Watch: UNLEASHED pays tribute to late VENOM frontman CRONOS with 'Countess Bathory' cover in Athens
12-10-2026
Swedish death metal veterans UNLEASHED paid tribute to VENOM frontman Conrad “Cronos” Lant by playing a cover version of the VENOM classic “Countess Bathory” during UNLEASHED‘s October 7 concert at Gagarin 205 in Athens, Greece. Fan-filmed video of the performance can be seen below.
On October 2, the day after Cronos‘s death was announced, UNLEASHED bassist/vocalist Johnny Hedlund shared the following message via social media: “Back in the day, when I came home from the record store with the LP ‘Welcome To Hell’, I thought, wow!! Like hardcore punk, but Metal with some serious attitude. Then ‘Black Metal’ came and I still never had a chance to see them live. A few years later, a VHS copy from a show at the Hammersmith Odeon hit me like a bomb. I recall thinking, that if I ever become a musician and form a band, I wanna be a frontman just like that. Damn, the presence, the aggression, the sheer power, right in your face!!
“Thank you for everything Mr. Cronos. See you in Valhalla!”
UNLEASEHED‘s latest studio album, “Into Oblivion”, came out in Agust 2025 via Napalm Records.
With “To My Only Son”,UNLEASHED unveil ed one of the most emotionally resonant tracks of their career. Taken from the album, Fire Upon Your Lands, the song delivers a powerful farewell from father to son — a call to courage, independence, and the strength to carry on when all else fades.
Watch “To My Only Son” below.
UNLEASHED on “To My Only Son”:
“In Miklagard, with the allied forces – the Varangians, and a well-needed rest, a warrior, who has minutes left to live, writes a letter with his last words to his only son, knowing that they will never meet again. Urging him to be brave and face the world, to become the hero that he can be. And… let go of his father…”
Watch the previously released “Hold Your Hammers High!” below.
UNLEASHED on “Hold Your Hammers High!”:
“Although many battles have been won, the hunt for White Christ is far from over. The Son of Thor asks the Warriors of Midgard if they are still with him as the journey now continues home to Svithiod. Years of war and struggle have changed us all. But hope must prevail…Hold You Hammers High!”
Fire Upon Your Lands will be available in the following formats:
1LP Gatefold SPLATTERED TRANSLUCENT TURQUOISE/WHITE, BLACK with Vinyl Booklet & Slipmat – strictly limited to 200 copies
1LP Gatefold MARBLED ORANGE RED – strictly limited to 300 copies
1LP Gatefold BLACK & Lighter & Patch Bundle – strictly limited to 50 copies
1LP Gatefold BLACK
Digipack & Lighter & Patch – strictly limited to 50 copies – SOLD OUT!
6 Page Digipak
Digital Album
UNLEASHED about the album:
“Fire Upon Your Lands is our 15th album in 37 years. It is also a continuation of the storyline from the World of Odalheim, where the Midgard Warriors keep fighting for their way of life against their main enemy “White Christ”. We hope you appreciate this new Blot of 11 songs of pure Viking Death Metal. See you all on the road!”
UNLEASHED live 2025:
22.06.2025 FR – Clisson / Hellfest
09.08.2025 CZ – Jaromer / Brutal Assault Festival
15.08.2025 DE – Dinkelsbühl / Summer Breeze Festival
21.08.2025 AT – Spital am Semmering / Kaltenbach Open Air
28.08.2025 – 30.08.2025 DK – Naestved / Naestved Metalfest
06.09.2025 DE – Crispendorf / Break Out Open Air
05.10.2025 US – Chicago / Metal Threat Fest
18.10.25 MX – Monterrey / Cacique Metal Fest
25.10.2025 SE – Stockholm / Kulturhuset Stadsteatern
08.11.2025 DE – Lohr am Main / Chaos Unity Festival
Fire Upon Your Lands tracklisting:
1. Left For Dead
2. A Toast To The Fallen
3. The Road To Haifa Pier
4. War Comes Again
5. Fire Upon Your Lands
6. Loyal To The End
7. Midjardarhaf
8. Hail The Varangians!
9. To My Only Son
10. Hold Your Hammers High!
11. Unknown Flag
Fredrik Lindgren (a.k.a. Freddie Eugene), original guitarist for UNLEASHED, passed away in early January 2025 at the age of 53.
Lindgren played guitar for UNLEASHED from 1989 to 1995. He can be heard on the studio albums “Where No Life Dwells” (1991), “Shadows In The Deep” (1992), “Across The Open Sea” (1993) and “Victory” (1995) as well as the live albums “Live In Vienna ’93” and “Eastern Blood – Hail To Poland” (1995).
After leaving UNLEASHED, Lindrgren played guitar in several other Swedish bands, including ATLANTIC TIDE, LOUD PIPES, CELESTIAL PAIN, TERRA FIRMA, BORN OF FIRE and HARMS WAY.
UNLEASHED said in a statement: “Warriors!!! Sadly, the news have reached us that Fredrik Lindgren, lead guitar of UNLEASHED 1989-1995 has passed away. Fredrik was a huge part of the early history of the band. For this we are eternally grateful. See you in Valhalla brother!”
Lindgren‘s passing was also confirmed by his onetime TERRA FIRMA bandmate Lord Chritus (a.k.a. Christian Lindersson), who used to sing in the Swedish band COUNT RAVEN and the pioneering Los Angeles doom metal act SAINT VITUS. Chritus took to his Facebook page on Sunday (January 5) to write: “In loving memory of Freddie Eugene 1971-2025. Numbed by the news of your passing, Fredrik my old friend. Hard to put emotions into words. Just hope you have found your peace as you deserve no less. You will not only be missed by me but many, I know this much. Thank you for being a part of my life and colored it with your friendship and musicianship both embodied in what was TERRA FIRMA. We had some really great times and that will never change. All my love.”
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