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PHIL X & THE DRILLS Share New Video ‘Fake The Day Away’ (Feat. Tommy Lee) from Upcoming Album “POW! Right In The Kisser”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 26, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: PHIL X & THE DRILLS. Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Composite photo by Justin Roszkowski

PHIL X & THE DRILLS are thrilled to unveil their latest single “Fake The Day Away”, accompanied by a music video available below. The track features drumming powerhouse Tommy Lee (Mötley Crüe), building momentum for their forthcoming album ‘POW! Right In The Kisser’, set to release March 28th via Frontiers Music Srl.

On the new single, PHIL X comments:

“I had been in the studio with Tommy Lee many times working on his solo records so it was exciting to get him on ‘Fake The Day Away’. I even got the groove from one of his drum solos with Motlëy. It’s about waking up on tour in a jet like the first line in the lyrics and really missing my family. Even though it’s thematically sad, the song has this frenetic energy to it. … & Tommy KILLED it.”

The journey of PHIL X & THE DRILLS is one of relentless passion and perseverance. From their early days stirring up the Hollywood rock scene in 2003, to their breakout EP ‘Kick Your Ass in 17 Minutes’ (2009), the band has always kept fans hooked with their high-energy sound and jaw-dropping performances. As PHIL X became a YouTube sensation through his work demoing vintage guitars for Fretted Americana, the band’s visibility skyrocketed, eventually evolving into the powerhouse known as PHIL X & THE DRILLS.

Over the years, the band has worked with an incredible roster of guest drummers, including Josh Freese ( Sting, Foo Fighters), Abe Laboriel Jr. (Paul McCartney), and Taylor Hawkins (Foo Fighters), among others. Their most recent release, ‘Stupid Good Lookings Vol. 1’, showcased the band’s knack for pushing boundaries and delivering unforgettable rock tracks.

In 2024, PHIL X & THE DRILLS hit a new career milestone, opening for Mötley Crüe at Summerfest in Springfield, IL, where their performance left 10,000 fans and industry professionals in awe. Now, with ‘POW! Right in the Kisser’, they’re set to take the next big step in their musical journey.

About the album, PHIL X shares:

“‘POW! Right in the Kisser’ was a good 10 years in the making. ‘Battleship’ was tracked in 2014. I just kept writing & we’d record & then kept the whole ‘different drummer on every song’ thing going. It became a very special collection of songs & vibes. It’s very exciting for me to share something like that with the world.”

Pre-Order ‘POW! Right In The Kisser’ HERE 

‘POW! Right In The Kisser’ Track List:

1. Don’t Wake Up Dead
2. Fake the Day Away
3. Heal
4. Find a Way
5. Moving to California
6. You Sunk My Battleship
7. Seemed Like a Good Idea
8. Broken Arrow
9. I Love You on Her Lips
10. Feel Better
11. Way Gone (Beam Me Up, Scotty)

PHIL X & THE DRILLS:
Phil X – Lead Vocals & Guitars
Daniel Spree – Bass & Background Vocals
Brent Fitz – Drums & Background Vocals

FOLLOW PHIL X & THE DRILLS:
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SHADOW OF THE TALISMAN Celebrate New Album Release with ‘So Below’ Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 26, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: SHADOW OF THE TALISMAN. Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Elijah Coulter

Shadow of the Talisman are an Alternative Metal band striving to unite all facets of the metal scene through heart-wrenching lyrics, and complex musical passages, where every metalhead can find something perfect for themselves. The band just premiered a new animated music video for their blazing epic song entitled “So Below“, which is the third video from their new full-length album As Above, So Below which was released on February 21, 2025 via Eclipse Records.

The music video was directed by Andy Pilkington at Very Metal Art, and the album was produced, recorded and mixed by the band alongside Mark Stewart at Raydon Studio.

