Back with their infectious blend of Heavy Pop, South Haven dig deep into front women Christine Nielsen’s dark and emotional universe with their blistering new single ‘Lost In The Feeling’ featuring Joachim Møller. Fuelled with stories of self-doubt and broken love their new single explores a truly personal side of battling with mental health as a 24 year old woman living in Copenhagen.

U.S. rock giants Icon For Hire share the video for their new single ‘Shadow’ following the announcement that they will be special guests on The Rasmus’ European tour. The latest single, ‘Shadow’ is taken from their upcoming album The Reckoning due for release on September 30 via Kartel Music Group. The track deals with “the ugly part of ourselves we try to suppress and hide, but what if we embraced them?”, says lead singer and songwriter Ariel Bloomer. Digging deeper into the creative process of songwriting for the track, Ariel adds; “I’m in this space right now where I’m learning not to be ashamed, apologetic or resistant. To accept those dark parts of myself as me”.

Boston’s Pistacia is bringing forth a new brand of metalcore with their debut EP Edgy. Through personal and poignant lyrics they confront relatable issues set to emotional and powerful music. So far, they have released a handful of singles, and the next one up is ‘It Was The Cat’, focusing on self-harm. Making music for people who are scared and voiceless is their passion and they are not afraid to get specific about what happens in the mind of the mentally ill. On this single, they offer hope and understanding and a flashback to the days when people used the explanation that “the cat did it” in reference to marks on their arms. The band explains the creation of the single: “The single began almost accidentally; Ben and Théo were in Florida on tour with their former band, exhausted from the road and performance, and aching to write some new music that would reflect the artistic changes they’d undergone as a result. Ben cracked away at that which he does best: writing filthy hardcore riffs and Théo took initiative to make as poppy a chorus arrangement as possible. Years later, the track was revived and Vic worked her magic, pouring her anguish and rage into finely tuned stanzas that packed punch. They entered a Berklee rehearsal room with sketches, with the makings of a metal banger, and left with the instantiation of their ardor”.

Symphonic Gothic Metal band Belle Morte is proud to present their video for the single ‘Krew’, featuring: Yaroslav Dzhus (bandura), Alex Pilkevych, and Ada Rusinkiewicz (vocals). The band say: “The idea of ‘Krew’ appeared in February. When the war began, we were completely devastated and heartbroken. As a Belarusian band, we have strong connections with Ukraine: we have relatives and friends living there, and in general, it was always perceived as somewhat native land to us. Moreover, Belarusian territory was used by the Russian army, horrific betrayal and burden of shame. We decided to compose this song to reflect our complex feelings and search for some deliverance in art. From the very beginning, we had an intention to show the proximity of 3 languages and 3 cultures, so we’ve also involved Polish and Ukrainian singers Ada Rusinkiewicz (Hethet) and Alex Pilkevych to reflect their own perspectives and Yaroslav Dzhus to recorded bandura, traditional Ukrainian folk instrument. Everyone participating in this project had full freedom to express their feelings. Belarusian lyrics written by Brat K. are focusing on the common pain and grief we experience. Ukrainian lyrics by Alex reflect on the time in the past when he used to live in Kiev, at the trail to notorious Irpin. In the Polish parts, Ada talks about the duality she’s experiencing in her country. There are a lot of fantastic, helpful people, who are doing their best to help Ukrainians but there are also a lot of insecurities and fear. In the screaming parts, Ada wanted to pay respect to people who are suffering in silence today. One day they will be heard and we hope it will stop trauma from growing. The song’s title “Krew’ or “Blood” has multiple meanings. It’s about blood bonds that unite us, it’s about the blood of innocent people shed in this treacherous war.”

Belgian hard-rockers Brutus are set to release their third album Unison Life on October 21, and they’ve shared a group of songs from the record so far, including ‘Liar’ and ‘Dust.’ Now, Brutus has released another song from Unison Life. It’s called ‘Victoria,’ and it comes with an accompanying music video directed by Jonas Hollevoet. ‘Victoria’ is a more melodic move for Brutus but it still rips with a wall of guitar and urgent vocals from lead singer Stephanie Mannaerts, who says: “‘Victoria’ is about getting older. You know grown-up life is lurking around the corner, but you’re not afraid of what’s coming because we’re all going to go down together.” Watch the ‘Victoria’ video, which has Brutus wandering around Belgium looking for nostalgia in the places that felt important to them as kids. [via Stereogum]

