Following the announcement of her long-awaited debut album THIS IS DOOM TRAP (out on September 26 via Silent Cult), Mimi Barks, has unveiled her brand-new single ‘BANSHEE’, furthermore demonstrating to fans another insight into what they can expect from the upcoming album. ‘BANSHEE’, sees the doom trap pioneer produce her most honest work to date as she allows listeners to delve further into her dark world. Sonically, it showcases a whole new side to Mimi Barks as the track resonates it’s vulnerable nature.

Reunited Canadian metal outfit Kittie have dropped the new song ‘We Are Shadows,’ their second single since returning from hiatus. The rhythms and staccato riffs are airtight and unrelenting, and frontwoman Morgan Lander takes a more melodic route vocally on this track, calling back to Kittie’s nu-metal heyday. “‘We Are Shadows’ is about the uncertainty of a future that we can no longer control,” Lander explained in a press release. “We have come to a critical place in life and in our world, and much like an eclipse overtaking the sun, we are losing the light.” She continued: “The image of shadows slowly fading in the evening darkness, and the analogy of ‘us’ as shadows in the night really illustrates the possibility of slowly fading into oblivion. It is not a song of hope however, it’s a song of coming to terms with the damage we do and acceptance of our fate. We’ve let darkness take hold, and so we are resolved to fade in the night with it.” [via Consequence]

Entheos is back with a new single ‘An End To Everything’ just over one year after their 2023 album Time Will Take Us All. The single comes alongside a music video directed by Malcolm Pugh, and riffs that will twist your brain in new and interesting ways. “‘An End To Everything’ is lyrically about surrendering yourself or giving in to a sense of darkness and despair that you feel is beyond your own control,” said Entheos vocalist Chaney Crabb. “Musically, the first riff of the song came organically, and the rest of the song wrote itself after. We wanted the song to provoke a feeling of melancholy, with lyrics to match. It became a perfect combination of many of the styles of metal and rock that we aim to blend in our music.” [via Metal Injection]

Within Temptation proudly present their newest single ‘A Fool’s Parade’, featuring Ukrainian producer and vocalist Alex Yarmak. All royalties from the new single will be donated to Music Saves UA for the duration of the war. ‘A Fool’s Parade’ showcases the band’s commitment to raising awareness of Ukraine’s ongoing battle against Russia’s invasion. The song itself serves as a condemnation of Russia’s deceitful actions and sheds light on the harsh realities faced by Ukraine. Within Temptation remains steadfast in their support for Ukraine, with involvement in initiatives such as the Ukraine Aid OPS foundation, advocating for more much-needed solidarity. [via Metal Planet]

Xeneris, the Italian powerhouse of symphonic power metal, is set to ignite the global metal scene with their debut album, Eternal Rising. slated for release on June 14. Prepare to be hypnotized by their first single and video, ‘Eternal Rising’, a mesmerizing tale of resurrection and resilience, narrated through the myth of the phoenix’s rebirth. This song embodies the determination to move forward in life challenges, echoing the phoenix’s immortal cycle of death and rebirth. A video for the song can be found below. Mastermind Federico Paolini states: “‘Eternal Rising’ tells a story of resurrection and resilience narrated through the myth of the phoenix’s rebirth: every 500 years, the phoenix dies and rises from its ashes, thus ensuring immortality through this purifying ritual. For us, it’s a concept very representative of our musical journey that is reborn and continues, representing also the will to continue our path with renewed passion.” [via Brave Words]

Giant Walker have released a new music video. The new music video, for the track ‘Make Me’, is the brand new single from the Newcastle-based heavy progressive band and marks their first new music since their last album, All In Good Time, which was released back in May 2022. The new song was produced by Chris Coulter (Arcane Roots, Jamie Lenman) and gives the first glimpse into their as-of-yet unannounced second album, which is anticipated to be released later this year via Church Road Records. Speaking about the new song, vocalist Steff Fish says, “the song is about witnessing someone that you care about making terrible decisions and the reality of your own helplessness knowing that nothing you say will influence their judgement as they can’t or won’t acknowledge that their own actions are perpetuating the problem. So, it becomes an endless cycle of delusion and bitterness.” [via Ghost Cult Mag]

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.

Svalbard have released a video for brand-new single ‘How To Swim Down’, the latest cut from their upcoming album The Weight Of The Mask. Featuring full-clean vocals from Serena Cherry and a violin performance from guirarist Liam Phelan, it’s something a little bit different from the Bristolian metallers. “This song is about the exquisite pain and sorrowful beauty of unrequited love,” says Serena. “I think it’s the saddest, most heartbreaking song we’ve ever written. Lyrically, the starting point of the verse is about concealment of adoration, before the chorus gives way to realising and accepting a fate of loving someone quietly from afar. “I cannot watch the music video for ‘How To Swim Down’ without crying,” she continues, adding that video creator Boy Tillkens “has captured the bittersweet emotion of the song so delicately, it’s an incredibly moving piece of animation to watch. “Musically, ‘How To Swim Down’ saw us dive into uncharted waters with Liam adding many layers of mournful violin parts onto the track. Finally, violins – for the first time in Svalbard history! It feels so exciting to have new instruments on a song. Another first is that How To Swim Down features only clean vocals, no screams. I wanted the vocal delivery of these lyrics to feel as though I’m whispering a secret to someone whilst they’re sleeping. My vocals here represent that lonely type of communication, singing to yourself in an empty house. It’s a private, selfless love song, where only the listener knows of my heartache.” [via Kerrang]

