Search Results: records

• AITTALA Unveils Second EP of 2025 "Ill-Gotten Gains" + Welcome New Bassist Dane Taylor

  Nov 21, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Metal visionaries AITTALA (pronounced EYE-tah-la) are returning with their second EP of 2025 via Exitus Stratagem Records, "Ill-Gotten Gains," along with introducing their newest member, bassist Dane Taylor, marking a bold new chapter in the band’s evolution.

  True to their reputation for defying genre boundaries, AITTALA weave together threads of traditional heavy metal, doom, groove, and progressive elements to create a cohesive yet unpredictable sonic journey. Lyrically, "Ill-Gotten Gains" explores the darker corners of human ambition, chaos created for personal gain, the inevitable consequences, and the fragile hope of redemption.

  The EP opens with “Isolation,” a doomy, heavy piece that confronts the fallout of past decisions, setting a dark and reflective tone. The title track, “Ill-Gotten Gains,” follows with a riff-driven intensity that shifts into a crushing interlude, lyrically exploring the exploitation of chaos for personal benefit. “Blacklisted” brings groove and sludge to the forefront, exposing manipulators and serving as a counterpoint to the themes of the earlier songs. The mood softens with “Ever After,” a modern metal ballad that wrestles with internal conflict and the elusive promise of redemption. Closing the EP, “Ashes” channels classic heavy metal energy, telling the story of someone in over their head, dragging others down in their descent.
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  The EP’s artwork resurrects AITTALA’s infamous mascot Frank, a cartoon pig head in a pentagram, first conceived in 2014 for the album "Effigy". This updated interpretation of Frank embodies the record’s central theme: the shady figure who thrives in chaos, ready to deliver “ill-gotten gains” for the right price. It’s a fitting visual for a release steeped in stories of exploitation, downfall, and the elusive search for redemption.
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  With the addition of bassist Dane Taylor, AITTALA’s lineup now features founding member Eric Aittala (guitars/vocals) and drummer Gary “Zeus” Smith (THE FIFTH, ex-MR BLACKWELL). Taylor’s arrival injects fresh energy into the band’s dynamic, reinforcing their commitment to pushing boundaries while staying true to their unique sound.

  Formed in 1991 in the Netherlands, AITTALA quickly became a fixture of the Dutch metal scene, sharing stages with The Gathering and Sadist before disbanding in 1993. Resurrected in 2008, the band has since released six full-length albums and multiple EPs, each showcasing growth while retaining their distinctive voice. With "Ill-Gotten Gains," AITTALA continues their journey of evolution, proving once again that their sound is impossible to confine to a single genre.

  EP pre-save (out Nov 21) via Exitus Stratagem Records - https://hypeddit.com/aittala/illgottengains​​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Isolation - 4:22
  2. Ill Gotten Gains - 4:20
  3. Black Listed - 3:35
  4. Ever After - 4:29
  5. Ashes - 3:50
  EP Length: 20:37

  For more info: Exsrmusic.com | Aittala.com | Facebook.com/aittalamusic | Instagram.com/aittalamusic

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• IMPERATORE Unveils First Single “Be A Man” From New Album "The Lionspirit" Out Dec 2025

  Oct 29, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Australian rock visionaries IMPERATORE return with the first single “Be A Man”, taken from their upcoming album "The Lionspirit", due out on December 19th, 2025, via Rockshots Records. The song is released together with its official music video, introducing the core concept behind the album - a call to courage, resiliency, and self-mastery.

  Blending heavy rock, progressive metal, and operatic grandeur, “Be A Man” stands as a powerful anthem of inner rebirth. Driven by amazing vocals, cinematic orchestrations, and uplifting melodies, the track embodies Imperatore’s distinctive sound - emotional, epic, and deeply reflective. Its lyrics invite listeners to confront fear, embrace authenticity, and rediscover the strength within, echoing the Stoic philosophy that inspired the entire record.

  Founder Zoran Cunjack explains:

  “Be A Man is about facing your inner fears and reclaiming your strength. True courage isn’t found in the world outside but in mastering your own mind and spirit. It’s a song about standing tall - not just as a man but as a human being who refuses to give up.”

  “Be A Man” marks the beginning of Imperatore’s next chapter - a blend of cinematic power and operatic emotion that defines the band’s evolving sound. Produced by Zoran Cunjack, recorded and mixed by Rodion Farafontov, and mastered by Simon Jovanovic, the track sets the tone for what promises to be Imperatore’s most ambitious work to date.

  For fans of Nightwish, Kamelot, Symphony X, Powerwolf, and Queen.

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  ​DIGITAL: http://lnk.to/Jh87DW89

  New album “The Lionspirit” out December 19th, 2025

  PRE ORDER - https://rockshots.eu/products/imperatore-the-lionspirit-cd

  More info: ​
  ​​https://www.rockshots.eu

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imperatoreband​
  ​Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/imperatoreband

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• OPHIOLATRY's Brazilian Brutal Death Album “Serpent's Verdict”

  Jun 6, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  After seventeen years of anticipation, Brazilian death metal stalwarts Ophiolatry have officially released their new album “Serpent's Verdict” today (June 6th, 2025) through WormHoleDeath Records. Available now on all major digital platforms and in physical formats, this landmark release represents both a triumphant return and an evolutionary leap forward for one of extreme metal's most brutal underground acts.

