MYSTIC CIRCLE have been busy as usual over the past few months and are currently in the middle of recording the follow-up album to “Erzdämon”, which will be called “Hexenbrand 1486“ and is due to see the light of day on October 31st, just in time for Halloween.
In the meantime, the two horror maniacs and founding members Beelzebub and A. Blackwar have shot a video clip for “The Mothman”, an epic number from their current album “Erzdämon”.
“Not only has the feedback on „The Mothman“ been very positive in recent months, the song is one of the 4 best tracks on the Erzdämon album and therefore ends up on our live setlist. So it was clear that we had to release another video clip. We discussed the idea for the shoot with Sascha Kutzke and got started right away during the December holidays. We wanted the footage to be very dark, with dark apparitions, symbols and natural disasters. The end result is really impressive and fits in well with our previous clips,”comments A. Blackwar.
As if that wasn’t enough, MYSTIC CIRCLE will release an extended reissue of the “Kriegsgötter” EP on April 18th, enriched with rare bonus tracks and a completely new recorded version of the Iron Maiden classic “Afraid To Shoot Strangers”, which will be released as a single & video on February 12th and feature a prominent guest vocalist in Sarah Jezebel Deva (The Kovenant and others). More on this soon.
”The Sound of a Dying Breed” is the third single from Finnish modern metal band Cardinal Fleet’s upcoming EP ”Surfaces” to be released this spring. Compared to the previous releases, the song takes steps toward harsher soundscape, still not forgetting catchy riffs and sharp melody hooks.
”The Sound of a Dying Breed” is a story about people who pay the highest price from the choices of very few. About people whose questions are answered solely with lies or silence.
”Why do you shatter the skies above me? Why do you crumble the ground beneath me? Is this cracking noise around me the sound of a dying breed?”
Irish thrashers GAMA BOMB has today announced headline UK and Ireland tour dates, featuring support from special guests Raised By Owls. The Ireland (and Also UK) Tour sees GAMA BOMB return to UK touring after two years away from British stages and follows their latest album, BATS, and Christmas charity single, A Coffin For Christmas. Full dates and details on the tour are available below.
Of the single, Philly Byrne (vocals) comments: “After a few years’ break from touring Blighty, we’re excited to return to the land of Greggs and be joined by the lovely and brain-bruisingly heavy lads of Raised By Owls for a heap of shows in 2025. Perhaps more illustriously, we’re dragging their filthy British asses to Ireland for three glorious shows on our sceptred isle. Who’s better – Britain or Ireland? We’ll finally find out on this tour. Except, it’s Ireland.”
GAMA BOMB tour dates w/ Raised By Owls April 17 – Craurfurd Arms – Milton Keynes, UK April 18 – The Junction – Plymouth, UK April 19 – The Dome – London, UK April 20 – Rebellion – Manchester, UK April 21 – Audio – Glasgow, UK May 16 – Grand Social – Dublin, IRE May 17 – Dolan’s – Limerick, IRE May 18 – Limelight 2 – Belfast, NI October 10 – Bannermans – Edinburgh, UK October 11 – The Ferret – Preston, UK October 12 – Wedgewood Rooms – Portsmouth, UK October 24 – Bunkhouse – Swansea, UK October 25 – Old Cold Store – Nottingham, UK October 26 – Cluny 2 – Newcastle, UK
Perry & Blackwell, the electrifying Hard Rock duo who’ve been setting stages ablaze since their high school days, are back with a bang! Their latest single, No Money, is a gritty, riff-heavy anthem that pulls no punches, taken straight from their recently released debut album, Volume 1.
“No Money” dives headfirst into the struggles of financial accountability with biting sarcasm and a raw, metaphorical edge. Built on Jon Perry’s hooky sliding riff and Jake Blackwell’s lyrical punch, the track is a testament to the pair’s seamless collaboration. “The song is about someone who isn’t having a good financial time and is ignorant to the choices that brought them there,” explains the duo.
The accompanying lyric video brings the song’s themes to life with striking visuals, emphasizing the duo’s bold message and unrelenting energy.
Volume 1 is the long-awaited debut album from Perry & Blackwell, a project born out of their shared passion for music and a drive to create something entirely their own. “It’s been a few years since our last band ended, but here we are breathing new life and unleashing a new project,” says the duo.
Crafted over three years in their self-built Bunks Studio on a Midlands farm, the album is a testament to their DIY ethos and determination. “We worked on these songs for a long time. Crafting them, recording them, and we are super proud,” they share.
