NataliezWorld

Dutch Death Metal band Pandæmonic Descent has released their debut EP "The Weight of Being Nothing". The release was recorded in 'Totally Music Studios' and 'Studio Kerssies', and mixed/mastered by Sean Jansen.

Check out the EP linked below:

https://pandaemonicdescent.bandcamp.com/album/the-weight-of-being-nothing

https://open.spotify.com/album/4BXn5BXlKmuh3l3B8AlZew

Pandæmonic Descent is a death metal band from Almelo/Vriezenveen, Netherlands, formed by Roy Bouwman (vocals), Matteo Tettero (lead guitar), Wesley Stoop (rhythm guitar), Sean Jansen (formally bass), and Tycho Homan (drums). Inspired by icons such as Gojira, Angelmaker, and Amon Amarth, the band combines brutal riffs with profound lyrics that stem from personal experiences and themes that often remain unspoken. After successful, sold-out shows at 'The Little Church' in Almelo and 'Walhalla' in Deventer, Pandæmonic Descent is currently busy recording their music and writing future songs.

German Atmospheric Black Metal band Sternweh released their new lyric video for the song "Sterngeborgen" from their debut album "Sehnflucht". The release was recorded, mixed and mastered in the band's home studio by Christian Witt.

Check out the song linked below:

German Version: https://youtu.be/T9WQgLmryzw

English version: https://youtu.be/Zpv2RL6p3fg

Formed in Germany in 2025, Sternweh is an independent atmospheric black metal and shoegaze project created by multi-instrumentalist and horror/fantasy author Christian Witt, with occasional vocal contributions from his wife, Yvonne. Exploring themes of cosmic longing, escapism, and emotional isolation, the project contrasts crushing guitar walls and desperate screams with fragile acoustic passages and clear vocals.

https://sternweh.bandcamp.com/album/sehnflucht

https://open.spotify.com/album/0QG8BAALVpdJEO7k4694Iq

Italian chef power metal go getters GOURMETAL have been cooking things up for some time now. Releasing numerous singles, music videos, with plans to release their debut EP sometime soon! The band discusses their elemental fantasies within the cooking realm with how these matters were cooked up!

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or did it come out just like that?

First of all, thank you so much for this interview and for giving us this platform! As for the name, about three years ago we had a different one. Then, in 2024, I decided to go with a much more impactful name—I wanted something that immediately conveyed the concept behind the project and clearly showed our identity and energy right off the bat.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

We chose this genre because it’s absolutely my favorite (and of course, everyone else in the band loves it too!). In my past experiences, I’ve always played Death Metal, but I’ve always been a massive Power Metal fan. I finally had the chance to give voice and shape to the genre I love the most.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed and why did you want to create this band with this particular theming?

Yes, we already knew each other because we’re all from Pesaro, even though we had never played together before. I created the project myself—Filippo Scrima—and then I recruited the other members by presenting them with a fully finished, pre-packaged project, ready to be recorded and brought to life!

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

The band is based in Pesaro. I played for 15 years in Nightland, a band formed here around late 2010. Unfortunately, the local music scene here has faded quite a bit, and there isn't much metal music going on... on the bright side, though, there’s plenty of amazing food and our famous Pizza Rossini!

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

I let myself be carried away by my tongue-in-cheek humor about food and life, turning that culinary concept into a full-blown fantasy realm called Gastronia. Here, the chefs serve the realm—because as everyone knows, if you don't eat well, you can't even govern a kingdom properly! The act of eating and food itself are the core of everything, spiced up with dragons, swords, knights, and everything else a fantasy world could dream of. (Oh, and in our kitchen, it's men only—no women allowed!).

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

Each album covers a different concept, telling a new story, an adventure, or a crucial moment in the realm of Gastronia. Just like every course of a lunch or dinner needs specific ingredients to complete its flavor and make it unique, we work album by album on distinct themes that all tie back to our culinary-fantasy universe.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Yes, I write the songs myself—strictly on a full stomach, to keep the whole process as thoughtful as possible and truly unleash my imagination! It all starts with the concept, followed by the lyrics, and simultaneously the music, which is naturally epic and Power Metal to the core.

8. What have you released so far such as singles, videos, albums, EPs, and what can someone expect from your works?

Right now (as of October 2026), we’ve released three singles and two music videos. We’re working hard on our social media presence and, above all, finishing up an EP that will be released by the end of the year, alongside another music video. At the same time, we're working on our debut full-length album to pitch to record labels, as we are currently self-produced.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

A hundred percent. Beyond the full-length album we're currently preparing, we already have others lined up with well-defined concepts for the future. We've taken things very step-by step since 2024 because there’s a clear, well-structured long-term plan behind the whole project.

