German heavy power metal force SKULL & CROSSBONES are set to return this autumn with their new studio album “Time”, to be released on November 14, 2025 via Massacre Records. The follow-up to their debut marks a strong step forward in both songwriting and production, delivering powerful, melodic, and timeless heavy metal that blends energy with emotion.
After the soaring first single “Echoes Of Eternity”, the band now unleash their brand-new single and video “Labyrinth Of Time”. Musically dark and dramatic, the track is accompanied by a poignant statement from the band, describing it as a reflection on “human decay due to dementia”. Heavy riffs and haunting melodies create a song that is both tragic and cathartic, capturing the inevitability of decline through a deeply emotional lens.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:
“Time” was produced by SKULL & CROSSBONES together with Marc Ayerle, who also handled mixing and mastering at KlangMAnufaktur. Cover artwork was created by Michael Vetter, while additional keyboard arrangements on “Thunderstorm” and “The Ocean’s Call” were provided by vocalist Tobias Hübner.
The record is a journey through powerful riffs, anthemic choruses, and lyrical depth – ranging from the mystical (“Eye Of Wisdom”) and the dramatic (“The Price”) to the thunderous and uplifting (“Thunderstorm”) and even playful, with the pirate-inspired closer (“The Ocean’s Call”).
With “Time”, SKULL & CROSSBONES deliver their most mature and focused work to date. Lyrically, the album reflects on the fleeting nature of existence – from stolen hours (“Time Thief”) and human decay (“Labyrinth Of Time”) to rebirth and transcendence (“Eye Of Wisdom”). Musically, the band balance classic heavy/power metal with a modern edge, crafting songs which are as anthemic as they are thought-provoking.
This is not just an album – it’s a journey through past, present, and future, bound together by the unrelenting power of heavy metal.
After an 18-year silence on the album front, CLAWFINGER are finally back – louder, sharper, and more defiant than ever! Known for their pioneering fusion of metal, rap, and unflinching social commentary, the Swedish-Norwegian powerhouse returns with their brand new record, Before We All Die, that will rekindle the fire which made them one of Europe’s most groundbreaking crossover acts. This long-awaited comeback marks not just a return, but a reinvention – proof that true intensity never fades.
Before We All Die arrives February 20, 2026 on PERCEPTION – A Division of Reigning Phoenix Music.
The first album appetizer “Scum” (listen here) debuted July 2nd and managed to cross the threshold of 100k streams within 2 weeks, a great start after a long absence. Even with a recent live performance of their hit ‘Biggest & Best’ currently going viral on Instagram, CLAWFINGER are being rediscovered by a new generation of metal fans — showing that their music remains as powerful and relevant as ever, nearly two decades after their last album. Now, CLAWFINGER strike back with their new single “Ball & Chain”!
With “Ball & Chain”, the band unleashes a track that fuses relentless riffs and raw energy with frontman Zak Tell’s unflinching honesty. The single, captured in a fiery live video from this summer’s festival stages, reflects on identity, change, and the struggle to find meaning in a chaotic world — all with the band’s trademark mix of power, grit, and tongue-in-cheek self-awareness. It’s CLAWFINGER at their most direct and human: heavy, urgent, and impossible to ignore.
Watch here:
“This is me trying to be deep, my emotional reflections and my personal struggle, the search for some kind of meaning, the ongoing identity battle and existential doubt”, singer Zak Tell reveals about the new single. “It’s about trying to make sense of the world and my place in it. It’s about going through changes, looking at yourself and trying to figure out what the point of everything is. We all go through good and bad experiences and they shape us and help us move on. Life in general is a stupid fucking game so it’s interesting how much time we waste worrying about what other people think and about things we can’t change regardless. There is no such thing as making everyone happy so focus on trying to make yourself happy and the rest will come to you.”
Loud, furious, darkly humorous and brutally honest, CLAWFINGER’s Before We All Die is everything you forgot you needed – and exactly what you’d expect from a band that never cared much for subtlety.
