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• SECRET RULE Unveils “Edge Of Control” First Single From Eleventh Studio Album + EU Tour Dates w/ Xandria, Seven Spires

  Sep 1, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Italian modern metal band Secret Rule opens a new chapter with “Edge of Control”, the first single taken from their upcoming eleventh studio album. Due out today, September 1st, 2026, via Rockshots Records, the single is now available across all major digital platforms.

  Built around heavy guitars, hard-hitting rhythmic shifts, and crushing breakdowns, “Edge of Control” combines electronic textures and cinematic layers with the melodic, emotionally charged identity that has shaped Secret Rule’s sound. The result introduces a heavier, sharper and more contemporary direction while remaining unmistakably rooted in the band’s musical character.

  At the centre of the track is Angela Di Vincenzo’s emotionally charged vocal performance, moving from tense and volatile verses towards an explosive chorus. Male vocal passages, layered backing vocals and a powerful rhythmic foundation intensify the sense of instability running throughout the song.

  Lyrically, “Edge of Control” places the listener inside a mind approaching its breaking point. Rage, doubt, sleeplessness, and inner conflict take the form of a live grenade, a train running off the rails, a wildfire, and a hurricane spinning within its own pain. Rather than observing the loss of control from a distance, the song captures it from within, at the moment when thoughts become impossible to silence, and the hardest enemy to confront is yourself.

  The single offers the first glimpse into the musical direction of Secret Rule’s upcoming album, expanding the role of modern breakdowns, electronic elements, cinematic arrangements, and contrasting vocal layers within the band’s established combination of modern metal and powerful melodies.

  Andy Menario – Guitars, Composition and Arrangements:

  “I wanted the song to feel modern, direct, and unpredictable while still sounding unmistakably like Secret Rule. The arrangement combines heavy riffs and breakdowns with electronic elements and cinematic layers, while the male vocal passages create an additional point of tension within the track. I believe that ‘Edge of Control’ is the song that best represents the direction of this new record.”

  Listen to “Edge of Control” - https://lnk.to/4F9zG0​

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  Further details about Secret Rule’s eleventh studio album & pre-order will be announced soon.

  The band will play live on stage from 5th October to 23rd October all around Europe, supporting Xandria and Seven Spires. Here is the complete schedule:

  05.10 – Cluj-Napoca, Romania - FORM Space
  06.10 – Bucharest, Romania - Quantic Club
  08.10 – Sofia, Bulgaria - Pirotska 5 Event Centre
  09.10 – Belgrade, Serbia - Zappa Barka
  10.10 – Budapest, Hungary - Analog Music Hall
  12.10 – Berlin, Germany - Lido
  13.10 – Warsaw, Poland - Hydrozagadka
  14.10 - Krakow, Poland - Zaścianek
  15.10 – Prague, Czech Rep - Distrikt Prague
  16.10 – Dresden, Germany - Blauer Salon
  18.10 – Cham, Germany - L.A. Live Style Cafe
  19.10 – Frankfurt, Germany - Das Bett
  20.10 – Pratteln, Switzerland - Z7
  21.10 – Stuttgart, Germany - Im Wizemann Club
  22.10 – Nuremberg, Germany - Hirsch
  23.10 – Hamburg, Germany - Bahnhof Pauli
  ​
  ​If you don't want to miss them live, you can get tickets: https://www.bandsintown.com/a/10541610-secret-rule

  SECRET RULE is:
  ​Angela Di Vincenzo: Vocals
  ​Andy Menario: Guitars
  ​Luca Pecchia: Bass Guitar
  ​Diego Divizia: Drums

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

  Secret Rule Links: https://lnk.bio/secret_rule_official

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• NEKOMATA's New Single "Functional Beauty" Ignites The Band's "Third Impact" Coming in 2027

  Aug 28, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  NEKOMATA enter a new era in their story with “Third Impact”, a new creative cycle that begins with “Functional Beauty”, the first single leading towards the band’s third chapter expected in 2027.

