Spectr4l – Afterl1fe
Reply
Tag Archives: rock
DEAD FIELDS of WOOLWICH Unleash New Video “Cult of The Cemetery” Off Forthcoming Sophomore Album “Monarch of The Grave”
Unleashing their self-titled debut album in 2023, Dead Fields Of Woolwich unveils their first single “Cult of The Cemetery” off their forthcoming sophomore album “Monarch of The Grave” due out late this year.
Dead Fields Of Woolwich has its beginnings going back to the autumn of 2020 in North Bay, Ontario, Canada, when multi-instrumentalist Kye Bell (Withing Nostalgia, Falamh) created a gloomy, doom metal project focused on dreary lyrics and a gothic-laden sound. Recruiting Alyssa Broere on vocals, the dark twosome began their musical journey. Now, for their next follow-up and second album, the duo has grown to a full-fledged band with the addition of guitarist Dave Strba, bassist Greg Meir, and drummer Kyle Taylor.
Band founder and guitarist Kye Bell explains further on the band’s evolution:
“The sound has evolved since the first release. When writing the first album, the focus was more on powerful chords and drudging riffs. Those things are still there in small doses, but this album is full of harder-hitting songs and much more memorable parts that stick with you after the listen is done. This album breaks away from the typical Doom formula and kind of takes on its own shape. The songwriting has become more refined over time as well, lyrics are more concrete with well-defined concepts. I feel like this particular single, Cult of the Cemetery, will be very well received due to the more rock-rounded nature of the song while still maintaining its heaviness and its foot firmly planted in the metal realm. It opens the doors to a different audience, yet still stays true to the dark nature of the band.”
With its very memorable riffs, this new single is catchy hell and dark as the grave it speaks of. Melodic and melancholic, it is recommended for fans of Paradise Lost, Type O Negative, and Katatonia.
Watch and listen to the music video for “Cult of the Cemetery” via its premiere on Doomed & Stoned HERE.
VICIOUS RUMORS New album ‘The Devil’s Asylum’
It‘s been five years since US power metal act Vicious Rumors unleashed their most recent album. Five years during which band mastermind Geoff Thorpe and his crew played well over one hundred and fifty shows, presenting their longstanding career in condensed form and performing a playlist featuring their most important VR classics. These shows have left their mark on the band members while at the same time releasing a burst of new energy. Both these factors are now literally about to culminate on their upcoming album ’The Devil‘s Asylum‘, which Geoff Thorpe aptly summarises, saying: “’The Devil‘s Asylum‘ sees us return to our roots, which we‘ve combined with contemporary influences.” He continues: “Vicious Rumors look back at a career that spans 45 years, so there‘s only one goal for us: Everything we do should always be significant, every show, every song, every new album. This band has always stood for maximum intensity, powerful music and lots of new, fresh ideas.” In this respect, ’The Devil‘s Asylum‘ couldn‘t be more typical of Vicious Rumors and at the same time the album is bound to appeal to new fans.
Alongside band leader/founder Geoff Thorpe, there‘s original member Larry Howe on drums and vocals, with long-time bassist Robin Utbult completing the core foundation of VR. After the songs were written, the addition of two new members has made the band chemistry rise to a new level! There‘s vocalist Chalice and the second new member guitarist Denver Cooper, who – like Chalice – also hails from Cape Coral in Florida.
The first single and video for the song “Bloodbath” is a raw speed metal attack with melodic vocals and thrashy guitar riffs which perfectly combines the group‘s irresistible heaviness with speed and catchiness.
You can watch the video here:
Tracklisting:
- Bloodbath
- Dogs Of War
- Crack The Sky In Half
- High Hell Hammer
- Butchers Block
- Abusement Park
- Wrong Side Of Love
- Boring Day In Hell
- In Blood We Trust
- Better Than Me
- The Devil’s Asylum
“The Devil’s Asylum” will be released on August 29th, 2025 worldwide (except Japan) through SPV/Steamhammer
THRÆDS release new single and video “Nothing Good to Say” and announce full album details for Impermanence
Progressive post-rockers THRÆDS have just released their new single and official video “Nothing Good to Say”, taken from their debut album Impermanence, which will be released on June 6 via Octopus Rising and Argonauta Records, available on CD and digital formats.
