Modern metalcore band HUMANKIND return with their most vulnerable and confronting release to date. Their new video single “Desire To Die” is out now through ROAR – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music, and dives deep into the emotional spaces many struggle to talk about: exhaustion, resignation, and the quiet moments where simply letting go can feel easier than continuing to fight.
Following their recent releases, HUMANKIND push their sound and message further into raw, unfiltered territory. “Desire To Die” balances crushing heaviness with fragile atmosphere, creating a song that feels both overwhelming and painfully intimate. The accompanying video features a performance-driven setup, highlighting the band’s dynamic presence and reinforcing the intensity of the song through a direct visual approach.
“Desire to Die is a hymn for everyone who has had to endure unimaginable struggles, disappointments, and failures. At times, our lives feel like a vast ocean in which we fight just to stay afloat. The urge to stop resisting and simply go with the flow can become so strong that we might come to terms with the risk of drowning, a feeling rarely spoken about in our society. Desire to Die aims to break the silence and raise awareness of the fact that, for some, drowning can sometimes feel more acceptable than facing wave after wave after wave. We see it as a starting point from which we can begin to destigmatise this topic, in the hope that speaking about it will help us heal and overcome dark times together.”
Musically, the track captures HUMANKIND at their most intense and honest. Dense guitars, haunting melodies, and an ever-present sense of pressure mirror the emotional weight of the lyrics, making “Desire To Die” less a song for easy consumption and more an invitation to listen, reflect, and feel.
With this release, HUMANKIND continue to establish themselves as a band unafraid to confront uncomfortable truths. “Desire To Die” is not about glorifying despair, but about giving a voice to thoughts that often remain hidden, and opening a conversation that many desperately need.
HumanKind is: Samuel Scholz (Vocals) Maria Kimberly Huehn (Guitar) Simon Keil (Guitar) Dominik “Doemsen” Stotzem (Bass) Silas Schué (Drums)
JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS let the strings buzz until they’re glowing red hot on the third advancetrack ‘Seer‘ from their forthcoming new full-length “Inexorable Opposites“. The fourth album by the Australian Psychedelic Western Rockers has been chalked up for release on February 6, 2026 via Magnetic Eye Records.
JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS comment on ‘Seer’: “This track is a good example of the new direction that we are heading towards in terms of writing music“, vocalist and guitarist Tim Coutts-Smith explains. “Most of this song was written by our guitarist JD whilst I arranged the structure and wrote the lyrics. The story is set in the conventional Harlon universe and is a follow-up to the song ‘Painter in the Woods’ from our second album.“
Tracklist
Moss
Venomous
Mt. Macedon
Dave Is Done
Junior Fiction
Seer
On the Overwhelm
To Die
With their fourth album “Inexorable Opposites”, JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS deliver a doozy of a record. The Psychedelic Western Rockers from Down Under have taken a big leap that was made possible by breaking new ground.
It pays off that the Australians have dared to take numerous creative risks, of which several stand out:
First off, “Inexorable Opposites” introduces new drum powerhouse Brayden Becher, who has literally given the band an extra kick. This was amplified by employing Lewis Noke-Edwards as a third party engineer for the tracking of the drums, a first for JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS, having done their recording in DIY fashion on past albums. While the creative process was generally more collaborative than for previous releases, the album also comes with an extended range as it includes both the ‘heaviest’ and ‘gentlest’ songs the band have ever recorded.
Probably as important as the musical tweaks is the new direction that the lyrics take on “Inexorable Opposites”. While there are still new tales playing out in the universe of the eponymous science fiction Western character Jack Harlon, the themes of the new songs rather revolve around the real world. Vocalist Tim Coutts-Smith was inspired by experiences both personal and from recent years as well as being influenced by his work in mental health.
