News

• NEFASTIS' Dark Concept Album "Shadows At The Light Of Dawn" + New Music Video "Vortex of Light"

  Mar 6, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Italian symphonic death metal band Nefastis mark the release of their new studio album “Shadows At The Light Of Dawn”, out today, March 6th, 2026, a concept work unfolding across four acts and conceived as a single, continuous sonic journey. Alongside the album release, the band also unveiled the official video for the track “Vortex Of Light”, one of the record’s most intense and dynamically layered compositions.

  Conceived as a concept album unfolding across four acts, “Shadows At The Light Of Dawn” develops as a continuous narrative and sonic journey set in a bleak post-apocalyptic world. Each act opens with an instrumental composition that introduces the atmosphere of the chapter ahead, allowing the record to evolve as a cohesive listening experience in which orchestral textures, progressive structures, and extreme metal intensity coexist within a single dramatic arc.

  Across its twelve tracks, the album blends symphonic death metal with elements drawn from classical music, progressive rock, and extreme metal traditions. Violent riff-driven passages alternate with melancholic orchestral interludes and expansive progressive arrangements, creating a constantly shifting dynamic landscape that reinforces the narrative dimension of the work.

  Following the release of the singles “Shadow Spell” and “Stardust”, the album now emerges in its complete form, revealing the full scope of the band’s vision. At the center of this new chapter stands “Vortex Of Light,” accompanied by a newly released official video. The track embodies the album’s dual identity: energetic thrash-death riffing and relentless rhythmic drive merge with symphonic layers and melodic tension, striking a powerful balance between aggression and atmosphere.

  Formed in 2008 by Andrea Lenzi and Simone Colombo, Nefastis debuted with the concept album "De Diebus Fastis, Nefastis, Infaustis". After a period of inactivity and lineup changes, the band gradually reshaped its musical identity, evolving from its original thrash/death roots toward a broader symphonic death metal direction.

  With “Shadows At The Light Of Dawn”, the band consolidates that evolution. The album expands the orchestral dimension already hinted at in earlier material while strengthening the progressive approach to songwriting, resulting in a record that is both technically intricate and narratively cohesive.

  Recorded across several studios in Italy and mixed by Frank Altare at 33Hz Studio, the album was mastered by Toni Lindgren at the renowned Fascination Street Studios in Sweden, known for his work with acts such as Angra, Amorphis, Kreator, Dimmu Borgir, and Opeth.

  Blending symphonic grandeur, progressive structures, and extreme metal intensity, “Shadows At The Light Of Dawn” represents the most ambitious and fully realized chapter in the band’s journey so far.

  For fans of: Wintersun, Hypocrisy, Fleshgod Apocalypse

  ​​

  New album “Shadows At The Light Of Dawn” out today, March 6th, 2026

  ORDER "Shadows At The Light Of Dawn"
  ​https://rockshots.eu/products/nefastis-shadows-at-the-light-of-dawn-cd​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Cosmic Silence at the Edge of the New World – 2:50
  2. Shadow Spell – 4:30
  3. Seduced by the Beauty of the Darkness – 5:05
  4. Absence of Illumination – 2:52
  5. Tears of the Past – 4:29
  6. Vortex of Light – 5:09
  7. Lights of Dawn – 3:43
  8. Alone Again – 5:57
  9. Stardust – 5:05
  10. Blackened Vision – 2:45
  11. Collapsing Dream – 8:01
  12. Flowers Swept Away by the Autumn – 5:33
  Album Length: 55:58
  ​​
  Nefastis Line-Up:​
  Simone Colombo: Lead Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitars
  Andrea Lenzi: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Acoustic Guitars, Backing Vocals, Orchestrations
  Fulvio Manganini: Bass
  Claudio Invidia: Drums
  ​
  ​More info:

  ​https://rockshots.eu/​

  ​https://www.instagram.com/nefastis.italy/​

  ​https://www.facebook.com/nefastis.italy​

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• Streaming Now! Slamming Death Metal INSECT INSIDE's New Album "Reborn in Blight"

  Mar 5, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Rising brutal death metal force Insect Inside has released their long‑awaited new album, Reborn in Blight, on March 6th, 2026, on Gore Productions. The record marks the band’s most ambitious and punishing chapter to date, merging groove‑driven slam with suffocating dark atmospheres and apocalyptic storytelling.
  ​
  Formed from the depths of the Eastern European underground, Insect Inside began as a group of friends jamming covers before evolving into a fully realized assault of tight, aggressive, insectoid‑themed brutality. Their second full‑length album pushes that identity further than ever.

