Search Results: progressive

• Finland's AITHEER's Debut Album "The Serpent" Pushes Boundaries of Extreme w/ Prog and Cinematic Depth

  Feb 21, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Rockshots Records is proud to announce the release of "The Serpent", the highly anticipated debut full-length album from Aitheer, set to arrive today February 21st, 2025. Following their 2020 EP "Sleeper", the Finnish progressive metal band expands its sonic vision with an album that pushes boundaries, blending extreme metal intensity with intricate progressive arrangements and cinematic depth.

  Formed in 2017 by Niko Löfman (vocals, guitars), Antton Kasslin (drums) and Roope Kytölä (bass), Aitheer has evolved from a jam-based project into one of Finland’s most daring progressive acts. "The Serpent" represents a culmination of years of musical exploration, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Harri Petjakko at Studio UG in Finland between 2020 and 2024. The album’s sound is vast and unpredictable, combining black metal aggression, jazz-infused complexity, classical influences, and ethereal ambient textures into a singular, ever-shifting experience.

  At its core, "The Serpent" is a theatrical and immersive journey, moving through moments of chaos and serenity, heaviness, and melody, all bound by Aitheer’s uncompromising artistic vision. Tracks like "The Dance of Twins" exemplify the band’s ability to weave extreme metal with folk-inspired acoustic passages and jazz-laden saxophone solos, while pieces such as "Law" blend haunting piano arrangements with explosive, math-rock-inspired climaxes. Instrumental interludes like "Prologue", "East" and "Flame" introduce rich atmospheric elements, adding depth and contrast to the album’s progressive structures.

  For fans of Meshuggah, The Ocean, King Crimson, and Vangelis, "The Serpent" offers a challenging yet deeply rewarding listening experience that defies categorization. The band embraces a cinematic approach, creating an album that flows like a soundtrack—each track unfolding with unpredictable twists, rich textures, and emotional depth.

  With its genre-bending sound and fearless composition, "The Serpent" is more than just a debut—it is a statement. Aitheer solidifies its place among the most forward-thinking acts in progressive metal, delivering an album that demands exploration and rewards those willing to embark on its sonic journey.

  "The Serpent" will be available on all streaming platforms and in physical formats from February 21st, 2025 via Rockshots Records.

  Album Order - https://rockshots.eu/products/aitheer-the-serpent-cd​

  Digital (Spotify, Apple Music) - https://lnk.to/zPFXXP

  Single Stream- "The Serpent" - https://youtu.be/VOz76T4xOWA

  YouTube Album Stream - ​https://bit.ly/3EJrua8

  ​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Prologue
  2. The Dance of Twins
  3. East
  4. Law
  5. Clairvoyance
  6. The Serpent
  7. Flame

  Band Lineup:​
  Niko Löfman: Vocals (studio, live), Guitar (studio, live), Bass (studio), Keyboards (studio)
  Lassi Enqvist: Guitar (studio, live), Keyboards (studio)
  Toni Paananen: Drums (studio, live) / Toni Paananen - Drums (studio, live)
  Andrea Ferrantelli: Bass (live)

  Album Artwork Credits:​
  Art of the front cover painted by Iiris Astraya.
  Graphic Design by Jarmo Sainio.
  Photography by Niko Löfman, Lassi Enqvist, Roope Kytölä, Andrea Ferrantelli, and Anssi Kippo.
  Logo by Niko Löfman.

  ​For more info:

  ​https://www.rockshots.eu​
  ​https://www.facebook.com/Aitheer

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• Saudi Prog Metal DUSK Teams Up w/ Kuwait's ABZY For New Single "Sleepwalker"

  Feb 20, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Saudi Arabia’s one-man prog metal unit DUSK (from the mind of Meshari Sangora) has teamed up with Kuwaiti modern metal artist ABZY and drummer Gilbert Hadad to release their unified single "Sleepwalker". Fresh, creative, and powerful, the track is about the struggle one has with their mental health.

  "As I work on my follow-up music to 2023 Spectrums, I think fans will love this first taste of the new album I'm working on, and they will appreciate the beauty of my maturity when it comes to songwriting and what experiences can do to a creative session. I'm trying to touch base on more realistic subjects such as mental health, but I always like to show the other side of the conversation," adds DUSK.

