Beyond Forgiveness unveils their latest offering, the powerful new single “Cold as Winter’s Ice”, accompanied by a visually captivating lyric video. This title track serves as the first glimpse into their upcoming album, set for release July 18, 2025.
The forthcoming album dives deeper into the wilderness of universal human experience, pushing the boundaries of symphonic metal even further.
Where light and darkness interweave, where brutal death metal and angelic classical voices coexist on the same plane, and a story land of myth and legend transport you away into a realm of symphonic beautality, you will encounter the band Beyond Forgiveness.
The U.S. based band emerged in 2014 as a studio project formed by death metal guitarists Greg Witwer and Richard Marcus. Eventually the band solidified its lineup collaborating with classical vocalist and orchestrator Talia Hoit, drummer Sean Rogers, and bassist Jim Lasselle, combining contrasting musical styles into an epic adventure of symphonic metal.
In 2016, the band released an EP, The Ferryman’s Shore. The release was embraced by the underground symphonic metal scene with rave reviews, and the band’s signature sound was dubbed “beautality”. The band followed with touring in Europe and two additional full length albums, The Great Wall in 2017, and Live to Tell the Story in 2019, each becoming more symphonically charged. With lyrics ranging from emotional turmoil to Tolkien-esque fantasy, the music explores the paradoxes of a wide range of human experience and musical style. Incorporating extreme metal elements, as well as classical composition, the band continues to push boundaries to create art as a metaphor of life.
Fans can experience the chilling grandeur of “Cold as Winter’s Ice” now, as Beyond Forgiveness continues their journey—blending extreme metal, classical composition, and storytelling into a soundscape unlike any other.
Beyond Forgiveness is:
Vocals/Orchestration: Talia Hoit Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals: Greg Witwer Drums: Sean Rogers
With additional performances on the album: Rhythm Guitar/Vocals: Richard Marcus Bass: Jim Lasselle Flute: Ann Vest
Eindhoven Metal Meeting 2025 proudly presents its full line up!
December is the time of year again when we prepare to congregate in the heart of Eindhoven to celebrate the fourteenth edition of all things heavy and extreme.
From the old-school legends to the hottest newcomers, Eindhoven Metal Meeting 2025 boasts a diverse and hard-hitting roster of bands that will sate every metal appetite.
Thus, mark your calendars for Friday 12th & Saturday 13th of December 2025!
Friday 12th of December:
HYPOCRISY GORGOROTH / ABSU / HELLBUTCHER
+many more!
Saturday 13th of December:
TRIPTYKON BATUSHKA / NARGAROTH / TRIBULATION
+many more!
*Note that the full day splits are yet to be revealed!
Traditionally, a day prior to the main event there will be a warm-up evening! So kick off your weekend on Thursday December 11th, 2025 with GROZA, THE SPIRIT, ANTE-INFERNO, ANTIKVLT & HYLA!!
When Sexagisma broke up, unremarked and barely recorded, in the mid-1980s, even the band’s own members doubted we’d ever hear their name again.
Formed in 1981 as a glam rock party piece, but swiftly developing into one of the most entertaining, not to mention visual, bands on the UK club circuit, Sexagisma made their vinyl debut on that year’s Sing As We Go various artists collection.
A scrapbook’s worth of press mentions and gig flyers followed, as Sexagisma wowed audiences opening for everyone from torch song diva Mari Wilson to goth pioneers Specimen, from the then newly-emerged The Alarm to revitalized glam hit makers The Glitter Band. Twice in three months they stunned The Batcave’s traditionally dour and darkest denizens; they gave the London Marquee its most glittering evening in years… they were, insisted prestigious UK weekly Melody Maker, “ratty and tatty and oozing subterranean sleazeball brilliance.”
But it was also the mid-1980s, and potential pop stardom was built around some very narrowly defined musical templates. And a band that Melody Maker, again, described as “trash rockers… who make The Sweet look like vicars” was never going to break that glass ceiling.
So the band split, the members dispersed, and a fistful of cassettes, a smattering of demos and a few concert recordings were quietly archived. Life went on… a full 40 years worth.
But some fans never forgot. A dedicated Facebook page attracted almost 700 followers based upon fond memories alone; a retrospective article in Goldmine magazine teased American audiences with a resounding “what if?”; and now, with their long, long, loooong delayed debut album poised for release, frontman and songwriter Vaughan Funnell admits, “I’m shocked.” For so many years, “Sexagisma was a bit of a joke about something I did in my 20s. And now, immortalized in plastic. Pink plastic!!!!”
Available also on CD and digital, From The Batcave 1981-1985 comprises 13 Funnell originals, plus a slew of CD bonus tracks drawn from the band’s glam-spanning repertoire of covers – David Bowie, Alice Cooper and The Sweet among them. All have been remastered from the original recordings; all recapture the sheer mayhem and magnificence of Sexagisma in full flight.
First, however, the band’s traditional set opener “Monster Fun” va-va-vooms out of the vault, a high octane “Batcave Deadly Mix” vivaciously remodeled by Die Krupps frontman Jurgen Engler – no stranger himself, of course, to the scene and sounds that nurtured Sexagisma in the first place… and revisiting it, too, with Die Krupps currently on tour with Ministry.
