After their debut single “Anqa” was voted Best New Metal Song of the Week by Metal Hammer readers, Bahraini atmospheric death metal project ZVINDIYAR return with “Shadhavar”, the third and final single from their upcoming debut release, Six Rites, due on September 3.
Metal Hammer described “Anqa” as “a glorious showcase” of the band’s sound, praising its “big, dramatic riffs delivered with a furious, unrelenting force.”
Inspired by the mythical Persian creature Shadhavar, the new single explores mortality, ambition, and the desire to leave something behind after the body is gone. Combining death metal aggression, clean vocals, cinematic atmosphere, and Persian mythological imagery, “Shadhavar” marks the band’s most ambitious work to date while bringing the story of Six Rites to its conclusion.
Six Rites is available for pre-order now on Bandcamp. Supporters will receive the full six-track release and digital booklet early on August 20, ahead of the official worldwide release on September 3.
Drawing inspiration from Persian and Arabic mythology, Six Rites explores themes of transformation, collapse, and transcendence through a cinematic blend of atmospheric death metal. Serving as ZVINDIYAR’s first complete release, it expands upon the conceptual world introduced by the band’s three singles.
Track listing: Anqa Hex Of The Frenzied Decay The Soaring Enigmatic Fell الهمس الأول Shadhavar
ANTHRAX have released ‘The Edge Of Perfection‘, the second single from their long-awaited 12th full-length studio albumCursum Perficio out September 18 via via Nuclear Blast Records and Megaforce Records (North America). The new single is highlighted by clean guitar echoes and cymbals that gently shake until a blastbeat blows open the doors. Guitars buzz like a motorboat on the River Styx, making waves through the darkness. In their wake, a crushing rhythm trails the melody of lead singer Joey Belladonna’s lament, “My heart breaks…I’m on the edge…I’m on the edge of perfection.”
For the video, the multi-GRAMMY® Award-nominated New York hard rock titans – Scott Ian (guitar), Charlie Benante (drums), Frank Bello (bass), Joey Belladonna (vocals), and Jonathan Donais (guitar) – teamed up with director and Academy Award-winner Joel Harlow (Star Trek and Alice in Wonderland) to create a spectacular cinematic experience that takes the hero from a dream into an evening of magic where he encounters underworld evil, interspersed with live performance footage. The clip includes appearances from martial artist Wes Scarpias, actress Ashley Edner-Tancharoen, actor Troy James, actor and Academy-Award winning make-up and special effects creatorRick Baker, actor Rod Maxwell and actor Fedor Steer.
“It’s the apex predator of Anthrax songs,” grins Ian. “I think it’s the best song we’ve ever written and the best thing I’ve ever been a part of creatively. What’s the most powerful emotion that moves me more than anything? Of course, it’s love. Nothing moves me like the deep feeling that I get from my wife and son. I’m living on that edge for the rest of my life. This is mine, but there are a lot of ways to ruin it. I’ve ruined it in past iterations of my life, but it got me to where I am. Love is perfection, and I like being on the edge of it. I don’t want everything to be about all of the same shit. This record has a whole bunch of love, a whole bunch of fun, and a little hate.”
Benante adds, “When I think about songs like ‘Only’ and ‘Indians,’ you know that you hit something and you can feel it. That’s the way I felt about ‘The Edge Of Perfection.’”
‘The Edge Of Perfection‘ follows Cursum Perficio’s first single and video, ‘It’s For The Kids‘.It’s a classic ANTHRAX ripper locked and loaded with buzzsaw-sharp riffs, explosive drumming, and a howling and head-banging hook. It undoubtedly has all the makings of a future live staple. ListenHEREand watch the official music videoHERE.
Cursum Perficio marks the band’s first record in ten years since 2016’s For All Kings, which debuted in the Top 10 of the Billboard 200. The phrase Cursum Perficio is Latin for “My journey has come to an end,”“My journey is over,” or “I complete my journey.” It proves apropos for such a complete body of work.
The band dove into recording Cursum Perficio in earnest during 2022, working out of Dave Grohl’s Studio 606 in Los Angeles. They carefully pieced together what would be this magnum opus, mining their history with reverence, delivering on fan expectations tenfold, and broadening the scope of their signature sound. Produced by Jay Ruston and ANTHRAX, the result is an album that’s as angry, aggressive, and alive as their most celebrated fare.
The CURSUM PERFICIO track listing is as follows:
01. Persistence of Memory 02. The Long Goodbye 03. It’s For the Kids 04. Everybody’s Got A Plan 05. The Edge Of Perfection 06. Infectious 07. NYC93 08. Cursum Perficio 09. T.O.M.B 10. Watch It Go 11. My Victory
Long-running German thrash outfit EXUMER will release their new full-length, Death Mask Messiah, on August 28th through Metal Blade Records.
Death Mask Messiah, which marks the band’s first new studio output in seven years, further cements EXUMER‘s legacy as a dauntless thrash metal institution. A logical and compelling progression from the German legend’s three previous albums, the 11 ferocious songs, produced by Dominic Paraskevopoulos (Kreator, Caliban) and mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Soulfly, King Diamond), take a more brutal and direct musical approach.