  Once a college DJ in UAE, that time in his life led to his rediscovery of all forms of metal, and it was just the beginning of his creation of music as a self-taught musician and producer. DUSK released its first full length" "Spectrums" to follow two previously released EPs “To Where I Belong” (2021) and “Ascension” (2020) along with multiple stand-alone singles that were used to introduce the project's music to the world in 2020.

  "Spectrums" garnered praise as it was named Album of The Year in 2023 by Metal Pedia and Metal Has No Borders along with reaching listeners in over 90+ countries on Spotify.

  This album further solidified his place in the international metal community, featuring 12 tracks sung in multiple languages, including (English, German, Finnish, and Arabic). Spectrums also included collaborations with both local Saudi artists and international metal musicians, such as Aron Harris from Solemn Vision and Jaani Peuhu, formerly of Swallow the Sun.

  Beyond his music career, DUSK is an influential figure in the Saudi Arabian and broader GCC metal scenes. He has played a crucial role in supporting local artists by offering marketing consultations, providing studio recording services, and helping to manage and promote the “Riyadh Inferno” festival, an important event for the region's growing metal community. As the festival's key liaison, DUSK connects local venues with regional bands, further strengthening Saudi Arabia’s position as a destination for metal acts.

  With a deep commitment to his craft and his role in the development of the metal music scene in Saudi Arabia and beyond, DUSK continues to shape the future of heavy music along with the CEO and Founder of Heavy Arabia “GIGI ARABIA”.

  "Sleepwalker" is recommended for fans of Currents, Spiritbox, and Killswitch Engage, along with everything under the vein of progressive metal, metalcore, EDM, and djent.

  Listen at the following links:

  Digital (Spotify) - https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/dusk14/sleepwalker

  ​

  For more info:

  ​Officialdusk.com​

  ​Facebook.com/Officialdusk94​

  ​Instagram.com/official__dusk​​

  ​Twitter.com/Official__Dusk​

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• Streaming Now! TUMBLEWEED DEALER Invite You Into Their Lush Psychedelic Swamp With Full Stream Of “Dark Green”

  Feb 6, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Montreal, Canada's Tumbleweed Dealer is proud to present their monumental fourth album “Dark Green”. This marks the culmination of an eight-year journey for the band, resulting in their most ambitious and fully realized work to date. Listeners can now immerse themselves in all ten tracks of this genre-defying masterpiece, experiencing the album as it was intended - a complete, transformative journey through sound and emotion. The band comments:

  “We simply can’t wait to share this new album with everyone, from old fans, whose expectations we hope to obliterate, to potential new listeners who might be going in with absolutely no clue as to what they should expect. We strived to constantly contrast old sonorities with new tendencies. We layered influences over each other to create something original yet oddly nostalgic.”

  From the opening notes of “A Distant Figure In The Fog” to the closing moments of “A Soul Made Of Sludge”, “Dark Green” takes the listener on an unparalleled auditory adventure. Each track builds upon the last, creating a cohesive narrative that explores themes of nature, consciousness, and the human experience. The album's production quality shines throughout, with every instrument and effect meticulously placed to create a rich, enveloping soundscape.

  As you listen to the album stream, pay attention to the intricate details and hidden layers within each track. Tumbleweed Dealer has crafted “Dark Green” to be an album that reveals new secrets with each listen, much like revisiting a favorite film or novel. Let the music wash over you, and prepare to be transported to the lush, mysterious world of “Dark Green”, which will be especially intriguing to those with an interest in Opeth, Cynic, and Rush.

  Due out on February 7, 2025, "Dark Green" can be heard in full before its official release via its album stream premiere on TheProgSpace HERE.

