Photo Credit: Luke Tatlock

Piano-led, guitar-less British trio Exploring Birdsong close the current chapter of their band history with their new single 'All I Lack'. 'All I Lack' is the final song from the band before they release their debut album in 2025.

The video to 'All I Lack' premieres at 8pm GMT here: https://youtu.be/kwd4_TVfR_8

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

"'All I Lack' being the last single ahead of our album release feels pretty profound," says the band. "It would make sense for this song to indicate where we’re headed next and let our listeners into what has been happening at Birdsong HQ, but that has never really how we’ve chosen to operate. This song has shades of old (in the most literal sense - there are actual parts and stems from old songs in here) and new, whilst still being totally true to us, which feels fitting as we move ahead in our next phase as a band.

"Essentially a love song, we’re tapping into new areas of songwriting that we’re starting to become more comfortable with exploring. Lyrically, 'All I Lack' faces the beauty of the feeling of loving someone, whilst knowing your time together at some point will end; and, as a result, wanting to almost stretch time so it never has to end. Arguably, it is easier to write whilst staying within the parameters of a concept or narrative. Writing about real life takes a degree of introspection that can be uncomfortable sometimes, but essential in taking us to new places and maturing our writing. This one means a lot to us, and feels like a great way to close this chapter of the band. We can’t wait for people to guess what on earth this album is going to be like!"

The young group this year have performed two sold-out headline shows in London and Manchester, and previously joined Katatonia as special guests for their shows in Ireland. Their Ireland shows marked the band's first live performances since their European debut at Euroblast Festival (Cologne, DE), mainstage set at RADAR Festival, and inaugural headline tour across the UK in September 2021, including London, Manchester and Birmingham, and following successful support tours with the likes of Sleep Token and Thank You Scientist.

Rarely are new groups as exciting, talented or unique as Exploring Birdsong. Straddling pop, progressive rock and uncategorisable genre-blending beauty, the band are unplaceable for the most part, but bring to mind elements of Kate Bush, Sleep Token, Everything Everything and Agent Fresco.

Rarely too do you hear voices as captivating as frontwoman Lynsey Ward’s. Powerful, controlled, and spine-chillingly tender, Lynsey’s vocals help mark Exploring Birdsong as a prospect to watch, from the release of their acclaimed debut The Thing With Feathers (2019, Long Branch Records) to 2023's EP Dancing in the Face of Danger.

Exploring Birdsong are:
Lynsey Ward - vocals, piano
Jonny Knight - bass, synthesisers
Matt Harrison - drums, percussion

Exploring Birdsong online:
https://linktr.ee/exploringbirdsong

French metalcore powerhouse LANDMVRKS has unleashed a powerful one-two punch with the release of their double single 'Sulfur' and 'Sombre 16',  and a glimpse into their upcoming fourth album, The Darkest Place I've Ever Been. Their most personal and ambitious work to date, the new album is set for release on 25th April 2025 via Arising Empire.

Watch the 'Sulphur' / 'Sombre 16' video here: https://youtu.be/Y6MdUdLNfaM

Stream and pre-order the album here: https://arisingempire.com/landmvrks

Since their formation in 2014, the Marseille-based quintet - led by vocalist Florent Salfati - have earned a reputation for blending crushing heaviness with soaring melodies and deeply emotive lyrics. Building on the momentum of their successful 2024 world touring and their explosive single 'Creature', LANDMVRKS are poised to deliver yet another genre-defining release.

With The Darkest Place I've Ever Been, LANDMVRKS aim to push boundaries while staying true to the raw intensity that has captured the hearts of over 680,000 monthly Spotify listeners. As anticipation builds, the double single release sets the stage for what promises to be a monumental chapter in the band’s career.
 
'Sulfur' and 'Sombre 16' are two new tracks that continue the story from previous single 'Creature' while also introducing the universe of the new album The Darkest Place I've Ever Been.

The band comment: "The tracks and the new album follow a protagonist as he descends deeper and deeper into hell, undergoing both physical and mental transformation."
 
