Platinum-certified, 5x #1 Hard Rock radio-charting BAD WOLVES released a special deluxe edition of their album “DIE ABOUT IT” via Better Noise Music on September 19th. It contains nine new tracks, including the brand new song “Hanging On To Thunder” featuring Stand Atlantic. “DIE ABOUT IT (DELUXE)” is available now HERE. See the track listing below.
John Boecklin, drummer and founder of Bad Wolves, shared “Hanging On To Thunder” (feat. Stand Atlantic) preaches strength in moments of adversity. “This song embodies what we do best: big hooks, raw emotion, and pure power. It’s an undeniable BAD WOLVES classic. Stand Atlantic takes it to the next level with an absolutely insane vocal performance. We’re incredibly proud of this one.”
“Hanging On To Thunder” is the follow-up to the reimagined “Say It Again” (featuring Lauri Ylönen, frontman of 6x Platinum and 8x Gold-certified, record-breaking Finnish rock outfit The Rasmus), which was released August 8 HERE. Watch the video HERE.
Stream “HANGING ON TO THUNDER” (FEAT. STAND ATLANTIC)HERE
Originally released on November 3, 2023, via Better Noise Music, “DIE ABOUT IT” showcases 14 tracks—including “Hungry For Life” (feat. Daughtry)–that push the band’s sound in new directions, blending heavy riffs and distinctive melodies. The album has surpassed 32 million streams, with accompanying videos amassing over 3.8 million views.
Here’s the track listing for “DIE ABOUT IT (DELUXE)”:
1- Intro 2- Bad Friend 3- Die About It 4- Savior 5- Hungry For Life 6- Legends Never Die 7- NDA 8- Move On 9- Masquerade 10- Say It Again 11- It’s You (2 Months) (feat. KILLBOY) 12- Turn It Down 13- Set You On Fire 14- Hungry For Life (feat. Daughtry)
Plus 9 new tracks: 15- Hanging On To Thunder (feat. Stand Atlantic) 16- Made For The Misery* 17- Home* 18- Because Of You* 19- All I Need Is Hope* 20- Say It Again (feat. The Rasmus) 21- Legends Never Die (Orchestral) 22- Bad Friend (Live) 23- Legends Never Die (Live) *Indicates new song.
Watch a trailer for DIE ABOUT IT (DELUXE):
ABOUT BAD WOLVES
BAD WOLVES arrived with the rarity and the force of a lightning bolt in 2018 with their chart-topping version of The Cranberries’ “Zombie.” This collective of tried-and-true musicians rallied around an unconventional vision for heavy music, grafting rafter-reaching hooks to pit-splitting riffs and mind-bending rhythms with a penchant for unexpected twists and turns. Their full-length debut “DISOBEY” bowed in the Top 25 of the Billboard 200 and delivered a platinum single and a gold single. On its heels, they showed no signs of stopping with “N.A.T.I.O.N.” [2019]. However, “DEAR MONSTERS” kickstarted another season in 2021 as “Lifeline” netted their sixth #1 at Active Rock radio. Reaching a critical high, Billboard hailed the latter as “BAD WOLVES’ most diverse and far-reaching album to date.” Reaching over 2.8 billion total streams, and over 818 million video views, they’ve sold out headline shows on multiple continents and toured with everyone from Papa Roach and Hollywood Undead to Volbeat.
The epic melodic metal force HUMAN FORTRESS proudly announce the release of their highly anticipated new studio album, “Stronghold”, due out on October 17th, 2025 via Massacre Records. The album will be available as a 2-CD Digipak and as a limited edition vinyl LP.
To mark this occasion, the band also unleashes the brand-new single and video “The Abyss Of Our Souls” — a dark and dramatic tale about a sinister figure who sees his true self reflected in a magic mirror, and vows to free the world of his own evil. With its gripping narrative, powerful riffs, and soaring melodies, the song embodies the essence of epic heavy metal storytelling.
“Stronghold” marks the band’s 8th full-length album and represents a new chapter in HUMAN FORTRESS’s more than two-decade career. Produced by the band at Soundhoops Studio, with mixing and mastering handled by Alex Krull (Mastersound Studio), the record delivers a heavier, guitar-driven sound, intensified by Krull’s powerful production.
