Nordic-Sámi musician and storyteller Emil Kárlsen is now releasing a new single called “Heikka-vilba”. The track is a yoik inspired on the dovdna (traditional children’s yoik) that Emil sang to his cousin Heikka. The title translates to Cousin Heikka. Vilba is slang for vilbealli, meaning “cousin”.
Emil shares: “As a child, Heikka had a special running-style, almost jumping as he made his way, and sometimes he would surprise with comments that you usually expected from an older, wise man. These quirks layed the foundation for his dovdna.”
As Heikka grew up, so did the yoik, developing into a song with a musical arrangement to it. “Heikka-vilba” was recorded in Berlin, where Emil’s aunt also joined to yoik her nephew. Together they developed a majestic sound with the portrayal of Heikka in mind.
Emil Kárlsen’s work is rooted in heritage while embracing the new. His signature sound—where ancient yoik meets modern songwriting—offers a rare and authentic perspective in the Nordic music scene. In addition to his musical career, Emil starred in the critically acclaimed Disney+ series “How to Cook a Bear,” further expanding his creative journey.
Songwriter, actor, yoiker, and producer Emil Ráste Karlsen—better known under his artist name Emil Kárlsen—is an indigenous multi-instrumentalist born in 1997, originally from the coastal Northern Sámi community of Omasvuotna/Storfjord. Combining traditional Sámi yoiks with melodic pop songwriting and a strong band foundation, Emil’s music offers a deeply rooted sound that bridges generations and cultures.
At the core of Emil’s artistry lies a powerful intent: to build connections between people, places, and time. After a decade of performing in Norwegian with his award-winning band Resirkulert, Emil made the deliberate choice to write in his mother tongue, Northern Sámi, and to revive the tradition of juoiggan (yoiking) in the coastal Sámi areas—a form of resistance and reclamation of identity through sound.
Emil is also a celebrated actor with the Sámi National Theatre Beaivváš and stars in the acclaimed Disney+ TV series To Cook a Bear. Yet, it is on stage as a musician that Emil feels most at home. Whether performing solo, with his band, or backed by a full orchestra, Emil Kárlsen delivers emotionally charged, magnetic performances that leave a lasting impact. Every concert is a living expression of his culture and charisma—never quite the same, and always unforgettable. Through music and art, Emil Kárlsen expresses gratitude that his culture not only survives but thrives.
Not long to go until Japanese metalcore force Crystal Lake are releasing their 7th album “The Weight of Sound”. Set for a release January 23rd, 2026, via Century Media Records, the band has now unveiled with “Neversleep” another single from the upcoming record. The track, which features Myke Terry from Volumes and Fire From The Gods on vocals, offers one of the darker pieces of the record that showcases the band’s great range of hard-hitting metalcore paired with deathcore elements. Myke Terry’s vocals carry the song’s heaviness alongside John, creating a perfect fusion. “Neversleep” follows on prior released singles “The Weight of Sound”, and “Crossing Nails”, and “BlüdGod”.
Guitarist and founder YD shares about the single: “This track is the one where I poured in the Hardcore/Metal/Punk elements that I’ve carried as my own background to the limit.
It’s simple, but with an extra twist, and at times hybrid arrangements, updating it into the kind of extreme sound that represents the current Crystal Lake.
Every part of the song is made for you to dance, so don’t think too much — just feel it and enjoy.
Stay heavy.”
Crystal Lake Live
Japanese powerhouse Crystal Lake will be joining forces with American metalcore band Miss May I for a co-headline tour during early spring 2026 in Europe and the UK. The tour will also feature Great American Ghost, and Diesect as special guests. With a total of 21 stops, the tour will cover The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, France, and the UK.
