Photo Credit: @Ismrtnck

Hamburg heavy hitters Half Me have released their new EP Opium, out now via Arising Empire. The band have also released their new single 'In Denial'.

Check out the visualiser for 'In Denial': https://youtu.be/wTg3zRcmDrM

Stream/purchase Opium here: https://arisingempire.com/opium

Break free from the ordinary and dive into the extraordinary with Half Me’s new EP Opium. This release redefines metalcore by blending innovation with tradition. The EP channels raw frustration with a disposable society, combining bone-crushing heaviness with anguished, soul-piercing vocals. Opium showcases the band's relentless drive to push genre boundaries and marks a bold new chapter in their musical evolution.

Formed in Hamburg in 2018, Half Me - guitarists Chris and Julius, vocalist Chris, drummer Max and bassist Tobias - are one of the latest additions to the Arising Empire roster. Musically, Half Me blend a modern rendition of metal and hardcore with highlights of 90s nu-metal. Pounding riffs and breakdowns are accompanied by brutal, yet sometimes elegant, vocals that all balance together to formulate the band’s own distinctive sound. 

In just a few years, Half Me have made an impact in the music scene by self-producing their music and videos, displaying their intensive and energetic demeanour. Debuting with four singles initially, it was their their single 'Exitwound' (featuring Jack Bergin of Void of Vision) that gave the group a breakthrough and landed the band in the spotlight of Knotfest’s Countdown to Oblivion.

Riding the high of their recent success of their debut album SOMA, Half Me's new EP Opium is very much worth the wait.

Half Me are:
Christopher Zühlke | vocals
Christopher Hesse | guitar
Silvan Petersen | guitar
Tobias Max Sajons | bass
Maximilian Eisersdorff | drums

Half Me online:
Facebook || Twitter || Instagram || TikTok

Opium tracklist:
 

1. Concrete Ceiling
2. Quitter Talk
3. Nothing Left To Lose But The Chains
4. Fatalist
5. In Denial

Photo Credit: Sascha Hein

German nu metal band Oceans release their new album, HAPPY, today.

In celebration of the news, they also have delivered a brand new music video for the title track 'Happy', which you can witness here: https://youtu.be/3_u60_ZDUsM

The band's third album, HAPPY comprises 11 new songs, including the two previously released singles 'Slaves to the Feed' and 'Spit', and is available now. The album thematically deals with the topics of mental health and the negative phases in life. The album name HAPPY functions more likely as a destination state. The band gives free rein to their emotions and describes in their usual musical rigor everything that goes wrong in this world and needs to be improved in order to finally reach the state of mind 'Happy'.

Bass player Thomas Winkelmann comments: 

"WithHAPPYwe go harder and more uncompromising than ever before. In the sometimes very interchangeable mishmash of metal/deathcore bands out there, we tried to create our own sound without imposing limits on ourselves in the process."

Buy/stream the new album HAPPY here: https://oceans.bfan.link/happy

Just in time for their new album release, Oceans are going on tour. As support for labelmates Septicflesh, the nu-metallers will be playing several shows all through Europe. 

From October 3rd to November 2nd, catch OCEANS along with Septicflesh, Equilibrium and Scar Of The Sun as they blaze through 28 electrifying concerts across 13 countries.
 

About:
Germany’s Nu Death powerhouse Oceans are back with unprecedented ferocity since their debut EP in 2018. Brace yourself for their third album HAPPY, a colossal juggernaut that once again showcases the band's ability to seamlessly fuse Nu Metal, Death Metal and Post Rock into their own signature sound. The days of subtle introversion seem to be over. As the world faces one crisis after another, Oceans are channelling their frustration at the state of the world into a bold statement against the influence of social media on society, while staying true to their mission of promoting mental health awareness. This band has never sounded as angry as they do now, and these 11 songs are impressive proof of how well that emotion suits them. Surely this is also what convinced Australia's finest, keyboardist MISSTIQ and Josh Collard from Earth Caller, to take part as feature artists on two tracks. OCEANS’ previous album Hell Is Where The Heart Is put the band on the road with international acts like Blind Channel in 2022, as well as supporting Annisokay in 2024. It’s safe to say that HAPPY will ignite massive mosh pits on their upcoming extensive European tour with Septicflesh in October 2024.
 

