Much praised alt-rockers NIGHTBLADE kick on with the launch of their imposing new album, Unknown Territories, out on Friday 24th September. The UK rock crew have also just released a stunning video for new single, What’s Your Name?, which is out now.

Born in 2010, NIGHTBLADE have constantly expanded their audience thanks to their original take on alternative rock. The band’s debut album, Servant To Your Lair, triggered extensive touring and solid support from Metal Hammer magazine. NIGHTBLADE backed the release with 2013’s, Closer To The Threshold. The album picked up the backing of Powerplay, and also introduced the band to the Japanese market with the country’s largest rock magazine, Burn, endorsing the Brit rockers. Throughout 2014 and 2015, the quartet concentrated efforts on live shows, sharing stages with renowned international acts such as Snakecharmer, Wolfsbane and Diamond Head, before dropping their popular EP, Crisis Has No Prejudice, to great acclaim. In 2016, the foursome went into a hiatus, but they successfully returned last year with the album, Ignorance Is Bliss. The record picked up a raft of coverage and support from: Kerrang! Radio, HRH Magazine, Metal Temple, ERB Magazine, Ramzine and Moshville Times, who all declared the album as a genuine return to form for the alt rockers.

The band were unable to gig and fully support Ignorance Is Bliss, which prompted NIGHTBLADE to turn their energy to writing and recording. During lockdown, the foursome produced Unknown Territories, and it’s a real calling for all rock fans. The album has already been heralded by Powerplay Magazine, HRH Magazine and Ramzine, and it poised to be one of the band’s the most successful releases to date.

With governments finally admitting that UFOs do in fact exist, and humanity attempting to heal from a state of the recent crisis, the timing couldn’t be more appropriate for the newest addition to the Hypocrisy catalogue – Worship will be released on November 26th via Nuclear Blast Records. Today, the band releases a music video for the first single, Chemical Whore. Watch the music video created by NASTROE Production and Agata Nigrovskaya here.

Peter Tägtgren comments, “We’ve been recording this album here and there for 2 years and now it’s done! Maybe it was waiting for the right time as some songs are even more real now than a couple of years ago. Thank you all for your waiting. We’re really excited to officially announce we’re back!” Worship is now available to pre-order and pre-save here: https://hypocrisyband.com/worship

It has been 8 long years since their last record, and Hypocrisy fans can feel the itch. Worship is 11 tracks of precise, ferocious musicianship. Commonly inspired by the fusion of the modern and the ancient, Hypocrisy have once more found a way to combine innovative ideas with classic sound in order to deliver something metalheads can enjoyably consume with awe and brutal vigor. As usual, all recording and mixing took place at Tägtgren’s Abyss Studio AB in Sweden while mastering was completed by Svante Forsbäck at Chartmakers Audio Mastering. Designed by artist Blake Armstrong (Kataklysm, In Flames, Carnifex), Worship’s artwork speaks to the history of the relationship between humanity and extra-terrestrials.

New York death metal pioneers Suffocation have announced their new live album, Live In North America, which will be released on November 12th via Nuclear Blast Records. Today, the band releases the track video for the first single, Funeral Inception. Watch the video featuring photographs taken by Jason Carlson, here.

Terrance Hobbs comments, “We couldn’t be more excited to bring our fans our new live CD Live In North America featuring Frank Mullen’s last performances with Suffocation. We couldn’t think of a better way to wish Frank a fantastic farewell into retirement for all his contributions to this band as a great frontman, influence, and friend – and to also share this farewell with the fans, new and old, who have been there for us over the decades. We hope the fans will hold Frank’s last recorded live tour with us close to your hearts as we do. As another chapter from Suffocation closes, we are more than ready and anxious to bring you more new music and classic death metal in the upcoming months and years. So keep your eyes and ears open, stay heavy and play it loud… see you all on the road!”

PRE-ORDER your copy of Live In North America here: https://suffocationofficial.com/live-in-north-america

PRE-SAVE the album and listen here:  https://suffocation.bfan.link/live-in-north-america

Swedish prog metal trio Vokonis launch ”Null & Void”. A stand-alone single, and the continuity of the band‘s latest, fourth studio album ”Odyssey”. Dynamic and experimental, the single further explores the depths of Vokonis‘ sound. The single features Per Wiberg (Spiritual Beggars, Opeth) on organ.

Simon Ohlsson, vocalist and guitarist of Vokonis, comments: “Null & Void is a track we unfortunately had to leave out from ‘Odyssey’ due to the constraints of the LP-format. When we had to select which tracks that made it onto the album we all agreed on that it’s one of our favorite songs from the album sessions. We liked it so much we decided to make it a stand-alone release to continue the lore of ‘Odyssey’. It continues with storytelling and the experimentation with dynamics. The ending of the song is one of our favorite moments where Per Wiberg really let loose with the organs. It’s going to be a real staple in our live-set for years to come.”