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

At the moment, we’re not ready for live shows yet because we don’t have enough runtime in our catalog. However, toward the end of 2026, we’ll head into the rehearsal room with the EP and full-length tracks ready to go live starting in Spring 2027. We don't have confirmed tour dates yet, but we're actively working on it!

11. What plans do you have for the rest of this year?

We’ll definitely be focusing on producing our live show, and at the same time, we'll have new surprises ready to dish out as soon as possible for all of you... if you're hungry, that is!

12. Where can we find you online, listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

You can find us on our Instagram and Facebook pages, on Spotify, and on YouTube. Our merch is currently completely sold out, but it will be back online soon with brand new items! We also expect the EP to get a physical release before the end of 2026. Thanks again for having us!

Hard rockers BLACK CAT MOAN has taken hard rock and influences out of the 1970's to create their own style, releasing three full-length albums, with them as they say, writing and recording new music all the time! With that said, the band talks of music, with no plans to play live for now, check out the chat below. 

1. Please tell us about the history of your band and its members.

The band was founded by Jörgen Lantto (guitars) and Bo Åström (drums) through early incarnations starting in the mid 1980’s. In 1989, Lars Isaksson (vocals), Hans Ludwig (lead guitars) and Peter Melin (bass) joined and completed the line-up. A demo was recorded and picked up by the head of A&R for Virgin Scandinavia, who signed the band for its debut album that was recorded in 1990 and released in June 1991.

2. What’s the origin of the band’s name?

Black Cat Moan was the title of a lead track of the eponymous album. The label suggested that the band would be renamed from its earlier name Landslide to Black Cat Moan.

3. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

Black Cat Moan is based in Stockholm, Sweden, which has always been an active place with lots of local upcoming bands, covering the different flavours of hard rock/heavy metal.

4. How would you describe your style?

We play traditional Hard Rock with most influences from the 70s.

5. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

Black Cat Moan have released 3 albums:

Black Cat Moan – 1991

Departure – 2023

Wasteland - 2026

6. Do you have any new music in the works?

We write and record new music all the time, especially since reforming around 2018. Our most recent album was released 14 September 2026.

7. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

Since we are just 3 members these days, we don’t have any plans to play live. In the early 1990’s we toured extensively in Sweden.

8. What plans do you have for the future as a band?

We just released our third album Wasteland. Short term we will promote our new album. Meanwhile, we continue to write and record new music.

9. Where can we listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

All 3 albums are available on the digital platforms, alongside some singles from the album and between albums. The Black Cat Moan album from 1991 was released on vinyl and CD and was quickly totally sold out. It’s a bit of a collectors’ item, so it can sometimes be found on Ebay and similar.

10. What is it you’d like a listener to remember the most when hearing your music for the first time?

Our first single Heartbreak Jury was reviewed in Kerrang! by Nikky Sixx and Mick Mars from Mötley Crue back in 1991. They summed it up well. “This is good. This is cool, really cool”. We’re happy if new listeners react the same way.

German Death Metal band Praise of Death released their new album "Rivers of Gore". The release was recorded and mixed at "Morbid Arts Productions" by Mark Raziel and mastered by Ilarion Ivanenko.

Check out the album linked below:

https://praiseofdeath.bandcamp.com/album/rivers-of-gore-2

https://open.spotify.com/album/1OtmCbd2DC5vafTJYp95t3

Unleashed in 2024 by multi-instrumentalist Mark Raziel in Augsburg, Germany, Praise of Death is a solo death metal project featuring Finnish vocalist Topias Jokipii. Rooted in old-school brutality, crushing riffs, and relentless aggression, the project stands out through mysterious atmospheres, solos, and contemplative lyricism. On the debut album "Philanthropist", Praise of Death moves beyond standard violence to explore nihilism, existential dread, and human self-destruction, delivering a sound that is as savagely heavy as it is deeply unsettling and philosophical.

Metal band DISEASED AND DEPRAVED have released a handful of single's, an album or two, with more plans to play shows, tour, release even more music and much more! Check out the video interview below!

Brutal metalcore act CHAPEL OF THE DAMNED have two full-length albums out, with their latest album "The Devil’s Eulogy", the band plans to focus upon this release, and come later they will be playing shows and touring! The band discusses this release and themselves on formation, music, and much more below!

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name? Was it planned, or did it just come to you?