Volume 1 is available on all digital platforms
The duo’s unique writing process combines years of riff-making and song-structuring experience. “After our last band came to an end, we tried to revive it, but it didn’t work out. So, it was Jon’s vision for us to move on, write, and record with full artistic control. We’ve basically come full circle—from recording jams on tape recorders in high school to creating this album with better equipment.”
Jon & Jake’s history is steeped in rock ‘n’ roll. Having played in bands such as Zipcode, High Trailer, Conform to None, and Minority for the Masses, the duo has decades of experience rocking stages across South Africa. With Volume 1, they mark a bold new chapter in their musical journey, embracing their past while forging their future.
DIRKSCHNEIDER are thrilled to announce the release of the first single from the highly anticipated anniversary re-recording of ACCEPT‘s landmark “Balls To The Wall” album. The legendary title track, now reimagined, marks a monumental collaboration between Udo Dirkschneider, the iconic voice of ACCEPT, and Joakim Brodén of SABATON, one of today’s most influential figures in metal. This powerful rendition not only bridges the gap between generations but also showcases the enduring impact of ACCEPT‘s 1983 masterpiece on the global music scene.
Udo states: “To re-record ‘Balls To The Wall’ with SABATON’s Joakim Brodén was definitely a highlight! This man has an incredibly powerful voice which makes the song sound even more explosive. It’s a huge amount of energy lifting this classic track to unknown heights. Joakim has simply delivered – and together we managed to revitalise the song, resulting in a brute new version!”
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of “Balls To The Wall,”DIRKSCHNEIDER will embark on an extensive 32-date tour across Europe next month. A few days into the tour, on February 28, 2025, fans will be treated to a unique re-recording of the entire album, featuring an impressive line-up of guest vocalists. This release, via RPM, highlights the timeless relevance of the album and its continued influence on both musicians and fans worldwide.
“Balls To The Wall Reloaded” can now be pre-ordered in various physical formats and digitally or pre-saved on your favourite digital service provider (DSP) worldwide: https://dirkschneider.rpm.link/bttwrPR
“Balls To The Wall Reloaded” – Track Listing:
01. Balls To The Wall [feat. Joakim Brodén of SABATON] 02. London Leatherboys [feat. Biff Byford of SAXON] 03. Fight It Back [feat. Mille Petrozza of KREATOR] 04. Head Over Heels [feat. Nils Molin of DYNAZTY/AMARANTHE] 05. Losing More Than You’ve Ever Had [feat. Michael Kiske of HELLOWEEN] 06. Love Child [feat. Ylva Eriksson of BROTHERS OF METAL] 07. Turn Me On [feat. Danko Jones] 08. Losers And Winners [feat. Dee Snider of TWISTED SISTER] 09. Guardian Of The Night [feat. Tim “Ripper” Owens of KK’s PRIEST, formerly of JUDAS PRIEST] 10. Winter Dreams [feat. Doro Pesch]
This ambitious reinterpretation not only revitalises the original tracks but also emphasises their timeless impact on the metal genre. More than a revival, this project serves as a celebration of the album’s enduring legacy, enriched by the enthusiasm and contributions of some of metal’s most influential voices.
“Re-recording “Balls To The Wall” was a big challenge for me. The album is a milestone of my career, of course, that’s why it was even more important to me to make the original songs shine in a new light without losing their initial essence. All guests have put their individual stamps on these classic tracks, and collaborating with such outstanding vocalists has moved them into a fresh and exciting dimension. The result is a powerful homage to all fans but also an invitation to the next generation to experience the songs not minorly passionate than I was when I recorded them back in the day. It’s a never-ending personal journey for me – “Balls To The Wall” will always be a part of me,” states Udo.
This reimagined “Balls To The Wall” is a fitting tribute to heavy metal history, proving that its power and influence remain as potent today as they were four decades ago.
