Pyramid Theorem begin their Open Hearts Live Tour across Ontario and Quebec this month, as the Toronto based progressive hard rockers look to build on the success of their recent single with Dream Theater’s James LaBrie.
For Pyramid Theorem guitarist Sam Ermellini, the synergy with James LaBrie truly felt destined. “We’re massive Dream Theater fans,” Ermellini said, “and James’s distinctive vocal style and their incredible discography have always resonated deeply with us.
“The connection actually materialised through our bassist, Christian Di Mambro, who also plays with Falset. Their drummer? None other than Chance LaBrie.
“It turns out James shares our love for bands like Rush, Led Zeppelin, and Ozzy, to name a few. It was a huge honour when he even came to see Christian, Vito, and me perform our Rush tribute on National Rush Day (December 21st).
“Having one of your heroes in the crowd definitely adds a unique pressure. We’re incredibly grateful that James took the time to contribute to our music.”
Sam Ermellini – Pyramid Theorem. Photo: Taylor Cameron/MetalTalk
Pyramid Theorem began pre-production of Open Hearts at Christian’s jam space, affectionately dubbed The Den Of Evil, where they meticulously ironed out all the arrangements and structures. “Then, we headed into Strada XR Studios in Mississauga for an intensive week of recording,” Ermellini said. “A huge shout-out to Darius Szczepaniak, our engineer, who truly helped us capture some absolutely ripping tones from that Marshall and EVH.”
Prog-rock may be considered a niche genre these days, but for Sam Ermellini, the inspiration for the drive to tackle the genre and infuse it with his own unique spin began with Rush.
“They are, unequivocally, my favourite prog-rock band of all time, and they naturally drew me into the genre’s sound,” Sam says. “I believe Pyramid Theorem effectively blends our diverse musical influences. Our aim is to deliver that classic, old-school prog sound with a modern Metal edge. That’s our signature spin.”
Open Hearts is a track that is sure to spark people’s interest to delve deeper into Pyramid Theorem, and Sam is excited to see people “explore our evolution as a band over the years, and to see where our journey has taken us.”
The tour around Central Canada begins on 29 May 2026, and Open Hearts is a song that you can “definitely expect to hear live on our upcoming Canadian Tour,” Sam says. “We’re excited to share it.”
As for the future, Pyramid Theorem will have new music, “possibly around the fall,” and more live shows are promised. “Our main goal is to be out there playing live as much as possible,” Sam says.
“It’s hard to say what the future holds, but I can certainly say that the boys and I would love to cut another song with James. We’ll just have to wait and see what opportunities arise.”
London’s indie rock scene in the mid 2010s produced a wave of guitar driven bands, and among them was The Big Moon, a group that quickly built a reputation for sharp songwriting and a tightly unified sound. Formed in London, England, the band came together with Juliette Jackson on lead vocals and guitar, Soph Nathan on guitar and vocals, Celia Archer on bass, and Fern Ford on drums. Their early momentum came from a series of singles that circulated quickly through the UK music press and radio, establishing them as a band to watch before they had even released a
Lago are a US death metal band and this is their third album. Lago had a series of strong releases, (2014’s Tyranny, a 2016 split with Calm Hatchery, and 2018’s Sea of Duress), but it’s been a looooong time since then. Which is why, when the 42-minute Vigil appeared, it carried no small amount of expectation along … Continue reading “Lago – Vigil (Review)”
New band features Faust (Djevel, ex-Emperor), The Magus (ex-Necromantia, The Magus), George Emmanuel (Lucifer’s Child, ex-Rotting Christ) & Tas Danazoglou (Friends of Hell, ex-Electric Wizard)
Debut EP “From Hell” to be released in September via The Circle Music and Hell’s Fire Records
HEXBANE, a new band that features veterans of the scene, has unveiled the artwork and first details of its debut EP “From Hell”, which is planned for release in September via The Circle Music and Hell’s Fire Records.
The band was born out of nostalgia and admiration for the primal days of black metal. The band’s ethos is simple: to create pure, unadulterated proto-black metal that honours the nostalgia and aggression of the era that started it all.
The band comprises a monumental lineup of extreme metal veterans:
The Magus on vocals (ex-Necromantia, ex-Rotting Christ, The Magus, Thou Art Lord)
George Emmanuel on guitars (Lucifer’s Child, ex-Rotting Christ)
Tas Danazoglou on bass (Friends of Hell, ex-Electric Wizard, Mirror, Satan’s Wrath)
Faust on drums (Djevel, ex-Emperor, Blood Fire Death)
The band previously said: “HEXBANE is a band born out of nostalgia and admiration of the primal black metal days, where pioneer bands created and established the genre. So expect nothing more and nothing less than pure proto- black metal in music and spirit.”
