South African death metal six-piece Vulvodynia have released new single / video 'Banquet of Enigmatic Horrors Pt. 1' ahead of their new album Praenuntius Infiniti, which is out 17th September via Unique Leader Records.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/1iCWZe_zpXk

Pre-order Praenuntius Infiniti here: https://orcd.co/praenuntiusinfiniti

The band commented: "'Banquet of Enigmatic Horrors Part I: Terror' is the first of a two-part series of tracks off our upcoming album Praenuntius Infiniti. After the earth travelled through centuries of darkness in 'The Shadowy Descent of Gaia' it entered the 'Eternal Wasteland of Galaxies' where Praenuntius begins his feast in the ' Banquet of Enigmatic Horrors'. These two tracks tell the story of the chaos that takes place within the belly of our protagonist Praenuntius as he harvests negative energy from all the planets he's devoured.

"Sonically we focused a lot on grooves and aggression while still maintaining the more technical sound that we have been going for on this album. The use of theremin, orchestral elements and other obscure sounds paint a homage to our love for classic Sci-Fi horror. A new theatrical sound introduced into the Vulvodynia arsenal by incorporating the orchestral prowess of Malcolm Pugh of Inferi [The Artisan Era].

"The new music video throws us headfirst into this universe as we try to survive the Alien Zombie Infestation of Praenuntius Spawn after smoking some fat blunts in our tour van."

Watch the video to previous single 'Eternal Wasteland of Galaxies' here: https://youtu.be/yypdPjtc4To

An unending sea of carnage, a God-turned-beast devouring everything within its path, an epic, sprawling tale of the consumption of galaxies and their inhabitants - and the duality of battling deities that takes place to bring the reign of Praenuntius to an end. What does this all mean? Simply put, it means Vulvodynia - South Africa’s premium death metal export - are back with Praenuntius Infiniti, their fourth full-length release and a label signing to boot. Completing the tale established in their critically acclaimed 2015 EP Finis Omnium Ignorantiam, Praenuntius Infiniti is one hour of flesh-melting, bone-busting death metal, infused with slamming elements and spine-shrinking breakdowns that capture the very crux of heavy, intense music. Produced by Christian Donaldson (Cryptopsy), the band’s Unique Leader Records debut displays Vulvodynia’s continued maturation and incorporation of melodic, technical and hyper aggressive elements into their backbone of brutal slamming death metal, to achieve what stands as their most diverse, engaging and immolating offer to date.

On the concept, the band conclude: "Praenuntius Infiniti tells the story of an interdimensional godlike being and his quest for ultimate power. After being cast out into the abyss by the elder Gods, Praenuntius begins devouring all of the known Multiverse on his journey to divine omnipotence. At the end of our 2015 release Finis Omnium Ignorantiam the earth gets eaten and travels through centuries of darkness down his gullet into the eternal wasteland of galaxies. The heavens are slowly torn asunder as the Gods scramble for a plan to defeat him. Battles rage and drama unfolds as the earth and other planets within his belly try to fight off the ruthless invasion of his spawn. Shall the Gods prevail or shall Praenuntius devour all!?"

Vulvodynia are:
Duncan Bentley: Vocals
Luke Haarhoff: Guitar
Kris Xenopoulos: Guitar
Lwandile Prusent: Guitar
Chris Van Der Walt: Bass
Thomas Hughes: Drums

Vulvodynia online:
Website || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram || Spotify || Bandcamp || TikTok || YouTube

Track-listing:

01 - Praenuntius Infiniti
02 - The Shadowy Descent Of Gaia
03 - Eternal Wasteland Of Galaxies
04 - Praenuntius Ascends [Ft. Matti Way & Jon Huber]
05 - Banquet Of Enigmatic Horrors I: Terror
06 - Banquet Of Enigmatic Horrors II: Agony [Ft. Oliver Rae Aleron]
07 - Whispers Of Calamity
08 - The Seven Judges
09 - Ravenous Revolution
10 - A Cosmic Betrayal
11 - The War Within [Ft. Jamie Graham]
12 - Forging The Deity Crusher [Ft. Jawd James]
13 - Funeral Ov The Gods [Ft. Elliot Einstein]
14 - Deicidal Finality

New French extreme metal powerhouse Naraka have unveiled their new single / video 'Mother of Shadows', which features guest vocals and harp from former Cradle of Filth vocalist Lindsay Schoolcraft. This is the band's second single taken from their debut album In Tenebris, out 8th October via Blood Blast.

