​‘Ugly Knots’ is a raw, genre-defying track that fuses industrial metal with hardcore grit and ambient textures. It opens with abrasive riffs and harsh electronics before evolving into a sweeping, melodic climax, mirroring the emotional journey the band intends for listeners.

​“This song is for the kind people we’ve seen be hated, harassed, and threatened. It’s written from the first-person perspective, but the spoken word section—contributed by our friend John Forget—comes directly from someone who lived that experience. It’s a message of strength in the face of cruelty,” says the band.

​Lyrically and musically, ‘Ugly Knots’ is one of The Fixer’s heaviest and most artful releases to date. Eschewing formulaic conventions, the band leans hard into their industrial roots while exploring themes of anger, sadness, and resilience. Fans of their heavier material will find plenty to latch onto, while new listeners will be drawn into its emotional depth.

British metalcore outfit DEFENCES have released a brand new single. The new music video, for the track ‘Lithium Kiss,’ is the brand new single from the Hertfordshire-based alternative metal band and marks their first new music since their latest studio album, Shadowlight, which was released in November last year, via Long Branch Records.

Speaking about the new song, the band shares, “the inspiration for ‘Lithium Kiss’ came from one of our members’ personal experience being prescribed the mood-stabiliser Lithium for a couple of years, and the frustrations and difficulties that came along with the benefits. When treatment stopped, rather than feeling like before, there was instead a feeling of being almost hyper-rational, rather than feeling like they could react instinctively and naturally.

“’Lithium Kiss’ is NOT about not taking your medication and taking care of yourself and we would never want it to come across that way. It’s instead a crystallization of a paranoia that we are consumed by illness and treatment, adversity and reconciliation. The Lithium Kiss is our way of referring to this relationship, the symbiotic necessity for difficulty to bring about individual growth, whilst ensuring that it does not come to consume you.”

LIVING DEAD GIRL gets bloody in the bath tub in the sanguine video for new single ‘Succubus.’ The song lives (or dies?) on the new album CONSPIRACY, out now.

“‘Succubus’ is a song written from the perspective of a mythological sex demon that seduces you and kills you in your sleep — need I say more?,” says LDG herself. “It’s sultry, it’s alluring, and it’s sure to be your new go-to song for passionate nights.”

FRAYLE have released a brand new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Boo’, is the final single lifted from the Cleveland-based doom metal band’s upcoming album Heretics & Lullabies, which is scheduled to be released on October 10 via Napalm Records. The track features a guest appearance from Jason Popson (ex-MUSHROOMHEAD) and arrives ahead of the band’s upcoming USA tour supporting occult rockers DOGMA.

Speaking about the new single, FRAYLE shares, “’Boo’ was inspired by an incident in Germany, when Gwyn, walking alone on a dark street, startled a woman traveling with her companions. She screamed, and the entire group hurried to the other side of the road. The song is a tongue-in-cheek response to moments like these – because for some of us, every day is Halloween.”

After the announcement of their signing with Art Gates Records in the summer, it has been confirmed that Italian Melodic Death Metal band 5Rand will release their long awaited third album Ordhalia on November 28 via the label. Produced by Marco Mastrobuono (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Hour Of Penance) and mastered by Jens Bogren (Kreator, Opeth), the album features a guest vocal appearance from Fear Factory vocalist Milo Silvestro on ‘The Nihilist’. Portraying life when anxiety and anguish become constant companions, new single ‘Bloodlife’ is now streaming in music video form.

Italian power metal band ELETTRA STORM return with their electrifying new single and video, ‘Hero Among Heroes,’ the third track unveiled from their upcoming sophomore album Evertale, due October 24 via Scarlet Records.

‘Hero Among Heroes’ pays homage to the golden age of ‘80s melodic metal, while keeping a modern, energetic edge through addictive vocal hooks, groovy drum patterns, and a dazzling guitar-keytar duel. The song celebrates everyday heroes, those who fight life’s battles beside us, set to a soundtrack of epic proportions.

Holy Wars have unveiled haunting single ‘Metamorphosis’. Written in the aftermath of the devastating loss of vocalist Kat Leon’s parents and sister, the LA band are back with another soaring, emotional anthem.

Speaking on ‘Metamorphosis’, Kat has shared: “‘Metamorphosis’ is about bringing closure to the shadow self and surrendering… It’s about allowing yourself to heal so the light can come in.”

