Photo Credit: Arne Beschorner

Fiery punk, indie rock band PLAIINS have announced their long-awaited debut album Happy Faces, set for release on 15th August via Long Branch Records. They have also unveiled the third single taken from the album, 'Row She Said'.

Stream 'Row She Said' here: https://plaiins.lnk.to/rowshesaid

Pre-order Happy Faces here: https://plaiins.lnk.to/happyfaces

“'Row She Said' is a song against right wing nationalism," comments singer Chris Reardon. "We talked about writing a song like this for a while, I wanted to do it with class and not something lyrically one dimensional, it had to be done poetically with layers and also open for different interpretations unless you read the lyrics and also knew the context where we were coming from. They're my favourite kind of songs, especially when discussing a topic such as this. There's too many punk songs that tackle this subject too plainly in my opinion, although that also has its place. But I think we really did it right on this one. 'She' in this context is the country where the protagonist is from and how they feel their country calls them and pushes them to protect their idea of sovereignty. I was writing more from the UK point of view, where I'm from, especially in the wake of Brexit, but we also wrote it from the perspective where the guys are from, Germany, but can apply to any country really."

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. 

"I wanted us to make an album that would stand the test of time, is coherent and characterful, unique and of our own and would be a great contribution to the wonderful catalogue of rock music. I have so much love, reverence and adoration for the greats and I wanted us to at least be on that level," says Chris Reardon.

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: Thad Sisneros

Born in the heart of Denver and forged in the chaos of basement jam sessions, Fox Lake have been sharpening their sound since 2017 with a volatile mix of metalcore, hardcore, hip-hop and rock ‘n’ roll. Now, the band are ready to embrace their next chapter with the announcement of their forthcoming album New World Heat, set for release on 1st August via MNRK HEAVY. 

The band have also released a video for new single 'Pure Adrenaline'. Bolstered by chunky grooves, a boatload of bounce, extreme vocal swagger fused with furious screams and an onslaught of rhythmic aftershocks, 'Pure Adrenaline' will reverberate pits from coast to coast this summer. 

Watch the video for 'Pure Adrenaline' here: https://youtu.be/Gg3P_8sF9kE

Stream 'Pure Adrenaline' here: https://foxlake.ffm.to/pureadrenaline

Pre-order New World Heat here: https://foxlake.ffm.to/newworldheat

"Even though 'Pure Adrenaline' didn't come together until the latter half of the recording process for the album, most of the ingredients existed as far back as 2021," the band shares, revealing the single's origin story. "The majority of the instrumental demo was written years ago and the lyrics and energy were conceptualized in our first few conversations about what we wanted to bring to this album.

"We all came together and unanimously agreed that we wanted the new songs to be faster, more visceral, more concrete, and most importantly, all gas, no brakes. Pure f**king adrenaline."

Reading the lyrics throughout New World Heat, Fox Lake reveal the redemptive theme at the album's beating heart, stating, "The basic concept of the album is about burning things down in order to restart. It's about who you are versus who you want to be. The world you live in versus the world you want to live in. It takes guts to strip everything away and take a hard, honest look at your life and the world around you."

Continuing, "Everyone has things that hold them down and things that seem to hold their reality in place. Habits, social circles, vices, beliefs, political systems, traumas, etc. Those things will be different for everyone. But the one constant is that action begets action and inaction begets inaction. You either drown in complacency or burn parts of yourself away to create a better world. We all have a choice. Musically, we felt like this concept fit perfectly with where we were at. We all have different inspirations that we want to bring into Fox Lake. It can be tricky to mesh together all the genres that we're inspired by while still having an original sound." 

The band finishes, "So for this record, we burned down the limitations we had previously put on ourselves and restarted our writing process with a singular goal, to sound like Fox Lake. The end result is an album that we're extremely excited about and that feels very authentic to us. The music is faster, heavier, groovier, and catchier than ever before. It's a new sound for a new world. Everyone is going to have different opinions on whether the band is more hardcore, nu-metal, rock or metalcore. But everyone's gonna know it's Fox Lake."

To support New World Heat, Fox Lake will hit the road hard. Fans can expect plenty of touring in the months ahead - stay tuned for details on where the chaos lands next.

Watch previous singles, 'Savior' here and 'Cold Hard Truth' here. 

