Photo Credit: Dazey Doom

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Experimental metal band Kaonashi stream new single / video on album release day
 

New single 'Slower Forms Of Suicide' streaming now via Equal Vision / Rude Records

I Want To Go Home album includes guest features from Anthony Green (Circa Survive, L.S. Dunes), Piantini Toribio (Newcomer) and more

UK/EU tour announced with God Complex in support including 2000trees performance

Credit: Dazey Doom | High-Res here

"Kaonashi keep things wonderfully bizarre on excellent third album" - 4/5 Kerrang!

Hotly-tipped experimental metal group Kaonashi have unveiled their new / video single 'Slower Forms Of Suicide' and have released new album I Want To Go Home via Equal Vision/Rude Records.

Watch the video for 'Slower Forms Of Suicide' here: https://youtu.be/DwX3Z28Zn9M

Stream / purchase I Want To Go Home. here: https://kaonashi.lnk.to/home

The blistering follow-up to Dear Lemon House, You Ruined Me: Senior Year - and the second part of a concept series that was taken through three additional companion EPs - I Want To Go Home. finds the experimental trio taking their metallic and melodic tendencies to deafening new heights that defy categorisation, ultimately bringing this powerful and suspenseful saga to a close.

Kaonashi will be hitting the road in support of I Want To Go Home. across the UK and Europe with God Complex opening, including a performance at 2000trees festival.

Dates:

03/07 Berlin, DE @ Cassiopeia
04/07 Velké Meziříčí, CZ @ Fajtfest
05/07 Stuttgart, DE @ Juha West
06/07 Ypres, BE @ Ieperfest
08/07 London, UK @ Shacklewell Arms
09/07 Newcastle, UK @ The Grove
10/07 Glasgow, UK @ The Hug & Pint
11/07 Cheltenham, UK @ 2000 Trees
12/07 Lincoln, UK @ Lincoln Labour Club
13/07 Exeter, UK @ Cavern Club
15/07 Paris, FR @ Glazart
16/07 Ghent, BE @ JH Asgaard
17/07 Tilburg, NL @ Little Devil
18/07 Arnhem, NL @ Uffie's
19/07 Bielefeld, DE @ Flacore Fest

Tickets: https://kaonashipa.com/pages/tour

Kaonashi’s music is difficult to define. It combines death metal growling, unexpected time changes and technical flourishes that bring to mind nineties metalcore legends like Coalesce and The Dillinger Escape Plan. However, there isn’t anything dated about the band’s sound — and in fact, there’s something inherently progressive about the Philadelphia trio’s unique brand of music. Although the act was started by vocalist Peter Rono and guitarist/vocalist Alex Hallquist in 2012, things really solidified for Kaonashi in 2016 when drummer Pao joined the band and they started touring all over the country, eventually gaining the interest of Equal Vision Records who released the band’s sophomore full-length Dear Lemon House, You Ruined Me: Senior Year in 2021. 

“[Conceptually], this album answers any questions anyone has ever had about the story,” Rono says, adding that the band’s 2024 EP collection - The 3 Faces Of Beauty: A Violent Misinterpretation Of Morgan Montgomery/A Second Chance At Forever: The Brilliant Lies From Casey Diamond - helps further expand on this compelling narrative. “It was written to be heavy, chaotic and overwhelming,” he summarises.

Since 2021, Kaonashi have toured relentlessly with everyone from The Fall Of Troy to Protest The Hero, a fact that has made the band sound tighter and more ferocious on I Want To Go Home.. “I think [touring] has influenced the record because we’ve been playing further out than we ever have to the most people we ever have and [getting] the craziest reactions we ever had this far from this band,” Rono explains. “I can’t help but take that into consideration when I’m writing because it's really inspired. Before I was just trying to prove to people that we were worth listening to and now we have a dedicated audience, so I want to provide the best music that I can.” 

That said, it hasn’t always been easy for Kaonashi to be a band that exists on the outskirts of so many genres — and at times they weren’t even sure if their message would find an audience. “I’ve been saying this a lot on this tour to summarise the band, but people hate what they don’t understand and I think that’s been extremely polarizing,” Rono explains. “It hasn’t been this simple, easy trajectory, it’s been love and hate. It’s been one or the other and I wouldn’t have it any other way. The people who do understand it genuinely support us and the people who don’t actively dislike us,” he adds with a laugh. “So I embrace it and I love it and I’m glad it’s been that way… it’s been equally easier and harder.” 

