Photo Credit: David Cleland

PREYRS, a visceral new force in alternative rock and metal, have unveiled their new single 'Bring Ur Bruises', taken from their mesmeric debut album, The Wounded Healer, out 14th November via Pelagic Records. 

Stream and pre-order here: https://orcd.co/preyrs

'Bring Ur Bruises' radiates resplendent, self-empowering positivity. Centred on the concept of the wounded healer, 'Bring Ur Bruises' implores the listener to welcome their trauma in, to own it and wear it as a paradoxical means of ultimately letting it go as triumphant, reverb-soaked guitars soar ever higher.

PREYRS are the brainchild of Belfast rock artist Amy Montgomery and drummer/producer Michael Mormecha. Fusing raw alternative rock energy with the weight of metal, the quartet's music is an electrifying clash of aggression and euphoria, darkness and uplift, chaos and control. Elements of artists as disparate as Nine Inch Nails, Chelsea Wolfe, Sonic Youth, and Julie Christmas combine to delirious and heady effect.

Busking on the streets of Belfast from the age of 15, Amy Montgomery met multi-instrumentalist Michael Mormecha a few years later and they’ve been working together ever since. Both songwriters in their own right, Michael fronted renowned Irish post-hardcore outfit Mojo Fury and worked as a producer for artists including The Bonnevilles, Mojo Fury and Joshua Burnside. They're joined as PREYRS by longtime guitarist Nolan Donelly and new bass player Ciarán McGreevy.

Known for electrifying live performances, PREYRS made their UK festival debut at Bloodstock Open Air this August, as well as appearing at Stendhal Festival in Ireland. Nominated as 'Best Live Act' and 'Best Artist' at the Northern Ireland Music Prize, Amy’s undeniably fierce and captivating frontperson energy has been her secret weapon often described as ‘otherworldly’ or ‘a force of nature’. For those seeking the epic, the healing, the aggressive and the unrelenting pulse of alternative rock and metal, PREYRS are it.

PREYRS will be supporting punk legends New Model Army across Europe this winter. 

November 
11 Legend Club, Milan IT (Supporting New Model Army) 
12 Fri-Son, Fribourg CH (Supporting New Model Army) 
13 Halle 02, Heidelberg DE (Supporting New Model Army) 
14 Sudhaus, Tübingen DE (Supporting New Model Army) 
15 Meet Factory, Prague CZ (Supporting New Model Army) 
17 Werk2, Leipzig DE (Supporting New Model Army) 
18 Capitol, Hannover DE (Supporting New Model Army) 
19 Aladdin Music Hall, Bremen DE (Supporting New Model Army) 
20 Jovel, Munster DE (Supporting New Model Army) 
21 Venlo, Grenswerk NL (Supporting New Model Army) 
28 Kyttaro, Athens GR (Supporting New Model Army) 
29 Mylos Club, Thessaloniki GR(Supporting New Model Army) 

December 
20 Palladium, Cologne DE (Supporting New Model Army) 
21 Melkweg, Amsterdam NL (Supporting New Model Army) 

PREYRS are:

Amy Montgomery - Vocals
Micheal Mormecha - Drums
Nolan Donelly - Guitars
Ciarán McGreevy - Bass

INSTAGRAM • FACEBOOK • SPOTIFY • PELAGIC ARTIST PAGE

1. Humble Eyes
2. Wave Of Wisdom
3. Into The Blue
4. Zeros, Ones & Lies
5. Bring Ur Bruises
6. Crucify
7. Change Change
8. Nova
9. W.D.I.F.L?
10. Life Is Kind

Photo Credit: Sofia Ruda

With their fourth album Viribus Unitis out on 14th November via Napalm Records, Ukrainian death metal force 1914 return with their second single -'1914 (The Siege of Przemyśl)'. Thundering doom riffs collide with ghostly historical recordings, plunging listeners into the longest siege of World War I, where the Austro-Hungarian army faced crushing defeat. Once again, 1914 make history bleed through every note, grim, grand and utterly devastating.

Watch the video for '1914 (The Siege of Przemyśl)' here: https://youtu.be/q2f4795RQko

Pre-order Viribus Unitis here: http://lnk.to/1914-ViribusUnitis/napalmrecords

k.u.k. Galizisches IR Nr.15, Gefreiter, Ditmar Kumarberg about '1914 (The Siege of Przemyśl)':
“Trapped behind fortress walls: In the icy grip of World War I, 130,000 Austro-Hungarian soldiers found themselves surrounded, starving, and desperate inside the mighty fortress of Przemyśl. From September 1914 to March 1915, the Russian army laid siege, pounding the city with artillery and choking off supplies. Months passed. Food ran out. Horses, dogs, even rats, became rations. Disease spread. Morale crumbled. And then… surrender. One of the greatest capitulations of the war. The once-proud fortress fell, handing Russia a symbolic victory on the Eastern Front. But victory was fleeting! A short-term win for Russia, but the tides turned again when the Central Powers retook the city later that year. War shows no mercy.”

