Metal Shock Finland (World Assault )

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS Announce European Tour 2026 with SHAGOR

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: ABIGAIL WILLIAMS, SHAGOR. Leave a comment

The Great Darkness Returns to Europe

A shroud of sound and shadow is set to descend upon Europe this late spring, as ABIGAIL WILLIAMS (US) announce their long-awaited return to the continent for a series of live performances across May and June. Renowned for their evocative blend of black metal and cinematic intensity, the band will once again bring their immersive sonic landscapes to audiences across the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe.

Following years of refining their sound into something increasingly expansive and haunting, ABIGAIL WILLIAMS continue to stand as one of the most distinctive voices in the modern extreme metal landscape. This upcoming run of dates promises to channel that evolution into a live setting, offering audiences an experience that is as enveloping as it is unrelenting.

For the European mainland leg of the tour, the band will be joined by Dutch act SHAGOR (NL), whose raw and obscure take on black metal will provide a fitting counterpoint, deepening the atmosphere of each night. Together, the two bands will shape a sequence of performances steeped in darkness, tension and intensity.

Divided into two distinct chapters, the tour will first traverse the UK and Ireland with a select run of exclusive ABIGAIL WILLIAMS performances, including an appearance at Fortress Festival. The journey will then continue across mainland Europe, where SHAGOR will join as main support for a series of carefully selected dates, culminating in a final gathering in the Netherlands.

The Itinerary of Ruin

UK & Ireland (Abigail Williams only)
31/05 • Fortress Fest, Scarborough, UK
03/06 • The Pavillion, Cork, IRL
04/06 • Sound House, Dublin, IRL
05/06 • Voodoo, Belfast, IRL
06/06 • Dolans Kasbah, Limerick, IRL

European Mainland (w/ Shagor)
08/06 • De Verlichte Geest, Kortrijk, BE
09/06 • Music House, Graz, AT
10/06 • Venster 99, Vienna, AT
12/06 • Zappenduster Festival, Münster, DE (Abigail Williams only)
13/06 • Hall of Fame, Tilburg, NL

Audiences are invited to step beyond the veil and gather in the gloom as The Great Darkness once again takes form. Tickets are available now through all standard outlets.

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS
https://abigailwilliams.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/abigailwilliamsofficial

SHAGOR
https://shagor.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/shagorblackmetal/

Cardinale Italo Martire’s Project IMPERIUM OMEGA Unleash Debut Album “Somewhere Along The Way”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Cardinale Italo Martire, IMPERIUM OMEGA. Leave a comment

Cardinale Italo Martire (Black Flame, Adversam, The Catechists) introduces Imperium Omega, a project conceived many years ago and finally brought to life with the debut album “Somewhere Along The Way”.

STREAM THE ALBUM HERE: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/imperiumomega/somewhere-along-the-way

Blending dark ambient, black metal and industrial elements through a distinctly cosmic lens, IMPERIUM OMEGA takes shape as an immersive sonic experience that deliberately avoids categorization. Rather than a collection of tracks, the album unfolds as a journey into the void – meant to be experienced in a single breath as a complete work.

The album is structured in phases, each reflecting a specific mental state experienced during its creation. The result is a chronological pathway through the artist’s mind, where music and personal experience merge into a continuous, non-linear flow.

IMPERIUM OMEGA is an entirely intimate and self-contained project: Cardinale Italo Martire handled all instruments, recording and artwork himself, deliberately avoiding external collaboration in order to preserve the project’s artistic integrity and vision.

The release comes under the Vox Cardinalis banner, an imprint founded by Cardinale Italo Martire to support future artistic developments and parallel projects.

A new album is already scheduled for release in 2026.

IMPERIUM OMEGA online:
https://www.facebook.com/voxcardinalisproductions
https://voxcardinalisprod.bandcamp.com/
https://www.youtube.com/@voxcardinalisproductions

HATESPHERE to Release “The Sickness Within” (2026 Remaster) on April 17th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: HateSphere. Leave a comment

photo by Julia Nikiforova – JN Lightning Photography

HateSphere will release “The Sickness Within” (2026 remaster) on April 17 through Scarlet Records.

The fourth studio album for the Danish thrash-death machine, originally released by Steamhammer in 2005, “The Sickness Within” was the pinnacle of the first part of the HateSphere career, and still a killer thrash-death album after all these years.

