Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

A COLD PARADISE Unleash Music Video for New Single ‘Are You Holding Me Back?’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 11, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: A COLD PARADISE. Leave a comment

With their self-titled debut album on the horizon, modern metal outfit A COLD PARADISE have released a brand-new music video for their latest single, “Are You Holding Me Back?”. The band’s upcoming studio offering will be released on August 28 via PERCEPTION – A Division Of Reigning Phoenix Music.

Fans can already pre-save the album here: https://acp.rpm.link/albumPR

Following the previously released singles, “Are You Holding Me Back?” showcases another powerful side of ACP’s sound. Balancing crushing heaviness with emotional intensity and soaring melodies, the track captures the band’s ability to combine high-voltage energy with deeply personal songwriting. The accompanying music video mirrors this dynamic, underlining the song’s emotional tension while amplifying its raw intensity. Singer Antonio Calanna reveals:

“Some prisons don’t have walls. Sometimes they are built from memories, promises, and feelings we are afraid to let go of. ‘Are You Holding Me Back?’ is about reaching the point where love and pain become impossible to distinguish. It is the voice of someone standing at a crossroads, asking whether the person they love is still walking beside them or quietly holding them back. More than anything, it is a song about courage; the courage to ask difficult questions and face uncomfortable truths.”

Stream “Are You Holding Me Back?”: https://acp.rpm.link/holdingPR

A COLD PARADISE is a modern alternative metal band founded in 2025 by Antonio Calanna, known to many metalheads as the former vocalist of All For Metal. The project was born from a desire to emphasize atmosphere, melody, and emotional depth within heavy music, without compromising its force.

Rooted in genuine feeling, A COLD PARADISE builds its sound from the inside out, letting emotion guide both songwriting and production. Heavy riffs collide with expressive melodies, cinematic atmospheres, and carefully woven electronic elements that shape the emotional arc of each song. The band works with a defined collective identity: music, lyrics, and visuals all feed into the same artistic world, where storytelling, contrast, and emotional weight matter as much as the breakdowns. Living in the tension between vulnerability and force, A COLD PARADISE blends modern metal and rock with immersive textures to create a dynamic, evocative, and unmistakably human sound.

Since their formation, A COLD PARADISE have quickly proven themselves as one of the most promising new names in modern metal. Seamlessly blending metalcore, alternative metal and contemporary melodic influences, the band creates a sound that is both crushing and cinematic, equally driven by aggression and vulnerability.

Their upcoming debut album marks an important milestone, presenting a collection of songs that explore themes of inner conflict, personal growth and emotional resilience. Combining massive riffs, memorable hooks and heartfelt lyricism, A Cold Paradise delivers a dynamic and emotionally charged listening experience that highlights the band’s musical identity.

Tracklist:

1. Here I rise
2. Are You Holding Me Back?
3. The Prettiest Girl On Earth
4. El Perdón
5. Once Upon A Dream
6. Is It Really Over?
7. Claws Of The Lion
8. Kill U Softly
9. Impatient
10. Talking To The Moon
11. Waking Up
12. Your Lullaby

A COLD PARADISE Artist Line-Up:

More on A COLD PARADISE:
Facebook |Instagram | Tik Tok | Youtube

MENTAL CRUELTY Awaken ‘The Serpent of Midgard’ with Crushing New Single + Cinematic Video

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 11, 2026

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MENTAL CRUELTY unleashes their crushing new single “The Serpent of Midgard.” Diving deeper into Norse mythology, the track tells the tale of Loki’s second child, Jörmungandr, and his legendary final battle with Thor. Blending crushing heaviness with black metal and melodic death metal influences, the song captures their fateful confrontation as the giant serpent rises from the depths. Never wake the giant – or witness the end of the world.

MENTAL CRUELTY about the new single:

“On last year’s ‘Helheim,’ we expanded our instruments beyond typical deathcore fare (guitar, bass, drums and, of course, monstrous vocals) to include folk music’s talharpa, aiding in the telling of Norse mythology’s Hel. It’s only appropriate we continue darkening our sound with more black metal and melodeath inspirations as we tell the story of her brother, Jörmungandr, the titular ‘Serpent of Midgard,’ in his epic ocean battle with his uncle Thor. For those unfamiliar with the folklore, it ends in both of their demises: talk about family issues!

