Melodic hard rockers NESTOR unleash the first single from the upcoming live album, Live at Gothenburg Film Studios (out August 14, 2026, via Napalm Records) with nostalgic “On The Run”! The studio version, released on the celebrated debut album Kids in a ghost town (2021), counts as one of the biggest NESTOR hits to date and has gathered millions of streams. Now, the band’s captivating live energy meets the song’s epic AOR-inspired keys and guitars – and one of their possibly catchiest singalong-choruses so far.
Originally formed in 1989, NESTOR broke into the international rock scene with the band’s comeback and debut album in 2021, immediately gaining critical praise and massive live opportunities. The acclaimed hard rock force has played alongside iconic acts like Kiss and Europe, and fans have gotten to experience NESTOR‘s outstanding stage presence also on headline tours around Europe and even in Japan. Check out the atmospheric live video for “On The Run” below for a first glimpse of NESTOR‘s first live album and DVD!
Vocalist Tobias Gustavsson comments: ”We are super thrilled to release our live album Live at Gothenburg Film Studios with ‘On The Run’ as the first single leading the way into our universe. I think this album captures NESTOR in our natural habitat: loud, heartfelt, unapologetically dramatic, and somehow both nostalgic and new at the same time. I hope you’ll enjoy listening as much as we enjoyed playing.”
Pre-Order Your Copy of Live at Gothenburg Film StudiosNOW
Live at Gothenburg Film Studios treats fans old and new to a hefty selection of live versions of future classics from NESTOR‘s celebrated catalogue. The band brings the heat with a new rendition of the track “Firesign” (originally from Kids in a ghost town, 2021) – catchy riffs and rhythms carry the heavily 80s-inspired, authentic sound that is topped with impressive rock vocals. The nostalgia-drenched following track “Teenage Rebel” (title track of the latest studio album, 2024) gets audiences singing along without a failure with its irresistible chorus that is accompanied with emotion-loaded melodies and massive riffs. Further highlights of this extensive, 16-track offering include a live rendition of one of the biggest NESTOR hits to date, “On The Run” (also from the praised debut Kids in a ghost town, 2021).
This comprehensive live album, available even as a DVD, draws from NESTOR‘s impressive repertoire of arena-worthy anthems and rock ballads, polished with the very best AOR and classic 80s rock influences. Without a doubt, NESTOR continue their steady mission to restore the glory of rock!
Vocalist Tobias Gustavsson comments: “When I listen to Live at Gothenburg Film Studios it becomes clear to me that it shows everything that NESTOR was about, from the beginning. A live performance with all the little quirks and mistakes that makes it human, a thing that I have learned to love even more in an era of AI generated music. Live at Gothenburg Film Studios is less clinical and more of a human experience in comparison to our studio albums and shows a different side of NESTOR. I hope you will enjoy it as much as we did recording it up on stage.”
Live at Gothenburg Film Studios track listing: 01. Intro 02. We Come Alive 03. Kids In A Ghost Town 04. Stone Cold Eyes 05. Perfect 10 06. The One That Got Away 07. Last To Know 08. Unchain My Heart 09. Signed in blood 10. Victorious 11. Caroline 12. Firesign 13. On The Run 14. Teenage Rebel 15. 1989 16. It Ain’t Me
NESTOR Live 2026
Festivals 17.07.26 FI – Laukaa / John Smith Rock Festival 25.07.26 DE – Mönchengladbach / BOBfest 01.08.26 FI – Turku / Baltic Metal Storm 15.08.26 SE – Falköping / NestorFest 2026 19. – 22.08.26 DE – Haddeby / Baltic Open Air
Finnish modern death metal newcomers Monarch of Hate burst onto the scene with a force that leaves no one indifferent. The band is releasing their debut single, “There Goes the Sun,” which showcases an uncompromising blend of groovy heaviness, modern production, and the dark intensity of melodic death metal.
At the heart of the track beats a finely honed sound where crushing riffs and a captivating atmosphere go hand in hand—the result is a sound that sticks in your mind and resonates deep within your body.
