Search Results: band

• MARGANTHA Unveils Title Track Off Debut EP “Blood Moon Sacrifice” Out June 2025

  Apr 16, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Rockshots Records proudly presents MARGANTHA, a black metal band born from a shared artistic vision rooted in darkness, atmosphere, and storytelling. Conceived by experienced musicians from the extreme music scene, the project was founded on the idea of anonymity, removing names, past projects, and expectations to let the music speak for itself.
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  Their debut EP, Blood Moon Sacrifice, will be released on June 27, 2025. It is a concept work based on a legend passed down orally through generations. The tale, told to the vocalist as a child by his grandmother, tells of a werewolf haunting a hunter’s village at the foot of a remote mountain range. This myth gave birth to a collection of songs designed not simply to be listened to but to be experienced in full immersion.
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  ​The EP was mixed and mastered at Sonic Train Studio by legendary guitarist and producer Andy LaRocque (King Diamond), adding an extra layer of depth and sonic intensity to the work.
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  The band comments:

  “We always begin with the concept. The music follows naturally, often starting with a guitar riff or arpeggio, and evolving through a collaborative process. We’re not interested in technical exhibitionism. Every choice serves the narrative. The resulting material is raw, evocative, and direct—true to the spirit of black metal, but enriched with depth and atmosphere."​
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  ​MARGANTHA’s sound draws inspiration from the evocative power of Mgła, the intensity of Uada and Gaerea, and the epic darkness of Naglfar and Behemoth, while also channeling the spirit of legendary pioneers like Celtic Frost, Venom, and King Diamond. The songs are structured to be memorable, immediate, and fully aligned with the conceptual vision of the record.
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  While the band is just beginning its journey, their identity is already clear—both musically and visually. Their approach to live shows reflects the same energy: tight, relentless, and impactful. Inspired by iconic performances where the music speaks louder than words, Margantha aims to deliver live sets that are immersive from start to finish, with minimal breaks and maximum emotional charge.
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  The first single and title track from Blood Moon Sacrifice is out now.

  Digital: http://lnk.to/fupeIK​

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  ALBUM PRE-ORDER - https://bit.ly/3Yz60nn​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Blood Moon Sacrifice
  2. Wolves at the Door
  3. Miriam and the Endless Night (ft. Andy LaRoque)
  4. Curse of the Full Moon

  Band Members:​
  • Nocturnus I – Vocals and Bass (FIN)
  • Nocturnus II – Guitars (ITA)
  • Nocturnus III – Drums (FIN)

  More info: https://www.rockshots.eu | https://www.instagram.com/margantha_the_band/

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• FROGG Display Technical Metal Wizardy In New Animated Video "Interspecific Hybrid Species" Off Debut Album "Eclipse" (Co-Produced by Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, The Contortionist, Scale the Summit))

  Apr 2, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  

  Unelashing their technical modern metal marvel, the debut album "Eclipse" this past March, New York's FROGG is exhibiting their new animated music video "Interspecific Hybrid Species" in support of the record, co-produced by guitarist/vocalist Sky Moon Clark and Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, The Contortionist, Scale the Summit).

  Full of proggy goodness, the track has a strong message about climate change coming for us all.

  "Interspecific Hybrid Species is an intensely proggy, mind-bending epic that weaves intricate chaos with relentless precision, delivering a whirlwind of technical wizardry and amphibious fury," adds the band.

  Watch and listen to the music video "Interspecific Hybrid Species" via its premiere on HeavyBlogIsHeavy HERE.

  Frogg's first full-length features ten tracks of heavy, raw, progressive, death, and avant-garde thinking metal. Fans who have been following Frogg since their conception will find exactly what they signed up for, along with lots of fun surprises. The band doesn't operate in one genre all the time, and "Eclipse" is set to wonder.

  "A sonic eclipse where every genre collides—progressive, technical, and just enough death to keep your neck sore for weeks," adds bassist Ethan Emery.

  Lyrically, the record explores Mythology from various places, along with tying tales and emotions together. Fans can expect seasonal singles from Frogg going forward as they already have plans for follow-up singles to come real soon after the album's release.

  FROGG’s main ambition is to hit the live circuit with a perfected performance and its brand-new line-up. With performance in mind, FROGG has been relentlessly rehearsing new original material and old, to deliver an authentic live experience.