Escuela Grind is now streaming their devastating new single ‘Forced Collective Introspection’ alongside a music video directed by Michael Jari Davidson (Alice In Chains). The single takes inspiration from the 1971 film THX 1138, whose runtime explores a future controlled by android police and humans suppressed by mandatory drugs. And I mean, really – how far are we off from that now anyway? “We again teamed up with director Michael Jari Davidson to create the video for ‘Forced Collective Introspection’, says Escuela Grind vocalist Katerina Economou. “The video references 1971’s anti-authoritarian movie THX 1138, where the band is held in a white void by masked guards, and reduced to objectified numbers. Harassed in prison cells, the band makes their escape in a Shawshank fashion. The theme of the video runs throughout all of our music: we must resist and attempt to escape their control to regain our humanity.” [via Metal Injection]

Following the release of her industrial-tinged, thrashing debut EP Sinner and Saint, Lexi Layne is proudly sharing a stunning, horror-themed music video for ‘Self Sabotage’ alongside her full band. Lexi is bursting with “strong alpha female” energy, she describes. Lexi says: “’Self Sabotage’ will have the listener’s heart racing and blood boiling the second the song begins. The lyrics describe battling inner demons, self-doubt, and trying to overcome the darkness that lies within. With hauntingly beautiful harmonies throughout the song, ‘Self Sabotage’ is the first track to overtly confront the Sinner and Saint expression that underscores the EP. ” [via Outburn]

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US rock giants Icon For Hire share more new music with single ‘Shadow’, taken from their upcoming album The Reckoning due for release on September 30 via Kartel Music Group. ‘Shadow’ follows the release of heavy cut ‘Breakdown’ and continues to build on the momentum gained by a string of singles and video releases ahead of their forthcoming new album The Reckoning. The soaring new single deals with “the ugly part of ourselves we try to suppress and hide, but what if we embraced them?”, says lead singer and songwriter Ariel Bloomer. Digging deeper into the creative process of songwriting for the track, Ariel adds; “I’m in this space right now where I’m learning not to be ashamed, apologetic or resistant. To accept those dark parts of myself as me”. Co-written with Breaking Benjamin’s Keith Wallen and mixed by Joe Rickard of In Flames and Red, ‘Shadow’ is the first track Icon For Hire felt would benefit from the help of an outsider. “We had the chorus and most of the vocals written, we got together with Keith to finish it out. He was able to help move some of the pieces around, and helped us demo out the structure. It was our first time working with him and it went really well”.

Aversed is back with their second single of 2022 and, much like the first one, it’s an incredible progressive death metal ass-kicker. The song covers a ton of heavy ground before returning to a super catchy chorus sung by new vocalist Sarah Hartman. “Humans have a universal language: violence. It’s the only solution we consistently turn to in order to solve even our most basic problems,” said drummer Jeff Saltzman. “‘Death Lullaby’ serves as an ode to this natural state of affairs. On the contrary, while all of us aspire to it, universal peace is a concept that is hard to comprehend. We need violence to comfort us and lull us to sleep each night because that is what we know. The beauty of being a metal musician and a fan is that we have an outlet to release this explosion of violent feelings within each of us.” [via Metal Injection]

Marlene Mendoza is here to throw down big time with her new single ‘Insanity.’ If you’re looking for mosh riffs, breakdowns, and a massive chorus that’s sure to incite tons of fists in the air, then you’re going to love this. “I am excited to release my first EP that showcases my artistic expression and authentic self thus far,” said Mendoza. “And also to show that women can be awesomely insane too.” [via Metal Injection]

Delain officially became the solo project of the keyboardist Martijn Westerholt in February 2021, meaning the other four members of the band quit. Westerholt has now announced the new Delain lineup consisting of guitarist Ronald Landa, who played with the group between 2006 and 2009; and original drummer Sander Zoer, who played with the band between 2006 and 2014; alongside newcomers vocalist Diana Leah and bassist Ludovico Cioffi. The new Delain lineup is now streaming their debut single ‘The Quest And The Curse’ which you can check out above. As for a comment on the new lineup, Westerholt simply offered “The future of Delain looks bright!” [via Metal Injecton]

