This uncanny American Avantgarde Death and Black Metal duo is back from the netherworld with their caustic ninth studio album, pitting the listener as judge and jury, bearing witness to a deposition of spiraling madness.
Less than a year of releasing the massive Longing for Triumph, Reeking of Tragedy, Pennsylvania, United States-based Avantgarde Death/Black Metal duo Veilburner is back from the netherworld with their ninth studio album, poetically titled All that Glimmers is Gloam. Featuring a wicked, captivating artwork by Luciana Nedelea, the new offering by the uncanny Chrisom Infernium on vocals (who also took care of lyrics and album design) and Mephisto Deleterio on all instruments and vocals (as well as being responsible for the music and production) pits the listener as judge and jury, bearing witness to a deposition of spiraling madness – a testimony mired in the bog of counterfeit gnosis, orchestrated amid Mephisto’s instrumental haunts of melodic dissonance and Chrisom’s séanced howls, each reverberating through a theatre of fracturing sanity.
The duo kicks off another demented feast of Avantgarde Death and Black Metal with Here is Thine Sabbath, So Mote it Chasm, where Mephisto crafts a piercing, demonic ambience with his riffs, bass and drums; followed by Oblivion is Yours to Labyrinth, which carries a cryptic name for a lesson in Experimental Black Metal, with their devilish vociferations sounding as captivating as they’re haunting. Vitriolic Hiss, one of the first singles released, will darken your minds and consume your souls, led by the caustic, inhumane vociferations by Chrisom, while Phænomena Obscura is another song with a beyond venomous title, and the music is just as harsh, with the guitars by Mephisto transpiring aggression.
No idea if Dis’ Obedient Woe is a song or an interlude. It’s one hundred percent atmospheric and a bit too lengthy for my taste, though, whereas in Of Godslave and Blood Mortar the duo gets back to a much more ferocious and insane vibe, with all background elements sounding like the soundtrack to a cryptic horror movie. Then in A Séance to Spectre we’re treated to a wild fusion of Avantgarde Black Metal with Industrial and Experimental Metal elements, not to mention Mephisto doesn’t stop pounding his drums not even for a single second; followed by Golgothic Holocaust, another song with a killer guitar work by Mephisto while Chrisom continues to darkly declaim the song’s demented words. And they close the album with the infernal title-track All That Glimmers is Gloam, where all vocals, riffs, bass and drums walk hand in hand in an ode to absolute chaos and darkness.
As mentioned in the review of their preivous album, you can find such a unique duo on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their fantastic discography on Spotify, and put your dirty hands on their new album from their own BandCamp or from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, US store or EU store. If you’re a fan of the infernal music blasted by renowned acts the likes of Blut aus Nord, Imperial Triumphant, Deathspell Omega, Hexrot, Oranssi Pazuzu, Akhyls, and Akercocke, you’ll surely have an amazing time listening to All That Glimmers is Gloam. However, you better be prepared as once you enter Veilburner’s realm of madness and obscurity, there’s no way out.
Best moments of the album:Oblivion is Yours to Labyrinth, Phænomena Obscura and All That Glimmers is Gloam.
Worst moments of the album:Dis’ Obedient Woe.
Released in 2026 Transcending Obscurity Records
Track listing 1. Here is Thine Sabbath, So Mote it Chasm 5:03
2. Oblivion is Yours to Labyrinth 5:05
3. Vitriolic Hiss 5:52
4. Phænomena Obscura 5:32
5. Dis’ Obedient Woe 5:33
6. Of Godslave and Blood Mortar 5:48
7. A Séance to Spectre 6:49
8. Golgothic Holocaust 4:03
9. All That Glimmers is Gloam 6:42
Band members Chrisom Infernium – vocals
Mephisto Deleterio – all instruments
This uncanny Sci-Fi Black Metal duo is ready to attack armed with their debut opus, offering music that is light years ahead of what we’re accustomed to hearing.
Consisting of two anonymous members operating under the numerical aliases 040118180514 (vocals, bass, keyboards and drums) and 102119200914 (guitars and backing vocals), both members of the Canadian Technical Death Metal band Fractal Generator, Sudbury, Ontario-based Sci-Fi Black Metal entity Endspace creates music that is light years ahead of what we’re accustomed to hearing. Using synthesizers and vocoders to make music that sounds as if it’s emanating from beings on some distant planet, drawing thematic and sonic comparisons to acts like Darkspace, Aborym, Thorns, Labyrinthus Stellarum, Midnight Odyssey, and Imperialist, the duo is unleashing upon us their debut opus, titled First Contact, merging heavily structured, futuristic Black Metal elements with Experimental, Industrial and Death Metal influences, all embraced by a sinister artwork by Midge “Mantissa” Sinnaeve. Furthermore, the songs in First Contact are all called “transmissions,” and each one has a different identity and purpose, making the album an utterly fascinating and unique listening experience.
Such an uncanny duo kicks off their Sci-Fi feast with First Transmission, with the guitars by 102119200914 transpiring cosmic insanity, followed by Second Transmission, where 040118180514 embellishes the airwaves with his futuristic keys accompanied by the cryptic guitars by 102119200914. Things get serious in Third Transmission, with the venomous roars by 040118180514 sounding like a creature from outer space, or in other words, it’s the epitome of Experimental Black Metal, whereas Fourth Transmission, follows a similar path of otherworldly insanity, again presenting their deep vociferations and ruthless beats and fills.
