Finnish metal band Withered Petunia from the gloominess of Äänekoski, Central Finland has released a new single ‘Fragility of a Mind’. The band likes to experiment a lot with death metal, melodic metal & hardcore. They released their debut EP ‘Withered Petunia’ in January of 2025 and now the band continue the havoc with a new single. The song is a dark story about a person suffering from post-traumatic schizophrenia in awareness of mental health. The song showcases a progressive approach, technical riffs & dark ambience. Something familiar but also something new compared to band’s previous releases.
Soundsrock Agency is thrilled to announce the signing with Italian Hard Goth-Rockers BLAX.
The BLAX project began in March 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdown when singer and songwriter Giampaolo Polidoro (Blax) started collaborating with guitarist Marco Fanella (Hektor) to create their first demo. Over the following six months, the duo worked tirelessly at Ravel 5 Studios, arranging and producing the material that would later evolve into their debut album.
In 2021, their efforts resulted in the release of “Meravilia”, recorded and produced at Ravel 5 Studios. The album mixed progressive, post-metal, and dark atmospheric elements, establishing BLAX’s unique sonic identity. The lineup expanded in 2022 with the addition of drummer Massimiliano Bergo (Argex), bassist Giulia Balestrieri (Katla), and guitarist Emil Dellantonio (Hexen). That year, BLAX signed with AlphaOmega Management, and in October 2022, they released their debut album “Meravilia”, featuring 10 tracks that showcased their deep, immersive sound. In March 2023, BLAX start to collaborate with Angels PR, marking the beginning of an exciting live era. This partnership led to their debut performance at Masters of Rock 2023 (Second Stage) in Vizovice, Czech Republic. In September 2023, BLAX supported ARALLU on a five-date tour in Bulgaria, expanding their European presence and then with Omen. The band continued performing across Greece, Italy, and London (UK) in 2023, while also entering the pre-production phase for their second album. In February 2024, they returned to the studio to begin recording their follow-up album.
The band didn’t stop touring: in July and August 2024, BLAX performed at three major Czech festivals—Masters of Rock (Main Stage), Ostrava v Plamenech, and Rock Castle. The Rock Castle performance on August 17, 2024, marked the official end of the Meravilia tour. During the summer of 2024, Massimiliano Bergo left the band for personal reasons and was replaced by Luca Urbinati (ANON), who joined BLAX in time to perform the final three shows ofthe Meravilia tour in the Czech Republic.
In April 2025, BLAX released their second album, “Certesia”, through Wormholedeath, diving even deeper into the progressive-metal genre with a complex and refined sound. This album solidified the band’s place in the European underground metal scene. Following the release of Certesia, BLAX embarked on an Italian tour supporting the legendary Warrior Soul, bringing their new material to Italian audiences. This was soon followed by a European tour, further cementing their growing reputation and other gigs in Italy.
In July 2025, BLAX performed at the prestigious Vagos Metal Fest in Portugal, marking their first appearance at one of Europe’s most respected festivals. The show was a significant milestone in their live career, as they played alongside some of the biggest names in the metal world. Just a month later, in August 2025, BLAX will took the stage at the Danube Rock Fest in Romania with the live debut of the new bassist Mr. Desmond, continuing their European festival circuit
Following the Eurovision motto UNITED BY MUSIC, two years after joining the family as 2023 finalists, LORD OF THE LOST return to the Grand Prix spirit, this time by teaming up with Finnish rap artist and Eurovision fellow KÄÄRIJÄ for the song “Raveyard”. Blending the supportive energy of the world’s biggest music event with a daringly fresh soundscape, the collaboration marks the explosive first single off LORD OF THE LOST’s upcoming studio album, OPVS NOIR Vol. 2, out December 12, 2025, via Napalm Records!
In 2023, the Hamburg-based band released a playful rendition of KÄÄRIJÄ’s hit “Cha Cha Cha” on their covers album Weapons Of Mass Seduction, later performing it live to the delight of fans, especially in Finland. Now, LORD OF THE LOST and Eurovision runner-up KÄÄRIJÄ finally unite in a common piece of music: a fierce, darkly twisted party anthem that still carries the unmistakable soundscapes of LORD OF THE LOST. Following OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 – the opening chapter of their ambitious album trilogy released this past August – the band continues to push boundaries showcasing once again their unrivaled versatility with its second installment, OPVS NOIR Vol. 2.
