Photo Credit: Bylgja Guðjónsdóttir Thorlacius

Nordic folk band Vévaki have released their new single and stunning music video 'Heimdalagaldr', taken from the group's new album Fórnspeki, which will be released 28th October via Season of Mist.

Created by Dániel Puskás (Valhallartworks), watch the video on the official Season of Mist Youtube Channel here: https://youtu.be/NFA1-9d7RhE

Vévaki comment on the single: "'Heimdalagaldr' is our nod to the lost Eddic poem of the same name, of which we only have two surviving lines.. "Níu em ek mæðra mavgr, níu em ek systra sonur. I am born of nine mothers, I am the son of nine sisters.”"

Pre-orders for Fórnspeki are now available here: https://redirect.season-of-mist.com/vevaki-fornspeki

The album can be pre-saved here: https://orcd.co/vevaki-fornspeki

Originally a solo project by singer and multi-instrumentalist Will Hunter, Vévaki are a folk band which draw from Nordic heathenism and animistic traditions. Myth, ritual and a connection with the natural world inform Vévaki’s music, which is both contemporary in sound and wide-ranging in instrumentation.

Vévaki released their debut album Edda in 2020 - although still a solo project by that point, Edda included contributions from Sigurboði Grétarsson and Florian Baudrain. Taking a collection of Old Norse poetry – the Poetic Edda – as its source material, Edda breathes new life into these stories through its musical journey, at once beautiful and hypnotically heady.

Vévaki’s second album, Fórnspeki, finds the group expanding upon their sound while also staying true to their folk roots and traditions. Sigurboði Grétarsson has now joined Vévaki as a full-time member, alongside Gísli Gunnarsson and Hrafnhildur Inga Guðjónsdóttir. The new material is, says Will Hunter, broader and more mature in sound.

“Vévaki is very much based in our modern heathen tradition,” Will notes. “Sigurboði and I had been playing music for a while and we have used music as part of our personal spiritual practise. We had worked on some songs together but they were very much personal. Then we had a jam session in this cave in Iceland and afterwards we tried to record a song. I asked if Sigurboði would feature on it and he said yes, thankfully. Then I went home and used my home recording equipment to do a song which we sent to Danheim (Danish folk musician) and he put me on his online record label. And that’s how Vévaki started. We did a full album from there. Sigurboði featured heavily on it, even though he wasn’t in the band in any official capacity. But he did lots of drums and vocals and stuff like that.”

Vévaki employ various stringed instruments and percussion throughout their music, its dynamics buoyed by the complementary vocal styles of Will, Sigurboði and Hrafnhildur and the cinematic soundscapes sculpted by Gísli Gunnarsson. This comes to the fore on Fórnspeki.

“We decided to go a bit bigger,” says Will. “We started working on the second album and we brought in Gísli, and the sound has changed quite a bit, I think. It’s much more mature now. In my opinion, Gísli is the glue that holds us together. He comes from a modern classical background. And Hrafnhildur was an obvious choice, to add an important female dynamic. Her voice has a healing quality to it, I think, and that’s a big thing with the new album.”

Ritual and spiritual practises provide a structure to Fórnspeki. “Our practice is very animistic,” says Will. “But you don’t have to be a super spiritual person to feel some sort of connection to nature. And we just hope that whoever is listening finds that our music brings some sort of connection for them."

Sigurboði adds, "Fórnspeki was composed around this concept of the ritual and of the performance. There will be a performance and ritual on stage, because that’s how the songs are imagined. And some of the songs came from rituals that we’ve done or have spawned from the rituals. For example, the song ‘Dísablót’ is based around a ritual that we would do. It’s got lots of chants in there that we would do and we hope that other people might be inspired. On this new album we have a lot of original lyrics. But it’s both based in the myth and the practice. It’s not all about the gods but also about the worship and the ritual.”

Vévaki is a fluid and resourceful project, employing traditional and contemporary instrumentation of various origins.

