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• MALEFIC Unleashes New Music Video for “Blood of the Throne” from Latest Album "Impermanence"

  Jul 24, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Atlanta blackened death/thrash unit Malefic has dropped the official music video for “Blood of the Throne”, the explosive opening track from their latest album "Impermanence", released this past February via Terminus Hate City. The video marks a bold visual departure for the band, one that drummer/vocalist Aaron Baumoel calls “another form of artistic expression; another layer of depth to add to the media.”​
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  ​“Blood of the Throne” has long been one of Malefic’s most popular tracks, a blistering blackened thrash assault built on high‑speed precision picking, ornate drumming, and a soaring melodic break. The new video juxtaposes the band’s extreme‑metal identity with Atlanta’s dominant hip‑hop cultural influence, an intentional contrast that reflects the city they call home.
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  Baumoel acknowledges that some viewers may misinterpret the imagery. Despite anticipating criticism, the band stands firmly behind the concept and the talented women who helped bring it to life. The track itself explores the crushing realities of capitalism and modern power structures.
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  ​“People will always judge based on their preconceived notion of things without ever digging in below the surface. This is part of the sickness in our society. We all know who the real demons of our society are; we just don’t agree on what the solution is,” adds Baumoel.
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  Following the video’s release, Malefic continues to push their latest album "Impermanence", a 40‑minute whirlwind of thrash‑driven drumming, melodic black‑metal atmospheres, technical death‑metal precision, progressive rhythmic shifts, and lyrics rooted in personal struggle, societal pain, and existential reflection. Mixed by Alex Parra, the record rejects the sterile, overly‑compressed production dominating modern metal, instead embracing nuance, dynamics, and human imperfection.

  “We wanted something that still showcased the nuances in the guitar work, the dynamics in the drumming, and allowed for mistakes. It just needed to feel human. The personal struggles, the current socio‑political issues, and the societal struggles all seemed extremely relatable… they tell the tale of the ever‑changing nature of life as a whole,” says Baumoel.​
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  Formed in 2007, Malefic set out to push blackened metal into a modern direction while preserving its weight and emotional gravity. Their current lineup features Aaron Baumoel (drums/vocals), Jason Davila (guitar), Doug Rosander (bass), and Sam Williams (Guitar) (also of Cemetery Filth, Jaeger). The band’s collective experience across Atlanta’s metal scene fuels their razor‑tight live performances:
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  Recommended for fans of Old Man's Child, Carcass, Testament, Dissection, and The Black Dahlia Murder, "Impermanence" (released Feb 13, 2026) is available at the following links:

  Vinyl - https://www.terminushatecity.com/shop​
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  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/3d9ZKsvOYoYC2gi0Jrqy6Y​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Blood of the Throne - [3:33]
  2. In Darkest Dreams (the Reaping) - [3:44]
  3. Of Gods and Man - [4:14]
  4. Idiocracy - [3:56]
  5. Deserter - [3:53]
  6. Disembodiment - [4:39]
  7. Obsidian Earth - [4:37]
  8. Echoes of Silence - [4:45]
  9. It Haunts - [4:01]

  Album Band Line-up:​
  Aaron Baumoel - Drums and Vocals
  Devin Autry - Guitars
  Jason Davila - Bass and Lead Guitars
  Sam Williams - Lead Guitars

  Live Band Line-up:​
  Aaron Baumoel - Drums and Vocals
  Jason Davila - Guitars
  Sam Williams - Guitars
  Doug Rosander - Bass

  More info: https://linktr.ee/malefic

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• ESHTADUR Unveils Music Video “Into The Woods” From New Album "In Darkness All Shadows Gone" Out Oct 2026

  Jul 22, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Colombian melodic black/death metal band ESHTADUR announce their new full-length album, "In Darkness All Shadows Gone", due for release on October 2nd, 2026 through Rockshots Records.

  The announcement is accompanied by “Into The Woods”, the first single and official video introducing the musical and conceptual journey behind the record.

  Developed over four years, "In Darkness All Shadows Gone" consists of twelve compositions combining melodic black and death metal, symphonic arrangements, layered vocals, Tuvan throat singing and atmospheric passages. Recorded with the Caldas Symphonic Orchestra, the album expands the band’s established sound while maintaining the combination of heavy riffing, dark melodies and orchestral textures that has shaped its identity.

  The album follows a conceptual journey through mysticism, transformation and inner transmutation. At the centre of the narrative stands The Crow, a shamanic figure moving between existence, death, emptiness and the unknown. Acting as both master and apprentice, The Crow guides the listener through a process of isolation, self-discovery and spiritual awakening, where darkness becomes not only an oppressive force but also a path towards understanding the self.

