With fists raised and amps cranked, MERIDIAN return in 2025 with their fifth studio album, a self-titled statement of intent and rebirth. “Meridian” is a no-frills celebration of classic heavy metal spirit, reconnecting with the raw energy, melodic power, and rebellious attitude of the genre’s golden era. From the first riff to the final scream, this is heavy metal the way it was meant to be: direct, honest, and electrifying.

Formed in Denmark and active since 2013, Meridian have long stood at the crossroads of melodic metal, with flashes of AOR and progressive influences shaping their early records. But now, with a new frontman and a renewed sense of direction, the band strips everything back to essentials, delivering a hard-hitting, hook-filled album that proudly wears its ‘80s metal influences on its sleeve.

The shift in sound comes from two key moments: a conscious decision to sharpen their sonic identity, and the arrival of Søren Adamsen (ex-Artillery) as lead vocalist. His commanding presence and raw vocal style bring a harder edge to the band, perfectly suited to the record’s return-to-roots approach. The result is a collection of tightly crafted songs with thunderous riffs, melodic choruses, and blazing guitar solos, echoing the best of classic Maiden, Dio, and Saxon.

Produced, mixed and mastered by guitarist Marco Angioni (Tygers Of Pan Tang, Steel Inferno) at Angioni Studios, “Meridian” was recorded with a live-first mindset and a stripped-down production ethos. Minimal studio tricks. Maximum impact. The album captures the tight interplay and raw stage energy that have long defined the band’s live shows.

This is not just another record – this is MERIDIAN. A bold restart. A love letter to heavy metal. And a reminder that the old school still rules.

“Meridian” will be released on LP (black vinyl, limited to 150 copies), CD and digital on 19.09.2025, via From The Vaults. 

Lineup:
Søren Adamsen – vocals
Martin Jepsen Andersen – lead & rhythm guitars
Marco Angioni – lead & rhythm guitars
Klaus Agerbo – drums
Peter Bruun – bass

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With blazing precision and fearless ambition, Danish Power Thrash outfit EXELERATE return with their sophomore full-length, “Hell for the Helpless”. Following the success of their 2023 self-titled debut and a relentless tour schedule across Denmark and Europe, the Copenhagen-based quartet now present their most mature and musically ambitious work to date  –  a concept album delving deep into the shadows of the human psyche.

Forging a powerful hybrid of fast-paced thrash and melodic, anthemic power metal, “Hell for the Helpless” delivers ten explosive tracks packed with soaring high-pitched vocals, whirlwind guitar solos, pounding drums, and sharp, propulsive bass lines. Whether it’s furious pit-inducing energy or triumphant sing-along moments, Exelerate continue to show they are masters of both the stage and the studio.

“The biggest challenge was writing a worthy successor to an album we had played live so many times”, frontman Stefan Jensen says. “But all that experience gave us clarity. We learned what to lean into, and what our audience really responds to”.

“Hell for the Helpless” is a concept album exploring various damaging and unhealthy mental states, from anxiety and depression to nihilism and obsessive fear. “We live in a time where mental health is a growing issue”, declares guitarist Mads Sørensen. “This album is our way of shining a light on the struggle, the chaos, and also the potential for healing and understanding”. The songs are more ambitious and atmospheric than ever before, with sweeping arrangements and bold lyrical storytelling to match the emotional weight of the themes.

Recorded and produced by the band themselves, with producer Io Klarstrup leading the sessions, “Hell for the Helpless” captures the raw passion and precision of a band firing on all cylinders. Final mixing and mastering were once again handled by Marco Angioni (Tygers Of Pan Tang, Steel Inferno, Meridian), who brings massive sonic weight and clarity to the record’s rich, dynamic sound.

Visually, the album continues Exelerate’s collaboration with airbrush artist Steen Jensen, who delivers a trippy, vivid cover artwork inspired by the inner workings of the troubled mind. It’s a perfect visual complement to the album’s introspective concept – where darkness can easily take root if left unchecked.

Alongside the digital edition, “Hell for the Helpless” will be released on CD and limited edition vinyl, with a tracklist curated specifically for front-to-back listening. The band will support the release with an extensive Danish tour in fall 2025.

“Hell for the Helpless” will be released on LP (purple vinyl limited to 150 copies), CD and digital on 12.09.2025, via From The Vaults. 