  Recommended for fans of Elder, Ohm, Camel, Opeth, and Cynic, "Dark Green" is available for album pre-order at https://tumbleweeddealer420.bandcamp.com/album/dark-green

  Video - Dark Green - https://youtu.be/L73im_7hOWs

  ​Video - Ghosts Dressed In Weeds feat. Ceschi - https://youtu.be/E06a90W8hFo

   

  ​

  Track Listing:​
  1. A Distant Figure In The Fog (2:52)
  2. Sparks Adrift In The Louisiana Nightsky (3:39)
  3. A Plant That Thinks It’s Human (3:34)
  4. Becoming One With The Bayou (3:19)
  5. Dragged Across The Wetlands (2:56)
  6. Dark Green (4:48)
  7. Ghosts Dressed In Weeds (5:31)
  8. Moss On The Mind (3:13)
  9. Body Of The Bog (6:34)
  10. A Soul Made Of Sludge (3:49)

  Album Recording Credits:​
  • All songs performed by: Tumbleweed Dealer
  • All songs written by: Tumbleweed Dealer
  • Produced by: Jean-Baptiste Joubaud
  • Mixed by: Jean-Baptiste Joubaud
  • Mastered by: Harris Newman
  • Album Artwork by: Glenn Le Calvez

  Album Band Line Up:​
  Seb Painchaud – Bass & Guitars
  Angelo Fata – Drums & Percussions
  Jean-Baptiste Joubaud – Synths & Programming

  Guest Musicians:​
  Antoine Baril – Mellotron, Hammond Organ & Keyboards on tracks 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 & 10
  Guillaume Audette – Wurlitzer, Rhodes and Church Organ on tracks 8 & 10
  Jocelyn Couture – Trumpet & Flugel Horn on tracks 4, 5, 7 and 9
  Loïc Roy-Turgeon – Trombone on tracks 4 and 5
  Zach Strouse – Saxophone on track 6
  And special guest star Ceschi Ramos as himself on track 7

  More info: Facebook.com/TumbleweedDealer | X.com/westernhorror | Instagram.com/tumbleweeddealer | Spotify

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• Toronto Prog JUPITER HOLLOW Announces Ontario Dates + New Single / Video "Incivility"

  Feb 5, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

  NEWS RELEASE

  Montreal, QC - February 5, 2025

  Toronto Prog JUPITER HOLLOW Announces Ontario Dates + New Single / Video "Incivility"

  L-R - Nathaniel Reynolds-Welsh - Drums - Grant MacKenzie - Guitar, Kenny Parry - Vocals, John-Ryan Godfrey - Bass

  Toronto proggers Jupiter Hollow announces they will perform two Ontario show dates for March and April with more to be announced in the coming year (listed below). The band has been expanding their catalog with their latest single and music video "Incivility" (watch below) released this past November as they make progress on more music to be released in the coming months.

  Upcoming Shows:​
  March 29 – Guelph @ Red Papaya - info - w/ Derev, Crown For A King, +1 TBA
  April 12 – Brantford @ Brandi’s - info w/ Derev, +2 TBA

  Pushing from one horizon onto the next, Jupiter Hollow's growth has come a long way since making their debut as a duo in 2015. Led by the fearless Grant MacKenzie and Kenny Parry, this recording and songwriting powerhouse duo has transformed into a live quartet with the addition of John Ryan Godfrey (Bass) and Nathaniel Reynolds-Welsh (Drums).

  Advancing their unique brand of progressive rock/metal, the band's latest single "Incivility" serves as a bold statement, reflecting Jupiter Hollow’s evolution both sonically and thematically. With its intricate arrangements, evocative lyrics, and captivating visuals, the single is a testament to the band’s relentless dedication to pushing artistic boundaries.

  The band comments on the single:

  "At its core, Incivility reflects humanity's inner struggles, the relentless pursuit of purpose, and the emotional void created by modern distractions. The lyrics delve into themes of arrogance, wasted time, and the consequences of superficial existence, symbolized by "filming your bones"—a critique of documenting life rather than living it.

  The song wrestles with the tension between ambition and the emptiness of unmet expectations, asking hard questions: At what cost do we chase our dreams? and How do we reconcile purpose with the pressures we hide? The recurring imagery of the "yawning cage of wasted love" evokes a profound sense of entrapment, urging listeners to confront the emotional weight of past mistakes while seeking true fulfillment.

  Musically and lyrically, Incivility challenges listeners to reflect on their lives, embracing the discomfort of self-awareness while pushing forward with resilience. It’s both a cautionary tale and a call to action—demanding authenticity in a world that often values the opposite."

