Blog

“The undead are irresistible: DOMINUM infect their listeners with the zombie virus again through hooks and hits! Night is Calling is as contagious as can be!”– Metal Hammer (DE) “A painting made of chords and pure soundscapes carries listeners off into a world of dark fantasy.”– Rock It! (DE) “Sublime from start to finish!”– Fireworks (UK) Nearing the release […]

Source

Norwegian progressive metal band Enslaved have released “Spirit Helper,” a deeply personal and cross-cultural collaboration with Kevin Kicking Woman, a tribal elder of the Blackfeet/Cree Nation in Montana.

Kevin Kicking Woman comments: “Songs are the Blackfoot way of knowing. Expressing relationship and responsibility, belonging and accountability. The purpose of this song is having the performative expression giving meaning to life. Connecting to the universes through the cosmos, earth beings, water beings and spirit beings. Spirit helper is the physical documentation in this process.”

Enslaved founding guitarist Ivar Bjørnson traces the origins of the collaboration back to 2019 in Colorado, where connections formed through the band’s extended musical community — including shared ties with Wardruna, their management, and the community surrounding the Fire in the Mountains festival on Blackfeet land in Montana — gradually led them toward the Blackfeet Nation. “What initially began as conversations around performances and artistic collaboration slowly evolved into something much deeper: an exchange of perspectives, histories, and spiritual traditions shaped by many people along the way,” he says.

Those connections deepened through By Norse Music — the label and artistic platform co-founded by members of Enslaved and Wardruna, together with manager Simon Füllemann — and came into sharper focus when Fire in the Mountains returned in 2025 to East Glacier, Mont. “We were welcomed into conversations and ceremonies that left a profound impact on us,” Bjørnson says. It was there that he met Nick Rink of the Blackfeet Nation, who later introduced him to Kevin Kicking Woman.

The pivotal moment arrived during a later gathering in New York, attended by representatives from the Blackfeet community, Fire in the Mountains, the Firekeeper Alliance, and Enslaved. There, Kevin Kicking Woman shared a traditional morning prayer song — a deeply personal and spiritual piece that he entrusted to Bjørnson and the band as the foundation for a new composition. “I immediately recognized the responsibility carried within that gesture,” Bjørnson says. “Rather than simply building around Kevin’s contribution, it became important for me to allow the music itself to adapt to the pulse, rhythm, and spirit already present within his song.” Over the following months, the two worked to find a musical language where their respective traditions could coexist — allowing Enslaved to remain fully itself while honoring the emotional core of Kevin’s prayer.

“For us, the song represents far more than a collaboration between artists from different backgrounds,” Bjørnson reflects. “It reflects what can happen when people meet openly, listen carefully, and allow themselves to be changed by the encounter. The generosity, trust, and wisdom shared with us by Kevin Kicking Woman, Nick Rink, the Blackfeet community, Fire in the Mountains, the Firekeeper Alliance, and everyone who helped shape this journey are things we carry with deep gratitude. Ultimately, ‘Spirit Helper’ is a song about connection — between past and present, traditions and people, and the spiritual and human worlds. For Enslaved, it stands as one of the most meaningful musical journeys we have undertaken.”

The artwork for “Spirit Helper” was created by Nicholas Rink, who describes it as a visual meditation on the forces behind the collaboration: a light blue wave at the bottom representing “the background vibration of existence connecting us all”; a red line representing shared humanity; a yellow spiral representing the song itself moving through all of those elements; and a black circle with a lightning bolt representing Kevin Kicking Woman’s singing and its spiritual power. The work is rendered on an old map of Norway, a nod to the importance of land in shaping human experience, with the rainbow of triangles paying homage to Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon.

Enslaved will return to Fire in the Mountains later this month to perform. Founded in 1991 by Bjørnson and vocalist Grutle Kjellson, the Bergen-based band released their debut demo “Yggdrasill” in 1992, the mini-album Hordanes Land in 1993, and their debut full-length, Vikingligr Veldi, in 1994. Over the three decades since, they have become one of Norway’s most celebrated and internationally recognized bands, widely known for their fusion of black metal and progressive rock.

Enslaved is Ivar Bjørnson on guitar, Grutle Kjellson on vocals, Arve “Ice Dale” Isdal on guitar, Håkon Vinje on keyboards and clean vocals, and Iver Sandøy on drums.

The post ENSLAVED Shares “Spirit Helper” A Collaboration with Blackfeet Nation Elder KEVIN KICKING WOMAN appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

The Material Girl used to mean everything to me.