  Across the record, ESHTADUR explore the relationship between darkness and the light contained within each individual. The songs draw upon occult symbolism, cosmic philosophy, ancestral knowledge and human emotion, forming a continuous narrative rather than a collection of disconnected tracks. Musically, black and death metal alternate as leading forces throughout the album, supported by melodic writing, cinematic orchestration and folk-rooted elements.

  Jorg August comments on the creation of the album:

  “We worked on this material for four years. It is a long album with twelve tracks, symphonic arrangements, a real orchestra, many vocal layers and Tuvan voices. At times, it felt like a giant puzzle, but everything finally came together. We are proud of the result and grateful to everyone who helped us build it. A crow is calling.”

  The first single, “Into The Woods,” represents the call to initiation and the first step into the album’s inner world. The listener is invited to leave behind external noise and enter the forest alone, confronting silence, memory, and self-delusion. Inspired by contemplative philosophies and the idea of returning to nature as a means of self-discovery, the song presents the forest as both a physical place and a metaphorical descent into consciousness.

  Musically, “Into The Woods” combines fast melodic and aggressive guitar riffs, alternate-picked passages, dark orchestration, dissonant elements, ancestral chants and forceful vocals. The track establishes the balance between aggression, melody and atmosphere that continues throughout the album, while its lyrics address inner turmoil, past trauma and the need to confront fear before transformation can begin.

  The accompanying official video focuses on frontman Jorg August, who is guided by the symbolic Crow into the forest and towards the first dimension of the album’s narrative. The visual interpretation reinforces the song’s themes of solitude, initiation and departure, presenting the journey as an individual mission in search of a deeper understanding of the self.

  Listen to “Into The Woods”: ​https://lnk.to/N8qobN​

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  "In Darkness All Shadows Gone" will be available from October 2nd, 2026 through Rockshots Records. The album can be pre-ordered now from the Rockshots Records store at:
  ​https://rockshots.eu/cuhb5ys9ncs1ndx​

  The album was produced by Jorg August, who also wrote the music, lyrics, compositions, and orchestral arrangements. The recordings took place at RockStar Studios Colombia, while the orchestra was recorded at Batuta’s Theater in Manizales, Colombia. The album was mixed and mastered by Tomasz “Zed” Zalewski, with additional mixing and mastering by Chris Clancy on “Fire Above Mountain Below” and “Umbra.” The cover artwork was created by Valesia Obscura.
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  ​For fans of: Septicflesh, Dissection, At The Gates.

  Track Listing:​
  1. Age of Antumbra – 2:00
  2. Into The Woods – 4:41
  3. Umbra – 6:22
  4. August’s Burdens – 4:59
  5. Fire Above Mountain Below – 5:08
  6. Old Shaman Blind – 5:08
  7. Thunderground – 3:40
  8. Ruler of the Lake – 5:14
  9. A Black Winged Waltz – 9:23
  10. Nebulae (Virgo) – 5:09
  11. Omen of Millennia – 3:56
  12. Soy Real – 5:11
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  ​ESHTADUR are:
  Jorg August – Vocals, guitars
  Camilo Barbosa – Lead guitars
  Andres Gonzalez – Bass
  David Lopez – Drums

  More info:

  ​https://rockshots.eu/​

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

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

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• DESTROY MY BRAINS Prepare to Unleash "WILT" - The Final Chapter of Their Trauma‑Forged Five‑Album Saga; Streaming Singles "OCI (Obsessive Compulsive Imploder)" and "Decontribute"

  Jul 22, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  From the frozen prairies of Lloydminster, Canada, doom/sludge cult Destroy My Brains unleash "WILT" on August 14th, 2026, the catastrophic final chapter in their long‑planned five‑album saga. Beginning with "Worthless" (2018), followed by "InsignifiCan't" (2020), "Lifeless" (2020), "Tormented" (2022), and now culminating in "WILT" (2026), the band has executed a conceptual arc conceived from day one, each release carving deeper into their signature themes of self‑destruction, trauma, and sonic decay.

  “We already picked the titles of the albums so that all the first letters would spell WILT,” says vocalist/guitarist Jarret
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  ​Destroy My Brains deal in corrosive, melting, abhorrent, Crowbar‑worshipping sludge, and WILT drives that identity straight into the ground. The album hits with pounding grooves, chugs heavy enough to buckle steel, soul‑removing drums, and vocals that scorch everything in their path. Rather than reinventing themselves, the band sharpened their already‑lethal formula, each member pouring their own darkness into the record until it becomes a collective collapse. Frontman Jarret pushes deeper than ever, turning "WILT" into both a sonic beating and a personal exorcism.

  “We didn’t reinvent anything. We sharpened, hardened, turned it up louder… and put some of the darkest, most meaningful lyrics we have ever done. I got deep inside to a place of furious hate and pain… trauma I caused myself and others… self-destruction, dying, drug/alcohol abuse, and hatred towards others leading to their ultimate ruin,” adds Jarret.

