The torchbearers of diabolical abomination unite once again armed with their sophomore opus, dragging us down into the fiery abysses of Turkish Death Metal without warning.
Having remained a consistent force in the underground, Kadıköy, Turkey’s own malevolent Death Metal beast Diabolizer is back from the pits of the netherworld with their sophomore offering, the ruthless Murderous Revelations, following up on their venomous debut EP Apokalypse and their critically acclaimed, demolishing first full-length album Khalkedonian Death. Recorded at Mezar Sound Studios (vocals and drums) and by the band members on their own (guitars and bass), mixed and mastered by Emre Bingöl, and displaying a sulfurous, incendiary artwork by Dechristianize Art, the new album by vocalist Abomination, guitarists Can and Mustafa, bassist Malik, and drummer Aberrant brings to our avid ears savage riffing and blasting drums with gargantuan vocals, dragging us down into its fiery abysses without warning.
Just like in their previous album it’s pedal to the metal already from the very first second in Into the Depths of Diseased Minds, a lecture in Death Metal spearheaded by the demonic guttural by Abomination; and Aberrant destroys his enemies like a bulldozer in Hogtied in Razorwire, offering us all exactly what we need to bang our heads like true servants of chaos and hatred. Purulent Divinity in Black Flames carries one of the darkest song names ever crafted by Diabolizer, and the music exhales all that darkness thanks to the Stygian, visceral riffs by Can and Mustafa, supported by the thunderous bass by Malik, followed by Seeds of the Dethroned, the epitome of Turkish Death Metal at its finest, with the band blasting our faces with their demented riffs and solos, nonstop beats and fills, and the always venomous roars by Aberration.
Then investing in an absurdly heavy, neck-breaking sonority, the band will pulverize our cranial skulls in Set the World Ablaze (Infernal Dawn), one of those Death Metal songs that transpire brutality, violence and obscurity, whereas Bloodsteam Bonegrinder beautifully summarizes their core essence, with the inhumane growls by Aberration walking hand in hand with the apocalyptic, lethal riffage by Can and Mustafa until the very end. As mentioned already, those Turkish savages definitely know how to properly name their songs, with Deathmarch of the Murderous Tyrant showcasing an overdose of infuriated beats and fills by Aberrant that sound like the soundtrack to Armageddon. And finally, there’s no hope in sight as their last breath of vile and grim Death Metal comes in the form of Into the Jaws of Cerberus, with Can and Mustafa once again delivering crisp, striking riffs and solos in the name of extreme music.
From the frantic aggression of the instruments to the savagery displayed in the vocals, everything about Murderous Revelations feels like a strong continuation from their supreme debut album in 2021, which already saw them establish a loyal following. Hence, don’t forget to follow those unrelenting, talented Turkish servants of death on Facebook and on Instagram, to stream their devastating music on Spotify, and above all that, to purchase their demented new album from their own BandCamp, from the Dark Descent Records’ BandCamp, or from the Me Saco Un Ojo Records’ BandCamp, keeping the fires of old school, no shenanigans Death Metal burning like the pits of hell. The return of Diabolizer is an essential moment in the Death Metal calendar for 2025, and you better not miss it or you’ll have to face their fury and suffer in the hands of one of the best bands in the current extreme music scene worldwide.
Best moments of the album:Into the Depths of Diseased Minds, Seeds of the Dethroned, Bloodsteam Bonegrinder and Deathmarch of the Murderous Tyrant.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2025 Dark Descent Records/Me Saco Un Ojo Records
Track listing 1. Into the Depths of Diseased Minds 4:51
2. Hogtied in Razorwire 5:15
3. Purulent Divinity in Black Flames 5:41
4. Seeds of the Dethroned 4:25
5. Set the World Ablaze (Infernal Dawn) 5:21
6. Bloodsteam Bonegrinder 4:06
7. Deathmarch of the Murderous Tyrant 4:15
8. Into the Jaws of Cerberus 5:03
Band members Abomination – vocals
Can – guitars
Mustafa – guitars
Malik – bass
Aberrant – drums
These Norwegian Avantgarde Metal veterans are ready to take us on a musical journey down the river that crosses their beautiful homeland in their seventh studio album.
Formed in late 1991 by members of the original lineup of Green Carnation, whom they are a continuation of, Kristiansand, Agder, Norway’s own Avantgarde/Progressive Black/Gothic Metal act In The Woods…, one of the first bands to use the name “Pagan Metal” as a description for their style, is ready to stun us all once again with their seventh studio album, titled Otra, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2022 opus Diversum. Recorded at In The Woods Homestudio (vocals, guitars, bass), and by John Ronny Bøe at Krutt Studio (drums), mixed and mastered by Frédéric Gervais at Studio Henosis, and with a stylish artwork and layout by Seiya Ogino of Ogino Design, the new album by Bernt Fjellestad on vocals, Kåre André Sletteberg on the guitars and keyboards, Bernt Horne Sørensen also on the guitars, Nils Olav Drivdal on bass, and Anders Kobro on drums is a must-listen for fans of Ulver, Shores of Null, Saturnus, and Dødheimsgard, among others, with all songs revolving around stories connected to the eponymous river that winds for 245 kilometers through the South of Norway and spills into the Skagerrak, the strait that separates the country from Denmark and Sweden, at the band’s home in Kristiansand.
Melancholy and doom flow from the vocals by Bernt Fjellestad in The Things You Shouldn’t Know before the whole band begins their darkened attack led by the pounding drums by Anders. In addition, Kåre also sounds sharp on keyboards, resulting in over eight minutes of majestic avantgarde music. The classic Scandinavian riffs by Kåre and Bernt Horne Sørensen will inspire you to bang your head nonstop in A Misrepresentation of I, again boosted by the deep vociferations by Bernt Fjellestad; whereas the next song, titled The Crimson Crown, also brings forward a pensive, grim start that evolves into a melodic and progressive fusion of Doom and Gothic Metal, with Nils making our heads tremble with his metallic bass lines. The album continues on a serene yet Stygian mode in The Kiss and the Lie, where Nils and Anders once again generate a dense atmosphere perfect for Bernt Fjellestad’s deep clean vocals, followed by Let Me Sing, another solid fusion of Avantgarde and Doom Metal, sounding heavy on bass thanks to the energy Nils puts into his playing. Come Ye Sinners is by far the heaviest and therefore the most exciting of all songs, with their riffs and beats transpiring doom while also living up to the legacy of Avantgarde and Progressive Death Metal; and lastly, it’s sheer melancholy in The Wandering Deity, with Anders dictating the song’s pace supported by the whimsical riffage by Kåre and Bernt Horne Sørensen, ending the album on a climatic and dark vibe.