The idea actually came from an old B grade film called Left Behind. It’s a religious movie about the Rapture, and in the film, a pastor gets “left behind.” That concept eventually gave me the idea for Chapel of the Damned. I liked the idea of people being led by a false leader who ultimately leads them toward damnation. The name just fit the darker religious themes behind the music.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

I’ve loved metal for a long time. It’s always been one of the best ways for me to let out pent up aggression and turn it into something creative. There’s something strangely therapeutic about heavy guitars, chugging riffs and breakdowns. It’s aggressive music, but at the same time, it can be incredibly calming.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Some of us did. Our bass player and I go all the way back to elementary school. I’m Joseph, the vocalist and guitarist. The rest of the lineup is still coming together. We’re currently looking for another guitarist and a permanent drummer. Finding musicians who are both reliable and committed long term has probably been one of the hardest parts of putting the full band together.

4. Where is the band based, and what is the music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

We’re based out of Eugene, Oregon. We haven’t played any local shows yet, but there’s definitely a strong metal scene in the area. I honestly haven’t spent enough time involved in the local scene yet to recommend a particular band that really resonates with me, but I’m looking forward to getting more involved as Chapel of the Damned starts playing live.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

Mostly just the love of creating music. There’s a feeling you get when you’ve been working on something and suddenly all the pieces come together. That moment never really gets old. Then you put it out into the world and see other people connecting with something you created. That makes you want to keep doing it.

6. What are your songs about? What specific themes do they cover?

A lot of our music deals with religious imagery, exorcisms, ghosts, death, demons and the supernatural. A lot of the things I was taught to fear when I was a kid eventually became the things that fascinated and inspired me the most creatively. I like taking those darker themes and turning them into stories and imagery within the music.

7. Do you write your own songs? Can you discuss the songwriting process?

Yes. I’m the primary songwriter for Chapel of the Damned. Usually, I’ll start by laying down the guitar parts and building the song around the riffs. I also play the drum parts that I’m able to play myself, but drums aren’t my main instrument, so there are sections where I’ll program parts that are beyond what I can realistically perform.

Everything is recorded in my home studio, so I have a lot of freedom to experiment and let the songs develop naturally. Right now, Chapel of the Damned is still evolving from primarily a studio project into a complete live band, so we’re continuing to look for reliable musicians who want to commit to it long term.

8. What have you released so far, and what can someone expect from your work?

We’ve already released our first full length album, Untitled, and by the time this interview comes out, our second studio album, The Devil’s Eulogy, should be available as well.

People can expect heavy riffs, breakdowns, aggressive vocals and a lot of dark, horror inspired and religious imagery. We want the music to feel heavy and atmospheric while still having riffs and moments that stick with you after the song ends.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

Absolutely. Our newest album is called The Devil’s Eulogy. It takes what we started with the first record and pushes the sound further. It’s heavier, darker and much closer to what I originally envisioned Chapel of the Damned becoming.

10. How about playing shows and touring? Do you have anything planned?

Once we have a solid and dependable lineup, we absolutely want to start playing shows and eventually hit the road. We’ve already had quite a few people asking when Chapel of the Damned is going to play live, so the demand is definitely there. The main thing is making sure we have the right musicians in place before we do it.

11. What plans do you have for the rest of this year?

The biggest focus is releasing The Devil’s Eulogy and continuing to build momentum around it. We’re also planning at least one more music video and a lot shorter form content and reels. From there, it’s about continuing to grow the audience and getting the band ready for the next stage.

12. Where can people find you online, listen to the band and buy your music?

You can stream Chapel of the Damned on all major music platforms. You can also find us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, where we post music videos, reels, updates and new material. Just search Chapel of the Damned on your preferred platform and you should find us.

Melodic metalcore band DIVISIONARIES have released their debut album, with plans to release a follow-up EP expected sometime next year! The band discusses these releases, playing some shows, releasing more material and much else in-store.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or did it come out just like that? 

