Search Results: exsr

• AITTALA Unveils Second EP of 2025 "Ill-Gotten Gains" + Welcome New Bassist Dane Taylor

  Nov 21, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Metal visionaries AITTALA (pronounced EYE-tah-la) are returning with their second EP of 2025 via Exitus Stratagem Records, "Ill-Gotten Gains," along with introducing their newest member, bassist Dane Taylor, marking a bold new chapter in the band’s evolution.

  True to their reputation for defying genre boundaries, AITTALA weave together threads of traditional heavy metal, doom, groove, and progressive elements to create a cohesive yet unpredictable sonic journey. Lyrically, "Ill-Gotten Gains" explores the darker corners of human ambition, chaos created for personal gain, the inevitable consequences, and the fragile hope of redemption.

  The EP opens with “Isolation,” a doomy, heavy piece that confronts the fallout of past decisions, setting a dark and reflective tone. The title track, “Ill-Gotten Gains,” follows with a riff-driven intensity that shifts into a crushing interlude, lyrically exploring the exploitation of chaos for personal benefit. “Blacklisted” brings groove and sludge to the forefront, exposing manipulators and serving as a counterpoint to the themes of the earlier songs. The mood softens with “Ever After,” a modern metal ballad that wrestles with internal conflict and the elusive promise of redemption. Closing the EP, “Ashes” channels classic heavy metal energy, telling the story of someone in over their head, dragging others down in their descent.
  ​
  The EP’s artwork resurrects AITTALA’s infamous mascot Frank, a cartoon pig head in a pentagram, first conceived in 2014 for the album "Effigy". This updated interpretation of Frank embodies the record’s central theme: the shady figure who thrives in chaos, ready to deliver “ill-gotten gains” for the right price. It’s a fitting visual for a release steeped in stories of exploitation, downfall, and the elusive search for redemption.
  ​
  With the addition of bassist Dane Taylor, AITTALA’s lineup now features founding member Eric Aittala (guitars/vocals) and drummer Gary “Zeus” Smith (THE FIFTH, ex-MR BLACKWELL). Taylor’s arrival injects fresh energy into the band’s dynamic, reinforcing their commitment to pushing boundaries while staying true to their unique sound.

  Formed in 1991 in the Netherlands, AITTALA quickly became a fixture of the Dutch metal scene, sharing stages with The Gathering and Sadist before disbanding in 1993. Resurrected in 2008, the band has since released six full-length albums and multiple EPs, each showcasing growth while retaining their distinctive voice. With "Ill-Gotten Gains," AITTALA continues their journey of evolution, proving once again that their sound is impossible to confine to a single genre.

  EP pre-save (out Nov 21) via Exitus Stratagem Records - https://hypeddit.com/aittala/illgottengains​​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Isolation - 4:22
  2. Ill Gotten Gains - 4:20
  3. Black Listed - 3:35
  4. Ever After - 4:29
  5. Ashes - 3:50
  EP Length: 20:37

  For more info: Exsrmusic.com | Aittala.com | Facebook.com/aittalamusic | Instagram.com/aittalamusic

  Read more

• MATT MILLER Unleashes Sci-Fi Infused Tech-Death Odyssey W/ Seventh Studio Album “Fiber Tormentum”

  Sep 11, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  ​Technical death metal virtuoso Matt Miller will be officially releasing his seventh studio album, "Fiber Tormentum," via Exitus Stratagem Records on September 12th, 2025. Born from the isolation of the 2020 pandemic, Miller’s solo project grew into a collaborative force after touring with Rings of Saturn and supporting Possessed across Europe. Miller assembled a powerhouse lineup of genre-spanning musicians featuring Jordan Kelso (drums/synth), Justice Robinett (bass), and Biko Wright (vocals). The result is "Fiber Tormentum", a concept-driven album that fuses crushing technicality with soaring clean vocals to whisk you away on a genre-defying journey and musical evolution.