“With ‘So Below’ being such a story-driven song, we’ve always wanted some sort of animated music video to visually portray the epic showdown that concludes our album”, says drummer Kyle Williams. “Seeing Andy’s work in Judas Priest’s Painkiller lyric video convinced us to follow through with this bold idea, and I’m grateful we were able to add another dimension to the story behind our album!” Guitarist Zack Harrison adds, “The epic finale of The Outlaw’s story is brought to life in this video, not only through the music itself but through the stunning animation by Andy! He captures the mood perfectly and depicts the tale of The Outlaw’s transformation from man to immortal. With that being said, we are ecstatic to release such a story-driven experience to the public!”

The band’s debut studio album As Above, So Below, is a bold concept album introducing us to The Dark One, who chooses to recruit and resurrect a broken man to transform him into a killing machine soon known as The Outlaw. This tragic devil’s plaything loses his reality like a dollar bill in a hurricane and goes straight to a fiery hell where a deal is made and the remains of his soul, shattered. Lyrically, the global theme here is “we reap what we sow,” yet musically, the soul of this band is defined by “dynamics,” never linear, always striking and astonishing. The album is a gorgeous tornado of genres and mediums swirled into one of the greatest horror stories ever told through funky, break-oriented alternative metal featuring powerful vocals and intricate, raucous instrumentals. Focus tracks include “The Outlaw,” a riff-oriented thrill ride filled with savage syncopation and an epic climax, as well as “What Is Real?,” featuring a heartrending traditional vocal and ultimately satisfying breaks and full-stops. The climax of the album is an experience in itself, constructed of four parts culminating with “So Below,” as hard-driving a metal song as one would find with an ending better than Seven or Us. As Above, So Below is a masterpiece in terms of its content, concept, and musical execution. It is a glorious smorgasbord, made for everyone with a taste for the flavor of rock, brazen and bold, inclusive and eclectic, drawing all of us into the fold. As Above, So Below was released via Eclipse Records on February 21, 2025.

Listen to As Above, So Below on all platforms at this location.

For more information about Shadow of the Talisman and their “So Below” music video, please visit them on their official website, and connect with the band on Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or TikTok, and follow them on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, YouTube Music, Tidal, and Deezer now!

As Above, So Below track listing

  1. Arise
  2. What Is Real?
  3. Fiery Descent
  4. Dead with the Devil
  5. The Outlaw
  6. Cursed
  7. As Above
  8. So Below

Shadow of the Talisman tour dates (get tickets)
Feb 28 – Hamtramck, MI @ The Sanctuary w/ The Eighth Passenger
Apr 05 – Saginaw, MI @ White’s Bar Co.
Apr 11 – Lansing, MI @ Mac’s Bar w/ Skitchfall
Apr 25 – Detroit, MI @ Corktown Tavern
Aug 16 – Saginaw, MI @ Hamilton Street Pub w/ Kiljin

Shadow of the Talisman’s lineup
Mike Smith (Vocals), Zack Harrison (Guitar), Owen Summerland (Guitar), Elijah Kinney (Bass), Kyle Williams (Drums)

Exclusive Premiere for Finland: CHONTARAZ – Video ‘Scream’, Feat. Sakis Tolis

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 26, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: CHONTARAZ. Leave a comment

CHONTARAZ: Uncompromising Metal – Musical Pandemonium in Perfection Single SCREAM will be released on February 28th taken from the band’s long-awaited 3rd Album, coming out on May 9th!

Today, a few days ahead of the single release, Metal Shock Finland has a huge pleasure to premiere exclusively the video ‘Scream’ for Finland!

Produced by Fotis Benardo, the first single of CHONTARAZ’ Phantom of Reality, SCREAM, is a raw and intense track featuring a guest vocal appearance by Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ). The song embodies a burning desire and a relentless hunt, blending aggressive energy with soaring, cinematic choruses. With haunting melodies and primal intensity, the dark and visceral music video brings the song’s raw emotions to life. SCREAM is the first of three singles from the upcoming album and will be released on February 28, 2025.

Digital Pre-Save: https://orcd.co/chontarazscream

Join the Video premiering for SCREAM here:

Norwegian/Greek powerhouse CHONTARAZ resurface from the depths of their origins in Hell (Norway), igniting anticipation among fans of dark, dynamic music with their eagerly anticipated return. Their upcoming third album Phantom of Reality (Release: May 9, 2025) once again transports listeners into the distinctive universe of CHONTARAZ, delivering an immersive and captivating journey through their modern soundscapes and atmospheric storytelling.