Demonstrating the strength and artistic maturity of the Norwegians’ third incarnation, Otra is indeed an enticing and highly pleasurable album to listen to, respecting the band’s past while at the same time also breaking new ground. Hence, if you want to be part of this new musical journey by In The Woods… down the river that crosses their beautiful homeland, you can follow them on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and other nice to know details about the band, stream their classic creations on Spotify, and of course purchase Otra from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. In The Woods… are always evolving, always expanding their horizons, and Otra is the ultimate depiction of their creativity, leaving us eager for more from those Norwegian trailblazers in the coming years without a shadow of a doubt.
Best moments of the album:The Things You Shouldn’t Know, A Misrepresentation of I and Come Ye Sinners.
Worst moments of the album:Let Me Sing.
Released in 2025 Prophecy Productions
Track listing 1. The Things You Shouldn’t Know 8:32
2. A Misrepresentation of I 6:11
3. The Crimson Crown 6:21
4. The Kiss and the Lie 5:31
5. Let Me Sing 7:01
6. Come Ye Sinners 7:16
7. The Wandering Deity 5:57
Band members Bernt Fjellestad – vocals
Kåre André Sletteberg – guitars, keyboards
Bernt Horne Sørensen – guitars
Nils Olav Drivdal – bass
Anders Kobro – drums
A lone she-wolf of Symphonic and Blackened Power Metal returns with the third and exciting installment of her ongoing musical narrative.
Formed in 2019 in Maryland, United States, Symphonic/Blackened Gothic/Power Metal one-woman army Exiled Hope is set to unleash the project’s third installment of its ongoing musical narrative, entitled Apocrypha. Drawing musical inspiration from the likes of Avantasia, Nightwish, Kamelot and Cradle of Fitlh, to name a few, the lone she-wolf Sofia Frasz is back in action with a twelve-track album that follows a new protagonist who seeks guidance from familiar (yet otherworldly) forces as he uncovers the truth about the path to success laid out before him, further expanding the story Sofia and her Exiled Hope have crafted through the years.
Sofia kicks off the album to the soothing sound of the piano in The Summoning, already showcasing her passion for dark and melancholic music, exploding into Blackened Gothic Metal to the sound of her she-demon gnarls; and our diva strikes again in full force with her classic riffs, low-tuned bass and deep vocals in The Day Will Come, offering a darker version of contemporary Symphonic Metal. She then puts the pedal to the metal in the rockin’ tune Blood Of The Ancients, showcasing all her dexterity behind the drums, whereas she makes a passionate vocal duet with guest Metal Matt in Dreamwalker, a soothing ballad that sounds truly powerful from start to finish. Then we face Over For You, leaning towards the early days of Nightwish with a darker twist, with Sofia kicking some ass with her potent vocal reach and classic riffs; and featuring guest vocalist Imperator Mortem we have Altar Of Moloch, with both Sofia and Imperator Mortem sounding like obscure creatures from the underworld in a lecture in Atmospheric Black Metal.
In The Silence Is Deafening she switches gears to a more Doom Metal-inspired sound with Gothic and Symphonic Metal nuances, once again hypnotizing us all with her vocals, followed by Behold My Shattered Skies, the second ballad of the album, sounding as enfolding as the first one and with Sofia’s deep vocals walking hand in hand with the song’s ambience. After that, we’re treated to Deathslayer, bringing forward over eight minutes of first-class heavy yet delicate music, a trademark sound by Sofia and her Exiled Hope, with her striking riffage, blast beats and devilish growls adding an extra touch of insanity to the music, exploding into a melodic attack of Blackened Power Metal led by her classic guitar lines and crushing drums entitled Lightborn. She then offers another Ambient track titled Remnants, maybe a bit too long for an instrumental interlude, while closing the album we have Forbidden Majesties, where once again Sofia showcases both her delicate and demonic sides at the same time.
“The release of Apocrypha represents three years of practice, exploration, trial and error, learning, and a lot of overthinking,” commented Sofia about her newborn baby. “Apocrypha feels detailed and relatable, yet larger-than-life, and I hope you enjoy the journey of listening to it as much as I enjoyed the journey of creating it. Creating music is about the journey as much as it is about the destination, or the final product.” After such beautiful words by our dauntless diva, you should definitely go check what she’s up to on Facebook and on Instagram, listen to her music on YouTube and on Spotify, and grab a copy of Apocrypha from BandCamp or by clicking HERE, allowing Sofia’s music to penetrate deep inside your soul on another exciting journey by one of the most creative names of the current metal scene.
Best moments of the album:The Day Will Come, Dreamwalker, Deathslayer and Lightborn.
Worst moments of the album:Remnants.
Released in 2025 Independent
Track listing 1. The Summoning 3:19
2. The Day Will Come 3:46
3. Blood Of The Ancients 4:08
4. Dreamwalker 3:40
5. Over For You 4:20
6. Altar Of Moloch 4:25
7. The Silence Is Deafening 4:28
8. Behold My Shattered Skies 4:57
9. Deathslayer 8:11
10. Lightborn 5:27
11. Remnants 3:52
12. Forbidden Majesties 4:25
Band members Sofia Frasz – vocals, all instruments
Guest musicians
Metal Matt – vocals on “Dreamwalker”
Imperator Mortem – vocals on “Altar of Moloch”
After a Wednesday of snow, ice, rain, and cold, the city of Toronto was treated to a Thursday of sunshine, warm weather, and an overdose of first-class Metalcore.
