Search Results: music

• NYC's CHAKA Unleashes Ferocious Music Video “It’s Not Human” Ahead of First Full-Length Album "Amplifying the Past"

  Jul 9, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  NYC heavy trio CHAKA has dropped their thunderous new single “It’s Not Human”, a primal assault of groove and aggression that marks the first release from their upcoming debut full-length album, "Amplifying the Past", due out later this year.

  Formed as a studio project and now evolved into a live sonic force, CHAKA has deep roots in Queens' metal and hardcore scene. Founding bassist and vocalist Mark Sokoll, a veteran of bands like Darkside NYC and Terminal Confusion, is joined by longtime friends Mike C. (ex-White Trash) on drums and Frank P. (Lost Cause) on guitar. The band also collaborates remotely with Ireland-based guitarist Ty Canon, a childhood friend whose riffs continue to shape their recordings.

  Lyrically, “It’s Not Human” presents a sonic excavation. The song delves into the real-life discovery of a Neanderthal tooth, a pivotal moment in tracing the human genome.

  “It’s about evolution, science, and ancient ancestry,” says Sokoll. “We’ve always drawn inspiration from human origins, military history, and authors like Arthur C. Clarke and Carl Sagan.”

  Musically, the track is a relentless juggernaut—starting abruptly, rushing forward with thrash intensity, then shifting to a dreamy tone before returning to a pummeling close.

  The single’s artwork visually echoes this evolutionary theme, featuring crossed primitive weapons behind a grotesque DNA helix, flanked by dueling skulls—one ancient, one modern.

  Listen to “It’s Not Human” now on all major streaming platforms.

  Spotify - https://bit.ly/46AwqtL

  ​

  Set for release later this year, "Amplifying the Past" represents CHAKA's most dynamic and collaborative work to date.

  “This record expands on our earlier sound but lets the songs breathe more. We want listeners to feel like they’ve been on a cathartic, headbanging ride,” adds Sokoll.

  The band’s style is best described in five words: Primal. Loud. Heavy. Aggressive. Groovy. Drawing on influences like Black Sabbath, Carnivore, Motorhead, and Celtic Frost, CHAKA delivers raw, no-frills metal with a scientific twist.

  On stage, CHAKA amplifies their sound even further. Fans can expect not just volume, but presence.

  “We’re a loud trio—maybe even louder than four or five-piece bands. We’re all in our 50s, but we don’t hold back.”

  Despite geographical distance—band members live in New York, New Jersey, and Ireland—CHAKA thrives on modern file-sharing and old-school chemistry as the trio has known each other for over 40 years. That connection fuels their sound.

  More singles and videos will follow as the band finalizes the LP. CHAKA also promises future EPs and extended releases, all staying true to their mission: creating music that’s as thoughtful as it's heavy.

  More Info: Chakametalband.com | Facebook.com/NEANDERTHALTALES | Instagram.com/chakametalband | X.com/ChakaMetalBand

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• WOODHAWK Announces Cross-Canada Tour For New Album “Love Finds a Way” Out Now! + LOUD AS HELL OPEN AIR FEST w/ REVOCATION, FIRST FRAGMENT and more!

  Jul 9, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  After five years of anticipation, Calgary’s stoner groove rock trio Woodhawk announces they will be hitting the road this August through October for tour dates across Canada (dates listed below). The show dates are in support of their latest and third album, "Love Finds a Way," released on June 6th of this year via Grand Hand Records. Fans can expect a high-energy set packed with new material and favorites from their discography that will be delivered with the raw power and passion.

  Their most personal and powerful release to date, their new full-length album, "Love Finds a Way", marks a turning point for Woodhawk. Demonstrating their evolution from early stoner rock roots into something more emotionally complex while maintaining the infectious grooves and memorable hooks that have defined their sound.

  "Love Finds a Way" explores themes of darkness, healing, and hope, while still delivering the infectious hooks and thunderous riffs fans have come to expect. With contributions from longtime collaborator Jesse Gander on synth, the band expands their sonic palette without losing their edge. The trio of Turner Midzain (guitar/vocals), Mike Badmington (bass), and Kevin Nelson (drums) poured five years of growth, struggle, and creative evolution into this record.