“This isn’t about finding peace,” Zak says. “It’s about telling the truth – even when it’s ugly. Especially then.”
From environmental collapse to political hypocrisy, personal disillusionment to collective denial, this is CLAWFINGER at full volume – still pissed off, still sharp as ever, and still refusing to shut up while the world pretends it’s all fine.
“This album is part protest, part therapy, and part middle finger,” the band adds. “We’re not offering solutions. We’re screaming because silence is surrender.”
CLAWFINGER are considered pioneers of European rap-metal. Formed in Stockholm in the early 1990s, the Swedish-Norwegian band made an explosive debut with Deaf Dumb Blind [1993], blending aggressive guitar riffs with politically charged lyrics and rap vocals. The album sold over 600,000 copies worldwide – more than 250,000 in Germany alone – and won a Swedish Grammis award in the hardrock/metal category.
CLAWFINGER’s follow-up Use Your Brain [1995] continued their success with chart placements across Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and Sweden. Over the years, they released seven studio albums including A Whole Lot Of Nothing, Zeros & Heroes, Hate Yourself With Style, and Life Will Kill You, selling over 1.5 million records worldwide.
Known for their direct, riff-driven sound and strong political stance, CLAWFINGER address topics such as racism, political delusion, drug policy, environmental destruction, and social inequality. In the 1990s, they toured intensively with acts like ALICE IN CHAINS, MEGADETH and FAITH NO MORE and appeared at major festivals including Rock am Ring, Roskilde, and Monsters of Rock in South America.
After a brief hiatus, the band returned in 2014 and has since released new singles like “Save Our Souls” [2017] and “Environmental Patients” [2022]. In 2025, CLAWFINGER signed a new label deal with PERCEPTION, with more music on the way – still as loud, sharp, and uncompromising as ever.
From The Blade of Seattle, Hyperstrike erupts with today’s release of debut album, High Risk!
A high-octane collision of anthemic clean vocals, bone-crushing riffs, punk-fueled drum fire, and the razor edge of melodic death metal, Hyperstrike deliver danger with every track. This is metal built like an action movie soundtrack: explosive, relentless, and larger than life.
“I am genuinely blown away at how good this album is.”
– Smorg Magazine
“Their combination of uptempo, good-time rhythms and catchy melodies is something great to hear!”
– Metal Bulletin
“There are a bunch of passages where I feel I could have written,
which is cool!”
– Dan Swanö
Listen here:
Born in the Blade, forged in chaos—Hyperstrike is Seattle’s action metal war machine. Founded in 2024 by bass-slapping juggernaut Ben “Chop Daddy” Bennett, this band doesn’t play music; they drop sonic bombs. With a shadowy past tearing through thrash titans Warbringer and Bonded by Blood, and reigning as the “Lord of the Low End” in sci-fi shredders Xoth, Bennett knew exactly what kind of beast he was building. First, he wrangled in Ilya, the shredder known as “The Claw,” an assassin with riffs sharper than steel. Then came Adon, the “Brain Lord”—a maniacal force spitting venomous truths, carrying the fire from his days in Ghost Ship Octavius and the twisted depths of Spiritual Suicide. Together, they built a soundtrack for the end of the world: songs about nuclear meltdowns, cage fighters, and kings of the slain.
The final weapon in their arsenal? Josh, a drum-detonating powerhouse known as “Goblin Hammer,” whose percussive assault forged their chaos into a relentless onslaught. Hyperstrike is a raw, unfiltered force with hearts of steel and a taste for mania. No apologies. No survivors. Just unrelenting aggression. Brace for impact—because once the trigger drops, nothing will ever be the same.
Chicago (IL) – Long-running Blackened Melodic Death Metal quartet, Withering Soul, are set to release their fifth album, Passage of the Arcane, November 14 on Liminal Dread Productions!
