REVIEW: Demon Hunter - There Was a Light Here

Demon Hunter

There Was a Light Here

September 12, 2025

01. My Place In The Dirt

02. Sorrow Light The Way

03. Light Bends

04. The Pain In Me Is Gone

05. By A Thread

06. I’m Done

07. Ouroboros

08. Breaking Through Me

09. Overwhelming Closure

10. Hang The Fire

11. Reflected

12. There Was A Light Here

Before the full album came out, I had watched the official music videos for the songs "Sorrow Light the Way," "Light Bends," and "I'm Done." In addition, I had watched the lyric video for "The Pain in Me Is Gone." As it turns out, these songs are, in my view, accurate insights into where things stand in 2025 for the long-running American band. I would say that the most important thing for readers to know is that Demon Hunter has delivered an awesome, quality album worthy of their discography, their reputation, and their fans' loyalty. There are many components, from the top-level musicianship and production to the thoughtful lyrics and catchy songwriting, as well as the variety of songs and the multiple tones in the singing, both melodic and extreme.

The opening song, which I had not heard before the album came out, titled "My Place in the Dirt," starts with the band's signature melodic death metal sound. It begins with about one minute and twenty seconds of a mellow introduction before kicking the door open with heavy guitars, extreme vocals, a headbanging tempo, and generally a fast pace. There is some melodic singing, of course. The guitar solo is very nice. I feel like this song could serve as a great opener for the band's concerts.

On this album, expect some melodic death metal, but also expect the other elements heard in the first song to come out and make their presence known, as shown in the second song, "Sorrow Light the Way." Here, melodic singing is dominant. In a way, the second song is the inverse of the first. It is a mid-tempo to up-tempo song, with some growled vocals, but melodic singing characterizes it. On the other hand, the song has a heavy breakdown where the band goes hard with a groove metal sound as part of a heavy-duty segment. Throughout the album, there are various vocal approaches, as you can see from these two songs.

Actually, these two songs, taken together, set up the album very well as a landscape. The band takes things further in various directions. For instance, "The Pain in Me Is Gone" is essentially a ballad without being a traditional ballad. It is a mid-tempo song with melodic singing and no screaming, growling, or harsh vocals whatsoever. I think that if we were living in the 1970s or 1980s, this would be the song that record executives would focus on and say, "We have to get this song on the radio, like, right now!" It would be massively successful because it is so accessible. Like, the band would be stuck playing this song for the rest of their lives, and the audience would be very upset if they didn’t play it at concerts. The song is very ear-friendly and fan-friendly. I wonder if the band had debates or doubts about this song—I mean, they managed not to add any screamed vocals and found a way to avoid tempo changes or going in different directions. They kept the song simple and resisted the urge to add more. Wonderful.

Personally, I think I would be sad if I went to a Demon Hunter concert and the band did not play the new song "I'm Done." I find this song super catchy. It is very, very friendly to the ears. It is an up-tempo song with a fun, melodic solo and a generally fun vibe. It's difficult to stay still during this song. In addition, there are no extreme vocals; it is all melodic singing, with layered vocals, creating a kind of tapestry of the signature Demon Hunter melodic voice.

As an aside, I find the melodic singing on songs like "Sorrow Light the Way"—the part that says, "I've been suffering in silence ..."—or the chorus of "Light Bends" very pleasant to my ears. There is something in the voice, a unique tone that is peculiar to Demon Hunter’s singing, that you won't find in any other band quite the same way. It’s simply the recognizable—the "That's Demon Hunter!" moment—the element that makes you know it is Demon Hunter and no one else. You just know it when you hear it.

Lyrically, death in the family and the accompanying sorrow of losing a loved one seems to be a central theme. I am listening to the full album at the same time as everyone else. I have not seen the lyrics to the full album, nor did I have access to it before it was released; therefore, I am writing this review pretty much as I’m getting to know the album. Overall, I am very pleased with it. I have heard it in full several times now, and it only keeps getting better.

Demon Hunter "Sorrow Light The Way" Official Music Video

Demon Hunter "I'm Done" Official Music Video

https://www.facebook.com/demonhunter

interview: Hyperstrike brings the action and adventure to heavy metal!!

This Friday, September 12th, 2025, the Seattle action-and-adventure heavy metal band Hyperstrike (2024–present) will release their debut album, High Risk. Their combination of uptempo, good-time rhythms and catchy melodies is something great for fans to hear. These heroes go by the following names: Chop Daddy (Xoth, Wraith Vessel, ex-Warbringer, ex-Bonded by Blood [live]) on bass; Goblin Hammer on drums; Siberian Claw (Void Dancer, Symphony North) on guitars; and Brain Lord (Ashes of Ares [live], ex-Ghost Ship Octavius) on vocals. They are a new band, so let’s find out who they are!

Congratulations on your album! It's so good! I hope that you did not end up homeless after making the album. Recording albums is not cheap!

Ben “Chop Daddy” Bennett: We are pumped you are into the album, that means a lot to us. The album cost us 200 dollars to make. I rented the drum microphones and did everything myself. We tracked drums in Claw’s grandma's living room. I edited, mixed and mastered the entire thing. If we had to pay for the whole studio experience, we would never have been a band. DIY or DIE it seems like these days. The most expensive thing going on for us was merch. So BUY OUR SHIRT.

I like your music because it’s fun! Who came up with the idea of Hyperstrike?

Ben “Chop Daddy” Bennett: I’d been in Xoth for about ten years, playing a lot of technical music, but honestly, I had writer’s block for almost eight of those years. Last year I started teaching guitar again, and that completely reignited my love for the instrument. Suddenly I was overflowing with riffs and songs.

