RESTLESS SPIRIT Reveal Video Single ‘The Burning Need’ & Details of Self-Titled New Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 11, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

RESTLESS SPIRIT return with a self-titled album as honest and unpretentious as it gets. These headbangers deliver straightforward American heavy metal with a dash of stoner rock, tons of catchy tunes, frying guitars, and raw energy in expertly crafted songs.

The first advance single and music video, ‘The Burning Need‘, perfectly exemplifies the Long Island, NY band’s core values and sets the tone for great things to come. 

“Restless Spirit” is slated for release on May 8, 2026, via Magnetic Eye Records and the album is available for pre-order at THIS LOCATION

RESTLESS SPIRIT comment: “With our first advance single, ‘The Burning Need’, we present Restless Spirit at our most clear and focused“, vocalist and guitarist Paul Aloisio writes. “We took everything we learned from the last decade and put together a track that gets straight to the point while staying interesting and heavy. The lyrics revolve around the theme of resilience, and this song ranks among our most personal to date.“

Tracklist
1. The Burning Need
2. Hallowed
3. Red in Tooth and Claw
4. Desire Lines
5. Desolation’s Wake
6. Ember
7. Time and Distance
8. Phantom Pain

With their self-titled full-length, RESTLESS SPIRIT have reached a point in their career where the band of friends from Long Island, New York knows exactly who they are and where they stand. As the eight tracks on “Restless Spirit” are the most distilled version of what the trio is about, they saw no need for further explanation in the title.

So, what are RESTLESS SPIRIT about? Pure metal, no more, no less. Born from the steel mills of Birmingham this musical style has deep English working class roots that the East Coast outfit translates into an American sonic slang with elements from desert and stoner metal and even the occasional progressive flourish. As a result, they seamlessly merge classic heavy solos with roaring guitars and a pinch of psychedelic fuzz.

RESTLESS SPIRIT also share a down to earth outlook with the British pioneers that values honesty and a no-nonsense approach to songwriting and lyrics. “Restless Spirit” mainly deals with the idea of perseverance through hardship, of pushing through and starting over when everything seems bleak. This makes the album a companion piece to its predecessor “Afterimage”, which revolved around descending into and giving in to growing despair.

RESTLESS SPIRIT grew out of childhood friendship. Frontman Paul Aloisio and bass player Marc Morello first met back in the summer before Kindergarten and grew up discovering music together. Influenced by such greats as BLACK SABBATH, TYPE O NEGATIVE, and THE SWORD, RESTLESS SPIRIT officially started out in 2019 when their album debut “Lord of the New Depression” was released. At the time, their sound fit equally well into the stoner, doom, and sludge moulds. On the following “Blood of the Old Gods” (2021), the three-piece evolved stylistically into a more varied, melodic approach with added complexities.

With the stated mission of never wanting to sound exactly like before, RESTLESS SPIRIT resorted to shorter, sharpened shocks that hit straight home on their acclaimed third album, “Afterimage”, in 2024. This album was driven by tragedy and personal loss with singer and guitarist Paul Aloisio putting his heart and soul into it.

In hindsight, the massive punch to the gut delivered by “Afterimage” set the trio onto a course that led directly to “Restless Spirit”. Trimming away all sonic fat, focusing on the essentials, and refining their sound and songwriting down to its heaviest core has yielded a record that promises to be timeless.

RESTLESS SPIRIT are throwing out a rescue rope to all headbangers and particularly those dealing with all the cruelty that life can bring. “Restless Spirit” is a call to persevere in the face of others not understanding or even outright rejection. This album is about living on one’s own terms, which was and is the essence of metal.

Band: Restless Spirit
Album title: Restless Spirit
Style: US Heavy Metal
Release date: May 8, 2026
Label: Magnetic Eye Records
Review impact date: April 6, 2026

Line-up
Paul Aloisio – guitar, vocals
Jon Gusman – drums
Marc Morello – bass

Recorded by John Forrestal at The Animal Farm, New Jersey (US)
Mixed by John Forrestal at The Animal Farm, New Jersey (US)
Mastering by Jon Markson at The Animal Farm, New Jersey (US)

Cover art & layout by Solomacello

Links
www.facebook.com/restlessspiritny
www.instagram.com/restlessspirit_

FROM SHEEP TO WOLVES Expose Modern Conformity on New Lyric Video ‘Hollow’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 11, 2026
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Modern metal outfit From Sheep To Wolves have released the lyric video for “Hollow”. The track is taken from the band’s upcoming album Ephemeris, due for release on 27 February 2026 via Wormholedeath.