This is summed up by the album’s title “Inexorable Opposites” that summarises the frequently contrasting emotional and lyrical content by drawing attention to a most inspirational quote from “Man and His Symbols” (1964), the final work of Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung: “The sad truth is that man’s real life consists of a complex of inexorable opposites – day and night, birth and death, happiness and misery, good and evil. We are not even sure that one will prevail against the other, that good will overcome evil, or joy will defeat pain. Life is a battleground. It always has been and always will be; and if it were not so, existence would come to an end.”
Although the Outback is too far away to constitute a direct influence on JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS, their atmospheric dark Western sound draws a connecting line from Australia to Arizona. It is part of a uniquely eclectic style that explores a wide range of genres and incorporates elements of blues, stoner rock, lo-fi fuzz, spaghetti western scores, and doom metal among others.
JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS first incarnated as a side project of singer Tim Coutts-Smith around the year 2015. Over time, his steadily growing band developed into a full-fledged performing act.
From day one, Coutts-Smith centered his lyrics and themes around a fictional Western outlaw named Jack Harlon. He would often begin writing about real people and events, before turning them into characters and stories in a science fiction themed Western landscape.
JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS are also known for their DIY approach, producing most of their albums and visual art internally. As a live act, the band has mostly toured and performed in Australia including sharing stages with international acts such as GREENLEAF, SASQUATCH, WO FAT, and WHORES.
So far, JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS have released a self-titled debut EP in 2016, followed by three critically acclaimed albums and continuously growing recognition within the heavy underground: “Hymns” (2018), “The Magnetic Ridge” (2021), and “Hail to the Underground: Interpretations” (2023). The band also appeared on Magnetic Eye Records’ “Superunknown Redux” tribute to Soundgarden with their fuzzed-out, hallucinatory rendition of deep cut ‘Kickstand’.
JACK HARLON & THE DEAD CROWS deliver a beautifully matured and musically experienced version of their characteristic sound on the fourth album “Inexorable Opposites”. With adult lyrics that take their listeners seriously in a contemplation about the duality of life and the frequent contradictions of the self with the external world, the Australians show their growth as songwriters and musicians without losing the connection to the titanic fuzz and heavy riffs that helped put them on the map.
Line-up Tim Coutts-Smith – vocals, guitar Jordan Richardson – guitar Brayden Becher – drums Liam Barry – bass
Drum recording by Lewis Noke-Edwards at Black Lodge Studios, Brunswick, Melbourne (AU) All other instruments engineered by Tim Coutts-Smith & Jordan Richardson at their home studios, Melbourne (AU) Mixed by Tim Coutts-Smith at his home studio, Melbourne (AU) Mastered by Tim Coutts-Smith at his home studio, Melbourne (AU)
Artwork by Baroquegothik Layout by Karl Stehn (KDS Designs) & Łukasz Jaszak
EYE OF MELIAN delve into a metal classic with the third single off their upcoming album Forest Of Forgetting, out on February 20, 2026 via Napalm Records. EYE OF MELIAN reimagines “Tears Of The Dragon”, the captivating emotional hymn Bruce Dickinson released after his departure from Iron Maiden. The Tolkien-inspired brainchild of Martijn Westerholt (Delain) and Johanna Kurkela (Auri, Tuomas Holopainen) transforms the iconic song, originally featured on Dickinson’s second solo album, Balls To Picasso (1994), into an enchanting, cinematic experience. EYE OF MELIAN blend lush symphonic soundscapes with Kurkela’s gentle, ethereal vocals, transporting listeners into a realm of pure fantasy.
Mikko P. Mustonen about “Tears of the Dragon”: “I grew up listening to this song, but it wasn’t until I got older that I truly felt the weight of its lyrics. I’ve always loved the fantasy reference – even something as powerful as a dragon must eventually yield and let its emotions break free.”
EYE OF MELIAN open the gates to a different world with their new album Forest Of Forgetting, out February 20th, 2026 via Napalm Records. Named after a powerful primordial singing spirit from the world of J. R. R. Tolkien, EYE OF MELIAN draws inspiration from the master of fantasy and expands on his ethereal concept. Created by Delain’s Martijn Westerholt and featuring Auri’s Johanna Kurkela as a lead vocalist, EYE OF MELIAN’s Forest Of Forgetting is a masterclass in symphonic songwriting so whimsical the real world fades away.
