German metalcore outfit Our Mirage return with their brand-new single 'God Behind Your Eyes,' continuing the band’s steady run of impactful releases. Following the strong reception of their most recent singles, the band once again build on their established sound and sharpen their emotional and sonic identity.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/XUJOnKHImgI
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/ourmirage
'God Behind Your Eyes' blends dynamic heaviness with melodic tension, driven by layered guitars, precise rhythms, and a focused vocal performance that sits at the core of the track. The new single reflects Our Mirage’s ability to move between intensity and atmosphere while keeping their songwriting direct and grounded.
With growing international attention, extensive touring, and a proven track record across streaming platforms, Our Mirage have firmly established themselves within the modern metalcore landscape. 'God Behind Your Eyes' marks the next step in that trajectory and sets the course for what’s coming next.
Catch the band live:
28.01.26 – Nürnberg, Z-Bau
29.01.26 – A-Wien, Viper Room
30.01.26 – München, Backstage Club
31.01.26 – Frankfurt, Batschkapp
05.02.26 – Hannover, Kulturzentrum Faust
06.02.26 – Hamburg, Molotow
07.02.26 – Göttingen, Musa
11.02.26 – Leipzig, Conne Island
12.02.26 – Berlin, Hole 44
13.02.26 – Münster, Sputnikhalle
14.02.26 – Bremen, Tower
20.02.26 – Stuttgart, Im Wizemann (Club)
21.02.26 – Köln, Essigfabrik
14.03.26 – Essen, Zeche Carl
Our Mirage online:
https://www.instagram.com/ourmirageband
https://www.facebook.com/OurMirageBand
California’s hardcore heavyweights Lionheart are back in full attack mode and now unleash the ultimate statement with the release of their brand-new single and title track 'Valley Of Death II.' Following the massive impact of their comeback single 'Bulletproof,' the relentless follow-up 'Roll Call,' and the explosive 'Death Grip' featuring Kevin Skaff of A Day To Remember, the Oakland kings raise the stakes once more - and make it crystal clear that this new era is built for absolute domination.
Watch the vide here: https://youtu.be/S_mBhccZ8S0
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/lionheart
'Valley Of Death II' is the sonic embodiment of everything Lionheart stand for: crushing grooves, merciless riffs, and commanding gang shouts that hit straight to the chest. As the title track of their upcoming album, the new single carries the full weight of the band’s legacy while pushing their sound into even darker, heavier territory.
With pre-orders for the new album already in full swing, Lionheart continue their unstoppable run toward the release of Valley Of Death II, set to drop on 9th January 2026 via Arising Empire. The record marks the long-awaited sequel to their 2019 fan-favourite and promises a darker, more aggressive, and uncompromising chapter in the band’s career.
To complete this massive new era, Lionheart will return to Europe in January 2026 for a huge headline tour, joined by Madball, Gideon, and Slope. With 'Bulletproof' igniting the start and 'Roll Call' now following immediately, Lionheart make one thing crystal clear: this next chapter is already in full attack mode.
Catch the band live:
09.01.26 – Germany, Münster – Skaters Palace
10.01.26 – Germany, Leipzig – Haus Auensee
11.01.26 – Germany, Berlin – Astra
12.01.26 – Czech Republic, Prague – Lucerna Music
13.01.26 – Austria, Vienna – SiMM City
14.01.26 – Germany, Nürnberg – Z-Bau
15.01.26 – Germany, Munich – Tonhalle
16.01.26 – Germany, Wiesbaden – Schlachthof
17.01.26 – Switzerland, Solothurn – Kofmehl
18.01.26 – France, Paris – Bataclan
20.01.26 – Netherlands, Tilburg – 013
21.01.26 – Germany, Stuttgart – Im Wizemann
22.01.26 – Germany, Bremen – Modernes
23.01.26 – Germany, Cologne – Carlswerk Victoria
24.01.26 – Belgium, Antwerp – Trix
Lionheart online:
https://www.instagram.com/lionheartca
https://www.facebook.com/lionheartca
https://www.tiktok.com/@lionheartca
German metalcore force Any Given Day return with their brand-new single 'Bleed To Shine,' marking the next step in the band’s ongoing evolution. Following a run of successful releases and consistent international touring, the band continue to sharpen their sound and push forward with renewed focus.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/gDVKDXef6_Q
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/bleedtoshine
'Bleed To Shine' delivers a precise balance of weight and drive, combining dense guitar work, tight rhythms, and a focused vocal performance that highlights the band’s trademark intensity without losing momentum. The track reflects Any Given Day’s ability to evolve within their established sound while maintaining the direct impact that has defined their career so far.