–ISRC: FI3FC2602001 –Composer: Tomi Tilli –Lyricist: Mikko Aittola
Tomi TIlli: guitar, vocals, programming Mikko Aittola: guitar
Monarch of Hate is built around the strong vision of two experienced musicians: Tomi Tilli – known in the melodic death metal scene, notably as the singer and guitarist of Superdeathflame Mikko Aittola – a veteran guitarist and technical virtuoso whose touch is evident in both his playing and production
Although the artists have built impressive careers in various projects, Monarch of Hate brings their talents together for the first time—creating a whole where aggression, precision, and melody strike a perfect balance.
“There Goes the Sun” doesn’t ask for permission—it just takes its place.
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST have released their new live performance video for ‘Passion Drives You Over’, taken from the band’s latest album “Lead, Love and Gold”, released in 2024 via Lion Music.
The live performance video was recorded during their concert on February 28, 2026, at the auditorium of Magazzini Musicali Merula, one of the largest musical instrument stores in Europe. Mixed by Beppe Geracitano.
Aldo, the singer shared on the song: “Passion is the essence of our existence, for better or worse. Passion is what makes us human. It is also the very thing that allows us to push beyond. ‘Passion Drives You Over’ is a play on words; it means that passion will guide you beyond—beyond your limits, beyond your fears and your struggles. If you are a motorsport fan, for example, what better place than Monte Carlo to represent this idea of going beyond? It visually embodies a concept that applies to motorsport, but also to music, love, friendship, or anything else. Don’t be cold souls; strive to live life with as much passion as possible, even in the smallest things, because otherwise, it simply wouldn’t make sense!”
Watch ‘Passion Drives You Over’ live video here:
You’ll find the official video for ‘Passion Drives You Over’ (shot in Monte Carlo in agreement with the Principality of Monaco and ACI) here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AZiutnHzHRI
Just recently the band released their first live video for ‘Limitless’ from Magazzini Musicali Merula -show, in case you missed it, watch here: https://youtu.be/Jrh-LFXWJoI?si=sOUNco1P46r8ubEb
The band about their music: “No autotune, no samples, and no overdubbing. Just a keyboard backing on some tracks. We care about keeping live music as pure and real as possible. Considering how technology is overused in 2026, even on stage, we think it’s important to speak up!”
More information: THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – formed in 2009 – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements. With a contemporary and refined sound, the band has built an international following, particularly in Finland, USA, Spain, France, Brazil, Germany, Poland, and Canada.
Their music is born from a balance of emotional impact, technical skill, and production quality. Over the years, they have also connected their image to the world of motorsport and F1, becoming the first rock band to perform on the podium of the Monza Circuit during the awards ceremony of the 2015 Monza Rally Show. Several of their tracks have been used as soundtracks in TV features for programs such as Griglia di Partenza, and on channels like Eurosport or RTBF Belgium.
Their songs have also received international rock radio airplay, being broadcast on various stations in several countries, including the USA, Poland, and France (Virgin Radio France).
Fresh from crushing packed crowds during last month’s headline tour of the United States, Defeated Sanity are announcing their first North American tour since the release of Chronicles of Lunacy. This 27-date fall run includes the band’s first shows in Canada since 2023. They will perform songs off their latest Billboard-crushing album, along with other favorites from their three-decades long discography, as direct support for Revocation, who are celebrating their 20th-anniversary. Fuming Mouth and Weeping are also joining in support.
“We are thrilled and humbled to join the legendary Revocation in celebrating their 20th anniversary this coming fall”, Defeated Sanity guitarist Vaughn Stoffey says. “We’ll be playing a fresh set of DS classics for all of the true sickos across North America”.
Pre-sales ends this Thursday, June 4 at 10 pm Eastern Time.