CRYSTAL LAKE & MISS MAY I EUROPEAN CO-HEADLINE TOUR 2026 With Special Guests: GREAT AMERICAN GHOST DIESECT
24.02.26 The Netherlands Utrecht @ Tivoli Pandora 25.02.26 Belgium Antwerp @ Zappa 27.02.26 Germany Karlsruhe @ Substage 28.02.26 Germany Cologne @ Essigfabrik 01.03.26 Germany Hamburg @ Logo 02.03.26 Germany Berlin @ SO36 03.03.26 Czech Republic Prague @ Rock Cafe 05.03.26 Austria Vienna @ Szene 06.03.26 Germany Munich @ Backstage 07.03.26 Switzerland Geneva @ PTR/L’Usine 09.03.26 Spain Barcelona @ Razzmatazz 2 10.03.26 Spain Madrid @ Copérnico 11.03.26 Portugal Lisbon @ LAV Lisboa ao Vivo 12.03.26 Spain Vitoria @ Jimmy Jazz 14.03.26 France Paris @ Nouveau Casino 15.03.26 France Lille @ The Black Lab 16.03.26 UK Southampton @ The Brook 17.03.26 UK Cardiff @ Tramshed 19.03.26 UK London @ O2 Academy Islington 20.03.26 UK Manchester @ Club Academy 21.03.26 UK Glasgow @ The Garage 22.03.26 UK Birmingham @ O2 Academy2
The band will also be supporting Of Mice & Men on their Australia Tour next year in May.
05.05.2026 AU Perth @Magnet House 06.05.2026 AU Adelaide @Lion Arts Factory 08.05.2026 AU Melbourne @Max Watts 09.05.2026 Sydney @Manning Bar 10.05.2026 Brisbane @The Triffid
The Weight of Sound – Tracklist
Everblack (feat. David Simonich) BlüdGod (feat. Taylor Barber) Neversleep (feat. Myke Terry) King Down The Undertow (feat. Karl Schubach) The Weight of Sound Crossing Nails Dystopia (feat. Jesse Leach) Sinner Don’t Breathe Coma Wave
Crystal Lake are
John Robert Centorrino – Lead Vocals Yudai “YD” Miyamoto – Guitar Hisatsugu “TJ” Taji – Guitar Gaku Taura – Drums Mitsuru – Bass
Creatures of the Night, rejoice! When the days are getting longer in early May CEMETERY SKYLINEwill embark on another quest spreading nocturnal splendour and “Nordic Gothic” in Finland. After selling out all dates in March 2025, playing European festivals and a short Latin American tour the band is looking forward to getting together again for some of their rare shows. Support will come from Sweden’s finest gothic metal changelings TRIBULATION.
Santeri Kallio (keyboards) comments: “It will be so cool to tour Finland again. Ever since the previous one, that was quite successful but too short, we’ve been feverishly thirsty for a new round. Last time there were a lot of stones left still unturned so let’s continue, hell yeah! The band is in better shape than ever before, thanks to the long festival summer and the South American tour. As we all know this is – and will be – a rare treat again, so it’s worth jumping on it. See you on tour!”
Fellow bats shouldn’t miss the chance to be engulfed by “Nordic Gothic” on the following shows:
John Smith & Kaaoszine present: CEMETERY SKYLINE with Special Guests TRIBULATION
06.05.26 Turku – Logomo 07.05.26 Tampere – Tavara-Asema 08.05.26 Kuopio – Sawohouse 09.05.26 Oulu – Tullisali 10.05.26 Helsinki – Tavastia
The album “Nordic Gothic” was released to much acclaim last year. Revisit all their videos released so far:
Cemetery Skyline is: Vocals: Mikael Stanne (Dark Tranquillity, The Halo Effect, Grand Cadaver) Guitars: Markus Vanhala (Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum, I Am The Night) Keyboards: Santeri Kallio (Amorphis) Bass: Victor Brandt (Dimmu Borgir, Witchery, ex-Entombed/Entombed A.D., Firespawn and many more) Drums: Vesa Ranta (Sentenced, The Abbey)
On January 16th, blackened deathcore quintet Ov Sulfur will release their sophomore album, Endless, via Century Media Records. Propelled by the vocalizations of frontman Ricky Hoover, Ov Sulfur pushes the boundaries of their deathcore origins on this upcoming record, simultaneously embracing black metal while exploring a surprising degree of melody that never dilutes their genre-decimating approach. Watch the video for the new single “Vast Eternal” below.
