SATELLITE TOURING and GLM ARTISTS are excited to announce, the legends of NWOBHM and godfathers of Thrash, RAVEN return to the live stage with an extensive North American tour of 35+ shows from March through May this year!
Support comes from special guests SLACKJAW!
Lead vocalist/bassist John Gallagher gleefully states:
“After our ‘medical gap year’ of 2025 we are hungry and itching to get back to doing what we do best — cranking out the megawatts and putting on a RAVEN Metal show for the lunatics out there — we have a killer band SLACKJAW out with us as special guests on these shows and it’s gonna be a take no prisoners full out affair!”
Dates announced so far, with more to come:
3/18 Louisville, KY @ Goodwood Whiskey Row 3/19 St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag 3/20 Kansas City, MO @ Westport Brewery 3/21 Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street Live 3/22 Dallas, TX @ RBC 3/26 West Hollywood, CA @ The Whisky 3/28 San Francisco, CA @ Above DNA 3/29 Reno, NV @ Club Underground 3/31 Portland, OR @ Dante’s 4/1 Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre 4/2 Seattle, WA @ The Funhouse 4/4 Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon 4/5 Denver, CO @ The Federal Theatre 4/7 Lincoln, NE @ 1867 Bar 4/8 Cudahy, WI @ X-Ray Arcade 4/9 Chicago,IL @ Reggie’s Rock Club 4/10 Columbus, OH @ The King of Clubs 4/11 Lakewood, OH @ Mercury Music Lounge 4/12 Hamtramck, MI @ Sanctuary 4/14 New Kensington, PA @ Preserving Underground 4/16 Toronto, ON @ Horseshoe Tavern 4/17 Ottawa, ON @ Rainbow Bistro 4/18 Quebec City, QC @ L’Anti Bar & Spectacles 4/19 Montreal, QC @ Piranha Bar 4/21 Albany, NY @ Empire Underground 4/22 Old Town, ME @ The Old Town Theatre 4/23 Manchester, NH @ Jewel Music Venue 4/24 Clifton, NJ @ Dingbatz 4/25 Harrisburg, PA @HMAC 4/26 Richmond, VA @ Ember Music Hall 4/29 Raleigh, NC @ Chapel Of Bones 4/30 Greenville, SC @ Radio Room 5/1 Nashville, TN @ Exit/In 5/2 Atlanta, GA @ Boggs Social & Supply 5/3 Bradenton, FL @ Oscura
Ticket info at: –www.ravenlunatics.com –www.facebook.com/ravenbandofficial
Finnish melodic death metal band Crowen released a new single and music video ‘The Unwritten End’. The track is taken from the forthcoming ‘Through the Dying Mist’ EP which is set to be released on February 20th 2026 via Inverse Records.
Crowen’s new single The Unwritten End tells a story where every step is both a beginning and an ending. The song portrays the dreamworld as a place that is dark yet beautiful. Its protagonist walks toward the unknown, carrying with him both uncertainty and the inevitability of fate, striving to escape a world with no way out.
The melody is sorrowful yet beautiful. The clean vocals in the choruses inspired the song’s entire melodic landscape. In the verses, melodic passages and heavy rhythms alternate. The opening contrasts Crowen’s traditional death metal assault with acoustic guitar and a calm, atmospheric mood. “Guitarist Sami Sandberg managed to fit the melodic line perfectly into the song’s atmosphere. Listening to Sami’s playing gives me a hypnotic feeling,” says vocalist-songwriter Esa Uusimaa.
–Composed, lyrics, recorded, mixed & produced by Esa Uusimaa. –Mastered by Ville Hautaluoma –Single cover by Winter Notes Production Oy –ISRC: FI3FC2596004
Crowen is a Finnish melodic death metal band consisting of Esa Uusimaa and guitarist Sami Sandberg. On this track, the bass is played by Tuomas Saukkonen.
It’s now been 35 years since Rotting Christ emerged from the Athenian underground. Not only do the Greek legends continue to stand the test of time. With their fourteenth studio album, a new live Blu-Ray, and a re-recording of the mighty Aealo fast approaching, Sakis Tolis, his brother Themis and their brothers-in-arms Kostis Fouk and Kostas “Spades” Heliotis are writing another storied chapter in their monumental history .
