Doom metal outfit Temple Witch has officially unveiled its new single and music video “Maker’s Breath,” following its exclusive premiere with No Clean Singing. The release marks the first glimpse into the band’s upcoming third studio album, Veiling the Void, and showcases the dreary side of Temple Witch while remaining rooted in the band’s signature emotional weight and cathartic songwriting.
Produced by Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Hillis (Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog), Veiling the Void was recorded during sessions at The Vault in Pittsburgh in October 2025. The accompanying music video for “Maker’s Breath” was filmed by Late Morning Films and debuted alongside the single.
While Temple Witch has become known for expansive doom compositions, “Maker’s Breath” stands apart with its forceful delivery. The song explores perseverance through uncertainty, reflecting on life’s hardships while embracing resilience and personal growth.
Watch the “Maker’s Breath” music video and read the original No Clean Singing premiere here: No Clean Singing premiere
The band shares:
“Temple Witch is absolutely elated to announce our new single and music video, ‘Maker’s Breath,’ which premiered with No Clean Singing. With the release of ‘Maker’s Breath,’ we unveil our upcoming third studio album, Veiling the Void.
We worked with top-tier talent to put together this new record and music video. In October 2025, the band spent three days at The Vault in Pittsburgh recording several new tracks with Grammy Award-winning producer Dave Hillis (Alice in Chains, Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog). Our music video was filmed on May 30, 2026, with the professional film crew Late Morning Films.
Excitement and anticipation permeate the band. We have never been more eager to release new material.
‘Maker’s Breath’ is a punchy, high-energy piece, unique among the Temple Witch catalogue for its pace, presence, and shorter runtime. The lyrics reflect on life’s trials and obfuscations, but express a will to grow, to move on, to become stronger. They echo what it is to be conscious and human. Like with all Temple Witch material, it is a catharsis piece.
Those of us in Temple Witch have a simple goal, which is reflected in our music: authenticity and connection. Music is a timeless, universal language. We believe music is one of our greatest tools of expression.
We’re enthusiastic about what we do and even more enthused to see people join us to be a part of this moment.”
The release of “Maker’s Breath” serves as the opening chapter for Veiling the Void, Temple Witch’s anticipated third full-length album, with additional details to be announced in the coming months.
Morten Veland (SIRENIA, MORTEMIA and founder of TRISTANIA) released the eleventh Mortemia song from ‘The Cover Collab Sessions’ today. A collection of cover songs featuring different guest singers for each song. This single is a rendition of Running up that Hill originally recorded by Kate Bush, featuring Federica Lanna on guest vocals. The song is available on all digital platforms as of today the 14th of August 2026.
Morten Veland:
“I’m proud and honoured to welcome back my dear friend and former collaborator Federica Lanna as my special guest for ‘The Cover Collab Sessions’. A few years back I had the pleasure of working with Federica on our rendition of ‘Frozen’, (originally by Madonna). For those of you that might have missed out, you can find Mortemia’s version up on all digital platforms. This time around we have chosen ‘Running up that Hill’ by Kate Bush. A very classic and beautiful song that we both love. It took me some time at first to find the right direction for this rendition, but in the end I believe that I found a great way to add my signature touch. On top of that Federica did an amazing job with her vocal performance, adding her own touch to the song. I’m really excited with what we have come up with together, and we really can’t wait to share the song with all of you. The song will be available on all digital platforms on Friday the 14th of August 2026”.
Federica Lanna:
“One of the collaborations that makes me feel more proud is definitely the one with Morten. Our version of ‘Frozen’ received such a huge response, and I really couldn’t wait to work once again for the Mortemia project. I’ve had many muses in my youth, and Kate Bush is one of them. Unique in both voice and personality. I am really grateful, because thanks to Morten I had the chance to sing a Madonna masterpiece first, and then this musical gem: ‘Running up that Hill’ by the unforgettable Kate Bush. I am so in love with Morten’s version which is able to express in its own way, the passion and yearning of the original song”.
