Just before the release of their new epic, Knightclub, FEUERSCHWANZ are headed to Middle-earth, with their new single, “Sam The Brave”. The track pays tribute to a silent hero: Samwise Gamgee, the loyal companion of ring bearer Frodo Baggins. Always in the shadow of J. R. R. Tolkien’s protagonist, FEUERSCHWANZ puts Sam in the spotlight, as an equally important piece of the puzzle on the journey of destroying the One Ring at Mount Doom. FEUERSCHWANZ envelopes the great story of the small hero in their usual gripping folk metal sound, carried by violins and flutes, fit for any Shire tavern.
FEUERSCHWANZ have undergone an impressive transformation in recent years, with 20 years as a band and two #1 albums on the official German album charts, they have reached triumphant highs, and are steadily climbing even higher. Through their participation in the German preliminary round of the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, the band managed to attract an audience of millions and media attention far beyond the borders of the genre.
FEUERSCHWANZ on „Sam The Brave“: “With ‘Sam The Brave’ we pay tribute to the true hero of Lord of the Rings – not the mighty warrior, but the loyal friend who carries the light when all hope seems lost. This song is our monument to loyalty, courage, and the power of friendship.”
With Knightclub, FEUERSCHWANZ release their first studio album with an English title – and for the first time, several tracks feature English lyrics. Knightclub is characterized by catchy hits, absolute party mood, great anthems and hard metal riffs. Once again, the band manages to incorporate their unmistakable humor into songs bursting with energy.
The title track became a fan favorite during the Eurovision Song Contest pre-selection, firing up audiences across Germany. The album version features Dag-Alexis Kopplin of SDP on guest vocals. Tracks like “Valhalla” and “Avalon” show a more epic, serious side of the band – with “Valhalla” featuring heavy metal legend Doro Pesch. The fantasy-inspired “The Tale of Sam The Brave” pays homage to Middle-earth, while “Name der Rose” draws from a literary classic. Previously released “Lords of Fyre” (feat. LORD OF THE LOST) sets the tone for their upcoming co-headline tour.
Produced by Simon Michael (SUBWAY TO SALLY) and mastered by Jacob Hansen (EVERGREY, Arch Enemy, Volbeat), Knightclub features artwork by Peter Sallai (POWERWOLF, Sabaton, Saxon, Hammerfall).
FEUERSCHWANZ about the album: “Knightclub – for us, it’s a consistent continuation of our previous albums, taken to the next level both thematically and musically! Expect something truly epic, wild, and downright crazy! This album has something for everyone: fans of grand fantasy, heroic tales, and all-out partying, as well as lovers of massive guitar riffs and lively folk instruments. Become part of the Knightclub and join us on this next step of our unparalleled journey!”
Order Your Copy Of KnightclubHERE – Several Formats Are Already Sold Out!
Knightclub tracklisting:
1. Knightclub (feat. Dag/SDP) 2. Valhalla (feat. Doro Pesch) 3. Gangnam Style 4. Name der Rose 5. Testament 6. The Tale of Sam 7. Sam The Brave 8. Drunken Dragon 9. Eisenfaust 10. Avalon 11.Tanz der Teufel 12. Lords of Fyre (feat. Lord Of The Lost)
FEUERSCHWANZ Live 2025
LORDS OF FYRE CO-HEADLINE TOUR LORD OF THE LOST & FEUERSCHWANZ with 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
Festivals 2025: 23.08.25 DE – Schleswig / Baltic Open Air 04.09.25 DE – Loreley / 30 Jahre In Extremo 06.09.25 DE – Luhmühlen / MPS Luhmühlen
FEUERSCHWANZ are: Johanna – violin, hurdy-gurdy Hauptmann – vocals, guitar Ben – flutes, bagpipes, guitars, vocals Hans – guitar Jarne – bass Rollo – drums Yennefer – dance & performance Hela – dance & performance
Filthy. Hard. Grungy Punk N Roll. Golden Robot Records’ loudest Canadian export, The Bloodshots, return swinging with their brand-new single, ‘Every Time I Die,’ out August 29 on all major platforms and available to pre-save now. This blistering track drips with raw energy, built on fast, slashing guitars and a relentless rhythm section that demands your attention.
