MAVIS tear open the fabric of reality with new single 'Idle Season', a danceable dystopia drenched in rhythm, rebellion, and raw truth.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/xZa1m4oMdnU
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/idleseason
The Stuttgart-based genre-benders are back and they’re smashing every label you thought could contain them. 'Idle Season' sees MAVIS fuse modern metalcore, alternative rock, and glimmering pop finesse into a track that’s as infectious as it is unsettling. Beneath its pulsing grooves and anthemic hooks lies a haunting reflection on time wasted, purpose lost, and a world lulled into submission by distraction.
Idle Season is a rallying cry dressed as a groove. It’s MAVIS stepping further into their own universe: fearless, reflective, and ready to move the masses.
For more:
https://www.instagram.com/maviscult
Our Mirage unleash their darkest chapter yet with new single 'Violent Spin', a gut-punch of emotion, intensity, and pure catharsis.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/LE7Lxho0m8k
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/violentspin
Fresh off two monumental shows and a storm of creativity, the German post-hardcore heavyweights are back and they’re not holding anything back. 'Violent Spin' marks a bold new leap toward their fourth studio album, diving headfirst into heavier waters and exploring the raw, unfiltered edges of their sound. Darker. Louder. More honest than ever.
The track peels back the curtain on the brutal cycle of a toxic relationship, where fear, dependency, and violence blur into a suffocating spiral. With haunting melodies, crushing breakdowns, and lyrics that cut straight to the bone, 'Violent Spin' doesn’t just tell a story, it screams it from the inside out.
“Our Mirage have never sounded this intense, or this real,” the band reveal. “This song is a milestone for us, both musically and emotionally.”
Brace yourself: the storm is just beginning. Stream 'Violent Spin' now and witness the evolution.
For more:
https://www.instagram.com/ourmirageband
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE
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New Arising Empire singles:
The Veer Union, Our Mirage, MAVIS
The Veer Union - Sea Of Fear
Canadian alt-rock heavyweights The Veer Union unleash their explosive new single 'Sea of Fear' Known for their signature blend of hard-hitting riffs and emotional depth, the Vancouver-based alt-metal act continues their legacy with a haunting anthem that dives deep into anxiety, survival, and inner strength.
Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/57d5rviFBwI
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/theveerunion
With over 175 million streams worldwide, 12 Billboard Rock Radio hits, and recent viral success from their Covers Collection and Manifestations albums, the band is proving once again why they’re one of the most enduring forces in modern rock.
'Sea of Fear' marks the first taste of their upcoming full-length album Reinvention, slated for release on February 20th, 2026. Following years of chart-topping singles and high-energy tours across North America and Europe, The Veer Union are entering a bold new era, and this single is just the beginning.
For more:
https://www.instagram.com/theveerunion
https://www.facebook.com/theveerunion
Swiss post-metallers Abraham unveil 'Suurwäut', a hypnotic single that offers another glimpse into their new masterpiece's kaleidoscopic chaos.
Their fifth studio album, the mighty idsungwüssä, will be released 26th September via Pelagic Records and is the third and final chapter to a series of concept albums of truly epic proportions.
Watch 'Suurwäut' here: https://youtu.be/dLdHrtsO5Rc
Pre-order idsungwüssä here: https://orcd.co/abraham-idsungwussa
Still staged in the gritty atmosphere and philosophical weight of post-metal, sludge, and ambient noise, idsungwüssä sees Abraham march even further into dissonant and defiant territory.
“The three albums are clearly linked together thematically”, the band comment, “although, rather than an additional chapter, idsungwüssä is more like a parallel narrative to Débris de mondes perdus. The latter was a jump in time after Look, Here Comes the Dark!, whereas idsungwüssä is a jump in space, a journey away from earth. It should be the final piece of this little jolly ride.”
This album isn’t just heavy, it is absolutely drenched in delicious filth, and yet by embracing even more the melodic interludes and melancholic passages, they create a devastating contrast to the wall of power coming from stacked guitars, catastrophic drums and raging, sharp vocals – delivered in Swiss-German dialect.
