BYZANTINE Presents “The Unobtainable Sleep” Single

“The Unobtainable Sleep” is the latest single from Charleston, West Virginia metal veterans BYZANTINE. The track comes off the band‘s forthcoming new full-length, Harbingers, set for release on June 13th via Metal Blade Records.

“The Unobtainable Sleep” weaves a dark and poetic tale about the pursuit of serenity through death and features guitarist Brian Henderson channeling Jerry Cantrell-style vocal harmonies.
Notes Henderson, “This song title is a dark and poetic definition of death. OJ had a few riffs laying around that were inspired by Extol, Carcass, and Fear Factory, and they fit perfectly together to craft this tune. We specifically wrote an extended solo section to allow our friend from Russia, Andrey Gadzhibalaev, a chance to perform a beautiful guest guitar solo.”

Watch the lyric video for BYZANTINE‘s “The Unobtainable Sleep” HERE:

Produced by Peter Wichers (Soilwork, All That Remains, Nevermore), Harbingers offers nine tracks totaling forty-five minutes of deep lyrical wisdom alongside equally hefty riffs delivered seamlessly by one of the most commanding and unsung lineups to emerge from the New Wave Of American Heavy Metal movement of the early-2000s. Now a five-piece for the first time ever featuring founding frontman Chris “OJ” Ojeda, alongside former guitarist Tony Rohrbough, bassist Ryan Postlethwait, veteran guitarist Brian Henderson, and drummer Matt Bowles, with Harbingers, BYZANTINE is a crown jewel in their impressive seven-album discography.

The album cover, designed by mixed-media artist Ashley Hoey, beautifully depicts Irene of Athens — the mother of Emperor Constantine and the first female empress of the Byzantine Empire. This focus on a maternal ruler eloquently ties into the album‘s title, Harbingers, which means “ones who usher in great change.”

Harbingers will be released on CD and digital formats.

It has taken years of ups and downs for BYZANTINE to reach the point of creating Harbingers. Discovered early on by Lamb Of God‘s Chris Adler, the band quickly released their debut full-length, The Fundamental Component, in 2004. The record boasted a raw fusion of Bay Area thrash and Southern-tinged groove metal and set the tone for their future sound. Their 2005-released …And They Shall Take Up Serpents offering marked an even more blistering evolution. However, turmoil ultimately led to BYZANTINE‘s breakup, announced just one day after the release of their third album, 2007‘s prophetic Oblivion Beckons.

Reforming to release the independent albums Byzantine (2013) and To Release Is To Resolve (2015), the band saw the latter dominate SiriusXM‘s Hard Attack Devil‘s Dozen for weeks, also earning them the #1 spot on CMJ‘s Loud Rock Chart. Notably, BYZANTINE became only the second independent band to achieve this feat following Clutch‘s indie release, Earth Rocker.

In 2017, BYZANTINE made their Metal Blade debut with The Cicada Tree, faultlessly merging multiple genres into their progressive groove sound, a signature blend now synonymous with the band. With Harbingers raising the stakes and a revitalized lineup in place, Ojeda confidently states, “If you‘ve slept on BYZANTINE for the past twenty-five years, Harbingers will awaken you.”

MoldEra Announce New Single “The Dawn” and Reveal Full Album Details for “Colonize”

Belgian post-sludge outfit MoldEra are proud to unveil their brand new single “The Dawn”, now available on all digital platforms. The song offers a stunning preview of their upcoming second album, “Colonize”, which will be released on June 6, 2025, on CD and digital formats via Octopus Rising / Argonauta Records.

After the powerful first single “Falling Through the Ashes”, “The Dawn” delivers another immersive experience, blending thunderous stoner doom riffs with post-metal atmospheres and flashes of ’90s grunge emotion. MoldEra’s sound continues to evolve, combining weight and introspection in equal measure.

Colonize is a six-track concept album written and composed collectively by the band. It fuses classic doom and stoner foundations with progressive dynamics, heavily inspired by artists like Sleep, Yob, Earth, King Buffalo and Isis, while also channeling the raw intensity of Alice in Chains, Deftones and other grunge legends.

