News

• GREYSTONE CANYON Shares Claymation Cover Video of LED ZEPPELIN Classic “Immigrant Song”

  May 22, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Australian hard rockers Greystone Canyon unleash their explosive take on the legendary Led Zeppelin classic “Immigrant Song”, delivering the iconic anthem with raw power, grit, and unapologetic attitude.

  The track is taken from the band’s third full-length album “Something Borrowed…Something New”, a record that perfectly captures the authentic spirit of Greystone Canyon: loud, direct, and fiercely organic. Recorded live in a single room without click tracks, heavy editing, or digital manipulation, the album embraces the timeless energy of classic rock records where feel and performance mattered more than sterile perfection.

  Rather than reinventing the song, Greystone Canyon chose to honor its primal energy while injecting its own hard-hitting approach into the performance. The result is a version that feels immediate, visceral, and alive, staying true to the essence of the original while carrying the band’s unmistakable personality.

  Accompanying the release is a completely handcrafted official video built around a striking claymation concept. Staying true to the album’s old-school philosophy, the animation features plasticine characters and construction-paper backgrounds, with every frame individually photographed to recreate an epic, Viking-inspired journey that perfectly matches the relentless drive of the track.

  Claymation characters & animation: Dumindu
  ​Mixed & mastered by: Joel Taylor

  “Something Borrowed…Something New” combines reimagined classics with brand new original material, creating a record that balances nostalgia, personality, and pure rock energy. It’s an album built on honesty, instinct, and the kind of human performance that modern productions often forget.

  For fans of Led Zeppelin, Ozzy Osbourne, and Thin Lizzy.

  "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

  [embed]https://open.spotify.com/album/1ZyEq4kWkhDg6RnzCbGKJj[/embed]

  ​

  Track Listing:
  ​1. Doctor, Doctor (UFO cover) - 04:16
  2. Just Got Paid (ZZ Top cover) - 03:35
  3. Drives Us - 05:06
  4. Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin cover) - 02:21
  5. Friend of the Fox - 03:57
  6. Suicide (Thin Lizzy cover) - 05:14
  7. Hey, Hey, My, My (Into the Black) (Neil Young cover) - 03:22
  8. AAF - 1:47
  9. Stealing Our Freedom - 04:26
  Album Length: 33:54

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

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• EMBRACE OF SOULS' New Concept Album "Battle of the Dead"

  May 22, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Embrace Of Souls proudly unveil "The Battle Of The Dead", the band’s new full-length album and most ambitious work to date, together with the release of the new focus track “Eversun,” further supported by a brand new Official Visualizer. Following the momentum generated by the previously released singles “Desolate Lands” and the album’s title track “The Battle Of The Dead”, the Italian power metal force pushes its artistic vision even further, delivering a record where epic storytelling, symphonic grandeur, and classic European power metal converge into a cohesive and emotionally charged listening experience.

  Conceived as an 11-track fantasy concept, "The Battle Of The Dead" unfolds across a medieval world fractured into rival kingdoms where a mysterious plague begins corrupting human souls and slowly drags the continent toward an inevitable war between the living and the dead. Rather than unveiling every detail of the storyline, the band deliberately preserves the narrative’s mystery, inviting listeners to discover its deeper meaning through the interplay between music and lyrics. Themes of power, betrayal, sacrifice, and hope permeate the album, shaping a journey designed to be experienced in its entirety.

  Musically, "The Battle Of The Dead" marks a decisive step forward for Embrace Of Souls. Firmly rooted in the legacy of ‘80s and ‘90s heavy and power metal while embracing the epic and symphonic scope of early-2000s European metal, the album delivers a sound that is both commanding and emotionally resonant. Driving guitar work, relentless double-kick rhythms, layered keyboards, and expansive choral arrangements form the backbone of the record, while the dynamic interplay between Giacomo Rossi’s powerful lead vocals and Martina Mazzeo’s operatic performances elevates the material with additional depth, contrast, and theatrical intensity.

