Swedish thrash and melodic death metal band VILT strives to take the Scandinavian sound to new heights. Through aggressive riffs, fast drums, and intense vocal performances they have already established a unique signature style. Following the success of their two-track single Adversary in 2022, which led to a performance at In Flames’ Dalhalla Brinner festival, VILT released the EP …To Mourn The Death Of A Stranger in 2024.
‘Immortality is our tribute to Gothenburg’s melodic death metal. The lyrics started out as a letter to my younger self but grew into a bigger message for anyone who’s ever felt different or lost. It’s a call to walk your own path and ignore the norms and expectations. Things will get better, being true to yourself is always worth it, and it’s never too late to make the change you’ve always wanted!” – VILT
Phantomy, a hard rock newcomer from Iisalmi, Finland, released their debut album From the Wild on June 13th 2025 via Inverse Records. The album is available both on CD and all major streaming platforms, delivering a dose of raw rock attitude straight from the deep woods and smoky garages of Iisalmi.
Mixed & Mastered by Rasmus Laurila Cover art by Essi Kesänen
Phantomy was formed in 2020, when the band members decided to start a group that would play heavy music with skill — but without forgetting the spirit of rock’n’roll. For the past few years, the band has been laying the groundwork for their debut album, playing occasional shows mainly in their hometown area. Now, that work has finally paid off, and the band is gearing up to release From the Wild.
The band’s drummer Herkko Lappalainen gives some background on the album and its creation:
“We started making this album after a couple of years of playing together and doing gigs, and we approached it the old-school DIY way, recording whenever and wherever we could. The end result is a brutally raw and gritty-sounding record that definitely brings a fresh kick to both the Finnish and international rock’n’roll and heavy metal scenes. Our goal was to create a proper album experience — packed with catchy songs and full-throttle energy — but also to capture that dangerous, unpredictable feeling both in the performances and the sound itself. To achieve that, we ditched the click track and heavy-handed editing right from the start.”
The album’s two singles, High Octane and Wild Jungle Woman, represent the catchier and more accessible side of the record, but guitarist Eetu Räsänen promises there’s plenty more to discover:
“In a way, the album turned out pretty interesting because, even though every song is clearly rooted in classic heavy metal, they all have their own vibe. When you listen to the whole album, it feels a bit like a wild ride through different territories. You get a bit of everything — from the melodic rock’n’roll chaos of High Octane to the leather-clad heavy riffs of The Freezing Moon, from the punk-fueled madness of From the Wild to the epic ballad atmosphere of Bad Blood.”
To support the album, Phantomy will also hit the road for a string of shows across Finland, with more details to be announced on the band’s social media channels.
PYRODOME have released their brand-new EP “Your War”, produced and distributed by Wanikiya Record/Promotion. The project was born in the heart of Sardinia, in the town of Montresta, and is now available on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, YouTube, and all major digital platforms.
“YOUR WAR” brings the powerful and deep-rooted sound typical of Pyrodome, blending classic metal and ’70s/’80s rock influences with a modern and honest approach.
The tracks explore personal struggles and inner resistance, through a metaphorical “war” that each person fights in their own life.
Germany’s legendary power metal force Helloweenare making a big comeback: On August 29, 2025, the band will release their brand-new studio album Giants & Monsters – their first full-length in four years.
With this release, Helloween push their trademark sound even further. The album is packed with rich detail, bold production, and creative experimentation. For example, drummer Dani Löble recorded every track using three different drum kits – just to find the perfect vibe for each song.
The band’s chemistry has never been stronger:
“What keeps motivating us is the fact that we’re extremely different. It generates creative energy,” says guitarist Michael Weikath.
“We try not to take ourselves and everything around us too seriously.” adds Kai Hansen.
And vocalist Andi Deris puts it simply: “In the end, we’re just seven guys who want to make music and enjoy the incomparable force that arises when we’re together. HELLOWEEN is way more powerful than the sum of its parts.”