  “We are over the moon to get this album out. Love Finds a Way is easily the hardest we have worked on an album to date. We poured our heart and soul into this one. It really is a journey of getting out of the darkness and into the light. Check in with your friends and loved ones. Hug the ones you love. Be nicer to each other. Love will always prevail and be stronger than anything else. After 10 years of being a band, I feel like we are still just getting started!” adds the band.

  After a decade together, Woodhawk is proving they’re just getting started. "Love Finds a Way" is more than an album; it’s a statement of resilience, connection, and the enduring power of rock.

  Recommended for fans of The Sword, Red Fang, and Thin Lizzy, the album is a dynamic journey from start to finish, balancing soft and heavy, slow and fast, light and dark.
  ​
  ​Album order (out June 6th): https://woodhawk.bandcamp.com​

  Spotify - https://bit.ly/44veRdv​

  ​

  In additional news, Woodhawk will be performing on day three of this year's LOUD AS HELL OPEN AIR FESTIVAL on August 3rd in Drumheller, AB alongside Revocation, Cyborg Octopus, Beguiler, Thirteen Goats, Famous Strangers, and more! Full details on LAH can be found at www.loudashell.ca.

  Show Dates: ​
  Aug 3 - Drumheller, AB - Loud As Hell Open Air
  Aug 27 - Calgary, AB - Ship & Anchor
  Aug 28 - Lethbridge, AB - The Owl Acoustic Lounge
  Aug 29 - Regina, SK - The Exchange
  Aug 30 - Winnipeg, MB - Side Stage
  Sept 2 - Windsor - Phog Lounge
  Sept 3 - Hamilton, ON - Club Absinthe
  Sept 4 - Ottawa, ON - House of Targ
  Sept 5 - Montreal - Turbo Haus
  Sept 6 - Toronto, ON - The Monarch
  Sept 7 - Kingston, ON - The Mansion
  Sept 9 - Oshawa, ON - The Atria
  Sept 10 - Sault Ste. Marie, ON - Soo Blaster
  Sept 11 - Thunder Bay, ON - Black Pirates Pub
  Sept 12 - Brandon, MB - The 40
  Sept 13 - Saskatoon, SK - Black Cat Tavern
  Sept 25 - Kelowna, BC- Jackknife Brewery
  Sept 26 - Vancouver, BC - Green Auto
  Sept 27 - Victoria, BC - Lucky Bar
  Oct 10 - Red Deer, AB - The Vat
  Oct 11 - Edmonton, AB - The Aviary

  Track Listing:​
  1. Grave Shaker – 4:41
  2. Strangers Ever After – 4:24
  3. Truth Be Told – 7:21
  4. White Crosses – 6:10
  5. The Unholy Hand – 5:21
  6. No Place For Hate – 5:18
  7. Love Finds a Way – 6:16
  8. Relapser – 4:52
  9. Killing Time – 8:37

  Woodhawk is:
  Turner Midzain – Guitar & Vocals
  Mike Badmington – Bass & Vocals
  Kevin Nelson - Drums

  More info:​
  ​https://www.woodhawkriffs.com​
  ​https://www.instagram.com/woodhawkriffs​
  ​https://www.facebook.com/woodhawkriffs

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• Space Metal Opera AEDAN SKY Unveils First Single/ Video “Beyond The Vortex Of Time” From Debut Album “The Universal Realm” Out Sept 2025

  Jul 8, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Rockshots Records is proud to unveil “The Universal Realm”, the debut full-length by France's AEDAN SKY – a visionary space metal opera crafted by Sébastien Chabot, known for his work as singer/guitarist of GALDERIA and bassist in KINGCROWN.

  Echoing the golden age of European power metal, “The Universal Realm” is a conceptual journey that blends speed, melody, and spiritual narrative into ten chapters of awakening. Drawing inspiration from science fiction and esoteric philosophy, the album tells the story of SKY and AEDAN as they traverse space, time, and consciousness on a mission to ignite humanity’s inner light.

  Three lead vocalists interpret the story’s characters, creating a theatrical and emotionally charged vocal experience:

  • Sébastien Chabot as SKY
  • Bob Saliba (Kingcrown, ex-Galderia) as AEDAN
  • Thomas Schmitt (Galderia) as SKY’s Soul

  Musically, the album delivers an intense and uplifting melodic power metal ride: fast riffing, massive choirs, anthemic choruses, and cinematic soundscapes.

