Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

PLAYGROUNDED Release New Single ‘Counting Embers’ with Visualizer

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2026

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

Multinational progressive metal / electronic band Playgrounded return with their new single ‘Counting Embers’, their first new music in four years.

Stream here: https://orcd.co/playgrounded

‘Counting Embers’ is a statement track, announcing itself explosively. Pulsing synth sequences, distorted digital tones, and modular arpeggiations lend a futuristic edge that contrasts the organic weight of live instrumentation: thick bass tones, angular guitar chords, and drums that can move from restrained pulse to relentless propulsion. Vocals float in highly charged introspection, serving understated, but haunting melodies. Through gradual transformation, the landscape unfolds in a meticulously constructed yet emotionally resonant narrative of tension and grief.

The band comment: “Today we share new music with you for the first time in a while. A song about the fires of this world and how painfully familiar they have become. Always aware that ashes can bloom.”

Playgrounded are a rock band based in the Netherlands and Greece. Alternative metal and contemporary electronic elements form a genre-defying sound, comparable to artists as diverse as Deftones, Massive Attack, Karnivool, and The Ocean.

A band together for over a decade, Playgrounded have in their time supported Riverside, Anathema, and Nine Inch Nails. Their 2022 record The death of Death (Pelagic Records) was globally lauded, with praise from Prog, Eclipsed, Metal Injection, Metal Hammer Germany and more.

Following its release the band presented the album to packed venues in their home countries and embarked on a 36 date UK/EU tour with The Ocean and LLNN, and then festival performances at ArcTanGent, Euroblast, RADAR, and more.

‘Counting Embers’ is the first glimpse of Playgrounded‘s new album, due later this year – where the band promise to push the boundaries of their truly innovative approach to heavy music even further.

Playgrounded online:
https://www.instagram.com/playgroundedofficial
https://www.facebook.com/playgrounded
https://playgrounded.net

EVIL SCARECROW Announce “Shred the Evidence” Tour + Release New Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: EVIL SCARECROW. Leave a comment

Evil Scarecrow are delighted to announce a short run of dates for 2026, taking in their performance at Bloodstock Festival’s 25^th Anniversary.

The world is a strange and not necessarily pleasant place at the moment. Evil Scarecrow mostly try and steer away from Politics, politics and general misery, it’s our job to bring the fun, but sometimes even we can’t ignore the madness. Our latest album “Silicon Tea”, released in October 2025 didn’t set out to encapsulate the darkness of modern life, but it is laced with cynicism and irony.

“Shred the Evidence” could be a light-hearted ode to binge drinking, it could be a statement on post-hedonistic shame, or it could be … something else. As such, we release a video for this track to coincide with the tour announcement. Go watch it here and make up your own mind. The zeitgeist of our time seems to be “you’ve gotta laugh or you’ll cry”.

Shred the Evidence Tickets are on sale now.

Full dates:
Friday 17^th July – Yardbirds, Grimsby
Saturday 18^th July – The Adrian Flux Waterfront Studio, Norwich
Saturday 25^th July – The 1865, Southampton

Thursday 6^th August – Bloodstock Festival, Catton Hall

Friday 30^th October – Rebellion, Manchester
Saturday 31^st October – Craufurd Arms, Milton Keynes

Find everything Evil Scarecrow here: https://linktr.ee/evilscarecrow
https://www.facebook.com/Evil.Scarecrow
https://twitter.com/EvilScarecrowUK
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCt3JwDvzqjL6cb_-DVI-zfw
https://www.instagram.com/evilscarecrowuk
https://open.spotify.com/artist/1SxULWBMeC87rRdPznDSYm
https://evilscarecrow.bandcamp.com/

KING KRAKEN to Release New Single ‘Call To War’ on 17th April

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: KING KRAKEN. Leave a comment

KING KRAKEN release their storming new rocker ‘Call To War’ on 17th April, and it’s a riff riddled, power packed, full frontal assault on the senses which sees the band kicking their new campaign off in style!

“Call to War is the first single king kraken have released since our second album last April, we’ve picked up where we left off with March of the Gods, the same kraken sound but with more focus, grit and determination!
‘Call To War’ is a blistering new track inspired by the chilling sci-fi classic The War of the Worlds by H.G.Wells. Packed with relentless energy, the song charges forward at full throttle with thunderous riffs and pounding rhythms, while gritty yet melodic vocals cut through the chaos like a rallying cry against an unstoppable invasion. ‘Call To War’ captures the tension and drama of humanity’s fight for survival, delivering a fast-paced heavy anthem that feels both cinematic and ferocious-perfect for fans ready to march straight into the storm.
‘Call to War’ is the soundtrack to our Spring UK tour, this is your call to make it the sound of your spring as well.”

