Latest Articles

• CANDOR ZEALOT (ft. ex-members of Annihilator, The Slyde) Unveils Second Video of 2026 "All For You"

  Jun 23, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Progressive metal upstarts Candor Zealot continue their ambitious 2026 singles campaign with the release of their second track, “All For You”.​
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  A sharp contrast to their politically charged debut single “Lie For Country”, the new track dives into deeply personal territory. “All For You” channels raw emotional fallout, catharsis, and the process of reclaiming one’s power after surviving emotional manipulation or abuse. Musically, it blends angst‑driven modern rock with the band’s signature progressive edge, balancing accessibility with technical bite.
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  ​“‘All For You’ is the second single for us, showcasing a more radio‑friendly side of the band, and channeling more angst‑ridden inspiration this time around. It’s for everyone who has experienced emotional or other forms of abuse in a previous relationship and is making peace with it,” says Nate Silva, Candor Zealot
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  Drawing influence from Linkin Park and Bring Me The Horizon, the track’s soaring chorus and heavy mid‑section nod to Gojira and Dream Theater, a fusion that positions “All For You” as one of the band’s most musically ambitious offerings.

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  Spotify - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/candorzealot/all-for-you​

  Bandcamp - https://candorzealot.bandcamp.com/track/all-for-you​

  Rather than releasing a traditional album, Candor Zealot is unveiling six singles throughout 2026, each spotlighting a different facet of their melodic, progressive, and socially aware sound. The band aims to build momentum one track at a time, embracing modern listening habits while maintaining the depth and musicianship of classic prog and metal.
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  Formed in Ottawa by vocalist/guitarist Nate Silva, Candor Zealot emerged from the dissolution of his previous project, The Slyde, whose members won Wacken Metal Battle Canada 2019 and performed at Wacken Open Air. After years of pandemic delays, academic pursuits, and a brief detour into alternative rock, Silva returned to his progressive roots, reuniting with drummer Dino Soares and bassist Alberto Campuzano, formerly of Annihilator, who also performs with Toronto’s Metallica tribute act Sandman, and recruiting Ottawa multi‑band guitarist Chris Gagnon.​
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  ​Candoz Zealot's influences span Rush, Billy Talent, Megadeth, Dream Theater, Coheed & Cambria, European metal, pop‑punk, video‑game music, J‑rock, and even K‑pop.

  For more info:

  ​https://candorzealot.com/​

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

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

  ​https://www.tiktok.com/@candorzealot​

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• DOLL Drops “Snakes and Ladders” Lyric Video As The Final Chapter In Their “Animal Crackers” Trilogy

  Jun 22, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Ottawa alternative rock band DOLL has released the new lyric video for their latest single “Snakes and Ladders,” the newest chapter in their evolving Animal Crackers trilogy. Following January’s standalone track “Bear Claw” and the fan‑favourite “Shark Bait” from their 2025 album "Better Days, Better Times," the single continues the band’s creative resurgence, now brought to life visually with a gritty, high‑energy lyric video that amplifies the song’s message and mood.
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  After re‑emerging from a long hiatus with a renewed sense of purpose, DOLL, the wife‑and‑husband duo of Christina and Pete Kasper, have embraced a period of sonic exploration, pushing their sound into new territory while staying true to the raw emotion and honesty that defined their early work.
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  With “Snakes and Ladders,” the band lean into a D‑standard, grunge‑inspired throwback while weaving in the darker tones and textures that have shaped their recent evolution. Packed with harmonics, punchy riffs, and Christina’s unmistakable vocal rasp, the track captures DOLL’s signature blend of tension, drive, and cathartic release.