  On "Reborn in Blight," Insect Inside shifts from their earlier polished production into a rawer, more visceral sonic attack, drawing heavily from influences such as Disentomb, Relics of Humanity, Cryptopsy, Defeated Sanity, and Vulvectomy. The result is a grotesque fusion of groove‑driven slam, dark brutal death metal, and bleak atmospheric tension that shapes the album’s entire arc.

  The record unfolds in escalating waves of darkness, groove, and brutality. It begins with its bleakest descent in Echoes of the Swallowed Sinners before plunging into the slam‑laden Abhorrent Landscape, bolstered by a guest appearance from Cephalotripsy’s Mr. Ochoa. Fragments erupts with chaotic, atmospheric intensity, while Putrid Lament delivers unfiltered slam. Hiveborn Abomination, featuring Defeated Sanity’s Josh Welshman, emerges as one of the album’s defining moments. The suffocating grooves of Flesh Cathedral slow the pace, Obscuration Worship sets the album’s overarching tone of overwhelming darkness, and Carnal Ruins channels classic NYDM aggression. A refined version of Parasite Messiah follows, leading into the title track, Reborn in Blight, which closes the album with a blend of speed, groove, and the band’s first-ever guitar solo, an encapsulation of everything they love about death metal.

  Lyrically, the album deepens the band’s apocalyptic world‑building, weaving short, violent narratives about humanity’s collapse and the rise of an insectoid race. The lyrical tone shifts with the music: the darker, more atmospheric tracks become increasingly poetic, while the faster, more chaotic songs lean fully into devastation.

  Despite living in different cities, Insect Inside writes collaboratively. Members compose riffs and ideas independently before refining them together, with Daniel leading the songwriting and Ivan and Daniel crafting most of the lyrics. The lineup includes: Bogdan (bass) (Cold Blooded Murder, Traumatomy), Pavel (guitar) (Ocean In My Bath), Daniel (vocals) (Nauseating, Morphogenetic Malformation), and Ivan (drums) (Nauseating).

  With "Reborn in Blight," they cement their place as one of the most exciting brutal death metal acts emerging from Eastern Europe. The band already hints at more music in the coming years, ensuring that their insectoid domination has only just begun.

  Listen to the album in full via its album stream premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.

  Recommended for fans of Internal Bleeding, Stabbing, Devourment, and Disfigurement of Flesh, "Reborn in Blight" will be available March 6, 2026, via Gore House Productions.

  Pre‑orders are now live on Digital, Vinyl, CD, and Cassette: https://orcd.co/reborn-in-blight​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Echoes Of The Swallowed Sinners - 3:31
  2. Abhorrent Landscape (feat. Cephalotripsy) - 2:54
  3. Fragments - 2:18
  4. Putrid Lament - 3:35
  5. Hiveborn Abomination (feat. Defeated Sanity) - 2:51
  6. Flesh Cathedral - 3:00
  7. Obscuration Worship - 1:20
  8. Carnal Ruins - 2:45
  9. Parasite Messiah (feat. Pestilectomy) - 3:29
  10. Reborn In Blight - 5:22

  Album and Live Band Line Up:​
  Daniel Sementsov - Drums
  Bogdan Pisavnin - Bass
  Pavel Pleshkov - Guitar
  Ivan Tyulkin - Vocals

  More info: ​​

  ​https://gorehouseproductions.com/​

  ​https://www.facebook.com/insectinsideslam​

  ​https://www.instagram.com/insect_inside

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• Vegas Un‑Alive Fest 2026 Unleashes a Brutal Lineup Led by Decrepit Birth

  Mar 2, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  VEGAS UN ALIVE FESTIVAL announces its 2026 inaugural lineup featuring DECREPIT BIRTH, THE CONVALESCENCE, CASKET ROBBERY, PESSIMIST, CLAUSTROFOBIA, and many more.

