“Opp Ned” marks the beginning and the end of our record, in that it was the first song we started writing together as a four-piece back in 2022, at the time when Markus had decided to quit the band. It all started with a drum pattern we all loved over a riff that came off as a little too metal for LÜT, so we put it on the shelf and continued working on our record. In summer 2024, we were wrapping up the album and had nine finished tracks, and an album we grew to love more and more, but we felt that we were missing something.
It was after a gig in Vadsø, Norway, whilst we were doodling around with our guitars in a hotel room, that we finally came up with a riff that sounded new and fresh over the “metal” drum and bass pattern. We felt saved. A little while later, we had the lyrics—nine tracks became ten. With “Opp Ned,” our third album was a wrap, and we reached full circle.
The lyrics in “Opp Ned” mark the ups and downs we’ve experienced when working together and in our personal lives, and how, in the really bad periods, it only takes one missed step for it all to go spiralling back down. The song is meant to encourage picking yourself up over and over again, no matter what.
It has been a wild journey, and this track has become the favourite song on the record for some of us. We hope you will love it as well.
BIO LÜT The year is 2014, and the Tromsø-based band that eventually gets the name LÜT sees its inception in hermetically sealed boys’ rooms where hormones and teenage anxiety flowed freely. The result is sharp and distinctive rock, capturing fans from both the underground and the mainstream.
Fast forward to 2024, and LÜT has played at Summer Breeze (DE), Motocultor (FR), Spot Festival (DK), by:Larm, Slottsfjell, Bukta, Malakoff, Trondheim Calling, Vinje Rock, and Tons Of Rock. LÜT has been nominated for Best Newcomer at the Norwegian Grammys (2017) and P3 Gull (2017) awards.
They received praise from Lars Ulrich (Metallica) on his podcast “It’s Electric.” Their album “Mersmak” from 2021 received a 5/6 rating in Rolling Stone Magazine, leading them to support Germany’s big heroes DIE ÄRZTE on a stadium tour in front of 80,000 people in 2022, and then for Skambankt on their farewell tour in Norway in 2022. Hello 2025, and a new decade of modern Northern noise.
Two of Norway’s most unapologetic names in alternative music team up for a raw, hard-hitting release – and it hits deep.
Yesterday, on June 6, 16-year-old rising force STORM and genre-pushing band Fixation unleashed “Suffocating” – a fierce, emotional collaboration that blends vulnerability with controlled chaos. It’s more than just a song. It’s two generations crashing into each other and creating something loud, honest, and entirely their own.
STORM may be young, but he’s already racked up millions of views on TikTok and taken the stage at international festivals. Fixation, on the other hand, have built a reputation for explosive live energy, sharp songwriting, and a sound that doesn’t play by anyone’s rules. Together, they’ve made one of the most compelling tracks to come out of Norway’s alternative scene in a long time.
And no – this isn’t your average feature. “Suffocating” is personal. It’s intense. And it’s been a long time coming.
“I’ve been working with the guys in Fixation since I was 11,” says STORM. “Martin produced my first EP, and he mixed my entire new album. They were the first band I saw that made heavy music in Norway feel like it could actually matter on a global level.”
Fixation knew right away “Suffocating” was the one. “The track stood out immediately,” says vocalist Jonas W. Hansen. “We added a breakdown to give it our edge – more grit, more impact. It had to feel like both of us.”
Lyrically, “Suffocating” is a middle finger to expectations. It’s about refusing to be boxed in, refusing to be silenced – and the fury that builds when people treat your independence like a threat. “When I sing ‘I’m a demon,’ it’s not about being evil,” STORM says. “It’s about how people treat you when you stop playing nice. I’m done letting anyone choke my voice.”
The track is paired with a cold-blooded music video filmed in the dead of winter in Trondheim, Norway. Directed by Helmet Productions, it sees Jonas portraying a demonic version of STORM, dragging him down. “He stood screaming in freezing water while I sat in a warm trailer watching him go full beast mode,” STORM laughs. “He looked terrifying – which is hilarious, because he’s one of the nicest guys I know.”
“Suffocating” is more than just a song. It’s a collision of two expressions, two generations – and two artists who are actively pushing the boundaries of what modern alternative music from Norway can sound like. The result is raw, intense, and unapologetically real. It’s a statement that in 2025, Norwegian heavy music still has something new – and important – to say.
“This is more than just a feature,” says STORM. “We’re two of the only acts in Norway doing this kind of heavy alternative sound – and now we’ve finally joined forces. It was about time.”
Gothenburg-based alternative metal band Dream Drop is back with new music. After releasing their third album ACNE SUPERSTAR in late 2023, the band has been working hard on their next project. Now, they’re ready to drop Forgotten, a powerful new single that kicks off 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.