OCEANS are:
Timo Rotten | vocals, guitar
Patrick Zarske | guitar
Thomas Winkelmann | bass
J.F. Grill | drums

More info:
www.oceansofficial.com
www.facebook.com/oceansofficialde
www.twitter.com/ocnsofficial
www.youtube.com/oceansofficial
www.nuclearblast.de/oceans

Tracklisting:
01 PARASITE    
02 SPIT    
03 CLICK LIKE SHARE    
04 LET IT BURN    
05 SELF DOUBT 24-7    
06 HAPPY    
07 SLAVES TO THE FEED    
08 BREED CONSUME DIE    
09 THE BIRTH OF DEATH    
10 FATHER    
11 IN THE END THERE'S ALWAYS PAIN

Photo Credit: Ilona Gerasymova

Swedish metalcore act Awake The Dreamer have unveiled their brand new single 'Future', which is taken from their upcoming album Holocene, out today via Arising Empire.

Watch the visualiser for 'Future' here: https://youtu.be/3uEhzDlLwLY

Purchase Holocene here: https://arisingempire.com/holocene

Holocene showcases the band's evolved sound, seamlessly blending haunting melodies with powerful riffs and dynamic vocals. Focus track, 'Future', captures the essence of the album with its post-hardcore energy and melodic intricacies, offering a compelling narrative that explores themes of inner conflict and emotional upheaval. Fans can experience 'Future' and the rest of Holocene across all major streaming platforms, solidifying Awake The Dreamer's position in the metal scene with their innovative sound and storytelling.

Formed through childhood and high school friendships in 2015, Stockholm-based quartet Awake The Dreamer released their Grow EP the following year, leading to tours in Europe and Asia alongside bands including Ice Nine Kills, Northlane, Adept and Crystal Lake.
 
In 2019, Awake The Dreamer released their debut album Damaged Souls via Arising Empire. The 10-track release featured guest appearances from Adept's Robert Ljung ('Vigilant') and Crystal Lake's Ryo Kinoshita in ('Atmosphere').
 
Building on their robust musical journey, Awake The Dreamer are set to elevate their artistic expression with the release of their upcoming album Holocene. This new record promises to deepen their exploration of intense emotions and complex themes, setting a new benchmark for their signature sound in the metal scene.

Live dates:
Awake The Dreamer / Dead Like Juliet
Co-Headline Europe Tour 2024
with special guests: Atena
30.09 Berlin, Germany @ Cassiopeia
01.10 Leipzig, Germany @ Hellraiser
02.10 Den Bosch, Netherlands @ W2
04.10 Bochum, Germany @ Die Trompete
08.10 London, UK @ New Cross Inn
10.10 Mainz, Germany @ Schon Schön
11.10 Prague, Czech Republic @ Cross Club
12.10 Vorchdorf, Austria @ Metalnight Outbreak
13.10 Vienna, Austria @ Flex
14.10 Munich, Germany @ Backstage

Awake The Dreamer are:

Max Andrén | Vocals
Victor Sandberg | Guitar
Johan Norsander | Guitar

For more information:
https://awakethedreamer.se
https://www.facebook.com/awakethedreamerofficial
https://twitter.com/atdbandswe
https://www.instagram.com/awakethedreamer
https://www.tiktok.com/@awakethedreamer

Tracklisting:
1. Future
2. Tides
3. Take My Hand
4. Alone
5. Labyrinth
6. Holocene
7. Burns
8. Violence
9. Broken Home
10. Echoes

Photo Credit: Jake Ten

Fast emerging tech-metalcore band Eschalon have released their new single / video, 'Delirium', a frenzied exploration of a mind teetering on the edge of psychotic collapse.

Produced by Jake Ten, watch the 'Delirium' video here: https://youtu.be/CJEhaOanmSo

Plunge into the depths of 'Delirium'. This high-intensity track channels the raw, unfiltered chaos of grappling with the brink of sanity. 'Delirium' offers a visceral glimpse into a psyche battered and torn by life's relentless assaults.


