Based in Minsk, Belarus, two previous albums by alternative metal act Mission Jupiter have hinted at their potential to be one of the few bands from that territory to achieve lift-off worldwide. Having recruited powerhouse singer Kate Varsak prior to writing and recording their upcoming third album, Aftermath, the result is a set of dramatic, epic songs with modern production values that should see them soar.
‘Crippled Country’ is out today as the latest single to be teased from the album, with the band explaining that the song is about “hoping for the best in dark times. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. In times of darkness, do you fight or flee?”
‘Crippled Country’ follows three previously issued singles, with Prog magazine praising ‘Sometimes It Hurts’ as “a soaring slice of uplifting and dramatic melodic prog” and stating that ‘Human Nature’ “displays the far-reaching appeal of a band who mix atmospheric prog, the darker undercurrents of Cocteau Twins and up-tempo alternative metal.” Metal Talk described the same song as being “swamped by wonderful moods and melodies, all wrapped around a stunning female voice.” These initial efforts were followed by ‘Self-Destruction’, the heaviest and punchiest song by Mission Jupiter to date.
For the first single from Marc Urselli’s Best of Ramones Redux that will be released parallel to the forthcoming MER Redux Series instalment Marc Urselli’s Ramones Redux, Canadian space metal legends VOÏVOD have teamed up with no less legendary Australian post-punk vocalist JG THIRLWELL (FOETUS) to pay a mind-blowing tribute to the most fitting RAMONES’ classic ‘Zero Zero UFO’. The original of the song was released on the US punk rockers’ eleventh full-length Brain Drain (1989).
VOÏVOD comment: “One of the proudest moments of my life was when Joey Ramone gave a shout-out to Voïvod on stage in Montreal in 1994”, drummer Michel “Away” Langevin reminisces. "I’ve been a fan of the Ramones since their first LP, so you can imagine my excitement when Marc Urselli approached us to cover a song for this album. When he mentioned that collaborations were part of the concept, I immediately thought of JG Thirlwell who has been a good friend since the ’80s. While we could have recorded any of their songs, I’ve always dreamed of playing ‘Zero Zero UFO’. I was so excited about the opportunity that I might have played it a bit fast, making it challenging for Snake and Jim to fit every word in. Fortunately, Marc’s production really makes the track shine, and we’re thrilled with the final result. Enjoy!”
VOÏVOD have written metal history since their founding in Jonquière, Quebec in 1982. The Canadians starting out as a thrash band with strong hardcore punk leanings that was considered “experimental” or “progressive” right from the start. Their highly unique sound somehow survived multiple changes and shifts in style as well as changes in the line-up that have left drummer Michael “Away” Langevin as the remaining original member. There could hardly be a better choice for a homage to the RAMONES and the track ‘Zero Zero UFO’ than VOÏVOD. The Canadians were early adopters of a bizarre futuristic space style in artwork and lyrics, and they have already stunned the world with their daring and successful cover of PINK FLOYD’s ‘Astronomy Domine’.
Australian vocalist James George “JG” Thirlwell has become a most influential artist after moving to London, UK in 1978, where he founded FOETUS as the first of many musical projects with a broad stylistic range that includes post-punk, industrial, and trip hop. Under a variety of pseudonyms such as Clint Ruin and Frank Want, he collaborated with artists such as Marc Almond, THE THE, and Nick Cave among many others.
Finnish sludge metal powerhouse Demonic Death Judge has just revealed the official video for “Goner”, the blistering new single from their upcoming fifth album, Absolutely Launched, due out on April 30th via Suicide Records.
True to the band’s raw and gritty aesthetic, ‘Goner’ is a sludge-soaked sledgehammer of a track—loaded with thunderous riffs, blues-drenched venom, and apocalyptic swagger.
“We’ve all burned some bridges in our time,” says vocalist Jaakko Heinonen. “I certainly have. Man, even houses, not to mention churches. This is a story about a man who took a few too many wrong steps in his life. And now, the pay is due. This one is a goddamn banger!”
Greek black metal visionary Spider of Pnyx has officially unveiled the latest video from his project FELL OMEN—a visual accompaniment to the crushing and evocative title track from his debut album, Invaded By A Dark Spirit, released last February 14th via True Cult Records.
The album marks the first official release under the Fell Omen name, but Spider of Pnyx is far from a newcomer. Known for his collaborations on acclaimed Mystras and Spectral Lore records, and a shadowy history in dungeon synth and martial industrial, this release brings together all facets of his sonic identity into one unrelenting, genre-defying force.
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Spider of Pnyx is also known in the visual arts world as Gilded Panoply, creating surreal and ornate cover art for black metal and dungeon synth artists. That same visual intensity is captured in this new video—bleak, arcane, and mesmerizing.
Recorded and mixed at True Cult Records HQ and mastered at Nidstang Studio, the album is a tour de force of multi-instrumental brilliance. Spider of Pnyx handles every aspect of the music, from vocals and guitars to hurdy-gurdy and drum machines, crafting a seamless blend of medieval fantasy, dark atmospheres, and a fiery mix of metal aggression with punk attitude.