“We’re not going for historical accuracy,” points out Sigurboði. “We’re not married to the idea that it has to be a Nordic instrument. We’re not Vikings. We’re not the Shamans, or the Priests. We are the practitioners, the regular folk making the offerings.”

Adds Will, “We are trying to step away from that whole Viking thing. There are modern songs for modern beliefs. We put a lot of emphasis on that.”

Vévaki are:

Will Hunter: Vocals, lyre, taglharpa, drums, pontian lyra
Sigurboði Grétarsson: Vocals, lyre, taglharpa, drums
Hrafnhildur Inga Guðjónsdóttir: Vocals
Gísli Gunnarsson: Production, arranging, sound design

For more information:

www.instagram.com/vevaki
www.facebook.com/Vevakimusic
www.vevaki.bandcamp.com
www.youtube.com/c/Vevaki
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FPVyMPgKKiNzvMwTEDfKh?si=x4wtYo2GRkuQWJLsiFjiXw

The cover art was created by Živa Ivadóttir.

Tracklisting:

1. Brynhildarljóð
2. Heimdalagaldr
3. Hreingálknir
4. Jötnablót
5. Griðastaðr
6. Dísablót
7. Gestaþáttr
8. Vitrun
9. Varðloka

Credit: Harry Steel

Rising metal group HERIOT have been confirmed to support Zeal & Ardor on their upcoming UK tour. The announcement follows a highly successful year for the band, who have released their critically acclaimed debut EP, Profound Morality, and played to packed tents at Download Festival, 2000trees, Bloodstock, ArcTanGent and more. 

Dates:

06.11.22 - Colchester, Arts Centre 
07.11.22 - Brighton, Concorde 2 
08.11.22 - Bristol, Trinity Centre 
09.11.22 - Manchester, Academy 2 
11.11.22 - Glasgow, Òran Mór
12.11.22 - Wolverhampton, KK's Steel Mill 
13.11.22 - London, Electric Brixton 

Tickets are on sale here: https://bit.ly/3U9s1pb

Profound Morality is out now via Church Road Records, available here: https://bfan.link/profound-morality

HERIOT are a blistering, vicious, visceral new group, having made their mark with their titanic singles 'Dispirit', 'Recreant', 'Cleansed Existence', ‘Near Vision/Enter the Flesh’, as well as their monstrous cover of Machine Head's 'Ten Ton Hammer' over the course of 2021.

The band’s output across the last year has led to heads being turned across the metal world, all blown away by HERIOT’s unrelenting take on the new heavy. Fully-focused and with a razor-sharp edge, the awe-inspiring double-vocal attack of Jake Packer and Debbie Gough on vocals is all-conquering; the titanic support of Erhan Alman (guitar) and Julian Gage (drums) rock-solid. 

Profound Morality reflects different aspects of human behaviour in our modern society. How far people push their moral boundaries to achieve what they want; outdated modes of living and beliefs that harm our contemporary life; life and death and how fulfilment can be achieved, be that helping or hurting peers; and how this shapes tyrants of industry, and a clear separation of class and wealth. 
 
HERIOT have deservedly been grabbing attention with all four pairs of hands, weaponising metallic sludge and hardcore, unholy levels of distortion, speed and gut-punching talent. Elements of Nails, Knocked Loose, Code Orange, and Vein combine and collide to exhilarating new effect, to create a new sound that is truly groundbreaking, fully worthy of the notice the band are achieving.

In their short recent history HERIOT have caught the attention of Metal Hammer, Rock Sound, Brooklyn Vegan, Kerrang!, Revolver, and Knotfest, among many others. Acclaimed as "one of the most promising young bands in modern metalcore", HERIOT have supported Rolo Tomassi and Svalbard on their respective UK tours, and performed at Download, 2000trees, Bloodstock, ArcTanGent and more in 2022.

HERIOT are:

Jake Packer - Vocals/Bass
Debbie Gough - Vocals/Guitar
Erhan Alman - Guitar
Julian Gage - Drums

For more information:

https://heriotmetal.bandcamp.com/music
https://www.facebook.com/heriotmetal
https://www.instagram.com/heriotmetal
https://twitter.com/heriotmetal

New progressive thrash/hardcore group Skin Failure are overjoyed to announce their out-of-this-world debut album Radillac, to be released 11th November via Small Pond.