  “Serpent's Verdict” stands as a complete sonic ritual—a brutal, immersive descent into cycles of destruction, revenge, and rebirth. Rooted in themes of ancestral pain, war defiance, and spiritual reckoning, the album fuses relentless death metal with primal energy drawn from indigenous Amazonian spiritual traditions. Each track functions as a chapter in a larger narrative, combining aggressive riffs, guttural vocals, and tribal rhythms that pay homage to ancient warrior cultures. The band comments:

  “This album pushes our technical and compositional limits while maintaining the speed and aggression that defines Ophiolatry. The riffs are intricate but wild, combining relentless blast rhythms with haunting atmospheric passages. The drums are faster and more precise than ever, while the guitars weave a mix of crisp precision and crushing heaviness. The vocals convey pure ferocity, from guttural growls to visceral screams that echo the intensity of the lyrics. While we pursue a new approach, the essence of Ophiolatry remains intact: ruthless, dark, and unapologetically extreme.”

  Citing a brutal process in the creation of the album, the band describes it as ‘a communion between the band and the artist, a shared trance where sound and image feed each other’. The result is an album that honors the band's brutal death metal roots while expanding their sonic palette into more atmospheric and thematically rich territory. It is recommended for fans of Suffocation, Morbid Angel, and Death.

  Listen to “Serpent's Verdict” on all digital platforms - https://orcd.co/serpentsverdict​

  Track Listing:​
  1 – Jesus Complex – 3:48
  2 – Revenge – 4:21
  3 – Generation Curse – 3:09
  4 – Death Tour – 3:35
  5 – Serpent’s Spits – 4:31
  6 – Atheris – 1:32
  7 – Apophis – 5:01
  8 – Midia Bible – 3:34
  9 – Manipulations Guilt – 4:03
  10 – Heaven Jails – 3:26
  11 – Narcissistic Victim Syndrome – 4:06
  12 – Human Factory – 3:18
  13 – Ecdysis – 2:34
  Album Length: 47:03

  Album Band Line Up:​
  Jaime Veron – Lead Vocals
  Diego Santiago – Bass
  George “Dog” Duarte – Drums
  Fred Barros – Guitars

  More info: Ophiolatry.com.br | Facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063556233508 | Instagram.com/ophiolatry

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• MARBLE GHOSTS Signs with Self Made Records L.L.C. / Earache Digital Distro For New EP "The Greatest Divide" Out May 23rd

  May 14, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  L-R - Adam Hansen (Guitar), Dylan Gunnell (Vocals), Paulo Ferraz (Bass), Jer Renaud (Drums)

  Photographer Credit - Lisa Thompson (Dark Moon Productions)

  Ottawa, Canada's Marble Ghosts announces they have signed with Self-Made Records L.L.C. with digital distro from Earache Records for the release of their sophomore EP "The Greatest Divide" out on May 23, 2025.

  "We are extremely excited to have signed with Self Made Records LLC. Even though we've only been working with the label for a short time, we have seen how closely the label works with bands and how invested they are in our success," adds the band.

  The band is a boundary-pushing ensemble known for its distinctive blend of metal, grunge, and punk influences. Emerging in 2023 onto the Canadian music scene with a distinctive sound and a fierce commitment to challenging societal norms, Marble Ghosts is a band with a message.

  Their forthcoming second EP, "The Greatest Divide," is inspired by our reality, from the ultra-rich and the shrinking middle class to widening gaps in political and religious ideologies that are beginning to challenge and even erode fundamental human rights. Similar to their first EP, these next five songs in their catalog highlight their diverse influences and styles and seek to lift the marginalized through powerful messaging.

  With this release, the band asks, “Are you ready to cross the greatest divide?” It is the type of divide that has splintered friendships and even families, where viewpoints differ so greatly, that we can see one another as enemies- traitors. While this seems bleak, some of the stories told through the lyrics are inspired by people who have crossed the greatest divide. But this wasn’t without hardship, as it was often the threat of losing their loved ones, their mental health, and even their own identity that forced the change.

  To date, the socially conscious quartet has shared two singles from the five-track EP "Distance Between" and "Eat The Rich", which is accompanied by a music video that can be viewed below.

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  "Eat The Rich", the song, is a statement of today's political climate shifting to serve the wealthy or the "1%". The video is a message from Marble Ghosts to the rest of us. It paints the picture of two massively divergent groups- the people who are struggling to hold on, the ones staying in broken, abusive relationships to avoid being homeless, and increasingly out-of-touch billionaires who could effect real, meaningful change with their bank accounts. Instead, the ultra-wealthy constantly seek more and more ways to enrich themselves.

