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Power Metal Warriors WARKINGS Announce Apocalyptic Fifth Album “Armageddon”
| The mighty WARKINGS return from Valhalla with a battle cry for the end times! Their new studio album, Armageddon, is set for release on July 4, 2025, via Napalm Records. Today, on “WARKINGS Wednesday”, the warriors unveil the album’s title track and first single, “Armageddon”, igniting a power metal storm of fire and steel. Since their formation in 2018, WARKINGS have cemented their place in the power metal scene. They have conquered festival stages, played alongside legends like Powerwolf, HammerFall, and Subway To Sally, and built a devoted fanbase that has chanted their anthems at Europe’s biggest stages, including Wacken Open Air. Check out the official music video for “Armageddon” below for a first taste of the new album and make sure to pre-order your copy now! The Viking comments: “For the monks of Lindisfarne, we were the end of the world … and it came with axes and fire.” |
| Watch the Action-Packed Music Video for “Armageddon” |
The five warriors in WARKINGS have once again taken up their weapons to bring the legends of their past to life with mighty power metal anthems. Each of them carries the memories of great battles within, and now, the time has come to unleash these stories upon the world alongside the indomitable sorceress Morgana le Fay.
The band’s fifth album, Armageddon, is a journey through some of history’s most pivotal conquests—moments where warriors stood firm, empires crumbled, and the world was forever changed. From the Viking raid on Lindisfarne in “Armageddon” to the thunderous legacy of “Genghis Khan”, and the tragic fall of the Knights Templar on “Hangman’s Night”, WARKINGS breathe fire into forgotten chapters of the past. The epic finale “Kings of Ragnarök” calls on fans to rise and fight alongside gods in the last battle.
The new album features high quality guests – Dominum (“Hangman’s Night”), Orden Ogan (“Genghis Khan”) and Subway to Sally (“Stahl auf Stahl”) lend their weapons to the mighty kings. Adding to the sonic arsenal, Armageddon was produced by Felix Heldt and mixed/mastered by the renowned Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Powerwolf, Amaranthe). The band teamed up with further musicians to write some battle hymns on this album: Eike Freese (Dark Age, Lord of the Lost) lends his power to “Genghis Khan”, Jan S. Mischon (Saltatio Mortis) joins on “Varangoi”, and Ken Kängström (Follow The Cypher, Sabaton) co-wrote “Kingdom Come”.
With Armageddon, WARKINGS prove that history is not only written by rulers and conquerors—it is shaped by those who fought in their name. This album offers a glimpse into the experiences of those who stood at the brink of their own end—their personal Ragnarök, their own Armageddon. Honoring these fearless warriors, WARKINGS deliver yet another epic, destined to triumph in every battle!
WARKINGS comment:
“Armageddon is not just the end — it’s the moments in history that changed the world forever. This album is a tribute to the warriors and shieldmaidens who faced the battles that shaped their world.”
SODOM new album ‘The Arsonist’
We all know that good music is always also a question of sound. To this end, the human factor is crucial – along with the right equipment, of course –, after all it‘s about authenticity and individual personality. With that in mind, German thrash metal band Sodom have come to a logical conclusion: To enable the most natural production possible, the drum parts on their latest album ’The Arsonist‘ were recorded using a 24-track analogue tape machine. No studio tricks, no digital overdubs, or, to quote frontman Tom Angelripper: “No plastic! The difference in sound compared to today‘s standard drum productions is amazing and has had a positive effect on all the instruments. Naturally, time and effort as well as costs were also higher, but we‘re happy to fork out for a superior result.”
However, it‘s not only the complex production process that testifies to the band‘s exceptional creative spirit, but also their diverse songwriting, which saw all four Sodom musicians – Tom Angelripper (vocals, bass), Frank Blackfire (guitar), York Segatz (guitar) and Toni Merkel (drums) – involved in the development of the material on ’The Arsonist‘. Tom: “Frank contributed those typical Sodom riffs and hooks again, whereas York favours more epic songwriting. As a perfect complement to both of them, Toni, who is also an excellent guitarist, contributed a number of songs and helped to make the album even more versatile.”
The first single and lyric video ’Trigger Discipline‘, the toughest song on ’The Arsonist‘, is released today. The song sounds equally martial and is about a sniper who has completely lost control of his actions and shoots people indiscriminately.
