Forsaken Rite, the symphonic folk metal warriors from the northern plains of Edmonton, Canada, are thrilled to announce the release of their latest music video ‘Call to War’. This powerful and visually stunning video is the second single from their upcoming EP The Forgotten West, out this coming September 2024. ‘Call to War’ showcases Forsaken Rite’s signature blend of epic storytelling, intricate musicianship, and high-energy performance, as they explain: “‘Call to War’ is the finale of The Forgotten West journey. The war party has made it to their destination… for now. They have found villages and life isn’t so bad, it’s different than before, but yet… oh so familiar. But as if destiny had other plans, peace lasts only so long before history begins to repeat itself as new enemy forces move in to take what little the village has left. Call to War is a battle speech and a rallying cry, because this time, we all stay to fight, unlike so long ago, before the journey of The Forgotten West.” The drums of war are sounding and Forsaken Rite’s final rally cry leads warriors into battle. “Call to War” is a heavy war song led by the power of unclean vocals as clean vocals build the narrative. The song’s bridge is a grand battle speech and a march towards victory climaxing in a multi-layered instrumental and vocal breakdown to round out the EP.

Valkyrie’s Fire are a symphonic power metal band from Nashville, Tennessee, born of true emotional passion that ignites our hearts and unlocks the deepest mysteries of the soul. The band just premiered a new music video titled ‘Warrior of the Night’ which is the first single & music video taken from their upcoming EP album Ascension which will be released on November 8 via Eclipse Records. The album was produced and mixed by Joey Grimaldi, and mastered by Jack Kosto (Firewind, Seven Spires). The music video for ‘Warrior of the Night’ was directed by Austin Dellamano at Weems Creative. “’Warrior of the Night’ is a special song to each of us because of the meaning behind the lyrics”, says bass guitarist Dave Hale. “This song is dedicated to the fans who tirelessly support musicians every night, and also to the musicians around the world who endlessly pour their heart and soul into the music they create. Just like any true warrior, the musicians fight the ongoing battle to bring exposure to their music, and the fans also fight the battle by showing their support for those musicians.” Vocalist Adam Sanders adds, “The album, and this song, is steeped in Norse mythology, and as such, the lyrics also hint at that, while keeping their relevance to the fans and musicians. Each of us fights a battle in the field of music, and each of us must remain strong and give our all for those things we fight so valiantly for.” Vocalist Bettie Floyd concludes, “Our goal with this debut music video is to reach into the hearts and souls of fans worldwide and deliver to each of them the epic power and symphonic metal that we are so proud to have created. We want to show the world that Valkyrie’s Fire is not only just a new band on the scene, but a force to be admired in the music scene among our peers, fellow musicians, and fans around the world. We truly love the music we create, and we are grateful to be doing what we love!”.

SPINEFARM is pleased to announce the signing of GORE. — vocalist Haley Roughton, guitarist Alex Reyes, and bassist Devin Birchfield — to the global roster. The band will release the A Bud That Never Blooms EP on October 24. The EP was produced by Miserable Productions, with Ben McGuiness and Caleb Freihaut serving as co-producers. The EP was mixed by Cody Stewart. Now, the band has also shared the video for ‘Babylon,’ its debut single for its new label home. “‘Babylon’ is about my desire to have a pure, somewhat traditional love,” offers Roughton, laying her emotional cards face up on the table. “The dream of having a strong and loving husband, with children and an unconditionally loving home being the center of my universe (and is what I felt I lacked in my childhood). Through the years, and all of the relationships I have failed to sustain, that dream has yet to come true. This song is the eulogy of that dream. In other words, ‘Babylon’ is the action of putting that dream of being a wife and a mother to rest, for now.” Regarding the accompanying visual, Roughton shares, “The music video uses religious imagery to depict the dream for a pure, unconditional love that is slowly dying. In the video, the pastor can be seen as everything that causes a relationship to fail — ego, external pressure from others, unhealed inner wounds — even the other person in the relationship. The pastor is seen slowly killing the woman with the dream by holding her underwater, while she is seen crying and begging for the life she wants. From the action of killing her emerges a creature that is completely stripped of hope and innocence. The sludgy, disturbing human-like being can be seen as a symbol of cynicism, resentment and vengeance.”