With the departure of long-time keyboardist Dirk Liehm, “Stronghold” is the first HUMAN FORTRESS album written largely without keyboards, resulting in a more guitar-heavy and aggressive sound. While some tracks explore more mainstream songwriting elements, the album remains firmly rooted in epic heavy metal, blending powerful riffs, soaring melodies, and thought-provoking lyrics.
Track listing:
Stronghold The End Of The World Pain Mesh Of Lies The Abyss Of Our Souls Under The Gun Silent Scream Death Calls My Name Road To Nowhere The Darkest Hour
CD 2 Obey Another Lord Pathfinder Lost With The Wind We Are Legion (Japan Bonus Track)
Over the years, HUMAN FORTRESS have shared stages with the likes of Orden Ogan, Axxis, Skyclad, Wizard, The Grailknights, Poverty’s No Crime, Gallowglass, Mercury Falling, and King Leoric, in addition to performing at festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Metal Inside Festival, and Dominion Festival.
With “Stronghold”, HUMAN FORTRESS reaffirm their place as one of Germany’s most respected epic metal institutions, delivering an album that is both timely and timeless.
HUMAN FORTRESS are Gus Monsanto – Vocals Todd Wolf – Guitars Volker Trost – Guitars Axel Herbst – Keys André Hort – Bass Apostolos Zaios – Drums
Hungarian alternative/groove metal force Nest of Plagues has dropped a brand new live album, ‘Live At Akvárium’, showcasing the raw energy and emotional depth that have made them one of the region’s most exciting underground acts. The release comes as the band gears up for their “Hell Is A Place On Earth” Tour, which will see them storm stages across Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, and Hungary this fall.
Following the release of their critically acclaimed 3rd album, Hellsolation, Nest of Plagues are taking their uncompromising sound and message across borders. Blending crushing riffs, groove-driven rhythms, and elements of alternative metal, the band reflects on modern social struggles such as anxiety, depression, and loneliness – while encouraging fans to face these challenges together, finding strength in community.
The band’s unique mix of heaviness and catharsis has earned them a reputation for powerful, eclectic live shows that bring a spark of joy and defiance to the darkest of themes.
Hell Is A Place On Earth Tour Dates: 🇷🇴 Oct 1 – Arad, Flex 🇷🇴 Oct 2 – Craiova, Arcade 🇧🇬 Oct 3 – Pleven, Japara Rock 🇧🇬 Oct 4 – Kazanluk, Hope 🇧🇬 Oct 5 – Varna, Smile 🇷🇴 Oct 6 – Constanța, Rock House 666 🇧🇬 Oct 7 – Plovdiv, Polinero 🇬🇷 Oct 9 – Trikala, Andromeda 🇬🇷 Oct 10 – Patra, Frida 🇬🇷 Oct 11 – Athens, Bums 🇬🇷 Oct 12 – Larisa, Skyland 🇲🇰 Oct 13 – Skopje, Dze Pub 🇩🇪 Oct 25 – Königsbrunn, Mammut Fest 🇭🇺 Nov 7 – Hajdúszoboszló, Rock Café 🇭🇺 Nov 8 – Kecskemét, Ápoló Klub 🇭🇺 Nov 14 – Kaposvár, Hang-Ár 🇭🇺 Nov 28 – Pécs, Várárok 🇭🇺 Nov 29 – Mezőkövesd, Dögkút 🇭🇺 Dec 19 – TBA
The Romanian and Bulgarian shows (Oct 1-7) will feature ClubMurder from Malta as special guests. Spewing twisted metal since 2005, the band has become notorious for hammering out groove-laden chaos with unrelenting force, sending audiences into frenzy with every performance.
For the Greek leg of the tour (Oct 9-12), Spitback will step on stage as local support. With roots dating back to 2003, the band brings a fierce Hardcore/Nu-Metal sound influenced by the US scene, delivering raw aggression and explosive energy that perfectly matches the tour’s atmosphere.
Joining the entire Balkan tour (Oct 1-12) is Chaos Engine Research from Poland, delivering their signature brand of death groove metal. With punishing riffs and intense stage presence, they add another layer of heaviness to the lineup, making each night a relentless experience.