Catch LANDMVRKS live in the US in March 2025.

LANDMVRKS are:

Florent Salfati - vocals 
Rudy Purkart - bass 
Nicolas Exposito - guitar 
Paul C. Wilson - guitar 
Kévin D’Agostino - drums 

LANDMVRKS online:
http://www.landmvrks.com
http://www.facebook.com/landmvrks
http://www.instagram.com/landmvrks
http://www.twitter.com/landmvrks

Hunter Oliveri, the 18-year-old talent who has been steadily buzzing and creating a name for himself, is closing out 2024 with the video for his new single 'Queen of the Slum' - out now via Spinefarm.

Check out the video for 'Queen of the Slum' here: https://youtu.be/pACUcZFGaII

Stream 'Queen of the Slum' here: https://hunteroliveri.lnk.to/QueenOfTheSlum

The song is a grungy, alt-pop jam paired with a truly relatable lo-fi video shot on handheld cameras by Hunter and a bunch of his friends. If you haven't been shirtless in a shopping cart and feverishly raced down the street you grew up on, have you ever even been young? 

"'Queen of the Slum' is about being young in a relationship and how love feels like an unpolished but exciting time in life where we are all trying to find our place in the chaos," he says.

Hunter Oliveri previously shared the tracks 'Novocain', 'Stranger', 'Dumb', 'Spiraling Out' and 'SCUM'.

So what else do you need to know about Hunter Oliveri, whose previous single "Kids" was tipped by Pigeons + Planes? Plenty!

His songs channel the alternative and grunge blueprint of his musical heroes — like Chris Cornell and Soundgarden, Billy Corgan and the Smashing Pumpkins — imbued with the playful opaqueness of Kurt Cobain's lyricism and the easy slacker hooks of Weezer.

Like all of Oliveri's music, it speaks to the messiness of growing up. It sounds exactly like that, too. He simply writes what he knows. There are songs about partying too hard and songs about loving too much; songs about last night's headrush highs and the morning-after's anxious comedown.

There are songs for when you seek the comfort of relatability, and there are songs for when you want to simply say "fuck it all."

They are the product of the humble authenticity of someone who's grown up in a place no different to a million others the world over. Most have never heard of Paso Robles, CA, and might never again. There's sunshine, strip malls, and vineyards that outnumber venues ten to one, where the nearby underground music scene of San Luis Obispo a few miles down the road is more accessible than anything resembling the bright lights of L.A. two hours to the south or San Francisco up north. "It's a boring city, but we make the most of it," Oliveri shrugs.

"We'll go skating, or hang out and smoke. And anyway, it's fun to go moshing in someone's basement."
It's no surprise, then, that Oliveri is used to creating more interesting scenes than those that existed outside his window. As a kid, he would do so in the stories he dreamt up in his bedroom. "I like writing stories about worlds I'd want to live in," he says, "which made my own world seem so much bigger."

Such creativity inevitably morphed into songwriting in his early teenage years — though music had long since embedded itself within him. "I was probably four years old when I first heard 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' around my parents’ house," he recalls of music's omnipresence in his life. "I never knew the name of the song but every time I heard it, I'd be like, shit, it's that song. It would give me this majestic feeling." He laughs that his mom holds a video recording of her son gamely plucking through a rendition of a Metallica song (it was the epic 'One') at his Kindergarten graduation performance. His dad — an avid fan of Korn and Tool — meanwhile tells him that his parents met at Woodstock; not the peace-and-love of Woodstock '69, but, more aptly, the confusion-and-chaos of Woodstock '99.

A chance meeting at age 14 with a local producer's father while in a coffee shop with his grandpa was the first domino to fall in Oliveri's music story. The rest is a history still to be written. "I've been so incredibly lucky, but I've manifested this, too," he says. "I've always known writing music would be my life. I just had to make it happen. It was hard to find kids around my city that played instruments and wanted to be in a band, but I've been writing songs every day in my bedroom since I was maybe 13 years old. It takes me to a different place."

