Photo Credit: Curtis Perry

Ahead of the release of his highly anticipated third solo album Empyrean on 11th September, acclaimed Canadian cellist and composer Raphael Weinroth-Browne has unveiled a breathtaking reimagining of Sleep Token's hauntingly beautiful track, 'Fall For Me'. Transforming the song through the expressive voice of the cello, Weinroth-Browne captures the fragile balance of sorrow and beauty at the heart of the original, offering a deeply moving interpretation that stands as both tribute and reinvention.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/YRLwtADHNPo

Listen to 'Fall For Me' here:  https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/raphaelweinrothbrowne/fall-for-me

Comments Raphael: "'Fall For Me' is a hidden gem in Sleep Token’s catalogue - its gorgeous melodies and rich choral harmonies lend themselves perfectly to the cello. In reimagining this song, I tried to convey the same juxtaposition of sadness and beauty that makes the original so poignant. 

"UK-based artist Alex Tillbrook, whose designs for Sleep Token's last two albums have become an integral part of the band's visual branding, created the stunning artwork which beautifully weaves together themes from the original lyrics to 'Fall For Me'. 

"The music video was shot at the epic Eagles’ Nest Lookout in rural Ontario by Ben Kissner of Monscene Studios. My face was completely devoured by mosquitos and black flies by the end of the shoot, but I believe it was worth it for the final result!"

The origins of forthcoming new album Empyrean itself are as cinematic as the music it contains. In 2024, Weinroth-Browne was commissioned by James Wilton Dance to compose an 80-minute score inspired by the music and legacy of Johann Sebastian Bach. What emerged became BACH Reimagined: a touring multidisciplinary work exploring immortality, artistic transcendence and the pursuit of the sublime through creation.

Rather than simply reinterpret Bach, Weinroth-Browne entered into dialogue with him across centuries. The resulting compositions fuse the purity and mathematical elegance of Baroque counterpoint with distorted textures, electronic ambience and towering rhythmic weight. Tracks such as 'Speed of Light' and 'Dissolution' plunge Bach-inspired motifs into vast storms of noise and metallic tension, while the meditative 'Sanctum' evokes Sufi mysticism and devotional stillness.

“At its core,” Weinroth-Browne explains, “Empyrean is about the search for the sublime. As artists, we spend our lives trying to create something that transcends the everyday, if only for a split second, as if to glimpse eternity through a keyhole.”

Captured at Union Sound Company in Toronto immediately following the sessions for 2025’s critically acclaimed Lifeblood, Empyrean finds Weinroth-Browne operating at the peak of his creative powers. The album was recorded and engineered by Darren McGill (Rush, The Dirty Nil), mixed by Adam Noble (Leprous, Katatonia) and mastered by Robin Schmidt (Leprous), resulting in a sound both immense and intimate, every bow stroke preserved with almost tactile immediacy. Artwork comes from London-based printmaker and collage artist Cally Conway, discovered by Weinroth-Browne in Brighton during the BACH tour.

The release follows a period of significant acclaim. His 2020 debut Worlds Within was hailed as “masterful” and “a stunning example of less being more,” while 2025’s Lifeblood expanded his sound into something even more cinematic and visceral, described as “a triumph of vision and virtuosity” and “the most ambitious album of Weinroth-Browne’s career.”

That same fearless boundary-pushing has made Weinroth-Browne an essential figure within modern progressive music. His cello work can be heard on hundreds of studio albums, including Woods of Ypres’ Juno Award-winning W5: Grey Skies & Electric Light and across many major film and TV soundtracks. Viral interpretations of Opeth, Katatonia and Steven Wilson have drawn direct praise from the artists themselves, further cementing his reputation as a boundaryless interpreter and composer.

Since joining Norwegian prog visionaries Leprous in 2016, he has performed over 200 shows worldwide and contributed to three of their studio albums, helping redefine the role of cello in progressive heavy music. Beyond Leprous, he has shared stages with Evanescence, Apocalyptica and Devin Townsend.

As a solo artist, Weinroth-Browne has become an ambassador for what the cello can be in the 21st century. He has made waves at prestigious festivals such as the Cello Biennale Amsterdam and the International Cello Festival of Canada and has opened for artists ranging from Polish neoclassical pianist Hania Rani to Nordic folk ensemble SKÁLD and Danish prog metal masters VOLA.

