Search Results: metalcore

• Brass Metal FALLSTAF Returns w/ New Album "Ode To The Dead"

  Nov 13, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  After nearly ten years away from the spotlight, Montreal’s groundbreaking brass-metal band Fallstaf makes a powerful return with their highly anticipated second album, "Ode to The Dead." Produced by Kevin Jardine (Slaves on Dope), the full album will be available to stream ahead of its official release on November 14th, premiering exclusively on Hardcore Worldwide’s YouTube channel.

  Known for pioneering the genre of brass-infused experimental metal, Fallstaf first made waves in 2011 with their debut album, "Bastard Son of a Pure Breed," also produced by Jardine. Their signature sound, heavy riffs, progressive structures, and a masked trombonist in full suit and tie, earned them cult status in the Montreal metal scene.
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  But tragedy struck in 2016 when frontman IANN suffered a near-fatal accident, resulting in a coma, multiple injuries, and the loss of his leg. The band dissolved. Now, nearly ten years later, Fallstaf reunites with Jardine to deliver a powerful, deeply personal new record that channels pain, survival, and rebirth.

  
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  ​"Ode to The Dead" is a seven-track exploration of mortality, from personal tragedy and mental anguish to crime, conflict, and loss. Drawing from frontman IANN’s near-death experience and the band’s shared grief, the album is both a tribute and a release.

  It opens with “Sunless Friday,” a chilling retelling of IANN’s accident, where cold riffs and screaming trombone set the tone. The title track, “Ode to The Dead,” honors those we’ve lost, echoing the idea that “they walk among us.” “Battered Soul” dives into depression and suicide with sludge-heavy weight and a fading finale. “Kings of the West Side” recounts Montreal’s mafia history with gangland grit and resurrected riffs. “Under the Same Sky” reflects on global unrest and shared humanity, while “Bastard Son” tells a hitman’s legacy through galloping riffs and thrash choruses. The closer, “The Burden,” mourns the toll of cancer with crushing heaviness and a melodic, mournful release. Each track is a raw, brass-laced chapter in Fallstaf’s powerful return.

  “We didn’t make this album to impress anyone. We made it out of friendship. Music is therapeutic. Metal brings people together, and we missed that energy,” adds the band.

  The album artwork, featuring a layered skull photo taken by IANN, reflects the lyrical darkness without veering into the macabre. It’s a visual metaphor for the band’s rebirth: haunting, honest, and human.

  
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  Musically, the band has evolved, embracing groove metal, prog metal, metalcore, and hardcore influences while incorporating melodic choruses and complex arrangements. Fans of Pantera, Shining, Hatebreed, and Mighty Mighty Bosstones will find familiar fire in Fallstaf’s brass-laced fury.

  Stay tuned for upcoming live dates and new music. The resurrection has begun as Fallstaf’s live performances are legendary, and the band plans to return to the stage in 2026. Expect suits, ties, a masked brass player, and a frontman with a robotic leg, all delivering a high-energy spectacle that defies expectations.
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  ​“People think we’re a ska band until the first chord hits. Then they know we kick ass,” says the band.

  "Ode to the Dead" will be available on November 14th, 2025, on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and more. For collectors, grab the exclusive coffin-shaped USB drive packed with interactive content and bonus material.
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  ​Album pre-order - https://fallstaf1.bandcamp.com/album/ode-to-the-dead

  Add to your Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/artist/3yaTJY58SzbbDJ3RsnTlZU​​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Sunless Friday - 2:57
  2. Ode to the Dead - 3:27
  3. Battered Soul - 3:40
  4. Kings of the West Side - 3:31
  5. Under the Same Sky - 3:31
  6. Bastard Son - 3:45
  7. The Burden - 4:41
  Album length: 25:37

  More info: https://www.facebook.com/fallstafmontrealbrassmetal | https://www.instagram.com/fallstafmontreal/​

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• Czech Modern Metal Force STELLVRIS Unleash New EP "Shatter and Bloom" and Music Video