About Nest Of Plagues:
With their lyrics, Nest of Plagues reflects on modern social diseases like social anxiety, depression, and the feeling of loneliness that people can collectively feel. Sharing this message, they encourage people to confront their mental health issues and connect, leveraging the power of the community. Bringing a fresh sound to the stage, they expanded from a metalcore sound into groove metal, incorporating elements of alternative metal while still adding a core edge to the mix. Due to their eclectic image and powerful live performances, they bring a little joy and fun where it seems there is only darkness.
There’s this rather old-fashioned proverb: “Good things come to those who wait.” It’s actually not 100% true in the case of Los Angeles, California’s IN VIRTUE – since they have been providing us with a constant output of new, highly-praised content over the last years. But it’s been a while now since the releases of their first two full-length albums “Embrace the Horror” (2012) and “Delusions of Grandeur” (2009). So in their case it’s more like: “Good things finally come to be another album.”
Well, the wait is finally over. The quartet of GEAR GODS Masterminds Trey Xavier (lead vocals, guitar, bass, orchestration, synthesizers, production) and Alex Nasla (The Mourning, ex-Witherfall; keyboards, vocals), Rami Khalaf (guitar), Jamie Hush (bass) – live drums being handled by Bruno Valverde of Angra – has just announced that their third album “Age of Legends” will be released on November 21, 2025.
So: What took them so long? Singer Trey Xavier explains: “We started tracking this album on January 2nd, 2019, and got most of the way done with it when the pandemic hit. That, coupled with a series of setbacks, postponed its completion until 2024. Some of the songs were ideas that were written over 10 years ago, so as you can imagine, we’re very excited for it to see the light of day.“ Three songs on the album have already been released in the meantime – “Purgatory” (2019), “Where The Edges Meet” (2020) and “SCREAM” (2023), proving the band’s variety and why it’s not easy (if not impossible) to put them into any kind of genre. If you want to call them progressive – that’s what they really are, combining elements of power metal, groove, progressive metal, pop and so much more on this album. When experiencing “Age of Legends” from front to back, it’s thrilling to feel how each song also stands on its own, as tiny microcosms of the overall concept of the album. Trey underlines: “It’s a concept album about someone who has made poor choices in the past and is on a journey of self-forgiveness. The character in the story is based on Sisyphus, who was a terrible tyrannical king who was deserving of punishment – but is there truly anything someone can do to deserve eternal punishment? In it, this Sisyphus character decides (with a little help from a character called The Catalyst) that after thousands of years of torment, he’s done his time and that he’s going to seek forgiveness from the most important person we all need it from – ourselves.” The obvious cathartic overall theme, the dynamics of every track are carefully curated to build to a huge and meaningful climax – “Age of Legends” is an album that has the potential to be one of those albums that lead you through not only a certain phase in life but rather define it. It’s an album more than worth waiting for.
As the next foretaste of the forthcoming “Age of Legends”, IN VIRTUE treats us with is the postapocalyptic “Gunslingers of the New American Desert”:
The heaviest song from the upcoming album – and the slowest song in the entire IN VIRTUE catalog so far – musically and lyrically combines a Wild West theme of lawlessness and survival conflict with crushing riffs, electronic sounds and soaring orchestration. The band explains: “‘Gunslingers of the New American Desert’ explores a world where order is replaced by the will of the powerful, where suffering is imposed every day by tyrants who forget that the pain they inflict on others is a betrayal of their own humanity.”
“Age of Legends” features guest appearances by vocalists Charlotte Wessels (ex-DELAIN) and Chaney Crabb (ENTHEOS), as well as guitars by Dave Davidson (REVOCATION) and the already released singles “Purgatory”, “Where The Edges Meet” and “SCREAM”. The album will be released on November 21 and is available for pre-save now via: https://orcd.co/agofle
ABOUT IN VIRTUE Los Angeles, California’s IN VIRTUE is a band forging a new path, abandoning outdated conceptions of what heavy music is to redefine metal for a new era. Although IN VIRTUE was initially formed in 2004 in California’s Bay Area, the band’s rebirth in 2015 is where the real story begins. That’s when founding guitarist Trey Xavier made the difficult decision to take over lead vocals, move south to LA, and start the band over with a new lineup. This was the catalyst they needed, and the band’s final form took shape. Adding keyboardist Alex Nasla (The Mourning, ex-Witherfall), guitarist Rami Khalaf, and bassist Jamie Hush, their new sound was freed.
