Dragonland has released “Survival of Mankind”, first single taken from the new album “Prophecies” to be released on October 23 by Scarlet Records.
“Prophecies”:
Seventh studio album for the classic Swedish symphonic power metal act;
mixed & mastered by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman (In Flames, Arch Enemy, HammerFall);
artwork by Pedro Sena (Amon Amarth, Kreator);
Dragonland is officially part of the RTN Touring booking roster; Dragonland will tour Europe in November-December 2026 alongside Týr and Twilight Force; 82k followers on Spotify; FFO: Rhapsody Of Fire, Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, Twilight Force;
“Prophecies” will be released in the following formats:
digipack CD
vinyl LP: 350 marbled blue; 150 transparent blue yellow splatter
digital
artwork by Pedro Sena
“Prophecies” tracklist: 1 The Prophecy Unfolds 2 Rolling Waves 3 Survival of Mankind 4 The Perfumed Jungles of Chrysantion 5 Dragonland 6 Light of the Sunset 7 Glory and Gold 8 Making Darkened Nights So Bright 9 A Distant Memory 10 The Call of the Wild 11 Cries of Anguish 12 Running in the Night (FM-84 cover – CD/digital bonus track)
Listen to the first single here:
“Prophecies” is a hard-hitting and meticulously crafted symphonic power metal journey set to engulf the listener in an ocean of soaring melodies, fast riffing, and epic orchestrations.
The vision for the album was to revisit and re-imagine domains traversed by Dragonland in the past, as well as to explore some compelling new terrain. This record contains it all – epic fantasy stories, gripping ballads and blazingly fast power metal anthems, accompanied by a plethora of diverse lyrical themes.
To bring this ambitious undertaking to life, while retaining their unmistakable signature sound, Dragonland once again worked together with legendary producer Fredrik Nordström of Studio Fredman, and the end result speaks for itself.
Dragonland: Jonas Heidgert – vocals Jesse Lindskog – guitars Elias Holmlid – keyboards Anders Hammer – bass Johan Nunez – drums
Celebrated British guitar phenom, Ben Poole, is pleased to announce the release of his new single “Empty” released on Friday July 31st via Gypsy Soul Records. The single is available on all streaming platforms HERE.
Watch the official “Empty” lyric music video on YouTube HERE.
“Empty” is the second single taken from Poole’s forthcoming album Post-Midnight Behaviour– his first studio album of brand-new material in eight years, following 2018’s critically acclaimed Anytime You Need Me. Rooted in blues rock, the new album also sees Poole explore new musical territory.
Released Friday September 25, 2026, the new album is available to pre-order on CD and vinyl HEREand to pre-save digitally HERE.
“Empty was one of the first songs we wrote for this new album and really helped shape the direction we took going forward with the songs from that point,” says Poole. “I wanted there to be a mix of darkness and light throughout as I’ve always valued dynamics both emotionally and musically in music.”
“I honestly feel this is one of the strongest songs I’ve ever written. We poured so much time, care, and energy into every detail, musically and lyrically, and I can’t wait for people to hear it. I really hope listeners feel the passion behind it and connect with it on a much deeper emotional level.”
Poole also reflects on the writing and recording process of the emotionally compelling new single, “Empty.”
“I’ve always loved that rush you get when a song lifts from minor to major, and it was exciting to really push that idea in ‘Empty.’ The verses sit in this solemn, emotionally heavy E minor sequence before everything opens with a dramatic dynamic and musical shift as that huge E major chord kicks off the chorus.”
“I employed a similar approach on an older song of mine, ‘Hanging in the Balance,’ but this time I wanted to make the lift even more powerful by landing the first note of the vocal melody on a major third. It’s also a thrill to play with that contrast in the guitar solo, and I already know this is going to be one of my favourite moments to perform live on the upcoming album release tour.”
“I used my Gibson Les Paul on most of the rhythm guitars and in the guitar solo. I really love the dynamics you can get with a Les Paul when switching between fingerstyle and with a plectrum. It can be smooth to aggressive depending on the approach and the technique. We used a Volt amplifier on this one, and a key pedal in the solo sound was my Fuzzrite by Mosrite which is an incredible vintage Fuzz pedal from the 1960s.”
Venturing into broader musical landscapes, Ben embraces a more laid-back sound shaped by subtle rock grooves and hooks that flare like shooting stars. Expressive without excess and memorable without distraction, it leaves a deep impression without ever overwhelming the listener. In short, it is the perfect soundtrack for Post-Midnight Behaviour.