Those songs are anthems for those disassociated with the world on their doorstep, the soundtrack to growing up marooned inside a digital world that Oliveri speaks of with disdain as "rotting people’s brains." "I want to bring people into my world through my music," he adds. "I want people to feel something when they listen to my music, and to relate to me, and for me to be a friend and an outlet for them."

And as for everything else?
Well, he'll figure it out as he goes.

Go ahead and further familiarise yourself with the artistry of Hunter Oliveri.

For more information:
https://www.instagram.com/hunteroliveri/
https://www.tiktok.com/@hunteroliveri/
https://www.youtube.com/@HunterOliveri/

Sicksense // Credit: Tony Aguilera 

“Killer V” Vicky Psarakis of Sicksense has joined forces with Intervals rhythm section Nathan Bulla and Jacob Umansky for the epic djenty metal epic 'Slave', composed by critically-acclaimed songwriter Kevin Sherwood. The song has gained huge attention thanks to being featured as the "hidden Easter Egg song" in the game Call Of Duty, on the latest Black Ops 6 Zombies map, “Citadelle Des Morts”.

Watch the lyric video for 'Slave' here: https://youtu.be/KJt_uiQh0xE

'Slave' has amassed over 200k views on YouTube and 180k streams on Spotify within a few days of release. 

During the pandemic, Vicky received many requests to cover Call Of Duty songs during her live Twitch streams. Flash forward to a couple years later, Kevin Sherwood personally reached out to Vicky to sing an original song for him and the Call Of Duty franchise.

Sherwood was so impressed with the sound of the latest Sicksense singles, he enlisted their producer Joey Doherty to mix/produce 'Slave'.

Sicksense will release their debut full-length album, Cross Me Twice, on 14th February 2025 via Earache Records. 

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 on the record: "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."

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

Photo Credit: Linda Florin

The Night Flight Orchestra have released a video for their energetic new single 'Way To Spend The Night'. The track is cut from their upcoming album and Napalm Records debut, Give Us The Moon, set for release on 31st January 2025. 

Check out the video for 'Way To Spend The Night': https://youtu.be/argnFyOa2E4

Pre-orderGive Us The Moonhere: https://lnk.to/TNFO-GiveUsTheMoon/napalmrecords

The Night Flight Orchestra comment:

“'Way To Spend The Night' shows you the absolute electric connection we have as a band, both as musicians and people. This band that we have in common, brings out the very best of each member and make them deliver beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. That is something we really treasure and this song proves it - both musically and visually. The footage was all captured in the glistening autumnal side of summer, one night on town in the heart of Stockholm. Please enjoy!”

Founded in 2007 by members of high-profile bands such as Soilwork, Arch Enemy and Mean Streak, over the years The Night Flight Orchestra have established their place in the scene with AOR inspired, multifaceted soundscapes and spellbinding live shows, garnering an international fanbase by touring in Europe, as well as in Latin America. Further live highlights have included enormous festivals like Wacken Open Air and opening for Kiss on their very last two shows in Sweden at legendary Dalhalla.
 
Fans will get the chance to hear songs from the new album live on The Night Flight Orchestra’s Moon Over Europe2025 tour from late January on, with Metalite and Tragedy announced as support acts, as well as on the Scandinavian leg of the tour starting in late February. 

Give Us The Moon takes the listener on an exciting sonic journey, balancing between uplifting escapism and captivating stories inspired by real life events. The album's themes span the likes of heroines and temptresses to liberation and romantic nostalgia, set to backdrops of abandoned cities and cosmic tides.
 