“I was tired of other people singing what I was writing,” says Trey (who you may know from his popular YouTube channel, formerly known as GEAR GODS). “We had some pretty good singers, but it always felt like a compromise. It was pretty scary – I was 28 and I had never seriously sung before. But all the work I put in paid off, because now I can create my music as I envision it.”
And what a vision it has become – the band’s forthcoming album “Age of Legends”, due out in 2025, tells a haunting tale of Sisyphean struggle and redemption through a modern lens. This new era of IN VIRTUE brought their first new music, 2019’s single “Purgatory”, which gave the world a brand new sound. Combining elements of power metal, groove, progressive metal, and pop, but somehow sounding like none of the above, “Purgatory” defined the sonic future of the band. The singles “Where The Edges Meet” and “SCREAM” followed soon after to expand on the story, each moving the story forward and bringing new life to the characters and their pain. With way more to come on “Age of Legends” (release: November 21, 2025), IN VIRTUE is looking forward to the next chapter and bringing their story to the world.
With their brand-new single “In The Eyes Of The Enemy”, the unstoppable GRAILKNIGHTS raise their banners once more and deliver a track forged in fire and glory! The accompanying video continues the epic tale where their last single “Forever” left off — a direct lead-up to the forthcoming album of the same title “Forever”, set for release on October 17 via PERCEPTION.
After recent singles stormed into the band’s Top 10 on Spotify and amassed more than 150,000 streams within just a few weeks, GRAILKNIGHTS prove again that their hymns strike like battle cries across the globe. “In The Eyes Of The Enemy” rises as a power-ballad of steel: soaring vocals featuring Chiara Tricarico, thundering choirs, and melodies carved into eternity — destined to become a soundtrack for both inner battles and triumphant victories.
The knights themselves proclaim:
“We are thrilled by the singles’ performances so far and by the growing crowds at our live shows. We have no ‘enemies’, just friends worldwide. Grailknights Battlechoir!”
The band’s new album “Forever” will be featuring twelve new hymns that build the seventh chapter of GRAILKNIGHTS’ glorious history (incl. previously-released singles ‘Necronomicon,’ ‘Grail Gym,’ ‘Forever’ plus a bold ‘Super Trouper’ cover version). Secure your copy (excl. ticket & merch bundles etc.) & pre-save “Forever” now at: https://grailknights.rpm.link/foreverPR
Crafted at Sascha Paeth’s Pathway Studios, their sidekick Sebastian Khayat delivered maximally heroic cover artwork for GRAILKNIGHTS’ new record, which fans can finally hold their hands on at the beginning of the quintet’s forthcoming “Battle Of Metal” co-headline tour with ALL FOR METAL.
20 – 25.09.2025 DE Kiel – Full Metal Cruise XII (Part I) SOLD OUT 25 – 30.09.2025 DE Kiel – Full Metal Cruise XII (Part II) SOLD OUT
“Battle Of Metal” Co-Headline Tour 2025 GRAILKNIGHTS & ALL FOR METAL w/ special guests Presented by Rock It!, musix, metal.de, Tasmanian Devil Agency, RPM & PERCEPTION
16.10.2025 DE Hanover – MusikZentrum 17.10.2025 DE Leipzig – Hellraiser 18.10.2025 DE Berlin – Lido 19.10.2025 DE Hamburg – Markthalle 21.10.2025 DE Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal 22.10.2025 CH Pratteln – Konzertfabrik Z7 23.10.2025 DE Bochum – Matrix 24.10.2025 DE Munich – Backstage (Werk) 25.10.2025 DE Schirnding – Gemeindehalle 26.10.2025 CZ Zlín – Masters of Rock Café 27.10.2025 HU Budapest – Analog Music Hall 29.10.2025 AT Vienna – Viper Room 30.10.2025 DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann (Club) 31.10.2025 DE Cologne – Club Volta 02.11.2025 FR Paris – Nouveau Casino 03.11.2025 ES Bilbao – Sala Groove 04.11.2025 ES Madrid – Revi Live 05.11.2025 ES Salamanca – Sala B Caem 06.11.2025 FR Lyon – Rock n’ Eat 07.11.2025 BE Kortrijk – DVG Club 08.11.2025 DE Löffingen – Rocknacht
If it’s on their 2004 debut album “Across The Galaxy,” its follow-ups “Return To Castle Grailskull” and “Alliance” or their tales of the past 15 years (“Calling The Choir,”“Knightfall” & “Muscle Bound For Glory”), GRAILKNIGHTS’ goal has remained the same – the Holy Grail must be returned to Grailham City! Their mission also led their flight path to stages around the globe, which they boldly dominated as headlining act and shared with acts such as SABATON, FEUERSCHWANZ, BROTHERS OF METAL and TWILIGHT FORCE among others, always supported by their brave fan base aka the Battlechoir.
