KVAEN will release their third album, and first for Metal Blade Records, The Formless Fires, on June 21st.
There are many great extreme metal bands in Sweden, but only one from Kalix. This remote beauty spot near the Finnish border, on the northernmost shores of the Baltic, is home to Jacob Björnfot, creative mastermind behind melodic black/death metal project, KVAEN.
A sumptuous but bitingly intense exploration of beauty and violence, KVAEN‘s The Formless Fires is a melodic black metal masterwork radiating an inspirational sense of place. Even more than 2020’s folky, speed metal-infused debut The Funeral Pyre or 2022’s compelling, expansive follow-up, The Great Below, the vast pine woods and icy lakes are powerfully evoked in the elemental gloom riffs, chilly melodies, and windswept solos running through these eight mighty songs.
Assisting in this record’s immersive sweep are Björnfot’s fascinating lyrics. Like many Swedish songwriters, his use of English reveals a love and care for the language that few native speakers even bother to rival. If this album seems less intimate and more universal than the raw candor of its predecessor, it’s only because Björnfot’s knack for allegory has improved. Illuminating some of the lyrical themes, Björnfot asserts “I love mythology. ‘Basilisk’ is, for example, the king of serpents but is rarely mentioned by the mainstream. ‘The Perpetual Darkness’ is about being born different from those who are ‘normal.’ It is also about being a lone wolf and banished from society. That song has become a personal favorite of mine.” Additionally, ‘De Dödas Sång (Song Of The Dead)’ tackles the disturbing theme of Ättestupa, the ancient Norse suicide ritual whereby elderly villagers jump to their deaths from sheer precipices.
Comments Björnfot on the record’s eponymous opening track and first single, “‘The Formless Fires’ was actually written for another project of mine featuring members from Dissection, Lord Belial, Sacramentum, and Naglfar but I convinced myself to keep it for the next KVAEN album instead and I’m glad I did – this is one of my top favorites off the new album.“
Watch KVAEN‘s “The Formless Fires” video below.
All instrumentation on The Formless Fires was composed and performed by Björnfot with the exception of drums which were resoundingly hammered by ex-Amon Amarth basher Frederik Andersson. The record features the guest solos of Sebastian Ramstedt (Necrophobic) on “Traverse The Nether” and Chaq Mol (Dark Funeral) on “The Wings Of Death.”
The Formless Fires Track Listing: 01. The Formless Fires 02. Traverse the Nether 03. Tornets Sång 04. The Ancient Gods 05. Basilisk 06. De Dödas Sång 07. The Perpetual Darkness 08. The Wings of Death
KVAEN Live: 6/21/2024 Helvete – Oberhausen, DE 6/22/2024 Boarstream Open Air 2024 – Buchenbach, DE 6/23/2024 Nachtleben – Frankfurt, DE 8/30-31/2024 Bulasal Metal Fest – Västeräs, SE 5/03/2025 Karmøygeddon Fest – Kopervik, NO
KVAEN: Jacob Björnfot – everything
KVAEN Live Lineup: Jacob Björnfot – vocals/guitars Kristian Gustavsson – guitars Rasmus Rova – guitars Per Lindström – bass Fredrik Andersson – drums
On the back of their already successful Eurovision adventure, and as requested by an ever-growing fan group, GÅTE are excited to announce an upcoming European tour!This tour sees the band visit UK, Germany, The Netherlands, Italy and many more in December 2024.
“We`re excited to bring our blend of traditional Norwegian folk music and rock to the European stages” comments guitar-player Magnus Børmark. “We`re on a mission to revitalize our common folklore and traditions which we also share with so many people across Europe. There is so much history and culture binding us together in a positive way, this tour will carry this message.”
