News

• THUNDEROR "Pump Up The Volume" w/ First Single Off New Album "Bleed For It" Out March 2026 + Canadian Tour w/ Burning Witches + EU Tour w/ Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.)

  Dec 9, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Canadian heavy metal force Thunderor, fronted by JJ Tartaglia (vocals, drums, Skull Fist) and Jonny Nesta (guitar, ex-Skull Fist), alongside Brycen Gunn on bass, are igniting excitement with their high-octane new single “Pump Up The Volume.” The track offers the first glimpse of their forthcoming sophomore album, "Bleed For It," slated for release at the end of March 2026. With their trademark fusion of Arena Rock Opera Heavy Metal, Thunderor deliver soaring vocals, massive choruses, and uplifting energy designed to inspire fans to live boldly and chase their dreams.

  The single also doubles as the opening number from Thunderor The Musical, the band’s ambitious rock opera, which premiered at the Toronto Fringe Festival 2025. Featuring a cameo from Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow in the promotional clip, the track sets the tone for an album that promises both fun and depth.
  ​
  ​“This one is a lot of fun. Turn up the music, pump up your life, Pump Up The Volume! It’s also the opening number for the Musical, and it sets the mood nicely. Although the rest of the album ventures to many different places. Special thanks to Olivia Chow and the City of Toronto for her cameo in the promo clip, super cool.” – JJ Tartaglia.

  Add to your Spotify playlist - https://open.spotify.com/album/4FzxOaCZO4Vk9o7bnFntHK​

  Following their acclaimed debut, Thunderor’s second album "Bleed For It" showcases significant growth in both songwriting and performance. The band highlights improved vocals and more expansive anthem-driven choruses, delivering a soundtrack that balances raw heavy metal energy with theatrical flair. The upcoming album is a concept record, serving as the official soundtrack to Thunderor The Musical. Fans can expect a journey through uplifting themes of love, struggle, and perseverance, all wrapped in the band’s trademark high-energy sound.
  ​
  Drawing inspiration from legends like Meat Loaf, Van Halen, Bruce Springsteen, The Darkness, H.E.A.T., Night Flight Orchestra, and their own roots in Skull Fist, Thunderor’s sound is a modern twist on classic heavy and hair metal.
  ​
  Due out on March 27, 2026, the "Bleed For It" Vinyl Bundle Pre-Order is available at https://thunderor.bigcartel.com/product/bleed-for-it-lp-limited-bundle-pre-order

  In additional news, Thunderor will be hitting the road in 2026, supporting Burning Witches on their first Canadian Tour in April, followed by a Scandinavian Tour supporting Chris Holmes (W.A.S.P.) in May (dates listed below).

  Canada Tour 2026 with Burning Witches
  ​April 20 - Piranha Bar - Montreal, QC
  April 21 - La Source De La Martiniere - Quebec City, QC
  April 22 - The Brass Monkey - Ottawa, ON
  April 23 - The Garrison - Toronto, ON

  Scandinavia Tour 2026 with HOLMES (The Sound of WASP)​
  May 15 - Nordic Noise - Copenhagen, Denmark
  May 16 - Godset - Kolding, Denmark
  May 27 - The Abyss - Gothenburg, Sweden
  May 28 - Muskelrock - Blädinge, Sweden
  May 29 - Lokstallet - Skövde, Sweden
  May 30 - Gjerdrum Rock Club - Gjerdrum, Norway
  May 31 - Sjøboden Live Scene - Mandal, Norway

  For more info: Boonsdalerecords.com/thunderor | Facebook.com/ThunderorOfficial | Instagram.com/thunderor_official 

  Read more

• Australia's GREYSTONE CANYON's New Album "Something Borrowed…Something New"

  Dec 5, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Australian hard rock outfit Greystone Canyon returns today with their highly anticipated third album, "Something Borrowed… Something New." Out today, as of December 5th, via Rockshots Records, the record is a hybrid collection blending brand-new original songs with powerful renditions of classic rock staples, all captured live in the studio with no click tracks, no tricks, just pure rock ’n’ roll.
  ​
  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.

  
  ​
  ​“This is our third album and is somewhat of a hybrid. It’s a mix of new original material and classic rock cover songs. It was recorded live, together in one room, no click tracks, just real rock ’n’ roll,” says Cherry.

  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 are 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" is available now on December 5th, 2025, from Rockshots Records 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​

  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​

  Read more

• Quebec Deathcore Force DISCOVERY THROUGH TORMENT's EP "Telesynthetic Rebirth"

  Dec 4, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, QC, Canada deathcore force Discovery Through Torment is set to unleash their new EP, "Telesynthetic Rebirth," with an exclusive advance stream premiering on Decibel Magazine a full day ahead of its official release on December 5th. Fans can experience the band’s most ambitious and brutal work yet before it drops worldwide.

