Mandragola is the first single from Maison Dieu’s forthcoming EP release Herbacea.
The song is immediately characterized by the trio’s unmistakable sound, with pounding rhythms, doom and stoner distortions, all surrounded by an aura of mystery and sudden changes of atmosphere.
The lyrics are a hermetic poem that speaks of the dialogue between the plant from which the song takes its name (Mandragola) and a person intent on uprooting it to extract the magical properties derived from the root, which is known to be shrouded in countless stories, myths and legends.
Munich-based death metal wrecking crew COMMANDER have released a brand new video clip for the song “Astrayed”! The track is taken from the highly acclaimed “Angstridden” album, which saw the light of day last year and represents a brilliant highlight in the quartet’s musical output to date. The band, who crossing the metal szene been for over 25 years, fire out 10 songs of raw and brutal death metal on this album.
The now released video, which is a mixture of video clip and lyric video in a futuristic ambience, was produced by none other than Rene Berthammer (Equilibrium). Check it out! If you don’t want to miss COMMANDER live, you can find the currently confirmed dates for 2025 below!
dates 23 May 2025 München, Backstage 19 July 2025 Boarstream Open Air 2025, Mulfingen 19 September 2025 Högenau Schrobenhausen, Metal im Woid 26 September 2025 St. Pölten (A), Freiraum
Finnish melodic death metallers Admire the Grim released their debut album ‘Resist’ via Inverse Records on January 31st 2025. Listen to the album on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/admirethegrim-album
The band comments on the making of the album:
“The album was written in about two years. At some point we took a short break from touring and really took time for song writing and pre-production. Taking that time worked out really well and we are extremely happy with the results! We managed to unify our sound and take things a bit further musically. Even if the record is mostly about fast and aggressive playing, we do have an acoustic surprise on the record as well. The final mix by Saku Moilanen really took the songs to the next level and they sound exactly what we had hoped for.”
Guitarist Jani Loikkanen comments on the songwriting process:
“Before the album recordings I pretty much wrote songs and recorded demos for a full year with no break. Infinite amount of audiotracks still haunt me in my sleep. But after all that work, only good songs ended up on the album! It’s a privilege to be able to play guitar and write songs in this particular band.”
Vocalist Katri Snellman comments on the lyrics:
“The themes on this album are resistance and change. The lyrics consist of different viewpoints and situations related to the subject. Whether it’s about a political riot or a personal revolution in real life, a change in an individual’s life is guaranteed.”
Track list:
01. Crescent Moon 02. Resist 03. Revolutions 04. Rivers to Surge 05. Acoustic Melodies from the Past and Present 06. Choke on Your Words 07. Hypocrite 08. Mad Queen of the Second Sun 09. No Limits
Album cover by Anssi Kuivalainen
Finnish melodic death metallers Admire the Grim will release their debut album ‘Resist’ via Inverse Records in January 2025. The album, which was crafted for two years, consists of familiar Admire the Grim tunes and acoustic surprises. Antti ‘Hyrde’ Hyyrynen of Stam1na visits as a guest vocalist on the single ‘Resist’. Album debut gig will be held at the legendary Nuijamies venue in the band’s hometown of Lappeenranta, Finland. Afterwards Admire the Grim is heading for gigs around Finland.
Admire the Grim was formed in 2021. The band released its’ well received ‘Rogue Five’ debut EP via Inverse Records in 2022. After the release the band followed up with a Finnish tour and their first gig abroad at Bloodstained Metal Fest in Estonia.
Rising stars in the metal/punk scene, Lonely Empire, release their highly anticipated debut EP,Dawn of the Empire, out now via Golden Robot Records. This monumental release marks the beginning of a bold new chapter for the Adelaide-based band, whose raw energy and socially charged lyrics have already started to make waves.
Featuring a mix of heavy riffs, anthemic choruses, and poignant commentary, Dawn of the Empire showcases the band’s unique fusion of metal and punk influences. With tracks like their electrifying singles ‘Like a Misfit’ and ‘Convoluted Insanity’, the EP serves as both a declaration of intent and a thrilling invitation to their expanding fan base. “This EP is a reflection of the struggles and triumphs we face in a world that feels increasingly chaotic,” says lead singer Lucas. “It’s our way of connecting with anyone who’s ever felt like they’re fighting to carve out their place in this empire of noise.”