Preorder here: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/kingkraken/call-to-war

‘Call To War’ recorded at Long Wave Recording Studios, Cardiff
Mixed and Mastered by Romesh Dodangoda
Engineered by Romesh Dodangoda and Tom Cory

King Kraken is a four-piece Rock/Metal band from South Wales, UK. In April 2025 they released their second album, ‘March of the Gods’, which saw two of their singles, Hero and March of the Gods receive national airplay on Planet Rock and Kerrang Radio. The band received universally positive reviews for March of the Gods in the Rock and Metal press, including Kerrang! and a feature in Metal Hammer Magazine.

The band has a seriously strong CV on the live circuit, playing numerous prestigious events across the UK including Bloodstock, Call of the Wild, Planet Rock’s Rockstock and a massive show in 2025’s Stonedead Festival. In December 2025 they were the first band to play the Bloodstock Winter Gathering event at the legendary KK’s Steel Mill in Wolverhampton. The band has played with some heavyweight artists including The Almighty, The Dead Daisies, Crobot, Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Monster Truck, The Sweet, Geoff Tate and Crowbar.

In 2026, King Kraken will be releasing new material having spent time in the studio with producer Romesh Dodangoda. They have a plethora of live shows booked, with a slot at Takedown Festival at Portsmouth Guildhall in April, a short tour with Fury in May, plus several other festivals include the opening slot at Steelhouse Festival in July. They follow that in August where they will play Chepstow Castle alongside with Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Chris Holmes (WASP) and the Tygers of Pan Tang.

With numerous events around the UK there is no sign of this train slowing down!

Live shows:
3rd April Takedown Festival, Portsmouth

Fury/King Kraken tour:
24th April KK’s Steelmill, Wolverhampton
25th April The Patriot, Crumlin
3rd May The Star Inn, Dylife, Powys
8th May The Ferret, Preston
9th May Ivory Blacks, Glasgow
15th May Leo’s, Gravesend
16th May, Studio Se7en, Witney

30th May Call Of The Wild Festival, Lincolnshire Showground
4th July SOS Fest XVII, Whittles, Oldham
24th July Steelhouse Festival, Ebbw Vale
25th July Hammerdown Festival, The Factory Live, Worthing
22nd August, Chepstow Castle, Bridge St, Chepstow
5th September Hella Rock Festsival, HMV Empyre, Coventry
9th October Reddog 1, The Patriot, Crumlin

KING KRAKEN are:
Vocals – Mark Donoghue
Guitars – Adam Healey
Bass – Karl Meyer
Drums – Richard Lee Mears

https://www.kingkraken.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/kingkrakenuk/
https://www.instagram.com/kingkrakenuk
https://x.com/KINGKRAKENUK
https://music.apple.com/us/artist/king-kraken/1450754926
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGkf1RjevjmbA-HgVRPZ4uw
SPOTIFY

UNSETTLED Release Blistering New Single ‘Blood Runs’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2026

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

Rising metalcore band Unsettled has officially released their blistering new single “Blood Runs,” available now on all major streaming platforms through Arson Theory. The track, which dropped on Friday, March 27th, delivers a punishing mix of chaos and attitude.

Unsettled hails from the streets of Cleveland, blending raw authenticity with modern metalcore vibes, paving a new lane in metal called Gooncore. Unsettled remains a force to be reckoned with by using dark humor, dissonance and unrelenting drums to separate themselves from the rest of the pack and bring a sound to your ears, never heard of before. So strap on, put in your headphones and enjoy this ride that they call Unsettled.

With “Blood Runs,” Unsettled continues to build momentum, offering listeners an intense sonic experience.

STREAM “Blood Runs”: http://arsontheory.vyd.co/BloodRuns

Upcoming Shows:
April 3 @ Mercury Music Lounge in Cleveland, OH w/ Waking The Cadaver, 9 Dead, Unhealthy While Unhinged
May 14th @ The Foundry in Cleveland, OH w/ VCTMS, Dread, and Deviants

Unsettled are:
Alex Herring – Vocals
Trent Roach – Guitar
Mike Wagner – Bass
Dan Santos – Drums

For More Information Please Visit: Official Website – Facebook – Instagram – TikTok – YouTube – Spotify

SEWER ALTAR Announce Debut Full-Length Album “Fever Dreams of Vengeance”, Out April 24th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: SEWER ALTAR. Leave a comment

Finnish death-grind provocateurs SEWER ALTAR are set to unleash their debut full-length album, “Fever Dreams of Vengeance”, on April 24th, 2026.

The first single “Landfill Sky Burial” is now streaming HERE.

Following the critical acclaim of their 2024 demo, the band returns with a record that expands upon their earlier vision, delivering a relentless surge of death-grind sharpened with hardcore intensity.

