Metal Music NEWS and interviews

Today I would like to introduce my readers to the band Darker Than Fiction and their brand new lyric video Pharos.  Darker Than Fiction is a five piece band consisting of CJ Parker, Josh Hall, Jamie Moore, Andy Hillis and Josh Hedden. Their sound is described via their official band page as  "A blend of cutthroat down-tuned aggression and haunting melodic passages". The band is from Peoria Illinois. They got their start in 2017. Their Youtube channel features three videos with the latest one "Pharos" gaining big momentum.  The majority of my post here on Metal Music Midwest are interviews and promotion. It is rare that I do reviews anymore but the band recently played at The WC Club and I had a chance to see them live. They brought a lot of energy to the stage and the people responded with great admiration for the songs they were delivering that evening. Pharos was one of those songs amongst others.  I need to state that my perspective of the music is from a early d...

Swedish melodic death/thrash practitioners VITTRA are pleased to unveil a new video for “Sommarfödd.” The track comes by way of the band’s critically lauded debut full-length, Blasphemy Blues, released in Europe late last year. VITTRA’s Blasphemy Blues boasts a gripping combination of crushing death metal with strong songwriting and catchy hooks.  Originally called Vildvittra, based on the characters created by Astrid Lindgren as part of Ronja Rövardotter [Swedish for "Ronia, The Robber’s Daughter," a children’s fantasy book first published in 1981], their name later evolved into VITTRA, inspired by the mythical creatures appearing in Swedish folk stories. And while Swedish folk is a recurring theme weaving in and out of their music, the band is firmly rooted in melodic death and thrash metal in the veins of Dissection, early In Flames, Megadeth, and At The Gates. Comments the band of their frosty new video,  “Sommarfödd = The raw forces of a dark cold winter, combined with t...

Watch the music video: https://youtu.be/DzsQTocxc6c The Finnish hippie metal superstars Egokills are back - bigger, badder & more dangerous than ever! The latest Egokills banger is called Life’s a Party and it is a reminder of what life’s about in these dark times. The song comes with a movie quality music video, directed by the bands long-time friend Timo Lepistö and shot by Anthony Putkonen. The video portrays the band in its natural habitat, partying around their own camper van. Vocalist Janne Selo plays the main part. Selo has also written the song. The banjo riff at the beginning is played by Egokills’ own guitar virtuoso Niko Viita-aho when the band happened to find a real banjo from Fantom Studio. “The spring is in the air and I can hear the internal banjos playing. Life’s good!”, Janne Selo comments. Third Egokills album is ready and will be released in fall 2023. Matti Lötjönen acted as the executive producer and Olli Anttila produced the vocals. The release party of Life’...

 Hailing from New Munster, WI, The Almas are coming into 2023 swinging for the fences! This female-fronted 4pc hard rock band is one of the hardest-working underground bands in the US. Touring consistently year round, love for the fans and their commitment to one another keeps them striving toward what they love. Line-up: Crystal Teigland [lead vocalist], Frank Slifka [founding member/lead guitarist], Josh Sukowski [guitarist], and Andrew Ehredt [drums].  Through guitar-driven licks, road dog attitudes, and a high-energy, professional live performance, The Almas showcase the truest essence of Rock n' Roll with a modern twist! After working with Kile Odell [#1 Active Rock charting producer], The Almas are able to bring their vision to life on their newest EP ‘The Almas II’. In 2022 alone, the band has covered over 39,000 miles across the United States and just shy of 100 shows in a still recovering country. “The existence of this band has always been about helping each other” F...

 Vancouver's Hunting Giants are sharing their next video for the track "Vanguard" off their latest album "Mythos" released this past November. ​"Vanguard" is a classic love song with a fantasy-style twist. This fast-paced track comes from the perspective of a soldier on the front lines of a bloody battle as he thinks about the one he loves and how he wishes he could spend one last night with her. During the battle, he realizes that there will be no returning home for him and, in his final moments, holds onto the feeling of being with her so he can rest with her forever. "Vanguard" features our producer, Kirby Kaye, shredding on guitar and crescendos with a key change accented by the soprano-esque wail of a dying man as he keeps his thoughts on the one he loves. The band explains the song in further detail: "This non-stop rocking love song starts with an intricate bass line, a crunchy guitar riff, and a busy drum line peppered with ghost ...