Feb. 2nd 2024, the Gåte was chosen to represent Norway in the international finals of the Eurovision Song Contest with their unique and spellbinding song Ulveham Gunnhild’s powerful vocals and the band’s mesmerizing live performance has unleashed an avalanche of positive feedback worldwide. With their captivating blend of traditional folk and modern rock, this unique cultural gem has become quite the talk in the ESC community.
The performance is an astonishing portrayal of raw female energy where Gunnhild Sundli excels in her role as lead vocalist, and Ulveham has clearly stirred up something fundamental in souls across borders and generations, calling forth an inner primal strength.
03 Dec.- Aschaffenburg, Colos-Saal, DE 04 Dec.- Bochum, Zeche, DE 05 Dec.- Munich, Muffathalle, DE 06 Dec.- Vienna, Arena, AT 08 Dec.- Milano, Santeria Toscana 31, IT 09 Dec.- Zurich, Plaza, CH 10 Dec.- Paris, Machine du Moulin Rouge, FR 12 Dec.- Dublin, The Academy, IE 13 Dec.- London, O2 Islington Academy, UK 14 Dec.- Manchester, Club Academy, UK 16 Dec.- Utrecht, Tivoli Vredenburg – Pandora, NL 17 Dec.- Hamburg, Gruenspan, DE 18 Dec.- Berlin, Columbia Theater, DE 19 Dec.- Krakow, Kwadrat, PL 20 Dec.- Warsaw, Proxima, PL
About Gåte: Gåte’s music is a dark, mesmerizing and stunningly beautiful take on Nordic folk. Where they flirt with elements from traditional Norse and pagan music as well as from more modern genres like rock and industrial.
The band emerged in the early 2000s, seamlessly blending traditional Norwegian folk music with explosive rock, catapulting them from the confines of a practice space to grand stages in record time! With this unique take on folk/trad rock and their triumphant live shows the band has managed to captivate massive audience.
Gåte took a 12-year break before making a much-anticipated comeback in 2017, where they once again experienced enormous success with lauded live shows, two critically acclaimed studio albums, two EPs, and a mesmerizing live record.
In 2024 they were chosen to represent Norway in the Eurovision Song Contes, marking yet another milestone in the band’ career!
SEVERE TORTURE unleash another brutal beating on Torn from the Jaws of Death, their upcoming sixth album. Today, the veteran Dutch band are releasing their third single, which grinds and twists into a raw pinnacle of death metal, stream it below.
Torn From The Jaws of Death comes out June 7 on Season of Mist.
With all the sublety of a warhammer, Severe Torture hit upon the purest, most ferocious strain of brutal death metal. Torn from the Jaws of Death emerges from the grim embrace of Torture Compound Studios, where it was sharpened to diabolic perfection under the fiendish expertise of Mendel bij de Leij.
On “The Pinnacle of Suffering”, Severe Torture wields the macabre like a rusty chain. Marching to a blistering beat of drums, these death masters drag you into a shadow world where no one can hear you scream.
Cover Art by Pär Olofsson
Tracklist 1. The Death Of Everything (4:07) [WATCH] 2. Marked By Blood And Darkness (4:14) 3. Hogtied In Rope (3:23) 4. Torn From The Jaws Of Death (4:27) [WATCH] 5. Christ Immersion (3:30) 6. Putrid Remains (4:29) 7. The Pinnacle Of Suffering (3:09) [LISTEN] 8. Through Pain And Emptiness (3:30) 9. Those Who Wished Me Dead (2:26) 10. Tear All The Flesh Off The Earth (5:21) Total runtime: 38:36
For over 25 years, SEVERE TORTURE has embodied the ethos of Brutal. Death. Metal. A genre-defining titan, they’ve held a commanding presence in the metal universe since 1997, blending intense performances with a relentless commitment to their visceral, raw sound.
Born from the bowels of the Dutch underground, the band emerged onto the world stage with their debut album Feasting On Blood, hailed as an epic watershed in the nascent wave of brutal death metal in 2001. Their hard-hitting, merciless sound has since rippled across North and South America, Europe, and Mexico; their trail marked by five ground-breaking releases over the past quarter-century.