Fifth Transmission is a weird one, maybe too experimental at times, not really a song but more like an interlude, whereas Sixth Transmission puts the duo back on track with their haunting Sic-Fi Black Metal, offering us all Stygian vocals and guitars. Then we have Seventh Transmission, getting heavier and heavier as the music progresses, sounding disturbing at times, followed by Eighth Transmission, again delivering an overdose of uncanny riffs and keys, as mechanized yet visceral as it can be. Their last breath of Black Metal insanity comes in the form of Ninth Transmission, a multi-layered feast from another world tat puts a stunning ending to the album.
Tenuously Black Metal, with its elements taken apart and pieced together using unconventional components, First Contact offers a unique exploration of the Sci-Fi side of Black Metal, and if you want to join 040118180514 and 102119200914 in such a dark and otherworldly quest you can find the duo on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their idiosyncratic creations on Spotify, and of course grab a copy of the album from their own BandCamp or from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, US store or EU store. In other words, let the Sci-Fi sounds blasted by Endspace in First Contact take your soul to outer space. End of transmission.
Best moments of the album:Third Transmission, Fourth Transmission and Ninth Transmission.
The ride is about to begin to the sound of the new album by this talented American Progressive Metalcore duo.
Hailing from Charleston, in the “Mountain State” of West Virginia, Progressive Metalcore project Altarheart began in early 2023 as a solo endeavour from vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Anthony Conn. After releasing one full-length album, and welcoming his brother Alex Conn on drums, the new, expanded Altarheart released the EP Creatures Here Below in 2024, followed now in 2026 by their second full-length album, titled Prone To Wander. Mixed and mastered by Anthony Conn himself, Prone To Wander affords space and clarity to every element of the band’s complex sound, while it also sees the duo taking giant strides forward and fulfilling all the potential shown by their previous EP in abundance.
All background elements elevate the epicness and add an extra kick to Wayward, with Anthony roaring in great fashion while his brother Alex pounds his drums in the best Metalcore way imaginable. Then in Mortal Man, featuring Scapegoat as a guest vocalist, Anthony delivers an overdose of scathing riffs while also hammering his bass nonstop, followed by Not Well, which sounds and feels introspective yet enraged at the same time, with Alex bringing his share of heaviness through his pounding drums. Rustbelt sees the duo again deliver a solid blend of Progressive Metalcore with Djent elements, with the guitar work by Anthony sounding insane; and the atmospheric Consider The Lillies works like the calm before the storm for Low Souls, another dark and visceral creation by the Conn Brothers, with Alex stealing the spotlight with his killer beats and fills.
Brother, Sister presents what’s perhaps their most Metalcore sound of all, following a more traditional take while Anthony’s harsh and clean vocals exhale despair; whereas Weaken My Flesh, featuring Michael Grice on guest vocals, is an explosion of Technical and Progressive Metalcore where Anthony delivers another round of his piercing roars and guitars lines. Streets Of Mold feels extremely metallic and detailed, with even nuances of Industrial Metal added to its core, resulting in an enfolding aria by the duo, while Island Of One is an excellent option for headbanging together with the boys, with Anthony and Alex being in absolute sync with their scorching riffs and pounding drums. Then a serene intro morphs into another ruthless display of Metalcore entitled Reconcile, keeping the atmosphere dense and pensive, before we face For Those Who Have Wandered Away, closing the album on a high note with its epic background sounds.
An achievement in itself, but also a step in a journey still to unfold, Prone To Wander is highly recommended for fans of Bring Me The Horizon, August Burns Red, Refiner, and The Light Superior, just to name a few, and you can give those talented brothers a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, stream their classy music on Spotify, and purchase Prone To Wander from their own BandCamp (or click HERE for all things Altarheart). The ride is about to begin to the sound of the new opus by Altarheart, and you better get ready because it’s going to be a heavy and melodic one.
Best moments of the album:Wayward, Rustbelt and Island Of One.
Worst moments of the album:Consider The Lillies.
Released in 2026 Rottweiler Records
Track listing 1. Wayward 3:43
2. Mortal Man 3:14
3. Not Well 3:26
4. Rustbelt 3:55
5. Consider The Lillies 3:17
6. Low Souls 4:18
7. Brother, Sister 3:41
8. Weaken My Flesh 4:33
9. Streets Of Mold 3:51
10. Island Of One 3:30
11. Reconcile 4:27
12. For Those Who Have Wandered Away 4:39
Band members Anthony Conn – vocals, guitars, bass
Alex Conn – drums
Guest musicians
Scapegoat – additional vocals on “Mortal Man”
Michael Grice – additional vocals on “Weaken My Flesh”
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.”
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
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
The Great Rob Zombie is back in action with his incendiary eighth studio album, featuring 15 tracks with a sound described as a return to his “Hellbilly” roots.