Viribus Unitis deepens 1914’s commitment to historical authenticity, both lyrically and conceptually. Told through the personal accounts of a Ukrainian soldier in the K.u.K. army, the album follows  real events, tracing a timeline from 1914 to 1919, and paints a grim journey through the war’s rise, climax and hollow aftermath.

With Viribus Unitis, Latin for “With United Forces”, 1914 once again attest their unflinching brutality. More than just the personal motto of Franz Joseph I, the former emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, this title directly speaks to the band’s resilience through war, loss, and upheaval, a powerful symbol of survival and solidarity. The album builds on the band’s acclaimed conceptual approach, reaching new emotional depths and musical intensity.
 
Continuing their chronicle of World War I, 1914 shift their focus from the raw portrayal of death and destruction, to exploring themes of camaraderie, endurance, and the emotional landscapes of those who endured the horrors of trench warfare. While previous releases like The Blind Leading the Blind (2018) and Where Fear and Weapons Meet (2021) centered on the futility and finality of war, Viribus Unitis exemplifies the interpersonal bonds forged under fire and the strength of those warriors who made it home: broken, changed, yet still alive.
 
Musically, 1914 remain true to their identity, a brutal mixture of blackened death metal, slow-burning doom, and ambient war soundscapes. This time, however, their sound gains a broader dynamic range, with soaring melodic leads, orchestral textures, and haunting clean vocals that provide dramatic contrast to the crushing heaviness. 

1914 about Viribus Unitis: "Viribus Unitis is about shared strength and the idea that true power lies in unity. Alone, one may fall, together, we can prevail and achieve our goals: Defeat the enemy, escape captivity, survive and return to your family. We return with a new story. A story of life and military valor of a soldier who encountered the Great War in his native city of Lviv and went through it all. Side by side, with joint efforts of Ukrainians, Poles, Hungarians, Slovenes, Czechs, Slovaks, Jews, Croats, Bosniaks, Germans – all the peoples who made up the vast Austro-Hungarian Empire. Empires did not count people – they threw them into meat grinders where survival was only possible through unity. By helping one another. By sacrificing yourself for the sake of your loved ones and comrades.
 
"This is a story of being blinded by war and the grandeur of the empire, of the heat of battle, realisation and acceptance of reality, awakening, changing values, captivity, and liberation. It is a story of unbreakable will to live and hope amidst a terrifying and bloody war. It is a story of a new little life that changes all the rules and forces one to see the familiar from a different perspective. It is a story of love. It is a story of loss and death. Viribus Unitis is when pain, death, loss, loneliness and fear encircle you. But you’re still unbroken!"

One of the album’s highlights is a collaboration with Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride and High Parasite on '1918 Pt. 3: ADE (A Duty to Escape)', whose mournful voice adds a solemn, almost liturgical quality to this elegy of grief and brotherhood on the front lines. Viribus Unitis deepens 1914’s commitment to historical authenticity, both lyrically and conceptually. Told through real events and personal accounts of a Ukrainian soldier in the K.u.K. Army, the album traces a timeline from 1914 to 1919, painting a grim journey through the war’s rise, climax, and hollow aftermath. From the brooding opener 'War In' to the bleak closer 'War Out (The End?)', each track captures a moment in time: the brutal '1914 (The Siege of Przemyśl)', the frostbitten '1915 (Zwinin Ridge)', the crushing Alpine combat of '1916 (Südtirol Offensive)', and the madness of '1918 Pt. 2: POW (Prisoner of War)' featuring Christopher Scott of Precious Death. The album ends with '1919 (The Home Where I Died)', featuring Rome’s Jerome Reuter, a haunting portrait of a soldier who survived the war, but not its shadow. This emotional song deals with the soldier's will to live and his family values, seeing him escape from captivity to finally return home to embrace his wife and daughter. 1914 fuse blackened death metal, doom, and atmospheric textures with dramatic flourishes and guest vocals, creating their most dynamic and emotionally resonant record to date.

1914 are:
K.K. LIR. Lemberg Nr.19 Fähnrich, Rostislaw Potoplacht – Drums
k.u.k. Galizisches IR Nr.15, Gefreiter, Ditmar Kumarberg – Vocals
K.K. LIR Czernowitz Nr.22 Oberleutnant, Witaly Wyhovsky – Guitar
K.K. LIR Stanislau Nr.20 Zugsführer, Oleksa Fisiuk – Guitar
k.u.k. Galizisch-Bukowina’sches IR Nr.24, Feldwebel, Armen Howhannisjan – Bass

1914 online:
INSTAGRAM
FACEBOOK
NAPALM RECORDS

Viribus Unitis track list:

1. War In (The Beginning of the Fall)
2. 1914 (The Siege of Przemyśl)
3. 1915 (Easter Battle for the Zwinin Ridge)
4. 1916 (The Südtirol Offensive)
5. 1917 (The Isonzo Front)
6. 1918 Pt 1: WIA (Wounded in Action)
7. 1918 Pt 2: POW (Prisoner of War)
8. 1918 Pt 3: ADE (A duty to escape)
9. 1919 (The Home Where I Died)
10. War Out (The End?)

