Simon Efemey & Shane Embury’s Heavy Metal Venture ABSOLUTE POWER Return with New Single ‘Stand Up and Be Counted’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 16, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , , . Leave a comment

ABSOLUTE POWER, the heavy metal project bringing together producer and vocalist Simon Efemey and Shane Embury of NAPALM DEATH, return with “Stand Up and Be Counted”, a new single from their second album, “Needs Must When The Devil Drives”, due on November 6, 2026 via Time To Kill Records.

The track draws on the enduring vocabulary of British heavy metal, pairing sharply defined guitar work with a strong melodic thread and a chorus built for full-throated delivery. Its straightforward, song-focused construction gives the arrangement room to breathe, letting the hooks carry as much weight as the riffs.

Shane comments:

“Lyrically, this song is about growing up in a small village in an area surrounded by other small villages, before the Internet and social media. Back then, magazines and radio stations were my main sources for discovering hard rock and heavy metal. I always felt like an outcast, and heavy metal, followed later by punk, made it okay to feel that way. In truth, though, my friends and I were each following our own individual paths towards liberation.
The excitement I felt as a kid when buying a new album or hearing a new track by one of my favourite bands was incredible. Those feelings drove me to become a musician. Nothing quite compares to that, but back then, meeting a new friend and connecting through a shared love of heavy metal gave you a wonderful sense of belonging.
‘Stand Up and Be Counted’ makes just as much sense today as it did back then”.

Stream: https://ffm.to/absolute-power-stand-up-and-be-counted

Album Preorders:
https://timetokillrecords.com/collections/absolute-power
https://absolutepower.bandcamp.com/album/needs-must-when-the-devil-drives

Fifteen years after the release of their self-titled debut, the heavy metal project founded by vocalist and producer Simon Efemey and Napalm Death bassist Shane Embury returns with a powerful celebration of classic heavy metal. Drawing inspiration from the timeless legacy of Judas Priest, Saxon, Black Sabbath, Dio and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, “Needs Must When The Devil Drives” combines old-school riffs, unforgettable melodies and larger-than-life songwriting with the energy and attitude of a new era.

The world is in meltdown, and we’re all going to hell in a handbasket. Thankfully, ABSOLUTE POWER are here to offer maximum-volume resistance to the madness with their monumental second album, “Needs Must When The Devil Drives”.

ABSOLUTE POWER is the brainchild of vocalist and producer Simon Efemey and bassist/multi-instrumentalist Shane Embury, two heavy metal lifers who, between them, have left an indelible imprint on modern music.

Embury is the longtime bassist of grindcore pioneers Napalm Death, a band that began pushing music to its furthest extremes in the 1980s and has never stopped evolving. Efemey is one of the most influential British metal producers of his generation, having shaped the modern scene through his work with artists including Paradise Lost, The Wildhearts and Napalm Death, while also developing a reputation as one of the most charismatic figures behind the scenes.

Together, they spent five years crafting “Needs Must When The Devil Drives”, an exhilarating tribute to the classic heavy metal they grew up with, infused with the energy and attitude of 2026.

“I want people to have a good time in the old school way,” says Efemey of the album. “I want them to forget the mundane, boring or horrible parts of their jobs. I want them to forget themselves for a couple of hours. That’s what good music should allow us all to do.”

The album continues the vision that originally brought ABSOLUTE POWER together: a desire to recapture the sense of adventure, grandeur and excitement that defined the heavy metal of their youth.

“When we did the first album, we wanted to make songs like our heroes – Judas Priest, Saxon, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal – everything we liked as kids,” explains Efemey. “When we were on tour buses, we’d have a few drinks and start blasting old-school heavy metal like Black Sabbath or Dio. One day we said we should write our own tunes like that.”

The debut album was embraced by fans of traditional metal, and “Needs Must When The Devil Drives” expands on that foundation, delivering a collection of songs built around powerful riffs, memorable hooks and a strong sense of identity. The title itself comes from an old proverb that Efemey and Embury would jokingly repeat to each other during the recording sessions.

Alongside the title track, “Saviour” and “Kernschmelze” showcase the band’s most direct and energetic side, while “Mountain Of Hope” increases the epic dimension that has always been central to ABSOLUTE POWER. Meanwhile, “Within” temporarily strips away some of the heaviness in favor of a more atmospheric and hypnotic approach, recalling the psychedelic spirit of 1970s classics such as Black Sabbath’s “Planet Caravan”.

