Crafting a heavy, story-driven sound rooted in some of the biggest names of the genre, this Heavy Metal ensemble attacks again with their electrifying sophomore album.
Crafting a heavy, story-driven sound rooted in influences like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Alice in Chains, and Tool, New Jersey’s own Heavy Metal/Hard Rock ensemble Who On Earth are ready to rock our world once again with their sophomore opus It Takes The Village, following up on their 2022 debut Blame. Currently formed of vocalist Coosh, guitarists Johnny James Barone and Jimmy Kocha, bassist Pete Rizzi, and drummer Howie Fallon, such an electrifying American rock and metal band is on fire throughout the entire It Takes The Village, honoring the legacy of former guitarist Bruce Gatewood (RIP), and re-energizing those five talented musicians to keep moving forward in the name of our good old Rock N’ Roll.
Their Southern Metal vein arises in the opening tune Vigilance, where the massive riffs by Johnny and Jimmy provide Coosh with exactly what he needs to shine on vocals, and their Rock N’ Roll groove keeps flowing in Any Other Way, reminding me of old school Soundgarden, with Howie kicking some ass behind his drums. Shadows is a solid rockin’ tune where the backing vocals by Coosh’s bandmates add a lot of power to his classic vocal lines, while the massive bass by Pete dictates the pace in the mid-tempo Hard Rock feast Good Man Down, excellent for enjoying a beer at a rock pub anywhere in the world. Closer is a weird interlude that doesn’t add much to the album, followed by Too Close, starting with the 70’s-inspired bass by Pete and accompanied by the always striking riffs by Johnny and Jimmy, flirting with Alternative and Groove Metal and Rock.
There’s no time to breathe as Who On Earth continue to fight the unfaithful in Double Or Nothing, a song that should be added to the playlists of all rock stations around the globe, not to mention how electrifying their guitar solos sound. Then we have Monster!, a journey back in time without sounding outdated where Coosh once again leads his crew with a killer vocal performance, highly recommended for hitting the highway with your loved ones, followed by Oh, Set Me Free, another very melodic display of Hard Rock that reminds me of some creations by the mighty Armored Saint. It’s time to open up the pit and slam together with your buddies to the sound of We Don’t Belong Here, led by the pounding drums by Howie; and Ascension is a cinematic interlude that feels like it was taken from a Power Metal album, warming us up for The Unbeaten, a delicate ballad by the boys to put an enfolding ending to the album. Well, there are still the bonus tracks left, all offering the band’s trademark fusion of Hard Rock with Southern and Groove Metal, just like in the thrilling extended version of Vigilance, with Mike Orlando and Jason Bittner as guest vocalists.
Heavy riffs, classic bass, galloping drums, and an endless amount of sheer energy. That’s exactly what will hit you as you listen to the excellent It Takes The Village, proving that despite some bumps on the way, the guys from Who On Earth are inspired and focused to keep moving forward no matter what. Having said that, don’t waste your time and go show your support to those guys by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their Youtube channel, by streaming their rockin’ creations on Spotify and on Apple Music, and of course by purchasing their new album from Bandcamp. Because Who On Earth live and breathe Heavy Metal and Rock N’ Roll, and in the end, who on earth doesn’t enjoy some high-quality heavy music, right?
Best moments of the album:Vigilance, Too Close, Monster! and We Don’t Belong Here.
Worst moments of the album:Closer.
Released in 2026 Independent
Track listing 1. Vigilance 4:15
2. Any Other Way 3:07
3. Shadows 4:00
4. Good Man Down 3:13
5. Closer 1:00
6. Too Close 3:39
7. Double Or Nothing 4:09
8. Monster! 4:08
9. Oh, Set Me Free 4:28
10. We Don’t Belong Here 3:51
11. Ascension 1:47
12. The Unbeaten 4:15
Bonus tracks
13. Jane 4:17
14. Down And Out – Dvrko Remix 3:41
15. Vigilance [Extended] 5:08
Band members Coosh – vocals
Johnny James Barone – guitar
Jimmy Kocha – guitar
Pete Rizzi – bass
Howie Fallon – drums
Guest musicians
Mike Orlando – vocals on “Vigilance [Extended]”
Jason Bittner – vocals on “Vigilance [Extended]”
The Canadian city of London witnessed for the very first (and last) time ever the undisputed power of “Sepultura do Brasil” on an unforgettable night of first-class heavy music.
After back to back nights of pure heavy music with bands like Archspire, Amon Amarth and Dethklok kicking my ass in Toronto on Thursday and Friday, it was time for a nice drive to the city of London for night number 3 of absolute metal magic to enjoy TRIBAL GAZE, BIOHAZARD, EXODUS and SEPULTURA take the cozy London Music Hall by storm this Saturday night as part of their Celebrating Life Through Death Final North American Tour 2026, another killer event organized by our local hero Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi was there with me to register such a great celebration of Thrash, Death and Groove Metal, as well as some first-class Hardcore, and I guess because the show was on a Saturday, and due to the size of the bands playing, it was scheduled for an early start, with doors opening at 5:30pm and the first band hitting the stage at 6:30pm. Fortunately, as mentioned, it was on a Saturday, so it was just a matter of planning the drive beforehand to get there in time to enjoy all attractions (and brave the long merch line if you were up to that), and believe me, they were all absolutely worth the ticket.
The opening slot of this tour was given to Texan Death Metal outfit TRIBAL GAZE, and just like when I saw them opening for Cattle Decapitation they were ruthless onstage. Once again playing songs exclusively from their 2025 sophomore Inveighing Brilliance, available on both BandCamp and Spotify, including the venomous Twitching on the Cross, Guarding the Illusion, and Beyond Recognition, the band formed of McKenna Holland on vocals, Quintin Stauts and Ian Kilmer on the guitars, Zachary Denton on bass, and Cesar De Los Santos on drums inspired everyone already at the venue to start a sick circle pit, properly warming up the crowd for the other attractions of the night. Those guys are very young and looked extremely excited for opening for some of their metal heroes, as I’m sure they grew up listening to Sepultura, Exodus and Biohazard, so their level of energy onstage was insanely high. As I always say, new bands like Tribal Gaze need our support to keep metal alive, which means if they ever play in your city, you know what to do.
Setlist Emptying the Nest
Smiling From Their Chariots
To the Spoils of Faith
The Irreversible Sequence
Twitching on the Cross
Guarding the Illusion
Beyond Recognition
Band members McKenna Holland – vocals
Quintin Stauts – guitars
Ian Kilmer – guitars
Zachary Denton – bass
Cesar De Los Santos – drums
After Tribal Gaze finished their unrelenting performance, we were treated to the incendiary Hardcore by Brooklyn, New York’s most famous squad, the indomitable BIOHAZARD. It was only my second time in life seeing those guys live, the first back in the late 90’s when they were one of the must-see bands on MTV, and I must say they looked a lot sharper and more infuriated this Saturday night. Evan Seinfeld is in fantastic shape, way better than his early days or when he was one of the prisoners in the revolutionary TV series Oz, and if I ever have a chance to talk to him in person I’ll certainly ask him for some health tips as he looks awesome. Billy Graziadei, Bobby Hambel and Danny Schuler were also on fire, and their short but sweet setlist, blending classics with new songs from their 2025 album Divided We Fall (all available on Spotify), was heavy, flammable, violent and fun from start to finish, igniting a demonic circle pit that turned up the heat considerably at the venue. Biohazard still got it, no doubt about it, and I’m happy I was able to see those legends live again after almost 30 years.