‘Every Time I Die’ introduces the band’s newest member, Killah Kate Childs on bass, whose thunderous low-end punch gives the track a renewed ferocity. True to form, The Bloodshots keep their foot on the gas, blending anthem-ready choruses with undeniable punk swagger. The track is a riotous reminder that real, sweat-soaked, crowd-shaking rock ‘n’ roll is far from dead. It’s a shot of adrenaline straight to the chest – tailor-made for mosh pits, dive bars, and denim cut-off vests.
The Bloodshots continue to build on the momentum of their previous releases with this no-holds-barred banger. ‘Every Time I Die’ is a call to arms for the disenchanted, the rowdy, and the loud. See you in the pit.
From leaving their mark on hometown stages in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to dominating some of North America’s largest venues, The Bloodshots have spent the last decade perfecting their unique “Grunge Punk ’n’ Roll” sound.
The Bloodshots are unstoppable. Since signing with Golden Robot Records, their fan base, followers and stream numbers have exploded globally, with listeners from Toronto to Los Angeles, and as far as the UK, Japan, and Australia. They’ve rocked stages across Canada and even legendary spots like Hollywood’s Whisky A-Go-Go.
Sharing the stage with rock legends such as Slash, Econoline Crush, Sebastian Bach, Buckcherry, Steel Panther, Danko Jones, and The Headstones, The Bloodshots bring unmatched energy, passion and electrifying performances. Their accolades speak volumes: nominees for “Best Rock Band” at the 2017 Indigenous Music Awards, winners of “Best Rock Video” at the 2021–22 Indigenous Superstar Awards, and “Best Rock Video” at the National Native American Music Awards in the U.S. for their single “No Way Out” in 2022.
The Bloodshots are: CJ Loane Keith Skazyk Kailyn Childs Ben Hodges
After almost a decade of soul searching through the Canadian wilderness, Anciients are finally returning to the U.S. Starting next week, the heavy, heady and heartfelt Canucks will guide neighboring metal legions through the many peaks of their latest JUNO Award-winning album Beyond the Reach of the Sun. During this month-long trek, the band will blaze across both coasts and the Southwest with special stops down south around ProgPower USA.
“It’s been a long time coming”, frontman Kenny Cook says, “We look forward to seeing our American fans out on the road!”
As they prepare to hit the road hard, today, Anciients are releasing a new video for the one track off Beyond the Reach of the Sun that really tested their mettle. “Is It Your God” questions the existence of a higher power with grungy grooves and faith-shaking death growls. But its heavenly fusion of soulful leads, cosmic keys and mind-blowing riffs prove why this band are guiding lights for progressive metal.
“This song asks how someone can believe in a higher power when given a life full of despair and anguish”, Cook says. “Do you continue to restrict your happiness while living this life, in hopes of joy for eternity? Or do you question whether it’s all for nothing?”