After a Wednesday of snow, ice, rain, and freakin’ cold temperatures, the city of Toronto was treated to a Thursday of sunshine, warm weather, a nice breeze, and an overdose of first-class Metalcore, courtesy of VENDED, BURY TOMORROWand WHILE SHE SLEEPS during their North America 2025 Tour. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were there at the always fun The Danforth Music Hall to enjoy those relatively young but already renowned bands of the Metalcore scene worldwide (but not before savoring a nice and sweet cinnamon roll at Cinnaholic, of course, as quality fuel for the rest of the night), and despite the beyond horrid traffic that’s now a constant in Toronto (except for Monday nights), most fans were able to arrive in time to grab some merch, have a few drinks and get ready for the action that was about to begin on and off stage.
It was 7pm when Des Moines, Iowa’s own Alternative/Nu Metal band VENDED took the stage of The Danforth Music Hall for an incendiary performance, perfectly warming up everyone for the main attractions of the night. If you know nothing about those guys, the band features two musicians who are sons of members of Slipknot, singer Griffin Taylor is the son of Corey Taylor, and drummer Simon Crahan is the son of Shawn “Clown” Crahan, but that doesn’t mean they’re a copy of Slipknot; quite the contrary, they have their own sound and style, and the crowd loved every single second of their show, already igniting a sick circle pit. Their debut self-titled album was out in 2024, it’s available on Spotify and other streaming platforms, and you should definitely give those guys a listen because they’re excellent in what they do.
Setlist Intro
Nihilism
Ded to Me
Am I the Only One The Far Side
Pitiful
Asylum
Band members Griffin Taylor – lead vocals
Cole Espeland – lead guitar
Connor Grodzicki – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Jeremiah Pugh – bass, backing vocals
Simon Crahan – drums
Hailing from Southampton, Hampshire, England, BURY TOMORROW needed only a few seconds to electrify the crowd with their frantic performance, with the floor section exploding into an awesome circle pit for the delight of the fans and the band. Their dual vocal attack formed of Daniel Winter-Bates on harsh vocals and Tom Prendergast on clean vocals works extremely well live, with the heavy kitchen blasted by Davyd Winter-Bates on bass and Adam Jackson on drums adding an overdose of groove to their core sound. All of their songs sounded vibrant live, and if you know nothing about them go check their latest release The Seventh Sun, from 2023, on Spotify, and get ready for their upcoming album Will You Haunt Me, with That Same Patience, as I’m sure you’ll have a great time listening to those UK rockers. Needless to say, whenever they schedule a live concert in your town, you know where you’ll be that night, right?
Setlist Abandon Us
Earthbound
Death (Ever Colder)
Let Go
Villain Arc
What If I Burn
Boltcutter
Black Flame
Cannibal
Majesty
Life (Paradise Denied)
Choke
Band members Daniel Winter-Bates – harsh vocals
Kristan Dawson – lead guitar, backing vocals
Ed Hartwell – rhythm guitar
Tom Prendergast – keyboards, clean vocals
Davyd Winter-Bates – bass
Adam Jackson – drums, percussion
It was already past 9pm when Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England-based outfit WHILE SHE SLEEPS attacked the crowd with their share of Metalcore made in the UK, just like Bury Tomorrow had just done, and once again the fans at the venue went wild, jumping up and down, screaming the lyrics together with frontman Lawrence “Loz” Taylor, raising their fists and horns in the air, and of course slamming into the pit with a huge smile on their faces. There were moments of friendship and love, when Loz asked fans to hug their families and friends, a Slipknot-like moment with everyone going down and waiting for his sign to start jumping, cellphones with their flashlights on in the air, and an overdose of crowd surfing. I’m not kidding, there was this small girl with a ponytail and a red hoodie that might have broken the worldwide record of crowd surfing in one night, as she kept flying around every 10 seconds nonstop. All of their songs also sounde great live, including the new ones from their 2024 album Self Hell (available on Spotify), and I guess based on the warm reaction from the entire venue that it won’t take long for Toronto to enjoy another night together with While She Sleeps.
Setlist Rainbows
Leave Me Alone
Anti-Social
You Are All You Need
The Guilty Party
You Are We
Self hell
Systematic
Four Walls
Hurricane
Enlightenment(?)
Silence Speaks
To The Flowers
Sleeps Society
Band members Lawrence “Loz” Taylor – lead vocals
Sean Long – lead guitar, backing vocals
Mat Welsh – rhythm guitar, piano, vocals
Aaran McKenzie – bass, backing vocals
Adam “Sav” Savage – drums, percussion
This Progressive Death Metal outfit strikes again with their thrilling fourth studio album, a sonic journey like no other blending progressive tendencies with Jazz elements.
Having self-released their debut EP Boundaries of Reality in 2015, followed by the full-length albums Engram of Decline (2017), Rhizomes of Insanity (2019), and The Impassable Horizon (2021), Nancy, Grand Est, France-based Progressive/Technical Death Metal outfit Fractal Universe returns to action now in 2025 with their fourth studio effort, entitled The Great Filters. Once again blending progressive tendencies with Jazz elements, philosophical topics such as existentialism and the fragmented nature of human consciousness, innovative songwriting and high production quality, the new album by Vince Wilquin on vocals, guitars and saxophone, Yohan Dully on the guitars, Valentin Pelletier on bass, and Clément Denys on drums invites the listener to embark on a sonic journey like no other, helping those French metallers in reaching the peak of the Progressive Metal mountain worldwide.
Their progressive and metallic vein arises from the very first second in The Void Above, with the enraged roars by Vince walking hand in hand with the beyond intricate bass and drums by Valentin and Clément, respectively. Then continuing to experiment with different sounds and nuances we have The Great Filter, while staying true to their core Death Metal essence; whereas the Djent-infused bass by Valentin will hammer our heads in Causality’s Grip, accompanied by the whimsical guitar lines by Vince and Yohan, sounding like a Progressive Death Metal version of Dream Theater. And The Seed of Singularity is another song that goes heavy on bass, with a futuristic background providing Vince with all he needs to shine on vocals.
