Norwegian symphonic metal band NERGARD has released a brand-new lyric video for their war anthem “Where No One Would Shed a Tear.” Written by Andreas Nergård and Andi Kravljaca for the critically acclaimed 2021 album Eternal White, the song captures the chaos of a 16th-century battlefield, skillfully portrayed through Andi’s gripping lyrics.
“The musical foundation of the song came together in under an hour, making it by far my easiest writing session” explains band leader Andreas Nergård. “While the orchestrations and final recordings were a more involved process, the core of the song was effortless”. Eternal White tells the story of a war-weary soldier during the Great Northern War, culminating in the lesser-known Carolean Death March. “I originally wanted this to be a duet between Andi and a female singer” Nergård continues, “but as fate would have it, Mathias Molund Indergård ended up with the difficult task of singing those insane lines — and absolutely nailed it”.
NERGARD is currently in the studio working on their next album, slated for release in 2026.
Known for fusing retro-futuristic aesthetics with relentless sonic force, Mega Drive redelivers “Iron Fist” as a an unrelenting barrage of heavy synthesizers, crushing drum beats, and haunting piano melodies that punches straight through the neon haze. Its raw energy and cinematic power defining the playful yet darker edges of the electronic spectrum. Fans old and new can experience the track in full high-fidelity, anytime, anywhere.
The single is a prime example of Mega Drive’s signature sound: aggressive yet controlled, mechanical yet deeply atmospheric. Its gritty textures and precise rhythms conjure visions of dystopian skylines, chrome-plated warriors, and an unstoppable will to survive. The ghostly piano that echoes through the track adds a chilling humanity to its otherwise industrial edge. Its arrival marks a new chapter, giving longtime followers and new listeners alike a chance to experience one of Mega Drive’s most commanding creations in any time, any place.
The enigmatic artist behind the Mega Drive project has established himself as one of the most visionary creators in synthwave, and early releases like VHS, Hardwired, and 198XAD represent essential pillars of the dark synth and cyberpunk synthwave outgrowths of the main genre. Since his first releases in 2012, Mega Drive has gained a diehard following and his albums have become some of the most well-known and well-respected recordings in the entire retro synth world.
Never content to lean on past accomplishments, Mega Drive has consistently evolved his sound to embrace new creative approaches, and every album in the artist’s discography offers its own distinctive style. That level of experimentation and willingness to grow as a creator has kept him at the forefront of synthwave’s ever-changing landscape, and it ensures that fans will have new material to enjoy for a long time to come.
Italian atmospheric black metal five-piece SVART VINTER unleash their new single “Torment”.
The song is taken from their sophomore studio album “Isvind” to be released on May 30th, 2025 via Non Serviam Records.
“‘Torment’ delves deep into the dark, wintry depths of the human soul. It tells the story of an individual trapped in the icy grip of their own existence, where light is a distant memory and hope is extinguished by an inescapable darkness. It’s a statement of existence within darkness, a reflection on the annihilation of the self in a world that offers nothing but cold and abandonment. We hope this track can accompany those who, like us, find a certain beauty in the harshness of the void, in the strength of the ice, and in the freedom hidden within despair,” comments the band.
About the album SVART VINTER state: “It captures the raw forces of winter’s darkness, with themes of isolation, grief, and torment at its core. Each track immerses the listener in a cold, unforgiving landscape where the frost gnaws at your soul and the night stretches on endlessly.
‘Isvind’ offers an experience that is both atmospheric and intense, bringing to life the most sinister aspects of winter’s embrace. The album weaves a tale of death and darkness, and is a relentless exploration of the harshest elements, where the forces of nature are as merciless as they are mesmerizing.”
“Isvind” track listing 1. Torment 2. Frozen Tomb 3. Isvind 4. Ritual 5. Abyss 6. Where The Shadows Lie 7. My Last Winter 8. Of Cold And Grief 9. Beneath The Night’s Cold Gaze
“Isvind” was mixed and mastered by SVART VINTER’s frontman Andrea Maggioni at Decomposed Design Studio. The album’s artwork is based on an original photo by Autumnal Mood Photography.
Founded in Rome in 2021 by members of the doom/death metal band Veil Of Conspiracy, they draw inspiration from the classic Norwegian black metal scene of the 90’s. The band’s name, meaning “black winter” in Swedish and Norwegian, reflects the bleak and atmospheric qualities of their music.