With a packed performance schedule this year, including European tours alongside Earthside and Einar Solberg on the horizon and Empyrean set for release later this year, Raphael Weinroth-Browne continues to push the cello far beyond expectation, toward something infinite, luminous and profoundly otherworldly.

Catch Raphael Weinroth-Browne live on the following dates:

August 23 - Ottawa Tennis Club, Ottawa, Canada (solo)
September 18 – The Garage, London, UK (solo and with Einar Solberg)
September 19 – Café de la Danse, Paris, France (solo and with Einar Solberg)
September 20 – Le Rex, Toulouse, France (solo and with Einar Solberg)
September 21 – La Rhapsodie, Biarritz, France (solo and with Einar Solberg)
September 22 – Mouco, Porto, Portugal (solo and with Einar Solberg)
September 23 – República da Música, Lisbon, Portugal (solo and with Einar Solberg)
September 25 – Be Prog! My Friend, Barcelona, Spain (with Einar Solberg)
September 26 – L’Ampérage, Grenoble, France (solo and with Einar Solberg)
September 27 – Euroblast Festival, Cologne, Germany (with Einar Solberg)
September 29 – Hype Park, Kraków, Poland (solo and with Einar Solberg)
September 30 – Lido, Berlin, Germany (solo and with Einar Solberg)
October 1 – Gebläsehalle, Neunkirchen, Germany (solo and with Einar Solberg)
October 2 – Werkk Kulturlokal, Baden, Switzerland (solo and with Einar Solberg)
October 4 – ProgPower Europe, Baarlo, Netherlands (with Einar Solberg)

Raphael Weinroth-Browne online:
Official Website || Facebook | Instagram || Youtube ||  X || Bandcamp || Tik Tok 

Empyrean Tracklist: 

1. Speed of Light
2. Remnant
3. Evocation
4. Murmuration
5. Integration
6. Dissolution
7. Sanctum
8. Reflection
9. Empyrean 

Photo Credit: Lame Perfect

Ukrainian modern metal band IGNEA release 'Dreams of Lands Unseen', the first single from their upcoming album, Monumental, out 23rd October via Napalm Records. The track shares a name with the four-piece’s 2023 album but is a step towards something new. 'Dreams of Lands Unseen' explores the race to space during the Cold War and a time when war-ridden humanity projected its greatest hopes into the cosmos far beyond our known worlds. Bursting with energy right from the start, 'Dreams of Lands Unseen' combines a punchy, driving riff with fierce growls.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/DOma9HHfKvQ

Pre-order Monumental here: https://lnk.to/Ignea-Monumental/napalmrecords

To deepen the nostalgic atmosphere, shimmering keyboard and theremin solos evoke a distinctly 1980s vibe. This matches the monolith of an album that IGNEA are about to release: Monumental, which explores and reflects on nostalgia in all its forms.

Vocalist Helle Bohdanova comments: “This song is about the blend of ambition and illusion, where space wasn’t an escape but a conquest shaped by ideology and dreams. Across Ukraine and many post-Soviet countries, mosaics still depict this promised future: cosmonauts, rockets, bold visions of worlds yet unseen. We shot the video in black and white on purpose, reaching for the vibe of old sci-fi rather than modern blockbuster spectacle, using Cooke Varotal lenses, the optics favored by Kubrick. In the end, I think the song isn’t nostalgic for space exploration itself, so much as for an aesthetic that was itself already nostalgic, looking back at a future that was already passing. Still, I guess each of us has dreamt of becoming an astronaut at least once... haven’t you?”

Echoing nostalgia for a future that never arrives on Monumental. 

Helle Bohdanova comments on the video: “In the video, actors portraying cosmonauts wear real Soviet space helmets and the bottom layers of Soviet space suits that were also used for stratosphere flights. This is because in a totalitarian regime, sourcing real items for film productions from adjacent ministries was often easier than building fake props—since films were ‘ordered’ by the leadership, and everyone was expected to contribute to their production. After appearing in a Soviet-era space film, the items remained stored at the film studio for decades afterward. The cosmonaut costumes featured in the video were specifically rented from the Oleksandr Dovzhenko National Film Studios in Kyiv, home to Ukraine’s largest historic costume collection. On the night of June 14–15, 2026, the studio was hit in a Russian strike on Kyiv, destroying the costume workshop along with roughly 100,000 historical pieces from the archive. The same strike also damaged IGNEA’s own headquarters.”        

