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CHANGELING Premiere Self-Titled Debut Album, Out Now

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 26, 2025

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: CHANGELING. Leave a comment

Photo credits: Alexander Kerski / Comicsans_ultra

Fretless guitar virtuoso Tom “Fountainhead” Geldschläger is known for his work in Obscura’s Akróasis era, his live work with Defeated Sanity, Belphegor, Nader Sadek and many others. Now, he’s continuing to bend progressive death metal under his blistering fretwork as Changeling. His latest brainchild is both an homage to the genre’s biggest innovators and an expansive vision of its future.

“…it’s putting the genre on notice”, Metal Epidemic writes in a 4.5/5 review. “There’s not one second on Changeling‘s sixty-minute runtime that’s not highly intriguing or infectious”.

Power Metal commends Changeling for balancing “on the knife edge between playful genius and brute madness”.

Changeling came out yesterday, Friday, April 25 and you can hear all 10 eye-opening songs by listening to the full album stream on the Season of Mist YouTube channel:

Order the album at https://orcd.co/changelingchangeling

Changeling fuses the heaviness of technical death metal with classical, jazz and world music. Along with plenty of Tom’s signature mind-bending fretless guitar solos, the album features fretless bass, synths, oud, microtonal arrangements, a choir and more than 50 guest musicians, including current and former members of Fear Factory, Alkaloid, Virvum, Subway to Sally, Trans-siberian Orchestra, King Diamond, Ne Obliviscaris and Cynic.

Lead single “Abyss” carves colossal riffs from quarter-tone modulations. The whirling arpeggios of “Falling in Circles” call back to Tom’s performance on “Akróasis” while the title track ventures into oriental percussion and microtonal synths. Together, the songs on Changeling unfold like a psychedelic experience, moving from disorientation to dissolution and finally, realization.

Tom composed Changeling with spatial audio specifically in mind. The Dolby Atmos version of the album hits streaming services May 23.

Tracklist:
1. Introject (1:56)
2. Instant Results (4:33)
3. Falling in Circles (3:47) [WATCH]
4. World? What World? (6:43)
5. Metanoia Interlude (00:57)
6. Changeling (6:57) [WATCH]
7. Abyss (8:06) [WATCH]
8. Cathexis Interlude (1:19)
9. Abdication (9:05)
10. Anathema (16:51)
Full runtime: 1:00:16

Fountainhead, the musical alter-ego of Berlin-based musician Tom Geldschläger, is a celebrated figure across diverse music landscapes. Known for his expansive involvement in the music industry, Tom has contributed to over a hundred releases in capacities ranging from guitarist to orchestrator, producer to mixing/mastering engineer, and occasionally even as an oud-player. He has worked with globally recognized artists such as Obscura, Belphegor, Marco Minnemann, Defeated Sanity, Amogh Symphony, Hannes Grossmann, Voodoogods, Christian Münzner, Nader Sadek and more. Featured in numerous international music magazines, authored several books of non-fiction and musical notation, Tom has also been instrumental in integrating the fretless guitar into extreme metal genres.

Acclaimed as a “modern-day guitar legend,” Tom’s signature playing style and adventurous genre-defying compositions highlight his fearless approach to music. His endorsements include prestigious brands like Aristides Guitars, Elixir Strings, and Bare Knuckle Pickups. Additionally, Tom is a sought-after clinician and speaker, focusing on creativity, music production, and musician’s mental health, as well as being at the forefront of spatial audio and 360-degree audio production.

In a significant development in early 2024, Fountainhead, now branded under the name CHANGELING for his new project and album, signed with the label Season of Mist. This venture marks a new chapter in Tom’s career, amplifying his visionary approach to music. Accompanied by an all-star band featuring members from Fear Factory, Alkaloid, and Virvum, the project CHANGELING showcases a 60-minute concept album that takes all aspects of Tom’s artistry to new heights.

