The end has come… long revered and widely acclaimed heavy metal giants SPIRIT ADRIFT have released their sixth and final album, Infinite Illumination, today via 20 Buck Spin. Bookending a monumental decade+ long run, the band’s bittersweet swan song is marked by one of their most ambitious and crushing records to date.
SPIRIT ADRIFT mastermind Nathan Garrett’s final magnum opus is a return to the wellspring that first inspired it all and a testament to a band that in the last 10 years has crafted an impeccable signature thoroughly their own, molded from the elemental matter of more than a half century of heavy metal exaltation.
Infinite Illumination has a directness to it, a sense of urgency and raw intensity. The songs feel inevitable, like they had to be driven out from deep within during a time of great upheaval. The fatalistic ‘Born in a Bad Way’ summons a vengeful “broken relic from another age” that must “live again and make them pay” via Garrett’s swaggering snarl, while “White Death” impugns “God shined on a chosen few, we must kill the rest of you”. These songs have a palpable sense of malaise both spiritual and terrestrial, personal and universal, inflicted via crushing traditional Doom riffs, thunderous mid-tempo marches and Garrett’s impassioned vocal delivery.
Long after the band is gone fans will continue to discover the SPIRIT ADRIFT catalog and witness the breadth of greatness they delivered in just a decade’s time. Every melodic, epic and emotionally charged thread that defines the band’s legacy honors the animating force behind pure creative ambition. And at its core Infinite Illumination carries both the weight of conclusion and the troubling realization that it is rarely painless to say farewell.
Infinite Illumination is available digitally today. Gatefold LP and CD editions will be released May 15th. Pre-order here: https://www.20buckspin.com/spiritadrift
About SPIRIT ADRIFT: Spirit Adrift’s music is an alchemical sonic melting pot that combines classic doom, traditional heavy metal, and the intensity of old school thrash, forging a unique and forward-thinking sound. Led by founder, multi-instrumentalist, and frontman Nate Garrett, the band built a reputation for towering riffs, anthemic songwriting, and emotionally charged performances rooted in both personal struggle and defiant perseverance.
Emerging in 2016, Spirit Adrift released a string of critically acclaimed albums—Chained to Oblivion, Curse of Conception, Divided by Darkness, Enlightened in Eternity, and Ghost at the Gallows—earning praise from outlets such as Decibel, Revolver, Metal Hammer, and Kerrang!, who ranked the band among the best of the decade.
Spirit Adrift toured and shared stages with the likes of High on Fire, Yob, Crowbar, Corrosion of Conformity, Midnight, and has appeared at major festivals such as Download, Hellfest, and Psycho Las Vegas. Their live shows were visceral and cathartic—equal parts power and conviction.
In 2026, Spirit Adrift announced their end with the release of their 6th and final album, Infinite Illumination. While their band’s story comes to a close, their legacy and profound impact on heavy music will be felt for decades to come.
Norwegian metal pioneers EINHERJER will unleash their song “Bloodborn” to the world! The single is taken from their newest album ‘Lifeblood’, which will be released worldwide on the 19th of June, via By Norse Music.
The title of the first single Bloodborn refers to something inherited, carried in the blood itself, it is both a warning and a celebration of the untamed side of humanity. Founder and songwriter, Frode Glesnes explains:
In the lyrics I wanted to explore that hidden fire beneath the skin – the beast that sleeps inside every man, waiting for the moment when storms rise and control slips away. There are strong images from nature in the song – the sea, wolves, the serpent – symbols of forces that cannot truly be tamed. In many ways it echoes the old Norse idea that humans are never completely separate from the wild powers of nature.
The album Lifeblood will be the 10th studio album and it representsa reflection around belonging, heritage and roots – both as individuals and as a band. After over thirty years of making music, the four-piece look back toward what shaped them and the forces that have followed through all these years.
Einherjer was forged in 1993, on the western shores of Norway – where the North Sea meets the land, and where the Viking kings once ruled the passage that gave Norway its name. From this inheritance, Einherjer rose. Not as followers of a movement, but as part of its own creation.