  Committed to technical excellence and progressive innovation, Frogg is recommended for fans of weird and wild and fans who appreciate bands such as Protest the Hero, Between the Buried and Me, Zenith Passage, Unexpect, and Obscura.

  "Eclipse" was released on March 7, 2025, and is available at ​https://froggofficial.bandcamp.com​.

  Spotify - ​https://spoti.fi/4heSdtu​

  

  Album Artwork - Artists: Yann Kempen & Bertrand LeFebvre

  Track Listing:​
  1. Walpurgisnacht (4:44)
  2. Life Zero (4:30)
  3. Dandelion (3:50)
  4. Eclipse I: Blind Bakunawa (4:20)
  5. Eclipse II: Sickened By Silence (4:48)
  6. Interspecific Hybrid Species (4:19)
  7. Wake Up (6:22)
  8. Sun Stealer (4:41)
  9. Double Vision Roll (3:29)
  10. Omni Trigger (4:07)
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  ​Album Recording Credits:​
  • All songs performed by: FROGG
  • All songs written by: FROGG
  • Produced by: Jamie King & Sky Moon Clark
  • Mixed by: Jamie King
  • Mastered by: Jamie King
  • Album Artwork by: Yann Kempen & Bertrand LeFebvre
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  ​Album Band Line Up:​
  Sky Moon Clark - Vocals, Guitars
  Will Brown - Drums, Percussion, World Instruments
  Brett Fairchild - Guitars on tracks 1, 5, 6,10
  Nick Thorpe - Bass on tracks 1,4,5,7,8,10
  David White - Bass on track 2
  Brad Williamson - Bass on track 6
  Jack Lynch - Bass on track 3
  Emma Rae - Clean vocals & keys
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  ​Live Band Line Up:​
  Sky Moon Clark - Vocals, Guitars
  Brett Fairchild - Backup Vocals, Guitars
  Ethan Emery - Bass
  Will Brown - Drums

  For more info: https://linktr.ee/froggband

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• SYMBIOTIC GROWTH Unleash Progressive Death Album "Beyond The Sleepless Aether"; Mixed and Mastered by Tom Maclean (Haken, Athemon, Brutta)

  Mar 28, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Canadian progressive blackened death unit Symbiotic Growth unleashes their sophomore album "Beyond The Sleepless Aether," now available as of March 28th, 2025. Similar to the band's predecessor, their 2020 self-titled full-length, "Beyond The Sleepless Aether," is once again based in fiction and is lyrically conceptual, but dives more into thoughts and emotions of everyday life, and sometimes those thoughts are hard to deal with.

  "I feel like this time around, the sound is a bit darker and experimental, with more synth-heavy sounds and a melancholy atmosphere. The lyrics were very loosely inspired by a dream I (Aaron) had about the multiverse theory intertwined with some of my challenges of dealing with a sense of being and why we are all here," says Aaron Barriault (Vocals, Guitar, Bass).

  Progressive, experimental, foreboding, and emotional, every song has its own identity and its place within the album's story, taking its protagonist through the multiverse, placing him in places like dark wooded forests, wide open desert landscapes, and the unending cosmos.

  The full-length listening experience tackles strong topics of loneliness, a sense of being, self-hatred, and suicide. Some of these are blatant and easy to see, and others subtly, throughout the course of the album, lyrically and musically.

  "I think the fans who have heard our previous album may be a bit surprised; the sound of this album is a bit different; it's a little bit more experimental in its own way. Either way, we hope that fans enjoy what we've created. I feel like the listener may have feelings of uneasiness and wonder. An odd combination, but I feel like it's fitting.

  Mixed and mastered by Tom Maclean (Twelve Tone Studio, Haken, Athemon, Brutta), "Beyond The Sleepless Aether", features seven paryalzing sounds of technical metal created by the Sudbury, ON recording line up of Aaron Barriault (Vocals, Guitar, Bass), Devin Mcqueen (Vocals, Guitar), and Dan Favot (Drums)(ex-Wolven Ancestry, ex-Fractal Generator). The artwork was created by Erskine Designs and shows an entity standing at the foot of what the band likes to think of as Azathoth.

  "The album doesn't touch on any Lovecraftian mythos (maybe a bit in The Sleepless Void), but the lore behind Azathoth, that we are all in his dream and once he wakes everything will cease to be, is very fitting to the album lyrically," adds Barriault.

