Search Results: hard-rock

• LOUD AS HELL OPEN AIR FESTIVAL Opens Band Submissions For 2026 Line Up - Camping & Extreme Music In Alberta's Badlands

  Sep 30, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  

  Set against the rugged backdrop of Alberta’s badlands, where sculpted sandstone, wind-carved hoodoos, and sweeping canyons dominate the landscape, Canada’s most decibel-breaking extreme music gathering, the Loud As Hell Open Air Festival, returns for its 14th edition in 2026. From July 31st to August 2nd, Drumheller’s Dinosaurs Down Stampede will erupt with the ferocity of rising Canadian and international metal acts, roaring through the heart of the nation’s largest dinosaur fossil beds.

  Band submissions for the 2026 edition officially open on October 1st and will be accepted until October 31st. This is your band's chance to join one of the loudest and most brutal festivals in Canada, where underground talent meets prehistoric fury.

  Bands interested in performing can apply at the following link: https://loudashell.ca/​

  Early Bird tickets go on sale December 1st, 2026. Don’t miss your chance to lock in the loudest weekend of the summer at a killer price. Get ready for prehistoric heaviness and decibel-shattering performances in one of Canada’s most surreal landscapes. Loud As Hell is coming… and it’s going to be louder than ever.

  The 2025 edition of Loud As Hell delivered three relentless days of headbanging, moshing, and pure metal chaos, featuring over 40 bands from Canada, the U.S., and Mexico. Acts like Revocation, Insurrection, First Fragment, Gorgatron, Filth, Opal in Sky, Judicator, Beguiler, Gore Pig, Spit On Your Grave, Hazzerd, Cyborg Octopus, and Thirteen Goats tore through the badlands with crushing performances. The festival even hosted a heavy metal wedding, adding a unique twist to the weekend’s sonic carnage.

  LAH 2025 Lineup Spotify Playlist – https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3cu3CgEX8n2g2MQbADNJmg

  ​

  Since launching in 2012, Loud As Hell Open Air Festival has cemented its place as a cornerstone of Canada’s extreme music scene, showcasing hundreds of bands from across the country and around the world, save for a brief pause in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over the years, the festival has hosted heavyweights like Beyond Creation, Striker, Green Jelly, The Convalescence, Jungle Rot, Narcotic Wasteland, Into Eternity, Goatwhore, Fit for An Autopsy, Archspire, Unleash The Archers, Protest the Hero, AngelMaker, and many more, drawing metalheads from coast to coast for a weekend of sonic devastation.

  In 2026, Loud As Hell returns for its 14th edition, presented by Loud As Hell Productions, Jurassic Ink Custom Tattoo, Prairie Fire Events, and Asher Media Relations. Renowned for delivering one of the most punishing lineups in Western Canada, the festival promises another unforgettable experience packed with crushing performances, freak shows, burlesque acts, clinics, vendors, and yes, dinosaurs. Loud As Hell isn’t just a festival. It’s a full-throttle celebration of metal mayhem.

  More info:
  ​LoudAsHell.ca​
  ​Facebook.com/LoudAsHellFestival​
  X: @LoudAsHellFest
  Instagram: @LoudAsHellFestival
  ​Social Media Hashtags #LAHXIV, #LAHOA, #LAHOA2026

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• Dark Tales of Redemption Await with IN VIRTUE's Music Video “Gunslingers of the New American Desert" From Upcoming Album "Age of Legends" Out Nov 2025

  Sep 19, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  L-R Bruno Valverde (drums), Jamie Hush (bass), Trey Xavier (guitar/vocals), Alex Nasla (keys), Rami Khalaf (guitar)

  Phot Credit: Felix Martin

  In Virtue, the Los Angeles genre-defying metal band known for emotionally raw storytelling and cinematic soundscapes, is proud to announce the release of their third studio album, "Age of Legends," arriving November 21st, 2025. Alongside the announcement, the band unveils their first single, “Gunslingers of the New American Desert,” accompanied by a gripping music video that sets the tone for the album’s dark, redemptive journey.