Fox Lake online: 
Website || Facebook || Instagram || MNRK Heavy website 

Tracklisting: 

1) For The Love of the Game 
2) Tough Luck
3) Freestyle
4) Go 4 The Throat
5) Cold Hard Truth
6) Real Fast
7) h a l f t i m e
8) Pure Adrenaline
9) Headshot 
10) Savior
11) Gut Check 
12) Excessive Damage

Gothenburg's inimitable noise experimentalists Blessings have given another glimpse of their third album Blodsträngen (1st August, Pelagic Records) with new single 'No Good Things'.

Stream and pre-order: https://orcd.co/blessingsb 
Watch the visualiser for 'No Good Things': https://youtu.be/RMVGaRwRK1w

The new album begins and ends in the same space: the rehearsal room.
 
In between these moments however, Blodsträngen knows no boundaries; it rampages through your inner sanctum, upending everything it can, razing everything you hold dear and drawing on the walls whilst panting, drooling and muttering to itself in strange tongues...

With all four members of Blessings already veterans of numerous bands and several distinct scenes throughout their native Sweden, the group came together with the idea of creating something wholly their own, rather than compromising to fit in elsewhere. The resultant sound is a cacophony of influences where nothing is sacred and no idea is thrown out; all that matters is all playing disgustingly loud music together in a room.

Blodsträngen, which can be translated as ‘The Bloodline’ or ‘The Blood String’ is another bracing evolution of Blessings’ truly inimitable sound, pushing the band’s percussive and found-sound textural elements even further to embrace a wild sonic palette that blends modular synths with crushing guitar feedback and even the occasional cowbell.

It should come as no surprise that Blessings’ debut album, 2012’s Bittervatten, is abrasive, crusty and intriguingly in-your-face as the band barely manage to contain the barrage of influences from across the heavy spectrum. Years of near-constant touring and creative experimentation followed, and later came Biskopskniven in 2021; still deafeningly loud and defiantly confrontational, the album brought with it a sense of uneasy patience and seething restraint as the band trimmed the fat and found a new menace in machine-like repetition courtesy of drummer Mattias Rasmusson and synth player/percussionist Erik Skytt.

Each Blessings album to date includes a song by the name of ‘Strings of Red’, an unspoken narrative that charts the band’s unique journey through genre. As such, Blodsträngen opener and lead single ‘Strings of Red’ sets pulses racing with a loping percussive loop before the song abruptly explodes into a double-time thrash-metal dirge with Fredrik Karlsson’s gravel-soaked voice leading the charge and Johan G. Winther swiftly joining him. Before we know it though, the song turns on its heels again as a nightmarish, prog-like synth motif possesses the song and sends all into a downward spiral of equal parts euphoria and delirium.

Elsewhere, the likes of ‘No Good Things’ pairs the filthiest bass sound you’ve ever heard with a shuffling, playful xylophone-like synth refrain and haunting baritone vocals before collapsing in on itself as underneath colossal guitar riffs and black metal blast beats.

‘Alt Vi Kan Ge Ar Upp’ (All We Can Give Is Up) is as cutting, angular and cathartic as the song’s title suggests. A relentless 3/4 groove all but trips over itself as the growl of guitars builds to breaking point and the track spills into a half-time doom waltz with soaring bittersweet pipe organ melodies and a harrowed vocal lament colliding to briefly create something staggeringly beautiful before crumbling into its separate parts and melting away to nothing…

Blodsträngen is Blessings fine-tuning their deliberately dissonant sound whilst simultaneously casting their net wide for ever more left-field, experimental influences; a disparate collection of idiosyncrasies that the band somehow manage to pull into something cohesive, captivating and empowering. The band leave the messages and meanings behind their music open to interpretation as a means of sharing this attitude of openness with their audience because remember, when all is said and done, all that matters is all playing disgustingly loud music together in a room.

Blessings are:

Fredrik Karlsson
Mattias Rasmusson
Johan G. Winther
Erik Skytt

Blessings online: 
INSTAGRAM • FACEBOOK • SPOTIFY • BANDCAMP

Side A
1. Raised On Graves
2. Strings of Red
3. Clean
Side B
4. No Good Things
5. Alt Vi Kan Ge Ar Upp
6. Copper + Dirt
7. Through Veils of Glass and Silica

Freddy Lim, vocalist of the renowned Taiwanese metal band CHTHONIC, has been appointed as Taiwan's next ambassador to Finland.

