When LINN HOLMES released her Cleopatra debut “Whipping Post” back in May, cut with blues guitarist Eric Gales, nobody could have predicted the acclaim that followed, across printed page, social media and the streaming platforms.
Now Linn’s back, with a new single and video, “Wicked Game,” and two new collaborators too, guitarist Lance Lopez and original Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist and Blackfoot founder Greg T Walker – aka the ass-kickin’ southern rock powerhouse Two Wolf. The song itself, of course, needs no introduction – a 1989 Chris Isaak slow-burner that took almost two years to make the Billboard Top 10, but has since been described (by UK quarterly Dazed) as possibly the most influential love song in modern music.
A long standing stalwart of the LA session scene, Linn is no stranger to grand collaborations, having worked alongside the 12-piece vintage rock group Harry Katz and the Pistachios, Asteron, Canadian rockers Elderoth, Fernando Perdomo and Quiet Riot bassist Chuck Wright’s Ultimate Jam Night all-stars.
This latest partnership, however, was especially meaningful. “I’ve listened to Lance previously,” says Linn. “His 2018 album Tell The Truth has been on my rotation for years. He is just an absolutely incredible musician and person. Greg is an incredible bass player and an absolute legend.”
She continues, “‘Wicked Game’ is probably the track I’m the most involved with musically that I’ve ever done. It’s my first time really co-producing and arranging, tracking the percussion, some acoustic guitars, some keys/pads and all the vocals, background vocals.
“Me and producer Rev. Tom Chandler went into the studio and knocked out the demo in a couple of hours. The following week, phenomenal piano player Adam Peri tracked keys on it and amazing co-producer Daniel Jakubovic tracked drums and rhythm guitars, as well as working on the arrangement as a whole.
“When learning that Lance and Greg wanted to feature on the track, I was beyond thrilled. I feel so blessed that I get to release music with these fantastic people. I’m so proud of this track and can’t wait for the world to hear it!”
Lance Lopez adds, “Linn’s voice is so unique, it was really amazing to hear how she did this song! My approach to the guitar playing on the track was to compliment and elevate her already intense and powerful delivery.”
Dutch Black Metal force EMBRACED BY DARKNESS are set to release their highly anticipated debut full-length “Ex Inferis” on October 31st, 2025 via Non Serviam Records. Forged in the cold underground, the band delivers a furious yet melodic storm of darkness, where relentless aggression collides with haunting atmospheres and death-infused ferocity.
The first single, “Messenger Of Satan”, comes accompanied by a lyric video.
“With Messenger of Satan we unleash a relentless force of darkness. This track is our declaration against false gods and hollow faiths, a hymn drenched in blood, fear, and chaos. We are the harbingers, the punisher of the divine, and through this song we summon a new dominion under Satan. Let the cries of the fallen echo, for the darkness is here to reign,” comment the band.
Produced by Anders Backelin (Lord Belial / Vassago / Trident) at Armageddon Studio, “Ex Inferis” is a 42-minute descent into blackened violence and devotion to the dark path. Fans of Watain, Immortal, Gorgoroth, Dissection, and Dark Funeral will find themselves embraced by chaos and shadows.
“Ex Inferis” will be available as Digipak CD, VINYL and Digital.
Track listing: Tenebrae Black Mass Enlightened By The Flames Death March Darkness Awaits Black Flames Of Blasphemy Diabolis Lord Of Darkness Messenger Of Satan Gospel Of Deception Punishment In Hell Mortuus
Formed in the Netherlands, Embraced by Darkness emerged as a rising force with their debut EP MMXXII (2022), which surpassed 50,000 Spotify streams and earned praise in magazines such as Legacy, Decibel, Metal Hammer, Terrorizer, and Zero Tolerance. With live experience across Europe alongside Trident, Grief Of Emerald, and Omnicidal, the band channels pure chaos both on stage and in the studio. Their emblematic logo was designed by the legendary Christophe Szpajdel (Emperor, Moonspell, Dimmu Borgir).
EMBRACED BY DARKNESS are Schmerz – Guitars Schrat – Guitars Vålnad – Bass Mort – Drums Thimron – Vocals
Danish metallers Defecto share today the new single “Eternal Descent”, available along with an official music video. The track is taken from the upcoming new studio album, “Echoes Of Isolation”, out on October 31, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.