Today, Rotting Christ are announcing their first full-length North American tour in support of their latest album Pro Xristou. For this 24-date run across both U.S. coasts and Canada, the band will take to their chariots alongside fellow legends in Behemoth, Deicide and Immolation. Before saying farewell to the States, Rotting Christ will make their long-awaited debut at Maryland Deathfest with an exclusive set of songs from Thy Mighty Contract, Non Serviam and other revered recordings from 1989-1995.
“Dear brothers and sisters, we are proud to announce our return to North America as part of the glorious The Godless IV 2026 Tour with Behemoth, Deicide and Immolation”, says Rotting Christ guitarist and vocalist Sakis Tolis. “Not only is this our first North American tour behind our latest studio album Pro Xristou. We will be joined by bands that have been in the metal scene since its creation. With a lot of dedication, and after much sacrifice, they are still here to perform the real dark side of Metal! Thank you all for your support. We look forward to seeing you all on the metal battlefield”.
Get tickets at https://www.rotting-christ.com
The Godless IV 2026 North American Tour with Behemoth, Deicide, Rotting Christ + Immolation
April 14 – San Diego, CA @ The Observatory Northpark April 15 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom April 17 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater April 18 – Vancouver, BC @ The Vogue Theater April 19 – Seattle, WA @ Showbox SODO April 21 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Union April 22 – Denver, CO @ The Fillmore April 24 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave April 25 – Chicago, IL @ The Vic April 26 – St. Louis, MO @ The Pageant April 28 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa April 30 – Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore* May 1 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium** May 2 – New York City, NY @ Palladium Times Square May 4 – Buffalo, NY @ Riverworks May 5 – Pittsburgh, PA @ The Roxian May 7 – Daytona Beach, FL @ Welcome to Rockville* May 9 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore May 11 – Toronto, ON @ History May 12 – Montreal, QC @ Olympia May 14 – Columbus, OH @ Sonic Temple* May 15 – Nashville, TN @ Brooklyn Bowl May 16 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade May 18 – Dallas, TX @ The Factory May 20 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren May 21 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Palladium *No Rotting Christ **No Deicide
Watch the lyric video for the new re-recorded version of “Santa Muerte” from Aealo.
In the dimly lit catacombs of extreme metal, one name stands as a monolith: ROTTING CHRIST. Sakis Tholis and his brother Themis started this band together back in 1987. In the three decades since, these Greek titans have left their blackened imprint all over the metal world. They’ve released 13 studio albums and played more than 1,300 concerts around the globe. Underneath all this hard work, Rotting Christ have but one vision – an urge to not only push the boundaries of extreme metal, but to keep reinventing themselves along the way.
Rotting Christ’s evolution has unfolded across several distinct chapters. After starting out closer to the barely controlled chaos of grindcore, they went on to establish the iconic sound of Hellenic black metal. Their albums often embrace refined gothic soundscapes, only to plunge back into the depths of blasphemous fervour. Each chapter marked another, further exploration, and an unwavering commitment to push boundaries.
But the real turning point came in 2007, when Rotting Christ signed a pact with Season of Mist. They unleashed a series of albums for the French label that defied any and all expectations. From the piercing Theogonia and the symphonic grandeur of Aelo to the ritualistic intensity of Κατά Τον Δαίμονα Εαυτού, the cinematic experiences created by Rotting Christ became a spectacle of bombastic atmospheres, mesmerizing choirs, and neo-classical arrangements. The unexpected is their modus operandi, with the use of various languages (Latin, Arabic, Greek, English) as well as the extensive use of famous poetry woven into their music, like Edgar Allan Poe’s ‘The Raven’ on The Heretics.
In 2019, Rotting Christ’s epic journey continued with The Apocryphal Spell compilation, which offers fans an intimate glimpse into unreleased and rare material. This allowed them to gather strength, preparing for the release of their next, highly anticipated, 14th full-length studio album: Pro Xristou. Pro Xristou (‘Before Christ’ in Greek), serves as a fervent tribute to the last Pagan kings who resisted the onslaught of Christianity, guarding their ancient values and knowledge. In this thematic odyssey, intricately woven through tracks such as ‘The Apostate’ and ‘Ygdrassil’, Rotting Christ delves into the legacies of historical figures such as Flavius Claudius Julianus and Nordic mythological kings, embodying the might of Pagan wisdom in the face of Christian adversity. The album encapsulates the essence of Rotting Christ’s signature style – melodic, yet harsh at times – reinventing themselves yet again, while remaining rooted in their 35-year legacy.