CHTHONIC have a long-standing connection with Finland, having signed with Finnish label Spinefarm/Universal and released several internationally distributed albums, including Mirror of Retribution (2009), Takasago Army (2011), and Bu-Tik (2013). The band have performed in Finnish cities such as Helsinki, Tampere, and Turku, toured with Finnish acts like Ensiferum, Turisas, and Korpiklaani, and even collaborated with Finnish violinist Olli Vänskä at Wacken Open Air. Freddy’s ties to Finland run deep.

Finland, often cited as the most heavy metal-loving country in the world, boasts over 80 metal bands per 100,000 people. The idea of appointing a heavy metal vocalist as ambassador to the metal capital of the world is a truly unique and fitting decision.

From 2010 to 2014, Freddy served as Chair of Amnesty International Taiwan, actively participating in global human rights initiatives and frequently interacting with counterparts from Finland, Sweden, and Germany at international conferences. From 2016 to 2024, he served two terms as a member of Taiwan’s legislature, becoming the first heavy metal musician in the world to enter a national parliament. During his tenure, he pushed for legislation that made Taiwan the first country in Asia to legalize same-sex marriage and advocated for stronger protections for indigenous rights. He also supported budgets to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine and championed transitional justice, calling for the declassification of documents from Taiwan’s authoritarian past to ensure truth and justice in society.

Freddy was a key figure in the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, where he played an active role in parliamentary diplomacy. He spoke at the Copenhagen Democracy Summit in Denmark in 2022 and the Oslo Freedom Forum in Norway in 2023, highlighting the universality of human rights and freedom, and garnering international support for Taiwan.

Freddy states: "Beyond my musical ties, my long-standing commitment to human rights, progressive values, and the fight against authoritarianism are ideals that Taiwan and Finland deeply share. These are all areas where our future cooperation and exchange can grow stronger."

CHTHONIC recently released a new single, Endless Aeons, a new live EP MEGAPORTAL2425 and announced that a new album is in the works. When asked whether there will be future musical collaborations with Finland, Freddy responded: "There are no specific plans yet, but I definitely hope to bring more Taiwanese music, film, and cultural works to audiences in Finland and across Europe!"

CHTHONIC have released several albums including Mirror of Retribution (2009), Takasago Army (2011), and Butik (2013) on Spinefarm/Universal Music. In their time they've performed at such fêted events as Ozzfest, Download Festival, Wacken Open Air and have toured Europe and North America multiple times.

However, the band's activity halted in 2016 when lead vocalist Freddy Lim was elected to Taiwanese Parliament. 

For almost a decade, Freddy has been occupied with parliamentary work, and other members have been working on their own projects - resulting in only occasional large Taiwan performances for the CHTHONIC. Occasional musical output followed (2018's Battlefields of Asura album and 2023's 'Pattonkan' single, which was selected to GRAMMY's Global Spin) but almost all overseas performances were halted. 

Although CHTHONIC have stayed low-profiled in recent years, in 2019 they performed with an orchestra in front of Taiwan's Presidential Palace to an audience of 50,000. 

Now, CHTHONIC return. The band are working on new songs, and could possibly return to global stages once more again soon.

CHTHONIC are:

Freddy Lim (lead vocals)
Doris Yeh (bass, backing vocals)
Jesse Liu (guitars, backing vocals)
Dani Wang (drums)
CJ Kao (keyboards, synthesiser)

For more information:
https://www.instagram.com/chthonictw
https://chthonic.tw/en
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3mBFvlqINbTNsRB6htlJEY
https://www.facebook.com/chthonictw

Acclaimed UK metallic hardcore troupe Ithaca have released their final ever single, the self-titled 'Ithaca'.

Stream here: https://hasslerecords.ffm.to/ithaca

The band comment: "'Ithaca' means home, the place you return to when the journey is complete. In this final song, we put this band to rest. Every memory, every tear, every laugh is in here. Thank you for everything. Om namo naryanaya."

Ithaca's final performance will take place at this year's ArcTanGent festival: https://arctangent.co.uk

Order Ithaca's second and final album They Fear Us here: https://hasslerecords.com/pages/ithaca

A shining light in the heavy scene, Ithaca close a chapter as one of the most exciting and vital voices in the UK. Formed out of a mutual love of metallic hardcore but despair at its lack of ambition, Ithaca exist to challenge everything you thought a band that makes heavy music should look and sound like.