  "WILT" unfolds as a seven‑part descent into psychological collapse and sludge‑soaked extremity, each track carving out its own form of emotional and sonic violence. It opens with OCI, a claustrophobic portrayal of OCD spiraling into anxiety, compulsion, and eventual institutionalization, before shifting into Burn the Virgin, a ritualistic Walpurgisnacht sacrifice story that moves from eerie melody into suffocating doom. Decontribute serves as the band’s manifesto of societal decay, embracing personal ruin with lines like “YOU CAN WATCH ME, FALL APART… I DECONTRIBUTE TO REALITY.” The album sinks deeper with Avulsion, the bleakest and most doom‑laden track, using the imagery of bodily tearing to mirror lifelong psychological torment. Downgrade drags listeners through punk‑rooted sludge about manipulation, overdose, and satanic delusion, while Spill confronts childhood violence and emotional shutdown, ending with the devastating admission “I CAN’T FEEL, I DON’T FEEL, I WON’T FEEL, ANYTHING EVER…” Finally, the 11‑minute title track Wilt stands as the album’s tragic apex, confronting the wounds of child abuse and opening with the harrowing line “YOU DESTROYED THE CHILD WITHIN ME.” Together, these songs form a cohesive, crushing exploration of trauma, degradation, and the darkest corners of human experience.

  "WILT" is Destroy My Brains at their most evolved, most hateful, and most emotionally devastating. “We are pleased to degrade and devolve you while you take in our sonic displeasures,” comments Jarret.

  Destroy My Brains is currently streaming two singles, "OCI (Obsessive Compulsive Imploder)" and "Decontribute," in lead-up to the release of "WILT", with a third, "Downgrade," being revealed with a music video in the coming weeks.

  Listen at the following links:

  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/67kJ5QtfRsT22WZpIZ2NKu​

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  Recommended for fans of Eyehategod, Crowbar, Buzz-oven, Acid Bath, and Electric Wizard, the album pre-order for "WILT" (release date August 14th, 2026) is available at https://destroymybrains.bandcamp.com/​

  Track Listing:​
  1. OCI (Obsessive Compulsive Imploder) - 4:32
  2. Burn The Virgin - 10:30
  3. Decontribute - 7:28
  4. Avulsion - 7:08
  5. Downgrade - 5:14
  6. Spill - 9:30
  7. Wilt - 11:40
  Album Length: 56:03

  More info: https://linktr.ee/destroymybrains​

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• VICTORIA LIES Unveils First Single "Red" From Debut Concept Record "Vendetta" Out October 2026

  Jul 21, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Calgary, Canada metalcore storytellers Victoria Lies have announced the first single from their long‑awaited forthcoming debut full‑length, "Vendetta." The track, “Red,” arrives today alongside a cinematic music video that plunges listeners directly into the dark, lore‑rich universe the band has spent years constructing.
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  ​“Red” marks the moment where the album’s central character, Victoria, transforms emotionally, psychologically, and violently. The song’s explosive contrast between chaotic verses and a soaring, cathartic chorus mirrors the character’s unraveling and rebirth, and it stands as one of the band’s most visceral, immediate compositions.

  “The defining moment when Victoria becomes Victoria… heavy, disorienting, and urgent,” adds vocalist Brett Hetherington.
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  The video for “Red” brings Victoria’s world to life with the band’s signature theatricality. Their dancer and on‑stage embodiment of Victoria, Sadie Rieb, appears throughout, adding movement, narrative weight, and emotional intensity to the visual storytelling.
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  A memorable moment from the recording sessions made its way into the energy of the performance. During vocal tracking, the studio was overtaken by the Euro football finals. Producer Scott Bennett hauled in a TV, guitarist Rory Fitzsimmons spent 90 minutes yelling at the screen, and the chaos fueled Brett’s most ferocious screams.

  “All this yelling really helped Brett get in the mindset for laying down his screams on one of our angriest songs,” adds the band.

  The single and music video for “Red” are available at the following links:

  Digital Single - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/victorialies/red​

  "Vendetta" is a 10‑track concept album that blends melodic metalcore, groove metal, and genre‑bending experimentation. The band describes it as a “constantly evolving universe” filled with narrative twists, emotional depth, and unexpected musical turns, from trap beats to saxophone lines.
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  The album explores themes of power abuse, violence against women, personal grief, societal collapse, and moral ambiguity, all woven through the story of Victoria, a character who appears in choreography, prose, and live performance.
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  “We wanted to give listeners a journey. Not just ten heavy songs, something with twists, turns, and storytelling,” says bassist Jay Powell.

