Finland’s finest, Svarta Havet are back with another incredible single from their forthcoming album ‘Månen ska lysa din väg’, out May 9th via Prosthetic Records.
The long nights of their geographical location has bled into the band’s sound, resulting in beautiful but gloomy black metal tinged post-hardcore.
The band have this to say about their new single:
“Wonderful is the earth, and everything that ever grew on it” -Lotta
In the Nordic countries “Härlig är jorden” is a christian psalm sung at many occasions, often funerals. Personally I´ve always liked it, not because of its christian message, but because of its harmonic grandiosity that somehow captures the essence of life. When I heard the track taking shape my thought immediately went to this psalm that I sang all through my school years and I wanted to rewrite it as a simple declaration of admiration and love for life and the earth – with a more specific focus on how fantastic it is that we get to spend time on this wondrous globe. There are some direct quotes from the original psalm but for the most parts the words are completely different. -Lotta
This track was the one that for me would clearly come to set the tone for the rest of the record, we experimented quite a bit with the chord progressions to get something quite beautiful but still rough around the edges. It was the centerpiece that we built the rest of the record around. -Joakim
The video for Härlig är jorden is just a completely unironic love letter to nature, all the little details that make the forests and meadows irreplaceable treasures. -Joakim”
Tour dates:
1.5. Jyväskylä, Kramsu 2.5. Tampere, Vastavirta 3.5. Helsinki, Playhouse 10.5. Turku, Kåren (record release party) 14.5. Tartu, Club Hell 15.5. Riga, Depo 16.5. Vilnius, XI20 17.5. Olecko, Przystanek Skocznia 23.5. Helsinki, Sonic Rites Festival 29.5. Oulu, Tukikohta 6.6. Helsinki, Aivopiha Festival 23.8. Turku, Punk ja yäk Festival 26.9. Turku, Iloinen Härkä 28.9. Helsinki, Lepakkomies
SVARTA HAVET is: Lotta (she/her) – vocals Joakim (he/him) – guitar Anders (he/him) – bass Jara (she/her) – drums
Renowned rock singer Russ Ballard is pleased to reveal his new single and accompanying video “I Know There’s Something Going On”, taken from his upcoming double album “Songs From The Warehouse / The Hits Rewired”, out on April 25th, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.
This release is a real treat for all rock fans: the first CD contains new songs, which show once again that the inspiration never left Russ, while the second CD includes brand new recordings of famous hits either penned or performed by him during the years.
Pre-Order “Songs From The Warehouse / The Hits Rewired” HERE
About the new single, Russ Ballard commented: “That was a quick one. I wrote it when the first digital reverbs came out. I played around with these new sounds, took my holey guitar and that’s it. I took me an hour to write it from start to finish. Phil Collins turned it into a massive song then with his drum sound. Years later, Frida said she wished I did more songs for her. How lovely from her”.
He also expressed his excitement for the album: “It’s a buzz releasing a new album. What started as my “Lockdown-tapes” during the pandemic became an album! During lockdown, my studio was a life saver for me, and I found new ways of writing and recording. The result gives the listeners a good insight into this time – have a listen!”
Russ Ballard is simply one of the most renowned and gifted songwriters in pop and rock music. His music career started when he was only 14 years old and he wrote a tune, which was recorded by the Shadows, appearing on their album “The Sound Of The Shadows” in 1964.
During the 70’s and 80’s, his songs ruled the airwaves and the list of hits is pretty much endless. From “Since You Been Gone” (Rainbow), “God Gave Rock’n’Roll To You” (Argent and Kiss), “So You Win Again” (Hot Chocolate), “New York Groove” (Hello and Ace Frehley), “You Can Do Magic” (America), “Winning” (Santana) or “I Don’t Believe In Miracles” (Colin Blunstone) – just to name a few – everyone who needed a great song knew that with Russ Ballard they could not go wrong.
Numerous records/artists were also produced by him, like Roger Daltrey, America, Elkie Brooks, Skindred or Sada Vidoo. In 1974, he started a solo career (after his stint with the band Argent in early 70’s), which had its highest momentum with the “S/t” album in 1984 (which included the hit single “Voices”) and the follow up “The Fire Still Burns”.
