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NERVE STAR to Release New Single ‘Black Ice (A side)’ / ‘The Harder The Better (B side)’ on 16th January

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 8, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: NERVE STAR. Leave a comment

NERVE STAR releases new single Black Ice (A side) / The Harder The Better (B side), out 16th January, new album ‘White Hot’ set for release 27th February 2026. 

Black Ice – “A 100 mph cover of Aragorn’s NWOBHM classic with super fast riffs and solos.”
The Harder The Better – “Raunchy Texas style riffage, lots of wah wah and great groove from start to finish.”

Check out the teaser here:

NERVE STAR are a hard rock/heavy metal band which took form in 2021, playing a blend of 70’s hard rock, 80’s heavy metal, NWOBHM and some punk thrown in the mix, with unrelenting riffs, big drums, thumping bass and loud guitars. 

Throughout the year, the line up began to solidify with Joss Thorley from Manchester on Bass and Chris Billinghurst from Maidenhead on Lead Guitar and they settled on a band name ‘Nerve Star’. It wasn’t possible to rehearse together so some cool tracks were selected and sent out, with initially ten songs home demoed. 

After a couple of changes as they sought to find the ideal line up, in 2023 they brought in a great singer from the South of England, Matt Oakman, and things instantly moved into another league. With Matt on board, they searched around for a second reliable and gifted rock/metal guitarist and drummer, contacting Janne Stark, who loved all the tracks. He had done it all as both a producer and guitarist in Metal, Prog and NWOBHM bands since the 1980’s and recorded and produced his own albums and was a perfect partner for Chris on guitar, they now had their own version of the dual leads of Thin Lizzy.

With all Janne’s experience and solidity, it meant that sessions were completed in days rather than months at his studios in Sweden and everything started to take off. Janne introduced the band to Peter, a band colleague and great drummer from Karlsham in Sweden, so when Peter ‘Trumpeter’ Svensson jumped on board, the line up was complete.

In Spring 2024, with demos completed, they started full recording sessions with Janne and Peter in Sweden and Joss, Chris and Matt with Ras at Raw Studios in England. This continued through 2024/25 until all 13 tracks were completed.

For the final track on the album track that was recorded, one of their guitar heroes was asked if he would like to contribute. Tony Bourge, the heavy metal riff master from the 1970’s Welsh band ‘Budgie’ who was responsible for killer riffs on tracks such as Breadfan/Crash Course In Brain Surgery (covered by Metallica), In For The Kill (Van Halen) and many more. Tony had previously contributed on several Bandolier Kings albums with Janne and agreed to help on one of his own 80’s classic tracks ‘Richard III’, that he originally wrote and recorded with Welsh rockers ‘Tredegar’. Tony recorded all his guitar parts in Wales and sent them across. All three lead guitarists can be heard on this epic track, which is the closer on the upcoming album.
          
Album ‘WHITE HOT’ (HYPER04) will be released in late February 2026 on all formats: 
Vinyl LP (8 tracks), CD and Digital/Streaming Album (13 tracks) and distributed in the UK by RSK Entertainment via Proper Distribution. UK gigs and later European festival appearances will follow.

NERVE STAR:
Janne Stark – Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Chris Billinghurst – Lead & Rhythm Guitar
Joss Thorley – Bass Guitar
Matt Oakman – Vocals
Peter ‘Trumpeter’ Svensson – Drums & Percussion

Producer: Mike Dixon (Thin Lizzy-UK Tour 75 / Sensational Alex Harvey Band-British Tour 76)
Recorded/Mixed by: Rasmus Bom Andersen  (Diamond Head) at Raw Studios, UK
Mastered by: Andy ‘Hippy’ Baldwin  (Oasis/Blur) at Metropolis, London

Buy here: https://linktr.ee/Nervestar

https://nervestar.com/
https://open.spotify.com/album/4IPX9OFzJnDTjrVSYKxXC8

THE VELVET TUXEDO to Release New Single ‘Buzz The Scuzz’ on 6th February

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 8, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: THE VELVET TUXEDO. Leave a comment

Hull’s 60s-infused garage-psych outfit The Velvet Tuxedo return with their blistering new single ‘Buzz The Scuzz’, recorded at Magic Garden Studios with acclaimed producer Gavin Monaghan (Editors, The Sherlocks, Ocean Colour Scene, The Twang).

