Latest Articles

• ARMSTRONG METALFEST 2026 - Tickets On Sale Now! The Okanagan’s Ultimate Mountain Mosh Pit Returns

  Jan 5, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  After celebrating a milestone 15th anniversary marked by record‑breaking crowds and its most successful edition to date, ARMSTRONG METALFEST returns for its 16th chapter on July 17 and 18, 2026, at the Hassen Arena in Armstrong, BC. Fans can look forward to two full days of moshing, headbanging, and camping. Early bird tickets are now available!

  Early bird weekend passes are $179.99 CAD until March 1st. Once early bird sales end, pre‑sale passes will be offered at $229.99 CAD, with gate admission priced at $274.99 CAD.

  All prices apply to full weekend passes and are subject to applicable taxes. Each weekend pass grants general admission and access to the festival grounds, camping area, and arena from 9:00 AM on Friday, July 17, 2026, until 10:00 AM on Sunday, July 18, 2026. Free camping is included.

  Please Note: Camping - RV / Non-Hookup RV / Vehicle Passes: Make sure to reserve your vehicle spot to get the best location on the grounds. A fee is required for a weekend pass per vehicle in addition to your day or weekend pass. RV hookups include water and power. If you choose to park your vehicle outside the camping area in the main parking lot, then a vehicle pass is not required.

  Early bird passes can be purchased at: http://www.armstrongmetalfest.ca

  The 2026 lineup will be revealed in March 2026.

  Armstrong MetalFest’s 15th year of mountain moshing roared to life with a powerhouse 2025 lineup featuring BORN OF OSIRIS, HAVOK, GLYPH, RIOT CITY, THE BROWNING, VIRVUM, and many more heavy hitters from across Canada and beyond. The town of Armstrong, BC, was transformed into a metal haven, complete with Yeti Games, the Metal Madness Market, and the chaos of Thrash Wrestling.

  Check out the Armstrong MetalFest 2025 Spotify playlist - https://spoti.fi/4i4u2OV​

  "To close the night and the weekend, Born of Osiris delivered a high-octane headline set that tore the roof off. It was the perfect finale to an unforgettable weekend. When the last note rang out, it hit us — AMF 2025 was coming to a close. There's always that bittersweet feeling as you start packing up. But that's the beauty of this festival: it stays with you long after the amps cool down. Every year, Armstrong Metalfest brings together a community that truly loves heavy music. It's not just about bands and beer — it's about belonging. The friends you make, the moments you live, the memories that stick — they're why we keep coming back. If you've never been to AMF, consider this your sign. It's more than a music festival—it's a metal rite of passage. Once you go, it gets into your blood. We're already counting the days until the next one." - Stan Schinners of Broken Neck Radio / Absolute Underground Magazine (Live Review AMF 2025)

  About:

  Since its inception in 2009 (with a brief hiatus in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic), West Metal Entertainment and Armstrong MetalFest have championed hundreds of local bands while welcoming renowned international acts to the quiet town of Armstrong, British Columbia.
  ​
  Every year, metalheads from across Canada and the U.S. converge on the scenic Okanagan Valley for three days of camping and two days packed with heavy metal mayhem. Under the blazing summer sun, fans revel in live performances, wrestling spectacles, scavenger hunts, and reconnecting with their extended metal family.
  ​
  Armstrong MetalFest has hosted legendary headliners like Kataklysm, Cattle Decapitation, Archspire, Nekrogoblikon, Origin, Warbringer, Fallujah, Striker, and Beyond Creation, alongside rising stars from across North America. And when the final riff fades, the festival vanishes without a trace, leaving the landscape as untouched as it was before.
  ​
  West Metal Entertainment, a non-profit society, not only produces Armstrong MetalFest annually but also supports the regional music scene by organizing performances at various venues, including all-ages shows, to inspire musical passion in both youth and adults.