“Musically, we wanted to capture the intensity of the conflict, with our guitarist Nahuel Lozano’s working title of ‘Gojibehe’ summing up key influences. You can guess those, but we’ll spell out the inspiration behind the chunky mid-section and the closest thing we get to a full-on breakdown here: our brothers Signs of the Swarm and the insane tones on their latest album!

“But while we learned from bands we look up to and friends alike musically, sadly, we never learn from ourselves and once again shot the music video in subzero temperatures. The results are worth it—you can see for yourself—but damn, that was cold.”

Following a packed touring schedule across Europe and North America, MENTAL CRUELTY will return to the road later this year for an extensive European headline tour. Joined by Ov Sulfur and Extermination Dismemberment, with Acranius and Sun Eater appearing on select dates, the tour will take the band across 21 cities throughout Europe from late November to December.

Get your tickets here: https://bnds.us/i4cbke

European Headline Tour
w/ Ov Sulfur, Extermination Dismemberment, Acranius, Sun Eater

27.11🇳🇱Rotterdam @ Baroeg ~
28.11🇩🇪Köln @ Club Volta ~
29.11🇳🇱Nijmegen @ Doornrosje ~
30.11🇬🇧Birmingham @ Asylum ~
02.12🇬🇧Manchester @ Academy 3 ~
03.12🇬🇧London @ Downstairs At The Dome ~
04.12🇫🇷Paris @ Glazart ~
05.12🇧🇪Antwerp @ Zappa ~
06.12🇩🇪Hamburg @ Bahnhof Pauli ^
07.12🇩🇰Copenhagen @ Hotel Cecil ^
08.12🇸🇪Stockholm @ Kollektivet Livet ^
10.12🇫🇮Jyväskylä @ Lutakko ^
11.12🇫🇮Helsinki @ Ääniwalli ^
13.12🇸🇪Gothenburg @ Monument ^
14.12🇩🇪Berlin @ Hole 44 ^
15.12🇨🇿Prague @ Rock Café ^
16.12🇩🇪Frankfurt @ Das Bett ~ ^
17.12🇩🇪München @ Backstage ^
18.12🇨🇭Aarau @ KIFF ^
19.12 🇩🇪Schweinfurt @ Alter Stattbahnhof ^
20.12🇩🇪Karlsruhe @ Substage ^

^w/ Acranius
~w/ Sun Eater

Mental Cruelty has been descending into darkness since 2014, when they started as a slamming deathcore band in Karlsruhe, Germany. Since then, they’ve steadily blackened their sound, most hauntingly on 2023’s ‘Zwielicht’ and predecessor ‘A Hill to Die Upon’ (2021). New single “The Serpent of Midgard” and last year’s “Helheim” (both based on Loki’s children from Norse mythology) push the evolution even further, embracing folk metal and melodeath in addition to black metal’s frosty bite.

It’s the kind of genre fluidity that has allowed them to play with Kanonenfieber and Cradle of Filth, in addition to Lorna Shore, Shadow of Intent, Signs of the Swarm, Angelmaker, Synestia, Carnifex, and more. With a forthcoming European headline tour debut, featuring 2024 tourmates Ov Sulfur and Extermination Dismemberment, and hints of more to come, it’s clear a blackened Nacht is coming.

Say, does Loki have any other kids?

MENTAL CRUELTY are:
Lukas Nicolai – Vocals
Nahuel Lozano – Guitars, Vocals
Marvin Kessler – Guitars
Jonathan Koltun – Drums

More info: https://www.mentalcrueltyofficial.com/

GORODA Release New Single + Video ‘Do Something Wrong’, Feat. Bobby Amaru

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 11, 2026

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

Hard rock band GORODA have unleashed their new single and music video, “Do Something Wrong,” featuring Bobby Amaru of Saliva, available now via Judge & Jury Records.

After GORODA opened for Saliva at a sold-out show earlier this year, the bands connected. The mutual respect and appreciation they developed led them to join forces and create “Do Something Wrong.”

“Our song ‘Do Something Wrong’ showcases our creative potential and highlights the genres in which we particularly excel in. The track features a striking musical break, as well as a collaboration with a band that has inspired us for many years. In many ways, the song is a scream, not so much for help, but rather as a response to the tense situations unfolding in the modern world. Through this piece, we aim to show that there is always another way to act…that things can be done differently,” shares the band.

Bobby Amaru adds, “When they sent me the song idea, the first thing that grabbed me was the message. From the lyrics alone, I knew they were writing for the world, not just for themselves. It carried a powerful message of unity and hope, and I felt connected to it right away. I also have a lot of respect for their work ethic and the passion they put into everything they do, so it was an easy yes for me.”

