After a lengthy hiatus, Canadian alternative rock band Doll announces their return with “Better Days, Different Times”, a new EP set for release on July 18th, 2025. The announcement comes alongside the premiere of their first single, a unique take on Deep Purple's “Smoke on the Water”, marking the band's first new material in over a decade. They comment on the single:
“After seeing all the fires and the destruction that happened in 2024, there was this need to bring forward our version of the song. We updated the lyrics to match how the disasters have made us feel, and musically, we have always wanted to try a more doom-inspired vibe, and this song let us express ourselves in a raw and emotional way.”
The Ottawa-based quartet, known for their gritty, unfiltered indie sound, last released “The Ragdoll Diaries” in 2011, following their 2009 debut “Inside The Dollhouse”. Their return represents a significant evolution in both sound and approach, incorporating new collaborators and instruments while maintaining the raw, honest edge that has defined Doll since their inception.
The new material showcases a more mature sound while retaining the band's signature intensity. Core songwriting duo Christina and Pete have expanded their creative process, bringing in local Ottawa musicians and even a cellist to add depth and new textures to their established sound. Doll is recommended for fans of Nobro, SoftCult, Amyl and the Sniffers, and The Pretty Reckless.
Watch and listen to the music video for Doll's cover of Deep Purple's “Smoke on the Water” below.
Edmonton, Canada's Famous Strangers, is proud to unveil their fourth single entitled "L.S.C." as they gear up for perfmances at this year's festival appearances at Decimate Metalfest (Millet, AB - June 13-14), Armstrong Metal Fest (Armstrong, BC - July 11-12) and Loud As Hell Open Air (Drumheller, AB - Aug 1-3) along with upcoming tour dates to be announced.
"L.S.C.."is meant to take you on a ride. It starts soft, like it is letting you in slowly, and then it flips the switch. The heaviness hits out of nowhere. It grabs you, shakes you, and then drags you through the rest of the track without letting go. It eases you in, then completely takes over, and by the time it is done, it feels like it has drained the life out of you in the best way.
"LSC is one of the most intense and personal songs we’ve released. It digs deep into power, obsession, and emotional survival, all wrapped in a sound that’s meant to hit you hard and stay with you. It is heavy, emotional, and completely unhinged in the best way. Come get some," adds guitarist Jeff Kittilitz.
Famous Strangers wants fans' listening experience to be unpredictable, emotional, and honest. This single, and everything they have been working on, doesn’t stick to one lane. They jump from the heaviest riffs they can come up with to slow, bluesy, chilled-out moments. It’s all over the place, and they know not everyone is going to be into that…and that’s okay.
What they hope is that it opens people up a little, even if it’s not what they usually listen to. There’s so much music out there that people miss out on because they’re stuck in one genre or one mindset. Famous Strangers are trying to break through that and just write what feels real, no matter what it sounds like. They are about being fearless in their songwriting. Put everything on the table, be yourself, and don’t hold back. That’s the energy they’re trying to give people when they press play.
Famous Strangers has had a healthy and steady evolution. Since their earlier singles in 2024, Famous Strangers have started to lock in with each other creatively and naturally found a sound that they can all stand behind. It flows and feels more cohesive, and everyone in the band feeds off each other in a way that keeps pushing the songs to a new level.
Montreal, Canada's Z-Cocoon announces the release of their new EP "Angels" out on June 6th, 2025, via Earache Digital Distro. This third EP is the first full band release from Z-Cocoon, which was founded by Marc Zolla as a solo endeavour in 2017 under the previous moniker Pink Cocoon. Now a power trio with Michel Paradis (Drums) and John Burton (Bass), are prepared to offer electrically-charged heavy music with savage guitar jabs, rockin' blues, and hot solos.
Fans can expect a three-track EP that isvery energetic and sounds exactly like what’s recorded. The guitar solos are very bluesy yet metal-sounding, and are contrasted with catchy melodic vocals, reminiscent of DIO or Pentagram.
"I’m a big fan of songs that have clear and loud vocals where you can sing along and understand and interpret what the song is about, not just noise and a riff," adds Zolla.
Today, Z-Cocoon unveils the opening track and heavy bluesy single "Dr. Crane", inspired by the villain in the Batman Universe, Dr.Crane, aka The Scarecrow.
“Dr. Crane is exactly what Z-Cocoon is all about! Heavy riffs, clean vocals, and lots of blues power! If you like poisoning people’s minds with fear, such as The Scarecrow in Batman, then here you have it. Or if you’re looking for a good heavy song to listen to while working out or doing physical work, or you wanna let loose in your speakers and relax, this is the song for you! Make sure to play it loud for the ultimate listening experience, preferably with good speakers to feel that sound and panning!” adds Zolla.