Forever May Fall are a band from Charlotte, North Carolina, who’ve been around since 2017, but have used 2022 as an opportunity to reintroduce themselves to the world with a fresh sound and a re-energized approach. After dropping two singles throughout the first half of the year, ‘Aftermath’ and ‘You,’ the group led by frontwoman Jillyan Brennan are back with another new banger called ‘Undertow.’ Bands like Evanescence, Halestorm and Linkin Park definitely come to mind as similar reference points, but Forever May Fall are definitely putting their own spin on that type of heavy, anthemic rock with a song like ‘Undertow.’ [via Revolver]

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International metal collective Chaos Rising have released a new video, ‘Still We Die’. ‘Still We Die’ is a melodic metalcore track featuring new Chaos Rising vocalist Aliki Katriou (Greece/NewZealand), a renowned metal vocal coach with an incredibly versatile range. Drums on this track are from Renee Cobcroft (Australia), with Chaos Rising regulars Tina Gruschwitz (Germany) and Catherine Fearns (Switzerland) on bass and guitar/piano respectively.

Progressive avant-garde metallers, Italy’s MindAheaD return in 2022 with their sophomore album 6119 Part 1 via Rockshots Records to follow their 2017 debut full-length Reflections released on Roman label Revalve Records. Just like its predecessor, the band’s new offering is once again a concept album with a complex, personal and unusual sound to test the limits of their songwriting. 6119 Part 1 is a continuation of the previous work on Reflections, which will tell us the story of 6119, the main character, through a surreal, oneiric journey, always poised between physical space and the realm of the mind. Trapped in this dreamlike kaleidoscope, he proceeds heedless of the consequences, hoping to find at the end of the journey (the “Part II,” currently in production) the reason why all this is happening to him. The band is unveiling the first single “What Your Are” off 6119 Part 1. The storyline of the track is dedicated to the search for “Emerald Eyes,” the female figure that “6119” encounters on the first album Reflections. The song alternates between very powerful moments, such as the beginning, and more reflective and intimate moments such as the central interlude, which takes us back to desert and arabesque sounds and atmospheres.

Platinum-selling recording artist and world class guitarist Orianthi has announced an October 14 release date for her new studio album, Rock Candy. It is the follow-up to 2020’s O, albeit she has also recently issued Live From Hollywood, a live effort recorded in Los Angeles in January 2022. Rock Candy is a hard rocking, blues- tinged combination of the her dazzling guitar skills and soulful vocals, with a first single and video from it entitled ‘Light It Up’ available now.

Calgary’s SYRYN is ready to seduce new fans and entertain current ones with their epic heavy metal tales of mermaids, sailors, and pirates. The band returns in 2022 with their second album Heads or Tails slated for release on August 26. The band previewed their first single ‘Madness Becomes Me’ off the record in 2021 and now they share their second sneak peek ‘Sink or Swim’ accompanied by a music video. The track is fast-paced, filled with full-on thrash carnage that will make sure you’re fighting for your life. It’s a shift from the band’s first single and brings in some soaring ferocity. “This song is about endurance. It’s about trials and tribulations and how we handle them. The uncertainties of life and how we navigate them. We internally fight with ourselves, our past, and our consciences daily. This is a prime example of processes we go through when we are scared or in the dark not knowing what lies ahead. We can’t go back, only forward. Will we sink, or will we swim?” adds the band.

About 10 years after a first EP released under the moniker of Seventh Wave, Swiss death/thrash/indus-metal crossover four-piece Lethal Technology is about to give birth to its debut full-length effort called Mechanical Era and planned for a CD & Diigtal release this fall. In the meantime, the band shared a first look of this upcoming effort with the official music video of the single ‘Factory’ available right now.

US rock giants Icon For Hire share the video for heaviest single to date, ‘Breakdown’, taken from their upcoming album The Reckoning due for release on September 9 via Kartel Music Group. ‘Breakdown’ builds on the momentum gained by their recently released singles and videos, the raging ‘Dismantled’ – which has become the band’s fastest growing music video – while the bruising single ‘Ready For Combat’ has been climbing the US radio chart. Described by Rock Sound as “a bold and belligerent piece of hard rock chaos”, the track alongside its high-powered music video, is the perfect introduction to harder-edged sound and aesthetic of the upcoming album The Reckoning, in the band’s own words; “grittier, louder, larger”.