  Among the album’s standout moments is “Eversun”, the new focus track released alongside the album. Perfectly encapsulating the duality that permeates the entire record, the song balances darkness and melody through a powerful blend of energetic power metal, symphonic textures, and emotionally driven vocal arrangements. Defined by its dynamic pacing, triumphant melodic direction, and dramatic atmosphere, “Eversun” highlights the band’s increasingly mature songwriting approach while preserving the epic spirit that has characterized Embrace Of Souls since its inception.

  Founded by drummer and composer Michele Olmi, Embrace Of Souls originally emerged as a studio project created to unite talented Italian musicians under a shared passion for classic heavy and power metal. Over time, the project evolved into a fully established live band, steadily refining its artistic identity while sharing the stage with renowned acts such as Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, and Rhapsody of Fire.

  The album also features a special guest appearance by Morby (Domine), further strengthening the connection with the most authentic tradition of Italian power metal.

  The record showcases a particularly refined production, enhanced by the mix and mastering handled by Alessio Garavello at Rogue Studios in London, bringing out both the album’s powerful rhythmic impact and its rich melodic and symphonic atmosphere.

  With "The Battle Of The Dead", Embrace Of Souls deliver their strongest and most complete statement to date: a record conceived not merely as a collection of songs but as a fully interconnected musical and narrative experience where epic power metal, symphonic atmospheres, and emotionally charged storytelling merge into a world waiting to be discovered.

  ​​

  "The Battle Of The Dead" releases today, on May 22nd, 2026, in digital format and digipak CD edition, and will be available to be ordered at the following links:
  ​
  CD DIGIPAK: https://rockshots.eu/products/embrace-of-souls-the-battle-of-the-dead-cd​
  ​DIGITAL: https://lnk.to/kwCVof​
  ​
  ​OFFICIAL MERCH: https://embraceofsoulsband.bigcartel.com/

  For fans of: Rhapsody Of Fire, Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica, Nightwish.
  ​
  ​RELEASE PARTY: MAY 30th, 2026​
  Embrace Of Souls will present The Battle Of The Dead live at La Cripta Club (Cusano Milanino, Italy), alongside Derdian, Drakkar and Axe Blade.

  Track Listing:​
  1. The Battle Of The Dead
  2. Eversun
  3. The Plague
  4. The Gathering
  5. Spine
  6. Who Can Save Us
  7. Betrayal
  8. The Dark Lord
  9. The War (feat. Morby)
  10. Sacrifice
  11. Desolate Lands
  ​
  ​Line-up:​
  Giacomo Rossi – Vocals
  Martina Mazzeo – Vocals
  Edward De Rosa – Guitars
  Xavier Rota – Bass
  Davide Baldelli – Keyboards
  Michele Olmi – Drums

  More info: ​
  ​​https://www.rockshots.eu​

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

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

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• AITTALA Unleash New Performance Video “Blacklisted,” the First to Feature New Bassist Dane Taylor + Tour Dates (WV, VA, TN, NC)

  May 19, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  AITTALA (pronounced EYE‑tah‑la) has released the official performance video for “Blacklisted,” the third track from their second EP of 2025, "Ill‑Gotten Gains," out now on Exitus Stratagem Records.
  ​
  The clip marks a milestone for the long‑running metal project; it is the first video to feature new bassist Dane Taylor, joining Eric Aittala (guitars/vocals) and Gary “Zeus” Smith (drums). The trio’s chemistry is on full display, delivering a tight, groove‑driven performance that captures the grit and weight of the track.
  ​
  A groove‑ and sludge‑inspired standout, “Blacklisted” serves as the thematic counterpoint to the EP’s opening tracks “Isolation” and “Ill‑Gotten Gains.” Where those songs explore the chaos created by self‑serving actions, “Blacklisted” flips the perspective, calling out the people who manipulate, exploit, and leave destruction in their wake.
  ​
  Musically, the song leans into thick riffs, a grinding mid‑tempo pulse, and the band’s signature blend of heaviness and melody. It’s a concise, punishing statement that reinforces why AITTALA’s sound remains difficult to categorize, and impossible to ignore.
  ​
  Watch the video via its premiere on Metal Addicts HERE.