Since then, Russ released 10 studio albums and is still writing and producing hits. Three songs of his 1984 and 1985 album were featured in the TV-show “Miami Vice” and were extensively played on dancefloors around Europe.
“Songs From The Warehouse / The Hits Rewired” Tracklist:
CD1 1. Resurrection 2. Courageous 3. Journey Man 4. The One Who Breathes Me 5. The Wild 6. Charlatan 7. Soul Music 8. Sleepwalking 9. Last Man Standing 10. Make Believe World 11. The Family Way 12. Fearless 13. The Last Amen
CD2 1. Since You’ve Been Gone 2. Winning 3. God Gave Rock And Roll To You 4. Voices 5. New York Groove 6. You Can Do Magic 7. Liar 8. I Know There’s Something Going On 9. I Surrender 10. No More The Fool 11. So You Win Again 12. Free Me 13. On The Rebound
Death metallers NO RAZA, forged in the climes of Colombia and now firmly based in Florida, USA, have shared a music video for their brand new, fierce single “Imperial Holocaust” taken off their highly anticipated, forthcoming studio rager “Tyrona”, that is slated for a worldwide release on May 16, 2025 via Noble Demon! The album pre-sale is available at https://music.nobledemon.com/tyrona
Following the previously-released, first album appetizer “Overflowed”, the new video clip for “Imperial Holocaust” is now premiering below. The band comments:
“Imperial Holocaust is a reflection of the darkest chapters in human history — where cowardly minds, wielding the lethal edge of technology, rained destruction upon entire nations and innocent lives. From children turned to dust to communities erased without mercy, the same monstrous force resurfaces through the ages. Annihilation disguised as power. Violence as a tool of control. This track echoes the torment of the oppressed and exposes the sinister minds behind the machinery of war.”
Find the song on all digital streaming services HERE!
Formed in 1997, NO RAZA‘s amazing staging recreates the desolation of a world at war and the disposition to struggle of those who guard the truth to defend our ancestral cultures and defend what remains of a sick dying earth and demands justice and peace, to those who bring us under a power snatched from our hands.
Thorugh the years, the band has performed on international stages across Mexico, the UK, the USA, and Colombia, sharing the spotlight with renowned bands at major festivals and tours.
After releasing three solid full-length studio albums between 2004 and 2014, NO RAZA was one of the very first signings of Germany-based metal record label Noble Demon (est. 2019) and successfully released their latest masterpiece, “Transcending Material Sins”, back in 2020. Five years after that success, both entities join forces again, scheduling the next studio album “Tyrona” for a worldwide release on May 16, 2025. Pre-order the album now at THIS LOCATION!
Sweden’s rising metal force, Bloodstain, returns with a vengeance on their new single “Lies Bleeding Through” — out now on all major digital platforms via Threeman Recordings!
A six-minute sonic onslaught, “Lies Bleeding Through” delivers razor-sharp riffs, ferocious vocals, and relentless rhythm — capturing the raw energy that’s turning heads across the metal underground.
Produced by Alex Hellid (Entombed), co-produced by Stefan Norgren (Sorcerer, Seventh Wonder), and mixed/mastered by Ronnie Björnström (Meshuggah, Blood Red Throne, Paganizer), the track marks the first taste of Bloodstain’s upcoming debut album, due out later this year.
Bloodstain comment: “This song is everything we love about metal — melody, aggression, and intensity. It’s the sound of us pushing ourselves to the absolute edge.”
Following the success of their breakout EP “I Am Death”, Bloodstain recently signed a management and production deal with Alex Hellid and Threeman Recordings. More new music and album details will be unleashed throughout the spring and summer — with live appearances to match.
The fast-rising UK troubadour Connor Selby has revealed his brand-new single “Someone,” which is out now on Provogue Records. You can watch the lyric video HERE.
