JUDAS PRIEST Announce Upcoming Release “The Best Of Judas Priest”, Out June 19th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 23, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Judas Priest today announce the upcoming release ‘The Best Of Judas Priest’, a career spanning collection celebrating one of the most influential and enduring bands in heavy metal, out via Sony Music on June 19th 2026.

The mighty Judas Priest have defined and redefined the sound and imagery of heavy metal for more than five decades. With over 50 million albums sold worldwide and more than 2.5 billion global streams across their catalogue, their impact on music and culture remains unmatched.

This special collection of songs brings together some of the band’s globally revered recordings, including ‘Breaking The Law’, ‘You’ve Got Another Thing Coming’, ‘Electric Eye’, ‘Turbo Lover’ and ‘Painkiller’. Together, these tracks represent key moments from across their catalogue and trace the evolution of a band that helped shape the genre itself.

Internationally the band’s most iconic songs continue to reach new audiences. ‘The Best Of Judas Priest’ serves as both an accessible entry point for new listeners and a definitive collection for longtime fans looking to revisit the songs that cemented the band’s legacy.

Judas Priest continue to showcase their exemplary live shows across Europe this Summer as well as a festival stop at Bloodstock in the UK on August 9th and a headline show at Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith on September 21st.  

An in-depth documentary ‘The Ballad Of Judas Priest’ was premiered at the Berlin Film Festival recently.  Directed by Tom Morello and Sam Dunn, this fascinating insight into the bands vast career will be released later this year.

‘THE BEST OF JUDAS PRIEST’ 
TRACKLIST

CD

  1. You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
  2. Lightning Strike
  3. Breaking The Law
  4. Beyond The Realms Of Death
  5. Painkiller
  6. Hell Bent For Leather
  7. Rocka Rolla
  8. Turbo Lover
  9. Electric Eye
  10. Crown Of Horns
  11. Living After Midnight
  12. Night Crawler
  13. Heading Out To The Highway
  14. Better By You, Better Than Me
  15. The Sentinel
  16. Diamonds And Rust

Vinyl
Side A

  1. You’ve Got Another Thing Coming
  2. Breaking The Law
  3. Painkiller
  4. Hell Bent For Leather
  5. Turbo Lover

Side B

  1. Electric Eye
  2. Crown Of Horns
  3. Living After Midnight
  4. Heading Out To The Highway
  5. The Sentinel

Pre order now here : https://judaspriest.lnk.to/TheBestOfJP

GRAIN OF PAIN Shares New Lyric Video for ‘If Morning Never Comes’ + “Behind Us All” Vinyl Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 23, 2026
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“Behind Us All”, the second studio album by Finnish doom metal act GRAIN OF PAIN has been released in March via Noble Demon. Production of the Vinyl version took a bit longer than expected but is now available as well finally! Orders – along with the Digipak CD – are available for purchase at
THIS LOCATION

To mark the occasion, the band has unveiled a stunning animated lyric video for the track “If Morning Never Comes” feat. Kirsten Jørgensen, which you can watch here:

With their latest album “Behind Us All”, GRAIN OF PAIN takes their signature blend of doom and death metal to new emotional depths. Combining crushing heaviness with melodic intensity and a dark, immersive atmosphere, the album showcases a refined and powerful sound that resonates long after the final note fades.

Hailing from Finland, GRAIN OF PAIN is driven by Timo Solonen, who is responsible for songwriting, guitars, and vocals. On bass and clean vocals, Lars Eikind (Before The Dawn) adds a distinct melodic dimension to the band’s sound, further elevating the dynamic range of the compositions.

The album also features renowned musicians Juho Räihä (guitars, additional screams) and Juuso Raatikainen (drums), both known for their work with Swallow the Sun.

“Behind Us All” was produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Juho Räihä at SoundSpiral Audio, ensuring a cohesive and powerful sonic experience throughout.

Following their signing with German metal label Noble Demon in 2024 for their debut album “The Moon Lights The Way”, GRAIN OF PAIN now raises the stakes with their sophomore full-length release. “Behind Us All” stands as a testament to the band’s evolution, delivering a deeply atmospheric and emotionally charged listening experience.

“Behind Us All” is out via Noble Demon and available for purchase HERE

Tracklist:

  1. Shattered Peace
  2. To Burn Inside (Featuring Pekka Olkkonen)
  3. The Offering (Featuring Eemeli Bodde)
  4. Ruins Of The Heart
  5. The House
  6. Dance With Me
  7. Bless You With Sorrow
  8. If Morning Never Comes (Featuring Kirsten Jørgensen)

For more info visit:
https://www.facebook.com/GrainOfPainMetal
https://www.instagram.com/grainofpain.band
https://linktr.ee/nobledemon

LUCID DREAMING Signs Worldwide Deal with El Puerto Records, New Album Coming in Summer 2026

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 23, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

LUCID DREAMING have signed a worldwide deal with El Puerto Records.