The intro track, 'Final Call', sets the scene for Give Us The Moon before impressive opening track 'Stratus'. The intro of 'Like The Beating Of A Heart' captures the listener from its first notes, leading into an irresistibly catchy chorus. The massive 'Melbourne, May I?' is a classic The Night Flight Orchestra anthem, featuring captivating solos that are equally prominent on following track 'Miraculous'. The Night Flight Orchestra slows it down for the emotional 'Paloma', before again diving into different soundscapes on the exciting, uplifting 'Cosmic Tide'. The title track, 'Give Us The Moon', builds into a singalong chorus, before the band continues their trademark of name-dropping streets and cities on 'A Paris Point Of View', that features fascinating instrumentation, including particularly 80s-inspired keys and groovy bass. Sentimental 'Runaways' feels like a part of a movie, only partially because of the attention-grabbing intro track before the first notes. The Night Flight Orchestra get the tempo up once more for 'Way To Spend The Night', before epic closing track 'Stewardess, Empress, Hot Mess (And The Captain Of Pain)' wraps up The Night Flight Orchestra’s most cinematic masterpiece so far.
 
Give Us The Moon is free from the limitations of one genre or style, although many of the soundscapes of the album draw inspiration from the 80s, making the album a varied, exciting adventure. The album was produced by The Night Flight Orchestra and Sebastian Forslund, who also mixed the album, and is mastered by Plec Johansson at the award-winning The Panic Room Studios. The galactic artwork was once again created by the talented Giorgia Carteri. Boarding is completed - fasten your seatbelts and enjoy the flight!
 
The Night Flight Orchestra comment on their new album:
 
“We have never worked harder on an album before and what a journey it’s been. We feel that this album has it all and there’s no way we could have done any better. It’s an explosion of emotions and cinematic landscapes where you’ll be catapulted into space and then land smoothly, while feeling right at home. It will be your haven and your grand escape all at once. We hope you will connect to this album with every fibre of your body and mind, just like we do. Please do enjoy Give Us The Moon!”

See The Night Flight Orchestra on their Moon Over Europe 2025 tour: 

30.01.25 NL - Tilburg / 13
31.01.25 FR - Lyon / O Totem Live
01.02.25 UK - London / Garage
02.02.25 FR - Paris / Petit Bain
04.02.25 ES - Bilbao / Sana27
05.02.25 PT - Lisbon / Lisboa Au Vivo
07.02.25 ES - Madrid / Mon
08.02.25 ES - Barcelona / Wolf
11.02.25 IT - Milan / Legend Club
13.02.25 HU - Budapest / Durer Kert
14.02.25 AT - Vienna / Szene
15.02.25 DE - Munich / Backstage
16.02.25 CZ - Prague / Futurum
18.02.25 CH - Aarau / KIFF
19.02.25 DE - Aschaffenburg / Colos Saal
20.02.25 DE - Nuremberg / Hirsch
21.02.25 DE - Karlsruhe / Substage
22.02.25 DE - Berlin / Frannz Club
24.02.25 DE - Hamburg / Bahnhof Pauli

Moon Over Scandinavia 2025 Tour:

27.02.25 SE - Uppsala / Katalin
28.02.25 SE - Karlstad / Nöjesfabriken
01.03.25 SE - Gothenburg / Gothenburg Filmstudios*
06.03.25 DK - Copenhagen / Vega
07.03.25 SE - Norrköping / Arbis
08.03.25 SE - Malmö / Plan B

*w/ NESTOR

The Night Flight Orchestra are:

Björn Strid - Vocals
Sharlee D’Angelo - Bass
Jonas Källsbäck - Drums
Sebastian Forslund - Guitar, Percussions
John Lönnmyr - Keys
Rasmus Ehrnborn - Guitar
Anna Brygard - Backing Vocals
Åsa Lundman - Backing Vocals

For more information:
NAPALM RECORDS
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
TIKTOK

Give Us The Moon tracklisting:
 
1. Final Call (Intro)
2. Stratus
3. Shooting Velvet
4. Like The Beating Of A Heart
5. Melbourne, May I?
6. Miraculous
7. Paloma
8. Cosmic Tide
9. Give Us The Moon
10. A Paris Point Of View
11. Runaways
12. Way To Spend The Night
13. Stewardess, Empress, Hot Mess (And The Captain Of Pain)

