Latest Articles

• STERILIZING THE DECEASED Confronts Inner Demons w/ New Video "Recovery"

  Oct 3, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Melodic deathcore outfit Sterilizing The Deceased has dropped a gripping new music video for “Recovery,” the opening track from their emotionally charged EP "Nothing," released August 1st. Known for their bone-crushing breakdowns and atmospheric aggression, the Cleveland-based band delivers a visual experience as raw and visceral as the music itself.
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  ​“Recovery” dives deep into themes of personal reflection, addiction, and the struggle to find light in overwhelming darkness. The video mirrors the EP’s overarching narrative, a fictional/non-fictional journey through drug addiction and suicidal ideation, inspired by frontman Angelo Vespucci’s own battles. With imagery that evokes resistance, pain, and redemption, the video amplifies the track’s emotional weight and lyrical intensity.
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  ​“This song is about wondering where things went wrong and why they had to change. It’s the beginning of a story that’s deeply personal to me, and I wanted the visuals to reflect that internal war,” says Vespucci.
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  The EP "Nothing" marks a turning point for Sterilizing The Deceased, showcasing a mature sound that blends melodic deathcore, progressive metalcore, and djent influences. Fans of Reflections, Chelsea Grin, and old-school Lorna Shore will find familiar sonic territory, but with a distinct emotional edge. From the chaotic descent of “Self Meditated” to the cathartic rebirth in “Awake,” the EP offers a full-circle listening experience that encourages introspection and connection.
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  Formed in 2014, Sterilizing The Deceased has carved out a reputation in the Midwest metal scene, sharing stages with heavyweights like Cannibal Corpse, Dying Fetus, and Slaughter to Prevail. With members also active in projects like xEIGHTY-SIXEDx, Lie In Wait, and Terra Vista, the band brings a wealth of experience and collaborative firepower to every release.

  Experience the beginning of a journey through pain, purgatory, and ultimately, awakening with the music video premiere of "Recovery".

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  Fans can expect more music in the coming year, with another EP or full-length already in the works.
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  ​Sterilizing The Deceased's latest EP “Nothing” can be heard on all digital platforms.

  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/4aTbT4KtSuLM2V2G1136Zt​

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

  More info: Facebook.com/SterilizingTheDeceased | Instagram.com/sterilizingthedeceased

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• SONATA ARCTICA at The Gramercy Theatre 10/01/25

  Oct 3, 2025 ArmyOfOneTV 0 Comments

   

  

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• WACKEN METAL BATTLE USA Opens Band Submissions - One Band To Conquer Them All & Play WACKEN OPEN AIR 2026

  Oct 1, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  One Band To Conquer Them All! After another successful year in 2025, to send one unsigned and independent American to play the world's most prestigious and largest already sold-out metal festivals, Wacken Open Air, Wacken Metal Battle USA announces submissions for the 2026 battle are now open as of October 1st until December 1st.

  "I am beyond stoked to bring back the Wacken Metal Battle to the US. Every year we get invited to participate is an opportunity to grow. This year will be no different. We will be bringing back some cities that haven't participated in a few years, and we will be adding at least one new city/state to the competition. Do you have what it takes to represent the US at Wacken? Sign up now!" - Eric Dow - Artist & Promoter Relations.

  American bands interested in participating can apply at https://www.metal-battle.com/countries/ (please select the United States as your country)

  Watch - Wacken Metal Battle 2025 - Aftermovie | Have You Heard the Future of Metal? - https://youtu.be/nCulXiLlaSw​

  Wacken Battle Trailer Video – https://youtu.be/fjMugRXEc5g​

  The 2026 WMBU champion will receive the following:
  - A slot at the 2025 Wacken Open Air Festival.
  - Full professional backline provided.
  - $1,000 USD towards flights to Germany.
  - VIP camping at the festival.

  At the 2025 WMBU national finals held this past June at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ, Southern California and Arizona-based band ​MOURNING HIGH​ emerged as the seventh champion selected to represent the United States at the prestigious international showdown, Wacken Open Air, that took place from July 30th to August 2nd in Wacken, Germany, where over 185,000 attendees from around the world gathered.

