Evolution is a revolution as Zealots Desire morph from straight hard rock to something that is a more classic sound that they like fans to feel strengthened and empowered by. Hailing from London, Ontario, Zealots Desire live up to their impassioned name. They have a fanatical desire to bring their unique and genre-redefining brand of heavy rock to the masses. Inspired by bands as diverse and talented as System of a Down, Led Zeppelin, Alice In Chains, and appropriately, Tool, Zealots Desire describe their sound as ‘huge, intense, yet graceful and delicate’ and warn their legions of fans that their forthcoming album should be cranked as loud as humanly possible. 

Set to perform at WT Fest in Brantford, ON on July 29th alongside Our Lady Peace, Collective Soul, Soul Asylum, Treble Charger, Sumo Cyco and more, these hard rockers are sharing with fans their latest single and video "The Fool". 

The band comments:

"The Fool is one of our favorite songs to perform. It seems to go through all the motions. There's still something that feels peculiar to us about the chorus as well and we love that about it."

Chicago Death Metal trio Mordatorium have revealed a new song. . The song is titled 'Biting Cold' and is taken from forthcoming album 'Obsessed with Death', which is scheduled to be released on August 25. 

With main man Andrew Oosterbaan handling guitars, bass, and vocal duties alongside Pearl Kacew on drums, recording for Obsessed With Death began over the final months of 2016 and the album was completed in the spring of 2017. The cover artwork and visual design was created by Lauren Gornik Illustration.

Andrew Oosterbaan comments: "We're very excited to present this album, as it has been a long time in the making. A couple of the songs are almost two years old now! It's also a big pleasure to be able to unleash the first full-length MORDATORIUM release featuring acoustic drums and my longtime partner in crime Pearl. Obsessed With Death continues the trend begun on 2014's 'Raw,' steering away from the more melodic and experimental material of MORDATORIUM 's early years in favor of some more straight forward and nasty sounding death metal. I absolutely love the old-school looking artwork that Lauren did for us, as I feel it fits the current style of the band nicely."

​Pre-order on bandcamp

Epitaph and Deathwish are proud to announce “I Can Tell You About Pain b/w Eve” from aggressive music pioneers, Converge. This two song 7"EP/Digital release is the first new music from the band since their highly regarded 2012 album All We Love We Leave Behind. Upon first listen it’s apparent that Converge has evolved exponentially in those years; the raw emotion and anger of “I Can Tell You About Pain” is truly unsettling, while the seven and a half minute epic “Eve” shows the band pushing their melodic leanings to an incredible new level.
 


Watch the video for Converge’s new single “I Can Tell You About Pain”.  Directed by Tony Wolski, the stunningly shot narrative video perfectly matches the track’s haunting intensity and frenetic energy.  
 
The 7-inch will be available for purchase online and on the band’s tour with Neurosis and Amenra. A new Converge album will be released later in 2017 by Epitaph and Deathwish. More news soon.

In case you missed it, Converge are set to tour North America and they drag none other than Neurosis and AmenRa with them.

​July 28 - Chicago, Il - Thalia Hall
July 29 - Detroit, MI - St. Andrew’s Hall
July 30 - Pittsburgh, PA - Rex Theater
July 31 - Buffalo, NY - Waiting Room *Converge & Amenra Only
Aug 01 - Montreal, QC - Métroplois
Aug 02 - Toronto, ON - Danforth Music Hall
Aug 03 - New Haven, CT - College St. Music Hall
Aug 04 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
Aug 05 - Brooklyn, NY - Warsaw
Aug 06 - Boston, MA - Royale
Aug 07 - Philadelphia, PA - Union Transfer
 
Aug 18 - Bristol, UK - ArcTanGent 2017
Aug 19 - Eisleben, Germany - Destruction Derby Festival
 

Converge w/ Havok, Gorguts & Revocation

Aug 20 - Warsaw, Poland - Zaklęte Rewiry
Aug 21 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Majestic Music Club
Aug 22 - Vienna, Austria - Vienna Arena
Aug 23 - Munich Germany - Backstage
Aug 24 - Aarau, Switzerland - Backstage
Aug 25 - Paris, France - Le Trabendo
Aug 26 - Tilburg, Netherlands - 013 

Following on from the April release of their new album 'The World's Best American Band' on Polyvinyl Records, Louisville indie/garage band White Reaper have released a new video and announced a short run of EU/UK tour dates for this October.