As a rock icon and filmmaker with a unique vision, the indomitable Rob Zombie has continuously challenged audiences as he stretches the boundaries of both music and film. Four years after his excellent 2021 album The Lunar Injection Kool Aid Eclipse Conspiracy, Rob Zombie and his henchmen Mike Riggs on the guitars, Rob “Blasko” Nicholson on bass, and Ginger Fish on drums are back with another blast of Punk Rock, Heavy Metal, rebelliousness, blood and horror in The Great Satan, the eighth studio album in his undisputed career, featuring 15 tracks with a sound described as a return to his “Hellbilly” roots, overflowing his trademark sound and his always interesting way of interpreting love, life, death, blasphemy, and of course, Satan.
F.T.W. 84 feels like a journey back in time, more specifically to the glory of the late 90’s and early 2000’s, and it’s fantastic how after all these years Rob can still deliver crushing heavy music, with his vocals sounding truly demonic. Moreover, is it “Fuck the World” or “For the Win”? Well, it’s up to you to decide. Anyway, Mike delivers his old school trademark riffs nonstop in Tarantula while Ginger proves why he’s been hammering the drums with the band since 2011 in another hard hitting feast of heavy music. (I’m a) Rock ‘N’ Roller has a similar energy and vibe as his ultimate classic “Dragula”, blending Alternative and Industrial Metal with his passion for horror movies; followed by Heathen Days, another song inspired by his early days where Mike once again fires sheer adrenaline from his axe for our absolute delectation. Then, after the weird interlude Who Am I, it’s time for the Rock N’ Roll party titled Black Rat Coffin, offering an amalgamation of all phases and albums released by the band, with Rob’s vocals sounding haunting as usual. And how not to enjoy a song with such a stylish title like Sir Lord Acid Wolfman? It’s absolutely experimental, cryptic and phantasmagorical.
It’s pedal to the metal in the industrialized and mechanized attack entitled Punks and Demons, reminding me of the classic sound by the mighty Ministry, with Blasko and Ginger making sure the earth cracks in half to their demented kitchen; and everyone will get wet with Rob’s venomous vociferations in The Devilman, while the music once again presents a strong Industrial Rock and Metal vibe. Out of Sight is a bit generic compared to the rest of the album, albeit Mike’s riffs still exhale electricity nonstop; whereas Revolution Motherfuckers is perfect for raising our horns and breaking our necks, a true metallic anthem dedicated to our rotten and decaying world. Then after another horror movie-like interlude, titled Welcome to the Electric Age, it’s time for total anarchy with The Black Scorpion, offering an incendiary hybrid of Punk Rock and Thrash Metal led by Ginger’s killer drums boosted by the song’s wicked background sounds. Rob and his crew slow things down and deliver a strip tease tune titled Unclean Animals, as cryptic and dark as it can be, before all fades into absolute fear and obscurity in the outro Grave Discontent, ending the album on a vile, grim mode.
It’s always amazing to witness how talented, hardworking and passionate Rob Zombie is about his music, movies, and every other artistic expression in his undisputed career, and all those decades of experience didn’t make him sound mellower or softer; quite the contrary, it feels like he’s getting heavier, darker and more violent album after album, with The Great Satan representing another display of pure excellence by such a unique, multi-talented artist. You can find more information about him and all of his projects on Facebook and on Instagram (or simply click HERE for all things Rob Zombie), stream his pulverizing rockin’ anthems on any platform like YouTube and Spotify, and of course, put your dirty hands on The Great Satan by clicking HERE. A lot of people might consider the title of his new album blasphemous, satanic, impure, or controversial, but let’s he couldn’t care less about that. He’s the Great Rob Zombie, he lives and breathes our Great Rock N’ Roll, and that’s what really matters in the end.
Best moments of the album:F.T.W. 84, Heathen Days, Punks and Demons and The Black Scorpion.
Worst moments of the album:Out of Sight.
Released in 2026 Nuclear Blast Records
Track listing 1. F.T.W. 84 3:55
2. Tarantula 3:02
3. (I’m a) Rock ‘N’ Roller 3:32
4. Heathen Days 2:17
5. Who Am I 0:34
6. Black Rat Coffin 3:04
7. Sir Lord Acid Wolfman 3:45
8. Punks and Demons 2:38
9. The Devilman 3:26
10. Out of Sight 2:47
11. Revolution Motherfuckers 2:33
12. Welcome to the Electric Age 0:54
13. The Black Scorpion 1:33
14. Unclean Animals 3:33
15. Grave Discontent 1:00
Band members Rob Zombie – vocals
Mike Riggs – guitars
Rob “Blasko” Nicholson – bass
Ginger Fish – drums
Not even the worst snow storm of the past 180 years in Toronto (with over 50cm of snow falling within hours) was capable of stopping LORD OF THE LOST and THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE, with very special guests WEDNESDAY 13, to bring their Dark Winter Tour US + Canada 2026 to The Danforth Music Hall this Tuesday night. Well, the concert was rescheduled from Monday to Tuesday, and because of that I couldn’t make it to the show, plus the city is still a big fuckin’ mess with the snow blocking pretty much all parking lots, sidewalks and even some roads, but fortunately our buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi was there not only to take some amazing photos of the show, but to also take care of the review this time. Even if I was able to attend the show I would have missed the first two bands, so it was going to be Keith anyway.