Though relatively new to the scene, SVART VINTER has quickly established themselves in the underground black metal community. Their debut album, “Mist” (2022), received critical acclaim for its raw intensity and evocative atmosphere. The album captures the essence of traditional Black Metal while adding a fresh, emotional depth.
SVART VINTER’s sound is characterized by haunting melodies, cold, sharp riffs, and a powerful, relentless rhythm section. Their lyrics delve into themes of nature, isolation, and existential struggle, exploring both the beauty and the darkness of the natural world and the human condition.With poetic, introspective lyrics, Svart Vinter creates an immersive experience that resonates deeply with listeners, reflecting on the human spirit’s search for meaning in an indifferent and often hostile universe.
Their music is more than just a reflection of black metal’s harsh sound – it’s a journey through darkness, atmosphere and emotion, a tribute to the genre’s past while looking toward its future.
SVART VINTER are: Andrea Maggioni – Vocals Luca Gagnoni – Rhythm and Lead Guitars Emanuela Marino – Rhythm Guitars Jacopo Simonelli – Bass Luca Tiraterra – Drums
Colombian hardcore crossover unit Poison the Preacher have revealed their second single, ‘One Man Army’, taken from their upcoming debut album, Vs The World, set for release on 23rd May via Seek and Strike. Representing a major milestone in the band’s musical evolution, the album features guest appearances from members of DeadHeat and Sanguisugabogg.
Thelatest single marks a bold turn in the band’s sound, trading speed for groove and leaning hard into sheer heaviness. Built on a foundation of deliberate pacing and crushing riffs,’One Man Army’ channels themes of self-reliance and standing firm against negativity. It’s a strong statement from a band pushing their boundaries to the limit, fusing elements of thrash, hardcore and crossover with the grit of bands like Drain, Judiciary, Municipal Waste and Sunami.
Comments vocalist/guitarist Juan Pablo: “The album’s second single, ‘One Man Army,’ is one of the coolest songs we ever wrote. No question about it. We chose it as a single because it’s way different from everything we’ve made. It’s completely based on groove and heaviness, not speed. It’s just a crushing song that’s a complete curveball on the record. Its overall theme is about not needing anyone and how you have to become an army of one to not let negative people drag you down.That’s something that really speaks volumes to me and I hope that other people can find the strength to do anything they want in life. We abide by this logic, which is why we made this video to reflect the DIY nature. We have gotten to this point by ourselves and we wanna showcase that with clips from our travels, hometown shows, festivals, international tours, underground shows, big shows, etc. All that to make a little showcase of our history and how we got to where we are now.”
“This album feels like a huge leap forward for us,”Juan continues. “It’s the culmination of everything we’ve done up to this point. Everything fell into place and we’ve finally developed a sound that truly represents who we are. This is us, unapologetically.”
Vs The World is a testament to the band’s relentless drive to push further and evolve. “This record has put us in a mindset of constant improvement, experimentation, and growth,” he adds. “We don’t want to make the same song twice. Every track on Vs The World comes from a different place. There’s something for everyone here. Whether you’re into thrash, death metal, hardcore or something in between, we’re bringing it all together in a fresh, unique way.”
Track-list: 1. Future Tense 2. Sucker Punch ft. Chris Ramos (Dead Heat) 3. Dying Every Day ft. Devin Swank (Sanguisugabogg) 4. 1312 5. Hate Too Much 6. Congelado en el Tiempo 7. Promise To Pay 8. One Man Army 9. Us Against The World
Poison the Preacher refuse to be confined to a single genre, blending elements of thrash, hardcore, death metal and beyond. “We’re not just a thrash band with breakdowns,” Juan explains. “We’re a proud fusion of all the heavy music you love, with a perspective that challenges what you expect from a metal band.”
For fans new to Poison the Preacher, Vs The World promises a diverse, genre blurring experience that offers something for everyone in the heavy music world. “If you’re into thrash, death metal, hardcore, anything in the heavy music world, there’s a song here for you,” the band notes. “And for our fans, you’re going to see us evolve and diversify even more. We’re not reinventing the wheel, but we’re definitely bringing something new to the table.”