The band will be playing the following dates:

23-Oct-17 / UK / Brighton - The Prince Albert
24-Oct-17 / UK / London - Sebright Arms
25-Oct-17 / UK / London - Old Blue Last
29-Oct-17 / Germany / Hamburg - Nochtwach
30-Oct-17 / Germany / Berlin - Musik & Frieden
31-Oct-17 / Germany / Cologne - MTC

Three years after their debut LP, polish death/black metal act Northern Plague are close to release their second album - "Scorn the Idle". The band just shared its' second single! 

"Scorn the Idle" will hit the shelves as an independent release at the end of this week.


The album was recorded in Sound Division Studio in Warsaw under the watchful eye of Filip Hałucha (Vesania, Heinrich House Studio). The mixing and mastering process was done by Arkadiusz "Malta" Malczewski (Behemoth, Hate, Decapitated).

"Scorn the Idle" sees the band explore a darker, more atmospheric and melodic sound compared to "Manifesto". It consists of 9 very diverse songs, that will satisfy both death and black metal fans. 

The album cover was created by the russian artist Vergvoktre, who incorporates an eery, disturbing and surrealistic vision of humanity in his works. 

The song "Crown for Fools" tells the story of a madman who is consumed by greed. He's oblivious to the fact, that his madness makes him blind, selfish and bloodthirsty. The ruler is falling and he doesn`t want to admit it. 

Austrian crossover/thrash metal band Insanity Alert has released a new video once again, this time for the song "Pact With Satan".  The song is taken from Insanity Alert's second Album "Moshburger" (This Charming Man Records, 2016) 

Tokyo based "Samurais from Hell", Survive - who just recently concluded their “Human Misery Assault” headlining tour in Baltia, Ukraine and Russia, including also a show in Kiev, supporting OVERKILL - have announced their "Immortal Warriors Tour 2017" in Japan, kicking off on August 25th in Okayama! Check out the dates and venues below.

Comments the band:
"We just finished our "HUMAN MISERY ASSULT TOUR 2017" in Baltia, Ukraine and Russia. Our latest full-length album "HUMAN MISERY" got awesomely high feedback, confirming that the Japanese heavy metal scene is acting strong, not only in Japan but also overseas. Now we are ready to announce our next tour, the follow up to our last year's Japan tour, check out and see you on the road!"


August 25 – Okayama IMAGE
August 26 – Kagoshima Speed ​​King
August 27 – Kumamoto NAVARO
September 9 – Kobe KINGSX
September 10 – Kyoto MOJO
September 23 – Koriyama PEAKACTION
September 24 – Sendai BIRDLAND
September 29 – Matsuyama SALONKITTY
September 30 – Kochi CARAVAN SARY
October 8 – Fukui CHOP
October 9 – Shiga U ☆ STONE
October 22 – Shibuya CYCLONE

Italian Ritual Sludge masters NIBIRU revealed the cover artwork and tracklist of their highly anticipated new album.
 
QAAL BABALON is “the exact continuation of our first opus CAOSGON and NETRAYONI”, the band says. “Anger, uncontrolled psychedelia, and now the most sick, intense and suffering creation. ‘Qaal Babalon’ is the lacerating scream of a lost soul.”

After their latest full length PADMALOTUS (2015), the impressive EP TELOCH (2016) and the Roadburn Documentary (2017), NIBIRU are today a consolidated strength of the international underground scene, thanks to their inexhaustible attitude both in composition and in live performances, a physically and mental experience.
 
NIBIRU “Qaal Babalon” will be released as CD/DD by ARGONAUTA Records on September 22nd, 2017.
 
Pre-orders run here

The second single off the debut album of Jyväskylä, Finland -based metal group Nemecic is out. ”Ouroboros” is the second taste from the album ”The Deathcantation”, which will be released August 18th (Finland) and September 1st (internationally) through Inverse Records.