While it would be easier for Kaonashi to lean into an established subgenre, I Want To Go Home. sees them further pushing their musical boundaries and expanding their sound in the face of this admiration and criticism. So what keeps them inspired to continue working toward their unified sonic vision? “I don’t just go in and write a song, I go into it with aim and intention and try to emulate these things that I love,” Rono responds. “It just so happens that a lot of the things I love are polarizing artists that are creative and expressive for no other reason than just to make music that they like.” 

Whether it’s guttural screaming or fingerpicked guitars, there isn’t any musical idea that’s off limits to Kaonashi, and that phenomenon is ultimately baked into the DNA of the band. “It really just comes from chasing the same thing I’ve always loved and what got me here in the first place,” Rono continues. “That hasn’t changed and it’s been like a through line of this band from 2012 until now: Extreme art, extreme aggression and originality. I’ve seen the easy way — and that’s just not the way I want to go.” 

Kaonashi online:
Official | Instagram| Facebook | Spotify | Apple Music | Bandcamp | Shop

Track-list:
1. Confusion In A Car Crash
2. Fairmount Park After Dark
3. Extra Prayers
4. When I Say
5. J.A.M.I.E. (feat. Anthony Green)
6. Red Sink, Yellow Teeth
7. Slower Forms of Suicide
8. Fly On The Wall (An Orange Sidewalk Paved Around Your Feet)
9. Elephant In The Room (If You Can Keep A Secret)
10. The Sanguine I — Nevermind, Narcissist
11. The Sanguine II — Misguided Malice
12. The Sanguine III — Auditorium Annihilation
13. The Sanguine IV — Exit Pt. VII (The Confession of Classroom 2114)

Photo Credit: Curtis Perry

Internationally acclaimed Canadian cellist and composer Raphael Weinroth-Browne has announced his new solo album Lifeblood, set for release on 3rd October. Today, he unveils the album’s powerful title track, an electrifying artistic manifesto accompanied by a stunning cinematic video shot in a Polish monastery by the esteemed production house Grupa13 (Behemoth, Leprous).

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/3sfvAPxeEGw 

Stream 'Lifeblood' here 

A deeply personal body of work, Lifeblood captures the raw duality at the core of Weinroth-Browne’s expression: the transcendence of creative flow alongside the consuming intensity of ambition. Blending the weight of progressive metal with Middle Eastern modalities, modern classical precision and immersive electronic textures, Lifeblood marks his most audacious and fully realised solo work to date.

Raphael reflects on the album :"Lifeblood is a reflection on my journey as an artist and my relationship with music. Music has always been my life force; it has been there for me in all the seasons of my life and has given me everything I have, and in turn, I have devoted myself fully to it." 

Shot on location in the remote Polish countryside, the video for first single 'Lifeblood' brings the music’s mythic, spiritual undercurrents to life with ritualistic imagery and architectural decay. The result is an extension of the song’s emotionally charged tension, a sense of becoming a vessel for something otherworldly.

He adds, "I consider this album to be my most autobiographical work to date. As a metalhead turned full-time professional cellist making original music outside the classical realm, I have taken the road less travelled, nurturing my artistic vision and trusting my intuition even on an unorthodox path. I have forged a unique career and identity around my musical voice and the way it manifests itself through the cello. The defiant, audacious energy of this music represents my inexorable drive to continue pursuing my dream in spite of all obstacles." 

Lifeblood was engineered and co-mixed by Darren McGill at Union Sound Company in Toronto, with a final mix by acclaimed producer Adam Noble (Leprous, Katatonia). The album was then mastered by Robin Schmidt (Placebo, Ben Howard). Adding a visual dimension to the album’s immersive sound, the captivating cover artwork was created by Maldivian artist Maahy, celebrated for her ethereal, nature-inspired aesthetic.

Known for his emotionally charged performances and boundary pushing vision, Raphael Weinroth-Browne has become one of the most innovative cellists of his generation. Merging his roots in progressive metal with a passion for Middle Eastern music, he has forged a singular artistic voice that defies traditional expectations. His cello work can be heard on over 200 studio albums, including Woods of Ypres’ Juno Award-winning W5: Grey Skies & Electric Light and in major film and TV soundtracks. Viral cello covers of Opeth, Katatonia and Steven Wilson have earned praise from the artists themselves, while his genre-spanning studio and stage career continues to attract international attention.

