Metallian Heavy

Canada-based GRAVE INFESTATION has an album called Carnage Gathers through Invictus Productions as of February 28th. Canadian death metal bands SEDIMENTUM and GRAVE INFESTATION, will co-headline the Hyperborean Sonorousness tour of Europe this month.

Italy-based crust/grindcore band HORRID HUMAN CONDITION will release its debut album Perpetual Imbalance through Time To Kill Records on April 18th 2025. Formed in the summer of 2022, the band emerged when Alessandro (vocals), Claudio (guitar), and Marino (bass) joined forces with Carlo (drums). The live debut came in March 2023.

Germany-based deathrash act SIJJIN will release its second full-length, Helljinn Combat, through Sepulchral Voice Records on 25.04.2025.

SOUL DEMISE has an album called Against The Abyss through Apostasy Records on 21.03.2025.

Purity Through Fire will release Diabolical Bloodlust, a full-length by FLAGG in April.

Poland-based thrash metal group GALLOWER has a full-length, entitled Vengeance & Wrath, available through Dying Victims Productions on 28.03.2025.

New York, USA-based QUEMASANTOS has a lyric video for the song Stalking Sharks featuring a guest guitar solo by Marco Cusato (WARPATH and SOMBERWIND). It is written and performed entirely by Ignacio Orellana with the lyrics, vocals and overall concept conceived by Nelson Diaz. This is the band’s first track in English since they formed using Spanish lyrics in 2012.

FRACTAL UNIVERSE has a music video for Causality’s Grip off its forthcoming The Great Filters album. It is available through M-Theory Audio in March.

Florida, USA-based HAXPROCESS has signed with Transcending Obscurity Records for the release of its sophomore album, Beyond What Eyes Can See.

Germany-based THULCANDRA has first-time gigs in Mexico in March and in Tokyo, Japan in July.

Sweden-based death metal group WOMBBATH has an album called Beyond The Abyss through Pulverised Records on the 14th of March, 2025. It was recorded and mixed at singer and guitarist Jonny Pettersson’s Studio Unbound once again.

Brazil-based VULCANO returns to Europe after 9 years for a tour late summer of 2025. SACRIFIZER will support them on all dates.

Time To Kill Records is issuing Samnite Black Metal, the new LP from Italy-based black metal band SAKAHITER. The band was formed in Campobasso in 2002. Its monicker translates into ‘let it be sacrificed’ in the Oscan language.

Austria-based black metal act KARG has uploaded a song called Findling from its Marodeur album. The record is available through AOP Records in April.

Germany-based black metal act VERHEERER will issue an album, called Urgewalt, through Vendetta Records on April 5th 2025.

SUDDEN DEATH has signed to Time To Kill Records for the release of an album called In Sinner Hate.

Finland-based death metal band DEATHGOAT has signed a contract with Xtreem Music for the release of its second full-length album, which is scheduled to be released this summer.

Dusktone is releasing The Obscure Light Awaits, the second full-length by Italy-based death metal band SONUM, in April.

Deathcore act ART OF ATTRITION and 2024 Wacken Metal Battle Canada Champions, BEGUILER are touring Canada using The Subservient Bloodletting Tour monicker in May 2025.

Tempe, Arizona, USA-based deathcore band KARDASHEV has an album, called Alunea, through Metal Blade Records on 25.04.2025.

VULVECTOMY is back with an album called Aberrant Vaginal Gestation. It will be issued by Comatose Music on 11.04.2025.

Time To Kill Records has signed Iceland-based death metal group DEVINE DEFILEMENT. The new album, entitled Ruthless, will be released in the spring.

Death metal band PISSGRAVE has an album, called Malignant Worthlessness, through Profound Lore Records. It was produced, engineered, mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk (SUMERLANDS, WAR HUNGRY, etc.).

Sweden-based all-girl act FRANTIC AMBER has an album, entitled Death Becomes Her, through ROAR on April 4th 2025. It was mixed and mastered by Lawrence Mackrory at Rorysound Studio.

SERPENTINE DOMINION, which was a death metal side-project and featuring KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist Adam Dutkiewicz, CANNIBAL CORPSE singer George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher, and former THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER drummer Shannon Lucas in 2016, is back and working on an album.

CAVALERA’s Third World Trilogy U.S. Tour with NECROT and DEAD HEAT is underway currently.

Belgium-based REJECT THE SICKNESS have released a video for the song Acta Non Verba. It is taken from the band’s Signs Of The End album, which will be released later this year.

