Out today on all major digital platforms, 6IX is the new single by Italian hard rockers TWELVE BACK STONES, released through Volcano Records & Promotion and accompanied by an official music video on YouTube.
Active since 2012, the band returns with a powerful track that reveals their most intimate and seductive side, evoking influences such as Velvet Revolver, The Cult, and L.A. Guns. 6IX is a tale of intimacy between two people who find a secret space to lose themselves in pleasure, free from sentimental constraints. The world outside can wait. The track’s enveloping sound creates a deep and sensual atmosphere, immersing the listener in a forbidden corner where everything comes to life.
The official video, already available on YouTube, adds evocative imagery to the track’s narrative, enhancing its emotional intensity.
GRAMMY Award winning American guitarist and singer songwriter Warren Haynes will perform a rare concert at London’s Islington Assembly Hall on Tuesday July 1st. This is the only UK show!
Haynes and his band will perform two sets. The first set will kick off at 8pm, followed by an intermission at 9:15pm. The second set will commence at 9:35pm.
Haynes is best known for his work as long-time guitarist with the Allman Brothers Band and as founding member of the jam band Gov’t Mule. The guitarist will perform music from his new album Million Voices Whisper plus songs from his extensive back catalogue.
Warren Haynes is a cornerstone of the American music landscape, lauded as one of the most formidable guitarists and vocalists of the modern era and a prolific songwriter and producer.
He is known to millions for effortlessly cross-pollinating music genres and unfurls guitar solos that broil with passion in his distinctive, signature style.
Throughout his prolific career as part of three of the greatest live groups in rock history – Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule and the Dead – and an acclaimed solo artist, he has become one of music’s most treasured storytellers and his artistry has led to thousands of memorable performances and millions of album and track sales.
WARREN HAYNES BAND ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL TUESDAY JULY 1ST – ONLY UK SHOW!
Haynes is a beacon of creativity and musical excellence that inspires fans as well as fellow musicians, evidenced by the diverse array of artists that he has performed and recorded with, including Dave Matthews Band, Peter Frampton, Chris Stapleton, Coheed and Cambria, Dave Grohl, Carlos Santana, Willie Nelson, and Dolly Parton, and many more.
Haynes’ current release, Million Voices Whisper, marks his first solo album in almost a decade and fourth solo release in his esteemed career catalogue. The soulful blues-rock collection includes guest appearances from his ABB bandmate Derek Trucks, Lukas Nelson, and Jamey Johnson.
Haynes also curates and hosts the Christmas Jam, an annual star-studded holiday charity show in his hometown of Asheville, North Carolina, which will return for its 33rd event in 2025 due to Hurricane Helene recovery efforts this year. As one of the most celebrated and longest-running live concerts in the U.S., the Christmas Jam has raised nearly $3 million for Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity, constructing over 50 homes, and helps the region’s housing needs through newer partner BeLoved Asheville. For more information, visit www.warrenhaynes.net.
Danish blackened death juggernaut LOTAN unleash their searing new single and official video, “Righteous Fury” – a firestorm of blast beats, razor-edged tremolo riffs, and guttural proclamation. More than just a song, “Righteous Fury” is a warning: a grim echo from a world on the brink, where division and hatred threaten to ignite global catastrophe.
With unrelenting aggression and a burning sense of urgency, Lotan channel their trademark fusion of nihilism, fury, and sharp social critique into this devastating track. In the chorus, the ancient term “Yetzer Hara“ resounds – a reminder of mankind’s innate pull toward destruction. If we do not break the cycle, we will become the spark.
“Righteous Fury” marks the first glimpse into Lotan’s upcoming album, “Yetzer Hara”, set for release on August 15th. While details remain under wraps until this Friday, the band promises nothing less than a scorched-earth continuation of their uncompromising vision.
This is not escapism. This is resistance. In the name of distortion.
Join the premiering here:
With “Yetzer Hara”, Lotan unleash a searing new chapter of blackened death metal – furious, unrelenting, and razor-sharp in its intent.