After that we’re treated to The Equation of Abundance, a smooth and charming ballad by the band, with the harsh vociferations by Vince bringing an extra touch of anguish and melancholy to the overall result; then investing in a heavier, more thunderous sound the band blasts our faces with Specific Obsolescence, with all of its breaks and variations, boosted by Clément’s spot-on drumming and Vince’s melancholic saxophone, turning it into a must-listen for fans of the genre. Dissecting the Real is another complex, vibrant and multi-layered creation by the band, offering more of the stylish riffs by Vince and Yohan, plus the endless heaviness flowing from Clément’s drums, followed by Concealed, a six-minute explosion of Progressive Death Metal led by the striking riffage by Vince and Yohan. Finally, the album ends on a strong note with A New Cycle, where the classy sound of the saxophone by Vince beautifully clashes with their visceral Death Metal sounds.
If their previous albums like their latest opus The Impassable Horizon already exhaled progressiveness and rage, it’s with The Great Filters that the quartet takes a huge step forward in their career, solidifying their core sound without repeating themselves or getting stale, always working towards innovation, and always with a lot of energy, passion and focus on their music. You can get more information about the band by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, stream more of their music on their YouTube channel or on Spotify, and above all that, show them your utmost support by purchasing a copy of The Great Filters by clicking HERE. In other words, if you love the complexity of Progressive Metal, but at the same time you’re an admirer of the visceral sound of Death Metal, then Fractal Universe might be exactly what you’re looking for in the underground, with their newborn opus sounding and feeling absolutely sharp and exciting for our total delight.
Best moments of the album:The Void Above, Specific Obsolescence and Dissecting the Real.
Worst moments of the album:The Great Filter.
Released in 2025 M-Theory Audio
Track listing 1. The Void Above 4:26
2. The Great Filter 3:41
3. Causality’s Grip 3:35
4. The Seed of Singularity 4:08
5. The Equation of Abundance 6:25
6. Specific Obsolescence 6:49
7. Dissecting the Real 5:23
8. Concealed 6:05
9. A New Cycle 5:04
Band members Vince Wilquin – vocals, guitars, saxophone
Yohan Dully – guitars
Valentin Pelletier – bass
Clément Denys – drums
Miten teillä menee, rakkaat metallipäät? If you have no idea what this means, maybe we could ask our metal lady of the month of April here on The Headbanging Moose to help us with the translation, as not only it’s in her mother tongue, but she also uses this language in one hundred percent of her lyrics. Not only that, she’s more than just a singer, being responsible for all instruments in her one-woman Black Metal project. Owner of a mesmerizing voice, she will stun us all with her undisputed fusion of Pagan Black Metal with Nordic and Scandinavian melodies, offering us all beautiful lyrics in the form of poems about life, death and nature in her native language. Her name is Julia Mattila, usually referred to as her alter-ego Vermilia, a very creative woman and a free soul from the land of ice and snow who has a vision and a deep passion for music inside her head, always ready to let everything out in the form of her unique sounds.
Born and raised in Hämeenlinna, a city in Finland and the regional capital of Kanta-Häme, located in the southern interior of the country and on the shores of Lake Vanajavesi, Vermilia has been crafting music basically since she was born, having done everything from classical music to folk singing to metal and everything between that. She grew up in a very musical family, which means making music has always been very natural to her. Moreover, she is also an audio engineer, always listening to different genres to find new ideas for her own sound and production, therefore keeping her music as fresh and unique as possible with each album released.
Her one-woman project Vermilia was founded back in 2017, blending Pagan Black Metal with Scandinavian and Nordic melodies, clean, harsh and melancholic vocal harmonies, and lyrics in the form of poems about life, death and nature, always singing in her mother tongue Finnish, and always responsible for not only all vocal duties (including some amazing harsh growls), but also for all instruments (including even shaman drums), graphics and videos, recording, producing, mixing and mastering of all of her albums, plus all the artworks and photography. Shortly after forming Vermilia, she released her debut album Kätkyt (which means “cradle” in English), in 2018, which ended up being one of the most best selling metal albums on BandCamp during the weekend of its pre-release announcement, receiving a huge amount of praise from a variety of critics, magazines and webzines, and of course from fans from all over the world.
Right after the enormous success of Kätkyt, she released on March 1, 2019 her cover version for a Finnish classic song called Täällä Pohjantähden Alla, originally released by Petri Laaksonen in 1994 (and you can check the original version HERE). Vermilia’s atmospheric version became a huge success on Spotify, jumping straight to number #1 of the most viral songs in Finland on the official Spotify charts. After such a wild feedback from music lovers from all four corners of the earth, it was more than natural for Vermilia to keep her momentum going with the 2020 four-track EP Keskeneräisiä Tarinoita, which translates as “unfinished stories”, also getting tons of positive feedback from all types of metal and non-metal fans.
Then after reaching almost two million streams on Spotify, it was time for Vermilia to unleash upon humanity her highly anticipated sophomore opus, entitled Ruska, or “autumn foliage”, the process of leaves turning to various shades of yellow, orange, red and brown as the trees get ready for winter. The evolution in her music was beyond clear in Ruska, with her always evolving blend of Atmospheric, Pagan and Black Metal getting more personal, tighter and more compelling, culminating now in 2025 with the release of her strongest album to date, the breathtaking Karsikko, an expression that represents a set of markings made on a tree somewhere between a deceased person’s home and the burial site in the Finnic religion, which was believed to prevent the individual’s spirit from coming back. Her visuals are also a crucial part of her music, and you can savor that in all of her official videos on YouTube, including Veresi, Kansojen Kaipuu, Marras, Tuonen Joki, Hautavajo, Ruska, Hauras, Kuollut, Kaunis, and Äiti Maa. All of them are definitely worth a watch, and all of her albums are certainly worth purchasing from BandCamp, and you can also click HERE for all things Vermilia, including her mesmerizing live performances.
Apart from Vermilia, you can find our she-wolf (under her name Julia Mattila) as part of the bands Duo Julia Mattila & Samuli T. Mäkelä and Seele, and as the vocalist for a now defunct project named The Passion of Our Souls. As a matter of fact, Duo Julia Mattila & Samuli T. Mäkelä and The Passion of Our Souls are basically the same band, with the main difference being the type of music they play. In Duo Julia Mattila & Samuli T. Mäkelä, it looks like Julia and Samuli play (or used to play, who knows) cover songs in a sort of folk style, while in The Passion of Our Souls the style was a fusion of Melodic Death Metal with Metalcore with nuances of symphonic and gothic music, having released back in 2015 their first and only record, the EP Soulmates, as you can see in the song Give Me Your Soul.