“The album was recorded between November 2024 and February 2025, all while handling our day jobs and in a period that was, on a personal level, not the easiest for some of us. It is only in the last two weeks of the recording process, right before sending it out to mixing, that it sort of came together and started to feel like a coherent album, an album that we could be happy and proud about. For an album with change/transformation as an underlying theme, this is sort of performative!”
This urgency and duress bleeds into every song, an hour long journey that moves from the grim to sublime, from melancholy to raw destruction — evoking ruined civilisations and the last wails of fractured psyches. Yet there is something less bleakly human, more ethereal at moments, as if glimpsing beyond the constraints of the body and its wheel of flesh and death.
Strewn throughout the record are appearances of Farfisa Louvre organ - prominently featuring on an Abraham album for the first time. The band were also joined by Kevin Galland (Coilguns) who added additional Moog and piano parts.
The band continue: “Our approach to recording guitars was different than what we did before. Instead of having one guitar on the left playing a part and one on the right playing another part, we decided that left and right guitars were to play the same part, and the center guitar was to play another part. We just stacked more guitars whenever we needed. And oh did we use a lot of reverb, too!”
The structures and movements of the songs found within idsungwüssä are unique and fresh - a balancing of themes and emotions that is both intoxicating and unsettling, it is an immersive journey that rewards deep listening and challenges the boundaries of genre. From the patient grandeur of coming extinction, to the chaos and fevered urgency of the aftermath, in idsungwüssä Abraham move forward from prophetic lamentation to an elegiac visceral response. The emotional closure of this expression is felt, something final that will leave you speechless and with only one real option; listen to it again.
Line-up:
Val DiCabillo – bass
Steven Margo Dita d’Oro – guitars
Dave Schlagmeister – drums, vocals
Jakkob Wierdmann – guitars
For more Abraham:
OFFICIAL WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | PELAGIC ARTIST PROFILE | INSTAGRAM
Tracklisting:
1. Fate of Man Lies in the Stars
2. I Am the Vessel and The Vessel Is Me
3. A Discomposite Shell
4. Naked in a Naked Sky
5. Suurwäut
6. En Tüüfus Tümpu
7. 06.00.40U
8. Home
Photo Credit: Simon Volz
After performing at Rock am Ring, Rock im Park and touring with Neck Deep, Zebrahead and Donots, German pop-punk up-and-comers Indecent Behavior have announced their fourth studio album SICK for 26th September via Long Branch Records.
The band from Saarbrücken have today released their new single ‘Not In A Lifetime’, including a music video.
Watch the video to 'Not In A Lifetime’ here: https://youtu.be/ClVcXcsvu6s
Stream the new single and pre-order the album SICK here:
https://indecentbehavior.lnk.to/sick
"What did you imagine your life would be like when you were a kid? Did you have dreams? Did you have a plan? I had a plan. I had a dream. I wanted to see more than the small village I grew up in. I wanted to travel the world and collect the kind of stories worth telling my grandchildren one day. I wanted to share my thoughts with my guitar and my voice – and maybe make a difference," says Indecent Behavior singer Henrik Bergmann. "But wherever there’s a dream that doesn’t fit into society’s usual picture, there are always people – knowingly or not – who put obstacles in your way. People who just don’t understand what your dream means to you or what you’re willing to give for it. 'Not In A Lifetime' is a song about not wanting to live up to society's expectations. A song about learning to accept yourself and resisting the pressure to change just to meet someone else’s standard."
We live in a world full of impressions. What seems like an ocean full of possibilities to some is incredibly overwhelming, oppressive and unfair to others. There is no escape from the mass of unfiltered information that rains down on us every day. No light at the end of the dark news tunnel. No clear way out of the labyrinth of options, which instead of freedom only brings excessive demands. SICK was created precisely from these thoughts and is an album for everyone for whom it sometimes just gets too much. Who feel like they are living in a world that they simply don't understand. For all people who are looking for a place where they can feel understood and comfortable.