The album, sharing its name with the project, blends progressive metal, death metal, jazz/fusion, and world music, enriched with complex orchestrations by a 50-piece ensemble of guest musicians. It includes the eagerly anticipated “Part 2” to his renowned composition “Weltseele,” an orchestral metal epic from Obscura’s billboard-chart-entering “Akroasis” album, which broadly introduced Fountainhead to the metal community in 2016.

Core Lineup:
Tom Fountainhead (ex-Obscura, Amogh Symphony, Belphegor, Defeated Sanity) – Fretted & fretless electric & acoustic guitars, oud, keyboards, composition and arrangements.
Mike Heller (ex-Fear Factory, Malignancy, Raven) – Drums.
Arran McSporran (Vipassi, Virvum) – Fretless bass.
Morean (Alkaloid, Dark Fortress) – Lead vocals & lyrics.

Guest Musicians:
Bill Hudson (Trans-siberian Orchestra, Doro, I am Morbid) – Guest guitar solo
Jason Gobel (ex-Cynic, ex-Monstrosity)- Guest guitar solo
Andy Laroque (ex-Death, King Diamond) – Guest guitar solo
Yatziv Caspi (ex-Orphaned Land) – Tabla, hangdrum, dabouka, riq & shakers
Ally Storch (Subway To Sally)- Violins, viola & cello
James Dorton (The Faceless, NeObliviscaris, Black Crown Initate) – Spoken words
Alexander Kerski (Vianova)- Backing & harmony vocals
Matthias Alexander Preisinger – Piano and glockenspiel, violins & viola
Martin Matiasovic – Horns & Wagnerian Tube
Jan Ferdinand – Vibraphone & marimba
Chris Rützel – Flutes
Ivar Ludvig Nitzler – Cello
Shiho Murano – Tuba
Juliane Erding – Wagnerian tube & horn
Eduard Cortez – Wagnerian tube & horn
Tillmann Schulz – Wagnerian tube & horn
Ava Bonam – Female vocals
Moran Magal – Piano
Cydney McQuillan-Grace, Lauren Gill, Shannon Bedford, Sara Robalo; Tenor and Bari – Ben Francis, John Schaffer, Alice Williams, Cyd McQuillan-Grace; Alto – Lauren Gill, Sara Robalo; Tenor and Bass – James Schouten & John Schaffer – Choir vocals
Krassimir Jossifov – Trumpet
Brandt Attema – Trombones & bass trombones
Kristian Petkov – Bassoon
Stefan Prost – Church organ
Seonghyeon Park – Clarinet
Arnfried Falk – Oboe
Rouven Haliti – Upright bass
Dalai Cellai – Cello

Recording Studio:
FountainheadHQ, Hellersounds, Saforill, Klanghafen, Landesmusikakademie Berlin, Musikhochschule Carl-Maria-Von-Weber, Muziek Studio Beeld, Sonictrain.

Production Credits:
Produced & Engineered by Tom Fountainhead.
Mixed by Tom Fountainhead at FountainheadHQ.
Mastered by Leon Schmidt at his home studio & FountainheadHQ.

Cover Art:
Aaron Pinto (Gutslit) / KidSquidy

Photography:
Alexander Kerski / Comicsans_ultra

Follow Fountainhead & Changeling:
Website: http://www.thefountainhead.de
Facebook: http://facebook.com/tomfountainheadgeldschlaeger
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/changeling.official
Bandcamp: https://changelingofficial.bandcamp.com/
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/fountainheadtv
Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/artist/changeling/294821510
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4MbRUvwQcEBzryOhWMHkvV

THE SPEAKER WARS Premiere New Video ‘The Forgiveness Tree’ from Upcoming Debut Album

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 26, 2025

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: THE SPEAKER WARS. Leave a comment

THE SPEAKER WARS, led by ex-Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers drummer Stan Lynch and guitarist/vocalist Jon Christopher Davis, premiere the third video from their debut self titled album scheduled for release May 30th. As with the previous videos for the songs “You Make Every Lie Come True” and “It Ain’t Easy”, the video was directed by Brad Osborne and filmed in Denton, TX.