The Danforth Music Hall didn’t just host a concert on a cold Tuesday night – it became a gothic metal sanctuary, and Lord of the Lost stood at the altar, ready to convert anyone who walked through the doors. Before the headliners even hit the stage, the night was already stacked with atmosphere. Having released the album Mid Death Crisis in 2025 (available on any platform like BandCamp and Spotify), Wednesday 13 (aka Joseph Poole) and his henchmen, collectively known as United States-based Heavy Metal/Horror Punk outfit WEDNESDAY 13, came out swinging, bringing horror-punk swagger and full-throttle attitude. There’s something timeless about watching a crowd bounce, shout, and throw horns to songs that feel like they crawled straight out of a midnight movie marathon. It was raw, loud, and unapologetically fun – exactly the kind of chaos a metal crowd thrives on. It was the kind of opener that doesn’t warm a room up – it haunts it into readiness.
Setlist When the Devil Commands
Rotting Away
197666 (Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 cover)
In Misery
Summertime Suicide (Murderdolls cover)
Haunt Me
I Walked With a Zombie
Bad Things
I Love to Say Fuck (Frankenstein Drag Queens From Planet 13 cover)
Band members Wednesday 13 (Joseph Poole) – lead vocals
Roman Surman – lead guitar
Jack Tankersley – rhythm guitar
Ashes – guitars
Troy Doebbler – bass
Mike Dupke – drums
After a quick break, one of the co-headliners of the tour, London, Ontario’s own Electronic Rock/Darkwave ensemble THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE, kept the energy flowing onstage with a highly entertaining performance as well, bringing the Canadian pride to The Danforth Music Hall. Spearheaded by frontwoman Sara “Chibi” Taylor, and armed with their 2025 new album Pathways (available on both BandCamp and Spotify, as well as on any other streaming platform), the band set the tone with their signature blend of darkwave shimmer and industrial edge, bathing the crowd in glowing synths and shadowy melodies that felt both nostalgic and futuristic. By the time the lights finally dropped for Lord of the Lost, the room was primed and restless.
Setlist Counterpane
Blue
Stars and Satellites
Superstition
The Vanishing Game
One
Sleep Tonight
All of Nothing
Dead
Crush
Destroyer
Video Kid
Happy Birthday
In the Dark
Pins and Needles
Red Stars
Band members Sara “Chibi” Taylor – lead vocals
Michael Falcore – lead guitar, programming
Michael Rainbow – rhythm guitar, programming, backing vocals
Brett Carruthers – bass, backing vocals
Owen Mackinder – keyboards, keytar
Philip Elliott – drums
And last but certainly not least, Hamburg, Germany’s own LORD OF THE LOSTreturned to Toronto after two long years with their fusion of Neue Deutsche Härte, Gothic Rock and Metal, Industrial Rock and Metal, and even Glam Rock and Metal for the delight of everyone who braved the nasty roads of the city this Tuesday night. Blending songs form their entire discography with their latest albums Opvs Noir Vol. 1 and Opvs Noir Vol. 1, both released in 2025 (and stay tuned for Opvs Noir Vol. 3 in 2026, plus you can check their full discography on BandCamp and on Spotify), Chris “The Lord” Harms, Pi “π” Stoffers, Benjamin “Benji” Mundigler, Gerrit “Gared Dirge” Heinemann, and Niklas Kahl were phenomenal as expected, deliveribg exactly what their fans were waiting for.
Chris Harms stepped onto the stage like a ringmaster for the beautifully damned, dressed in a way that blurred the line between metal frontman and dark cabaret icon. From the first note, the band didn’t just play – they commanded. This wasn’t a run-through of a setlist. It was a full production, a carefully crafted ritual of sound, light, and emotion. Musically, the band delivered a powerful balance of industrial grit, gothic atmosphere, and modern metal punch. Guitars cut through with cold precision while the rhythm section drove everything forward like a mechanical heartbeat. Harms’ vocals moved effortlessly between commanding growls and soaring, emotional cleans, giving the songs a depth that hit as hard in the chest as it did in the ears.
From behind the lens, what stood out most was the connection. This wasn’t a passive crowd. Fans reached toward the stage, screamed every word back, and locked eyes with the band like they were part of the show itself. Faces flashed in red and white strobes, sweat and smiles catching the light in moments you can’t plan – only capture. The Danforth Music Hall proved to be the perfect setting: intimate enough to feel personal, but big enough to let the spectacle breathe. The lighting turned the stage into a shifting cathedral of shadow, steel, and romance – a visual extension of Lord of the Lost’s dark, theatrical identity and a dream scenario for any concert photographer chasing that one perfect frame. By the final song, voices were wrecked, the floor was soaked in sweat, and nobody in the room wanted it to end. Lord of the Lost didn’t just leave Toronto entertained – they left it marked. This was metal as theater. Metal as a community. Metal as something you carry with you long after the house lights come back on.
Setlist Bazaar Bizarre
I Will Die in It
Drag Me to Hell
Prison
Raining Stars
Loreley
Priest
On This Rock I Will Build My Church
I Hate People (with Wednesday 13)
Blood for Blood
Damage
Light Can Only Shine in the Darkness
Blood & Glitter
The Look (Roxette cover)
The Things We Do for Love Heaven is a Place on Earth
Band members Chris “The Lord” Harms – lead vocals, guitars, cello
Pi “π” Stoffers – guitars, backing vocals
Benjamin “Benji” Mundigler – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
Gerrit “Gared Dirge” Heinemann – piano, keyboards, percussion, guitars, theremin
Niklas Kahl – drums
Sweden’s own Melodic Death and Groove Metal titans return from the frozen north with their incendiary fifth full-length album.