Pre-orders for the 7″ EP will start on 6.6.2026. Further details regarding the release will be unveiled in the coming months.
Star Wars Day – a day so good it would even make a glum-faced Gamorrean smile. Here’s my top merch picks and gift ideas that celebrate Earth’s finest sci-fi saga
“Wiring Of Violence” is the second album from Swedish thrashers Eradikated, The band formed back in 2014 originally called The Generations Army and released their debut “Still Screaming” in 2017. 2021 saw the renaming of the band to Eradikated and the release of a self titled EP which was followed by a Swedish Grammy nominated album “Descendants” in 2023. The band have since supported bands such as The Haunted and played major festivals all across Europe.
It is safe to say that the state of the world and state of society has deteriorated in the three years since “Descendants” and that is very much reflected in the lyrical content of the album with themes that “revolve around struggle and resistance against the dark forces shaping our time, those driving war, famine, growing social inequality, and accelerating climate change”. Elvin Landaeus Czismadia, the frontman, guitarist and main lyricist of the band states “the album throws you straight into the frontlines of war. It attacks growing inequality, greedy oil companies, and wannabe dictators. It challenges us musically, and it challenges you to act”, The album also has the musical chops to go with the lyrical content with this being full on pedal to the metal thrash which rips and rages with unbridled fury from the razor sharp riffing from Elvin and fellow guitarist Ragnar Östberg to the rhythmic battery unleashed by bassist Erland Östberg and drummer Calle Frogner Moberg.
The nine songs that make up the album (plus album intro and outro) are absolute no nonsense thrash from the furious speed attack of ‘British Petroleum’, ‘Mortality’, ‘Tsar’ and ‘Ashes’ There are a couple of songs which slow down the pace somewhat such as ‘Again I Rise’ and the title track but although slower they are no less effective with a riff attack that destroys. There are plenty of catchy hooks throughout the album as well delivered by Elvin’s snarling vocal attack.
“Wiring Of Violence” is very much rooted in old school thrash with a few contemporary influences here and there. It may not be original sounding and falls very much into the thrash metal formula but for die-hard thrashers like myself you don’t need innovation and deviation in thrash metal. You just need attitude, aggression and killer riffs and Eradikated delivery those in spadefuls. From the cutting riffs to the cutting social commentary, “Wiring Of VIolence” is a solid thrasher which will please old schoolers and younger fans alike.
Summer is officially here. That means pool days, road trips, and yes — a power bill that might make you cry. Whether you want to fund the fun or just survive the heat, we've got $500 with your name on it, thanks to our 'Summer Sizzle' sweepstakes.
Wha… Continue reading…
Okay, sure, any definable level of ‘quirk’ is obviously subjective, but I’m guessing you know we’re not talking about the guy who loves The Black Album and thinks Suffocation sounds outlandish. So, hone the scopes down to the individuals who’ve been in the game long enough to really plumb the depths into strange realms where quirks attach themselves to any or all facets of a band, rendering a uniqueness that stands out enough to virtually guarantee a reduced cluster of enthusiasts in an already reduced cluster of enthusiasts.
And on the other end of the spectrum, we also don’t need to dive too deep into the peculiar, like the Paul Chains, Varghkoghargasmals or Trichomoniases that swirl in the deepest bits of the underground. Ideally, we’re looking for that true sweet-spot of quirk that: 1) Challenges limits amidst initial spins, 2) Inspires others to say things like “I think I would love this, but…”, and 3) Eventually attaches itself to your DNA as a lovable eccentricity that you’d really rather not live without for the rest of your miserable life.
Release date: January 9, 2026. Label: Self-released.
The easiest way to hit that sweet-spot? Quirky vocals and / or wEiRd production choices. For my part, I’ve always been a fan of eccentric singers, thanks largely to early exposure to artists such as King Diamond, Tim Baker, Udo, David Wayne, Scott Reagers, et al., and unconventional production directions can absolutely end up adding to the charm of a record over time, like Queensrÿche’s The Warning. Taking the concept one step further, based on my very first impressions of bands like Manilla Road and Pagan Altar decades ago, I never would have guessed I’d eventually own everything they’ve done and count them as essential elements to the crux of me as a metal fan. Conversely, I fully understand and respect those who dismiss such bands because of… well, quirks.
ÚLTIMAAAAAAA BATALLAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA, he howled whilst hurling Gungnir directly at the eye of Jörmungandr.
Oh, shit! That was totally Falkor, not Jörmungandr. That’s my bad. That’s my bad and I take full responsibility. Whew, talk about quirky!
Última Batalla!
The first thing you should probably know about this record is that, while it’s new—released in 2026—it’s not actually new new, in that it came out waaaaaay back in early January. Twas new to me, though, when I first caught wind of it about a week ago, and I haven’t seen much traction from the usual interweb outlets, so why not throw a snazzy little spotlight in its direction as a tribute to its overlooked virtue.
