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URLUK Unveil New Single ‘The Last Watch’ from Upcoming Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 23, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: URLUK. Leave a comment

Italian band URLUK unveil their new single “The Last Watch”, the second preview from their upcoming album “Memories in Fade”, set for release on April 10, 2026 via Pest Records.

The track continues the band’s sonic evolution, blending their black-doom roots with ’90s alternative rock influences, ambient undertones and a host of new textures. With this single, URLUK reaffirm their ability to transform their music into a dense, emotionally charged narrative, giving a first taste of the complex atmospheres of “Memories in Fade” .

Following the atmospheric and introspective journey of their previous works, this new record marks a clear evolution in the band’s sound, embracing a more sinuous and emotionally driven approach.

“Memories in Fade” expands the band’s black-doom foundation with layers of ’90s alternative rock, ambient textures and neo-folk influences, creating a complex yet cohesive sonic narrative. Unlike conventional song structures, the album seeks a storytelling quality, where each track contributes to a broader, immersive experience while remaining grounded in the project’s artistic identity.

Throughout the album, clean vocals and intense screaming alternate, complementing a diverse palette of riffs that shift from melancholic and brooding to sharp and dynamic. The mood is consistently dark and enveloping, reflecting both personal introspection and the uncertainties of contemporary life. The result is a record that feels cinematic in scope, balancing heaviness and subtlety in equal measure.

Recorded with meticulous attention to atmosphere and texture, “Memories in Fade” represents URLUK’s ongoing exploration of emotional depth within extreme metal. The band continues to intertwine local identity, narrative sensibility, and musical experimentation, offering listeners a journey that is both intimate and expansive.

Tracklist:

01. Angles of Hauntology
02. Lying There
03. Yesterday’s Letters
04. Liminal Vortices
05. The Last Watch

URLUK was formed in July 2020 in Lombardy, Italy. The band’s name refers to a nocturnal bird of prey native to the region, reflecting a strong connection to its territory, an element also expressed visually through booklet photographs taken by the members themselves. Their sound, defined as black doom melancholic metal, merges black metal and doom into a dark and melancholic sonic landscape.

The lineup has remained unchanged since the beginning: M. (screaming and clean vocals, drums; formerly in Black Oath 2006–2010) and U. (clean vocals, guitars, bass, and lyrics), ensuring a coherent and recognizable identity.

The debut EP, “Loss” (2022), released via Black Mass Prayer and later reissued by Depressive Illusion Records, explores the theme of loss as a condition of profound human vulnerability.

The first full-length album, “More” (2023), released by Remparts Productions, represents a natural evolution. Conceptually centered on melancholy as the enduring aftermath of loss, the album expands the band’s sound, from ’90s black metal and doom to ambient and subtle folk influences, while featuring guest contributions from Carlo Altobelli (Vision Deprived, Camposanto, ex-Moral Values), Giovanni (Mindful of Pripyat, Corporal Raid, Henoa), and Luxitan (ex-Gosforth).

Work on a new album began at the end of 2023. Conceived as a sonic journey through memory and dreamlike dimensions, the record blends ’90s alternative rock, ambient, hauntology, neo-folk, and black metal within a vision described as ALT B/L/A/C/K/. Recorded at Orion Recording Studios between 2025 and early 2026, and featuring Francesco Cucinotta (Felis Catus, Sinoath), the album marks a further step in the band’s ongoing artistic evolution.

For fans of: In The Woods…, early Katatonia, Anathema, Woods Of Desolation

https://urluk.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/urluk_official/
https://www.facebook.com/urlukofficial

CRIMSON DAY Unveil First Single & Video ‘False Prophet’ from Upcoming Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 22, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: CRIMSON DAY. Leave a comment
Photography by Katri Kallio

After three years of anticipation and a steady rise through the European underground, Tampere’s own Crimson Day is back. Today, the band officially kicks off their next chapter with the release of “False Prophet,” the lead single and music video from their upcoming fourth studio album, Dark Dimension, set for global release on May 22, 2026, via Wormholedeath.

“False Prophet” stands as one of the band’s most direct and powerful tracks to date. Built on heavy riffs, dark atmosphere, and a commanding vocal performance, the song addresses the abuse of faith and the figures who use belief as a tool for control. Its message is clear: question what you are told, trust your own mind, and refuse to follow blindly.