Philadelphia-based industrial sludge metal band WORST ONES has unleashed the new single ‘Vex’. The track is a crushing, no-holds-barred exploration of Americaʼs decaying ideals. Drawing from the bitter truth of the American Dream’s collapse, the track delves deep into the rise of fascism and the heartbreaking act of protest by soldier Aaron Bushnell, who self-immolated in protest of the war in Palestine.
Musically, ‘Vex’ fuses the raw aggression of ’90s hardcore with the sludgy weight of doom and the mechanical grind of industrial metal, drawing influences from the likes of Biohazard, Eyehategod, and Godflesh. A standout element of the track is the signature “sickness” – rhythmic noise loops that twist and churn alongside the brutal guitars and drums, creating a suffocating atmosphere of unease. It’s a track thatʼs as punishing as it is poignant, reflecting the chaotic, fractured state of the world today.
WORST ONES has explained the meaning of the song as follows:
“’Vex’ is an expression of disillusionment and resistance under the weight of a system built on lies. The lyrics question what freedom is when we live in a country that supports widespread oppression and death. There’s a sense of despair in the verses and searching for answers in the chorus but in the end the song turns into a statement of defiance and resilience.
The opening line “Wasted life is on us, covered all up in flames” addresses the heinous amount of people killed in war and how “the powers that be” utilize new types of bombs that don’t even leave behind a body, literally covering it up.
The lyric “Do you really believe the reaper will bring peace” challenges the concept that violence and killing would bring peace. It questions the false idea that through war or death there can be an end to suffering.
The final lines “They want to destroy us, but we can’t be beat" reaffirm that despite everything, resistance is still possible and even inevitable to triumph. It’s a defiant statement in the face of a system designed to crush individuals, but where the refusal to give up remains unbroken. I wanted to end the song with a statement of positivity and strength.
The story of Aaron Bushnell, who self-immolated in protest of the war in Palestine, deeply resonated with me. He was someone who joined the US Army, maybe out of ignorance or patriotism, only to feel betrayed by what he was asked to do. His act of protest was a refusal to be complicit in a system that had deceived him, and that sense of betrayal and defiance is something Vex reflects. It’s a statement of refusal in the face of violence, war, and manipulation.
As a Syrian American, these themes aren’t just abstract ideas to me. I’ve experienced how propaganda shapes people’s perceptions, how violence is justified in the name of power, and how the most vulnerable are always the first to suffer. I wrote the lyrics with a universal approach to the words because it’s not just now, it’s about the cycles of control, war, and resistance that keep repeating. This song is my way of expressing frustration, grief, and the refusal to be silenced.”
‘Vex’ is accompanied by a lyric video – watch it here:
New York Sharkcore punks ChumHuffer are back with a new track, ‘Burning,’ from their highly anticipated 7” release, Slaughterhouse Five. Fueled by raw energy and an unrelenting sonic assault, ‘Burning’ is a relentless dive into the struggles of stagnation and the battle for clarity in a chaotic world.
With lyrics that cut deep—“Burning in my head / Voices take control”—the song encapsulates the frustration of being stuck in a cycle of repetition, yearning for progress but feeling the weight of the past. The band’s signature mix of searing riffs, pounding drums, and anthemic vocal delivery make ‘Burning’ a must-hear for punk fans stuck in a rut or recently escaped from one.
“The song is about fighting the loop of insanity, realizing when you’re stuck in the same patterns and the frustration of breaking free,” says Shawn Refuse, singer. “It’s a reflection of personal battles but also speaks to the collective experience of anyone who feels trapped by their circumstances.”
ChumHuffer has built a reputation for delivering aggressive, thought-provoking punk anthems, and Slaughterhouse Five promises to be no exception. The 7” release will feature tracks that capture the band’s hardcore punk sound infused with metal and surf riffs.
Slaughterhouse Five will be available May, 2025 via their personal label DWY Records, and fans can get their first taste with ‘Burning’ streaming March 28th now on all streaming platforms.
Returning with their first release since their debut album Faithless Rituals, Sky Valley Mistress have launched back into the sonic stratosphere with their brand new single ‘Too Many Ghosts’.
Recorded at The Nave Studios, Leeds with engineer Danny Blackburn (Adult DVD), it’s clear that the sound of the desert still fuels this band wherever they go as their latest cut is cactus needle sharp. From the moment the track picks up, Sky Valley Mistress drive you beyond the horizon and leave you hanging by the hook of the chorus ready to ride again. Or as the band explain:
“This song is meant for the open highway. Somewhere you have the freedom to put your foot down and still feel like you’re cruising”.
Watch the lyric video for ‘Too Many Ghosts’ now:
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Now streamlined and stripped back to the two original members, refusing to conform to conventions, on the record Sky Valley Mistress have doubled down their studio sound and present themselves as a four-piece band. How the hearse rollin’, flare strollin’, speaker ‘splodin’ outfit recreate this in the flesh as a Duel-Drumming Duo however, has to be seen to be believed. Lead vocalist Kayley “Hell Kitten” Davies picks up the sticks and play one half of a drum kit, with former drummer Maxwell Harvey William Newsome III taking on the electric guitar and keeping one foot on the kick drum. No samples. No backing tracks. No click tracks.