Since joining Norwegian progressive rock icons Leprous in 2016, Weinroth-Browne has played over 200 shows worldwide with the band and helped shape the sound of three studio albums. He has shared stages with Evanescence, Apocalyptica, Devin Townsend and performed in front of 40,000 at Hellfest, as well as at prestigious venues such as London’s Royal Albert Hall. As a solo artist, he has opened for artists ranging from Polish neoclassical pianist Hania Rani to Nordic folk ensemble SKÁLD and UK legends Soft Machine.

In recent years, Weinroth-Browne has pushed further into experimental performance and contemporary dance. His solo debut Worlds Within (2020), a 40-minute composition built entirely from layered cello, earned critical acclaim for its emotional depth and innovative form. In 2023, he performed the album live with Ottawa Dance Directive to a sold-out audience at Canada’s National Arts Centre. In 2024, he was commissioned by the UK’s James Wilton Dance to compose BACH Reimagined, an 80-minute score that toured leading venues across the UK and Germany in spring 2025. Following this, his recent single 'Speed of Light' continued the forward momentum, merging baroque motifs with crushing distortion and polyrhythmic intensity, earning acclaim for its fearless fusion of past and future. As his creative output grows increasingly multidisciplinary, Weinroth-Browne continues to defy genre boundaries and redefine what the cello can be in the 21st century.

With more to come later this year, Lifeblood marks a major milestone in Weinroth-Browne’s uncompromising creative journey, an album that channels passion, pain, discipline and defiance into a work that feels at once ancient and immediate, cerebral and gut-wrenching.

Catch Raphael live on the following dates: 

Jun 18 - Calgary, Canada - Solo performance at Sled Island Festival (BLOX Arts Centre)
Jul 17 - Ottawa, Canada - Solo performance at Rainbow Bistro supporting PAKT
Jul 25 - Suffolk, UK - Performing with James Wilton Dance at Latitude Festival
Aug 28 - Ottawa, Canada - Solo performance at Speakeasy Tapas Lounge 

Raphael Weinroth-Browne online:

Official Website || Facebook | Instagram || Youtube ||  X || Bandcamp || Tik Tok 

Lifeblood Tracklist: 

1. Lifeblood
2. Possession
3. Ophidian
4. Pyre
5. Labyrinthine
6. Nethereal
7. Winterlight
8. The Glimmering

Photo Credit: Matthias Willi

Today, Swiss doom/sludge outfit Zatokrev announce their return with their immense and immersive new album. Bring Mirrors To The Surface will be released 29th August via Pelagic Records - a record that obliterates the past and conjures a previously unimagined future. In celebration, the quartet has revealed the first single from the album; 'Blood' featuring vocals of the Swiss band Inezona. This collaboration is not the only guest appearance on the new album, as vocal contributions from Schammasch, Zeal&Ardor, Minsk, and Bölzer elevate this release to masterpiece status.

Watch the visualiser for 'Blood' here: https://youtu.be/37I8OfRQYXY
Pre-order the album here: https://orcd.co/zatokrev
 
The band comment on the new album:  "Our new album, completed in 2022, reflects a time of profound change and resilience. It's a testament to how challenges were overcome and new beginnings were embraced, both personally and creatively. The fact that the new album is only released three years later is due in no small part to the overcoming of serious life challenges and profound changes. The new album is the follow-up to the previous album, Silk Spiders Underwater, where the story began. Now, Bring Mirrors To The Surface tells the story to its conclusion."

After all the detritus of pain, time, and letting go has been slogged through, 2025 sees Zatokrev return with an immense and immersive new (double LP) album: Bring Mirrors To The Surface obliterates the past and conjures a future previously unimagined, pleading with humanity to remember the power of the will and the imagination.
 
An album in which to truly lose oneself, these songs provide a candle in the dark, an arcane map, providing directions to the tearing down, and the painful realizing, as a means to metaphysical freedom. A beauty unmatched in any previous Zatokrev material has become entrenched in every aspect of this record. Moments of comfort fow freely into the deafening sounds: Bring Mirrors To The Surface encourages one and all to stare into the abyss of the self. Zatokrev have given us a musical grimoire. Sounds heard through the ages have congregated in a unique moment in time. 