Stan Lynch comments:

“This one had legs from the start –– it’s written from the heart. It’s a roadmap to healing. It’s the truth.”

Jon Christopher Davis adds:

“It was a simple chorus I had laying around. I sat at Stan’s piano and played it. He immediately knew where I was trying to go. Two hours later, the song was finished. The end result is a soul scratcher.”

‘The Speaker Wars’ album is available for preorder HERE. Stan Lynch will also be appearing on Talk Shop Live on May 28th to discuss the new album.

‘The Speaker Wars’ Track List:

1. You Make Every Lie Come True
2. It Ain’t Easy
3. Taste Of Heaven
4. Never Ready To Go
5. The Forgiveness Tree
6. When The Moon Cries Wolf
7. Trader’s South
8. Leave Him
9. Sit With My Soul
10. I Wish You Peace

Watch the Music Video for
“You Make Every Lie Come True” HERE
“It Ain’t Easy” HERE

STAN LYNCH, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, long-time drummer and founding member of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, announces today the formation of THE SPEAKER WARS. After two decades of recording and touring multiple albums with The Heartbreakers, STAN moved to the other side of the recording console and shifted his focus to production and songwriting. Over the years, STAN has written and produced hits for artists in multiple genres, including the Eagles, Don Henley, Tim McGraw, The Mavericks, Ringo Starr, The Byrds, Toto, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds.

While writing in Nashville, a publisher introduced STAN to Texas singer-songwriter, Jon Christopher Davis, who was gathering material for a solo record on a major label. After accumulating an album’s worth of songs, Jon abandoned working on a solo record and the two decided to start a band to perform the newly created material. Adding Jay Michael Smith on guitar, Brian Patterson on bass, Steve Ritter on percussion, and Jay Brown on keyboards, THE SPEAKER WARS was born.

The band then headed into 5M Studios in Denton, TX, with co-producer Mike Pisterzi, and produced a full-length album. Upon hearing the material, Frontiers Recordsimmediately signed the band, and their debut album is scheduled for release on May 30th.

STAN LYNCH says:

“After my 20-year tenure with the Heartbreakers, I got a second act writing and producing. It was educational beyond measure to learn how to create music from the other side of the glass. Around this time, I met Jon Christopher Davis in Nashville, who casually mentioned that we should start a band – so here I am – in THE SPEAKER WARS,and it’s good to have my old job back. The guys in our new band know how to make great music, and I’m looking forward to another round.”

THE SPEAKER WARS are:
Stan Lynch – Drums
Jon Christopher Davis – Vocals
Jay Michael Smith – Guitar
Brian Patterson – Bass
Steve Ritter – Percussion
Jay Brown – Keyboard

FOLLOW THE SPEAKER WARS:
Website
Facebook
Instagram

DESEKRYPTOR Announce New EP “Sarcophagal Corridors”, Out May 16th

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 26, 2025

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: DESEKRYPTOR. Leave a comment

DESEKRYPTOR will unleash their new EP “Sarcophagal Corridors” on May 16th, 2025 via Nuclear Winter Records.

Marking a bold shift in their creative approach, the band deconstructed their usual songwriting method by starting with drums instead of riffs. Percussionist P.A. recorded raw, unanchored drum tracks that guitarist E.S. then manipulated and smothered with riffs designed to overpower the rhythms. While the unorthodox process could have resulted in utter chaos, it instead gave birth to some of the most refined and structurally cohesive material the band has produced to date.

“Sarcophagal Corridors” stands as a testament to DESEKRYPTOR’s willingness to experiment without losing sight of the malicious death metal core that defines them.

The first single “Leprous Exsanguination” is now streaming HERE.