With this album, Poison the Preacher cement their place as a band committed to musical evolution and offering a unique perspective on the world of heavy music.
Following three acclaimed studio albums and recording sessions in iconic locations like Abbey Road, NIGHTHAWK return in 2025 with a bold new chapter. Their latest album, “Six Three O”, was captured at the legendary Rockfield Studios in Wales – where classics by Queen and Oasis were once born – and once again brings together a stellar lineup of Swedish rock powerhouses.
Led by Robert Majd (Captain Black Beard, Metalite) on guitars, Nighthawk features Björn Strid (Soilwork, The Night Flight Orchestra) on vocals, John Lönnmyr (The Night Flight Orchestra) on keyboards, Rasmus Ehrnborn (Soilwork, The Night Flight Orchestra) on bass, and Magnus Ulfstedt (Black Paisley) on drums. The album was produced by Sverker Widgren (Portal, October Tide), continuing the trusted collaboration that shaped their previous Mighty Music release “Prowler” (2023).
From the soaring melodies of “Home Tonight” – built around a long-held riff that finally found its moment – to the energetic pulse of “Angel of Mine”, “Six Three O” is an album that combines musical finesse with heartfelt expression. On “Can’t Say Goodbye”, the band’s chemistry shines through as Björn spontaneously crafted a pre-chorus that elevates the track on the spot. Meanwhile, “Too Good To You” delivers a tight, no-frills blast of classic rock’n’roll, driven by fiery performances from all involved.
What started as a creative outlet has grown into a fully realized band, uniting some of Sweden’s finest rock musicians under one banner. After “Prowler”, “Six Three O” cements Nighthawk’s reputation as one of the most compelling melodic rock bands of the moment – honoring the past while forging ahead with passion and power.
“Six Three O” will be released on LP (black vinyl limited to 100 copies, green vinyl limited to 200), CD and digital on 01.08.2025, via Mighty Music. Pre-orders are available here.
The first single from the album, “Home Tonight”, is out now. Check it out in all streaming platforms, and also the official video.
“Six Three O” tracklist:
1. Hard Rock Warrior 2. Wrong Side Of Desire 3. Home Tonight 4. Angel Of Mine 5. Can’t Say Goodbye 6. I Am The Night 7. Losing My Mind 8. Too Good To You 9. Cut You Loose 10. Turn To Me 11. Man On The Silver Mountain
Lineup: Robert Majd – guitar Björn Strid – vocals John Lönnmyr – keyboards Magnus Ulfstedt – drums Rasmus Ehrnborn – bass
Blending Nordic heritage, black metal and using the Hardanger Fiddle to create soundscapes, Afargang are now releasing a brand new song “Leva og døy”. The project, the brainchild of Olav L. Mjelva who is known as Norway’s most renowded fiddler, recently signed to By Norse.
The song is taken of the upcoming album ‘Andvake’, set for worldwide release on June 13. Pre-orders are available in the By Norse store here.
Olav L. Mjelva elaborates about the song: “To live and to die. This one is the only song on the album inspired by Norse mythology. The humans want the God Frøy to come to earth. Frøy was the one that judged people who lied (amongst other things. He also had a boat that could float overland; Skibladner). When Frøy sees how the earthlings behave, lie and deceive, he gets really mad, which you can hear in the last part of the song.”
If darkness is the canvas upon which the boldest visions are painted, then Andvake—meaning “Awakened Soul” in Old Norse—marks Afargang’s arrival with a vivid and unrelenting creation. An album born from the restless churn of Nordic heritage and modern extremity, it pulses with the tension of contrasts: light against dark, the ancient against the new, the ethereal against the unyielding weight of distortion. This is more than an album—it is an invocation, a soundscape ofmelancholy, resilience, and reckoning.
At the heart of Afargang is Olav Luksengård Mjelva, the band’s architect and guiding force. A musician whose soul resonates with the echoes of Norway’s past, his mastery of folk music and particularly the Hardanger fiddle, injects a spectral quality into the band’s sonic framework. But Afargang is no exercise in nostalgia. Instead, it is a collision of forces—where the weight of tradition meets the unbridled power of black metal. Mjelva’s voice, raw and commanding, channels something ancient and untamed.
