Following their latest, colossal studio album Expedition One, (released in January this year via AFM RecordsHERE!), Swedish melodic power metal frontrunners METALITE present a new video clip for the song “Cyberdome”,recorded live at Skogsröjet 2024!
After METALITE just recently shared a video for “Blazing Skies (Live at Skogsröjet)”, the band said: “We wanted to give our fans a taste of the festival atmosphere, that electric feeling you get when you’re there in person, feeling the energy and unity of live music. These two live songs are our way of sharing that experience!”
The band’s latest album Expedition One inspired with a wide range of diverse compositions and an intelligent sci-fi story that couldn’t be more topical. In addition, their fourth album offering manifested the musicians’ amazing artistic development. METALITE‘s visionary sci-fi trip is told over sixteen multi-faceted songs, including “Blazing Skies”, that combine the quintet’s many strengths: powerful and at the same time delicate guitar riffs and solos, anthemic melodies courtesy of vocalist Erica Ohlsson, driving rhythms and cleverly positioned keyboard parts. Expedition One was produced by guitarist Edwin Premberg, and was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen. The album is available at this location: https://bfan.link/expedition-one
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Beth Hart has released the lyric video for her latest single, “Wanna Be Big Bad Johnny Cash,” featured on her new album You Still Got Me, out now via Provogue / Mascot Label Group. A mid-tempo homage to the legendary Man in Black, the track draws on the signature sound of Cash’s most iconic hits, blending Hart’s rich vocals with a steady, hypnotic groove that channels his rebellious spirit.
“Cool and quick with whiskey on his breath / Singin’ songs like he was cheatin’ death,” Hart sings, capturing the essence of Cash’s outlaw persona. With lyrics like, “I wanna be Johnny / In a big black Cadillac / With my road trash army / And a cocktail waitress on my lap,” the song invites listeners to revel in the timeless allure of living boldly and unapologetically.
The lyric video complements the song’s vibe with archival footage of Johnny Cash performing live and appearing in films, offering a visual homage to his storied career. These scenes are interspersed with imagery that highlights Cash’s rugged legacy, immersing viewers in the golden age of country and rock.
Beth Hart will be touring the US and Europe throughout 2024 and into 2025. You can get tickets HERE.
Beth’s new album, You Still Got Me, exemplifies her ability to seamlessly navigate across genres, breaking boundaries between blues, rock, and Americana. From the gritty, high-energy rocker “Savior With A Razor,” featuring Guns N’ Roses’ Slash, to the tender ballad “Wonderful World,” inspired by her family, Hart offers a deeply personal collection of songs. The uplifting ”Little Heartbreak Girl” further highlights her knack for crafting empowering anthems that resonate with audiences.
Currently on tour, Hart has been performing to sold-out crowds across the U.S. and Europe, bringing her dynamic stage presence to life at legendary venues like the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville and London’s Royal Albert Hall. Fans can expect a setlist that spans her latest album and beloved classics, delivered with the passion and authenticity that have made Hart a global sensation.
Beth Hart’s illustrious career has been defined by her raw talent and emotional honesty. With her chart-topping albums A Tribute to Led Zeppelin andWar in My Mind, over 600 million streams, and nearly three decades of groundbreaking work, Hart has cemented her status as one of the most compelling voices in blues and rock. Her latest album, You Still Got Me, continues to push boundaries, offering a mix of defiant rockers and soul-stirring ballads that showcase the full range of her artistry.
For more information and to purchase tickets for Beth’s upcoming EU tour dates, please visit www.bethhart.com.
Beyond the Gates Festival 2025 is now revealing the first wave of bands for what is already shaping up to be an epic lineup! The four-day extravaganza will once again take place in Bergen (NO) from July 30 – August 2, across several venues, including USF and the iconic Grieghallen, where many of Norway’s seminal black metal artists recorded their legacy records.
The current lineup is now as follows: King Diamond (First Norwegian show in 19 years!) Abbath Doom Occulta (Immortal set) Triptykon (performing Celtic Frost) I Am Morbid Destruction (‘Infernal Overkil’l 40 years) Hellbutcher Hellripper Dark Sonority
For the first time in 19 years, King Diamond will return to Norway with his fantastic horror infused heavy metal spectacle.
