News

• Kelowna's SWEETBEAST Unveils Sludgy Stoner Video "Illusion" ft. Space Queen; Debut Album "Illusions" Out Feb 21st, 2025

  Jan 9, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Hailing from Canada's Okanagan Valley in Kelowna, BC, SweetBeast is gearing up to make its debut full-length "Illusions" heard by the masses this coming February 2025. Unshackling the first single "Dream Eater" this past November, they are offering the next glimpse into their pressurized sludgy psychedelic stoner rock with their new music video for "Illusion", which features vocal harmonies done by the lovely ladies of Vancouver trio Space Queen.

  The album's closing track, "Illusion" captures the essence of awakening and self-discovery, with fuzzed-out guitars and emotional guitar solos that drive the message home. Space Queen's vocal harmonies elevate the song to new heights, creating a rich tapestry of sound that invites listeners to explore the depths of their realities. With its haunting lyrics and dynamic instrumentation, “Illusion” serves as both a rallying cry and a moment of introspection.

  The band comments on the making of the song:

  "We laid down this entire album, live off the floor, in just 2 days. Now of course there were a few overdubs that we plugged in during that weekend but by the end of the 2 days, all that was left was the mixing and mastering. We also added some special treats post-production that made the songs really pop, like vocal harmonies in the song “Illusion” done by our friends in Space Queen, and a few studio effects for added flavor. When we told the studio what we had planned to accomplish that weekend they thought we were crazy, and said it’s usually at least a week of studio time to get all those songs laid out. But we got it done and couldn’t be happier with the results."

  Watch and listen to "Illusion" ft. Space Queen via its premiere on DoomedAndStoned HERE.

  Digital pre-save - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sweetbeast/illusion-feat-space-queen-single​

  SweetBeast's first studio album "Illusions" is a sonic exploration of shifting realities, blending heavy, distorted riffs with introspective lyrics. It invites listeners to journey inward and outward, reflecting the complex relationship between mind, sound, and reality. The record leans heavily on low-tuned guitars, swirling effects, and a tight rhythm section that creates a dense, atmospheric sound. There’s a hypnotic groove throughout, with moments of psychedelic exploration, where riffs evolve into mind-bending progressions. The songs fluctuate between creative riffs and light, airy melodies that offer a contrast, pushing the boundaries of stoner rock.

  Recommended for fans of Queens Of The Stone Age, All Them Witches, Kyuss, and Alice In Chains, SweetBeast's album “Illusions” is due out on February 21st, 2025 from Humalien Records, and will be available for pre-order at https://sweetbeastrock.bandcamp.com/​

  First Single - “Dream Eater” - https://youtu.be/ErLKQGlu8Qk

  Digital - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/sweetbeast/dream-eater​

  Track Listing:​
  1. 70/30 - 7:57
  2. Thunder - 4:01
  3. Dream Eater - 5:29
  4. Midnight - 4:38
  5. Plastic People - 6:41
  6. Illusion ft. Space Queen - 11:26
  Album Length - 40:12

  More info: SweetBeast.ca | Facebook.com/SweetBeastFuzz | Instagram.com/sweetbeastfuzz | Tiktok.com/@sweetbeastfuzz

  Read more

• Hungary's SIN OF GOD Unleashes Rotting Chaos With New Animated Video "No Return" - Fourth Studio Album "Blood Bound" Out February 18th, 2025 via Extius Stratagem Records

  Jan 8, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  ​
  ​Exitus Stratagem Records announces their signing of Hungarian extreme metal masters SIN OF GOD for their fourth studio album "Blood Bound" out February 2025. Following their album "Aenigmata" released in 2016, "Blood Bound" has come a long way from its writing inception in 2019, and unfortunate setbacks with lineup changes and COVID to finally make its way to the studio in 2022/23 with the mixing and mastering done by the super-talented Sam Winslow in 2024.

