Conscious Pilot blur the line between satire, anxiety, and explosive post punk energy on Horatio Burns, a sharp, darkly comic anthem overflowing with restless momentum and DIY spirit. Built around propulsive guitars, wiry rhythms, and emotionally charged hooks, the track transforms creative frustration into something strangely exhilarating. Its fictional portrait of artistic obsession doubles as a wider reflection on modern disillusionment, balancing humor, tension, and vulnerability with remarkable precision. Fierce, witty, and irresistibly urgent, Horatio Burns captures the chaotic beauty of pushing forward through uncertainty while refusing to lose personality or edge along the way.
AITTALA Lineup – Gary ‘Smith’ Zeus (Drums), Eric Aittala (Guitar/Vox), Dane Taylor (Bass)
New EP Ill-Gotten Gains Out Now via Exitus Stratagem Records
AITTALA (pronounced EYE‑tah‑la) has released the official performance video for “Blacklisted,” the third track from their second EP of 2025, Ill‑Gotten Gains, out now on Exitus Stratagem Records.
The clip marks a milestone for the long‑running metal project; it is the first video to feature new bassist Dane Taylor, joining Eric Aittala (guitars/vocals) and Gary “Zeus” Smith (drums). The trio’s chemistry is on full display, delivering a tight, groove‑driven performance that captures the grit and weight of the track.
A groove‑ and sludge‑inspired standout, “Blacklisted” serves as the thematic counterpoint to the EP’s opening tracks “Isolation” and “Ill‑Gotten Gains.” Where those songs explore the chaos created by self‑serving actions, “Blacklisted” flips the perspective, calling out the people who manipulate, exploit, and leave destruction in their wake.
Musically, the song leans into thick riffs, a grinding mid‑tempo pulse, and the band’s signature blend of heaviness and melody. It’s a concise, punishing statement that reinforces why AITTALA’s sound remains difficult to categorize, and impossible to ignore.
Watch the video via its premiere on Metal Addicts HERE.
Released this past November,Ill‑Gotten Gains continues AITTALA’s tradition of blurring metal subgenres, pulling from traditional metal, doom, groove, progressive elements, and more to create a cohesive, emotionally charged experience.
The EP’s lyrics trace a path from chaos to consequence to the search for redemption, examining how people create disorder for personal gain, face the fallout of those choices, and grapple with whether forgiveness is still possible.
Each track sharpens that arc: “Isolation” delivers doomy heaviness and shifting time signatures as it confronts consequences; “Ill‑Gotten Gains” rides a bouncing 8‑string riff into the mindset of exploiting chaos; “Blacklisted” uses groove‑sludge grit to call out manipulative behavior; “Ever After” offers a modern metal ballad of internal struggle and uncertain redemption; and “Ashes” leans into traditional heavy metal as it follows someone spiraling downward and pulling others with them.
The EP cover features an updated version of Frank, AITTALA’s long‑running mascot, a cartoon pig head inside a pentagram, created in 2014 for the album “Effigy.” Frank represents the shady figure who helps acquire “ill‑gotten gains”…for the right price. His return on the cover ties directly into the EP’s themes of corruption, consequence, and moral decay.
Track Listing:
Isolation – 4:22
Ill Gotten Gains – 4:20
Black Listed – 3:35
Ever After – 4:29
Ashes – 3:50 EP Length: 20:37
AITTALA’s sound resists simple labels, blending classic heavy metal, doom, groove, progressive and power metal, thrash, and hard rock into a style that’s distinctly their own. Lyrically, Eric Aittala pulls from the darker edges of human experience, crafting songs that balance heaviness with introspection.
Founded in 1991 in the Netherlands, AITTALA quickly became a staple of the Dutch metal scene, even opening for The Gathering and Sadist after releasing their 1993 EP “Selling Heaven.”
