International power metal band Asterise is set to release the second studio album ‘Tale of a Wandering Soul’ on December 6th 2024 via Inverse Records. The third single ‘Golden Land’ Arnaud Menard (Marius Danielsen’s Legend of Valley Doom, Alkemyst) & Noah Edward Simmons (Seven Thorns, Memories of Old, Questbound) on vocals.
Bartlomiej Mezynski comments: “Golden Land is the third single, featuring the amazing vocals of Noah Edward Simmons and Arnaud Menard. It’s a catchy, easy-to-listen-to song, with both singers delivering great performances, hitting some impressively high notes (as you’d expect with Noah and Arnaud on the track). I wanted to blend a retro, old-school vibe in the intro with simple, catchy guitar rhythms and choruses. I hope listeners enjoy the song’s simplicity and how memorable it is.”
As the official partner of the Summer Breeze Open Air Festival, Nuclear Blast is thrilled to present the newly announced bands for next year! Another 30 acts have made it onto the festival poster, and we’re sure you’ll find a few bands you’re excited to see.
We’ve listed all the freshly announced bands below. Highlights include Blind Guardian, Within Temptation, Saxon, and Landmvrks. From August 13 – 16, 2025, you can expect an impressive lineup of metal on the festival grounds.
These bands will be there:
Blind Guardian Within Temptation Saxon Landmvrks Hämatom Kissin’ Dynamite Kanonenfieber Ensiferum Kublai Khan Tx Primordial Turbobier Heavysaurus Charlotte Wessels Dominum Lik 3 Inches Of Blood Warbringer Evil Invaders Downset Elvenking Schattenmann Master Iotunn Imperial Triumphant Abbie Falls Nytt Land Hammer King Destinity Stesy Arctis
Over 125 bands in total will perform at Summer Breeze 2025. Ticket sales have already begun on the festival website. Build up your excitement and secure your tickets now!
Symphonic power metal quartet MAJESTICA have announced their brand new studio album Power Train, which will see the light of day on February 7th, 2025, via Nuclear Blast Records. After more than four years since their last album, the Swedes are ready to set the bar high once again with their new long player and are presenting their fans what is their strongest album to date.
Power Train is a spellbinding experience which awakens sleeping dreams with powerful riffs and epic choruses. The enchantment rises like a breath of stars, propelling listeners into the heart of a fairytale world.
This is particularly evident in the album’s first single. With the title track ‘Power Train‘, MAJESTICA leave an exciting first impression and also present a strong music video, which you can witness here:
Tommy Johansson comments: “Get ready for explosive Power Metal with a ”can’t stop singing along”-chorus in the new track “Power Train”. The video literally takes you onboard the Power Train with elements taken from the entire album.”
The new album Power Train contains ten brand new tracks and will be available in the follwing formats: CD Jewel (incl. booklet), Vinyl, and digital.
Power Train Tracklist 1. Power Train 2. No Pain, No Gain 3. Battle Cry 4. Megatrue 5. My Epic Dragon 6. Thunder Power 7. A Story In The Night 8. Go Higher 9. Victorious 10. Alliance Anthem
When it came to the process of recording and putting all the pieces together, the band did not change a lot compared to the last projects. Again the music was written, recorded, and produced by MAJESTICA themselves. “Like our previous albums this one is also produced by ourselves, and we recorded most parts in our new place ”Majestic Studios”. For mixing we went back to Jonas Kjellgren as we have been very happy with the sound of ’A Christmas Carol’ and ’Metal United’ says bassist Chris Davidsson. Regarding the amazing artwork for Power Train, Chris explains: “For the artwork we teamed up with Jan Yrlund / Darkgrove design. It invites you to join this majepic ride of the Power Train, imagine standing there on the platform eagerly waiting, and you hear ”all aboard”!“.
Shortly before the release of their new album, MAJESTICA will play a few shows, perfect to warm up for the upcoming album. The tour, which is called ‘The Dead Don’t Die Tour‘, kicks off on December 26th in Nürnberg, Germany. Along with headliners DOMINUM and support HAMMER KING, the Swedes are going to stop in seven cities. Furthermore, MAJESTICA will play a festival show at ‘No Sleep After X-Mas Festival’ in Runkel with some extra focus on their Christmas album A Christmas Carol on December 29th.
You don’t want to miss this tour, so be fast and get your tickets!
See all the dates below: ‘The Dead Don’t Die Tour‘ w/ DOMINUM, MAJESTICA & HAMMER KING 26.12.24 – Nürnberg – Hirsch 27.12.24 – München – Backstage 28.12.24 – Berlin – Frannz Club 08.01.25 – Frankfurt – Das Bett 09.01.25 – Hamburg – Knust 10.01.25 – Cologne – Kantine 11.01.25 – Leipzig – Hellraiser
Additionally, MAJESTICA have already confirmed some first festival appearances, including 70000 Tons of Metal 2025 which takes place one week before the release of the album and where fans can have justified hopes that MAJESTICA will also play a few new tracks from Power Train live. See all confirmed festivals below:
29.12.2024 – No Sleep After X-Mas Festival 30.01. – 03.02. 2025 – 70000 Tons of Metal 2025 04.04. – 05.04. 2025 – Epic Fest 2025 06.06. – 08.06.2025 – Metal Fest Open Air 2025 04.07. – 07.07.2025 – Time To Rock 2025 03.09. – 06.09.2025 – ProgPower USA 2025
In celebration of their new album, Invincible Shield, released in March, Judas Priest will embark on an extensive EU tour next year. The Shield of Pain Tour kicks off in summer 2025, with four shows in Germany and two dates in Switzerland, where you can catch them live!
