The globally acclaimed metal phenomenon expands its unique universe with a full animated television series while new music is already on the horizon.
For years, Belzebubs have existed in a league of their own. Combining black metal, razor-sharp humour, heartfelt family stories and stunning animation, creator JP Ahonen has built one of heavy music’s most original and recognizable multimedia universes.
Now, that universe is about to reach its biggest milestone yet.
Currently in production, Belzebubs will become a 13-episode animated television series, produced by Pyjama Films together with Movimenti Production (Banijay Kids & Family) and Mago Production, commissioned by Yle and distributed by Banijay.
The series follows Sløth – devoted father, loving husband and frontman of the world’s most unfortunate black metal band – as he attempts to balance family life with his relentless musical ambitions.
What began as a cult webcomic has evolved into a global phenomenon. The Belzebubs universe has attracted more than 650,000 fans online, the comics have been published in over 20 countries, and the band – signed worldwide to Century Media Records / Sony Music Entertainment – received widespread acclaim with its debut album and award-winning animated music videos, which have amassed more than six million YouTube views.
Alongside the animated series, Belzebubs are currently preparing the release of their highly anticipated second studio album, once again accompanied by a new collection of animated music videos. Together, the upcoming album and television series mark the next chapter in the ever-expanding Belzebubs universe, continuing to blur the boundaries between music, comics and animation.
JP Ahonen, creator, head writer and showrunner of Belzebubs, comments: “Belzebubs is a cross-media beast that weaves together comics, music and animated music videos in a unique fashion, and I feel the series now perfectly combines all of the above. I can’t wait to introduce the series to our already active fan community, as they’ll surely appreciate how everything is linked and now comes together. I think Belzebubs works for TV like a charm, as we have the same infernal energy and witty dialogue, but more space for drama and growth. The first season consists of 13 standalone episodes, but there’s an overarching storyline that slowly evolves towards the funny, action-packed, and surprisingly emotional finale.”
Century Media Records, adds: “From day one, Belzebubs has never been just a band. It’s a fully realised creative universe where music, storytelling and animation come together in a way that is truly unique within heavy music. Seeing that vision grow into a full animated series is incredibly exciting, and with a brand-new album on the horizon, we’re only scratching the surface of what’s still to come.”
The English voice cast includes Andrew Wheildon-Dennis, Jess Robinson, Pippa Haywood, Amalia Vitale, Charlie Hiscock and James Alexander. The series is based on the internationally acclaimed Belzebubs universe created by JP Ahonen, who also serves as head writer and showrunner. The series is produced by Pyjama Films together with Movimenti Production (Banijay Kids & Family) and Mago Production.
With the animated series and new music arriving soon, Belzebubs continue to prove that they are far more than a band – they are one of heavy music’s most distinctive and ambitious creative worlds.
Photo by Benjamin Klose, BK Productions @bkproductions1
German industrial metal force GHØSTKID just announced their “FOLLOW THE WHITE RABBIT” EU/UK tour, kicking off this October. They will be joined by Dropout Kings, Stain The Canvas and Seven Blood.
The tour marks a new chapter for GHØSTKID, with Sushi leading the project into a new era alongside a brand-new live lineup, with more details to be revealed soon.
Tickets are on sale now!
All Dates:
08.10.2026 – Nuremberg – Z-Bau 09.10.2026 – Frankfurt – Das Bett 10.10.2026 – Zürich – Komplex Klub 11.10.2026 – Munich – Backstage Halle 13.10.2026 – Budapest – Analog Music Hall 14.10.2026 – Vienna – Viper Room 15.10.2026 – Krakow – Hype Park 16.10.2026 – Prague – Bike Jesus 17.10.2026 – Dresden – Tante Ju 19.10.2026 – Berlin – Lido 20.10.2026 – Hamburg – Kaiserkeller 21.10.2026 – Nijmegen – Doornroosje 23.10.2026 – Nottingham – Rescue Rooms 24.10.2026 – Manchester – Gorilla 25.10.2026 – London – Garage 27.10.2026 – Ghent – Vierde Zaal 28.10.2026 – Paris – Backstage by the Mill 29.10.2026 – Cologne – Essigfabrik
Swedish hard rockers Easy Action are thrilled to announce the release of the new single and official video, “DAZED”, their first track for Frontiers Music Srl.
“DAZED” is about living in the post-truth era with fact-spinning politicians and deep-faking AI in a synthetic reality when you no longer can believe your eyes, nor your ears. It’s been worth the wait, I promise!”, says lead singer Tommy Nilsson.
Easy Action was formed in 1983 and got signed by Warner Bros legend Seymour Stein to SIRE Records, thus becoming the first Swedish hard rock band ever to sign a US major label deal.