THRÆDS dives deep into the complexities of time, self-awareness, and resilience with their latest track, Nothing Good to Say. Fusing progressive post-rock with atmospheric shoegaze elements, the song creates a brooding yet introspective soundscape that mirrors the journey of confronting bitterness while striving to remain curious and humble.
Laced with raw emotion, the lyrics grapple with inner struggles—asking how much hostility and tragedy one can endure before learning to let go. Themes of surrendering control, embracing life’s uncertainties, and resisting darker temptations weave through haunting melodies and expansive instrumentals. Ethereal guitar layers and dynamic buildups guide listeners through a contemplative experience, balancing tension with reflection.
Nothing Good to Say invites listeners to look time in the eye, acknowledge life’s harsh realities, and find peace in vulnerability. It’s a reminder that even amidst chaos and disillusionment, there’s strength in choosing growth over bitterness, and curiosity over fear.
Watch the video:
With Impermanence, THRÆDS explore the fragile and fleeting nature of existence through eight meticulously composed tracks. The band confronts the inevitability of entropy and the cycles of creation and destruction, shaping a sound that is both intense and immersive. Their music evolves between moments of overwhelming heaviness and eerie stillness, reflecting the unpredictable forces that shape human experience.
Formed in 2019 by guitarist and composer Angelos Tzamtzis, THRÆDS began as a solo project and quickly developed into a full band following his move to Berlin. Their multinational lineup blends progressive metal, post-metal and atmospheric rock with influences from Gojira, Tool, Alcest, Elder and Porcupine Tree.
Tracklist:1. Timeless
2. Reflections
3. Nothing Good to Say
4. Clockworks
5. Sole Survivor
6. Devolve
7. Einstein Rosen Bridge
8. Story in Reverse
The album is entirely self-produced. Drums and vocals were recorded by Matthias Schilling at G7 Studios, while all other instruments were recorded by Angelos Tzamtzis. Guest contributions by Alekos Gramma (saxophone) and Vangelis Sazanidis (synthesizer) add further tension and depth to the sound, amplifying the album’s haunting and cinematic atmosphere.
According to the band, Impermanence is a meditation on change and collapse, a reflection on the violence and beauty of transformation. Their aim is to create an unfiltered and honest experience, using dissonance, atmosphere and dynamic shifts to challenge the listener and evoke a strong emotional response.
Out Now! SHORES OF NULL Live Album “Beauty Over Europe” + New Live Video “A Nature in Disguise” + EU Tour Dates
Italian melancholic dark metal band Shores Of Null is proud to unveil their first live album, “Beauty Over Europe,” now available as of May 9th, 2025, via Sulphur Music / Masked Dead Records.
To celebrate its release day, Shores of Null are sharing their new live video, “A Nature in Disguise”. The audio track was recorded live at Backstage in Munich, Germany. Footage is taken from the 2023 European tour with Swallow The Sun, Draconian, and Avatarium, mainly at Barba Negra in Budapest by Péter Lerch.
Watch and listen to the live video for “A Nature in Disguise”:
“Beauty Over Europe” features 10 tracks recorded during the monumental 2023 European tour with Swallow The Sun, Draconian, and Avatarium. Throughout that tour, Shores of Null performed 35 shows across 18 countries, including Norway, Denmark, Germany, the UK, Ireland, France, Italy, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Hungary, bringing their critically acclaimed album “The Loss Of Beauty” to the stage.
The live recordings, captured in Leipzig, Munich, Aschaffenburg, Budapest, and Belfast, preserve the raw and emotive energy of their performances. Each track reflects the band’s ability to blend melancholic melodies with crushing heaviness, offering fans a visceral live experience.
“Beauty Over Europe” is both a celebration of the tour and a gift to all fans of the band. Exactly two years after that unforgettable journey, this live album offers a chance to relive the emotional intensity and true essence of Shores Of Null’s live performances.