Tracklist:

01. Penance of Hemorrhaging Wrath
02. Sarcophagal Corridors
03. Leprous Exsanguination
04. Umbilical Stigmata

For nearly a decade now, Indiana’s DESEKRYPTOR have been patiently perfecting their craft. In 2017 arrived two demos – “Demo 2016” and “Chasm of Rot” – which were then collected together under the title of the latter and released by Blood Harvest Records on cassette later that year. A year later came a split with comrades Draghkar, and the momentum seemed to be in DESEKRYPTOR‘s favor: good ‘n’ gutted death metal, with a bit of a blackened singe. Five years of silence followed until the “Curse of the Execrated”” EP, which proved that the quartet had only become more poised and powerful during that hiatus.

In 2023, DESEKRYPTOR revealed the full fathom of that poise & power with their debut album, “Vortex Oblivion”. Aptly titled, “Vortex Oblivion” is a churning ‘n’ spurning vacuum of charred riffing, mangled rhythms, and dread atmosphere. As they’ve proven in the past but more so display here, DESEKRYPTOR keenly navigate that spectral divide between classic / “old school” death metal and the genre’s tendrilous developments in recent years. From heads-down tank propulsion and doomed-out stomp on to atonal and/or angular twists and mesmerizing blackened slipstreaming, no tool of death metal’s ancient and modern schools is left untouched. But, above all, it’s the manner in which DESEKRYPTOR wield those tools that puts “Vortex Oblivion” over, the band’s songwriting acumen pulling it all together to create a seamless experience and still leaving plenty of atmosphere to spare as you’re summarily crushed – and then minced. This is what classic death metal debuts are made of!

Now, in 2025, DESEKRYPTOR are poised to return with a new slab of sonic decay: the “Sarcophagal Corridors” EP, set for release via Nuclear Winter Records. Continuing their descent into the depths of cavernous death metal, the new material promises to further sharpen the band’s singular approach, where ancient brutality and spectral darkness intertwine.

For fans of: Incantation, Immolation, Funebrarum, Triumvir Foul

https://desekryptor666.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/desekryptor/

Steve Di Giorgio & Jeroen Paul Thesseling’s QUADVIUM Reveal New Song & Music Video ‘Apophis’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 26, 2025

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: Jeroen Paul Thesseling, QUADVIUM, Steve Di Giorgio. Leave a comment

Half in California – half in the Netherlands, the instrumental progressive metal-fusion quartet QUADVIUM shares new single and music video “Apophis”, from the band’s upcoming album “Tetradōm”, due out May 30th via Agonia Records. The band was established late 2019 by renowned bass players Steve Di Giorgio (Testament, Death) and Jeroen Paul Thesseling (Obscura, Pestilence).

Watch the video for their new track, here:

“Apophis” marks the second single of QUADVIUM, following the release of “Náströnd” late March (video available here). It portrays a different side of the band’s debut album, both in sound and image. Steve Di Giorgio & Jeroen Paul Thesseling comment: “Yes, indeed this second single is a bit more vigorous than the first one. There are many moods, and various soundscapes across all 7 songs, and with this one we open the portal to our technical aspect. From a mix of dynamics and serpentine exchanges, to a fiery interaction between both fretless basses…The counterpoint patterns, the classical orchestration combined with the heavier parts, «Apophis» slithers between different adventurous melodic structures. The superb guitar lines are masterfully wielded by Eve, who also mainly composed & mixed the album, also blazes one of her trademark solos. Yuma, our master-of-all time signatures, keeps the pace brisk while also presenting one of his more expressive performances on drums for this one. We all are grateful for the enthusiasm and the very positive feedback for our first single («Náströnd») and hereby like to invite you to listen to the second single from our up & coming album «Tetradōm». Really hope you enjoy the adventure, and hope to keep hearing from you as we work our way to the release of the whole album next month!”

Steve Di Giorgio and Jeroen Paul Thesseling are both innovators in bringing a different style of fretless bass playing to metal. Launching a band with two predominantly multi-string fretless bass players is no common occurrence, and the bass-duo felt they needed to take very special and deliberate time to get the right alignment with who is participating and what will be the end result – meaning the right sound and composition to represent this rare vision.

