OVERCAST RAIN RELEASE "BLACK DEATH"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

OVERCAST RAIN

Black Death

Brutal Records

11 April 2025

Overcast Rain: Latvia's Metal Titans Unleash Their Third Studio Album, Black Death

Hailing from the vibrant city of Liepāja, Overcast Rain is poised to make waves in the global metal scene once again with their highly anticipated third studio album, Black Death. Set for release on April 11, 2025, under the esteemed Brutal Records banner, this album promises to redefine the boundaries of dark metal with a sonic assault like no other.

A Legacy Forged in Darkness

Formed in 2014 by the visionary duo Mihails Maslovs (vocals/guitar) and Kolja Kirk (drums), Overcast Rain has emerged as a beacon of Latvia’s thriving metal scene. Over the past decade, the band has undergone remarkable evolution, marked by lineup transformations and sonic experimentation, solidifying their place as one of the genre’s most dynamic and innovative forces.

Their discography boasts two critically acclaimed albums:

Since You Die (July 11, 2020)

My God Hates Me (March 1, 2022)

These releases have earned the band significant accolades, with tracks like “All Hope Is Gone” breaking into the Destrokit Rock Chart Top 50 and securing spots on the prestigious European Metal Channel rankings. Recognized as cultural milestones, both albums are enshrined in the National Library of Latvia.

The Evolution of Overcast Rain

After a brief hiatus, Mihails Maslovs and Andris Aleksejevs reignited the band in 2018, channeling a renewed vision to craft a heavier, more aggressive sound. The addition of new members and the transition away from female vocals heralded a bold new era for Overcast Rain. This revamped lineup debuted with electrifying performances at Bunker13 Fest and clinched second place at the Fresh Blood competition, setting the stage for their meteoric rise.

Their relentless energy and captivating performances have taken them across Europe and beyond, with standout appearances at premier festivals such as Dark Malta Fest, GoatHell Metal Fest, Barbar Fest, and DiFest. Sharing stages with icons like Die Krupps, Blood Red Throne, Psyclon Nine, and Ost+Front, Overcast Rain has solidified their reputation as a must-see act on the global metal circuit.

Black Death: A New Chapter

Overcast Rain finished album Black Death, a collection of 13 tracks that includes both brand-new songs and remastered fan favorites. This ambitious release showcases their relentless drive to push the boundaries of dark metal and promises to be a landmark achievement in their career.

Tracklist:

Intro

Black Death

Satanic Slut

Rain

Nightmare

Shadows

Damned

Lost

Motherland

Helloween

White Snow  (feat. Artyom Kuricyn - Yomi on Flute (mokshan lang)

War (remastered)

Winter Depression (remastered)

The Current Lineup

Mihails Maslovs – Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard

Marks Širokovs – Drums, Samples, Backing Vocals

Rudolf Vistiņš – Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals

Andris Aleksejevs – Lead Guitar

Leonidas Heidemanis – Lead Guitar

Aleksandrs Tiškevičs – Bass

A Storm Is Coming

As Overcast Rain gears up to release their heaviest single video yet, anticipation is reaching fever pitch. Under the Brutal Records banner, this dark metal powerhouse is ready to usher in a new era of dominance.

Stay tuned for updates—the storm is just beginning.

OVERCAST RAIN

https://songwhip.com/overcastrain/

https://overcastrain.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/overcast.rain.band

BRUTAL RECORDS

https://linktr.ee/brutalrecords.official

THELEMA RELEASE "ZOHAR"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Zohar

by Thelema

Label: Black Casket Records

Tracklist:

1.Departure 06:22

2.The Beggar and the Tzimtzum 04:50

3.Forest of the Shedim 04:11

4.Ishim 03:38

5.The Revelation 04:08

Zohar was made in honor of authors Jewish ancestors, both Ashkenazim and Sephardim.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prologue:

In the lands of medieval Europe, where the mist clings to ancient forests and legends linger in the twilight, there lived a young Jewish scholar named Avraham Uziel. Driven by a burning curiosity for knowledge, he set out to study under the acclaimed kabbalist Rabbi Eliyahu ben Emet. Determined to discover the secrets of kabbalah, Avraham embarks on his month-long journey by foot from his home in Spain to the synagogue of Eliyahu in southern France, unaware of the challenges he would face, and the courage he would need to overcome them.

Music, mixing, and mastering by Thelema.

- Several samples graciously provided by our Lord Erang, protector of the realm

- Campfire, Elbow River 220601-T012.wav by Robert.Crosley -- freesound.org/s/639106/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

- Campfire deer camp - high wind - foot steps - glass falls over - Part 2.wav by Ambient-X -- freesound.org/s/660296/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Short story by Thelema.