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Blacklab are back. The self-proclaimed ‘Doom witch, duo from Osaka’ are set to drop their third album In A Bizarre Dream this summer (August 19). Yuko has said before that the band’s name is a combination of her two favourite bands, Black Sabbath and Stereolab. Odd bedfellows to be sure, but if you want to know what that combination might sound like … here it is. ‘Crows, Sparrows and Cats’ actually features Laetitia Sadier of Stereolab, no less, providing the lead vocal, adding a layer of cool over Blacklab’s Hawkwind meets krautrock sludge. It’s a stoner groove with pop at its heart …Sludge Pop even, a surprising gem amongst the maelstrom of sound around it.

Japanese critically acclaimed Symphonic Metal sensation HETEROGENEOUS ANDEAD are proud to release their official video for ‘Fission’, a track taken from the band’s newly released album CHAOTIC FRAGMENTS.

US rock giants Icon For Hire share heaviest single to date, ‘Breakdown’, taken from their upcoming album The Reckoning due for release on September 9 via Kartel Music Group. The writing process for ‘Breakdown’ has been a more collaborative effort, explains lead singer and songwriter Ariel Bloomer ; “I had the hook line “I’m always up for a breakdown” in my notebook for years and wanted to do something with it. Vocally I go harder here than usual. Shawn and I collaborated on a lot of the lyrical themes on this song, which we’ve been doing more of lately. It’s usually a painful process for my control freak self but Shawn led the construction of this song. He asked what lyrical concepts I had, and then laid out the bones of the song and helped me write around his structure”.

StormbounD, symphonic metal from Israel, have been hard at work to deliver their debut album December and now with the release of their fourth single, it is almost time for the album’s long-awaited release. The single ‘Child’s Play’ is one of nine precisely woven stories that reflect on real-world experiences set to fantastical music. The band explains in their own words: “The lyrics on the album tell some interesting stories, some more personal and some global, convey some harsh messages and themes, and deliver a wide array of emotions. We did our best to bring all of that into a cohesive musical environment within the realm of metal. ‘Child’s Play’ is about the victory of creation, the libidinal energy and one’s motivation over negativity and scorn.”

Within Temptation has released the official Jeb Hardwick-directed music video for the band’s new single, ‘Don’t Pray For Me’. It is the fourth single of the band’s independent releases and will lead up to Within Temptation’s next studio album. Vocalist Sharon Den Adel comments: “‘Don’t Pray For Me’ strives against forcing beliefs and fears on to others and bears witness to being acceptive of everyone’s own journey. It is an anthem about coming to terms with the fact that beliefs can be fluid, multiple or, frankly, different. The song is about allowing people to pursue their own destiny.” [via Blabbermouth]

Next month, Arch Enemy will at long last release their highly anticipated new album, Deceivers, which they’ve been teasing with a series of impressive singles since last fall. Across the smattering of previews, we’ve heard the Swedish melodeath progenitors channel the NWOBHM sound of Judas Priest, lean into their thrashy side and embrace their heavy death-metal roots, and new single, ‘In the Eye of the Storm,’ is a little bit of everything. It’s got a big-ass lead riff, a stompy mid-tempo rhythm, and a chorus that’s catchy and excoriating thanks to Alissa White-Gluz’s viciously snarling vocal delivery. [via Revolver]

Nu-metal upstart Cinnamon Babe, the solo project from Stormi Maya, has set TikTok ablaze with a clip from the music video for her new single, ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Is Black,’ where she declares, “I’m taking my culture back” and points to rock’s origins in Black culture. In a press release, the Cinnamon Babe leader explains, “I made the song ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Is Black’ in response to all the people who seem to have forgotten the founders of this genre of music — African Americans such as Ike Turner, Bo Diddley, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Little Richard and Chuck Berry. And before you say, ‘Okay, Black people may have made rock ‘n’ roll, but metal is white blah blah… I credit the invention of metal to Jimi Hendrix and blues.” [via Metal Injection]

The Mendenhall Experiment is now streaming their new single ‘Pulse Of The Lost.’ The single features Suicide Silence guitarist Chris Garza and serves as the introduction of the project’s new vocalist Alyce Hayes. “‘Pulse Of The Lost’ to me is a musical representation of how society can repress into a state of darkness, and your personal choice to either live and die there or band together with those around you and rise out of it with a positive mindset,” said project mastermind Brandon Mendenhall. “”The lyrics in ‘Pulse of the Lost’ are a rally cry for individuality,” added Hayes. “We don’t need to fit into some special ‘box’ of identity, and this song is a big middle finger to the people who try to do this to us. The addition of Chris Garza on guitar added a beautiful, disturbing presence that I didn’t even know the song needed. It really took the music to another level.” [via Metal Injection]