After three fantasy-themed concept albums, Till Oberboßel (also guitarist for Elvenpath) is breaking new ground with his fourth album. He is supported by major metal luminaries such as Blaze Bayley (ex-Iron Maiden), Zak Stevens (Savatage), Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), and Harry Conklin (Jag Panzer), among many others.

The album will be released this summer!

Till Oberboßel::
“My band Elvenpath released their latest album on El Puerto Records and working with that label proved to be the right thing. Therefore I’m very happy that the new Lucid Dreaming album will be released by them too!
I’m very proud of the forthcoming album and I’m sure that El Puerto Records is the right label to unleash this beast unto the world. Watch out!”

Torsten Ihlenfeld, co-founder of El Puerto Records, echoes this sentiment: „Following the great collaboration with Elvenpath, we’re excited to welcome Lucid Dreaming to El Puerto Records. This album is a true statement—powerful, uncompromising, and ready to make its mark. We’re proud to unleash this beast together with the band. Watch out!“

Line-up:
Till Oberboßel – Guitars, Bass, Orchestration
Alex Holzwarth – Drums

More Infos:
www.facebook.com/luciddreamingmetal/
linktr.ee/luciddreamingmetal

DIRT Return with Hit-Driven Single ‘Sunder’ + Second Album Coming

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 23, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo: Marika Saikkonen — Photo editing: Aleksi Tiainen

After returning last autumn from an extended break from releases and live shows, the Helsinki-based five-piece DIRT release their first single of the year, “Sunder”. The track offers a glimpse into the world of the upcoming second album, which they’ve been crafting carefully over the past few years. “Sunder” deals with a theme that is timelessly relevant to many: breaking free from a difficult and harmful relationship—and dealing with the aftermath.

DIRT released their debut album “Deadbeat” in 2022 and quickly emerged as one of the most interesting new names in Finnish heavy rock. After an active touring period, the circumstances within the group led to an extended break. During the past couple of years, DIRT focused on rebuilding their internal communication culture from scratch and began untangling long-standing tensions between members. Following these productive discussions, DIRT are now stronger than ever, and new material for the upcoming album has been flowing at an impressive pace.

“We had around fifty ideas sitting in the vault when we started outlining the direction for the second album. Just going through them was overwhelming. With this track, however, the choice was immediate—it stood out right away as one of the priorities thanks to its head-nodding, ’90s-inspired NYHC bounce groove,” the band says.

“We also broadened our horizons by trying co-writing for the first time. JC Halttunen (known from WOLFRAM) helped us refine the track. The idea originally came up years ago at the Music x Media conference between JC and our guitarist Kasper, and putting it into practice was absolutely worth it. With the final touch from our producer Juho Salaterä, we ended up with something we’re more than proud to present as DIRT à la 2026.”

The release of Sunder, produced by Juho Salaterä and mastered by Riku Kuikka, is celebrated this Saturday May 25th at Kuudes Linja in Helsinki, Finland. The extended set will feature DIRT’s most popular tracks from the years as well as new, yet-unreleased songs from the upcoming second album. The mood for the evening is set by promising newcomer Honey Juice.

Also listen to last year’s release “Born Again” here.

Formed in 2018 and releasing their first singles that same year, DIRT blend rock aesthetics with heavier influences—a combination that has been praised since their debut EP Low Life. Their debut album Deadbeat was released in 2022 via Ranka Kustannus and was selected among the best albums of the year by Inferno, Kaaoszine, Tuonela Magazine, and Music Finland. Since then, the Helsinki-based five-piece has amassed over 3 million streams on Spotify and has performed at festivals like Tuska as well as alongside acts such as The 69 Eyes, Shiraz Lane, One Desire, and Danko Jones. The band is particularly known for their energetic live shows, which have even been discussed on the Access All Areas podcast.

More info: DIRT | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY

AFTER INFINITY Share New Single ‘King With No Crown’ from Upcoming Album “Beyond Eternity”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 23, 2026
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Finnish melodic metal act After Infinity return with “Beyond Eternity“, a sophomore release that consolidates and expands the project’s identity with a sharper focus on compositional depth, vocal diversity, and emotional range. Conceived and led by guitarist and songwriter Zsolt Szilagyi, the album builds on the foundation of the band’s 2024 debut, pushing further into progressive structures while retaining a strong melodic core.

The album campaign kicks off with “King With No Crown”, featuring Paolo Ribaldini on vocals and accompanied by an official lyric video. Built on heavy guitar work and dramatic orchestrations, the track channels themes of rebellion against illegitimate power. Alongside it, the band will also unveil “Hands of Time” as a standalone single, featuring Aitor Arrastia (Metal De Facto) on vocals – a 12-minute progressive composition that represents the most ambitious and conceptually expansive piece of the entire record.

Rather than relying on a fixed vocalist, “Beyond Eternity” embraces a rotating cast of performers, transforming each track into a distinct narrative space. The album features six different guest singers, each contributing a specific tonal identity while remaining anchored to a cohesive sonic framework defined by layered orchestrations, dynamic guitar work, and carefully structured arrangements.