  “Gunslingers is by far the heaviest song in the In Virtue catalog. It really sets the mood for a dark and harrowing tale. It brings you along for the ride as the antihero of the story returns from his self-imposed damnation to the real world and starts breaking bad after seeing a world of opportunity open up. He once again sets aside his humanity to pursue power through violence and corruption in a lawless land. In the end, he comes face to face with the consequences of his lack of empathy, and finally truly comes to grips with how he’s trading his soul for something empty,” adds guitarist and vocalist Trey Xavier.

  Watch and listen to the music video for “Gunslingers of the New American Desert” via its premiere on Metal Injection HERE.

  Add To Your Spotify Playlist - https://orcd.co/invirtuegunslingers​

  Fronted by YouTuber and Gear Gods founder Trey Xavier (also featured on viral hit “Dread Machine”), In Virtue blends power, progressive, and melodic death metal. The third full-length took six years to complete after their producer ghosted the band with just 10% left to finish, forcing Xavier to finish vocals in his home studio. The final product is a full-bodied concept album, "Age of Legends", which follows a flawed protagonist inspired by the myth of Sisyphus. Through a narrative of self-forgiveness and existential reckoning, the 14-track album invites listeners to reflect on their own inner battles.

  "I think fans will be pleasantly surprised, because although it builds on our past releases, it’s really the ultimate form of the same beast. The casual listener will be able to enjoy all of it without clocking the story, but anyone who wants to go deeper will be rewarded with the dark journey of a deeply flawed character on a quest to forgive himself by asking the big questions, making mistakes, and doing the hard work. It’s an emotional deep dive, a rollercoaster of textures and colors, but a cohesive trip that doesn’t just feel like a series of disconnected singles. A true concept album, the kind you should turn your phone off and light a candle to listen to on your bed with headphones from start to finish. A relatable protagonist who seeks what we all seek, to love himself in spite of himself and his flaws, to know himself deeply, and to win his battle against crushing self-doubt," adds Trey Xavier - In Virtue.

  The album's artwork was created by former Dark Tranquillity guitarist Niklas Sundin and depicts Sisyphus breaking free from his eternal punishment, a visual metaphor for the record’s central theme of liberation and self-redemption.

  Recommended for fans of Soilwork, Amaranthe, Shinedown, Symphony X, and Bad Wolves, In Virtue's "Age of Legends" is available for pre-order / pre-save at https://orcd.co/agofle​
  ​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Ascent Glorious (00:36)
  2. Sisyphus Awakening (4:55)
  3. Karma Loop (ft. Charlotte Wessels) (3:35)
  4. Push That Rock (2:46)
  5. Purgatory (4:39)
  6. Exposed (3:27)
  7. Scream (3:40)
  8. Where The Edges Meet (3:16)
  9. Gunslingers of the New American Desert (4:42)
  10. Desolation Throne (3:03)
  11. Thoughts in Freefall (ft. Dave Davidson of Revocation) (4:10)
  12. The River (2:24)
  13. Tempus Fugue (ft. Chaney Crabb of Entheos) (8:05)
  14. Descent Limitless (1:22)
  Album Length: 50:40

  More info: Facebook.com/invirtue | Instagram.com//invirtue

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• Ethan Henry (Freya, The Last Season) Reveals First Single "A New Way To Die" From One-Man Solo Band ASHES OF THE SUN's Debut Album "Gods With Machines"

  Jun 17, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Drummer and filmmaker Ethan D. Henry is proud to announce his first solo effort, ASHES OF THE SUN, and its debut album "Gods With Machines" due out August 1st, 2025, via his label Ignorant Tourist Productions.

  Henry is best known as the drummer of hardcore titans FREYA (2004 - 2008, 2017-present), featuring EARTH CRISIS members Ian Edwards, Eric Edwards, and Karl Buechner, along with co-writing and performing on the THE LAST SEASON 2003 album "Called It Civilization".

  Henry has worn many hats over the years in his bands. Whether he needed to play bass, guitar, or drums, he was always up for the challenge.