Chrissy Costanza has shared powerful single ‘Rope’, taken from the deluxe edition of 2024 EP VII.

Speaking on ‘Rope’, Chrissy has shared: “I wrote this with @josh_gilbert & @josephcmcqueen before I even knew I was going to create a solo project and have been holding on to it because I knew it was just so special and agonized about releasing it right. iIthought at first my solo project wouldn’t do it justice, but this song means everything to me. it’s the first time I’ve written about this particular concept and has opened a deeper well for me to go down. It was a wake up call & coming of age moment for me in more ways than one. I love this song SO much it is deeply etched into my soul, I hope you love it too.”

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The song marks a chilling turn in the band’s sonic journey. Blending alternative, dark pop, and ballad-style songwriting, the track conjures an atmosphere that’s as seductive as it is sinister. With siren-like vocals, ethereal synths, and cinematic orchestration, the song stands as one of the most haunting moments on Daedric’s forthcoming album.

Inspired by the eerie magic of Pan’s Labyrinth and the sultry darkness of The Weeknd’s early Trilogy era, ‘Dark Legacy’ is unlike anything else in Daedric’s catalog. The track was initially written by Clay and later elevated by Geoff, who infused it with dramatic orchestral elements in the second chorus, heightening its hypnotic tension.

Lyrically, ‘Dark Legacy’ dives deep into questions of fate versus free will, exploring overwhelming desire, possession, and the loss of self in a toxic relationship. Fire and shadow imagery reflect the dangerous allure of forbidden love the kind that consumes everything in its path.

Musically, the track builds with drums, guitars, bass, and synthesizers, weaving in unconventional sonic textures, including a distorted monster-like vocal that Clay originally recorded as a placeholder that ended up defining the song. A striking Arabic-inspired section adds an exotic flair, reinforcing the song’s sensual yet ominous pull.

“This was my Weeknd song. I wanted that sexy, sultry, but dark energy,” says Daedric.

Letters Sent Home have released a brand new music video. The new track, titled ‘Focus,’ is the latest offering from the German alternative rock quartet and follows on from their previous single, ‘Bloom,’ which was released back in July. The new single features a guest appearance from post-hardcore powerhouse THE NARRATOR.

Speaking about the song, vocalist Emily Paschke explains, “we all know that one person who always seems to have it worse than everyone else – at least in their own eyes. Focus is about ending a friendship with that person because being around them has become too exhausting. And in this song, we’re not heartbroken or hurt. We’re annoyed, we’re furious, and yes – we’re petty. While our parts in the song perfectly portray that pettiness, THE NARRATOR is the perfect voice to channel and embody the anger.”

Battle Beast have released a brand new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Angel Of Midnight,’ is taken from the Finnish power metal band’s upcoming album, Steelbound, which is scheduled to be released in October this year, via Nuclear Blast Records.

Speaking about the new song, bassist Eero Sipilä says, “I really had an internal battle with writing this one. We’re a heavy metal band. Will we be burned at the stake, for making a hard rock tune with romantic notions? Then it hit me: We’re BATTLE BEAST – we can do whatever the hell we want. Midnight nods deeply to BON JOVI, DEF LEPPARD, WHITESNAKE – all the greats – and makes no qualms about it. So let the feeling carry you, and crank it like it’s 1987.”

Frayle have released a brand new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Heretic,’ is taken from the Cleveland, Ohio-based doom metal band’s upcoming third album, Heretics & Lullabies, which is scheduled to be released in October this year, via Napalm Records.

Speaking about the new song, the band comment, “’Heretic’ explores the nature of heresy, spiritual struggle and the rejection of religious dogma. Just because we reject spiritual conformity and societal norms, does this, in and of itself, make us a ‘bad person’? Is god a supreme being, the collective subconscious, or simply an ideal? We believe that relying on yourself and your own morals can ultimately evolve into being your own savior. We are all gods.”

Evanescence’s Amy Lee has teamed up with Poppy and Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante on a new song titled ‘End of You.’ The track is accompanied by a cinematic music video.

The three artists had been teasing the single in the days leading up its release, and the payoff is an epic track that shines the spotlight on all three vocalists.