Guitarist/vocalist Chase Wilson reveals, “Imagine if you died and were all alone in an endless void of nothingness: no friends, no family, just endless dark and loneliness. That’s the mood we wanted to set while writing this song. You can hear that Leviathvn took the reins (his first Ov Sulfur song as lead writer!) with its chaotic black metal chorus and war march verse. This song goes through a mental breakdown, a person losing their sanity in the endless void.”
Vocalist Ricky Hoover affirms the topic, with a dive into the unconscious mind from which the song was birthed. “This song is about dreams I’ve had repeatedly since the passing of my grandma, to whom we dedicated ‘Wither,’ in which my consciousness exists in nothingness forever. In that sleeping world, there’s no Heaven, no Hell after death…just nothingness.”
On their upcoming sophomore album, Ov Sulfur delve deeper into the darkened sonic landscapes that defined the Las Vegas quintet’s 2023 landmark debut, The Burden Ov Faith. Catapulted by the return of ex-Suffokate vocalist Ricky Hoover, Ov Sulfur take a more metaphorical approach to the disdain for religion that drove their previous material. What would actually happen if eternal life existed? Eternal doubt, longing, grief, fear and more would drive humans mad. The message comes through loud and clear atop Leviathvn’s pummeling drums, with guitarist/vocalist Chase Wilson’s gravelly singing complementing Hoover; the vocal attack is pushed further live by latest additions bassist Josh Bearden and guitarist Christian Becker, bringing their performance to the next level.
The vocal dynamics and melodic choruses are extended to the max on Endless; songs like the hard rocking “Wither” and ballad “Endless//Loveless” are a logical extension to the band’s realization that Ricky could belt with the best of ’em.
“I was originally only going to sing a soft intro to ‘Earthen’ on our last album,” reveals Hoover. “Once Chase and our vocal producer [for that album] Morgoth heard it, we reworked a bunch of stuff for me to sing more. That’s pushed further here. Chase even taught me to do falsetto in-studio (he actually took a video on his phone where I looked genuinely shocked I hit the notes because it was so new to me).”
Wilson expands on the vocal growth: “There is a lot of vocal interplay between the two of us, hinted at on ‘The Burden Ov Faith‘s ‘The Inglorious Archetype,’ inspired by Alice In Chains‘ Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell. You can hear that on ‘Evermore,’ and we practically split ‘Wither’ down the middle; the song is about us both losing grandparents, so it’s super personal.”
That dynamism is helped along by vocal features from Johnny Ciardullo (Carcosa), Josh Davies (Ingested) and Alan Grnja (Distant), joining Ov Sulfur’s illustrious guest list that includes Howard Jones (ex-Killswitch Engage, Light the Torch), Alex Terrible (Slaughter to Prevail) and many more.
Having already proved themselves as a formidable live act, touring with the likes of Lorna Shore, Signs of the Swarm, and Nekrogoblikon, Ov Sulfur recently announced an extensive tour with Orbit Culture and Atlas in the new year, after they wrapped up their resent trek with Ingested, Distant, Cell, and Crucifiction. See below for all dates!