The quintet, made up of members of Black Peaks, Memory of Elephants, and Kainoah, have also streamed their new single 'Meat Pond', featuring guest vocals from Charlie Davis of Wasted Death and Beggar.

Watch the visualiser to 'Meat Pond' here: https://youtu.be/ZRyutsFwUuI

Pre-order / stream Radillac here: https://listen.smallpondrec.com/meat-river

Skin Failure comment on 'Meat Pond': "One of our favourites, this track came together super-fast when we were writing and then in the studio and it was a total joy to have Charlie (Davis) (Wasted Death / Beggar) come and guest with us. He really added some gnarly f**king character to the choruses and then the part in seven just sounds beastly with both Will and Charlie's voices."

A concept album, Radillac tells the story of an interdimensional 'Jesus', flung into amphetamine-powered wormhole and travelling through time and space. 'Meat Pond', track three from the record, has our 'Jesus' finding himself in 1980s London, meeting a godlike Jeff Bridges and training in a Matrix-style montage.

This is not your everyday album, then. A full-throttle, high-psychedelia record, Radillac is the sound of a band having as much fun as is inhumanly possible. Elements as disparate as Every Time I Die, Mastodon, and Slayer clash and combine to thrilling effect, with a bonus guest feature from UK comedy legend Ed Gamble on track four's 'Remy LeBeau's Big Pile of Bones'.

Forming in 2021 after a few years of riff-gathering, Skin Failure's thrilling debut is testament to the limitless talent of the group: Will Gardner (vocals), Paul Stallan (guitar), Toby Stewart (guitar), Dave Larkin (bass), and Sam Simpson (drums). Skin Failure will make their live debut at ArcTanGent 2022.

For more information:

www.instagram.com/skinfailureuk
www.facebook.com/skinfailureuk
www.twitter.com/skinfailureuk

Tracklisting:

1: Intro l In time and Space
2: Sleeveless Jesus l The Void
3: Meat Pond l Down by the River
4: Skit l Remy LeBeau's Big Pile of Bones
5: Full Throttle Nothing pt2 l The Montage
6: The Beast Awaketh l A Hole in the Sky
7: Southern Fried Homicide l The Radillac Battle Sequence
8: Give'r By the River l As Bridges Fell (Metal Alarm Call)
9: Radical One l Amphetamine Dreamland

New York-based pop-punk trio Young Culture have announced their new album You Had To Be There, due for release on 11th November via Rude Records (UK/EU) / Equal Vision Records (ROW). 

The band have also released a video for their new single 'Kinda Over It', a song about the shadiness, back-and-forth and unnecessary headaches of a relationship that’s not quite a relationship.

Check out the video for 'Kinda Over It' here: https://youtu.be/ZP5eUxvhXBM

Stream 'Kinda Over It' here: https://youngculture.lnk.to/kindaoverit

Young Culture comment:

“Young Culture have always been about making the most of your life, taking advantage of those good times, so come and do that with us. You’ll find us connecting with our pop-punk roots but with a new, refreshing aim. Short, sweet and to the point as we like to do it, but packed full of memorable moments. If you’re missing out on the YC bandwagon, sorry, I can’t explain this one to you, I guess You Had To Be There.”

Recorded in Toronto with Anton DeLost (State Champs, Silverstein, Mayday Parade), it feels like the trio - vocalist Alex Magnan and guitarists Gabe Pietrafesa and Troy Burchett - are coming down from the lovestruck high of a year ago, marked by the band’s Godspeed EP. Although similarly dramatic with catchy surges of unabashed emotion, You Had To Be There features a melancholic rush of high-octane energy with shadows that lurk within the foundations.