Give Us The Moon will be available in the following formats:   

• 1LP Gatefold Splatter Vinyl incl booklet, poster and flight ticket

• Digisleeve incl booklet, hip bag and sleeping mask       

• 1LP Gatefold Crystal Clear Vinyl 

• 1LP Gatefold Salmon Pink – band exclusive

• 1LP Gatefold Vinyl Black Vinyl

• Digisleeve

• Digital Album

Photo Credit: A. Vassell

Boundary breaking sisters ALT BLK ERA once again surprise with their huge pop anthem 'Hunt You Down', along with a powerful music video. Following their collaboration with Wheatus, the Nottingham duo once again demonstrate their limitless creativity and inventiveness, which has set their unstoppable course to becoming the hottest breakthrough act of 2025.

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

'Hunt You Down' is the fourth single taken from their highly anticipated debut album Rave Immortal, out 24th January 2025 via Earache Records. Pre-order here: earache.com/altblkera

Vocalist Nyrobi comments: "We often explore uncomfortable topics in our music in the hope that they raise awareness and become conversation starters. Hunt You Down was written on the back of developing a chronic illness during the pandemic, which led to me being bed-ridden and years of isolation. I wanted to explore human interaction of those who have been shut off over a period of time, and how through a need for connection, behaviours can become inappropriate and obsessive."

The release follows ALT BLK ERA's recently sold-out London headline show, hosted by BBC Radio 1's Alyx Holcombe as part of her Mantra event series. ALT BLK ERA have had their last three videos featured on MTV, and they recently appeared on Channel 4's 'Sunday Brunch'. 

Catch ALT BLK ERA at one of their album in-store appeareances:

Jan 24: Bristol, Rough Trade
Jan 25: Nottingham, Saltbox
Jan 27: Liverpool, Rough Trade
Jan 28: Oxford, Truck
Jan 29: Brighton, Resident
Jan 30: Kingston, Pryzm 

Tickets:  linktr.ee/altblkera.instore

ALT BLK ERA have announced their Rave Immortal UK headline tour throughout April 2025.

Dates: 

15 Apr: Manchester, The Deaf Institute
16 Apr: Leeds, The Key Club
18 Apr: Sheffield, Corporation
20 Apr: Birmingham, The Flapper
21 Apr: Southampton, Heartbreakers
23 Apr: London, The Underworld

Tickets: https://www.altblkera.com/live

Within just a year ALT BLK ERA have established themselves as one of the most unique and exciting new alternative acts today, winning over audiences at major festivals including Glastonbury and Reading & Leeds, and opening for artists such as Tom Morello, Lord Of The Lost and many more. Their highly acclaimed debut EP Freak Show accelerated their meteoric rise, earning them nominations in both the 2024 MOBO and Heavy Music Awards. The album announcement comes after their triumphant set at Download Festival, where Metal Hammer magazine described them as one the bands that defined this year’s event.

As two alternative people who understand living life outside of the edge of social norms,ALT BLK ERA have created a wonderful safe space and a community for alts and their allies. This ethos has earned them a loyal and diverse following, who see no barriers and boundaries musically and socially. 

This safe space has allowed the girls to open up even more onRave Immortal, which among its themes around diversity and inclusion, centres aroundNyrobicoming to terms with a disabling illness, and the support she received fromChaya. From pain and struggle to newfound strength and unconditional love, this is a story that will resonate with anyone who has faced barriers, and is an inspiration overcome them and to be yourself no matter what.

OnRave Immortal,Nyrobicomments:"You might not notice on a first listen that this album is about my hidden disability that is a result of chronic illness that took hold during my teens and left me bed-ridden for years. I take the listener through the shadows and share the pain of abandonment I felt, and the solace that I found in my younger sister's unwavering support.

"This part of the album is so painful for me and at the same time it feels beautiful because it shows my sister by my side, every step of the way; through each emotion and every story. I wouldn’t have been brave enough to share this part of me withoutChayaand the track 'Come On Outside' is a beautiful reflection of her.