Their eponymous debut album was released in 1984. In 1986 they released the AOR cult classic “That Makes One” which gained numerous chart positions with the songs “Talk Of The Town” and “In The Middle Of Nowhere”. This led to multiple offers from US major labels, but when Marcello quit after an offer to join the band Europe in late 1986, the band split up shortly after.
After the break up, Tommy Nilsson embarked on a hugely successful solo career in Sweden while Kee Marcello did three world tours, performed and co-wrote songs on two multimillion elling albums with Europe.
In 2019 Easy Action got back together for a hugely well-received reunion concert at Sweden Rock Festival. The massive response from the audience and the relit fire in the band inspired them to start working on new material.
2026 marks the 40th anniversary of “That Makes One”, which calls for celebration with a new studio album coming soon, and a festival tour.
“DAZED” is a perfect example of their newly crafted sound, adding prog influences to their signature AOR sound, bringing it into the future and beyond.
Line Up: Tommy Nilsson – lead vocals Kee Marcello – guitars, keyboards and backing vocals Chris Lind – guitars Björn Höglund – drums, backing vocals Nalle Påhlsson – bass Jörgen Ingeström – keyboards
US heavy metal psych outfit Book of Wyrms return today with their new single “Slime Fever”, offering the first glimpse into their forthcoming new album, with further details to be revealed soon.
Formed in 2014 out of a shared devotion to Hawkwind and ZZ Top, Book of Wyrms describe themselves as a four piece heavy metal psych band with extensive experience jamming in outer space, steadily building a reputation in the US underground through their blend of heavy riffs, psychedelic textures and driving energy.
“Slime Fever” captures a clear shift in momentum for the band. The addition of drummer Brian Wiltz has injected a new level of intensity and directness into the songwriting, with a more aggressive and straightforward approach that still leaves space for dynamics, restraint and unexpected turns. Wiltz’s background outside of traditional heavy music also brings a broader rhythmic perspective, knowing when to support the song and when to push it into more explosive territory.
For the first time, the band also worked with a dedicated mixer. Rob Wrong (Wrong Way Recording, Witch Mountain) handled the mix, opening up a new sonic dimension for Book of Wyrms and helping shape a sound that feels both sharper and more expansive than ever before. His approach aligned naturally with the band’s vision, drawing on reference points such as Dio’s Last in Line and Judas Priest’s Turbo, while still allowing space for unexpected creative directions in the mix.
Stylistically, the band continues to evolve while staying rooted in their core influences. Alongside their enduring love for Rainbow, Hawkwind and Monster Magnet, Book of Wyrms found themselves drawing inspiration from 80s Judas Priest, Thin Lizzy, Scorpions, Queen and Motörhead, aiming to create music built for movement and intensity. The result is a collection of songs shaped with a strict approach to composition, where anything that did not “hit” with full impact was left behind.
“Slime Fever” stands as the first transmission from this new era: faster, dirtier and more focused, setting the tone for what is to come from the forthcoming album.
Fresh off crushing cities across North America during their headline run on this year’s Decibel Magazine Tour, Cryptopsy remain insatiable as ever. The Montreal legends’ latest album, An Insatiable Violence, received their second nomination for Best Metal/Hard Music Album at this year’s JUNO Awards, a category they won two years ago. Now, ahead of their summer European headline tour, they are revealing a freakish surprise that shows once more why they are the most vile band in death metal.
Today, Cryptopsy are announcing that they are performing later this summer at Billy Strings’ annual Ionia Freak Fair. The band will headline The Pyramid Scheme Pinball & Metal Tent on Saturday, August 29. The news arrives almost a year since they collaborated with the Grammy Award-winning bluegrass star on “Blasphemy Made Fresh”.
“We’re incredibly grateful and honored to be part of something as unique as the Ionia Freak Fair”, Cryptopsy says. “Music has always been about breaking boundaries. We can’t wait to bring something heavy to this year’s festival. Who knows, maybe Billy will even stop by for a song…”
Cryptopsy at 2026 Ionia Freak Fair Saturday, August 29 @ The Pyramid Scheme [SOLD OUT]
July 25 – Steenwijk, NL @ Stonehenge Festival July 26 – Cham, DE @ LA July 28 – Brasov, RO @ Rockstadt Extreme Fest July 29 – Kosice, SK @ Collosseum July 30 – Kraków, PL @ Hype Park July 31 – Löbnitz, DE @ Full Rewind August 1 – Dortmund, DE @ Dortmund Deathfest August 2 – Brighton, UK @ Chalk August 3 – Cardiff, UK @ The Globe August 5 – Dublin, IE @ Whelans August 6 – Derby, UK @ Bloodstock Open Air August 7 – Helsinki, FI @ Helsinki Metal Fest August 8 – Jaromer, CZ @ Brutal Assault August 9 – Vagos, PT @ Vagos Metal Fest August 12 – Trier, DE @ The Forum August 13 – Dinkelsbühl, DE @ Summer Breeze August 14 – Colmar, FR @ Spirit In Black Festival August 15 – Kortrijk, BE @ DVG Club August 16 – Carhaix, FR @ Motocultor August 18 – Martigny, CH @ Sunset Bar August 19 – Pinarella Di Cervia, IT @ Rockplanet August 20 – Spital Am Semmering, AT @ Kaltenbach Open Air August 21 – Litomerice, CZ @ Death Coffee Party
Listen to “Blasphemy Made Fresh” on the Season of Mist YouTube channel:
An Insatiable Violence, None So Vile and other albums from Cryptopsy’s fearsome discography are now available through Season of Mist
More than 30 years into their storied career, Montreal death metal innovators Cryptopsy return with their ninth studio album, An Insatiable Violence, set for release on June 20, 2025 on Season of Mist.
