PIL & BUE (eng: Arrow & Bow) – GIVING IN: Let’s head north, way above the arctic circle in Norway. Pil & Bue’s album “You Have Chosen Darkness” is set for release on February 27 via their own Label and DIGER Distribution, offering a foretaste of their emotive, alternative rock, with the new single ‘Giving In’.
The tune has great momentum. This is music that should be played loud! It addresses doubt and fear, not as weaknesses, but as driving forces. It’s about acknowledging who you are, persevering through darkness, and never giving in. It’s about the great battle that goes on in the battlefields of the mind.
BIO: Pil & Bue is a two-piece, consisting of Petter Carlsen (the arrow) and Goeran Johansen (the bow). Their philosophy is that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. When they perform live, they sound like a full-blown band. “
The band’s raw and melodic music quickly struck a note with Hollywood director Tommy Wirkola, who included the Pil & Bue single “You Win Again” in his now cult-status movie “Dead Snow: Red vs. Dead” which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival January 2014.
Also, their single “Fire” from their second album “Forget the Past, Let’s Worry About The Future” is featured on the end credits of Wirkola’s Hollywood/Netflix blockbuster “What Happened To Monday” (2017).
Petter has collaborated with German post rockers Long Distance Calling as the singer on their 2016 album “Trips”. The band Weather Systems, involving Danny Cavanagh of Anathema, also features Petter Carlsen’s voice on their new album “Oceans Without a Shore” from 2024.
Their latest album “Special Agents” was nominated for a Norwegian Grammy in 2024.
Credits: Music by Petter Carlsen & Goeran Johansen / Pil & Bue Lyrics by Petter Carlsen Produced by Ariel Joshua Sivertsen & Pil & Bue Recorded at Kysten Studio, Tromsø, Norway, June 2025 Distribution: Diger Distro P&C 2025 Petter Carlsen
ISRC: Single “Giving in” (RADIO EDIT) – NOCUE2601071 Giving In – NOCUE2601070
Norwegian progressive metal act Course Of Fate have released their brand new single “Acolyte”, a gripping preview of their upcoming studio album Behind The Eclipse, set to arrive on January 30, 2026 via ROAR – A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music.
Accompanying the release is a visually striking music video that mirrors the song’s mood and narrative themes with precision and intensity. Musically and lyrically, “Acolyte” dives deep into ideas of indoctrination, destruction, and rebirth. The band explains:
“Mindcontrol, congregations and affiliation. Once you are in, it’s almost impossible to get out. But the power of fire and flames have the ability to turn everything to ashes. After the dust has settled a new day will rise. And through the eyes of a new leader… Will we find utopia? This song takes you back to a universe we introduced back in 2020. Sometimes all it takes is a small spark to light the flame.”
With its layered dynamics, haunting atmosphere, and conceptual depth, “Acolyte” will resonate with fans of Opeth and other progressive metal acts pushing the genre forward.
Following their critically acclaimed concept album Mindweaver (2020) – hailed alongside classics like Operation: Mindcrime, Scenes from a Memory, and The Wall – and their powerful sophomore effort Somnium (2023), Course Of Fate return with their most dynamic and heavy material yet.
Behind The Eclipse presents a diverse collection of songs where light and darkness intertwine, both musically and lyrically. Though not a concept album, each track connects through this theme, showcasing the band’s signature mix of melodic depth, progressive sophistication, and emotional weight!
Behind The Eclipse Track-List: 1 – Memories 2 – Behind The Eclipse 3 – Sky Is Falling 4 – So It Goes 5 – Acolyte 6 – Hiding From The Light 7 – Don’t Close Your Eyes 8 – Neverwhere
COURSE OF FATE is: Eivind Gunnesen – Vocals Kenneth Henriksen – Guitars Fredrik Jacobsen – Guitars Torstein Haakafoss – Bass Per-Morten Bergseth – Drums
The wait is over for thrash metal purists and vinyl collectors alike: TOXIK’s groundbreaking debut “World Circus” returns in a stunning, high-quality limited gatefold vinyl reissue via Massacre Records.
Originally released in 1987, “World Circus” stands as one of the most innovative and technically precise albums of the classic thrash era — a record that fused blistering speed, complex arrangements, and sharp social commentary long before “progressive thrash” became a label.
Now, for the first time ever, “World Circus” is available in several exclusive vinyl colours (black, red, clear, and split black/green), newly reissued in deluxe format.
Produced, mixed, and mastered by Tom Morris at the legendary Morrisound Recording studio in Tampa, Florida, and featuring the iconic artwork by Ed Repka (based on a concept by guitarist Josh Christian), this re-release honors the original energy and vision that made World Circus a defining moment in late-’80s thrash.
From the adrenaline surge of “Heart Attack” and “Social Overload” to the prophetic fury of “False Prophets” and the title track “World Circus,” every second captures the unrelenting speed and technicality that cemented TOXIK as one of the genre’s most forward-thinking acts.
Track listing:
A-Side Heart Attack Social Overload Pain And Misery Voices Door To Hell
B-Side World Circus 47 Seconds Of Sanity / Count Your Blessings False Prophets Haunted Earth Victims
Formed in 1985 by Josh Christian and Lee Ervin, TOXIK rose rapidly within the U.S. thrash underground, known for combining fierce musicianship with sharp lyrical intelligence. After World Circus, they expanded their sound with 1989’s Think This, before later reforming for acclaimed releases such as Kinetic Closure and Dis Morta.