Forged in the fires of Denmark’s extreme metal underground, Lotan deliver a blistering fusion of blackened death metal and social defiance. Inspired by the likes of Behemoth, Hate, Mgła, and Anaal Nathrakh, the band blends nihilism and aggression with a confrontational critique of modern decay. “Yetzer Hara” is not just an album: it is a reckoning. Drawing from the biblical tale of Cain and Abel, Lotan delve into the destructive urges that define humanity’s fall from grace, invoking themes of internal conflict, moral collapse, and primal violence.
“Our sound is a weapon – forged in fury, aimed at the puppeteers who thrive on division and decay”, the band states. Across the album’s brutal compositions and incendiary lyrics, Lotan channel raw emotion into resistance – fierce, articulate, and uncompromising.
On stage, their live shows are no mere performance, but a total sensory assault: immersive, volatile, and unforgettable. Lotan aren’t just playing music – they’re igniting a movement.
“This is not escapism. This is resistance. In the name of distortion”.
“Yetzer Hara” will be released digitally on 15.08.2025, via Emanzipation Productions.
Lineup: Martin Rubini – vocals Lasse Heiberg – guitar Andy Dragsberg – guitar Phillip Kaaber – bass Jon Elmquist – drums
Danish melodic heavy metal outfit MERIDIAN return with a vengeance on their new single and official video “Uprising”, an upbeat, hard-rocking anthem of rebellion. The track serves as a call to arms against dictatorship and oppression, reminding us that the fight for freedom is far from over in today’s chaotic world.
With sharp riffing, powerful hooks, and raw energy, “Uprising” showcases the band’s renewed focus and attitude, marking the studio debut of new frontman Søren Adamsen (ex-Artillery). His commanding vocals bring a harder edge to the band’s sound, perfectly suited for this back-to-the-roots approach.
The song is taken from Meridian’s upcoming fifth album, set for release later this year via From The Vaults / Target Group. Produced, mixed, and mastered by guitarist Marco Angioni at Angioni Studios, the album will be a celebration of classic heavy metal spirit – no gimmicks, just pure songwriting, grit and passion.
Join the premiering here:
Lineup: Søren Adamsen – vocals Martin Jepsen Andersen – lead & rhythm guitars Marco Angioni – lead & rhythm guitars Klaus Agerbo – drums Peter Bruun – bass
Mighty Music proudly presents the new official video and digital single from British heavy metal powerhouse FURY: “Interceptor”.
Taken from their upcoming fifth studio album – announced this Friday – “Interceptor” is a no-holds-barred anthem that encapsulates the high-octane spirit of the band’s evolving sound. With lightning-fast riffing, dual lead vocals that soar and strike in equal measure, and a pulse that never lets up, this title track is a statement of intent from a band firing on all cylinders.
Join the premiering here:
Fury are challenging the barriers of hard rock and metal genres once again with their exciting new album “Interceptor”. From the reassuringly old-school fast riffing and anthemic vocals the long lasting fans know from Fury, to the carefully composed, introspective auditory treats that might surprise listeners who expect metal bands to sit neatly in their box.
Since their previous album, “Born To Sin” (2022), Fury have moved into the territory of dual lead vocals, opening up a new soundscape for the band to explore. With the release of every album since their debut in 2014, vocal melody and harmony have become an increasingly significant part of their sound. Until no longer could the band remain a four-piece, and the powerhouse Nyah Ifill joined alongside founding member Julian Jenkins on co-lead vocals. The pairing of their two distinctive vocal timbres build a wall of sound on the “Interceptor” album, and doesn’t let up the intensity for their roaring live shows.
2022 was also a big year for Fury bassist Becky Baldwin, who found herself meeting heavy metal idols Mercyful Fate on their first tour in 23 years, and was invited by King Diamond to tour the USA, Canada and Mexico with Mercyful Fate in the absence of their bassist, Joey Vera. After taking this opportunity, Becky was invited to join Mercyful Fate permanently in January 2024. With frequent gaps in the touring schedule to allow King Diamond his many projects, Becky found herself busy with Fury, on the road and recording the high-energy new album “Interceptor”.