You can watch the lyric video here:
Tracklisting:
1. The Arsonist
2. Battle Of Harvest Moon
3. Trigger Discipline
4. The Spirits That I Called
5. Witchhunter
6. Scavenger
7. Gun Without Groom
8. Taphephobia
9. Sane Insanity
10. A.W.T.F.
11. Twilight Void
12. Obliteration Of The Aeons
13. Return To God In Parts
“The Arsonist” will be released on June 27, 2025 worldwide through SPV/Steamhammer
ARMORED SAINT To Enter Studio Next Month
| Following two festival performances – Bangers Open Air in São Paulo, Brazil and Sonic Temple Festival in Columbus, Ohio respectively – heavy metal icons ARMORED SAINT will enter the studio next month to begin recording their long-awaited ninth studio album, tentatively slated for a Spring 2026 release through Metal Blade Records. In September, the band will join W.A.S.P. for a trio of UK shows before returning to the States to support legendary guitarist Michael Schenker on his My Years With UFO US Tour. ARMORED SAINT will be celebrating the 40th anniversary of their second album, Delirious Nomad, with a five-song micro set of songs from the record throughout the tour. |
To further commemorate the cornerstone record, the band is making available a special Delirious Nomad wrapped guitar from Dean Guitars. Each guitar is signed by the band. Presales will be announced in the coming week.
In the meantime, check out additional Delirious Nomad merch items at: https://eyesoremerch.com/bands/a/armored-saint/
Elaborates vocalist John Bush, “What up, Saints? We want to give you all a heads up with what‘s happening with us this year. First, we‘ve been writing songs for the upcoming new record, and we are just about done! We are going into 606 Studios next month to record drums for five songs. The plan still stands for an early Spring 2026 release. We have two rad festivals dates in May: Bangers Open Air and Sonic Temple Festival. Then we‘ll be joining our friends, W.A.S.P., for three shows in Britain in September which includes Newcastle where we‘ve never played and London at the Eventim Apollo — formerly the legendary Hammersmith Odeon. We are psyched!
“Then we‘ll do nine more shows in the US in October with one of the best rock guitar players to ever walk the earth: Michael Schenker. We will be doing something special on these particular dates. In conjunction with the 40th anniversary of Delirious Nomad, we will be playing micro sets from that record. We’ll play other classic SAINT tunes as well of course!
“Finally, we will do three headlining shows at the end of this tour in El Paso, Texas, where we haven‘t played since 1984, Las Vegas, Nevada, and at the infamous Glass House for the first time ever in Pomona, California. Lots on the plate. Thanks for all the love as always.”
KATATONIA Announce New Album, “Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State”, Out June 6, 2025!
Swedish grandeurs of melancholic heaviness, KATATONIA, return with Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State, set for release on June 6, 2025 via Napalm Records. Once again, the Stockholm-based unit masterfully navigates the tightrope act between nocturnal darkness and Scandinavian despair while subtly weaving a sense of hope into the listener’s heart. Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State marks the next step in KATATONIA’s evolution, building upon the foundation of their previous album, Sky Void of Stars (2023) and also is an introduction to their two new guitarists. KATATONIA in 2025 is composed of vocalist and founding member Jonas Renkse, bassist Niklas Sandin, drummer Daniel Moilanen, and guitarists Nico Elgstrand and Sebastian Svalland.
With the album’s lead single “Lilac”, revealed today, KATATONIA offer a first glimpse of what fans can expect from the new record. The track showcases Jonas Renkse’s unmistakable vocals intertwining with hypnotic rhythms, heavy riffs, and progressive elements. Accompanied by an atmospheric official music video, “Lilac” speaks straight to the heart, proving KATATONIA’s matchless ability to draw listeners into a whirlwind of stirring emotions.
Jonas Renkse adds:
“We are proud and excited to announce our new album, Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State, coming out via Napalm Records on June 6. As always, these songs are the stories that thrive in the corner of the eye, obscured by the light but waiting to come alive in the dusk of our morbid existence. Please enjoy the first scent – ‚Lilac‘. “
Watch the official music video for “Lilac” HERE:
On Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State, crystal-clear production highlights the interplay between silence and intensity, while the contrast of heavy riffs, delicate guitar harmonies, ethereal synthesizers, and atmospheric nuances create captivating tension. Tracks like “Thrice” and “Warden” pulse with dynamic energy, a near-ceremonial piece, “Wind of No Change”, merges subtle electronic textures with KATATONIA’s enigmatic soundscapes, while “Temporal” balances fragility and strength – its intense verses culminating in a soaring, emotionally charged chorus. The breathtaking “Efter Solen” (Engl. After the Sun), featuring Swedish lyrics, evokes echoes of Jonas Eika’s 2018 short story collection, with minimalistic yet striking instrumentation.
Even after more than 30 years, KATATONIA continues to redefine the emotional spectrum of their genre, effortlessly shifting between haunting vulnerability and commanding artistry. With sonic landscapes that evoke dystopia, inner demons, purity, and beauty alike, Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State stands as a testament to their enduring brilliance. The album was produced by Jonas Renkse, recorded by Lawrence Mackrory at NBS Audio and The City of Glass, mixed by Adam Noble, and mastered by Robin Schmidt at 24-96 Mastering.
Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State tracklist:
1. Thrice
2. The Liquid Eye
3. Wind of no Change
4. Lilac
5. Temporal
6. Departure Trails
7. Warden
8. The Light Which I Bleed
9. Efter Solen
10. In the Event of
As soon as summer has shattered, KATATONIA will embark on an epic headline tour this fall across Europe and the UK together with label mates and Gothenburg’s top-notch metal export EVERGREY and Klogr from Italy. Kicking off on November 11 in Tampere, Finland, the tour will cover 31 major cities in total and culminate in a grand finale in Stockholm, Sweden on December 20. Tickets are available now. For more information, visit the official website – https://katatonia.com/
KATATONIA UK & EUROPE TOUR 2025
w/ EVERGREY & Klogr
11.11.25 FI – Tampere / Tavara-asema
12.11.25 FI – Helsinki / House of Culture
14.11.25 NO – Oslo / Rockefeller
15.11.25 SE – Gothenburg / Pustervik
16.11.25 DE – Hamburg / Gruenspan
18.11.25 PL – Warsaw / Progresja
19.11.25 DE – Berlin / Huxleys
20.11.25 DE – Leipzig / Täubchenthal
21.11.25 CZ – Prague / Palac Akropolis
22.11.25 AT – Vienna / Simm City
24.11.25 DE – Munich / Backstage Werk
25.11.25 DE – Stuttgart / LKA Longhorn
27.11.25 IT – Milan / Alcatraz
28.11.25 CH – Zurich / Komplex
29.11.25 FR – Lyon / La Rayonne
01.12.25 ES – Madrid / BUT
02.12.25 ES – Barcelona / Salamandra
03.12.25 FR – Toulouse / Le Metronum
05.12.25 UK – London / Electric Ballroom
06.12.25 UK – Glasgow / Garage
07.12.25 UK – Manchester / Academy 2
08.12.25 UK – Bristol / SWK
10.12.25 FR – Paris / Le Trabendo
11.12.25 LU – Luxembourg / Rockhal
12.12.25 DE – Frankfurt / Batschkapp
13.12.25 DE – Cologne / Live Music Hall
14.12.25 NL – Amsterdam / Melkweg Max
16.12.25 BE – Antwerp / Trix
18.12.25 DK – Copenhagen / Amager Bio
19.12.25 SE – Karlstad / Nöjesfabriken
20.12.25 SE – Stockholm / Fållan
Festivals 2025
03.05.25 BE – Izegem / Headbangers Balls Fest
22.06.25 BE – Dessel / Graspop Metal Meeting
05.07.25 DE – Mühlheim / Castle Rock
06.07.25 TR – Istanbul / Headbanger’s Weekend
26.07.25 PL – Ostrów Wielkopolski / Ostrów Rock Festival
30.07.25 RO – Braşov / Rockstadt Extreme Fest
01.08.25 DE – Wacken / Wacken Open Air
22.08.25 IT – Marina Di Altidona / Wondergate (Parco dei Due Ponti)
KING OF NONE Celebrate 10-Year Anniversary with New Music Video for “Highway Divin’”
Finnish stoner rockers KING OF NONE celebrate their tenth anniversary by releasing the official music video for “Highway Divin’”, the very first song they ever wrote back in 2013. A decade later, the band revisits its roots with a powerful and gritty video that reflects their journey through the underground stoner rock scene.
Formed in Helsinki, Finland, KING OF NONE have developed a signature sound blending heavy, fuzzy riffs, raspy vocals, progressive arrangements, and psychedelic atmospheres. Their music has earned recognition both locally and internationally, supported by a solid and unchanged lineup: Miiro Kärki (vocals), Patrick Enckell (drums), Juho Aarnio (bass), Aleksi Kärkkäinen (guitar) and Juha Pääkkö (guitar).
With three self-released EPs and the acclaimed full-length album “In The Realm”, released by Argonauta Records on CD, Colored Vinyl, and Digital, the band has continually evolved, incorporating broader influences while staying true to their riff-driven core. The release of the “Highway Divin’” video also marks the first anniversary of In The Realm, adding further meaning to this celebratory milestone.
KING OF NONE are currently writing new material and gearing up for a series of shows in the fall. Their next live date is set for April 18th in Turku, where they will share the stage with Craneium and Kärmes.
Take a ride back to where it all began with “Highway Divin’.” It’s a raw, nostalgic trip through the early days of KING OF NONE and a glimpse of what’s still ahead.
Metal Planet Media 