  ​
  Released this past November, "Ill‑Gotten Gains" continues AITTALA’s tradition of blurring metal subgenres, pulling from traditional metal, doom, groove, progressive elements, and more to create a cohesive, emotionally charged experience.
  ​
  The EP’s lyrics trace a path from chaos to consequence to the search for redemption, examining how people create disorder for personal gain, face the fallout of those choices, and grapple with whether forgiveness is still possible. Each track sharpens that arc: “Isolation” delivers doomy heaviness and shifting time signatures as it confronts consequences; “Ill‑Gotten Gains” rides a bouncing 8‑string riff into the mindset of exploiting chaos; “Blacklisted” uses groove‑sludge grit to call out manipulative behavior; “Ever After” offers a modern metal ballad of internal struggle and uncertain redemption; and “Ashes” leans into traditional heavy metal as it follows someone spiraling downward and pulling others with them.
  ​
  The EP cover features an updated version of Frank, AITTALA’s long‑running mascot, a cartoon pig head inside a pentagram, created in 2014 for the album "Effigy." Frank represents the shady figure who helps acquire “ill‑gotten gains”…for the right price. His return on the cover ties directly into the EP’s themes of corruption, consequence, and moral decay.
  ​
  ​AITTALA’s sound resists simple labels, blending classic heavy metal, doom, groove, progressive and power metal, thrash, and hard rock into a style that’s distinctly their own. Lyrically, Eric Aittala pulls from the darker edges of human experience, crafting songs that balance heaviness with introspection.
  ​
  Founded in 1991 in the Netherlands, AITTALA quickly became a staple of the Dutch metal scene, even opening for The Gathering and Sadist after releasing their 1993 EP "Selling Heaven."
  ​
  After disbanding and later resurrecting the project in 2008, AITTALA released six full‑length albums between 2009 and 2022, followed by the "Machines" EP (2025). Each release showcases the band’s evolution while preserving their unmistakable core sound.

  Recommended for fans of Mastodon, Eyehate God, Baroness, Crowbar, Katatonia, live music enthusiasts can catch AITTALA at the following show dates below.

  Aittala Tour Dates (WV, VA, TN, NC)​
  May 21 - Tilty McFlipperz - Martinsburg, WV
  May 22 - The Spot on Kirk - Roanoke, VA
  May 23 - Capones - Johnson City, TN
  Jun 19 - Cannonball Music Hall - Raleigh, NC
  Jul 31 - The Den | Winston - Salem, NC
  Aug 7- White Rabbit Pub - Fayetteville, NC
  Aug 29 - Scandals Live - Virginia Beach, VA

  "Ill-Gotten Gains" (released Nov 21, 2025) is available from Exitus Stratagem Records - https://hypeddit.com/aittala/illgottengains

  ​

  ​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Isolation - 4:22
  2. Ill Gotten Gains - 4:20
  3. Black Listed - 3:35
  4. Ever After - 4:29
  5. Ashes - 3:50
  EP Length: 20:37

  Live lineup:
  Eric Aittala - Guitars/Vocals
  Gary “Zeus” Smith - Drums
  Dane Taylor - Bass

  For more info: Exsrmusic.com | Aittala.com | Facebook.com/aittalamusic | Instagram.com/aittalamusic

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• HELLMETALL Unleashes New Single “Gemona Btg. Doesn’t Exist Anymore” From Upcoming Album "Mgla" Out Sept 2026

  May 18, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  HELLMETALL unveil “Gemona Btg. Doesn’t Exist Anymore”, the second single taken from their forthcoming album "Mgla", set for release on September 4th, 2026, via Rockshots Records.

  Emerging from the isolated mountain valley of Resia, on the border between Italy, Austria, and Slovenia, HELLMETALL continue to forge a deeply personal vision of Thrash/Death Metal rooted in memory, identity, and cultural heritage. What sets the band apart is not only the violent fusion of razor-sharp Thrash riffs, Death Metal aggression, and dark melodic undertones but also their uncompromising decision to perform entirely in Resian - the ancient Slavic language still spoken in Val Resia.

