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SEVEN SPIRES Release Digital Deluxe Version of “A Fortress Called Home” + Share Visualizer for ‘House Of Lies (Acoustic)’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 12, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: SEVEN SPIRES. Leave a comment
Photo Credit: Lina Glasir

SEVEN SPIRES is proud to release the digital deluxe version of ‘A Fortress Called Home,’ out now via Frontiers Music Srl. To celebrate this release, the band also shares the new track “House of Lies (Acoustic),” alongside an official visualizer available below. In addition, to further support the release, SEVEN SPIRES will be kicking off their European tour on October 17th in London. 

On the new single, Adrienne comments:

“’House of Lies’ first spilled from my heart in this stripped-back form as a tender meditation on the knife’s edge between hope and grief. Sometimes a song speaks differently when its bones have space to breathe.”

About the digital deluxe release, Jack adds:

“When making an album, there are inevitably some ideas that get cut from the official release due to the limitations of CDs or other physical media. What a wonderful thing then that we live in a digital world where many of those limitations don’t have to apply! Over a year after the initial release, and in celebration of the imminent European tour, we’re happy to be releasing the Deluxe version of ‘A Fortress Called Home’ on all of your favorite streaming platforms.”

SEVEN SPIRES is an American symphonic metal band. Since their inception in 2013 at Berklee College of Music, these best friends have forged their home in the darker corners of the melodic metal world. Known for their penchant for pushing genre limits, they draw influence from across the spectrum of metal and beyond, reaching ravenously into jazz, late Romantic-era orchestral music, and cinematic soundscapes.

To support the release of their fourth studio LP, ‘A Fortress Called Home,’ SEVEN SPIRES toured on three continents: first in Europe as direct support to Skálmöld with Atavistia as first support, then in North America directly supporting Kamelot with Ad Infinitum also featured on the bill. To end 2024, SEVEN SPIRES embarked on their first-ever headlining tour of Japan with Lords of the Trident.

In 2025, SEVEN SPIRES is slated to perform at Wacken Open Air and Rock in Rautheim in Germany, Leyendas del Rock in Spain, and Legions of Metal in the United States, before embarking in the fall on a run of UK dates with Sonata Arctica, quickly followed by a European tour with Ad Infinitum and Tulip.

The band’s previous touring history includes North America with Eluveitie and Omnium Gatherum in 2023, Europe with Twilight Force and Silver Bullet in 2023, as well as North America with Dragonforce, Firewind, and Visions of Atlantis in 2022. They have also performed at prestigious metal festivals, such as 70000 Tons of Metal, Metaldays, ProgPower USA, and Mad With Power Fest, where they played a sold-out, nearly two-hour headline show in 2023.

Order ‘A Fortress Called Home’ HERE

‘A Fortress Called Home’ Digital Deluxe Track List:

1 – A Fortress Called Home
2 – Songs Upon Wine-Stained Tongues
3 – Almosttown
4 – Impossible Tower
5 – Love’s Souvenir
6 – Architect of Creation
7 – Portrait of Us
8 – Emerald Necklace
9 – Where Sorrows Bear My Name
10 – No Place for Us
11 – House of Lies
12 – The Old Hurt of Being Left Behind
13. House of Lies (Acoustic)

SEVEN SPIRES Live 2025

w/ Sonata Arctica:
Oct 17 – London, England – 0² Academy Islington
Oct 18 – Wolverhampton, England – KK’s Steel Mill
Oct 19 – Manchester, England – Academy 2

w/ Ad Infinitum and Tulip:
Oct 23 – Aschaffenburg, DE – Colos-Saal
Oct 24 – Kortrijk, BE – DVG Club
Oct 25 – Paris, FR – Backstage by the Mill
Oct 26 – Bern, CH – Stellwerk
Oct 27 – Zurich, CH – Dynamo Werk 21
Oct 29 – Munich, DE – Backstage
Oct 30 – Vienna, AT – Szene
Oct 31 – Zlín, CZ – Masters Of Rock Cafe
Nov 1 – Leipzig, DE – Hellraiser
Nov 2 – Berlin, DE – Lido
Nov 4 – Herford, DE – Kulturwerk
Nov 5 – Copenhagen, DK – Pumpehuset
Nov 6 – Hamburg, DE – Logo
Nov 7 – Tilburg, NL – O13
Nov 8 – Bochum, DE – Bochumer Event Center

