CRIPPLE BASTARDS RELEASE "LA TUA FOTO NEL MARMO"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

CRIPPLE BASTARDS are set to release their brand new EP "La tua foto sul marmo" on June 12, 2026 via F.O.A.D. Records.

While the format might suggest a minor release, this record stands as a remarkably significant statement from the Italian veterans. Showcasing an impressive range of new facets, the EP delivers fresh and compelling songwriting - no small feat for a band with decades of history behind them.

The name CRIPPLE BASTARDS has always been synonymous with uncompromising hate-fueled grind, yet these new tracks reveal intriguing developments: frequent tempo shifts, dynamic structures and a guitar work that, alongside the expected sonic assault, ventures into more subtle and suspenseful territories. Moments of tension and unpredictability keep the listener constantly on edge, wondering what will come next.

The music was recorded by Stefano Santi at SPVN Studio, while vocals were tracked by Carlo Altobelli at Toxic Basement Studio, with mixing and mastering also handled by Stefano Santi.

"La tua foto sul marmo" ultimately stands as a powerful manifesto of the unrelenting hunger that still drives this legendary band forward.

The trailer of the first single, "L’era della dispersione", is now streaming HERE.

Tracklist:

01. Il respiro si chiude

02. Scarto del rimorso

03. Vendicativo

04. La tua foto sul marmo

05. L’era della dispersione

06. Ai confini di quel che puoi dire

Formed in March 1988 in Asti, northern Italy, CRIPPLE BASTARDS are one of the longest-running and most respected names in extreme underground music. What began as a raw collaboration between teenage misfits Giulio the Bastard and Alberto the Crippler quickly evolved into something far greater: a project rooted in the legacy of Italian hardcore acts like Negazione, Raw Power and Wretched, but pushed to new extremes through the emerging language of grindcore and noisecore.

After building a fierce reputation through demos, splits, and relentless DIY activity in the late ’80s and early ’90s, the band achieved global cult status, so much so that not knowing them almost feels like having lived under a rock. Their legacy is ultimately defined by a series of uncompromising full-length albums that shaped their identity and influence across decades.

Their debut album "Your Lies in Check" (1996) marked their official arrival on the international stage, followed by the highly acclaimed "Misantropo a senso unico" (2000), which further refined their bleak, nihilistic vision. The final breakthrough came with "Desperately Insensitive" (2003): widely distributed and repeatedly repressed, it became their best-selling record, surpassing 10,000 copies - an exceptional achievement in the grindcore world.

The band continued to evolve with "Variante alla morte" (2008), recorded in Sweden’s famed Studio Fredman, and "Frammenti di vita" (2010), a release that pays tribute to the Italian hardcore roots that inspired them. A major milestone followed with their signing to Relapse Records, which released "Nero in metastasi" (2014), a mature and devastating work that expanded their global reach even further. Their seventh full-length, "La fine cresce da dentro" (2018), confirmed a band still pushing forward creatively after three decades.

Beyond the studio, CRIPPLE BASTARDS have built an unmatched live reputation, playing hundreds of shows worldwide across Europe, the United States, Japan, Brazil, and Australia. They have shared stages with genre-defining acts and have appeared at major underground festivals such as Neurotic Deathfest, Brutal Assault, Obscene Extreme and Maryland Deathfest, among many others, earning the utmost respect from veterans of the extreme music scene.

Today, CRIPPLE BASTARDS are not just an Italian institution but a global cult phenomenon. Their enduring influence, uncompromising visio, and relentless activity have secured them a legendary status that transcends borders. An essential name in grindcore history that continues to inspire new generations worldwide.

“In being a surviving unit like Cripple Bastards for some 35+ odd years, it takes much persistance, perseverance and an undying spirit to wreck yourself, all out with Brutal-Fucking-Grind. Yeah, I said it. I said Brutal, so what. Brutal. That’s the supposed overused adjective that most ‘heavy’ band bios and descriptions overlook nowadays for fear of oversaturation or an unoriginal ‘old school’ repetitiveness. Thats the one word in the dictionary that C.B. should have fucking copywritten a long time ago. It fits them. It defines them. It IS them. Cripple Bastards are indelibly BRUTAL. In all ways; music, violence, artwork, attitude, politics. All born of this represenatitive and passionately destructive word. The mere fact that C.B. even exist confirms they OWN the goddamn word. C.B. are B-R-U-T-A-L. Understand it NOW. “

(Mike IX Williams, EyeHateGod / Arson Anthem / Outlaw Order 00%)

Line-up:

Giulio The Bastard - Vocals

Schintu The Wretched - Bass

Der Kommissar - Guitar

Raphael Saini - Drums

CRIPPLE BASTARDS

https://www.cripple-bastards.com/

https://www.facebook.com/cripplebastards

https://www.instagram.com/cripple_bastards/

F.O.A.D. Records

https://www.foadrecords.com/

https://www.scareystore.com/

https://www.facebook.com/foadrecords/

https://foadrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://www.instagram.com/foad_records/

AGARWAEN RELEASE "THE MURDER TREND"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Agarwaen “The Murder Trend” (Full-Length)

Release Date: July 3rd, 2026

Country: Finland

Label: Over The Border Records

Genre: Asylum Metal

Format: CD, Digital

Tracklist:

1. False Arrival (01:31)

2. Bad Beginning (04:25)

3. God Complex (05:53)

4. Orphan Son (05:23)

5. La Colección (07:14)

6. Circo de la Muerte (03:51)

7. The Hunt (04:07)

8. Clowny Business (05:13)

9. Aenimus (07:07)

10. The Murder Trend (15:57)

The Murder Trend is a full-scale concept album that descends into abuse, trauma, revenge, and inherited madness. Told as a chronological horror narrative, the album follows Anton, a boy broken by systemic cruelty, whose life spirals from neglect and violence into ritualized murder in a circus set and cult indoctrination. What begins as social tragedy evolves into something far more grotesque: a generational curse embodied through masks and a carnival of death.

Musically, the album moves between cinematic instrumentals, relentless extreme metal, crazy combinations of different styles, and theatrical passages that underline the story’s psychological collapse. It’s groovy, it’s progressive, violent as hell and yet brings a twisted smile on your face when you listen to it.

Lyrically uncompromising and narratively explicit, The Murder Trend presents a bleak reflection on how victims can become monsters—and how in the modern world violent trends can spread like a contagion once given a symbol to wear.

The album was mastered by Grammy Award–winning Svante Forsbäck, produced by Emma Award–winning Teemu Aalto, and released on July 3rd, 2026. All lyrics and most of the music were written by founding member Anthony Hodju.

This is not just an album, it is a grotesque modern horror tale set to music.

“The Murder Trend” was mastered by Grammy Award–winning Svante Forsbäck, produced by Emma Award–winning Teemu Aalto. All lyrics by Anthony Hodju. Photos by Rocktografia. 

AGARWAEN is:

Anthony Hodju - Vocals

Pete Bay - Lead Guitars

Crazy Gustav - Rhythm Guitars

Dr. Wolfram - Bass

Tomas Kasprzyk - Drums

Vermin - Percussion, Actor

Discography: 

Vrykolakas (EP, Independent, 2010) 

Dottore I (Full-Length, Independent, 2020) 

Channel: Lunacy (Full-Length, Independent, 2023)

The Murder Trend (Full-Length, Over The Border Records, 2026)

Agarwaen is an Asylum Metal band from Finland, originally founded in 2006 by Anthony Hodju while he was still the band’s guitarist. At first, the band was known as Shathanas, releasing the EP ”The End of the Santa” that same year. Later in 2006, the name was changed to Agarwaen, under which they released their first EP ”Vrykolakas” in 2010—only to disband soon afterwards.

After a nine-year hiatus, Hodju revived the project and began work on the first full-length album ”Dottore I”, joined by session musicians such as Mika Lumijärvi (drums & synths, Voidfallen) and Edward Torchia (vocals, Torchia). The album was met with positive reviews and was even chosen as Album of the Year by the American metal station Metal Nation.

Following the release, Hodju assembled a new lineup for live shows and began work on the next album, ”Channel: Lunacy” (2023). Just two days before the vocal recordings, Hodju switched from guitar to vocals after the band’s current session vocalist proved unreliable.

Agarwaen then hit the road heavily in Finland, toured in Europe in 2024 and played at TUSKA festival the same year. The band went through a few more lineup changes before settling into the solid formation they have today. 

In 2025, the band returned to the studio to record the LP ”The Murder Trend” and the EP ”Arena of Retribution”, produced by Emma Award–winning Teemu Aalto (Insomnium, Omnium Gatherum) and mastered by multiple Grammy winner Svante Forsbäck (Rammstein, Nightwish).

Looking ahead, Agarwaen has already started composing two upcoming albums—”Cocaine Cock” and ”Gypsy Wagon” (working titles). One is set to be an ambitious fusion of Gypsy Jazz and Asylum Metal, while the other explores a lunatic mix of ’90s industrial metal (Rammstein, The Prodigy), ’80s horror synthwave, and modern metal.

Agarwaen offers wild, crazy soundscapes with catchy riffs and stunning atmospheres. The gigs are like a scene from a mental asylum horror movie! The band is an oddball that mixes all kinds of different metal styles into one frantic and lunatic music!

http://agarwaen.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/Agarwaenband/

https://www.instagram.com/agarwaen_official/

NECROCCULTUS STREAMS "THE AFTERDEATH BLACKNESS"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Mexican death metal force NECROCCULTUS have made their upcoming full-length album "The Afterdeath Blackness" available for exclusive streaming in advance via Death Metal Promotion, offering listeners a complete immersion into their latest work ahead of its official release.

Set to be unleashed on April 24th, 2026 through Terror From Hell Records, the album stands as a powerful reaffirmation of the band’s unwavering dedication to pure and uncompromising death metal. Across its eight tracks, "The Afterdeath Blackness" delivers a carefully balanced blend of crushing riffs, intricate songwriting, and a dense, ritualistic atmosphere that reflects decades of underground commitment.

Stream the album at THIS LOCATION. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GCaNKaGFeew

Proud standard-bearers of the purest and most solemn death metal tradition, NECROCCULTUS return with a record that both honors and revitalizes the genre’s roots. Forged through years of underground militancy and unwavering dedication to the death metal cause, the band channels its accumulated experience into an album that feels timeless yet fiercely alive. “The Afterdeath Blackness” stands as a statement of intent: death metal in its most essential, uncompromising form.