Viribus Unitis will be available in the following formats

- 2-LP Gatefold Vinyl Hardcover Book MARBLED ORANGE/BLACK/RED, incl. 72p Booklet – strictly limited to 500 copies worldwide
- 3-LP Gatefold Vinyl MARBLED CRISTALLO/GOLD, incl. Bonus Vinyl* – strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
- Wooden Box Edition, incl. Digipack, Bonus CD*, Flag, Pendant, 4 Cards – strictly limited to 300 copies worldwide (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
- 2-LP Gatefold BLACK
- Black Vinyl & Shirt Bundle (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
- Digipack & Shirt Bundle (Napalm Records Mailorder only)
- 4 Page Digipack
- Digital Album
 
*incl. the following bonus tracks:
1 War In
2 Die Karpathenschlacht (Rework 2025)
3 Die Karpathenschlacht (Ship Her Son RMX)
4 8 × 50 mm R. Infanterie Repetiergewehr M.95 (Rework 2025)
5 8 × 50 mm R. Infanterie Repetiergewehr M.95 (Kadaitcha RMX)
6 War out

Photo Credit: Niklas Karlsson

Beware of the antlers!
 
Ahead of their acclaimed and awaited new album, Death Above Life, (3rd October via Century Media), Sweden’s Orbit Culture release new single 'Bloodhound'.

Watch the nightmarish, horror movie influenced video by their longtime partners Riivata Visuals here: https://youtu.be/YPTAlZOH0jU
 
The band comment: "'Bloodhound' is probably the angriest song we’ve written to date. We’ve always been somewhat reluctant to use explicit language in our music - maybe out of habit, maybe out of respect, I honestly don’t know. But when that opening riff came to life, it just had this raw, primal energy that demanded something more. The song sounded furious from the start, and to match that intensity, we knew it was time to break our own rules and let the anger speak freely.

"The lyrics came together faster than almost anything we’ve done before. It was like this outburst - a childlike hammering of aggression onto the page. Usually, we try to keep ourselves in check, to polish things a bit. But this track is the 1% of the time where we didn’t. Where we couldn’t.

"'Bloodhound' is about anger - at people, at situations, at an industry that often exploits the very people trying to make it within it. It’s about the cycle of revenge, the moments of acceptance, and then the anger flaring up again because nothing really changes. This song is about reclaiming your voice, your power, your worth. It’s about calling out the bloodsuckers, the manipulators — and making sure they don’t get to take from you anymore."
 
Death Above Life is finally out tomorrow, 3rd October 2025. ”The album represents change, a new beginning,” says guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Niklas Karlsson. “It brings up a lot of good and bad emotions but it’s a big change for the better. It feels like a rebirth.”
 
International media feedback has been nothing short of glowing, following selected quotes:

“With an album as strong as this, Orbit Culture really should now be considered as legitimate contenders for heavy music’s next big breakthrough band for fans of modern, but classically inspired, metal, much like Lamb Of God and Machine Head have been in the past.” - Metal Hammer UK
 
Album of the month! “Orbit Culture have grown from an insider tip to the next big thing in just a few years, and Death Above Life is just the next logical step to success. That aside, it's also a damn good record. Melodies, heaviness, sophisticated songwriting – simply seductive.” - Metal Hammer DE
 
“Bigger, heavier, more ambitious: Orbit Culture bulk up and make a bid for greatness on fifth album.” - Kerrang!
 
“The new songs are even darker, harder and more visually powerful, creating a truly oppressive atmosphere with their heavy industrial grooves, cool modern thrash and subtle death metal harmonies with a Gothenburg influence. Orbit Culture offer innovative, contemporary metal that has a breathtakingly high standard.” - Rock Hard DE

Purchase Death Above Life here: https://orbitcultureband.lnk.to/DeathAboveLife-Album

Celebrating the release of Death Above Life, Orbit Culture will be meeting fans to sign copies of the album at HMV Vault, Birmingham on 3rd October at 5pm. Click here to reserve for space and for information: https://hmv.com/Live/Orbit-Culture

Orbit Culture have already released three songs and videos taken from Death Above Life, Hydra, the album title track, 'The Tales of War' and 'Nerve'.

