Gothenburg-based alternative metal band Dream Drop is back with new music. After releasing the album ACNE SUPERSTAR at the end of 2023, the band has been working intensely on their next project. Now they’re ready to release the EP blackcastle pt.1, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter.
Dream Drop is a band that’s exciting to experience, both live and online. Their explosive stage presence has earned them spots alongside bands like Blood Command, Smash Into Pieces, and STARSET. With a strong online presence and a distinct graphic style, they know how to captivate fans on every platform.
The new songs, combined with cool visuals and an unstoppable energy, marks the beginning of Dream Drop’s strongest era yet.
The EP takes shape in the borderland between dream and reality. A first step into a larger, interconnected world. We move through liminal spaces where time has stopped, where everything is still yet charged with movement. It’s a place that feels familiar, yet not. A nostalgic dissonance. A skewed sense of safety.
It starts with a longing… You build a castle in a dream, and before you know it, you’ve moved in…
PURPENDICULAR feat. IAN PAICE are set to release a new studio album “Banned” on October 10th on Metalville.
In the hot summer of 2024, the band decided to write their fourth album in a remote village high in the mountains near Porto, Portugal.
The concept was agreed on the first night but that concept took a twist when the devastating fires took place that very evening, putting the lives of the band in grave danger.
The band were rescued off the mountain from their villa, too a safer option and to an alternative accommodation where they spent the night watching the fires rage on the veranda.
It was here titles and more ideas came to fruition, to add to the already conceptual theme of BANNED which summarises todays sensitive culture, in that the slightest wrong word can get you banned, adding the pun Banned with last two letters before the last D in the word being crossed out equaling the word BAND.
With all this in mind and the whole band in agreement, it was then decided to add an autobiographical theme also, telling the story of events as they unfolded that treacherous night where many people lost their lives and homes.
The final recordings of the album were completed in Italy, Poland and UK. The record is produced by Alessandro Debiaggi and Robby Thomas Walsh. It is a fresh modern look back at the 70s! It is advised to play this Record very loud!
TRACK LISTING: Inferno Beast The Escape Blood Red Moon You Better Behave Banned Too Hard To PLease Seventies Kid The End
Joey Caracciolo officially joins the Wanikiya Record/Promotion roster!
We are thrilled to announce the newest addition to our roster: Joey Caracciolo, a talented guitarist and virtuosic singer born in Milan in 1977. With a strong background in the Italian music scene and a career marked by appearances at prestigious festivals and competitions both in Italy and abroad, Joey stands out for his technique, passion, and unconventional artistic vision.
As the frontman and voice of the pirate-themed band Jolly Roger, Joey has built a solid fanbase thanks to a powerful and recognizable style, capable of blending energy, melody, and an epic touch.
On July 20, 2025, his brand-new single “ROAD TO PERSEPOLIS” will be released on all major digital platforms under the Wanikiya Record label — a track that marks the official beginning of this exciting and powerful collaboration!
“Road to Persepolis” is an instrumental piece that merges the powerful soundscapes of 1980s hard rock with a modern, cinematic, and immersive style. The goal is to evoke the heroic deeds of the ancient Persian world, taking the listener on an epic and evocative journey.
Imagine a sound that feels both nostalgic and fresh — like a soundtrack that transports you back to an era of legends and battles, enriched with the clarity and depth of modern production. The track is designed to be a true widescreen sonic experience: intense, cinematic, and unforgettable.
Joey Caracciolo is ready to take you on a journey to Persepolis… and this is just the first step of an extraordinary adventure with Wanikiya Record/Promotion!
Finland’s multi-Platinum cello-rockers APOCALYPTICA have issued the following:
Hey you,
we’re having an amazing time on the festival stages this summer! In 2024, we didn’t play a single festival. But in 2025, we’re back, bringing cello metal to audiences all across Europe! Last week, we played at Hellfest. If you missed our set in Clisson (or the livestream), you can still watch the full show on the ARTE Concert YouTube channel:
New headline shows in North America and Mexico
After this incredible festival summer, we’ll be heading across the Atlantic joining Halestorm and Lindsey Stirling on their North America tour! And there’s more: we’ve just announced five of our own headline shows in Richmond, Baltimore, Cleveland, Lincoln and Eugene. Tickets are on sale now. And of course, we do not forget our fans in Mexico. See you in November in Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Puebla, Toluca and Guadalajara !