  “Third Impact” builds on the musical identity NEKOMATA have developed across their previous releases while pushing its defining elements further. Modern metal, tightly controlled grooves and a strong melodic drive remain at the core of their sound, now opening towards a broader range of influences rooted in classic heavy metal.

  The new chapter also continues the band’s distinctive “concept-non-concept” approach. Rather than following a strict narrative, its songs explore individual ideas and imagery that stand on their own while contributing to a broader thematic framework. Obsession, transformation, and the pursuit of ideals emerge among the themes explored through the cryptic perspective that characterizes NEKOMATA’s writing.

  “Functional Beauty” provides the first expression of this direction, examining the obsessive pursuit of beauty, attraction and perfection. At the centre of the song is the image of a modern-day King Midas, consumed by the desire to make everything around him perfect. Instead of achieving the ideal he seeks, that pursuit gradually corrupts him, transforming him into a figure incapable of satisfaction and trapped by his own expectations.

  Musically, “Functional Beauty” pushes several recognizable elements of the NEKOMATA sound further. Melody and tightly driven grooves meet heavy galloping passages, an immediate chorus, and a succession of solos and rhythmic breaks blending modern metal with classic heavy metal influences.

  “Functional Beauty” is the first step into “Third Impact”, with more music and further details surrounding NEKOMATA’s third chapter to be revealed in the coming months.

  ​​Listen to "Functional Beauty": https://lnk.to/neoB3U​
  ​​

  Video Direction, Editing & Post-production: Gabriele Gafo Lei / Groundfloor Studio

  For fans of: Monuments, Architects, Fear Factory, Periphery, Protest the Hero

  NEKOMATA are:

  Andrea Olivieri: Vocals
  ​Andrea Cappellari: Guitars and programming
  ​Filippo Zavattari: Bass and backing vocals
  ​Mirko Fustinoni: Drums

  For more info:

  ​https://www.rockshots.eu​
  ​https://www.facebook.com/theprojectneko/​
  ​https://www.instagram.com/theprojectneko/

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• No List Records Announces Vinyl Release of Brutal Minimalist Noise Rock BAT LEATHER's New Album "Dark Arts" + Alberta Tour Dates

  Aug 27, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  No List Records is proud to announce the vinyl release of Bat Leather’s new album "Dark Arts," arriving September 4, 2026. Pressed in 150 white vinyl copies and 50 rare black editions, this limited run captures the raw, confrontational energy that has made Bat Leather one of Canada’s most compelling underground acts.
  ​
  Hailing from Calgary, AB, and Vancouver, BC, the duo known as Bat Leather has a sound that has always defied easy categorization, a collision of punk abrasion, noisy garage chaos, and sludgy heaviness that feels both unsettling and addictive. Their songs hit like short, volatile bursts: distorted guitars, overdriven vocals, feedback woven directly into the songwriting, and a heaviness that somehow keeps getting heavier.
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  Tracks like “Technical Aggression” twist noise into structure, while “Dance Craze” drags listeners through a slow‑burn haze of pounding drums and smoke‑thick atmosphere.

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  ​
  ​Bat Leather will support "Dark Arts" with a run of Alberta shows this September, bringing their confrontational, genre‑breaking sound directly to Western Canada. Tour dates listed below.
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  ​Bat Leather makes music that resists being boxed in. It’s noisy, it’s heavy, it’s chaotic, and it’s compelling, the kind of record you drop the needle on and immediately wonder where it came from. Their songs crawl inside you, getting stranger and more addictive with every listen. If “heavy rotation” counts as a genre, Bat Leather owns it.
  ​
  ​No List Records continues its tradition of championing uncompromising, boundary‑pushing artists. The "Dark Arts" vinyl release marks another entry in the label’s commitment to supporting music that challenges, confronts, and refuses to fit neatly into any category.

