This up-and-coming American Death and Thrash Metal brigade erupts on the scene with a scathing form of extreme music in their debut album, taking a narrative process pertaining to their original dark fantasy world.
Hailing from Maryland, in the United States, the venomous Death/Thrash Metal brigade known as Ninth Realm erupts on the scene with a scathing form of extreme music bearing influences of Hardcore and Heavy Metal, with a slight blackened edge, perfect for fans of bands like Power Trip, Malevolent Creation, Deceased, Ritual Fog, and Glorious Depravity. Now in 2026 the band formed of Ben Hageage on vocals, Liam McMahon and Charles House on the guitars, Amelia Morris on bass, and Joey Burke on drums is ready to crush our souls armed with their debut album, titled Damnation’s Veil. Adorned by a stylish artwork by Jerry “Wyrmwalk” Hionis (Maul, Celestial Sanctuary), the album takes a narrative process pertaining to their original dark fantasy world, Tythorin, while being intense and violent for the most part.
The dark and sinister intro Valigeth will embrace our souls in darkness before we face Damnation’s Veil, which evolves into a massive beast of Death and Thrash Metal led by the striking guitars by Liam and Charles. Joey then takes the lead in Cohorts of the Abyss, hammering his drums nonstop while Ben delivers his trademark visceral gnarls, followed by Imbued in Hellfire, another hard hitting, heavy-as-hell tune by the band, with the enraged roars by Ben being nicely boosted by the stringed attack by Liam, Charles and Amelia. Then we face Rituals in Thar’amath, one of the songs with the strongest Thrash Metal vibe, as violent as it can be, with Ben once again vociferating rabidly like a wild beast, being therefore perfect for some action inside the pit.
After the ethereal (but unnecessary) interlude Orphaned Throne, it’s time for a progressive extravaganza entitled Wyrd of Strideborne, where the thunderous bass by Amelia adds even more heaviness to the already demented beats and fills by Joey. Let’s all travel together with Ninth Realm beyond absolute darkness in Beyond the Void, where the striking guitars by Liam and Charles exhale Melodic Death and Thrash Metal; whereas back to a more ferocious, no shenanigans sound we have Vengeance Unto Rot, a high-octane composition perfect for slamming into the pit to the brutal vocals by Ben. All Hail Treachery continues to spread the same level of insanity and violence as its predecessors, with their strident riffs penetrating deep inside our skulls; and last but not least, let’s raise our swords to the sound of Twilight’s Blade, a headbanging tune led by their flammable riffs and crushing drums.
A fascinating, expressive, and most importantly, exciting album that is sure to please fans of the classic Death and Thrash Metal sound as well as those who dig well-written, nuanced, and invigorating extreme music in general, Damnation’s Veil is only the first step in the promising career by Ninth Realm, who are waiting for you armed with their swords, axes and shields on Facebook and on Instagram to join them in battle. Don’t forget to also stream their powerful music on Spotify, and to purchase their incendiary new album from their own BandCamp, as well as from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, US store or EU store. As you prepare to die in battle, there’s nothing better than the crushing heaviness found in Damnation’s Veil to inspire you to fight until your last breath in the name of extreme music.
Best moments of the album:Damnation’s Veil, Rituals in Thar’amath and Vengeance Unto Rot.
Worst moments of the album:Orphaned Throne.
Released in 2026 Transcending Obscurity Records
Track listing 1. Valigeth 1:30
2. Damnation’s Veil 3:49
3. Cohorts of the Abyss 4:09
4. Imbued in Hellfire 3:54
5. Rituals in Thar’amath 4:17
6. Orphaned Throne 1:00
7. Wyrd of Strideborne 3:52
8. Beyond the Void 4:18
9. Vengeance Unto Rot 3:38
10. All Hail Treachery 2:36
11. Twilight’s Blade 3:58
Band members Ben Hageage – vocals
Liam McMahon – lead guitar
Charles House – rhythm guitar
Amelia Morris – bass
Joey Burke – drums
Behold the debut by this up-and-coming Peruvian Doom Metal outfit, bringing the past into the present, presenting a blend of the band’s early days with what they are today.
A Doom Metal band formed by guitarist Mauricio Guerrero and drummer Jose MarĂa Venturi in Lima, Peru in 2014, originally leaning towards the roots of Heavy Metal and Stoner Rock by drawing inspiration from contemporary bands such as Orange Goblin, Witchcraft, and Reverend Bizarre, but evolving into the more distinct style it is today, sounding slower, heavier, and more introspective, Argul are unleashing upon us their highly anticipated debut, titled Soledad & Orgullo, which is Spanish for “solitude and pride.” Recorded, mixed and mastered by Eddie Plenge at Dragonverde Studios (with the song “Kamog” being recorded and mixed by Alonso and Mauricio Guerrero at Ogro Space), and showcasing a grim cover photo by Jose MarĂa Venturi, the debut by the aforementioned Mauricio Guerrero on vocals and lead guitars, Jose MarĂa Venturi on vocals and rhythm guitars, Jian Holmes on bass, and Alonso Guerrero on drums (also featuring guest drummer Emilio Carranza on a few songs) brings the past into the present, presenting a blend of the band’s early days with the Argul of today, where heavier atmospheres are moving between crushing weight and quieter, thoughtful moments without losing intensity.
They kick off their doom-laden feast with the dark, sluggish and groovy Ritual, where the dual vocal attack by Mauricio and Jose works beautifully while their ritualistic guitars transpire darkness and sulfur. Then the thunderous bass lines by Jian dictate the pace in the rhythmic, pounding Engendro, with Emilio making sure his beats and fills bring absolute heaviness to their music. Hor Hodin continues from where the previous song left off, showcasing the power of the mighty riff by both Mauricio and Jose; however, it’s when they deliver those sluggish, no shenanigans Doom Metal arias that surpass the ten-minute mark like what happens in Animal Dog that they truly thrive, with their guitars breathing fire accompanied by the massive bass lines by Jian. And last but certainly not least, get ready to be dragged to absolute darkness with the introspective and grim Kamog, where their vocals walk hand in hand with the fierce drumming by Alonso, putting a beyond heavy and climatic ending to the album.
