 Italian Christian power-prog metal veterans Metatrone announce their fifth studio album “Sangueacqua”, set for release on March 13, 2026 via Rockshots Records. Following a period of silence that deeply challenged the band’s path, “Sangueacqua” emerges not simply as a comeback but as a statement of survival, identity and artistic consolidation. Blending the drive of European power metal with progressive structures and modern rhythmic precision, the album showcases Metatrone at their most focused, aggressive and cohesive. Riffs are tighter and more assertive, grooves more grounded and impactful while melodic lines retain the crystalline character that defines the band’s sound. The production balances analogue warmth with contemporary clarity, pushing the band toward a more direct and powerful sonic identity. The line-up marks a highly anticipated reunion with historic frontman Jo Lombardo returning on lead vocals, alongside founding members Stefano “Ghigas” Calvagno (guitars, bass) and David Brown (keyboards, vocals), joined by drummer Simone Alberti, whose performance combines technical precision with visceral energy. At its core, “Sangueacqua” explores the concept of identity and belonging - artistic, personal and spiritual. The album confronts imitation and conformity in “Facsimile”, reflects on collective oppression in “Stato Infame” and challenges the idolatry of power and wealth in “Fuori dal Tempio”. Spiritual identity remains central, expressed as a call to action as well as a mystical root in “Anima Christi” based on an ancient Latin prayer. The title itself evokes endurance through suffering: blood and water as symbols of struggle, resilience and rebirth. The album artwork, created by Nello Dell’Omo (ArtForMusic Studio) based on a concept by Ghigas and David Brown, visually translates these themes into a powerful and evocative imagery.
Guitarist Stefano “Ghigas” Calvagno comments: “There are very few words that can explain how much I love this album. One of them is ‘resistance.’ There were moments when we thought we had reached our endpoint. But the flame was still burning. ‘Sangueacqua’ is our blood, our life, our legacy.” Keyboardist David Brown adds: “This album is filled with energy and soul. Jo’s return and Simone’s entrance were crucial. It sounds more direct and aggressive, yet completely true to who we are.” Frontman Jo Lombardo states: “I’m excited for this album because I came back to my beloved place, among old friends and with incredible songs to sing. Metal music is still flowing in my veins.” Drummer Simone Alberti concludes: “It’s not a new beginning nor an ending point but a continuous line drawn by passion, blood and sweat. I can’t wait to play this album live.” Produced by the band, recorded and mixed by Luigi Scuderi at DigiVintage Studios (Italy) and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Hansen Studios, Denmark), “Sangueacqua” stands as Metatrone’s most defined and cohesive work to date. “Sangueacqua” will be available in physical format as CD digipak starting March 13th, 2026. The band will present the album live with a special release show on March 15th at the Elements Of Rock Festival (Switzerland). Pre-orders are now available via the Rockshots Records official store https://rockshots.eu/products/metatrone-sangueacqua-cd
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 Italian Thrashers Ural fire the first missile in the form of their new single, unveiling the details of their devastating fourth studio album, “Anthropic Genetic Involution”. The new record will be released on April 23rd through Xtreem Music on CD and across digital platforms, and promises= to take their explosive blend of Old School Thrash and Crossover attitude to a new level of intensity. Listen to the first advance single as a video-clip:
Xtreem Music continues its collaboration with Italian Thrash / Crossover force Ural, one of the most consistent and hard-hitting acts in today’s European old school scene. Formed in Turin in 2010, the band has steadily built its reputation since their self-titled demo (2011) and the “Wasteland” EP (2013), followed by the full-length albums “Party With the Wolves” (2016) and “Just For Fun” (2019), establishing a sharp and aggressive sound deeply rooted in ’80s Thrash with clear Voivod influences. In 2022, Ural released the “Cyber Requiem” EP, produced by Davide “BrutalDave” Billia (Antropofagus, Beheaded, Hour Of Penance) with artwork by Luca SoloMacello. The same team handled their third full-length album, “Psychoverse” (2023), which marked the band’s signing with Xtreem Music for worldwide promotion and distribution. After two years of intense live activity across Italy and Europe, URAL completed their fourth album in 2025, once again produced by Davide Billia. Titled “Anthropic Genetic Involution”, the album is scheduled for release 23rd April 2026 through Xtreem Music.
