Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

VON GROOVE Share New Single + Visualizer ‘Fearless’ from Upcoming Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 18, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: VON GROOVE. Leave a comment

Hard rockers VON GROOVE are proud to share their new single, “Fearless,”taken from their upcoming new album ‘Born To Rock,’ set for release on May 15, 2026via Frontiers Music Srl. “Fearless” marks the second track released from the new album and arrives alongside an official visualizer, available below.

Guitarist Mladen comments on the new single:

“‘Fearless’ is a battle cry. It’s about refusing to back down, trusting your instincts, and stepping into your power. This song is classic VON GROOVE, big riffs, big hooks, and a message that hits you straight in the chest.”

He continues, “We wrote ‘Fearless’ as a reminder to ourselves and to our fans that the only way forward is with courage. When life knocks you down, you get back up and you keep on fighting.”

VON GROOVE triumphantly returns with a jaw-dropping new album that reunites the classic original lineup: Mladen on guitars, Michael Shotton on drums and vocals, and Matthew Gerrard on bass. This isn’t just a comeback, it’s a resurrection!

Marking their first studio release since 2001, the album feels like it was born in the same fire as their legendary 1992 debut. The opening title-track, “Born To Rock,” explodes with the same urgency and swagger as their iconic “Once Is Not Enough” — even quoting it with a subtle nod that will send chills down the spine of longtime fans.

True to their roots, VON GROOVE delivers a masterclass in melodic hard rock, with blazing guitars, soaring vocals, and airtight arrangements. The production is punchy and alive, but the soul of the record is pure 90s AOR glory.

Even more exciting? VON GROOVE will be returning to the stage in 2026, bringing their renewed fire and timeless sound back to live audiences for the first time in years.

Pre-Order ‘Born To Rock’ HERE

‘Born To Rock’ Track List:

1. Born To Rock
2. Fearless
3. Champion
4. Adrenaline
5. Angela
6. Undefeated
7. Do It All Over Again
8. Heart Of Forgiveness
9. Dreams
10. Waiting For The Sky To Fall
11. Always Endlessly

Founded in 1990, VON GROOVE quickly made their mark on the Melodic Hard Rock scene. Their 1992 self-titled debut, produced by Richie Zito and featuring Deen Castronovo (later of Journey) on session drums, remains a cornerstone of the genre. Over the years, they’ve delivered fan-favorite albums like ‘Mission Man’ (‘Chameleon’ in Europe), ‘Test of Faith,’ and ‘The Seventh Day.’ Despite going on hiatus in 2001, the members stayed active, collaborating with rock legends and contributing to major projects across genres.

After 20+ years, VON GROOVE is making their epic comeback!

VON GROOVE are:
Mladen — Guitars
Michael Shotton — Drums, Vocals
Matthew Gerrard — Bass

FOLLOW VON GROOVE:
Facebook

Guitar Player Magazine Praises the Finnish Guitarist-Musician-Producer JIMMY WESTERLUND, Who Joined Legendary GIANT

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 18, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: JIMMY WESTERLUND. Leave a comment

After more than 25 years of writing, producing, and shaping music for his various band projects and other artists, Jimmy Westerlund has risen to the ranks of the world’s guitar stars. The world’s leading guitar magazine, Guitar Player, has just published an extensive feature praising Westerlund’s skills and style, and has also invited the Finnish guitarist to join its masterclass video series, where Westerlund reveals the secrets behind his playing.

“When Jason Sidwell called me, I first thought it was a prank call – there’s no way Guitar Player would call me! But he was convinced that the story had to be told: how some random guy from Finland ended up in Giant,” Westerlund says.

Westerlund’s name has been gaining recognition for years through his work with major artists trough Warner Music and Sony. His latest major role is as guitarist, producer, and songwriter in the current lineup of legendary American band Giant, stepping into the shoes of Dann Huff on the album Stand and Deliver.

Westerlund has also previously appeared on Escape Music owner Khalil Turk’s solo album TURKISH DELIGHT III, alongside internationally renowned rock musicians such as Marty Friedman, Glenn Hughes, James LaBrie, Billy Sheehan, Vinny Appice, and Ian Paice.

Guitar Player’s Jason Sidwell was particularly impressed by how Westerlund’s playing captures the essence of classic ’80s guitar heroes – even more so, stylistically, than many of them today.

“This is the music I’ve lived and breathed since I was a kid, and I don’t think I would’ve been ready for this ten years ago. I also want to sincerely thank Jason for the support he’s given me through all of this.”