  Recommended for fans of Porcupine Tree, Coheed, and Cambria, Rush, and Protest The Hero.

  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/4g0cqSV

  ​

  With thought-provoking lyrics, unique vocal melodies, harmonies, powerful guitar riffs, unyielded songwriting, and Jupiter Hollow’s incessant desire to bring fans on a journey, there’s always something new to explore. Thus far they have two full-length albums under their belts: 2020’s “Bereavement”, and 2018’s “AHDOMN”, and they have another one in the works. Planning to release more singles over the coming months, Jupiter Hollow will take the time to ensure a polished, impressive offerings song by song. The band wants nothing more than to make their art and share the experience with as many people as they can.

  More info: JupiterHollow.ca | Facebook | X | Instagram

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• MAD PARISH Unveils Epic Progressive / NWOBHM Concept Album “The Dust Of Forever” + Comic Book

  Jan 31, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  The wait is over as Montreal, Canada's heavy metal visionaries Mad Parish release their highly anticipated concept album “The Dust Of Forever". Available now on all major platforms as of Jan 31st, this ambitious project marks a new pinnacle in the band's decade-long journey. “The Dust Of Forever” is not just an album; it's a multi-faceted experience that pushes the boundaries of heavy metal storytelling. Spanning 21 tracks, the album weaves an original narrative following Joe, an immortal protagonist caught in a universe-threatening cataclysm. The band shares how the album came to be:

  “The album has interesting origins. A song from our first album was inspired by a comic book. After Bob joined the band, he mused about what would happen if this priest from the comic discovered that he was immortal, and the song “The Dust Of Forever” was written. Once we started writing some more songs we discussed what kind of album to make next. That is when we came upon the idea of expanding this world we were writing about, and making a concept album.”

  Going full-on, epic prog metal was a big challenge for Mad Parish and they set out to write a story that they would tell through the songs, and decided to create a companion comic book to accompany the album. Creatively, this is the most adventurous thing they’ve done to date.

  From the opening “Prologue” to the climactic “Hail To The Hunter”, listeners are taken on an immersive journey through a richly imagined world. The album showcases Mad Parish's evolution, blending their NWOBHM-inspired roots with progressive rock structures, 70's rock swagger, 80's new wave textures, and even hints of classical and jazz. This eclectic mix results in a sound that's uniquely Mad Parish – heavy, melodic, and deeply atmospheric. It is recommended for fans of Iron Maiden, Rush, and Rainbow.

  “The Dust Of Forever" is available on January 31, 2025, digitally plus CD and Vinyl along with a limited edition Comic Book "The Experience Hunter Chronicles" via their Bandcamp at ​https://madparish1.bandcamp.com/album/the-dust-of-forever

  Spotify - https://spoti.fi/4jBAs9v​

  ​

  Comic Book Credits:​
  Story - Josh McConnell
  Artwork - Niall Skinner
  Editing - Rahl Stafford
  Design - Maximus Rex

  Track Listing:​
  1. Prophecy - 1:30
  2. Defecther - 4:32
  3. Possess The Child - 4:45
  4. Outerest In Irisius - 1:34
  5. Ouen Formation - 6:35
  6. Hunted - 1:51
  7. Astra T.R.A.Z (Tower Reformatory Asteroid Zone) - 4:42
  8. Transmission #1 Dream On - 1:40
  9. Resistius - 6:44
  10. Aeternal - 1:44
  11. An Age To Quell - 4:05
  12. Transmission #2 - Will Of God - 2:04
  13. Loched - 3:24
  14. Cathedron Wakes - 5:37
  15. Book of Rites - 1:06
  16. Bishop's Tomb - 3:32
  17. Transmission #3 - Baz Raa Luum - 1:46
  18. The Experience Hunter - 5:04
  19. Trajectory: Tantus - 2:02
  20. The Dust Of Forever - 5:11
  21. Hail To The Hunter - 1:01
  Album Length: 1:10:40

  More Info: Madparishmetal.com | Facebook.com/madparishmetal | Instagram.com/madparishmetal ​

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