Time To Kill Records has signed MASTER’S ASHES for the release of the band’s debut full-length album, “How The Mighty Have Fallen”.
Formed by musicians with decades of experience across some of the most influential and uncompromising corners of heavy music, MASTER’S ASHES brings together a background that spans extreme metal, alternative and experimental sounds, resulting in a project shaped by vision, intent and hard-earned perspective. Rather than relying on past credentials, the band channels that collective history into a focused and confrontational statement, built on atmosphere, weight, and urgency.
Further details on the album, along with the first single, will be revealed in the coming weeks.
MASTER’S ASHES is far more than a band – it’s a reckoning. Forged from the ranks of a few untouchable acts, this collective of battle-hardened musicians brings decades of innovation, chaos, and raw expression into a single, volatile entity. There is that known expression, when something is “more than the sum of its parts”. Well, we’re sure that even if this band was “just” the sum of their parts, Eric Forrest (Voivod), Afzaal Deen and Fred Waring (Crisis), Dan Kaufman (Destroy Judas, Dystopia, Mindrot), Jeff Golden (Six Feet Under, Crowbar), and Katy Crimson (The Convalescence), would already be pretty awesome. Individually, they are legendary. But together, they are unstoppable. A force that refuses to bow, bend, or behave.
Drawing from the atmospheric dread of early-90s alternative heavy music and the radical energy of classic crust, proto-industrial, and apocalyptic metal, MASTER’S ASHES channels the spirit of Amebix, Crisis, Voivod, and Neurosis while igniting something fiercely new. Their sound is a serrated blend of dystopian riffwork, textured samples, and uncompromising intensity. Music built for a world on fire.
True to their name, MASTER’S ASHES stands firmly in defiance: no gods, no masters, only resistance. Their debut full-length, “How The Mighty Have Fallen”, is nothing short of a rallying cry, a scorched-earth commentary on the current political climate and a ruthless slap in the face to anyone expecting business as usual. It’s a dark, atmospheric, and aggressive opening statement from a band unafraid to speak truth to power and tear down the false idols of a collapsing age.
MASTER’S ASHES stands as a testament to what happens when experience, conviction, and rebellion collide. This is not a nostalgia act. This is not a supergroup gimmick. This is the next wave of resistance: loud, unfiltered, and inevitable.
Even among progheads, Alkaloid are metal’s maddest scientists. While testing the boundaries of extremity, the progressive death metal supergroup have explored what lies beneath the Antarctic crust and discovered a galactic civilization that ascends to god-like levels of domination. But on their upcoming live album, the band conduct a one-of-a-kind experiment that only a true maestro can perform. Bach Out of Bounds brings revered classical composer Johann Sebastian Bach in conversation with the heaviest of underground arts.
Today, Alkaloid are releasing the third and final advanced single from Bach Out of Bounds. Even though the original proved to be a stroke of genius, this new classical version of “The Fungi From Yuggoth” emerges as a real live beast.
“This performance captures the essence of Bach Out Of Bounds”, says Morean, Alkaloid’s chief composer. “‘The Fungi From Yuggoth’ is a pure death metal track, but this version is enhanced by five-string violin and cello with an extended improvisation section.”
Bach Out of Bounds – Live in the Netherlands comes out January 23, 2026 on Season of Mist.
Can’t wait until release day? Hear all of Bach Out of Bounds before the album comes out during this week’s Bandcamp Listening Party
Alkaloid Bach Out of Bounds Bandcamp Listening Party, Wednesday, January 14 @ 1:30 pm Eastern Time – RSVP
Bach Out of Bounds presents both faithful and wildly re-imagined arrangements of three Bach classics. But in a feat of reverse engineering, the album simultaneously transfuses the composer’s heart and soul into Alkaloid’s cannon.
“The idea behind this performance wasn’t necessarily for us to try and write a Bach song”, Morean explains. “We wanted to use Bach’s techniques to write an Alkaloid song”.
Already, “The Fungi from Yuggoth” was one of Alkaloid’s most potent creations. By fusing together highly technical riffing that lands like a meteor with an infectious chorus that nods to H.P. Lovecraft, the song quickly grew on fans of their latest album Numen. However, upon returning to the stage last summer for three special shows in the Netherlands, the band were delighted to introduce freshly twisted threads into its death metal DNA. As new guitarists Justin Hombach and Max Blok shoot off into the stratosphere with dizzying leads, Keteven Ronishvili holds down the low end with bottomless bends of cello.