Remaining relevant in the ever-evolving realm of metal is no small feat, a task Severe Torture met by continuously levelling up. In pursuit of rejuvenation and to capture the aggression and energy befitting of a new era, they amicably parted ways with original drummer Seth in 2018, bringing Damiën Kerpentier into the fold. The move signified a new chapter for the seasoned ensemble, marking a seismic shift that breathed fresh air into their creative process, leading to some of their darkest, most profound work yet.
This invigorated spirit came to life in 2022 with the release of the EP Fisting The Sockets – the band’s first release in an astounding 12 years. The record served as a triumphant herald for their resurgence, re-signing with Season of Mist and rekindling the flame of their brutal origins amidst a pandemic-stricken world.
Now, in 2024, Severe Torture is set to escalate to new heights of sonic savagery with their sixth full-length album, Torn from the Jaws of Death. Recorded at the infamous Torture Compound Studios, the album stands as a testament to the raw energy, blood, sweat, and relentless brutality that the band represents.
From the aggressive whirlwind of riffs in The Death of Everything, to the haunting black metal nuances of the title track Torn from the Jaws of Death, the album is a death metal cogitation on murder, torture, and the madness of organized religions. Crafted with an unwavering commitment to the genre, Torn from the Jaws of Death is a grim reflection of the world, drenched in the band’s signature brutal death metal sound.
As the anticipation mounts for the release of Torn from the Jaws of Death, you can be sure Severe Torture remains alive and thriving in the heart of brutal death metal, pushing boundaries, and refusing to bow to conventions. A quarter-century in, these stalwarts of the scene are just getting started. Stay tuned to witness their relentless progression as they continue their incessant march through the annals of metal history.
Lineup Dennis Scheurs – Vocals Patrick Boleij – Bass Damiën Kerpentier – Drums Marvin Vriesde – Guitars Right & Leads Thijs van Laarhoven – Guitars Left
Recording Studio Torture Compound Studios
Production Credits Damiën Kerpentier – Engineer Mendel bij de Leij – Mixing & Mastering Engineer
EVERGREY, Gothenburg’s finest export of darkness, unveil their eagerly awaited second single, “Say”, together with an official music video. The heartfelt track seamlessly blends raw heaviness with enchanting keyboards and unexpected instrumental parts, offering an unparalleled melodic progressive metal experience along with the outstanding vocal offering of band mastermind Tom S. Englund.
“Say“ is taken from EVERGREY’s forthcoming album, Theories of Emptiness, set for release on June 7, 2024 via Napalm Records. Since the announcement off their new release, Theories of Emptiness has been hailed by critics all over the world, being called “a flawless piece of progressive metal” by Powerplay Magazine (UK), “an early candidate for the honorary title of ‘hard rock album of the year’, as well as “perhaps their best album ever” by Sweden Rock Magazine, and ranking #1 of the soundcheck of German Rock Hard magazine. With this upcoming musical genius, EVERGREY impressively prove themselves once more as a force to be reckoned with and show a seemingly endless flow of top-notch creativity that sees no bounds.
EVERGREY on “Say”: “’Say’ is one of those songs that immediately when we wrote the chorus we knew that it would be an awesome single. It will simply kill live and is a very worthy follow-up to the success of ‘Falling From the Sun’. Regarding the end of the video there will of course be questions, a lot of questions, we have the answers.”
Theories of Emptiness was produced by Tom S. Englund and Jonas Ekdahl, and was mixed by Adam “Nolly” Getgood (ex-Periphery), who worked closely with the band from the start – bringing out the vividness of the album’s overall sonic profile. Rounding out the album’s production, mastering was helmed by Thomas “Plec” Johansson (Soilwork, The Night Flight Orchestra, Onslaught, The Gems, Eleine and many more).
