Search Results: stratagem

• 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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• JAWFANE Announces Debut EP “Me And All My Demons” With Lead Single “Cataclysm (Nightmare)”

  Apr 23, 2025 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

  L-R - Cory Pack (guitar), Jesse Marquez (keyboard), Austin Heipp (vocals), AJ Chacon (drums), Chase Shumann (bass)

  Photo Credit - Megan Rose // Instagram @mrosedesigner

  USA’s post-hardcore outfit Jawfane is proud to announce their debut EP “Me and All My Demons” set for release on June 26th through Exitus Stratagem Records. Alongside this announcement, the band has released their first single, “Cataclysm (Nightmare),” which is the first look at the aggressive, emotional, and immersive music Jawfane prides themselves on. Cory comments on the single:

  “I am of the 00’ hardcore scene with a deep love for Norma Jean, the opening riff is an call back to that era, Chase did a great job writing us out of it into a more modern metal riff that's the hard part of those moments, coming out of the familiar into something not so normal for me at least. We tried to be as aggressive as we could with the breakdown and chorus, but still keep it a song with a structure, which is not the instinct when playing giant breakdowns. I never want those parts to end.”

  Born from a desire to create without judgment or barriers, Jawfane has spent the last four years building their sound from the ground up. What began as a group of friends secretly writing together has evolved into an immersive musical force that defies easy categorization. Though rooted in metal-core and hardcore sensibilities, the band refuses to be pigeonhole into a single genre.

  “Me and All My Demons” represents a collection of real-life experiences transformed into raw, cathartic expressions. All Jawfane songs are based in reality for at least one of the members, someone they know personally, or something they needed to say that they couldn't say any other way”. This authenticity runs through lead single “Cataclysm (Nightmare),” which showcases the band's ability to channel personal struggles into powerful sonic landscapes.

  The EP was initially self-produced before catching the attention of Exitus Stratagem Records, who worked with the band to rework and re-record the entire collection. Jawfane will be supporting the release with shows throughout the summer. They are recommended for fans of Misery Signals, Cane Hill, and King 810.

  Listen to “Cataclysm (Nightmare)” at the following links:

  Spotify (all digital platforms) - https://hypeddit.com/jawfane/cataclysmnightmare​

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  EP pre-save - https://hypeddit.com/jawfane/meandallmydemons​

  Track Listing:​
  1. Damaged Goods - 3:48
  2. Cataclysm (Nightmare) - 2:42
  3. Me and All My Demons - 3:46
  4. Friends and Enemies - 3:20
  5. Time Hunts Us All - 4:01
  EP Length: 17:39

  More info:

  ​Exsrmusic.com | Facebook.com/ExSRecords | Instagram.com/exsrmusic | X.com/exsrmusic​

  ​Facebook.com/Jawfane | Instagram.com/jawfane

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• VORAATH's New Music Video "The Road To Samm Hill" For New Album “Vol 1: The Hymn of the Hunters”

  Aug 8, 2024 Fistoffreedom 0 Comments

   

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  Transporting you through a portal of sci-fi storytelling and extreme music, Voraath's first full-length “Vol 1: The Hymn of the Hunters” is brutal yet epic metal. The level of detail that the band has emphasized in this release exposes a grand story of interdimensional worlds and cosmic entities warring while paying homage to their culture in the Appalachian Mountains of the Carolinas.

  "This album will be an investment of thought and emotion. We want to immerse the listener in another world. It’s heavy yet sad, brutal yet immersive, so we hope to take everyone on a journey. That journey is scored with metal! We think this album will be something unique, a whirlwind of emotions and an auditory odyssey. We capsulated real events in our lives and laced them through our complex musical universe. We want the fans to feel the music, and ride along with us on this musical journey through our dystopian planet." adds the band.

  Today, that journey continues with the next music video for "The Road To Samm Hill", a song that outlines the battle with the otherworldly entity as well as discovering a traitor in their ranks. The band explains the story further:

  "We have received coordinates to the location of the relay, an alien mechanism that can bend space-time. Employed by EOS Corp, our mission is to retrieve the relay at all costs. As we approach the area of operation, we are confronted by a creature frail and decaying stumbling along the old road. As it approaches us it reaches out its hand, revealing a sort of otherworldly controller. The creature shortly after petrifies and dies. Resuming our journey we come across a barren village, with dead bodies scattered. Further investigating we discover that Ostromek Corp had been conducting experiments on what seems to be an otherworldly entity. The scientist and security officers of Ostromek had seemingly lost control of the creature which had led to the massacre of the local village."

  In additional news, VORAATH will perform at this year's Michigan Metal Fest on August 24th in Battle Creek alongside Mushroomhead, (hed) PE, Gideon, and lots more.

  An odyssey of hardship, betrayal, survival, and cosmic tales, “Vol 1: The Hymn of the Hunters” is recommended for fans of Septic Flesh, Gojira, and Fleshgod Apocalypse, and is available at the following links:

  Digital - https://hypeddit.com/voraath/volume1hymnofthehunters​

  CD - https://www.exsrmusic.com/store/p/pre-sale-voraath-vol-i-hymn-of-the-hunter-available-june-17-2024​

  More info: Exsrmusic.com | Voraath.com

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