SEVEN SPIRES Live 2026

Jan 29-Feb 2 – Nassau, BS – 70000 Tons of Metal

w/ Sonata Arctica:
Apr 9 – Stockholm, SE – Slaktkyrkan
Apr 10 – Göteborg, SE – Pustervik

Apr 11 – Roskilde, DK – Epic Fest

w/ Roy Khan:
Apr 30 – Oslo, NO – Vulkan Arena

Sep 9-12 – Atlanta, GA – ProgPower USA

FOLLOW SEVEN SPIRES:
Instagram
Facebook
Website
YouTube

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS Drop New Album “Bear” with New Video Single ‘Drain’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 12, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS. Leave a comment

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS reveal and stream their complete new album “BEAR” and a new music video for the track ‘DRAIN‘, released on October 10, 2025. “BEAR” via Magnetic Eye Records and available for purchase here: http://lnk.spkr.media/friendshipcommanders-bear 

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERScomment on the album: “I have spent my life feeling like an outsider, which can be cool in some contexts but isolating in others“, Buick Audra explains. “As I wrote the songs that would become this album, I was able to pinpoint where I have often been a misfit, but also where I have always belonged – something, I had never truly looked at. Being on the outside can also be beautiful, and now I’m glad to be here. There is an arc to this album, one that is also illustrated in the sounds and performances. It was powerful to create the recordings with Jerry and Kurt, and I think it’s our boldest body of work to date. I hope it finds whoever needs it. And to anyone on the margins of something: you always belong with us.“

Jerry Roe writes: “I feel like we’ve done everything that I’ve ever wanted to do within the bounds of heavy melodic rock on this record“, the drummer and bass player continues. “We pushed the arrangements into wonderful, adventurous and expansive places, got our tones and parts refined within an inch of their lives, and of course all of this was easy and fun to do, because Buick wrote such an incredible batch of songs. Kurt really captured and mixed this all so perfectly too. There’s nobody better for what we do. If this is the last record that I ever made, I would feel like I said and did everything I wanted to as a musician in this life.“

Credits
Video directed & edited by Jerry Roe
Video shot by Jerry Roe & Buick Audra
Gaffed by Jerry Roe
Shot at Our Vinyl, Nashville, TN (US)

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS also announced more US live dates for Fall 2025. Please see below for an updated list of currently confirmed shows.

Listen to ‘Bear’ here:

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS are not just any band within the wider musical cosmos of heavy rock and stoner metal. Artistic excellence, reflected in the two Grammy wins of singer, songwriter, and guitarist Buick Audra as well as the status of drummer and bass player Jerry Roe as one of the most sought after studio percussionists, paired with outstanding lyrical intelligence have once again flown together organically to shape their forthcoming album “BEAR”.

“BEAR” was written around the realisation that Buick Audra had essentially been kicked out of womanhood. This album is a documentation of her awareness also while cataloguing other areas of human connection: art, outsider culture, and dark rock venues – all places where empathy and creativity grow wild. Audra and Jerry Roe arranged and performed the fourth full-length of FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERSalbum to have two sides to it, musically: heavy and light, salt and sugar, fire and air, and lost and found. 

Although hailing from Nashville, Tennessee these denizens of the ‘Music City’ kindly beg to differ. FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS‘ sound draws from sludge, doom, heavy metal, and grunge with roots in punk and hardcore, among other guitar driven styles.

