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Doom Legends CANDLEMASS Reveal Heavy Title Track From New EP, “Black Star”!
| Grammy-nominated doom pioneers CANDLEMASS have unveiled the title track of their upcoming EP, Black Star, out May 9, 2025 via Napalm Records! The EP impressively marks the 40th anniversary of the legendary band. “Black Star” seamlessly merges haunting melodies with deeply introspective lyrics, brought to life by the inimitable voice of Johan Längqvist. Written by genre-defying mastermind Leif Edling, it delves into themes of existential struggle, temptation, and the allure of darkness – an intense atmosphere imbued with CANDLEMASS’ signature sound. The single arrives with a dark, atmospheric music video. Place your pre-orders on the new EP now and check out the video below! CANDLEMASS comments: “‘Black Star‘ is the big heavy track. Contains a bit of everything, Melodic verse, monolithic riff, up-tempo Sabbathy mid part, grand ending a ‘la Rainbow!.” |
| Watch the Official Music Video for “Black Star” HERE: |
Swedish godfathers of epic doom CANDLEMASS honor their 40th anniversary of pioneering the genre with a four-track EP, Black Star. Packed with canyon-deep riffs, the genre-defying band unveils two brand-new songs alongside two cover versions of timeless classics.
Following the title track, the second original song, “Corridors Of Chaos”, marks a true old school instrumental containing both classic metal riffing and stunning guitar playing by Lars Johansson, showcasing the band’s mastery of dynamics. Adding to this tribute, CANDLEMASS delivers a cover of Black Sabbath’s iconic “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”, taking listeners back to 1973. This is followed by their rendition of Pentagram’s classic “Forever My Queen”, further cementing CANDLEMASS’ remarkable contribution to shaping the genre into what it is today.
Black Star tracklist:
1. Black Star
2. Corridors Of Chaos
3. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
4. Forever My Queen
Listenable Records – King Witch Returns with III !
KING WITCH are releasing their much awaited brand new full length album ‘III’ on June 27,2025. The album displays a phenomenal leap forward in terms of songwriting and a massive production.
Formed in late 2015 on the streets of old Edinburgh, King Witch play a lead-heavy brew of rock and doom that draws comparisons ranging from Black Sabbath and Candlemass to Soundgraden and Alice In Chains. The band quickly earned themselves a reputation as a formidable live act and have toured the UK and Europe extensively with the likes of Green Lung as well as playing festivals such as Sweden Rock, Desertfest and Bloodstock..
After self releasing their extremely well received “Shoulder of Giants” ep, the band were picked up by Listenable Records through which they released their debut album “Under The Mountain” in 2018 followed by “Body Of Light” in 2020.
2025 sees the band return with their third and most accomplished full length album, ‘III’, featuring Andrew Scott on drums. Produced and mixed by guitarist Jamie Gilchrist in his own studio, Nameless City Sound, ‘III’ retains the doom and heavy rock elements that characterise their earlier releases while ramping up the energy and focusing on more concise songwriting. The album focuses on where the human race is right now, our apparent desire to destroy ourselves, and the mental struggle to deal with it and carry on living a positive life..
Debut single ‘Swarming Flies’ is scheduled on Friday the 2nd of May, 2025, don’t miss out on this crushing new track!
Produced and mixed by Jamie Gilchrist at Nameless City Sound
Mastered by Grant Berry at Fader Mastering
Cover art by Blasted Heathen
Graphic design by Laura Donnelly
Band photo by Simon Anger
Tracklisting:
1. Suffer In Life 4:14
2. Deal With The Devil 5:49
3. Swarming Flies 4:49
4. Sea Of Lies 6:48
5. Behind The Veil 6:03
6. Diggin In The Dirt 4:25
7. Little Witch 3:24
8. Last Great Wilderness 8:00
King Witch are:
Laura Donnelly – Vocals
Jamie Gilchrist – Guitar
Rory Lee – Bass
Drums performed by Andrew Scott
Canada’s PRISONER Announces “Kill The King Tour” (BC/AB) In Support of New EP “House of Cards” Out Now!