Lyrically, “Do Something Wrong” challenges the notion that people should be forever defined by where they come from, the mistakes they’ve made, or the history they’ve inherited. Instead, the song emphasizes that what truly matters is where you stand today, what you stand for, and who you choose to stand beside. Through its message, GORODA encourages listeners to connect across differences, reject division, and embrace shared humanity. “Do Something Wrong” captures that spirit while introducing the band to an even broader audience through their collaboration with Bobby Amaru.

Musically, GORODA has carved out a sound all their own. Drawing from influences that span synth-wave, progressive jazz, classical music, and modern hard rock, the band blends technical musicianship with emotionally charged songwriting to create an unmistakable sonic identity. Their songs serve as vehicles for collective reflection, urging society to confront its mistakes and resist the corrupt officials and institutions of power.

“Do Something Wrong” feat. Bobby Amaru of Saliva is available now on all major streaming platforms!

For More Information Please Visit: Instagram – TikTok – Spotify – YouTube – Judge and Jury Records

Swedish Hardcore Punk Legends TOTALITÄR Announce Return with Self-Titled Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 11, 2026

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

The legendary Swedish hardcore punk outfit TOTALITÄR are set to make their long-awaited return with a brand-new self-titled album, simply titled “Totalitär”, due out on 28 August 2026 via De:Nihil Records (Europe) and Prank Records (North America). A comeback as unexpected as it is incendiary, reaffirming the band’s status as one of the most uncompromising forces in punk history.

The first single “Vad är det ni vill ha?” is now streaming HERE.

For more than four decades,TOTALITÄR have stood as one of the most influential and uncompromising bands to emerge from the Swedish hardcore punk underground. Formed in Hudiksvall in 1985, the band helped define the sound of Swedish D-beat through a relentless combination of speed, aggression, and political conviction. Their raw and uncompromising approach has inspired countless bands across the globe and secured their place as one of the most respected names in hardcore punk.

From landmark releases such as “Multinationella Mördare”, “Luftslott”, and “Vänd Dig Inte Om” to later classics including “Sin Egen Motståndare” and “Vi Är Eliten”, TOTALITÄR have remained fiercely committed to their vision. Their music has always been driven by a deep distrust of authority, a fierce opposition to oppression and abuse of power, and an unwavering belief in punk as a vehicle for resistance and social critique.

Now, twenty years after the release of “Vi Är Eliten”, TOTALITÄR return with a brand-new self-titled album. Rather than revisiting past glories, TOTALITÄR reaffirm everything that has made the band essential for over forty years: blistering D-beat, razor-sharp riffs, and an intensity that refuses to diminish with age. The new material sounds every bit as urgent and uncompromising as the records that first established the band’s reputation, while carrying the weight and experience of a lifetime spent challenging conformity and complacency.

In an era where many legendary punk bands have either disappeared or softened their edges, TOTALITÄR remain exactly what they have always been: direct, furious, and impossible to ignore. The release of “Totalitär” is not merely a return, it is a powerful reminder that one of hardcore punk’s most vital voices still has something to say, and is saying it louder than ever.

To celebrate the album release, TOTALITÄR will also perform a special show on 26 September 2026 in Malmö, Sweden.

Tickets and details:

Album tracklist:

1. Vad är det ni vill ha?
2. Stolta barbarer
3. Följ din prognos
4. Älskade USA
5.Detta är vad jag fick
6 Det är krig ni vill ha
7. En dag hos terapeuten
8. Himlen – en öppen kloak
9. Fängsla dem alla

Line-up:

Poffen – Vocals
Lanchy – Guitar
Andreas – Bass
Jallo – Drums

De Nihil Records
https://denihilrecords.blogspot.com/
https://www.instagram.com/denihilrecords/

Prank Records
https://prank.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/prankrec/

BESVÄRJELSEN Reveal Lyric Video for Power Ballad ‘Drifters on a Quiet Stream’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 11, 2026

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Swedish forest rockers BESVÄRJELSEN unveil the beautiful lyric video ‘Drifters on a Quiet Stream‘. This power ballad comes in watercolour style with images bearing strange fruit as inspired by the album cover of their forthcoming third full-length “Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem” (Swedish and Latin for: “Into Oblivion”).

“Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem” is scheduled for release on August 28, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records.The album is available for pre-order here: https://spkr.store/collections/besvarjelsen

BESVÄRJELSEN comment: “‘Drifters on a Quiet Stream’ had the working title ‘Elton’ as Elton John was one of the musical inspirations for this song”, drummer Erik Bäckwall reveals. “The intro and main riff was originally intended to be a part of another song. When I got our former bass player Johan to listen to the riff, he rather advised me to create a completely new song from this part. I am really glad now that I did that.“

Lea Amling Alazam adds: “This track explores the ever-present companion of the self – the voice that follows you through life, both to comfort and to critique”, the vocalist explains. “It is the quiet presence on your shoulder. When writing those lyrics, I revisited an old notebook and found a phrase I had once scribbled down: ‘…my ghost and I’. I’m not sure where I first came across this idea, but it stayed with me. It felt like a beautiful and honest way to describe living alongside your own anxiety, and I knew from the start that I wanted to build something around it.”

Tracklist
01. The Greatest Sin
02. Accelerating Hearts
03. Battles
04. Counting Flies
05. Drifters on a Quiet Stream
06. The Mountain
07. Pulse
08. Interlude
09. Didn’t Come to Party
10. Black Wave
11. Oblivion

Swedes are supposed to be cool, and musically, BESVÄRJELSEN sure live up to that stereotype in the best possible way. What the self-proclaimed forest rockers deliver on their third full-length “Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem” is so cool, in fact, that it’s a hot early candidate for rock album of the year.

The ‘forest rock’ moniker is the Swedes’ tongue-in-cheek answer to the term ‘desert rock’, which stylistically provides a great starting point to describe their particular musical brand. Being surrounded not by an abundance of sand but trees in their home province of Dalarna, it was also an obvious choice. On “Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem”, BESVÄRJELSEN keep a profound punk-infused attitude, but have broadened their sound with a wide variety of sonic colours including blues, ska, metal, jazz and everything around and in between as long as it fits the mood of the song.

Add exceptional vocalist Lea Amling Alazam, who developed her passion for punk and stoner rock at the local skate park when she was just 13 years old, to the band’s plethora of riveting hooks and riffs, and you get an album that feels fresh and ready to deliver surprises for months if not years to come. If there is any justice, “Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem” should make BESVÄRJELSEN as famous as the iconic wooden Dala horses that every tourist who visits the country takes home to put on their shelves.

That BESVÄRJELSEN were on the road to greatness became apparent on their previous album, “Atlas” (2022). This record received the prestigious Swedish Manifestgalan Award for “Metal Album of the Year” by the Swedish Independent Music Producers and partners, which crowned a string of excellent reviews around the globe.

BESVÄRJELSEN were co-founded by guitarists and vocalists Andreas Bajer and Staffan Vinrot in 2014. Their musical vision was based on the idea to channel the spirit and traditions of the vast Dalarna forests into a contemporary urban context. On this ancient crossroads of Norse and Finnish cultures, the echoes of runes and gods, shamans and spirits still linger. While drawing heavy inspiration from local lore, mysticism, and the dark, old musical traditions of their homeland, the band name was found in the old Swedish word for “conjuring”: BESVÄRJELSEN.

While the band’s story has its roots in the past of the land, the present came boldly knocking to demand its due. With the discovery of Lea Amling Alazam and her captivating vocals, the plot took a fascinating twist: She had grown up with her feet in more than one world. Accordingly, the charismatic singer added a fresh approach by embracing melodies and phrases of the grunge and emo sounds that defined her youth as well as African and Middle Eastern music with characteristic bluesy undertones.

In 2015, BESVÄRJELSEN released their debut EP “Villfarelser”, followed by the “Exil” EP in 2016. At the time, former DOZER and GREENLEAF drummer Erik Bäckwall joined the line-up as a permanent member. Although both EPs were self-financed and released with minimal promotion, they ended up well-received, and even got airplay on Swedish national radio.

The Swedes’ debut full-length “Vallmo” (2018) merged crushing riffs and storming drums with increasingly sophisticated melodies and thoughtful themes, even earning the band a festival slot opening for DEEP PURPLE. This paved the way for BESVÄRJELSEN to record their sophomore album “Atlas” with producer and drummer Karl Daniel Lidén (GREENLEAF, DOZER, CRIPPLED BLACK PHOENIX) in 2021.

With “Till Glömskan Ad Oblivionem”, BESVÄRJELSEN have conjured ‘Into Oblivion’ twice, in both Swedish and Latin, but the spellbinding five-piece also deliver a cathartic rock album that will rank among the finest heavy releases of the genre and beyond in 2026.