Watch the video to 'Mother of Shadows' here: https://youtu.be/rgO6bJUXf8U

The band commented on the single: "'Mother of Shadows' is our second single and first music video. Lindsay Schoolcraft (Antiqva, Cradle of Filth) appears as guest in the music video and performed the clean vocals and harp. We are really proud of this collaboration with Lindsay, the song had the atmospheres like some symphonic black metal bands with a powerful production with the mixing of Logan Mader."

Pre-order In Tenebris here:
https://backl.ink/146972942 (digital)
https://shop.season-of-mist.com/naraka-in-tenebris-cd (physical)

Watch the lyric video to previous single 'Cursed' here: https://youtu.be/EDNEcbHj3YA

Featuring well seasoned players from the French scene, including ex-Dagoba drummer Franky Costanza, Nakara mix modern, death, thrash and black metal with symphonic flourishes. Mixed by Logan Mader (ex-Machine Head), debut album In Tenebris features vocalist Veronica Bordachinni on the track 'Of Blood and Tears' and Lindsay Schoolcraft (Cradle of Filth, Antiqva) on 'Mother of Shadows'. Artwork was created by Seth Siro Anton from Septicflesh.

Naraka have been announced as support for Fleshgod Apocalypse in Europe.

Dates:

13 Oct - Rome, IT @ Largo Venue
14 Oct – Milan, IT @ Slaughter Club
15 Oct – Sion, CH @ Le Port Franc
16 Oct – Schaffhausen, CH @ Kulturzentrum Kammgarn
17 Oct – Leipzig, DE @ Hellraiser

Nakara are:
Théodore Rondeau- Vocals
Jean-Philippe Porteux Guitar
Pierre-André Krauzer - Bass
Franky Costanza - Drums

Nakara online:
www.narakaofficial.com
www.facebook.com/officialnaraka
www.instagram.com/naraka.official
www.twitter.com/naraka_official

Track-listing:
01-In Tenebris,
02-Cursed,
03-The Black
04- Of Blood And Tears
05-Dream And Wait
06- Antra Daemonium
07-Darkbringer
08-Mother Of Shadows
09-Sleeping In Silence
10- The Great Darkness
11- Compendium Maleficarum

The hauntingly brilliant folk-prog artist Dikajee has revealed her new single 'Lily Of The Valley', taken from her unique debut full-length album Forget~Me~Nots, released 13th August.

Featuring Amber Foil's João Filipe, you can watch the single-video here: https://youtu.be/jwRfdK_ATfs

Pre-order Forget~Me~Nots here: dikajee.com

The artist comments: "I wrote the first part of that song while just improvising with my piano, being home alone. I imagined a beautiful valley or a meadow and a lady laying on the grass surrounded by all that beauty I am describing in the first couplet. Birds passing by, clouds in the sky... and blooming Lily Of The Valley. So this is probably a bitter romantic song about overcoming feelings. I really felt like this song required a strong instrumental part and I asked my friend João if he wanted to join me there. He liked the song and in few months we were together in Sintra, Portugal, improvising together. and he worked on the middle part. We went to the mountains above the clouds (literally) for some moments of inspiration, so you can definitely say that this song was partly composed above the clouds."

Forget~Me~Nots is a stunning display from the originally Russian-based musician, which throughout places her incredible voice front and centre. It’s a fitting tribute to an artist who considers herself a globalist. In her words: “I am a citzen of the world. No age, no nationality, no gender, no religion. I know we can’t completely run away from reality, but as R.P. McMurphy said, “At least I tried”.”

Such an esoteric, worldly approach is truly typical of this brilliant artist, and an album recorded throughout Europe, and with a truly international cadre and calibre of musician. Recording and producing in Norway, Portugal, Germany, France, Latvia, Russia, Forget~Me~Nots features guest appearances from Faun’s Fiona Rüggeberg (bagpipes), Klone’s Guillaume Bernard (guitars), Erik Truffaz's Artis Orubs (drums) and Amber Foil’s João Filipe (guitars) among others.

