KINGCROW Release Acoustic Version of ‘New Moon Harvest’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 21, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Riccardo Nifosì

Italian progressive rock band Kingcrow are releasing an acoustic version of “New Moon Harvest”, a song from their latest critically-acclaimed album Hopium. The acoustic version is available now on all digital streaming platforms.

The acoustic version of “New Moon Harvest” scales the song down to its core, allowing the melody and lyrical weight to carry it. The video was filmed in a treehouse with the full Kringcrow lineup, capturing the performance in an intimate, stripped-back setting that contrasts with the atmospheric density of Hopium.

Hopium is out now on Season of Mist. Order & stream: https://orcd.co/kingcrowhopium

Hopium draws on progressive rock, ambient music, alternative rock and trip-hop, with references that span from Porcupine Tree and Radiohead to Leprous, Archive and Massive Attack. Within the album, “New Moon Harvest” is caught in the tension between the search for one’s inner self and the outside pressures from everyday life.

Tracklist:
1. Kintsugi (3:53)
2. Glitch (3:56)
3. Parallel Lines (6:46)
4. New Moon Harvest (3:30)
5. Losing Game (5:28)
6. White Rabbit’s Hole (6:55)
7. Night Drive (5:48)
8. Vicious Circle (4:21)
9. Hopium (8:24)
10. Come Through (Bonus Track) (4:21)
Total runtime: 53:27

Cover Art by Devilnax

The first incarnation of the band  was originally founded in Rome, Italy, by brothers Diego Cafolla (guitars) and Manuel Thundra Cafolla (drums) under the name of “Earth Shaker”.

Inspired by Edgar Allan Poe’s poem “Raven” and driven by a will of change, the band’s name was soon altered into KINGCROW and a couple of self-produced demos/albums where recorded under the KINGCROW moniker : Something Unknown(2001), Insider (2004) and Timetropia (2006).

In the early months of 2010 the band finished recording their new album “Phlegethon” that was released in June of the same year under the “Scarlet Records” label.

It was considered on an international level as a relevant masterpiece and was classed as one of the elite progressive metal albums of the year. It has been near the top of the “album of the year” charts in some international prog-rock websites. Phlegethon promotion lasted for about two years and a half.

During the same year, the band recorded the new album “In Crescendo” that was released in February 2013 by the American label “Sensory Records.

The band toured  along with Pain Of Salvation in North America  in April and May, 2013. In 2015 the band released the album “Eidos” and toured Europe as Headliners. Meanwhile KINGCROW signed a management deal with GlassVille Music, house of very well known progressive acts like Pain Of Salvation and Riverside among others.

The band recorded the new album titled “The Persistence”.

The album was released on September 7th via Sensory Records and received great reviews and ended on a lot of “best of 2018” lists on magazines and webzines.

The upcoming album “Hopium” marks another step forward in pushing boundaries remarking the restless progressive  attitude of the band in incorporating countless influences into a personal sound.

Describing the band today is quite a difficult task, but one could state that the influence of different kinds of music, from progressive rock , ambient music, alternative rock and metal are all present in the music of KINGCROW.

With each release KINGCROW has taken a step further away from their original roots and is regarded today as one of the most exciting bands that Italy has to offer.

Line-up:
Diego Marchesi – Vocals
Diego Cafolla – Guitars, Keys, Backing Vocals
Ivan Nastasi – Guitars, Backing Vocals
Riccardo Nifosì – Bass, Backing Vocals
Thundra – Drums, Percussions

Recording Studio:
Sound Under Pressure (Rome, Italy)

Production Credits:
Produced by Diego Cafolla & Thundra Cafolla
Sound Engineer – Diego Cafolla

Mixed by Giampiero Ulacco at Holofram Studios (Francavilla al Mare, Italy)
Mastered by Marco Vannucci at Spitfire Mastering Studio (Italy)

Cover Art: Devilnax

Follow Kingcrow:
Official Website: https://www.kingcrow.it/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Kingcrowband
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingcrow_official/
Twitter: http://twitter.com/KingcrowBand
Bandcamp: https://kingcrow1.bandcamp.com/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3nnSgQo8TIgiO5M5pv3mlV
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/kingcrow/594989536
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/1002506
TIDAL: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/6519112

CRIPPLE BASTARDS to Unleash New EP “La tua foto sul marmo” on June 12th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 21, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

CRIPPLE BASTARDS are set to release their brand new EP “La tua foto sul marmo” on June 12, 2026 via F.O.A.D. Records.