General ticket sales begin Friday, June 5 at 10 am local time. Get tickets for Defeated Sanity’s 2026 North American Tour: https://defeatedsanity.com/
Defeated Sanity 2026 North American Tour Dates with Revocation, Fuming Mouth and Weeping
September 10 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium [TICKETS] September 11 – Montreal, QC @ Foufones [TICKETS] September 12 – Toronto, ON @ Lee’s Palace [TICKETS] September 13 – Detroit, MI @ Sanctuary [TICKETS] September 15 – St. Paul, MN @ Amsterdam Bar [TICKETS] September 16 – Winnipeg, MB @ Park Theatre [TICKETS] September 17 – Regina, SK @ The Exchange [TICKETS] September 18 – Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room [TICKETS] September 19 – Calgary, AB @ Dickens [TICKETS] September 20 – Kelowna, BC @ The Reverly [TICKETS] September 22 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw [TICKETS] September 23 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon [TICKETS] September 24 – Portland, OR @ Dante’s [TICKETS] September 25 – San Jose, CA @ The Ritz [TICKETS] September 26 – Los Angeles, CA @ 1720 [TICKETS] September 27 – Mesa, AZ @ Nile Underground [TICKETS] September 28 – Las Vegas, NV @ Backstage Bar [TICKETS] September 30 – Denver, CO @ HQ [TICKETS] October 1 – Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room [TICKETS] October 2 – Chicago, IL @ Reggies [TICKETS] October 3 – Columbus, OH @ Ace of Cups [TICKETS] October 4 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Preserving Underground [TICKETS] October 6 – Nashville, TN @ Exit/In [TICKETS] October 7 – Asheville, NC @ Eulogy [TICKETS] October 8 – Richmond, VA @ The Canal Club [TICKETS] October 9 – Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg [TICKETS] October 10 – Philadelphia, PA @ Underground Arts [TICKETS]
Tracklist 1. Amputationsdrang (2:30) [WATCH] 2. The Odour Of Sanctity (3:36) [WATCH] 3. Accelerating The Rot (3:22) [WATCH] 4. Temporal Disintegration (5:52) [WATCH] 5. Extrinsically Enraged (4:09) [WATCH] 6. A Patriarchy Perverse (4:16) 7. Condemned to Vascular Famine (6:00) [WATCH] 8. Heredity Violated (3:48)[WATCH] Total runtime: 33:35
DEFEATED SANITY is unequivocally one of the most unique, boundary-pushing and crucial bands in the history of extreme death metal. Their music is as technically coherent as it is mind-bending and memorable. Endlessly replay-able and full of discovery, their maze of riffs and musical passages is inspired by infamous classic bands in the extreme metal genre, while also heavily steeped in jazz and progressive classical elements.
The band consists of four members. They’re led by drummer Lille Gruber, who’s the son of deceased co-founding member Wolfgang Teske. Gruber is joined by bandmates Jacob Schmidt (bass), Josh Welshman (vocals) and Vaughn Stoffey (guitar).
As well as being the drummer of Defeated Sanity, Gruber is the multi- instrumental, songwriting mastermind behind the band’s deep and compelling catalogue of songs and compositions. He possesses a bag of tricks seen nowhere else in the genre, and a musical prowess which is on full display throughout their new album Chronicles of Lunacy.
“We love experimenting”, explains drummer and founding member Lille Gruber. “But we realized that some of our oldest fans might have gotten lost after our last couple of albums. With the new one, we wanted to focus more on neck-snapping brutality”.
Chronicles of Lunacy punches you right in the face. Press play and “Amputationsdrang” already has you pinned to the mat beneath its non-stop blasts. Get comfortable, too, because Defeated Sanity don’t let the album up for air until the very end of Track 4. But turns out, acting like knuckle-dragging cavemen isn’t so easy for a band that has a Mensa-level maestro like Gruber at the controls.
At the tender age of six, Lille Gruber picked up heavy guitar and drums. Inspired by killer American BDM bands like Disgorge, Monstrosity and Brodequin, the German wunderkind recorded the band’s first demo alongside his father, Wolfgang Teske. Since Wolfgang’s passing in 2010, Gruber has taken on the bulk of the composing for Defeated Sanity. Whether he’s hammering his snare, pinging between cymbals or riding a colossal groove, The Chronicles of Lunacy flows like a never-ending stream of filth.
“Lille’s drumming is just ridiculous”, Jacob Schmidt says. Schmidt – who toured with Obscura behind Cosmogenesis – joined as the other half of Defeated Sanity’s chaotic rhythm section for the band’s beloved second album. His nimble, belching bass give the new album’s lead single “The Odour of Sanctity” a dizzying bounce. “He’s the face of the franchise, so we’re never going to abandon those head-scratching moments that set Defeated Sanity apart”.
