New York thrash QUEMASANTOS is turning up the heat with their scorching new lyric video 'Burning the Black', a vision accumulated through time turned into a metal track that was born from grief, rage, and love. It emerged from the pain of witnessing cancer’s devastating impact.
"In the past, vocalist Nelson Diaz has always come up with the concepts for the music they’ve been writing. This time, I asked him to work under my concept, which was based on what I was experiencing at the time (which was during the time before my wife’s passing). He kindly agreed to do it, and I’m just happy with the way he performed and used all the material I gave him. He’s a true friend and a master of metal interpretation. I love him," adds Ignacio Orellana (Bass/Guitars/Drums).
'Burning the Black' is an analogy to the process of receiving chemotherapy, which burns the cancer cells in the body. The concept for the track came to Ignacio Orellana while watching his wife fight cancer for six years, which tragically ended with her dramatic death. The lyrics are narrated from the perspective of death, constantly reminding you that it will take you and that no matter what you do, it’s inevitable. The music encapsulates the life cycle of a person, beginning with the gradual and transformative changes life brings and concluding in a manner reminiscent of its inception. "On a personal note, this has been a brutal and devastating time, as well as strange to lose my life partner of 31 years. It still feels unreal. This song is essentially what I can translate from the experience of being there next to her and witnessing her decline from good to bad. I genuinely hope that people can understand it the way I’m trying to convey it. I loved my wife, and she will always be with me," says Orellana. Quemasantos is Nelson Diaz (singer and concepts) & Ignacio Orellana (bass/guitar/drums). The guest musician for this track was Felipe Roa, the lead guitarist for metal bands Acaro and Shadows Fall (touring member). With extensive studio recording and touring experience, Roa has also owned and operated Boston Guitar Tech, providing professional services such as guitar setups, fretwork, electronics, and online and in-person lessons. Vocal tracks recorded at Studios Ultrasonico, Santiago, Chile. Felipe Roa's tracks were recorded at his studio. Mixed and mastered at Oily Sound Studios in New York City by Ignacio Orellana. More info:
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.
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.
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.
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
One Band To Conquer Them All! Wacken Metal Battle USA 2025 national final will be held on Saturday, June 21st, in Clifton, USA, at Dingbatz where one unsigned American band will be crowned champion and perform at one of the world's most prestigious and largest already sold-out metal festivals Wacken Open Air (July 30th – August 2nd) (Attendance of over 80,000 people in Wacken, Germany for over 30 years).
After multiple battles across the country that began in January of this year, the final six American bands will bring their onslaught of metal and be judged by a panel of music industry judges that include Jeff Buttermark (FM Management),Shawn Quinn (Napalm Records), and more TBD.
"Another successful battle is nearing its conclusion. I can't wait to see which band wins and represents the US in the Wacken Metal Battle this year at the Holy Ground. I want to give a special thanks to Jon Asher and Chris Cannella. Thanks to all of our promoters, venues, judges, media partners, fans, and of course...the bands for all their hard work. Close to 200 bands and 40 battles across the country, and we are down to the final 6 at the Legendary Dingbatz in New Jersey!" comments WMBU national organizer Eric Dow.
The 2025 WMBU champion will receive the following: - A slot at the 2025 Wacken Open Air Festival. - Full professional backline provided. - $1,000 USD towards flights to Germany. - VIP camping at the festival.
Formed in 2021, Broken Time is a modern metalcore band based in Temple, Texas. Known for their fusion of heavy riffs, melodic elements, and progressive structures, their music features complex guitar work, dynamic rhythms, and emotionally charged vocals. The band has been actively contributing to the Texas metal scene, performing at various venues and collaborating with other local acts.
FireHaze is a Cuban-American metal band known for blending melodic death and thrash metal with groove and core influences. The band was formed in 2009 by three Cuban musicians—Yunior, Carlos, and Hector—who had migrated to West New York, New Jersey. The story began in 2007 when Yunior arrived from Havana and sought out fellow musicians to form a band. He connected with Carlos, a guitarist from Bayamo, and later with Hector, a drummer who had also recently moved from Havana. Their chemistry was immediate, and after experimenting with different sounds and names—including a brief stint as “Illuminated By The Fire”—they officially became FireHaze during a jam session on a hot August night overlooking the New York City skyline. From the start, FireHaze aimed to stand out. They incorporated unusual percussion and string instruments, and often collaborated with guest musicians to shape their live sound. Their influences include heavyweights like Lamb of God, Dimmu Borgir, Sepultura, Megadeth, and Children of Bodom. Though unsigned, FireHaze has remained active in the North Jersey and New York metal scenes, performing live and working toward a full-length album. They proudly identify as a Cuban-American band, rooted in their heritage while forging a path in the U.S. metal underground.