You Had To Be There builds on the foundations Young Culture have laid down since their formation in 2016. It’s an album that defies the classic - and often true - notion of the difficult second record. This was anything but. What’s more, you can hear just how much freedom, joy, exuberance and fun was involved in the process of putting it all together. Due to the pandemic, Young Culture didn’t have a fair go at releasing and touring their first album, but You Had To Be There acts as another shot. It very much feels like a true stamp of Young Culture, both in terms of where they’re at now and what they want for the future.

This is a record about making the most of now, of living in the present and having as much fun as possible, whatever you or the world are going through. From the smooth and polished pop of opener 'Not In Love' and the hybrid pop-punk of 'Kinda Over It' - both songs about finding solace in the company of someone else, if only for one night - to the joyous, emphatic and triumphant strains of 'We’re On Fire' and the forlorn but still defiant nature of 'Know Better'. 

Musically, it’s also an unashamed nod to all the genres and bands that the trio love. On 'Tattoo', for example, the band reference listening to Backstreet Boys, the same way they mentioned listening to Britney Spears on 'Hum'. There are no concerns whatsoever that it might not be cool within the pop-punk scene, and nor should there be. In fact, it’s precisely that unbridled passion and unfiltered enthusiasm that makes You Had To Be There stand out.

It’s done in such a way, however, that Young Culture are also looking forward to what’s next - both in the near future and the grand scheme of things - and are doing so with extra confidence. That’s something wholeheartedly reflected throughout the entire album, musically and lyrically, from the very first note to the very last. 

“I really think this is something that you don’t want to miss out on,” Magnan says. “I feel like it’s the sound of us coming into our own and making a record that is the most Young Culture thing ever. We were the most excited we’ve ever been to make the music on this album.”

Young Culture have also announced a co-headline tour with Super American, as well as dates supporting State Champs during October and November. Head to the band's website for full dates and tickets: https://www.youngcultureshop.com/tour

For more information:
http://youngcultureny.com/
https://www.facebook.com/youngcultureband/
https://twitter.com/YoungCultureNY/
https://www.instagram.com/youngcultureny/

You Had To Be There tracklisting:

1. Not In Love
2. Kinda Over It
3. Tattoo
4. Different Now
5. We’re On Fire
6. Silver Lining (Put It On Me)
7. Whiskey
8. Good Karma
9. Know Better
10. Serendipity

Photo Credit: Andrew Basso

Melbourne's alt-metal outfit Circles deliver the pinnacle of Australian progressive metal with their new single ‘Dig’. Streaming now via Wild Thing Records, the new single comes ahead of their long-awaited EP The Stories We Are Afraid Of | Vol. 1 which is set for release on 25th November.

Watch the video for 'Dig' here: https://youtu.be/pesttHihKL0
Stream/buy 'Dig' here: https://ffm.to/circlesdig
Pre-order The Stories We Are Afraid Of | Vol. 1: https://ffm.to/circlesthestoriesweareafraidofvol1

The Stories We Are Afraid Of | Vol. 1 is the first instalment of an epic two-part EP, following Circles' sophomore record, The Last One, which garnered international recognition and domestic success in Australia (#4 TheMusic’s Album of the Year 2018, #3 AIR Independent Albums). The progressive giants continue to lead the path of the international djent movement with their upcoming release, furthering the incorporation of shimmering, wavering pads, belting breakdowns and propelling percussion.

The next instalment of The Stories We Are Afraid Of continues on where previous single ‘Sleepwalking’ left off, portraying the process of piecing together existentialism and identity to rekindle a strong connection with oneself, which had previously dwindled to a flicker. ‘Sleepwalking’ encompasses the realisation of the cathartic state and ‘Dig’ marks the first steps towards change, leaving four more tracks to shape the meaning of the EP.

Frontman Ben Rechter states:

"The overarching theme of Vol.1 is one of a loss of identity and purpose, and trying to recapture a sense of wonder and passion for life that was once a core part of you. Musically, we went into these writing sessions with a focus on being more direct than on previous albums, steering away from crowding songs with heaps of different riffs for the sake of having more riffs that we personally like in there."