With a steadily growing global audience, extensive festival appearances, and multiple international tours under their belt, Any Given Day remain a constant presence within the modern metalcore landscape. 'Bleed To Shine' underlines that position and sets the tone for the band’s next phase.
Any Given Day online:
https://www.instagram.com/anygivenday
https://www.facebook.com/AnyxGivenxDay
https://www.tiktok.com/@anygivendayofficial
Photo Credit: Napalm Records
LORD OF THE LOST are set to release their new album, OPVS NOIR Vol. 2, tomorrow, 12th December 2025 via Napalm Records. But before that, the German virtuosos open up their catalogue with another single, 'Winter’s Dying Heart', a grandiose ballad with a sad, yet beautifully captivating atmosphere. The accompanying video sees LORD OF THE LOST venture into uncharted territory: for the first time in the band’s history, they present an animated music video, created by film studio Kotburschi Kollektiv. Its story does not revolve around a season; rather, the title “Winter” is the name of the video’s protagonist, around whom the song’s lyrics are also woven.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/KN4dKqnKWK8
Pre-order OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 here: https://lnk.to/LOTL-OPVSNOIR
Following the recent success of their co-headline tour with FEUERSCHWANZ and last month’s UK tour, LORD OF THE LOST are headed towards their very own festival. The next edition of LORDFEST takes place this Saturday, December 13, 2025 in their native Hamburg’s Sporthalle. Celebrated right after the album release side by side with PAIN, SETYØURSAILS, and PYOGENESIS, it will be a special release show, which will see LORD OF THE LOST joined by BEYOND THE BLACK for three songs. Next year, the band will tour across the USA, Canada and Australia, before returning to Europe for the recently announced ‘TOVR NOIR 2026’, with shows in 19 countries.
Vocalist Chris Harms on 'Winter’s Dying Heart':
“This song hurts in the most beautiful way. Bittersweet, slow, tough, like big waves in slow motion, hard and yet so melodic. Music like this is the best example that melancholy, at least for me, is a beautiful feeling that I can wrap myself in like a blanket when I feel like it. In addition, ‘Winter’s Dying Heart’ has a clear reference to real events, packaged in a modern fairy tale. A song that lives deep in the core of the overall feeling of the OPVS NOIR trilogy.”
Following their enchantingly colourful 'Blood & Glitter', which earned them participation in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 and a #1 chart entry in their native Germany, LORD OF THE LOST reinvent themselves yet again. With OPVS NOIR Vol. 2, another 11 heartfelt songs join the three-part cycle, tying seamlessly into Vol. 1.
Once again produced by frontman Chris Harms in the historic Chameleon Studios, it is yet another stirring example of the Hamburg-based band’s unparalleled versatility.
Opening with dark yet catchy 'The Fall From Grace', LORD OF THE LOST immediately showcases their way with grand ballroom choruses weaved into grave melodies that will continue to sit enthroned on all the varied tracks until the last note of the ballad 'Sharp Edges'. Joining in are guests ranging from scene favourites to top-tier musicians outside the metal genre. First up is Infected Rain’s Lena Scissorhands, who refines the pitch-black 'Would You Walk With Me Through Hell?' with the full range of her fierce, yet fragile vocals. Similarly, Anna Brunner of rising melodic metal stars League Of Distortion and symphonic metal band Exit Eden lends her energetic voice to 'Please Break The Silence', inducing goosebumps - every talent is an important scene in OPVS NOIR’s grimly colorful movie for the ears. The most moving collaboration is the opulent 'What Have We Become', in which experimental artist IAMX meets Chris Harms for a cathartic duet.