Death Dealer Union are back with a second single from their debut album, Initiation. The band, who are fronted by Elena “Lena Scissorhands” Cataraga of Infected Rain fame, lined up the song ‘The Integument’ as the latest to surface online from that effort. An official music video for it was shot with Vicente Cordero (Cradle Of Filth, Filter) and features the talents of members of the Cherry Bombs. The band stated: “We are proud to present to the world and our fans ‘The Integument‘! A mix of old-school thrash, power and modern metal, ‘The Integument‘ delivers an upbeat vibe with a positive message. Thanks to the amazing Cherry Bombs and Alicia Taylor for lending their unmatched talents to our visual spectacle!” [via The PRP]

Within Temptation, the renowned Dutch symphonic metal band, are set to captivate fans with their eighth studio album Bleed Out on October 20. Bleed Out signifies a bold leap forward for the band. From contemporary, hard-hitting djenty riffs to soaring melodies displaying their symphonic roots, Within Temptation have created a sonic journey that fuses diverse musical styles and thought-provoking themes. Listen to the title track below. [via Metal Planet]

Brutal and revolutionary band Brujeria just dropped a new video from their upcoming album, ‘Bruja Encabronada.’ Their forthcoming album, Esto Es Brujeria, is out September 15 via Nuclear Blast Records, and this is the second single to be released from that album. The video contains live footage taken by Roel Verscheure and Emerik Siimessalmi. [via Metal Sucks]

BABYMETAL have unveiled their first song since being “reborn” with new member MOMOMETAL earlier this year. The new track ‘METALI!!’ features guitar playing from Rage Against the Machine’s Tom Morello. ‘METALI!!’ comes in addition to BABYMETAL’s latest album, THE OTHER ONE, which arrived in March of this year. As described on BABYMETAL’s website, the new song “incorporates both traditional J-RAP and Tom Morello’s legendary, phenomenal guitar playing.” The accompanying music video features the three members of BABYMETAL — SU-METAL, MOAMETAL, and MOMOMETAL — dancing and performing the song, with Morello appearing at the 2:15 mark to rock his minute-long guitar part that ends the tune. [via Consequence]

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.

Within Temptation have unveiled a standalone single, ‘The Fire Within,’ which was written back in 2019 but never released until now.“When a band writes an album, it often happens that there are too many ideas to make it onto the final track list,” Within Temptation explained in a social media post. “However, those songs that fall through the cracks sometimes make a great B-side or even a single in this case. The song was written back in 2019, but never made its appearance on an album. The track now finds its way to you, as we’ve decided to release it as a single!” [via Consequence]

Okkultist is here to offer you a pretty enticing invitation – meet ’em in hell. And who can say no to a song that riffs this hard? Okkultist has clearly figured out how to make an irresistible riff-based deal with their music. It also helps that the music video directed by Beatriz Mariano and João Pereira will draw you in even more. [via Metal Injection]

After six years of silence, Xandria are finally back on February 3, introducing their new lineup with the brand new studio album, The Wonders Still Awaiting. The pioneers of German symphonic metal have released the album’s title track, alongside a captivating video. The new single combines the impressive vocal range of new singer Ambre Vourvahis and a real choir and orchestra with grandiose, bombastic orchestrations by Lukas Knöbl – known for his work with Hollywood greats like Roland Emmerich. On the new single, the band around mastermind and songwriter Marco Heubaum focus on their strengths and deliver a song perfect for the pre-holiday season. Xandria on the new single: “As one more foretaste of our upcoming album The Wonders Still Awaiting, we proudly present you the title song of it. We think that together with the songs you’ve heard so far, it gives you a hint of what to expect, and that it will be musically about a lot of powerful and magical atmosphere. But every song on this album will be its own little universe to explore, its own story and altogether it will be quite a journey of wonders and surprises…” [via Brave Words]

Based in São Paulo, Brazil, The Damnnation attacks with their debut album, Way Of Perdition, releasing a versatile sound that mixes multiple strands of extreme metal and brings old school thrash to life. Continuing to promote the record, the band has issued the music video for the track ‘Slaves Of Society’. “In this video we decided to do it with a more ‘stage’ feel to express the idea of ​​anger and anguish that is conveyed in the lyrics, a very evident moment now in the country,” comments vocalist / guitarist Renata Petrelli. [via Brave Words]

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.

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]

The post appeared first on She Makes Music.