I’ve always loved melodic death metal and hardcore/pop-punk, so when I started writing Hyperstrike material, my first instinct was to have harsh vocals on songs like Meltdown and Steel Heart. But I realized I wanted a real singer to bring the hooks alive. Brain Lord was basically the only guy I knew who could pull that off, and when he laid down a demo it just clicked. He and Claw came as a package deal, and once they were in, the lineup really started to take shape. We needed a drummer, and out of a few choices we went with Goblin — honestly because he was kind of cute, which still makes us laugh.

At the core, I love action movies, fun energy, and catchy melodies wrapped in fast, galloping riffs. Hyperstrike came out of that — a heavy metal band that doesn’t shy away from being colorful, explosive, and, most importantly, fun.

How was the idea pitched to other musicians?! And the clothes?!

Ben “Chop Daddy” Bennett: I dress in gold and black on stage. I wanted everyone in the band to have their own color and flare. The first demos I cut were more RnB/funk oriented. I was originally just writing a solo project titled “Business Class,” so the two ideas crossed and that's where the image came from. As a side note, all of the Hyperstrike songs I've written (close to 75 at this point) are all in different variants of “Business Class” folders.

It looks like traditional heavy metal and speed metal are part of your sound, but some extreme metal elements here and there. Also, classic rock! The last song on the album, "Savage Sword," sounds like it has a bit of those sweet classic rock guitar melodies.

Ben “Chop Daddy” Bennett: Yes!!!! You get it!!! Indeed, there is a heavy influence of Thin Lizzy in some of my songs. I was listening to Katatonia's “Brave Murder Day” the morning after Xoth played a show in Portland, and the intro lead to “Savage Sword” kind of just popped into my head. I ran to the DAW and cut the song in a couple of hours. The lead guitars you hear on the album are actually the first takes I did on the demo when I wrote the song. I wanted to keep the magic from that moment, and I think that it translates into the final product. In my opinion, it’s the best song I’ve written. When Brain Lord laid the vocals down the song took form and “kind of wrote itself.”

You actually let the bass guitar be heard! It's so refreshing to hear.

Ben “Chop Daddy” Bennett: I’ve been playing wild slap bass in thrash since 2007. It took a long time to really dial in my technique and tone, but it’s dialed in hard now. When I was in Warbringer and Bonded By Blood, I mostly played with my fingers and used the slapping as an effect. As time went on, I played with my fingers less and less until now it’s 90 percent slap/pop. I’m very thankful that my bros in Xoth respect me and let me play how I want to play in that band.

Is your music fun on purpose, as a contrast from the dreary Seattle rock music?!

Ben “Chop Daddy” Bennett: People like what people like. Seattle is a very trendy city. Right now, OSDM, Doom and Black metal are all very trendy and popular, and the city reflects that. Personally, I could never make that kind of music because I like to have fun and feel alive, and it just seems so serious all the time. That's one of the things I try to inject into Hyperstrike, fun. In the end though, there’s no accounting for taste.

I think the first time that I heard your music was with the song “Warning Shot.” Was that the very first song that the band wrote? It's a great vibe of fun music. Is “Warning Shot” part of a story?

Ben “Chop Daddy” Bennett: “Warning Shot” is one of the first songs we wrote. The very first demo we have is from a song called “The Game” when we were working with another drummer named “Dr. Boss.” Maybe that will see the light of day, maybe not. “Steel Heart” was the first song Brain Lord gave me vocals on. “Leaving You Again” was one of the first ones too. All these songs were written in the same 2 weeks or so. I wouldn’t say the songs are all connected to one story. We have some songs that tell stories, and some songs that cut more close to home. The way we have been writing lyrics has been cool. Me or The Claw “dear diary” the chat and Brain Lord turns the random spastic ideas and what not into lyrics. We usually write the lyrics as Brain Lord is recording the vocals.

Is it accurate that your band has a video game?! Does it have fighting and cars exploding?! Is it for general audiences?

Ilya “The Claw” Ignatov: Yes, we do indeed have a video game! And the demo is playable now on itch. https://hyperstrike.itch.io/hyperstrike-game-demo

Brain: It’s a 2D side-scrolling platformer-shooter, in the vein of Contra, Mega Man, and the original Duke Nukem. Yeah, there are guns, explosions, blood, and guts—so I wouldn’t exactly recommend it for little kids. Then again, I would’ve been playing the hell out of this as a kid.

Your band wears bright colors. Are you thinking about having your merch be similar in look? How about a Hawaiian-style Hyperstrike shirt?!

Ben “Chop Daddy” Bennett: As I said above, I dress pretty flamboyantly on stage. I wanted the whole band to match. We have poker chips right now for our merch table. We have a roulette wheel table as our merch stand. You can bet a dollar to win stickers, cds, shirts, or poker chips. Come to one of our shows and try and gamble it all. Hawaiian shirt is a great idea. If the album does well and we have some traction, the sky's the limit as far as merchandising goes. What we really need is Hyperstrike Nunchucks.

Tell us about the song “Slug City”? Man, it feels on this song the action is about to get heavy, and cars are going to explode!

Ben “Chop Daddy” Bennett: “Slug City” is about a cage fighter. Get it? This song turned out awesome and it went over super well live. The single bass note hit is supposed to be like the scene in Bloodsport where the dude is doing mad martial arts and the big guy just punches him in the face. BOMP!

What are your plans for the rest of 2025 and for 2026?

Ben “Chop Daddy” Bennett: We have somethings lined up for the end of the year, mostly Washington State and Oregon shows. Hopefully we get down to California, but for sure more regions will be STRUCK next year. We should be going up to BC also. I mean, the dream is to play “Savage Sword” in every country.

What else would you like to mention? I'm sure I have forgotten to ask a bunch of things! For example, I forgot to ask about your drummer's favorite restaurant for Chinese food in Seattle.

