News

• TORCHIA Unleashes New Album “They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness” + Kick Off European Tour!

  May 8, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Finnish extreme metal force Torchia officially unleashes their fourth studio album “They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness” today via Rockshots Records, marking the culmination of a campaign that has steadily elevated the band among the most compelling emerging names within the modern European extreme metal landscape.

  Following the strong international response to the singles “Stygian Waters”, “Nekromanteion” and “Hellmouth”, the full-length now reveals the complete scope of Torchia’s most ambitious and conceptually cohesive work to date - an album where blackened melodic death metal, gothic horror aesthetics and orchestral grandeur converge into a singular artistic vision.

  Hailing from Tampere, Finland, Torchia has spent the last few years refining a distinctive identity rooted in thrash-infused melodic death metal while progressively embracing darker atmospheres, narrative-driven songwriting, and orchestral arrangements. With “They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness”, the band fully expands the cursed universe introduced across previous releases, transporting listeners into a grim 19th-century vision populated by occult rituals, infernal imagery, supernatural entities, and gothic horror-inspired storytelling.

  Produced and mixed by Janne Saksa and mastered by legendary producer Dan Swanö, the album pushes Torchia toward a broader and more atmospheric sonic dimension without sacrificing the aggressive guitar-driven foundation that has defined the band since its inception. The result is a record that balances memorable hooks, crushing riffs, blackened atmospherics, and technical intensity with remarkable precision.

  Tracks such as “Hellmouth”, “The Tiamat Machine” and “Sanguine Masquerade” showcase the band’s evolving songwriting approach, where triumphant lead melodies, dark orchestral passages and relentless extreme metal aggression coexist naturally. Meanwhile, songs like “Black Cat” and “Stygian Waters” reconnect with the rawer spirit of Torchia’s earlier material, creating a dynamic and absorbing listening experience that continuously shifts between violence, atmosphere, and melodic grandeur.

  Speaking about the album, the band states:

  “On ‘They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness’, the cursed realm of Torchia is more realized than ever before. The strange tales of gothic horror come alive in a shadowed vision of the 19th century.”

  And further adds:

  “With ‘They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness, ’ we tried to strike a balance between memorable songwriting and technical aggression. On this album, we are introducing a darker and more expansive soundscape to support the vivid storytelling of the lyrics, yet the musical foundation of Torchia remains in the guitar-driven extreme metal our fans know and love.”

  Over the course of the campaign, Torchia has demonstrated a clear artistic evolution from the more traditional thrash-oriented roots of their early years toward a darker and more expansive sound, drawing comparisons to acts such as Behemoth, Cradle of Filth, and Children of Bodom.

  With “They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness”, Torchia does not simply continue the path opened by “Arcane Magicae” - they consolidate it with greater confidence, stronger songwriting, and a far more cohesive conceptual framework, delivering what stands as the band’s definitive statement to date and one of the most distinctive extreme metal releases to emerge from Finland in recent years.

  “They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness” is available now on all digital platforms and physical formats via Rockshots Records.

  For fans of Behemoth, Cradle of Filth, and Children of Bodom.
  ​
  ​DIGITAL: https://lnk.to/TaBuRotd​

  ORDER "They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness" as CD HERE: https://rockshots.eu/products/torchia-they-are-born-under-rules-of-the-darkness-cd​
  ​
  ​ORDER "They Are Born Under Rules of the Darkness" as LP HERE: https://rockshots.eu/products/torchia-they-are-born-under-rules-of-the-darkness-lp​​

  Torchia is proud to announce their "They Are Born Under Rules Of The Darkness" European Tour 2026​
  With the addition of Berlin

  Torchia is proud to announce their "They Are Born Under Rules Of The Darkness" European Tour 2026

  With the addition of Berlin and Yverdon, the tour schedule is now complete! The cursed voyage begins with the album release weekend in Helsinki and Turku with Bloody Falls as the supporting act! The journey continues through the Baltics with As the Sun Falls
  ​
  The band is honored to join the ’True Finnish Samurai Metal’ warriors Whispered in support of their ’Return of the Shogunate European Tour’ together with Scar Of The Sun and Ceremony!

