Hungarian Black Metal one-man band MERCULISTARYA announce its debut full-length album to be released on Pest Records and Metal Ör Die Records this February 20th. Titled “Áradó fájdalom a tűnődés medrében“, this is the deeply personal and emotional work of Árpád Szenti, known from his work in bands like Thy Catafalque, Ahriman, Athame or Damnation.
As a taste of things to come, here’s the first single for the track “Rémálomköd” which features the guest appearance of vocalist Ivett Dudás also of Thy Catafalque fame:
“Áradó fájdalom a tűnődés medrében is a concept album, each song connected, each meaning intertwined, forming a single immersive narrative. It follows a thorn‑ridden path of struggle, fear, disappointment, madness, resignation, and death, contrasted against the vastness of nature, its elemental force, its mysticism, and the unseen dimensions that pulse beneath reality. This album is a fragment of my soul. Through MERCULISTARYA, I unearthed emotions and energies that could not have surfaced through any other form of expression.
MERCULISTARYA is a long‑standing personal vision, a vessel through which my inner world takes musical form. Rooted in the darker currents of old‑school Black Metal, it draws from the place where the genre first spoke to me. The earliest foundations were laid in 2002, when the songs began to take shape, guided by dreams, shadows, and the subconscious landscapes that inspired both the music and the lyrics.
Despite years of obstacles, the album was first recorded in 2009 but remained unreleased as my focus shifted toward the bands in which I served as drummer (Athame, Ahriman, Sentio Ergo Sum, Damnation, Fagyhamu, Voidshrine, and Thy Catafalque). MERCULISTARYA was set aside, waiting for its moment. In 2024, with renewed experience and a stronger technical foundation, I chose to resurrect the material and re‑record the entire work. This final version is the true realization of what the project was always meant to be.” Árpád Szenti
Hungary’s Old-School Technical Death Metal force ANGERSEED returns with their long-awaited second full-length album, “Rapture is Mine… Glory is Ours“, marking nine years since the band’s debut, “The Proclamation“. The new record sees the band reconnecting with its early roots while boldly reshaping its sound into a more modern, dynamic, and expressive form. The lyrical themes delve deeper than before, enhancing the band’s characteristic social-critical perspective with profound inner and spiritual reflections.
The album spans 45 minutes across eight new compositions, followed by a special Hungarian-language bonus track, “Epilógus / Számvetés 33“, a poetic, introspective summation of frontman Peter D. Maniak‘s 33-year musical journey.
The album title reflects the culmination of a long and demanding creative era. This time, Peter D. Maniak assumed full artistic control over the songwriting, defining both the sonic identity and the future direction of ANGERSEED.
“Rapture is Mine… Glory is Ours” is out now on jewel-case CD edition, a collaboration between Pest Records and Metal Ör Die Records, and is available to play / order HERE.
Tracklist:
1. Nothingness is Calling Me 2. Conquering the Nemesis 3. When Life Turns to Grey 4. Barathrum of Consciousness 5. The Emptiness Within 6. Self-Expulsion from Paradise 7. Redefine My Universe 8. With Rapture for the Glory 9. Epilogue / Accounting 33 (Bonus Track)
Line-up:
Peter D. Maniak – vocals, vocals Zoltán Bilcsik – bass guitar Péter Losonczi – guitars (studio session) Jozsef Gáva – Drums (live & studio session)
Recorded by: Losonczi Péter (Saron Records, Debrecen, 2024–2025) Mix/master: István Simon (No Silence Studios) Producers: Angerseed and István Simon Cover and booklet: Bertalan Pór (Krowze)
Formed in 2008 by vocalist Peter D. Maniak, ANGERSEED has performed more than 200 shows in Hungary and abroad, appearing at festivals such as Gothoom, Rockmaraton, Death By Metal, MetalGate Czech Death Fest, and Rockstadt Extreme Fest. The band is also closely connected to the Full Of Anger Underground Metal Festival, currently preparing for its 28th edition.
