After winning the Special Wanikiya Award at the Veneto Rock Contest, Jack Raven, one of the most promising names in the new Italian rock scene, officially releases their brand-new single “Don’t Let It Be”, available today – May 2nd – on all digital platforms.
This song is an anthem for peace, a global cry against war, violence, and hatred. Written in English to reach audiences across the world, “Don’t Let It Be” delivers a message that is urgent, universal, and deeply emotional.
The single was born following the band’s recognition at the Veneto Rock Contest, where they received the Wanikiya Special Award, celebrating musical acts with strong expressive and emotional potential.
In a time shaken by war and division – from Ukraine to Israel and Palestine – Jack Raven chooses music as a vehicle of empathy, art as resistance, and sound as an instrument for awakening and change.
Formed in late 2022, Jack Raven is: Giacomo Deschi – Vocals & guitar Lorenzo Duranti – Guitar Lorenzo Cappelletti – Drums Alessio Renda – Bass
Their sound blends alternative rock, metal, prog elements, and electronic atmospheres, always balancing raw performance with refined production. The name “Jack Raven” merges Giacomo’s alter ego (“Jack”) and the symbolic raven from Steven Wilson’s album The Raven that Refused to Sing.
But unlike the raven that refused to sing, Jack Raven chooses to raise their voice – loud, honest, and passionate.
“Adrenaline, passion, show and connection: that’s our fuel,” they affirm.
Pupil Slicer, the critically acclaimed mathcore band known for their boundary-pushing intensity, is back with a new double single, “Heather/Black Scrawl”! Marking the first taste of what’s to come from camp Slicer. These two singles are a testament to the band’s relentless evolution, showcasing their most confident, aggressive, and emotionally charged music to date.
Chilean death-doom cult DEVS MORTVORVM will unleash their new EP on June 6, 2025 via Apocalyptic Productions, delivering a putrid sermon steeped in the stench of traditional death metal and the mournful crawl of doomed melodies.
The first single “Love for the Dead” is now streaming HERE.
Formed in 2015 by David Briones (guitar) and Claudio Carrasco (vocals), DEVS MORTVORVM emerged with a clear mission: to play Graveyard Doom Death, inspired by legendary acts such as Goatlord, Derketa, early Cathedral and Autopsy. The band is now completed by Andrés Henríquez on drums and Felipe Vuletich on bass, bringing even more weight and rot to their already imposing sound.
This upcoming EP features five tracks—three original compositions, a crushing cover of “Acid Orgy” by U.S. cult legends Goatlord, and a raw live track that captures the band’s visceral stage presence. Every aspect of this release – lyrics, artwork, and music – is a unified expression of DEVS MORTVORVM’s devotion to the morbid spirit of doom-death and necrolatry.
Musically, the EP offers an enticing blend of shadow-drenched, vicious death-doom, where sludgy riffs clash and intertwine with serpentine melodies, creating a dynamic tension that keeps each track unpredictable and alive. It’s a masterclass in sonic decay, where every note drips with the dampness of the tomb.
Tracklist:
01. Orgy in the Graveyard 02. Love for the Dead 03. The Oldest Crypt 04. Acid Orgy (Goatlord cover) 05. Orgy in the Graveyard (live)
Recorded between july 2023 and september 2024 at Black Sheep Studios All Music composed by David Briones except “Acid Orgy” by Goatlord. Lyrics and vocal lines by Claudio Carrasco except “Acid Orgy” by Goatlord. Live track recorded at MiBar 20/12/2024 Artwork by Julián Mora.
Line-up:
David Briones – Guitars Claudio Carrasco – Vocals Andrés Henríquez – Drums Felipe Vuletich – Bass
Ever since they formed in the early ’90s, Nightfall have stood alongside Rotting Christ and Septicflesh as the pioneering trinity of Greek metal. Fearsome frontman Efthimis Karadimas and his band of Athenian rebels are still out for revenge on their new album, but Children of Eve is backed by the biggest hooks in their pantheon-level discography.
Children of Eve was released yesterday, Friday, May 2, and you can hear all 10 stage-shaking tracks by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel.
Like their brothers-in-arms, Nightfall sculpt towering gothic melodies from blackened slabs of death metal. Children of Eve is blessed with the mightiest choruses in the band’s formidable history. Their new album was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen, who’s helped Volbeat, Amaranthe and The Black Dahlia Murder crank their metallic fury to arena levels. Lead single “I Hate” seethes with blast beats from ex-Septicflesh drummer Fotis Benardo that flow with all the fire and fury of the River Styx.
