Blog

Two Minutes to Late Night, the project helmed by Jordan Olds’ (Blood Vulture) alter ego Gwarsenio Hall, have unveiled their cover of Morbid Angel’s “Dawn of the Angry,” originally featured on the band’s 1995 album Domination. The cover features Taylor Young (Twitching Tongues/God’s Hate) on vocals/guitar, Dave Bland (Full of Hell/Jarhead Fer… Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com

METAL DEVASTATION PR CLIENTS TAKE OVER NEW ISSUE OF ROCK HARD MAGAZINE

EIGHT MDPR CLIENTS FEATURED IN THE LATEST ISSUE OF THE LEGENDARY METAL PUBLICATION, INCLUDING ALBUM REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS AND STRONG RATINGS

METAL DEVASTATION PR is proud to announce that eight of its clients are featured throughout the latest issue of ROCK HARD MAGAZINE , one of the most respected publications in the international rock and metal world.
The new issue features FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH on the cover , while inside, readers will find a powerful collection of underground and independent metal talent represented through album reviews and in-depth interviews.
For Metal Devastation PR, having eight clients represented in a single issue is another major milestone and a testament to the continued momentum being generated for the artists working with the agency.
The featured MDPR clients include Talia Hoit, Dragonborn, Gods & Punks, Symphony of Destiny, PainDemic, Nothing Sacred, Greg C. Brown, and Archfiend .
TALIA HOIT – WHEN THE SKIES FALL

Rating: 8/10

(Iberis)
When The Skies Fall is the second solo album by American artist Talia Hoit , following Oceans (2024). It represents an even more powerful and evocative evolution. Composed of ten intensely emotional tracks, the album explores themes such as existential crisis, desire, transformation, and the lasting weight of human relationships.
Each song gathers fragments of Talia’s past, born in different phases of her life, now awakening in a new sonic dimension. The album begins with the simplicity of piano and voice and expands into a richly articulated symphonic metal, distinct from the usual formulas.
Though the songs may seem similar at first, they are deeply infused with a personal melancholy, like a heartfelt confession rather than a mere lament. Even her voice avoids elaborate virtuosity, instead seeking emotional and less trivial solutions, not always immediate, but requiring repeated listening and patience.
This is art born from urgent necessity, not commercial calculation. A work as powerful as it is fragile, revealing a vulnerability that becomes music and will captivate those who truly listen without prejudice.
Antonino Blesi
DRAGONBORN – THE DAWN OF A NEW WORLD

Interview with Michele Martini

Turkish power metal band Dragonborn , founded in 2024 in Ankara , are featured in an interview discussing their debut album No Mercy , their artistic philosophy, and their approach to combining power metal with fantasy-inspired storytelling.
Led by Ekrem Kani , Dragonborn describe their music as a meeting point between emotional authenticity, cinematic atmosphere, and mythological imagery. The band originally began as a project designed to merge power metal with fantasy themes while creating a unified and evocative sound.
The interview explores the concept behind No Mercy , which uses dragons, fallen kingdoms, battles, and other fantasy elements as metaphors for human conflict, resilience, rebirth, and transformation.
Dragonborn also discuss their collaborative creative process, including working with international musicians and artists for orchestration and production. Their goal is not simply technical showmanship, but music that feels sincere, urgent, emotional, and immersive.
The band also discusses their theatrical live performances and ambitions to expand internationally while maintaining their Turkish identity.
For Dragonborn, No Mercy represents only the beginning of what they hope will become a much larger musical and international journey.
GODS & PUNKS – A SHRINE BY THE SEA

Rating: 6.5/10

(Electric Valley)
A Shrine By The Sea , the new album by Brazilian band Gods & Punks , presents itself in an unusual way, being made up of just two long tracks that together create a majestic ode to the sea.
Each track runs for over twenty minutes, during which the band pours all its love for psychedelic rock, stoner rock, and neo-prog . The result is a solid and well-executed work, though not without moments of great value. However, the listening experience can sometimes feel heavy due to the excessive length of the two pieces.
Andrea Raffaldini
SYMPHONY OF DESTINY – HEROES OF EGYPT

Rating: 7.5/10

(Symphony of Destiny)
Characterized by a distinctly technical component, with all members of the group boasting skills developed in prestigious music institutes, the debut of Symphony Of Destiny reveals considerable potential.
The Virginia band fully embraces the cause of symphonic metal with female vocals , enriching their music with themes inspired by ancient Egyptian mythology. The compositions are elaborate, while the arrangements are elegant and well-structured.
Each track on Heroes of Egypt combines undeniable power, with a rhythm section that clearly benefits from careful production, alongside intricate and engaging musical solutions.
Guitarist Wesley Eldridge , the main driving force behind the project, shines throughout, with her compositional quality and musicianship weaving a sonic tapestry of impressive impact and color.
Special mention also goes to vocalist Anne Dueweke , whose classical training fits perfectly within the metallic architecture of the band’s sound.
SYMPHONYOFDESTINY.COM
PAINDEMIC – FWF