“Hollow” delivers an uncompromising takedown of contemporary conformity, tearing apart the illusion of comfort that masks what the band sees as modern-day enslavement. With unrelenting honesty, From Sheep To Wolves dissect the price of acceptance: dreams abandoned, questions silenced, and lives reduced to clockwork routine. Safe on the surface. Empty underneath.

Musically, the track balances weight and restraint. Heavy riffs lock in with tight rhythms, while subtle electronic layers add tension rather than release. It’s direct, focused, and honest.

“Hollow” follows previous singles “Submission” and “Rejection,” building momentum toward Ephemeris, an album that promises to challenge listeners as much as it captivates them.

Ephemeris marks the band’s most ambitious work to date, blending technical precision with raw, emotive storytelling.

Fans can pre-save the album now at orcd.co/ephemeris

Previous videos: Submission: Watch, Rejection: Watch

From Sheep To Wolves is an alternative Metal/ Rock band. Formed by Carlo Cranmer & John Castiel in 2015. The project was driven by production; however, the live performance was inevitable after the great response from listeners, fans, friends, and family. From heavy breakdowns to electronic beats, they are versatile, yet always have a strong message with heart and soul. You never know what to expect.

Line up:
Carlo Cranmer: Vocals & Guitars
Julio Quintero: Drums
Carl Cassar: Bass

From Sheep To Wolves Online:
linktr.ee/fromsheeptowolves
www.tiktok.com/@fromsheeptowolves
www.instagram.com/fromsheeptowolvesband
www.facebook.com/Fromsheep2wolves
www.youtube.com/@fromsheeptowolves4962

EREB ALTOR Kick Off European Tour Today

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 11, 2026
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Scandinavian metal outfit Ereb Altor are about to kick off their previously announced European tour dates in support of their latest album Hälsingemörker. The album was released in February 2025 via Hammerheart Records.

The ‘Rites of the Blood Moon’ tour will kick off tomorrow, February 11 at the Stengade venue in Copenhagen (DK) and sees the band traveling throughout six different countries before a final curtain at the Cernunnos Pagan Festival in Noisiel (FR). Support comes from Skyforger, Wolfchant and Belore during this run. A full list of confirmed dates can be found below. 

Dates:
11-02 Stengade, Copenhagen (DK)
12-02 Fostfeuernächte, Heidesee (DE)
13-02 Club From Hell, Erfurt (DE)
14-02 March into Walhalla Fest (NL)
15-02 Asgaard, Gent (BE)
16-02 Helvete, Oberhausen (DE)
17-02 Logo, Hamburg (DE)
18-02 Factory, Magdeburg (DE)
19-02 Forum Am Vaz, Burglengenfeld (DE)
20-02 Heathen Strike over Brno (CZ)
21-02 Maschinenfabrik, Heilbronn (DE)
22-02 Cernunnos Pagan Fest, Noisiel (FR)

Tickets are on sale here: https://linktr.ee/RitesOfTheBloodMoon

From the mythical dark forests of Hälsingland, Ereb Altor rises once more, conjuring the ancient spirits of Scandinavia through their signature epic viking metal. With every note, the band tells tales from the old days mythology, legend and mysticism are brought to life in thunderous riffs and haunting atmospheres.

Their latest release Hälsingemörker marks a new chapter in the Ereb Altor saga. This album delves deep into the legends and shadows of ancient Scandinavia, painting a sonic landscape as majestic as it is immersive. Expect sharp, epic melodies intertwined with evocative folk elements, and vocal performances that move seamlessly between clean, soaring choruses and raw, intense growls. The stunning artwork by Tomarúm av Christine Linde perfectly echoes the album’s powerful and mysterious aura.

For fans of Bathory, Grand Magus, Primordial,Enslaved and Wardruna, Ereb Altor’s music is both an homage and an evolution. Founders Mats and Ragnar grew up with Bathory’s epic era as their spiritual compass, Quorthon’s legacy pulses through their veins, inspiring them to carve out a unique path within the viking metal scene. Since answering the call of the one-eyed elder in 2003, Mats and Ragnar have guided Ereb Altor through a journey of relentless creativity, releasing acclaimed full-length albums via IHate Records, Napalm Records, Cyclone Empire and their current label Hammerheart Records.

