Bass virtuosos ALBERTO RIGONI and MICHAEL MANRING — both internationally acclaimed for their innovative and emotive approach to the bass guitar — have officially begun composing and recording a brand-new instrumental prog rock / ambient album titled “Dystopia”.
The duo is proud to announce that the drum parts for the album will be performed by the talented Canadian drummer David Menoudakis, known both as a versatile session musician and for his work with the band Motion Device and Quarter After Three. You can discover David’s dynamic playing on his Instagram profile: @drumsbydavid.
But that’s not all: as previously teased, a third world-class bassist will join the project — a player whose distinctive style will make this production truly unique and original. His name will be revealed soon… A hint? He has shared the stage with guitar legends Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, Frank Gambale, and many more.
“Working with Alberto, Michael and …. (!!!) on this project is truly inspiring. Their creativity and vision push me to explore new textures and dynamics on the drums. I can’t wait for listeners to experience the unique sonic world we’re building together with three incredible bass voices driving the music.” — David Menoudakis, drummer
JIM PETERIK & WORLD STAGE are proud to announce their new album, ‘River of Music: The Power of Duets, Vol. 1,’ due out on December 12th via Frontiers Music Srl. To celebrate the announcement, the new single “The Cadence of Things (Feat. Jason Scheff)” is available now, accompanied by an official music video, available below.
With ‘River of Music: The Power of Duets, Vol. 1,’ JIM PETERIK — Grammy-winning songwriter and founding member of Survivor and The Ides of March — delivers one of his most personal and inspired projects to date. This new chapter in the WORLD STAGE legacy is a heartfelt tribute to the spirit of collaboration, where each song becomes a shared story told through harmony, emotion, and musical chemistry.
“’The Cadence Of Things’ is one of my favorite tracks on my new Frontiers release. On this song, I am honored to share vocals with the great Jason Scheff (lead singer with the group Chicago for 30 years, and son of Jerry Scheff – the long-time bassist for Elvis Presley.
“The song speaks to the rhythm of life all around us – the sound of love in the making – the sound of a heart when it’s breaking – It’s the ‘Cadence Of Things.’ The video was expertly shot by Greg Bizzaro. Enjoy!”
Watch the Video for “The Cadence of Things (Feat. Jason Scheff)”:
Produced by the legendary Ron Nevison, whose name is synonymous with the golden age of AOR thanks to his work with Survivor, Heart, Foreigner, and countless others, ‘River of Music: The Power of Duets, Vol. 1’ carries the unmistakable warmth and polish of classic rock records, while embracing a sense of intimacy and freshness that speaks to PETERIK’s enduring creative fire.
Across ten tracks, ‘The Power of Duets’ showcases PETERIK’s gift for melody and his ability to connect with artists across generations. On the title track “River of Music,”he shares the microphone with his son Colin Peterik, capturing a father-son bond rooted in music. That chemistry returns in “Slow Lightning,” a moment of atmospheric beauty that blends poetic lyrics with cinematic instrumentation. Elsewhere, PETERIK trades verses with REO Speedwagon’s Kevin Cronin on the stirring “Between Two Fires,” and finds common ground with Jason Scheff (formerly of Chicago) in the contemplative “The Cadence of Things.”
Vocalist Toby Hitchcock (Pride of Lions) brings fire and range to two standout moments — “Soul of My Being,” a soulful duet with Bree Gordon, and a powerful reinterpretation of the Survivor classic “In Good Faith,” sung alongside rising star Kaity Heart. PETERIK and Kaity Heart also deliver “I’m a Survivor,” an original anthem that echoes the resilience and passion at the core of his songwriting.
Other duets include the radiant “Double Rainbow” with Jefferson Starship’s Cathy Richardson, the emotionally rich “Waiting for You” performed by Dave Mikulskis and Bree Gordon, and the uplifting “Everything You Need,” which reunites JIM and Colin Peterik one more time. Backed by a stellar cast of musicians including drummers Denny Fongheiser and Ed Breckenfeld, bassists Tony Franklin and Bob Lizik, guitarists Phil X and Mike Aquino, and keyboardists Kim Bullard and Kim Peterik, the album is as sonically powerful as it is emotionally resonant.