  “When you hear it, you know you’re in Victoria’s universe,” adds Fitzsimmons.
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  Formed in 2023, Victoria Lies is a Canadian metalcore band known for blending heavy grooves with theatrical storytelling. Their lineup includes vocalist Brett Hetherington, drummer James Cuncannon, guitarists Chris Koehler and Rory Fitzsimmons, and bassist Jay Powell. The band has previously released singles “Trial By Fire,” “…Ready for it?” and “Zerotonin,” earning thousands of streams and building anticipation for their debut album.
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  They’ve performed across Alberta, including Calgary, Drumheller, Lethbridge, and Edmonton, and appeared at Gatorfest II and Decimate Metalfest.

  Recommended for fans of Bad Omens, Atreyu, AFI, and Killswitch Engage, "Vendetta" is due out on October 30th, 2026 via Black Cat Records.

  Album pre-save - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/victorialies/vendetta​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Victoria - 1:40
  2. We Ignite - 3:25
  3. Terra Critical - 4:00
  4. Laced With Hate - 6:30
  5. Red - 2:44
  6. Weaving Webs - 4:18
  7. Trial by Fire - 3:33
  8. Absurd - 4:21
  9. Red Lips, Loaded Gun - 5:52
  10. Ravens - 3:41
  11. Truth and Sugar - 4:15
  Album Length: 44:23

  Album and Live Band Line-up:​
  Jay Powell (Bass)
  Brett Hetherington (Vocals)
  James Cuncanon (Drums)
  Chris Koehler (Guitars)
  Rory Fitzsimmons (Guitars)

  More info: Victorialies.com | Facebook.com/victorialiesband | Instagram.com/victorialiesband | Tiktok.com/@victoria.lies

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• ETERNAL DRAK Opens The Gates To The Sixth Album "The Violence of Time"

  Jul 16, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Eternal Drak have opened the gates early. Their sixth full‑length album, "The Violence of Time," is now streaming in full through an exclusive premiere on BraveWords, giving fans a complete first immersion into the band’s most aggressive, conceptual, and philosophically charged work to date, ahead of its official July 17th release.
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  The full‑album stream invites listeners directly into the hostile universe Eternal Drak have constructed. A place where time is not a neutral measure but an adversary, a force that erodes meaning, distorts memory, and crushes identity. The band describes the record as a confrontation with time itself, not as humans imagine it, but as it behaves.
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  “Time does not accompany human beings; it subdues them. It does not flow; it imposes. It does not reveal meaning; it destroys it,” adds the band.​
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  Across ten tracks, "The Violence of Time" dismantles the human understanding of past, present, and future. Each song is a violent thesis, a sonic and lyrical strike against the idea that time can be explained, contained, or understood. Instead of offering conclusions, the album explores fragments of realization, exposing how time pressures identity, warps memory, and rewrites causality.
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  Musically, the album is built for true old‑school metal devotees: those drawn to the raw spirit of thrash, the darkness of black metal, and the severity of death metal. Eternal Drak merge analog aggression with digital density, resulting in a sound that is varied in rhythm and catchy in impact, sharpened into their most cohesive identity yet.
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  Every track begins with a central written idea. Once the concept is defined, Eternal Drak builds the music to reflect the emotion and message of the text. Riffs, rhythms, and structures are crafted to echo the same intention, ensuring that even listeners who perceive the voice as an instrument still feel the weight of the lyrics.
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  Each element undergoes multiple stages of revision and refinement until the final version fully expresses the intended emotion and message.
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  Over the years, Eternal Drak have evolved from raw thrash‑and‑black foundations into a dynamic force shaped by death metal, groove, and even Latin folk influences. Their sound has grown alongside the metal scene itself, adapting to new tools and technologies while preserving the intensity and character that define the band.
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  Recommended for fans of Dimmu Borgir, Watain, Kreator, Motorhead, and Desaster, experience "The Violence of Time" in its entirety through BraveWords’ exclusive premiere HERE.

  "The Violence of Time" is available for album pre-order (out July 17th, 2026) at the following links:

  Band website - https://eternaldrak.com/the-violence-of-time​

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

  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/artist/0zTmYsd42dDsE5yU8lDhXe​

  Track Listing:​
  1. We Force It To Speak - 5:15
  2. The Unborn Paths Rot - 3:51
  3. Me Hice Simultaneo - 3:30
  4. The Blasphemy of Time - 3:35
  5. Chaos Is the Law - 3:34
  6. Where Cause Is Buried - 3:55
  7. Across the Watching Veils - 3:53
  8. Breathing Once Again - 3:45
  9. The Cosmos Rejects You - 4:09
  10. No Direction Total War - 2:57
  Album Length: 38:24

  Album Band Line-up:​
  Andres Martinez Torres (Drakar) – Voices, Lead Guitar, Bass
  Michel Amyot – Rhythm Guitar

  More info: https://www.eternaldrak.com | https://www.facebook.com/EternalDrak | https://www.instagram.com/eternaldrak​

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