As the grand finale to Bach Out of Bounds, “The Fungi from Yuggoth” sends Alkaloid off with a big bang. From amidst dark and proggy passageways, five-string violinist Oene van Geel enters into an extended improvisation with drummer Hannes Grossman. Where van Geel keeps raising the tension until the hairs on the back of everyone’s neck are standing up, Grossman sits back before it’s time for the double bass to explode. “These will change everything”, Morean growls, basking in the power and glory of the band’s classic new creation.
“I’m so happy that we can now share this performance with people everywhere. People aren’t going to know what hit them”, Morean says. Bach Out of Bounds is very different from what other metal bands – or even Alkaloid – normally do”.
The video for ““The Fungi from Yuggoth” was compiled from footage filmed live during performances at the 2024 Bachfestival in Dordrecht, Netherlands, Paard van Troject in The Hague and November Music in Den Bosch. It was created by Thomas Niehof / Creative Headroom & Lindy Balduk Photography.
Tracklist
1. Allegro (BWV 1052-I) (8:28) 2. Adagio – All Is Vanity (BWV 1052-II) (6:56) 3. Beneath the Sea (7:26) 4. Cthulhu (6:00) 5. Haunter of the Void (10:11) [WATCH] 6. A Fool’s Desire (8:55) 7. Agnus Dei (BWV 232) (6:25) [WATCH] 8. The Fungi From Yuggoth (7:47) [WATCH] Full runtime: 1:02:10
ALKALOID know no bounds. Morean, Hannes Grossmann, Linus Klausenitzer and Christian Münzner had already defied the laws of the metalverse as members of Obscura, Triptykon and Dark Fortress, but since banding together as a supergroup in 2013, they have rearranged the very composition of progressive death metal. Their three studio albums fuse everything from worldly polyrhythms and sci-fi concepts to monstrous growls, brutally technical riffs and infectious choruses.
“German collective Alkaloid bucks the trend often associated with bands fitted with the ‘supergroup’ tag”, Angry Metal Guy wrote in praise of their last LP Numen. “Alkaloid established a unique sound from the onset, their cosmic, science fiction-infused technical and progressive death metal formula featuring a futuristic, otherworldly vibe and melodic, experimental flair”.
Despite their already impressive discography, during the summer of 2024, Alkaloid conducted a boundary-pushing performance that, once and for all, proved their alchemical mastery. With their new live album Bach Out of Bounds, the band build fascinating parallels between their unmatched compositions and revered composer Johann Sebastien Bach. Joined by an award-winning ensemble of vocalists, accordion and string players, the metal maestros prove that Bach’s music is as relevant today as it’s always been by projecting his Baroque style through a lens that’s radically different – and way heavier.
Bach Out of Bounds brings three of the composer’s classics in conversation with the underground arts. “I didn’t change any notes of Bach’s scores”, Morean says, “but I took maximum liberty in how I arranged them”. Sacred aria “Agnus Dei” is performed faithfully, graced by sopranos Rianne Wilbers and Chrysa Tsaltampasi. Of course, as metal’s mad scientists, Alkaloid inject plenty of their own virtuoso. The band’s new guitarists Max Blok and Justin Hombach shred harmoniously with violinists Julija Hartig and Oene van Geel through the monumental “Allegro”. Marieke Hopman’s mourning accordion lights the way during the slow and sorrowful procession of “Adagio – All Is Vanity”.
“The original ‘Adagio’ is super quiet and very slow. It’s a piece with just a few notes. What I did is the opposite of that”, Morean says with a pleased grin. “Our version turns it into a heavy doom metal song”.