  For more info:​
  ​http://www.armstrongmetalfest.ca/​

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

  ​https://www.instagram.com/armstrongmetalfest/​
  ​
  ​https://x.com/amfcanada

  Read more

• TRISKELYON Unleashes Mind-Blowing Cover Video “Major Tom” ft. CATEGORY VI's Amanda Jackman

  Dec 22, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Canadian thrash metal force TRISKELYON has blasted into the stratosphere. The relentlessly creative project helmed by guitarist Geoff Waye (Artach, Category VI) has unveiled a ferocious metal reimagining of Peter Schilling’s “Major Tom,” accompanied by a new video showcasing guest vocals from Amanda Jackman (Category VI).

  Their trademark left‑field cover approach shines again, with Amanda Jackman’s soaring voice propelling the iconic 80s synth‑pop track into the dark expanse of high‑velocity thrash.
  ​
  Drawn from their fourth full-length album, "Maelstrom of Chaos," this track is the climactic finale to a record that signals a deeper dive into savage speed and death-thrash elements, all while retaining the melodic hooks TRISKELYON is known for. Geoff Waye’s blistering compositions balance the savage speed of 80s thrash legends with complex, modern melodicism, making the project a required listen for fans of Testament, Forbidden, and Death Angel.
  ​

  
  Formed in 2021 by guitarist Geoff Waye of the acclaimed True Metal band Category VI, Triskelyon came roaring out of the gate with their self-titled EP and landed a deal with Moribund Records for their chart-crushing debut, “Downfall” (2022). They followed with the bone-splitting “Artificial Insanity” (2023), dominating radio for six weeks, followed by the apocalyptic “Shattered Elysium” (2024). Each release bigger, faster, heavier… and now comes the ultimate Thrash onslaught “Maelstrom of Chaos”.

  For “Maelstrom of Chaos,” mastermind Geoff Waye once again summons an all-star cast of metal warriors from the Canadian scene and from the global scene. Enlisting the vocal talents of guests Liv Jagrell (Liv Sin), Amanda Jackman (Category VI), James Delbridge (Lycanthro), Carolina Padrón (Tribus, Bloodrain), Dale Drew (Sea Dogs), and Pete Healey (Marshall Law, Ex Oberon), this album reigns as a true Thrash Metal masterpiece. On drums, the thunder is split between Raul Marques (Burning Torment) and Nicole Trinchero (Chaos Rising, Acroma), while bass devastation comes courtesy of Dwayne Pike (Afterforever), Rick White (Within the Realm, Exorcist), and Darrin Pope.

  In true Triskelyon fashion, expect more than Thrash; this is a molten fusion of Thrash, Speed, Power, Death-Thrash, and Traditional Metal. Wild and impressive, explosive riffs, razor-sharp solos, and skull-crushing rhythms resurrect the glory of the ‘80s while forging it into something bigger, louder, and deadlier for today.

  In keeping with Triskelyon's tradition of closing their albums with an iconic cover, this release delivers the heaviest Metal rendition of Peter Schilling's mega-hit “Major Tom” that the world will ever hear!

  “Maelstrom of Chaos” is not just an album - it’s a Thrash Metal supernova. Brace yourself.

  CD order (released Nov 28th) - https://www.moribundcult.com/product/DEAD336.html​

  Add to your Spotify playlist - https://open.spotify.com/artist/5eHXL3FTFpLVOJTIcViEIW​

  Single - Blood Drowned Prophecy (ft. guest vocals Liv Jagrell from Liv Sin) - https://youtu.be/FikcpI8IGBE​

  Lyric Video - Of Dust and Divination - https://youtu.be/x_Qf8t2XmUk​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Of Dust and Divination (4:49)
  2. The Winter Tsar (4:02)
  3. Maelstrom of Chaos (4:24)
  4. Unit 684 (4:21)
  5. Blood Drowned Prophecy (4:10)
  6. Death Racer (4:24)
  7. Blame Game (4:27)
  8. Divide and Dissent (3:53)
  9. Cretin (5:08)
  10. Major Tom (cover) (5:22)

  Follow TRISKELYON:
  ​Facebook | B​andcamp​
  ​
  Follow Moribund Records:
  ​Moribund Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bandcamp​

  Read more

• Category 7 Live at Racket NYC – Concert Photos (Dec 20, 2025)

  Dec 21, 2025 ArmyOfOneTV 0 Comments

  CATEGORY 7, featuring the unmistakable voice of John Bush, delivered a powerful and highly distinctive live performance at Racket in New York City on December 20, 2025. The show was structured in two clearly defined parts, beginning with a full set of Category 7 material that showcased the band’s identity and momentum as a modern heavy metal project.