Completely fearless, LORD OF THE LOST have long since playfully risen above genre conventions and expectations. OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 mercilessly opens new doors in the band’s musical palace, yet still feels 100% at home for fans from the very beginning.
Lord Of The Lostare:
Chris Harms – Vocals, Guitar
Pi Stoffers – Guitar
Class Grenayde – Bass
Gared Dirge – Piano, Synths, Percussion, Guitar
Niklas Kahl – Drums
Lord Of The Lostonline:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Tiktok
Napalm Records
OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 will be available in the following formats:
- 1-LP VINYL DELUXE Edition Splattered Translucent Turquoise/White, Black
With 12-page booklet. Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive (strictly limited to 200 copies worldwide)
- 1-LP Liquid Vinyl Turquoise, Black
with 12-page booklet. Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive (strictly limited to 200 copies worldwide)
- 1-LP Gatefold Cristallo
With 12-page booklet. LORDSHOP exclusive (strictly limited to 200 copies worldwide)
- 1-LP Gatefold Recycled Black
- 1-CD in paper sleeve for everyone that already own a OPVS NOIR Collectors Edition (= Earbook or Wooden Box Set)
- 1-CD 6-page Digisleeve
with 16-page booklet
- Music Cassette Noir with silver print
Napalm Records Mailorder & LORDSHOP exclusive (strictly limited to 150 copies worldwide)
- Digital Album
- DEEP DIVE Edition, containing OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 Digisleeve with 16-page booklet, USB Stick incl. 8 so called “audio stems” per song, so you can deep dive into listening to the vocals only, the guitars only, the drums only, and so on. Also perfect for musicians to create your own playthrough versions or for audio engineers to create remixes. CD and USB stick bundled in a cloth bag – Napalm Records Mailorder Europe & LORDSHOP exclusive
AUDIO STEMS per song:
01 Drums, Percussion and Beats
02 Bass, Bass Synths
03 Rhythm Guitars
04 Additional Guitars
05 Piano
06 Orchestra, Choir, Organ
07 Synths
08 Vocals
+ Audio Click
+ MIDI Track containing all tempo and time signature changes
Audio format:
WAV, 44.1 kHz, 24 Bit
OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 track list:
1. The Fall From Grace
2. Would You Walk With Me Through Hell? (feat. Infected Rain)
3. One Of Us Will Be Next
4. Walls Of Eden
5. Raveyard (feat. Käärijä)
6. The Last Star
7. What Have We Become (feat. IAMX)
8. Winter’s Dying Heart
9. Scarlight
10. Please Break The Silence (feat. Anna Brunner)
11. Sharp Edges
New Miserable Experience, featuring an all-star cast with members of Rivers of Nihil, Rosetta, ex-Revocation, Model Prisoner and Rivers of Nihil, have revealed their new single 'The Devil We Know'.
'The Devil We Know' is taken from the band's new album Gild The Lily, due 23rd January via Pelagic Records.
Pre-order Gild The Lily and stream 'The Devil We Know' here: https://orcd.co/newmiserableexperience
Watch the new video here: https://youtu.be/pwJ2fisww7s
New Miserable Experience are a Philadelphia-rooted collective that reshapes heavy-music rigour into expansive, melody-forward songs through alternative synth-rock. What started as a file-trading collaboration between vocalist/bassist David Grossman (ex-Rosetta) and multi-instrumentalist Joshua Mahesh Kost (Model Prisoner) expanded into a full band that now includes Rosetta drummer Bruce “B.J.” McMurtrie Jr., technical-metal bassist Brett Bamberger (ex-Revocation), and guitarist Brody Uttley (Rivers of Nihil).
