers Place
6/12 — Saskatoon, SK — SaskTel Centre
6/13 — Winnipeg, MB — Canada Life Centre
6/16 — Laval, QC — Place Bell
6/17 — Quebec City, QC — Videotron Centre
6/19 — Toronto, ON — Budweiser Stage
6/21 — London, ON — Canada Life Place
6/22 — Ottawa, ON — Canadian Tire Centre

2025 US HEADLINE:
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS HALESTORM + THE GHOST INSIDE:
7/17 — Denver, CO — Ball Arena
7/19 — Salt Lake City, UT — Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre
7/21 — Auburn, WA — White River Amphitheatre
7/22 — Ridgefield, WA — Cascades Amphitheater
7/24 — Wheatland, CA — Toyota Amphitheatre
7/25 — Inglewood, CA — Kia Forum
7/26 — Phoenix, AZ — Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre
7/28 — Irving, TX — The Pavilion at Toyota Music Factory
7/29 — Houston, TX — 713 Music Hall
7/31 — Rogers, AR — Walmart AMP
8/2 — Franklin, TN — FirstBank Amphitheater
8/3 — Alpharetta, GA — Ameris Bank Amphitheatre
8/4 — Tampa, FL — MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre
8/6 — Charlotte, NC — PNC Music Pavilion
8/7 — Bristow, VA — Jiffy Lube Live
8/9 — Camden, NJ — Freedom Mortgage Pavilion
8/10 — Holmdel, NJ — PNC Bank Arts Center
8/12 — Bangor, ME — Maine Savings Amphitheater
8/13 — Gilford, NH — BankNH Pavilion
8/14 — Mansfield, MA — Xfinity Center
8/16 — Hershey, PA — Giant Center
8/17 — Cincinnati, OH — Riverbend Music Center
8/19 — Clarkston, MI — Pine Knob Music Theatre
8/21 — Noblesville, IN — Ruoff Music Center
8/22 — Tinley Park, IL — Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre

2025 EU/UK HEADLINE:
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS BUSH + GEL:
9/18 — Herning, DK — Jyske Bank Boxen
9/19 — Copenhagen, DK — Royal Arena
9/23 — Amsterdam, NL — Ziggo Dome
9/24 — Antwerp, BE — Sportpaleis
9/26 — Stuttgart, DE — Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
9/27 — Cologne, DE — LANXESS Arena
9/28 — Oberhausen, DE — Rudolf Weber-ARENA
9/30 — Vienna, AT — Wiener Stadthalle
10/3 — Prague, CZ — O2 universum
10/4 — Berlin, DE — Uber Arena
10/6 — Munich, DE — Olympiahalle
10/8 — Frankfurt, DE — Festhalle
10/10 — Leipzig, DE — QUARTERBACK Immobilien Arena
10/11 — Hamburg, DE — Barclays Arena
10/13 — Warsaw, PL — COS Torwar
10/15 — Tampere, FI — Nokia Arena
10/17 — Stockholm, SE — 3Arena
10/18 — Oslo, NO — Unity Arena
10/19 — Gothenburg, SE — Scandinavium
10/21 — Hannover, DE — ZAG Arena
10/22 — Rotterdam, NL — Rotterdam Ahoy
10/23 — Esch-Sur-Alzette, LU — Rockhal
10/25 — Zurich, CH — Hallenstadion
10/28 — Bilbao, ES — CUBEC — Bilbao Exhibition Centre
10/30 — Barcelona, ES — Sant Jordi Club
10/31 — Madrid, ES — Palacio Vistalegre
11/2 — Paris, FR — Zénith Paris — La Villette
11/5 — Nottingham, UK — Motorpoint Arena
11/6 — Cardiff, UK — Utilita Arena
11/8 — Manchester, UK — AO Arena
11/10 — Glasgow, UK — OVO Hydro
11/12 — Birmingham, UK — Utilita Arena
11/13 — London, UK — OVO Arena Wembley

Frontiers Label Group’s BLKIIBLK Records & Dave Mustaine’s Tradecraft Imprint Announce Partnership for Global Release of New MEGADETH Studio Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 7, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Megadeth. Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Ryan Chang

Grammy-winning, multiplatinum heavy metal band MEGADETH has announced an agreement for founder and frontman Dave Mustaine’s Tradecraft imprint with the Frontiers Label Group’s new imprint, BLKIIBLK.  In this new arrangement, BKLIIBLK—which is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of heavy music—will exclusively release the iconic band’s forthcoming album globally.

“When I first met Tom Lipsky and Bob Chiappardi back in the day I had no idea we would be working together again so many years in the future,” Dave Mustaine says. “I look forward to working with Serafino and the team in Italy and I can’t wait for the fans to hear the songs from our new record.”

