The award-winning, genre-busting RADAR Festival has completed its 2025 lineup, with the addition of Annisokay, The Scratch, and Alyx Holcombe. 

Co-founder and co-organiser of RADAR, Joe James, comments: "Well, that’s it for the music booking for 2025 (we’ve been booking 2026 for a while in honesty!) and we’re in the final straight heading towards the festival in July. German post-hardcore band ANNISOKAY are in to replace Oni (who can no longer make it) and the last missing band from the lineup is THE SCRATCH, who mix traditional Irish music with the groove and intensity of metal. They’re going to get the tired bodies moving on the last day! 

"We’re also delighted to welcome our friend of the festival and RADIO 1 DJ, Alyx Holcombe, who’ll be looking after you for the Saturday night afterparty.

"Next up we’re going to be announcing the lineup for the other side of the festival, The Music & Gaming Market. We’ve exceeded anything we’ve had in there before, so we’re very excited to start announcing the content."  

Full list of bands announced:

Carpenter Brut (2025 UK Exclusive)
UNDERØATH (2025 UK Festival Exclusive)
Bob Vylan
Zeal & Ardor
As December Falls
Normandie
Yonaka
Vukovi
Intervals
As Everything Unfolds
Novelists
Allt
Annisokay
Lake Malice
David Maxim Micic
The Scratch
Dream State
GHØSTKID
Pintglass
Shelf Lives
Future Palace
Floya
Tropic Gold
Avralize
Artio
Cyan Kicks
Tiberius
Arch Echo
Lastelle
Ġenn
Air Drawn Dagger
Continents
Hero In Error
Waterlines
Mother Vulture
Deity’s Muse

Afterparties:
The Algorithm (DJ set)
Alyx Holcombe (DJ set)
The 900 (Tony Hawk's Pro Skater Band)

Get your RADAR Festival tickets here: www.radarfestival.co.uk/tickets

Alongside the acts announced, RADAR's commitment to a musical and gaming paradise continues: their music & gaming market will return. Expected to be wowed by a retro arcade, the best new instruments and music tech, and many more besides. 

Also demonstrating their commitment to new bands, RADAR will continue to donate a portion of ticket sales proceeds to Music Venue Trust and Save Our Scene's Liveline Fund, in order to support grassroots music venues.

RADAR - the UK's most exciting new progressive music festival - moved to Manchester for its 2023 edition, the third iteration of the festival.

RADAR pride themselves on providing a first home for the best international artists - previous years have seen Dirty Loops' (2022) and The Callous Daoboys' (2023) first UK shows. 

Joining the list were RADAR 2024's Friday headliners - synth royalty The Midnight, making their UK festival debut. Accompanying them were Saturday headliners TesseracT, as the UK prog metal titans delivered a special War Of Being album set. Finally, closing the festival on Sunday, modern progressive titans Leprous performed a world-first live, by request fan set. 

RADAR 2023 saw Friday headliners Sleep Token joining Periphery (Sunday) and Igorrr (Saturday) among a host of the best from the UK and global progressive underground.

RADAR capped their intensely impressive 2022 by winning the Best New Festival Award at the UK Festival Awards on 6th December in Manchester, and were shortlisted for Best Small Festival and Best Metropolitan Festival at 2023 and 2024's UK Festival Awards.

With their mixture of international talent and confirmed homegrown success, RADAR Festival has already positioned themselves as a champion of forward-thinking, guitar-led progressive music. No genre boundaries, welcome to all, RADAR Festival was launched in 2019 to acclaim, with performances from Animals As Leaders, Agent Fresco, Rolo Tomassi, among others. Following the COVID hiatus, RADAR Festival 2022 expanded to three days with triumphant appearances from Leprous, Haken, Dirty Loops, Plini, Conjurer, Soen and more.

RADAR Festival is all about pushing boundaries - this year introducing fresh genres to the line-up and stages - and this is just the beginning. 

For more information:
Instagram: RDRfestival // Facebook: RDRfestival
Twitter: @RDRfestival // Website: www.radarfestival.co.uk

Depressive black metallers Ghost Bath have emerged from beyond the veil with their new album, Rose Thorn Necklace, which will be released on 9th May via Nuclear Blast Records. The band, in their 12th year of existence, are not in the business of softening the edges. Rather, the frontman (Nameless aka Dennis Mikula) is leaning more toward his antisocial traits, serrated like a rusty knife yet beautifully honed over years of toil.