Delivering razor-sharp, uncompromising Thrash Metal that channels the spirit of the ’80s Bay Area while blending dissonant Voivod-inspired riffs with raw Crossover energy, URAL firmly establish themselves as a powerful force within the New Wave of Old School Thrash Metal. Release date for "While Everything Collapses" will be April 23rd through Xtreem Music on CD & Digital formats. www.facebook.com/uralwolfteam Italian Folk Metallers Aexylium unveil "Eclissi" lyric video; taken from 'Myth Of Mankind'11/2/2026  Rockshots Records is proud to announce the release of the new lyric video for “Eclissi”, taken from "Myth of Mankind", the third full-length album by Italian Folk Metal act Aexylium. The lyric video will premiere today February 11, 2026 on Rockshots Records’ official YouTube channel. “Eclissi” marks a defining moment in Aexylium’s artistic journey. Musically rooted in the band’s unmistakable fusion of modern metal intensity and traditional folk instrumentation, the track stands out as the first song in the band’s career written entirely in Italian, a deliberate and meaningful choice that reinforces its emotional impact and narrative depth. Layered choirs, wide melodic lines and a carefully balanced orchestral framework make “Eclissi” one of the most evocative compositions on "Myth of Mankind" while also enhancing its strong potential in a live setting where audience interaction becomes an integral part of the song’s identity. Commenting on the track, the band explains that “Eclissi fits perfectly with the musical lines of the album and represents a new expressive space for us. Writing in Italian allowed the lyrics to flow more naturally, strengthening the emotional connection between words and music while the choirs make it especially powerful during live performances.” The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Davide Tavecchia at Twilight Studio, ensuring a powerful yet detailed production that highlights both the band’s metallic core and its rich instrumental textures. "Myth of Mankind" represents the most mature and personal chapter in Aexylium’s discography, addressing introspective and abstract themes while consciously stepping beyond genre stereotypes without losing sight of the band’s roots. The lyric video for “Eclissi” offers listeners and media partners a focused insight into one of the album’s most distinctive tracks, highlighting both its linguistic uniqueness and its role within the conceptual and musical framework of "Myth of Mankind". “Myth of Mankind” has been released with artwork created by renowned artist Gustavo Sazes (Arch Enemy, Machine Head, Amaranthe). ORDER & LISTEN to the album "Myth Of Mankind" here: lnk.to/koGz58 Compared to the last studio album, the band has welcomed Alberto Mezzanotte (drums), Luca Perrone (Guitar) and the frontman Sam Biganzoli into its line-up. Aexylium’s partners include Solar Guitars, Footblaster, Liuteria Cocopelli and Firebird Strumenti Musicali. https://www.instagram.com/aexylium_official https://it-it.facebook.com/aexylium Aexylium on Spotify Rockshots.eu   Rockshots Records announces the release of “Bodyless”, the brand new single by Italian metal act Dust, out now on all digital platforms. “Bodyless” is taken from Dust’s upcoming second full-length album "Thoughts Of A Falling Man", scheduled for release on April 3rd, 2026 and represents a pivotal chapter within the record’s overarching concept. The song delves into a stark and uncompromising vision of judgment and damnation, portraying a liminal space where souls, stripped of identity and status, await their final sentence beyond life and time. Lyrically, “Bodyless” explores the idea that, at the end of earthly existence, wealth, power and social distinction lose all meaning. What remains is the weight of one’s actions and the inescapable confrontation with guilt, memory and consequence. The track embodies one of the album’s central themes: a near-death journey in which the main character is forced to face unresolved sins and inner demons in a realm suspended between eternity and oblivion. Commenting on the single, the band states: “‘Bodyless’ represents a moment of total suspension. It’s the point where every mask falls away and nothing can be hidden anymore. We wanted to describe a place where there is no time, no memory and no privilege - only judgment. It’s one of the most direct and unsettling tracks we’ve written, both lyrically and emotionally.” Musically, “Bodyless” highlights Dust’s evolved and more cohesive sound combining aggressive death and groove metal foundations with sharp riffing, oppressive atmospheres and tightly controlled dynamics. The band’s approach is raw and uncompromising, reinforcing the song’s sense of suffocation and inevitability while maintaining a strong sense of structure and impact. This sonic direction reflects the broader evolution of "Thoughts Of A Falling Man", which marks a significant step forward in terms of heaviness, focus and expressive depth compared to the band’s debut. Expanding on the album’s vision, the band adds: “This new record is heavier, darker and more introspective than anything we’ve done before. Each track represents a spiritual stage of a single journey, and ‘Bodyless’ is one of the moments where the listener is forced to stop and confront the consequences of a life lived without escape.” “Bodyless” stands as a key chapter within "Thoughts Of A Falling Man", a concept-driven album conceived as a near-death experience unfolding between life and eternity. Through