Following their triumphant main stage set at Download Festival, Orbit Culture return to the UK this November on the Death Above Life tour. Catch them on the following dates, with Gaerea and Atlas in support:

08 Nov: Damnation Festival, Manchester
10 Nov: NX, Newcastle
11 Nov: SWG3, Glasgow
12 Nov: Stylus, Leeds
14 Nov: KK's Steel Mill Wolverhampton
15 Nov: Electric, Bristol
16 Nov: Electric Ballroom, London

Hailing from the small town of Eksjö, Sweden (located between the revered metal cities of Gothenburg and Stockholm), the quartet (guitarist and vocalist Niklas Karlsson, guitarist Richard Hansson, bassist Fredrik Lennartsson and drummer Christopher Wallerstedt) have grown into a global force, melding together riffs that are equal parts thrash, death metal and industrial with arresting hooks and a layered atmosphere that invites comparison to Gojira, Metallica and Static-X while carving out something that is uniquely their own.

Orbit Culture’s 2023 album Descent and their subsequent EP release The Forgotten topped many year-end lists in 2023, including Metal Hammer who described the album as: “a formidable entwining of modern metal’s most effective and exciting strands into an impressive milestone.” Exhaustive worldwide touring and a steady stream of crowd-pummeling festival slots across the globe, have set the stage for something much larger. 

Orbit Culture are a band poised. They are the sound of metal in the most modern sense.

Orbit Culture are:
Niklas Karlsson - guitar / vocals
Richard Hansson - guitar
Fredrik Lennartsson - bass
Christopher Wallerstedt - drums

Orbit Culture online:
https://www.orbitculture.com/
https://www.facebook.com/OrbitCulture/
https://www.instagram.com/orbitculture
twitter.com/orbitculture
https://www.youtube.com/user/OrbitCultureOfficial
https://www.tiktok.com/@orbitcultureofficial

Track list:
1. Inferna
2. Bloodhound
3. Inside The Waves
4. The Tales Of War
5. Hydra
6. Nerve
7. Death Above Life
8. The Storm
9. Neural Collapse
10. The Path I Walk

Death Above Life comes in various formats and is up for pre-order:
Ltd. CD Digipak
Gatefold black 2LP
Ltd. Gatefold greenish ReVinyl 2LP (600x) via cmdistro.de & selected Indie retailers, Orbit Culture & MerchCare
Ltd. Gatefold transp. red 2LP (500x) via Levykuappa Äx (FIN), HMV (UK) & in France
Ltd. Gatefold neon yellow-black marbled 2LP (500x) via EMP
Ltd. Gatefold Sparkle Starlight 2LP (500x) via Orbit Culture & MerchCare SOLD OUT
Ltd. Gatefold transp. light blue-black marbled 2LP (500x) via Orbit Culture live on EU tour
Gatefold fruit punch 2LP (US version)
Ltd. Gatefold transp. coke bottle green 2LP (US version) (1000x) via all US Indie retailers
Ltd. Gatefold white 2LP (US version) (300x) via Revolver Magazine
Ltd. Gatefold metallic golden 2LP (US version) (500x) via centurymedia.store, Orbit Culture & Night Shift Merch
Ltd. Gatefold black-grey marble 2LP (US version) (500x) via Orbit Culture & Night Shift Merch
Standard CD Jewelcase (Japan)
Digital Album

Photo Credit: Oli Duncanson

Known for their eclectic mix of synth-heavy melodies and crushing riffs, fronted by the sultry and androgynous tones of singer Cherry Duesbury, Defences have taken what we all love about metalcore to the next level. Over 10 years, 2 EPs and 3 LPs, the underlying theme of the necessity for introspection, self-reflection and finding your inner strength bears strong. Self-acceptance-core at its finest.

Today, the band from Hertfordshire, UK, return with their new single 'Lithium Kiss'.

Watch the video to 'Lithium Kiss' here: https://youtu.be/ot_rVLHvYfY

Stream the single here: https://defences.lnk.to/lithiumkiss

"The inspiration for 'Lithium Kiss' came from one of our members’ personal experience being prescribed the mood-stabiliser Lithium for a couple of years, and the frustrations and difficulties that came along with the benefits," comment Defences. "When treatment stopped, rather than feeling like before, there was instead a feeling of being almost hyper-rational, rather than feeling like they could react instinctively and naturally. 'Lithium Kiss' is NOT about not taking your medication and taking care of yourself and we would never want it to come across that way. It’s instead a crystallization of a paranoia that we are consumed by illness and treatment, adversity and reconciliation. The Lithium Kiss is our way of referring to this relationship, the symbiotic necessity for difficulty to bring about individual growth, whilst ensuring that it does not come to consume you."

Following the single release, Defences embark on an extensive UK & European tour. 

Defences live supporting RØRY:
03.11. UK, Sheffield - The Foundry
04.11. UK, Newcastle Upon Tyne - Northumbria University 
06.11. UK, Liverpool - O2 Academy
07.11. UK, Southampton - O2 Guildhall
09.11. UK, Wolverhampton - KK's Steel Mill
10.11. UK, Torquay - The Foundry

Headline dates:
04.12. UK, Bristol - Rough Trade
05.12. UK, London - Downstairs at the Dome
06.12. UK, Nottingham - Bodega
08.12. UK, Manchester - The Deaf Institute

Defences have completed numerous tours across the UK and EU with several sold-out headline shows, not to mention numerous festival appearances, including The Great Escape, Download, Takedown, Turbulence and Burn It Down. They have already achieved more than 15 million streams with their releases and have been featured on some of the biggest streaming playlists.