This is only Volume 1: with Volume 2 already on the horizon, the river of music continues to flow, stronger than ever. JIM PETERIK & WORLD STAGE remind us that in music, as in life, true power lies in the beauty of connection.
Pre-Order ‘River of Music: The Power of Duets, Vol. 1’ HERE
‘River of Music: The Power of Duets, Vol. 1’ Track List:
1. River of Music: Jim Peterik & Colin Peterik 2. Waiting For You: Dave Mikulskis & Bree Gordon 3. The Cadence of Things: Jim Peterik & Jason Scheff 4. Soul of My Being: Toby Hitchcock & Bree Gordon 5. Between Two Fires: Jim Peterik & Kevin Cronin 6. Double Rainbow: Jim Peterik & Cathy Richardson 7. Slow Lightning: Jim Peterik & Colin Peterik 8. In Good Faith: Toby Hitchcock & Kaity Heart 9. I’m a Survivor: Jim Peterik & Kaity Heart 10. Everything You Need: Colin Peterik & Jim Peterik
SOTHORIS is a band formed in Miłosław (PL) in 2016 by bassist Lord Ghash and guitarist Sharghall. After completing the full lineup – Hrist (drums), Hex (guitar) and Raven (vocals) – the band began intensive musical activity, which resulted in the debut album “Raj Potępiony”, recorded and released independently in September 2018. In 2021, there was a change in the lineup – Sharghall was replaced by Setrial. Second studio album titled “Wpiekłowstąpienie” (CD, MC) was released on January 6, 2022 simultaneously in few countries by More Hate Productions (RU), Misantropia Records (FI), Old Metal Rites (BR), Entropy Records (COL) and Manifestum Productions (MEX).
And now it’s time for a new album, the breakthrough and most mature album by SOTHORIS. Their music is (as the musicians themselves describe it), “a mixture of black metal ferocity and death metal power“, and the lyrical layer is a study of human wickedness.
Music for the newest release was recorded, mixed & mastered by Krzysztof Kostencki at Tetra Wave Studio. Cover artwork was done by Bartosz Szczepaniak & Maksymilian Krasoń. Band photo session by Maciej “Wuja” Chomik. New album titled “Domus Omnium Mortuorum” is released on tape & CD by Fetzner Death Records and ADG Records today, on October 3, 2025. Order is available here, and is distributed in Poland by Szataniec.
Stream “D.O.M.” at Black Metal Promotion:
TRACKLIST:
01. Wieczornica 02. Szkarłat 03. Lawa 04. Byłem Faustem 05. Dzieci Diabła 06. Pro Memoria 07. Dym 08. Piętno
German death metal veterans MY DARKEST HATE are back! The band will unleash their long-awaited sixth studio album “Rust And Bones” on November 7, 2025 via Massacre Records. The record will be available as a limited edition Mediabook CD and gatefold vinyl LP.
As a first taste of the upcoming album, MY DARKEST HATE have released the brand new single and official video “Rust” today. The track is a fierce opener and sets the tone for what promises to be one of the band’s most crushing records to date.
Produced together with Andy Classen (Krisiun, Destruction, Legion Of The Damned), the album offers 10 tracks that perfectly reflect the band’s trademark old-school death metal sound while pushing it to new extremes. The artwork, created by Remy Cooper (Headsplit Design / Napalm Death, Kreator), visually captures the raw energy of the music.
Special guest contributions include Dave Ingram (Benediction, ex-Bolt Thrower) on “He Who Never Sleeps” and TZ (Pessimist, Muggeseggel) on “Flammenland” — the first German-language track in the band’s history.
Tracklist: Rust Vengeance My Brother Deceiver Sinister Warfare He Who Never Sleeps Flammenland King of Slaves From Ruins I Rise When the Abyss Opens Our Legion, Our Pride
MY DARKEST HATE are: Claudio Enzler – Vocals Jörg M. Knittel – Guitars Jonas Khalil – Guitars Roberto Palacios – Bass Mario Henning – Drums
It’s no secret that El Puerto Records has a penchant for great live bands. So we left our fleet safely in port and limited ourselves to domestic German road trips. We came across something very special: FIREBORN. The quintet from south-west Germany not only impressed at the recent RVBang Festival in Balingen with their incredible energy and enthusiasm. Their new album will be released in early 2026!
