Archives: News

  • Thrash Metal Icons FLOTSAM AND JETSAM Sign Worldwide Contract With Napalm Records

    Thrash Metal Icons FLOTSAM AND JETSAM Sign Worldwide Contract With Napalm Records

    New Music Coming Soon!
    [Photo Credit: Shane Eckart]
    Fresh off of their successful recent European tour, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM are thrilled to announce their brand new partnership with Napalm Records! The American thrash metal legends have signed a worldwide contract with the premier rock and metal label, and are preparing to release new music soon.

    A new era is dawning for the Arizona metal icons. With their iconic mascot Flotzilla growing more menacing with each release (just like the band themselves!), FLOTSAM AND JETSAM‘s work on their upcoming 16th studio album keeps the heavy momentum moving. Currently in production and slated for a 2026 release, it’ll mark nearly 40 years since the band’s groundbreaking debut, Doomsday for the Deceiver—one of the only albums to ever receive a 6K rating from Kerrang! Magazine. Though bassist Jason Newsted departed to join Metallica, the band pushed forward, following up with 1988’s unstoppable No Place for Disgrace. Since then, they have continued to evolve, showcasing some of their best work to date with recent releases Flotsam and Jetsam, The End of Chaos, Blood in the Water, and I Am The Weapon.

    The band’s current lineup is arguably its strongest ever. Frontman AK Knutson continues bringing the magic, steadily improving his craft with every album and tour. He’s backed by the incredibly talented, exceptionally brilliant guitar duo of co-founder Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley, the powerful, precise and lightning fast magic of drummer Ken K Mary (Alice Cooper, Accept), and the “fresh blood”, extraordinary technical skills and prowess of bassist Bill Bodily.
     
    Michael Gilbert of FLOTSAM AND JETSAM offers about the signing:
    “We are extremely excited about working with Napalm! They are an amazing company that is very passionate about metal music, just like FLOTSAM AND JETSAM is. Everyone in the band looks forward to a great relationship with a very like-minded company!”
     
    Napalm Records Senior A&R Sebastian Münch adds:
    “We’ve been very impressed by Blood In The Water and I Am The Weapon, the two amazing Power/Thrash Metal albums that FLOTSAM AND JETSAM have released in recent years. Due to that and their legendary metal status, we are absolutely thrilled and proud to work alongside the band as they continue their legacy! Welcome to the Napalm family!”

    With this powerhouse lineup and new label partnership, FLOTSAM AND JETSAM are primed to deliver another onslaught of relentless aggression in 2026!

    FLOTSAM AND JETSAM is:
    Eric “AK” Knutson (Vocals)
    Steve Conley (Guitar)
    Michael Gilbert (Guitar)
    Bill Bodily (Bass)
    Ken K Mary (Drums)
     
    FLOTSAM AND JETSAM online:
    FACEBOOK
    INSTAGRAM
    X
    NAPALM RECORDS

  • MORBIKON: Blackened Death/Thrash Metal Project Led By Members Of Municipal Waste, Finntroll To Release Lost Within The Astral Crypts Full-Length November 21st On Tankcrimes