its relentless sound and uncompromising narrative, the single offers a clear glimpse into Dust’s renewed artistic direction and the darker, more mature identity shaping this new era." DIGITAL: lnk.to/M2crIo New album “Thoughts Of A Falling Man” out April 3rd, 2026 PRE ORDER "Thoughts Of A Falling Man": https://rockshots.eu/products/dust-thoughts-of-a-falling-man Instagram: Dust  Italian Power Metal bards Embrace Of Souls have officially joined the Rockshots Records. Embrace Of Souls have forged a solid identity within the Italian power metal scene by blending classic ’80s and ’90s heavy and power metal foundations with epic and symphonic influences. After the releases of "The Number Of Destiny" and "Forever Part Of Me", the band reached a natural turning point, choosing to move forward with renewed focus, strengthened artistic vision and fresh creative energy. This new chapter is also marked by an updated line-up compared to previous albums. Giacomo Rossi, already involved in earlier recordings, now takes on a central role as lead vocalist joined by Martina Mazzeo as soprano vocalist. Their combined vocal approach broadens the band’s expressive range reinforcing the balance between driving power metal intensity and refined symphonic elegance that defines Embrace Of Souls’ current sound. The journey continues with “Desolate Lands”, the upcoming single taken from the new concept album "The Battle Of The Dead". Pre-save “Desolate Lands”: lnk.to/7wfF6l Embrace Of Souls are an Italian power metal band founded by drummer and composer Michele Olmi, conceived with the aim of bringing together talented musicians around a shared vision rooted in collaboration, brotherhood and a deep passion for classic metal. Initially born as a studio project, the band took shape with the release of their debut album "The Number Of Destiny" in 2021 receiving positive feedback on an international level and notable acclaim in Japan. Drawing inspiration from ’80s and ’90s heavy and power metal, as well as the epic and symphonic metal of the early 2000s, Embrace Of Souls developed a sound characterized by powerful riffs, epic atmospheres and strong melodic sensibility. Over time, the project evolved into a full live band allowing the group to further consolidate its artistic identity and deepen its expressive range. In 2024, Embrace Of Souls returned with their second full-length album "Forever Part Of Me" marking a significant step forward in terms of maturity and songwriting. This phase also introduced important changes within the line-up bringing renewed energy and a broader musical perspective to the band’s sound. A key element of this evolution is the current vocal pairing. Giacomo Rossi, already involved in previous releases, now takes on a central role as lead vocalist while Martina Mazzeo, an accomplished soprano vocalist, adds a symphonic and operatic dimension to the band’s music. Together, their voices embody the duality that defines Embrace Of Souls: light and darkness, power and elegance, intensity and emotion. Having shared the stage with renowned acts such as Domine, Vision Divine, Stratovarius, Sonata Arctica and Rhapsody Of Fire, Embrace Of Souls continue to refine their identity while looking toward the future. The band is now working on new material, further developing their epic and narrative-driven approach with the goal of solidifying their presence on the international power metal scene. Follow Embrace Of Souls: Instagram: Embrace Of Souls Facebook: Embrace Of Souls  After 5 years from our latest album, we are finally proud to release our brand-new single: "The Aftertaste"! It’s really been an infinite work, starting from a music idea created by guitarist Mattia “The Skeptic”, back in 2018. We changed the first draft many times in the following months, at the end turning it into a yet melodic and catchy but also harsh and powerful prog-rock song. For such reason, we decided to release this very song, "The Aftertaste", as the first official single of our new upcoming album, Fractals: a Light among Shadows. "The Aftertaste" talks about the passing of time, through the eyes of a worn-out, broken man who looks back at his life and tries to get the meaning of it. As he goes back through time in his mind, seasons such as “spring” and “autumn” metaphorically represent “youth” and “adulthood” respectively, as he is now approaching the “winter” of his life. But, unlike it happened too often in the past, this time something is different: he is now wiser, stronger and with much more self-consciousness that he is ready to face head-on whatever comes. Watch "The Aftertaste" here: https://youtu.be/nO-zCHc1cKw Frozen Sand is Alternative Prog. Metal band from Italy, active since 2010. They narrate concepts and stories through Time and Space by means of modern alternative / progressive metal. THE NARRATORS:
 The Sunrise sign their second record deal with WormHoleDeath. For the second time in two years, the Venetian band is outlining the details of the record agreement that will allow them to work with the international metal specialists again. Their sophomore album "Rising Loop" will be released on November 4th, 2022. The band stated: “If the first time was a bet, now we really want to show what we are made of”; These are the words of Tommaso, the guitarist, and spokesperson of the band, who does not spare himself in reiterating how much the Progressive / Hard-Rock band from Chioggia (VE) is determined to take place in the current Rock and Metal scene. After almost a year of hard work, punctuated by interruptions and extensions, due to the current condition we live in, Rising In Loop will finally see the light. A committed, structurally rich, and conceptual album that differs from the previous record “Brand New Disorder” both in terms of timing, arrangement, and sound; if previously the critics were divided on the lack of intelligibility of the musical identity of the band, this time the progressive matrix is unequivocal. The theme of the production recalls the style of the concept album, the core of the story is religions, the intertwining of cultures and populations of the past, present, and future created in order to give the listener a vision and a representation of the critical thinking of the band regarding the folklore and events, which have become absolute legends of the world crime news. “Rising Loop”, in fact, proposes, by tackling “historically” the development and consolidation of the mythological and religious thought of mankind, to weave a historical and legendary plot in time and space as a legacy, a warning that something has changed; "We will bring you on a journey that you will hardly forget, unlike the stories we all know, this one will not have a happy ending"
The Sunrise is a Progressive / Hard-Rock band based in Venice (Italy), born in 2018, after the first phase of experimentation and publication of a self-produced EP entitled "RISE" (2019 EP) finally finds an artistic binder represented by the conscious mix of different musical genres such as Pop - Rock Progressive and Metal, thanks to which it arrives at the agreement with the US label WormHoleDeath® in conjunction with the signing of the contract and the subsequent publication of the album "Brand New Disorder" in 2020. The turning point for the band was the possibility, during the following years of making his music known to the public by participating in various competitions and achieving good placings such as the participation as Headliners at the 2021’s National Music Day in Treviso (Italy) and the participation to the semi-final phase of the Hybryd Venice Constest 2021, competition held in the beautiful scenario of Bissuola Park’s Theater in Mestre (VE). “The stage has always been a place for us to express and externalize thoughts, concepts, and music without filters, in direct line with the listeners,” says Tommaso, the group's spokesperson. The new album will be released in 2022, but preceded by the video clip of the first single extract entitled “TakeTime / WasteTime”; forget the Amarcord sweetness of the romantic songs of “Brand New Disorder”, this time the atmosphere will be very different, more gloomy and reflective, the subtle voices, the painful harmonies, and the overbearing rhythm will dominate; you will find yourself in the middle of a storm.
 Look up to the sky to see the "Burning Horizon", the next music video for the third single from Italian progressive avant-garde metal MindAheaD in support of their sophomore story album "6119 Part 1" being released via Rockshots Records on October 28th. The band adds about the track: "'Burning Horizon' is direct and catchy both melodically and structurally; it focuses on the voices that intersect and duet, sometimes harmoniously, sometimes aggressively opposing each other. The instrumental part is articulate, but always keeping an eye on melody and easy assimilation. The orchestrations also play an important role, providing a backdrop to the burned horizon that will turn into a desert very soon."
MindAhead's next full-length offering "6119 Part 1" follows their 2017 debut "Reflections" released on Roman label Revalve Records. Just like its predecessor, the band's new offering is once again a concept album with a complex, personal and unusual sound to test the limits of their songwriting. "6119 Part 1" is a continuation of the previous work on "Reflections", which will tell us the story of 6119, the main character, through a surreal, oneiric journey, always poised between physical space and the realm of the mind. Trapped in this dreamlike kaleidoscope, he proceeds heedless of the consequences, hoping to find at the end of the journey (the "Part II," currently in production) the reason why all this is happening to him.
Merging different aspects, sometimes opposite, of human feeling, bringing them together in a colourful and personal musical proposal, which has its roots in influences ranging from prog 70s to death metal, the band explains the new album in further detail: "This album is a concept realized with the aim of telling a story that straddles the line between dystopian science fiction and the psychological investigation of the human mind, so the music and lyrics were created in order to reach these goals. We would like the listening experience to be completely immersive. We would like the listener to be able to take a break from the real world and step into another dimension, one that is distant but at the same time well known, not alien, but almost familiar. The listener should passionately follow the events of '6119' in its inner and outer search for reality, in a story that began in the previous album 'Reflections' and will end in the band's next release, so as to complete a narrative trilogy." Having shared the stage with bands such as Jinjer, Vision Divine, Deathless Legacy, Domine, Pino Scotto, MindAhead is recommended for fans of Opeth, Ayreon, Haken, Katatonia and Pink Floyd. "6119 Part 1" is due out October 28th, 2022 via Rockshots Records.
