SOULGRIND Return After 15 Years with First Single + Video ‘Jylhä Metsämies’ from Upcoming 10th Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 9, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Timo Muilu, edited by JP Immonen / Lord Heikkinen

The legendary Finnish metal band Soulgrind, founded in 1992, is set to release its tenth album, Ad Pulchram Mortem, via Inverse Records. The release date will be announced later. The first single, ‘Jylhä Metsämies’, is released today, and the music video can be seen below.

Guitarist Lord Heikkinen comments:

“It’s already been 15 years since the last Soulgrind release. Time has truly flown by. Occasionally, Azhemin and I would tinker with something small, but it always came to a halt for one reason or another. Tanya Lilith was living in Austria, which also slowed down the process. Whenever Tanya visited Finland, we’d demo a little something. However, during 2024, our enthusiasm grew, and songs began to emerge rapidly. There was also a lot of material stored away in the drawers. At times, it felt like maybe even too much. For every recording session, there was something new and exciting to discover, and at the same time, even grander things would be created. In other words, we’ve never had a shortage of material, quite the opposite. The only thing in short supply has been time. But now, Soulgrind has been given its place on the timeline once again.

For the album Ad Pulchram Mortem, we made 12 tracks. Of these, we chose “Jylhä metsämies” as the single. “Jylhä metsämies” is the story of a man who walks his own path, bowing to nothing not above, not below, not on this earth. The lyrics reflect Soulgrind very well itself. The music is very self-directed and copies no one or anything. This has always been the case and will remain so. The band sounds like itself. Musically, “Jylhä metsämies” covers the band’s journey from Whitsongs, through Kalma/Pakana, to The Tuoni Pathway, while also bringing in much that is new. All in all, in our opinion, it’s a brilliant way to open a new chapter. The album itself contains much more, with even some surprising material.

During the remainder of the year, we aim to finish up the Ad Pulchram Mortem album and release it, and of course, the desire to play live is strong. The package still needs some perfecting, and hopefully, we’ll get onto the stages during 2026. The Original Paganhood is back.”

LISTEN to ‘Jylhä metsämies’ on streaming services: https://push.fm/fl/soulgrind-jylha

-Composed by Lord Heikkinen, Azhemin & Tanya Lilith
-Lyrics by Lord Heikkinen & Azhemin
-ISRC: FI3FC2551501
-Single cover by Lord Heikkinen

Ad Pulchram Mortem Track list:

  1. Jylhä Metsämies
  2. Origins of The Serpent
  3. In The Circus of Tuonela
  4. Dark Water Wide
  5. Black Prediction´s Bite
  6. Tears of The Earth
  7. Weight of The Old Sins
  8. Ikiliekki
  9. Dance Of The White Wolf
  10. A Whispered Curse Upon The Gale
  11. As Narrow Fjord Descends
  12. Into The Shadows of Devotion

Album pic by Susanna Mansner

Soulgrind is a Finnish metal band formed in 1992, known primarily for their blend of gothic metal, thrash  and black metal with a dark, melodic atmosphere. The band was founded by Lord Heikkinen, who has consistently contributed guitars and programming throughout their career. 

Soulgrind’s music often explores themes related to the darker aspects of Finnish history and psyche, combining passion, war, and the “dark side of mind” into their lyrical content, reflecting a deep connection to Finland’s cultural and historical roots. But there has always been the bride side for the aspects as well. Classic war of love and hate.The  sound has evolved over the time, but Soulgrind has maintained a core identity rooted in metal with a dark, atmospheric edge, resisting strict genre categorization and embracing musical development freely. Freedom of metal has always been the theme. And so it shall be.

Soulgrind is recognized for their intelligent and unique approach to metal, merging melodic and dark elements to create a distinctive sound within the Finnish metal scene. Their long-standing presence since the early 90s marks them as a significant act in the gothic and black metal genres in Finland.