Passage of the Arcane is a convergence of blackened atmospheres and sweeping song structures. A mystifying journey that exceeds boundaries while remaining fun and exciting. The overall theme of the album involves human experiences traversing into cursed oblivion. Each song explores its own story, ranging from unexplained disappearances to the supernatural. While variation is abundant within the soundscapes, it is with a cohesive direction. Each chapter takes on its own “passage” through channels of cursed lore and harrowing experiences of the past. A seamless balance of crushingly heavy riffs and chilling melodies.
FFO: Dark Fortress, Windir, Hypocrisy, Dissection, God Dethroned.
The album’s first single, “Attrition Horizon,” is available at:
A manifestation in the form of chilling soundscapes, foreboding atmospheres, contagious melodies and tortured chants echoing above an onslaught of calculated percussion. Withering Soul creates a musical elegy that is both majestic and haunting.
Conjured into existence by founding members Christopher (guitars and vocals) and Mykil (former lead vocalist) with the release of their debut album Apparitions of the Surreal in 2004, the band was later featured on “ReUnation – A Tribute to Running Wild” with a cover of “Firebreather” via Germany’s Remedy Records earning “Best Song on the Album” by WeRock (SWE). A few years later saw the release of their follow-up album, No Closure via Mortal Music (MVD Distribution). The album promptly landed a spot on Apoch’s Metal Review: “Top 50 Albums of 2011.”
The band eventually recruited Rick Hernandez on drums and Joel Miller on bass guitar. Following an array of live shows brought the release of their third full length album Adverse Portrait (2015). It was later labeled “Album of the Month” by Metalreviews.com. The band made a few festival appearances such as Full Terror Assault III and Artifact Metal Fest in 2018.
Over the course of the 2020 world shutdown the band resolved to continue forward with Christopher on vocals and released its fourth full length effort Last Contact. The album reached an unprecedented level of acclaim not limited to earning the 3rd spot in World of Metal’s top albums of 2021. The band immediately followed up with a busy live schedule both locally and out-of-state including a performance at Legion ov the Order festival in Tacoma, WA, Merciless Metalfest in Nova Scotia, Canada and Desecration Rituals VI and VII in Fort Wayne, IN.
Withering Soul has just recently finished its 5th album to be released at the end of 2025 and plans to continue transcending the boundaries of metal‘s darker genres while maintaining its own distinctive sound and leave its audiences spellbound for more.
Wormholedeath is proud to announce the signing of Swedish melodic death metal icons IMPERIAL DOMAIN to its global roster. The band’s highly anticipated new full-length album, Portentum, will see the light of day on 14 November 2025, ushering in a bold new era for this seasoned force from Uppsala.
To mark this milestone, Imperial Domain has unleashed their crushing new single “History Repeating”, accompanied by a striking official music video that captures the band’s trademark mix of aggression, atmosphere, and melodic depth.
Watch the video:
“We are proud to announce that we have signed with Wormholedeath! This marks an exciting new chapter for the band, and we are thrilled to join forces with a label that shares our passion and vision for our music,” the band states. “Our upcoming album Portentum explores dark historical and contemporary themes—from ancient omens to modern dystopias. It’s a record born from reflection, unrest, and unrelenting creative fire. We can’t wait to share this body of work with you all and begin this new era together with Wormholedeath.”With Portentum, Imperial Domain delve deep into humanity’s cyclical nature. From the ominous tension of the title track to the brutal realism of “History Repeating” and the bleak futurism of “New World Order,” the band carves a sonic path through the ruins of civilization—past, present, and speculative.
About Imperial DomainFounded in the mid-90s, Imperial Domain quickly made waves in the Swedish death metal underground with their debut demo The Final Chapter (1995), followed by In the Ashes of the Fallen (1996)—a release that earned them national acclaim. Their full-length debut In the Ashes of the Fallen (1998) on Pulverised Records marked the band as a rising force, followed by the critically acclaimed The Ordeal (2003) via Konqueror Records.After a brief hiatus and the tragic loss of vocalist Tobias Heideman in 2014, the band reemerged stronger than ever with The Deluge (2016), reaffirming their place in the melodic death metal pantheon. Now, Imperial Domain return with Portentum—an album that’s as uncompromising as it is thought-provoking.