Shining through the sandstorm of modern metal, 'Dig' delivers dreamy delayed guitars, dynamic ancillary percussion and a massive metal spine built on the imperishableness of Rechter’s lead vocals. The culmination of powerful breakdowns, serrated guitar riffs and surreal pads leaves you choking on every breath before the final breakdown–the apex of 'Dig'.

'Sleepwalking' narrated the feelings of regret and hopelessness in time wasted, unable to action the changes to move out of the negative feedback loop towards what you’re searching for. 'Dig' marks the first steps taken to enforce this change in your life. Instead of living in the hole of complacency and familiar surroundings, 'Dig' is about battling the mind to muster up the strength and rise through the grit of one's metaphorical grave, even if this is only finding motivation to leave the house.

Rechter speaks on the theme behind 'Dig':

"This is all about those first steps out of that dark hole. Your mind fights against you, and everything feels like it’s not going to work, but it’s not necessarily about success, at least not in the beginning. It’s about starting to change what you need to change, even if on the first day, all you can do is make sure you step outside and see the sun."

'Dig' was mastered by Luke Cinacotta (Karnivool) and mixed and produced by Circles' own Ted Furuhashi, showcasing his prior experience on Twelve Foot Ninja’s debut album, Silent Machine.

Concluding their successful Australian ‘Sleepwalking’ Tour (Destroy All Lines and Wild Thing Presents) in early September, Circles have already reignited their loyal Australian fanbase and left their international community cut and craving. Prior touring history across Australia and Europe with TesseracT, Periphery, Opeth, Fear Factory, The Dillinger Escape Plan and Twelve Foot Ninja cement the veteran's place as one of Australia’s quintessential prog/alt-metal mainstays.

Pre-order The Stories We Are Afraid Of | Vol. 1 now via Wild Thing Music Store, which has now launched European and North American webstores (in addition to the original Australia-based webstore), providing customers in those regions with a more convenient and streamlined experience.

For more information:
Website || Facebook || Twitter || Instagram

Tracklisting:
1. Wonder
2. Bliss
3. Sleepwalking
4. Echo
5. Dig
6. Reckoning

Photo Credit: Corinne Coch and Maria Yureva

Dark Folk / Chamber Prog duo Maer – featuring Marjana Semkina (Iamthemorning) and Anna Murphy (Cellar Darling, ex-Eluveitie) – launches with the announcement of debut single ‘Sister’, to be released on 17th October.

Watch the teaser here: https://youtu.be/aZZZnWs6ll4

Debut single ‘Sister’ serves as the perfect introduction to this exciting new project, showcasing the duo’s songwriting talent, unique composition style and beautiful melodies drenched in dark atmosphere. Featuring Ne Obliviscaris guitarist Benjamin Baret and Agent Fresco drummer Keli Guðjónsson, ‘Sister’ will be released on all digital platforms as well as a limited run of 300 signed and hand-numbered 7” vinyl.

Pre-order the vinyl and merch bundles here: https://maer.bandcamp.com

Marjana and Anna met and instantly connected when taking part in Prog Magazine's female-focused discussion panel She Rocks in 2019, and in 2021 began work on what would become Maer. Having both forged highly successful and award-winning careers (Marjana – Prog Magazine Best Album; Anna - Prog Magazine Best Video & Swiss Music Awards Best Live Act), the pair were hungry to experiment in new musical territory, resulting in this fascinating new project.

Marjana comments on Maer: "Maer came together very organically, it's a product of friendship and respect for each other's work. Anna is a wonderful musician and a producer and she breathes life into everything I write, turning it into something special. We have written a substantial amount of material together already and depending on the reception 'Sister' gets we're hoping to keep creating little dark fairytales for our listeners, eventually resulting in an album."

Anna continues: "We both didn’t really know what to expect when we started working together. Marjana took a leap and flew to Switzerland. We hiked, we sang, we drank wine and ended up even being able to write lyrics together which is something I’ve never done with someone. After almost 15 years of mainly being in rock and metal projects, it feels good to release something acoustic and mellow - not meaning that it’s less dark."