Josh “Goblin Hammer” Hoffman: There can be only one Chinese Restaurant in Seattle……… The Rickshaw…..

Ben “Chop Daddy” Bennett: I’m a producer. If you liked this album and you are interested, dm me @speedchopperbass on Instagram. I mix, master, engineer, produce. Whatever you need. ALSO LONG LIVE FREE SOFTWARE EVERYTHING I PRODUCE IS ON LINUX FOR FREE.

Ilya “Siberian Claw” Ignatov: I teach music. If you like the shred on the album and want to work on your chops, hit me up for lessons @ilyasignatov on Instagram.

Adon “BrainLord” Fanion: I also offer multimedia services, teaching, and I am an award-winning composer for independent cinema, hire me. Thank you for the fun interview and review!

High Risk by Hyperstrike

Warning Shot by Hyperstrike

Savage Sword by Hyperstrike

https://www.facebook.com/hyperstrikeband

Dream Theater - Bend The Clock (Official Video)

"Bend The Clock" is the seventh track from the 2025 album Parasomnia from long-running American progressive metal band Dream Theater.

--

--

Worn down wearing thin

Hellish dreams

Tormenting scenes

Shadows looming

I'm paralyzed, can't move

Scared and confused

If I

If I could bend the clock

The passageway of time

Leave it all behind

No more

No more paralyzing dreams

The midnight screams

Always haunting me

But I sink deeper each day

Cold, hallowed place

Dark shadows

Vast haunting landscapes

In a frantic state

Tired of feeling lost

Alone and out of place

This circle I can't break

Every night

Lie comatose

But wide awake

I'm paralyzed again

Darkness creeping in

If I

If I could bend the clock

The passageway of time

Leave it all behind

No more

No more paralyzing dreams

The midnight screams

Always haunting me

But I sink further today

The witching hour begins

Can't escape

I find myself again

Prisoner in the end

Sinking further than I've ever been

And if I

If I could bend the clock

The passageway of time

A better place I'd find

And no more

No more paralyzing dreams

The midnight screams

Break this hold on me

But I can't get away

Can't find my way

Sinking further every day

Dream Theater - Bend The Clock (Official Video)

https://www.facebook.com/dreamtheater

SABATON - Templars (Official Music Video)

"Templars" is the opening song from the 2025 Sabaton (1999-present; Sweden) album called Legends that comes out on October 17th.

========= Templars LYRICS ==========

The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and the temple

Their mission, a journey about to begin

Safeguard the path, the way to salvation

Protecting the faithful, a journey within

The holy order

Ignite the flame

Protect the border

Jerusalem calling their name

God’s call, holy order

Knights of Jesus Christ

Charge from the temple

God’s own chosen warriors

Templars on the march, charge from the temple mount

Judgement awaits in the Kingdom of Heaven

A royal betrayal, accusal of sin

The lies of a King, and papal damnation

Demise of the order, this fight they can’t win

False accusations

Put out the flame

Assassinations

Jerusalem still calls their name

========= Historic Fact ==========

The Knights of the noble Order of the Temple was founded in 1119 after the First Crusade. Known for their dual roles as warriors and monks, they took vows of poverty and chastity as the Poor Fellow Soldiers of Christ. Wearing heavy armour and white mantles with a red cross, they protected pilgrims in the Holy Land and guarded Christian sites, including the Temple Mount. Despite their noble mission, the Order faced suspicion from European nobility. In 1307, King Philip IV of France, driven by greed and jealousy, betrayed the Templars, seizing their wealth and ordering the arrest of many knights, including Grand Master Jacques de Molay, who was tortured and executed.

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SABATON - Templars (Official Music Video)

https://www.facebook.com/sabaton

Out Today: IMPERIALIST - black metal from California, USA

IMPERIALIST

Prime

Transcending Obscurity Records

5 September 2025

DISCOGRAPHY

Quantum Annexation (EP) 2015

Cipher (full-length) 2018

Zenith (full-length) 2021

Quantum (EP) 2023

Prime (full-length) 2025

With this new 2025 album, American black metal band Imperialist (2013–present) presents tight, fast, and intense songs; an awesome work made for movement and action. I don't think this band wants listeners sitting still or falling asleep! There are lots of memorable riffs, a combination of black metal and thrash, in their songwriting, with sharp solos and melodies. This album was mixed and mastered by the legendary Dan Swanö. Expect a professional sound with the clarity of thrash that lets the listener hear the music, from the bass guitar to the vocals and drums.

Their 2018 full-length album featured lyrics that felt like intense documentaries on astronomy or stories of intergalactic travels, wars, and empires, almost completely devoid of humans or living beings, a people-less narration, for the most part. Since I don’t have the lyrics to the new album, I am unable to say much about this, but one song’s lyrics available on Metal Archives at this point do include humans in conflict with artificial intelligence machines.

The music is very well done, especially for fans of black metal and thrash. On the other hand, for audiences who think all black metal has unprofessional or unlistenable production, this album might just be the start of changing that perspective. You can definitely hear the music. In addition, the vocals, while staying within the black metal genre, are generally not too difficult to understand.

Prime by IMPERIALIST

https://www.facebook.com/Imperialistofficial

OUT TODAY: Dreams of Gray - melodic death metal from Chicago, USA

Dreams of Gray

A Beginning

5 September 2025

1.A Beginning 4:49

2.Beyond the Sky 4:25

3.Across the Endless Sea 4:27

Dreams of Gray plays melodic death metal that’s perfect for headbanging. Their music is heavy and energetic, sometimes speeding up to intense blast beats. The band sticks to the basics of great metal. You know it: strong riffs, focused songwriting, and no wasted time. Each song is around four to five minutes long and stays on track without any unnecessary parts. These aren’t just shows of skill or experiments; they’re well-crafted songs that get straight to the point.

