Dark symphonic force GODIVA return with a brand new visual chapter from their acclaimed album Hubris. The band unveils the music video for “All Seeing Eye”, a haunting and visually intense journey that dives deep into the core themes of surveillance, control, and the collapse of self-awareness.
Shot with a cinematic scope that mirrors the song’s grandiosity, the video for “All Seeing Eye” fuses the band’s trademark orchestral darkness with symbolic storytelling and striking imagery. Once again, GODIVA proves that their vision transcends music—this is a full-on sensory experience.
”‘All Seeing Eye’ is about the illusion of omnipotence and the blindness it breeds,” states [Mantis], frontperson of GODIVA. “It captures the arrogance of believing one can see and control everything—until that same gaze turns inward and everything crumbles.”
This release marks another milestone in GODIVA’s relentless final stretch promoting Hubris, an album that has taken them across Europe with fiery performances and an ever-growing legion of lost souls. Expect the unexpected.
Indie rock newcomers The Mucks from Coventry return with “Need Your Love” — a soul-stirring representation of young love that is falling apart due to distance, commitments and growing up. Set against the backdrop of two people leaving for university, the track captures the quiet heartbreak of drifting apart, even when the feelings haven’t gone away.
With emotionally raw vocals and lyrics that cut deep, “Need Your Love” channels the confusion, craving, and sadness of what once was. As one partner begins to move on, the narrator is left behind — reliving promises that were supposed to last forever.
“She used to call me in the morning / She kept on reassuring / Now it’s just a text once a day.” “And I need your love / And I bleed your trust / The times we had we said will never end.”
The song builds with a slow and gradual build of strong vocals and instrumentation so the listener can get a feel of how desperate and fed up the narrator becomes. Full of red flags, unanswered questions, and the pain of watching someone become a stranger. “Need Your Love” is solely about the memory of a couple, which listeners can almost definitely relate to as they have to understand to let go of the things that are sometimes holding them back in life.
With this release, The Mucks continue to prove their gift for turning deeply personal moments into powerful, relatable anthems for a new generation. For fans of: Inhaler, Sam Fender, The 1975 and the likes.
“Fans of shimmering guitar-based rock are in for a treat.” – Chordblossom “The chorus is sure to get stuck in your head, and you’ll be thankful for that.” – Melodic Mag “Fantastic sound for their debut single.” – John Kennedy, Radio X
The Mucks are a 5-piece indie rock band formed in the heart of Coventry back in 2022. They have made a name for themselves in the west midlands indie music scene with a sold out headline show in Coventry at HMV Empire and multiple Birmingham gigs. The Mucks have taken fans by storm with their effortless take on modern indie rock that will for sure turn anyone’s head when they are turning it up to 11 on stage. They combine a mix of fast-paced, heart-felt, relatable sounds that can be understood by listeners of all ages.
The Mucks look to broaden their horizons in 2025 having already played shows in Liverpool and Manchester to showcase their take on the indie scene. Having worked at some well renowned studios across the UK with top producers, The Mucks are set to get as much of their music out as soon as it is perfected. Most recently having been down in Brighton at Salvation Music Studios with Nick Brine to record songs that are by far the best ones yet.
28th June, The Mucks play Deadwax, Birmingham – Tickets here.
Band Members: Michael Dunn – Lead Vocals Kieran King – Bass Guitar Conor McGuire – Guitar Scott Johnson – Guitar & Vocals Max Kendrick – Drums & Vocals
Commanding, fierce, and & triumphing since 1997 – there’s no better way to describe Germany’s premier power metal band, PRIMAL FEAR. The band have just unveiled details about their upcoming album “Domination,” set to drop on September 5, 2025 via RPM. Pre-orders are now open in a variety of physical formats and digital options here: https://primalfear.rpm.link/dominationPR
To celebrate this announcement, the lead single ‘Far Away’ has officially landed on streaming platforms worldwide. Packed with all the signature elements of a classic PRIMAL FEAR anthem – soaring melodies, thunderous drums and bass, and a blistering twin-guitar solo – the track also carries a powerful sense of yearning, brought to life by Ralf Scheepers’ unmistakable vocals. Filmed at Dennis Ward’s Kangaroo Studios in Karlsdorf-Neuthard, Germany, where the “Domination” recording sessions took place in late 2024, ‘Far Away’ is also available now as a performance-style music video on YouTube.