https://www.rockshots.eu https://www.facebook.com/mindahead https://instagram.com/mindahead_official  Rockshots Records is proud to announce their latest signing of power metallers Highlord for the release of their new album "Freakin' Out of Hell" due out on December 9th. Infusing heavy-power metal with progressive and symphonic influences was formed in Turin Italy in 1997, over the span of their career they have released eight albums, contributed to two tribute albums for Manowar and Helloween, have toured all over Europe and performed with Zak Steven’s Circle II Circle, Dark Moor, Freedom Call, Pino Scotto, Vision Divine, Elvenking, Sacred Steel, Seventh Wonder and more along with music featured on movie soundtracks for 'The Werewolf Chronicles' and 'Blood Of The Werewolf'. For their ninth album "Freakin’ Out Of Hell", the band began recording it between May 2020 and December 2021. The album includes 11 tracks of pure power-metal in perfect Highlord style, but with a much more aggressive sound and a touch of prog-metal. Again the album has been recorded, mixed, mastered, and produced in-house by bass player Massimiliano Flak at Evolution Recording Studio (Italy). The album’s artwork was created by Harley Velasquez on a concept by Highlord. The band adds about the ninth offering: "Freakin’ out of Hell is a solid work from every point of view. Not only the songs are all potential singles, but they have more or less the same average length of 4/5 minutes; we avoided recording the classic long suite just as much as the hit-and-run happier song because in this album we have found the perfect balance between all the elements of our sound. We have also set the average level of heaviness and aggression a bit higher; this is not a happy metal record, it’s a heavy metal piece that fully deserves this definition." The album is already available for pre-order: https://bit.ly/Highlord_CD Singles are to be revealed in the coming weeks. https://www.rockshots.eu https://www.facebook.com/highlordmetalband  Horror Metal Band Hell Theater signed a deal with Wormholedeath for their album "S'Accabadora", which is due for digital release on October 28th, 2022 via Wormholedeath. CD format out on November 2022. Stay tuned for more info! Hell Theater delivers a mix of pure heavy metal with theatrical horror themes. Hell Theater speaking of the new album stated: "It’s a concept album, a unique story in 11 tracks (chapters) lasting about 60 minutes. The story is based on a traditional Sardinian figure, the "female ACCABADORA" or " she who ends", who really existed in the past and perhaps still exists in very rural areas, to whom magical gifts were attributed, a sort of witch dressed in black. Her role was to put an end to the suffering of dying and terminally ill old people, out of pity, at the request of relatives, by striking a blow on the back of the head with a special "Mazzolu" hammer (see the cover of "A Strange Death"). Sometimes, however, the relatives for her sake tricked the Accabadora, and then she unleashed her curses. This is the first time that a similar story has been told in a metal album. S’ACCABADORA is certainly not a first listen album, nor was the previous "Reincarnation of Evil" album. It is certainly a very complex work full of surprises, made to leave its mark and last in time. The band thus marks a good step forward and confirms their creative drive and not wanting to conform to any musical genre but rather wanting to contribute to enriching the metal scene and raising their own way of conceiving the horror metal."
Hell Theater is a "horror metal" band formed in the Venice area (North-East Italy) in 2009 and has remained active mostly with live shows until today with some just line-up changes. In recent years they have returned exactly to the most famous line-up that produced their best works with the only introduction of the bassist GUH.LU as a guest, the live bassist of the Norwegian band Gorgoroth. They compose horror-themed concept albums. Their way of doing horror metal could be defined as an influence between Thrash Metal, Progressive Metal, and classic Heavy Metal. The name of the band explains the meaning of their sound: "Theater" represents the vision of a horror show, while "Hell" expresses the stylistic direction of the band, both for the image and for the musical writing. Every single song is part of an album/music/work that develops as a multisensory concept. Their previous work is the bloody aggressive EP "Smell Of Blood" and the most mature concept album "Reincarnation Of Evil" distributed by “My Graveyard Records”, a 60’ long album of 12 songs. Ten years after, the authoritative exponents of Horror Metal are back with the release of their new Horror opera “S’ACCABADORA” distributed by “WormHoledeath Records”, an inspiring story based on “true legends” in about 60’ music and 11 songs. The story is based on a traditional Sardinian figure, the "female ACCABADORA" or " she who ends", who really existed in the past and perhaps still exists in very rural areas, to whom magical gifts were attributed, a sort of witch dressed in black. They always get a very good ranking (from 8 to 9 /10) from paper magazines and webzines such as “Metal Maniac”, “Metallized”, “Rock Hard”, “Metal Head”, “Rock& Metal in my Blood” and many others. “Heavy Metal webzine” declared that “Reincarnation of Evil” was the best metal debut in 2012. Their fan base is particularly faithful and spread all over the world. Line-up
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