Here’s the complete list of tour dates:
June 14 – Hamar, NO: Tjuvholmen Arena
June 17 – Stuttgart, DE: Schleyerhalle
June 18 – Frankfurt, DE: Hessentag Festival
July 1 – Ferrara, IT: Summer Festival
July 3 – Zurich, CH: Hallenstadion
July 7 – Łódź, PL: Atlas Arena
July 10 – Rättvik, SE: Dalhalla
July 13 – Munich, DE: Olympiahalle
July 15 – Carcassonne, FR: Festival de Carcassonne
July 17 – Sion, CH: Sion Sous Les Etoiles
July 19 – Luxembourg, LU: Rockhal
July 20 – Oberhausen, DE: Rudolf-Weber-Arena
July 5 – Special Guest at the Scorpions 60th Anniversaryconcert, Hanover: Heinz von Heiden Arena
If you want to secure your ticket early, there’s an exclusive presale starting on November 6 at 10 AM. General sale opens on November 8.
Polish black metal icons PATRIARKH (formerly Batushka) embark on a dark and ominous pilgrimage as they unveil the next single from the upcoming concept album, ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ (Lat. PROROK ILJA), out on January 3, 2025 via Napalm Records. Accompanied by an official music video, the new song, entitled “ВЕРШАЛИН IV” (Lat. WIERSZALIN IV), weaves the sacred-inspired vocals of Eliza Sacharczuk with liturgical melodies, building into a storm of dark choirs and unforgettably intense harsh vocals.
Building on the critical success of Hospodi (2019) and relentless touring around the globe, PATRIARKH brings a renewed vision and profound storytelling to their Napalm Records debut. This eight-track journey immerses listeners in the true story of Eliasz Klimowicz, the enigmatic Prophet Ilja, set against the dramatic historical backdrop of the 1930s and ’40s. Deeply rooted in Eastern Orthodox traditions, PATRIARKH masterfully merges black and doom metal with haunting religious themes, conjuring an atmosphere as dark as it is mesmerizing.
Make sure to pre-order your copy of ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ (Lat. PROROK ILJA) now and check out the thrilling music video for “ВЕРШАЛИН IV” (Lat. WIERSZALIN IV) below!
PATRIARKH on the new single “ВЕРШАЛИН IV”: “This is the most Oriental sounding song on our new album. The beautiful monody that runs throughout the entire piece is deeply influenced by Greek and Romanian traditions, which are integral to Orthodoxy. In our new music, we aim to showcase different aspects of Orthodoxy. Just as the Prophet Ilja journeyed to Kronsztadt, we traveled far for musical inspiration to create a psalm in honor of the New Jerusalem that our prophet was building.
This song features our long-time singing teacher, Eliza Sacharczuk. We have been collaborating with her since 2016, continuously improving our singing skills through lessons and consultations. Our choice was intentional; Eliza has a truly unique voice. Listen and see for yourself!”
ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ details a true story that happened in the band’s home area of Podlasie, in the village of Grzybowszczyzna, in the 1930s and 40s. The album takes the listener into the world of Eliasz Klimowicz, the titular Prophet Ilja, an illiterate peasant who was the leader of the Orthodox Grzybowska Sect, active until the 1960s, cultivating and transmitting the history of the self-proclaimed prophet. PATRIARKH spread their gospel by using an arsenal of folk instruments, such as tagelharpa, mandolin, mandocello, hurdy gurdy and stringed dulcimer, and worked with a symphony orchestra and choirs to give their new creations the most organic and vivid feeling possible. As is trademark with PATRIARKH’s music, Orthodox sacredness is mixed with black and doom metal, now largely enriched with folk music, neo dark folk, and even film music. The band utilizes the entire palette of Orthodox music, venturing into the areas of Byzantine monody, liturgical chant and Russian polyphony, neatly adapting folk and liturgical melodies to their own style.