Mostly utilizing their native tongue throughout the entire album, imparting a particularly unique aspect to it, highlighting those contrasts whilst never losing a focused consistency, Ardul are on absolute fire in Soledad & Orgullo, and if you want to put your hands on the album you can find it on their own BandCamp, as well as on the Personal Records’ BandCamp or webstore, and don’t forget to also give those talented Peruvian rockers a shout on Instagram, staying up to date with all things Ardul, including their heavy and doomed live performances. In the end, the primordial is wrapped in a gloomy heaviness. The essence is the obscure and the inevitable. This is Argul’s Soledad & Orgullo.
Best moments of the album:Ritual and Animal Dog.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2026 Personal Records
Track listing 1. Ritual 10:08
2. Engendro 5:04
3. Hor Hodin 5:47
4. Animal Dog 10:15
5. Kamog 14:20
Band members Mauricio Guerrero – vocals, lead guitars
Jose MarĂa Venturi – vocals, rhythm guitars
Jian Holmes – bass
Alonso Guerrero – drums on “Ritual” and “Kamog”
Guest musician
Emilio Carranza – drums on “Engendro”, “Hor Hodin” and “Animal Dog”
This renowned Heavy Metal and Hard Rock outfit from Sweden is back in action and ready to rock with their first major release in eight years.
Formed in early 2010 in Gothenburg, Sweden by guitarist Oscar “Oz” Hawe Petersson, the unrelenting Melodic Heavy Metal/Hard Rock outfit Osukaru (the Japanese phonetic transliteration of the name of the band’s founder Oscar) returns with their first major release in years, the hard rockin’ Tall Tales, following up on their 2021 album Starbound. Produced by Oz himself together with longtime singer and band partner Fredrik Werner (Daytona, Air Raid), mixed by Svein Jensen (Alicate, Sister Sin), mastered by Mats Eriksson (Degreed), and displaying a classy artwork by Oz and actress and model Eliza Sica, carrying a subtle sense of both unease and wonder that mirrors the album’s mysterious lyrical themes, the new offering by the aforementioned Fredrik on vocals and guitars, Oz also on the guitars, Marcus Zerath on bass, and C.D on drums and percussion is a clear statement of how far the project’s original vision has come, offering us fans that melodic yet visceral Swedish sound we all love so much.
The band’s striking riffs rev up their rockin’ engine in the opening tune Exceeder, with the classic Hard Rock vocals by Fredrik adding even more electricity to their music, while the sound of the harmonica brings an eccentric touch to Wendigo before the music evolves into another solid hybrid of Heavy Metal and AOR. Blood On the Rocks is a hard hitting tune by the band offering the classic riffs by Fredrik and Oz boosted by the heavy kitchen by Marcus and C.D; and it’s then time for the smooth power ballad The Outer Side Within, with Fredrik showcasing passionate vocals while his bandmates spread love and harmony in the air, before they speed things up and kick some ass with their heaviest song of the album, titled Ronin, led by the classic beats and fills by C.D.
Who Do You Love takes us back to the glory of the 90’s with their Sunset Strip inspired Hard Rock and Glam Metal, adding even more adrenaline to the album, while Split is as groovy as it can be thanks to the amazing job done by Marcus and C.D on bass and drums, respectively. Only Moments Left is one of those strip tease-like Hard Rock and Rock N’ Roll tunes by Osukaru which could be played on any radio station worldwide, followed by When It’s Over, a decent ballad with a cool solo by Oz, albeit a bit too mellow after all is said and done. Lastly, we face C’est Dans Ta TĂŞte, or “it’s in your head” from French, a solid Hard Rock and AOR song that concludes the album with Fredrik once again kicking ass on vocals.
Oz and his Osukaru have been on a roll since their inception over 15 years ago, and the striking Tall Tales will certainly inspire the quartet to keep moving forward and delivering high quality heavy music no matter what for many years to come. Having said that, what are you waiting for to give the guys from Osukaru a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their rockin’ tunes on any platform like Spotify, and of course, purchase Tall Tales from several locations such as Monuments in Ruin, Streetlight Records, and Park Ave CDs? This is what our good old heavy music is all about, bringing to us exciting music with a beautiful and deep background story, and hopefully it won’t take a long time again for Osukaru to unleash another blast of their music upon us.
Best moments of the album:Blood On the Rocks, Ronin and Split.
Worst moments of the album:When It’s Over.
Released in 2026 Pride & Joy Music
Track listing 1. Exceeder 3:24
2. Wendigo 4:36
3. Blood On the Rocks 3:17
4. The Outer Side Within 3:59
5. Ronin 3:09
6. Who Do You Love 3:43
7. Split 3:36
8. Only Moments Left 3:52
9. When It’s Over 4:02
10. C’est Dans Ta TĂŞte 6:00
Band members Fredrik Werner – lead vocals, guitar
Oz Hawe Petersson – guitar, backing vocals
Marcus Zerath – bass, backing vocals
C.D – drums, percussion
After years of anticipation, these Folk Metal warriors are back in action with their striking fifth studio album, appealing to both longtime fans and new listeners alike.