The album also features a reinterpretation of Queen’s 1978 classic “Sheer Heart Attack”, preserving the original’s punk-driven energy while adding the unmistakable personality of ABSOLUTE POWER.

“The drums sounded terrible on it,” laughs Efemey.

For “Needs Must When The Devil Drives”, Efemey and Embury invited several respected musicians to contribute to the album’s expansive sound. Former Judas Priest and Iced Earth vocalist Tim “Ripper” Owens returns after appearing on the first record, delivering his unmistakable screams on the track “Kernscmelze“. The Mission and Tricky guitarist Mark Gemini Thwaite adds subtle layers and textures to several songs, expanding the band’s traditional metal foundation.

“I’ve known him for years,” says Efemey. “I recorded a demo for his old band years ago. I sent him some tracks and he put some magic on them. He added a little goth flavour to some of those tracks. It took it further than the first album, which was just straight-down-the-line traditional metal.”

Also appearing on the record are Napalm Death guitarist John Cooke and drummer Carl Stokes, whose career includes collaborations with bands such as Cancer and The Groundhogs.

At the heart of ABSOLUTE POWER, however, remains the partnership between Efemey and Embury. Both grew up in the West Midlands and shared formative experiences attending concerts at Birmingham’s legendary Odeon before following very different paths: Embury becoming one of extreme metal’s defining musicians, and Efemey establishing himself as a highly respected producer.

“Over the years our paths crossed, and we realized we had a similar love for music and a similar sense of humour – Monty Python, The Young Ones, really dark humour,” says Efemey.

Throughout his career, Efemey has worked with artists ranging from British indie heroes The Wonder Stuff to extreme metal pioneers Napalm Death, but his influence has always extended far beyond production. His larger-than-life personality and his approach to music have made him a unique figure within the British scene.

“You hear the stories from back in the day about these legendary bands and the mad stuff they’d get up to,” he says. “For me, that’s part of rock’n’roll. I never wanted to just be the guy sitting there in the studio nodding along with what bands say. It was more about entertaining people and entertaining ourselves.”

Yet behind all the chaos, Efemey has always remained focused on the most important element: the songs.

“We don’t take ourselves too seriously, but we’re serious about the music,” he says of ABSOLUTE POWER. “We reject ideas that aren’t good enough. Every song needs a good riff and a catchy melody. I wouldn’t let anything go out that was just fodder. That approach has always been prevalent in my work.”

That philosophy defines “Needs Must When The Devil Drives”. The album carries the confidence of a band that knows exactly what it wants to achieve, embracing the foundations of classic heavy metal while sounding fully alive in 2026. As the world falls apart around them, ABSOLUTE POWER stand tall, armed with riffs, melodies and songs built to last.

“I can’t think of many new British bands doing what we do,” says Efemey. “I think people like our stuff because it’s old-school with melodies you can sing along to. We use the formula from the 70s and 80s because we know it works. We make this kind of music because we love it and we want people to sing along with us.”

Tracklist:

1. Needs Must When the Devil Drives
2. Saviour
3. Kernscmelze (feat. Tim “Ripper” Owens)
4. Stand Up and Be Counted
5. Within
6. Mountain of Hope
7. Insanity
8. Hammer of Justice
9. Praise the Fire
10. Sheer Heart Attack
11. Orphans of the Storm

Line-up:

Simon Efemey – vocals
Shane Embury – Bass, Additional Instruments

​​Guests musicians:

​Tim “Ripper” Owens – vocals (ex Judas Priest, Iced Earth)
Mark Gemini Thwaite – guitars (The Mission, Tricky)
John Cooke – guitar (Napalm Death)
Carl Stokes – drums (Cancer, The Groundhogs)
Joe Taylor – drums
Dominik Gryzbon – lead guitar
Ilsa Nielson – lead guitar

https://absolutepower.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/absolute_power__uk_metal/
https://www.facebook.com/AbsolutePowerUK/

STONED JESUS Leap into the Dark on Daring New Album “Songs to Moon”, Out Today

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 16, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by @babbibrun

After topping best of 2025 lists with the scorching opener to their forthcoming album trilogy, heavy progressive rockers Stoned Jesus are leaping into the darkest, most daring and introspective phase of their career with Songs to Moon.