International metal group Venus 5 – comprised of Karmen Klinc, Jelena Milovanovic, Tezzi Persson (Hell in the Club), Herma (Sick N’ Beautiful), and Erina Seitllari – share today their new single and accompanying visualizer video, “Far Away”, taken from the upcoming new album, “March Of The Venus 5” set for release on March 20, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.
Venus 5, the all-female European pop-metal sensation – return with a stronger, heavier, and more focused second album.
Uniting five distinctive voices from across the continent – Karmen Klinc (Slovenia), Jelena Milovanovic (Serbia), Tezzi Persson (Sweden, singer of Hell in the Club), Herma (Italy, singer of Sick N’ Beautiful), and Erina Seitllari (Albania) – the band pushes its sound to new heights, embracing a more traditional metal direction while retaining the massive hooks and glossy production that defined their debut.
Once again produced by Aldo Lonobile (Secret Sphere), with songwriting contributions from Jake E. (ex-Amaranthe, Cyhra), the album showcases a more mature, riff-driven approach, rich with symphonic and electronic elements, layered vocal harmonies, and explosive choruses tailor-made for fans of Within Temptation, Amaranthe, and modern European metal.
Erina Seitllari stated: “This album feels like a storm made of fire and velvet! Wild, electric, and impossible to hold. Every track carries that spellbinding feminine force, the kind that rises, glows, and refuses to be tamed”.
“The new Venus 5 album is crafted with all the qualities needed for every listener to discover something that resonates. Within it lie unexpected sonic delights, powerful and surprising, that we cannot wait to unveil and let reach the ears of our audience”, continued Karmen Klinc.
With performances at several major festivals already under their belt, Venus 5 are now gearing up to return to the stage in support of the new album – ready to prove that their power is just as undeniable live as it is in the studio.
“March Of The Venus 5” Tracklist:
1. March Of The Venus 5 2. Like A Witch 3. Far Away 4. Set Me Free 5. Stereotypes 6. Surrender 7. Satelite 8. Invincible 9. Winter On My Skin 10. Take It From The Start 11. The Other Shore
As Danish alt-metal visionaries MØL count down to the release of their eagerly awaited new album DREAMCRUSHon 30th January via Nuclear Blast Records, the band unveil ‘CRUSH’, a powerful new single that sharpens the focus on what promises to be their most immersive body of work yet. Arriving as MØL prepare to take DREAMCRUSH on the road across Europe and the UK throughout February, ‘CRUSH’ follows singles ‘Garland‘ and ‘Young‘, offering another glimpse into the emotional intensity that defines their new record.
Guitarist Nicolai Busse comments on the new single, “CRUSH encapsulates in many ways the dichotomy we as a band always have sought to balance, the journey between melancholy and jubilee, uplifting beauty and devastation.
“It is a gradual change or undoing of the known over time. The gravitational push and pull between the individual and the world. An acceptance of the many grey days, the mundane. Right there in the embrace of the chaos within the nuances of blues and yellows – we might discover small hints of slow emerging greens. Of beginning growth.”
DREAMCRUSH Tracklisting: 1.DREAM 2.Små Forlis 3. Young 4. Hud 5. Garland 6. Favour 7. A Former Blueprint 8. ∞ 9. Dissonance 10. Mimic 11. CRUSH
With their third studio album now just weeks away, MØL continue to push deeper into their own creative world. DREAMCRUSHbalances the band’s sharpest, most jagged edges with soaring alt-rock hooks, exploring the fragile space between dreams and reality and how aspiration can both carry us forward and slowly consume us. By weaving melody into even their most aggressive moments, MØL emerge with their most explosive, soul stirring work to date.
Following on from the critically acclaimed Jord (2019) and Diorama (2021), MØL’s latest opus sees their sound continue to evolve as they embrace new horizons – as a band and as individuals. Drawing on influences including My Bloody Valentine, Cocteau Twins and Smashing Pumpkins, the album explores recurring themes of belonging, resilience and finding home within oneself. DREAMCRUSH arrives with a renewed sense of confidence, acceptance and vigour.