The band comment: "Lyrically, the song paints a harrowing picture of desperation and inner turmoil, where the narrator is trapped within a self-imposed prison of madness. Writhing under the weight of his own thoughts, he battles the urge to seek help, paralysed by the fear of social stigma and the terrifying consequences of revealing his inner demons. As the lines between sanity and mania blur, he longs for the release of a final breath to end his torment."

Catch the band on the following dates:

2024
Nov 02: Rabid Fest, Oxford (with Evile & more)
Nov 09: Hometown Fest, Cambridge, The Six Six Bar (with Exist Immortal & more)
Nov 23: Norwich, The Waterfront (with Vast Slug & more)
Nov 29: Luton, The Castle (with Swarm6ix & more)
Nov 30: Brighton, Rossi Bar Luton (with Swarm6ix & more)

2025
July 12: Mangata Festival, Nottingham

Award-winning dual-vocal tech-metalcore outfit Eschalon have been making waves since their debut single in late 2023 with 'Helios'. Founded in Cambridge by Simon Garrod and Miles Taylor, the band got its beginnings as a behind-the-scenes band for many years, crafting multiple bodies of work whilst building a full band and an intense live show.

Described as a visual and auditory onslaught, Eschalon’s presence is undeniable; from their striking visuals, to their dynamic sound and immersive live experience, with the band racking up over 400,000 streams across platforms in their first year. They have also earned live dates with Exist Immortal, Waterlines, Vexed, Chuggaboom, Raised By Owls, Viscera, Kid Bookie, Evile, Seething Akira, Milk & Two Shuggahs and more.

Mixing dissonance and serenity in a way that is unique in 2024, Eschalon draws from a wide range of influences, fusing multiple genres throughout a dense and chaotic soundscape.

Eschalon are:
Vocals: Brad Makinson, Maximo David
Guitars: Simon Garrod, Callum Smith
Bass: James O’Donoghue
Drums: Miles Taylor

FFO: Monuments, Northlane, Architects, The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, Agent Fresco

Eschalon online:
https://linktr.ee/eschalon
www.eschalon.co.uk
https://www.facebook.com/Eschalon
https://www.instagram.com/eschalonuk

Photo Credit: Harry Steel

The UK's most exciting new heavy band, HERIOT, have revealed to the world their staggering debut album Devoured by the Mouth of Hell (Century Media).

In celebration, HERIOT have also unveiled their focus track, 'Opaline'. The band comment: "'Opaline’ addresses the need to accept that sometimes you must sit with the truth alone, however isolating it may be, until others are ready to understand it. It emphasises trusting your instincts but forgiving yourself for the times you couldn’t. This is the first song we've released with predominantly clean vocals and is in a direction we've not experimented with before."

Watch the video for 'Opaline' here [premiering at 5pm BST]: https://youtu.be/oYCWVNOtp1E

Stream and purchase Devoured by the Mouth of Hell here: https://heriot.lnk.to/DevouredByTheMouthOfHell

Devoured by the Mouth of Hell was recorded produced by HERIOT's Jake Packer with Josh Middleton (Sylosis, Architects) and mixed and mastered by GRAMMY Award-winning Will Putney (END, Fit For An Autopsy, Better Lovers), with additional engineering by Justin Hill (SixTh, Betraying the Martyrs).

HERIOT will perform their only headline show of 2024 tonight at Bristol's Exchange. An intimate album release show, the event sold out in a matter of days.

HERIOT's debut album will continue their ascendancy as the pre-eminent new force in the UK heavy scene. The album follows 'Siege Lord' and late 2023's 'Soul Chasm', the first two glimpses of new material following their signing with Century Media and support shows with Architects in summer of 2023.  

HERIOT's debut EP Profound Morality (2022, Church Road Records) catapulted the quartet into the global spotlight, with praise worldwide and a debut, sold-out, headline tour across the UK. The band have since supported Lamb Of God, Thy Art Is Murder, Rolo Tomassi, and performed to packed tents at Download Festival, 2000trees, Wacken Open Air, Bloodstock, Mystic Festival and many more, gathering a legion of fans in the process. They since followed Profound Morality with the ferocious standalone single 'Demure' (February 2023, Church Road Records).