Like the previous single ”Smoke Electric”, the new song is accompanied by a lyric video by Anssi Korhonen with artwork by the band's drummer Niko Anttila.

Founded in Heinola in 2005, Nemecic combines elements of different metal genres in their music. Comparisons have been made to such groups as Lamb of God, Fear Factory and even Alice in Chains. Having entered a hiatus in 2012 and after going through a couple of changes in the lineup, the band finally entered Juho Räihä's SoundSpiral Audio studio in Kouvola in January 2017.

After their critically acclaimed sophomore full length "Absence", released back in 2016, Mist of Misery is returning with their long anticipated mini album "Shackles Of Life" the first of the two chapters to be opened. The symphonic/DSBM band from Stockholm started their journey back in 2010, March, and so far have released two full lengths and two EP releases. Currently, the band is working as a quartet.
First chapter of their dual mini albums, "Shackles of Life" features some of the most gloomy and utter beautiful crafted work in a long time. its simply one of those releases that rarely comes out,  If you've enjoyed Absence then this will be a step above.

This EP also marks the sad departure of Erik Molnar's history in Mist of misery, he took this decision because of being busy with recording and writing for the new Hyperion album. Erik will of course still linger around for this mini release to watch as everyone absorbs it.

"Broken Chains", the third track from the mini album, is having a haunting beauty within its mournful atmosphere, filled with the serene arrangements of synths, endless melodic guitar harmonies and stirring melancholic vocals


The mini album was mixed by Mortuz Denatuz and mastered by Ronnie Björnström of Defitory and EAP Mix Room...known for working with bands like Bodyfarm, Aeon, Cut up,

Artwork was done by talented Russian artist Alex Tartsus.

Accomplished technical death metal group Inanimate Existence recently announced their forthcoming fourth album, Underneath a Melting Sky. Set for release on August 25th through The Artisan Era. The band recently revealed "Forever To Burn", the second single from the album to be released. 

Italian Stoner Rockers Rhino have revealed a new video for "I See the Monsters", off their latest album. The album “The Law of Purity” was released by Argonauta Records on February 13th, 2017, and it’s available here.

Calgary, AB progressive death metal band Divinity have posted the lyric and album artwork video for "Conqueror" in support of their recently released album "The Immortalist". The album is a culmination of 5 years of hard work and dedication to their craft and features 12 tracks that include their two previous EP releases "The Immortalist, Pt. 1 – Awestruck", "The Immortalist, Pt. 2 –Momentum" with their third EP "The Immortalist Pt. 3 - Conqueror" completed to finish off the trilogy series as one huge full length album. All the tracks on the album are re-mixed and re-mastered by the talented Chris Donaldson (Cryptopsy, The Grid Productions) to make the songs more cohesive and work as a full-length experience. This album also features Bjorn ‘Speed’ Strid of Soilwork on vocals for the song ‘D.M.T.’. 

Vocalist Sean Jenkins comments:

"I've been wanting an intro to a song to just be piano and vocals for quite some time and when it came time to finish writing our last song in our trilogy concept album, I knew this was the perfect song to do so! James Duncan wrote the piano music, the intro lyrics and helped with the intro vocal melody too. This intro was one of the hardest parts to record for me, but after many takes and much needed patience, we managed to create one of our most epic intros to a song we have ever done. The rest of the music was written by me but as with all our songs, each member contributed in numerous ways as well."

Motograter recently filmed the music video for their latest single "Dorian" at the famous Ohio State Reformatory. The historic prison was built between 1886 and 1910 and remained in operation until 1990, when a United States Federal Court ruling (the 'Boyd Consent Decree') ordered the facility to be closed. While this facility was used in a number of films, TV shows and music videos, it was made famous by the film The Shawshank Redemption (1994) when it was used for the majority of the movie. Motograter recently traveled to Mansfield Ohio to perform Ink In The Clink 2017, on the prison grounds, alongside Three Days Grace, Theory of a Dead Man, Gemini Syndrome, Starset, 10 Years, 40 Below Summer and many more. During the festival the band met up with video director Chris Davis (Human Twelve) and shot the video for "Dorian" inside the creepy prison.