Defences are:

Cherry Duesbury - Vocals
William Young - Keys, Vocals
Calum Wilmot - Guitar
Owen Hughes-Holland - Bass
Kyle Parke - Drums

Defences online:
FACEBOOK
YOUTUBE
INSTAGRAM
HOMEPAGE
TIKTOK

Photo Credit: VDPictures

LORD OF THE LOST break out into yet another new direction with 'One Of Us Will Be Next', the latest single from their upcoming studio album OPVS NOIR Vol. 2, out 12th December 2025 via Napalm Records. Emotionally carried by gentle piano melodies, this ballad gifts a powerful soundtrack to an aspect of life most people tend to avoid: its end. 

Watch the video for 'One Of Us Will Be Next' here: https://youtu.be/F7zSemkSiM8

Pre-order here: https://lnk.to/LOTL-OPVSNOIR

Taking a deep look at death itself, this thoughtful addition to LORD OF THE LOST’s expansive catalogue yet again manages to find hope even in the darkest of places. Chris Harms weaves his haunting vocals around the gloomy premise of our ultimate passing, turning it into an almost beautiful event – a track sure to make the upcoming OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 stand out as a worthy follow-up to the band’s summer release and trilogy opener, OPVS NOIR Vol. 1.

Chris Harms comments on 'One Of Us Will Be Next': “In the middle of a concert last year, I suddenly realized: one of us in this venue will be the next to go. On their way home that night, a few weeks later, maybe in a couple of months or years. But inevitably, one of us will be the next to die, and we will never come together again in the exact same constellation. The same goes for every family gathering, every party with friends, and even time spent as a couple. ‘One Of Us Will Be Next’ is a plea not to dwell on the past or search for happiness in a better future, but to be grateful for every moment, the present, and the company we find ourselves in at any given time—and to meet people with that very awareness. Because every word could be our last, at any moment.”

Lord Of The Lost will tour the UK in November with support from UK metal outfit Skarlett Riot and the synth-rock pioneers JULIEN-K (featuring Ryan Shuck and Amir Derakh of ORGY).

Dates:

30.10.25 UK - Wolverhampton / KK’S Steel Mill
31.10.25 UK - Manchester / O2 Ritz
01.11.25 UK - Whitby / All Tomorrows Ghosts
02.11.25 UK - Glasgow / Garage
04.11.25 UK - Belfast / Limelight 1
05.11.25 UK - Dublin / Academy
07.11.25 UK - Bristol / The Prospect Building - Crane
08.11.25 UK - London / Electric Ballroom
09.11.25 UK - Southampton / Engine Rooms

With OPVS NOIR Vol. 2, the genre-fluid six-piece delves deeper into their melancholic take on unraveling their innermost selves and adds a hopeful new layer to the wonderfully dark panorama that was opened up by OPVS NOIR Vol. 1.

Following their enchantingly colourful 'Blood & Glitter', which earned them participation in the final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 and a #1 chart entry in their native Germany, Lord of the Lost reinvent themselves yet again. With OPVS NOIR Vol. 2, another 11 heartfelt songs join the three-part cycle, tying seamlessly into Vol. 1. 

Once again produced by frontman Chris Harms in the historic Chameleon Studios, it is yet another stirring example of the Hamburg-based band’s unparalleled versatility. 

Opening with dark yet catchy 'The Fall From Grace', Lord of the Lost immediately showcases their way with grand ballroom choruses weaved into grave melodies that will continue to sit enthroned on all the varied tracks until the last note of the ballad 'Sharp Edges'. Joining in are guests ranging from scene favourites to top-tier musicians outside the metal genre. First up is Infected Rain’s Lena Scissorhands, who refines the pitch-black 'Would You Walk With Me Through Hell?' with the full range of her fierce, yet fragile vocals. Similarly, Anna Brunner of rising melodic metal stars League Of Distortion and symphonic metal band Exit Eden lends her energetic voice to 'Please Break The Silence', inducing goosebumps - every talent is an important scene in OPVS NOIR’s grimly colorful movie for the ears. The most moving collaboration is the opulent 'What Have We Become', in which experimental artist IAMX meets Chris Harms for a cathartic duet.

Completely fearless, Lord of the Lost have long since playfully risen above genre conventions and expectations. OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 mercilessly opens new doors in the band’s musical palace, yet still feels 100% at home for fans from the very beginning.

