AHAMKARA Returns with “The Harrow of the Lost”

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Following ten years of silence after the release of their debut album The Embers of the Stars and the untimely death of vocalist Steven, UK-based atmospheric black metal trio AHAMKARA returns with a new lineup and new album The Harrow of the Lost, an unflinching exploration of the transformative nature of grief. 

The Harrow of the Lost is out now on Bindrune Records. Order the album at shop.bindrunerecordings.com and bindrunerecordings.bandcamp.com.

Stream The Harrow of the Lost on Apple Music.

The Harrow of the Lost tracklisting:

1. The Circle of Remembrance

2. Our Scars Shall Abide in the Thaw

3. Channelling Grief

4. Ordeal of Ascension

An emotionally charged and fiercely personal record, The Harrow of the Lost takes the AHAMKARA sound in a more complex and tormented direction, encompassing existential rage, nihilistic despair, and all in between. Both rawer and more organic in sound, intensified by the electrifying drum work of new member Austin Lunn (Panopticon), and scaling greater peaks of Emperial ambition than ever before, the album integrates the expansive reach of the Cascadian black metal sound with the densely detailed savagery of classic Emperor and the aching melancholy of early Anathema to produce a deeply involving journey of genre-transcending atmospheric metal.

Completed by a heartfelt and uncompromising vocal performance from founder member Michael and the nuanced, evocative synth work of Alexandra (also of labelmates Nemorous), this is a journey into the scorched earth landscapes of bereavement that no follower of the Bindrune family should miss.

Canadian Progressive Death SYMBIOTIC GROWTH Partners w/ Bolverk Records For CD Release of New Album “Beyond The Sleepless Aether”

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Unleashing their sophomore album “Beyond The Sleepless Aether” this past March, Canadian progressive blackened death unit Symbiotic Growth announces they have partnered with Bolverk Records for the physical release of the record on May 9th, 2025.

The band comments:

“We’re proud to team up with Bolverk Records for a limited CD release of our new album. In an age of digital saturation, there’s something powerful about holding music in your hands — something tangible, raw, and real. Bolverk shares our DIY ethos, making them the perfect partner for this release. We’re stoked to bring this record to life in physical form for those who still value the ritual of pressing play.”

CD Promo Video – https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h1GV6yi5Dso​

CD Pre-Order – https://www.bolverkcollective.com/symbioticgrowth​

Similar to the band’s predecessor, their 2020 self-titled full-length, “Beyond The Sleepless Aether,” is once again based in fiction and is lyrically conceptual, but dives more into thoughts and emotions of everyday life, and sometimes those thoughts are hard to deal with.

“I feel like this time around, the sound is a bit darker and experimental, with more synth-heavy sounds and a melancholy atmosphere. The lyrics were very loosely inspired by a dream I (Aaron) had about the multiverse theory intertwined with some of my challenges of dealing with a sense of being and why we are all here,” says Aaron Barriault (Vocals, Guitar, Bass).

Progressive, experimental, foreboding, and emotional, every song has its own identity and place within the album’s story, taking its protagonist through the multiverse, placing him in places like dark wooded forests, wide open desert landscapes, and the unending cosmos.

The full-length listening experience tackles strong topics of loneliness, a sense of being, self-hatred, and suicide. Some of these are blatant and easy to see, and others are subtle throughout the album, lyrically and musically.

“I think the fans who have heard our previous album may be a bit surprised; the sound of this album is a bit different; it’s a little bit more experimental in its way. Either way, we hope that fans enjoy what we’ve created. I feel like the listener may have feelings of uneasiness and wonder. An odd combination, but I feel like it’s fitting.

Mixed and mastered by Tom Maclean (Twelve Tone Studio, Haken, Athemon, Brutta), “Beyond The Sleepless Aether” features seven paryalzing sounds of technical metal created by the Sudbury, ON recording line up of Aaron Barriault (Vocals, Guitar, Bass), Devin McQueen (Vocals, Guitar), and Dan Favot (Drums)(ex-Wolven Ancestry, ex-Fractal Generator). The artwork was created by Erskine Designs and shows an entity standing at the foot of what the band likes to think of as Azathoth.