  “Our fans expect the unexpected at this point. ‘Snakes and Ladders’ feels like the perfect final piece, gritty, energetic, and a real reflection of where DOLL is headed,” shares the duo.
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  The single channels the feral energy defining their latest era, a full‑throttle return to old‑school DOLL with raw vocals, jagged guitars, and drums that hit like a runaway car with no brakes. Carrying the emotional weight of Better Days, Better Times, the track confronts uncomfortable truths with a mix of vulnerability and defiance.
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  Lyrically, “Snakes and Ladders” stands as an anthem of resistance, calling out the “snakes in suits” who pretend to help but only serve themselves. It urges listeners to stay grounded, ask questions, and refuse to play someone else’s game. Musically, it’s one of the band’s most exhilarating songs to perform, built for movement, release, and shaking off whatever’s weighing you down. “As the song says, ‘I refuse to play your game.’ Always ask questions. Keep perspective. Don’t drink the Kool‑Aid blindly.”
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  The single’s artwork came together through a moment of pure serendipity. While wandering through a thrift store, the duo stumbled upon a vintage Snakes and Ladders board game, complete with classic packaging that felt uncannily perfect for the song’s theme.

  “It was like the universe dropped it in front of us. Once we saw it, we knew this was the cover. It was meant to be,” they add.
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  The artwork mirrors the song’s message, life’s unpredictable climbs and falls, and the importance of staying true to yourself no matter where the board leads.

  Listen to “Snakes and Ladders” at the following links:

  Add to your Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/track/2jaDZUp5fZoRJDu7wXTEU7​

  All digital platforms - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/doll14/snakes-and-ladders

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  More info: https://www.facebook.com/dollband | https://www.instagram.com/dollbandmusic/​

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• STAGES OF DECOMPOSITION Unleashes New Music Video “Drilling Of The Cerebellum” + LA Show Date w/ DEVOURMENT and more!

  Jun 19, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  ​Los Angeles death‑grinders Stages of Decomposition have dropped a brand‑new music video for “Drilling Of The Cerebellum”, the opening track from their latest full‑length album "Raptures of Psychopathy," out now via Gore House Productions.

  Since erupting onto the scene with their acclaimed debut "Piles of Rotting Flesh," Stages of Decomposition have carved out a reputation for sadistic, unrelenting brutal death metal and a relentless touring schedule. With "Raptures of Psychopathy," the band pushes deeper into the darkest corners of human depravity, crafting a concept album rooted in horror, psychological distortion, and the grotesque realities of the human mind.
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  The band shares:
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  ​“Raptures of Psychopathy captures the minds of the psychotic, something all humans can relate to in one way or another. We all carry aggression, and for us, music is the release. This album defines the raptures we experience when going through our own psychopathies.”​
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  The album’s opening track, “Drilling Of The Cerebellum,” offers a disturbing glimpse into the mind of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, setting the tone for the album’s descent into psychological horror. The new music video amplifies that narrative with imagery and pacing that mirror the song’s frantic riffs, inhuman drumming, and cavernous gutturals.

  Across the album's eleven tracks, Stages of Decomposition explores a wide spectrum of horror, from serial killers to possession, mob mentality, and human extinction. Each song embodies a specific psychopathic narrative, delivered through frantic riffing, merciless blast beats, and guttural vocal savagery.
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  Recommended for fans of Kraanium, Suffocation, Mortician, and anyone who craves slamming, gore‑soaked brutality.

  "Raptures of Psychopathy" (released February 2, 2024) is available on CD, Cassette, and all digital platforms - https://orcd.co/raptures-of-psychopathy​

  In additional news, Stages of Decomposition will be performing in Los Angeles on Sunday, June 21st at 1720 alongside death metal legends Devourment, Mortiferum, Civerous, and Mortal Wound. Event details at https://www.facebook.com/events/1275326321226596​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Drilling of the Cerebellum - 4:59
  2. What Lies Within - 3:10
  3. Beast of Jersey 2:42
  4. Killing Under Possession - 3:36
  5. Murder by Proxy - 3:26
  6. Skid Row Slasher - 3:36
  7. Carve out the Eyes - 2:37
  8. Fetal Devourment - 3:04
  9. Crawl Space Burial - 3:12
  10. Human Extermination - 3:46
  11. Mass Psychosis - 2:09
  Album Length: 36:19

  More info:

  ​https://gorehouseproductions.com/​

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

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

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• DieveNoire Drops Defiant New Video “IDGAF” + Performing at Rockfest 2026 w/ The Offspring, Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless and more!