During the early stages of the Covid 19 pandemic Norwegian multi-instrumentalist, producer and artist Morten Veland decided to activate his solo project Mortemia , this time with a brand new concept consisting of collaborations with multiple guest singers. ‘The Pandemic Pandemonium Sessions’ was a series of singles released on a monthly basis, each song featuring a well known and highly profiled guest singer from the metal scene. Following next was ‘The Covid Aftermath Sessions’, yet another album featuring 12 songs with 12 different guest singers. Now Mortemia is ready to endeavor on his third album in the collaboration format entitled ‘The Cover Collab Sessions’, once more the project will feature multiple amazing guest singers. This will be, as the title suggests an album consisting of cover songs solely. All re-arranged and performed in Mortemia’s signature style.
So far the following singers has contributed for his collaborations:
Madeleine Liljestam (Eleine) Marcela Bovio (Stream of Passion, Ayreon, MaYaN) Alessia Scolletti (Temperance, ERA) Liv Kristine (Liv Kristine, ex-Theatre of Tragedy, ex-Leaves Eyes) Melissa Bonny (Ad Infinitum, The Dark Side of the Moon) Brittney Slayes (Unleash the Archers) Maja Shining (Forever Still) Erica Ohlsson (Metalite) Heidi Parviainen (Dark Sarah, ex Amberian Dawn) Zora Cock (Blackbriar) Linda Toni Grahn (Anima Veil, ex Follow the Cipher) Caterina Nix (Chaos Magic) Federica Lanna (Volturian) Ulli Perhonen (ex-Snow White Blood) Ambre Vourvahis (Xandria) Fabienne Erni (Eluveitie, Illumishade) Lindy-Fay Hella (Wardruna) Margarita Monet (Edge of Paradise) Marina La Torraca (Battle Beast, Exit Eden, Phantom Elite) Nicoletta Rosellini (Alterium, Walk in Darkness) Maxi Nil (Jaded Star, ex Visions of Atlantis) Capri (ex Amberian Dawn) Emma Zoldan (Sirenia) Dianne van Giersbergen (DIANNE, Ex Libris) Chiara Tricarico (Moonlight Haze) Leah (Leah) Kristin Starkey (Temperance, Twilight Force) Kristyn Hope (Daedric) Diva Satanica (Bloodhunter) Grace Darkling (Nocturna) Rehn Stillnight (Nocturna) Jessica Thierjung (Lyriel) Minniva (Minniva) Helle Bohdanova (Ignea) Karmen Klinc (Venus 5)
Nuclear Winter Records is proud to announce the release of “River of Slumber”, the debut album from Greek death metal band CASKET DWELLER, set for release on October 22nd, 2026 on CD format (LP and tape version to follow later).
The first single “Voodoo Incants” is streaming at THIS LOCATION.
Hailing from Athens, Greece, CASKET DWELLER deliver a deeply rooted take on traditional death metal. Formed in 2022, the band quickly established itself within the Greek underground through a series of live appearances across the country.
From the beginning, CASKET DWELLER have built their identity around more than just music: their visual aesthetic draws heavily from classic horror cinema of the 1940s and gothic literature, influences that also permeate the atmosphere of “River of Slumber”, creating a world where darkness, decay and heavy riffs come together. The band’s debut album is a tribute to the foundations of death metal while maintaining a strong sense of personality. Built around memorable, riff-driven compositions, “River of Slumber” showcases a band with a clear understanding of the genre’s traditions and the ability to transform those influences into songs that flow naturally from start to finish.
While the production carries the unmistakable imprint of the Swedish death metal school, the album’s musical DNA reaches further, incorporating elements from the classic Florida scene and the heavier Dutch tradition. Echoes of bands such as Death, Pestilence and Asphyx can be found throughout the record, not through imitation but through a shared appreciation for powerful riffs, dynamic arrangements and songwriting that puts the song at the center.