The international, collaborative outlook pays dividends across a record that showcases the best of folk, minimalist electronic, neo-baroque, neo-classical and truly inventive progressive rock. Above all else shines through Dikajee’s voice, a once-in-a-generation talent that recalls the best of Bjork and Kate Bush. Musically, shades of Steven Wilson, Nightwish, and Gentle Giant shine through.

Across Forget~Me~Nots Dikajee’s gloriously imaginative ethos is heard again and again. Track Four, ‘River Rite’, is a self-described “pagan ritual” song, which plays on the dual parables of the energy of floral wreaths, and of the wiseman by the river. The closing track, ‘Something Mystique’ is an exploration of the state of loss, and involved the visiting of more than ten abandoned grand estates of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.

An artist who previously toured Germany and Switzerland, opened for Yann Tiersen, Recoil (Depeche Mode’s Alan Wilder), and Nils Petter Molvær; and placed in Prog Magazine’s Top Unsigned Bands, Dikajee will deservedly have a bright and illustrious future.

dikajee.com
https://www.instagram.com/dikajee
https://www.facebook.com/Dikajeepic

TRACKLISTING:
1: Forest
2: Lily Of The Valley (João Filipe (Amber Foil))
3: Millions Of Flashes
4: River Rite
5: Dead Garden (feat. Guillaume Bernard (Klone))
6: Misery
7: Scriptwriter
8: Glorious Beautiful Magical
9: Gloomy Flowers Blooming (feat. Fiona Rüggeberg (Faun, Tvinna))
10: Something Mystique (feat. Andreas Ulvo)

Photo Credit: Mischa Linares

A Pale Horse Named Death, the doom metal band led by founding Type O Negative and Life of Agony member Sal Abruscato, have released their new single 'Shards Of Glass'. It's the second new track taken from upcoming album Infernum In Terra, out 24th September 2021 via Long Branch Records / SPV.

Watch the visualiser for 'Shards Of Glass' here: https://youtu.be/QL1qOLz2uA0

Stream 'Shards Of Glass' and previous single 'Believe In Something (You Are Lost)', and pre-order the new album Infernum In Terra here: https://smarturl.it/infernuminterra

Sal Abruscato commented on the new single: "This song refers to the mental and emotional abuse that happens in a family setting. Tip toeing around a family member that causes only emotional damage to you and your family, whatever they touch they destroy, whatever they say about your character is a lie and no one trusts what you are saying is true. You get this feeling that the broken glass you walk on is what lies in their wake of destruction."

Infernum In Terra is the fourth studio album by the band and has been mastered by Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Meat Loaf, Yes, Sepultura, Halford) at Maor Appelbaum Mastering (California,USA) while the artwork was created by Kelvin Doran of Serpent Tusk Studios (Dublin, Ireland).

"The album to me represents a new beginning, turning a new leaf shall we say with the same vibe from past albums but with a fresh open minded approach," says band leader Sal Abruscato. He adds: "There is no real concrete specific concept, it touches on some personal topics in my life long, my interest in the dark arts, that to have light you must have darkness to balance everything. With daylight comes nightfall, with heaven there is hell and at this moment the world seems to be in a very dark place hence the title of the album ‘Infernum In Terra’. This is a very dark album, but what else is new I always write dark music to sooth a dark soul!"

Sal Abruscato was born in Brooklyn, NY and started playing drums at age 10. He is the co-founder of Type O Negative with Peter Steele and performed on Slow, Deep & Hard, Origin Of The Feces, Bloody Kisses and various best of and soundtracks. Sal was the drummer for Life Of Agony and performed on River Runs Red, Ugly, River Runs Again, Broken Valley and A Place Where There's No More Pain. Additional projects include Supermassiv & My Mortality. He is now the singer, songwriter and guitarist for A Pale Horse Named Death.

