celebrating the anniversary of the classic SEPULTURA album Beneath the Remains

This album was Sepultura's breakthrough into the U.S. market. It came out at a time when a new wave of thrash/death metal bands had honed their skills from lower-quality demos and were finally able to make serious albums. By 1989, the technology and personnel were available to make the music sound clearer. Record labels were willing to take a chance on this sound, and people like producer Scott Burns knew how to bring out the music much more clearly so that it didn't sound like one big, loud blur.

By 1989, the Brazilians had come a long way from the demo-like sound of their 1985 EP and 1986 album, sounding even tighter than their 1987 show of force, Schizophrenia. 1989's Beneath the Remains and the band's high-energy live performances created an incredible buzz in the U.S. underground that, within a few years, would have them seriously touring the world, and would leave audiences thinking that they had just watched the best metal music show that they had seen.

Metal Archives shows April 7 as the release date.

Sepultura

Beneath the Remains

Roadracer Records

April 7, 1989

1. Beneath the Remains 05:14

2. Inner Self 05:10

3. Stronger than Hate 05:52

4. Mass Hypnosis 04:25

5. Sarcastic Existence 04:46

6. Slaves of Pain 04:03

7. Lobotomy 04:58

8. Hungry 04:30

9. Primitive Future 03:10

total time 42:08

Sepultura (live) - The Axiom, Houston, TX (Nov. 23, 1989)

It is said that in the old days of making albums, when putting together the sequence of your songs, you should put your "worst" song in the next-to-last position. With that in mind, let's listen to the "worst" song on this classic of classics! If this is the "worst" song, then we're doing more than okay!

Sepultura - Hungry

Happy birthday to GUARDIAN vocalist Jamie Rowe!

Metal Archives shows that Earl Wilson Rowe, Jr. was born on April 7, 1970. Metal Archives notes that he has been with the "Heavy Metal/Hard Rock (early); Pop Rock (later)" band since 1990. He first sang on the band's second album, the arena-rock sounding Fire and Love, which Metal Archives says was released in 1990 but Wikipedia says was released in 1991. The song below is the opening track from the album Fire and Love.

GUARDIAN - POWER OF LOVE VIDEOCLIP HD

Happy birthday to SKILLET singer John Cooper!

According to the band's Facebook page, April 7 is John's birthday! Wikipedia shows that John Landrum Cooper was born on April 7, 1975.

Wikipedia observes about the history of the American heavy rock band:

"Cooper was in experimental rock group Seraph from 1989 to 1995. The band released a four-song demo, titled Silence E.P., before disbanding."

"Cooper formed Skillet in 1996 with Ken Steorts. Both had met while touring for previous bands; Cooper as vocalist for the Tennessee progressive rock band Seraph and Steorts as guitarist for Urgent Cry. The bands disbanded soon after, so Cooper and Steorts' pastor encouraged them to form their own band as a side-project. Coming from different styles of rock music, they decided to name the experiment Skillet. Soon afterward Trey McClurkin joined the band as a temporary drummer. Skillet was only together for a month when they received interest from major Christian record label ForeFront Records and were signed soon afterward. Ken Steorts left the band in 1999 and Trey McClurkin left the band in 2000 leaving Cooper as the only founding member of the band and primary songwriter."

Skillet - Unpopular (Official Music Video)

https://www.facebook.com/skillet

Celebrating the anniversary of OCEANO's album Depths

Wikipedia shows that April 7 is the release date for the first album by Chicago deathcore band Oceano (2006–2025). "Oceano was an American deathcore band from Cook County, Illinois. Formed in 2006, the band signed to Earache Records and released their debut album, Depths, on April 7, 2009. They released three more albums under Earache Records before Revelation was released on May 19, 2017 with Sumerian Records. Their sixth and final studio album, Living Chaos, was released on August 30, 2024." "The band's final show took place on December 6 (2025) at the West Chicago Social Club in Chicago."

Years later, the album still sounds pretty sick!

Oceano

Depths

Earache Records

April 7, 2009

Wikipedia observes about this album: "Depths is the debut studio album by American deathcore band Oceano, released April 7, 2009 through Earache Records. Music videos were made for the songs 'District of Misery' and 'A Mandatory Sacrifice'. The song 'District of Misery' is featured as downloadable content in Rock Band 2 via the Rock Band Network. This album is also the band's only album to feature guitarists Jeremy Carroll and Andrew Mikhail. In celebration for the 15th anniversary of this album, the band toured in early 2024 with The Last Ten Seconds of Life, A Wake in Providence, By the Thousands, Within the Ruins and I Declare War. In 2021, Joe Smith-Engelhardt of Alternative Press included the album in his list of '30 deathcore albums from the 2000s that define the genre'".

Oceano - A Mandatory Sacrifice [Official Video]

Oceano - District Of Misery (Official Video)

Happy birthday to TETRARCH guitarist Diamond Rowe!

According to the band's Facebook page, April 7 is the birthday of Diamond Rowe, guitarist for American road warriors of the groove Tetrarch.

Wikepedia shows about the band: "Tetrarch is an American nu metal band originally from Atlanta, Georgia, now based in Los Angeles. They have released three EPs, five singles and three albums."