    MORBIKON: Blackened Death/Thrash Metal Project Led By Members Of Municipal Waste, Finntroll To Release Lost Within The Astral Crypts Full-Length November 21st On Tankcrimes; New Track Streaming + Preorders Available  
    Photo by Marc Birr
    Stream MORBIKON’s “Heavens That Burn And Eons Divided” HERE.
    Blackened death/thrash metal project MORBIKON will unleash their Lost Within The Astral Crypts full-length on November 21st via Tankcrimes.
    The creative effort of guitarist/bassist Phil “Landphil” Hall (Municipal Waste, Cannabis Corpse, Iron Reagan) with Mathias “Vreth” Lillmåns (Finntroll, …And Oceans) on vocals, MORBIKON is guided by the second wave of Scandinavian black metal and melodic death metal scenes of the ‘90s. The band released their debut full-length, Ov Mournful Twilight, in 2022 via Tankcrimes. Wrote Angry Metal Guy, “Ov Mournful Twilight manages to be both trve as fvkk and fvn as fvkk. Here lie eight meloblack rippers, each one calibrated to bring winter to your soul and whiplash to your neck.” Teeth Of The Divine concurred hailing, “a scorching hellfire display of blackened death thrash metal, that in many ways is fresh sounding, as well as paying homage to some of the earliest purveyors of the ‘80s/’90s scene.” Added No Echo, “Vreth’s vocals sound as tortured and evil as ever; his raspy screams, breathy hissing, and primal growls grab your attention like a cold breeze on your neck.”
    Not just a studio project, MORBIKON spent six weeks on the road promoting Ov Mournful Twilight alongside internationally notable extreme metal acts such as Exhumed and Skeletal Remains in addition to performances at The Decibel Magazine Beer and Metal Fest in both Philadelphia and Denver and the Milwaukee Metal Fest.
    And in 2025 MORBIKON is more fiery than ever before. “This album feels like some of my darkest material yet,” says Hall. “I filled these songs to the brim with atmosphere and riffs. There are moments during the album that truly feel soaked in classic ‘90s underground blasphemy.”
    In advance of the record’s release, today the band is streaming first single, “Heavens That Burn And Eons Divided.” Offers Hall, “We picked out this track to be the opener on Lost Within The Astral Crypts because it perfectly depicts the insanity within the album. We took great pleasure in making the atmosphere and riffs as dark as possible. There are so many doors open within melodic black metal that I wanted to explore. This song touches on a little of everything within the album and offers a perfect setup.”
    Stream MORBIKON’s “Heavens That Burn And Eons Divided” HERE.
    MORBIKON’s Lost Within The Astral Crypts was written by Phil Hall with lyrics by Quotidius, vocals by Mathias Lillmåns and Quotidius, drums by Pierce Williams (Aenigmatum, ex-Skeletal Remains), solos by Blake Hibberd (Unburier), and additional instrumentation by Adam Gilliams (guitar; Cannabis Corpse) and Thomas Saltman (synths). The record was mixed by Rob Cauldwell, mastered by Alan Douches, and features cover art by Par Oloffson.
    Lost Within The Astral Crypts will be released on CD and digital formats as well as vinyl in the following color variants:
    Liquid Filled (Ltd. 75) Crystal Clear (Ltd. 90 x Decibel Magazine Exclusive) Neon Violet w/ Black Splatter (Ltd. 250) Metallic Blue (Ltd. 500)   Find CD preorders HERE, vinyl preorders HERE, and digital orders at Bandcamp HERE. Find the Decibel exclusive edition HERE.
    Lost Within The Astral Crypts Track Listing: 1. Heavens That Burn And Eons Divided 2. Unending Legions Of Ball 3. Flames That Bind And Shadows Cast 4. Numeric Portal Ascendency 5. Sworn To Their Beheaded King 6. Masters Of Eternal Night 7. Ghoul Infested Mausoleum 8. Lost Within The Astral Crypts
    For MORBIKON coverage contact liz@earsplitcompound.com.   https://www.facebook.com/morbikon https://www.instagram.com/morbikon https://tankcrimes.merchtable.com   https://www.facebook.com/tankcrimes https://www.instagram.com/tankcrimes
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  • STELLAR CIRCUITS Reveal 2nd Single, ‘Corridor’ + New Album, PHANTOM :: PHOENIX, Out NOV. 14th

    STELLAR CIRCUITS Reveal 2nd Single, ‘Corridor’ + New Album, PHANTOM :: PHOENIX, Out NOV. 14th

    Photo Credit: Maq Brown

    Prog-Alt-Metal upstarts STELLAR CIRCUITS have debuted the 2nd single, ‘Corridor,’ from their sophomore album, Phantom :: Phoenix, that’s out November 14th via Nuclear Blast Records. The anthemic new track adds rocket fuel to the band’s upward trajectory with mesmerizing vocals and hooking riffs; another highlight from their game-changing new record.

    Commenting on the upcoming album,vocalist Ben Beddick says:

    “With ‘Corridor,’ it seemed like we uncovered a side of the band that we haven’t really explored before. It felt like we tapped into a lighter, more uplifting part of our sound and that was exciting to discover.

    The song has a very nostalgic vibe and seems to stem from influences that we haven’t been able to express in previous albums. It feels very removed from our darker and heavier side but we also feel like it only adds to the breadth of music that we’re able to create.”