  Jun 19, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

   

  Melodic blues‑heavy rock band DieveNoire has released its boldest visual statement yet with the new music video for “IDGAF,” a track from their debut concept album "The Story of a Gunslinger." The band will also bring their dynamic, theatrical live show to Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisconsin, on July 18, marking their biggest festival appearance to date and sharing the stage with a lineup that includes The Offspring, Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless, Hollywood Undead, and many more! More info available at https://rock-fest.com/.

  

  Fans attending Rock Fest can expect a performance that goes far beyond simply recreating their album. DieveNoire’s live show is theatrical, high‑energy, and emotionally charged, with Lariyah (Havron, Hessler, Khaotika) delivering vocals with more grit, harshness, and intensity than on the studio recordings. The band’s stage presence transforms each song into a full‑body experience.

  Demonstrating this emotion, the track “IDGAF” erupts unfiltered, born from a night of insomnia, overwhelming stress, and a moment of stark clarity as Lariyah lay in morning grass heavy with petrichor, reflecting on life, humanity, and the weight of her own history. It channels the rawest parts of the human experience, unapologetic, unfiltered, and fiercely honest, standing in sharp contrast to the album’s western narrative and highlighting the band’s ability to shift from cinematic storytelling to deeply personal expression.

  Shaped by Lariyah’s own lived intensity, the song carries the urgency of someone who has survived the unimaginable. After a tragic tour accident that claimed three lives and left her clinically dead before being revived, she approaches every day with uncompromising authenticity.

  “This song is a display of a middle finger to the two‑faced, fake world. If you give me an apple, I’ll give you an orchard. Cut off my finger, and I’ll cut you off from my life. I’m Polish; I’m blunt. You’ll always know exactly what I think.”

  Though separate from the album’s gunslinger storyline, the track can still be interpreted through the lens of the concept, echoing the voice of the woman observing the gunslinger’s journey, a moment of surrender as she realizes she may never be able to follow where he goes.​

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  ​DieveNoire began as a solitary creative spark in Lariyah’s mind: simple beats, tribal textures, and haunting blues‑rock vocals. Over time, the project evolved into a full band featuring world‑touring musicians, guitarists Josh Perrin (Akhlys, Havron) and Lothar Keller (The Skull / Legions of Doom), along with drummer Aaron Esquitin, and the recent addition of Paul McBride (The Reticent) joining post-album release.
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  Their combined backgrounds in black metal, doom, progressive metal, and heavy rock helped transform DieveNoire into a melodic, blues‑driven heavy rock band known for its emotional depth and dynamic arrangements.
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  Their debut album, "The Story of a Gunslinger", inspired by a vivid dream of the old wild west, blends storytelling, grit, and southern‑gothic atmosphere. The album was further shaped by renowned Gothenburg producer Jakob Herrmann (Draconian, Thyrfing, Art Nation), who encouraged the band to push toward heavier textures while preserving their blues‑rock soul.

  
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  Recommended for fans of Clutch, Dorothy, Everybody Loves an Outlaw, Pretty Reckless, and Halestorm, "The Story of a Gunslinger" (released September 5, 2025) is available on all digital platforms.

  Add to your Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/album/5AaQXA6NbVieLh8YBpo4vH

  ​Bandcamp - https://dievenoire.bandcamp.com/album/the-story-of-a-gunslinger

   

  Show Dates:​
  7/16 - Chicago, IL - Live Wire Lounge
  7/17 - Milwaukee, WI - Shank Hall
  7/18 - Cadott, WI - Rock Fest

  Track Listing:​
  1. Preacher - 3:36
  2. To The Gallows - 3:43
  3. Gunslinger in Black - 2:44
  4. Streets of New Orleans - 5:04
  5. The Graveyard Song - 4:04
  6. Morning Star - 4:00
  7. These Boots Are Made for Walkin' - 3:48
  8. Spell of White Oleander - 4:55
  9. Throughout the Night - 3:28
  10. IDGAF - 4:24
  Album Length: 39:50

  Album Band Line Up:​
  Lariyah Perrin - Vocals
  Lothar Keller - Lead guitars
  Josh Perrin - Rhythm guitars
  Aaron Esquitin - Drums

  Live Band Line Up:​
  Lariyah Perrin - Vocals
  Lothar Keller - Lead Guitars
  Josh Perrin - Rhythm Guitars
  Aaron Esquitin - Drums
  Paul McBride - Bass (joined the band fully after the album release)

  More info:

  ​http://dievenoire.com/​

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

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

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• CONFLUX COLLECTIVE's New Album "In the Wake of Saturn" (ft. members of ex-Augury, ex‑Decrepit Birth, Derelict, Gross Misconduct, Continuum and more!)