Scheepers explains the meaning behind the single: “It’s an expression of faith and trust, no matter where or what. We all know this feeling of missing someone so much, not being able to see or hear him/her every day – especially as musicians whilst touring.”
Going strong for nearly three decades, the band founded and still led by Mat Sinner (bass, vocals) and Ralf Scheepers (vocals) have never let down their global fanbase. Relentless and constantly pushing their limits, PRIMAL FEAR ensure that no two albums ever sound the same. After “Code Red” [2023] hit some of the highest chart positions of their career, expectations for the next release were higher than ever. Now joined by gifted guitarist Thalìa Bellazecca and former touring drummer André Hilgers, the quintet were more than up for the challenge. And as “Domination” makes clear, no obstacle is too great for PRIMAL FEAR’s powerhouse songwriting trio – Sinner, Scheepers, and guitarist Magnus Karlsson, who also rejoins the band’s live line-up after several years away.
From the hard-hitting opener ‘The Hunter’ and first single ‘Far Away,’ to the uplifting mid-tempo anthem ‘Tears Of Fire’ and the epic ballad ‘Eden’ – featuring a surprise guest appearance by AD INFINITUM’s Melissa Bonny – “Domination” delivers on all fronts. Add in neck-breakers like ‘Scream’ and ‘Crossfire,’ and the reflective, string-and-piano-driven closer ‘A Tune I Won’t Forget,’ and it’s clear: PRIMAL FEAR aren’t here to reclaim the crown – they’re here to prove they’ve never left the throne of heavy/power metal royalty.
“Domination” was recorded in autumn 2024, produced by Mat Sinner and co-produced by Ralf Scheepers as well as Magnus Karlsson. Rounded off by multiple PRIMAL FEAR mixing/mastering engineer Jacob Hansen at his own studios in Denmark, the album artwork was designed by Death.Milk.Designs.
“Domination” – Track Listing:
The Hunter
Destroyer
Far Away
I Am The Primal Fear
Tears Of Fire
Heroes And Gods
Hallucinations
Eden [feat. Melissa Bonny of AD INFINITUM]
Scream
The Dead Don’t Die
Crossfire
March Boy March
A Tune I Won’t Forget
Bonus Track [physical only; excl. jewel case-CD]
Bridges Will Burn
Warming up at five select summer festivals, PRIMAL FEAR will return to the live front with their longest European tour since 2018. RPM label mates ELEINE have been confirmed as special guests. All dates & tickets can be found below.
09.05.2025 DE Braunschweig – Rock in Rautheim 02.07.2025 DE Ballenstedt – Rockharz Open Air SOLD OUT 18.07.2025 IT Cremona – Luppolo in Rock 21.08.2025 DE Haddeby – Baltic Open Air 23.08.2025 UK Newark – Stonedead Festival SOLD OUT
“Domination” Tour 2025 w/ ELEINE
05.09.2025 DE Hamburg – Markthalle 06.09.2025 DE Leipzig – Anker 07.09.2025 DE Bochum – Zeche 09.09.2025 DE Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal 10.09.2025 DE Munich – Backstage 12.09.2025 DE Memmingen – Kaminwerk 13.09.2025 DE Mannheim – Capitol 14.09.2025 DE Regensburg-Obertraubling – Eventhall Airport 16.09.2025 CH Pratteln – Konzertfabrik Z7 18.09.2025 DE Berlin – Hole 44 19.09.2025 DE Naila – Frankenhalle 20.09.2025 DE Stuttgart – Im Wizemann (Halle) 21.09.2025 BE Sint-Niklaas – De Casino 23.09.2025 NL Amstelveen – P60 25.09.2025 PL Warsaw – Stodola 26.09.2025 CZ Prague – MeetFactory 27.09.2025 CZ Zlín – Masters of Rock Café 30.09.2025 ES Madrid – Mon 01.10.2025 ES Murcia – Garaje 03.10.2025 ES Barcelona – Salamandra 04.10.2025 ES Pamplona – Sala Totem
PRIMAL FEAR are: Ralf Scheepers | vocals Mat Sinner | bass, vocals Magnus Karlsson | guitars Thalìa Bellazecca | guitars André Hilgers | drums
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 Metalcommends 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:
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.
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
Production Credits: Produced & Engineered by Tom Fountainhead. Mixed by Tom Fountainhead at FountainheadHQ. Mastered by Leon Schmidt at his home studio & FountainheadHQ.
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
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.
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
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
Ads
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 ) 