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Progressive Death Metal duo, Sallow Moth, will release new album, Hydrophilous Brood July 24 on Willowtip Records! Hydrophilous Brood takes place in Pamugara, a dimensional nest immersed in a lush world where organisms are rematerialized into new hybrid species after passing through a powerful portal, a highly unpredictable artifact known as the ‘Mossbane Lantern’. Each song has a thematic connection […]

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I don’t know where you come from
My mind can’t tell it’s real

In love and spirituality, some visitations arrive as emotions before they drift into image: a pressure in the chest, a shiver of recognition, a memory wrapped in gauze and pulled gently back into the light. In From the Heavens, the collaborative single from Damascan Daydreams and Joseph Salazar, longing appears on the horizon like a storm system: luminous, unsettling, and impossible to ignore. The ethereal song moves through the space between earthly desire and celestial omen, tracing the fragile outline of a presence that feels at once intimate and out of reach.

That sense of spiritual visitation and romance is built into the track’s very texture. Here, Austin-based Damascan Daydreams, the project of Eman Tiba, joins forces with electronic musician, composer, and sound artist Joseph Salazar for a piece of soft, tender dream pop that glows with an otherworldly charge. Bass synth pulses rise beneath echoing claps, while tabla, tambourine, glockenspiel, and drum machine details shimmer at the edges like small points of light scattered across a darkening sky. Tiba’s vocals hover in a space where the theatrical ache of Kate Bush brushes against the spectral elegance of Alison Shaw of Cranes, giving the track its strange mixture of sweetness, urgency, and apparition-like grace.

Again and again, the song returns to the question “How do I know?” — how to know whether this presence is real, whether the sign can be trusted, whether a dream has stepped into waking life. From the Heavens circles around signs, dreams, voices, and the ache of recognition, capturing the sensation of encountering something so beautiful that the mind struggles to decide whether it has been touched by love, memory, or miracle. It is bubbly and rhythmic, yet haunted; warm as sunlight breaking through sleep, yet shadowed by the knowledge that any vision can vanish the moment one looks away.

The accompanying video, directed by Adam Mark Brown and Eman Tiba, sends that uncertainty into a vast, cinematic landscape. Filmed in the sand dunes of West Texas over two days, the visual unfolds amid an intense and unexpected thunderstorm, turning the desert into a liminal stage where natural forces and dream logic converge. A pale, veiled figure appears before a black wall of clouds, kneeling in the sand like an oracle caught between prayer and surrender. The dunes stretch outward in soft, lunar waves, while the sky gathers into something immense, almost sentient.

Across the video’s sun-bleached and storm-darkened frames, gauze becomes atmosphere, fabric becomes wings, and bodies seem to dissolve into wind. A figure in black moves across the dunes like a shadow at twilight; another is seen through a crystal sphere, refracted into a miniature world where heaven and earth fold into one another. At times, the camera lingers on ritual objects half-buried in the sand: a patterned drum, mallets, glockenspiel, scattered cloth, and fragments of light. They appear less like props than relics, instruments left behind after some private ceremony of sound and longing.

The video’s most striking images embrace contrast: the fragile human body against the violent scale of weather, a blonde apparition glowing beneath an iron sky, a black-clad figure collapsed in the sand, a dancer wrapped in sheer darkness as the desert wind lifts the fabric into ghostly shapes. The result is not a literal narrative, but a search for guidance inside a turbulent, shifting, surreal landscape. From the Heavens becomes a dreamlike journey through devotion, doubt, and the magnetic pull of something just beyond comprehension.

Watch the video for From the Heavens below:

Damascan Daydreams is Eman Tiba, a singer and songwriter crafting dreamy dark pop with electronic undertones. Born in Damascus, Syria, and raised in Dublin, Ohio, Tiba began songwriting at a young age, singing in a school choir while playing keyboard and tabla. Now based in Austin, Texas, she released her debut, Haunted Home, in 2021, followed by the EP Hidden World in 2023 and Archangel in August 2024, which featured Oddmanrush.

Joseph Salazar is an electronic musician, composer, and sound artist whose work explores surreal sonic landscapes through synthesis, rhythm, and texture. Inspired by the mystery of consciousness, concepts of infinity, and theories on the nature of reality, Salazar’s compositions blend hypnotic sequences, evolving atmospheres, and melancholic, euphoric melodies. His work as a composer includes contributions to video games such as Halo Infinite and Where the Heart Leads, as well as short films and multimedia projects.

Damascan Daydreams & Joseph Salazar’s collaborative single From The Heavens is out now. Order here.

Follow Damascan Daydreams:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Apple Music
• Amazon Music

Follow Joseph Salazar:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube
• Spotify
• Apple Music
• Amazon Music
• Bandcamp

The post “How Do I Know?” — Damascan Daydreams & Joseph Salazar Collaborate in Video for Divine Dreampop Single “From the Heavens” appeared first on Post-Punk.com.

