“We are proud to be releasing ‘Martyr’ alongside the music video for our new single ‘Primal’. ‘Primal’ is about the shift that happens in someone, when they realize they’ve been wronged for so long, and decide to finally stand up for themselves. ‘Martyr’ explores different mental health battles through the struggles, and the strength it takes to heal. This is our first EP with Sumerian Records, and we are excited to be partnering with them for those new songs. We would like to thank Joey Sturgis for also believing in this project and being a part of it.”

Nashville based artist Royale Lynn announces her debut album BLACK MAGIC due for release on June 27 via Epitaph Records. Produced by Jonathan Roach, the record is a raw exploration of Royale’s personal struggles with mental health, woven through a narrative inspired by mythology and fantasy. Drawing from the legend of Pandora’s Box, each song represents an “evil” that escaped Pandora’s box into humanity.

Taking cues from 2000’s hard-rock icons like Evanescence and Flyleaf, Royale shares the lead single ‘GREED’ with bright, piercing vocals that rise over the urgent, thundering instrumentation of the track. Directed by Scott Hansen (A Day To Remember, Sevendust) with dazzling visual effects, the accompanying music video is set in a dark futuristic fantasy world, featuring a leather-clad Royale performing alongside her band with an army of creepy masked figures that represent “greed”.

There is always a deeper meaning to Calva Louise’s output, and ‘Lo Que Vale,’ their new single is no different. Translated into English as ‘What is Worth,’ it delves into the human psyche and our personal perception. The song is taken from their Mascot Records debut, Edge of the Abyss, which is co-produced by Pendulum’s Gareth McGrillen and will be released on 11 July.

Following their European tour with Bloodywood, ‘Lo Que Vale’ drops as a reminder of their sheer scope of ideas that they are able to pack into a single song. A frenetic combination of raging riffs and vocals meet with elegantly dancing keyboard melodies, before being thrown around the room with a formidable force. Like their 2024 single, ‘La Corriente’, it pays homage to singer-guitarist Jess Allinac’s Venezuelan roots, sung in Spanish and is an important part of their identity.

“’Lo Que Vale’ deals with the honest confusion and contradiction of our personal perception: when we think we understand something, we might actually be getting it wrong, and when everything seems upside down, maybe that’s when it is not,” the band explains.

“These honest exchanges in life act as triggers for letting go of the attachments that keep us chained to our mundane delusions. And while looking to break free of the irrelevant and continuous patterns that keep us stuck in one place, confusion builds up to the point of asking oneself if we’re really appreciating what is worth living for.”

Halestorm have unleashed a new song titled ‘Darkness Always Wins.’ The single offers the first taste of the band’s as-yet-untitled new album, set for release later this year.

‘Darkness Always Wins’ features Lzzy Hale’s powerhouse vocals on full display, with the song reminiscent of an ’80s power ballad. In fact, there are lyrical nods to the era (intentional or not), with such lines as “running with the shadows” (Pat Benatar) and “fading into black” (Metallica).

Around the 2:30 mark, things get heavier, as Joe Hottinger’s guitar kicks in, followed by a primal scream from Lzzy shortly thereafter.

“‘Darkness Always Wins’ is not a song of hope, nor is it a song of despair,” stated Lzzy of the single. “It is reality. History repeating. Evil prevails and the good depart first. But we are not doomed as long as we persist and keep our fires burning. The war may not be won in this lifetime. But our mission is to pass the torch so that those who follow have a light to fight with.” [via Consequence]

Dutch symphonic metal band, Blackbriar, announce their brand new album, A Thousand Little Deaths, which will be released on August 22 via Nuclear Blast Records.

Together with this exciting news the band shares their new single, ‘The Fossilized Widow’. The single channels the eerie spirit of the Victorian era, blending the mysticism of Ouija boards with the brooding passion of Wuthering Heights. A journey through dark love, spectral forces, and gothic intrigue.

Zora Cock comments: “‘The Fossilized Widow’ tells the story of a girl frozen in time, desperately holding on to someone she can never let go. She’s slowly descending into madness by all those words left unsaid, all those questions left to be asked. As the years pass, her home has turned into ruins, yet the legend says she still remains, trapped in her sorrow, waiting and watching. They call her The Fossilized Widow.”