Plenty of razor-sharp guitar riffs, some heavy crushing grooves and a subtle but cool melodic taste were the main ingredients of this brutally exquisite recipe, and truly represented the frantic HateSphere signature sound.

The Danish band was lead at that time by the charismatic frontman Jacob Bredhal: his raspy, powerful vocal delivery was one of the highlight of a flawless tracklist. Add a brilliant songwriting and a meaty production and you’ll simply get one of the best extreme metal albums of the early 00s.

To this day, an unparalleled vulgar display of sickness!

remaster 2026 by Tue Madsen + 3 bonus tracks taken from “The Killing” EP (2005)
fourth studio album for the Danish thrash-death machine, originally released by Steamhammer in 2005;
HateSphere’s most commercially successful release ever;
produced by Jacob Hansen and Tommy Hansen at Hansen Studios;
mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen at Antfarm Studio;
cover artwork by Christof Kather;
FFO: Slayer, At The Gates, The Haunted, Heaven Shall Burn, The Black Dahlia Murder;

“The Sickness Within” (2026 remaster) will be re-released in the following format: jewel case CD

“The Sickness Within” (2026 remaster) tracklist:

1 The White Fever
2 The Fallen Shall Rise In A River Of Blood
3 Reaper Of Life
4 Sickness Within
5 Murderous Intent
6 The Coming Of Chaos
7 Bleed To Death
8 Heaven Is Ready To Fall
9 Seeds Of Shame
10 Chamber Master
11 Marked By Darkness
12 You’re The Enemy (CD bonus track)
13 The Will Of God (CD bonus track)
14 Trip At The Brain (CD bonus track)

Line-up (2005):
Jacob Bredahl – vocals
Peter Lyse Hansen – guitar
Henrik Bastrup Jacobsen – guitar
Mikael Ehlert Hansen – bass
Anders Gyldenøhr – drums

In other news, HateSphere is currently working on the follow-up to the acclaimed “Hatred Reborn” album (2023).

HateSphere 2026:
Mathias Uldall – vocals
Peter Lyse Karmark – guitar
Kasper Kirkegaard – guitar
Jimmy Nedergaard – bass
Mike Park Nielsen – drums

BLOOD RED DELUSION Unleash New Video Single ‘Now I Am’ from Third Album “Bloodlust Awakening”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: BLOOD RED DELUSION. Leave a comment

Finnish melodic death metal act BLOOD RED DELUSION return with full force as their third studio album, “Bloodlust Awakening”, was released March 13th. Following two previous full-length albums and over one hundred live shows, the band has evolved into a more uncompromising and focused force. The uncompromising and hard-hitting record showcases the band at their most intense yet, combining relentless aggression with sharpened songwriting and dynamic execution. Their melodic death metal is now heavier and tighter than ever, packed with aggression and explosive energy.

“Bloodlust Awakening” has been met with international attention and glowing reviews, praised for its relentless intensity, sharp songwriting, and the band’s ability to fuse crushing aggression with memorable melodic hooks.

Marking the album’s release, the band unveiled the final single “Now I Am” accompanied by a music video. According to vocalist Hannu Mikkola, the track pushes performance to the limit, while guitarist Juuso Laitinen describes it as a quintessential Blood Red Delusion piece:

“It features all the elements you’d expect from us – sheer intensity, dynamic shifts, raw energy, blazing guitar work, and gigantic chorus.”

This balance is also evident in earlier singles such as “A Cavern of Emptiness” which leans into a more atmospheric and melodic side of the band. The track highlights their ability to move beyond sheer force while maintaining their signature intensity.

Another standout cut, “Never Fading Hate” pushes the band’s technical limits even further.

“It’s easily one of the most demanding tracks on the album, both compositionally and technically,” Juuso Laitinen explains. “At times, it pushed me close to my physical limits as a player. We even considered scrapping it at one point but thankfully we didn’t. The result is a track that naturally led to darker, more aggressive lyrical themes and a fitting visual concept.”