Across eight tracks, the album showcases everything that has defined NECROCCULTUS since their inception: massive riffs, carefully crafted songwriting and a dark atmosphere rooted in ritualistic heaviness. The compositions are elaborate without ever becoming self-indulgent, balancing complexity with raw impact and maintaining a natural flow that keeps the listener immersed from beginning to end. A constant sense of menace runs through the record, while a subtle veil of epic grandeur elevates the material beyond mere brutality.

Rather than chasing trends or modern gimmicks, NECROCCULTUS embrace the spirit of classic death metal, filtering it through decades of underground commitment and artistic growth. The result is an album that sounds both reverent and commanding, a work that speaks directly to devoted followers of the old ways while reaffirming the band’s place among today’s torchbearers of authentic death metal.

Tracklist:

I. Intro (The Highest Sphere Of The Dead)

II. Slaughter Of Bestiality

III. Transition To The Tortuous Reign

IV. Unburied Hellish Presences

V. Dread Midnight Entities

VI. Multiform Devourer Of Souls

VII. Old Coffin Miasma

VIII. The Afterdeath Blackness

NECROCCULTUS was formed in 2003 as a five-piece band consisting of César (guitar), Omar (bass), Chago (guitar), Daniel (drums), and Isaías (growls). During the following three years, this original line-up recorded several releases, including the brutal full-length “Encircling The Mysterious Necrorevelation” (2005) for Sempiternal Productions (US), a 7” EP for Blood Harvest Records (Sweden), a three-way split CD with Sanctifier and Throneum on Warfuck Records (Colombia), and a split LP with Shub-Niggurath released by Iron Bonehead Productions (Germany).

Between 2006 and 2009, the band went through a series of line-up changes while continuing to perform live. Among their most notable appearances was “Glorifying the Great Beast” in 2009, where they shared the stage in Berlin, Germany, with bands such as Necros Christos, Kaamos, Graveyard, and others.

In 2012, NECROCCULTUS recorded another 12” EP, “Solemnelohim, Bringer Of Death”, once again released via Blood Harvest Records. Further line-up changes followed, and in 2020 the band unleashed the demo “Unburied Hellish Presences”, released by the Italian label Unholy Domain Records. Shortly after, due to the global pandemic, the band disbanded.

In 2024, founding member Isaías H. reactivated NECROCCULTUS alongside a new line-up: Roel (guitar), Néstor (bass), Alex (guitar), Dante (drums), and Isaías (growls). After performing several live shows, the band entered the studio between July and October 2025 to record their new abominable full-length, “The Afterdeath Blackness”, featuring eight tracks of bestial, unholy death metal.

Line-up:

Roel - Guitar

Alex - Guitar

Néstor - Bass

Dante - Drums

Isaías - Growls

The “The Afterdeath Blackness” was recorded, mixed and mastered at MAT Studio.

Vocals has been recorded at The Cave Home Studio, between July and October 2025

Engineering by Alex Méndez

Music by NECROCCULTUS

Lyrics by Isaías H.

Keyboards session on tracks 1, 6 and 8 by Astarot

Cover artwork by Thomas (Necromaniac)

Layout by Lorenzo Santini

Executive Production by Terror From Hell Recs

Terror From Hell Records

https://terrorfromhellrecords.bandcamp.com/

https://www.tfhrecords.com/terrorfromhell/

https://www.facebook.com/TerrorFromHellRecords/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Necroccultus/116080975129390

AVARICE RELEASE "PERPETUAL RUIN"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Danish metal act AVARICE return with their second full-length album “Perpetual Ruin”, released via Mighty Music. The album delivers ten crushing tracks exploring humanity’s endless cycle of rise, failure, and collapse. 

Blending classic death and thrash metal with elements of hardcore and melodic death metal, Avarice present a sound that is both brutal and dynamic. Razor-sharp riffs, crushing rhythms, and relentless intensity drive the record forward, while the lyrics draw on themes of antiquity, morality, punishment, and the darker impulses of human nature. 

“Perpetual Ruin” follows the band’s self-titled album “Avarice” (2023), which marked a defining step forward and received strong acclaim from both fans and critics, firmly re-establishing the band within the Danish metal scene. The record was produced, mixed and mastered by Chris Kreutzfeldt, known for his work with Cabal, Møl and Ghost Iris, among others.

“Perpetual Ruin” will be released on LP, CD and digital formats on 19.06.2026, via Mighty Music. Pre-orders are available here. The first single of the album, "Underling", hits all the streaming services next week and can be pre-saved via this link.

Originally formed in 2006, Avarice built a reputation through energetic live shows and festival appearances alongside international metal acts and leading Danish bands. After a 13-year hiatus, they returned in 2021 with the EP “Reborn In Blood”, reigniting the band with renewed focus and a heavier direction. 

With “Perpetual Ruin”, Avarice push their sound further than ever. A record that fully comes to life on stage, where the band’s raw, aggressive energy proves impossible to ignore. 