The Guitar Player feature explores the legacy of melodic ’80s guitar tradition, placing Westerlund alongside names like Steve Lukather and Neal Schon.

“It feels like a huge recognition to be acknowledged by such an institution in the guitar world.”

Known as a go-to producer for multiple bands, Westerlund has also ventured beyond classic melodic rock during his career. One notable example is Game On, co-written with Pitbull, which served as the mascot song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The Listen Up! album featuring the track reached No. 1 on Billboard’s World Music chart in the U.S. and remained on the chart for 14 weeks. The same album included Shakira’s Waka Waka. Altogether, music written and produced by Westerlund has amassed over 200 million streams worldwide.

Looking ahead, Westerlund will continue working as a solo artist while also focusing on producing and songwriting primarily for international artists. In addition, Westerlund plans to share his expertise in melodic rock guitar through clinics, live performances, and his newly launched YouTube channel, where upcoming Guitar Player masterclass episodes will also be published.

At the same time, stepping out from behind the scenes into the spotlight as a solo artist feels both exciting and slightly surreal for Westerlund.

“I feel this is a clear turning point in my career. After decades of being ‘the other guy in the background’ – a role I’ve also truly enjoyed – creating my own music with my own voice is both a risk and exactly what I need to stay inspired,” he says.

More information: INSTAGRAM | YOUTUBE | FACEBOOK

STITCHED UP HEART Release New Single + Video ‘Cannibal’, Feat. Heidi Shepherd

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 18, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: STITCHED UP HEART. Leave a comment

Los Angeles rock band Stitched Up Heart have unleashed their new single “Cannibal,” featuring Heidi Shepherd of Butcher Babies, out now via Judge & Jury Records. The track is a powerful collaboration between two incredible women in modern heavy music. Alecia ‘Mixi’ Demner and Heidi Shepherd deliver a fierce vocal performance that celebrates strength, attitude, and the unapologetic presence of women in the rock and metal scene. The single arrives alongside a brand new music video, capturing the electrifying chemistry between Mixi and Heidi as the two powerhouse vocalists.

“‘CANNIBAL’ is a song for the man-eaters; to all of the baddies stealing hearts and eating them for breakfast,” says Mixi.

She continues, “I was at Butcher Babies very first show. Crammed on the stairs at a dive bar on the sunset strip. Heidi hurled this wrecked Barbie into the crowd. Hair hacked off, totally mangled. I caught it. Looking back at that moment it felt like she’d passed me a torch. ‘Hey girl, let’s conquer this industry together.’ Years later, we’re still at it cheering each other on from the sidelines. Collaborating on this song together is such a fulfilling moment.”

Shepherd adds, “I’ve been a big fan of Mixi and Stitched Up Heart for nearly 2 decades. We’ve clawed our way through this industry together, and had each other’s back when no one else did. After all of these years, it’s so fitting that ‘Cannibal’ is the song that we finally get to SCREAM together! This song is so fun, and has quickly become one of my favorite collabs that I’ve been a part of. You can tell by the video that we had an absolute blast making it. I can’t wait to see what else SUH has in store of us fans in the future!”

In 2025, the band inked a deal with Judge and Jury Records and their fourth full-length album Medusa will be available on June 12. The band is currently on tour with Sebastian Bach and will be out supporting Infected Rain this summer.

Beyond the stage, Mixi continues to use her platform to advocate for more women in rock and metal while actively volunteering with multiple animal rescue organizations throughout Southern California.

STREAM “Cannibal”: https://ffm.to/suhcannibal

WATCH Stitched Up Heart – CANNIBAL (feat. Butcher Babies) Official Music Video:

For tour dates until 4/10/26. Each VIP pass is only good for 1 person. Each VIP pass will include:

1 SUH t-shirt
1 SUH poster,
Photo(s) with the band
30 min VIP hangout with the band
Limited VIP passes available.

Purchase Link

Stitched Up Heart on Tour with Sebastian Bach

Mar 18 @ Marion Cultural and Civic Center in Marion, IL
Mar 20 @ Mr. Smalls Theater, Funhouse & Cafe in Millvale, PA
Mar 22 @ Wally’s in Hampton, NH
Mar 24 @ Empire Live in Albany, NY
Mar 25 @ Capital City Music Hall in Harrisburg, PA
Mar 26 @ Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ
Mar 27 @ Tally Ho Theater in Leesburg, VA
Mar 28 @ Radio Room in Greenville, SC
Mar 29 @ Music Farm in Charleston, SC
Mar 31 @ FIVE in Jacksonville, FL
Apr 2 @ Capt Hiram’s Resort in Sebastian, FL
Apr 3 @ Ferg’s Sports Bar & Grill in St. Petersburg, FL
Apr 4 @ Club LA in Destin, FL
Apr 6 @ Cannery Club in Nashville, TN
Apr 8 @ The Vanguard in Tulsa, OK