  Vinyl Pre-Order - https://nolistrecords.bandcamp.com/album/dark-arts​

  Tour Dates:​
  Sept 21 - Drumheller, AB - Heller Good w/ The Polite Stripes
  Sept 22 - Calgary, AB - Palomino Smokehouse w/ Unsane
  Sept 23 - Lethbridge, AB - Theoretically Brewing AA
  Sept 24 - Calgary, AB - Blox Arts Centre R4$ AA

  Track Listing:​
  1. Dance Craze - 2:00
  2. Thursday Inn Sylvan - 1:42
  3. Misguided Projects - 1:51
  4. Then He Was Pulled Into A Machine - 2:26
  5. Technical Aggression - 2:39

  Credits:​
  Cory - Guitar, Bass, Drums, Noise
  Luke - Vocals, Noise

  Recorded January 2026 at Red Volume Audio in the Badlands, ab by Cory. Vocals recorded in Vancouver, bc by Luke.
  Mixed by Cory. No master, no god.
  Cover photograph and layout by Cory.

  More info: https://www.instagram.com/batleathernoise/

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• KILLED BY SORROW Unleashes "Betrayal" Off Forthcoming Debut Album "Empires of Excess" Out October 2026

  Aug 25, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Montreal metal outfit Killed By Sorrow has officially announced the release of their first full‑length album, "Empire of Excess," due out on October 23rd, 2026, to follow EPs "Careless of This Sadness" (2023) and "Time Has Come" (2022). The record marks the band’s most dynamic, emotionally charged, and musically evolved chapter to date.
  ​
  To give the first glimpse into the album, the band has unveiled the first single, “Betrayal”, a heavy, riff‑driven track built on explosive breakdowns and raw emotional intensity. The song explores the collapse of trust after deep personal betrayal, poisonous lies, emotional wounds, and the breaking point where deception becomes unbearable.

  "This is a heavy-punching song with a great breakdown. Great guitar riffs," adds rhythm guitarist Samuel Ham.
  ​
  Add to your Spotify playlist - https://open.spotify.com/track/0nW7DcnjyCJpw4iBTBYdi6

  ​

  "Empire of Excess" is a refined evolution of Killed By Sorrow’s early sound, still aggressive, still emotional, but more mature, more atmospheric, and more intentional. With 10 tracks, fans can expect a blend of heaviness and melody that draws listeners into the story behind each one. From its polished, immersive production to its mix of fast, downbeat tracks infused with metalcore, thrash, prog, and punk. The record will take listeners into a deep emotional atmosphere with a track list designed to feel like a journey from start to finish,
  ​
  ​"The contributions on this record from our bassist Marty Bersier‑Carpentier have significantly shaped the new sonic direction and have been a real blessing in refining our sound,” adds Ham.

  Killed by Sorrow emerged from Montreal’s South Shore metal-music scene in the mid-2000s, carving out their identity with a sound heavily inspired by the emotional intensity of Poison the Well, the razor-sharp riffing of Unearth, and the melodic precision of Trivium. These influences shaped the band’s early songwriting, blending aggression with dynamic melodic structures.

  During their formative years, Killed by Sorrow built a reputation through high-energy performances across local venues. A major milestone of this era was sharing the stage with renowned Swedish hardcore band Raised Fist, a moment that reinforced the band’s credibility.

  As a group of friends, they have been determined to channel the intensity of the music they loved into something of their own. What began as basement rehearsals has quickly evolved into a serious project as the band discovered a natural chemistry.

  Recommended for fans of Unearth, Killswitch Engage, Poison The Well, Trivium, and Lamb of God, "Empire of Excess" is due out on October 23, 2026, and available for pre-save/ pre-order at https://killedbysorrow.bandcamp.com/.

