Progressive pioneers HAKEN spent 2024 celebrating their most recent acclaimed studio album, ‘Fauna’, in the most comprehensive way possible, as part of their ‘An Evening With’ run throughout the world. Playing two full sets each night, the band performed ‘Fauna’ in full, before returning to the stage to run through a selection of the best-loved cuts from their catalogue. In a homecoming of sorts for Haken, on the 21st September 2024 the band played London’s legendary O2 Forum, and the document of that special evening is what’s witnessed on ‘Liveforms: An Evening With Haken’ – released on May 9th, 2025.
COSMIC CATHEDRAL – the union of Neal Morse (Transatlantic), Chester Thompson (Genesis), Phil Keaggy (Glass Harp) & Byron House (session player with Robert Plant, Dolly Parton etc) – have released the debut album ‘Deep Water.’
JAKKO M. JAKSZYK, perhaps most recently known as lead singer and second guitarist in King Crimson, is proud to announce his new solo album ‘Son Of Glen’ – set for release on the 27th June 2025. The record is a companion piece of sorts to his acclaimed memoir ‘Who’s The Boy With The Lovely Hair’, that was released in October 2024, and explores many of the themes and the subjects that the book touches upon.
To coincide with this announcement, you can now hear the stunning 10-minute long title track here:
A specially commissioned video for Son Of Glen, will be premiered on the 2nd May. Look out for more information on that soon.
Tipped as 2025’s rock-band-to-watch, Return to Dust are back with a vital and vibrant new single entitled “Shine” out now via LAVA/Republic Records. Listen HERE. “Shine” marks the Los Angeles-based group’s first release of 2025 and is accompanied by an official music video, watch HERE.
The band—Matty Bielawski [guitar, vocals], Graham Stanush [bass, vocals], Sebastian Gonzalez [guitar], and London Hudson [drums]—recorded “Shine” with frequent collaborator and producer Jim Kaufman out of his L.A. studio.
The new single elegantly balances a thick distorted riff with towering vocal harmonies punctuated by a pounding bridge and the echoes of wah-soaked lead guitar. It culminates with an infectious and immortal refrain, “So lay me down under golden skies and shine!”
About the song, the band shared, “‘Shine’ felt like the perfect way to segway into a new series of stories summarized by a single song about shedding your skin and hoping for something more.”
2024 saw the band unveil their independent self-titled full-length debut, Return To Dust, including standout single “Belly Up” which rose through the Active Rock chart and was praised by Distorted Sound as “a grungy, punky thrill ride,” while Revolver applauded the group’s “Alice In Chains-inspired form of modern-day grunge.”
This year the band will open for Pop Evil, Dorothy, Billy Corgan and The Machines of God, Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace with festival appearances at Sonic Temple, Welcome to Rockville, Louder Than Life, Aftershock and more. Find more information HERE and all dates below.
Signing to LAVA now, they’re kickstarting a bold new chapter starting with “Shine”.
RETURN TO DUST ON TOUR *Festival performance
Supporting Pop Evil April 25 – Elsinore Theatre – Salem, OR April 26 – Cargo – Reno, NV April 29 – Rickshaw – Vancouver, BC May 1 – Palace Theatre – Calgary, AB May 2 – Century Casino – Edmonton, AB May 3 – Louis’ Pub – Saskatoon, SK May 4 – Park Theatre – Winnipeg, MB May 6 – Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL May 7 – Epic Events Center – Green Bay, WI
*May 8 – Sonic Temple Art & Music Festival – Columbus, OH *May 10 – WMMR 93.3 MMRBBQ – Camden, NJ
Supporting Dorothy May 11 – Jefferson Theater – Charlottesville, VA May 13 – Music Farm – Charleston, SC May 14 – Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA May 15 – Club LA – Destin, FL *May 18 – Welcome to Rockville – Daytona Beach, FL