Cover by Thelema.

- Mountain image by Josefine Stenudd, listed under creative commons from Flickr

- Candelabra image public domain

- Grit asset creative commons

- Xerox asset from TextureFabrik.com 

released September 15, 2024

https://blackcasketrecords.bandcamp.com/album/zohar

https://www.instagram.com/blackcasketrecords/

KOLKHOZER RELEASE "MASSIVE POTATO ATTACK"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Massive Potato Attack EP

by Kolkhozer

Kolkhozing devastation from Riga. Drink booze and grind potatoes!

Tracklist:

1.Trip To Kolkhoz 03:17

2.Step In To The Shit 03:24

3.Evil Ivalds 04:06

4.Potato Digger 03:30

5.Back To The Urban 03:00

6.Samogon Evening (Instrumental) 03:33

Drink booze and put volume to the max!!!

released May 25, 2024

Stan - All Guitars, Bass, Drums, Backing vox

Max - Vox

Mixed and mastered by Nothernelfmusic during spring 2024

Album art by Nothernelfmusic

Lyrics by Stan, Max and Alex Snake

https://kolkhozer.bandcamp.com/

TERROR ACTIVATOR RELEASE "FORCIBLY WASTED"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Release Date: 04/20/2023

FFO: Early Lost Society, Municipal Waste, Havok

Location: Riga, Latvia

Terror Activator - Crossover / Thrash metal band from Riga, Latvia, founded in January 2017. Terror Activator is a fast as hell combination of old school thrash metal and new wave of thrash metal, consists of 5 young hairy beercoholics that are always busy with partying, headbanging and playing some music that probably makes you wanna move and thrash around.

Check out the video!

https://youtu.be/q04cjQq506g

TERROR ACTIVATOR - Forcibly Wasted (FULL ALBUM)

Support them on Bandcamp!

https://terroractivator.bandcamp.com/album/forcibly-wasted

Follow the band on Spotify and add them to your playlists!

https://open.spotify.com/artist/36Hsk5rOopo6mVilko3S3T

Also available on Apple!

https://music.apple.com/lt/album/two-faced-gateway-single/1680190125

Follow the band at these links:

https://www.facebook.com/terroractivator

https://instagram.com/terror_activator

https://open.spotify.com/artist/36Hsk5rOopo6mVilko3S3T

https://music.apple.com/lt/artist/terror-activator/1458039346

https://www.deezer.com/en/artist/185503867?deferredFl=1

DEHYDRATED GOAT RELEASE "ENGOATMENT: CRASH COURSE IN PRACTICAL GOATISM"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Engoatment: Crash Course in Practical Goatism

by Dehydrated Goat

Track name translations (from Latvian):

01. Urogenital Compost

02. Bronchial Slurry Pulverizer

03. Stench Force Field (Calculating the Stench Rate Constant)

04. If you're gonna get so drunk once more, I won't be changing your diapers again!

05. Certified Intrarectal Inspector

07. The Fart which Put an End to our Marriage

08. Give back Abrene!

09. Gibbering Fartbag Foreman

10. Anal Deposit, Fiscal Diarrhea

11. Ecumenical Penetration, the End of Celibacy

12. Feathers

13. Latex Bishop

14. Legion of Venereal Inseminators

15. The Beaver Rots from the Tail

16. Under the Sweating Tires

released May 8, 2023

The forgotten second album of D&G! Recorded, mixed and mastered in summer 2010 in Hodila Studio, Valmiera, Latvia by Artūrs Skujiņš - Meijiņš and Ģirts Laumanis. Edited and finalized in 2023 by Tomass Beķeris.

Mārtiņš Škutāns - lead guitar

Igors Čerņiks - rhythm guitar

Tomass Beķeris - bass buitar

Filips Batarags - drums

Reinis Pētersons - vocals, percussion

All songs composed by Tomass Beķeris. Lyrics and vocal arrangements by Reinis Pētersons.

