![[Heavy News] MACHINE HEAD Monumental 11th Album UNATØNED Out April 25th + Release Music Video For First Single 'UNBØUND'](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739945488031-E7GJVVGL90AVYYKOW814/machineheadcover.png)
[Heavy News] MACHINE HEAD Monumental 11th Album UNATØNED Out April 25th + Release Music Video For First Single 'UNBØUND'
Bay Area metal veterans Machine Head, one of the most omnipresent bands in the heavy collective consciousness, are back with 11th LP UNATØNED, dropping April 25th! Nothing’s been spared on their official press release for it either - there’s everything here from stream and music clip for title track as first single, a whole smorgasbord of physical/digital media pre-order options, statements from the band themselves and heaps more! Machine Farkin’ Head, mate!
![[Review] Alarum - ‘Recontinue’ LP](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1740110589583-74KEZY88JG1SNXISJ8BP/481070267_1216400333699347_180761954938397027_n.jpg)
[Review] Alarum - ‘Recontinue’ LP
Featured Image/Footer Image Credit: Wilkography. One thing you can certainly tell with reviews is when a musician reviews them! Hamza’s breakdown of Alarum reaches similar intricacy and depth to that of the band themselves on progressive death-metal/jazz-fusion opus Recontinue, which dropped in 2024 to high critical acclaim. Check the full review which is, like the band, both heady and passionate! Plus artist/album order links, clips, and more.
![[Heavy News] Announcing Araz Salek's electrifying new album, ‘Peripheries of Nahavand’.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739960326363-NBCFVZSQ2IXMLQ4WRO20/araz2.jpg)
[Heavy News] Announcing Araz Salek's electrifying new album, ‘Peripheries of Nahavand’.
Branching out to an even wider musical diaspora than earlier in the week, today we have something quite special! Presenting Tehran-born and now Toronto-based ensemble leader and accomplished tar player, Araz Salek. Araz brings forth skilled and multiplicitous ensemble-lead/tar genius in latest single ‘Goshāyesh 11’ off his upcoming debut LP Peripheries of Nahavand for Australian-based world-music label, Worlds Within Worlds, on April 25th.
![[Review] Mandroid of Krypton - ‘Cosmic Sarcophagus’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739873472907-0E3PMKI53YHP12Q6YFCN/459037345_26577216451922124_4403489910850976326_n.jpg)
[Review] Mandroid of Krypton - ‘Cosmic Sarcophagus’ LP.
One of many, many reviews on my backlog as podcast/blog host, stymied by an unfortunate demise of our old website on NYE 2024. Nevertheless, check out the full review of Cosmic Sarcophagus, an LP released Nov 2024 by Swiss progressive thrashers Mandroid of Krypton! It’s an expansive and ambitious effort, and worth a listen. Check link for the full review plus full album stream, artist links and more! Bring a spacesuit for this one.
![[Heavy News] #ICYMI: LOVE IS NOISE Release Century Media Debut LP With ‘To Live In A Different Way’.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739795245297-VY7A9QHESJ8W14QYE2K7/loveisnoise.jpg)
[Heavy News] #ICYMI: LOVE IS NOISE Release Century Media Debut LP With ‘To Live In A Different Way’.
Interrupting the flow of heavier things for a second, for Music Mondays here at ISC we’d like to change it up a gear. Singer-songwriter Cameron Humphrey has been peddling a whole bunch of lush aural soundscapes via Love is Noise since 2021. Cameron’s project evokes bright tones and all sorts of emotional range, from dream-pop, garage-rock and shoegaze through to some heavier, Deftones/Glassjaw adjacent moments. Check out link for info as well as LiN’s various links!
![[Heavy News] Into Eternity to Headline ProgStorm, Canada’s First Progressive Metal Festival!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739776435014-95B0QM2O5JHJX60NXFDN/intoeternity.jpg)
[Heavy News] Into Eternity to Headline ProgStorm, Canada’s First Progressive Metal Festival!
Seems I’ve got two things to be jealous of regarding our Canadian Canuck Commonwealth kin, right now - 1. Not frying in Australian summer, and 2. Into Eternity announcing HUGE news by way of headlining Montreal’s first-ever progressive-metal festival - Progstorm! Scope out the details, links to the festival/tickets etc, announcement from the band and more! Merci beacoup!
![[Heavy News] U.S. Black Metallers, LENAX, Unleash Hellscape Vol. I (The Voices) EP](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739773998421-L3TZ20NL80EAN085GXN7/a1886797854_10.jpg)
[Heavy News] U.S. Black Metallers, LENAX, Unleash Hellscape Vol. I (The Voices) EP
Heading across the pond a ways for our second Heavy News feature for Music Mondays, we have Nashville-based black metal fiends Lenax. They’ve chopped and hacked at their own infernal EP, now released as Hellscape Vol. 1 (The Voices). Check the link for streaming embed (which contains additional bonus tracks), pre-order link, a hefty and informative artist/album/production bio, Lexas’ links (linx?!) and more! Get grim and kvlt with this one, y’all.