Fully-focused and with a razor-sharp edge, the awe-inspiring double-vocal attack of Jake Packer and Debbie Gough is all-conquering; the titanic support of Erhan Alman (guitar) and Julian Gage (drums) rock-solid. 

HERIOT have deservedly been grabbing attention with all four pairs of hands, weaponising metallic sludge and hardcore, unholy levels of distortion, speed and gut-punching talent. Elements of Nails, Knocked Loose, Code Orange, and Vein.fm combine and collide to exhilarating effect, creating a sound that is truly groundbreaking, fully worthy of the notice the band are achieving.

In their short recent history HERIOT have caught the attention of NME, Pitchfork, The Guardian, Metal Hammer UK, Rock Sound, Brooklyn Vegan, Kerrang!, Revolver, and Knotfest, among many others, heralding the quartet as "one of the most promising young bands in modern metalcore", and "probably the best new metal band in Britain".

HERIOT are:

Jake Packer - Vocals/Bass
Debbie Gough - Vocals/Guitar
Erhan Alman - Guitar
Julian Gage - Drums

For more information:
https://www.heriotmetal.com
https://www.facebook.com/heriotmetal
https://www.instagram.com/heriotmetal
https://twitter.com/heriotmetal

Full list of HERIOT live dates:

27/09/24 EXCHANGE, BRISTOL [ALBUM RELEASE SHOW - SOLD OUT]

With Fit For An Autopsy, Sylosis, and Darkest Hour:
 
22/11/24 ELECTRIC BRIXTON, LONDON
23/11/24 STYLUS, LEEDS
24/11/24 QMU, GLASGOW
26/11/24 O2 RITZ, MANCHESTER
27/11/24 O2 INSTITUTE, BIRMINGHAM
28/11/24 SWX, BRISTOL
30/11/24 DOORNROOSJE, NIJMEGEN
01/12/24 KAVKA ZAPPA, ANTWERP, BELGIUM
02/12/24 GRUENSPAN, HAMBURG, GERMANY
03/12/24 PUSTTERVIK, GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN
04/12/24 JOHN DEE, OSLO, NORWAY
05/12/24 FRYSHUSET KLUBBEN, STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN
07/12/24 AANIWALLI, HELSINKI, FINLAND
09/12/24 AMAGER BIO, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK
10/12/24 HOLE44, BERLIN, GERMANY
11/12/24 PROXIMIA, WARSAW, POLAND
12/12/24 MEET FACTORY, PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC
13/12/24 REITHALLE, DRESDEN, GERMANY
14/12/24 BARBA NEGRA, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY
15/12/24 SIMM CITY, VIENNA, AUSTRIA
17/12/24 LIVE CLUB, MILAN, ITALY
18/12/24 Z7, PRATTELN, SWITZERLAND
19/12/24 BACKSTAGE, MUNICH, GERMANY
20/12/24 SUBSTAGE, KARLSRUHE, GERMANY
21/12/24 ESSIGFABRIK, COLOGNE, GERMANY

Tracklisting:

1. Foul Void
2. Harm Sequence
3. Opaline
4. Siege Lord
5. Sentenced to the Blade
6. Solvent Gaze
7. Lashed
8. At the Fortress Gate
9. Visage
10. Mourn

Rock/metal trio MUDSHARK have announced their new EP BEWARE OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERD, due for release on 22nd November. The band have also shared a video for their new single 'SHATTER SOME'. 

Check out the video for 'SHATTER SOME' here: https://youtu.be/RLR1H61Pimg

Stream 'SHATTER SOME' here: https://linktr.ee/MUDSHARK
.
The band comment: 

"'SHATTER SOME' is a tuneHagen (guitar) wrote during the summer holidays 2015, before his last year of high school. The song only came to life eight years later though, withSTR▲NGR’s (vocals) lyrics and vocal melodies. 'SHATTER SOME' deals with themes of isolation, loss and regret and marks the first single of our new recordBEWARE OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERD. 'SHATTER SOME' is the first song to be released with a full band performance video, directed and filmed byShaun Hodson(Slipknot,Bring Me The Horizon,Limp Bizkit)."