Sexagisma’s accompanying video, too, pays wide-eyed tribute to a live show that featured everything from onstage disemboweling to (probably) simulated sex, with the occasional fire-eater thrown in for good measure. Or, as another period review put it, “a blur of lame and leopardskin, a stage full of smoke… and boy dancer Andy spurting fake blood through the top of his head.”
Earlier this month, CREMATORY have released their 17th studio album “Destination”, that is out on ROAR at THIS LOCATION.
With “Destination”, CREMATORY return to the Champions League, even placing their new masterpiece in the Top 10 of the German album charts straight away!
Now, as a gift for the great support of their fans, the iconic dark metal pioneers have announced to reissue the first demo and their first two albums from their distinctive back catalogue: “Engulfed in Darkness” (Demo, 1992), “Transmigration” (1993) and “…Just Dreaming” (1994) on limited colored vinyl, slated for a re-release on July 4th via ROAR!
CREMATORY were founded in January 1991 and have grown to become Germany’s leading gothic metal band, with 17 studio albums to their name. Their versatile sound ranges from melodic death metal to electro/dark wave-inspired parts, some of which are performed in German. In over three decades, CREMATORY have released numerous classics, including unmistakable hits such as “Tears Of Time”, “Shadows Of Mine”, “Fly”, “The Fallen”, “Greed”, “Shadowmaker”, or from their current chartbreaker “Destination”, the grandiose “Welt aus Glas”. Alongside 90s cult acts such as TYPE O NEGATIVE, TIAMAT, MOONSPELL, THE GATHERING and PARADISE LOST, CREMATORY are one of the most successful representatives of their genre.
“Engulfed In Darkness” is their very first demo tape, released in February 1992, now available for the first time as a Mini-LP, limited to 500 copies in colored vinyl! The line-up at the time, featuring singer Felix Stass and drummer Markus Jüllich, included guitarist Lotte Först and bassist Marc Zimmer. A legendary demo and death metal assault, remastered by current CREMATORY guitarist and producer Rolf Munkes at Empire Studios Bensheim!
Pre-order “Engulfed In Darkness” now on: https://crematory.rpm.link/engulfedPR
Tracklist: 01 – Engulfed In Darkness 02 – Face The Unknown 03 – Prophecies Of The Last Days 04 – Burry All Life
The CREMATORY debut album “Transmigration” was released in April 1993, including hits such as “Eyes Of Suffering”, “Hall Of Torment” and “Deformity”. A melodic death metal album with dominant keyboard parts and a certain horror feeling. A terrific debut and genre classic! Remastered by Rolf Munkes, the reissue of “Transmigration” will be available as limited, colored vinyl limited to 500 copies.
Tracklist: 01 – Bequest Of The Wicked 02 – The Eyes Of Suffering 03 – Deformity 04 – Never Forgotten Place 05 – Hall Of Torment 06 – Reincarnation 07 – Victims 08 – Through My Soul 09 – The Way Behind The Light 10 – Bequest Of The Hallow
After the grandiose debut “Transmigration”, CREMATORY‘s second album “…Just Dreaming” was released just one year later in May 1994, propelling the band straight to the top of their genre in Germany. With melodic death metal anthems such as “Shadows Of Mine”, “Only Once In A Lifetime” and “In My Hands”, CREMATORY hit the ravages of time and enjoyed increasing popularity. Together with ATROCITY and TIAMAT, they toured Europe for the first time. “…Just Dreaming” will be now coming out as limited edition colored vinyl, also remastered by Rolf Munkes!
Tracklist: 01 – Heavens Throat 02 – Transmigration 03 – Only Once In A Lifetime 04 – Shadows Of Mine 05 – I Saw The Angels Fly 06 – In My Hands 07 – The Instruction 08 – The Prophecy 09 – Dreams 10 – For Those Who Believe
CREMATORY Live: 11.05. München – Backstage 16.05. Erfurt – Club From Hell 17.05. Zwickau – Club Seilerstrasse 29.05. Oberhausen – Kulttempel 30.05. Potsdam – Lindenpark 31.05. Coesfeld – Fabrik
CREMATORY are: Felix Stass – Vocals Rolf Munkes – Guitar Oliver Revilo – Bass Katrin Jüllich – Keyboards, Samples Markus Jüllich – Drums, Programming
Italian avant-metal collective syk release a compelling live video for “Where I Am Going There Is No Light“, the second track from their latest album ‘eartHFlesh’, available now via Season of Mist.
Captured during their performance at Frantic Fest 2024 in Francavilla al Mare, Italy, the video showcases syk’s raw energy and intricate musicianship, offering a visceral window into the album’s bleak yet transformative world. Frantic Fest, known for its cutting-edge curation of extreme music, provided the perfect stage for syk to reveal the full intensity of their sound.
The track itself unfolds in three conceptual acts—The Fall, The Enlightenment, and The Demons Spirals—each reflecting a stage in a surreal descent and rebirth. From the moment frontman Stefano Ferrian takes the mic, the performance bristles with urgency and menace, blending djent-laced riffs, blackened atmospherics, and haunting lyrical narratives.