Supporting Billy Corgan and The Machines of God June 7 – Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD June 9 – The Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA June 11 – Kee to Bala – Muskoka, ON June 12 – History – Toronto, ON June 13 – Beanfield Theater – Montreal, QC June 15 – Irving Plaza – New York, NY June 16 – Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA June 17 – Archer Music Hall – Allentown, PA June 19 – At. Andrew’s Hall – Detroit, MI June 20 – Taste of Joliet – Joliet, IL June 21 – Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI June 23 – Roxian Theatre – Pittsburgh, PA June 25 – House of Blues – Cleveland, OH June 26 – Bogart’s – Cincinnati, OH June 29 – Varsity Theater – Minneapolis, MN *July 18 – Upheaval Festival – Grand Rapids, MI *July 19 – Rock Fest – Cadott, WI
Supporting Breaking Benjamin & Three Days Grace Aug 29 – Thunder Ridge Nature’s Arena – Ridgedale, MO * Aug 30 – Rocklahoma Festival – Pryor, OK Sept 1 – Dickies Arena – Fort Worth, TX Sept 3 – Moody Center – Austin, TX Sept 6 – PNC Music Pavilion – Charlotte, NC Sept 8 – Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater – Virginia Beach, VA Sept 10 – Prudential Center – Newark, NJ Sept 11 – Xfinity Center – Mansfield, MA Sept 13 – The Pavilion – Scranton, PA Sept 14 – BankNH Pavilion Gilford, NH Sept 17 – Darien Lake Amphitheater – Darien Center, NY *Sept 20 – Louder Than Life – Louisville, KY Sept 23 – Wells Fargo Arena – Des Moines, IA Sept 27 – Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre – West Valley City, UT Sept 30 – Climate Pledge Arena – Seattle, WA Oct 1 – Cascades Amphitheater – Ridgefield, WA Oct 3 – Save Mart Center – Fresno, CA *Oct 4 – Aftershock – Sacramento, CA Oct 6 – Toyota Arena – Ontario, CA Oct 8 – Desert Diamond Arena – Glendale, AZ Oct 10 – Isleta Amphitheater – Albuquerque, NM
ABOUT RETURN TO DUST Every ending sparks a new beginning. Return to Dust embodies the sound of shedding the weight of the past while embracing the promise of tomorrow. The Los Angeles-based quartet—Matty Bielawski [guitar, vocals], Graham Stanush [bass, vocals], Sebastian Gonzalez [guitar], and London Hudson [drums]— brings a fresh perspective to alternative rock.
The band settled in Los Angeles to record with producer Jim Kaufman [Everclear, Danny Worsnop, Night Riots, Helmet]. 2024 saw them unveil their independent self-titled full-length debut, Return To Dust, including standout single “Belly Up” which rose through the Active Rock chart and was praised by Distorted Sound as “a grungy, punky thrill ride,” while Revolver applauded the group’s “Alice In Chains-inspired form of modern-day grunge.”
In the aftermath, they lit up the stages at major festivals like Inkarceration, Welcome To Rockville, and Sonic Temple and joined rock legends Chevelle and Sevendust as support on tour. Signing to LAVA Records/Republic Records with more music on the horizon, the group is poised to stand at the forefront of the next generation of rock music, beginning with their new single “Shine.”
“Beatdown Syndrome” is the savage new single from Belgian goregrind powerhouse BRUTAL SPHINCTER. The song is the latest single preceding the band’s gnarled new album, “Sphinct-Earth Society“, due out May 23rd, 2025, via Time To Kill Records.
The track is a satire of the beatdown hardcore scene. Bold and daring, it blends relatively technical death metal riffs with groovy verses and a chorus worthy of the greatest hardcore bands. The bass and drums take center stage, reaching their peak when the guitars drop out for several seconds. The vocalists complement each other, delivering a brutal and diverse range of techniques. With such qualities, this track is set to become a staple in the band’s discography.
With“Sphinct-Earth Society”, the band pushes the boundaries of the genre they inhabit. In other words, by incorporating numerous new influences, ranging from death metal to modern metal, they redefine what goregrind can be, all while maintaining that groovy signature sound that makes them so instantly recognizable.
For example, while the track “Beatdown Syndrome” integrates hardcore elements, the song “Name Three Songs” instrumentally pushes the limits of technicality. Meanwhile, a track like “Abolish Frontex” draws influences from death metal akin to Daath or Decapitated, and a juggernaut like “Unvaxxed Lives Matter” secures its place as a classic in BRUTAL SPHINCTER’s discography thanks to its unparalleled heaviness and ultra-groovy riffs.