  8.5. FI Helsinki, Semifinal #
  9.5. FI Turku, Nirvana #
  13.5. FI Lahti, Ravintola Torvi *
  15.5. LV Liepāja, Fontaine Palace &
  16.5. LT Kaunas, Klubas Lemmy &
  17.5. LT Vilnius, Paviljonas &
  19.5. PL Warsaw, Metal Cave %
  22.5. DE Berlin, Die Spirale %
  23.5. DE Hamburg, Stellwerk %
  24.5. DK Copenhagen, Stengade %
  25.5. DE Oberhausen, Helvete %
  26.5. CH Aarburg, Musigburg %
  27.5. CH Yverdon, Les Citron Masque %
  28.5. BE Kortrijk, Club DVG %
  29.5. DE Leipzig, Hellraiser %
  30.5. CZ Prague, Subzero %
  31.5. PL Kraków, Club Gwarek %
  13.6. FI Tampere, Kotelo %
  # Co-headline with Bloody Fall #
  * Lahti Metal BBQ Club with King Satan
  & Baltics with As The Sun Falls
  % Supporting Whispered with Scar of the Sun and Ceremony

  Track Listing:​
  1. Nekromanteion – 4:23
  2. Hellmouth – 4:08
  3. Into Hell – 3:38
  4. Hellstorm – 3:55
  5. Die Amour – 4:12
  6. The Tiamat Machine – 5:39
  7. Black Cat – 3:19
  8. Stygian Waters – 4:05
  9. Sanguine Masquerade – 4:46
  Album Length: 38:05
  ​
  ​Torchia Line-Up:​
  Nox: Vocals
  Villemorte: Lead guitar, Vocals
  Henri von Hardy: Guitar
  Vulkan: Bass Guitar, Backing Vocals
  Vincent Oscar Mill: Drums

  More info:

  ​https://www.rockshots.eu/​

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

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

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• Streaming Now! WITHOUT MERCY New EP "Infinite Loss" + Title Track Video

  May 7, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Canadian extreme metal band Without Mercy will unleash their new EP, "Infinite Loss," on May 8th, delivering one of the most intentional, intense, and creatively defining statements of their nearly two‑decade career. To mark the release, the band has partnered with Metal Insider for the exclusive premiere of the full EP stream, alongside the debut of the lyric video for the title track, “Infinite Loss.”

  The EP arrives following the rollout of previously released singles “Glass” and “The Saint,” each offering a distinct glimpse into the record’s emotional weight, sonic restraint, and thematic depth.

  Guitarist DJ Temple describes "Infinite Loss" as the result of a transformative and deliberately uncomfortable creative process:
  ​
  ​“This was the first time we left home to make a record. We crossed borders, uprooted our routines, and committed fully to the process by living inside it for ten days. There was no comfort, no distance, and no way to step away.”​
  ​
  The band built the EP around three songs that genuinely excited them, not as singles, but as statements. Every decision had to earn its place.
  ​
  ​“The result is something we are proud of, not because it represents a direction we chased, but because it reflects who we were in that moment and what we were willing to commit to,” adds Temple.
  ​
  For the first time, Without Mercy worked with a producer at a deep structural level, embracing tension, disagreement, and collaboration as essential parts of the process.
  ​
  ​“This record exists because we chose to be uncomfortable, to argue honestly, and to stay in the room until it felt right,” says Temple.
  ​
  Lyrically, "Infinite Loss" is about being hunted, not once, but repeatedly. The threats shift, but they never disappear. Economic pressure, identity, time, survival, and expectation all close in at once. The record speaks to the modern experience across the Americas: not victimhood, but endurance under relentless pursuit.
  ​
  Musically, the EP mirrors that pressure through repetition, density, and restraint. Riffs sit heavy and suffocating. Rhythms feel physical and deliberate. The aggression is controlled rather than chaotic, creating a sense of inevitability rather than release.
  ​
  Opening title track, "Infinite Loss," with its repetition, density, and deliberate pacing, creates a suffocating sense of inevitability. Middle song, "The Saint", is the EP’s biggest stylistic departure, leaning into space, tension, and unfamiliar structure. EP closer, "Glass", interconnects riffs inspired by Meshuggah and Alluvial, tightening inward until the outro opens with scale and finality.