On Monumental, IGNEA takes the listener on nostalgic rides, with all their ups and downs, expressed in music and lyrics, carrying a sense of gentle sadness and reflection, as nostalgia can bring back beautiful memories, darkened by the awareness that these moments will never happen again.
 
Following Dreams of Lands Unseen (2023), the band navigates through unique facets of the past across nine tracks - from the grandeur and ambition of Cold War space dreams to the melancholy of urban decay and forgotten modernist structures, all the way to the emotional weight of personal and collective memory. All lyrics on Monumental were written by vocalist Helle Bohdanova. The music was composed by keyboardist Yevhenii Zhytniuk, with additional contributions from Helle Bohdanova. Mixing and mastering were handled by Grammy Award-nominated producer Jacob Hansen, known for his work with bands such as DELAIN, Amaranthe, Volbeat, Amon Amarth, Arch Enemy, and Epica.

Monumental is IGNEA’s second full-length album that was written during the full-scale war in Ukraine. The recording process mostly took place in the winter of 2025-2026, during icy temperatures and long power outages in Kyiv.    

Helle Bohdanova comments about Monumental: “Back in the 17th century, nostalgia was considered a deadly disease - and in many ways, it still is. It’s a universal feeling experienced by every human being, pulling us toward a past that felt gentler than it truly was, especially during the bitter moments of the present. Much of this album was inspired by modernist architecture - concrete giants built to signal progress and a brighter future, now slowly decaying. They've become a sort of memory box: monuments to unrealized dreams, where the future that was once imagined never arrived, yet continues to echo through the ruins and bright mosaics.”

Musically, Monumental blends technical metal riffs, industrial textures, atmospheric interludes, grandiose choruses, and melodic passages to mirror “nostalgic rides,” where darkness, reflection, and awe collide.

Visually and conceptually, IGNEA drew inspiration from retrofuturism, modernist and monumental architecture, and industrial design, creating a world where sound, imagery, and memory converge. The album stands as an ode to the past, a meditation on lost and unrealized futures, and a celebration of the enduring beauty hidden within forgotten places.
 
Catch IGNEA live supporting EVERGREY on their Architects Of A New Weave European Tour 2026 with Stellar Circuits.

UK dates:
25.11.26 UK - Southampton / The Brook
26.11.26 UK - Birmingham / Asylum
27.11.26 UK - London / The Underworld
28.11.26 UK - Leeds / The Key Club
29.11.26 IE - Dublin / Opium
30.11.26 UK - Belfast / Limelight 2
01.12.26 UK - Glasgow / G2
02.12.26 UK - Newcastle / Anarchy Brew
03.12.26 UK - Manchester / Rebellion
04.12.26 UK - Bristol / Strange Brew
05.12.26 UK - Nottingham / Saltbox

IGNEA are:
Helle Bohdanova – Vocals
Yevhenii Zhytniuk – Keys
Dmytro Vinnichenko – Guitars
Oleksandr Kamyshyn – Bass
 
IGNEA online:
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
NAPALM RECORDS

Monumental tracklisting:

Darkness 
Dreams of Lands Unseen      
Presence of the Past              
Prefab (feat. Combichrist)
What Buildings Dream of     
I am in Hell 
Between No Longer and Not Yet       
Harmony Manufactured (feat. Hiraes)
Nadir            

Monumental will be available in the following formats:

1-LP Splatter Vinyl, incl. LP-Sized Booklet – strictly limitd (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
Bundle 1-CD Jewelcase + T-Shirt (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
1-LP Solid Silver Vinyl
1-CD Jewelcase
Digital Album

Photo Credit: Oyèmi Hessou

Following their recent performance at Rock For People (CZ) and after opening for bands such as Escuela Grind, Silly Goose, Urne, and Predatory Void, Berlin-based alternative metal up-and-comers LUTHER sign to Long Branch Records and drop their label-debut single 'Giving The People What They Want'.