  With influences in thrash, ODM, and blackened and progressive death metal, Sin of God's next sacrificial offering will please both old and new-school death metal fans at the same time. This new full-length presents a collection of variations that exhibit brutality and softness. It is something fans have heard in the past from the band but it has never sounded like this.

  "We all think fans will love it. It’s somewhat different from its predecessors. It’s more complex and based on modern death metal. We built Blood Bound musically on contrasts. There are amazingly fast parts (260 BPM,) but really slow parts as well." adds guitarist Tamás Kis.

  Exploring our present society, "Blood Bound" resonates with everything surrounding us, from the good and the bad to the beautiful and ugly, to life and death.

  "We are in decline and we haven’t got much time before we hit the bottom. There is less and less beauty in our present world. We are rapidly marching towards the rotting chaos. People do nothing about it. They destroy but do not build. So let it be! As you look at our album artwork, it is metaphorically based on humanity’s current state in the light of human history. We wanted it to be realized in the style of Renaissance paintings therefore the contrast is extremely sharp between beauty and uglyness. Pure and evil. Perfect and deformed. There are also religious references, and Biblical characters, too." says Kis.

  "Blood Bound" is not a concept album, but it is united by the pain and rage that boils inside and felt over seven tracks that are simple and raw, yet ferocious and gentle. To give fans their first experience with the album, Sin of God is unveiling the first single "No Return" accompanied by an animated video. The song is about a person who cannot get rid of drugs and sacrifices everything is going to hell.

  The band comments:

  "No Return is our favorite song on Blood Bound. It is the essence of what we want to express musically and lyrically as well. The fall of our present society. That’s what it’s all about. Our vocalist Tamás Schupkégel wrote the lyrics. On first hearing it is about a drug addict descending into madness, falling into his very own hell which he created from the many pains he experienced and committed towards others during his life. We consume, we devour, we destroy. We create non-existent problems for ourselves while not dealing with the real ones. It's so comfortable. Sticking our heads in the sand. Only our comfort is important. We are addicted to our ego. While the trees and waters disappear and only the sand remains. The emptiness. The loneliness. The pain. We build our hell. And there is no return!”

  Watch and listen to the video from "No Return" via its premiere on Slam Worldwide.

  ​

  Digital Single pre-save - https://hypeddit.com/sinofgod/noreturn1​

  CD pre-order - https://www.exsrmusic.com/store/p/sin-of-god-blood-bound-lp-cd​

  Recommended for fans of Aborted, Bloodbath, Cattle Decapitation, Cryptopsy, and Psycroptic, Sin of God's new album "Blood Bound" is due on February 18, 2025, and available for physical pre-order and digital pre-save at the following links:

  ​https://hypeddit.com/sinofgod/bloodbound​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Blood Bound (3:52)
  2. Black Waves (4:16)
  3. No Return (4:58)
  4. The Unbelief (4:49)
  5. Diabolical Agitation (7:44)
  6. Obulus (3:28)
  7. Cerebral Malfunction (4:02)
  Album Length: 33:09
  ​
  ​Album Credits:​
  Album recorded at: Denevér Hangstúdió, Hungary
  Mixed and mastered by Sam Winslow/Sam Winslow Music
  Album artwork by Tamás Kis
  ​
  ​Album Band Lineup:​
  Tamás Schupkégel - Vocals
  Tamás Kis - Guitar
  Michele Gawen Augello - Bass
  Balázs Botyánszki - Drums
  ​
  ​Live Band Lineup:​
  Tamás Schupkégel - Vocals
  Tamás Kis - Guitar
  Krisztián Páncél - Bass
  Balázs Botyánszki - Drums

  More info:

  ​Exsrmusic.com | Facebook.com/ExSRecords | Instagram.com/exsrmusic​

  ​Sinofgod.com | Facebook.com/sinofgodhu | Instagram.com/sinofgodmetal​

  ​

   

  Read more

• MARKO HIETALA Unveils Video For New Single 'Rebel Of The North'

  Jan 8, 2025 Al Feliciano 0 Comments

  Marko Hietala, the iconic vocalist and bassist, makes a triumphant return with his powerful new single 'Rebel of the North'. This high-energy classic rock anthem is a perfect showcase of Marko's talent for crafting timeless, hard-hitting music. The single serves as another taste of his highly anticipated upcoming album, Roses from the Deep, which is set to release on February 7, 2025, and is eagerly awaited by fans worldwide.