  Without Mercy was formed in 2007, blending groove, extreme metal, and technical precision into a sound described as “heavy and insightful at the same time.” The band has shared stages with Cattle Decapitation, Aborted, and Death Angel, and has appeared as downloadable content in Rock Band 3, bridging gaming culture and heavy music.

  Their discography includes "All Else Fails" (2007), "Without Mercy" (2009), "Reborn" (2014), rereleased as "Mouichido" (2016), and "Seismic" (2020). "Infinite Loss" marks their most focused and intentional work to date, a release built from collapse, rebuilt through discipline, and finished with absolute conviction.

  Listen to the full EP "Infinite Loss" and the lyric video for the title track via its premiere on Metal Insider HERE.

  EP "Infinite Loss" is available for pre-save at https://ffm.to/infiniteloss​

   

  Track Listing:​
  1. Infinite Loss - (4:15)
  2. The Saint - (3:39)
  3. Glass - (3:16)
  EP Length: 11:11

  EP and Live Band Line Up:​
  Alex Friis - Vocals
  DJ Temple - Guitars
  Ryan Loewen - Bass
  Matt Helie - Drums

  More info:

  ​https://www.withoutmercyband.com/

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

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

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• KOSMOGONIA Shares New “Oblivion” Guitar Playthrough Video For Latest Album “Aella”

  May 7, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Athens-based folk melodic death metal force Kosmogonia have released the official guitar playthrough video for “Oblivion”, a powerful, emotionally charged track from their sophomore album “Aella”.

  Listen to single “Oblivion”: https://lnk.to/qJcMfa4z​

  Driven by aggressive riffing, melodic lead work, and dark pagan atmospheres, “Oblivion” captures the band’s distinctive fusion of melodic death metal ferocity, symphonic arrangements, and evocative folk elements. The playthrough video offers an up-close look at the intricate guitar interplay and dynamic songwriting that shape Kosmogonia’s sound - balancing mythological grandeur with modern extreme metal intensity.

  Formed in Athens in 2015, Kosmogonia have steadily established themselves within the European folk and melodic death metal scene through a sound deeply rooted in ancient mythology, pagan traditions, and epic storytelling. Their second full-length album, “Aella,” received strong praise across Europe and Latin America, earning recognition from Metal Hammer Portugal and expanding the band’s international visibility. Through Rockshots Records, the album now reaches a broader international audience while the band simultaneously works on new material for its next studio chapter.

  Set in 350 B.C., “Aella” tells a tragic story of war, destiny, and forbidden emotion following the encounter between the Scythian princess Aella and the Greek mercenary Lykon during a brutal conflict between civilizations. Across the album, Kosmogonia combine dual vocal dynamics, atmospheric flute passages, layered orchestrations, and modern melodic death metal aggression into a powerful and immersive listening experience.

  For fans of Eluveitie, Ensiferum, Epica, and Nightwish.