'Sister' was written and co-produced by Marjana Semkina, and co-written, produced, mixed and mastered by Anna Murphy.

Maer are working on their debut album, more news soon.

Maer are:
Marjana Semkina - vocals, guitar
Anna Murphy - vocals, flute, hurdy-gurdy, synths, nyckelharpa

Maer online:
https://linktr.ee/soundsofmaer
https://www.instagram.com/soundsofmaer
https://www.facebook.com/soundsofmaer

Photo Credit: Blair Todd

Armor for Sleep have released a video for their new single 'New Rainbows', to celebrate the release of their brand new album The Rain Museum, out now via Rude Records (UK/EU) / Equal Vision Records (ROW).

Check out the video for 'New Rainbows' here: https://youtu.be/GSo-ybOOhMc

Stream/purchase The Rain Museum here: https://afs.lnk.to/rainmuseum

The video for 'New Rainbows' completes a trio of breathtaking visuals directed by Jesse Korman (Hot Water Music, The Juliana Theory), following 'Whatever, Who Cares' and 'How Far Apart'. With an aesthetic that lies somewhere between Panic At The Disco’s 'I Write Sins Not Tragedies' and Radiohead’s 'Karma Police', the video masterfully captures the shoegaze-y melancholy of 'New Rainbows'. It’s a sad but beautiful culmination to the three-part series that once again proves Armor For Sleep’s commitment to delivering meaning with every piece of art released around an album.

Singer/songwriter Ben Jorgensen comments on The Rain Museum:

"It’s been a journey to get back to this point, but we couldn’t be more excited to share our new album with everyone. The reaction to the new songs so far has been amazing to see. We are very lucky to have the fans that we have in our corner. Thank you to everyone who has been following along with us!"

Fronted by singer/songwriter Ben Jorgensen, Armor For Sleep are considered one of the defining bands of the emo/post-hardcore genre. Their beloved concept album, What To Do When You Are Dead, has sold over 400,000 copies worldwide, and found them touring the world alongside acts such as Fall Out Boy, Linkin Park, and My Chemical Romance. Their just-released third full-length, The Rain Museum, finds the band back home on Equal Vision Records, where their career started.

It’s been 15 years since the last Armor For Sleep record, but the band have remained a staple of many of their fans’ daily listening routine. The Rain Museum is a 12-song collection that is beautiful and devastating in equal parts. It's an album that was initially intended to be a straight-up concept album based off of a short story penned by Jorgensen. The concept was built around a post-apocalyptic world, where weather no longer exists on planet earth and people visit a mysterious museum in the middle of the desert to look back on what life used to be like.

Originally planned as the follow up to What to Do When You Are Dead, the album had been shelved due to “bad advice” leading the band in another direction. Fast forward to the global pandemic of 2020 and the events of the real world encouraged Jorgensen to revisit the concept. Concurrently, his marriage of eight years began to fall apart, further infusing the science-fiction story with elements of his real life. The resulting record draws upon the best elements of Armor For Sleep’s catalogue, while incorporating elevated songwriting and composition.

Armor For Sleep are:
Ben Jorgensen - vocals / rhythm guitar
PJ DeCicco - lead guitar
Anthony Dilonno - bass
Nash Breen - drums

For more information:
https://www.armorforsleep.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ArmorForSleep
https://www.instagram.com/armorforsleep/
https://twitter.com/armorforsleepnj

The Rain Museum tracklisting:

1. The Rain Museum
2. How Far Apart
3. See You On The Other Side
4. World Burn Down
5. In This Nightmare Together
6. New Rainbows
7. I'm Not Myself
8. Whatever, Who Cares
9. Rather Drown
10. A Teardrop On The Surface Of The Sun
11. Tomorrow Faded Away
12. Spinning Through Time

Finnish hair metalcore eccentrics One Morning Left have released new single / video 'Tonight', the first new music from the band since the release of their 2021 album Hyperactive, out now via Arising Empire. The single comes ahead of One Morning Left's Neon Inferno Above Europe tour.