  Lyrically, the album imagines a world where alien forces manipulate human DNA to enslave the planet. Each track tells a chapter of this dystopian saga. “Descent into Violence” opens with raw desperation and emotive intensity. “Summoned” details the invaders’ plans, its music mimicking alien algorithms. “Effectively Neutralized” enacts the invasion with unpredictable twists, while “Blight and Disfigurement” marches through environmental collapse. “Maimed Paralyzed Dead” evokes horror-movie dread, and “Horror Beyond Comprehension” captures humanity’s plea for mercy in overwhelming sonic waves. The instrumental title track, “Fiber Tormentum,” serves as a musical snapshot of the entire album, and “Abiotic Origin” closes with a powerful realization: humanity invited its own destruction, but hope lingers.

  “This album is the most ambitious project I’ve ever worked on. We pushed ourselves to our limits, never settled, and created something that’s both technically brutal and emotionally resonant. It’s a glimpse into our lives, our evolution, and our vision for what metal can be,” says Miller.
  ​
  The album artwork, created by the late Joshua Nassaru Ward (Voraath), reflects the album’s core theme: a tormented face mid-transformation, symbolizing the manipulation of human DNA. The title "Fiber Tormentum" is inspired by Roman history, the sound of a ballista’s ropes tightening before release, a metaphor for the tension and release found throughout the album.

  Recommended for fans of Necrophagist, Symphony X, Wintersun, The Faceless, and Death, "Fiber Momentum" can be heard in full via album stream premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.​
  ​
  ​"Fiber Tormentum" will be available on all major platforms through Exitus Stratagem Records.

  Digital Pre-Save (Out Sept 12th) - https://hypeddit.com/mattmiller/fibertormentum​

  CD pre-order (Out Sept 12th) https://www.exsrmusic.com/store/p/wnn3m10s6beq0pbmnot0e17ghvj629​

  ​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Descent into Violence (5:04)
  2. Summoned (3:33)
  3. Effectively Neutralized (4:53)
  4. Blight and Disfigurement (3:23)
  5. Maimed Paralyzed Dead (3:12)
  6. Horror Beyond Comprehension (3:15)
  7. Fiber Tormentum (Instrumental) (3:31)
  8. Abiotic Origin (3:14)
  Album Length: 30:08

  Album Lineup:​
  Matt Miller (Guitars, Synth)
  Jordan Kelso (Drums, Synth)
  Justice Robinett (Bass)
  Biko Wright (Vocals)

  For more info:

  ​Exsrmusic.com | Shreded1.com | Facebook.com/matt.miller.96995238 | Instagram.com/mattmiller630

  Read more

• THIRTEEN GOATS' New Music Video Invites Fans To Their "Animal Kingdom" Ahead of Festival Blitz at Loud As Hell, Mosh Rock, Party in the Park

  Jul 30, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

   

  Set to kick off their festival blitz with their first performance on August 3rd at Loud As Hell Open Air in Drumheller, AB alongside Revocation, Insurrection, Gorepig, Cyborg Octopus, Squidhammer, Beguiler, and lots more, Vancouver’s genre-bending metal juggernaut Thirteen Goats is welcoming fans to enter their "Animal Kingdom" with their latest music video featuring guest vocals from Carly Ellen Jones.

  The closing track from the band's latest album, "Capricorn Rising" (released in July 2024 via Exitus Stratagem Records), "Animal Kingdom" is the biggest musical risk that the band has taken yet. It starts out with an unsettling pattern of clean, arpeggiated chords, before a wall of cascading guitar melodies and haunting clean vocals crash in for the verses.

  From there, ominous grooves and wailing leads build up to a cathartic duet between Jones and lead singer Graham K. Miles, which shifts into a ferociously heavy climax and an angular final riff that terminates in a single bass note reminiscent of an atomic bomb going off. Not only is it a fitting conclusion to the record, but it’s a sign of how the band’s sound will likely continue to evolve on future releases.