A glitter-covered nailbomb, Ithaca seamlessly blend the brutality of Relapse Records metalcore with blackgaze, 90s industrial metal, 70s prog and even tinges of 80s power pop. Their influences stretch beyond the musical - this album comes with a clear vision and aesthetic: drawing from members’ different ancestral heritage, queer/non-conforming identities and iconic figures in avant-garde, new wave and post-punk culture.

Their second album They Fear Us is the sound of a band healing from trauma - standing in their own, unapologetic voice. Furious and wildly inventive while also being more coherent and accessible, this album introduces Ithaca to a wider audience than they’ve ever had before. In the words of the band: ‘those who oppose us; your sins will catch up to you. You will fear us’.

Ithaca's 2019 lauded debut The Language of Injury was followed by their early 2020 tour with Grammy-nominated indie-rock band Big Thief, starting at London’s Hammersmith Apollo. 

Press support from The Guardian, Pitchfork, BBC R1, Metal Hammer, Kerrang!, Rock Sound, Revolver, Decibel, BrooklynVegan, and performances with Bleeding Through, Jamie Lenman, Anaal Nathrakh, The Number Twelve Looks Like You, at Boomtown Fair and ArcTanGent Festival marked Ithaca as one of the UK's most vibrant new voices. Ithaca have also appeared on Ed Gamble’s Spotify podcast ‘Lifers’, Sky News and BBC3.

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/IthacaUK
https://twitter.com/ITHACABAND
https://www.instagram.com/ithacaband
https://www.hasslerecords.com/

Taiwan's metal masters CHTHONIC have released a new live EP MEGAPORTAL2425, including five select songs from the band's appearances at 2024 and 2025 Megaport Festivals.

Stream: https://lnk.to/muziu-0524

There has been a consistent theme in CHTHONIC’s performances at Megaport Festival over the past two years - breaking the boundary between reality and illusion, and bringing onto stage the virtual. In 2024, technology was used to allow virtual characters to be presented in real time on the big screen, and in 2025, these characters appeared onstage in person - interacting with the virtual big screen characters.

Lead vocalist Freddy explains that the screen at these two concerts are a "tunnel of time and space", "portals" in time-travel dramas. "The virtual time and space are connected to the real world through the portals. We see the virtual character through the screen, and the character sees us in the real world. When we performed 'Endless Aeons',  the character travelled through and appeared in the real world," he states.

Other than 'Endless Aeons', the interweaving of time and space appears throughout other songs included in this live EP. The overture 'MEGAPORTAL INTRO' superimposes different versions of the band's smash single 'Takao', presenting a chaotic and thrilling atmosphere; 'Quell the Souls in Sing Ling Temple' is a battle across the world and the underworld; for 'Defenders of Bú-Tik Palace–acoustic version', Finn, a character who has appeared in several CHTHONIC music videos in the past decade, came to life onstage.

CHTHONIC will now turn their attention to a new album, with no future performance plans in the short term. For now, the band invite fans to enjoy the live EP.

CHTHONIC have released several albums including Mirror of Retribution (2009), Takasago Army (2011), and Butik (2013) on Spinefarm/Universal Music. In their time they've performed at such fêted events as Ozzfest, Download Festival, Wacken Open Air and have toured Europe and North America multiple times.

However, the band's activity halted in 2016 when lead vocalist Freddy Lim was elected to Taiwanese Parliament. 

For almost a decade, Freddy has been occupied with parliamentary work, and other members have been working on their own projects - resulting in only occasional large Taiwan performances for the CHTHONIC. Occasional musical output followed (2018's Battlefields of Asura album and 2023's 'Pattonkan' single, which was selected to GRAMMY's Global Spin) but almost all overseas performances were halted. 

Although CHTHONIC have stayed low-profiled in recent years, in 2019 they performed with an orchestra in front of Taiwan's Presidential Palace to an audience of 50,000. 

People say rock can change the world, and Freddy Lim made that a reality during his two terms in parliament, advocating for reform. Freddy pushed for legislation to make Taiwan’s first Asian country to have marriage equality, and for greater protection of indigenous rights. Additionally, he pushed for increased budgetary aid for humanitarian assistance to Ukraine, and advocated for “transitional justice”, demanding that government declassify files from Taiwan's past authoritarian era.

This hit home unexpectedly in 2023. Declassified files revealed the sorrowful and previously unknown past of Freddy’s family. Combining history and mythology, it is perhaps not coincidental that CHTHONIC’s music told the sorrowful yet brave stories of Freddy’s grandparents. Shocked at the news and overwhelmed by emotion, Freddy called time on his eight year service in parliament, and announced that he would not seek re-election. 