Revered in extreme metal circles for such groundbreaking classics as 1994’s Blasphemy Made Flesh and the 1996 magnum opus None So Vile, Cryptopsy find yet another gear on An Insatiable Violence, which further solidifies the band’s place in the upper echelon of death metal. Coming out of the pandemic, the band dedicated themselves to staying on top of their game more than ever before, with the intention of consistently putting out a new record every two years. That started with 2023’s acclaimed As Gomorrah Burns, and continues 21 months later with An Insatiable Violence.
“We had to write the majority of An Insatiable Violence while on the Death to All tour, which was something we’d never done before”, vocalist Matt McGachy says. “Flo [Mounier, drums] and Chris [Donaldson, guitar] really put their hats on. It was a feat”.
“Ever since COVID our focus is clearer, a lot of work gets done faster, and we push each other to get it done.”, Mounier says.
In addition to featuring some of the fastest passages Cryptopsy has ever recorded – keen listeners will even hear the odd gravity blast from Mounier, a rarity from the virtuoso drummer – the controlled chaos of their signature sound is offset by well-timed passages that ease off the gas pedal enough to allow listeners to come up for some air. That dynamic rage on An Insatiable Violence in turn makes the more aggressive moments hit even harder, which is immediately noticeable on the harrowing “Until There’s Nothing Left” and the chugging closing track “Malicious Needs”. Olivier Pinard anchors “Fools Last Acclaim” with stunning authority (keeping pace with Mounier is an unenviable task) while Donaldson offsets gnarly, atonal riffs with melodic passages throughout the record. “It’s a continuation of As Gomorrah Burns,” McGachy says, “We really wanted to make a groovy record, and we think we’ve done it.”
It seems as though nothing is scarier than real life right now, and An Insatiable Violenceis a commentary on today’s society as though filtered through the transgressive, countercultural perspectives of J.G. Ballard and David Cronenberg.
“It all came to me in a dream in August 2023,” elaborates McGachy. “I woke up, I took my phone, and I wrote down the title of the record. It’s about a person that wakes up every day and fixes a machine. Tinkers with it, tries to make it better all day long, sweating in the sun, and then at night, they strap themself into this machine and the machine tortures them, and they love it. Then they wake up the next day and fix it again to make it more efficient, to keep harnessing it, and then just keep doing it over and over again.
While fantastically twisted, An Insatiable Violence mirrors our toxic relationship with social media. “We’re continuously trying to feed this algorithm of the machine while it’s totally tearing us apart socially and psychologically”, McGachy continues. “’The Nimis Adoration’ is about mukbang, these Korean people that eat too much food on the Internet. Piles and piles of food. A poor girl died on a live cam”.
At the center of the album is the mind-boggling percussion skill of Mounier, arguably the most imposing Canadian drummer not named Peart, who dominates such standout tracks as “Dead Eyes Replete”, “Fools Last Acclaim”, and “Embrace the Nihility”. “I look at Flo as an Olympic athlete,” says McGachy. “I want to push this guy to go a lot faster than Cryptopsy’s previous releases. We have so much more to give, and I wanted just drain it all out of him while he’s still at the top of his game, because he is. He’s crushing.”
“I mix up a lot of a physical activity, like resistance training into the drumming,” Mounier says. “I recently developed new techniques that make it easier to go even faster, so I tried to push that on this album. My focus is now more on dynamics and the touch of the snare, a certain snap of the snare, a rim shot on the snare, the toms, a light touch or a hard touch. Live, I can really let go, you know, give the sound guy a hard time,” he adds with a laugh.
