Welcome to the end of a weirdly busy Tuesday. If yours was anything like mine, you could probably use a drink. Sadly, all I have to offer is a six-pack of 100-proof metal, punk and other assorted loudness. It won’t slake your thirst, but it will get you drunk — with power! Bottoms up:
Sandness | Not Your Dog
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Watch the video for Not Your Dog, the new single by Italian hard rock power trio Sandness. The track is the first preview from their fifth studio album Vertigo, an energetic mix of hard rock and power pop with anthemic choruses, driving riffs, and a strong message of self-empowerment. Produced, recorded, mixed, and mastered by Alessandro Del Vecchio at Ivorytears Music Works Recording Studio, Vertigo marks a new creative chapter for the band. Written during a time of personal and professional change, the record embraces a new songwriting approach while staying true to their signature sound. Not Your Dog is a powerful and catchy anthem about independence and breaking free from control and expectations. With gritty guitars, punchy rhythms, and bold vocals, the track is perfect for fans of UFO, The Darkness, Y&T, and classic melodic hard rock.”
Morningstvr | The Last Of The Northern Kingdoms
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Following the announcement of his next album A Fate Engraved, synth-based black metal artist Morningstvr has released the first single, The Last Of The Northern Kingdoms, and an accompanying video. The nearly five-minute track showcases Morningstvr’s signature blend of cold, atmospheric synths, thunderous drums, and anguished vocals that have become hallmarks of his distinctive sound. He comments: “The Last Of The Northern Kingdoms is the lead song on this album. It gives reference to one of Tolkien’s works, thus telling the story of my origins. This one stood out to me as the lead song because of its epic changes in the song (and) the emotion it gives, along with how heavy it became as I finished writing it.”
Aexylium | Myth Of Mankind
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Aexylium return with Myth Of Mankind, the electrifying title track from their upcoming third album, due May 23. This song represents a defining moment for the Italian folk-metal band, encapsulating their evolution with a dynamic blend of immersive orchestrations, technical riffs, and anthemic melodies. Merging the intensity of modern metal with the evocative power of folk instrumentation, Aexylium craft a unique and amazing sound. Myth Of Mankind perfectly exemplifies this fusion — combining epic arrangements, intricate guitar work, and the striking vocal interplay between frontman Sam Biganzoli and Arianna Bellinaso. The result is a track as cinematic as it is heavy, offering a fresh and modern take on folk-metal while staying true to its melodic roots.”
Chüzo | The Brutalator
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Canadian aggro-metal outfit Chüzo are unshackling their menacing video for Brutalator, a cut from their latest EP M.T.M.D (Maximum Threshold, Minimum Decay). The Brutalor is a character that comes to each town or village to deliver justice for anyone who has been mistreated by greed and evil. Guitarist Cristian S expands: “Mischa crafted the lyrics that would become the final version for Brutalator. Her lyrics tell the story of an anti-hero betrayed by life and loved ones, discarded and mistreated — a constant victim of societal injustices. Bound by honor and revenge, he trains himself and returns to fulfil the wishes of the unfairly treated, the exploited, and the oppressed of an unjust society, seeking vengeance and enforcing his version of justice against those who instigate injustices against the weak and abused. Her lyrics perfectly complement the song structure, giving birth to our best track. She also created the intro, a beautiful piano arrangement that sets the tone for the song.”
Arc | Ghost Lights
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Genre-defying N.Y.C. outfit Arc are releasing the video for their single Ghost Lights, from the 2023 EP Awaken The Machine. Founded on visionary Sonny Angell’s ambition to create a performance-based band with boundary-pushing music, Arc have rapidly established themselves as one of the most innovative acts in modern metal. The band’s ambition drives the constant reinvention and elevation of both their sound and stage presence. They comment on what is in store: “We constantly try to raise the bar, enhance our stage show, expand our thematic elements, and experiment with different musical styles. Arc is ambiguously mysterious, Arc is energy and machines. Human interpretations are on stage playing the music, however, Arc is all around us. Information being transmitted from… Somewhere in parts of your brain, you didn’t know you had.”
Dream Heavy | Filthy Rich
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Weaving together ethereal vocals, rich harmonies, intricate guitar and violin melodies, B.C.’s Dream Heavy are a melodic and enchanting world folk-metal group. After releasing two singles in 2024 — Song In The Dark and the thought-provoking single Survival featuring Haida hip-hop artist Ms. Panik — the band return with Filthy Rich, to be featured on a planned EP this year. The track is an aggressively progressive rock attack on the 1%. Seth Macdonald (guitars/vocals) explains: “People are pissed off in Canada right now and throughout the Western world where oligarchs and con men are attempting to usurp our systems of governance and trample on our democratic rights and freedoms, all for the sake of more money and power for the already filthy rich.”