Each member of New Miserable Experience contributes a distinctive sonic fingerprint. The vocals act as the emotional centre, delivering lines that feel confessional and immediate; synths and guitars are constructed with shimmering arpeggios and decisive motifs; percussion and production choices blend groove and tension within electronic nuance; and bass work often functions as a countermelody, lifting refrains and anchoring transitions. Together the five players emphasise careful craft over spectacle, shaping a song that rewards patient listening.
Across the twelve tightly arranged tracks of 3rd album Gild The Lily, the band pares its palette to essential elements: clear melodies, precise dynamics, and richly textured production. The album trades overt bombast for craft, building emotional weight through small gestures and patient arrangements rather than moments of spectacle.
Elements of Gild the Lily combines alternative synth rock with chorus-tinted guitars, and a rhythm section that alternates between taut propulsion and roomy, reverb-soaked space. Elements of artists as lauded and disparate as Crosses, Ulver, The Black Queen and more combine to irresistible effect.
New Miserable Experience are:
Josh Kost (multi-instrumentalist)
Brody Uttley (guitar)
Brett Bamberger (bass)
David Grossman (vocals)
BJ McMurtrie (drums)
For more:
PELAGIC PROFILE * INSTAGRAM
Tracklisting:
1. Heartsick
2. Ordinary People
3. The Devil We Know
4. In the House of Denial
5. Infinite Sadness
6. Payback From God
7. Yours to Bury
8. Perfect Things
9. Letters to Insomnia
10. Perfect Blue
11. Running the Fear of it Dry
12. Ataraxia
Photo Credit: Kim Andersen
Danish trio HIRAKI have revealed their new single 'Thee Ode' via famed German progressive label Pelagic Records.
Stream here: https://orcd.co/hiraki-theeode
HIRAKI have also revealed a live piano session video which you can watch here: https://youtu.be/QQ9j_BvJyGQ
After spending the last few years channelling their explosive energy as co-conspirators with projects like the doom-rave collective JOHN CXNNOR, the synthpunk trio are now back in control of their own realm.
Brace yourself for a tidal wave of aggressive noise rock, an aggressive style of progressive synthpunk from the edge of the abyss. As a part of Denmark’s flourishing underground scene for dark and heavy music, the three-piece present a sonic assault to accompany the inevitable fact: our world is sick and we are all responsible for this.
With foam at their mouths, HIRAKI sing, scream, and recite their way through songs about corrupted data and moral decay. Encouraged by boundless acts like Botch, Street Sects, and The Body, HIRAKI were formed in 2016, when the progressive rock band Liserstille went into hibernation. Jon Gotlev and Tue Schmidt Rasmussen then recruited their old friend and collaborator, Tim Frederiksen, to form a noisy trio unlike anything else on the Danish scene at the time.
In May 2017, the band self-released their EP Modern Genes digitally, on cassette, and as vacuum-sealed art prints. Later, it was also issued as a split vinyl with post-hardcore band We Are Among Storms (now EMBLA).
In 2021, the highly acclaimed debut album Stumbling Through The Walls was released through American label Nefarious Industries, which firmly cemented HIRAKI as a vital force within Denmark’s thriving underground scene for dark and heavy music.
In 2022, the songs found new life with ALTERER – Stumbling Through The Walls REWORKED, also released on Nefarious Industries - featuring ten unique reinterpretations by visionary and stylistically diverse artists. Pressed on recycled vinyl and hand-assembled by HIRAKI themselves, all profits were donated to Doctors Without Borders.
HIRAKI have played countless club and festival shows across Denmark, including Ilter Festival in Odense, SPOT Festival in Aarhus, and Store VEGA in Copenhagen during A Colossal Weekend. The band has also supported the American act The Armed in Hamburg and Berlin and toured in Norway.
In recent years,HIRAKIhave focused heavily on collaborative projects across genres and musical backgrounds - including vocal performances at large-scale shows with the doom-rave collective JOHN CXNNOR at Roskilde Festival and Copenhell, and most recently, a creative partnership with the Danish-Korean indie ensemble Meejah, with new music on the way.
