ANCIENT CURSE Release New Single ‘Metal Lake’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 10, 2026
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A small town in the far north of Germany is poised to make its mark on metal history. That sounds like a familiar success story, but no, we’re not talking about Wacken. In Bremervörde, right on Lake Vörder, a new metal festival is taking place in 100 days featuring e.g. Warlord, Rage, and Victory, as well as ANCIENT CURSE, who have also agreed to compose the festival anthem and release it as a new single today.

Top-notch progressive metal with an anthemic feel!

The song is available for early release exclusively on major digital platforms, including here: 
Metal Lake – Ancient Curse | Save-It

METAL LAKE – The metal open-air festival on the lake stage in Bremervörde, Lower Saxony, July 18, 2026

Current Album (without METAL LAKE!)
Tracklist:
1. Forevermore
2. Ave Maria
3. Isolation
4. Dimension 5
5. Deny and Destroy
6. Tunnel Vision (G-LOC Part 1)
7. In Memoriam
8. Dreams of Lucrecia (G-LOC Part 2)
9. Paranormal Coincidence (G-LOC Part 3)

Biography:
The North Germans have been shining with convincing progressive power metal for almost 40 years. With the premise of “breaking new ground” (literally), the band achieved cult status in Cuba in the mid-nineties and were the first western band since the Beatles to actually tour there with their No.1 hit! Even though the band went noticeably quiet for a while, the new album – their second since 2020 – is even more impressive and multi-layered than its predecessor.
The professional standard also applies to the live performance: whether headlining or supporting (Brainstorm, Rage, Victory, Rough Silk, Tankard and many more), Ancient Curse have always managed to captivate the audience with their energetic live show. They also composed the festival anthem for the upcoming “Metal Lake” metal festival!

Line-up:
Pepe Pierez – Guitars/Vocals
Gunnar Erxleben – Guitars
Matthias Schröder – Drums
Thorsten Penz – Bass

More Info: 
Website:       ancientcurse.de
YouTube:      www.youtube.com/channel/UCGYAYn3kl25GlzJw0iQLXzg
Facebook:    www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063684061715
Instagram:    www.instagram.com/ancientcursehb

PETROLBREATH Release New High-Octane Single ‘C´est La Vie Motherf***er’ + Heading Out on Tour in Balkans This Month

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 10, 2026
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Photographer: Noora Oso-Aaltonen

Operating out of the Helsinki area since 2019, Petrolbreath unleash their new single C’EST LA VIE, MOTHERF*ER – a relentless, straight-to-the-point hit that offers no comfort and no excuses.

The track dives into responsibility and consequences: that moment when everything has gone wrong and there’s no one left to blame. No saviors. No excuses. Just your choices – and what comes with them.

“Everyone knows that person. Complains about everything but does nothing. At some point, you hit a wall – and there’s no way around it.” – Petrolbreath

Listen to the single on music services (Spotify, Apple Music, Deezer, Tidal, YouTube Music etc.): https://push.fm/fl/petrolbreath-cestlaviemf

–Composition: Ville Panhelainen
–Lyrics: Tuomas Patanen
–Producer: Anssi Kippo

The song was recorded fully analog at Astia Studio under the guidance of producer Anssi Kippo. You can hear it in the result: this is not a polished, clinical production, but a captured moment – alive, breathing, and full of raw energy.

Musically, the track leans on crushing riffs, a groove-driven backbone, and aggressive vocals that don’t ask for permission. The result is chaotic but controlled – like a final warning before the collapse.

The single drops just ahead of the band’s European tour.

Petrolbreath is a Finnish heavy rock/metal trio known for their groove-driven sound, aggressive energy and no-nonsense attitude. 

Blending fully analog magnetic tape production with heavy riffs and a punk-inspired edge, the band delivers music that values raw honesty over polish.

Petrolbreath are steadily building their name in the underground scene, with their sights set on stages across Europe. Band is playing several gigs in the Serbia-Bulgaria-Romania area between 17-25.4.2026 in their Balkan Inferno 2026 Tour.

Petrolbreath is:
Joni “Honi” Aaltonen – bass, vocals
Ville Panhelainen – guitar, backing vocals
Tuomas “Mean Machine” Patanen – drums, backing vocals

https://www.facebook.com/Petrolbreathband
https://www.instagram.com/petrolbreathband/

HALCYON DAYS Push Their Sound to Its Most Extreme Territory Yet with New Single ‘Watch Me Burn’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 10, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo: Anine Desire

With “Watch Me Burn,” HALCYON DAYS push their sound to its most extreme territory yet.
The track is a ferocious blend of crushing riffs, punishing breakdowns, and suffocating intensity, a sonic manifestation of inner collapse and the desperate need to become something better.

Listen to the single here: https://ffm.to/watchmeburn

Lyrically, the song confronts self-hatred, guilt, and the feeling of never measuring up.
Rather than offering easy answers, “Watch Me Burn” embraces destruction as a necessary step toward transformation. The band’s trademark balance of heaviness and melody takes a darker, more abrasive form here, aligning with the fast-paced aggression of hardcore while staying grounded in metalcore tradition. It’s confrontational, uncomfortable, and brutally honest.