  Track Listing:​
  1. The End is Near - 3:38
  2. Empire of Excess - 3:04
  3. The Burial - 3:28
  4. Betrayal - 3:51
  5. Never Give Up - 2:37
  6. All My Brothers - 3:18
  7. In The Spotlight - 3:17
  8. Killed By Sorrow - 3:29
  9. Unchained - 3:42
  10. Stay In Line - 3:28
  Album Length: 33:55

  Band Line-up:​
  Sébastien Mailloux – Vocals
  Martin Bersier-Carpentier – Bass
  Tommy Forand – Guitar Lead
  Samuel Ham – Guitar Rhythm
  Mathieu Lassonde – Drums
  ​

  More info:

  ​https://killedbysorrow.com/​

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

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

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• TRISKELYON New Cover Album "Metalmorphosis" Supercharges Timeless Hits Into Metal Fury

  Aug 21, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

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  Canada’s unstoppable metal force Triskelyon unleashes “Metalmorphosis,” a digital‑only barrage that reforges iconic rock and pop classics into a high‑octane blast of metallic fury. The album is now available on all major digital platforms as of August 21, 2026, via Moribund Records.
  ​
  Founded in 2021 by guitarist and mastermind Geoff Waye (Category VI), Triskelyon has carved a fierce path through the underground with acclaimed singles and albums including “Downfall,” “Artificial Insanity,” “Shattered Elysium,” and “Maelstrom of Chaos.” With "Metalmorphosis," the band pushes its creative boundaries further than ever, delivering a full‑length collection of crushing cover versions forged from the fires of thrash, speed, power, and traditional heavy metal.
  ​
  Aptly titled, “Metalmorphosis” represents the complete metalization of timeless classics, each track reborn heavier, faster, darker, and more explosive. From the arena‑sized lift of Bryan Adams’ “Summer of ’69” to the brooding tension of Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants to Rule the World,” Triskelyon injects razor‑sharp riffing, thunderous rhythms, soaring vocals, and blistering solos into every song. Fan‑favorite covers return as well, including the band’s celebrated renditions of “Hungry Like the Wolf,” “Major Tom (Coming Home),” “It Doesn’t Really Matter,” and “Nobody’s Business.”​
  ​
  Drawing from icons such as Tears for Fears, Pat Benatar, Duran Duran, Billy Idol, Men Without Hats, Men at Work, Platinum Blonde, Peter Schilling, and Bryan Adams, the album stands as both a tribute to the golden age of rock and pop and a declaration of Triskelyon’s limitless creative fire. Each track preserves the unforgettable hooks that made these songs legendary while amplifying them into full‑throttle metallic weapons.
  ​
  More than a covers album, “Metalmorphosis” is a celebration of transformation through metal, a collision of nostalgia and aggression that proves Triskelyon can reshape any musical form into molten steel. As with previous releases, all songs were mixed and mastered by Michael Small, with album artwork by Ellim.

  Add to your Spotify playlist - https://open.spotify.com/album/42SL4SDxh88LWrMfhoc2Te​

  Download on Bandcamp - https://triskelyon.bandcamp.com/album/metalmorphosis​​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Everybody Wants to Rule the World (Tears for Fears cover)
  2. Summer of 69 (Bryan Adams cover)
  3. The Safety Dance (Men Without Hats cover)
  4. Overkill (Men at Work cover)
  5. Heartbreaker (Pat Benatar cover)
  6. Nobody's Business (Billy Idol cover) <Downfall album>
  7. It Doesn't Really Matter (Platinum Blonde Cover) <Artificial Insanity album>
  8. Hungry Like The Wolf (Duran Duran Cover) <Shattered Elysium album>
  9. Major Tom (Coming Home) (Peter Schilling Cover) <Maelstrom of Chaos album>

  Note: ALL album-released covers are the same except “Major Tom,” which is a remaster (not a remix).

  Note: 5 brand new covers packaged with the 4 covers already done into one compilation album!

  More info:

  ​https://www.moribundcult.com/​

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

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

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