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Her other band, named Seele, is an Alternative Rock/Electronic Pop band from Finland with whom Vermilia released the album Jos Vain Kaiken Jättäisin (which means “If Only I Left Everything” in English), in 2016, but that was it. Furthermore, you can also find her doing backing vocals on the song Peikonmieli, from the 2017 album Saatto, and vocals on the song Ikarus, from the 2019 album Valo, both released by the now defunct Finnish Melodic Black/Gothic Metal band Mustan Kuun Lapset, another band from Finland that always used their mother tongue to keep their connection to their roots intact and always present in their music.
In regards to Vermilia’s idols and influences, she always mentions in her interviews that her biggest inspirations are nature, sadness, darkness, autumn rain and mythology. “Everything I compose or write happens without bigger plans. I just let the creativity fly and move forward with the feelings I have in that moment,” she commented, complementing by saying that musically speaking she’s influenced by Atmospheric and Pagan Black Metal, as well as by folk music, which in her opinion represents freedom of art and freedom of mind. Furthermore, although her music is sometimes compared to Myrkur, Ulver and Moonsorrow, all bands she respects and admires, she mentioned she still thinks that their music is different from Vermilia, saying that any similarities might come from her subconscious or something like that.
As mentioned before, Vermilia is a skilled singer who can do both clean and harsh vocals, and she commented already in an interview how much her vocals have evolved with time. “I have studied different vocal techniques, which has helped me find all my voices. I love using my voice in many ways, and it’s my favourite instrument.” On a side note, when playing live of course she ends up needing support from other musicians to be able to bring her creations to life. “I do every single vocal by myself. There is no other vocalists on the album. But for example in the live shows I can’t do all at the same time, so there needs to be some compromises, like someone to double the growls in some parts of the songs when I do the clean vocals.” Furthermore, she also has a very good explanation for singing pretty much all the time in Finnish. “The Finnish language is very rich and there are so many metaphors in my lyrics that it’s kind of hard to translate these songs. I have done some lyrics in English in the past before Vermilia, but I am a so much better writer in Finnish so at this point I will keep doing this in Finnish because it fits perfectly to this, but you know, never say never.”
Vermilia also has a strong opinion about all the discrimination and disrespect towards women, both in the music industry and in everyday life. “I think we are going in a better direction, but we are still very far away from a solution for this.” In addition, she also thinks the new wave of women in Black Metal and other styles of extreme music is awesome, showing a lot of respect for bands like Myrkur and Sylvaine. “I think it is awesome that women are rising and doing their own music in their own way.” And of course, as she was born in Finland, a country considered by many as the epicenter of the best heavy music on the planet, she had some nice words to say about her homeland. “I love Finnish music in many genres, not just metal. I guess it’s so cold and dark here that we have to be creative and keep our brains warm by doing metal. For me Finland is a calming place where my mind is clear and my soul is resting. We have so many forests and lakes that you really don’t have to see other people if you don’t want to. Peace of nature is inspirational. I love to write and compose here.”
There are also countless interviews and videos online with Vermilia, like this nice one for a podcast from Latvia named Metālkāsts LV, where she talks about why she decided to fly solo in her career, her songwriting ritual, the importance of writing and singing in her native Finnish language, her favorite season of the year, and more, showing she’s not just a very talented musician, but also a very down to earth woman who will keep working hard and releasing new albums for our total delight, always following her passion for music, always inspired by nature, and always remaining true to her Finnish roots. And do you know her motto? Well, that’s a very simple yet powerful one that all of us should carry inside our hearts. “Be thankful for what you have right now, and don’t take anything for granted.”
“I love Finnish music in many genres, not just metal. I guess it’s so cold and dark here that we have to be creative and keep our brains warm by doing metal. For me Finland is a calming place where my mind is clear and my soul is resting. We have so many forests and lakes that you really don’t have to see other people if you don’t want to. Peace of nature is inspirational. I love to write and compose here.” – Vermilia
A night to remember of sheer heaviness and brutality with three of the most must-see bands in the history of heavy music, at the best and most entertaining venue you can think of.
An amazing theater, several good friends, free parking, free pop and coffee inside the casino, no work the next day as it was a weekend, a vast selection of food options, and three of the most must-see bands in the history of extreme music. Apart from the shitty weather, with freezing rain and ice storms in parts of Ontario, Saturday night was perfect for countless metalheads at the fantastic Great Canadian Casino Resort Toronto, when the ruthless CARCASS, CANNIBAL CORPSE and MESHUGGAH took the venue by storm with their undisputed North American Tour 2025, and of course Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I wouldn’t miss it not even if the biggest snow storm ever had devastated the city that same day. My only complaint is that I couldn’t find the food truck (or tent) by Slayer Burger before the doors opened, and it was pouring after the show so I didn’t even dare to go outside to purchase one. Well, I wasn’t able to try their new Meshuggah’s Burger, but that’s fine. Next time I attend a concert near one of their locations I’ll definitely grab it, or another one of their exclusive burgers, because they kick some serious ass.
There was a huge line already forming way before the doors opened at 6pm, which made me a little worried if I would be able to buy a Cannibal Corpse shirt before the show started at 7pm, but the merch team was awesome and I had over 30 minutes to simply chill before the first attraction of the night hit the stage, the mighty CARCASS. They only played for a little bit over 30 minutes, but what a devastating concert by those Melodic Death Metal and Grindcore masters, or as some people like to label their music these days, “Death N’ Roll” masters. Despite their short setlist, they played some of the best songs from their most recent album Torn Arteries and Surgical Steel, plus of course my all-time favorite Carcass songs No Love lost and Heartwork, both from their 1993 masterpiece Heartwork. Let’s say it was a beyond phenomenal warmup for the upcoming attractions, courtesy of Jeff Walker, Bill Steer, Nippy Blackford and Daniel Wilding, and if Carcass ever visit your city armed with their venomous music, you know what to do.