Lord Of The Lostare:
Chris Harms – Vocals, Guitar
Pi Stoffers – Guitar
Class Grenayde – Bass
Gared Dirge – Piano, Synths, Percussion, Guitar
Niklas Kahl – Drums

Lord Of The Lost online:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Tiktok 
Napalm Records 

OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 will be available in the following formats:
- 1-LP VINYL DELUXE Edition Splattered Translucent Turquoise/White, Black
With 12-page booklet. Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive (strictly limited to 200 copies worldwide)
 
- 1-LP Liquid Vinyl Turquoise, Black
with 12-page booklet. Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive (strictly limited to 200 copies worldwide)
 
- 1-LP Gatefold Cristallo
With 12-page booklet. LORDSHOP exclusive (strictly limited to 200 copies worldwide)
 
- 1-LP Gatefold Recycled Black
 
- 1-CD in paper sleeve for everyone that already own a OPVS NOIR Collectors Edition (= Earbook or Wooden Box Set)
 
- 1-CD 6-page Digisleeve
with 16-page booklet
 
- Music Cassette Noir with silver print
Napalm Records Mailorder & LORDSHOP exclusive (strictly limited to 150 copies worldwide)
 
- Digital Album
 
- DEEP DIVE Edition, containing OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 Digisleeve with 16-page booklet, USB Stick incl. 8 so called “audio stems” per song, so you can deep dive into listening to the vocals only, the guitars only, the drums only, and so on. Also perfect for musicians to create your own playthrough versions or for audio engineers to create remixes. CD and USB stick bundled in a cloth bag – Napalm Records Mailorder Europe & LORDSHOP exclusive
 
AUDIO STEMS per song:
01 Drums, Percussion and Beats
02 Bass, Bass Synths
03 Rhythm Guitars
04 Additional Guitars
05 Piano
06 Orchestra, Choir, Organ
07 Synths
08 Vocals
+ Audio Click
+ MIDI Track containing all tempo and time signature changes
 
Audio format:
WAV, 44.1 kHz, 24 Bit

OPVS NOIR Vol. 2 track list:

1. The Fall From Grace
2. Would You Walk With Me Through Hell? (feat. Infected Rain)
3. One Of Us Will Be Next
4. Walls Of Eden
5. Raveyard (feat. Käärijä)
6. The Last Star
7. What Have We Become (feat. IAMX)
8. Winter’s Dying Heart
9. Scarlight
10. Please Break The Silence (feat. Anna Brunner)
11. Sharp Edges

Photo Credit: Jaap Hubert

American blues-rock/metal guitarist and singer Eric Steckel signs to SPV Recordings and returns with new single 'When It Rains, It Pours'. 

Watch the video to 'When It Rains, It Pours' here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zW9uETIfMg

Stream the single here:
https://ericsteckel.lnk.to/whenitrainsitpours

"'When It Rains, It Pours', the first single from my upcoming 2026 album is my sonic declaration that storms are meant to be weathered, not avoided," says Eric Steckel. "It’s both a reflection of my own life and career as well as a testament to resilience and tenacity, even when - especially when - storms are on the horizon. It serves as a reminder to us all that we can find strength in the storm itself. When the rain comes, as it inevitably does, some seek shelter. Others choose to stand tall and let the storm reveal their inner strength. 'When It Rains, It Pours' is the musical reminder to channel that strength!“

The song starts with a powerful drum fill and continues to impress with a strong guitar riff, a screaming Hammond organ and a driving groove. Eric Steckel has toured worldwide sharing the billing with Steve Vai, Gregg Allman, Johnny Winter, John Mayall, Ray Charles, Larry Carlton, Robben Ford, and others and was voted into Total Guitar magazine's list of "The 100 Greatest Blues Guitarists of All Time" and named one of "10 Future Blues Stars” by Guitar Player. 

Following the single release, Eric Steckel embarks on an extensive European tour. 

Catch Eric Steckel in the UK this month:

21.10. UK, Birmingham - Hare & Hounds
22.10. UK, Manchester - Castle Hotel
24.10. UK, Glasgow - Garage
26.10. UK, London - Omeara

In an era where pedal boards, laptops and samples have become commonplace, Eric Steckel goes against the grain and harkens his listeners back to the days when great guitars were played loudly through great amps. Hailed by many as the top rising star of blues/rock, Eric delivers a powerhouse performance that has left audiences in 30 countries (and counting) mesmerized.

He brings an energy and passion to the stage that never disappoints and his signature blend of blues-metal is a must see for fans of guitar-based rock. Eric has shared the stage with and/or opened for iconic legends such as Ray Charles, Steve Vai, Gregg Allman, B.B. King, John Mayall and Johnny Winter.

Road-tested and seasoned from 23 years on stage and in the studio, Eric delivers his signature blend of 'blues metal' to appreciative guitar lovers worldwide.
 

