Following the announcement of their new album, ‘The Shit Ov God’, BEHEMOTH have unleashed their latest single, ‘The Shadow Elite’, alongside a gripping music video.
On an exclusive invite-only basis, the band’s legionnaires gathered at a secret location for a raw, primal live performance. Branded and tattooed with BEHEMOTH’s sigils, the band’s most dedicated fans, known as ‘The Shadow Elite’, form a chaotic scene as the band performs from within a cage.
Marking Ash Wednesday in true BEHEMOTH fashion, ‘The Shadow Elite’ channels their early roots with relentless blast beats and searing tremolo riffs, a ferocious testament to their signature sound.
NERGAL commented: “‘The Shadow Elite’ is the second single and the opening track from our thirteenth album, The Shit ov God. A raw, high-energy anthem with a relentless drive—a banger built for the stage! Lyrically, it’s a call to arms—a fearless battle cry for outcasts, anarchists, and free minds to rise. We will not be silenced. It’s about uniting and summoning the courage to embrace and amplify the fire of freedom that burns within us!“
Don’t forget to catch BEHEMOTH live on their Unholy Trinity headline tour with Satyricon and Rotting Christ. All dates and ticket info at the bottom.
Masters of progressive death metal FALLUJAH will make their anticipated return this spring with the release of their 6th album, Xenotaph, due out June 13th from Nuclear Blast Records. Picking up where they left off with 2022’s critically heralded Empyrean, the band expands the depth and breadth of their dexterous, aggressive sound while exploring extraterrestrial realms on an epic sci-fi journey through space and time.
Commenting on the impending record release, vocalist Kyle Schaefer states: “We are excited to finally reveal Fallujah’s new album Xenotaph, marking the sixth chapter in our discography. This is our most ambitious record yet, and is certainly the band’s most technical, dynamic and progressive material to date. The music carried out by these eight tracks is matched with an equally ambitious concept, a lyrical story that traverses unfolding layers of time and reality in an otherworldly, post-death realm of existence. Xenotaph is also our most collaborative album, with broad input from the current lineup leading us to expand the scope of our songwriting while simultaneously highlighting the true potential of everyone involved. We hope you’ll join us in welcoming this bold new stage of the band’s evolution.”
Today, FALLUJAH reveals the album’s stunning cover by Peter Mohrbacher, tracklist and release date as well as the first single, ‘Kaleidoscopic Waves,’ that’s accompanied by the music video below.
Adding about the new song, Schaefer says: “We knew ‘Kaleidoscopic Waves’ would be the perfect track to usher in this new era of Fallujah. It unmistakably showcases the soaring atmospheres and remarkable technicality the band is already known for, but with a new level of melodic depth and an invigorating desire to push beyond the boundaries of our previous work. It’s hard to fully encapsulate the vast scope of our new album with a single song, but ‘Kaleidoscopic Waves’ is a great place to start.”
Xenotaph Tracklist: 1. In Stars We Drown 2. Kaleidoscopic Waves 3. Labyrinth of Stone 4. The Crystalline Veil 5. Step Through the Portal and Breathe 6. A Parasitic Dream 7. The Obsidian Architect 8. Xenotaph
Prog death-metal outfit FALLUJAH expand horizons and solidify their position as one of America’s most exciting acts on their new album, Xenotaph, through Nuclear Blast. The quintet’s confidence in the lineup that made their previous album, Empyrean (2022), such a resounding success—earning high marks from Metal Injection, New Noise, and Guitar World—has been reconfigured slightly, with guitarist Sam Mooradian (INHALE EXISTENCE, SAM MOORADIAN) and drummer Kevin Alexander (DISEMBODIED TYRANT, BROUGHT BY PAIN) bringing their jaw-dropping musical proficiency to the fold, as vocalist Kyle Schaefer, guitarist Scott Carstairs, and bassist Evan Brewer enter a new chapter with FALLUJAH. Moored by singles ‘Kaleidoscopic Waves,’ ‘Labyrinth of Stone,’ and ‘Step Through the Portal and Breathe,’ Xenotaph is FALLUJAH personified, reinvigorated, and re-imagined.
Xenotaph was produced by FALLUJAH, engineered by Dave Otero (CATTLE DECAPITATION, ARCHSPIRE) and Mike Low (VITRIOL, ABORTED) at Flatline Audio in Denver, Colorado and Top Track Studios in Nashville, Tennessee. Otero also mixed and mastered Xenotaph. The main goal was elevation, building upon yet soaring upward from Empyrean, one of the group’s strongest productions to date. The team focused the separation of FALLUJAH’s breakneck pace, meticulous songcraft, euphonious leads, and unrivaled intensity, creating an experience pulls the listener into Xenotaph’s high-caliber music and concept.
