SCYTHE BEAST was founded in 2012 by Sven Stoppelberg (guitar, bass, vocals, lyrics, and songwriting) and “Koopie” (producer/engineer) as a project to give a proper birthday shout-out to a mutual friend. However, it was already clear that a fierce beast was blowing out the candles on the cake! And the beast had a mighty appetite!
After completing the line-up, the band released debut album “Breeding Devastation” (2016) and then second full length “Indicted for Misconception” (2021).
Scythe Beast is live the complete package for every neck owner: sometimes slow and dragging, then again with the gas pedal pressed to the floor on the fast lane. Sometimes melodic, and immediately followed by a heavy riff barrage. Here, you still scream with heart!
Later this month, after four years, Scythe Beast will release third studio album!
Music for the upcoming album was recorded, mixed & mastered by Day “Koopie” Dysirrah. Cover artwork was done by Susi from sue_real_surreal. Album titled “Anthem of the Rotten” will be released on physical format (October 25, 2025) and digitally (October 27, 2025) as indepenedt release.
Below you can watch/stream two singles: “Beast” (link) and title song “Anthem of the Rotten” (link).
TRACKLIST:
01. Ravenous 02. Beast 03. Anthem of the Rotten 04. The Seance 05. Spawn of the Stillborn Lord 06. Heirloom 07. Purify by Flame 08. The Carrion Marshes 09. Warp
–Composed, mixed & mastered by Jere Neejärvi –Lyrics by Tommi Manninen –ISRC: FI3FC2595701 –Artwork by Gates Open
The band comments: “The idea for the lyrics for the single “The Blood On Their Hands” came from the Netflix series “The Fall of the House of Usher”, which gave us the idea to make a fictional lyrical story about questionable medicine. The story is fiction, but there is certainly questionable medicine in this world, unfortunately.”
Gates Open is a Finnish blackened death/thrash metal band. Gates Open is a band founded in early 2023 by two men, the band includes Jere Neejärvi, in the role of guitarist/composer, and Tommi Manninen as singer.
The members’ united history began already in 2007 during the previous band’s time. Our band moved to the distribution of the Inverse Records label in June 2023. The first official single “The Awakening” under Inverse Records was released in June 2023. The second official single “Let The Night Become Your Guide” was released in October 2023. Our third single, by the band name “Gates Open” was released in December 2023. Our full-length debut album “Voice After Silence” was released on February 9th 2024 via Inverse Records. Black Clouds Over The World EP saw the daylight on October 2024.
SLAVE KEEPER moves musically along the border between hard rock and heavy metal. Catchy melodies, powerful and versatile vocals, juicy riffs, and soaring guitar harmonies—all undeniably inspired by the giants of the genre, yet delivered in the band’s own distinctive style. Band was formed in 2014 and performed on numerous stages across Poland, sharing the bill with acts such as Deep Purple, Nazareth, Jorn and Absolva. In 2022, the band released its debut album “Ślad” (en. Trace), featuring 12 diverse, original songs. The album was met with critical and audience acclaim, showcasing the band’s broad musical palette—from fast-paced heavy metal gallops and heartfelt ballads to richly arranged, multilayered compositions.
The band’s second album titled “Podwójna gra” (en. Double Game), is released October 1, 2025. Stylistically, it continues the path paved by the debut, while delving deeper into its core theme: a musical journey through the human psyche, where primal forces of good and evil clash in a timeless inner conflict that defines the human condition.
Music for album “Podwójna gra” was recorded, mixed and mastered by Łukasz Suszko at Wesoła 24 Studio (Shadow Warrior, Toughness, Rusted Brain) who also played guest keyboard parts. Cover artwork was done by Piotr Szafraniec (Lost Soul, Trauma, Vader).
“Podwójna gra” is available for streaming at popular streaming platforms (link here) and for purchase on physical format (CD, LP) by official band webstore (link here).
Below you can watch video to the song “Święty grzesznik” which was done by duo Karol Przednowek & Dominik Mokosiej.
LINE-UP:
Marta Biernacka – vocals Piotr Miećko – guitar Piotr Jakubowicz – guitar Jakub Orłowski – bass Piotr Szalak – drums
German heavy metal band BLACK & DAMNED have released a brand-new music video for their latest single: a powerful cover of Falco’s legendary hit “Jeanny”, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the song’s original release in 1985.
Guitarist Micha Vetter recalls his first encounter with the track:
“Back then, as a 17-year-old, this song immediately grabbed me by the balls! The story and the emotions of the song completely captivated me. I had been a fan of Falco for a few years, but this song burned itself directly into my brain! Falco was an outstanding artist for me. I didn’t just see him as a singer – he was simply the epitome of a true artist. Jeanny wasn’t just a song, it was a monument he had created! And now, for the 40th anniversary, we wanted to pay homage to this song, a tribute so to speak. Of course, the song had to remain as original as possible, but we also wanted to create a version that sounds like BLACK & DAMNED. As a metal band, we naturally had to include a little guitar solo, and we wanted the song to sound bombastic. That’s why we made it “big” with a full orchestra. And since everything about the original was perfect, we even designed our video as close to the original as possible, so Falco fans can relive those days through our version.”
The story of BLACK & DAMNED began in 2020, when guitarist & bassist Michael Vetter (ex-Pump) and vocalist Roland Seidel (ex-Wasteland) decided to break out of the global lockdown paralysis and form a new band. Their sound fuses the energy of Iron Maiden, the darkness of Black Sabbath, and the playfulness of Helloween.