In the early years of Norwegian extreme metal in the 90s, Einherjer stood among those who gave voice to a distinctly Norse expression within metal. Their early recordings did not imitate tradition – they helped establish it. What later became known as Viking Metal was not conceived as a genre, but as a natural extension of identity, history, and place and Einherjer became one of its defining forces.
Through classic albums such as Dragons of the North, Odin Owns Ye All and Blot, and later works including Av Oss, For Oss and North Star, both nominated for a Norwegian Grammy, the band has continually evolved without losing its core. Their sound remains unmistakable – resolute, atmospheric, and grounded in the weight of heritage, yet never bound by the past. Their music does not seek to recreate a lost age. It stands as proof that its spirit endures. The same horizon that called the seafarers westward still lies open. The same impulse to create, to endure, and to leave a mark remains unchanged.
For more than three decades, Einherjer has stood as one of the defining voices of Norse heavy metal, and with their 10th album Lifeblood the band prooves why they still are distinct and defining in the genre – not as an echo, but as a presence.
Time has not diminished Einherjer. It has refined them. Hammers raised. Fire alive. Lifeblood unbroken.
LIVE DATES
19.06.2026 – Hellfest, Clisson, FR 29.07 – 01.08.2026 – Wacken Open Air, Wacken, DE 15.08.2026 – Midgardsblot, Borre, NO 20 – 22.08.2026 – Kaltenbach Open Air, AT 29.08.2026 – Månegarm Open Air, Norrtälje, SE 18 – 20.09.2026 – Cosmic Void Festival, London, UK
GRAMMY-nominated guitarist and singer Samantha Fish will release Paper Doll Live via Rounder Records on Friday June 12th, her first official live album, capturing the electrifying stage presence that has made her one of the most compelling performers in modern blues and roots music. Pre-order the album HERE.
New single “Sweet Southern Sounds – Live” is available on all streaming platforms HERE.
Watchthe official music video for “Sweet Southern Sounds – Live” on YouTube.
A leading guitarist of her generation, Fish is known for her bold musicianship, emotional depth, and fearless song writing. A multi-award-winning festival headliner, she has built her reputation on explosive live performances that blend raw guitar power with deeply expressive vocals. Following the critical success of her GRAMMY-nominated album Paper Doll, the new live record showcases the intensity and chemistry that define her shows night after night.
“Truly, this is for the fans,” Fish says of making her first official live record. “We’ve had numerous requests over the years. Paper Doll felt so great on stage — it felt like the perfect time to showcase the band and our live show.”
Recorded at the historic Bijou Theatre in Knoxville, Tennessee, Paper Doll Live captures a band fully locked in and feeding off a packed crowd. The venue’s natural warmth and acoustics created an ideal setting for the recording, elevated even further by the addition of Nashville gospel legends The McCrary Sisters, whose soaring harmonies bring added depth and emotion to the performance.
“Their voices lifted every song,” Fish says. “I love beautiful backing vocals — they pack an emotional punch. I’ve been a fan of them for years, so that was really special for me.”
Fans travelled from across the country to attend the recording, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and celebration inside the theatre.
“Our fans aren’t afraid to travel,” Fish says. “When we announced the show, people got excited. I think that build-up always helps make a better show.”
The result is a performance that feels both ferocious and communal — a moment where the band, the songs, and the audience meet in real time. While the studio album Paper Doll marked a breakthrough in Fish’s artistic confidence, the live setting strips away polish and leaves only instinct.
“There’s a fire that comes across in live performance that doesn’t always translate in studio albums,” Fish says. “The stage lays all of that bare.”
Songs evolve and expand in the live environment. Outros stretch. Studio fade-outs become powerful climaxes. Tracks like “Lose You” build with relentless momentum, while “Sweet Southern Sounds” allows Fish to lean into her hypnotic North Mississippi-inspired guitar phrasing. The title track “Paper Doll” lands as a defiant anthem night after night, igniting crowds with its refusal to conform.
And when the band launches into a blistering cover of MC5’s “Kick Out the Jams,” the room detonates.
For Fish, the difference between studio and stage is elemental.