“We are a lot more aggressive than on Hostile Defiance and are returning to a more ‘in your face’ style on Death Mask Messiah,” confirms co-founding vocalist Mem V. Stein. “We’re furthering the process that began with our first offering for Metal Blade, 2012’s Fire & Damnation, where we wanted to sound like a contemporary band while maintaining the spirit and our musical heritage of the 1980s.”
Recorded from December 2025 through January 2026, Death Mask Messiah is EXUMER‘s sixth album and fourth for Metal Blade. It’s also the first EXUMER LP recorded with the rhythm section of drummer Jerome Reil and bass player Alex Voss. “They have formidably integrated themselves as musicians and friends into the EXUMER tapestry,” Mem says. “You can feel their young energy, coupled with our trademark aggression and experience. The band sounds more focused and yet raw, thanks to their addition to the lineup.”
Death Mask Messiah also surprises: There’s a guest and a cover song: Nasty Ronnie from American metal legends Nasty Savage sings on EXUMER‘s version of his band’s track “Unchained Angel.” EXUMER supported the band in 1988 on their first European tour.
The record is inspired conceptually by US politics of the last decade, the pandemic, the use of misinformation to stir up cultural divides, and the like. Mem also mused on the 30-year anniversary of Waco, Texas and the standoff with the Branch Davidians. “David Koresh was a false prophet and wore a death mask, manipulating and leading his followers to certain death,” Mem says. “Each song on Death Mask Messiah picks up an individual theme of these two strains of thought.“
For instance, the title track and lead single brings everything together with the Waco raid/siege and Koresh as the main character but also paints a universal picture of charlatans who lead the United States to hell with their lust for power.
Mem further elaborates, “We deliberately chose this track as the first single, as the sonic assault of its main riff and the lyrical concept represent the totality of our intentions for this album. It marks a clear step toward elevating the band to the next level of our career, leaving nothing to the imagination and reinforcing our place as one of the most powerful forces in the entire genre.”
Death Mask Messiah features front art and layout by Björn Gooßes of Killustrations (Sodom, Vomitory).
EXUMER Live: 10/23/2026 Nuclear Winter Festival 2026 – Hirschaid, DE 11/21/2026 Alcatraz & Pluto Festival – Deinze, BE 2/20/2027 Endzeit Festival 2027 – Essen, DE
EXUMER: Mem V. Stein – vocals Ray Mensh – guitars Marc B. – guitars Alex Voss – bass Jerome Reil – drums
Berlin-based cinematic gothic rock project HIDECLOSE returns with “My Little Ghost,” the final single preceding the release of the ambitious concept album Promissum.
Stream the single here.
Set within the evolving narrative of Promissum, “My Little Ghost” transports listeners to Victorian London in 1889, where Inspector Edward Sutton interrogates Annie “Little Ghost” Blackwell, a member of the notorious Forty Elephants gang. What begins as a routine investigation into theft soon spirals into a web of deception as Annie, desperate to secure her freedom, manipulates the truth and shifts suspicion for the murder of Agnes Hill onto Professor Dario Valperga. In doing so, a criminal investigation becomes a devastating false accusation, pushing the album’s overarching story into darker territory.
Written by Lenn Vane and performed by The Veiled Librarians, “My Little Ghost” stands among HIDECLOSE‘s most intimate and cinematic compositions. The track introduces new vocal performances—including a female voice—that heighten its dramatic tension while expanding the emotional scope of the project’s theatrical universe.
Blending gothic metal, dark rock, and doom-laden atmospheres, the song combines haunting orchestration, crushing guitar work, expressive vocal performances, and cinematic storytelling. Every musical element serves the narrative, reinforcing HIDECLOSE‘s vision of creating an immersive rock opera where each release unfolds another chapter of a larger story.
Statement from Hideclose:
“It is the most theatrical piece of the project so far, and I paid a lot of attention to the vocals. In my mind, there is a film script, and the music is its soundtrack. The whole project, hideclose, tells one story that will gradually unfold. “
HIDECLOSE is a Berlin-based cinematic gothic metal and dark rock project centered around Essentia Mali, a five-act rock opera exploring the nature of evil—from the depths of the human psyche to the cosmic unknown.
Spanning London, Turin, San Francisco, and the realm of the dead, the story follows theology professor Dario Valperga, born in Turin in 1854, as he embarks on a journey marked by suffering, fear, transformation, and supernatural awakening. As the narrative progresses, the boundary between reality and the otherworld gradually dissolves, drawing listeners into an expansive and richly imagined universe.
Musically, HIDECLOSE combines gothic metal, dark rock, doom influences, theatrical songwriting, and cinematic arrangements to deliver a concept-driven experience where every song advances the story.
HIDECLOSE‘s Nocte Mutamur (By Night We Are Changed) is now available on all major digital platforms here:
Symphonic metal pioneers VISIONS OF ATLANTIS set sail alongside German medieval metal titans SALTATIO MORTIS on the brand-new single, “Reckless Sailor (Black Flag Rises)”. Reimagining the legendary sea shanty “Drunken Sailor”, the track arrives together with an official music video and was created in collaboration with Ubisoft Germany to celebrate the launch of Assassin’s Creed™ Black Flag Resynced.