Gothenburg’s purveyors of all things catchy (and heavy) Aligned is back with yet another kickass single, this time in the form of ‘Fortress’. The song comes alongside a video directed by Lucas Englund (Parkway Drive, etc.).

“This track is born from the ashes of deep loss and emotional ruin,” wrote Aligned of the single. “It captures the raw experience of wandering through life weighed down by trauma, and the haunting remnants of something once whole. It echoes the inner turmoil of grief, while its soaring melodies fight to rise from the rubble. It’s also about the strength it takes to face brokenness, build again, and finding power in vulnerability.”

Swiss folk metal giants Eluveitie release their triumphant new album Ànv via Nuclear Blast. In celebration of the day, the band have also unveiled the new video for their single ‘Taranoias‘.

Eluveitie commented: “And along comes – on this special day – our brand new single and video clip off ANV: TARANOÍAS! It’s the opening track of the album and pretty much wrapping up the entire essence on which the album is based in one single song! It’s quite a hard and dark track and surely one of these roller-coaster-feeling songs, like “Rebirth” or “Aidus”, for instance. What we’ve tried when writing this track is to create a song that in itself becomes some kind of a dark entity that comes upon you with the first note of it! Enjoy the ride!”

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.

Vocalist Mollie Clack says of the track, ‘WORTHY’,: “Last year I fell in love under circumstances that felt massively shameful. I couldn’t help but despise myself for all of the damage I had caused. This song is a reminder that you are always worthy of love. Even when you feel yourself morphing into something you don’t recognise. You are inherently worthy.”

Inspired by a plethora of artists from Bad Omens and Northlane to Paramore, the track packs more than a punch, showcasing Clack’s versatile vocal, which she delivers with apparent ease.

Rockshots Records is excited to announce the release of Highway Queen’s latest official music video for their song ‘I’m Calling You’. This new video continues the Finnish rockers’ tradition of blending powerful melodies with an electrifying mix of hard rock and metal influences.

‘I’m Calling You’ is featured on the band’s latest EP Extendead Play released on January 17, 2025. The EP showcases Highway Queen’s signature style, merging 80s-inspired hard rock with modern melodic elements, intense riffs and dynamic rhythms. The lyrics of ‘I’m Calling You’ delve into deep emotions, expressing themes of longing, passion and determination, capturing the essence of the band’s storytelling prowess.

Melodic prog metal powerhouse Diamantide unveils the captivating music video for ‘Poor Kings’, a standout track from their self-titled album, Diamantide, available now via Wormholedeath Records.

Blending poetic storytelling with their signature dynamic sound, ‘Poor Kings’ dives deep into the symbolic parallels between kings and queens, exploring themes of power, love, and vulnerability. The track’s evocative lyrics challenge the cold pursuit of authority, questioning why kings, burdened by dominance, fail to fight for the love of their queens, who represent longing and emotional depth. With its thought-provoking narrative and haunting melodies, ‘Poor Kings’ captures the heartbreaking cost of isolation and detachment, creating a profound commentary on the human condition.

Glasgow’s Cwfen (pronounced ‘Coven’) have announced that they will be releasing their debut album Sorrows on May 30 via New Heavy Sounds (MWWB, Death Pill, Shooting Daggers). Their music is described as having the glacial ferocity of Amenra, with the velvet-and-razor vocals of King Woman, and the rotting grandeur of Type O Negative.

Today they have also shared a video for new single ‘Wolfsbane’, which according to vocalist/guitarist Agnes Alder is, “on the surface, it’s about poison. At its heart, it’s an ode to the untamed female rage that comes when the world tries to carve us into something smaller.”

Laurenne/Louhimo – the collaboration between powerhouse Finnish vocalists Noora Louhimo (Battle Beast) and Netta Laurenne (Smackbound) – are pleased to unveil their new single, ‘The Cradle’, taken from their sophomore album Falling Through Stars, set for release on April 18 via Frontiers Music Srl.