During the years, some of these equally brave musicians have also lent their additional vocal support to the Hanover, Germany based squad: Tracks like ‘Turbo Boost [feat. FEUERSCHWANZ]’ but especially ‘Pumping Iron Power,’ which was graced by SABATON’s Joakim Brodén, crafted additional intergalactic bondings between the band and metalheads worldwide, and saw GRAILKNIGHTS’ success numbers go through the roof with ‘Pumping Iron Power’ recently hitting 15 million Spotify streams only.
Highly experienced in both studio and live battles, the superheroic metal group have faced and overcome several evil powers over time, and now they are set to oppose Dr. Skull in full length once again with their 7th adventure, followed by yet another journey across Europe. Joining forces with label family members ALL FOR METAL in autumn 2025, the “Battle Of Metal” can actually only end in another victory against all evil.
GRAILKNIGHTS are: Sir Optimus Prime | vocals Sovereign Storm | guitars, vocals Count Cranium | guitars, vocals Duncan MacLoud | bass, vocals Lord Drumcules | drums
Canada’s SCORCHING TOMB continue their path of unrelenting savagery with the release of their new single “Diminished to Ashes”, taken from the band’s upcoming debut album “Ossuary”, out October 24th, 2025 via Time To Kill Records.
The track distills the essence of SCORCHING TOMB’s sound into 4 minutes of sheer hostility, where crushing riffs, suffocating grooves and a hardcore-infused death metal assault collide with total abandon.
“‘Diminished to Ashes’ is a fast paced, face ripping banger with all the destructive elements that made death metal what it is today. Crippling vocals, punishing drums, reckless riffs crowned with death-imbued lyrics. This song will burn you to dust.”
After carving a name for themselves with a string of well-received EPs and a crushing split, the band is now poised to make their boldest statement yet. “Ossuary” captures their feral fusion of raw death metal and metallic hardcore at its most hostile, stripped of any modern gloss and delivered with total disdain for compromise.
With its filthy riffs, suffocating grooves and relentless aggression, the record is set to resonate with fans of Skinless, Fulci, Internal Bleeding, Xibalba and Terminal Nation, marking SCORCHING TOMB as one of the most uncompromising new forces in today’s extreme underground.
Tracklist:
1. Stalagmite Impalement 2. Skullcrush (feat. Devin Swank of Sanguisugabogg) 3. Diminished to Ashes 4. Sanctum of Bones (Ossuary) 5. Sentenced to Rot 6. Feel the Blade feat. Primal Horde 7. Bloodlust Sacrifice 8. Expired Existence
SCORCHING TOMB emerged from the sewers of Montreal in 2018 with one clear mission: to fuse old-school death metal with modern hardcore in a city ruled by technical death metal. It didn’t take long for the band to make a name for themselves in the underground. Their blend of blistering old-school riffs, crushing mosh parts, and explosive live energy quickly caught the attention of the hardcore scene in particular.
Originally formed by tattoo artist Vincent P.L. (vocals) and guitarist Philippe Leblanc, SCORCHING TOMB has since solidified its most formidable lineup yet with the addition of Miguel Lepage (ex–Blind Witness, ex–Obey the Brave) on bass and Émile Savard (Profane Order, ex–Malebranche) on drums. With this new blood, the band has evolved from a local standout into a fully weaponized force.
Now, the time has come to follow in the footsteps of Cryptopsy, Quo Vadis, and Despised Icon, proving once again that Montreal remains a relentless, unyielding powerhouse in the world of death metal.
Line-up:
Vincent Patrick Lajeunesse – Vocals Philippe Leblanc – Guitars, Backing vocals Miguel Lepage – Bass Émile Savard – 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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 