"Perpetual Ruin" tracklist:

1. Beyond the Grave 

2. Underling 

3. Empires of Sand 

4. Tyrannicide 

5. New Age of Enslavement 

6. The Bacchanalia 

7. Enter the Arena 

8. Cult of the Forgotten God 

9. Nature Prevails 

10. The Wolf King 

Lineup:

Anders Sinding - vocals

Jens H. - guitar

Troels Rasmussen - guitar

Emil Stephansen - bass

Troels Lund-Sørensen - drums

Webshop:

https://bit.ly/avrc-tgt

https://www.facebook.com/AvariceDK/

https://instagram.com/avaricedk

KARMIAN RELEASE "HORROR VACUI"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Rockshots Records proudly announces the release of Horror Vacui, the new full‑length album from Italian melodic death metal force Karmian, available March 20th. A concept record rooted in true events, “Horror Vacui” marks the band’s most ambitious, introspective, and emotionally charged work to date, a descent into the psychological and existential void behind real acts of murder and moral collapse.

​​“Horror Vacui is the darkest and most introspective chapter of our journey. A descent into the psychological and existential void that hides behind real acts of murder and madness,” says the band.

​Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Audiocore Studio by Luca Cocconi and Simone Sighinolfi, the nine tracks on “Horror Vacui” transform true Italian crime cases into harrowing portraits of human fragility, alienation, and the emptiness that breeds violence. Vocalist and lyricist Andrea Bertolazzi approached each story not to sensationalize, but to expose the void beneath the brutality. As he explains:

​​“We didn’t want to glorify horror; we wanted to expose its roots. This record is about the emptiness that breeds violence, and the fragile humanity that hides beneath.”​

​From the tragic collapse of nurse Sonya Caleffi to the cult‑like spiral of the Beasts of Satan, from the myth‑shrouded Alleghe murders to the disturbing obsessions of Marco Mariolini and Gianfranco Stevanin, each track becomes a psychological study rendered through Karmian’s signature blend of aggression, melody, and narrative depth.

​With “Horror Vacui,” Karmian pushes their sound further than ever. The album fuses Swedish‑influenced melodic death metal with cinematic tension, intricate arrangements, and a raw, live‑driven production approach. Every instrument was recorded acoustically without studio trickery, preserving the band’s trademark authenticity.

​​“It’s our most mature and intense work to date, melodic death metal meets cinematic tension, raw energy, and psychological storytelling. We wanted the album to leave a lingering sense of inner unease, a discomfort that wounds, but is also exorcised through the act of listening,” adds the band.

​The result is an album meant not just to be heard, but felt, a visceral experience that lingers long after the final note. The band hopes listeners will explore the layers of meaning, the connections to real events, and the emotional weight embedded in every riff and lyric.

​​“Horror Vacui” stands as Karmian’s most profound artistic statement, a fusion of philosophy, extreme metal, and psychological exploration. It is a record that challenges, confronts, and compels reflection on the abyss within.

Recommended for fans of The Haunted, Kataklysm, Heaven Shall Burn, At The Gates, early Dark Tranquillity, and early In Flames, “Horror Vacui” is available now as of March 20th, 2026, through Rockshots Records.

CD – “Horror Vacui” – https://rockshots.eu/products/karmian-horror-vacui-cd​

Add to your Spotify playlist – https://open.spotify.com/album/4lEIA86baPxAQIlIq7jCzE?si=4lFqJB9MQQGnYxBluhv5cA

Track Listing:​

1. One Thousand Shining Bubbles – 06:38

2. Beastmaster of the Void – 03:21

3. Gott Mit Uns Nicht – 04:38

4. The Call of the Abyssal Bell – 06:17

5. Black Magical Soap Opera – 03:54

6. Temple of the Fleshless Goddess – 03:23

7. Libido et Mors – 03:40

8. Beyond the Dream Gate of Fear – 04:16

9. Maker of Angels – 04:43

Album Length: 40:50

Karmian Line-Up:​

Andrea Bertolazzi: Vocals

Andrea Baraldi: Guitars

Michele Perla: Guitars

Luca Marmi: Bass

Nicholas Badiali: Drums

More info:

​https://rockshots.eu/​

​https://www.instagram.com/karmian_official/​

​https://www.facebook.com/KarmianBand/​

BIOGRAPHY:

Originating from Modena, Italy, Karmian stands as one of the most consistent and distinctive voices in Italian melodic death metal, forging a sound that blends raw aggression, melodic nuance, and strong conceptual depth. Their music draws from the sharp-edged intensity of the Swedish tradition while embodying a uniquely Italian sense of drama, history, and emotional resonance.

The band’s earliest incarnation dates back to 2005, when founders Andrea Baraldi, Mauro Leone, and Nicholas Badiali formed a project under the name When the Storm Broke. Though the group disbanded in 2009 after several lineup changes, the experience laid the foundations for what would later become Karmian. In 2011, the founding members revived the project with the addition of vocalist Andrea Bertolazzi, giving rise to the definitive identity of the band and solidifying their path within melodic death metal.