Beware of the antlers, as Eksjö, Sweden’s own Melodic Death/Groove Metal titans Orbit Culture return from the frozen north with their fifth full-length album aptly titled Death Above Life, following up on their critically acclaimed 2023 opus Descent. Produced, mixed and mastered by Buster Odeholm at Odeholm Audio, and adorned by a Stygian artwork by Miroslav Pecho, the new offering by vocalist and guitarist Niklas Karlsson, guitarist Richard Hansson, bassist Fredrik Lennartsson, and drummer Christopher Wallerstedt offers more of their trademark fusion of Thrash, Death, Groove and Industrial Metal with arresting hooks and a layered atmosphere that invites comparison to Gojira, Metallica and Static-X, while carving out something that is uniquely their own.
The band wastes no time and kick off the album on a violent mode with Inferna, where Niklas and Richard steal the show with their utterly metallic riffage in its almost seven minutes of first-class Swedish melodeath. Christopher then sounds like an out-of-control stone crusher in Bloodhound, adding endless aggressiveness to their sound while also matching perfectly with Niklas demented roars; whereas Inside the Waves offers a more modernized version of American Metalcore, an excellent option for setting fire to their live performances. In The Tales of War we face poetic lyrics declaimed by Niklas (“Chasing a dark storm, no reason to be here / Escaping the temple of fear / I forfeit, the summoning time, the chasing of healing shrines / Through darkness I was led through the lanes”) amidst a pure headbanging extravaganza, and again venturing through contemporary Groove Metal we’re treated to Hydra, while of course staying true to their roots. Furthermore, the bass by Fredrik will hammer your skull mercilessly.
It’s pedal to the metal in the high-octane melodeath feast entitled Nerve, led by the striking vocals by Niklas and the band’s spot-on backing vocals, all spiced up by the killer guitar solos by Richard. Death Above Life brings forward another round of their pensive yet acid words (“Alternation / Stuck in a war / No path to follow / Through chaos made up / My mind is done / In this cave of black dust, kill / It aims for the heart”), a neck-breaking tune that flirts with modern Death Metal at times; and get ready to be caught in a mosh pit storm to the sound of The Storm, where their riffs sound brutally awesome supported by the pounding drums by Christopher. More of their ass-kicking guitar lines will penetrate your mind in Neural Collapse, all boosted by Niklas’ vicious guttural, whereas lastly we have The Path I Walk, and I have no idea what their goal was with this tune. They sound like the more modern version of Metallica, which is never a good choice to be fair.
“The album represents change, a new beginning,” says guitarist, vocalist and songwriter Niklas Karlsson. “It brings up a lot of good and bad emotions but it’s a big change for the better. It feels like a rebirth.” Hence, if just like the guys from Orbit Culture you also want to experience such a metallic rebirth you can follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, staying up to date with their news and tour dates, stream their already dense discography on Spotify, and of course grab your copy of the excellent Death Above Life from their own BandCamp, as well as from the album’s special website, or by clicking HERE or HERE. There’s a thin line between life and death, but in the end death always prevail, in special when the soundtrack to it is as exciting and heavy as the new album by one of the torchbearers of the new Swedish melodeath scene.
Best moments of the album:Bloodhound, The Tales of War and The Storm.
Worst moments of the album:The Path I Walk.
Released in 2025 Century Media Records
Track listing 1. Inferna 6:45
2. Bloodhound 5:04
3. Inside the Waves 4:39
4. The Tales of War 5:10
5. Hydra 4:49
6. Nerve 5:54
7. Death Above Life 5:31
8. The Storm 4:16
9. Neural Collapse 6:21
10. The Path I Walk 4:55
Band members Niklas Karlsson – vocals, guitars
Richard Hansson – lead guitars
Fredrik Lennartsson – bass
Christopher Wallerstedt – drums
These German Grindcore and Sludge Metal marauders are back with a caustic new EP, a concentrated, precisely articulated sonic language in which madness and surrender blur into one another.
After crushing the souls of the infields with their 2022 sophomore album Der letzte Raum, Dortmund, Germany-based Grindcore/Hardcore/Sludge Metal marauders (and proud supporters of the antifascist movement) Lifetaker are back in action with a short but extremely aggressive and caustic EP, titled Herbsthunde, which translates from German as “autumn dogs”, or whatever the band means with that, always navigating somewhere between noise, punk, and destructive sonic expression. Presenting themselves as a trio for the first time, formed of KonstanJn Schepes on vocals, Alexander Kämper on the guitars and synths, and Gerrit Vocke on bass, vocals and machines, the band delivers in their new EP a concentrated, precisely articulated sonic language in which madness and surrender blur into one another, continuing to dismantle the boundaries of extreme music since their inception back in 2018.
Totsignal (“dead signal”) is absolutely harsh and experimental from the very first second, with the visceral sounds and demented growls blasted by the trio sending shivers down our spines; and Gerrit turns their music into the sounds of heavy machinery in Schattenkabinett (“shadow cabinet”), while KonstanJn keeps vociferating rabidly for our total delight. Then leaning towards the music crafted by Nine Inch Nails and Marilyn Manson, it’s time for Alpha Centurio, sounding more like Industrial or Experimental Metal than their early Grindcore, followed by Maschinensturm (“machine storm”), and the name of the song says it all, a dissonant, experimental and caustic display of the band’s new sound led by the wicked synths by Alexander and the evil machines by Gerrit. Lastly, we have Herbsthunde der Karpaten (“autumn dogs of the Carpathians”), another song with a very poetic name showcasing a menacing atmosphere that goes on until the very end.