Watch the video to 'Giving The People What They Want' here: https://youtu.be/bG3Kj35vfJ4

Stream the new single here: https://luther.lnk.to/giving

LUTHER’s take on alternative metal is groovy, heavy, and a little weird. Centred around electric guitar, their songs merge prog metal, nu metal, and hardcore. Borderline-theatrical screams and clean vocals hold your hand through the night. The band explores isolation, betrayal, rage, and escapism as its core lyrical themes. LUTHER has drawn comparisons to artists such as Korn, Poppy, and Kim Dracula, resonating with fans of genre-bending alternative metal.

'Giving The People What They Want' is an alternative metal track with strong nu metal influences in the verses, progressive guitar layering in the choruses accompanied by hardcore-style vocals, and pre-choruses built around deathcore-like breakdowns. It perfectly captures LUTHER’s vision of metal music: the embrace of metal's archetypes to create something exciting, dynamic, maybe a little weird, but definitely never boring.
 
“I’ll give the people what they want!”, shouted just before a drop, encapsulates the lyrical meaning of the track. If life dooms you to constant rejection, endless challenges, and unfair circumstances, find self-realization in romanticizing and dramatizing your role as an entertainer. You might even discover that you’re the best at it!

The single’s production, mixing, and mastering were handled by Enrico Tiberi, current vocalist of The Ocean Collective.

LUTHER was founded at the end of 2024 by musicians who already had a history in Berlin’s underground metal and alternative scene. In 2025, the band debuted with its first single, 'Next Time Send a Killer', a song that generated unexpected organic engagement across social media and streaming platforms.

LUTHER have just played Rock for People 2026 in the Czech Republic, have been announced for Reeperbahn Festival 2026, and were recently invited to a double-set show in Quebec City, Canada, for the Envol et Macadam Festival, headlined by Bad Religion and Hatebreed.
 
LUTHER’s upcoming debut album is rumoured to draw influence from bands such as Korn, Loathe, Grayhaven, The Mars Volta, and System Of A Down. Stay tuned if that’s your thing.

LUTHER live:
03.07.26: Rocktreff Festival | BERLIN (DE)
14.08.26: Beer’n’Breakdowns Festival | BRANDENBURG (DE)
05.09.26: Local Core Festival | HAMBURG (DE)
10-12.09.26: Envol et Macadam Festival (headlined by Bad Religion and Hatebreed) | QUEBEC CITY (CA)
18.09.26: Reeperbahn Festival | HAMBURG (DE)
26.10.26: Female Fronted Is Not a Genre Festival | BERLIN (DE)

LUTHER online:

https://lutherofficial.com
https://www.instagram.com/luther_band
https://www.tiktok.com/@luther.band

From Richmond, Virginia, SHY, LOW have a reputation as one of the most compelling voices within the modern instrumental underground. Their music speaks to fans of post-rock's emotional grandeur and post-metal's crushing intensity alike, while simultaneously appealing to listeners drawn to experimental, atmospheric, and cinematic forms of heavy music. The band's ability to merge these seemingly disparate qualities has resulted in a body of work that is immediately recognizable and continually evolving.

Today, the group announce their new album Purity Spiral, to be released 16th October via Pelagic Records. They have also unveiled the first single from the record, 'The Bloat'.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/CEqLw2fmN3c

Stream the single here: https://orcd.co/shylow

With ‘Purity Spiral‘, SHY, LOW continue their trajectory of artistic expansion and their fascination with movement, tension, and transformation, embracing a sound that is meticulously crafted and noticeably heavier; with devastating results. Building vast emotional landscapes through dynamic contrasts, layered textures, and patient, cinematic evolution, SHY, LOW use immersive repetition and tectonic weight to build tension through evolving patterns. While often associated with post-rock and post-metal, their music reaches beyond the familiar boundaries of either genre, drawing equally from cinematic atmosphere, crushing heaviness, ambient minimalism, and the emotional sweep of modern instrumental composition.

Luminous melodies, driving heaviness, layered textures, and carefully controlled tension allows Purity Spiral to move effortlessly between fragile moments of introspection and towering passages of intensity. Whether constructing intricate layers of harmony or driving songs toward explosive climaxes, there is a deep understanding of pacing, atmosphere, and the power of restraint. Momentum is at the heart of this album, through intricate rhythmic detail, and explosive bursts of energy, drums become the anchor and catalyst, supporting the band's expansive arrangements while pushing them toward moments of cathartic release. 