High-energy Canadian rock band Prisoner announces it will be hitting the road across British Columbia and Alberta (dates listed below) this coming May and June. Entitled “Kill The King Tour”, the show dates will be in support of their follow-up album to be released in June 2025 to their 2024 EP “House of Cards”. Album details will revealed at later date.
“We can not wait to share what we have been working on this past year. Getting out on the road and sharing experiences with the music community is a privilege we are lucky to have. Expect to hear most of our new record set to release in June and keep an ear out for more dates being added for later this summer! Every artist says this, but this album is our best work to date, and it will prove we are here to stay,” adds Murray Emery (guitar/vocals).
Bringing you hard-hitting riffs and unmistakably tight grooves, Prisoner‘s latest EP is a conglomeration of music with multiple elements from varying sub-genres. It bridges the gap between emotion and life experience to truly connect music to the individual. With its anthemic themes, fast riffs, and glassy acoustic guitar, each song offers something different for your casual rock fan to die-hard thrash headbanger.
Prisoner‘s dedication to their craft is evident in their unparalleled stage presence and their commitment to engaging with their audience. The band thrives on crowd interaction and creating an electric atmosphere at their shows. Off stage, they value connecting with fans and being part of the rock community. They are recommended for fans of AC/DC, Judas Priest, Godsmack, and Metallica.
Prisoner – Kill The King Tour w/ Passing Pluto:
May 27 – Kelowna, BC – Jack Knife Brewery
May 29 – Vancouver, BC – The Cobalt
May 30 – Kamloops, BC – Skyview Theatre
May 31 – Penticton, BC – Clancy’s Pub
June 5 – Cranbrook, BC – Shotties
June 6 – Lethbridge, AB – The Owl
June 7 – Calgary, AB – Festival Hall
June 13 – Red Deer, AB – The Vat
June 14 – Edmonton, AB – Dive Bar
“House Of Cards” was released on August 21, 2024, on all digital platforms
Rawmoor Unleashes Symphonic Blackened Death Metal Assault With Lyric Video For “Forth”
| Symphonic blackened death metal duo RawMoor proudly unveils the lyric video for “Forth,” a relentless descent into darkness, taken from their forthcoming album En Route, due for release on May 2, 2025, via Wormholedeath. |
| Prepare for total devastation. RawMoor unleashes Forth—a symphonic blackened death metal assault forged in defiance and drenched in wrath. This track drags you through a desolate wasteland of oppression, hypocrisy, and forced indoctrination, culminating in a rallying cry against the system.Crushing riffs, ferocious vocals, and orchestral darkness collide to deliver a soul-shattering experience. Will you bow to the tyranny, or will you rise? |
| Watch “Forth” NOW: |
With an uncompromising vision, RawMoor merges haunting melodies, blistering riffs, and symphonic grandeur into an unrelenting storm of blackened death metal. Drawing inspiration from Dimmu Borgir, Agathodaimon, Windir, Cradle of Filth, Behemoth, and Finntroll, the duo carves out their own identity in the extreme metal underground.
Their upcoming album, En Route, cements their ability to balance brutality with elegance, setting them apart in an already savage genre. Guest soloist Renton (tracks 2, 3, 6) adds searing leads to the chaos, while Brim’s vocals deliver a dual assault of guttural brutality and spectral shrieks.
MIDNIGHT To Release Steel, Rust And Disgust Covers Album
Cleveland‘s favorite filth metal practitioners, MIDNIGHT, will unleash Steel, Rust And Disgust on May 23rd via Metal Blade Records.
One-man-army, Athenar, has been spewing out an ungodly racket, dropping countless demos, splits, EPs, and LPs and ultimately slaying the metal/punk underground with his own addictive brand of lust, grime, and sleaze for over two decades. The Steel, Rust And Disgust collective follows last year‘s chart topping Hellish Expectations full-length and features ten unique cover tracks alongside two new cuts.