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS were originally conceived as a side project by the two industry veterans Buick Audra and Jerry Roe, whose accolades have already been mentioned above. When the duo found common ground, they were able to bring all their combined musical excellence, perspectives, precision, and power to their new band.

Their early works, the EPs “GARFIELD” (2015) and “JUNEBUG” (2017) as well as the debut full-length “AVE” (2016) were all self-recorded as well as self-produced in their own studio, Fort Knockout, and supported live with regional tours.

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS‘ sophomore album ‘BILL’ (2018) was co-produced by the band with Steve Albini and engineered at his Chicago studio, Electrical Audio. Working with Albini proved a pivotal experience for the duo, both personally and professionally. “BILL” reached a notably larger audience and allowed national touring. Following Albini’s passing in 2024, the band released his original analogue mixes of the project, “BILL- The Steve Albini Mixes”.

Although the duo’s members maintained other ventures, FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS had developed into a focal endeavour for them both. Their again self-produced 2020 EP, “HOLD ON TO YOURSELF”, was the beginning of their by now years-long collaboration with Kurt Ballou, who mixed the record. He also mixed their self-produced pandemic-era singles “STONECHILD/ YOUR REIGN IS OVER” (2020), “ALTAR / LAND OF MEN” (2021), and “AND IF MY BODY” (2022). These were later compiled on a limited vinyl release entitled “RELEASE OF THE REST” (2022). The singles also marked a departure from the duo’s previous punk and hardcore leanings while introducing a heavier, sludgier sensibility.

FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS recorded and co-produced their third album “MASS” again with Ballou at his GodCity Studio in Salem, MA. Audra recorded and produced her vocals at her Nashville studio, and Ballou then mixed the tracks. With “MASS” (2023), a concept album about memory, language, and the state of Massachusetts, the duo took the important next step of reaching a global audience.

“BEAR” was again co-produced by band members Buick Audra and Jerry Roe. The duo returned to Salem to work along once more with their longtime collaborator, Kurt Ballou, who also tracked the instrumental performances and mixed the record. As a result, the songs with a huge range of musical ideas and expressions are unified in sound as well as in theme, which runs throughout the record in various ways: the ever-elusive idea of belonging, where it occurs, and where it absolutely does not. 

With “BEAR”, FRIENDSHIP COMMANDERS present a rare sparkling gem of an album, heavy yet captivating, shiny yet dark, and songs that brim with important meaning. “BEAR” is easy to get into, but beware, this album will draw its listeners into fascinating and thought-provoking depths!

Tracklist:

  1. KEEPING SCORE
  2. DRAIN
  3. DRIPPING SILVER
  4. MELT
  5. NEW
  6. X
  7. MIDHEAVEN
  8. IMPERFECT
  9. FOUND
  10. DEAD & DISCARDED GIRLS

Produced by Friendship Commanders & Kurt Ballou
Recorded by Kurt Ballou at GodCity, Salem, MA (US)
Vocal recording by Buick Audra at Fort Knockout, Nashville, TN (US)
Additional engineering by Jerry Roe at Fort Knockout, Nashville, TN (US)
Assistant engineering by Zach Weeks at GodCity, Salem, MA (US)
Mixed by Kurt Ballou at GodCity, Salem, MA (US)
Mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, Portland, OR (US)