Eric Steckel online:
https://www.facebook.com/ericsteckelofficial
https://www.instagram.com/ericsteckelofficial
https://www.youtube.com/@steckeltube
https://www.tiktok.com/@ericsteckel
https://ericsteckel.com/

Photo Credit: Andy Ford

Released in 2015, Polaris marked a quiet shift for TesseracT - their third album, their first with Kscope, and the return of original vocalist Daniel Tompkins. To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the landmark album, Kscope will be releasing a limited National Album Day 2025 edition of Polaris on clear vinyl, with new audio which has been half-speed remastered at Abbey Road Studios.

Pre-order Polaris 10th Anniversary Edition here: https://tesseractkscope.lnk.to/Polaris_10_LP

Alongside the new vinyl edition, TesseracT have also shared a new run of exclusive Polaris 10th Anniversary merchandise which includes a white t-shirt with logo print on front, a black t-shirt with front and back print, and a black hoody with front and back print.

Since the release of Polaris in 2015, TesseracT have solidified their position as a leading force in progressive metal. The album achieved notable chart success, hitting the US Billboard 200 and securing top 10 positions on various UK charts, including #9 on the Indie Albums and #7 on the Rock and Metal charts. Following this, the band embarked on extensive global tours, performing at major festivals such as Rock AM Ring, Download Festival, and headlining RADAR Festival. 

Their subsequent releases, including the critically acclaimed Sonder in 2018 and War of Being in 2023, have been praised for their innovation and depth, with War of Being described as “the bravest and boldest record they have made to date.”

TesseracT online:

https://www.tesseractband.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/tesseractband
https://www.instagram.com/tesseractband
https://twitter.com/tesseractband
https://open.spotify.com/artist/23ytwhG1pzX6DIVWRWvW1r
https://kscopemusic.com/artists/tesseract

TesseracT are:

Daniel Tompkins (vocals)
Acle Kahney (guitar)
James Monteith (guitar)
Amos Williams (bass) 
Jay Postones (drums)

TesseracT – Polaris 10th Anniversary Edition
A1 – Dystopia (6:51)
A2 – Hexes (5:18)
A3 -Survival (4:25)
A4 – Tourniquet (5:59)
B1 – Utopia (5:34)
B2 – Phoenix (3:54)
B3 – Messenger (3:35)
B4 – Cages (5:29)
B5 – Seven Names (5:40)

Swedish prog rock quintet Hällas are proud to announce their fourth full length Panaroma, which will be released on 30th January, 2026. The new album will be released via their own label Äventyr Records.

With their new album Panorama, Hällas both consolidates and expands the image of what the band is - but also what rock can be. This time, different perspectives in a scenario are explored regarding whether humanity is capable of understanding a viewpoint other than their own. It reflects our time but is, in typical Hällas fashion, staged in a fictional, distant world.

"In one way, Panorama sounds familiar: an imaginative hybrid of progressive 70s rock and heavy metal with echoes of both folk and psychedelia, along with conceptual content. In another sense, you have not quite heard a record like this from Hällas before. The self-confidence has never been as evident. Influences from different directions collide, and sometimes clash, contributing to the feeling that the expected instead culminates in wonder at what it is you're hearing."

In further news, the band have announced new Scandinavian tour dates in support of the release. A full list of confirmed dates can be found below.

06-02-2026 Korjaamo, Helsinki (FI)
13-02-2026 Rockefeller, Oslo (NO)
20-02-2026 Fållan, Stockholm (SE)
21-02-2026 Filmstudion, Gothenburg (SE)
28-02-2026 Amager Bio, Copenhagen (DK)

Tickets on sale here: https://hallasband.com/live

More news concerning the album (including pre-orders) will be announced soon!

Forget about everyday life and step into an adventurous fantasy world - that's what Hällas want for their audience to experience. The Swedish quintet craft epic fantasy-themed concept albums filled with adventurous twin guitars, vintage synths, and mystical storytelling, carving out their own genre of adventure rock.

Their upcoming album Panorama is Hällas' fourth full length release. While staying true to their signature sound and lyricism, it may very well be the most varied and complex so far.

Hällas were founded in 2011 and saw their initial breakthrough with their first full length album, Excerpts From A Future Past (2017), and its hit single 'Star Rider'. Building on their initial success, Hällas released their sophomore album Conundrum in 2020, garnering them a Swedish Grammy nomination. The album trifecta was complete with the release of Isle of Wisdom in 2022, widening their repertoire even further. 

With each release, the band has cultivated a cult following in the modern prog and hard rock scenes around the world. With their cinematic storytelling and timeless sound, Hällas have been touring far and wide-playing sold out shows all over Europe, as well as North and Latin America. Regardless of where, Hällas capture their audience with their own adventure rock universe coming to life on stage. 

With Panorama, the band writes yet another chapter in the story of Hällas. Tread carefully, friends.

