Finnish modern symphonic metal band Inherited Time has released a second single from their upcoming debut album, set to be released this year.
Mount of Empty Hopes follows one person’s struggle between life and death.
In a comatose dream a character is climbing on the mountain, hoping that he will recover when reaching the peak. Instead he faces only death until a light above the clouds appears as a salvation representing the voice of his beloved one.
The song delivers aggressive riffs and extreme vocals colliding with symphonic layers and operatic singing forging a dark and thrilling modern symphonic metal sound.
–FIRJK2600001 –Lyrics by Jani Härkönen and Alesia Savolainen –Composed by Ville Pölkki and Alesia Savolainen –Recorded and mixed in Electric fox studios –Mastered in Univaltakunta
Inherited Time is a modern symphonic metal band from Finland with a sci-fi atmosphere. The band found its current form in 2024 after years of evolution.
Their music captivates listeners with the sound of traditional Finnish melodic metal infused with power metal elements, delivering majestic orchestral melodies, striking guitars, and powerful vocals mixed with intense growls.
With the two singles released and the debut album in production, the band is stronger than ever and moving confidently toward their ultimate goal: building a full musical career.
Inherited Time is: Alesia Savolainen – Vocals Jani Härkönen – Bass Tero Rannila – Drums Olli Pölkki – Keyboards Ville Pölkki – Guitars
Yesterday, March 4th, Canadian Roots, Rock, and Soul band Bywater Call released their second studio single of 2026, “How Long”, from their forthcoming fourth studio album, set to come out July 2026 with more details to come soon.
“How Long” is slow burn, contemporary soul and R&B inspired song, influenced by the likes of Black Pumas, Brittany Howard (Alabama Shakes) and Amy Winehouse. Lush and deep, with soaring horns, lead synths, raw, exciting vocals and a hypnotic guitar feature, the song is indicative of the band’s mission to meld old and new sounds and influences, while continuing to carve out a lane of their own.
On “How Long,” Bywater Call evolves and embarks on a experimental journey, while delivering the familiar emotion and musical drive that followers of the band have come to love. Initially restrained and haunting, the song flowers into an intense catharsis.
“How Long is a raw and introspective song that wrestles with guilt, fragility, and the fear of becoming the very thing you never wanted to be,” says lead singer Meghan Parnell. “Lyrically and melodically, we tried to convey the vulnerability and self-reflection of someone living in the fragile space between remorse and repetition.”
The song was recorded at Palace Studios in Toronto, captured and mixed by Patric McGroarty, and mastered by Kristian Montano of Montano Mastering.
Often transcending genres, Bywater Call is known for their dynamic, emotional live shows, featuring powerful vocals and exciting interplay between all band members.
In early 2026 Bywater Call were officially nominated for the UK Blues Award for “International Act of the Year,” having been previously nominated in 2025 and 2024.
In their August 2024 issue, Classic Rock made Bywater Call’s 2024 album Shepherd their “Blues Album of the Month” and said it was “an inventive and uncommonly catchy record,” and added, “the sense of a band on the brink is unmistakable.” The album won “Top Blues Album of the Year” in the magazine’s year-end round-up.