Exploring the theme of authenticity, the album delves into the journey of embracing one’s true self while rejecting superficiality. Combining dark modern metal and industrial elements, CHONTARAZ masterfully blend intense energy with deep lyrical narratives, ensuring that Phantom of Reality resonates with fans on both a musical and emotional level.

During the production of Phantom of Reality, CHONTARAZ found both a new producer and drummer in the exceptionally talented Fotis Benardo — a seasoned musician renowned for his extreme drumming prowess, even gracing the cover of Sick Drummer Magazine. With his visionary approach to metal, Fotis has cemented his reputation through thunderous work with Septicflesh (for whom he wrote some of their most iconic tracks), Sakis Tolis, and other
powerhouse projects.

Working together in his studio in Athens, the chemistry between the musicians was immediate and undeniable, leading Fotis (aka Narwhal) to join CHONTARAZ full-time. The result? A game-changing metal collaboration that showcases a groundbreaking fusion of songwriting mastery, elite musicianship, and world-class production — delivering an album that redefines modern metal.

Fotis Benardo’s dual mastery as producer and drummer shaped the sonic landscape of Phantom of Reality, delivering an immersive and crushing soundscape that elevates every track. All this is seamlessly combined with the songwriting brilliance of Ahkon (Herbjørn Anglen) and Chontaraz (Frode Kvarsnes), who together have co-written all the tracks, blending Ahkon’s guitar and bass mastery with Chontaraz’s spellbinding vocal delivery. The result is a sonic explosion: a powerful blend of dark modern metal with industrial elements, seamlessly merged with Fotis’ precision and sonic vision. The album achieves a sound that is both raw and refined, brutal and beautiful.

Phantom of Reality also features:
● Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ) as guest vocalist on SCREAM (single release: February 28, 2025)
● George Nerantzis, responsible for keys and industrial add-ons on all tracks
● Kjetil “DeadBit” Lindløkken on additional keys for Spin The Wheel, Prayer To The Masses, and Dressed To Kill
● Noxaerias (Kostas Mexis) on bass for live performances and music videos

The collaborations result in a fusion of top-tier musicianship, visionary songwriting, and elite production, propelling CHONTARAZ into uncharted territory. With Ahkon and Chontaraz driving the creative vision through their joint songwriting efforts, and Fotis Benardo shaping the sound and rhythm, this is metal at its absolute peak. Brace yourself!

Tracklist for Phantom of Reality

  1. Istanbul
  2. Prayer To The Masses
  3. You’re The One To Blame
  4. Phantom Of Reality
  5. The Flick Of Time
  6. Scream (feat. Sakis Tolis)
  7. Face The Fake
  8. Spin The Wheel
  9. Nail
  10. Dressed To Kill
  11. Kingpin

Digital Album Pre-Save: https://orcd.co/phantomofreality
CD & LP Presale: http://www.chontaraz.com/

About CHONTARAZ
Originally hailing from Hell, Norway, CHONTARAZ emerged in 2015 with a bold vision: to create music they truly loved, free from stylistic limitations, and to deliver it with theatrical live shows, signature makeup, and captivating lyrical storytelling.

Their debut album Rondamauh was crafted alongside legendary producer Daniel Bergstrand (known for his work with In Flames, Meshuggah, Dimmu Borgir, Devin Townsend), receiving widespread acclaim from heavyweights like Sweden Rock Magazine, Metal Observer, and Scream Magazine. It was also voted third-best international album of 2017 by Quebec-Metal and personally recommended by Kamelot’s Thomas Youngblood.

In 2019, CHONTARAZ premiered their second album Speed The Bullet during 70000TONS OF METAL, The Original, The World’s Biggest Heavy Metal Cruise.

Produced in collaboration with George Nerantzis, the album received outstanding reviews and propelled them to tour with iconic bands like Sepultura and Soulfly, and to play as support for Kamelot and Cyhra.