Theories of Emptiness follows its chart-topping and critically acclaimed predecessor, 2022’s A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament), which entered charts worldwide at #3 in Sweden (Metal), ranked #5 on the Top New Artist Albums charts in the United States, entered #7 in Finland and #12 in Germany.
“For us, progression is paramount”, states Tom S. Englund when discussing the eleven track opus, Theories of Emptiness. “We’re dedicated to ensuring that our music remains innovative and avoids stagnation. With each album, we strive to introduce something new — a unique flavor, a different key or chord, fresh voices in our writing, or innovative production techniques.” In fact, no stone has been left unturned.
Tracks are created to balance each-other mutually: from the aggressive tones of “Misfortune“ contrasting the light-hearted opening of “To Become Someone Else“, to the ballad “Ghost of My Hero“ leading into the furious riffs of “We Are the North“. Album opener “Falling From the Sun” and “Say” interweave heaviness with mesmerizing keyboards and unpredictable instrumental parts, as also heard on “The Night Within“. On “Cold Dreams”, Englund’s distinctive voice is accompanied by Jonas Renkse of fellow Swedish metal icons Katatonia, splicing the song with a stellar performance that underlines another intense facet of the album. In addition, Englund’s daughter Salina provides lush backing vocals that enhance the song’s dynamics even more. Ending on a quiet note, Theories of Emptiness depicts exactly what emptiness is about, first with the immersive “Our Way Through Silence“, and then with “A Theory of Emptiness” which, with timid piano, makes us rationalize our innermost feelings. Navigating realms of darkness and light, Theories of Emptiness takes listeners on a carefully balanced roller coaster ride – showcasing EVERGREY‘s ever-evolving sound in 2024 and beyond.
Tom Englund adds: “Our new album is soon to be yours! We can’t wait for that to happen, there are so many new and refreshing elements on it as well as respect paid to every part of our past. We have just refined what we always have done and tried to make it as contemporary as we possibly could to please ourselves and our sonic expectations. With the presence of Adam ”Nolly” Getgood, we felt fired up, hungry and eager to do our utmost to ensure that we would write the best songs we possibly could – I really feel we have achieved that. Sound quality wise we feel that it is on par with the best the world has to offer today. It is a brave statement that I will stand behind for the rest of my life. Taking EVERGREY into a new cycle feels just as when I did it the first time. We are more motivated than ever, and with a lot of touring to be announced very soon, we cannot wait to come and play this new music for you. Finally, we need to mention that we couldn’t be prouder to announce our guest vocalist for this album. Jonas Renkse has graced KATATONIA’s music with his unique atmosphere for decades. Now we in the band and the fans of EVERGREY get to experience the same and we couldn’t be more excited! You might even get to hear Jonas growl for maybe the first time in many years…
Much love, Tom”
Theories of Emptiness tracklisting: 1. Falling From the Sun 2. Misfortune 3. To Become Someone Else 4. Say 5. Ghost of My Hero 6. We Are the North 7. One Heart 8. The Night Within 9. Cold Dreams 10. Our Way Through Silence 11. A Theory of Emptiness
EVERGREY Live 2024:
Latin America Tour 11.06.24 MX – Mexico City / Foro Veintiocho 13.06.24 CO – Bogota / Ace of Spades 14.06.24 PE – Lima / Teatro Kantaro 16.06.24 CL – Santiago / Club Chocolate 18.06.24 AR – Buenos Aires / El Teatrito 20.06.24 BR – Brasilia / Toinha 22.06.24 BR – Sao Paulo / Carioca Club 23.06.24 BR – Limeira / Mirage