Stitched Up Heart on Tour with Infected Rain

May 4 @ Jake’s Sport’s Cafe and Backroom in Lubbock, TX
May 5 @ Come and Take It Live in Austin, TX
May 6 @ Club Dada in Dallas, TX
May 12 @ Purgatory at the Masquerade in Atlanta, GA
May 13 @ Hangar 1819 in Greensboro, NC
May 14 @ Scandals in Virginia Beach, VA
May 16 @ Underground Arts in Philadelphia, PA
May 17 @ Mercury Lounge in New York, NY
May 20 @ Montage Music Hall in Rochester, NY
May 21 @ The Winchester in Lakewood, OH
May 22 @ The King of Clubs in Columbus, OH
May 23 @ The Token Lounge in Westland, MI
May 24 @ The Forge in Joliet, IL
May 26 @ The Roxy in Denver, CO
May 27 @ Metro Music Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah
May 29 @ El Corazon in Seattle, WA
May 30 @ Dantes in Portland, OR
Jun 2 @ The Ritz in San Jose, CA
Jun 3 @ Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA
Jun 4 @ Brick By Brick in San Diego, CA
Jun 5 @ The Rosetta Room in Mesa, AZ
Jun 6 @ Swan Dive in Las Vegas, NV

Stitched Up Heart is a Los Angeles-based rock band formed in 2010 by powerhouse vocalist Alecia “Mixi” Demner, blending heavy riffs, anthemic choruses, and introspective lyrics. Signed to Another Century Records since 2015, they’ve released three full-length albums—“Never Alone” (2016), “Darkness” (2019), and “To the Wolves” (2023)—with the latter featuring collaborations like “Lost” with Godsmack’s Sully Erna.

Judge & Jury (Howard Benson, multi platinum producer and Neil Sanderson, drummer & songwriter of Three Days Grace) have a large following after years of success in the music industry and offer huge promotional, production, and songwriting assets.

For More Information Please Visit: Official Website – Facebook – Instagram – TikTok – YouTube – Spotify – Judge & Jury Records

MELECHESH Unveil New Single ‘In Shadows, In Light’ from Upcoming EP

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 18, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: MELECHESH. Leave a comment

International Mesopotamian metal pioneers MELECHESH have unveiled their new single, “In Shadows, In Light,” taken from the band’s forthcoming digital EP Sentinels Of Shamash, scheduled for release on April 10th via Reigning Phoenix Music.

“In Shadows, In Light” continues MELECHESH’s tradition of weaving esoteric philosophy, ancient symbolism, and relentless sonic power into a singular musical experience. The track explores hidden cosmic knowledge and the subtle forces shaping perception and reality.

Speaking about the song, the band comments:
“‘In Shadows, In Light’ explores cosmic knowledge hidden in plain sight — parallel dimensions, sacred geometry, and veiled currents of existence revealed only through perception. Drawing on esoteric and Kabalistic thought, the song moves between concealment and revelation.

Structured as a journey with shifting acts and moods, it unfolds through tension, release, and transformation. Each passage reveals another layer of vision, where shadow and illumination coexist, and the unseen becomes ‘felt’ rather than explained.”

Musically, the track embodies MELECHESH’s hallmark fusion of blackened thrash, Middle Eastern scales, and hypnotic rhythmic patterns, guiding listeners through an evolving sonic landscape that mirrors the song’s philosophical themes. From atmospheric passages to ferocious riffs, “In Shadows, In Light” reflects the band’s ongoing exploration of myth, mysticism, and consciousness.

“In Shadows, In Light” was produced by Ashmedi and co-produced by Rob Caggiano and Kristian “Kohle” Kohlmannslehner. Bass lines and backing vocals on “In Shadows, In Light” were recorded by Rob Caggiano, who also contributed rearrangements. Drums were performed by Nikitas Mandolas, with engineering and mixing and mastering by Kristian “Kohle” Kohlmannslehner, and engineering and tracking by Daniel Claar.