Over time, together with Dutch master drummer Yuma van Eekelen (Our Oceans, Pestilence) and American guitar virtuoso/composer Eve (Myth Of I, Kaathe) – whose contribution and expertise play a huge part of QUADVIUM – the music began to take shape. The line-up is just the right blend to mix the delicate balance of such a heavy aural offering and a full vocabulary of high level constructed pieces.

“We had an intention many many years ago to make some music together… to feature two predominately multistring fretless bass players playing in duet form,” Steve & Jeroen reflect. “That is to say, neither being «rhythm bass & lead bass» nor some trading off hot solo licks mess. But easier said than done! While hanging out, we exchanged some thoughts about how it would be to form a group to support our bass-ic needs. At that time it was just a spontaneous idea, but over the years the topic was brought up again and again. This vision was blurry at best and it took us a long time to not only imagine how to feature the bass in this way, but more importantly – who would share in this concept with us. Yuma is an old acquaintance and lucky for us, he needed this project to add to his list of a thousand others! But having a drummer that understood that 2 bass players would be filling the sonic spectrum, he was undaunted in contributing the backbone as well as keeping our outlandish ideas in check. After a long search for the next musician, a gold mine was found on Instagram reels by the name of Eve. Some of the most insane guitar (and bass!) videos we ever saw inspired us to ask if this was a project worth joining… not only did we have our final member aboard, but a studio genius and the main composer of this strategy we had so long ago, who brought it all together and focused everything into the album we are so proud to share with you now. Thanks to the solid support from Agonia Records for supporting our dream and making this album a reality! Fans of instrumental progressive metal fusion – and fretless bass! – will surely enjoy these musical journeys.”

“Tetradōm” was recorded and produced by Eve and co-produced by Yuma van Eekelen. The album was mastered by Dereck Blackburn at Quiethouse Recording. Travis Smith (Amorphis, King Diamond, Cynic) created the album’s artwork and layout.

Tracklisting:

Moksha
Náströnd
Apophis
Ghardus
Adhyasa
Sarab
Eidolon

Pre-orders: https://quadvium.agoniarecords.com/
Pre-save: https://orcd.co/arcd292

“Apophis” single: https://orcd.co/arcd292s2
“Náströnd” single: https://orcd.co/arcd292s1

Line-up:
Eve – guitar, sound design
Steve Di Giorgio – bass
Jeroen Paul Thesseling – bass
Yuma van Eekelen – drums

Follow QUADVIUM:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/quadviumofficial
Instagram: https://instagram.com/quadviumofficial

Steve DiGiorgio:
Website: https://www.stevedigiorgio.com

Jeroen Paul Thesseling:
Website: https://www.jeroenpaulthesseling.com

CYHRA Unleash Powerful New Single And Video ‘Mark Of My Sins’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 26, 2025

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: CYHRA. Leave a comment

Swedish melodic metal supergroup CYHRA (featuring AMARANTHE co-founder Jake E and current THE HALO EFFECT, KAMELOT, THE CROWN, and SUBURBAN TRIBE members) are continuing to take the metal world by storm with the release of their new digital single ‘Mark Of My Sins.’ While the group are composed of legendary musicians, ‘Mark Of My Sins’ proves that CYHRA are no mere supergroup, but instead a band that produce music on par with anything they have previously released. A high bar, but one that they consistently meet. This is the sound of a band levelling up: Massive riffs, stadium-sized hooks, and a chorus that refuses to leave your head. Heavy, melodic, and packed with raw intensity, this song is built to be played loud.

Frontman Jake E comments: “‘Mark Of My Sins’ is one of the most powerful songs we’ve ever written. It’s raw, intense, and full of emotion – everything we love about CYHRA. This track dives deep into the struggles we carry and the strength it takes to rise above them. We couldn’t be prouder of how it turned out, and we can’t wait for you all to hear it.”

The song is accompanied by a powerful video directed by Patric Ullaeus who has produced videos for ARCH ENEMY, IN FLAMES and won a Norwegian Grammy (Spellemannprisen) for directing ‘The Serpentine Offering’ by DIMMU BORGIR. A cinematic music video featuring the band navigating a tense, war-like conflict in an urban setting, where vocalist Jake E takes the lead in a quiet, determined struggle for control.