Setlist The Living Dead at the Manchester Morgue (Intro)
Unfit for Human Consumption
Buried Dreams
Incarnated Solvent Abuse
No Love Lost
Corporal Jigsore Quandary
Heartwork
Tools of the Trade
Carneous Cacoffiny (Outro)
Band members Jeff Walker – vocals, bass
Bill Steer – guitars, backing vocals
Nippy Blackford – guitars
Daniel Wilding – drums
After a quick break, it was time for my favorite Death Metal band of all time to do what they do best, which is get onstage and “crush their enemies, see them driven before them, and to hear the lamentations of their women.” I’m talking about the one and only American institution CANNIBAL CORPSE, who precisely at 7.55pm kicked off their pulverizing show with the neck breaking Scourge of Iron, followed by Blood Blind (from their 2023 album Chaos Horrific), Inhumane Harvest and Evisceration Plague. And what do those songs have in common, you might ask? They’re not played at the speed of light, but that doesn’t make them less infuriated; quite the contrary, it’s their heaviness that counts, in special Evisceration Plague, which is always a pleasure to enjoy live. All that plus the gruesome roars and insane headbanging by Mr. George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher, and the flawless, jaw dropping bass playing by Mr. Alex Webster, turn their shows into memorable experiences even for nonbelievers.
As the venue is quite wide, it was not too hard to stay away from the mosh pits in case you didn’t want to experience some brutal action, or if you couldn’t because of an injury, for example, but that doesn’t mean you couldn’t headbang like a beast to masterpieces like Unleashing the Bloodthirsty (and I’m so happy they’re playing this song even in this shorter than usual setlist), Stripped, Raped and Strangled and Hammer Smashed Face. And of course, participating in another “headbanging contest” against Corpsegrinder (and therefore failing miserably) during I Cum Blood is one of the coolest things one can ever do at a metal concert. The mighty corpse killed it once again, leaving all concert goers absolutely stunned, and next time they come to the city it better be as headliners because we need more of their first-class Death Metal.
Setlist Scourge of Iron
Blood Blind
Inhumane Harvest
Evisceration Plague
Death Walking Terror
Unleashing the Bloodthirsty
Summoned for Sacrifice
I Cum Blood
Stripped, Raped and Strangled
Hammer Smashed Face
Band members George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher – vocals
Rob Barrett – lead and rhythm guitar
Erik Rutan – lead guitar
Alex Webster – bass guitar
Paul Mazurkiewicz – drums
Last but definitely not least, the main attraction of the night, Sweden’s own Technical Groove/Thrash Metal/Djent entity MESHUGGAH, kicked off their festivities at around 9:15pm for the delight of their diehard fans that have taken the entire venue. I forgot to mention it was a sold out event, just to give you an idea of how much Toronto loves Meshuggah, and they put on a striking, hypnotizing concert that definitely lived up to their legacy. Playing songs from all of their albums, including their most recent ones Immutable and The Violent Sleep of Reason, and their classic ObZen, the band spearheaded by Jens Kidman offered a well-balances blend of harsh vocals, rumbling bass lines, pounding drums, and a massive feast of lighting that made the whole concert even more impactful.
All fans were going wild, with some headbanging, jumping up and down, or raising their fists like there was no tomorrow, and the band seeing that made sure they kept kicking ass onstage. When it was time for the encore, with their hits Bleed and Demiurge, the synchronicity between the band and their fans was absolutely fantastic, proving why they’re one of the most beloved bands in Toronto in present-day metal. After the show was over, a huge amount of fans stayed at the casino to try their luck, who knows, maybe some would even recover the money spent on tickets, merch or drinks, and I love the fact that there’s that option at the casino, so you don’t need to rush home nor anything like that. I mean, you can savor the post-concert adrenaline still at the venue, spend some extra time with your friends and family, grab a bite, and start thinking of your next metal show. And if it is at the Great Canadian Resort Toronto, that’s a no-brainer. Simply buy your tickets, and go enjoy some high quality music at the best venue in the entire GTA, or maybe I should say in the entire province of Ontario.
Setlist Careless Whisper (George Michael song) Intro (Atmospheric soundscape)
Broken Cog
Violent Sleep of Reason
Rational Gaze
Combustion
Kaleidoscope
God He Sees in Mirrors
Lethargica
Born in Dissonance
Dancers to a Discordant System
Swarm
Future Breed Machine
Encore:
Bleed
Demiurge Boombastic (Shaggy song)
Band members Jens Kidman – vocals
Fredrik Thordendal – guitars
Mårten Hagström – guitars
Dick Lövgren – bass
Tomas Haake – drums
World domination awaits to the sound of the striking new beast by one of the must-see bands of the current Technical and Melodic Death Metal scene worldwide.
Never allowing themselves to stagnate, preferring to thrive on chaos, change and evolution, Fort Collins, Colorado-based Technical/Melodic Death Metal beast Allegaeon is back with their seventh studio opus, entitled The Ossuary Lens, the follow-up to their 2022 album Damnum, and their first with original vocalist Ezra Haynes since his 2015 departure following the Elements of the Infinite album. Produced, recorded, mixed and mastered once again by Dave Otero at Flatline Audio, the new album by the aforementioned Ezra Haynes on vocals, Greg Burgess and Michael Stancel on the guitars, Brandon Michael on bass, and Jeff Saltzman on drums might not be a concept album in the traditional sense, but there is an overarching theme to it, a representation of several different viewpoints of death, with its science-based lyrics sounding as challenging as the progressive musicianship, resulting in a set of songs that simply slay.
A serene, melancholic intro titled Refraction sets the tone for the reinvigorated Allegaeon to attack like a demented beast in Chaos Theory, where Ezra returns in full force to the band armed with his demonic roars while Jeff also showcases all his technique and rage behind his drums. In Driftwood the band blasts dark, violent words (“Blindsided, in a shell of silence, alone / Decided, motive breach the eyelids, then sewn / Reminded, death walks beside us, inside us / In hindsight it was the path of a nihilist and pawn”) amidst a beyond Progressive Death Metal sound; followed by the epic and imposing Dies Irae, with all background elements matching perfectly with the visceral riffage by Greg and Michael in an overdose of Melodic Death Metal. And The Swarm is a beautiful and violent depiction of the band’s core essence, with the inhumane screams by Ezra being boosted by the thunderous bass and drums by Brandon and Jeff.