    Stream ‘Corridor’: https://sc.bfan.link/corridor

    Pre-order Phantom :: Phoenix: https://sc.bfan.link/phantom-phoenix

    ‘CORRIDOR’ MUSIC VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdNlLebaPGI

    A group of people standing in the back of a van AI-generated content may be incorrect.

    STELLAR CIRCUITS’ follow up to 2023’s acclaimed record Sight To Sound, is a cathartic work of art that explores the trials and tribulations of life and death and the process of healing and perseverance in the face of agony.

    Beddick says of the album: “When we were writing this record, one of the things that kept coming up was the idea of death and rebirth through fire. This idea of killing off the old and dead parts of ourselves in order to give birth to something new and maybe even a truer version of who we all are. Every time we write an album, we go into the process with the idea of getting uncomfortable and exposing a more vulnerable part of ourselves. There also seems to be a constant theme of dealing with loss when we’re in the middle of writing.

    Everybody went through different periods of loss and grief during this process and I think that it shows through in the subject matter and the sounds that came out of it. We always want to push ourselves to a new place and build on the foundation that we’ve created over the last few years of being in this band. I think that we’ve been able to achieve that with Phantom :: Phoenix. It’s a representation of that cycle and I hope it can act as a catalyst for growth to those who listen.”

    Stream the band’s previously released single, ‘I See Your Spirit,’ here: https://sc.bfan.link/i-see-your-spirit

    Phantom : : Phoenix Tracklist:

    1. I See Your Spirit

    2. Queen Mary

    3. Silhouette

    4. Elegant Illusion

    5. The War Within

    6. Bury The Ashes

    7. Corridor

    8. Gloria

    9. Same Page

    10. Paris

    About STELLAR CIRCUITS:

    Stellar Circuits is making a powerful impact in the progressive metal scene following the release of their acclaimed 2023 album Sight to Sound on Nuclear Blast Records. Fusing punishing grooves, intricate melodies, and emotional weight, the album pushed the band’s sonic boundaries while staying rooted in their intense, immersive sound. Tracks like “Witch House” and “Catch Your Death” showcase a darker, more evolved edge that continues to resonate with fans of metal and progressive rock alike.
     
    The band—Ben Beddick (vocals), Jesse Olsen (bass), Tyler Menon (drums), and Jared Stamey (guitar)—has built a reputation for emotionally charged, technically precise live performances, following extensive touring and appearances alongside acts like Chevelle and Arch Echo. With a growing audience and relentless creative energy, Stellar Circuits has emerged as one of the most dynamic forces in modern progressive metal.

    Now, the band is preparing to enter a bold new chapter with their upcoming album Phantom :: Phoenix, set for release in 2025. A cinematic and visceral exploration of light and dark, the album delves into themes of personal transformation and the rebirth of the self through fire. It’s an emotionally and sonically expansive record that challenges both the band and the listener to confront what must be destroyed in order to evolve. With new music on the horizon and a sharpened creative vision, Stellar Circuits is poised to break new ground and leave a lasting mark on the genre.

    Follow STELLAR CIRCUITS:

    Website | Facebook | Instagram | X | TikTok | Youtube | Bandcamp | Spotify | Apple Music

  • Lorna Shore delivered an unforgettable night of chaos and precision to Cleveland!

    Lorna Shore – Jacob’s Pavilion, Cleveland, OH – September 26, 2025 Few bands can summon sheer chaos and precision in the same breath like Lorna Shore, and their headlining set at Jacob’s Pavilion proved why they stand at the forefront of modern extreme music. Against the industrial backdrop of Cleveland’s lakefront—where freighters silently moved along the river as the stage lights burned—the band turned an already buzzing city night into something unforgettable. From the moment the first blast beat landed, the atmosphere was electric. The crowd surged with unstoppable energy, unleashing a tidal wave of crowd surfers that rarely ceased. Security and photographers alike had to navigate the barrage of bodies; shooting from the pit meant ducking boots one second and catching a perfect frame of the band’s onstage intensity the next. It was less a performance and more an endurance test, both for the fans and anyone working in front of the barricade. Lorna Shore’s technicality elevated the chaos into something grander. Will Ramos’ vocals cut through with both demonic ferocity and chilling clarity, while the guitar work unfolded with blistering sweeps and orchestrated flourishes that blurred the line between brutality and beauty. Their signature fusion of deathcore extremity with symphonic scale felt even more commanding live, filling the open-air venue with a sound as massive as the waters surrounding it.