Wales-based OFNUS has an album called Valediction through Naturmacht Productions. There is a video for the song Throes Of Agony.

DESSIDERIUM, the solo project of Alex Haddad (ARKAIK and ATHEIST), has uploaded two tracks, called In the Midst Of May and Dover Hendrix, from the upcoming album Keys To The Palace, which will be released through Willowtip Records on March 14th 2025.

German label Eisenwald has signed Finland-based black metal band ONDFØDT and will release a new full-length in the near future.

With a liquidation sale, “experimental” label Brucia Records has announced its immediate closure. The label was established in 2019 and issued music by LACOLPA, MOUTH WOUND, VOID, HEGEMONE, KRVVLA, THE SUN and THE MIRROR.

Hungary-based ROTHADÁS has a new studio album, called Töviskert… A Kísértés Örök Érzete… Lidércharang, through Me Saco Un Ojo Records on March 21, 2025.

Switzerland-based black metal group GHÖRNT has a full-length called Bluetgraf this month.

TAAKE, ASAGRAUM and HEIMLAND are touring Europe in April.

SHORES OF NULL shall issue a live album, entitled Beauty Over Europe, in May 2025. The live record features ten tracks that were recorded during the 2023 European tour with SWALLOW THE SUN, DRACONIAN and AVATARIUM. The band is also touring and playing festivals this spring and summer.

DARKENHÖLD has an album entitled Le Fleau Du Rocher through Les Acteurs De L’ombre Productions in June.

Famine is the title for the new album by SOLILOQUIUM. It will be released through Meuse Music Records on April 11th, 2025.

Norway-based SARKE has thrown in the towel after 17 years of existence. The band, which was a solo act initially, released an album called Endo Feight in 2024.

Poland-based INSIDIUS has signed a deal with Black Lion Records for the release of its next studio album, which is due out in the summer of 2025. Since all albums nowadays have guest appearances this one will feature Moyses Kolesne of KRISIUN and Piotr “Peter” Wiwczarek of VADER.

At The Heart Of Emptiness is the 2025 demo by Chile-based FALLEN FORTRESS. George Bokos (former guitarist of ROTTING CHRIST) is a guest on some vocals on the recording.

FRANK BLACKFIRE has signed with High Roller Records and will re-release the 2015 album, Back On Fire. The man is also working on new music.

South Africa-based VULVODYNIA has its first full North American headline tour. Scheduled for July And August, the tour features support from THE LAST TEN SECONDS OF LIFE, ORGANECTOMY and WORMHOLE.

SUNN O))) has a one-week tour of Europe in the middle of June. The trek will start at Ephemera Festival in Warsaw, Poland and end at Hellfest in Clisson, France.

Not content to have one solo project, France-based Antoine Scholtes (INHERITS THE VOID, etc.) has a new act called WURMIAN. Claiming inspiration from KATATONIA, WURMIAN has an album called Immemorial Shrine through Pest Records on April 6th, 2025.

Luxembourg-based thrash metal quintet SCARLET ANGER has signed with Metalville Records. The band expects an album in 2026.

The trendy anniversary schemes continue: THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN continues to commemorate the 25th anniversary of its debut record, Calculating Infinity, with a tour of Australia this August.

WORMROT will embark on a North American headline tour. Support on the road will come from NO/MÁS (all dates) and BANDIT, VIOLENCIA, and OXYGEN DESTROYER on select dates.

A new DISARMONIA MUNDI album, entitled The Dormant Stranger, is scheduled through Coroner Records for March 21st 2025.

Time To Kill Records has issued a video for the song All There Is Was Never Meant by French ambient/black metal entity K.F.R. Moreover, physical editions of the Pain/Ter album will be released through Time To Kill Records on April 20th 2025.

Eleven years after its last release, AHAMKARA is back with a new record through Bindrune Recordings called The Harrow Of The Lost. It will see release on the 25th of April, 2025.

Right-wing crossover act METHOD OF DESTRUCTION/M.O.D. is reuniting with guitarist Louis Svitek for two shows in Texas in March for the first time in over 35 years.

Funeral doom duo OAKMORD will release its full-length Take The Step on March 21st. Comprised of 9 tracks, it will be released through Meuse Music Records.

Italy-based funeral doom act TETRAMORPHE IMPURE will release its debut album, The Sunset Of Being, through Aesthetic Death on 18.04.2025. The band was founded by Damien, an experienced musician and former member of MORTUARY DRAPE.