Line-up:
Lord Heikkinen: guitars
Azhemin: Keybords, vocals
Tanya Lilith: Vocals
Suntio: Drums:
JP: Bass
Micko Hell: Guitars, Vocals

Former members: Roope Latvala ( Children of Bodom, Stone ), Juke Eräkangas, Tommi McLaunone ( Gloomy Grim, Nomicon ), Henrik Laine (Deepred )

https://www.facebook.com/SoulgrindFinland
https://soulgrind.bandcamp.com

THE MEAN TIMES to Release Debut Album “Feel More Dumb” on September 12th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 9, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Melbourne/Naarm’s The Mean Times have always existed somewhere between a raised eyebrow and a clenched fist – equal parts party and panic attack. With their debut album ‘Feel More Dumb‘, out 12th September through Golden Robot Records, the four-piece finally delivers on years of glorious potential, fusing post-punk fury, garage-pop swagger and sharp-tongued absurdism into one dangerously catchy pressure valve.

Written throughout Melbourne’s seemingly endless lockdowns and recorded at the now sadly incinerated Head Gap Studios in Preston, Feel More Dumb is the band’s most complete statement yet. Produced by Anna Laverty (Camp Cope, The Peep Tempel, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds); mixed by the band’s guitarist, Eoin Clements, and mastered by Nao Anzai (Rolling Blackouts CF, Teskey Brothers), the record sharpens the band’s unruly edge without sanding it down – capturing all the raw energy of sweaty gigs, functioning alcoholism, and half-shouted therapy sessions disguised as lyrics.

Thematically, ‘Feel More Dumb‘ dives headfirst into the triple threat of sex, death and depression – but don’t expect earnest navel-gazing or po-faced doom. These songs wrestle with the absurdity of adult life: lust without romance, grief without clarity, and a nagging anxiety that maybe your best days were five years ago at a pub you can’t remember the name of. It’s loud, literate, occasionally filthy, and always uncomfortably honest.

From the fast, fiery and over-it opening single, ‘Already Done’ to the sex-positive, chaotic swagger of ‘Hell’. and the slacker-soul anti-domestic violence messages of “Hook, Line and Sinker,” the album moves like a bad thought you can’t shake – groovy, grimy, and impossible to ignore. It’s a record you can dance to while falling apart.

‘Feel More Dumb‘ is also a testament to a band that’s stuck together longer than most marriages. Formed in 2011 via a trail of missed messages, kebab-fuelled jam sessions and accidental auditions, The Mean Times – Tom ‘Captain’ Morgan (vocals/guitar), Rob Meerkat (bass), Rhino Williams (drums) and Eoin Clements (guitar) – have built a reputation for self-deprecating charm, musical tightness, and never doing anything the easy way. This is the first time they’ve captured that live-wire chemistry in full on record.

But beneath the chaos and distortion, ‘Feel More Dumb‘ has a clear throughline. It’s an album about what happens when the wild freedom of youth crashes into the slow realisation that you’re not invincible, not special, and maybe not even coping. It’s funny until it isn’t. Then it’s funny again.

The Mean Times aren’t offering answers – but they’re damn good at describing the question. ‘Feel More Dumb‘ is what happens when four musicians hurtling toward middle age with no plan, no filter, and no sense of when to stop decide to make something honest. It’s clever, cool, loud, flawed, cathartic, and weirdly beautiful in its refusal to fake it.

Thomas Morgan – Vocals, guitar
Robert Meerbach – Bass
Eoin Clements – Guitar, backing vocals
Ryan Williams – Drums

https://www.facebook.com/themeantimes
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM0gtA-1-JUzZI6BpI_AI1w
https://themeantimes.bandcamp.com/music
https://music.apple.com/au/artist/the-mean-times/937567972
https://www.instagram.com/themeantimes
https://x.com/The_MeanTimes
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCM0gtA-1-JUzZI6BpI_AI1w

REVOCATION Drop ‘Sarcophagi of the Soul’ Video/Single

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 8, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Alex Morgan

“Sarcophagi Of The Soul” is the latest single from technical death metal artisans REVOCATION. The track comes by way of the band’s ferocious new full-length New Gods, New Masters, set for release on September 26th via Metal Blade Records.