A Pale Horse Named Death are:

Sal Abruscato - Vocals Guitar
Eddie Heedles - Guitar
Joe Taylor - Guitar
Chris Hamilton - Drums
Oddie McLaughlin - Bass

A Pale Horse Named Death online:
Website || Facebook || Twitter || Spotify || Youtube || Instagram

Track listing:
1. Infernum
2. Believe In Something (You Are Lost)
3. Cast Out From The Sky
4. Shards Of Glass
5. Lucifer's Sun
6. It Is Done
7. Two Headed Snake (Propofol Dreams)
8. Slave To The Master
9. Devil's Deed
10. Reflections Of The Dead
11. Souls In The Abyss

Kent pop-rockers Cult Revival have streamed their second ever single, 'You' out everywhere today (9th July 2021). A conceptual successor to their debut single, 'Me', 'You', in the band's words "focuses on those little moments of happiness, joy and hope that a person can bring."

Watch the video for 'You' here: https://youtu.be/ISVoPlUaaMU

Stream: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/cultrevival/you

Watch single one, 'Me', here: https://youtu.be/5nB7376mnq8

Brand new for 2021, forming in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, Cult Revival hail from Kent. They formed after the abandonment of their previous outfits, and have in various guises toured with The Blackout, Lower Than Atlantis, Dream State, Dance Gavin Dance, and Bowling For Soup, among others.

The band recorded twin singles 'Me' and 'You' with Grammy-nominated producer Romesh Dodangoda (Bring Me The Horizon, Funeral For A Friend, Holding Absence), managing to work around the current pandemic. The mirror singles look to dissect the highs and lows that we all as humans experience daily.

'You' focuses on moments of joy; 'Me' explores the darker sides in life - anxiety, low self-esteem and indecision. The dual release of these polar opposites embodies Cult Revival and the fine lines that they explore.

For more information:

www.facebook.com/cultrevivaluk
www.instagram.com/cultrevivaluk
www.twitter.com/cultrevivaluk
www.tiktok.com/@cultrevivaluk

Photo Credit: Sandra Krafft

German metalcore quintet Rising Insane have announced their new album Afterglow, due for release on 10th December 2021 via Long Branch Records. The band have also shared a video for the album's title track, following their recent single 'Meant To Live'.

Check out the video for 'Afterglow' here: https://youtu.be/s1m-3AwpHco

The band comment:

"'Afterglow' is the lyrical centerpiece of the album of the same name. It goes straight to the pain stimulus of post-traumatic stress without detours and expresses the pain and suffering, but also the despair of having to carry the past on your shoulders for a lifetime."

Pre-order Afterglow and stream the title track here: https://smarturl.it/ri_afterglow

Rising Insane quickly gained attention in the German metal scene after self-releasing their debut album Nation in 2017, supporting the likes of Stray From The Path and For Today, as well as touring alongside Annisokay in 2018. Their rise continued in 2019, where they performed at Impericon Festival and signed to Long Branch Records. Later that year, the five-piece released their album Porcelain, with rave reviews across the globe which accelerated the band into international focus. They followed with a well-received cover of The Weeknd's 'Blinding Lights', which spread their name even further. Rising Insane's debut headline run in 2020 was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however they used the time to record their Recovered EP, which featured additional cover songs.

Now, Rising Insane are back with new music and ready to elevate to a higher plane. Whilst staying true to their post-hardcore and metalcore roots, they have grown both as a band and individual musicians, evident on their new single which offers a more mature sound.

Rising Insane are:

Aaron Steineker - Vocals
Ulf Hedenkamp - Bass
Sven Polizuk - Guitar
Florian Köchy - Guitar
Robert Kühling - Drums

Afterglow tracklist:

1. Afterglow
2. Meant To Live
3. War
4. Flightless Bird
5. Serenade
6. Oxygen
7. Breakout
8. The Surface
9. Something Inside Of Me
10. Broken Homes
11. Bend And Break
12. Imprisoned

Photo Credit: Juha Vihavainen

Finnish metalcore quintet Balance Breach show their darker and more aggressive side on their brand new single 'Escapers Of Paradise', out today (9th July 2021) via Out Of Line Music. The single, which is the first taste of the band's upcoming sophomore album, marks their first new material since their highly-praised debut album Dead End Diaries (2020).