“Watch Me Burn” stands as a defining moment in the NOTHING TO NO ONE // SOMETHING TO SOMEONE era, a statement of intent from a band that refuses to hold back.

NOTHING TO NO ONE // SOMETHING TO SOMEONE release via Indie Recordings on June 5th 2026

FFO: Architects, Knocked Loose and Counterparts

ABOUT
Since 2016 Halcyon Days have established themselves as one of Norway’s most consistent and compelling metalcore acts.
Known for their immersive live presence, infectious intensity, and explosive energy, the band has earned seven-figure streams, widespread international press, and slots at major European festivals including Summer Breeze Open Air, High Five Summer Fest, Inferno Festival, and Reeperbahn Festival.
Halcyon Days have balanced aggression, melody, and emotion, creating music that is heavy, deeply human, and built to resonate on stage and in headphones alike.
In 2026 Halcyon Days continue to evolve while staying true to their roots, reinforcing their position as one of Norway’s leading modern metalcore bands. 

Halcyon Days is:  
Robbe Madsen – Vocals
André Sørensen – Guitar
Eirik Løvås Bjerke – Drums
Steffen Johansen – Bass

More info: Youtube | Spotify | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

ACOLYTHUS Release First & Only Single ‘Scholars of Empires Beyond’ from Forthcoming Debut Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 10, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Acolythus

Finnish black metal band Acolythus are set to release their debut album ‘Unearthly Kingdoms ‘Neath Lifeless Stars’ on May 8th 2026 via Inverse Records. The first and only single ‘Scholars of Empires Beyond’ is unleashed today and it’s available on all essential streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/acolythus-scholars

The band comments:
“Scholars of Empires Beyond embodies the very elements that inspired the creation of the album and the becoming of Acolythus. Born not only from the members’ passion for black metal but also from a growing distaste for the sterile sound of modern metal production, this record rejects perfection in favor of authenticity. Written in its entirety and recorded within a single month—February 2026—we deliberately constrained the production process to preserve the aggression and the human element behind every take. No edits, no gimmicks, only pure expression. Listeners can expect furious, melodic, and at times unexpected echoes of Finnish old-school black metal!”

–Composed, lyrics and produced by Acolythus
–Mix & Master by Teemu Leskinen
–Single cover art by Matias Stenman

Unearthly Kingdoms ‘Neath Lifeless Stars Track list:

  1. Among Ruins Forlorn
  2. Scholars of Empires Beyond
  3. As the Slaughtered Wizards Reincarnate
  4. Frozen Desolate Warfields
  5. Vacuous Gods of the Abyss
  6. Unearthly Kingdoms ‘Neath Lifeless Stars
  7. In the Fading Light of Burning Cathedrals

–All music written and produced by Acolythus
–Mix & Master by Teemu Leskinen
–Album cover art by Matias Stenman

Acolythus is a project strongly rooted in traditional black metal, boasting straightforward aggression coupled with a recognizable Finnish melodic approach to the genre. Featuring members from Convulse, Sargassus and Jotungrav, the band was born as an outlet for the musicians’ black metal aspirations. After the inspiration struck, ‘Unearthly Kingdoms ‘Neath Lifeless Stars’ was written and recorded in a matter of weeks. The album aims at conveying the aggression and feeling behind the music in its purest form. Hence in Acolythus’ music, the listener will only hear real instruments being played by real people – free of all edits and tricks that dominate the modern metal sound.  Thematically Acolythus centers itself around esoteric and occult knowledge, as well as a somewhat misanthropic and post-apocalyptic focus on humanity. Much of the inspiration from which the music is born out of can be traced to the mystical worldbuilding and wordweaving of bands such as Alghazanth, Immortal and Emperor, to name a few. In short, Acolythus provides the listener with poetic hymns and sermons of woe, accompanied by blazing and ice-cold riffs in the most authentic way black metal should be performed in.

Line-up:
Guitars & Vocals: Angrmáni (Matias Stenman)
Drums: Maleficarum (Matias Rokio)
Bass: Abyssias (Teemu Leskinen)

https://www.facebook.com/Acolythusband
https://www.instagram.com/acolythusband
https://acolythus.bandcamp.com

THE NARRATOR Release Video for New Single ‘Agnosia’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 10, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Credit: Kathi Sterl

Modern metalcore powerhouse THE NARRATOR returns with a striking new music video for their latest single, ‘Agnosia,’ taken from their forthcoming sophomore album Phosphor. The track further showcases the band’s evolving sound and artistic depth.

‘Agnosia‘ captivates listeners from the outset with haunting clean vocals, gradually building tension before erupting into a powerful, breakdown-driven metalcore anthem, elevated by an undeniably infectious chorus.

On a thematic level, the song delves into emotional numbness, inner turmoil, and the longing to be understood. It paints a vivid portrait of pain, isolation, and self-destructive tendencies, ultimately blurring the line between suffering and identity.