  Rising from the ashes of Las Vegas Deathfest, VEGAS UN ALIVE FESTIVAL is bringing extreme metal back to the city with full force. Answering the call of local metalheads hungry for brutality, JJ Jackson (Moonshine Bandits) and Dave Oshann (Trip to the Morgue) have united to launch the most debaucherous mosh pit to hit Vegas.

  Hosted on Friday, March 20th, and Saturday, March 21st, at the Divebar (4110 S. Maryland Pkwy), extreme metal fans can expect a full‑scale festival grounds featuring two stages, 25 bands from across the globe, custom cars and bikes, tattoo artists, freakshow acts, firebreathers, and plenty of food and drink. Anticipation is sky‑high, and a metal-hungry crowd is expected as this new chapter begins with two stages and 25 bands of punishing and relentless death metal.

  Festival Weekend Passes available at https://www.ticketor.com/unalivefest/tickets​

  Single Day Ticket - https://www.ticketor.com/unalivefest/tickets​

  Facebook Event - https://www.facebook.com/events/s/vegas-un-alive-fest-2026/605964475895162/​

  ​Festival Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/28iDiMbYVJ7rLPOWqWreI5

  Headlining the festival on Saturday, March 21st, on the Death or Glory Stage, DECREPIT BIRTH continues to push forward as one of technical death metal’s most enduring forces. With their signature blend of hyper‑technical riffing and cosmic brutality, the Santa Cruz veterans continue to uphold their reputation as one of the genre’s most formidable live acts. The band is performing at Vegas Un Alive Festival as their Las Vegas tour stop during their 2026 "The Uncreation of Civilization West Coast Tour".

  ​Co-headlining the Death or Glory Stage, symphonic deathcore juggernauts THE CONVALESCENCE are stopping at the festival as part of their "Celebrating 10 Years of Poison Word Tour". The band unleashed their newest music video, “Bloodletter,” a dark, cinematic release featuring a guest appearance by Ricky Myers of Suffocation.

  Headlining the Divebar Stage on Saturday, March 21st, CASKET ROBBERY is a death metal act with a horror and industrialized edge from Wisconsin, USA. Their trademark huge riffs and unsettling melodies create an unrelenting, brutally catchy, and eerie sound that has surfaced a die-hard following. The band delves into occultist themes and the horrors of the human condition, which has been masterfully captured on their sophomore album‘Rituals Of Death'. The album was mixed and mastered by Cryptopsy guitarist Christian Donaldson (The Agonist, Ingested, Signs Of The Swarm) and received critical media acclaim. With supports alongside acts such as Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, Psycroptic, performances across North America, and many festival appearances, including Milwaukee Metal Fest, the path of Casket Robbery is unstoppable.

  ​Co‑headlining the Divebar Stage, extreme‑metal veterans PESSIMIST, born from Baltimore’s early ’90s death‑metal underground, have long carved out their own territory with a vicious blend of technical precision, old‑school thrash influence, and a relentlessly dark, sinister atmosphere. The band is now gearing up for the release of "Keys to the Underworld," their first full‑length album in over two decades, with early previews hinting that it may be their most uncompromising and extreme material yet.

  ​Headlining opening night, Friday, March 20th at Divebar, CLAUSTROFOBIA, originillay formed in Brazil in 1994 by brothers Marcus and Caio D'Angelo, and now headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, the band boasts of a career spanning nearly three decades, a discography comprising seven full-length albums and a DVD release, a multitude of international tours, high-profile live performances sharing stages with the likes of Iron Maiden, Slayer and Anthrax and countless fans all over the world.

