Norwegian cosmic brutal tech-death metal juggernaut CELESTIAL SCOURGE is set to release their highly anticipated first full-length album, “Observers of The Inevitable”, in early 2025 through Time To Kill Records!
Following their explosive 2023 debut EP, “Dimensions Unfurled”, the band is ready to take their sound to the next level. Brace yourselves for a sonic journey that will push the boundaries of technical death metal into the uncharted realms of the cosmos.
Founded in 2021 by bassist Stian Gundersen, CELESTIAL SCOURGE has already carved out a name for themselves with their relentless energy and unparalleled musicianship. Their sound is a brilliant blend of haunting growls, guitars wielded with malicious precision, thunderous bass lines, and drumming so fast it challenges the speed of light. It’s a musical onslaught inspired by the vast mysteries of space and the terrifying beauty of its dark corners.
The band’s line-up features members with a pedigree in some of the most revered names in underground extreme metal, including Blood Red Throne, Deception, Ruun, Vorbid, and Todesking. Drawing inspiration from titans like Suffocation, The Faceless, The Zenith Passage, Cattle Decapitation and Cannibal Corpse, CELESTIAL SCOURGE crafts a sound that’s both ferociously modern and rooted in the genre’s brutal legacy.
This release expands on the themes and sonic landscapes introduced in their debut, catapulting listeners further into the boundless chaos of the universe.
Keep your eyes on the stars and your ears tuned to Time To Kill Records for more updates!
Line-up:
Stian Gundersen: bass Kristoffer Lunden: drums Eirik Waadeland: vocals Hans Jakob Bjørheim: guitar Sindre Wathne Johnsen: guitar
German GUTRECTOMY have released a new single and video ‘Shard Throat’!
Gutrectomy, hailing from the dark depths of the Black Forest in Germany, was forged in the crucible of brutality back in 2011. Their music is a relentless amalgamation of Slam Death Metal, Deathcore, and Beatdown/Hardcore, a unique fusion that sets them apart in the metal scene.
On November 15, 2024 their latest single “Shard Throat” delves into themes of inner torment, mental anguish, and the desperate search for release. The lyrics depict a protagonist trapped in a purgatorial state, suffocating under the weight of darkness and madness. Battling inner demons, the song captures a sense of hopelessness and despair, where death is seen as the only escape. The intense psychological and emotional pain fuels the chaotic energy of the track, creating a relentless, cathartic experience.
One Assassination Under God – Chapter 1, the 12th album by MARILYN MANSON has been released worldwide via Nuclear Blast Records. The new album is available now for purchase and stream at https://mm.bfan.link/oaug-ch-1
With the record’s release comes a new video for the title track, ‘One Assassination Under God’, directed by Bill Yukich.
It’s always great to see our favorite genre performing well in studies – and this time, there’s solid reason to celebrate. Conducted by Prodigy Education, a developer of educational games, the study “The Most Intelligent Music Artists” revealed that Heavy Metal bands are at the top when it comes to complex song lyrics. The goal of the analysis was to identify which artists write the most diverse and sophisticated lyrics. Heavy Metal, in particular, excelled with its impressive linguistic variety.
How Was the Study Conducted?
Prodigy Education analyzed song lyrics from Top Billboard artists and legendary bands from the past decades. The focus was on “lexical diversity,” meaning the number of unique words and the linguistic complexity within the lyrics.
The researchers explained:
“We analyzed the lyrics of Top Billboard artists and iconic musicians from past decades to uncover patterns in emotion and complexity.”
“Lexical diversity – the variety of unique words used in an artist’s lyrics – helped us determine which artists and genres have the richest vocabulary. Additionally, we surveyed music fans to explore how their listening habits impact their work performance and the role music plays when their children are learning at home.”
Slayer, Megadeth & More: Metal Stands Out with Sophisticated Lyrics
For many Metal fans, the results may not be surprising: some of the genre’s most renowned bands dominate the top spots in the study. Black Sabbath, considered pioneers of Heavy Metal, share the top position with the legendary Rock band Pink Floyd, both achieving 52% lexical diversity.
Other top performers:
Slayer: 51%
Megadeth: 45%
Judas Priest: 44%
Iron Maiden: 44%
Motörhead: 42%
These findings clearly demonstrate how complex and diverse the lyrics of Metal and Rock bands can be – a trait often overlooked by the general public.
What Emotions Does Heavy Metal Convey?
In addition to linguistic diversity, the study also examined the emotional nuances of song lyrics. It found that some Metal bands convey particularly positive emotions, while others are known for their darker themes. Bands that primarily evoke positive emotions include Led Zeppelin and Judas Priest. On the other hand, many Metal bands focus on negative emotions and dark topics. Topping this list is Slayer, followed by Iron Maiden, Slipknot, System of a Down, and Metallica, all of which rank among the Top 10 darkest bands.