"Tetrarch was formed in Atlanta in 2007 by Diamond Rowe and Josh Fore. According to lead guitarist Diamond Rowe, 'Tetrarch began their live shows in the local scene, playing their first show at the 7 Venue in Douglasville, Georgia. They spent the rest of 2007 perfecting their live performance by playing close to 100 shows, which started a buzz in the Atlanta area. They released their first EP, Pravda in the summer of 2008, which was recorded at Ledbelly Studios by Matthew Washburn. To support their first release, Tetrarch continued to play in Atlanta while expanding their reach regionally with mini tours in the south east ...'"

They've been building the band ever since!

TETRARCH - Cold (Live at Resurrection Fest EG 2025)

TETRARCH - Never Again (Parasite) (Official Video) | Napalm Records

Tetrarch - Never Again [Parasite] (Josh Fore and Diamond Rowe Guitar Playthrough)

https://www.facebook.com/tetrarchmusic

remembering BILLIE HOLIDAY on her birthday

Before rock and roll, before heavy metal, in the 1930s Billie was singing with a voice of misery, melancholy, and bleakness—it's no wonder some doom bands have found their way to her music!

Wikipedia shows: "Billie Holiday (born Eleanora Fagan; April 7, 1915 – July 17, 1959) was an American jazz and swing music singer. Nicknamed 'Lady Day' by her friend and music partner, Lester Young, Holiday made significant contributions to jazz music and pop singing. Her vocal style, strongly influenced by jazz instrumentalists, inspired a new way of manipulating phrasing and tempo. Holiday was known for her vocal delivery and improvisational skills."

"Holiday's vocal delivery made her performances instantly recognizable throughout her career. Her improvisational prowess compensated for her lack of formal musical education. Holiday stated that she had always wanted her voice to sound like an instrument, and some of her influences included trumpeter Louis Armstrong and singer Bessie Smith. Early in her career, she was said to have had her accompanying instrumentalists stop and repeat an improvised line if she believed she could use it for a vocal line."

Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra - Strange Fruit (1939) (Audio) [gruesome lyrics about racist lynchings]

OCEANS OF SLUMBER - Strange Fruit (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Billie Holiday - Gloomy Sunday (1941) (Take 1 - Official Audio)

Pallbearer - Gloomy Sunday

Celebrating the Anniversary of MARY'S BLOOD's compilation Queen's Legacy

The Metal Archives shows April 6 as the release date for the power metal band Mary's Blood best-of compilation, Queen's Legacy. They were active from 2009 until 2022, and they have three EPs and seven studio albums. They were awesome. I hope that they will return. Musically, I do not think that they were done yet.

Mary's Blood

Queen's Legacy

Tokuma Japan Communications

April 6th, 2022

1. アルカディア 04:18

2. World's End 03:37

3. Counter Strike 04:44

4. Bite the Bullet 05:32

5. Blow Up Your Fire 04:06

6. Believe Me 05:24

7. Marionette 04:53

8. Without a Crown 03:38

9. Moebius Loop 05:01

10. Queen of the Night 05:16

11. Burning Blaze 05:11

12. Wings 05:18

13. ペガサス幻想 (Make-Up cover) 03:46

14. 女神の裁き～Death Queen's March～ 06:08

15. Starlight 04:47

16. Take a Chance 04:01

total time 01:15:40

Mary's Blood - アルカディア Arkadia (Live ♥)

Mary's Blood / Marionette (MV/Full version)

Celebrating the Anniversary of SAINT's In the Battle

The Metal Archives shows April 6 as the release date for Saint's fourth album, In the Battle.

Saint [1979 (as Power Faith), 1979-1982 (as The Gentiles), 1982-1989, 1999-present] plays classic-style traditional heavy metal. The Metal Archives says that they are from Salem, Oregon, USA. During the 1980s they released classic albums like Time's End (1986) and Too Late for Living (1988), which are highly rated by fans on The Metal Archives. After a break in the 1990s, the band returned in 1999 and has been active ever since. They have released many full-length albums over the last twenty years, including In the Battle (2004) and their 2024 release, Immortalizer. With album and song titles like Heaven Fell, In the Battle, Warriors of the Son, "Phantom of the Galaxy," "Legions of the Dead," and "Blood of God," their heavy metal lyrics read like epic, biblical, or apocalyptic events—wars and battles between the forces of good and evil, be it spiritual or warfare. There is fire, explosions, battles, guitars, and some more fire by these Warriors of the Son.

Saint

In the Battle

Armor Records

April 6th, 2004

1. In the Battle 04:08

2. Star Pilot's Return 03:51

3. Here We Are 04:01

4. Sacrifice 07:16

5. Holy Rollin' 04:04

6. Ryders 06:05

7. The Choice 03:38

8. When 04:35

9. Acid Rain/Armor On 03:17

total time 40:55

Saint - Star Pilot Return

Happy birthday to the legend UDO DIRSCHNEIDER!

I have never heard an album with Udo that I don't like! Udo is one of my all-time --all-time!-- favorites. The Metal Archives shows that Udo was born on April 6, 1952.

With Accept, I recommend the albums Restless and Wild (1982), Balls to the Wall (1983), and Metal Heart (1985). With Accept, my favorite is Restless and Wild.