Across the 10 tracks that make up this new opus, BRUTAL SPHINCTER tackles societal issues both dramatic (climate change, immigration, sexism, etc.) and conspiratorial (anti-vaxxers, flat-earthers, etc.). As usual, they use their particularly biting humor and embrace absurdity to approach these sensitive topics.
Moreover, the band’s two frontmen complement each other more than ever, delivering a particularly diverse vocal range. Whether you’re a fan of the pitched vocals typical of goregrind, the slimy inhales of slamming death metal, the caveman shouts of powerviolence, or the more traditional growls foundational to death metal, there’s something to enjoy in these 30 minutes of brutality.
With this new offering, BRUTAL SPHINCTER solidifies its position among the leaders of their genre and sets out to expand its reputation into scenes less niche than grindcore.
Tracklist:
1. The Prolapse Of Society 2. Tony Hawk Pro-Choice 2022 3. Crusta-Colada (Crack’n Kofola) 4. Unvaxxed Lives Matter 5. Beatdown Syndrome 6. Name Three Songs 7. Sphinct-Earth Society 8. The Juice Did It 9. Persona Non-Greta 10. Abolish Frontex
Offending everyone since April 1st, 2013, BRUTAL SPHINCTER have, over the years, established themselves as one of the leading acts in the current goregrind scene.
Bringing political themes into their music, they dub themselves “POOlitical” and, through offbeat and satirical humor, take a stand against all forms of extremism while championing freedom of speech.
Despite their extreme musical style, they are one of those rare acts that can seamlessly fit into any type of event or festival. They have proven this time and again, performing at some of the biggest metal gatherings in Europe, such as Hellfest, Summer Breeze Open Air, Alcatraz, Motocultor, Party San, Metaldays, and more, as well as at the most extreme metal events like Obscene Extreme, DeathFeast Open Air, Meh Suff, Kaltenbach Open Air and Netherlands Deathfest.
BEWARE! Party, dance, groove, and brutality are the elements they always bring with them to every show.
Photography: Kevin Eisenlord, Anderson Hildebrando
Brazilian extreme metal outfit OPHIOLATRY has released a new music video, “Death Tour”, the first single from their upcoming album “Serpent’s Verdict”, due June 6, 2025, via Wormholedeath Records. This latest visual offering is inspired by Greek mythology, depicting the journey of a fallen warrior’s soul through the realm of death. As the spirit is carried across the River Styx, it approaches the gates of Hades, where the warrior’s tribe awaits his arrival, welcoming him into the afterlife. They comment further on the single and the video:
“The warrior perished, part of his body bathed in the blood of the unworthy. He doesn’t beg. He doesn’t hesitate. The ancestors whisper his name as his spirit ascends, enveloped in the smoke of rituals. The witches dance around the burning fire, invoking Charon’s presence. The coins reflect in his lifeless eyes, an offering to the boatman. From the depths of Lake Styx. The serpent rises, its coils moving like time itself. As he breathes, the warrior’s confusion dissolves into clarity. He steps onto the distant shore, where his tribe awaits him in reverent silence. There are no words; They are not necessary. They were already waiting to cross the gates of Hades together; The end is just the beginning.”
“Death Tour” represents a sonic evolution for Ophiolatry, balancing their technical prowess with a more atmospheric, tribally influenced approach to extreme metal. The video clip amplifies these themes through striking imagery that merges Greek Mythology with the brutality of modern death metal aesthetics.
Each track on “Serpent’s Verdict” functions as part of an immersive narrative experience. It is an invocation of the past and a battle cry for the future. With the release of “Death Tour,” Ophiolatry continues to build anticipation for the full album, which promises to be one of the most devastating extreme metal releases of 2025. It is recommended for fans of Cryptopsy, Suffocation, and Death.
Album Recording Credits: All songs performed and composed by Ophiolatry. Mastering: Dan Swanö – http://www.unisound.se Artwork: LouLou – http://www.louloufineart.com Pre-Production: Steve Rumpli & Ophiolatry Production, Recording & Mixing: Diego Santiago Studio: Satori Estudio Photography: Kevin Eisenlord, Anderson Hildebrando Graphic Layout: Beto Mustafa
Album Band Line Up: Jaime Veron – Lead Vocals Diego Santiago – Bass George “Dog” Duarte – Drums Fred Barros – Guitars
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 ) 