Toronto-based melodic death and groove metal band SELIAS return with a new chapter in their story, unveiling their new single and official video “Bastard.”
With “Bastard,” SELIAS confront the darker side of psychological trauma, channeling anger, despair and inner collapse into a relentless track about struggling to reclaim your identity from the damage left behind.
The song captures the feeling of being trapped beneath emotional weight, while its aggressive riffs, groove-driven rhythms and powerful vocals reflect the tension between breaking down and fighting back.
SELIAS is a Canadian melodic death and groove metal band founded in 2021. Combining crushing riffs, groove-driven rhythms, and powerful vocals, the band has developed a distinctive modern metal sound. Following their debut album HEADSHOT and 2025’s follow-up KILLKARMA, which reached 17th on the Metal Contraband radio charts, SELIAS returns with their highly anticipated third album, Nine Lives. The album pushes the band’s sound further, blending melody, atmosphere, and heaviness. Nine Lives introduces a heavier sound overall for the band, but staying true to the roots of the sound. Known for high-energy live performances, SELIAS has toured extensively across Canada and the United States over the past few years, building a growing international audience.
Saxony, Germany-based heavy doom outfit LȲKAA have signed with Octopus Rising, the (un)parallel label of Argonauta Records. The band celebrate the signing with the release of “Izome”, their first single and the first glimpse into their forthcoming debut album “Light Eater”.
Formed during the pandemic winter of 2022 inside an old Cold War bunker, LȲKAA emerged from isolation, tension and decay, turning the atmosphere of their surroundings into a dark and immersive form of heavy music.
The band’s sound sits somewhere between doom-laden heavy metal, dark melodicism and post-punk-infused melancholy, creating a dense and emotionally charged atmosphere without relying on occult aesthetics or theatrical imagery. Instead, LȲKAA focus on the darker side of human experience, delivering songs that feel equally haunting, heavy and deeply personal.
“Izome” is the first statement from LȲKAA’s new chapter with Octopus Rising, introducing a band whose music draws on the legacy of dark and melodic heavy metal while pushing it into a more atmospheric and contemporary territory.
Between 2023 and 2025, LȲKAA took their music to the stage across a series of intense live shows, including appearances alongside Messa and Zhaat, developing an immersive live presence that matches the darkness of their recordings.
With “Light Eater”, their fully produced debut album, now ready for release, LȲKAA join the Octopus Rising roster and open a new chapter for a band built on atmosphere, tension and uncompromising heavy music.
For fans of: Messa, DOOL, In Solitude, The Night Eternal, The Devil’s Blood, Jex Thoth, Sonja.
LȲKAA are: Elly Preussner – lead vocals Johannes Werner – guitars, keys, vocals Rasmus Korn – guitars Đenan Muratagić – bass Christoph Weilbach – drums
All drums on “Light Eater” were performed by Johannes Ivandic.
“Light Eater” will be released via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records. Further details coming soon.
MASON release their new album “Edge Of Destruction” on 25th September, out on Eonian Records. Marcus states: “Our third album, Edge of Destruction, has been the most fun and creative period we’ve experienced over the past year of writing and recording. The album’s title continues the post-apocalyptic story established by I Can’t Wait (2024) and Seconds to Impact (2025).
We recorded many demos and explored a lot of ideas, but this time we really wanted to expand our sound and push the limits of the creative process during the song-development stage. That included bringing in two tracks from keyboardist Peter Penhallow’s band Timmy/Eye – ‘Here I Am’ and ‘Eye for an Eye’ (Bonus Track) – as well as John McAfee’s ‘This Thing Called Love.’ These songs have become some of the most important tracks on the album and complement our sound and musical style extremely well. So many amazing and legendary musicians have rejoined the project from our previous two albums, including John McAfee (The Affair, Big Game), Rick Mead (Syre, Helix, Platinum Overdose), Nilver Perez (The Revlin Project), and Sooraj K (Snarm). For this album, we were also incredibly fortunate to collaborate with legendary vocalist and songwriter Steve Overland (FM, Lonerider, Wildlife, Kings of Mercia), who contributed backing vocals to ‘This Thing Called Love.’