After disbanding and later resurrecting the project in 2008, AITTALA released six full‑length albums between 2009 and 2022, followed by the Machines EP (2025). Each release showcases the band’s evolution while preserving their unmistakable core sound.
Recommended for fans of Mastodon, Eyehategod, Baroness, Crowbar, Katatonia, live music enthusiasts can catch AITTALA at the following show dates below.
Aittala Tour Dates (WV, VA, TN, NC): May 21 – Tilty McFlipperz – Martinsburg, WV May 22 – The Spot on Kirk – Roanoke, VA May 23 – Capones – Johnson City, TN Jun 19 – Cannonball Music Hall – Raleigh, NC Jul 31 – The Den | Winston – Salem, NC Aug 7- White Rabbit Pub – Fayetteville, NC Aug 29 – Scandals Live – Virginia Beach, VA
Henry Aberson deliver warmth, groove, and emotional sophistication on Don’t Wait Too Long, a smooth neo-soul and alternative R&B gem rich with atmosphere and understated vulnerability. Featuring soulful contributions from Derran Day and Cortez Johnson, the track glides through mellow rhythms, organic instrumentation, and reflective songwriting that explores the fragile distance between hesitation and connection. Every detail feels carefully placed, balancing intimacy with cinematic depth while maintaining an effortlessly fluid groove.
Elegant, emotionally resonant, and endlessly replayable, Don’t Wait Too Long thrives on patience, texture, and timeless soul sensibility.
Time Parade turn an everyday moment into something oddly touching and memorable on Strange, a jangly indie rock gem filled with emotional warmth, subtle humor, and understated charm. Beneath its playful premise — inspired by a dog constantly claiming the bed — the track unfolds into something more reflective, balancing cozy intimacy with restless emotional energy. Crisp guitars, steady rhythms, and heartfelt vocals give the song an effortless sincerity that feels both personal and relatable. Warm, melodic, and quietly affecting, Strange captures the beauty hidden inside life’s smallest and most familiar moments.
It may be quite early, however Marko Maksimovic capture the quiet magic of the holiday season on The Night Before Wonders, a warm cinematic composition overflowing with nostalgia, wonder, and orchestral elegance. Performed with the Budapest Orchestra, the piece unfolds through delicate melodies, sweeping strings, and softly glowing arrangements that evoke snowy evenings and childlike anticipation before Christmas morning. Rather than leaning into grand spectacle, the track thrives on emotional subtlety and atmosphere, creating a deeply comforting listening experience. Gentle, heartfelt, and beautifully immersive, The Night Before Wonders feels like the soundtrack to a peaceful winter memory suspended in time.
Ben Junction dive into hypnotic late-night territory on CTRL, a slow-burning melodic techno journey built on tension, restraint, and immersive atmosphere. Rather than relying on explosive drops, the track steadily evolves through pulsing rhythms, subtle vocal fragments, and emotionally charged synth work that grows more captivating with every layer. Its minimal yet cinematic approach creates a feeling of constant motion, balancing introspective depth with undeniable club energy. Dark, sleek, and deeply absorbing, CTRL captures the art of controlled momentum — music designed to simmer, hypnotize, and completely pull listeners into its orbit.
The drummer had already decided to retire. But a wounded Alex Lifeson brought the only argument that made the classic line-up’s 2015 final road trip a reality
m.c. travel hit the sweet spot between catchy alt-hip hop and emotionally charged storytelling on the freedom to be reckless, a vibrant, hook-driven track bursting with personality, momentum, and infectious energy. Built around dynamic verses and an absolutely killer chorus, the song balances sharp lyrical delivery with a carefree, almost euphoric atmosphere that instantly sticks in the listener’s head. The production moves with confidence and color, giving every melodic moment room to explode naturally.
Bold, addictive, and packed with replay value, the freedom to be reckless feels tailor-made for repeat listens and late-night drives alike.
Engraved have just released Hymns For The Hollow.
Brisbane’s very own Sound Affliction have just released new single – Frozen.