US / THEM: July 2025

Friday, July 18, 2025

Mario Infantes' (Cult of Lilith) sophomore solo album Bitácora out now on Lost Future Records

“Has a very cinematic feel to it, almost like the soundtrack to a spy movie. The Icelandic composer has a knack for electronic music.” — Metal Injection

"A startling solo debut... From dungeon to daylight, electronic instrumental therapy." -- Echoes & Dust

"Infantes steps away from the Icelandic progressive death metal style to take listeners on a synth-driven journey into his artistic psyche... A mesmerizing atmospheric record." -- Metal Insider

"Mario’s voice is still front and center, but this time it’s part of a much bigger picture, one that is less about control and more about discovery. The result is an album that feels lived-in and searching, less like a statement and more like an invitation." -- Psychedelic Baby Magazine

“Rich with dreamlike vocals, traditional instruments, and cultural creativity, Mario takes us to another plane of existence, far from this harsh, cruel world.” — Toilet Ov Hell

Iceland based artist Mario Infantes releases his sophomore solo album Bitácora everywhere today via Lost Future Records. Hear & share the full album Bitácora on all DSPs HERE. Watch & share the official video for "Frágil" on YouTube.

Mario recently did an in-depth interview with It's Psychedelic Baby! Magazine HERE.

From the windswept landscapes of Iceland to the echoes of distant shores, Mario Infantes Ávalos embarks on a musical voyage with Bitácora—a sonic journal that transcends borders, languages, and traditions. Known for his remarkable vocal range and deep-rooted passion for cultural storytelling, Mario weaves together a rich tapestry of sounds, featuring collaborations with renowned Icelandic musicians from a variety of backgrounds.

Blurring the lines between past and future, Bitácora fuses the raw energy of metal, the haunting beauty of European folk traditions, and the immersive textures of cinematic soundscapes into a mind bending voyage across an icy musical landscape. Each track is a chapter, each melody a landmark, guiding the listener through a journey of self-discovery, displacement, and the universal longing for connection.

Anchored in innovation yet steeped in tradition, Bítacora is more than an album—it’s an expedition into the unknown, where every note tells a story and every voice carries the weight of history.

Mario Infantes Ávalos is a multidisciplinary artist from Spain, now based in Iceland, known for his extraordinary vocal range and deep connection to global sounds. A former member of the acclaimed metal band Cult of Lilith (signed to Metal Blade Records), he has captivated audiences with his dynamic voice, spanning operatic tenor, ethereal falsetto, and intense metal vocals. Now signed to Lost Future Records, Mario embarks on a solo journey with his upcoming album, Bítacora—a musical odyssey blending metal, folk, and cinematic elements, featuring collaborations with renowned Icelandic musicians. Proficient in a variety of traditional instruments, including the oud, handpan, duduk, and bansuri, his work reflects a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and musical traditions.

Release Credits: Hrafnkell Örn Guðjónsson, drummer in Agent Fresco and Einar Solberg of Leprous (Drums), Yara Polana (acoustic guitar), Gísli Gunnarsson (additional orchestration), Ásgeir Ásgeirsson (Oud), Sunna Friðjónsdóttir (additional vocals), Živa Ivadóttir (additional vocals), Simon Thorolfsson, guitar in Obsidian I (guitars), Samúel Örn Böðvarsson, bass player in Cult of Lilith (Bass), Daniel Þór Hannesson guitar player in Cult of Lilith (guitars), Sebas Bautista (additional guitars), Tayebeh jourbonyan (additional vocals), Erik Qvick (additional percussion).

Gísli Gunnarsson is featured in “Notre Prison”, doing an orchestral section.

Živa Ivadóttir is featured in “Xhadhamtje”, doing vocals.

Sunna Friðjónsdóttir is featured in “Sírenu”, doing vocals.

Bitácora is available on CD and digital on July 18th, 2025 via Lost Future Records. Orders are available HERE.

Artist: Mario Infantes

Album: Bitácora

Record Label: Lost Future Records

Release Date: July 18th, 2025

01. Frágil

02. Streams

03. Xhadhamtje

04. Notre Prison

05. Sírenu

06. Muharib Alqifaar

07. Away

08. Cianuro

On The Web:

lostfuturerecords.com

instagram.com/lostfuturerecords

lostfuture.bandcamp.com

linktr.ee/MarioInfantes

Wednesday, July 16, 2025

Young punk-prog band Donella Drive share "Simian Transmission" single from upcoming album

“They take quite a musical journey (a la At the Drive-In) through post-rock mellowness, post-hardcore angst, a bit of groovy doom and some 90s alt rock passion, with strong, clear vocals leading the way.” — Decibel Magazine

"The band's chief strength is its ability to take a varied musical approach without shaving the hard edges from its sound." -- San Antonio Current

"A supercharged scorcher! Melodic post-punk fury with a metallic edge, this is Prog that truly ROCKS." -- Echoes & Dust

San Antonio, TX band Donella Drive share a new single from their forthcoming album Axon today. Echoes and Dust launched the track "Simian Transmission" earlier HERE. The song is now available to hear/share on all DSPs HERE.