PATRIARKH on the new album: “With this new release, we are starting a new chapter in our history – not only is our name changing, but our music is also undergoing a natural evolution. The story on the album encouraged us to get out of our comfort zone, we reached for means that we had not used before in our music. Many of you will wonder if this is still black metal? Or is it even metal? Radio play, audiobook, theater, film soundtrack, folk music, performance… All these terms will fit here. Some will hate, others will love…”
The lyrical side of ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ is an interesting mix of theater and pastoralism. PATRIARKH uses fragments of texts from the theater play “Prorok Ilja” and draws from the messages contained in the works of Włodzimierz Pawluczuk, combining it with folk and liturgical texts. On ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ, listeners can hear various languages – and Polish for the first time ever! The album was recorded in January and May 2024 at Tall Pine Records (Behemoth, Zalewski, Afromental), Heinrich House (Behemoth, Vesania, Hate), Wem Studio (Kasa Chorych, Lukasyno, Cira) and Radio Białystok studio. Mixing and mastering was handled by Wojciech Wiesławski at Hertz Studio (Vader, Behemoth, Decapitated), and production was helmed by band mastermind and leading vocalist Bartłomiej “Варфоломей” Krysiuk. “ПРОРОК ИЛИЯis an album full of emotions, sentimentalism and folklore. It’s pastoral, lyrical, epic, multidimensional and multicolored, just like my Podlasie is multicolored,” says Варфоломей. Dive into the deepest of all shadows with this black metal masterpiece and join PATRIARKH on this intriguing ride!
ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ tracklisting: 1. WIERSZALIN I (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН I (Cyrillic) 2. WIERSZALIN II (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН II (Cyrillic) 3. WIERSZALIN III (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН III (Cyrillic) 4. WIERSZALIN IV (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН IV (Cyrillic) 5. WIERSZALIN V (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН V (Cyrillic) 6. WIERSZALIN VI (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН VI (Cyrillic) 7. WIERSZALIN VII (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН VII (Cyrillic) 8. WIERSZALIN VIII (Lat.) – ВЕРШАЛИН VIII (Cyrillic)
PATRIARKH Live 2024 Asia & Australia Prophecy 2024 29.11.24 TH – Bangkok / Mr.Fox Livehouse 01.12.24 HK – Hong Kong / MOM Livehouse 03.12.24 CN – Shanghai / MAO Livehouse 04.12.24 CN – Beijing / Omnispace 06.12.24 KO – Seoul / West Bright Hall 07.12.24 TW – Taipei / Jack Studio 09.12.24 JP – Tokyo / Shibuya Club Asia 12.12.24 NZ – Auckland / Tuning Fork 13.12.24 AU – Melbourne / Max Watts
NOWY WIERSZALIN Poland 2025 03.01.25 PL – Łódź / Wytwórnia – SINFONIA ORTHODOXIA w/symphonic orchestra and male choir 22.02.25 PL – Krosno / Rock Klub Iron 07.03.25 PL – Wrocław / Transformator 08.03.25 PL – Zabrze / CK Wiatrak 09.03.25 PL – Kraków / HYPE PARK 14.03.25 PL – Lublin / Fabryka Kultury Zgrzyt 15.03.25 PL – Olsztyn / Scena Zgrzyt 16.03.25 PL – Warszawa / Klub Proxima 17.03.25 PL – Białystok / Zmiana Klimatu 21.03.25 PL – Gdynia / Podwórko.art 22.03.25 PL – Szczecin / Kosmos 23.03.25 PL – Poznań / 2progi
From the birthplace of post-punk and goth rock, London’s legendary Batcave club, comes the first ever full-length collection of recordings by one of the bands that defined the era, Sexbeat!
Formed by Batcave DJ Hamish MacDonald, SEX BEAT never recorded a full studio album. But their 1984 recording of the scene-defining “Sexbeat” remains one of the crucial dance tracks of the Batcave era, and was elected #9 on Rolling Stone‘s Top 50 goth tracks. Sex Beat also cut another of the year’s most electrifying singles, the beat-driven, chant-laden “Pump,” and they were a constant presence on the live scene of the day, not only at the Batcave but elsewhere, too.
Releasing on November 29, Live at the Batcave and Other Dark Places captures the Sexbeat experience as its most torrid. But, if you can’t wait that long, there’s also a new single, the audience favorite “Girls,” recorded at London’s Lyceum in 1984.
Lost for decades, these historic live recordings offer a livid portrait of one of the era’s most pivotal acts – frontman MacDonald, bassist Sophie Chéry, drummer Linzi Light – in front of one of the most loyal audiences.
Hamish says, “We recorded most of these tracks live on stage in London in 1984, me, Sophie and Linzi, with various guitarists. Strung out on the mainstream rush, Sex Pistols’ backline, wearing leather, lace and Lycra, we took our chance. It was trash glam punk, a metropolitan mysticism, born out of what we created in those early Batcave days. It was girls and boys and all the rhymes and reasons. We rocked.”
“Pump,” of course is among the album’s highlights, and so is “Sexbeat,” which despite its pedigree, waited 40 years for release (as a standalone single on purple Cleopatra Records vinyl). But there is so much more here to relish, more than a dozen songs that fans have waited four decades to hear again – and presented here with full digital remastering, and exclusive (and revealing) liners by Hamish MacDonald himself.
“Furiously and Curiouser,” “Dogs Made Love,” “Voodoo Man,” “Violent Elation,” “We Will Come And See You” – these are the songs around which the Gothic Rock movement of the day evolved, and whose influence hung heavy across all who saw and heard the band.
Live at the Batcave and Other Dark Places will ensure that Sexbeat’s audience is set to grow even larger, and their memory spread even further. The beat goes on forever.
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 ) 