The band will be on tour throughout Europe, the USA and Canada in 2026.2026 TOUR DATES
Feb 26 | Burlington, ON | Burlington Performing Arts Centre Mar 5 | Aurora, IL | The Venue Mar 6 | Terre Haute, IN | Terre Haute Brewing Co Mar 7 | Evansville, IN | Mojo’s Mar 8 | Franklin, TN | Franklin Theatre *supporting Robert Jon & the Wreck Mar 10 | Chattanooga, TN | The Listening Room Mar 11 | Charlotte, NC | Middle C Mar 13 | Greenville, SC | Poe Mill Music Mar 14 | Atlanta. GA | Smith’s Old Bar Mar 17 | St Augustine, FL | Café 11 Mar 18 | Cocoa Beach, FL | Heidi’s Mar 19 | Ft Myers, FL | Buckingham Blues Bar Mar 20 | Safety Harbor, FL | SHAMc Mar 21 | Boca Raton, FL | Funky Biscuit Mar 22 | Orlando, FL | Judson’s Live Mar 25-29 | Miami, FL | Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Apr 1 | Raleigh, NC | Pour House Apr 2 | Hagerstown, MD | Live at Hub City Vinyl Apr 3 | Tuckerton, NJ | Lizzie Rose Music Room Apr 4 | New York, NY | Iridium Apr 23| Syracuse, NY | 443 Club at the Hosmer Auditorium Apr 24 | Plattsburgh, NY | Retro Live Apr 25 | Drummondville. QC | Maison des arts Desjardins DrummondvilleEUROPE
14-May | Dudenhofen Germany | Kulturverein Dudenhofen 15-May | Rimsting Germany | Feuerwehrhaus 16-May | Affalter Germany | Zur Linde 17-May | Regensburg Germany | VAZ Pfarrheim 19-May | Norderstedt Germany | Music Star 20-May | Bremen Germany | Meisenfrei 21-May | Werchter Belgium | Blue Rooster 22-May | Weert Netherlands | De Bosuil 23-May | Unna Germany | Lindenbrauerei 24-May | Raalte Netherlands | Ribs & Blues Festival 27-May | Verviers Belgium | Spirit of 66 28-May | Krefeld Germany | Kulturrampe 29-May | Haarlem Netherlands | Patronaat 30-May | Tilburg Netherlands | Heyhoef 31-May | Aalten Netherlands| LSA Music 2-Jun | Arnstadt Germany | Kulisse 3-Jun | Aschaffenburg Germany| Colos-Saal 4-Jun | Köln Germany | Die Kantine / Freideck 5-Jun | Luxemburg Luxemburg | Blues Club 6-Jun | Riotord France | Climax Club Legend 7-Jun | Le Thor France | Sonograf 9-Jun | Chambery France | Brin de Zinc 13-Jun | Penmarch France | God Save The Kouign Festival 16-Jun | Tenerife Grand Canaria | Teatro Leal 17-Jun | Las Palmas Grand Canaria | Teatro Guiniguada
ABOUT BYWATER CALL
Often transcending genres, Bywater Call is known for their dynamic, emotional live shows, featuring powerful vocals and exciting interplay between all band members. A powerhouse seven-piece Southern soul, roots rock outfit from Toronto, Canada; the band is comprised of Meghan Parnell (vocals), Dave Barnes (guitar), Bruce McCarthy (drums), Mike Meusel (bass), newest member, Andrew Moljgun (keys), Stephen Dyte (trumpet), and Julian Nalli (tenor sax).
Bywater Call was nominated for the “2025 UK Blues Award” for “International Blues Artist of the Year” for the second consecutive year, alongside artists including Beth Hart and Walter Trout. The band has also received multiple Independent “Blues and Canadian Maple Blues Award” nominations including “Entertainer,” “Electric Act,” and “Best Female Vocalist” at the 2024 Awards Season.
In March, Bywater Call played their second Joe Bonamassa “Keeping the Blues Alive” cruise, featuring headliners Big Head Todd and the Monsters and Larkin Poe. In 2025, they play the Netherland’s BOSPOP Festival alongside the likes of the Black Keys, Warren Haynes Band, Marcus King, and Blackberry Smoke.
The band has opened for Canadian award-winning musicians Whitehorse and Tom Cochrane, and singer Meghan has joined renowned pedal-steel guitarist Robert Randolph on stage at his request.
Their newest studio album Shepherd was selected as the Blues Album of the Year by UK’s Classic Rock Magazine. Band leaders Meghan Parnell and Dave Barnes were featured on the cover of Blues in Britain in January of 2025. Their 2025 live album Sunshine was released in August 2025 to rave reviews.
In 2024 alone, the band played 140 shows across 10 countries. Bywater Call’s music is an exploration of life’s highs and lows. From intimate ballads that lay bare the complexities of human emotion to electrifying anthems that demand to be played at full volume, their catalogue is a journey through human experience, featuring influences from the likes of The Band, The Wood Brothers, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Otis Redding, Little Feat, Sly and the Family Stone, and many more.