  Recommended for fans of Ne Oblivisacaris, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Cor Scorpii, and Gojira, "Beyond The Sleepless Aether" is available at the following links:

  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/42m1Mlp

  ​Bandcamp - https://symbioticgrowth.bandcamp.com/album/beyond-the-sleepless-aether-3

  Track Listing:​
  1. Of Painted Skies and Dancing Lights - 7:03
  2. Spires Of The Boundless Sunset – 7:28
  3. The Architect Of Annihilation – 10:57
  4. The Sleepless Void – 9:52
  5. Arid Trials and Barren Sands – 7:35
  6. Lost in Fractured Reveries – 8:44
  7. Trading Thoughts For Sleep – 10:02
  Album Length: 1:01:43

  Album Credits:​
  Mixed and Mastered By Tom Maclean of Twelve Tone Studio
  Album Art by Erskine Designs

  Album Band Line Up​
  Aaron Barriault – Vocals, Guitar, Bass
  Devin Mcqueen – Vocals, Guitar
  Dan Favot – Drums

  Live Band Line Up​
  Aaron Barriault - Vocals, Guitar
  Dan Favot - Drums

  For more info: Facebook.com/SymbioticGrowth | Instagram.com/symbioticgrowth​

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• DEREV Release Debut Album "Troubled Mind" + Cross-Canada Tour Dates (QC/ON/MB/SK/BC)

  Mar 26, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Toronto, Canada's Derev is proud to release their first full length, "Troubled Mind", now available as of March 26th on digital platforms (links below).

  The follow-up to their 2021 debut EP "Leap of Faith," “Troubled Mind” takes a deep dive into the intricacies of the human psyche, addressing a spectrum of mental health issues with each track, ranging from temporary mental instability to more severe conditions such as schizophrenia, cognitive immobility (a fixation on the past), and depression stemming from loss.

  Offering a diverse range of sounds from mellow, calm tracks to adrenaline-pumping heavy headbangers while maintaining their distinctive progressive rock sound, enriched with Middle Eastern influences. Incorporating more prominent keyboard parts, experimenting with various time signatures, and introducing new instruments such as the Cajon, Darbuka, and electronic elements. This evolution showcases the band's innovative spirit and commitment to pushing musical boundaries.

  The band adds:

  “This album is very personal and introspective. It’s full of memorable songs and parts to listen to and digest, both from a musical and lyrical perspective. Every song tackles a different state of mind and takes the listener into their thoughts of a mental state that they can relate to. As this one marks our second official release, we think the fans will be excited about hearing what Derev still has to offer. They’re in for a crazy ride full of energetic ups and heartbreaking downs.”

  Derev was conceived after founding member and drummer Michel Karakach, after fleeing the war in the Middle East and finding refuge in Toronto, Canada, reunited with his best friend, guitarist Armando Bablanian, to turn what was once a mere childhood dream into a powerful reality.

  Derev's dynamic lineup now includes bassist Stan Komarovsky, providing the backbone of Derev's sound, and keyboardist Ran Zehavi from the progressive rock band Scalar, adding depth and complexity. Leading the live charge is frontman and vocalist Mike Symons, who has replaced previous singer Adel Saflou, whose recorded vocals are featured on "Troubled Mind".

  Recommended for fans of Opeth, Dream Theater, Porcupine Tree, Soen, and Riverside, "Troubled Mind" is available at https://www.derevmusic.com/store (on Vinyl, CD, Tour Pass) and all digital platforms (Spotify, Bandcamp).

  In additional news, Derev is touring in Ontario to support "Troubled Mind" and will continue their road shows across Western Canada for May (listed below).

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  DEREV - Troubled Mind ON/ QC Tour​
  March 28 - Waterloo, ON - Midnight Run Café w/ Local Goblin
  March 29 - Guelph, ON - The Red Papaya w/ Jupiter Hollow, Crown For A King, and Exolithic
  April 5 - Montreal, QC - Piranha Bar w/ World On Alert & Vinyl Hero
  April 11 - Hamilton, QC - Club Absinthe w/ 8 Banger, Hollow Core, Bad Communication
  April 12 - Brantford, ON - Brandi’s Kitchen & Bar w/ Jupiter Hollow & Guests