While the format might suggest a minor release, this record stands as a remarkably significant statement from the Italian veterans. Showcasing an impressive range of new facets, the EP delivers fresh and compelling songwriting – no small feat for a band with decades of history behind them.

The name CRIPPLE BASTARDS has always been synonymous with uncompromising hate-fueled grind, yet these new tracks reveal intriguing developments: frequent tempo shifts, dynamic structures and a guitar work that, alongside the expected sonic assault, ventures into more subtle and suspenseful territories. Moments of tension and unpredictability keep the listener constantly on edge, wondering what will come next.

The music was recorded by Stefano Santi at SPVN Studio, while vocals were tracked by Carlo Altobelli at Toxic Basement Studio, with mixing and mastering also handled by Stefano Santi.

“La tua foto sul marmo” ultimately stands as a powerful manifesto of the unrelenting hunger that still drives this legendary band forward.

The trailer of the first single, “L’era della dispersione“, is now streaming HERE.

Tracklist:

01. Il respiro si chiude
02. Scarto del rimorso
03. Vendicativo
04. La tua foto sul marmo
05. L’era della dispersione
06. Ai confini di quel che puoi dire

Formed in March 1988 in Asti, northern Italy, CRIPPLE BASTARDS are one of the longest-running and most respected names in extreme underground music. What began as a raw collaboration between teenage misfits Giulio the Bastard and Alberto the Crippler quickly evolved into something far greater: a project rooted in the legacy of Italian hardcore acts like Negazione, Raw Power and Wretched, but pushed to new extremes through the emerging language of grindcore and noisecore.

After building a fierce reputation through demos, splits, and relentless DIY activity in the late ’80s and early ’90s, the band achieved global cult status, so much so that not knowing them almost feels like having lived under a rock. Their legacy is ultimately defined by a series of uncompromising full-length albums that shaped their identity and influence across decades.

Their debut album “Your Lies in Check” (1996) marked their official arrival on the international stage, followed by the highly acclaimed “Misantropo a senso unico” (2000), which further refined their bleak, nihilistic vision. The final breakthrough came with “Desperately Insensitive” (2003): widely distributed and repeatedly repressed, it became their best-selling record, surpassing 10,000 copies – an exceptional achievement in the grindcore world.

The band continued to evolve with “Variante alla morte” (2008), recorded in Sweden’s famed Studio Fredman, and “Frammenti di vita” (2010), a release that pays tribute to the Italian hardcore roots that inspired them. A major milestone followed with their signing to Relapse Records, which released “Nero in metastasi” (2014), a mature and devastating work that expanded their global reach even further. Their seventh full-length, “La fine cresce da dentro” (2018), confirmed a band still pushing forward creatively after three decades.

Beyond the studio, CRIPPLE BASTARDS have built an unmatched live reputation, playing hundreds of shows worldwide across Europe, the United States, Japan, Brazil, and Australia. They have shared stages with genre-defining acts and have appeared at major underground festivals such as Neurotic Deathfest, Brutal Assault, Obscene Extreme and Maryland Deathfest, among many others, earning the utmost respect from veterans of the extreme music scene.

Today, CRIPPLE BASTARDS are not just an Italian institution but a global cult phenomenon. Their enduring influence, uncompromising visio, and relentless activity have secured them a legendary status that transcends borders. An essential name in grindcore history that continues to inspire new generations worldwide.