Today, the band unveil the atmospheric second single, 'Well, I Tried Drowning'. Watch the video directed by Claudio Marino of Artax Film here: https://youtu.be/GkB8vC8kbEU
 
Ghost Bath comment, "'Well, I Tried Drowning' is a plea for death, not by my own hand but for someone else to do the courtesy as I have not been able to bring myself to do. It is a fantasy - rooted in wishful thinking - that someone would cut my throat in my sleep, finally ending my life as I drown in my own blood. Wish fulfillment in blunt, gory detail."

Pre-order & pre-save Rose Thorn Necklace:
https://ghostbath.bfan.link/rose-thorn-necklace-album

Stream 'Well, I Tried Drowning':
https://ghostbath.bfan.link/well-i-tried-drowning

Rose Thorn Necklace was recorded in 2024 between January and June. The drums were recorded and engineered by Mike Heller at Heaven and Heller Studios while the remaining sections were completed by Nameless (Dennis Mikula) at his home studio. The album was mixed and mastered by Jack Shirley. The cover artwork was created by Ksenija Tarasova. Free from the Moonlover-Starmourner-Self Loather conceptual album trilogy, sole proprietor Nameless (aka Dennis Mikula) explores the most intense and introspective music from Ghost Bath’s oeuvre, advancing with blackened blasts and melancholic movements while moving his only child forward into the unknown.

Rose Thorn Necklace is now available for pre-order in the following formats:

• CD Jewel Case

• LP

  • Pink Swirl

  • Red Swirl

Ghost Bath are:

Nameless (Dennis Mikula) | Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Piano, Synth
Mike Heller | Drums
Chewie a.k.a. Jason Tjoei | Piano

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/blackghostbath
https://x.com/GhostBath
https://www.instagram.com/ghostbathofficial

Tracklisting:

1. Grotesque Display
2. Rose Thorn Necklace
3. Well, I Tried Drowning
4. Thinly Sliced Heart Muscle
5. Dandelion Tea
6. Vodka Butterfly
7.  Stamen and Pistil
8. Needles
9. Throat Cancer

Sinners, the time has come. Dogma’s newest invocation, 'Banned,' is here, a profane melody woven in flesh and defiance, a hymn to liberation wrapped in forbidden rhythms. A fusion of metal and tango that tears through the veil of sanctimony.

Watch the video to 'Banned' here (8pm BST premiere) : https://youtu.be/ewoDjshtHSQ

Stream 'Banned' here: https://ffm.to/dogmabanned

Some acts are condemned, others are justified. Who draws the line? 'Banned' tells another chapter of the story, the moment desire collides with imposed virtue, where submission is shattered, and pleasure becomes power. But sinners, they are not stopping here.

For the first time ever, Dogma set foot on European soil, joining forces with Patriarkh on Sinning Over Europe Part 1. With this, the first gates are broken, and their presence is marked across Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Netherlands, and Belgium. Dogma has also been announced for Bloodstock Open Air festival.

This is only the beginning. There are more places to reach, more sinners waiting in the shadows. Let this be a warning: Europe is ready for Dogma, and they are ready to take it.

A message from vocalist Lilith: "Sinners, For the first time, we set foot on European soil. A land steeped in history, contradiction, and rebellion, where saints were martyred, heretics burned, and revolutions born. Now, Dogma arrives, not to kneel, but to rise. 'Banned' is revelation. A wound torn open, a truth they buried, a desire they shamed. It is not just a song, but a confession, a defiance, a sin they tried to erase. Some will flinch, some will fall silent, and some will wake up, which one will you be? To those who will stand before us on this tour, I want to see you. I want to see you wearing our emblems, our mark, your devotion. Show me that Europe is ready. Show me that Dogma belongs here."

This first-ever European tour is not just about the stage. Dogma summons our sinners to a limited, intimate gathering beyond the lights and the noise. This is your chance to meet Dogma, to speak, to share, to be part of the movement.

These meet & greets are extremely limited. No show tickets included. Reserve your place here: https://officialdogma.store/eu-meetngreet

Known for blending hard rock, metal, and theatricality, Dogma’s shows are more than just performances, they’re experiences that push audiences to confront their innermost desires and truths. Their music, laden with powerful riffs and unapologetic sensuality, invites listeners into a world where self-expression is the ultimate form of freedom.

Join Dogma in this provocative journey as they shatter the barriers between the sacred and the profane.