Lyrically, the album explores topics such as environmental destruction, industrialized exploitation of nature, criticism of the techno-optimist visions spread by corporate and military power structures, and the resilience of life within collapsing systems. Frontman Florian Zanatta pens lyrics that act as both a warning and a spark of hope for a different future, one where human and non-human life may find a new balance.

The album was recorded live in May 2024 at Koko Studio (Sprimont, Liège, Belgium), and was mixed and mastered in the summer by Laurent Eyen. Known for his work with It It Anita, Pestifer, Gros Coeur, and La Jungle, as well as his live sound engineering for Birds In Row, Eyen captured MoldEra’s dense, organic sound with clarity and raw energy.

UNDECAYED: Decibel Magazine streams “The Descendants of Death” single from Swedish death metal act, “In Death’s Image” debut album out soon

Swedish death metal juggernaut UNDECAYED return with a brand-new single, “The Descendants of Death”, now streaming exclusively via Decibel Magazine. The track is another unrelenting slab of sonic devastation lifted from the band’s forthcoming debut album “In Death’s Image”, set for release on May 21st, 2025 through Lethal Scissor Records.

Channeling the ferocity of classic ’90s death metal, UNDECAYED deliver a barrage of blast-laden grooves, guttural vocals, and sinister riffing that draws from the genre’s darkest roots while forging their own merciless path forward.

Stream “The Descendants Of Death” HERE.

Likely the first album ever released with the word ‘death’ in the title of every song, “In Death’s Image” takes its thematic obsession to another level: in one track, the word for ‘death’ is even sung in 19 different languages. The album’s lyrics paint a grim and absolute vision of annihilation—”Death” arrives on Earth in a physical form, surpassing any concept of a god, to extinguish all existence. No one and nothing is spared: humans, animals, vegetation, water, air—everything dies. There is NO hope for life.

Tracklist:

1 – The World Shall Know Only Death
2 – Death’s Only Demand
3 – The Descendants Of Death
4 – In Death’s Image
5 – Death Shall Come (Death Shall Prevail)
6 – Death’s Pallid Coat
7 – World At Death’s Door
8 – Entreating Death In Vain
9 – The Greatest Death

All music composed by Mikael Bergman
All lyrics written by Tony Richter
Cover artwork by renowned artist Jon Zig

Biography:

UNDECAYED was formed in August 2008 by Tony Richter (vocals) and Mikael Bergman (guitars) as a result of lineup issues in their respective bands, 9th Plague and Disromance. The two had played together in several bands throughout the ’90s and early 2000s, most notably Gardens of Obscurity and The Darksend. Initially, Richter and Bergman were joined by Disromance drummer Johnny Augustsson. Bassist Christoffer Svensson joined in 2009, and in 2014, drummer Jesper Leidbring replaced Augustsson.

The idea that every song should include the word “death” in its title emerged in 2010, both to emphasize that this was true DEATH metal and because such a concept had never been done before. The demo “The Triumph of Death” was recorded in late 2010 and released in January 2011. It was then decided that no further demos would be released before the debut album.

Over the years, family matters, work commitments, health issues, the loss of two rehearsal spaces, and lineup changes all contributed to periods of forced inactivity and delays. It wasn’t until the Covid-19 pandemic that the band was finally able to complete their album “In Death’s Image”.

DEVS MORTVORVM: Chilean death-doom cult to release “The Oldest Crypt” EP in June

Chilean death-doom cult DEVS MORTVORVM will unleash their new EP on June 6, 2025 via Apocalyptic Productions, delivering a putrid sermon steeped in the stench of traditional death metal and the mournful crawl of doomed melodies.

The first single “Love for the Dead” is now streaming HERE.

Formed in 2015 by David Briones (guitar) and Claudio Carrasco (vocals), DEVS MORTVORVM emerged with a clear mission: to play Graveyard Doom Death, inspired by legendary acts such as Goatlord, Derketa, early Cathedral and Autopsy. The band is now completed by Andrés Henríquez on drums and Felipe Vuletich on bass, bringing even more weight and rot to their already imposing sound.

This upcoming EP features five tracks—three original compositions, a crushing cover of “Acid Orgy” by U.S. cult legends Goatlord, and a raw live track that captures the band’s visceral stage presence. Every aspect of this release – lyrics, artwork, and music – is a unified expression of DEVS MORTVORVM’s devotion to the morbid spirit of doom-death and necrolatry.