Karmian debuted in 2012 with the EP “Ways of Death”, a conceptual release exploring psychological decline and the “ways of death” – themes that would become central to the band’s artistic identity. Years of touring across Italy and Europe further strengthened their presence within the extreme metal scene, leading to their first full-length album, “Surgere et Cadere” (2018). Rooted in historical and mythological narratives, the album recounts the struggle of the Celtic Boii tribe against the Roman Empire, showcasing the band’s lyrical ambition and intricate musicianship.

Following extensive touring, including performances with Dying Fetus, Mortuary Drape, and Venom Inc., Karmian released “Live at Slaughter Club” (2022), a testament to their intensity and authenticity on stage. After the pandemic years, the lineup evolved with the arrival of Luca Marmi (bass) and Michele Perla (guitars), marking the beginning of a darker, more elaborate creative phase.

This evolution culminates in their most ambitious work to date: the 2026 full-length “Horror Vacui”, recorded at Audiocore Studio with Luca Cocconi and Simone Sighinolfi. The album explores the psychological and existential void behind real acts of Italian murder and madness, transforming nine true-crime cases into allegorical portraits of emptiness, collapse, and human frailty. Musically, “Horror Vacui” expands the band’s soundscape through intricate dual-guitar writing, powerful rhythmic structures, and Bertolazzi’s blend of guttural intensity and narrative expressiveness.

Across their discography, Karmian have built a reputation for merging conceptual storytelling with extreme metal intensity. Whether navigating historical epics or psychological abysses, their work is defined by a commitment to exploring the deeper forces that drive human behavior – resistance, decline, obsession, and the void within. “Horror Vacui” stands as the culmination of this journey: a mature, uncompromising statement of artistic vision, philosophy, and melodic death metal identity.

FLESHCRAWL RELEASE NEW SINGLE AND VIDEO: "BLOOD DOMINION"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

FLESHCRAWL Sign Worldwide Deal With Distortion Music Group (DMG) - Powered by Reigning Phoenix Music, Unveil New Single And Video "Blood Dominion"

Stream/Watch "Blood Dominion" HERE!

Pre-Order / Pre-Save 'Epitome of Carnage' HERE!

The long-established German death metal ensemble FLESHCRAWL has signed a worldwide deal with Distortion Music Group (DMG) - Powered by Reigning Phoenix Music. The signing marks a new chapter as the band prepares to unveil their tenth studio album, Epitome of Carnage on June 12, 2026. FLESHCRAWL's obliterating new single "Blood Dominion" marks the first release under this collaboration, following a series of prior releases that saw select DMG roster artists issued via Reigning Phoenix Music.

On the single release, FLESHCRAWL comments: "Choosing 'Blood Dominion' as our first single is a statement. It is the ultimate teaser for what this album delivers: no mercy. It captures the very essence of FLESHCRAWL - fast, raw, and straight to the point. An uncompromising and pure reflection of what that band is about." The band continue, "We didn't want any long-winded intros or other stuff - we wanted to hit the ground running and go straight all in. From the second you put this on, you know exactly what’s coming: pure, rough chaos. That was always the plan."

"Blood Dominion" is unforgiving in its brutal nature. Striking ferociously with untamable rhythms, thunderous percussion and bloodthirsty vocals, "Blood Dominion" offers a thrilling display of unrestrained intensity that makes a clear statement. 

The long-awaited Epitome of Carnage is constructed on the foundation of an expansive career. FLESHCRAWL remain devoted to the death metal genre despite having encountered loss and change along the way. As the tenth full-length release, the new album stands as testament to FLESHCRAWL's unwavering creativity and drive. Arriving seven years after 2019's Into the Catacombs of Flesh, Epitome of Carnage reveals a renewed vigor and power that bleeds through the track list. 

Contained within Epitome of Carnage are twelve vicious onslaughts that showcase FLESHCRAWL's unimpeded speed and power. Materializing alongside demonstrations of inescapable heaviness, explosive riffs, and melodic touches amongst the shadows, they leave behind no survivors. 

About THE BAND:

FLESHCRAWL was founded in the spring of 1987 in Illertissen, Germany, by Stefan Hanus and Bastian Herzog. Initially operating under the name Morgöth, the band adopted a markedly more extreme musical direction in 1990 and briefly performed as Suffocation. However, with the emergence of the American band of the same name and their impending vinyl debut, another name change became necessary. Thus, FLESHCRAWL was born.

Through decades of evolution, challenges, and perseverance, FLESHCRAWL has remained steadfast in its mission: delivering uncompromising, traditional death metal with authenticity, power, and unwavering conviction. In 2020, with a completely renewed and revitalized guitar lineup, the band entered the first songwriting sessions for their tenth studio album.

On June 11th, 2021, long-time vocalist Sven “Svenson” Gross passed away after a courageous battle with cancer that lasted over a year. His loss was a profound tragedy, deeply felt by his family, friends, and the entire FLESHCRAWL community. Despite this immense personal and professional blow, stepping back from their mission in death metal was never an option. The band began the search for a new voice to carry their legacy forward, and on October 15th, 2021, Borisz Sarafutgyinov was officially announced as FLESHCRAWL’s new and permanent frontman, ushering in a new chapter for the band.