Massive Scar Era, the visionary Egyptian/Canadian metal project led by Cherine Amr, is thrilled to announce the release of their new single ‘School Girls | بنات المدرسة’. This track, featuring the dynamic vocals of Chaney Crabb from Entheos, is the lead single from their upcoming EP, Assyad, set to drop in October 2024. With ‘School Girls’, Massive Scar Era breaks genre boundaries again, blending progressive rock, post-grunge, Egyptian music, and metal into a captivating sound that resonates deeply with fans worldwide. Amr comments on the unique track: “‘School Girls’ represents a dialogue between the Mu’allima (teacher) spirit, brought to life by Chaney’s voice, and the outside world. The chorus is adapted from the traditional Zar song “Banat el Madrassa,” reflecting a significant era in Egyptian society and feminism. It highlights the pursuit of higher education by middle and upper-class women in the 1950s, symbolizing their aspirations and empowerment. The Mu’allima serves as both a guide within the female Zar realm and a social archetype.”

Texan prog metal quintet Oceans Of Slumber will release their sixth studio album Where Gods Fear To Speak through Season Of Mist Records on September 13. It’s the band’s first for their new label and they have just shared their latest single from the upcoming album, The Given Dream, which you can listen to below. The song features a powerhouse of a vocal performance from singer Cammie Beverly. “This is one of the most tiring songs to sing on the album”, Beverly explains. “I’m belting from the beginning. Going from a belt to soprano back to a belt is not a break. Singing soprano takes more breath than singing mid-range or alto. You have to hold your vocal cords tight.” “We’re pre-programmed with this dream of how our lives are supposed to turn out”, Dobber Beverly, band leader, drummer and Cammie’s husband says of the new single. “The white picket fence. A career at the tech company down the road. Two and a half kids to go along with the ‘Live, Laugh, Love’ poster on your wall”. “Buying into that idea will make you feel like you’re on the right track,” adds Cammie. “When really, we’re just blinded. That dream doesn’t exist”. [via Louder]

EPICA singer Simone Simons has shared the music video for the song ‘Cradle To The Grave’ from her just-released debut solo album. Vermillion, which was made available on August 23 via Nuclear Blast Records, is a collaboration with Simone’s longtime musical partner Arjen Lucassen (AYREON). The music video for ‘Cradle To The Grave’ features a guest appearance by ARCH ENEMY’s Alissa White-Gluz and can be seen below. Simons and Lucassen comment: “‘Cradle To The Grave’ is about the universal experience of navigating life’s ups and downs and the quest for meaning and purpose. It views the human condition as one of struggle and resilience, where despite efforts to build and achieve, there’s an underlying acceptance that life is brief, finite and often cruel.” [via Blabbermouth]

ENEMY INSIDE have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Sayonara,’ is the brand new single from the German alternative/symphonic metal band and follows on from their previous single, ‘What We Used To Be,’ which was released last month. Speaking about the new song and its accompanying music video, the band shares, “’Sayonara’ is a real power track. Not only its title spreads Japanese vibes, the video is also heavily inspired by the anime style. The message of the song gets clear really quick: Don’t let the haters get you down. If they’re talking about you, you’ve done everything right. I am who I am and if you don’t like it, SAYONARA!” [via Distorted Sound]

SKARLETT RIOT have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Luminate,’ is the brand new single from the UK alternative metal band and follows on from their previous single, ‘Hold Tight,’ which was released in November last year. Speaking about the new single, the band says, “’Luminate’ is a song written about finding light in the darkest places. Having those moments of clarity, understanding you don’t have to struggle through adversity alone. It’s about realising your true worth and being able to find strength when you need it most.” [via Distorted Sound]