Escuela Grind will release their brand new LP Memory Theater September 30 via the MNRK Heavy label, also the home of united spirits such as High on Fire and Crowbar. An official video for the first single, ‘Cliffhanger,’ is also now streaming. Escuela Grind has got moxie one would die slow and painfully for, and truly is the stuff of envy. They’re young, and unquestionably hungry on ‘Cliffhanger,’ as the grind is hot as steel, and that ain’t just some clever pun. These upstarts bring it raw and ragged, Massachusetts basement show-style. One listen and you’re going to be tempted break something valuable in a stranger’s home, I promise you. About the track, vocalist Katerina Economou has said “‘Cliffhanger’ is us branching out and including all of our influences into a heavy, danceable song. It’s a perfect representation of all the new things to expect from Escuela Grind. The lyrics are about the people that try to play both sides of the fence… and drag you down with them. It’s about fighting crab mentality.” [via Metal Injection]

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Texas-based Southern Gothic outfit OCEANS OF SLUMBER releases their newest song, ‘Hearts of Stone’. The track follows their previous release, ‘The Waters Rising’, which came out this past February. Both tracks are off the band’s upcoming album, Starlight and Ash, which is set for release on July 22. “Lost and alone from birth, a product of the institution of life on the streets. Trouble follows this person around like a badge of honor. Grief finding grievances, the perfect formula of despair,” states Cammie Beverly (vocals) about the song.

US rock giants Icon For Hire announce their fifth album The Reckoning due on Sept 9 via Kartel Music Group, and unleash the second single from the project, ‘Dismantled’, a raging and powerful hard rock belter with restless, bristling vocals. Speaking on the track’s lyrics and meaning, lead singer and songwriter Ariel Bloomer says; “‘Dismantled’ came from a very raw and personal place, when I was at a low point. My therapist has been helping me get better at feeling my emotions, so I was sitting on the floor crying and just naming my feelings: broken, pissed off, used, like I’m being stripped for parts. I took that experience to the piano and came out with a ballad. The song totally evolved by the time we got to the studio!”. It’s this ability to deliver bristling lyrics while snaring a heavy and explosive sound that give an indication for where things are headed with Icon For Hire’s upcoming album.

After releasing ‘One More’ and ‘Obsession’, the melodic metal band Secret Rule, releases its third music video for the single ‘The Illusion’ along with the physical release of The Resilient album. Instead, to obtain the whole album on all the digital platforms, fans will have to wait until July 1st. Secret Rule says: “Looking at the future, as we always did, we see clearly the direction this world has taken, and we don’t like it. Social media have completely changed the 21st century, and today they lead and influence public opinion by applying debatable worldwide censorship. Today war is not only on the ground but also fought on the social by hits of propaganda well thought to bring society towards a precise direction, and we can’t pretend not to see what’s happening. Our rights, our freedom, and our lives are at risk. This album keeps bringing ahead our battle for the truth.”

Jinjer have unveiled a music video for their 2021 track ‘Call Me a Symbol.’ The clip begins with a stark message before showcasing some high-energy performance footage: “This video marks the 105th day of Russian invasion of Ukraine. How many more days and nights will our people have to suffer this horrible war?” Regarding the video, Eugene said: “I think this video for ‘Call Me A Symbol’ will forever hold a special and unique place in our hearts as a band. Filmed on our short but awesome European Tour in 2021 tour that almost did not happen because of the pandemic, and now released at such a dark time in which our country has been invaded and there is war on the streets of our home.” He continued: “I really hope this video and this important time in history gives people a new perspective that there are always two sides to everything. Good and Evil, Just and unjust – cherish the good times and face the bad head on… but never ever give up.” [via Consequence]