If the first five songs of the album were an overdose of aggression, their technical and rabid feast continues majestically with Carried by Delusion, with Jeff once again stealing the spotlight with his unstoppable beats and fills. Then featuring guest acoustic guitars by world renowned musician Adrian Bellue, who brings an extra touch of finesse to the band’s demented sounds, we have Dark Matter Dynamics, where Greg and Michael’s shredding riffs and solos are a thing of beauty; and the band speeds things up considerably while letting their Technical Death Metal vein arise in Imperial, led by the melodic yet piercing guitars by Greg and Michael. Wake Circling Above is a seven-minute song that starts in a more introspective manner with a Stygian background atmosphere before evolving into a complex display of Technical and Melodic Death Metal, where Ezra screams manically to the caustic riffs, bass lines and beats by his bandmates; and lastly, the closing tune, entitled Scythe, is another sonic beast, an epic, climatic composition where Jeff’s thunderous beats are nicely complemented by the song’s Stygian ambience.
“I think in the beginning we were a little more stripped down,” commented guitarist Greg Burgess. “Very guitar-forward, focused melodeath. Over time, I think more technical, symphonic and progressive elements creeped in. Finally, where we are today is all of that combined, added with more ambient elements.” In summary, The Ossuary Lens is an accomplished album that sees a rejuvenated band at the peak of its powers, and you can enjoy their undisputed dexterity and passion for heavy music by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their solid discography on Spotify, and by purchasing their excellent new opus from BandCamp or from Metal Blade Records by clicking HERE or HERE. In the end, world domination awaits to the sound of the newborn spawn by Allegaeon, one of the must-see bands of the current scene, always ready to kick our asses and melt our faces with their first-class, undisputed “melotech”.
Best moments of the album:Dies Irae, The Swarm, Dark Matter Dynamics and Wake Circling Above.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2025 Metal Blade Records
Track listing 1. Refraction 0:59
2. Chaos Theory 4:32
3. Driftwood 4:28
4. Dies Irae 3:48
5. The Swarm 3:28
6. Carried by Delusion 4:49
7. Dark Matter Dynamics 6:03
8. Imperial 4:08
9. Wake Circling Above 6:55
10. Scythe 5:40
Band members Ezra Haynes – vocals
Greg Burgess – guitars
Michael Stancel – guitars, backing vocals
Brandon Michael – bass, backing vocals
Jeff Saltzman – drums
Guest musician
Adrian Bellue – acoustic guitar on “Dark Matter Dynamics”
A newborn Symphonic Black Metal beast will tell the story of Zarathustra’s corruption and insanity in its debut opus, utilizing symphonic elements combined with oriental and traditional classical instruments.
A Symphonic Black Metal project founded by Egyptian vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Mohamed Baligh “Aswad”, who’s currently located in the United States, utilizing symphonic elements combined with oriental instruments like the naey and traditional classical instruments such as the violin and cello, Belnejoum is unleashing upon humanity its debut album, entitled Dark Tales of Zarathustra. Mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordstrom at Studio Fredman, and featuring an array of more-than-special musicians the likes of Fabio Bartoletti (Fleshgod Apocalypse) and Ehab Sami on the guitars, Rich Gray (Annihilator) on bass, Francesco Ferrini (Fleshgod Apocalypse) on all orchestral arrangements, George Kollias (Nile) on drums, and Tamara Jokic on Melisma vocals, as well as guest musicians Hany El-Badry on the naey, Mohamed Medhat on the violin, tenor Christian Correra on vocals, and Jeremy Garbarg on the cello, Dark Tales of Zarathustra tells the story of Zarathustra’s corruption and insanity, his journey to the underworld on the back of a demon named Aeshma, the witnessing of the horrors of Hell, and his suicide as his final act, as he no longer sees a purpose for living.
The opening track Prophet of Desolation couldn’t have sounded more atmospheric, cryptic, doomed and multi-layered, with George sounding inhumane on drums while Aswad roars deeply in the name of Black Metal. Not only that, all background orchestrations elevate the song’s epicness to a whole new level. The Day Zarathustra Turned Dark is more like an interlude than a song per se, darkening the skies before we face Tower of Silence, where the guitars by Fabio and Ehab match perfectly with the orchestral sounds crafted by Francesco; whereas the crying violin by Mohamed will penetrate deep inside your soul in On Aeshma’s Wings, a ruthless, imposing Black Metal aria where George once again steals the show with his fulminating beats and fills.
Guest Jeremy Garbarg recorded Elegie using a rare cello made by Rugieri in Cremona, Italy in 1695, resulting in a somber tune where Tamara’s minimalist vocals sound absolutely enfolding, flowing into the Symphonic Black Metal beast In Their Darkest Aquarium, with once again their orchestrations, riffs and drums generating a massive wall of sounds tailored for lovers of the genre. Then the melancholic piano by Aswad returns in As She Drowns, warming us up for Upon the Mortal Blight, a ten-minute Black Metal creature where their Cradle of Filth and Fleshgod Apocalypse vein pulses harder than ever, all boosted by another amazing vocal performance by Aswad. The Flames, the Prophet, the Tears is another piano-infused composition by Aswad, soothing our souls and preparing us all for the outro Zarathustra’s Last Requiem, a climatic track overflowing classic sounds, sealing the fate of Zarathustra.
Totaling 52 minutes across ten tracks, Dark Tales of Zarathustra is a stunning musical voyage led by Aswad that will surely take the name of Belnejoum to new heights, and if you want to know more about such an amazing project made in the United States but with pure Egyptian blood you can find all details about it on Facebook and on Instagram, stream its amazing debut on Spotify pretty soon, and above all that, purchase the album from Antiq’s BandCamp or webstore. Zarathustra’s descent into madness couldn’t have been better depicted than through the top-of-the-line Symphonic Black Metal by Belnejoum, offering several layers and nuances that definitely make the whole story even more compelling, and may Aswad and his extreme music beast keep delivering amazing albums like Dark Tales of Zarathustra to us all in the coming years, always sounding unique while remaining loyal to the foundations of Black Metal.