Ice cold Finnish modern metal band, Arctis, have announced their self-titled debut album, set for release via Napalm Records on November 1. Drawing inspiration from the mythical winters and mystical summers of the North, the Finnish metal minds of talented misfits Arctis fearlessly navigate their futuristic battleship through a treacherous ocean where ferocious waves of metal clash against reefs of rock and pop, birthing a sonic assault of epic proportions. To celebrate the announcement of their debut album, the first single ‘I’ll Give You Hell’ and their first official music video ever, has been released. The song explores the complexities of romance with their catchy anthem. Arctis comment on their new single: “We’re excited to drop our debut track and music video, ‘I’ll Give You Hell,’ a powerful anthem that was one of the first songs we ever wrote. This release marks the start of something big, and we can’t wait to share more of what we’ve been working on. Stay tuned—this is just the beginning.” [via Brave Words]

The Brazilian rising force in Melodic Death Metal, Erudica, have just released their highly anticipated second single, ‘Echoes Of Desolation’, which is now available on all major digital platforms. Following the success of their debut single and music video ‘Gaia’, the band returns with an even more ferocious and impactful sound. Formed in 2020, Erudica is the brainchild of captivating vocalist Caroline Ferreira and skilled guitarist and multi-instrumentalist Patrik Correa. Drawing inspiration from heavyweights such as Arch Enemy and The Agonist, the duo has taken a brave step on their latest release, digging deeper into more classic melodic death/thrash metal. With ‘Echoes Of Desolation’, they move away from the orchestral and symphonic elements of their previous release, opting instead for a raw, aggressive approach marked by crushing, melodic and brutally powerful guitar riffs. Caroline Ferreira‘s vocal prowess shines through on ‘Echoes Of Desolation’ where she unleashes a torrent of rage through her ferocious growls, tackling profound themes that reflect humanity’s final reckoning – a requiem for a world suffering due to the greed of those who are supposed to protect and lead. “Greed! We reap what we sow, in this case our total destruction and annihilation by our own actions”, Caroline comments. [via Metalheads Forever]

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KITTIE have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Fire’, is the title track from the Canadian metal band’s brand new album, which is released now, via Sumerian Records. Speaking about the release of their new album, vocalist/guitarist Morgan Lander says, “we’ve gone from 0 to 100 within the last few years and it’s almost unfathomable that the culmination of all of our work, sacrifice, pain and triumph has finally come to fruition with the release of our seventh studio album, Fire. We burn with more determination, focus and drive than ever, and hope that these elements resonate with every word, and can be heard in every note of this album. Fire is for you!” [via Distorted Sound]

Stand Atlantic have released a new single from their upcoming album. ‘CRIMINAL’, a collaboration with Polaris, is the latest cut from WAS HERE. The full-length is set for release on August 23 via Hopeless Records, and has already been teased by early singles ‘LOVE U ANYWAY’ and ‘GIRL$ (Feat. PVRIS and Bruses)’. “’Criminal’ is a small insight into how it can feel to be in this industry,” Bonnie Fraser explains. “It sometimes feels like you gotta keep your life a certain level of fucked up, so you can make art that comes from a real place. I found myself wanting to invite the pain in and sometimes go looking for it… just to create some cool shit that gets sold by people, who at times may not give a damn about how you got there.” On collaborating with Polaris, she adds: “It felt so right to have Polaris on this track. Dan and I personally bonded over this exact topic on a night out, after the song was already written so it felt like fate. We have wanted to work together for so long, so having another Australian artist we absolutely love was a pure blessing and created a perfect storm.” [via Dork]

Oceans of Slumber have officially unveiled their upcoming album Where Gods Fear to Speak, and dropped a performance video for the second single, ‘Poem of Ecstasy.’ The track puts the band’s signature dark and cinematic style on full display, and strings together numerous standout moments, sorta giving the feel of a mini-epic. We got haunting vocals and a smooth piano entrance, with a transition to doom-laden power metal, culminating with death growls and blast beats, in some sort of a “dystopian grindcore”. [via Metal Injection]