For more:
https://www.instagram.com/hirakiband
https://www.facebook.com/HIRAKIband
https://pelagic-records.com
Iconic Berlin label Pelagic Records has announced its first wave of artists for Pelagic Fest 2026, which will unfold on 28th and 29th August at Muziekgieterij in Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Including post-metal legends The Ocean, returning with a new lineup and a new album release coming soon, Pelagic Fest 2026 looks to be yet another sensational event from the esteemed label.
The Ocean are joined by The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble for an ultra-rare performance, Oh Hiroshima, EF, and more.
Get your tickets: https://muziekgieterij.stager.co/shop/pelagic
Pelagic comment:
"We are excited to share a first glimpse on the lineup of Pelagic Fest 2026 with you.
"THE OCEAN will return to the stage of Muziekgieterij with a new lineup and a new album release just around the corner, to inaugurate the next chapter in their journey spanning 11 albums and 25 years of existence. This will be the first show for the European audience and the first opportunity to hear new material.
"We are incredibly excited to welcome THE KILIMANJARO DARKJAZZ ENSEMBLE to Pelagic Fest.
After 10 years of hiatus, the collective reunited this summer for a single Berlin show, which sold out months in advance. The vibe in the room was sublime and full of anticipation, and proved that even after such a long hiatus their music has been all but forgotten. TKDE have pioneered and shaped a musical genre of their own with albums like Here Be Dragons‚ From The Stairwell and the self-titled 2006 debut album. We can’t wait to immerse ourselves in their mesmerizing dark soundscapes.
"OH HIROSHIMA will return to the MainStage of Pelagic Fest with a new album that we can’t tell you more about at this stage, only that it’s coming out before the festival.
"EF will grace us with their 2025 re-recorded debut album Give Me Beauty... Or Give Me Death! in its entirety.
"SPURV will be releasing their new album Kelolågen next spring and LOST IN KIEV will drop We’re All Going To Be Fine in the summer, and Pelagic Fest will be your chance to watch them perform their new offerings in full.
"THE DEVIL’S TRADE will bring us a full band performance this time, and PREDATORY VOID, OTAY:ONII, ZATOKREV, NORNA, ABRAHAM, HANRY and PREYRS will all make their debut appearance at Pelagic Fest.
"This is not the full lineup! More names tba.
"See you in Maastricht!"
Line-up so far:
The Ocean
The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble
Oh Hiroshima
EF
Lost in Kiev
Spurv
The Devil's Trade
Predatory Void
otay:onii
Zatokrev
Norna
Abraham
Hanry
Preyrs
More information on Pelagic Records:
Founded in 2009 by post-metal spearheads The Ocean and their Berlin collective, Pelagic Records has grown into one of the most influential labels in the realms of post-rock, post-metal, and progressive/left-field heavy music. Over the years, Pelagic has worked with an impressive roster of artists, including MONO, Årabrot, Sugar Horse, Year of No Light, and Bruit ≤, among many others. Celebrating its 15th anniversary last year, Pelagic Records is focused on further solidifying its legacy by establishing Pelagic Fest as an annual event, an occasion that removes barriers and brings together artists and fans for a captivating celebration of the music that defines the label’s diverse and forward-thinking sound.
Pelagic Records online:
https://pelagic-records.com
https://www.facebook.com/pelagicrecords
instagram.com/pelagic_records
https://pelagicrecords.bandcamp.com/
Photo Credit: Tetiana Malezhyk
Belgian sludge/doom collective Predatory Void, featuring members of Amenra, Oathbreaker and Cobra The Impaler, return with Atoned in Metamorphosis, their second release and most focused artistic work to date. Set for release on 6th February 2026 via Pelagic Records, the four-track EP distills the band’s volatile creative energy into a tightly honed expression of intensity, restraint and emotional upheaval. Alongside the announcement, the band have unveiled their first single, 'Contemplation In Time', offering listeners an initial descent into the EP’s shadowed depths.