Shortly after the release of their most recent studio album Knightclub, FEUERSCHWANZ are back with another highlight! Today, the band unleashes the powerful Epic rendition of “Valhalla” – reimagining this infectious anthem, featuring metal queen Doro, through a majestic new orchestral lens, elevating the song’s theatrical drama and empowering message to a whole new, opulent level.
“Valhalla (Epic Edition)” is cut from the limited editions of the new album Knightclub (#2 on the Official German Album Charts), which was released on August 22 via Napalm Records. Having undergone an impressive transformation in recent years, FEUERSCHWANZ are more successful and in demand than ever after 20 years as a band and multiple #1 albums. Their participation in the German pre-selection for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 brought them to the attention of millions and gained massive media recognition far beyond genre boundaries, and now with the release of Knightclub, the medieval heroes continue to prove their versatility.
Fans can experience the new songs live this October, when FEUERSCHWANZ hits the road with LORD OF THE LOST on their huge LORDS OF FYRE co-headline tour (dates below)!
With Knightclub, FEUERSCHWANZ released their first studio album with an English title – and for the first time, several tracks feature English lyrics. Knightclub is characterized by catchy hits, absolute party mood, great anthems and hard metal riffs. Once again, the band manages to incorporate their unmistakable humor into songs bursting with energy.
Produced by Simon Michael (Subway to Sally) and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Evergrey, Arch Enemy, Volbeat), Knightclub features artwork by Peter Sallai (Powerwolf, Sabaton, Saxon, Hammerfall).
FEUERSCHWANZ about the album: “Knightclub – for us, it’s a consistent continuation of our previous albums, taken to the next level both thematically and musically! Expect something truly epic, wild, and downright crazy! This album has something for everyone: fans of grand fantasy, heroic tales, and all-out partying, as well as lovers of massive guitar riffs and lively folk instruments. Become part of the Knightclub and join us on this next step of our unparalleled journey!”
Time To Kill Records wishes to clarify that, regarding the album “Unholy” by PYREXIA, it holds the exclusive license for Europe, granted by Gravitas Entertainment, the band’s official label. Time To Kill Records values transparency and wishes to emphasize the respect and friendship that connect the two labels.
Time To Kill Records is then proud to announce the release of “Unholy”, the brand new full-length from New York death metal legends PYREXIA, now available in all European territories.
Originally unleashed in demo form through Unique Leader Records (titled “Unholy Requiem”), “Unholy” has now been completely re-recorded, re-mixed, and re-imagined. The result is an unrelenting, monstrously heavy assault that reaffirms PYREXIA’s status as one of the most enduring and uncompromising forces in the global death metal underground. Crushing riffs, punishing grooves and a brutal yet clear production combine to make “Unholy” a definitive statement in the band’s career.
Adding further depth to the album are guest appearances from some of extreme metal’s most respected names. Ron Kachnic of Malignancy lends his touch to the opening track “Unholy Requiem”, while Devin Swank of Sanguisugabogg and Bludgeoned By Deformity brings his unmistakable presence to “Wrath”. The legendary Doug Cerrito, known for his work with Suffocation and Hate Eternal, appears on “The Anointed”, solidifying “Unholy” as an album steeped in the spirit of death metal’s most uncompromising traditions.
Guitarist Chris Basile comments:
“This is probably the most accomplished PYREXIA album I’ve ever worked on. It finally has the production it deserves. It’s a journey into the seven chambers of hell.”
The official lyric video of “The Anointed” is streaming HERE.
Tracklist:
1. Unholy Requiem 2. Angels of Gomorrah 3. Wrath 4. The Anointed 5. Path of Disdain 6. The Fall of Eden 7. Blood to Ash 8. A Moment of Violence
“This album is destined to adorn many Best-Of lists very high up at the end of 2025. All hail the goat!” ALBUM OF THE MONTH – ROCK HARD MAGAZINE
“More atmosphere and dramatic depth than ever before!” METAL HAMMER
“It is undeniable that Year Of The Goat can boast their strongest release to date!”