Decibel Magazine previously shared the lead single HERE. The song "Mindless Embryonic" is available on all DSPs HERE.

Combining elements of alternative metal, post hardcore, and progresssive rock, San Antonio outliers Donella Drive cannot be categorized by a singular label. Consisting of songwriters Aidan Escalante (lead vocals/guitar) and Andrew Salazar (bass/backing vocals). Donella Drive has expanded upon the previous boundaries of their work since their inception in 2012. Brothers Escalante and Salazar originally formed the band with the desire to create a sonically engaging music that pushed the rock medium in a new direction.

In 2015, Donella Drive released their first album Anomalous, followed by tours where they opened for legendary acts such as Megadeth, Deftones, and Scorpions, as well as contemporary bands such as Dead Poet Society, The Callous Daoboys, Protest The Hero, Hail the Sun, He Is Legend, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, and Upon a Burning Body. Noteworthy changes such as Escalante’s shift to lead vocals, amplified their sound and led them to create Bloomer in 2020.

Donella Drive remains tenacious in challenging themselves in their pursuit to elevate their music and diverge from commercial endeavors, which is evident in their current EP release “Ozell”, and their first full length album Axon releasing in August 2025.

Their single “Keep You Waiting” recently peaked at #24 on The Billboard Rock Indicator chart as well as peaking at #10 on The Foundations Chart. The band was also a finalist for The Battle For Wacken Festival and performed at The Viper Room in West Hollywood in 2022.

Axon will be available on August 22nd, 2025. Pre-orders are available HERE.

DONELLA DRIVE LIVE 2025:

08/15 San Antonio, TX - The Rock Box

08/16 Houston, TX - White Oak Music Hall

Artist: Donella Drive

Album: Axon

Record Label: self-released

Release Date: August 22, 2025

01. My Name is Axon

02. Simian Transmission

03. Mindless Embryonic

04. Terlingua

05. Stir the Echoes

06. External Gazer

07. Past Inside The Present

08. Polychromatic Dream

09. Death Animation

10. Information Superhighway

Tuesday, July 15, 2025

HATED share new video & single "Seven" from forthcoming album, feat. Blasting Room producer Colton Krohn on Lost Future Records

“Featuring thick, chunky rhythms buffeted by sharp yet heavy guitar work and abyssal vocal stylings... effectively serves as a shot across the bow to other bands out there. It’s effectively the band putting their hand on the throat of the scene, letting everyone know they’re here and ready to fuck some shit up." -- Metal Sucks

“Comes in with a f#*king vengeance! The vocals feel like acid searing down my ear canals, the percussion is like an angelic army finally coming down to lay waste to the false prophets, and the riffs feel like red-hot lasers shooting out of my eyes. It’s been a while since I heard a song as deliciously violent as HATED’s ‘Seven.’” — CvltNation

Denver, CO band HATED share a new single and video for "Seven" from their forthcoming full length debut today on all DSPs. Today, CvltNation premieres the official video for the song HERE. (Direct YouTube.) Hear and share "Seven" on all DSPs HERE.

Metal Sucks recently premiered the video for lead track "Imposter" HERE.

HATED is a Denver-based Nu-Deathcore band delivering relentless riffs, suffocating atmosphere, and raw, unfiltered emotion. Balancing cinematic heaviness with personal storytelling, the band confronts mental health struggles head-on through honest, brutal songwriting.

Formed in 2018 as a studio project between vocalist Jordan Taylor and guitarist/producer Colton Krohn, HATED quickly evolved into a full band after listeners connected with the raw honesty of their first two EPs, None Are Equal and 9411.

Since 2023, HATED has built a reputation for chaotic, high-energy live shows across the Rocky Mountain region — complete with inflatable swords, pillow fights, and mosh pit limbo contests. But it’s not about gimmicks. It’s about creating a space for catharsis and connection through sound and community.

Death Effects brings focus to the very real obstacles brought on by living a life of shame and regret, begging for common decency from the ones closest to you. It acknowledges the feelings of self loathing and despair that plague someone with extreme depression. From beginning to end, the album is set in the mood of “found footage” on a cassette tape, one that tells the story of a nameless person that has suffered more than they can bear.

Death Effects will be available on Limited Edition LP and download on August 22, 2025 via Lost Future Records. Pre-orders are available HERE.

HATED LIVE 2025:

08/28 Denver, CO - HQ (Album Release Party)

08/29 Salt Lake City, UT - Aces High

08/31 Colorado Springs, CO - The Black Sheep

09/20 Casper, WY - Oil City Brewing