  The second half of the performance shifted focus to the Anthrax era recorded with John Bush, creating a moment of direct connection to a defining chapter of Bush’s career. During this portion of the set, Bush performed “Strap It On” live for the first time ever, a moment he noted on stage was inspired by an online fan petition.

  Adding further significance to the night, Joey Vera (Armored Saint) handled bass duties, reinforcing the deep lineage of musicianship behind the performance. The atmosphere inside Racket reflected both celebration and authenticity, capturing a show that felt intentional and genuinely memorable.

  Below is a full concert photo gallery capturing Category 7 live at Racket NYC, photographed by Army Of One TV.

  Category 7 – Live at Racket (NYC)

  
  
  More info here:
  https://www.category7official.com 

  Read more

• Italian Melodic Death KARMIAN New Single “Beastmaster Of The Void” From Upcoming Album "Horror Vacui" Out March 2026

  Dec 19, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Italian melodic death metal force KARMIAN open a new and uncompromising chapter with the release of their first single, “Beastmaster of the Void”, taken from the forthcoming full-length "Horror Vacui". The track arrives accompanied by an official visualizer published on the Rockshots Records YouTube channel.

  DIGITAL: https://lnk.to/PMCdGh​

  “Beastmaster of the Void” stands among the album’s most direct and unrelenting compositions - a surge of sharp riffing, relentless pacing, and psychological intensity. Drawing from the real-life crimes tied to the Bestie di Satana case, the song transforms adolescent alienation, obsession, and spiritual distortion into a violent descent through the existential void that defines the entire record. Here, the band channels the chaos, confusion, and moral collapse at the heart of the narrative, turning true events into stark allegory.

  The single also offers a first glimpse into the conceptual breadth of "Horror Vacui": a collection of nine songs, each inspired by a different Italian murderer, revealing how psychological emptiness, social disintegration, and spiritual vacuum mutate into violence. Rather than glorifying crime, the album examines the roots of human collapse - the internal abyss that corrodes empathy, identity, and meaning. Musically, it merges the ferocity of melodic death metal with narrative tension and introspective depth, confirming the band’s distinctive approach to extreme music.

  "Horror Vacui" was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Luca Cocconi and Simone Sighinolfi at Audiocore Studio, with artwork and the new Karmian logo created by Sheila Franco. All songs were written by Andrea Baraldi and Nicholas Badiali, with lyrics by Andrea Bertolazzi and arranged collectively by Karmian.

  With a career stretching from their early beginnings in 2005 to their present incarnation, Karmian have become one of the most distinctive voices of Italian melodic death metal, known for merging aggression, drama, and conceptual storytelling. Their upcoming full-length marks their most mature and introspective work to date, deepening the psychological and existential focus that has defined their evolution.

  For fans of: The Haunted, Kataklysm, Heaven Shall Burn, At The Gates, early Dark Tranquillity, and early In Flames.

  New album “Horror Vacui” out March 20th, 2026.