"But we don’t stop there! The album then captures the defiant energy that grew within us, as I became more able. The songs show us crashing through the imposed barriers and boldly claiming spaces that we were once excluded from. As the songs transition into a dreamscape, they delve into the exploration of relationships; the clash of personalities when fitting into a new friendship group and the dangerous mind of an infatuated person who is scarred by illness and years of isolation.

The rebellion then builds as we begin to host wild celebrations, fiercely defending our joy after so many years of imposed restriction. The final tracks turn the tide, transforming our pursuit of freedom into an exhilarating hunt, where those who once stifled our spirit are drawn into our eternal dance of liberation, freeing them from all worldly constraints."

Chayacontinues:"This album starts as a deeply personal story of the physical and emotional pain that my sister went through when she first became ill. I was about twelve at that time. It was during the pandemic so it was a time of worry and isolation for me also but asNyrobislowly became more able to communicate, we spent every minute that she was awake together. I would sit in her room and contribute to her creations whilst she wrote song after song after song. From my more introverted perspective, the calmer songs reflect my nature, so 'Straight To Heart', 'Come On Outside' and 'Run Rabbit'. However,  I’ll ride-or-die for my big sis, so when it’s time to be defiant or to be rebellious, or when it’s time to scream, I’m right there too. This is what the album is about for me - our bond, that also respects who we are as individuals."
 
ALT BLK ERA are:
Nyrobi - vocals
Chaya - vocals

ALT BLK ERA online:
Instagram ||TikTok

Rave Immortal tracklist: 

01. Straight To Heart
02. Come On Outside
03. Crashing Parties
04. My Drummer’s Girlfriend
05. Hunt You Down
06. Upstairs Neighbours
07. Come Fight Me For It
08. Run Rabbit
09. Catch Me If You Can
10. Rave Immortal 

Progressive stoner rock purveyors Gaupa have released a video for their smashing new single, 'Heavy Lord'.

Listen to the brand new single 'Heavy Lord' below.
Stream: https://gaupa.bfan.link/heavy-lord
Watch the video: https://youtu.be/UXBhmUPC-wk

Ever since releasing their self-titled debut EP in 2018, unique psychedelic rockers Gaupa from Falun, Sweden, have had quite the career. To this day, their success story doesn't just include several million streams of fan-favourite singles like 'Febersvan', 'Vakuum' and 'Exoskeleton' from their much acclaimed latest full-length Myriad, but also tours with genre greats like Graveyard and celebrated appearances at renowned European festivals such as Hellfest, Wacken, Alcatraz, Sweden Rock, Brutal Assault, Mystic and Desertfest.

Praised for their distinctive sound that combines stoner and psychedelic rock, progressive rock and alternative with the enchanting and creative vocal approach of singer Emma Näslund, Gaupa quickly rose from an insider tip to a household name across the scene and beyond.

Gaupa online:

https://linktr.ee/GAUPAband

Photo Credit: Andy Ford

In anticipation of their upcoming War of Being Part Two World Tour, progressive metal band TesseracT have shared a stunning new live video for their hit single ‘War of Being’, taken from the band’s headline set at 2024’s Radar Festival.

Watch [premiere set for 6pm GMT]: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x_OPgf1sW4

On January 10th, TesseracT will kick off Part Two of their War of Being World Tour. The tour includes headline shows across Europe and the UK, as well as a series of performances supporting prog icon Devin Townsend on his Powernerd Tour in the US and Canada. To mark the occasion, TesseracT will release the War Of Being
Tour Edition LP on January 10th.

The new War Of Being Tour Edition is available to pre-order below on 2LP and 2CD, with both formats including the Live At Radar EP - 3 bonus tracks recorded live from TesseracT’s headline set at Radar Festival 2024 (Manchester, UK) where they were joined on stage by Choir Noir - featuring War of Being's vocal producer, Kat Marsh/Cestra. The LP edition has also been newly mastered at half-speed for the highest audio quality and is pressed on black and red marble vinyl.