  Accompanying the release is a unique and visually striking music video. Filmed against the breathtaking backdrop of a picturesque Spanish village, the video captures the band’s electrifying performance, seamlessly blended with the song’s bold and inspiring lyrics. The stunning contrast between the rugged rock sound and the tranquil Mediterranean setting makes this release a feast for the senses.

  Marko Hietala comments: "This one is a rocker. The main riff will put you into the Nordics with a slam. And the story is about reimagining, reinventing, and then gathering yourself into a better new being. We should never take ourselves for granted. It leads to becoming jaded and boring. Your inner kid wants to learn and apply anything and everything. Just don’t get in the way of yourself."
  
  Watch the video here: 
  https://youtu.be/gA5HLCY8VKw
  
  Listen to 'Rebel of the North': 
  https://markohietala.bfan.link/rebel-of-the-north
  
  Pre-order Roses From The Deep: 
  https://markohietala.bfan.link/roses-from-the-deep

  Follow Marko Hietala on social media:
  https://www.facebook.com/markohietalaofficial
  tps://www.instagram.com/marko_hietala_official
  
  Line-Up:
  Marko Hietala | Bass, Vocals
  Tuomas Wäinölä | Guitar
  Vili Ollila / Bob Engstrand | Keyboards
  Anssi Nykänen | Drums

  Read more

• PARADISE LOST ANNOUNCE 2025 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES

  Jan 8, 2025 Al Feliciano 0 Comments

  UK gothic metal legends PARADISE LOST will return to North America for the first time in years in support of their latest masterpiece, Obsidian, available from Nuclear Blast Records. The Devil Embraced North American Tour will take place in May 2025 and feature openers GiGAN and TROUBLE. 
  
  Tickets go on sale Friday, January 10th at 10:00AM Local Time at https://paradiselost.co.uk/.
  
  Commenting on the tour, founding vocalist Nick Holmes says: 
  
  "We never get to play America as much as we would like to so it's always great to get the opportunity to return. We are all really looking forward to playing these shows, and hope to see you all there."
  
  PARADISE LOST Tour Dates:
  May 16 - Milwaukee, WI - Milwaukee Metal Fest
  May 17 - Columbus, OH - The King of Clubs
  May 18 - Toronto, ON - Lee's Palace
  May 20 - Montreal, QC - Fairmount Theatre
  May 21 - Boston, MA - Brighton Music Hall
  May 22 - New York, NY - Le Poisson rouge
  May 24 - Baltimore, MD - Maryland Death Fest

   

  Formed in Halifax, West Yorkshire, in 1988, PARADISE LOST were unlikely candidates for metal glory when they slithered from the shadows and infiltrated the UK underground. But not content with spawning an entire subgenre with early death/doom masterpiece Gothic nor with conquering the metal mainstream with the balls-out power of 1995’s Draconian Times, they have subsequently traversed multiple genre boundaries with skill and grace, evolving through the pitch-black alt-rock mastery of ‘90s classics One Second and Host to the muscular but ornate grandeur of 2009’s Faith Divides Us – Death Unites Us and Tragic Idol (2012), with the nonchalant finesse of grand masters. The band’s last two albums – The Plague Within (2015) and Medusa (2017) – saw a much celebrated return to brutal, old school thinking, via two crushing monoliths to slow-motion death and spiritual defeat. Consistently hailed as one of metal’s most charismatic live bands, PARADISE LOST arrive in this new decade as veterans, legends and revered figureheads for several generations of gloomy metalheads. In keeping with their unerring refusal to deliver the expected, 2020 brings one of the band’s most diverse and devastating creations to date. Their last album Obsidian was released in spring 2020, hitting international charts with great success.