“Stoned Jesus are perhaps in the most impressive part of their career to date and this album is another masterful record for them”, Outlaws of the Sun writes.

Metal Lair agrees. “There is real courage in making something this exposed and refusing to soften it for the listener”.

“Stoned Jesus have spent the better part of two decades navigating the murky waters between doom metal, psychedelic rock and progressive experimentation”, The Needle Drop writes. “Songs to Moon sees the band at its most vulnerable, trading towering riffs and infectious choruses for a heavy dose of haunting melodies and brooding atmospherics”.

Songs to Moon is released today, Friday, October 16 on Season of Mist, and you can hear all seven luminous songs by visiting The Needle Drop, who are premiering the full album stream, here.

“We started The Songs trilogy last year with Songs to Sun, which is a loud and heavy album that’s big on choruses and meaty riffs” Sydorenko says. “While still heavy and catchy, Songs to Moon follows a similar trajectory to Led Zeppelin III, Opeth’s Damnation or Jar of Flies by Alice In Chains. The songs are recognizably Stoned Jesus, but they are bolder, more haunting and introspective than anything we’ve done before”.

Order the album: https://orcd.co/stonedjesussongstomoon

No height is too steep for Stoned Jesus to climb. After 15 years of exploring everything from doom metal and psychedelia to grunge and art rock, the heavy progressive trailblazers are hitting the road in search of even more expansive creative peaks.

The Songs trilogy spans all sides of Stoned Jesus. The darker, more introspective Songs to Moon opens in the large shadows of its predecessor with “Under the Skin”, a loud and heavy slab of post-metal that plunges the album into darkness like the setting sun. The existential shroud that hung over Songs to Sun continues to weigh on Sydorenko. “Still I’m falling down / From high above”, he sings with cool remove amidst the catchy doomgaze that’s expertly weaved into lead single “Velvet”.    

Mini-prog-opera “Jackal” features the band at their most theatrical. Smack in the middle of the tracklist (and falling precisely halfway through the entire trilogy), the melancholic “Syzygy” configures one melody from each Songs to… album into their first-ever instrumental track. But even on their darkest and moodiest record, Stoned Jesus can’t be confined to just one shade of blue.

During its final lap, Songs to Moon strips down to acoustic guitar and Sydorenko’s hushed vocals. “And when the sun goes down / It brightens up my mood”. As the dreamy desperation of “Window In My Room” fades beneath the stark reminder of closer “One More Empty Day”, Stoned Jesus return to earth weary but wise beyond their years.

With Songs to Moon, Stoned Jesus take a giant leap into the darkest, most daring and deeply moving territory of their career.

Tracklist

  1. Under the Skin (5:29) [WATCH]
  2. Velvet (5:11) [WATCH]
  3. ZYX (5:30)
  4. Syzgy (4:50)
  5. Jackal (6:48)
  6. Window in My Room (8:22)
  7. One More Empty Day (4:41)

Catch Stoned Jesus this fall as they debut Songs to Moon on European stages.

Stoned Jesus 2026 European Festival Dates
October 30 – Vallet, France @ WeStill Fest [TICKETS]

Since 2009, Stoned Jesus has served as one of Europe’s leading forces in heavy rock. Igor Sydorenko, a fixture of the Ukrainian underground music scene, started it as a solo project after stumbling upon some heavy and angry riffs that would become the song “Occult.” He fed off his Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin influences and was soon turned onto Electric Wizard and Sleep, two bands who mastered the art of bold, lurching heaviness, thus creating a sonic template to abide by.

The Kyiv-based project was initially dubbed “Stoned Jesus from the Outer Space” but this was soon shortened to the much crisper Stoned Jesus. The name was trimmed down out of necessity — Sydorenko wanted to legitimize the band immediately. “I realized that this may cause some problems,” he told Psychedelic Baby in 2010. “Some people wouldn’t take our music seriously, then. I don’t mind jokes and having fun, but music is always the most serious thing for me.”