The band is delighted: “Let’s start a new chapter! We wanted a label that believed in us and our music—one that was ready to move forward with us, rock our way to the top, and never lose the fun. 🔥 From now on, we’re part of the EL PUERTO FAMILY—and we’re all in! KEEP ON ROCKIN’ – FIREBORN 🤘🔥” – Jenny Gruber, Fireborn
Label boss Bernd Stelzer: “With FIREBORN, we are opening a new chapter together! Singer Jenny and her band bring exactly what EL PUERTO RECORDS stands for: power, passion, and an unstoppable drive to rock the road to the top – all while never losing sight of the fun. We are thrilled to welcome FIREBORN to the roster of our label. Welcome to the El Puerto family – welcome to El Puerto Records, FIREBORN!”
Biography FIREBORN: The focus is on Jenny, a singer who captivates audiences with her unique, raspy voice, her wide vocal range, and her ability to effortlessly switch between delicate tones and pure power. She is supported by Dennis (guitar), Raphael (drums), Chris (bass), and Rick (guitar)—a band that doesn’t just play music on stage, but unleashes energy. In 2019—then still under the name Dislike Silence—the band reached the finals of the 37th German Rock and Pop Awards, taking third place in the “Rock” category. The big step followed in winter 2021: recording sessions at Little Creek Studio in Gelterkinden, produced by Schmier (Destruction) and recorded by V.O. Pulver (Pro- Pain, Burning Witches, Nervosa). Their debut album, Reflections, was released in 2023 via the US label Deko Entertainment and not only landed Fireborn on the official rock and metal charts, but also on stages with Silbermond, Burning Witches, Destruction, and other major players in the scene. Musically, Fireborn combine the energy of modern American hard rock with the soul of classic rock – full of atmosphere, emotion, and memorable melodies.
Line-up: Jenny Gruber – Vocals Raphael Singh – Drums Rick Götze – Guitars Dennis Weber – Guitars Christian Lehr – Bass
Eonian Records is proud to announce the release of “That’s Just Love,” the new single and music video from Maryland rockers GASTEM.
Widely regarded as one of the defining acts of the Mid-Atlantic hard rock scene, GASTEM emerged in the 1980s with a sound that packed clubs across Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia. The band’s return offers fans both a nostalgic look back and something entirely new to celebrate.
To celebrate the band’s 40th Anniversary, Eonian Records reissued GASTEM’s long out-of-print albums, Catch the Flame (1985) and Do It Like Wild (1986), in newly remixed and remastered editions on September 1, 2025. The reissues feature numerous previously unreleased bonus tracks, rare archival photos, original and updated artwork, and exclusive track-by-track commentary from the band. Orders are now available at www.eonianrecords.com and through your favorite hard rock retailers worldwide.
Regarding the new single, Craig Stegall, drummer, “On the surface, it’s a typical ‘love gone wrong’ song. However, unbeknownst to Rob, who sang the track, when I wrote the lyrics, the protagonist wasn’t just a heartbreaker. She was a woman who turned into a werewolf when she was ready to end the relationship. It’s laughable, really. First, because werewolves have almost always been depicted as male, and second, WTF, Craig?! Who thinks up a story like that for an ’80s rock tune? There are a few lyrical hints pointing to her true nature. Lines like ‘In the midnight moonlight, she’s not all mine’ and the more obvious ‘Can’t be too careful, she could steal you on all-fours’ suggest we’re dealing with someone a little more beastly than your average ex. We recorded the track in November 1984 while I was home on college break, down in Rob’s parents’ basement on a Tascam 234 four-track recorder. A fun sidenote: all the electronic tom fills, and explosion sounds came from my birthday present earlier that year, a Mattel Synsonics electronic percussion module. It cost me $100, and it broke right after I beat it into submission recording that one song. The lineup on the track was Rob on vocals and guitar, me on drums, and Mark Emon (R.I.P.) on bass. Not long after, Mark Schenker joined the band, just as we were finishing the tracks for Catch the Flame in 1985.”