“Someone” is Selby’s first new music since 2023’s self-titled album – a MOJO Album of the Year – which put his heartfelt and emotional songwriting at centre stage. Honesty and integrity have always been the heartbeat of the young singer-songwriter’s music. This led him to perform at Wembley Stadium in support of The Who and Hyde Park, sharing the stage with Pearl Jam, Stereophonics, and venues such as the London Palladium.
When you wear your heart on your sleeve and can only live by openness and honesty, you’ll likely get burned in relationships and life. Sometimes, he feels like an outsider, looking in on the world. “I’ve always felt that feeling of not necessarily being able to live up to people’s expectations,” he opens up. This has become a hurdle that he has had to overcome throughout his life.
“In terms of my music, it is a theme that’s been consistent in my songs, going back to my first album,” the multi-award-winning musician adds. He burst into the wider world’s attention when he released his Provogue Records debut, ‘Connor Selby’ which has already clocked up 2 million streams. It also received support from BBC Radio 2’s Cerys Matthews.
Authenticity and truth are woven throughout his music. As a child, he moved between the UK, US, and UAE before settling in his birthplace in Essex. He has always had a burning passion for the authentic rootsy music of the US—it was one of the few constants. This passion seeps into his very existence.
Authentic, roots-based voices have penetrated the mainstream in recent years. From the soulful yearns of early Leon Bridges to the groove of Gary Clark Jr. to the booming voice of Jacob Banks to the raw and haunting delivery of Ray LaMontagne to the earthy tones of Rag ‘n Bone Man, those voices cut through, and they stand out. They make you take notice because they don’t sound like everyone else.
Selby’s voice echoes these trailblazers, enveloping his music with emotional integrity. He delves deep into his soul, all the way down into his core and the feeling of belonging. “My songs are about my feelings of being in the world and not really feeling like I belong,” he explains.
The heart-fluttering groove of “Someone” is a moment of sunshine through the dark clouds, and he sees Selby in full bandleader mode. You’re drawn in when he sings, “When there’s someone you can speak your mind without a care when there is someone that really cares about you.” Guitar solos dance, the Hammond organs swirl, and the horn section and backing vocalists wrap up the whole song in a stirring elegance that could have come from the Stax catalogue. The song captures the euphoric feeling of meeting someone who really understands you and ‘who accepts you for who you are.’ This is hugely important for Connor and his journey to finally find that, Someone, who gets him.
“Someone is about celebrating the joy of finding a genuine connection with a person who really understands you,” he says. “It’s about how love can help you weather the bad times in life and find peace and acceptance within yourself.”
His expressive playing led him to be featured alongside a host of superstars on Dire Straits legend Mark Knopfler’s 2024 charity single, “Going Home (Theme From Local Hero),” which features the likes of Bruce Springsteen, Slash, Eric Clapton, David Gilmour, Pete Townsend, Sam Fender, Tom Morello, Brian May, Tony Iommi, Nile Rogers, Roger Daltry, and Ronnie Wood.
No stranger to touring, he has already clocked up thousands of miles across Europe and played the biggest stages in the UK, from supporting The Who at Wembley Stadium to a Hyde Park Festival alongside the likes of Pear Jam and Stereophonics and opened for powerhouse singer Beth Hart at the iconic London Palladium along with other dates on her March 2024 UK tour. He was the only artist to support the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band on his April’ Trouble Is’ 25th Anniversary UK tour. He’s played shows with soul Icon P.P. Arnold at the world-famous Jazz Cafe and Betty LaVette at the prestigious Cadogan Hall, London, toured with Robert Cray and produced a standout performance at the Cheltenham Jazz Festival.
Connor Selby’s evolution is continuing to burn brighter, and 2025 is shaping up to be the year he truly shines.
Critically acclaimed Canadian Roots-Rock band The Commoners are back and ready to kick off their biggest year yet!
Riding high off the strength of their previous releases, Find A Better Way and Restless, The Commoners return to EU/UK in May 2025 for a four-week tour across five countries, bringing a brand-new offering in the form of a nine-song album The Commoners: Live In The UK, recorded live in the UK in 2024. The album is released by Gypsy Soul Records on May 16th.