The track highlights Crimson Day’s ability to combine modern heaviness with strong melody and emotional depth. It also offers a first look into the darker and more focused direction of Dark Dimension.

Stream “False Prophet”: orcd.co/falseprophet

About Crimson Day

Formed in Tampere, Crimson Day has built a boundary-pushing sound rooted in heavy metal and enriched with melodic depth and cross-genre influences. Since their 2013 debut and early releases through Iron Shield Records, the band has released three studio albums, multiple acclaimed singles, and high-profile covers of Led Zeppelin, Bonnie Tyler, and Shakira, earning strong international fan response and radio airplay across the USA, Brazil, Germany, France, and beyond.

Crimson Day has performed nearly 100 shows across Finland, Germany, Sweden, and the Baltic region, including tours with Herald and support for Wolf. They have also appeared at major festivals alongside leading acts such as Sonata Arctica, Turmion Kätilöt, Turisas, Reckless Love, and Korpiklaani.

Their fourth studio album, Dark Dimension, set for release in 2026, was mixed by Jussi Kulomaa and mastered by Svante Forsbäck, marking a new milestone in the band’s steady rise and expanding international presence.

Crimson Day is:

Milka Uusitalo – vocals
Ari Balzar – lead guitar
Janne Rantanen – guitar/screams
Jesse ”Kämy” Kämäräinen – bass
Janne Ollikainen – drums/percussions

Follow Crimson Day Online:

www.crimsonday.com
www.instagram.com/crimsonday_official
www.facebook.com/crimson.day.band
www.tiktok.com/@crimsonday_official
www.youtube.com/@crimsonday_official

ODC Premiere New Video Single ‘Welcome To My World’, Feat. Offspec

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 22, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: ODC. Leave a comment
Photo by Pascal Béliard

Alternative metal band ODC unleash today “Welcome To My World”, a powerful new track featuring Luisa Lyon, vocalist of rising metal group Offspec, out now via BLKIIBLK.

ODC’s frontwoman Celia Do commented: “Welcome To My World” is a very personal song about breaking free from someone who tried to hold me back. It’s about finding the strength to rise from what was meant to destroy you. Having Luisa from the US metalcore band Offspec on the track felt completely natural – she immediately understood the spirit and emotion behind the song.”

Stream “Welcome To My World” HERE

ODC is a Paris-based modern alternative metal band blending the power of contemporary metal with the emotional depth of alternative rock.
Fusing heavy riffs, haunting melodies, and immersive electronic textures, ODC crafts a bold and unapologetically hybrid sound. At the core of the project is a commanding female voice, carrying themes of resilience, inner conflict, and rebirth, supported by a strong and distinctive visual identity.

Their debut album Twisted Love, released on October 31, 2025, marks a key milestone in the band’s artistic and professional evolution. The record has already amassed over 520,000 streams on Spotify, positioning ODC as an emerging force within the new wave of modern metal.

Luisa Lyons is the vocalist of metal-pop outfit Offspec, along with Eric Barrera (drums), Devyn Byrd (bass), and Micheal Luce (guitar). 

Blending addictive pop melodies, flickering video game inspired electronics, and a vicious assault of riffs and breakdowns, Offspec’s high energy music is a fresh combination of polish and innovation. 

As well as catchy melodies and explosive sound, the band draws on an array of multimedia artforms to encourage fans to step into their world and connect through all different forms of expression and art. 

Drawing on Lyons’s Brazilian roots and Barrera’s Peruvian roots, the group utilizes not only their individual musical experiences, but also their unique cultural backgrounds to appeal to a diverse international audience which they have been captivating worldwide.