Olav explains, “As a folk musician, I feel that Norway’s ancient music and culture are a part of my heritage. I use the fiddle to create soundscapes, rather than as the leading melody. There are a lot of folk metal bands that really don’t really understand folk music. They write melodies that sound folkish, played with heavy guitars, but I don’t think that works very well. I wanted to use the Nordic elements as a soundscape to go along with the very heavy music.”
Olav and co-producer Stian Kårstad share guitar duties, their riffing spread across the stereo field, forging a dynamic interplay between them. Olav’s kaleidoscopic leads shine brightly throughout Stian’s sharp, atmospheric layering, adding both edge and depth to the compositions, while ensuring that the band’s sound is both unified and expansive. Beneath them, Sindre Bråthen Tjørswaag’s bass work anchors the sound with an earth-rumbling presence, while Jon Even Schärer’s percussive assault is both intricate and primal, forging rhythms that shift like tectonic plates.
“In my mind, this album is a journey that leads the listener through different worlds. I wanted to write some very dark music, but of course the whole album can’t be that dark, so the songs offersome variation in tone, with different signatures and tempos,” Olav explains. The result is a visceral blend of aggression and sadness. It is an exploration of melancholy, unrest, and the liminal spaces between struggle and surrender.
Each track on Andvake navigates this inner voyage, weaving together a sonic and thematic narrative. Mot Verda (“Against The World”) opens with the ghostly wail of the Hardanger fiddle before surging into a defiant black metal assault. Kvile (“Rest”) blends simmering mid-tempo intensity with luminous, folk-infused guitar work.
The title track, Andvake (“Awakened Soul”), moves with a slow-burning force, shifting between ethereal harmonies and raw, blackened aggression, capturing the torment of a soul in transition. Leika (“Play”) offers a rare moment of light, its folk-pop melodies juxtaposed with deeply melancholic lyrics. Vêrfolne serves as a brief interlude, featuring archival recordings of legendary Norwegian fiddler Olav Sataslåtten, providing a moment of respite before the twilight-inspired Sjå Det Blånar (“It’s Getting Blue”) hurtles into ablend of razorwire metal and spoken-word passages. Leva Og Døy (“Live and Die”) reaches a peak of raw intensity, incorporating Norse mythology into its brutal and beautiful structure, while I Di Eining (“In Your Circle”) is a weighty, harmony-driven lament, drenched in doom-laden atmospherics. Closing track Kom Ned (“Come Down”) is a solemn, transcendental piece that invites the listener to search for meaning and peace in a tumultuous world.
This is not folk metal as the world has known it, nor is it a simple modernization of ancient sounds. It is a force unto itself, reaching into the marrow of Nordic tradition and twisting it into something new, something untamed.
The recording process itself mirrored this dynamic tension. Captured in a setting that embraced both the organic and the otherworldly, the album breathes with the rawness of live instrumentation while maintaining an almost cinematic depth. The interplay between human hands and ancient instruments, between distortion and melody, between control and abandon, is what gives Andvake its undeniable presence. Every note, every layer of sound, is imbued with intention, demanding not just to be heard but to be felt.
Ultimately, these songs are meticulously calibrated to transmit a unique, consciousness-shifting experience to the listener. Experiences that, Olav hopes, are unique to each person. “The idea of the ‘Awakened Soul,’ is something that I’d prefer not to describe too explicitly—I’d like to leave that to the listener. And honestly, there are ideas in these lyrics that I’m still learning myself, which is a good thing.”
Afargang stands at the vanguard of something both deeply familiar and thrillingly unknown. With Andvake, they have not simply created an album—they have unearthed a force, a movement, a sound that bridges centuries and defies boundaries. This is music that refuses to fade into the background. It demands sleepless nights. It demands reckoning. It demands to be met head-on.
Credits:
Olav L Mjelva – vocals, guitar, hardangerfiddle, mora harp Stian Kårstad – guitar (bass on two tracks) (Trelldom, Djerv) Jon Even Schärer – drums Sindre Bråthen Tjørswaag- bass Haldor Bromstad – guest growler
Producers: Olav L Mjelva, Stian Kårstad,Hans Andreas Horntveth Jahnsen Recording and mix: Hans Andreas Horntveth Jahnsen. Muchoniceness music, Sandefjord, Norway Master: Morgan Nicolaysen
Biography: Joe Daly
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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
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