Since forming in 2015, the Nordic collective HEILUNG have transcended the boundaries of sound and history across three studio albums and vast performances that have left an unmistakable presence. From their mythical performance at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, to their features in Hollywood films, the collective have crossed cultural confines, presenting their primordial rhythms to fans across the globe.
On February 11th, Heilung released the first of a six-part podcast led by founding member, singer & shamanic practitioner Kai Uwe Faust. During this podcast, Kai dives into the lore, traditions and primal forces that shape Heilung and their Amplified History.
Today, on the Worm Moon, Kai delves into the source material behind “Marduk”, one of the standout tracks from Heilung’s latest album Drif. Journeying into the Enuma Elish—the Baylonian epic of creation—Kai reflects on mankind’s use of myths as a tool to shape order from chaos, and on the way power, violence and the cosmos are woven together in early civilizations.
HEILUNG don’t play shows. They perform a ritual. Every performance begins with Kai Uwe Faust leading Christopher Juul, Maria Franz and the rest of the Nordic collective in an ancient prayer. Soon after, the audience is swept into rapture, swayed by incense and throat singing, primordial rhythms, subtle electronic textures, a mesmerizing light show, an army of warriors and bursts of fire
Since they began in 2015, Heilung have been paving melodic paths to the past with their unique and mystifying sound. Evading all conventional genre tags and the confines of any specific labels, the group aptly self-describes their sound as “amplified history,” emphasizing their ability to connect modern society with the rudiments of humanity’s beginnings through music.
“Our ancestral Nordic civilizations did not just pop up, exist and disappear in isolation”, says Faust, a throat singer and one of Heilung’s three composers. “With singing these primordial songs we want to give tribute to these cultures, reconnect to the beginnings and remember that we all, from East to West, from past to present, are connected through the exchange of ideas and inspiring each other”.
While Heilung features authentic and archaic instrumentation that ranges from rattles and ritual bells to human bones and throat singing, their captivating brand of music is far from primitive. Producer and founding member Christopher Juul implements subtle electronic elements that elevates the musical atmosphere and provides a more in-depth and layered soundscape.
Indeed, Heilung’s success has been unprecedented, achieving milestones in its few short years of existence that many do not see in a lifetime. The collective already had rapidly been growing a buzz upon the self-release of their first full-length Ofnir in 2015, but their dizzying upward trajectory really took off from the moment they set foot on the stage at Castlefest in 2017 for the now-legendary debut of their live ritual. Luckily for those who were not fortunate enough to bare witness to this magical event, the full ceremony was captured on film, having since been viewed by tens of millions of fans across the globe.
As Heilung trekked across Europe and brought their mystifying experience to new audiences, talk of this new band and their stunning ceremony made way to Season of Mist label owner Michael Berberian, who quickly offered the band a record contract after seeing their undeniable musical impact for himself.
By 2019, Heilung launched their second full-length record, Futha, which contrasted the masculine and battle-heavy themes of their debut with a feminine counterpart that celebrated fertility and female energy. Upon the first week of the record’s release, it graced the Billboard charts with coveted numbers, debuting at #3 on the Heatseekers Charts and #4 on the Billboard World Music Chart, placing on a total of seven Billboard charts while meeting critical-acclaim from the press on a global scale.
Their music has even appeared in places that extend far beyond typical concert venues. From hit television series like Game of Thrones and Vikings to video game giants like Conqueror’s Blade VII: “Wolves of Ragnarök and Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II to the blockbuster Robert Eggers film The Northman, Heilung’s music has risen far above the underground and has transcended into a greater world. Even a global pandemic couldn’t slow down Heilung’s success; it only strengthened them and gave them the gift of time to complete work on their third album. In English, Drif translates as “Gathering”. The music embodies this philosophy by tying together the beginning of civilization with today’s modern society.
Heilung now perform their rituals all over the world. They sold out their first North American tour in 72 hours. Upon returning to the United States in 2021, they were greeted by another sold-out crowd, this time at the historic Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado. This performance was released as a live album on vinyl and CD in 2024. A Blu-Ray edition of Lifa Iotungard will follow, along with the release of their 2023 performance at the Apollo Theatre in Hammersmith, London.