Watch the live studio video for 'Contemplation In Time' here: https://youtu.be/-p0IsYDunbg
Stream here: https://orcd.co/predatoryvoid
Across Atoned in Metamorphosis, Predatory Void navigate extremes with precision and purpose. Reverb-drenched, lingering passages rupture into searing metallic surges; subterranean basslines underpin shifting guitar architectures; vocals move between condemnation, lament and raw catharsis; percussion oscillates from deliberate, architectural patience to explosive release. The result is an austere yet immersive sonic landscape, incandescent, razor edged and unflinchingly direct.
Conceptually, the EP confronts the darker terrain of the human psyche. Calling on sludge, doom, black metal and the unrelenting urgency of hardcore, the band channel these influences into concise, tightly constructed compositions that balance melody with abrasion.
The band comments, “Atoned in Metamorphosis represents the process of confronting the uncomfortable truths within ourselves, the obsessions, the grievances, the shadow sides so many hide or ignore. As we evolve and change in life, we’re inevitably faced with these darker, sometimes evil and obsessive parts, both in ourselves and in others. In recognising our flaws, we begin to find strength, not in perfection, but in self-awareness. For some, this can feel like a spiritual or emotional cleansing, a kind of healing that comes from seeing ourselves fully, and embracing what we once tried to deny.”
Working with producer and recording engineer Gilles Demolder (Wiegedood, Oathbreaker), the band pursued a raw, performance centric aesthetic, preserving immediacy while amplifying contrast. Atoned in Metamorphosis stands as a vital evolution for Predatory Void, a work defined by architectural heft, emotional honesty and a deep commitment to tension as both a creative force and a narrative engine.
Predatory Void emerged from the collision of sharply contrasting musical backgrounds. Guitarist Lennart Bossu (Amenra, Oathbreaker, Living Gate), long associated with atmospheric and introspective soundscapes, began writing harsher, more immediate material during the pandemic. To bring this vision to life, he assembled drummer Vincent Verstrepen (Carnation) and guitarist Thijs De Cloedt (Cobra The Impaler, ex-Aborted), both steeped in more direct and aggressive strains of metal, alongside vocalist Lina R (Cross Bringer) and, more recently, bassist/vocalist Kris Auman (ENDLINGR).
The result is a volatile and cohesive fusion of styles, shoegaze, doom, hardcore, black metal and death metal, anchored by emotional weight and sheer sonic force. It’s a sound as haunting as it is punishing, resonating with fans drawn to the current vanguard of alternative metal, from Ragana and Agriculture to Thou.
Predatory Void are:
Vocals - Lina R
Guitars - Lennart Bossu
Bass/vocals - Kris Auman
Guitars - Thijs Decloedt
Drums - Vincent Verstrepen
For more:
https://www.facebook.com/PredatoryVoid
https://www.instagram.com/predatoryvoid
https://linktr.ee/predatoryvoid
https://pelagic-records.com
Atoned in Metamorphosis tracklist:
1. Make Me Whole
2. New Moon
3. Peeling Cycle
4. Contemplation In Time
Hamburg-based breakout act Lost in Hollywood continue their unstoppable rise with the release of their brand-new single 'Like a River', featuring powerful guest appearance by Of Virtue.
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/likeariver
After turning heads with a string of successful recent singles and rapidly growing their fanbase across Europe and beyond, the band now take their next major step forward with an international collaboration that underlines their momentum.
With 'Like a River', Lost in Hollywood sharpen their modern sound even further, blending their signature blend of emotional intensity and heavy-hitting energy with the unmistakable vocal presence of Of Virtue. The result is a high-impact release that bridges scenes and audiences, reinforcing the band’s position as one of Germany’s most promising heavy exports.
Following the strong performance of their latest releases and a steadily expanding live footprint, the collaboration marks a new milestone in Lost in Hollywood’s evolution — louder, more confident, and more globally connected than ever before.
'Like a River' doesn’t just add another chapter to their story — it raises the bar for what’s coming next.