Musically, the EP offers an enticing blend of shadow-drenched, vicious death-doom, where sludgy riffs clash and intertwine with serpentine melodies, creating a dynamic tension that keeps each track unpredictable and alive. It’s a masterclass in sonic decay, where every note drips with the dampness of the tomb.

Tracklist:

01. Orgy in the Graveyard
02. Love for the Dead
03. The Oldest Crypt
04. Acid Orgy (Goatlord cover)
05. Orgy in the Graveyard (live)

Line-up:

David Briones – Guitars
Claudio Carrasco – Vocals
Andrés Henríquez – Drums
Felipe Vuletich – Bass

Recorded between july 2023 and september 2024 at Black Sheep Studios
All Music composed by David Briones except “Acid Orgy” by Goatlord.
Lyrics and vocal lines by Claudio Carrasco except “Acid Orgy” by Goatlord.
Live track recorded at MiBar 20/12/2024
Artwork by Julián Mora.

UNMERCIFUL Launch Newest Single “Miracle in Fire”

Devouring Darkness out May 23 on Willowtip Records

The third – and potentially most destructive – single off the new album from Topeka, KS-based brutal death metal horde UNMERCIFUL is now streaming.

“Miracle in Fire” is live now at Heavy Blog is Heavy. Check out the exclusive premiere for the song at this location.

Devouring Darkness marks a new era of relentless violence and sonic brutality! With ten tracks of scorching intensity and distorted vengeance, the album is filled with blistering blast beats, intricate kick drum patterns, and destructive riffing.

“Miracle in Fire” will be available on Spotify, Apple Music, and all other streaming services on Friday, May 2. Additional selections from Devouring Darkness are now streaming on all major platforms.

Devouring Darkness is set for release on CD, digital, and vinyl formats on May 23 on Willowtip Records.

Pre-order the album at:

willowtip.com

unmerciful.bandcamp.com

Tracklist:

 1. Miracle in Fire

 2. Unnatural Ferocity

 3. Malice Unbound

 4. Devouring Darkness

 5. Relentless Malevolence

 6. Vomit you out (Origin cover)*

 7. Infernal Conquering

 8. The Reaping

 9. Voracious Lunacy

10. Vengeance Transcending

UNMERCIFUL has announced the first of many live assaults in support of Devouring Darkness. The band will host an album release show on June 20 at Warehouse on Broadway in Kansas City, MO, alongside Torn The Fuck Apart, Garoted, and Hossferatu. Details and tickets are available here.

Devouring Darkness sees the return of longtime member Jeremy Turner to guitar and introduces Josh Riley as the band’s new vocalist, further intensifying the group’s punishing sound.

The album was engineered and produced by Clinton Appelhanz at Waveworks Studio, with mastering handled by the legendary Alan Douches (Cannibal Corpse, Hate Eternal, etc.). Artwork by Santiago Francisco Jaramillo.

UNMERCIFUL is seeking a bassist for live performances and/or a permanent position. Serious inquiries only. Contact the band for details.

Toronto Prog DEREV Shares New Live Video “Cyclone” and Kick Off Cross-Canada Tour Dates For Debut Album “Troubled Mind”

Getting set to hit the road for their Western Canadian tour (dates listed below) in support release of their first full-length, “Troubled Mind”, Toronto prog rock Derev is sharing their latest live video performing their track “Cyclone”, which was filmed during a hometown album launch show at the Supermarket.

“The Troubled Mind’s release show at the Supermarket was one of the best experiences we’ve had on stage to date. That night was one of those nights when the stars were aligned and everything went as well as we could have hoped. From the energy of the crowd to the impeccable sound and lighting on stage. We wanted to release a video of that night to give people a glimpse of what they can expect coming to see us live. We can’t wait to kick off the tour and bring the whole “Troubled Mind” live experience to our fans out west and all across Canada,” adds the band.

Watch and listen to Derev performing “Cyclone” at Supermarket in Toronto at:

Derev‘s new album “Troubled Mind” is the follow-up to their 2021 debut EP “Leap of Faith,” and takes a deep dive into the intricacies of the human psyche, addressing a spectrum of mental health issues with each track, ranging from temporary mental instability to more severe conditions such as schizophrenia, cognitive immobility (a fixation on the past), and depression stemming from loss.