CHARLOTTE WESSELS’ The Obsession opens a new chapter with “After Us, The Flood”. Marking the first release after the extensive The Obsession (2024) album cycle, the former DELAIN vocalist and what has since grown into a full band showcase their trademark storytelling and unique sound. Hypnotic, captivating, and deeply urgent, “After Us, The Flood” builds from symphonic, intimate passages into an explosive metal climax, all held together by CHARLOTTE WESSELS’ charismatic and expressive voice.
Over the past several years, Charlotte has impressively shaped her artistic identity as an artist – from the two full-length song compilations Tales From Six Feet Under (2021) and Tales From Six Feet Under Vol. II (2022) to her first full studio album, The Obsession (2024). Throughout this journey, she has delivered top-notch music that is emotive, sonically sophisticated, and heavy in equal measure. “After Us, The Flood” is the first new release following The Obsession created with the band now carrying that album’s name. Joost van den Broek joined the production process and mixed the song, helping shape its final form.
While continuing to write, record and release a new song every month on Patreon, Charlotte never shies away from drawing inspiration from a wide range of musical styles, resulting in enthralling music that defies pigeonholing yet always carries a distinctive artistic signature.
CHARLOTTE WESSELS about “After Us, The Flood”: “’After Us, The Flood’ is a song about climate change, told through the eyes of someone who has convinced himself it isn’t real. He feels protected within the walls of his own home while the world outside quietly begins to fall apart. As the song unfolds (spoilers!) that sense of safety proves to be an illusion; the decay he’s ignored eventually finds its way inside. We poured a lot of heart into this track, shaping a sonic story about denial, dread, and the fragile comfort of looking away. The video doesn’t literally follow the lyrics, but instead imagines the consequences of that mindset, offering a symbolic glimpse of a world where wealth loses all meaning once the planet as we know it is gone.”
After touring with Scandinavian prog metal unit VOLA and coming off of a successful summer run, playing the biggest metal festivals from Belgian Graspop and French Hellfest to German Summer Breeze and Dynmo in her Dutch home to only name a few, the singer-songwriter will soon be enchanting live audiences again: starting this Friday, January 16, CHARLOTTE WESSELS’ The Obsession (Joey Marin de Boer (drums), Timo Somers (guitars), and Otto Schimmelpenninck van der Oije (bass) and Nina van Beelen (keys)) will be joining Amaranthe and Epica on their “Arcane Dimensions Tour”. Starting in Cologne, they’ll make their way through Europe, playing 29 cities until the tour concludes in Frankfurt in March. Find the list of dates below!
CHARLOTTE WESSELS Live 2026 Supporting Epica & Amaranthe On Their “Arcane Dimensions Tour” 16.01.26 DE – Cologne / Palladium 17.01.26 DE – Munich / Zenith 18.01.26 BE – Brussels / Vorst Nationaal 20.01.26 UK – Bristol / Beacon 21.01.26 UK – Glasgow / Barrowland 23.01.26 UK – Manchester / O2 Apollo 24.01.26 UK – London / Eventim Apollo 25.01.26 FR – Paris / Zenith 27.01.26 CH – Zurich / Halle 622 28.01.26 IT – Milan / Alcatraz 30.01.26 ES – Barcelona / Razzmatazz 31.01.26 ES – Madrid / Sala La Rivera 01.02.26 PT – Lisbon / Coliseu dos Recreios 03.02.26 FR – Toulouse / Le Bikini 04.02.26 FR – Lyon / Radiant-Bellevue 06.02.26 DE – Ludwigsburg / MHP Arena 07.02.26 NL – Amsterdam / Ziggo Dome 06.03.26 DE – Hamburg / Inselpark Arena 07.03.26 DE – Leipzig / Haus Auensee 08.03.26 DE – Berlin / Columbiahalle 10.03.26 DK – Copenhagen / Poolen 11.03.26 SE – Stockholm / Fallan 13.03.26 FI – Oulu / Tapahtumakeskus Tullisali 14.03.26 FI – Helsinki / Black Box 15.03.26 EE – Tallinn / Helitehas 17.03.26 PL – Warsaw / Arena Torwar 18.03.26 AT – Vienna / Gasometer 21.03.26 CZ – Prague / Forum Karlin 22.03.26 DE – Frankfurt / Jahrhunderthalle
Swedish hard rock sensation THE GEMS storm towards their sophomore album with another single! Following their celebrated debut album, Phoenix, the trio honors the mythical creature again with “Firebird”. Heralding the upcoming Year Of The Snake (out March 13, 2026 via Napalm Records), mighty “Firebird” expands on the Swedish band’s unmistakable energy and charisma. Long gone from their previous band, Thundermother, THE GEMS show they’re the future of rock’n’roll.
