Australian melodic death metal stalwarts Orpheus Omega have officially released the music video for “Marionette,” a track from their critically acclaimed latest album, Emberglow, out now via Wormholedeath Records.
Blending crushing riffs, soaring melodies, and the band’s trademark emotional intensity, “Marionette” serves as a fitting final statement for the Emberglow era while simultaneously marking the beginning of a new chapter for one of Australia’s most enduring metal acts.
Speaking about the video, the band states:
“‘MARIONETTE’ was filmed at OO HQ whom we say goodbye to after 15 years of rehearsals and 5 albums of writing, signaling the end of the Emberglow album cycle and the move to the NEXT phase of Orpheus Omega.
It’s with this that we also give our BIGGEST thank youand appreciation toLuke for his time in the band as he steps away from Orpheus Omega. Luke’s enigmatic presence and personality have imprinted on everyone he met during many tours and won’t go forgotten anytime soon.
So please, send him ALL your love when watching this video, his last standing contribution within the band.“
With a career spanning four acclaimed albums, three EPs, and continuous tour cycles both domestically and abroad, Orpheus Omega has built a reputation as one of the hardest-working acts in the Australian metal scene. The band started with a sound rooted in the Gothenburg melodeath tradition and has since developed into a distinct voice, shaped by each member’s individual background and experience. That evolution has put them on the same stages as Insomnium, Trivium, At The Gates, Fleshgod Apocalypse, Lacuna Coil, and many others. Emberglow, released in 2024 through Wormholedeath Records, is their most ambitious record to date.
Orpheus Omega is: Chris Themelco – Vocals/ Lead Guitar Leon Monaco – Bass/ Backing Vocals Matt Themelco – Drums Luke Ashley – Guitar Campbell Hill – Keyboard
Multi-platinum and chart-topping hard rock outfit BAD WOLVES return with their new single and music video “Paint It Red,” out now via Better Noise Music. It serves as the band’s first release of 2026 and as the introduction to KILLBOY (Sara Skinner), who makes her fiery debut as the band’s new vocalist with the track.
Here, Bad Wolves begin to explore a broader sonic palette, unlocking subtleties in their sound that feel both fresh and fully realized.
The June 29 release date is no accident. The Strawberry Moon — the full moon that rises in late June — is steeped in mythology and primal energy, perfect for a new release from a band whose identity has always been intertwined with the power and imagery of wolves.
Regarding the onset of this chapter, BAD WOLVES founder, drummer, and songwriter John Boecklin commented, “When we started looking for the next voice of BAD WOLVES, we weren’t looking for someone to fill a spot; we were looking for someone who could help push this band into its next chapter. The first time I heard Sara sing, I knew she was different. She has an incredible voice, undeniable presence, and the kind of versatility that allows us to take our songwriting to places we’ve never gone before. Beyond the talent, she’s brought a renewed energy and excitement into this band. Sara isn’t here to recreate the past, she’s here to help us build the future. We couldn’t be more excited to welcome her to the Bad Wolves family and for everyone to hear what we’ve been working on together.”
There’s no better way to start this chapter than “Paint It Red.” Propelled by pummeling drums and a head-nodding groove, the track fuses KILLBOY’s dynamic delivery to an airtight polyrhythmic riff. Once again, the track illustrates the group’s uncanny ability to marry skyscraper-size melodies and intricately crushing instrumentation. Baptized in crimson, the chorus culminates on an ominous, yet entrancing chant, “And watch the blood flow down like a river from my mouth…’Cause they won’t miss you when you’re dead, so paint it red.”
Regarding the song, KILLBOY states, “‘Paint It Red’ is about being unafraid to tear everything down and start over — again and again if that’s what it takes. With blood, sweat, and tears, every single time. To live authentically and follow your heart, you have to be willing to rebuild when something no longer serves who you are. You can’t be afraid of change, failure, or starting from scratch. Sometimes growth means letting go of what you’ve built so you can create something even better. ‘Paint It Red’ is about having the courage to burn away what’s holding you back and the strength to begin again.”
Boecklin elaborated, “‘Paint It Red’ is a metaphor for those moments in life when being polite, diplomatic, or even democratic, no longer works. Not all the time. Not often. But there comes a point when enough is enough. There are moments when it’s time to stop asking for permission and start making decisions for yourself. To do what you want to do, regardless of the consequences. Even if it’s the wrong decision, at least it’s yours. Then you live with it. Burn it down. Tear it apart. Cause some chaos if that’s what needs to happen. There’s something freeing about reaching that point — when you know it’s time to sound the alarm and let everyone know to back the fuck off. ‘Paint It Red’ is about taking control, owning your choices, and refusing to let anyone else dictate your path.”