Offering a diverse range of sounds from mellow, calm tracks to adrenaline-pumping heavy headbangers while maintaining their distinctive progressive rock sound, enriched with Middle Eastern influences. Incorporating more prominent keyboard parts, experimenting with various time signatures, and introducing new instruments such as the Cajon, Darbuka, and electronic elements. This evolution showcases the band’s innovative spirit and commitment to pushing musical boundaries.

The band adds:

“This album is very personal and introspective. It’s full of memorable songs and parts to listen to and digest, both from a musical and lyrical perspective. Every song tackles a different state of mind and takes the listener into their thoughts of a mental state that they can relate to. As this one marks our second official release, we think the fans will be excited about hearing what Derev still has to offer. They’re in for a crazy ride full of energetic ups and heartbreaking downs.”

Derev was conceived after founding member and drummer Michel Karakach, after fleeing the war in the Middle East and finding refuge in Toronto, Canada, reunited with his best friend, guitarist Armando Bablanian, to turn what was once a mere childhood dream into a powerful reality.

Derev‘s dynamic lineup now includes bassist Stan Komarovsky, providing the backbone of Derev‘s sound, and keyboardist Ran Zehavi from the progressive rock band Scalar, adding depth and complexity. 

Leading the live charge is frontman and vocalist Mike Symons, who has replaced previous singer Adel Saflou, whose recorded vocals are featured on “Troubled Mind”.

DEREV – Troubled Mind – Western Canada Tour​
May 2 – Sudbury, ON – The Townhouse w/ Jeidei, Codos
May 3 – Marathon, ON – Biloxys Wings and Things
May 4 – TBA (North Western Ontario)
May 6 – TBA (Manitoba)
May 8 – Regina, SK – Revival Music Room w/ Fame Fatale, 66 Aces
May 9 – Saskatoon, SK – Amigos Cantina w/ Out Of Frequency, 66 Aces
May 10 – Edmonton, AB – Rendezvous Pub w/ Darkened Skies, Silent Script, Misplaced Intentions
May 12 – Grand Forks, BC – 4th St. Studio w/ guests
May 13 – Kamloops, BC – The Blue Grotto w/ Augur, Gregarious
May 14 – Vancouver, BC – The Roxy Cabaret w/ guests
May 16 – Vernon, BC – Longhorn Pub w/ None The Wiser, Scared Soul Empire
May 17 – Cranbrook, BC – The York Public House w/ Phaeton
May 18 – Calgary, AB – Verns w/ Humans As Totems, The Future Relics, Rocky Mountain Maniacs, 13 Strikes
May 20 – Winnipeg, MB – Sidestage w/ Valley Narrow, Sunbreather
May 22 – Thunder Bay, ON – Black Pirates Pub w/ Cycle Of Disobedience, Along The Lines, The Fixer
May 23 – Sault Ste. Marie, ON – Soo Blaster w/ guests
May 24 – Timmins, ON – Victory Tavern w/ guests

​

LOCUS NOIR SIGN WITH LISTENABLE RECORDS

Locus Noir is the latest endeavor from singer Ben DMN, best known as the former frontman of the Swiss Industrial/Groove Metal juggernaut Sybreed, and is the result of a deeply personal journey, driven by his aspiration to reconnect with the music that inspired him during his formative years and to rekindle his passion for songwriting and live performances.
 
Drawing inspiration from iconic acts like Type O Negative and Fields of the Nephilim, Locus Noir’s sound radiates a dark and evocative energy. The music also incorporates brooding atmospheres reminiscent of Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride and the raw edge of Gothic Rock, resulting in a cohesive soundscape that offers both a fresh perspective and a timeless interpretation of what Gothic Metal can be.
 
This venture also marks a significant evolution in Ben’s vocal style, as he now fully embraces haunting melodic vocals that merge Peter Murphy’s theatrical flair with a depth reminiscent of Depeche Mode. The lyrics traverse contrasting realms, delving into themes both esoteric and carnal, often laced with irony: love, death, lust, and the bitter taste of parties that linger past dawn. Ultimately, Locus Noir serves as a sincere homage to the Gothic subculture.
 