Watch the video for 'Escapers Of Paradise' here: https://youtu.be/_S9H5spHeOo

Stream/purchase 'Escapers Of Paradise' here: https://balancebreach.lnk.to/EscapersofParadise

'Escapers Of Paradise' has huge hit potential, with its memorable riffs and melodies, alongside a chilling singalong chorus. Balance Breach teamed up with Grammy-nominated producer team Carson Slovak and Grant McFarland for the single's mixing and mastering.

Drummer Antti Halonen comments on the new single:

"With 'Escapers of Paradise', we’re moving to the darkest and most serious place that Balance Breach has ever been in. The song itself is like an emotional discharge showing all the colors of frustration, anxiety, and misery of letting go."

Stayed tuned for more details on Balance Breach's upcoming album.

Balance Breach are:

Terho Korhonen - Guitar
Saku Heimonen - Guitar
Antti Halonen - Drums
Joni Härkönen - Bass
Aleksi Paasonen - Vocals

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/balancebreach
https://www.instagram.com/balancebreach

https://www.outofline.de
https://www.facebook.com/outoflinelabel
https://twitter.com/outofline
https://www.instagram.com/outoflinemusic1995
https://www.youtube.com/user/outofline1995

Photo Credit: Lane Dorsey

Juno Award-winning, powerhouse rock duo Crown Lands – Cody Bowles (vocals and drums) and Kevin Comeau (guitar, bass, and keys) – have released two new tracks, 'White Buffalo' and 'The Oracle' via Spinefarm Records/Universal Music Canada. Both songs were recorded with three-time Grammy Award-winning Toronto producer David Bottrill (Tool, Mastodon, Rush, Peter Gabriel).

'White Buffalo' is released today with an accompanying official music video, directed by Alim Sabir. The spirited visual sees Crown Lands immersed in the elements, performing in a new age forest with dancers that fortify the theme of movement.

Check out the video for 'White Buffalo' here: https://crownlands.lnk.tt/WBvideo

Listen to 'White Buffalo' and 'The Oracle' here: https://crownlands.lnk.tt/WBTO

'White Buffalo' arrives as a symbol of aspiration, in recognition of the resilience and strength of Indigenous communities to overcome injustice, while manifesting a prosperous future. The big guitars, stomping baseline and pummelling drums barrel forward as if to conjure the movement of a giant buffalo.

“'White Buffalo' is the third instalment in our trilogy of songs about Indigenous rights,” say Crown Lands. “'Mountain' is what happened. 'End of the Road' is what is happening. 'White Buffalo' is manifesting what will happen: overcoming oppression and rising up to reclaim one’s land. The 'White Buffalo' is a symbol of manifestation. When Colonizers came to North America they tried to wipe out the Buffalo to starve Indigenous people to death. The buffalo are still here. We are too, and together we’ll overcome. Also, never has 7/8 ever been more danceable.”

Over the course of a thirteen-minute, multi-part composition, 'The Oracle' continues another story that Crown Lands is creating, revealing the origins of the Queen character featured in the 'Context: Fearless Pt. 1' music video. “We wanted to take the listener somewhere and evoke a sense of adventure,” says Bowles. "Taking solace from the realities Crown Lands confront in a fictional world they continue to create."

Crown Lands were introduced to Grammy Award-winning producer David Bottrill after he produced the vocals for the band’s last two singles, 'Context: Fearless Pt. 1' and 'Right Way Back'. Comeau recalls, “The riff for ‘White Buffalo’ came to me during the 'Context / Right Way Back' session with Nick Raskulinecz back in February 2020. It felt addicting and special then. It was originally written in 13/8 and the chorus was in 7. It kept popping its head up in jam sessions, but we weren’t sure how to make the chorus work. Enter David Bottrill.” On working with the esteemed producer, Comeau continues, "Dave is one of the most meticulous and detail-oriented people we’ve worked with. His precision helped make these songs exactly what they needed to be.”

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/crownlandsmusic/
https://twitter.com/crownlandsmusic/
https://www.instagram.com/crownlandsmusic/
https://www.tiktok.com/@crownlandsmusic/

About Crown Lands:

Hailing from Southwestern Ontario, powerhouse Canadian rock duo Crown Lands are a startling fresh jolt of energy, making music that brings together a range of influences from folk and blues to psychedelic prog rock. The group’s name is indicative of their musical ambitions: 'Crown Land' is territorial area belonging to the monarch - or, as Bowles (whose own heritage is half Mi’kmaw, an Indigenous tribe from Nova Scotia) puts it: “Crown Land is stolen land and we are reclaiming it.”