With their third album, Phantom of Reality (Release: May 9, 2025), CHONTARAZ have ultimately transformed into a true Norwegian-Greek powerhouse, blending the dark rawness of Norwegian metal with the technological precision and industrial intensity brought by their newest member and producer Fotis Benardo.

Known for his visionary drumming and production skills, Fotis (aka Narwhal) has redefined the band’s sonic landscape, ensuring an immersive, crushing sound that elevates every track. This collaboration merges Ahkon’s (Herbjørn Anglen) guitar and bass mastery, Chontaraz’s (Frode Kvarsnes) spellbinding vocals, and Fotis’ precision drumming and production expertise, creating a dark modern metal groove bomb infused with industrial elements. Together, Ahkon and Chontaraz have co-written all the tracks, ensuring a unique fusion of heavy riffs, melodic finesse, and haunting atmospheres. CHONTARAZ delivers a truly unique soundscape, uniting the ferocity of heavy metal and the intensity of black metal with the mechanical pulse of industrial and the edge of modern metal. The result is a sonic explosion that pushes boundaries and crafts a musical landscape where chaos and order strike a perfect balance.

This Norwegian-Greek metal juggernaut stands out with a blend of brutal power and melodic depth, featuring massive riffs layered with electronic textures and post-apocalyptic atmospheres. Their music fills a gap in today’s metal market, venturing into dark territories where others hesitate to tread. For CHONTARAZ, it’s not just about playing music — it’s about delivering an immersive experience.

CHONTARAZ online:
https://chontaraz.bandzoogle.com/
https://www.facebook.com/chontaraz
https://www.instagram.com/chontaraz
https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/6epCi49W636bu7QKJ4v08Z
https://www.youtube.com/@chontarazofficial8769

SHE WANTS REVENGE Frontman Justin Warfield Releases New Single + Video ‘Jet Plane’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 26, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Justin Warfield, WARFIELD. Leave a comment

With their poptastic debut single “All The Fun (Kiss Kiss Kiss)” still reaping acclaim, WARFIELD – the exciting new project led by She Wants revenge lyricist and frontman Justin Warfield – release their follow-up today.

Taken again from the forthcoming Deathrock Devotionals Vol I EP, “Jet Plane” marries an irresistibly propulsive groove to the descriptive storytelling for which Warfield has forever been renowned.   And it’s aptly-titled, too. As Justin puts it, “Jet Plane” “sounds like just one; full speed, propulsion, engine on red, and all go-go-go.” 

“Jet Plane” calls to mind the B-52’s and The Pretenders, but it broods with Justin’s own signature tone, imagery, and rapid-fire flow. With a beat you can’t help but move to, and an earworm chorus you will be singing before you’ve even finished listening to it, “Jet Plane” is youthful, undeniable, and will transport you to an underground all-ages party in an East LA warehouse where Manchester is the mindset.

Add the very ghostly reference  of the refrain of “Sympathy to the Devil”  to the brew (you’ll know it when you hear it), and anticipation for the EP is only going to grow stronger in its aftermath.

SINGLE: https://orcd.co/warfield_jetplane

Justin describes WARFIELD as his first “proper” solo release since he co-founded She Wants Revenge in 2004, and whose self-titled release singlehandedly realigned the future of the Dark Alternative scene – “it’s the only recording and touring project I’ve helmed outside of SWR.”  The band itself, however, is by no means out of circulation – in the months to come, She Wants Revenge will be appearing at both Los Angeles’ famed Cruel World Festival and Forever Now, the sister festival in Milton Keynes, England.

But WARFIELD, too, will be on the road, playing their first ever live show at an EP release party in Echo Park, Los Angeles on March 29th, before launching a full European/UK tour in June, and North American tours in the Summer and Fall.

In the meantime, the “Jet Plane” video is here to at least help slake the appetite.

AD INFINITUM Announce European Headline Tour for Fall 2025

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 26, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Ad Infinitum. Leave a comment
[Photo Credit: Stefan Heilemann]

Having just finished a full European tour with folk metal pioneers Eluveitie, modern metal force AD INFINITUM keeps the momentum going by announcing their very first headline tour for fall 2025! With Seven Spires and Phantom Elite as support acts, the tour kicks off on October 23 in Aschaffenburg, Germany (DE), and spans 14 cities across Europe.
 