Indeed, art is imitating life on “Paint It Red.”
Stay tuned for a whole lot more from Bad Wolves soon. This only the beginning of their next chapter.
The L.I.F.E. Project – the dynamic collaboration between guitarist and songwriter Josh Rand (Stone Sour) and powerhouse vocalist Casandra Carson (Paralandra, Casandra’s Crossing) – are thrilled to unveil the new single, “You Can’t Bring Me Down”, out now via Frontiers Music Srl, along with an official visualizer. The track was originally released by Suicidal Tendencies in 1990 and recorded in a new powerful version by Rand and Carson.
Josh Rand commented: “I can’t think of a better way to kick things back off after some downtime than with this track. Suicidal Tendencies’ Lights…Camera…Revolution! is one of my top five all-time favorite records. The lyrics to this track are just as relevant today as they were the day it was released, making it timeless. I hope you enjoy it as much as we did recording it. Turn it up!!”
Casandra Carson also stated: “This felt like the perfect song for Josh and me to cover for a lot of reasons. First off, it’s an absolute headbanger, and that’s reason enough, but beyond that, I resonate deeply with the lyrics and the message. It’s all about refusing to conform or compromise your beliefs and standards just to fit in with the crowd, and songs like that have always lit a fire in me”.
“I’ve been in the music industry for over a decade now, and I’ve been criticized, doubted, and told ‘no’ more times than I can count, but I’ve never let that stop me from doing what I love or doing it my way, ‘regardless what the cost might be’. That mindset is exactly why this song still resonates so strongly today, and why it felt like the right one for us to put our own spin on”, she added.
Born from a shared musical vision and an undeniable creative chemistry, The L.I.F.E. Project represents a fresh and compelling artistic union. While Rand had long envisioned launching a female-fronted project, it wasn’t until 2020 – when a mutual connection introduced him to Carson – that the idea truly began to take shape. What started as an exploratory collaboration quickly evolved into something far more meaningful, laying the groundwork for a project driven by purpose and artistic synergy.
Musically, The L.I.F.E. Project fuses Rand’s signature heavy riffs and affinity for strong melodic hooks with Carson’s commanding and versatile vocal delivery. Drawing inspiration from classic metal, thrash, and progressive influences, the project channels the raw energy and spirit that first inspired Rand to pick up the guitar, while offering Carson the opportunity to explore new sonic and emotional territories.
Over time, the band has crafted a distinct sound that balances intensity with accessibility, underpinned by a natural creative partnership. Their material reflects a thoughtful and organic development process, allowing ideas to evolve freely and cohesively.
Lyrically, The L.I.F.E. Project sets itself apart by venturing beyond traditional rock themes, embracing broader narratives and concepts. Their songs often draw from history, social issues, and real-world tensions, exploring themes such as empowerment, resistance, and societal challenges. This approach adds depth and substance to their music, complementing its powerful sonic foundation.
Line Up: Casandra Carson – Vocals Josh Rand – Guitar
True to their name, TEMIC are a dream come true for prog fans. The supergroup features current and former members of Devin Townsend, Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress, Neal Morse Band, Haken, SHINING and Maraton. In 2023, they quickly lived up to their billing when debut album Terror Management Theory reached #15 on the iTunes Worldwide Metal chart.
Now, as they come closer to announcing their second album, a thunderous ode to grief and loss, ahead of a fall European tour with very special guest and Season of Mist labelmates Kingcrow, today, TEMIC are releasing a new single. Recorded live at Poppodium Boerderij in Zoetermeer, Netherlands during their 2025 European co-headline tour, fan-favorite “Skeletons” gets the crowd’s blood pumping by putting the band’s extraordinary chemistry on full display.
“We love playing live. For us, each show is a real occasion where the music truly comes alive and the connection between the band and audience becomes something special”, TEMIC says. “This live performance of ‘Skeletons’ is a snapshot of that moment. We can’t wait to get back on stage and share more nights like this with our audience. We’ll even have new music to share”.
Watch TEMIC perform “Skeletons” live at the Boerderij:
TEMIC Autumnal Offerings 2026 European Tour with very special guests Kingcrow
October 17 – Toulouse, FR @ Ready For Prog Festival October 18 – Pratteln, CH @ Z7 October 19 – Munich, DE @ Backstage October 20 – Maastricht, NL @ Muziekgieterij October 21 – Paris, FR @ Backstage By The Mill October 22 – Rüsselsheim, DE @ Das Rind October 24 – Toruń, PL @ Art Rock Festival
More dates to be announced soon.