Nicklas Sonne described the new single, by saying: “Eternal Descent” dives into the endless spiral of insomnia – where nights feel like prisons, thoughts race without mercy, and the line between dreams and reality slowly disappears”.
Defecto is a Copenhagen-based metal band formed in 2011 by guitarist/vocalist Nicklas Sonne, guitarist Frederik Møller, and bassist Thomas Bartholin.
Known for their combination of technical precision, melodic strength, and emotional intensity, the band has become one of the most respected names in the modern Danish metal scene.
With three studio albums, two EPs, and several acclaimed festival appearances (Copenhell, RockFest Finland) and support slots with Metallica and Rammstein, Defecto has consistently pushed the envelope of progressive and cinematic metal.
Now, Frontiers Records proudly presents “Echoes Of Isolation”, the band’s most personal, intense, and introspective record yet – a concept album exploring the haunting landscape of mental illness and psychological struggles.
Nicklas Sonne stated: “Each song inhabits a different psychological struggle – insomnia, schizophrenia, OCD, PTSD, paranoia, dissociation, trauma – giving voice to the war within. This isn’t just a metal album. It’s a mirror held to the mind”. “For us, it’s about turning pain into power, and creating something that can connect deeply with anyone who has ever felt broken, isolated, or misunderstood”, he added.
Fans of Metallica, Symphony X or Evergrey will be captivated by the album’s cinematic power and progressive depth, driven by Sonne’s compelling vocals and razor-sharp songwriting.
“Echoes Of Isolation” Tracklist:
1. The Unraveling 2. Eternal Descent 3. Sacred Alignment 4. Eclipsed By The Void 5. Heart On Fire 6. Quantum Abyss 7. Through Cloak And Bones 8. Shattered Reality 9. Echoes Of Isolation
Line Up: Nicklas Sonne – vocals, guitars Frederik Møller – guitars Thomas Bartholin – bass Morten Gade Sørensen – drums
October 31, 2025 will see French melodic death metal frontrunners, AEPHANEMER, release their much-awaited, new studio offering Utopie through Napalm Records.
Blending ferocious melodic death metal with cinematic grandeur, Utopie sees the band unleash an ambitious, razor-sharp assault of epic melodies, relentless speed, and philosophical depth, pushing their sound into bold new territory. Led by the commanding presence of Marion Bascoul, AEPHANEMER delivers a fiercely technical and emotionally immersive record — lyrically exploring the uniquely mythic urgency of modern times.
In support of Utopie, the band will embark on a European tour in early November, with special guests VALHALORE, DARK OATH and WALDGEFLÜSTER. Find all upcoming live dates listed below!
Following the previously released, blistering album opening track “La Règle du Jeu”, today, the trio has unveiled a music video for their latest single “Le Cimetière Marin”.
“Le Cimetière Marin” offers an intricate guitar tapestry beneath a scathing vocal assault, crafting a track that’s both graceful and menacing. It powerfully blends progressive metal complexity and emotional intensity, showcasing AEPHANEMER‘s ability to balance technical proficiency with deeply resonant atmospheres.
The accompanying music video takes viewers into the band’s rehearsal space, offering a thrilling performance of the track with eye-catching visual cues that amplify it’s intensity. Watch the video now premiering here:
The band comments: “Le Cimetière Marin is one of the most distinctive tracks on the album. We aimed to create a truly heroic piece – not in a modern way, but inspired by the way heroism was expressed in classical music centuries ago. Fueled by bold elements from both classical traditions and melodic death metal, it carries a strong, almost epic energy. We’re really eager to bring it to the stage!”
Following the roaring success of their latest album A Dream Of Wilderness(2021), the Toulouse-based melodic death metal powerhouse strikes again with their fourth studio offering. With Utopie, AEPHANEMER recalibrates their formula, surging with heavier classical influences, blistering riffage, majestic orchestrations, and Slavic folk undertones — etching a sound equally ancient and futuristic.
“With Utopie, we set out to create a sound that brings together the elements we’ve always loved — the intensity of melodic death metal and the depth of classical music,”AEPHANEMER recently said. “We spent a lot of time shaping melodies, drawing inspiration from polyphonic writing, and building orchestral arrangements that feel both powerful and natural to us. It was a challenging but fulfilling process, and we sincerely hope listeners will connect with what we’ve crafted.”