Last year was massive for AD INFINITUM, marked by highlights such as the release of their spellbinding, game-changing fourth album Abyss, as well as a North American tour alongside symphonic metal masters Kamelot and power metal veterans HammerFall. Dubbed as “the new bearers of hope for modern melodic metal” by Hardline Magazine (DE) and “one of Europe’s most promising epic modern metal outfits” by Metalized Magazine (DK), the four-piece is poised to continue their rise to the top of the scene in 2025.
 
Founded in 2018, AD INFINITUM has built a devoted fanbase with their captivating live energy and critically acclaimed studio albums, amassing millions of streams and video views. Incredibly versatile vocalist Melissa Bonny is also a sought-after feature guest, having collaborated with renowned bands such as Kamelot, Feuerschwanz and dArtagnan.
 
Check out the full listing of tour dates and secure your tickets for AD INFINITUM’s headline tour now!
 
AD INFINITUM comments:
“We are so extremely happy and excited to invite you all to our first headline tour! After touring the world supporting iconic bands, it is time for us to finally bring you the full Ad Infinitum experience! This tour is a huge milestone for us, and we cannot wait to share with you unforgettable nights filled with energy and emotion, together with our friends from Seven Spires and Phantom Elite. See you on the road!”

Get your copy of the latest record Abyss HERE

Abyss soars as a modern metal masterpiece. After the opener “My Halo”, the intensity continues with “Follow me Down”, driven by entrancing riffs that solidify the band’s technical prowess. “Aftermath” highlights AD INFINITUM‘s energetic and experimental side, delivering potent growls and innovative compositions. “Euphoria” transports listeners to ethereal soundscapes, seamlessly blending genres from catchy pop to visceral alt metal, creating a unique and captivating experience. The mystic “The one you’ll hold on to” follows with its powerful guitar riffs and haunting melodies, leading into the infectious “Parasite”. This track spotlights Melissa Bonny’s remarkable vocal abilities while giving ample space for impressive guitar work. The album culminates with “Dead End”, a gripping, catchy finale that leaves a lasting impression. Abyss is an unmatched, skilled tour de force showcasing AD INFINITUM’s vast creativity and variety of inspirations.

Abyss Tracklisting:
1    My Halo
2    Follow me Down
3    Outer Space
4    Aftermath
5    Euphoria
6    Surrender
7    Anthem for the Broken
8    The one you’ll hold on to
9    Parasite
10  Dead End
11  My Halo (Orchestral Version)*
*Earbook only

AD INFINITUM LIVE 2025
 
Into The Abyss Headliner Tour 2025
Support: Seven Spires and Phantom Elite
23.10.25 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal
25.10.25 FR – Paris / Backstage by the Mill
26.10.25 CH – Bern / Stellwerk
27.10.25 CH – Zurich / Dynamo Werk 21
29.10.25 DE – Munich / Backstage – Halle
30.10.25 AT – Vienna Szene
31.10.25 CZ – Zlin / Masters of Rock Cafe
01.11.25 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser
02.11.25 DE – Berlin / Lido
04.11.25 DE – Herford / Kulturwerk
05.11.25 DK – Copenhagen / Pumpehuset
06.11.25 DE – Hamburg / Logo
07.11.25 NL – Tilburg / O13
08.11.25 DE – Bochum / TBA
 
Additional dates:
09.05.25 CH – Lausanne / Festival Balélec
10.05.25 DE – Braunschweig / Rock in Rautheim
11.05.25 DE – Cologne / Club Volta (headline show w/ Phantom Elite)
24.05.25 DE – Nordhorn / North Metal Night (headliner slot)
31.05.25 BE – Antwerp / Harmony Metal Fest (headliner slot)

AD INFINITUM are:
Melissa Bonny – Vocals
Adrian Thessenvitz – Guitars
Korbinian Benedict – Bass
Niklas Müller – Drums
 
AD INFINITUM online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
NAPALM RECORDS

…AND OCEANS Release Lead Single ‘Inertiae’ from Upcoming Album “The Regeneration Itinerary”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 26, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: ...And Oceans. Leave a comment
Photo by © Mikko Parkkonen / Aarni Visuals

…AND OCEANS has persistently defied musical confines, marrying the audacious essence of symphonic black metal with avant-garde elements. Through a remarkable 30-year trajectory, they have maintained an insatiable thirst for reinvention. The release of “Inertiae” is an embodiment of their relentless evolution, a heady fusion of symphonic mastery and kinetic industrial trance-dance beats.