Highly respected within the Folk Metal genre, cementing their position as influential and reliable artists worldwide, Lilla Edet, Sweden-based horde Fejd (which is Swedish for “feud”) is set to release their fifth studio offering, titled Nifelheim, following up on their critically acclaimed album Trolldom, released ten years ago. Formed in 2001 through a unique fusion of the folk duo Rimmerfors and members of the metal bands Pathos and Nostradameus, the band currently comprised of Patrik Rimmerfors on vocals and bouzouki, Niklas Rimmerfors on the moraharpa (a keyed fiddle), Thomas Antonsson on bass, Lennart Specht on keyboards, and Esko Salow on drums creates a sound that bridges two worlds with each of their albums, blending the power of Heavy Metal with the rich melodies and melancholic spirit of Nordic folk music, exactly like what they have to offer in Nifelheim.
The album starts with the battle hymn Nifelheim, inviting us to join the band on a journey to such a primordial realm of absolute darkness, fog, cold, and ice, with Esko leading the horde with his classic drums, followed by Nidhögg, a fearsome dragon in Norse mythology, with the eccentric sounds of the bouzouki and moraharpa exhaling Folk Metal magic. Edsvuren, a Swedish word that translates to “sworn” in English, used to describe someone that is bound by an oath, showcases the entire band on fire, with Patrik’s vocals sounding epic; while in Ă„lvagrimmar, a term from Swedish folklore referring to ancient river spirits, Esko hammers his drums accompanied by the rumbling bass by Thomas, sounding heavy, folky and majestic.
Then all instruments and percussion will prepare us all for battle side by side with Fejd in Sköldborg, or “shield wall” in Old Norse, where Patrik and Niklas are once again spot-on with their respective bouzouki and moraharpa; whereas in Einar BlĂĄ, which translates as “blue warrior,” the band again showcases their trademark Folk Metal sonority, a decent instrumental piece despite lacking the band’s vocal punch. It’s time to dance around the fire pit and enjoy a good pint of mead to the sound of Strilja, with Esko’s beats adding even more fuel to their incendiary sounds, before Svarta Tjärn, or “the black tarn” from Swedish, puts a thrilling ending to the album, where the sounds from a glorious past are crafted by a band that has just reignited their fire by looking into the future.
After years of anticipation, Fejd are not only back in action with Nifelheim, but the album will also certainly appeal to both longtime fans and new listeners alike. From the very first note, listeners are drawn into a world of ancient legends, carried by powerful arrangements and the evocative language of Nordic melancholy, once again affirming their place as one of the leading names in Folk Metal. If you want to join such a talented horde, you can find Fejd on Facebook, stream their classy music on Spotify, and of course grab a copy of Nifelheim from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. Because this is first-class Folk Metal made by Norse warriors, inspiring us to keep moving forward and face our own battles no matter what to the sound of their unique and captivating music.
Best moments of the album:Nifelheim, Älvagrimmar and Svarta Tjärn.
Band members Patrik Rimmerfors – lead vocals, bouzouki
Niklas Rimmerfors – moraharpa
Thomas Antonsson – bass
Lennart Specht – keyboards
Esko Salow – drums
Behold the third opus by this rising force of the European Power Metal scene, featuring ten uplifting songs that are meant to help you get through hard times.
Founded in 2022 in Debrecen, Hungary by bassist Zoltán Papi, Burning Sun are a rising force in the underground Heavy, Power and Speed Metal scene. Delivering the kind of metal that is rare nowadays, the kind of music that is rooted in Helloween, Gamma Ray, Edguy, Hammerfall and 90’s Power Metal with no compromises, only pure dedication and passion, the band currently formed of Nicolas Peter on vocals and guitars, Pancho Ireland also on the guitars, Zoltán Papi on bass, and Edmond Kulcsár on drums returns with their third full-length opus, titled Power to Survive, following up on their critically acclaimed 2023 debut Wake of Ashes, and their 2025 sophomore Retribution. Adorned by a classy artwork by Artem Astaroth, showcasing the character of Emaly, who plays a major role in the band’s identity as she appears on all artworks, such a high-energy album features ten uplifting songs that are meant to help you get through hard times, just the way we like it in Heavy and Power Metal.
It’s pedal to the metal in the frantic Power Metal extravaganza titled Quest Divine, with the soaring vocals by Nicolas matching perfectly with the song’s riffs and beats; followed by Emaly’s Hymn, featuring Herbie Langhans of Steel Rhino and The Lightbringer of Sweden, offering more of that characteristic European Power Metal sound we all love so much. In other words, simply raise your fists and sing it along with those metal warriors. Nicolas and Pancho then bring forward an Iron Maiden-inspired twin guitar attack in Tale of Brothers, while Zoltán and Edmond take care of the song’s thunderous, galloping rhythm; and their striking guitars are screaming loud once again in Light of the World, offering us all a very good reason to headbang like there’s no tomorrow. And featuring the indomitable Alexandra Lioness (aka Aleksandra Stamenković) of Chaos Rising, Frozen Crown and Jenner, get ready to be caught in a Power Metal mosh to the sound of Over and Beyond, again presenting Nicolas’ trademark, electrifying vocals.
Come Home might be the most generic of all songs, sounding like a billion other songs recorded by several bands out there; whereas the thunderous bass by Zoltán and the classic beats by Edmond kick off the mid-tempo battle hymn Spirit Alive, presenting hints of classic Hard Rock added to their core sonority. It’s then time for a short but extremely fast Gamma Ray-inspired tune titled Prayer before we face Holy Light, a beautiful ballad led by the passionate vocals by Nicolas that brings peace to our hearts, flowing into the closing tune We Rise Again, a sword yielding anthem led by the unstoppable beats and fills by Edmond, inspiring us all to join Burning Sun in the battlefield until our last breath.
Inspired by the 90’s golden era of European Power Metal and taking their name from a phenomenal Helloween song, Burning Sun channel soaring melodies, driving rhythms, and heroic storytelling in their new album, and you can get in touch with those metal warriors via Facebook and Instagram, including their live performances, listen to their battle hymns on any streaming service like Spotify, and of course, buy their striking new album from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. We all need a lot of power to survive in our rotten and decaying world, and the power of true Heavy Metal like what Burning Sun have to offer in their newborn beast is undoubtedly the most effective one for such a demanding challenge.