With U.D.O., I like all the albums, too, each and every single one of them. I think I would especially recommend Animal House (1987), Mean Machine (1989), Holy (1999), and Man and Machine (2002). If there were only one U.D.O. album to recommend, I would recommend Holy.

The 2025 album Babylon by Dirkschneider & the Old Gang is also rather full of anthems.

UDO - Raiders of Beyond

(from the 1999 album Holy)

Happy birthday to SUFFOCATION guitarist Terrance Hobbs!

The Metal Archives shows that Terrance Raymond Hobbs was born on April 6, 1970. He has been a constant member of the great death metal band Suffocation since their first release titled Reincremated in 1990. The Metal Archives notes that the band's debut EP, "Human Waste (1991), was the first CD ever released on Relapse Records, though they weren't the first band released on the label (Relapse first released a bunch of 7" singles). It is the first printed and distributed CD by Relapse." On The Metal Archives, the 1991 debut full-length Effigy of the Forgotten has a whopping 30 reviews for an average score of 94%. The 1993 follow-up, Breeding the Spawn, has 14 reviews for 90%. The 1995 album Pierced from Within has 21 reviews for 91%. Suffocation!

Suffocation - Infecting the Crypts

(from the 1991 album Effigy of the Forgotten)

in memory of SAVATAGE/TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA producer Paul O'Neill (1956-2017)

For metal music fans, Paul's name is associated with Savatage and Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and rightfully so. However, the following Wikipedia information shows that there was a lot more to Paul. The Wikipedia information says, in part:

Paul O'Neill (February 23, 1956 – April 5, 2017) was an American composer, lyricist, record producer, and guitarist. He was the producer of the progressive metal band Savatage, and the founder of Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

Among other bands, O'Neill helmed Aerosmith's Classics Live I and Classics Live II albums before beginning a fortuitous relationship with the band Savatage that led to conceptual pieces such as Hall of the Mountain King, Gutter Ballet, Streets: A Rock Opera and Dead Winter Dead. It also introduced him to Jon Oliva, Bob Kinkel and Al Pitrelli, as well as reconnecting him with studio engineer Dave Wittman, who all became original collaborators in O'Neill's next group, Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

"I wanted to take the very best of all the forms of music I grew up on and merge them into a new style," O'Neill said in 2011. "Basically I was building on the work of everybody I worshipped: the rock opera parts from bands like the Who; the marriage of classical and rock from bands like Emerson, Lake & Palmer and Queen; the over-the-top light show from bands like Pink Floyd... I always wanted to do a full rock opera with a full progressive band and at least 24 lead singers.

O'Neill took the idea to Atlantic Records which, to his surprise, went for it and financed the creation of Romanov which was initially to be TSO's first release. "We were very fortunate," he says. "It was one of the only labels left that still did an "old school" kind of artist development." My original concept was; "We were going to do six rock operas, a trilogy about Christmas and maybe one or two regular albums."

However, when Romanov got temporarily put on the back burner, the first installment of the Christmas trilogy, Christmas Eve and Other Stories became TSO's debut album. Fueled by the single "Christmas Eve/Sarajevo 12/24" (originally released on the Savatage concept album Dead Winter Dead) the album went double platinum. More platinum certifications followed with 1998's The Christmas Attic, and the final installment of the Christmas trilogy, The Lost Christmas Eve in 2004. In the midst of completing the trilogy, TSO released their first non-holiday rock opera, Beethoven's Last Night.

Savatage - 24 Hours Ago (Official Music Video) [HD]

(from the 1987 classic album Hall of the Mountain King produced by Paul O'Neill)

in memory of RAINBOW/BLACK SABBATH drummer Cozy Powell (1947-1998)

Colin Trevor Flooks (December 29, 1947 - April 5, 1998) (according to The Metal Archives)

Cozy was with Rainbow from 1975 to 1980 for the following albums: Rising (1976), Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (1978) and Down to Earth (1979). He was with Black Sabbath for the following albums: Headless Cross (1989), Tyr (1990), and Forbidden (1995). Cozy worked with a tremendously long lists of projects, bands and artists, some of which are, according to The Metal Archives: Tony Martin, Yngwie Malmsteen, Bedlam, Big Bertha, Blue Murder, Cajo, Cozy Powell, Cozy Powell's Hammer, Emerson, Lake & Powell, Forcefield, Gary Moore, Graham Bonnet, Jeff Beck's Group,Michael Schenker Group, Pete York / Cozy Powell, Peter Green Splinter Group, Phenomena, The Ace Kefford Stand, The Brian May Band, The Corals, The Snakes, The Sorcerers, Tipton, Entwistle and Powell, Tony Joe White, Whitesnake, Youngblood, amongst others.

For fans of classic rock, hard rock and heavy metal, somewhere in their collection of records and cds, or in their playlists, there's a song with Cozy playing drums on it, whether they know it or not. What a drummer!

Rainbow Still Im Sad Cozy Powell drum solo Live 1977 HD

Black Sabbath – Headless Cross (Official HD Video)

remembering FIREHOUSE singer C.J. Snare (1959-2024)

Carl Jeffrey Snare (December 14, 1959 – April 5, 2024, according to Wikipedia) was the singer for the long-running American hard rock band Firehouse (1984-present). Wikipedia says that CJ co-wrote most of the band's songs. Firehouse has been a commercially successful band with seven songs chart on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts. Four of those were top 40.