Ereb Altor‘s latest album Hälsingemörker was released in February 2025 and saw the band making appearances at Stormcrusher Festival, Meh Suff! Festival, 70.000 tons of Metal and more.

Each release stands as a testament to their dedication to pure Scandinavian epic metal, and over the years, Ereb Altor have forged a sound that is entirely their own. Their ever-growing fanbase is a testament to the band’s authenticity and the immersive power of their music, a legacy that continues to thrive with every new chapter.

Track-list:
1. Valkyrian Fate
2. Hälsingemörker
3. Ättestupan
4. Vi Är Mörkret
5. Träldom
6. The Waves, The Sky and the Pyre
7. The Last Step
8. Midvinter (deluxe edition bonustrack)
9. Skogsrået (deluxe edition bonustrack)
10. The Lake of Blood (deluxe edition bonustrack)

Line up:
Tord – Drums
Ragnar – Guitars & Vocals
Björn – Bass & Vocals
Mats – Vocals & Guitars

Follow Ereb Altor
https://www.facebook.com/ErebAltorOfficial
https://www.instagram.com/erebaltorofficial

CRYPTIC SHIFT Release New Single ‘Cryogenically Frozen’ from Upcoming Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 11, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Murry Deaves

“Cryogenically Frozen” is the latest single from UK progressive death metallers CRYPTIC SHIFT. The track comes off the band’s Overspace & Supertime full-length, set to drop on February 27th through Metal Blade Records.

Issues vocalist/guitarist Alexander Bradley, “Contrasting the prolonged, cinematic opening of our previous album [Visitations From Enceladus] ‘Cryogenically Frozen’ wastes no time by bursting into a flurry of jazz fusion-esque movements as if metal had an alternate timeline progressing from the lineage of masters like Cynic, Pestilence, and Allan Holdsworth, whilst still remaining true to our death/thrashing tendencies with lightning riffs tailor-made for the headbangers and circle pitters! Simultaneously, all aspects of our songwriting propel our new character, ‘The Recaller,’ through her sci-fi adventures, beginning with a cybertronic shootout and meditations in dreams and consciousness. Being one of the shorter songs on the album defined by a pulsing verse and chorus, it ends with a moment of calm before the true centerpiece of Overspace & Supertime begins with the 29-minute ‘Stratocumulus Evergaol’ which we can’t wait for all Astrodeath freaks to explore on the February 27th.“

Watch CRYPTIC SHIFT‘s previously released video for “Hexagonal Eyes (Diverity Trepaphymphaszym)” HERE.

While not commonly known as an extraterrestrial hotspot, Leeds faced an encounter of another kind in 2015 when Bradley and drummer Ryan Sheperson set out to accomplish a project embodying their joint passion for the art of science fiction and heavy metal music. The band unveiled their debut full-length, Visitations From Enceladus, in 2020. The offering received critical acclaim for its adventurous, progressive technical death thrash compositions, a twisted form of extreme metal simply referred to as the “Phenomenal Technological Astrodeath.“

Overspace & Supertime continues the conceptual and musical themes of their debut and delivers a new standard of technical thrash/death metal showmanship, including returning influences of progressive writing, harmonized with their fantastical storytelling. “The concept of Overspace & Supertime plays as an alternative reality to the happenings of Visitations From Enceladus, taking our character into new dimensions filled with both greater adventures and more bizarre encounters,” notes Sheperson. “Whilst the concept themes of our sci-fi tale have grown, so have our efforts in synthesizing it with the ultimate Astrodeath soundscape. The record takes the listener on a deeper journey through the fusion of our influences, with some exciting twists and turns along the way.”

Overspace & Supertime was produced by Jack Helliwell and mastered by Greg Chandler (Esoteric, My Dying Bride) and features the stunning artwork of Jesse Jacobi.

Find pre-orders at: metalblade.com/crypticshift

CRYPTIC SHIFT Live:
2/28/2026 Boston Music Rooms – London, UK * Record Release Show
5/21-24/2026 Maryland Deathfest – Baltimore, MD

CRYPTIC SHIFT:
Alexander Bradley – vocals, guitars
Joss Farrington – guitars
John Riley – bass
Ryan Sheperson – drums

https://www.facebook.com/crypticshift
https://www.instagram.com/crypticshift.ufo

SE, JOSTA EI PUHUTA to Release Fourth Studio Album “Syvyyden portit on saatava auki”, First Video Single ‘Kuolemaa ei ole’ Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 11, 2026
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Photo by Christian Koitla

Finnish melodic death/black metal band Se, Josta Ei Puhuta are set to release their fourth studio album, Syvyyden portit on saatava auki, on 29 May 2026 via Inverse Records. The first single ‘Kuolemaa ei ole’, accompanied by a music video, is released today and can be seen below.