  ​

  Friday, March 20th​
  Doors - 6:30 pm

  Claustrofobia
  Rottenness
  Scattered Guts
  Lacabra
  Anubis
  Papsmear
  Last Rites
  ​
  ​Saturday, March 21st​
  Doors - 2:30 pm

  Death or Glory Stage​
  Decrepit Birth
  The Convalescence
  Hunt the Dinosaur
  Lazarus Casket
  Trip to the Morgue
  Embryonic Devourment
  Skeleton Crew
  187
  ​
  ​Divebar Stage​
  Casket Robbery
  Pessimist
  Gravehuffer
  Abolishment of Flesh
  Cerebral Desecration
  Mantra of Morta
  Blistering Rot
  The Brown Sound

  More info:

  https://www.facebook.com/UnAlivefest702

  https://www.instagram.com/unalive_fest_lv​

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• GREYSTONE CANYON Animated Video For Neil Young Cover "Hey Hey, My My (Into The Black)"

  Feb 27, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Australian rockers Greystone Canyon return with a powerful take on “Hey Hey, My My (Into the Black)”, the iconic track by Neil Young, reimagined with the band’s raw and unfiltered rock ’n’ roll attitude.

  Taken from their new album “Something Borrowed…Something New”, this version captures everything Greystone Canyon stands for: real amps, real performance, no tricks. Recorded live in one room without click tracks or edits, the song delivers a warm, punchy, and authentic sound that brings back the true spirit of rock music. With respect to the original and the grit of their own identity, the band transforms this timeless classic into a heavy, driving anthem, loud, honest, and unapologetic.

  "Neil Young and this song need no introduction, and we are hopeful that Neil Young fans, even Neil himself, perhaps will approve of this rendition. This song has been transformed from a folk acoustic guitar strum along to a very dark arpeggiated piece that is rounded out by a spooky bass guitar solo and a beautiful acoustic guitar solo. This might be the furthest we have taken a cover from its original, but the lyrics and meaning of the song really work in this context. We hope you enjoy the animated video for the single," adds the band.

  Formed by vocalist/guitarist Darren Cherry, whose lifelong passion for music was inspired by AC/DC, KISS, and his father’s career as a professional musician, Greystone Canyon has built a reputation for tone, feel, fire, honesty, and organic sound. With drummer Sham (also of Nothing Sacred), guitarist Richard Vella, and bassist David Poulter, the band brings decades of experience, including Cherry’s tenure with Paul Di’Anno’s final Australian tour in 2024.
  ​
  ​Greystone Canyon’s new album "Something Borrowed… Something New" pays homage to rock legends like UFO, ZZ Top, Led Zeppelin, Thin Lizzy, and Neil Young, while introducing powerful originals such as Drives Us, Friend of the Fox, and Stealing Our Freedom. Inspired by Van Halen’s Diver Down, the record blends covers and originals into a dynamic listening experience. From the faithful tribute of UFO’s Doctor, Doctor and the smoky swing of ZZ Top’s Just Got Paid, to the road-trip energy of Drives Us and the heavier, metalized punch of Led Zeppelin’s Immigrant Song, the album showcases both reverence and reinvention. Originals like the acoustic, eerie Friend of the Fox and the protest anthem Stealing Our Freedom stand proudly alongside covers such as Thin Lizzy’s Suicide and Neil Young’s haunting Hey Hey, My My. With creative flourishes like "AAF," a Hendrix-style guitar homage to the Australian National Anthem, the album captures Greystone Canyon’s ability to honour rock’s greatest while carving out its own identity.
  ​
  Unlike their previous album, "Iron & Oak," which took six years to complete, "Something Borrowed… Something New" was tracked, mixed, and mastered in just five months. Recorded at Black Lodge Studio under the guidance of Joel Taylor, the band embraced a raw, live recording method that captures the warmth, punch, and energy of musicians playing together in real time.
  ​
  ​“This album has been the most fun we’ve had recording. Albums can be hard work and tedious, but this was a joy to make, and we think you can hear that in the recording,” adds Cherry.
  ​
  ​Greystone Canyon is an Australian hard rock band blending classic rock, heavy metal, blues, and folk influences. Known for their organic sound and passionate performances, the band continues to evolve while staying true to their roots. Their music is inspired by life, history, and the future, with lyrics that reflect both personal experiences and broader social themes.
  ​
  ​"Something Borrowed… Something New" was released on December 5th, 2025, from Rockshots Records and is available on all major streaming platforms and physical formats.