His work with FireHouse is as follows, taken from Wikipedia:

FireHouse – August 21, 1990 – No. 21 US

Hold Your Fire – June 16, 1992 – No. 23 US

3 – April 11, 1995 – No. 66 US

Good Acoustics – October 8, 1996

Category 5 – September 2, 1998

O2 – November 7, 2000

Prime Time – August 12, 2003

Full Circle – June 2011

Live album: Bring 'Em Out Live – December 1999

Check out a couple of the hits from the debut album. This album was huge for the band! The record was certified double platinum in the United States and gold in Canada, Japan and Singapore, says Wikipedia. The second song below, the ballad, has 114 million views on YouTube. In the old days of the music industry, this big popularity of the song alone would be enough for the songwriters to make house mortgage payments and send their kids to college ha ha! The comments on YouTube for this song show that it has been used at weddings more than a few times.

Firehouse - Don't Treat Me Bad

Firehouse - Love Of A Lifetime

celebrating anniversary BELORE's album Eastern Tales

BELORE (2019-present) is an epic and atmospheric black metal project from France. Originally a solo project by Aleevok, it is a duo with drummer Charlie Videau. According to The Metal Archives, the band’s music is centered on a medieval fantasy universe created by the band, with lyrical themes focusing on nature, mythology, and imaginary landscapes. The sound is compared to artists like Summoning and Caladan Brood, blending raspy black metal vocals with lush synthesizers, flutes, and folk-inspired melodies. There are three albums: Journey Through Mountains and Valleys (2020), Artefacts (2021), and Eastern Tales, released on April 5, 2024. Some sources say that as of April 2026, BELORE is active in the European festival circuit, having recently performed at events such as the Cernunnos Pagan Fest in France and the Heathen Strike over Brno in Czechia in February 2026.

Aleevok (Alexandre Ardisson [Continuum, DXS, Hamka, Darkenhöld (live), ex-Evok'hate]) - all instruments, Lyrics

Charlie Videau (ex-Nydvind) - drums (2021-present)

Belore

Eastern Tales

Northern Silence Productions

April 5th, 2024

1. To the Eastern Lands 00:55

2. Sons of the Sun 07:47

3. Storm of an Ancient Age 09:51

4. The Hermit Awakens 09:07

5. Denelïor's Betrayal 02:09

6. Battle for Therallas 07:16

7. The Rise of a Sovereign 06:19

total time 43:24

Eastern Tales by Belore

EASTER - RESURRECTION SUNDAY

Today on Facebook bands like Stryper, Demon Hunter, Narnia and others have posted in celebration of Easter. What is Easter?

The Resurrection of Jesus

1. Who was Jesus?

Jesus of Nazareth was a first-century Jewish teacher. He said that he was the Son of God and the long-awaited Messiah. He said that he and the Father were one and that he held the authority to forgive sins. This claim viewed by his contemporaries as either divine truth or ultimate blasphemy.

2. The Execution: Friday

Jesus was executed through the torture of Roman crucifixion after being interrogated by both religious and political leaders. During his trial before the religious council, they asked him point-blank: "Are you then the Son of God?" (Luke 22:70). Jesus replied:

"It is as you say."

Due to this admission, they charged him with blasphemy. He was then handed over to the Roman Governor, Pontius Pilate, who asked, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus again answered:

"It is as you say." — Matthew 27:11

3. The Resurrection: Sunday

According to the accounts, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day, just as he had told his followers. This event is the foundational pillar of the Christian faith, signaling a definitive victory over death and the fulfillment of his claims.

4. The Proof and the Scripture

The Gospels claim a physical, bodily resurrection where Jesus ate food and could be touched by his friends. This is famously illustrated by the disciple Thomas, who initially stated:

"Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe." — John 20:25

Upon seeing and touching the wounds of the risen Jesus, Thomas responded:

"My Lord and my God!" — John 20:28

The claim of a historical person dying and returning to life in the same body is unique to this account. The verse for the discovery of the empty tomb is found in Matthew 28:6:

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay."

5. The Purpose and the Promise

God took human form in the person of Jesus, the Son of God, to voluntarily sacrifice his body because only a perfect sacrifice without blemish could suffice. Since all humans are sinners, no human can save another; only a perfect sacrifice can bridge that gap. According to the scriptures, without the shedding of blood, no salvation is possible. Because the wages of sin is death, the punishment required was death: Jesus took that place because no other human could.

Jesus promised that same resurrection to those who believe in him. He also promised that he will return, not as a suffering servant when he was a voluntary sacrifice, but in a glorified, physical form as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Upon his return, he will judge the living and the dead, destroy death entirely, and establish an eternal kingdom where he will make all things new.

6. The Importance of the Resurrection

The Apostle Paul made it clear that the resurrection is not just a metaphor; it is the absolute foundation of the faith. He argued that if the resurrection did not happen, then the entire message is a lie and faith is useless. He wrote in 1 Corinthians 15:13, 14 & 17:

"If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith... And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins."