“Interceptor” also marks another sonic change for the band, bringing in the production expertise of Todd Campbell of Stompbox Studios. Fury met Todd while touring Europe supporting Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons in 2023, and it became clear that someone so close to Motörhead and Lemmy would understand the energy, rawness and dirty guitar and bass tones that Fury craved for their fifth studio album.
Since the band’s formation in 2010, Fury’s line up has undergone many transformations, but it is undoubtedly clear that Fury have found their stride in recent years, reflecting in their expansion into touring mainland Europe and a growing online following worldwide. Gig highlights include festivals such as Download (UK), Bloodstock Open Air (UK), UrRock (CH) and supporting bands such as Phil Campbell and the Bastard Sons, Firewind and Florence Black.
The West Midlands of the UK have produced many excellent heavy bands, and with a shift from unapologetically DIY to signing with Danish label Mighty Music, perhaps this is another album from Birmingham to shake up the airwaves again!
“Interceptor” will be released on LP (black vinyl limited to 200 copies and purple vinyl limited to 300 copies), CD and digital on 05.09.2025, via Mighty Music.
Tour dates: 25/06 – The Pitcher, DUSSELDORF, DE 26/06 – Bambi Galore, HAMBURG, DE 27/06 – Rock n’ Metal Day’z Fest, OSCHERSLEBEN, DE 28/06 – Sound Dog, BREDA, NL 19/07 – Maid of Stone Festival, MAIDSTONE, UK 08/08 – Firevolt Festival, MANCHESTER, UK 16/08 – Corporation, SHEFFIELD, UK 30/08 – Hella Rock Festival, COVENTRY, UK 04/09 – Waterloo, BLACKPOOL, UK 05/09 – Nightrain, BRADFORD, UK 06/09 – The Cluny, NEWCASTLE, UK 07/09 – Bannerman’s, EDINBURGH, UK 11/09 – The Patriot, CRUMLIN, UK 12/09 – Joiners, SOUTHAMPTON, UK 18/09 – Eleven, STOKE, UK 19/09 – Billesley Rock Club, BIRMINGHAM, UK 20/09 – Arena, TORQUAY, UK 21/09 – The Victoria, SWINDON, UK 15/11 – Aonia Fest, SHEFFIELD, UK 17/12 – The Black Heart, London, UK 18/12 – Exchange, Bristol, UK 19/12 – The Marrs Bar, Worcester, UK
Lineup: Julian Jenkins – guitar, vocals Nyah Ifill – vocals Becky Baldwin – bass Tom Fenn – drums Tom Atkinson – guitar
The ultimate Heavy Metal museum features artifacts from Slayer, Metallica, Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Thin Lizzy and many more!
Starting tomorrow, Friday the 13th, the Metal Blade Records Museum will be open every day (excluding Sunday) from 12pm-3pm. Tickets HERE!
The ultimate heavy metal museum is located in Las Vegas, NV and features items collected throughout the life and career of Metal Blade‘s founder and Chairman/CEO, Brian Slagel. You’ll see items like old promo materials, old show flyers from the Sunset Strip and beyond, plaques, props from tours and music videos, original promotional photos from bands’ album releases, original artwork from bands’ cover art, merch, gear, and so, so much more.
In addition to the new museum hours, Metal Blade‘s brick and mortar store has moved locations and can now be found at the museum. The Metal Blade Store is full of Metal Blade collectibles and out-of-print items that can’t be found anywhere else, fans can visit the location to get their fix of rare vinyl, t-shirts, CDs and more.
Get a look at what’s in the Metal Blade Records Museum by watching the videos below.
About Metal Blade Records: Founded upon owner Brian Slagel‘s enduring drive to find great bands and get their music out to as many people as possible, since 1982 Metal Blade has brought wave after wave of powerful, innovative, and often genre-defining music to the ever-hungry metal masses. It is this ethos that has seen Metal Blade build up a stunning and diverse catalog, weather the various storms facing any independent label, and in an age of declining record sales boast the most successful years of its existence as it celebrates its fourth decade.