Quest Beyond Our Minds 2025 U.S. Tour with Dawn of Ouroboros, Armed for Apocalypse, Nott and Exist
August 27 – Seattle, WA @ Substation [TICKETS]* August 28 – Portland, OR @ Dante’s [TICKETS]* August 29 – Boise, ID @ The Shredder [TICKETS]** August 30 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Aces High Saloon [TICKETS]** August 31 – Colorado Springs, CO @ What’s Left Records [TICKETS]** September 2 – Oklahoma City, OK @ 89th Street [TICKETS]** September 4 – Atlanta, GA @ ProgPower USA [TICKETS] September 5 – Gastonia, NC @ The Rooster [TICKETS]*** September 6 – New Orleans, LA @ No Dice [TICKETS]*** September 7 – Austin, TX @ Come And Take It [TICKETS]*** September 8 – Houston, TX @ Pub 529 [TICKETS]**** September 9 – Dallas, TX @ TX Tea Room [TICKETS]**** September 11 – Phoenix, AZ @ Nile Underground [TICKETS]***** September 12 – San Diego, CA @ Brick By Brick [TICKETS]***** September 13 – Los Angeles, CA @ Knucklehead [TICKETS]***** September 14 – San Francisco, CA @ Thee Parkside [TICKETS]***** September 16 – Sacramento, CA @ Cafe Colonel [TICKETS]***** September 17 – Reno, NV @ The Cellar***** September 18 – Eugene, OR @ John Henry’s [TICKETS]****** September 19 – Richland, WA @ Ray’s Golden Lion [TICKETS]****** September 20 – Bellingham, WA,@ The Shakedown [TICKETS]******
* w/ Dawn of Ouroboros + Nott ** w/ Dawn of Ouroboros *** w/ Dawn of Ouroboros + Exist **** w/ Armed for Apocalypse + Exist ***** w/ Armed for Apocalyspe ****** w/ Armed for Apocalyspe + Nott
Tracklist 1. Forbidden Sanctuary (8:16) 2. Despoiled (5:19) 3. Is It Your God (7:07) [WATCH] 4. Melt the Crown (7:08) [WATCH] 5. Cloak of the Vast and Black (6:20) [WATCH] 6. Celestial Tyrant (5:52) 7.Beyond Our Minds (4:12) 8. The Torch (4:13) 9. Candescence (4:10) 10. In the Absence of Wisdom (6:35) [WATCH]
It’s been a rough handful of years for British Columbia-based extremity-laced progressive rockers, Anciients. When the quartet unleashed their Voice of the Void album in 2016, the world appeared to be their oyster and things seemed ripe for the picking. They were coming off the success of their Heart of Oak debut from 2013, its ascendancy due in large part to a collective uptick in interest for involved, forward-thinking music. The public had moved beyond toe-dipping and tire-kicking, and were instead doing headfirst dives into exploring the likes of Opeth, Mastodon, Baroness, The Ocean, Intronaut and others who originally hailed from the extreme music underground, but had since grown, matured and scrubbed behind their ears to include heaping and healthy chunks from the outskirts of their record collections and influence pools.
The Band That Auto-Correct Loves to Fuck With™ shared stages with everyone from High on Fire and Goatwhore to Boris and Lamb of God, were in the midst of a European tour when they discovered they were JUNO Award (Canadian Grammy equivalent) winners in the heavy metal/hard rock category. The world was ready to accept Anciients into its welcoming arms. Anciients was gearing up to employ takeover methods, specifically their brand of thunderous rhythms and labyrinthine riffing bolstered by a road warrior mentality. And then, the momentum petered out and the band seemingly fell off the face of the earth.
Today, Anciients are ready and poised to resume their spirited quest for heavy metal paramountcy. There’s no doubt the band is back and with a stunning and beautiful collection of ten songs on offer in the form of new and third album, Beyond the Reach of the Sun, they are positioning to reestablish themselves as a dominant force for those who love windmilling their tresses around thoughtful tempo changes, complex harmonic layers and driving power chord shifting. But what the hell happened and where did they disappear to?
“Basically,” explains guitarist/vocalist Kenny Cook, “right before Voice of the Void was recorded, my wife had our first kid. She ended up having heart complications and almost passed away from it. We recorded the last record and once it came out, I was kind of just focusing on her, dealing with her health issues and keeping that in check. I wasn’t at the stage where I could be gone for half a year, especially with a new kid. Long story short, she’s happy and healthy now, but dealing with family issues was the main priority. It was a bit of a road.”