Sentinels Of Shamash stands as a ceremonial descent into ancient law, fire, and cosmic vigilance. Drawing from Mesopotamian myth and the solar judgment of Shamash, god of truth and justice, MELECHESH crafts an offering steeped in divine wrath and esoteric order. Each composition unfolds like a sacred inscription, invoking forgotten gods, fallen kings, and the eternal tension between chaos and balance.

Through commanding riffs, relentless rhythms, and a sonic architecture that bridges ancient cosmology with modern extremity, Sentinels Of Shamash delivers a mythological statement rooted in fire, judgment, ruin, and restoration. The sentinels stand eternal guard over fate itself.

Pre-Save Sentinels Of Shamash HERE: https://melechesh.rpm.link/sos

Sentinels Of Shamash Tracklist:
1. The Seventh Verdict
2. In Shadows, In Light
3. Raptors of Anzu

About MELECHESH:

MELECHESH was formed in 1993 in Jerusalem with the intent to forge what the band defines as Mesopotamian Metal. Rooted in black metal and thrash, their sound draws deeply from Sumerian and Mesopotamian mythology, cosmic and occult themes, and incorporates Mediterranean and Middle Eastern musical elements into an extreme metal framework. Over the decades, MELECHESH has evolved into an international musical and cultural phenomenon, known for its distinct identity, scholarly mythological focus, and uncompromising artistic vision. The band remains a singular force within extreme metal, standing apart through both concept and sound.

Connect With MELECHESH:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melecheshofficial
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melechesh_official
Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Melechesh
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MelecheshOfficial
Bandcamp: https://melechesh.bandcamp.com
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1xT4Y7Qz2nJ6TP2PzefRgS
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/melechesh/2912018
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/11971

Experimetal Soundscapist AMULETS Streams New Single ‘Coiled’, Feat. Patrick Shiroshi

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 18, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: AMULETS. Leave a comment

Amulets, created by Portland-based audio/visual artist Randall Taylor, has unveiled their new single ‘Coiled’, featuring multi-instrumentialist Patrick Shiroishi. This is the second taken from new EP Rem(a)inders, out 10th April via Pelagic Records.

Stream and pre-order here: https://orcd.co/amulets-remainders

Against a hazy analogue backdrop, ambient guitars reverberate and echo through the sonic landscape, creating a sensation of weightlessness that is both calming and unsettling. Melancholic and soaring, ‘Black Sheep’ evokes a presence of isolation and longing in the emptiness. Through patient unfolding, this minimalist, poignant atmosphere raises in intensity, deliberate in its unhurried movement, leaving room for each sound to breathe, evolve, and fade into the next.

Amulets’ new album Rema(i)nders marks his debut on Pelagic Records, a fitting home for a record that thrives in the liminal space between heaviness and fragility. Deeply immersive, the album navigates the dreamy boundaries between the tangible and the ethereal, where sound behaves as memory itself: unstable, layered, and quietly transformative.

Randall Taylor‘s work uses analog tape and its imperfections to explore themes like degradation and nostalgia and their relationship to technology and to the self. By constructing and modifying tape loops and repurposing antiquated cassette players, Taylor creates dense, never-ending, looping soundscapes for both his live performances and sculptural sound art installations.

Known for his ability to weave soundscapes that evoke powerful emotions with minimalistic instrumentation, Taylor’s newest project is a masterful exploration of mood, atmosphere, and texture.

Taylor commented: “Rema(i)nders started as a fragmented collection of songs, memories, ideas, and feelings that I wanted to mash and warp together beyond recognition. What I ended up creating was a beautiful mosaic of texture and light in this darkening world. To remain is to remind. To remind is to remain.”

Track list:

01 – Paths of Acceptance
02 – Former Shells
03 – Coiled (ft. Patrick Shiroishi)
04 – Black Sheep
05 – Slow Motion_Somnia
06 – RemainRemind

Amulets online:
https://www.instagram.com/amuletsmusic
https://www.facebook.com/amuletsamulets

IRA to Release New Album “Demopathy” on March 27th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 18, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: IRA. Leave a comment

With “Demopathy” set for release next 27th March via Punishment 18 Records, technical death metaller IRA have revealed the album’s final tracklist. The record will feature eight tracks, starting with “Intro” and moving through titles such as “Obsessive Attraction,” “The Darkest Side” and “Social Deathwork” for an outcome made of pure violence.

01. Intro
02. Obsessive Attraction
03. The Darkest Side
04. Cynic
05. Phobos Realm
06. Social Deathwork
07. Other Dimension of Reality
08. Forlon and Angry