Setlist Urban Discipline
Shades of Grey
Fuck the System
Wrong Side of the Tracks
Tales From the Hard Side
Forsaken
Punishment
Band members Evan Seinfeld – vocals, bass
Billy Graziadei – vocals, rhythm guitar
Bobby Hambel – lead guitar
Danny Schuler – drums
Then it was time for another blast of absolute thrashing madness onstage with the mighty Thrash Metal titans EXODUS, who after the return of the furious Rob Dukes are sounding even heavier than before. I saw them opening for Megadeth also in London in February, when they kicked off their tour to promote their new album Goliath (also available on Spotify), but this time opening for Sepultura sounded a lot heavier (and louder, as the sound at the London Concert Hall was turned up to 11). The setlist wasn’t too different from last time, but the fact they added the magnificent Deathamphetamine to it made their show more violent and vibrant. It’s always a pleasure seeing Gary Holt, Lee Altus, Jack Gibson and Tom Hunting onstage, as well as the aforementioned Rob Dukes, of course, but the show was so intense we all had to share our attention with the hurricane happening inside the circle pit. Well, when the last three songs of a setlist are A Lesson in Violence, The Toxic Waltz, and Strike of the Beast, you know you can’t simply stand and watch the show. You need to get into the action, and the fans in London understood the message maybe even more than what anyone could have predicted. Yes, it was a true lesson in violence, and we must thank the one and only Exodus for such a fun time.
Setlist We Will Rock You (Queen song)
3111
Bonded by Blood
Deathamphetamine
Blacklist
Goliath
A Lesson in Violence
The Toxic Waltz
Strike of the Beast
Band members Rob Dukes – vocals
Gary Holt – guitar
Lee Altus – guitar
Jack Gibson – bass
Tom Hunting – drums
It was already past 9pm when the main band of the night, Brazilian Thrash/Groove Metal institution SEPULTURA, kicked off their very first, and most probably their very last (as this is supposed to be their farewell tour), concert in the city of London, and the fans made sure it was an unforgettable night for Derrick Green, Andreas Kisser, Paulo Jr., and Greyson Nekrutman, as the crowd was rowdy and wild during their entire setlist, even when they played slower or newer songs like The Place (from their brand new EP The Cloud of Unknowing, already available in any platform such as Spotify) and Agony of Defeat. The crowd got louder of course during their classics from the 90’s, but the synchronicity between Sepultura and the fans in London was a thing of beauty during the entire concert.
Speaking of classics, I simply loved the fact they kicked off the show with Beneath the Remains and Inner Self, two of my all-time favorite Sepultura songs, and the quartet sounded utterly heavy during those masterpieces. The action inside the pit got out of control, the fans began smashing each other on the front rows to the point some people had to move to the back to be able to breathe and enjoy the rest of the show, and the fact they kept playing heavy and visceral tunes the likes of Attitude, Choke and Escape to the Void turned the venue into a cauldron of violence. The excellent tribal hymn Kaiowas brought some moments of peace to London, but of course all hell broke loose again once they played in a row the majestic Orgasmatron, Territory, Refuse/Resist and Arise. It was way crazier than their show in Toronto in 2024, I must admit.
Then after a quick drum solo by the ultra talented Greyson Nekrutman, who fells absolutely at home with Sepultura, the band put everyone to jump up and down, dance, slam into the pit, and therefore have the time of their lives with Ratamahatta, and of course with one of the best metal songs of all time, the incendiary Roots Bloody Roots. If that was indeed the first and last time Sepultura played in London, let’s say they did a phenomenal job, carving their place in the hearts of a lot of newcomers to their Sepulnation as countless fans were seeing them live for the very first time ever. I’ve seen them live already way too many times to remember, but I’ll never forget the energy in London. I had a long drive back home by myself in the middle of the night, but the adrenaline from the show was still flowing through my veins, making the drive a lot easier. Thank you for your music, Sepultura do Brasil, and if you want to somehow “cancel” your retirement and go back to London for another killer show, we will all be there for you.
Setlist War Pigs (Black Sabbath song)
Polícia (Titãs song)
Beneath the Remains
Inner Self
Desperate Cry
Kairos
Means to an End
Attitude
Choke
The Place
Escape to the Void
Kaiowas
Dead Embryonic Cells
Agony of Defeat
Orgasmatron
Territory
Refuse/Resist
Arise
Drum Solo
Ratamahatta
Roots Bloody Roots
Band members Derrick Green – lead vocals
Andreas Kisser – guitars, backing vocals
Paulo Jr. – bass
Greyson Nekrutman – drums
France’s must-see Progressive and Cinematic Metal band returns with their striking third EP, exploring humanity’s collapse across cosmic, social, environmental, and mortal planes.
Led by the shape-shifting vocals by frontwoman Sofia Bortoluzzi, drifting from ethereal calm to visceral rupture, Rouen, France-based Progressive/Cinematic Metal band No Terror In The Bang returns with a new EP titled Existence, exploring humanity’s collapse across cosmic, social, environmental, and mortal planes. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Sébastien Langle, with photography by Aurélien Cardot and artwork by Louise Dumont, the follow-up to their 2024 album Heal hits hard and lingers longer, cinematic Progressive Metal where fragility and fury collide head-on, all masterfully crafted by the aforementioned Sofia Bortoluzzi alongside guitarists Étienne Cochin and Clément Bernard, bassist Brice Bouchard, and drummer and keyboardist Alexis Damien.
Sofia takes the lead with her she-wolf roars and delicate clean vocals in Moon, while Étienne and Clément follow her chameleon performance with their intricate riffs, kicking off the EP on a high note. Then we face Heroine, presenting the Djent-infused sounds by Jinjer while also adding their own share of heaviness to the music, with Brice’s metallic bass punching us hard in the head; followed by Goat, again presenting a wild hybrid of Progressive and Groove Metal with Djent where Sofia sounds utterly infuriated and rabid, supported by the demolishing drums by Alexis. Human Race Kills offers us all a more direct sonority, a good depiction of their core Cinematic Metal, with the intricacy flowing from their guitars, bass and drums sounding absolutely exciting; and lastly, let’s have a blast with Chasm, bringing forward more of the groovy and thunderous kitchen by Brice and Alexis while Sofia continues to shine with her undisputed vocal range.
Each track in Existence exposes a distinct layer of collapse, interrogating destiny, purpose, and the deeply rooted self-destructive impulses that define the human condition. With its dark atmospheres and strong narrative depth, the EP expands No Terror in The Bang’s musical language, reinforcing a sound that is both captivating and relentlessly powerful. Hence, if you’re a fan of the music by renowned acts the likes of Jinjer, Deftones, Gojira, and Devin Townsend, among others, you should check what the band is up to on Facebook and on Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, stream their music on Spotify, and of course purchase Existence from BandCamp or from Klonosphere Records. Existence is not just bold and multi-layered, but also unsettling and thought provoking, leaving us eager for more of the music by those talented French metallers in the near future.
Best moments of the album:Moon and Human Race Kills.
Ciao, miei cari metallari! Are you ready to embark on a wild journey to the “Bel Paese” together with The Headbanging Moose to know more about our metal lady of this month of April? Not just a metal singer and songwriter, but she’s also a psychologist and psychotherapist, creating a strong connection between heavy music and mental health, or as she prefers to say, she talks to the community where loud music meets deep healing. Bridging metal, psychology, and visual art, shaping a voice and a vision that are both intense and deeply human, she’s the frontwoman for the up-and-coming Italian band 5RAND, and one of the must-see names of the new generation of growlers. Her name is Julia Eleonora, better known by her stage moniker Julia Elenoir, and she will kick your ass mercilessly with her undeniable talent, charisma and passion for all things Heavy Metal.