With a careful balance between crushing passages, darker atmospheres and more melodic moments, “River of Slumber” presents CASKET DWELLER as a new force within the contemporary old school death metal movement. A band focused on the essentials: memorable riffs, strong compositions and the timeless appeal of death metal.
Tracklist:
01. Chapters 02. Dust Off the Shovel 03. He Rows 04. Fangs of the Vampire 05. Creatures of the Night 06. Embalming Slime 07. Burnt at the Stake 08. Voodoo Incants 09. Requiem
Line-up:
George Karvouniaris – Guitars Chris Pallas – Bass Vangelis Deligiorgis – Drums/Vocals
As a founding member of the critically acclaimed Manes and Lethe, Tor-Helge Skei has pushed the boundaries of both black metal and electronic music. Now, after more than 30 years, he’s expanding his vision like never before with Holissstik, a dark collective experiment that features fellow underground legends and rising stars from the avant-garde.
“As the unsurpassed work of Mr. Tor-Helge Skei of Manes, This Endless Solitude cannot be praised enough”, New Noise writes in a 5 star review. “[…] the proper reaction to this milestone is speechlessness, pure silence”.
“With each new spin, you discover more and more, and it’s rich with emotion”, Dead Rhetoric writes in an 8.5/10 review. “That, my friends, is the power of music in a nutshell”.
Chapter I: This Endless Solitude is released today, Friday, August 14, and you can hear all eight endlessly rewarding songs by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.
“The inspiration for Holissstik comes from the Greek word Hólos, which is the root for the English word ‘whole’”, Skei says. “Collaboration is the heart and soul of this project. The idea is that each part cannot exist or be understood when separated from the whole. The sum is greater than its parts”.
As could only be the case, Holissstik’s opening chapter started with Skei alone at his studio. But after meticulously sketching This Endless Solitude with his collection of guitars, recording software and homemade plug-ins, he allowed outside influences to take control. The album features more than 15 collaborators, including Martyna Hallas (Rage of Light), Marita Hellem (Martyra), French rapper Pierre Ripka, Paritta Monks and members of Manes and Lethe. It unfolds with surprising twists and turns right from the start, too. Lead single “The Rhythm of Silence” slips seamlessly through the cracks between trip-hop and industrial noise into rap.
Much like the wilted flowers that lay on its cover, death and its psychological offshoots linger in the many corners of This Endless Solitude. Hypnotized by soft spinning synths, “Reoccuring Dreams” quickly descends into a nightmare. But amidst deep-seeded anxieties, intrusive thoughts and other ceaseless discomforts, like a rope that guides one out of a cave, Holissstik still cling to hope. “Hold it gentle / In the palm of your hands”, Halas offers during enchanting centerpiece “Would You Take This Heart”. As the title track ends the album by turning into the light, it’s not so much an invitation as it is an invocation to become something greater than ourselves.
With This Endless Solitude, Holissstik emerge as a boundless, unified force.
From the tireless genius Tor-Helge Skei, a radically innovative new force, Holissstik, has emerged. The latest project from the Norwegian mainstay, multi-instrumentalist and producer is his most expansive yet. While it dwells deep within the darkness of our lives, Chapter I:This Endless Solitude, the first chapter in a trilogy of albums, finds salvation through the spirit of collaboration.
“The inspiration for Holissstik comes from the Greek word Hólos, which is the root for the English word ‘whole’”, Skei says. “Collaboration is the heart and soul of this project. The idea is that each part cannot exist or be understood when separated from the whole. The sum is greater than its parts”.
As the driving force behind Trondheim’s legendary Manes, Skei quickly established himself in the ’90s as one of black metal’s key pioneers. With the release of Manes’ classic album Vilosophe (2003), the powerhouse then metamorphosed into an equally magnificent genre-defying entity. Over the years, Skei has only continued to build upon his legacy as an unsurpassed sonic adventurer. He’s received acclaim for his achievements with various outfits, including Lethe, his duo with ex-Eluveitie and Cellar Darling’s beloved songstress Anna Murphy; the international supergroup Høstsol; the veterans Atrox; the brutal metallers Manii and Syning; the wildly experimental Kkoagulaa and more.