Preorder here: https://kycker.ffm.to/buzzthescuzz

‘Buzz the Scuzz’ is a furious garage-psych rallying cry about dropping out of the system and rejecting the “9-to-5 brainwash machine. The track opens with an eastern tambura drone and a swirling reversed-guitar line that builds a tense psychedelic mood before the full riff kicks in, tearing through the speakers with pounding drums, snarling vocals, and a valve driven riff made to ignite a riot. ‘Buzz The Scuzz’ is a made-up phrase symbolising the band’s ethos: fuck the plan, ditch the script, dig the fuzz, and follow your own road.

‘Buzz The Scuzz’ channels the wild electricity of The Who, the proto-punk bite of MC5, and the acid-drenched swirl of The Seeds, The Pretty Things, and 13th Floor Elevators and drags it kicking and screaming into present day. 
Frontman Will Reid calls it: “Our drop-out anthem – two fingers up to conformity. It starts with that hypnotic drone and then erupts into something driving and defiant. It’s about breaking free from the conveyor-belt life we’re sold and choosing your own path really.”

The Velvet Tuxedo fuse 1960s Freakbeat, Garage, Psych and R&B into a sound steeped in nostalgia yet free from pastiche. They stand as torchbearers of a style that is both timeless and refreshingly alive. Often described as a “word-of-mouth band,” The Velvet Tuxedo thrive on the underground scene, where their explosive, high-octane live shows have earned a reputation for unpredictability, rawness and a guitar-driven attack that hits with ferocity.

As a statement of intent, this new single announces The Velvet Tuxedo as a band rooted in the spirit of ’68, yet fearlessly committed to pushing that energy into the present.

Upcoming shows: 
13th Jan – Rescue Rooms Nottingham, supporting The Molotovs.
25th January – Headline show at Sidney & Matilda Sheffield, superiors TBA
31st January – TPR, Hull for Dayrider festival during independent venue week.
14th Feb – Hull Adelphi, support for China Shop bull
7th March – March of the Mods day festival in Redcar

The Velvet Tuxedo are: 
Will Reid – frontman/guitar
Jimmy Rustill – lead guitar
Robert Frost – drums
Alfie Snow – bass

https://linktr.ee/thevelvettuxedo
https://www.tiktok.com/@thevelvettuxedo
https://www.youtube.com/@velvet_tuxedo
https://www.instagram.com/thevelvettuxedooo/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2zgvMmusKkVopmBB9hX0ol

SPACE OF VARIATIONS Reveal New Single + Music Video ‘Ghost Town’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 8, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: SPACE OF VARIATIONS. Leave a comment
[photo credit: Daria Kasatkina]

Ukrainian metalcore band SPACE OF VARIATIONS delivers another powerful strike with “GHOST TOWN”. The riff-heavy single is the latest single leading up to their third album, Poisoned Art, which will be released on February 13, 2026 via Napalm Records. With this new track, the explosive four-piece again raises the bar, delivering both furious brutality and heartfelt emotion, their ever-evolving style signifying a new era for the band. Furious verses, an explosive chorus, and some infectious, earworm hooks—SPACE OF VARIATIONS are raising the bar for the genre!
 
SPACE OF VARIATIONS about “GHOST TOWN”:
“‘GHOST TOWN’ is a about the feeling of waking up from a dream while still carrying it inside you—as if it were real. In that dream, you lost someone important, and no matter what you do, you can’t find them again. It’s the sense of loss that seeps from the dream into reality.”

Explosive Ukrainian metalcore force SPACE OF VARIATIONS returns with Poisoned Art, out on February 13, 2026 via Napalm Records. Blending furious brutality with heartfelt emotion, the four-piece band sheds their skin and continues to push the boundaries of modern metal, their new record showing a new facet of their ever-evolving sound—a new era.
 