Drawing from their rich history, this track lays bare the duality of light and dark, striking a balance that is synonymous with their iconic sound. The band’s mesmerizing blend captures the cosmic interplay between chaos and order, refined to unruly perfection by the mixing and mastering of Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio. As the song unfolds, Mathias Lillmåns’ potent vocals dance intricately with the labyrinthine rhythms crafted by Timo Kontio and Antti Simonen, promising an expansive auditory expedition.

“Inertiae, the bringer of paralysis, the guardian of my sleep.” reflects Mathias. “The one that opens my eyes, keeps my flesh in stasis and my mind barely touching the surface. This track is a dialog, like a servant addressing his master, between me and the bane of my slumber.”

Imagine being pulled through a vortex, the edges of reality fraying as you’re whisked away to realms of myth and memory. Inertiae serves as a prelude to the labyrinthine odyssey that is The Regeneration Itinerary. It is an album that weaves together their storied past and audacious future, touching upon the celestial and the corporeal, the ethereal and the visceral. Each track is a portal to another facet of existence. From the spectral Förnyelse I Tre Akter to the ruthless pulse of The Fire in Which We Burn, the album’s narrative is at once both timeless and immediate.
The Regeneration Itinerary is a celestial compass guiding listeners through the prognostications of time and the shadows of consciousness. Recorded at SoundSpiral Audio by Juho Räihä, it is a tour de force that promises to redefine …and Oceans, while pushing the boundaries of symphonic black metal to uncharted territories.

Watch the visualizer for Inertiae, created by Aarni Visuals:

The Regeneration Itinerary is out May 23rd on Season of Mist.

➤ Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/andoceanstheregenerationitinerary

Tracklist:
1. Inertiae (4:30) [WATCH]
2. Förnyelse i Tre Akter (5:07)
3. Chromium Lungs, Bronze Optics (4:29)
4. The Form and the Formless (3:32)
5. Prophetical Mercury Implement (6:57)
6. The Fire in Which We Burn (3:04)
7. The Ways of Sulphur (4:17)
8. I Am Coin, I Am Two (4:25)
9. Towards the Absence of Light (4:49)
10. The Terminal Filter (5:22)
11. Copper Blood, Titanium Scars (Bonus Track) (4:14)
12. The Discord Static (Bonus Track) (3:35)
Full runtime: 54:22

Cover Art: Adrien Bousson

Chaos chameleons. Nocturnal shapeshifters. The skyward trajectory of idiosyncratic Finnish extremists …and Oceans has been serpentine and sublime.

Since rising in 1995 from the ashes of death metal outfit Festerday, the group’s esoteric take on extreme music has seem them draw on a gamut on contrasting elements, ranging from black and death metal to classical, industrial and EBM, forever questing through various line-up changes, defying expectations while remaining wholly true to themselves.

“We’ve never been tied to one particular genre,” explains founding member, guitarist Timo Kontio. “As a band, we are driven to explore, to traverse unfamiliar landscapes, while always preserving our core sound. It’s about striking a balance. There’s the constant need in this band for renewal and ambition, but never at a cost to our identity.”

The group’s earliest albums, The Dynamic Gallery of Thoughts (1998) and The Symmetry of I: The Circle of O (1999), combined bombastic synth-driven salvos, blisteringly raw guitars, piercing banshee shrieks and ornate gothic arrangements in eviscerating wrath-fuelled blasts, while several celestial passages and near-dungeon synth segues already demonstrated the band’s need to mix things up.