Product versions:
LP Edition in sleeve with marbled white/translucent red vinyl and LP insert
Limited to 500 copies
LP Edition in sleeve with splattered dark black smoke/yellow vinyl and LP insert
Band exclusive / Limited to 300 copies
CD Edition in Digipak
Standard Stream & Download
Indecent Behavior are:
Henrik Bergmann – Vocals
Christian Noß – Guitar, Vocals
Denis Selzer – Bass, Vocals
Florian Heintz – Drums
Indecent Behavior online:
https://www.instagram.com/indecentbehaviorofficial
https://www.facebook.com/IndecentBehavior
Track list:
1 Grown Up
2 Not In A Lifetime
3 Chaos
4 Sick
5 Give Me Everything (ft. Air Drawn Dagger)
6 I Fell In Love Every Weekend
7 Shoot
8 Pointless
9 Black Water
10 No Direction
11 If I Had Two Lives
12 The Story Never Ends (ft. All To Get Her)
Photo Credit: Stefán Ari Stefánsson
Icelandic retro rockers trio THE VINTAGE CARAVAN have shared a visualiser video for their new single 'Philosopher' - a haunting, soulful track elevated by the unmistakable voice of Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt. 'Philosopher' is the second single taken from their forthcoming studio album Portals, due out on 26th September 2025 via Napalm Records.
Watch the visualiser for 'Philosopher' here: https://youtu.be/nZTD3gmlkA4
Pre-order Portals here: https://lnk.to/TheVintageCaravan-Portals/napalmrecords
This rare collaboration bridges generations of progressive rock, uniting Åkerfeldt’s iconic melancholy with the band’s vibrant, vintage spirit. This is an exciting meeting of minds – many years in the making.
Bassist Alexander Örn Númason reveals: "THE VINTAGE CARAVAN proudly present our new single 'Philosopher' which features none other than the amazing Mikael Åkerfeldt from Opeth on lead vocals! Having toured extensively with Opeth the last years we made quite good friends with them and we were so honored when Mikael offered to lend us a helping hand with our new album. Originally Óskar meant to sing the whole song but after discussing the possibility of having Mikael guest on one of the songs I couldn’t hear the song anymore without him singing the verses. He did a stellar job and we couldn’t be more happy with it."
"'Philosopher' is the opening track of our album and we wanted to start this album with a more quiet dreamy intro leading into this quite heavy song. Full of laid back rock riffs with bubbling arpeggiating synth textures, the song leads into the first Portal of five signaling the beginning of this journey of an album.
"We hope you enjoy listening and hope to see you on tour in Europe and UK this fall!"
Catch the band on the following dates:
25/10/2025 UK Margate - Margate Rock Festival, Margate
26/10/2025 UK London - Camden Assembly
27/10/2025 UK Brighton - Dust
28/10/2025 UK Southampton - The 1865
29/10/2025 UK Bristol - Exchange
30/10/2025 UK Birmingham - Mama Roux
31/10/2025 UK Newcastle - Think Tank
01/11/2025 UK Glasgow - Classic Grand
Portals is another testament to THE VINTAGE CARAVAN’s endlessly creative, modern take on the psychedelic retro rock sound, cementing the band’s leading position in the scene. The band’s previous studio album, Monuments, hit #21 on the German charts, marking a milestone in their evolution, and the new offering – which also features a stunning guest performance by Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt on the soulful album opener 'Philosopher' – continues to solidify THE VINTAGE CARAVAN’s reputation as torchbearers of contemporary classic rock. Aside from their critically acclaimed releases, the band’s electrifying live performances have mesmerized audiences at major festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Hellfest, as well as on international tours both as headliners and as support for the likes of progressive metal giants Opeth. THE VINTAGE CARAVAN will be celebrating the release of Portals with extensive headline tours in mainland Europe and the UK, announced for autumn 2025.
THE VINTAGE CARAVAN are:
Stefán Ari Stefánsson - Drums, backing vocals, percussion
Óskar Logi Águstsson - Electric guitars, vocals, acoustic guitars, flute
Alexander Örn Númason - Bass guitars, backing vocals, synthesizers, Farfisa
THE VINTAGE CARAVAN online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
X
YOUTUBE
SPOTIFY
NAPALM RECORDS
Track list:
1. Philosopher (ft. Mikael Åkerfeldt)
2. Portal I
3. Days Go By
4. Portal II
5. Here You Come Again
6. Current
7. Give and Take
8. Portal III
9. Crossroads
10. Alone
11. Portal IV
12. Freedom
13. Riot
14. Electrified
15. Portal V
16. My Aurora
17. This Road
Formats:
- 1 CD Digipak
- 2LP Black Vinyl
- 2LP Solid Silver
- 2LP Splattered Milk / Black Orange
- 2LP Marbled Green Yellow Black
- Digital Album
Photo Credit: Jennifer McCord
Following their powerful performance at UK's RADAR Festival earlier this month, acclaimed British metalcore band Shields have released their emotional new single and music video 'Red & Green'.
