KARELIAN WARCRY Release Second Single ‘Horisontit’ from Upcoming Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 4, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Imran Shamsul

Finnish blackened death metal band Karelian Warcry releases their third album “Veripellot” on March 6th. Now they have released the second and final single “Horisontit” before their new full length. 

“Horisontit” is a strong cross-section of Karelian Warcry’s music. At the heart of the track is a forward-rolling armoured train, and a mid-section rising to majestic heights observes the horizon from a bird’s-eye perspective. The lyrics are a cathartic journey to a liminal point where everything falls apart in your hands, yet there is nothing to do but keep moving forward. Vocal tracks originally intended as demo vocals remained on the final recording, dictated by death.

Listen to the single on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube etc.): https://push.fm/fl/karelianwarcry-horisontit

–ISRC: FI3FC2553704
–Music and lyrics by Jussi Kousa, Johannes Järvinen, Matti Mikkonen, Anttipekka Heiskanen, Sami Ukkonen

The work of Veripellot album took shape over the years 2010–2024, nearly coming to a halt following the death of the band’s founding member, vocalist-guitarist M.I. Mikkonen. Veripellot became a composite, uniting Karelian Warcry’s two different line-ups and the pandemonium of the entire timespan.

Veripellot is a study of war, grief, and the dark sides of humanity. The themes rise from the band members’ personal experiences, collective traumas, and a shared interest in the events of their home region and its war history. The album is, on one hand, a memorial writing for fallen friends, and on the other, a glimpse into the horrors of the Finnish Civil War. On Veripellot, the rough thunder of war resounds — and at times an oppressive stillness.

Veripellot consists of nine distinct tracks. Musically, the album is a step forward for the band — groovier, yet straightforwardly uncompromising. Progressive elements have also been brought into the mix.

More information: https://linktr.ee/Karelian_Warcry

Line-up:
A. O. Heiskanen – Drums
J. H. Järvinen – Vocals
J. T. Kousa – Guitars
S. P. Ukkonen – Bass

ANTIROPE Blur Boundaries of Restraint w/ new Music Video & Single ‘Zero’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 4, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Heike Fleischer

Following the global critical acclaim of their debut album Amnesia (2023, Eclipse Records), Munich-based Alternative Metal outfit ANTIROPE returns with their most emotionally exposed work to date. Today, the band officially premiered the music video for their new single “Zero,” the first music video from their highly anticipated second full-length album, Bring Me To Zero, which will be released on May 1st, 2026, via Eclipse Records. Also of note, is that drummer Jürgen “BamBam” Wiehler (ex-Bonfire, ex-Megaherz) has joined the band moving forward. Watch the “Zero” music video right now.

Directed by guitarist Patrick Fleischer and filmed within the intimate confines of the band’s own Lungfull Studios, the music video for “Zero” serves as a masterclass in minimalism and emotional weight. Eschewing traditional narratives or high-budget spectacle, the visual focuses on reduction and clarity to mirror the song’s themes of isolation and the desire for a spiritual reset. The song itself explores the sensation of awakening within disorientation. It navigates the chaos of a world that feels increasingly illusory, searching for a point of stillness.

“Zero feels like being lost in a world that’s asleep while everything around you screams,” explains vocalist Slaven Stokic. “It’s a wish to reset and clear the chaos. Visually, we utilized a recurring motif of a bedsheet, serving as a symbolic barrier between inner turmoil and outward expression. This fragile veil represents the distance and suppression inherent in the human condition. By keeping the lighting muted and the color palette restrained, we wanted to ensure that nothing distracts from the raw vulnerability of the performance.”

Bring Me To Zero marks a significant evolution for the Munich-based band. Produced by guitarist Partick Fleischer (Lacrimas Profundere, Darkseed, Alev) at Lungfull Studios, the upcoming album promises a heavier, more hook-driven sound characterized by bold vocal arrangements and an explosive rhythmic backbone. Overall, the album sounds massive without sacrificing intimacy, letting every riff, breath, and impact land with deliberate weight. Antirope’s sound remains rooted in the primal heaviness of Black Sabbath, the brooding grit of Soundgarden, and the hypnotic sprawl of Neurosis, yet the band never settles for homage. Instead, they carve a distinctly modern identity where dense, down-tuned riffs collide with psychedelic textures, and moments of crushing volume dissolve into eerie calm. Vocalist Slaven Stokic moves effortlessly between raw urgency and haunted restraint, guiding the listener through an album that feels less like a collection of songs and more like a psychological descent. The album contains eleven tracks, including standouts like “Zero,” “Intervention,” “Afterglow,” and a cover of the Cream classic “Sunshine Of Your Love.” Bring Me to Zero balances brutality with beauty, never letting one exist without the other. The album artwork, created by the band themselves, mirrors that duality: stark, personal, and uncompromising. Set for release on May 1, 2026 via Eclipse Records, Bring Me to Zero positions Antirope as a band unafraid to confront collapse head-on while emerging with something strangely luminous in its wake.