“I wanted this album to showcase my evolution as guitarist and singer songwriter,” says Ben.“For several years, I have performed over 150 shows a year across more than 20 countries. My guitar style and technique have developed, my singing voice has matured, and my influences have varied. The new album is a journey that combines Blues, Rock, Soul, Country, and Alternative Rock. I still get to let loose on the guitar, but within a more subdued and reflective manner. Ambiance inspired the name of the album, Post-Midnight Behaviour.”
“I have released a few live albums in recent years. They are much quicker and a time stamp on where you are at that moment. I took my time over the new album so that it would be super-realized in every aspect. My writing team and I really pushed ourselves. We dug deep to make sure the songwriting was of the highest quality, and the arrangements were carefully structured and perfectly executed. My fans are going to really like what we have created. It was well worth the wait!”
TRACK LISTING
1. No Second Chances (5:42) 2. Empty (5:57) 3. Time Has No Mercy (3:36) 4. Living On Repeat (Buried in the Background) (4:13) 5. Summer Haze (4:40) 6. Runaway Souls – featuring Elles Bailey (4:22) 7. Searching (5:30) 8. Nothing To You (3:50) 9. Start Of The End (5:26) 10. Runaway Souls – featuring Elles Bailey (Radio Version) (4:12)
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by Wayne Proctor, Oli Brown and Ben Poole Recorded at House of Tone Mix Suite & Superfly Studios, Nottinghamshire, UK Mixed and mastered by Wayne Proctor at House of Tone Mix Suite, UK “Runaway Souls” (Radio Version) mixed & edited by Ross Hayes-Citrullo at RHC Music, Toronto, Canada All songs co-written by Ben Poole, Oli Brown, Wayne Proctor, and Steve Amadeo
THE MUSICIANS
Ben Poole – Guitars, Vocals Wayne Proctor – Drums Oli Brown – Backing Vocals, Moog Steve Amadeo – Bass Bennett Holland – Hammond Organ, Piano, Wurlitzer, Rhodes Elles Bailey – Guest vocals on “Runaway Souls”
ALBUM TRACK BY TRACK
1. NO SECOND CHANCES A dark, layered opener that sets the tone for the album. Driven by power chords and raw emotion, it follows a man walking away from a relationship that cannot be saved.
“I’ve tried to understand what you’re searching for. While caught in the battleground of your internal war.”
It builds steadily to one of Ben’s signature guitar solos. 2. EMPTY Subtle and sultry, this groove creates an evocative backdrop for a man confronting emptiness and fading memory. From that sense of helplessness comes a striking chorus.
“Dive into the deep unknown. Here I go again, falling further out of the view. Shadows that I hide within. Here I go again, forever caught in the black and the blue.”
It rises to another of Ben’s melodic, standout guitar solos.
3. TIME HAS NO MERCY Hard-edged and urgent, this track is about seizing the moment, believing in yourself, and proving your worth.
“There’s no need to take the easy way out. Head back into the fire again. Stand tall and kick back. Time has no mercy for you.”
It’s the kind of song made for long overnight drives on empty roads when you’re racing toward whatever waits ahead.
4. LIVING ON REPEAT (BURIED IN THE BACKGROUND) It opens with dark, fuzzy bass and surges forward on jagged, heavy guitar riffs. The song becomes a metaphor for breaking chains, resisting inertia, and forcing a way out.
“I cut and cauterize to see if I can feel this. I’ll count the days till I’m no longer displaced. I don’t want this taking over I’m done drifting.”
Fragmented and unsettling, it rejects a clear verse-chorus structure in favour of a single driving impulse: to escape and survive.
5. SUMMER HAZE With shimmering pop textures and bright, glinting guitars, Summer Haze initially feels light and carefree. But beneath the surface, it tells a wistful story of fleeting love reduced to memory.
“The sun’s gone down, the tide is out. It’s all lost in the summer haze where I once knew you.”
6. RUNAWAY SOULS (FEATURING ELLES BAILEY) Elles Bailey delivers a guest vocal that is the very definition of rock and soul. Over a backdrop of driving guitars and thunderous drums, she sings of leaving it all behind, chasing something greater, and living without regret.
“We won’t be told we’re good for nothing. We’re gonna be long gone. This town won’t swallow us whole. Kick up the dust, we’re runaway souls.”