"I wrote this song about the passing of my brother and the space it left in the structural identity of my family," says singer Joe Edwards. "'Red & Green' underwent multiple structural and thematic changes. While the initial idea held the core elements, achieving a huge orchestral-like piece with the right nuance took most of the creative process."
Watch the video to 'Red & Green' here:
https://youtu.be/h7BHutsJZms
Stream the single here:
https://shields.lnk.to/redandgreen
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.
Now, several years later, Shields are back - a bold decision, given the tragic circumstances surrounding their 2018 split. Yet, Shields re-emerged 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).
If Shields’ discography is any indication of what lies ahead, audiences can expect a torrent of unrelentingly bold strides into new sonic territories.
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: Arne Beschorner
Fiery punk, indie rock band PLAIINS have released new single 'Do One', the fifth track from their upcoming debut album, Happy Faces, set for release on 15th August via Long Branch Records.
Watch the video to 'Do One' here: https://youtu.be/XmGzBUq2_F8
Stream 'Do One' and pre-order Happy Faces here: https://plaiins.lnk.to/happyfaces
“Ahh Do One, this is one of my favourites on the album and says so much about weird meetings I've had over the years with people in the music industry, it's all based on real experiences," says frontman Chris Reardon. "I remember the whole first verse came to me on the train and I had written the verse guitar riff a few days before and recorded it on an acoustic guitar in my phone. When I met with the guys and showed it to them I remember they were all laughing hysterically, which is always a good sign in PLAIINS, means everyone is super into it and fired up!
"From there we all worked on it and built it up in stages, it's quite a complicated song with weird breaks and flow changes and I think we pulled it off. It really felt like we were all in the zone on all fronts, working on the composition, the lyrics, the vibe and energy. We developed the song further with our producer Manuel Renner in pre-production and then we played this song live quite a lot which really helped. Like doubling the second chorus for example, that wouldn't have happened I'm pretty sure unless we had played it live a lot. Especially a song like this which is just pure energy and driving force. The whole spoken word bit about the Korean market, BTS and Black Pink is all from the original demo from the very first session. That's always nice when that happens, and I think you can hear it. First take, not thinking about it and just hoping that everything lands in the right place, which it did luckily! But yeah, not a lot else to explain lyrically in this one, its all there, my Dad's from England and my Mum's from Hong Kong, you f**k!“
PLAIINS have also announced their debut UK headline show at The Black Heart, Camden on 24th September. Tickets
PLAIINS have been on a steamroller since their inception in late 2020. Already playing with the likes of ITCHY, Cold Years, LEAP, Press Club and many more, the band bring a unique blend of British punk, indie and rock, pulling inspiration from the likes of IDLES, Hives, Soft Play, Bad Nerves, The Streets and Viagra Boys. PLAIINS have already released over twenty songs to date, regularly hitting the top playlists on Spotify and feaatures on BBC Radio 1 and BBC Introducing. There’s no stopping their momentum.
PLAIINS are:
Chris Reardon - Vocals, Guitars
Timon Lanzinger - Bass
David Suhlrie - Drums
Florian Kaninck - Guitars
PLAIINS online:
https://www.tiktok.com/@plaiinsband
https://www.facebook.com/plaiinsband
https://www.instagram.com/plaiinsband_
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3gUHDc3I3G1bFRElrj90fR?si=cIPo71aqRg-Cr_gHw_3svQ
Track list:
1. Happy Faces
2. Dirty Fish
3. Be More Animal
4. Hotel Biscuits
5. Amazon Warehouse
6. Do One
7. Executive Me
8. Beef Cake
9. Sports Bar
10. Row She Said
11. C’est La Vie
12. Special K
13. Four AM
Product versions:
CD Edition in a Digipak
LP Edition in a sleeve incl. marbled dark red coloured vinyl and LP insert
Standard stream & download
Photo Credit: Napalm Records
Swiss heavy metal act Burning Witches have have shared 'High Priestess Of The Night', a new track taken from their forthcoming studio album, entitled Inquisition, slated for release on 22nd August 2025 via Napalm Records.