This new and exciting collaboration with one of the most influential and groundbreaking bands in heavy metal history marks a significant moment for both the label and metal fans worldwide. BLKIIBLK aims to bring a fresh perspective by focusing on innovative and boundary-pushing artists. With a mission to support and elevate the genre, the imprint strives to showcase talent that is both pioneering and influential.

“As the owner of Frontiers, I am honoured to be working with Megadeth, a band that has shaped the sound of metal for decades. This collaboration reflects our dedication to bringing the best in rock and metal to our audience”, said Serafino Perugino, President & CEO of Frontiers Label Group.

“Myself, Justis Mustaine and Steve Ross at CTK Enterprises are extremely excited for the partnership with Dave Mustaine’s Tradecraft Records and BLKIIBLK,” says Danny Nozell, CEO, CTK.  “Looking forward to getting this new album out to the world and combining teams with Serafino and Tom for the global attack.”

Tom Lipsky, Head of A&R of North America for Frontiers Label Group, commented:  “When BLKIIBLK Records was formed, the very first artist we agreed was ideal to define the creative mission of the label was Megadeth. Now, it is a reality. The band is crushing it in the studio.  Danny Nozell, Justis Mustaine, Steve Ross and the team at CTK are developing an incredible global plan, and our team is thrilled, primed and ready to shake up the world of hard rock and metal!”

About Megadeth:
Megadeth are an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles in 1983 by vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine. Known for their technically complex guitar work and musicianship, Megadeth is one of the “big four” of American thrash metal along with Metallica, Anthrax, and Slayer. Their music features complex arrangements, fast rhythm sections, dual lead guitars, and lyrical themes of war, politics, religion, death, and personal relationships.

Since their explosive debut Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good! (1985), Megadeth has built a legacy of seminal albums, including the genre-defining Rust In Peace (1990) and the multi-platinum Countdown To Extinction (1992). Their catalogue boasts five platinum-certified records and sixteen studio albums, culminating in their latest release, The Sick, the Dying… And The Dead! (2022). Over their 42-year career, Megadeth have solidified their status as one of metal’s most enduring acts. The band earned twelve Grammy nominations, winning their first in 2017 for “Dystopia” (Best Metal Performance), and sold over 50 million albums worldwide.

Furthermore, Megadeth have built a global community of fans, hosting the acclaimed Gigantour festival and launching the MegaCruise in 2019. Their iconic mascot, Vic Rattlehead, remains a symbol, regularly appearing on album artwork and live shows. Led by Mustaine—the band’s unwavering creative force—Megadeth’s current lineup features bassist James LoMenzo, guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari, and drummer Dirk Verbeuren. With over four decades of metal dominance, Megadeth’s legacy is stronger than ever.

About Frontiers Label Group:
Founded in 1996 by Serafino Perugino in Napoli, Italy, Frontiers initially specialized in distribution of indie Rock labels across the Italian market. The company, however, soon evolved into a leading global rock label, working with such important artists as Megadeth, Skunk Anansie, Van Zant, Def Leppard, Journey, Yes, Mr Big, Biohazard, Whitesnake and ELO, while also signing and developing tomorrow’s artists.

Today, the expanded Frontiers Label Group owns and operates the imprints Frontiers Music Srl (Mainstream and Classic Rock), FLG Records (Alternative Music) and BLKIIBLK Records (Metal and Hard Rock) with global digital and physical distribution via The Orchard. The company is headquartered in Italy with additional executive staff in London, NY, Boston, Raleigh and Nashville. Serling Rooks Hunter McKoy Worob and Averill LLP provides legal representation in the US, with international legal under the direction of Dario De Cicco.

SADIST Stream New Album “Something To Pierce”, Out Today

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 7, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Sadist. Leave a comment
Photo credit: Nicola Dongo

Italian progressive death metal legends SADIST are streaming their new studio album “Something To Pierce”, released today March 7th on Agonia Records.

Following the well-acclaimed “Firescorched”, released in 2022, the new album “Something to Pierce” promises to be even more aggressive, both musically and lyrically. The band’s tenth installment is a bold amalgamation of technique, aggression and experimentation; in short, “a further step towards the definition of a unique music style, which you can’t help but love…or hate,” comments founding member & mastermind, Tommy Talamanca. “Like it or not, nobody sounds like Sadist!”

“Something to Pierce” was record, mixed and mastered by Tommy Talamanca at Nadir Music Studios in Genoa, Italy. The cover artwork was created by Andreas Christanetoff of Armaada Art (Aborted).