Hailing from Berlin, Germany, Belligerence is a young metal force. The trio — Johan, Richard and Carlos — formed in 2022 and launched an EP called “Eschaton Foretold”, which showcased their talent. With their next EP, “Liturgies of the Vile Ones”, the band is taking the next step. Belligerence’s sound is inspired by bands like… Continue Reading →

BackerKit Crowdfunding Campaign Launches May 19

WASHINGTON, D.C. – American heavy metal powerhouse A Sound of Thunder has officially announced its upcoming new full-length album, The Golden Hourglass, with a fan-powered crowdfunding campaign launching May 19 on BackerKit.

The band describes The Golden Hourglass as “a melodic heavy metal album to raise your spirits and empower you to keep hope alive through adversity,” blending soaring vocals, epic storytelling, and emotionally charged songwriting into what the group calls its most ambitious and personal work to date. 

Written during one of the most difficult periods in the band’s history, The Golden Hourglass explores themes of resilience, perseverance, and finding hope in dark times. The album tells the story of the Izena, an advanced civilization facing world ending catastrophe, while simultaneously reflecting the band’s own struggles and rebirth. 

“This album is an expression of all of our feelings throughout the past few years,” shared vocalist Nina Osegueda. “There’s a little fear, some anxiety about what’s to come, but ultimately there’s a lot of hope for the future.” 

The Golden Hourglass will be the first full-length album to feature drummer Justin Finger, whose technical precision and explosive energy helped inspire what the band considers its strongest material yet. (A Sound of Thunder)

Artist Steve Stone, best known for his work on Iron Maiden’s Brave New World and Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, provides the album’s sweeping exterior and interior gatefold cover art featuring the band’s signature hourglass symbol. The album will present the cover art without title or logos to enhance its impact.

The campaign marks the band’s transition from Kickstarter to BackerKit, continuing the fully independent, fan-funded model that has sustained A Sound of Thunder for more than 15 years.

The crowdfunding campaign will feature a wide range of exclusive collector rewards, including splatter and colored vinyl editions, variant cassettes, CDs, apparel, enamel pins, embroidered patches, signed memorabilia, executive producer credits, and other limited-edition items created exclusively for supporters. 

Fans can preview music from the album and pre-order now: 

The Golden Hourglass BackerKit Campaign

For additional information, music, tour dates, and updates, visit:

A Sound of Thunder Official Website

About A Sound of Thunder: 
Founded in Washington, D.C., A Sound of Thunder has built an international following through its blend of traditional heavy metal, power metal, and hard rock. Known for its independent spirit, dynamic live performances, and ambitious concept releases, the band has spent more than a decade cultivating a fiercely loyal fanbase known as the Legion of Thunder.

Source: Dustin Hardman

Photos by: Lucinda Scott Words by: Mitchell Patrick Thursday night was absolutely packed for the Texas alt-metal heavyweights Catch Your Breath inside 170 Russell; it was buzzing from the very beginning, with fans eager to witness a stellar lineup that also featured Adelaide’s Heartline and local champions Outloved. It promised to be a masterclass in […]

Brisbane’s premier heavy music and dark arts event, the Dead of Winter Festival, is officially rising from the ashes. Dubbed The Resurrection, the festival is locked in for Saturday, 27 June 2026, marking its first return since 2019. Originally launched in 2009, the iconic gathering was forced into a multi-year hiatus following the pandemic. For […]

SUiCiDE .

The post SUiCiDE BOMBERS’ ‘Lock Up Your Daughters’ Tour Diary Part 9 of 9 first appeared on Sleaze Roxx.

Stream “Drottinn Fyrirgefur Allt” HERE.

FORSMÁN, one of the most promising new names to emerge from Iceland’s black metal underground, today release their new song “Drottinn Fyrirgefur Allt.” The track serves as the opener on the band’s debut album, Brenndar Rústir & Fuðrandi Fjörur, set for release on June 26th via Vesperian through Metal Blade Records worldwide.

“Drottinn Fyrirgefur Allt” opens the album with severity and intent. Vicious, cold, and extreme, the song still reveals a strong sense of detail: intricate riffing, shifting dynamics, and a dense atmosphere give FORSMÁN’s black metal a demanding, fully formed character. Rooted in Iceland’s contemporary tradition, the band already appear less like followers than a new voice within it.

Stream “Drottinn Fyrirgefur Allt” HERE. Watch the visualizer HERE.

The album’s cover artwork was created by Paolo Girardi, known for his work with Power Trip, Revocation, Sulphur Aeon, and many others.