Produced with precision and passion, Dawn of the Empire cements Lonely Empire as a force to be reckoned with in the global punk and metal communities and with their intense live performances and a message that speaks directly to the outcasts, the band is poised to make a big impact. Fans can expect a sonic experience that’s as cathartic as it is exhilarating.
Tough on Fridays, the powerhouse alt-rock band hailing from Austin, Texas, is set to kick off 2025 with a bang, dropping their latest single, ‘Nosedive,’ out now on Golden Robot Records. To celebrate the release, the band will be hosting a single launch show in Austin – details to come.
‘Nosedive’ delves into the thrill and turmoil of a relationship that’s as intense as it is doomed. With its driving beats, soaring melodies, and poignant lyrics, the track captures the euphoria of passionate highs, juxtaposed with the bittersweet reality of inevitable lows. This raw, electrifying anthem is a testament to Tough on Fridays’ signature sound – blending heartfelt emotion with unrelenting energy. “This song is about embracing the beautiful chaos of a love that feels almost too good to last,” shares lead vocalist Caleigh. “It’s that push and pull between knowing the crash is coming but refusing to hit the brakes because the ride is just too exhilarating.”
The single launch show promises to be an unforgettable night, giving fans the chance to hear ‘Nosedive’ live and experience the magic that the Tough on Fridays girls bring to the stage. Don’t miss this chance to dive headfirst into the latest chapter of their journey.
Caleigh, Carly and Bella became best friends and started playing music together in 2023. Ever since, they’ve enjoyed playing shows, writing music and touring around with each other as well as the community of extremely talented musicians they’ve entered into. Tough on Fridays exists to validate the ones who feel forgotten and alone and provide a space to be seen and heard.
Finland’s melancholic goth doomsters HANGING GARADEN are premiering a music video for a new single “The First Sunrise”, lifted from the band’s upcoming EP “The Unending”, due out March 14th on Agonia Records. The material serves as a bridge between the band’s last album, “The Garden” (2023), and the new one, which is currently in preproduction.
Delving deeper into the rituals, beliefs and existential concepts intrinsic to the nature of humanity and its cultures, HANGING GARDEN continues the thematic continuum of their previous full-length album, “The Garden”. Their latest work, a mini-album bearing the name “The Unending”, is a four song entity, its thematic focal points those of perseverance and the occult, of returning to a harmony with nature and the remorseless forces therein. Once again, an aesthetic interplay between light and darkness, dissonance and harmony, serenity and ferocity, HANGING GARDEN‘s novel musical work seeks to provide the listener with a journey through emotion and spirituality, through their meadows and wastelands, and onwards into the collective soul of humanity.
“The Unending” was produced by Jussi Hämäläinen and Jarno Hänninen and mixed & mastered by Jarno Hänninen at D-studio. The cover art & layout was created by Kalle Pyyhtinen.
Tracklisting: 1. To Seize the Night 2. The Passage 3. Morgan’s Trail 4. The First Sunrise
HAGNING GARDEN was brought to life in 2004 with an early style that encompassed heavy, doom-oriented metal music. Roughly two decades, seven albums and a couple of line-up shuffles later, the Finns shifted to a more melodic, contemporary sound, which is rooted in dark atmosphere, and leans towards open-minded and playful musicality. While still entrenched in metal, HANGING GARDEN possesses a versatile, many-layered style of playing, male & female vocals, and draws influence & inspiration from music and art, far and wide. The group may appeal to fans of Swallow the Sun, Ghost Brigade, October Tide, Katatonia or Type O Negative.
Line-up: Mikko Kolari – guitars Jussi Hämäläinen – guitars, backing vocals Kimmo Tukiainen – guitars Nino Hynninen – synths Jussi Kirves – bass, moog Antti Ruokola – drums, programming Riikka Hatakka – vocals Toni Hatakka – vocals
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 ) 