Cover art by Andris Daukšta, 2023.

https://dehydratedgoat.bandcamp.com/

http://www.facebook.com/dehydratedgoat

http://twitter.com/dehydratedgoat

IRON WINGS RELEASE "RITUAL OF RAGE"

PRESS RELEASE:

Artist: Iron Wings

Release title: Ritual of Rage

Label: Self-Released

Release Date: 02-05-2022

Format: Digital, CD

Genre: Heavy/Thrash metal

Country: Latvia

Tracklist:

01-REVELATION OVERTURE

02-APATHY

03-NIGHTMARE

04-ANGEL

05-NECROPHILIC WORLD

06-AFTERLIFE

07-VIRUS

08-SUMMONING RITUAL

09-RITUAL OF RAGE

10-THE RAVEN

11-DEVILS LULLABY

Line-up:

Andris Veinbergs - Bass/Vocal

Dainis Andersons - Guitar

Jēkabs Zemzaris - session drummer

Latvian heavy/thrash metal band Iron Wings have released a new album "Ritual of Rage". The album includes the song "Devil`s Lullaby" released last year and two songs that were released this year as the forerunners of the new album - "Apathy" and "Angel".

"The album was created by referring to and updating the art direction - symbolism, which developed in the second half of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century - in literature, music, painting and sculpture. The origins of symbolism in French poetry can be traced back to the work of Charles Baudelaire (1821-1867), especially in the collection "Flowers of Evil" (1857), where sexuality, death, sin and other themes that are also relevant to Iron Wings' album "Ritual of Rage." In the music and lyrics, you can find quotations from famous artists, mythologies, paraphrases, and various symbols that have entered history and their indirect meanings. Denial of the current real situation, the new normal."

Recorded with Gints "Mēmais" Lundbergs

Mixed by Gints "Mēmais" Lundbergs

Produced by Gints "Mēmais" Lundbergs & Iron Wings

Mastering by Gints "Mēmais" Lundbergs

2022. Ķekava, Latvia.

Follow:

Bandcamp: https://ironwings.bandcamp.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ironwingsband

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbyTqeeFVn0moTpAGag3t9g

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/18yQI7LrPB6GSpaM6zsYr0?si=FRbMMyEISoaWcmDxndJtew&fbclid=IwAR1XWfYaV4_rGwNatR7WcTlVo10B0zLbvVJ3lB2qajfWcoSbOU_d2GHjPts&nd=1

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ironwingsband

EVERLUST RELEASE "DIARY OF EXISTENCE"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

EVERLUST, gothic rock / melodic metal band from Latvia, will release their sophomore full length album “Diary of Existence” on May 7th, 2021 via Wormholedeath on all digital platforms worldwide.

Band Comment:

The album will consist of 11 compositions, which are like different diary entries. The album describes the feelings of a person writing a diary. The mood is mostly melancholic in songs like “Land of Dreams”, “I Never Was” and “Alone”, which are heartbreak ballads about loneliness and unrequited love, even a little mystical “Despair” filled with more aphetic feels. There is also energy driven philosophical song “Running” which is about being alone in a crowd and running from oneself, lustful song “Everlust” and bipolar “Destroyer”. The band also made their version of famous Sam Smith’s song “Writings on the Wall”. “Diary of Existence” will also feature a duet song “Entwined” with Finnish band’s LAMORI front man Matias Juselius, which is also a romantic ballad about sick relationships.

About their new album: 

“Each of these songs is like the tales about our feelings, while going through some difficult situations in life and getting over them. We hope that these songs will be a helping hand to our listeners facing the same problems.”

1-Gemini

2-Land Of Dreams

3-Running

4-Everlust

5-Writings On The Wall (Sam Smith Cover)

6-Despair

7-Alone

8-Entwined (feat. Matias Juselius)

9-I Never Was

10-Destroyer

11-8

Biography

EVERLUST is a gothic rock / melodic metal band from Riga, Latvia. Their music can be described as melancholic and romantic. They sing about love, passion, heartbreak, misery, death. Besides, they are the only active gothic band left in the Baltic region at the moment with strong influence from bands like “Draconian”, “Theatre of Tragedy”, “Charon”, “Paradise Lost”, “Sentenced”, “Lacuna Coil”, “Trees Of Eternity” and more.

In 2020 EVERLUST signed a record deal with “Wormholedeath” records label from Italy. The new album “Diary of Existence” was recorded, engineered, mixed and mastered at Titans Lab Studio (Ferrara, Italy). Produced by Carlo Bellotti and Riccardo Daga.