  “I was always a bass player with guitar second in my comfort zone. I could always sing, but I wasn't like great at it. I don't know when it happened, like when I became good enough to play any instrument, if we needed a drummer or guitar player, I was like…Okay, I’ll give it a shot. Then one day I was a drummer, I guess? I think I have impostor syndrome. ha”

  Over the years, Henry had compiled a huge catalog of songs he had written. Unsure what to do with them, He sat in his studio and started to record them. Not sure what would become of them. He had his friend Jason “Jocko” Randle at CAPTURE STUDIO (Syracuse, N.Y.) to take a listen and put his mixing and mastering touch on it. After those sessions, Ethan decided his eclectic song list was cohesive enough to make an album. Thus, ASHES OF THE SUN was born.

  "After recording about a dozen songs, I developed solos and vocals for them. I felt the way I played the solos and sang would help bring the songs together and could make the collection work as a full-length album. I'm very happy with the way GODS WITH MACHINES came out. It's simply the way I play and write, and shows some of my influences in the metal/rock/grunge/alternative scene and how they blend together. The vision for this album was to have a flow like some of my playlists, and I imagine most people's playlists. I hope that fans will enjoy the mellow acoustic/ballad intros that transition into hard rock/ metal flows. I wanted these songs to reach rock fans and metal fans alike. I've been in metal bands for a long time and love the brutality Karl and Dan brought to Freya and The Last Season, but I wanted to reach a broader audience. So I chose to tone the heavy vocals back and sing the album. I think ultimately, whether it's my metal, rock, or grunge influences coming through in these songs, it sounds like the era of music I grew up listening to. late 90s, early 2000s. I like that about this record," adds Henry.

  The nine tracks on "Gods With Machines" were written, performed (drums, guitar, bass, vocals), and produced, along with the album artwork, all by Ethan D. Henry. Overall, the album is ultimately about having faith in God and constantly questioning it. It expresses feelings of being misled by those you admire and trust. It's about being yourself and finding your spiritual path and God.

  "On this particular album, my lyrics are about an alien race that lands on a planet after destroying their world. Realizing the people are looking to the sky for heaven, they pretend they are gods and take advantage of the natives, steal their resources, and live in their paradise. Eventually, the people rebel against the gods after years of abuse and lies. They overthrow the gods and realize they aren't what they claim to be," says Henry.

  Bringing fans back to the era where metal and hard rock ruled the scene, and Headbangers Ball was kicking, Ashes of the Sun reveals the first single "A New Way to Die". Henry explains the track:

  "The chosen one is lost and giving up. He has lost his faith and doesn't have the drive to carry on when he hallucinates a child taunting him. He cannot catch the child and continues to follow deeper into the wild. Eventually, he concludes this is the end and there is no hope. No one will find him. No one will save him. There is no heaven. We live in hell. What's the point of going on? It's time to throw in the towel."

  Listen to "A New Way to Die" via its premiere on New Noise Magazine HERE.

  Digital single pre-save - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/ashesofthesun/a-new-way-to-die-single​

  "Gods With Machines" - Album pre-order (out August 1, 2025) - https://ignoranttouristproductions.com/​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Sophisticated Clowns - 5:49
  2. Save The World - 4:17
  3. Forced To Kill - 5:51
  4. The Elephant - 4:34
  5. A New Way To Die - 4:26
  6. Gods With Machines - 5:15
  7. The Lost Ones - 4:07
  8. Here To Stay - 6:11
  9. They Bleed Just Like You 4:31
  Album Length: 45:05

  More info: https://ignoranttouristproductions.com/ | https://www.instagram.com/ethanhenry43/ | https://www.instagram.com/ignorant_tourist_productions_/

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• DOLL Returns From The Dead with Single Cover “Smoke on The Water” and New EP “Better Days, Different Times” Out July 2025

  Jun 11, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  After a lengthy hiatus, Canadian alternative rock band Doll announces their return with “Better Days, Different Times”, a new EP set for release on July 18th, 2025. The announcement comes alongside the premiere of their first single, a unique take on Deep Purple's “Smoke on the Water”, marking the band's first new material in over a decade. They comment on the single:

  “After seeing all the fires and the destruction that happened in 2024, there was this need to bring forward our version of the song. We updated the lyrics to match how the disasters have made us feel, and musically, we have always wanted to try a more doom-inspired vibe, and this song let us express ourselves in a raw and emotional way.”