But there’s more to their sound than just heaviness. The mood sometimes turns somber, with lyrics about life, death, and loneliness. The music stays powerful, thanks to the band’s thrash and death metal roots. The vocals vary, from deep growls to high screams, and even some melodic singing that adds variety and emotion.

What makes Dreams of Gray stand out is that their music isn’t just about anger or sadness. It’s about inner strength and resilience during tough times, all powered by intense metal energy. Plus, the lyrics are surprisingly clear, which isn’t always the case in death metal. Instead of being depressing, the words inspire strength, and the music gives a feeling that’s both serious and uplifting.

In short, Dreams of Gray delivers a well-rounded metal experience that’s heavy, emotional, and full of energy.

A Beginning by Dreams of Gray

The World After by Dreams of Gray

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100090219272895

PRIMAL FEAR - I Am The Primal Fear (Official Visualizer)

The legendary German institution of pounding heavy metal of air raid siren singing and guitar mania, known as PRIMAL FEAR, is returned with a new album called Domination. Below you will find all the official propaganda, album and tour information. I recommend this album very highly if you love real singing. Primal Fear features gold-standard heavy metal singing, backed up with excellent musicianship in traditional heavy metal. Heavy metal does not really get much better than this. Primal Fear is heavy metal, and heavy metal is Primal Fear. The new album is now out. Let's go, Primal Fear. Gold-standard heavy metal.

Primal Fear

Domination

Reigning Phoenix Music

5 September 2025

Power metal titans PRIMAL FEAR are proud to unveil their new studio album, Domination, set for release on September 5th via Reigning Phoenix Music. This thunderous 13-track opus is a masterclass in sonic warfare: an unrelenting barrage of soaring vocals, earth-shattering riffs, and battle-hardened anthems forged in fire and steel.

The journey begins with "The Hunter", where the blade is drawn and the chase begins. Charged with mythic energy and sky-rending vocals, the track follows a lone warrior through scorched lands and cursed shadows. It’s a thunderous call to arms: epic, relentless, and triumphant, setting the tone for the odyssey ahead.

Hot on its heels is "Destroyer", a track that surges forward like a war machine. Fueled by breakneck double kicks, slashing guitars, and a chorus that cleaves the sky, it channels the chaos of battle into an unstoppable force. Theatrical and unflinching, it embodies the essence of melodic warfare.

But Domination isn’t just steel and fury. It also carries the heart of the hero. "Far Away" shifts the focus inward, a soaring anthem of longing and return. With emotionally charged vocals and blazing riffs, it tells the story of a soul exiled from love, journeying through fire for the promise of reunion.

The emotional heat gives way to raw power with "I Am the Primal Fear", a blazing self-declaration of strength and dominance. Galloping rhythms, serrated guitars, and a chorus like a hammer strike declare this track as the embodiment of the band’s core: untamed, unbreakable, and forged in metal’s purest form.

Emotion and might intertwine in "Tears of Fire", where grief gives rise to vengeance. From symphonic swells to searing guitar leads, the song paints heartbreak not as defeat but as transformation—fuel for divine retribution and mythic rebirth.

That same mythic fire burns through "Heroes and Gods", an anthem of mortal defiance against divine forces. With galloping riffs and soaring choruses, it honors the spirit of those who rise beyond fate and forge glory in the flames of battle. It's a tribute to courage, legacy, and the will to ascend.

At the album’s center lies "Hallucinations", a dynamic instrumental that twists reality into a fever dream. Shredding solos and intricate melodies guide listeners through surreal soundscapes. It’s a sonic descent into madness that bridges the album’s thematic halves with atmospheric might.

Emerging from this dreamlike haze is "Eden", a spiritual odyssey into a shadowed paradise. It evokes the ache of exile and the yearning for rebirth, guiding the listener through darkness and into the light. Heroic and introspective, it’s a call to face the unknown hand in hand with hope.

That hope explodes into raw emotion in "Scream", a defiant outcry set against a backdrop of fire and destruction. “It’s raining fire. Scream. We are going to extremes” becomes both mantra and warcry. This track doesn’t whisper strength; it howls it from the edge of chaos.

"The Dead Don’t Die" carries that fury into the realm of the eternal. Whether marching undead or undying resolve, the song channels an unyielding force that refuses to be silenced. With thunderous riffs and grim grandeur, it’s a hymn to those who rise again and again.

Thrown straight into the heat of conflict, "Crossfire" captures the tension of being caught between clashing powers. Its pounding rhythms and unrelenting pace make it a portrait of struggle, resilience, and survival in the storm of battle.

That storm shapes the journey of "March Boy March", a tale of a young warrior forged by duty and fire. With steady pacing and anthemic force, it tells a coming-of-age story written in steel and sacrifice. It’s a reminder that courage is born with every step forward.

The saga closes on a tender but powerful note with "A Tune I Won’t Forget". A heartfelt ballad steeped in memory and meaning, it celebrates the power of music to leave an everlasting mark on the soul. As the final notes fade, the spirit of Domination lingers: heroic, eternal, and unforgettable.

About PRIMAL FEAR:

Spanning more than 25 years of pure heavy and power metal, PRIMAL FEAR have face numerous challenges since their formation in 1997. Despite these obstacles, the band have repeatedly risen from their lowest points, like a phoenix from the ashes. After a recent line-up change, which saw Thalìa Bellezecca join on guitar and André Hilgers on drums, the group are now in the final stages of completing their upcoming 15th studio album, Domination, which is currently being recorded. "We've entered the studio and we can choose from a pool of about 25 songs! We're absolutely happy!" smiles founding member Mat Sinner (bass, vocals).

Produced by Sinner and co-produced by Ralf Scheepers & Magnus Karlsson, the new offering will be mixed and mastered by the group's confident partner Jacob Hansen at his Hansen Studios in Ribe, Denmark by the end of this year.