DIRKSCHNEIDER live:
“Balls To The Wall” – 40th Anniversary Tour w/ CROWNSHIFT, ALL FOR METAL Presented by Contra Promotion & Metal Hammer 25.02.2025 HR Zagreb – Boogaloo * 26.02.2025 AT Vienna – SiMM City 27.02.2025 DE Munich – Backstage *LOW TICKETS* 28.02.2025 DE Leipzig – Haus Auensee *LOW TICKETS* 01.03.2025 CZ Prague – SaSaZu 02.03.2025 HU Budapest – Barba Negra 04.03.2025 RO Bucharest – Quantic Club 06.03.2025 PL Kraków – Klub Studio 07.03.2025 PL Warsaw – Progresja 08.03.2025 LT Vilnius – Kablys 09.03.2025 EE Tallinn – Helitehas 10.03.2025 FI Helsinki – Kulttuuritalo 11.03.2025 FI Tampere – Tavara-asema 13.03.2025 NO Oslo – Rockefeller 14.03.2025 SE Gothenburg – Trädgår’n 16.03.2025 DE Berlin – Huxleys Neue Welt 17.03.2025 DE Frankfurt – Batschkapp 18.03.2025 BE Antwerp – Trix 19.03.2025 FR Paris – Le Trabendo 21.03.2025 ES Pamplona – Sala Totem *LOW TICKETS* 22.03.2025 ES Madrid – Mon *MOVED* 23.03.2025 ES Barcelona – Razzmatazz 2 25.03.2025 CH Pratteln – Konzertfabrik Z7 26.03.2025 DE Stuttgart – LKA Longhorn *SOLD OUT* 27.03.2025 DE Oberhausen – Turbinenhalle 28.03.2025 DE Hamburg – Große Freiheit 36 29.03.2025 DE Geiselwind – Eventhalle *LOW TICKETS* 30.03.2025 DE Geiselwind – Eventhalle 08.04.2025 GR Athens – Fuzz Live Music Club * 09.04.2025 GR Thessaloniki – Principal Club Theater * 11.04.2025 TR Istanbul – IF Performance Hall Beşiktaş * 12.04.2025 BG Sofia – Hristo Botev Hall * * DIRKSCHNEIDER only
30.07. – 02.08.2025 DE Wacken – Wacken Open Air *SOLD OUT* 15. – 17.08.2025 CH Cudrefin (VD) – Rock The Lakes *NEW*
“Hell, Fire And Steel” Tour w/ SAXON 04.11.2025 UK Belfast – Ulster Hall 05.11.2025 IE Dublin – 3Olympia Theatre 07.11.2025 UK Manchester – O2 Apollo 08.11.2025 UK Sheffield – The Octagon Centre 09.11.2025 UK Glasgow – O2 Academy 11.11.2025 UK Newcastle – O2 City Hall 13.11.2025 UK Bristol – Beacon 14.11.2025 UK Wolverhampton – Civic Hall 15.11.2025 UK London – Eventim Apollo Hammersmith 16.11.2025 UK Cardiff – The Great Hall
Finnish melodic death metal band Defiled Serenity is set to release their long-awaited debut album Within the Slumber of the Mind on February 21st 2025 via Inverse Records.
The third single is Rihanna cover ‘Unfaithful’ and this track also features Karisma on vocals.
Vocalist Paavo Laapotti comments: ”I’ve always loved making cover songs and especially when you do a metal cover of a pop song. I heard this song when I was younger and the melody got stuck in my head. This song is very suitable as a melodeath cover and I got the vision for it pretty quickly. We also got a very talented singer Sonja Lindberg to do a feature for this track. I met her while filming The Voice Of Finland program. She did an excellent job and I really like her unique sound a lot.”
Defiled Serenity is a melodic death metal band from Loimaa, Finland. It was founded by the vocalist and Before The Dawn frontman Paavo Laapotti in 2021. The band’s music is for the fans of old In Flames, Amorphis, Amon Amarth, Dark Tranquillity etc. Their sound relies heavily on the 90’s melodeath sound, but with modern twists. The songs are filled with low growls, chunky guitars, beautiful melodies and tight rhythm sections.
They released their first stand-alone single ”Voices from the Void” in 2022 and it has reached over 25,000 streams on Spotify alone. Since then, the band has been writing new material and now it’s time to unleash their long-awaited debut album!
LISTEN to
the first single ‘Your Worst Enemy’: https://push.fm/fl/defiled-serenity-your-worst-enemy
the second single ‘Exiled to Infinity”: https://push.fm/fl/defiled-serenity-exiled
Defiled Serenity CD/VINYL/MERCH Pre-Orders from HERE
Within the Slumber of the Mind -Track list:
Alkutaival (feat. Juha Tapio)
Voices from the Void
Exiled to Infinity
Death
Mortal
Within the Slumber of the Mind
Through the Chaos
Your Worst Enemy
Tears of Black
Unfaithful (Rihanna cover) (feat. Karisma)
Recorded & mixed by Lauri Seppälä
Mastered by Juho Räihä / SoundSpiral Audio
Album cover by Nikos Stavridakis / VisionBlack
Line-up: Paavo Laapotti – Vocals Jarkko Mäkelä – Lead guitar Lauri Seppälä – Rhythm Guitar Mikko Sormunen – Bass Arttu Airo – Drums
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 ) 