Berlin, the desert is calling once again! From May 14–16, 2026 at Columbiahalle & Columbia-Theater, DESERTFEST BERLIN will turn the German capital into a heavy riff sanctuary — and the first wave of bands is already shaking the ground. Last Friday‘s kick-off announcement comes loaded with legends, pioneers, and fresh fire:
Russian Circles will crush you with their cinematic post-metal soundscapes, while desert rock legends Hermano return with John Garcia at the helm. Texas riff titans The Sword are back to shake the ground, and the mighty Acid King keep the doom thick and smoky. King Buffalo invite you to drift away on cosmic psych grooves, while fuzzlords Truckfighters bring the Swedish desert storm with their first new album in 10 years. Earthless will melt your mind with endless space jams, and Crippled Black Phoenix deliver apocalyptic rock full of grandeur. Expect instrumental heaviness from Chicago pioneers Pelican, plus wild progressive energy from Mother’s Cake. Adding Texan groove power from High Desert Queen, new wave of Würzburgs thrash metal Zerre, and psych-doom freakouts from Taiwan’s Dope Purple, DESERTFEST BERLIN 2026 already promises to become a riff-heavy ride straight into the void.
And that’s just the beginning. Many more names and special suprises will follow — a storm is brewing over Berlin, and it’s bigger than ever! Tickets are already flying, so grab yours before they vanish in the haze: www.desertfest.de
MISSION IN BLACK are back! Just in time for their European tour with RAGE, the melodic death metal quintet are releasing another single from their album ‘Profit Reigns Supreme’ entitled ‘The Darkness Within’, featuring the powerful vocals of Konstantinos Togas (Nightrage) in this new version.
Rising Manchester rock outfit Luna Marble unveil their brand-new single and music video ‘Crazy Loving’, taken from a debut album that blends the cosmic spirit of 70s classic rock with modern grit. Demonstrating the raw energy of a band on the rise, their first LP lands this November. To mark the occasion, Luna Marble will host an exclusive advance ‘Rock & Roll Circus’ launch party in October, ahead of the album’s official release.
Written by vocalist Maria Rico at just 18 (a standout female vocalist in a male-dominated rock scene), new track ‘Crazy Loving’ remains one of the band’s most personal compositions.
“It was one of those songs that wrote itself,” Rico explains. “At the time I didn’t even know what it meant, but looking back, it feels like an unconscious reflection of that moment in life. The song talks about those early insecurities you have growing up, wondering who you are, and about finding comfort in other people and relationships.”
‘Crazy Loving’ arrives with a cinematic western-inspired video that combines striking visuals with the song’s raw emotion and vulnerability, offering a new glimpse of the album’s spirit. The song showcases the two shades of Luna Marble. The cosmic, ethereal atmosphere reminiscent of the sensibilities of Fleetwood Mac and the stadium-ready rock & roll swagger.
Pairing vintage grit with ethereal soundscapes, Luna Marble channel influences from Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, and Pink Floyd, while redefining them with their own cosmic charm. With Maria Rico’s commanding vocals at the helm, a multinational lineup, and a strong visual identity, the band has already earned acclaim from Classic Rock Magazine, Louder Than War, and radio play on Planet Rock and support from Elles Bailey. They’ve toured Denmark, appeared at festivals including Manchester Blues Festival, and supported acts such as Beth Blade and the Beautiful Disasters
Released this November, Luna Marble’s self-titled debut album blends the freedom of 1970s rock with blues, psychedelia, grunge grit and a shimmer of pop. Recorded largely live at sessions in Manchester, including Salford University, to capture the band’s onstage energy, the album was produced by Alex Miller and Maria Rico, mixed by Jim Spencer (New Order, Johnny Marr and The Charlatans) and mastered by Graeme Lynch at Two Zero Nine Mastering. This modern yet unashamedly classic rock record offers a snapshot of Luna Marble’s formative years; songs born in rehearsal rooms, honed on stage, and shaped into a wall of sound that is both powerful and ethereal.
From the fierce charge of ‘Running’, to the cosmic sweep of ‘Waves’, the emotional pull of ‘Begging Mercy’, and Classic Rock Magazine’s Tracks of the Week winner ‘Sea of Sorrow’, this new record explores themes of empowerment, resilience, love and self-discovery. A true labour of love, the album captures the journey of an independent UK band carving out a universe of their own.
To celebrate the unveiling of their forthcoming album, Luna Marble will host a very special ‘Rock & Roll Circus’ launch party, their biggest headline show to date, at Manchester Academy 3. With immersive stage design, guest appearances, and an expanded six-piece lineup, the event promises more than just music: it’s an invitation into Luna Marble’s cosmic world. Fans will be able to grab exclusive advance copies of the album and limited-edition launch merchandise. Get tickets here.