Chris Harms about “Raveyard”: “KÄÄRIJÄ was our band’s internal Eurovision favorite in 2023. We embraced the Eurovision motto UNITED BY MUSIC not only during the contest itself, but also beyond. Our friendship with KÄÄRIJÄ is rooted in the fact that both he and LORD OF THE LOST are constantly dancing between genres — a spirit that shines through in the stylistic rollercoaster of ‘Raveyard’!”
KÄÄRIJÄ adds: “It was an honor to do a song with my German brothers – I hope we can perform this song live soon because the song is fire!”
With OPVS NOIR Vol. 2, the genre-fluid six-piece delves deeper into their melancholic take on unraveling their innermost selves and adds a hopeful new layer to the wonderfully dark panorama that was opened up by OPVS NOIR Vol. 1. Following their enchantingly colorful Blood & Glitter, which earned them participation in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 and a #1 chart entry in their native Germany, LORD OF THE LOST reinvent themselves yet again. With OPVS NOIR Vol. 2, another 11 heartfelt songs join the three-part cycle, tying seamlessly into Vol. 1. Once again produced by frontman Chris Harms in the historic Chameleon Studios, it is yet another stirring example of the Hamburg-based band’s unparalleled versatility. Completely fearless, LORD OF THE LOST have long since playfully risen above genre conventions and expectations. OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 mercilessly opens new doors in the band’s musical palace, yet still feels 100% at home for fans from the very beginning!
Opening with dark yet catchy “The Fall From Grace”, LORD OF THE LOST immediately showcases their way with grand ballroom choruses weaved into grave melodies that will continue to sit enthroned on all the varied tracks until the last note of the ballad “Sharp Edges”. Joining in are guests ranging from scene favorites to top-tier musicians outside the metal genre. First up is INFECTED RAIN’s Lena Scissorhands, who refines the pitch-black “Would You Walk With Me Through Hell?” with the full range of her fierce, yet fragile vocals. Similarly, Anna Brunner of rising melodic metal stars LEAGUE OF DISTORTION and symphonic metal band EXIT EDEN lends her energetic voice to “Please Break The Silence”, inducing goosebumps – every talent is an important scene in OPVS NOIR’s grimly colorful movie for the ears. Unexpectedly, yet fittingly, Finnish rap artist KÄÄRIJÄ, runner-up at Eurovision 2023, turns “Raveyard” into a dancefloor with a mix of industrial, gothic, and Finnish rap—as if heralding the dawn of a new genre. The most moving collaboration is the opulent “What Have We Become”, in which experimental artist IAMX meets Chris Harms for a cathartic duet.
OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 tracklisting:
The Fall From Grace
Would You Walk With Me Through Hell? (& Infected Rain)
One Of Us Will Be Next
Walls Of Eden
Raveyard (feat. Käärijä)
The Last Star
What Have We Become (feat. IAMX)
Winter’s Dying Heart
Scarlight
Please Break The Silence (feat. Anna Brunner)
Sharp Edges
LORD OF THE LOST Live 2025
LORDS OF FYRE CO-HEADLINE TOUR LORD OF THE LOST & FEUERSCHWANZ w/ The Dark Side Of The Moon 02.10.25 DE – Berlin / Columbiahalle 03.10.25 DE – Leipzig / Haus Auensee 04.10.25 DE – Offenbach / Stadthalle 10.10.25 DE – Hanover / Swiss Life Hall 11.10.25 DE – Fürth / Stadthalle 17.10.25 DE – Munich / Zenith 18.10.25 DE – Düsseldorf / Mitsubishi Halle
UK + IRELAND TOUR 30.10.25 UK – Wolverhampton 31.10.25 UK – Manchester 02.11.25 UK – Glasgow 04.11.25 UK – Belfast 05.11.25 IE – Dublin 07.11.25 UK – Bristol 08.11.25 UK – London 09.11.25 UK – Southampton
FESTIVALS 19.10.25 NL – Den Bosch / The Rock Circus 01.11.25 UK – Whitby / Tomorrows Ghosts Festival
LORD OF THE LOST Live 2026
DARK WINTER TOUR – USA & CANADA 2026 Co-Headliner Tour w/ The Birthday Massacre Special Guest Wednesday 13 19.01.26 US – Baltimore, MD / Baltimore Soundstage 20.01.26 US – Philadelphia, PA / Theatre of Living Arts 21.01.26 US – New Haven, CT / Toad’s Place 23.01.26 US – New York, NY / Webster Hall 24.01.26 US – Worcester, MA / The Palladium 25.01.26 CA – Montreal, QC / Beanfield Theatre 26.01.26 CA – Toronto, ON / Phoenix Concert Theatre 28.01.26 US – Cleveland, OH / House of Blues 29.01.26 US – Cincinnati, OH / Bongart’s 30.01.26 US – Detroit, MI / St. Andrews Hall 31.01.26 US – Chicago, IL / Concord Music Hall 02.02.26 US – Minneapolis, MN / First Avenue 04.02.26 US – Denver, CO / Summit Music Hall 05.02.26 US – Salt Lake City, UT / The Complex 07.02.26 US – Los Angeles, CA / The Fonda 08.02.26 US – San Francisco, CA / UC Theatre
Australia 2026 19.02.26 AU – Brisbane / Crowbar 20.02.26 AU – Melbourne / Max Watts 21.02.26 AU – Sydney / Crowbar 22.02.26 AU – Adelaide / Lion Arts
LORD OF THE LOST are: Chris Harms – Vocals, Guitar Pi Stoffers – Guitar Benjamin “Benji” Mundigler – Guitar, Synths Klaas Helmecke – Bass Gerrit Heinemann – Piano, Synths, Percussion Niklas Kahl – Drums
U.S. Black ‘N Rollers, Valletta, recently signed to Lifeforce Records are set to release new EP, Bitter Lucid Truth, on October 24.
