Exsomnis is an atmospheric and melodic powerhouse in progressive gothic metal, hailing from Montreal, Canada and they are proud to announce the release of their debut single, ‘Inertia’. This haunting track delves deep into the abyss of existential contemplation, enveloping listeners in a symphony of gloomy soundscapes, haunting riffs, and orchestral grandeur. Vocalist Viky Boyer comments on the track: “’Inertia’ is one of the earliest songs we wrote and one of the songs I spent the most time writing and re-writing. With every scrap of lyrics and melody, I felt like I was getting closer to the message I actually wanted to put out. I am also very glad that the band was on board with me including some French spoken words in the song, sort of like a mini poem, as I feel like it really completes the vision I had for it. I really hope my experience with the theme of the song will resonate with the listeners, partly for my artistic ego, but also as a sign that I am not alone struggling with those particular feelings of dread when it comes to life choices.”

The hard rock sensation, Beautiful Skeletons, is proud to announce the release of their gripping new music video, ‘Letter to a Narcissist’. The track stands out from their highly anticipated EP, Temperance, set to launch on May 10 via Wormholedeath. ‘Letter to a Narcissist’ is a dark, melodic journey that blends haunting vocals with Beautiful Skeletons’ signature gritty and intense sound. This song is about the painful realization that you’ve been manipulated. The lyrics explore the journey from justifying a narcissist’s behavior to recognizing the damage they’ve caused. Ultimately, it’s about taking back your power and confronting the abuse you’ve endured.

Rising symphonic metal force ELVELLON released their second single and next harbinger, ‘My Forever Endeavour’, taken from their upcoming new album, Ascending in Synergy, set for release on May 17. The track convinces with an enchanting, uplifting intro building up to a strong chorus that is topped by Nele Messerschmidt’s magnificent vocal skills, inviting the listener to get lost in dreamy worlds. [via Metal Planet]

Lacuna Coil have dropped a crushing new song called ‘In the Mean Time’ that features soaring vocals from New Years Day singer Ash Costello. The track is Lacuna Coil’s first since their 2023 one-off ‘Never Dawn,’ and it’s ostensibly the first taste of the band’s upcoming new album, which frontwoman Cristina Scabbia teased to Revolver late last year. “‘In The Mean Time’ is a reflection on how much our society has generally ‘lost the plot,'” Lacuna said in a press statement. “We are living in really mean times filled with unhappy people: lonely, anxious, depressed, destructive. The pressure that crushes from the outside doesn’t allow to see things with the right clarity. This song is like group therapy: not a lamentation, but acceptance that once broken, it’s hard to put oneself back together again. We need to take our minds off all the inescapable toxicity and find that there’s so much more to this life…and know that in the meantime, everything cannot be aligned. We invited Ash Costello from New Years Day to feature on the track and we’re thrilled she came on board adding exactly what we needed for this song with her warm voice and charisma.” [via Revolver]

Renowned symphonic metal band XANDRIA have unveiled a catchy brand-new single, entitled ‘Universal’, accompanied by a mesmerizing official video. The track, mixed by acclaimed Danish producer Jacob Hansen, harmoniously combines symphonic choruses and captivating refrains with classic heavy metal guitar work. XANDRIA about ‘Universal’: “We have been overwhelmed by the amazing feedback for our album The Wonders Still Awaiting and are so grateful for our wonderful fans! All this positive energy inspired us to write new music quickly, and here is the first song of the new music waiting for you! We hope you enjoy it! Thank you so much for your support! In memory of Jina Mahsa Amini and for all the brave people everywhere else in the world who fight for human rights. Human rights are universal. But they are not respected everywhere, and where they are, they can be taken away again. That means that we all need to be constantly defending them, and we need to be standing together with all people in the world for that. ” [via FrontView Mag]

Polish heavy metal act, Crystal Viper, will release their new studio album, The Silver Key, on June 28 via Listenable Records. The band have also released the new digital single, ‘Fever Of The Gods’. Watch a video for the song below. Band leader Marta Gabriel comments: “Not counting the intro (which is entitled ‘Return To Providence’), ‘Fever Of The Gods’ is the opening song of the album, and the first single. We all agreed, that if we would need to show the world what the new album is all about with just 1 song, it needs to be this one. It is fast, very dynamic, and it has some new elements, but also very classic riffing and harmonies, and its chorus is very easy to remember. We also filmed a video for this song, together with the Grupa 13 production house. They did some amazing videos for bands such as Kreator, Arch Enemy or Behemoth, so we knew our song will be in right hands. Lyrics for ‘Fever Of The Gods’ are a story about meeting various shapeless forms during a dream-quest of Kadath. Lovecraft fans will probably have a big smile on their faces right now!” [via Brave New Words]