  Mourning High, crowned the West Coast Winner, competed alongside five other standout American bands: ​PRIME PROPHECY (New Jersey), ​WHAT’S WRONG (Pacific Northwest), ​PONTIFEX​ (Florida), ​FIREHAZE (East Coast), and BROKEN TIME (Texas). A panel of seasoned industry professionals, including Jeff Buttermark (FM Management), Shawn Quinn (Napalm Records/FM Management), and Rob Caggiano (formerly of Anthrax and Volbeat), ultimately selected Mourning High as the top U.S. act to perform at the International Wacken Battle.

  Spotify - 2025 WMBU National Finalists Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5q7Or6tHAsWsAGg8zQSVgZ​

  List of previous WMBU national winners: Cascade Effect (2024 - San Diego), Fadrait (2023 - San Diego), Mythraeum (2022 - San Diego), Monarch (2019 - San Diego), Voices of Ruin (2018 - Anaheim), and Corpse Hoarder (2017 - Philadelphia).

  For the last 7 years of battles (2017-2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025), Wacken Metal Battle USA has hosted battles across the country to send one independent metal band to perform at the world’s largest metal festival, Wacken Open Air in Wacken, Germany. 2019 saw the festival celebrate its 30th anniversary, but due to COVID, the 2020 and 2021 editions were both canceled. As the metal community regains its strength, Wacken Open Air 2026 will be the 35th edition of the festival and will be held from July 29th to August 1st. The 2026 event is already sold out with a line-up that includes Def Leppard, Lamb Of God, In Flames, Powerwolf, Emperor, Sepultura, and Running Wild, among others. Details here.

  Wacken Metal Battle USA is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance to win their spot among over 55 other countries’ champions, and represent the USA in an international battle of the bands at the world’s largest outdoor metal festival: Wacken Open Air. The battles have been hosted at the festival for over a decade and give independent bands the opportunity to showcase their talents to an international audience, along with the chance to win multiple prizes.

  How it works:​
  ​Participating cities will host qualifying rounds plus a city final organized by a local city concert promoter, where one band will move forward to the American national final (date and city to be determined). The winner of the national final will move on to perform at the Wacken Open Air 2026 and compete against the winners of 30 other countries in a final global battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.

  Links:​
  ​Metal-Battle.com​
  ​MetalBattleUSA.com​
  ​Facebook.com/metalbattleusa​.official​
  ​X.com/MetalBattleUSA​
  ​Instagram.com/metalbattleusa.official

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• BROCARDE Unveils “Feed My Soul” ft. KORN’s Ray Luzier – A Haunting Dive into Theatrical Horror Metal

  Oct 1, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Known for her haunting vocals, theatrical visuals, and ghostly whispers, Brocarde returns with her next sonic séance, blurring the line between the living and the dead. A gothic siren of symphonic metal and supernatural storytelling, her most visceral offering yet, “Feed My Soul,” is a thunderous single featuring the legendary Ray Luzier of KORN on drums.

  “I love Brocarde’s very unique vocal style and vibe. She has mass aggression to sweetness and everything in between in her voice! The very interesting song arrangements and theatrical segments make the whole package a dynamic, fun adventure to listen to. I see great things ahead for her!” says Ray Luzier.

  The track was recorded remotely across three cities: Brocarde in London, Luzier in Nashville, and producer Chris Collier (Korn, Mick Mars, Whitesnake) in Las Vegas. Though the trio never met during the recording process, fate intervened at Wacken Open Air, where Brocarde bumped into Luzier in the canteen.

  “Watching Ray perform with Korn side stage was a powerful reminder of what I’m fighting for. That’s the level I want to reach,” adds Brocarde.

  The “Feed My Soul” music video was shot in a haunted hunting lodge deep within Germany’s Black Forest, ominously known as The Demon Hotel. The setting mirrors Brocarde’s signature theatrical horror aesthetic, equal parts Phantom of the Opera and Edgar Allan Poe nightmare. From hushed whispers to guttural screams, she commands every moment with chilling precision, layering her vocals like a spectral choir and saturating each frame with raw emotion. The walls, adorned with taxidermy heads frozen in terror, serve as eerie spectators to the song’s themes of toxic entanglement and psychological warfare. Ray Luzier’s thunderous drumming injects a primal pulse, anchoring Brocarde’s ethereal delivery in a maelstrom of cinematic intensity.

  "Feed My Soul is more than a song; it’s a spiritual experience. I wrote it alone in the dark, channeling voices from beyond and emotions I couldn’t explain. It’s about craving connection in a world that feels increasingly disconnected. I want listeners to question everything they see as normal,” adds Brocarde.