Beyond releasing Xenotaph to an anticipating fanbase, FALLUJAH take aim at the road, drawing upon the success of their Empyrean runs. Indeed, attendees to the group’s live performances have witnessed some of Xenotaph’s songs already, namely the shimmery prog-bounce and inner world horror of ‘The Obsidian Architect.’ FALLUJAH are in a perpetual state of evolution, and Xenotaph demonstrates the group’s hard-won, if profound journey. For there is no reverse—only forward progress, and the path ahead is illuminating before them. Step through the portal if you dare…
With the coronation of Papa V. Perpetua, a new era for Ghostis upon us – and they’re kicking it off with a brand-new album. Skeletá, the band’s sixth studio record, is set to drop on April 25.
Ghost themselves announced the arrival of their new Papa with these cryptic words:
“We would like to inform you that our PERPETUAL state of expectation has dissipated with just a few wisps of smoke. We have learned: Patience is the key to unlocking every door in life. Let us celebrate the coronation of Papa V. Perpetua and the announcement of Ghost’s six-six-sixth psalm, Skeletá.”
To mark the occasion, Ghost have also dropped their first single “Satanized”, which you can listen to right here:
Ghost are hitting the road for a massive world tour this year! The first leg kicks off this spring in Europe, and you can bet they’ll be performing new music. A special highlight? Papa V. Perpetua making his live debut on stage!
Paris’ hottest prospect, alt-rockers Storm Orchestra, have revealed their tender and emotional side on their new single Désolé, which features the Canadian chart-topping sensation JJ Wilde. The song is taken from the trio’s brand-new album ‘Get Better,’ which will be released on 11 April via Mascot Records. You can listen to the track HERE.
French for “sorry”, “Désolé” sees Storm Orchestra deliver a powerful and emotional rock ballad, where the guitar-bass-drums trio is enhanced by a subtle piano and string ensemble, adding emotional depth to the track. For this song, the band invited Canadian artist JJ Wilde, whose intense and nuanced voice contrasts with Max’s, further emphasizing the inner dialogue expressed in the lyrics.
The words are those of peace after a fight, and they express the fear of losing fragile happiness, the search for balance, and the desire to keep love “unscathed” despite the turmoil of anger and quarrels often found in passionate relationships. The chorus openly reveals this remorseful anxiety: “I may not be sorry, face to face, but I’m truly worried, day to day. I wanna be happy, all the way. I fear your smile will die away.” These words capture the struggle to keep a sincere love intact, and “Désolé” becomes a cathartic journey where one confronts fears and flaws to rewrite their story and celebrate the strength of a deep connection.
JJ Wilde has been on an incredible journey since the release of her 2020 JUNO Award Winning “Rock Album of the Year” debut, Ruthless – the first female artist to win it since Alanis Morisette with Jagged Little Pill in 1996. The album has surpassed 36 million streams and she has entered the history books as the first female artist to simultaneously reach number 1 on all three Canadian Rock Charts with her SOCAN Award winning single “The Rush”, holding the #1 spot for 10 weeks. Which was followed up by a further two #1 singles “Best Boy” and “Mercy”.
Talking about the collaboration, the band says, “Max originally wrote this song about his relationship with his girlfriend—who’s actually a huge JJ Wilde fan! Since the lyrics were meant to be a conversation, we thought it would be great to bring in a female voice to make it feel as real and honest as possible. JJ was the perfect choice, not just because love is such a big theme in her music, but also because Max has a personal connection to Canada, with part of his family living there.”
He continues, “We reached out, and she and her team were immediately on board. She even surprised us by rewriting her verse, offering a version with her own lyrics. We loved how natural and heartfelt it felt, so we decided to keep it. It made perfect sense—having her sing words that truly come from her. Everything was done remotely, but we’re really looking forward to meeting her in person—whether it’s in France or Canada!”
They have recently been on tour with Sweden’s finest rock ‘n’ rollers, Royal Republic, on their ‘LoveCop’ European tour in January and February with more shows to come in April and May – Italy, Switzerland and The Netherlands. You can get tickets from HERE. They’ve shone on the festival circuit, captivated crowds on a tour of Germany in September with Lonely Spring, and announced themselves on the big stage when they opened for Black Stone Cherry at L’Olympia, Paris, earlier in November 2024.