At our shows in Mexico, Turkey and at our headline dates in North America, we’re offering a limited number of upgrade tickets, each including a Meet & Greet with us! We love hearing your stories and how you’ve connected with Apocalyptica over the years. These Meet & Greets are kept to a limited number of people so that everyone gets a moment to say hello, take a photo and share a few words with us! You will also get some additional merch items with the package in Mexico and North America.
US Prog Metal legends Transcendence are excited to announce the release of their long awaited new studio album “Nothing Etched in Stone – Pt. I”, out now via Cosmic Fire Records.
In addition, Transcendence has also released the focus track, “Voices in the Dark”, alongside a stunning lyric video that you can watch below.
The band comments on the new single:
“‘Voices’ is actually the oldest track on the album. Jeff brought in the main guitar parts right after we had done the ‘3 Stones’ EP. For the chorus, John brought in a string section that he had written back when he was a teenager but had never used. It seemed a natural fit over Jeff’s guitar parts, so we ran with it. We actually played it live when we opened for Dream Theater on the Metropolis tour. Later, we revisited it, and it worked with the theme of ‘Nothing Etched in Stone’, with some obvious tune ups, of course”!
Tracklist:
Discovery
Take Control
One Fear
Shades of Winter
Last Solstice
Infect the Nations
The Edge Awaits
Voices in the Dark
Lost… Dream
In… Time
Ruins… Before the Dawn
Open the Sky (CD bonus track)
Says the band about the album:
“We’re all excited here with the impending release! We’ve got our friends and family on watch for the moment ‘Nothing Etched in Stone’ becomes a reality! We’re very blessed to have all the support from them and special shout out to Thanos and everyone at Cosmic Fire Records for helping us bring our message to the world”.
The new album weaves a poignant narrative of an artist’s journey through passion, loss, and redemption. The story follows an artist who discovers his creative “stone” and pursues it relentlessly, drawing inspiration from “the edge” near his home. A devastating loss, linked to a global crisis orchestrated by rogue agencies, shatters his world, dimming his creativity and peace. Grappling with grief, he escapes to a foreign land, briefly reigniting his art but spiraling into addiction and obsession. Upon reflecting on his work, he foresees loneliness and returns home, questioning whether his dreams held him back while glimpsing a transcendent future.
Recorded, produced, and mixed by Bart Rose at Fort Worth Sound, with mastering by Derek Taylor (Eniac Requiem), “Nothing Etched in Stone” captures Transcendence’s evolution while staying true to their progressive metal roots. The album features a new vocal powerhouse, Brian Dixon (Resonance Theory, X Opus), who stepped in after the departure of original vocalist Greg Drew. Dixon was recommended by Travis Wills (Crimson Glory), who was unable to join due to prior commitments but recognized Dixon’s ability to carry the band’s vision forward.
Buy and stream “Nothing Etched in Stone Pt. I” here.
“Nothing Etched in Stone – Pt. I” is poised to reaffirm Transcendence’s place among prog metal’s elite, delivering a sonic journey that is as thought-provoking as it is musically intricate.
About TRANSCENDENCE:
TRANSCENDENCE was formed in the late ‘90s in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area by Kirk Wood (Bass), Jeff Ford (Guitar), Greg Drew (Vocals), John Von Rosenberg (Drums), and John Howser (Keyboards).
“The Meridian Project” was released in 2001 and quickly sprang to #1 on MP3.com for both the album and the song “Alpha Omega”. John Von Roseneberg left the group immediately after “The Meridian Project” release and was very capably replaced by Derrek Edwards.
During that time they also released a three track EP titled “3 Stones” (2003).
TRANSCENDENCE spent the next 14 years opening for the likes of Dream Theater, Geoff Tate, and countless other national acts in their home town.
TRANSCENDENCE has been a cornerstone of the US progressive metal scene since their formation. Known for their intricate compositions and emotionally charged performances, the band has garnered a dedicated following over the decades. With “Nothing Etched in Stone”, Transcendence continues to push boundaries, blending technical prowess with profound storytelling.
TRANSCENDENCE are: Brian Dixon – Vocals, vocal harmonies Jeff Ford – Guitars Kirk Wood – Bass, vocal harmonies John Howser – Keys, piano Derrek Edwards – Drums
“Heaven doesn’t want me, and hell’s afraid I’ll take control…”
SMASH INTO PIECES‘ brand-new single “Broken Halo” is finally here — a dark, cinematic anthem that dives deep into themes of inner conflict, redemption, and raw human emotion.
This track is heavy, haunting, and unmistakably Smash Into Pieces.Watch the official music video now — it’s one of our most striking visual stories yet.
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 