Festival booker Torgrim Øyre comments, “For those of you who saw Mercyful Fate in Grieghallen a few years back will know that this will be the ultimate way to experience King Diamond and his amazing show. We’ve been hard at work to get King Diamond to Norway for quite some time and what a treat it is to finally be able to announce this gem.
“King Diamond will be joined by the mighty Abbath Doom Occulta who will bring his incredible ‘Return to the Raven Realms Tour’ to Bergen for the first time. The epic show includes a set consisting wide array of Immortal classics from his tenure in the band.
“Going even further back in the history books. Triptykon will perform a full set of Celtic Frost classics, while German thrash pioneers, Destruction, will celebrate the 40th anniversary of their magnum opus, ‘Infernal Overkill.’
“If that’s not education enough, David Vincent and Pete Sandoval will bring you the finest death metal available when I Am Morbid is diving into the Morbid Angel catalogue.
“Former Nifelheim singer Hellbutcher has delivered one of the best albums this year, who hasn’t twisted some neck muscles after hearing ‘The Sword of Wrath.’ Next year you can experience this masterpiece live on stage.
“Scotland-based Hellripper has taken the thrash world by storm over the last few years. This force of nature has quickly become one of the hottest underground acts around. If you’ve attended one of their concerts you will understand why.
“Last but not least, Dark Sonority, formerly known as Kaosritual. This ensemble is well known throughout the underground as the epitome of Sorcerous Black Metal, alongside other Nidrosian Black Metal bands such as Mare and Celestial Bloodshed with whom they share members. This will be one of their very few concerts next year.
“The 2025 edition of Beyond the Gates is the 13th chapter in the festival saga and will showcase why the festival has grown into the international metal gathering it has become. Attracting visitors from 50 different countries around the world, Beyond the Gates has become a global phenomenon.
“The festival is taking place in the city center of Bergen, using several venues spread across town, including the legendary Grieghallen and USF Verftet.
“Welcome to 4 days of darkness in the heart of Bergen.”
More info:
Since the inception of the Beyond the Gates festival, fans have been coming to Bergen to see performances of their favorite Norwegian artists in their home environment. As most visitors know, nature and local culture has always been a poignant source of inspiration for the bands emerging from the Bergen scene. Yet again, Beyond the Gates will give all of the traveling fans the opportunity to get an unique insight into all aspects of the Norwegian Metal scene and the local culture in general. In that regard, we’re putting together a series of events before and during the festival so that all of you can discover what inspired – and still does – the Norwegian metal scene.
More special events will be announced, including exclusive listening parties, music and culture panels, in-depth live interviews, and a wealth of of events and activities that will give you a Beyond the Gates Experience that will last for a lifetime. Stay tuned for more…
Time To Kill Records is pleased to announce the addition of Italian black metal act SAKAHITER to its evergrowing and varied roster. The band will release their new album in the coming months.
Stay tuned for more details, the first single and pre-orders, which will launch soon!
The band was formed in Campobasso in 2002 under the name SAKAHITER, which in the Oscan language means “let it be sacrificed.”
More specifically, it referred to the sacrifices of men and animals to propitiate the gods before a battle, a ceremony deeply rooted among the Samnites. Oscan was chosen because it is the ancient language spoken by the Samnites, a warrior people originally from a restricted area of southern Italy centered in Molise, Campania, and Basilicata.
From the very beginning, SAKAHITER identified their genre as Samnite Black Metal, as both the lyrics and iconography reflect Samnite history.
In 2003, they released their first demo, “Lex Sacrata,” recorded in Rome at the Temple Of Noise Studios, using as the cover an 1879 engraving depicting the defeat of the Romans at the hands of the Samnites and the humiliation of the Caudine Forks.
After several live performances and some lineup changes, SAKAHITER recorded “Omnes Eiura Deos,” a 7-inch vinyl, again in Rome but this time at the 16th Cellar Studios, released in early 2005.
With a new lineup, in 2021, SAKAHITER signed a contract with Nova Era Records to release a new EP, “Legio Linteata,” and to reissue “Lex Sacrata.”
The band boasts numerous performances supporting acts such as Sodom, Dismember, Onslaught, Belphegor, Master and Necrodeath.