Born and raised in the beautiful city of Rome, Italy, Julia has been creating music since her childhood, having grown up surrounded by rock and metal. She started playing classical guitar at the age of 13, and formed her first band when she was 17, beginning to compose her earliest songs. Over the years, her musical style evolved naturally from lighter styles like Hard Rock to a heavier, more introspective metal sound, with Death Metal becoming her main style. “Because I love its edge, its rawness, the catharsis it creates. The extreme side lets me explore, push boundaries and channel aggression and vulnerability at the same time. With 5RAND we mix melodic death and deathcore …not to provoke, but to dig deeper,” she said when asked why she decided to follow such an extreme path with Death Metal.
Founded in 2015 in Rome, Italy by Julia on vocals and Pierluigi Carocci on the guitars (who was working on his own solo project), Riccardo Zito on bass, and Francesco Marroni on drums, but currently formed of Julia and Pierluigi alongside bassist Acey Guns and drummer Andrea De Carolis, the up-and-coming Melodic Death/Groove Metal act 5RAND builds on a punishing modern metal foundation layered with the cinematic depth of melodeath, creating an intense and emotionally immersive soundscape and, therefore, carving out a distinctive place in the modern metal scene. “The name 5RAND comes from a South African 5 Rand coin that Pierluigi once received from a shaman as a good-luck charm. It stayed with him and with us,” explained Julia in one of her interviews. “Musically, we live at the crossroads of aggression and melody. We play, we record, we move forward.”
Having since toured extensively across Europe, sharing the stage with iconic acts such as Dark Tranquillity, Vader, Butcher Babies, Infected Rain and many others, 5RAND alredy released their debut album Sacred / Scared in 2017, followed by their 2019 sophomore Dark Mother, and their excellent third installment Ordhalia, from 2025, a sonic evolution in their already solid career, sounding darker, more introspective, and conceptually daring. Furthermore, Julia has written all the lyrics for 5RAND and has co-composed the music for every song released by the band to date, showing how much she’s involved with 5RAND. Not only that, even Julia couldn’t give a precise answer when asked how she would label the music by 5RAND, just to give you an idea of how dynamic, fresh and unique their style can be. “That would be hard to say precisely, since we don’t fit exactly in only one subgenre, like many many modern bands don’t. We’ve got a bit of Thrash and Death Metal, but also Industrial Metal and a lot of melodies too.” And if you want to experience their music in loco you can find their albums on Spotify, and also visit YouTube to enjoy their official videos for songs like Old Angel Midnight, Paint of Pain, Erase, Several Injuries, Cordyceps, live versions of Preacher of Lies and Cordyceps, and many more.
Owner of such a powerful and versatile voice, it was obvious that we would see Julia as a guest vocalist for different bands and projects. For instance, you can find her doing all female vocals for the 2022 album Ex Mortis Gloria, by Bristol, England-based Technical Death Metal band Imperium; as a guest vocalist for the song A New One, from the 2018 album Liberation, by Italian Symphonic Heavy Metal band Infinita Symphonia; and also as a guest vocalist for the 2020 album Phagocity, by Italian Groove Metal outfit South of No North. Moreover, when asked about venturing on a solo project in the near future, she said that’s indeed a possibility. “I’m always open. For now, I’m focused on 5RAND, but I don’t rule out solo work or collaborations in the future. Art is fluid; it transforms. I’d especially like to do something acoustic with my own songs, but for now we’re working on the next release.”
As expected, Julia is highly influenced by some of the most important names in the history of heavy music. “Growing up, we’d say the classics: Iron Maiden, Metallica, Slayer… now the names are slightly different and more recent though, like Slipknot, Gojira, Fear Factory,” she commented. In addition, as one of the most promising female growlers of the current scene, Julia is also a huge admirer of the music by Arch Enemy and Jinjer. “I’ve been inspired by voices like Corey Taylor from Slipknot, and among the women I really admire Cristina Scabbia, Alissa White-Gluz, Tatiana Shmayluk, and other artists who know how to blend intensity and versatility. I admire anyone who can shake me to the core while destroying the stage.”
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Regarding her vocal technique, Julia said that she works a lot on her clean and growl dual-voice style. “It’s not about volume, but control, endurance, and intensity. You have to be able to express emotion even when the voice is rough. I always warm up, focus on breathing, and pay close attention to vocal health. Clean parts and growls require completely different mindsets.” She practices a lot everyday, always focusing on warmups and breathing exercises, saying that singing in a Death Metal and/or Metalcore style has its easy parts, as well as really hard ones. “The hard part is keeping vocal health and expressiveness. The ‘easy’ part or at least what becomes more natural with experience is letting emotion flow once technique is solid.”
If there’s one thing that Julia and the boys from 5RAND enjoy doing, that’s hitting the stages with their live concerts. After signing with Art Gates Records, the band started working on new dates, aiming at expanding their touring and reaching a wider audience. A very good reason why all of us should keep an eye on their social media, because if 5RAND are taking your city by storm anytime soon, you surely don’t want to miss it. Also, when asked which song she likes to sing live the most, she mentioned the excellent Cordyceps. “Cordyceps because the crowd goes particularly crazy with that song, but I love to sing all our songs.” Julia also has her “hobbies” behind the scenes during their tours. The rest of the band said they suspect Julia really enjoys watching people eat. “That’s why everything she cooks is in enormous quantity,” commented her fellow bandmates.
When questioned about the current metal scene in Italy, she said that Death Metal, as well as Progressive and Power Metal, might probably be the most appreciated genres by Italian fans, apart of course form the bigger bands like Iron Maiden, Metallica and so on, but she also said that the majority of the Italian people tend to be a bit “lazy” in their musical taste and aren’t that eager to discover new bands or genres. “People mostly like what they already know,” she commented. Furthermore, she also mentioned she’s proud to see a new generation of women participating in the scene in Italy. “We’re seeing more and more women in metal bands, which is obviously very good! Many of them are very talented, maybe they’re still a bit confined to the symphonic style and to singing (too few women play an instrument on stage), but we hope their number keeps growing; versatility will come eventually.” However, she also believes everyone should be treated equal in heavy music. “I don’t think a band should be considered just for its members’ sex. In a better world, the musicians’ sex shouldn’t be more important than the colour of their hair.”
As mentioned in the beginning of this tribute to our multi-talented Italian diva, Julia is also a professional psychologist, having studied Psychiatry, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences (with a major in Psychology) at Sapienza Università di Roma, graduating in 2013, and having also got a major in Brief Strategic Therapy (BST) from Scuola di Specializzazione in Psicoterapia Breve Strategica, currently running her own initiative named “Harmony of Chaos”, offering a fusion of metal music and insights on mental health. Not only that, Julia seems to be a philomath, having also obtained a Master’s Degree in Web Marketing and ICT and a degree in Marketing, Management and Business Economy, both also at Sapienza Università di Roma. And when she’s not studying, she loves arts, books, and sports, especially outdoors and in nature, as well as cooking a lot and keeping fit. As you can see, Julian never stops, she’s always creating new things, always searching for something new, always broadening and deepening her knowledge, and may she keep condensing all that awesomeness in the music by 5RAND for many years to come, because it’s people like Julia who definitely contribute to a much better world.