Pre-Save or Pre-Order Bring Me To Zero at this location.

Credit: Antirope

Bring Me To Zero track listing
01. Monolith
02. Unholy
03. Zero
04. Afterglow
05. Life is A Lie
06. Cascades
07. Dry Your Eyes
08. Intervention
09. Sunshine of Your Love (Cream cover)
10. Beyond
11. Aurora

Antirope lineup
Slaven Stokic (vocals, guitar), Patrick Fleischer (guitar, vocals), Julie Fleischer (bass), Juergen “Bam Bam” Wiehler (drums)

For more information about Antirope and their “Zero” alternative metal music video, please visit them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, or Eclipse Records and follow them on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Pandora, YouTube Music, Deezer, and Tidal now!

BEYOND THE BLACK Forced to Postpone Remaining Tour Dates Due to Health Emergencies

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 4, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Due to two unforeseen medical emergencies within the band, Beyond The Black are unfortunately forced to reschedule the final four shows of their current Rising High Tour in Europe.

Guitarist Chris Hermsdörfer will undergo emergency surgery for a detached retina, while drummer Kai Tschierschky is still battling a severe influenza. In both cases, the health of their bandmates is the top priority. As a result, the shows in Hamburg, Antwerp, Oberhausen, and Nijmegen must be postponed. Fans are currently advised to hold on to their tickets. Further information about the rescheduled dates will follow as soon as possible.

Beyond The Black shared an emotional message on social media:

“These are incredibly hard words to write:

We need to postpone the remaining tour dates in Hamburg, Antwerp, Oberhausen and Nijmegen.

[…] Believe us when we say: this hurts – endlessly. We’ve been pushing, hoping, trying to make it work somehow, because playing these shows for you means everything to us. But at this point, postponing them is the only right decision.

[…] Thank you for your understanding, your patience and your endless support. We feel your love and we carry it with us!”

The affected dates are the last four shows, started yesterday, February 3. We wish Chris and Kai all the best and a speedy recovery!

MALAURIU Reveal Details of Upcoming Album “The Third Nail”, Out April 3rd

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 4, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Italian black metal act MALAURIU will release their third full-length album, “The Third Nail”, on April 3rd, 2026 through Adirondack Black Mass.

The record represents a bold evolution for the band, merging the raw intensity of black metal with a punk-infused aggression, while showcasing meticulous attention to detail in a warm, organic production that brings out the full depth of the compositions.

The first single “Empowerment Rites” is now available HERE.

Recorded between Italy and the UK from 2024 to 2025, “The Third Nail” is the result of over a decade of dedication to the rawest and most primitive essence of black metal. The album features eight original tracks alongside a ferocious cover of GG Allin, which further highlights the band’s punk attitude and includes guest appearances by Dr. Heathen Scum (Mentors, USA) and Diego Do’Urden (Mystifier).

The album’s artwork draws on Sicilian traditions where the sacred and the profane collide, from blood-stained processions to brutal reenactments of the Crucifixion, creating a ritualistic atmosphere where faith is intertwined with horror, gore, and the occult.

Mixing was handled by Carlo Altobelli at Toxic Basement Studio (Italy), a recognized figure in extreme underground production, while mastering was completed at Necromorbus Studio (Sweden), famed for work with acts like Mayhem, Watain, Funeral Mist, and Shining.

Now based in London, UK, with a solid live lineup, MALAURIU will bring “The Third Nail” to stages across Europe in 2026, delivering a live experience that amplifies the album’s dark intensity and ritualistic energy.

Tracklist:

1 Rising From The Cemetery
2 Empowerment Rites
3 Death Celebration
4 Hell Mouth
5 Satanic Witch
6 The Curse of All Flesh
7 Purple Ceremony
8 Monotheistic Filth
9 Abuse Myself, I Wanna Die (GG Allin cover)

Preorder: https://adirondackblackmass.bandcamp.com/album/the-third-nail

Founded in 2013 by Schizoid, MALAURIU emerged from Sicily as a project deeply rooted in folklore, mysticism, and the occult. Over the years, the band evolved from a pure black metal project into a constantly shifting entity, exploring dark ambient, ritual, noise, and punk, while maintaining a consistent spiritual intensity.