Cover artwork by Jerry Roe & Buick Audra
Layout by Buick Audra & Keith Brogdon

Upcoming shows:
16 OCT 2025 Columbus, OH (US) Ace of Cups
17 OCT 2025 Lexington, KY (US) Al’s Bar
18 OCT 2025 Frederick, MD (US) Café 611
19 OCT 2025 Allston, MA (US) O’Brien’s
20 OCT 2025 Brooklyn, NY (US) The Wood Shop
22 OCT 2025 Richmond, VA (US) Bandito’s
23 OCT 2025 Raleigh, NC (US) Slim’s
24 OCT 2025 Nashville, TN (US) The Cobra
07 NOV 2025 Austin, TX (US) Raven Room at Crowbar
08 NOV 2025 Houston, TX (US) 1810 Ojeman
09 NOV 2025 Fort Worth, TX (US) The Cicada
11 NOV 2025 Albuquerque, NM (US) TBA
12 NOV 2025 Las Vegas, NV (US) The Griffin
13 NOV 2025 Los Angeles, CA (US) The Redwood Bar
14 NOV 2025 Santa Cruz, CA (US) The Jury Room
15 NOV 2025 San Francisco, CA (US) Kilowatt
16 NOV 2025 Palmdale, CA (US) Transplants Brewing Co.
19 NOV 2025 Bellingham, WA (US) Waterfront Tavern
20 NOV 2025 Portland, OR (US) High Water Mark
21 NOV 2025 Seattle, WA (US) Bad Bar
23 NOV 2025 Laramie, WY (US) Ruffed Up Duck

Line-up
Buick Audra – songs, guitar, vocals, co-producer
Jerry Roe – drums, percussion, bass, synths, co-producer

Links
https://www.friendshipcommandersband.com
https://www.facebook.com/friendshipcommanders
https://www.instagram.com/friendshipcommanders

CORELEONI Present Official ‘Sick & Tired (live)’ Visualizer Video from Upcoming “Live at Hallenstadion Zurich”

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 12, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: CoreLeoni. Leave a comment
Photo credit: Alexandre Zveiger

The world is getting pale, leaves are falling, rain and fog are the only constants at the weather forecast: who wouldn’t suffer from autumn blues every now and then under these circumstances? But don’t worry as Swiss based hard rock quintet CORELEONI have come to deliver the perfect antidote for everyone.

Today, the band – GOTTHARD guitarist Leo Leoni, phenomenal singer Eugent Bushpepa, guitarist Jgor Gianola as well as the pumping rhythm section (Mila Merker on bass & Alex Motta on drums) – release ‘Sick & Tired (live),’ the first single from their brand new live album “Live at Hallenstadion Zurich.” Due out on December 12, 2025 via PERCEPTION – A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music, the digital offering can be pre-saved here: https://coreleoni.rpm.link/zurichlivePR

“This is probably the heaviest track on our latest record “III,” where the vocal parts reach some of the highest tones of the album. The crowd in Zurich pushed us to the point where we and especially Gent delivered 110% of the magic we had to give. This becomes very clear when listening to this recording,” states guitarist Jgor Gianola.

Leo Leoni adds about the original intention behind the track: “It’s a great song with a lot of energy that helps you when you’re ‘sick and tired’ of things you wanna get rid of. Then the guitar riff kicks in and the rock ‘n’ roll spirit brings back the positive vibes.”

Stream ‘Sick & Tired (live)’: https://coreleoni.rpm.link/satlivePR

“Live at Hallenstadion Zurich” was recorded on July 3, 2025 at their show supporting the mighty JUDAS PRIEST and comprises 9 electrifying tracks. Including both covers of the rich GOTTHARD catalogue and tracks from “III,”CORELEONI’s first original effort which came out in early 2022, this new recording is essential rock ‘n’ roll: raw yet heavily rocking.

These history-charged 40 minutes simply had to be captured for eternity – not only for the 7,000 attending fans to relive the event but also for CORELEONI’s and hard rock fans all over the world!

Track Listing:

  1. Sister Moon
  2. Standing In The Light
  3. Downtown
  4. Like It Or Not
  5. Sick & Tired
  6. Mountain Mama
  7. Firedance
  8. She Goes Down
  9. Here Comes The Heat

About CORELEONI

Founded by guitarist Leo Leoni in 2018, CORELEONI started reviving the early GOTTHARD days successfully with their album duo consisting of “The Greatest Hits – Part 1” and “II.” The band also convinced fans and critics alike with their high-energy performances all over Europe, making the five-piece write their very own material. The result titled “III” was finally released in early 2022 and saw the addition of gifted Albanian singer Eugent Bushpepato CORELEONI’s powerful line-up, which is completed by guitarist Jgor Gianola (ex-GOTTHARD, ex-U.D.O.), bass player Mila Merker and drummer Alex Motta. The group’s latest record hit the official Swiss album chart at no. 2 and thereby cemented the high demand for their captivating craft. Of course, “III” guided the quintet’s way across the continent once again while making one thing even clearer: CORELEONI are more than just a studio band and need to be experienced (a)live to understand their vision in full. So what are you waiting for? Feel the magic & enjoy their second live offering, “Live at Hallenstadion Zurich”!