Leper Colony are playing thrashy death metal that should appeal to fans of bands like Death, Slayer, Morgoth, Unleashed, Massacre, etc. The fact that they're mixing it all up and reinterpreting the influences in their own way makes this special, with the vocals of Marc Grewe (ex-Morgoth, Insidious Disease) giving it that much more authenticity. No Clean Singing premiered a stellar track from the album which can be found AT THIS LINK .  "Marc Grewe is in fine form, which is to say he sounds like a raving and ravenous lunatic, screaming at the top of his longs and snarling like he’d like nothing better than to have your throat in his teeth. The song is also, unsurprisingly, a riff feast."  PRESS -   - “a hook-filled old-school thrashing death metal… it’s goddamn spectacular” - The Metal Wanderlust (US) - "thrashy, pulsating, old-school death metal" - Invisible Oranges (US) - "crushing old-school death metal" - Ram Zine (UK)

 In Flames new album Foregone will be released February 10 2023. Today they released Meet Your Maker Official video thru Nuclear Blast Records. Check out the video here  In Flames video

This is great news, I just got word via Against PR, "Polish atmospheric black metallers Mardom return with their second EP entitled “Longing for a New Dawn”. Three atmospheric tracks tangled with melodious darkness. A 20-minute journey through melancholy and emptiness. You can order it now: CD: https://bit.ly/mardom-cd DIGITAL https://bit.ly/mardom-digital You can listen to the EP here (courtesy of Black Metal Promotion): https://youtu.be/Nu0QAHlKmxk The tracklist is as follows: 1. Buried in the Dust of Stars 2. The Moon Lured Me to the Sleeping Woods to Rest in Winter’s Silence 3. Dance of Shadow and Twilight The EP was released in digital format on December 23. The CD edition will be released on January 27. Mixed and mastered at POST ABORTUM studios by Damian “Sfenson” Bednarski. Additionally D. Krasoń engineered the vocal recordings. Cover photo was shot by Melankoliasta. Original band logo designed by Kres. For fans of Mgła, Wolves in the Throne Room, Drudkh Follow: Facebook: ...

 French Modern Power Metal band ASYLUM PYRE release Official Music Video for "Virtual Guns".  Virtual guns is an emergency. A melodic call for the union of the peoples of the earth to go to war without the wrong target. Vital Metal. Attacking ignorance. Watch "Virtual Guns" on band's official Youtube channel here: https://youtu.be/YcrA5xFdrzo Band comments: "It has been really funny to try combining the traditional elements of metal music to tribal aspects in the rhythm and vocals. As well as for the integration of the bagpipes" A wind of change over the metal sphere. Power, melody, emotions. A perfect mix of modern and traditional metal led by an extraordinary lead vocalist allied with an unbelievable variety in atmospheres. Asylum Pyre plays each song as if it were the last, as if its life was on trial. A rare intensity and choruses that will all stick to your head. Add to this a whole pre-apocalyptical universe in which each band member plays a doub...

 Progressive deathcore outfit ENTERPRISE EARTH today unleashes a brand new song entitled “Death Magick.” The lengthy track stands among the band’s darkest, most relentless and plainly scathing songs of their extensive sonic arsenal. Offers ENTERPRISE EARTH guitarist Gabe Mangold, “We are very excited to present our heaviest, most aggressive, and unforgivingly wild track to date, ‘Death Magick.’ We pulled from all of our heavy influences to create a seven-minute roller coaster of a death metal song. This is also the first of two singles releasing this month so keep an eye out for the second soon!” Contact info: enterpriseearthband.com facebook.com/enterpriseearthband twitter.com/EEarthBand instagram.com/enterpriseearth mnrkheavy.com facebook.com/MNRKHeavy twitter.com/MNRKHeavy instagram.com/MNRK_heavy For band and music promo visit:  earsplitcompound.com/

 Legendary Canadian Deathrashers SARKASM have just launched a lyric video of the song "Voices" as a 2nd advance single from their long-awaited 1st album entitled "As Empires Decay" which will be released on 12"LP, CD, Cassette and Digital formats next January 26th, through Xtreem Music, for which you can already place your pre-order!! You can watch the video here:  In addition to the CD, there is also a vinyl edition of 250 copies (100 splatter and 150 black), as well as a cassette limited to 50 units. YOU CAN PLACE YOUR PRE-ORDER HERE: Pre-order CD here: http://shop.xtreemmusic.com/english.item.index.php?&id=25203 Pre-order 12"LP (splatter) here: http://shop.xtreemmusic.com/english.item.index.php?&id=25204 Pre-order 12"LP (black) here: http://shop.xtreemmusic.com/english.item.index.php?&id=25205 Pre-order CASSETTE here: http://shop.xtreemmusic.com/english.item.index.php?&id=25206 Buy Digital here: http://xtreemmusic.bandcamp.com SARKA...

  Carnival of Flesh , the symphonic black metal outlet hailing from Belgrade, Serbia, just released the second music video from the “Anthems of Extinction” album. "The One" is a video essay and a love letter to the oppressive and divisive political regimes we see in power today. Compared to their award-winning debut video, "Tropical Plunder", this video is considerably faster-paced and narrative-driven (rather than atmospheric). Equally the first video single from the album, "The One" was filmed and produced by Graveyard Neighbour Photography, with drone shots were done by Dušan Rančić. While Serbian fans had the chance to hear "The One" live back on Festival of Serbian Underground VII, the better part of "Anthems of Extinction" was never performed live, due to delays related to COVID limitations and personnel change. Carnival of Flesh are now aiming to perform the new material in its entirety in the spring of this year. Follow here  c...