MUDSHARK are a three-piece rock/metal band from London, UK. Formed at Download Festival 2019, MUDSHARK blends filthy, heavy riffs with soaring, soulful melodies. The name is not only reminiscent of their experience of Download, but further stands as a metaphor for MUDSHARK's musical mission.

The band consists of A. STR▲NGR, Hagen Brüggemann and Sebastian Richards. In August 2022, MUDSHARK recorded their debut EP ZLV at The Ranch Production House in Southampton, UK. Engineered and mixed by Neil Kennedy (Boston Manor, Creeper, Press To MECO) and mastered in the USA by Gene "Machine" Freeman (Lamb of God, Clutch, Every Time I Die). ZLV was released worldwide on 23rd June 2023.

MUDSHARK were back in the studio in September and October 2023, to record their second EP BEWARE OF THE GERMAN SHEPHERD, working with Forrester Savell (Karnivool, TesseracT, Earthside) as producer, mixing and mastering engineer. The EP is due for release on 22nd November 2024 with three advance singles, 'SHATTER SOME', 'CLOSE YOUR EYES' and 'BEAUTIFUL'. 

MUDSHARK are:

A. STR▲NGR (vocals)
Hagen Brüggemann (guitar)
Sebastian Richards (bass)

For more information:
https://mudshark.net
https://www.facebook.com/mudsharkofficial
https://www.instagram.com/mudsharkofficial

Photo Credit: Sarai Kelley

Hardcore quintet Stick To Your Guns will release their ferocious new album Keep Planting Flowers on 10th January via new label SharpTone Records.

Pre-orders for the album will launch on 8th October here.

Today, the US heavy hitters have shared the video for the first single 'Severed Forever' a massively energetic anthem with soaring melodic choruses and a monster breakdown. Watch it here.

'Severed Forever' will also be available on DSPs from 8th October. 

"Keep Planting Flowers is a collection of songs that exist to spite the nihilistic narrative that plagues our minds and societies," vocalist Jesse Barnett says about the album. "One that says things are just the way that they are and that regardless of the burning rage or depthless depression that this fills us with, there is simply nothing we can do about it. I militantly reject such a joyless outlook on the one life that I get the honor of living. A new world needs a new you, so no matter how bad things get, keep planting flowers."

Regarding the single and video, Barnett continues, "In an industry where there is only one true artist for every 250 entrepreneurs, this song is a dedication to the 'artists and musicians' who are nothing more than lackeys or the errand boys of their keepers. I have severed myself completely from the superficial competitive market mentality of 'f*ck thy neighbor' to one that aligns more with the yearning of my spirit. I'm not going to pretend lines haven't been drawn. I chose my side and I have found purpose in who and what I fight for."

STYG will spend the next several months on the road, including a European run in January and February with Bodysnatcher, Elwood Stray, and No Cure. 

Stick To Your Guns hold a mirror up to society's ills without blurring its ugliness. In an attempt to unapologetically trumpet real change, the Southern California quintet never shies away from speaking or screaming unpopular truths from the purest place. Founded in 2003, Stick To Your Guns have always written and performed with a sense of urgency, their socially conscious message hitting as hard as their signature hybrid of hardcore, punk, and metal. Over the course of their career, they've amassed over 50 million total streams, performed on six continents, and shared stages with the likes of Parkway Drive, Architects, and Every Time I Die. Most recently, Alternative Press praised 2017's True View as "the result of a long time spent on self-reflection and realization." The band's relentless pursuit of a better world and their critique of societal injustices continues to drive their music and message. In 2024, Stick To Your Guns signed with SharpTone Records, marking a new chapter in their storied career. This partnership promises to bring their potent blend of activism and music to an even broader audience, amplifying their call for change and social justice.

Stick To Your Guns are:

Jesse Barnett [vocals]
Andrew Rose [bass]
Adam Galindo [drums]
Chris Rawson [guitar]
Josh James [guitar]

Stick To Your Guns online:

https://www.facebook.com/STYGoc
https://www.instagram.com/stygoc
https://sticktoyourguns.net
https://x.com/stygoc
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2sqrupqcoipb7UzVKApEnJ

Tracklisting:

1. We All Die Anyway
2. Spineless
3. Permanent Dark
4. Invisible Rain
5. Severed Forever
6. More Than A Witness
7. Keep Planting Flowers
8. Eats Me Up
9. Who Needs Who
10. H84U

After a triumphant run through Latin America, Dogma are ready to set fire to the musical world with their provocative cover of Madonna’s 'Like a Prayer'. The track isn’t just a cover, it’s a defiant reclamation of the sacred and the sensual. Known for their unapologetic fusion of heavy metal and raw sexuality, Dogma infuse this iconic anthem with their signature darkness, turning it into something entirely their own.