The band has made a documentary video of the experience which is included in the Motograter Tour Chronicles - Part 23 which can be viewed below.

Motograter frontman James Legion states, "Recording in the reformatory was fucking awesome. That place has so much character. We are very thankful to the staff for letting us stay all night and work."

Belgian sludge metal monsters Charnia are set to release their new album 'Het Laatste Licht' this October. Following up on 'Dageraad', the band has evolved majestically. With the help of friends Jens Debacker and Innerwoud, the album shaped up to become a multifaceted gem, according to Consouling Sounds.

More info will be released soon...

Palm Desert's rock legend NICK OLIVERI is back this October 20th with the third episode of his "N.O. Hits At All" series on Heavy Psych Sounds, including an unreleased song from Kyuss Lives! 

Following the 2016 and 2017 issuing of "N.O. Hits At All Vol.1" and "N.O. Hits At All Vol.2", which put together songs from his numerous projects and collaborations over the past 25 years, such as Dwarves, Queens Of The Stone Age, Komatsu, Death Acoustic, Winnebago Deal or Royale Deamons (with Wino and Joey Castillo), NICK OLIVERI returns this October 20th with a new batch of rock'n'roll, stonery and punk-infused bullets!

"N.O. Hits At All Vol.3" will see a black/colored vinyl, CD and digital release. It features an exclusive Kyuss Lives! song, as well as Royale Deamons, Dwarves, Plan B, He Who Can Not Be Named, and Melissa Auf Der Maur's Hand Of Doom.

Tracklist:

Side A
1. "R'N'R Outlaw" by Royale Deamons (w/ Joey Castillo & Wino)
2. "Luv Is Fiction" By Dwarves 
3. "Medication" By He Who Can Not Be Named 
​
Side B 
1. "Kyuss Dies!" By Kyuss Lives! 
2. "Country As Fuck" By Plan B 
3. "The Mob Rules" By Melissa Auf Der Maur's Hand Of Doom 

Belgian post rock band We Stood Like Kings have revealed a song from their upcoming album 'USA 1982'. The album is a new soundtrack for the film 'Koyaanisqatsi' and will be released on September 22.

French black metallers Diktatur have published a video for the track “Revanche”.

Featuring studio footage, the track is taken off “La Voie Du Sang”, which is set to be reissued via Melancholia Records on August 15th, 2017.

Originally released in 2010, the band already had their sophomore album finished by the time “La Voie Du Sang” was out, so they turned their attention to the new record. The album ended up forgotten, never got promoted and Diktatur's sophomore album was never released as well due to a rupture on the band’s line-up.

Now, seven years later, the band is ready to show their work to the masses: they have created new artwork, changed the tracklist order, remastered all tracks and included two exclusive bonus tracks from that album that never saw daylight.

​Pre order here

Avant noir trio Sannhet have revealed yet another single off their forthcoming album 'So Numb', which is due out August 25th via Profound Lore Records. The track, titled 'Salts' is accompanied by a simple yet striking video that echoes the album’s themes of addiction and affliction. Through the facial expressions of a several characters, the nearly six-minute video encapsulates the intrinsic clamor of addiction. 

“You see various characters acting out not only their use but also we see hints of the things that cause them to need this escape,” the band says of the video. “The figures appearing in a black void, searching for meaning in their solitude, reaching out for a hand, only to be free when they accept that they, themselves are all they need.”
 
'So Numb', Sannhet’s third full-length, is a 9-song compendium evoking unique personas of drug users. Descending into the melancholia of addiction, the album’s emotive soundscapes showcase what Sannhet does best: moving between extremes to create a dynamic that feels both climactic and anticipatory, dramatic and comfortably calm. Recorded and produced by Peter Katis (known for his work with Mercury Rev, Interpol, the National, and Oneida among others), So Numb denotes the band’s most melodic sound to date. 

More details regarding 'So Numb' will surface soon. In the meantime, pre-order the album directly through Profound Lore.