DEFENCES have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘The Curse’, is the brand new single from the Hertfordshire-based alternative metal band and marks their first new music since 2021’s In The Balance. The release of the new single comes as the band sign with Long Branch Records. Speaking about the new song, vocalist Cherry Duesbury says, “’The Curse’ is a song about feeling like the universe is against you, trying to sabotage your every endeavour despite your best efforts to achieve something. The feeling of being just a little too late, or pipped to the post, and having to start over again. To demonstrate this, it references the individual struggles of trying to be creative in an oversaturated industry, focusing on the internal fortitude required to not only persevere but to enjoy creativity for its own sake. By making these fears and inadequacies into a character, we wanted to show how powerful this feeling of being cursed can seem, and the importance of recognising and accepting it as part of yourself.” [via Distorted Sound]

Red Handed Denial, who recently announced the May 24 release of their new album, A Journey Through Virtual Dystopia (Paid Vacation Records), have released a second song and video from the 10-song album: ‘One More Night’. “This might be my favorite song we’ve ever done, definitely my favorite on the album,” vocalist Lauren Babic says of the four-minute track. “There’s something special about it. I think it’s a really fresh take on what rock/metal can be by combining EDM and future bass elements. It’s not the heaviest on the album by any means, but there is a heaviness and sense of despair that translates in the vocal delivery so powerfully.” [via FrontView Mag]

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Sci-Fi alt-metallers SICK N’ BEAUTIFUL are excited to announce the release of their new single and video, ‘DEATH POLICE’, out now via Frontiers Music. ‘DEATH POLICE’ is one of their heaviest track to date, accordingly to bass player Big Daddy Ray. “The idea behind the song was to imagine an afterlife where there is no heaven or hell, just another dystopian plane of existence – he says. “Where an authoritarian entity rules over the souls of the departed.” “The video is even crazier than our typical fare,” emphasizes singer Herma. “We wanted to create something that was glamorous yet horrifying at the same time. This one is definitely going to be a banger to play live!”

Rising alt/rock powerhouse LYELL has teamed up with Detroit rockers Eva Under Fire and rapper Hyro The Hero for new single ‘Lighthouse’, available to stream now via VERSION III. Instead of a pretty, sweet lullaby luring you in, the track, produced by Kevin Hissink (grandson) and Zach Jones (MOTHICA, Nova Twins), is rock’s version of a Siren Song. “Eva Under Fire has always been someone I’ve looked up to as a woman in rock and we finally connected when she happened to come into one of my TikTok Lives. We chatted about doing a song together and I thought this was the perfect one. Between her and Hyro the Hero’s genre-bending energy, it took the song to another dimension” shares LYELL on the track and her collaborators.

If you needed some riff-related whiplash today, you should give Red Handed Denial‘s new single ‘Parasite’ a spin. Sure it’s a lot of parts in one song, but damn if Red Handed Denial doesn’t make it flow smooth as hell the whole time. “It’s about a person you can’t get rid of who feeds off your energy,” said Red Handed Denial vocalist Lauren Babic. “Truthfully, these are my feelings about social media. If I could, I’d throw my phone into the ocean, because it truly sucks the life out of me. My connections to friends and family have suffered because of social media. ‘Parasite’ embodies my anger of wanting to watch it die.” Red Handed Denial will release their new record A Journey Through Virtual Dystopia on May 24. [via Metal Injection]

The first single from the new line-up of Finnish-Ecuadorean melodic heavy metal band BLACK SUN is here. ‘Slay the Queen’ is a track that combines all the elements of BLACK SUN‘s sound featuring crunchy guitars, catchy hooks, and impressive vocals from the matchless talents of vocalist, Netta Laurenne. Laurenne is backed by founding members Nicolas Estrada (drums), Christopher Grünberg (guitar), and Santiago Salem (bass) as well as the band’s producer-turned-friend, Thunderstone guitarist Nino Laurenne whose production credits include Amorphis, Lost Society, The Rasmus. As a result, Ecuador and Finland are now bonded and represented by a band that is one of a kind. BLACK SUN is writing a new chapter, a rebirth as a band. About the track, Netta shares: “’Slay the Queen‘ is a story about time ruling over people’s lives and the wish to stop its reign. In our society, we are forced to obey this chosen, structured perception of time that doesn’t allow us the freedom so often needed to live a life truest to ourselves.” [via SLR Magazine]