With their debut album, Luna Marble have cemented their place as one of the UK’s most exciting emerging rock bands; bold, independent, and unafraid to sound timeless.
Album artwork credit: Natalie Muir
Luna Marble’s self titled debut album is released 7th November 2025. Pre-order the album here.
Album Tracklist:
1. Running 2. All of My Love 3. Crazy Loving 4. So Long 5. Sea of Sorrow 6. Redemption 7. The Ride 8. Begging Mercy 9. Waves 10. Mad World
Production credits:
Recorded: Various sessions in Manchester including Salford University Mixed by: Jim Spencer (New Order, Johnny Marr and The Charlatans) Mastered by: Graeme Lynch (Two Zero Nine Mastering)
Tour dates:
3 Oct – Manchester Academy 3 – ‘The Rock & Roll Circus’ (Album launch party) – get tickets 10 Oct – Buckley, The Tivoli – Supporting Beth Blade and the Beautiful Disasters 11 Oct – Lancaster, The Pub – Day Festival (Inside Stage, 7:30 pm) 18 Oct – Wolverhampton, The Giffard Arms – Supporting Beth Blade and the Beautiful Disasters 19 Oct – Manchester, The Carlton Club – Manchester Blues Festival
Luna Marble is:
Maria Rico – Vocals Dragos Colceriu – Guitars David Grundy – Bass Sean Stewart – Drums (on the album)
Following last year’s release of Kalandra’s acclaimed single ”Ghosts”, the band felt inspired to continue the tradition. This year, the Norwegian group are welcoming the season with a new EP—a collection of dark, reimagined songs to either set the mood or help brace for the cold months ahead.
The Mørketid EP features four tracks—two carefully reimagined covers alongside two original compositions. The covers have been rearranged, and in some cases, translated, with a deep sense of nostalgia. Together, the songs capture the essence of the season: shorter days, moments of rest and coming together and remembering those who are no longer with us.
This collection of winter songs is for everyone—regardless of what you believe, or don’t believe. May these songs be your soundtrack for finding the strength to make it through another winter. The EP will be released digitally on October 31st via By Norse Music.
Tracklist 01. Mitt Hjerte Alltid Vanker 02. Till The End 03. Ghosts 04. Hymna Til Blåfjell
Alongside the new release, Kalandra will be celebrating their 15th anniversary in 2026. This special occaission will be marked with a concert at Rockefeller on February 18, 2026 —their first performance in Oslo in almost two years, and their biggest headlineshow in Norway to date, together with special guest Sylvaine and IBEN. Tickets for the show will go on sale this Friday, at 10 AM CEST.
Kalandra is a Norwegian/Swedish quartet that blends melancholic Nordic influences with gritty guitars and ethereal melodies, crafting haunting musical landscapes rooted in raw emotion and cinematic depth. Formed in 2011, the band has spent over a decade shaping a sound that is uniquely their own—building a dedicated studio space, refining their musical identity, and supporting acts such as Leprous, Gåte, Wardruna, Heilung and Eivør.
Following the success of their 2020 debut album The Line and their atmospheric soundtrack for the video game Kingdom Two Crowns: Norse Lands, Kalandra returned in 2024 with their second album A Frame of Mind. Drawing from their years of growth and collaboration, the new record is their most expansive to date—showcasing versatility while staying true to the immersive soundscape that defines them.
A Frame of Mind invites listeners on an introspective journey, reflecting on how life’s experiences shape our perception of the world. The album explores what we choose to include—and exclude—within the frame of our everyday lives, revisiting memories of hardship, childhood, and the growing uncertainty of the future.
With performances at major festivals like Hellfest, Kalandra continues to expand their audience across Europe. In 2025, the band is set to play their first Australia tour this November!
From the depths of Brussels’ death metal underground rises ABYSMAL DESCENT, a new entity forged from the ashes of Dehuman and strengthened by the twisted visions of R.S., L.L. (Putrid Offal, Echo Solar Void, Terrifiant) and M.D. (Echo Solar Void). Soon joined by R.M. (Neptunian Maximalism) and A.L. (Saqra’s Cult), the band completed a sinister line-up dedicated to conjuring a harrowing requiem of death metal.
Their debut full-length, “Dismal Thoughts”, will be released via Nuclear Winter Records on October 31st, 2025 – a suitably unholy date for this descent into sonic darkness. Drawing inspiration from legendary forces such as Immolation, Morbid Angel, and Incantation, the album weaves a tapestry of gloom and malevolence, crushing riffs and abyssal atmospheres.
The first single, the title track “Dismal Thoughts“, is now streaming HERE.