SADIST started out in the early nineties, having emerged from Genoa in Italy. The band went ahead of its time, with an adventurous take on the then-developing progressive death metal subgenre. Its presence was firmly established through an unmistakable style, detectable since the debut installment “Above The Light” (1993). After a five year hiatus (2000-2005), SADIST returned to its proven sonic formula of jazz-infected epic prog-death, fraught with Middle-Eastern influences.

Along its path, SADIST kicked off concerts for Iron Maiden, Megadeth, Slayer and Motorhead, and gained exposure at high-profile fests (Wacken Open Air, Gods Of Metal, Hellfest). In 2023 alone, the band shared the stage with Samael, Pantera, Dark Tranquility and Sepultura, and continued to play festivals and one-off dates throughtout 2024, amidst putting final touches on new album, “Something to Pierce”. Among the group’s last live appeacnces are Prog Power Europe and Corpsorate Death Fest.

1. Something to Pierce
2. Deprived
3. No Feast for Flies
4. Kill Devour Dissect
5. The Sun God
6. Dume Kike
7. One Shot Closer
8. The Best Part is the Brain
9. Nove Strade
10. Respirium (instrumental)
11. Latex Hood (CD bonus track)
12. The Unsmiling Windows (CD bonus track)

Order the album at https://sadist.store

Line-up:
Trevor – lead vocals
Davide Piccolo – bass
Giorgio Piva – drums
Tommy Talamanca – guitars & keyboards
Gloria Rossi – guest female vocals

Follow Sadist:
Website: http://www.sadist.it
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sadstofficial/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/sadist_progdeathmetalband
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/Sadistribe
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3dmVTaRcdhzAJR0FOvKCDt

VEIL OF THE SERPENT Unveil Lyric Video for ‘Gallery Of Sin’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 7, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: VEIL OF THE SERPENT. Leave a comment

International heavy metal force VEIL OF THE SERPENT has just unveiled the lyric video for “Gallery Of Sin“, the spine-chilling title track from their latest album. The video finally brings the song’s haunting narrative to life, immersing fans in a world where art and horror collide.

A tale of obsession, morality and twisted artistry – “Gallery Of Sin” delves into the mind of a deranged creator who immortalizes human weakness in his grotesque masterpieces. Through bone-crushing riffs, sinister melodies and visceral lyrics, VEIL OF THE SERPENT paints a chilling portrait of an artist who decides what is divine and what is condemned. The track’s eerie atmosphere and powerful storytelling have made it a standout on the album, captivating fans with its grim themes and cinematic intensity.

Fans can now watch the nightmarish journey through obsession and morality on the band’s official YouTube channel.

The new lyric video arrives just weeks before the launch of the Digital Deluxe Edition of Gallery Of Sin, which will be released on March 21, 2025. This special edition will feature instrumental versions of all album tracks, offering fans an immersive new way to experience the band’s storytelling and musicianship. As a preview, the instrumental version of “Gallery Of Sin” is already available on all major streaming platforms.

“Gallery Of Sin (Digital Deluxe Edition)” tracklist:

01 The Wolves Among Us
02 Prelude To Dread
03 Profiling A Demon
04 Gallery Of Sin
05 The End And The Beginning
06 Acquiesce And Ignore
07 Absolution
08 Becoming Ascendant
09 Grease The Wheels
10 The Rolling And The Thunder
11 Deliverance
12 Schadenfreude
13 Megalomania
14 Sleep Tight
15 Prelude To Dread (Instrumental)
16 Profiling A Demon (Instrumental)
17 Gallery Of Sin (Instrumental)
18 The End And The Beginning (Instrumental)
19 Acquiesce And Ignore (Instrumental)
20 Absolution (Instrumental)
21 Becoming Ascendant (Instrumental)
22 The Rolling And The Thunder (Instrumental)
23 Deliverance (Instrumental)
24 Schadenfreude (Instrumental)
25 Megalomania (Instrumental)

The band’s original debut album was released in November 2024. A very few copies of the limited edition CD, featuring an exclusive 6-panel digisleeve packaging and a 24-page illustrated booklet with in-depth lore and lyrics, are still available in the band’s official shop: veiloftheserpent.bigcartel.com.

About the band:
VEIL OF THE SERPENT was forged in 2021 by guitarist Gene and his son Felix. United by blood and their obsession for heavy metal, the duo began plotting their thundering assault in 2020. What began as a vision quickly evolved into a full-scale sonic onslaught with the arrival of powerhouse vocalist JD, completing their unholy trinity. Together, they channel the raw, unyielding spirit of metal, delivering a sound that’s both brutal and haunting, destined to leave a lasting scar on the heavy music landscape.