“The studio is where you build and create your sound,” she says. “The stage is where you execute all of that. Having a crowd takes you out of your head and gives you something to play off.”
Emerging from Kansas City’s blues lineage and shaped by influences ranging from Prince and Leonard Cohen to the legends of Mississippi Hill Country blues, Fish has long treated performance as her proving ground. From cold-calling bars as a teenager to headlining international festivals, she has developed a live show that balances catharsis and control, boldness and vulnerability.
With Paper Doll Live, she isn’t reinventing herself — she’s documenting the power of what she and her band do every night.
“I just wanted to capture what we do every night,” Fish says. “It wasn’t about chasing something new. It was about capturing the thing that has connected so deeply over the years.”
If Paper Doll was a declaration of artistic power, Paper Doll Live is the sound of that power unleashed — immediate, unfiltered, and impossible to ignore.
Critics agree that a live show from Samantha Fish is nothing short of electrifying – “wild” and “raunchy,” as Louder Than War puts it, and an “absolute must-see.” Onstage, she’s a “force to be reckoned with,” tearing into solos “like it owed her money,” with crowd reactions that border on feral, according to Parklife DC. Reviews consistently point to the intensity of her performances, driven by savage guitar work and a commanding presence (Blues Rock Review), while others admit they were unprepared for her sheer energy and charisma, noting that she “can rock the house” (Americana Highways). Add in her swagger, blistering blues licks, and a voice packed with raw emotion, and it’s clear why the Nottingham Post calls her the complete blues package.
DIGITAL TRACKLIST
01. Kick Out The Jams – Live 02. Paper Doll – Live 03. Can Ya Handle The Heat? – Live 04. I Put A Spell On You – Live 05. I’m Done Runnin’ – Live 06. Lose You – Live 07. Sweet Southern Sounds – Live 08. Bulletproof – Live 09. Miles To Go – Live 10. Fortune Teller – Live 11. Better Be Lonely – Live 12. Dream Girl – Live 13. Don’t Say It – Live 14. Poor Black Mattie – Live 15. Rusty Razor – Live 16. Black Wind Howlin’ – Live
CD TRACKLIST
01. Kick Out The Jams – Live 02. Paper Doll – Live 03. Can Ya Handle The Heat? – Live 04. I’m Done Runnin’ – Live 05. Lose You – Live 06. Sweet Southern Sounds – Live 07. Bulletproof – Live 08. Miles To Go – Live 09. Fortune Teller – Live 10. Better Be Lonely – Live 11. Dream Girl – Live 12. Don’t Say It – Live 13. Poor Black Mattie – Live 14. Rusty Razor – Live 15. Black Wind Howlin’ – Live
VINYL TRACKLIST
Side A 1. Paper Doll – Live 2. Can Ya Handle The Heat? – Live 3. I’m Done Runnin’ – Live 4. Lose You – Live 5. Sweet Southern Sounds – Live
Side B 6. Fortune Teller – Live 7. Don’t Say It – Live 8. Rusty Razor – Live 9. Black Wind Howlin’ – Live
TOUR DATES
TICKETS ON SALE AT SAMANTHAFISH.COM 4.15 Savannah, GA – District Live at Plant Riverside District* 4.16 Gainesville, FL – Heartwood Soundstage* 4.17 Dothan, AL – Dothan Opera House* 4.18 Meredian, MS – MSU Riley Center* 4.19 Sandy Springs, GA – Byers Theatre at Sandy Springs PAC* 4.24 New Orleans, LA – House of Blues 4.25 New Orleans, LA – Jazz & Heritage Festival 4.28 New Orleans, LA – Chickie Wah Wah 5.01 New Orleans, LA – Fillmore 5.02 Biloxi, MS – IP Casino Resort & Spa 5.05 Decatur, AL – The Princess Theatre 5.07 Springfield, MO – Gillioz Theatre 5.08 Kansas City, MO – Ameristar Casino Hotel Kansas City 5.09 St Louis, MO – Atomic 5.10 Tulsa, OK – Cain’s Ballroom 5.13 Iowa City, IA – The Englert Theatre 5.14 Marion, IL – Marion Cultural & Civic Center 5.16 Welch, MN – Treasure Island Casino** 5.17 Des Plaines, IL – The Des Plaines Theatre 5.19 Warrendale, PA – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille 5.20 State College, PA – The State Theatre 5.21 Troy, NY – Troy Savings Bank Music Hall 5.22 Ledyard, CT – Foxwoods Resort Casino** 5.23 Beverly, MA – The Cabot 5.24 Nashua, NH – Nashua Center for the Arts 5.27 Patchogue, NJ – Patchogue Theatre 5.28 Syracuse, NY – Westcott Theater 5.29 Lebanon, NH – Levanon Opera House 5.30 Augusta, NJ – Michael Arnone’s Crawfish Fest 5.31 Buffalo, NY – Babeville 6.19 Grolloo, Netherlands – Holland Intl Blues Festival 6.20 Dortmund, Germany – Musiktheater Piano 6.21 Brescia, Italy – Chiari Blues Festival 6.23 Loceri, Italy – Parco Urbano 6.25 Rubigen, Switzerland – Muhle Hunziken 6.27 Vienne, France – Jazz a Vienne 6.28 Erlangen, Germany – E-Werk Kino 6.30 Mannheim, Germany – 7er-Club 7.01 Aschaffenburg, Germany – Colos-Saal 7.02 Hamburg, Germany – Fabrik 7.04 Helsinki – Puisto Blues 9.18-19 Telluride, CO – Telluride Blues & Brews Fest 10.31 West Hollywood, CA – Whisky A Go Go***
Samantha Fish is a 2x GRAMMY-nominated guitarist, singer, and songwriter widely recognized as one of the most dynamic artists in contemporary blues and roots music. The Kansas City Hall of Famer and multiple Blues Music Award-winner is known for her explosive guitar work, powerhouse vocals, and fearless songwriting. She’s has built a global following through relentless touring and critically acclaimed releases. Her solo albums — Runaway (2011), Black Wind Howlin’ (2013), Wild Heart (2015), Chills & Fever (2017), Kill or Be Kind (2019), Faster (2021), collaborating with Jesse Dayton on Deathwish Blues (2023), and Paper Doll (2023), have all topped the Billboard Blues Charts. A commanding live performer, Fish has toured internationally, performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, shared stages with artists including Slash, and The Rolling Stones and has performed as part of Eric Clapton’s Crossroads Festival. She continues to push boundaries while delivering electrifying shows that connect deeply with audiences worldwide.
SOUR BLOOD is an progressive/alternative rock band from Poznań, Poland.
A band Sour Blood already released new single titled “Of Animal Flesh and Inhuman Soul” together with video done by Maciej Gensler from costamwyszlo. Song is available for listening at popular streaming platforms. “Elegy” was mixed and mastered by Konrad Janiszewski (Heresy Denied, Stayfires, Kansha).
“Of Animal Flesh and Inhuman Soul” is a song about a person who lives unreflectively within a civilizational bubble, and in their increasingly dominant apathy drifts toward self-destruction. The way we live shares much with the existence of farm animals, while we grow ever more disconnected from nature. We could — and often even want to — question the system and the modern lifestyle built upon it more decisively, but we simply lack the will..
Trio comments new single:
“Life in large cities offers comfort, technology demands little thought from us, art and culture have been overtaken by kitsch, and our herd mentality manifests itself on social media. We want to believe it’s all fine. We like thinking that way — it makes us feel better.
In the song, the lyrical subject in part criticizes others for this behavior, yet is painfully aware that they are guilty of the same ignorance and conformity. The dominant emotion is a sense of hopelessness — or perhaps even more so, disappointment in oneself, as well as in humanity as a whole. It is the realization that one is part of the problem, but in the face of its overwhelming scale, it feels easier to simply coexist with others, even as the world seems to be falling apart before our eyes.
Apathy becomes a vicious cycle — an orbit encircling our entire planet.“
DEMONESSA announce their long-awaited debut album, entitled “Wild ‘N’ Loud”, coming out May 1st.