“Joining 5RAND in 2015 was a big step. I’m also passionate about psychology… in fact, I’m a psychologist and later specialized as a psychotherapist with a metal soul. I love helping people overcome mental struggles.” – Julia Elenoir
After a full day of rain in Toronto and vicinities, the weather finally settled down closer to the evening, and it was only slightly cold (for Canadian standards, of course, as it was still very cold for anyone else) when the almighty LAMB OF GOD took the always welcoming Great Canadian Toronto by storm with their undisputed North America 2026 Tour, featuring the more than special guests SANGUISUGABOGG, FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY and KUBLAI KHAN TX, on a night of pure adrenaline and a celebration of heavy music. It was a true honor for Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I to cover such an amazing night, and as the show at the casino was one hundred percent SOLD OUT, you can imagine how much fun everyone who attended the show had inside the massive circle pits formed during all four concerts.
It was around 7pm when Columbus, Ohio’s own Brutal Death Metal/Deathcore entity SANGUISUGABOGG kicked off the party with their vicious attack. Having released the excellent Hideous Aftermath in 2025, available on both BandCamp and Spotify, the band formed of the unstoppable frontman Devin Swank, guitarist Drew Arnold, bassist Ced Davis, and drummer Cody Davidson put on a phenomenal performance onstage, already inspiring the crowd to headbang and slam like true metalmaniacs until the very last second. What a wild kickoff, with the very romantic songs Face Ripped Off and Dead as Shit making the entire casino shake. I’m sure Sanguisugabogg will return to Toronto with their undisputed violence sooner than you can say their name, spell their name, or read their logo. Any of these work.
Setlist Rotted Entanglement
Face Ripped Off
Felony Abuse of a Corpse
Abhorrent Contraception
Dead as Shit
Band members Devin Swank – vocals
Drew Arnold – guitars
Ced Davis – bass
Cody Davidson – drums
The bar was set super high with Sanguisugabogg, but of course nothing that New Jersey’s own Death Metal/Deathcore beast FIT FOR AN AUTOPSY couldn’t take care of armed with their venomous and melodic brutality. Frontman Joe Badolato was having an amazing time onstage “managing” the vicious circle pit going, and the crowd roared back at him during their incendiary performance. Playing songs from their already solid discography (available on Spotify), including some killer tunes from their latest opus The Nothing That Is, from 2024, those being Lower Purpose, Hostage, and Savior of None / Ashes of All, the band delivered everything their fans were expecting and more, with the intense crowd surfing getting to a point I lost count of how many of the “banana boys” crossed my path after letting their peels being touched by all fans inside the pit. Maybe I should say the entire venue went bananas during Fit For An Autopsy, right?
Setlist Lower Purpose
It Comes for You
The Wretch
Black Mammoth
Hostage
Savior of None / Ashes of All
Warfare
Pandora
Far From Heaven
Band members Joe Badolato – lead vocals
Pat Sheridan – guitars, backing vocals
Tim Howley – guitars
Will Putney – guitars
Peter “Blue” Spinazola – bass
Josean Orta – drums
Although I’m familiar with the music by Texan Metalcore ensemble KUBLAI KHAN TX, I didn’t know they were so famous and loved by the Toronto fans. Every single person in the room was having an amazing time during their performance, singing all songs along with the band led by the charismatic Matt Honeycutt. The guy didn’t stop a single second onstage, and that obviously translated into a lot of action inside the pit. In addition, it’s impressive how heavy their kitchen formed of bassist Eric English and drummer Isaac Lamb sounds, in special the utterly thunderous bass by Eric. The guy was making my chest tremble with his jabs. If you know nothing about those talented and humble guys, you can check their ass-kicking music on Spotify, like their 2024 album Exhibition of Prowess, but get ready as they will smash your cranial skull mercilessly.
Setlist Darwinism
Supreme Ruler
Low Tech
Antpile
Boomslang
The Hammer
The Mountain of Corsicana
Antpile 2
Self-Destruct
Mud
Swan Song
Theory of Mind
Band members Matt Honeycutt – vocals
Nicholas Adams – guitar, backing vocals
Eric English – bass, backing vocals
Isaac Lamb – drums
At long last, it was time to walk with Richmond, Virginia’s own Groove Metal masters LAMB OF GOD in hell during their absolutely heavy, vibrant and flammable performance. Having released the phenomenal Into Oblivion just a week before the show (available on Spotify and also on the special Into Oblivion website), the band fronted by the iconic D. Randall “Randy” Blythe showed no mercy for our necks and bodies with another killer performance in Canadian lands. It’s so cool how Lamb of God moved from a small venue like The Opera House when they first played in Toronto years and years ago, to selling out such a massive venue like the casino. To be fair, that’s expected when the music in question is so good, catchy and electrifying.
Randy was on fire during their entire show, as well as his bandmates, with Mark Morton and Willie Adler showing why they’re two of the best metal guitarists of the current scene. John Campbell and his trademark headbanging were also excellent, not to mention Art Cruz delivered a striking drum solo for our total delight. Before the show, he hid a few drumsticks around the venue for fans to try to find them, an initiative that I personally considered very cool (despite the fact I couldn’t find any of them). All that talent made their already amazing songs like Ruin, Laid to Rest and 11th Hour sound even stronger live, driving fans wild during their entire set, and maybe because it was a Friday night at a venue with no curfew we were also treated to a classic that hadn’t been played before Friday, the awesome Omerta.
Their new songs also sounded incredible, in special the infuriated Parasocial Christ, making the circle pit move even faster. There were some tunes that were screamed by the entire crowd together with the band, like 512, Walk With Me in Hell, and Memento Mori, three of my favorite Lamb of God songs, and you can imagine how happy I was seeing so many fans from all ages having such a great time with Randy and his henchmen. And as the icing on the cake, we could all scream, raise our fists, headbanging and jump up and down together with the boys during their metal masterpiece Redneck, putting a beyond epic and climatic ending to the show.
I wish I could have stayed longer at the casino after the show to eat something and maybe even try my luck, but the lines to get into the casino were insane. I’m not complaining, as I love the fact a metal concert can make a casino so busy and vibrant, and I can’t wait to enjoy one of the best venues in the GTA again in a few weeks. Anyway, back to the concert, it’s more than obvious that it won’t take long for Lamb of God to return to the city as they’re undoubtedly one of Toronto’s favorite metal acts. I dare to say they’re THE favorite metal band of a huge chunk of the new-ish generation of metalheads, and as Randy himself said in a recent interview, just like he wants to keep playing with Lamb of God until his last breath, we also want to headbang with Lamb of God until ours.
Setlist Ruin
Laid to Rest
Blood Junkie
Into Oblivion
Resurrection Man
Grace
Desolation
512
Walk With Me in Hell
Parasocial Christ
Omerta
11th Hour
Encore:
Memento Mori
Sepsis
Redneck
Band members D. Randall “Randy” Blythe – vocals
Mark Morton – guitar
Willie Adler – guitar
John Campbell – bass
Art Cruz – drums
Beholden to no one, and with nothing left to prove, these Groove Metal titans are unleashing upon us all their tenth studio album, as we all head into oblivion.