Best moments of the album:Emaly’s Hymn, Over and Beyond and We Rise Again.
Worst moments of the album:Come Home.
Released in 2026 Pride & Joy Music
Track listing 1. Quest Divine 4:09
2. Emaly’s Hymn 4:18
3. Tale of Brothers 5:20
4. Light of the World 3:37
5. Over and Beyond 3:41
6. Come Home 3:55
7. Spirit Alive 4:50
8. Prayer 0:42
9. Holy Light 3:15
10. We Rise Again 5:05
Band members Nicolas Peter – vocals, guitars
Pancho Ireland – guitars
Zoltán Papi – bass
Edmond Kulcsár – drums
Guest musicians
Herbie Langhans – vocals on “Emaly’s Hymn”
Alexandra Lioness – additional vocals on “Over and Beyond”
Alessio Perardi – additional vocals
The Purge is upon us, courtesy of this relentless four-piece Los Angeles, California-based Thrash Metal and Hardcore band.
A four-piece Los Angeles, California-based Thrash Metal/Hardcore band formed in 2013 by founding member and frontman Neil Roemer, Cutthroat combine serious attitude and fast rudiments of the Metalcore genre, having already released the albums Reflekt, in 2020, and Fear by Design, in 2023, and having toured worldwide with giants like Biohazard, Body Count, Agnostic Front, Madball, Sick of it All, Destruction, and metal hall of famers Judas Priest. Now in 2026 the band formed of the aforementioned Neil Roemer alongside guitarist Renato Romano, bassist Bruno Nicolozzi, and drummer Betto Cardoso is releasing an incendiary new EP, titled The Purge, a must-listen for fans of that inspiring fusion of Heavy Metal and Hardcore we all love so much.
The band’s Hardcore party kicks off with the introspective, visceral Hard Times, offering the Biohazard-like vocals by Neil while Betto sounds ruthless behind his drums, resulting in an excellent start to the EP. Then another dark intro evolves into a hard hitting sonority in Sick One, with Renato and Bruno crushing their axes in the name of heavy music; and it’s amazing how they translate all that’s fucked up in our society to first-class Hardcore like in Feeling Disconnected, with Neil again delivering his trademark raspy vocals. After that, Renato fires absolutely cutting riffs in Purge, and when the beats by Betto arrive it’s time to jump up and down with Cutthroat in a lesson in modern-day Hardcore; whereas the band closes the EP with a bang to the sound of Bullet Proof Mind, showcasing their trademark melodious violence and electricity until the very last second.
The Los Angeles Hardcore scene has always been one of the most fruitful and exciting all over the world, and of course bands like Cutthroat are among us to make such an important scene even better with each album or EP released. Having said that, if you want to get in touch with the guys from Cutthroat and stay updated with their news, their striking live performances and other nice-to-know details about the band, you can find Neil and his henchmen on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their hard hitting creations on any platform like Spotify and Apple Music, and above all that, grab a copy of The Purge from their own Bandcamp, as well as from M-Theory Audio’s webstore in CD or colored vinyl format. Because The Purge is upon us all, and based on the melodic violence blasted by Cutthroat throughout the entire EP, there will be blood.
Best moments of the album:Hard Times and Purge.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2026 M-Theory Audio
Track listing 1. Hard Times 3:57
2. Sick One 3:35
3. Feeling Disconnected 3:40
4. Purge 3:46
5. Bullet Proof Mind 3:45
Band members Neil Roemer – vocals
Renato Romano – guitars
Bruno Nicolozzi – bass
Betto Cardoso – drums
Continuing to carry the torch of rebellion, this Post-Black and Doom Metal entity is taking a quantum leap with their fourth studio album, revolving around the concept of “Belarusian ethno-astronomy.”
Continuing to carry the torch of rebellion, which is only natural as the founding members had to flee their native Belarus due to political persecution and continued attempts by the Lukashenka regime to censor and suppress their art, Warsaw, Poland-based Post-Black/Doom Metal act Dymna Lotva (which translates from Belarusian as “swamp in smoke,” referencing the devastating atrocities and burned villages of Polesia, a deeply distinct geographic and cultural region that extends across southern Belarus into Ukraine and Poland) is taking a quantum leap in their rapid musical evolution with their fourth studio album, titled Vyraj. Recorded at Everest Studio (vocals), at Hata Studio (guitars and bass), and at Studio MĹ‚yn (drums), the new album by Katsiaryna “Nokt Aeon” Mankevich on vocals and traditional flutes, Jauhien Charkasau on the guitars, bass and keyboards, Mikita Stankevich also on the guitars, and Wojciech “Bocian” Muchowicz on drums revolves around a main concept that could be described as “Belarusian ethno-astronomy.” In Slavonic legends, the starry sky is associated both with the afterlife and with journeys, which becomes closely intertwined with the musicians’ personal experience of forced emigration. This idea is captured in the album title, which is a mythical realm to where birds migrate for the winter, and where the souls of the departed find their final rest.
Zory sounds and feels darkly captivating from the very first second, with Jauhien, Mikita and Wojciech crafting the perfect atmosphere for the she-devil screams by Katsiaryna, evolving into a dark and wild beast of Post-Black Metal; and the band then showcases their ritualistic side in Veha, offering cryptic vocalizations while Wojciech dictates the pace with his thunderous beats and fills, also boosted by the Stygian harp by guest Deanna F. and the child vocals by Miraslava Palynskaya and Jan Palynski. The Boat of Despair brings forward another brilliant fusion of tribal sounds and the electricity of Black and Doom Metal, with the haunting vocals by the one and only Aaron Stainthorpe (High Parasite, My Dying Bride) clashing majestically with Katsiaryna’s desperate roars; whereas Viedmieragina will pierce our minds with its scorching Black and Folk Metal elements, not to mention Jauhien and Mikita are ruthless with their Melodic Death Metal-inspired riffs.