VEIL OF THE SERPENT is:
JD – Vocals
Gene – Guitars
Felix – Drums

MIKE TRAMP Shares New Lyric Video for ‘Lonely Nights’ from New Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 7, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Mike Tramp. Leave a comment

Esteemed rock vocalist and guitarist MIKE TRAMP shares a new lyric video for the track “Lonely Nights,” the stellar single from his latest album – ‘Songs Of White Lion – Vol. II’ which is out now via Frontiers Music Srl. The album’s ten tracks are a set of re-imagined select cuts from his former band, White Lion.

About the album, MIKE TRAMP shared this:

“Would Leonardo Da Vinci have re-painted Mona Lisa, if he had gotten a second chance? That, we will never know, but I can say for sure, that I am beyond thrilled to have gotten a second chance to re-record and sing the songs I wrote between 1983 and 1990. Today I have such a better understanding of how I want to express the songs in my voice than I had when I was in my 20’s, it’s just a fact, and I’ve grabbed the chance. ‘Songs Of White Lion’ is a whole new chapter, matter of fact it is current.”

MIKE TRAMP came to prominence in the music world with White Lion, who formed in 1983. After signing to Atlantic Records, the band enjoyed great success with their second album ‘Pride’ in 1987, which included the hits “Wait” and “When the Children Cry”. The band’s third album, ‘Big Game’ (1991), and fourth album, ‘Mane Attraction’ (1992) continued the band’s winning streak, but ultimately WHITE LION disbanded in 1992.

After WHITE LION, TRAMP formed the hard rock band Freak Of Nature, who had a decidedly darker and harder vibe than White Lion. Freak Of Nature would release three studio albums before disbanding in 1996. In 1998, Tramp kicked off his solo career with the album, ‘Capricorn’; in 2002, his second solo album ‘Recovering The Wasted Years’ was released. TRAMP would then take a break from his solo career from 2004-2008 to tour and record under the name Mike Tramp’s White Lion and eventually under the name White Lion, releasing the album ‘Return Of The Pride’ in 2008.

Since 2009, TRAMP has been writing and recording as a solo artist releasing nine studio albums, including his most recent, 2022’s ‘For Første Gang.’ He has also been a consistent presence on the road, both as an acoustic solo artist and with a backing band, with no plans of slowing down anytime soon.

Order ‘Songs of White Lion — Vol. 2’ HERE

‘Songs of White Lion — Vol.II’ Track List:

  1. Lights & Thunder
  2. Lonely Nights
  3. Till Death Do Us Part
  4. El Salvador
  5. The Road To Valhalla
  6. Don’t Give Up
  7. You’re AII I Need
  8. Out With The Boys
  9. All You Need Is Rock’n’Roll
  10. Farewell To You

BAND MEMBERS:
Mike Tramp – Vocal
Marcus Nand – Guitars
Claus Langeskov – Bass
Kenni Andy – Drums
Claudio Pesavento – Hammond B3 & Piano
Johnny Gioeli – Harmonies
Emily Garriock Langeskov – Harmonies

FOLLOW MIKE TRAMP: Facebook – Website – Instagram

THIS GIFT IS A CURSE Stream Full New Album “Heir”, Out Today

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 7, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: This Gift Is A Curse. Leave a comment
Photo by © Kristofer Karlberg

THIS GIFT IS A CURSE returns with their latest offering, ‘Heir’. Steeped in the infernal grace of black metal’s ferocity and the crushing weight of sludge-laden doom, Heir is poised to drag listeners into an abyss where light dares not tread. Released today, Friday, March 7th, this album promises to solidify the band’s legacy in the underground metal scene.

Recorded amidst the haunted ambiance of the Overlook Studio in Gävle, Sweden, and steered by the unrelenting vision of producer William Blackmon, each track on ‘Heir‘ is a vile declaration of the band’s relentless pursuit of extremity. From the soul-crushing “Seers of No Light” to ethereal moments borne from the haunting collaboration with Laura Morgan (Livmødr) on “Kingdom” and “Old Space,” this album brings you to straight to the abyssal depths of the human psyche.

Mastered by the lauded Magnus Lindberg at Redmount Studios in Stockholm, Heir offers an unparalleled auditory apocalypse, with a sonic landscape dense enough to challenge even the hardiest of souls. Lindberg’s expert touch ensures every bone-crushing riff and searing vocal carries the weight of a thousand shadows, delivering a listening experience that is as immersive as it is punishing.

