SOULGRIND Return with Third Single ‘Dark Water Wide’ from Upcoming 10th Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 22, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Timo Muilu, edited by JP Immonen / Lord Heikkinen

The legendary Finnish metal band Soulgrind, founded in 1992, is set to release its tenth album ‘Ad Pulchram Mortem’ on August 14th 2026 via Inverse Records. The third single ‘Dark Water Wide’ is unleashed today and it’s available here: https://push.fm/fl/soulgrind-dark-water

–Composed by Lord Heikkinen & Azhemin
–Lyrics by Lord Heikkinen
–ISRC: FI3FC2551504
–Single cover by Lord Heikkinen

The band comments:

“Dark Water Wide leads the listener deep into the shadowed currents of Tuonela — the mythic river of the underworld — where the journey drifts through the darker depths of the mind.

Heavy yet beautifully melodic, the song blends Nordic atmosphere with Finnish darkness. Its harmonic structure weaves minor seventh chords tainted by subtle twists, creating a sense of tension and melancholy. Azhemin conjured the melodies, while Lilith shaped them into form — grounded by Suntio’s relentless, pounding rhythm that resonates through the entire composition.

Dark Water Wide is a voyage across vast, dark waters — an introspective descent into death’s beauty, embodying the very essence of Ad Pulchram Mortem.” 

WATCH music video of first single ‘Jylhä Metsämies’ https://youtu.be/aoBIyV44VOY
LISTEN to the second single ‘Tears of the Earth’ https://push.fm/fl/soulgrind-tears

Track list:

  1. Nousee Musta Lintu
  2. The Origin of The White Serpent
  3. Jylhä Metsämies
  4. The Last Day of Therinon
  5. In The Circus of Tuonela
  6. Dark Water Wide
  7. Tears of The Earth
  8. A Whispered Curse Upon The Gale
  9. As A Narrow Fjord Descends
  10. Into The Shadows of Devotion

Album pic by Susanna Mansner

BIOGRAPHY:

Soulgrind is a Finnish metal band formed in 1992, known for blending gothic metal, thrash and black metal into a dark, melodic atmosphere. The band was founded by Lord Heikkinen, who has consistently contributed guitar and programming. Since 1999 Miika ‘Azhemin’ Niemelä has handled keyboards and programming, later adding harsh vocals.

Soulgrind’s music often explores themes related to the darker aspects of Finnish history and psyche, combining passion, war, and the “dark side of mind” into their lyrical content, reflecting a deep connection to Finland’s cultural and historical roots. But there has always been the bride side for the aspects as well. Classic war of love and hate.The  sound has evolved over the time, but Soulgrind has maintained a core identity rooted in metal with a dark, atmospheric edge, resisting strict genre categorization and embracing musical development freely. Freedom of metal has always been the theme. And so it shall be.

Soulgrind is recognized for their intelligent and unique approach to metal, merging melodic and dark elements to create a distinctive sound within the Finnish metal scene. Their long-standing presence since the early 90s marks them as a significant act in the gothic and black metal genres in Finland.

Line-up:
Lord Heikkinen: guitars
Azhemin: Keybords, vocals
Tanya Lilith: Vocals
Suntio: Drums
JP: Bass
Micko Hell: Guitars, Vocals

Former members: Roope Latvala ( Children of Bodom, Stone ), Juke Eräkangas, Tommi McLaunone (Gloomy Grim, Nomicon), Henrik Laine (Deepred )

https://www.facebook.com/SoulgrindFinland
https://soulgrind.bandcamp.com

THE WESTERN FRONT Reveal Final Single ‘Rain from Long-Awaited Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 22, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Reed Hutchinson

The Western Front reveals the latest single Rain, taken from the near-mythical album Eureka, which will be released on 10 July via Music Theories Recordings / Artone Label Group. Listen to ‘Rain’ HERE.
 
The Western Front was conceived by rock luminaries Scott Gorham (Thin Lizzy, Black Star Riders), Marty Walsh (Supertramp, John Fogerty), Darrell Verdusco (Mark Knopfler, Van Morrison), and stellar session players Richard “Moon” Calhoun (Chaka Khan, Andy Gibb) and Derek Bergmann (Yvonne Elliman, Jeff Barry), alongside guitarist, and longtime collaborator Dennis O’Donnell—a veteran music executive.
​
Talking about Rain, Derek Bergmann recalls, “It wasn’t easy to record that one. I remember that day in the studio. It was like, ‘Man, I can’t come up with a part that makes any sense in this song’, because it was just so guitar-heavy at that point. But I’m happy with where we got it. The intro is guitar and synth, and I’m playing this really gnarly, dissonant part on a Jupiter-8.”