The album is available to pre-order on CD and vinyl HERE, and pre-save digitally HERE.
Introducing nine new live recordings to get you moving and shaking. Songs you know and love with added parts, extended sections, performed live on tour in the UK in 2024.
“The UK has become a second home for us,” says the Commoners bassist, Ben Spiller. “Over the last couple of years, we have had the pleasure of rocking dozens of shows over the course of 4 UK tours. Every time we head back things get bigger and better. On our last run through the UK with The Sheepdogs, we had the idea to record a few of our final shows. The recordings sounded huge, and we immediately knew we had to do something with them.”
Mixed and mastered by The Commoners’ lead guitarist Ross Hayes Citrullo at RHC Music in Toronto, this album features nine tracks from the Find A Better Way and Restless albums, featuring extended intros, outros, solos, and brand new never-before-heard parts of the songs.
“This album means a lot to the band because what you hear is 100% authentically us,” says Citrullo. “It’s the true Commoners live show experience, captured from the perspective of a fan in the crowd. It’s loose, heavy, and full of energy. We were wrapping up a long tour when we recorded this… the band was riding high. You can feel the energy in the room, it’s electric.”
The Commoners will support the release of the album with an extensive five-week EU/UK tour that will take the band across Germany, the Netherlands, France, England, and Sweden.
ALBUM TRACKLIST
1- Shake You Off (4:19) 2- The Way I Am (5:25) 3- Who Are You (4:19) 4- Gone Without Warning (4:26) 5- Restless (5:48) 6- See You Again (5:01) 7- Devil Teasin’ Me (6:54) 8- Fill My Cup (5:02) 9- Find a Better Way (5:58)
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Performed by The Commoners Chris Medhurst, Ross Hayes Citrullo, Ben Spiller, Adam Cannon, and Miles Evans Branagh
Recorded live on tour in the UK in 2024. Mixed and mastered by Ross Hayes Citrullo at RHC Music in Toronto, Canada. Assistant Engineers: Gavin Sharman, Marc Pallascio and Andrew Champion Special thanks to Conor Salmoral
All songs written by The Commoners Co-Writers – Renan Yildizdogan (1, 2, 5, 6, 7) Jeff Desilets (1, 2)
Album Artwork / Design by Mitch Szitas
Live photos courtesy of Adam Littlemore, Aaron Thompson, Alex English, Andrew Ellis, David Pickles, Emma Painter, Finn McAuley, Gerry Driver, Haluk Gurer, Ian Potter, Manny Manson, Manuela Langotsch, Mark Powell, Mike Kirsanow, Miriam Demir, Paul Hutchings, Renan Yildizdogan, Scott Anderson, Terry Marland, Tom McKenzie, and Will Carter.
The Commoners would like to thank all their fans across the UK for their continued support. This album would not have been possible without you.
MAY 14: DE – Support for DeWolff – Stuttgart, Im Wizemann MAY 15: DE – Support for DeWolff – Frankfurt, Das Bett MAY 16: DE – Support for DeWolff – Cologne, Kantine MAY 17: DE – Support for DeWolff – Münster, Sputnikhalle MAY 18: DE – Support for DeWolff – Hamburg, Übel & Gefährlich MAY 20: FR – Chambéry – Brin De Zinc MAY 23: FR – Beaumont En Véron – Le Temps Des Crises MAY 24: FR – Bully Les Mines – Music Festival MAY 25: NL – Bathmen, Skinny Lizard Festival MAY 27: UK – London, Secret Acoustic Show MAY 28: UK – Faversham, UK – The Old Brewery Store MAY 29: UK – Southampton, The Joiners MAY 30: UK – Lincolnshire, Call of the Wild Festival MAY 31: UK – Chester, Live Rooms JUN 1: UK – Newcastle, The Cluny JUN 3: NL – Barlo, De Loods JUN 5: SWE – Sölvesborg, Sweden Rock Festival JUN 21: UK – Bournemouth, Love Rocks Festival JUN 22: UK – Hertfordshire – Sign Of The Times Festival
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