Two demos ensued before Stoned Jesus’s debut LP, 2010’s First Communion. Recorded with the first line-up in two hours, First Communion was a promising offering that dove headlong into the world of heavy stoner rock, with three songs going over the 10-minute mark for hypnotic effect. The album eventually saw a proper reissue in 2020, introducing it to a new group of fans. The first change of rhythm section brought Seven Thunders Roar in 2012, which included “I’m the Mountain,” a 13-minute epic that has since become a live staple. The album also introduced a bevy of acoustic guitar and softer vocal approaches from Sydorenko.

The Harvest came next in 2015 with a new drummer, deftly transitioning Stoned Jesus into the new terrain, with more alternative and progressive rock leanings. This is a credit to Sydorenko’s evolving songwriting style and desire to never allow Stoned Jesus to repeat itself. “It works brilliantly for the likes of Motörhead or AC/DC, but we’re not that legendary yet,” he told Outlaws of the Sun in 2015. “So, let’s experiment, shall we? Let’s play with the genres, the sound, the song structures, the melodies, the time signatures — yes, my favorite trick!”

With another change of the drummer, the fourth LP, Pilgrims, arrived in 2018. A bold and experimental record, it showed the growing maturity of both musical and lyrical sides of Igor’s ever-progressing songwriting. After a year-long The Pilgrimage Tour and yet another year on the road celebrating the band’s 10th anniversary with the greatest hits setlist, Stoned Jesus’ original plans were to record its follow-up in 2020. That, of course, was sidelined by the pandemic. The band then entered Spivaki Records in Kharkiv in July 2021 to record nine songs at 75 minutes. Two-thirds of the material was mixed and mastered before the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, leaving the final run-time of six songs at 43 minutes.

The result was Father Light, the band’s first for Season of Mist, which caught Stoned Jesus in full bloom. The foundational elements of Stoned Jesus’s sound remained (fuzzed-out rock, driving bass lines and maximum groove), once again augmented by the combination of Sydorenko’s gentle clean vocals and hook-laden chorus choices, along with an array of ornamental guitar melodies. And, in true Stoned Jesus fashion, the journey is often the reward. The cuts on Father Light expand and shift — all the while, the band’s trademark heaviness serves as the guide.

Mother Dark, the gloomier introspective twin of Father Light, while partially recorded was shelved due to Igor’s dissatisfaction with the working dynamics of the latest Stoned Jesus line-up. Dissolving said line-up was a difficult decision to make, but Igor’s relocation to Europe brought a surprising reunion with his old friend Yurii, a talented drummer Igor had known even before writing the first Stoned Jesus song. Adding bassist-vocalist Andrew Rodin to this new line-up solidified its reliability, and after the whole year of relentless 15th Anniversary Tour schedule the reinvigorated Stoned Jesus was more than ready for their next chapter.

Songs to Sun arrived in 2025 as the first album in a forthcoming trilogy that once complete, will stand as the pinnacle of what’s been a decades-long trip for Stoned Jesus. While picking up where Father Light left off, Sydorenko and his new mates nodded to Seven Thunders Roar and The Harvest along the way. But by merging metal’s fiery intensity with mind-melting grooves, nods to vintage prog and their catchiest choruses yet, they brought the many distinct phases of Stoned Jesus to a bright, burning head. The album was named one of the best the year by Doom Charts, Rock Hard, The Obelisk, Weedian, Metal Lair and other outlets.

Now, just one year later, following a European co-headline tour with Finnish proggers Wheel and a triumphant return to Hellfest, Stoned Jesus are taking a giant leap into the darkest, most daring and deeply moving territory of their career with Songs to Moon.

“Under The Skin” opens in the large shadows of its predecessor with a loud and heavy slab of post-metal that plunges into darkness like the setting sun. The existential shroud that hung over Songs to Sun continues to weigh on Sydorenko. “Still I’m falling down / From high above”, he sings with cool remove amidst the catchy doomgaze that’s expertly weaved into lead single “Velvet”. Mini-prog-opera “Jackal” features the band at their most theatrical. Smack in the middle of the tracklist (and falling precisely halfway through the entire trilogy), the melancholic “Syzygy” configures one melody from each Songs to…album into their first-ever instrumental track. But even on their darkest and moodiest record, Stoned Jesus can’t be confined to just one shade of blue.

Following in the steps of Led Zeppelin III, Opeth’s Damnation or Alice In Chain’s Jar of Flies, during its final lap, Songs to Moon strips down to acoustic guitar and Sydorenko’s hushed vocals. “And when the sun goes down / It brightens up my mood”. As the dreamy desperation of “Window In My Room” fades beneath the stark reminder of closer “One More Empty Day”, Stoned Jesus return to earth weary but wise beyond their years and ready to explore the next frontier.