Montreal, QC’s Eternal Closure has long been a metalcore mainstay in the Eastern Canadian music scene, but is taking on a new identity with their next album At the Center of It All – Chapter I produced with Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy), which not only showcases their new vocalist, but also gives fans a chance to check out how they have progressed musically, incorporating influences such as post-rock, prog metal, and djent. The first look into their new album is the single ‘Practice What You Preach’, one of the band’s most aggressive cuts. They explain further: “This song is a full-on thrash assault for most of its duration. The chorus then becomes a bit more of a heavy groove. The riffs then become a bit more prog in nature while retaining the thrashy aggressiveness. After the end of the bridge, we bring the song down into a soft clean bridge that slowly develops into this anthemic guitar duo section and eventually goes back to the beginning of the song with the intensity at its peak. The ambient outro then leads directly into Exiled. The lyrics deal with people who think they have it all figured out and resent other people they judge not worthy of speaking on anything.” On ‘Practice What You Preach’, every member gets a chance to shine on one of the album’s most cathartic tracks, where old-school thrash riffs seamlessly blend with melodic guitar solos and modern production. The music video shows a woman starting to see the ugly side of herself that she buried inside, starting to replace who she thought she was. Mirror imagery was used in almost every shot to emphasize the theme. Montreal-based filmmaker Matt Veillette and his team really went out of their way to create powerful and evocative scenes that enhance the song’s message. [via Insane Blog]

Kallias is now streaming their progressive-as-hell new single ‘The Dark Machine.’ The single covers a ton of ground from Opeth-related weirdness to Meshuggah-esque rhythms, and then of course plenty of Jeff Loomis-style shred. So y’know, everything you’d want from a progressive metal song. “‘The Dark Machine’ is a driving force and arguably our most aggressive song to date,” said vocalist and guitarist Nicole Papastavrou. “JP and I really let our death metal roots come out for this one, and Zaki and Chris wove it together beautifully with some melody. The song is about winter, strength and commitment in the alpine.” [via Metal Injection]

Beyond the Black have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Reincarnation’, is the brand new single from the German symphonic metal band and marks their first new music since 2020’s Hørizøns. The new single is also the band’s first new music since signing with metal label giants Nuclear Blast Records. Speaking about the new single, vocalist Jennifer Haben says, “’Reincarnation’ materialized from a growing recognition of our mortality as humans and the consequent responsibility to live our lives to the fullest. This responsibility means to stand up for yourself, relentlessly fight for your values and also confront your biggest fears. Reincarnation is about becoming your true self and starts a new, epic chapter. This is BEYOND THE BLACK! And BEYOND THE BLACK is back!” [via Distorted Sound]

For more women in metal check out our comprehensive playlist below!

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Hungary’s promising melodic metal formation Esperfall have released their debut album Origins In Darkness. The album presents the initial phase of the human soul’s journey as it forces itself to face its inner demons. As with every dark phase in our lives, this state is the starting point of a deep, spiritual journey and self-discovery. Every song is an echo of a major emotional issue vocalized with self-criticism, doubt and fear, fueled with anger and disbelief, oftentimes directed towards our society. These are the battles we have to face in our everyday lives. This song, ‘Tempest In Paradise’ sounds more positive compared to the other tracks on the album, although it describes a rather hopeless situation. This is the moment in the protagonist’s life when everything collapses, there is nothing left to hold on to and she has lost what has been the most important to her so far. Nevertheless, the hope and the will to fight at all costs remain to create everything on her own. Until now everything has been an illusion. Compared to the previously released music video (‘Retreat Into Dreamland’) this song highlights another side of the band. The pace remains the same, however this song is much more on the melodic side and Nonee presents only clean vocals this time as opposed to the harsh vocals that can be found in the previous single. It’s a real power metal song from start to finish, so hopefully — but not only — oldschool Avantasia, Sonata Arctica and Stratovarius fans will like this one. [via Metal Goddesses]

FlowerLeaf are back and they are ready to start their Dreamerie journey. As a forerunner, they just released a brand new single along with a music video called ‘The Storm’. ‘The Storm’ is the first single from the Dreamerie – Chapter I: Time. It’s a song about self-confidence, fighting for what you want and fulfilling your destiny. “It was an amazing experience recording The Storm because it gave FlowerLeaf a new dimension and it gives us lots of possibilities for what we can create in the future,” singer Vivs Takahashi says. [via Metal Goddesses]

Seven Kingdoms have released the first single, ‘Universal Terrestrial’, from their upcoming full-length album Zenith. The music video for ‘Universal Terrestrial’ was filmed during the crowdfunding campaign, which raised over $50,000 on Kickstarter. Zenith will see a June 17 release via Distortion Music Group. 7K guitarist Camden Cruz says: “We are very excited to release the first song from Zenith! We are packing this one up, and two more new songs with us for the Beast in Black tour that starts this week! We will actually be shooting the music video for ‘Chasing the Mirage’ while we are on tour! We had a great time filming this song a few months ago with our main man, Jimmy Garcia. We hope you love it!” [via Metal Goddesses]