As ever, Bailey is full of surprises and utterly uncompromising. A phenomenal performance.
7. SEARCHING It’s 4 a.m. and sleep is a distant prospect. Few songs capture those lonely, restless hours better than this melodic, languid, and beautifully understated piece of rock. Beneath its laid-back groove lies an existential reflection on the pull of the past and the uncertainty of the road ahead.
“We’ve been searching for a way out of everything that’s come before. I know we can’t keep holding on to nothing. We have to believe there’s something more.”
At its heart, this is a song about hope and finding the courage to keep moving forward when the destination remains unclear. You may never find exactly what you’re searching for, but you’ll be changed for the better by the journey itself. Thoughtful, poignant, and deeply affecting.
8. NOTHING TO YOU For those about to rock around the clock, we salute you. This irresistible slab of groove-laden rock, driven by a snaking guitar line and an infectious rhythm, is the perfect companion for the small hours when fatigue is setting in but sleep remains out of reach. Yet beneath the swagger lies a tale of longing and frustration; of wanting something that remains stubbornly unattainable.
“Keep refusing, I’m reaching the end here. However I try, can’t keep giving it all when I’m still nothing to you.”
The object of desire may mean nothing to the singer in the end, but this song could mean everything to anyone looking for a soundtrack to those long, lonely hours. Effortlessly cool, relentlessly catchy, and impossible to resist.
9. START OF THE END “Hijacked maniacs, emotional amnesiacs. I see the cracks tearing our lives apart again. It’s time to face whatever we’ve been running from.” A desperate cry from the point of no return. Yet for all its darkness, this is a song of monumental uplift and renewal. Emerging from the wreckage of regret and denial, it embraces the moment when the first light finally breaks after a long night of the soul.
As the sun rises, pure melody and power-anthem guitars provide the perfect accompaniment, transforming despair into defiance and uncertainty into hope. And then comes that chorus—soaring, life-affirming, and utterly irresistible. What a way to greet the solar miracle that has captivated humankind since the dawn of time. Exhilarating, redemptive, and unforgettable.
Barnoldswick, Music and Arts Centre Sunday November 15 Tickets
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Leamington Spa, Temperance Saturday November 21 Tickets
ABOUT BEN POOLEBen Poole is an internationally acclaimed force in blues rock. Recognised by multiple publications as one of the world’s leading blues guitarists, he has been cited by Guitar World alongside artists including Eric Clapton, John Mayer, Buddy Guy, Robert Cray and Joe Bonamassa.
He has also been named among the world’s top 15 blues guitarists by Total Guitar and Music Radar.
Ben has appeared on the covers of numerous magazines and earned praise from guitar greats including Jeff Beck, Gary Moore, Richie Kotzen, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, and Philip Sayce. He is widely regarded as one of the standout artists on the international blues-rock circuit.
South African alternative rock band Man As Machine return with their new single, “Impossible Sea”, a heartfelt, introspective and ultimately hopeful track that explores growth, self-discovery, change, and the emotional weight of leaving behind the people and places that have shaped us.
The song was born from a very real moment of uncertainty, written while vocalist and guitarist Rob was preparing to leave South Africa for a work contract overseas. The prospect of stepping away from an established life, family, friends, commitments and everything familiar became the emotional catalyst for a song about distance, transformation and finding the courage to forge a new path.
“The notion of leaving one’s life behind, even temporarily, is quite daunting. Your family, your friends, your commitments, your hobbies… Everything stays in one place, while you leave for some driven purpose,” Rob explains.
Using the vastness of space as a metaphor for personal transformation, “Impossible Sea” explores the pull towards something greater while confronting the fear, doubt and loneliness that inevitably come with stepping into the unknown. At its heart, however, the song carries a message of hope that the connections we make remain with us, no matter how far we travel.
Musically, the track draws inspiration from a combination of influences, with the band describing it as “a quarter Incubus, a quarter Blindside, and a half Man As Machine itself just trying to mature.” The result is a confident and controlled evolution of the band’s sound, balancing atmospheric alternative rock with anthemic intensity and emotional depth.
Interestingly, “Impossible Sea” has been a long time coming. The song was originally penned in 2016/2017 and was fleshed out and demoed by Man As Machine’s original lineup, before being put aside and left to gather dust. In 2025, the band revisited the track, reworking and reinvigorating it, with the song continuing to evolve – even undergoing further changes during the recording process.