What distinguishes SHY, LOW is their ability to balance enormity with restraint. Their music unfolds patiently, allowing tension to accumulate through layers of texture, melody, and dynamics. Moments of delicate clarity often coexist with overwhelming weight, creating a sense of organic motion. At the core of the band's sound lies an acute understanding of contrast. From shimmering, expansive passages to towering walls of distortion, the rhythm section provides both propulsion and atmosphere, becoming integral narrative voices that shape the emotion. 

There is a disciplined sense of purpose in their writing, an understanding that every note serves a larger arc. SHY, LOW thrives in the space between introspection and catharsis, where subtle details become as impactful as the heaviest climaxes, and listeners are taken on a journey that is as visceral as it is profound. 

Line-up:

Dylan Partridge - Drums
Gregg Peterson - Guitar
Drew Storcks - Bass
Zak Bryant – Guitar
Kai Zamora – Guitar 

SHY, LOW online:
PELAGIC ARTIST * FACEBOOK * INSTAGRAM * BANDCAMP * SPOTIFY

Tracklisting: 

1.    Grace
2.    The Bloat 
3.    Palmistry 
4.    Burning Fields
5.    The Charging, Brazen Bull
6.    Purity Spiral 
7.    Greenwood

Leading destination music festival producer Danny Wimmer Presents has announced 2027 dates for Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival. The Pinnacle of Rock Festivals in America returns to Historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio 13-16 May 2027.
 
Sonic Temple 4-Day General Admission Field, Stadium and Plus passes, as well as VIP, Rock Royalty and Columbus Owners Club passes go on sale Monday, June 29 at 10:00 AM ET along with RV camping passes and 4-Day shuttle and parking passes. Fans are encouraged to visit the festival website to sign up for the subscriber presale beginning Friday 26 June at 10:00 AM ET, and Jampack hotel packages are available NOW at this link.
 
Fans can secure their spot for as little as $1 down, with flexible layaway options available. Service fees on all pass purchases include a charity fee for the DWP Foundation, which gives back to local and national charities throughout the year.
 
In 2026, Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival hosted a sold-out, record-breaking event with 184,000 music fans and nearly 145 bands on 5 stages including My Chemical Romance, Shinedown, Bring Me The Horizon and Tool, plus Pierce The Veil, Staind, Good Charlotte, Godsmack, Breaking Benjamin, Sublime, Marilyn Manson, Megadeth and many more.
 
Beyond the music, one of Sonic Temple's most distinctive elements is its celebration of visual art, turning the festival into a living gallery. Featured artists in 2026 included illustrator and cartoonist Jay Howell, the creative mind behind Bob's Burgers, and contemporary painter Terry Urban, known for his vibrant pop-meets-street style—plus Secret Walls, the world's premier live paint battle, where global street artists go head-to-head creating live murals in real time.
 
Sonic Temple 2026 received widespread media acclaim. Here’s a sample:
 
“With record attendance at this year’s festival, the enormous turn-out and vibes just cement the sense that Sonic Temple is fast becoming the spiritual home of metal in the US.” — Metal Hammer
 
“Sonic Temple never fails to deliver one of the year's biggest spotlights on modern hard rock and metal and this year is no different.” — Loudwire
 
“Sonic Temple just delivered another massive four-day concert event that found more than 140 acts treating heavy music fans to a hell of a show.” — Revolver
 
“Sonic Temple 2026 spread its wings over Historic Crew Stadium with a roar that made all its previous editions sound like a warm-up, shattering attendance records and confirming that DWP’s empire of rock and metal festivals has yet to find its ceiling. Columbus keeps answering the call, and Sonic Temple keeps redefining what answering it looks like. “ — Metal Injection
 
“With record-breaking attendance … and a lineup that read like a living archive of heavy music’s past, present, and future, Sonic Temple didn’t just return, it expanded its footprint as one of America’s most essential hard rock festivals.” — Consequence
 
In 2025, producer Danny Wimmer Presents (DWP) solidified its long-term commitment to Columbus by announcing a five-year extension of its partnership with the Historic Crew Stadium, ensuring that the Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival will continue through at least 2030. This milestone not only secures the future of one of the nation’s most iconic rock festivals but also underscores the event’s growing cultural and economic impact on the region.
 