Irony Destroyed - THEA (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

Neither The Metal Archives nor Wikipedia seem to have information about the band. I hope that most of the following internet information is correct: IRONY DESTROYED is a metalcore band from Nairobi, Kenya, formed in 2015. Their discography includes the 2022 full-length album Rebirth, which features the sixth track, "Nia," a song that brought them some important attention. The band's music is characterized by a blend of deathcore and metalcore elements, often incorporating lyrics in English and Sheng. According to recent reports in 2026, they remain a central fixture in the Kenyan heavy metal scene and have gained international coverage for their role in the East African metal community. Their lyrical themes typically focus on philosophy and social issues. The current lineup continues to perform and release music independently from their base in Nairobi.

Irony Destroyed - THEA (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

https://www.facebook.com/IronyDestroyed

Sevendust - Unbreakable (Official Video)

SEVENDUST will have the 15th studio album, titled ONE, on May 1, 2026, via Napalm Records. YouTube shows that their tour information:

One Tour:

Apr 16 - Carterville, IL - Walker’s Bluff Casino Resort^

Apr 17 - Riverside, IA - Riverside Casino & Golf Resort^

Apr 18 - Larchwood, IA - Grand Falls Casino & Golf Resort^

Apr 20 - Indianapolis, IN - Egyptian Room at Old National Centre

Apr 21 - Lexington, KY - Manchester Music Hall

Apr 22 - Birmingham, AL - Iron City

Apr 24 - Mobile, AL - Soul Kitchen Music Hall

Apr 25 - Destin, FL - Club LA

Apr 26 - Atlanta, GA - Coca-Cola Roxy*

Apr 28 - Dallas, TX - House of Blues

Apr 29 - Oklahoma City, OK - Diamond Ballroom

May 1 - Denver, CO - Summit

May 2 - Albuquerque, NM - Sunshine Theater

May 4 - Wichita, KS - The Cotillion

May 5 - Springfield, MO - The Regency Live

May 6 - Fayetteville, AR - Ozark Music Hall

May 8 - Daytona Beach, FL - Welcome To Rockville

May 9 - North Myrtle Beach, SC - House of Blues

May 11 - Norfolk, VA - The NorVa

May 12 - Harrisburg, PA - XL Live

May 14 - McKees Rocks, PA - Roxian Theatre

May 15 - Columbus, OH - Sonic Temple

May 16 - Baltimore, MD - Nevermore Hall

May 19 - Charlotte, NC - The Fillmore

May 20 - Knoxville, TN - The Mill & Mine

May 21 - Nashville, TN - The Pinnacle*

May 23 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom

Sevendust - Unbreakable (Official Video)

SYMPHONITY - Dreaming Of Home (Live Opera Version)

ABOUT the band, based on The Metal Archives: SYMPHONITY is a power metal band from Brno, Czechia, formed in 2006. The group’s origins date back to 1994, under the names Otter and Nemesis. According to The Metal Archives, their lyrical themes focus on life, feelings, positivity, and history. Their studio discography began with the 2008 full-length Voice from the Silence, followed by King of Persia in 2016. Between 2019 and 2022, the band released a series of singles leading up to their third full-length concept album, Marco Polo: The Metal Soundtrack, released in 2022. Currently signed to Limb Music, the band has recently focused on live releases, including Marco Polo: Live in Europe (2024) and their most recent live album, Beyond Olympus, released in 2025.

Symphonity

Beyond Olympus (Live album)

Limb Music

December 5th, 2025

1. Out and About

2. Evening Star

3. In the Name of God

4. The Gates of Fantasy

5. Dreaming of Home

6. Give Me Your Helping Hand

"Dreaming of Home (Live Opera Version)" recorded on February 8th, 2026 at Hala Datart in Zlín, Czech Republic "Beyond Olympus" EP with live recordings from the 2025 tour and new studio song "Out and About" out now!

SYMPHONITY - Dreaming Of Home (Live Opera Version)

https://www.facebook.com/SYMPHONITY

ATAVISTIA - To a New World (Official Music Video) | Epic Melodic Death Metal

YouTube information: "To a New World" is Atavistia's 3rd single from their upcoming full-length album, "Old Gods Awaken" set to release May 15th on all platforms. Blending cinematic folk elements, primal instrumentation, and melodic death metal, this track marks a key moment in the album’s journey beyond a dying world in search of hope.

ABOUT THE BAND: ATAVISTIA is a symphonic melodic death metal band from Vancouver, Canada, formed in 2016, according to The Metal Archives. Their music epic orchestrations and technical extreme metal elements, frequently drawing comparisons to bands like WINTERSUN. Their lyrical themes typically revolve around nature, dreams, and space. Since their 2017 debut, One Within the Sun, the band has maintained a consistent release schedule, including the full-length albums The Winter Way (2020) and Cosmic Warfare (2023), as well as several EPs and singles such as "Ratatoskur" and the Inane Ducam EP in 2024. Most recently, the band released a re-recorded version of their second album, titled The Winter Way (Reforged), in 2025. As of April 2026, ATAVISTIA is preparing for the release of their next full-length studio album, Old Gods Awaken, which is scheduled to arrive on May 15, 2026.