Even for the absurdly ambitious Skei, Holissstik represents a Herculean feat. While Skei serves as Holissstik’s composer and captain, the project operates as a revolving door for top-notch talents from across the world. Holissstik’s art can only leave those fortunate enough to be touched by its unshakable audial spells in states of utter speechlessness. This vessel of change cannot be defined; for it rattles the foundations of all we think we know about music while also redefining itself, constantly venturing further out into unknown territories. Holissstik is more sinister than extreme metal and potentially more healing than any New Age practice; this is timeless music without any artistic limitations. As Skei’s longtime accomplice in Manes and award-winning filmmaker Torstein Parelius wrote, “Turn away from the boundaries you create”.
Holissstik truly came into being in 2024 when Skei resolutely decided to initiate the arduous alchemical process of producing order from chaos. Skei is an astoundingly prolific creator whose vast archive of used and unused recordings seems endless. Parelius has remarked that the material from Manes’ past tends to “haunt” the band insofar as it is frequently incorporated in the present. This applies to Skei’s other efforts as well, and, for Holissstik, the visionary meticulously labored on sketches dating a decade or more back, giving them new life, details and twists. Meanwhile, he crafted others from scratch. Eventually, Skei narrowed the selection for This Endless Solitude down to eight mostly instrumental compositions with samples and some old vocal fragments. These tracks already sounded complete and irreproachable in their own right. Each of these interconnected, maximally hypnotic, seamlessly flowing and sometimes mercurial gems emanated its own unique, indefinable brand of magic, far beyond comparison and yet stamped with Skei’s instantly recognizable trademark.
Then, Skei did the unthinkable. He took the leap of faith he had been planning on and invited a flood of collaborators — big names, rising stars and underground legends — to assert their creative freedom on This Endless Solitude by adding individualistic touches on vocals, lyrics and various instruments. “After sketching these songs, I asked my collaborators to do their own thing with them. The only hint that I gave was the music would use minor chords, be melancholic and introspective and that the lyrics would be concerned with the darker side of life and death. But I gave them no rules, no limitations or restrictions”.
The chances of such a risky move actually succeeding seemed minuscule. Yet, the broadest pool of characters rose to the challenge, sharing their pain, anxieties, raw passion, wisdom, strength, refinement, grace and communal will to create pure art through This Endless Solitude. The roughly twenty guests on the album generously gave the music just what they believed it called upon them to express without holding back, thereby exceeding expectations and precipitating drastic transformation. Although Skei had temporarily surrendered control, he took matters firmly into his hands again as the contributions began trickling his way over the months that followed.
“As the collaborators submitted their contributions, I worked on shaping This Endless Solitude into a coherent whole”, Skei says. “It was quite an intense process in itself. But the end result more than made up for the doubts that surfaced”.
Skei is nothing short of a sorcerer when it comes to producing, engineering and arranging. His approaches may be unconventional, but no one achieves mixes and overall outcomes that more powerfully tug at our heartstrings, though we must acknowledge that the aforementioned Anna Murphy has also provided mixes of the highest caliber for Manes. Bit by bit, Skei would sculpt Holissstik’s first chapter to perfection. Worlds open, worlds collide; the spectral voices began twining around each other, a wealth of musical ideas and the said samples with seemingly supernatural effect, clawing their way into a permanent position within listeners’ psyches. While remaining true to their essences, the compositions would evolve in the exact manner of a living organism, in unforeseen and thrilling ways until they reached the point at which further modification would prove folly; ultimately, the miraculously cohesive This Endless Solitude assumed the form that seemed destined. It was then entrusted to Skei’s go-to choice for mastering Knut Prytz (ex-Necrophagia).