Pre-order: https://tesseractkscope.lnk.to/WoB_tour_edition

UK dates as follow:

Feb 11 - Brighton, UK - Chalk
Feb 12 - Cambridge, UK - Cambridge Junction
Feb 14 - Cardiff, UK - Tramshed
Feb 15 - Leeds, UK - Project House

Buy tickets here: https://www.tesseractband.co.uk/tour-dates

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)

Photo Credit: Jacek Jaca Wisniewsky

Polish icons PATRIARKH (formerly Batushka), centred around singer/mastermind Bartłomiej Krysiuk, continue their conceptual album with the release of their new single 'ВЕРШАЛИН II' (Lat. WIERSZALIN II). Accompanied by an audio visualiser video, the official video will follow soon. The song perfectly blends heavy doom metal with black metal, seamlessly merging folk instruments and captivating choirs’ with beautiful arranged string instruments, building an eerie tension accentuated by engaging growls.

Watch the 'ВЕРШАЛИН II' visualiser here: https://youtu.be/7a31Quup_Qc

Pre-order ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ here: https://lnk.to/PATRIARKH-PROPHET-ILJA/napalmrecords

Taken from the upcoming studio album ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ (Lat. PROROK ILJA), out on 3rd January, 2025 via Napalm Records, PATRIARKH return with a clear and fresh vision. The album, spanning eight brand-new tracks delves into the true story of Eliasz Klimowicz, the enigmatic Prophet Ilja. Set against the dramatic historical backdrop of the 1930s and ’40s, PATRIARKH masterfully transform these events into dark yet mesmerising atmospheres, interwoven with their deeply rooted Eastern Orthodox traditions. Building on the critical success of Hospodi (2019) and relentless global touring, PATRIARKH show no signs of slowing down, with countless live shows lined up for this and the coming year.

PATRIARKH comment on the new single 'ВЕРШАЛИН II': "‘Wierszalin II’ explores the theme of revelation, highlighting the significant role of the Mother of God as a symbolic sign within the piece. It reflects an anointing that accompanies the prophet's message, functioning as a prayer imbued with purpose. This hymn is associated with the Prophet Ilya, encapsulating his expressions of worship, praise, and gratitude for the opportunity to serve and glorify heaven through his work. Ultimately, the song emphasises the connection between divine revelation and the prophet's mission, which ends in failure.”

ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ details a true story that happened in the band’s home area of Podlasie, in the village of Grzybowszczyzna, in the 1930s and 40s. The album takes the listener into the world of Eliasz Klimowicz, the titular Prophet Ilja, an illiterate peasant who was the leader of the Orthodox Grzybowska Sect, active until the 1960s, cultivating and transmitting the history of the self-proclaimed prophet. PATRIARKH spread their gospel by using an arsenal of folk instruments, such as tagelharpa, mandolin, mandocello, hurdy gurdy and stringed dulcimer, and worked with a symphony orchestra and choirs to give their new creations the most organic and vivid feeling possible. As is trademark with PATRIARKH’s music, Orthodox sacredness is mixed with black and doom metal, now largely enriched with folk music, neo dark folk, and even film music. The band utilizes the entire palette of Orthodox music, venturing into the areas of Byzantine monody, liturgical chant and Russian polyphony, neatly adapting folk and liturgical melodies to their own style. 
                 
PATRIARKH comment on the new album: “With this new release, we are starting a new chapter in our history - not only is our name changing, but our music is also undergoing a natural evolution. The story on the album encouraged us to get out of our comfort zone, we reached for means that we had not used before in our music. Many of you will wonder if this is still black metal? Or is it even metal? Radio play, audiobook, theatre, film soundtrack, folk music, performance... All these terms will fit here. Some will hate, others will love...”
 