ATAVISTIA - To a New World (Official Music Video) | Epic Melodic Death Metal

Old Gods Awaken by Atavistia

Happy birthday to KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist/jack-of-all-trades Adam Dutkiewicz!

The Metal Archives shows that Adam Jonathan Dutkiewicz was born on April 4, 1977.

Biography from The Metal Archives: Dutkiewicz, who is of Polish descent, grew up in Westhampton, Massachusetts. Dutkiewicz attended Hampshire Regional High School. Dutkiewicz attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, where he studied production, engineering, and bass guitar. While at college, he began playing in the band Aftershock with friend Joel Stroetzel. Stroetzel would later join Dutkiewicz, Mike D'Antonio, and Jesse Leach in forming Killswitch Engage. Dutkiewicz was the drummer of Killswitch Engage, until the release of its second album, Alive or Just Breathing, when he moved to guitars, and Tom Gomes became the band's drummer.

Dutkiewicz tracked guitars for A Song for Chi on June 24, 2009, in San Sebastian, Spain.

He has assumed the role of producer on all of Killswitch Engage's records, except on their second self-titled album Killswitch Engage, which was released June 30, 2009. For this album he took on the job of co-producer alongside Brendan O'Brien (known for his work with AC/DC, The Offspring, Pearl Jam, Rage Against the Machine, Incubus, Mastodon, and Stone Temple Pilots). Adam has also produced for the bands As I Lay Dying, Underoath, The Acacia Strain, Unearth, All That Remains, From Autumn to Ashes, (#invalid band link ID#), Parkway Drive, The Agony Scene, Every Time I Die and others. He has been compared to Ross Robinson, producer of many nu metal albums, because of his influence on modern metal and shaping the sound of melodic metalcore. He is also an engineer for Zing Recording Studios, which has produced for numerous artists, including several from Tooth & Nail Records and its heavy metal sub-label Solid State Records.

Killswitch Engage - My Last Serenade [OFFICIAL VIDEO]

remembering MANOWAR drummer Scott Columbus (1956-2011)

According to The Metal Archives, Walter Scott Columbus was born on November 10, 1956, and died on April 4, 2011. He was a member of Manowar from 1983 to 1991 and again from 1994 to 2008. Columbus performed on several of the band's most iconic albums, including:

Into Glory Ride (1983)

Hail to England (1984)

Sign of the Hammer (1984)

Fighting the World (1987)

Kings of Metal (1988)

Louder than Hell (1996)

Warriors of the World (2002)

Gods of War (2007)

While his full discography on The Metal Archives includes numerous live albums and compilations, these studio releases represent his most notable work with the band. Manowar!

MANOWAR - Fighting the World

remembering guitarist/singer GARY MOORE on his birthday

Both The Metal Archives and Wikipedia show that Gary born on 4 April 1952. Check out a couple of songs from his 1980s heavy metal era!

Wikipedia: Robert William Gary Moore (4 April 1952 – 6 February 2011) was a Northern Irish musician. Over the course of his career, he played in various groups and performed a range of music including blues, blues rock, hard rock, heavy metal and jazz fusion.

Influenced by Peter Green and Eric Clapton, Moore began his career in the late 1960s when he joined Skid Row, with whom he released two albums. After Moore left the group, he joined Thin Lizzy, featuring his former Skid Row bandmate and frequent collaborator Phil Lynott. Moore began his solo career in the 1970s and achieved major success with 1979's "Parisienne Walkways", which is considered his signature song. During the 1980s, he transitioned into playing hard rock and heavy metal with varying degrees of international success. In 1990, he returned to his roots with Still Got the Blues, which became the most successful album of his career. Moore continued to release new music throughout his later career, collaborating with other artists from time to time. He died on 6 February 2011 from a heart attack while on holiday in Spain.

Moore was often described as a virtuoso and has been cited as an influence by many other guitar players. He was voted as one of the greatest guitarists of all time on respective lists by Total Guitar and Louder. Irish singer-songwriter Bob Geldof said that "without question, [Moore] was one of the great Irish bluesmen". For most of his career, Moore was heavily associated with Peter Green's famed 1959 Gibson Les Paul guitar. Moore was honoured by Heritage, Gibson and Fender with several signature model guitars.

Gary Moore - Victims Of The Future (1983)

[Wikipedia: "Victims of the Future is the fourth solo studio album by Northern Irish guitarist Gary Moore, released on 30 January 1984."]

Gary Moore - End Of The World (from the 1982 album Corridors of Power)

remembering MUDDY WATERS on his birthday

Muddy Waters was a major figure in Chicago electric blues in the 1940s. From then on, he became even more influential in blues, rock and roll, and the rock music that eventually became heavy rock and heavy metal. Many bands have covered and been inspired by his music, including almost all the pioneers of heavy metal. Below is one of the most iconic songs he performed, written by collaborator Willie Dixon, another incredibly important influence on hard rock. The last of the three versions is the Motörhead version of the song, recorded live in 1983.

Wikipedia says:

McKinley Morganfield (April 4, 1913 – April 30, 1983), better known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician who was an important figure in the post-World War II blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago blues". His style of playing has been described as "raining down Delta beatitude".