Recording Lineup
Igor Sydorenko – Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Andrew Rodin – Bass, Backing Vocals
Yurii Ciel – Drums, Backing Vocals

Live Lineup
Igor Sydorenko – Vocals, Guitar
Andrew Rodin – Bass, Backing Vocals
Ihor Biriuchenko – Drums, Percussion

Production Credits
Producer – Igor Sydorenko
Sound Engineer – Andy Rosczyk
Mixing and Mastering Engineer – Karl Daniel Lidén
Recording Studio: Goblin Sound Studio in Cologne, Germany
Mixing and Mastering Studio: Studio Tri-Lamb, Sweden

Cover Art
Vadym “Karaska” Karasiov

Follow Stoned Jesus
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/stonedjesusband
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/stoned-jesus/396799004
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/23lyMLxYNPS15hpVvFNptR
Instagram: instagram.com/stonedjesusband
Facebook: http://facebook.com/stonedjesusband
Twitter: twitter.com/stonedjesusband
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stonedjesusband
YouTube: youtube.com/c/StonedJesus
Bandcamp: stonedjesus.bandcamp.com

GWAR & Joe Bob Briggs Join Forces for New Album “GWAR and the Last Drive-In-Stein”, Out November 13th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 16, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: , . Leave a comment

Two icons of shock, horror and drive-in mayhem collide on ‘GWAR and the Last Drive-In-Stein,’ a new album bringing together GWAR and Joe Bob Briggs for one gloriously demented musical meeting. With NEW songs and music from John Brennan and the Bigfeet. Arriving November 13th via Pit Records on vinyl, the album celebrates more than four decades of GWAR and 40 years of Joe Bob Briggs on television as a film critic, commentator, and entertainer.

Marking the announcement of this historic record, the new single “Splatter-Fu,” written specifically for GWAR by John Brennan, and its official video are available now.

Speaking on the upcoming album, Blothar exclaims:

“Lordy Lordy, look who’s 40! GWAR and Joe Bob Briggs. A match made in hell! I love horror movies, trash, and funny spooky stuff. GWAR wouldn’t exist without it. I was just a calf when creepy Joe Bob reached up my poodle skirt at the last Drive-in. He promised he’d make me a star… Now we’ve made a record together!”

Joe Bob continues:

“To create the real spirit of Halloween, I called up my buddies – the intergalactic warriors who live in Antarctica – and I asked them to bring some fear, some filth, and some fun. Of course you know whom I’m talkin’ about… the Scumdogs of the Universe… GWAR!”

‘GWAR and the Last Drive-In-Stein’ captures the meeting of these two legendary worlds, with Side A featuring GWAR’s epic live performance from The Last Drive-In’s 2025 Halloween special. The set features several GWAR originals alongside covers of some of the most beloved songs associated with Joe Bob’s legendary show.

Side B features John Brennan and the Bigfeet, The Last Drive-In’s house band, performing songs written for the show’s final two seasons. The collection marks the third official soundtrack release from John Brennan and the Bigfeet, from the musical world of The Last Drive-In.

Pre-order the album: https://gwar.net/collections/gwar-and-the-last-drive-in-stein

SIDE A — GWAR

  1. Joe Bob Is Back In Town
  2. Fuck This Place
  3. Splatter-Fu
  4. Lot Lizard
  5. Gor-Gor
  6. Drive-In Oath

SIDE B — John Brennan and the Bigfeet

  1. Joe Bob Is Back in Lounge (Live at Jamboree ‘23)
  2. Everyone Loves Halloween
  3. Beauteous Gluteus Maximus
  4. Gettin’ Ripped at the Drive-In
  5. The Skybar Jingle
  6. Splatter-Fu (2023 Demo)
  7. Up All Nightmareathon
  8. We’re Getting the Fire Started
  9. You’re the Glue
  10. Thank You, Roger Corman / The Drive-In Oath (Live at Jamboree ‘23)

For GWAR, the release arrives as the band continues to celebrate a legacy spanning more than four decades of bloodshed, battlefields, mutilation and intergalactic domination. For Joe Bob Briggs, it marks four decades of television history and a career built around his unwavering devotion to drive-in movies, horror, exploitation cinema and the strange cultural universe surrounding them.