“Changes, recognize, release. A black fame splitting the ground in two, opens the gate to where we lose ourselves” 

Line-up: 
Frédéric Hug: Drums
Frederyk Rotter: Guitar, Vocals
Lucas Löw: Bass, Vocals
Matthieu Hardouin: Guitar, Vocals

For more:
INSTAGRAM • FACEBOOK • FULL BIO

Track-list
1. Red Storm (ft. Bölzer & Schammasch)
2. Blood (ft. Inezona)
3. The Only Voice
4. Unwinding Spirits (ft. Manuel Gagneux of Zeal & Ardor)
5. Faint
6. Changes (ft. Schammasch)
7. Pearl Eyes
8. Deep Dark Turns Green (ft. Minsk)

Photo credit: Travis Shinn

GRAMMY nominated extreme power metal legends DragonForce unleash a new official music video for an alternate version of their recent album track 'Burning Heart', featuring Alissa White-Gluz. Originally released as a bonus track on select editions of their celebrated 2024 album Warp Speed Warriors, the special version supported by White-Gluz’s distinctive vocals is now out as its own single.     

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/y0Th1P3ef5o

Purchase Warp Speed Warriors here: https://lnk.to/DragonForce-WarpSpeedWarriors/napalmrecords

Formed in 1999, DragonForce have earned their reputation as the world’s fastest band via their power metal anthems filled with spectacular guitar solos, including the iconic platinum-selling hit 'Through the Fire and Flames'. Several of the songs on Warp Speed Warriors have already gained over a million streams on Spotify.
 
Alissa White-Gluz on the collaboration: "As a long time DragonForce fan, it was such a fun experience to sing 'Burning Heart'! This band knows no speed limits - even as a vocalist I found myself tripping over consonants trying to keep up. It was a refreshing challenge! I’m happy to be a part of such a cool song and video!”
 
DRAGONFORCE guitarist Herman Li adds: "Alissa has been one of my favorite metal vocalists for a long time. I’m thrilled that the stars aligned, allowing us to collaborate on this track. I believe 'Burning Heart' is the perfect song for Alissa to showcase her remarkable vocal range and her stunning performance has elevated the song to another level."

This summer DragonForce will finish the last European leg of their epic Warp Speed Warriors tour, playing several massive festival dates and selected shows together with label mates POWERWOLF, before joining the wolfpack on a North American tour, ready to deliver breathtaking shows to their ever-growing fanbase.

Herman Li on Warp Speed Warriors:
“After four years of creative incubation, we are beyond excited to release what we believe to be our most ambitious and grandiose record yet. This album showcases multiple facets of our artistic abilities, and we invite metal aficionados from every corner of the genre to discover something captivating within its layers."

Warp Speed Warriors is available in the following formats:      
●    2CD Deluxe Box incl. Bonus Jewel Case CD with 5 bonus tracks, wristband (embroided), poster flag (100x70cm), gaming coin keyring/pendant (with leathercord), packed in a gym bag (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive) – strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide SOLD OUT
●    1LP Gatefold TURQUOISE marbled Vinyl incl. slipmat, record butler (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive) – strictly limited to 200 copies worldwide    SOLD OUT
●    1LP Gatefold PURPLE Vinyl (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive) – strictly limited to 400 copies worldwide SOLD OUT
●    1LP Gatefold ORANGE Vinyl (Retail UK exclusive) – strictly limited to 300 copies SOLD OUT
●    1LP Gatefold BLACK Vinyl    
●    1CD Digisleeve incl. 1 Bonus Track        
●    Digital Album incl. 3 Bonus Tracks

DragonForce are:
Herman Li – Guitar, Backing Vocals 
Sam Totman – Guitar, Backing Vocals 
Marc Hudson – Vocals 
Alicia Vigil – Bass, Backing Vocals 
Gee Anzalone – Drums, Backing Vocals

DragonForce online:
WEBSITE
YOUTUBE
INSTAGRAM
TWITTER
TIKTOK
FACEBOOK
 
Herman Li online:
WEBSITE
TWITCH
TIKTOK
INSTAGRAM
TWITTER
DISCORD
YOUTUBE
FACEBOOK

Warp Speed Warriors track list:

1    Astro Warrior Anthem
2    Power of the Triforce
3    Kingdom of Steel
4    Burning Heart
5    Space Marine Corp
6    Doomsday Party
7    Prelude to Darkness
8    The Killer Queen
9    Pixel Prison

Photo Credit: Witzki Vision

Heavy new Swiss band Vicious Rain have unveiled their new single, 'IKIGAI', via Arising Empire. Following the success of their debut album There Is Beauty In Letting Go, Vicious Rain are opening a new chapter and deliver a powerful statement with the new single.