“I think the first two things that anybody who listens to this record will say is that it’s heavy and it’s epic”, A&P Reacts says.
Children of Eve will have the heshers headbanging, but it wouldn’t bear the mark of Nightfall if it didn’t possess a powerful message. Read the tracklist out loud and it’s clear that living under the Eastern Orthodox Church for the past three decades has only stoked the band’s fiery disdain for overzealous rulers. “Anger was the root”, Efthimis says when asked what birthed their new album. “Faith is a personal matter, but it can become a dirty business”. Guitarist Kostas Kyriakopoulous leads the charge on “Seeking Revenge” with riffs that pound like an army of horses.
While Nightfall’s latest rebellion was spurred by the ongoing rise around the globe of so-called “holy wars”, the message behind Children of Eve is deeply personal. When the band retreated amongst the shadows during their 2010’s hiatus, Efthimis was diagnosed with depression. He now wears a black mask that covers half of his face to show what it’s like to live under the invisible veil of mental illness.
“Mental illness can lead to self-isolation”, says Efthimis, a stigma he’s now fighting through Metal Music against Depression, a new initiative that he’ll be speaking about during his two upcoming panels at Athens Music Week. With its blood-pumping chorus, “The Cannibal” bites back at how religious dogma can eat you alive from the inside.
“I own a field / Inside your mind“, Efthimis foams at the mouth, as if driven mad by the angel on his shoulder. “That’s where the guilt / It’s rooted deep“.
“This is a manifesto of suffering and anger against the chains imposed by sacred scripture – whether real or imagined”, writes All Father Metal. “What is evil? What is good?”.
Cover Art by Eliran Kantor — Art Concept: Efthimis Karadimas
Nightfall will always hold the title as the first Greek metal band to ever play Wacken Open Air, but it’s been too long since the band took the stage by storm. Now, finally, they’re ready to bless the masses with Children of Eve. This weekend, they’re celebrating the arrival of their new album in front of their faithful following at the 10th annual Horns Up Festival in Trikala, Greece. Later this summer, they’ll set upon Romania for a Dark Bombastic Evening. The album’s grand finale, “Christian Svengali”, is bound to drive its message home with fists raised to the rafters.
“I love how this album came out”, Efthimis says. “We’re excited to play these songs live. The sound is massive. The choruses are huge. And there’s a message that comes through”.
With Children of Eve, Nightfall return from the shadows to unite blackened souls everywhere with their darkest and most epic creation yet.
Tracklist 1. I Hate (6:05) [WATCH] 2. The Cannibal (3:36) [WATCH] 3. Lurking (4:08) 4. Inside My Head (4:51 5. Seeking Revenge (3:47) [LISTEN] 6. For The Expelled Ones (5:07) 7. The Traders Of Anathema (3:15) 8. With Outlandish Desire To Disobey (3:25) 9. The Makhaira Of The Deceiver (4:21) 10. Christian Svengali (4:43) Full runtime: 43:22
For more than three decades, Nightfall have stood alongside Rotting Christ and Septicflesh as the pioneering trinity of Greek metal. The legendary Athenian death metal band sound as vengeful as ever. But backed by monumental production and a powerful message, their eleventh studio album stands as their darkest and most epic creation yet. Children of Eve is here to unite blackened souls everywhere.
“I love how this album came out”, Nightfall’s founder Efthimis Karadimas says. “We’re excited to play these songs live. The sound is massive. The choruses are huge. And there’s a message that comes through. It’s an album about how we come through pain, how we live with pain, and how we die in pain”.
A Living Legacy of Greek Metal
Since their formation in 1991, Nightfall have remained a beacon for Greek metal. “Well, here is one of the rare, original bands”, wrote Angry Metal Guy. Like the scorching sun over their homeland, the Athenians rose from the underground alongside Rotting Christ and Septicflesh, though they were the first to sign an international record deal.
“Nightfall proves with “Children of Eve” that they’re fairly considered as one of the pioneers of the Hellenic Metal scene” says Rotting Christ frontman Sakis Tolis. “The fact that they create wonderful albums like this one make them legends that still have things to say! Congratulations for this new creation!”
Over the years, the crew around Efthimis has changed frequently. But while Nightfall did enjoy a short but successful stint with Metal Blade Records in the early 2010s, their strong bond with Holy Records during the ’90s established a deep connection between the Greek and French metal scenes. That legacy continues with the band’s current label Season of Mist.
“Nightfall deserve great credit for persistence and determination”, Blabbermouth wrote upon the eve of At Night We Prey. “For fans of face-ripping gloom, [their] sizeable catalogue remains eminently worthy of exploration”.