  Vocalist Dylan Gunnell explains further:

  "This song 'Eat The Rich' is about the ultra-wealthy, and the great divide is clear with every billion added to their coffers while the people that enrich them through a broken system continue to suffer. While the chorus is metaphorical, the band also envisioned an alternate reality in writing the lyrics: our planet has been devastated by a zombie plague. The ultra-rich are waiting for a shuttle to carry them to Mars, but it malfunctions, and they are trapped. The undead descend on them, and they are torn to pieces by the horde, the horde that once worked for them, that kept capitalism strong, the people that made them rich. In that reality, their fair share will be paid with a pound of their flesh."

  Musically, "Eat the Rich" has a droning bass that mixes with soft yet acidic vocals in the verses. The long-held scream in the chorus gives way to harmony that grows increasingly layered as the song evolves, creating the perfect contrast. The dirty guitar solo blends into mocking laughter and then powers into a final chorus with three-part harmonies.

  Their music is recommended for fans of Breaking Benjamin, Shinedown, Saint Asonia, and Three Days Grace.

  Marble Ghosts' sophomore EP "The Greatest Divide" will be released on May 23, 2025.

  Digital pre-save (all platforms) https://earache.lnk.to/TheGreatestDivide​

  Bandcamp pre-order - https://marbleghosts.bandcamp.com/​

  Show Dates:​
  May 22 - Ottawa - NXT Level Festival - The Brass Monkey w/ Crimson Ash, Love and Mayhem, Tucana - info​

  Album Artwork by:​
  Marble Ghosts font: Crossfade Productions
  EP cover art: Edith Fluet

  Track Listing:​
  1. Distance Between (3:38)
  2. Eat the Rich (4:16)
  3. Trafficked (The Devil Inside) (4:19)
  4. Gloom (4:24)
  5. Osmium (4:48)
  EP Length: 21:26
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  ​Band Line Up (EP)​
  Dylan Gunnell - Lead Vocals and Lyrics
  Adam Hansen - Guitar
  Paul R. Champagne - Bass
  Jer Renaud - Drums
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  ​Band Line Up (Live)​
  Dylan Gunnell - Lead Vocals
  Adam Hansen - Guitar and Backing Vocals
  Paulo Ferraz - Bass
  Jer Renaud - Drums

  More info: Facebook.com/marbleghosts | Instagram.com/marbleghostsofficial

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• OPHIOLATRY Release Harrowing Video Clip For New Single “Death Tour”

  Apr 25, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  Brazilian extreme metal outfit Ophiolatry has released a new music video, “Death Tour”, the first single from their upcoming album “Serpent's Verdict”, due June 6, 2025, via Wormholedeath Records. This latest visual offering is inspired by Greek mythology, depicting the journey of a fallen warrior's soul through the realm of death. As the spirit is carried across the River Styx, it approaches the gates of Hades, where the warrior's tribe awaits his arrival, welcoming him into the afterlife. They comment further on the single and the video:

  "The warrior perished, part of his body bathed in the blood of the unworthy. He doesn't beg. He doesn't hesitate. The ancestors whisper his name as his spirit ascends, enveloped in the smoke of rituals. The witches dance around the burning fire, invoking Charon's presence. The coins reflect in his lifeless eyes, an offering to the boatman. From the depths of Lake Styx. The serpent rises, its coils moving like time itself. As he breathes, the warrior's confusion dissolves into clarity. He steps onto the distant shore, where his tribe awaits him in reverent silence. There are no words; They are not necessary. They were already waiting to cross the gates of Hades together; The end is just
  the beginning."

  “Death Tour” represents a sonic evolution for Ophiolatry, balancing their technical prowess with a more atmospheric, tribally influenced approach to extreme metal. The video clip amplifies these themes through striking imagery that merges Greek Mythology with the brutality of modern death metal aesthetics.

  Each track on “Serpent's Verdict” functions as part of an immersive narrative experience. It is an invocation of the past and a battle cry for the future. With the release of “Death Tour,” Ophiolatry continues to build anticipation for the full album, which promises to be one of the most devastating extreme metal releases of 2025. It is recommended for fans of Cryptopsy, Suffocation, and Death.

  Watch and listen to the music video for “Death Tour”.

  Spotify - https://orcd.co/deathtour​

  Album pre-save - https://orcd.co/serpentsverdict​

  Track Listing:​
  1 – Jesus Complex – 3:48
  2 – Revenge – 4:21
  3 – Generation Curse – 3:09
  4 – Death Tour – 3:35
  5 – Serpent’s Spits – 4:31
  6 – Atheris – 1:32
  7 – Apophis – 5:01
  8 – Midia Bible – 3:34
  9 – Manipulations Guilt – 4:03
  10 – Heaven Jails – 3:26
  11 – Narcissistic Victim Syndrome – 4:06
  12 – Human Factory – 3:18
  13 – Ecdysis – 2:34
  Album Length: 47:03

  More info: Ophiolatry.com.br | Facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063556233508 | Instagram.com/ophiolatry

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