Beholden to no one, and with nothing left to prove, Richmond, Virginia’s own Groove Metal titans Lamb of God are back with album number ten in their undisputed career, the hard hitting Into Oblivion, following up on their critically acclaimed VII: Sturm und Drang (2015), Lamb of God (2020), and Omens (2022). Produced and mixed by longtime studio collaborator Josh Wilbur, and recorded across multiple locations tied closely to the band’s identity, the new opus by the iconic frontman D. Randall “Randy” Blythe, guitarists Mark Morton and Willie Adler, bassist John Campbell, and drummer Art Cruz finds the band embracing their position as modern metal veterans. The ten-song collection references the band’s roots, doubles down on their signature groove, and expands their approach, resulting in an album that feels both deliberate and untethered.
In the opening track Into Oblivion we already see Randy deliver his trademark acid lyrics (“I – I am the chaos / I am the voice you can’t unhear / Strife and betrayal / I am the war re-engineered / In a life far worse than death / I am the thief that steals your breath”) while the music is heavy, atmospheric and enfolding thanks to the hammering drums by Art and the always sharp riffs by Mark and Will; and it’s then pedal to the metal in the best Thrash and Death Metal style in Parasocial Christ, with Randy vociferating rabidly as usual accompanied by the metallic riffs and solos by the band’s unstoppable guitar duo. The rumbling bass by John sets the stage for another vicious attack by Lamb of God entitled Sepsis, a neck breaking aria of first-class Groove Metal, followed by The Killing Floor, a demented song perfect for igniting a maniacal circle pit, with Art crushing his drums like there’s no tomorrow. And after such a thunderous tune it’s time for the dark ballad El Vacío, where Randy delivers deep, passionate clean and harsh vocals.
St. Catherine’s Wheel offers more of their trademark (and utterly headbanging) sonority led by the visceral riffs by Mark and Will, supported by John’s menacing bass, whereas Blunt Force Blues brings to our avid ears another round of their acid words growled by Randy (“Here comes another enemy / A goddess standing on the wall / For all the men doomed to die / An alabaster beauty sweats / Paints the currents black, they must ride / Last breath decays / Do you hear?”) while Art’s drums dictate the song’s bludgeoning pace and vibe. The band continues to hammer their sonic weapons of mass destruction in Bully, also presenting elements from Southern Metal added to their core groove madness, followed by A Thousand Years, a mid-tempo aria as grim and obscure as it can be, with Randy declaiming the song’s devilish lyrics rabidly from start to finish. Lastly, they invite us for one final slam into the pit to the sound of Devise / Destroy, a venomous beast of Groove Metal where their scathing riffs and pounding drums match perfectly with Randy’s enraged roars.
“For me, the album is about having the space to breathe creatively and not feeling like we have to keep up with any trend or expectation,” said Mark Morton. “It feels nice to be untethered from any agenda beyond rallying around the notion of, ‘Let’s just make music that we think is cool,’ which is really where it all started.” Randy Blythe also explained why the band decided to name the album Into Oblivion. “Because that’s where we’re heading. In general, the album is about the ongoing and rapid breakdown of the social contract, particularly here in America. Things are acceptable now that would’ve horrified people just 20 years ago.” We’re living dark times indeed, and you can join Lamb of God in their daily fight against all that’s wrong in our rotten society by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by checking their acid videos on YouTube, by streaming their incendiary discography on Spotify, and of course by purchasing their first-class new album from their own webstore or from the special Into Oblivion website. In the end, as we’re all heading into oblivion like Randy said, at least let’s go down in style, raising our horns to one of the best metal albums of the year.
Best moments of the album:Parasocial Christ, The Killing Floor, Blunt Force Blues and Devise / Destroy.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2026 Century Media Records/Epic Records
Track listing 1. Into Oblivion 3:34
2. Parasocial Christ 3:20
3. Sepsis 3:38
4. The Killing Floor 4:16
5. El Vacío 4:17
6. St. Catherine’s Wheel 4:05
7. Blunt Force Blues 4:11
8. Bully 4:13
9. A Thousand Years 3:53
10. Devise / Destroy 3:49
Band members D. Randall “Randy” Blythe – vocals
Mark Morton – guitar
Willie Adler – guitar
John Campbell – bass
Art Cruz – drums
This Italian Groove Metal entity returns with their thrilling first full-length offering, a concept piece centered on Voodoo, its mysteries, rituals, and symbolic icons.
Born near Rome, Italy around 2012 with the idea to blend heavy and groovy music textures alongside various influences, rhythms, and instruments from all over the world, the unique Groove Metal entity known as Novomundo is unleashing upon us their first full-length opus, titled The Cursed Cult, following up on their 2024 EP Echoes of Ego. A concept piece centered on Voodoo, its mysteries, rituals, and symbolic icons, the new offering by vocalist Valerio Cristiani, guitarists Carlo Ridolfi and Fabio Ciccone, and drummer Fausto Idini is a darker and more crushing take on their renewed sound, showcasing fourteen tracks of ferocity and raw energy blending dark ambient passages with a rotten edge, fusing death-groove and 2000’s metal influences enriched by modern tones and crust-core elements.
Their fusion of heavy music and tribal elements kicks off in full force with Son of Mawu, where Fausto’s primeval drums elevate Valerio’s screams to a whole new level, whereas Carlo and Fabio keep extracting darkly piercing riffs from their axes in Deathless, a heavy hitting tune perfect for slamming into the pit. Then after the short interlude Erzulie we face another ritualistic tune titled Bokor, with the venomous roars by Valerio exhaling Death and Groove Metal amidst a haunting sonority. The quartet continues to hammer their sonic weapons in The Coven, living up to the legacy of the genre, sounding at times like modern-day Machine Head; and we’re treated to another atmospheric interlude named Mojo, flowing into Vodun, a metallic ode to Voodoo where Fausto takes the lead with his pounding, bludgeoning beats and fills.
OSFTG continues where the previous song left off, perfect for some brutal headbanging to the grim roars by Valerio, while Le Marriage de Brigitte carries a weird name for another cinematic interlude before we’re crushed to pieces in Warlord, where Carlo and Fabio bring forward their most austere riffs of the album, this time reminding us of the glorious sound from Roots, by Sepultura. Despite its heaviness, the changes in God’s Violence end up making it a bit confusing to the listener; whereas they get back on track with the multi-layered extravaganza Maitresse La-Sirene, where modern and old school Groove Metal collide. Papa Legba is another tribute to the vile rituals of Voodoo, with Valerio and Fausto making a dynamic duo with their respective screams and beats, ending with the sinister outro Orishas, perfect for wrapping up the whole idea behind the album.
Touching on slavery, prejudice, and death as a way to give value to life, among other themes, The Cursed Cult guides the listener through the pantheon of Voodoo deities, called Loa, exploring their stories and traits as metaphors to convey the album’s core messages, while evoking emotional instability and a sense of unease, symbolizing the fear stemming from ignorance and unfamiliarity. Such a detailed and deep album of heavy music can be purchased from the band’s own BandCamp (or simply by clicking HERE), and you can get in touch with those talented Italians via Facebook and Instagram to know more about the band and their music, and also enjoy their idiosyncratic creations on YouTube and on Spotify. If Voodoo was a metal style, it would definitely be the music played by Novomundo, as their haunting new album is indeed a thrilling sonic ritual that will take the band places. Maybe some really dark ones.
Best moments of the album:Son of Mawu, Bokor, Vodun and Warlord.
Worst moments of the album:God’s Violence.