Writing tunes about space travel, doomed seafarers and a sentient android hellbent for a camel killing death crusade, Nashville's Howling Giant shared part one of their three part "Black Hole Space Wizard" concept record series last August . A year later, the nerd power trio returns with part two of the adventure set for release on August 25th. Playing self-indulgent, drop-tuned, fuzzed out riffs "Black Hole Space Wizard: Part 2" is again produced by the band, mixed by Kim Wheeler and mastered by Chris Fasco. The EP features six cosmic progressive travels of 'The Pioneer' continuing his quest for self-discovery and purpose on the husk planet, Earth.

"Hopefully for our returning fans, it is accepted with open arms and an open mind. As Part 2 of the 3 piece saga, this EP was meant to focus on the travels and trials of The Pioneer, protagonist, and last of mankind. The music reflects his growth and self discovery on a post-apocalyptic planet Earth. To new fans/fresh ears, we’d like to invite them into the Black Hole Space Wizard universe through fat stomping riffs, spacey grooves, accessible vocal melody and juicy, pulpy sci-fi madness. We always try to refine our song writing and take one step into new territory with each release, pulling stylistically from whatever inspires us in the moment. Our recorded music is our best interpretation of the sounds we hear in our heads, and our goal is to make our sonic visions clearer with each release." says drummer Zach Wheeler.

Recently, Howling Giant premiered the video for their first single "The Pioneer".

"This track features a delicious bass riff that grounds the listener before introducing a triumphant chorus and stomping riffs. On this track, you can find Tom heating up the room with some fiery pentatonic exploration." explains Wheeler.

Swedish hard rock sensations Märvel have released their new track "Goodluck Sandy". The track is the first single from their upcoming album At The Sunshine Factory.

Goodluck Sandy is green sunlight sifting through slender birch branches while you're enjoying a glass of ice cold sparkling wine in the company of long lost friends. A far stretched field of rye is moving to the late evening breeze and the sky is endlessly high.

Märvel's first single from their upcoming 7th album At the Sunshine Factory is an instantly likable song that showcase the band's broad musical influences while still being recognizable as a trademark Märvel song. On the surface, the soulful and catchy song comes out sunny side up while the lyrics questions the idea of taking the easy way out of complicated relations.

Pre-order At The Sunshine Factory here: http://freighttrain.se

Milwaukee's Khazaddum have released the official video for new single "The Deathless Crown," a track from forthcoming album Plagues Upon Arda. The band will release the album on August 19.  Following the 2015 In Dwarven Halls EP, the album offers a deeper glimpse into the tragic world of J.R.R. Tolkien.  



​Incorporating symphonic orchestration throughout the album in order to illuminate the epic scale of the story told within, the nine-track opus delivers a barrage of crushing death metal that bears witness to the harrowing tales of the denizens of Middle-Earth. 

Plagues Upon Arda was recorded at No Passenger Studio by Spencer Fox and Trae Titus. 
Trae Titus - Symphonics 
Album cover art by Kosta Djordjevic and digitally painted by Matt Zeilinger. 
All other art by Luka and Kosta Djordjevic.

Pre order on bandcamp

Fresh off the announcement of their forthcoming debut album, dream pop quartet Big Hush has released a mind freak of a video for their track “Cough.” Taking a deep dive in the darker realms of their bedroom rock sound, the D.C. band combines pop songwriting with the opulence of shoegaze in one technicolored soundscape.
 


“‘Cough’ is about being caught in a rut for so long that you lose touch with yourself and grow complacent about the shape of your life,” Big Hush says of the track. “The song is a plea that you could make to a friend, or yourself, to fight the easy temptation of viewing one's identity as reducible, or static. We're not as hard-wired as we think; we can always try to be better.”

Originally conceived as two separate albums, Big Hush’s debut LP, Spirit/Wholes, was recorded throughout 2014 and 2015. Chronicling a complex and gossamer aesthetic, the album’s ten tracks explore dense textures, complex arrangements and lush harmonies with a searing clarity.

In preparation for their September 22nd release of Thrice Woven, Wolves in the Throne Room have announced an extensive U.S. tour shortly after the album’s street date.  Set to run from September 29th through October 25th with support from Pillorian, the tour will take the bands from coast to coast - check out the full routing listed below.
 
