We live in uncertain times and even the self-contained fortress of the metal community frequently finds itself clutching at straws and searching for the next big band to pave the way for future glories. While the mainstream rock press generally look to bands with a pop-friendly image and fistfuls of gimmicks to lead the metallic charge, the real metal fans know that this music can only ring true when it’s performed by people who have steel flowing through their veins. Glasgow’s BLEED FROM WITHIN are just that: a band of loyal metal brothers that have worked hard and fought furiously to establish themselves as one of the UK’s most exhilarating new sonic strike forces. Formed nearly a decade ago, the band have always been an invigorating antidote to bandwagon-chasing cynicism.

The tides swell as the next wave of British metal continues to build momentum, led by genre pioneers, SYLOSIS and their brand-new opus, A Sign Of Things To Come.   From the fiery modern thrash of 2008 debut Conclusion Of An Age and its epic follow-ups, Edge Of The Earth (2011) and Monolith (2012), to the direct, holistic savagery of 2015’s Dormant Heart and 2020’s much-acclaimed Cycle Of Suffering, Sylosis have proudly flown the flag for fiercely sophisticated but defiantly uncompromising metal. Now armed with new music, Sylosis is to make a mighty reintroduction into the international metal world!   “My approach on this record has been to rediscover what I loved about metal when I first discovered it!” recalls Josh Middleton. “That’s the feeling I wanted to capture on this record – imagining the first time I plugged into my amp and cranked the volume at band practice; so powerful and energising. I think you can feel that on this record!”   The sixth full-length in the Sylosis catalogue, A Sign Of Things To Come is instantly recognisable as the most potent and powerful of the band’s career. Comprising ten concise and crushing metal anthems, the new record covers a huge amount of musical ground while simultaneously delivering several metric fuck-tons of Middleton’s trademark, ripping riffs. Notable for being the shortest Sylosis album to date, A Sign Of Things To Come is also the band’s best: from the all-out thrash war of the opening ‘Deadwood’ and the snarling, groove metal fury of ‘Pariahs’, to the lurching sludge and sublime chorus payoff of ‘Eye For An Eye,’ and ‘Thorns’ shimmering, gothic doom vibes, the phrase “all killer, no fucking filler” has never been more applicable. Ten songs, ten triumphs: mission accomplished.   “I’m a big fan of progressive and long albums, but I was ruthless on myself during the writing process,” says Josh. “Song selection was important, making sure everything had a place and purpose to serve the album. I spent a lot of time listening back to those classic records, hearing how the anthemic elements were brought through, alongside crushing riffs. Something like Pantera’s Far Beyond Driven, Metallica’s Black Album and Slipknot’s Iowa…anthemic, intense and heavy!”.   Fans of neck-breaking musical carnage will have plenty to get excited about when A Sign Of Things To Come is finally unleashed. With the band’s current line-up of Josh Middleton (guitar/vocals), Alex Bailey (guitar), Ali Richardson (drums) and Conor Marshall (bass) audibly clicking into a higher gear, the new Sylosis album pushes and pulls with a newfound sense of dynamics, as showcased most pointedly via the melodic, post-industrial atmospherics of ‘Absent’ and the haunting, epic depths of ‘A Godless Throne.’ Furthermore, each one of these ten new songs stakes a claim to being the best thing Josh Middleton has ever written. Co-produced with revered studio maven Scott Atkins (Amon Amarth/Cradle Of Filth), and sonically monstrous as a result, A Sign Of Things To Come represents the pinnacle of this band’s creative endeavours.   “As far as songwriting goes, I’ve just got better at it over time” Josh notes. “Some people get older and their tastes mellow, and mine just don’t! I’m a lifer for heavy music, so I never want to overdo the melodic side of Sylosis, but there’s just enough on this album to keep people on their toes and mix things up with a new approach, both to the songwriting and performance in the studio. This is the first time I’ve allowed myself to be produced; taking on some brutal criticism and pushing myself to deliver the best vocal performance of my career.”   Always one of modern metal’s most thoughtful and eloquent bands, Sylosis could hardly create a new album without reflecting the landscape of the world in some form or other. A Sign Of Things To Come has no central theme, although is a commentary from the point of Josh Middleton:   “As a father of two, it’s hard to be happy with the state of the world that my daughters will have to inherit. More than ever, we live on a divided planet, now amplified by technological advancements that seemingly push us further away from one another, whilst corporations and politicians exploit the planet and people…I don’t see how humans come out of this well…but as I say in the song, ‘I want to say that maybe I’m wrong’, and I do want to be able to say that one day!”   Sylosis are back to remind everybody what real heavy metal sounds like when executed by the best of the best. Having been denied the chance to tour in support of Cycle Of Suffering, the fire is well and truly lit ahead of a career defining album cycle ahead!

GREAT AMERICAN GHOST is relentless in every way, shape, and form. Hellbent onpushing the envelope in every conceivable fashion since their inception in 2012, theyhave steadily grown as a genre defying group amongst their peers in the aggressivemusic world. With bludgeoning riffs and a ferociouslyuncompromising message, theygrow stronger withevery new addition to animpressive discography. The New Hampshire quartet aims to stretch the bounds even further with theirforthcoming release, and having found their home with Sharptone Records, there isnothing off limits. Nothing taboo. Nothing that can't be mined as an influence or used asa milestoneto further an already sharpened sound. The promise of devastating musicwith extreme intent is fully realized, and the future is theirs to conquer.

Introducing LIFE CYCLES, the blazing crossover outfit hailing from the heart of Texas, a state known for churning out sonic titans. Like fellow Lone Star State heavyweights, Power Trip, LIFE CYCLES have set their sights on reshaping the realms of thrash and hardcore with an unyielding intensity. Their sound is a potent cocktail of thrash metal ferocity and hardcore tenacity. Drawing inspiration from the likes of metal icons Slayer, Pantera, Municipal Waste, Exodus, Testament, and Judas Priest, LIFE CYCLES effortlessly bridge the gap between two tumultuous genres. Their music possesses the raw aggression of a hardcore show, punctuated with bone-rattling breakdowns, while simultaneously carrying the blistering speed and precision of a thrash metal performance. After igniting stages alongside Upon A Burning Body, LIFE CYCLES stand at the precipice of a groundbreaking chapter in their career. They've recently penned a deal with 1126 Records, a testament to their unwavering dedication and undeniably powerful sound. With a new single on the horizon, titled "Serpent's Kiss," the band offers a tantalizing glimpse into their unique fusion. The track begins with a thrash-infused groove before erupting into a hardcore onslaught, encapsulating the essence of their lyrical metaphor – a snake, a deceiver, and the art of escape. In a world tainted by deceit, the song's relatable narrative is bound to strike a chord with listeners. LIFE CYCLES will release their fourth EP entitled PORTAL TO THE UNKNOWN on February 22nd, 2024, promising even more shades and textures to their auditory palette. From the spine-chilling artwork adorned with snakes and skulls to the deeply personal themes, the band delves into the trials and tribulations of life, exploring betrayals, confronting toxic memories, and the eternal battle between nostalgia and bitter recollections. Their music tells a story, a journey of joining the world of music, braving its trials, and embracing the fight as a collective. It's "us against the world," as drummer Xavier Rios aptly puts it. Get ready to be swept away by LIFE CYCLES, a force that defies genre boundaries and leads a relentless charge through the realms of metal and hardcore.