Watch the video for 'High Priestess Of The Night' here: https://youtu.be/RwomV4za97A
Pre-order Inquisition here: https://napalmrecords.com/burning-witches
Following the previously released album title track, this second single brings a powerful mix of classic heavy metal riffs and hard rock grooves to the band’s signature witch-themed metal offerings. 'High Priestess Of The Night' features a memorable chorus as well as a tasteful and melodic ’80s-style guitar solo.
Burning Witches comment: "We chose this good-vibed yet still heavy-themed, catchy mid-tempo song as a second single. This will be an ear catcher and a hip shaker for sure at live shows. This song is a must for everybody… it's simple but it's also the way of every Metalhead. If you are a Metalhead, you will like 'High Priestess Of The Night'!"
On their sixth studio offering, the band return with a darker, more thunderous brew - diving headfirst into the themes of medieval persecution, religious oppression, and the unbreakable spirit of resistance. Featuring 12 brand-new tracks, the album marks a bold new era: forged in the flames of power/heavy metal, sharpened by anthemic songwriting and epic instrumentation.
Catch the band in the UK on the following dates:
23.01.26 London - The Dome UK
24.01.26 Birmingham - The Asylum UK
25.01.26 Manchester - Academy 3 UK
When Burning Witches take the stage, the world trembles beneath their firestorm of heavy metal might! Following the classic heavy metal tones of their previous record, The Dark Tower (2023), Inquisition delivers tight production and an unrelenting onslaught of burning riffs, crushing drums, and vocal sorcery, driven by producers Damir Eskic (Destruction) and V.O. Pulver (Little Creek Studio, Pro-Pain, Destruction), and shaped by the songwriting of founding guitarist Romana Kalkuhl.
With Inquisition, Burning Witches unleash their most focused and ferocious album yet, honoring classic heavy metal roots while diving into darker, more powerful territory. From mystical ballads to breakneck shred-fests, the album channels both the sacred and profane, the melodic and the menacing - a testament to a band unafraid to evolve, fight, and enchant.
"As we celebrate our 10 Year Anniversary in 2025, I am very happy as well to announce our sixth album with pride and satisfaction. I am extremely happy to start the next chapter of our metal journey with my girls. The album Inquisition is for those of you who are into legends like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and Slayer. Full of power, melodies, double bass drums, heavy riffs and speedy guitar solos, Inquisition is not only our style and lifestyle, it's our life! From the beginning to the end, it's the best of us,” Romana Kalkuhl comments.
"We and our label Napalm Records are a huge supporter of vinyl records, so with passion and joy we chose some great editions to add to your collectables. Now it’s your time to pick your Inquisition!"
Burning Witches are:
Romana Kalkuhl - Guitar
Laura Guldemond - Vocals
Courtney Cox - Guitar
Jay Grob - Bass
Lala Frischknecht - Drums
Burning Witches online:
https://www.facebook.com/burningwitches666
https://twitter.com/burningwitches_
https://www.instagram.com/burningwitchesofficial
https://www.burningwitches.ch
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuba8pbIQpqiM58ULyQczzw
https://www.tiktok.com/@burningwitches1
Track list:
1. Sanguini Hominum
2. Soul Eater
3. Shame
4. The Spell Of The Skull
5. Inquisition
6. High Priestess Of The Night
7. Burn In Hell
8. Release Me
9. In For The Kill
10. In The Eye Of The Storm
11. Mirror, Mirror
12. Malus Maga
Formats:
- 1 CD Digipak
- 1 LP Black
- 1 LP Translucent Orange (GSA, CH)
- 1 LP Translucent Orange Black Splatter
- 1 LP Cross Red Black
- 2 LP Die Hard Gold Black Marbled (feat. 1 LP Inquisition + 1 LP The Night Of The Witch, 8p Booklet)
- Deluxe Wooden Box (feat. CD + Live CD + Autograph Card + Pendant + Gloves + Patch)
- Music Cassette
- Digital Album