Australian rock visionaries IMPERATORE return with the first single “Be A Man”, taken from their upcoming album "The Lionspirit", due out onDecember 19th, 2025, via Rockshots Records. The song is released together with its official music video, introducing the core concept behind the album - a call to courage, resiliency, and self-mastery.
Blending heavy rock, progressive metal, and operatic grandeur, “Be A Man” stands as a powerful anthem of inner rebirth. Driven by amazing vocals, cinematic orchestrations, and uplifting melodies, the track embodies Imperatore’s distinctive sound - emotional, epic, and deeply reflective. Its lyrics invite listeners to confront fear, embrace authenticity, and rediscover the strength within, echoing the Stoic philosophy that inspired the entire record.
Founder Zoran Cunjack explains:
“Be A Man is about facing your inner fears and reclaiming your strength. True courage isn’t found in the world outside but in mastering your own mind and spirit. It’s a song about standing tall - not just as a man but as a human being who refuses to give up.”
“Be A Man” marks the beginning of Imperatore’s next chapter - a blend of cinematic power and operatic emotion that defines the band’s evolving sound. Produced by Zoran Cunjack, recorded and mixed by Rodion Farafontov, and mastered by Simon Jovanovic, the track sets the tone for what promises to be Imperatore’s most ambitious work to date.
For fans of Nightwish, Kamelot, Symphony X, Powerwolf, and Queen.
Edmonton, AB, Canada's Juliet Ruin returns with their most emotionally raw and sonically ambitious release to date: the "Regime" EP, now available on all major streaming platforms. To celebrate, the band is hitting the road with a series of EP release shows across Alberta (listed below), bringing their signature blend of chunky riffs, soaring melodies, and studio-tight vocals to fans across the province. “Regime” marks a new chapter for Juliet Ruin. Formed in 2015 from the ashes of Fiction of Fate, the band has spent the last decade refining its sound, a genre-fluid fusion of groove, metalcore, and pop sensibility that’s as powerful as it is vulnerable. With five tracks that range from introspective to explosive, "Regime" dives deep into mental health, personal growth, and social reflection.
From the eerie introspection of “Poems By a Poltergeist” to the title track’s blazing demand for empathy and justice, the EP masterfully fuses crushing breakdowns with infectious pop sensibilities. Jess Fleming delivers her most emotionally exposed performance to date, pulling lyrics directly from her personal journals and infusing each scream and melody with unfiltered intensity. Standout tracks include “Reactance Theory,” a sharp dive into resistance and impulse shaped by social psychology; “Chrysalis,” a symbolic passage through depression and personal rebirth; “The Art of Being Wise,” a tender goodbye to fractured relationships; and “Regime,” the EP’s most sonically aggressive piece, a fervent call for compassion in a fractured world.
“The Regime EP came together from our collective frustrations and personal struggles over the past few years. It challenged us creatively and emotionally, and we’re proud of the balance we struck between heaviness and vulnerability. Some tracks are heavier than we imagined, some more pop-like than expected, but all of it is authentically Juliet Ruin,” adds the band.
The EP’s cover, designed by longtime collaborator Feen Murray, features abstract skulls and hearts, symbolizing the tension between emotionality and overthinking. It’s a visual reflection of the EP’s lyrical depth and sonic duality. Juliet Ruin will be performing a series of EP release shows across Alberta, joined by fill-in bassist Dale Myroniuk (Dahlmers Realm, Breaking the Silent). Known for their high-energy performances and tight vocal execution, the band promises a live experience that’s as intense as the studio recordings.
EP Release Show Dates: Oct 25 - Edmonton, AB - Dive Bar Nov 1 - Medicine Hat, AB - Mainliner Pub Nov 7 - Lloydminster, AB - Cheers Live "Regime" is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and all major platforms.
One band to rule them all! Wacken Metal Battle Canada returns for 2026 battles across the country to send one independent metal band to play at Wacken Open Air, one of the world's most prestigious and largest metal festivals.
Band submissions for Canada are now open until November 30th.
"Canadian metal bands, this is your chance once again. This is the first step to a world of opportunity waiting for you. We invite you to play some great shows, expand your audience, and ultimately have your shot at playing Wacken Open Air," adds WMBC organizer JJ Tartaglia.
The national final for 2026 battles will be held in Montreal, QC.
Canadian Battle Cities: Vancouver, BC Vancouver Island, BC BC Interior Edmonton, AB Toronto, ON Hamilton, ON Ottawa, ON Montreal, QC Quebec City, QC
Watch - Wacken Metal Battle 2025 - Aftermovie | Have You Heard the Future of Metal? - https://youtu.be/nCulXiLlaSw
The 2026 WMBC champion will receive the following: - A slot at the 2026 Wacken Open Air Festival. - Full professional backline provided. - $1,000 CAD towards flights to Germany. - VIP camping at the festival.