Long-time guitarist Magnus Karlsson, who has recently returned to the PRIMAL FEAR live touring crew, is once again a vital part of the creative process as well. He adds: "I can't wait to hit the stage with PRIMAL FEAR again! It's going to be an incredible ride! We're going to create something truly special together, both live and in the studio, and I'm so grateful to share this journey with all you metalheads! Metal is forever!"

The metal titans are determined to outdo themselves once again and to surpass the success of their recent album Code Red, which achieved the highest chart notations in the band's history. Their efforts are progressing exceptionally well. Vocalist Ralf Scheepers states about the current process: "I haven't felt as great in a long time as I did singing some of the new songs!"

But that's not all: behind the scenes, preparations are in full swing, and PRIMAL FEAR fans should mark September 5, 2025 on their calendars. This date not only marks the release of Domination but also the launch of a European tour, starting in Hamburg, Germany, and spanning eight countries to celebrate the album's debut. The tour will be preceded by several festival appearances (more details to be announced soon, so stay tuned!), with their first performance featuring the highly energized new line-up set for Rock in Rautheim next May.

PRIMAL FEAR are:

Ralf Scheepers | vocals

Mat Sinner | bass, vocals

Magnus Karlsson | guitars

Thalìa Bellazecca | guitars

André Hilgers | drums

About Reigning Phoenix Music:

Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur, Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme and hard music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists by offering best services and practices in the industry. RPM’s paramount goal is to help the artists amplify their music and talent to a winning formula for success. The label recently opened a new office in London, UK.

PRIMAL FEAR live:

09.05.2025 DE Braunschweig - Rock in Rautheim

02.07.2025 DE Ballenstedt - Rockharz Open Air *SOLD OUT*

18.07.2025 IT Cremona - Luppolo in Rock

21.08.2025 DE Haddeby - Baltic Open Air

23.08.2025 UK Newark - Stonedead Festival *SOLD OUT*

“Domination” Tour 2025

w/ ELEINE

05.09.2025 DE Hamburg - Markthalle

06.09.2025 DE Leipzig - Anker

07.09.2025 DE Bochum - Zeche

09.09.2025 DE Aschaffenburg - Colos-Saal

10.09.2025 DE Munich - Backstage

12.09.2025 DE Memmingen - Kaminwerk

13.09.2025 DE Mannheim - Capitol

14.09.2025 DE Regensburg-Obertraubling - Eventhall Airport

16.09.2025 CH Pratteln - Konzertfabrik Z7

18.09.2025 DE Berlin - Hole 44

19.09.2025 DE Naila - Frankenhalle

20.09.2025 DE Stuttgart - Im Wizemann (Halle)

21.09.2025 BE Sint-Niklaas - De Casino

23.09.2025 NL Amstelveen - P60

25.09.2025 PL Warsaw - Stodola

26.09.2025 CZ Prague - MeetFactory

27.09.2025 CZ Zlín - Masters of Rock Café

30.09.2025 ES Madrid - Mon

01.10.2025 ES Murcia - Garaje

03.10.2025 ES Barcelona - Salamandra

04.10.2025 ES Pamplona - Sala Totem

PRIMAL FEAR - I Am The Primal Fear (Official Visualizer)

PRIMAL FEAR - The Hunter (Official Music Video)

PRIMAL FEAR - Tears Of Fire (Official Music Video)

https://www.facebook.com/PrimalFearOfficial

music video: ELEINE - Never Forget (LIVE AT MASTERS OF ROCK 2024)

Check out this music video from Eleine, a band from Sweden. Below you will find all the official information about their 2025 EP.

Eleine

We Stand United

Reigning Phoenix Music

5 September 2025

Swedish metal outfit ELEINE reach out with a compelling offering that draws together a connection between their studio recordings and live performances. The haunting sonic soundscape of the forthcoming EP, We Stand United, features two unheard pieces: an intro called "Towards The Fields" and the title track is future live favourite. In addition, two live tracks recorded at Masters of Rock 2024 and a symphonic version of "Promise Of Apocalypse", are set to arrive in digital format, CD and vinyl on September 5, 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

"We wanted to give you something in between album cycles. A feel of what’s to come, where we stand right now and a closer look at the past.

This is We Stand United - An EP dedicated towards our strong and loyal fans across the world including live tracks and something brand new!

On this EP ELEINE present you with live tracks on CD and vinyl for the first time ever! We enjoy the studio, but it will always be when performing LIVE we truly thrive as a band. This is where we connect with the crowd, where we create beautiful and empowering memories together and where we get to live out the songs on stage.

We Stand United is a 5 track EP carrying new heavy riffs, thundering live performances and a rawness we feel many will appreciate." - Madeleine & Rikard

The droning cinematic introduction is deeply eerie in its shadowy manifestation, drawing in the eager listener with intense anticipation. "We Stand United" emerges with a fury of guitar-driven riffs and a menacing marching rhythm. ELEINE's iconic atmospheric arrangement strikes intently with Madeleine Liljestam's enthralling charismatic vocals accompanied with fierce harsh growls from Rikard Ekberg. The chorus lyric hook is certain to be one fans will be singing for a long time to come.

"Never Forget [Live at Masters of Rock 2024]" and "We Are Legion [Live at Masters of Rock 2024]" reveal the dynamicity and enticing allure of ELEINE's live performances. The proficiency of the band and love from the crowd provide a taste of the festival experience. We Stand United ends with the symphonic version of "Promise Of Apocalypse". Placing the orchestration center stage, this interpretation creates a truly spectacular cinematic display.

