Dawn of Destiny at Rathaus Herne. f.l. Michael Marquardt, Jeanette Scherff and Jens Faber. Photo: Patrick Mammen, Stadt Herne
DAWN OF DESTINY are releasing “Night Of All Nights,” the first Christmas song in the band’s history. In a press interview, Jens Faber said: “I’ve already written five or six Christmas songs, but why keep them to yourself? We have a label that’s willing to release our music. Besides, our lyrics are often thought-provoking, especially during the contemplative time of year.”
Dawn Of Destiny is a constant in the German metal scene! For almost 20 years, the power metallers have been delivering one great album after another, with the last two albums reaching the millions on Spotify.
Extreme metal powerhouse YHWH have unleashed their latest sonic assault with Khatha, a short but devastatingly punishing five-track EP that showcases the band at their most raw and uncompromising.
Khatha breathes life into previously unrecorded compositions, each track a brutal confrontation with human cruelty, societal injustice, and the darker corners of myth and the mind. With unrelenting intensity, YHWH deliver a statement that refuses to compromise, reinforcing their place as one of modern extreme metal’s most intense and thought-provoking forces.
Khatha strips away all pretense, delivering five tracks of pure extreme metal that challenge listeners to confront uncomfortable truths. From the opening salvo to the final crushing note, YHWH demonstrate why they’ve become essential listening for fans of uncompromising heavy music. The previously unrecorded material showcases the band’s evolution while maintaining the ferocity that has defined their sound. Each composition serves as a mirror to humanity’s darkest impulses, forcing listeners to gaze unflinchingly into the abyss.
Khatha represents YHWH’s commitment to extreme metal at its most vital and unforgiving. In an era of overproduced mediocrity, the band delivers an honest statement that reminds us why extreme music matters. This is metal that doesn’t just entertain, it challenges, provokes, and leaves permanent scars.
For fans of uncompromising extreme metal who demand substance with their savagery, Khatha is essential listening.
Check out Hell on Earth (The Root of All Evil) Lyric Video:
Formed in 2024, YHWH is a Belgian/Thai black metal band. All music is composed by Schem HaMephorash and her sister C. Bones, with S.M. Goat Ritual joining in June. Following their debut EP Tetragrammaton (April 2025, Wormholedeath), the band now unleashes the second chapter: Khatha. Prepare for the doom.
Europe’s leading horror punk institution THE OTHER return with a brand-new single, “Vincent Price – Master Of Menace”, taken from the original soundtrack of the international documentaryThe Vincent Price Legacy.
The two-hour documentary – co-produced by daugher Victoria Price – covers the life and work of Hollywood legend Vincent Price and features interviews with colleagues such as Alice Cooper, Rob Zombie, John Landis, Joe Dante, and David Dastmalchian. The documentary will be shown at film festivals worldwide before being released for home entertainment by Wicked Vision.
The track appears in two versions – OST Version and Heavy Version – as 7″ in a bundle with their new album Alienated in the band’s web shop. The “Heavy Version” is only available on this 7” while the “Original Soundtrack Version” will also be released digitally on December 12, 2026 on all streaming platforms.
True to THE OTHER’s unmistakable style, the song is a catchy, theatrical tribute to one of horror cinema’s most iconic figures, blending dark punk energy with cinematic tension.
With “Vincent Price – Master Of Menace”, THE OTHER open yet another chapter in their long-running love letter to horror culture – this time honoring the legendary master of the macabre himself. Singer Rod Usher adds a few personal thoughts: “We’ve written a few songs about the movies of Vincent Price. ‘The Last Man On Earth’ appeared on our second album, as did ‘The Ghost Of Hollywood’ – a song about Price, Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and other horror legends. Another Price-themed song – ‘The Murder in the House of Wax’ – is a track on our third album. Sadly we did not film a video for the new soundtrack song that is now coming out. We had some ideas but anything we would have filmed would have to live up to Vincent Price’s films. Which is impossible. So we decided not to do it.”
The release follows a major milestone in the band’s career: their new albumAlienatedentered the German Album Charts at #6, marking one of the strongest chart placements in the band’s history. The record, released via Massacre Records, represents a powerful “back to the roots” return filled with goth-punk anthems, vintage horror vibes, and THE OTHER’s trademark macabre storytelling.
Produced by Tim Schulte (Callejon, Massendefekt, Rogers) Alienated showcases the revitalized lineup featuring Rod Usher, Andy Only, J. Ends, Van Tom, and Jag Boone – a formation that has already proven its strength across the recently released singles A Ghost From The 80s, Hier Sein and the rock radio favorite: I Give You The Creeps.
THE OTHER are: Rod Usher – Vocals Jag Boone – Drums Van Tom – Guitar, Backing-Vocals J. Ends – Guitar, Backing Vocals Andy Only – Bass, Backing Vocals
Dark Essence Records has welcomed the True Norwegian Hard Rock trio Draken to their roster and is ready to release the bands third album in the spring of 2026.
Formed in 2019 by Even Hermansen (guitar/vocals), Hallvard Gaardløs (bass/vocals) and André Drage (drums), Draken has carved out a fierce sonic identity at the crossroads of heavy rock and metal. Drawing inspiration from bands like High on Fire, Motörhead and Entombed, their sound is defined by down-tuned guitars, massive riffs and raw energy.
Draken has this to say about the signing: We’re proud and excited to announce that Draken has signed with Dark Essence Records! A new chapter begins – and in 2026, we’ll release our third album Here Be Dragons. Recorded at Amper Tone and produced by the band together with engineer Kim Lillestøl.