  Far beyond a stylistic choice, the use of Resian represents the very core of HELLMETALL’s artistic identity. Through this endangered and highly distinctive language, the band forges local history into something visceral and immediate, preserving the voice, memory, and spirit of their homeland through extreme music. As vocalist and founder Daniele Micelli explains, "the project was born from the desire to merge aggressive metal with the folk traditions and cultural heritage of the valley where I grew up".

  Musically, “Gemona Btg. Doesn’t Exist Anymore” perfectly embodies the band’s evolution toward a darker, heavier, and more mature sound. While early HELLMETALL material incorporated stronger folk elements and violin arrangements, "Mgla" pushes the band deeper into Death and Black Metal territories while retaining the melodic sensibility inherited from the musical traditions of Val Resia. The result is a sound defined by crushing riff work, relentless rhythmic intensity, and haunting melodic passages, balancing violence and memorability with remarkable authenticity.

  Lyrically, the single continues HELLMETALL’s exploration of the traumatic events that scarred the mountains and borderlands surrounding their homeland during the First and Second World Wars. “Gemona Btg. Doesn’t Exist Anymore” is dedicated to the Alpini soldiers of the 8th Regiment Julia Battalion Gemona. After surviving the Albanian campaign against Greek forces, the battalion was struck by tragedy when the steamship Galilea, carrying the soldiers back toward Italy, was sunk by a British submarine. Most drowned at sea, while many of the survivors were later sent to die on the Russian front.

  This historical and emotional depth lies at the heart of "Mgla" - a record whose title, meaning “Fog,” reflects the oppressive atmosphere surrounding the stories narrated throughout the album. Across its tracks, HELLMETALL channel the brutality of war, the oral memories passed down through generations, and the harsh reality of mountain life into an uncompromising sonic assault sung entirely in the language of their ancestors.

  Following the release of the album’s title track "Mgla" earlier this year, “Gemona Btg. Doesn’t Exist Anymore” further confirms HELLMETALL as one of the most distinctive and culturally unique acts emerging from the contemporary extreme metal underground.

  With an intense live activity already extending beyond Italy into Eastern Europe, including appearances at Austria’s Kaltenbach Open Air and a dedicated Polish mini-tour later in 2026, HELLMETALL are steadily expanding their presence while remaining fiercely connected to the identity and traditions of Val Resia.

  "Mgla" will be released on September 4th, 2026.

  Spotify - https://lnk.to/AxZae1​

  ​

  PRE ORDER "MGLA": https://rockshots.eu/products/hellmetall-mgla-cd​

  HELLMETALL lineup ("Mgla" era / until October 2025):

  • Daniele Micelli: Vocals
  • Damiano Biasutto: Guitar
  • Matteo Cameran: Guitar
  • Luca Fumagalli: Bass
  • Gabriele Barbarino: Drums

  Current lineup:

  • Daniele Micelli: Vocals
  • Damiano Biasutto: Guitar
  • Matteo Cameran: Guitar
  • Luca Fumagalli: Bass
  • Federico Zuin: Drums

  ​

  More info:

  ​https://www.rockshots.eu

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

  ​https://www.facebook.com/HellMetAll.Resia​

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• CONFLUX COLLECTIVE Announces Its "Reincarnation" w/ New Album "In the Wake of Saturn" Out June 2026

  May 15, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

   

  After years of dormancy, reinvention, and sheer force of will, The Conflux Collective erupts back into the extreme‑metal landscape with the announcement of their long‑awaited debut LP, "In the Wake of Saturn," arriving June 19th, 2026. Alongside the album announcement, the band has released the first single and lyric video, “Reincarnation,” a ferocious statement of rebirth that sets the tone for the album’s uncompromising vision.

  Born from a chance reunion between guitarist Chase Fraser (Continuum, ex‑Decrepit Birth, ex‑Animosity) and drummer Tommy McKinnon (Derelict, Akurion, ex‑Neuraxis, ex‑Augury), The Conflux Collective began as a spontaneous spark, one that quickly ignited into a creative explosion. Within their first hour of jamming, a full song had formed; within six weeks, their debut EP, "The Inception," was complete. But the band’s evolution was far from linear.