Their first two albums, Heavenly Creatures (2021) and Servants of the Devil (2023), both produced by Achim Köhler (Brainstorm, Primal Fear, a.o.), gained strong attention in the metal scene. After touring with acts like Vicious Rumors, Rage, and Tankard, BLACK & DAMNED released their third opus Resurrection in March 2025 via ROAR here, produced by ex-Primal Fear guitarist Stefan Leibing. The result: a profound, melodic, and melancholic heavy metal album filled with lasting anthems.
With “Jeanny”, BLACK & DAMNED now bridge worlds – paying tribute to one of pop’s greatest icons while stamping the track with their unmistakable heavy metal signature!
BLACK & DAMNED is: Roland “Bobbes” Seidel – Vocals Michael Vetter – Guitar Aki Reissmann – Guitar Pappe Lee – Bass Axel Winkler – Drums
Following the triumphant return with their sophomore full-length “Tales Of Tragedy”, German death metal act CALL OF CHARON have unleashed the official music video for their track “They Come At Night.”
The video features exclusive live footage from the band’s performance at this year’s Wacken Open Air, where the new record was presented to the audience for the very first time. Adding even more intensity, the track includes a guest appearance by Dane Evans of To The Grave, who also makes an appearance in several scenes of the video.
“Playing the new songs for the first time at Wacken was an unforgettable experience. And having Dane performing in the music video is quite amazing for us,” the band states.
“Tales Of Tragedy” has already received excellent feedback from the international press and is quickly establishing itself as one of the most remarkable death metal releases of 2025.
The album was born in dark times. In the aftermath of the global pandemic, each member faced personal hardships — loss of loved ones, broken relationships, health struggles, and job insecurity. At the same time, the world itself seemed to grow colder and more hostile. These experiences shaped lyrics that are heavy, bleak, and emotionally charged, leaving little space for happy endings.
Musically, the record expands on the band’s 2022 EP “The Sound Of Silence”. While breakdowns remain a staple, “Tales Of Tragedy” adds a stronger death metal foundation, with black metal-inspired tremolo riffs and more melodic arrangements, resulting in a darker, more dynamic evolution of the band’s sound.
Produced, mixed, and mastered by Stephan Hawkes (Attila, Chelsea Grin), the album also features guest appearances by Dane Evans (To The Grave), Hagen Petschat (Ruins Of Perception), and Damien Moyal (As Friends Rust). “Tales Of Tragedy” marks CALL OF CHARON’s most powerful and refined work to date.
German grindcore unit CONSTRICT have premiered their new EP “Kadavergehorsam” on Mystification Zine, giving fans an exclusive first listen to the ferocious and uncompromising material.
True to the band’s signature intensity, the tracks confront systemic exploitation, alienation, and social injustice with relentless aggression and razor-sharp lyrical clarity.
The premiere offers a glimpse into the raw power and thematic depth of the upcoming EP, released today, on October 3rd, 2025 via 7Degrees Records (GER), Loner Cult Records (BE) and 783Label (UK), showcasing CONSTRICT’s place among Europe’s most urgent grindcore acts.
A furious and uncompromising new chapter, the record will be available on vinyl and digital platforms, further cementing the band’s commitment to DIY ethics and raw sonic intensity.
The vinyl edition is a onesided 12“ on black vinyl – white marbled 12×12“ inlay, sleeve printed inside out.
With “Kadavergehorsam”, CONSTRICT deliver a ferocious statement against exploitation, alienation, and the empty promises of neoliberalism. Through poetically dystopian lyrics, the band confronts themes such as forced labor, capitalism, self-optimization pressure, and systemic inequality. Tracks like “Rats,” “Bloom,” and “Cattle” paint a bleak portrait of a society in which individuals are reduced to disposable cogs. Yet songs like “Fight Back” cut through the despair, offering resistance and solidarity as answers to collective powerlessness.
Musically, CONSTRICT sharpen their sound with a handful of new tracks that are fast, abrasive, and direct, yet never lose sight of engaging dynamics, infectious groove and instantly memorable riffs. The band’s trademark is now enriched by more deliberate shifts in tempo, tension-building breaks and riff-driven hooks designed to grab the listener from the first note. While maintaining their raw, no-frills approach, CONSTRICT introduce subtle nuances, giving each song a distinct identity while contributing to an overall sense of urgency and cohesion. The result is a record that hits hard on first impact, but also rewards repeated listens with layers of detail and energy.
All music and lyrics written by Constrict. DIY recorded, mixed & mastered between 2023 and 2024 in Potsdam (Germany). Artwork & layout by Hagiophobic.
Formed in April 2015 in Potsdam, Germany, CONSTRICT set out to play fast and aggressive grindcore, without abandoning the metal roots shared by some of its members. The result is a hybrid of blistering blast beats, classic d-beats, and rolling double bass rhythms more commonly heard in death metal.
Their first release was a raw demo, followed by the debut album “Ultima Ratio” in 2018. After lineup changes (Willy and Nicole departed, replaced by Robert and Fabian), the band wrote and self-released the “Saturation” EP in 2020, staying true to their DIY ethic.
Following the departure of founding member Härry, CONSTRICT continued as a four-piece: leaner, more focused, and creatively energized, a shift that quickly became evident in their songwriting.
In 2022, the “Devourer” EP arrived on cassette, with each copy featuring one-of-a-kind artwork. Musically, it delved into darker and more atmospheric territory, tied together by a conceptual theme of the world’s tragic destruction at human hands.
Relentless as ever, CONSTRICT began writing again, this time aiming for even faster, more aggressive material. Once again, the band took full control of the process, handling recording, mixing, and mastering themselves. Plans to release the new EP on vinyl were temporarily delayed – until now. With the support of three like-minded underground labels, CONSTRICT proudly present their latest work: “Kadavergehorsam”.
Line-up:
Fabian – Vocals Sebastian – Guitars Robert – Bass Matze – Drums
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 ) 