Watch the video (4pm BST premiere) here: https://youtu.be/fRdZe2lXpAE

Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/viciousrain
.
'IKIGAI' – the reason why life is worth living – explores the search for purpose, inner drive, and the courage to walk your own path despite doubts and obstacles. Vicious Rain combine raw emotion, soaring melodies, and crushing heaviness into a sound that feels even more direct and determined than ever before.

The single not only marks the beginning of a new era for the band but also highlights Vicious Rain’s musical and personal growth. A band ready to push boundaries and fearlessly pursue their vision.

Catch the band live:
06.06.25 CH - Metalmayhem Festival Aarau Kiff w/ Sylosis, Abbie Falls and Half Me
23.08.25 CZ - Rock For Your Shock Festival Headliner
20.09.25 CH - Garage 8 Olten 
22.11.25 DE - Corefest Stuttgart w/ Future Palace, Dead By April, Aviana and many more.

Formed in late 2022, Vicious Rain are an alternative metalcore band from Baden, Switzerland. The group combine intertwined singing/screaming vocals with anthemic singalongs, screaming melodic leads and crushing breakdowns, as they embrace everything from the heavy side of the genre all the way to the more intimate melodies. The band‘s spirit is marked by their shared belief in the importance of solidarity, and the role of the individual accomplishment of a common vision. Lyrically, the Swiss quintet wholeheartedly express their stance on personal matters, while highlighting their belief that self-reflection is the key to growth. 

Vicious Rain are:

David Häusermann | Vocals
Mauro Gugerli | Guitar & Vocals
Tristan Meier | Guitar
Loris De Notaristefano | Bass
Michael Teufelberger | Drums

Vicious Rain online:
https://www.instagram.com/viciousrainband
https://www.tiktok.com/@viciousrainband
https://www.facebook.com/viciousrainband
https://twitter.com/viciousrainband
https://viciousrain.com

Photo Credit: Frances Carter

New Zealand's ALIEN WEAPONRY have today dropped a brand new music video for their album
single 'Taniwha', featuring an intense guest appearance from metal icon Randy Blythe (Lamb Of
God).

Taken from the trio's acclaimed newest album Te Rā (out now via Napalm Records), you can now watch the video here: https://youtu.be/2S7Mo8cJlGc

In the video, the modern groove metal trio find themselves face to face with puppet masters of corporate greed and overconsumption, providing a thought-provoking backdrop to one of the album's most aggressive, death-metal leaning offerings.

ALIEN WEAPONRY say about the 'Taniwha' video: "We are super excited to share something we have been working on for a while.

"We felt honored to have the opportunity to collaborate with the mighty Randy Blythe on our song
'Taniwha' off of our latest album, so it only made sense to have him be a part of the music video too! We wanted to create something special for this one, and we are stoked with how it turned out!"

ALIEN WEAPONRY have recently announced a UK and Europe tour supporting Avatar. UK dates as follows:

14.02.26 UK - London / Exhibition
15.02.26 UK - Manchester / Academy
16.02.26 UK - Glasgow / Barrowland
17.02.26 UK - Nottingham / Rock City
18.02.26 UK - Bristol / O2 Academy

Order Te Rā here: https://lnk.to/AlienWeaponry-TeRa/napalmrecords

Alien Weaponry have solidified themselves as one of the greatest young metal bands of their generation with renewed musical tenacity and crucial messaging. Te Rā is a bold, unwavering cry for a future in which we can all take part in the legacy of peoples like the Māori and others all around us – people who, if they aren’t seen, most certainly need to be heard.

With their third full-length album, Alien Weaponry expand on their hallmark messages of cultural, societal and environmental resilience while delivering their most massive-sounding, focused musical output ever. In the hands of veteran producer/mixer Josh Wilbur (Lamb Of God, Gojira, Megadeth) and featuring a guest vocal appearance from longtime Alien Weaponry champion Randy Blythe of Lamb Of God, Te Rā’s gnashing blend of groove, nu, math and thrash metal shines with anthemic choruses and refreshed technical skill.