As the band conjures this apocalyptic rite live, the audience becomes part of an unrelenting ritual—one that mirrors the song’s meditation on spiritual decay, self-disintegration, and the search for meaning in a world starved of light. The stage is shrouded in stark lighting and smoke, evoking the visual metaphor of the song’s title while reinforcing syk’s commitment to immersive, audiovisual storytelling.
SYK is a metal band that came into existence in 2013 when Stefano Ferrian and Federico De Bernardi di Valserra decided to embark on a new musical venture following the disbandment of their previous project, .psychofagist. They were soon joined by the immensely talented vocalist Dalila Kayros, whose vocal skills left a deep impression on the band during live performances.
In May 2014, syk released their debut album titled Atoma through L’Inphantile Collective. The album caught the attention of Philip H Anselmo from Housecore Records, who not only expressed his appreciation for the band’s work but also offered them a deal for their second album. This second album, titled I-Optikon, was released on December 2, 2016, and was produced by Philip H Anselmo himself. The album was notable for its technical compositions that offered a unique and unparalleled listening experience, as Metal Trenches aptly described it.
Following the release of their second album, the band welcomed their long-time friend Marcello Cravini as a permanent member, taking on the role of the second guitarist. syk subsequently embarked on extensive tours across Europe in 2017 and 2018 and had the honour of being the official support act for GODFLESH during their Italian/Slovenian run in May 2018. Additionally, they also participated in the prestigious Roadburn Festival in the same year, further cementing their reputation as a promising metal act.
In 2019, Federico made the difficult decision to leave the band due to personal reasons, and shortly after, the global pandemic hit, disrupting the band’s search for a new drummer. However, towards the end of 2020, Mauro Maraldo joined syk as their new drummer, and with their lineup complete, they wasted no time in entering the studio to record their third album. This album, titled Pyramiden, was released on March 11th, 2022, through Housecore Records/Nuclear Blast. The album’s distinct and powerful character earned syk high praise, with MetalheadCommunity recognizing them as one of the most promising metal acts of the time.
Pyramiden received further acclaim when it was included in the ProgSpace Awards 2022 under the category of ‘Album of the Year 2022/Extreme Prog Category’, alongside esteemed acts like Fallujah, Allegaeon, Cult of Luna, and Conjurer. Unfortunately, soon after the album’s release, both Mauro and Dalila had to depart from the band due to personal reasons.
However, syk, known for their sonic evolution, decided to press on. Founding members Stefano and Marcello continued working on their fourth album while actively searching for new members. Alan La Roca joined the band as the bass player, solidifying the lineup, but the search for a drummer remained a challenge. It wasn’t until Federico Leone answered their call that the band found their new drummer. With the lineup in place consisting of Stefano Ferrian as the new frontman, guitarist, and main songwriter, Marcello Cravini on guitars, Alan La Roca on bass, and Federico Leone on drums, syk took on a new form.
In early 2023, syk caught the attention of Season Of Mist, who signed them for the release of their fourth album, eartHFlesh. This album not only marks the band’s latest offering but also signifies their first decade as a band. With a reinvigorated sound and an intensified sonic progression, syk continues to captivate listeners and solidify their place in the metal scene.
Recording Lineup: Stefano Ferrian – Guitars, Vocals Marcello Cravini – Guitars, Ambient FX Alan La Roca – Bass Federico Leone – Drums
Guest Musicians: Dalila Kayros – Guest Vocals (On ‘I Am The Beast’, ‘I’ll Haunt You In Your Dreams’, For To Themselves I Left Them’ & ‘The Passing’)
Recording Studio: Fiery Water Recording Studio (Alessandria, Italy)
Demeted state: “The EP’s last single is ‘7 Rituals’ and is the only one on the record that is not inspired by a mythological legend. The song puts tremendous emphasis on the number seven, as this number is deeply ingrained as something that symbolizes fullness and perfection, but also is a reason for many superstitions. We wanted to make a song that would focus on vocals, especially in a long and slow chorus that would have the melody to bring out the emotions of anyone that would listen to it.
“We are also honored to announce that we qualified to the finals of Polish nationwide TV show Mam Talent, of the ‘America’s Got Talent’ franchise. We are ecstatic about the experience so far, and we now have an opportunity on 17th May to win the whole show playing metal for the masses. This is for sure a pivotal moment in our career that will leave an imprint on the European metalcore scene.”
The band continue: “This EP is also the manifestation of our continuous evolution as a band. The sound has turned to a darker, more aggressive and mysterious tone, but the imagery was adjusted to resemble the offering’s main themes. Everything in the new release falls under the concept of displaying the forgotten and mysterious, indigenous culture of Poland from hundreds of years ago. The one specific element that clearly helps separate us from the rest of the bands in our genre is our sound flexibility. We can always find a way to create a catchy chorus, even if the song is really heavy and it would be impossible at the first glance.
“If there’s anything we can share with the world, it would be one thing – be proud of who you are, because your intrinsic value is immense. You just need to show it to the world and eventually there will be someone that’s going to cherish it.”
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 ) 