CORELEONI are:
Eugent Bushpepa | vocals
Leo Leoni | guitars
Jgor Gianola | guitars
Mila Merker | bass
Alex Motta | drums

More on CORELEONI: coreleoni.com | Facebook | Instagram | X | YouTube | Spotify | Apple Music

DREAM DROP Release New Single ‘Fuck This, I Gotta Go’

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 12, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: DREAM DROP. Leave a comment
photo: Knut Bry

Following the release of their 2023 album, Dream Drop has been busy in the studio. Now after releasing blackcastle: pt.1, the first chapter of their larger album project the second chapter blackcastle: pt.2 takes the begining into a new era with the band during this autumn. Their second EP dives even deeper into the concept of a perfect dream world, a vision of a peaceful life spent on a porch in old age. But in reality, that dream feels distant and unreachable. The “castle” becomes a symbol of that life slipping through your fingers, a theme echoed in both the sound and visuals. Second single out is ”Fuck this, I gotta go”.

Listen to the single here: https://promo.theorchard.com/lEtUjcJy1tWwqX64SHV2

It starts with a longing…
You build a castle in a dream, and before you know it, you’ve moved in…

Dream Drop’s Upcoming shows supporting Smash Into Pieces:
31/10 slagthuset, Malmö
2/11 trädgår’n, Göteborg
9/11 fållan, Stockholm

More information: https://dreamxdrop.com/links

TESTAMENT Celebrate Release of New “Para Bellum” Album with ‘High Noon’ Video Single

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 11, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: TESTAMENT. Leave a comment

Photo credit: Stephanie Carbal (except Dovas by Mia Demonz)

Bay Area thrash metal icons TESTAMENT returns this Fall with their fourteenth studio album, Para Bellum, which will be released on October 10th via Nuclear Blast Records. The album stands as both a battle cry and an observation of humanity’s uneasy alliance with its own creations. As technology accelerates and disconnection grows, Para Bellum sees TESTAMENT reflecting the modern chaos through music that’s urgent, sharp, and unflinchingly human. 

Testament’s newest single, ‘High Noon,’ is a Wild West adventure set to music, evoking images of duels and gunslingers. The song offers a nod to the band’s acclaimed The Gathering period, yet successfully incorporating fresh, contemporary elements, demonstrating the band’s forward momentum. Watch the animated video for ‘High Noon‘ created by Freakshot Films, here: https://youtu.be/q0fm7XmHJ_E

Chuck Billy comments, “We are so fired up about the release of Para Bellum. There were a lot of hours spent putting this together. These new songs put me out of my comfort zone as a vocalist but the final result I am very proud of what I accomplished. See you in the pit.🤘🏼.”

Order Para Bellum on the format of your choice here: https://testament.bfan.link/para-bellum

TESTAMENT live dates:

European Tour, remaining shows:
10.11.2025 UK London @ O2 Forum Kentish Town
10.12.2025 BE Antwerp @ Trix
10.13.2025 DE Stuttgart @ LKA Longhorn
10.14.2025 DE Hamburg @ Große Freiheit 36
10.16.2025 CH Pratteln @ Z7 Konzertfabrik
10.17.2025 DE Wiesbaden @ Schlachthof
10.18.2025 IT Milan @ Live Club
10.19.2025 DE Saarbruecken @ Garage
10.21.2025 SI Ljubljana @ Media Center
10.22.2025 AT Vienna @ Arena
10.23.2025 PL Wroclaw @ A2
10.24.2025 DE Munich @ TonHalle
10.25.2025 DE Oberhausen @ Turbinenhalle
10.26.2025 NL Utrecht @ Tivoli Vredenburg – Ronda