About ELEINE

ELEINE is a multifaceted, intense, epically empowering metal band from Sweden, founded in 2014 and led by vocalist Madeleine Liljestam and guitarist/growler Rikard Ekberg. Their discography includes four studio albums, two electric and even an acoustic EP, which showcase an exquisite balance of darkness with a cinematic and theatrical flair, that collide with the heavy power of influences from thrash, black and death metal. While studio album number five is in the works amidst a headline tour running across 2024-5, We Stand United will be released on September 5, 2025 via Reigning Phoenix Music.

About Reigning Phoenix Music

Founded in 2023, Reigning Phoenix Music is truly the 100% independently owned vision of music industry professional Gerardo Martinez and avionics and tech entrepreneur, Sven Bogner. The blueprint is to continue to help heavy metal, extreme and hard music thrive by partnering with an array of well-established acts, new talent, and iconic artists by offering best services and practices in the industry. RPM’s paramount goal is to help the artists amplify their music and talent to a winning formula for success.

ELEINE are:

Madeleine Liljestam | vocals

Rikard Ekberg | guitars, vocals

Victor Jonasson | guitars

Track Listing:

01. Towards The Fields (Intro)

02. We Stand United

03. Never Forget [Live at Masters of Rock 2024]

04. We Are Legion [Live at Masters of Rock 2024]

05. Promise Of Apocalypse [Symphonic Version]

ELEINE live:

01.08.2025 FI Viikinsaari (Tampere) - SaariHelvetti

14.08.2025 CZ Moravský Krumlov - Rock Castle

“Domination” Tour 2025

w/ PRIMAL FEAR

05.09.2025 DE Hamburg - Markthalle

06.09.2025 DE Leipzig - Anker

07.09.2025 DE Bochum - Zeche

09.09.2025 DE Aschaffenburg - Colos-Saal

10.09.2025 DE Munich - Backstage (Werk)

12.09.2025 DE Memmingen - Kaminwerk

13.09.2025 DE Mannheim - Capitol

14.09.2025 DE Regensburg-Obertraubling - Eventhall Airport

16.09.2025 CH Pratteln - Konzertfabrik Z7

18.09.2025 DE Berlin - Hole 44

19.09.2025 DE Naila - Frankenhalle

20.09.2025 DE Stuttgart - Im Wizemann (Halle)

21.09.2025 BE Sint-Niklaas - De Casino

23.09.2025 NL Amstelveen - P60

25.09.2025 PL Warsaw - Stodola

26.09.2025 CZ Prague - MeetFactory

27.09.2025 CZ Zlín - Masters of Rock Café

30.09.2025 ES Madrid - Mon

01.10.2025 ES Murcia - Garaje

03.10.2025 ES Barcelona - Salamandra

04.10.2025 ES Pamplona - Sala Totem

08./09.05.2026 DE Braunschweig - Rock in Rautheim

ELEINE - Never Forget (LIVE AT MASTERS OF ROCK 2024)

https://www.facebook.com/eleineofficial/

REVIEW: Condition Critical - American thrash from New Jersey

Condition Critical

Degeneration Chamber

5 September 2025

Conditional Critical (2010-present) is a frenetic thrash band from the state of New Jersey, United States. This is their third album. They have gang shouts, angry vocals and screams, prototypical thrash gallop guitar, and a rhythm section that plays only fast and faster. With an album titled Degeneration Chamber and songs titled "Cryonic Intestinal Preservation" and "Deconstructive Horrors," and with Metal Archives naming "violence" and "gore" as the band's main preferences for lyrics, you can be sure that these guys prefer lyrics that sound like horror movies. I do not have the lyrics to this album, but on Metal Archives, the lyrics for their previous albums are similar to horror movies.

This album’s got some serious energy, with fast and powerful guitar riffs that really show off the band’s skills. The riffs move pretty quick and keep things interesting, so you’re never bored. The songs are pretty short but packed with energy, each one feeling tight and full of life. The band switches up the rhythm and beats in a way that shows they know what they’re doing, which keeps you hooked the whole time. What’s cool is how the album stays intense from start to finish, with heavy rhythms that push the songs forward. The steady beats keep the momentum going and build the energy up bit by bit. Overall, it’s a solid album that grabs your attention and doesn’t let go, perfect for anyone who really loves thrash big time; shredding, fast, aggressive thrash. There are no love songs, no ballads, just intense thrash for the mosh pit and headbanging. This album is recommended above all for the devoted fan of thrash.

CONDITION CRITICAL - Postmortal Simulation (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

https://www.facebook.com/ConditionCriticalNJ

Dawnbreaker – From Blasphemous Music to Making Christian Black Metal (Part 1)

Hello, Dawnbreaker! I am not very familiar with your discography. Your current black metal project Dawnbreaker began in 2018, but you’ve been making black metal music since 2003 or perhaps even before. I have read that Dawnbreaker is Christian black metal music, but that before 2018 your black metal music was explicitly anti-Christian, with an extremely blasphemous and violent satanic message and purpose. This change, this journey caught my attention. However, before we tackle the music of Dawnbreaker, if you don't mind, I would like to begin with your early life and musical endeavors. How would you describe your childhood? Do you feel like overall you have happy memories of school, with childhood friends, and of life at home, with your parents and siblings? Where did you grow up?

When I think of my early years, I think of that Toy’s R Us song “I don’t want to grow up, I just want to be a kid.” I had a very happy and perhaps even “privileged” middle class upbringing. I grew up in a New Jersey shore town with a population of 100,000, bordering the town where the “Jersey Shore” was filmed (and where I currently live). It was a nice house with a finished basement and an in-ground swimming pool. Totally safe suburban neighborhood, close to the beach. Bicycle rides, sports, playing the Nintendo NES.. But my childhood was great, no issues, no traumatic events, it was almost too good. I guess for many millennials, we were so spoiled in our childhoods that adult life never could quite measure up. Not a lot of extended family nearby, but close family friends. I didn’t move to New York City until my late 20’s.