LISTEN to the single on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/sjep-kuolemaa 

The band comments:
“Kuolemaa ei ole is a declaration of rebirth and the fracture of consciousness. That which remains unspoken opens a gateway to unseen realms, where the end is not an ending but a transition. The song simmers beneath the surface, shifting in intensity as if an ancient force were awakening within a body long believed to be dead.

Interwoven guitar harmonies guide the listener from one layer to another, creating a tense yet unexpectedly warm atmosphere. Resurrection does not occur through light, but through darkness, where the old self is abandoned and a new form is born.

For this reason, Kuolemaa ei ole is a natural choice as the album’s first release. It is a beginning, but also a reminder of eternity. The song functions as a ritual in which the concept of death is stripped of its meaning. What remains is movement, continuation, and an endless cycle. We have seen the light, we have risen from the dead, this eternity is but a blink of an eye in the vastness of eternities.” 

–Composed & lyrics by Samu Männikkö
–Mixed & mastered by Tore Stjerna (Necromorbus Studio)
–ISRC: FI3FC2654304
–Single cover: Harri Granqvist

Syvyyden portit on saatava auki -Track list:

  1. Tulkoon valkeus
  2. Myrsky
  3. Varis
  4. Kuolemaa ei ole
  5. Pahuuden palavat nuolet
  6. Syvyyden portit on saatava auki
  7. Muinaiset jumalat kuuntelevat
  8. Rituaali
  9. Pimeys ja ikuinen yö

–Composed & lyrics by Samu Männikkö
–Mixed & mastered by Tore Stjerna (Necromorbus Studio)
–Album cover art by Nicolas O

CD PRE-ORDERS from Inverse Store. 

Line-up:
Samu Männikkö – Vocals
Harri Granqvist – Guitar
Heikki Matero – Guitar
Juho-Pekka Lappalainen – Bass
Jimi Myöhänen – Drums

https://linktr.ee/sejostaeipuhutaofficial
http://www.facebook.com/sejostaeipuhuta
https://www.instagram.com/sejostaeipuhutaofficial
https://www.tiktok.com/@sejostaeipuhuta
https://sejostaeipuhuta.bandcamp.com

Corinne Westbrook Announces First Horror Novel ‘The Hollow One’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on February 11, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Leave a comment

No stranger to the dark and macabre, The Hollow One is the debut novel from writer and horror-devotee Corinne Westbrook. With a combined interest in the shadowy side of art, music and literature, Westbrook has written for metal music outlets, notably Metal Injection and Knotfest, and is well acquainted with strange and uncanny storytelling.

Set for publication on May 26th, 2026, via Permuted Press, The Hollow One is a truly bloodcurdling psychological horror. Following the days of a young girl named Ellie, amidst the struggles of an absent mother, a baby brother and poverty, something more sinister soon takes hold of her life. When one evening her estranged father knocks on her bedroom window, what seems like a comforting dream begins to turn sour as this familial figure is perhaps not so familiar after all.

Told through the eyes of a child trying to make sense of a world that’s forgotten her, The Hollow One is a literary horror story about longing, memory, and the quiet danger of being unseen. Atmospheric, intimate, and deeply unsettling, this is a ghost story where the scariest things are not what lurk in the dark, but what’s already inside the house.

Pre Order The Hollow One:

About Corinne Westbrook

Corinne Westbrook is a writer and journalist whose work explores the darker edges of art, music, and storytelling. She has written for outlets including Metal Injection and Knotfest, covering album reviews, features, annual “Top Albums” lists, and cultural commentary rooted in the strange and unconventional.

Raised in rural Oregon, Corinne discovered her love of writing early. Her first poem was published when she was ten years old. A lifelong horror devotee, she grew up staying up late with friends to watch Tales from the Crypt, drawn to stories that blur the line between the real and the unreal.

She believes the most haunting stories often have roots in reality. While The Hollow One is a work of fiction, it is shaped by emotional truths and experiences pulled from real life. This novel is her debut in long-form fiction.

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