Dogma are:
Lilith – vocals
Lamia – guitar
Nixe – bass
Abrahel – drums

Dogma online:  
http://www.officialdogma.com
http://www.facebook.com/theofficialdogma
http://www.instagram.com/officialdogma
http://www.twitter.com/dogmatheband

Hertfordshire Metal quartet Lowdown deliver the riffs with new single and announce Bloodstock 2025 performance.

This Hertfordshire metal quartet are smashing their way through 2025 with the release of new single 'Set Fire' via Damage Records. The quartet have also been announced for this year’s Bloodstock Open Air alongside an incredible lineup.

Watch the 'Set Fire' video here: LOWDOWN - Set Fire (Official Music Video)

Stream the single here: Set Fire

Vocalist and guitarist Dave Runham comments on the single: “'Set Fire' is about war and conflict existing in many forms. Some fight battles in the physical world, while others struggle within themselves. This duality is at the heart of our upcoming album ALPHA OMEGA to be released 25th July 2025 via Damage Records. ‘Set Fire’ embodies the frustration of trying to fix a problem, only to realise that the real issue lies within yourself."

Upcoming live shows:

APR 19 - BreckFest - Thetford, United Kingdom
APR 20 - Supporting Raging Speedhorn - Cambridge, United Kingdom
MAY 11 - Bloodstock M2TM Guest Headline Act - Hitchin, United Kingdom
JUL 25 - ALPHA OMEGA Album Launch - Stevenage, United Kingdom
JUL 26 - Northants Rocks Festival - Finedon, United Kingdom
AUG 8 - Bloodstock Open Air Festival - Derbyshire, United Kingdom
AUG 23 - ADK Presents - Birmingham, United Kingdom

Drawing inspiration from the crushing grooves of Black Label Society, the soaring melodies of Alter Bridge, the raw aggression of Pantera, and the ominous weight of Sabbath, Lowdown fuse doom-laced chords with searing, down-tuned riffs with pinch harmonics ricocheting through the air like battle cries. Their arrival wasn't just noticed; it was felt.

ALPHA OMEGA is built on the idea that everything—beginnings and ends - come back to us. As Runham explains, "The album ALPHA OMEGA was crafted from the understanding that everything starts and ends with us (you). You are your beginning and end."

Lowdown are:

Dave Runham - Guitar / Vocals
Ant Pinnell - Guitar / Vocals
Kev Smart - Bass Guitar
Richard Emms - Drums

ALPHA OMEGA out 25/07/25 via Damage Records

Recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Andy J. Davies at Damage Recordings, Hertfordshire    

1. ALPHA

2. SET FIRE

3. GRIND THE AXE

4. M.O.A.B.

5. TELL ME MORE

6. I AM KING

7. WRETCHED TOWN

8. COLLATERAL DAMAGE

9. BLEED

10. SLEEP

11. OMEGA

Lowdown online:

https://linktr.ee/lowdownbanduk
https://www.instagram.com/lowdown_band

Damage Records:

https://www.instagram.com/damage_records

German metalcore outfit THROATCUT. return with their heaviest and most uncompromising release yet with the brand new single 'blasphemous'. Known for their raw energy and unfiltered aggression, the band take things up a notch with this track and showcase a darker, more refined production while staying true to THROATCUT.’s chaotic roots. 

Watch the video here:  https://youtu.be/pR6hN2Y90aQ
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/blasphemous

Freshly signed metalcore outfit Lost in Hollywood have released a brand new track and video 'Chasing Dreams'. The song is taken from their upcoming second studio album, which will be released later this year via Arising Empire. 

Watch 'Chasing Dreams' here: https://youtu.be/3HN4nw8jUWg
Stream here: https://arisingempire.com/lostinhollywood

The band offer a symbiosis between emotional vocals, modern urban pop influences and heavy hitting breakdowns with this new single, that catches the ear with huge emphasis on strong contrasts. It tells the story of searching for the final stage of happiness with a person you idolise, just to realise that there is no such thing as infinite bliss and your dream life can’t satisfy you if you’ve not healed from within.

Necrotted, the relentless Swabian death metal force emerge from the depths of darkness once again, releasing their most ferocious creation yet with new single, 'Deus Ex'. Brutal blast beats tear through the silence, while searing, melodic riffs slice into the soul. Each breakdown strikes with a visceral intensity, sending chills deep into the marrow, and Fabian's vocals, already a brutal force of nature, are further amplified by the monstrous presence of Sven de Caluwé from Aborted and Coffin Feeder. Together, they forge a union of chaos that feels both inevitable and devastating. Necrotted’s return is not just a welcome one but an auditory assault, a statement that the darkness is always lurking, waiting to consume. 