Rain follows Set Me Free, which was the first song to be released from the album. To understand the roots of Eureka, rewind to Los Angeles, California, 1980. Following a run of acclaimed but fleeting bands, the two session aces— Marty Walsh and Derek Bergmann—joined up with fellow guitarist and writing partner, Dennis O’Donnell, all set to leave their mark.

“Dennis and I had seen Richard ‘Moon’ Calhoun singing with his band The Strand, at a club in the San Fernando Valley,” recalls Walsh. “Moon was incredibly impressive, so Dennis, Derek and I had a conversation about bringing him in.” Meanwhile, Walsh tapped Thin Lizzy’s Scott Gorham: an old friend with whom he was then working at Supertramp drummer Bob Siebenberg’s Unstable Studio.

The chemistry was an instant fit.  The band would spend the next two years writing and recording the Eureka material. Tracked between ’83 and ’84, the track listing nods to its era but still sounds vital today.
​
In a fair world, The Western Front’s debut would have arrived in the mid-’80s, right after Atlantic Records promised a major-label deal—only to have label upheaval sweep Eureka off the schedule. Fast-forward to 2023, when a Stockholm record man heard a couple of Western Front tracks online and reached out to ask why their near-mythical debut never saw the light of day. At the recommendation of friend and Toto guitar legend Steve Lukather, Walsh was able to strike a deal with the Mascot Label Group.
​
The Western Front’s Eureka is a moment of long-overdue triumph, introducing a ‘new’ band to the world. “Eureka was a labour of love,” admits guitarist Marty Walsh.

Four decades down the line, the history of early-’80s rock is cast in stone, shining brightly for everyone to see.

Track listing
1. The Law of the Jungle
2. Set Me Free
3. 1000 Nights Away
4. Just Go
5. If I’m the One
6. Rain
7. Chain of Light
8. Danger
9. Heartland
10. I Would Rather Be Lonely
11. Man to Man
12. This Is War

Belgian Metal Pioneers DRAKKAR Return with Savage Second Single ‘Invasion’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 22, 2026
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Drakkar return with “INVASION”, a fast-paced speed/heavy metal anthem built on relentless rhythm and vivid battlefield imagery. The single drives forward with sharp riffs, driving percussion, and commanding vocals, capturing the chaos and momentum of a seaborne raid and its aftermath. Designed for impact on stage as much as in recording, “INVASION” delivers direct energy, tight songwriting, and a clear nod to classic heavy metal traditions while keeping a modern edge.

Stream “Invasion” Single: orcd.co/invasionsingle

Pre-save The Album “Invasion”: orcd.co/invasion

About Drakkar

Founded in 1983, Drakkar built their reputation on the European metal circuit throughout the late 1980s and 1990s. Their 1988 debut album X-Rated, released through New Musidisc (Paris), earned strong critical recognition and led to support slots on major European tours with Queensrÿche, Metallica, Overkill, and Slayer. The record has since become a touchstone of the Belgian metal scene.

After a period of inactivity, the band reformed in 2011 with a new lineup. X-Rated was remastered and reissued in 2012, produced by Simone Mularoni (DGM), with original vocalist Fab “Leni” Vanbellinghen returning to the fold in 2013. The reformed band recorded Once Upon a Time in Hell in 2014, featuring Jonas Sanders of Pro-Pain on drums, and went on to play over 80 dates across Europe, including the Power, Prog & Metal Festival in Mons. A live album, Once Upon a Time Hellive, followed in 2016.

The band suffered a significant loss when founding member Thierry Del Cane passed away shortly after. They chose to continue in his memory. Subsequent years brought further lineup shifts alongside new recordings, including three singles and a music video released between 2022 and 2025.

Invasion marks a new chapter: Leni Andersen returns on vocals, and founding member Guy Duvy is back on bass. The current lineup is completed by Thomas Vanhorebeek and Nico RR on guitars, and Adrien Delgambe on drums (member since 2015). Adrien is the son of former drummer and founding member Tim Delval, bringing the band back to its roots alongside Guy and Leni, and continuing to deliver their signature furious heavy/speed metal.

Connect With Drakkar:

drakkarband.com
www.facebook.com/Drakkar
www.instagram.com/drakkarofficial
www.youtube.com/@DrakkarBelgium
drakkar-belgium.bandcamp.com

ESSEX Celebrate the Future with Video Single for Killing Joke’s ‘Eighties’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 22, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

ESSEX is back!  The singularly-named singer who made his debut earlier this year alongside Runaways legend Cherie Currie on the viral hit “When You’re Young,” returns today with his first ever solo single, a pounding reinvention of Killing Joke’s “Eighties” – a UK hit back in 1984, and a widely rumored influence on the Nirvana song “Come As You Are” a decade later.