Emptiness Over Scandinavia Support: Cyhra 12.09.24 SE – Göteborg / Pustervik 13.09.24 SE – Örebro / Frimis 14.09.24 SE – Stockholm / Naten 15.09.24 NO – Oslo / Parktreatret 17.09.24 DK – Köpenhamn / Pumpehuset 18.09.24 SE – Malmö / Babel 19.09.24 DK – Kolding / Godset 20.09.24 SE – Skövde / Valhall 21.09.24 SE – Helsingborg / The Tivoli 24.09.24 FI – Helsinki / Ääniwalli 25.09.24 FI – Tampere / Olympia 27.09.24 SE – Östersund / Rock Fest 28.09.24 SE – Lulea / Rockfest 30.09.24 SE – Eskilstuna / Lokomotivet 01.10.24 SE – Uppsala / Katalin 02.10.24 SE – Kristianstad / Bilijardkompaniet
Festivals 08.08.24 UK – Catton Park, Derby / Bloodstock Open Air 17.08.24 RO – Caransebes / Gugulan Rock Open Air 31.08.24 GR – Rethymno, Island of Crete / Rethymno Rocks Open Air 02.11.24 NL – Podium Gigant, Apeldoorn / Brainstorm Open Air 07.11.24 CH – Sarnen / Urrock Musik Festival 22.-23.11.24 DE – Weissenhäuser Strand / Metal Hammer Paradise
EVERGREY are: Tom S. Englund – Vocals, Guitar Henrik Danhage – Guitar Rikard Zander – Keyboard Jonas Ekdahl – Drums Johan Niemann – Bass
Duft has released a video for “Only Dead Fish Follow The Stream”, third single taken from the debut album “Altar Of Instant Gratification” to be released on May 17th by Scarlet Records.
“Only Dead Fish Follow The Stream” is a raging anthem that packs a punch with bone-crushing riffs that will have you hooked instantly, huge guitar solos and a chorus so infectious it’s impossible to escape its grip. Taking no prisoners, accepting no alibis: wear your heart on your sleeve.
video by Úlfur E. Arnalds
Recorded and engineered by Leifur Örn Kaldal and Þorsteinn Gunnar Friðriksson (Une Misère) at Veldið Studio; Drums recorded by Benjamin Bent Árnason (Une Misère); Darkly illustrated by David Demeret & Heresie Studio (Imperium Dekadenz); FFO: Code Orange, Jesus Piece, Zulu, End, Slipknot, God Forbid, Cancer Bats;
“Altar Of Instant Gratification” will be released in the following formats:
jewel case CD
vinyl LP
digital
“Altar Of Instant Gratification” showcases relentless musicianship amidst the calculated chaos of crushing metallic riffs, frantic tempos, punishing breakdowns and the lyrical rage of hardcore punk.
The main theme of the Reykjavik’s band is the ever present feeling that Planet Earth is falling to pieces: most people are too busy in childish pursuits of instant gratifications and avoiding pain to embrace the fact that the world has become a bleak hardcore place!
To strive in it, you must be willing to show courage, think critically for yourself and don’t buy into dogmatic truths – hold yourself accountable and stay true.
This ain’t no record for fainted hearts, indeed.
“Altar Of Instant Gratification” tracklist: 1 Intro 2 Caved In 3 Dragged Across Concrete 4 Instant Gratification 5 Waste From Birth 6 Scarfaced Blues 7 Doctrine 8 20th Century Doom 9 Anomic Suicide 10 Open Casket 11 Only Dead Fish Follow The Stream
Duft: Alexander – vocals Andrés – guitar Gummi – guitar Viktor – bass Mikael – drums
Irish folk-metal pioneers Cruachan release new single ‘Talamh‘, their second song contender to represent Ireland in Eurovision. Last year they released their song “The Blacksmith”, a contender for Eurovision and now they release another song written for Eurovision. Cruachan wanted to show their Irish roots and highlight the growing Irish folk-metal genre. On May 7th, the contest will reveal who gets to represent Ireland in Eurovision Song Contest which coincides with Cruachan is releasing their new single ‘Talamh‘ through Despotz Records.