Released in 2026 Independent
Track listing 1. Son of Mawu 3:29
2. Deathless 3:47
3. Erzulie 0:33
4. Bokor 5:33
5. The Coven 4:10
6. Mojo 1:25
7. Vodun 3:53
8. OSFTG 4:09
9. Le Marriage de Brigitte 1:19
10. Warlord 3:32
11. God’s Violence 3:31
12. Maitresse La-Sirene 5:20
13. Papa Legba 4:39
14. Orishas 2:35
Band members Valerio Cristiani – vocals
Carlo Ridolfi – guitar
Fabio Ciccone – guitar
Fausto Idini – drums
Less than one year after the release of their excellent debut, this melodeath beast from Down Under returns with eleven tracks of undisputed aggression, melody and electricity in their sophomore opus.
Less than one year after the release of their excellent debut album The Mountain Before Us All, the unstoppable Melbourne, Australia-based Melodic Death Metal/Metalcore ensemble Destroy Fear continues to build momentum with their sophomore album, entitled The Dark Carnival. Having recently updated their lineup, the band currently formed of Scott Masson on vocals, Jayden Genuis on lead guitar, Luke Baird on rhythm guitar and bass, and newcomer Ondre Barca on drums offers eleven tracks of undisputed aggression, melody and electricity in The Dark Carnival, inviting us all to slam into the pit while they kick some serious ass both in the studio and onstage.
The cryptic Intro to the Dark Carnival sets the stage for the band to kick our asses with Dark Carnival, where Jayden and Luke shred their axes nonstop, delivering killer riffs and solos and, therefore, offering Scott exactly what he needs to roar like a headbanging maniac. Ondre then showcases his dexterity and fury in Slings and Arrows, hammering his drums while his bandmates deliver a striking fusion of Metalcore and Hardcore; and a darker, more sinister start evolves into another feast of groove and heaviness titled Elusion, showcasing a more introspective side of the band. The incendiary Hypochondriac presents hints of Progressive Metal and even Djent, with Scott sounding truly enraged on vocals while the riffage by Jayden and Luke transpire madness; and the band continues to venture through Groove Metal lands the likes of Machine Head in Overcome, albeit a bit generic in the end.
The second half of the album begins with an explosion of aggression titled All for Nothing, where the metallic guitars and bass by Jayden and Luke walk hand in hand with Ondre’s pounding drums. The quartet still has a lot of fuel to burn in House of Cards, with Scott taking the lead with his visceral growls and clean vocals supported by the wall of sounds built by his crew; whereas it’s time to slam into the pit to the sound of Alpha Omega, with Ondre crushing his drums like there’s no tomorrow in a demented explosion of melodeath with an edgy Hardcore vibe. Their second to last metal attack comes in the form of Without Teeth, again presenting their trademark ferocity and groove through their rebellious vocals, caustic riffs and hammering drums, and last but definitely not least, Scott will vociferate rabidly in our faces one final time in Recreant, accompanied by another striking guitar work by Jayden and Luke.
A must-listen for admirers of the caustic melodeath played by In Flames, Trivium, Parkway Drive, and Heaven Shall Burn, among several others, The Dark Carnival is already available for a full listen on any streaming platform such as Spotify and Audiomack, and you can also check what the band is up to, including their live performances, on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, or simply click HERE for all things Destroy Fear. Speaking of their live concerts, Destroy Fear managed to released the album in time for Outcast Festival 2026 in Melbourne alongside Verona Lights, Machine On A Break, ANA, Ion Sky, Jupiter The Giant, and Silent Lakes, proving those guys are all about bringing to the stages the energy found in their studio albums, and I’m sure it won’t take long for their album number three to come to light, and for us fans to have a few more reasons to enjoy a nice mosh pit just like what they have to offer in the excellent The Dark Carnival.
Best moments of the album:Dark Carnival, Hypochondriac and Alpha Omega.
Worst moments of the album:Overcome.
Released in 2026 Independent
Track listing 1. Intro to the Dark Carnival 0:47
2. Dark Carnival 4:40
3. Slings and Arrows 4:31
4. Elusion 4:34
5. Hypochondriac 4:12
6. Overcome 4:36
7. All for Nothing 4:27
8. House of Cards 5:23
9. Alpha Omega 4:10
10. Without Teeth 4:37
11. Recreant 4:06
Band members Scott Masson – vocals
Jayden Genuis – lead guitar
Luke Baird – rhythm guitar, bass
Ondre Barca – drums
There’s not much to celebrate in rock and metal music in the same year when we lost the one and only John Michael “Ozzy” Osbourne. Nothing will ever be the same without the Prince of Darkness, the Madman, The Wizard of Ozz. There isn’t a single artist or band reviewed in the history of The Headbanging Moose that wasn’t influenced in several ways by Ozzy and, of course, by Black Sabbath. It is a very sad year indeed. However, Ozzy was always in a great mood, always happy, and I’m sure that, wherever he is now, he wants to see us all smiling and laughing, because that’s what life is all about. He also wants us to keep attending rock and metal concerts to have a good time with our loved ones, with our closest friends, just like Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I did so many times this year, covering incredible bands the likes of Blackbraid, Ne Obliviscaris, Cattle Decapitation, Blind Guardian, and so on. I’ve also had the utmost pleasure of seeing the mighty Judas Priest in Dalhalla, Sweden, a dream come true for this fanboy here, and I can’t wait to “run for my life” in 2026. Having said all that, let’s honor the life of Ozzy with The Headbanging Moose’s Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2025, excluding EP’s, best of’s and live albums, and keep on rockin’ like the Madman until our very last breath!
1. Blackbraid – Blackbraid III (REVIEW) Behold the stunning next chapter in the musical and spiritual journey of the witch hawk of Black Metal hailing from the Adirondack Mountains.
Best song of the album: Wardrums At Dawn On The Day Of My Death
2. Werewolves – The Ugliest of All (REVIEW) The torchbearers of “Caveman Death Metal” continuing to annihilate intellects with an unlistenable barrage of truly hideous music.
Best song of the album: The Ugliest of All
3. Testament – Para Bellum (REVIEW) Let’s prepare for war to the sound of the breathtaking fourteenth studio album by California’s own masters of old school Thrash Metal.
Best song of the album: Para Bellum
4. Helloween – Giants & Monsters (REVIEW) These German giants of Heavy Metal and monsters of Rock N’ Roll are back with their ass-kicking seventeenth studio album.
Best song of the album: Majestic
5. An Abstract Illusion – The Sleeping City (REVIEW) This incredible Swedish Progressive Death and Black Metal entity returns with their heaviest and most atmospheric work to date.
Best song of the album: Like a Geyser Ever Erupting
6. Allegaeon – The Ossuary Lens (REVIEW) World domination awaits to the sound of the striking new beast by one of the must-see bands of the current tech death scene worldwide.
Best song of the album: The Swarm
7. 1914 – Viribus Unitis (REVIEW) Trench warfare meets blackened death and doom in 1914’s fourth onslaught of war-torn fury.
Best song of the album: 1918 Pt 3: ADE (A Duty to Escape)
8. Cryptopsy – An Insatiable Violence (REVIEW) Canada’s own Death Metal machine returns with their ruthless ninth studio album.
Best song of the album: Until There’s Nothing Left
9. Baest – Colossal (REVIEW) Back from the fires of Denmark, this unstoppable creature will crush you with their fourth studio album.
Best song of the album: Colossus
10. Diabolizer – Murderous Revelations (REVIEW) The torchbearers of diabolical abomination unite once again to drag us down into the fiery abysses of Turkish Death Metal without warning.
