While they’ve blazed through folk, prog, pop and alternative rock following their first sip of doom metal, after 15 years, Stoned Jesus are still reaching new creative peaks. On the latest single from the band’s mind-melting new album Songs to Sun, the heavy progressive rockers rose above personal lows by doing something they’ve never done before: blast beats and harsh vocals.

For the past three decades, Garmarna have won equal praise from metal heads and folk lovers. On their seventh and most recent album, the Swedes continued to weave traditional medieval tales with rock, pop, dance and other modern-day inventions, alongside executive producer Christopher Juul from Season of Mist labelmates Heilung. In 2021, Förbundet was nominated for Folk Album of the Year by the Grammis. Now, four years later, its opening song is taking home a different award.

While they quickly amassed a cult following behind one of the most ambitious epics in metal history, for the past 35 years, there was one tale – or three, to be exact – that continued to elude Green Carnation. That is, until now. With The Shores of Melancholia, the long-accomplished prog metal journeymen are finally setting sail on an epic album trilogy that will take fans to the highest peaks and darkest inner rooms.

They’ve always been true trailblazers, but on the band’s upcoming sixth album, Stoned Jesus are expanding their horizons to a mind-melting degree. On the first single from Songs to Sun, the heavy progressive rockers outran their demons by popping off surprising twists and hidden hooks. Now, front man Igor Sydorenko and his new mates are revealing something that the band has never done before.

Ever since they formed in 2007, Hooded Menace have commanded hordes of underground metalheads with creepily, crushing tempos. Their upcoming seventh album is still grounded in classic horrors. But on Lachrymose Monuments of Obscuration, the Finnish stewards of death-doom remain far from stuck in their ways.

Starting this week, Anciients are kicking off their first U.S. tour in 8 years. The heavy, heady and heartfelt Canucks are performing their latest Canadian Grammy-winning opus throughout the American North and Southwest. Along the way, the band will make a few stops down south around their appearance at ProgPower USA. After this month-long run is over, it won’t be long before they return to the road.