Lineup:
Mads Sørensen – guitars 
Stefan Jensen – vocals, guitars 
Io Brix Klarstrup – bass 
Stig Eilsøe-Madsen – drums 

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Emerging from the underground with blazing speed and ferocious intent, Danish speed metal warriors CRUCIBLE present their thunderous debut album, “Hail To The Force”. Across 37 relentless minutes, the band blends savage aggression with strong melodies and an epic heavy metal spirit, distilling a wide range of inspirations into a record that demands attention. Featuring the four original tracks from their first demo alongside six brand-new songs written during 2024, “Hail To The Force” captures a young band operating at maximum intensity.

Crucible’s current lineup took shape during 2024, with Ole Iversen joining on drums in the spring and Kenneth Frandsen stepping in on bass duties for the recording sessions and the band’s first live appearances in the fall. Without a fixed concept to start with, the goal was simple: write great songs. Guitarists Jon Brogård and Thomas Carnell (Impalers) each contributed roughly half of the material, drawing inspiration from the likes of Riot City, Racer X, Hellripper, Vampire, and even movie soundtracks like Blade Runner. The result is an album rich in variety, featuring sword-and-sorcery-infused speed metal anthems alongside raw, Motörhead-style bangers dealing with war and nuclear devastation.

Recording began in December 2024 with DI tracking for rhythm guitars and bass at Thomas’ apartment, before Crucible entered Angioni Studios on Mors in early January 2025 – just before a massive snowstorm hit. With only one week to bring the album to life, guitars and bass were re-amped, Ole hammered down drums over three whirlwind days (with no samples used), and vocals (by Phillip Butler, from Pectora) and lead guitars were captured at a furious pace. Produced by Marco Angioni (Tygers Of Pan Tang, Steel Inferno, Meridian), “Hail To The Force” delivers a sound that is real, raw, and exhilarating: blazing riffs, epic and evil vocals, and thunderous, organic drums.

Among the album’s standout tracks are “Deathdealer,” a blistering high-speed assault inspired by Frank Frazetta’s iconic artwork; “Redwing,” a heavy-hitting riff monster named after Cold War thermonuclear tests; and “Far Beyond The Grave,” an atmospheric, US power metal-tinged journey that builds from a brooding tempo to soaring, harmonized lead guitar glory.

“Hail To The Force” is more than a debut – it’s a battle cry. Fast, loud, and true.

Are you ready to Hail the Force?

“Hail To The Force” will be released on LP (black vinyl and purple vinyl, each limited to 150 copies), digipack CD and digital on 12.09.2025, via From The Vaults. 

Lineup:
Thomas Carnell – guitar 
Jon Brogård – guitar 
Phillip Butler – vocals 
Ole Iversen – drums
Kenneth Frandsen – bass

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STEEL INFERNO has been, slowly but surely, cementing their name in the European speed metal scene in the last decade. Since the band’s formation in 2012, the quintet released three studio albums, each one stepping a bit forward in terms of popularity and intensity: “Aesthetics of Decay” in 2016, “…And the Earth Stood Still” in 2020 and “Evil Reign” In 2022. 

The latter, which was Steel Inferno’s debut at From The Vaults, took the band in a slightly different direction. If the Steel Inferno’s early material was akin to European metal like early Accept and Judas Priest, the material in that record was closer to some of the earliest US power metal bands such as Helstar and Jag Panzer – all mixed with a fundamental inspiration from early thrash and speed metal. 

With this new-found approach, the band toured like crazy to support “Evil Reign”, until the time came to record new songs again. Angioni Studios was booked, speed riffs, solos were recorded, thunderous rhythms were taped and raging vocal takes were taped. The result is Steel Inferno’s new album, titled “Rush Of Power”. A thunderous monster of a record, which will hit you like a hurricane, adrenaline-pumping and will leaving craving for the next speed metal fix. “Rush Of Power” adds more speed, as well as complexity, to the Steel Inferno arsenal, while retaining a sense of creating good melodies. 

Are you ready for “Rush Of Power”?

“Rush Of Power” is out now on CD, LP (black and white vinyl versions available, each limited to 200 copies, plus red vinyl exclusive to Mephisto shop, limited to 100 copies) and digital via From The Vaults. 