Today, Dream Drop releases their new single They All Talk About You—the second track from an upcoming project that introduces a more focused, energized, and evolved Dream Drop. And as if new music wasn’t exciting enough, the band hits the stage in their hometown Gothenburg tomorrow! Safe to say that the band is stepping into their strongest era yet!
After a 25-year hiatus, iconic Australian rock ‘n’ roll outfit Asteroid B-612 are back and firing on all cylinders with the release of their brand new album ‘Roads, Stars’, officially out now. The album is available digitally and on CD worldwide via Golden Robot Records. The album is also available on vinyl LP via FOLC Records in Spain and Europe. Available to order now.
Recorded across Australia and Spain throughout 2024, ‘Roads, Stars’ marks a thunderous return for the band that helped define Australia’s underground rock scene in the ’90s. A powerful collection of raw, soulful, and electrifying rock ‘n’ roll, the album proves that Asteroid B-612 haven’t missed a beat – if anything, they’ve only gotten louder, sharper, and more passionate.
Leading the charge is the recently released single ‘Park Bench Gods’, a high-energy, no-holds-barred track that sets the tone for what fans can expect from the full-length album. It’s a blistering, foot-stomping reminder of the band’s signature blend of grit, soul, and rock fury.
Featuring the ferocious guitar work of founder Johnny Casino, the distinctive, soulful vocals of original frontman Grant McIver, the relentless drive of long-time drummer Ben Fox, and new members Xabi Garre (guitar) and Juancho Lopez (bass), Roads, Stars captures the sound of a band reborn, delivering with the same fire that made them cult legends.
Emerging from the Australian underground in the early ’90s, Asteroid B-612 became known for their no-compromise approach to rock, blending Detroit punk energy, Aussie pub rock soul, and garage rock grit. From sweaty pub shows across Australia to their cult following in the U.S.A and Europe, the band became a seminal name in underground rock circles, known for their high-octane live performances, explosive guitar work, and raw, heartfelt songwriting.
With Roads, Stars, they pick up right where they left off – only louder and more defiant than ever. Available now via Golden Robot Records.
American black metal band ABIGAIL WILLIAMS previews its upcoming studio album “A Void Within Existence” (out July 18th on Agonia Records)with a new single “Still Nights”. Watch its visualizer video, here:
The follow-up to 2019’s critically acclaimed “Walk Beyond the Dark” marks a new chapter in the band’s relentless evolution; an album that not only expands upon the atmospheric darkness and melodic brutality of its predecessor, but pushes further into extremes, both sonically and emotionally.
Produced by frontman Ken Sorceron and mixed by renowned engineer Dave Otero (Aborted,Akhlys), “A Void Within Existence” is a scorched offering of black metal transcendence: harrowing, cinematic, and utterly uncompromising. Drums are performed by the virtuosic Mike Heller (Fear Factory, Ghost Bath), whose work here blurs the line between precision and chaos.
Lyrically, the album dives deep into existential themes of loss, disintegration, and unreality. Tracks like “Still Nights” and “No Less Than Death” reflect on identity through surreal and fragmented images – distant lights, poisoned memories, dreams where “there is no pain.” Elsewhere, songs like “Embrace The Chasm” and “Life, Disconnected” summon visions of cosmic dread and personal oblivion, confronting the listener with raw emotion and esoteric vision.
The record is accompanied by striking cover art from Eliran Kantor (Testament, Bloodbath), whose visual interpretation mirrors the inner desolation and mythic scope of the music.
“This record was born in the quiet hours, when everything felt hollow,” Sorceron reflects. “«A Void Within Existence» isn’t just a title – it’s a feeling I couldn’t shake while writing. There’s a loneliness threaded through these songs that came from somewhere deeper than I expected. The world outside was falling apart, and in a way, so was the one inside. I wanted to push beyond the limits we explored on «Walk Beyond the Dark». Sonically, emotionally, spiritually – nothing was off-limits. I produced the album to stay close to that vision, and with Dave Otero on the mix and Mike Heller behind the kit, everything came to life exactly how I heard it in my head: raw, vast, and crushing. This is a record about absence. About peeling away what isn’t real – examining the void left behind. If there’s anything left after that – maybe it’s the truth. Maybe it’s just the void. Either way, this is the most honest I’ve ever been. «A Void Within Existence» is more than an album. It’s a crucible – a journey through the fire where only shadow and silence remain.”
Surpassing its 20th year of existence (having been formed in 2004), ABIGAIL WILLIAMS has upgraded its formula to a quartet, comprising Ken Sorceron (ex-Aborted, ex-The Faceless, Vale Of Pnath, Nachtmystium) on vocals and guitars, Vance Valenzuela (Vale Of Pnath) on guitars, John Porada (ex-Nachtmystium, ex-Wolvhammer) on bass and Mike Heller (Fear Factory, Malignancy) on drums. With Sorceron retaining his leading role, the band expands on its unique and intensive sound, forged throughout five studio albums, and anchored in black metal with shades of death metal & symphonic metal.