➤ Order the album here: https://orcd.co/thisgiftisacurseheir

Tracklist:
1. Kingdom (5:43) [WATCH]
2. No Sun, nor Moon (8:17)
3. Void Bringer (9:17) [LISTEN]
4. Death Maker (4:26)
5. Passing (2:17)
6. Seers of No Light (5:52)
7. Cosmic Voice (6:51)
8. Vow Sayer (6:00)
9. Old Space (8:42)
10. Ascension (9:17) [LISTEN]
Total runtime: 1:06:44

There’s an abyssal depth reaching far below – where light is devoured by shadow, and silence is torn asunder by cacophony. Down below, there thrives a beast most foul and majestic. This beast, known among the living as THIS GIFT IS A CURSE, has clawed its way through the bedrock – leaving a trail of desolation and awe in its wake. As 2025 dawns bleak and uncertain, the beast prepares to unleash its latest apocalypse, ‘HEIR.’

Since its infernal birth, THIS GIFT IS A CURSE has been a harbinger of the end times for the conventional and the mundane. A cataclysmic fusion of black metal ferocity, sludge-laden doom, and a haunting ambience straight from the depths of the nether, has torn apart stages and souls alike. Now, with ‘HEIR,’ they stand poised to cast the world into a new age of darkness.

THIS GIFT IS A CURSE were founded in Stockholm by a fateful chance meeting of vocalist Jonas A. Holmberg and drummer Johan Nordlund in late summer 2008. The duo soon recruited guitarist Patrik Andersson and Lars Gunnarsson on bass. In March 2010 the Swedish four-piece entered the legendary Sunlight Studios (ENTOMBED, KATATONIA, TIAMAT, DISMEMBER and many more) and recorded their self-titled debut EP with the aid of producer Tomas Skogsberg. ‘This Gift Is A Curse’ (2010) was well received in the underground and led to the band being invited to perform many shows in their homeland and Europe. During the second half of 2011, THIS GIFT IS A CURSE recorded their first full-length ‘I, Gvilt Bearer’ at a secret location north of Stockholm. Their producer Magbjork (MELEEH, CHILDREN OF FALL) moved his studio to this specific location to allow the band to unlimited record possibilities. Released in 2012, the album caused a buzz that reached beyond the underground and quickly sold out its first pressings. More touring followed during the next two years. In 2014, THIS GIFT IS A CURSE teamed up with Magbjork once again to record ‘All Hail The Swinelord’ in an abandoned house close to Stockholm.

After the release in 2015, a few Scandinavian and European tours followed before the band decided it was time to go back into the void to write new music. This process started with the recruitment of a second guitarist in order to push the sonic experience even further. David Deravian, hailing from steel town Eskilstuna, joined the cursed ranks of THIS GIFT IS A CURSE in 2016, adding fresh creative blood and new musical input to the sonic pot. As the new material took form, the band not only booked studio time with the great W. Blackmon of the Overlook Studios in Gävle (SE), but also kept their roots by recoding parts of the album at Norra Begravningsplatsen in Stockholm. Including producer MAGBJORK to the whole process once again to get the right ‘grit and grievance’ into the sound. Afterwards, mastering was done by none other than Magnus Lindberg (CULT OF LUNA, TRIBULATION, ALCEST etc).

THIS GIFT IS A CURSE defies the transient trends of music, instead choosing to carve its path with the bones of the fallen. Their forthcoming album, ‘HEIR,’ is a relentless pursuit of the extreme, a mosaic of human suffering and the dark beauty that lies within. As the album prepares to sear its mark upon the world, one thing is clear: There will be no heirs to the throne of darkness that THIS GIFT IS A CURSE occupies. The crown is theirs alone, forged in the fires of creation and destruction, a beacon for those who dare to walk the shadows.

Line-up:
Jonas A. Holmberg – Vocals
Patrik Andersson – Guitars, Vocals
David Deravian – Guitars
Lars Gunnarsson – Bass
Christian Augustin – Drums

Recording Studio:
The Overlook Studio, Gävle, Sweden

Production Credits:
Produced, Engineered & Mixed by William Blackmon at The Overlook Studio.
Mastered by Magnus Lindberg at Redmount Studios, Stockholm, Sweden.
Guitars recorded at Laard studios and House of Inge Studio. Engineered by Daniel Noring and TGIAC.
Bass recorded at Cold Barn with the help of Daniel Noring.
Vocals recorded at Cold Barn by TGIAC.

Guest Musicians:
Laura Morgan (of Livmødr) – Vocals on Kingdom (Track 1), Old Space (Track 9) & Ascension (Track 10).

Cover Art:
Jonas A. Holmberg / House of No Light .317 (Instagram)

Follow This Gift Is A Curse:
Bandcamp: http://thisgiftisacurse.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thisgiftisacurse
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisgiftisacurse/
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