  The first single to be released from “The Universal Realm” is titled “Beyond The Vortex Of Time”, and it serves as the perfect introduction to AEDAN SKY’s interstellar universe, a sweeping space opera built on the foundations of classic power metal. With high-speed riffs, majestic choirs, and soaring vocals, “Beyond The Vortex Of Time” delivers a powerful experience for fans of early Helloween, Gamma Ray, and Avantasia.

  “Beyond The Vortex Of Time” captures the moment when the main character, SKY, is pulled through a vortex of light, transcending time and space and awakening to a new cosmic consciousness. It’s a dynamic and uplifting track, driven by speed, melody, and anthemic intensity.

  LISTEN: http://lnk.to/oiwRDo​

  ​The full album “The Universal Realm” is a concept work mixed and mastered by Simone Mularoni (Domination Studio), Artwork by Felipe Machado Franco.
  ​
  ​“The Universal Realm” will be released on September 12th, 2025, and will be available on all digital platforms and in a CD Digipak. Pre-orders are now open at the following link
  ​
  ​ALBUM PRE ORDER: https://rockshots.eu/products/aedan-sky-the-universal-realm-cd​

  FFO: early Helloween (“Walls of Jericho”, “Keeper of the Seven Keys”), late 90s Gamma Ray (“Land of the Free”, “Power Plant”), Avantasia’s “Metal Opera” era.

  Track Listing:​
  1. Opening
  2. Call of the Universe
  3. A Kingdom to the Stars
  4. Gate of Skies
  5. Beyond the Vortex of Time
  6. From the Ashes to the Light
  7. Land of Paradise
  8. Interlude
  9. Illumination
  10. The Universal Realm
  ​
  ​Aedan Sky Line Up:​
  Vocal Cast / Characters
  Sébastien Chabot: Lead Vocals as SKY
  Bob Saliba: Lead Vocals as AEDAN
  Thomas Schmitt: Lead Vocals as SKY's Soul Musicians
  Sébastien Chabot: Lead & Rhythm Guitars, Bass Guitar, Keyboards
  Thomas Schmitt: Lead Guitar on track 4
  Bob Saliba: Lead Guitar on track 9
  Julien Digne: Piano on tracks 4 & 10
  S.D.: Drums

  ​More Info:

  ​https://rockshots.eu/​

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578169109523​
  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aedansky

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• Enter the Realm of RIMMAR w/ Debut Album “Raises” + New Video “Mighty Messenger” ft. Fabio Lione (Rhapsody of Fire, Angra)

  Jul 4, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  RIMMAR, the audacious solo project of Italian guitarist and producer Marco Rinaldi, has officially dropped its long-awaited debut album “Raises”—now streaming worldwide on all major platforms.

  Blending the raw power of industrial and progressive metal with melodic finesse, “Raises” is an atmospheric ride through epic soundscapes, haunting vocals, and virtuosic guitar work. The release is accompanied by a brand-new music video for the single “Mighty Messenger”, featuring a spectacular vocal performance by symphonic metal icon Fabio Lione (Rhapsody of Fire, Angra).

  ​

  Filmed with cinematic flair, “Mighty Messenger” explores themes of destiny and defiance, fusing Lione’s soaring vocals with Rinaldi’s thunderous instrumentation. The video’s dystopian visuals echo the album’s concept of personal evolution and universal struggle.

  Rimmar is not a conventional band but a one-man artistic endeavor shaped entirely by Marco Rinaldi. His creative process begins with a riff or rhythm, eventually evolving into fully orchestrated arrangements through the use of synths, pads, and layered textures. His lyrics draw inspiration from readings, philosophical thought, and vivid dreams, always serving the music rather than leading it. As Rinaldi says, “The word is a servant of music in my case.”

  The album "Raises" features a cast of exceptional guest performers from the Italian metal scene. Among them, Fabio Lione (Rhapsody of Fire, Angra) appears on two tracks ("Mighty Messenger" and "Vortex"), along with Kyo Calati (MindAheaD), Marco Andreotti (Imagine Dragons tribute), Mattia Fagiolo (White Thunder, Dragonhammer) and Alessandro Cola (Eldritch)—each lending their voice and energy to the project.

  On stage, Rimmar becomes a full live band composed of experienced musicians from the Italian scene, delivering performances that merge metal’s impact with the visual and rhythmic elements of electronic dance.