The result of This Endless Solitude and that which lies ahead is phantasmagorical wonder, lethal beauty and boundless darkness. Holissstik’s delirium-inducing, absinthine potions threaten to profoundly transform, and perhaps even transfigure, listeners; Holissstik equates to an unfathomably rewarding drug, though it will emotionally overload sentient beings. There is no denying the dangerous spiritual intensity within Holissstik’s hallucinatory soundscapes — dreams that bring audiences to and from the abysmal realm of nightmares. Impregnated with cerebral and poetic qualities, Holissstik provides a cinematic journey, repeatedly invoking primal horror and forever hooking us with suspenseful energy. The mystery of what the music communicates often gives way to melancholic meditations. We never pierce the veil of enigma surrounding Holissstik, rather we drown in the layers of sound, dragging us down into the scandal-infested depths of our own heavy consciousnesses. Holissstik bears parallels to classical music in terms of its inward impact and transcendent nature.
Stylistically, many will perceive elements of nearly every genre under the sun within This Endless Solitude: jazz, trip hop, rock, metal, ambient, avant-garde, pop. However, trying to attach labels to Holissstik would be foolishness. Electronics are superbly implemented within Holissstik, yet the music somehow always retains its organic charm. Skei doubles as a tech wizard, and he twists his expertise in the fields of programming and software development to his advantage for musical purposes. He always strikes the ideal balance between awakening a sense of unbearable loneliness partly by way of technology, frequently amplifying the robotic coldness it can engender, and the human component in all of its sometimes warmly reassuring, mood-driven nuances. Calculation and spontaneity are both accorded their proper place.
This EndlessSolitude proudly showcases artists who have worked with Skei in several other contexts and capacities as well as completely new collaborators. Anna Murphy, a household name within the music community, graces the album with her seductive, otherworldly vocals. Her fellow goddesses, the criminally gifted Marita Hellem and Rage of Light’s Martyna Halas, a masterful lyricist who offers her “heart of pure gold,” likewise deliver some of the most gorgeous vocals imaginable, deranging our senses with their oracular allure. Torstein Parelius, who has always played a crucial role in neo-Manes’ music and concepts, assists on bass and with lyrics.
Besides Hellem, Murphy and Parelius, the other members of Manes’ core and extended family who contribute to Holissstik include Atrox’s Eivind Fjøseide, ex-Atrox’s Tor-Arne Helgesen, The Third and the Mortal’s Rune Hoemsnes, Drontheim’s Tom Christian Engelsøy and Atrox’s Rune Folgerø. Holissstik also welcomed involvement from Kristoffer Oustad of Kristoffer Nyströms Orkester, Plague Machinery and formerly V:28; Christophe Denhez of Område and Ecr.Linf; rapper Pierre Ripka, or “K-rip”; Nik Košar of Kamra; Gabriel Trentini of Luce d’Inverno and Malaflame; rocker and engineering guru Stig Waltoft, a.k.a. “FluffyBunnyFeets”; and Trond Johansen. Not to mention, Buddhist monks were even persuaded to contribute chanting. While This Endless Solitude is mostly in English, it also features Pali, French, Polish and Italian.
Although the very nature of Holissstik demands that we expect the unexpected, the collective’s future certainly seems to guarantee obsidian horizons and torrential deluges of artistic truth. In other words, the project promises to persistently and ritualistically pummel us with devastating yet necessary, epic masterworks. Skei and his collaborators truly present the most immersive experiences possible and, in Manes language, offer a safe place in the unsafe; dive in with your hands bound, and be submerged within the imprisoning brilliance. Skei continues to participate in a range of outstanding groups, and yet Holissstik stands as the most unpredictable and, counterintuitive as it might sound, accessible undertaking in the history of his illustrious career.