Did your parents have music playing around the house? If so, what do you remember about the music that you heard at home and in the car with your family? Looking back on it now, what effect did it have on you?

I don’t recall hearing music often around the house. My parents had a record player/cassette player combo. My mom was into 60’s rock, mostly the Beatles. She played a 12-string guitar in a band as a kid but phased out of it pretty quickly. My father was into the Motown sound almost exclusively. I never got into either of those genres. But the biggest influence of music in the house was classical music. My mom read a study that playing classical music the night before a test led to higher scores. So I would fall asleep to classical music on the radio when I had an exam the next day. That’s where it started.

Were your parents church-going people? What do you remember about your upbringing in terms of religion and spirituality? How would you say that it affected you later on?

My father was a practicing Catholic and went to mass every week, and he kept all of the holy day fasts. My sister and I were raised Catholic, went to Sunday school. My mother was from a Catholic family, but her college experience resulted in her having more of a pantheistic “all religions are good” view. She didn’t believe the tenants of the Catholic faith. So there was some dissonance there, I was learning one thing from my father but another from my mother. It was confusing. But because of the upbringing of my father, I reverted to Catholicism and Christianity when I got older. This is actually a common thing for the sons of Catholic men.

Did you grow up taking music lessons, like piano lessons or in band at school? Did you grow up playing instruments?

My elementary school had music classes where we learned to play the recorder. Towards the end of elementary I started playing saxophone and getting lessons for it. I don’t think I could play one now though if I tried! I started guitar lessons at I think 15 years of age, when I got my first guitar.

You began making black metal music in 2003, but you must have had previous works, songs and ideas that you had done maybe in the 1990s, perhaps?

Nope, I was maybe 12 or 13 years old in 1999, I had absolutely no contact with black metal until maybe 2001. My first band was a death metal band when I was 16, and I was the vocalist – I had been playing guitar for about a year, but a took a long time for me to not be terrible at it. No, 2003 I believe was the beginning – first demo, first concert. Maybe I had some riffs in 2002, that was my first time playing guitar though. I kind of jumped right into it as soon as I could make something barely passable.

How was high school for you? When think about high school from your perspective now, how do you see yourself as a young man? What kind of mental state were you throughout those years? How were your friendships in those years?

High school is where everything went off the rails. As I said before I had a good childhood free of issues. But due to various circumstances I ended up losing the friend group I had at the time, and I didn’t really fit in anywhere else. The reasonable sorrow I had in response to this was mistaken for depression, and so I was put on a lot various experimental antidepressants and other pharmaceuticals. Because my parents trusted psychologists, even though they were getting kickbacks for prescribing this stuff. One of them – a drug called Geodon – the pharmaceutical company Phizer had to pay millions in a settlement because they were paying the doctors to prescribe it, including my doctor. And these drugs were soul killing and made me absolutely crazy. So I was a loner, and outcast in high school. I had changed friend groups a few times, but ultimately I was pretty isolated. People were afraid of me, and rightfully so. I wore all black, leather, band shirts every day. This is when I started getting into metal, and kept wanting more extreme metal. Eventually black metal became my favorite genre of music. I would walk around graveyards, looking like a psychopath, listening to Mayhem and Burzum and Emperor. I found some weird commonality with these bands, and in a weird way it gave me hope and a sense of belonging. I felt like I wasn’t the only one thinking these crazy thoughts, obsessed with these dark things. It was a weird journey. I was just a nerdy kid as a freshman, in sophomore year came the dark clothes and metal music, junior year I was wild and fighting and missing class all the time, senior year I just smoked pot and checked out. No, I can’t say that any of the friends I had in high school are in my life anymore, even though I moved back to this area recently. But there was one friend I had from hanging out on AOL instant messenger, that I met in some metal chatroom, that’s still a good friend of mine. He even did the artwork for the last two Dawnbreaker albums! Were you more into metal when Slipknot came out? Or, before that, did you like rap rock like Limp Bizkit? I got into metal through Korn and Limp Bizkit, haha! This was maybe the very end of the 90’s. I didn’t buy CDs yet, but I listened to the radio and liked the metal and hard rock that was on the radio. Godsmack, Static X, stuff like that. That was my entryway. Metallica and Megadeth would come later. In the early 2000’s is when I started really getting into music and buying and burning CDs.

As far as I can tell, your first metal music on Metal Archives seems to be Angelcide, a gruesome and grim black metal project that was all about glorifying evil in the most graphic and violent ways possible. So, what has happened in your life up until that point, 2003, 2004, 2005 that you are all-in on the glorification evil?

I was a lonely and awkward teen, so I was bullied a little in my early teens. And my parents were strict, unreasonably so at times. So I started gravitating towards violence in movies, music, and video games, because it gave me a sense of empowerment and strength. And as I mentioned before I was put on antidepressants later that worsened absolutely everything. I felt like I was being physically weighed down by the drugs, and dead to the world. And I had anger with everything from the top down – God, my parents, authority figures, most of my peers. My parents were really strict and I started rebelling fiercely with everything – getting violent, unpredictable. Threatening people, saying the most horrible things imaginable. I went from someone bullied to someone who bullied others. I renounced my religion and didn’t care if I went to hell, because I felt like life was already hell. I barely kept it together in those years, and listening to and playing death and black metal was one of the only things giving me real joy and excitement. So it was a lot of things happening at once. I was shy at first, didn’t know how to talk to girls, how to dress. I lost my friend group, and searching to a new one lead to edgier and edgier people influencing me. Then I got into metal and started creating a true identity and persona for the first time. And that persona was just being extreme, into all the most extreme and dark and horrible things. Just being obscene, offensive, chaotic, and destructive. Those things gave me excitement, and made me feel like I was rebelling against the world that I felt left me behind. The glorification of evil was because I hated the world, was at sometimes suicidal and at other times homicidal.