    What set this night apart was the venue itself. Jacob’s Pavilion offered a rare combination of intimacy and spectacle—an outdoor stage perched between Lake Erie and the Cuyahoga River, where the city’s industrial pulse mingled with nature’s immensity. As freighters glided by under the night sky, the contrast against the chaos in the pit gave the performance an almost cinematic quality. By the end, the exhausted yet elated crowd made clear that Cleveland hadn’t simply hosted Lorna Shore—it had been overtaken. The evening was proof of the band’s unique power: to harness complexity and raw aggression, then deliver it in a way that feels both violent and transcendent. In a scene crowded with heavy acts, Lorna Shore showed once again that they play on a different level entirely. ⸻

    Supporting Acts The Black Dahlia Murder brought their trademark brand of melodic death metal with unwavering precision. Their set was both celebratory and cathartic, as the band continues to honor Trevor Strnad’s legacy while pushing forward with fresh energy. Their razor-sharp riffs and relentless pace had the pit in full motion, setting a high bar early in the night. Shadow of Intent followed with a crushing performance that highlighted their ability to fuse symphonic atmosphere with deathcore’s sheer heaviness. The orchestral backdrops added cinematic weight to their set, while frontman Ben Duerr’s vocal range commanded the crowd with absolute authority. Their set was a masterclass in balancing technicality with emotional impact. Peeling Flesh opened the evening with unapologetic brutality, immediately igniting the crowd and proving why their rising reputation in the extreme metal scene is well-earned. Their raw energy and slamming intensity primed the audience for the chaos to come, ensuring no one would leave the venue unshaken.

  • Meet Orbital Hotel



    Interview with Jose Luis Preza from Orbital Hotel

    Interview Rock Rage Radio


    1.  Tell our Rock Fans about the band’s latest release?  Where did the 
    band record with and who? 


     Missing Link includes heavy riff songs that are meant to be played 
    loud and some quiet melodies (also nice if loud). The recording took 
    place in my apartment 🙂 I (Jose Luis) recorded it alone.


    2. How long was the writing process and what inspired you on this new release?


    It took about two weeks to record, the inspiration I drew from several 
    thigns including nature and traveling.

    3.  What changed during this process from previous releases? 


    Not much changed..I went minimimalistic on the pedal setup.

    4.  What’s next for the band?  Any Tours or festivals Lined up?

     
    We will present some of the songs of Missing Link in Vienna on 
    September 30th . October 5th in the House of Witches in Munich. 
    November 8th Animal Rights Congress in Vienna.

    5.  Describe your live show to a fan that has not seen you perform before?


    We aim to entertain with our music during live performances. Depending 
    upon the event and setting, energetic or relaxing. The percussion 
    parts are diverse, sometimes with Drums, sometimes with eastern 
    acoustic percussion.

    6.  What is your favorite song to play live?

    Always a tough question to answer. 
    I like to play a slow song called „It feels like nothing“.

    7.  If you could collaborate on a song or tour, what band would you 
    choose and why?


    It would be much fun to play with Joe Satriani. Why? Because he is Satriani!

    8.  What drives you as a musician?

    Being creative is definitely number one. 
    The need to communicate emotions, experiences and ideas. I also have a 
    bunch of guitars and cables just sitting there, I have to make 
    something out of them.

    9.  What band member gets the most *Attention* from the fans? 
            Teo the bass player

    10.  Who is the laziest band member when it comes to load in and load 
    out each night?


    We do not have anybody like that..

    11.  What is the single greatest musical memory so far while being in 
    the band? 


    The very first time we played live together.

    12.  If the band were thrown into a wrestling battle royal, which 
    member would win?  Who would be the first to be thrown over the ropes?

     
    I do not see why we would do such a thing, but…Teo prevails I think, 
    and I (Jose Luis) will be the first one to fly out.

    13.  What can fans expect next from the band?


    More music!