Best song of the album: Deathmarch of the Murderous Tyrant
And here we have the runner-ups, completing the top 20 for the year:
11. Lorna Shore – I Feel The Everblack Festering Within Me (REVIEW)
12. Impureza – Alcázares (REVIEW)
13. Crimson Shadows – Whispers of War (REVIEW)
14. Primal Fear – Domination (REVIEW)
15. Serenity In Murder – Timeless Reverie (REVIEW)
16. Khôra – Ananke (REVIEW)
17. Panzerchrist – Maleficium – Part 2 (REVIEW)
18. Ominous Ruin – Requiem (REVIEW)
19. Wrath of Belial – Embers of Dead Empires (REVIEW)
20. Grima – Nightside (REVIEW)
Not only that, here’s once again our Top 10 EP’s of 2025, proving once and for all that the duration of an album is not that important in the end. As long as the music is great, the whole thing can be only one second long, like the classic “You Suffer” by Napalm Death!
1. When Plagues Collide – Kingmaker (REVIEW)
2. De Profundis – The Gospel Of Rot (REVIEW)
3. Fimbul Winter – What Once Was (REVIEW)
4. NecroticGoreBeast – Brute (REVIEW)
5. Serpent Corpse – Retaliate (REVIEW)
6. Akouphenom – Connections To The Erebus (REVIEW)
7. Necht – The Inevitable Suffering (REVIEW)
8. Discovery Through Torment – Telesynthetic Rebirth (REVIEW)
9. Der Rote Milan – Verlust (REVIEW)
10. Eleine – We Stand United (REVIEW)
Do you agree with our list? What are your top 10 albums of 2025? Also, don’t forget to tune in every Tuesday at 10pm BRT on Rádio Coringão to enjoy the best of classic and underground metal with Jorge Diaz and his Timão Metal, and every Thursday at 8pm UTC+2 on Midnight Madness Metal e-Radio for the best of underground metal with The Headbanging Moose Show!
Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year! See you in 2026!
And of course, as we really don’t like those boring Christmas songs here on The Headbanging Moose, we’ll leave you with what’s perhaps the most emotional and strongest metal hymn of the year, the charity version of “War Pigs”, by Black Sabbath, recorded by Judas Priest and with Ozzy himself sharing the vocal duties with the Metal God Rob Halford! This is the epitome of rock and metal music!
Generals gathered in their masses Just like witches at black masses…
Lionesses are the primary hunters in a pride, working together to bring down prey, and are faster and more agile than males. And in this cold and dark month of December our lioness Aleksandra “Lioness” Stamenković, guitarist for an array of awesome metal bands including Jenner, Frozen Crown, Chaos Rising, and Sigma Epsilon, will shred her prey to pieces armed with her scorching riffs and solos, as our metal lady of the month. Having said all that, get ready for a wild ride together with Aleksandra and her unstoppable axe, bringing absolute fire to The Headbanging Moose and, therefore, leaving you completely disoriented and eager for more of her first-class music. The days might be getting shorter, and the nights are surely getting longer this time of the year but, in the end, that’s the perfect environment for Aleksandra to hunt us down and to crush our damned souls with her electrifying blend of Heavy Metal magic.
Born on August 5, 1996 in Belgrade, the capital of the southeast European country of Serbia, Aleksandra is the younger sister of Marija Dragićević, the drummer for one of her bands Jenner, showing the talent and passion for heavy music runs wild in their family’s DNA. She was first interested in music back in 2011 when she was 13 years old, saying she wanted to play bass guitar, but as she couldn’t afford one she used to borrow it from one of her sister’s friends. However, she said that “destiny” decided she was going to become primarily a guitarist in 2013, having bought her first guitar back then, therefore starting her journey in heavy music.
Although she’s a renowned musician in the world of Heavy, Power, Thrash and Speed Metal, Aleksandra also nurtures a deep passion for medicine and graphic design, having graduated from the Faculty of Medicine from the University of Belgrade in September 2021, and becoming a certified nutrition coach, combining her artistic passion with a commitment to promoting healthier lifestyles. And yes, she’s THAT smart and intelligent. In addition, although she mainly writes original songs, she started a YouTube channel back in 2020 where she posts covers of her favorite songs, like for example Into the Lungs of Hell, by Megadeth, Abigail, by King Diamond, and Coma of Souls, by Kreator, among several others, and apart from the usual social media you can also find her on Linktree, Patreon, and Big Cartel.
It was in December 2013 when the indomitable Stamenković Sisters founded in Belgrade the ruthless Speed/Thrash Metal beast known as Jenner, from the ashes of a Glam Metal band they had named Cat O’ Nine Tailz, in which she played bass, and that disbanded after two years. Aleksandra started playing the guitar back then, and with the support of Marija they started searching for two guys to play with them to form a band in the vein of Madam X, but they ended up meeting two girls instead, vocalist Anđelina Mitić and bassist Jana Bacić, and so Jenner was born. Named by Aleksandra after Dr. Edward Jenner (1749 – 1823), an English physician and scientist known as the “father of immunology” for creating the world’s first vaccine, which was for smallpox, the girls started playing covers of their favorite bands including Warlock, Judas Priest, Grim Reaper, and Saxon, and as a year later they became more interested in Thrash Metal they started playing covers of Agent Steel, Exodus, and Anthrax, just to name a few, as well as they started writing their own songs.
After a few lineup changes, the band is now a trio formed of Aleksandra on vocals and guitar, Marija on drums, and Anja Mirković on bass. Under different lineups, but always with Aleksandra and Marija in their formation, Jenner released a demo back in 2015, their debut full-length album To Live Is to Suffer, in 2017, the EP The Test of Time, in 2020, and their sophomore opus Prove Them Wrong, in 2024, with Aleksandra becoming responsible for the band’s vocal duties starting in 2019, as you can see in their 2020 EP and their 2024 release. Not only that, she also took care of the design and logo of their 2017 debut, and of their 2020 EP, expanding her skills even further as a musician and as an artist. You can enjoy basically their entire discography in places such as YouTube, Spotify, and BandCamp, and of course have an absolute blast with their official videos for songs like Night Without Dawn, The Test of Time, Never Say Die, and No Time for Prayer, among others. Moreover, don’t forget to check Beacons for all things Jenner.
Aleksandra has also been part of two other amazing bands for a few years, those being Sigma Epsilon and Chaos Rising. Regarding Belgrade-based Sigma Epsilon, the band has been delivering a more straightforward, no shenanigans blend of Thrash Metal since its inception back in 2014, when a few members of a Serbian band named Prisoner, those being her boyfriend Emil Ivošević on vocals, Stefan Tomić on the guitar, and Nikola Simonović on drums, left the band and started creating their own music. It was only after Aleksandra joined them that they released their first offering, the 2019 EP Svi putevi vode do smrti (or “all roads lead to death” in English), followed by the 2021 single Ruka koja mrda usta, or “the hand that moves the mouth.” She mentioned in one of her interviews that the band is working on a new conceptual album, but until then simply go to BandCamp or Spotify to enjoy their existing songs, and also go check the official videos for the songs Svi putevi vode do smrti, Kap, and Trofej.