On REVOCATION‘s fifth record for Metal Blade, the quartet – spearheaded by founder/vocalist/guitarist Dave Davidson – delivers nine potent and portentous songs of brutal lyrical and musical significance.

Comments Davidson on today’s single and accompanying video, “‘Sarcophagi Of The Soul’ is about our addiction to technology, primarily our phones. We use these devices to create idealized avatars to present to the world, when in reality nothing is ever as perfect as it seems. As we continue to feed our vanity the lines start to blur between our identities and the false narratives we create as these digital twins slowly begin to usurp our lives. The music video for this track features the incredible artwork of Tony Guarladi-Brown who created an entire graphic novel as an accompaniment to the new album. The artwork for this comic book is truly amazing so we wanted to give our fans a sneak peak before it gets released alongside the record.”

Watch the band’s previously released video for “Cronenberged” HERE.

New Gods, New Masters was produced by Davidson and mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren (The Haunted, Spiritbox) with artwork by Paolo Girardi (Bell Witch, Mother Of Graves, Black Breath, Cryptopsy). The record includes guest appearances by Jonny Davy of Job For A Cowboy, Travis Ryan of Cattle Decapitation, Luc Lemay of Gorguts, and jazz guitarist Gilad Hekselman.

Find pre-orders at: metalblade.com/revocation

New Gods, New Masters Track Listing:
01. New Gods, New Masters
02. Sarcophagi Of The Soul
03. Confines Of Infinity (feat. Travis Ryan of Cattle Decapitation)
04. Dystopian Vermin
05. Despiritualized
06. The All Seeing (feat. Gilad Hekselman)
07. Data Corpse
08. Cronenberged (feat. Jonny Davy of Job For A Cowboy)
09. Buried Epoch (feat. Luc Lemay of Gorguts)

Following the release of New Gods, New Masters, REVOCATION will kick off a month-long North American headlining tour. The journey begins on October 16th in Leesburg, Virginia and runs through November 15th in Raleigh, North Carolina. Support will be provided by Judiciary, Inferi, and Vomit Forth (on select dates).

Tickets are on sale now at: revocationband.com/tour. See all confirmed dates below.

REVOCATION w/ Judiciary, Inferi, Vomit Forth:
10/16/2025 Tally Ho – Leesburg, VA
10/17/2025 Brooklyn Monarch – New York, NY
10/18/2025 Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
10/19/2025 Foufones – Montreal, QC
10/20/2025 Lee’s Palace – Toronto, ON
10/21/2025 Sanctuary – Detroit, MI
10/22/2025 Reggies – Chicago, IL *
10/24/2025 HQ – Denver, CO
10/25/2025 Ace’s High – Salt Lake City, UT
10/26/2025 The Shredder – Boise, ID
10/27/2025 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
10/28/2025 Rickshaw – Vancouver, BC
10/29/2025 Dante’s – Portland, OR
10/31/2025 Neck Of The Woods – San Francisco, CA
11/01/2025 Echoplex – Los Angeles, CA
11/02/2025 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA
11/04/2025 Rosetta Room – Mesa, AZ
11/05/2025 Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM *
11/07/2025 RBC – Dallas, TX *
11/08/2025 Come And Take It Live – Austin, TX
11/09/2025 Scout Bar – Houston, TX *
11/11/2025 Orpheum – Tampa, FL
11/12/2025 Respectable Street – West Palm Beach, FL
11/13/2025 Conduit – Orlando FL
11/14/2025 The Radio Room – Greenville, SC
11/15/2025 Chapel Of Bones – Raleigh, NC
*No Vomit Forth

More on REVOCATION:
REVOCATION debuted with 2008’s Empire Of The Obscene and subsequently released seven critically acclaimed albums and toured over 25 countries, bringing their technically charged, high-energy extreme metal to North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. New Gods, New Masters follows up 2022’s critically-adored Netherheaven, where Davidson’s lyrics took hard looks at Catholicism, hypocrisy, politics, the occult and demonic symbolism.