Athenar comments, “The idea to record an album of all cover jams with a certain theme is nothing quite new. The original title for this album was gonna be Throw Ups as an homage to the David Bowie‘s Pin Ups album, also of covers. Although Throw Ups is only two syllables and I need six. I guess I could’ve called it Throw Downs Throw Outs Throw Ups, but that would be just fucking stupid.
“I just wanted to record some songs by bands who shared the same sights, sounds, and sewage of my region of birth,” he continues. “Some of these tunes you may have heard, some you may have not. So please, do yourself a favor and check out the original versions… if you want to transform into a total fucking slimebag that is!”
In advance of the record‘s official release, today MIDNIGHT presents the original track, “Cleveland Metal.” Notes Athenar, “’Cleveland‘ and ’metal.‘ Those two words flow together like molten steel. This title was directly taken from a compilation album of the same name released in 1983 on Clubside Records, pre Auburn Records. The song was written as an erotic love letter to the cursed city whence I was thrusted upon and its fellow inhabitants of subhumans.”
Watch MIDNIGHT‘s video for “Cleveland Metal,” directed by My Good Eye Visuals, HERE:
Steel, Rust And Disgust Track Listing:
1. Cleveland Metal
2. Iron Beast (Kratos cover)
3. I’m Insane (Synastryche cover)
4. Final Solution (Rocket From The Tombs cover)
5. Frenzy (Screamin’ Jay Hawkins cover)
6. Child Eaters (Rubber City Rebels cover)
7. 3rd Generation Nation (Dead Boys cover)
8. Rock N’ Roll Fever (David Allan Coe cover)
9. Carrions Keep (False Hope cover)
10. Black Leather Rock (Electric Eels cover)
11. Steel, Rust And Disgust
12. Agitated (Electric Eels cover)
Heavy Metal Project Ampicore Signs with Wormholedeath Records
| Wormholedeath Records proudly announces its latest signing: Ampicore, a heavy metal revelation with a passion for history and storytelling. The project, spearheaded by multi-talented composer Frederic Frees, is set to release its ambitious concept album, March Up Country – The Rock Opera, on May 16, 2025. This monumental work chronicles the real-life tale of Xenophon’s March of the Ten Thousand, a perilous journey of Greek mercenaries through hostile territory in 401 B.C. With sweeping melodies, blistering riffs, and heartfelt storytelling, the album fuses heavy metal with historical depth, delivering an unforgettable sonic experience |
| “Signing with Wormholedeath is an overwhelming privilege for me. Carlo’s review of March Up Country – The Rock Opera was nothing short of inspirational. It was that same type of inspiration that motivated me to create the album in the first place. Fusing history with my favorite genre, Heavy Metal, was something I always wanted to do. I bow humbly in the shadow of the greats, especially Iron Maiden, whose footsteps I follow to March Up Country.” -Frederic Frees An Epic Tale of Survival and Brotherhood March Up Country – The Rock Opera takes listeners on an emotional and harrowing journey, detailing the highs and lows of Xenophon’s mercenaries. From the triumph of battle to the despair of isolation, this heavy metal opera captures the indomitable spirit of survival, camaraderie, and the relentless will to return home. Immerse yourself in the first epic chronicle through the lyric video for “The Broken Busts of Hermes”: |
Ampicore unites an extraordinary lineup of vocalists and musicians to bring this historic narrative to life:
Singers: Rob Lundgren, Charlie Griffith, Mauro Elias, Jamie Jordan, Eric Castiglia
Guitarists: Mauricio Mirapalheta, Miguel Esparzapro, Vini Assis, Axe Japan, Skogarheim, Lucas Shred
Bass: Marco Toba, Miguel Esparzapro, Charlie Griffith, Mladen Jovanovic, Frederic Frees
Drums: Maikon Queiroz, Brian Henry, Chris Bouchard
Keyboards: Frederic Frees, Charlie Griffith
Bouzouki: Marlos Georglou
About Frederic Frees
Frederic Frees’ musical journey began at the age of 5 on the piano, evolving into a lifelong passion for bass guitar and composition. After decades of creating music and performing in rock bands during the 70s and 80s, Frederic took a break to explore other avenues, including a potential career as a history teacher. Thirty years later, his love for history and music merged to create March Up Country – The Rock Opera, a labor of passion that bridges his two great loves.