  Listen to the EP's full stream premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.
  ​
  Formed out of a desire to push heaviness to its limits, Discovery Through Torment has carved a reputation in the Quebec underground for its uncompromising blend of slam, brutal death metal, and blackened atmospheres. Since their debut, "Divine in Blood" (2020), and the acclaimed follow-up, "The Mangled God" (2022), the band has evolved into a sharpened five-piece lineup, now fronted by vocalist Alex Desroches. With "Telesynthetic Rebirth," they deliver a bold new chapter defined by narrative-driven lyrics, cinematic scope, and relentless aggression.

  “On this EP, we took the time to experiment a lot and find the right balance between sounding fresh and staying true to our sound. It’s very dark and heavy, with sci-fi atmospheres and plenty of surprises. We are very proud of this one, it hits HARD,” adds the band.

  The EP plays out like a video game-inspired descent into collapse and conquest, pulling listeners through five chapters of divine downfall, human abduction, and engineered genocide. Musically, it balances towering, cinematic compositions with suffocating heaviness, fusing slam brutality and blackened deathcore atmospheres into a relentless narrative arc. It begins with "Dethronement," a grand opener announcing the fall of the Mangled God with epic scale, before plunging into "Arcane Inception," where crushing riffs expose the apocalyptic intentions of a new force rising from the ashes. The tone grows colder and more clinical in "Veil Unfurling," transforming captives into telepathic servants through a chilling blend of atmosphere and brutality. The intensity reaches its peak in "Lesions," a punishingly direct assault that warns of inevitable demise with twisted vocal lines and relentless weight. Finally, "First Encounter Assault Regiment" closes the record with a genocidal march, its towering chorus and cliffhanger ending leaving the storyline suspended in anticipation of the destructive chapter still to come.

  
  ​
  The EP’s artwork mirrors this ominous narrative, drenched in red hues and desolate landscapes that hint at alien origins and looming menace. Adding to its depth are several fun details: hidden nods to the first F.E.A.R. game woven into track titles and lyrics, the clinical edge of "Veil Unfurling" born from a binge of House M.D., and synth layers crafted in DIY fashion by guitarist Sam experimenting at home.

  For fans of Aversions Crown, Rings of Saturn, and Mental Cruelty, "Telesynthetic Rebirth" drops December 5th, 2025, on all major platforms.

  "Telesynthetic Rebirth" arrives December 5, 2025 is available for EP pre-order at https://discoverythroughtorment.bandcamp.com/

  Add to your Spotify playlist - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3cttRrJzJ5CxdMlaJPkNtq?si=WK9PdT1SQ-yZOes9PP50IA​​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Dethronement - (4:36)
  2. Arcane Inception - (3:40)
  3. Veil Unferling - (4:29)
  4. Lesions - (3:35)
  5. First Encounter Assault Regiment - (4:19)
  Album Length - (20:39)

  Album Band Line Up:​
  Charles-Étienne Lafrance - Drums
  Samuel Fortin - Guitar
  Frédéric Ricard - Guitar
  Alexandre Desroche - Vocals
  Alexis Lafrance - Bass

  Live Band Line Up:​
  Charles-Étienne Lafrance - Drum
  Samuel Fortin - Guitar
  Frédéric Ricard - Guitar
  Alexandre Desroche - Vocals

  More info: Facebook.com/DiscoveryThroughTorment | Instagram.com/discovery.through.torment​

  Read more

• GRAVEWITCH Unleashes New Music Video "Mistress of Hate" from Self-Titled Album Out Now!

  Dec 3, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Extreme metal duo Gravewitch have released their brand-new music video "Mistress Hate," a blistering visual companion to their self-titled album, which dropped this past June via Rock Sun Records. The release marks a defining moment for the band, showcasing their evolution from raw beginnings to a fully realised professional sound.
  ​
  Formed in 2013 by childhood friends Chris Fleming (guitar/vocals) and Andrew Ingraham (drums), Gravewitch was born out of a shared passion for heavy music and a desire to carve their own path in the underground scene.

  “We’ve been best friends since childhood and decided to create Gravewitch when we were sophomores in high school. This band has always been about pushing ourselves creatively and staying true to our vision,” says Fleming.
  ​
  Fusing elements of Black Metal, Thrash, Death Metal, Melodic Death Metal, and Cascadian Black Metal into a sound that is both punishing and atmospheric, Gravewitch is relentless, melodic, heavy, intriguing, and old-school.
  ​
  ​Gravewitch’s self-titled album takes listeners on a dark and diverse journey through ten tracks, each with its own distinct theme and musical identity. From the haunting portrayal of early 1900s insane asylums in Damnable Evil to the personal nightmare of sleep paralysis in Phantasm, the band blends thrash, black, and melodic elements with precision. Mistress of Hate revisits the brutality of witch trials, while Ritual Reanimation summons undead armies through thrash-driven intensity. Nature and atmosphere dominate Atmospheric Alterations, contrasting with the chilling true-crime narrative of White City Devil about serial killer H.H. Holmes. Woodland Trance evokes haunted forests with cascadian black metal textures, and Systematic Fallout delivers pure thrash chaos alongside the band’s first-ever guitar solo. War themes emerge in Operation Overlord, immersing listeners in the chaos of D-Day, while The Once Sacred Gift of Life closes the album with grief, mortality, and the origins of Gravewitch’s sound. Together, the record showcases the duo’s ability to fuse extreme metal subgenres into a cohesive yet varied listening experience.