![[Heavy News] Polish Death Metal Duo, DORMANT ORDEAL, to Release Tooth and Nail on Willowtip in April!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739771812411-F013H17ORTZA2GG20R2F/rsz_1dormantordeal-1.jpg)
[Heavy News] Polish Death Metal Duo, DORMANT ORDEAL, to Release Tooth and Nail on Willowtip in April!
Krakow-based Polish are our first cab off the rank for a busy #MusicMondays segment, with lots of Heavy News to come! This stellar duo in Maciej Nieścioruk (guitars) and Maciej Proficz (vocals) have completed recording of their upcoming harsh, expansive and gritty LP Tooth and Nail in April, via Willowtip. Check the link for album/artist bio, singles links, album pre-order and more! Death, doom and much cool nastiness abounds.
![[GIG REVIEW] SYLOSIS + ANGELMAKER @ MAX WATTS, MELBOURNE 14.02.25](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739699213387-11JZRMBDDQBOYI3MVCME/JV+Josh+Middleton+and+bassist+Sylosis.jpg)
[GIG REVIEW] SYLOSIS + ANGELMAKER @ MAX WATTS, MELBOURNE 14.02.25
Returning for some outright decimation of Australia’s capitals for the first time since 2013, progressive modern thrash metal titans Sylosis demonstrated to Melbourne’s eager audiences that not one iota of energy or musical talent has atrophied since. On Valentine’s Day, to boot! Check the link for gig review written by Mal, as well as recants of Angelmaker’s crushing set, plus stellar, crisp pics courtesy of Jason Vidic (Vidic Images)!
![[Heavy News] MESHUGGAH Announce ‘Immutable - The Indelible Edition’ LP, Unveil Music Video for ‘Ligature Marks’](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739510149510-G7E4Y3IWMC7Y1PI4UYN5/meshuggahcover.jpg)
[Heavy News] MESHUGGAH Announce ‘Immutable - The Indelible Edition’ LP, Unveil Music Video for ‘Ligature Marks’
Meshuggah. An ever-dependable, technical and progressive metal powerhouse, who’ve endured genre-trends and rejected tradition for decades now. They’ve just released a work-up/bonus-features-packed Indelible Edition of previous LP The Immutable, with digipak, vinyl and other versions available. Check the link for order details, album bio and link to music clip for reworked single in ‘Ligature Marks’. Hail to the Kings.
![[Tabletop Thursdays] 13.02.24, Part 1: Elodie’s First Kickstarter in ‘BRASS RPG’ for Steve Dee’s ‘The World WEll’.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739454234333-EIATQ5WOJTPLJAUNVKCK/zenturion1.png)
[Tabletop Thursdays] 13.02.24, Part 1: Elodie’s First Kickstarter in ‘BRASS RPG’ for Steve Dee’s ‘The World WEll’.
What an incredible team I have, eh? You may recall that a few weeks back, resident RPG-design and visual-arts expert, Elodie, announced an upcoming Kickstarter campaign launch alongside the accredited and prolific Sydney-based games designer Steve Dee. Her contribution being, the very rad mecha-RPG BRASS, alongside Steve’s ‘The World Well’, and an additional title in Un-leashed. Beta playtest article with feedback from me, your host Brady, also coming soon! So yes, I can confirm in advance - it DOES rock. Support the indie RPG scene!
![[Review] - Newest ISC Staffer Dean Explores Saor’s ‘Amidst The Ruins’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739365977272-M0VPLIP1ECN9KWQZLAIV/saorphoto1.jpg)
[Review] - Newest ISC Staffer Dean Explores Saor’s ‘Amidst The Ruins’ LP.
On mutual agreement, latest staffer Dean and myself have agreed to let the words speak for themselves for his formal addition to the Inner-Strength Check Podcast canon. And what beautiful, evocative words they are indeed! Check the link for our newest staffers’ resplendent coverage of atmospheric folk/black metal act Saor’s latest LP, Amidst The Ruins. You can also find album order links, multiple recent singles, full album streams and much more. Another fantastic staff introductory piece, the first of many!
![[Review] Into The Void - ‘Dysphoria’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739351410654-SZ47G56Z2U2WOC3Y0YU6/dypshoriaalbumcover.jpg)
[Review] Into The Void - ‘Dysphoria’ LP.
Introducing our first piece of fresh content from new addition to the Inner-Strength Check team in Spiro (a.k.a The Hype Guy)! For his first piece, Spiro has elected to provide a great review of the 2024 album Dysphoria, by Michigan-based alternative-rock/nu-grunge outfit Into The Void. Check the link for the full review, album and singles links and more. As well, we’ve re-included an important appeal Spiro recent put out in support of Jampot Studios. Many thanks for an awesome review!