Recording took place over several months in Frederik Uglebjerg’s Aarhus studio, allowing the band to shape the album gradually. Vocalist Kim Song Sternkopf explores his baritone register, delivering lyrics in Danish and English that reflect personal introspection and a revisitation of past events. Guitar solos by Nicolai Busse elevate the emotional journey, while abstract, Emil Nolde-inspired artwork by Daniel Owen at Nemesis Design (Sleep Token, Architects, BFMV, TesseracT) and photography by Rolf Meldgaard visually complement the album’s exploration of dreams, reality and emotional reconciliation.
Fans can soon experience the album live as MØL embark on a headline tour across Europe and the UK throughout February with support from Tayne and Cold Night For Alligators, promising shows that translate the album’s intensity into a visceral, unforgettable performance.
Comments vocalist Kim Song Sternkopf,“It feels incredible to bring DREAMCRUSH out into the world, not just through the record, but by stepping back onto stages across Europe and the UK. This will be our second headline run and it honestly feels like a new and thrilling chapter for us in MØL.
“The songs on DREAMCRUSH explore how our hopes and ideals can both lift us up and break us apart. Performing them live will be like tearing up that dream to the crowd, fragile, heavy and luminous all at once.
“We’ve also been lucky to bring along two incredibly solid acts who embody that same spirit in their own ways: TAYNE, with their raw, industrial noise-pop energy and Cold Night for Alligators, who channel this beautifully intricate and emotional strain of alternative metal from Copenhagen. Together, we plan to bring you dynamic and compelling sets each night across Europe and the UK. We can’t wait to see everyone again!”
Feb 6 – Berlin, DE – Hole 44 Feb 7 – Prague, CZ – Futurum Feb 8 – Leipzig, DE – Naummans Feb 9 – München, DE – Feierwerk Feb 10 – Wiesbaden, DE – Kesselhaus Feb 11 – Eindhoven, NL – Effenaar KZ Feb 12 – London, UK – Underworld Feb 13 – Manchester, UK – Rebellion Feb 14 – Glasgow, UK – Classic Grand Feb 15 – Leeds, UK – Key Club Feb 16 – Birmingham, UK – O2 Institute2 Feb 17 – Bristol, UK – Exchange Feb 18 – Paris, FR – Petit Bain Feb 20 – Koln, DE – Club Volta Feb 21 – Hamburg, DE – Betty
MØL are:
Ken Lund Klejs – drums Holger Rumph Frost – bass Kim Song Sternkopf – vocals Sigurd Kehlet – guitars Nicolai Busse – guitars
Symphonic metal sensation BEYOND THE BLACK are celebrating the release of their eagerly awaited sixth studio album Break The Silence!
Break The Silenceis a concept album rooted in melodic metal with ethno influences, it explores themes of communication, inner strength, resilience and the urgent need to reconnect in a divided world. Tracks like ‘Let There Be Rain’, ‘(La Vie Est Un) Cinéma‘, ‘Ravens‘ and ‘The Flood‘ examine how words – and their absence – shape our reality. It’s an emotional, multi-layered experience that mirrors today’s complex world and invites fans to be part of this new chapter.
Coinciding with the album release, BEYOND THE BLACK have premiered a music video for the song ‘Let There Be Rain‘, which features Gergana Dimitrova, a soloist of the Grammy award-winning ensemble The Mystery Of The Bulgarian Voices, on guest vocals.
Singer Jennifer Haben commented: “‘Let There Be Rain‘ is about embracing the storm instead of fighting it, because sometimes the rain is what we need to let go, find clarity and move forward. With this song, our chapter is complete and we’re excited that the full story is now yours to experience.“
German symphonic metal band BEYOND THE BLACK have become one of the most exciting forces in modern symphonic metal, carving an impressive path since their formation. It started with their debut album in 2015: Songs Of Love And Death was an instant success and stayed strong in the German Top15 for weeks, earning the Metal Hammer Award for “Best Debut.” Its successor Lost In Forever (2016) entered the German charts at #4 and paved the way for a major tour through Germany, the UK, Russia and Japan. Since their live debut in 2014, the band has played the world’s biggest metal festivals like Wacken Open Air and supported international metal acts such as AEROSMITH, KORN, SCORPIONS, SAXON, and WITHIN TEMPTATION.