THE NARRATOR‘s highly anticipated new album, Phosphor, will be released on May 8th, 2026 via Nuclear Blast Records. The follow-up to their acclaimed debut album Lore offers ten smashing songs that respond to the global crisis with inner exhaustion and shows how close hope and self-destruction are to each other. 

THE NARRATOR navigate the weight of time & the haunting awareness of life’s impermanence. A masterclass in modern metal!

STREAM ‘AGNOSIA’: https://thenarrator.bfan.link/agnosia

PRE-ORDER / PRE-SAVE PHOSPHOR: https://thenarrator.bfan.link/phosphor

THE NARRATOR
Phosphor
Release Date: May 8th, 2026

01 Phosphor
02 Aurora
03 Modern Age Blasphemy
04 Stasis (feat. Avralize)
05 Pills From The Start
06 Agnosia
07 Two Lives
08 Dissection
09 Iron Grip
10 9010

THE NARRATOR LIVE:

10.04.26    UK    Nottingham, Rock City
12.04.26    UK    London, Modern Era Festival
13.04.26    UK    Bristol, The Croft
22.-23.05.26  DE  Camping Battleground Open Air
30.05.26    FR    Artificial Waves Festival
13.06.26    NL    Into The Grave Festival
11.07.26    DE    Free For All Festival
12.-15.08.26  DE  Summer Breeze Festival
04.-05.09.26  DE  Pell Mell Festival
24.10.26    DE    Rocken Hilft Festival


EUROPEAN HEADLINE TOUR 2026
Special Guest: Accvsed

26.09.26   FI   Helsinki, On The Rocks
30.09.26   CH  Aarau, Kiff Aarau
01.10.26   AT  Wien, Flex Café
03.10.26   DE  München, Backstage Club
04.10.26   DE  Stuttgart, Im Wizemann
06.10.26   CZ  Prag, Rock Cafe
07.10.26   DE  Leipzig, WERK 2 – Kulturfabrik Leipzig e.V.
08.10.26   DE  Berlin, Frannz-Club
09.10.26   DE  Hamburg, Bahnhof Pauli
10.10.26   DE  Köln, Club Volta
11.10.26   NL  Haarlem, Patronaat
13.10.26   DE  Wiesbaden, Schlachthof Wiesbaden Kesselhaus
15.10.26   UK  London, The Black Heart
16.10.26   FR  Paris, La Maroquinerie
17.10.26   NL  Tilburg, Little Devil
18.10.26   BE  Antwerp, Kavka Oudaan

TICKETS: https://www.thenarrator.de

About THE NARRATOR:

THE NARRATOR were founded in 2017 in the Ruhr area of Germany and have been captivating audiences with their energetic songwriting and electrifying live performances from the very beginning. After successful tours and festival appearances, THE NARRATOR steadily made a name for themselves in the global metalcore scene.

In September 2024, THE NARRATOR released their highly anticipated debut album Lore – 10 tracks that speak volumes, boasting an impressive 12 million streams across all platforms to this day. Their latest singles, ‘Aurora‘ and ‘Pills From The Start‘ mastered by Ted Jensen (STERLING SOUND – BRING ME THE HORIZON, GREEN DAY, KORN, and many more), proved once again that THE NARRATOR is essential for every modern metal playlist. With their sophomore album ‘Phosphor‘ due out on May 8th and a European headline tour as well as festival appearances later this year, one thing is certain: the best is yet to come!

More info: https://www.thenarrator.de/

RATTLESNAKES Release Cover of Saxon’s ‘And The Bands Played On’ with Visualizer

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 10, 2026
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The UK’s RATTLESNAKES proudly release their cover of Saxon’s iconic track, “And The Bands Played On.” The new cover arrives alongside an official visualizer, available below.

Heavy Metal legends Saxon wrote the “And The Bands Played On” anthem (from the ‘Denim and Leather’ album, 1981) inspired by their live appearance at the first Monsters of Rock festival on August 16, 1980 at Donington Park, where the band was met with an overwhelmingly enthusiastic crowd response.

RATTLESNAKES shares:

“‘And The Bands Played On’ is a song that collectively created a plethora of joyous memories for us all in RATTLESNAKES! The reason we chose to cover this song was also because of the similarities in genre and style we both have and our love for vocal harmonies, which is something very prevalent in this song. We wanted to put our spin on this awesome track by emphasizing that! This band has never failed to inspire us in RATTLESNAKES and we hope to honor and bring light upon The Mighty Saxon for the younger generations of rockers by carrying the everlasting torch of HEAVY METAL THUNDER!”

Stream and listen here: https://bfan.link/and-the-bands-played-on

The band is currently demoing material for their full length debut album, and with it’s wrath filled riffing and commanding vocals, will undeniably make you head bang and generate impassioned sing alongs.

Check RATTLESNAKES out live with label fellows Struck A Nerve and Devastator at London Cart and Horses on May 3rd, 2026.

RATTLESNAKES are:
Rowena Neale – Vocals
Elliott Dryden – Bass
Joshua Brown – Guitar
George Charleston – Guitar
Nathan Gratton – Drums

More info: https://www.facebook.com/Rattlesnakesofficial