In 2025, Heilung embarked on headlining tours of Europe, Australia and New Zealand. Along the way, they cast their spell over more of the world’s biggest stages, including Roskilde Festival, Download Festival and Glastonbury. But no matter where the future takes them, Heilung always begin their performance with a humbling reminder of where we all come from.
“Remember, we are all brothers. All people, beasts, tree and stone and wind, we all descend from the one great being that was always there, before people lived and named it, before the first seed sprouted.”
Core Line-up: Kai Uwe Faust Christopher Juul Maria Franz
Constantine Kanakis, the UK-based guitarist and member of power metal outfit Sorceress of Sin, has released a live playthrough video for his acclaimed guitar instrumental single “Ground Zero.” Captured in his home studio, the performance offers fans both a faithful rendering of the original track and an intimate glimpse into Kanakis’s expressive playing style.
“There’s something incredibly energizing about playing this piece live,” says Kanakis. “I get to hold on to the essence of the original recording, the melodies, the emotion, the atmosphere, while also giving it a fresher take in the moment. No two runs are ever exactly the same, and that’s what makes it so inspiring. Small changes in phrasing, dynamics, and feel naturally bring a new dimension to the song.”
Originally released earlier this year, “Ground Zero” drew widespread praise for its melodic depth and technical precision, cementing Kanakis’s reputation as one of the UK’s most compelling instrumental guitarists. The playthrough presents the track in an organic, unfiltered context, showcasing the nuance and feel that define his approach to composition and performance.
In addition to the playthrough release, Kanakis has confirmed that he is currently working on a brand new album, with plans to release it before the end of 2026. Further details are expected in the coming months.
Constantine Kanakis is a guitarist active in the UK metal scene, particularly in the power metal genre. He is a member of the band Sorceress of Sin, which was formed in 2020. The band broke onto the scene with their debut album, Mirrored Revenge, in November 2020. They quickly followed this with their second album, Constantine, released in August 2021. Their third studio album, Ennea, was released in 2024. As a member of Sorceress of Sin, Kanakis performed at the Bloodstock Festival in 2021, appearing on the New Blood Stage. Reviewers have praised his “absolutely fluid and beautiful shredding” and ability to “pull in some spectacular Neo-Classical flourishes” in his guitar work with the band. Kanakis is currently exploring a more instrumental style of music, drawing heavily from major influences such as Marty Friedman, Jeff Loomis, Jason Becker, and Yngwie Malmsteen.
Eclipse Records is excited to announce the signing of an exclusive worldwide deal with OUTSHINE, a prophetic and outspoken dark alternative metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden. The band recently wrapped up production of their fourth full-length album entitled Truthsayer which will be released via Eclipse Records on June 26, 2026.
Get a sense of the band by watching their “Our Misery” music video from their album The Awakening (2022 Rockshots Records) on YouTube:
“We are really happy to team up with Eclipse Records” says frontman Jimmy Boman, “and after the first conversions with their team, I believe Eclipse is the right partner for Outshine. It’s gonna be great to launch the new album together and swing over to the US again for a showcase tour in the Fall of 2026!” Guitarist Pär Arvidsson adds “After the first conversation with Eclipse it came apparent that they knew what Outshine is about and it really felt like coming home. After our last US tour, they are definitely the right place for us to be and it`s an honor to be part of the Eclipse Records artist roster.” Also weighing in, drummer Robert Petersson says “As we were on tour in the US a few years back our friends in Carbellion had just signed with Eclipse Records and we thought that this could maybe be something for Outshine as well, I am happy to say that it was! To sign with an American label is very exciting and I am really looking forward to the release of our new album together with Eclipse Records.”