Guitar walls, analog interference patterns, and synthetically distorted cries form an intense acoustic field in Herbsthunde (available in full on YouTube and on Spotify), devoid of comfort, but marked by uncompromising clarity. All that creativity and courage to explore new lands while staying true to their roots is what makes the music by Lifetaker so compelling, and in order to join them in such a unique sonic experience you can find those guys on Facebook and on Instagram, and of course put your dirty hands on their even dirtier new offering by grabbing a copy of it from their own BandCamp. Because Lifetaker are more than ready to take your life armed with the undisputed noises found in Herbsthunde, and you better be prepared as those guys most definitely won’t take no for an answer.
Best moments of the album:Schattenkabinett and Alpha Centurio.
Catching the light with every stroke… Bringing to life the soul trapped in stone… Carving your name into eternity!
After witnessing her latest breathtaking live performance in Toronto last month, let’s say that the our metal lady of this month of June on The Headbanging Moose climbed up to the top of the list in terms of priority. She was simply fantastic onstage together with her also amazing band, hypnotizing every single person at the venue with her undeniable talent, incredible voice, and stunning looks. A dramatic soprano better known as the Opera singer of Italian Symphonic Death Metal band Fleshgod Apocalypse, she can sing pretty much any type of music, from Opera to Heavy Metal, from modern rock music to pop, and so on, and whenever she has some free time from music she’s also a PC gamer geek. I’m talking about the beyond talented Veronica Bordacchini, and I’m sure after knowing more about her life and career you’ll definitely get addicted to her beautiful vocals and music.
Born on July 9, 1988 in Todi, a town and “comune” (or municipality) of the province of Perugia, in the region of Umbria in central Italy, Veronica was a fan of games like hide-and-seek and playing cards during her childhood. “I was lucky enough to have been born in a country area, just a few kilometres from the historic centre of my little town, Todi, in the province of Perugia. I grew up in this building with five families. All five families had at least one child my age, so we went to kindergarten, elementary, and middle school together. From the first to the last day of summer vacation always under the house playing hide-and-seek and then cards because I’m old at heart. I was already playing cards when I was 12 years old, it’s wonderful. I still enjoy it. So ‘briscola’ (a typical Italian game cards) with friends of the same age was another game,” she mentioned in one of her interviews.
Speaking about her career with Italian cult metallers Fleshgod Apocalypse, the band had already been active for a few years before she joined them first as a guest musician, and then as a permanent member of the band. Fleshgod Apocalypse were formed back in April 2007 by Francesco Paoli, formerly frontman of the band Hour of Penance, releasing their debut opus Oracles in 2008, and a few years later, more specifically in 2011, it was when Veronica started singing with the band both in the studio as a guest vocalist in a few songs per album, as well as a touring musician, always as a soprano. Her first songs with the band were Temptation and The Egoism, both from their 2011 album Agony, followed by Kingborn, Towards the Sun, Warpledge and Epilogue, from their 2013 album Labyrinth; Cold as Perfection, Paramour (Die Leidenschaft bringt Leiden) and Syphilis, from their 2016 album King; and finally doing all soprano vocals in their 2019 album Veleno, still as a guest musician, like in the songs Sugar and Carnivorous Lamb.
It was back in 2020 when Veronica became a permanent member of the band, doing both soprano and clean vocals in a few singles, those being The Day We’ll Be Gone, No, Blue (Turns To Red), and Pendulum, before recording with them in 2024 the superb full-length opus Opera, definitely marking another step forward for the band, incorporating new suggestions into that unique blend they’re renowned for, such as sheer violence, majestic orchestrations, and soaring melodies. Not only that, the cover art portrays Veronica as Music, a superior entity that defeats the social and artistic decay of modern age, and the music found in the album is simply stunning as you can enjoy in songs like Morphine Waltz, I Can Never Die, and Bloodclock. All of their creations with (and without) Veronica are available on Spotify, as well as all of their official videos can be found on YouTube. Currently formed of Francesco Paoli on lead vocals, rhythm guitar and bass, Francesco Ferrini on the piano, string arrangements and orchestral effects, our diva Veronica Bordacchini on operatic and clean vocals, Fabio Bartoletti on lead and rhythm guitars, and Eugene Ryabchenko on drums, Fleshgod Apocalypse are reaching new heights with Opera, and I can’t wait to see what’s next for the band in the world of music.