  DEREV - Troubled Mind - Western Canada Tour​
  May 2 - Sudbury, ON - The Townhouse w/ Jeidei, Codos
  May 3 - Marathon, ON - Biloxys Wings and Things
  May 4 - TBA (North Western Ontario)
  May 6 - TBA (Manitoba)
  May 8 - Regina, SK - Revival Music Room w/ Fame Fatale, 66 Aces
  May 9 - Saskatoon, SK - Amigos Cantina w/ Out Of Frequency, 66 Aces
  May 10 - Edmonton, SK - Rendezvous Pub w/ Darkened Skies, Silent Script, Misplaced Intentions
  May 12 - Grand Forks, BC - 4th St. Studio w/ guests
  May 13 - Kamloops, BC - The Blue Grotto w/ Augur, Gregarious
  May 14 - Vancouver, BC - The Roxy Cabaret w/ guests
  May 16 - Vernon, BC - Longhorn Pub w/ None The Wiser, Scared Soul Empire
  May 17 - Cranbrook, BC - The York Public House w/ Phaeton
  May 18 - Calgary, AB - Verns w/ Humans As Totems, The Future Relics, Rocky Mountain Maniacs, 13 Strikes
  May 20 - Winnipeg, MB - Sidestage w/ Valley Narrow, Sunbreather
  May 22 - Thunder Bay, ON - Black Pirates Pub w/ Cycle Of Disobedience, Along The Lines, The Fixer
  May 23 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Soo Blaster w/ guests
  May 24 - Timmins, ON - Victory Tavern w/ guests

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  Track Listing:​
  1. Buried Voice (7:23)
  2. Cyclone (5:39)
  3. Crawl Space (1:16)
  4. Room 9 (6:15)
  5. Paracusia (4:35)
  6. Tides of Time (5:59)
  7. Darker Self (5:44)
  8. Trace Within (5:01)
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  ​Album Band Line Up:​
  Adel Saflou - Vocals
  Armando Bablanian - Guitar
  Michel Karakach - Drums
  Stan Komarovsky - Bass
  Ran Zehavi - Keys
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  ​Live Band Line Up:​
  Mike Symons - Vocals
  Armando Bablanian - Guitar
  Michel Karakach - Drums
  Stan Komarovsky - Bass
  Ran Zehavi - Keys

  More info: Derevmusic.com | Facebook.com/derevmusic | Instagram.com/derevmusic | X.com/derevmusic​

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• SANDNESS New Video "Not Your Dog" Off New Album "Vertigo" Out May 2025 + Limited Edition Purple Vinyl

  Mar 25, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Taken from Sandness' upcoming album "Vertigo," out May 16th, 2025, via Rockshots Records.
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  Watch the official video for "Not Your Dog", the brand new single by Italian hard rock power trio SANDNESS. The track is the first preview from their fifth studio album "Vertigo", an energetic mix of hard rock and power pop with anthemic choruses, driving riffs, and a strong message of self-empowerment.

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  Produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Alessandro Del Vecchio at Ivorytears Music Works Recording Studio, the new album "Vertigo" marks a new creative chapter for the band. Written during a time of personal and professional change, the record embraces a new songwriting approach while staying true to the band’s signature sound.
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  ​"Not Your Dog" is a powerful and catchy anthem about independence and breaking free from control and expectations. With gritty guitars, punchy rhythms, and bold vocals, the track is perfect for fans of UFO, D-A-D, The Darkness, Y&T, and classic melodic hard rock.

  "Vertigo" will be available on CD and limited edition purple vinyl.
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  Pre-order the album: https://lnk.to/ZtUHJ1​
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  Listen/save the single "Not Your Dog": https://lnk.to/hzXlUT​

  SANDNESS will present the new album live on May 20, 2025, at Alcatraz – Milan, opening for Eclipse and Gotthard in their only Italian show.

  Tracklist – Vertigo:
  ​1. Per Aspera Ad Astra
  2. The Match
  3. Draw The Line
  4. From Zero To Hero
  5. Back For More
  6. Midnight Dance
  7. Rock’n’Roll High
  8. Not Your Dog
  9. Neverending Road
  10. Train Of Time
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  ​Sandness Line-Up:
  ​Mark – Bass, lead and backing vocals
  Metyou – Drums and backing vocals
  Robby – Lead and rhythm guitar, lead and backing vocals

  For more info:​
  ​Rockshots.eu​
  ​Sandnessofficial.com
  ​​Facebook.com/Sandnessband/​
  ​Instagram.com/sandness_official

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