Two shock icons. More than 80 combined years of cultural carnage. One very strange record indeed!

The Scumdogs are preparing to embark on the “Gor Gor Must Die!” Tour, featuring direct support from Midnight and Mac Sabbath. X-COPS and Nailed Shut will open the tour on select dates. A full list of tour dates is available below.

The “Gor Gor Must Die!” Tour
10/27: Charlottesville, VA @ The Jefferson Theater *
10/28: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade (Heaven) *
10/29: Jacksonville, FL @ FIVE *
10/30-11/03: Miami, FL @ The Headbangers Boat
11/04: Fort Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution *
11/05: Orlando, FL @ The Beacham *
11/06: Myrtle Beach, SC @ House of Blues *
11/07: Winston-Salem, NC @ The Ramkat *
11/08: Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl *
11/09: Little Rock, AR @ The Hall *
11/10: Dallas, TX @ AM/FM *
11/12: Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre #
11/13: Salt Lake City, UT @ Rockwell at The Complex #
11/14: Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl #
11/15: Reno, NV @ Cargo Concert Hall #
11/17: Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee #
11/18: Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues #
11/19: Berkeley, CA @ The UC Theatre #
11/20: Chico, CA @ Senator Theatre #
11/21: Bend, OR @ Midtown Ballroom #
11/23: Seattle, WA @ Showbox SoDo #
11/24: Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory #
11/25: Vancouver, BC @ Vogue Theatre #
11/27: Edmonton, AB @ Midway Music Hall #
11/28: Calgary, AB @ MacEwan Hall #
11/30: Winnipeg, MB @ Burton Cummings Theatre #
12/02: Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre #
12/03: Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave *
12/04: Pontiac, MI @ The Crofoot Ballroom *
12/05: Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues *
12/06: McKees Rocks, PA @ Roxian Theatre *
12/08: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club *
12/09: Worcester, MA @ The Palladium *
12/10: New York, NY @ The Palladium Times Square *
12/11: Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philadelphia *
12/12: Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa *

*X-COPS Open
#Nailed Shut Open

HEIMDALLS WACHT Unveil Official Lyric Video for ‘Runes To Heal – Weapons To Cure’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 16, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

German black metal band HEIMDALLS WACHT unveil the official lyric video for “Runes To Heal – Weapons To Cure”, a track from their forthcoming ninth studio album, “Sphärenschänder: Echoes Of An Old Belief – Part I”, due out October 31, 2026, via Talheim Records.

“Runes To Heal – Weapons To Cure”, the album’s sixth track, is part of a work that combines raw, melancholic and melodic black metal with elements of folk, doom, progressive and melodic metal, alongside traces of thrash and death metal. Across the album, HEIMDALLS WACHT explore nature, lost cultures, paganism, cross-cultural spirituality and the tension between individuality and a modern world dominated by materialism and intellectual conformity.

The album’s first single, “Schwarze Wacht Westfalia”, offered an initial glimpse of the record.

“Schwarze Wacht Westfalia” is the album’s third track, set within a work that combines raw, melancholic and melodic black metal with elements of folk, doom, progressive and melodic metal, as well as traces of thrash and death metal. Across the album, HEIMDALLS WACHT explore nature, lost cultures, paganism, cross-cultural spirituality and the tension between individuality and a modern world dominated by materialism and intellectual conformity.

WATCH THE LYRIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2CqEftLnTro

At the heart of “Sphärenschänder: Echoes Of An Old Belief – Part I” is the image of Heimdall awakening from a long, troubled slumber. Cast into a world he no longer recognises, the ragged guardian observes it with incomprehension, melancholy and fury, confronting the spiritual emptiness of the present while searching for traces of an older wisdom that have survived beneath the surface.

The album reflects HEIMDALLS WACHT’s neo-Romantic artistic vision, drawing on themes associated with German Romanticism, including the philosophy of nature in Ludwig Tieck’s work, the abysses of human existence explored by E.T.A. Hoffmann and the literary nihilism of Ernst August Friedrich Klingemann.

All concepts, music and lyrics were created by Saruman. Pre-production recordings were completed by Teja and Saruman, while the album was recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by Mario at Liquid Aether Studio together with Saruman. Córka contributes guest vocals to “Echo Eines Alten Glaubens”.