There’s a palpable sense of urgency in Bitter Lucid Truth.
Valletta’s second proper release embraces what guitarist and singer Keenan Carroll describes as “anger, repulsion and intolerance toward the current political landscape.” But for all its confrontational inspiration, it’s also one of the year’s most thrilling metal releases.
With Bitter Lucid Truth, the Raleigh, N.C. quartet of Carroll, drummer Justin Valletta, bassist Cody Rogers, and guitarist/backing vocalist Will Goodyear, churn negative emotions into forceful, dynamic and “just genuinely pissed-off” outbursts that are equally searing and soaring.
This should come as no surprise from the veteran troupe, whose collective resume spans a heavy spectrum from sludge to prog to black metal, in bands including Lord Almighty, Barishi, Mo’ynoq, Prayer for Cleansing, and Between the Buried And Me. And, indeed, Valletta’s 2024 debut,Summer (Forcefield Records), defined a compelling hybrid of anthemic melody and bitter vitriol. But while Summer slung big riffs and even bigger hooks, Bitter Lucid Truth wields them like weapons.
“Aggressor” and “Cold Death” fuses the melodic impulses that have drawn comparisons to Tribulation and Kvelertak with a harsher, more belligerent approach more akin to Tragedy’s bold and defiantly melodic neo-crust. This is perhaps most apparent in the EP’s closing salvo, “Spitting the Word,” which answers “Doing Well”‘s comparatively reflective tone with a vicious exclamation point. Of the song’s intent, Carroll says, “It’s time to speak your mind. No more thought paralysis.”
It’s fitting, then, that the EP was produced much more quickly than its predecessor. Where Summer evolved over a two-year gestation, Bitter Lucid Truth was written and recorded all in the first months of 2025. Recorded and mixed by Al Jacob (He Is Legend, Wailin Storms) at Warrior Sound Studioin Chapel Hill, N.C. — this time with production input from the band and TJ Childers of Inter Arma — and mastered by Matt Tuttle (Codeseven) at IAS Studios in Winston-Salem, NC, Valletta was able to capture the full and explosive sound the new songs’ dynamic volatility demands.
Managing to capture a boiling rage with a more dynamic and expansive approach to songwriting, Bitter Lucid Truth is a massive leap forward for the already ascendant band. Expect to see these vicious anthems take on a new life when Valletta brings them to the stage.
U.S. tours are planned for October of this year, surrounding the EP’s October release. In 2026, Valletta will accompany a European tour with a re-release of Summer also expected through Lifeforce Records.
Finnish female fronted symphonic progressive metal band Dominant Chain, formed in 2006, released their long-awaited debut EP ‘Wasteland Requiem’ on September 3rd 2025 via Inverse Records.
Wasteland Requiem -EP is Dominant Chain’s first official release. The EP consists of five tracks and is a thematic release. It explores the individual’s experiences within a post-apocalyptic and dystopian future society, a theme familiar from fantasy and sci-fi films and literature. The debut single, “Kissed By This Life,” embodies the EP’s central theme and message both musically and lyrically, showcasing the band’s musical style at its purest form.
The EP was produced by Dominant Chain, mixed by Toni Balk and mastered by Janne Tolsa.