In a feat of reverse engineering, Bach Out of Bounds also transfuses the soul of Bach into Alkaloid’s own creations. “The idea behind this performance wasn’t necessarily for us to try and write a Bach song”, Morean explains. “We wanted to use Bach’s techniques to write an Alkaloid song”. The album includes extended renditions of recent fan favorites in “A Fool’s Desire” and “The Fungi from Yuggoth”, not to mention two brand new songs. As if summoned by a siren’s call, “Beneath the Sea” reveals itself as a speaker-shaking precursor to the band’s monster hit “Cthulhu”. Whereas “Haunter of the Void” goes where no metalhead has gone before. Commissioned by the Dutch Performing Arts Fund (FPK) and written especially for this performance, the 10-minute epic follows a severed, digitized brain that’s been shot into space from a long-dead Earth. Amidst a crushing cosmic void, this spec of hope clings to life, creating a new habitat one riff at a time.
“Cell by cell starts to unfurl / And I come into my own”, Morean growls as their fresh tale swirls into a headbanging symphony.
Alkaloid performed Bach Out of Bounds during three separate shows in the Netherlands – at the Bachfestival in Dordrecht, Paard van Troject in The Hague and on November Music in Den Bosch. The performances drew people from around the world along with interest from Dutch national radio and TV. Now, fans everywhere can experience this truly one-of-a-kind performance on limited-edition CD and vinyl.
“The audience who came and saw these performances went crazy for it”, Morean remembers. “I’m so happy that we can now share them with people everywhere. People aren’t going to know what hit them. Bach Out of Bounds is very different from what other metal bands – or even Alkaloid – normally do”.
With Bach Out of Bounds, Alkaloid deliver a classically innovative performance as only a true maestro can.
Recording Credits: Recorded live in The Netherlands at Bibelot (Dordrecht) & Paard van Troje (The Hague). Front of house engineer: Laurens Voois
Production Credits: Produced by Alkaloid. Mixed by Hannes Grossman at Mordor Sounds, Germany. Mastered by Victor Bullok at Woodshed Studio, Germany.
Songwriting Credits: Music for “Allegro”, “Adagio – All Is Vanity” and “Agnus Dei” written by Johann Sebastian Bach. Music for “Cthulhu” written by Morean and Hannes Grossman. Music for “Beneath the Sea” and “Haunter of the Void” written by Morean. Music for “A Fool’s Desire” written by Hannes Grossman. Music for “The Fungi from Yuggoth” written by Christian Münzner. Lyrics to “Adagio – All Is Vanity” based on “Es ist alles eitel” by Andreas Gryphius and adapted by Morean. Lyrics to “Agnus Dei” taken from John 1:29. Lyrics to “Beneath the Sea”, “Cthulhu”, “Haunter of the Void”, “A Fool’s Desire” and “The Fungi from Yuggoth” written by Morean.
International AOR supergroup Transatlantic Radio released today their new single and official video, “City Of Angels”, the second one taken from the upcoming debut album “Midnight Transmission”, out on February 20, 2026, via Frontiers Music Srl.
Victor Brodén stated: “City Of Angels” was the last song written for the album. It is a tribute to all the great songs, throughout history, about going west to try to make your dreams come true and live your best life. In our case, it is also a tribute to the diverse city of Los Angeles, but it could be wherever the city of your dreams is. The song delivers the quintessential Transatlantic Radio sound, a huge chorus, big sweeping melodies and lots of attitude. This is a song to roll down your windows and sing at the top of your lunges on the way to a party or on a long road trip!”
Brodén stated: “The completion of this album is a love letter to the music that shaped my life, musically and otherwise. The guys in this band took what was a casual idea and turned it into something beyond my wildest dreams. Mattias Osbäck is truly one of the greatest rock voices of this generation with a rough edge that brings our big, sweeping melodies to life and gives them attitude”.
“RJ Ronquillo, on lead guitar, is a legend in his own right and a role model for guitarists around the world as well as one of the world’s most watched six-string heroes with his YouTube channel”, he continued. “His work on this album makes me grin ear to ear. Chris Reeve on drums is one of the most sought-after touring drummers in the world right now, and a bass player’s dream come true. Him agreeing to join this project is still mind boggling to me. Fred Kron on keyboards, my partner in production for this project, is nothing short of a wizard. There would be no Transatlantic Radio without his invaluable input, otherworldly mixes, and his ability to sprinkle magic dust on all of these songs. This is the band I could never have imagined being in growing up, and this is the record I always dreamed of making”.
An inspired celebration of classic AOR with a fresh, modern pulse, “Midnight Transmission” marks the official album debut of Transatlantic Radio, a truly international band founded by Victor Brodén, a Swedish-born bassist and producer now based in Los Angeles.