Bold as ever, Poisoned Art explores the boundaries of modern sounds. SPACE OF VARIATIONS directs the way into the future of metalcore: unbroken, unapologetic—unstoppable.
 
SPACE OF VARIATIONS about Poisoned Art:
“Our third full-length album, Poisoned Art, was written during the darkest period of our lives. The war in our country changed everything dramatically, and the full spectrum of emotions we experienced during that time is reflected in this album. It’s angry, melodic, honest, and fatalistic.”

Order Your Copy of Poisoned Art NOW

Mercilessly honest, the opening track “TRIBE” sees the band battle existential fears in both English and their native Ukrainian. Driving in the urgency are diverse stylings, ranging from djent in “HALO” to fitting sirens in “MAYDAY”, showing that SPACE OF VARIATIONS doesn’t shy away from adding a certain edge to their catchy choruses. “PARALLEL REALITIES” cleverly combines soft melodies with brutality, staging captivating desperation and neck-snapping breakdowns as parallel realities. Explosive outburst “DOPPELGÄNGER” powerfully blends groovy distorted guitars and unrelenting intensity, contrasted by haunting melodic passages and subtle electronic textures, making this song especially hard-hitting. The mix of pummeling ferocity with emotional depth continues throughout “GODLIKE” and “GHOST TOWN”, before “COLDHEAVEN” stands out from Poisoned Art through its exploration of hip hop elements and cold industrial grain. “BACK TO DIRT” continues the djent vibe, while “SNAKE SKIN” delves into electronic territory. Emotionally driven “LIES” smoothly transitions from a beautifully arranged verse to a melancholic chorus, with frontman Dmytro Kozhukhar intensely switching from soothing clean vocals to aggressive shouts, before atmospheric outro “ECHO” pulls the album to a close.

Poisoned Art tracklisting:

  1. TRIBE
  2. HALO
  3. MAYDAY
  4. PARALLEL REALITIES
  5. DOPPELGÄNGER
  6. GODLIKE
  7. GHOST TOWN
  8. COLDHEAVEN
  9. BACK TO DIRT
  10. SNAKE SKIN
  11. LIES
  12. ECHO

SPACE OF VARIATIONS Live 2026
 
Support for Dymytry Paradox’ “Born From Chaos” Tour:
16.01.26 DE – Stuttgart / Kulturquartier
17.01.26 DE – Cham / L.A.
18.01.26 DE – Nuremberg / Hirsch
22.01.26 DE – Berlin / Frannz
23.01.26 NL – Haarlem / Patronaat
30.01.26 DE – Leipzig / Hellraiser
31.01.26 DE – Cologne / MTC
06.02.26 DE – Essen / Turock
07.02.26 DE – Bremen / Tower
13.02.26 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal
14.02.26 DE – Munich / Backstage
15.02.26 CH – Pratteln / Z7
 
Headline Tour
19.03.26 FR – Nimes / Paloma
20.03.26 FR – Rodez / Le Club
21.03.26 FR – Romans-sur-Isère / La Cordonnerie
25.03.26 FR – Angoulins-sur-Mer / Le Crossroad
26.03.26 FR – Rouen / Fury Defends
28.03.26 FR – Angers / MJC des Hauts de St Aubin
30.03.26 FR – Barberaz / Brin de Zinc
04.04.26 FR – Fontenay-le-Comte / Festival On n’a plus 20 ans
07.04.26 CZ – Prague / Rock Cafe
10.04.26 CZ – Jablunkov / Southock Rock Cafe
11.04.26 AT – Vienna / Core FEST
12.04.26 CH – Zurich / Werk21
15.04.26 PL – Warsaw / VooDoo
16.04.26 SK – Bratislava / Randal
17.04.26 CZ – Brno / Melodka
23.04.26 RO – Arad / Flex
24.04.26 RO – Cluj-Napoca / Flying Circus

SPACE OF VARIATIONS are:          
Dmytro Kozhukhar – vocals
Olexksii Zatserkovnyi – guitar, vocals
Anton Kasatkin – bass, backing vocals
Tymofii Kasatkin – drums
 
SPACE OF VARIATIONS online:               
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOK
TIKTOK
NAPALM RECORDS

LORD OF THE LOST to Release New Album “OPVS NOIR Vol. 3” on April 10th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 8, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Lord Of The Lost. Leave a comment
[Photo Credit: VDPictures]

The Grand Finale!