  Nov 6, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  NEWS RELEASE

  Montreal, QC - November 6, 2025

  Streaming Now! Czech Modern Metal Force STELLVRIS Unleash New EP "Shatter and Bloom" and Music Video

  L-R - Libor Hřebík (Bass), Andreas Polášek (Guitar), Nicol Hofman (Vocals), Hanz Polášek (Drums)

  Photo Credit - Julia Ramm

  Czech modern metal upstarts STELLVRIS are set to unleash their highly anticipated new EP, "Shatter and Bloom," on Friday, November 7th. Ahead of its official release, the band is premiering both the EP and a powerful new music video for the title track, a showcase of their signature blend of crushing heaviness, soaring melodies, and raw emotion, exclusively via Decibel Magazine HERE.
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  Formed in 2019 after an impromptu jam session led to their first live show at Prague’s iconic Music Club Modrá Vopice, STELLVRIS have quickly carved out a reputation for their powerful, emotional, heavy, melodic, and modern sound. With "Shatter and Bloom," the band takes another bold step forward, pushing their sonic boundaries while staying true to the intensity that has fueled their rise.

  
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  Produced by Christoph Wieczorek at Sawdust Recordings, the five-track EP delivers a dynamic fusion of crushing breakdowns, electronic textures, and irresistibly catchy choruses. Lyrically, it dives headfirst into themes of destruction, rebirth, toxic relationships, and the struggles of modern life, all expressed with raw honesty. The journey begins with the title track “Shatter and Bloom,” a defiant anthem about tearing down what no longer serves and allowing something stronger to rise. “Silence After Violence” follows as a stark warning against the growing tide of aggression in society, even among the youngest generations. With “Monster,” the band turns inward, confronting the scars of toxic relationships while celebrating the strength it takes to break free. “Time’s Up” offers a sharp critique of living life solely online, disconnected from reality and responsibility. Closing the record is “Starships,” a heavy, metal-charged reimagining of Nicki Minaj’s pop hit, ending the EP on an explosive note of energy and fun.
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  ​“Shatter and Bloom is more than just a collection of songs; it’s about destroying what’s toxic and giving space for something new to grow. Every track reflects real struggles we’ve faced or witnessed, from toxic relationships to the rising aggression in society. We want fans to feel seen, empowered, and connected through this music. It’s heavy, it’s honest, and it’s meant to hit both the heart and the pit,” adds the band.

  
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  With "Shatter and Bloom," STELLVRIS continue their evolution, delivering a record that is as cathartic as it is crushing, a testament to resilience, transformation, and the unbreakable spirit of modern metal.

  Recommended for fans of Jinjer, Spiritbox, Holy Wars, Infected Rain, and I Prevail, "Shatter and Bloom" will be available on all digital platforms, along with Vinyl.

  Bandcamp (Vinyl, Digital) - https://stellvris.bandcamp.com/album/shatter-bloom

  Digital (Spotify, Apple Music) - https://linktr.ee/stellvris.band

  Track Listing:​
  1. Shatter and Bloom - 3:18
  2. Silence After Violence - 3:14
  3. Monster - 4:16
  4. Time’s Up - 3:32
  5. Starships (Nicki Minaj Cover)
  EP Length: 18:27
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  ​EP Credits:
  ​• All songs performed by: STELLVRIS
  • All songs written by: STELLVRIS
  • Produced by: Christoph Wieczorek of Sawdust Recordings
  • Mixed by: Christoph Wieczorek of Sawdust Recordings
  • Mastered by: Christoph Wieczorek of Sawdust Recordings
  • EP Artwork by: František Jelen
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  ​Band Line Up:
  ​Nicol Hofman (vocalist)
  Libor Hřebík (bassist)
  Andreas Polášek (guitarist)
  Hanz Polášek (drummer)

  More info: https://linktr.ee/stellvris.band

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• JULIET RUIN Unleashes A Fierce Fusion of Vulnerability and Power w/ New EP "Regime" + Alberta Tour Dates

  Oct 24, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  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.
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  ​“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.