Having shared stages with Pantera, Dream Theater, Exodus, Candlemass, and King Diamond, and with appearances at Dynamo Open Air, Keep It True, Alcatraz, and Headbangers Open Air, TOXIK continue to be celebrated as one of the most musically sophisticated and influential thrash bands of their era.
Line-up: Mike Sanders – Vocals Josh Christian – Guitars Brian Bonini – Bass Tad Leger – Drums
Nordic dark metal band Monolicht’s new single “Alyssa” blends dark metal with a driving, post-punk-infused rock energy. The track delves into themes of temptation, sin, and surrender to darkness, reflecting an intense inner struggle between good and evil. Haunting yet powerful, “Alyssa” continues Monolicht’s signature dark aesthetic and sound.
–ISRC: FI3FC2591303 –Composer: Mikko Kupiainen –Lyricist: Kalle Raijonkari
Monolicht is a dark metal band from Finland, founded in 2015 and still performing with its original lineup. The band’s music draws inspiration from northern mysticism, channeling the melancholy and cold austerity of shadowed forests and frozen streams.
Vocals: Kalle Raijonkari Guitar: Mikko Kupiainen Guitar: Jukka Saarinen Bass: Joonas Kolehmainen Drums: Antti Hyvönen
‘Leaden Air’, the debut single by MY INNER CHAOS, is out today on all digital platforms via Volcano Records & Promotion.
Though it’s their first release under this moniker, the band is composed of musicians already active within the Italian metal scene. They present a sound that blends industrial and alternative influences, through an intense and visionary track that moves between dark atmospheres, razor-sharp riffs, and a deep, dramatic melodic vein. Leaden Air is a dark reflection on the invisible weight of unspoken emotions, the suffocating grip of anxiety, and the moments when even the air seems to turn to lead. The piercing voice of the brilliant and intriguing Bia Redchaos cuts through a carefully crafted sonic landscape, where echoes of bands like 3Teeth, Delain, and Sick ‘N Beautiful converge in a raw and powerful artistic statement.
The track was recorded in the studio with meticulous attention to detail to enhance its evocative power, and the release is accompanied by striking cover art and a visionary music video available here:
Vallorch reveal a new chapter of their ancestral storytelling with the official video for “Antermoia”, the third single taken from their latest album “The Circle” (released March 14th) via Rockshots Records.
After the uplifting folk euphoria of “Circle Of The Moon” and the energy of “Drink Some More!”, “Antermoia” unveils the most intimate, melancholic and dramatic side of the band’s sound, positioned at the emotional core of the album’s nocturnal journey.
Rooted in the ancient legend of the Lake of Antermoia, the song recounts the doomed love between Oswald and the mountain spirit Antermoia. Born under a curse that shatters any instrument he touches, Oswald is destined to suffer through music rather than be uplifted by it. When he falls in love with the voice of the Alpine nymph, he unknowingly seals their fate: one night, he speaks her true name aloud, breaking the laws of nature. In that moment, Antermoia dissolves into the waters of the lake that bears her name, leaving only her harp floating on its surface. As Oswald lifts it, miraculously intact, he realises the curse is broken but at the price of losing her forever. From then on, he wanders the world playing their story in an endless attempt to ease a grief that cannot be healed.
Musically, “Antermoia” stands as the symbolic ballad of “The Circle” – a delicate yet powerful fusion of folk and symphonic metal built on a steady emotional crescendo. The track opens with the warm tone of Glorya Lyr’s Celtic harp and Sara Tacchetto’s ethereal vocals, gradually expanding into rich layers of harmonies from Leonardo Dalla Via and Marco Povolo, the expressive violin of Serena Zucco (Adgarios) and the tight rhythmic foundation. Waves of electric guitars and symphonic arrangements rise and fall throughout the song, amplifying its themes of loss, devotion and the wild, unforgiving beauty of the Dolomites.
Within the broader narrative of “The Circle“, “Antermoia” plays a pivotal role – both musically and conceptually. It is one of the three tracks that represent the linguistic and cultural roots of Vallorch (Italian, Cimbrian and Venetian) and it captures the most contemplative and sorrowful facet of the album’s overarching theme: the Night. If “To The Silver Summit” embodies the climb toward the light and “Circle Of The Moon” celebrates life and togetherness, “Antermoia” is the moment of stillness and reflection – where music becomes the only bridge between the world of the living and the world of spirits.
The music video further enhances the band’s connection with the myths, landscapes and timeless atmosphere of the Dolomites. Visual storytelling intertwines with Vallorch’s unique blend of folk metal, symphonic depth and melodic power, highlighting the duality at the heart of their craft: the intimacy of ancient tales and the grandeur of their modern, dynamic sound. For fans of Eluveitie, Alestorm, Epica and Wind Rose, “Antermoia” shows Vallorch at their most expressive, weaving emotion, folklore and cinematic power into a single, unforgettable piece.
Produced at Hypnoise Recording Studio by Filippo Galvanelli and mastered by Lasse Lammert (Wind Rose, Gloryhammer, Alestorm), “The Circle” marks a new artistic chapter for Vallorch. After years of evolution and renewed line-up cohesion, the band emerges stronger than ever – ready to bring their modern folk metal vision, rooted in Cimbrian heritage and Alpine traditions to stages across Italy and beyond.
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 ) 