With this opulent album, EYE OF MELIAN extends an invitation to faraway lands full of wonder. Forest Of Forgetting unfolds as quite the opposite of its title: utterly unforgettable.
Martijn Westerholt about Forest Of Forgetting: “This album has been a really inspiring process – both for me as a songwriter and in what each of us brought to it. It has a lot of what EYE OF MELIAN is known for: cinematic, score-like arrangements, minor chords, and those epic, mysterious atmospheres. The lyrics tie everything together; they bring out the worlds and stories that the music hints at and make the whole thing feel complete. The collaboration between us on this record felt very natural. We’ve really found our way of working as a team, and I’m proud of what we created together.”
Completing the all-star lineup on their debut with Napalm Records are orchestral arranger Mikko P. Mustonen and backing vocalist and lyricist Robin La Joy, blessing twelve lush compositions with immortal life. Mesmerizing from the first gentle notes of opening track “Of Willows And Shadows”, Forest Of Forgetting weaves otherworldly piano melodies and epic strings around angelic vocals worthy of the powerful Valar themselves. “Child Of Twilight” deepens EYE OF MELIAN’s dreamy and bombastic Hollywood movie score approach, carefully building up an exceptionally enchanting atmosphere that carries on into the equally cinematic “Blackthorn Winter”, ever so elegantly broadening the view into the alluring realms the band is melodizing. “Dawn Of Avatars” features Nightwish multi-instrumentalist Troy Donockley on flute and uilleann pipes, as well as hurdy-gurdy songstress Patty Gurdy, before EYE OF MELIAN turns in the direction of heavy metal with a charming rendition of Bruce Dickinson’s anthem “Tears Of The Dragon” (originally released on Balls To Picasso in 1994 after the singer had left Iron Maiden). Forest Of Forgetting also comes with all its tracks as instrumental versions to dwell in the impressive orchestrals alone.
Forest Of Forgetting tracklisting:
Of Willows and Shadows
Symphonia Arcana
Child of Twilight
Elixir of Night (feat. Patty Gurdy and Troy Donockley)
Blackthorn Winter
Lady of Light
Dawn of Avatars (feat. Patty Gurdy and Troy Donockley)
Forest of Forgetting
The Buried Well
The Mirror
Nepenthe
Tears of the Dragon (Bruce Dickinson Cover)
EYE OF MELIAN Live 2026
20.02.26 NL – Zwolle / Hedon – album release show
Forest of Forgetting Over Finland 10.03.26 FI – Kitee / Kiteesali 12.03.26 FI – Espoo / Sellosali 13.03.26 FI – Kouvola / Pato-klubi 18.03.26 FI – Rovaniemi / Korundi 19.03.26 FI – Kuusamo / Kuusamo-talo 20.03.26 FI – Oulu / Kaupunginteatteri 21.03.26 FI – Raahe / Raahesali 24.03.26 FI – Helsinki / Aleksanterin Teatteri 26.03.26 FI – Turku / Turun Linnan Kuninkaansali 27.03.26 FI – Kuopio / Maxim 28.03.26 FI – Tampere / Tuulensuun Palatsi
EYE OF MELIAN are: Martijn Westerholt – Keys and Orchestra arrangements Johanna Kurkela – Vocals and Violin Robin La Joy – Backing Vocals Mikko P. Mustonen – Keys and Orchestra arrangements
“Tristesse”, the new concept album by Italian progressive dark metal act FOR MY DEMONS, is out today with the single “The Other Side Of Heaven”, a powerful tribute to Vincent van Gogh, now available on all digital platforms via Volcano Records & Promotion.
Tristesse is a profound and evocative concept album inspired by the life and emotional universe of Vincent van Gogh. Through seven immersive tracks, the band translates the torment, beauty, and sensitivity of the legendary painter into a unique sonic experience. Blending melancholy, power and complexity, Tristesse is a cohesive work where each song reflects a chapter in a broader narrative, echoing van Gogh’s search for meaning and redemption through art.