But these findings aren’t entirely negative. Another study, conducted in 2015 by the University of Queensland, found that these intense emotions processed through lyrics can actually benefit mental health. The music serves as an outlet, helping listeners channel and manage their emotions.
Conclusion
Heavy Metal is far more than just music – it’s a genre that combines linguistic sophistication with profound emotions. The study’s findings vividly show that Metal lyrics are often far more complex than many would expect. Whether it’s the poetic lyrics of Black Sabbath or the powerful anthems of Iron Maiden, Heavy Metal impresses with a depth and diversity that make it a truly unparalleled genre.
Immerse yourself in the spellbinding world of Dutch symphonic metal band BLACKBRIAR next single release, ‘Floriography’. This piece blends powerful riffs and delicate orchestrations, creating a captivating atmosphere. The lyrics evoke a hidden world where mysterious flowers carry secret messages, revealing Easter eggs throughout the melody.
Zora Cock comments: “Floriography marks the start of our upcoming third studio album. It’s a song full of mystery, dark academia meets Sherlock Holmes. The song’s protagonist deciphers hidden messages from a secret lover through the Victorian language of flowers, cryptic poetry, lyrical acronyms, and marks carved in trees. She may have even left some for you.”
“Some say that there is beauty in darkness – terrifying visitors, worlds far gone, gothic romances, bone-chilling legends, sin-eaters, burning hearts frozen in time, songs with a misleading voice, and a truthful whisper. This and so much more for you to discover on A Dark Euphony.” Such are the words of vocalist Zora Cock about the band’s upcoming sophomore album, set to release in fall 2023 on Nuclear Blast Records. A telling sign coming from a band who has reveled in gothic beauty and metallic darkness since their onset, spanning three EPs and a full-length album, along with long-time collaborator Joost van den Broek.
Formed in 2012 by Zora Cock, René Boxem, Bart Winters, and Frank Akkerman, they crafted their first single in 2014 with ‘Ready to Kill,’ but it was 2015’s second single ‘Until Eternity‘ that truly propelled them into the scene. A sweeping track with an equally compelling and beautiful video, it continues to draw many to the act with over 20 million views since its debut. Taking advantage of the growing buzz surrounding the band, they independently recorded and released their first EP, Fractured Fairytales, as well as acquiring a second guitarist in Robin Koezen. This EP layed down an impressive foundation for the band’s ethereal and breathtaking sound and brought about new opportunities for the act, including tour dates in The Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, France, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, and more, where the band played alongside EPICA, HALESTORM, IN THIS MOMENT, DELAIN and MaYan.
To keep moving ahead with full control of their creative ideals, the band successfully crowdfunded their follow-up EP, We’d Rather Burn, and brought it to life in October 2018. This EP would be the first time the band worked alongside esteemed producer Joost van den Broek to arrange and produce the effort, and this fruitful collaboration allowed BLACKBRIAR’s whimsical and enigmatic sound to reach new sonic heights. Released the same day as their self-made video for ‘I’d Rather Burn,’ this EP showcased a stronger sense of dreamy atmosphere and brought listeners beautifully grim tales of witches, banshees, and sea sirens. In the time following, keyboardist Ruben Wijga (ex-Re-Vamp) took a larger role within the band and began playing shows, after being involved in the songwriting process since Fractured Fairytales.
A busy 2019 followed, the band released a haunting single in May entitled ‘Snow White and Rose Red.’ A duet with Ulli Perhonen, their take on the Grimm’s fairytale featured striking cinematic visuals to accompany the spellbinding track. Continuing to dig deeper into fairytale realms, BLACKBRIAR closed the year with their third EP, Our Mortal Remains. Ever-sharpening their intoxicating blend of storytelling and breathtaking musicianship, the EP brought about new live exposures for the act as well. Small, sold out tours with EPICA in 2019 and 2020, as well as a sold out opening for DELAIN’s Apocalypse & Chill release show in Utrecht followed, with more future plans then being put on hold due to COVID-19.
Championing their continued independence, which included everything from songwriting, maintaining their web presence, overseeing merch, as well as shooting and producing their own videos and photos, BLACKBRIAR reached out to their ever-growing and loyal fanbase for assistance to make their full-length album a reality in 2020. Fans fervently heeded the call, reaching the € 25,000 goal in under 24 hours and ending with a total of € 70,000 and achieving all five stretch goals. An impressive accomplishment for an independent act, which also showcases a strong internet presence with over 230,000 YouTube subscribers and 56.5 million channel views as well as 37.9 million Spotify streams and 275,000 monthly streamers on the platform.
Entering 2021, the band relinquished a bit of control in signing exclusively with Doomstar Bookings to help properly support their highly anticipated first full-length album, The Cause of Shipwreck, which released in April. Once again recorded with renowned producer Joost van den Broek (EPICA, AYREON, POWERWOLF) at Sandlane Recording Facilities, this release showcased the band’s continued evolution into masterfully dark gothic storytelling and theatrical aesthetics that entice you into a deadly yet spellbinding musical paradise. On the live front, launching into success with six sold out Dutch club shows, they later extended into more European territories such as Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, France, and the Czech Republic as the band moved into 2022.