This will be our heaviest and most uncompromising release yet – and we can’t wait to share it with you. Thanks to everyone who’s been with us so far. This one will go to 11…
To celebrate this news and the festive season we’re at, the track Jólablót from the new album is released today. You can stream/download the track here: https://orcd.co/jolablot
The band has this to say about Jólablót: We woke up screaming one night, as we realized that we hadn’t yet written a true Norwegian disco metal banger about how much we fucking hate Christmas! I mean we hate all aspects of Christmas, the religious, the modern commercialisation of – imagine our shame! So, this is our humble attempt to rectify the situation once and for all. Think the evilest parts of Donna Summer, Gloria Gaynor and Haddaway, with hints of Gojira, and maybe a little sprinkle of Refused.
We were originally going to call this epic party anthem Antichrist Mass but settled for the much more sensible Viking name Jólablót, after all the kids in our neighbourhood started threatening us with violence. Just as well, since we really do like drinking and eating around the time of the winter solstice. So happy jólablót to you too! Enjoy!
Their first two albums – Draken (2021) and Book of Black (2023) – were released on Swedish label Majestic Mountain Records and received strong reviews across Norwegian and European press. The upcoming album Here Be Dragons was recorded at Amper Tone in Oslo and produced by the band together with engineer Kim Lillestøl.
Draken has performed across Norway and Sweden and toured central Europe with Spidergawd. With a new label and a new album on the horizon, the band is ready to take things to the next level.
Australian-Finnish dark progressive gothic metal collective THE ETERNAL have announced their upcoming EP “Celestial“, set for release on January 16, 2026 via Reigning Phoenix Music, and have dropped the first video single, ‘It All Ends‘.
Pre-save / pre-order the EP, available on all major digital platforms and as an extremely limited-edition eco-friendly recycled vinyl: https://theeternal.rpm.link/celestialPR
‘It All Ends’ marks the first preview of “Celestial” and sets the tone with a powerful mix of haunting atmosphere, melancholic weight, and progressive finesse. The track unfolds slowly and deliberately, pulling the listener into its storm of brooding riffs, somber melodies, and an emotional vocal performance that feels both intimate and colossal. The song’s dynamics build toward a towering, epic finale that showcases the band’s cinematic approach to heavy music.
Lyrically, ‘It All Ends’ cuts deep. Vocalist and guitaristMark Kelson, who also designed & edited the video, explains:
“The lyrics of “It All Ends” convey a stark meditation on betrayal, disillusionment, and the collapse of trust. Through the recurring imagery of “empty words” and “broken shards,” the song captures the futility of promises that have lost their meaning and the devastation left in their wake. The repetition of the phrase “it all ends” underscores the inevitability and finality of this unraveling, while the storm imagery reflects the emotional turbulence beneath the surface. At its core, the song portrays the painful recognition that fractured communication and faithlessness lead to irreversible endings, leaving behind a lingering sense of loss that feels both suffocating and inescapable.”
With Mark Kelson (vocals/guitars) and Richie Poate (guitars) in Melbourne, joined by Jan Rechberger (drums, Amorphis) and Niclas Etelävuori (bass, ex‑Amorphis/Flat Earth) in Helsinki, THE ETERNAL are proving themselves a genuinely international collaboration and with the forthcoming EP, fans and first-time listeners alike get a first taste of the band’s signature intensity and powerful new material.
“Celestial” Track Listing:
Absence Of Light
Celestial Veil
It All Ends
Bleeding Into Light
Casting Down Shadows
Everlasting MMXXVI
THE ETERNAL is: Mark Kelson / Guitar & Vocals Richie Poate / Guitar Niclas Etelävuori / Bass Jan Rechberger / Drums & Percussion
Riding on the recent success of having two more songs featured in the acclaimed HBO/DC series Peacemaker, the Scandinavian menace known as THE CRUEL INTENTIONS are back in full force launching a new single together with a hard-hitting music video.
Today, the band releases “Beating in My Chest,” a high-octane burst of Sunset Strip swagger that digs into the heart of Lizzy DeVine’s years in Los Angeles.
The track mixes nostalgia, grit and melodic sleaze-rock energy into one roaring anthem, an electrified postcard from a time filled with wild nights, big ambitions and zero regrets.
“‘Beating In My Chest’ channels the rush of my L.A. years, a roaring mix of nostalgia, grit and heart straight from the Sunset Strip. It’s basically my love letter to L.A.,the nights, the chaos, the dreams. That city still runs in my veins, no matter how far I go,” says DeVine.
Fueled by racing riffs, sharp hooks and the band’s signature blend of melodic hard rock and modern sleaze, “Beating In My Chest” lands as a raw and irresistibly catchy modern-rock anthem. At the same time, they’re releasing a new music video directed by Max Ljungberg, adding even more edge and attitude to the track. Together, this release strengthens their status as one of the most relentless forces in today’s rock scene.
With two critically acclaimed albums on Indie Recordings and millions of global streams, the band has already carved out a solid international presence. Their profile rose even higher with a total of five songs featured in HBO/DC’s Peacemaker, accompanied by praise from director and DC Studios co-CEO James Gunn. Building on that momentum, the Oslo-based Swedish/Norwegian outfit continues to grow their reach while staying true to their raw, adrenaline-fueled roots.
THE CRUEL INTENTIONS are: Lizzy DeVine – Vocals & Guitar Kristian Solhaug – Guitar Mats Wernerson- Bass Robin Nilsson – 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 ) 