Reflecting on the experience, vocalist Davide Straccione and guitarist Gabriele Giacarri share their thoughts:
“This tour was an incredible journey, the longest in our career, and a true milestone for Shores Of Null. As the promotional tour for The Loss Of Beauty, our latest and most acclaimed album to date, it was an honor to bring these songs to life across 35 shows in 18 countries. Sharing the stage with monumental bands like Swallow The Sun and Draconian—huge inspirations for our music—was unforgettable. Despite the melancholy of their sound, they’re some of the most fun and genuine people we’ve met, and by the end of this epic journey, we were proud to call them friends.
We owe special thanks to our incredible crew—Petri, Matti, Mikko, and Tero—who ensured everything ran seamlessly and made this experience unforgettable. To pay homage to this extraordinary chapter, we decided to produce a live album. Recorded during key moments of the tour, it captures the essence of these unforgettable performances and is dedicated to all the people who supported us live and shared these magical moments with us.” – Gabriele Giaccari
Davide Straccione adds:
“Our 2023 European tour with Swallow The Sun, Draconian, and Avatarium was one of the most beautiful and intense experiences of my life. Night after night, we poured everything we had into our performances, connecting deeply with audiences across 18 countries. It was a journey that marked a pivotal moment in our career as a band as well, and one we’ll carry with us forever. This live album is our way of preserving and sharing that beauty, not only as a gift to those who joined us in the crowd, but also for those who couldn’t be there to witness it.”
Shores of Null stand out from their contemporaries with their ability to blend seemingly disparate elements into their sound, overwhelmingly heavy and soothing at the same time: blackened aggression stands alongside gothic-doom sections without either sounding out of place. Their music can be both melancholic and majestic, made of chorale-like guitar textures across the instrument’s entire range, sustained by a powerful rhythmic section and punctuated by a refined mixture of clean and growled vocals, along with extensive use of pleasing vocal harmonies which have become the band’s trademark through the years.
The Rome-based metal band has been an unwavering presence within the metal underground since their musical outset in 2013, churning out a series of impressive records: the melodic and somber “Quiescence” (Candlelight, 2014), the darker and more complex “Black Drapes For Tomorrow” (Candlelight/Spinefarm, 2017), and the ambitious “Beyond The Shores (On Death And Dying)” (Spikerot Records, 2020), a 38-minute long doom manifesto that sees guest appearances of the doom-titans Mikko Kotamäki (Swallow The Sun) and Thomas A.G. Jensen (Saturnus), along with the angelic voice of Elisabetta Marchetti (Inno).
Shores Of Null’s fourth album, “The Loss Of Beauty”, released in March 2023, was hailed as one of the best albums of the year within the genre. The band supported the release with an extensive EU/UK tour alongside Swallow The Sun, Draconian, and Avatarium, followed by standout performances at major festivals like Hellfest, Rock Imperium, and 70000 Tons Of Metal, among others, further solidifying their status as one of the rising forces in the metal scene.
KISSIN’ DYNAMITE Surprises With Thrilling Music Video for “Queen Of The Night”!