LORD OF THE LOST’s latest journey comes to a brilliant close: with OPVS NOIR Vol. 3, the band announces the finale of their ambitious album trilogy. A direct continuation of OPVS NOIR Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, which were both unveiled in 2025, it releases on April 10, 2026 and gloriously expands on the genre-defying band’s opus. The most out of the box of the three, the third and final part of their latest voyage has the six-piece end this chapter of their career on a triumphant high note, intertwining heavy guitars and dark electronica with compassionate messages and cinematic orchestrals. On OPVS NOIR Vol. 3, another 11 enchanting songs extend the Hamburg-based band’s colorful repertoire. The final part of the trilogy is released in several editions, among them strictly limited collectibles.
 
The first song unveiled is “I Hate People”. Showing yet another side of themselves, LORD OF THE LOST team up with WEDNESDAY 13 for the first single off the new record. The stomping industrial metal duet sets off fireworks with its theme of equality that fans love from the band. LORD OF THE LOST and WEDNESDAY 13 are aptly starting their joint North American tour on January 19, playing 16 shows across the USA and Canada, together with The Birthday Massacre. Find the list of dates below!

Get Your Copy Of OPVS NOIR Vol. 3 NOW –
Available in Many Formats Including Strictly Limited Collector’s Editions!

OPVS NOIR Vol. 3 tracklisting:

  1. Kill The Lights
  2. I’m A Diamond (feat. Saltatio Mortis)
  3. My Funeral
  4. I Hate People (feat. Wednesday 13)
  5. The Shadows Within
  6. La Vie Est Hell (feat. Kissin’ Dynamite)
  7. Square One
  8. When Did The Love Break? (feat. Xandria)
  9. Your Love Is Colder Than Death
  10. Take Me Far Away (feat. Cats In Space)
  11. The Days Of Our Lives

Following the captivating BLOOD & GLITTER, which brought them to the grand final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 and a #1 chart entry in their native Germany to go along with it, LORD OF THE LOST once again demonstrate their unmatched diversity. Initiated by beautiful cello melodies, “Kill The Lights” is an overture like no other, setting a dark mood, but also unafraid to switch it up to make room for catchy and reassuring “I’m A Diamond” featuring Alea, frontman of German medieval metal torchbearers SALTATIO MORTIS. “My Funeral”, despite the name, picks up the positive message, expanding the near-gothic soundscapes while sprinkling in tongue-in-cheek lyrics, promoting black as a happy color – wear pink to their funeral! Stomping “I Hate People” invites horror punk icon WEDNESDAY 13 to an industrial duet about equality, after which gentle “The Shadows Within” hits twice as hard with its symphonic arrangement. Next, Chris Harms and parting KISSIN’ DYNAMITE frontman Hannes Braun deliver the bombastic “La Vie Est Hell” (based on Charles Baudelaire’s influential book of poetry, “Les Fleurs du mal”) partly in French language, before going back to “Square One”. “When Did The Love Break?” is a heartfelt song of lost love – the addition of whimsical vocals by Ambre Vourvahis of XANDRIA drives the emotions of this universal topic right home. After “Your Love Is Colder Than Death”, LORD OF THE LOST team up with Damien Edwards of British glam rock band CATS IN SPACE for the captivating duet “Take Me Far Away”, before the album closes with a ballad, “The Days Of Our Lives” – the sweeping track simultaneously being the closest LORD OF THE LOST have ever been to a cinematic soundtrack. The happy ending is skipped, almost making it sound like a goodbye…
 
OPVS NOIR Vol. 3 continues to walk LORD OF THE LOST’s unpredictable journey without settling for the familiar. Rounding off an impressive trilogy, this record takes you by the hand and guides you along your darkest paths.
 
OPVS NOIR Vol. 3: the trilogy is finally concluded.