Released together with the single “The Other Side Of Heaven”, the album paints a poignant soundscape between heaven and hell, suffering and transcendence. A must-listen for fans of Katatonia, Soen, and Dream Theater.
Watch the video for “The Other Side Of Heaven” here:
Danish melodic death metal warriors VANIR strike first with “Never Surrender”, the opening salvo from their upcoming album “Wyrd”. Fierce, melodic and unrelenting, the lyric video captures the band at full force, blending epic leads with crushing intensity.
Inspired by the pivotal Battle of Vienna in 1683, “Never Surrender” tells the story of defiance and sacrifice from the perspective of those who stood against overwhelming odds. As the Winged Hussars and the Polish army charged into history, Vanir transform one of Europe’s defining moments into a powerful anthem of resilience and unbreakable will.
With over a decade of experience forging history-driven melodic death metal, Vanir prove once again that they stand among Denmark’s strongest voices in the genre. “Never Surrender” marks a new chapter – and a clear statement of intent – as the band prepares to unleash “Wyrd” and conquer new battlefields in 2026.
Join the premiering here:
Swords, helmets and shields can be heard in the distance once more, as Danish warriors Vanir return with their new album, “Wyrd”. The record revolves around the timeless theme of fate – spun from war, from the choices of humankind, and from the consequences that have shaped our world. As a mirror of our own time, where decisions carry the weight of future destinies, “Wyrd” invites the listener into stories of downfall and triumph, of lives lost and victories won.
The visual core of the album is brought to life by artist David Troest, whose dramatic cover depicts the Winged Hussar, one of history’s most fearsome war machines. The scene is the legendary Battle of Vienna in 1683, where the Polish cavalry forced the Ottoman Empire to retreat, halting its expansion into Europe. This clash of civilizations forms the backdrop for the song “Never Surrender”, told through the eyes of those who defended Vienna from invasion.
But “Wyrd” is more than just a historical album. It is a musical journey into humanity’s struggle with power, destiny, and the eternal conflicts over survival and dominion. Vanir combine melodic death metal with epic storytelling, reminding us of that history always repeats itself, and that the choices we make today hold the seeds of tomorrow’s battles.
The album has been mixed and mastered at Demigod Recordings, ensuring a powerful and razor-sharp sound that does justice to the weight of its themes.
As one of Denmark’s most prominent melodic death metal bands, Vanir has forged its own take on epic for over a decade now, with history-themed melodic death metal, merging crushing riffs with tales of fate, battle, and myth. With “Wyrd”, the collective once again sharpen their steel and march onto the battlefields of history.
“Wyrd” will be released on LP, CD and digital formats on 03.04.2026, via Mighty Music.
Lineup: Martin Drageholm – vocals Kirk Backarach – guitars Lasse Heiberg – guitars Mikael Christensen – bass Jon Elmquist Schmidt – drums Stefan Dujardin - keyboards
Pennsylvania metal merchants THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE will release their eighth full-length, The Dead Ones, on April 17th via Metal Blade Records!
Intense and intensely personal, The Dead Ones marks the THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE‘s Metal Blade Records debut. For the ten original tracks of pulverizing deathcore produced by Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland of Pennsylvania’s Atrium Audio, the band focused on the guitar, bass, and drum tones as well as the mix/master to achieve what guitarist Wyatt McLaughlin calls, “a super-thick sonic output and ‘rolling-tank’-like feel.”
Four stellar guests are featured on the album – “Make It To Heaven” includes David Simonich of Signs Of The Swarm, Nate Johnson (ex-Fit For An Autopsy) appears on “Rat Trap,” “Dollar To A Dime” has Alan Grnja of Distant, and “XXXXXXXXXX” features original THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE vocalist Storm Strope.