Adding to that bit of Anciients camp turmoil, guitarist/co-vocalist/co-founding member, Chris Dyck and the band parted ways in January of 2017. This left a gaping lineup hole at an inopportune juncture in the band’s timeline. Not only did Cook have to deal with the absence of his long-term song and lyric writing partner, but Dyck was also someone he had been splitting vocal duties with since the pair formed the band in 2009. And then, while helping his wife with her recovery, raising their new born and “because we wanted to raise our son in a small town environment,” the Cook family uprooted to Columbia-Shuswap four hours east of the Vancouver area, where drummer Mike Hannay, Brock MacInnes (Dyck’s replacement) and brand spanking new bassist Rory O’Brien still reside.
“We knew Brock from other bands he’d been in and we knew he’d be a great fit,” explains Cook. “He actually filled in for Chris on a tour we did back in 2015. As far as the vocals, I just found myself picking up the slack on both ends. It felt somewhat natural, it was definitely different. Doing the lyrics myself for the first time was somewhat daunting, but it was also something done out of necessity. But even when Chris was in the band I handled 80-90% of the vocals anyway, so it didn’t change all that much.”
Then, that whole COVID-19 thing you probably heard about once or twice hit in 2020 and put another restraining bolt on Anciients’ activity, especially touring as the Canadians found themselves dealing with stricter travel restrictions and mandates than many other countries; most notably, not being able to cross the border for almost two years. Once the dust settled, Cook had to adjust to being the lone vocalist and how that impacted the material he was writing while navigating being creative with distance between Anciients’ members for the first time. Not a biggie, as in-person writing sessions are more of a rarity these days, but because of the time elapsed since Voices of the Void, things/interests/influences changed and the band ended up scrapping half of an album’s worth of material and starting fresh. When they put their heads down at the end of 2021 with the focus being Beyond the Reach of the Sun, what was revealed a year later was more streamlined and slithery, more chest-thumpingly direct, more epic and triumphant sounding. Riffs come in explosive layered packets. Leads, harmonies and melodies are more on par with wind-tussled mountain tops instead of sweaty bar shows and the band moves with finely honed, martial accuracy as conducted by Hannay’s rocket-in-the-pocket staccato swing and accents.
Songs like “The Torch” blaze with the shirtless glisten of ‘70s stadium rock power. “Cloak of the Vast and Black” swirls and whirls with a combination of hardcore intensity, grunge groove and expansive six-string parries. “In the Absence of Wisdom” is a hurricane-sized maelstrom of classic and prog rock elevated to grandiosity by a return to their growling sludge/death early years as the song/album concludes. The album’s first single, “Melt the Crown” mixes cues from legendary fellow hosers Rush and Harlequin, turn-of-the-millennium post-metal and the most psychedelic corners of the Rise Above Records roster.
“The new record has a lot more of our rock side,” Cook offers, “and leans towards those elements of our sound and personalities, whereas Voice of the Void was pretty crushing all the way through. With the new material we’ve tried to add more dynamics to the music and give the songs more room to breathe.”
Album opener “Forbidden Sanctuary” is the soundtrack to exploration, of new worlds and sonic arrangement as sine-wave guitars pull from vintage Mercyful Fate covens and Krautrock communes with synths opening up novel textural avenues, as they do on the ethereal wispiness and space rock/sci-fi soundscapes of the instrumental “Candescence.” Beyond the Reach of the Sun sees synths and keyboards making their first appearance on an Anciients record and were played by producer/mixer Jesse Gander and Justin Hagberg at the former’s Rain City Recorders studio. In addition to augmenting the album with his skill on the black and whites, Hagberg — a member of the recently reunited 3 Inches of Blood — also helped Anciients navigate a significant last-minute hurdle, one that threatened to pull the reins back on their comeback roar.
“We lost our bass player literally a month before we were going in to record and were kind of up shit’s creek. Justin also plays in a band called Ritual Dictates with Rory and is the one who brought his name up.”
O’Brien, a former member of Vancouver’s Bushwhacker, was absolutely interested when approached by Anciients.
“We got lucky and he saved our asses at the last minute.”