Lyrically, the record engages with the concept of utopia not as escape, but as confrontation — dissecting philosophical ideals with their refined sonic scalpel, and pushing for a world of harmony between living beings.
Actively bucking genre conventions, AEPHANEMER continues to reinvent their path in the melodic death metal landscape. Utopieis more than just an album — it’s a storm of sound, an ideological reckoning, and a powerful new chapter from one of Europe’s most vital and visionary metal bands!
AEPHANEMER live: Album Release Tour w/ Valhalore, Dark Oath, Waldgeflüster (EU):
06.11.25 DE – Weinheim / Cafe Central 07.11.25 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser 08.11.25 DE – Berlin / War Against War Festival 09.11.25 DE – Kassel / Goldgrube 10.11.25 DE – München / Feierwerk 12.11.25 AT – Wien / Escape 13.11.25 HU – Budapest / Dürer Kert 14.11.25 PL – Kraków / Klub Gwarek 15.11.25 CZ – Praha / Black Pes 16.11.25 PL – Warszawa / Voodoo Club 18.11.25 LT – Kaunas / Klubas Lemmy 19.11.25 FI – Turku / Nirvana 20.11.25 FI – Helsinki / On The Rocks 21.11.25 FI – Tampere / Varjobaari 22.11.25 FI – Turku / Nirvana 26.11.25 DE – Hamburg / LOGO 27.11.25 DE – Oberhausen / Helvete 28.11.25 DE – Oldenburg / Cadillac 29.11.25 BE – Ghent / Asgaard Gentbrugge 30.11.25 NL – Harlem / Patronaat 02.12.25 UK – London / The Underworld 03.12.25 UK – Manchester / Rebellion
AEPHANEMER is: Marion Bascoul – Vocals Martin Hamiche – Guitars, Bass, Orchestrations Mickael Bonnevialle – Drums
Ildaruni stands as a force of unrelenting and immersive black metal, channeling an atmosphere that is both ferocious and transcendental. Its music captures intensity through towering soundscapes, layered with precision and aggression, while their lyrical vision delves into the arcane mysteries of worlds long past. With a sharpened focus and a blazing presence, Ildaruni are set to ignite the scene once again with their long-awaited, commanding black metal invocations.
Watch the visualizer for the single:
Ildaruni’s new album marks a powerful evolution, moving away from their pagan/folk roots to fully embrace raw, atmospheric black metal. Inspired by ancient mysticism and lore, the record weaves dark, immersive soundscapes featuring melodic chanting, authentic choir, and grand orchestral arrangements.
Ancient darkened rites and forgotten mythos converge, awakening a slumbering force from the gilded shrine. The trumpets of damnation shall sound seven times, summoning from the void the god of covenants. With spite and thirst, the fire-born shall raise the sulfur dagger profane to scald and shed the blood, presaging new woeful revelation.
Nine ominous initiations that are set to transform you into the storm of nomos and burning gnosis. A work of mystical upheaval, a sermon to the bestower of creed who will guide through the ghastly pathways to the ladders of Apothanaitismos!
Thy alone is his wreath! The spewed sacred blood is the essence of divine mysteries, pulverized and accursed, is the hollowed memory that hierophants passed on, is the forbidden knowledge, erased and incinerated, yet alive in ashes! A ritual of divine bloodletting is about to unfold, and you are invited to revel in its might.
Track list 1 Mithras Alone is My Wreath 2 The Ascension of Kosmokrator 3 Of Nomos and Flaming Flint Stone 4 Forged with Glaive and Blood 5 Zurvan Akrane 6 Arcane Sermon 7 Immersion into Empyrean 8 Scorching Pathways to Samachi 9 Divinum Sanguinem
Album cover artwork by Khaos Diktator Design Album layout design by Heresie Studio Sigils by Anatiummi Arts Logo by Christophe Szpajdel
Members Narek Avedyan – Vocals Robert Meliksetyan – Guitars, acoustic guitars Mark Erskine – Guitars Artak Karapetyan – Bass Arthur Poghosyan – Drums, dap
Wings of Steel, the rising stars of traditional heavy metal, unleash their powerful new single and music video “Burning Sands”. This electrifying track is the third and final single from their highly anticipated sophomore album “Winds of Time” and follows two critically acclaimed singles from the album released earlier this year: “We Rise” and “Winds of Time”. “Burning Sands” masterfully blends old-school metal with a contemporary twist, featuring driving heavy guitar riffs and scorching solos, top-tier soaring vocals, and a monumental, utterly face-melting middle section that offers a powerful display of the epic journey awaiting listeners with the full album.