Artwork by Eliran Kantor
Right alongside the pre-order launch, Helloween have dropped the first single from the album: “This Is Tokyo” – a stadium anthem complete with a music video paying visual tribute to Japan. Watch the video below.
The track is especially personal for Andi Deris: “I’ve always wanted to write this song. Japan plays a special role in my life because I had my first big successes there. I wanted to create a tribute to Japan for a while now and finally found the right lyrics. Because ‘Tokyo’ sounds better than ‘Japan,’ the city stands for a whole country that is very important to me.”
Tracklist – Giants & Monsters
Giants on the Run
Savior of the World
A Little Is a Little Too Much
We Can Be Gods
Into the Sun
This Is Tokyo
Universe (Gravity for Hearts)
Hand of God
Under the Moonlight
Majestic
Whether you’re into vinyl, CD, or the limited earbook edition – Giants & Monsters is available for pre-order right now.
Starting in October, Helloween will be touring across Europe to celebrate their 40th anniversary – and they’re bringing none other than Beast In Black along for the ride!
17.10.2025 LU Luxembourg – Rockhal 18.10.2025 NL Tilburg – 013 20.10.2025 UK London – Eventim Apollo 22.10.2025 FR Paris – Zénith (Le Villette) 24.10.2025 CZ Prague – O2 Arena 25.10.2025 SK Zvolen – Tiposbet Arena 26.10.2025 HU Budapest – Papp László Sportaréna 28.10.2025 PL Katowice – Spodek 30.10.2025 DE Bochum – RuhrCongress 31.10.2025 DE Bochum – RuhrCongress 01.11.2025 DE Hamburg – Barclays Arena 03.11.2025 NO Oslo – Sentrum Scene 04.11.2025 NO Oslo – Sentrum Scene 06.11.2025 FI Helsinki – Helsingin Jäähalli 08.11.2025 SE Gothenburg – Partille Arena 13.11.2025 PT Lisbon – Campo Pequeno 15.11.2025 ES Madrid – La Cubierta de Leganés 16.11.2025 ES Madrid – La Cubierta de Leganés 19.11.2025 IT Milan – Forum 20.11.2025 CH Zurich – The Hall 22.11.2025 DE Stuttgart – Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle 06.12.2025 ID Yogyakarta – Jojarockarta
Today,legendary American hard rock band Skid Row unleash a video track ’Disease’, offering fans a first taste of the upcoming reissue of their fifth studio album, ’Revolutions Per Minute’. The newly mastered edition is set for release on June 20, 2025.
Originally launched in 2006, ‘Revolutions Per Minute’ marked a bold shift in Skid Row’s evolution — pushing boundaries and fusing their trademark edge with a more modern, aggressive sound. The reissue brings that raw energy back to life, offering a fresh spin on a pivotal chapter in the band’s career.
The lyric video for ’Disease’, the album’s explosive opening track, captures the song’s aggressive tone and introspective lyrics. Exploring themes of self-destruction and personal turmoil, the video enhances the emotional weight with visuals that evoke chaos and inner conflict.
Following their tradition of covering some of their favourite and most influential tracks featuring original members HEAVEN SHALL BURN are releasing “Numbered Days (feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage)”. Check out the visualizer that is accompanying the celebration of the bands’ friendship, below.
Bonus points for anyone catching the title of one of HEAVEN SHALL BURN’s classics in the lyrics.
The band comments: “Killswitch Engage are THE metalcore band! When we heard ‘Numbered Days’ for the very first time, it totally blew us away. It was clear that something new was brewing up. No other band has influenced this style of music more and interpreted it better. Just because the guys have been very good friends for many years doesn’t mean you can’t pay tribute to this great band. We hope the song means as much to you as it does to us!”
Jesse Leach further adds: “All of us are honored by HEAVEN SHALL BURN covering ‘Numbered Days’. That song truly kicked off an album for us that would change our lives. All these years later to have people still resonate with our music means the world to us. Now to have a band like HEAVEN SHALL BURN cover it 23 years later is really wild! Grateful and very stoked to have been a part of the reshaping of this song and to hear someone else’s take on it!” Make sure to catch Killswitch Engage on their upcoming European tour, because “Numbered Days” isn’t the only song from this legendary band that had a lasting impact on modern extreme music.