“The album doesn’t touch on any Lovecraftian mythos (maybe a bit in The Sleepless Void), but the lore behind Azathoth, that we are all in his dream and once he wakes, everything will cease to be, is very fitting to the album lyrically,” adds Barriault.

Recommended for fans of Ne Oblivisacaris, Der Weg Einer Freiheit, Cor Scorpii, and Gojira, “Beyond The Sleepless Aether” is available at the following links:

BRUTAL SPHINCTER: Belgian goregrind powerhouse drops “Beatdown Syndrome” video

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“Beatdown Syndrome” is the savage new single from Belgian goregrind powerhouse BRUTAL SPHINCTER. The song is the latest single preceding the band’s gnarled new album, “Sphinct-Earth Society“, due out May 23rd, 2025, via Time To Kill Records!

The track is a satire of the beatdown hardcore scene. Bold and daring, it blends relatively technical death metal riffs with groovy verses and a chorus worthy of the greatest hardcore bands. The bass and drums take center stage, reaching their peak when the guitars drop out for several seconds. The vocalists complement each other, delivering a brutal and diverse range of techniques. With such qualities, this track is set to become a staple in the band’s discography.

Watch the “Beatdown Syndrome” video:

With“Sphinct-Earth Society”, the band pushes the boundaries of the genre they inhabit. In other words, by incorporating numerous new influences, ranging from death metal to modern metal, they redefine what goregrind can be, all while maintaining that groovy signature sound that makes them so instantly recognizable.

For example, while the track “Beatdown Syndrome” integrates hardcore elements, the song “Name Three Songs” instrumentally pushes the limits of technicality. Meanwhile, a track like “Abolish Frontex” draws influences from death metal akin to Daath or Decapitated, and a juggernaut like “Unvaxxed Lives Matter” secures its place as a classic in BRUTAL SPHINCTER’s discography thanks to its unparalleled heaviness and ultra-groovy riffs.

Across the 10 tracks that make up this new opus, BRUTAL SPHINCTER tackles societal issues both dramatic (climate change, immigration, sexism, etc.) and conspiratorial (anti-vaxxers, flat-earthers, etc.). As usual, they use their particularly biting humor and embrace absurdity to approach these sensitive topics.

Moreover, the band’s two frontmen complement each other more than ever, delivering a particularly diverse vocal range. Whether you’re a fan of the pitched vocals typical of goregrind, the slimy inhales of slamming death metal, the caveman shouts of powerviolence, or the more traditional growls foundational to death metal, there’s something to enjoy in these 30 minutes of brutality.

With this new offering, BRUTAL SPHINCTER solidifies its position among the leaders of their genre and sets out to expand its reputation into scenes less niche than grindcore.

Tracklist:

​1. The Prolapse Of Society
2. Tony Hawk Pro-Choice 2022
3. Crusta-Colada (Crack’n Kofola)
4. Unvaxxed Lives Matter
5. Beatdown Syndrome
6. Name Three Songs
7. Sphinct-Earth Society
8. The Juice Did It
9. Persona Non-Greta
10. Abolish Frontex

Preorders:

https://timetokillrecords.com/collections/brutal-sphincter-sphincht-earth-society

https://brutalsphincter.bandcamp.com/album/sphinct-earth-society

Offending everyone since April 1st, 2013, BRUTAL SPHINCTER have, over the years, established themselves as one of the leading acts in the current goregrind scene.

Bringing political themes into their music, they dub themselves “POOlitical” and, through offbeat and satirical humor, take a stand against all forms of extremism while championing freedom of speech.