Brenndar Rústir & Fuðrandi Fjörur – Track Listing:

1. Drottinn Fyrirgefur Allt
2. Svartir Svanir
3. Andvan
4. Valdníðsla
5. Kynjamyndir
6. Lof Mér Líf Þitt Að Taka
7. Hræ Hins Almáttuga
8. Barmafylltar Fjöldagrafir

FORSMÁN is a black metal band from Kópavogur, Iceland. After their debut EP Dönsum í logans ljóma, the members, all only in their early twenties, have been working intensively on new material. FORSMÁN (pronounced “fors-mown”) stands in the line of modern Icelandic black metal associated with Svartidauði, Sinmara, and Misþyrming, combining a dense atmosphere with focused, forward-driving songwriting.

FORSMÁN:
V. – bass, vocals
H. – guitar
O. – guitar, vocals
M. – drums

https://www.facebook.com/forsmanband

https://www.instagram.com/forsmaniceland

https://www.vesperian.world

https://www.instagram.com/vesperian.world

Source: EARSPLIT PR

Australian metalcore merchants Engraved have released their new album, Hymns For The Hollow along with new single, Pressure, today via XMusic!

From the get go, Pressure makes its intentions clear. Blistering guitar work tears through the track at full force, underpinned by thunderous, rapid-fire drumming that refuses to let up. Against this wall of
sound, vocalist melodies carve a haunting path through the chaos, a push and pull
between aggression and anguish that defines the band’s signature sound.

Lyrically, Pressure explores the suffocating weight of external forces and the psychological toll of betrayal, isolation, and resilience. Lines like “Hell house the pressure is on / Sleepless your instincts are wrong” paint a portrait of a mind under siege, while the track’s anthemic bridge.

“This pressure / Weight of the world on me / Their poison / Is getting the best of me” delivers a gut-punch of raw, unfiltered emotion that will resonate deeply with listeners.

The band add, “Pressure is a song about reaching a breaking point, it’s about everything closing in on you at once and having to decide whether you buckle or push through.”

Listen to Pressure here
https://lnk.to/R8IdG0

Pressure, along with previous singles, Bleed, NCB and The Fallen, are featured on Engraved’s new album,
Hymns For The Hollow out today via XMusic.

Get your copy at
https://lnk.to/S4Nezf

Physical & Merch available from
https://xmusiclabel.bigcartel.com/engraved

ENGRAVED will be taking Hymns For The Hollow on the road in support of the album
release on the FOREVER NU AUSTRALIAN TOUR 2026 featuring the UK’s No.1 Tribute’s
to Slipknot and System of a Down – Slip-Not & Chop Suey.

FOREVER NU TOUR DATES:
22/05 – Ocean View, Wamberal Surf Club
23/05 – Hoey Moey’s, Coffs Harbour
24/05 – The Warehouse, Newcastle
27/05 – The Loft On Broadway, Sydney
28/05 – Cherry Bar, Melbourne
29/05 – Golden Vine Hotel, Bendigo
30/05 – Mo’s Desert Clubhouse, Burleigh Heads
31/05 – Paddo Tavern, Brisbane

Tickets on sale now!
https://linktr.ee/chopsueyslipnot

ABOUT ENGRAVED:
Drawing inspiration from metalcore giants like Trivium, Parkway Drive, Killswitch Engage, and Bullet For My Valentine, Engraved combines intricate instrumentation and commanding lyrics with a distinct early 2000s metalcore vibe. This sound has helped them establish a loyal following across Australia since the release of their debut EP, Unleashed, in 2022 and earned them over 100,000 streams and climbing.

Follow Engraved
linktr.ee/engravedband

Follow all XMusic artists updates and live dates on
xmusic.au

The post ENGRAVED Release New Album Hymns For The Hollow, & New Single ‘Pressure’ appeared first on The Rockpit.

 

 

In a genre often saturated with the predictable, a new masked entity has emerged to shatter the mold. President, the anonymous collective that has been the subject of intense speculation across the metal underground, has officially announced their highly anticipated debut studio album, Blood Of Your Empire. Set for release on September 4, 2026, the album is already being hailed as a landmark for the “masked metal” movement.

Coinciding with the announcement, the band has unleashed their latest single, “Doom Loop”. The track is a haunting masterclass in atmosphere, blending crushing progressive riffs with pop-metal sensibilities and a vocal performance that is as vulnerable as it is powerful. It’s a sonic journey that explores the cycles of self-destruction, delivered with a cinematic flair that few bands can match.

The Rise of a New Empire

Since their first appearance, President has drawn comparisons to giants like Sleep Token and Ghost, yet they maintain a distinct, darker edge that is uniquely their own. The mystery surrounding the identities of The President, Heist, Protest, and Vice only adds to the allure, forcing the listener to focus solely on the art. “We are not the story; the empire is,” the band shared in a rare, cryptic statement.

With a North American tour already on the horizon and Blood Of Your Empire set to dominate the charts this fall, President is not just a band to watch—they are the new standard for modern heavy music. The “Doom Loop” has begun, and there is no escape.

Blood Of Your Empire is available for pre-order now. Join the empire before the world wakes up.