I knew it was coming. The other day I saw a local TV-news story with people bitching because their alley hadn’t been plowed. That could only mean one thing: Some bureaucrat was going to get shit, and respond by going way overboard in the other direction. So when I heard the grater scrrrrrrrrrraping its way down my lane — creating a big, craggy ice dam along my driveway and in front of my garage in the process — I just sighed, shook my head and went out to shovel. Thankfully, it wasn’t nearly as heavy as these new videos and singles from near and far. Dig in, but remember to lift with your legs:
The Bloody Hell | Feel It Too
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Halifax’s Bloody Hell are back with their first new music since releasing their sophomore album Nobody Cares in 2020. Entitled Feel It Too, the track is a peek at what’s to come from the Atlantic street punks. The song’s lyrics were written by vocalist Ian Kean during the deepest darkest recesses of Covid. “Everyone was sitting around all day, wasting away, sinking deeper and getting more depressed. The only connection to the outside world was through social media, so everyone was posting their opinions and concerns all over the Internet. It all seemed so lost and desperate. So that’s what the song is about essentially, how stupid everybody was acting during that time online, and although I would see countless bad takes and shitty opinions, I also felt confused, lost and hopeless. I felt it too. So I wrote this song as a way to make fun of or call out all the stupid things people were saying, but also to admit to myself that it was coming from a place of fear and uncertainty, and that I felt the same way. To say you’re not alone — I feel it too.”
Derev | Tides Of Time
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Before they release their debut album Troubled Mind at the end of March and hit the road across Ontario and Quebec, Toronto proggers Derev share their single and video for Tides of Time. The track showcases the distress of “cognitive immobility,” a mental trap that leads to an effort to recreate incidents that one lived in the past. By doing so, the person attempts to retrieve what was left behind, leaving them stuck in a place that no longer exists. Drummer Michel Karakach shares: “Leaving my hometown in Syria at the age of 25, after having built so many wonderful friendships, memories, and experiences was a struggle I never knew I’d have to deal with until I did. Finding myself reminiscing over and over about my past life inspired me to write about it as a form of therapy. I never knew this was an actual mental diagnosis until I did some research on it.”
Kingcrown | Rockstar Déchue
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “French power metal band Kingcrown drop their new single Rockstar Déchue. Recorded as a special gift for the fans who backed their Nova Atlantis crowdfunding campaign, this mid-tempo track encapsulates the band’s signature blend of powerful riffs, soaring melodies and evocative storytelling. What sets Rockstar Déchue apart is its exceptionally crafted lyrics in French — a rare and bold choice in Kingcrown’s discography. This unique element not only pays homage to the band’s roots but also infuses the track with an added layer of cultural depth and sophistication. Exclusively created for their most dedicated supporters, Rockstar Déchue is both a heartfelt thank you and a statement of Kingcrown’s unwavering commitment to innovation and musical evolution. The track reaffirms their place in the metal scene, bridging epic tradition with a fresh, contemporary twist.”
Svnth | Perfume
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Italian experimental metal outfit Svnth will deliver their new album Pink Noise Youth in April. After unveiling their first single Cinnamon Moon in January, the quintet offer their next whiff of blackgaze with Perfume. The track is carried by catchy and emotional guitar melodies with captivating singing, classic song structure and lyrics about nostalgia and moments that will never come back. It mixes elements of alt-rock and post-metal for a sound reminiscent of Alcest, Nothing and Smashing Pumpkins. Pink Noise Youth is Svnth’s fourth album and the followup to 2020’s Spring in Blue. This new full-length demonstrates their continued evolution, transcending genre boundaries by combining elements of hardcore, metal, shoegaze, and post-rock with unexpected instrumental choices.”
Lunar | A Summer To Forget
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Following the release of their emotionally charged concept album Tempora Mutantur in January, Sacramento’s progressive metal collective Lunar unveil the lyric video for A Summer To Forget. The final visual installment in the album’s narrative arc promises to be a poignant exploration of memory, loss, and the transformative power of musical storytelling, continuing the band’s unique approach to progressive metal as a form of emotional expression. The bandmembers add: “The album starts off with a song that sounds a bit upbeat musically (heavy with the horns) despite a fairly dark lyrical theme: dealing with memories, how we sometimes forget what we wish we wouldn’t and cling on to what we wish we could forget.” A Summer To Forget embodies the band’s commitment to creating music that transcends traditional genre limitations, offering listeners a nuanced journey through personal pain and potential healing.”
Risen Crow | Black Widow
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “After unveiling two singles and videos, Risen Crow just released their debut album Requiem For A Damned Love. This record marks the full realization of the band’s unique sound — a blend of power metal energy and gothic atmospheres, where elevated melodies meet intense riffs and evocative storytelling. At the heart of the album lies Black Widow, a track that embodies the themes of betrayal, vengeance and obsession. The song carries a dynamic mix of dramatic vocal lines, intricate guitar work and evocative atmosphere, making it a defining piece in Risen Crow’s growing discography.”
Vortex | When Humans Defy The Void
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Orchestral blackened death metal outfit Vortex emerge from the void with their most ambitious release — the concept record Alien Realms, due April 11. But first, here’s the single When Humans Defy the Void. “This song is a melodic assault, blending thrash-driven verses, hyper-melodic choruses, and an epic finale, all immersed in grand, sweeping orchestrations,” they say. “Bold and daring, humans leave Earth in search of intelligent extraterrestrial life. This track is divided into three distinct sections: The thrashy, aggressive verses; the ultra-melodic choruses; and the glorious, epic ending.” The band add that Alien Realms is a natural progression from their previous work. They’ve enhanced the orchestral elements while pushing deeper into blackened death metal territory. The EP explores humanity’s venture into space in search of intelligent life, though what they discover isn’t quite what they expected.”
Marble Ghosts | Eat The Rich
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “With their second EP The Greatest Divide due in April, Ottawa’s Marble Ghosts prime the pump with the single and video Eat The Rich. The song examines a political climate that has shifted to serve the wealthy. It paints the picture of two massively divergent groups: Those who are struggling to hold on and increasingly out-of-touch billionaires who could effect real, meaningful change with their bank accounts but prefer to find ways to further enrich themselves. Vocalist Dylan Gunnell explains: “Eat The Rich is about the ultra-wealthy… the great divide is clear with every billion added to their coffers while the people that enrich them through a broken system continue to suffer. While the chorus is metaphorical, in writing the lyrics, the band also envisioned an alternate reality where our planet has been devastated by a zombie plague. The ultra-rich are waiting for a shuttle to carry them to Mars, but it malfunctions, and they are trapped. The undead descend on them, and they are torn to pieces by the horde, the horde that once worked for them, that kept capitalism strong, the people that made them rich. In that reality, their fair share will be paid with a pound of their flesh.”