Monumental Production
Like their contemporaries, Nightfall weave gothic melodies into blackened death metal. Children of Eve features the most infectious collection of hooks that the band has ever created, though their disdain for the dominance of the Eastern Orthodox Church has only deepened over the years. The ongoing rise across the globe of so-called “holy wars” fueled their latest rebellion.
“Anger was the root”, Efthimis explains about the inspiration behind Children of Eve. The band’s veteran leader commands the stage with cloak and dagger, but the album’s lead single pulls no punches. “I am the son of night, notorious bastard”, he roars as an eerie choir echoes like the call of a siren. As if summoned from Olympus, former Septicflesh drummer Fotis Benardo unleashes his attack like a swarm of venomous arrows.
“Faith is a personal matter”, Efthimis continues, “but it can become a dirty business”.
To amplify their message, Nightfall enhanced the entire production of Children of Eve. Efthimis and Fotis took charge of the production with assistance from InnerWish guitarist Thimios Krikos. Meanwhile, Jacob Hansen – who worked with Volbeat, Amaranthe and The Black Dahlia Murder – handled the mixing and mastering. For the artwork, the band turned to Eliran Kantor, who’s renowned paintings have graced the covers of albums by Testament, Kreator and Helloween.
A Powerful Message
Look at the tracklist and it’s evident that “I Hate” takes aim at the consistent influence of organized religion. “The Traders of Anathema” raises its axe in honor of Judas Iscariot, featuring two blistering guitar solos from Kostas Kyriakopoulos. However, Children of Eve wouldn’t bear the mark of Nightfall without a deeper message.
“Death’s Spiritual Healing deeply influenced me”, Efthimis says. “At the time, its social message was so advanced for the genre”. While “The Cannibal” bursts with divine tremolo picking, its lyrics explore how religious structures and fanaticism can devour you. “I hold the power / to explain your screams“, Efthimis howls with chilling intensity.
During Nightfall’s most recent hiatus, Efthimis was diagnosed with depression. Now, he wears a black mask to cover half of his face, symbolizing what it’s like to live under the invisible veil of mental illness. “When you have demons in your mind, you’re not always an ideal companion”, he admits. “That stigma can lead to isolation”.
Now, Nightfall are encouraging fellow metalheads to speak up. The band have launched a new initiative called Metal Music Against Depression (MMaD), which is supported by European Alliance Against Depression in Germany. “We can talk about this. We can sing about it. We can build a community that’s based on understanding”, Efthimis says.
With Children of Eve, Nightfall return from the shadows to unite blackened souls everywhere with their darkest and most epic creation yet.
Recording Credits: Recorded at Devasoundz Studios, Athens, Greece Produced by Efthimis Karadimas with Fotis Benardo & Thimios Krikos Engineered by Fotis Benardo & Thimios Krikos Mixed & Mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, Ribe, Denmark
Production Credits: Produced by Efthimis Karadimas & Engineered by Fotis Benardo Mixed & Mastered in Hansen Studios, Denmark by Jacob Hansen
Portland blackened death-metal band DROUTH has unveiled the title track from their impending album, The Teeth of Time, that’s out May 16th from Eternal Warfare Records.
Commenting on the single, the band states:
“‘The Teeth of Time’ was an obvious choice for us to make the title track and centerpiece of the album, as it encapsulates the lyrical and musical themes most central to Drouth at this moment. It is the fullest realization of our artistic ambition yet, and having our friends Laurie Sue and Christy Cather contribute guest vocals was truly an honor—their projects, Ludicra in particular, are huge sources of inspiration for us and we knew their distinctive styles would fit perfectly with the song.“
The face-melting and mind-bending torrential new song was first revealed at DecibelMagazine.com and follows the previously released track “False Grail.”
Adding about the record, the band has said:
“We are proud to present The Teeth of Time, a culmination of several years of blood, sweat and pain. It is a nightmare made manifest, and we are both eager to share our creative work and grateful to the many people who helped make it possible.”
The Teeth of Time Tracklist: 1. Hurl Your Thunderbolt Even Unto Death 2. False Grail 3. The Teeth of Time 4. Through a Glass, Darkly 5. Exult, Ye Flagellant
About DROUTH: Portland’s Drouth formed in 2012, originally under the name Contempt before changing their moniker following the release of their 2014 EP Skinwalker. The band stirred the local scene with their potent mixture of black metal, death metal, doom, and crust, and went on to release another EP, Vast, Loathsome (2015) and two albums Knives, Labyrinths, Mirrors (2017) and Excerpts From a Dread Liturgy (2020). Their follow up, The Teeth of Time was recorded and mixed with legendary engineer Billy Anderson (Neurosis, Cattle Decapitation) and mastered by Justin Weis (Agalloch, Hammers of Misfortune) and features five tracks of vicious, melodically adventurous black/death metal spread across 40 unrelenting minutes.