Now, CHTHONIC return. The band are working on new songs, and could possibly return to global stages once more again soon.

CHTHONIC are:

Freddy Lim (lead vocals)
Doris Yeh (bass, backing vocals)
Jesse Liu (guitars, backing vocals)
Dani Wang (drums)
CJ Kao (keyboards, synthesiser)

For more information:
https://www.instagram.com/chthonictw
https://chthonic.tw/en
https://open.spotify.com/artist/3mBFvlqINbTNsRB6htlJEY
https://www.facebook.com/chthonictw

MEGAPORTAL 2425 tracklisting: 

1. MEGAPORTAL INTRO
2. Quell the Souls in Sing Ling Temple
3. Endless Aeons
4. Defenders of the Bu-Tik Palace-acoustic
5. TAKAO

Renowned modern guitarists KEYAN & Connor Kaminski unveil their progressive metal three-track collaborative EP Kinetic today, and share the final video for 'Pirouette', featuring none other than guitar masters Adam 'Nolly' Getgood of Periphery and Jack Gardiner.

Watch 'Pirouette' here: https://youtu.be/3aAmdPJtDks

Pre-order Kinetic here: https://keyanhoushmand.bandcamp.com/album/kinetic

'Pirouette' is the centrepiece of KEYAN & Connor Kaminski’s new EP, releasing with a video that features all four guitarists, weaving between playthroughs and behind the scenes footage. Pirouette' completes a trilogy of movements that began with 'Swell' and 'Oscillate'.

KEYAN, a Fender/Jackson-endorsed shred-lord and YouTube sensation, has made waves in the global guitar community through his social media presence and online persona. Known for his technical prowess and ability to bridge social media virality with serious musicianship, KEYAN has shared the stage with progressive metal icons like Animals As Leaders, Periphery, Intervals, Leprous and more, and has over 50M YouTube views to boast.

Across the ocean, UK-based composer, producer, and technical guitar virtuoso Connor Kaminski has built a reputation for his intricate guitar work and innovative approach to modern prog metal. Influenced by Dream Theater, Devin Townsend, and Intervals, Connor has honed his craft as a guitarist and cultivated a strong following online. This growth helped him establish relationships with .strandberg*, D’Addario, Neural DSP, GetGood Drums, and even allowed him to design and release his dream signature guitar with .strandberg* at the young age of 27 last October.

The pair pool their talent on Kinetic, a 20+ minute progressive metal journey, exploring the concept of movement in relation to the human experience. Described by Beat Magazine as: "a match made in prog rock heaven", the release showcases the unique synergy between KEYAN and Connor’s distinct playing styles, offering a dynamic listening experience that blends soaring leads, intricate rhythms, and cinematic soundscapes. The EP’s first single, 'Swell', was released earlier this month, and offered listeners a taste of the duo’s technical brilliance, with triple j and Void of Vision's Jack Bergin awarding the track 5 stars on Unearthed and reviewing with: "Beautifully organised, KEYAN is a musical genius and true master of his craft. Next Aus guitar hero, name needs to be on more lips!". 

Kinetic features guest performances from two modern guitar titans - Adam 'Nolly' Getgood from Periphery, who is known for his precision production work and bass/guitar mastery, and Jack Gardiner - known for his melodic phrasing and jazz-fusion-infused approach to prog.

With Kinetic, KEYAN and Connor set out to push the boundaries of instrumental progressive metal, showcasing a new chapter in the evolution of modern guitar music. The EP captures the energy, complexity, and technicality that define their artistry, solidifying them as key players in the global prog scene.

For more:

Connor Kaminski
https://www.instagram.com/connor.kaminski
https://www.youtube.com/@ConnorKaminski

KEYAN
https://www.instagram.com/keyanhoushmandlive
https://www.youtube.com/c/keyanhoushmandlive

Tracklisting:

1 Swell
2 Oscillate
3 Pirouette

Photo Credit: Akos Sogor

TÖRZS, Hungary’s premier instrumental post-rock band, have unveiled their new album Menedék in full today via Pelagic Records. 