Line-up
Lea Amling Alazam – vocals
Staffan Vinrot – guitars, vocals (& accordion, violin, keys, keyed fiddle)
Andreas Bajer – guitars, vocals
Erik Bäckwall – drums
Marcus Lindqvist – bass

Guest musicians
Fred Burman (SATAN TAKES A HOLIDAY) – lead & backing vocals on ‘Accelerating Hearts’ & backing vocals on ‘Didn’t Come to Party’
Pelle Andersson (LOWRIDER) – organ on ‘Black Wave’

Recorded by Andreas Baier & Marcus Lindqvist at Glashuset, Ludvika (SE)
Mix & mastering by Karl Daniel Lidén at Tri-Lamb Audio Studios, Solna (SE)

Cover art by Björn Olars
Layout by Erik Bäckwall

Links
www.facebook.com/besvarjelsen
www.instagram.com/besvarjelsen

DEFECTS Announce New Album “Artificial Icons” + Reveal Dystopian Video Single ‘Signs’, Feat. Matt Heafy

Posted by tarjavirmakari on July 11, 2026

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

Defects have announced their new album, Artificial Icons, due 16 October via Mascot Records, alongside the dystopian single ‘Signs’ featuring Matt Heafy.

Artificial Icons—produced by Jim Pinder (Sleep Token, Bring Me the Horizon)—fizzes with anger, frustration, and the balance of survival. These songs aren’t just stories; they’re personal fights via homelessness and addiction, messed-up systems, and broken connections.

2024’s Modern Error documented singer Tony Maue’s anguish at being taken into care at a young age. Grief and trauma don’t vanish overnight; they twist and evolve, indifferent to who you are or what you face. Still, you push forward—because you have to. Pandora’s Box has been opened. This continues to chronicle that journey.

One of the album’s standout moments is ‘Signs’ featuring Matt Heafy. ‘Signs’ places the listener in a war-torn setting. “I want to write songs that matter. To make people think,” he affirms. People are dying. This needs to be addressed. It’s about looking for meaning. Trying to find a place to belong. There’s frustration, but also determination, even when the world feels like it’s crumbling. I’m so excited that this one features Matt.”

They hit the road hard in 2024-2025, sweeping across Europe with Trivium, Northlane, Of Mice and Men, Orbit Culture, and Funeral for a Friend. Their festival checklist was epic, Download, Slam Dunk (UK), Mystic (Poland), Rock Im Park, Rock Am Ring, Impericon, Rockharz, Summer Breeze (Germany), Rock For People (Czechia), Jera On Air (Netherlands), Graspop, and Parkpop (Belgium).

Summer 2025 shifted to autumn, uncertainty hung over the band like a looming storm cloud and the heavens metaphorically opened, almost drowning Maue as life complications piled up, threatening to pull him under, reflected on ‘The Other Side’ and ‘Afterglow.’

“‘Afterglow’ was saying, go on without me. I don’t know if I’ll be able to fix myself. The second verse talks about the justification of suicide. Accepting that I’m flawed, and I’ll never change. It was a goodbye message, almost.” “I’m fine now,” he reassures. “The number of times I haven’t been is still outbalanced.”

“Modern Error was built from the very first songs we ever crafted from the moment of getting into a studio together,” says Threadwell. “On this album, we really had the space to develop and grow into ourselves. It’s an exciting metamorphosis.”

The album careers through the socio-political, ‘Artificial Icons,’ and ‘Heresy‘, a confrontation with blind faith and false hope. ‘All For Nothing,’ is aimed inwards. “When I was younger, overthinking led me to drugs. I nearly died. The worst part was feeling alone.” He continues, “When I did drugs, I gave up. If I stop moving forward, I fall back.”

Artificial Icons goes deeper than before, tethering itself to profound life experiences. 2026 offers Defects a bright light, and Tony Maue (vocals) and James Threadwell (guitar) welcome Rowan Jack (drums) and Orlando Morris-Winmill (guitar).

Music continues to light the path. “I can’t give up. I’ve given up before. I know what that looks like, and I’m not doing that again,” Maue reflects, with Threadwell adding, “There’s no limit at this point. We have a vision, and there’s nothing out of reach.”

Track Listing

1. Heresy
2. Artificial Icons
3. Where Did I Go Wrong
4. Signs (feat. Matthew K. Heafy)
5. Interlude
6. Critic
7. State of Mind
8. Hollow
9. The Other Side
10. All For Nothing
11. Afterglow