  
  ---
  More info on PARADISE LOST:
  http://www.paradiselost.co.uk/
  https://www.facebook.com/paradiselostofficial/
  https://www.instagram.com/officialparadiselost/
  www.nuclearblast.de/paradiselost
  https://twitter.com/officialpl
  https://www.youtube.com/user/paradiselostuk

  Read more

• Melodic Metal Powerhouse THE FERRYMEN Unveil New Single "Mother Unholy" + Music Video

  Jan 8, 2025 Al Feliciano 0 Comments

  Melodic metal powerhouse THE FERRYMEN (Magnus Karlsson, Ronnie Romero, and Mike Terrana) are pleased to share “Mother Unholy”, the next single from their upcoming new studio album, 'Iron Will', set for release on January 24, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl. 

   

  The release of the single is accompanied by a music video, available to view below.

   

  About the track, vocalist Ronnie Romero says:

   

  “The most epic song of the album! Just loved how Magnus is capable to create such an atmosphere for a song. Loved to sing in this epic and yet heavy tune!! I believe THE FERRYMEN fans are going to love this one!!”

   

  Guitarist Magnus Karlsson adds:

   

  “I love to write and produce epic stuff and this song is a really good example of that! The great lyrics are written by Jane Gillard and are about a nun who was pure of heart, but her heart was turned black by the hypocrisy of the people in the order around her, and ultimately, she became evil. Where there is light there, must also be dark”.

   

  Watch the Music Video for “Mother Unholy” HERE

   

  Guitarist Magnus Karlsson expresses his excitement for the release:   “It’s pure fire creating metal with legends like Ronnie and Mike! These tracks hit hard with unrelenting power, but there’s this raw, emotional edge woven into the heaviness that I can’t get enough of. Heavy, honest, and straight from the soul—that’s the vibe we’re bringing”.   “As usual, I just loved singing over Magnus/The Ferrymen songs!! As a singer, there is nothing better to work on melodies and lyrics that inspire your performance, but also in real life day by day, and that’s something I strongly believe the fans of the band like the most of this project.    Can’t wait for everybody to listen to what, once again, is a strong melodic yet heavy album that I am very proud of”, adds vocalist Ronnie Romero.

  Pre-Order 'Iron Will' HERE   The Ferrymen, the powerhouse trio formed by Swedish guitarist, songwriter, and producer Magnus Karlsson (Primal Fear, Magnus Karlsson's Free Fall), dynamic vocalist Ronnie Romero (Lords of Black, Sunstorm, Rainbow), and thunderous drummer Mike Terrana (Rage, Axel Rudi Pell), have solidified their place among European melodic metal fans with three acclaimed albums. Now, they're gearing up for their fourth: 'Iron Will'.   On 'Iron Will,' the band once again blends classic heavy metal with modernized songwriting, delivering an intense and refreshed sound. This album is a pure adrenaline rush for melodic heavy metal fans, packed with epic structures and soaring melodies.   The music is quintessential Ferrymen: heavy, melodic, and masterfully crafted. Karlsson’s signature songwriting shines through with intricate, robust arrangements, complemented by Romero’s commanding vocals and Terrana’s explosive drumming.   The album starts with “Choke Hold,” transitioning from an emotional intro into a massive melodic metal anthem. Tracks like “Mother Unholy,” “Adrenaline,” and the closer, “You’re the Joker,” highlight the trio’s unmatched synergy and musicianship.   With stunning cover art by Stan W. Decker, 'Iron Will' promises to be a defining moment for THE FERRYMEN and a must-hear for metal fans in 2025! THE FERRYMEN are: Ronnie Romero - Vocals Mike Terrana - Drums Magnus Karlsson - Guitars

  Read more