We are seeing a rise in bands taking a stand against and calling out the outdated standards (and snakes) within the music industry. First came Redhook with their infectious jam ‘SAY‘, then Belle Haven had a crack with ‘Grimace‘ and just last week ex-Fear Factory frontman Burton C. Bell fired shots with his solo single ‘ANTI-DROID‘; Now it’s Vilify’s time to shine as they set their sights on users who over-promise and under-deliver in this thumping new offering. “Split Tongue’ is about those slithery, slippery little snakes that are only out for themselves,” explains the band. “The tracks draws from the disdain we have all felt from believing in and taking chances on people in the industry only to have it returned to us like a kick in the teeth. The music industry is already hard enough and once you sprinkle in some rats it becomes a full blown blood bath.” As Amy Mcintosh spits venom into the mic, you can’t help but feel the anger seeping through the speakers. An ominous two-step beat invokes utter chaos as guitarist Deni Hourihan and bassist Lizi Mcintosh go toe-to-toe while drummer Kieran Jackson keeps the fills flowing until that tasty breakdown takes us to climax. [via Wall Of Sound AU]

Progressive metalcore outfit Reliqa have announced the details of their new album, Secrets Of The Future, which is set to be released on May 31 via Nuclear Blast Records for all territories outside of Australia, where it will be released via Greyscale Records. Alongside the announcement, the band have revealed the video for their brand new single ‘Killstar (The Cold World)’. Vocalist Monique Pym comments: “We’re so pleased with the feedback we received for Terminal, especially because it fuelled our excitement in knowing that Killstar was coming next. It really flips the switch – we’ve gone from an airy, introspective debut track to this spiteful, sharp-tongued groove that has some more worldly and politically driven themes behind it. We think these two sides of us are the perfect taste test for Secrets of the Future, not because the whole album sounds like this, but because it shows we’re not afraid to take risks. Can’t wait for you to hear it in May!” [via Ghost Cult Mag]

Almost 20 long years since the release of their latest studio album Heathen Machine, UK heavy metal act BALANCE OF POWER returns with a new band line-up and brand new studio offering. Fresh From The Abyss will be released on April 19 via Massacre Records. Founding members Tony Ritchie (bass) and Lionel Hicks (drums) are joined the band’s new lead vocalist Hazel Jade as well as guitarists Chris Young and Adam Wardle, who have since taken over the reins from guitarists Chris Masimore and Stoney Wagner, with whom the band worked on and recorded the upcoming album Fresh From The Abyss. Following previously-released album tracks such as ‘Never Be Here Again’ and ‘Abyss’, BALANCE OF POWER present their new single ‘One More Time Around The Sun’. Tony comments: “The song is about wanting to spend another year and then another and another with the person you love. I don’t usually write about specific people, but this song was inspired by my love for my wife Diki and never wanting it to end. Hazel changed the melody of the line “Take me one more time around the sun” which added such a great hook to the chorus. Lionel was responsible for the double time sections which lifted the song onto another level for the solos.” [via Grimm Gent]

Melbourne-based heavy outfit The Last Martyr have unleashed their glitchy alt-metal track ‘Antidote’. The message is simple: When the world makes you sick, love is the Antidote, even if you don’t want to admit it. The track was written on a writing retreat last year where the group and their producer Chris Lalic (Windwaker) locked themselves in a house for a week to focus purely on composing the band’s next chapter. “We wanted to see what would come out of a week of purely focusing on music and the band without any other distractions,” the band said. “We rented an AirBnb in the Mornington Peninsula and all had writing stations set up around the house. I think that really allowed all of us to feel safe and present enough to dig into our creativity more than ever before. I’ve always struggled to open up and let love in but amongst the world’s chaos of the last few years, I’ve realised that love is really the only anchor we have, and something we all deserve. I wrote the line, “You are the antidote” first and the rest of the track was written around it.” [via Heavy Mag]

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