The brilliant new dark alternative metal album from Outshine titled Truthsayer has something for every rock and metal fan, including rich guitar work, haunting keys, a powerful back beat, and mesmerizing vocals. Musically, the feel is wonderfully diverse, with parts and parcels working together to craft a vision both dark and distinct, disturbing, yet hopeful. The keys are eerie and foreboding, leading us down shadowed corridors with hypnotic vocal harmonies that often split into octaves, as if to show contrasting views of the world existing atop each other like fog on cobblestone and the sun on the sea. Lyrically, the band blasts the elite, biased media and totalitarianism, depicting a world distorted with poison as common people are kept in a metaphorical asylum of sorts, locked in their rooms, screaming silently from behind sound-proofed glass. It puts us slightly off balance, as these messages of doom are superimposed on music with such a chunk and satisfying groove vibe. In the end, the band tells us that shadows recede. Hell turns to hope. Night ends with dawn, and the ashes of a scorched earth can produce an awesome rising phoenix. This band is for real, and Truthsayer is nothing less than a magnificent megaphone.
Coverart Credit: Jimmy Boman
Truthsayer was produced, engineered & mixed by Kenny Boufadene (Manimal, We Are The Catalyst, Tears of a Fallen Hero) & Jimmy Bowman at Studio Meltdown. The album and singles feature art by Jimmy Boman. It is scheduled for release on June 26, 2026.
Photo by Wolf Mountain Productions — Cover artwork photographed by Darby Lahger
Indigenous solo black metal project BLACKBRAID is pleased to now surprise fans with a brand new EP, ‘Nocturnal Womb,’ which will be independently released worldwide this Friday, March 6! To celebrate, BLACKBRAID has partnered with Black Metal Promotion to premiere the new single, “Celestial Bloodlust,” along with a dynamic performance video. The video was created by Moshmallows during Blackbraid’s recent performance at Kollektivet Livet Bar & Scen in Stockholm (SE) and features many of Blackbraid’s ravenous Swedish fans! Watch at THIS LOCATION.
“Nocturnal Womb” and “Celestial Bloodlust” were the tracks too dark and visceral to fit the story of ‘Blackbraid III.’ They exist on their own outside of the album trilogy via a standalone EP, which also contains an acoustic instrumental rendition of “Barefoot Ghost Dance on Blood Soaked Soil.” With the EP release imminent, sales sand shipping both start today. ‘Nocturnal Wound’ can be ordered now via Blackbraid.US & Blackbraid.EU
Blackbraid will also soon be headlining the UK and Ireland from April 9 – 14, 2026, in which he will be supported by WINTERFYLLETH + NOCTEM. The full itinerary can be found below while tickets are available HERE. In addition, Blackbraid has a number of upcoming festival appearances in Europe, which can also be found below!
Blackbraidis a solo indigenous black metal project from from the depths of the Adirondack wilderness creating music as raw and powerful as the mountains from whence it came…
The cover artwork for ‘Nocturnal Womb’ was photographed by Darby Lahger and can be found below along with the tracklist!
Barefoot Ghost Dance on Blood Soaked Soil – Acoustic (06:54)
BLACKBRAID UK + IE Tour w/ Winterfylleth + Noctem:
04/09/26: Bristol, UK @ The Fleece 04/10/26: Manchester, UK @ Rebellion 04/11/26: Dublin, IE @ Whelan’s 04/12/26: Belfast, UK @ Limelight 2 04/13/26: Glasgow, UK @ Slay 04/14/26: Birmingham, UK -@Asylum 04/15/26: London, UK @ The Garage
BLACKBRAID Upcoming Festivals:
April 04: Munich (DE) @ Dark Easter Metal Meeting April 05: Antwerpen (BE) @ Samhain Festival August 06: Jaroměř (CZ) @ Brutal Assault August 07: Helsinki (FI) @ Hellsinki Metal Fest August 09: Kortrijk (BE) @ Alcatraz August 12 – 15: Wittelshofen (DE) @ Summer Breeze Open Air
‘Blackbraid III’ Album Credits: Composed & performed by Sgah’gahsowáh Drums, recording, mixing & mastering by Neil Schneider Illustration by Adrian Baxter Cover Photograph by Darby Lahger Graphic Design & Artist Photo by Wolf Mountain Productions
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
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