For McGachy, who has always boasted a powerful, guttural death growl, the rigors of touring have enabled him to evolve as a vocalist, and he turns in a revelatory performance on An Insatiable Violence. In addition to ear-scraping screams that rival George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher, McGachy unleashes the deepest, filthiest death growls of his career. “Gomorrah was the first album that I recorded with my full false chord scream, which is something that I’d only just touched on The Book of Suffering: Tome II in little sections,” he says. “We did at least 140 shows since Gomorrah. I exclusively did my false chords during all the songs that we performed on None So Vile and Blasphemy Made Flesh. And then, when we did go into the studio for An Insatiable Violence, Chris would be like, ‘Deeper, you must go deeper!’”
Another fearsome vocalist from Cryptopsy’s lore pops back into the booth on An Insatiable Violence. “When we were recording the vocals for ‘Embrace the Nihility’, Chris had the idea of ending the song with the same vocal pattern as the end of ‘…and Then It Passes’”, McGachy remembers. “We figured if we were going to rip ourselves off, then we may as well get the real thing. We were honored that Mike DiSalvo accepted. We are all huge fans of Cryptopsy’s DiSalvo era. His vocals on this album are an ultra Easter egg for our fans”.
In addition to the effusive praise As Gomorrah Burns received from within the metal scene, the 2023 album achieved a first for Cryptopsy: earning them their first ever JUNO Award in 2024 for Metal/Hard Music Album of the Year. “We had little-to-no expectations of winning” says McGachy. ”We didn’t even go to the ceremonies because we were on tour in Europe with Atheist. On the day we found out that we won, we had a crazy 18-hour drive from Derby to Germany, plus a ferry ride. But we still partied for 48 hours. Flo bought an expensive bottle of champagne”.
Cryptopsy recognize that not every death metal band sticks around long enough to win a Canadian Grammy 30 years into their career. The cover art for An Insatiable Violence was created by the late, great vocalist Martin Lacroix. “The album artwork has got to be one of the most important things to us!”, the band says. “Martin Lacroix was one of our vocalists, one of our great friends and one of the nicest people that anyone could have the privilege to meet. We really wish he was here with us to share this moment. His perfect smile would say it all! Rest in peace brother”.
With Cryptopsy’s latest career renaissance showing no signs of slowing down, the recent accolades are only the beginning. An Insatiable Violence reaches a new peak in a career loaded with them.
Lineup Flo Mounier – Drums Matt McGachy – Vocals Christian Donaldson – Guitar Oli Pinard – Bass
Italian progressive doom rock architects EUTHYMIA are proud to unveil their live performance video for “Eunoya”, recorded at SoundArt Festival 2026 in Bucharest, Romania. The release arrives alongside the announcement of the band’s 2026 European tour dates and their recent signing with Wormholedeath Records, marking an important new milestone in their artistic journey.
LIVE VIDEO: “EUNOYA” AT SOUNDART FESTIVAL 2026
The live recording captures Euthymia’s full-band performance at SoundArt Festival 2026 in Bucharest. The festival featured an international lineup including Weather Systems, Ordo Rosarius Equilibrio, Planet of Zeus, and Shell Beach.
Founded in 2022, Euthymia have emerged as a distinctive voice in the progressive doom rock scene. Drawing inspiration from esoteric philosophy, Jungian psychology, psychoanalysis, and metaphysical contemplation, the band crafts music that explores the relationship between personal introspection and the cosmic dimension.
Their compositions combine dynamic songwriting, hypnotic atmospheres, and emotional depth, reflecting influences such as Tool, Alcest, and Opeth while maintaining a strong individual identity. Through a blend of progressive rock, doom, and immersive sonic textures, Euthymia create powerful musical experiences centered on transformation, reflection, and spiritual discovery.
Euthymia features vocalist Vito Tambasco, guitarists Edoardo Di Vietri and Luciano Palladino, bassists Michael Veneri and Lhello Marra, and drummer Massimo Sammartino.
Euthymia have recently signed a worldwide deal with Wormholedeath Records, opening a new chapter in the band’s evolution and laying the foundation for upcoming releases and international activities.
The partnership represents a significant step forward as the band prepares to bring its visionary sound to a wider audience across Europe and Beyond
EUROPEAN TOUR 2026
23/01 – Praga (CZ) – Beats from Basement 24/01 – Oberfranken (DE) – Angerturnhalle Michelau 14/03 – Bucarest (RO) – Quantic Club 05/07 – Porretta (IT) – Rufus Thomas Park 22/08 – Vallo della Lucania (IT) – Piccolo Teatro Giovanni Bianco 25/09 – Bucarest (RO) – Quantic Club 06/11 – Bamberg (DE) – Live Club 07/11 – Belval (LU) – MK Bar 12/11 – Norimberga (DE) – Cobra Club 13/11 – Höchstadt (DE) – Fortuna Kulturfabrik 14/11 – Innsbruck (AT) – Live Stage
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 ) 