  Lyrics September sun glowing golden hair Now keep in mind son she was never there October's rust bisecting black storm clouds Only the deaf hear my silent shouts Yet in the dark still he screams your name (Elizabeth!) Nights living death with which rhymes insane Ten years amassed para toda mi vida? Lost man in time was his name Peter? September sun rotted Flatbush porch I would have run then had I known the cost Autumnal rays turned your eyes to stone Did it give you pleasure to steal my soul? Yet in the dark, still he screams your name (Elizabeth!) Nights living death with which rhymes insane Ten years amassed para toda mi vida? Lost man in time was his name Peter? Leave her (leave her), leave her alone I said leave her alone Leave her (leave her), leave her alone I said leave her alone, alone Leave her (leave her), leave her alone I said leave her alone Leave her (leave her), leave her alone I said leave her alone, alone, alone Me, me, me, me, me? I know why Me, me, me, me, me?...

The latest news and releases to Metal Music Midwest webzine. VULNIFICUS - Invocation EP Early Full Stream Live Via Slam World Wide. Invocation EP Out This Friday Via New Standard Elite. FFO: Defeated Sanity, early-Suffocation, some Immolation. Long running death metal icons CANNIBAL CORPSE will kick off a short run of East Coast headlining shows this week surrounding their performance at this year’s edition of the Decibel Metal & Beer Fest in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. For editing on the go, I use Powerdirector mobile. For my 360 videos and photos I use Ricoh Theta V plus App for Android.  The majority of the content you will find on my channel is music concerts and live performances. There's also unboxings and reviews and included are how to videos for various things pertaining to video and audio. My weekly stream are Wednesday at 8AM and random stream for Friday night between 5pm tp 11pm depending on if I'm available. Follow me on all the other socials including FB, IG, ...

  photo by Cindy Tang Watch TUSCOMA’s “The Importance Of Being Vogue” HERE .   Wellington, New Zealand black/avant metal trio TUSCOMA will issue their third album, Gu-cci, in late June through Landmine Records, the label formed by members of Blindfolded And Led To The Woods. With the record’s release date closing in, the band presents “The Importance Of Being Vogue” through an official video, which today makes its premiere through Decibel Magazine.   TUSCOMA’s Gu-cci was recorded by Evan Pope at Studio 11b in Mount Maunganui, New Zealand, mixed by Chris Johnson at Electric Bunker in Boston, Massachusetts, mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music in Cornwall-On-Hudson, New York, and completed with photography by George L Clarke and design by Kurt and Olga Williams.   The video for Gu-cci’s second single “The Importance Of Being Vogue” was directed and edited by TUSCOMA bassist Craig Leahy, with cinematography handled by Stellar Reid. Guitarist/vocalist Kurt W...

 Blackened death entity VØLUS has released a new track off its forthcoming album, Thrown to the Abyss. The song, titled "The Breathing Reflection," is streaming now, video below Thrown to the Abyss is a follow-up to Festering Anti-Cosmic Wound (2020) and Deadstar Illumination EP (2021). The album name is taken from the song "Thrown to the Abyss" VØLUS wrote back in 2018 on The Vermin Speak demo. Vargheist Records will release Thrown to the Abyss on June 11. Pre-order now at volusblackdeath.bandcamp.com. TRACK LIST: 1) Traverse the Arkhanspire 2) Immortal Ninth Tribunal 3) Antediluvian Watchers 4) Chronoblast Paradox 5) The Breathing Reflection 6) Black Flame of Purification 7) Temporal Pathways 8) Ascendance Incinerated Thrown to the Abyss was written, performed, recorded, and mixed by Justin Vølus, with mastering by Will Killingsworth at Dead Air Studio. Cover art by Dede Suhita. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------...

Polish Epic Doom Crew MONASTERIUM will release their third album, Cold Are The Graves, on June 10 via Nine Records.  A lyric video for album track "The Stigmatic"  Lyric video here   The vinyl LP version of Cold Are The Graves is set for September release. Cold Are The Graves follows 2019's acclaimed sophomore album Church of Bones, one that raised the bar even higher compared to the band's self-titled debut album. Cold Are The Graves includes eight heavy doom songs full of emotions, adventures, and epic myths.  On offer are classic heavy doom riffs in the vein of 80s masters like Candlemass and Manilla Road.   Track List: 1. The Stigmatic 2. Cimmeria 3. The Great Plague 4. Seven Swords Of Wayland 5. Remembered 6. The Siege 7. Necronomicon 8. Cold Are The Graves Line-up: Michał Strzelecki – vocals Tomasz Gurgul – guitars Filip Malinowski – bass Maciej Berniak - drums BIO Monasterium is a Polish band founded in 2014 and dedicated to epic heavy/doom metal. ...

 Automb Black Metal band performing live at Sugar Skull Franklin Park IL. This is part of Blackened death metal concert with Blood of The Wolf and Automb from Pittsburg.  From metal archives Automb is a blackened death metal band that formed in autumn 2017 by the mystifying duo, guitarist Serge Streltsov (ex- Necrophagia, ex-Haxxan) and vocalist/bassist/keyboardist Danielle Evans. They were joined by Scott Fuller (Morbid Angel, ex-Havok, ex-Abysmal Dawn) as their session drummer.