Since their inception in 2002, over the course of 5 studio albums and hundreds of live performances, Wolves in the Throne Room have refracted Black Metal through their own Cascadian prism.  Their songs explore the hidden world of magic that one accesses through dreams, visions and music and the resulting sounds are intimately linked to the wild lands of the Pacific Northwest.  Now, a portal into the dreamworld of Wolves in the Throne Room opens again with their forthcoming sixth LP, Thrice Woven -  a glorious return to the blazing and furious Black Metal that they alone can create.  
 
Look for Thrice Woven to be available September 22nd on Wolves in the Throne Room’s own label, Artemisia.  Additionally, check out the music video for “Born from the Serpent’s Eye”

New York’s ambient pioneer and Brian Eno’s collaborator Laraaji will release an epic double album on All Saints Records. ‘Bring On The Sun’ LP is due September 22nd and will be preceded by a 12-inch ‘Sun Gong’ on September 8th.

First up will be a limited clear vinyl drop including two extended drone pieces, each taking up a single side of vinyl, as ‘Sun Gong’. This will be followed two weeks later by the more varied main album, ‘Bring On The Sun’, which will be issued as an 8-track double vinyl LP, and also as a double CD set, with the ‘Bring On The Sun’ tracks on the first disc, and the ‘Sun Gong’ tracks on the second disc.

Both records have been edited and mixed from a nine hours jamming session by Laraaji together with Carlos Niño (Leaving Records) in Los Angeles. Carlos Niño will also join Laraaji on his European tour in November.

Dunk! Records and American post rockers This Patch of Sky are going to release the band's next album, titled 'These Small Spaces', on vinyl in Europe.

This nine-track album takes listeners on a dynamic journey that navigates from eerie, somber soundscapes into gentle tapestries that build effortlessly into grandiose, soaring compositions – creating a sonic masterpiece, where instruments alone create a powerful and universal language.



That stunning instrumental language is composed by This Patch Of Sky’s six members: Kit Day (guitar), Joshua Carlton (guitar), Joel Erickson (Rhodes), Alex Abrams (cello), Sean King (bass) and TJ Martin-Lokey (drums).

​Pre order here

It looks like one of the best shows of 2016 is about to happen all over again (read). English instrumental post-whatever masterminds Telepathy are returning to the mainland for another row of undoubtedly amazing shows. This time they come in support of their latest album 'Tempest' (read our review).









September

09.09 LILLE, Le Biplan (FR)
10.09 FREIBURG, White Rabbit Club (DE) 
12.09 VIENNA, Viper Room Vienna (AT)
13.09 DRESDEN, Studentenclub Bärenzwinger (DE)
14.09 WÜRZBURG, Immerhin Würzburg (DE)
15.09 BERLIN, Berlin Swamp Fest 2017 (DE)
16.09 BRAUNSCHWEIG, Nexus Braunschweig (DE)
17.09 MARBURG TBA 
19.09 KÖLN, AZ KÖLN
20.09 HAMBURG, Hafenklang (DE)
21.09 SIEGEN, Vortex Surfer Musikclub (DE)
22.09 OLTEN, Coq d'Or (CH)
23.09 WINTERTHUR, Gaswerk (CH)
24.09 TBA
25.09 ANTWERP, Antwerp Music City (BE)
26.09 TBA
27.09 BOULOGNE-SUR-MER, CAFE HIJACK (FR)

October: 
​
20.10 BRUSSELS, MAGASIN 4 (BE)
21.10 LEEUWARDEN, Into The Void Festival (NL)
22.10 UTRECHT, dB's (NL)

EMPTINESS have released a live music video for the track "Your Skin Won't Hide You", which was shot during their performance at the Botanique in Brussels (BE) by A Thousand Lost Civilizations Blackout Studio
The song is featured on their latest full-length 'Not For Music' (Out Jan 20) which can still be ordered to Season of Mist: smarturl.it/EmptinessShop
Or directly to the band: http://emptiness.bigcartel.com