-Vocal recordings & engineering: Esa Uusimaa -Vocal production & Backing Growls in ”Kissed by This Life”: Mika Kankainen -Mixing: Toni Balk -Mastering: Janne Tolsa -Cover art: Antti Raatikainen -Logo: Juha Tretjakov -Kissed by This Life & The Moment vocals recorded in White Leaf Studio, Oulu. -Tears Of The Tyrant & Dirt lead vocals and all backing vocals recorded in Lemmenhotelli, Helsinki.
Dominant Chain, hailing from Northern Finland, plays progressive symphonic metal. Their music is not only about complex time signatures and technical skills, but massive, catchy choruses too, along with influences from various other music styles.
The band was originally formed in 2006 in Sonkajärvi, Northern Savo. The musicians have seasoned backgrounds in the professional musicianship. The first single, “Kissed By This Life,” is released digitally on May 20th, 2025. Wasteland Requiem EP is released on September 3rd 2025 via Inverse Records.
Line-up: Bass: Tuomas Korkatti Drums: Toni Balk Guitars: Jarno Keränen Keyboards & orchestrations: Juho Keränen Lead & backing vocals: Marja Kettunen
Stereophobia are an Alternative Metal band from Lisbon, Portugal. The band features a massive guitar sound, thundering bass, and a percussive pound and burn that resonates like a war-drum. The band just premiered another new music video, entitled “The Freakshow” which was directed by Lou Loução. “The Freakshow” is the third music video from their new full-length album Choke On This which was just released on August 29, 2025 via Eclipse Records. The album was produced by Miguel Camilo and Stereophobia at MC Sound Studios.
“The Freakshow” is a rebel’s anthem, a march of the withered spirits of our corpses… as the lyrics state “We are the ones cutting tongues now. We are the freaks, the zombies, the monsters, the fiends, and we are coming on hard, promising that you will be swallowed by the faces, consumed piece by piece, and added like acid to the belly of the beast.” Watch “The Freakshow” music video by Stereophobia right now:
“I’ve had the music video in mind since I first conceived this song” says vocalist & guitarist Mike Rocha. “The sound and theme transport me to a circus environment, to an American Horror Story/Marilyn Manson/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory kind of thing, mixed with a sound composed of a powerful swing riff, and a strong message. This song reflects past experiences, times spent on the streets, sleeping in cars, garages, and friends’ houses, aimless, and living off consumption and improvising the resources of street life. It was in this environment with the street kids that we were called freaks, among other things. We felt discriminated against by society, marked by our differences and a certain contempt for not having a so-called normal life. These were difficult times, but they also brought a certain freedom.”
Choke on This, the hot new alternative metal album from Stereophobia, is more than a gut punch. It is a blast in the face that widens your eyes, buzzsaws your back, and rocks you right to the marrow. Hard rock at its finest, the rich guitar sound is a precious collection of aesthetic “schitzo-riffs,” each an exotic treasure dazzling in the dark and leading us to the caverns and haunts of our deepest repressions. The bass is a booming series of tactical nukes, and the power-drumming gets in your blood, enlarges your heart, and rattles your ribcage. The album isn’t subtle. Play the “f” out of it, and for “eff’n” God’s sake, play it loud! In terms of overall theme, this emotive and powerful record is about infection, a poisoned society we feed on like snakes in the crease, ingesting the swill spit out of our television sets, the lies bleeding through the pores of our social media, and the culture wars pitting us against each other like gladiators wearing masks and falling hard on our swords. Musically, Choke on This is innovative and fresh considering the variety of guitar sounds, the intricate drum work (especially the production and performance on the toms), the emotive vocals, and the powerful bass runs. This album was produced by Miguel Camilo, (M’vula, The Bateleurs), and Stereophobia at MC Sound Studios, and the album cover art was created by Tatiana Ferreira. Choke On This by Stereophobia was released on August 29th, 2025 via Eclipse Records.
Choke On This track listing 01. XFile #903YU 02. Maggots 03. Drown 04. Uncle Clarke’s (made me do it) 05. Don’t Belong 06. The Tourist 07. Everything’s Gone 08. Twisted Fuck 09. The Freak Show 10. Plastik Queen 11. Illusions 12. Drop Dead 13. Left in a Box 14. Sweet Agony (bonus track)
Stereophobia lineup Mike Rocha (guitars & vocals), Daniel Antunes (drums & backing vocals), Bruno Santos (bass guitar)
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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Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 