Indeed, Chronicles of Lunacy isn’t Defeated Sanity for dummies. Heck, the lyrics are wrapped up in the twisted ways that delusions can rot the human psyche. This heady concept was made flesh by none other than Jon Zig. Drawn in painstaking detail by his wicked right hand, the album’s cover shows that the birth of some ideas look an awful lot like a gory and sex-crazed nativity scene.
“Each song on Chronicles deals with a different form of mental corruption”, Josh Welshman says”. “Odor” stinks of religious fanaticism. “A Patriarchy Perverse” cracks open the mind of co-ed killer Ed Kemper, while “Extrinsically Enraged” practically foams at the mouth with squealing hammer-ons. “That one’s more literal”, says Welshman with a hearty laugh. “It’s about contracting rabies”. If it weren’t for Disposal of the Dead / Dharmata, then Defeated Sanity would’ve chewed through as many vocalists as they have albums, but after a brutal showing on their last one, Welshman is back with more guttural vengeance. His growls ooze from the pit of his gut on “Temporal Disintegration”, stomped out like the innards of a cockroach by the gravity-defying slams.
While it still hits from every odd angle, Chronicles of Lunacy does draw a jagged red line back to Defeated Sanity’s brutal origins. After all, the band now share a label with their namesake. In true, DS fashion, the first song written for this album was “Heredity Violated”, a headbanging grand finale that never stops chugging. “This album isn’t as tough on the brain as the last two”, says new guitarist Vaughn Stoffey, whose chunky riffs whip “Accelerating the Rot” into the fastest song in the band’s canon. “It’s rawer and more straightforward, which gets back to what fans love about Psalms of the Moribund“.
To dig up the sheer brutality that long-time fans have come to crave, Defeated Sanity returned to Thousand Cave Studios. New York City’s most vile underground hotspot also served as the excavation site for the Billboard-charting The Sanguinary Impetus, which shoveled a fresh layer of dirt over the “polished” production of Passages into Deformity. But the band encouraged producer Colin Marston to get down and dirty with Chronicles of Lunacy. “We still wanted some of the high fidelity that you hear on modern death metal records”, Schmidt says, “but this album has the same crushing low-end as Psalms or Chapters of Repugnance“.
The band execute this two-headed approach to monstrous effect on “Condemned to Vascular Famine”. At just under six minutes, the song delivers the longest ass beating on Chronicles of Lunacy. At times, all four members sound like they’re climbing up the walls in separate asylums, but after slipping in a brief nod to Bram Stoker’s Dracula, the band come slamming down into the album’s ugliest breakdown.
“That’s one of our favorites”, the band says. “It lands at a crossroad of the DS sound that we ended up with on Chronicles of Lunacy. Even though it gets pretty fucking weird at times, there’s still an emphasis on heavy, straight-up slamming”
None of their albums are ever going to follow a straight line, but on Chronicles of Lunacy, Defeated Sanity return to sheer brutality.
Lineup Josh Welshman – Vocals Vaughn Stoffey – Guitars Jacob Schmidt – Bass Lille Gruber – Drums
Guest musicians Danny Nelson and Paolo Paguntalan provide backup vocals on “Amputationsdrang” and “Accelerating the Rot”
Recording Studio Thousand Caves Studio in January 2024.
Production Recorded, mixed and mastered by Colin Marston. Produced by Colin Marston and Defeated Sanity.
Cover Art Artwork by Jon Zig Title lettering by Liz Schmidt Layout by Alex Eckman-Lawn
Holissstik arrives as the latest boundary-breaking project from Tor-Helge Skei. A founding member of Manes and Lethe, Skei remains one of the most consistent and surprising talents in extreme music. The Norwegian mainstay, multi-instrumentalist and producer’s 30-year career spans from black and doom metal to the many corners of the avant-garde.
In 2024, Skei was revisiting unfinished songs from other projects when a new idea emerged. Holissstik’s soon-to-be-announced debut album and the first in a forthcoming trilogy features a wide net of collaborators, including his Lethe counterpart Anna Murphy, fellow members of Manes and other familiar faces. While its mix of metal, electronic, jazz and trip-hop reflects his vision, Skei gave his collaborators little instruction, no rules, no limitations or restrictions, just artistic freedom, in hopes of creating something bigger than its individual parts.
As he prepares to open its first chapter, today, Skei is happy to announce that Holissstik has signed with Season of Mist.