  The music video shows the band members performing a summoning ritual that ends with them falling under the spell of the demon they conjured (played by Jones). 

  “It's classic be-careful-what-you-wish-for stuff,” says Miles. “In that sense, it’s thematically true to the subject matter of the song, which is a warning about the seductive appeal of extremist movements and the consequences of becoming radicalized.”

  Miles, who also directed the video, said he was heavily inspired by the works of filmmaker David Lynch, who passed away in early 2025. “His art was fantastical and surreal,” Miles says, “but it was always about real and contemporary issues under the surface. We’re aiming in the same direction with this video and this record.”

  Watch and listen to "Animal Kingdom" (feat. Carly Ellen Jones) via its premiere on Bravewords HERE. ​

  In addition to performing this week at Loud As Hell Open Air, Thirteen Goats will also be in Sooke, BC on August 10th at MOSH THE ROCK ​and Fort McMurray, AB on Sept 13th for the 3rd edition of Party in the Park.

  Show Dates:​
  Aug 3 - Loud As Hell Open Air – Drumheller, AB - https://loudashell.ca/​
  Aug 10 - MOSH THE ROCK – Sooke, BC - https://www.facebook.com/events/1932051257598357​
  Sept 13 - Party in the Park 3 – Fort McMurray, AB - https://lnk.bio/partyintheparkfestYMM​
  ​
  In additional news, Thirteen Goats have also been nominated by the Western Canadian Music Awards (https://breakoutwest.ca/awards) for Metal & Hard Music Artist of the Year alongside Anciients, Torrefy, Art of Attrition, and Holy Void.

  Known for their punishing live shows, razor-sharp riffs, and tongue-in-cheek lyrical savagery, Thirteen Goats have carved out a unique niche by fusing numerous metal subgenres and delivering the results with a theatrical twist. The quartet unleashed their sophomore LP "Capricorn Rising" in July 2024 via Exitus Stratagem Records. The concept album tells the story of their mascot, Shepherd: a goat-skull-wearing Antichrist who raises an army of animals to liberate the earth from humanity’s constant wars and greed.

  Each song on the record is part of a broader narrative that explores themes of disillusionment, radicalization, and rebellion as Shepherd and his 12 demon goats wage their crusade. This storytelling approach takes listeners on a journey through the darkest aspects of both human and animal nature across nine tracks that combine elements of death metal, thrash, and groove.

  Listeners should expect furious riffage, ambitious song structures, and even occasional female guest vocals (courtesy of guest artist Carly Ellen Jones). What they shouldn’t expect is a record that plays it safe or falls neatly into one specific subgenre. Thirteen Goats is recommended for fans of Lamb of God, Carcass, and Mastodon.

  Released on July 12, 2024, “Capricorn Rising” is available from Exitus Stratagem Records at https://www.exsrmusic.com/store/p/pre-sale-thirteen-goats-capricorn-rising​

  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/1CtYBA9YJZoykWkMwdP1wO​

  More info: Exsrmusic.com | ThirteenGoats.com

  Read more

• JAWFANE's Debut EP “Me And All My Demons” Is A Testament To DIY Spirit And Emotional Honesty

  Jun 26, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  After years of dedication to their craft, USA’s metalcore outfit Jawfane has officially released their debut EP “Me and All My Demons” via Exitus Stratagem Records. The six-track collection represents the culmination of the band's journey from DIY beginnings to a refined musical force that defies easy categorization. The band shares their excitement for the release:

  “We are absolutely beyond words for how excited we are to bring our first collection of songs into the world with and through Exitus Stratagem Records. It has been an absolute privilege working with Gordon, Jason, and the team to bring “Me And All My Demons” to life. This record is a personal journey for Jawfane. Sonically, we brought the hammer, lyrically we brought a bigger hammer, and we intend to beat out a place in the world for us and our brand of Metal-core.”

  “Me and All My Demons” is a deeply personal record, drawing from the lived experiences of each band member. They anticipate that it will be received with an open mind to metal and what it can be when you are angry, but also determined to find the beautiful things in this life.