Watch the 'Like A Prayer' video here: https://youtu.be/h7Qg_EU_ehI

Stream 'Like A Prayer' here: https://ffm.to/dogmalap

'Like A Prayer' merch bundles available here: https://officialdogma.store/prayers

DOGMA’s 'Like A Prayer' invites listeners to dive headfirst into a world where the divine and the carnal collide. With DOGMA, nothing is as it seems, and their version of Madonna's controversial hit promises to push those boundaries further than ever before.

The visually striking music video shatters conventional religious imagery. Lilith, the band’s fearless frontwoman, engages in a sensuous, charged interaction with a figure resembling the Jesus Christ depicted in Madonna’s original 'Like A Prayer' music video. In true Dogma style, the crosses aren’t just set aflame, they’re inverted and blazing, a powerful symbol of defying tradition and casting aside old beliefs. This is more than just shock value. These visuals serve as a direct challenge to the systems of cool and hypocrisy. With each flame, Dogma strip away the old to usher in a new era of freedom and sexual lntriberation.

Frontwoman Lilith says, “In the shadows of what’s considered sacred, you find the rawest form of desire. Our rendition of 'Like A Prayer' isn’t just music, it’s an act of release, a call to everyone unafraid to embrace their truth. While some might drop to their knees to pray, there are far more exciting things you can do down there, right? Just like Madonna, we’re here to break the rules, but this time, we’re doing it on our own terms, unleashing the divine within us all.”

While Madonna shocked the world with her blurring of pop and spirituality, Dogma take that a step further, stripping the song of its glossy facade and turning it into a hymn for the rebels, the rule-breakers, being the voice of the unheard and those who have yet to dare to speak due to different circumstances.

This autumn, Dogma make their highly anticipated debut in the U.S., bringing their explosive live performances to cities across the country. The group recently made waves with their recent Latin American tour, which cemented their reputation as a force of raw freedom.

Known for blending hard rock, metal, and theatricality, Dogma’s shows are more than just performances, they’re experiences that push audiences to confront their innermost desires and truths. Their music, laden with powerful riffs and unapologetic sensuality, invites listeners into a world where self-expression is the ultimate form of freedom.

Join Dogma in this provocative journey as they shatter the barriers between the sacred and the profane.

Dogma are:
Lilith – vocals
Lamia – guitar
Nixe – bass
Abrahel – drums

Dogma online:  
http://www.officialdogma.com
http://www.facebook.com/theofficialdogma
http://www.instagram.com/officialdogma
http://www.twitter.com/dogmatheband

About MNRK Music Group:
MNRK Music Group is one of the largest independent music companies in the world, with recording, music publishing, and management divisions operating in every major music market. MNRK is committed to discovering and guiding top music creators and artists and works with some of the greatest musical talent including The Lumineers and Pitbull, the music publishing catalog of Chuck Berry, plus premier music companies Dualtone Music Group and Last Gang. The company’s music department services Academy Award and Emmy Award-winning producers. Its catalog across divisions consists of 54,000 music tracks, including multiple GRAMMY winners and platinum-selling hits. 

Photo Credit: Tony Aguilera

Phoenix nu-metal juggernauts Sicksense, featuring former The Agonist vocalist Vicky "Killer V" Psarakis, are back with new single / video 'Wildfires'. This is the second single taken from their upcoming debut full-length album, Cross Me Twice, out 14th February 2025 via Earache Records. 