  Listen to “Aella”: https://lnk.to/w3NtMoYV​

  ​

  Kosmogonia Line Up:

  Dimitra LeFay: Vocals
  Kostas Magalios: Vocals & Guitar
  George Kanellopoulos: Guitars
  Odysseus Poulos: Keyboards
  Kyriakos Konstantinou: Bass Guitars
  Alex Papavangelis: Drums
  Ismini Vasileiou: Flute

  More info: https://rockshots.eu/​
  ​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kosmogonia_official/​
  ​Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Kosmogoniafolk​
  
  

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• GRAVEMASS (ft. members of Zimmers Hole, 3 Inches of Blood, Revocation) Announces Western Canada "This Is The Way 2026 Tour"

  May 6, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

   

  Fresh off the release of their debut album "This Is The Way," West Coast extreme‑metal force Gravemass has announced a run of Western Canadian tour dates for summer 2026. The trek, appropriately titled “This Is The Way Tour 2026,” will see the band unleash their ferocious live assault across British Columbia and Alberta from July 31st to August 8th (dates listed below).
  ​
  The tour follows the eruption of "This Is The Way," a debut forged from decades of West Coast metal lineage. Featuring members of Zimmers Hole, Punch Drunk, 3 Inches of Blood, Revocation, Just Cause, West of Hell, Savannah, Process, Subversion, and The Golers, Gravemass is the convergence of long‑standing forces within Vancouver’s extreme‑music underground.

  
  ​
  Guitarist Mayan Hate, who wrote the album’s music in an intense two‑month burst, describes the project as a natural evolution among lifelong friends.

  “We’re all West Coast metal heads who’ve known each other for decades. I wrote the music between breaks in other projects and showed it to Lorde Heathen. He immediately wanted in. From there, we recruited the rest of the band, guys we’ve all known forever.”
  ​​
  Vocalist Lorde Heathen also adds.

  “Brutal, angry, fast, dark, and evil, this album delivers exactly that: an unrelenting barrage of sinister riffing, death‑metal vocal ferocity, and rhythmic devastation. It draws from the chaos of the modern world. All the lyrics come from the shit‑hole world order that exists right now.” 

  ​
  ​
  While "This Is The Way" was written by Mayan Hate with lyrics by Lorde Heathen, the band confirms that album two is already underway and will be a fully collaborative effort.
  ​
  ​Gravemass will also appear at Loud As Hell Open Air Festival 2026, joining a stacked lineup featuring Fallujah, Allegaeon, Summoning the Lich, Crimson Shadows, Edge of Paradise, and more. Festival info is available at https://www.loudashell.ca.
  ​
  Known for channeling the ferocity of their influences, Slayer, Venom, Morbid Angel, Watain, and Napalm Death, Gravemass promises a live show that is nothing short of a full‑scale assault.

  “The live show is where we bring it all together. We want to bring this experience to the masses,” says Lorde Heathen.
  ​
  With "This Is The Way" unleashed March 6, 2026, via End Game Records Inc., Gravemass now turns its focus to the stage, marking the beginning of a new chapter in West Coast extreme metal. More music, more brutality, and a deeper collaborative evolution lie ahead.

  Gravemass - Western Canada - This Is The Way Tour 2026​
  July 31 - Bridgeview Theater - Kamloops, BC
  Aug 1 - Loud As Hell Open Air Festival - Drumheller, AB
  Aug 3 - Temple - Edmonton, AB
  Aug 4 - The Owl - Lethbridge, AB
  Aug 5 - The Royal - Nelson, BC
  Aug 6 - The Globe - Nanaimo, BC
  Aug 7 - The Lucky Bar - Victoria, BC
  Aug 8 - Green Auto - Vancouver, BC

  Add to your Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/album/0ROzZyUacjjY7dC6xOwtg5

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

  Track Listing:​
  1. Slaves To Pain - 2:38
  2. This Is The Way - 3:45
  3. Horned King - 2:54
  4. Harvest of Souls - 2:53
  5. Spitting Hell - 2:07
  6. Black Bell - 2:50
  7. Fallen - 3:27
  8. Gravemass - 3:51
  9. Abandon - 2:01
  10. Poison Temple - 3:11
  Album Length: 29:41