”Null & Void” is out on all streaming platforms September 10, 2021. The single is released on The Sign Records.

October 15th will see anonymous black metal collective Dødsdrift release their sophomore full-length record, titled “Ødnis”, via cult label Vendetta Records. Founded in 2018, in the northern climes of Germany, along the Baltic Sea, on “Ødnis” Dødsdrift invite the listener on a bleak & mesmerizing journey straight into the depths of the human being. Featuring ten tracks that are inspired by isolation, loss, war and the forces of nature, on their upcoming record Dødsdrift wear their hearts on sleeves and deliver an intense and moving black metal release not to be missed in 2021! In support of the new album, Dødsdrift shared a new and captivating video clip for the album opening track “Fährde”.

In 2019, the Swedish power metal band MAJESTICA released their debut album Above The Sky and swiftly followed it up with their Christmas musical album, A Christmas Carol, in late 2020. Both albums were a huge success in the metal community, but when the time finally came to present their music to live audiences, the COVID-19 pandemic hit and made all touring impossible. But it’s not only tours that were cancelled – two years in a row now, metal fans all over the world have had to go without summer festivals. Summer festivals are like the beating heart of metal itself, not to mention a main source of income for all the amazing people, who help to make the events possible in the first place.

In these times more than ever the metal community must stand together and today, MAJESTICA release a music video for their new single Metal United – a true metal hymn and a statement of solidarity for fans and crew members alike.

MAJESTICA commented: “All the people that work at festivals and with touring bands have had a rough year, just like all of us. But a lot of these people that work so hard to make it possible for us musicians to perform on stage have had problems finding new jobs, and without these hard-working people, we can’t make our dreams come true. And since we love to play at festivals and go to festivals, we have been missing out on one important thing that means so much to us. So the least we can do to honour these fine working people is to write a song as a tribute to them. A cheerful, uplifting song with Irish influences about the hope that everything will go back to normal, and a melodic, up-tempo heavy metal song with an important message.”

The internationally acclaimed Finnish rock band RECKLESS LOVE, just recently signed to AFM Records, is releasing new music today: The single “Outrun” opens the gate for the band’s fifth studio album, which will be released early next year. The song is composed by Olli Herman and Pepe Reckless. Responsible for lyrics are Janne Rintala and Olli Herman. The synth wave-influenced rock song is accompanied by a brand new music video, directed by Pete Voutilainen.

“Outrun was the first song we wrote for the upcoming fifth album, so I think it makes perfect sense that it’s also the first single cut from the album. Somehow, this catchy little tune managed to encapsulate all of the stuff that is built into the genetics of every kid that grew up during the era of arcade games, long haired metal bands and explosive action movies. The lyrics are filled with themes and entertaining wordplays, that put supercharged motor racing and hormone rich competitions, side by side. In the sound department, the 80’s-esque pop metal roars loud and clear, however, it’s also strongly colored with a modern synth wave flavor, whipping up an interesting cocktail”, says Reckless Love vocalist Olli.

Founded in 2001, RECKLESS LOVE has released four albums, “Reckless Love” (2010), “Animal Attraction” (2011), “Spirit” (2013) and “Invader” (2016). The band’s previous long play has been released more than five years ago, so we can talk about a return of the band.

“In my opinion, the word “comeback” is definitively the right word when referring to this particular song. We had a long break from recording and as the break got longer, the higher the threshold became to start working on new music, let alone publish it. Although it was clear that we always had the desire to continue our career, it felt like we needed to find a new perspective for our creative expression. We had to write “Outrun” to be reborn – and we did. This song showed us the way how to write the new album. “Outrun” is a beacon on our way to reincarnation”, Olli continues.

Switching to a more serious gear, RECKLESS LOVE focusses on its next album on e.g. 80s game worlds. Olli explains: “At the center of the sounds are the 80s theme and the modern dark-speaking world of synth wave. We dived deep into to the game world and the movie moods of the genre and era”.

Doomed heavy metal outfit KHEMMIS will make their long-awaited return this autumn with their fourth full-length album, Deceiver. Set to be released on November 19th via Nuclear Blast, their first record in over three years is their darkest release to date. Today, the band have also revealed a music video for the first single, Living Pyre.

Living Pyre signifies far more than just the beginning of another musical endeavor for the band; it is a substantial benchmark for emotional struggle and growth. Guitarist/vocalist Ben Hutcherson comments: “When it comes to my own mental health, when I’m in a bad place, I can’t access the part of me that creates art. After reaching that understanding of myself, the bulk of this song came out in one sitting. I was feeling stable. I was feeling hopeful – even though so much outside in the world was not exactly inspiring. All of us needed a reason to feel a glimmer of hope.”