Lee gets the song started with the initial verses and the soaring chorus, giving off an Evanescence-meets-James-Bond-theme vibe. Poppy then sings the next set of verses in a clean voice, giving way to Lee again for the second chorus. Then it gets heavy as Poppy screams, “The end of you is the start of life for me,” leading to LaPlante’s explosive screams. The Spiritbox singer also shows off her clean singing, as all three vocalists come together at the end of the song.

Elettra Storm has released a video for ‘Blue Phoenix’, first single taken from the new album Evertale to be released on October 24 by Scarlet Records.

One of the most aggressive track of the album that explodes in a powerful chorus and in epic guitar solos and leads, it’s a tale of revenge and rebirth: like the phoenix every man can rise from his own ashes. It doesn’t matter all the pain, the betrayals, the wounds that the world inflicts to you, you can always find a way to get your life back on track, if you are able to keep your inner flame alive, the spark at the core of your soul that gives you strength and purpose.

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Fasten your seatbelts, as German modern metalcore upstarts SETYØURSAILS aren’t slowing down in 2024. After taking over stages at festivals like Summer Breeze and Full Force in 2023, the quartet is now set to drop their second studio album, Bad Blood, scheduled for release on April 12 via Napalm Records. Jumping right into the pit with hard-hitting first single ‘Bad Blood,’ SETYØURSAILS teams up with Zebrahead vocalist Adrian Estrella and showcases no mercy as modern electronic melodies and energetic screams build up to a top-notch breakdown. Vocalist Jules Mitch on ‘Bad Blood’: “This song is a personal reckoning that was more than easy for me to write. It reminds me that I’m stronger and more mature than my haters will ever be. You often get motivation from people who want to see you down. I hope they keep it up, I’m not done yet.” [via Outburn]

Elettra Storm will release the debut album, Powerlords, on February 16 through Scarlet Records. Now, the band releases a video for ‘Origin Of Dreams’, the third single from the album.

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Symphonic Metal soprano vocalist/pianist Talia Hoit premieres ‘Whispers in the Storm’, flexing beautiful vocals and astonishing range whilst delivering an operatic and angelic vocal performance in cinematic grandeur. Talia Hoit explains, “The song ’Whispers in the Storm’ is about the moment when someone has been caught up in a bad relationship and they begin to realize the truth that things aren’t really supposed to be happening that way. Since the lyrics use the idea of the whispers in the storm as a metaphor, I wanted to create a visual metaphor in the video with a very stormy scene.” [via Outburn]

Symphonic metal Vikings, LEAVES’ EYES, have revealed first details about their new album to be released in 2024 with AFM Records. The band’s ninth studio offering will be titled Myths Of Fate. The band unveiled their album cover artwork and a music video for the first album single, ‘Forged By Fire’. Says LEAVES’ EYES band mastermind and singer, Alexander Krull: “Finally the time has come and we can present you our new video FORGED BY FIRE! We played FORGED BY FIRE on stage at WACKEN as a world premiere and the song was enthusiastically celebrated by the fans! Here’s the video with an awesome storyline about the legendary Tyrfing sword and a fiery performance in the truest sense of the word! With FORGED BY FIRE we are starting a series of videos with the magical theme of the new album MYTHS OF FATE! Are you ready to travel with us into the world of sagas?” [via Metal Planet]

Swiss modern metal upstarts Illumishade unveil their magical sophomore record and Napalm Records debut, Another Side of You, out February 16. Fronted by vocalist Fabienne Erni and guitarist Jonas Wolf (both of Eluveitie) and completed with orchestration and synths by film composer Mirjam Skal, bass by Yannick Urbanczik, and drums by Marc Friedrich, Illumishade skillfully balances all things both dark and light on Another Side of You. On their new single cut from the new album, ‘Here We Are’, Erni’s radiant charisma shines brighter than ever with her crystal-clear vocal delivery. Wolf’s guitar work is as blazing and emotional as ever, while a fresh dose of modern prog brings a cutting edge to the band’s elaborate songwriting. The song impresses with a stomping chorus and an exciting variety in its middle passage, and arrives alongside a stunning music video. Illumishade on ‘Here We Are’: “‘Here We Are’ is an anthem to the essence of being in the here and now. It tells about accepting the legacy of history, acknowledging our current standing as a foundation from which we can move forward.” [via Amplify the Noise]

Elettra Storm will release the debut album Powerlords on February 16 through Scarlet Records. First single and video ‘Higher Than The Stars’ is out now.

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