The accompanying music video, filmed in the desolate expanse of Poland’s Błędowska Desert, provides a striking visual metaphor for the song’s powerful message. The band comments on the track’s timely theme: “‘Burning Sands’ illustrates the dire consequences of geopolitical events that could lead to nuclear war and the annihilation of humanity. This aligns with a common underlying lyrical theme on the album, best encapsulated by Mark Twain’s observation: ‘History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.’”
“Winds of Time” is sure to be a landmark release for Wings of Steel, and is a testament to their unwavering dedication to the genre and their relentless pursuit of musical excellence. The album is scheduled for a worldwide release on October 17, 2025, and promises to deliver a combination of captivating narratives, hard-hitting tracks and memorable melodies.
Fans eager to secure their copy of “Winds of Time” can now pre-order the album in both CD and Vinyl formats. For those in the USA/Rest of World, pre-orders are available directly via the band’s official website: https://wingsofsteelband.com/home#store-shows. European fans can secure their copies through High Roller Records:https://www.hrrecords.de/WINGS-OF-STEEL.
Catch Wings of Steel live on their North American tour in early 2026! Tickets are available via the Band’s website.
USA February 9 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL – War Memorial Auditorium February 10 – Tampa, FL – Yuengling Center February 13 – Houston, TX – 713 Music Hall February 14 – Dallas, TX – South Side Ballroom February 15 – San Antonio, TX – Boeing Center at Tech Port February 18 – Phoenix, AZ – Arizona Financial Theatre February 20 – Los Angeles, CA – The Kia Forum February 21 – Wheatland, CA – Hard Rock Live February 24 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union Event Center February 26 – Loveland, CO – Blue FCU Arena February 27 – Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha February 28 – St. Louis, MO – The Factory March 2 – Des Moines, IA – Vibrant Music Hall March 3 – Minneapolis, MN – The Armory March 4 – Chicago, IL – The Salt Shed March 7 – Cincinnati, OH – The Andrew J Brady Music Center March 8 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore Detroit March 10 – Pittsburgh, PA – UPMC Events Center March 11 – Philadelphia, PA – The Met March 12 – Boston, MA – MGM Music Hall at Fenway March 14 – Virginia Beach, VA – The Dome March 15 – Washington, DC – The Theater at MGM National Harbor March 17 – Greensboro, NC – Greensboro Event Center March 18 – Atlanta, GA – Coca-Cola Roxy
CANADA April 6 – Halifax, NS – Scotiabank Centre April 9 – Laval, QC – Place Bell April 11 – Toronto, ON – Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto April 14 – Winnipeg, MB – Burton Cummings Theatre April 17 – Edmonton, AB – Edmonton Convention Centre April 18 – Calgary, AB – Grey Eagle Event Centre April 20 – Vancouver, BC – PNE Forum
About the Band
Formed back in 2019, Wings of Steel is a Los Angeles-based heavy metal/hard rock band rooted in the classic styles of the 70s and 80s. Their sound combines singer Leo Unnermark’s bluesy, powerful vocals with Parker Halub‘s bombastic riffs and expressive soloing, creating a distinctive and massive sound reminiscent of the glory days of heavy metal combined with all the crisp clarity that modern recording techniques have to offer.
After their 2022 debut EP “Wings of Steel”, the band released their critically acclaimed first full-length album “Gates of Twilight” (2023). In spring 2024, Wings of Steel embarked on their first European tour where they reaffirmed their position as one of the most prominent new bands in Heavy Metal. Wings of Steel continues to be praised for their energetic and captivating live performances, which can be experienced sonically on their live album “Live in France” (2024).
To date Wings of Steel has played numerous shows in the US and Europe, including festivals and venues like Heavy Week-End, Rock Hard Festival, The Whisky-A-Go-Go, Up the Hammers Festival, Keep it True Festival, and more.
Additional information/credits Recording on the album: Vocals: Leo Unnermark Guitars & Bass: Parker Halub Drums: Damien Rainaud
Tour lineup (as featured on pictures): Vocals: Leo Unnermark Lead guitar: Parker Halub Rhythm guitar: Stefan Bailet Bass: Mathieu Trobec Drums: Marcel Binder
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
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