On Te Rā, listeners can hear the band doubling-down on the aggression in the verses before applying temperance, especially in the case of 'Taniwha', a death metal-leaning banger featuring the particularly raw guest vocal from Randy Blythe. Lyrically, there’s a noticeable tilt towards despondency, hopelessness, and frustration on Te Rā. While bassist Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds' lyrics in Māori on songs like 'Tama-nui-te-rā' and Ponaturi' draw from the themes of history, battle lore and mysticism that made the first two albums so rich, frontman/guitarist Lewis Raharuhi de Jong's English-language lyrics illustrate the impact when culture collides with disenfranchisement day to day.

'Crown' and 'Hanging by a Thread' take us into the headspace where struggle pushes people to the brink of desperation, while on 'Blackened Sky' and '1000 Friends', Lewis addresses universal woes like the looming threat of World War III and the damaging effects of social media. On album closer 'Te Kore', Tūranga dives into primordial nothingness at the root of the Māori origin story, while on 'Mau Moko', he finds the middle ground between these perspectives. Taken as a whole, Te Rā grapples with what it’s like to be caught in the pull of divergent cultures – not just for the descendants of colonized people, but for all of us.
 
Alien Weaponry are:                      
Henry Te Reiwhati de Jong - Drums, Backing vocals 
Lewis Raharuhi de Jong - Guitars, Lead vocals         
Tūranga Porowini Morgan-Edmonds - Backing vocals & guitar
 
Alien Weaponry online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM 
NAPALM RECORDS

Te Rā will be available in the following formats:      
- 1-LP Deluxe Gatefold Splatter Vinyl w/ 20'' Booklet, Patch, Slipmat - Napalm mail order only, limited to 300
- 1-LP Gatefold Marbled Vinyl - Napalm mail order only, limited to 300
- 1-LP Gatefold Black Vinyl
- 1-CD Digisleeve  
- Digital Album

Te Rā tracklisting:

1. Crown    
2. Mau Moko    
3. 1000 Friends    
4. Hanging by a Thread    
5. Tama-nui-te-rā    
6. Myself to Blame    
7. Taniwha (feat. Randy Blythe)
8. Blackened Sky    
9. Te Riri o Tāwhirimātea    
10. Ponaturi    
11. Te Kore  

Photo Credit: Jennifer McCord

Founded in 2012 by primary songwriters Joe Edwards (vocals) and Samuel Kubrick Finney (guitar/vocals), Shields quickly made an impact in the heavy music scene with their viral single I Just Feel Hate - a track they re-released in a newly reimagined version in April 2025.

Their EP GUILT cemented their refined sound, blending brutal instrumentation with poignant, emotionally driven lyrics. With this release, they demonstrated an aggressive adaptability to the ever-evolving alternative music landscape, winning over fans from across adjacent genres. The momentum of their powerful breakthrough led to tour cycles alongside acts such as Loathe, Ice Nine Kills, and Escape the Fate.

Shields’ debut full-length album Life in Exile (2018) received critical acclaim for its raw honesty and musical maturity. However, the album cycle was tragically cut short by the sudden passing of guitarist George Christie - an event that ultimately led to the band’s untimely and abrupt disbandment.

Their return marks a bold decision, given the tragic circumstances surrounding their 2018 split. Yet, Shields re-emerge with the powerful single 'Abuser' (released via Long Branch Records), inviting audiences to witness the next evolution of their sound - matured, refined, and fearless. This new chapter is supported by a fortified lineup, featuring founding members Joe Edwards and Samuel Kubrick Finney, now joined by Alastair Wain (drums) and Krishan Pujara (bass).

"The intention of this song is to convey as much rage, regret and ferocity as possible. The lyrics are blunt and authentic, It is either clear what this song is about, or you have been lucky enough not to experience cohesive control and manipulation."  Samuel Kubrick Finney

If Shields’ discography is any indication of what lies ahead, audiences can expect a torrent of unrelentingly bold strides into new sonic territories.

Watch the video to 'Abuser' here: https://youtu.be/QIyfvVNDUpM

Stream the single here: https://shields.lnk.to/abuser

Shields are:

Joe Edwards - Vocals
Samuel Kubrick Finney - Guitar, Vocals
Alastair Wain - Drums
Krishan Pujara - Bass

For more:
https://www.tiktok.com/@shieldsuk
https://www.instagram.com/shieldsuk
https://www.facebook.com/Shieldsuk

Photo Credit: Joe Dilworth

After three years hard at work, German hard rockers Wucan return with news of new album Axioms - showcasing their characteristic artistic ingenuity, and continuing the transformation first hinted on their charting Heretic Tongues record.