“Impossible Sea” was recorded at High Seas Studios, engineered and mixed by Jacques Du Plessis, and mastered by Rogan Kelsey at Kelsey Mastering.
Heartfelt, bittersweet, introspective, anthemic and hopeful, “Impossible Sea” marks an exciting new chapter for Man As Machine, with the band promising more new music, video releases, live shows, tours and festival appearances in the months ahead.
Following the release of “Passages”, FANE return with “Dead Shepherd”, the second single taken from their upcoming album Armageddon Scars, due out on August 28 via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records, on CD and digital formats.
Written and recorded during the fall of 2025, Armageddon Scars was conceived as a focused effort to capture FANE’s sound through a raw and unfiltered approach. The album was arranged, recorded, mixed and mastered by Trey Porche at Last Watch Studio, with performances by Porche himself alongside longtime collaborator Ryan Ashmore.
Throughout the recording and mixing process, the band deliberately prioritized committed performances and established tones over studio perfection, allowing each arrangement to develop naturally with only minimal corrective editing. The mastering was completed entirely in-house using exclusively analog equipment, not to reinvent or reshape the material, but to give the record consistency, authority and cohesion while preserving the unique character of every track.
Musically, Armageddon Scars draws from doom, sludge, hardcore, black metal and folklore traditions, stripping those influences down to their most essential elements. Lyrically and emotionally, the album explores themes of endurance, damage and aftermath, standing as a direct document of the band’s lives and reflections at the moment it was created.
Tracklist Flatline (8:44) Dead Shepherd (4:43) Poisoned Crown (4:55) The Mariner (7:50) Passages (7:07)
Armageddon Scars will be released on August 28 via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records on CD and digital formats.
ABYSSUS stand as one of the most significant forces within the Greek Death Metal scene, having forged their path since 2011. Drawing profound inspiration from genre-defining pioneers such as DEATH, OBITUARY and BOLT THROWER, the band preserves the unadulterated spirit of old school death metal while imprinting their own distinct identity.
On October 23rd, ABYSSUS will release their new, third full length album, entitled „The Reign“, a ferocious testament to their artistic evolution. The album encapsulates all the core elements that have defined death metal through the decades: raw aggression, blistering riff-work, and a suffocating, commanding atmosphere. Once again, the visual narrative is entrusted to Andreas Marschall (IN FLAMES, BLIND GUARDIAN, DIMMU BORGIR a.o.), whose artwork enhances the band’s sonic vision with striking intensity.
The album will be released on a CD and limited Vinyl version on purgatory purple. On Bandcamp you will also find various bundles with new merchandise.
Today, ABYSSUS release the first single, entitled „The Meaning Of Pain“. “It was the very first song we composed for the new album, and it naturally became the bridge between our past and our present. It captures the essence of our earlier sound while introducing the new elements that define who we are today“, says Konstantinos Analytis
“As the album’s opening track, we felt it was the perfect choice. Its explosive opening sets the tone from the very first note and draws the listener into the journey that unfolds throughout the record. Lyrically, “The Meaning of Pain” delves into the emotional weight of loss – whether through death or separation – and the scars left by betrayal, regardless of how or where it comes from. Whether inflicted by friends, partners, lovers, or even family, it explores the pain of broken trust and the lasting impact it leaves behind.”
From the very outset, ABYSSUS placed equal emphasis on studio output and live performance. A steady stream of EPs and split releases established their presence within the international Underground metal community. Their debut full-length, „Into the Abyss“ (2015), garnered widespread acclaim and marked a pivotal moment in the band’s evolution – leading to increasingly frequent appearances both in Greece and across Europe, often sharing the stage with renowned acts, like POSSESSED, SINISTER, SUICIDAL ANGELS and ROTTING CHRIST.
With renewed creative vigour and greater maturity, ABYSSUS unveiled their sophomore album „Death Revival“ in 2022 via Transcending Obscurity Records. Adorned with an arresting cover by the legendary Andreas Marschall, the album was met with universal praise, further cementing the band’s reputation for delivering unrelenting, yet masterfully crafted, death metal. More shows with a.o. ASPHYX,TANKARD, GRAVE DIGGER and THE CROWN followed.
Relentlessly evolving, ABYSSUS remain true to their roots while continuing to push the boundaries of the genre. With a prolific discography and an ever-growing presence on the live circuit, they have rightfully earned their place as a formidable name within the global death metal landscape.