Back in 2021, we had a placeholder name that none of us liked, but we stuck with it until we came up with something better. One day we got an offer to play our first show, and I knew that we needed something new, so we were all scrambling in the group chat, throwing out tons of ideas for names. Eventually, I thought of “DIVISIONARIES” . I honestly have no idea where it came from or how I thought of it. Perhaps at the time I saw something on TV or online that stuck in my mind but if I remember correctly, it was more so just a random idea that happened to stick. 5 years later, there’s no plans of changing it.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

I have been playing in bands since I was 11 years old and originally wanted to play hard rock similar to Guns N’ Roses, which was my favorite band at the time. When Covid hit, I got really into metalcore and never looked back. It instantly hooked me and I knew from that point that I wanted to play that style of music for a living. Our sound has taken years to evolve but we have finally landed on a sound that truly feels like it’s unique to us, although if I had to put us in a wider genre, I would say Melodic Metalcore.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Nope. I met my original band in school, and once they all left to do other things, I approached our current lead guitarist Sam Graves walking down our school hallway one day and asked him to join my band on the spot. I knew about Sam from mutual friends and had seen him playing guitar around school, but I had never actually heard him play and had never exchanged a word with him before that day. 

Our current vocalist and rhythm guitarist Ian Gates was in another local deathcore band, and he found out about me through mutual friends in the scene and randomly messaged me to ask if I could fill in on drums for his band. We ended up becoming really good friends, and I eventually asked him to join my band as the rhythm guitarist. When we parted ways with our old vocalist at the beginning of 2026, he took over harsh vocals and I took over cleans. 

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

We are based out of San Diego California. East County to be exact. The scene here ebbs and flows.  There’s always something different happening, and the variety of genres present in our city has produced some interesting standouts. The metal scene was thriving a few years ago, there was tons of hype around some hardcore and metalcore bands, and lots of house shows. Recently we’ve seen a lot of staple scene bands come and go and I haven’t heard mention of a house show in a long time but we’re hoping for a bit of a revival with bands like The Dethroned, Osmium, Anvil Chandelier, callmetheboxer, Heathen God and Cascade Effect.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

It’s no secret that Counterparts is a massive inspiration for us and our sound. We all love that band and aren’t afraid to say that they are a huge influence on us. Other bands that inspire our sound are Converge, Periphery, ERRA, Currents, etc. On a larger scale though, we all want to make a career out of this band and we want to be able to quit our day jobs and make a living doing what we all love, and that gives us the motivation and inspiration to continue and push forward harder. 

Since all of our previous songs had been written over a 6-year period, and went through 3 vocalists, the vocal parts and themes changed quite a bit throughout the years and tends to be a bit all over the place on our last album. Some songs don’t really have a theme, while others are about tyrants or fighting through hardship. Overall, we have a general nautical theme throughout all of the songs and our identity as a band. Our logo is similar to a compass rose, our band color is blue, and many song lyrics have to do with the ocean and related elements. 

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

Yes, we write all original music. Most of our sound is developed by our guitarist Sam Graves and I, with some input from other members throughout the years. Our songwriting process typically involves Sam writing riffs, and I make song parts out of them and create a song structure and composition that fits together. That was the process for almost every song on our recent album, but now that we’re starting to work on new material, Ian is becoming a much more integral tool in the writing process and is much more heavily involved. 

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

On August 19th, 2026, we finally released our debut full-length album titled “Monarchist.” It took us 6 years of work to write and refine those songs, and we were so happy and proud to finally release it. It took us so long to release because it felt like we constantly had to find new band members, which changed the dynamic and sound of the band. But as of January 2026, we landed on a group of members that were equally as dedicated to the same sound, and had the same goals, and we finally felt comfortable officially putting our music out there. You can expect a combination of beauty and brutality on that record. We loved meshing orchestral elements, beautiful clean guitar parts and ambient soundscapes, with crushing heaviness that you would expect with metalcore/hardcore. You might find some thrash, death, and even black metal influence flowing through certain songs. In the future, we want to lean into a much more cohesive modern metalcore sound now that we are writing from scratch with the final iteration of the band.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

Yes! Right now, we are in the early stages of the writing process for our next release. We plan on writing a concept EP about grief and already have some ideas and song parts demoed out. We’re hoping for a Spring release in 2027 if everything goes to plan!

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

Right now, we only have 2 shows planned for the remainder of 2026. One is early October that is still being planned, and one is at a small venue in Ocean Beach called “Humble Heart” on October 18th, both have yet to be announced. We’re hoping to get more bookings towards the end of the year now that we have begun promotion for our album. A small US tour around the southwest states for next June is being planned as we speak!

11. What plans do you have for the rest of this year?

As of now, we just have those 2 shows, and then we want to focus on promoting the album and working on writing for the next release. We want to dabble with covers for our YouTube channel and playthrough videos of our original songs to put out as well. We just want as many people to hear the album as possible and try to get our name out there!