Band members:

Kate Brown – Vocals

Vlad Pucens – Guitar, Vocals

Max Reksna – Guitar

Alex Shangin – Drums

Pavel Savin - Bass

Andrew Jirgensons – Keyboards

Booking & Management By:

THP PRODUCTION

facebook.com/thp.production

EVERLUST ONLINE

https://www.facebook.com/everlustband

https://www.instagram.com/everlustband

https://everlustband.bandcamp.com/releases

https://www.facebook.com/WormHoleDeath

https://twitter.com/wormholedeath

https://www.instagram.com/wormholedeath_records

VARANG NORD RELEASE NEW SINGLE "CINIS GORS"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Latvian group Varang Nord release their new single Cinis Gors taken from their forthcoming album Pārķiuņa Uomurs, set for release via Sliptrick Records on February 11th. Cinis Gors is a battle anthem capturing the spirit of a hard long sea travels and conquests Northmen have been involved in.

https://youtu.be/ndpCIjd6gTo

Varang Nord are a folk/pagan metal band from the cold woodlands of Latvia. Their songs praise mighty battles, bloody sacrifices to the Old Gods and joyful northern feasts with endless mugs of ale.

Pārķiuņa Uomurs | Released February 23rd 2021 via Sliptrick Records

Varang Nord are:

Maksims “Wolf” Popovs – Vocals/Guitar | Jelena Kalniša – Vocals/Accordion | Danila Lopuha – Bass/Vocals | Javgenijs Selivanovs – Guitar | Aigars Zeiza – Drums | Vjačeslavs Janens – Percussion/Vocals

Band links: 

Official Website | http://varangnord.com/

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/varangnord

Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/VarangNord

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/varangnordofficial

VK | https://vk.com/varangnord

On Sliptrick https://sliptrickrecords.com/varang-nord/

IRON WINGS RELEASE "DEVIL´S LULLABY" SINGLE

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Latvian Heavy/Thrash Metal band Iron Wings release new Single "Devil's Lullaby"!

Youtube: https://youtu.be/5AH6cKHESSQ

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/7sUXBSKxgvKDEfguTPqDW7

Bandcamp: https://ironwings.bandcamp.com/track/devils-lullaby

The song is a single from the upcoming album. The main theme of the song is one of Shakespeare's most famous quotes "Hell is empty and all the devils are here". The song and the upcoming album form parallels with the already released album “Dzejnieks” ("The Poet").

The main idea of the song is to make us to think about what we have become in less than a year, when even the closest people and friends in the saturated sea of views lose their humanity and are ready to tear each other apart in the name of only acceptable ideas.

This fear, ignorance, intolerance of diversity of opinion is also the poison that poisoned our world and ourselves. Are we, the society that incites hatred, not the ones who create this hell in which we live?

Iron Wings - heavy/thrash metal band from Riga, Latvia, founded at the year 2016. Since then have been sharing the stage with a lot of local support and have shared the stage with a lot of foreign acts from over the world. In the music making process the band is mixing together heavy and thrash metal creating their own unique sound. At the end of 2017 released EP “Tumšie miglāji” (“Dark Nebulae”). In 2020 band have released new album “Dzejnieks” (“The Poet”).

https://www.facebook.com/ironwingsband/

https://www.instagram.com/ironwingsband/

VARANG NORD SIGNS WITH SLIPTRICK RECORDS

 

PRESS RELEASE:

Sliptrick Records Welcome Latvian Pagan Metal Group VARANG NORD

Joining the ranks at Sliptrick Records:

Varang Nord (LV) Folk Metal | Pagan Metal | Viking Metal

Varang Nord is a folk metal band from the cold woodlands of Latvia. Their songs praise mighty battles, bloody sacrifices to the Old Gods and joyful northern feasts with endless mugs of ale. They combine harsh death metal riffs with epic accordion chants, creating a unique blend of northern pagan/folk metal.

The group was founded in 2014 by Max “Wolf” Popovs and Artems “Khurr” Kuricins and since then Varang Nord have released three studio albums: Fire Of The North (2014), Master Of The Forest (2015), Call Of Battle (2017), official music videos and played a lot of shows across the Baltic States, Germany, France, Spain, Belarus and Russia. Their crowning achievement thus far was winning the Wacken Metal Battle in 2019.

For 2021, Varang Nord plans to release a fourth studio album, Pārķiuņa Uomurs, worldwide via Sliptrick Records, to play a great bunch of live shows to support the record, to take a part in the Heathen Heroes European Tour with such a bands TYR and Arkona and participate at the legendary Wacken Open Air. For all this and much, much more, join Varang Nord on their journey.