With the release of their third album Heart Of The Hurricane, BEYOND THE BLACK launched their first European headline tour in autumn 2019 – over 20 shows in 10 countries, most of them sold out. The band returned to the studio soon after and in June 2020 released the highly anticipated Horizons, which entered the German album charts at #3 (CH #6, AT #16, BE #53).
After the pandemic-induced break, BEYOND THE BLACK came back stronger than ever: Following a successful European tour in fall 2022, their self-titled fifth album BEYOND THE BLACK dropped in January 2023, charting in several countries (DE #2, UK #2 Rock, CH #6, AT #12, SE #12, US #7 Top New Artist) and marking a new career high.
Following a powerful festival summer, the band toured Australia and New Zealand for the first time in late 2023, as special guests of Swedish metal act THE HALO EFFECT. In early 2024, BEYOND THE BLACK played their most successful European headline tour to date – Dancing In The Dark – followed by more celebrated shows across the continent that summer.
In early 2025, the band reached another milestone with their first-ever Latin America tour, playing headline shows in Argentina, Chile and Mexico, as well as performing at Brazil’s renowned Bangers Open Air. In summer 2025, they will once again take the stage at Europe’s most prestigious festivals, including Wacken Open Air, Hellfest and Graspop.
The excitement continues as BEYOND THE BLACK launch their next European headline tour, Rising High, kicking off this month, tied with the release of their highly anticipated sixth studio album Break The Silence.
Time To Kill Records has signed MASTER’S ASHES for the release of the band’s debut full-length album, “How The Mighty Have Fallen”.
Formed by musicians with decades of experience across some of the most influential and uncompromising corners of heavy music, MASTER’S ASHES brings together a background that spans extreme metal, alternative and experimental sounds, resulting in a project shaped by vision, intent and hard-earned perspective. Rather than relying on past credentials, the band channels that collective history into a focused and confrontational statement, built on atmosphere, weight, and urgency.
Further details on the album, along with the first single, will be revealed in the coming weeks.
MASTER’S ASHES is far more than a band – it’s a reckoning. Forged from the ranks of a few untouchable acts, this collective of battle-hardened musicians brings decades of innovation, chaos, and raw expression into a single, volatile entity. There is that known expression, when something is “more than the sum of its parts”. Well, we’re sure that even if this band was “just” the sum of their parts, Eric Forrest (Voivod), Afzaal Deen and Fred Waring (Crisis), Dan Kaufman (Destroy Judas, Dystopia, Mindrot), Jeff Golden (Six Feet Under, Crowbar), and Katy Crimson (The Convalescence), would already be pretty awesome. Individually, they are legendary. But together, they are unstoppable. A force that refuses to bow, bend, or behave.
Drawing from the atmospheric dread of early-90s alternative heavy music and the radical energy of classic crust, proto-industrial, and apocalyptic metal, MASTER’S ASHES channels the spirit of Amebix, Crisis, Voivod, and Neurosis while igniting something fiercely new. Their sound is a serrated blend of dystopian riffwork, textured samples, and uncompromising intensity. Music built for a world on fire.
True to their name, MASTER’S ASHES stands firmly in defiance: no gods, no masters, only resistance. Their debut full-length, “How The Mighty Have Fallen”, is nothing short of a rallying cry, a scorched-earth commentary on the current political climate and a ruthless slap in the face to anyone expecting business as usual. It’s a dark, atmospheric, and aggressive opening statement from a band unafraid to speak truth to power and tear down the false idols of a collapsing age.
MASTER’S ASHES stands as a testament to what happens when experience, conviction, and rebellion collide. This is not a nostalgia act. This is not a supergroup gimmick. This is the next wave of resistance: loud, unfiltered, and inevitable.
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
Ads
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 ) 