  The single offers a glimpse into Brocarde’s long-awaited debut album, set for release in 2026, a decade in the making. While details remain under wraps, fans can expect a musical journey that’s as emotionally raw as it is visually spellbinding.

  Brocarde’s rise has been anything but ordinary. From marrying (and exorcising) a Victorian ghost named Edwardo, to conducting paranormal investigations at Download Festival and Wacken Open Air, she’s carved a niche as rock’s most fearless medium. Her column “Terrifying Travels” in The Daily Star chronicles her encounters with the dead, while her website Brocarde.com documents her haunted adventures around the globe.

  With “Feed My Soul,” Brocarde invites fans to step into her world, a place where music, magic, and madness collide.

  Add to your Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/track/5fhv0p8TA2moaZztoFoFPE

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  More info:

  ​https://brocarde.com/​

  ​http://instagram.com/brocarde/​

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

  ​http://youtube.com/@thebrocardeshow​

  ​https://x.com/thebrocardeshow

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• Fantasy Meets Prog - CEPHEIDAE VARIABLE “Carving a Dragon” Opens The Gates To Debut "Primordial Reverie" Out Nov 2025

  Sep 30, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Cepheidae Variable, the one-man progressive metal project helmed by Kelowna, Canada, guitarist and composer Ryan Koepke, has officially unveiled its debut single, “Carving a Dragon,” accompanied by a playthrough video. The track serves as the first glimpse into Cepheidae Variable’s upcoming debut full-length instrumental album, "Primordial Reverie," set for release on November 7th, 2025.

  Originally conceived as a personal exploration of musical growth, Cepheidae Variable evolved into a deeply emotional and ambitious endeavour following Koepke’s father’s cancer diagnosis and the news of his own impending fatherhood.

  “I stopped waiting around and created something I’d be proud of. This album became a reflection of emotional turbulence, hope, and transformation,” shares Koepke.

  “Carving a Dragon” was the first track written for the album, and one of the most challenging. Inspired by Robin Hobb’s Assassin’s Quest, the song symbolizes pouring one’s soul into creation and marks the beginning of Koepke’s journey as a solo recording artist. With its energetic, uplifting fantasy feel, it stands in contrast to the moodier, sci-fi-themed tracks that follow.

  “There were many times during the writing process I considered scrapping this song. The result is something that has stuck with me and has a lot of meaning to not only myself, but also friends and family who supported me,” says Koepke.

  The album itself is a genre-defying instrumental narrative, weaving through symphonic fantasy, sci-fi textures, and progressive complexity. Koepke describes the sound as “spacey, weird, melodic, melancholic, happy,” and cites influences ranging from Dream Theater and Haken to Wintersun and Caligula’s Horse. Divided into three distinct acts, "Primordial Reverie" challenges listeners to experience the full arc of its story, with recurring motifs and evolving themes that reward repeat listens.

  The album artwork, created by renowned collage artist Alex Eckman-Lawn, evokes feelings of loneliness, wonder, and cosmic mystery, mirroring the tonal shift that occurs midway through the album.

  "I especially enjoyed this artwork because of the amount of interpretation it allows from the viewer. It was a heavy influence on the tonal shift this album undergoes." Koepke notes.

  With "Primordial Reverie," Koepke aims to release a new album every 2–4 years, continuing to push the boundaries of solo composition and progressive storytelling. Though currently instrumental, Cepheidae Variable may evolve into a collaborative or vocal project in the future.

  Recommended for listeners of Dream Theater, Haken, Intervals, Wintersun, and Caligula’s Horse, “Carving a Dragon” can be heard and watched via its playthrough premiere on TheProgSpace HERE.

  Add to your Spotify playlist - https://open.spotify.com/track/50cqqMHKWKJl9ahcdXY5xD​

  Digital Album pre-save (out Nov 7th) "Primordial Reverie" - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/cepheidaevariable/primordial-reverie​

  CD Album pre-order - https://cepheidaevariable.bandcamp.com/album/primordial-reverie​​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Overture (3:11)
  2. Carving a Dragon (4:04)
  3. The Waiting Storm (3:13)
  4. Zephyr of Ouroboros (9:15)
  5. Encounter (5:53)
  6. The Conduit (6:03)
  7. Chromatic Haven (5:11)
  8. Entropic Harvester (10:27)
  9. Singularity (11:32)
  Album Length: 58:53

  For more info: https://cepheidaevariable.com/

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