  After life circumstances forced the project into years of silence, McKinnon resurrected The Conflux Collective with a renewed sense of purpose. Armed with unreleased material from Fraser and a determination to finish what they started, he rebuilt the album from the ground up, writing new songs, reconstructing arrangements, recording all bass tracks by ear, and crafting lyrics drawn from deeply personal turmoil, transformation, and catharsis.

  To bring the record fully to life, McKinnon assembled a powerhouse roster of extreme‑metal vocalists whose performances became the album’s emotional core: Jesse Brint (Gross Misconduct), Mallika Sundaramurthy (Emasculator, ex‑Abnormality), Jeffrey Mott (The Monster Factory, Growlers Choir, Hollow), Eric Burnet (Derelict, Samskaras), and Max Lusier (Derelict), who also contributes a blistering guitar solo.

  The result is "In the Wake of Saturn," a progressive, brutal, melodic, and deeply human exploration of loss, survival, and rebirth. Across eight tracks, the album bridges the raw ferocity of ’90s death metal with the precision and ambition of modern tech‑death, unfolding like a narrative guided by shifting voices and emotional intensity.

  “In the Wake of Saturn is a journey through pain, fear, defeat, survival, and finally rebirth. It’s a transformative experience that was created out of the necessity for change… a true underground monster made for those who seek the unusual,” says Tommy McKinnon.

  The album’s first single, “Reincarnation,” was originally written by Fraser during the project’s early years. The track embodies the album’s themes of resilience and renewal.

  “The Conflux Collective lives again, and this song tells the story of rebirth and resilience… It gives an impression of how the album sounds as a whole, with all the elements explored in depth in the other songs,” adds McKinnon

  Featuring a commanding vocal performance by Jeffrey Mott, “Reincarnation” delivers intricate drum work, uncompromising guitar lines, and the unmistakable intensity that defines The Conflux Collective's sound.

  ​

  Though the project has no plans for live performances, The Conflux Collective stands as a testament to collaboration without boundaries, a convergence of some of extreme music’s most creative voices.

  Recommended for fans of Cryptopsy, Necrophagist, Decrepit Birth, Augury, and Beyond Creation, "In the Wake of Saturn" will be available on all digital platforms as of June 19th, 2026.

  Album pre-save - http://confluxcollective.bandcamp.com/​

  Vinyl and CD pre-order - https://elasticstage.com/confluxcollective​

  Track Listing:​
  1. The Antidote - 3:02
  2. Devoid of True Form - 2:39
  3. Ethereal Executioner - 4:45
  4. Devouring Light - 4:59
  5. Blood from a Rock 4:18
  6. Reincarnation - 3:20
  7. In the Wake of Saturn - 2:29
  8. Desperate Post-Humanist - 5:18
  Album Length: 30:53

  Album Band Line Up:​
  Guitar: Chase Fraser (Continuum)
  Vocals: Eric Burnet (Derelict), Max Lussier (Derelict), Jesse Brint (Gross Misconduct), Mallika Sundaramurthy (Emasculator), Jeff Mott (Hollow, Monster Factory)
  Additional guitar, bass, and drums: Tommy McKinnon
  Track 1,2, 3, 6. Music: Chase Fraser. Lyrics: Tommy McKinnon
  Track 4. Music: Chase Fraser. Lyrics: Jesse Brint
  Track 5, 7. Music & Lyrics: Tommy McKinnon
  Track 8. Music: Tommy McKinnon. Lyrics: Eric Burnet

  Album Band Line Up:
  Guitar: Chase Fraser (Continuum)
  Vocals; Eric Burnet (Derelict), Max Lussier (Derelict), Jesse Brint (Gross Misconduct), Mallika Sundaramurthy (Emasculator), Jeff Mott (Hollow, Monster Factory)
  Additional guitar, bass and drums: Tommy McKinnon
  Track 1,2, 3, 6. Music: Chase Fraser. Lyrics: Tommy McKinnon
  Track 4. Music: Chase Fraser. Lyrics: Jesse Brint
  Track 5, 7. Music & Lyrics: Tommy McKinnon
  Track 8. Music: Tommy McKinnon. Lyrics: Eric Burnet

  More info:

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

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

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