Cook stepped up to the challenge of being the sole lyricist to drape Beyond the Reach of the Sun in deeply personal expressions of the inner turmoil, fear and isolation he’d experienced in himself and saw in others over the past few years. There were moments where he didn’t know whether loved ones were going to pull through and what life was going to look like were tragedy come to pass. Mental health and people living life without being able to see any light at the end of the tunnel became a very prevalent theme to tracks like “Despoiled” and “Beyond Our Minds.” And while the line that became the album’s title is taken from a David Attenborough-narrated Planet Earth documentary, it speaks more to the coming and going of despondency when one doesn’t know how dark the darkness is going to get, as in “Is It Your God,” which pulls from the manifestation of grief and how it can shatter belief systems.
“That one is a little more personal to me and my situation,” Cook says somberly. “I had a good friend of mine from when I was younger pass away from cancer. His mother was super-religious and there were ideas taken from her questioning how could something like that happen to her when she had such a strong faith.”
The title and themes of stripped away hope and piled on anguish and tumult were parlayed into the album’s spectacular cover art. Created by Adam Burke (Nightjar Illustrations), the drawing is part-pulp novel cover, part-Franzetta landscape, part-sci-fi movie poster and all a vast illustration one can easily lose themselves in while the record spins in the background.
“We gave him the concept and basic outline of how we wanted the cover to look and he took it to a whole new dimension. It turned out pretty wild!”
With all being said and done, Anciients have returned! They stand ready to ascend the prog metal ladder and get back to doing what they do best with a weighty and dense, but wholly accessible, album. It’s a collection of ten songs that possesses the ability to have those furiously banging heads also tapping into their power of self-reflection and contemplation to ponder the finality of existence, the value of life and their place in the universe.
“Totally! We’re going to take as many of the opportunities that come to us. The hiatus is over and I think with the new members and everyone being on the same page we’re ready to get out there as soon as possible. We missed out on a huge block after the last record, so we’ve got to make up for lost time. Now that everyone is happy and healthy, we plan to hit it hard.”
Melodic death/doom/dark metal outfit PSILOCYBE LARVAE released their brand-new EP called “Новый Дивный Мир (Brave New World)” on August 15th.
The band shared: “This is an unusual and experimental work for us. The EP includes two brand new songs in Russian – a historic first for the band – alongside a re-recorded version of the track Hostile Emptiness from our 2003 album, “Agony”.”
Mixed and mastered by Igor Butz at Pentagram House Studio in 2025.
The fast-rising Swiss nu-metal / metalcore band, Chaoseum, will soon be offering up their sixth release overall, ‘Life 4 Sale.’ Released on September 19, the ten-track LP shows the band further focusing and perfecting the sound laid down on such earlier albums as 2022’s ‘The Third Eye’ and 2020’s ‘Second Life.’
Comprised of members CK Smile – vocals, Loïc Duruz – guitars, bass, Valery Veings – guitars, and Greg Turini – drums, Chaoseum originally formed 2018 in Lausanne (Switzerland), and have created a buzz by sharing the stage with such renowned/respected metal acts as Soulfly, Tarja, Eluveitie, Five Finger Death Punch, Metallica and Sabaton.
And their latest album features some of the group’s most revealing lyrics yet. Case in point, “Freakin’ Head,” which Smile recalls, “was written at a time when I was fed up with explaining, or even justifying, my depressive state.” Additionally, the title track, which, “is about my religious past.” And also, “The Failure,” which is “about abandonment, about the extreme confusion it causes when a child is too young to understand what’s happening to them.”
Presale for the album will begin in early September at: chaoseumstore.com
And two songs have already been issued as videos:
Chaoseum’s first album ‘First Step To Hell’ contained 11 songs and was released in September of 2018. In February 2019, Chaoseum joined Soulfly for a US tour. Upon their return, a limited-edition live album was recorded at a band’s concert with Eluveitie. It was released under the name ‘Live In Hell – Les Docks Lausanne 2019.’ In September of 2019, the band joined Tarja (ex-Nightwish) for a tour in Russia: ‘Raw Russian Tour 2019.’