“Never before has the dead – and especially femininity – been thought of more beautifully!” METAL1
“An artistic masterpiece!” SONIC SEDUCER
Six long years since their previous offering, Swedish occult rock masters YEAR OF THE GOAT finally return with their fourth studio album Trivia Goddess, arriving this Friday, September 12th on Napalm Records!
In anticipation of the much-acclaimed record‘s release, YEAR OF THE GOAT will not only embark on an album release tour starting this weekend in Sweden (find all upcoming dates listed below), but have unveiled the title track “Trivia Goddess” alongside an official music video! On this majestic yet evil single, the band takes listeners into “the great noise”, when over the course of 8 years 280 people were accused, convicted, and executed for the crime of witchcraft.
With “Trivia Goddess”, YEAR OF THE GOAT provides a haunting soundtrack for this dark age, invoking Hekate – the Greek goddess of witchcraft, the mother of all witches, the “Trivia Goddess” herself – paying homage to all those lost souls.
About the new video clip the band comments:
“Many have told us they wanted a bloody revenge in the end of The Power of Eve video, the girls who were about to be burnt for witchcraft should have had their revenge, they said. We‘re saving the blood for last, when running out of video budget you make a low budget horror film themed video that gives the term witch hunt a new meaning. They‘re coming for you! Run!!!”
Following the opening installations of the band‘s album trilogy, the award-winning “Angels Necropolis” (2012), and the much-acclaimed “Novis Orbis Terrarum Ordinis” (2019), Trivia Goddess ventures off on its own unique detour. Inspired by the most harrowing moments in women‘s history, Trivia Goddess sees the Norrköping, Sweden-based dark rock collective delve deep into the stories of real women, devalued as the lesser sex by churches and by men of a petty god, rising up against the real structures of evil in the world, in true Satanic fashion.
Mixed by Tom Dalgety at Psalm Studios, Wiltshire, UK, and mastered by Magnus Lindberg / Magnus Lindberg Productions, YEAR OF THE GOAT returns to the scene more majestic, epic and melodic, while also sounding more evil than ever. The wait for a new studio album was worth it, as Trivia Goddess, driven by the dark sounds of the 60s and 70s, sees the band doubling down on all expectations, showcasing their many facets with grandeur. Bow down to the Trivia Goddess from the one and only YEAR OF THE GOAT!
Thrash-death-punk pioneers THE PROPHECY 23 are ready to dominate the mosh pit with their new album “Mosh O’Clock”, officially released on August 15, 2025, via Massacre Records. Available in limited edition colored vinyl, CD mediabook, a deluxe box set, and digital, it can be ordered HERE: http://www.theprophecy23.com/
To mark the album release, the band unleashed a fiery lyric video for the title track, “Mosh O’ Clock”. The video showcases their signature energetic style and sets the tone for a nostalgic yet fresh mosh-pit anthem.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE:
With Mosh O’Clock, THE PROPHECY 23 further cements their very own style: Fresh Metal – a wild mix of thrash, death and punk, first introduced on the last album and now taken to the next level.
Their last album Fresh Metal unexpectedly entered the Official German Album Charts (#67) – a milestone that energized the band. But instead of softening their sound, the German band took it as a challenge to push even harder. Mosh O’Clock is their heaviest, fastest, and most aggressive record yet — still packed with the humor and attitude that makes them unique.
Though it’s not a concept album, there’s a clear theme running through it: living without limits, standing up against injustice, and embracing chaos and community. From sharp calls against fascism to wild celebrations of friendship, the lyrics hit hard and true.
The band wrote over 20 songs for this album. At a special demo listening event, the fans chose which 13 songs would be on the final record. During the event, fans even joined in the studio to record choir vocals for the title track.