Despite their extreme musical style, they are one of those rare acts that can seamlessly fit into any type of event or festival. They have proven this time and again, performing at some of the biggest metal gatherings in Europe, such as Hellfest, Summer Breeze Open Air, Alcatraz, Motocultor, Party San, Metaldays, and more, as well as at the most extreme metal events like Obscene Extreme, DeathFeast Open Air, Meh Suff, Kaltenbach Open Air and Netherlands Deathfest.

BEWARE! Party, dance, groove, and brutality are the elements they always bring with them to every show.

Line-up:

Eerik Maurage – Guitar
Germain Bodeus – Bass
Jimmy Defays – Unpitched Vocals
Griska Lutgen – Pitched Vocals
Julien Racine – Drums

DEEZ NUTS Are Back With “Kill This Shit”

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DEEZ NUTS are back with a video for their latest anthem, “Kill This Shit”. The video was directed and edited by Michael Williamson and can be found here: 

JJ Peters (vocals) on the song and video: “‘Kill This Shit‘ is about taking on the world, fighting for what you deserve, and doing what you want without giving in to self-doubt or criticism.”

Catch them live:
19.07.25 (BE) Dour Dour Festival
24.07.25 (DE) München – Free & Easy @ Backstage
25.07.25 (CH) Goms – RottenRockFest 2025
26.07.25 (DE) Wirges – Subwood
31.07.25 (DE) Weinheim – Cafe Central w/ Cro Mags
01.08.25 (CZ) Littomerice – Death Coffee Festival
02.08.25 (DE) Roitzscchjora – Full Rewind
04.08.25 (DE) Berlin – Huxleys w/ Landmvrks, Counterparts
 
Stay tuned for more new tunes from DEEZ NUTS shortly!

Australia’s rising modern metal stars GHOSTSEEKER release new studio album “Divergence”, out now on ROAR!

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Emerging from the competitive Australian heavy music scene, GhostSeeker took the metal world by storm with their infectious debut EP, “Initium Novum”, which amassed almost a million streams across major platforms since its release in 2022. After numerous frenetically-acclaimed shows across Australia, the band quickly built a strong local fanbase, now they are ready to conquer the world with the release of their much-awaited debut album “Divergence”, that is out now on ROAR!

Available as CD, Vinyl and digital formats, visit https://ghostseeker.rpm.link/divergencePR to order your favorite choice of format.

“GhostSeeker bring a breath of fresh air to the genre,” attests Rock Hard Magazine Germany, while the press colleagues from Rock Hard in Italy confirm, GhostSeeker sound “fresh and dynamic. We’ll hear more from them!”Powermetal.de writes “Ten excellent songs with powerful singalongs”, yet, Devolution Magazine in the UK is convinced “This is an amazing – no – astonishing – debut album!”

Originally formed by ex-LETTERS TO AMARA guitarist Tim Campey, vocalist Celeste Bojczuk and guitarist Cory Walkeden, GhostSeeker completed the line-up adding singer Daniel Breen (ex-STORM THE SKY) and Daniel Gay (ex-ANYONE ANYONE). Fans will be encapsulated by the unique aesthetic and soaring vocals provided by Celeste Bojczuk married together with the harsh yet melodic flow offered by Daniel Breen. The band’s sound greets a contrast that’s sure to command attention. Guitarists, Cory Walkeden and Tim Campey, effortlessly feed off one another creating a feeling and atmosphere which resonates with all listeners alike, whilst rhythm and bass provide perfectly complements and leads what GhostSeeker are, and who are destined to become one of heavy music’s hottest bands!

Order “Divergence” now on  https://ghostseeker.rpm.link/divergencePR

TRACKLISTING:
01 – Internment 
02 – The Looking Glass 
03 – Wake Up (Imposter) 
04 – Metempsychoses 
05 – Cursed Till The End 
06 – Glow In Decay 
07 – Dissension 
08 – A Reverie In Atonement 
09 – Beta War 
10 – The Prototype 

SVART VINTER unleash new single “Torment”

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Today Italian atmospheric black metal five-piece SVART VINTER unleash their new single “Torment”.
 