  The Ottawa-based quartet, known for their gritty, unfiltered indie sound, last released “The Ragdoll Diaries” in 2011, following their 2009 debut “Inside The Dollhouse”. Their return represents a significant evolution in both sound and approach, incorporating new collaborators and instruments while maintaining the raw, honest edge that has defined Doll since their inception.

  The new material showcases a more mature sound while retaining the band's signature intensity. Core songwriting duo Christina and Pete have expanded their creative process, bringing in local Ottawa musicians and even a cellist to add depth and new textures to their established sound. Doll is recommended for fans of Nobro, SoftCult, Amyl and the Sniffers, and The Pretty Reckless.

  Watch and listen to the music video for Doll's cover of Deep Purple's “Smoke on the Water” below.

  ​

  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/3FPB3oZ​

  EP-pre-order (out July 18th) - https://doll.bandcamp.com/​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Bleeding - 4:32
  2. Shark Bait - 3:07
  3. Smoke on the Water - 4:26
  4. Scene Dream - 4:28
  5. Ends Like This - 3:24
  6. Goodbye - 3:27
  Album Length: 23:29

  More info: https://www.facebook.com/dollband

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• FAMOUS STRANGERS' New Single "L.S.C." Digs Deep Into Power, Obsession, and Emotional Survival + Festival Dates - Decimate Metal Fest, Armstrong MetalFest, Loud As Hell Open Air

  Jun 3, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  L-R - Jeff Kittlitz (Guitar, Vocals) | Braden Sustrik (Bass) | Brian “Beej” Jolly (Drums) | Amanda Keirnan (Lead Vocals, Lyrics)

  Edmonton, Canada's Famous Strangers, is proud to unveil their fourth single entitled "L.S.C." as they gear up for perfmances at this year's festival appearances at Decimate Metalfest (Millet, AB - June 13-14), Armstrong Metal Fest (Armstrong, BC - July 11-12) and Loud As Hell Open Air (Drumheller, AB - Aug 1-3) along with upcoming tour dates to be announced.

  "L.S.C.." is meant to take you on a ride. It starts soft, like it is letting you in slowly, and then it flips the switch. The heaviness hits out of nowhere. It grabs you, shakes you, and then drags you through the rest of the track without letting go. It eases you in, then completely takes over, and by the time it is done, it feels like it has drained the life out of you in the best way.

  "LSC is one of the most intense and personal songs we’ve released. It digs deep into power, obsession, and emotional survival, all wrapped in a sound that’s meant to hit you hard and stay with you. It is heavy, emotional, and completely unhinged in the best way. Come get some," adds guitarist Jeff Kittilitz.

  Famous Strangers wants fans' listening experience to be unpredictable, emotional, and honest. This single, and everything they have been working on, doesn’t stick to one lane. They jump from the heaviest riffs they can come up with to slow, bluesy, chilled-out moments. It’s all over the place, and they know not everyone is going to be into that…and that’s okay.

  What they hope is that it opens people up a little, even if it’s not what they usually listen to. There’s so much music out there that people miss out on because they’re stuck in one genre or one mindset. Famous Strangers are trying to break through that and just write what feels real, no matter what it sounds like. They are about being fearless in their songwriting. Put everything on the table, be yourself, and don’t hold back. That’s the energy they’re trying to give people when they press play.

  Famous Strangers has had a healthy and steady evolution. Since their earlier singles in 2024, Famous Strangers have started to lock in with each other creatively and naturally found a sound that they can all stand behind. It flows and feels more cohesive, and everyone in the band feeds off each other in a way that keeps pushing the songs to a new level.

  Listen to "L.S.C." at the following links:

  ​Spotify - https://spoti.fi/4kNbe7F

  [embed]https://open.spotify.com/album/39G3IRfkkPcQDYSPnFAUPh?si=ZFoBN8nnQUSt9JencN7NSg[/embed]

  Previous Singles:

  Music Video - I'll See You In The Stars" - https://youtu.be/OtdfaMp4Hec​

  George - https://youtu.be/fz85ChqELO4​

  Deepstar - https://youtu.be/00jujvck9sM​

  More info:

  ​Famousstrangersband.com

  ​Facebook.com/profile.php?id=61559110131774

  ​Instagram.com/famousstrangersband

  ​Tiktok.com/@famousstrangersband

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