Muddy Waters grew up on Stovall Plantation near Clarksdale, Mississippi, and by the age of 17 was playing the guitar and the harmonica, copying local blues artists Son House and Robert Johnson. In 1941, Alan Lomax and Professor John W. Work III of Fisk University recorded him in Mississippi for the Library of Congress. In 1943, he moved to Chicago to become a full-time professional musician. In 1946, he recorded his first records for Columbia Records and then for Aristocrat Records, a newly formed label run by brothers Leonard and Phil Chess.

In the early 1950s, Muddy Waters and his band—Little Walter Jacobs on harmonica, Jimmy Rogers on guitar, Elga Edmonds (also known as Elgin Evans) on drums and Otis Spann on piano—recorded several songs that became blues classics, some with the bassist and songwriter Willie Dixon. These songs included "Hoochie Coochie Man", "I Just Want to Make Love to You" and "I'm Ready". In 1958, he traveled to England, laying the foundations of the resurgence of interest in the blues there. His performance at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1960 was recorded and released as his first live album, At Newport 1960.

Muddy Waters' music has influenced various American music genres, including rock and roll and subsequently rock.

Muddy Waters - Hoochie Coochie Man [1954]

Muddy Waters - Hoochie Coochie Man (Live)

Motörhead - Hoochie Coochie Man (Live) (Shine B-Side) (1983)

ABOUT THE SONG - information from YouTube: "Hoochie Coochie Man" (originally titled "I'm Your Hoochie Cooche Man") is a blues standard written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1954. The song makes reference to hoodoo folk magic elements and makes novel use of a stop-time musical arrangement. It became one of Waters' most popular and identifiable songs and helped secure Dixon's role as Chess Records' chief songwriter.

The song is a classic of Chicago blues and one of Waters' first recordings with a full backing band. Dixon's lyrics build on Waters' earlier use of braggadocio and themes of fortune and sex appeal. The stop-time riff was "soon absorbed into the lingua franca of blues, R&B, jazz, and rock and roll", according to musicologist Robert Palmer, and is used in several popular songs. When Bo Diddley adapted it for "I'm a Man", it became one of the most recognizable musical phrases in blues.

After the song's initial success in 1954, Waters recorded several live and new studio versions. The original appears on the 1958 The Best of Muddy Waters album and many compilations. Numerous musicians have recorded "Hoochie Coochie Man" in a variety of styles, making it one of the most interpreted Waters and Dixon songs. The Blues Foundation and the Grammy Hall of Fame recognize the song for its influence in popular music and the US Library of Congress' National Recording Registry selected it for preservation in 2004.

out now: NARNIA - Oceanwide new single

The Metal Archives shows April 4, 2026 as the official release date for the new single from the Swedish melodic metal band NARNIA (1996-2010, 2014-present). It looks like the band has already been performing this song live, but April 4 is the official date for the studio version. The new album is titled X, and it is their tenth album scheduled for May 29, 2026. The following information about the new album comes from their Facebook page:

NARNIA ANNOUNCES NEW STUDIO ALBUM “X” – CELEBRATING 30 YEARS OF LEGACY. Swedish melodic metal pioneers Narnia return with their tenth studio album, “X”, marking 30 years on the international scene. Building on Ghost Town (2023), the new album expands the band’s sound, moving between soaring, arena-ready choruses and more progressive elements, while staying true to Narnia’s identity. Tracks like “Oceanwide”, “Every Breath”, and “Heaven’s Calling” highlight strong melodies and hooks, while “Remedy (SOS)” and “God Under Fire” bring intensity and depth. Multiple vocalists share the spotlight, with CJ Grimmark and Jonatan “Jono” Samuelsson contributing alongside Christian Liljegren. “This album represents both where we come from and where we’re heading,” says CJ Grimmark. First single “Oceanwide”: April 4, 2026. Album release: May 29, 2026.

NARNIA - Ocean Wide (new track from the upcoming album!)

NARNIA The Band - Oceanwide

https://www.facebook.com/narniatheband

celebrating (belated) anniversary MESARTHIM's The Density Parameter

MESARTHIM is an anonymous duo from Australia formed in 2015 with themes of astronomy, physics and outer space. On The Metal Archives they are "." and ".". It's atmospheric black metal and electronic music, with extreme vocals and synth melodies. The internet says that they performed live for the first time in September 2024 at the Cosmic Void Festival in London with futuristic clothing and LED masks. They use NASA telescope imagery and star charts.

Mesarthim

The Density Parameter

April 3, 2018

The Density Parameter by Mesarthim

celebrating anniversary GOLDEN RESURRECTION's Pray for Japan single

I'm late on this one!

Golden Resurrection (2008-?) was a Swedish melodic neoclassical power metal band featuring two important figures in power metal, Tommy Johansson (Majestica, Sabaton [(2016-2024]) and Christian Liljegren (Narnia). This particular song was a way of expressing their sorrow for the Japanese people, friends and fans in the face of the Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster.

For Christian and Tommy, it was painfully personal. Christian has had a following in Japan since the late '90s with NARNIA. He grew up idolizing Swedish artists who were huge in Japan (like Yngwie Malmsteen and Europe), and his own dream came true when NARNIA signed with Pony Canyon in 1997. At the time of the disaster, GOLDEN RESURRECTION's debut album, Glory to My King, was high on the Japanese metal charts. Christian struggled to reach his contacts in Japan for days after the tsunami, and he heard about the confusion and damage in Tokyo and the Tōhoku region, he said a song grew in his heart. He shared the idea with Tommy, and they recorded and arranged the track very soon.