Axioms, the fourth studio album from the Dresden rockers, will be released on 29th August 2025 via Long Branch Records and is now available for pre-order here: https://wucan.lnk.to/axioms

True art is characterised above all by its constant renewal - a combination of the tried and tested with the innovative. Like all influential artists who follow this golden rule, Wucan demonstrate their capacity for artistic evolution with their new album, Axioms.

On the new record, the four-piece heavy rock outfit led by frontwoman Francis Tobolsky blend the distinctive elements of their previous studio records - Sow The Wind (2015), Reap The Storm (2017), and Heretic Tongues (2022) - with fresh ideas, resulting in a broader stylistic range and a more clearly defined conceptual approach. While the band continues to reference hard rock, krautrock, East German rock, and metal, the eight new tracks are also infused with touches of progressive rock, isolated electronic elements, and a playful jazz attitude. Or as Francis Tobolsky aptly puts it: “The foundation of our music is international 70s hard rock enriched by contemporary influences – this time with even more bombast, brutality, and complexity.” 

The already released singles 'KTNSAX' and 'Irons In The Fire' give a first taste of the new album. Watch the two music videos here: https://wucan.lnk.to/axioms/youtube

"The title Axioms stands for the fundamental convictions our band is built upon, convictions we no longer question," says bandleader Francis Tobolsky. "After ten years of making music together – seven of them in this lineup – there were moments when everything could have fallen apart. This album was created during a time when each of our lives was changing significantly, and it bears the imprint of those personal experiences. The fact that we’re still making music together is neither a coincidence nor a matter of convenience – it’s our axiom."

For more:

http://wucan-music.de
https://www.facebook.com/wucanmusic
https://www.instagram.com/wucantheband
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7FsZ5HKdtDFJ1xmK6NICBO?si=nlHnoldOSsaJehcl_jC3Zw

Wucan are:
Francis Tobolsky - Vocals / Guitar / Flute / Theremin
Tim George - Guitar
Philip Knöfel - Drums
Alexander Karlisch - Bass

Tracklisting:

1 Spectres Of Fear
2 Irons In The Fire
3 Wicked, Sick and Twisted
4 KTNSAX
5 Holz auf Holz
6 Pipe Dreams
7 Axioms
8 Fountain Of Youth

Photo Credit: John Gyllhamn

Swedish rockers Smash Into Pieces have revealed their new single 'A Sky Full Of Stars', their most heartfelt ballad yet. A soaring tribute to love, distance, and connection that transcends time and space, this song wraps emotion in a blanket of cinematic sound. With haunting lyrics and celestial melodies, it’s a reminder that even in darkness, we shine together.

Listen: orcd.co/smashintopiecesaskyfullofstars

​This summer, Smash Into Pieces will electrify audiences at over 25 major festivals, including Rock am Ring, Graspop, and Download Festival - where they will take to the Avalanche stage on Saturday 14th June.

They continue their meteoric rise, building on their last single 'Paradise' [ft. Amaranthe], and the momentum of their chart-topping hits 'Six Feet Under' (double platinum) and 'Heroes Are Calling' (Gold-certified within weeks of release). Their futuristic, apocalyptic aesthetic and immersive storytelling—evident in their cinematic ‘ARCADIA WORLD’ series—set them apart in the rock scene, creating a unique fusion of music and visual storytelling.

With over a billion streams and views, the band has solidified its global presence. Their 2023 and 2024 tours saw them perform worldwide, including a major North American tour and headline runs across Europe and Scandinavia. Their groundbreaking Swedish Eurovision performances, with 'Six Feet Under' securing #3 in 2023 and another top placement in 2024, cemented their status as one of Sweden’s biggest rock exports.

Their ever-growing fanbase and consistent global radio presence—with 40,000+ spins in 2024 alone—prove that Smash Into Pieces is more than just a band; they are a movement. 

With 'A Sky Full of Stars' Smash Into Pieces invite fans to dive even deeper into their world, where dreams and reality blur into an electrifying musical journey.

"Anything standing between us and our dreams, we Smash Into Pieces."

For more information:

https://open.spotify.com/artist/2vhrwzjf9H3icunkVFi9tq?si=WcGyc23hQoKl8JkY2s-XCw&nd=1&dlsi=b65b2cd54c954fca
https://www.instagram.com/smashintopiecesofficial
https://www.facebook.com/SmashIntoPieces
https://www.tiktok.com/@smashintopiecesofficial