  The EP showcases Jawfane's unique collaborative process, where traditional roles are often subverted: guitarists writing bass parts, bassists writing guitar parts, instrumental sections evolving into vocal melodies. This fluid approach to composition results in music that feels both technically impressive and emotionally authentic.

  Though the band acknowledges their sound has elements of post-hardcore, metal-core, and even mathcore, they prefer to let the music speak for itself, promising that they will continue to evolve and change as they grow and no matter what genre they end up in, they’d like to think it will always sound like them.

  “Me and All My Demons” aims to create a genuine connection with listeners. It is recommended for fans of King 810, Wage War, and The Ghost Inside.

  Listen to the EP on all digital platforms - https://hypeddit.com/jawfane/meandallmydemons​

  ​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Damaged Goods - 3:48
  2. Cataclysm (Nightmare) - 2:42
  3. Me and All My Demons - 3:46
  4. Friends and Enemies - 3:20
  5. Time Hunts Us All - 4:01
  EP Length: 17:39

  More info:

  ​Exsrmusic.com | Facebook.com/ExSRecords | Instagram.com/exsrmusic | X.com/exsrmusic​

  ​Facebook.com/Jawfane | Instagram.com/jawfane

  Read more

• MATT MILLER Unleashes "Descent into Violence" - A Raw Prelude to His Seventh Album "Fiber Tormentum"

  Jun 25, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Matt Miller, the acclaimed technical death metal virtuoso, has released his first single, "Descent into Violence. " The song offers a powerful glimpse into the sonic landscape of his seventh album, "Fiber Tormentum," which will be released on September 12, 2025, via Exitus Stratagem Records.

  Driven by explosive instrumentation and guttural passion, “Descent into Violence” is more than just a song—it’s a visceral experience. Lyrically, the track explores themes of desperation and survival, painting the picture of a soul teetering on the edge and fighting to stay alive in a world stacked against them. It's a cry from the depths, echoing the struggles many face but few can articulate.

  This single marks a significant evolution in Miller's musical journey, transitioning from his previous instrumental works to a full-band composition. Joining him on this project are Jordan Kelso (Drums, Synth), Justice Robinett (Bass), and Biko Wright (Vocals), each bringing unique elements that enrich the album's dynamic sound.

  Miller reflects, "It’s got a lot to offer for the instrumental fans as well as new fans who want to hear the music with vocals and the unique things each of these musicians is bringing to the table." ​
  ​
  Lyrically, "Fiber Tormentum" unfolds as a conceptual narrative, drawing inspiration from science fiction themes. The album envisions a scenario where extraterrestrial forces manipulate human DNA to subjugate humanity, blending speculative fiction with real-world anxieties. The album's artwork, created by the late Joshua Nassaru Ward of Voraath, adds a poignant visual dimension to the project's thematic depth..
  ​
  Fans can anticipate a blend of technical precision and emotive storytelling, influenced by death metal pioneers like Necrophagist and Spawn of Possession and the atmospheric depth of artists such as Devin Townsend and Rivers of Nihil.
  ​
  Providing a compelling introduction to the forthcoming album's intricate soundscapes and thematic explorations, listen to "Descent into Violence" via its premiere on Bravewords HERE.

  Track Listing:​
  1. Descent into Violence (5:04)
  2. Summoned (3:33)
  3. Effectively Neutralized (4:53)
  4. Blight and Disfigurement (3:23)
  5. Maimed Paralyzed Dead (3:12)
  6. Horror Beyond Comprehension (3:15)
  7. Fiber Tormentum (Instrumental) (3:31)
  8. Abiotic Origin (3:14)
  Album Length: 30:08

  For more info:​
  ​Shreded1.com | Facebook.com/matt.miller.96995238 | Instagram.com/mattmiller630

  ​Exsrmusic.com | Facebook.com/ExSRecords | Instagram.com/exsrmusic | X.com/exsrmusic

  Read more