“Wild ‘N’ Loud” is a love letter to all the greatest hits from the ‘80s heavy metal scene with big, arena-shaking choruses, thundering drum beats and hard rocking guitar riffs that will inspire the next generation of rock ’n’ roll stars. The sound of the album is overall very reminiscent of that old school tone, but with a modern twist to it, so it doesn’t sound like it actually came out 40 years ago.
The band stated on the album: “A few standout tracks for the members themselves have to be the opener “Till Death Do Us Part”, because it brings together everything we’ve learned to love about heavy metal music, “High Voltage Renegade”, the follow-up song with its fast-paced, hard-rocking energy that perfectly kicks off the rest of the album, “I Stand Alone” which will surely top the charts in 20 years, like any good old power ballad did back in the days and “We Rule the Night” simply for how much fun it is to play live.”
“The album was a long time coming, as we wanted to make sure everything was on point and everyone was fully behind the final result that would be the band’s first real introduction to the listeners. The music for the album was written by the guitarist John Creweholm, but every band member had a chance to add their own twists and turns for each song as they saw fit, while the vast majority of lyrics and vocal melodies were the singer, Senja’s, territory. The songs were recorded mainly in the band’s rehearsal room and mixed and mastered by the great Aleksis Pelli at Mix Studio 1101. One of our biggest challenges was getting the drums to sound just right, but with his magic touch they sound like cannons from hell with every beat, as they do live.”
A couple of ‘must-listen’ songs that define the album:
“Till Death Do Us Part” – The opening track, the bread and butter of the album, the song meant to hook listeners immediately. The song’s message can be interpreted as either a love story gone horribly wrong the toxic way or an addiction that will take you to your grave.
“I Stand Alone” – The token ballad of the album. A story about losing the people you love as time goes on and everyone starts going their own way, but you still have to stay strong, true to yourself and move on.
“A Knife to a Gunfight” – An explosive ending for the album that takes the listener on the ride of a lifetime with the amazing vocals, cool riffs, and crazy solos. It’s about falling in love with someone, when you’re not ready yet, and it feels unfair.
More on Demonessa: Demonessa is a heavy metal band from Tampere, Finland, carving its path with pure power and attitude. Formed in 2019, the band combines the explosive force of 80’s heavy metal with the spectacle of glam metal creating an experience that must be witnessed live.
Line-up: Senja – Vocals John Creweholm – Guitars Hugo M. Raze – Guitars Peet von Rowanskerry – Bass Jones “Pugnax Vehemens” Tervas – Drums
Finnish progressive metal outfit ANTIPOPE has released a new music video for “Doors of the Dead,” the title track from their latest album of the same name. The video marks a decisive closing chapter for the “Doors of the Dead” (2024) era, following the band’s recently concluded touring cycle in support of the album.
The “Doors of the Dead” album has been widely noted for its immersive atmosphere and conceptual cohesion, and the accompanying tour saw ANTIPOPE deliver its material in a live setting that emphasized ceremony, intensity, and emotional weight. The release of the title track video serves as a final statement from that creative period before the band turns toward its next chapter. On that note, the band has hinted that their 8th studio album might be released later this year!
This progressive journey is immersed in melodic and deeply conceptual Metal unrestricted by the confines of any singular genre. Predominantly melodic singing is highlighted with extreme Metal vocals and clean vocal passages, backed by euphonious yet heavy guitar rhythms which breathe with acoustic segments, all interspersed amongst monster Metal riffs.
Open The Doors of the Dead and begin your Epic Voyage through the beyond!
Doors of the Dead is available now via Moribund Records.
ANTIPOPE “Doors of the Dead” CD / Digital Out Now on Moribund Records
Track Listing (CD / Digital): 1. Magisteria (6:25) 2. The Maker (6:39) 3. Brotherhood of Babylon (4:40) 4. Religion with No Name (3:58) 5. A Ritual of Snake and Dove (6:35) 6. Treasure in the Deep (4:51) 7. Sacrifice (4:30) 8. Doors of the Dead (9:24) Total Play Time: CD & Digital 47:05
* Subscribe to our YouTube Channel so you receive all New Video’s for posting & Sharing!
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
Ads
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 ) 