Lineup:
Thierry Zubritovsky – bass
Krzysztof Baran – drums
Lars Lyndorff – guitars
Jens Andersen – guitars
Chris Rostoff – vocals

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In late 2022, ALTAR OF OBLIVION signed a deal with From the Vaults and released last year’s “Burning Memories”-EP serving as an appetizer for their upcoming fourth full-length. But NOTHING could foresee what was to come. “In The Cesspit Of Divine Decay”, the new album from the Danish epic doomsters, is a concept work based on the diary of guitarist Martin Meyer Sparvath’s maternal great-grandfather Jesper Wilhem Meyer, who reluctantly fought for the German Empire during The Great War (1914-1918). 

Preparations for this aural endeavour began in 2005, when the band tracked a demo version of what years later would morph into the now completed album, which was originally supposed to be the debut full-length of the early duo incarnation of the band. This album contains some of the band’s first ever creations, and in many ways, it can be regarded as some sort of Altar Of Oblivion-prototype, bringing forth and spewing out their darkest and most traditional epic doom-work to date.

During and since the pandemic, Altar Of Oblivion have been in recording mode, finishing both new and old stuff, including two full-lengths, two EPs and an acoustic album, enabling the band to take a well-deserved studio-break in order to focus on live shows from now on. A number of gigs have been confirmed for 2024, and the collective is now looking forward to hitting the stage again, heavier, older and more invigorated than ever. Time will tell if playing live is the right cure for a severe case of discoloured studio tan.

The origins of Altar of Oblivion can be traced back to 2003, when Martin Meyer Sparvath (guitars/vocals) and Allan Larsen (drums) formed a duo called Summoning Sickness. Three years later, this doubtful project was transformed into a four-piece named Altar Of Oblivion, and the entity went from playing simple black/speed/heavy-metal to epic doom metal. The band has so far, apart from a number of demos, EPs and a live album, three full-lengths under its belt.

“In The Cesspit Of Divine Decay” is out now on CD, LP (black vinyl) and digital formats via From The Vaults. 

Lineup:
Mik Mentor – vocals
Martin Meyer Sparvath – guitars & guitar-synth
Jeppe Campradt – guitars
C. Nørgaard – bass
Danny Woe – drums
Jannick Nielsen – keyboards

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Fresh after being signed to From The Vaults, epic doom metallers ALTAR OF OBLIVION announce the release of the EP “Burning Memories”. The five tracks were recorded in 2016 just after the completion of the band’s third full-length. Now, seven years later, the EP is finally ready to see the light of day. On it, the band conjures up classic timeless epic doom metal, whilst at the same time exploring untrodden ground under the gloomy auspices of this Nordic collective. 

The origins of Altar of Oblivion can be traced back to 2003, when Martin Sparvath (guitars/vocals) and Allan Larsen (drums) formed a duo called Summoning Sickness. Around three years later, this doubtful project morphed into Altar of Oblivion and the entity went from playing simple black/speed/ heavy-metal to epic doom metal. To complete the lineup, two new members in the shape of former opera-singer Mik Mentor and bassist/caffeine-addict Christian Nørgaard were recruited, and the band has, so far, several demos, EPs, a live album, and three full-lengths under its belt. Now, a new chapter opens up for Altar Of Oblivion, while the band closes the door on a brilliant past before looking forward to a new album in 2024. 

“Epic doom is not a subgenre that many bands even attempt, let alone excel at, still less expand upon, so this Aalborg five-piece deserve mad props for bringing new life to this profound outsider sound. With the frosty melancholy of Candlemass, the mystical drama of Solitude Aeturnus and the barbarian brawn of Solstice, AOO mix in new levels of emotional vulnerability via the Robert Smith-ish vocals of Mik Mentor, and never get lost in sluggish gloom, maintaining trad metal fundamentals with a strong, clear vocal line, a sturdy gallop and a spine-tingling melody” Chris Shantler (Metal Hammer UK) 

“Burning Memories” is out now on MLP (180gr black vinyl, limited to 300) and digital formats via From The Vaults.    