Best moments of the album:Prophet of Desolation, On Aeshma’s Wings and Upon the Mortal Blight.
Worst moments of the album:The Day Zarathustra Turned Dark.
Released in 2025 Antiq
Track listing 1. Prophet of Desolation 10:14
2. The Day Zarathustra Turned Dark 2:49
3. Tower of Silence 5:03
4. On Aeshma’s Wings 5:43
5. Elegie 3:39
6. In Their Darkest Aquarium 6:17
7. As She Drowns 3:17
8. Upon the Mortal Blight 10:28
9. The Flames, the Prophet, the Tears 2:01
10. Zarathustra’s Last Requiem 2:36
Band members Mohamed Baligh “Aswad” – vocals, piano
Fabio Bartoletti – guitars
Ehab Sami – guitars
Rich Gray – bass
Francesco Ferrini – orchestral arrangements
George Kollias – drums
Tamara Jokic – Melisma vocals
Guest musicians
Hany El-Badry – naey
Mohamed Medhat – violin
Christian Correra – tenor
Jeremy Garbarg – cello
Playing a harmonious blend of Atmospheric Black and Death Metal since their inception, this Ukrainian creature returns with their incendiary third opus.
Playing a harmonious blend of Atmospheric Black and Death Metal since their inception in 2020, with lyrics predominantly dedicated to the raw mysticism of the Carpathian Mountains and events of ancient times, Chernivtsi and Lviv, Ukraine-based creature U Kronakh has just unleashed their third full-length offering, titled The Archaic Dance of Winds (or “Архаїчний Танець Вітрів” in their mother tongue), following up on their 2024 opus Night Devours Being (or “Ніч Поглинає Буття”). Mixed and mastered by Roman “Morvudd” Sapozhnikov, and once again featuring a grim artwork by Ksenia Vasylevska (aka Wintersomnia), the new album by Wormwood on vocals, Voidger on the guitars and bass, and Lycane on drums showcases more of the project’s experimentations with an array of styles, resulting in a unique blend that doesn’t follow any rules nor fit into any specific music genre, as the band believes creativity exists precisely for such freedom.
The melancholic guitar lines by Voidger kick off the nine-minute atmospheric tune titled Black Mountain, offering an overdose of Post-Black Metal sounds as part of their core Atmospheric Black and Death Metal. Then investing in a more direct Black Metal sound with Death Metal nuances we have The River Named Opir, with Wormwood’s harsh vociferations exhaling hatred and obscurity while Lycane hammers his drums with tons of energy and fury. Into Lightless, Uncharted Depths keeps the atmosphere dense and pensive while adding an extra touch of melody to their core Atmospheric Black Metal thanks to the striking riffs and solos by Voidger; and the trio sounds in total and absolute sync in Night Visions Fade, breathing fire and darkness through their sonic weapons, with the lancinating roars by Wormwood reeking of insanity. Lastly, it’s time to break our necks headbanging to the closing tune About Those Who Are Silent Now, with Voidger and Lycane building a Stygian ambience perfect for Wormwood’s devilish gnarls.
Fans of bands the likes of Ezkaton, Silvern, Harakiri For The Sky, Ellende, and Moonsorrow, among several others, will have an absolute blast listening to Archaic Dance of the Winds, another solid step forward in the dark and exciting path taken by U Kronakh in their short but extremely prolific career so far. The uncanny musicians behind U Kronakh are waiting for you armed with their atmospheric sounds on Facebook and on Instagram, and don’t forget to also stream their entire discography on Spotify (or any other streaming service), and above all that, to purchase Archaic Dance of the Winds from BandCamp, or click HERE for all things U Kronakh. Their music is just as mysterious and distinctive as their name, and I’m sure it won’t take long for the band to stun us all once again with the successor of Archaic Dance of the Winds, because if there’s one thing that the guys from U Kronakh know how to do, that’s to keep working hard and crafting high quality grim music nonstop.
Best moments of the album:The River Named Opir and Night Visions Fade.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2025 Archivist Records
Track listing 1. Black Mountain 9:15
2. The River Named Opir 6:17
3. Into Lightless, Uncharted Depths 9:08
4. Night Visions Fade 7:31
5. About Those Who Are Silent Now 7:44
Band members Wormwood – vocals
Voidger – guitars, bass
Lycane – drums
Having remained a consistent force in the underground, Kadıköy, Turkey’s own malevolent Death Metal beast Diabolizer is back from the pits of the netherworld with their sophomore offering, the ruthless Murderous Revelations, following up on their venomous debut EP Apokalypse and their critically acclaimed, demolishing first full-length album Khalkedonian Death. Recorded at Mezar Sound Studios (vocals and drums) and by the band members on their own (guitars and bass), mixed and mastered by Emre Bingöl, and displaying a sulfurous, incendiary artwork by Dechristianize Art, the new album by vocalist Abomination, guitarists Can and Mustafa, bassist Malik, and drummer Aberrant brings to our avid ears savage riffing and blasting drums with gargantuan vocals, dragging us down into its fiery abysses without warning.
From the frantic aggression of the instruments to the savagery displayed in the vocals, everything about Murderous Revelations feels like a strong continuation from their supreme debut album in 2021, which already saw them establish a loyal following. Hence, don’t forget to follow those unrelenting, talented Turkish servants of death on Facebook and on Instagram, to stream their devastating music on Spotify, and above all that, to purchase their demented new album from their own BandCamp, from the Dark Descent Records’ BandCamp, or from the Me Saco Un Ojo Records’ BandCamp, keeping the fires of old school, no shenanigans Death Metal burning like the pits of hell. The return of Diabolizer is an essential moment in the Death Metal calendar for 2025, and you better not miss it or you’ll have to face their fury and suffer in the hands of one of the best bands in the current extreme music scene worldwide.
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 