The song is taken from their sophomore studio album “Isvind” to be released on May 30th, 2025 via Non Serviam Records.
 
“‘Torment’ delves deep into the dark, wintry depths of the human soul. It tells the story of an individual trapped in the icy grip of their own existence, where light is a distant memory and hope is extinguished by an inescapable darkness. It’s a statement of existence within darkness, a reflection on the annihilation of the self in a world that offers nothing but cold and abandonment. We hope this track can accompany those who, like us, find a certain beauty in the harshness of the void, in the strength of the ice, and in the freedom hidden within despair,” comments the band.
 
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:

About the album SVART VINTER state: “It captures the raw forces of winter’s darkness, with themes of isolation, grief, and torment at its core. Each track immerses the listener in a cold, unforgiving landscape where the frost gnaws at your soul and the night stretches on endlessly.
 
‘Isvind’ offers an experience that is both atmospheric and intense, bringing to life the most sinister aspects of winter’s embrace. The album weaves a tale of death and darkness, and is a relentless exploration of the harshest elements, where the forces of nature are as merciless as they are mesmerizing.”
 
“Isvind” track listing
1. Torment
2. Frozen Tomb
3. Isvind
4. Ritual
5. Abyss
6. Where The Shadows Lie
7. My Last Winter
8. Of Cold And Grief
9. Beneath The Night’s Cold Gaze
 
“Isvind” was mixed and mastered by SVART VINTER’s frontman Andrea Maggioni at Decomposed Design Studio.
The album’s artwork is based on an original photo by Autumnal Mood Photography.
 
Founded in Rome in 2021 by members of the doom/death metal band Veil Of Conspiracy, they draw inspiration from the classic Norwegian black metal scene of the 90’s. The band’s name, meaning “black winter” in Swedish and Norwegian, reflects the bleak and atmospheric qualities of their music.
 
Though relatively new to the scene, SVART VINTER has quickly established themselves in the underground black metal community. Their debut album, “Mist” (2022), received critical acclaim for its raw intensity and evocative atmosphere. The album captures the essence of traditional Black Metal while adding a fresh, emotional depth.
 
SVART VINTER’s sound is characterized by haunting melodies, cold, sharp riffs, and a powerful, relentless rhythm section. Their lyrics delve into themes of nature, isolation, and existential struggle, exploring both the beauty and the darkness of the natural world and the human condition. With poetic, introspective lyrics, Svart Vinter creates an immersive experience that resonates deeply with listeners, reflecting on the human spirit’s search for meaning in an indifferent and often hostile universe.
 
Their music is more than just a reflection of black metal’s harsh sound – it’s a journey through darkness, atmosphere and emotion, a tribute to the genre’s past while looking toward its future.
 
SVART VINTER are:
Andrea Maggioni – Vocals
Luca Gagnoni – Rhythm and Lead Guitars
Emanuela Marino – Rhythm Guitars
Jacopo Simonelli – Bass
Luca Tiraterra – Drums

THE DEAD DAISIES Drop “Boom Boom”

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The Dead Daisies are turning up the heat with the release of their latest single, “Boom Boom”—a gritty, hard-hitting take on the John Lee Hooker classic. Out today via SPV GmbH Germany, the track is the latest single off the band‘s upcoming blues album Lookin‘ For Trouble, arriving May 30th. Steeped in the raw energy and rebellious spirit that shaped rock ’n‘ roll, the album finds the band reimagining blues standards with the same firepower that has fueled their decade-long run.