Songwriting continued steadily throughout 2023, 2024, and into 2025, while the band maintained a strong live presence, performing at further renowned events such as Metal Gate Czech Deathfest, Hell over Aschaffenburg, Nice to Eat You Deathfest, Eindhoven Metal Meeting, Bucharest Deathfest, Heidelberg Metal Meeting, Braincrusher in Hell, Sick Midsummer, and the 70000 Tons of Metal cruise.

By 2025, songwriting for the successor to Into the Catacombs of Flesh (2019) was nearing completion. The band found a strong and capable new partner in Reigning Phoenix Music, securing a new label home for the release of Epitome of Carnage. In November 2025 FLESHCRAWL signed a worldwide deal with DMG.

Epitome of Carnage is set for release on June 12, 2026. Pre-order Epitome of Carnage here: https://fleshcrawl.rpm.link/epitomePR

FLESHCRAWL is: 

Bastian Herzog - Drums, Vocals

Manu Markowski - Bass

Apu Justin Reisch - Guitars

Christian Kalbrecht - Guitars

Borisz Sarafutgyinov - Vocals

FLESHCRAWL Online:

Facebook  http://www.facebook.com/Fleshcrawl

Instagram  https://www.instagram.com/fleshcrawl_official/

YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPMmbOvvrfZJeDlxRnZ1xQA

Spotify   https://open.spotify.com/artist/0twjYtmupRm0bI8UxhGd0S

Apple Music  https://music.apple.com/us/artist/fleshcrawl/56827185

CYHRA RELEASE NEW SINGLE "BLEED WITH PRIDE"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Swedish melodic metal supergroup CYHRA (Featuring AMARANTHE Co-Founder Jake E and current THE HALO EFFECT, KAMELOT, THE CROWN, and SUBURBAN TRIBE members) unveil an epic modern metal offering in their empowering new single "Bleed With Pride". As CYHRA celebrates their 10th anniversary year, the new release arrives alongside the announcement of the band's fourth studio album Requiem For A Pipe Dream scheduled to be released on June 5th, 2026, via Reigning Phoenix Music. 

CYHRA frontman Jake E comments, "'Bleed With Pride' is about learning to trust your scars instead of hiding them. For a long time, I carried the weight of the past like something that needed to be buried. But the truth is, those wounds kept me honest. They became my compass.

This song is about the internal war — the silent thunder you fight inside — and choosing not to let it drown you. If I’m going to bleed, it’s not out of shame anymore. It’s with pride. Because every scar means I survived, I rebuilt, and I kept burning."

"Bleed With Pride" aptly encompasses the central themes of the forthcoming Requiem For A Pipe Dream. This rhythmic track, fueled by a driving momentum, delivers a resonating effect alongside the emotive lyrics. CYHRA's high-octane sound is captivating and energizing; providing encouragement and strength to keep progressing despite past difficulties. 

Listen to "Bleed With Pride": https://cyhra.rpm.link/bleedPR

Pre-order/ pre-save Requiem For A Pipe Dream: https://cyhra.rpm.link/requiemPR 

Jake E (vocals, keys), Marcus Sunesson (guitars), Jesper Strömblad (bass, guitars),

Euge Valovirta (guitars, bass), Alex Landenburg (drums)

  

More from CYHRA:

"Box With Spirits" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO: https://youtu.be/M5LEuIRyhhI?si=v1G1orT00QOQ-5Ym 

"Superman" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOJTm36WqV0

"Skin From Bones" OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdHXm_JwR8s

"Mark Of My Sins" OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lqXqQm2Pbk 

About CYHRA

As they approach their 10th anniversary next year, CYHRA have carved out a notable place in the metal scene since their founding in 2016 by Jake E (AMARANTHE Co-Founder) and Jesper Strömblad (THE HALO EFFECT, formerly IN FLAMES). They were soon joined by drummer Alex Landenburg (KAMELOT, Luca Turilli’s RHAPSODY), guitarist Euge Valovirta (SUBURBAN TRIBE), and bassist Peter Iwers (THE HALO EFFECT, formerly IN FLAMES). Their debut album Letters To Myself” was released in 2017 to glowing reviews, catapulting the group to global stages, crowned with a massive North American tour supporting SABATON and KREATOR.

 Following Iwers’ departure, Valovirta also took over bass duties, and the band released their second album No Halos In Hell in 2019, which blended groovy metal with a poppy flair and featured the hit single "Out Of My Life," amassing about 11 million streams on Spotify. Their success continued with a European tour with BATTLE BEAST, UK dates alongside DELAIN, headline shows in select countries including Finland and Japan, and performances at major festivals like Masters of Rock, Bloodstock Open Air, Sabaton Open Air, and 70,000 Tons of Metal.

 In 2020, guitarist Marcus Sunesson (RONNIE ATKINS, THE CROWN) joined, expanding the line-up. The pandemic pause allowed the band to craft their third album The Vertigo Trigger, released in 2023. The album’s tour brought them back to Finland to open for SMASH INTO PIECES and to headline shows in early 2024. Quietly beginning their fourth album, CYHRA ended the cycle with a Scandinavian tour with EVERGREY, leading into 2025 and through to 2026 with a series of new single releases. Requiem For A Pipe Dream lands on June 5th, 2026, via Reigning Phoenix Music. 