Watch 'Tonight' here: https://youtu.be/-0yzb1Jey2c

Purchase/stream 'Tonight' here: https://arisingempire.com/tonight

Vocalist / guitarist Leevi Luoto commented: "Are you ready to shake your booty!? Are you ready to mosh!? Are you ready to sing along!? After our triumphant tour with Electric Callboy and Blind Channel we are back with a banger new single! 'Tonight' is a perfect mixture of danceable groove, heavy riffs, 80's hard rock, 80's synth soundscape and extra catchy vocals!

"Be sure to catch us soon on our headline tour across Europe with Ukrainian CrossChains and Finnish Somehow Jo!"

Tickets available here: https://www.eventim.de/artist/one-morning-left/

One Morning Left released their new album Hyperactive in May 2021 via Arising Empire. Stream/purchase the record here: https://OneMorningLeft.lnk.to/hyperactive

One Morning Left’s fourth album marked their first new material in five years. On Hyperactive the group began a whole new chapter in their story, drawing inspiration from retro electronic and video game music, as well as 80s hard rock, while staying true to their heavier roots.

Changes happened not only in musical style, but also in their line-up. Returning from the cast of 2016’s Metalcore Superstars were frontman Mika Lahti, singer/guitarist Leevi Luoto and drummer Niko Hyttinen. Additional firepower was provided by new faces Tuukka Ojansivu on guitar and Miska Sipiläinen on bass guitar, as well as the return-to-form of keyboard player Touko Keippilä from the band’s original Panda <3 Penguin line-up.

The album shaped up as the artistic peak of One Morning Left's musical "blood mountain": epic lyrics carried by Luoto’s soaring vocal melodies, contrasted by the distinctive, gritty sound of Lahti, all accompanied by breathtaking keyboard leads, blisteringly fast guitars, masterful bass riffs and feverish drum parts.

With the release of Hyperactive, One Morning Left looked to add to their growing global fanbase. Having gathered extensive live performance experience playing countless shows in Finland, touring mainland Europe, Russia, and the Baltics, as well as Iceland and Japan, the group plan to take their entertaining and energetic live show on the road in the near future.

The band conclude: "Join us on our quest to make the world a bit more epic!"

Founded in 2008 in Vaasa, Finland, One Morning Left are well known for their unique blend of electro, hardcore and metalcore influences as well as their entertaining and energetic live shows where absolutely anything can happen.

One Morning Left have played shows with bands including Amaranthe, Machinae Supremacy, Adept, Protest The Hero, Fear Of Domination, Turmion Kätilöt and We Butter The Bread With Butter. The band have also graced the Finnish festival season, playing renowned festivals like Tuska Open Air and Rockfest.

One Morning Left's debut albumThe Bree-Teenz (2011) reached #30 on Finland's official album charts, and was followed by their sophomore album Our Sceneration at #45 in 2013.

One Morning Left are:
Mika Lahti | Lead Vocals
Leevi Luoto | Guitar & Lead Vocals
Tuukka Ojansivu | Guitar & Backing Vocals
Miska Sipiläinen | Bass & Backing Vocals
Touko Keippilä | Keyboards & Backing Vocals
Niko Hyttinen | Drums

For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/onemorningleft
https://www.instagram.com/onemorningleftofficial
https://twitter.com/onemorningleft
https://www.onemorningleft.com

Photo Credit: Axel Winkler/ Blackened Cult Photography

Modern progressive metallers Obsidious, featuring ex-members of Obscura, have released this monstrous drum playthrough from Sebastian Lanser for current single 'Devotion', ahead of their forthcoming full-length debut album. Iconic is set for release on the 28th October via Season of Mist.