  
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  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.

  
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  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.
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  ​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
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  ​"Regime" is available on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp, and all major platforms.

  Bandcamp - https://julietruin.bandcamp.com/

  Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/0LzQEj2OzZFCGRQnXBlY7q

  More info:

  https://www.facebook.com/julietruinband

  https://www.instagram.com/julietruin

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• ​WACKEN METAL BATTLE CANADA Opens Band Submissions For 2026 - One Band To Rule Them All! and Play Wacken Open Air!

  Oct 23, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  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.

  Canadian bands interested in participating can apply at https://www.metal-battle.com/countries/ (please select Canada as your country)

  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.

  List of previous WMBC national winners: Killotine (Hamilton, ON - 2025), Beguiler (Toronto, ON – 2024), Strigampire (Trois-Rivières, QC – 2023), The Slyde (Toronto, ON – 2019), Centuries of Decay (Toronto, ON – 2018), Profaner (Hamilton, ON – 2016), Vesperia (Toronto, ON – 2015), Mutank (Montreal, QC – 2014), Crimson Shadows (Toronto, ON – 2013).

  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.
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  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.
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  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.

  Rules for participation: https://www.metal-battle.com/rules/

  Links:​
  ​Metal-Battle.com​​
  ​Facebook.com/WMBCanada.official​
  ​X.com/MetalBattleCan​
  ​Instagram.com/wmbcanada.official

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• BROCARDE Unleashes Her Inner Puppet Master in Haunting New Video "Pandora's Box"

  Oct 22, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Brocarde, the gothic siren of rock and paranormal provocateur, returns with her latest single and music video, “Pandora’s Box,” the follow-up to her acclaimed collaboration “Feed My Soul” with Korn’s Ray Luzier.

  “Pandora’s Box” is a sonic rebellion, a fight song laced with sarcasm, theatrical grit, and raw emotion. The music video plunges viewers into a surreal puppet show of identity and control, where Brocarde plays both marionette and master. Brocarde explains further.

  “At its core, Pandora's Box is about being misunderstood. So often, I feel misrepresented, and this song channels that frustration into something fierce and empowering. In the video, the Puppet Master is everyone and no one. It’s that figurehead of control, whoever. I’m literally playing into its hands and becoming my own self-fulfilling prophecy.”

  With haunting doll-like imagery and a twisted fairytale aesthetic, “Pandora’s Box” continues Brocarde’s exploration of identity, perception, and the silent terror beneath surface perfection.

  “There’s something powerful about the image of a doll, picture-perfect on the surface, but hauntingly silent underneath. And let’s face it, most dolls are terrifying!” adds Brocarde.

  This release offers a glimpse into Brocarde’s long-awaited debut album, set to drop in 2026, a decade in the making. Known for her ghostly vocals and theatrical storytelling, Brocarde has carved a niche as rock’s most fearless medium. From marrying (and exorcising) a Victorian ghost named Edwardo to conducting seances at Download Festival and Wacken Open Air, her life is as spellbinding as her music.

  Brocarde’s rise has been anything but conventional. Hailed by Planet Rock Magazine as “One to Watch,” and praised by Whitesnake’s David Coverdale as “electrifying,” she’s earned a reputation for blending horror, fashion, and rock into a genre-defying spectacle. Her previous singles have featured collaborations with industry legends and earned airplay across Kerrang!, BBC Introducing, and Planet Rock.

  As she prepares to unveil her debut album, Brocarde continues to challenge norms and conjure her truth through music, magic, and mayhem. “Pandora’s Box” is not just a song; it’s a spell, a scream, and a mirror held up to the chaos of perception.

  Add to your Spotify Playlist - https://open.spotify.com/track/6vlP4vTbyH1MBlwI7ZIUkb

  pand

  More info:

  https://brocarde.com/

  http://instagram.com/brocarde/

  https://www.facebook.com/brocarde/

  http://youtube.com/@thebrocardeshow

  https://x.com/thebrocardeshow

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