![[Podcast] Ep. 35: Interview with BRETT CAMPBELL of PALLBEARER.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739267843987-9CMOZ8BKRXK0XSNUAGNI/pallbearercover.jpg)
[Podcast] Ep. 35: Interview with BRETT CAMPBELL of PALLBEARER.
Renowned doom metal merchants PALLBEARER make their return to Australia in March 2025 for an electrifying tour promising to deliver their signature blend of haunting melodies and crushing riffs. Joining them on all dates will be special guests UK doom metal titans CONAN. I was fortunate enough to catch up with vocalist/guitarist Brett Campbell earlier today. Check the link for full video interview, Spotify/alternative podcast platform audio-only versions, ticket links, tour dates and more!
![[Heavy News] SYLOSIS Set To Lay Waste To Australian Crowds - Tour Kicks Off!](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739238156347-CRCROG57D7W7RRKSN8VF/sylosisband.png)
[Heavy News] SYLOSIS Set To Lay Waste To Australian Crowds - Tour Kicks Off!
Sylosis have just dropped onto our shores and are ready to spread modern thrash-metal havoc across Australian shores from today onwards! Check the link for tour dates, ticket links, background info on artist/recent singles and links for same in the scorchers ‘Deadwood’, ‘Servitude’ and ‘The Path’. Their first time here since 2013, we can personally vouch for an energetic and grandiose show. Get amongst it!
![[Heavy News] Australian doom outfit Ghostsmoker drop sludge-ridden new single ‘Elogium’.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739178618771-GP77IX6D3PLLWRR3MHMN/ghostsmoker+band.jpg)
[Heavy News] Australian doom outfit Ghostsmoker drop sludge-ridden new single ‘Elogium’.
The hypnotic hypnotic dirge and dense atmosphere of ‘ Elogium’ shows why they are one of the finest sludge and doom bands in Australia today. The Melbourne-based doom-peddlers have crawled up from abyssal depths to spew forth a fine pile of well-crafted gristle. Yes, that’s possible. Don’t believe me? Click the link to listen to the stream direct, stream/download new single, check Melb/Syd tour dates and pre-order Inertia Cult, which drops March 21st, via Art as Catharsis records.
![[Heavy News] BENEDICTION Release Video For New Single, Engines Of War +Album Pre-Order For RAVAGE OF EMPIRES Commences](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739172475830-ZYB94XQ6OJZZJIOMDH77/benedictionband.png)
[Heavy News] BENEDICTION Release Video For New Single, Engines Of War +Album Pre-Order For RAVAGE OF EMPIRES Commences
For Music Mondays, straight from the Heavy News desk: British death metal legends, BENEDICTION, have unleashed the first single from their upcoming new studio album, Ravage Of Empires,due to be released on April 4, 2025, via Nuclear Blast Records. ‘ Ave a good peep at this one, guv’nor! There’s links to the single stream for ‘Engines of War’ + upcoming LP. Righto cobber, get your brutal on, innit!
![[Heavy News] LORDI take fans on a nostalgic trip with lyric video for new single 'Retropolis'](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739154394146-ZXX5GSXMZ1MJFF29T4OG/lordibandcover.jpg)
[Heavy News] LORDI take fans on a nostalgic trip with lyric video for new single 'Retropolis'
Finland’s Lordi have been bringing the glammed-up horror-themed heavy metal and hard to international audiences for decades now. From the Heavy News desk for Music Mondays here at ISC comes the anthemic single ‘Retropolis’, inspired by 80’s pop culture. Check out the post for link to single, full-album stream/order link re: upcoming LP Limited Deadition, album details/bio, artist bio/socials links and more!
![[Archive Review] Nest - ‘Metempsychosis’ LP.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739088176031-QYB02RWBLAQEI35X0N0A/a2700887671_10.jpg)
[Archive Review] Nest - ‘Metempsychosis’ LP.
This post has been through the wringer! Originally posted to Overdrive Music Magazine in 2019 (many thanks to Sebastian for permission to repost) in my time as Senior Contributor, it then made it onto our old blog in December ‘24 - right as our previous website met its’ demise. This is one well worth revisiting, however, as Nest’s bludgeoning LP Metempsychosis is an abrasive, expansive sludge/death metal bruiser that clearly stood the test of time.
![ISC Podcast, Ep. 34: [INTERVIEW] with OBSCURA frontman/Guitarist STEFFEN KUMMERER.](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/67738900deaf1a5f243892aa/1739010770230-8V6YDC94R5ZH9JJSYD6I/obscurabandpic.jpg)
ISC Podcast, Ep. 34: [INTERVIEW] with OBSCURA frontman/Guitarist STEFFEN KUMMERER.
Originally posted on our now-defunct old website, dead as a doornail as of NYE 2024 (RIP) - check the link for both video and audio-only podcast formats re: Brady’s interview with Steffen Kummerer, frontman/guitarist of German progressive/technical death metal juggernaughts Obscura! Recorded on 22nd Dec ‘24, it’s an interesting exploration into the writing and process behind latest LP A Sonication, with additional artist/album bio, order links and much more within!