Listen to Menedék here: https://youtu.be/ueU46ZfKuc4
Order Menedék here: https://orcd.co/torzs

Whilst TÖRZS’ previous full-length effort was a spectacular collision of the band’s tight-knit existence and the (literal) echo chamber of the world outside, Menedék is introspective, understated and refreshingly brave in its honesty. TÖRZS have opened the doors to their inner sanctum, their rehearsal space, their songwriting process, their friendship; inviting us to live in it with them, to revel in the moment together.

Loosely translating as ‘Refuge’, Menedék sees the freshly bolstered trio in their element; finding shelter, comfort and joy in the act of creative collaboration whilst the storm of day to day life weathers ever on.

A steadfast and admirable mission statement centred on staying true to themselves in the moment, being open to growth and documenting this process as honestly as possible has led to TÖRZS building a reputation as one of Hungary’s most exciting musical collectives. Three stunning albums of organic and perfectly composed contemplation, as well as the band’s transcendental live shows alongside acts including contemporaries We Lost The Sea, Oh Hiroshima, Föllakzoid and more have placed TÖRZS at the forefront of a post-rock movement that prizes the shared experience of band and listener above all else.

The band’s previous full-length release, 2019’s Tükor, was recorded live at Aggteleki Cseppkőbarlang, a UNESCO World Heritage protected cave system, 500 metres below the Aggteleki National Park. Embracing the cave’s utterly unique natural reverb almost as a fourth member led to Tükor receiving critical acclaim, with TÖRZS were subsequently nominated for the HEMI Music Awards 2022 and invited to perform at the likes of Moscow Music Week (2020), The Budapest Showcase Hub (2021) and 2024’s Changeover Festival in Belgrade, Serbia.

Whilst the intervening years have seen unprecedented change on a global scale, TÖRZS too found themselves in a state of flux. The band returned to the more traditional studio setting in 2023, working alongside long-time producer György Ligeti, in order to faithfully capture the intimate energy of songs meticulously crafted together in their small rehearsal space, a far cry from 2019’s subterranean setting. However, having spent countless hours writing, orchestrating and recording the pieces that have become Menedék, the band’s founding drummer Zsombor Lehoczky stepped away from the band and music as a whole. Where this might have been catastrophic for any other band, remaining members Soma Balázs and Dániel Nyitray soon found a connection with Tamás Szijártó, who approached TÖRZS’ music with the same openness to creativity in the moment; not ‘performing’ as such, but simply working together to produce breathtaking, musical escapism away from the daily humdrum.

The album’s themes of shelter, refuge and support resound clearly on lead single ‘Otthon’. Meaning  ‘At Home’ in Hungarian, ‘Otthon’ serves as a de facto introduction to the record. The song’s lilting groove, soaring yet soft guitar palette and the band’s signature delicate dynamism all combine to invite the listener to reflect; not steering one way or another yet inviting us to close our eyes and join the flow.

Elsewhere, the pounding, chiming ‘Levegővétel’ proves TÖRZS are still staying true to their mission statement of documenting the inevitable process of change. Here the band embrace elements of post-rock’s harsher, heavier side with a cacophony of driving half-time drums and distorted, open-chord guitars yet still provide brief havens of space for themselves, the song and the listener alike to breathe before the euphoric swell rises anew.

TÖRZS are:

Recording:
Soma Balázs - Guitar
Dániel Nyitray - Bass
Zsombor Lehoczky - Drums

Live:
Soma Balázs - Guitar
Dániel Nyitray - Bass
Tamás Szijártó - Drums

Links
https://torzs.bandcamp.com
https://www.facebook.com/toerzs
https://www.instagram.com/torzstorzs
https://www.youtube.com/torzs

Track list:
1. Egy pillanatban a végtelen
2. Levegővétel
3. Átfordul
4. Földet ér
5. Otthon

Photo Credit: Curtis Perry

Internationally acclaimed Canadian cellist and composer Raphael Weinroth-Browne returns with ‘Speed of Light’, a visceral reworking of J.S. Bach’s Prelude to the G Major Cello Suite. Far from a mere interpretation, this piece doesn't hold back but drags every ounce of feeling from the cello, intertwining centuries old musical heritage with sweeping cinematic flair. Paired with a stunning video by Dark Fable Media (Sleep Token, TesseracT), 'Speed of Light' blurs the line between classical tradition and contemporary vision, forging a vivid conversation across time.