  Album Band Line Up:​
  Lorde Heathen – Vocals
  Mayan Hate – Guitar
  Murderer of Colonizers – Guitar
  Bowels of Hell – Bass
  Destroyer of Souls - Drums

  More info:

  ​https://endgamerecords.com/​

  ​http://www.gravemass.com/​

  ​https://www.facebook.com/people/Grave-Mass/61556695854887/​

  ​https://www.instagram.com/gravemass1/​

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• ENTROPIST Introduces Its Concept Album "The Vision" Through “Creation”; Produced by Jamie King (BTBAM, The Contortionist)

  May 6, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Colorado progressive metal outfit Entropist has officially announced their debut full‑length album, "The Vision," accompanied by the release of their first single and lyric video, “Creation.” The track marks the band’s first official introduction to the metal world, offering a powerful glimpse into the album’s sweeping concept and genre‑spanning sound.
  ​
  Formed through a decade‑long bond between guitarist/vocalist Solomon Smith, vocalist Parker Kitching, bassist Jeremy Smith, and drummer Matt Gleason, Entropist began in 2013 when the members met as college roommates and neighbors in Greeley, Colorado. After years of jamming, drifting apart, and reconnecting during the COVID era, the band solidified its lineup with the addition of guitarist Will Vinson, whose creativity helped elevate the project into its fully realized form.
  ​
  ​"The Vision" is a bold, cinematic progressive metal odyssey built on a dual‑concept narrative: one story set in a fantastical world of demons, celestial beings, and the void, and another grounded in real‑life themes of mental struggle, nihilism, and the search for meaning. Written largely from the perspectives of characters within the story, the album is designed to be experienced from start to finish, with recurring motifs, callbacks, and evolving themes woven throughout.
  ​
  Musically, the record spans progressive metal, djent, deathcore, metalcore, and post‑hardcore influences, while maintaining a cohesive identity. Fans of Between the Buried and Me, Meshuggah, Opeth, and The Contortionist will find familiar touchpoints, yet Entropist’s voice remains distinctly their own.
  ​
  To bring the album’s massive sound to life, the band partnered with acclaimed producer Jamie King, whose work with BTBAM and The Contortionist helped define modern progressive metal. His mixing and mastering elevated the album’s intricate compositions into a unified, powerful whole.

  The album’s artwork, an impressionist painting by Solomon’s wife, Shannon Bortfeldt, captures the emotional and narrative weight of the album’s opening arcs.
  ​
  ​“This album is the culmination of over a decade of work. It contains a personal story that many can relate to, while also containing a crazy esoteric concept for those who are into that sort of thing. It gets really heavy, but has so many unexpected and even victorious moments that truly set it apart,” says guitarist/vocalist Solomon Smith.
  ​
  Vocalist Parker Kitching adds, “This album is our love letter to metal. When it gets heavy, it gets very heavy, but it also has moments that let you breathe. We want listeners to feel like they’re going on a journey.”

  The band's first single, “Creation,” introduces listeners to the album’s final narrative arc. The track blends bright, triumphant chords, intricate rhythms, soaring vocals, and one of the heaviest breakdowns on the record. Lyrically, it explores themes of building something new, forging meaning, and shaping the world one wants to see.
  ​
  The lyric video showcases the song’s emotional intensity and conceptual depth, offering fans their first immersive step into the universe of "The Vision."

  Spotify pre-save - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/entropist1/creation​

  "The Vision" is due out on June 26th, 2026, and available for pre-save at the following links:

  Album pre-order - https://entropistcolorado.bandcamp.com/​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Intense Warmth (4:00)
  2. Devour Us (6:34)
  3. I Hunger (5:34)
  4. The Ritual (8:36)
  5. Desert of Limbo (6:04)
  6. The Wandering (6:47)
  7. Creation (8:49)
  8. Revelation (14:12)
  Album Length: 1:00:40

  More info:

  ​https://entropistband.com/​

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

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

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