Veronica is (or was) also the vocalist for a Perugia, Italy-based Symphonic/Gothic Metal band named In Tenebra, which doesn’t have anything released after their 2009 demo Introspection, a 2012 two-song promo, and a 2014 five-song promo including the two tracks from their 2012 promo, one from their debut demo, and two new songs. The songs from Introspection are available on YouTube, which means you can enjoy some pre-Fleshgod Apocalype Veronica in the songs Against Myself, The Promise, and My Perfect Evil, but that’s it. She was also part of a Gothic/Industrial Metal duo named Wisteria over ten years ago under the moniker ValchiReA, alongside multi-instrumentalist Stefano Urbani (aka AtoragoN), not only recording the vocals for their 2010 demo Mechanical Phoenix and their 2014 album Under an 8-Bit Moon, but also taking care of the layout for the 2014 release. You can enjoy some of the coolest songs of their 2014 album on Youtube, those being R’Lyeh (The Call of the Cthulhu), Cenobite (Hellraiser), and their cover version for Eleanor Rigby, by The Beatles.
She can also be found as a guest vocalist in a variety of songs and albums from bands from different styles, those being the song What She Creates, She Will Destroy, from the 2021 EP The Holocene Termination, by Indian Death/Black/Thrash Metal machine Demonstealer; all female vocals in the 2022 album Decade of Silence, by Finnish Symphonic Death/Doom Metal band Depressed Mode; the song The Great Tribulation, from the 2022 EP The Alchemy Project, by Dutch Symphonic Metal masters Epica; the song Tartarus Rising, from the 2025 album Tomb of the Tormentor, by International Symphonic Deathcore act Hate Within; and the song Holographic Webs We Weave, from the 2019 album Lamentations: Of Deceit & Redemption, by Australian Technical Black/Death Metal band In the Burial. Let’s say it was more than obvious that we would see Veronica contributing to countless bands, because you know, her vocals are simply perfect for any type of music.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
In some of her interviews, Veronica discussed her life on the road, not only talking about how demanding touring can be, but also about some of her favorite places to play, as well as the weirdest ones. When asked about the weirdest venue she’s ever played at, her answer was a boat named Petit Bain in Paris. “Because it’s a very small boat, even though it’s a full-fledged venue inside. But when the audience does the wall of death, circle pit, or moshpit, the boat moves, and you’re there saying, ‘Oh my God.’ But on the other side, the 70,000 Tons of Metal was twice the best experience of my life, just because of the concept,” commented Veronica, who also prefer long tours with 30 or more shows in a row than smaller ones. “You come back home after three days, then you have to leave for other 3 days, then again you go home, then you leave again and so on. Usually you feel good when you have to face really long tours, even with a hostile weather, even if I have to say that the first week is always a bit tougher, then you go with the flow and you get used to it.”
She also mentioned that although it might be a bit harder for women to be part of a metal band, once you’re in you end up getting all the necessary support from the rest of the band, as well as from fans and even other musicians. “I consider myself lucky because those guys with whom I share so much of my life are brothers,” she said, mentioning all the support she’s been receiving from Francesco from day one. In addition, she also commented about the confidence she now has thanks to the one and only George “Corpsegrinder” Fisher of Cannibal Corpse, who went to see Fleshgod Apocalypse once in Berlin. He hugged her after the show and said “this is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen,” and Veronica replied “I have like all your records, I’ve been a fan of yours since I was a little girl,” because she said she grew up listening to Grindcore and Deathcore. Then she told him she was afraid of his judgment, to which he replied “are you kidding? I mean, it’s well done, it’s beautiful. You’re beautiful and good.”
Veronica also loves to play in the United States and Canada, saying the band has even gotten bigger in those countries than in her homeland Italy, because in her opinion the North American fans are always willing to drive longer distances to see concerts, and buy a lot more merchandise during those concerts. “I still remember when I was the merch chick for Fleshgod Apocalypse. I remember a guy who came to get a copy of the album and he told me that he already had a copy at home, he had also t-shirts and he told me that he wanted to buy even more because he wanted to give us his complete support.” The band has already headlined a few tours across the United States and Canada, all very successful with lots of sold out concerts, which proves Veronica is not wrong at all when she praises her North American fans.
As a very active person in different social media platforms, Veronica believes the internet has done more good than bad to most bands and music in general. She said in one of her interviews that the internet allowed people from the most remote corners of the earth to get to know bands from all across the globe, as well as several kids started playing instruments because of online tutorials and lessons, also mentioning that, on the other hand, the human contact between teacher and student might have been lost a little bit. The internet also played a nice part in the life of Veronica back in January 2023, as she was taken by surprise when her partner asked her to marry him onstage during one of their shows in Madrid, Spain. Her then boyfriend, Alessandro Salari, came out from behind the stage holding the ring box behind his back, approached her, showed her the box and knelt down, and of course she nodded “yes,” and the couple hugged as the crowd cheered wildly. The internet played a huge part in it as she was able to share such a special moment in her life with the entire world via her official Instagram account. “I know this might sound cheesy, but words can’t describe my feelings at all right now. The sacrifices this guy made just to get to Madrid and propose in front of the whole venue are remarkable. I can’t be happier to share my everything with the best person I’ve ever met in my whole life. I know you’ll make me the happiest wife ever and I promise I’ll try to do the same for you. I love you.” Not sure if it was the adrenaline and happiness that took her entire body and soul at that moment, but after that her vocals got even more powerful, touching and emotional both in the studio and on stage. Is it the power of love, of the power of metal? I would say both, and may she continue her incredible path in heavy music for many decades to come, always hypnotizing us all with her undeniable talent and charisma.
These iconic Finnish extremists are back with their seventh studio opus, a flamboyant distillation of the group’s grand nocturnal art assimilating all their hopes, dreams and influences into an uncompromising document of ravenous intent.