Line Up:
Celia Do – Vocals
Luisa Lyons – Vocals
MX MNK – Bass
Raphaël – Guitars
Hector – Drums

Follow ODC:
Facebook
Instagram
TikTok

KARMIAN Unleash New Concept Album “Horror Vacui” – A Haunting Dive into the Void of the Human Psyche

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 22, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: KARMIAN. Leave a comment

Rockshots Records proudly announces the release of Horror Vacui, the new full‑length album from Italian melodic death metal force Karmian, available March 20th. A concept record rooted in true events, “Horror Vacui” marks the band’s most ambitious, introspective, and emotionally charged work to date, a descent into the psychological and existential void behind real acts of murder and moral collapse.
​
​“Horror Vacui is the darkest and most introspective chapter of our journey. A descent into the psychological and existential void that hides behind real acts of murder and madness,” says the band.
​
Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Audiocore Studio by Luca Cocconi and Simone Sighinolfi, the nine tracks on “Horror Vacui” transform true Italian crime cases into harrowing portraits of human fragility, alienation, and the emptiness that breeds violence. Vocalist and lyricist Andrea Bertolazzi approached each story not to sensationalize, but to expose the void beneath the brutality. As he explains:
​​
“We didn’t want to glorify horror; we wanted to expose its roots. This record is about the emptiness that breeds violence, and the fragile humanity that hides beneath.”
​
​
From the tragic collapse of nurse Sonya Caleffi to the cult‑like spiral of the Beasts of Satan, from the myth‑shrouded Alleghe murders to the disturbing obsessions of Marco Mariolini and Gianfranco Stevanin, each track becomes a psychological study rendered through Karmian’s signature blend of aggression, melody, and narrative depth.

With “Horror Vacui,” Karmian pushes their sound further than ever. The album fuses Swedish‑influenced melodic death metal with cinematic tension, intricate arrangements, and a raw, live‑driven production approach. Every instrument was recorded acoustically without studio trickery, preserving the band’s trademark authenticity.
​
​“It’s our most mature and intense work to date, melodic death metal meets cinematic tension, raw energy, and psychological storytelling. We wanted the album to leave a lingering sense of inner unease, a discomfort that wounds, but is also exorcised through the act of listening,” adds the band.
​
The result is an album meant not just to be heard, but felt, a visceral experience that lingers long after the final note. The band hopes listeners will explore the layers of meaning, the connections to real events, and the emotional weight embedded in every riff and lyric.
​
​“Horror Vacui” stands as Karmian’s most profound artistic statement, a fusion of philosophy, extreme metal, and psychological exploration. It is a record that challenges, confronts, and compels reflection on the abyss within.

Recommended for fans of The Haunted, Kataklysm, Heaven Shall Burn, At The Gates, early Dark Tranquillity, and early In Flames, “Horror Vacui” is available now as of March 20th, 2026, through Rockshots Records.

CD – “Horror Vacui” – https://rockshots.eu/products/karmian-horror-vacui-cd​
Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/album/4lEIA86baPxAQIlIq7jCzE​
​
Music Video – Libido Et Mors – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qe4bccF7cx4​
Visualizer – Beastmaster Of The Void – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-NhBZGSShJE​
Lyric Video – Beyond The Dream Gate – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOH-uCK88qI

Track Listing:​
1. One Thousand Shining Bubbles – 06:38
2. Beastmaster of the Void – 03:21
3. Gott Mit Uns Nicht – 04:38
4. The Call of the Abyssal Bell – 06:17
5. Black Magical Soap Opera – 03:54
6. Temple of the Fleshless Goddess – 03:23
7. Libido et Mors – 03:40
8. Beyond the Dream Gate of Fear – 04:16
9. Maker of Angels – 04:43
Album Length: 40:50

Karmian Line-Up:​
Andrea Bertolazzi: Vocals
Andrea Baraldi: Guitars
Michele Perla: Guitars
Luca Marmi: Bass
Nicholas Badiali: Drums

More info:
​https://rockshots.eu/​
​https://www.instagram.com/karmian_official/​
​https://www.facebook.com/KarmianBand/

ISEGRIM to Rerelease Legendary Debut Album for First Time on Limited Vinyl & Digital on May 22nd + Announce New Album for 2027

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 22, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: ISEGRIM. Leave a comment

In the Old Testament, the wolf appears for the first time and exclusively as a symbol of evil – as Satan incarnate, who is contrasted with the good shepherd, the servant of God. For centuries, the wolf Isegrim was stigmatized as the incarnation of heresy, danger, and a threat to humanity and Christianity. This demonization led to relentless persecution and nearly to the extinction of the animal.