Tracklisting: 1. Life, Disconnected 2. Void Within 3. Nonexistence 4. Still Nights 5. Talk To Your Sleep 6. Embrace The Chasm 7. No Less Than Death
Line-up: Ken Sorceron – vocals, guitars Vance Valenzuela – guitars John Porada – bass Mike Heller – drums
Progressive black metal duo OBSIDIAN TONGUE embarked on their FRAILTY & SCORN tour, which consists of eight performances of black metal intensity alongside WOE. The trek kicked off yesterday, June 6, in Long Island City, NY and will make its way throughout the East Coast until the final stop on June 13 in Providence, RI. The tour will not only celebrate the release of OBSIDIAN TONGUE‘s new studio album, but also will bring both bands back to many cities they have not visited in nearly a decade. The full itinerary can be found below!
OBSIDIAN TONGUE is supporting their new full-length, ‘Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn,’ which is out now via Profound Lore Records and can be ordered HERE.
Comprised of multi-instrumentalist Brendan Hayter (Thrawsunblat/Obsequiae live) and drummer Raymond Capizzo (Falls Of Rauros/Panopticon live), OBSIDIAN TONGUE returned to the all-analog Mystic Valley Studio, where their first two records were made, to print their Covid-era home sessions onto two-inch tape. Mixed and mastered in the analog domain as well by Alex Garcia-Rivera, ‘Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn’ boasts a unique and unmistakable sonic force amidst the modern digital landscape; created with a total absence of click tracks, quantization, or sound replacement of any kind.
OBSIDIAN TONGUE Tour Dates (Co-headlining w/ WOE), remaining shows:
06/07: Milton, DE @ Brimming Horn Meadery // Party Like It’s 793 Fest 06/08: Baltimore, MD @ The Depot 06/09: Richmond, VA @ Cobra Cabana 06/10: Raleigh, NC @ The Pour House 06/11: Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie 06/12: Syracuse, NY @ The Jugg on Teal 06/13: Providence, RI @ Fete Music Hall
Tracklisting: 01 – Orphaned Spiritual Warrior 02 – Snakeskin Tunnel Colony 03 – Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn [LISTEN] 04 – To Forgive Oneself [WATCH] 05 – …And Still They Dream… 06 – Theater of Smoke & Wind
Lauded as USBM’s best kept secret, Obsidian Tongue has been on a steadfast artistic journey since their formation in 2009. They’ve never failed to retain the original mission of playing raw and cathartic melodic black metal as they journeyed further into psychedelic and progressive territories with each release following 2012’s self-released debut ‘Subradiant Architecture.’ While their debut won a passionate following for its perfect union of the grimy and the epic sides of black metal, it was 2013’s ‘A Nest of Ravens in the Throat of Time’ (Hypnotic Dirge Records) and its psychedelic dark metal that established their name more into the scene and showcased their ambitious nature even more.
2015’s 15-minute single ‘The Lakeside Redemption,’ with its progressive, haunting, dreamlike and triumphant elements, set the groundwork for their third full length, which took several years of tireless effort to complete. Released in Jan of 2020, ‘Volume III’ (Bindrune Recordings) was clearly the band’s magnum opus but all plans to support the album on the road became thwarted due to the pandemic. So all there was left to do was write even more music. This gradually led to a creation of not one, but three works: the first being 2024’s much-delayed self-released digital EP ‘The Stone Heart’ and the second being their fourth full-length album ‘Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn’ to be released via Profound Lore Records on May 30, 2025.
In the summer of 2024, Obsidian Tongue, comprised of vocalist/guitarist/bassist Brendan Hayter (Thrawsunblat/Obsequiae live) and drummer Raymond Capizzo (Falls Of Rauros/Panopticon live) returned to the all-analog Mystic Valley Studio, where their first two records were made, to print their Covid-era home sessions onto two-inch tape. Mixed and mastered in the analog domain as well by Alex Garcia-Rivera, ‘Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn’ boasts a unique and unmistakable sonic force amidst the modern digital landscape; created with a total absence of click tracks, quantization, or sound replacement of any kind.
The progressive black metal journey that is ‘Eclipsing Worlds of Scorn’ takes off immediately with the wrathful sounds of “Orphaned Spiritual Warrior” and “Snakeskin Tunnel Colony,” easily the band’s two heaviest tracks to date. These flow directly into the apocalyptic title track, and onto the vulnerable and surreal sounds of “To Forgive Oneself” leading into the acoustic instrumental “…And Still They Dream.” This dream ends with the triumphant “Theater of Smoke & Wind,” a true psychedelic black metal classic that still evokes some of the original feeling found on the band’s ‘Subradiant Architecture’ debut.
Sixteen years into the band’s existence, Obsidian Tongue clearly show no signs of running out of new ways to alter their sound – song by song, album by album.
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 ) 