“Dismal Thoughts” is a testament to death metal’s most oppressive traditions: a record that drips with menace, channeling both the cavernous weight of old-school brutality and the suffocating dread of modern extremity. It is a soundtrack to decay, despair, and the shadows that loom ever closer.
Prepare to be engulfed.
Tracklist:
01. Discordant Calls 02. Labyrinth of Distress 03. Death Rope 04. Dismal Thoughts 05. Obscured Visions 06. Fragmented Soul 07. Abyss of Despair 08. Imaginal Horror
Line-up:
Laye Louhenapessy – Drums Martin Dozot – Guitar Rafaël Sellekaerts – Guitar Romain Martini – Bass Adrien Luxen – Vocals
Circle of Dust, the ‘90s industrial-metal project of artist/producer Celldweller, is back, releasing the anticipated 2-LP vinyl edition of Circle of Dust’s explosive 2016 comeback album, ‘Machines of Our Disgrace’ out now from FiXT.
Originally released in 2016 after a nearly two-decade hiatus, ‘Machines of Our Disgrace’ is Circle of Dust’s fifth full-length album and a powerful statement piece from Klayton, better known to many as Celldweller and Scandroid. The album marked a massive creative resurgence, fusing metal riffs, glitchy electronics, and raw industrial noise into a sound that’s equal parts nostalgic and forward-looking.
‘Machines of Our Disgrace’ isn’t just music, it’s a brutal mirror held up to humanity’s accelerating descent into technological dependence. Across 13 core tracks, the album unpacks themes of transhumanism, biohacking, surveillance, dehumanization, and the blurred line between evolution and manipulation. Tracks like “Contagion” and the title track “Machines of Our Disgrace” explore our surrender to the machine and the consequences of automation and blind progress. “alt_Human” and “Neurachem” dive into the ethics of gene editing and synthetic enhancement. “Hive Mind” and “Humanarchy” challenge the illusion of individuality in a digitally homogenized world. On the hauntingly emotional “Outside In,” Klayton shifts gears, revealing a fragile, human core beneath the circuitry with acoustic guitars, layered harmonies, and cinematic sound design.
The album was unflinching, both sonically and lyrically, combining dark, aggressive, and energetic moods into a cohesive and cinematic listening experience. It’s a definitive work of industrial rock and a bold creative milestone in Klayton’s expansive career.
Now ‘Machines of Our Disgrace’ is available as a 2-disc vinyl, featuring the full original album and an entire second disc of original new songs and remixes from Sebastian Komor, The Anix, The Plague, Zardonic, and Voicians. It also features the new singles “Invisible World” and “Digital Messiah” showcasing Klayton returning to his early 1992 roots of the self-titled Circle Of Dust album, taking inspiration from “Technological Disguise” – a nod to his earlier work.
Releasing with the Vinyl is “Digital Messiah,” a relentless fusion of mechanical precision and raw aggression. Klayton’s signature blend of crushing riffs, glitch-laden electronics, and razor-sharp hooks creates a sonic assault that feels both futuristic and apocalyptic. Lyrically charged with themes of control, faith, and the rise of a false savior in a digital age, the track surges with urgency and atmosphere, perfect for fans of Nine Inch Nails, Ministry, and Celldweller. Its explosive chorus and cinematic breakdowns make it ideal for high-energy rock and metal playlists, while its cybernetic edge connects with synth-industrial and darkwave audiences. “Digital Messiah” isn’t just a song, it’s a statement, marking a powerful new chapter for Circle of Dust and primed to captivate both long-time fans and a new generation discovering the project for the first time.
Circle of Dust made its triumphant return in 2016 after Klayton regained control of the entire Circle of Dust catalog, re-releasing each album (Self-Titled, Brainchild, Metamorphosis, Disengage, and beloved side-project Argyle Park) with remastered audio and completely re-imagined art. Later the same year, with the project fully resurrected, the new album ‘Machines of Our Disgrace’ was released followed by a feature-length documentary, Full Circle: The Birth, Death & Rebirth of Circle of Dust, and full-length remix album alt_Machines in 2018.
In 2020, Circle of Dust began releasing a 25th Anniversary Edition of the 1995 self-titled debut album, featuring all-new mixes resurrected on original gear with separate audio tracks for the first time in over 20 years. Each release from the album has received new remixes from modern artists such as Fury Weekend, Soul Extract, Rabbit Junk, Cyanotic, and FreqGen. 2021 kicked off with an updated version of “Twisted Reality” along with a cinematic remix from Void Chapter. The complete Circle Of Dust 25th Anniversary Edition was released in late 2021 followed by the Circle Of Dust (Remixed) album in early 2022.
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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