Talking about the new single, Noora Louhimo stated: “’The Cradle’ is a song I really love and relate to. I love the atmosphere and the melody of the song – melancholy and hopeful at the same time. I love how mine and Netta’s voices go so well together in the song, “like cats in the cradle”.

Netta Laurenne added: “’The Cradle’ is a lyrical and ethereally melancholic song with musical vibes from the ’80s. It tackles themes of self-doubt and depression. All of us are confronted with sorrow and hardship in this world, and sometimes we lose sight of what’s good in our lives and fall into the pit of self-pity. I like how Noora and I bring very different tones to the vocals, each reflecting our own cradle of sorrow”.

ELUVEITIE have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Awen’, is taken from the Swiss folk metal band’s upcoming new album, Ànv, which is scheduled to be released in April this year, via Nuclear Blast Records.

Speaking about the new song, frontman Chrigel Glanzmann shares, “’Awen’ is musically perhaps one of the album’s catchiest songs… sticking our necks out on pretty modern metal music, at the same time with a chorus coming in with that very traditional, mystically melancholic, solemn kind of ‘grandeur’, much like older ELUVEITIE songs such as Of Fire, Wind & Wisdom, Slania‘s Song, or Alesia. Lyrically it time-travels some fairly bold lines off that several thousand years old mythological text Ànv is based on, into the modern age and makes them speak directly to us and our modern civilizations! We’re really happy with and proud of it and we hope you’ll like it as much as we do!”

EDGE OF PARADISE have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Give It To Me (Mind Assassin)’, is taken from the Los Angeles-based cinematic metal band’s new album, Prophecy, which is out now, via Napalm Records.

Speaking about the new song, vocalist Margarita Monet shares, “this high-energy, explosive track embodies the ultimate showdown between the human mind and artificial intelligence. An intense battle for the soul, where the fight against digital manipulation becomes a quest for true connection and self-discovery amid the chaos of an increasingly controlled existence.

“We’re heading towards a world where we could intertwine with artificial intelligence, redefine reality and possibly unlock limitless potential for ourselves—but what would be the price to pay?”

Marking the third single taken from Cyan Kicks‘ upcoming mysterious new project, ‘Echo’ offers a fiery and heartfelt ode to love found within one’s deepest and darkest moments. Balancing ethereal sweetness and nu-wave heavy, it serves as a bold reminder of their extraordinary songwriting.

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.

“Hard to express how excited we are to share this one with you all!” wrote Eluveitie frontman Chrigel Glanzmann. “Musically combining the heavy pounding Elu classics like ‘Luxtos’, ‘Inis Mona’ or even ‘King’ with some new, maybe unexpected ideas, we feel that this song most of all comes like a punch in the face and we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do! Lyrically it actually opens the big theme of ANV – these ancient words, several thousands of years old, our upcoming album is based on…” [via Metal Injection]

UK metalcore favourites Employed To Serve have unleashed an absolute worldie of a new single, the first from newly announced fifth studio album Fallen Star. The single, titled ‘Atonement,’ continues the ongoing evolution of Woking’s finest, merging chunky metal grooves with scraping hardcore riffs and a big, old school heavy metal guitar solo. It also features a surprising cameo from Lorna Shore frontman Will Ramos, who initially arrives on the scene to dish out some of his trademark, gnarled growling vocals before making a shocking about-turn by actually singing the track’s super-catchy chorus.

“’Atonement’ takes aim at those who try to lord their power over you. The only way to defeat these people is by rising above their behaviour and pushing forward on your own path,” explains guitarist Sammy Urwin. “We wanted to lead with this single because it is the track that encompasses the ethos of Employed to Serve as a whole. We’re strong believers of working hard and not letting life and the negative people in it affect your goals and aspirations.”

The video for ‘Atonement’ pays tribute to the (inferior but still very good, let’s be honest) US version of The Office, having actually been filmed in the sitcom’s home of Scranton, PA. “The studio was a shrine to the show, and Dwight, which was fun to explore in between filming!” says Employed To Serve vocalist Justine Jones. “We wanted to portray someone in power/authority trying to wear down their captive through aggression. I found it very hard to keep a straight face while choking out Sammy; by take fifteen or so I got more into it as the jetlag and hot weather made me feel more unhinged.” [via Louder]

Pop metal band Memoremains turns their eyes towards the next full-length album! The album, which will be released later this year, is the band’s third album, and the singles ‘Fighter,’ ‘Stuck’ and ‘Toxic Girl’ have already been released. According to the band, ‘Stand Up’, out now, is a full-fledged party song.