No one is playing rock and roll the way that these two do.
With a new album recorded and ready to be released September 2025 on cult indie label New Heavy Sounds, just like an adrenaline shot in the hands of Vincent Vega in Pulp Fiction, this band is ready to hit unsuspecting fans in the chest with a sound that will make them feel electrified, spiritualised and give them the overwhelming urge to stand in front of a mirror, grab their butt cheeks and exclaim, “ I AM ALIVE!”
TOUR DATES:
Sat 29th March – The Ferret, Preston
Fri 4th April – Our Black Heart, London w/ Bear Bones
Canadian dark-pop act The Birthday Massacre have released a new single today (28th March) entitled ‘All Of You’. It coincides with the opening night of a North American tour to promote Pathways, the forthcoming new album by the group that will be released on 11th April via Metropolis Records.
The powerful ‘All Of You’ “explores the emotional weight of death and the profound sense of being lost in its shadow,” the band explain. “It speaks to the hopelessness of trying to find peace when the heart is still caught in the echoes of absence.”
‘All Of You’ is the second single to be lifted from Pathways, following the release of ‘Sleep Tonight’ at the end of February.
THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE | NORTH AMERICAN TOUR 2025
28th March NEW YORK CITY, NY (le) Poisson Rouge 29th March PITTSBURGH, PA Crafthouse 30th March DETROIT, MI Small’s 31st March CHICAGO, IL Reggies 2nd April MINNEAPOLIS, MN Fine Line Music Hall 3rd April KANSAS CITY, MO RecordBar 4th April DENVER, CO The Oriental Theater 5th April SALT LAKE CITY, UT Metro Music Hall 7th April SEATTLE, WA El Corazon 8th April PORTLAND, OR Dante’s 10th April SAN FRANCISCO, CA Bottom Of The Hill 11th April LOS ANGELES, CA EchoPlex 12th April LAS VEGAS, NV Backstage Bar 14th April SAN DIEGO, CA Brick By Brick 15th April MESA, AZ Nile Theater 17th April HOUSTON, TX Warehouse Live 18th April DALLAS, TX Granada Theater 19th April AUSTIN, TX Come And Take It Live 21st April TAMPA, FL Orpheum 22nd April ATLANTA, GA Masquerade 23rd April ASHEVILLE, NC The Orange Peel 25th April VIRGINIA BEACH, VA Elevation 27 26th April BALTIMORE, MD Soundstage 28th April WASHINGTON, DC Union Stage 29th April MECHANICSBURG, PA Lovedrafts Brewing 1st May BOSTON, MA Paradise Rock Club 2nd May PARSIPPANY, NJ Dark Force Fest 3rd May TORONTO, ON Velvet Underground 4th May MONTREAL, QC Foufounes
A 13 date autumn UK tour commencing on 24th October has also been confirmed.
Norwegian post-rock outfit Korean Cars are set to release their debut mini-album “#1” on May 23 via Mas-Kina Recordings — and the leading single ‘Drömtorp’ is now available.
‘Drömtorp’ sets the tone for the record — a haunting yet powerful track that captures the emotional intensity and melodic depth at the heart of Korean Cars’ sound.
Blending melancholic post-rock with melodic post-hardcore, Korean Cars create a dynamic soundscape where atmospheric depth meets raw emotional release. Drawing from the alternative and post-hardcore scenes of the ’90s and 2000s, the band’s sound fuses soaring melodies, jagged noise, and unpredictable shifts into a captivating experience.
Formed by members of Rumble in Rhodos, Infidels Forever, Arms on Fire, and Insense, Korean Cars combine seasoned musicianship with a shared passion for layered, emotionally charged songwriting. Their sound echoes the cinematic textures of Explosions in the Sky and the emotional punch of Trail of Dead — a beautiful chaos of melody and intensity.
CERESIAN VALOT release a visualiser for the next single ‘Valojuovat’ (‘Tracers’) taken from the forthcoming debut full-length Uumen (Depths). The first album of the Finnish heavy alternative band has been scheduled for release on May 23, 2025.
Wille Naukkarinen writes: “The new advance single ‘Valojuovat’ is one of the most recent songs that I wrote for Uumen and my personal favourite on this album”, the guitarist and main songwriter reveals. “I don’t have much to tell about the composition process, because this was one of those rare cases where the song basically wrote itself. The instrumental version was completed pretty quickly. It’s a mix of prog and melancholia, showcasing both our quieter and heavier side in a very melodic way. I recommend to listen to ‘Valojuovat’ with your eyes closed.”
Panu Perkiömäki adds: “This song has strong dystopic vibes”, the vocalist opines. “The key idea of the song is inspired by the writing of Albert Camus. It’s a song about wars and other manmade disasters. It is also a song about solving problems by changing the channel, if the news get too stressful. ‘Valojuovat’ does even contain some doubts about religions and their infallibility.”
Aural Aggravation 