“I’m very excited to work with Season of Mist”, Skei says. “Initially, the idea for Holissstik was to make music in a simple, DIY way. We planned on just posting MP3s online. That we ended up here at Season of Mist is far above what we originally intended!”
“Collaboration is the heart and soul of Holissstik”, Skei continues. “Each part of the music cannot exist or be understood when separated from the whole. We can’t wait to share the first album very soon. For now, enjoy this teaser from our upcoming single. Exciting times are ahead!”.
Watch the teaser for Holissstik’s upcoming single:
The vibrant heavy music scene of Melbourne, Australia, has birthed a compelling new era of artistic expression with the arrival of the couture symphonic metal quintet ANA. Known for their unique synthesis of luxury fashion theatricality and punishing sonic precision, the band has officially released a spellbinding new music video for their deeply personal track, “Papa“. The conceptual foundation of “Papa” is rooted in a posthumous letter written by vocalist Anna Khristenko to her deceased father, who was tragically lost to addiction during her childhood. Directed by the award-winning photographer Peter Coulson, this cinematic masterpiece serves as a profound visual anchor for the band’s new full-length studio album, Motivated by Death, recently released on May 29, 2026 via Eclipse Records. This is the third music video from their new album, and it successfully captures a whirlwind of human emotion, utilizing a distinctly claustrophobic set design to balance intense performance energy with fragile vulnerability.
Watch their “Papa” music video right now – “Papa” music video (Dir. Peter Coulson):
According to guitarist Josh Mak, the composition functions as a direct exploration of loss, grief, and the agonizing process of coming to terms with situations that offer no clean resolution. Filmed at the renowned Koukei Studio in Kilsyth, South Australia by award winning photographer Peter Coulson, the visual presentation intentionally mirrors this internal psychological struggle. The band performs within a tight, four-cornered boxed set where each angle is visually distinct, creating an unusual confrontational energy as the masked super-human musicians face one another during the shoot. Ultimately, “Papa” transcends the boundaries of traditional heavy metal music videos to deliver a universally resonant commentary on the human condition. Josh Mak emphasized that while the narrative is intensely personal to Khristenko, individual experiences with permanent loss are universally shared, offering viewers a space to process their own grief. As ANA stands at the precipice of international stardom, this video lays their art and hearts entirely bare.
Cover art Credit: Peter Coulson
While many symphonic metal acts lean into fantasy tropes, ANA focuses on a sophisticated evolution of the craft. Led by vocalist Anna Khristenko, the band members perform as masked super-humans. This visual identity is captured on the album cover by acclaimed Australian photographer Peter Coulson, bridging the gap between high fashion and the visceral intensity of symphonic metal. Produced by the creative duo of Josh Mak and Khristenko, the record finds a balance between orchestral grandeur and sonic precision. The heart of the record is found in “Shadow of Life”. Despite the title of the album, the band does not dwell on morbidity. Instead, the song treats death as a vital shadow that gives life its shape. It is a reminder to embrace the impermanence of existence as a catalyst for creativity. This celebration of the present moment elevates the record into a deep exploration of the human condition. Other standouts from the album include “Hate Me”. The album was produced by Anna Khristenko & Josh Mak, engineered & mixed by Chris Themelco (Eye of the Enemy, Naberus) at Monolith Studios, and mastered by Thomas “Plec” Johansson (Groove Armada, Soilwork, Mayhem) at The Panicroom Studio. Cover art for the album was shot by Peter Coulson. Motivated By Death by Ana was released on May 29, 2026 via Eclipse Records.
Get Motivated By Death on CD Digipak via Eclipse Records & on all digital platforms at this location.
About Ana ANA draws comparisons to Symphonic Metal titans such as Nightwish, Within Temptation, and Evanescence, yet they maintain a distinct Australian edge that refuses to be pigeonholed. By blending the grandeur of orchestral arrangements with the visceral power of symphonic metal and modern hard rock, ANA ensures that “couture metal” is not just about the appearance of luxury, but the substance of the art itself.
Ana is Anna Khristenko (Vocals), Josh Mak (Guitar), Cody Lamb (Bass), Andres Felipe Martinez Osorio (Drums), Mark Shi (Keys).
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 ) 