Describing the thematic elements of the new record, vocalist/guitarist Phil Pendergast says: “Thematically, all of the songs are about the many ways that we are tricked into believing these stories about ourselves–that we are broken, that we are not good enough, that our genetics determine our fate. This title is the label that we put on our minds as a force that tricks us into believing these stories. The record’s lyrical trajectory is similar to Dante’s descent into an Inferno of his own making. It is our darkest album to date.”

Hutcherson adds: “While our minds and hearts are responsible for this kind of deception, so too is the world around us. There is this dialectic between the two that produces suffering. Anyone who has struggled with mental health or suffered any sort of trauma will tell you that there were times that the mind is its own beast that has to be wrangled. In that sense, we become the deceivers ourselves; we believe we deserve to be the vessel for this pain and this suffering that is being inflicted on us both externally and internally.”

Pre-order Deceiver now: http://nuclearblast.com/khemmis-deceiver

CARL SENTANCE releases his new single ‘Alright’, out now on Drakkar Entertainment, new album ‘Electric Eye’ will be released on 19th Nov. ‘Alright’ is a thundering return from the voice of NAZARETH Carl Sentence. The first single of his new solo LP ‘Electric Eye’ is a perfect rock song that invites to sing along and headbang. The new album will hit the market November 19th, 2021.

“Electric Eye” is the name of the new solo album by Carl Sentance (singer of NAZARETH). One thing is immediately clear when listening to the songs: Carl Sentance does not do things by halves. Each song goes immediately into the ear. Every song invites to headbanging & singing along. Songs like “Exile” or “Overload” are punchy, catchy and powerful. And they are above all one thing: timeless. All songs on the album have a distinct character of their own, which is just as convincing today as it will be tomorrow.

Carl Sentance was born 28th June 1961 in Loughborough Leicestershire, UK and started his first band LEADING STAR playing guitar and singing in 1977. After participating in several local bands, he replaced John Deverill as a vocalist in the NWoBHM band PERSIAN RISK. In 1981 he recorded his first single ”Calling For You”, the band then recorded Ridin High in 1983.

Stepping into the brand-new Marshall Studio with legendary producer Chris Sheldon (Foo Fighters, Gun, Feeder), Bad Touch have recorded a rocking cover of Edwin Starr’s soul classic Twenty-Five Miles. Bad Touch’s lead singer Stevie Westwood said ‘This was one of the most fun song’s we have recorded, putting a rock spin on such a classic Motown track we felt like we had a bit more freedom with where we could take it. It’s loud, it’s funky and most importantly; it’s got soul.”

Released ahead of their November 2021 UK tour, Bad Touch were one of the first bands to enter the new state of the art Marshall Studio Recording Studio. The Marshall Studio is a state-of-the-art recording facility located at Marshall  Amplification’s global headquarters in Bletchley, Buckinghamshire built  around a 70’s Neve 8048, heavily modified and customised for Marshall by Neve specialist Blake Devitt. Stevie Westwood described working there as “an  amazing opportunity. After such an awful 18 months for the music business, to be invited to such a space was a real gift… and we thank Chris for  making our tunes sound interstellar.”

Bad Touch embark  on their “Better Late Than Never” UK tour in November and December 2021,  previously rescheduled from April 2021 (all original tickets remain valid). Special guests on all shows except Leo’s Red Lion are Midlands rockers PISTON.

Tickets are now available from www.badtouchrocks.co.uk/gigs-tours.

Bad Touch will perform songs from their critically acclaimed current studio album Kiss the Sky, as well as songs from their vast catalogue. Known for having a reputation as one of the UK’s hardest working bands, Bad Touch are looking forward to performing live for their UK fans in November and December.

Norwich, The Waterfront Studio
Wednesday 17 November 2021

Newcastle, The Cluny
Friday 19 November 2021

Glasgow, King Tut’s
Saturday 20 November 2021

Dundee, Beat Generator Live!
Sunday 21 November 2021

Manchester, The Bread Shed
Monday 22 November 2021

Nottingham, The Bodega
Tuesday 23 November 2021

Wolverhampton, KK’s Steel Mill
Wednesday 24 November 2021

Leeds, The Key Club
Friday 26 November 2021

Buckley, The Tivoli
Saturday 27 November 2021

Newport, The Patriot
Sunday 28th November 2021

Cardiff, Clwb Ifor Bach
Monday 29 November 2021

Exeter, The Cavern
Tuesday 30 November April 2021

Southampton, The Joiners
Wednesday 1 December 2021

London, O2 Academy Islington 2
Thursday 2 December 2021

Gravesend, The Red Lion
Saturday 4 December 2021
*Excludes PISTON