The song certainly was an appropriate choice for Essex.  Poised to land at the precise intersection of Duran Duran’s sleek pulse, Billy Idol’s swagger, and Joy Division’s shadow, Essex’s music draws from a time when guitars and synths hit hard, songs were built to last, and authenticity mattered more than trends, or being flashy and glammy –  a bold, uncompromising sound custom built for today’s alternative landscape.

Producer Jürgen Engler, who worked with Killing Joke’s own Paul Raven (RIP), was certainly impressed. “Essex’s vocals add a raw energy to the old favorite Killing Joke track ‘Eighties’, the likes we haven’t heard in a long time! It perfectly fits the urgency of the song, deeply rooted in the 80s but with a very contemporary feel! I have the feeling Raven would have approved of it, and maybe he would have even played the bass on it… heaven only knows.”

Essex himself continues, ““Reimagining a cover while still respecting the original was important to me, and having collaborators like Marcus Nand [he tracked Essex’s vocals] and Vicente Cordero helped bring that vision to life. Even though the song is rooted in the ’80s, a lot of its themes still feel incredibly relevant today, and the video helped amplify that atmosphere.”

The accompanying video does indeed capture Essex in prime form, a dark night in the darkest niterie, Essex striding through in his signature red coat as the bright young things of the post-Rocky Horror demi-monde pose, preen and sway around him.  It is both a glorious throwback to the titular decade, and a brilliant reminder that, no matter what is going on in the musical mainstream, the underground will always find its own way into the light.

“This was the first time I truly felt connected to the visual side of my artistry,” said Essex, “and working with Vicente and Marcus made that experience even more meaningful. Seeing so many talented people come together for the project was genuinely eye-opening — it felt like a creative dream coming to life.”

SINGLE:  https://orcd.co/essex_ eighties

INTERVIEW: https://www.mixcloud.com/CleopatraRecords/pirate-radio-cleopatra-introducing-essex-march-2026/

Essex himself is currently hard at work on his full length debut album. Scheduled for release later this year its dark-edged fulled guitars and synths, commanding melodies, and sharp, aggressive bite continue channeling the raw electricity of the MTV-era ’80s at their peak, even as they charge forward with modern grit and venomous danger.

This is music built on volume, emotion, and conviction, hooks you can shout, grooves you can feel, and a presence that refuses to be ignored.

Right now, though, “Eighties” – like “When You’re Young” – is the ideal introduction to him, a supercharged collision of eras, attitude, and influence, as momentous as it is memorable, and as unique as the talent that brings the song back to life.

GRETA VAN FLEET Return to the Stage for a Special One-Night-Only Underplay at Bowery Ballroom on May 27th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 22, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

After igniting excitement and anticipation across the world with the recent news of their return, Greta Van Fleet will take over New York City’s legendary Bowery Ballroom for an intimate, one-night-only performance on Wednesday, May 27.
 
A rare underplay from one of the world’s most electrifying live bands who last played in New York City to a sold-out crowd in Madison Square Garden. Tickets for the exclusive event will be available via in-person purchase only beginning Tuesday, May 26 at 9:00 AM at the Bowery Ballroom box office. With demand expected to be high, their performance is poised to become one of the most talked-about shows of 2026.
 
Following the last several years headlining arenas, topping charts, and carrying the torch for a new generation of rock and roll, the return to a room as intimate and storied as Bowery Ballroom signals something deeper than a concert — it’s a statement, igniting a new and exciting chapter for the GRAMMY® Award winning Nashville-based four-piece.

Since emerging from Michigan and exploding onto the global stage, Greta Van Fleet have become one of the defining rock bands of their generation: a group equally embraced by lifelong rock purists and a younger audience rediscovering the power, freedom, and spectacle of the genre. Their ascent has been marked by platinum-selling records, GRAMMY® wins, huge international arena and stadium tours, and a reputation for delivering live performances with the kind of musicianship and emotional release that plays into the history books and cultural mythology of the legendary bands before them.
 
Their upcoming Bowery Ballroom performance offers fans a rare chance to experience Greta Van Fleet up close and personal. In an era increasingly dominated by algorithms and disposable culture, Greta Van Fleet continue to stand apart as a band committed to the timeless ideals, transcendence, theatricality, musicianship, rebellion, and human connection that comes hand in hand with rock and roll.