“In being a surviving unit like Cripple Bastards for some 35+ odd years, it takes much persistance, perseverance and an undying spirit to wreck yourself, all out with Brutal-Fucking-Grind. Yeah, I said it. I said Brutal, so what. Brutal. That’s the supposed overused adjective that most ‘heavy’ band bios and descriptions overlook nowadays for fear of oversaturation or an unoriginal ‘old school’ repetitiveness. Thats the one word in the dictionary that C.B. should have fucking copywritten a long time ago. It fits them. It defines them. It IS them. Cripple Bastards are indelibly BRUTAL. In all ways; music, violence, artwork, attitude, politics. All born of this represenatitive and passionately destructive word. The mere fact that C.B. even exist confirms they OWN the goddamn word. C.B. are B-R-U-T-A-L. Understand it NOW. “

(Mike IX Williams, EyeHateGod / Arson Anthem / Outlaw Order 00%)

Line-up:

Giulio The Bastard – Vocals
Schintu The Wretched – Bass
Der Kommissar – Guitar
Raphael Saini – Drums

https://www.cripple-bastards.com/
https://www.facebook.com/cripplebastards
https://www.instagram.com/cripple_bastards/

PARALLEL MINDS Release New Single ‘Sekigahara’ with Official Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 20, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Regis Demirci

With “Cairn” album, PARALLEL MINDS deliver their most ambitious and mature work to date. This modern, dense, and finely crafted album combines power, emotion, and technical mastery to explore a universal theme:
the human condition in the face of collective suffering.

Musically, the album shines with its versatility:
from sharp, aggressive prog metal in “Sufero,” reminiscent of Symphony X, to uncompromising Testament-like thrash fury in “Fear Is The Pandemic,” to the epic grandeur of Blind Guardian-esque anthems like ‘Sekigahara’ and “Troubles.”

Each song by the French band opens a window to a country, a culture.
Thus, “Cairn” brings together a whole range of artists from all over the world:
the tribal and spiritual intensity of Arka’n Asrafokor and Silveira Lakoélé Atalawoè (Togo) alongside leading names from the French scene such as Asylum Pyre, Muhurta, and Stone Horns create a sound of rare richness and depth.

The band itself says:
“‘Step into feudal Japan with ‘Sekigahara’, our new track inspired by one of the most decisive battles in history. Blending epic tension with relentless energy, the song captures the intensity of war and the spirit of honor-bound warriors.
Razor-sharp riffs, blazing rhythms, and soaring melodies in the vein of Blind Guardian, ‘Sekigahara’ is a full-on sonic assault: fast, powerful, and immersive. Prepare to enter the battlefield!”

“Cairn“
▶ Full-length album ◀
🗓️ March 10, 2026
Label: Independent

⫸ Order  🛒
⫸ Streaming
⫸ Bandcamp

TRACKS
01. Cairn 01:31 ft Johann & Lu [Asylum Pyre]
📺 02. Sufero 05:14 ft Johann & Lu [Asylum Pyre]
03. Orishas 07:39 ft Rock [Arka’n Asrafokor] & Lakoélé Atalawoé
04.Bhopal 05:41 ft Mathieu Gehin [Muhurta])
05. Trails Of Tears 09:14 ft Michael Rose
📺 06. Sekigahara 06:28
07. Troubles 07:28
08.Colonias 03:56 ft Aileen & Gabriel Fradet
09. On Both Sides 09:22
10. Fear Is The Pandemic 04:38 ft DevF [Stone Horns]

total: 61:11 min.

The band itself says about the new album:
“‘Cairn’ was conceived as a true acoustic and visual journey and features first-class audio production and a carefully crafted visual identity. The first music video has already been released, with more to follow, expanding this immersive experience in which each song becomes a fragment of a larger story, a stone added to the monument.
At the heart of this album is the symbol of the cairn – those piles of stones left behind by travelers on their journey, a metaphor for building oneself up stone by stone and leaving a trail for those who come after. ‘Cairn’ is much more than an album. It is a comprehensive sensory experience. A celebration of human resilience. And a call to build our own cairns – so that we never lose our way.”