Following their latest, chart-breaking album Heat Wave, Sweden’s heavy rock band Thundermother has unleashed a brand new song taken of their upcoming album Black And Gold. ‘Watch Out’ showcases the band’s adrenaline-fuelled, high voltage sound of powerful, filthy yet catchy rock ‘n’ roll they are known and loved for: Creating infectious party rock songs with an irresistible feelgood appeal! Guitarist Filippa Nässil reveals: ”We are stoked to present you our first single ‘Watch Out’ from our upcoming album Black And Gold; The song is about us in our careers right now about rising up, being powerful woman working as a team and taking charge. We are so proud and we hope our music will inspire many people. Don’t let anybody mess with your dreams.” [via Metal Goddesses]

Giant Walker release their fifth and final single, ‘Katoomba’ ahead of their debut album All In Good Time which will be released May 13. ‘Katoomba’ opens with a menacing guitar riff that undulates with an intricate, yet powerful drum groove. The energetic track is complemented by a hooky and captivating chorus that leaves you reaching to crank up the volume. Guitarist Jamie explains, “‘Katoomba’ was actually the first song that we wrote for the album and, whilst we try and bring a different vibe to all of our songs, we feel that ’Katoomba’ really summarises the sound of Giant Walker. Lyrically, it captures the essence of how we felt at the time – trying to stay sane in the first lockdown. Funnily enough, the song was actually named after a trip to the Blue Mountains, Katoomba in Australia, as that’s where I purchased the fuzz pedal which inspired the initial riff.” [via Metal Goddesses]

Hardcore x thrash crossover band Cage Fight have dropped the new single ‘Killer.’ Bassist Jon Reid explains, “‘Killer’ is a release of anger and fury directed at anyone that has caused wrong and is a rallying cry to those that feel pure visceral rage and need a soundtrack to that pure emotion. The song’s intensity is based in a simple remit, if you have wronged… you better start running…” [via Metal Goddesses]

Spanish death metallers Bloodhunter just released a new single plus videoclip for the new song of their upcoming album. ‘The Forsaken Idol’ is the second single from‚ Knowledge Was The Price. The track features guest vocals of Rosalia Sairem, one of the singers of swedish symphonic/death metal band Therion. Diva Satanica, front woman of Bloodhunter, states on her Instagram: “Very proud of all the songs of this upcoming album of Bloodhunter, but this one is a very special one for me!“ Knowledge Was The Price will be released on May 27 via Maldito Records. [via Metal Goddesses]

Darkness Surrounding is a five-piece metal band from Wuppertal, Germany, that was founded in 2017. Their musical style is best described as Melodic Metal, influenced by Death, Core and Old School. Fast riffs, epic melodic parts and groovy breakdowns create a powerful and versatile sound. The voices of growler Tim and guitarist/clean-singer Kessi complement those attributes very well. The ban had this to say about their new song ‘Nocturnal Forest Air’: “We recorded this song as a part of our album in the legendary Maarweg Studios, Cologne, Germany. ‘Nocturnal Forest Air’ – a tragic and stirring waltz that tells the story of a young woman who had to deal with being constantly stressed and pressurized her whole life by a person in her close environment. As she grows up, she finally realizes that this person is the reason for her agony and plans to take revenge. With the lyrics being quite dark, we decided the song had to be a waltz because it would portray and frame the story in the most fitting way. The song is supposed to feel like a journey through all the emotions the protagonist goes through, really making it an experience to listen to the song. Through the music video we gave the whole story a new twist, that does not necessarily come across when just hearing the song, so watching the video is definitely worth it!” [via Metal Goddesses]

Los Angeles based alternative metal band, Motive Black has released their new single ‘Lift Me Up’. Produced by Grammy-winner Nick Rowe (Bloodsimple, Vampire Weekend), the track focuses on the talents of newcomer Elana Justin, and features special guest Carla Harvey, of the internationally acclaimed metal band Butcher Babies, on vocals. The single features Justin performing together with Butcher Babies’ Carla Harvey. Elana Justin explains: “the song is about realizing that you can’t find validation through other people. It’s easy to fall into the trap of avoidance, and trying to distract yourself from the growth you require by looking for love in all the wrong places. Facing inward can be truly difficult, but through that journey you find empowerment.” Carla Harvey (Butcher Babies) concurs stating “I love collaborating with strong women on projects so when I was asked to add my vocals to ‘Lift Me Up,’ I happily obliged. The result…an infectious tune, and a new found friendship!” [via Metal Goddesses]