The second thing you should know about this record is that it’s, uh, super quirky! Fucking duh, no? Hell, it might even wander a little further into full-on weird, depending on your perspective. Not quite ‘baby born with a beard’ weird, mind you, but what if you grew up in the underground Bogotá, Columbia punk and metal scene, decided to form a band, and then decided this was your formula for success:
Like… what? Sure, why not blend the epic flare of Crystal Logic with the raw punk-metal energy of Dimension Hatröss, add some NWOBHM bursts, a few pinches of classic Dave Chandler acid doom, and then infuse a touch of egg punk into the entire helter-skelter bouquet to boost the quirk an extra two or five tiers. Wash everything down with a few twelvers of Schlitz and you’ve got an afternoon of horseplay that absolutely ends with someone jumping off the roof into an inflatable Smurf pool while everyone else raises their swords in a salute to the absurd.
“Lejos de casa (Far from Home)” is a perfect touchstone for gauging whether or not (or how fast) you need to leave the hall: It slips from the gate with a lost and unreasonably raw NWOBHM riff that sets the stage for the tussle, quickly followed by a klaxon howl that pushes the charge into second gear. The whole of the record sounds like it was recorded live in the tormented ruins of a burned out gladiator’s arena, and this track confirms that assertion by gradually hustling faster and faster to a point where the chariot, horses and champion nearly flip right off the goddamned track. But it never fully crashes because flailing beserker intensity was actually the plan all along, and Ultima Batalla has that particular strategy down.
The vigorous chorus here is more warbled than a 40 year-old cassette copy of Night on Bröcken, with vocalist Filo Martínez-Aparcio playing the role of Master to the Hellroadie / Manilla Road Blaster. Don’t like nasally vocals? Holy fuck did you ever take the wrong turn at Albuquerque. Filo’s unorthodox voice has a curious way of ultimately settling in, though, and it’s offset properly by an equal amount of attention getting thrown toward the sturdy but fibrous bass and all that matted battery behind the drum kit.
I fucking knew guitarist Carlos X opted for a Gibson SG before I ever glimpsed the proof—the oily riffing and the way he fastens melody to his fretplay is built on the foundation of Iommi colliding with Dave Chandler. That frenzied harmony around the 2-minute mark of “Lejos” is the closest thing you’ll get to a solo on the record, and if you can’t at least appreciate the wonderful tone he conjures as a song like “Una y mil veces (A Thousand Times Over)” opens, then what the hell are you even doing in the realms of heavy metal in the first place.
You still here? Well, bucko, you just might be the ideal target for a band like Última Batalla. I’m guessing perhaps you also dug into equally quirky releases from the likes of Steröid and Demon Bitch last year? EMBRACE THE QUIRK, for it is within these peculiar realms where the volatile propellants necessary for upheaval against the tedium of ordinary life are ignited. Gallop! Scrap! Be weird! And be victorious!
The Rockpit is getting ready to go street-level with Trench Dogs at Mayhem Festival, a band that blends punk spirit with rock ‘n’ roll grit in all the right ways. Their no-nonsense approach and high-octane delivery have made them a standout on stages across Europe, and they arrive in Nottingham ready to make their mark. Expect a set that’s loud, fast, and packed with attitude—exactly what a festival like this thrives on. We caught up with drummer Martin ‘Martini’ Andersson to find out more…
What does playing Mayhem Festival mean to Trench Dogs?
– We always love to play in the UK and Nottingham is a city we’ve had the pleasure to play in only once before so we’re very happy to be back!
What first put you on the path to rock and roll?
It’s different from everyone in the band but i was just going through my uncle’s vinyl collection and found a Sabbath album, put it on the record player and off i
went!
How has your sound evolved recently?
I think our sound has become a bit more… mature? That might make it sound like we’re loosing our edge but i think it has more to do with us just evolving as
musicians as time goes on. It’s still very much rock n’ roll and we still enjoy both seriousness and silliness, but maybe musicianship has gotten a bit more
important for us as we’ve gotten older.
What drives your new material?
Trying to up ourselves! And telling the stories that we haven’t told yet.
How do you define your identity as a band?
A little too glam for punk, a little to punk for glam, and a little to old school for the current times!
What inspires your punk-glam fusion?
I think a lot of it is based on the energy and simplicity of punk and of the power of catchy hooks and earworm melodies of glam.
What’s your songwriting process like?
We usually write most of our material together, we don’t have a ”main” songwriter really. Our lead guitar player Mattias is the driving creative force for a lot of
the songs but we all pitch in ideas and concepts. Andy usually writes most of the lyrics but we all have inputs all trough the process.
What’s your most chaotic live experience?