“With this song, we really applied for this year’s UMK – as well as with the previously released song ‘Fighter’. This was our number one choice. UMK will have great artists again this year, and cheers to them for this year’s show! We have fun and cheer in the homestand. UMK is a really cool competition anyway. In recent years, they have produced high-quality video productions and invested in the storytelling of the competition. It’s appealing – it’s interesting to follow more than just music,” says Memoremains.

The song’s lyricist, singer Johanna Ahonen, hints that the ‘Stand Up’ single is perfect for weekend getaways, for example. “As a composition, I think ‘Stand Up’ is a full-blooded party song, and I wanted to bring a positive, uplifting feeling to the lyrics as well. The atmosphere is playful and even a bit mischievous, just like the guy who forces you to dance just when you wouldn’t dare to leave. Everyone needs a little break from time to time, and Stand Up on a turntable offers a great opportunity for that!” [via Grimm Gent]

Mexican-American alt-rock singer-songwriter VIOLENT VIRA returns with a new song ‘Saccharine’. The song is her first music in two years since the 2023 single ‘Blood on the Sheets’. The track will appear on he upcoming debut album. Also, it is the first release under her new label Mom+Pop.

The track was written by Amy J Gonzalez, Anthony Brown, Matthew Bolling, Nathan Veldman, and Jennifer Decilveo who also produced it. The accompanying music video was directed by Dylan Cole.

VIOLENT VIRA said of the song, “’Saccharine’ is the sickening torment inside of the mind of those who are too sweet along with the never-ending need for validation, a lack of boundaries, the despair for approval. It’s an internal war with a pervasive feeling of inadequacy. Fawning with sugar-coated sweetness, meant to cover the decay from within.” [via pm studio]

The post METAL MONDAY appeared first on She Makes Music.

Get ready for an all-consuming descent into the depths of sorrow and survival. Evig Natt is back with a new single, ‘Sorrow My World.’ The track, accompanied by a stunning video, is the second taste of what’s to come on the band’s upcoming album, Vaketimen. The track ‘Sorrow My World’ deals with grief and how it can be all-consuming, eating you up from the inside to the point of no return. With no hope of relief, there’s no way out but through. The video for ‘Sorrow My World’ portrays a girl who is consumed by a demon. She’s been marked by its hands and battling its hold over her. She traps the demon by drawing a pentagram of protection around her finally releasing it from her body.

Enemy Inside are surprising their fans with a brutal pre-Christmas present: the compact three-minute ‘Don’t Call Me An Angel’. The single follows the ultimate Halloween anthem, ‘Fuck That Party’ [feat. Zak Tell] and will also be featured on their upcoming album, Venom, which will be released on February 28 via Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM). There’s a message of immense importance behind ENEMY INSIDE’s latest track, making it an anchor for those struggling with mental health and self-care issues. Nastassja Giulia’s initial vocals lead to a heavenly chorus that lets the listener drift off into distant worlds – only to tear them out of their dreams shortly afterwards with cutting riffs before the band’s inner beast comes to light – also in the accompanying video. “’Don’t Call Me An Angel’ delves deep into the depths of depression and shows how this darkness can grip not only ourselves, but our loved ones as well. The song is an honest confession: a reminder that our inner struggles often affect the people around us and we inadvertently cause them pain. He describes the feeling of being caught in a whirlpool that drags others along, even though we want to protect them. ‘Don’t Call Me An Angel’ is both a warning and a silent cry for help: a haunting look at the hidden depths behind a smile. [via Brave New Words]