Metal Blade Records launched Metallica, Slayer, Armored Saint, Fates Warning, GWAR, Cannibal Corpse, Amon Amarth, Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder, Cattle Decapitation, and dozens more genre giants, shaping four decades and counting of hard rock, metal, and extreme music culture. Brian Slagel worked as a record store clerk when he founded Metal Blade in 1982, reserving a spot for a young Lars Ulrich on his Metal Massacre compilation series. Metal Blade grew from humble beginnings in Los Angeles to become an international powerhouse, selling millions of albums while remaining fiercely independent. In 2017, Slayer‘s Kerry King inducted the label into the Hall of Heavy Metal History. Slagel‘s For the Sake of Heaviness: The History of Metal Blade Records arrived the same year.
In 2022 Metal Blade Records celebrated its 40th Anniversary by way of two live shows in Las Vegas – one featuring Killswitch Engage and another featuring Sacred Reich. In addition to these two packed live shows/parties, the label reissued its first release, the compilation album Metal Massacre, plus specially branded 40th Anniversary small batch vodka and rum, and a West Coast style IPA beer. Brian Slagel also saw the release of his second book, Swing of the Blade: More Stories from Metal Blade Records that was released on May 9th and was met with rave reviews from fans and press alike. One fan on Good Reads called the book “a sentimental journey through Brian’s metal origin-story recollections from his deep and wide perspective as founder of Metal Blade that I enjoyed very much” while MetalTalk.net wrote that “Swing Of The Blade is an endearing, honest, and enjoyable journey into the deeper world of Brian Slagel, the main man behind the legendary Metal Blade Records…this is very much Brian in his own words, recounting tales from the early days of Metal Blade through to a brief post-pandemic epilogue, where he expresses his regret that the book hasn’t coincided with the 40th anniversary of the label.” To round out the celebration, Brian Slagel opened up the label’s collection of heavy metal memorabilia to fans in Las Vegas, NV, marking the opening of the official Metal Blade Records Museum that is open every Saturday.
The celebrating rolled over into 2023 and in October AXS TV picked up and premiered the Denise Korycki documentary of Metal Massacre: The Story Behind the Legendary Album. Packed with all-star interviews, rare photos, the film tells the story of the groundbreaking 1982 Metal Massacre vinyl compilation-a sonic celebration of the burgeoning Los Angeles Metal scene, which helped launch the careers of iconic acts Metallica and Ratt, and ultimately led to the birth of the legendary independent record label Metal Blade Records. The film boasts priceless commentary and anecdotes from Metal Blade founder Brian Slagel and his friend and collaborator John Kornarens, two metalheads with a dream who made Metal Massacre a reality; as well as Metallica members Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield; Ratt frontman Stephen Pearcy; and Black N’ Blue singer Jamie St. James, among many others.
In 2024, Metal Blade Records and Pantheon Media launched the “100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal” Podcast to the excitement of metalheads everywhere. The successful podcast, which is loved by fans, industry, and artists alike, is hosted by Brian Slagel, CEO of Metal Blade Records. Each episode of the series will spotlight one of the most defining songs in metal, blending artist interviews, expert analysis, and behind-the-scenes insights. Listeners are taken on a deep dive into the production, cultural impact, and legacy of each track, with insights from prominent voices like music historian Martin Popoff and producer Jay Ruston.
The podcast features exclusive appearances from musicians who either influenced or were influenced by these legendary tracks, ensuring fans a unique, all-encompassing exploration of metal music. From Metallica and Slayer to Cannibal Corpse and Alice Cooper, “100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal” covers the songs that have defined generations, blending narrative storytelling with in-depth analyses. This podcast also serves as a tribute to the fans whose passion fuels the genre and keeps it alive for future generations.
“100 Songs That Define Heavy Metal” is now available on all major podcast platforms, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Amazon Music.
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 ) 