For more information on Sonic Temple Art + Music Festival, visit:
 
Website: https://sonictemplefestival.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/sonictemplefestival | @SonicTempleFestival
Twitter: www.twitter.com/sonictemplefest | @SonicTempleFest
Instagram: www.instagram.com/sonictemplefestival | @SonicTempleFestival

Sonic Temple 2026, photo: Sam Shapiro

Photo Credit: Jack Lue

Following a breakout year that saw Dogma sell out every European headlining show, complete their largest Latin American tour to date, and continue their rapid international ascent, the band return today with their highly anticipated new single 'My Matricidal'.

Watch the video here: https://youtu.be/1f6GEWdSz-s

Stream the single here: https://ffm.to/mymatricidal

'My Matricidal' is a theatrical collision of aggressive guitars, ritualistic percussion, haunting cinematic soundscape, soaring vocal performances, and a relentless series of sonic blows that steadily escalate toward a towering climax. The result is a dark, emotionally charged composition that expands the band's signature blend of hard rock, metal, and provocative storytelling.

Accompanying the single is an ambitious new music video that expands the narrative introduced in 'Fate Unblinds', revealing another key piece of the puzzle while raising new questions about everything that came before.

Regarding the new release, Lilith comments, "The themes explored in ‘My Matricidal’ are not really about betrayal. They are about recognition. There comes a moment in every person's life when something they believed, trusted, or accepted can no longer withstand reality. Most people spend their energy focusing on the deception itself, but I think the more important question is what happens after the truth becomes impossible to ignore. Some people retreat into anger or denial. Others choose to learn from it and move forward with greater clarity. That moment of choice has always fascinated me because it ultimately shapes the direction of a person's life. The truth reveals itself in time. What you do with it is your responsibility. You shape your fate."

The release arrives at a pivotal moment in Dogma's continued growth. During the first half of 2026, the band completed its largest European and Latin American touring cycle to date, performing for thousands of fans across both continents. Every European headlining show sold out, including appearances in London, Manchester, Wolverhampton, Bristol, Eindhoven, Hamburg, and Munich.

The momentum continues this summer as Dogma return to Europe for appearances at major festivals including Copenhell, Basinfire, Tuska, Rockharz, Rock Imperium, and Resurrection Fest, alongside a special headlining performance in Istanbul.

As anticipation surrounding 'My Matricidal' continues to grow, Dogma maintain a single position: The truth reveals itself in time.

Upcoming festival dates:
Jun 29: Istanbul, Türkiye · Blind
Jul 2: Ballenstedt, Germany - Rockharz Festival
Jul 4: Viveiro, Spain · Resurrection Fest
Jul 5: Cartagena, Spain · El Batel Park

Dogma online:
Instagram
TikTok
Facebook
YouTube

Prince of Failure, the new collaborative project from Daniel Tompkins (TesseracT) and Paul Ortiz (Chimp Spanner), celebrate the release of their debut self-titled album (KScope) with new video 'Phantom'. 

Watch 'Phantom' here: https://youtu.be/Qi78tmWmvRE

Marking a significant shift in Daniel Tompkins’ creative world, Prince of Failure was written and developed over several years with Paul Ortiz (Chimp Spanner) and traces a long internal process rather than a single moment of inspiration. The material reflects on neurodivergence, masking, and the psychological weight of living out of alignment with expectation - themes that shape both the narrative and the sound of the record. 

Order Prince of Failure here: https://princeoffailure.lnk.to/Prince_Of_Failure

Daniel Tompkins explains: "'Phantom' explores the fight against the darker forces that live both within and around us. It’s about being haunted by destructive impulses, temptation, and the feeling of losing control to something that seems impossible to escape. Within the wider story of the album, it represents a descent into chaos - the moment where the
protagonist is forced to confront the parts of himself he’s tried to suppress, only to realise that the battle may already be consuming him. Themes of conflict, self-destruction, and overwhelming power run throughout the song, creating a sense of inevitable collapse as everything begins to burn around him.

"The idea behind 'Phantom' was to capture that feeling of being at war with yourself - when your own thoughts and desires become the enemy. There’s this constant tension between resisting and surrendering, and the song lives in that space. It’s 
aggressive, chaotic, and ultimately about facing the consequences of forces you can no longer control."