 

CYHRA are:

Jake E | vocals, keys

Euge Valovirta | guitars, bass

Jesper Strömblad | bass, guitars

Marcus Sunesson | guitars

Alex Landenburg | drums

 

More on CYHRA:

cyhra.com | 

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/CyHraofficial/

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/cyhra_official/

X | https://twitter.com/Cyhra_official

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@cyhraofficial

YouTube | https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL3nKNnh8J6tCmyKxeCNMlA

 

Requiem For A Pipe Dream Track Listing:

1. Bleed With Pride

2. Superman

3. Miss Me When I'm Gone 

4. Ghostbound

5. In The Center Of A Miracle

6. Skin From Bones 

7. Ghost I'm Meant To Be

8. Mark Of My Sins

9. Venom In Me  

10. Box With Spirits

11. Hold Your Fire feat. Samy Elbanna [Bonus Track]

RICHTHAMMER RELEASE NEW SINGLE: "DUTCH TRIEB ZU QUAL"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Richthammer released new single

Austrian Death/Black Metal band Richthammer released their new single «Durch Trieb zur Qual». The release was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by Victor Bullok at "Woodshed Studios" in Germany. Video produced and directed by Jakob Wallner. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOKQHeOPTz8

https://open.spotify.com/album/1zseRvSeYMz4PrfMvXBOAe

Richthammer is a Black/Death Metal band formed in 2009 in Waidhofen an der Ybbs, Austria. Rising through energetic live shows and contest success, they released their first demo "Gematert Geschunden Verheert" in 2012. Their 2018 concept album "Ascheland" marked a creative breakthrough, followed by major festival appearances and tours. After lineup changes and a brief hiatus, the band continues evolving, currently working on new material.

The roots of Richthammer trace back to the year 2009 when the Black/Death Metal band was founded in Waidhofen an der Ybbs. The early years were characterized by energetic concerts and participation in various band contests, which not only provided experiences but also earned them a well-deserved victory. 

In 2012, Richthammer produced their first demo titled "Gematert Geschunden Verheert" at the Vienna-based Fast Forward recording studio. This marked the band's initial foray into the world of audio recordings and laid the foundation for their creative development. 

The subsequent years brought not only more impressive live performances, including appearances at the Donauinselfest, international shows, and support gigs for bands like Tyr and Moonsorrow but also significant changes in the lineup, style, and appearance of the band. 

In 2016, the intensive work on the concept album "Ascheland" began, eventually seeing the light of day in March 2018 under the direction of producer Jay Hundert and the label Studio Hundert. This album not only represented a creative peak for Richthammer but also showcased the band's ability to evolve musically. 

The years 2018-2019 marked further milestones for Richthammer during the "Ascheland Tour," including performances at Kaltenbach Open Air, Metal Days, Sick Midsummer, Donauinselfest, and support for bands such as Dimmu Borgir, Rotting Christ, Carpathian Forest, Nocte Obducta, Bethlehem, Theotoxin, and Noctem. 

The change in guitarists in 2019, from Manuel Schumach to Noctar, brought new impulses and a fresh perspective to the musical project.  

The enforced break from 2020 served as a period of reflection and creative renewal for the band, during which Richthammer prepared for the upcoming chapter in their musical journey. Lu took over as the new guitarist during this time. 

Currently, Richthammer is in the production phase of their new album. This project promises a bilingual orientation and demonstrates the band's continued willingness to explore new sonic horizons and deepen their morbid, abstract vision of Black/Death Metal. Richthammer remains a captivating and constantly evolving chapter in the Austrian metal scene. 

https://richthammer.bandcamp.com/

http://facebook.com/Richthammer.Band

https://www.instagram.com/richthammer_band/

CNOC AN TURSA RELEASE "A CRY FOR THE SLAIN"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

CNOC AN TURSA – A CRY FOR THE SLAIN

LABEL: APOCALYPTIC WITCHCRAFT

RELEASE DATE: APRIL 24th 2026

“Let warlocks grim an' wither'd hags

Tell how wi' you on ragweed nags

They skim the muirs an' dizzy crags

Wi' wicked speed;

And in kirk-yards renew their leagues,

Owre howket dead.”

- Robert Burns – Address To The Devil

Eight years on from their last album, The Forty Five, Scotland’s Cnoc An Tursa have returned with an evocative tribute to the history, the folklore, the unique magic of their homeland. With their characteristic blend of fierce black metal and traditional melodies they have conjured up a set of songs that bring together mourning and defiance, mystery and fear, pride and passion. It is rare for a band to return from years of silence with an album that represents a new creative peak in their story, but with A Cry For The Slain that is exactly what Cnoc An Tursa have achieved. Speaking about their aims with this album, the band have said,

"With this new album we feel like we are going back to our roots with a more guitar driven style and bringing back some of the folk elements musically and lyrically which was the original inspiration for the band."

And by looking back they have found the way forward, reigniting their fire and forging an album that will resonate through the years to come.