| German stadium rockers KISSIN’ DYNAMITE have unveiled the official music video for their track “Queen of the Night” from their chart-topping album Back With a Bang! This electrifying anthem boasts epic guitar riffs and dynamic rock vocals, delivered in true KISSIN’ DYNAMITE fashion. The accompanying video can be described in three words: sleek, massive, and otherworldly! Drawing inspiration from their highly successful world tour, with shows in Japan, the USA, and Brazil, the five-piece band now presents a visually striking music video of international caliber, featuring stunning nighttime scenes from the streets of Tokyo. Equipped with an authentic 80s stadium rock attitude, KISSIN’ DYNAMITE have performed at countless major festivals internationally, opened for acts such as L.A. rock stars Mötley Crüe and played massive sold-out headline tours. This summer sees KISSIN’ DYNAMITE taking over festival stages again, including highlights such as Summer Breeze Open Air, and in autumn, the band is set to continue their world tour. Watch the music video for “Queen Of The Night” below and don’t miss out on tickets for the upcoming live shows! KISSIN’ DYNAMITE comments: “Just back from Florida and Brazil, we immediately associate the song ‘Queen Of The Night’ with the incredible impressions of our current world tour. It symbolizes the life, the hustle, the glitter, and the magic we’ve experienced at concerts around the globe. We were especially captivated by the sheer scale of Tokyo. That’s why we were determined to capture scenes at the legendary Shibuya Crossing and downtown for the ‘Queen Of The Night’ music video. But see and hear for yourselves!” |
| Check Out the Official Music Video for “Queen Of The Night” HERE: |
Founded as a teenage school band in 2007, KISSIN’ DYNAMITE has risen to spectacular heights, with multiple top-charting successes. Their latest album, Back With A Bang, marked a historic achievement as the band’s first-ever #1 debut, following the success of their previous studio release, Not The End Of The Road (2022), which soared to #2 on the Official German Album Charts. In addition, their infectious rock anthems have topped the Rock Radio Airplay Charts multiple times, while the band’s most popular music videos have each garnered over a million views, cementing their place as a multi-million-streamed sensation.
Modern Metal Unit TETRARCH Drops New Track “Best Of Luck” Amid Album Release Week
| The wait is almost over! Ahead of tomorrow’s release of their blistering third album, The Ugly Side Of Me, modern metal stars TETRARCH have dropped their fourth and final single, entitled “Best Of Luck”. The standout track showcases the stellar riff artistry of Jackson Guitars’ first ever female signature artist Diamond Rowe. Diamond Rowe of TETRARCH offers an inside look at the lyricism behind “Best Of Luck”: “’Best Of Luck’ was such a fun song to write. I think Josh and I got together and wrote this song together in only a few hours and it has ended up being a favorite of those who have heard the album already. The title of this song has kind of a funny story. I remember when we were younger and just starting out we would get rejection emails left and right from several different people within the industry. A lot of them used to sign their emails ‘Best of Luck’ or ‘Best of Luck in the future’ and it was always funny because clearly they didn’t wish us well at all, haha! Fast forward to now, when we have accomplished so much of what a lot of those people said we never would already, so this is kind of our ‘Best of Luck’ back to them. No hard feelings, just a funny tongue in cheek kind of thing. Maybe it’s us just being the smart asses that we always are.” |
| Listen to “Best Of Luck” HERE: |
After four years of intensely focused growth, TETRARCH is poised to top the multi-millions of cross-platform streams and views of their addictive singles and high-energy videos, frequent playlisting via Spotify, Apple and others, mainstream top 40 Active Rock radio blitzes, attention from major media like Billboard, Revolver, Alternative Press, Guitar World, Kerrang! and Metal Hammer, and international tours supporting legendary artists Sevendust, Atreyu and beyond.
If there is any question as to whether a band can push the confines of metal and hard rock in to the future, TETRARCH are the answer. Combining energetic modern musical aggression and lyrical honesty with colossal choruses and unforgettable melodies, TETRARCH appeal to fans both in and outside of the metal scene, providing newcomers a gateway into heavy music.
TETRARCH’s Napalm Records debut, Unstable (2021), received massive critical acclaim. Its debut single, “I’m Not Right”, cracked the Mediabase Active Rock Top 30 and has garnered over 15 million combined cross-platform streams to date. Follow up single “You Never Listen” later went on to receive keen support from SiriusXM, HardDrive, Full Metal Jackie and many more of the country’s leading active rock outlets.
