San Francisco (USA)-based artist Aursjoen unveils a brand new single "Nytår", an ethereal Nordic folk haunt previewing debut album, Strand, which will be released on 15 November via Stratis Capta Records. "Nytår" is a haunted beauty of a track that is both sensual and mystical. A nod to her Scandinavian ancestry, this reverie-infused music is lush, layered and sweepingly cinematic. Dark and light in equal measure, this dynamic slice of ethereal gothica is complemented by a haunting video, created by filmmaker David Kruschke.
Aursjoen is the project of Ria Aursjoen, who is vocalist and keyboardist for critically acclaimed post-punk outfit Octavian Winters, who released their debut EP The Line Or Curve in 2023, followed by their 2024 "Nebula / Velveteen" single with electronic-industrial legend Mark Pistel (Meat Beat Manifesto, Consolidated). A classically-trained singer and multi-instrumentalist, her musical past is steeped in genres ranging from Celtic and Nordic folk to darkwave and progressive metal.
Aursjoen's debut Strand, was produced, recorded, mixed and mastered by William Faith (The Bellwether Syndicate, Faith And The Muse, Mephisto Waltz, Christian Death,...) at 13 Studio in Chicago. Aursjoen is joined by Octavian Winters bandmate Stephan Bryan Salit, who lends his creative flourish to the mix, contributing dynamic and atmospheric guitars on two songs. Link

From the darkest corners of the North, Paara return to the surface with their third album, Laulut tulen ja jään, slated for release on 30 October via Dusktone. The band have now unleashed...
Swedish doom/death metal entity Runemagick have presented their initial offering, "The Nocturnal Vigil", accompanied by a lyric video. The composition emerges as the opening preview...
American shock‑industrial icon Marilyn Manson has released “Front Toward Enemy”, the second single and accompanying video from his forthcoming album One Assassination Under God – Chapter 2.
Indianapolis melodic doom‑death outfit Mother Of Graves have announced their new full‑length, The Light That Keeps Us, set for release on 16 October via Profound Lore Records. The first...
"I think it's basically a mutation of a lot of different things — like a hybrid creature nobody quite knows how to categorise. A heretic, I guess." - Håvard Ellefsen (Mortiis)
"It would be an exciting thing to be a part of the fourth The Sisters Of Mercy album. I think my role has changed in the last few years." - Ben Christo
"Within this darkness, where there's no light at all, the golden raven still shines. It's not like a perfectly cut statue of Michelangelo..." - Val Perun
"There were already bands doing small illustrations of symphonic metal, and I was thinking, why doesn't someone do this all the time?" - Christofer Johnsson