Mourning High is a rising thrash metal band that hails from Southern California and Arizona. Formed in 2023, the band quickly gained traction through social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, where their raw energy and nostalgic thrash sound struck a chord with fans of classic metal. Their music is heavily influenced by legendary acts like Megadeth, and they’ve been praised for bringing back the gritty, high-octane spirit of 1980s thrash. What sets Mourning High apart is not just their sound, but their chemistry—these guys have been friends since preschool, and that bond fuels their performances and touring life. They’re currently unsigned and independent, but their momentum is undeniable. With over 50,000 followers on TikTok and a growing fanbase across streaming platforms, Mourning High is carving out a name for itself in the modern metal scene.
Pontifex is a symphonic black/death metal band based in Orlando, Florida, formed in 2024. Known for their theatrical soundscapes and intense live performances, they blend the ferocity of black metal with symphonic elements, creating a dark, cinematic experience. The band was founded by guitarist and flutist Kaleb Daniels, whose classical training and love for extreme metal shaped Pontifex’s unique sound. Despite being relatively new, they’ve already made waves by winning the Florida Wacken Battle, earning them a spot on the radar of metal fans nationwide. Pontifex is currently unsigned but gaining momentum with an upcoming album titled Covenant, set to release in Fall 2025. Their music explores themes of mysticism, inner conflict, and spiritual decay, often delivered through layered instrumentation and haunting melodies.
Prime Prophecy is a six-piece progressive metal band based in Brooklyn, New York, blending European influences with symphonic, melodic, and modern metal elements. Known for emotionally driven soundscapes and vivid storytelling, the band creates music that resonates with both heart and mind, bridging genres and pushing the boundaries of contemporary metal.
Drawing from real-life experiences and deep introspection, Prime Prophecy’s signature sound combines layered arrangements, intricate lyrics, and powerful melodies that invite listeners to explore the human experience from new angles.
Over the course of two decades, Prime Prophecy has earned a reputation for both studio excellence and high-impact live performances. Their visual storytelling comes to life through music videos such as “End of the Beginning” and “Memories From the Past.” In 2011, their single “Viking”—commissioned for heavyweight boxer Mariusz Wach ahead of his world title fight—highlighted the band’s versatility and cultural reach.
2025 marks Prime Prophecy’s 20th anniversary—a milestone celebrating their creative evolution and lasting impact on the metal scene. Career highlights include a finals appearance at the Emergenza Festival (Webster Hall, NYC), and a strong run through the 2024 Wacken Battle of the Bands, where the band earned second place in the U.S. National Finals.
Looking ahead, Prime Prophecy is preparing to compete once again in Wacken Battle 2025, with the opportunity to take the stage at Germany’s legendary Wacken Open Air Festival.
Fueled by passion, innovation, and a relentless drive to connect, Prime Prophecy continues to forge new paths with a progressive, symphonic, and deeply human approach to metal.
What's Wrong is a Seattle-based metalcore band that emerged in early 2018. Their music blends elements of post-hardcore and progressive metal, delivering a dynamic and intense sound. The band's lineup has evolved over time, but they have consistently been active in the local music scene, performing at venues like El Corazon, The Funhouse, and Real Art Tacoma. Their live performances have featured collaborations with bands such as Sleep Signals, Fauvism, and Groundfeeder.
For the last 6 years of battles (2017-2019, 2022, 2023, 2024), Wacken Metal Battle USA 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 2025 will be the 34th edition of the festival and will be held from July 30th – August 2nd. The 2025 event is already sold out with a line-up that includes Machine Head, Saltatio Mortis, Papa Roach, Gojira, Apocalyptica, Saxon, Within Temptation, Dimmu Borgir, Ministry, and many more. Details here.
Wacken Metal Battle USA is part of an international competition that sees bands from across the country battle each other for the chance to win their spot among 30 other countries’ champions, and represent the USA 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 promote,r where one band will move forward to the American national final (date and city to be determined). The winner of the national final will move on to perform at the Wacken Open Air 2024 and compete against the winners of 30 other countries in a final global battle. All bands will be judged during battle rounds by respected local music industry representatives.
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.
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) 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 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 Live Band Line Up: Sky Moon Clark - Vocals, Guitars Brett Fairchild - Backup Vocals, Guitars Ethan Emery - Bass Will Brown - Drums