THE GEMS on “Firebird”: “The tale of the firebird is one of greed. Always wanting more and not appreciating what you have. In many ways, we see the state of the world as very much infected by this virus. This is our way of channeling that frustration into something uplifting yet thoughtful. Musically, we’re going back to our roots, giving you a hard-hitting classic rock tune.”
Watch the Official Reel for “Firebird”:
Rock sensation THE GEMS return with their second albumYear Of The Snake, out on March 13, 2026. The Swedish trio solidifies their position as a strong player in modern hard rock. Their very first single, “Like A Phoenix”, instantly hit #2 on the German Rock Radio Airplay Charts and they impressed both fans and critics with their debut recordPhoenix(2024). With one album under their belt, and numerous electrifying live shows, THE GEMS quickly established whatYear Of The Snakenow effortlessly proves: this is the future of rock!
THE GEMS on Year Of The Snake: “Year Of The Snake is about facing previous hardships in your life, letting go and moving forward to a brighter chapter. It’s packed with strong and empowering themes, just like a snake shedding its skin and now standing strong in its own power! Year Of The Snake is a homage to our fans at our live shows. We wrote the songs envisioning an excited festival crowd; from our loyal diamonds in the front row, knowing all lyrics by heart – to the crazy headbangers in the back. The album is packed with Van Halen and Europe-inspired hard-hitting grooves and riffs that will take you back to the 80s. Yet, the production is modern and fresh. In an increasingly artificial world, we want to stay true to our roots – solid musicianship and songwriting from the heart. Our aim is to always create a great sounding album with the live show in mind. The future is live and heavy glam rock is here to stay!”
Shaping the genre with 14 new tracks, THE GEMS are all about the energy. “The time to change is now!,” proclaims opener “Walls”, before the hard hitting and empowering title track offers the showstopping trifecta of frontwoman Guernica Mancini’s powerful vocals, guitarist Mona Lindgren’s heavy riffs and the heartbeat of the band; Emlee Johansson’s steady drumming. Demonstrating just how much the future is really theirs to take, “Gravity” adds Tommy Johansson’s (Majestica, Ex-Sabaton) powerful voice to an 80’s inspired sound, taking Year Of The Snake up another level. “Diamond In The Rough” is an understatement compared to the blues-y strength this song possesses, while previously released “Live And Let Go” with its catchy rhythm is undeniable radio hit material – a style this band wields extraordinarily well. “Clout Chaser” and “Hot Bait” come in uplifting, before THE GEMS delve into “Forgive And Forget”, a ballad in which Guernica’s voice comes across especially strong. “Go Along To Get Along” again illustrates the Swedish fireballs breaking the chains of their past and emerging stronger from it – as proven by speedy “Math Ain’t Mathing”, mighty “Firebird”, and “Stars” with its virtuoso guitar solo. Year Of The Snake is wrapped up by the catchy “Buckle Up” and “Happy Water” – with energetic grooves that end this album on a high note!
In less than three years of existence as a band, THE GEMS have managed to shape modern rock like few other bands. Year Of The Snake is an impressive follow-up to their debut, filled to the brim with catchy anthems and groovy hits. This Swedish trio is on its way to the well-deserved top. Female, fiery, unforgettable: The future of rock is now!