Bryan Hughes is another legendary AOR musician (Beau Geste, Bryan Hughes Group, Devay) who helped produce and performed guitar, bass, and keyboards on ‘Tomorrow Never Comes.’ In addition, we brought in Jeff Pilson (Dokken, War & Peace, Foreigner) to play bass on ‘Here I Am,’ adding even more punch and energy to the album’s opening track. Lukky S (Timson AOR), Aki Bouzid, Mike Bozzo, Gino Braun (Rotten Rose), Dylan Haines (Bryan Hughes Group), Eric Castiglia, and many others were also amazing guests who contributed additional guitars, solos, bass lines, and backing vocals throughout the album. Having so many talented musicians contribute to Edge of Destruction made the record even more special.”
Some artists spend years chasing the sound of their youth. Marcus Mason has spent a lifetime figuring out how to push it forward. Born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, in 1988, Marcus Mason came of age at a time when the musical landscape was moving rapidly away from the sounds that fascinated him most. While rap, hip-hop, punk, and post-grunge dominated much of the late ’90s and early 2000s, Mason found himself looking backward: to the melodic hard rock, arena-sized choruses and polished AOR of the late ’70s, ’80s and early ’90s. It was not nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake. It was instinct.
Mason’s breakthrough came in 2024 with the release of his debut album, “I Can’t Wait”, through Lions Pride Music. The record introduced a songwriter with an unapologetic affection for classic AOR but enough personality to make the formula his own. Songs including “One Life,” “I Can’t Wait” and “My Desire” emerged as standouts, while the album drew enthusiastic reviews from outlets including Fireworks Magazine, ViriAOR and Rockposer. In Germany, Rock It! reviewer Jörg Bonszkowski ranked “I Can’t Wait” among his Top 10 albums of 2024, placing it at No. 6. For Mason, the debut established the blueprint. The next album would expand it.
In 2025, Mason signed with Eonian Records for sophomore release “Seconds to Impact”, a record that marked a noticeable leap in songwriting, performance, and production. Led by the July 2025 single “All I Ever Wanted,” and followed by “Hard to Tame” and “Waiting for You,” the album broadened Mason’s profile within the international melodic rock and AOR community. “Seconds to Impact” balanced the unmistakable DNA of classic AOR with a more contemporary edge: smooth, melodic hard rock built around muscular guitars, polished keyboards, memorable choruses, and Mason’s clear, melodic vocals.
Now comes the record designed to push Mason further still. Mason’s third album, “Edge Of Destruction” is not about abandoning what worked. It is about making everything bigger. Across eleven songs and an instrumental, Mason moves confidently between hard-driving melodic rock, mid-tempo AOR and sweeping ballads, with a renewed emphasis on songwriting, arrangements, and production. The hooks remain immediate, but the scope has widened. The guitars are still big. The keyboards still shimmer. The choruses still arrive with the intention of staying in your head long after the record stops spinning.
But by Edge of Destruction, Mason no longer sounds like an artist searching for his identity. He sounds like one who has found it.
Finnish alternative metal band Stråle are thrilled to share the new single and accompanying official video, “Out Of The Loop”, available now via Frontiers Music Srl.
The song marks the beginning of a new era for the band, while staying true to the Stråle trademark: heavy riffs, beautiful melodies and a distinctly melancholic atmosphere.
Guitarist Andi Lehtinen said: “We wanted “Out Of The Loop” to really show what Stråle is all about – the contrast between energetic, crowd-jumping riffs and that dark Scandinavian atmosphere. The song grew out of a frustration with the world we have created – a world where everyone is expected to be extraordinary, and where, in the process, we have stopped seeing ordinary people at all.”
“I think it ultimately comes down to where we choose to put the spotlight as a society. So many people are falling behind and ending up out of the loop”, added Daniel Jakobsson. “Can we change that direction, or are we doomed to stay stuck in this loop of constant comparison?”
Hailing from Helsinki, Finland, Stråle deliver a modern blend of melodic metal and alternative rock – combining heavy riffs, soaring guitar melodies and a versatile, vocal-driven sound that moves between clean, raw and emotionally charged expression. Built on strong hooks and a clear melodic identity, their sound bridges weight and accessibility without losing intensity.