LUNA KILLS have announced their debut album. Titled DEATHMATCH, the upcoming album from the Finnish alternative metalcore band is their debut full-length album, and is scheduled to be released in April next year, via SharpTone Records. Alongside the announcement of the debut album, the band have released a new music video for a new song lifted from the upcoming album; ‘sugar rush’. The new song is the second single to be released from the upcoming album, following on from slay ur enemies, which was released back in October. Speaking about the new single, the band shares, “’sugar rush’ captures the drive to pursue happiness in the face of persistent self-doubt. Centered around the struggle to find happiness despite a constant sense of never measuring up, the song delves into the pressures of a world that demands overachievement and monetization of everything, ultimately draining the joy from passions that once gave life meaning. At the time, before we started writing ‘sugar rush’, we had been working on other songs for a long period of time and we felt really exhausted and after multiple failed attempts of trying to force ourselves to focus, we felt that we needed to reset our brain and mindset. sugar rush became a powerful outlet for all that we were going through, a way to channel exhaustion and frustration with the pressures of perfectionism and constant productivity. The creative process itself almost became a form of catharsis, a reset, allowing us to confront those feelings directly and then transform them into something meaningful.” [via Distorted Sound]

ELUVEITIE have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Premonition,’ is the brand new single from the Swiss folk metal band and marks their first new music since 2022’s Exile Of The Gods. Speaking about the new single, frontman Chrigel Glanzmann comments, “we’re beyond excited to finally open the door and unleash some new music! ‘Premonition’ comes in laying bare the heart and soul of ELUVEITIE‘s music, while transporting deep ancient wisdom of the Celtic into the modern age, wielding druidic words to point out the way through the deepest struggle within and all around ourselves. We hope you’ll enjoy this piece of music as much as we do ourselves!” [via Distorted Sound]

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.

Dream State are back with a new line-up and a new era. The band have introduced new vocalist Jessie Powell, bassist Jake Bowen and drummer Tom Connolly following the departure of CJ Gilpin and Rhys Wilcox earlier this year and Jamie Lee back in 2021. And they have started things off with a massive new song. It’s called ‘Taunt Me’ and is an atmospheric bruiser of the highest calibre. Full of soaring melodies, infectious energy, and crushing changes of pace, it’s a big statement for what is sure to be a fascinating new journey for the band. [via Rocksound]

Relentlessly spinning, the wheel of the year is turning towards darker days, the world is preparing for cold and deprivation. Long forgotten spirits arise from fog, heralding the ‘Exile Of The Gods’. Swiss metal legends Eluveitie release their new single, capturing the desperate, doomy mood of a world that the Gods abandoned long ago. “What have we done? Our hands stained with their blood,” singer Fabienne Erni chants, supported by heavy riffs and soaring melodies. Founding member Chrigel Glanzmann comments: “We are very excited to share our new single ‘Exile Of The Gods’ with you – after ‘Aidus’ the ‘second page’ in Eluveitie’s next chapter. Our current path leads us way back in time. And back to the present! Our new song cycle is all based on a very old mythic text – the hermetic lament. Although it didn’t originate from Celtic culture, we know today that its words were taken on, assimilated, and taught by the Celtic druids henceforth. In the interpretatio celtae it’s teachings were ascribed to the tricephalic Celtic god Lugus. This ancient text contains some kind of a prophecy which holds some very serious and important words for us modern people of today – even if we assume that it’s not talking about our era (which personally I believe it does, though). Among many other things that the lament of Lugus foretells: ‘…of thy faith nothing will remain but an empty tale, which thine own children in time to come will not believe; nothing will be left but graven words, and only the stones will tell of thy piety. For the gods – which once deigned to sojourn upon earth – will return from earth to Antumnos. The gods will depart from mankind, a grievous thing! The world will be left desolate, bereft of the presence of its deities.’ And this is, what our new single is dealing with! However, that ancient text spells out clearly that we’re not simply talking about some mythological, religious or spiritual matters here. For it also talks very clearly about the development of mankind’s relationship with mother earth in that context and points out very concrete actions of ours (today) and their consequences in and for nature, and thus ultimately for us. And so, we are excited to share our brand-new song with you all! And we hope you like it as much as we do and that maybe you even can find some inspiration in it! Enjoy!” [via Bravewords]

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.