  Jun 18, 2026 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  After years of dormancy, reinvention, and sheer determination, Conflux Collective unleashes its long‑anticipated debut full‑length album, "In the Wake of Saturn", available digitally and on CD and Vinyl on June 19th, 2026.

  And before it officially releases, check out its full stream premiere on BraveWords HERE.
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  Born from a chance reunion between drummer Tommy McKinnon (Derelict, Akurion, ex‑Neuraxis, ex‑Augury) and guitarist Chase Fraser (Continuum, ex‑Decrepit Birth, ex‑Animosity) after a King Diamond show in Montreal, Conflux Collective has always been something different, a project built on spontaneity, collaboration, and the collision of extreme voices.
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  What began as an unexpected jam session years ago has now evolved into a fully realized underground force.

  
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  ​"In the Wake of Saturn" is the culmination of a long creative journey marked by setbacks, reinvention, and unwavering resolve. After the project fell dormant, McKinnon resurrected it from the ground up, writing new material, reconstructing old tracks, recording all bass parts by ear, and crafting lyrics drawn from deeply personal experiences.
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  To bring the album to life, he assembled a powerhouse lineup of vocalists whose performances define the record’s emotional and sonic assault: Jesse Brint (Gross Misconduct), Mallika Sundaramurthy (Emasculator, ex‑Abnormality), Jeffrey Mott (The Monster Factory, Growlers Choir), Eric Burnet (Derelict, Samskaras), Max (Derelict), who also contributes a blistering guitar solo. Each vocalist adds a distinct identity, turning the album into a multi‑dimensional narrative rather than a traditional death‑metal record.
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  Across its eight tracks, "In the Wake of Saturn" channels the raw ferocity of ’90s death metal through the precision and ambition of modern technical death metal, forging a sound McKinnon defines as “progressive, brutal, technical, melodic, uncompromising.” The album moves through themes of loss, fear, survival, and rebirth, unfolding as a transformative listening experience where each song feels like a chapter in a larger narrative. Shifting vocal perspectives, intricate drum work, and a balance of atonal violence and melodic clarity guide the listener through its evolving landscape. As vocalist Jesse Brint put it, “…it’s a journey.”​
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  That journey begins with the ferocious opener “The Antidote”, a blast of brutal energy featuring some of McKinnon’s most demanding drum performances and a searing vocal delivery from Eric Burnet. From there, the album descends into the doom‑leaning weight of “Devouring Light”, a groove‑driven, darkly atmospheric piece crowned by one of Fraser’s most expressive solos. “Reincarnation” follows as a technical, emotionally charged centerpiece that mirrors the rebirth of the project itself. The title track, “In the Wake of Saturn”, delivers the album’s fastest and most direct assault, embodying the transformative force at the heart of the record. Finally, the journey closes with “Desperate Post‑Humanist”, the album’s most layered composition, an expansive and unsettling dialogue between man and machine that ends the record with haunting finality.

  
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  Mixed by Jeanne Comateuse, the album stands as a testament to perseverance and artistic integrity. Despite setbacks, lineup changes, and years of uncertainty, "In the Wake of Saturn" exists because the collective refused to let the vision die.

  “This album is a journey through pain, fear, defeat, survival and finally rebirth… a true underground monster, made for those who appreciate and seek the unusual,” adds McKinnon.

  Recommended for fans of Cryptopsy, Necrophagist, Decrepit Birth, Augury, and Beyond Creation, "In the Wake of Saturn" will be available at the following links:

  Album pre-save - https://confluxcollective.bandcamp.com/​

  Vinyl and CD pre-order - https://elasticstage.com/confluxcollective​

  Merch / Apparel available - https://confluxco-shop.fourthwall.com/​​

  More info:

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

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

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