Year Of The Snake Tracklist: 1 Walls 2 Year Of The Snake 3 Gravity 4 Diamond In The Rough 5 Live And Let Go 6 Clout Chaser 7 Hot Bait 8 Forgive And Forget 9 Go Along To Get Along 10 Math Ain’t Mathing 11 Firebird 12 Stars 13 Buckle Up 14 Happy Water
THE GEMS Live 2026 Following their formation in 2023, THE GEMS quickly showed the exceptional live energy of the new band, with highlight performances including Sweden Rock Festival 2024. After the release of the upcoming full-length, THE GEMS will hit the road on their “Slithering Through Europe” tour.
Slithering Through Europe Spring Tour w/ Special Guests: King Zebra 21.03.25 DE – Lingen / Alter Schlachthof 22.03.25 DE – Cologne / Helios 37 24.03.25 DE – Hanover / Lux 25.03.25 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal 27.03.25 CH – Oberentfelden / Böröm Pöm Pöm 29.03.25 DE – Munich / Backstage 30.03.25 DE – Nuremberg / Hirsch 31.03.25 DE – Dresden / HD – Die Rock & Metal Bar 01.04.25 DE – Berlin / Frannz Club 02.04.25 DE – Hamburg / Knust
THE GEMS are: Guernica Mancini – Vocals Emlee Johansson – Drums Mona “Demona” Lindgren – Guitar, Bass
American Melodic Metalcore band Semper Acerbus is bring us back to the brink of poison and pain like exotic plague doctors bursting from the shadows! The band just dropped a determined metalcore music video entitled “Torn Inside” which talks about overcoming a burden of problems. The music video was directed by Marc Coronado and it is the third music video taken from their brand new full-length album Following Omens which was just released on January 9, 2026 via Eclipse Records. The album was produced by Chris Mora (Upon a Burning Body, Kingdom Collapse, Chimaira) at Warhorse Recordings (San Antonio, TX).
We had this idea of a expressing of how problems in life can take a toll on your emotional state” says lead vocalist Nelson Acerbus. “the long walks, the overthinking but also showing some of the art that we have in Del Rio, some murals, the streets, keeping it organic. 2025 threw a bunch of obstacles to all of us in the band… we are still figuring in out, but we have faith and confidence that everything will improve. Also, we’re thankful that Jerry Garza filled in for bass, he is an ex-member of Semper Acerbus but he’s always willing to fill in when he can!”
Semper Acerbus go straight for the jugular with their blistering third metalcore album titled Following Omens, blasting us across deserts, dunes, mountains, and woodlands deep and dark in the pit of the heart. The vocals are a nuclear fusion of rip-saw growls accented and built on in key moments with layers of traditional lead and harmony lines both modern and medieval, all meant to paint you pictures and sever your soul. The rhythm tracks crash like waves in the wild, and the lyrics are mirrors haunted by the shadows of our deepest and darkest emotional ghosts. Moreover, this album is a guitar-lover’s dream, often schemed with melodic soloing deep in the mix during the verse, and in effect, sounding like orchestral strings in a supernatural soundtrack echoing inside a damp cave, a deep tunnel, or the nave of some sinister, abandoned, desecrated church. The more nostalgic platform solos are intricate and aesthetically gratifying, and the massive rhythm riffs are often so rich and complex that it feels like knights, rooks, and kings have overtaken a checkerboard. The album was produced by produced, mixed, and mastered by Chris Mora (Upon a Burning Body, Kingdom Collapse, Chimaira) at Warhorse Recordings in San Antonio, Texas. Artwork for the album and singles was created by Federico Bossinga at Abstract Chaos Design (Dark Funeral, Dimmu Borgir, Oceano, Old Man’s Child). Following Omens by Semper Acerbus was released on January 9, 2026 via Eclipse Records.
Following Omens track listing 01. Suffering Awaits 02. Unwanted 03. One Day at A Time 04. The Gallows 05. Alluring Vendetta 06. Archangel 07. Wounded 08. Torn Inside 09. District Coward
Semper Acerbus lineup Nelson Acerbus (vocals), Jaime Vargas (guitar), Joe Dragich (guitar), Sammy Farhat (bass), Tyler Thomas (drums)
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 ) 