THE NARRATOR Announce European Headline Tour for 2026

Posted by tarjavirmakari on October 11, 2025
Posted in: Int. News, News. Tagged: THE NARRATOR. Leave a comment

Modern metalcore group THE NARRATOR have announced a European headline tour for 2026. Tickets will go on sale on Monday, Oct 13ht at 4 PM CET. Here are all confirmed dates:

THE NARRATOR
EUROPEAN HEADLINE TOUR 2026

30.09.2026 CH-Aarau, Kiff Aarau
01.10.2026 AT-Wien, Flex Café
03.10.2026 DE-München, Backstage Club
04.10.2026 DE-Stuttgart, Im Wizemann
06.10.2026 CZ-Prag, Rock Cafe
07.10.2026 DE-Leipzig, WERK 2 – Kulturfabrik Leipzig e.V.
08.10.2026 DE-Berlin, Frannz-Club
09.10.2026 DE-Hamburg, Bahnhof Pauli
10.10.2026 DE-Köln, Club Volta
11.10.2026 NL-Haarlem, Patronaat
13.10.2026 DE-Wiesbaden, Schlachthof Wiesbaden Kesselhaus
15.10.2026 GB-London, The Black Heart
16.10.2026 FR-Paris, La Maroquinerie
17.10.2026 NL-Tilburg, Little Devil
18.10.2026 BE-Antwerp, Kavka Oudaan

TICKETS: https://www.thenarrator.de

If you want to catch THE NARRATOR live in 2025: the band embarked yesterday on an extensive European tour with ANNISOKAY. Be quick as tickets are going fast. Furthermore, a hometown headline show in Essen has been announced for December 20th, 2025. Scroll down for all confirmed dates!

Just recently, the band released a new single called ‘Pills From The Start‘. 

Stream ‘Pills From The Start‘: https://thenarrator.bfan.link/pills-from-the-start

Watch the music video for ‘Pills From The Start‘:

MORE LIVE DATES FOR THE NARRATOR:

Supporting ANNISOKAY:

10.10.25 FI Tampere Olympia
11.10.25 FI Helsinki Tavastia
13.10.25 SE Stockholm Kollektivet Livet
14.10.25 NO Oslo John Dee
16.10.25 DK København Pumpehuset
17.10.25 DE Hamburg Große Freiheit 36
18.10.25 NL Eindhoven Dynamo
19.10.25 BE Antwerp Kavka
21.10.25 FR Paris Trabendo
22.10.25 FR Toulouse Le Rex
23.10.25 ES Barcelona Razzmatazz 2
24.10.25 ES Madrid Chango
25.10.25 PT Lisbon Vivo
20.11.25 DE Saarbrücken Garage
21.11.25 DE Dortmund FZW
22.11.25 DE Cologne Carlswerk Victoria
23.11.25 DE Berlin Huxley’s Neue Welt
25.11.25 DE Frankfurt am Main Batschkapp
26.11.25 DE Stuttgart Im Wizemann
28.11.25 CH Zurich Dynamo
29.11.25 IT Milan Legend
01.12.25 DE Munich Backstage
02.12.25 AT Vienna Simm City
03.12.25 HU Budapest Barba Negra
04.12.25 PL Krakow Hype Park
05.12.25 CZ Zlin Masters Of Rock Cafe
06.12.25 DE Leipzig Haus Auensee
15.01.26 UK London The Garage
16.01.26 UK Leeds Key Club
17.01.26 UK Bristol Thekla
18.01.26 UK Nottingham Rescue Rooms

Headline Show: 
20.12.25 DE Essen – Zeche Carl

TICKETS: https://www.thenarrator.de

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