In creating The Dead Ones, “everyone took what we learned from the past two releases and assembled what we thought would bring out the best of us,” reflects McLaughlin. “We examined all of THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE’s past work as well focused on how our fanbase digested and connected with our music. Focusing from the flow of structure all the way to every single word that was used. We have delivered a ten-song thriller that will bellow out through the ages.”
The Dead Ones was recorded with a six-string baritone Viper from ESP-LTD tuned to Drop F, the same tuning used on the band’s 2012 Warpath EP. To elevate the intensity, the band also used an Earthquaker Devices Sunn O))) and Keeley Octa Psi drop tune pedal on certain sections.
Lyrically, The Dead Ones follows 2024’s acclaimed No Name Graves full-length in the theme of death and rebirth, but in contrast, is directly focused on the human experience and the band members’ own struggles. Title track and first single, “The Dead Ones,” is specifically about how the actions of humanity can take an individual’s actual innate humanity away. McLaughlin elaborates, “We all know that feeling. The piercing desire to be able to have one more conversation or final words with a loved one who has passed. ‘The Dead Ones’ explores this in an illuminated way through the delivery of a sonic séance, where the realization that in becoming a vessel for the dead, darkness and light both demand their due.”
Watch THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE‘s video for “The Dead Ones“:
The Dead Ones Track Listing: 01. The Dead Ones 02. Make It to Heaven (feat. David Simonich of Signs Of The Swarm) 03. Rat Trap (feat. Nate Johnson) 04. Freak Reflection 05.1-800-DO YOU WANT TO DIE? 06. Stiletto 07. Stereo 08. Dollar to a Dime (feat. Alan Grnja of Distant) 09. Corruption Concerto 10. XXXXXXXXXX (feat. Storm Strope)
Later this month, THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE will join Left To Suffer on their North American Winter tour. The three-week journey runs from January 22nd in Atlanta, Georgia through February 22nd in Dallas, Texas. Additional support will be provided by Fr3ak as well as Your Spirit Dies and LarcɆnia RoɆ on select dates. Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed shows below.
THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE w/ Left To Suffer, Fr3ak, Your Spirit Dies: 1/22/2026 Masquerade – Atlanta, GA 1/23/2026 Conduit – Winter Park, FL 1/24/2026 Oscura – Tampa, FL 1/26/2026 Radio Room – Greenville, SC 1/28/2026 Local 506 – Chapel Hill, NC 1/29/2026 Metro Music Hall – Baltimore, MD 1/30/2026 Meadows – New York, NY 1/31/2026 Palladium – Worcester, MA 2/01/2026 Empire Live Underground – Albany, NY 2/03/2026 Preserving Underground – Pittsburgh, PA 2/04/2026 Garrison – Toronto, ON
w/ Left To Suffer, Fr3ak, LarcɆnia RoɆ: 2/05/2026 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI 2/06/2026 Reggie’s – Chicago, IL 2/07/2026 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, MN 2/08/2026 X-Ray Arcade – Cudahy, WI 2/10/2026 Marquis – Denver, CO 2/11/2026 Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM 2/12/2026 Launchpad – Mesa, AZ 2/13/2026 Glass House – Pomona, CA 2/14/2026 Cornerstone – Berkeley, CA 2/15/2026 Goldfield Trading Post – Roseville, CA 2/17/2026 Eagle Hall – Las Vegas, NV 2/19/2026 Vibes Underground – San Antonio, TX 2/20/2026 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX 2/21/2026 The Secret Group – Houston, TX 2/22/2026 Puzzles Deep Ellum – Dallas, TX
THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE: Wyatt McLaughlin – guitars Tyler Beam – vocals Andrew Petway – bass Dylan Potts – drums
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s ASA unveil the long-overdue release of "Collective Failure" + first music video for title-track! Check it out and stay tuned for more news! Click image to watch the video
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
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Visionary artist KIMMO KUUSNIEMI's ANCIENT STREAMING ASSEMBLY (ASA) have released “Aurora Nuclearis”, a powerful 12-minute audiovisual experience, dedicated to the Late Keyboardist Esa Kotilainen. - Click image to watch the video
Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 