Rating: 7/10

(PainDemic)
The American band PainDemic presents itself with solid credentials. Although the project was formed quite recently, its roots trace back to the 1990s U.S. metal scene , with bassist Gary Monardo and drummer Johnnie Tabares , both former members of legendary thrash band Hirax , among its founders.
Vocalist Rob Perkins also brings extensive experience, having worked alongside musicians such as Gene Hoglan and the late Michelle Meldrum .
This combination of experience naturally led to a sincere and intense tribute to thrash metal in its purest form, delivered with passion and determination.
The single FWF stands out for its raw and direct energy , featuring aggressive vocals, earth-shaking rhythms, and razor-sharp guitars.
There is no room for compromise or contamination. PainDemic’s sound remains firmly rooted in classic thrash traditions.
Their debut album, expected in early 2027 , promises to build on these solid foundations with confidence and conviction.
FACEBOOK.COM/PAINDEMIC
NOTHING SACRED – YOUR TIME WILL COME

Rating: 7.5/10

(Nothing Sacred)
The origins of Nothing Sacred date back to the early 1980s , making the band a true piece of Australian heavy metal history .
Despite the ups and downs of a career spanning more than four decades, the band continues to champion its cause with passion and determination.
Renewed interest in their sound has helped further establish them as a reference point, prompting the quintet to release new material.
Their latest studio effort, the single Your Time Will Come , is a concentrated burst of power that draws directly from the best of NWOBHM , showing clear inspiration from that movement while also embracing the speed metal evolution that followed.
Their connection to tradition is further demonstrated by their choice to revisit Black Sabbath’s “Am I Going Insane (Radio)” , included on a charity compilation.
With decades of experience and mastery of the genre’s secrets, Nothing Sacred remains a true guarantee of quality in heavy metal.
GREG C. BROWN – JOURNEY AMONG THE STARS

Interview with Michele Martini

Virtuoso guitarist Greg C. Brown is featured in an interview surrounding his latest release, Solar Winds .
Brown discusses how the new album represents another step forward in both his playing and composition, while exploring a broader range of sounds and brighter tones. He also describes Phobos and Deimos as the heaviest pieces he has ever written, while highlighting the challenging composition “Shadows in the Dark” , written for electric guitar and string quartet.
A major theme of the discussion is Brown’s fascination with astronomy , which provides the conceptual foundation for much of Solar Winds . The moons of Mars, the asteroid Theia, solar winds, and other cosmic subjects all become part of the album’s musical world.
Brown also discusses the relationship between technical ability and emotional expression, explaining that technique is ultimately a tool for communicating what he feels through music.
The interview looks back at his beginnings as a guitarist, including learning Def Leppard’s “Foolin'” and AC/DC’s “Whole Lotta Rosie” , and how those songs opened the door to a lifelong journey with the instrument.
Brown also confirms that he remains open to collaborations, following the music wherever it leads.
ARCHFIEND – THE STORY OF JENNA LEE

Interview with Michele Martini

Archfiend , the project created by singer and multi-instrumentalist Brian LaFave , is featured in an interview centered around the concept behind the album Lost Forever .
Inspired by the tradition of classic heavy metal operas, Lost Forever is structured as one long composition divided into ten chapters.
The album tells the fictional story of Jenna Lee , a fourteen-year-old girl who experiences devastating circumstances involving domestic abuse, the death of her mother, exploitation, kidnapping, and ultimately suicide.
LaFave explains that while the story is fictional, its purpose is to raise awareness of horrific situations that can occur through exploitation, violence, and the pursuit of money.
Musically, the album was written to follow the emotional arc of the story. Moments of fear become slower and more restrained, while scenes of anger and intensity push the music in a heavier direction.
LaFave also discusses the influence of W.A.S.P.’s The Crimson Idol , another classic metal concept album centered around abuse, isolation, fame, and tragedy.
Looking toward the future, LaFave says he would love to bring Lost Forever to the stage as a full metal opera. Archfiend is currently seeking promotional opportunities, potential label support, and the financial backing necessary to bring the ambitious project to audiences.
EIGHT CLIENTS. ONE ISSUE. MAJOR METAL MEDIA EXPOSURE.

For Metal Devastation PR, this issue of Rock Hard Magazine represents another powerful example of what can happen when independent artists receive consistent professional promotion and are given opportunities to reach established metal media.
From symphonic metal and power metal to thrash, traditional heavy metal, psychedelic rock, progressive music, and guitar-driven instrumental metal , the eight featured MDPR clients represent a wide range of sounds and styles.
And with eight separate MDPR clients appearing throughout the same issue , this is more than a single placement. It is a snapshot of the growing presence of the artists we work with across the international metal media landscape.
Congratulations to Talia Hoit, Dragonborn, Gods & Punks, Symphony of Destiny, PainDemic, Nothing Sacred, Greg C. Brown, and Archfiend on their features in this month’s issue of Rock Hard Magazine .
The cover may belong to Five Finger Death Punch, but inside these pages, there’s a whole lot of METAL DEVASTATION.
METAL DEVASTATION PR

Don’t just release music. Build momentum.