Ben comments “I am simply thrilled to be working with Listenable Records again. It’s a team I’ve known for a long time and hold in high regard: they played a key role in Sybreed’s career and have always demonstrated a highly collaborative approach, which is in line with my own work ethos and was one of my non-negotiable conditions when I decided to return to music as an active artist. I also know that there is a real cultural affinity that will facilitate our exchanges. So I was very happy when they told me they wanted to sign Locus Noir after I contacted them, and I know I can count on the Listenable Records team, especially since they see as much potential in this new band as I do. This makes me very confident – and as optimistic as one can be when playing this kind of music – about the release of Locus Noir’s debut album, Shadow Sun, and the next steps in this new musical adventure.“
 
Initially conceived as a solo project with contributions from both long-standing and new friends, Locus Noir is poised to evolve into a full-fledged live band, ready to carve out its niche in the Metal landscape.
 
Locus Noir’s debut album’ Shadow Sun’ is due for release in 2026 on Listenable Records.

Prog/Power Metallers, EchoSoul, Releasing Sophomore album, Time of the Dragon, on May 15!

Fort Wayne (IN) – U.S. Progressive/Power Metal band, EchoSoul, are set to release their much anticipated sophomore album, Time of the Dragon, on May 15 through No Dust Records.

Three singles from the forthcoming album have been released: “Die Demon Die,” “Hollowed Ground,” “Sister Suicide,” and “The Path of the Righteous.”

All four singles can be streamed at:

open.spotify.com/artist/5W3aUIqgkPOyk9JJdSymBS

Lyric videos for “Sister Suicide” “Die Demon Die” “Hallowed Ground,” and “The Path of the Righteous” are also available.

The Time of the Dragon Bandcamp album listening party is scheduled for May 13 at 7:00pm CST. RSVP at the following link:

echosoulmusic.bandcamp.com/merch/time-of-the-dragon-listening-party

EchoSoul songs take the listener on a ride through solid chugging and fast and alternate picking, mixed with plenty of scale runs, harmonies and complex type riffing that draw you in. Lots of solos to leave you complete. Every song at its core has a melodic or catchy chorus and some memorable take aways leaving you singing it later in the day.

Whether you’re a Power Metal fan or into Thrash, there is something for everyone. A perfect fusion of Power and Prog Metal! On Time of the Dragon, look for some of what you came to love on the first album, along with Rob back on Vox and Guy’s guitars, in filling in, Randy Walton and Tyler Witte. Some guests include Andy LaRoque (Kings Diamond) and Joseph Michael (Sanctuary, Witherfall)

Guitarist/founder, Guy Hinton, offers his thoughts on the upcoming album:

“On our sophomore album, we dug into the writing process a little deeper. We have goneheavier and yet even more melodic. There was some more collaboration, and we had one of the best guitarists in metal on ‘Hollowed Ground,’ Andy LaRocque (King Diamond). Some of the album lyrically is a story and concept about the end of days, the rise and fall of the dragon, and its sway on the world. A variety of topics about real tragedy, the battle of suicide, some about political intrigue, conspiracy, and anthems that hit hard. There was a little pressure with following up the debut album The End Of Darkness, which manged to make the Top 10 in Germany and got a ton of good press internationally. Originally scheduled to come out a year ago, the war in Ukraine made it difficult for final production to be done by our friend who lives in the center of the conflict.”

Track Listing:

1. Prologue

2. Time Of The Dragon

3. Path Of The Righteous

4. Sister Suicide

5. Instruments Of Chaos

6. Hollowed Ground

7. Invisible Empire

8. Split (Instrumental)

9. Die Demon Die

10. A New Conspiracy

THE HAUNTED launch new single/video “In Fire Reborn”

Off upcoming album “Songs of Last Resort”

Swedish deadly Thrash Metal pioneers and purveyors THE HAUNTED continue to promote their upcoming, 10th studio album entitled “Songs of Last Resort”, to be released worldwide on May 30th, 2025 via longtime partners Century Media Records.
 
Today, a new relentless single is being released with the track “In Fire Reborn”, which you can also check out in a video clip directed by Patric Ullaeus / www.rEvolver.se (In Flames, Arch Enemy, Dimmu Borgir, etc.) here:

THE HAUNTED vocalist Marco Aro comments about “In Fire Reborn” as follows: “This is the second single off the album “Songs of Last Resort”. The song is called “In Fire Reborn” and it’s a more classic THE HAUNTED sounding song with the aggression turned up to 11…just in case you missed the memo on our previous single!”.
 