The lyrical side of ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ is an interesting mix of theatre and pastoralism. PATRIARKH uses fragments of texts from the theatre play Prorok Ilja and draws from the messages contained in the works of Włodzimierz Pawluczuk, combining it with folk and liturgical texts. On ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ, listeners can hear various languages – and Polish for the first time ever.

The album was recorded in January and May 2024 at Tall Pine Records (Behemoth, Zalewski, Afromental), Heinrich House (Behemoth, Vesania, Hate), Wem Studio (Kasa Chorych, Lukasyno, Cira) and Radio Białystok studio. Mixing and mastering was handled by Wojciech Wiesławski at Hertz Studi"Варфоломейo (Vader, Behemoth, Decapitated), and production was helmed by band mastermind and leading vocalist Bartłomiej "ВАРФОЛОМИЕЙ" Krysiuk.

“ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ is an album full of emotions, sentimentalism and folklore. It’s pastoral, lyrical, epic, multidimensional and multicolored, just like my Podlasie is multicolored,” says Варфоломей. Dive into the deepest of all shadows with this black metal masterpiece and join PATRIARKH on this intriguing ride.

PATRIAKH are:
ВАРФОЛОМИЕЙ – vocals
МОНАХ ТАРЛАХАН – guitars
МОНАХ БОРУТА – guitars
АРХАНГЕЛ МИХАИЛ – guitars
ЛЕХ – drums
ХИАЦЫНТОС ЯЦА - choir
ЯЗЫЧНИК – choir

PATRIARKH online: 
WEBSITE
FACEBOOK
INSTAGRAM
NAPALM RECORDS

PATRIARKH Live 2024
Asia & Australia Prophecy 2024
12.12.24 NZ - Auckland / Tuning Fork
13.12.24 AU - Melbourne / Max Watts
 
NOWY WIERSZALIN Poland 2025
03.01.25 PL - Łódź / Wytwórnia - SINFONIA ORTHODOXIA w/symphonic orchestra and male choir
22.02.25 PL - Krosno / Rock Klub Iron
07.03.25 PL - Wrocław / Transformator
08.03.25 PL - Zabrze / CK Wiatrak
09.03.25 PL - Kraków / HYPE PARK
14.03.25 PL - Lublin / Fabryka Kultury Zgrzyt
15.03.25 PL - Olsztyn / Scena Zgrzyt
16.03.25 PL - Warszawa / Klub Proxima
17.03.25 PL - Białystok / Zmiana Klimatu
21.03.25 PL - Gdynia / Podwórko.art
22.03.25 PL - Szczecin / Kosmos
23.03.25 PL - Poznań / 2progi

ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ track list:

1. WIERSZALIN I (Lat.) - ВЕРШАЛИН I (Cyrillic)
2. WIERSZALIN II (Lat.) - ВЕРШАЛИН II (Cyrillic)
3. WIERSZALIN III (Lat.) - ВЕРШАЛИН III (Cyrillic)
4. WIERSZALIN IV (Lat.) - ВЕРШАЛИН IV (Cyrillic)
5. WIERSZALIN V (Lat.) - ВЕРШАЛИН V (Cyrillic)
6. WIERSZALIN VI (Lat.) - ВЕРШАЛИН VI (Cyrillic)
7. WIERSZALIN VII (Lat.) - ВЕРШАЛИН VII (Cyrillic)
8. WIERSZALIN VIII (Lat.) - ВЕРШАЛИН VIII (Cyrillic)

ПРОРОК ИЛИЯ will be available in the following formats:

Wooden Box (Digipak, bonus CD, pendant, flag & patch) - 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder and Patriarkh Shop exclusive)
Deluxe 2LP GATEFOLD GOLD Vinyl (Alternative album cover artwork, bonus vinyl, & 24pp vinyl booklet) - 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder and Patriarkh Shop exclusive)
1LP GATEFOLD SILVER Vinyl - 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive)
1LP GATEFOLD MARBLED ORANGE RED BLACK Vinyl - 300 copies (Napalm Records Mailorder exclusive)
1LP Gatefold in Black Vinyl
6 Page Digipak
Digital Album