Ticket Information:
In-person sales only begin Tuesday, May 26 at 9:00 AM at the Bowery Ballroom box office.
6 Delancey St, New York, NY 10002.
Age restrictions are 16+, with a parent or legal guardian needed for anyone under 16. Ticket prices are $20, including all fees. Bowery Ballroom is a Cashless venue. Physical Credit Cards and Debit Cards, along with Tap to Pay, are acceptable forms of payment.  There is a 2-ticket limit per person on a strictly first come first served basis. Line cutting will not be permitted. Wristbands will be distributed to confirm your place in line when purchasing tickets. For more information, go to: https://gretavanfleet.com

STORMHAMMER Reveal Music Video for Title Track of Upcoming Studio Album “Wrath Of The Hammer”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on May 22, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
[photo: Markus Konetzka]

German power metal force StormHammer have released the official music video for their brand-new single “Wrath Of The Hammer”, the title track of the band’s upcoming studio offering. 

The album will be released on July 17 via ROAR – A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music. Pre-orders have just started at: https://stormhammer.rpm.link/wrathalbumPR 

With “Wrath Of The Hammer”, StormHammer deliver a powerful first glimpse of their forthcoming album and once again prove why they remain one of the most consistent and exciting acts in the European power metal scene. The title track combines massive riffs, epic melodies and the band’s unmistakable energy into a modern metal anthem rooted in classic heavy metal spirit.

Phil Meyer (guitar, backing vocals) comments:
“Tracks like Wrath of the Hammer perfectly represent the album’s direction — aggressive downstrokes, fast power chords and epic melodic moments coming together in a very classic yet modern Heavy Metal way.”

Drummer Ashley Guest confirms: “Wrath of the Hammer maintains the spirit of classic StormHammer while pushing the sound forward with a sharper and more aggressive edge.” 

Stream “Wrath Of The Hammer” here: https://stormhammer.rpm.link/wrathsinglePR

Following the acclaimed album “Seven Seals”, StormHammer open a new chapter with “Wrath Of The Hammer”. The album combines traditional heavy metal roots with thrash-driven guitars, epic melodies and progressive elements while staying true to the band’s unmistakable identity.

“Wrath of the Hammer reflects all generations of Heavy Metal,” Phil Meyer says. “The old school, the melodic, the anthemic and the modern. That’s exactly who StormHammer are as a band today. We didn’t want the album to be purely melodic power metal. StormHammer has always had a more raw side, and we wanted to push that further by bringing in thrash elements, modern metal and even some ’90s punk roots without losing the band’s heavy metal identity.”

Vocalist M.Nox adds: “We went into this album with the idea that we didn’t want to play it safe. We mixed in elements of Thrash, Symphonic and Classic Metal while keeping it true to StormHammer’s Power Metal roots. With this album, you will hear StormHammer in a way you have not heard before.”

Recorded at Mastersound Studio with producer Alexander Krull, the album delivers a massive production, atmospheric arrangements and renewed creative energy throughout, showcasing a band that continues to evolve while remaining a vital force in modern power metal!

Horst Tessmann (bass, backing vocals) reveals:

“Recording with Alex Krull was fantastic because we shared the same vision for how these songs should sound. He delivered a powerful and outstanding production. Wrath of the Hammer combines traditional Power Metal with Thrash Metal elements in a way that feels natural and energetic. The older I get, the faster and heavier I want the music to be.”

“This album feels honest and alive,” guitarist Christos Efstathiou states. “We challenged ourselves creatively while staying true to what StormHammer is about. There’s power, emotion and adventure in these songs.”

Tracklist:

  1. Beware
  2. Wrath Of The Hammer
  3. Ashes Of The Throne
  4. Light In The Dark
  5. Wheels Of Eternity
  6. Guardians Of The Night
  7. Veil Of Fire
  8. Scars Of The Abyss
  9. Shattered Dominion
  10. The Dune

About StormHammer:

German power metal band StormHammer have established themselves as a powerful force within the European metal scene for many years. Combining traditional heavy metal intensity with melodic power metal energy and epic songwriting, the band has created a distinctive sound that continues to resonate with fans worldwide.

Throughout their career, StormHammer have continuously evolved their sound while remaining true to their roots. Their music blends aggressive guitar work, soaring melodies and powerful rhythms with atmospheric songwriting and modern production. With “Wrath Of The Hammer”, the band once again underlines their status as one of Germany’s most important and enduring power metal acts.

StormHammer is:
M.Nox – Vocals
Phil Meyer – Guitar, Backing Vocals
Christos Efstathiou – Guitar
Ashley Guest – Drums
Horst Tessmann – Bass, Backing Vocals

Connect with StormHammer:
Website: https://www.stormhammer.de/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stormhammerband/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stormhammer_official/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCse2QaL9LqKOo2DMAEyUBCw
TikTok: tiktok.com/@stormhammer_band