  PRE ORDER "Horror Vacui" - https://rockshots.eu/products/karmian-horror-vacui-cd​

  Track Listing:​
  1. One Thousand Shining Bubbles – 06:38
  2. Beastmaster of the Void – 03:21
  3. Gott Mit Uns Nicht – 04:38
  4. The Call of the Abyssal Bell – 06:17
  5. Black Magical Soap Opera – 03:54
  6. Temple of the Fleshless Goddess – 03:23
  7. Libido et Mors – 03:40
  8. Beyond the Dream Gate of Fear – 04:16
  9. Maker of Angels – 04:43
  Album Length: 40:50

  Karmian Line-Up:​
  Andrea Bertolazzi: Vocals
  Andrea Baraldi: Guitars
  Michele Perla: Guitars
  Luca Marmi: Bass
  Nicholas Badiali: Drums

  More info:

  ​https://rockshots.eu/​

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

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

  Read more

• Sit By "The Candlelight" And Listen To NIGHTWRAITH's New Black n' Roll Anthem To Welcome Lauren Vieira (Dreadnought) To Line Up

  Dec 18, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Denver, CO’s NightWraith returns with a powerful new standalone single, “The Candlelight,” a hook-forward black n roll anthem that marks a bold sonic shift and a new chapter for the band. Alongside the release, NightWraith proudly announces the addition of Lauren Vieira (Dreadnought) as their full-time keyboard and synth player, further expanding the band’s dynamic soundscape.
  ​
  Formed in 2016 by longtime friends Ben Pitts, Spy, and Igor, NightWraith emerged from Denver’s underground metal scene with a mission to break genre boundaries. With roots in technical death metal and a shared love for melodic Swedish metal, the band has evolved into a force of musical sophistication and emotional depth. Their sound? Melodic, melancholy, musical, unique, and thought-provoking.

  Originally written during sessions for their previous album "Divergence," “The Candlelight” didn’t quite fit the mold, so the band saved it for something special. The result is a mid-tempo, riff-heavy track that leans into classic heavy metal while retaining NightWraith’s signature blackened edge. With harmonized guitar leads, driving double bass, and evolving keyboard melodies, the song builds to a crescendo of instrumental harmony that begs for repeat listens.
  ​
  Lyrically, “The Candlelight” is a romantic ode to a wild, creative era in frontman Ben Pitts’ life, specifically his time living in Denver’s legendary punk house, The Yellow Bordello. It’s a snapshot of youthful abandon, DIY shows, and fleeting romances, rendered with honesty and grit. Rather than indulging in nostalgia, the lyrics treat memory like postcards, personal, vivid, and emotionally resonant.

  “It can be hard to take a leap of faith and think outside the box, but if an artist won’t take risks, then nothing new is ever going to happen. I hope listeners will understand our vision for ‘The Candlelight’ and are receptive to the risks we’ve taken by releasing a non-traditional sounding heavy metal song,” adds vocalist/guitarist Benjamin Pitts.
  ​
  The single’s artwork, illustrated by Nate Burns (@revoltingworship), features an otherworldly woman conjuring Bacchanalian party magic. Done entirely in pen, the piece is rich in detail, especially in the hands and dagger, and evokes a dark, mystical energy. Rob Burelson completed the layout, making the final presentation a striking visual companion to the music.

  The track was recorded at The Band Cave (Denver, CO) and mixed/mastered by Van Labrakis (NITE) in the Bay Area.

  “The recording process was quick and easy, allowing everyone's natural performances to shine. It was my third time engineering music with NightWraith, so we were all familiar with the process and each band member's recording style. Because of our comfort level, we took a more creative and natural approach,” says Jacob St. Amand (bass, recording engineer).
  ​
  While “The Candlelight” stands strong on its own, it’s also a harbinger of what’s to come. NightWraith is currently deep in the writing process for their fourth full-length album, which promises to be their darkest and most cohesive work yet. With a renewed collaborative energy and a lineup firing on all cylinders, fans can expect music that’s both emotionally resonant and musically daring.
  ​
  For fans of Tribulation, Opeth, Mastodon, Kvelertak, and Ghost, NightWraith offers a fresh yet familiar take on heavy music, one that’s steeped in European melodic metal and driven by heartfelt storytelling.
  ​
  ​“The Candlelight” can be heard via its premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.

  Single pre-save (out Dec 18th) - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/nightwraith/the-candlelight​

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

  More info: Nightwraithband.com | Facebook.com/nightwraithband | Instagram.com/nightwraithband | X.com/nightwraithband​

  Read more