About GASTEM: GASTEM is an ’80s-era hard rock band originally formed in Damascus, Maryland, in 1985. The core lineup includes Rob Galpin (lead vocals, guitar, piano/keyboards), Craig Stegall (drums), and Mark Schenker (bass, piano/keyboards, Taurus pedals). GASTEM was active between 1985 and 1989 and earned strong support and respect throughout the vibrant hard rock scenes of Baltimore and the surrounding region.
The band is perhaps best known as the original home of longtime KIX bassist Mark Schenker. After making a name for themselves in the vibrant Baltimore-DC-VA scene throughout the 1980s, GASTEM quickly built a strong following across the regional club circuit, headlining packed shows and opening for national acts, including their Baltimore brothers, KIX. Schenker would go on to join KIX full-time in 2001, holding down bass duties until the band’s final performance in 2023.
THE RETURN: GASTEM III… AND BEYOND After a decades-long hiatus, GASTEM reunited in early 2024 to record their first album in 34 years, III. Released via Avalon Street Records in October 2024, the album received critical acclaim and topped the Sentinel Daily “Weekly Top 30” chart for five consecutive weeks.
The project, however, was nearly abandoned before it began. As the band was preparing to reunite, tragedy struck as the original bassist Mark Emon passed away suddenly from a heart attack.
“When Rob got the news that my dear friend Emon had died suddenly… I had to pause,” recalls drummer Craig Stegall. “We were going to scratch the whole idea.”
Despite the loss, the surviving members, Rob Galpin, Craig Stegall, and longtime friend and bassist Mark Schenker, came together to honor Emon’s memory. After heartfelt discussions with Emon’s family, they made the decision to move forward. Schenker, recently retired after a 23-year run with Platinum-selling rockers KIX, stepped in to contribute bass on the album, a role he embraced without hesitation.
The result was III, a record that not only captures GASTEM’s signature hard rock spirit but also serves as a tribute to their late bandmates. More than three decades after their last release, GASTEM returned with a renewed sense of purpose, determined to finish what all four members had set out to create together. GASTEMIII marked the official introduction of Eonian Records as the album’s distributor and the band’s label partner.
The celebration does not stop there. Eonian Records also plans to release a companion album, recorded during the GASTEM III sessions, slated for Fall 2025. The upcoming release builds on the momentum of 2024’s GASTEM III, as well as the40th Anniversary reissues of Catch the Flame and Do It Like Wild highlighting the band’s continued relevance and raw energy.
CATCH THE FLAME (Originally Released July 1985) GASTEM is Rob Galpin on All Guitars, Lead Vocals, & Harmonica, Craig Stegall on Drums, Mark Emon on Bass & Backing Vocals
GASTEM ‘Catch the Flame’ Track-list: That’s Just Love Bump & Grind Danger’s Own When Love Seems Dead Knock Me Out Drinkin’ Wild Don’t Mess with Love Catch The Flame Tour De Force Cutting Edge Answer Never Too Old Run For Your Life (Bonus Track) Spontaneous Combustion (Bonus Track) Streets Of Misfortune (Bonus Track) Hot Nights (Bonus Track)
DO IT LIKE WILD (Originally Released October 1986) GASTEM is Rob Galpin on All Guitars, Lead Vocals, Keyboards, & Harmonica, Craig Stegall on Drums & Backing Vocals, Mark Emon on Bass & Backing Vocals, Mark Schenker on Rhythm Guitar & Backing Vocals
GASTEM ‘Do It Like Wild’ Track-list: Victory At Sea – Kamikaze Live It to The Limit Candy Girl Caught Under Fire Wasted Life Ain’t School A Drag Open Fire Forever Some People Fall in Love A Fool Rules Style Steely Breeze Is That It Not 4 Every 1 (Bonus Track) Runaway (Bonus Track) Yoyo Trix (Bonus Track) Sure, As the Sun (Bonus Track) When She Walks (Bonus Track) Coming Home (Bonus Track)
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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