With the unmistakable vocal performances of Clémentine Delauney and Michele Guaitoli, VISIONS OF ATLANTIS bring their signature cinematic symphonic metal spirit to the newly arranged classic. Blending driving guitars with maritime melodies, SALTATIO MORTIS transform the iconic shanty into a powerful anthem of freedom, courage and life beyond convention—an epic musical adventure that perfectly captures the spirit of Assassin’s Creed™ Black Flag Resynced.
Following the critically acclaimed albums Pirates (2022) and Pirates II – Armada (2024), VISIONS OF ATLANTIS have firmly established themselves among the leading forces of modern symphonic metal. Their collaboration with SALTATIO MORTIS unites two bands driven by a shared passion for adventure, freedom and captivating storytelling, breathing new life into one of the most iconic sea shanties of all time.
About SALTATIO MORTIS: Founded in 2000, SALTATIO MORTIS have become one of Germany’s defining medieval rock acts. Blending traditional instruments such as bagpipes, hurdy-gurdy and drums with modern rock elements, the band has earned a reputation for spectacular live performances and songs exploring themes of freedom, unity and change. Over the years, they have conquered the stages of major festivals including Wacken Open Air, M’era Luna and Summer Breeze.
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS Live 2026: Festivals: 10.07.26 BG – Mogilovo / Midalidare Rock 16.07.26 AT – Leoben / Are 53 Festival 17.07.26 CZ – Zlin / Masters Of Rock Festival (Special Show with Filharmonie Bohuslava Martinu Orchestra) 18.07.26 IT – Ferrara / Ferrara Summer Festival 29.07.26 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air 14.08.26 FR – Carhaix / Motocultor Festival
Dark Asylum World Tour Supporting Kamelot, w/ Frozen Crown 28.08.26 US – Orlando, FL / Hard Rock Live 29.08.26 US – Atlanta, GA / The Masquerade (Heaven) 31.08.26 US – Dallas, TX / The Studio at the Factory 02.09.26 US – Phoenix, AZ / The Van Buren 03.09.26 US – Las Vegas, NV / House of Blues 04.09.26 US – Anaheim, CA / House of Blues 05.09.26 US – San Francisco, CA / The Fillmore 07.09.26 CA – Vancouver, BC / Vogue Theatre 08.09.26 US – Seattle, WA / Neptune 10.09.26 US – Salt Lake City, UT / Rockwell at The Complex 11.09.26 US – Denver, CO / Summit Music Hall 12.09.26 US – Kansas City, MO / The Truman 14.09.26 US – Minneapolis, MN / First Avenue 15.09.26 US – Milwaukee, WI / The Rave 17.09.26 US – St. Charles, IL / The Arcada Theatre 18.09.26 US – Cleveland, OH / Globe Iron 19.09.26 CA – Toronto, ON / Phoenix Concert Theatre 20.09.26 CA – Montreal, QC / MTELUS 22.09.26 CA – Quebec City, QC / Theatre Capitole 24.09.26 US – Glenside, PA / Keswick Theatre 25.09.26 US – Worcester, MA / The Palladium 26.09.26 US – New York, NY / Palladium Times Square 27.09.26 US – Silver Spring, MD / The Fillmore Silver Spring
VISIONS OF ATLANTIS are: Clémentine Delauney – Vocals Michele Guaitoli – Vocals, Piano, Orchestra Arrangements Thomas Caser – Drums Christian Douscha – Guitars Herbert Glos – Bass
BRAINTERROR is a Finnish thrash metal band of four promising really young musicians who are not shy about showing off their skills. This Finnish metal quartet have developed rapidly by playing rageous gigs and the band’s tight playing has already convinced audiences of all ages. Now they’re back with their second single ‘Killzone Messiah’ that leaves absolutely no questions.
Formed by high school friends, Brainterror relies on their own songs, in which traditional thrash is being grounded through a meat grinder with youthful enthusiasm. The band does not bow to icons, but confesses its faith in its role models, such as Stone, Lost Society, Havok and Sepultura.
Brainterror’s second single “Killzone Messiah” is three and a half minutes of straight-up bombardment that leaves no room for questions. The song approaches extreme Thrash madness, tackles heavy topics, and thunders over the listener from the very beginning.
The song has been produced with Turku Rock Academy’s Mark Albert Bertényi and Toivo-Olavi Väliviita.
Brainterror comments:
Killzone Messiah is a fast, energetic and aggressive song. This release has been carefullycrafted and the song is sure to leave no one sitting down.
Music by Brainterror Lyrics by Arttu Aho Recorded and produced by Toivo-Olavi Väliviita, Mark Bertényi @ Auran Panimo & Jussi Vuola @ V.R. Studio Mixed by Toivo-Olavi Väliviita Mastered by Jackson Shuudifonya, Southwest Mastering Catalog nr: VRDIG369 ISRC: FIV2U2600037 Distributor: Playground Music Scandinavia.
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 ) 