“Sphärenschänder: Echoes Of An Old Belief – Part I” will be available as a digipak CD and on all major digital streaming platforms. A vinyl edition is also planned; production and release dates have yet to be announced.

PRE-ORDER “Sphärenschänder: Echoes Of An Old Belief – Part I”:
German Store: https://store.talheim-records.de/en/Heimdalls-Wacht-Sphaerenschaender-Echoes-Of-An-Old-Belief-Part-I-CD-Digipak/
Austrian Store: https://store.talheim-records.com/en/heimdalls-wacht-sphaerenschaender-echoes-of-an-old-belief-part-i-cd-digipak/tra-an-0292

TRACKLIST

  1. Urgrund
  2. Flight Eternal – Der Flug Über Das Nirgendmeer
  3. Schwarze Wacht Westfalia
  4. Flames Of Awakening
  5. In Der Seelenmühle
  6. Runes To Heal – Weapons To Cure
  7. Widukind-Theme
  8. Echo Eines Alten Glaubens
  9. Das Horn – Gebrochen
  10. Forlorn

ALBUM LINE-UP
Sarolf – Vocals
Wiborg – Vocals
Saruman – Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Keyboards
Teja – Guitar
Winterheart – Drums
Córka – Guest vocals on “Echo Eines Alten Glaubens”

ABOUT HEIMDALLS WACHT

Throughout their career, HEIMDALLS WACHT have developed an artistic identity that resists easy classification. Beginning with raw, melancholic and melodic black metal, the band gradually incorporated influences drawn from folk, doom, progressive, melodic, thrash and death metal, forging a sound that has earned them a loyal international following.

Their music, lyrics and visual concepts give voice to deeply rooted feelings of unease towards the contemporary world, the decline of culture and the superficiality of a consumer society that pursues outward satisfaction while remaining blind to inner wealth.

Culture, decline, decay, tragedy, contempt, rebellion and the sense of being lost in the modern world are all reflected within the concept of HEIMDALLS WACHT. The band regards itself as a neo-Romantic art project and an aesthetic refuge from a world governed by reductionist materialism.

In keeping with this artistic ethos and their deeply rooted underground principles, HEIMDALLS WACHT have always maintained a cautious distance from the relentless machinery of modern media.

Art for art’s sake – not for attention or success.

HEIMDALLS WACHT ONLINE
Official website: https://heimdallswacht.de/

ANDY CURRAN Announces Limited Edition “Rockaholic” Collector’s LP

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 16, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Leave a comment

Featuring two brand-new songs, “Rockaholic” and “Lookin’ for Love,” plus newly remixed and remastered versions of his Top 10 Canadian rock radio hits “No Tattoos” and “License to Love”.

For rock fans who remember the ’80s and early ’90s, Andy Curran needs little introduction.

Now, the founding member and lead vocalist of Coney Hatch is revisiting his solo legacy while adding two brand-new songs with the release of Rockaholic, a limited-edition collector’s LP that connects Curran’s past with where he is today.

The first 100 copies purchased will receive a set of handwritten lyrics autographed from Andy’s personal archives

The Rockaholic EP is the first of three vinyl releases planned from Curran’s archives on Vault Press. Two additional releases, Caramel and Leisureworld, are scheduled to follow in 2027.

Recorded at Metalworks Studios in Toronto, Halo Studios in Hamilton and Noble Street Studios in Toronto, Rockaholic was mixed and co-produced by Juno Award-winning Vic Florencia and mastered by Grammy-winning engineer Harry Hess at HBomb Mastering.

Curran’s history with Canadian rock runs deep. As a founding member and lead vocalist of Coney Hatch, he helped establish the band as one of the country’s most respected hard rock acts. Coney Hatch shared stages with Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Cheap Trick, Peter Frampton, Ted Nugent and others, while the band’s self-titled debut album went Gold in Canada and produced rock radio favourites including “Devils Deck” and “Monkey Bars.”

Curran subsequently launched a solo career, with his self-titled debut producing three Top 10 Canadian rock radio hits: “No Tattoos,” “License to Love” and “Let Go.” These songs became staples of Canadian rock radio and MuchMusic, while Curran embarked on an extensive touring schedule that included shows with Rush, Kim Mitchell, Glass Tiger and Rik Emmett.