Lineup:
Mik Mentor – vocals
Martin Meyer Sparvath – guitars & guitar-synth
Jeppe Campradt – guitars
C. Nørgaard – bass
Danny Woe – drums
Jannick Nielsen – keyboards 

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Five years after “Footprints In The Rock”, NWOBHM unsung heroes TRESPASS are back with a superb new album entitled “Wolf At The Door”. Encompassing issues and subjects close to their hearts – especially environmental themes – the album were written by founding member, guitar player and vocalist Mark Sutcliffe at his home studio, being later recorded at Crooks Hall Studios, all in the wilds of Suffolk. Nigel Palmer (Raging Speedhorn, Satan’s Empire) then polished altogether in Lowland Masters. 

This typical British environment helped Trespass maintain their NWOBHM signature twin-guitar sound, while having a drive and energy in the rhythm section that transports them right back into the 20s. The artwork, by Mark Wilkinson (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest) put the final touch in a release that won’t disappoint the old-school fans, as well as new ones. 

Trespass was formed in 1979 in Sudbury, Suffolk by Mark Sutcliffe (guitar, vocals) and his brother Paul on drums. The band enjoyed success and critical acclaim as part of the New wave of British Heavy Metal in the early 80s, although it has only released a few singles and an EP – the cult “Bright Lights”, from 1981. Songs such as “One Of These Days”, “Stormchild” and “Bright Lights” have made their mark. 

In the 90s, Trespass was back in full action and in 1993 the band finally released their long-awaited debut album “Head”, helping keep the NWOBHM flame alive in a dark decade for traditional metal. The second album, self-titled, surfaced in 2015, and the group didn’t need another decade for a follow-up, with “Footprints In The Rock” being released three years after, with reactions, confirming that Trespass music is still enjoyed by rock and metal fans all over the world. While preparing the next full-length release, Trespass is currently rehearsing a set of classics old and new, for UK and European shows next year. 

“Wolf At The Door” is out now on LP (black vinyl, limited to 500), CD and digital formats.

Lineup:
Mark Sutcliffe – guitar/vocals
Joe Fawcett – guitar
Jason Roberts – drums
Wil Wilmot – bass

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EXELERATE is a power thrash metal band from Denmark. They play fast and aggressive riffs combined virtuose guitar solos and high-pitched vocals to create a new, yet familiar brand of metal. They quickly found strength in combining their individual music influences to create a mix of thrash, power and prog metal. It set the stage for the aggressive, but still approachable sound and the complexity of the compositions that all of their songs are made of. 

They are inspired by bands like Megadeth, Anthrax, DIO and Dream Theater and make heavy use of both the traditional and the new in metal. They have a great focus on how their music is perceived in a live situation. “It’s in a live environment you get the chance to grab new listeners by the collar and show them how it’s done”, lead singer Jensen comments. “They need to be enticed, inspired and spoiled until they can’t get enough. It is therefore important for us to give them something to latch on to, like a catchy melody, a fantastic solo or just a massive breakdown. It’s all a part of capturing the audience’s attention and keeping it”. 

Exelerate is, now in 2023, in full swing with their debut album under the Danish label From The Vaults. The record consists of new and original material, designed to showcase just how metal should sound in 2023. It’s a concept work where every track tells a story about humankind’s tendencies towards both dominance and submission. The themes go from old religions to contemporary ideology worship and even further into the ultimate submission to our own mortality. 

“To date, these are the most ambitious compositions I have ever been a part of writing, and I am incredibly proud of the end result”, Jensen says. “It has taken up many hours, days, weeks, years in the rehearsing studio, and the entire effort is realized in full on the album, I think”. 

“Exelerate” was recorded with the help of, among others, Casper Augustenborg as the drum recording engineer and Io Brix Klarstrup, who pulls double duty as both the band’s bass player and recording engineer. The skilled hands of Marco Angioni (Angioni Studios) have made sure that Exelerate sounds better than ever, with a new massive sound that the listener easily can let their face melt away to. 

The album’s artwork was made by the danish artist Steen Jensen who, with his airbrush and proclivities towards the dark and strange, has made a surreal visual universe inspired by the opening track on the album “Arrival”. 

As a classic old-school heavy metal band, Exelerate will proudly begin touring with its debut album in 2023. 

“Exelerate” is out now on LP (black vinyl, limited to 300), CD and digital formats via From The Vaults.    

Lineup:    
Mads Sørensen: guitars 
Stefan Jensen: vocals, guitars 
Io Klarstrup: bass
Stig Eilsøe-Madsen: drums 

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