Musically, the album develops the atmosphere of Daniel Tompkins’ earlier solo work into darker, more reflective territory. Paul’s spacious arrangements, electronic textures and powerful guitar work sit alongside intimate, close-mic vocals, creating a strong sense of immediacy without sacrificing the dynamic scope associated with Tompkins’ progressive background and work with TesseracT. The pacing is restrained and deliberate with interludes and recurring motifs reinforcing the feeling of a continuous psychological arc.

The decision to release the record under the name Prince of Failure reflects the collaborative identity of the project and separates it from Tompkins’ previous roles. It allows the work to exist on its own terms, without reference to past expectations. The Prince of Failure now stands as an official creative partnership between Tompkins and Ortiz, a shared vision with long-term intent.

Prince of Failure online:
https://www.facebook.com/princeoffailure
https://www.instagram.com/prince.of.failure

TRACKLISTING:
1. The Glass Veil [01:38]
2. Dream Stealer [05:20]
3. Moonlight [04:09]
4. Phantom [04:01]
5. Fragile Crown [03:14]
6. Saturn’s Shadow [04:16]
7. Silent Throne [04:50]
8. Horizon (feat. Kristyn Hope) [05:08]
9. Palace of Echoes [00:42]
10. Prince of Failure [03:39]
11. Heartless [03:36]
12. Jaded Mantra [05:43]

Photo Credit: Dubravka Rasic

Greek heavy rock visionaries VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY return with Venceremos, their bold and immersive new studio album, set for release on 18th September via Napalm Records. Expanding their sonic universe beyond its roots, the band delivers their most ambitious and conceptually driven work to date, blending heavy rock, progressive metal, distinct folk and Hellenic textures into a raw, direct and intense listening experience. They have also unveiled the first single, 'Ghosts in the sky'.

Watch the video for 'Ghosts in the sky' here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2qPiHWztsE

Pre-Order Venceremos HERE

Stream new single 'Ghosts in the sky' HERE

Set in a dystopian future shaped by illusion, control and fear, Venceremos unfolds as a journey through exile, resistance and awakening. It follows those who rise against a broken world, rejecting gods and modern kings in order to reclaim freedom and meaning. Through struggles, hopes, fears and deep reflections on existence, one truth remains constant: the quest is one, and its name is freedom.

Driven by epic guitars, pulsating basslines and layered traditional instrumentation, VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY’s first single 'Ghosts in the sky' builds a dense, immersive atmosphere where powerful heavy rock meets ritualistic psychedelia.

““Ghosts in the sky” is the vessel that carries all our hopes and dreams“, the band reveal. “It is a call to stand together in the face of fear, where hope travels like a distant star and freedom is worth every fight. It’s about defiance, unity, and believing in change, even when everybody says it won’t come.“

Rather than bending to trends, VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY sharpen their identity. The upcoming album presents itself as heavy, direct and intense, driven by a raw and immediate energy. It leans decisively into heavy rock and metal, pushing into more aggressive territory while unfolding with a genuinely progressive spirit, where each composition evolves with purpose and depth.
Ritualistic rhythms, expansive arrangements and traditional instrumentation such as bagpipes and zourna are not mere embellishments, but essential elements of the band’s sonic language. Folk and Hellenic elements meet powerful riffs and dynamic structures in a sound that feels direct, distinctive and entirely their own.

Produced and recorded by Alex Karametis at Magnanimous X Studio in Greece, and mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios, Venceremos captures clarity and depth in equal measure. With this release, VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY deliver a powerful statement and a journey through darkness, defiance and the unbreakable force of rebellion. As one of the key names in post-stoner and heavy prog rock, the band once again reinforces their place within the scene, with Venceremos standing as a defining step in their ongoing evolution.

In support of Venceremos, VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY will play an album release show in Athens taking place on September 20 at the Lycabettus Theatre, one of the city's most legendary open-air venues, before the band embarks on a series of shows across Greece's major cities and an extensive European Tour in March 2027 with dates to be announced soon.

VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY online:
Website: https://www.vic-band.com/epk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/villagersofioanninacity
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/villagersofioanninacity
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-de/artist/0N8D2mPKMd3MWIhqdfpTBp
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/vicband2010
 
VILLAGERS OF IOANNINA CITY are:
Alex Karametis – Vocals, Guitars, Synths
Akis Zois – Bass
Aris Giannopoulos – Drums
Dimitris Brentas – Winds

Venceremos tracklist:
1. Alienation
2. Home
3. Ghosts in the sky
4. Venceremos
5. The Ruiner
6. No fear
7. Here and now
8. Epitaph
9. Requiem

Venceremos will be available in the following formats:
- 1CD Digipack
- 2LP Gatefold Black 
- 2LP Gatefold Solid White (Limited to 500 Copies, Greece Only)
- 2LP Gatefold Solid Baby Blue (Limited to 500 Copies, Germany/Austria/Switzerland Only)
- Full Digital Album
 Napalm Records Webstore/s:
- 2LP Gatefold Testpressing LP-sized Booklet, Covercard (numbered), Certificate of Authenticity (numbered, dated), Limited to 50 Copies Only
- 2LP Gatefold Circle  Translucent Red, Black Vinyl Booklet 20 pages (Limited to 300 Copies)
- 2LP Gatefold Circle Translucent Red, White (Limited to 300 Copies)
 Band Store Exclusive:
- 2LP Gatefold Marbled Cristallo Gold Black (Limited to 300 Copies)
- 2LP Gatefold Marbled White Gold Black (Limited to 300 Copies)

Canadian hardcore heavyweights Get The Shot return with one of their most punishing and emotionally devastating tracks to date: 'FEED ME TO THE PIGS.'

Watch the visualiser here: https://youtu.be/fwTQjOZltCQ

Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/gettheshot

A relentless collision of self destruction, regret and psychological collapse, the new single sees the Québec City outfit pushing their trademark blend of hardcore, thrash infused aggression and metallic brutality to its absolute breaking point. Fueled by blistering drums, razor sharp riffs and vocals that sound moments away from complete implosion, 'FEED ME TO THE PIGS' is a suffocating descent into the darkest corners of the human psyche.

Lyrically, the track confronts the vicious cycle of becoming complicit in your own downfall. Themes of anxiety, insecurity, self sabotage and emotional exhaustion are laid bare with uncompromising honesty. Every crushing breakdown and every desperate scream amplifies the feeling of being trapped inside a mind at war with itself, chasing relief while sinking deeper into the very patterns that caused the pain in the first place.

For more than fifteen years, Get The Shot have established themselves as one of the most respected and explosive forces in modern hardcore. Formed in Québec City in 2009, the band has built its reputation through relentless touring, uncompromising records and an intense live show that has earned them a dedicated global following. With millions of streams across digital platforms and a growing international fanbase, Get The Shot have become one of Canada's premier hardcore exports.

Over the years, the band has shared stages with genre heavyweights including Lionheart, Comeback Kid, Nasty and Deez Nuts while performing at major festivals across Europe and North America. Their crushing fusion of hardcore, thrash metal and metallic aggression has resonated far beyond the underground, earning them a reputation for delivering both uncompromising records and unforgettable live performances.

Known for continuously pushing their sound forward, Get The Shot have evolved across acclaimed releases such as No Peace In Hell, Infinite Punishment and Merciless Destruction. Since joining the Arising Empire roster, the band has expanded its global reach while staying true to the raw intensity, authenticity and conviction that have defined its identity from day one.

'FEED ME TO THE PIGS' captures everything that has made Get The Shot a standout name in heavy music. Unfiltered rage, crushing heaviness and a willingness to expose uncomfortable truths collide in a track that feels both devastatingly personal and universally relatable. Beneath its violent exterior lies a portrait of someone trapped in an endless struggle against their own reflection, desperately searching for meaning while spiraling deeper into chaos.

The result is one of the band's most urgent and emotionally charged songs to date. Every riff cuts deeper, every breakdown lands harder and every vocal line feels like a final cry from the edge. Balancing raw aggression with an undeniable sense of vulnerability, 'FEED ME TO THE PIGS' showcases Get The Shot at their most visceral, uncompromising and authentic.

Brutal, cathartic and unapologetically honest, 'FEED ME TO THE PIGS' stands as a powerful reminder of why Get The Shot remain one of the leading voices in contemporary hardcore. As the band continues to push its sound forward and reach new audiences worldwide, this latest single proves that their fire burns hotter than ever

Get The Shot online:
https://www.instagram.com/gettheshothc