PARALLEL MINDS • CONCERT DATES
26/06 • Galem Fest (headline) • France
03/07 • Thusy French Alps HS Fest • France
tba

[ Dates » ]

LINE-UP
Steph Fradet • Vocals
Greg Giraudo • Guitars
Fabien Peugeot • Bass
Eric Mannella • Drums

More info: https://parallelmindsofficial.com

UK Rocker DAN BYRNE Unveils New Lyric Video ‘Home’ from Upcoming Debut LP

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 20, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Rob Blackham

Hotly-tipped UK rocker Dan Byrne has unveiled his new single ‘Home’, another glimpse of his highly-anticipated debut record This Is Where the Show Begins (22nd May, Frontiers).

Stream ‘Home’ and pre-order the album here: https://ffm.bio/thisiswheretheshowbegins

Dan comments: “‘Home” closes the album on a grand and emotional scale. Musically, it’s vast – cinematic guitars, soaring vocals, and a sense of release that makes it feel like the light breaking through at the end of a storm. Lyrically, ‘Home’ is about connection that transcends distance, the kind of love that grounds you no matter how far you roam. It was born out of life on the road: hotel rooms, long drives, and late nights spent under unfamiliar skies, but knowing that somewhere out there, the person you love is looking up at the same stars.

“No matter how far away I am, my partner is my home. We might be on opposite sides of the world, but we’re still under the same sky, the same stars, the same universe. Home is about sitting with the weight of loneliness and finding comfort in the thought that someone is part of you, even when they’re not near. It’s a song about peace, belonging, and gratitude.

As the final song on the record, Home acts as the emotional resolution to everything that’s come before: the end of the storm, if you will. After exploring conflict, self-sabotage, anger, and pain across the album, this song represents acceptance, stillness, and clarity. It’s a love letter, a homecoming, and a moment of still light in the aftermath of noise.

Home is where the journey finally lands – not in a place, but in a person.”

The single follows Dan’s triumphant headline tour, with nearly every date sold out. He follows this with an acoustic record store tour. Dates:

May 22 Glasgow Assai Records (Matinee)
May 22 Edinburgh Assai Records (Evening)
May 23 Newcastle Beyond Vinyl (Matinee)
May 23 Bury Wax & Beans (Evening)
May 24 Sheffield Arundel Emporium (Matinee)
May 24 Oxford Truck (Evening)
May 25 Portsmouth Pie & Vinyl (Matinee)
May 25 Swansea Derricks (Evening)
May 26 London Fighting Cocks (Evening)
May 27 Nantwich Applestump Records (Matinee)
May 27 Leeds Crash Records (Evening)

May 28 Liverpool Jacaranda (full electric show, playing album in full)

Dan will also be performing at Steelhouse Festival on 25th July.

Dan Byrne swept in off the Mersey, announcing himself as a solo artist in 2023 with his debut EP, Beginnings. His powerhouse, soul-inflected vocal and deftly-executed, yet hugely accessible songcraft has quickly marked him out as an artist on the rise. Blending contemporary edge with classic influence, Byrne’s music is powerful, honest, and deeply emotive – widescreen in scope yet intimate at its core. It rocks, without question, but what truly sets him apart is the courage to weave sensitivity and vulnerability through the intensity. This isn’t just rock music – it has the heart and authenticity to connect with an audience beyond any one genre.

In just two years Dan has toured the UK three times, delivered standout performances at multiple festivals and found overwhelming support from Planet Rock – the UK’s leading rock station – where his first four singles amassed an impressive 25 weeks on the playlist. With that foundation firmly in place, Byrne now turns his focus to the release of his long-awaited debut solo album, marking the next powerful step in his evolution as an artist.