Varang Nord are:

Maksims “Wolf” Popovs – Vocals/Guitar | Jelena Kalniša – Vocals/Accordion | Danila Lopuha – Bass/Vocals | Javgenijs Selivanovs – Guitar | Aigars Zeiza – Drums | Vjačeslavs Janens – Percussion/Vocals

Band links: 

Official Website | http://varangnord.com/

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/varangnord

Youtube | https://www.youtube.com/VarangNord 

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/varangnordofficial

VK | https://vk.com/varangnord

On Sliptrick https://sliptrickrecords.com/varang-nord

LAST DECLINE RELEASE "...CRAS NIHIL" ON CASSETTE

 

Latvian black metal band LAST DECLINE will release their latest album "...Cras Nihil" on cassette format on August 15th. The album, originally released on digital format last May, will be released now in a very limited edition of 50 copies on cassette through Snake Oil Kassettforlag. "...Cras Nihil" is LAST DECLINE´s second full length release and the successor to their debut album "Escape" from 2015. More info on the band here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lastdecline

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/decline-art

Bandcamp:  https://lastdecline.bandcamp.com/

OCEANPATH RELEASE "NO MAN´S LAND"

 

PRESS RELEASE:

NO MAN'S LAND

by Oceanpath

Tracklist:

1.No Man's Land 04:03

2.Turn Back Time 03:03

3.Masquerade 05:00

4.Daughter of the Northern Wind 03:19

5.Water Horse 04:20

6.Spell of the Night 03:35

7.Castle of Raven's Heart 03:00

8.Puppet Show 04:33

9.Hell on Earth 05:24

released November 20, 2019

© & Ⓟ Artūrs Šteinbergs & Džeina Šteinberga, 2019.

Finely designed melodies, heavy guitar riffs and energetic rhythm section, as well as symbiosis of academically taught soprano and metal growl. Oceanpath music goes in two directions – songs which are created in the best traditions of symphonic/ melodic heavy metal that are mostly performed in English, and compositions in folk metal genre, inspired by elements of Latvian folk music.  

https://oceanpath.bandcamp.com/

http://facebook.com/oceanpath/

SANCTIMONY RELEASES "UNHOLY FIVE" / SANCTIMONY LANZA "UNHOLY FIVE"

ENGLISH

Latvian death metal / Death´n´roll band Sanctimony will release their new album "Unholy Five" on April 5th. The new album is the fourth full length release by the band and the follow up to their "Hell in Stereo" released in 2007. "Unholy Five" will be released through Thunderforge Records and will feature the following tracks:

1. Tiny Gleams

2. Perfection

3. Freefall

4. While You're Here

5. King Whole

6. Loud

7. Money Maker

8. Painless Dreams

9. Human Grudge

10. Sounds

ESPAÑOL

La banda letona de death metal / Death´n´roll, Sanctimony, lanzará su nuevo álbum "Unholy Five" el 5 de abril. El nuevo álbum es el cuarto larga duración de la banda y el sucesor de su "Hell in Stereo" lanzado en 2007. "Unholy Five" será editado a través de Thunderforge Records y contendrá los siguientes temas:

1. Tiny Gleams

2. Perfection

3. Freefall

4. While You're Here

5. King Whole

6. Loud

7. Money Maker

8. Painless Dreams

9. Human Grudge

10. Sounds

LAST DECLINE RELEASES "ESCAPE"

ENGLISH

Latvian black metal band Last Decline will release their new album "Escape" on January 20th. The new album is the debut full length release by the band and the follow up to their demo "Thinking on the Bones of Life" released in 2014. "Escape" will be released through Beverina Productions and will feature the following tracks:

1.     Process of Dying
2.     Last Decline
3.     Incubus
4.     Blind Mans Dream
5.     Spiritual Clarification
6.     Death Takes Me Away    
7.     When I Saw Blood on Your Eyes    
8.     Thinking on the Bones of Life
9.     Escape 

ESPAÑOL

La banda letona de black metal Last Decline lanzará su nuevo álbum "Escape" el 20 de enero. El nuevo álbum es el debut larga duración de la banda y el sucesor de su demo "Thinking on the Bones of Life" lanzado en 2014. "Escape" será editado a través del sello Beverina Productions y contendrá los siguientes temas:

1.     Process of Dying
2.     Last Decline
3.     Incubus
4.     Blind Mans Dream
5.     Spiritual Clarification
6.     Death Takes Me Away    
7.     When I Saw Blood on Your Eyes    
8.     Thinking on the Bones of Life
9.     Escape

VARANG NORD RERELEASES "FIRE OF THE NORTH" EP

Latvian folk viking metal band Varang Nord are re-releasing their "Fire of the North" EP originally released in 2014. The EP was originally released in an independent way and now it has been re-released through Metal Scrap Productions. Here is the EP tracklist:

1. Wild Hunt

2. As Men Pored Ale

3. Sacrifice for the Old Gods

4. Blood for Blood

5. Fires of the North

6. Through a White Wasteland

FORGOTTEN TOMB LIVE IN ESTONIA, LATVIA AND LITHUANIA