With its 7-minute runtime, “Skeletons” gives TEMIC the opportunity to stretch out and flex their well-trained muscles. Right from the jump, the band’s individual talents complement each other with impressive ease. Keyboardist Diego Tejeida and guitarist Eric Gillette exchange haunting melodies and heavy riffs. After crushing through the first chorus, drummer Simen Sandnes and bassist Miguel Pereira lock into an unexpectedly funky groove.
“We could have had it all”, vocalist Fredrik Bergersen Klemp belts in harmony with Gillette. As the stakes rise during the song’s fiery finale, it’s clear to the Boerderij’s packed crowd that TEMIC have everything a prog fan could want.
Terror Management Theory is out now on Season of Mist
Introducing TEMIC—prog’s newest, most ambitious, and most adrenaline-fueled act. TEMIC melds the creative minds of keyboardist and sound designer Diego Tejeida (Devin Townsend, Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress, ex-Haken), guitarist Eric Gillette (The Neal Morse Band, Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress), drummer Simen Sandnes (SHINING, Arkentype), bassist Miguel Pereira (Withem, Big City) and vocalist Fredrik Klemp (Maraton, 22).
The origins of TEMIC date back to 2017, when Tejeida and Gillette toured the world as band members of Mike Portnoy’s Shattered Fortress. From the very first chords they exchanged, their musical chemistry both on and off stage was undeniable, leading them to discuss the prospect of starting a new band together. Unfortunately, conflicting tour and recording commitments forced them to turn their attention elsewhere for years—that is, until the world came to a standstill in 2020, and Tejeida called Gillette to ask a fateful question: “Remember how we said we should make music together? Well, how about now?”
Thus, the first demos for what would later become TEMIC’s 2023 debut album, Terror Management Theory, began to emerge. Within a few weeks after that initial phone call, the musical vision of TEMIC had become clear: Let’s create progressive music that is heavily influenced by high-energy electronic music, but arranged and orchestrated for a 5-piece modern prog rock/metal band—where, at last, the pulse can be the focus, and the vocal melody can be king.
Eager to join forces with the very best bandmates, Tejeida and Gillette first summoned the rhythmic power of their friend and drummer Sandnes. With characteristic enthusiasm, Sandnes seized the opportunity, prepared to contribute his percussive prowess as the heartbeat of TEMIC. When it came time to find the singer that would carry TEMIC’s melodies to new heights, Sandnes recommended vocal powerhouse Klemp, whose emotive delivery and unmatched intensity left no doubt that he was destined to be the voice of TEMIC. Finally, to round out the rhythm section of Terror Management Theory, dynamic bassist Jacob Umansky (Intervals) was invited on board as a guest player, gracing the album with an unrivaled groove and a signature low-end sound.
Together, this mammoth lineup is TEMIC, a high-energy, electronic-inspired, modern melodic prog metal band for the next generation.
VICE BUSINESS ONLY (V.B.O.) present their charismatic and dynamic take on DURAN DURAN‘s classic track, “The Wild Boys”. Italy’s V.B.O., comprised of Francesco Cavalieri (WIND ROSE) and Simone Giusti, is preparing to unveil the forthcoming full length, Vice Business Only, on July 24, 2026, via Reigning Phoenix Music.
“‘Wild Boys’ gets the VBO treatment as we reinterpret the Duran Duran classic through our own electrifying sound.” shares Francesco Cavalieri. “We push the track into a heavier, more cinematic direction, blending ‘80s nostalgia with a modern electronic / metal attitude. Enjoy our tribute to this iconic masterpiece!”
V.B.O. build on the intensity DURAN DURAN‘s “The Wild Boys” with fierce guitar stabs and grounding bass. Warm analogue synths and keys accentuate the atmosphere and ’80s feel while soaring vocal melodies honor Simon Le Bon’s original performance. V.B.O. unleash their heavier side in “The Wild Boys” as they see the track end on a thunderous note with fierce guitars and Cavalieri’s explosive harsh.
“The Wild Boys” sees past and present worlds collide through V.B.O.‘s modern production and distinctive electronic warmth. The stylistic tone of DURAN DURAN‘s song is enhanced in V.B.O.‘s interpretation through a fusion of genres and impactful soundscapes.
Vice Business Only was recorded at LSD-Studios (Lübeck, Germany), produced, mixed and mastered by Lasse Lammert. Photography is by Onofrio Petronella and Tommaso Barletta, with the album cover artwork design by V.B.O.