Fresh from her Download Festival set – which not only etched HARPER into its history books as the festival’s youngest ever performer but marked her first ever live show – now the astonishing 12-year-old vocalist releases a brand new track, ‘Bird In A Cage.’ ‘Bird In A Cage’ was co-written by Leo Valeri (Brand Of Sacrifice) and Ben Lumber (Acres). Valeri performed all instrumentation on the single. Harper enthuses, “’Bird In A Cage’ was written about feeling trapped and alone and being let down by the people who are close to you. This song is different to any song I’ve done before and I really wanted to show I can do more than just scream. It’s possibly my favourite song I’ve done to date!” [via Metal Planet]

FUTURE PALACE have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Dreamstate’, is taken from the German post-hardcore band’s upcoming new album, Distortion, which is scheduled to be released in September this year, via Arising Empire. The band collaborated with Pavel Trebukhin once again for the Dreamstate music video, returning to Riga, Latvia. “At first, I actually intended to write a piano ballad,” says guitarist Manuel Kohlert about the new song. “But the song quickly became much harder.” Vocalist Maria Lessing adds, “it’s now one of my favourite songs on our new album.” The organic development process of the song, in which quiet sounds were ultimately overtaken by massive anger, can perhaps even be read symbolically – after all, the vocalist was also thinking about her career as a musician, which sometimes seems just as overwhelming. “Very often I lack the strength to see it all through,” she continues. “I think many people can empathise with this feeling of being overwhelmed in our performance-oriented society.” [via Distorted Sound]

DEFENCES have released a track. ‘The Almost’, is the brand new single from the Hertfordshire-based alternative metal band and follows on from their previous single, ‘Gold In The Dark’, which was released last month. Speaking about the new song, the band says, “with ‘The Almost’ we wanted to dive into the dangers of comparing yourself and your achievements to the people around you. It is all too easy to see the often manipulated, idyllic versions of people’s lives on social media and come to the conclusion that you’re missing out, that you’re not living life to the fullest. To be stuck in a place where you feel like your life has not begun is a horrible and unnecessary feeling, and we wanted to put a name to it. That’s where ‘The Almost’ comes in. [via Distorted Sound]

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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]

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StormbounD, a majestically melodic band from Israel, channel the vibes of bands such as Delain and Amaranthe with powerful, clean vocals from frontwoman Yael Horwitz, alongside the harsher lyrics sang by vocalist/guitarist Ofer Friedman who is backed up by a formidable, symphonic sound driven by bassist Pavel Kleiman, keyboardist Rotem Sadia, drummer Yuval Partush and guitarist Shani Friedman. They are amped to be releasing their debut album this summer, and so far have already released two singles, the first being ‘Altar of Innocence’, but now are drawing attention to the latest, ‘Desert’s Roar’ complete with a music video. They share their thoughts on this release: “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 surrounding within the realm of metal. ‘Desert’s Roar’ is a cry for freedom from an inner struggle taking place inside the mind of a person feeling controlled and overpowered.”

Minneapolis-based hard rock outfit COLD KINGDOM are excited to share the second track ‘Agony’ from their forthcoming third album due this summer via oneRPM. The fierce and rhythmically intense new single minces no words as it tackles the harmful effects of social media. An official music video for the track will premiere next Friday, May 20. “‘Agony’ is an energetic and aggressive song that digs into how vile people can be on social media,” collectively shares COLD KINGDOM who are: Elissa-Marie Ogaard (vocals), Evan Ogaard (guitar), Jason Michael (bass) and Chris Morley (drums).“It’s far too often that people publicly project their negative opinions and judgements on one another, whether asked to or not, whether warranted or not. It’s so easy to hide behind a screen and present a one-sided narrative that shines a light on themselves while completely disrespecting someone else or their views.” [via SRO PR]

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