It’s been five years since US power metal act Vicious Rumors unleashed their most recent album. Five years during which band mastermind Geoff Thorpe and his crew played well over one hundred and fifty shows, presenting their longstanding career in condensed form and performing a playlist featuring their most important VR classics. These shows have left their mark on the band members while at the same time releasing a burst of new energy.

German heavy/power metal outfit, Hammer King, have officially announced their they will unleash a brand-new studio album this year. Make Metal Royal Again is due, worldwide, on August 15, 2025, via the Reaper Entertainment record label.

Rock band Dance Gavin Dance is excited to announce their highly anticipated new studio album “Pantheon”, set to be released on September 12th, 2025, via Rise Records. Their first full length release since 2022’s “Jackpot Juicer” – which debuted at #8 in the Billboard Top 200 – “Pantheon” sees the band building on their signature genre defying sound with soul shredding breakdowns,

Italian metallers Eternal Idol are pleased to announce the release of their new studio album “Behind A Vision”, scheduled for release on July 11th, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.

HEATHEN’S EYE is a new Swedish Melodic Metal band which incorporates many different influences from the fields of AOR, melodic rock and progressive into its sound. Most band members live in the beautiful north, the land of snow, aurora borealis, months of eternal darkness in the winter, and warm days when the sun never sets in the summer. These contrasts are also reflected in the music of HEATHEN’S EYE which spans over heavy rock, airy ballads and progressive metal.

On July 25th, the melodic rock band Cats in space releases the compilation box ”Chapter 1” via the company Cherry Red Records. This is how you can read in a press release:

Progressive symphonic metal band Scardust are thrilled to announce the release of their anticipated new studio album “Souls”, out on July 18th, 2025, via Frontiers Music Srl.

The French hard rock band MAINKIND announces its new and 2nd album, Fool’s Game, cover art, detailed tracklist and 1st title to listen to below. For fans of good old Hard Rock from the 70s / 80s, turn up the sound and full throttle!

Dutch alternative metallers PHANTOM ELITE, whose vocalist is Marina La Torraca, known for her participation in the supergroup EXIT EDEN and the AVANTASIA concert line-up, and the executive producer is former AFTER FOREVER guitarist Sander Gommans, have released a new single “Slow Burn”. Jules Mitch from SETYOURSAILS took a guest part in its recording.

Crown X Recordings, Canada’s premier re-issue label, proudly announces the release of Helix 50 – The Best Of, a career-spanning collection celebrating five decades of one of Canada’s most legendary hard rock bands. The compilation features an all-star re-recording of Helix’s multi-platinum hit “Rock You,” alongside international chart-toppers from their major label debut,

Joe Stump’s Tower of Babel – the hard rock quintet who bring the finest European ingredients to their no-nonsense rock ‘n’ roll – will release ‘Days Of Thunder‘ on Silver Lining Music on July 4th, 2025. Joe Stump’s supreme six-string shredding skills are known throughout the rock and metal scenes,

German dark heavy rock force Wolfskull presents a first song taken off their much-awaited, sophomore studio album entitled “Midnite Masters”! The album will be released on July 25, 2025 via Metalapolis Records (SPV).

Rocksector Records (May 16th, 2025) Sometimes you have to admit defeat and miss something you really didn’t want to miss. In my case it is the fact that ABSOLVA was touring my area just one month ago, but unfortunately, I was not able to go and see them supporting RONNIE ROMERO.