The 2025 Canadian Battle Final took place on May 31st at Vancouver’s Rickshaw Theatre, where Hamilton, Ontario’s KILLOTINE, the Ontario regional winner, delivered a standout performance that earned them the top national title. A panel of industry judges selected KILLOTINE to represent Canada at the prestigious International Wacken Battle, held during Wacken Open Air from July 30th to August 2nd in Wacken, Germany, where over 85,000 metal fans from around the globe gathered. Joining KILLOTINE on stage at the Canadian final were fellow regional champions: SOULTHIEF (Eastern Canada Winner – Ottawa, ON), BEYOND SUFFERING(Alberta Winner – Calgary, AB), and YEGG(British Columbia Winner – Nanaimo, BC). The event also featured a special guest headliner: Vancouver’s Arrow In The Quiver, the 2024 BC Final winner. The national judging panel included a lineup of respected figures from the Canadian metal and music industry: Brittney Slayes (Unleash The Archers), JJ Tartaglia (Canadian Organizer of Wacken Metal Battle Canada), JJ Caithcart (Founder of SCRAPE Records and Host of Different Stages Radio), Kris Schulz (Founder of Empower Through Music and Owner of Horizon School of Music), Abelardo Mayoral (Founder and Operator of The Invisible Orange and OrangeTickets), Stan Schinners (Owner of Broken Neck Radio), Justin Dobbin (Owner and President of Main Stage Rehearsal Studios).
For the last 9 years of battles (2013-2016, 2018-2019, 2023-2025), Wacken Metal Battle Canada 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 nearly sold out with a line-up that includes Def Leppard, Lamb Of God, In Flames, Savatage, Powerwolf, Emperor, Sepultura, and Running Wild, among others. Details here.
Wacken Metal Battle Canada 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 Canada 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 Canadian 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 other participating countries in a final global battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.
Italian doom metal outfit Shores of Null have released their new single “An Easy Way,” a devastatingly poignant track that opens their upcoming split album "Latitudes of Sorrow" with Finnish funeral doom masters Convocation. The split arrives on November 21st via Everlasting Spew Records. “An Easy Way” was chosen for its immediacy and emotional impact, a rare blend of haunting darkness and melodic catchiness. Lyrically, it confronts depression, inner struggle, and the fragile line between perseverance and surrender. It’s a reflection on human frailty, wrapped in a soundscape that’s both oppressive and unforgettable. “It’s the most straightforward track on the split. Catchy, yes, but it leaves very little room for hope,” says the band. The split album "Latitudes of Sorrow" is a collaboration born from shared artistic vision. When Everlasting Spew Records approached Shores of Null mid-way through writing their next full-length, the band seized the opportunity to finish and record three exclusive tracks that might have otherwise remained in the shadows. The result is a darker, more hopeless sonic offering, a perfect complement to Convocation’s funeral doom intensity. “Two sides of the same coin. Opposite latitudes, but a shared desire to explore sorrow in all its forms,” the band explains. The album’s artwork, created by LL of Convocation, features a spectral figure and an empty chair, a haunting symbol of presence in absence. Musically and lyrically, Latitudes of Sorrow is a journey through grief, solitude, and the inescapable weight of mortality. For fans of Katatonia, Paradise Lost, Evoken, and Esoteric, "Latitudes of Sorrow" offers one of the most grievous and heavy splits in recent memory, a sonic reckoning that will finally make all your summers end. “An Easy Way” is streaming now on all major platforms. "Latitudes of Sorrow" drops digitally and on CD and Cassette physical format on November 21st via Everlasting Spew Records. The vinyl edition of the split will be issued in Spring 2026.
Track Listing: 1. Shores Of Null - An Easy Way 2. Shores Of Null - The White Wound 3. Shores Of Null - The Year Without Summer 4. Convocation - Abaddon's Shadow 5. Convocation - Empty Room Split Album Length:
Genre-blurring metal duo AITTALA (pronounced “EYE-tah-la”) returns with their latest and second EP of 2025, "Ill-Gotten Gains," dropping November 21, 2025, via Exitus Stratagem Records. The EP’s lead single, “Isolation,” is accompanied by a gripping music video that captures the emotional weight and sonic depth of the track.
“Isolation” sets the tone for the EP with its doomy atmosphere, heavy guitars, and unexpected time signature shifts. Lyrically, it explores the consequences of past decisions, a theme that runs throughout the entire release.
Watch and listen to the music video via its premiere on Doom & Stoned HERE.
"Ill-Gotten Gains," AITTALA’s second EP of 2025 following Machines, marks a bold step forward in the band’s evolution. Retaining their core sound while pushing deeper into lyrical vulnerability and songwriting complexity, the EP continues their tradition of defying genre boundaries — weaving together elements of traditional metal, doom, groove, and progressive styles into a cohesive and immersive experience. Thematically, it explores the darker side of the human psyche, from chaos and exploitation to the consequences of those actions and the search for redemption, offering a cathartic journey for fans of genre-fluid metal. The EP cover features an updated rendering of AITTALA’s long-standing mascot Frank, a cartoon pig head in a pentagram, first introduced in 2014’s "Effigy" album. Frank is the kind of character who’ll help you acquire "Ill-Gotten Gains" no questions asked, as long as you’ve got the cash. Formed in 1991 in the Netherlands by guitarist/vocalist Eric Aittala, the band quickly became a fixture in the Dutch metal scene, sharing stages with acts like The Gathering and Sadist. After a long hiatus, AITTALA was resurrected in 2008 and has since released six full-length albums and multiple EPs, each showcasing a unique blend of classic heavy metal, doom, progressive, power, thrash, and hard rock. Now based in the U.S., AITTALA’s current lineup features Eric Aittala and powerhouse drummer Gary “Zeus” Smith (THE FIFTH, ex-MR BLACKWELL). Together, they continue to push boundaries with music that’s as technically sharp as it is emotionally resonant.