Watch Sebastian's stunning drum play through here: https://youtu.be/1EfviqHP1Sg

Watch the full music video for 'Devotion' here: https://youtu.be/uO0h6D3-Z-U Pre-order Iconic here: https://orcd.co/obsidious-iconic

Drummer Sebastian Lanser: “This is my drum playthrough of ‘Devotion’ by Obsidious. Another song of which I am really proud of! Stylistically it combines so many elements and perfectly demonstrates the musical textures that represent Obsidious. Drumming-wise it´s one of the more difficult songs on the album cause it combines so many aspects of (metal) drumming. But that´s why I enjoy playing it so much! Hope y´all enjoy it as well.”

'Devotion' was the fifth single to be released from Iconic, following on from 'Under Black Skies', 'Sense Of Lust', 'Iconic' and 'Bound By Fire'.

Wonderfully intricate and musically-accomplished, Iconic is technical but not officious. The group—featuring Linus Klausenitzer (bass), Rafael Trujillo (guitars), Sebastian Lanser (drums), and Javi Perera (vocals)—come from distinguished and lettered origins in Obscura, Alkaloid, Eternity’s End, and Juggernaut. Obsidious, however, are a different creature entirely.

Obsidious crystallised after Klausenitzer, Trujillo, and Lanser departed amicably from fellow German tech-metallers Obscura in 2020. Named after black volcanic glass, the group’s moniker exudes something dark, of fiery origin, in a state of final transformation. Metaphorically, the name Obsidious offers a nearly limitless platform for expression and advancement. However, it was only when the trio brought on newcomer Perera—whose growls and full-toned voice are first-rate—were the multi-national outfit officially codified. Interestingly enough, the newly-joined frontman couldn’t even meet his bandmates while the band wrote, recorded, and filmed videos for Iconic due to the pandemic. Yet, the technologically-apt foursome made it work.

“We consider ourselves the modern evolution of progressive and technical metal,” bassist Linus Klausenitzer says. “To name a few bands: Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, Meshuggah, Opeth, Between the Buried and Me, Protest the Hero, Periphery, and Haken. As such, our music asks for many different moods and vibes. Javi’s vocals reinforce that idea, adding meaning and drama to it. While we still work as session musicians, Obsidious is now our main priority.”

Throughout Iconic, Obsidious impress with their artistic inventiveness and creative expanse. The album breathes intensity but expands upon it with mellifluent dexterity. With Obsidious, there’s always a hook. The early release of and positive feedback from previous video singles illustrates these qualities well. Iconic builds upon a prestigious foundation, but its vision isn’t restricted to its tenets.

“This album does not have a concept per se in terms of lyrics or an underlying storyline,” vocalist Javi Perera comments. “The songs on this album touch on subjects of diverse nature, and there are even some songs that narrate personal experiences. But what I can consider as a common denominator in the album is the absence of constraints on a compositional or stylistic level, allowing us the freedom to shift between different musical genres as long as the song requires it. I always consider that we, as artists and musicians, are at the service of the music and not the other way around.”

Obisidious are ready to deploy their unique brand of hooky neoteric metal on Iconic. From Trujillo’s wickedly clever riffs and Lanser’s artful drumming to Klausenitzer’s superb counterpoint and Perera’s soaring vocals/venomous spits, songs like 'Under Black Skies,' 'Iconic,' 'Bound by Fire,' and 'Nowhere' brim with cool calculation and aggressive spontaneity. They storm normality not only musically and lyrically. The monolithic cover piece by French graphic artist Adrien Bousson (Rotting Christ, Khonsu) also transcends convention. Obsidious are poised for a breakthrough on Iconic. Prepare for metal’s modern metamorphosis!

Obsidious are
Linus Klausenitzer - Bass
Rafael Trujillo - Guitar
Javi Perera - Vocals
Sebastian Lanser - Drums

Obsidious online

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Track-list:

1. Under Black Skies (6:00) [WATCH]
2. Sense Of Lust (4:18) [WATCH]
3. Iconic (6:40) [WATCH]
4. Bound By Fire (5:12) [WATCH]
5. Iron & Dust (6:01)
6. I Am (6:56)
7. Delusion (4:55)
8. Devotion (4:59) [WATCH]
9. Nowhere (4:18)
10. Lake Of Afterlife (3:57)
Total: 53:16