  "Written during the chaos of 2020, our self-titled album reflects the uncertainty of the times. We had no idea if these songs were ever going to see the light of day. The chaotic energy of the world matched the diversity of the music, so we embraced different lyrical topics that had nothing to do with each other,” adds Fleming.

  The new video "Mistress Hate" captures the raw energy and occult-inspired aesthetic that defines Gravewitch. Filmed in South Wales, United Kingdom by Ritual Video, the clip features the same actress who played “The Witch” in the band’s debut video Circle of Power from their first album "The Summoning."

  ​

  Recommended for fans of Gravewitch's self-titled album, released on June 18, 2025, via Rock Sun Records, is available on all digital platforms and CD.

  Bandcamp (CD) - https://gravewitchofficial.bandcamp.com/album/gravewitch​

  Add to your Spotify playlist - https://open.spotify.com/album/7kBWr27iJzjvjOfTLP3ZgM​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Damnable Evil (4:24)
  2. Phantasm (4:21)
  3. Mistress of Hate (4:13)
  4. Ritual Reanimation (4:35)
  5. Atmospheric Alterations (4:31)
  6. White City Devil (4:00)
  7. Woodland Trance (5:09)
  8. Systematic Fallout (4:21)
  9. Operation Overlord (5:27)
  10. The Once Sacred Gift of Life (3:32)
  Album Length: 44:38

  Band Lineup:​
  Chris Fleming: Guitar/Vocals/Bass
  Andrew Ingraham: Drums

  More info: Facebook.com/gravewitch | Instagram.com/gravewitchofficial​

  Read more

• AITTALA Unveils Second EP of 2025 "Ill-Gotten Gains" + Welcome New Bassist Dane Taylor

  Nov 21, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Metal visionaries AITTALA (pronounced EYE-tah-la) are returning with their second EP of 2025 via Exitus Stratagem Records, "Ill-Gotten Gains," along with introducing their newest member, bassist Dane Taylor, marking a bold new chapter in the band’s evolution.

  True to their reputation for defying genre boundaries, AITTALA weave together threads of traditional heavy metal, doom, groove, and progressive elements to create a cohesive yet unpredictable sonic journey. Lyrically, "Ill-Gotten Gains" explores the darker corners of human ambition, chaos created for personal gain, the inevitable consequences, and the fragile hope of redemption.

  The EP opens with “Isolation,” a doomy, heavy piece that confronts the fallout of past decisions, setting a dark and reflective tone. The title track, “Ill-Gotten Gains,” follows with a riff-driven intensity that shifts into a crushing interlude, lyrically exploring the exploitation of chaos for personal benefit. “Blacklisted” brings groove and sludge to the forefront, exposing manipulators and serving as a counterpoint to the themes of the earlier songs. The mood softens with “Ever After,” a modern metal ballad that wrestles with internal conflict and the elusive promise of redemption. Closing the EP, “Ashes” channels classic heavy metal energy, telling the story of someone in over their head, dragging others down in their descent.
  ​
  The EP’s artwork resurrects AITTALA’s infamous mascot Frank, a cartoon pig head in a pentagram, first conceived in 2014 for the album "Effigy". This updated interpretation of Frank embodies the record’s central theme: the shady figure who thrives in chaos, ready to deliver “ill-gotten gains” for the right price. It’s a fitting visual for a release steeped in stories of exploitation, downfall, and the elusive search for redemption.
  ​
  With the addition of bassist Dane Taylor, AITTALA’s lineup now features founding member Eric Aittala (guitars/vocals) and drummer Gary “Zeus” Smith (THE FIFTH, ex-MR BLACKWELL). Taylor’s arrival injects fresh energy into the band’s dynamic, reinforcing their commitment to pushing boundaries while staying true to their unique sound.

  Formed in 1991 in the Netherlands, AITTALA quickly became a fixture of the Dutch metal scene, sharing stages with The Gathering and Sadist before disbanding in 1993. Resurrected in 2008, the band has since released six full-length albums and multiple EPs, each showcasing growth while retaining their distinctive voice. With "Ill-Gotten Gains," AITTALA continues their journey of evolution, proving once again that their sound is impossible to confine to a single genre.

  EP pre-save (out Nov 21) via 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

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

  Read more