Yet another line-up change in VIO-LENCE. Bassist Christian Olde Wolbers has quit the band and added in a statement, “I’m not a quitter, the last time I quit a band was in 92 when I quit Asphyxia in Belgium and moved to the USA a few months later to pursue a bigger career.” He will focus on CYPRESS HILL.

MACHINE HEAD has a video for the song Unbøund, which is taken from the band’s new album, Unatøned, available through Nuclear Blast Records in April.

Belgium-based AMENRA has a music video for the song Forlorn, which will appear on the With Fang And Claw single. This and another EP, called De Toorn, are available through Relapse on March 28th 2025.

Deathgrind does “merch”: France-based BENIGHTED and “clothing brand” Hate Couture have a series of “signature sneakers” featuring the artwork from the band’s last album, Ekbom.

Bay Area thrash metal band FROLIC has issued Live At the Great American Music Hall, which is a live demo and full-set video from its performance at the Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, California in support of DEATH ANGEL‘s 2023 Christmas celebration and FORBIDDEN‘s first performance in 11 years.


Metallian Hard

Canada-based PHEAR has a full-length called Save Our Souls. It has digital distribution from Golden Robot Records.

TRANCEMISSION singer and guitarist Lothar Antoni died of cancer on February 5th, 2025.

TRANCE has parted ways with Dutch singer Nick Holleman and recruited Alexx Stahl as a replacement. Holleman has departed due to his busy schedule at home.

SAVATAGE will play a headline show, with openers OPETH, following its appearance at Monsters Of Rock in Brazil. The band will also appear at Masters Of Rock in Chile.

USA-based heavy metal group CHRISTIAN MISTRESS' Children Of The Earth album has been available through Cruz Del Sur Music since February.

All In is the new studio album by Italy-based WHEELS OF FIRE. It will be issued by Burning Minds Music Group on 21.03.2025.

Finland-based BEFORE THE DAWN has signed with Reaper Entertainment. The band's old label Stay Heavy Records and Reaper were releasing a LP of the band's acoustic stream show of 2021.

TWINS CREW has returned and has an advance song called Never Stop Believing ahead of the release of the Chapter IV album.

Texas, USA-based STATE OF MIND has a new demo called Sanity Of Madness through the Self-Made Records with distribution from Earache Records. The band calls its music "New Classic Metal."

Sydney, Australia-based hard rock act VISUALIS released its Rites Of The Eclipse demo on February 28th 2025. The drums were recorded by Finley Ford, the band's previous drummer.

USA-based HANGFIRE has a debut album, called Burn, through Rottweiler Records on May 2nd 2025. The band has already opened for bands like GREYHAWK and WITCH RIPPER.

The Netherlands-based doom metal act PHANTOM DRUID has a demo, called The Edge Of Oblivion, on March 6th 2025. It was written, performed, recorded and mixed by Tjeerd de Jong at Demon Lodge Studio in Kampen, The Netherlands. Mastering was handled by Berthus Westerhuis. The act has uploaded the song Realms Of The Unreal.

New York, USA-based SANHEDRIN has an album called Heat Lightning through Metal Blade Records this month.

Belgium-based BARK has an album called The Time Has Come through Listenable Records on 25.04.2025. There was a video for the song Negativist.

Britain-based doom metal band PAGAN ALTAR has an album, entitled Never Quite Dead, through Dying Victims Productions on 25.04.2025. The band has uploaded a song called The Dead's Last March.

Spain-based doom metal band CRUZEIRO has an album called Hic Sunt Dracones through La Rubia Producciones, Interstellar Smoke Records, Vertebrae and Doomshire Tapes on 26 March 2025. Metallian will update if another half a dozen other labels join in the effort to press 100 copies.

Pennsylvania, USA-based heavy metal band LADY BEAST has an album called The Inner Alchemist through Dying Victim Productions.

USA-based female-fronted heavy metal groups, SANHEDRIN and SAVAGE MASTER, will conduct a co-headlining Dangerous Lightning European tour in late spring.

The label is really really pushing to make a little, just a little, in fact any mullah from this one. Described as, "components of death, thrash, and black metal and intertwines them with the finest facets of deathcore and blackened orchestration,' The Charon Collective has released a self-titled compilation by SCAPEGOAT containing every song recorded by the white metal band.

STATEMENT has a digital single called My Last Goodbye through Mighty Music as of 28 February 2025.

Self-cover version: SEVEN SPIRES has uploaded a re-recorded version of The Road, which was previously released as part of the Japanese bonus for the 2020 album Emerald Seas.