Watch the video for 'Deus Ex' here: https://youtu.be/MCsBrtnbl3Q
Stream 'Deus Ex' here: https://necrotted.bfan.link/deus-ex

Necrotted comment on the track: "We’re overjoyed that one and a half years after the release of our last album, Imperium, we can finally release new music into the world. With ‘Deus Ex’ we’re releasing a single that contains everything our fans can expect from us and that defines us as a band: heavy blast beat attacks, shredding yet melodic guitar riffs, breakdowns that go straight to the core and inhuman vocals. The fact that Fabian is supported by our buddy Sven is a special pleasure and honour for us. Especially since Aborted is a band that has always inspired and influenced us."

Thematically, 'Deus Ex' plunges deep into the dark heart of humanity's obsession with self-deification, exploring the catastrophic consequences of elevating ourselves to divine status while bearing the weight of our own sins. Through this single, Necrotted delivers an unflinching commentary on the corruptive power of human arrogance and the destructive ripple effect it has on the world around us. True to their roots, the band once again wields their music as a weapon of social and political critique, exposing the rotting core of a society hell-bent on its own downfall. 

Necrotted have also revealed a brand new wave of tour dates this April and May, bringing their unrelenting assault to stages across Europe. Joining them on this explosive trek are fellow brutalizers Cytotoxin, Gutalax (on selected dates), Acranius and Osiah.  Below, you’ll find the full list of confirmed shows.

European dates: 

10/04/25 Berlin, DE
11/04/25 Magdeburg, DE
12/04/25 Chemnitz, DE
13/04/25 Hamburg, DE
14/04/25 Hannover, DE
15/04/25 Essen, DE
16/04/25 Chaleroi, BE
17/04/25 Paris, FR
18/04/25 Strasbourg, FR
19/04/25 Aalen, DE
20/04/25 Lindau, DE
21/04/25 Weinheim, DE

For over 15 years, Necrotted has embodied the perfect storm of relentless speed, brutal intensity and unforgettable melodies, all wrapped in a sharp, politically charged message. Hailing from Abtsgmünd, a small town in Southern Germany, this modern death metal force has carved out a unique and commanding presence in the scene.

Since their formation in 2008, Necrotted have grown from local heavyweights to an internationally recognised act, thrilling fans and critics alike with their ferocious sound and impassioned performances. With five full-length albums: Anchors Apart (2012), Utopia 2.0 (2014), Worldwide Warfare (2017), Operation: Mental Castration (2021) and Imperium (2023)), alongside two EPs: Kingdom of Hades (2010) and Die For Something Worthwhile (2019), the band’s discography is a testament to their unwavering commitment to pushing the boundaries of death metal.

Necrotted’s potent catalogue is matched only by their relentless live presence, having graced countless stages across Europe, leaving audiences electrified and breathless. Every note, every riff, every guttural scream cuts through the air with unapologetic force, cementing their reputation as one of the genre’s most unyielding and politically charged acts. With each performance, they not only captivate but also challenge listeners, constantly evolving and reinforcing their legacy as a true powerhouse in modern death metal.

Necrottedare:
Fabian Fink - Vocals
Markus Braun - Drums
Philipp Fink - Guitars
Koray Saglam - Bass
Johannes Wolf - Guitars

For more information:
Website
Linktree
Instagram
Facebook
YouTube

Photo Credit: Oli Duncanson

Twelve years ago British metalcore band SHIELDS released a video for their song 'I Just Feel Hate'. Stirring up the UK metal scene, it's since been viewed millions of times - but never released as a single. After all these years of waiting, the song now leaves the underground and has been officially released for the first time. 