The Damnnation attack with their debut album, spewing forth a versatile sound which mixes several strands of Extreme Metal and brings life to Old School Thrash. Way of Perdition will be released on May 6 via Soulseller Records. To promote the new work, the band releases the second single, entitled ‘The Greed’, which is accompanied by a music video with behind the scenes footage. [via Metal Goddesses]

Formed in 2018 in Sofia, Bulgaria, Gwendydd have now inked a worldwide record deal with Drakkar Entertainment for the release of their upcoming, sophomore studio album entitled Censored. Driven by a modern production, complemented by the mastering fingerprint of Max Morton (Jinjer, Ignea), the band‘s vibrant blend of wrecking guitar riffs and adrenalizing drums builds up to an extreme-metal avalanche. The perfect carrier for that brute death metal voice, which cuts deep into the flesh of modern society – not only with words but with a message. Censored is slated for a release on May 6 via Drakkar Entertainment. But give ear, as Gwendydd also shared a new song taken of their upcoming album. Watch the video for ‘Rape’ below. [via Metal Goddesses]

Aversed is now streaming their new single ‘Every Hill A Tomb,’ whose purpose is twofold – to remind you that Aversed does kick ass and that you need more of them in your life, and to introduce new vocalist Sarah Hartman. Sonically, ‘Every Hill A Tomb’ does a great job mixing the trippier elements of death metal with a heaping spoonful of progressive metal. “We are excited to unveil our first single with our new vocalist, Sarah Hartman,” said Aversed in a statement. “The artistic chemistry has been incredible and we hope you welcome her into this new era of our band and our songwriting. We wrote ‘Every Hill a Tomb’ to not only showcase our new direction with Sarah at the helm, but to process the grief we have all experienced these past few years. We explore a depersonalization into death and the afterlife, with the music and lyrics portraying the simultaneous grandeur and anxiety of infinite time. We are now in full-on songwriting mode and we hope you stay with us as we continue to reveal our new chapter with the world.” [via Metal Injection]

Texas-based industrial metal group Daedric releases their anticipated third single ‘Dawnbreaker’ with an alluring official music video overlaid with a vocal performance that dashes between brutal and ethereal, industrial guitars, pulsing electronics, and heavy rhythm. ‘Dawnbreaker’ pushes the boundaries into even heavier territory for the band and is another triumphant chapter in the Daedric saga. “During production, we basically said “how heavy could we go if we really just went for it,” says Daedric. “And compared to other Daedric songs, the production elements actually came together pretty easy. We also like it very much.” [via Outburn]

Lydia’s Castle drops their newest single ‘Search For You’. The hard-hitting track was penned as a form of therapy for vocalist Tonya LeeAnne, who hopes to share her feelings of deep, personal loss with listeners. “’Search For You’ is about one of the greatest losses of my life, and I wanted to channel that pain into something creative that can be shared with others and help myself, the band and so many others know they are not alone” says Tonya LeeAnne. “The great thing about music and good lyrics is that the listener can make the song their own, and become attached to it in their own way, which is exactly how I got into music to begin with.”

US rock giants Icon For Hire return with new gritty single ‘Ready For Combat’, alongside a high-powered music video. ‘Ready For Combat’ is the first cut from their upcoming new album released in partnership with Kartel Music Group. Describing the song as “a punch in the face”, lead singer Ariel Bloom says: “I’m demanding a fight, insisting that my demons come out to meet me. It actually feels amazing to acknowledge this angrier side of me. As women we often don’t have the space and freedom to do that, so it feels good to create some space with this song”. “It’s pure aggression from the start!”, adds Shawn, “it doesn’t have a lot of the bells and whistles we usually incorporate in our song”. This heaviness is perfectly depicted by the gripping video accompanying the single, which features Ariel in all her fierceness.

Belle Morte is a musical project from Belarus, Minsk, playing dark symphonic metal with gothic/progressive flavor and melancholic vibe. ‘My Little Demon’ is a track taken from the band’s critically acclaimed album Crime of Passion, out now via Wormholedeath worldwide. Watch the video below.

Frontiers Music Srl is pleased to announce the forthcoming release of Emerge, the new album by Chaos Magic. Fronted by the mesmerizing Chilean vocalist Caterina Nix, Emerge is another stunning album of symphonic yet modern metal. Out on June 17, the title track is available as a single and video now.

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