“Fever Dreams of Vengeance” is both punishing and playful, balancing ferocious riffs and blastbeats with a sense of dynamism that keeps listeners engaged from start to finish. The album’s compact, high-octane tracks are crafted for impact, combining the brutality of grindcore with the groove and energy of hardcore, creating moments that are as likely to trigger moshing as they are to impress with precision and creativity.

Serrated and tight, yet bursting with infectious hooks, the songs on “Fever Dreams of Vengeance” are a testament to SEWER ALTAR’s command of their sound. The record thrives on immediacy, offering short, sharp bursts of aggression that translate perfectly to the live stage, where the band’s intensity and charisma can be fully felt. Every track is meticulously arranged to balance chaos and cohesion, ensuring that the listener is swept up in the energy without ever losing clarity or direction.

Lyrically, SEWER ALTAR delves into death metal themes of defilement and horror, intertwining them with the pervasive malaise of sociopolitical inequality. The band reclaims the societal irreverence and paranoia aimed at the lower classes, embracing it as a spiritual totem that guides the album’s dark and uncompromising vision.

SEWER ALTAR‘s debut album “Fever Dreams of Vengeance” will be released this spring on multiple formats: CD via 783Label and Hecatombe Records, LP via 783Label, Hecatombe Records and 7Degrees Records, and tape via Iron Corpse Productions.

Recorded with an emphasis on raw power and clarity, “Fever Dreams of Vengeance” presents SEWER ALTAR as a band capable of fusing grindcore ferocity with hardcore accessibility, producing music that is punishing yet irresistibly fun. The album marks a bold step forward from the demo, establishing the band as one of Finland’s most exciting new extreme acts and promising to leave an indelible mark on fans of uncompromising underground death-grind.

For fans of: Terrorizer, Bolt Thrower, Weekend Nachos, Spazz

Tracklist:

01. Landfill Sky Burial
02. Tachanka Drive-by
03. Altar in the Sewers
04. Fencewalkin Cheetah
05. 18 and Death
06. Deadw8
07. Cryonaut Sludge
08. Resilient Like a Disease
09. Outnumbered
10. Slave Driver Smile
11. Writing on the Wall

Line-up:

Vermis Animus – Bass, Lead Vocals
Deströyer 161 – Guitars, Vocals
R. Charon – Drums

https://seweraltar.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/sewer_altar/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559579033698

CARMINE APPICE & CACTUS Release New Single ‘Bad Stuff’ from Upcoming All-Stars Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: CACTUS, Carmine Appice. Leave a comment

With just days to go before the worldwide April 3 release of one of the most coveted new blues albums of the year, Carmine Appice and Cactus also unveil one of its most anticipated tracks as their latest single.

Originally recorded on Cactus’s 1972 album ‘Ot and Sweaty, this piledriving reimagining of “Bad Stuff” features guest vocals from Joe Lynn Turner, veteran of both Deep Purple and Rainbow, alongside his own massively successful solo career, while fellow Purple alumni Steve Morse adds his own characteristic guitar alchemy. The result, as Turner explains, is explosive.

“When Carmine asked me to contribute a vocal to the new Cactus album the first question was ‘what song?’ He said a bluesy rock song called ‘Bad Stuff’ that would be perfect for me. And when I heard about the amazing lineup of Steve Morse..Tony Franklin.. Derek Sherinian, and, of course, Carmine, I was completely sold!

“The result is a low down dirty blues track that moves and grooves with a sexy voodoo swagger. I’m very proud to play a part on this killer album!”

The line-up is completed by Carmine’s Guitar Zeus bandmate Tony Franklin and Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater), and Cactus’s own Artie Dillon.

Carmine continues, “I always loved ‘Bad Stuff’ back in the day, and still today. I always loved the groove and the lyrics. And with the new Allstar version I love it even more!!”

SINGLE: https://orcd.co/cactus_badstuff

The long-awaited sequel to Cactus’s last album, Temple of the Blues, Temple Of Blues II echoes its predecessor’s star-studded line-up of guests, with Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) Ted Nugent, Billy Sheehan, Bumblefoot and Pat Travers all returning from last time around, alongside an all-new wave of heavy hitters including Morse, Turner, Melanie (a truly transformative rendition of Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze”),Tracii Guns (LA Guns), Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quiet Riot), Alex Skolnick(Testament), and a whole lot more!

Elsewhere on this thunderous adventure, Ted Nugent and Bob Daisley (Rainbow) join forces for an astonishing “Spoonful” – one of no less than seven Dixon/Wolf classics on the album – the others include the band’s last two singles, “The Little Red Rooster” (featuring Snider and Guns) and “Back Door Man,” with Eric Gales and Billy Sheehan.

But of course there’s more besides, and every one of them expands the raw blues-rock vision of volume one with even more fire, swagger, and authority. And Carmine, of course, anchors the proceedings with his unmistakable power, groove, and feel, driving every track and reaffirming his status as one of the most influential drummers in rock history.