  CD - https://rockshots.eu/products/greystone-canyon-something-borrowed-something-new-cd​

  Add to your Spotify playlist - https://open.spotify.com/album/1ZyEq4kWkhDg6RnzCbGKJj​

  More info: Rockshots.eu | Facebook.com/greystonecanyon | Instagram.com/greystonecanyon_official

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• HAIDUK Unleashes New Album "Archdevil"

  Feb 26, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  A relentless surge of blackened death‑thrash returns from Canada’s one‑man metal conjurer. Calgary-based solo metal project Haiduk, the creation of guitarist and composer Luka Milojica, has announced the release of its fifth full‑length album, "Archdevil," out now as of February 26th, 2026. Known for its lightning‑fast riffcraft, evil melodies, and immersive dark‑fantasy worldbuilding, Haiduk’s newest offering pushes every element of its sound to the extreme.
  ​
  ​“Archdevil doubles down on everything Haiduk stands for: speed, busy riffs and evil melodies. The focus is to keep the listener on edge and constantly introduce new patterns to keep you engaged,” says Milojica.

  
  ​
  ​Haiduk emerged from Milojica’s desire to channel dark musical ideas without compromise. Inspired by Scandinavian solo acts like Vintersorg, he abandoned the search for bandmates and embraced complete creative control. Since the raw 2010 demo "Plagueswept", Haiduk has carved a distinct path through death, black, and thrash metal, each album expanding the lore of the fictional realm Callost, the setting for all Haiduk lyrics.
  ​
  Working entirely alone, Milojica writes all music and lyrics, performs all guitars and vocals, and records every release independently. Live, Haiduk performs as a one‑man assault: guitar and vocals onstage, with drums and bass delivered through the PA.
  ​
  Musically, "Archdevil" is Haiduk at its most intense, with fast, tightly wound riffing fused with sinister melodies and relentless rhythmic shifts. The album is designed to overwhelm, keeping listeners in a constant state of tension as new patterns and attacks emerge without warning.
  ​
  Lyrically, the record continues the saga of Callost, revisiting the nine demons first introduced on 2015’s "Demonicon." Of the album’s eleven tracks, nine are dedicated to these demonic entities. Track 6, “Darkener,” depicts the demon god Vordok, the Archdevil himself, while the closing track, “Usurper,” tells the story of King Arias, a human ruler slain and “necrified” inside the volcanic fortress Octavia, returning as a demon to wage war on his former people.
  ​
  Track Highlights includes "Curser", a slow‑burning opener that erupts into shifting tempos and dark atmospheres, representing Corloch, demon of curses and fire. "Vexer", a nonstop barrage of speed and heaviness, embodies Vordus, master of sorcery and mind control. "Reviler", black‑metal‑driven tremors inspired by Azyr, god of earthquakes and volcanic wrath. "Darkener", the centrepiece of the album, invokes Vordok, the Archdevil and supreme demon god. "Usurper", the tragic, violent return of King Arias, resurrected as a demon to lead a new infernal conquest.

  Recommended for fans of Bolt Thrower, Vomitory, Old Man’s Child, Dissection, and Behemoth, "Archdevil" is available at the following links:

  Add to your Spotify playlist - https://open.spotify.com/album/67xaAKQuDgk7Dw3mQNPZrA​

  Bandcamp - https://haiduk.bandcamp.com/​​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Curser (3:09)
  2. Vexer (2:42)
  3. Reviler (3:36)
  4. Deviser (3:10)
  5. Torturer (2:51)
  6. Darkener (4:00)
  7. Abhorer (2:30)
  8. Infester (2:33)
  9. Venomer (3:04)
  10. Necrifier (3:13)
  11. Usurper (3:05)
  Album Length: 33:53

  Album Band Line Up:​
  Luka Milojica – Guitars, Bass, Vocals, Drum Programming

  For more info:​
  ​https://www.haiduk.ca​
  ​http://www.facebook.com/haidukmetal​

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