Chaos chameleons. Nocturnal shapeshifters. The skyward trajectory of idiosyncratic Finnish extremists …And Oceans has been serpentine and sublime, appealing to diehard fans of bands the likes of Dimmu Borgir, Behemoth and Samael with their unique blend of Experimental, Industrial, Electronic and Symphonic Black Metal. Recorded at Inka Studio and at SoundSpiral Audio, produced and engineered by Juho Räihä at SoundSpiral Audio, mixed and mastered by Tore Stjerna at Necromorbus Studio, and displaying a visually stunning artwork by Adrien Bousson, The Regeneration Itinerary is the seventh studio album by this unstoppable band currently formed of Mathias Lillmåns on vocals, Teemu Saari and Timo Kontio on the guitars, Pyry Hanski on bass, Antti Simonen on keyboards, and Kauko Kuusisalo on drums, a flamboyant distillation of the group’s grand nocturnal art assimilating all their hopes, dreams and influences into an uncompromising document of ravenous intent.
Otherworldly, cryptic sounds suddenly explode into a hybrid of Experimental and Symphonic Black Metal entitled Inertiae, with Mathias’ deep roars matching perfectly with the striking keys by Antti, followed by Förnyelse i Tre Akter, or “renewal in three acts” from Swedish, even darker than the previous song thanks to the visceral riffage by Teemu and Timo while Kauko shows no mercy for his drums, delivering his own blend of Black and Death Metal violence. Chromium Lungs, Bronze Optics carries a poetic name for a hard hitting creation by …And Oceans, where their caustic riffs will pierce your mind in great fashion, while their experimental and symphonic sides clash beautifully in The Form and the Formless, once again led by the massive beats and fills by Kauko. Prophetical Mercury Implement showcases massive Stygian lyrics (“Injecting the mirrorlike waters / Feeling it flowing within / Floating on its waves / Observing how it unfolds / Now, / I am the medium / I am the stream”) amidst a beyond enfolding and atmospheric sonority, whereas in The Fire in Which We Burn we face an overdose of heaviness, sulfur and darkness blasted by the band in the best Behemoth style, spearheaded by the inhumane roars by Mathias.
The Ways of Sulphur lives up to the legacy of Industrial Black Metal, with Antti stealing the show with his phantasmagorical keys; and I Am Coin, I Am Two offers a more introspective sound inspired by Melodic Black, Death and Doom Metal, while still presenting their trademark ferocity. Then back to a more visceral mode we have Towards the Absence of Light, with their riffs and the bass lines by Pyry being boosted by Antti’s whimsical keys. The last song of the regular edition, The Terminal Filter, brings to us all another humongous dosage of Black Metal infused with experimental and industrial nuances, resulting in an epic ending to the album, and if you go for the deluxe edition of the album (a digipak with extended 20-page booklet + exclusive gold coloured metal coin symbolizing an adviser through opposites + 2 exclusive bronze coloured acrylic coaters symbolizing the coming together of opposites in clamshell box with alternative cover, hand-numbered and limited to 500 copies worldwide) you’ll get two bonus tracks, Copper Blood, Titanium Scars and The Discord Static, both sounding absolutely insane and worth every single penny invested in it.
…And Oceans The Regeneration Itinerary Digibox + Digital Deluxe Edition
Exploring the interplay between darkness and light, chaos and order, spiritual and material realms, with each song embodying an experience for the mind and body, finally navigating a passage to the present moment, The Regeneration Itinerary is definitely the band’s most experimental album to date. “The new album can be seen as a synthesis of our entire back catalogue,” suggests frontman Mathias Lillmåns. “But there are new levels of extremity, too, ones that we’ve never reached before. These songs simply demanded harsher vocals. The riffs commanded it, and who am I to disobey?” Hence, you can get to know more about …And Oceans, their new album, tour dates, plans for the future, and support them by following them on Facebook and on Instagram, by streaming their music on Spotify, and by purchasing their awesome new album from BandCamp or by clicking HERE. In the end, those Finnish metallers will keep pushing their own boundaries, experimenting with new sounds and nuances and, therefore, delivering more striking albums like The Regeneration Itinerary in the coming years, proving why they’ve become a reference and a force to be reckoned with in the extreme music scene worldwide.
Best moments of the album:Förnyelse i Tre Akter, The Fire in Which We Burn and Towards the Absence of Light.
Worst moments of the album:I Am Coin, I Am Two.
Released in 2025 Season of Mist
Track listing 1. Inertiae 4:30 2. Förnyelse i Tre Akter 5:07
3. Chromium Lungs, Bronze Optics 4:29
4. The Form and the Formless 3:32
5. Prophetical Mercury Implement 6:57
6. The Fire in Which We Burn 3:04
7. The Ways of Sulphur 4:17
8. I Am Coin, I Am Two 4:25
9. Towards the Absence of Light 4:49
10. The Terminal Filter 5:22
Digibox + Digital Deluxe Edition bonus tracks 11. Copper Blood, Titanium Scars 4:14
12. The Discord Static 3:35
Band members Mathias Lillmåns – vocals Teemu Saari – guitar
Timo Kontio – guitar
Pyry Hanski – bass
Antti Simonen – keyboards
Kauko Kuusisalo – drums