Loud and dynamic, listen to "Dr. Crane".
Following the "Angels" EP, Z-Cocoon will have an album worth of music and more that will be recorded and released. If you’re into the classics such as Dio, Sabbath, Deep Purple, or blues guys such as Hendrix, Trower, Stevie Ray, or just dig stoner rock/ doom metal, but looking for something a little different, then take a listen and put Z-Cocoon on LOUD!
UK-blackened doom trio Tigguo Cobauc areunleashing their latest music video "Ascended Deliverance" featuring guest vocals from Chelsea Marrow (Voraath, Visitant). The song itself is a reworked version of the album track from 2024's "Fountains of Anguish," released via Exitus Stratagem Records.
With a focus on always giving the listener the most intense and emotional experience, no more so than on the live stage. Tigguo Cobauc is the soundtrack to your darkest desires, as they explain the concept of the song and video:
"The track opens with the haunting pulse of a heartbeat, accompanied by the creeping distortion of industrial noise, drawing the listener into a space of tension and unease. As the first notes of the story unfold, the listener is already submerged in a melodic nightmare—a dreamscape that’s as surreal as it is sinister. The narrative follows a man, lost in his disillusionment with the world, burdened by the weight of life’s cruelty and suffering. Desperate for answers, he becomes obsessed with confronting God directly, seeking retribution for the pain he’s endured. When the conventional means of prayer, the church, and the promises of faith offer no solace, he grows increasingly frustrated and turns to darker paths.
His search leads him to a witch, a figure said to possess the ability to commune with angels, beings who might offer the answers he seeks. The witch, aware of the risks, warns him that the power to speak with such celestial beings is not to be taken lightly; without proper guidance, the consequences could be catastrophic. But driven by desperation and a growing sense of arrogance, the man dismisses the warning. He murders the witch in cold blood, seizing the book of forbidden spells she possessed. With reckless abandon, he chants the incantation, his voice trembling with anticipation and fear.
In that moment, an angel appears—not a being of divine grace, but one of wrath and inevitability. The angel, sensing the man’s hubris and defiance, consumes him entirely. The track climaxes with a surge of chaos and intensity as the angel's judgment is carried out. The heartbeat, which has been a steady rhythm throughout, begins to slow, fading as the man succumbs to his fate.
The track closes with the silence that follows his death—a chilling, final echo that serves as both a literal and metaphorical end. This tale, woven into the fabric of the music, is a cautionary one—a stark reminder of the dangers of unchecked ambition and the folly of trying to command forces beyond one's understanding. It is a warning against acting without caution, against chasing something that may not be meant for you. And, above all, it underscores the truth that sometimes, when you wish for something too fervently, you may just get it—and the consequences may be far worse than you ever imagined."
The music video for "Ascended Deliverance" can be seen and heard via its premiere on Decibel Magazine HERE.
Single Band Line Up: Luca Martello - Guitars Antoine Mouquod - Drums Wayne Turton - Bass, Synth, Keyboards Craig Phillips - Vocals *guest vocalists - Chelsea Marrow (Voraath, Visitant)
Forged by ancient magic deep in the sandstone depths of Nottingham, UK, Tigguo Cobauc's spellbinding guitar riffs over primal rhythm are the sound of your darkest desires. The band's birth into the constellations has been steeped in the murky depths of Death/Doom, cloaked in a sludgy resonance. They have evolved from these beginnings, transcending into realms infused with black metal's ethereal atmospheres, where shadows and intensity intertwine.
Their sophomore record, "Fountains of Anguish," is an amalgamation of classic black metal, reinterpreted with a modern sensibility, and infused with doomy elements that evoke a sense of atmospheric weight. Tigguo Cobauc has seamlessly integrated keyboards into their compositions, adding depth and texture to enhance the listening experience. Through this unique blend, they aspire to infuse their music with a distinctive touch of originality, creating a soundscape that resonates with the genre's traditions and contemporary influences.
Recommended for fans of Celtic Frost, Bathory, and Venom, "Fountains of Anguish" is available at the following links:
Baltimore, MD's NIGHT'S EDGE announces the release of their fourth studio album entitled "The World That Never Was" this coming August 21st, 2025 to follow their Strangers – LP (2023), Night's Edge - EP (2022), The Darkest Side of Dreams - LP (2020), and Shades of Dusk - LP (2019).