Quote from Keith Fay on ‘Talamh’:
“We thought it would be an adventure if it happened but alas, it was not meant to be. It doesn’t matter as we have two unique Cruachan songs to share with our fans while we write album number ten, last years ‘The Blacksmith’ and now ‘Talamh’. Talamh was written as though Ireland herself had a voice and was speaking of her tumultuous history. It is a lively song, on one hand mournful and on the other, hopeful. It will forever represent a ‘what if?’ to us and here we now share it with our fans.”
Ireland’s Cruachan have enjoyed a storied career since they took those tentative first steps back in 1992. As frontman and sole original member Keith Fay elaborates; ‘When I started writing music as a 13-year-old, I had no idea that I was laying the foundations for what would become a brand-new genre, Folk Metal, or that I was planting the seeds of what would be one of the longest running Irish metal bands in history. There have been many ups and downs over the last thirty years, band members have come and gone, record deals have come and gone. We’ve played some of the biggest metal festivals on the planet, travelled to more countries than most Irish bands would ever dream possible.
More about Cruachan: A man whose vision and passion for his band has never wavered in the ensuing three decades, Cruachan’s place in, not only in metal history, but that of Ireland’s musical landscape, has been hard earned and hard fought. But Fay was always confident that he and the band would always deliver. About their latest album he said:
“This album had to be good. No, it had to be better than good. This had to be the best Cruachan album ever made. I faced a decision in 2020, in the middle of the pandemic, when three band members left the band. ‘Do I call it a day? or do I press on with the mammoth task of replacing everyone’. There was no real decision to be made, I worked way too hard over the years to allow Cruachan to fizzle out. I had been writing some of the best music of my career in recent years. I secured a record deal with a label (Sweden’s Despotz Records) that understood exactly what Cruachan and my vision is”
Since forming the band in 1992, it’s been Keith Fay’s singular vision that has steered the band for nearly thirty years. Appearing originally under the moniker Minas Tirith the band’s focus on Irish history and mythology prompted a change to more suitable Cruachan. The band’s blend of Irish folk music and metal was unique and in late ’93, their demo ‘Celtica‘ soon landed the band their first record deal with Nazguls Eyrie Productions. The first fruits of this endeavour was the band’s cult classic debut album, ‘Tuatha Na Gael‘, which hit the shelves in 1995 to critical acclaim. The band began to draw admiring glances from a number of bigger labels, but none suited the band’s ambition. They eventually signed with Hammerheart records and released ‘The Middle Kingdom‘ in 1999. ‘The Middle Kingdom‘ record saw the band make their first international live appearances. Their third album ‘Folk-lore‘ was produced by and featured the unmistakable vocals of The Pogues legend Shane MacGowan on ‘Ride On‘ which was a surprise hit single in Ireland. Subsequent releases, including ‘Pagan‘ and ‘Blood on the Black Robe‘ saw the band join up with AFM and Candlelight records and led to Cruachan hitting some of the biggest festival stages, including; Hellfest and 70, 000 Tonnes of Metal (where they became one of the few bands to ever perform three sets, one of which featured Gwar vocalist Kim Dyalla as special guest), as well as their own ‘25th Anniversary’ show in Ireland.
After a few tumultuous years band leader Keith Fay observes; “A number of long-term members chose to leave the band, but that prompted a time of rebirth for the band and it has only been a positive thing.” Despite the upheaval behind the scenes, one thing has never faltered; and that is Keith’s passion for folk and metal music, and Cruachan’s unique way of bringing the two together.
Cruachan is: Keith Fay – vocal, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, banjo, bouzouki, mandolin, keyboard, Bodhrán Audrey Trainor – Violin, Vviola, cello Dave Quinn – electric guitar Joe Farrell – Bass Tom Woodlock – Drums, percussion, hand clapping
Music and lyrics by Keith Fay Recorded, produced and mixed by Michael Richards in Trackmix Studios, Dublin, Ireland
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 ) 