‘Na Fir Ghorma’ with its haunting guitar notes and sense of dignity and sorrow opens the door to A Cry For The Slain, ushering you into the furious opening blast of ‘The Caoineag’. Steeped in bardic tradition and storytelling this majestic track introduces the listener to a highland banshee who foretells death and tragedy and sings her laments beside the deep lochs and chill waterfalls. With the Caoineag’s song atmosphere rises like mountain mists, enshrouding and transporting while the captivating melodies conjured by Cnoc An Tursa lead us into a different world. ‘Cailleach And The Guardians Of The Seven Stones’ is a magnificent, sweeping tribute to the goddess of winter who shapes the landscape with her hammer, the ghost of Thin Lizzy’s ‘Emerald’ dancing in its Gaelic reels. A stunning guitar solo adorns the multifaceted track that captures the power, allure, mystery and terror of the blood thirsty ‘Baobhan Sith’, while the thundering energy of ‘Am Fear Liath Mòr’ takes you to the mountain passes of the Cairngorms, haunted by a giant presence…“I can hear the footsteps behind me, I can see the Big Grey Man”… And nestled amongst all the stories and ‘Address To The Devil’s epic dark poetry, we find first single, ‘Alba In My Heart’ – a pledge of allegiance, a song of devotion to Cnoc An Tursa’s beloved Scotland. There’s a raised fist and a strength of spirit in the blood stirring melodies and the rolling rhythms, in the riffs tumbling down like mountain streams. The authenticity of emotion in this song is undeniable. By the time ‘The Nine Maidens Of Dundee’ leads us down from the peaks once more, with a head full of dreams and a belief that magic may still exist in the less travelled glens of the northlands, the sheer power of Cnoc An Tursa’s return has become abundantly clear. A Cry For The Slain is a breathtaking album, a beacon burning in the night of mundane modernity, calling to those of us who want more than we’ve been sold.

With the intuitive mastering of Jaime Gomez Arellano (Paradise Lost, Primordial, Hexvessel etc) bringing depth and vigour to every note, A Cry For The Slain smoulders with sonic intensity and all the emotion and secrets of its narrative are captured in the evocative artwork of Olga Kann (Winteria, Withered Land, Ruadh etc) that adorns its cover. Apocalyptic Witchcraft will release this monumental album on April 24th and the defiant cry of Cnoc An Tursa will echo through the landscape once more.

“When thowes dissolve the snawy hoord,

An' float the jinglin icy-boord,

Then water-kelpies haunt the foord

By your direction,

An' nighted trav'lers are allur'd

To their destruction.”

- Robert Burns – Address To The Devil

Line-up:

Alan Buchan - Vocals

Rene McDonald Hill - Guitars, Keyboards

Bryan Hamilton - Drums

Genre: Black/Folk Metal

For fans of: Primordial | Winterfylleth | Saor | Forefather

Further Information:

https://www.facebook.com/cnocantursa/

https://instagram.com/cnocantursaband

https://apocalypticwitchcraft.co.uk/

https://www.facebook.com/apocalypticwitchcraftrecordings

NEGAATIO RELEASE "MIELENI MURTAMA"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Finnish metal band Negaatio released their debut album 'Mieleni Murtama' on April 10th 2026 via Inverse Records. Listen to the album on streaming services: 

https://push.fm/fl/negaatio-album 

Petrus Markkinen comments:

"From the very beginning it was clear to us that our debut album's running theme would be more or less waning mental health, psychological unstableness, and even the feeling of ending up crushed. This was already clear in the writing process.

As songwriters, we drew these topics from our own experiences or imaginary madness.

Our wish was to bare our claws right at the beginning, so we included a whopping 11 songs in our first album. Each song is heavier than the last, and it has been fun to fit all kinds of nuances in them.

Nevertheless, we built our songs with a sense of style so that the reasonableness in the songs would remain. I would say that "Mieleni murtama", is in all its madness and its rage, an idyllic experience to the core of intense metal music. In Finnish, of course."

Biography

Founded at the end of 2022, Negaatio has brought in the blink of an eye original tones to the Finnish metal scene, with a fierce and crushing touch.

The five-man group, who have focused their activities in Tampere, create a wide mood palette with their music, which has nuances of hopelessness, rage, and reflection.

In the music of Negaatio, extreme and repulsive topics are not ignored but confronted in all their horror, almost compulsively. 

The heavy playing transports the listener towards a cracking state of mind.

The band has received praise from numerous performances and won bronze at the Emergenza 2025 finals in the Tampere region.

Negaatio firmly believes in its own vision, doing it with the purest passion and offering the heavy metal populace unexpected live energy, a sense of danger, and iron-like skill.

Negaatio - Mieleni Murtama (Album 2026)

Track list:

01. Kuori 

02. Valehtelija

03. Leukaperä

04. Loppuunpoltettu

05. Koditon

06. Inertia 

07. Laskusuhdanne

08. Vedenpinta

09. Mania

10. Kun Muisto Saastuttaa

11. Tiedon Viimeinen Alttari

-Recorded by Eero Jaakkola

-Mixed & mastered by Pauli Mänty

Album cover by Rafael Johansson / Pyramantacle 

­

Line-up:

Jani Myllylä - Vocals

Eero Jaakkola - Guitar

Juhani Aalto - Guitar

Petrus Markkinen - Bass

Waltteri Santala - Drums

Links:

https://www.instagram.com/negaatio_official

https://www.facebook.com/negaatio 

https://www.youtube.com/@Negaatio_Official 

https://negaatio.bandcamp.com/