Sicily’s dark, evocative landscapes – ancient temples, legends of monsters, and sites connected to Aleister Crowley’s Abbey of Thelema – have profoundly influenced the band’s vision. With over 20 releases in the past decade, MALAURIU has steadily built a reputation for uncompromising music, blending extreme aggression with atmospheric depth, offering listeners a journey into the darker corners of the mind and soul.

Line-up:
Schizoid – Guitars
R.M. – Vocals

Session musicians:
Black Doom – Bass
Frozen – Drums
Felis Catus – Keyboards/Samples
Marbas – Keyboards
G.T. – Guitar solos on tracks 2, 5 and 9

Very special guest:
Diego DoUrden (Mystifier/Evoked) – Vocals on track 9
Dr. Heathen Scum (Mentors) – Vocals on track 9

“Abuse Myself, I Wanna Die” originally recorded by GG Allin
Recorded between Sicily and the UK 2024/2025
Mixed by Carlo Altobelli at Toxic Basement Studio (Italy)
Mastered by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio (Sweden)

MALAURIU
https://malauriu.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/malauriu/
https://www.facebook.com/malauriuofficial

ELA Release Standalone Single & Video for Abba’s “SOS”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 4, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

German melodic power metal band ELA return with a powerful standalone release: a reimagined cover of ABBA’s timeless classic “SOS”, accompanied by an official music video.

Originally released in 1975, “SOS” is one of ABBA’s most iconic and emotionally charged songs – a milestone in pop history which blends vulnerability, melodic brilliance and universal appeal. With this new version, ELA pay tribute to the original while reshaping it through their own modern rock and metal-infused sound, giving the song a darker edge and renewed intensity without losing its unmistakable identity.

STREAM THE SONG HERE: https://save-it.cc/massacre/sos

Driven by Michaela Eichhorn’s expressive and commanding vocal performance, ELA’s interpretation of “SOS” explores the song’s emotional core from a different perspective: more dramatic, heavier in atmosphere, yet deeply respectful of the original composition. The accompanying video visually amplifies this reinterpretation, translating the song’s themes of emotional distance, longing and urgency into striking images.

“Our singer is a confessing ABBA fan since her childhood and a dream becomes true for her to make her very own version of this great music. ABBA wrote music history, so for us it was a pleasure, an honor to work on this masterpiece.For a long decade ABBA has been very popular – and we think this will never end. We hope you like it. Enjoy!”

The release of “SOS”  marks another step in ELA’s ongoing creative journey, bridging classic songwriting and contemporary rock aesthetics, while offering listeners a familiar song seen through a completely new lens.

ELA are:
Michaela Eichhorn – vocals
Martin Hämmerle – drums & keyboards
Simon Ostini – guitars
Martin Albrecht – bass

ELA online:
https://www.instagram.com/ela_metal/
https://www.facebook.com/ELAROCKS/
https://www.ela-rocks.com/

EMBRACE OF SOULS Join Soundsrock Agency Roster

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 4, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Soundsrock Agency is thrilled to announce the signing with EMBRACE OF SOULS.

EMBRACE OF SOULS is an Italian power metal band born from the idea of the drummer and composer Michele Olmi, who brought together a group of talented and passionate musicians.

The band shared:

Our debut album, The Number of Destiny, released in 2021 under Elevate Records, received very positive feedback on an international level, with a particularly strong acclaim in Japan.

In 2024 we returned to the scene with a new album, Forever Part of Me, also released under Elevate Records, which marked a significant evolution in our sound thanks to a lineup change.

The band gained fresh energy with the arrival of singer Giacomo Rossi, one of the most important new additions. In 2025 Martina Mazzeo joined the band and brought a symphonic touch to our music with her operatic voice, allowing us to further expand our expressive range.

​We have shared the stage with renowned bands such as Domine, Vision Divine, Stratovarius, Sonata Artica and Rhapsody of Fire and we are now working on new material, with the aim of further consolidating our artistic identity.

In early 2026, the band announced that they had signed with Rockshots Records for their third album, Battle of the Dead.

The first single, entitled Desolate Lands, will be released on 18 February.