Stream the single here:
https://shields.lnk.to/IJFH

Watch the visualiser to 'I Just Feel Hate' here:  
https://youtu.be/6i8XFohgK8k

“This song was and still is hugely important to us. It put us on the map when we were still a small local band and, to this day, people have been asking for it to be released properly on streaming platforms. We decided to finally get our act together and do just that, and as a token of our appreciation for those that care about our band, we have recorded a new version of the track that stays true to the original song, but with the sonic make-up and delivery of the band we have become in 2025. This is the first release of many, people will not have to wait much longer to see what else we have been quietly cooking up for the past year.” -Sam Kubrick Finney

Forming in 2012 SHIELDS rapidly made an impression on the metal community with 'I Just Feel Hate’, which was followed by their EP GUILT. 2018 saw the release of SHIELDS' debut album Life In Exile which included the singles ‘Black Dog’ and ‘It’s Killing Me’. After a five year hiatus, SHIELDS returned in the summer of 2023, set to release a brand new song 'Bury Me' just before they took to the stage again at Burn It Down Festival UK. Throughout the band’s career they toured with bands such as Ice Nine Kills, Born Of Osiris, Chelsea Grin, Veil Of Maya, Escape the Fate and Loathe.

For more:
https://www.tiktok.com/@shieldsuk
https://www.instagram.com/shieldsuk
https://www.facebook.com/Shieldsuk

Photo Credit: Guillermo Briceno

Modern metal stars TETRARCH recently announced their massive upcoming third album, The Ugly Side Of Me, scheduled for release on 9th May via Napalm Records. Featuring needle-sharp production co-produced by Dave Otero, Diamond Rowe and Josh Fore, The Ugly Side Of Me boasts unrelenting brutality, catchiness and songwriting mastery.

Following the album's first singles 'Never Again (Parasite)' ("a sturdy showing of melody and muscle" - Knotfest) and 'Live Not Fantasize' ("positively booming" - Revolver), TETRARCH have just dropped their latest anthem, the melodic hit 'Cold'. The track is carefully injected with an intricate guitar solo from newly-minted first female Jackson Guitars signature artist Diamond Rowe, and wrestles with intense lyrical themes of self-doubt and toxic relationship cycles.

Watch the visualiser for 'Cold' here: https://youtu.be/s-rgaLgy0OM

Diamond Rowe of TETRARCH offers about 'Cold': “'Cold' was one of those songs that came together pretty fast. It was one of the first songs that we wrote for the record and once we started building the textures, leads and vocals it really came to life. I feel like it’s kind of a nod to our Freak album as it has that energetic four on the floor beat with glitchy and creepy guitar textures.

"While writing this song, we kept throwing around the word “insecure”. Insecurity is such an uncomfortable emotion to have and it easily became the lyrical direction for this track.

"I also can’t wait to play this one live. I think everyone is going to go nuts.” 

The single also arrives alongside the band's announcement of new European tour dates, including stops in Germany, Spain and more. Current announced are: 

16 Jun - Leipzig, Germany - Moritzbastei
18 Jun - Hannover, Germany - Cafe Glocksee
19 Jun - Ratingen, Germany - Manege
20 Jun - Copenhagen, Denmark - Copenhell
28 Jun - Viviero, Spain - Resurrection Fest
02 Jul - Dunaujvaros, Hungary - Rockmaraton
05 Jul - Velke Mezirici, Czech Republic - Fajt Fest

Among its perfectly crafted 10 tracks, new album The Ugly Side Of Me cuts like 90s industrial-injected single 'Live Not Fantasize' – which premiered via SiriusXM Liquid Metal upon its release alongside Diamond Rowe’s Jackson Guitars signature launch – thrill with intense electronic flourishes, quick riffage and dynamic, spine-tingling guitar solos. Tracks like album opener 'Anything Like Myself' showcase the hypnotising, crushing metallic brilliance of the band while flirting with Josh Fore’s intense screams and Ruben Limas’ punching drums, while the likes of “Best Of' Luck' stand tall with the rhythmic basslines of Ryan “Dooms” Lerner and Rowe’s inventive riff artistry. Profound melodic bangers like 'Erase' and 'Cold' are injected with intricate guitar solos, while 'Headspace' and 'The Only Thing I’ve Got' thrust the vital, brooding elements of TETRARCH into the forefront. Each track succeeds with lyrical themes of facing our own darkest criticisms – embracing the healing notion that what we feel others may see as our worst traits actually define the greatest aspects of our individuality.

Metal is practically begging for its next wave of genre frontrunners, and with one listen it’s clear – TETRARCH lead the charge.
 

TETRARCH are:
Josh Fore – vocals/guitar
Diamond Rowe – lead guitar
Ryan Lerner – bass
Ruben Limas – drums
 
TETRARCH online:
FACEBOOK
X
INSTAGRAM
NAPALM RECORDS