Hailing from Israel, StormbounD are adding to the symphonic metal subgenre with their latest single ‘Flying High’. This is the third single off their upcoming record December, which is slated for summer release. The band coins the album as a “melodic prophecy of wrath” – a journey that will take the listener into new territory while staying firmly planted in symphonic roots. This new single is a love song, that almost didn’t make it onto the album as the band further explains: “It’s an optimistic love song, where the man is a protagonist that helps his loved one overcome her suffering caused by a mental illness. During the recording, we noticed that all the “Irish” elements made the original chorus we had for it sound a little depressing, so we wrote new lyrics and composed a new chorus. That instantly became a winner. We almost cut this song out of the album and now it’s one of the leading singles.”

After three years of silence, Swiss Metal legends ELUVEITIE step out of the dark again, raising their voices to herald a new era of the band’s stunning career. The band unleashes their new single ‘Aidus’, following the huge success of their last album Ategnatos but in the same time showing the band from a never-before-seen side. With the new single comes an awesome music video. Founding member Chrigel Glanzmann comments on the approach: “Definitely one of the harshest songs of Eluveitie ever. It’s the sheer consequence of our spiritual journey with Ategnatos: We’re no longer a “Celtic Metal” band… a metal band singing about celtic history. We’re Celts playing metal music from all our hearts. We’re no more a “Pagan Metal” band. We are metal music playing pagans from all our hearts, gashing principles of our modern societies with our ancient message like a surgical blade. That’s probably the best way to describe our new single. Deal with it!” [via Metal Addicts]

Castrator is an “international project” based in New York City that formed in 2013, released their debut EP No Victim in 2015, and are now putting out their first full-length, Defiled in Oblivion, on July 22 via Dark Descent Records. The explicitly feminist death metal band promises to create “a brutal experience that will leave the listener feeling excited yet bloodied between the legs” and “dominate and emasculate the world,” and their new collection of anti-patriarchal brutality includes nine original songs and a cover of Venom’s ‘Countess Bathory’. After sharing ‘Tyrant’s Verdict” from the album, and its accompanying video, which was filmed, directed, and edited by drummer Carolina Perez with Stephanie Gentry, Castrator have shared another new single, ‘Dawa of Yousafzai.’ Here’s some background on the song, via Decibel: “The song is about Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani girl who spoke out publicly against the prohibition of education of girls imposed by the Taliban. She survived an assassination attempt at the age of 15 when she was shot in the head. After that, she became even more fierce and now is an activist and spokeswoman for children and girls all around the world. The intro of the song is her speaking at the UN convention in 2013.” [via Brooklyn Vegan]

The Darling Fire, the current band fronted by Jolie Lindholm (The Rocking Horse Winner, Dashboard Confessional) alongside members of Further Seems Forever, Shai Hulud, As Friends Rust, and more, will follow their 2019 debut album Dark Celebration with their sophomore LP Distortions on September 16 via Iodine Recordings. The first single is ‘Machina,’ which finds them going in a more atmospheric, Hum-like direction, and it suits them well. [via Brooklyn Vegan]

The day has finally come for German symphonic metal icons Xandria to dive into a new adventure and prepare for the next promising chapter in the band’s history. After entering the German album charts at #17 with Theater Of Dimensions in 2017, Xandria mark a steadfast return with more exciting facets than ever on their new single, appropriately entitled ‘Reborn’. Active since the early 90s, the band introduces this eagerly anticipated sign of life, featuring the dynamic range of new vocalist Ambre Vourvahis, impressively varying between angelic harmonies, a powerful and classically-induced chorus and even lurking harsh growls. ‘Reborn’ coincides with a bewitching music video that introduces the new line-up and gives a promising glimpse of what can be expected from this intriguing entity in the near future. Xandria state: “Xandria is reborn… and the first sign of the return to life is the respectively titled song. Like before, Xandria are taking you on a voyage to your imagination, and the emotional and varied voice of new frontwoman Ambre Vourvahis will show you the way there with more facets then ever – prepare for some surprises! The new line up around mastermind Marco Heubaum will definitely start a whole new chapter that is fascinating and fresh, but still genuinely Xandria. Because this is what Xandria always has been – a voyager and explorer in the inspiring world of symphonic and heavy music. And now it is reborn!” [via Metal Goddesses]

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.