Conceived during the isolation of the 2020 lockdown, the project was born out of a desire to bring timeless melodic rock back into the spotlight – with a lineup as global as their sound. Fronted by powerhouse Swedish vocalist Mattias Osbäck and featuring American guitarist R.J. Ronquillo (known for his work with Ricky Martin, Santana, Stevie Wonder, and Stone Sour), the band blends European sensibility with American fire.
The lush keyboards of Fred Kron – who had his work featured in Anchorman 2 and High School Musical 2, and longtime member of the Jimmy Kimmel Live! band – add cinematic depth and vintage flair. Behind the kit is Chris Reeve, drummer for Filter and Avril Lavigne, whose dynamic style gives the album its drive and precision. At the center of it all is Brodén himself, anchoring the songs with groove, vision, and a deep understanding of the genre’s melodic soul.
Following a string of well-received singles and video releases, Transatlantic Radio made their live debut at the Malmö Melodic Festival 2024, where their sound and presence confirmed that this is more than just a studio project – it’s a band with heart, muscle, and chemistry.
Musically, “Midnight Transmission” is a love letter to the 80’s giants of the genre – Foreigner, Toto, Danger Danger, Starship – but it’s no nostalgia act. Each track balances polish with punch, fusing massive choruses, slick arrangements, and emotionally charged performances with crisp, contemporary production.
Packed with arena-ready anthems, the album showcases a band fully aware of their influences, yet unafraid to carve their own path forward. “Midnight Transmission” is more than a debut – it’s a statement: melodic rock is alive, and Transatlantic Radio is here to carry the signal.
“Midnight Transmission” Tracklist:
1. That’s What You Get (For Falling In Love) 2. City Of Angels 3. Wide Awake 4. Fever Dream 5. The Good Times 6. First To Be The Last 7. All For You 8. Against All The Odds 9. Born To Rise
Line Up: Mattias Osbäck – Lead and background vocals RJ Ronquillo – Guitar Victor Brodén – Bass Fred Kron – Keyboards Chris Reeve – Drums
Soundsrock Agency is pleased to announce the signing of SERAPHIC EYES.
SERAPHIC EYES is an established force in the grunge-rock scene, blending the high-octane energy of ’90s guitars with a deep and conscious worldview. The band delivers powerful rock that is more than just music; it’s a true anthem to the beauty of life and nature. Through their lyrics, the group offers a clear-eyed critique of modern society, championing culture and collaboration as the only paths toward building a bright future for everyone.
With a solid career featuring two LPs and three EPs, the band has built significant international credibility. The journey that began with the album Unity and continued with HOPE (developed alongside producer Pietro Foresti) paved the way for success far beyond their borders, landing their music on radio stations worldwide—from Canada to Australia. This momentum continues to grow steadily: in 2024 alone, their tracks earned over 2,500 global radio plays.
In recent years, Seraphic Eyes has shown a remarkable ability to turn challenges into opportunities. The EP Quarantine, composed during the lockdown and released by Vrec Music Label, received rave reviews from the music press and surpassed 100,000 streams. This drive led the band to secure second place in major national rock competitions and fueled a standout 2024, highlighted by their first UK tour and a prestigious opening slot for the artist Bugo.
Swiss death metal unit DEFACED return with their second single “Anthem Of Vermin”, taken from their upcoming third studio album “Icon”, set for release on February 12th, 2026 via Massacre Records.
Following the explosive impact of the first single “Culling TheHerd”, “Anthem Of Vermin” dives deeper into the oppressive and dystopian world at the core of “Icon”. As the longest and most multifaceted track on the album, the song showcases the full scope of DEFACED’s extreme metal vision – blending relentless death metal aggression, grinding intensity, and evocative black metal atmospheres into one uncompromising statement.
Musically, “Anthem Of Vermin” opens with harmonized riffing over fast double-kick assaults before shifting into crushing grooves and a powerful mid-section steeped in black metal darkness. The track culminates in a dramatic structure that highlights both the band’s technical precision and their passion for atmosphere, crowned by a striking guitar solo by Matze Schiemann.