Vice Business Only Tracklist: 1. VBO x Vesti la Giubba 2. Bring on the Fire 3. Waiting for the Dawn 4. Lovers on the Run 5. Surrendered 6. Fire Fire 7. Shadow of Your Kiss 8. Monsters! 9. The Wild Boys
About V.B.O.:
VICE BUSINESS ONLY (V.B.O.) is a musical project founded in 2023 by Francesco Cavalieri, best known as the frontman of the power metal band WIND ROSE, together with electronic music producer Simone Giusti. The project marks a bold artistic shift for Cavalieri, moving from fantasy-driven metal into a modern, urban, and cinematic soundscape.
The band’s lineup is completed by Claudio Falconcini (guitar), Federico Meranda (keyboards), and Angelo Carmignani (drums), combining diverse musical backgrounds into a cohesive identity.
V.B.O. blends retro-futuristic synthwave with rock and metal, creating a sound that is both nostalgic and electrifyingly modern. Inspired by Depeche Mode, Tears for Fears, Daft Punk, and Justice, the band combines analog-style synths, driving rhythms, and powerful vocals into a polished, immersive experience.
At the core of V.B.O. lies a neon-drenched vision of excess, elegance, and cinematic nightlife—echoing the glamour and danger of cities like Miami. Themes of power, luxury, passion, and excess define the project, presenting the band almost as a stylized gang where image and attitude are as essential as the music.
The band made its live debut in January 2026 at the 70000 Tons of Metal festival in the United States, stepping onto one of the world’s most recognized international stages.
Since its inception, V.B.O. has positioned itself as a distinctive force in contemporary music, merging rock and metal energy with electronic groove and texture. More than a band, Vice Business Only delivers a complete audiovisual experience—a high-stakes journey through a retro-futuristic universe where the rhythm never slows and the attitude is larger than life.
French black metal quartet Mourir unveils their third single ‘Aux inutiles’ today, before their upcoming sophomore album, Nous, le venin, drops on July 10th via Pelagic Records.
A detached gaze upon a world in decline: a revolt against progress and an introspection of the modern man, complacent and weary. Musically, Mourir pushes its exploration even further, embracing screamo, doom, and noise influences. The vocals take on a more assertive presence, with a deliberate search for melodic lines. The project thus fully breaks free from the confines of traditional black metal.
Mourir about ‘Aux inutiles’: “’Aux inutiles’ pays tribute to those who live out of sync — the sick, the depressed, the ones who see too clearly. It is the cry of those whom modern society casts into the shadows, consumed by such deep self-depreciation that it eventually destroys them. The track reflects the depression inherent to a disillusioned West — the weariness of living in a world saturated with meaning yet stripped of genuine emotion. Musically, it is more direct, fast-paced, intense, and filled with frustration. It conveys urgency and inner turmoil.
Their forward-thinking take on black metal and uncompromising approach to their work marks the Toulouse-based band out as ones to watch when they present this new material live at festivals across Europe including Hellfest, Rock In Bourlon and Resurrection Festival in the months to come.
With a demo, an album and an experimental EP to their name, the four-piece retreated to the studio at the end of 2025 to write the music for Nous, le venin. Recorded in January 2026 with Amaury Sauvé (Birds in row, Igorrr, Pneu) at The Apiary Studio in Laval, France, the six tracksare the very embodiment of Mourir’s approach to black metal. Although they draw inspiration from many artists in the old-school black metal world, they opted to lean into a more modern sound – one that would allow the depth of their sonic choices to shine. Blending elements of sludge and post-metal to the rawness of their black metal sound, and combining this with a mixthat gives space to both the low frequencies and the high-octane viscerality, Mourir have created something both distinctive and captivating.
Thematically, the band turn their detached gaze towards an ever-more untethered modern society, one that is inhospitable to those seeking meaning in the cruelty and absurdity of aseemingly senseless world. Yet within these tracks exists slivers of light, of hope and ofluminosity – a belief that something better is possible is woven throughout the melodic passagesand most celestial, ecstatic elements of their sound. The evocative cover art by Thomas Davezac captures the feeling of disconnection that permeates the album.
Mourir have recorded an album that cements their place among underground greats who deftlyeschew the nostalgic trappings of black metal convention and breathe new life into the genre. Nous, le venin is imbued with raw emotion that is perfectly complemented by stylistic choices that echo the sentiment of being freed from the chains of the past.
Upcoming live dates: 01.07. San Sebastian – Mogambo 02.07. Santander – Rockbeer the new 03.07. Viveiro – Resurrection Fest 09.10. Nijmegen – Soulcrusher Festival
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 ) 