A. Blackwar reverses this view: it is not the animal that is evil, but humanity itself.

Over the past 35 years, traditional black metal has split into numerous styles. It is now rare to find artists who focus on the original essence of this genre: fast, aggressive, and anti-Christian music. 
A. Blackwar has been an active part of the black metal scene since 1992 and is considered a long-time co-creator of extreme metal culture. Over four decades, he has been involved in numerous bands and projects, shaping their sound with a consistent commitment to darkness, aggression, and authenticity.
With ISEGRIM, A. Blackwar returned to his roots. When the band was founded in 1998, he was its sole member – a role he once again assumes today. In this original constellation, he consistently continues and further develops the traditional and occult spirit of black metal. His musical path is characterized by consistency, discipline, and an uncompromising dedication.

This attitude is also reflected in the dark message of the first album from 1999, which is now being released on vinyl for the first time via Fireflash Records (Holy Moses, Vanaheim, Sacriversum, etc.) and includes three bonus tracks. Among them is the magnificent Destruction cover of “Bestial Invasion.” The vinyl is strictly limited to 300 copies in “Witchcraft Red” and includes a 4-page insert, a signed autograph card, and an Isegrim sticker.

  • Pre-order: https://save-it.cc/fireflash/isegrim
  • Bandcamp: https://ff-isegrim.bandcamp.com

To mark his 35th anniversary, A. Blackwar will release another ISEGRIM album in 2027. Anyone who has served the scene with such consistency over decades is undoubtedly one of black metal’s veterans.
While many have left the scene for family, professional, or personal reasons, giving up was never an option for A. Blackwar. His loyalty to the cause is a life dedicated to black metal.

HOKKA Unleash Cinematic Video for New Single ‘Blackbird’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on March 22, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: HOKKA. Leave a comment
photo credit: Hokka Syndicate OY

HOKKA return with a powerful new chapter in their unfolding musical saga. The warrior and the sensai – Joel Hokka (ex-Blind Channel) and Pauli Rantasalmi (ex-The Rasmus) – continue their journey with the release of the gripping new single ‘Blackbird’.

Taken from the upcoming album VIA MISERIA IV, set for release on April 24 via Nuclear Blast Records, ‘Blackbird’ delivers another intense and emotionally charged installment in the project’s evolving narrative. Driven by haunting melodies and cinematic production, the track dives also a bit deeper into the heavier side of the band. 

Accompanied by a striking new cinematic video, ‘Blackbird‘ continues the storyline introduced in the previous singles, expanding the visual and emotional world of HOKKA. The song builds with relentless energy before soaring into a powerful chorus that hits straight to the heart.

With ‘Blackbird‘, HOKKA once again blend storytelling, atmosphere, and raw emotion – offering a glimpse into the dramatic universe that awaits on VIA MISERIA IV.

Pre-order VIA MISERIA IV: https://hokka.bfan.link/via-miseria-iv

Listen to ‘Blackbird’ on all platforms: https://hokka.bfan.link/blackbird

Joel Hokka comments on the song: 

“‘Blackbird’ is the latest single from the upcoming debut album “Via Miseria IV”. This track shows the heavier side of HOЖA. With a riff influenced by the very roots of heavy metal and melodies echoing from the Nordic darkness, this track serves as a perfect introduction to the debut album. Revenge with love, enjoy!

Via Miseria IV comes in following formats:

  • CD jewel case with 20-page poster booklet
  • 1 LP red vinyl
  • 1 LP red/black splatter

Tracklist:

01. Blackbird
02. In The Darkness
03. Death By Cupid’s Arrow
04. Via Miseria
05. Heart Said No
06. Bon Apetit
07. Murder Ballad
08. Angels Fall
09. Serpent’s Song
10. Kiss From A Rose

In addition, HOKKA hrecently announced their first live shows for 2026 giving fans the opportunity to experience the power and storytelling of the warrior and sensai saga on stage for the first time.

The first club show:
07.05.26  FI  Helsinki – Tavastia

Confirmed festival shows:
12.-13.06.26   FI  Lahti – Kesämössö
27.06.26         FI  Helsinki – Tuska
03.-05.07.26   FI  Turku – Ruisrock
04.07.26         FI Tampere – Tuhdimmat Tahdit
17.-19.07.26    FI  Joensuu – Ilosaarirock
23.-25.07.26    FI  Kuopio – Kuopiorock
25.07.26          FI  Oulu – QStock
14.-16.08.26    CH Cudrefin – Rock The Lakes

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