Although Vyraj is still based on a solid foundation of Black and Post-Black Metal, the band moves far beyond any easy labelling by also drawing inspiration from Doom, Heavy, and Progressive Metal, while venturing even deeper by incorporating elements from electronic music, goth, and folklore. The album is a cornucopia of great songs that are atmospherically dense and invite the listener onto an emotional roller-coaster ride from the darkest depth of depression and fear, via raw anger and defiance, to heights of ecstatic exhilaration, and if you want to know more about those rebellious Belarusian dissidents and their music, you can find them on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Spotify, and purchase their new album from BandCamp, from Prophecy Productions, or by clicking HERE. In a nutshell, Vyraj is a musical kaleidoscope with ever changing patterns and sonic colours of remarkable beauty that often dissolves into captivating melodies that at times even achieve a pop-like appeal, and once you start listening to the album, get ready to be consumed by its beauty and energy.
Best moments of the album:Zory, The Boat of Despair and Return My Coffin Home.
Worst moments of the album:Usta Za Mianie.
Released in 2026 Prophecy Productions
Track listing 1. Zory 4:48
2. Veha 7:01
3. The Boat of Despair 5:31
4. Viedmieragina 5:36
5. Niama Darohi 4:29
6. Bu Samoje 4:38
7. Usta Za Mianie 4:35
8. Return My Coffin Home 8:10
Band members Katsiaryna “Nokt Aeon” Mankevich – vocals, traditional flutes
Jauhien Charkasau – guitars, bass, keyboards
Mikita Stankevich – guitars, backing vocals
Wojciech “Bocian” Muchowicz – drums
The desecrator of extreme music is back with his twelfth studio album, unleashing terror worldwide by combining a raw, high impact attack with a stark clarity of sound.
Denis and Alena already present the band’s updated sound in the title-track Worldwide Terror, sounding a lot more Heavy Metal than the project’s previous more extreme sonority; whereas more of Denis’ razor-edged riffs are offered in Warriors Of The Lie, feeling like the soundtrack to a war movie, or in other words, it’s an excellent battle hymn where his galloping bass and drums bring sheer adrenaline to the music. Generation Of Pawns blends extreme music with progressive sounds from the 70’s, and despite not being a bad song, it lacks the energy of Alena’s vocals. And venturing through the realms of Folk Rock and Metal with a more epic edge we have Newborn, where Alena’s vocals are nicely boosted by Denis’ crying guitars.
It’s pedal to the metal in the Rock N’ Roll extravaganza titled Really Your Life, with the scorching riffs by Denis blending in great fashion with Alena’s soaring vocals and she-demon vociferations; followed by Eight Billion Headed Whore, showcasing a crazy name for a song (but I guess that whore is Mother Earth in the end), once again presenting a wild fusion of Progressive Metal with folk and extreme elements. Denis then delivers a bold sound through his riffs, bass and drums in The Brightest Night, a truly entertaining instrumental piece that sets the stage for The Darkest Morning, featuring guest vocals by Israeli artist N.Khaos, presenting another blast of epic vocals lines and the electrifying energy of the riff.
It’s time to confront the horrors of reality, to stand up and be counted with Die Entweihung to the sound of his newborn spawn Worldwide Terror, and if you want to be part of the project’s army of darkness you can find all information about it on Facebook and on Instagram, enjoy Denis’ wild creations on any platform like YouTube and Spotify, and of course purchase the album from BandCamp, from Morbid and Miserable Records, from Southern Soundclash Records, or from Tikoes Kecemploeng Productions. Worldwide Terror is about to be unleashed, and you better get ready because there will be blood.
Best moments of the album:Warriors Of The Lie, Really Your Life and The Darkest Morning.
Worst moments of the album:Generation Of Pawns.
Released in 2026 Orbid and Miserable Records/Southern Soundclash Records/Tikoes Kecemploeng Productions
Track listing 1. Worldwide Terror 5:02
2. Warriors Of The Lie 6:29
3. Generation Of Pawns 4:41
4. Newborn 8:07
5. Really Your Life 6:31
6. Eight Billion Headed Whore 5:14
7. The Brightest Night 5:04
8. The Darkest Morning 7:15
Band members Alena 7 – vocals
Denis Tereschenko – all instruments
Guest musicians
N.Khaos – additional vocals on “The Darkest Morning”
As the fires of summer continue to burn in the Northern Hemisphere, there’s nothing better than dedicating an entire article to one of our beloved Burning Witches, more specifically the one responsible for turning the band’s lyrics into sheer power and energy through her soaring, undisputed vocals. Not only a classy vocalist and frontwoman, she’s also a diehard metalhead, always ready to show her love for old school Heavy Metal, and always ready to rock our world with her incredible voice and charisma. Her name is Laura Guldemond, a crazy wild child and frontwoman for one of the must-see names of the current metallic scene, and once you know more about her career, her personal life, and her passion for heavy music, there’s certainly no turning back, as you’ll be under the spell of one of the most talented “witches” of the worldwide metal community. Having said all that, are you ready to be locked in the tower by the phenomenal Laura Guldemond here on The Headbanging Moose?
Born on July 31, 1988 in Zoetermeer, a city in the Western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland, Laura doesn’t exactly come from a family of musicians, but there was still a lot of music surrounding her in her early days. “It’s funny, because my parents weren’t into music, but my grandparents were musicians – they played the double bass and the violin. They travelled around playing music, and I guess the next generation was fed up with that, so it had to continue with me! My mum’s half-sister still plays the flute, too.” Although she could sing a little bit and was comfortable with some notes, she had to learn the high notes by taking singing lessons, and at one point she decided she wanted to become a professional singer. Then she went to a conservatory in Eindhoven called The Metal Factory to continue with her studies. “When I was about twenty years old, I decided to take things a little more seriously, and that’s when I started taking singing lessons. Later on, I decided that I had to study music somehow. I auditioned for the Haarlem conservatory and ended up in the preparatory course for it, but then I came across the Metal Factory, and I was part of the first batch of students there.”