Musically, the record operates at the intersection of power metal, heavy metal, and progressive metal, balancing immediacy and complexity. High-impact compositions driven by tight riffing and symphonic textures coexist with more restrained moments, including piano-led passages and atmospheric interludes. This contrast is structural: each track is designed to fulfill a precise role within the album’s flow, avoiding redundancy and reinforcing a continuous sense of variation.

Lyrically, “Beyond Eternity” explores a wide emotional spectrum, moving between anger, resistance, introspection, and hope. While “King With No Crown” embodies collective uprising, other tracks shift toward personal reflection and existential questioning. The closing “Hands of Time” expands this vision into a philosophical exploration of time, the origins of the universe, and the meaning of existence itself, reinforcing the album’s progressive dimension.

Listen: https://lnk.to/LktetC

From a production standpoint, the album maintains a consistent sonic identity while allowing individual performances to retain their character. Produced by Zsolt Szilagyi, the record features mixing handled primarily by Benjamin Connelly with mastering by Jasse Kesti, ensuring clarity across its dense arrangements and multi-layered instrumentation.

The collaborative dimension is central to the project’s evolution. Alongside Szilagyi, the album features orchestrations by Gideon Ricardo and bass performances by Ville Koskinen, while an extensive list of guest vocalists – including Paolo Ribaldini, Mika Tauriainen, Sara Strömmer, and Aitor Arrastia – reinforces the album’s multi-faceted identity without compromising its coherence.

Following a well-received debut praised for its songwriting and musicianship, After Infinity refine their approach with “Beyond Eternity“, delivering a record that prioritizes compositional intent, variation, and emotional impact over formula. The result is a work that moves fluidly between melodic accessibility and progressive ambition, positioning the band within the contemporary European metal landscape with a clearly defined artistic direction.

“Beyond Eternity” will be released this Fall 2026 via Rockshots Records.

For fans of: Sonata Arctica, Symphony X, Helloween

After Infinity Line-up:

Zsolt Szilagyi: Guitars, Synths, Drum Programming, Backing Vocals
​Gideon Ricardo: Orchestrations, Synths
​Ville Koskinen: Bass

Guest Vocalists:

  • Paolo Ribaldini (Delain, Leverage, Seraphiel)
  • Aitor Arrastia (Metal de Facto)
  • Nitte Valo (Dreamtale, ex-Battle Beast)
  • Mika Tauriainen (Entwine, Shamrain)
  • Sara Strömmer (Shereign, ex-Fear of Domination)
  • Leonard F. Guillan (ex-King Company)

More info: https://www.rockshots.eu | https://www.instagram.com/afterinfinityofficial | https://www.facebook.com/afterinfinityofficial

STAL IN STEEL Sign with Wanikiya Record/Promotion for New Album “Soy el Poder”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 23, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Photo courtesy of Stal In Steel

Wanikiya Record/Promotion is proud to announce the official signing of Stal In Steel to its artist roster. This new collaboration marks the beginning of an extensive international promotional campaign for the album “Soy el Poder”, already available in digital format on all major platforms.

“Soy el Poder” (translated: I Am the Power) is a powerful and visionary concept album, released on January 1st, 2026, exploring profound themes related to the rebirth of humanity in the fifth dimension and the awakening of the soul. A work that blends energy, spirituality, and rebellion, perfectly embodying the most authentic essence of hard & heavy metal.

The album opens with the single “Soy el Poder”, a true war cry against religious institutions seen as instruments of division, followed by “Matrix”, a track depicting the fall of the last empire. Songs like “Despertando” explore the concept of multidimensional existence, while “Final” symbolically marks the end of an era.

With “Esclavo”, the band addresses technological dependency, while “Un Demonio” tackles addiction, comparing heroin to a demonic presence. “Forajidos” celebrates freedom and the rock lifestyle, while “Desolación” stands out as an intense and painful cry reflecting modern times.

Stal In Steel is the project led by Stalin Noriega, an artist born in Ecuador and based in Italy since 1999, specifically in Turin. His musical vision blends the sounds of 1980s hard & heavy rock with modern influences from the Northern European metal scene, while maintaining a strong linguistic identity through the use of Spanish.

Noriega’s career began at a young age in the city of Loja, later continuing in the capital Quito with various musical and media experiences, before moving to Italy, where the Stal In Steel project fully took shape.

The current lineup also features Cuban producer and guitarist Xavi Masvidal, Massimiliano Del Re on bass, Mr. Z (Marzio Francone) on drums (audio/video producer), and Fabio “Riff” Pezzuto on guitars.

Over the years, several tracks from the project have achieved significant recognition, including appearances on international compilations such as Zona del Metal (Madrid), as well as notable results in radio charts, culminating in the #1 position in 2024 for the single “Matrix” on Stereo Hits Radio in Bolivia.

With this new addition, Wanikiya Record/Promotion once again confirms its international vision and ongoing commitment to promoting high-quality artists in the global rock and metal scene.

The promotional machine has officially started: “Soy el Poder” is ready to conquer the world.