Watch the video for 'Wildfires' here: https://youtu.be/9fONEMlNStI

Stream 'Wildfires' here: https://earache.lnk.to/Wildfires

Pre-Order Cross Me Twice: https://earache.com/sicksense

From the maleficent minds of dual vocalists Killer V and Rob The Ripper, Sicksense are leading the charge of the new wave of nu-metal. With the added arsenal of guitarist Agent Phil [Philip Lykostratis], bassist The Gothfather [Richard Regier] and drummer Smokin' J [Joseph Polizzi], Sicksense follow up their highly acclaimed two EPs with with their heaviest record yet, melting nu-metal elements with metalcore and electronic touches for a unique spin on the rejuvenated genre.

Killer V comments: "Our upcoming album, Cross Me Twice, takes the listener on an emotional rollercoaster of a journey. We evolved from our traditional nu-metal sound, by incorporating more modern metal and electronic elements into this album. The heavy parts got heavier, the soft parts got softer and the catchy parts got catchier. Cross Me Twice explores a wider dynamic range, which leaves the listener not knowing what to expect with each release. We were going through numerous personal issues amongst ourselves as a band while working on this record, which inevitably led to us parting ways with former members and bringing in new ones to complete it. These issues inspired the lyrical themes for each song. It wasn't easy to go through and create, but we're extremely proud of the end result.

"I remember spending countless hours working on keys and the overall sound design of Cross Me Twice, on top of all the vocal arrangements I normally task myself with. Teaming up with our producer, Joey Doherty, was the final step and best decision we could have made to bring you guys what we believe will be one of the absolute best sounding albums of 2025.

"There's something for everyone to enjoy here and we hope it means as much to our listeners as it does to us. It's truly special."

On the new single, Rob The Ripper commments: "'Wildfires' is a fun braggadocio anthem about being the best you can be and not feeling sorry about it. It's a call-out song directed towards our peers for them to be better people and create better music. Too many artists are 'fake nice' to your face, then talk smack about you behind your back. If you feel a certain way about someone, just be honest. Many bands play it safe with their music too. They're afraid to push boundaries. We aren't. We’ll incorporate rapping, singing, screaming, R&B, hip-hop and electronic music. Whatever fits and feels right for each song. We did this with 'Wildfires'. It's got it all. From a songwriting and production perspective, we do it exceptionally well. 'Wildfires' is a special song for all the fans who love us and it's especially for our fans in denial who love to hate us."

It's rare that a debut album inspires such fervent anticipation, but the thrill surrounding a full-length from Sicksense is concrete. A band who have nurtured their community from seedlings to an army of “Deli-boos” (if you know, you know), Sicksense made instant waves in the metal scene upon the release of their two EPs Kings Today and Fools Tomorrow.  
 
These collections saw their music garner support from metal connoisseurs such as TankTheTech, feature in the ring with ex-NXT and NOAH pro-wrestler Stallion Rogers, and hit Spotify's Alternative Metal and New Nü playlists alongside other trailblazers in the future of metal. These two small portholes into their vibrant world have turned heads in the industry and metal fandom alike, receiving comparisons to nü-metal titans like Slipknot, Evanescence and Limp Bizkit in the process.
 
Sicksense have now announced their debut album Cross Me Twice, news which will see anticipation on all sides finally relieved. With Cross Me Twice, the band take their nü-metal influences and Frankenstein them into a hydra monster that sees the heads of metalcore, progressive metal and power metal combine into a modern experiment gone very right. The album is all a nü-metal fan could hope for while bringing new colour to the genre. 
 
It's this versatility that sets Sicksense apart in the nü-gen surge. The adventurous Cross Me Twice is as fantastically otherworldly with luminous keys and glacial melodies as it is gritty with nü-metal grooves and stomach-lurching djent. Conjurers of jeweled light and chroma, commanders of shadow and moonbeams, Sicksense create such a thickly immersive atmosphere that it feels as though you can see the album just as much as you can hear it.

Sicksense are:
Killer V - vocals
Rob The Ripper - vocals
Agent Phil - guitars
The Gothfather - bass 
Smokin' J  - drums

Sicksense online:
Facebook
Instagram
X
Youtube
Bandcamp

Cross Me Twice tracklist:

1. Sellout
2. Wildfires
3. Throwback
4. Fever Dream
5. Invisible
6. On Repeat
7. Masquerade Parade
8. In This Carousel
9. Here Come All The Memories
10. Follow Me