Among its perfectly crafted 10 tracks, new album The Ugly Side Of Me cuts like 90s industrial-injected single “Live Not Fantasize” – which premiered via SiriusXM Liquid Metal upon its release alongside Diamond Rowe’s Jackson Guitars signature launch – thrill with intense electronic flourishes, quick riffage and dynamic, spine-tingling guitar solos. Anthemic second single “Never Again (Parasite)” – featuring the standout vocal debut of Diamond Rowe – carefully balances thick grooves and massive atmosphere with deep-cutting lyricism and the mulit-faceted vocal breadth of frontman Josh Fore. Tracks like album opener “Anything Like Myself” showcase the hypnotizing, crushing metallic brilliance of the band while flirting with Josh Fore’s intense screams and Ruben Limas’ punching drums, while the likes of “Best Of Luck” stand tall with the rhythmic basslines of Ryan “Dooms” Lerner and Rowe’s inventive riff artistry. Profound melodic bangers like “Erase” and “Cold” are injected with intricate guitar solos, while “Headspace” and “The Only Thing I’ve Got” thrust the vital, brooding elements of TETRARCH into the forefront. Each track succeeds with lyrical themes of facing our own darkest criticisms – embracing the healing notion that what we feel others may see as our worst traits actually define the greatest aspects of our individuality.
Featuring needle-sharp production co-produced by Dave Otero, Diamond Rowe and Josh Fore, The Ugly Side Of Me boasts unrelenting brutality, catchiness and songwriting mastery. Metal is practically begging for its next wave of genre frontrunners, and with one listen it’s clear – TETRARCH lead the charge.
The Ugly Side Of Me track listing:
1. Anything Like Myself
2. Never Again (Parasite)
3. Live Not Fantasize
4. Erase
5. The Only Thing I’ve Got
6. Best Of Luck
7. Crawl
8. Cold
9. Headspace
10. The Ugly Side of Me
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.
Blackened Death Metal icons MYSTIC CIRCLE unleash fierce cover version of BATHORY’s “One Rode To Asa Bay”, taken off upcoming “Kriegsgötter MMXXV” album | Due out on June 6th via ROAR!
June 6, 2025 will see the German iconic black/death metal duo MYSTIC CIRCLE release an extended new edition of “Kriegsgötter MMXXV” via ROAR, featuring 8 tracks and furious cover versions of classics such as from BATHORY, CELTIC FROST, POSSESSED, ACHERON, or the previously-released, completely re-recorded cover version of IRON MAIDEN‘s “Afraid To Shoot Strangers”.
On selected tracks, the band welcomes back British soprano Sarah Jezebel Deva on guest vocals, who has already made guest appearances with CRADLE OF FILTH, THE KOVENANT and THERION, among others. The track “Cry Little Sister” also features Karo Hafke, singer of the dark wave gothic band Umbra Et Imago.
Pre-order your album copy now on: https://mysticcircle.rpm.link/krieg
Today, MYSTIC CIRCLE have unleashed a new single taken off “Kriegsgötter MMXXV”, their blistering cover version of the BATHORY classic “One Rode To Asa Bay“!
“One Rode To Asa Bay“ is a track from the fifth BATHORY album „Hammerheart“, which is a favourite of us two,”A. Blackwar reveals. “The band was a huge influence for us back then, but also today. You hear that in our early works and in general for our love of atmospheric parts. When Sarah heard the song in the studio, she went to the cabin and started to sing – which wasn’t planned at all. We looked at each other with a devilish smile in our face and said: that was the missing part! This song is pure epic!”
Let’s go back a quarter of a century to the year 2000: MYSTIC CIRCLE were at their peak at the time after the release of their third studio epic “Infernal Satanic Verses” and were rightly regarded as Germany’s leading black metal band. In the summer after the turn of the millennium, the Ludwigshafen-based band followed up with the 5-track EP “Kriegsgötter II”, a compilation of cover versions and new recordings. However, the founding line-up broke up during this phase and A. Blackwar left the band. Only his return in 2020 and the reunion with vocalist Beelzebub conjured up the spirit of that time again, resulting in the two great new records “Mystic Circle” (2022) and “Erzdämon” (2023), closing the infamous circle (or pentagram?) again.
“It was inevitable for me to end my time with MYSTIC CIRCLE with “Kriegsgötter II”. The long break was necessary, we lost the connection to each other back then – which is stronger than ever today,” summarizes A. Blackwar and looks back with a teary eye, but also with a smile, because as so often in life, everything happens for a reason.
Metal Planet Media 