That album set a high bar, but an even sharper musical and lyrical focus was achieved on New Gods, New Masters. The Boston-bred Davidson credits newest members Harry Lannon (rhythm guitar and backing vocals since 2023) and bassist Alex Weber with renewed energy and intensity both in the studio and onstage.

Titling the album New Gods, New Masters reflects Davidson’s belief about humans’ need to worship various gods. “It seems as if that desire is encoded in our DNA. As science and our understanding of nature and the universe as a whole increases, the religions of the old gods start to become obsolete,” he says. “However, I believe we’ve replaced our old gods with new ones, worshipping technology and creating a cult-like idolatry of innovators. I’ve been very fascinated with the development of Artificial Intelligence, and I’m deeply concerned where this could lead humanity whether it’s the slow march towards a technological dystopia or the all-out annihilation of our species.”

“I’ve been very fascinated with the development of Artificial Intelligence, and I’m deeply concerned where this could lead humanity,” he continues, “whether it’s the slow march towards a technological dystopia or the all-out annihilation of our species.”

The theme is deftly captured in the album artwork by Paolo Girardi. “He did an incredible job of bringing the lyrical themes of a bleak techno-nightmare to life,” Davidson says. “The ‘New God’ being birthed from the abyss of teeth and wires was even better than what I envisioned. I absolutely love the color palette he used. He even included some easter eggs from our first demo and first full-length album cover, which adds even more depth and meaning to the artwork for me.”

REVOCATION creates extreme music for extreme times.

REVOCATION:
Dave Davidson – vocals, guitar
Ash Pearson – drums
Harry Lannon – rhythm guitar
Alex Weber – bass

https://www.revocationband.com
https://www.facebook.com/Revocation
https://x.com/revocation
https://www.youtube.com/officialrevocation

I, CURSED to Release “Heretical Onslaught” EP in September, ‘Nothing From The Ruins’ Single Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 8, 2025
Posted in: Int. News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Jerkka Perälä

Finland’s I, Cursed, who combine angry and furious death metal and grindcore, will release a new Heretical Onslaught EP on September 11th 2025. The EP will be released in cooperation with Finnish record labels Inverse Records & Meara Music which is also an agency and event producer based in Ulvila. 

The third single ‘Nothing From The Ruins’ is released today and it’s available here: https://push.fm/fl/icursed-nothing 

-ISRC: FI-HZL-25-00016
-Music & lyrics composed & written by Ville-Veikko Laaksonen
-Produced & arranged by I, Cursed
-Engineered by Ville-Veikko Laaksonen, Nico Brander & Jesse Simola
-Recorded at Firefield Avenue & Soft Neon Audiovisual Studio Mixed & mastered by Jerkka Perälä
-Single cover by Jerkka Perälä

The band comments: 
“Nothing From The Ruins is, as its name suggests, Brevity is the Soul of Wit. Nothing From The Ruins clocks in at barely a minute, being the EP’s most instant chaos in all its brutality. ”  

WATCH

Heretical Onslaught Track list:

  1. Malignant
  2. Impure
  3. Nothing From The Ruins
  4. Disfigurement
  5. Funerary
  6. Loss
  7. Swarm
  8. Death Pays It All

EP cover by Jerkka Perälä

Combining angry and furious death metal and grindcore, I, Cursed, from the Pori / Ulvila area, is a brutal dredging of Ville-Veikko Laaksonen and Eero Haula, known from Atlases, Marto and Oceanwake, among others, which is fed to the Finnish metal scene in an atonal coldness. I, Cursed’s music is a mix of something old and familiar, the HM-2 sound of Swedish grind, and somewhat more modern and crushing production. The line-up of the band in July 2024 is completed by guitarist Nico Brander from Marto and drummer Arttu Leppänen from Atlases and Marto. FFO Coldworker, Gadget, Nasum & Rotten Sound.  