We had a fight with one of the attendees of our show once, he was some stupid drunk guy that was heckling us in between songs, so Andy started making fun of the
guy on stage. The guy then tried to take the microphone from him, so Andy hit him with the microphone stand and then they started fighting, our rhythm guitarist at the time got in on the fight and fell into the drum kit. The guy got thrown out and we kept on playing!
How do you approach festival audiences?
We usually don’t make that much of a difference from audience to audience, but ofc when you play a festival you expect to play for more people that haven’t heard
of you before or at least haven’t seen you live before so i guess that might subconsciously make you give it a bit more energy to your performance.
What song best represents you now?
Out of our own catalog? Maybe ”Forgotten Melodies”, because we haven’t really rehearsed that much lately!
What bands shaped your early sound?
Hanoi Rocks, Dogs d’ Amour, Faster Pussycat i would say are the foundation of our sound.
How do you keep energy high live?
Different for everyone i guess, Mattias usually has like 12 beers before the show, Andy is just naturally high energy (untreated ADHD will do that), Me, Stone
and Daniel usually just need a good night sleep beforehand and we’re solid.
What makes your shows unique?
We don’t really plan anything ”show wise”, we don’t do choreography, we don’t have rehearsed lines of crowd work or live banter. It’s all off the cuff, which
means that some shows can be more chaotic and than others but that’s part of it i guess!
How do you balance grit and melody?
I don’t know if we do haha! I think we probably get some of the grit just naturally from how we play and with Andy’s vocals. But we are suckers for a good melody and i think we all can get into a new idea much easier if it starts with a great melody.
What’s your favourite track to perform?
Personally i think it’s “Colourfull” but i know that we all have different favorites. Which sometimes makes it hard for us to decide on what songs to have and
not to have on a set list.
How has touring changed you?
I think we’ve just gotten more used to it, so the more you do it you kind of learn what works and what doesn’t, so we’ve learned to give each other space when
you’re out on the road for a longer period. We know what to do logistically to make it a bit easier on ourselves.
What’s next after Mayhem Festival?
We’re focusing heavily on writing new material for our third album so for a while now we will just lock ourselves in the rehearsal studio and try to write as much as
we can. We got some shows coming up later in the year. For example, we will be playing together with the UK’s very best ”The Quire boys” on a cruise ship from
Stockholm in November.
How do you define success now?
Being able to travel around and play and having people coming out to see is us all that we want, ofc you’re constantly striving towards doing bigger and better
things but in the state of the industry today and with a lot of bands having a very hard time getting tours to work, every opportunity to just get to play is something
we see as a sign of success. Also if we can actually break even on costs that’s a big win!
What keeps your creativity alive?
I think we’ve always written about our own experiences and drawn a lot of influence from our own lives and our own states of minds so the creativity kind of comes with just living our lives. We’ve never been one of those bands that write about the kind of cliché ”cool things” that you’re supposed to write rock songs about. A lot of our inspiration and creativity just comes from traveling, love, loss and the occasionally binge-drinking session.
What does Trench Dogs stand for today?
We’re just having fun and want to give people a break from all the shit that’s going on. As well as giving ourselves a break from the shit that’s going on. We’re just five guys that love to play and are happy to have people enjoy what we do. It doesn’t have to be more complicated than that i think!
What is the meaning of life?
The meaning of life is to try and figure out the answer to that question.
If you could be a fly on the wall anywhere in rock history, where would it be?
That’s a tough one. Just because i can’t think of a serious one i will choose the Hanoi Rocks show in Israel (i think?) where Andy McCoy got a bucket filled with
piss thrown at him from someone in the crowd. That would have been interesting to see, also i don’t know if that has ever happened to another performer ever!
What’s the biggest misconception about the band?
Hmm. I don’t know. We get mistaken for being women quite a lot, usually when we try to walk in to the men’s room at airports or restaurants, there’s usually someone trying to stop us and point us to the ladies room instead. (on a personal note i think that’s why some of our members have turned to growing facial hair, but I don’t think they would admit to that being the reason)
What should Nottingham expect from your set?
We’re running a 40 minutes set at Mayhem so for those shorter ones we usually go for more of the high energy fast songs. We will probably be playing one or two of
our new unreleased tracks as well! It will be a fun one for sure!
Thanks for a fun interview! Hope to see some of your readers at Mayhem in Nottingham!
Ben Righter dives into sun soaked escapism with INTO THE SUN, a breezy feel good track blending Afrobeat grooves, Caribbean rhythms, and smooth R&B touches into a vibrant summer soundtrack. The song radiates warmth and lightness, built for open windows, long drives, and carefree moments where time stretches effortlessly. With a melodic instinct rooted in his early connection to music, Righter keeps things simple and effective, letting rhythm and atmosphere take the lead.
It is an easygoing, uplifting release that invites listeners to relax, move, and fully embrace the moment.