Lineup Tor-Helge Skei
Guest musicians Anna Murphy – Vocals on “Obsession Six” Christophe Denhez – Guitars on “The Rhythm of Silence”, Guitars, vocals and lyrics on “Behind Me” Eivind Fjøseide – Guitars on all songs except “Projections” Gabriel Trentini – Vocals and lyrics on “Obsession Six” Kristoffer Oustad – Synth on “The Rhythm of Silence”, “Projections”, “Reoccuring Dreams”, “This Endless Solitude” Tor-Arne Helgesen – Drums on all songs except “Behind Me” and “This Endless Solitude” Marita Hellem – Vocals on “The Rhythm of Silence” and “This Endless Solitude” Martyna Halas – Vocals and lyrics on “The Rhythm of Silence”, “My Salvation”, “Would You Take This Heart” and “This Endless Solitude” Nik Košar – Vocals and lyrics on “Projections” and “Reoccuring Dreams” Pierre Ripka – Vocals and lyrics on “The Rhythm of Silence” Paritta Monks – Chanting on “Would You Take This Heart” Rune Folgerø – Vocals on “This Endless Solitude” Rune Hoemsnes – Drums on “Behind Me” Stig Waltoft – Synth and sounds on “Would You Take This Heart” Tom Engelsøy – Vocals on “Obsession Six” Torstein Parelius – Bass on “Behind Me” and “This Endless Solitude”, lyrics on “This Endless Solitude” Trond Johansen – Guitars on “Would You Take This Heart”
Production credits Recorded, produced and mixed by Tor-Helge Skei Mastered by Knut V. Prytz
Songwriting credits All songwriting and arrangements by Tor-Helge Skei
Warren Haynes and the Asheville Symphony Orchestra, 2019 – Photo credit: David Simchock
GRAMMY® Award-winning vocalist, songwriter, guitar legend, producer, and Gov’t Mule frontman Warren Haynes has revealed the iconic Gov’t Mule song, “Thorazine Shuffle” – which is the latest song from his breathtaking new album, Dreams & Songs: A Symphonic Journey.
The 16-track collection explores all aspects of his incredible catalogue and career, including music from Gov’t Mule, Allman Brothers Band, The Dead, his solo albums, and more. The album will be released on 18 September and available in Europe via Provogue/Artone Label Group and in the U.S. via Evil Teen Records. You can pre-order/pre-save the album HERE.
Talking about the song, originally released on the 1998 Gov’t Mule album, Dose, Haynes says, “John Medeski did the arrangement for ‘Thorazine Shuffle,’ and his unique take on music in general was what led me to ask him to arrange that particular piece. He was able to strike a balance for ‘Thorazine Shuffle’ that takes it a little further avant-garde than most of the songs but still has that beautiful symphonic quality as far as the arrangement is concerned that really transports it into another place. His counter-melodies and all the different textures that he put in that song elevated it in a way that I wasn’t expecting. It’s probably the most unique arrangement on the record.”
The album was recorded in 2019 at the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium in Haynes’ hometown of Asheville, North Carolina. Watching the interplay between Haynes and his band of seasoned rock ‘n’ roll improvisers, including Oteil Burbridge on bass, John Medeski on organ and keys, Jeff Sipe on drums, and Greg Osby on saxophone, as well as Edwin McCain and Jasmine Muhammad on background vocals along with the 64-piece Asheville Symphony Orchestra is a hypnotic sight to witness. This follows the previously released songs, the Grateful Dead classic “Shakedown Street” and Gov’t Mule favourites, “Raven Black Night” and “Banks of the Deep End.”
Haynes will bring his acclaimed Dreams & Songs Symphonic Experience show to Nashville next year for two nights at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center with the Nashville Symphony on Thursday, March 11 and Friday, March 12, 2027, presented by Lightning 100. He will be joined by musicians John Medeski, Kevin Scott, Terence Higgins and Greg Osby, along with vocalists Saundra Williams and Mayteana Morales, all led by conductor Rich Daniels from the Chicago City Lights Orchestra.
Until then, Warren Haynes will be busy on the road with his bandmates in Gov’t Mule. The revered GRAMMY-nominated quintet is touring this summer, including a co-headlining trek with longtime friend and blues-rock titan Joe Bonamassa, travelling all over the U.S. up until August 23rd. Afterwards, Gov’t Mule will head out on the newly announced Dreaming The Same Dream Tour with Ziggy Marley in the fall. The 16-date co-headlining outing, also featuring a guest DJ set from YOLA, kicks off September 23rd in New York City and wraps October 17th in Dallas.