Laura has been immersing herself in Heavy Metal and Hard Rock for most of her life, saying it was a big discovery for her when she was younger. “My parents never really went any heavier than Queen. Which I like, but then I discovered Within Temptation, and I loved it. That was probably mainly because it sounds a little mysterious. That’s what I liked about it, at least. When the time came that I had enough allowance to buy albums, I found W.A.S.P.’s Dying for the World right next to Within Temptation. I really like W.A.S.P. as well. From then on, I started listening to more and more different things. Quite quickly after that, I decided that I wanted to play guitar. And I did have a guitar, so I did try to play it, but I had no lessons, and I ended up giving up. I did already sing, and that’s what I kept doing,” she commented.
It was in 2019 when Laura joined the amazing Burning Witches, replacing the band’s original vocalist Seraina Telli, and she fit the blank spot perfectly with her undisputed vocal potency, being immediately embraced by the band’s diehard fanbase. That same year, she released her first song with the band, the excellent Wings of Steel, following by the EP Wings of Steel, also in 2019, and her first-ever full-length opus with the girls, Dance with the Devil, in 2020. That same year, the band released an EP titled Acoustic Sessions, followed by their full-length albums The Witch of the North (2021), The Dark Tower (2023), and more recently Inquisition (2025), all available on Spotify or any other streaming platform. Furthermore, you can also check Laura and the girls kicking ass on the official videos for songs like High Priestess of the Night, The Dark Tower, The Witch of the North, and Unleash the Beast, or check their official YouTube channel for those videos, full playlists and other content including interviews and live footage of all of their tours.
When Laura joined Burning Witches, she said they were all very welcoming, helping her overcome any initial challenges as she said she’s the type of person that needs a lot of time to get used to other people. There was of course a lot of rehearsal time required in the beginning until they all got used to Laura’s vocal style and vice-versa, but as expected there’s also a lot of fun involved in the overall process. “We go out to dinner sometimes, we hang out after rehearsals, so that is nice,” she commented, also having some nice words to say about the freedom she has while writing material for the band. “When it comes to writing my melodies and lyrics, I have a fairly large amount of freedom. Sometimes they come up with something they like, but even then, I am free to try something else, or we can discuss various ideas. It’s always fairly open. It kind of depends on how attached they are to the ideas they already have. There are plenty of times when there is no idea at all yet, and I can just make up whatever I like.”
Needless to say, the band’s diehard fans were all very welcoming when Laura became a member of Burning Witches, even when you take into account they already had two very solid albums released prior to her joining the band. Laura was actually more prepared for the feedback from the audiences than her bandmates in the end. “To be completely honest, I think it had been a much more emotional process for the rest of the band than it has for me. In a way, I had kind of already prepared myself for such reactions. The stories are out there. Like Tarja and Nightwish, for example. You still hear people complaining about that these days, which makes me think: guys, seriously, still? You know it is going to happen, and you know it is going to keep happening. So I was mentally prepared for that. Some of those people have returned, others haven’t. That’s just how things go.”
Before becoming the frontwoman for the indomitable Burning Witches, Laura was the vocalist for an array of very interesting bands and projects. It looks like her first Heavy Metal band was Utrecht, Netherlands-based Progressive Metal act Synergy Protocol, having played with them from 2013 until 2015, and having recorded their 2014 debut three-track demo. Around the same time, from 2014 to 2015, she was also the vocalist for Epic Rock Choir, a Netherlands-based group of singers specialized in major rock and metal opera projects like Arjen Anthony Lucassen’s The Theater Equation, and founded an Experimental and Electronic Rock and Metal project named Generation Lost together with Marco van der Hoorn, but nothing has ever been released under that flag.
The other two bands that Laura was a member of were Dordrecht, Netherlands-based Progressive Metal/Rock project Magoria, working as one of their vocalists between 2017 and 2018, and of course her main band before she joined Burning Witches, the excellent Eindhoven, Netherlands-based Symphonic Power Metal band Shadowrise, fronting the band from their inception back in 2009 until they split up in 2019 (one of the reasons being of course her full-time commitment with Burning Witches), having recorded with them the 2016 EP Escape from Shadow Island, and their 2018 self-titled full-length, both available on BandCamp and on Spotify.
Not only that, Laura can also be found as a guest musician in several different bands and projects, showcasing her absolute energy, dynamism and versatility, allowing her to sing basically any music genre you can think of. For instance, she was a guest vocalist on the song Valkyries in the Sky, from the 2024 album Gods of Metal (Year of the Dragon), by German/Italian Heavy Metal band All for Metal; choir vocals on the official video recording of the 2016 album The Theater Equation, by Dutch Progressive Metal/Rock icons Ayreon; vocals on the song Schwestern aus Stahl, from the 2025 Damokles, by German Heavy Metal/Hard Rock band Blindgänger; vocals on the song The Path That Never Ends, from the 2026 album Sons of the Abandoned, by Spanish Melodic Death Metal outfit Bloodhunter; vocals on the song Back on the Streets, from the 2022 album Back on the Streets, by UK Power Metal band Chrysalïd; and vocals on the 2025 single Fierce, by Swiss Symphonic Metal band Deep Sun.