Another pending question is finally answered: After HEAVEN SHALL BURN had to cancel some shows due to their singer Marcus Bischoff suffering from a severe infection of his vocal chords the band is happy to announce that Britta Görtz from HIRAES will be filling in. “We have a plan!” says Marcus Bischoff. “Britta from HIRAES will fill in for me at the upcoming shows, so tomorrow in Kufstein as well as next weekend! Give her a warm welcome, show her what HSB fans are made of and make the shows something very special in the band’s history! We are really looking forward to it! Things are already looking better for me, too! Your Molle and the HSB guys!” Get well soon and welcome Britta!
“Heimat” = German for “home / homeland / native land” – a term that merely refers to a relationship between people and spaces but has nevertheless always been highly emotionally charged. Often misused, it sometimes causes discomfort, lively discussions and battles over interpretation. Maik Weichert (guitar) comments: “’Heimat’ is not meant as the narrow-minded end point in the sense it has been used by agitators and populists, but the starting point for observations and perspectives. The album is about a much wider sense of the term ‘Heimat’: the homelands for many different people and also about the spiritual home, something that shapes and determines our thoughts and actions.”
Artwork by Eliran Kantor
HEAVEN SHALL BURN took their time with the follow-up to “Of Truth And Sacrifice”, which reached number 1 in the Official German Album Charts in 2020. “Heimat” was produced at the band’s own studio, The Dude Ranch, which is run by guitarist Alexander Dietz. Like in the past, Danish producer Tue Madsen took care of the mixing and mastering.
The Thuringians enlisted the renowned artist Eliran Kantor for the artwork, who previously crafted the artwork for “Of Truth And Sacrifice”. The centrepiece of the impressive triptych is a rearing stag – in its roaring variant a classic motif of wildlife painting, the epitome of kitsch and trivial art from the 19th and 20th centuries and interpreted by some as a symbol of patriarchy and capitalist competition, but here placed as a vital allegory of resistance amid an apocalyptic scene. He is flanked by a hunting lynx and a watchful owl, which complete the highly symbolic artwork concept as further elements of the triptych. As with “Of Truth And Sacrifice”, HEAVEN SHALL BURN worked together with composer, producer and director Sven Helbig and conductor Wilhelm Keitel, this time supported by the Mondëna Quartet and the Ukrainian Sophia Chamber Choir.
“Heimat” will be released on 27 June 2025 by their long-standing label partner Century Media Records.
The track listing of ”Heimat“ reads as follows:
Ad Arma
War Is The Father Of All
My Revocation Of Compliance
Confounder
Empowerment
A Whisper From Above
Imminence
Those Left Behind
Ten Days In May
Numbered Days (feat. Jesse Leach of Killswitch Engage)
Consider yourself lucky if you secured a ticket for one of their club shows: 29.06. (DE) Bremen – Modernes (SOLD OUT) 30.06. (DE) Bochum – Zeche (SOLD OUT) 01.06. (DE) Memmingen – Kaminwerk (SOLD OUT) 02.06. (DE) Themar – Schützenhaus (SOLD OUT)
You can catch them on the following festivals: 11.06.25 (AT) Kufstein – Festung (w/ In Flames) 13.06.25 (CH) Greenfield – Interlaken 14.06.25 (AT) Nova Rock – Nickelsdorf 21.06.25 (DK) Copenhell – Copenhagen 22.06.25 (BE) Graspop Metal Meeting – Dessel 26.06.25 (NL) Jera On Air – Ysselsteyn 27.06.25 (DE) Impericon Festival – Leipzig 28.06.25 (DE) Vainstream Rockfest – Muenster 03.07.25 (DE) Rockharz Festival – Ballenstedt
HEAVEN SHALL BURN are: Marcus Bischoff – Vocals Maik Weichert – Guitar Alexander Dietz – Guitar Eric Bischoff – Bass Christian Bass – Drums
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 ) 