“Boom Boom” channels the swagger and soul of Hooker‘s original, inspired by his time at Detroit‘s Apex Bar, where the bartender Willa would famously scold him, “Boom boom, you late again!” The phrase sparked one of his biggest crossover hits, and now The Dead Daisies bring that same playful edge and infectious rhythm to their high-octane version. “He thought it was a great title and wrote the song,” says frontman John Corabi. “He recorded it with the legendary Motown session band The Funk Brothers, and we couldn‘t pass up the opportunity to put our spin on it!!!” The result is a riff-heavy, blues-drenched anthem that pays tribute while making it unmistakably their own.
Watch “Boom Boom” HERE

From the moment they stepped into FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, the band—John Corabi, David Lowy, Doug Aldrich, Michael Devin, and Sarah Tomek, — felt the weight of history around them. The iconic space, where legends like Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, and Etta James once recorded, inspired a late-night jam session that quickly became something much bigger. Producer Marti Frederiksen pressed record, and what started as impromptu fun turned into a full-fledged album—one that captures the blues in its purest, most electrifying form.
 
Across ten powerhouse tracks, Lookin‘ For Trouble breathes new life into legendary songs, with The Dead Daisies putting their own stamp on each one. The band‘s high-voltage take on Robert Johnson‘s “Crossroads”—the song that gave rise to blues mythology—kicked off the album rollout with a scorching tribute to the Delta blues legend.
 
“’Crossroads‘ by Delta bluesman Robert Johnson has created a myth so large that it‘s been etched into the very foundation of rock ’n‘ roll lore,” says bassist Michael Devin. “Many bands have covered ’Crossroads‘ over the years, now we‘ve covered it in our own way.”
 
The band‘s rendition has already been met with praise, with Raised by Cassettes calling it “a high-energy, soul-drenched performance that bridges past and present.”  The track is also receiving airplay on radio stations across Germany, the UK, and Australia.
 
Elsewhere on the album, the band tears through classics like “Going Down” (Freddie King) and “Black Betty” (Lead Belly), putting their own hard-hitting spin on these blues staples. The setlist also includes smoldering renditions of “Born Under A Bad Sign” (Albert King), “Sweet Home Chicago” (Robert Johnson), and “The Thrill Is Gone” (B.B. King), each one injected with The Dead Daisies‘ signature grit and intensity.

At its core, Lookin‘ For Trouble is a testament to the enduring power of the blues. The band approached the album with a deep respect for the genre‘s origins, recording the songs live to capture the spontaneity and emotion that make blues so timeless.
 
“This album is our love letter to the blues,” says John Corabi. “When I first heard blues, it was through bands like Led Zeppelin and The Rolling Stones. The deeper I researched my heroes, the deeper I got into the history of this music. The blues is the soul of rock ’n‘ roll—it‘s in everything we do.”
 
Guitarist Doug Aldrich adds, “We cut these songs live, in the same room where so many legends recorded. It was all about feel—capturing the rawness and authenticity that makes blues so powerful.”
 
Lookin‘ For Trouble by The Dead Daisies
1. I‘m Ready (Muddy Waters)
2. Going Down (Freddie King)
3. Boom Boom (John Lee Hooker)
4. Black Betty (Lead Belly)
5. The Thrill Is Gone (B.B. King)
6. Born Under A Bad Sign (Albert King)
7. Crossroads (Robert Johnson)
8. Sweet Home Chicago (Robert Johnson)
9. Walking the Dog (Rufus Thomas)
10. Little Red Rooster (Howlin‘ Wolf)

Melodic Thrash/Death Band Midjungards Drops New Single “Hraudung”

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“Hraudung” is a stark, primal vision, a warrior’s shadow slicing through an endless frost. A frozen void stretches wide, jagged and pale, winds screaming secrets. He looms wild-haired, fur-draped, a blade of rune and ice in hand, more myth than man. The air bites, storms claw, yet he moves, a ember in the cold, carving through veils of snow and shadow.

Dark shapes rise beasts or spirits clashing in bursts of steel and silence. Lightning cracks, framing his roar, a mark etched in ice that hums with old echoes. The chaos fades to a dawn glow, his form a jagged scar against the light, claiming the stillness. It’s raw, vast, a dance of strength and frost, less a story than a pulse in the wild.