Since their inception in 2018, the band has gone through a few changes in lineup and sound, and has progressed significantly from their debut in 2019. Falling under the umbrella of Alternative Metal, Night's Edge's sound is hard to pin down. Incorporating influences from gothic metal, progressive rock, and nu metal, the band's music is equal parts heavy and poppy, soaked in synthesizers and drama. Lyrics breach topics including isolation, dissociation, and the romantic, approaching themes common to the human experience from a cerebral angle that complements the band's emotionally evocative music.
Night's Edge believes in creating music that has a purpose. There is no copy-cating of other artists, or following trends here - even the band's select cover tunes turn the originals on their heads. This is music that you can't get anywhere else, that has something to say, that is unique and exciting while still feeling familiar, like a friend finishing your sentences when you run out of words.
Their fourth full-length, "The World That Never Was," is a statement of songcraft and lyricism. The album flows and progresses clearly as it explores the concept of self-identity and the loss thereof. Moments of melancholy, anger, wonder, and plenty of crushing riffs elicit the stank face. Each single shows a different side of the album.
Brian Haran (Vocals, Bass, Keys, Programming) comments:
"We think our fans will love it and agree with us that it is, hands down, the best Night’s Edge album. There will be a lot of different opinions on which song is the best or who prefers this vs that, but all of those conversations will center around this LP. This album encapsulates the Night’s Edge sound we have been building towards while experimenting with new and innovative ideas. Our lead single, “If You Loved Me,” is the most straightforward song, with a massive chorus reminiscent of HIM that continues to build through the song towards an explosive conclusion. “Someone to Stay” is a guitar-forward track with great leads, a killer solo, and very Queensryche-esque vocals. We gave ourselves a challenge for the live shows, and I (singer, Brian) curse myself for recording this song like this every time we play it live. “Smite” is the album’s heaviest song and has major Slipknot and Ghost influences. It is weirdly danceable right up until the Latin choir bridge and eventually descends into IOWA-esque screaming right before a caveman breakdown. “Love Fiction” is unique for Night’s Edge, very Deftones influenced, but with a synthwave twist featuring rare falsetto vocals. The lyrics describe the romanticization of one’s depression as a safe, never-leaving partner, “Songs in Grey Space II: Soaring” is two and a half minutes of balls out symphonic alternative metal and the middle piece in a three song suite detailing a parable of self-identity in an alternate world where the narrator is the last person on earth."
Night's Edge has unveiled two singles to date, "If You Loved Me" and album opener "Someone To Stay," with more to be shared in the lead up to the record's release in August.
The trio adds about the singles:
If You Loved Me:“All three of us love this song. It has everything – a massive chorus, a scorching guitar solo, and some unexpectedly creepy, heavy sections. A LOT of ground gets covered in under four minutes. The lyrics are a scathing reflection on manipulation, with changing perspectives between the verses and choruses. Above all, the song is inimitably Night’s Edge. This is a sound that you can only get at one place – here, with us.”
Someone to Stay: "This is our guitarist, Damian’s favorite song. The song began with a riff that Damian wrote as an intro lead. When coming up with the intro riff, he was hoping to capture “anime-intro” level energy, and we all agreed that it would make the perfect introduction to the album! Brian took that intro riff and created a very guitar-focused song out of it. The music primes the listener for the progressive compositional journey that is the rest of the album, but the song itself is easily digestible with fun riffs and catchy vocal hooks."
Recommended for fans of Coheed and Cambria, Avantasia, System of a Down, HIM, and Deftones, listen to the singles at the following links:
Upcoming Show Dates: 06/07 – Granny’s – Winchester, VA 06/28 – Cafe 611 – Frederick, MD 07/11 – Union Vapes – Scranton, PA 07/12 – Psychic Garden – Rochester, NY 07/18 – The Depot – Baltimore, MD 07/19 – Century – Philadelphia, PA 08/23 – Roachfest – Hollywood, MD
Album Artwork by Eden Wormwood
Track Listing: 1. Someone To Stay (4:11) 2. If You Loved Me (3:51) 3. Man of Many Faces (4:23) 4. Love Fiction (4:14) 5. Wish You Wouldn’t (4:09) 6. Overdue For Destruction (2:50) 7. Smite (3:46) 8. Ataecina (5:08) 9. Songs In Grey Space I: Reaching (7:43) 10. Songs In Grey Space II: Soaring (2:41) 11. Songs In Grey Space III: Separating (5:23) Total Length: 48:32
Recording and Live Line Up: Brian Haran – Vocals, Bass, Keys, Programming Damian Remmell – Guitars Dan Hunt – Drums