Hällas are: 
Tommy Alexandersson: vocals, bass 
Rickard Swahn: guitar 
Marcus Petersson: guitar 
Nicklas Malmqvist: keyboards 
Kasper Eriksson: drums 

Follow Hällas: FACEBOOK · INSTAGRAM · WEBSITE

Photo Credit: Derek Bremner

UK mathcore dissonants Pupil Slicer have revealed their latest single, 'Nomad'. The ferocious new track comes by way of the band’s Fleshwork full-length, set for release on November 7th through Prosthetic Records.

Stream here: https://youtu.be/xdpLSLPaefA

Pre-order Fleshwork here: https://pupilslicer.ffm.to/fleshworkalbum

Describing Fleshwork as “conceptual” but specifically not a concept album, Pupil Slicer lean into creating an all-encompassing industrial hellscape; a perfect setting to explore the societal machinations that dehumanize and devalue the poor, disabled, queer, and people of colour for political and financial gain. Drawing on personal experience, vocalist and guitarist Kate Davies details the disconnect and discomfort of navigating this life, and the substantial human, day-to-day cost of doing so.

Of 'Nomad', Kate says, “‘Nomad’ is about living in a post truth society where people are living in entire echo chambers that allow them to get caught up in massive conspiracies and how much you can dehumanize other people. It’s about  naivety of masses to how malevolent and self-interested those in charge are and how to survive in this world that can just lie to justify actions that lead to the deaths of so many people; the idea of no one being safe besides those that make the rules in our society and that the internet is a wasteland of primarily disinformation and bad faith interactions.”

Watch the video for Pupil Slicer's previous single 'Fleshwork' here: https://youtu.be/ZD260l2fBuM

During the pandemic, Pupil Slicer offered up their debut album, Mirrors, a gnashing, feral affair that thrust them into the spotlight thanks to their discordant, angular DIY efforts. Sophomore album, Blossom, put more emphasis on songwriting and slicker production values as the Pupil Slicer show truly hit the road. Fleshwork deftly combines the best bits of their previous releases, retaining the hook-laden song structures yet refusing to compromise on the acerbic energy that lured eager fans in from the very beginning.

This iteration of Pupil Slicer ushers in new talent in the form of bass player, Luke Booth, whose contributions rounded out the writing process neatly. This rejuvenated lineup sought to retain the melodic elements of Blossom whilst simultaneously pushing their sonic boundaries to the extreme. The result is a more organic sound, energised by incandescent fury that embraces imperfections as a sign of life. Recording and mixing took place in early 2025 at Nø Studio in Manchester with producer Joe Clayton at the helm. Grant Berry handled mastering.

Over the course of the nine songs unfolding, the imagery of the oppressive machinery falls away to leave behind only the personal, human elements. What starts as the smallest of sparks roars into a chthonic inferno, demonstrating the impact of and on one solitary human as the weight of subjection turns to ash. Fleshwork serves as a cathartic conduit for those who are “othered” by a society distinctly lacking in empathy, as Pupil Slicer champion their own brand of “trans inclusive radical hatred". 

Whilst the band continues to draw influence from the likes of Nine Inch Nails and Oathbreaker, as well as lyrical and tonal inspiration from film, anime and video games (specifically Chainsaw Man, Mouthwashing and NieR among others), on Fleshwork they’ve created a monster entirely of their own design. This beast could only have been formed by the minds and bodies of those who have already walked the treacherous, dystopian path that they are now illuminating for others.

The band comment: “Fleshworkis a deconstruction of what it means to be human, the penchant for personal and society-wide self-destruction and systemic cruelty that seems all but guaranteed to rear its head as long as humans exist. It’s more grounded and emotionally charged than our previous work, with a stronger emphasis on the failings of our world to look after those who need it the most and our own ability to look after ourselves. How much pain can you inflict on yourself and others before you cease to be human? There is no limit; all of the worst things to happen to the human race have been caused by its own members.Fleshwork's new image ofPupil Slicer is one that's frayed around the edges, incinerated and burned to the ground; a survivor in a wasteland of loss and decay.”

This era ofPupil Slicer isn’t just a continuation: it’s a rupture, a scream from the margins, a refusal to be palatable, and it’s exactly what heavy music needs right now.

Watch the videos for the band's previous singles 'Heather' and 'Black Scrawl'. 

CatchPupil Slicerlive: 

Oct 4 – Lasher Fest, Aalborg, Denmark 
Nov 25 – The Basement at Bristol Exchange
Nov 26 – The Bodega, Nottingham
Nov 27  – Rebellion Manchester
Nov 28  – Slay!, Glasgow
Nov 29 – Brudenell Social Club, Leeds
Nov 30 – The Underworld, Camden  

Pupil Slicer are:

Kate Davies – vocals, guitar
Josh Andrews – drums
Luke Booth – bass, backing vocals

Pupil Slicer online: 
Website||Facebook||Instagram||MNRK Heavy website

Tracklisting:
1. Heather
2. Gordian
3. Sacrosanct
4. Innocence
5. Black Scrawl
6. Nomad
7. Fleshwork
8. White Noise
9. Cenote