LORD OF THE LOST Live 2026
 
DARK WINTER TOUR – USA & CANADA 2026
w/ THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE & 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 / Irving Plaza
24.01.26 US – Worcester, MA / The Palladium
25.01.26 CA – Montreal, QC / Beanfield Theatre
26.01.26 CA – Toronto, ON / Danforth Music Hall
28.01.26 US – Cleveland, OH / House of Blues
29.01.26 US – Cincinnati, OH / Bogart’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 – Berkeley, CA / UC Theatre
 
Australien 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
 
TOVR NOIR 2026
w/ AD INFINITUM [∞], DOGMA [†] & LEAGUE OF DISTORTION [x]
12.03.26 NO – Oslo [∞]
13.03.26 SE – Gothenburg [∞]
14.03.26 SE – Stockholm [∞]
16.03.26 FI – Tampere [∞]
17.03.26 FI – Helsinki [∞]
19.03.26 EE – Tallinn [∞]
20.03.26 LT – Vilnius [∞]
21.03.26 PL – Warsaw [∞]
22.03.26 PL – Kraków [∞]
24.03.26 AT – Vienna [∞]
25.03.26 HU – Budapest [∞]
27.03.26 GR – Athens [∞]
28.03.26 BG – Sofia [∞]
29.03.26 RO – Bucharest [∞]
09.04.26 NL – Amsterdam [†] [X]
10.04.26 FR – Paris [†] [X]
11.04.26 FR – La Roche-sur-Yon [†] [X]
12.04.26 FR – Toulouse [†] [X]
14.04.26 ES – Madrid [†] [X]
15.04.26 ES – Barcelona [†] [X]
17.04.26 FR – Lyon [†] [X]
18.04.26 BE – Durbuy Rock [†] [X]
24.04.26 DE – Hexentanz [†] [X]
25.04.26 CH – Pratteln [†] [X]
26.04.26 IT – Milan [†] [X]
06.05.26 CZ – Prague [†] [X]
07.05.26 DE – Herford [†] [X]
08.05.26 DE – Cologne [†] [X]
09.05.26 DE – Stuttgart [†] [X]
 
Festivals 2026:
22.-23.05.26 DE – Eichstätt / Open Air am Berg
03.-04.07.26 DE – Mülheim an der Ruhr / Castle Rock
13.-16.08.26 FR – Carhaix-Plouguer / Motocultor Festival
21.08.26 DE – Oelde / Oelde Open Air
 
LORDFEST 2026:
w/ NACHTBLUT, NOTHGARD, WISBORG & VELVET RUSH
18.&19.12.26 DE – Hamburg / Große Freiheit 36

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
 
LORD OF THE LOST online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TIKTOK
LORDSHOP
NAPALM RECORDS

PAUL GILBERT Unveils Official Video for ‘Show Not Yourself Glad (At The Misfortune of Another)’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 8, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Paul Gilbert. Leave a comment
Photo (c) Sam Gehrke

Paul Gilbert has released the official video for his latest song, taken from his ambitious new conceptual album, WROC, which will be released on 27 February via Music Theories Recordings. You can watch the official video for “Show Not Yourself Glad (At The Misfortune of Another)” HERE.
 
WROC, which stands for “Washington’s Rules of Civility,” could very well be the guitar superstar’s most outlandish offering to date. Using George Washington’s Rules of Civility as a conceptual homing beacon, Gilbert has dared himself to think outside the box and use an etiquette guide dating back to the late 1500s as his main source of inspiration. 
 
The first track to be born from the rule was “Show Not Yourself Glad (At The Misfortune Of Another).” For Gilbert, there was a palpable excitement in resurrecting these 16th Century guidelines for the hyper advanced social order of today’s world. “I’ve never in my life had such a good time writing songs,” he admits. “I would look through the rules, sing them out loud and see which ones worked. Sometimes I’d have to flip something around or grab another rule for a bridge, but a lot of these songs are word for word.”

As we launch into a new year, Paul talks about the new song, saying, “Happy 2026! In case you haven’t found a worthy New Year’s resolution, how about: “Show not yourself glad at the misfortune of another”? This Washington rule is easier than it looks, as it doesn’t forbid you from feeling glad at an enemy’s misfortune. It just tells you not to show it!”
 