ABYSSUS live: 18.10.2026 – Athens (GR) – “Kyttaro Live Stage“ with Pestilence & Dead Congregation
ABYSSUS is: Konstantinos Analytis – Vocals Panagiotis Gkourmpaliotis – Rythm Guitar Konstantinos JaJas – Lead & Rythm Guitars Manolis Skoularakos – Bass George “Hellgrinder” Tsafos – Drums
Guests on “The Reign”: Konstantinos Foukarakis – Lead & Rythm Guitars (Rotting Christ) Fotis Benardo – Drums (Nightfall, ex-Septic Flesh, ex-Nightrage) Chris Zoukas – Bass (Sacral Rage)
Australian/Finnish progressive dark metal collective THE ETERNAL has unveiled a captivating new music video for their latest single, “Colours Fade,” offering another compelling glimpse into their forthcoming studio album, Obscured Horizons, set for release on September 18 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM).
Blending haunting melodies with emotional depth and cinematic atmosphere, the track further showcases the band’s signature ability to fuse epic heaviness with introspective songwriting. Exploring themes of memory, perception, identity, and the passage of time, “Colours Fade” captures the emotional tension between illusion and reality.
As vocalist Mark Kelson explains, “‘Colours Fade’ is about the shifting nature of perception, how memory, emotion, and time constantly reshape the way we see our lives. For me, it reflects that internal conflict between what we want to believe and what we know to be true. There’s a recurring sense that we construct these emotional ‘masks’ to protect ourselves, but over time they become part of the illusion that holds us back. The imagery of colours fading speaks to that loss of clarity or meaning, where everything starts to feel muted or indistinguishable, yet at the same time those colours don’t disappear completely, they rearrange, suggesting that nothing is ever truly lost, only transformed. ‘Colours Fade’ is about navigating cycles of emotion, of identity, of time and learning to exist within that flux without losing yourself entirely.”
Following the widespread acclaim of their 2024 full-length Skinwalker and the evocative companion EP Celestial, THE ETERNAL return with Obscured Horizons, an album that stands as both culmination and evolution.
Where Skinwalker was hailed for its emotional weight, cinematic scope and seamless fusion of melancholic atmosphere with crushing heaviness, and Celestial further expanded the band’s sonic palette with its introspective depth and dynamic intensity, Obscured Horizons pushes even further into uncharted territory. The album refines THE ETERNAL‘s signature blend of doom-laden textures, progressive sophistication and haunting melodic resonance, while embracing a broader, more expansive sound that feels both intimate and monumental.
At its core, Obscured Horizons is an exploration of disillusionment, fractured identity and the struggle to reclaim clarity in a world saturated with distortion. The album moves through states of emotional collapse, liminal transition and existential unrest, confronting deception, both external and internal, before emerging into renewal and self-awareness. Rather than surrendering to decay, Obscured Horizons charts a defiant ascent, refusing numbness, rejecting illusion and ultimately reclaiming light from the shadows that threaten to eclipse it.
With Mark Kelson (vocals/guitars) and Richie Poate (guitars) in Melbourne, alongside Niclas Etelävuori (bass; ex-Amorphis/Flat Earth) and Jan Rechberger (drums; Amorphis) in Helsinki, THE ETERNAL remain a truly international collaboration, unified across continents yet bound by a singular artistic vision.
Their sound continues to resonate with listeners drawn to the emotional gravity of dark metal while carving a path distinctly their own. As they enter a new creative chapter with their gaze fixed firmly on the unseen, Obscured Horizons represents a bold statement from a band continuing to evolve while remaining true to its artistic identity.
Obscured Horizons Tracklist:
Lament For The Hollow
Existing To Expire
Colours Fade
Harmony Breaks
I’ve Seen The Dream
Liminality
Obscured Horizons
Yesterday’s Gone
Awaken
THE ETERNAL Australian Live Dates, with AMORPHIS: September 23, 2026 The Croxton Bandroom, Thornbury, VIC September 24, 2026 The Triffid, Newstead, QLD September 25, 2026 Liberty Hall, Moore Park, NSW September 26, 2026 The Basement, Belconnen, ACT
THE ETERNAL is: Mark Kelson / Guitar & Vocals Richie Poate / Guitar Niclas Etelävuori / Bass Jan Rechberger / Drums & Percussion
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