Ov Sulfur tour dates w/ Orbit Culture, Atlas
February 18, 2026 – Roseville, CA @ Goldfield Trading Post February 19, 2026 – Portland, OR @ Star Theater February 20, 2026 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon February 22, 2026 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater February 24, 2026 – Calgary, AB @ Palace Theatre February 25, 2026 – Edmonton, AB @ Midway Music Hall February 27, 2026 – Saskatoon, SK @ Louis’ February 28, 2026 – Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theater March 3, 2026 – Toronto, ON @ Opera House March 5, 2026 – Montreal, QC @ Beanfield Theatre March 6, 2026 – Ottawa, ON @ The Bronson March 7, 2026 – Buffalo, NY @ Electric City March 9, 2026 – Allentown, PA @ Archer Music Hall March 10, 2026 – Silver Spring, MD @ Fillmore Silver Spring March 11, 2026 – New York, NY @ Gramercy Theater March 13, 2026 – New Haven, CT @ Toad’s March 14, 2026 – Worcester, MA @ Palladium March 16, 2026 – Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues Cleveland March 17, 2026 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground March 18, 2026 – Chicago, IL @ House of Blues Chicago March 20, 2026 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave II March 21, 2026 – Detroit, MI @ El Club March 23, 2026 – Lexington, KY @ Manchester Music Hall March 24, 2026 – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade March 25, 2026 – Charlotte, NC @ The Underground March 27, 2026 – Orlando, FL @ House of Blues Orlando March 28, 2026 – St. Petersburg, FL @ Jannus Live March 30, 2026 – Houston, TX @ House of Blues March 31, 2026 – Dallas, TX @ The Echo Lounge & Music Hall April 1, 2026 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom April 3, 2026 – Denver, CO @ Gothic Theatre April 5, 2026 – Salt Lake City, UT @ The Grand at The Complex April 6, 2026 – Las Vegas, NV @ Brooklyn Bowl April 7, 2026 – Mesa, AZ @ The Nile April 9, 2026 – Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory April 10, 2026 – Los Angeles, CA @ Regent Theater
Ov Sulfur line-up: Ricky Hoover – vocals Chase Wilson – guitars, vocals Leviathvn – drums Josh Bearden – bass Christian Becker – guitars
Photo by Agnes Köhler, Nima Taheri, Joyce Van Doorn. Editing by Daniele Valeriani
The most influential black metal band in history returns with their seventh studio album, Liturgy of Death. With this new chapter, Mayhem once again cement their reputation as one of the most relentless forces in extreme metal. Nearly forty years into their career, the band turns its gaze toward the unavoidable truth of mortality. Liturgy of Death explores the philosophy of mortality with stark, uncompromising clarity. The album presents death not as an ending, but as a universal law that touches all life and exposes the fragility of human existence. This impermanence becomes a call to live with full intensity, for every gain and loss ultimately falls back into the same silence. Echoing ancient philosophies, the album portrays life as a transitional state and death as a gateway to a higher form of being, while the solemn, dark beauty of death permeates the entire work.
“Despair” captures this vision in its most visceral form. The track unravels the collapse of being through ritualistic chants, Latin invocations, and blistering blast beats that echo like the pulse of annihilation. Attila’s vocals summon an ancient, fatal truth: the fading of light, the inevitability of death, and the recognition of human fragility. “Despair” stands as the album’s stark revelation — the moment where death is not feared but understood.
“DEATH OVER EUROPE” HEADLINER TOUR AND TEASE POSSIBLE NEW ALBUM. GET YOUR TICKETS HERE
MAYHEM – DEATH OVER EUROPE 2026
05-02-2026 · NL · Groningen · Spot 06-02-2026 · NL · Utrecht · Tivoli Vredenburg 07-02-2026 · DE · Herford · Kulturwerk Herford 08-02-2026 · BE · Liège · OM 10-02-2026 · UK · London · Electric Ballroom 11-02-2026 · FR · Paris · Elysée Montmartre 12-02-2026 · FR · Toulouse · Le Bikini 14-02-2026 · PT · Lisbon · LAV Lisboa Ao Vivo 15-02-2026 · ES · Madrid · La Riviera 17-02-2026 · IT · Milano · Alcatraz 18-02-2026 · CH · Solothurn · Kulturfabrik Kofmehl 19-02-2026 · AT · Vienna · Simm City 20-02-2026 · DE · Regensburg · Airport Eventhall 21-02-2026 · CZ · Prague · PAVILON C 22-02-2026 · DE · Berlin · Huxleys Neue Welt 24-02-2026 · PL · Gdansk · B90 25-02-2026 · LV · Riga · Spelet 26-02-2026 · FI · Helsinki · Kulttuuritalo 28-02-2026 · SE · Gothenburg · Eriksbergshallen
With Necrobutcher, Hellhammer, Attila, Morten, and Ghul locked into a unit tighter than ever, Liturgy of Death celebrates Mayhem’s own legacy, a continuation of the raw and uncompromising sound that defined their beginnings. The result is a merciless record – dark, fast, and unrelenting – that captures the band in their most dangerous and vital form. Forty-one years since their formation in Langhus, Mayhem remain a defining force in Norwegian black metal, continuing to shape the sound they helped create.
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.
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 ) 