Watch the video: https://youtu.be/S6aQaObAjnY 

Stream 'Speed of Light': https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/raphaelweinrothbrowne/speed-of-light-2 

Commissioned by the acclaimed UK-based James Wilton Dance, the track was originally conceived as part of the score for a new contemporary dance work entitled BACH Reimagined - a meditation on time, transformation and embodiment. With its angular motifs, Middle Eastern inflected melodies and unrelenting intensity, 'Speed of Light' stands on its own as a fierce, living exchange between past and future.

Blending Baroque intricacy with a progressive edge, the track’s production, mixed by Adam Noble (Leprous, Katatonia) and recorded by Darren McGill (The Dirty Nil, PUP), is both pristine and immersive. Across five exhilarating minutes, delicate cello arpeggios collide with crushing distortion soaked riffs and relentless rhythms, building to a cathartic, transcendent crescendo.

Raphael reflects on the creative process: "In 2024, I was commissioned by James Wilton Dance, an incredible UK-based contemporary dance company, to create an 80-minute soundtrack to their latest work, entitled BACH Reimagined. James and I are both avid metal fans and one of the guiding threads of this piece was the intersection between Baroque counterpoint and modern heavy music.

"'Speed of Light' was one of the first pieces that came out of this writing process. My first impulse was to take the very familiar repeated arpeggio from the prelude to the G major cello suite by Bach (popularly known as “the cello song”) and reframe it as a jagged, nasty riff. I also decided to redecorate the pattern, transposing it into every metal guitarist’s favourite scale, the Phrygian mode.

"Lately I’ve taken an interest in integrating contemporary pop rhythms into my music; the four on the floor kick and offbeat bass accents are a cheeky wink at the reggaeton beat that is so ubiquitous these days. Combined with driving riffs and solos, I think they give a feeling of forward propulsion as well as groove, both of which are great for dance."

The end result is more than a reinterpretation, ‘Speed of Light’ is a confrontation with legacy, an exploration of what classical music can become when refracted through modern sensibilities and global textures. As Raphael explains, “It’s a spiritual successor to Bach, but built in the present, for now.”

He adds, “With this track, I wanted to evoke both a feeling of ferocious determination and uplifting transcendence. The song’s third act sees the clouds parting for a brief moment before the layered cellos forge ahead to a dramatic finish. I like to think of the music itself as the protagonist in an epic narrative and for the progression of the piece to be its character arc. This one has evolved into quite the banger at live shows and it’s always a wild ride to perform it.” 

Celebrated for his emotionally charged performances and boundary pushing artistry, Raphael Weinroth-Browne has become one of the most innovative cellists of his generation. With over 200 studio credits, including the Juno Award-winning W5: Grey Skies & Electric Light by Woods of Ypres, his work spans metal, classical, ambient and film. His music has appeared in major film and TV soundtracks and his cello arrangements have gone viral, earning praise from Steven Wilson, Opeth, and Katatonia.

As a touring and recording member of prog-legends Leprous, Weinroth-Browne has played some of the world’s most prestigious venues and festivals, from London’s Royal Albert Hall to Hellfest in front of 40,000 people, and helped shape the sound of three of the band’s studio albums. His solo debut Worlds Within (2020), a single-instrument concept album built entirely from cello, was lauded for its emotional depth and genre-transcending ambition.

In recent years, Raphael’s deepening work in the world of contemporary dance and experimental performance has solidified his place as a boundary breaking composer and collaborator. His commissioned score for BACH Reimagined toured prestigious UK and German venues in 2025, performed live in dialogue with movement.

With ‘Speed of Light’, Raphael Weinroth-Browne continues to ask urgent and beautiful questions about sound, time and meaning. This release marks the beginning of a new artistic chapter, one that promises to further blur the boundaries between concert hall, rock stage and cinema.

More new material will follow in 2025, a year that is already shaping up to be a defining moment in his extraordinary career.

Catch Raphael live on the following dates: 

May 18 - Ottawa, Canada - Solo performance at Speakeasy Tapas Lounge 
May 31 - Toronto, Canada - Solo performance at Prepare the Ground Festival (918 Bathurst)
Jun 1 - Kitchener, Canada - Solo performance at Open Ears Festival (The Registry Theatre)
Jun 18 - Calgary, Canada - Solo performance at Sled Island Festival (BLOX Arts Centre)
Jul 17 - Ottawa, Canada - Solo performance at Rainbow Bistro supporting PAKT
Jul 25 - Suffolk, UK - Performing with James Wilton Dance at Latitude Festival


Raphael Weinroth-Browne online:

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