If you think this is it, you’ve got another thing coming, as Laura was also a guest vocalist on the song Receptor, from the 2025 album Receptor, by American Progressive Metal act Dissona; vocals on the song Poison Tears, from the 2025 album Unbreakable, by the indomitable Heavy Metal/Hard Rock duo Ellefson-Soto; vocals on the song False Faced Demon, from the 2022 album Inquisition, by Dutch Symphonic Metal band Epinikion; female vocals on the song Blind Souls, from the 2017 album The Endless River, by Jordanian Melodic Death Metal band Eternal Insomnia; vocals on the 2022 album Malleus Maleficarum, and on the Avatarium cover The Fire I Long For, from the 2023 album Ventus Metallum, by German Heavy/Power/Progressive Metal project FB1964; and vocals on the song For Blood & Glory, from the 2021 album Serpent Chariot, by Austrian Blackened Thrash Metal band Golden Blood.
Do you want some more? Well, Laura was also featured as a guest vocalist on the song Stand United, from the 2022 album Dealer of Souls, by Swiss Heavy/Power Metal band Gomorra; on the song All Women in Me, from the 2023 self-titled album by Dutch Progressive/Symphonic Metal band Heavenqueen; on the song Sleeper, from the 2025 album Gilgamesh, by Ukrainian Progressive Metal/Rock act Korypheus; vocals on the song The Great Masquerade, from the 2025 album Remnants of Rapture, by Canadian Heavy Metal outfit Lycanthro; on the song Alone, from the 2024 album Shadow Empress, by Progressive Metal warrior Nino Helfrich; backing vocals on the 2015 album Wayward Sanctuary, by the now defunct Dutch Progressive Metal/Rock project ReSolve; vocals on the song Your Time Has Come, from the 2024 album Blood of the Witches, by German Heavy Metal/Hard Rock guitarist Stephan Georg; choirs on the 2015 album The Diary, by Dutch Symphonic/Progressive Metal/Rock duo The Gentle Storm; vocals on the song Neverealm, from the 2026 album Neverealm, by Greek Heavy Metal band Valiant Sentinel; and vocals as one of the “Pirate Queens” on the song The Pirate Queens, from the 2022 album Lost, by Dutch Symphonic Power Metal project Woods of Wonders.
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As you can see, Laura is one of the best vocalist of the current Heavy Metal scene worldwide, with countless bands recruiting her as a special guest in their new albums, and of course with her career with the striking Burning Witches being the icing on the cake. However, it’s important to say that before being such an accomplished vocalist, she’s also a true metalhead, nurturing deep passion for the same rock and metal icons as any of us, as well as some of the most interesting names of the non-metal scene. “Lots of awesome metal bands have influenced me during the years. To name a few I listened to a lot as a teenager; Within Temptation, W.A.S.P., Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Halestorm, Eluveitie, Death Angel and Kamelot. But also great contemporary singers like Sia, Christina Aguilera and Beyonce. This is reflected in the versatility of my voice,” she commented.
When asked which song she loves the most in her life, her answer was the purest, most incendiary form of Heavy Metal you can think of. “I love Painkiller by Judas Priest because the drums start playing and you immediately feel the energy.” Moreover, she considers the one and only Metal God Rob Halford as a role model, saying he’s one of the people who’ve inspired her the most in terms of how she sings with Burning Witches now, as well as the indomitable Bruce Dickinson. “What I love is that he has so many songs with a lot of vocal dynamics. So I would say both he and Bruce Dickinson inspired me. I’ve heard Bruce a few times when people are listening from a bit further away and it sounds hyper-laden. I think it’s because I have a bit of memorization there too.” Dio is also a huge influence in her life, and the fact Burning Witches recorded a cover version for the all-time classic Holy Diver also shows how much she loves his unique voice.
Speaking of cover songs, Laura also maintains a really entertaining YouTube channel as her “solo project” (which you can also find alongside all of her other links and social media by clicking HERE), recording multiple cover songs with very special guests the likes of Courtney Cox and Sara JolĂs as her support band, among other interesting videos. For example, you can enjoy Laura’s soaring vocals in killer cover songs including W.A.S.P.’s Wild Child (which is by the way one of the bands she used to listen to the most when she began listening to metal music), Iron Maiden’s The Trooper, Cradle of Filth’s Nymphetamine Fix, AC/DC’s Highway to Hell, Slayer’s Raining Blood, Pantera’s Walk, and Judas Priest’s Painkiller, among several other incredible videos where she will melt your faces with her scorching, sharp vocals.
Speaking of her vocal technique and how she prepares for the intense life on the road, Laura, who currently uses a Neumann U 87 Ai (a legendary large-diaphragm FET condenser microphone, featuring cardioid, omnidirectional, and figure-8 polar patterns), mentioned in one of her interviews how difficult it is to bring to stage what’s recorded in the studio. “Recording a song is one thing, but singing it at the same level every night is a different matter.” Owner of very versatile and dynamic vocals, as already mentioned, she said she always enjoys trying new things with her voice. “The others in Burning Witches like it when my voice sounds relatively deep, so we have been playing around with lower keys in recent years,” she commented. “These days, I have been trying to learn to use vocal fry better than I could before. So who knows? Maybe I will be doing something with that in the future. But it has to get better first. Singing clean with a bit of distortion on it is something I know I can do well at this point. If I add something that doesn’t sound quite as good, and you can actually hear that difference in quality, it will just end up sounding weird.”
She also commented about the importance of maintaining a good health, in special when your voice is your instrument of work. “I am often afraid of getting a sore throat, so my main priority is keeping nice and warm. During summers, I hardly ever have a sore throat, but once winter rears its head, I have to be careful. And to be fair, during spring and autumn as well. Also, when I work out too hard, and my body gets tired, I get a sore throat as well. That is something to watch out for.” She also mentioned it’s extremely important to build up her stamina before a headlining tour starts, alternating between singing and resting until she’s warm enough for the band’s longer-than-usual sets. “Especially if I have just been on vacation, and I haven’t sung for a while. Then it truly is important to build up my stamina, as I’m really going to feel the difference once I have to do a longer set.”