In this interview, Giusy Ferrigno opens up about her personal journey as an artist and the evolution of her band, Marshall. The conversation explores how she found her own voice within an established group, her intuitive approach to songwriting, and what helps the band forge a deep connection with listeners in a fast-paced music scene. Giusy also dives into the dynamic between her on-stage persona and off-stage identity, the creative influences driving their latest material, and the emotional impact they hope this upcoming musical chapter will have on fans.

The post Video Interview | Giusy Ferrigno from Marshall: “We’re a band with a real story and a real passion behind what we do.” first appeared on FemMetal – Goddesses of Metal.

From Lethbridge, Alberta, Sparkle Blood is a terrific trio making punky, poppy, modern rock with thoughtful lyrics and hooks a plenty. On its new album ZIP ZAP, the band (Tyler Stewart on guitar/vocals, Bre Day on drums, and Bailey Kate on bass/vocals) dishes out 12 earworm tracks in just 27 minutes. As a songwriter, Stewart is a master of efficiency. Each song comes in, grabs your attention, and then quickly makes way for the next. A lot of these songs (like “Mad About It,” “The World Is Run By Sexist Men,” and “In Real Life”) are political in nature and don’t hold back anything. But overall, the vibe of this record is warm and upbeat (“Totally Ignorant” has to be the happiest-sounding angry song I’ve ever heard). Stewart has the gift of being someone you can’t help but like the moment he opens his mouth to sing. He can write serious songs without getting pretentious about it, and themes of friendship and fun loom large throughout this record. “This album speaks to the importance of recognizing we all have to take an active role in shaping the society we want to live in,” says Stewart. “But at the same time, we can’t take every moment of every day too seriously.” From start to finish, the quality of the songs is top-notch. And the energy level rarely takes a dip. Yeah, I know there are thousands of new tracks coming out every day. It’s just so hard to keep up. But Sparkle Blood is very much worth your time. These three make music that will give you hope in humanity. You’ll want to buy their record. You’ll want to drink beers and watch hockey with them. If this is “happy punk,” sign me up for more!

On its debut album, Chicago-based Consensus Madness fills a rather large void in today’s punk rock scene. Certainly there are more than a few contemporary bands that could trace their spiritual and stylistic lineage back to The Clash, Sex Pistols, Stooges, Buzzcocks, or Black Flag. There’s a whole subgenre devoted to worshipping at the church of the Ramones. But when was the last time you heard a new band and thought, “This is like a modern-day Bags”? Well, Consensus Madness slots into that space nicely with a powerful, rapid-paced sound that meets at the intersection of first wave punk rock and early hardcore with a touch of post-punk/new wave to boot. On Endeavors (out on Iron Lung Records), the band breathes new life into a classic sound. OG California punk vibes co-exist with a distinctly Midwestern sensibility, and you can feel the urgency in the music, vocals, and lyrics. A younger version of me would have been won over simply by a band attempting this sound. But what impresses me is how well Consensus Madness pulls it off. These tunes are killer, and the band sounds tight and energetic. And lead singer Sarah is the real deal. She may be following in the footsteps of Alice Bag and Poly Styrene, but she’s no copyist. She’s an original in her own right with charisma for days. If you’re looking for a band that’s got something important to say about life and the world in 2026, crank tracks like “Let’s Go To War,” “Living and Dying,” and “Superfund” as loudly as possible and join the resistance. At a lean 10 tracks, Endeavors will hit you with everything it’s got and leave you wanting more. A superb debut!

Djrum’s elegantly introspective Under Tangled Silence was one of the best electronic albums of last year. He’s following it up next month with I Wander, a new EP designed as one standalone piece of music but also divided into six tracks.

The post Djrum Announces New EP <em>I Wander</em>: Hear “I Wander (IV + V)” appeared first on Stereogum.

The Night Eternal has announced that their Metal Blade Records debut, Cold Velvet, will arrive on August 21 and has released a new single and video for “Caught in a Spell.”

Of the track, the band says: “‘Caught in a Spell’ delivers the perfect heavy metal soundtrack for a night drive. Driven by a hypnotic groove and a powerful sing-along chorus, the song evokes images of endless highways and a restless sense of wanderlust, pulling the listener towards the unknown. Director Robert Piel underlines this atmosphere with a striking video clip, following a Harley-Davidson–riding knight through a cinematic road-movie journey.”

Founded in 2018, the German melancholic heavy metal band has steadily built a reputation through their previous albums — Moonlit Cross (2021) and Fatale (2023) — earning support slots with Blind Guardian, the Michael Schenker Group, Angel Witch, and Lucifer, along with festival appearances at Wacken, Summer Breeze, Hellfest, and Alcatraz throughout Europe, as well as a spot at Hell’s Heroes in Houston, Texas.