The metal machine Chaos Rising is a collaborative international metal project formed back in 2019 open to every female artist interested in metal music, with the project’s participants and guests offering an amalgamation of styles from Groove and Thrash Metal to traditional Heavy Metal and also Melodic Death Metal. It’s indeed a phenomenal initiative showcasing the power of women in heavy music, and if you don’t have enough time to check all of their songs on BandCamp or Spotify, you must at least listen to the song with our dauntless diva on the guitars, the excellent Prisoner, also featuring Miss ScarRed (Germany) on vocals, Catherine Fearns (Switzerland) on the guitar, and Stéphanie Nolf (France) on bass and drum programming.
Furthermore, starting now in 2025 she has also become one of the guitarists for Italian Power Metal warriors Frozen Crown, joining the also indomitable girls Giada Etro on vocals and Alessia Lanzone on the guitar, as well as Federico Mondelli on guitars, keyboards and vocals, Francesco Zof on bass, and Niso Tomasini on drums. Having already played with Frozen Crown during the summer festivals this year, Aleksandra is already fired up to start working with the band on their future releases, and the band is also extremely excited to have her as a permanent member. “Some may question our decision to include in the band someone who was born so far away from us, in a non-EU country, even! Truth is, you don’t choose your family – you build your own. Aleksandra appeared in a pretty challenging situation, and helped us go through both the shocking realization of Jade’s health conditions and the sudden line-up shake, motivating us and gracing us with her enthusiasm. Her incredible dedication, humility, and constant positivity proved we have just found the perfect fit, and after working together for a while, it just ‘feels right’ to start this new chapter with her, and to entrust her with the Crown and the Sword,” commented the band.
If that’s not enough for you, you can also find Aleksandra as the guitarist for Slovenian Heavy Metal beasts Hellcats from 2017 to 2022. “In 2017 Hellcats needed a female guitarist to play with them in Arena Stožice where they would be supporting Slovenian punk band Pankrti on their 40-year band anniversary. They couldn’t find someone closer, so they asked me. At first I thought that it will be only for that concert, but we got along nicely, and I really liked them as people and as musicians,” commented the lioness. In addition, Aleksandra also played bass live with Serbian Melodic Death Metal band Nemesis a couple of years ago, and with the aforementioned Serbian Speed/Thrash Metal band Prisoner back in 2017.
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Not only that, you can also find Aleksandra shredding her guitar as a guest musician in the song Open Your Eyes, from the 2025 album Retribution, by Hungarian Heavy/Power/Speed Metal band Burning Sun; in the song Cimmeria, from the 2023 compilation By This Sword We Rule: A Decade of Steel, by Serbian Epic Heavy/Power/Doom Metal band Claymorean; in the songs We Fight Like Lions and Fear and Regret, from the 20187 EP II/III/IV by Serbian Stoner/Sludge/Southern Metal band Superhammer; and in the song Creatures from the Depth, from the 2019 album Monuments of Fallacy, by Croatian Thrash/Death Metal band War-Head. She has also played with other bands including Realma and Black Widow Conspiracy, has collaborated with several brands such as Harley Benton, Blackfire Pickups and Safari Pedals, and she is a proud partner with Guitar Pro, Guyker, Drop Strap, Playtronica, Ordyh, and Enya Music, aligning with companies that support her music and gear choices.
Her idols and influences are what anyone would except from an avid thrasher like Aleksandra, including some of the most important names in the history of Thrash Metal like Megadeth, Anthrax, and Testament, all playing a crucial role in her style and career, of course. Moreover, when asked which attributes a brand new Speed or Thrash Metal band should have in order to become unique and successful, her answer was exactly what we all want to hear from hardworking metal musicians like her. “People need to make music the way they feel. It doesn’t matter what genre it is, because listeners can recognize energy and sincerity, even when it comes to metal,” she said, and when asked what would be her ideal live show when performing as a band, she also focused on the importance of feeling you’re doing things right. “I’m not sure there’s an ideal performance. What is important is the feeling on stage. And for that to happen I just need to have no technical problems on stage. I’m not asking much.”
As a huge supporter of the underground, and of course as a proud Serbian, Aleksandra was asked not too long ago about the current scene in her homeland, including bands, fanzines, webzines and anything else connected with heavy music. She said that, unfortunately, the situation looks “complicated” as despite the fact there are tons of excellent bands in Serbia, very few webzines promote them, and therefore very few people attend their concerts. Well, let’s say that’s not an issue exclusive to Serbia, as everywhere you go you’ll face the same lack of proper support, with very few kids these days getting into heavy music and succumbing to to the most generic playlists shoved down their throats via all types of social media.
Aleksandra also proved to be an old school metalhead, maybe like Accept would say, an “analog woman”, as she simply loves when an album is released as a vinyl and/or cassette, supporting the revival of those formats (although she said she prefers CDs because they’re more practical). “I’m not a collector myself, but I have some old vinyl and cassettes which I inherited from my mother and I’m really happy that I had an opportunity to have my music on vinyl and tapes,” she commented. Furthermore, when asked about the impact of digital platforms on the careers of bands and artists, she said that Bandcamp for instance helps a lot, but it shouldn’t be the only way of promoting and selling music. “I still haven’t tried other platforms, but I can notice that they’re widespread. I think the ideal way I promote bands is combining all the available methods,” said our unstoppable lioness.
She was also asked in one of her interviews about the greatest satisfaction that music has brought her, and her answer was once again beyond awesome. “The fact that I achieved my goal. My goal was to have at least one physical release of my music, a CD that I’ll be able to show to my children and grandchildren one day. To have something behind me that other people will be able to see and hear and maybe find themselves in it. To inspire others.” Aleksandra also prefers working with a label instead of going full DIY because she believes there are several things she couldn’t do on her own, like a full-bodied promotion of her albums and tours, which makes sense as she can put all her focus on making music, and that’s what really matters in the end.
Lastly, when asked about what a band should sacrifice in order to be successful, and if she has ever sacrificed anything in her life for a better future of her bands, she mentioned she had to reconsider many times what she wanted with the band and whether it was worth it. “In the end, I decided to dedicate myself to education and family, and for the band to be my hobby. Because of that decision, we often have to sacrifice the time we would spend with the family or learning to have a rehearsal or a gig.” To be fair, at least it looks like she’s been able to balance everything quite well in recent years, managing multiple bands, projects and other aspects of her life, always delivering to us avid fans high quality heavy music, and may our unrelenting lioness keep roaring for many decades to come for our absolute delight.
Crafting a heavy, story-driven sound rooted in influences like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Alice in Chains, and Tool, New Jersey’s own Heavy Metal/Hard Rock ensemble Who On Earth are ready to rock our world once again with their sophomore opus It Takes The Village, following up on their 2022 debut Blame. Currently formed of vocalist Coosh, guitarists Johnny James Barone and Jimmy Kocha, bassist Pete Rizzi, and drummer Howie Fallon, such an electrifying American rock and metal band is on fire throughout the entire It Takes The Village, honoring the legacy of former guitarist Bruce Gatewood (RIP), and re-energizing those five talented musicians to keep moving forward in the name of our good old Rock N’ Roll.
Heavy riffs, classic bass, galloping drums, and an endless amount of sheer energy. That’s exactly what will hit you as you listen to the excellent It Takes The Village, proving that despite some bumps on the way, the guys from Who On Earth are inspired and focused to keep moving forward no matter what. Having said that, don’t waste your time and go show your support to those guys by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their Youtube channel, by streaming their rockin’ creations on Spotify and on Apple Music, and of course by purchasing their new album from Bandcamp. Because Who On Earth live and breathe Heavy Metal and Rock N’ Roll, and in the end, who on earth doesn’t enjoy some high-quality heavy music, right?
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 