Gothic Rock/ Hard Goth Discovery BLAX Signs With Wormholedeath
| BLAX Inks Deal With Wormholedeath For “Certesia”:Dark, Theatrical Masterpiece Set To Drop April 25, 2025 |
| Wormholedeath is proud to announce the signing of Italian gothic rock/hard goth revolutionaries BLAX for their highly anticipated sophomore album, “Certesia”, slated for release on 25 April 2025. A storm of shadow and steel, BLAX merges brooding gothic atmospheres with industrial grit, alternative edge, and the unapologetic fury of hard rock/metal, crafting a sound that defies genre walls while paying homage to the dark romanticism of ’80s icons. A Sonic Odyssey from “Meravilia” to “Certesia” Following their 2022 debut “Meravilia”—a cult favorite that carved their name into the underground—“Certesia” marks a journey inward. The album explores a metaphorical “village” of personal certainties, with each track dissecting introspective facets of identity. “This isn’t just music—it’s a pilgrimage,” says the band. “‘Certesia’ is where we confront our shadows and embrace the chaos of self-discovery. It’s raw, theatrical, and unflinchingly honest.” Get a glimpse of Certesia now with the music video for “Mr Graceful” – a taste of what’s to come: |
| The BLAX Ethos: Goth Family, Theatrical Fire BLAX’s artistry extends beyond sound. Their striking visual identity embodies a “goth family” ethos, blending vampiric elegance with punk rebellion. This aesthetic depth amplifies their live shows, where haunting melodies collide with primal energy—a spectacle that has electrified stages at Masters of Rock (CZ), Rock Castle (SK), and festivals across Europe. From Lockdown Project to Gothic Force Born in March 2020 as the solo vision of vocalist Giampaolo Polidoro (Blax) and guitarist Marco Fanella (Hektor), BLAX evolved into a formidable quintet with Emil Dellantonio (Hexen) on guitar, Carlo Notarfonso (Xavier) on bass, and Luca Urbinati (ANON) on drums. After signing with AlphaOmega and conquering stages from Bulgaria to London, the band now readies their most ambitious work yet with Wormholedeath. |
| BLAX is bringing storm across Europe, with their cinematic live ritual to: 03.04 | Kraków, PL 04.04 | Chorzów, PL 05.04 | Vrútky, SK 06.04 | Bielsko-Biała, PL 07.04 | Ostrava, CZ 08.04 | Brno, CZ 09.04 | Bratislava, SK 11.04 | Budapest, HU 12.04 | Timișoara, RO 06.06 | Metalfest CZ 01.08 | Vagos Festival PT |
From The Ashes – 30/03/2025
Playlist:
The Bronx Casket Company – Motorcrypt
Rammstein – Mutter
Foo Fighters – Breakout
Aerosmith – Eat The Rich
Skid Row – Beat Yourself Blind
Exodus – The Toxic Waltz
Angelus Apetrida – We Stand Alone
Mushroomhead – Prepackaged
Ice Nine Kills – A Rash Decision
Spineshank – Beginning of The End
Falling In Reverse – I’m Not A Vampire
Testament – Shades of War
Blue Oyster Cult – Godzilla
Queen – Sheer Heart Attack
AC/DC – Whole Lotta Rosie
Lordi – Dead Again Jayne
Oceans on Orion – Breaking The Habit
DevilDriver – Through The Depths
Dracovalis – Midnight Anthem
Innerwrath – Inside The Mirage
The Fires Below – Too Far To Reach
Butcher Babies – Wrong End of the Knife
Mystic Prophecy – Eye To Eye
Ghostkid – Heavy Rain
Stone Sour – Song #3
Nonpoint – Chaos & Earthquakes
Deep Purple – Stormbringer
Threshold – Disappear
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