This Is Where The Show Begins – Dan’s debut album – is full of joy and confidence. There’s a swagger alongside the sensitivity, a further broadening of musical scope. But at the centre of it, is that voice –  as powerful as it is vulnerable, as emotive as it is strong.

The lead single, ‘Saviour’ – the perfect album opener – bursts to life with attention-grabbing hard-rock stabs and pile-driving riffs. Its verses simmer with drama before the tension breaks in a chorus that makes it clear we’re in for one hell of a ride. It struts, it shimmies and it absolutely rocks. “Light ’em up,” indeed. There’s no let up as we barrel headlong into ‘She’s the Devil’ – Dan weighing in with a colossal vocal punctured by gonzo guitar gymnastics, the sheer euphoria spilling forth here is palpable.

Elsewhere, we’re taken to church with ‘Praise Hell’, and ‘Sober’ is stained with regret. We even perhaps get a glimpse of where Byrne is heading next with album closer ‘Home’ – a sprawling, soaring, shapeshifting piece of alt-rock which essentially is never in danger of losing its soul. It’s what Glenn Hughes and 30 Seconds To Mars might come up if they ever combined their superpowers.
This Is Where The Show Begins is the culmination of what has been an incredible journey so far. It’s a marker for what can happen when you back yourself, a calling card for following your gut. Bursting with ambition, diversity and authenticity, this is where it may truly begin for Dan, the exciting thing for us to ponder is where it should lead to next.

Tracklisting:
1. Saviour
2. She’s The Devil
3. Praise Hell
4. Sober
5. Cherry & Leather
6. Death Of Me
7. Temple
8. Pulling Me Under
9. Hate Me
10. Home

Dan Byrne online:
https://www.danbyrne.co
https://www.instagram.com/danbyrne__
https://www.facebook.com/danbyrneofficial

SHARP N’ LOUD to Release Debut Single ‘I Live For Your Love’ on May 15th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 20, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Wanikiya Record/Promotion is proud to announce the release of “I Live For Your Love”, the official debut single from Italian hard rock band Sharp N’ Loud, available from May 15, 2026 on all major digital platforms.

Formed in 2024 in the Marche region, in the province of Macerata, Sharp N’ Loud embody the purest essence of rock: raw energy, rebellious spirit, and a sound rooted in the golden era of the ’80s and ’90s. Five old-school rockers ready to set every stage on fire with a powerful, no-compromise live presence.With “I Live For Your Love”, the band takes its first official step into the recording world, immediately showcasing a deeper and more emotional side. Far from the clichés of superficial rock attitude and imagery, the track is an intense ballad that goes straight to the heart.

The song unfolds as a personal and introspective journey, telling a story of rebirth rising from the cold ashes of loneliness and disappointment. It is an anthem to the most powerful force of all—love—capable of overcoming everything, while staying true to the band’s rock identity and sonic roots.

With this single, Sharp N’ Loud deliver a clear and direct message: bring rock where it’s needed, giving voice to real emotions through an authentic and unfiltered language.“I Live For Your Love” anticipates the release of their debut album “Room 2080”, currently in the works with Wanikiya Record/Promotion. The project promises to be a complete sonic and visual experience, blending the charm of classic hard rock with a modern, polished, and impactful production.

But “Room 2080” is much more than just an album—it is a true narrative journey. The record develops through a compelling sci-fi storyline, guiding the listener into an immersive dimension where music and storytelling merge into a unique experience.From the very beginning, Sharp N’ Loud have shown strong character and determination, taking part in notable formats such as “Fatti Scoprire” by RockerTV and sharing the stage with established acts like Chris Catena’s Rock City Tribe and Lost Reflection, strengthening their live identity and earning credibility within the rock scene.

Today, with their official entry into Wanikiya Record/Promotion and the addition of a new member to the lineup, the band is ready to push even harder on the accelerator, driven by a clear mission:“Sharp N’ Loud bring Rock where it’s needed!!”

The journey has just begun.
And the volume is set to rise.