We Came As Romans have unveiled the first track, “red smoke,” featuring Heavensgate, from their newly announced special release, All Is Beautiful…Because We're Doomed: Circularity, via SharpTone Records. The release will feature four new songs and six reimagined tracks, with guest appearances from members of Heavensgate, Headwreck, After The … Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com

Thrash metal legends Whiplash are set to release their long-awaited new album Roar on November 27th, 2026 via their new label Time To Kill Records. This is the band’s first studio album in 17 years and its artwork was designed by the legendary Ed Repka.
Read more…

Posted on August 27th 2026, 5:40pm

In wake of their next full-length release Axis Mundi, due out on October 2nd, Imminence offer in listening a brand new single “If Not Now, When”.
Read more…

Atlanta nu-deathcore unit Left To Suffer have unveiled the third single, “STFU,” from their forthcoming new album, Unwelcome Guest, due out October 9th via Hopeless Records. Catch the band as direct support on the Sanguisugabogg and Dying Fetus North American co-headlining tour, with additional support from Crowbar and Deterioration: Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com

Inter Arma are excited to announce the 20th anniversary US shows, where they will perform a special set of material from the last two decades. Antichrist Siege Machine and Chained To The Bottom Of The Ocean will join them on select dates.
Read more…

Amon Amarth‘s new single “Eight Legs Of Thunder” has thundered onto the scene. As is the case with much of the Swedish melodic death metal band’s material, the track draws inspiration from Norse mythology, specifically Sleipnir, the eight-legged steed of the Norse god Odin. The track appears on the band’s forthcoming album “The Allfather Awa… Read More/Discuss on Metal Underground.com

Ronnie James Dio is about to exist somewhere he has never been before: inside a video game world built entirely in his honor.

KnuckleBonz has struck an official partnership with the Dio estate to bring the singer into KnuckleBonz360, a new immersive 3D platform launching this summer. The deal was arranged through Global Merchandising Services, which handles worldwide licensing for the Dio estate.

KnuckleBonz360 functions as a hub of digital “band worlds,” each one built around the visual identity of a major artist. More than 20 of these worlds are rolling out throughout 2026, letting fans wander through virtual spaces, play mini-games, pick up exclusive collectibles and watch iconic album art come alive around them.

The Dio BackStage Experience was put together by a crew of artists, engineers and self-described superfans who wanted to build something that actually does the material justice. The goal is a space where Dio devotees from anywhere in the world can gather and dig into the full arc of his career together.

Tony Simerman, CEO and creative director of KnuckleBonz Corp., said the project started with a simple daydream. “When we first began designing KnuckleBonz360, we immediately imagined what it would be like to go inside Ronnie‘s castle or step inside the “Holy Diver” album art,” Simerman said. “We can’t wait for fans to see what we have built.”

Jen Harper, senior licensing manager at Global Merchandising Services, echoed that enthusiasm. “Dio‘s impact on music and culture continues to inspire fans around the world,” Harper said. “We’re excited to help bring Ronnie‘s legendary world to life in a way that allows fans to experience his legacy like never before.”

Once inside, fans will be able to explore a fantastical castle and surrounding landscape mapped to Dio‘s entire discography — from his early days fronting Rainbow, through the seismic run with Black Sabbath, into the “Holy Diver” solo era, and on through Heaven & Hell.

The experience also comes loaded with digital collectibles alongside physical merchandise that ships worldwide, and it’s built as a multiplayer space so fans can explore it together rather than solo. The Dio BackStage Experience itself went live in July 2026.

Fans looking to get in can join the waitlist at knucklebonz360.com.

Dio died of gastric cancer on May 16, 2010, at 67. He remains one of the most influential vocalists heavy metal has produced. At the time of his diagnosis in late 2009, he was recording and touring with Heaven & Hell, the Black Sabbath offshoot. He underwent chemotherapy and made his final public appearance in April 2010 at the Revolver Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles.

Dio is widely credited with popularizing the “devil horns” hand gesture now inseparable from hard rock and metal culture, and his refusal to compromise on his own musical vision continues to shape younger generations of artists. Beyond the music, he’s remembered for his generosity — a legacy that’s translated into millions of dollars raised for cancer research through the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund.

Global Merchandising Services Ltd is an award-winning merchandising company spanning music, celebrity and lifestyle licensing, with offices in London and Los Angeles and a hand in everything from product design and manufacturing to retail, live events and sponsorships.

KnuckleBonz Inc., founded in 2003, has spent more than two decades building high-end collectibles for music superfans. KnuckleBonz360 marks its move into immersive digital experiences alongside its physical merchandise business.

The post RONNIE JAMES DIO Legacy Goes Digital As KnuckleBonz360 Builds A Whole World Around Him appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.