Hot property on the French scene, Storm Orchestra operates paradoxically in a space that grapples with opposites to assimilate them into one glorious jewel. Light and dark, euphoria and heaviness, glamour and aggression are all fused with a tantalizing aura. It’s music that is built for stadiums but made to connect with people. It entwines the infectiousness of Nothing But Thieves, the captivating driving force of Royal Blood, and the melodic ambition of Muse
The three Paris natives have been winding their way through and illuminating the belly of the city’s underground over the last few years. The trio of Maxime Goudard (vocals, guitar), Adrien Richard (bass), and Loïc Fouquet (drums) has been the gem in the French alternative scene since the release of their self-titled debut EP in 2020.
In February, they were picked to be part of Amazon’s Ones to Watch for the 2025 Series which saw the band’s image adorn the enormous billboard on Times Square, watching over New Yorkers as they passed. The band delivered a version of Nelly Furtado’s “Maneater” with their own grandiosity sprinkled throughout the track. You can listen to it HERE.
Crush the Mirrors harvests the heavier and darker side of their arsenal, and they are joined by Bertrand Poncet – who also produced the album – from French hardcore-pop-punk crossover heroes Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! who lends his guttural vocals to the anthemic track, whilst the glorious shimmering Bright Soul, Goudard opens up about his fear of letting his dark side take over the person he wants to be.
Driven by their high-intensity live shows, they’ve captured lightning in a bottle and are now selling out clubs across France. Goudard reflects, “We always come to a show with the biggest smile and a crazy load of energy. We want people to get energized, to let off steam, and leave wanting more. We are always exhausted right after the set; if not, it means something went wrong!”
‘Get Better’ touches on societal issues, relationships, and the inner struggles that we all have, along with the dark side of your personality. “For me, it’s all connected,” explains the singer. “Society makes us vulnerable, so we need love to keep us sane. So everything is just a piece of a big puzzle.”
Rarely has the complexities of our struggles that they tackle on ‘Get Better’m been packaged with such a visceral and luscious effect—Storm Orchestra is here to be your new favourite band.
1. Bright Soul 2. Drummer 3. Crush the Mirrors(feat. Chunk! No, Captain Chunk!) 4. Superplayer 5. Cut Loose, Somehow 6. Désolé (feat. JJ Wilde) 7. We Will Be The Last 8. Tear Myself Down 9. This Game 10. Get Back In Time 11. Our Victory 12. Trash The Room
Tour Dates
30 April – Milano, Santeria – ITALY w/Royal Republic 01 May – Bern, Bierhübli – SWITZERLAND w/Royal Republic 02 May – Eindhoven, Effenaar – THE NETHERLANDS w/Royal Republic 28 March – Cergy, Le Douze – FRANCE w/ Ko Ko Mo 23 May – Lesneven, Rock En Stock – FRANCE 5 July – Vibraye, Rocka’Vib festival – FRANCE
Progressive metal phenomenon BLACKLIGHT is set to captivate listeners with the release of their stunning lyric video for “Ghost,” the latest track from their critically acclaimed album, Future Belongs To, out on 21 March 2025, via Wormholedeath.
With “Ghost”, Blacklight conjures a visceral dialogue between regret and rebirth, leaving listeners haunted by the question: Can we ever outrun the ghosts we’ve become?
Future Belongs To continues to showcase BlackLight’s signature sound—an atmospheric and multifaceted mix influenced by progressive metal icons such as Opeth, Rush, Tool, and Riverside. With each track, the band carves out a space for themselves in the progressive metal scene, blending technical mastery with emotive, deeply resonant themes.
Originating from Poland, BlackLight is led by the virtuosic Maciej Majewski (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and joined by Robert Kurzyński (guitar, solo guitar), Tomasz Szydło (bass), and Stanisław Skowroński (drums). Drawing from the atmospheric richness of Dead Can Dance and the progressive complexity of their influences, BlackLight creates a sound that is uniquely their own.
Finnish melodic death metal outfit Re-Armed has sunk its teeth into the iconic EDM hit “What Is Love”, delivering a heavier, hard-hitting version of the classic. The result? A track that drags you straight from the dancefloor into the mosh pit—catchy, yet thunderously crushing.
“This time, we decided to throw a punch with a silk glove on—and spill the drinks all over right after. Initially, we jammed this track at our rehearsal space just for fun, and to our surprise, it actually worked! After the laughter died down, we knew we had to record it—and here we are. The song’s post choruses are once again elevated by a guest appearance from vocalist Mirva Saviniemi. Whether you love it or hate it, we welcome all reactions with open arms!”
Re-Armed’s version injects Haddaway’s classic with a fresh dose of raw power, guaranteed to strike a chord with both nostalgics and metalheads alike.
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 ) 