Do you remember your life back then around 2003-2005? You were clearly productive, making music. But what is happening with your mind and your soul?

Yes, I remember it very clearly and often reminisce and sometimes even romanticize it, in a weird way. This were my junior and senior years of high school. Probably the most turbulent years of my entire life. Wild and chaotic, but not necessarily entirely bad. I found new friends, had my first girlfriends and everything that went along with that experience, got my license and car which led to freedom and adventure. But also incredible strife with parents, teachers, with other musicians and bands. The bands in New Jersey were always in competition and trash talking each other. It was war all the time! I started using marijuana and stupid drugs like taking large doses of cough medicine. I wouldn’t do spells or anything, I was afraid to mess with evil spirits, because I still believed in them. But I would try things like astral projecting, remote viewing, trying to have lucid dreams and other weird psychic and spiritual phenomena. I was fascinated by it all! I watched horror movies all the time, looked for the most extreme violence I could find, not just in regular movies but in pornography too. I would travel to haunted places looking for a scare. I was obsessed with everything dark and unorthodox. I don’t believe I was possessed, but I believe the pharmaceuticals I was prescribed were blocking me spiritually and killed my spirit. I’m sure there was some demonic influence, but the cause or root isn’t entirely clear. In the beginning I was extremely depressed and didn’t have many friends. But in 2005, I graduated high school, and something strange happened. Everything suddenly got better. I stopped taking the prescribed drugs, I fell in love with a beautiful girl who I was together with for many years. I started making tons of friends, I was out partying every night, socializing, having fun. I networked like crazy and started getting to know a lot of the people involved in the local black and death metal scenes. I was profoundly happy after suffering the most depressed years of my life. But a lot of this was captured in the music of the time. And yes, I was productive, but the music was low quality. The riffs were basic, song structures were basic. I didn’t know how to engineer music, I was just totally self-taught, messing around with computer microphones and basic music software. My first black metal demo didn’t even have bass, the snare drum was barely present, I was sloppy and out of tune. It was a mess. But I had so much passion for it. I think about that passion sometimes, I remember the mentality I was in. Chaos everywhere, but the music I was making made me feel like I was doing something so exciting. My way of steering through the storm. I eventually re-recorded a lot the music of these early demos into two albums with my “Hosts of Lord” project, “Prophetic Visions of Harrowing Despair” and “Afflicting Blackness of Day.” I think about the riffs and melodies, even to this day.

At least from the music, it certainly looks like you hated anything having to do with Jesus, anything related to God. In the Bible the apostle Paul persecuted and killed Christians, then converted to Christianity, and after his conversion, he suffered many things, like severe beatings and multiple imprisonments. In your case, too, there is a shameful past to deal with. In your case, why were you so angry with God?

I did hate Jesus, yes, I was angry. It was different from Paul – Paul was a scholar of the Jewish religion, and felt Christianity was a blasphemy. He was trying to do the right thing, and he believed killing the early Christians was protecting what he believed to be the true religion. For me, I was angry and wanted revenge – I blamed God, the church, the priests for all of my problems, even though I didn’t really seek out their help. Since my whole childhood was good, I didn’t understand why it wouldn’t be that way forever. I felt like I believed, and was abandoned, so I was angry. I felt that the faith and the church were my enemies, because they let me be cast aside to isolation and depression even though I believe in them and tried to follow the rules. But ultimately I chose to sin, chose to turn away, chose to not forgive. I mentioned before that I lost my group of friends – it didn’t have to be that way. I could’ve chosen forgiveness and stuck with them. But I chose to hate, to be bitter, to not forgive. And it cost me dearly. The suffering that came to me, looking back, I chose it. It was completely self-induced. I don’t know what God saw in me to go to such great lengths to bring me back. I didn’t deserve it at all, but maybe he saw the lengths I would go and the sacrifices I would make to do the right thing in my older years. I’m so grateful to be welcomed back into Christianity that I really put a lot of effort into spreading the good news through my music and other means.

What happened in your life to make you turn to God?

I spent many years genuinely looking for “the truth” in spirituality. I read parts of the Koran and a lot of New Age books. Books on paganism, witchcraft, mythology. But there was always an emptiness in my life, a lack of meaning and purpose and direction. A lack of hope. I never really had a clear answer or a clear direction. And when I was in my late 20’s I was just tired of failing. It just seemed like I was never going to assimilate, never figure it out – how to just, I don’t know, be a part of society or the world or anything. There were little breadcrumbs being fed to me. I started hearing God’s call little by little. One time I was having a severe panic attack after a night of heavy drinking – I had a long drive back to New Jersey from Florida. And I said “God please help me not die on this drive, and I’ll come back.” And this would happen other times. Something awful would happen and I would walk into a church, but would get too emotional to stay for the service. But I would rationalize myself out of it every time “I’m in a black metal band, I can’t go back.” Then one day I sought someone’s consul and they said, “You’ve been trying all these different spiritual beliefs, reading these books, why don’t you try praying to Jesus?” And it just struck me like – I’ve tried everything and gotten nowhere, why don’t I give this a chance? And so I started praying. And immediately these doors opened in my life – many of the things I was looking for. I did read that story you asked yes, quite incredible. But I didn’t have that experience. For me, it was just a simple gesture, just “why not? You’ve been trying so long, why not?” I guess it’s similar to what Jesus said to Paul “why do you kick against the goads?” And I thought, “maybe I’ll give this a chance. Maybe this is what’s been missing.”

To be continued.

Banisher of Unlight by Dawnbreaker

https://www.facebook.com/dawnbreakerworship/

Here are some old pictures from the period of time --the youth-- covered in this first part of the interview.