ROUND UP - CONFESS to feature on new metal docu-series, NARCOTIC WASTELAND to tour Europe and more...
Iranian-Norwegian metallers Confess are set to re-release their second album “In Pursuit Of Dreams” on November 7th through their EVIN Productions imprint, complete with three previously unheard tracks; “Watch The Decay Of Sun”, “Convention”, and “Face-Off”.
Speaking about why they opted to re-release the album, frontman Nikan Khosravi has said:
“To mark the 10th anniversary of “In Pursuit of Dreams”, we are proud to announce a reissue of the album, freshly remastered and featuring three previously unreleased songs, finally revealed after a decade.
This isn’t just an album; it’s a piece of history. The last record we dropped while still in Iran, it became a lightning rod for rebellion, defiance, and unapologetic expression. Just two weeks after its release, the authorities arrested us for its incendiary, protest-fuelled lyrics. This was the spark that ignited a movement and put us on the global map. Widely regarded as one of the most impactful and groundbreaking metal albums in the history of the Middle East, we believe “In Pursuit of Dreams” firmly established our place in the metal world.”
The band have since been announced for a full feature episode on their story as part of the HULU show “Into The Void: Life, Death & Heavy Metal”. Speaking about their inclusion, Khosravi said:
“To have our story told on Hulu and Disney+ by VICE Studios Canada alongside legends like Judas Priest and Randy Rhoads, is unreal. For us, this isn’t just about music. It’s about survival, resistance, and proving that metal has no borders.
Confess has always been about speaking truth through distortion and fury, and this documentary proves that no system can silence metal. We were once called criminals for playing heavy music, now our story is streaming worldwide. That’s not just a win for us. It’s a victory for the entire global metal scene. To be featured alongside the legends we grew up idolizing is an honour we’ll never take lightly. We stand as living proof that metal is alive, dangerous, and unstoppable.”
Following on from the clarion call of their previous singles, ‘Vegas Hustler’ and ‘soapboX Preacher’, Sweden’s rock troubadours Wolver take another step into the Mighty Realm of Evelas with latest single ‘same2me’, which released on September 5th! The new offering comes from their titillating collection of songs, taken shape as their upcoming EP “Act II: Scene I - Birth of an Empire”, which is set to arrive on October 3rd, 2025, through Rexius Records!
When talking about ‘same2me’, Wolver have said:
“Inspired by Orwell’s 1984, ‘same2me’ is a cry from inside the machine—a voice worn down by systems built to break you. It starts with quiet compliance, turns into quiet rage, and ends in a desperate search for meaning in a world where power wears a thousand faces but always feels the same. It’s about injustice, invisibility, and the aching question: what if I’d just been lovable?”
As they tune up the band and light the stage for their grand release in October, the group have stated the following:
““Act II: Scene I - Birth of an Empire” is the first chapter in the next phase of our journey. These new tracks are the first steps in pushing the boundaries of what we’ve created so far. Each song is a scene in this evolving narrative—facing the chaos, embracing the fight, and stepping into the unknown. This EP marks the beginning of something bigger, as we continue to build our empire one track at a time.”
Brazilian American Composer Miguel Kertsman has announced his latest album, the progressive rock odyssey, “Paradoxes”, a concept album due for release on October 3rd,2025! Kertsman, who Rolling Stone have called his work as “indescribable and defies categorization”, has graced stages and screens for decades, with his work used everywhere from video games to the Olympics. He has collaborated with everyone from opera singer Angelika Kirchschlager to guitarist John Williams to Head Automatica collaborator Dan the Automator.
As a multi-hyphenate, Kertsman has composed, produced, engineered, arranged, conducted and played keyboards across a diversity of genres such as contemporary classical, jazz, rock, and world music, but “Paradoxes” is a special affair, a personal foray into the progressive rock styles which inspired him in his youth. “I have always been fascinated by paradoxes — whether as curiosities found in science, astrophysics or math, or in everyday human behavior,” says Kertsman, “Growing up, I was surrounded by classical music and Jazz, and the incredibly rich musical life of Brazil. Moving to New York later introduced me to even more musical languages. But as a child, it was the Progressive Rock bands of the time that truly captivated me.”
An album of synthesizer-driven prog rock familiar to fans of Yes, Patrick Moraz, and Pink Floyd might seem like an unintuitive move for a composer whose work has been recorded by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, but Kertsman doesn’t necessarily see it that way. “The music of progressive rock paralleled the classical music I knew: it embraced longer forms, told stories across multiple movements and songs, balanced instrumental passages with lyrics, and fearlessly pushed boundaries.”
US extreme metallers Narcotic Wasteland, the brainchild of former Nile guitarist Dallas Toler-Wade, are set to hit Europe this winter for an extensive tour. The announcement follows the recent release of their new single “Introspective Nightmares”.
Speaking ahead of the tour, Toler-Wade has said this of returning to Europe:
“I am very excited to bring my band, Narcotic Wasteland, back to Europe. We’ll be performing songs both old and new, along with the two Nile songs I wrote for the Annihilation of the Wicked album, ‘Lashed to the Slave Stick’ and ‘The Burning Pits of the Duat’ — in celebration of its 20th anniversary. This will truly be a must-see performance, as I will not be playing these songs again. Don’t miss it!”
The dates for the tour are:
13.11.25 - Oslo, Norway - Brewgata
14.11.25 - Lublin, Poland - Fabryka Kultury Zgrzyt
15.11.25 - Bratislava, Slovakia - Pink Whale
16.11.25 - Vienna, Austria - Escape Metal Corner
17.11.25 - Ostritz, Germany - AZ Meva
18.11.25 - Lübbenau, Germany - Kulturhof
19.11.25 - Kassel, Germany - Goldgrube
20.11.25 - Kortrijk, Belgium - DVG Club
21.11.25 - Alkmaar, The Netherlands - Herrie Metal Fest
22.11.25 - Milton Keynes, UK - The Craufurd Arms
23.11.25 - Belfast, UK - The Deer’s Head
24.11.25 - Dublin, Ireland - Fibber Magees
25.11.25 - Manchester, UK - Junior Jackson’s
26.11.25 - London, UK - Underworld
27.11.25 - Newcastle upon Tyne, UK - The Lubber Fiend
29.11.25 - Rennes, France - Ty Anna Tavarn
30.11.25 - Paris, France - Le Zorba
01.12.25 - Basel, Switzerland - Valhalla Bar
02.12.25 - Lonata Ceppino, Italy - Black Inside
03.12.25 - Bologna, Italy - Freakout Club
04.12.25 - Trodica Di Morrovalle, Italy - Drunk in Public
05.12.25 - Pordenone, Italy - Tune Music Lab
06.12.25 - Salzburg, Austria - Rockhouse Bar
07.12.25 - Graz, Austria - Explosiv
08.12.25 - Belgrade, Serbia - Zappa Barka - Bleed To Death Festival
09.12.25 - Sofia, Bulgaria - Grindhouse
10.12.25 - Bucharest, Romania - Encore Club
11.12.25 - Budapest, Hungary - Turbina
12.12.25 - Olomouc, Czech Republic - Sklub
13.12.25 - Krakow, Poland - Confession Club
14.12.25 - Bilbao, Spain - D8 Sorkuntza Faktoria
15.12.25 - Madrid, Spain - Wurlitzer Ballroom
16.12.25 - Barcelona, Spain - Sala Deskomunal