In Ravens and Eagles, Midjungards journeys into darker musical territories, embracing elements from black metal while maintaining our signature melodic, modern sound. It’s an intense exploration of the Gothic past, shedding light on the dual forces that shape our world. This album brings out a new depth and intensity to our music, and we can’t wait to share it with you.

SACRED STEEL – premieres “Leather, Spikes and Chains” music video from brand new studio album “Ritual Supremacy”, out today on ROAR!

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“Ritual Supremacy” won’t disappoint any fan of the Swabian steel manufacturer. In my humble opinion, this record is even among the best Gerrit, Matze & Co. have ever released!”  

9/10 – ROCK HARD (GER)

“Their most diverse album yet!”  
4,7/5 – KNAC.COM (US)

“The Wargods of Metal are back – and they haven’t forgotten anything!”  
8,5/10 – POWERMETAL.DE

“Undoubtedly Sacred Steel’s most varied Album!”  
9/10 – ROCK HARD (IT)

“‘Ritual Supremacy’ is a great album without weak moments. This is how real heavy metal should sound without compromise!”  
8/10 – ROCK TRIBUNE (BE)
For more than 25 years, SACRED STEEL have been offering metalheads worldwide a killer, trend-free alternative to bloated trigger drums, cheesy keyboards and boring cliché sounds that are hyped year after year as “the next big thing in metal”. SACRED STEEL have always remained true to themselves, constantly reinventing their traditional style and releasing some highly acclaimed classics, such as their legendary debut “Reborn In Steel” (1997 as the first German band ever signed to Metal Blade Records), the follow-up “Wargods Of Metal”, or their ground-breaking album: “Slaughter Prophecy”. 

Today, the iconic heavy metal force is celebrating the release of their brand new, 10th studio album, entitled “Ritual Supremacy”, at a much-awaited live appearance at Keep It True Festival! Get ready for a new chapter of SACRED STEEL, who are a trademark in our scene: All METAL with attitude, never everybody’s darling – and damn proud of it! 

Aptly in style, a new music video for the heavy-as-hell rager and latest album single, “Leather, Spikes and Chains”, is now premiering HERE

“This is our tribute to songs like “In Union We Stand” (Overkill) or Metal Church ́s s/t anthem from their debut album, with a fast guitar over a stubborn but easy-going beat”, says the band about “Leather, Spikes and Chains“. “The lyrics deal with a metal biker gang in the style of Mad Max (the movie) or Carnivore ́s post-world-war III (and IV) -scenario. If we would not be a metal band but a biker gang, this would be our club hymn. As so often and as usual, some critics have already slapped us in the face because of the song title – “too clichéd, created with the Manowar text generator” and so on. Anyone who has read and understood the lyrics knows that this is nonsense. And anyone who knows us is well aware that we don’t give a shit anyway. We only do this for ourselves and for the people who are into this stuff. And that’s why we’ve packed a lot of fan footage from all over the world into the video. This is basically our photo collage in video format and our thank you to all supporters to celebrate the release of the album. Have fun!“

SACRED STEEL‘s entirely anthemic, new album marks the first to feature new members Toni Ieva (bass) and Jörn Langenfeld (guitar), who joined the band in 2023. “Ritual Supremacy” is out today on ROAR, and available on CD, Vinyl as well as Digital formats at https://sacredsteel.rpm.link/ritualbumPR

“Ritual Supremacy” track listing:
01 – Ritual Supremacy 
02 – Leather, Spikes & Chains 
03 – The Watcher Infernal 
04 – A Shadow In The Bell Tower 
05 – Entombed Within The Iron Walls Of Dis 
06 – Bedlam Eternal 
07 – Demon Witch Possession 
08 – Covenant Of Grace 
09 – Omen Rider 
10 – Let The Blackness Come To Me