LISTEN to previous EP Death Holograms: https://push.fm/fl/icursed-death

Line-up:
Eero Haula – Vocals (Oceanwake)
Ville-Veikko Laaksonen – Bass & guitar (Atlases, Marto)
Nico Brander – Guitar (Blood Service, Marto)
Arttu Leppänen – Drums (Atlases, Marto)

https://www.facebook.com/I.Cursed.Grind
https://www.instagram.com/i.cursed.grind
https://icursed.bandcamp.com

DESTRÖYER 666 Announce U.S. Tour Dates

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 8, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment
Photo by Chantik Photography

Deströyer 666 continue to take no prisoners. K.K. and his roving gang of black thrash bullies have been hammering the European festival circuit this summer. Now, the band are announcing their return to the U.S. for a blistering run of dates leading up to Metal Threat. They’ll be joined by Ares Kingdom and Adorior.    

Deströyer 666 2025 U.S. Tour Dates
October 1 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon [TICKETS]
October 2 – Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex [TICKETS]
October 3 – Houston, TX @ BFE Rock Club [TICKETS]
October 4 – Chicago, IL @ Metal Threat [TICKETS]

Last year, Season of Mist reissued Six Songs With The Devil, which was Deströyer 666’s first demo. The label also reissued To The Devil His Due, a compilation of the band’s out-of-print EPs. Both releases, along with their latest album Never Surrender, are now available for order.  

Order Deströyer 666 Merch

DESTRÖYER 666 continue to do what they are best at: kicking ass and hammering out heavy metal that is slamming straight into the face. No compromise, no sell out, no bullshit!

DESTRÖYER 666 don’t do whiny nostalgia but simply stick to their old school roots, which are reaching straight down into the golden age of metal while allowing themselves to sound fresh and remain relevant. The band originally started out as a solo project of BESTIAL WARLUST guitarist KK in Australia in 1994. As early as with debut album ‘Unchain the Wolves’ (1997), fast-tracked towards international acclaim.

The even stronger second full-length, ‘Phoenix Rising’ (2000) had the Australians relocating to Europe to be able to satisfy the soaring demand for touring and festival shows. After a round of line-up changes, third full length ‘Cold Steel… For an Iron Age’ (2002) cemented the band’s excellent reputation.

After a hiatus caused among other issues by disenchantment with the business, DESTRÖYER 666 returned with ‘Defiance’ in 2009 and followed up on this success with the rough and gritty ‘Wildfire’ (2016) seven years later that saw them touring and performing at all the relevant metal festivals worldwide on a regular basis again. The Australians filled the gap between the latest albums with the hard-hitting EP, ‘Call of the Wild’ (2018) that comes with a distinct taste of an unrepentant classic flavor.

The outlaws from down under deliver another pummeling and relentless lesson in aggression with full length number 6(66). ‘Never Surrender’ is a furious assault of black thrash, chainsaw riffs, and warlike drums, offering no moment of reprisal as it rages on for 40 unyielding minutes.

DESTRÖYER 666 takes no prisoners!

Current lineup:
K.K.: Vocals, guitar
Ro: Guitar, vocals
Felipe: Bass
Kev Desecrator: Drums

Follow Deströyer 666
Official Website: http://www.destroyer666.uk/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/67T5lWCllFJE7hDrslnxYK
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/destr%C3%B6yer-666/73439576
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/destroyer666page
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/destroyer666_official/
Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/artist/4772751
Amazon Music: https://www.amazon.com/Destroyer-666/e/B000APFKKK

CALCRAFT Sign to Lifeforce Records, to Release New Album in Late November

Posted by tarjavirmakari on August 8, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: . Leave a comment

Please welcome Texan hateful death metal outfit CALCRAFT to the Lifeforce Records roster!

Named after England’s infamous executioner William Calcraft, the band delivers gore-drenched riffs and horror-fueled lyrics inspired by Giallo, French, and American slasher films. Every song is a tale of madness, execution, and cinematic slaughter.  

Debut single out Mid-September! Album to be released late November via Lifeforce Records!

More information: INSTAGRAM | TIKTOK