Art Of Melody Music and Burning Minds Music Group have announced SOUL SELLER's Fight Against Time album for May 16, 2025.

SYMPHONY X, whose last album was 2015's Underworld, is working on an album for 2026.

Folk metal act VINTERSORG’s comeback album Vattenkrafternas Spel is available through Hammerheart Records in June 2025.

TO/DIE/FOR has announced that Sanna Solanterä (ex-FIREPROVEN) has joined the group as the new singer. The group is working on new music.

Avantgarde Music is issuing We Lost Our Hope Along The Way by AUTUMN'S DAWN (MY BLOODY VALENTINE with growls), Zwart Vierkant: Slotstuk by GREY AURA (MY BLOODY VALENTINE with growls) and NORTT's Dødssang (solo synthesized ambient music) this month.

Yet another side-project. Members of THERION have a heavy metal side-project called DEFENDERS OF THE FAITH. A video is available for the song Darkside Brigade. The singers are Diego Valdez and Chris Davidsson.

Compared to RUSH and LED ZEPPELIN, SIX FEET DEEPER has signed with Lion Music. The Stockholm, Sweden-based band formed in 2017. The group consists of singer Sara Lindberg, guitarist Patrik Andersson, bassist Erik Arkö and drummer Emil Mickols. A full-length is due this year.

TERAMAZE is following its upload of a song called Sinister in December 2024 with a song and video called Ending Of All. The band comments: “We’ve kept the intensity with those hard-hitting riffs and huge vocal hooks, but this track also blends our prog influences with addictive pop melodies…"

The annual Rock For Ronnie concert fund-raiser, benefiting the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund is set for Los Angeles on Sunday May 18, 2025. Bands appearing include SEBASTIAN BACH, KILL DEVIL HILL and DIO DISCIPLES.

Mile High Power Metal Fest returns to Denver, Colorado, USA's the Oriental Theater for its 2nd edition on August 16th 2025. The line-up includes POWERGLOVE, GLYPH, OWLBEAR, EMPRESS, LYCANTHRO and CELESTIAL WIZARD. The idea for the show came to Soren Bray after a night of celebration with his band, CELESTIAL WIZARD while attending the HyperSpace Festival in Vancouver, Canada. He partnered with Lucy, owner of Bitesize Productions LLC.

The Electric Highway Festival has announced its 2025 line-up. The Festival is being held in Calgary on April 4th and 5th at Dickens and includes BISON headlining, alongside CASTLE. They would be joined by LA CHINGA, BUFFALO BUD BUSTER and others.

How can you tell someone is an idiot? It's someone who likes Donald J Trump. How can you tell someone is an anti-idiot? It's someone who understands Donald J. Trump.


Metallian Demos

KILLER - HARD TO KILL
Sure, a girl can write about music and what comes out of the speakers.
A demo review is not only about the music. There are other things in life. Take parental attention and upbringing for one. The three boys of Killer were not given the best education, discernment or finesse growing up. The band calls itself 'thrash.' The music here is hardcore actually. It isn't even crossover. The songs are hardcore with dry and hoarse vocals. Didn't mom teach you the difference between thrash and hardcore? The choice of names leaves something to be desired too. It is actually ignorantly brave to pick a generic name that half a dozen other acts have already used, but copying or ignorance are not refined habits. Didn't dad teach you that stealing is not OK? Fine, be that way. Be that as it may, what about the music? Is it a pleasure to hear?
Hard To Kill storms out of the speakers and it is lo-fi and furious hardcore. There is energy and speed. Sure, there is a little bit of thrashing too. Obviously, they go to great lengths to steal trash bins in Thunder Bay. You should hear those tires screech. Although from its online pictures the place looks charmless and boring, the trio swears by Holland Bakery. The outside looks drab and without personality. The shop's sign screams cheap and generic. The, er, goods themselves do not seem worth a mention either. Although, let's not exaggerate, while it is not exactly a trash bin, it looks as far away from being fine pastry as Donald Trump is to mental (or physical) fitness. Not to mention that "best donuts" is an oxymoron in itself. Sorry, all the world's fatsos and fatso wanna-bes. Next, the song titles are First Blood, followed by Blood Beach. Oh boy, Thunder Bay must be an interesting place even if First Blood was filmed in British Columbia in Western Canada, which is nowhere near Thunder Bay. Haven't watched the movie by the same name, but the instrumental Blood Beach here is probably the thrashiest of the four tracks. Parental neglect?
The Canadian trio can be found here https://killer10.bandcamp.com/album/hard-to-kill - Anna Tergel