3 - 2023 - Shieldmaidens of Metal

French female-fronted symphonic prog-metal trio Oïkoumen release and stream new album ‘Dystopia’

2 years and a half after its debut and self-titled EP, French symphonic prog-metal trio Oïkoumen self-released a first full-length record called ‘Dystopia’ on CD & digital through the main legal platforms.

This concept album is about the anxiety generated by receiving all day long (bad) news from all around the world (from ecological and economic to human issues)

In addition to the official release-news, the band also shared the whole effort for full-streaming on Bandcamp.

Oïkoumen comes from a Greek word “oïkoumene” which refers to the known and habitable world. It is also a notion related to mankind and its relationships with its environment.

It hints at what we are all part of but also points all that we still have to discover.

The ouroboros refers to the eternal renewal of mankind and time as cycles. It is pierced by rays of light to bring a bit of optimism in this dark reality.

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As a band Oïkoumen was founded in 2017 by Elie V. composer and Laura M. lyricist. At this time the band was more rooted in historical themes. Then Yael F. joined in 2018 as the bass player and synths programmer.

First influenced by big names of the symhonic metal scene such as Epica, Nightwish and Within Temptation, the band released its debut and self-titled EP (2020) with the aim to tell about historical subjects in their works and share epic vibes.

However, with the single “The Green Queen” and then the album ‘Dystopia’ (fall 2022), the band heads towards a more brutal and incisive aesthetic with the harmony and rythmics but still with symphonic vibes thanks to the orchestras.

FFO : Epica, Gojira, Dream Theater, Tool, Nightwish, Amberian Dawn, Meshuggah, Jinjer…

BUY MERCH AND PHYSICAL EDITIONS OF THE ALBUM

RATBREED Releases New Single “Under Fire” with Lyric Video via Wormholedeath Records

Finnish heavy metal band Ratbreed has released their second single “Under Fire,” accompanied by a lyric video via Wormholedeath Records. The band’s new album is set to be released soon, which will be the follow-up to their debut album “Evoke The Blaze” which was released back in 2018.

Ratbreed is known for its unique heavy metal sound, and “Under Fire” is no exception. Produced and recorded by the band themselves, the mixing and mastering were taken care of by Juho Räihä (Swallow The Sun, Wolfheart, etc.) at Soundspiral Audio. The band’s first single “Master Of Deception” was released in September 2022, and it was an instant hit among their fans.

The new single “Under Fire” is a perfect example of Ratbreed’s musical prowess, and it features the powerful vocals of Jasmin Anglén, accompanied by the skilled guitar work of Mikko Kaipainen and Fabio de Oliveira. Tatu Nyman on bass and Mikko Toivonen on drums provide a solid backbone to the band’s heavy sound, making for an unforgettable musical experience.

The band has also released a lyric video for “Under Fire,” which perfectly captures the intensity of the music and showcases the band’s lyrical prowess. The single cover art was created by Petri Lampela, and the band photo was taken by Mike Sirén.

Ratbreed’s discography includes their debut album “Evoke The Blaze” (2018), and several singles including “Gates Of Underworld” (2018), “Hunting High, Reaping Low” (2018), “Master Of Deception” (2022), and their latest release “Under Fire” (2023). They also have two demo releases, “Escape From The Asylum / Mad World” (2016).

To stay up to date with Ratbreed’s latest news and updates, follow them on Facebook and Instragram:

facebook.com/ratbreed
instagram.com/ratbreedmetal

“Under Fire” is now available for streaming and purchase on all major music platforms. Don’t miss your chance to experience the unique heavy metal sound of Ratbreed. Buy/Stream HERE