With Cold Velvet, The Night Eternal has deepened their signature blend of darkness, dreamlike atmosphere, and deep melancholy within a framework of driving heavy metal. Hypnotic rhythms, mesmeric guitar riffs, and anthemic choruses propel the record’s eight tracks, which the band describes as weaving “a trance-like state” for the listener.

Cold Velvet was recorded between May and December 2025 at Church of Sound Studios in the greater Munich area. Production, recording, and mixing were handled by Michael Zech — guitarist of black metal act Secrets of the Moon and a producer with credits that include Sulphur Aeon, Triptykon, and The Ruins of Beverast.

The Night Eternal currently appears on the cover of Deaf Forever magazine, which awarded Cold Velvet the #1 slot in their Soundcheck. Writes the publication: “Incredible — where is this band heading next? To the very top, of course. And it would take the devil himself to prevent Cold Velvet from finally catapulting The Night Eternal to the pinnacle of the European scene. Catchier yet even more mystical than before, the German band throws their entire talent into the ring across eight tracks, leaving behind everything else attempting to navigate the dynamic interplay of goth rock, gritty heavy metal, and anthemic hard rock.”

The record has also drawn praise from several respected voices in the metal community. Mille Petrozza of Kreator calls it “gloomy metal from my hometown — beautiful!” Johanna Sadonis of Lucifer says: “With their new record, The Night Eternal cements even further why they are the rightful defenders of the New Wave of German Heavy Metal and a staple of contemporary brutal night-time rocking. Who let the bats out?!” Maik Weichert of Heaven Shall Burn adds: “Genuine emotions that sweep you back and forth, plunging you into the depths and soaring you to new heights. With this album, The Night Eternal fills the gaping void in my musical heart — the gap between rock-infused wave and rousing metal — like no one else can.”

The record will be available on CD-digipak, digital, and vinyl in multiple color variants. Preorders are available here.

The Night Eternal Live:

• July 18 – Baden in Blut Festival – Weil am Rhein, Germany
• Aug. 20 – Goldgrube – Kassel, Germany * Release Show
• Aug. 21 – Bambi Galore – Hamburg, Germany * Release Show
• Aug. 22 – Nord Sommerfest – Essen, Germany * Release Show
• Aug. 27 – Drums of War Festival – Barcelona, Spain
• Sept. 25 – Delta Zinnober – Essen, Germany

w/ Messa:

• Oct. 27 – Le Dodu – Marseille, France
• Oct. 28 – Sala Salamandra – Barcelona, Spain
• Oct. 29 – Sala Copernico – Madrid, Spain
• Oct. 30 – Antirouille – Montpellier, France
• Oct. 31 – Rock Art Festival – Trier, Germany * The Night Eternal only
• Nov. 1 – Petit Bain – Paris, France
• Nov. 3 – Cathouse – Glasgow, U.K.
• Nov. 4 – Rebellion – Manchester, U.K.
• Nov. 5 – Rescue Rooms – Nottingham, U.K.
• Nov. 6 – Thekla – Bristol, U.K.
• Nov. 7 – The Garage – London, U.K.
• Nov. 9 – 013 – Tilburg, Netherlands
• Nov. 10 – Kavka – Antwerp, Belgium
• Nov. 12 – Franz Club – Berlin, Germany
• Nov. 13 – Logo – Hamburg, Germany
• Nov. 14 – Rockpalast – Bochum, Germany
• Nov. 15 – Artheater – Cologne, Germany
• Nov. 17 – Das Bett – Frankfurt, Germany
• Nov. 18 – Backstage Club – Munich, Germany
• Nov. 19 – Dynamo – Zurich, Switzerland
• Nov. 20 – Sunset Bar – Martigny, Switzerland
• Nov. 21 – Live Club – Trezzo sull’Adda, Italy

The Night Eternal is Ricardo Baum on vocals, Robert Richter on guitar, Henry Käseberg on guitar, and Aleister Präkelt on drums.

The post THE NIGHT ETERNAL Announce “Cold Velvet” for Aug. 21 Release on Metal Blade Records; Unveil “Caught in a Spell” Video appeared first on Sonic Perspectives.

The Invite, the new tense dinner party comedy directed by Olivia Wilde based on a script by Will McCormack and Rashida Jones, was a Sundance hit and has been earning rave reviews. We mentioned it before because Dev Hynes composed the score, and now there’s another music angle.

The post Don’t Put In The Newspaper That Pharrell Got Frustrated appeared first on Stereogum.

If you paid attention to our pages in the past couple of months, then you probably stumbled upon