Golden Resurrection

Pray for Japan

Liljegren Records

April 3, 2011

1. Pray for Japan 04:28, 2. Pray for Japan (radio edit) 03:06. Total time 07:34

Stefan Käck (bass), Tommy Johansson (guitars, keyboards, vocals), Olov Andersson (keyboards, backing vocals), Christian Rivel (vocals), Rickard Gustafsson (drums).

THE CATASTROPHE in Japan, information from Wikipeda: On 11 March 2011 a Mw 9.0–9.1 undersea megathrust earthquake occurred in the Pacific Ocean, east of the Oshika Peninsula of the Tōhoku region of Japan. It lasted approximately six minutes and caused a tsunami. It is sometimes known in Japan as the "Great East Japan Earthquake Disaster". The earthquake was the most powerful ever recorded in Japan, and the fourth most powerful recorded in the world since modern seismography began in 1900. It triggered powerful tsunami waves that may have reached heights of up to 40.5 meters (133 ft) in Miyako in Tōhoku's Iwate Prefecture, and which, in the Sendai area, traveled at 700 km/h (435 mph) and up to 10 km (6 mi) inland. Residents of Sendai had only eight to ten minutes of warning, and more than a hundred evacuation sites were washed away. The snowfall which accompanied the tsunami and the freezing temperature hindered rescue works; for instance, in Ishinomaki, the city with the most deaths, the temperature was 0 °C (32 °F) as the tsunami hit.

Official figures released in 2021 reported 19,759 deaths, 6,242 injured, 284 firefighters dead from attempts to close preventative fire gates, and 2,553 people missing.

A report in 2015 found that 228,863 people were still living away from their home either temporarily or permanently. The tsunami caused the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, primarily the meltdowns of three of its reactors, the discharge of radioactive water in Fukushima and the associated evacuation zones affecting hundreds of thousands of residents. Many electrical generators ran out of fuel. The loss of electrical power halted cooling systems, causing heat to build. Without ventilation, hydrogen gas accumulated within the upper refueling hall and exploded, forcefully ejecting the refueling hall's blast panels. Residents within a 20 km (12 mi) radius of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and a 10 km (6.2 mi) radius of the Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Plant were evacuated. Early estimates placed insured losses from the earthquake alone at US$14.5 to $34.6 billion. The Bank of Japan offered ¥15 trillion (US$183 billion) to the banking system on 14 March 2011 in an effort to normalize market conditions. The estimated economic damage amounted to over $300 billion, making it the costliest natural disaster in history. According to a 2020 study, "the earthquake and its aftermaths resulted in a 0.47 percentage point decline in Japan's real GDP growth in the year following the disaster."

Golden Resurrection - Pray For Japan [HD]

out today: Relic - in-your-face nonstop death metal brutality

This is a four-song EP of Midwest-American unrelenting, frenetic, punishing black/death metal to make people run through a wall. The vocals are low-growling, higher-growling, and gremlin-screeching. The rhythm section does not know how—and does not want—to stop; it's just a fierce attack, and after that, they keep attacking. The guitarists are going to get tendonitis and arthritis from playing this fast and intense: thrash, death, and black metal riffs jump one after another. You might get a hint of a melody during a guitar solo, if you are lucky. This is the type of Midwest extreme metal brutality that pushes everything—everything!—to the limit. Recommended for metal fans who live for brutal metal. Come get in here if you ready to rumble!

Relic

Crown of Flies

3 April 2026

ABOUT THE BAND: "Milwaukee (WI) - A new Blackened Death Metal entity has formed. Featuring veterans of the Milwaukee metal scene, RELIC is set to release debut EP, Crown of Flies, April 3 on CD and digital formats."

Kevin Forsythe (Jungle Rot, Emblazoned) – Guitar / Bass; Jeff Plewa (Micawber, Emblazoned) – Vocals; Alex “Pulverizer” Pulvermacher (Decrescent, Emblazoned) – Drums; Vinny Alvarez (A Night At The Chalet, Slam Pig) - Guitar.

Crown Of Flies by Relic

Graveborn // Metempsychosis [Chris Ramusiewicz x Blackat Guitars Playthrough]

Check out the playthrough video from the fifth album by the American progressive death metal band GRAVEBORN. The album came out today! ABOUT THE BAND: "Formed in 2013 in Boston, MA, Graveborn serves up an ethereally heavy strain of progressive death metal. Over the last decade, they have released 4 albums (Samsara (2014), Seeds Of Life (2016), The Athenaeum (2018) and Transmigrator (2021)) and performed throughout the Northeast US with the likes of Fallujah, Rivers of Nihil, Cognitive, Ghost Bath, Ov Sulfur, and others."

Graveborn

Metempsychosis

3 April 2026

Reggie Lewis - bass; Jesse Blanchette - guitars; Chris Ramusiewicz - guitars; John LeBlanc - vocals; Marc Brennan - drums

Graveborn // Metempsychosis [Chris Ramusiewicz x Blackat Guitars Playthrough]