Rooted in Nordic melancholy yet driven by a sense of forward motion, Stråle focus on contrast – darkness and light, tension and release. Their music doesn’t dwell in despair but reaches for something beyond it.
From the outset, the band set their ambitions high: no compromises. This mindset led them to collaborate with some of the most respected names in modern metal. Their debut album “Bourbon Souls” (2020), mixed by Jens Bogren – known for his work with Opeth and Arch Enemy – marked the first step, before a period of setbacks including cancelled tours and a key lineup change.
Rather than slowing down, the band regrouped. With the addition of vocalist Daniel Jakobsson, Stråle entered a new phase. Working with producer Teemu Aalto (Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum) and mixer Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Amaranthe), the band refined their sound and released a new wave of material later compiled into the digital EP “Reformation”. The release marked a clear step forward and led to a European tour alongside Orphaned Land.
Lyrically, Stråle explore themes of survival, relationships and navigating a demanding world – always with an underlying sense of resilience and hope.
Stråle are now building momentum towards their next chapter. With new material on the horizon and a growing presence on the European scene, the band continue to push forward – driven by the same ambition that has defined them from the beginning.
Line Up: András Lehtinen Daniel Jakobsson Rasmus Bruun Sakari Komulainen Janne Jääskeläinen Jaakko Suomalainen
Finnish hardcore legends Äpärät have returned to the release circuit with their new EP, Kun maailma palaa (As the World Burns). Still delivering uncompromising, old-school ’80s hardcore, the band has been enjoying one of the strongest periods of its career in recent years. Their new EP is another example of this, ranking among the finest releases in Äpärät’s catalogue and carrying even more furious energy than the band’s early recordings.
Founded in 1981, Äpärät will celebrate 45 years as a band next year. Over the past decade, they have also toured extensively outside Finland. In addition to several tours of Central Europe, the band has performed in Mexico, the British Isles and the Nordic countries, among others. Early next year, the band will once again head to the UK.
Breaking a six-year recording hiatus, the Kun maailma palaa EP features five tracks. The first three — “Kun maailma palaa”, “N.Y.T.” and “Harhaa” — are new material, while the final two, “Vittuvanhemmat” and “Viina”, are among the very first songs ever written by the band. The newly re-recorded tracks were originally released on Propaganda Records’Hardcore ’83 compilation. Now in his sixties, vocalist Ipe delivers the songs he wrote at the age of 15 with even more ferocity than he did as a teenager.
The Kun maailma palaa EP will also be released as a 10-inch vinyl record. It will be available at gigs and later through record stores.
Äpärät’s debut release was the Häiriköt tulee EP, released in 1986. It took until 2017 for their debut album, Häiriköt tulee II, to see the light of day.
The Kun maailma palaa EP is dedicated to Äpärät’s original, late guitarist Saikki, who was also known as the bassist of Fishfaces, a band formed by Claude following the breakup of Smack.
Europe return with another striking glimpse of their forthcoming studio album Come This Madness, unveiling the anthemic new single ‘Scandinavian Eyes’, which arrives with a melody that gets under your skin almost immediately. Come This Madness is set for release on September 25th via Silver Lining Music. Pre-orders are available now, here.
Built around a driving riff, an unmistakable chorus, soaring vocal lines and arrangements, ‘Scandinavian Eyes’ is the kind of song that feels like a symphony built for the stage. There is an expansive quality to the track, with Europe combining the power and immediacy of rock with the depth of orchestral music.
“This driving riff, orchestral magic, vocal and guitar melodies make this one of my favourite Europe songs in a long time! says Europe’s founding member and frontman Joey Tempest. “A lyric about crossing the line between good and ‘not so good’…. We’re very proud of this track and can’t wait to perform it live!”
The accompanying performance video, directed by Patric Ullaeus, captures Europe firing on all cylinders and showcasing the full force of their live presence. It puts their chemistry, musicianship and sheer energy front and centre, allowing the intensity of ‘Scandinavian Eyes’ to speak for itself.
Europe’s new studio album Come This Madness signals a powerful new chapter for one of rock’s most enduring acts. Across songs like ‘One on One’, ‘The Cult of Ignorance’, and the title track ‘Come This Madness’, the band channel tension, truth, and raw energy into a record that feels both deeply personal and globally resonant.
