Lithuanian modern avant‑garde metal force Black Spikes continue their descent into humanity’s darkest impulses with “ZELVAR,” the latest single from their upcoming album Ydos, set for release on 28 August via Napalm Records. This time, the band turns its gaze toward greed, adding another chapter to the record’s conceptual exploration of human vices.
“ZELVAR” stands out as the only track on Ydos featuring English lyrics, offering a rare point of accessibility within an otherwise uncompromising sonic landscape. Musically, the song balances explosive, razor‑edged aggression with a surprisingly gentle and melodic chorus, creating a dynamic tension that mirrors the theme of insatiable desire. Raw fury, bleak atmosphere and a sense of creeping dread converge into a warning: never close your eyes on Black Spikes.
The band elaborates on the single’s narrative: “This song tells the story of Zelvar, the demon of greed, as he steps into the human world. Within a magnificent palace, those consumed by endless ambition gather, chasing ever greater wealth, power, and status. Yet the more they gain, the deeper they fall into his trap—thirsty, and forever unsatisfied. Greed is a vice that leaves the soul imprisoned and alone the moment you ‘close your eyes’ and surrender to its temptation. No matter how much you possess, it will never be enough.”
The accompanying video, crafted by Rokas Baškys (Lumetri House), visualises this descent with cinematic intensity. You can watch it below — and if you missed the previously released single “Revana”, its video remains available for viewing as well over HERE.
With Ydos, Black Spikes bring darkness in its most conceptual form. The album examines the flaws that shape human nature, weaving them into a modern progressive metal framework that acts as a complex mirror for the listener. Heavy, dark, atmospheric and philosophically charged, Ydos promises a journey where every vice has a voice — and every shadow hides a trap. Link
American alternative industrial‑metal duo Esoterik announce the worldwide release of their heaviest and most confrontational single to date, “Honesty”, now available on all major streaming...
German dark‑electro provocateur Extize returns with a blistering new single, “Hot As Fuck”, taken from the forthcoming album I Love An Alien, due later this year via darkTunes Music Group.
Symphonic metal trailblazers Visions Of Atlantis set sail alongside German medieval metal titans Saltatio Mortis on the brand-new single "Reckless Sailor (Black Flag Rises)". Reimagining...
Having performed at the annual German alternative‑music festival M'era Luna in early August, Canadian electronic rock/dark pop act The Birthday Massacre will return to Europe in late...
"You can see it in social media, in the world, with the wars going on, and I think it's an appropriate title for an album." - Skinny Disco
"We go searching for sounds and ideas within ourselves and there in our dreams, in the moments when 'we are not here'." - Elena Alice Fossi
"I can call our show an emotional exhibitionism. If you want to drink beer and cry, please come to our show, haha." - Nokt Aeon
"It's about humans; we are the high parasites. We feast on the earth and on all the things that the earth gives us. We don't just take a little bit, we take everything." - Aaron Stainthorpe