Continuing, he adds, “If you listen to this new song and my older song, ‘Enemies (In Jail),’ next to each other, they’ll likely cancel each other out, as their messages are pretty much the opposite of one another. In any case, enjoy the crazy chords, the sweeps in the slide solo, and the layered vocal harmonies. This song also contains a second possible New Year’s resolution: “Spit not in the fire.” I predict 2026 will have much less spitting in fires. Happy New Year!”
 
This follows the previous singles, “Go Not Thither” and “If You Soak Bread In The Sauce.”
 
Paul Gilbert knows a thing or two about which rules to follow — and when to break them. In Mr. Big, he was responsible for pioneering pop rock anthems. In Racer X, he pushed the electric guitar to its furthest limits, in a more metallic direction, and as a solo artist, he’s traversed both instrumental and vocal-led sonic landscapes that have crossed over from blues, classical and jazz to straight-up rock.

Track listing
1. Keep Your Feet Firm and Even
2. Show Not Yourself Glad (At the Misfortune of Another)
3. Maintain a Sweet and Cheerful Countenance
4. Go Not Thither
5. Orderly And Distinctly
6. If You Soak Bread in the Sauce
7. Let Thy Carriage
8. Speak Not Evil of the Absent
9. Turn Not Your Back (To Others)
10. Conscience is the Most Certain Judge
11. Every Action Done in Company
12. Spark of Celestial Fire
13. George Washington Rules

Paul Gilbert Online 
Website | Facebook | YouTube | Instagram | Spotify | TikTok | X

BIZARREKULT Haunt Hopes And Dreams on New Single ‘Drøm’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on January 8, 2026
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: BIZARREKULT. Leave a comment
Photo by Radmila Volchenkova

Without breaking, Bizarrekult continues to bend black metal’s traditions by honing its mastermind’s singular, tortured vision. Much like Roman V.’s two previous retreats into the studio, his upcoming third album slowly and painstakingly emerged from a deeply personal crisis. Only this time, he’s not alone in confronting all there is.  

Today, Bizarrekult is releasing the second advanced single from Alt Som Finnes (All There Is). While hounded by a familiar sense of dread, “Drøm” (Dream) escapes by following the mysterious call of Predatory Void and Cross Bringer vocalist Lina R. before the darkness closes in once more.

“Chased like a hunted beast, you run in haste, all your life, only to lose that crazy race”, Roman says about the inspiration behind “Drøm”. “It’s only in your dreams that you remember who you are and what your purpose is. Only in dreams are you yourself. But there is no place to hide when you are awake”.  

Alt Som Finnes comes out February 20, 2026 on Season of Mist Underground Activists. Pre-order & Pre-save: https://orcd.co/bizarrekultaltsomfinnes

In keeping with Norwegian tradition, Alt Som Finnes (All There Is) maintains the manic energy of old-school black metal. Chased by frantic riffs and horrified screams, there’s no escaping “Drøm”. The song’s video brings its mental prison to life. A woman breaks free from her captor, only for him to hunt her down through the woods. But in a strange twist of fate invoked by Lina R.’s heavy, sighing incantations, she escapes once again. Or does she? As blast beats pound away at the dreamy passage carved out by the guitar melody, she’s left to ponder whether her scars will ever heal.    

“I was not ready for all this”, Roman says about Bizarrekult’s new album. “None of us are, when the time comes. But at the end of this journey, it seems to have all been worth it. The music gave me hints as to where to go and what can be”.  

The video for “Drøm” was directed by Natalia Drepina (@mourneress). It stars Pavel V. Boldyrev (@somebodyawful) and @dustofreason.

Tracklist

1. Hun (02:58)
2. Blikket Hennes (06:18) [WATCH]
3. Avmakt (06:10)
4. Håp (06:22)
5. Drøm (04:42) [WATCH]
6. Verdens Verste (04:22)
7. Aversjon (05:24)
8. Tomhet (06:27)
Full runtime: 42:45

Picture the ocean from inside the eye of a storm. Each rising wave presents its own unique threat, churned by the changing of the tides. But no matter how far you sink below the surface, all there is to see is one continuous expanse of water. This is the tortured yet piercingly clear headspace from which post-black metal curio Bizarrekult slowly and painstakingly emerged with its absorbing third album Alt Som Finnes.