Watch and listen to Europe’s recently released and celebrated singles ‘The Cult of Ignorance’ and ‘One on One’, here. Videos directed by Patric Ullaeus.
Come This Madness was recorded at RMV Studio, the Stockholm-based recording facility founded by Benny Andersson and Ludvig Andersson. The album features special guests Tobias Forge (Ghost) and Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) on backing vocals and was produced by acclaimed producer Tom Dalgety (Ghost, Rammstein, Pixies, The Cult, Opeth), who became a true creative force throughout the process, deeply embedded in the band’s writing and recording, shaping the album’s sound from the ground up. To bring the project to its final stage and complete their vision, the band turned to one of rock’s most respected recording legends Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Van Halen, Metallica, The Cult, Loverboy) to mix the record.
With Come This Madness, Europe deliver a landmark record that finds them fully realised and present, confronting the realities of the modern world with conviction and creativity. Building on the momentum surrounding the album’s release, the band will also embark on an extensive tour to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Final Countdown. Kicking off in Glasgow on September 30th, The Final Countdown 40th Anniversary Tour promises to unite the legacy that defined them with the renewed energy, driving them forward today.
Fans are urged to book quickly to avoid disappointment, as many dates are already sold out and only a very limited number of tickets remain for some other shows. For a full list of dates and ticket information, please visit: www.europetheband.com
2026 Dates:
30 Sep – SEC Armadillo, Glasgow (GB)* 2 Oct – Civic Hall, Wolverhampton (GB)* – SOLD OUT 3 Oct – Eventim Apollo Hammersmith, London (GB)* – VERY LOW TICKETS 5 Oct – Musis Arnhem, Arnhem (NL)* – SOLD OUT 6 Oct – Olympia, Paris (FR)* – SOLD OUT 8 Oct – Poble Espanyol, Barcelona (ES)* 9 Oct – Bilbao Arena Mirabilla, Bilbao (ES)* 10 Oct – La Cubierta, Madrid (ES)* – VERY LOW TICKETS 12 Oct – Salle Métropole, Lausanne (CH)* 13 Oct – Volkshaus, Zürich (CH)* 14 Oct – Alcatraz, Milan (IT)* 16 Oct – Liederhalle, Stuttgart (DE)* – SOLD OUT 17 Oct – Gasometer, Wien (AT)* – SOLD OUT 19 Oct – Admiralspalast Theater, Berlin (DE)* – SOLD OUT 20 Oct – COS Torwar, Warszawa (PL)* 22 Oct – Falkoner, Frederiksberg (DK)* – VERY LOW TICKETS 23 Oct – Film Studios, Gothenburg (SE)* – SOLD OUT 24 Oct – B-K, Stockholm (SE)* – SOLD OUT 26 Oct – Sentrum Scene, Oslo (NO)* – SOLD OUT 15 Nov – Malta Metal Weekend, St. Julians (MT)* 21 Nov – Ostravar Aréna, Ostrava (CZ)* 25 Nov – Aalto Hall @ House of Culture, Helsinki (FI)* 27 Nov – John Smith Rock Frozen Paviljonki, Jyväskylä (FI)* 28 Nov – Unholy Winter Festival Joensuu Areena, Joensuu (FI)*
2027 Dates:
13 Jan – NHK Hall, Tokyo (JP)* 14 Jan – Shi Kokaido, Nagoya (JP)* 15 Jan – Grand Cube, Osaka (JP)*
*The Final Countdown 40th Anniversary Tour
Come This Madness album artwork by Storm Studios (Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, and Muse).
Come This Madness track listing:
One on One
The Cult of Ignorance
Come This Madness
This Time of Year
In a Different World
Scandinavian Eyes
Takin’ It Back
In the Absence of Grace
The Angels Must Have Flown
The Devil’s Back
Nothing Can Follow This
Come This Madness will be available on vinyl, CD and digital formats. Pre-orders can be placed here
EUROPE are: Joey Tempest – Lead Vocals John Norum – Guitars John Levén – Bass Mic Michaeli – Keyboards Ian Haugland – Drums
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