Lyrically, the song represents a key chapter in “Icon”s conceptual narrative. “Anthem Of Vermin” focuses on the faceless masses – stripped of identity, education and free will – reduced to expendable tools serving an authoritarian regime. Disposable, replaceable, and ultimately insignificant in the eyes of the “Icon,” they exist only to sustain the empire until their final breath.
Guitarist Marco Kessi comments: “‘Anthem Of Vermin’ is the track that truly represents everything DEFACED stands for today. It’s brutal, atmospheric, dynamic, and uncompromising. If you want to understand ‘Icon’ in a single song, this is it.”
After years of meticulous songwriting and two complete pre-production cycles, “Icon” stands as the band’s proudest and most carefully constructed work to date. DEFACED remained fully committed to refining every detail, rewriting and discarding material until each song matched their exact creative vision. Produced, mixed and mastered by Simon Egli and Romano Galli at Hardbeat Studio Eggiwil, the album captures the band’s raw energy with polished clarity and a renewed sense of purpose.
“Icon” also marks the first studio appearance of vocalist Thomas Gertsch, guitarist Matze Schiemann and bassist Michael Gertsch, each bringing new influences that helped shape the album’s expanded sonic palette. While firmly rooted in death metal, the record ventures into grindcore aggression, black metal atmospheres and a pronounced passion for harmonies and ambience, remaining true to the band’s DNA while pushing their sound further than ever before.
Lyrically, the album explores authoritarianism, mass surveillance and psychological manipulation from the perspective of the oppressor himself. The visual interpretation of this dystopian concept was created by acclaimed artist Pär Olofsson, whose artwork perfectly reflects the record’s themes.
DEFACED live:
13.02.2026 CH Burgdorf – Saegegasse release show with Hour of Penance, Thy Gnosis, Shallow Descent 06.06.2026 CH Basel at Valhalla Club with Godless
European tour – venues TBA
23.06.2026 Novi Sad 24.06.2026 Zagreb 25.06.2026 Ljubljana 26.06.2026 Remptemdorrf 27.06.2026 Vicenza 28.06.2026 Bologna 29.06.2026 Torino 13.09.2026 CZ Zelenice, IL Fest
DEFACED are: Thomas Gertsch – Vocals Massimiliano Malvassora – Drums Marco Kessi – Guitars, Backing vocals Matze Schiemann – Guitars Michael Gertsch – Bass
Shadowspawn hails from the greater Copenhagen area in Denmark and has existed since 2013. They released several critically acclaimed records (“Ashes of Sorrow” (EP, 2015), “Hope Lies Dormant” (2017), “The Biology of Disbelief” (2021), “Blasphemica” (2023)) and established themselves as a powerful force on the Danish metal scene. They are known for their uncompromising blend of groove, black, and old-school death metal, Shadowspawn masterfully balances brutality, heaviness, and technicality!
After 3 years, now Danish band is preparing for releasing 4th studio album!
With “Cadaver Dogs“, Shadowspawn unleash a landmark album that both expands the band’s musical horizons and cements their ability to craft a cohesive sound where groove and darkness go hand in hand with crushing intensity.
Bue Jensen comments: “We’re back with a truly killer, thoroughly crafted record, and we’re proud and excited to present it to our fans! We’ve created a narrative about the insane world we see around us, where power-hungry dictators and religion set an agenda built on fear, murder, and oppression. In other words, human carrion feeders who exploit everything they possibly can!“.
The material for the new album was recorded at Corpsekennel Spawncamp. All was mixed & mastered by Kelvin Dam. Cover artwork was designed by Swedish artist Henry Pyykkö, and the layout was created by Jess Larsen. Album will be released on February 20, 2026 in digital format and CD by Polish label Via Nocturna (pre-order).
In April this year, Shadowspawn will go on tour across Denmark together with Defacing God (symphonic black/gothic) and Maceration (death).More info at Metalized Tour Fanpage.
Watch video to the song “He Who Slept in Fire“:
TRACKLIST:
01. Spiral of Torment 02. The Apostate 03. Devil’s Breath Retribution 04. Dark Waters 05. Eir to the Profane 06. Cadaver Dogs 07. Requiem of the Dispossessed 08. He Who Slept in Fire 09. Hollow Gods 10. Demonized and Blasphemous
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 ) 