“I was not ready for all of this”, says Bizarrekult’s sole mastermind Roman V. “None of us are, when the time comes. But at the end of this journey, it seems to have all been worth it. The music gave me hints as to where to go and what can be”.

In keeping with black metal’s fiercely individual spirit, Roman began his life as Bizarrekult as a lone wolf. The one-man project started in 2006 as a musical accompaniment to the poetic verses he’d written since childhood. However, it’s official recorded debut didn’t come until fifteen years later, after he moved from Siberia to Norway. Living closer to the genre’s birthplace inspired him to bend but not break with tradition. Bizarrekult can be as cold and raw as early Darkthrone, as eerily melodic as Enslaved, or as blistering in its beauty as Borknagar.

“Norway has become my second home”, Roman says upon reflection. “The years that led to the revitalization of Bizarrekult were spent reflecting on myself and reuniting with the things that are important – art and creativity”.

On Bizarrekult’s first album, Roman looked back on his childhood and family life while also examining his changing relationship with the world at large. Released in 2021, Vi Overlevde (We Survived) was perceived as a beacon of hope amidst the second trying year of the pandemic. Charting near the top of Sweden’s biggest newspaper’s year-end list attracted the attention of Season of Mist, who released 2023’s more expansive follow-up Den Tapte Krigen (The Lost War) to further critical acclaim.

“…as Bizarrekult matures, so does its songwriting” wrote Angry Metal Guy. “The result is an album that flows like a stream through a dark forest”.

Alt Som Finnes (All There Is) maintains the classic energy of the old school. “Drøm” seeks to escape into the comfort of dreams, chased by frantic riffs and hallucinatory screams. “It’s in our dreams that we can finally relax from everything that happens during the daytime”, Roman says. “You can grasp at who you actually are, the meaning of yourself”. While Bizarrekult remains rooted in Norwegian black metal, the album strips away all defenses while adding more post-metal ambience. “Verdens verste” rails against consumerism with blistering grooves, while “Avmakt” surges and seethes in a fight for control before losing power amidst melodies that fall then fade like dying pinpricks of light.

As with Bizarrekult’s two previous retreats into the studio, Alt Som Finnes emerged from a deeply personal crisis. Only this time, Roman is not alone in confronting all there is. He’s  joined in his struggle by guest vocalists from Predatory Void, MØL and Dødheimsgard. Behind a steady pounding of double bass, lead single “Blikket Hennes” buzzes with the all-consuming darkness of a guilty conscience, only for Yusaf “Vicotnik” Parvez to enlighten with soothing cleans.

“I wrote to Yusaf not about music, but life and its difficulties”, Roman says. “It became a connection”.

No one emerges unscathed from Alt Som Finnes. But while riddled with regrets, album closer “Tomhet” breaks new ground as the first Bizarrekult song sung in English. “Am I alone like this? No, we are many”. It’s a damning realization, but also a call for all of us to become something greater.

Line-up
Roman V. — Vocals
Ignat P. — Guitars & Bass
Alexander P. — Drums

Production Credits
Recorded at Seaside Room.
Produced, mixed & mastered by Miguel Tereso at Demigod Recordings, Portugal.

Guest Musicians
Yusaf “Vicotnik” Parvez (Dødheimsgard) — Vocals on “Blikket Hennes”
Lina (Predatory Void / Cross Bringer) — Vocals on “Drøm” (Recorded by Tim De Gieter)
Kim Song Sternkopf (Møl) — Vocals on “Tomhet”

Cover Art
Gravestench Art (https://www.instagram.com/gravestench_art/)

Photography
Radmila Volchenkova

Follow Bizarrekult
Bandcamp: https://bizarrekult.bandcamp.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bizarrekult/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bizarrekvlt/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Cj4Bc1WpdNZhGcKyQfWci/
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/bizarrekult/1455860457
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/artist/11699593

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