12. Where can we find you online, listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

You can find us on Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook. Our music is available to stream on every streaming service, including our YouTube channel if that’s what floats your boat. Currently we do not have an online merch store, so the only place you can buy our stuff is at a live show, but we do have plans to get an online store up and running before the end of this year! Below you can find our linktree that contains every way to follow and support us.

Kenya shamanic black metal band CHOVU had formed in Nairobi, spending its growth as a band in Kajiado. With that the band has gone on to release their debut EP "Whatsorceryisthis". The band has taken the time to talk to us about, the debut EP, why they picked this genre in particular, and the future plans ahead.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or did it come out just like that? 

The name Chovu means something bad in old swahili and came from our guitarist after a dark moment of life.We started out as a thrash inspired band called Rot Paper Jesus but then we hit a point of life where our minds and psychology was taken by darkness. It is then that our guitarist suggested the name which aligned with our vision of switching completely to black metal.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

This genre gave us an identity since extreme metal in Kenya was at its dying age. We did not like this. We Decided to carry the vilest, disgusting bloody flag of it all. We also were familiar with the colonial rot of religion being the cause of the decline of true expression, so we were at war we had to pick the sharpest darkest of genres.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

We did know each other. The Kenyan scene isn't that big. We know all 800 or something of us, by face or name or band shirt. Some members played together in different bands. We all actually met and formed in a studio by an old Kenyan band called Seeds of Datura.

4. Where is the band based out of and what is your music scene like there? Are there any local bands you could recommend?

We are a Kajiado based band, but we play in Nairobi mostly and other regions. The whole scene is in Nairobi basically, although we have struggled to push it across other regions in Kenya. Extreme bands in Kenya I would recommend are...Inoath, Mortal Soul, Seeds Of Datura, Irony Destroyed, Last Years Tragedy, Petrika, among others we have quite a good selection of active and inactive bands.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

We are inspired to create by the mighty Imbege , a forgotten African Deity who is trapped in the soil awaiting the fall of the colonial religion. We are also inspired by ancestral memory and folklore we were told as children.

6. What are your songs about? (What specific themes do they cover?)

Our songs are a reveal of the hidden truth of our history. We were not heretics, but we shall be, in order to return our gods to their altars. We are an archive of African information that is passed by word of mouth. We cover taboos, mystics, shamanism, culture and narratives all African.

7. Do you write your own songs? (Discuss the songwriting process in detail.)

We do write only by our hands. I basically research on a concept by visiting a local tribe and sharing stories with them and with the concept i approach the band with the theme and the guitarists throw in riffs that align with the energy and so do the bassist and drummer. Once we layer out a theme, we also travel to these tribal villages to play in the environment and live their lifestyle, before eventually returning to the cities for a studio recording which we record live always and with the demos, we find the right magician of sound to work with.

8. What have you released so far and what can someone expect from your works?

Our latest release UFALME WA MALI was the first time we had dived to west African concepts mixing them with some East African narratives. A gem of an album that has only stories of blood sweat and tears and deaths. We have also this year re-released previous Eps that had been taken for granted by distributors we worked with, hoping to award them with life. What to expect is the release of our darkest work so far and ALOT of use of African instruments and chants in the album.

9. Do you have any new music in the works?

All I can say is, an album and an EP are heading your way consecutively.

10. How about playing shows and touring, have anything planned out?

We have done a lot of local tours in Kenya and also played in Uganda and South Africa. In our minds the goal is to play in Botswana, the promised land of Kenya, and then focus on Asia and Europe, which we tried before but Visa issues had been a problem, and we learnt the hard way.

11. What plans do you have for the rest of this year?

This remaining bit of the year is mostly creation and drawing inspiration and a whole new look to the band. A hybrid growth due to change in lineup for some positions thus also exploring sound options that will project the Shamanism we are looking for.

12. Where can we find you online, listen to your band and where can we buy your stuff?

Bandcamp (chovuofficial) YouTube (chovu) we should be on a few streaming platforms for our newest album but for the rest find them on Bandcamp and YouTube. For merchandise buy directly from our official social media pages before we have a collaboration with a distribution company to help make it easier.

A Skylit Drive proudly announce their signing with Vaux Records, marking an exciting new chapter for the legendary post-hardcore outfit. 

The independent label is owned and operated by Craig Ericson, founder of Rise Records, and is quickly establishing itself as a premier home for innovative heavy music.

In conjunction with the announcement, A Skylit Drive release their brand-new single, "Half Hearted." The track serves as the first glimpse into the band's upcoming full-length album, Ashes, currently in production and slated for release in early 2027.

Check out the video to "Half Hearted" HERE.