The songwriting is tighter, the riffs more brutal, and the production crisp and powerful. It’s not overproduced — Mosh O’Clock keeps a raw edge and harshness, but remains extremely tight and clear. Recorded, co-produced, mixed, and mastered by Kai Stahlenberg at Kohlekeller Studios — known for top albums by Powerwolf, Electric Callboy, Kanonenfieber, and more — this album sounds massive and fresh.
Anyone into thrash, death, punk and party knows what time it is: it’s Mosh O’Clock.
Two of Thunder Bay, ON’s rising metal forces, THE FIXER and TEKNOSIS, are teaming up this Fall for an epic tour of mind-melting metal across dates in Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta in October.
Touring across Canada heavily in support of their 2023 debut album “Your Lie’ released on WormHoleDeath Records, this next adventure of show dates will be special ones, as they are taking hometown friends Teknosis on the the road who will be supporting their latest EP 2024’s Return To Civilization”, recorded and mixed by Ryan MacDonald at Lionheart Sound Co and mastered by Topon Das (F*ck The Facts) at Apartment 2.
“Touring is something we all look forward to in The Fixer. The most rewarding part of being in a band is seeing people connect with something you’ve created, and our favourite way to do that is in the live setting. We will be heading out with fresh songs, as well as bringing a couple of songs back into the set that we haven’t played in some time. Similarly, we are excited to be playing some places we haven’t played before and some of the first places we ever played outside of our hometown,” says Vic Sin, Guitar – The Fixer
“We are incredibly pleased with our first EP, ‘Return to Civilization’. These 5 songs are the perfect introduction to the sound of Teknosis. Fans of all genres of metal will enjoy our hybrid of metal genres. We are now beyond thrilled to be bringing these songs and more on tour this October with The Fixer,” addsbassist Travis Doggett – Teknosis.
The Fixer is a genre-defying force in the pop-metal underground. They continue to captivate audiences with their latest full-length album, “Your Lie,” released in 2023. When witnessed live, they channel Addams Family vibes with rapid-fire sets, minimalist yet impactful lighting, and a palpable emotional connection with their audience. Their shows are more than performances, they’re cathartic rituals. Those who have not seen them live should brace themselves for The Fixer‘s theatrical flair and emotionally charged soundscapes. Fans can expect not only the immersive live experience they’ve come to love but also brand-new music unveiled on this next road escapade.
The Fixer’s sonic identity is a fusion of industrial metal, melodic hardcore, and gothic textures. “Your Lie” showcases this blend with haunting ambiences, unexpected rhythmic shifts, and emotionally raw lyrics. From the swagger of “Get Greasy” to the introspective dirge of “Your Truth,” the album is a journey through highs, lows, and everything in between.
“When we started The Fixer, we never imagined how far it would go. With Your Lie, we wanted to dig deeper, building on The Prowl EP while exploring more personal themes. It’s been powerful seeing fans connect with that. Musically, we didn’t want to be boxed in. While we’re rooted in metal, punk, and industrial, we brought in influences from other genres we’ve lived in. Blending those sounds has been one of the most rewarding parts of the process,” adds Vic Sin.
Formed out of pure love for metal. Teknosis has quickly evolved into a tight, aggressive unit with a shared vision: to make heavy music that hits hard and leaves no room to breathe. Set to ignite stages across the country this October, Teknosis is bringing their relentless live energy to fans in support of their acclaimed 2024 EP “Return to Civilization”, a five-track barrage of groove-laced hardcore and death metal influences. It’s a compact, violent sonic explosion that lyrically channels frustration and isolation from lockdowns, with themes ranging from societal collapse to personal survival.
With ambient samples bridging each track, Teknosis will be a visceral live experience as they deliver a seamless, high-impact set that’s organic, heavy, and hypnotic.
“We still believe in live amps and drums straight to the cochlea. It’s all about maximum intensity. A sonic experience that’s as brutal as it is addictive,” says bassist Travis Doggett. Fans can expect new singles starting in Fall 2025, leading up to a full-length album in late 2025 or early 2026. The October tour will feature tracks from “Return to Civilization” alongside unreleased material, giving audiences a taste of what’s to come.