Drouth is: Matt Stikker: Guitar, vocals, lyrics Patrick Fiorentino: Drums John Edwards: Guitar, vocals Matt Solis: Bass
Photo Credit: Enzo Mazzeo, Marcus Stridberg, Jimmy Westerlund
Melodic rockers GIANT share their new single and official visualizer video “Time To Call It Love”, taken from their new upcoming album “Stand And Deliver”, out on May 16th, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.
Giant return with a powerful new chapter in their storied career, featuring a fresh lineup that propels the band’s signature sound to exhilarating new heights.
Drummer and founder David Huff expressed his excitement for the new album: “Making Giant records has always been our passion! Thanks to everyone at Frontiers we can make our dreams happen. I know it’s a bit of a different lineup but whoever is in the lineup the legacy of Giant lives on”.
The forthcoming album entitled “Stand And Deliver” showcases once again the talents of David Huff on drums, Mike Brignardello on bass, Kent Hilli (of Perfect Plan) as the commanding lead vocalist, with the addition of Jimmy Westerlund (One Desire) on guitars. Westerlund also takes on mixing duties alongside Alessandro Del Vecchio, who adds his touch on keyboards as a featured guest.
As if this dynamic combination of talent was not enough, the album also includes some gems penned by the original guitarist and singer Dann Huff including “Time To Call It Love” (a collaboration with the late Mark Spiro), “Holdin’ On For Dear Life” and “Paradise Found”, coming both from his sessions with Van Stephenson, which strongly link the new album especially with the sound of the classic album “Time To Burn”.
However, with this new album, Giant deliver the hard-hitting rock and melodic hooks that fans have come to expect, while pushing the boundaries of the genre with a state-of-the-art production.
Originally formed in the late ’80s by brothers Dann and David Huff, together with the experienced jazz and rock keyboardist Alan Pasqua and Nashville session bass player Mike Brignardello, Giant would soon become one of the most respected bands of the melodic hard rock scene, with the release of their debut album “Last Of The Runaways” (A&M Records, 1989).
Following countless live performances in support of their debut, the band released the follow-up “Time To Burn” (Epic, 1991), an album still regarded as a main source of influence for many melodic and hard rock bands who came after. With the sudden change of musical climate in the early ’90s, Giant disbanded with their members becoming involved in different projects, with both Dann and David Huff becoming well respected producers.
In 2001, Frontiers prompted Giant to release “III”, an album that would prove to be a landmark in the growth of the new era Melodic Rock scene, particularly in Europe. Unfortunately, Dann’s busy schedule along with the other members’ commitments made the reunion impossible to carry on as had originally been planned; however, the vision of bringing Giant back as a band with a recording and touring line-up was something that the band was still open to exploring, even if Dann had to step away.
Thus, original members, drummer David Huff and bassist Mike Brignardello, with the blessing of Dann started endless research for the right musicians that could be part of a renewed Giant line-up. In the end, the choice fell on vocalist Terry Brock (ex-Strangeways) and guitarist John Roth (Winger, Starship).
The resulting album, “Promise Land” soon became a fan favorite, showcasing top quality songwriting and performances. Giant, however, went into hibernation again, with the exception of a one-off show in 2017, where the original band members reunited on a Nashville club stage for a charity event.
That event piqued fan interest and Frontiers and David Huff started talking again to see if they could manage to find the right formula for a new album from Giant. When the Swedish band Perfect Plan released a cover version of the Giant’s original hit “Stay” in 2019, then all pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place.
Huff and Brignardello were keen on the idea of Kent handling lead vocals for the next Giant release. Dann Huff gave his seal of approval, appearing on lead guitar on the single “Never Die Young”, which anticipated the successful release in 2022 of the “Shifting Time” album.
“Stand And Deliver” Tracklist:
1. It’s Not Right 2. A Night To Remember 3. Hold The Night 4. I Will Believe 5. Beggars Can’t Be Choosers 6. It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over 7. Stand And Deliver 8. Time To Call It Love 9. Holdin’ On For Dear Life 10. Paradise Found 11. Pleasure Dome
Line Up: Kent Hilli – Lead Vocals Jimmy Westerlund – Lead Guitar Mike Brignardello – Bass David Huff – 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
Ads
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 ) 