His accomplishments also include a Juno Award win for Most Promising Male Vocalist, as well as a nomination for Best Rock Album. On that occasion, Curran ultimately bowed out to his friends in Rush, who took home the award.

Curran’s musical résumé also includes co-founding Envy of None with Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson, further cementing his place in the history of Canadian rock.

Now, Curran is bringing the music from his solo years back to the stage in 2027 along side April Wine.

“This is the first time since 1992 that I’ll be playing some of this material,” Curran explains. “Songs we’ll be performing are ‘Nickels & Dimes,’ ‘Whiskey & the Devil,’ ‘License to Love,’ ‘No Tattoos’ – plus the new song ‘Rockaholic’ and selected Coney Hatch favourites.”

Curran will be joined onstage by Sean Kelly, James Naro and Dave Ketchum. Kelly and Ketchum are also Curran’s Coney Hatch bandmates, while Naro is the son of the late Phil Naro, best known for his work with TALAS.

With Rockaholic, Curran isn’t simply looking back. The release offers a snapshot of where he came from, where he is now and what remains to be discovered in his archives.

As Curran states, “I wrote this song about my bandmate, Sean Kelly, but I think deep down everyone has a little ‘Rockaholic’ in them.”

Andy Curran – Rockaholic Track Listing:
“Rockaholic” (Album Version)
“Lookin’ for Love” (First time ever on vinyl
“No Tattoos” (2026 Remixed & Remastered)
“License to Love” (2026 Remixed & Remastered)

BUY NOW : https://vault-press.com/products/andy-curran-rockaholic

Andy Curran Live:
January 22, 2027 – Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Ottawa, ON w/ April Wine
March 5, 2027 –      Fallsview Casino Resort – Niagara Falls, ON w/ April Wine

FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT: andycurranmusic.com

THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT Release New Single & Video ‘Isn’t She Beautiful’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 16, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
The Monolith Deathcult Square

After the complete failure that was ‘The Demon Who Makes Trophies of Men’, Dutch avant-garde death metal act THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT are -against all better judgment- once again working on new music.

They’ve abandoned the concept of short, trendy, radio-friendly songs and are returning to our roots: large-scale, mind-numbingly dull, pompous trainwrecks featuring semi-intellectual lyrics based on flopped sci-fi B-movies.

The band are now proudly presenting their brand new single and video ‘Isn’t She Beautiful?’, which can now be found HERE. The track is also available on all other digital platforms HERE.

THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT states: “The Monolith Deathcult is more (and better) than commercial garbage like “Fist of Stalin” 😡. So, we are proud to announce our new single; ‘Isn’t She Beautiful’! This is our first love song to a being that tore open the universe, entered pure chaos and returned. Beautiful, sentient and catastrophically hostile, just how we like our women and interdimensional spacecraft.”

THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT is a blood-chilling super-spectacle and the ominous last sorry chapter in the once-proud musical landscape. Despite being nominated countless times for “the honourable Covid-escape” THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT stays relevant and like the most avanced shape-shifter, it reinvented itself musically countless times.

Their “music” is THE soundtrack of The Great Rese(n)t, a stunning exercise in astonishing musically wrong-headedness. Illogical, tension-free, and filled with colossal cut-rate Pro Tools editing, but it lacks the prurience and unintentional laughs that might make it a guilty pleasure.

What they will built back better is a new artistic empire of shocking embarrassment and unnecessarily. Their message is as blunt and brutal as a lead pipe: We, The Monolith Deathcult, are the new invincible gods.

THE MONOLITH DEATHCULT’s previous smash hits “Fist of Stalin”, “Dawn of the Planet of the Ashes”, “Connect the Goddamn Dots” heading towards 2,000,000 streams on Spotify and the best is yet to come.

Line up:
Robin Kok: Bass, vocals
Michiel Dekker: Guitars, vocals
Carsten Altena: Guitars, keyboards
Frank Schilperoort: Drums (session member)

Label: Human Detonator Records

Links:
www.monolith-deathcult.com
www.monolith-deathcult.bandcamp.com
www.youtube.com/TheMonolithDeathcultOfficial
www.facebook.com/monolithdeathcult
www.instagram.com/monolithdeathcult
https://tmdc.bigcartel.com/