AGENT STEEL Announce “Bridge To The Pilgrimage – European Tour 2026″

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 20, 2026
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Occult theorist/Alien theme protagonist j. Cyriis (Dr. Szigmund-X) reassumes his frontline position with Speed metal band Agent Steel—scheduled to return to European stages (partnering with New-Era/original guitarist, Nikolay Atanasov and new-Era composer, Johnny Moraes) officially confirmed for performing a series of Metallurgical-live shows in East-Europe,  Italy, the Netherlands and Portugal—this summer 2026.

Agent Steel will be engaging the final era of the band—opening the Stellar Gateways to the final Agent Steel album -hauntingly- titled, “PILGRIMAGE”.

This tour and forthcoming album will feature the final New-Era lineup onto the world’s stages, both near and far—as represented by a cinematic project in the works, titled,  “SELF-ANOINTED-ARCHITECT’s”- world TOUR 2026-27-28”.

The approaching shows promise a rare and authentic experience for both fans of classic Agent Steel material and all fans of the speed metal-worldwide. This highly anticipated return, marks -not only- a powerful revival of the band’s original spirit, but also serves to project elements of what is to come and to soon be launched as the PILGRIMAGE -and-  ‘SELF-ANOINTED-ARCHITECT” bands.

The touring live shows will also release elements for the new-and-final era of the band as was known then and now—delivering of a live-set packed with genre-defining tracks from the band’s 1980’s cult favorites catalog as well as an all New Instrumental song titled, NIGHTRIDERS ( set for release on the forthcoming (PILGRIMAGE) album .

Audiences can expect a high-energy performance from which will include  material from the band’s early discography, such as was recorded on Unstoppable Force, Mad Locust Rising, Skeptics apocalypse-and the timeless jewel, “No Other GODZ Before Me” being the timeless classics which assisted in the catalyzing of the global speed and thrash metal Genre.

With a legacy rooted in the golden-era of the 1980s underground, Agent Steel remains a cornerstone of the genre—known for their sci-fi themes, relentless speed, and technical precision. This tour stands both as a tribute to the band΄s enduring influence and as a celebration of their uncompromising metal insurgence.

Τhe “BRIDGE TO THE “PILGRIMAGE” – EUROPEAN TOUR 2026’ includes appearances at important festivals such as: MASTERS OF ROCK (CZ), VAST PLAINS AND GOATS FESTIVAL (RO), HEADBANGERS OPEN AIR (DE), NADA FESTIVAL (PT), FESTIVALUL CELTIC TRANSILVANIA (RO), and appearances in European venues with many important bands such as REVERBER, SCREAM MACHINE, HYPERION, ISABEAU, SPACE EATER, DIAMOND DUST, JARAC. VIALS OF FURY, GENGIS KHAN, that will give an extra boost to the live performances.

The legend is here and wait for you on stage at:

FRI 8 MAY – BELGRADE, SERBIA @ KLUB FEST
SAT 9 MAY – CRAIOVA – ROMANIA @ VAST PLAINS AND GOATS FESTIVAL
TUE 12 MAY – ZAGREB, CROATIA @ HARD PLACE
THU 14 MAY – ROME, ITALY @ DEFRAG
FRI 15 MAY – BOLOGNA, ITALY @ ALCHEMICA
SAT 16 MAY – MILAN, ITALY @ CRYPTA CLUB
SUN 17 MAY – VERONA, ITALY @ DAMAGE INC
SUN 14 JUNE – WEERT, NETHERLANDS @ BOSUIL
SUN 21 JUNE – BEJA, PORTUGAL @ NADA FESTIVAL
SUN 12 JULY – FIGA, ROMANIA @ FESTIVALUL CELTIC TRANSILVANIA
THU 16 JULY – VIZOVICE, CZECH REPUBLIC @ MASTERS OF ROCK
SAT 25 JULY – BRANDE-HORNERKIRCHEN, GERMANY @ HEADBANGERS OPEN AIR

More info at: https://www.facebook.com/AgentSteelOfficial