Bloodlust Awakening tracklist:
1. To The Past
2. Devastating & Profound
3. Never Fading Hate
4. Now I Am
5. Hollow Queen
6. Wrath Of Hearts
7. Devils InOur Eyes
8. Into The Dirt
9. Conviction In Chaos
10. A Cavern Of Emptiness

Upcoming shows:
17.4 – Musta Wappu, Lappeenranta
10.7 – Dark River Festival
12.8 – Bar Loose, Helsinki (Dying Reverie, Post Pulse)
15.8 – The Van, Kotka (Dying Reverie, Post Pulse)
21–22.8 – Rock Am Sippola

Line-up:
Hannu Mikkola – vocals
Juuso Laitinen – guitar
Tomi Laitinen – guitar
Patrick Hakamäki – bass, drums

More info: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | SPOTIFY | YOUTUBE

MOTHER OF MILLIONS + ODDLAND Announce Split Headliner European Tour 2026

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: MOTHER OF MILLIONS, Oddland, RING OF GYGES. Leave a comment

Prog-metal acts, ODDLAND (FI) and MOTHER OF MILLIONS (GR), with RING OF GYGES (Is) as special guest, are headed out on a split-headliner European run in the fall of 2026, in support of their upcoming albums.

Both headliner bands will have new albums out in the early fall of 2026, before the tour. Oddland shall release their 4th album and Mother Of Millions release their 6th opus. Both bands have toured Europe numerous times, both as support acts, and as split headliners/headliners, and now, it’s time to team up on European Prog Madness Tour 2026.

Dates are:

27.08: DK – Næstved @ Næstved Metalfest*
04.09: FI – Turku @ Logomo***
17.09: DE – München @ Feierwerk
18.09: DE – Stuttgart @ Klub Zentral
19.09: NL – Zoetermeer @ Boerderij
20.09: BE – Diest @ Hell
22.09: Tba
23.09: Tba
24.09: SK – Bratislava @ Randal Club
25.09: RO – Cluj @ Machines Venue
26.09: RO – Bucharest @ Quantic
+ more to be added

*No Ring Of Gyges
**Only Oddland

MOTHER OF MILLIONS – Greece www.motherofmillionsband.com Post/Progressive metal band from Athens, Greece, known for their cinematic atmosphere, intricate arrangements, and deeply emotional performances. They have become a significant force in the progressive metal landscape, praised for their unique blend of intensity and elegance. Several EU tours and lots of festivals, under their belt. For fans of Leprous, Katatonia, Soen, Anathema, Pain Of Salvation.

Videos:

ODDLAND – Finland www.facebook.com/oddland

One of the most significant prog-acts to emerge from Finland, Oddland has made a good international name of themselves, with their initial signing to Century Media Records and later on, signing to Frontiers Records and with European tours, both as support act (Persefone and Soen tours) and as split-headliner. Oddland is the perfect mix of Leprous, Tool, Katatonia and will appeal to all prog-fans across the nations.

Videos:

Freefall: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7QpzT57fBAU
Eternal Erode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGlxJl5sJYQ

RING OF GYGES
Progressive rock/metal – Iceland – 2 albums out – signed to ViciSolum Records – http://www.facebook.com/theringofgyges
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CoNrLUDfmE

DREAM DROP to Release Fourth Album “Blackcastle” on May 15th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 1, 2026

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: DREAM DROP. Leave a comment

DREAM DROP are set to release their fourth album “Blackcastle” on May 15th.

“Blackcastle is not a place that exists on any map. It is an ever-changing structure that appears in dreams. The album revolves around this imagined castle as a metaphor for a future so perfect it becomes addictive to dream about. A place built from longing, avoidance, and the comfort of fantasy. It represents the quiet pull of something familiar yet harmful, where hope and self-deception coexist.

Each song explores a different room, corridor, or collapse within and around the castle. Not as a linear story, but as fragments of recurring thoughts and emotional cycles. Moments repeat, distort, and resurface, mirroring the way dreams and obsessions refuse to resolve. Throughout the album, unseen entities linger and interfere. They interrupt, question, and pressure the listener to stop dreaming and face reality, acting as manifestations of reality and the people that care about you.

Sonically, Blackcastle balances aggression and vulnerability. Heavy, modern alternative and metal influences collide with melodic, intimate moments, often within the same track. The dynamics reflect the tension between escapism and confrontation, between wanting to disappear and being forced to stay present. The record leans into raw emotion rather than polish, allowing discomfort, tension, and honesty to remain intact. It is music meant to feel close, uneasy, and lived-in.

At its core, Blackcastle is about being stuck in your personal development and the strange comfort that can come with that. It captures the feeling of knowing you should leave, while still being drawn deeper inside. The album does not offer resolution or escape. Instead, it documents the experience of wandering the same halls again and again.”

More info: https://dreamxdrop.com/links