Representing the Xvive wireless gear brand, Chaoseum went to Los Angeles to perform at the NAMM “the largest music trade show.” There, the band also took the opportunity to play at the legendary Whisky a Go Go.
On September 25, 2020, Chaoseum released its 2nd studio album ‘Second Life,’ with the standout track, “Smile Again,” reaching over 13 million views on YouTube.
In June 2021, during COVID-19, the band worked on an acoustic album, ‘Second Skin,’ as well as on two music videos which achieved great success.
In June 2022, Chaoseum performed at the ‘Out in the Green’ festival in Frauenfeld (CH) together with Eluveitie, Five Finger Death Punch, Sabaton and Metallica. A few months after, in September, the band flew to the US headlining the “Arctic Chaos Tour”, and their fourth studio album ‘The Third Eye’ was released in November 2022.
Their third studio album ‘The Third Eye’ was released in November 2022.
In February 2024, the group welcomed Kevin Sink on guitar and Finn Broker on bass to complete the core lineup consisting of CK Smile on vocals, Valery Veings on guitar, and Greg Turini on drums. This lineup quickly performed on stage during the “The Eye On Tour” in May 2024.
In September 2024, Chaoseum joined, once again, Tarja Turunen and for the first time Marko Hietala for the “Living The Dream Together” tour!
And on September 19, 2025, the next chapter of Chaoseum will be unveiled, with the arrival of ‘Life 4 Sale.’
‘LIFE 4 SALE’ TRACKLISTING:
1. Life 4 Sale 2. Freakin’ Head 3. The Failure 4. 2 Minutes Only 5. Stay Away 6. Price of Reality 7. The Time That We Burned 8. A.I.n t Human 9. For You 10. Smile Again (orchestral version)
With ‘Aftermath’, North Rhine-Westphalia based guitarist, singer and songwriter Juliane Ehl releases the new music video for her project JULIEL for the song “Aftermath” from the 2024 album ‘The Time Of The Ashes’.
Guitarist and singer Juliel Ehl reveals: “The official music video for ‘Aftermath‘ impressively visualises the start of my album ‘The Time Of The Ashes‘: a meteorite strikes the Earth and destroys the world as we know it. Fire rages across the land, turning it into a desert of ashes. We chose an abandoned railway tunnel as the location because it’s easy to imagine that it could serve as a refuge for survivors of the catastrophe. This allows the real-life footage to blend seamlessly with the clips of the catastrophe.”
🎥 🎬 ⚙️ Composition & production: Juliel
TRACKS: Impact [2:50] 📺 Aftermath [6:28] Desperation [7:54] Land Of Light [4:54] The Time Of The Ashes [10:34] Strong [3:16] Sunflowers [3:54] Shadows [5:17] Phoenix [8:10] The Winds Of The East [3:26]
total: 56:50 min.
LINE-UP: Juliane Ehl • Vocals, all guitars, bass guitar, keyboards & orchestra samples Fabian Dost • Violin and Viola Choir • Zwischentöne Valentin Mayr • Drums
On “The Time Of The Ashes“, Juliel tells the dramatic story of a bleak future full of destruction, grief, hope and renewal: it begins when a meteorite hits the Earth, devastating the world as we know it and triggering a nuclear winter. The Earth is transformed into an ash-covered wasteland, the sky darkens and survival seems impossible. With her expressive voice, Juliel cloaks the despair and loss of human life in an emotional, musical garb. Sometimes with a powerful, aggressive sound, sometimes with a soft, delicate guitar sound, she begins her journey to the promising “Land Of Light”, that redeeming place that makes all the suffering of this world forgotten. We are with her as she leaves the darkness behind and discovers the strength to free herself from the shadow of her fear and rise like a phoenix.
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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