Kicking off into your weekend with a true big bang, Desertfest Berlin has unleashed a batch of new names for their eclectic 2025-edition, confirming Swedens rock icons THE HELLACOPTERS, Norwegian tundra rockers SLOMOSA, BISMUT, GREEN MILK FROM PLANET ORANGE, STORY, DAUFØDT and RICKSHAW BILLIE’S BURGER PATROL!
They will be joining previously-announced bands such as prog-and psych-rock overlords ELDER (playing their groundbreaking “Lore” album in its entirety!), New Orleans sludge legends EYEHATEGOD, Swedish stoner rockers LOWRIDER, blues rock favs THE DEVIL AND THE ALMIGHTY BLUES, Berlins riot grrrls 24/7 DIVA HEAVEN and many more high-class live acts.
Desertfest Berlin will take place between May 23 – 25, 2025 at Columbiahalle and Columbia Theater. While the Early-Bird tickets sold out in within hours, regular passes are available at: www.desertfest-tickets.de
Groove Metal pioneers SKINLAB are thrilled to announce their official signing to WURMgroup, joining forces with legendary producer Ulrich Wild to bring their hard-hitting sound back to fans around the world. Known for their relentless energy and gritty sound, Skinlab’s new single “Flesh Wounds” drops today, marking the band’s first new track in nearly four years.
“Our first song in nearly four years. With the intent on coming hard straight out the gates, we stuck to our guns. ‘Flesh Wounds’ … when you hear it, you know it’s Skinlab,” says Steev Esquivel, vocalist and bassist of Skinlab, capturing the raw power of the band’s new material.
The track, produced and mixed by Ulrich Wild (Static-x, Dethklok, Pantera), was co-written by Esquivel himself and brings together the talents of Marcos Medina and Scott Sargeant on guitars, alongside Fabian Vestod on drums. “Flesh Wounds” is a return to Skinlab’s roots, showcasing the driving rhythms, aggressive melodies, and powerful vocals that fans have come to expect.
Ulrich Wild expressed his excitement about this latest collaboration, stating, “I’m thrilled to add Skinlab to our WURMgroup roster. We had a great time creating their previous album, Venomous, so it was an easy decision to work with them again. ‘Flesh Wounds’ is unmistakably Skinlab and a great song to continue where they left off. It’s powerful groove metal you’d expect from a band with eyes trained on the future.”
Upcoming Tour
To celebrate this new chapter, Skinlab is hitting the road with a string of European and North American tour dates. As part of the European leg, Skinlab will share the stage with Pro-Pain, kicking off the tour on November 13 in České Budějovice, CZ. North American fans can catch Skinlab starting in Sacramento, CA on December 12, with additional dates in major cities through early 2025.
Steev Esquivel expressed excitement for the tour and lineup changes, saying, “It’s been a while since our last update, but we’re back with some exciting news! Sadly, Marcos won’t be able to join us this November, but we’re stoked to have Steve Lujan from Sacramento’s Cemetery Legacy and Oscar ‘Wakaras’ Lugo of San Jose’s Way II Stoned on board. Both guitarists have been killing it in rehearsals, and we can’t wait to bring our music to the fans. Bags are packed!”
New guitarist Oscar“Wakaras” Lugo shared his enthusiasm, adding, “I’m really excited to announce that I will be part of this European Tour, playing guitar for Skinlab, one of the bands I looked up to when I was in high school.”
Tour Dates
U.S. Tour 2024-2025
Dec 12 – Sacramento, CA
Dec 13 – Los Angeles, CA
Jan 7 – Brooklyn, NY
Jan 8 – Clifton, NJ
Jan 9 – Mechanicsburg, PA
Jan 10 – Chicopee, MA
Jan 11 – New Haven, CT
Jan 12 – Albany, NY
About Skinlab
Formed in San Francisco, California in 1994, Skinlab quickly gained a loyal following with their unique blend of powerful rhythms and biting lyrics, placing them among the giants of the Groove Metal genre. Since their reformation, Skinlab has stuck true to their roots, drawing comparisons to bands like Sepultura, Hatebreed, and Machine Head while continuing to expand their sound.
With a nearly three-decades-long career, the band has weathered lineup changes and shifting musical landscapes but has never compromised on their original sound. Their upcoming single, “Flesh Wounds,” continues this legacy, promising fans a return to the heavy, authentic Skinlab sound they know and love.
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 ) 