A more seismic shift came in the mutant forms of A.M.G.O.D. (2001) and Cypher (2002), which saw …and Oceans transmogrify into a crushing cybernetic colossus, bulldozing into dystopian anti-futures with batteries of scalding techno beats and chugging palm-muted malevolence.

Accompanied by frontman Kena Strömsholm’s android syntax, the band’s dark heart now pumped corrosive hydraulic fluids around digital membranes, its symphonic black metal supercharged by martial industrial rhythms and infectious melo-death grooves.

The metamorphosis intensified with an interim rebrand as …and Oceans disbanded and its members reassembled under the name Havoc Unit in 2005, a vehicle for further mechanised contagions and noise worship, issuing their sole full-length, h.IV+ (Hoarse Industrial Viremia), in 2008.

But throughout these detours the mournful essence of …and Oceans’ singular universe endured, gathered together by a lamenting thread, a dolefulness unique to the Finnish scene, borne emphatically in the impassioned guitars of Kontio and his axe-wielding brother-in-arms, Teemu Saari. “Melancholia is everywhere, it’s in all the music that I make, especially my lead work,” elaborates Kontio. “It’s a key factor, distinctive to the whole …and Oceans catalogue.”

The band’s insatiable thirst for reinvention would subsequently find sustenance in its 90s roots, recasting the symphonic pomp of the past in the ardent furnace of experience and experimentation. Reconvening under the …and Oceans banner in 2017, the resulting brace of albums – Cosmic World Mother (2020) and As in Gardens, So in Tombs (2023) – redefined the group once more with ornate epics brimful of deliciously grim Karelian melodies and the chimerical atmospheres of keyboardist Antti Simonen, while new vocalist Mathias Lillmåns, replacing the departing Strömsholm, reinforced ties to black metal’s second wave with his devastatingly toxic rasp.

Now, 30 years on from their auspicious birth, …and Oceans have unveiled their most accomplished statement yet. A flamboyant distillation of the group’s grand nocturnal art, The Regeneration Itinerary assimilates all their hopes, dreams and influences into an uncompromising document of ravenous intent, with inebriating stylistic hybrids such as ‘Inertiae’ and ‘The Form and the Formless’ seamlessly fusing the heady onrush of symphonic black metal to the bludgeoning pulse of Simonen’s trance-dance hypnosis.

“The new album can be seen as a synthesis of our entire back catalogue,” suggests Lillmåns. “But there are new levels of extremity, too, ones that we’ve never reached before. These songs simply demanded harsher vocals. The riffs commanded it, and who am I to disobey?”

“This is our most experimental album since our comeback,” states Kontio. “It might be considered a continuation of the music we made in the 90s, but the sound has ripened and developed as our individual tastes have broadened, our inspirations subconsciously feeding into the band’s sound, necessitating change. From the very start, this band has encouraged progression and growth.”

Representing an intrepid summation of …and Oceans’ extraordinary journey, their continuing evolution, The Regeneration Itinerary locates the band’s dramatic thaumaturgical blends within a conceptual framework of opposites (and opposition).

“The Regeneration Itinerary explores the interplay between darkness and light, chaos and order, spiritual and material realms, with each song embodying an experience for the mind and body, navigating a passage to the present moment,” explains Lillmåns.

“The album works like a guide,” he continues. “Teaching us that not everything can be defined as simply being ‘good’ or ‘bad’, ‘light’ or ‘dark’, ‘copper’ or mercury’, underscoring the perpetual dance of dualities in the human experience.”

Line-up:
Mathias Lillmåns – Vocals
Teemu Saari – Guitar
Timo Kontio – Guitar
Pyry Hanski – Bass
Antti Simonen – Keyboards
Kauko Kuusisalo – Drums

Production Credits:
Recorded at Inka Studio / SoundSpiral Audio, Orimattila, Finland.
Producer & Engineered by Juho Räihä.
Mixed & Mastered by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio,  Söderfors, Sweden.

Biography: Spencer Grady

Follow …and Oceans:
Bandcamp: https://andoceans.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/andoceans/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/andoceans_official/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0rWmH68lIyVOGYhhvayFzu
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/and-oceans/32204550
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/11172
TIDAL: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/3565685

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