Crown Lands’ self-titled debut album, produced by Grammy-nominated Dave Cobb, was released in the summer of 2020, to widespread acclaim from the likes of Guitar World, Kerrang!, and American Songwriter, alongside coverage from the BBC and the CBC. Crown Lands then stormed into 2021 with two songs, 'Context: Fearless Pt. 1' and 'Right Way Back', that saw them return to their prog-rock roots and pointed the way to a limitless future, while also connecting the group to their legendary countrymen Rush after working with three prolific Rush producers – Terry Brown, Nick Raskulinecz and David Bottrill – on the tracks. 'Context: Fearless Pt. 1' and 'Right Way Back' premiered with Rolling Stone and were named 'Rockest Record' on BBC Radio 1. More recently, Crown Lands received their first Juno Awards nominations, for Rock Album of the Year and taking home the award for Breakthrough Group of the Year. The band also signed a deal with Spinefarm Records, which will be working with Universal Music Canada to support their upcoming releases in the US and UK.

US death metal kingpins Waking The Cadaver return with new single / lyric video 'Threaten Physical Force' and announce the release of forthcoming album, Authority Through Intimidation, out 22nd October 2021 via Unique Leader.

Watch the video to 'Threaten Physical Force' here: https://youtu.be/1vXmwcihzpc

Pre-order/save Authority Through Intimidation here: Orcd.co/authoritythroughintimidation

Waking the Cadaver are an American death metal band from Jersey Shore, New Jersey, formed in 2006. The quartet grew to become one of the most exciting bands in the US underground, touring with the likes of Napalm Death and Immolation, and releasing three albums within a six-year span; Perverse Recollections of a Necromangler (2007), Beyond Cops, Beyond God (2010) and Real-Life Death (2013). Their live shows became somewhat legendary for their brutality and power.

Following a huge tour in 2013 with Dying Fetus, Exhumed, and Abiotic, Waking the Cadaverwent on hiatus, but returned in 2018 with fresh sound and new line-up, with only vocalist Don Campan and guitarist Michael Mayo remaining. Now signed to Unique Leader Records and armed with their phenomenal new album Authority Through Intimidation, Waking the Cadaver are ready to reclaim their crowns as the jingpins of death.

Guitarist Mike Mayo commented on the new album: "I believe Authority Through Intimidation is the definitive Waking the Cadaver album. Our mission statement for writing it was SLAMMING GORE GROOVE. That’s been our slogan since the beginning and I think this collection of songs exemplifies its meaning more than any of our previous albums. We really wanted level up the technicality and song writing of Real-Life Death, while also having more nods to our first album Perverse Recollections of a Necromangler. I think we succeeded in doing just that. Listeners will be able to hear our love for bands like Dying Fetus, Last Days of Humanity, and Disgorge, as well as our love for early Hatebreed and All Out War.”

Produced by AJ Viana (Cognitive, Through the Eyes of the Dead), Authority Through Intimidation hits harder than a hammer to the head and takes no prisoners with its polished but powerful live production.

Vocalist Don Campan commented: "I am extremely proud of Authority Through Intimidation for the intensely disgusting brutal vibe it has casted out into the Universe and beyond. Slamming gore groove has been summoned by its worldwide fans and they will not be let down. This album has all of our infamous alien guttural overlord vocal styles and raw signature slam dunks, with wicked fresh ferocious shredding attacks delivered from a musical-masterminded line up. The Kingpins of Death are stoked and proud to have the one and only next level blasting machine Lord Marco on drums giving this new material a cutting edge injection."

Waking The Cadaver online:
Bandcamp || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram

Unique Leader Records online:
Website || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram || YouTube

Track listing:

1. Civic Assault
2. Corpse Decomposition
3. Human Chop Shop
4. Frenzied Vehicular Rampage
5. Arbiter of Punishment
6. Threaten Physical Force
7. Asphyxiating Ligature
8. Authoritative Aggressor