This might sound repetitive, but Laura is not only an extremely talented vocalist; she’s also a vocal coach ready to help any newcomers to the world of singing with her professional and dynamic approach. You can find more details about Laura’s services as a vocal coach (in Dutch, English or German) on her official website, including the subtypes of services available such as singing lessons, workshops, and growling. “I always try to find ways to make them practice things step by step. There are certain techniques that require you to use a little more power, which means they are potentially more dangerous, as more power is a bigger burden on your vocal cords if you do it wrong. That’s why I try to explain things step by step, so they can actually warm up to it step by step, allowing them to do things properly from the moment they start to add more power to it.”
In the end, after witnessing Laura kicking some serous ass live for the first time earlier this year in Toronto, I felt the urge to write this tribute to such a phenomenal vocalist, and after knowing more about her and her focus and hard work to keep delivering high-quality Heavy Metal for the masses, we must all agree she’s more than just another frontwoman. She’s the epitome of heavy music, a woman that puts her heart and soul into her music, delivering breathtaking vocals with endless charisma it doesn’t matter if she’s singing with Burning Witches, if it’s recording a cover song for her YouTube channel, or if it’s as a guest for another rock and metal band. Laura will most certainly hypnotize you with her stunning vocals and screams, lock you inside her tower of Heavy Metal, as I warned you in the beginning of this tribute, and throw the key away. Well, I bet you’ll be more than happy when that happens.
“Lots of awesome metal bands have influenced me during the years. To name a few I listened to a lot as a teenager; Within Temptation, W.A.S.P., Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Halestorm, Eluveitie, Death Angel and Kamelot. But also great contemporary singers like Sia, Christina Aguilera and Beyonce. This is reflected in the versatility of my voice.” – Laura Guldemond
This UK-based lethal, technical Heavy and Groove Metal machine is back in action with a new EP, a pure demonstration of resilience and the start of a much heavier, more honest era for the band.
Having shed their Hard Rock veneer to emerge as a lethal, technical Heavy and Groove Metal machine, London, UK-based quintet Metasoma is back in action with a brand new offering titled Core, a sharper, heavier new EP that pairs Pantera-sized groove with Architects/Parkway Drive-style modern precision. Recorded between BaRock Entertainment Studio in Poland and Es Studio in London, the new EP by vocalist Vlad Iancu, guitarists Michal Sedzielewski and Artur Wojcik, bassist Bolo, and drummer Joe Patterson is a pure demonstration of resilience and the start of a much heavier, more honest era for the band, marking the first statement from a solidified international unit where they pit British rhythmic weight against the uncompromising metal heritage of the Polish and Romanian underground.
The striking guitar lines by Michal and Artur will transport us all to the band’s Groove Metal and Metalcore world in Downfall, offering a great option for having some fun inside the pit, followed by the also electrifying Attic, where Vlad focuses on his piercing clean vocals, giving the song a more modern vibe accompanied by the classic beats by Joe. Omen kicks off in a dark, ominous manner, with Vlad delivering enraged and demented vocals in another well-balanced hybrid of Metalcore with classic and modern heavy elements. The crushing riffs by Michal and Artur are boosted by Bolo’s thunderous bass in Shock, crafting a metallic atmosphere that will inspire you to headbang like there’s no tomorrow; and they close the EP with their most direct Metalcore tune, titled Horizon, where their Djent-infused guitars and bass are perfect for the demented vocals by Vlad.
Conceptually, Core is a pessimistic hellscape, a sonic mirror held up to war, propaganda, and the false righteousness of modern reality where high-velocity energy is tempered by a discordant, playful homage to System of a Down, proving Metasoma can be cerebral without sacrificing their low-end groove. “There is a specific kind of numbness that comes when unfortunate events happen in quick succession; these songs are our way of fighting that anaesthesia. Whether we are digging through the attic of mixed childhood memories or scattering the ashes of a toxic relationship, the goal is the same: to learn from the mistakes of our forefathers and do better. We’ve turned these struggles into sonic paintings, but we leave the final interpretation to the listener’s own sensitivity,” commented the band, and you can get in touch with them via Facebook and Instagram, subscribe to their YouTube channel, stream their music on Spotify, and of course purchase their new EP from Bandcamp. Core is a very good indication of what the future holds for Metasoma, and you better get ready as that future will be absolutely heavy.
Hailing from Maryland, in the United States, the venomous Death/Thrash Metal brigade known as Ninth Realm erupts on the scene with a scathing form of extreme music bearing influences of Hardcore and Heavy Metal, with a slight blackened edge, perfect for fans of bands like Power Trip, Malevolent Creation, Deceased, Ritual Fog, and Glorious Depravity. Now in 2026 the band formed of Ben Hageage on vocals, Liam McMahon and Charles House on the guitars, Amelia Morris on bass, and Joey Burke on drums is ready to crush our souls armed with their debut album, titled Damnation’s Veil. Adorned by a stylish artwork by Jerry “Wyrmwalk” Hionis (Maul, Celestial Sanctuary), the album takes a narrative process pertaining to their original dark fantasy world, Tythorin, while being intense and violent for the most part.
A fascinating, expressive, and most importantly, exciting album that is sure to please fans of the classic Death and Thrash Metal sound as well as those who dig well-written, nuanced, and invigorating extreme music in general, Damnation’s Veil is only the first step in the promising career by Ninth Realm, who are waiting for you armed with their swords, axes and shields on Facebook and on Instagram to join them in battle. Don’t forget to also stream their powerful music on Spotify, and to purchase their incendiary new album from their own BandCamp, as well as from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, US store or EU store. As you prepare to die in battle, there’s nothing better than the crushing heaviness found in Damnation’s Veil to inspire you to fight until your last breath in the name of extreme music.
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 