Dreams & Songs Track Listing: 1. Dreams and Songs (Part One) 2. Dreams 3. Banks of the Deep End 4. Spots of Time 5. Broken Promised Land 6. Thorazine Shuffle 7. Makes No Difference 8. Terrapin Station 9. Raven Black Night 10. Just Another Rider 11. Black Peter 12. Instrumental Illness 13. One 14. Shakedown Street 15. Whipping Post 16. Dreams and Songs (Reprise)
Italian atmospheric black metal project MAREA will return on October 9th, 2026 with its most accomplished and emotionally resonant work to date. Entitled “A Caress of Autumn for All the Lost”, the album will be released through Hypnotic Dirge Records and Masked Dead Records.
Recorded, mixed and mastered by Carlo Meroni at ADSR Decibel Studio, with cover artwork and visual design by Francesco Gemelli, the new full-length marks a significant step forward for the project led by mastermind Matteo Balzarini. Without abandoning the emotional core that has always defined MAREA, the album sharpens every aspect of its songwriting, resulting in a record that is simultaneously more incisive, more melodic and more refined than anything the band has released before.
Rooted in atmospheric black metal and post-depressive black metal, “A Caress of Autumn for All the Lost” refuses to remain confined within genre boundaries. Balzarini continuously shifts between textures and dynamics, allowing songs to unfold through subtle transformations rather than predictable contrasts. Instead of relying on the conventional loud-quiet formula, each composition develops organically, revealing unexpected turns while maintaining a remarkable sense of cohesion. Throughout the album, delicate melodic brushstrokes occasionally recall the melancholic elegance of fellow Italian visionaries Novembre, enriching an already expansive emotional palette.
The result is a work enveloped in an autumnal melancholy that permeates every note. Its atmosphere is fragile yet piercing, intimate yet expansive, balancing moments of despair with glimpses of fragile beauty. Every transition feels purposeful, every melody carefully placed, allowing the album to flow naturally from beginning to end without sacrificing intensity or emotional depth.
Lyrically, “A Caress of Autumn for All the Lost” explores isolation, remorse, regret, broken dreams and the fragile nature of human relationships. It reflects on how a single wrong choice or careless word can shatter a lifetime of trust, and how pride and selfishness often lead us to lose the people we love most. The album also delves into the feeling of being undeserving of happiness, portraying the self-destructive impulses that drive us to wound ourselves, and inevitably those who care about us.
While the sea served as the dominant symbol throughout MAREA‘s previous works, autumn now becomes the central metaphor. The imagery has changed, but the emotions remain deeply familiar: profound loneliness, nostalgia and melancholy continue to define the project’s artistic vision. Just as the music constantly balances darkness with light, desperation with solace, the album embraces this same duality within its lyrical concept.
Far from being an exercise in hopelessness, however, “A Caress of Autumn for All the Lost” ultimately offers a message of compassion. The title itself is conceived as an embrace extended to all those who feel lost: an invitation to recognize the quiet beauty hidden in everyday life, to cherish fleeting moments of happiness, to set suffering aside, even if only briefly, and to forgive ourselves for our failures. It is a raw confrontation with inner demons, an honest confession of fear and vulnerability, but also a resting place for our mistakes and the possibility of redemption beyond them.
With “A Caress of Autumn for All the Lost”, MAREA reaches a new level of artistic maturity, crafting an album that transcends stylistic labels through nuanced songwriting, emotional honesty and a rare ability to transform melancholy into something deeply moving.
Tracklist:
01. A Caress of Autumn 02. The Beauty of Broken Things 03. Eremita 04. Still Horizon 05. Aurora 06. For All the Lost 07. Night Birds 08. Absence of Self
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 