Despite a very successful 2021, the band still hungered for more, unleashing their latest single, ‘Fairy of the Bog‘ in December. A song about ‘het meisje van Yde’ (Yde girl), it’s a mixture of folklore, myth, and ancient local history wrapped into a more mystical and magical package that showcases what BLACKBRIAR does best. Due to winning ‘Drents Talent Award Culture 2021’ from ‘Stichting Kunst & Cultuur,’ BLACKBRIAR performed ‘I’d Rather Burn’ live on television together with the Dutch ‘Noordpool Orchestra in early 2022. In April, the band parted ways with founding member and bassist Frank Akkerman. Not a band to slow down, they welcomed Siebe Sol Sijpkens from The Netherlands as their new bassist. A happy and energetic performer with a lifetime of global performances, he is a welcome addition to the act as they continue to strive forward.
With their vision looking firmly into the future, with a major label behind them, they set their sights on 2023 to conjure their most deadly siren song yet. The band previously released the song ‘Crimson Faces‘ to celebrate their partnership with Nuclear Blast Records, and now the world eagerly awaits the release of A Dark Euphony this fall. Set to contain 10 new original songs as well as a bonus track, they recently released their first single from it with ‘My Soul’s Demise.’ According to Zora, “We’ve had the pleasure of working with producer and musical genius Joost van den Broek, and we gave it our all to write this record and feel that this is our most complete, personal, and mature album to date.” With this in mind, the band launched a preorder campaign in April for the release, full of unique perks, which has been quite successful already. They have also been preparing on the road, with festival shows Wave Gotik Treffen, SummerBreeze, and Rock the Lakes in 2023, as well as being a special guest on CHARLOTTE WESSELS’s Club Tour.
With accolades behind them, such as being nominated three times for ‘Best Artist’ in EuroSonic/Noorderslag‘s Popgala Noord (2018, 2020, 2022), and continued fan support with current monthly streaming totals on YouTube and Spotify near 1.5 million streams, the world is primed and ready for a spectacular journey into darkness and beauty.
With A Sonication, Germany-based metal band OBSCURA launch the second of their trilogy concept, set to be released on February 7th, 2025 via Nuclear Blast.
The group’s second (seventh overall) album for Nuclear Blast pivots on many fronts. Advanced, elegant, and yet refreshing, A Sonication sums up past endeavors effortlessly as it gazes with purpose and conviction into the future. OBSCURA are fan-renowned and critically acclaimed for challenging and then expanding upon norms. From Retribution (2004) through A Valediction (2021), the band flourished and made significant progress in a musical genre unprepared for a creative shot of German invention. A Sonication spearheads OBSCURA into a new era of extreme metal.
Check out the video for the first single ‘Silver Linings’ . The opening track of the album is a powerful and melodic song, offering a glimpse into the next chapter of OBSCURA´s ever-evolving musical journey.
Mastermind Steffen Kummerer comments: “With ‘Silver Linings’ we present you the first track of our brand new album A Sonication, which sees the light of day in early 2025. Supporting the new record, Obscura will embark on the first leg of a world tour in February next year. Lend your ear to the music, and see you at a venue near you!“
Tracklist: 01. Silver Linings 02. Evenfall 03. In Solitude 04. The Prolonging 05. Beyond The Seventh Sun 06. Stardust 07. The Sun Eater 08. A Sonication
A European tour is set to kick off in February 2025. Joining OBSCURA on tour will be American progressive deathcore outfit RINGS OF SATURN, and GOROD, the technical death metal force from France. With this international lineup, fans can expect a night of diverse and electrifying performances.
OBSCURA support: RINGS OF SATURN , GOROD 04.02. GER Stuttgart – Im Wizemann 05.02. IT Milan – Legend 06.02. CH Aarau – Kiff 07.02. FR Lyon – MJC O Totem 08.02. ES Barcelona – Wolf 09.02. ES Madrid – Sala Mon 10.02. PT Lisbon – Lav Lisboa 11.02. ES Portugalete – Groove 12.02. FR Toulouse – Le Rex 13.02. FR Rennes – L‘ubu 15.02. UK Birmingham – Asylum 16.02. UK Manchester – Rebellion 17.02. IRE Dublin – Whelans 18.02. UK Bristol – Thekla 19.02. UK London – O2 Academy Islington 20.02. FR Paris – Petit Bain 21.02. NL Eindhoven – Effenaar 22.02. GER Hamburg – Headcrash 23.02. GER Köln – Gebäude 9 24.02. GER Berlin – Lido 25.02. PL Wroclaw – Klub Lacznik 26.02. CZ Prague – Futurum 27.02. GER München – Hansa39
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 