Listen to the single: https://cyhra.rpm.link/markofmysinsPR

More from CYHRA:
‘Superman’ OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOJTm36WqV0

‘Skin From Bones’ OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdHXm_JwR8s

CYHRA live:

07.06.2025 SE Sölvesborg – Sweden Rock Festival

About CYHRA

As they approach their 10th anniversary next year, CYHRA have carved out a notable place in the metal scene since their founding in 2016 by Jake E (formerly AMARANTHE) and Jesper Strömblad (THE HALO EFFECT, formerly IN FLAMES). They were soon joined by drummer Alex Landenburg (KAMELOT, Luca Turilli’s RHAPSODY), guitarist Euge Valovirta (SUBURBAN TRIBE), and bassist Peter Iwers (THE HALO EFFECT, formerly IN FLAMES). Their debut album “Letters To Myself” was released in 2017 to glowing reviews, catapulting the group to global stages, crowned with a massive North American tour supporting SABATON and KREATOR.

Following Iwers’ departure, Valovirta also took over bass duties, and the band released their second album “No Halos In Hell” in 2019, which blended groovy metal with a poppy flair and featured the hit single ‘Out Of My Life,’ amassing about 11 million streams on Spotify. Their success continued with a European tour with BATTLE BEAST, UK dates alongside DELAIN, headline shows in select countries including Finland and Japan, and performances at major festivals like Masters of Rock, Bloodstock Open Air, Sabaton Open Air, and 70,000 Tons of Metal.

In 2020, guitarist Marcus Sunesson (RONNIE ATKINS, THE CROWN) joined, expanding the line-up. The pandemic pause allowed the band to craft their third album “The Vertigo Trigger,” released in 2023. The album’s tour brought them back to Finland to open for SMASH INTO PIECES and to headline shows in early 2024. Quietly beginning their fourth album, CYHRA ended the cycle with a Scandinavian tour with EVERGREY, leading into 2025 with two new singles, ‘Superman’ and ‘Skin From Bones.’

JACK THE JOKER Reveal Video for New Single ‘Denied’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on April 26, 2025

Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: JACK THE JOKER. Leave a comment

Progressive metallers Jack The Joker are excited to share their new single and accompanying video, “Denied” out now via Frontiers Music Srl.

Stream “Denied” HERE

The band commented on the new track by saying: “Denied brings a rare combination of a melodic “prog” tune with direct regional music influences to us here in the Northeast, more specifically the Maracatu. The song is a social examination of the inequality of opportunities that plagues our country; the abysmal difference between those who come from different realities”.

Jack The Joker is a modern progressive metal band with a twist, hailing from the Northeast of Brazil. The band consists of Raphael Joer (vocals) Felipe Faco and Lucas Colares (guitars), Gustavo Pinheiro (bass), and Vicente Ferreira (drums).

The band is notorious for incorporating traditional influences from their local culture, including musical styles such as maracatu, forró, baião and frevo.

Their sound draws inspiration from the eponymous renowned Brazilian novel and explores the metaphysical backlands, where human will prevail against the hostility of nature.

The instrumental arrangements delineate the environment by fusing regional genres with rock and metal to create a landscape that mirrors the themes in the lyrics.

This captivating musical odyssey has already garnered a significant amount of buzz in the prog scene through the first two singles released in 2024.

The musicality of “Denied” is structured in the rhythmic cells of maracatu, an Afro-Brazilian tradition that carries the marks of struggle and celebration. The pulsating beats breathe life into the song, creating an intense and emotive atmosphere.

Line Up:
Vocals – Raphael Joer
Electric/Acoustic Guitars – Felipe Facó e Lucas Colares
Bass Guitars – Gustavo Pinheiro
Drums and Percussions – Vicente Ferreira

Follow JACK THE JOKER:
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