THE HAUNTED guitarist Jensen added: “A classic THE HAUNTED 6/8 beat song. I wrote the start, verses and ending of the song, but it wasn’t until Jonas wrote the chorus when “In Fire Reborn” really bloomed out. I believe this could also easily become a fan favorite, just like it has become one of the band’s favorite songs on the album. The lyrics are, just like with ‘Warhead’, also along the topic of war, but this time from a soldier’s perspective…”.

With music recorded by Oscar Nilsson at Studio Bohus, main vocals recorded by Björn Strid at The Cellar Studio, “Songs of Last Resort” was then mixed and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studios (Kreator, Arch Enemy, Sepultura, etc). Artwork was once again provided by longtime visual collaborator Andreas “Diaz” Pettersson and here is the complete standard track-listing of the upcoming album:

THE HAUNTED – “Songs of Last Resort” (40:33):

1. Warhead (03:39)
2. In Fire Reborn (03:18)
3. Death to the Crown (02:56)
4. To Bleed Out (04:29)
5. Unbound (03:34)
6. Hell is Wasted on the Dead (02:53)
7. Through the Fire (03:01)
8. Collateral Carnage (04:03)
9. Blood Clots (01:30)
10. Salvation Recalled (03:26)
11. Labyrinth of Lies (03:30)
12. Letters of Last Resort (04:06)

Swedish Sludge Metal heavy weights CAREGAH present “Tombstone” video single from upcoming reissue ”Osmium”Due out on May 30th via ROAR!

 May 30, 2025, will see Swedish sludge and groove metal force CAREGAH reissue their highly anticipated debut album, ”Osmium”, self-released by the band in 2023, now through their new label partner ROAR! 
 
”Osmium” will be available on CD, Vinyl and Digital, visit https://caregah.rpm.link/osmiumpr to pre-order your favorite format of choice. Also, a music video for the band’s latest, haunting single “Tombstone” is now premiering below!
 
Marcus Kärregård (vocals, guitar) comments:
“I wrote this song many, many years ago and have played it for myself from time to time. I actually like to let the listener form their own opinion of all the songs Caregah releases, but if you want to know my insight into the song, it’s about longing for something/someone and loneliness but when you’re among other people. There are many perspectives here…so I’ll let everyone decide for themselves what Tombstone is for them.”

Hailing from Southeast Sweden, CAREGAH is a no-nonsense, full-throttle heavy, sludgy groove metal band. Their music has a captivating quality, keeping you engaged throughout every performance and track. Formed in 2019, CAREGAH introduced themselves to the world with their much-acclaimed debut EP, ”Forsaken EP” featuring a music video for the track ”Tomahawk”. This Ep will now be reissued as a bonus on the new CD version of “Osmium”! 

Their music is a fantastic blend of groove, doom, and sludge metal, ultimately delivering a straightforward, headbanging-heavy metal experience. Their live performances are a whirlwind of high-energy moments that will leave your neck sore from all the headbanging. 

Sweden Rock Magazine gave “Osmium” 8 out of 10 points, and a perfect 10/10 highscore came from Metal-Head.de, attesting: “CAREGAH have forged a massive piece of metal with “OSMIUM”. It’s like riding a steel wrecking ball or surfing a monster wave. You are swept along mercilessly. It’s massive! It’s hard! And it rocks! An absolute direct hit!“

Dive deep into “Osmium” and experience a massive wall of sound from CAREGAH, which are currently working on their follow-up record, always driven and inspired by the power of the riff. If your musical tastes align with Down, Pantera, Black Label Society, Testament, and Sepultura, then CAREGAH is a band that you’re sure to fall in love with!

Pre-order “Osmium” HERE!
“Osmium” CD track listing:
01 – Forever Merciless 
02 – Steel 
03 – Revenge 
04 – Tombstone 
05 – Terrorized 
06 – Smoke Of Doom 
07 – Into The Grave 
08 – Floods Of No Return 
09 – Forsaken Town 
10 – Waves Of The Dunes 
11 – Tomahawk 
12 – Gravedigger