  Whether you're into the genre-defying swagger of Devin Townsend or the mechanized punch of Rammstein, "Raises" deserves a front-row spot in your playlist.

  Digital Album - https://lnk.to/LSOElQT4​

  CD Album - https://rockshots.eu/products/rimmar-raises​​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Unreal (feat. Mattia Fagiolo)
  2. Mighty Messenger (feat. Fabio Lione)
  3. These Ruins (feat. Marco Bertuccelli)
  4. 8th Sin (feat. Marco Andreotti)
  5. Planet Mars (feat. Mattia Fagiolo)
  6. Vortex (feat. Fabio Lione)
  7. Queen of the Gold (feat. Marco Bertuccelli)
  8. Cruel Summer (feat. Kyo Elisa Proietti)
  9. Raises

  ​
  ​Rimmar Line Up:​
  ​Marco Rinaldi: Guitars
  ​Tommy Pellegrini: Rhythm Guitars
  ​Marco Moretti: Drums
  ​Alessandro Cola: Bass Guitar

  ​More Info:

  - https://rockshots.eu/​

  - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063487690785​

  - https://www.instagram.com/rimmar_official/

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• MARGANTHA Debut EP “Blood Moon Sacrifice” + New Music Video "Miriam And The Endless Night (ft. Andy LaRoque)"

  Jun 27, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Rockshots Records proudly announces the official release of “Blood Moon Sacrifice”, the debut EP from Finnish-Italian black metal act MARGANTHA, available today on all digital platforms.

  Rooted in myth, fear, and ritual, “Blood Moon Sacrifice” is more than just a collection of songs—it’s a narrative journey steeped in dark folklore and haunting atmosphere. The EP unfolds around the legend of a werewolf that terrorizes a secluded hunters' village beneath a remote mountain range, channeling the emotional tension, primal fear, and descent into hysteria that defines the story.

  Each track serves as a chapter in this tale:

  • “Blood Moon Sacrifice” opens the story with a dark waltz-like cadence, evoking the atmosphere of an ancient forest. During a solitary hunt, the protagonist is bitten, sealing the origin of the curse. Two instrumental interludes—bass and drums—heighten the track’s unsettling tone, making it feel like the soundtrack to a twisted fairy tale.
  • “Wolves at the Door” marks the creature’s approach to the village. This is no pack—but a lone, primordial predator whose thirst rivals that of many. Opening with a dark yet exotic riff and evolving through a melodic death metal core, the track balances blackened aggression, speed, and melody in a cinematic, dynamic form.
  • “Miriam and the Endless Night” (feat. Andy LaRocque) shifts perspective. Told through the eyes of a woman trapped in an endless night of terror, the song moves from eerie, unorthodox harmonies into a vortex of riffs and violence. Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) adds his signature touch where bloodlust and survival collide.
  • “Curse of the Full Moon” concludes the cycle with a hypnotic 6/8 ballad that depicts the protagonist's full transformation. With elongated tempos, obsessive rhythms, and oppressive harmonies, the track channels the ritualistic core of classic black metal—slow, relentless, and introspective.

  Driven by evocative riffs, atmospheric layering, and a primordial vocal delivery, MARGANTHA’s music balances black metal’s raw essence with moments of melody, tension, and dynamic pacing. As the band explains:

  “We start from the story. Every riff, every rhythm is designed to serve the narrative. We’re not interested in technical excess—our focus is atmosphere, cohesion, and emotion.”

  The entire EP was mixed and mastered by Andy LaRocque (King Diamond) at Sonic Train Studio, giving the record a powerful and precise sound while preserving its shadowy intensity.

  Influenced by the cinematic dread of Mgła, the emotional fire of Uada and Gaerea, and the timeless aggression of Venom, Behemoth, and Celtic Frost, MARGANTHA builds a sound that is immersive, urgent, and steeped in meaning.

  With “Blood Moon Sacrifice”, MARGANTHA mark their official debut—a work that merges ancient horror with the raw force of contemporary black metal. For fans of narrative-driven metal, hypnotic atmospheres, and unrelenting darkness, this is a first chapter worth embracing.

  Digital EP - https://lnk.to/V1c7Fn​

  CD ORDER the EP "Blood Moon Sacrifice": 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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