Today is Friday The 13th. Sunday is Father’s Day. Given all that, I kind of expected it to be a busy day for the metalheads, bangers, speed demons and hard-rock heroes. But no. It’s actually been pretty quiet over on that side of the street. Of course, quiet is a relative term. See for yourself:
Doll | Smoke On The Water
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “After a lengthy hiatus, Canadian rockers Doll announce their return with Better Days, Different Times, a new EP due July 18. The announcement comes alongside the premiere of their first single, a unique take on Deep Purple’s immortal Smoke On The Water, the band’s first new material in over a decade. “After seeing all the fires and the destruction that happened in 2024, there was this need to bring forward our version of the song,” they say. “We updated the lyrics to match how the disasters have made us feel, and musically, we have always wanted to try a more doom-inspired vibe, and this song let us express ourselves in a raw and emotional way.” The Ottawa quartet, known for their gritty, unfiltered indie sound, released The Ragdoll Diaries in 2011, following their 2009 debut Inside The Dollhouse. Their return represents a significant evolution in both sound and approach, incorporating new collaborators and instruments while maintaining the raw, honest edge that has defined Doll since their inception.”
Harvested | Harvested
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Canadian death metal quartet Harvested just announced their new album Dysthymia, due Aug. The nine-track record showcases the band’s evolution from their 2022 demo debut, delivering a devastating blend of technical death metal, old-school stylings and more. The announcement comes accompanied by a video for the eponymous opening track Harvested, offering fans their first glimpse into the dark psychological landscape that defines Dysthymia. “The single represents what the band is about,” they say. “The old-school death metal influences and the dark realities of mental illness put someone through a tortured experience. This was the first song we worked on for this album and played live, which set the bar for the remaining material. We realized that we were onto something special, and the sheer brute force of the track compelled us to make our current music video.” Harvested maintains the brutality from the demo but shifts toward exploring the psychological aspects of mental illness rather than relying solely on gore. It’s heavier, more aggressive, and showcases the band’s musical abilities in ways they’ve never presented before.”
Mad Parish | Hunted
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Montreal’s progressive heavy metal powerhouse Mad Parish have dropped a thunderous new video for their latest instrumental single Hunted, taken from their latest album The Dust of Forever. The video marks a bold visual leap for the band, blending their signature classic metal sound with a dark, cinematic narrative brought to life through animation. Hunted showcases the band’s evolving artistry, pairing soaring guitar riffs and thunderous rhythms with a haunting animated tale of pursuit, survival, and inner reckoning. The video release follows a string of successful singles and continues Mad Parish’s tradition of fusing old-school metal and ’70s progressive rock influences with modern storytelling. Known for their electrifying live shows and intricate compositions, the band have carved out a loyal following in the Canadian metal scene and beyond.”
Rimmar | Unreal
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “It’s a dream come true, lasting for years. Now everything can begin!” With these words, Marco Rinaldi announced that Raises, the album from his visionary solo project Rimmar, will be released on July 4. Today, that journey continues with the release of the second single Unreal. Like the upcoming album, Unreal is entirely written, composed, and arranged by Rinaldi. It blends the power of classic, progressive, and industrial metal with disco and electronic elements, forging a sound that is as immersive as it is distinctive. “The water motif, present and massive in the economy of the album, has a purifying connotation in the world of Unreal,” Rinaldi says. The track flows with melodic density and thematic intensity, evoking a submerged world of introspection and liberation. It’s another step forward in the evolution of Raises and a perfect representation of the album’s symbolic ascent — of raising the volume, the awareness, and the emotional stakes.”
Margantha | Wolves At The Door
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Wolves At The Door is the new single from Margantha, taken from their upcoming debut EP Blood Moon Sacrifice, out June 27. This new track delves into a defining moment of the EP’s conceptual arc. “Wolves At The Door tells the story of when the villagers, isolated beneath the shadow of the mountains, finally come face to face with the horror they’ve feared — not a pack but a single, relentless werewolf. A nocturnal and primal being whose thirst for flesh evokes the terror of an entire horde.” The song opens with a dark riff laced with exotic nuances, immediately setting a mysterious and foreboding tone. The central section evolves with a powerful melodic death metal influence, introducing new shades of aggression and tension. Balancing speed, melody, and black metal fury, the track offers a powerful and dynamic blend, at once brutal and atmospheric. “This creature is more than just a legend — it’s a force that devours silence and sows panic. With this song, we wanted to translate the fear of the hunt, the chaos of uncertainty. The riffs alternate between menace and urgency, while the vocals embody both the predator and the prey.”
